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hostel hopping in new zealand
As you may recall, when the hubs and I first started planning our RTW, Hostelbookers graciously agreed to host us at a few properties in New Zealand and Singapore. Though we’re no strangers to hostels around here, we are getting a little pickier as we get older. We can’t help it! We’ve had more good experiences than bad, but there are some sketchy hostels, and we’ve had the misfortune of experiencing them (cough, Geneva, cough). Fortunately, Hostelbookers makes it seriously easy to narrow your focus and pick a place that best suits your needs—especially if you know how to read the…
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one night in paradise: yasawa island resort & spa
There’s no question: part of the allure of Fiji is the feeling of being completely and totally remote. If ever there was a place to encapsulate that feeling, it’s the Yasawa Island Resort & Spa. Anyone who has been to Fiji has told us to go as far out on the Yasawas as possible. This advice is the main reason we chose to visit both Nacula and Yasawa Island. Map of the Yasawa Islands thanks to SSC. Yasawa Island is just past Nacula Island at the tippy, tippy top… Yasawa Island is so far out that SSC doesn’t even offer transfers to…
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bula, bula nacula island!
Of the 332+ islands that make up the country of Fiji, there is one little set of twenty that most travelers will tell you is an absolute must-see: the Yasawa Islands. After our first few days exploring the main island of Viti Levu, we woke up bright and early to (sadly) depart First Landing and head to the port at Denarau. Though there are a variety of plane and boat charter options, the best bet for the budget-conscious is to book your Yasawa Transfers through South Sea Cruises. SSC is the company that also oversees Awesome Adventures—a super backpacker-friendly option that…
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style spotter: marina bay sands hotel, singapore
During our recent 48 hour whirlwind tour of Singapore, the hubs and I made the mistake of heading up to the roof of the Marina Bay Sands Hotel. I say mistake because alas, our budget did not allow for an actual room in the hotel. This means it also did not allow for any time whatsoever spent lounging by their amazing infinity pool. You know the one. Surely, you’ve seen the pictures? But just in case, here she is. Overlooking all of Singapore: Naturally, those who were swimming were dressed to the nines. They were the type of people who…
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hotel highlight: first landing beach resort
Because we wanted to spend the majority of our time in Fiji in the Yasawas, we sadly said goodbye to Taupo and John after our short visit at Danny’s Village Homestay, and made our way back toward Nadi. Stop #2 in Fiji: First Landing Beach Resort in Lautoka. Another friendly TTF driver, Rishi, came and picked us up in the afternoon. We opted for a shuttle, so he made a second stop at a nearby resort. A group of Australians hopped on, including an eight-year-old boy. The roads in Fiji can be pretty bumpy, so it wasn’t surprising when the…
