TL Travel Guide To Traveling In A Developing Country

Today we are fortunate enough to have a guest post from blogger, Teri Potts of TL Travel

About Teri

Photo: TaylorNorthey Photography

As the Owner of Canadian travel company TL Travel, Teri Potts organizes both large & small group trips to unique locations in popular destinations, as well as luxury trips for the off-the-path adventurer. Having visited almost 35 countries (& counting) she shares her knowledge & passion for travel through her work at TL Travel and all of the behind-the-scenes on her YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/tltravel.

Connect With Teri:

Online www.tltraveltrips.com

Email reservations @tltravel.ca

Twitter & Instagram @TLTRAVEL

YouTube www.youtube.com/tltravel

It is in my experience that the majority of travelers find themselves in developing countries more times than not given that they are typically cheaper, more cultural & frankly a little more exciting! Perfect for a limited budget, there is nothing like setting out in a country where you can live comfortably on fifty dollars a day & live like a king for the price of an American motel, but what else should you be expecting when you travel in a developing country?

Getting There Is Half The Fun

While road quality is slowly improving around the world, road reliability & safety are still severely lacking which, paired with the lack of personal boundaries in many countries, can make for an unpleasant ride. Expect to be crowded & expect to arrive late, but don't forget to stay calm & go with the flow of things (just like the locals do!) 

If you absolutely need to be somewhere on time (to catch a flight or start a trek for example) consider spending a few extra dollars on a private taxi or transfer ... after all... you are here in the first place because a little goes a long way.

Photo: @TLTRAVEL

Don't Think, Just Eat

While it is still important to take the proper safety precautions when it comes to eating local food (see Is Street Food Safe?) if you are eating like a local you may also end up eating vegetables & meats that you may not necessarily recognize. More times than not it will taste great & you won't think twice after the first bite, however, if you are prone to food allergies or poor reactions to new foods it is handy to either keep the proper medications on hand or avoid the unknown until you know for sure what it's made of. 

Eating like a local may also mean eating with your hands. The etiquette here is typically to use your right hand for eating & your left only for holding your bowl or glass. This is because in many cultures that left hand is used for toilet duties ... so try to keep that tip in mind! 

Photo: @TLTRAVEL

Always Be Prepared!

Back home the street lights are on from the first sign of darkness until the sun comes up, perhaps we leave the TV & air on all night while we sleep & hot water is just a turn of a tap away, but preparing for an inevitable lack of amenities while discovering a developing country is absolutely essential. Many remote areas will have little or no electricity & scarce amounts of running water (even some heavily-toured areas may limit your usage.)

Charge your electronics while you have access to electricity, pack a battery powered flashlight & be sure you are back at your hotel or home-stay before the village turns its lights out. Start your journey expecting the least & you will be pleasantly surprised when you arrive to more.

Toilet Trouble

Squatters, squatters & more squatters. From India to Tibet & Thailand to the Philippines, the squatter is the way of the world & for good reason. While it may take some getting used to, squatters rid you of the need to touch your bottom to anything & therefore lessen the transfer of germs. One of the first things I do before I visit a country is check in on the toilet situation & prepare accordingly... will my toilet be a bowl? a hole? or will it sing me a lullaby? - one can never be too prepared when opening up that washroom stall. And please ... throw your paper in the bin & don't try to flush it unless it is posted that you can.

You Are Your Doctor

Sure, there are doctors & hospitals in developing countries, and yes, you have travel medical insurance (I would hope!) but if you are heading off-the-beaten-track then it is likely you will need to be your own doctor & self-medicate every now & again. Now don't get me wrong, self-medication is not always recommended, however, with most common prescription medications (like antibiotics) available over the counter, carrying a small supply in your first aid kit when traveling in a rural area can be a life-saver in the case of an emergency.

You Will Get Ripped Off At Least Once

It is true, avoiding bribes & extra taxes/fees is dang near impossible as an English-speaking Westerner (& clear target) but you can still take some control over the amount that you pay & who you pay it too. If you know that you are going to be crossing a border or taking part in a tourist activity, try checking online forums first like TripAdvisor or ask around on reddit to find out how much people pay & what the obvious scams are that you will need to be wary of. There is no better feeling then being able to tell a taxi driver that no, in fact that is NOT the price of a taxi to the airport & YES you are certain.

Photo: @TLTRAVEL

Full Time Travel

Today we are fortunate enough to have a guest post from bloggers, Terry & Maura of Travel Kiwis

Their Story

We are Terry & Maura www.travelkiwis.com a 50 year old couple from New Zealand who have sold our home and left NZ to travel for a period of time. We are not sure how long we will be traveling, but we will enjoy this time in our lives.

We did an OE when we first got married 31 years ago. We spent three years based in England and took the opportunity to travel UK and Europe several times in between working in various jobs. All our travel was put on hold when we were pregnant with the first of our three sons who was born in 1988.

Terry has since had a career in sales and business management, and Maura is an accountant who ran a small business we purchased in 2010.

We have always wanted to revisit our travelling days - one day. We started seriously thinking about making a break from the life we were leading in 2014 after we had spent a month in Asia visiting our eldest son in Japan where he was teaching English. We added on some time in Singapore and also Koh Samui. We enjoyed the environment so much we knew we had to spend more time in Asia.

Also in 2014, the company Terry worked for had restructured and his role was disestablished, he was offered a role but would need to move to Auckland. This didn't appeal so he chose to leave the company and look for contract sales roles which he found easy to get. We also started talking to people about our idea of selling up everything and traveling for a while. It was amazing how many people we spoke with had similar thoughts, but had not made the decision. For some of those people they never would as death, ill health, injury or some other reason would prevent them following their dreams.  

Our plans were solidified one terrible day in September 2014 when news came through of the tragic death in an accident of Maura's eldest brother Peter.  It really hit home that life can change in an instant, and although we never expected anything to happen to us, we had spoken to enough people to know that it could.

We put our business on the market and that sold in August 2015, our house sold soon after in September 2015.  By the end of 2015 our sons were then 27, 25 and 22, with only the youngest living with us at home.  They are all independent and doing well in their fields so it is a good time for us to give them some space, although we miss them very much as they are great guys.

We put a lot of time into planning our adventure and decided on spending four months travelling through Asia on our way to Europe. We really wanted to spend some quality time when we stopped off somewhere, so rather than only staying 1-2 days we decided to stay 3-7 days in each place (now we think that is too short a time).

Our departure date was 14th February 2016 and we have been on the road since then.  We have spent time in Australia, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and are currently in Vietnam. We have a month in China starting 8th May before a four day visit to Abu Dhabi on our way to France.

The next segment of our adventure is to spend from mid-July until early October house sitting in France and England, we have four house sits booked over that period, each 3 weeks to 5 weeks in length.

In 2017 we want to find a small town in Spain where we can teach English to business people for a while then do more traveling around Europe and Africa.  But, we may also buy a camper van and drive around Europe. If you would like to find out more about our adventures then please visit our travel blog www.travelkiwis.com and subscribe to our updates.  We love hearing from anyone with an interest in travel and will respond to your questions or comments.

A Look Into Our Current Days

20/04/2016 Full Moon Lantern Festival, Hoi An

Photo: @travelkiwis

On the 14th day of the lunar month, every month the streets of Hoi An Old Town are only lit by lanterns as power to the street lights is turned off from 6.30-9pm. This has become a huge event for foreign and Vietnamese tourists alike.

Photo: @travelkiwis

Photo: @travelkiwis

We wandered into town around 5pm to get an early dinner and to watch the crowds gather. We started talking with a German couple Jurgen and Bea who have taken a year off their jobs in Hamburg to travel through Asia and Australia. We swapped travel stories as we people watched next to the river and bridge, we have a lot in common. We all decided to have dinner together and found a rooftop restaurant that had views over the river and enjoyed a nice meal and conversation. (The best fresh spring rolls so far, probably on a par with 88 Tory St restaurant.) The four of us then wandered around the old town marvelling at all the brightly lit and colourful lanterns. There were several wedding parties looking beautiful in their costumes having photos taken by their official photographer and lots of tourists as well, no doubt appearing on lots of Instagram feeds later.

Photo: @travelkiwis

Photo: @travelkiwis

Maura purchased a small lantern and was given a long bamboo pole with a basket at the end to place her lantern into. We then headed for the bridge to launch the lantern of good luck.

Photo: @travelkiwis

Photo: @travelkiwis

21/04/2016 My Son Holy Land

Today we were collected late by our guide and driver as we headed to a very ancient historical site 1.5 hours from Hoi An. The drive at times was hair raising as the driver decided on several occasions to try and pass on blind corners - I feared more for the poor lady or child on the push bike / motorbike beside us or coming towards us.

As we approached the local villages, harvested rice was drying in all sorts of places - along the side of the road (dust and fumes) or around the local roundabout - so funny.
The scenery then changed to local forest as we arrived at My Son temples discovered 500 years ago by the French in what was then dense forest.

We walked part way from the entrance where you are met by electric cars to take you further inland to the cafe buildings. Here we caught another Cham cultural dance. Terry was very, very happy! (well they are very talented in their craft)

Photo: @travelkiwis

Photo: @travelkiwis

From here we wandered up the path to view the various temples. Some still in tact, others damaged by a week long of bomb attacks by the Yanks during the war (bomb craters around the site), and others restored to varying degrees.

Photo: @travelkiwis

The marvel of the temples is their construction, many over 1,000 years old. There is no mould on any of the brickwork (brick but no mortar!) The mystery of the construction maybe based on the local gum tree resin used between the bricks, and the burning of the building after construction to seal the bricks.

The other interesting information of this site is the fertility symbols in each of the temples, the Linga and the Yoni!

Hers & His

Photo: @travelkiwis

Photo: @travelkiwis

Lunch today was at our local where we met up with some younger travellers - 3 from Holland and one from Belgium. They were intrigued by our travel and adamant they should have all the money now to travel rather than when they are older. It was the first time we were asked if we had grandchildren, with one of the girls wanting to marry Terry so she could continue travelling.

Tonight we headed into the Old Town to catch up for a beer and bite to eat with Craig - an ex Manawatu cricketer who is travelling with a school group through Vietnam. Of course the first conversation was cricket and Craig spoke of Terry's fast bowling hitting him in the head. Terry also hit another in Craig's team not long after but this time cracked his helmet and cut his head open! Oops! Another cocktail for Maura please. Despite this they remain friends off the pitch.

Anyway, that out of he way, we traded travel stories and enjoyed the evening.

Before heading back we decided to explore some of the small alleyways off the main streets. Some dead ends, others with small shops and eateries. Time for a coffee and we chose a roaster of the local coffee beans. We were invited to head up the two flights of stairs to the rooftop to enjoy the lanterns as we enjoyed our coffee.

Photo: @travelkiwis

China Beach - yes Terry was hoping to see Dana Delaney - but instead we were treated to sandy beaches and waves to do some body surfing. We spent most of the day here reading, sunning ourselves and swimming. Maura spied her fishing baskets sitting on the beach.

Photo: @travelkiwis

Photo: @travelkiwis

To follow along with more of Terry & Maura's adventures, Amrita and I recommend subscribing to their blog posts at 

www.travelkiwis.com

Would you rather meet the Dalai Lama or have use of a black Amex?

Would you rather Wednesday!

The Dalai Lama…a simple Buddhist monk and the spiritual leader of Tibet. He does amazing things that focus on three main levels of commitment: the level of the human being, the level of religious practitioner, and to preserve Buddhist culture. He has met many amazing people and many people seek to meet him. There is an air of mystery around him that entices many people. Truly a once in a lifetime opportunity.

The black Amex card…a high status credit card with travel perks sure to excite travellers. This credit card is mysterious in its own right. There is no official information available to the public about the black Amex (unless you own one). However, there are many rumours out there, like you need to make $1.3 million per year to receive one. Here are some of the believed perks:

• 24/7 concierge service
• 20% back on travel purchases
• $200 airline credit per year (use towards airline food, baggage, etc.)
• VIP at many hotels and airlines
• Comprehensive trip insurance
• Lounge access (in conjunction with Priority Pass) 

Which would you rather experience?

Our Choice: Richard and I would have to go with the Dalai Lama. No real reflective or deep answer here. Basically we have a wonderful credit card that offers many of these perks. And let me tell you, we do not make $1.3 million per year blogging and teaching. If you are Canadian and love to travel you should consider the BMO World Elite card MasterCard. The annual fee is $150. 

Here are some of the perks:

• Trip insurance
• For every $5,000 spent you get $100 (in points) towards air travel or hotels
• When you use your points, no blackout dates or stipulations
• Priority Pass membership (which includes 4 free lounge passes per year)

This card is great for those who love travel and we must say the lounge passes are the best! We use them to have drinks before flights, and the food is wonderful before a long flight! 

How to Capture People You Don’t Know When Traveling

Today we are fortunate enough to have a guest post from bloggers, David and Anna Smith of  www.interfaceimages.com

About the Authors

David and Anna Smith are World travel and fine art photographers, Bloggers, photography and fabric arts workshop leaders, key note speakers and cruise ship guest lecturers. Visit their Interface Images to access their World Travel Photography Tips & Photo Adventures Blog, Celebrate the World Fine Art gallery and online photography classes. Blog subscribers get a free photo class.

© 2016 David and Anna Smith 

Local people add color and excitement to travel pictures so photograph them....an intimidating idea to many of us. When I judge images at photo competitions over 90% of the images are flowers, animals and mountains because they don't talk back to you. It is people and local culture who make the world photo rich and interesting so make every effort to capture them in their environment. Here are some tips to help you how.

A few tricks:

• Let children pose themselves - they’re natural;
• Say “Touch heads” if our subjects know each other and you will always get a smile and a laugh. 
• Want a friend for life? - exchange contact info, send/email photos.
• Using a digital Camera? The BIGGEST icebreaker by far is to show them the picture you took.  Everybody likes to look at themselves..

© 2016 David and Anna Smith

On Location:  Relax, study your site for interesting subjects, get people to be used to you and that you are a photographer with a camera and using it!  When you arrive at a scene for the first time you are like a rock falling into a still pond and causing huge ripples everywhere.  If you have the time, hang out, relax, sip a latte, let the "ripples" subside and others will soon get used to you.

Shoot around your subject, then move closer & SMILE.  Engage in friendly conversation (if you can in their language) “I love your hat” “Can you help me find ---?”  After establishing any type of relationship with your subject such as making a purchase, giving them a tip or simply chatting ask  “may I take your picture?” or if there is no common language, point to your camera then your subject with  a “may I?” gesture.  If there is a negative response – move on, there are billions of people in the world left to photograph.  The first poses are often stilted or unnatural - get your subject to hold and show you something or interact with others and plan on taking several shots to get a good one.  Come back later and try again, the second time your subject will be more natural and relaxed.

© 2016 David and Anna Smith

Be aware that different cultures react differently to foreigners and photographers.  Don't violate cultural or religious taboos on photo taking - research this before you arrive. Don’t feel obligated to tip unless you really want. Bring home town pins, flags, mementos to hand out. In high traffic tourist locales tips can attract amazing subjects dressed in local costumes for better images. I carry loose dollar bills in my pocket and willingly hand them out if a tip is requested. Give street performers a tip and you can take photos of them all day, like the following tango dancers in Buenos Aires.

© 2016 David and Anna Smith

Street photography is a popular genre where subjects don’t know they are being photographed. Sometimes photographers are too shy to approach people so they shoot serendipitously or there is no opportunity to interact with your subjects before shooting. In a photo rich setting, watch and prepare for candid shots and practice your camera technique at home to be ready for that once in a life time opportunity, like this one of women fruit sellers in Antigua, Guatemala. David had 2 seconds to grab a shot before they turned down a lane and lost forever. 

© 2016 David and Anna Smith

I often use a fun group photo technique while traveling so BOTH the photographer(s) and the subjects can be in the same shot. I call this Dave’s Smile Circle and unlike selfies which are limited to a few people you can easily capture up to 10 people at once (depends on the camera lens and zoom out setting).  This technique works indoors or outdoors with smart phones, simple point and shoot or fancy SLR cameras..

© 2016 David and Anna Smith

Here’s how it’s done:

1. Set the camera timer to about a 10 second duration. Look for the clock/timer symbol
2. Force the flash on to lighten up the faces with the typical strong back lighting from the sky or overhead lights. Look for the lightning bolt symbol or pull up the popup flash (or use an external dedicated strobe flash set at ETL/ATL).
3. Set the cameras focus method to multiple point or face detection. If left on the default center spot focus setting the camera will not focus on the faces but on the sky or background
4. Set the lens to the maximum wide angle possible to fit all people in the shot
5. Remove the lens hood, if any, as the wide angle lens setting will cause a shadow in the lower half of the image created by the light of the popup flash hitting the lens hood
6. Place the camera on the floor/ground pointing up. Protect the camera led screen with piece of paper or cloth under it if necessary 
7. Ask your subjects to gather round the camera facing down so their heads form a ring of faces over the camera. Ask them to touch heads. This always invokes laughter and merriment.
8. Press the shutter button, and then join the ring and encourage the group to smile, laugh, making funny faces, etc. Remember the timer setting so don't have people laugh/giggle until just before the shutter goes.
9. Check the shot for composition, smiling faces and retake as needed. Your subjects will totally enjoy the effect and willing participate in more shots.
10. Show everyone the best shot and they will remember the event forever with a smile

No need to travel afar, watch for local festivals and special events.  When people get dressed up for parades and cultural festivals, they are really saying "take my picture".  Don't get there just for the parade - get there for setting up and post parade interaction. If you are on a tour be sure to photograph your traveling companions doing things, your tour guide and any local hosts or entertainment events.

© 2016 David and Anna Smith

Model releases are required if the image is used for commercial purposes (ads, corporate brochures/websites) but are not usually necessary if used for editorial purposes (travel stories, Blog or magazine articles). Check your local requirements. I carry model and product releases translated in the local language and have them signed if I am doing a commercial shoot locally or when traveling but not when I am just having fun with people I meet.

Remember -A memorable portrait is really a moment in time between a photographer and a subject and is an effective tool to get to know, experience and appreciate people and cultures around the world.

People photography adds human interest to Blogs, social networks, digital photo books and slide shows. Using the above techniques will help you take pictures of people you don’t know.

Would you rather visit Buckingham Palace or The Palace of Versailles?

Would You Rather Wednesday!

You can visit the Palace of Versailles from Paris with a 50 minute train ride. Once you exit the train you will notice more of a small town feel and many people heading in one direction towards the palace. Once you arrive you can tour: The Palace and its state rooms (including the hall of mirrors), The Garden, The Grand Trianon, and Marie Antoinette's Estate. There are separate admission costs
for each different area, so make sure you are paying for only what you want to see! The gardens are magnificent, and by far our favourite part of our visit here. You can walk throughout the acres and on weekends throughout the summer there are wonderful fountain shows that happen numerous times throughout the day. From June 18th - September 17th there are even night fountain shows.  You can horseback ride, row a boat, and even picnic close to the body of water within the Garden. A little history, a little glamour, and a small getaway from the hustle and bustle of Paris.

You can visit/tour Buckingham Palace exclusively in the summer. The Queen is out for summer vacation, so the tourists are invited in for a glimpse of royal life. July 23rd- August 31st is the key time to plan a trip to London if seeing the palace is on your wish list. Often there are additional exhibitions that are running and are included in your admission price. This season they are highlighting the Queens fashion and her 90 years of style. Seeing the state rooms, the grand entrance where not only the royal family has stood but many famous visitors, is a unique experience. You will be pleased to see the palace has maintained its traditional appeal. If you love the royal family, history, and wealth then this is a must see stop during your London summer travels.

Our choice: We loved the Palace of Versailles. It has the outdoor splendour of Central Park infused with the glamour of European royalty. It is a place where you will sit back, enjoy the sunshine on your face with your toes in the water, and the meticulously trimmed greenery all around you.

Palace of Versailles, France
Photo: @conciergecouple

Favourite Beaches in the World

This is a topic we are not experts on. Why? Because crowning the best beach is very subjective. Everyone has their favourite beach that they have visited and they range everywhere from clear, blue calm waters to rolling waves in the deep, blue Mediterranean. Your favourite beach may be in your home town, only a short flight away, or half way across the world. Regardless, the sound and magic of the beach has made a mark on us all. So where in the world is your favourite beach?

Richards favourite beach is in Tulum, Mexico which we visited during a trip in University. We initially went to the ruins in Tulum to embrace a little history and we were pleasantly surprised to find an attraction that grabbed our attention even more. We were so hot from touring the ruins in the direct sunlight, that when we saw people climbing a staircase in wet swimsuits and towels in hand we were thrilled. When we walked towards the edge of the cliff, looking down on the wooden staircase leading down the the beach, we saw one of the most beautiful beaches. Not only was the water robins egg blue, with waves rolling in, but the overall surroundings were breathtaking. The green palm trees against the cliff contrasting with the water made for a gorgeous afternoon. We wandered down the stairs and a took a dip...and boy was it refreshing.


My favourite beach is Puka Beach in Boracay, Philippines. We chose one day to tour different the beaches on the island of Boracay during our summer vacation. First let me tell you they are all gorgeous and worth seeing. There was one beach that stole my heart. We pulled up and parked our scooter, walked past many huts selling various handmade crafts/jewellery, and saw the entrance for the beach. The entryway is a small man-made arch decorated with natural items and shells with the words "Puka Beach" at the top. We got the tourist photo there, and all you can see in the background is a blanket of turquoise. The sand is white and powdery soft and a smattering of rocks make for quite the photo op. But that is not all. It's the vibe. There is one stand set up on the beach that sells drinks. The couple that owns it blends fresh fruit smoothies or cocktails. They also have beer too. They play great music, provide picnic tables, and the man even plays the ukulele here and there. After our swim in the warm, clear waters we sat down at the picnic table for a rum and coke. For some reason that rum and coke may have just been the best drink I have ever had, simply due to the surroundings I was enjoying it in. I will never forget the song that was playing, the breeze from the beach, and the condensation on that Coca Cola bottle.

Puka Beach, Philippines
Photo: @conciergecouple

See The World in Your Own Eyes

Today we are fortunate enough to have a guest post from blogger, Maruja of marujadventure.com

Copy and photos by marujadventure

People who have zero wanderlust in their blood often asked me... Why do I love travelling so much? Why do I love exploring this mother earth? Why do I spend all my energy and money when I can just Google it? I often tell them the world is so big and life is too short to limit yourself to all the cultures, food, and all the beautiful places that you can experienced. 

I always believe that in order for us to understand one another we must first experienced their culture. To live in it once and explored their life. In returned, we have a better understand of who they are. Travelling will open your eyes to other possibilities, but it will also show you some things you never knew about yourself. The strength to spread your wings and live outside your comfort zone. To try new ideas, new things, new food, and new cultures. 

So to those who have not travelled much. Travel as much as you can while your young and grab every chance you can to go on some adventure because maybe just maybe you will end up falling in love with one place you will end up staying. 

Big Sur, California
Photo: @marujadventure

Would you rather a trip to Banff filled with hiking or skiing or a trip to Key West filled with snorkelling and sailing?

Banff, Alberta:

Horseback riding, hiking, mountain biking, skiing and more! If you love nature and being active this is the place for you. There is a physical challenge for just about every ability here. You can wake to beautiful sunrises then hike through beautiful forests and mountainsides and finish the day with a gourmet meal.

Key West, Florida:

Shopping, swimming, snorkelling, sunbathing and more! If you love the mix of swanky island life this place is for you. There are boats and yachts to rent for a day out on the turquoise waters and a lot of sea life to see. You can wake to warm sunshine and spend your day on both land and sea before finishing the day with a slice of key lime pie with the sand between your toes.

Our Choice:

Richard and I would choose Banff. After our hiking experiences in Switzerland we know we like a challenge. We also like places where there is a mix of experiences where you can be active, see wildlife, and still enjoy great restaurants and boutiques.  For those who have not been, Banff is an incredibly beautiful, quaint, and lovable little town. There are other jaw dropping sites you need to visit close by as well: Lake Louise & Canmore. 

Let us know your choice in the comments below.

Banff, Alberta, Canada
Photo: @conciergecouple

Grand Fiesta Americana, Puerto Vallarta: Resort Review

We did it again. We took our chances on a new hotel for our Spring break vacation. Did it pay off? You bet! There were four of us who travelled together and we all deemed this hotel one of our favourite all-inclusive hotels. It was a legitimate luxury hotel that truly catered to an “adults only” crowd.

We arrived and were taken to our room on the 8^th floor. The ocean views are incredible from each room, and streaming music through the Wi-Fi allowed us to watch the sunset with music and drinks on our balcony. You were asked to make dinner reservations, but there was never a problem getting the time and restaurant we wanted. There are 3 a la carte restaurants and a buffet to choose from for dinner. Which may not seem like many, but the menus are extensive and you could eat there several times without repeating entrees.

The Mexican restaurant was delicious and offered Mexican dishes that are not “typical” Mexican foods for North Americans. It was great to try flank steak with chimichurri, Mexican fondue, and seafood stuffed poblano peppers.

The Italian restaurant was our least favourite, but a wonderful space and some choices that will please you. I would recommend not going for the traditional pastas and pizzas and aim for what they do well: seafood.

The Asian restaurant was hands down the best restaurant I have ever eaten at of any hotel. It is called Yuu, and we were not sure what to expect. We were thinking dinner would be served teppanyaki style- like so many other resorts do. We were pleasantly surprised. There was an extensive sushi menu, and the sushi was wonderful and made fresh to order as you should expect.  The Jalapeno sushi was a favourite. Rich and I have travelled through Southeast Asia so we were so excited to see that they had a page on the menu catered to some of the major cities in Asia. Under each city they had a traditional dish from that area. I have never seen anything like it. We sampled the chicken satay dish from Kuala Lumpur twice! The men in our group fell in love with the Pad Thai as well.

For lunch be sure to skip the buffet, room service, and pool service and eat at the ceveceria. Their grilled fish sandwich with fried and jalapeno aioli is fresh and delicious.

The views and pools are beautiful. We took so many pictures of the ocean with the mountains in the background. The inflatable loungers available in the pool are a nice touch. We had no problem getting loungers in the morning. There is an option to lounge on the dock beside the pool, facing the ocean which is neat.

We like to have quite a few drinks when we are away, and this hotel did not disappoint. All ingredients were fresh, no syrups slush or purees. They had any drink you can imagine and they make it with top of the line alcohol. We were introduced to the raspberry mojitos at the beach bar. The bartender there even taught me how to make a pineapple margarita using fresh pineapple chunks.

They have a martini lounge, tequila lounge, sky lounge, lobby bar, and a mojito lounge. All spaces are great to sit with friends or significant other before or after dinner. They are themed lounges and the drinks are incredible. They have a variety of tequilas infused with different fruits and flavours you can try, or you can stick to the standards. I sampled the jalapeno tequila with a splash of pineapple and it was great!

The sky lounge on the rooftop is a large bar and there are places to sit and relax. There are 2 large hot tubs on the rooftop which are open late, allowing you to enjoy the stars. There is music being played and special performers are also scheduled throughout the week.

We also like to work out in the mornings on vacation (I know... it’s not for everyone), and the gym is awesome. Not too big, not too small. It has almost everything you can need. A variety of weights, cardio machines, etc. The hotel even runs various classes in the morning!

We were lucky to get upgraded to the Governor suite. If you can splurge on it, even just for a couple of nights it is worth it. The rooms are on the top floor and I am sure you can imagine the views. The room has 2 bathrooms, dining area, living area, wet bar area, 2 balconies, and a patio with a hot tub outdoor dining table and loungers. We had our breakfast brought up to us and ate breakfast on the deck while sipping mimosas. What a wonderful way to start the day!

We had a wonderful time and although will not return again, as it is our rule to never visit the same place twice, we hope you experience the same memorable time as we did. 

Grand Fiesta Americana, Puerto Vallarta
Photo: @conciergecouple

Advantages of Packing Light

Today we are fortunate enough to have a guest post from blogger, Alannah of www.itchyfeetravel.com 

Copy and photos by itchyfeetravel

Alannah has a serious case of itchy feet and incurable wanderlust! Originally from Canada, Alannah went on her first international trip at the age of fifteen to Paris France. Since then, her passion for travel and adventure has continued to grow. She has currently been to over 30 countries and lived in 3. She writes a travel blog where she shares her adventures and tips for travelling solo and travelling on a budget. 

11 Times I Seriously Regretted Packing Too Much Luggage

Before starting any trip, you must first complete the daunting task of packing. Whether packing is something you love to do, or it’s your least favourite part of travelling, it’s something that needs to be done.

Packing for me would always start out as something fun and then end in stress, and sometimes tears, when I realised that I couldn't possible fit everything I ‘needed’ into one suitcase.

If you’re like I used to be, packing light seems like an oxymoron. Every time you walk by your open suitcase you throw something else in. I used to pack way more than I needed to. The results were that I only ever wore or used about 40% of what I had packed.

During my last trip, I had the smallest suitcase out of everyone on the tour, whereas five years ago I would have had one of the biggest. What made me downsize and learn the importance of packing light (and that these two words actually can be used together) was the following 11 times I seriously regretted bringing too much luggage.

1) When you think you have around 20 lbs and the scale at the airport disagrees

You’re certain you are underweight but somehow, from the living room to the car you find that sweater you thought you had already packed. Running shoes that you haven’t used in a year but you just might need them because the urge to go for a run might hit you while you are on vacation. That magazine because what if the three you already packed are  not enough. That winter coat in the back of your car because there could be a freak snow storm. You arrive at the airport check in and are filled with dread as you lift your suitcase onto the scale. You stare at the red numbers that flash up, heart pumping just a little bit faster, praying that it will be under the weight limit.

2) When that extra couple of pounds ends up costing you a lot more than it’s worth

Your prayers go unheard and your suitcase is over the weight limit. This is not a good way to start a trip, you have not even checked into the airport and you are already faced with an extra cost. Airlines can be very strict when it comes to their baggage policies and even being one pound over can lead to an extra charge.

3) When you buy stuff that ends up putting you over the weight limit

A trinket here, a gift there. You don’t realise how much crap you've actually bought until you’re desperately trying to shove it all into your suitcase before your flight. If you manage to be underweight when you leave, but only by a little, you might not be so lucky on your way back home. Anything you buy on your trip will add weight to your suitcase and so you need to factor that in when you’re packing. Otherwise you might end up at the airport having to quickly decide what you are going to have to sacrifice and leave behind, or pay the surcharge for the extra weight.

4) When the underground station does not have a lift

Stairs might be an over packer’s worse nightmare. Sometimes the technology we rely on to make our life easier either does not exist or is not working. I have been to underground stations where there is no working lift and therefore the only option was to drag my suitcase up the staircase one step at a time. This is particularly difficult if there is a lot of people and particularly stressful if you are in a rush. The more stuff you packed, the heavier your suitcase, and a couple flights of stairs quickly turns into an intense workout.

5) When the handle or wheel on your suitcase decides to break

Both of these things have happened to me on separate occasions. I seemed to be cursed when it come to suitcases as they always seem to break on me at the worse time. It’s hard enough to haul around a big ass suitcase without some part of it breaking and making it even harder to pull.

6) When you’re trying to get on crowded public transport

If you have to take public transport to get to the airport, back home, or to your accommodation, then you face the struggle of trying to drag your huge suitcase into undergrounds, trains, and buses. This is made even more frustrating when public transport is packed and everyone is giving you dirty looks as you try to cram yourself and your suitcase into what little space is available, mumbling apologies as you try not to run over people’s feet. Once you've manage to cram yourself into the transport prepare for more dirty looks as people try to climb over and push past your suitcase, to get in and out, as you are unable to move the suitcase because there is no free space to move it to.

7) When you’re trying to walk down the streets of a crowded city

Trying to drag around a big suitcase in and around a lot of people is inconvenient and uncomfortable for them and you. This happened to me in Hong Kong as I was trying to navigate myself through the packed streets to find my accommodation.

8) When your accommodation is at the top of a hill

This happened to me in Monaco. I was already tired from travelling and wandering around for almost half an hour trying to find the hotel (was trying to save on money and therefore didn’t want to get a taxi).  Turns out my accommodation was on top of a huge hill. I was cursing my luggage the whole way up that hill. By the time I arrived to my accommodation I was grumpy, sweaty, out of breath, and ready to murder my suitcase.

9) No elevator or broken elevator

So you've finally managed to haul all your crap to your accommodation and now you’re feeling like the worse is over. Not so fast. It sometimes happens that your room is on the top floor of a building where the elevator is either broken or non existent and the only way to get your stuff to your room is to carry it up flight after flight of stairs. There are a lot of old buildings, for example in Europe, where there are no elevators and when your huffing and puffing up the fifth flight of stairs dragging an overstuffed suitcase you’ll be wishing you hadn't packed that 10th pair of pants.

10) Pulling out everything from your suitcase to find something then having to put it all back in.

The bigger your suitcase is, and the more stuff that you have, the more likely that you’ll have a hard time finding whatever it is you’re looking for. Having to pull all the contents out and then stuff them back in time and time again can get real old real fast.

11) When you’re at the end of your trip and realise you haven’t worn half the stuff you brought with you.

For me the worst part, after having to endure all these other things, is realising once the trip is over that half the stuff I had been dragging across the world I didn't even use. Packing light has always been a challenge for me, but after personally going through all the above during years of travel I decided something had to change.  When you’re packing for a trip, you really need to think about everything you put in your luggage and if it's really something you need.

Just remember, sometimes less is more!