Curacao: One Week at the Santa Barbara Beach and Golf Resort

Curacao: One Week at the Santa Barbara Beach and Golf Resort

Curacao: A blue liqueur that makes tropical drinks taste delicious. Right?

Until about two months before booking, I’d never heard of a Curacao beyond the cocktail list. When family suggested making Curacao our Christmas getaway, we immediately took to researching the island and Google sent turquoise waters crawling across my screen. We were sold. To escape what turned out to be a remarkably warm winter in the end, we decided to make haste to the beautiful beaches of Curacao.

Curacao: About the Island

Wat bedoel ik ? Curacao is a Dutch Carribean island which, today, speaks the language of  Papiamentu (very confusing when you show up expecting Dutch, and listening for Spanish… it took us a few days to figure things out). At first glance (and even at close up), the colourful houses lining the water in Williemsted are entirely reminiscent of Amsterdam, with decorative facades squished together near the edge of the water. We had a passing glance of Williamsted en route to our hotel from the airport… it was solid timing considering we had just caught glance of the monster of an oil refinery riggght across the highway. Eek! That being said, Curacao ranks 46th in the world in terms of GDP per capita for a reason and part of that reason is that it hosts the Isla Refinery, operated by Venezuela’s state oil company. Cha-ching!
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Quick Tip #13: Lengthy Stopover? Stow and go to lighten your load

YorkA stopover in a neat city en route to your final destination can be both a blessing and a pain in the butt, depending on how and who you’re traveling with. On the one hand, enjoying a pretzel in Frankfurt, taking a ride on the Singapore flyer, or visiting the Souk Market in Dubai before making a connection sounds pretty tempting. On the other hand, whether you’re traveling solo or with a large group, the last thing you want to do is lug around heavy carry-ons so you can snap a shot of the Eiffel Tower when you only have 6 hours to go until your next flight.

Solution? Try to find out whether or not the airport or train station is equipped with storage lockers or a left luggage service that allows you to pay a reasonable fee to stow away excess baggage while you trot around playing tourist. While some airports have discontinued the service due to security reasons, most connect to a railway station that offers lockers you can rent for either a flat fee or by the hour. Stop by the information desk upon arrival or navigate the airport website before take off. This allows you to plan accordingly and be ready for any adventure that might come your way. Happy Travels!

Tu hwnt i’r bont: The best kept secret in Northern Wales

Tu hwnt i’r bont: The best kept secret in Northern Wales

Tu hwnt i’r bont. You might not be able to say it, but if you ask for directions to the best Welsh rarebit in town, you’ll be able to find your way. Welsh rarebit? Don’t worry, we’ll get there.

Meaning beyond the bridge, Tu hwnt i’r bont is quite possibly the most unique stop you’ll make while touring the North of Wales. Visiting for the umpteenth time on an ancestral tour of sorts, this was the first visit I’d made with the wee one in tow and after 7 hours on an airplane, a few days in Whitby and a short ride from Rhuddlan to Llanrwst, we arrived at my favourite little cottage just in time for tea. Nestled next to the Conwy River, the cottage is famous for the fact that it floods during the highest of tides. As you enter through the very small door on the way in, take a look at the measurements to see where the record currently stands.

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