After almost 15 years, I planned my return trip to Vientiane, the capital of Laos. It’s a small and very walkable city, so I was looking for a reasonably priced hotel in the heart of the city and the ibis Vientiane fit the bill. It turned out to be as good as the Number 8 […]
Vientiane is the capital of Laos and on my first trip to the city more than a decade ago, it was the most relaxed, slowest-paced capital city I’d ever seen. While things have changed a lot over the years, it still is the slowest-paced capital you’ll find in Asia. There is a reason people translate
For my trip from California to South America, I had booked a Copa Airlines ticket with United MileagePlus miles, thanks to their StarAlliance membership. They used to be owned by Continental Airlines, so I expected something like that for my flight. Read on to find out what exactly I got on this COPA Economy Class
If you are coming to Montevideo for its beaches, there are plenty along the shores of the Rio de la Plata. One of my favorite city beaches is Pocito Beach – it’s a crescent shaped bay with a long stretch of sand only a short ride from downtown and with plenty of shops and restaurants
On my last, longer trip to South America, I had skipped Montevideo in favor of spending more time in Buenos Aires, it’s Argentinean neighbor across the river. I was looking forward to finally exploring Montevideo and a walk through the Old Town is a great introduction to the capital city! The old quarter is very
For my first visit to Montevideo, Uruguay, I was looking for a centrally located hotel and chose the Axsur Design Hotel, a small, independent hotel in the old town with walking access to the sights I was interested to see. It turned out to be a positive surprise and a great base for my stay
There are a number of famous destinations in South America – from Machu Picchu and Galapagos Islands to Buenos Aires and Rio de Janeiro. Montevideo, the capital of Uruguay might not be on the latest Top 10 list and I didn’t make it on my previous trips to South America either. But it is popular with visitors
Angkor Wat is one of my Top 5 Historic Destinations and one of the most impressive sights I’ve seen. And, just like ocean front property they “don’t make ’em anymore”, so we have to protect mankind’s heritage, so that future generations can enjoy them and learn from them as well. But fortunately and surprisingly, there
On my return trip to Luang Prabang after many years, I wanted to see how the museums and exhibits had improved over the years and the Royal Palace Museum was top of my list. It has been nicely restored and is worth a visit, even if the word “Museum” usually has you running for the
If you are visiting Luang Prabang, you won’t be able to avoid seeing and hearing about visits to the Tat Kuang Si waterfalls – and you shouldn’t: It’s a beautiful sight to see, combined with the opportunity to hike through the forest and take a cool dip in the ponds at the different levels of
Villa Oudomlith Luang Prabang has a great location in the heart of town and offers clean & simple rooms on a budget! I liked the breakfast and was able to see all the sights in minutes. But the rooms have some downsides, so check my Villa Oudomlith Luang Prabang review and photos to find out
If you are living in the Asia-Pacific region, Bali is a great getaway destination: It’s close enough for a shorter trip, there is a lot to do, from party-beaches to quiet, romantic beaches and the peaceful forests and rice paddies around Ubud to the many historic temples all over the island. And you can visit