The Algarve Coast, Portugal

The summer sun has me thinking of sandy beaches. Last year to wind down the summer, the boyfriend and I headed to Portugal. We visited at the end of September, just missing the end of the busy season, and enjoyed a quiet few days on the ocean.

We flew into Lisbon and rented a car. It's a quick 2 and a half hour drive down to the Algarve Coast. Alternatively you can fly into Faro airport and you're right in the center of it all. Since we had plans to return to Lisbon for a few days in the city capital, it made sense for us to make the short drive.

We stayed at the Pine Cliffs Resort in the town of Albufeira. This hotel is situated on top of some seriously tall and beautiful cliffs. There is a beach located at the foot of these high cliffs that is accessed via stairs/elevator and a long wooden boardwalk. The sunsets from the beach were stunning or you could relax and take it in from the cliff-top hotel bar.

There are more things to do on the Algarve Coast than just sit on the beach all day!

You can hop in your car and drive to the beach at Vale Centeanes. There is a large parking lot where you can plan your day. You have two options - 1. Go chill on the beach, 2. Go for a beautiful hike! If you chose to go on a hike, grab your water, walking shoes and snacks and head to the right along the coast. You can follow the Seven Hanging Valleys" trail for about 6 kilometers and see some of the most breath-taking views.

There are other beaches to stop at along the way (and buy a Popsicle) or you can stop for lunch at a local place. We lost the trail a few times, but eventually made our way out and back. Then we relaxed on the beach!

If you feel like taking in some local wildlife, you can visit the Ria Formosa National Park. Honestly we were a little disappointed by this, but we did get to see a lot of pink flamingos and chameleons! The park is also near the town of Faro, which has some lovely buildings and a cute little town square.

Mostly, while in the Algarve you'll just want to drive around to different beaches and take in the sun. That's what vacation is about, relaxing, eating tasty food and forgetting about your worries. If you happen to visit Albufeira, I highly recommend this restaurant...

The peri peri chicken is amazing. We ate there three of four nights that we spent in Albufeira! Sorry the picture is so terrible, but believe me that the chicken is life changing.

Like any other beach destination in the summer, Portuguese beaches get packed in the high season. I would highly recommend you visiting when we did, since the weather was still beautiful. Start booking your travel now!

Europe on the cheap

I should really title this post - Europe on the cheap in your Thirties.

There is a big difference between being in your thirties and being in your twenties. Your twenties are a fine time to live off of potato chips and beer, sleep on a bunk bed and share a bathroom with the entire floor.

Your thirties are a time for meals with silverware, bathrooms with rainfall shower heads and your own room. By this time, your stuff is probably nicer than it was in your twenties and you don't want to store it in a locker at the hostel. Here are some tips for the over-thirty crowd, to keep some bucks in the bank.

1. Open ended plane tickets. The price of a plane ticket is based on a two-leg fare, but that doesn't mean you have to fly in and out of the same airports. Rather than booking one-way plane tickets, simply use the multiple destination option. Fly into one airport, travel across the continent and then fly out of your final destination. We flew into Prague and out of Istanbul on United Airlines. This multiple destination ticket was the same cost as flying into and out of Prague, but much less than two one-way tickets.

2. Locate your nearest grocery store. While I love eating out at restaurants, sometimes it easier (and definitely cheaper) to pick up snacks and meal at the grocery store. Almost every hotel these days has an empty fridge in the room. Use that bad boy to keep your grocery goodies cool. Stock up on yogurt and juices for breakfast on the go. Get some local candies and snacks to keep you satisfied while you walk all over town.

3. Trivago hotel search is AWESOME! You can find adorable boutique hotels for great prices. I like to set the Smiley face option to green and the star rating to 4 or 5. Those settings weed out all the sketchy hotels with scary bathrooms. This site also has the big guys, Marriott, Wyndham, Hilton, and you can find a wide range of prices for the same hotel.

4. Search out the food halls and street markets. These places are your best bet for local fare among locals. Sure, you'll be more likely to be greeted by non-English speakers, but I've found the point and smile method gets me food.

5. Travel with someone. Your twenties are the time to travel alone, meet new people and discover who you are. In your thirties, you probably have one person in your life that you would like to share some experiences with. Whether it be your significant other, your sibling or your coolest parent, traveling with someone makes for wonderful shared experiences. It also cuts your hotel bill in half.

6. Book your rail tickets early. This tip really goes for everyone traveling to Europe, not just us over 30 types. Plan out your route at Rail Europe and they will mail the tickets to your door. The prices are at their lowest when they first become available for purchase (usually 60-120 days out). They get progressively more expensive the closer you get to your travel date. If you fly by the seat of your pants, you may end up paying twice as much! Do your wallet a favor, plan ahead.

7. Visit in May or September. You don't have to worry about a school schedule (at least not your own) and these shoulder travel months are the best for visiting Europe. It's not too hot, the swells of tourists aren't in town and things are generally less expensive. Bonus? You can schedule your trip to hit Memorial Day or Labor Day and you get an extra day away, without using a vacation day!

8. Travel light, but carry Dropps. Everything I brought to Europe was worn at least twice, three times when it came to bottoms. However, you don't want to be wearing underwear for a second day. I like these Victoria's Secret Body by Victoria undies for traveling because they are super comfy, no-show and they dry super fast after washing. Laundry detergent pods are your friend when doing laundry in the hotel sink. Dropps are my favorite because they come in a variety of scents. Tide also makes a version, but I think Tide smells vile.

9. Eat Local. Restaurants with English-language menus tend to be a little pricier than the ones that cater more to locals. The local restaurants are usually less expensive and often tastier!

10. Utilize ATMs. Don't bother bringing travelers checks or a ton of money to convert. ATM fees are much lower than exchange fees. Those exchange kiosks are a total rip-off and give you the worst exchange rates. Your bank may charge you $5 to take money out of a foreign bank, but they give you the actual exchange rate.

What are some of your tips for saving money while traveling? Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Istanbul, Turkey

The final stop on our European voyage was Istanbul. After our short flight on Tarom airlines, we got in the mile long taxi line and waited a good forty-five minutes for a cab. The taxi line at the Istanbul airport is like a free-for-all. Apparently, being polite and waiting in line is not a requirement in Istanbul. You gotta let your New Yorker shine and be very forward with getting your cab.

Stop one in Istanbul - Food! Delicious, delicious food. After eating rich and heavy Eastern European food for the past week, the light and fresh foods of Istanbul were amazing. I can highly recommend Sur Ocakbasi, the lamb kebap that I had was so flavorful and the perfect detox from all the potatoes.

There was so much to see while visiting Istanbul. We stayed at the Wyndham Istanbul Old City which is a short walk from the Hagia Sofia and Blue Mosque. The Hagia Sofia is currently under a lot of construction. The mosaics and paintings are being restored, but there was a wonderful art show on the first floor when we visited. Be sure to stop in the front hall to read the entire history of the church/mosque/museum.

Our hotel was also a five minute walk from the Grand Bazaar. Inside the Grand Bazaar building you'll find everything from snacks to tea sets to knock-off handbags. It is one of the largest covered bazaars in the world, with over 3,000 shops inside. You don't have to stop your shopping when you leave the building. The winding streets North of the bazaar are filled with more vendors and they are grouped according to what they are selling. There is an entire street selling scarves, another one selling housewares and plenty selling "designer" jeans.

Wandering around the streets of Istanbul was the best part of our visit. Except the hills, there were lots of hills. Really steep hills! We walked up the hills to Taksim Square (so-called Times Square of Istanbul) and back down via Istiklal Street. If you want to get some local, high street fashion, this is the place to go. We stopped at a food hall for lunch and got some cheap and tasty doner kebaps.

To get a bird's eye view of the city, a stop at the Galata tower is necessary. It looks like a fairy tale tower! I was surprised and excited to see that you reach the top of the tower via elevator. By this time of our trip we had already climbed enough church stairs to last us for the rest of the year. My only problem with the Galata tower? They allow smoking on the viewing deck. The building has burnt down in the past, you'd think they'd want to avoid that happening again.

Right across the street from the Hagia Sofia and Blue Mosque is the ancient Roman Cistern. Be prepared for big crowds and a long line if you decide to go inside of the cistern. There were many tour groups that were just rushing through the site. I think there were a few cruise ships in port during our time in Istanbul, so the sites were very busy during the day. Once the cruisers headed back to the ship the city became much quieter. I loved walking through the downtown area after sunset.

During our time in Istanbul, I finally learned what a simit was. I had heard the word simit before because there is a restaurant in downtown Montclair called "The Simit Hut." Perfect for breakfast, it's a sesame coated pastry that's very similar to a bagel. Cut in half, you have the option of cheese or nutella. Now that I know what a simit is, I think we'll be visiting the restaurant in our hometown!

Istanbul is a port town, so our visit wouldn't be complete without a boat tour. For only $6, you get a 90 minute boat ride! The information that was coming over the loudspeaker was completely incoherent, but we enjoyed it nonetheless. Salespeople wander around the major tourism areas trying to sell you a boat tour for an inflated price. Don't buy your ticket from these people, just go to the dock yourself. It's right near the Grand Bazaar and very easy to locate.

Istanbul is a city that you could spend well over two days visiting. I can definitely see coming back for another vacation and popping over to several other locations in Turkey - Izmir, Ephesus & Cappadocia.

Our final day in Istanbul consisted of us waking up at 3:00am and hopping on a 5:00am flight to Frankfurt and onward to Newark. It was a great (and tiring) vacation. I would totally recommend taking a similar route through Europe. Central and Eastern Europe are so completely different than Western Europe!

Bucharest, Romania

Our final train ride pulled into Bucharest around sunset. Our hotel was about a mile from the train station, so we decided to hoof it. Since we were only going to be in Bucharest for 18 hours, the Novotel Bucharest City Center was our hotel of choice for the night. The price is right and it was very close to old town. After dropping off our bags, we wandered down Victoria Street (yay!) to find dinner.

The buildings are all lit up at night and look quite grand. We were in Bucharest on a Wednesday night and the night scene was hopping! Restaurants and bars were packed to the brim with young locals. The cuisine options were amazing, with everything from Lebanese to French to Japanese. We wound up getting dinner at Sushi Ko. It took forever... but it was delicious. 

Our limited time in Bucharest allowed us just one morning to walk around. We walked down Bulevardul Unirii and found food stalls serving these amazing ham and cheese stuffed pastries. For less than $1, I would recommend getting two for lunch!

Bucharest isn't a very large capital city, but it is home to the worlds largest Parliament building. The picture below doesn't do it justice. It's actually called the Palace of Parliament and it's so big that Parliament only uses about 30% of the building.

Our hotel was right near Revolution square, which is now home to a continually changing array of art pieces.  The central spire in the square is called the Memorial of Rebirth and commemorates the Romanian struggle against communism. You can also see a bright pink sculpture in the image, which seemed to be a comment on how bubble gum is sticking onto the city.

Before leaving Romania, we took a stroll through the Cismigiu Gardens. They were pretty, but could probably use a little bit of love.

Next up, we stopped back at the hotel and picked up our bags. We grabbed a cab for the 30 minute ride to the airport. Our cabbie lit up a cigarette and said he felt bad for us because it's so expensive to smoke in the US. I didn't want to break his heart and tell him that we don't smoke in the US because it's bad for you, not because it's pricey.

Off to check in at Tarom Airlines and board our 1 hour flight to Istanbul!

Brasov, Romania

If you take the overnight train from Budapest to Brasov, be warned, you will be woken up at 3:00am by Hungarian border control. They will bang open the door, flip on the lights and start talking loudly to you in Hungarian. After stamping your passport, they will shut off the lights and say goodnight. 

Thirty minutes later, just after you have fallen asleep again, the lights will fly on again. Someone will be speaking Romanian and asking for your passport. To this end, I suggest having your passport at the ready when you go to sleep. Also be sure to pack an eye mask and ear plugs. It took me a minute to even realize that all of this was happening in our car!

After our harrowing overnight journey through the countryside, we still had another few hours in the train. We finally pulled into the Brasov train station and walked two minutes before locating our hotel. Since we would only be staying in Brasov overnight, we chose to stay at the Kronwell. I'd describe it as a very chic, business hotel. It's about a thirty minute walk from downtown, but it's not a bad walk. Once you get downtown, you can pretend you are in Hollywood!

There are just a few must see things in downtown Brasov. We made sure to walk down the world's narrowest street and took some photos of the Black Church. Outdoor restaurants all sit underneath matching umbrellas and are open seating. See a restaurant you want to eat at? Find an open table, sit down, wave at someone who looks like a server. They'll let you sit and eat until they close. If you want the check you'll have to be proactive.

I'd also recommend the pastry shops in Brasov. I got an amazing raspberry-filled pastry for less than a dollar. You could also get a small bag of cookies or pretzels. They're fresh, locally made and delicious!

FYI - the Black Church isn't too black from the outside. It is apparently called the Black church because it burnt down. Maybe the inside is really charred and black? We visited later in the evening, so it wasn't open. Next time!

You may be asking why we stopped at a small town in the middle of the Romanian countryside. Well, Brasov is just a thirty minute bus ride from Bran, home of Dracula's Castle! 

There is plenty of history in this building, but Dracula didn't actually live here... Because he isn't real. Why has this castle come to be known as Dracula's castle? The story of Dracula is set in Transylvania. Bran castle is the only castle in Transylvania. Logic tells us therefore that this castle is the one alluded to in the story. Most recently it was home of Romanian Royalty and it's currently decorated in that manner.

Whether or not Bran castle was actually Dracula's castle (it wasn't), it's a lovely castle in a beautiful part of the country. If you can manage to locate the bus station and buy tickets (you buy them on board from the driver) you should definitely head out to Bran for a visit.

After sufficiently wandering through the castle and watching the video that played for two minutes and then unceremoniously cut out and looped back to the beginning, we left to get some lunch. With thirty minutes before the next bus arrived, we grabbed some snacks from the grocery store and had lunch in the cemetery. There was a ceremony happening in the cemetery that day, which even with extensive use of Google we couldn't figure out what war they were remembering.

Back on the bus and back to Brasov. We packed up our stuff and walked back to the train station. We only had train tickets, no seat reservations, so we were able to catch an earlier train to Bucharest. Our last train journey of the vacation was short and sweet. Though any trip would have felt short after the 13 hour trip from the day before!

Budapest, Hungary

The train ride from Bratislava to Budapest is a quick three hour journey. The boyfriend and I grabbed some snacks from a grocery store and hopped on the train. No, not that train. Ours was very nice and not covered in graffiti.

The train arrived in Budapest at 10:45pm. After locating a taxi driver that spoke English (their choice, not ours), we we on our way up castle hill and to our hotel. The hotel we chose in Budapest was the Balthazar Budapest. It's an adorable, 11-room, boutique hotel. The rooms are individually decorated and the bathrooms are beautiful. The hotel restaurant is open early and late, with delicious breakfast options and an amazing dinner menu.

Just like many of the cities of Europe, the streets of Budapest are adorable. The candy-colored buildings on castle hill are so picturesque. The location of our hotel was so conveniently located on top of castle hill, so we were able to start our day of site-seeing right after breakfast.

The buildings on castle hill are located on historic sites, but aren't entirely historic themselves. The original church was constructed in 1255, but fell into disrepair and was eventually demolished by invading armies. The current Matthias church is lovely, but was built in the late nineteenth century. Refurbishment inside is still ongoing. Be sure to get a ticket to go inside of the church, but skip out on paying for the Fisherman's bastion. You can get great views of the city without climbing to the top of the bastion.

While visiting Budapest, you must stop at the Central Market. The first floor is all vegetables, spices and meats. The second floor is packed with crafts, souvenirs, and most importantly, food stalls! Everything looked so amazing, it was difficult to choose what to have for lunch. I highly recommend the sausage and potatoes.

Budapest is a big city, consisting of two cites - Buda and Pest. Rather than trying to walk the entire city, we decided to get tickets for the Big Bus. There are three different tourism bus companies and they are all pretty much the same. They all take you to the popular sites and give you a "free" Danube river cruise. We just made sure the one we chose had a route that went past the train station.

Along with the major tourist attractions in the city, be sure to take a stroll down Vaci street for some shopping, have dinner at a restaurant on the river and spend some time at the dancing fountain on Margaret Island.

Late into the evening of our second day, we picked up our bags and headed to the train station. We were scheduled to take the 11:55pm overnight train to Brasov. With a 13-hour journey ahead of us, I was glad that I booked a sleeper class ticket. Though the bed wasn't the most comfortable, it was a fun trip. I would highly recommend bringing ear plugs and a sleep mask. We also lucked out and only had to share our 6-person cabin with one other person. He was very quiet.

Hours and hours later, we found ourselves in Romania.