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 See Whistler by ATV or White Water Raft?

Would You Rather Wednesday!

Richard and I are off for our August 2016 summer vacation. For a portion of our trip we will be in Whistler, British Columbia. Whistler was first a ski destination but is now also a popular summer destination for those into outdoor activities and gourmet restaurants. As we were planning and researching for our trip we realized there is far too much to see and do than we are going to be able to accomplish in three days. So we spent a lot of time writing lists, then narrowing down those lists. There are numerous outdoor adventure opportunities: biking, hiking, zip lining, rafting, ATVing, etc. We made most bookings and choices with ease, but we had a hard time deciding between seeing the great mountain views by ATV or white water rafting.

ATV's

There is this great company called Canadian Wilderness Adventures that offers many ways to see Whistler. After reading reviews extensively, the ATV trip is one of their most popular. You ride your ATV on Blackcomb mountain, and get to see breathtaking views of Whistler Valley and snowcapped mountains. There are opportunities for the more daring to seek more adventure on the trails if desired. The company also has an option to enjoy a "salmon bake" on a huge mountain top patio to finish it all off.

cost:  $129.00  ATV trip only
cost:  $159.00 with salmon bake

White Water Rafting

Something about spending summer days in the water draws me in. You get a little sun, adventure, adrenaline, and a cool down in the rapids along the way. You get to interact and work with new people as you paddle your raft to safety on each rapid. There are a few companies that offer similar excursions, but Wedge Rafting appears to get the best reviews. This company offers 3 different rafting trips: Cheakamus (for families), Green River (for all abilities, and their most popular), and finally the Elaho- Squamish River (the most exciting trip for serious paddlers). 

cost: $99-$169 per adult

 Our Choice

Well we would appreciate some input here, as once this is posted we have some flexibility in changing our plans. However, we ultimately decided to do the ATV trip. We have been to destinations before that have offered ATV trips, but they basically offered ATV trips just to offer them. In Whistler it seems to be a legit and exciting way to get up a mountain, while enjoying the views around us. We have been white water rafting before on the Ottawa river and although we did love it, we are always pushing ourselves to try something new. Stay tuned....we will post our trip report and let you know how it all turned out. 

Dominical Costa Rica Travel Guide

Today we are fortunate enough to have a guest post from bloggers Natalia & Hernando of 

travelinglikelocals.com

Read about Natalia & Hernando's travels as they use the world as their playground: 

Blog - http://www.travelinglikelocals.com/

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/travelinglikelocals/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/travelinglikelocals/
Pinterest - https://www.pinterest.com/travelingll/

About Natalia & Hernando...

Hi! We are Natalia and Hernando and currently live in San Jose, Costa Rica with our sweet dog Lola. Food and travel was definitely one of the first things we had in common when we met, and 5 years later we are still very passionate about experiencing different cultures and always having a good meal. Our blog Traveling Like Locals started as a way to share with people our past experiences, and new adventures around Costa Rica and wherever we go during our vacations and times off our jobs, so we hope you join us in our crazy adventures and get inspired to travel more! 

Hi Travelers!

We recently had the opportunity to take a few days off and decided to travel as good locals to a place we had never been. 

Dominical Beach in the South Pacific of Costa Rica was our destination.

This beach is about 210 kilometers from the capital, San Jose, the drive takes approximately 3 hours.

We had so much fun in this trip, that we want to share with you our recommendations to help you out If you wish to visit this beautiful area of ​​Costa Rica.

How to get there

The easiest way, without a doubt, is driving there.

Add caption

For our foreign friends we recommend these options:

Rent a Car: There are many companies available anywhere in the country with rates from USD $ 30 a day for compact cars, such as Avis and Budget Rent a Car.

Bus: Companies like Tracopa offer the trip from San José from Monday to Sunday, the prices range around USD $10 per person.

Click here to get the complete route in Google Maps from San Jose.

Whatever the way you choose to arrive there, we recommend you travel with comfortable and light clothing because the heat will definitely rise as you come closer to your destination. Do not forget to bring bottles of water to hydrate on the way, some snacks and good music to enjoy the trip.

The Weather

Temperatures in the area of Dominical, ranges between 30C in the morning and 27C by night, which ultimately tells us that comfortable clothing will be really necessary, and don’t forget to wear a cap, hat or similar.

Applying sun block is a must if you don’t want to get sunburn, and we also think mosquito repellent is a good idea to bring too.

Lodging

As for accommodation, there are options for all tastes and budgets.

You can find from perfect beachfront backpackers Hostels with very affordable prices, to more elegant hotels up in the mountains with spectacular views.

We decided to stay at Hotel Cuna del Angel, which is located between Dominical and Uvita, which offers a great family environment but at the same time is very tranquil and relaxing. 

This hotel has all the amenities you would expect from its 4 stars. The hotel is very small, offers an in house restaurant, breakfast is included on the price, and the pool is the perfect spot to relax and enjoy some Piñas Coladas!

The price per night is around USD $200, which is a little high, but well worth it.

Food

The area offers different food options, you will find from small restaurants with typical Costa Rican food, to more upscale places offering world-class cuisine.

From our trip we recommend these 3 places:

Café Mono Congo in Dominical Beach: we really liked this place because they offer a very varied menu with vegan options and fresh smoothies, is located right at the mouth of the river, so it offers nice views and a peaceful and relaxing vibe.

Tortilla Flats in Dominical Beach: this place is located right across from the beach, is perfect for eating a quick bite and admire the beautiful beach views, offers a lively and busy atmosphere. They serve a variety food and drinks, we ordered a couple of delicious cheese and bacon sandwiches, we totally recommend it!

The Restaurant at Hotel Cuna del Angel: this is undoubtedly a place of gourmet food, the menu offers a variety of dishes including seafood, meat and pasta. We decided to eat here one night to try their dishes and also because it was just a few steps from our room. The food was delicious, it had great flavors and the quantities were generous. Although the restaurant is kind of pricey, we believe it’s worth to treat yourself once and have lunch or dinner at this place. The service is amazing and the ocean view is definitely spectacular.

We recommend making a reservation because the restaurant is very small and fills up easily.

Activities

There are many activities to enjoy in this area, here are a few recommendations on what you can do during your trip:

Marino Ballena National Park: The famous beach shaped like a whale's tail is one of the places to visit if you are in the area. It’s located about 20 km from Dominical. The Admission is 1,000 colones (around USD$2) per person (resident or foreign) for the whole day, be advise that you cannot enter with alcoholic beverages. If you want to enjoy walking on the whale’s tail visit the beach when it’s low tide. We recommend bringing some water, snacks and a blanket to sit back and relax on the sand.

Crafts and Souvenirs: if like us you love to go and roam through the craft and souvenir shops, Dominical is definitely a great place to do that, you can find a whole street beside the beach with various stalls selling handcrafts, clothes, jewelry, ornaments, souvenirs, etc.

Surf: Dominical Beach is famous for its awesome waves, so if that is your sport, this is the ideal place to practice and have some fun. If you would like to learn, there are several surf schools, which provide general or custom lessons to start riding the waves in no time.

Nauyaca Waterfall: Located about 7 km from Dominical, once in the entrance you would have to go through the forest to reach the beautiful waterfall, this tour can be done on foot or horseback riding (we recommend horseback riding, as the walking distance is about 6km each way). For both tours you must pay an entrance fee, take into account that only the horseback riding tour offers in their fee a guide and food.

Whale Watching and Dolphin Tour: There are several companies that offer this type of tour in the area, we recommend searching for the one you like first, make a reservation and arrive on time. Prices vary slightly depending on the company but they are usually around USD $75 per person, they usually include a guided tour of 3-4 hours, water, fruit and snorkeling equipment.

Additional Information

There are several ATMs on the area in case you need some extra cash, the one we used and recommend is the one on the Bank of Costa Rica which is located at the entrance of Uvita, right besides BM supermarket.

However, most places accept credit cards, debit cards and US dollars.

Supermarkets and convenience stores are easy to find, so you will not have problem getting hygiene products or snacks to take to the beach.

We hope you get a chance to visit Playa Dominical, for us the area is extremely beautiful, plus you truly feel immerse in the jungle, this is one of the areas that hasn't been so over developed by man making it a paradise with lots of vegetation and animals.

Would You Rather Sky Dive or Bungee Jump?

Would You Rather Sky Dive or Bungee Jump?

The Experience

Richard and I are both wimps. We have not yet tried either of these adrenaline raising activities, and I am not sure we ever will. We are interested in para-sailing though :) We have many friends who have traveled to new destinations and with the excitement and sense of adventure around them; decided to bungee jump or sky dive. Some people say it's a unique way to see the scenery below, others just want to make their trips even more memorable. It could possibly be that when others are doing it, they may have just gave into the pressure to feel the "rush". One thing each of our friends has in common, is that they loved the experience and would likely do it again.


So which would you prefer to try on your next trip or weekend away? If you have done both, which do you prefer? If you are like us, and have tried neither....which will be the first?

Our Choice:

If we HAD to pick, we would choose skydiving.

9 States and 6 National Parks in 10 Days

Today we are fortunate enough to have a guest post from bloggers Oksana & Dimitri, of 

www.travelize.me

Check out all Oksana & Dimitri's inspirational thoughts and pics at: 

Blog - www.travelize.me

Instagram - www.instagram.com/travelize.me/
Facebook - www.facebook.com/oksana.buniak

About Oksana & Dimitri...

Yosemite National Park
Photo: @travelize.me

My name is Oksana, I was born in Kiev, raised in Prague, studied in Kiev, then worked and lived in London, and finally I moved to SoCal 3 years ago. I spent 3.5 years on business trips around the world and that’s when I felt in love with traveling. I’ve been to 41 countries, 39 states + Washington DC, and 21 US National Parks so far.

Currently I work as a Business Analyst. Most of all I enjoy traveling (of course) and capturing the best places on photos. My husband and I are big sports enthusiasts. We regularly go snowboarding, enjoy kitesurfing and make first progress in surfing.

My husband Dimitri is a Software Engineer and he’s much better than me in all those activities listed above  And if you see a photo which you really like then it was most probably taken by him.

**Make sure you click on each days link to read a more detailed description of the the days events.**

Flight: Orange County, SNA –> Salt Lake City; Denver, DEN –> Orange County, SNA

Duration: 10 days
Mileage: ~3200
Starting point: Salt Lake City, UT
States: UT, ID, WY, MT, ND, SD, NE, KS, CO
Budget for 2 people: $1953 ($22.5* flight,  $500 car rental, $700 hotels, $300 gas, $330 food, $100 other)

Day 0: flight from Orange County, SNA to Salt Lake City, SLC; night walk in the downtown

• Day 1: explore Salt Lake City, UT; drive to Jackson, WY via Idaho Falls, ID (300 mi,5 h)

• Day 2: explore Grand Teton National Park and Yellowstone National Park; stay in Jackson, WY

• Day 3: continue exploring Yellowstone; drive to Hungry Horse, MT (550 mi, 10 h)

• Day 4: explore Glacier National Park; stay in Hungry Horse, MT

• Day 5: continue exploring Glacier National Park; stay in Cut Bank, MT

• Day 6: drive to Dickinson, ND (530 mi, 9h)

• Day 7: explore Theodore Roosevelt National Park; drive to Rapid City, SD (240 mi, 4 h); explore Mount Rushmore, SD

• Day 8 : explore Wind Cave National Park and Badlands National Park; stay in Rapid City

• Day 9: drive to Denver, CO via Nebraska and Kansas (560 mi, 10h)

• Day 10: explore Boulder, CO; flight back home from DEN

* We had Southwest points to use thus we paid airfare taxes only

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