travel – Page 2 – Travel By Ky

November 17, 2014June 20, 2015

Singapore By Tash

“Really flying…yesterdays a thousand miles away“- Hoodoo Gurus

Waking up in Singapore for the first time was amazing not just because of the beautiful view from my sister’s apartment but because of the time difference; I was awake while everyone else was asleep.

The view from my sister’s balcony the morning/night I arrived

Day one in Singapore was awesome. My niece and nephew were my personal tour guides which made the transition into this new country an easy one. Being shown the hangout spots and meet up areas that I probably would have bypassed had I not been with them made me think of all the areas New Yorkers know about that tourist won’t even think to look twice at or visit.

Many of the local hangouts in Singapore are primarily malls or outdoor food courts where the locals can come and sit around either between classes or during lunch breaks. The simplicity of these hangouts might be overlooked by tourists, but it was important for me to experience the essence of everyday life among the locals while there. The Ion Orchard is the “it” mall in Singapore city. Most of the malls use a tier system where the more popular, upscale and expensive brands are on the ground level and above, while the more affordable brands are downstairs.

Tasha Fact: If you get a Starbucks itch while walking through the mall, try a cheaper local delicacy instead. My tall frappe from Stbx was almost 8 Sing-yikes.

DSCN1715 — Striking a pose amongst the professionals outside the ION Orchard

Areas like Holland Spring are another facet of the tourist-local blend in Singapore. Really popular for its low-key atmosphere and local amenities like supermarkets and convenience stores (i.e the 7-eleven behind me), its where many expats on a budget live. Overall, Holland Springs gave me a taste of what the everyday experience of shopping and living there might be.

Tasha Fact: Massages are a big thing in Singapore so finding a spa or massage parlor is really easy to do. The one behind me is on Holland Spring Road and offers really great foot massages for cheap.

Walking the streets of the city was definitely an experience. I had so much fun people watching; just walking around observing the locals and some of their traditions was really awesome. Traveling throughout the different areas presented another interesting aspect of life there.

Singapore is notorious for its fines. Whether in a taxi or on the bus or train, fines for eating or drinking while en route can be as high as 500 Sing. So needless to say I kept the cover on my bottle of water screwed tight.

Tasha Fact: Singapore is known for being one “fine” city. Chewing gum is illegal in Singapore and fines for this petty offense can reach as high as 500 Singh.

The Singapore MRT (Mass Rapid Transit) system is very similar to New York’ s MTA system except a lot cleaner. The EZ-link passes for riding the train are slightly different. If you’re from New York or have ever visited then you’re familiar with a metrocard. In NYC there’s a flat fare of $2.50 which allows you to travel the entire subway system. In Singapore however, when you enter the train station or a bus you tap your EZ-link card and when you exit you tap it again. The card is charged for the distance traveled, and don’t forget to tap when you get off or they’ll keep charging you.

The view of a roundabout from a pedestrian overpass. Not featured in this pic many of the MRT buses are double deckers

Even though I stayed with family for this trip I was the only one actually on vacation. The family however was in the midst of preparing to move back to the States, so for the remaining days we stayed at the Orchard Marriott in Singapore city. This is probably one of the more expensive hotels costing about 400 Sing a night (or $300 USD). There are definitely more budget friendly hotels that you could consider. With local events and activities going on all around you, I doubt you’ll even remember what the inside of your hotel room looks like.

The Singapore Marriott within walking distance of the ION Orchard mall.

Throughout much of the city, especially around the malls, I noticed random pop-up tents and stands with presentations of different products or events. Singapore is very fashion friendly-even the renowned luxury brand Louis Vuitton had their third presentation of their Fall/Winter 2014 collection while I was in town.

This lady is eating an ice cream bar inside a slice of bread, which I came to find out was a local treat. Talk about local delicacies

This tent was for Audi Fashion Festival that was happening that week.

get4 (3) — With some of the models from the Fall/Winter 2014 Louis Vuitton presentation. *For some perspective I’m about 5’8″ in this picture 😮

The local experience was fascinating and that was without even trying, so just imagine the wonders the city has in store for its tourist.

November 15, 2014April 13, 2015

Grab a bag and Get Ready, Set, Go!

Can I get a window seat…don’t want no body next to me -Erykah Badu

Although I was traveling in May, the climate in Singapore is pretty consistent and usually warm. Cotton shirts, light colors, sunscreen, sunglasses, sunhats, and a cardigan or two, no real need for a bathing suit though, unless you plan to hit the pool (Singapore isn’t known for its beaches). Whilst the outside temperatures can be warm, inside is a different story. Everywhere you go is air conditioned, so pack for the warm temps but bring a coverup that you can throw on just in case.

Tasha Tip: When visiting Singapore, pack for a warm climate (it’s very similar to the Caribbean climate wise) humid and warm most days.

The weight limits for suitcases weren’t a big concern for me however most airlines limit you to 50lbs /22kg. Surprisingly I only packed one large suitcase and one carry on, to hold me over for the week that I was there.

Since I was traveling on a plane for over 20 hours, it was important to pack the ultimate essentials. My In flight survivor pack consisted of the following:

Eye patch, when flying westward for 20 hours I encountered about 12+ hours of daylight
Reading Material: Magazines, Ipad, books etc
Phone games
Charger: usually just the USB cord
Snacks: make sure to rack up on as much snacks as you can before your flight. Those in flight meals and peanuts are not gonna cut it. : /
Neck pillow and blanket: it can get pretty cold up in the clouds

And we’re off…….

One flight down, two more to go! #CaliforniaTarmacSelfies

Delta’s in-flight tracker. This thing helped me keep my sanity 😉

November 14, 2014April 13, 2015

Ready, Set…How to Prepare!

She works hard for the money – Donna Summer

Saving was a huge component in the planning process of my trip. I took about $2000 with me and that was more than enough (I had $200 left upon my return). There is a currency conversion in Singapore; the U.S dollar is more than the Singapore dollar (roughly $1 Sing = $0.80 USD). You can workout your savings in whatever way works best for you; saving $50-$100 a week for about 5 months right up until the week of my trip worked out for me and allowed me to travel comfortably. Once you actually have your savings converting the money is relatively simple. I converted my money once I arrived in Singapore simply because my stop in Japan was very short and they accepted credit cards which automatically did the conversion calculations and charged me accordingly. My advice however is to use cash, keep your credit and debit cards for emergencies. Many banks charge a conversion fee per transaction which varies in price range but can definitely add up.

There are definitely a number of anxieties that come with taking a trip of this caliber. I’d never gone farther West than California so there were many things I had to consider:

Come & Talk to Me: Communicating While Abroad
Communication while abroad is key. I needed to figure out cost effective ways to connect with my loved ones while abroad. I would advise downloading an app called WhatsApp. This app is wonderful for international communication and texting. Additionally, WiFi will be your best friend. To get access to the WiFi in the Tokyo airport ( I had a layover in Japan) you need to have a code texted to you. Unfortunately, I didn’t receive these codes until I returned to the States. Ultimately, whenever WiFi was available I used Facetime on my Iphone.

Tasha Tip: Speak to your provider at least a few days before your trip. See if there are any international phone packages that you can add to your account temporarily. Sprint allows you to choose a start and end date and will charge you an almost negligible amount per text something like five cents a text and $1.20 per minute for calls.

Language Barriers
As for language barriers both the Tokyo and Singapore airports are international so there are plenty of signs in multiple languages including English which was a huge assistance to me. Also, many of the representatives speak fluent English so I didn’t have too much of a problem finding my way. I absolutely loved the service in both airports, everyone was super helpful and pleasant. I spent only a couple of hours in Japan waiting for my connection so hopefully on a bit more adventurous return trip I can delve deeper into navigating the language concerns for Japan. Singapore however is easy as pie! Why you ask? The national languages which include English,are Malay, Mandarin and Tamil (language of the people of South India and North-East Sri-Lanka). Although the demographic is made up of many different peoples including those from neighboring Malaysia, the Philippines, and Thailand the majority of the population speaks English fluently. The locals will almost automatically address you in English so you can always find someone to help you navigate your way around. The beauty of this trip was there was no need for those cumbersome English to (? language) dictionaries.

November 13, 2014January 17, 2016

Ready…Getting your ticket

Come fly with me lets, fly lets fly away- Frank Sinatra

Being that this was my first extensive trip, I missed out on the travel points and mileage gains that I would have gotten had I used a travel credit card. These travel cards would have given me credits usually via a point system for the number of miles I traveled. The beauty of these cards is that for frequent fliers it really gets your trips to work for you and your future travel adventures. But you live and you learn.

Deals: I found sites like Skyscanner.com to be a great resource for searching for tickets. It gave an overall view of what the average ticket prices were to travel from NYC to Singapore which helped with my decision making . Essentially Skyscanner.com scans for the lowest price amongst airlines that flies into your area of interest and lets you know about the possible connection options on non-stop flights (I sought a connection in Japan). Overall, it gave perspective on what price range I would fall into when booking my ticket. Pricing: When booking my flight for travel in May the price range to fly to Singapore was between $1200-$1600 on a mainstream commercial airline. There were less mainstream airlines that fly to Asia for reduced prices, however I would advise researching their track record if this is an option you would be interested in. While Skyscanner was my tool for keeping in mind the expected price range, I eventually used the actual airline’s website to buy the ticket. I found a ticket on Delta Airlines for around $1400, and spent $1700 in total for the flight. Leg room, was where the extra $300 came in, and this turned out to be a very good investment. Spending 32 hours in total on the plane, including a 20 hour flight from California to Japan and a 7 hour flight from Japan to Singapore, meant that at a mere $85 a flight, the cost for leg room was well worth it. This plus some of the other things mentioned in my next post may help you make your next long distance flight pretty pleasant.

November 12, 2014April 13, 2015

Singapore: A Tourist Behind The Scenes

Hello All! I’m Natasha and I invite you to venture vicariously with me throughout Singapore!

Hello Asia! For those of you who have never been to Asia I am saying hello for you too; specifically to Singapore and if you’re anything like I used to be, you have no idea where to find this country on the map. So join me in these next few post to explore this tiny country and just some of the wonders it has to offer 🙂

First things first, Singapore is pretty much half way around the world from those of us in the West and its a tiny, highly populated country on the very bottom of Malaysia (don’t worry, I’ve included a map). But please don’t be fooled by its size because what this country lacks in land mass, it most definitely makes up in culture.

While this little gem offers many resource, giving you tons of reasons to travel over ten thousand miles to visit, my main reason was family. My nephew was graduating from high school and it was literally my last call to experience Singapore before my family’s return to the States. The pro to visiting my family abroad was that I got the inside scoop of Singapore from these well seasoned expats. Fortunately for me, they didn’t disclose all of the treasures of this country which allowed me to get the tourist eye view as well.

Staying with family meant looking for hotels would just be one less thing for me to worry about but I still had to find flights, build an itinerary and pack.

September 13, 2014January 10, 2020

The Wedding Day

The day of the wedding was so relaxing. Danielle, Kirsha and I decided to go to the beach across from the hotel which was absolutely breathtaking. The water was clear and the beach was alive and filled with cool vibes and fun tourist. I wanted to stay in the water forever, but the yacht to the private island where the wedding would take place was set to depart at 6PM and with 3-girls in one room, we needed more than enough time to get pretty.

The wedding was beautiful. I cried only 2-times (when the bride came down the aisle with her father and grandmother and when the groom said his vows). When the guest first arrived each of us said kind words in a video that they would watch later. I quoted Boyz II Men “You gotta believe in the spirit of love” One of my favorite quotes ever. After the wedding, all the guests took one huge picture before heading back to the reception. Cocktail hour was by the pool and the reception followed shortly after. Akilah and Rion’s union made me come to a lot of realizations in my life. For one, I was twenty-five and was literally messing with the wrong men and getting into the wrong type of relationships. My friends were getting married! Furthermore, I was ready for growth in my overall life. Snapping myself out of my thoughts, allowed me to enjoy why I was at the wedding in the first place, to celebrate my friend’s union, which we did all night. The reception was fun! We danced the night away to the latest songs and jumped into the pool with our wedding clothes on for the hell of it. The Bahamas was awesome!!!!!

Luckily, traveling back to NYC was a breeze. The only thing I needed to focus on was catching up on sleep. It took about a week for me to get into the groove of things, which also meant I was late to work just about every day when I got back. I didn’t realize how little we slept until I returned…geesh. Overall it was an amazing vacation and I am so blessed that I was able to share this memory with my closest friends. Cheers to #DOUBLEADAY

September 10, 2014January 10, 2020

Before Take-Off…The Bahamas

August 11, 2013, Akilah and Arion invited their closest friends to a BBQ to announce their engagement and wedding date which would be in exactly one year. My friends and I were so excited. Finally, not only were our friends getting married but they were having an amazing destination wedding…AHHH we were adults.

Summer 2014, vastly approached and before I knew it the wedding was drawing near. 4-weeks before the wedding, my ticket was not booked. Life happens; I decided to take a 2-week vacation to Europe for my 25^th birthday which set a sistah back. 3-weeks before the wedding my ticket was still not booked. I somehow hoped that the ticket to the Bahamas which was now a whopping $540 would decrease to $500 possibly? I don’t know; wishful thinking. 2-weeks before the wedding, I had no choice but to book with Delta Airlines, which at that point in time I had over 15k frequent flyer miles and ended up spending about $600 for my ticket. I made a mistake, waiting for the last minute but it’s a mistake that I take full ownership of.

July 2, 2014January 10, 2020

10 Overseas Travel Prep Tips

It’s officially summer folks, which means a lot of us are traveling. Having recently come back from an extensive overseas trip, I have some valuable tips that I want to share with you if you are planning on traveling this season:

1. Passport

Don’t forget your passport. This is probably the most important identification you will have for your trip. Make sure you allow enough time to get a new or renewed passport if need be.

2. Pack Light

With the hikes in baggage prices, avoid overpacking your bags.

3. Exchange your Money before you Leave

The exchange companies overseas will charge fees like you have never seen before. Please avoid them by all costs (pun intended). Also, get a list from your bank of their affiliations with any other bank in the country you are traveling to so you can easily retrieve money without high-cost fees and exchange rates.

4. Research

Do your research on any country you are visiting. I can’t emphasize this enough. A lot of countries all over the world operate differently from us in the United States. There are so many blogs, book stores, google maps, and review sites like Trip Advisor and travel agents out there that can assist with all the information you will need for your upcoming trip. Use these resources; it’s so vital.

5. Itinerary

Probably the most important piece of paper you will have is an itinerary or a breakdown of how your trip should go (even though a few changes may occur). Make sure to have a list of places you are visiting, dates, hotel names and addresses, phone numbers, confirmations, etc. Everything you will need to survive while out of the country should be included on this list.

6. Download Important Apps

There are amazing travel apps out there for smartphone users. On my recent trip to Europe, I downloaded “What’s App” as a means of texting and MagicJack to make international phone calls to my family for free. It’s amazing what you can discover on the App Store.

7. Know the basics

If you are traveling to a country that speaks a foreign language, know the basics words such as hello, good-bye, how much? Where’s the bathroom? So you can communicate with the locals

8. Maps of Train Systems

I think it’s very important to get familiar with different countries’ metro systems (before traveling) so you won’t get lost or overwhelmed. Also using the trains can help save money on otherwise expensive taxicabs.

9. Beware of Pickpockets and Robbers

It seems as if tourists have an invisible sign on their forehead which says “ROB ME.” Some people can spot a tourist from a mile away and with that being said, it’s always wise to be cautious of your belongings, your purse if you are a lady and your passport. You would never want an ideal vacation to go sour because something was stolen from you…what a nightmare.

10. Be Open-Minded

Indulging in another culture unlike your own could be frightening. However, you have to go into an experience wanting to take it to the fullest. Let your hair down and enjoy the lifestyle of foreign cultures. Try different foods, dance in the streets, sleep in, relax and just enjoy life. You never know what you will learn and you may also discover, people across the world are just like you in a lot of ways.

June 10, 2014January 10, 2020

Helpful Conversation Starters

Knowing how to say the basic words in each of the countries you are visiting is valuable. Below is a list of terms that I found to be extremely helpful during my stay in Europe. They are in the order of French, Italian, and Spanish. Most Europeans speak multiple languages, including English so it’s rare you will encounter someone who can’t understand you. Nevertheless, I hope this is helpful. Is it necessary to travel with a dictionary? I would totally invest in one, although I forgot mine at home it always helps to be prepared.

Hello

French: Bonjour

Italian: Bonjourno/Ciao!

Spanish: Hola

GoodBye/See you later

French: Au Revoir

Italian: Arrivederci/ Ciao!

Spanish: Adios

Good Evening

French: Bonsoir

Italian: Buonasera

Spanish: Buena tarde

Thank You

French: Merci

Italian: Grazie

Spanish: Gracias

Where is…

French: Où est

Italian: Dove si trova (didn’t have to use this because all the Italians we encountered spoke English)

Spanish: Donde esta …

How much…

French: Combine

Italian: Quanto

Spanish: Cuánto

Wine

French: Vin

Italian: Vino

Spanish: Vino

May 9, 2014January 10, 2020

Barcelona Remixed

“Maria Maria you remind me of the West Side Story”-Carlos Santana
Day two in Barcelona was way better. We had an early start and made our way to the beach. Barceloneta was calling our names, as the sun shined bright and was beaming in our faces. We were in SPAIN and it finally felt like it. We took a bus to the boardwalk and settled at a cozy restaurant where we shared an array of Tapas and Paella. AHHH! Spain food was to die for. So rich with flavor. I loved how much seafood they used in their dishes. We then walked to the beach and relaxed there for hours.

We decided to head back to the hotel so we could get ready for the night. Our first stop was Chupitos where they light your drinks on fire. Burn Baby Burn. We then ate dinner at the most amazing restaurant ever…La Flauta (I still look at the pictures of the food and salivate over the mussels and prongs). Dinner was followed by a night on the town where we danced the night away at The Sutton Club.

The next day, we had a jam-packed schedule. After a little R&R by the pool, Parc De Guell was our first stop. At the peak of this attraction, we saw all of Barcelona and it was literally breathtaking. We also saw the amazing artwork of Gaudi. I love all of the bright colors and abstract architecture in Barcelona. It’s such a metropolis, however, it still has some out of the ordinary structures that are exquisite. I spent the rest of my day as a tourist walking around, shopping and just enjoying all it had to offer. I also had an amazing dinner with LaSaundra where we reflected on the trip and everything we learned.

Kydee Williams

That night it was time to experience the world-famous Opium Nightclub. This club is one of the best clubs in Barcelona, standing out from all of the other clubs I’ve ever been to because the party continues onto the beach. It’s fabulous. We stayed there for a few hours and then found a tapas bar, where we ate some more…the food in Spain is addictive.

Ky’s Verdict: Barcelona was fun, but probably the one city I enjoyed the least. I think after traveling for so long, you become numb. For me, Spain wasn’t what I expected. I realized I loved the cities that made me feel like I was in Europe, rustic, archaic, historical and Barcelona was just like being in Brighton Beach, Brooklyn with loads of Spanish speaking citizens. Nevertheless, it’s a beautiful city. Some people suggested that I may have liked Madrid better…who knows?

May 8, 2014January 10, 2020

Rome If You Want To

“You know literally, we can go shopping in Italy…”-Jadakiss

The first time we took a taxi while in Europe was in Rome. Our train to Rome was about 6hours and we had no idea how to navigate the metro system (nor did we want to). The driver was a bit mean and he tried to overcharge us for our ride.

Ky Tip: Beware of this scheme. Taxi drivers will assume you are a stupid American and will try to overcharge you for their services. Make sure they always have their meters on, unless it’s a standard charge from the airport and also go to each country knowing approximately how much the cost of a taxi is. I used the following website for these calculations: http://www.worldtaximeter.com Kolbe Hotel was absolutely beautiful. It’s in the midst of the Roman Forum and the Colosseum. I literally was amazed when I opened the door to the room. It was a duplex- loft. This was the best hotel we checked in thus far.

We got dressed (but not fast enough) and headed to Vatican City. It was beautiful and vast. However, when we got to the Sistine Chapel it was closed for the day. So we did what anyone would do…take flicks!

We headed back into Rome to make a wish at the Fountain de Trevi or Trevi fountain. Trevi had swarms of people surrounding it. I made a simple wish and like everyone who has ever thrown a coin inside and held high hopes for returning to Rome one day.

If I can count the number of times we ran in Rome, whether it was to cross the street or catch a bus it would be endless. We took buses everywhere. Rome was not as strict about paying for transportation, which worked to our advantage because we got on and off as we pleased. We wandered around aimlessly until we unintentionally discovered the Roman ruins or the Roman Forum. Honestly, this was one of the greatest moments of my trip. Stepping back into time and experiencing how the ancient Romans lived was the most magnificent experience ever.

Our walk back to the hotel was creepy, to say the least. We got chased by a bunch of Italian children who were looking at us weird and pointing at us. However, once we got to the hotel there was no way we could just stay in for the night. We were in ROMA!!!! So we went roaming around the city in search of adventure. It was around 11PM, but this place was still alive.

We went to a local bar that was very chic, followed by a bus ride for the heck of it. We got off the bus at the perfect stop and decided to switch gears and start searching for pastries. A local told us about a bakery where we could get fresh-baked treats straight out of the oven. YUM!!!

Time was of the essence for our last morning in Rome. We had a plane to catch at 2pm which meant we only had a few precious hours left in Italy. Our morning consisted of the Roman Forum and the Coliseum.

Shortly after it was time to say Arrivederci Italia. España here we come!

Ky’s Verdict: I like to think of Rome as a hybrid that merges the elements of city life with its historical past. I can’t wait to go back. This city has too much history and attractions to experience in one day. I just didn’t have enough time and I yearn to return. FYI- Italian men, love chocolate women. This is a gorgeous city and the preservation of its ruins was captivating.

May 1, 2014January 10, 2020

Ciao Venice!

In the villa, in Venice, sipping vino – Jay -Z

Imagine riding on a cold train for 14hrs, with nothing to eat or drink, just to pull up into the most majestic city you’ve ever seen, completely surrounded by a large body of water and colorful buildings. That was my experience upon reaching Venice and that extensive train ride was so worth it. When we got out of the Venezia Santa Lucia train station, I felt like I was in a fairy tale storybook. We walked over a bridge that crossed the Grand Canal and down a block to our hotel.

The first thing we did was EAT! We found a quaint restaurant close by and ate carbonara and a seafood platter filled with squid, octopus, and prawns. Venice food is so good.

After lunch, we went walking through Venice taking in its eloquence. Venice is so effortlessly beautiful.

We wanted to buy wine and strawberries for our gondola ride just to set the mood. Luckily we didn’t have to search very far before discovering a supermarket where in addition to our wine we picked up Nutella. There was a Gondola man outside of the market who seemed cool and had a gorgeous boat so we did what anyone would do and tried to negotiate the 80 € price down before hopping on.

Our Gondola ride was pretty awesome. We sailed along the Grand Canal, snapping flicks and listening to the history of Venice. We passed by the Marco Polo house, only to discover that Hollywood was there shooting a Marco Polo film. It was awesome to see all the actors dressed like they were living in the year 1295. The ride leads us under various bridges and secret passageways that unlocked the mystical charm of Venice. Our tour guide was super cool, until someone got Nutella chocolate on his hat and he went INSANE! He kicked us off his boat cussing us out in Italian. You had to see it to believe it.

We had one more thing to do for the day and that was to find San Marco Square. Venice has signs on buildings with arrows that points you into various directions and you have to keep looking for these signs…it’s so bizarre and very easy to overlook.

I think the city is a set up for getting lost. It’s something that will inevitably happen to you. We roamed the streets aimlessly sometimes following the crowds and other times just walking into desolate alley ways stopping at Gelato stands and bakeries along the way. Venice is weird like that, one minute you are surrounded by hundreds of people and other times you are on the streets completely alone.

Finally, we discovered San Marco Square, the heart of Venice. The first thing we did was go inside St Marks Basilica. I walked to a pew and kneeled on the stand praying to God and thanking him for his blessings and traveling mercies. I then put holy water on my head and walked out. San Marco Square was filled with tourists, pigeons and amazing architecture.

Trying to find our way back from San Marco Square to Santa Croce (the neighborhood of our hotel) ultimately meant we would get lost, yet again…only this time we were really lost. I guess I can cross ~~Get Lost in Venice~~ off my bucket list. We walked across the Rialto Bridge, one of the oldest bridges in Venice. It was massive and the sun was setting over it which made it look extra magical. We then walked through a few alleyways, turning left and another left, walking straight down a path, crossing a bridge and walking along the Grand Canal until finally, we saw something we recognized…BURGER KING! In Venice, there was only one McDonalds and Burger King. It just so happens that our hotel was close by. We could finally breathe easily.

That night we had free cocktails at our hotel bar and talked candidly with the staff. It was after 10PM so we knew Venice had completely shut down but we found a restaurant close to our hotel who cooked us seafood spaghetti and carbonara. Magnifico!

Ky’s Verdict: I love Venice but I probably won’t be visiting here anytime soon. All I needed was that one day to experience this beautiful city but after that, I can see it becoming boring.

April 29, 2014January 10, 2020

Nice Meeting You Mona

Bumped into a girl, her name was Mona….Mona Lisa -Slick Rick

Our last day in Paris was interesting, to say the least. We went to a café which served salted crepes and eggs. I forgot to tell them to overcook my eggs and couldn’t enjoy my meal because it was too raw. Unbeknownst to me a bunch of gypsies sitting in front of us was plotting to rob us. I had no idea that those were their intentions as I took a picture of them in awe of how cool and french they looked. The owners of the restaurant eventually chased them off their property. Darn Gypsies.

We decided to walk back to the Love Lock bridge one last time to make our mark. Love was in the air. That’s the awesome thing about Paris, it rejuvenated my spirit of love. Europeans are so passionate about their significant others and they can kiss for hours on end…in public!

Finally, the last thing left to do was to actually go inside the Louvre. We didn’t make it to Musee D’Orsay which was disappointing but gave me even more motivation to return to Paris as soon as I could. The Louvre museum is so grand. It was impossible to get through the whole museum unless you spend a day there which is something I would love to do next time I’m in Paris.

We headed straight to the Mona Lisa. She was extremely small, but that’s what everyone says about her. I wanted to learn more about Mona, why was she such a big deal?

Three Facts about Mona Lisa

Her name is Lisa Del Giocondo
The actual spelling of the painting is Monna Lisa (spelled correctly in the Louvre)
She was stolen from the Louvre in 1911 by an Italian extremist and employee at the Louvre

The Louvre museum is filled with art work from all over the world. We got through American, Italian, Medieval and Egyptian art before the whole experience became tiresome.

A quick shopping stop on Rue Rivoli meant our Paris stay was coming to an end. Although I wanted to stay just a little bit longer we had an overnight train to Italy that we needed to catch.

Ky Verdict: Paris for an American girl is absolutely a dream come true. It’s magnificent and contrary to popular belief the French are very nice people. The consistency of the buildings and architecture in Paris made things so handsome.The chateau’s and long windows are tres beau! I loved how peaceful this city felt. Everything seemed so easy going and lovely.

Ky Tips:

Go into Paris knowing basic words in French. If you make an effort the French will be more nice and comfortable because you are trying.
Be alert at all times. Carry purses that are harder to get into if someone does try to steal from you, you can at least feel it and react.

April 24, 2014January 10, 2020

To Paris, With Love

“Now we out in Paris, yeah we perriering” -Big Sean

Things left to do in Paris

Eiffel Tower
Louvre
People Watch
Musee D’Orsay
Seine River

Our list of things we had left to do in Paris wasn’t impossible, but it was Sunday and a lot of places were closed. We started our day with a nice brunch at a café by our hotel. We had crepes, omelets, and baguettes. I loved how the locals walked around with pain (bread) and baguettes like it was an accessory. One of the things I enjoyed doing in Paris was people watching. There were so many happy and fabulously dressed people to see and the Europeans just loved to sing in the streets.After brunch, we walked towards the Seine River and discovered the Love Lock Bridge. We took pictures and celebrated all the love that was in the air. Couples kissing here, a group of friends putting a lock on the bridge over there and then it was us, trying to recreate Beyonce’s XO video…(don’t ask).

The Eiffel Tower was marvelous. There were a lot of people who had the same picnic plan as us, so it was quite crowded with tourists everywhere. Everyone was in such great spirits as we ate Nutella crepes and took pictures with Miss Eiffel.
Kydee Williams We proceeded to walk along the Seine River which was close by. The walk was serene and eye-opening. Parisienne people love their bottles of wine. I watched as the locals walked, jogged and played along the river, a bit envious that Paris was a place they could call home, while I had a clicking clock whose time was almost up. I too found peace on the Seine.

That night, we had dinner at a cute restaurant by our hotel. The waiter was hilarious. He was super charming and allowed us to drink our own bottles of wine. We laughed the night away, embracing French culture to its fullest.

After dinner, we decided to take the bus back to the Eiffel Tower. It was definitely more gorgeous at night. We had a blast, although we encountered rats in the area…yuck.

Kydee Williams

The clock stroke one, which meant the final light show of the night was on the way and let me just say, it was enchanting. We sang Drunk in Love by Beyonce as the locals sang with us. We also made videos of our wacky wine night until it got too late and was getting too creepy. Two guys started following us by the Seine so we naturally ran for our lives. Once we got back to a safe zone, we took a cab back to the hotel. Oh quelle nuit!

April 23, 2014January 9, 2020

We’ll Never Be #Royals

“I’ll never see a diamond in the flesh…” -Lourde

One of my goals while in London was to meet up with Louise. Louise is my colleague at work, whom I’ve had the pleasure of knowing and communicating with for over 2-years but we never actually met. When the opportunity presented itself, I jumped on it. We met up at the St. Pauls Tube stop, in which she led us around the corner to an amazing restaurant called The Happenstance. This restaurant was to die for. It’s distinguished by its hybrid of settings, which ranged from girly and sophisticated to rustic and modern with a southern charm. The walls are wooden and chalkboard, while the furniture ranged from standard metal bar stools to rocking chairs. The ambiance was incredible and set the tone for the perfect lunch date. I finally got the chance to order a London delicacy, fish and chips or as the restaurant called it Hand Beer-Battered Haddock with Chips (hehe).

Louise and I talked about everything under the sun. I explained to her my reasons for my travels in which I confessed my confusion for the next steps of my life. Turning 25 is so pivotal and I wanted to make sure I lived my 20’s to the fullest with very little mistakes or regrets.

After lunch Louise and I walked to St. Paul’s Cathedral where Princess Diana got married. We thought it would also be a great opportunity to take cliché London telephone booth pictures. I had a blast with her but she had to go back to work and I had to meet up with my friends. My friends and I had no way of contacting each other because our phones didn’t work, which meant I had to be back at the designated spot on time.

Once I met up with the girls, we took a double-decker bus to Buckingham Palace. Aside from the soldiers doing their weird march, I loved that the palace gates and fountains were adorned with gold. On my next trip, I may have to go inside to actually get the feel of being in the midst of royalty.

We strolled from Buckingham to St. James Park where we played on the swings and watched the most interesting looking birds, ducks and geese wander past us. They were so cute and carefree.

Then we took flicks with the stiff soldiers who wouldn’t even crack a smile. No matter what we did to them, they didn’t budge. It was kind of cool but scary at the same time.

Finally, the clock stroke 5 and I encountered the sweet sounds of Big Ben (now known as the Elizabeth Tower). I was so excited to hear him roar. I began to walk towards him, and when I finally was graced with his presence I was in awe by how dignified and handsome he stood. His classic build and quintessential grace is what people think of when they think of London. He’s legendary. I finally felt at that point that my duties as a London tourist were fulfilled.

That night we went to the club Tiger Tiger, which was a recommendation of my friend Brittany. It was a pretty happening club, with 5 different sections, a stripper pole and an LCD dance floor. Each room had something different going on. We danced the night away, partying in London for the first time ever! It was so exciting to see how people on the other side of the pond live. Once we left, we caught a bus that would take us back to Westminster, but the bus driver hated us. She called my friends and me annoying and told us to get out of her sight. It was so rude of her but funny at the same time. She was the first unfriendly person we met in London, which was excellent when compared to the number of unfriendly people you encounter in New York on an hourly basis.

Ky’s Verdict:

When can I move here? I loved London. I can totally see myself enjoying the rest of my 20’s here because it’s so darn cool. However, it’s very expensive. British Pounds are a nightmare.

April 18, 2014January 9, 2020

Bag Lady: Tips and Tricks for Packing

I HATE PACKING…but I’ve never had to pack for a two-week vacation (The Horror). Initially, I was going to buy a new suitcase for my trip. I saw IT-Lightweight luggage at TJ Maxx one day and immediately fell in love. It was a measly 4pounds and meant that I could probably fit more clothes in my suitcase without going over 50 pounds. Eventually, after much thought I decided against it; I spent too much money on the trip already and at this point, I needed to focus on saving for it.

When I got home I began to pack all of my things in a large suitcase, yet it seemed like the suitcase itself was heavier than my clothes. I downsized literally 2-hours before my flight to a smaller version. It was probably the best decision I made for myself. In total I carried a:

Medium suitcase
Book Bag with Wheels
Purse-which was more like a second carry on

Switching my suitcase now meant squeezing all my clothes in by any means necessary. I had shirts inside of heels and wore two jackets on the plane. I basically packed all my clothes in large Zip Lock bags and poked holes in each of them to release the air (each bag was separated by the outfit I would wear in each country). The zip lock strategy worked out but to be honest by the end of the trip it was hard to keep up with. An approximate list of things I carried is below:

Suit Case

About 10 Day outfits
5 Night Outfits
3 Jackets (Winter, Raincoat, Leather)
3 Sexy Shirts for the night
2 Leggings
2 Jeans
1 Overalls
2 Sweaters
8 Shoes boots and sneakers

Carry On

Ipad (A waste, I didn’t use it one time)
Passport holder and passport
A pen for documentation
ID besides a passport
Converter-London and Europe plugs are different
2 Travel books
A Journal
Maps
Makeup
Gum
Tooth Brush
Undies
Extra Pair of Clothes
Sneakers

To be honest I over packed. I packed two pairs of black boots and only ended up wearing one. I also packed three heels and ended up wearing two. My advice: less is more when it comes to shoes

Ky’s Travel Tips

Pack light, in the words of Erykah Badu. Next time I travel to Europe, I will be taking 2 bags instead of three. It becomes too much of a hassle trying to keep up with all that luggage…it’s just super annoying
Also invest in a Bungee for luggage which is a sort of elastic rope that allows you to hold in place any sized carry on, on top of your luggage
Iron clothes before you leave, as European hotels have a weird policy that doesn’t allow irons in the hotel rooms
I bought a lock for my luggage but didn’t end up using it. Don’t be like me and take that risk, use the lock because you never know who’s rummaging through your stuff

Before Leaving for Europe Remember:

Remember to switch your phone to an international service or else you will have no way to contact your loved ones
Remember to download What’s App and MagicJack to call and text internationally

April 18, 2014January 9, 2020

All About the Benjamin’s Baby!

So let’s talk about money. Back in 2013, I was told I could never plan a trip to Europe for under two thousand dollars. One of the things you have to understand about me is that you should never tell me what I can’t do because I am probably going to do it.

I talked to a professional travel agent who told me the same thing…Europe for two weeks cannot be planned for under two-thousand dollars. It was then I decided I could plan this whole trip without any help.

Ky Fact:

Consulting with a travel agent is something I suggest all first-time travelers do (even if you want to plan your own trip, see what they can show you). However, I used the advice and quotes of the travel agent competitively to find better prices than what they were giving me

Budget: The trip’s budget was that magic number I keep bringing up $2,000. However, it was a goal of mine to get that number down as much as possible. Now, we are all working women so between the time we booked and the time of the trip we were able to save up spending and food money for the actual trip which is not included in this budget.

What would our budget include?

Flights
Hotels
Intercontinental transportation

In total, out of my own money I didn’t spend more than $1450.

Savings

I honestly saved for this trip in about 3 months. It just meant not going out as much and cutting back on a lot of things like shopping, unnecessary spending, no gym, no frivolous spending while out…matter of fact I barely went out.

Money$ Money$ Money$

In total, I took 140 Euros with me. I didn’t have to take out British Pounds because my boss gave me some pounds he had leftover from his many trips. That helped me out a lot.

Ky Tips:

Exchange your money before you leave. I went to my bank which is TD Bank and they only charged me $7 to make the exchange.
Get a list from your bank of the banks overseas that they are affiliated with so you won’t be charged a fee to take money out of the ATM.
Call your credit card/debit card/bank company and tell them you will be overseas and let them know where you are going so no funny business happens to your card while you’re away. When I say funny business, I mean your bank assuming that your card was stolen because of the international charges.
Currency Exchange: BEWARE! Please avoid these booths at all costs. They are crooks. I did end up needing some Euros while in Italy in which I had $100 cash on me that I wanted to exchange. I went to the booth desperate because I couldn’t find an ATM affiliated with my bank and they literally gave me back 49.50 EUR in return. I hate telling this story because I’ve never been so ANGRY in my life, however, I want you guys to learn from my poor mistakes. An ATM is way better than a currency exchange.

April 18, 2014January 9, 2020

Hotel. Motel. Holiday Inn…Say WHAT?

One of the hardest parts about planning a trip to Europe is finding the right hotels. I can’t even begin to count the number of hours spent on hotel research to ensure that the accommodations were just what my friends and I wanted. We didn’t want to stay in hostels and although hotels are expensive in Europe, I felt I could find some well within our budget (and modern as per my friend’s requests).

Ky Facts:

Airbnb is great, however, I feel like this site is best for people who are staying in a certain place for an extended period of time (more than 3-days) and unfortunately we were only in each city for 1-3 days so it didn’t make sense.
Google Hotels started out as my source to finding hotels but they weren’t giving me totals on prices so I didn’t really use this once I found other websites.
Booking.com, is where I found all the hotels we stayed in because it’s reliable and gives the total price of the stay. It’s very accurate and although I booked all of our hotels on the actual hotel website, it equipped me with the information I needed to move forward with the reservations.
Tripadvisior, was excellent when I wanted to see the actual pictures of hotels that guests took.
GoogleMaps, is excellent. I found our hotel in Venice via GoogleMaps. I was using the site to look at the area by the Santa Lucia train station when I discovered Hotel Papadopoli.

London
Tune Hotel Westminster
Kydee Rating: 6.0

I liked the Tune hotel but it’s quite small. There was construction going on outside of our hotel room door which was a bit distracting but what can you expect for the price? They charge for everything including television and towels. There is also no daily housekeeping service. We requested the handicap room/bathroom but the shower was terrible. Water would leak out of the bathroom and into our room at times. If I was to ever stay here again, I would definitely get a regular room with a regular shower and toilet. Although it sounds like a terrible hotel, it really wasn’t that bad. The location was great, right across from the Lambeth North Tube stop and 3-4 blocks away from the London Eye. It was very easy to get around, as buses were also within close vicinity to us and we were able to get from Piccadilly Circus to our neighborhood in about 7 minutes. We also walked from the London Bridge and Buckingham Palace back to our hotel which proved our hotel was in an awesome area.

Paris
Hotel De La Place Du Louvre
Kydee Rating 7.5

The Hotel De La Place Du Louvre was a small but gorgeous boutique hotel, located in front of the Louvre Museum. I can’t begin to describe how close this hotel was to the Louvre and to the Rivoli Metro. The hotel itself is petite. The elevator is the equivalent to what Polly Pocket might use; two people at once would be pushing it. However, the rooms are decent; very simple but cozy. The shower is the best part of the room and almost feels like it shouldn’t be in the room. The hotel offers breakfast and the service is awesome.

The only problem with this hotel is that no more than two people can be in the room. If you say you are going to have 2-people in the room make sure it’s 2-people. We tried to act like we didn’t understand English when we were questioned by the mean concierge as to why so many of us were in one room (as you may already know it was four of us).

After 11PM the hotel completely shuts down and it’s almost impossible to get back in without waking up the mean concierge. However, that doesn’t take away from all the positives of this hotel which was the location, location, and location. It’s right by the Rue Rivoli which is filled with amazing Parisienne shopping and also within close proximity to the Seine River and the Love Lock Bridge; Hotel De La Place Du Louvre is truly a gem.

Venice
Hotel Papadopoli Venezia-MGallery Collection-Accorhotels
Kydee Rating 8

Since we weren’t staying in Venice for long, I decided it would be best to find a hotel in Cannaregio or Santa Croce which is within the vicinity of the Venezia S. Lucia train station. Believe it or not, I found Hotel Papadopoli while looking at the area surrounding the Santa Lucia train station and Hotel Carlton which is another hotel on the Grand Canal. I probably wouldn’t have discovered it because it’s a relatively new hotel and up until the Google Maps discovery I didn’t see this hotel anywhere. It is a beautiful and rich hotel. The elevators were small but our room and bathroom were to die for; traditional Venice with a modern feel to it. Each of us received a robe from the hotel. The décor was that of a royal and decadent mansion. The service was exquisite. The free drinks at the bar were amazing and the candy that they keep at the front desk is still being craved by my sweet tooth. In terms of location, it was perfect for us. We walked just about everywhere, and in the morning when it was time to catch our train we just walked across a bridge to the station.

Rome
Kolbe Hotel
Kydee Rating: 10

When booking for Rome, I wanted to make sure I found a hotel that was in the midst of the Roman Ruins and the Coliseum. Although I now know that Rome is a booming and fast-paced city I still wanted to feel like I was in Rome and ancient Rome at that. Kolbe was about 15 minutes from the Rome Termini train station and 35 minutes from the Airport. It was probably the most amazing hotel I’ve ever been to in my life. The front looks like a regular hotel, decked in brick seemingly archaic architecture. However, when I got inside the room I was awe-stricken by its massive interior. The room had 2-stories. The first floor has a pull-out couch, beautiful bathroom and a desk that was decked with a welcome present which included sparkling water and a basket of fruit. On the top floor were two twin beds. The walls were brick and the furniture was a mixture of cloth and leather. In the morning, we were treated to a buffet breakfast which included eggs, bacon, sausages croissants, cupcakes fruit and so much more. I was in utter awe and didn’t want to leave Rome. Our hotels were just getting better and better

Barcelona
Hotel Barcelona Princess
Kydee Rating: 8.5

Hotel Princess was a great hotel however it’s location…not so much. I was doing so well on our hotel choices in Europe but I didn’t do enough research on Spain to know that Diagonal was not the area we wanted to be in…DARN! But, I can’t take away from the hotel. It was a nice hotel with 2-pools and a cute girly common area where we spent one-night drinking wine and having girl talk. Overall, the hotel stay was pretty cool and cheap about $413 total for 3 nights however, it wasn’t in the lively part of Barcelona which took away from the experience. After a day there we learned to maneuver the train system to our advantage and were in Las Ramblas and Barceloneta in no time.

Amsterdam
CitizenM Amsterdam
Kydee Rating: 9

CitizenM hotel in Amsterdam Schiphol is amazing. The décor is so weird and funky. The colors seemed like it shouldn’t be together but it worked. Everything is high tech. Check-in and check out is done by a computer. The room is controlled electronically by a single remote. The colors of the room changed with my mood. It would go from pink to green to blue…so cool. The shower and bathroom are pretty futuristic as well. To get into the city, I took a bus because the trains were out of service, it was pretty simple. I would definitely stay here again. The price didn’t hurt either 88 Euro for a night.

If you want exact prices for each hotel email me at travelbyky@gmail.com I’ll send over the breakdown. Nevertheless, each hotel per night was between 88-185 Euros

April 15, 2014January 9, 2020

The Blueprint: Planning Europe

Traveling to Europe was a figment of my imagination until January 2014. I had a blueprint of how my trip would go, but flights and hotels were not booked, so essentially it was just a dream. Finally, during the last week of January, I decided to purchase my $827 multi-city ticket that took me from JFK to London Heathrow and from Barcelona El Prat to JFK 11-days later. However, I still wasn’t completely satisfied with this trip. I wanted to go to Amsterdam! After much thought and careful consideration, I managed to find a 21-hour layover in Amsterdam for the same price as my original ticket. Thus, I changed my flights and booked the layover. In hindsight, it was the best decision I made.

We originally had plans to travel to Morocco once we landed in Spain but we realized it would be quite over ambitious of us since we were already planning to tackle 7-countries. I planned Europe with 2 of my friends from Penn State. I later asked one of my friends from High School if she was interested in going in which she obliged. Now it was four of us going to Europe which initially sounded like a terrible idea because of our princess personalities but it ended up being another amazing decision (more on that later as well).

We were visiting the following cities in less than 2-weeks:

London
Paris
Venice
Rome
Vatican City
Barcelona
Amsterdam

I soon became the point person for travel. Researching for Europe became my life. I couldn’t sleep knowing that I would be in Europe in 2-months. I sat in Barnes and Noble for hours every weekend, surrounded by travel books. I wanted to know everything possible about each of the countries I was going to. I also wanted to make sure we could have a fabulous trip on a budget.

Ky Facts:

We booked 2 months before departure, which was great because I really didn’t have the patience to wait any longer…Europe was calling my name!
Perfect Timing: We went to Europe during the off-season, just missing the price hikes during the European Fashion Weeks.
Four’s A Charm: Going to Europe with 3 other people was a great decision. We split everything four ways including hotels, cab rides, and food which cut the actual costs of our trip immensely.

April 15, 2014January 9, 2020

Almost Quarter Life Crisis

In November 2013, I was a miserable mess. All of these awesome things were happening for everyone around me and I felt stuck, in the same spot, not progressing at all. After church one Sunday (which did nothing to change my mood), I went to Barnes and Noble where I sat in an obscure corner, surrounded by books that represented the many directions in which my life could take. To the left of me, were study aids for masters degrees and law school; In front of me were self-publishing books; to the right of me was the travel section and in back of me was all about weddings and relationships. What was God trying to tell me?

I picked up a book from each section and was immediately captivated by the travel books. Europe seemed like a distant dream but I reveled in how sweet it could be to smell the air of this historical haven. My nose quickly became stuck in a 300-page First Time Traveler to Europe guide and I wouldn’t leave Barnes and Noble until I finished it. My spine tingled as I read about all of these European countries and their famous attractions; so rich with culture. I yearned for the day to experience traveling the world. I prayed to God that he would begin opening doors for me.

Just then, my friend Danielle found me in the literary sanctuary I created for myself. When I saw her I just cried in her arms. I was so vulnerable and confused about my life and it’s next steps but I felt like God sent her there to pick me up (literally and figuratively). I left Barnes and Noble that night with a renewed sense of purpose. I knew that I wanted to travel. That was the next big thing I needed to do.

Two months later, I officially booked my flight to Europe.

I wrote this November 2013 and placed it on my computer at work

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