I bet every tourist who plans a self-drive trip to Namibia asks himself the same question: Is Windhoek worth visiting? Having read the reviews, we decided to give the capital of Namibia a chance. Originally, we booked one night in Windhoek, but we ended up staying there for 2. Not because of its charm, but because we saved one extra day in case anything went wrong during our Namibia road trip. The city is nothing special, however you can find some very good spots to easily spend a day or two. In this post you will find our top 5 things to do in Windhoek in one day.
Lodge review: Epacha Game Lodge & Spa (Namibia)
We rented Toyota Hilux with a rooftop tent, as our plan was to overnight in camps most of the time while self-driving in Namibia. But since we have already tasted the luxury of a private game reserve in South Africa, we decided to try one in Namibia as well. I wanted to stay as close to Etosha National Park as possible because my goal was seeing the lions. I had reserved 3 days for that, just in case. We ended up seeing the lions on the first day, so we had plenty of time to enjoy the comfort of the lodge we had selected. Following is my detailed review of the Epacha Game Lodge & Spa which classifies as a 5-star accommodation.
10 things to do in Bali – with bonus saving tips
I was avoiding visiting Bali for decades, because chasing the crowds is just not my cup of tea. However, the island is known for its beautiful nature and is conveniently located near Java, which had been on my bucket list for a while. So, in September 2022 we combined a trip to Bali with the highlights of Java and thanks to the post-pandemic period we got quite lucky. In this post I will share top 10 things to do in Bali with tips and alternatives that will help you save money*. I’ll also write a few travel hacks to help you avoid crowds in popular places.
Snorkeling in Maldives: a moment of reflection
This photo is far from my “Instagram standards“, but it will stay in my memory for much longer than many “staged” ones with thousands of likes. It was taken spontaneously, with a phone, just before my last snorkeling in Maldives. And almost as if the photo knew what was coming next, it reflects exactly what I want to tell you in this short post.
Resort Review: Cinnamon Velifushi (Vaavu Atoll, Maldives)
For my 6th visit to Maldives I chose Cinnamon Hakuraa Huraa resort due to very good reviews and fantastic photos. However, I wasn’t aware that “one of the largest shallow lagoons in the Maldives” means no swimming during winter. Although the resort facilities, as well as its staff are wonderful, I did come to Maldives to swim. The management of Hakuraa was very helpful with relocating us to their sister island Cinnamon Velifushi. To cut things short, this resort has it all and here is my Cinnamon Velifushi Maldives honest review.
Maldives on a budget: 10 tips for saving money
With its white beaches, turquoise waters, a wealth of marine life, and exotic overwater villas, Maldives is a luxury bucket list destination. Boasting with some of the most incredible 5-star hotels in the world, Maldives is also a popular location for honeymooners and anniversaries. However, with over 1.190 islands,Maldives can also be enjoyed in a more budget friendly option. In this post I will share 10 useful tips for visiting Maldives on a budget, without selling a kidney.
East Java Trip – From Jakarta to Ijen
Indonesia enchanted us 4 years ago, when we were one of the few tourists in Lombok just days after the then devastating earthquake. As soon as the pandemic situation calmed down, I started planning our new trip to Indonesia. Java was on my bucket list for a while so we decided to combine a trip to East Java with vacation in Bali. In this post I will tell you about our East Java trip from Jakarta to Ijen, including a 5-day itinerary. Day by day, I will take you from Jakarta to Yogyakarta, Bromo, Ijen and finally Banjuwangi, where we took a ferry to Bali.