Sand, Sunrise and Blue Bays : Dawn at Ko’Olina

August 23, 2016

Our first trip to Hawaii in July was a relatively quiet one and we took advantage of a slower-than-normal weekend in the Islands compared to our usual schedule while there for work. On Sunday morning, per our usual tradition on these quick trips to Hawaii, we headed out in search of a beautiful beach to watch the sunrise on. While we usually head to the Windward side of Oahu, this time we decided to head to Ko’Olina at the Western shore of the island. This area has grown up a lot in the last few years and with lots of new hotels and a marina, it’s a gorgeous place to watch the dawn light turn into pastels across the sky above the Pacific Ocean.

Sunset in Waikiki : Boats + Banyan Trees

August 22, 2016

In July, we spent quite a bit of time in Hawaii for work. During our first trip there early in the month, we decided on a “touristy” evening down in Waikiki since most of the time when we travel to the Islands, we’re headed to more local destinations. But for this particular night, we got dressed up and headed to the Moana Surfrider Hotel for dinner on the veranda at their BeachHouse Restaurant. For amazing food, views and then a walk on the Waikiki Beach, this is a pretty amazing spot in this very touristy part of Oahu. As we headed down to wander the beach a little as the sun was setting, the colors erupted behind sailboats and the giant Banyan tree in the middle of the hotel – the scene was oh so Hawaiian and oh so perfect.

Trips for Every Budget

August 19, 2016

There is no harm in saying that traveling can be expensive. And the truth is, everyone is traveling on a different budget, so it’s important to note that some trips are best done on a higher budget, while other destinations you can do for really cheap. So today, if you’re looking at traveling on a specific budget but you’re not sure where to go, here are my best options for trips for every budget and why!

Budget Traveler

Option 1: Thailand and Cambodia

For the perfect budget trip, Thailand and Cambodia are perfect! These countries are incredibly cheap to eat and get around. Your biggest expense will be getting there!

Option 2: Spain and Portugal

If you want to do a Europe trip but don’t want to spend a ton of money, Spain and Portugal are perfect! Both are way cheaper to eat and explore than their European neighbors and even hotels are a lot less.

Mid Range

Option 1: Peru

If you want to have an adventure and want to spend a little more than a budget traveler but not go all out, Peru is a fantastic option. You can get amazing hotels in cities like Cusco and Lima for as little as $150 a night and food and transportation is pretty decently priced throughout the country.

Option 2: Iceland

Iceland is a fantastic option if you want to land mid-range for your budget. Hotels throughout the country are still relatively priced compared to mainland Europe and you can get good spots for around $150-$200 per night, especially in the shoulder seasons! It’s also pretty economical to rent a car in Iceland and the most amazing part, all the exploring is free since the country is so gorgeous!

High End

Option 1: Paris and London

Want to head to Europe and not cut corners? Paris and London are great cities to do that with. With endless high end hotels, shopping and amazing restaurants, spend a few nights in each city for a special splurge trip!

Option 2: India

While you might think, wait, India should be more up in the budget traveler category, India is also a fantastic spot to splurge on. If you’re willing to pay a little more, your trip to India will be even more amazing. Splurge on hotels like the Oberoi Udaivillas for your own piece of paradise and hire private drivers to get you around… you’ll be far more comfortable and still have an amazing experience!

How Much Money will you Really Need for Traveling the World?

August 18, 2016

Money makes the world go round, but how much will you need to get around the world?

In an age where things are continually becoming more and more expensive, is it really possible to travel the globe on a modest budget?

The general consensus appears to be no, with this guide suggesting: “you should take the amount of money you think you’ll need and then double it – if you’re going to get by”.

When you think about it, that makes a lot of sense. Given mass inflation, in the UK alone it costs as much as £179 ($236) just to get from one end of the country to the other (travelling from Exeter to Newcastle) – and that’s without taking food, accommodation and other expenses into account.

Naturally, there’s no one exact price you can slap on a holiday which encompasses an entire world trip. There’s a lot to do out there, with price ranges varying drastically.

Saving Money on Food and Accommodation

To bring down the costs to as little as possible, it’s probably best to try and find as many free activities as you can. There’s a lot out there you can do for free, no matter what country you’re in.

That said, free days out won’t see you through forever – and most of the top tourist attractions you’ll want to visit certainly aren’t going to be cheap.

Similarly, with food and accommodation, you’re going to need to weigh up whether you’re happy to forfeit comfortability and high quality, for budget-friendly locations and grub.

Hostels in Europe tend to cost £12.50-£40 ($16-$53) for a night, with these representing the best options for saving cash while you’re there. More expensive places range from about £70-90 ($90-$120) per night.

Cheap food can cost just a handful of coins for a meal, but when it comes to what you’re putting in your body it isn’t always wise to skimp out. Nutrition on a long journey is important, so make sure you’re getting plenty of fruit and veg.

Saving Money on your Flights

All of that is before you take the likes of the actual travel itself into account. While some journeys aren’t going to break your budget, it’s impossible not to catch flights at certain points in your trip.

Expenses in this department could reach as high as $2,495 to $3,480. Let’s face it; flying around the world, even on some of the cheapest flights available, isn’t cheap.

When all is said and done your estimated cost is probably going to be a figure which most people will not be able to casually afford (at least not without a good deal of saving).

When the average costs of food, travel, accommodation and other expenses are taken into account, it works out you’ll be paying roughly $25,000 to traverse the globe – while maintaining a good standard of living.

Unsurprisingly, it isn’t cheap to see all the corners of the Earth. But, if you’re dedicated enough, then start saving today and you could witness some of the best sights the world has to offer. Our planet provides a simply brilliant experience for anyone brave enough to venture out there – and from Peru’s incredible Machu Picchu to the stunning setting of Ayers Rock, you’ll love every minute.

This post was contributed by supporters of Land of Marvels.

#BloggingDesk : Why I’m Fed Up with Numbers

August 16, 2016

It’s been a while since we’ve discussed blogging here on Land of Marvels but I always love throwing in the occasional post about travel blogging because so many of us here are bloggers and I love hearing from other bloggers how they feel about the blogging world. So I decided a new series was in order… welcome to #BloggingDesk.

I’ve been thinking lately about how exhausting it is to try and keep up with the numbers game in the blogging world. How many Instagram followers do you have? How many on Bloglovin’? How many on Twitter and Snapchat and Google + and on your newsletter subscriber list? What’s your unique visitors count, what are your page view numbers? Do you post on Snapchat or Instagram Stories? Ahh… make it stop!

I’ll be honest, I’m sick and tired of playing the numbers game with blogging. In truth, I go through spells where I try to gain followers or where I try to grow my blog and then I always end up back in this place, where I really just don’t even care any more. The truth is, I still write here on Land of Marvels for me, I love it. I don’t make much money from this blog, I don’t write posts every day to get someone to advertise here. And I still post on Instagram and Snapchat because I like to, it’s not about how many likes I get or who’s following me. Of course, more followers are always nice and I welcome each and every one, but at the end of the day, I’m not pushing for this blog to be my income source, which in turn frees me up to not have to promote it endlessly on social media and try to gain every follower I possibly can.

And I know there are lots of bloggers that are trying to have their blogs as their sole source of income and that’s totally fine, but for me personally, I’m sick of the numbers game and trying to keep up with everyone else. The fact of the matter is that blogging has become a business, and in that, we’ve lost some of that magic that this forum used to have. That’s why here on Land of Marvels, I continue to post for my readers and to try to keep a community alive of like-minded travelers around the world and that for me, is enough. I don’t need 100,000+ followers to know that those who come here every day to read the words I write about our world, mean just as much as the thousands of followers I could have if I really wanted to play the numbers game.

So I guess in short, if you’re a smaller blogger and worried about the numbers, my advice would be to not worry so much. Followers will come and whatever the numbers are, it doesn’t diminish what you’re doing, what you’re trying to do. At the end of the day, numbers aren’t everything. It’s the community you build, the relationships you create that really matter. So let’s do us all a favor and stop worrying about our followings, stop trying to market everything and just focus on the things that connect us authentically.

Looking for more posts on Blogging?

See our archives here for Blogging posts.

5 Epic Trips of a Lifetime

August 15, 2016

There are some trips that can only be described as “epic.” Whether it’s the landscape or adventure worthy escapes or just the idea of a certain place, sometimes you just want to have an adventure different than the rest. If you’re craving that type of trip, here are 5 epic trips of a lifetime that you won’t be the same after embarking on and are sure to create incredible memories!

Iceland

Iceland is easily one of my top 5 favorite places in the world. The country is beyond gorgeous in an other-worldly kind of way. It’s still so untouched and raw, that it makes it the perfect place for an epic adventure. I promise, you won’t be the same after visiting this incredible country.

When to Go: End of May for nice temperatures and not much snow.

Favorite Spots: Thingvelir, Goðafoss Waterfall, Snæfellsnes Peninsula

Best for: Travelers who want to rent a car and take in gorgeous landscapes.

New Zealand

We had heard a lot about New Zealand before heading there in November of 2015. And while it wasn’t exactly what I was expecting, the landscapes here truly are epic. The wild landscape of New Zealand makes it the perfect destination to allow you to explore and have an amazing adventure.

When to Go: November (Spring in the Southern Hemisphere)

Favorite Spots: Lake Tekapo, Wanaka, Queenstown, Auckland

Best for: Travelers who want to road trip around the country, stopping every so often for incredible scenery.

India

India is one of those countries that will change you entirely after visiting. It’s a sensory overload but in the best possible way and one of my favorite destinations to date. The adventure in India is purely just being outside of your comfort zone, it’s being bombarded by sights and smells and colors and people everywhere. It’s exploring temples and ruins and markets. India is an epic trip and a memorable one at that.

When to Go: February when the temperatures are still mild and crowds are lighter.

Favorite Spots: Udaipur, Lodhi Gardens in Delhi, Taj Mahal

Best for: Travelers who want to totally immerse themselves in an entirely different culture than you’re used to.

Morocco

If you’re looking to head to the Africa and the Middle East, Morocco is a fantastic destination to explore. From endless souks with amazing goods like lanterns and spices, to sand dunes and camels, Morocco has it all. For an epic “Arabian nights” type trip, with more liberal rules than other Arab countries, you’ll leave Morocco falling hard in love and come home intoxicated with this fascinating country!

When to Go: March when the temperatures are still mild and before the influx of Summer tourists from Europe.

Favorite Spots: Marrakech Souks, Spice Markets, Koutubia Mosque

Best for: Travelers who want an exotic escape, filled with spicy aromas and colorful markets.

Peru

For an epic, “bucket-list” trip, Peru is hard to beat. Exploring the Incan ruins at Machu Picchu and testing the high altitude in Cusco, Peru is an incredible country. You’ll leave Peru changed for the better, feeling high on all that you see and it’s a trip of exploration unlike any other.

When to Go: May when the temperatures are mild and not as wet as the rainy months.

Favorite Spots: Cusco, Machu Picchu, Miraflores neighborhood of Lima

Best for: Travelers that want an epic adventure exploring ruins and ancient civilizations.

What to Wear when Traveling to Peru in May

August 12, 2016

More What to Wear posts for more destinations here!

Months before our trip to Peru, I started thinking about what I would need to pack for Peru. A lot of our trip was more “adventurous” than we are in our daily lives so there were specific types of clothes that would be necessary for a trip like this. Overall, I made sure the important things (like hiking boots), I had before we went. Everything else we packed ended up being easy and comfortable clothing for cities and wilderness alike.

What I Wore:

Outfit Details:

Old Zara Cargo Top | Madewell Black Denim | Kate Spade pink cross body purse (similar) |

Madewell Bandana (similar) | White Converse Low Tops| Madewell Sunglasses

Outfit Details:

Old Navy Sweatshirt (similar) | Green Cargo Vest (similar) | Madewell scarf (similar) | Gap Cargo pants (similar)

Outfit Details:

Old Navy Sweatshirt (similar) | Green Cargo Vest (similar) | Gap Cargo pants (similar) |

Madewell Bandana (similar) | Merrell Hiking Boots (similar) | Lumix Camera | Madewell Sunglasses

Outfit Details:

Gap Cargo pants (similar) | Gap raincoat (similar) | Merrell Hiking Boots (similar) | Lumix Camera

Outfit Details:

Old Zara Cargo Top (sold out) | Madewell Black Denim | Kate Spade pink cross body purse (similar) |

Denim scarf (similar) | White Converse Low Tops

Traveling to Peru?

See all my posts on Peru!

An Unexpected Afternoon in Lima

August 10, 2016

Upon arriving at the airport in Cusco to head back to Lima and then to LAX, we found out that our flight had been canceled and we’d been moved to a flight 3 hours later which meant we missed our connection in Lima to head home. Annoyed and frustrated, we got our flights changed for the following day and spent the next 2 hours in the airport lounge figuring out all the details of the change. We had to find a hotel in Lima, get transport from the airport, move our connections from LAX to Portland and move our hotel in LA to the following day. All in all, it was stressful and a lot of issues caused from that one canceled flight. But we got it taken care of and headed off for an unexpected afternoon in Lima.

(Side note on the travel issues – we had travel insurance and I actually just received their answer the other day, denying our claim for any help on this. So just a heads up, always have a little bit of extra money ready if needed for things like this because even travel insurance isn’t always helpful).

Upon arrival in Lima, we checked in to the JW Marriott in the Miraflores neighborhood since we’d love the JW Marriott in Cusco and this property was no different – we loved it! It was the perfect location for a low key afternoon in Lima. We headed out for lunch and to explore the area a bit before heading back to our room and having an early evening in before leaving the following morning. And while it was a hassle that we ended up having to stay in Lima, we at least got to see a little bit of the city and enjoy an afternoon there, so in the end, it worked out.

Traveling to Peru?

See all my posts on Peru!

A Few Hours in Aguas Calientes

August 8, 2016

After our 2 days at Machu Picchu it was time to head back to Cusco and to do that, you have to head back down the mountain to the little town of Aguas Calientes where you catch your train back to Cusco. We wanted some time to explore the town so we decided to head in early and spend a few hours in Aguas Calientes wandering around.

The amazing thing about Aguas Calientes is its location, surrounded by huge mountains rising up around it. And while we ended up with a little too much time there, it’s definitely a worth stop to enjoy and take in the markets and local shops for an hour or so!

Traveling to Peru?

See all my posts on the country here!

Tips for Visiting Machu Picchu Sanctuary

August 3, 2016

Machu Picchu might be an ancient land that you dream of visiting and if that’s so, here’s my advice: just go! It’s an amazing place but not without some pretty strict rules you need to follow to get there. So here are my tips for visiting Machu Picchu Sanctuary so you know everything before going.

Entering Machu Picchu

The gates open at 6am everyday and close at 5pm. Once at the gates, it’s only about a 50 foot walk to the citadel itself. Mid-day is packed, as that’s when most tourists are there (many people do it as a day trip from Cusco so they arrive around 11:30 and leave around 2:30 to catch their trains).

For the best times to go inside the citadel, we found it was 2 different times of day as follows:

Morning – Be in line at the gate before they open at 6am. We stayed right outside the gates at the Belmond Sanctuary Lodge specifically for this reason, because the line gets really long. We were about 4th in line and we were there at 5:40am. The first busses arrive around 5:50am but there were lots of hikers already there when we arrived, so be sure you time it right to be there early as they only let the first 50 people in at 6am and then space it out after that.

One note on the morning at Machu Picchu, it’s often very foggy and you should expect that if you enter when they open. We were in at 6am, hiked to the top of the Guard’s House (where the best views are) right away but had to wait until about 6:45am for the fog to clear a bit for photos. And within 15 minutes of us shooting photos, the fog had rolled back in and stayed pretty thick until we left at 8:30am. So give yourself time for weather.

Late afternoon – We had heard that between 3 and 5pm was the best time in the day to see Machu Picchu and that was totally right. Most people are leaving by 2:30 or 3pm to head back to catch their trains to Cusco, or they’ve been up there all day exploring and are tired by that time. We entered around 3pm and stayed until they closed at 5pm and had huge areas of Machu Picchu all to ourselves. Plus the afternoon shadows and light at this time are beautiful for photos.

Food, Water and Restrooms

Restrooms are outside the gates and require coins to use, so keep some Soles coins. You are not allowed to bring food inside the citadel and the guides are very strict about this and watch for it. So just don’t do it. You can and should bring water though, just be mindful of the bottle when you’re done and make sure to put it in the trash cans outside the entrance when you leave.

Bugs

While we didn’t have much of a problem with bugs during our visit to Machu Picchu, I’ve heard horror stories of people’s limbs swelling severely after being bitten. Knowing this beforehand, I ordered heavy duty bug spray and lotion on Amazon before we left and used that heavily during our time there. After that, I had no issue. But just be sure to cover yourself before visiting Machu Picchu and be especially careful in the surrounding jungles.

Bring your Passport and Stamp It

Outside the gates at Machu Picchu they have a passport stamp that you can stamp in your passport. While it’s not an official passport stamp, it’s a great memory nonetheless!

Traveling to Peru?

See all my posts on Peru!

Sand, Sunrise and Blue Bays : Dawn at Ko’Olina

Sunset in Waikiki : Boats + Banyan Trees