Top 4 places to visit post-rona
Everyone hates it when blog posts start with some long-winded backstory as to why the writer is suggesting these places, so I’ll spare you the drama. If you’ve engaged with any of my content, you know I love to travel - period. So let’s get to it.
San Jose, Costa Rica
Locals are absolutely amazing and inviting- they truly live by the Pura Vida (pure life) way of living and it’s something everyone should experience
Food is delicious, fresh and the original version of “organic”. If it’s not in season or doesn’t grow somewhere nearby, it won’t be on your plate. Because of this, the cost of food and drink is low and the plates are simple - fish, rice, beans, a small salad and plantains. Accompany the meal with Cerveza Imperial, the official beer of Costa Rica that is- of course- the world’s first water-positive beer.
Mountains are a must, although I will warn you about getting carsick. We went on a tour into the mountains and the winding streets did a real number on me. Pro-tip: bananas don’t really work and be sure you’re looking as far away from whatever’s immediately outside the window as you can. On a more delightful note, you will see coffee beans growing in their natural habitat and get a great history lesson on why they grow best at an elevation in a rainforest environment. Everything about their surroundings lends to the reason coffee from Costa Rica is in the top 5 ever, top 3 on my list.
Souveniers are made by locals and sold cheaply - buy something for everyone and support the artisans. An extra bonus if you speak Spanish- you’ll get a great deal and chat with great people along the way.
Natural hot springs are a must-see (and feel). The higher you go, the hotter they are because the water is flowing under a volcano. It’s amazing. Listen to the guide though- you really shouldn’t stay in the springs for more than 20 minutes. I didn’t listen and had a splitting headache and racing heart rate at about minute 24. Don’t worry, there’s almost always a regular pool nearby that you can jump in to even things out.
I could go on and on about Costa Rica, but I’ll stop there. If you want to know more, you know where to find me.
Vancouver, British Columbia
China Town is an obvious must in any city that has one and Vancouver is no exception. You will find literally any and everything you’ve ever wanted to try or are willing to try, all in an open-market setup.
Granville Island is just that- an island - right off Vancouver. It’s full of shops, restaurants and the best arts and culture around. Here, you can have a great meal, buy art supplies and artisan crafts made in Vancouver and just simply,..be. The vibe and people are extra chill.
Stanley Park is a must-see. Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous. Wear comfortable clothes and shoes and make sure you get to the top- the food at Prospect Point is impeccable and the restaurant is located on one of- you guessed it- Vancouver’s best vantage points.
Food in Vancouver is really a star overall. A lot of restaurants are family or individually-owned with unique specialty foods and in many cases, house-maid or local beers and wines. A few of my favorites were Bao Bei (I just want to move into Bao Bei), Jules, Pourhouse and Burdock & Co.
My favorite experience by far in Vancouver:
At Bao Bei, I met a duet of lovely lawyers who welcomed me with open arms, requested another glass so they could share their bottle of wine with me and passed along the food they'd just ordered so I could have a taste. I ordered food of my own as well and oddly enough never saw a bill. The lawyers insisted on sharing a cab ride with me to make sure I got back to my destination safely. When I thanked them, one said: "We want to make sure you leave Vancouver knowing the people are nice."
I mean, come on. How could you not want to go to a place where people treat you like that? Get full deets on this trip in my Van-City post.
Montmarte, Paris, France
Not touristy, Montmarte is known for its artsy history and eclectic vibes. You’ll also be able to visit the Sacre-Coeur, hopefully laying on the sloped hill in front of it, eating fruit and a cheese crepe, as I did.
The people in this area are different than what you’d run into around the Eiffel Tower. They’re (way) more friendly and engaging, but also respectful of your personal space. I made friends with a table full of strangers over the course of an hour - two from England, three locals (one of which was Dominican!). Lots of wine and laughs…and wine.
French is obviously the primary language, but as with many other countries, most people speak multiple languages. Everyone assumed I was a local (thank you, thank you…it must’ve been the all-black I wore..and no, I didn’t make that up- I was told so multiple times), so they spoke to me in French. I don’t speak French, so I would reply in Spanish…if they didn’t speak that, THEN I would go to English. Not displaying “American” on my forehead worked wonders for service. Be more worldly, less “why doesn’t everyone speak English????” for a better travel experience - trust me on this.
Want to see some of this in action? Here are the highlights.
Cancún, México
Resorts are a dime a dozen in Cancún, but if you’re truly selective, you will come across the only resort you need to visit, Nizuc. It’s located on the Yucatán Peninsula, offers all the amenities you could ever dream of and the property’s attention to detail is unmatched. I notice and love the tiniest details and they won me over tenfold.
Rooms have their very own terrace, a king-sized bed, dreamy soaking tub, rain-inspired shower and your very own Nespresso machine.
Exploring the area doesn’t require leaving the property - there are natural paths that lead you to infinity pools and beaches. It doesn’t stop there though - they also offer excursions to see Tulum, Chichén Itzá (the Great Pyramid), go snorkeling and fishing. When you get back to your room, you’ll be delightfully surprised to see that your room has been transformed from “morning to night” with replenished coffee pods, rearranged pillows and a subtle opening from the bathroom to the bedroom so that you can see clear through to the terrace from the tub. Details, details, details!
Food from the six - yes, SIX - restaurants will leave you seeking out copy-cat recipes when you get home. I was obsessed with all of them. La Punta Grill & Lounge had a soup with passion fruit mixed into the base when I was there and it was pure heaven. I have passion fruit in my freezer right now, hoping I can recreate it at some point. Ni, which offers a Peruvian menu, had a fish and rice dish with broth that was poured over everything once it was on your table that was spectacular. The server I had took the time to chat with me and showed me the proper way to drink tequila with a chili-based chaser. Pro-tip: it’s not supposed to be consumed all at once in a shot.
Free events are offered daily and while yoga is great and all, I skipped that and signed right up for the tequila tasting at Havana Lounge, where we tasted 5 tequilas that were paired with foods. Yes, it was wonderful, and what makes everything 10x better is how proud people are to share their knowledge with you. Our host was delightful, knowledgable and just plain fun.
This is another one that I could just go on and on about, but I’ll stop here. Just know I’m more than happy to elaborate further. If you’re hungry for more right now, here’s my post covering that trip.
Despite the “5” listed in the voting for this post, it ended up being four places to visit instead of five. When I started preparing what to write, I went to the whiteboard and wrote down places that came to mind quickest. The fifth spot is empty. I’ve been to Greece and Italy - both great trips - but the travel time is crazy and my suggestions would include further travel once you’re there. Stateside places are of course great as well, but for this list and because once we’re able to travel again things will likely be quite different, I figured I’d keep it to the places that have brought me the most joy - abroad. Also, aside from Paris, the travel time isn’t too crazy for any of them. Head to my Instagram stories to vote on which location should hold the fifth place- let’s settle this in the court of public Instagram opinion!
Wishing you joyous travel and adventure (once it’s completely safe).
Cheers!
