I’m Back! Preview of Tuscany Trip Report

Hey everyone! It's been a while since you've heard from me as I just took a three week trip in Italy with my parents and boyfriend.

Below is a little taste of what my September looked like.

Our first destination was Fatorria di Maino, a hotel on an olive oil farm in the hills overlooking Florence.

Trip Report: Florianópolis, Brazil

With 42 options to choose from, Florianópolis, Brazil is a beach mecca so beautiful that locals call it the Magic Island. Most of the city is a 33 mile long island called Santa Catarina, with just a tiny portion of the city spreading to mainland Brazil.

The only dense parts of the "city" are the small sections on either sides of the bridge connecting the mainland to the island.

Trip Report: Buzios, Brazil

I recently spent two weeks in Buzios, Brazil. Only a 3ish hour drive from Rio de Janeiro, Buzios is an easy and enjoyable side trip if you're planning a vacation in Rio.

Buzios is a resort town nestled into a hilly peninsula with over 20 beaches. The water is a beautiful shade of dark turquoise and green, and the beaches are sandy and often lined with jungle covered hills. It's a popular spot for Brazilian and Argentine tourists, so if you don't want to share the beaches with lots of people, avoid the end of December through February.

Trip Report Part II: United Polaris (Service Only) from Houston to Buenos Aires

This is the third post in a series about how I used Asiana miles to book United Polaris Business Class between Houston and Buenos Aires, as well as a review of the product and travel experience. 

I Just Spent 35k Miles for a Flat Bed to Southern South America

Trip Report Part I: Brand New United Club in Houston (near gate C1)
Trip Report Part II: United Polaris from Houston to Buenos Aires 

At the end of last week I returned to Buenos Aires after my yearly exodus from southern hemisphere winter to northern hemisphere summer.

Trip Report Part I: Brand New United Club in Houston, Terminal C

This is the second post in a series about how I used Asiana miles to book United Polaris Business Class between Houston and Buenos Aires, as well as a review of the product and travel experience. 

I Just Spent 35k Miles for a Flat Bed to Southern South America

Trip Report Part I: Brand New United Club in Houston (near gate C1)
Trip Report Part II: United Polaris from Houston to Buenos Aires (future post)

Yesterday I returned to Buenos Aires after my yearly exodus from southern hemisphere winter to northern hemisphere summer.

Trip Report: Puglia (Apulia) Italy Part III

At the conclusion of June I rented a car and drove south down the Adriatic coast of Italy. In English, the region I explored is called Apulia.

Trip Report: Puglia (Apulia) Italy Part I

At the conclusion of June I rented a car and drove south down the Adriatic coast of Italy. In English, the region I explored is called Apulia, also known as Puglia.

I started traveling around Europe in late May and had plans through mid June that took me from Spain, to Portugal, Ireland, and then finally Rome. I asked your advice for a two week hole in my agenda after Rome and before Norway, and those of you that mentioned Italy recommended the Amalfi coast and/or Cinque Terre.

Trip Report: Iberia A330 Business Class from São Paulo to Madrid

Very early on May 25 I flew from Buenos Aires, Argentina to São Paulo, Brazil.

Belavia Trip Report

This year I flew Belavia--Belarus's flag carrier--from Nice, France to Minsk, Belarus, and from Minsk to Prague, Czechia.

(I spent five days in Belarus visa-free under the new policy that allows such visits. Here is my experience with the five-day visa free program.)

Flying Belavia was mostly like flying a normal airline with a few exceptions.
Check In
Check in in Nice started two hours before departure and was handled by non-Belavia employees.

Guide to Zagreb, Croatia

Lonely Planet just named Zagreb, Croatia #1 on its "Best in Europe" hot list for 2017. I've spent the last three months here, so here's my guide to Zagreb.
Overall
It's laughable for Lonely Planet to tout Zagreb as the #1 destination in Europe. It doesn't stack up against other destinations like Paris, London, or Prague for sights, things to do, food, or along other typical tourist dimensions. Nor is it an undiscovered gem.