Where to Stay When Visiting Dubrovnik

The Pucic Palace: We chose this historic hotel for a number of reasons, and we were thrilled with our choice. First of all, it is one of the very few hotels that is located right in the middle of the heart of Dubrovnik’s old town, so we were able to step out the door of our hotel and start exploring the historical part of the city and all that it has to offer without using any transportation. Second, it only has a handful of rooms, so it felt personal and cozy, unlike some of the huge resort-type hotels around Dubrovnik outside of the old town, which count dozens or even hundreds of rooms.

The Pucic Hotel also offers a wide variety of amenities, such as two restaurants, outdoor seating right next to the city’s lively daily farmer’s market, and a concierge who will assist you with suggestions and bookings for local restaurants and activities. Finally, the history of the hotel really added to our overall experience. Constructed in the 17th century as a palace for the Pucic family, it changed owners many times and survived an earthquake and two world wars. Eventually, it was fully restored, converted into a hotel, and opened to guests as the Pucic Palace in 2002.

What to Do

Tour the Old City of Dubrovnik: Walk along and atop the famed walls, visit the famous Pile Gate at the entrance to the old town, take pictures of the gorgeous Rector’s Palace, and take pictures of the cathedral you may recognize from Game of Thrones. You can spend hours wandering the old city, and we recommend doing it the day you arrive, to appreciate this historic city.

Take the Cable Car to Srd Hill: The cable car is affordable and fun–the views from the top of the hill are spectacular. You will revel in the sight of the gorgeous Adriatic Sea, the islands around Dubrovnik, and the walled city and surroundings of Dubrovnik. It’s the perfect low-key activity to do when visiting Dubrovnik.

Embark on a sunset cruise: We booked a boat tour with Explore Dubrovnik to watch the sunset, and it was truly spectacular. It was a private ride past old and new bridges, seaside towns, and summer villas and included a bottle of sparkling wine, blankets, and dreamy sunset views.

Where to Eat

Bowa: True to its name, the best place we dined while visiting Dubrovnik was easily Bowa (which stands for ‘Best of what’s around’). It is actually more of an experience than just a lunch! Through their website, you book an entire afternoon excursion. This includes pick up by speedboat from a small harbor called Brsecine, which we took an Uber to. Our VIP transport ferried us to a stunning bay called Vrbova, where we were escorted to our private open-air cabana, complete with a large dining table, chairs for sunbathing and lounging, and glasses of champagne. Our lunch consisted of several courses of food: fresh oysters, cheese and fruit platters, salads, marinated vegetables, fried tofu, and wine. In between courses, we walked down to the shore and swam in the warm waters, and enjoyed sweet, refreshing frozen pina coladas that were made to order even though we did not even have to order them. It was, quite honestly, the most perfect day.

Arsenal Restaurant: This picturesque restaurant in the old town serves gorgeous Mediterranean fare, including burrata with homemade pesto and greens, marinated zucchini drizzled in balsamic vinegar and sprinkled with hunks of tangy feta cheese and decadent truffle pasta drenched in a cream sauce.

Pizza Mirakul: For a casual pizza dinner while visiting Dubrovnik, stop by this spot in the old town. They have cheesy pizzas, baked lasagnas, fresh salads, and loads of Croatan wine.

Stara Loza: The salon at Stara Loza, also in the old town, has a gorgeous interior with floor-to-ceiling windows, an exquisite chandelier as the dining room focal point, a terrace, and equally stunning food. The views of the old town from the terrace are magnificent. For the food, indulge in items like tempura fried vegetables with savory bell pepper cream, spinach and ricotta gnocchi, local cheese, and delicious desserts.

Posat: For a fine dining experience outside of the old town, visit Posat. The elegant venue has a charming atmosphere and the most delicious Mediterranean dishes, including mushrooms au gratin, ravioli in an herb sauce,

Gelateria Dubrovnik: The perfect evening ends with a scoop of heavenly gelato from this family-owned business. The Toblerone flavor is magical, as is the white chocolate with biscuit and fig with hazelnuts.

Where to Drink

D’Vino Wine Bar: Stop by for a glass (or two!) or Croatian wine at this old-town wine bar.

Buza Bar: This charming cliffside bar in Old Town was our favorite; we stopped by several times for a beer or cocktail and views of the Adriatic. It’s literally built into the rocks below the fortified walls, so skip the high heels and enjoy the views!

Cave Bar: If you want to check out some of the surrounding areas while visiting Dubrovnik, visit the Cave Bar in Lapad, an upscale neighborhood that is full of resorts and restaurants. The Cave bar is glamorous and fun, with good spaces for Instagram-worthy pictures.

Visiting Dubrovnik: The Verdict

Dubrovnik is the perfect place to visit if you want to explore the streets of a historical city: indulge in copious amounts of fresh Mediterranean fare and marvel at the shimmering Adriatic sea.

The post Visiting Dubrovnik: Food, History, and the Adriatic Sea appeared first on The Dining Traveler.

I have not done much travel in the Middle East, so a layover in Doha, Qatar seemed like a good opportunity to see a different part of the world. While I didn’t really know what to expect, Doha was lovely surprise – there was delicious food and plenty to do for a day. Here are my tips is you happen to have an overnight layover in Doha as well.

Where to Stay

Al Bidda Boutique Hotel: Downtown Doha is mostly concrete and skyscrapers, so I recommend staying in the Souq Waqif, which is the old part of town. Souq Waqif means “standing market” which is fitting because the area is consists of a huge market with shops selling clothes, handicrafts, ornaments, spices, jewelry, and more. The area also includes a series of Tivoli hotels called the Souq Waqif Boutique Hotels.

The group of nine hotels are all walking distance from one another; all of them are opulent and Arabian-themed. We chose to stay in the Al Bidda boutique hotel, which featured a gorgeous lobby restaurant, massive rooms with a sitting area, walk in shower and stand alone tub. Service was impeccable, and all of the Souq Waqif hotels have any kind of amenity you could possibly want. It’s the perfect place to stay during a long layover in Doha, Qatar.

Where to Eat

 
There are plenty of places to eat during a long layover in Doha, Qatar. Most of the Souq Waqif hotels have a restaurant. Since you can walk in between the hotels you can choose to eat any of the restaurants. Considering how hot it is I do recommend that you take advantage of the free golf cart transport between hotels. Hotel staff will make a quick call and a chauffeured cart will appear in front of the hotel in a matter of minutes!

Al Terrace: We took a ride over to the Al Mirqub hotel from our hotel, where we had a decadent lunch at Al Terrace. The Lebanese restaurant serves delicious Middle Eastern fare; we stuffed our faces with hummus, pita, fresh salads, falafel, potatoes, fresh juices and more.

Spice Market: Because we wanted wine with our dinner, we jumped in an Uber to downtown. Qatar is largely a dry country, but Western-owned hotels are permitted to serve alcohol. We enjoyed spring rolls, dumplings, curries, fried rice and wok fried vegetables in an ornate, romantic setting.

What to Do During a Long Layover in Doha, Qatar

Experience the Souq Waqif

Take your time and wander through the souq at your leisure. Even if you don’t buy anything it is fun to wander through the market and see all of the interesting items for sale. Stop for an ice cream… or an iced coffee! I highly recommend a cold treat because Doha is brutally hot! Even in October it was 107 degrees! The market opens up at 4pm, due to the heat, so it’s a great pre-dinner activity.

Visit a Spa

One of the best things you can do during a long layover in Doha, is to get a massage! During the day, when it is too hot to be outside, I highly recommend treating to yourself to some spa treatments at one of the Souq Waqif hotels. I got a massage and it was delightful. There are steam rooms and gyms you can use, and the quality of the massage was surreal. I got to choose the scent of oils used, and the atmosphere was tranquil and relaxing.

The Verdict

The opulence of Doha alone is something to marvel at. From service to cleanliness to art and architecture, you will marvel when visiting this city. A long layover in Doha, Qatar is certainly not a waste and is undoubtedly an incredibly unique experience!

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Five Active Things to Do in Tulum:

Tulum Ruins: There are many Mayan Ruins along the Yucatan peninsula. Given that the Mayans are a big part of the cultural history of the Americas, we wanted to do cultural exploration.  Tulum was one of the last cities inhabited by the Mayans and you can get a snapshot of the settlement by touring the ruins. We got there at 8 in the morning (it can get very crowded there) and paid 38 Pesos each (little less than $3). You also have the option to pay for a guide but we took the time to tour the ruins on our own. Tip: make sure to bring lots of mosquito repellent!  The views from from the ruins are just spectacular and you can also bring your bathing suit to swim on the beach. We heard it can be quite busy in the afternoon, so we’re glad we went early.

Cenote Dos Ojos: This place was on our agenda before the trip thanks to the recommendation of friend and fellow blogger Mariella from Splendor Styling. We’re thankful again for renting a car for our trip because we were able to see plenty without paying extra for tour guides or taxis. We also brought our own snorkeling equipment so we only had to pay the $150 pesos (11 USD) for the entrance. We got to explore on our own Cenote Dos Ojos and the beauty of this unique natural phenomenon. Although there were not that many fish to see while snorkeling, it was great to delve into the underwater cave system and swim in fresh water. Tip: don’t forget to bring your underwater camera. We have a basic Fuji underwater camera but this trip made me put a GoPro on my Christmas list!

Akumal: At the recommendation of the staff at Hotel Amoreira, we took a 25-minute drive to Akumal beach where you can go snorkeling and see large sea turtles.  We first had lunch at the Turtle Bay Cafe, which was a really quaint and delicious place to have fish tacos and a beer. Then we headed to the beach where we went looking for turtles. Akumal beach is quite shallow so we had to swim out quite a bit to discover these lovely creatures. Got to see quite a few when we were snorkeling along with several schools of fish and even a stingray. We loved the quaint family vibe of Akumal. It was a fun afternoon and just a short ride from Tulum.

Kayaking: The hotel provided kayaks and we decided to go paddling along the coast of Tulum. It was fun to see the beach from that vantage point. During our four day stay, the ocean had periods of calmness and others of fury. We took advantage of a calm day to do this. We loved how crystal clear the water was and the lovely Mayan style hotels along the coast. It’s a great way to get your workout in while on holiday!

Bike: Another great active thing to do in Tulum is to bike around the town (great way to work off all the tacos and margaritas!).  If you stay in Carretera Tulum (main hotel road) during your whole stay, you are looking to overspend on food and shopping. Although there are some lovely places along the road, some disguise themselves as “boho-chic” but there’s nothing bohemian about the price tag! A great way to discover the town is by bike. There are some great restaurants in downtown Tulum that are much cheaper than on the hotel road. We had a great pizza at Sale e Pepe and taking a bike ride is the best way to to work those calories off! Our hotel had bikes but there are several shops in Carretera Tulum that rent bikes as well.

Verdict:  Our experience in Tulum was everything we expected and more. I love nature and having the opportunity to be so close to the earth was not only spectacular but very grounding as well after the intense days in Cancun. The main tips I recommend to make you trip to Tulum an amazing one is to: a. rent a car (very cheap from Cancun, avg $75 a week) b. explore beyond your hotel, Tulum is a really safe area c. talk to the locals and ask for restaurant recommendations. Have you been to Tulum? What is one of your favorite active things to do in Tulum?

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In June 2012 I came to DC for work for a few weeks. I stayed at Hotel Topaz near Dupont Circle. I loved walking through the side streets and exploring new restaurants. During my DC stay, I toyed with the idea of returning to the United States after seven years abroad. At the end of the trip, I was convinced to return. One of the places I visited during that time was Boqueria, a Spanish Tapas place conviniently located on the corner of 19th and M street. It was a warm evening and my friend and I sipped cava and sampled the tapas, our favorite being the bacon wrapped dates. I loved the ambiance of the restaurant, how lively the terrace was, and the amazing food.

When I lived in Brussels, I used to travel to Spain to visit friends three to four times a year. Boqueria reminds me of the tapas restaurants of Madrid and manages to somewhat cure my nostalgia of my Spanish weekend trips. Since my return, I have been several times for dinner and most recently for happy hour in honor of the restaurant’s two year anniversary. We sat at the bar with a great view of the chef preparing the tapas, a nice tortilla sitting at the bar, and a very tempting whole jamón freshly cut on order. We indulged in a delicious pitcher of White Sangria, pan tomate, patatas bravas, and bocadillos. Although Boqueria is not a Mercado San Miguel, it does fill the void for freshly made, good quality, tapas and cocktails.

Few Boqueria tips: for a more affordable meal, go for happy hour. Order the churros for dessert, they are delicious!

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Navy Pier, Chicago

One of the things I was determined to do once I returned to the United States was to discover places I have not seen before. When my friends decided to do go on a Ladies’ trip, we decided on Chicago. I’ve heard great things about the city, especially its architecture and food. It did not disappoint. When I look back at our 48 hours in Chicago, I cannot get over how much we did, in such little time. We managed to eat well, run a five-miler, go to a ball game, do a little dancing, lovely brunch, and an architectural boat tour.

Room with a view: The Glass Walls of Chicago

We stayed at the Kimpton Allegro, a beautifully decorated boutique hotel at the Theater district. One of the best features about the hotel was its location. It was within walking distance to most of our points of interest without feeling like we were in a touristy area. The second best feature of the hotel is the wine happy hour which we missed because we were at the game. I arrived just after the end of it and the lobby was pretty happening. A good tip for solo travelers looking to mingle. We arrived late on Friday and decided to go to Giordano’s for some famous Chicago deep dish pizza.

Ladies who Run… even on Vacation!

To work off the pizza, we went for a run the following morning. I am a big fan of going for runs while I travel. It not only it keeps you in shape while you try new and exciting dishes, but it shows a city from a different angle. We ran by the river and were amazed by the modern architecture which surrounds the Chicago River. We finished our loop running by Lake Shore Drive. It was the perfect scene: beautiful blue skies, clear water, and perfect fall running weather. Later in the afternoon, we made it to Wrigley Field to watch the Cubs vs Braves. Coming from DC where the Nationals have such a modern field, I was surprised how vintage Wrigley field is. The organs were playing versus the DJ music  at the Nats games. Local rooftops are rented in order for people to watch the game, would love to do that next time. Unfortunately, the game was quite slow. The score was still 1-0 when we left at the bottom of the 7th inning. Fortunately, we had a great time catching up (we all live in different cities) and indulging in a little people watching.

Take us to the Ball Game!

We finished the evening with an amazing dinner at EPIC (an on point recommendation by the Allegro concierge, Anthony). From the homemade pasta filled with lobster to the apple cream puffs, the dinner was delicious and the space as well. We then danced to a few of our college theme songs (Biggie, anyone?) at the bar below. Good times.

Interior of Hubbard Inn

On our last day, we had brunch at the Hubbard Inn. The restaurant has one of the most beautiful spaces I have seen in a while. From the tile on the floor to the tin walls to the original art on the wall, the place was warm and welcoming. I had a breakfast burger which hit the spot after a non-stop weekend. The only drawback was the restaurant was understaffed but our server Michael did an amazing job tending to the whole restaurant by himself.  Before we headed to the airport we headed on a Wendella Architectural Boat tour (a special shoutout for the very generous military discount). The view from the boat was amazing, especially when we crossed into the lake.  We took some beautiful shots of the Windy City.

From the Boat Tour

Although we accomplished quite a bit during our short period of time, I would love to return to Chicago and continue to discover more, especially the restaurants as every meal was delicious. Sometimes I miss my weekend trips to exotic places in Europe but then I realize there is so much more to be discovered in my very large and diverse country. Now time to decide where my next American adventure will take us!

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