This post is a good starting place if you want to plan a trip to Guatemala, and it’s specifically about my travels to Antigua and the Lake Atitlan area. Read on for all my trip tips!

Why Visit Guatemala

Our reason for visiting Guatemala was to hike Acatenango to see the Fuego Volcano’s lava. Though we didn’t accomplish that, we still enjoyed the trip. Here are some of the reasons to visit Guatemala:

• Hiking
• Seeing Volcanoes – there are 37 of them, which is a lot for a small country
• Enjoying outdoors
• Exploring colonial buildings and a UNESCO World Heritage Site (Antigua)
• Finding a spiritual experience with Mayan tradition
• Traveling on a budget

Things to Know When Traveling to Guatemala

• Currency: Guatemalan Quetzals. The exchange rate is about $1 USD to Q7.72.
• Language: Official language is Spanish. You may also hear Mayan languages.
• Water: Not safe to drink from the tap. Most hotels and rentals will have EcoFiltro jugs, usually in a common space. Bring a reusable water bottle or use the glasses provided to enjoy fresh water.
• Vaccines: No vaccines required; make sure everything is up to date.
• Visa: No advance planning needed for U.S. residents. You will get a visa stamp when you arrive at the airport. No additional cost.
• Tipping: Restaurants typically add a service charge. Tips for hotel workers, drivers, and tour guides are not necessary but appreciated.
• WhatsApp: This is the primary way to connect with shuttle operators and tour guides if you have booked anything ahead of time.

Best Time to Visit Guatemala

The dry season is typically November to April and the wet season is May to October. The dry season tends to be cooler, so pack layers. I would avoid the days around Christmas and Easter.

Is Guatemala Safe?

The U.S. government recommends travelers “reconsider travel” (level 3 out of 4) due to crime in specific areas. Petty crime can be an issue, and normal caution should be observed. This includes not flashing expensive items, being aware of your surroundings and personal items, not being out late at night, and staying in safe areas.

I stayed in tourist-oriented cities with no issues and followed the recommendation to not spend much time in Guatemala City, where the international airport is located.

Check your government advisories and news for the latest updates before you travel.

How to Stay Healthy in Guatemala

When it comes to health, you should be on your guard in Guatemala. I’ve gotten uncomfortable (not quite sick) on my travels, so I used extra caution in Guatemala.

• Don’t pet the street dogs and cats
• Don’t drink tap water – many places to stay provide access to EcoFiltro jugs to fill up a reusable bottle
• Bring medicine like charcoal pills and vitamin c
• Use caution with food – aim for freshly cooked
• Use bug repellent (and check your vaccinations) – to avoid malaria, dengue, and zika
• Wash your hands and carry hand sanitizer

Here’s what we packed in our health/emergency kit.

• First aid kit
• Charcoal pills (for upset stomach)
• Motion sickness pills (for hilly shuttles)
• Acetaminophen (for altitude sickness)
• Ibuprofen (for mild headaches)
• Vitamin C packs (for immunity)
• Bug spray (for mosquitos)
• Lavender spray (for bed bug prevention)

Flying to Guatemala

La Aurora International Airport (GUA) is located in Guatemala City and is the only international airport in Guatemala. From there you can fly to Flores to visit Tikal National Park or take a shuttle to Antigua or Lake Atitlan.

Transportation – Getting Around Guatemala

There are several ways to get around: tourist shuttle, chicken bus, tuk-tuk, boat, and Uber. 

Shuttles

For transport between Guatemala City, Antigua, and Panajachel, we used Atitrans, a tourist shuttle. We booked all our shuttles on their website before our trip and they were $18-20 per person for a shared shuttle. We took one private shuttle from Guatemala City (airport) to Antigua, and it cost $65 total. They will confirm the time and meeting spot, typically your hotel. Know that the time is approximate, and you could wait up to 30 minutes for arrival.

You can also use GuateGo or Bookaway to find shuttles.

Typical travel times

• Guatemala City to Antigua: 1.5 hours
• Guatemala City to Panajachel, Lake Atitlan: 3 hours
• Antigua to Panajachel, Lake Atitlan: 2.25 hours

Public Transportation

If you are saving money and more flexible with your time, you can flag down a chicken bus, one of the very colorful school buses that you will see everywhere. Locals use these and they make frequent stops.

For travel within a city, there are tuk-tuks, which are small like a pedicab, and Uber. We found that most places were within a 20-minute walking distance, so we walked most of the time.

Boats

To travel to cities around Lake Atitlan, it is much faster to take a boat.

• Public boats (“lancha”) leave from Panajachel from 7 am to 7 pm, and you can walk up and catch one every 20 minutes.
• The cost depends on the distance. The farthest you’ll go from Panajachel is San Juan and it’s Q25 (about $3.25) one way. It is about 30 minutes if you’re going direct (private boat) but there will likely be stops in between, so budget up to 50 minutes.
• If you have luggage, it’s typically an extra Q5.
• Exact change is necessary.
• The last boat from San Pedro back to Panajachel leaves at 5 pm.
• Private boats are available. You can arrange with your hotel or walk up to the boat dock.

Where to Visit in Guatemala

We visited the most popular tourist cities. Here’s a little more about them.

• Antigua – If you love historic buildings, this is your city! It’s very walkable and has plenty of restaurants.
• Lake Atitlan – Visit the lake for the sunrise Rostro Maya hike (30 minutes), to take a yoga class, participate in a cacao or temazcal (sweat lodge) ceremony, and visit some artisan shops.
  • Panajachel – This is the jumping-off point at Lake Atitlan since shuttles will bring you here and the public boat leaves from here to take you around the lake. It’s a busy city with a natural reserve you can visit, but you’ll likely head towards another town on the lake. Because of its size, it does have a lot of restaurant and coffee shop options.
  • San Juan La Laguna – My favorite town on Lake Atitlan, San Juan is artistic, laid-back, and filled with local artisan shops. It’s a good place to stay to go hiking.
  • San Pedro La Laguna – Known as the backpacker town, San Pedro has many hostels and party options. It has a bunch of Spanish schools and is a 10-minute boat ride from San Juan.
  • San Marcos La Laguna – This town is known for its hippies and yoga expats. You’ll find many boutique retreats and restaurant options here. If you want to cliff jump, you can do it here at Cerro Tzankunjil Nature Reserve.

Where to Stay in Antigua

When looking at places to stay, I read reviews before booking. Here are some things to look for:

• Location: Is it a safe neighborhood and close to the things you want to see/do
• Shower Drainage: Does the shower drain well? We had this issue with a few places.
• Hot Water Shower: Lukewarm water seemed common
• Cleanliness: Any issues with bed bugs or mold?
• AC: Many mid places in Guatemala do not have added AC units. It can get hot/humid during the day but cools off at night. Look for this if it’s a priority
• Noise: Whether it is late-night revelry or morning bird songs, Guatemala has an above-average noise level when you’re trying to sleep

We stayed in one hotel and two rentals in Antigua. This Airbnb rental was one of my favorite places to stay during the trip, and the host has several properties. We also liked this Airbnb rental. Hotel La Sin Ventura was ok, a basic hotel with a good location, though it was a tad loud.

I also looked at these places in Antigua:

• El Carmen Hotel
• Good Hotel
• Casa Santo Domingo

Where to Stay around Lake Atitlan

We stayed in two hotels at Lake Atitlan – one in Panajachel and a boutique property with its own dock. While Panajachel has a good selection of restaurants and coffee shops, in hindsight, we would have enjoyed staying in San Juan La Laguna the whole time.

Hotel Regis was a convenient and safe place to stay in Panajachel. It has its own guard and gate.

We also liked La Fortuna at Lake Atitlan, a boutique property with six casitas that runs 100% on solar power and has a private dock. It is secluded, so you are limited to their menus ($7 for breakfast, $8 for lunch, $25 for dinner), and the boat costs more to arrive and depart from their private dock. However, the perks are complimentary use of their VW van turned sauna, hot tub, wading pool, kayaks, and paddleboards. Also, the grounds are immaculate and private.

Here are some other places around Lake Atitlan to consider:

• Eco-Hotel MayAchik – boutique hotel in San Juan
• La Casa del Mundo – also has a private dock but more affordable stay 
• La Iguana Perdida – a more affordable hostel in Santa Cruz with private rooms
• Porta Hotel Del Lago – 4-star in Panajachel
• Jenna’s River Bed and Breakfast – Panajachel
• Kula Maya – luxury stay with spa in San Marcos
• Casa Prana – luxury resort near Santa Cruz
• Eco Hotel Uxlabil – boutique hotel in San Juan

Best Things to Do in Guatemala

This post shares nine things to do in Guatemala. I’m an enthusiast for old, historic buildings. Another option is hiking Acatenango!

Where to Eat in Guatemala

Check out this post about eating and drinking in Guatemala to learn about typical dishes and restaurant recommendations.

Guatemala Trip Budget

Guatemala is more affordable than other countries in Central America, and there’s a wide range of options depending on how much you want to spend. You can find a bed in a hostel for $15 a night to a room in a 4-star hotel for $70 a night. All in, we spent about $1,000 per person for 9 days.

We aim for mid-luxury, so our hotels were around $50-60 a night while our shuttles were about $20 a person. The one private shuttle we booked from Guatemala City to Antigua (estimated 1 hour but with traffic, it took us almost 3 hours) was $65 total. For food, our dinners ranged from $15-50 a person.

Our round-trip flight from Austin to Guatemala City with a stop in Houston was about $635 per person, but our flights were “free” because we booked with points. I highly recommend a rewards credit card for perks like this! (Chase Sapphire and Capital One Venture are popular.)

1-Week Itinerary

We spent 9 days in Guatemala, Saturday to the following Sunday. About 2 cumulative days were spent traveling. We took time for slow travel on this trip, but sometimes I get a little bored when we do that! If needed, I suggest more time in Antigua than Lake Atitlan.

Many backpackers spend multiple weeks in Guatemala, so this itinerary might seem rushed. This itinerary is geared toward travelers who want to maximize their limited vacation time. You could squeeze this trip into a long weekend. Many do for weddings, but they typically only visit Antigua.

Here’s my recommended (adjusted) trip itinerary.

Day 1

• Travel to Guatemala City
• Shuttle (3 hours) from Guatemala City Airport to Lake Atitlan
• Stay in San Juan La Laguna

Day 2

• Sunrise Rostro Maya Hike
• Explore cities around the lake: San Juan, San Pedro, San Marcos
• Cacao Ceremony in San Marcos

Day 3

• Shuttle (2.25 hours) from Panajachel to Antigua
• Explore Antigua

Day 4

• Acatenango Hike

Day 5

• Return from Acatenango Hike
• Explore Antigua

Day 6

• Travel Home

I hope this post helped you plan your Guatemalan adventure!

See these posts for more Guatemala planning:

• 9 Best Things to Do in Guatemala
• Eating and Drinking in Guatemala + Favorite Restaurants
• Guide to the Acatenango Volcano Hike in Guatemala

The post Guatemala Travel Guide + 1-Week Itinerary appeared first on Fearless Captivations.

Here’s a quick rundown of our trip:

• 48 hours
• 20 miles walked
• 22 food stops including
• 10 spots for sweets
• 7 spots for drinks
• 4 restaurants
• 10ish? stores

It was a packed trip and we were exhausted by the end, but we made many great memories!

Sights We Saw – Places We Visited

One of the big reasons we came in December was to experience the city in holiday decor. It was special to walk around and see lights everywhere. It was busy though, so I recommend visiting on weekdays if possible.

Bryan Park Holiday Market – This outdoor market has many booths with vendors selling art, gifts, and food.

Rockefeller Center – You have to stop and see the famous tree. This year’s was 74 feet tall and 43 feet wide with 50,000 lights and a 900 lb star on top!

5th Avenue Lights – This street is known for its storefront holiday displays. Plus you can do some shopping.

Central Park – This is a lovely spot for a morning winter stroll. Grab a coffee before you go! Stop and watch ice skaters, admire the 42 arches and bridges, and take photos of the city skyline.

Shopping in Greenwich Village and Soho – These neighborhoods have plenty of clothing stores.

Little Market NYC – We passed by and found a charm bracelet bar. Of course, we made charm bracelets with a matching charm to commemorate the trip.

Times Square – Ideally, we wouldn’t stop here because it’s so busy, but check it out if you haven’t experienced it. We came to visit two specific shops – The Fantastic World of Portuguese Sardine and Line Friends.

Vessel – This landmark opened in 2019. We didn’t go up, but if you’d like to, be sure to get tickets. The structure is 16 stories high with 2,500 steps and 80 landings for photos.

Things We Ate

Is eating at 22 spots in 48 hours…too much? We almost thought so but it was all tasty! And walking 20 miles around the city got us pretty hungry. So, here’s what we ate during the trip.

Bryant Park Market

• Apple Cider Donut from Breezy Hill Orchard
• Ube Mochi Cookie and Pandan Mochi Bar from The Boiis Co
• Jian Bing from Jian Dumpling

The holiday market at Bryant Park was our first stop after dropping our bags at the hotel. We stopped at three different booths. There are several holiday markets around the city, and this is a fun thing to put on the schedule.

Seafood Pancake, Tofu Soup, and Woodae Galbi at Rib No. 7

The only reservation we had was at this Korean barbecue restaurant. The Woodae Galbi was excellent!

Cocktails and Basque Cheesecake at Harta 

Our nightcap back at our hotel was cocktails and a slice of basque cheesecake.

Lattes at % Arabica

We needed caffeine to get our day started and these lattes were delicious!

Chocolate Chip Walnut Cookie at Levain Bakery

This just might be the best cookie I’ve ever eaten! Lightly crispy on the outside, perfect flavors, and plenty of chocolate chips.

Strawberry Fruit Sando, Matcha Mochi Donuts, and Egg Sando at Postcard Bakery

One of our favorite stops, this Japanese bakery delivered three outstanding items. I loved that the fruit sando wasn’t milk bread but cake! And the egg sando had perfect filling.

Pizza at L’Industrie Pizzeria

You can’t go to New York City without eating pizza! And this spot was worth the short wait in line.

Strawberry Matcha at Boba Guys

We walked by Boba Guys and had to stop for a strawberry matcha. They were kind enough to divide it into three cups for us.

Juice at Joe and the Juice

We stopped here for a juice, mainly so we could use the restroom! But Janna said her juice was good.

Cupcake at Little Cupcake Bakeshop

I’ve seen accolades about this being one of the best bakeries but sadly we were very disappointed by our cookies and cream cupcake.

Churros at La Churreria

We stopped in for some churro bites. Good but not too special. Perhaps one of their specials or filled churros are better?

Beef Noodle Soup and Dumplings at Shu Jiao Fuzhou

This was one of our cheapest meals! A small bowl of noodle soup with beef and 12 dumplings for $13. It’s cash only.

Rooftop Cocktails at Bar Cima

This was rated one of the best rooftop bars in NYC and we could see why: very stylish decor and views of the Empire State Building. The cocktails were good too. We didn’t have reservations but got there earlier in the night.

Ube Eclair, Sugar Cookie Cruffin, Passionfruit Curd Donut, and Chocolate Croissant at Supermoon Bakeshop

We picked up pastries to eat later and these were delicious! Definitely a bakery I would return to.

Rooftop Cocktails at Daintree

While I liked Bar Cima more, Daintree is a few blocks away and also has views of the Empire State Building. I would recommend getting here before 9 pm if you don’t have a reservation.

Latte at Blue Bottle Coffee

This brand is only in four cities in the world and Janna said the shakerato is great!

Matcha Latte at Matchaful

I saw this was one of the best places for matcha in the city. It was tasty and I bought some matcha to enjoy at home.

Lox Bagel Sandwich at Russ and Daughters

I would come back for this bagel sandwich! It ticked all the boxes and was so delicious. It’s counter service, so expect a wait.

Strawberry Matcha Crepe Cake at Lady M Cakes

This slice of cake was so delicately flavorful and delightful. Perfectly flavored with strawberry and matcha.

Sandwiches from Heritage Grand Bakery

We got this to-go and ate them at the airport for a late lunch/early dinner. It hit the spot! They also have lots of baked goods and seating so it would be a solid place for lunch.

Quick Notes

Here are some things to know for your next future trip.

• Go on a weekday for cheaper flights and a less busy city. But flights and hotels will be pricey – about $450 for a non-stop, roundtrip flight from Austin and $400+ a night per person for a hotel.
• We stayed at Grayson Hotel (a Hyatt property). I recommend it for the Midtown location.
• Dress in layers and wear a beanie or earmuffs
• Getting from JFK Airport to Downtown:
  • Taxis at the airport are at a fixed rate of $70 + taxes and fees to come out to $98 per car
  • Rideshare is about $90-100 per car
  • Subway will be $13-19 per person
• If you’re serious about visiting specific places (like we were), map out those places to plan out an efficient schedule. Traveling around the city takes time.

Thanks for reading through my trip recap and I hope you enjoy some of these great eateries on your next trip to NYC!

Want more travel inspiration? Click to read these posts:

• 10 Best Things to Do in Dominica – Caribbean’s Nature Island
• My Bachelorette Party in San Antonio
• Best Things to Do in Washington, DC
• Cozumel Dive Trip with Cenotes, Whale Sharks, and Resort Life

The post 48 Hours in NYC – Here’s What We Ate and Saw appeared first on Fearless Captivations.

I was so lucky to get the chance to visit Japan. Like so many before me, I was dazzled by my visit. I enjoyed the food, the culture, and the historical buildings. 

I highly recommend a trip to Japan. This country is great for people who want to explore a city and are adventurous eaters. To help you plan your trip, this post gives you all the nitty gritty details and tips. Keep reading for information and an itinerary.

Why Visit Japan

“Can you do that with more care?” A server quietly asked this to another server (in Japanese) during one of our meals, and it illustrates one of the things that makes Japan so special. The care that Japanese people put into their actions, fashion, and way of living is extraordinary. People are thoughtful, kind, generous, and helpful. Even if they’re frustrated on the inside, they are patient and understanding outwardly. It was easy to feel welcomed as a traveler.

In cities that are crowded and busy, I felt carefree. (Though I know I might have some bias from being on vacation.) Their thoughtful living makes processes efficient. You know to expect the order of where to stand when you get on and off a train. You aim to get everywhere early.

The food is so good! There are so many unique dishes to try. Seafood is a major ingredient in their diet, but you’ll see plenty of other protein. It might be slightly harder if you are vegan or gluten-free, but it’s possible!

It’s relatively easy to get around. The train system is extensive.

Altogether, you should visit Japan to marvel at its brilliance. From great hospitality to incredible meals, you’ll find a warm adventure when you visit.

Quick Tips

• Visa: Most countries, including the U.S., will receive a 90-day visa upon arrival.
• Language: Japanese
• Currency: Japanese Yen. $1 USD is about 148 JPY
• Credit Cards: Widely used. Cash is good for street food markets
• Tipping: None required
• Capital City: Tokyo
• Water: Tap water is drinkable
• Vaccinations: No special vaccinations are needed.
• Religion: Primarily Shinto and Buddhism

When to Visit Japan

The best months are fall (September to November) and Spring (March to May). This will also be the high season when you can expect more tourists.

Which Cities to Visit

It’s hard to pick a favorite city! Each one has its pros/cons and things that make it unique. This section will share more about the cities travelers usually visit.

We went to 5 cities (6 cities for one of us) in 2 weeks, with 2 cities (3 cities for one of us) as day trips. We visited what some would call the “greatest hits” or the most popular cities for tourists. 

While we loved each place, you can expect crowds and high-traffic city life. Of course, there are less popular cities to visit, but you have to factor in the time and money to get there (possibly less availability on trains) and the number of resources, like restaurants to try, in that place. It’s not impossible and depends on how you want to spend your time!

• Tokyo – Tokyo is very efficient and orderly. They have to be with that many people! You’ll find fewer trash cans (and less trash) on the street and clear signs indicating where to stand for the train. But while people are more reserved, they will jump to help you if you look lost in a train station.
• Hakone – If you want to find a slower pace in a mountain town and enjoy hot springs, Hakone is a good option. You could see Mount Fuji from here, and it’s also a great base for travelers interested in guided hiking adventures around Hakone and Mount Fuji.
• Osaka – This city is very similar to Tokyo but a little less strict. The people are more carefree and so are their habits. For example, there are more trash cans on the street and more trash strewn about. I found locals are less likely to jump to your aid but are friendly when asked.
• Kyoto – This city is the place of many shrines and temples. It’s where to go to learn about Japanese history and traditional customs like tea ceremonies and see old relics. If this is important to you, I recommend staying a few nights here and getting up early to see the sights. It gets exhaustingly crowded at popular tourist sights.
• Nara – While Nara is known for its wild bowing deer, you’ll also want to visit the most impressive Buddhist temple.
• Hiroshima – Most tourists probably know Hiroshima from its WW2 history. You can visit to see old buildings from the nuclear attack and memorials. It’s a bittersweet place to see and honor history.
• Hokkaido – This is Japan’s northernmost island. This region is popular for outdoor activities, like hiking and skiing.
• Okinawa – I want to come back and visit Okinawa to scuba dive!

How to Get There

International flights will likely fly into Tokyo for the most direct access. There are two airports in Tokyo – Narita (NRT) and Haneda (HND). Haneda is the one closest to Tokyo’s center. Narita is about an hour’s drive from the center of Tokyo.

How to Get Around

Public transportation is efficient and widely accessible in Japan. You can travel from city to city and within cities with almost one card. Train station signage is usually abundant and clear, with English, color coding, and numbers.

We bought the JR Pass, which is about $563 for 14 days of travel. It’s recommended if you’ll be going to other cities and is supposed to be cheaper than paying for each route. This allowed us to take multiple long train rides. The pricing changed in the fall of 2023, so it’s recommended to price out your routes to see if the JR Pass pricing will save you money or not.

You’ll also need a Suica card. This is a metro card you can reload and it’ll get you around most train stations. You can get this at the airport when you land. This card will also take you longer distances, like city to city.

Google Maps or Apple Maps is your best friend! It will give you specific train information.

What to Wear in Japan

Dress for the season and layers are best. I went in the fall (Temperatures in the 60-70s) and noticed Japanese are very modest and dress warmly, commonly wearing pants or long dresses/skirts and also covering their arms.

Key Japanese Phrases to Know

While becoming fluent in Japanese is not necessary, knowing a handful of phrases shows respect and can get you further. I recommend watching some YouTube videos about “Japanese words for tourists” to get prepared. If all else fails, pointing, gesturing, and Google Translate will help you get by.

Here are some phrases I used:

• Konichiwa – hello
• Arigato gozaimas – thank you
• Sumimasen – excuse me
• Onegashimas – please
• Konbibi- convenience store
• Mizou – water
• Toyay – toilet
• Kanpai – cheers
• Hai – yes

What to Eat in Japan

I’ve got plenty of posts to help you plan what to eat! This includes special meals to make a reservation for and experiences to plan around.

• 8 Best Foodie Experiences in Japan
• Sushi Omakase at Sushi Punch in Tokyo, Japan
• Kaiseki Michelin Meal at Yugen in Osaka, Japan
• 20 Best Eats and Drinks I Had in Japan
• Wagyu Tasting at Tsurugyu in Osaka, Japan

2-Week Japan Itinerary

The following 15-day itinerary combines things: what I had planned, what we did, and what I would do differently. It’s somewhat my ideal schedule but it’s also packed! When you’re looking at this to plan your trip, I would note the groupings of activities because of physical proximity but edit the schedule to your interests.

Some changes I made:

• We spent 3 nights in Hakone, which was relaxing, but could be a bit slow. It depends on how fast you travel.
• We had a day trip to Kyoto, but I would have liked to see more of Kyoto, either doing another day trip there or staying two nights in Kyoto. The train from Osaka to Kyoto is about 15 minutes, so you would save a bit of time by staying in Kyoto.

Day 1 – Travel Day

• Flight to Tokyo – left Austin at 7 am and stopped in Houston, left Houston around noon

Day 2 – Night in Tokyo

• Land in Tokyo at 3:30 pm – about a 14-hour flight
• Take the train to our hotel
• Walk to Omoide Yokocho (restaurant alley) for dinner
• Post-dinner walk around the Shinjuku neighborhood or Golden Gai for drinks

Day 3 – Tokyo

• Meiji Jingu Shrine (Shibuya) – opens at 5:20 am, large park to walk around
• Grab breakfast nearby – in Shibuya/Harajuku neighborhoods
• Lunch: Relax Shokudo (Harajuku) – traditional bento box meal
• Explore Haranjuku neighborhood
• Explore Shimokitazawa neighborhood for shops and vintage
• Shibuya Crossing around 6pm 

Day 4 – Tokyo

• Hie Shrine (opens at 6am)
• Imperial Palace (opens at 9am)
• Explore the Ginza neighborhood – Itoya Stationery Shop, Bongen Coffee
• Lunch: Kanda Matsuya – soba noodles
• Explore Akihabara – games
• Snack: Aoi Marushin – tempura
• Sensō-ji* – Buddhist temple
• Asakusa Shrine
• 5pm Ninja Food Tour

Day 5 – Tokyo

• Tsukiji Fish Market (open 8am – 2pm)
• Team Lab

Day 6 – Travel to Hakone

• Breakfast/lunch
• Take the train from Tokyo to Hakone
• Check into hotel
• Get a massage
• Dinner included at the hotel

Day 7 – Hakone

• Go up the Hakone Ropeway to Owakudani
• Take the pirate ship sightseeing tour
• Visit the Hakone Open Air Museum – sculpture art
• Dinner included at the hotel

Day 8 – Travel to Osaka

• Take train from Hakone to Osaka in AM (3 hr ride)
• Shitennoji Temple
• Tennoji Park
• Dotonbori neighborhood – Kuroman Ichiba Market
• Taste Osaka Food Tour

Day 9 – Osaka

• Osaka Castle
• 40 min train to Namaze to Takedao (3.4mi hike)
• Cup Noodle Museum

Day 10 – Day trip to Hiroshima

• Train to Hiroshima – 2 hours
• Visit the memorial garden and museum

Day 11 – Day trip to Kyoto

• Train to Kyoto – 15 mins
• Hokan-ji Temple
• Tea Ceremony at Camellia Flower Teahouse
• Kiyomizu-dera Temple
• Yasaka Shrine
• Explore Gion neighborhood

Day 12 – Day trip to Kyoto

• Train to Kyoto – 15 mins
• Arashiyama Bamboo Forest – get there very early because it gets crowded
• Nijo Castle
• Nishiki Market
• Fushimi Kandakara Shrine

Day 13 – Day trip to Nara

• Train to Nara – 45 mins
• Explore Nara Park (all day, stop for lunch)
• Kasuga-Taisha Shrine – Shinto shrine with famous interior, 9am public prayer service
• Tōdai-ji Temple – Buddhist temple complex
• Hōryū-ji – Buddhist temple
• Kasugayama Primeval Forest
• Lunch at Hiraso 
• Mochi at Nakatanidou (go before 2 pm)
• Take train back for dinner in Osaka

Day 14 – Travel to Tokyo / Last Night in Japan

• Take train from Kyoto to Tokyo
• Mori Art Museum
• Last-minute souvenir shopping

Day 15

• Flight to Austin – leave Tokyo at 10:30 am, arrive in Houston at 8:30 am, arrive in Austin at 1 pm

Quick Reference of our Trip

• Airline to Japan: All Nippon Airways
• Tokyo Hotel: JR Blossom Shinjuku
• Tokyo Hotel: Royal Park Hotel Tokyo Haneda
• Hakone Hotel: Masutomi Ryokan
• Osaka Hotel: Karaksa Hotel Grande Shin-Osaka Tower
• Tokyo Food Tour: Ninja Food Tours
• Osaka Food Tour: Taste Osaka
• Kyoto Tea Ceremony: Camellia Flower Teahouse
• Train: JR Rail Pass, Suica Card

Japan, I hope to see you again one day. I’d love to dive in Japan one day!

For more tips and recommendations, here are all my Japan posts:

• 13 Best Things To Do in Japan for a Fantastic Trip
• 8 Best Foodie Experiences in Japan
• 10 Helpful Tips You Need for Your Japan Trip
• 20 Best Eats and Drinks I Had in Japan
• Kaiseki Michelin Meal at Yugen in Osaka, Japan
• Wagyu Tasting at Tsurugyu in Osaka, Japan
• Sushi Omakase at Sushi Punch in Tokyo, Japan

The post Japan Travel Guide + 2 Week Itinerary appeared first on Fearless Captivations.

Why Visit Washington, DC

If you love history, tourist destinations, and good food, Washington, DC is a great place to visit. We really enjoyed visiting museums and eating delicious food.

Best Time to Visit DC

Ideally, visit in spring (March to May) or fall (September to November). I can confirm summer is not the ideal time. We went July 4th weekend and the high temperatures were in the high 80s/low 90s. But it is a busy time because families are traveling for summer vacation.

How to Get to DC

You’ll fly into Ronald Regan Washington National Airport (DCA) or Dulles International Airport (IAD). DCA is closer to Washington, DC. – about a 10-15 minute drive to downtown – while IAD is about a 40-minute drive. There are metro stops at both airports.

How to Get Around DC

There are multiple ways to get around DC.

If you’re not in a hurry, the Metro is extensive and affordable. It’s about $2 one way, depending on where you’re going.

If you want to explore by bike, Capital Bikeshare offers 24-hr bike rental for $8. You can also rent by ride, which is $1 per unlock and $0.05 a minute for a regular bike or $0.15 for an electric bike.

Rideshare is also available, which we took in the evenings to get to dinner. It’s more costly, about $1 a minute without surge pricing.

Bus tours are an easier option. Big Bus Tours and Old Town Trolley Tours are hop-on, hop-off buses with 15 stops around the National Mall. You can get tickets for 1-3 days.

You could also rent a car. It’s personally my last choice since downtown parking in any city is a big hassle, especially in a tourist-heavy area. It will also be the most expensive.

We spent about $170 on transportation, the majority of that being rideshare for about eight rides. I think if we hadn’t gone in the summer, we would have been more inclined to other transportation!

Where to Stay in DC

We stayed in Dupont Circle on Embassy Row and thought it was a good location. The airport was about 15-20 minutes away and we biked to most sights in 15-20 minutes. Our hotel was The Ven at Embassy Row and it was renovated in 2021. The Metro station is steps away and you’ll be a short walk from the Dupont Farmers Market on Sundays. It’s a little far to walk to the National Mall – about 30 minutes.

Staying Downtown (Logan Circle and Penn Quarter are nearby) is pricier but you’ll be in closer walking distance to the National Mall.

Low-season hotel rates are an average of $150 per night and high-season is about $270 per night.

Best Things to Do

History buffs, museum enthusiasts, tourist friendlies – this city is for you. You could easily fill a week of visiting monuments and museums. At a fast pace, you could walk through the National Mall in about two to four hours. I recommend researching the museums you want to visit and seeing if they require any advance reservations. But also aim to make fewer reservations and allow yourself time to wander and linger. There’s a lot to take in and discover.

See this post for info on what we saw and what else I recommend.

Best Things to Eat in DC

There’s no lack of good food in DC! The city is culturally diverse, so you’ll find a wide variety of options and some of the best. DC is also a city with Michelin designations if you like finer dining.

See this post for where we ate and more recommendations.

I hope you have a great time visiting DC!

Looking for more travel guides? Check out these options:

• Travel Guide to Downtown Seattle, Washington
• Big Island Hawaii Travel Guide + Trip Itinerary
• Napa Travel Guide & Itinerary

The post Washington, DC Travel Guide appeared first on Fearless Captivations.

Why an Alaskan cruise?

This cruise has been a long time coming. We had originally planned this family cruise to the Caribbean three years ago, but we know what happened to that. 

It’s been said cruising in Alaska is one of the best cruises to take. You are surrounded by incredible scenery, from whales in the water to towering snow-capped mountains.

5 things I checked off my to-do list:

• Fished for halibut
• Ate king crab
• Marveled the Alaskan wilderness
• Spotted whales and sea lions
• Drank an Alaskan beer

When to visit Alaska

The cruise season is the summer – May through September. This is when temperatures will be warmer. In the other months, most of the state hibernates for winter.

How much does an Alaska cruise cost?

Here’s an estimate per person:

• Cruise: $834
• Round-trip flight from Austin to Seattle: $597
• Base total: $1,431

Other costs to factor in:

• Excursions: These can range from $50-500 per port. We spent about $665 for 3 outings. The cheapest was renting an electric bike for a day and the most expensive was a fishing charter.
• Dining in ports: Try local cuisines and restaurants when you get off the boat.
• Extra expenses on the boat: Things like alcohol, shopping, and the casino are out of your own pocket. You’ll also have a daily fee ($16 per person for my trip) added as crew appreciation.

Pricing will vary by cruise ship. Carnival is one of the least expensive cruises while Princess, Norwegian, and Royal Caribbean are about mid-level.

Which cities do you go to on an Alaskan cruise?

We went to 4 ports and spent 2 days at sea. We explored Ketchikan, Juneau, and Skagway in Alaska and Victoria in Canada.

Some other cruise ports include: Sitka, Haines, Anchorage, Seward, Whittier

What to wear in Alaska

This is a tricky answer. Look at the temperature a week before your trip. We arrived during an unseasonal heat wave, so our temperatures were 45 – 80 degrees F – hot for Alaska! Typically there will be a slight chill but not unbearably cold.

Best Alaska Excursions

In most of these ports, you can find crab and salmon to eat and places to hike. The port has a small selection of restaurants and monuments to see, but if you want to get a more expansive view, I recommend getting a ride outside of the port or booking an excursion. It’s best to book an excursion before your trip since some may take all day and/or get booked up.

Ketchikan

• Fishing for halibut or salmon – We booked a private 5-hour charter with Ketchikan’s Finest Fishing Charter. While we missed catching huge halibut (either because we’re not great at fishing or because it was the beginning of the season) but we still reeled in three fish. You can ship it home, and companies will fillet the fish and price it by the pound. The minimum is nearly $200.
• Alaska Fish House – We stopped here for lunch after our fishing trip and enjoyed fried cod, halibut, and salmon.
• Bar Harbor Ale House – Before boarding the ship, we enjoyed an Alaskan brew at this portside bar.
• Misty Fjord National Monument – One of the top things to do in Ketchikan is visit this place and it’s usually done by boat.

Juneau

• Tracy’s King Crab Shack – We enjoyed a crab feast at this restaurant right off the port dock. We enjoyed red king crab and golden king crab.
• Whale watching – Our group booked a whale-watching tour with Juneau Whale Tours where we watched whales and sea lions for about two hours.
• Mendenhall Glacier – One of the top things to do in Juneau is explore Mendenhall Glacier, which you can walk near.

Skagway

• Bike tour – We took a self-guided tour of Skagway with an electric bike rental from Klondike Electric Bicycles. We rode about 20 miles (9 miles to the Chilkoot Trail Trailhead and along the Taiya River) and stopped for short hikes at Reid Falls and Dewey Lake Trail.
• Cafe on 5th – We stopped here for coffee and snacks and it was a highlight!
• White Pass Scenic Railway – Taking this train ride is one of the most popular things to do in Skagway. It’s about a 3-hour ride with scenic views.

Victoria, Canada

• Whistle Buoy Brewing – Since we had less than 5 hours in Victoria, we simply walked around the town. We walked along the bay and stopped by the lit-up Parliament Buildings. Eventually a local suggested we go to Whistle Buoy Brewing, where we enjoyed local beer and kombucha.

About the Cruise

It’s been more than 20 years since I’ve been on a cruise, and while it can be a good option for a family trip, especially if your group needs a slower-paced trip, I prefer the way I travel now – land-based, self-planned, and highly active trips. 

Here’s a pro/con cruise breakdown for you.

Cruise Pros

• Visit multiple places with little planning
• Fairly easy planning for group trips
• 24/7 food options
• Variety of activities – shows, gym, casino, shopping, outdoor spaces

Cruise Cons

• Subpar food (quality varies by the cruise line)
• Can be claustrophobic or overstimulating (constantly around people)
• 24/7 food options
• Limited time to explore the place you’re visiting
• Sea days can feel boring and a “waste” of a vacation day

Cruise Quick Tips

• Research ports and excursions before your trip. Many tours get booked months ahead. Knowing about the ports can help you maximize your time and book last-minute activities.
• Bring a water bottle.
• Keep to a 3-meal schedule to avoid overeating. There’s food available 24/7!
• Bring your own must-have foods.
• Bring games for your group. We had dominos, Mahjong, and cards.
• Arrive a day before your cruise departure and book your departing flight after 11 a.m. on the last day.
• Keep your phone in airplane mode (unless you purchase the Wi-Fi plan).

I’m so thankful to have the opportunity to spend lots of quality time with family and to experience the beauty of Alaska! I recommend adventuring to Alaska if you enjoy the outdoors.

The post Alaska Cruise Guide + My Trip Recap appeared first on Fearless Captivations.

3 Things to Do in Downtown Seattle

My favorite things we did were:

Pike Place Market

A necessary stop, Pike Place Market was the spot for several meals and entertainment. There are multiple restaurants and shops in the area, and you’ll see fish throwing, plenty of beautiful flowers, and views of the water.

Chihuly Garden and Glass

My favorite thing we did was go to the Chihuly Garden and Glass Museum. Dale Chihuly’s glasswork is incredible! I’ve watched all of the competition show Blown Away on Netflix and went to a glass-blowing workshop at my bachelorette party, so I have a tiny bit of knowledge about what it takes to create these huge glass exhibits. I love how they installed the glass in the garden.

Olympic Sculpture Park

A short walk from the Space Needle Complex, the Olympic Sculpture Park has a few sculptures. It overlooks the bay.

The Space Needle is a popular sight in Seattle. This tower will give you tall views and can be seen in the complex that includes all the museums.

I can’t say this is a favorite thing we did, but since we were here, we stopped by the infamous Gum Wall to see how disgusting it is in person. It’s at Pike Place Market, so it’s an easy stop. It’s more of a gum alley at this point.

If it interests you, the Seattle Aquarium and Seattle Art Museum are also in the Downtown Seattle area.

If I had more time in Seattle (or when I return), here are some other things I would check out:

• Museum of Pop Culture
• Fremont Troll – the famous troll sculpture under a bridge
• Add-A-Ball – pinball bar
• Discovery Park
• Alki Beach
• Bill Speidels Underground Tour
• National Nordic Museum

7 Downtown Seattle Restaurants I Loved

Even with a short time in Seattle, we got some good eating! Here are seven spots I recommend.

Le Panier

a great spot for to-go coffee and pastries

Din Tai Fung

delicious dumplings

Pike Brewing

good IPA

Umi Sake House

delicious sushi dinner

Cupcake Royale

solid lavender cupcake

Pike Place Chowder

best chowder I’ve ever had

The Hart and the Hunter

a cute place for breakfast

2 Places I Could Have Skipped:

• Piroshky Piroshky – This is a buzzy bakery known for its Eastern European turnover sandwiches (like a kolache or empanada). Nationally known, they even have pop-ups in Austin. The salmon piroshky was good but the chocolate hazelnut roll was not.
• Mee Sum Bakery – This Chinese bakery near Pike Place Market frequently had a line but their egg tart and pineapple bun left a lot to be desired.

How to Get Around Seattle

We used the Sound Transit light rail to get from the airport to downtown very easily. It’s about 30 minutes and $3 per person. We had a little bit of walking to and from the train station (less than 10 minutes). The rail is a good option for getting around, and rideshare is available. Since we stayed downtown, we walked a lot.

Until Next Time, Seattle

Hopefully one day I’ll be back! I know Washington has great outdoor spots to explore, so maybe I’ll be back someday.

The post Travel Guide to Downtown Seattle, Washington appeared first on Fearless Captivations.

This trip to Dominica has been a long time coming! We first talked about visiting six years ago after seeing a random article about the country. Then in 2017, Hurricane Maria destroyed 90% of the country’s structures. Dominica is resilient; they’ve bounced back from multiple storms over the past 12 years. While you can see unfinished restoration throughout the island, the island, business, and nature, have built back strong.

You may only know Dominica from hurricane news, but there is much more to discover. I hope this guide helps you plan your trip to this Eastern Caribbean island.

Dominica Primer

Two things before we move on – where is Dominica and how do you pronounce it?

Dominica is a country in the Eastern Caribbean, the Lesser Antilles.

While it gets confused with the Dominican Republic all the time, Dominica is its own country and it’s pronounced DOM-uh-nica.

Why Dominica

You like nature and adventure. Dominica is 60% forest. It’s known as “The Nature Island of the Caribbean” for a reason! Waitukubuli National Trail is a 115-mile trail spanning the country north and south and Morne Trois Pitons National Park has some memorable hikes. Outside of the forest, you’ll find rocky beaches in the south, sandy beaches in the north, and vibrant coral reefs for scuba diving. You’ll definitely get a workout on this vacation.

You want to visit somewhere with fewer tourists. During our week in Dominica, we were typically the only visitors at a site or saw a handful of people while we were there. We did have one day where we visited a site and quickly found out that a cruise ship had arrived – the park was packed. You can plan your days to avoid crowds by checking the cruise ship schedule.

A Little History

Dominica gained its independence in 1978. Prior to their independence, the island was possessed by Great Britain starting in 1763 and France around the 1690s. The Kalinago or Caribs are the indigenous people of the Lesser Antilles islands and their culture is honored on the island. The Kalinago Territory is 3,700 acres on the east side of the island where about 3,000 people live. Visit this website to learn more about the Kalinago.

While visiting sights in the Morne Trois Pitons National Park, you’ll see informational areas to learn more about the history.

Quick Tips

• Visa: None required for US citizens
• Language: English
• Currency: East Caribbean Dollars (ECD). $1 USD is $2.70 ECD
• Credit Cards: Widely used except at gas stations
• Tipping: Check to see if it’s included in the check, otherwise 10%
• Water: Tap water is ok to drink. Bring a water bottle.
• Driving: On the left

When to Visit

Dry season is February through April and the rainy season is June through November. In dry season, temperatures can get to the upper 80s. Cruise ships are frequently docked December through April, like much of the Caribbean.

We visited in the middle of November. While it did rain every day, we were able to find hours when the rain was light to go on hikes. That said, expect to get drenched. While the rain was uncomfortable at times, I would go back and do it again, but maybe with a raincoat and better hiking shoes.

See the river that happened during one of our hikes below! While not every hike was like this, most were definitely muddy.

Is Dominica Cheap to Visit?

Yes, Dominica is more affordable than other destinations, but no, not all options on the island are cheap. In short, we spent around $2,500 per person for the trip. 

The biggest cost was our stay. Our 8-night stay in a resort hotel with a daily breakfast buffet for 2 people cost about $2,100 ($131 per person per day). You can bring this cost down by booking a more affordable place with no breakfast. We considered a bare-bones stay that cost $800 for the week but ultimately decided against it because we wanted air conditioning in the room and a reliable restaurant option on the property. There are cheaper options than that! It depends on what you are looking for in your accommodations. 

Other top costs:

• Roundtrip from Austin to Dominica (one stop in Miami): $635 per person
• Package of 6 dives for two plus daily gear rental: $650 + tips
• Car rental for 8 days: $400
• Canyoning tour for two: $258

Getting to Dominica

You’ll fly into Douglas-Charles Airport (DOM). The main flight from the U.S. is American Airlines from Miami, about 3 and a half hours. The airport is about one hour away from Roseau, the capital.

The airport is very small and you’ll go through a short customs process upon arrival.

How to Get Around – Car Rental 101

There are two ways to get around the island: rent a car or hire a private vehicle. The cities are walkable but you will be limited without a car as the sights are not near each other. Tours are readily available but renting a car is most economical if you can handle the driving, which I don’t recommend unless you are a pro at AWD and defensive driving. We drove around 20-30 mph throughout our stay because of the conditions and we drove at least 2 hours daily.

Driving in Dominica is anxiety-inducing because:

• Narrow Roads: Most roads are two-way, narrowly fitting small cars. There typically aren’t lanes and cars stay on their side of the road or move over when another vehicle is passing.
• Passing: In towns, you’ll find parked cars in one of the lanes, which turns the road into one-way, having to stop and move over on one side to let cars by.
• Mountain Roads: The roads to many sights are windy and steep with drop-offs on one side and ditches on the other. Expect sharp turns with blind spots up and down.
• Gutters: It would be a lot easier if there weren’t foot-deep gutters on the side of the road! (I assume these are for rain flow.) With drop-offs on the other side!
• Weather: During the rainy season, consistent showers will happen throughout the day.
• Lights: Locals use their brights at night which is an added headache!
• Left-Hand: Adding to all of this, you are driving on the left-hand side so everything in the car is also opposite.

BUT having a car was great because of flexibility; we could set our own schedule and go wherever we wanted. Also, we saw plenty of rentals at our hotel and on the road, so don’t let me scare you away.

Car rental is easy, and our car wasn’t fancy but rugged! There are a handful of car rental companies and we went with Happy Car Rental at the airport. We got a Toyota Rav4 for $400 for 8 days.

Other quick tips:

• Google Maps for the most part got us to where we wanted to go.
• Gas Stations: they pump for you and you pay by cash

Where to Stay

This was a bit tricky for us because we planned to do multiple days of diving out of Soufriere in the south of the island. We also wanted to explore Morne Trois Pitons National Park for multiple days, so staying in Roseau or Soufriere would give us the shortest drives. We chose Soufriere in hopes it would be more secluded in nature. 

As I usually do with trip planning (my guide here), I recommend deciding what activities you want to do and finding the most convenient place to stay. Below are four cities that might be of interest and a few places to stay in each place.

Roseau

The capital city, Roseau is bustling and somewhat chaotic, especially when cruise ships are in port, but you’ll also have the proximity to walking to the grocery store and many restaurants. Stay options include: 

• Fort Young Hotel
• This Airbnb

Soufriere

A quiet, residential town, Soufriere has a handful of stay options. Jungle Bay Resort, where we stayed, is located here, as well as more humble abodes. We did not do much in Soufriere other than go to the dive shop and drive by to get to Scott’s Head. But our hotel was peaceful and a short drive to restaurant options in Scott’s Head and Roseau. Soufriere stay options include: 

• Jungle Bay Resort – The restaurant is a bit expensive and we had to hike to our room, but the pool was picturesque and the rooms were ideal. They have a weekly schedule of tours you can join. I wouldn’t advise walking anywhere from the hotel as it’s on a steep road.
• This magical Airbnb cottage
• Rodney’s Wellness Retreat
• Soufriere Guesthouse

Portsmouth

In the northwest of the island, Portsmouth is the second largest town in Dominica. If you stay in this area, you’ll have easier access to some beaches and to Cabrits National Park. Stay options include: 

• Picard Beach Cottages
• Cabrits Resort and Spa
• Secret Bay
• The Champs Hotel

Calbishie

In the northeast of the island and 30 minutes away from the airport, Calbishie is an option to be nearer to sandy beaches. Stay options include: 

• Wanderlust Caribbean Boutique Hotel

Other places that I looked at that aren’t in one of the above cities:

• Pagua Bay House
• Tamarind Tree Hotel
• Banana Lama Eco Villa and Cottages
• Rosalie Bay Eco Resort
• Coulibri Ridge
• Atlantique View Resort

What to do in Dominica

If you’re visiting Dominica, you probably enjoy the outdoors. Dominica is known for its hiking, waterfalls, and diving. If you want an active vacation, this is it! For reference, I easily averaged 1 mile; 9,000 steps; and a whopping 50 floors of elevation during the week of the trip.

See this post about my favorite 10 things we did in Dominica!

See this post about diving in Dominica.

What to Eat

When you’re here, expect hearty meals. Take a look at this post to see some of my restaurant recommendations. Don’t miss Chez Wen, Keepin’ It Real, and Lacou!

Dominica Itinerary Recommendation

How long should you visit? I think a week – Saturday to Saturday or Sunday – is a good amount of time to see much of the island if you are efficient. Because the typical flight in and out of Dominica is around 2 – 3 p.m., you’ll be limited on activities those two days.

• Day 1: Land around 2 p.m., Get to hotel in Soufriere
• Day 2: 2 morning dives (3-4 hrs), Scott’s Head (1-2 hrs)
• Day 3: 2 morning dives (3-4 hrs), Champagne Beach (1 hr)
• Day 4: 2 morning dives (3-4 hrs), Freshwater Lake Hike (2 hrs)
• Day 5: Extreme Dominica tour (8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.), Titou Gorge (1 hr), Trafalgar Falls (1 hr)
• Day 6: Middleham Falls (3-4 hrs), Ti Kwen Glo Cho (1 hr)
• Day 7: Check out of Soufriere hotel, Emerald Pool (1 hr), Mero Beach, Cabrits National Park (2+ hrs), Stay in Calibishie
• Day 8: Batibou Bay
• Day 9: Depart at 3 p.m. flight

I designed the above itinerary with edits from my experience. Some notes:

• This is a packed schedule! The time estimates are about how long we spent in each place. We had about 2+ hours of driving each day.
• Driving from Soufriere to the Morne Trois Pitons National Park area, where many of the sites are, is about 40-50 minutes. This isn’t too bad, but remember, driving is not for the faint of heart and may take longer than maps suggest.
• Soufriere to Calibishie is about two hours. We didn’t visit Calibishie because we drove north to Portsmouth (40 minutes away from Calibishie) and we didn’t want to do that drive again. There are a handful of things in Calibishie that would be fun to do, so I recommend splitting time and staying up north for a few nights. Calibishie is about 30 minutes away from the airport.
• Boiling Lake is a 6-hr, full-day tour. It’s often listed as a top thing to do, so consider adding this to your schedule.
• Near Emerald Pool are more waterfalls (Jacko, Spanny, Salton) if you want to visit multiple.

Dominica is a great option in the Caribbean and I recommend it if you want an adventure! You can make the experience as easy (stay at a resort and take guided tours) or adventurous (rent a car and take self-guided tours) as you want!

Want more help with your trip? See these other posts about Dominica:

• Best Restaurants in Dominica
• 10 Best Things to Do in Dominica – Caribbean’s Nature Island
• What to Know About Scuba Diving in Dominica – Adventure Island

P.S. Not sure where to travel to? Check out my destinations section.

The post Dominica Travel Guide + Trip Itinerary appeared first on Fearless Captivations.

Ski trips are a fun idea for a long weekend. Three full days of skiing is just enough time to have fun and wear your body out. After going to Telluride, Colorado last year, we were excited to try somewhere new. Salt Lake City is known for its many ski resorts, so we joined my sister-in-law at one of her favorites – Alta.

Here is a quick guide if you’re considering skiing at Alta.

Why Ski Alta

Alta is a favorite ski-only area near Salt Lake City. The terrain is 15% beginner, 30% intermediate, and 55% advanced, meaning there are more options for people who know how to ski. Skiing is open from December to May, and the mountain averages 540 inches of snow every year! It snows harder in December but snows the most days in February.

It’s a beautiful, challenging mountain where lots of locals visit. Its low-key, ski-focused vibe was a perfect fit for us.

Alta Quick Ski Guide

Here are some things to know about skiing Alta.

• Alta’s lifts open at 9:15 a.m. and the area opens at 8 a.m.
• Parking fills up, so if you want a spot close to the entrance, get there early. Paid reservations ($10) are needed on the weekends.
• There was little to no traffic during the weekdays before 9 a.m. and when we left around 3-4 p.m., but traffic will double on the weekends.
• There is a rental shop at Albion Base that you can walk in on your first day. The prices ($47-77 per day depending on gear type) are comparable to a rental shop like Christy Sports, so make it easy and rent here.
• Restaurants – There are a few cafeteria-style dining options on the mountain. They serve warm and hearty options like chili, sandwiches, and soups. They also have lots of seating.
• While we found it easy to store our things in the car while we were skiing and store our rentals in our hotel at night, there are lockers available.
• If you want to try more than Alta, Snowbird (more advanced) is next door and there are lift tickets to be able to experience both. There is also a connection on the mountain.
• Lift line wait times ranged from walk-on to 10 minutes. Typically it was about 5 minutes or less.

If you’re looking for a comparison of the ski resorts in Salt Lake City, see the Powerderhound website for more information.

One thing I’ll mention is Park City is one of the most popular ski areas near Salt Lake City. We decided not to go here because while the mountain is bigger (more runs), it has a lower percentage for beginners and the area (rental stays, restaurants) are more expensive.

About the Runs

I am a green/blue skier and there were just enough runs to satisfy me. Their greens are short and limited (did all of them and they are pretty easy) and blues are a bit steeper to me (who skied blues for the first time this trip). See the trail map here and these are some runs I liked:

• The Sunnyside lift will take you to all the greens. Crooked Mile and Home Run are two long green runs.
• After the Sunnyside lift, take the Supreme lift to my favorite run Big Dipper. It’s an easy blue with a few challenging spots. You can also veer off of Big Dipper to Rock ‘n Roll, which is a harder blue with a few steep drops.
• After the Sunnyside lift, you can also take the Sugarloaf lift up. Devil’s Elbow is an easier blue with some tricky spots.
• The Sugarloaf lift will also take you to the slow EBT to Collins and connect you to Mambo – Meadow – Corkscrew, probably the hardest of the easy blues. You’ll end up on the Collins lift.

Alta Weather

We visited the last week of February and got lucky. Alta had recently gotten snow and two of the days the high was almost 20 degrees F but it was 0-10 degrees most of the time. This meant a few breaks were necessary to thaw out fingers and toes! On the third day, it was up to 30, which feels like a big difference (so hot!) when you’re bundled up in thermals.

It was hard to get warm sometimes. I was wearing two layers of thermals (wool) on top plus my ski jacket, a fleece gaiter, fleece headband, two sets of gloves, thermal pants under my ski pants, and ski socks. If I’m skiing at this temperature in the future, I’ll need to find warmer gloves and socks and/or use warmers.

My Telluride post goes into more detail about ski gear.

How to Get There

You’ll fly into Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC), which is about 15 minutes from the downtown area and an hour away from Alta. Everything is relatively close when you stay just outside of downtown. Keep reading to learn more about where to stay.

How to Get Around

You’ll need to rent a car with four-wheel drive in the winter and there are plenty of rental options at the airport. We rented a Jeep and it was about $40 extra a day for a four-wheel-drive vehicle. The total price was around $500 for four days.

Having a car is ideal (and my preference if/when we visit again) but there is an extensive light rail – TRAX – and there are bus routes that take you to the ski areas. However, remember you’ll need to tote your ski rentals to/from your place.

Where to Stay

There is not really a restaurant area in Alta (lodges have their own restaurants), so if you want a little more adventure, your best bet is to stay outside of the ski area. Hotels and rentals can be found 30-45 minutes away. We considered rentals in Draper, Midvale, Murray, and Millcreek. All of these areas are about 20-30 minutes from Downtown Salt Lake City and had lots of restaurant options, so skiing and exploring the city’s restaurants are relatively easy and you get the best of both worlds.

If you want to stay as close to the ski area as possible, there are five lodges and 11 condos in the Alta area. View all the Alta lodging options here.

We stayed at Tru by Hilton in Midvale, which was a no-frills, limited-service hotel. It included breakfast and quick access to the highway. We would have preferred a vacation rental, but since we booked last minute (so options were limited), a hotel would be comfortable enough and would save us some money.

I would check vacation rental sites months in advance. The typical price is $136 per night. There are a lot of cute options, and I would look for a place with free parking and a hot tub.

Where to Eat – SLC Restaurants

We focused on healthier restaurant options this trip and enjoyed our meals. We ate very well, so these might be a bit “fancier” restaurants on the budget. (Though we found it was also more affordable when compared to Austin prices!)

Redmond Heritage Farm Store – Quick stop for a warm cup of soup and grilled cheese

Takashi – Voted one of the best restaurants in the city, a popular place for sushi downtown. Get the toro truffle gunkan maki.

SLC Eatery – Cute restaurant on a quiet street, creative dishes focused on local ingredients. The intermountain mushroom dish and handmade pasta were really good.

Provisions – Also a cute restaurant serving ingredient-driven plates. The cod was amazing.

Rawtopia – Healthiest restaurant during our visit! Plenty of flavorful, gluten-free, and dairy-free dishes with quality ingredients. This Dandelion Salad with added salmon was a favorite.

Roots Cafe – Go early for brunch. Who knew after taking this picture that the star of the table was this amazing side pancake

Gourmandise – Delish pastries and dessert, plus a cafe. Three locations including one in the airport. Get the kouign amann! Also liked the cranberry oatmeal cookie

We grabbed breakfast at the hotel and were typically on the mountain during lunch, so here are some other options on my list that we didn’t visit.

• Beaumont Bakery & Cafe
• Vessel Kitchen
• GR Kitchen
• Nomad East
• HSL
• Copper Onion
• Sagato Bakery & Cafe

There are about 24 breweries in the Salt Lake City area, and you can visit many of them through the Salt Lake Brewery Mobile Pass. It might not be a good option if you’re focused on skiing, so here are some of the breweries I considered:

• Proper Brewing Company – We stopped by after dinner one night, and it’s a low-key option.
• Kiitos Brewing
• Wasatch Brewery
• Hopkins Brewing Company

Alta Ski Trip Budget

Here’s the breakdown per person cost for a four-night trip with three days of skiing:

• Roundtrip flight from Austin to Salt Lake City: $612
• Lift Tickets: $390
• Ski Rental: $150
• Hotel: $188
• Car Rental: $157

The total is close to $1,500, and when compared to our Telluride trip, our Alta trip was $250 less per person based on the above costs.

Alta, Utah vs Telluride, Colorado

This is a very specific comparison based on the two ski areas I’ve been to recently! (Here is my post on Telluride skiing.) They have pros and cons in different areas.

First, based on the above, Alta was more cost-effective than Telluride. Telluride had more expensive lift tickets and ski rentals.

If you want a ski-in/out experience in a walkable city, pick Telluride. The time from hotel/rental to skiing is about the same in Telluride and Alta. I understand Park City, Utah is similar to this, but more expensive compared to Telluride’s small-town charm.

If you want more advanced and challenging skiing, Alta will give you that. Telluride has more run options for beginners (more green runs).

Dining and nightlife-wise, Telluride is walkable and has enough restaurants to try during a long weekend. Salt Lake City is a big city and with that comes better quality restaurants. We also commented multiple times how quiet Salt Lake City was everywhere we went. Visitors are drawn to the outdoor activities rather than its city attractions.

Conclusion

Honestly, I like skiing enough to go on a ski trip and it’s still growing on me. It is also scary and tiring, and I’d choose the beach over skiing most days. But snowy mountains provide a different kind of wonder and it brings me back, enough to endure the cold! I hope you have as much fun in Alta as I did!

P.S. See this post for information about my trip to Telluride.

The post Alta, Utah Ski Trip Guide appeared first on Fearless Captivations.

Before you visit Hawaii, read this article. It talks about the true history of Hawaii and how to travel responsibly. At the least, it reminds us how to travel responsibly anywhere – to respect the land, culture, and people.

This post will give you the details to plan your trip!

Which Hawaiian Island to Visit?

If you’re beginning your Hawaii planning, you might be wondering if Hawai’i (Big Island) is the island you should visit. Here’s a quick rundown of the most popular islands, listed from most developed and touristy to least:

• Oahu: Gathering Place – big city attractions, Pearl Harbor National Memorial, North Shore surfing heaven
• Maui: Valley Isle – landscape variety, beautiful scenery
• Hawai’i: Big Island – astronomy, active volcanoes, diving
• Kaua’i: Garden Isle – lush greenery, quiet

With a week to visit, we decided to maximize our time on one island and skip the travel between islands. We picked Hawai’i because it is known for its diving and the year-round manta dive. The Big Island also has the most biodiversity on its reefs.

Quick Tips for Big Island Hawaii

• Language: English and Hawaiian are spoken here.
• Currency: U.S. Dollar
• You’ll need to rent a car to get around. For a week’s rental, it was about $1,150.
• Bring reef-safe sunscreen and put sunscreen on daily.
• Bring a reusable water bottle.
• Bring a raincoat or light jacket if you’re planning to travel around the island. Hilo (east side) gets rain often.
• For Mauna Kea, you’ll need to bring winter clothes, especially if you don’t join a tour, which will have a parka for you.

When to Visit Big Island Hawaii

The weather and temperature are great year-round in Hawaii. The dry season is from April to October and the wet season is from November to March. The most expensive time to travel is when kids don’t have school, especially June through August and December. We went in September, which was perfect for the weather and fewer crowds.

How to Get to Hawaii Island

You’ll fly into Kona International Airport (KOA). Kona is the most developed and busiest part of the island. A roundtrip ticket from Austin to Kona is about $400-600 and the trip is about 10 hours at the shortest. The travel time can be brutal!

How to Get Around Hawaii Big Island

You’ll need to rent a car. Most hotels and vacation rentals will include parking in the reservation and all roads are paved. From the airport, there are shuttles to rental lots nearby. You’ll save a bit of money if you reserve your rental ahead of time. We used Discount Hawaii Car Rental and the rental came from Dollar Rent a Car. For a week’s rental, it was about $1,150.

Here are some time/distances you might need to plan travel around the island:

• Kona to Hilo: 1.5 hrs
• Kona to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park: 2 hrs
• Kona to Waimea: 1 hr
• Hilo to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park: 45 mins
• Hilo to Waimea: 1 hr and 15 mins

Where to Stay on Big Island

Where should you stay when you visit the Big Island? We split our time between Kona and Hilo. No matter where you stay, you’ll likely travel to different parts of the island. If you drove around the island at one time, it would take about eight hours.

Here’s a little more about each city and some recommended places to stay:

Kona

Westside of the island. This is where you’ll fly in and where the biggest concentration of rentals and restaurants are located. Most of the beaches are on this side of the island also. We stayed at the Royal Kona for a night and this rental studio for a few nights.

• Royal Kona
• Hawaiian Oasis
• My Hawaii Hostel
• Honu Kai
• Kona Islander Inn Studio
• Tiny House

Captain Cook

This area is south of Kona, about 30 minutes away. It’s a good area to be near Kona but not in Kona.

• Cozy Farm House for 2

Hilo

Eastside of the island. The largest city yet more spread out than Kona, Hilo is the capital of the Big Island. This is also the wettest part of the island, so you’ll see more abundant vegetation.

• The Inn at Kulaniapia Falls
• House for 2 in town

Volcano

South part of the island. If you want to spend extended time at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, you’ll likely stay in Volcano, Mountain View (20 minutes away), Keaau (35 minutes away), or Hilo (one hour away). We stayed in this wonderful rental in Keaau. It was a tinier living space but had a huge outdoor space with lots of interesting plants.

• 2-bedroom rental for 6
• Off-Grid Tiny House
• Treehouse
• Lava Field Tiny Home
• Adventure Treehouse
• Tiny Tropical Treehouse
• Dreamy Tropical Treehouse

Waimea

North part of the island. This beautiful area is at an elevation near 3,000 feet.

• Puakea Ranch

What to Eat on Big Island

Be sure to try traditional Hawaiian food! Dishes like slow-cooked pork and desserts like haupia pie were some of my favorites. My top three favorite restaurants we tried were: Kaaloa Super J’s, Umekes Fish Market, and Foster’s Kitchen. Check out this post to learn more about Hawaiian cuisine and to get restaurant recommendations.

What to Do on Big Island

My top three recommendations of things to do are scuba diving, the Mauna Kea summit, and Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. There are also beaches, waterfalls, coffee tours, and more! You could easily go to a different beach every day.

See these blog posts for details:

• 10 Best Things to Do in Big Island, Hawaii
• Stargazing on the Mauna Kea Summit on Hawaii Big Island is a Must-Do!
• Diving with Manta Rays in Hawaii + Big Island Dive Guide

Big Island Hawaii Itinerary

Here’s an action-packed itinerary for you! It’ll have you staying in Kona and Hilo and you’ll drive around the whole island during your trip.

• Day 1: Arrive in Kona
• Day 2: Explore Kona and West Coast (Recommendation: scuba dive day)
• Day 3: Explore Kona and West Coast (Recommendation: Greenwell Coffee Tour, Pu’uhonua National Historical Park, beaches)
• Day 4: Drive towards Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, stay night in Hilo
• Day 5: Spend more time at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park or explore the Hilo area
• Day 6: Drive towards the north part of the island, stop at lookout points like Laupahoehoe Beach Park or Waipi’o Valley, stay night in Kona
• Day 7: Spend morning at beaches, Mauna Kea Summit Tour starts around 2-3 p.m.
• Day 8: Last few hours of activities, departure in the afternoon

Conclusion

What a beautiful trip to a magical place! It’s easy to see how people are drawn to live in Hawaii. I hope you get the chance to experience it!

P.S. Want more travel recommendations? See all my travel guides here!

The post Big Island Hawaii Travel Guide + Trip Itinerary appeared first on Fearless Captivations.

This post will give you tips about planning a trip to Telluride and beginner skiing in Telluride.

Why Ski in Telluride

We picked Telluride because the town is smaller and the ski mountain would be less busy than the bigger ski resorts in Colorado near Denver. It is also a beginner-friendly mountain. We also considered Breckenridge, Keystone, and Steamboat Springs. The charm of the town of Telluride won us over.

Telluride is great for beginner skiers, with class options and plenty of beginner runs. From what I’ve read, Telluride also has plenty of variety for advanced skiers. One of the best factors I experienced was a maximum 10-minute wait for a lift. Locals say a maximum wait can be 40 minutes but that’s rare, compared to bigger resorts where that is normal. I guess your decision on where to go skiing depends on if you want to have a longer journey to the destination with shorter lift lines (Telluride) or an easier journey with longer lift lines (somewhere near Denver). Keep in mind, Telluride is getting more popular every year, so this will change!

(Edit: We skied Alta, Utah the next year and I liked Telluride more! See that trip and comparison in this post.)

Best Time to Ski Telluride

The ski season in Telluride is from Thanksgiving to the first weekend in April. The end of January to President’s Day has the best ski conditions and fewer people. The middle of March to the end of the season is busiest because of spring break and it can get very warm. We visited in the middle of March and the high got up to the lower 50s, which made some slopes icy in the morning and slushy in the afternoon. Some runs were a little crowded for me, but skiing around 11 am when many have gone to lunch and you almost have the run to yourself was perfect.

Getting Around Telluride

Telluride is a very walkable town, meaning everything you need is a short walk away. I think our longest walk was about 15 minutes. But there is a free shuttle – Galloping Goose – that makes a constant loop if you don’t want to walk. You can see the schedule here.

To get up to Mountain Village, there is a free gondola that is less than a 15-minute ride. It runs early and ends late, so plenty of time to get your skiing in.

How to Get to Telluride

The nearest large airport is Montrose Regional Airport (MTJ), which is about an hour and a half drive to Telluride. The non-stop flights come from Boston, Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, Phoenix, and San Francisco. From Austin, we had stopovers in Dallas (on the way there) and Phoenix (on the way back). Telluride has an airport also if you are flying from Denver. A round-trip flight to Montrose is usually $200-400.

Since Telluride is very walkable, you likely won’t need a car during your trip. For that reason, a shuttle from Montrose to Telluride is a popular way to get to Telluride. There are shared 14-person vans and private SUVs available. We used Telluride Car Service for a private ride and they were excellent! Service was great and their pricing is lower than other shuttles.

Where to Stay in Telluride

First, decide if you will stay in the town of Telluride or Mountain Village. We decided to stay in the town because it was less expensive and there were more lodging options to choose from in Telluride. The average lodging price per night (when we looked for five people) in Telluride was $500-800 while Mountain Village was $1,000-2,000 per night. 

The difference is the 15-minute gondola ride up and down the mountain. It’s an extra trip back to your place in Telluride after skiing. If you’re skiing until the lifts close (until 3:30-4:30 pm), you’ll have a 15-30 minute wait in the gondola line to get down. The commute wasn’t too bad, and I would stay in the town of Telluride again. This might be different if you decide not to rent a locker and have to lug your ski gear to and from your rental.

Since we wanted at least four beds and enough space so it didn’t feel cramped, the options were limited for our price range, especially booking about a month out. We ended up staying at Cimarron Lodge, which was great for us. The six-person condo had a living room space to hang out and a kitchen with an oven, stove, and dishware. It was a short walk to the grocery store and about a 10-minute walk to the free gondola. If I could change something about our lodging, I would want more comfortable beds and an overhead fan or A/C in the bedroom.

I would highly consider a place with a hot tub because it would feel great after a long day of skiing!

Here are some other options we considered in town.

• Bachman Village Rentals
• Telluride Lodge
• Boomerang Lodge
• Ballard House Condo
• Camels Garden Hotel
• New Sheridan Hotel
• The Hotel Telluride

I recommend looking at the Alpine Lodging website and Airbnb for condo rentals, but booking through Alpine Lodging is cheaper than Airbnb. Telluride Ski Resort and Telluride Resort Lodging also have listings.

What to Wear When You Ski

As someone who was born and raised in Texas and who has prioritized beach vacations, winter clothes were a big endeavor. Thankfully, I borrowed a lot of my ski clothes from friends. If you’re looking for cheaper options, look at thrift and outlet stores. You can find gear at REI, Columbia, and Eddie Bauer, among others.

The high temperatures during my ski trip were around 35 to 50 degrees Fahrenheit, and it felt warmer than I thought it would be. Being comfortable and dry (in case you fall down) will make skiing much more enjoyable! I recommend having thicker and lighter options of jackets, gloves, and gaiters so you can switch out.

• Rentals – A typical rental package includes skis and ski boots. Helmets are also available. Helmets also cover your ears, so no need to worry there.
• Jacket – Get a waterproof and warm jacket. If you’re skiing in the warmer part of the season, I would consider getting a jacket with vents and/or bringing a lighter option (jacket shell) you can switch into.
• Pants – Get your waterproof ski pants ready. If you’re wearing thermal pants or leggings, something that hits right below the knee is ideal so that you’re not constricting your legs inside your boot (your calves) as much. A ski bib is like overalls and aims to keep snow out of your pants from the top. It’s typically a more snug fit around the waist and very comfortable.
• Gloves – You’ll need waterproof gloves. Same as the jacket, consider bringing a lighter option if you’re skiing later in the season.
• Goggles – You can buy some online for about $40. I recommend getting a pair that reflects the sun/snow well (like sunglasses) and won’t fog up.
• Socks – You want crew socks (tall socks that hit mid-calf) that are warm yet breathable. If you’re afraid of being cold, look for thicker, wool socks. Ski-specific socks may also have extra padding in the shin area.
• Warm layers – Since it was warmer when I visited, I only wore a long-sleeve thermal shirt on top under my jacket. If it’s colder, you could try a fleece layer on top of that. Layers are necessary!
• Neck Gaiter – Having this was so useful! I had fleece and lightweight options. These will keep you warm and save you from wind and sun.
• Sunscreen – Don’t forget to apply in the morning and reapply in the afternoon!
• Snow boots – You’ll need these for walking around if it’s snowy and/or icy. Typically, most ski places will have walkways shoveled and ice-free, so it’s not necessary, but if you’re walking around or the temperature is lower so that ice and snow can build up, these will keep your feet warm and keep you from slipping and falling.

How Many Days Should You Ski Telluride?

I recommend skiing for three to four days, especially if you’re a beginner and/or skiing for at least five hours every day. That’s about six to eight runs a day with a break for lunch. You can easily ski all the green courses in this length of time.

I also recommend taking a class at any level. It’s a good refresher and there’s always something to improve or learn.

Is Telluride Hard to Ski? Is Telluride Good for Beginners?

As a somewhat beginner skier, I didn’t think Telluride was hard to ski. The greens were an easy challenge. I think Telluride is good for beginners but it could have had more green runs and/or flatter green runs. You can easily ski all the greens in two or three days, so you’ll either move on to blues or re-run the greens, which could get boring.

What are the Best Easy Runs in Telluride?

From Mountain Village, you’ll ski down Meadows or The Peaks to get to the main lift for green runs. From there you’ll take Sunshine Express up to all the fun.

Favorite Run From the Top:

• Take Sunshine Express – lift 10 then Ute Park Express – lift 11.
• Ski down Little Maude and Madison to Prospect Express – lift 12.
• At the top of lift 12, follow this route: Galloping Goose > Bridges
• Bridges (Double Green) has some great fast sections!

Other Favorites:

• Meadows and The Peaks (Single Green) – You’ll probably take these every day. They’re good to warm up on.
• Ute Park (Single Green) – This big open route is easy and good for practice.
• Little Maude and Madison (Double Green) – You’ll ski through lots of trees and it’s a fun jaunt before going up lift 12.
• Galloping Goose (Double Green) – You can take this run from the top all the way to the bottom. It can seem a little narrow and there is a drop-off on one side. When I was there, the bottom section was very slow because it was so warm.
• Nellie (Double Green) – this is a nice little tree-lined, quick run
• Village Bypass (Double Green) – One of the harder double greens, this run is at the top of Village Express – lift 4 and is the steepest green on the mountain.

How to Make Your Ski Trip Better

You’ll probably be very sore the first two days, so be sure to hydrate, stretch, and use muscle patches or rubs to relieve your legs. A hot shower after skiing feels great and I bet a hot tub would be excellent! (So sad our condo’s hot tub wasn’t available!)

What to Do in Telluride Besides Skiing and Snowboarding

While we didn’t make time to do anything other than ski, there are options for non-skiers or if you don’t want to spend all day skiing! Here are some winter options:

• Snowmobile Tours
• Sleigh Rides
• Fat Tire Biking
• Cross-country Skiing (like hiking on skis)
• Spa Time at Pure Beauty and Wellness, The Peaks, or Madeline Resort
• Telluride Historical Museum

What to Eat and Drink in Telluride

Since we made breakfast and lunch every day, dinner and drinks were the time we explored Telluride’s restaurants. We visited Telluride to ski and the food isn’t something I’d write home about, but the restaurants were good after a day of skiing. We tried the first five on the list. If you’re staying in Telluride town, here are some options:

• Smugglers Union Restaurant & Brewery – The best food and beer we had in Telluride
• Brown Dog Pizza – Classic and Detroit-style pizza
• Siam – Thai food
• Telluride Bottleworks – liquor store
• Last Dollar Saloon – Bar with a rooftop and nice cocktails
• There – A trendy bar for fancy cocktails
• 221 South Oak – New American fancier restaurant
• Baked in Telluride – Casual cafe
• The Butcher & The Baker – Local bakery and cafe
• Cosmopolitan – Fancy eats
• Rustico – Fine Italian restaurant
• New Sheridan Bar – Historic building, eats, and drinks

If you’re looking for more options and the most updated information, check out this list on Eater.

Telluride Ski Trip Budget

A 4-night trip with three days of skiing costs about $2,300-2,500 per person with money-saving tips. Below are some of the things you need to budget for your trip. I’ve also included price estimates and ways to save money.

• Flight to Montrose: $200-400
• Stay: $100-2,000 per night
  • Book a place in Telluride instead of Mountain Village.
  • Stay in a condo instead of a hotel.
• Round-Trip Shuttle to Telluride from Montrose: $370 for five people
  • We used Telluride Car Service, which was a lot cheaper than other options.
• Ski Lift Ticket: $169/day
  • The price is what it is and you can get them on the Telluride Ski Resort website.
• Ski Rentals: $80/day for skis, ski boots, and helmet
  • Book online early and look for discount offers.
  • The damage waiver is about $2 a day.
  • We used Christy Sports, which seemed to be slightly less expensive than other options.
• Ski Lesson: $160
  • The three-hour lesson is helpful to get started and be more comfortable, especially for someone who hasn’t skied in a long time. I would ask if there is an opportunity to switch to a class to a higher level midway through if you find yours too easy.
• Ski Locker: $10/day – $40/night
  • Having a large ski locker in Mountain Village is very helpful so you don’t have to carry all your gear down to Telluride every night. Each big locker can fit the stuff of two to three people, so you could share.
• Ski Clothes: $150+
  • Borrow from a friend
  • Buy them in the off-season
  • Shop at thrift stores and outlet stores.
• Food: $100+
  • Buy groceries for meals. This is especially easy for lunch – make sandwiches and keep them in your locker.
  • Bring a water bottle to refill. There are filtered water stations available.

Plan Your Telluride Trip

Don’t ski? Telluride is also a popular destination in the summer! Without the snow, it becomes a hot spot for hiking, biking, and camping. This means no matter if it’s winter or summer, you’ll find plenty of outdoor activities in Telluride and a beautiful mountain landscape to enjoy!

I always thought I preferred the beach and I still do, but I wouldn’t mind a mountain vacation to ski and apres-ski every once in a while.

P.S. If you’re looking for another ski location, we visited Alta, Utah the next year. See all the info here.

P.P.S. Need some more ideas for a vacation? See my Destinations page here.

You can find me on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Bloglovin’. You can also subscribe to the exclusive email list.

The post Telluride Ski Trip Travel Guide appeared first on Fearless Captivations.