When in Maui, Would You Rather Sample The Famous Banana Bread or the Flavorful Maui Beef?

Would You Rather Wednesday! 

Maui Beef

      Richard and I were not aware that Maui is known for its beef. The Maui Cattle Company partners with six different ranches, each offering acres and acres of land for the cows to graze. One of the most famous partners is Hana Ranch . Hana Ranch is a working cattle ranch in Hana, on the island of Maui. The ranch is 3,600 - 4,00 acre ranch that nurtures 2,000 cattle. They are all grass fed until fattened, making it an ethical and humane choice (their words). 

      Hana Ranch offers their beef at 2 spots: The Hana Burger Truck  and at their restaurant/bakery Provisions . Richard loves hamburgers so we decided to visit Provisions in Paia, Maui. I ordered some smaller salad dishes and Richard ordered their burger. There are only a few toppings added so you can really appreciate the flavor of the beef. He could not talking about how incredible it was. So I stole a bite...It really was amazing. I am not a big burger lover and I have to tell you the darn thing was so full of flavor and juicy as well! We were converted to Maui beef fans. 

     For the duration of the trip, wherever we went for lunch or dinner we would ask if they have Maui beef products. The unfortunate thing is, not many large restaurants carry the product because Hana farms could not keep up with the demand. They have partnered with smaller restaurants along with other ranches from the Maui Cattle Company to supply great quality and great tasting beef products. It's ruined our enjoyment of beef back at home. 

Banana Bread

     Before we even left for our trip to Maui, we had friends and family telling us all about the must try banana bread not only on the island but most importantly on the Road to Hana. So me, being a sweets lover was pretty darn excited about eating banana bread the whole road trip. Our first few nights in Maui were in a small town called Haiku. We stayed at a bed and breakfast, which of course included breakfast. We woke after a long day of travel the previous day to find coffee, greek yogurt, fresh fruit, and banana bread waiting for us. It was moist, it was bursting with banana flavor, and most importantly it was fresh (the owner had it delivered each morning). WOW!

    During our travels on the Road to Hana there were numerous stops where "the best banana bread" was being offered. We held out and bought ours from a Hana Farms stand. There are so many varieties to choose from: banana and chocolate chunk, banana coconut, banana and macadamia nuts, banana macadamia nuts and chocolate, and more! I must reveal, that after trying some at another hotel and receiving a small loaf after a luau, they are all good. Maui and likely the rest of Hawaii is good at making banana bread. Sure banana bread is simple and I am sure your mother or grandma has a great recipe, but using local bananas and baking it fresh everyday makes this one of a kind in my 

books.

Our choice

It's obvious, Rich prefers the beef and I the banana bread. 

Born To Beach: The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel

Today we are fortunate enough to have a guest post from blogger Natty P of 

nattyponline

Read about Natty's travels as she uses the world as her playground: 

Blog - www.nattyponline.com

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About Natty P...

Natalie Preddie is a freelance travel writer living in Toronto, Canada. She contributes to the Travel & Leisure, Toronto Star: Travel, Star Touch Magazine, PAX Magazine, The Baby Post, Travel & Style and her popular travel blog, The Adventures of Natty P. In 2014, Natalie won the Canadian Public Relations Society: Young PR Pro of the Year Award. This year, Natalie won Travel Writer of the Year 2015 for her series on Ontario’s Norfolk County. Follow her on Twitter @_nattyp.

Born To Beach: The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel

This past June, I beach hopped, spent time in Thomas Edison’s lab, ate homemade ice cream and was overwhelmed by the beauty, wildlife and history of Fort Myers & Sanibel. A short two-hour flight from Toronto, this destination more than triples in population throughout the winter months, mostly Canadians and Americans looking to escape the cold.

But that’s not all. Born To Beach: The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel 

Spring break attracts crowds of University students looking to get their ‘wet n’ wild’ on and in between, the area hosts families, couples and other vacationers looking for a well deserved, relaxing and restful holiday. Located in Florida’s Lee County, the area boasts 50 miles of sparkling white sandy beach along the Gulf of Mexico. The sunsets alone are worth the trip.

I was ‘born to beach’ so for me, Fort Myers & Sanibel was the ultimate destination. For my fellow sun lovers, you know that nothing tops lying on a giant towel along a pristine beach and searching the horizon for jumping bottle nosed dolphins, riding Seadoo’s or bobbing in the salty water with friends. For shellers, Fort Myers & Sanibel is famous for their 400 species of shells collected by the county’s unique ‘scoop’ shape in a prime current location. Born To Beach: The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel. 

As a pregnant traveller, this was a fantastic ‘babymoon’ destination and I was outfitted in the best summer gear from Thyme Maternity. My favourite three beaches were Fort Myers Beach North, Fort Myers Beach/Times Square and Captiva Beach. Here is why:

Fort Myers Beach North

We checked into Sandpiper Gulf Resort located directly on the white sandy beaches of Fort Myers Beach North. My room looked directly onto the Gulf of Mexico and it only took minutes to get out of my travel gear and onto the sand.

Separated from the masses and with other properties far enough away, this beach was clean and quiet while families built sandcastles, couples played in the warm water and small groups of girls flipped in their sun chairs.

Captiva Island

Captiva Island itself is the perfect beach town. Green and luscious, here wild and plant life is protected by the government and beaches are award winning. Zero fast food joints, no traffic lights and a speed limit of 35 mph, this island provides a true eco-friendly tropical getaway.

Located off of the equally as stunning Sanibel Island, Captiva has some of the areas most beautiful (and expensive) vacation homes. From Gulf view mansions to palm tree-surrounded condos, Captiva is a destination where I could definitely see myself spending winters…and summers in fact.

The main ‘street’ is Andy Rosse Lane, a quaint stretch with boutique shops, eclectic restaurants and quirky art galleries that leads directly to the beach. The water is clear and many shades of blue, a white sandy slope taking one once again into the Gulf. The lush backdrop that lines the beach makes Captiva Beach a truly serene experience.

 

Fort Myers Beach/Times Square

The sunset. While on Fort Myers main beach, I grabbed an ice cream and walked along the boardwalk to watch the sunset over Lee County.

 

I was mesmerized as the red, yellows and oranges painted the sky. The sun glowed majestically in the sky, sinking lower and lower until he took his final bow, leaving a crowd in awe of what they just saw. I think someone actually clapped. It was truly beautiful.

Visit http://www.fortmyers-sanibel.com/ for more information on beautiful Fort Myers & Sanibel.

Would You Rather Fly at Night or During the Day?

Would You Rather Wednesday!

Photo: @conciergecouple

Night

      If you are lucky like me and can sleep throughout a flight than this may be the obvious choice for you. You hop aboard after a delicious dinner and your belly is full. You get out your sleeping accessories (we bring full size pillows, airline blankets we received on a past flight, and sleep masks) and you snuggle in for the duration of the flight. You miss nothing where you left (everyone is also sleeping) and when you arrive at your next destination (depending on the time change), it may just be early in the morning and you have a full day of sightseeing ahead. You wake up feeling almost as fresh as a peach. The only downfall is, when you wake up you MUST brush your teeth before you interact with anyone. 

     So other than the perfect opportunity to sleep and rest up for your next stop, some people prefer to fly at night because they do not like to see what lies below. I am talking about nervous fliers here (shout out to Richard), sometimes not seeing the deep dark blue ocean below or the dark rain clouds and rain drops on the window can remove some stress for people. Some people have an illogical fear that the pilot may get tired during an overnight flight and jeopardize their safety as a passenger. 

Day

     This is great in my opinion for a short flight. You get to enjoy the view going up, nibble some snacks for the duration of your flight and see the landscape as you come in for landing. Again, if you are a sleeper like me you may use this time to catch a small "cat nap".

   When you arrive at your destination, locating your hotel or finding transportation may be easier if its during the day or early evening. 

   The sun on the window and the bright light may provide nervous fliers with reassurance and a glimmer of positivity. Our conscience tells us that the pilot is likely well rested and aware for a day flight. 

Our choice:

   Night flying. I can sleep so it leaves me feeling somewhat refreshed and ready to go when I land. It makes napping feel cozier too when it's all dark, and usually quiet in the cabin. Richard prefers it because if its evening he doesn't feel guilty sipping some drinks to ease his nerves before boarding the flight. He also is able to place more focus on the movie or download he is watching, rather than stealing frequent and nervous peeks at what is outside. 

      Some people with children may have a completely different perspective. Please share! 

Turkey’s Aegean Hideaway: Your Guide to Alaçati

Today we are fortunate enough to have a guest post from blogger Jenny of 

A Taste of Travel

Read about Jenny and her husband, Ian, as they use the world as their playground: 

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About Jenny & Ian...

Jenny and her husband Ian are the travellers behind the A Taste of Travel blog. They are avid travellers who have been fortunate to visit many countries which they write about on the blog. A highlight of their travels was an eighteen month gap trip which meant they could spend a couple of months in one of their favourite countries, Turkey. Another couple of months was spent in Croatia island hopping and driving up the coast. This year they are about to head off on a four month trip which will take in Ireland, the Geek Islands, Italy, Portugal, Israel and Jordan. Jenny loves Instagram so you can follow their trip on the above social media accounts.

Alaçati is a Turkish town with a Greek history that today blurs the boundaries of both. It’s a popular place for both tourists and locals to enjoy lazy days by the beach and busy nights in the bars and restaurants that line the cobbled streets. This way of life appeals to us…We loved Alaçati and will definitely return.

Greece or Turkey?

History explains the conflict…

In the 1830’s a well known Turkish family reached out to the Greek families on nearby Chios Island whose homes and livelihoods had been destroyed by earthquakes and offered them work in the vineyards and olive farms. Alaçati was built on a swamp and malaria was thriving in these conditions, so the Greeks also helped build a channel to drain the swamp.

The workers set up a town…Alaçati, and built the traditional Greek stone houses that still remain today. With its fertile soils producing excellent vineyards and great wines, the town became and important trading centre and flourished until after the Balkan War in 1914 when Bosnian and Albanian immigrants came to Alaçati.  The Greeks started to leave.  In 1923 a formal ‘exchange agreement’ was signed returning the Turkish Muslims in Greece to Turkey and the Orthodox Greeks in Turkey to Greece.

Wooden houses, blue shutters and trailing bougainvillea in Alaçati

What to do in Alaçati

Explore the town

As you walk around the town, you really do feel as though you are in Greece. The old stone houses have been beautifully restored. Painted shutters and doors are covered in rambling bright coloured bougainvillea. Many of the homes have been converted to hotels whilst others are now trendy boutiques, bars and cafes.

Explore the side streets that run off Kemal Pasa Street, the main street of the town that is home to many of these bars and restaurants. Wander up to the 19th century windmills that overlook the town.

At the Town Square turn into the side street and head towards the mosque. Follow the winding street on the right hand side that will take you past two of Alacati’s best restaurants and into the Haci Memis Quarter. The old wooden homes and stone buildings have been restored and are now fabulous antique shops, interesting boutiques and busy cafes and bars.

Dinner at Asmi Yapragi is a must!

Aliçati’s boys club!

At night, the streets that were quiet during the day are busy. There’s a party atmosphere in town as people head to the bars and restaurants that spill onto the street.

One of the many bars in the town

The Saturday Market

Every Saturday the farmers market comes to town. Vendors come from far and wide bringing their locally grown produce to town. It’s large market. It takes over several streets in the town. The produce is some of the freshest produce I have seen, with sellers spending time proudly displaying their wares.  I watched one vendor as he hand polished each tomato and stacked it neatly on display. There’s also a textiles and clothing market at the back of the market but it is the fresh produce that most come for.

The Fish Market

The daily fish auction is fun to see. Fish caught overnight are bought to the market and expertly sorted into parcels of approximately one kilogram. These numbered lots are then auctioned off to the highest bidder. Go about 10.30 am to catch the action!

Go Windsurfing

Alaçati has been the home of windsurfing since the nineties and is now one of the most important windsurfing centres in the world. The strong winds that prevail here have bought windsurfers of all abilities to its shores. Don’t worry about bringing your board to Alaçati, windsurfers can be hired and lessons taken.

The Beaches

Being in the centre of the Cesme Peninsula, Alaçati is surrounded by the water. Its beaches are all are within easy reach. To the north is the sandy, Ilica Beach whilst beach clubs are found along the southern shores. Our favourite was Klum Beach Club where clear waters and a beautiful sandy beach encourage you to lounge all day on bean bags or rent a shaded waterfront bed.

Klum Beach Club

Wine Tasting at Urla

The Cesme Peninsula has become an important wine producing area again returning to the days when the Greek workers were cultivating the land. One winery not far from Alaçati is Urla Sarapcilik Winery, a stunning modern winery that produces award winning bio dynamic wines.

The discovery of vineyards over 1000 years old on his property motivated owner Can Ortabas to establish his own vineyards. Today Urla Sarapcilik Winery is one of the leading vineyards in Turkey.  The winery is a beautiful modern building with an ultra modern production plant. There is even a two room hotel in the building with stunning views over the vineyard.

Visit Ephesus

You may be heading down the coast but if not, a visit to Ephesus is not out of the question….you could be there in just under two hours! If this is your only chance to see this UNESCO listed site, you may want to take it! It took us about two hours to see the sights without a guide. Don’t miss seeing the Terraced Houses which require a separate payment. For us, they were the highlight of Ephesus.

Where to Eat

Two restaurants stand out from the crowd, both showcasing the fabulous produce that we saw at the markets but in different ways.

Asma Yapragi

The display of fresh produce sitting on a table outside the restaurant is more than enough to tempt you inside but the if you’ve done your research on eating in Alaçati you will also know that this is one of the best restaurants in town. We popped into make a booking and wanted to stay. Fresh local greens, peppers and eggplants were being chopped and diced….I couldn’t wait to try the dishes they were being cooked.

That night as we sat in the courtyard garden, the anticipation grew. I didn’t realise that we would be returning to the kitchen to choose our entree from the fabulous selection of meze dishes that now covered the table. Traditional cooking at its best.

Even though this was a meal in itself, once I had seen and smelt the slow cooked lamb, I knew I had to try it. I was not disappointed! A superb meal.

My only disappointment that was they were booked out for the following nights were were in Alacati. The restaurant is very popular, especially in summer so make sure you make a reservation well ahead of time.

Asma Yapragi Web Site

Babushka

Since our visit to Alaçati, there is a third restaurant that I’d like to let you know about. Chef Olga Irez and her husband Özgür have opened a restaurant called Babushka. I met Olga and Özgür at Özgur’s family home in Sapanca where we spent a week with them and photographer David Hagerman visiting the local markets, cooking and experiencing her delicious food. Olga is an avid fan of using the fresh local ingredients and I’m sure the food at their restaurant is just as good.

Babushka Web Site

Where to Stay

Tas Otel

The first of the boutique hotels, the Tas Otel opened its doors in 2001 and now there are over 100 hotels in the area.

The Tas Otel is still one of the best. Staying in this small boutique hotel is like staying in a private home. Infact this 120 year old stone building was once a private mansion. A peaceful garden surrounds the pool and the outdoor tables are the perfect place to sit and enjoy the afternoon tradition of tea and freshly made cake. The cakes are famous and all feature in the beautiful cook book that is waiting for you in your room. They were the reason I was back at the hotel by 5!

Tas Otel

Would You Rather Party Like a Rockstar in Vegas or Miami?

Would You Rather Wednesday!

Let's just admit it right now, both destinations would be and are great places to party with friends. We have had the pleasure of celebrating birthdays in both cities and have great memories of both. 

Las Vegas

There are more than 62,000 hotel rooms on the Vegas strip alone. Many of the hotels casino properties being some of the largest in the world. There are themed hotels, chic hotels, boutique hotels, and more. I would say selecting accommodations is one of the most exciting parts of booking a Vegas trip. For partying with friends we recommend: Planet Hollywood (budget friendly) or The Cosmopolitan. They are both based on the South side of the strip, and both have great atmospheres and are close to some of the best pool parties. For a wild and crazy pool party try: Wet Republic at the MGM. I must warn you that it can get pretty wild and the age range is mostly 21-30 years old. For something with a little more class and a huge crowd check out Encore Beach Club. For a smaller crowd and a more elite feel we liked: Marquee Day Club at The Cosmopolitan. 

I am not even going to suggest restaurants, because they are always changing and there is always something new. When in town to celebrate we often spend more dollars on our daytime and nighttime entertainment than our meals. To be honest when we have been to Vegas the past few times we did not even go out at night at all. We embrace and take full advantage of the legendary pool parties, because nowhere else does them like Vegas. However, if you are set on going out at night try Hakkasan.

Miami

We celebrated Richards 30th Birthday in Miami. We had a limo pick us up from the airport and the party started right away. We stopped at the grocery store, stocked up on snacks and drinks and headed to our rental. We decided to go with a rental in Miami, because hotel prices are higher than they are in Vegas, especially for a nice place, and we also had a group of 9. We searched on VRBO for properties close to the beach and within walking distance to nightlife. Here is a great one: 2 Story Penthouse. If you are looking for something budget friendly we have stayed at The Catalina Hotel and Beach Club, it is a cute boutique hotel with wonderful customer service and close to EVERYTHING. 

We spent the first night visiting different cocktail bars and lobby bars. The second day we spent time at the beach and browsing the shops. At night we went to ICON (formerly known as Mansion) and LIV nightclub. LIV is a megaclub as well, and getting in can be a pain so reserve bottle service or get on the wait list if possible. It will still not make your entry easy, but it will ease some of the pain.

*Do not attempt a pool party in Miami, unless you are in the mood for a calm and relaxing atmosphere. We have tried a few and they are not a "party". Just be aware, they are not like Vegas. 

Our Choice

Like I said we enjoyed both. I would say age and crowd are the deciding factor. If your group is younger or young at heart Vegas can test even the best partying stamina. If your group is more mature and looking for more class and relaxing days, Miami is best. After writing this up and reminiscing about the past, I would have to say I am in the mood to book Vegas right now. 

Beach Hoping in Kuta Lombok

Today we are fortunate enough to have a guest post from bloggers Charlotte & Josh of 

thespindrifters

Read about Charlotte & Josh's travels as they use the world as their playground: 

Blog - http://thespindrifters.com/

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thespindrifters/
Twitter - https://twitter.com/thespindrifters
Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCE98YwT_qj5f5E-zkbKpxnw

About Charlotte & Josh...

Photo: @thespindrifters

We’re Charlotte & Josh, a 26 & 27 year old couple from London with an insatiable passion for travel. We met 3 years ago bonding over a mutual love of travel having both travelled the world before. It took 2 years to decide we would set off together on an adventure of a new kind. We wanted to travel spontaneously; Drifting from place to place depending on where our mood, people or work took us, so we saved like crazy for 10 months and now here we are living the dream...

Photo: @thespindrifters 

Our passports were being escorted somewhere for a single stamp which was seemingly a harder process than it should be but this allowed us to scoot off away from the misery of soulless Mataram and head to the 'better' Kuta Lombok.

Whenever you talk to someone about Lombok the first thing most people utter is 'Kuta' and 'amazing beaches' so we needed to check it out! Accompanied by our German friends we all jumped in a car and headed South in search of the white sands and amazing surf we had heard so much about.

If Senggigi was a disappointment then Kuta was on the complete other end of the spectrum. Unbroken white and golden sand beaches with incredible surf and turquoise water! Where to begin?

Here's our guide to two days of beach hopping!

Day 1 West of Kuta 

Mawan Beach

Photo:  @thespindrifters

Park up your bike and walk over the small ridge and be greeted with a half moon stretch of white sand, amazing crashing beach break waves and deep blue sea! The pictures can do the talking but it was basically deserted when we arrived apart from the small kids asking you if you need a coconut, pineapple or Bintang...dreamy! The waves were incredibly powerful when we arrived and we all spent a good 2 hours playing around being swept off our feet and dragged out to sea, which was awesome, just tie up your shorts....!

Mawi Beach

Photo:  @thespindrifters

Ooohh Mawi, beautiful Mawi. If this wasn't the most difficult 'road' to get to a beach we have ever encountered we may have been able to spend more time admiring the majesty of Mawi's surf and cliff back drop. Its a stunning little beach and once you get over the 'shakes' from bouncing up and down on your bike for 30 minutes its a great place to laze away the day and watch the insane left hand break waves and the amazing surfers trying to conquer them! Please don't be put off by the road, just be ready for it, embrace it and remember that what you find at the other end if most definitely worth it!

Selong Belenak Beach

Photo:  @thespindrifters

The longest beach of all that we visited to the West of Kuta and definitely the busiest as well! This is the beginner surfers paradise with small waves and many surf shops/warungs offering lessons and board hire. The beach itself is a long stretch of white sand with insane views of the Lombok coastline and little Islands in the middle of the sea. Park your bike, pay the man, get to the beach, turn right and walk into secluded beach heaven! Everybody as usual congregates by the warungs and surf shops but the best part of the beach is further to the North so wander through the breaking waves and find a little spot in the distance to see out the day!

Kuta Beach

Unfortunately, you will get hassled by little kids on this beach but only to buy bracelets and more often than not they just want to take a break and have a chat! They speak surprisingly good English and will leave you too it after a couple of minutes, unless you make them laugh then they could stay for hours! A huge beach with golden (slightly stony) sand stretches off into the distance and has quite a lot of seaweed on it. Maybe not the beach to spend the whole day on but walk away from the main car park and it can seem surprisingly quiet!

East of Kuta

Seger Beach

Photo:  @thespindrifters

Another crescent moon shaped beach with unfortunate amounts of rubbish and seaweed on the beach. Still boasting great views out to sea and the hills that separate it from Tanjung Aan. More of a quick stop off this one, or a destination to park up relax until the sunset starts and race up the hill to the viewpoint to watch the sun setting over Kuta...

Tanjung Aan

Photo:  @thespindrifters

A tourist destination. Lots of buses and tours were stopped here when we arrived and the beach was overrun with people taking selfies and generally disturbing the peace we had come to expect throughout the day. This makes us sound like boring old farts but when the previous beaches set such a serene precedent this was a bit of a surprise...Anyway, who are we to judge, each to their own. The beach is still great and you have to go and see it for the sunset or just to walk up and down to take in the coastal views.

The second day scootering around was revisiting our favourite beaches to spend more time playing in the sea and generally relaxing on the sand but not before we looked round a 'traditional' Sasak village. We aren't sure how traditional this was unfortunately as it seemed very commercial and too many people spoke English while walking around for us to believe it wasn't just a tourist trap. However, we had a good guide and you can choose how much you pay them once you have finished depending on how informative they are. (we were recommended to pay no more than 5k each but pay what you want!)

Photo:  @thespindrifters

We spent a total of 3 days in Kuta and loved it. Its chilled, relaxed surfer vibe is still ever present and the locals are incredibly helpful and friendly. Just be careful about transport back to Mataram. Its expensive in high season, we paid 250k for 4 people which we thought was steep but after negotiating with what seemed like every tour shop its the best we could find! Enjoy!

C & J

Would You Rather Collect Shot Glass or Magnets as Souvenirs?

Would You Rather Wednesday! 

Okay so when you go on a trip and have such an amazing time, you will do anything you can to take a little piece of that trip with you when you go home. Sure we take pictures, we have our experiences, but sometimes that is just not enough. So what do some of us do? Buy souvenirs as reminders of our trip that we will likely never do anything with ever. But rest assured you are not the only traveler out there doing this. According to an article by "First Research", in the U.S alone the revenue form souvenirs and novelty gifts is about $17 billion dollars. So if we know we shouldn't, but we do it anyway which is the lesser of  two evils: shot glasses or magnets?

Shot Glasses

I can hear the arguments for shot glasses right now: "at least I can use them", or "I can display them, and they are conversation starters", etc. Sure, you can use them when you are making cocktails. Sure, they likely are conversation starters. But they take up an awful lot of cupboard or shelf space. The displaying of shot glasses reminds me of a college house or dorm. However, I will never say never because I as well love reminders of my travels.

Magnets

Magnets clearly state the country or location you have visited. They can be smaller and are capable of being stored discreetly. I say capable of being stored discreetly, but most often you will see the multi-colored collection of magnets staring you straight in the face when you enter the kitchen. Richard is a magnet collector, and the truth is I do love that we have them. We always try to pick a magnet with a small image that directly reminds us of an experience we had. However, we just moved to a new home and I refuse to place them all over the fridge. It's unfortunate but they are currently sitting in a zip-loc bag until we find a suitable and low key way to display them. If you have any suggestions please pass them along. 

Our choice:

I would caution travelers to buy neither, but since I already discussed how even the most accomplished travelers purchases novelties, our final choice would be magnets. 

A Day trip To Abu Dhabi

Today we are fortunate enough to have a guest post from blogger Christine of 

tourdelust.com

Read about Christine's travels as she uses the world as her playground: 

Blog - http://tourdelust.com/

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/tourdelust/
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About Christine...

Photo: @tourdelust

Christine is a part time traveler who enjoys touring the world and has a case of wanderlust! Her goal is to inspire others like her who work full time but make an effort to live a life of adventures. Her favorite things to do during her travels include finding beautiful sunsets, panoramic views and eating authentic cuisines!

Photo: @tourdelust

Abu Dhabi, the capital city of the United Arab Emirates is less than two hours from Dubai and has so much to offer. I took a day tour from Dubai to Abu Dhabi and it was well worth it! I had found a deal on groupon that took us to all the top spots in Abu Dhabi. Viator also has great day tours as well. I had a great time and very excited to share with you my day trip to Abu Dhabi!

Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque

Our tour guide picked us up early in the morning from our hotel in Dubai, first stop was Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. Before your visit, remember to dress appropriately. Women must cover their head, clothing covering the ankles and wrists. Men are not allowed to wear tank tops and shorts. Our tour guide also had “abaya” for anyone who was not dressed appropriately.

The tour allowed us a little over an hour to explore the Grand Mosque. The building is beautifully crafted in great detail. Don’t forget to look up when inside, the 24 carat gold chandeliers are stunning!!

 

 

Heritage Village

We then stopped at Heritage Village for lunch and to explore. The Heritage Village is a reconstruction of a traditional oasis village that provides an interesting glimpse into the emirate’s past.

The Emirates Palace & Etihad Towers

Our third stop was in front of The Emirates Palace and Etihad Towers. If you’ve seen Sex In The City 2, you will recognize Emirates Palace. This hotel is a luxurious 5 star hotel built as a landmark to showcase Arabian culture. If you’re lucky your guide will take you through the gates!

Ferrari World

Our last stop was at Ferrari World. It is an amusement park located on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi. It is the first and only Ferrari-branded theme park and has the record for the largest space frame structure ever built. We did not go inside the amusement park, we spend about 20 minutes outside the shopping area and for photos.

Overall my tour was great! I wish I had the tour company name but I’m sure many others are just as good! Have fun and do not miss a day trip to Abu Dhabi!