Category: Travel

Categories
Travel

Mykonos Travel Guide

+LETS TRAVEL!!

-I’m BACK!! After a LONG hiatus and surviving the pandemic, I returned to traveling this summer and honestly had one of the best summers of my life!!! I returned to Greece, a country I thought I would never visit again(so many tourist the first time around), and had the best time exploring the little streets of Mykonos. With few tourists this was a tour of Greece completely different from my previous visit. I was able to explore the beautiful streets nearly empty, enjoy the sunsets from the best locations and partake in the endless fun Mykonos is known for.

If your looking for a beautiful island, with great food, and great vibes, Mykonos should definitely be on your bucket list and here are some tips to help you plan your Grecian getaway!!

+GETTING TO MYKONOS

-Mykonos is located 100 miles from Athens, Greece in the Aegean Sea. It is one of 277 Greek Islands and is known for its music, good energy and fun atmosphere. When planning on visiting the island you have several options from Athens to Mykonos.

  • Air-Flying out of Athens International Airport is the most economical and one of the quickest direct flight from the US. From there you can book a round trip flight on one of several airlines such as Aegean Air, Olympic, and Skyexpress. A quick 45-60 minute flight and you’ll be hopping off in paradise.
  • Ferry-There are also ferries in and out of Athens daily to many Greek Islands. You can book you ferry tickets daily, although it is a good idea to book in advance, using Ferry Hopper. https://www.ferryhopper.com/en/ferry-routes/direct/piraeus-athens-to-mykonos

+THINGS TO DO/SEE IN MYKONOS

KATO MILI WINDMILLS 

The island’s iconic windmills are a short walk from the Little Venice waterfront. There are a few windmills throughout the town, but these are the most popular, especially during cruise ship season, so I’d make this the first stop of the day. There are also many water front bars and restaurants near the Kato Mili Windmills to sit and enjoy the sunset,.

LITTLE VENICE WATERFRONT

The dreamiest tiny streets wind throughout this area known as little Venice. This is a great place to visit during the day, shop, enjoy good food, catch the sunset, have a drink, or stay out at night. 

NEGRITA BAR

A cute and fun bar in Little Venice with charm and sea views. A good time day or night.

PARADISE BEACH

Paradise Beach is a popular spot to enjoy the beach and enjoy good music. You will definitely find the party here. It’s located in South Mykonos, and the pretty turquoise waters attract a lot of tourists during high season. 

180 SUNSET BAR

Located in Mykonos Town 180 Sunset Bar is a bit of hike or a quick uber trip from the town and has one of the prettiest views in the city. It is a great place to dine and catch the sunset.

SCORPIOS MYKONOS

Chic, vibrant and always fun of entertainment. Scorpios is another beachfront beach party/restaurant to visit on the island. Also, located in South Mykonos, this is a spot you will definitely need reservations for and I recommend booking in advance.

+WHERE TO STAY IN MYKONOS

-Mykonos offers a variety of places to stay while you visit. As with any vacation, you will have to decide what kind of stay best fits the experience you are trying to have. There are hotels from every price range and many gorgeous Airbnb’s throughout the island. Airbnb’s can run anywhere from $100-$1000+/night and will depend on what you are looking for and what amenities are include. You can find beautiful, reasonable rentals throughout the island and will most likely need some sort of transportation, or plan on using a ride share service to get around.

Pro tip: Renting an Airbnb with a pool is worth it!!!!

+TRANSPORTATION WHILE IN MYKONOS

-Although Mykonos is a small island you will have to plan for transportation while you are there. The most common, easiest, and most efficient way to get around the island is by ATV (All Terrain Vehicle.)

-ATV’s and cars are available to rent throughout the island, however, any US citizens must have a drivers license from United States and an international driver’s permit (IDP) issued by American Automobile Association (AAA) OR the American Automobile Touring Alliance to drive or rent a car in Greece. This is something you will need to take care of before hand, and only takes a few minutes, but is necessary in order to rent any type of vehicle on Mykonos Island. If you are not able to get an international drivers license you can get around using several ride share companies on the island.

+MYKONOS TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS

-Currently the country of Greece requires all travelers to show proof of vaccination or a NEGATIVE COVID TEST, 72 hours before arrival. All passenger must complete an electronic PLF(Passenger Locator Form) and all information must be uploaded to https://travel.gov.gr/#/ before departure in order to receive QR code upon arrival in Greece.

-All US citizens, regardless of vaccination status will have to proof of NEGATIVE PRC COVID TEST 72 hours before arrival. All information must be uploaded to https://myverifly.com/#/ app before departure.

+MYKONOS EXPERIENCE

-The Mykonos experience is something you will often hear travel goers talk about long after they have returned, but I recommend experiencing it for yourself! It’s an island full of fun, beauty, and amazing vibes. Definitely, the funniest Greek island I have visited so far. I hope these tips help you when planning your Grecian getaway!!

Categories
Travel

The Santa Fe Experience-Hotel Santa Fe Review

Hi, Everyone!  January was a busy month, and I like so many people who thought the month drug on, I thought it went by super quick and was excited to attend my first retreat of the year and enjoyed a stay-cation at Hotel Santa Fe in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

+Getting to Hotel Santa Fe– Santa Fe, New mexico, located about an hour north of Albuquerque is very easy to get to and located just a five minute drive from Santa Fe Plaza. Definitely, a must see when visiting Santa Fe. The hotel also provides shuttles and has the cutest London looking cabs to take you to and from the hotel to the plaza, which came in handy on my snowy day visit.

+About Hotel Santa Fe-Hotel Santa Fe is the only Native American owned hotel in Santa Fe. The property is beautiful and WELCOMING, with an exquisite multi MILLION-DOLLAR Native american art collection throughout the hotel and property. You can spend time sitting my the cozy, enjoying a cocktail or two at the bar, eating at Amaya restaurant located onsite, or taking a dip in the pool or hot tub.

+Rooms at hotel Santa Fe- my room at  Hotel Santa Fe was a two room suite with a sitting area which opened up to a private balcony. Let me tell you, this was such a treat with the blanket of snow outside. You have several options to choose from when staying at Hotel Santa Fe, hotel Santa itself and the hacienda at Hotel Santa Fe, which come with your own private butler. All rooms are newly remodeled and start at $150/night. I also must add the hotel is pet friendly and you are welcomed to bring your pets along with you to enjoy the stay! This makes life so easy if you often have to take your furry friend with you.

+Food-As mentioned earlier, Hotel Santa Fe has an amazing restaurant located onsite, Amaya. We had the pleasure of dinning at Amaya during our stay. The food was outstanding!! Mixing Northern New Mexican and Native pueblo cuisines. It was one of the best meals I have had in a while. You do not have to stay at the hotel to eat Amaya and can make reservations online or by calling Hotel Santa Fe, however, you will not be disappointed in your stay or meal. The hotel also provides room service, breakfast in the lobby in the morning and complimentary coffee and tea on every floor each morning. Perfect for sipping out on your balcony early in the morning.

If you are looking for a cozy hotel in the Santa Fe area when in town or looking for a place for a great stay-cation, Hotel Santa Fe is a great choice. From now until April of 2020 you can use the code SFExperience for 20% off your Stay at Hotel Santa Fe.

Hope you all stay and enjoy!!

THIS POST IS SPONSORED BY HOTEL Santa Fe, ALL VIEWS AND OPINIONS EXPRESSED are those of charming jay blog.

Categories
Travel

The Ultimate Park City Travel Guide

Hi, everyone, I’m back and if you read my last blog post you might remember my trip to Park City, Utah, I mentioned to you all in my 2020 Planning Blog. My very first trip of 2020, and my first time skiing this season. Park City did not disappoint. It truly felt like a winter wonderland. It snowed on and off each day but the sun came out for a perfect day on the slopes. If you are looking for a true winter escape, whether you ski/board or not, Park City is definitely a place for you to check out.

+ Getting to Park City-Park City is located about 45 minutes away from Salt Lake City, Utah. If you are flying into Salt Lake there are a few options to get to Park City. There are several shuttles you can book to transport you, they are located in the baggage pick up area and can be arranged ahead of time. You can also take an Uber or Lyft and depending on the time of day will run you anywhere from $40-$60. There are also car rental places and depending on what you plan on doing when you get to Park City this may be a good option for you. When in Park City you can use the city shuttle or trolley for free from one side of Main Street to the other. This is super convenient, especially if you make into town and don’t get back to the lifts before they close.

+Things to do in Park City- If you are thinking about visiting Park City, like most people you are probably looking to hit the slopes, but if skiing/boarding is not for you there are many other things to do and enjoy in the town itself.

+Skiing/Boarding– If you are looking into hitting the mountain you can purchase your lift ticket in advance at Park City Mountain for a cheaper price than on the mountain. Park City Resort is a large mountain and regardless of your level of expertise there are runs for everyone. Being the largest ski resort in the US if you want to ski/board the entire mountain you will need more than one day to really be able to hit all sides of the mountain. It is definitely beautiful and most certainly worth it. There are also several places to rent equipment if you will not be taking your own. We opted to use a ski valet company. They get your information before hand and then literally take and pick up the equipment for you. It was so easy I highly recommend using this service if you will be in need of renting equipment and if you do not have a vehicle during your stay.

+Thinking to do in town- Park City is a such a cute, trendy town. There is plenty to see and do in town without skiing/boarding. Downtown Park City has both local and commercial shops and many places to eat and drink. If you like shopping there is plenty of it downtown. If you are more of a foodie, make sure to check out the High West Distillery and Saloon, you can even ski in and ski out if you are on slopes for the day. You can also search for original Banksy artwork, which isn’t very hard to find, right off Main Street, if you are interested. One thing I was not able to do but will definitely check it out next time is Olympic Park. I hear it is super cool.

+Where to stay in Park City- Park City like any ski resort city has major hotels located relatively close to the ski resort. There are also many Airbnb options, some closer than others to the resort. During our stay we wanted to be as close to the mountain as possible to be able to walk over to the resort and hit the slopes. Park City Silver Star Retreat is a lodging resort with the ski mountain as it’s back yard. Our condo was beautiful and was just a 2-3 minute walk to the nearest ski lift. It was awesome!

Park City was such a surprise and a beautiful town, I really would like to go back again. I loved all the snow and vibe of the town. If you are considering a ski trip or just going for fun you will not be disappointed. I can only imagine how beautiful it is during the spring and summer. Add Park City to your list of ski towns to visit!!

Categories
Travel

48 Hours in Milan

Happy Holidays Everyone! I love this time of year. I love the cold weather, the Christmas lights. Everything Christmas and festive, count me in! This was one of my favorite blog posts to write and share with you all because nothing compares to Christmas time in Europe and spending the holiday in Milan was over the top amazing! Just thinking about this amazing city gets me excited and I hope you all find it helpful on your travels.

If you have ever wondered if traveling Italy during the holidays or during December is a good idea, trust me, you will not be disappointed! Yes, the weather is colder and you will definitely need sweaters, a nice warm winter jacket, gloves, scarves and hats will come in handy, but for the most part the weather during the day is a mild cold. It does snow in Italy, so packing with that in mind is best, but for the most part the weather is nice enough for sightseeing and exploring.

 Another great perk of traveling during the winter is the lines and amount of tourists out and about. Yes, there are still tourists and lines, but for the most part there shorter lines and less tourists than the hot summer months. Milan is a very busy city and you can expect the attractions to have many tourists anytime day or time of year. With that said, it is still very possible to spend Christmas or New Year’s in the city and fully enjoy yourself!

+Getting to Milan-

There are several different ways to get to Milan. With a large international airport, you can fly in at most any time of the day. However, depending on what your itinerary is when traveling Italy, using the train system is an easy and affordable way to get around, moving from city to city. A train ride from Rome or Venice to Milan is a little under 3 hours, and gives you a chance to see the countryside and much of the Roman landscape not just the most popular cities. While in Milan, you can use a ride share service or the public transportation, which is very good in Milan. 

+Where to stay in Milan-

Milan is a large city with most every hotel chain you can think of. Depending on the attractions or area of town you are most interested in exploring you can find a hotel close to anywhere you would like to stay. Airbnb is great, and in my opinion, the best option. I stayed in the an amazing Airbnb, right around the corner from the Duomo di Milano. It was close to every the attraction, great restaurants and shopping. It was also amazing to walk out on New Year’s Eve and be surrounded by the magic of the Duomo and the night.

+Attractions in Milan-

  • The Duomo di Milano or Milan Cathedral is one of the largest cathedrals in Europe. Honestly, the most beautiful cathedral I have ever seen. It’s magical.
  • The Last Supper portrait, located inside the Duomo. You can buy tickets to tour the Duomo online and in advance which I recommend. Especially, if you are traveling during a holiday like Christmas or New Years.
  • Galleria Vittorio Emmanuelle. If you love shopping this is the place and Milan to shop. If you don’t, the building itself is beautiful and worth seeing. It is located right next to the Duomo di Milano so you can easily see both, one right after the other.
  • Castello Sforzesco. Built in the 15th century, now a museum and houses many art collections.
  • Arco della Pace – The Arch of Peace, a dedicated to the battles of Napoleon. It’s beautiful, like everything else in Milan and worth seeing if you are in the city.
  • Navigli District- Along the canal, has lots of shops, bars and art galleries. It’s a charming district and a great part of the city.

Milan is one of the most amazing cities I have ever visited and I hope you if you ever have a chance to visit the great city of Milan during the holiday season this travel guide helps you plan your travels!

Categories
Travel

Meow Wolf Guide-Everything You Need To Know

Happy fall, everyone! My favorite season is underway and I am here to share another adventure from my home state with you all. If you have read any of my past blog posts about New Mexico, you know I love my state and love sharing things for you all to do if you happen to visit.  Today, I am sharing an indoor activity surely to be on your list if visiting the Land of Enchantment, Meow Wolf!!

Meow Wolf, located in Santa Fe, New Mexico is a unique, immersive, art attraction unlike any I have ever seen. The House of Eternal Return is based on the premise, something has happened to a family inside a mysterious house and it’s your job to piece together clues to figure out what exactly took place. Visitors are encouraged to venture through the house of the family, and discover secret clues and passageways. There is no one way to explore this art attraction and goers will climb and crawl through many spaces, find hidden rooms and try and make sense of the attraction.

In my opinion, the best way to explore and enjoy Meow Wolf is to get lost, and not spend too much time worrying about clues to find or which way to go. Just take your time to explore every room. Some rooms you will run into more than once, others you will pass a few times before realizing there is some thing new to be seen or crawled through. Every room is different and the unknown really is a great part of enjoying Meow Wolf. Take your time, enjoy each room, sit in your favorite rooms a little longer and just take it all in.

+Getting to Santa Fe– Santa Fe is located 65 miles, about an hour drive, North of Albuquerque. You can easily make the day trip from Albuquerque or Taos or spend the evening in Santa Fe enjoying the city. If you do not have a car on your visit, riding the Rail Runner from Albuquerque to Santa Fe is also an option. Once you arrive at the Santa Fe Plaza (also a must do in Santa Fe) you will have to take a ride share to Meow Wolf, located few miles away.

+Hours of Operation

  • Sunday – Thursday 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM
  • Tuesday – CLOSED
  • Friday – Saturday 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM

+Ticket Prices

  • General Admission
  • Adult $29
  • Child $21
  • Senior/Military $25
  • NM Resident Admission
  • NM Adult $24
  • NM Child $17
  • NM Senior/Military$22

+Things to consider– Meow Wolf in an indoor experience but it is important to keep in mind you will be crawling and climbing through tight spots, wearing appropriate attire will be helpful. There is a snack bar located on the premise serving food and cocktails to enjoy during your visit. There are also several restaurants within walking distance, which offer discounts to patrons of the exhibit for an alternative option.  Lastly, Meow Wolf also is also known for the amazing concerts and events hosted at the venue throughout the year and worth attending if able during your visit.

+Other things to do while in Santa Fe– As mentioned earlier, while in Santa Fe, it is worth visiting the Santa Fe Plaza and the famous Santa Fe Cathedral. Here are a few ideas of events and attractions in and around the Santa Fe area to help you fully enjoy your visit to New Mexico. Visit Sunrise Springs Resort, take a drive to Tent Rocks or enjoy the World’s Longest Tramway. Find all the blog links below: https://thecharmingjay.com/2018/09/05/sunrise-springs-resort-and-spa/ https://thecharmingjay.com/2018/11/20/hiking-the-kasha-katuwe-tent-rocks-national-monument-in-new-mexico/ https://thecharmingjay.com/2018/12/12/sandia-peak-tram-albuquerque-nm/

Thank you all for checking back in with me! I hope this guide will help you plan your first or next visit till New Mexico. Until next time!

Categories
Travel

Ultimate Tikal Travel Guide

Hey, everyone! I am back to share a little bit more with you all about my recent adventures. While traveling to Belize a little over a month ago we decided to make the day trip in Guatemala to Tikal National Park. The whole trip was amazing, but visiting Tikal was most certainly the most amazing part of the trip.

Tikal National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is located in the northern region of the Guatemalan rain forest. Tikal is one of the largest archaeological sites of the Mayan civilization. Having traveled to several ancient Mayan cities, Tikal is by far my favorite. It was amazingly beautiful to see these ancient ruins through the rain forest and my most favorite part, which I still cannot believe they allow, was we were able to climb the ruins! It was amazing and definitely worth the trip.

+Getting to Tikal– There are several different ways to get to Tikal depending on where you will be traveling from. Coming from Belize City, we stayed in San Ignacio, Belize for a few days to be able to explore and travel to Belize. If you have a rental car, you can drive across the border. However, there are several things you will have to do first. You will have to apply for a special permit at least a week in advance and it will have to be signed and approved by a lawyer. You will also have to buy insurance in order to drive your car across the border. If you are planning on driving across the border, be sure to book your rental car in advance and take care of the permit and insurance before, or else you will not be able to drive across the border.

We opted for a second option and booked a tour guide for the day. For about $80 US dollars our private tour guide picked us up at our Airbnb, drove us to the Belize/Guatemalan border, took care of everything needed, tickets, lunch, and all border crossing details. The trip to Tikal from the Belize border was about 2 hours. It was an amazing drive through the country of Guatemala, beautiful rain forest and several lakes along the way were a great addition to the trip.

+Exploring Tikal National Park– The park itself is massive and you have to walk/hike to each of the temples spread out across the park.  I highly recommend having a tour guide as they can easily walk you through the park to the temples. A guide can also help you navigate the park through lesser-used trails to skip the crowds and move from site to site easily. You can most certainly find the temples on your own but it was take much longer and you might miss areas along the way. The temples themselves are unbelievable and beyond beautiful.

+What to wear/take with you-Regardless of the season it is best to take water with you when visiting Tikal. The park is large and if you are visiting during the hottest months, you will definitely need water throughout your day. Also, as I mentioned before, you are allowed to climb the temples, which are many, many steps high, so you will be happy you have a little water with you. Normally, there are really two seasons in Guatemala, Summer and Spring, so it will likely be warm or blazing hot. Light attire, you are able to walk and climb in is most appropriate. Also, you might happen to get caught in the rain, which we did, so a rain poncho or umbrella might come in handy.

I hope this travel guide helps you all plan a visit to Tikal National Park. If you love Mayan culture and exploring you will not be disappointed and most certainly will be left in awe, just like I was.

Until my next adventure guys! See you all soon!