All posts tagged: Budget Travel

Travel: All About Off Season

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I found a great airfare online early February and decided to book my flight – to leave a month later. I just couldn’t resist the price, and later when booking my hotels I found the same perfect deals. I was excited and couldn’t wait to pack and leave the US for a three-week journey to the UK mostly and a few days in Paris. I arrived on the 3rd to London and was cheaffeured to friend’s house in a town an hour and half away from the Heathrow. Although I was very tired from the eleven hour overly warmed aircraft for the comfort of only those that love a stuffy space to sleep, I looked forward to the conversation I had with my driver. Don’t get me wrong I am not a snob in any sense of the word, and a cheaffeured drive is a norm to get me to the said town, my friend would rather I leave unnamed. Friday was a rest day, because early morning on Saturday we would drive to Stratford-Upon-Avon our …

Food: Caramelized Onion Focaccia Bread

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The best Focaccia bread I’ve had, was in Portofino, Italy at any of the number of bakeries aligning the narrow pathways leading to the water’s edge. One in particular was Panificio Canale. I stuffed my face at one sitting or standing actually since there is no space to take a seat inside. And then brought some to go – which hardly lasted past the night. In San Francisco I often search for the best of   Focaccia in our Italian neighborhood, North Beach, and although I find them here and there worth a try, they are not the same as the ones in Portofino. For this holiday season I decided to contribute to the get-togethers with home-made Focaccia, hoping to capture a little bit of Italy here .

travel: porto, portugal day trip

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On saturday we got up at 4:30 in the morning, to get ready for our day trip to Porto, a 2:45 train ride from Lisbon. We purchased our roundtrip tickets the evening before to make avoid lines and the stress of making sure we got seats on a train. 110.00USD for two tickets roundtrip leaving at 7a.m. getting there at 9:40 and leaving there at 6:45p.m. arriving in Lisbon nine something. I didn’t care to worry about the return time. We left our hotel at 6:00 in the morning to walk for twenty minutes or so to the train station. Since we are staying in the center of town, walking was our best option. Even though the hotel concierge suggested we take a taxi. The streets were quiet, not a shop or restaurant open yet, and the walk very refreshing, considering it was going to be nearly 80F degrees. The ride was comfortable, I fell asleep just as I expected to, still a little jet lagged and woke up to the sound of my cell …

photography: rome behind the scenes

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I know I am going to regret not going to Rome this year, since I do every year, but plans are a little different and my usual trip abroad will consist of a few surprise destinations.  Until then I want to share with you this amazing article I found online, about photography and Rome. Two of my favorite hobbies. The interesting thing is I know exactly where the photos were taken, even the one below: {photo and article credit click here}

a uniquely secret garden in california

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The Summer months are the toughest time for me to stay inspired, since the weather is not the best in San Francisco to uplift my spirits. I stay indoors a lot and often spend countless hours daydreaming of places to visit with sun and warm weather, restlessly needing to get away. Of course having been a travel agent at one point in my career, adds to my distress since I find myself searching online, while bundled up in sweat pants and a sweater, information about travel. One particular story caught my attention recently, enlightening me naturally since I had no idea it existed. But apparently there is a secret garden worth seeing nestled in Fresno, California, a place most of us locals don’t consider a vacation spot. It’s called Forestiere Gardens. Please click here to read the article and see photo credits. I think I just added Fresno to my list of things to do in California.  

St. Andrews – scotland – day 3

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We left Edinburgh for a two day stay in St. Andrews, a proper college town, where Will and Kate  of England (you know the couple) met like any normal or typical college mates, turned sweethearts turned married couple with a child. Very simple indeed 🙂 Anyway, the small town or village, I have to say is cute, a worth see and if you are into golf, for sure an ideal place to visit, especially if you can stay at the Fairmont. We shopped, ate, participated in tea-time and shopped more, a dreary day it was, but it mattered not. The romance of the village  was well worth exploring.

day 4 and 5 – travel journal – cinque terre,italy

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On day 4 we took the train from Florence to Genoa to get close enough to Cinque Terre so that on day 5 we could spend the entire day trekking (maybe) through the five fishing villages. We woke up early on day 5 to catch a seven a.m. train to Monterosso, which was the suggested first stop by the agent at the train station. The train ride from Genoa to Monterosso costs 6.10Euros per person one way on the regional train, (which meant way too many stops until we reached our destination. So, after two hours on the train experiencing delays and stops, we finally reached Monterosso and got off the train without realizing we had no idea what to do next. Although I read many tour books and online suggestions on how to get around the five villages, nothing prepared me for adventure we were about to experience.  Thankfully the agent at the train station spoke enough English to explain our choices. Either purchase a day pass for unlimited train/bus rides from one village …

boutique hotel pick – hotel brunelleschi – florence, italy

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Every city around the world has it’s own unique charm appeal and although most travellers may agree Paris is probably the most charming and romantic,  parts of Italy are right up there on the list.  Florence, is of course, one of the cities in Italy I frequent and find to be a great romantic getaway.  So, in case you are contemplating an escape to Florence (a.k.a. Firenze), I recommend Hotel Brunelleschi for your stay.