Author: Johanna Lee

  • Interesting facts about Amsterdam

    Interesting facts about Amsterdam

    In this article I will show you some interesting facts about the world’s famous city of Amsterdam.

    1. The Majority of the land of Amsterdam is below sea levelYou probably didn’t know about this, but the lowest point is about 6.7 metres below sea level.

    2. There are more bikes than people in AmsterdamThere is no better way than the bicycle to experience and explore this fabulous city. Also this may be probably why one of the most stolen items in Amsterdam are bikes. Around 100,000 bikes get stolen per year.

    3. Locals like to eat dinner on the doorstepsOr also on streets, specially on summer season.

    4. Don’t go to a coffeeshop in Amsterdam, go to a cafeBecause coffeeshops means licensed sellers of cannabis products.

    5. English is the city second official language

    Almost everyone can speak and understand English in Amsterdam.

    6. Amsterdam offers a diverse palett of hotels

    And if you are staying in a hotel in Amsterdam, you can find your airport transportation right now.

    7. The world’s oldest stock exchange is in AmsterdamIt’s believed that London has the oldest for being established in 1801, but Amsterdam was in 1602, very old!

    8. Amsterdam was originally a fishing villageIt was founded as a fishing village around the thirteenth century. Only few medieval buildings survive today, like the Old and New Churches and the Houten Huis (Wooden House) at the Begijnhof.

    9. Locals don’t use blinds or curtains in their houses 

    When you walk around the city, specially at night, it’s shocking to see so many street level houses with big windows fully illuminated which doesn’t have any kind of privacy.

    10. There are 165 canals These waterways add up to more than 100 kilometers or about 60 miles. The Seventeenth-century canal ring area of Amsterdam inside the Singelgracht became part of the UNESCO World Heritage list in 2010.

  • 7 Things To Do in Buenos Aires

    7 Things To Do in Buenos Aires

    Buenos Aires is not specially the city for tourists who love attractions and wonders. But when you ask around what they like the most about, is by simply walking around. Wondering around in this unique and beautiful city at streets or sit in the pavement side coffee shop is one of the greatest experiences and understanding you will see, that is what makes this place so amazing.

    I made this guide for you to find what gives smiles and want to return one day.

    Getting aroundMoving in a metro is always a good idea, plenty of bused that than take you in different destinations of the city. To use the metro, you can pay between each ride about A$5 or get a SUBE card for an unlimited rides! Also, if you are staying in a hotel in Buenos Aires, it is always better to pre-plan your way from the airport in a transfer to avoid wasting money or time. Learn more about airport transfers in Buenos Aires.

    Visit Casa RosadaIt’s located at the edge of Plaza de Mayo. Casa Rosada is one of the most famous buildings! You will love it’s design with a pink and palace style. This is a governmental iconic place that has being doing a lot of protests and many memorial moments in the history of Argentina.

    El Ateneo BookshopIt is one of the most famous bookshops in Buenos Aires, and placed by The Guardian as the second most beautiful bookshop in the world! You will located at 1860 Santa Fe Ave. in Barrio Norte, you can escape the crowds into a wonderful space of refined calm and beauty.

    Opening times: 9 a.m. – 10 p.m. Mon to Thurs, 9 a.m. – 12 a.m. Fri and Sat, 12 p.m. – 9 p.m. Sun.

    Watch tango in Plaza DorregoSee the famous dance of the capital! You can see everyday in the afternoon how the couples dance for tips in the square, you can enjoy while having cool drinks, wines, coffee or food. A beer from around will cost about $70 argentinian pesos, and the tips for the dancers are around $10, but you can also just watch and enjoy the shows. The plaza is located at Telmo and the dancers will be starting to dance after 3 pm.

    San Telmo MarketEvery Sunday, this market takes life in one of the most silent neighbourhood’s streets. They sell everything, from antiques, souvenirs, clothes, jewellery and clothing. So now you one one thing you can do this day of the weekend!

    Eat at a ParrillaBuenos Aires is famous for its parillas. It means grills and roasting meat. There are many delicious places where you can enjoy a good taste parrilla like La Estancia or El Litoral, they are not luxurious restaurants, but the portions of beef are phenomenal!

    Visit Centro Cultural KirchnerThis building turned in 2005 into a cultural center which started being a former central post office and was abandoned. The project was completed after hie died on 2010. Inside the are multiple art galleries, event spaces and auditoriums, the best is the Ballena Azul, a concert hall with incredible music acoustics that seats 1800.

  • 6 tips to visit New York on a budget

    6 tips to visit New York on a budget

    New York is one of the most expensive cities in US, to live in and to explore it. Some attractions are free sightseeing and you can get to visit world-class museums, stay in a affordable accommodation and take this tips to save during your trip in NYC:

    Find discounts before you get there

    A very smart thing to do when visiting NYC is to purchase a tourist pass. It offers free entry to many tourist destinations with a discounted price so you can save time and money! Such as the Empire State, American Museum of Natural History, Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island, Air & Space Museum and others.

    Save on traveling and transportation

    There are many discount flights you can find, savings never stop. Before getting there is important to take advantage of online bookings. Check our our special deals for transfers in New York City area to and from all three major airports.

    Restaurants & Nightlife

    Promotional event produced by NYC & Company, where more than 380 restaurants offer three-course pre-fixe dining deals for both lunch ($29) and dinner ($42). A new concept is having a meal at a New Yorker’s apartment, there are some websites that allow you to find locals and have lunch or dinner at their homes.

    Subway

    The subway is safe, for $2.75 gets you anywhere, it’s lot faster than taking a cab andget stock in traffic. Remember you will need a metrocard. Enter any subway station and look for a vending machine that looks like this:All machines take credit cards but not all of them take cash. You can buy a single ride for $3 USD, get the Regular Metrocard or the Unlimited Metrocard if you are traveling several times.

    Take your student ID

    If you are a student, your school ID can help you save money on everything that’s movie tickets, food and even attractions. An ISIC gives you nice discounts! such: New York City explorer pass is a 21 USD discount, The Metropolitan Museum of Art a 13 USD and New York City lights Dinner Cruise 15% OFF.Go for a walk

    Many New Yorkers agree that go for walks is one of the best parts of living in the city. There are infinited places to hang out around such as Greenmarket, Central Park, the flower district on 28th street, the WIlliamsburg bridge, etc. You must visit Chinatown, located in one of the oldest neighborhoods in Manhattan, offers a unique historical and cultural experience and you can find lots of things to buy. Also, you can plan a picnic at Greenwood Cementery, a huge Victorian cementery with amazing grounds and cheap Mexican restaurants around.

  • 5 activities you can’t miss in Los Cabos

    5 activities you can’t miss in Los Cabos

    For those adventure lovers, Cabo is an ideal destination to plan a getaway. Once you get to this land, you fill find plenty things to do.

    You can choose the tranquil San Jose del Cabo or the more exciting Cabos San Lucas. It is located at the southern point of Baja Peninsula, including three areas: Cabos San Lucas in the west and San Jose del Cabo in the east, also the main hotel-laden area known as “the Corridor”, 20 miles between the two cities. When you arrive at San Jose int. airport you will need an airport transfer to get to your hotel and a car to explore the different areas.

    You will have a lot of decisions when planning your getaway, like where to stay, but here I will show you the best 5 activities you can’t miss in Los Cabos:

    1. Watch the sunset in The Archeditada-5

    This is one of the principal activities you can not miss, to watch how the sunset shines in the arch and observe the different beaches around it, “the Lover’s Beach”, “Divorce Beach” and “Pelicans”. Why do they call it Lovers/Divorce beach? Because on one side the water of Cortés, the Lover’s is very calm and the Divorce on the Pacific can be very dangerous with strong waves, rip tide and undertows!

    Once you get into Sunset Sailing Tour, you will have the opportunity to navigate at this time of the day through both seas and observe all the beautiful landscapes, sea lions, lots of pelicans and probably whale sharks if there’s whale watching season.editada-6

    1. Fly through the canyons with the Monster Ziplines

    This is one of the most adventurous activities you can’t miss in Los Cabos. This activity is located at Wild Canyon. You will fly in ziplines over the desertic landscapes, don’t miss the longest zipline of the destination with 815 meters long. There are some other cool activities you can do here like drive an UTV on the mountains and the beach, ride a camel, zipline at night, jump from a gondola and more.img_9350 img_9342

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ipcF8LkF0BU&feature=youtu.be

    1. Explore San Jose del Cabo

    San Jose del Cabo is a very calm town in Los Cabos. You need to take a day to explore all the beauty around. The streets are full of local art, restaurants, music and culture that you probably didn’t know was here.A few blocks from the marina is located restaurante “Mi Casa”, which has become an outstanding landmark of tradicional mexican food, vibrant colors and natural gardens. Then, Plaza Mijares is the central square in San Jose, there you fill find many jewellery stores, art galleries, souvernirs. On the west side there is Iglesia San Jose that stands over the place where the original mission was established in 1730; it’s bell towers and interior decoration are honored to Jesuit priest, Nicolas Tamaral, martyred on the site where this building stands.img_9435img_9431img_9432 img_9437 img_9450 img_9462 img_9417

    1. Spend a day at Medano Beach

    Medano beach is the safest in Cabo San Lucas and the most popular. Many beaches here are very dangerous for the strong tides and undertows, except for Medano.

    Medano Beach has several miles for people that want to get in and swim, practice water sports or relax. Located within Cabo San Lucas Bay, if you are staying in the hotel zone, you can get there easily. There are restaurants, beach clubs, bars and water activities to enjoy right at the beach.medano-beach-los-cabos

    1. Visit the land of Wikiruta

    The land of Wirikuta has a lot to expose to the admirers. Starts with a typical mexican dinner buffet with a beverage of your taste and then an ancestral dance of the Huichol people. You will see incredible acrobatic displays in 3D mapping technology as they perform their cultural dance. All those costumes and colors will make your heart beat when you see how they express their cultural rituals!img_9625

    https://youtu.be/BhUqXVkqULo

  • Top things to do in Puerto Vallarta this winter

    Top things to do in Puerto Vallarta this winter

    If you are going to visit Puerto Vallarta this winter 2016, is a great idea. There is the beach, restaurants, nightlife, shops and a lot of tours to take that are really fun. Weather is cool becomes to 20 degrees normaly and the breeze of the beach is awesome. 

    There are many things to put in your bucket list. I made this article to be more specific about what you can do: 

    Spend the night in the pirate ship

    The ship is called “Piratas de la Bahia”, you will see the shining swords of the pirates while they are fighting and hitting with their canyons under the artificial fireworks! You will feel like you are part of the scenario aboard and taste the most delicious dinner of Puerto while watching the sunset colors. To end, the night party with music and lot of entertainment.pv-shipWatch the turtles

    The curse of nature in Puerto Vallarta is something you will never forget. Many hotels offer help and caring to the reproduction of this wonderful species. You can get information at the CEMBAB with the professionals to get oriented about the schedules and places where turtles are released.pv-turtlesSnorkel or dive 

    The best locations are Los Arcos & Las Marietas. You can explore the Bay Marietas while getting to this island that seems like a hidden cave from the top. As you reach the islands, you will encounter over 90 species of birds that call the island home. pv-islas-marietasWatch a movie at Movie Picnic

    This project was made for the family coexistence, movie lovers and the promotion of entertainment in Puerto Vallarta. This winter, you can enjoy the many movies presented in the only petatecinema of the world. Movies such as: Forrest Gump, Toy Story, Life is beautiful, Matrix, The beach and others. pv-cinemaHave dinner at Cafe Des Artistes 

    One of the best restaurants in Puerto Vallarta. Decorations are wonderful! It’s a great choice to spend Christmas dinner for $1,347 pesos per person or New Year’s for $2,460 with the complete package to celebrate the year comming! pv-cafe-des-artistesTake the Extreme Adventure Tour

    More is more fun when it comes to adventure, and the Extreme Adventure offers the most activities packed into one fun-filled day of adventure.Enjoy thrilling rides on a series of zip lines, including Mexico’s longest and fastest, an exhilarating off road ride in a Polaris UTV and much, much more.pv-extreme-adventuee

  • Plan your Christmas in Cancun, Mexico

    Plan your Christmas in Cancun, Mexico

    December holidays are the best time of the year. Thousands of people get reunited to celebrate this time with their loved ones. There are some special places where you don’t have to seek for the feeling of christmas, I will tell you about that in Cancun so you don’t have to break the bank!

    You may think Cancun is more like a place for summer times or spring breakers because of the sunny days, beach parties and nightlife. But there is a part that features this time of the year to welcome many travelers of the world who want to have a special christmas.

    Choose your hotel to stay

    With so many hotels offering fabulous Cancun Christmas deals, holidays are the perfect season to enjoy the events and parties with unique packages. From low price hotels to all inclusive, close to the beach, the party area and activities!

    Moon Palace Golf & Spa Resort

    This beautiful resort offers many acitivities inside for Christmas. You can start Christmas morning with a service room breakfast. Rooms are spacious and cool available to choose infront of the sea to enjoy the beautiful view. You will see lots of decorations since you step inside. There’re plenty of entertainment at the pool area, beach, a big variety of food to choose from the buffets and nightlife. moon-spa-christmas

    Le Blanc Spa Resort

    An only adults hotel special for the elegance offered. You can see it in the accommodations. You will love to enjoy the multiple dining options to try different food each night. The staff are friendly, reliable, professional, and caring.

    Enjoy a special Christmas dinner at a restaurant

    Most restaurants will be opened at Christmas night. Check out for Lorenzillos, Rolandis, Harris or any located at the Hotel Zone to see their menu’s. Remember to reserve with time and choose the one you like the most.

    Dinner with pirates

    Captain Hook offers a dinner with pirates in a ship navigating in Cancun Sea. While having dinner you can enjoy the incredible pirate show with music and games. When the captain discovers the presence of the enemy, will shout for his men to take battle positions, cannons and get ready to fire!christmas-cancun-captain-hookPlaya del Carmen

    You’ll find many options for restaurants to spend Christmas dinner in Playa del Carmen. Hotels, restaurants and beach bars with music through all the night to feel the caribbean feeling. There are also many nightclubs like Coco Bongo show, the top nightlife venue with live performances, drinks and plenty of fun.

    Shopping 

    Playa del Carmen features the famous 5th avenue with local shops and specialy for the ornaments to take your home!  The Tequila Bazar is a little shop on 5th Avenue we like for souvenirs. From October until Christmas they have a lot of little Christmas decorations.playa-del-carmen-christmas

  • Best wedding locations in Vegas

    Best wedding locations in Vegas

    Las Vegas is recognized to be one of the best destinations for parties, events with a crazy atmosphere, but if you are looking for romance in Vegas you may find the perfect place to plan your wedding with many choices. Lots of famous artists have celebrated their wedding at this city, such as Britney Spears at Sin City that became really famous since then!

    Bellagio FountainsBellagio-fountain-weddingsAt Bellagio Fountains you will find a breathtaking atmosphere for your wedding. You can choose to celebrate your wedding at the terrace overlooking the hotel’s lake. The magic comes when the fountains show their magic. There are two beautiful decorated chapels for another option.

    The Eiffel Tower in VegasEiffel-tower-wedding-vegasIf you are not sure where to choose Paris or Vegas this is the right choice. lol. Choose to exchange your vows at the Paris Chapel and enjoy the incredible scene from the top of the Eiffel Tower in that special day.

    Grand CanyonGrand-canyon-vegasIf you are an adventurer and you always wanted a different kind of wedding, to celebrate it in the Grand Canyon will be a unique experience. It starts by stepping in a helicopter for a ride to the Canyon 45 min away from The Strip. This wedding journey to one of the seven natural wonders of the world comes of course with lots of pictures for your wedding memories. You can choose to get married in the air, at the Grand Canyon in Arizons or at the Valley of Fire State Park in Nevada.

    Lake Vegaslake-wedding-vegasThis is another way to enjoy an unforgettable experience. It offers a beautiful desert and mountain stmosphere with romance. You can choose the village at gazebo or near a fountain with a lakeside background. There is a hotel close to Lake Vegas called Hilton Lake Las Vegas Hotel with planned wedding packages and finally the Westin hotel at Lake Vegas hosts big gardens and courtyards with water views.

    Wynn Hotelwynn-vegas-weddd-hotelThe wedding salons at Wynn Hotel in Vegas offer an elegant scene to get married with your loved one. The wedding experts plan all the details to enjoy the day since you step into the hotel!

    Gracelandgraceland-vegas-weddingThe Graceland Chapel has been part of the prominent wedding spots for many years in Vegas and that’s because Jon Bon Jovi was married here and in 2001 held a concert at the parking lot with 75 couples who renewed their vows with him! After that, other musicians decided to choose Graceland for their wedding; such as Billy Ray Cyrus, Aaron Neville and other popular artists.

    Wish this article was helpful! Wish you an amazing wedding. Click here to book airport transportation from Vegas airport to the hotels.

  • Best 3 things to do in Cancun for Halloween

    Best 3 things to do in Cancun for Halloween

    Halloween is also known as Allhalloween, All Hallows’ Eve, or All Saints’ Eve. It’s a really big American Holiday celebrated in many countries on October 31.

    Most halloween events are made in the Hotel Zone of Cancun. You will find many restaurants, hotels, bars & discos decorated and featuring special events for Halloween.

    I recommend you to bring your own costume in case you don’t find the one you’re looking for in Cancun Custome Stores.

    I’ll show you the best 3 things to do in Cancun for Halloween:

    1. Assist to a hotel party

    Most hotels and resorts, offer special events for Halloween at night. You have to book a stay in the hotel to enjoy this events. Some features dinner, drinks and party. You will love the special decorations and sometimes the show!

    Recommendation: Hotel RIU Cancun. Easy to travel from the airport, beachview hotel with big pools, activities, buffets, bars and a fun special night for Halloween. riu-halloween-3 Riu-halloween-2 riu-halloween2. Go party

    Many clubs are decorated and prepare music and shows for Halloween. Wear your best costume cause you can probably win a Costume contest.

    Recommendation: Dady’O night club. It sets the standard for the wild and crazy nightlife in Halloween! You can also find which ones are the best nightclubs in Cancun. coco-bongo-halloween3. Buy a ticket to Xcaret Day of Dead

    Xcaret Park features a special event for Day of Dead, it lasts 2 days from October 31 to November 2. This big celebration allows you to enjoy the traditional gastronomy of the region, typical candies, rituals, workshops, dancing shows, theater, concerts, etc.

    I want my ticket to Xcaret!xcaret-day-of-dead-halloween-2 xcaret-day-of-dead-halloween

     

  • Best Nightclubs in Cancun

    Best Nightclubs in Cancun

    1. Coco BongoNightclub-coco-bongoThis may be your first choice when choosing to party in Cancun, if you don’t decide which one, Coco Bongo is a right choice. Coco Bongo is a night show to never get bored or sleepy all night. Night entertainment with acrobats and famous artists create a special time for you. After the show, the disco turns on until morning with great music, neon lacers, confetti and exotic dancers.

    Get Coco Bongo tickets online!

    2. Dady’Onightclub-dadyOne of the most famous clubs in Cancun. Dady’O features an atmosphere for all. From latin and pop to the best DJ’s and electronic music. The lights and show motivates you to have fun all night.

    3. The Citynightclub-the-cityThis is the biggest club in Latin America. The most famous events at the City are the big glow and foam parties to find yourself covered in neon and paint! It is known to feature night parties and famous concerts for famous DJ’s.

    4. La Vaquitanigghtclub-la-vaquitaLa Vaquita is a new nightclub in Cancun that just opened last year (in English means ”The Little Cow”). It has become a favorite to vacationers in Cancun. Great music, night entertainment, drinks and a cow theme inside!

    5. Palazzonightclub-palazzoA glamorous nightclub in Cancun. Get into another world in Palazzo. The dance floor is always alive with special dancers, acrobats, night shows and the best music of the time.

    Nightlife tours:

    Bongo Tour– The Bongo Tour will let you enjoy 3 of the best nightclubs in Cancun in one night, plus more than 6 hours with open bar!

    Coco Bongo Weekdays- Coco Bongo is probably the most popular nightclub for Cancun tourists to visit and has been established for many years. The shows are amazing and have to be seen at least once.

    Coco Bongo Weekends- Coco Bongo is probably the most popular nightclub for Cancun tourists to visit and has been established for many years. The shows are amazing and have to be seen at least once.

  • The Mesoamerican Reef System in Cozumel

    The Mesoamerican Reef System in Cozumel

    The second largest barrier reef system in the world is located in Cozumel, called the Mesoamerican Reef System. It is almost 175 miles (280 km) of ocean between the Gulf of Mexico and Honduras. There are 

    Which animals are found in the depths of Cozumel?

    Cozumel became a favorite spot for snorkeling and scuba diving after famous underwater explorer, Jacques Cousteau, visited the island in 1961 and revealed the abundant marine life in its reefs.Sea-turtles-in-CozumelSome sites are more alive than others. The Palancar to the south; has caves, bricks, gardens and horseshoe.. it is beautiful but not a fishiest area. Anyway you’re still going to find some turtles, a nurse shark or two, angelfish and others.  The Meso American Reef is home to more than 65 species of stony coral, 350 species of mollusk and more than 500 species of fish. Some especies are under protection: sea turtles, the queen conch, the West Indian Manatee, the splendid toadfish, the american cocodrile, black coral, etc. It has an invasion of red lionfish, counts with a large amount of manatee and whale sharks. cozumel-divee-3Underwater pictures

    Despite the beautiful scenery in the Mesoamerican Reef, underwater pictures present a challenge. There is current comming from south to north and so divers figure it out a way to shoot images so you can tuck yourself. It is prohibited to touch the reef in the Marine Park, so grab a sponge or a bit of a coral to stay stationary!diving-in-cozumel-2Diving or Snorkeling

    The Mesoamerican Barier Reef is located on the coast from Cancun, Riviera Maya and Costa Maya. The best dive spots are Manchones Reef, Cancun’s Underwater Museum and the C58 Shipwreck. There are many diving tours you can find online or at the ports in Cozumel. 

    The beauty in Cozumel snorkeling plays a host to all the coral formations like mounds and outcropping in the shallow waters and then caverns along the coral walls. 

    Snorkelers such as divers love the spectacular ocean view, a crystal clear visibility and drifting currents provide a relaxing free ride!Snorkeling-cozumel