ASIA
If you’re traveling to India, visiting the Taj Mahal is probably on your bucket list-it’s one of the most romantic monuments on the planet and one of the 7 New Wonders of the World. But stopping at one the most popular tourist attractions in India has unique complexities that I wish I knew before my visit- so here’s 18 tips for visiting the Taj Mahal to make your visit as epic as possible!
If you’ve been on Instagram (which, of course you have), you’ve undoubtedly seen jaw-dropping photos of Ha Long Bay, Vietnam- stunning limestone islands, dripping with greenery, jutting majestically out of the turquoise waters of the Gulf of Tonkin. This UNESCO Heritage site is one of the most visited tourist attractions in all of Vietnam and rightfully so- it’s unbelievably gorgeous. In fact, all it took was one photo of the bay to convince me I NEEDED to go to Vietnam…
Hanoi, the sprawling, buzzing capital of Vietnam, is a city with frenetic streets, delicious street foods, and rich culture, just waiting to be explored. So if you have just four days in Hanoi, how do you make the most of it? Lucky for you, my husband, Justin, and I did all the legwork for you. Below are my recommendations of how to see all the best Hanoi has to offer in just 96 hours.
The sleepy beach town of Hoi An, Vietnam is one of the most charming cities in Southeast Asia- with its yellow-walled historic Old Town, Chinese lantern-strewn streets, and storybook canals, it’s the perfect central stopping point for a trip through Vietnam between Ho Chi Minh City to the South and Hanoi to the north…
Hoi An is a charming town on the Central coast of Vietnam and is renowned for its gorgeous historic architecture, chilled out beach vibes, and mouthwatering street food. Vietnam is a long, mountainous country and each region has its own distinctive ingredients, flavors, and dishes. Specifically, central Vietnam is known for its coconut coffee, banh mi, and cao lầu, a pork and noodle dish. While these dishes traditionally contain meat and other animal products, vegan travelers, like me and my husband, will delight in the myriad of options of these traditional dishes on seemingly every lanterned street corner here.
Hoi An, Vietnam is a sleepy beach town on the central coast of Vietnam, famous for its yellow-walled Old Town, monthly lantern festival, and endless purveyors of sartorial goods. While Hoi An’s regional cuisine may lean heavily on meat-based dishes, like cao lầu (a pork and greens noodle dish) or mì quảng (a dish made of rice noodles and shrimp or other types of meat), there is no shortage of delicious plant-based eats available on seemingly every corner of this city. Despite the city’s general vegan-friendly nature, there is undoubtedly one dish that reigns supreme here- the humble banh mi…
Most visitors will arrive in Vietnam through Ho Chi Minh City (still called “Saigon” by the locals), a sprawling metropolis bursting at the seams with open-air pho stalls, street vendors peddling their wares, and approximately eight million scooters hurtling themselves at you from seemingly every direction. Many tourists overlook Ho Chi Minh City as a mere starting point for their other adventures around this beautiful country and don’t bother to get to know this fascinating city- which is simply a gross oversight…
If you’re traveling in Vietnam, there’s a pretty good chance that Ho Chi Minh City (called by its former name, Saigon, by locals) will be your starting off point. And what a way to be introduced to the country- from the never-ending streams of scooters hurtling at you from every direction to the endless aromas wafting from street vendors, Ho Chi Minh City is a LOT to take in. Many travelers overlook Ho Chi Minh City as simply a springboard for their adventures throughout Vietnam, but, in my opinion, this is a gross oversight. Ho Chi Minh City is a fascinating and rapidly evolving metropolis, with ancient temples interspersed with technology superstores, just begging to be explored…
Everyone will tell you that Japan is like being on a different world- everything is so fast-paced and technologically advanced, all somehow with a kooky twist. Beyond the standard undies, toothbrush, and deodorant, what does one pack for an expedition to the land of zany robots and Godzilla? Here's what I wish I would've known to bring with on our honeymoon to Tokyo, Kyoto, and Hakone, Japan…
I have been fortunate enough to go to many gorgeous places around the world, but Kyoto, the last stop on our honeymoon to Japan, may be the most beautiful place I’ve ever been. Meticulously manicured Japanese gardens set against the misty mountains; thick forests of moss-covered maple trees, ablaze with fall colors. Kyoto is, in a word, stunning…
Hakone, a mountainous town sitting in the shadow of Mount Fuji, serves Tokyo residents and tourists as a quick and easy escape from Tokyo’s sprawling urban jungle (only about 62 miles to the Southwest). Famous for its onsens (hot springs) and stunning views of Mount Fuji and Lake Ashi, Hakone seemed like the perfect stop-over on our way to Kyoto…
Tokyo is almost dizzyingly packed with things to see, do, eat, and experience. Temples, museums, shops, restaurants, and art galleries are on every inch of every street for miles and miles and miles. So what is totally worth doing and maybe not worth your precious time in Tokyo?
The land of maid cafes, high tech toilets, and Hello Kitty, of course. None other than the beautiful, wacky world of Japan…
If you’re heading to Cambodia, you’re almost certainly going to be making a stop at the country’s most iconic site, Angkor Wat. While the complex is the world's largest religious monument (with over 100 temple ruins in its footprint), it's totally possible to see its highlights if you've only got one day to explore. Here’s everything you need to know about how to see Angkor Wat in one day.