Welcome to my first article regarding Istanbul, a city that I so easily fell in love with.
But just like in every relationship there are struggles to overcome and moments you truly hate one another, same goes for my relationship with Istanbul.

Why? Because of how hectic, chaotic and unorganized the city can be😅
With a population of a staggering 15.4 million it’s quite obvious that every once in a while you want to escape the hectic streets.

Luckily Istanbul has plenty of amazing parks that will calm your senses and brings you back with Mother Nature.
Let’s get started, here is my list of 5 parks in Istanbul that you can escape to:

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1. Yildiz Park- The most green one
2. Fethipaşa Korusu- The most beautiful views
3. Gülhane Park- The most centrally located
4. Emirgan Park- Full of flowers and famous with tourists
5. Çocuk Park- The best for hanging out and watching the sunset

1: Yildiz Park

First on the list is perhaps also my personal favorite: Yildiz Park in Beşiktaş district.
A densely forested park that attracts lots of locals and tourists alike.
It features many pleasant spots for a picnic, two restaurants, public toilets and lots of remote spots for the lovers out there😜

There are also many scenic routes that will bring you along small ponds, fields of flowers and forested areas, a welcome change of scenery in a such a concrete jungle that Istanbul is.

Yildiz park is also located to quite a few other famous attractions like the: Ortaköy mosque, Dolmabahce Palace and Beşiktaş area.

How to get there: You can take the T1 tram line to Kabataş and from there grab a bus towards the park.
For busses there are many that follow that road, to name a few: 25E/30D and 40T.

To see all available busses I highly recommend to travel around with Google Maps or check beforehand.

TIP: If possible combine the park with the major attractions nearby.
Visit the Ortaköy mosque, grab yourself a delicious kumpir and then start walking to Yildiz Park.

Either that or visit the Dolmabahce Palace early and then slowly walk your way towards Yildiz Park after.

Ortaköy-Yildiz Park: 15min walk(1km walking distance)
Dolmabahce Palace- Yildiz Park: 23min(1.8km walking distance)

2: Fethipaşa Korusu

My personal favorite when you are looking for amazing sights over the city of Istanbul.
The park begins with a stretch of forest and some well paved pathways guiding you through the park.
Pathways that’ll bring you to restaurants, wobbling suspension bridges and scenic picnic spots.

Fethipaşa Korusu also offers the best views over the Bosphorus and it’s famous Bosphorus bridge!
As you can see on the pictures below there are some very beautiful spots that will blow you away.

Sitting on the grass while admiring the Istanbul skyline in the distance is a memory I will cherish forever and I would for sure recommend you to do the same.

The park also features 3 restaurants, all located in different sections of the park.
The one that I would advice is called: Yesil Mavi cafe.
It is a fairly decent priced restaurant that provides you with some amazing sights over the Bosphorus river and the skyline in the distance.

And if you are lucky you might even meet a local legend…
A certain seagull that draws your attention by hitting his beak against the glass panel so that you provide the poor guy with some food

*Based on a true story, just check the video below. Istanbul’s seagulls, true legends and they never fail to impress do they?*

How to get there: Take the ferry from Kabataş to Üsküdar.
From Üsküdar take bus number 15 to the Paşalimanı stop.

TIP: Find the exact same spot where I made my pictures.
Over here you’ll have the best possible views in the park with stunning views over the Bosphorus.
I can’t really tell you how I exactly got there but atleast it was at the edge of the park and pretty far from the entrance.

If you go to the Yesil Mavi cafe I mentioned above then you are going in the right direction. It is around 5min uphill from there.

3: Gülhane Park

Next on my list is Gülhane Park, a centrally located park in the Fatih area close to some of the biggest attractions Istanbul has to offer.
Therefore I’d say this park is a perfect fit after you have visited some of the beatiful sights nearby. Visit places like: Topkapi Palace, the Istanbul archeology museum or the Hagia Sophia mosque and then come here to unwind.

The park has a free entrance and can provide you with a pleasant break from the hectic streets Istanbul is also (in)famous for.

How to get there: Gülhane Park is easy to reach by tram line T1 which stops right in front of the park.

TIP: Walk to the end of the park untill you reach a busy highway, cross that road and you’ll be rewarded with a very beautiful view over Istanbul and the Bosphorus river.

TIP 2: The Istanbul archeology museum is a 4min walk from Gülhane park and is one of the most impressive museum I’ve seen.

It’s collection includes mummies, Roman grave tombs to huge statues and more, a must visit for those who love history!
Entrance fee is just 75 Turkish Lira.

4: Emirgan Park

A very scenic park that lies far away from the city center, still it is well worth the visit and famous for both tourists and locals alike.

Emirgan park features a lot of nice pathways that brings you along fields of flowers, fountains and historical mansions that houses a few restaurants.
Combine all of this with the amazing views over the Bosphorus river and it becomes clear why the place is so well known.

How to get there: Like I mentioned before this park lies quite far from all the other parks on this list.
Getting here will take you about an hour depending on where you stay.

Take the metro line M2 towards the stop İtü-Ayazağa İstasyonu. Then you can take one of these busses: 41C/29S/40B towards the stop Tokmak Burnu.

TIP: On the last 3 weeks of April there is a celebration going on which fills the park with thousands of tulips, making the place even more scenic and lively.

For those of you who like photography or want to boost up their Instagram feed, this is your chance!

5: Çocuk Park

A very cosy and laidback park in the famous Kadiköy area of Asian side Istanbul.
This is a park that many locals love going to in summer and especially to have a few drinks with friends or family.

Visiting these parks just shows me how different people are living here compared to my home country(The Netherlands). Lot’s of people spend there time outside here and especially in summer.

Families bringing their portable chairs, tables + food and drinks to come and spend the evening hours having a good time.

How to get there: Take the ferry from Eminönü towards Kadiköy and from there it will be a 15min walk.
Option 2: Take the Marmaray metro line towards Ayrılık Çeşmesi and then get on the M4 metro towards Kadiköy station.

TIP: Çocuk Park has some of the most beautiful sunset views in the entire city so I for sure advice you stay till the sun goes down.

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Welcome to this Cinque Terre travel guide where I’ll be giving you some insight in perhaps the most beatiful attraction in Italy.

Cinque Terre is a set of 5 colourful villages built along the Ligurian coast.
A destination that attracts hundreds of thousands of tourists every year and that has earned itself a spot on the UNESCO World heritage list since 1997.

A place that will give you a truly authentic Italian feel mixed with the mass tourism that Italy is also infamous for.

Don’t cancel your trip though, it never reaches those insane levels that Venice does!
Everything feels better divided since the 5 Cinque Terre towns have quite the distance in between them.

So read on further and find out where to stay in Cinque Terre, what to do, how to get there, public transportation and for the cost of accommodations.

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Meet the 5 Villages

1: Monterosso al Mare

Monterosso is the biggest and oldest city amongst the Cinque Terre towns, and split into an older part and newer part.
The older part of Monterosso features all the cosy and narrow streets one would expect, whilst the new part has the bigger hotels to host the huge influx of tourists.

Monterosso is most famous for it’s amazing beach, but the city also offers plenty of other sights like:

• Torre Aurora ‘castle’
• Church of San Fransesco
• Statue of San Francesco
• Il Gigante Statue

But perhaps Monterosso is most famous for being the starting point of the most beautiful section of the Cinque Terre hike, the: Monterosso al Mare – Vernazza trail.
A trail that leads you through beatiful hills, farming fields and offers you stunning views over the 2nd city in line: Vernazza city!
The hike is described as the hardest(it ain’t that bad don’t worry) and will take you around 1,5hrs.

2: Vernazza

One of the first settled cities amongst the 5, Monterosso and Vernazza came way before the others.

The tiny port of Vernazza is surrounded by the authentic and distinct colourful houses, and a charming public square called: Piazza Marconi.
The Piazza Marconi is the place to be in Vernazza, it is filled with great restaurants/bars and gives off that charming Mediterranean feel.

Another big landmark of Vernazza is the Doria Castle Tower that sits on the harbor.
A welcoming sight if you’ve been hiking the Monterosso-Vernazza trail like I did, knowing you are minutes away from a cold drink that you so desperately need haha.

The Doria Castle tower truly helps distinguish Vernazza from the other cities, making it perhaps the most photographed village of all the Cinque Terre towns!
The Castle Tower is open for public and you can climb up for stunning views of Vernazza and it’s surroundings!

Other noteworthy attractions are: the Church of Santa Margherita, local wine tasting and there are plenty of boat tours available.

3: Corniglia

Corniglia is located in the middle of the five towns and the only village built further inland.
It is probably the least visited of the five.. and that’s not so surprising if you ask me.

It is the one that features the least amount of things to do and it is my least favorite city in Cinque Terre.
If you have less time available then skip this one and go visit the other ones instead.
Not saying it is awful in any way of course, because the streets are charming and Corniglia is very different than the other cities, but still, it can’t compete with the rest.

It has some nice sights you can visit though, like:

• The Lardarina stairs bringing you into the city
• Church of San Pietro
• The Sanctuary of San Bernardino
• And best, just stroll around the old city streets and take in the charming scenery!

4: Manarola

Manarola has a tiny harbor with colourful fishing boats all around, charming multicoloured houses and a tiny square with seafood restaurants. Here you’ll also find the starting point of the famous hiking trail: Via dell’Amore (Lover’s Lane).
Which is a very scenic trail that leads you to Riomaggiore in and around 20 minutes.

Another famous thing to do in Manarola is to just dive into the local cuisine there.
There are dozens of fish restaurants who offer you the catch of the day, while you watch the picturesque buildings from above.

5: Riomaggiore

Riomaggiore is the one you’ve probably seen on pictures, the most picturesque of them all.
Colourful buildings left and right while in between a wide open street to stroll around in!
A street filled with local life, dozens of restaurants, souvenir shops and just good vibes in general.
Riomaggiore was my first stop and left the biggest impression on me, making it my personal favorite amongst the Cinque Terre towns.

The main highlight is to visit the Castle di Riomaggiore, located at the highest point of the village.
Constructed around 1260, in order to protect Riomaggiore from frequent pirate attacks.
It offers you with some of the most breathtaking views over the city and it’s surroundings.

Tired after climbing the Castle and got the urge to take a dip in the ocean?
Then follow the main street, head left and follow the path along the rocks. Behind those rocks is a very pleasant (rocky)beach to hangout at, Spiagga di Riomaggiore it is called!

Some other interesting sights are:

• Church of San Giovanni Battista.
• Visiting the local wineries.
• Daytrip to the big city of La Spezia.

A day trip from Riomaggiore to La Spezia is something I’d definitely recommend even if it’s just for the San Giorgio Castle.

Cinque Terre Hiking trail

Now I can’t write about Cinque Terre and skip the hiking trails there, because if you want you can hike from one city to the other, passing all the colourful cities in a 5/6 hour hike!
Do you have less time available? Then the trail from Monterosso to Vernazza is the one I’d recommend!

This part of the Cinque Terre hike leads you through beatiful hills and farming fields, all while you can enjoy the wide ocean views.
This hike is described as the hardest but it ain’t that bad if you ask me.
Sure in summer I’d recommend you to bring plenty of water and do watch out when making selfies…

There are some amazing photography/selfie spots along the hike, but you won’t be posting any of those when you plunge to your death do you?
So do be careful! Receiving likes is fine but making international headlines probably means you fucked up in a bad way haha.

The Monterosso-Vernazza hike will take you around 1,5hrs.

Getting around/Public transportation

Getting around Cinque Terre is extremely easy…
You can either hike the 5/6 hour hike as I mentioned before or just do a small part of it.

Not the biggest fan of hiking or are you trying to avoid the scorching heat?
Then you can easily take the Cinque Terre train that connects every city instead.
Each city has their own train station so hopping on and off is very easy!
Get in at Riomaggiore, jump off in Corneglia and start exploring, easy and efficient!

The Cinque Terre train departs every 20 minutes and cost you 4eu one way.

Interested in visiting all the villages or visit some of them multiple times, then go for the: Cinque Terre card.
It will cost you 16eu and gives you unlimited train runs. It also provides you with access to every hiking trail!
See the website: https://www.cinqueterre.eu.com/en/cinque-terre-card

NOTE: Every single village is also reachable by car but some have limited parking spots, keep that in mind.

Accommodation

Now I see you thinking: where to stay in Cinque Terre, can I actually find a place inside these villages?
You want to get out of bed, stand on your balcony, take a sip from your coffee and watch the colourful villages from up close do you?
Getting out of the front door and getting straight into the Cinque Terre action..

Well I’ve got some good news and bad news for you…
In off season I’d say yes there are plenty of options to stay in the Cinque Terre towns, for 1 week you’d pay around 450eu/500eu for some very beatiful accommodations right inside the villages!

Main season(May,June, July, August) is a whole other story though!
750eu is the price if you get really lucky but the most common price I saw was atleast 900eu+.
Worth it? I think so.. Expensive? Definitely!
Take a look at this gallery with per village some of the expensive but still ‘reasonable’ priced accommodations:

If you are traveling on a budget but you have your mind set on going in summer then there are options just outside the cities.
Hostels that cost you around 30eu per night per person, small apartments that cost 300eu for 1 week and so on.

Just to give you an example:
This cheap accommodation is 20min away from Cinque Terre and would cost you 336euro.
Dates taken: Wednesday 8 June untill Wednesday 15 2022(taken during covid times).

How to get there

Traveling to Cinque Terre is best combined with a city trip to one of the bigger cities nearby I’d say.
My recommendation would be Florence since it is one of the most beatiful cities I’ve ever visited in Europe!

But you could also visit Genova or go shopping in Milan and combine Cinque Terre with them.
What I would truly recommend though is for you to take your time in Cinque Terre and spend a good amount of time there, around 3/4 days I’d say!

⬇️⬇️ Nearby city of Florence⬇️⬇️

Now Cinque Terre is really easy to reach by every form of transportation thinkable:

Reaching Cinque Terre by train:
The easiest way is to arrive by train. From Genova, take the train towards La Spezia and get off at Monterosso.
Or from La Spezia, take the Cinque Terre Express in the direction of Levanto.
If you are in Florence then take a train towards Pisa, then another to La Spezia and hop on the Cinque Terre train right after.

Reaching Cinque Terre by car:
Every village of Cinque Terre is accessible by car, only some better than others.
Cinque Terre’s historical centres are closed to car traffic but you can reach the outer regions where parking spots are available.

Riomaggiore and Manarola both have some parking facilities outside of town and minibusses to bring you down.
Monterosso al Mare is the easiest to reach and has the most parking spots in general.

Vernazza and Corniglia are the two most isolated of Cinque Terre, parking spots are limited to none so I’d recommended the train instead.

Reaching Cinque Terre by plane:
The nearest international airports are the ones in Genova, Pisa and Florence Airport. Milan Airport is the biggest one but also further away.

From Genova to Cinque Terre by car takes you around 1,5 hour and from Pisa about 2 hours.

When to go

To answer this question we must dive into one’s desires, and most of all your budget..
Are you seeking a holiday filled with sunshine, getting tan on the Italian beaches and walking in your summer outfit, then May untill mid September is the best for you.

But the biggest downside for this time period is the insane prices you have to pay for the accommodations!
Paying 1000eu(for 1week) or even higher in the main season is the rule rather than the exception!

So if you are fine with just exploring the charming villages, hike the trails and accept the occasional downpour/chilly temperatures, then do go for the off season and in particular the ones that still offer pleasant temperatures.

I’d recommend you to go in April, end-September and October when most tourists have returned home.
The cities and hiking trails aren’t flooded with other tourists and you can still enjoy the amazing scenery Cinque Terre has to offer!

Other big benefit is you don’t have to worry where to stay in Cinque Terre, each town will have plenty of rooms available and prices must be way more affordable compared to in summer.

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In the summer of 2021 my parents and I went for our first ever trip to Montenegro , a country that has build a name for itself in a real short amount of time.
With a stunning coastline, ancient cities, old castles and some amazing national parks, it get’s all too obvious why so many choose Montenegro as their next destination!

Now our hotel of choice became Hotel Palmon Bay and Spa, a newly built hotel situated along the sea in Herceg Novi town.
This luxury hotel features comfortable rooms with breathtaking views, in and outdoor swimming pools and a private beach.

That is only a small portion of what this hotel has to offer though, so read on further and find out if this place is worth your time and money!

1. Location
2. Rooms
3. Facilities
4. Wellness & Spa
5. Restaurant + Breakfast
6. Conclusion

Location

Hotel Palmon Bay is situated along the boulevard of Herceg Novi.
A 2,4km long boulevard that features dozens of restaurants, some clubs and a long stretch of beaches to relax at.

I’d advice you to just stroll across the boulevard and slowly walk your way towards Herceg Novi Old town, which will take around 30min.
And for those who rather take the public transport, the nearest bus stop is a 1min walk from the hotel and brings you straight to the center.

The Old Town of Herceg Novi is easy to recognize by it’s fortress along the coast.
Forte Mare is it’s name. There is another one a bit uphill that’s also worth visiting called: Kanli Kula but I’d say Forte Mare is the better one!

And then the old town itself, while it isn’t large it definitely has it’s charm.
Small cosy streets with plenty of restaurants, souvenir shops and a public square full of life.
Definitely worth the visit!

Got tired of your surroundings then I’d say Herceg Novi is the perfect base to start exploring the rest of the country!
The staff at Palmon Bay are really helpful in providing a rental car if needed.

Rent one and start driving along the coast and take in the amazing scenery Montenegro has to offer!
Passing ancient cities like Kotor, Perast, islands and some of the most beatiful national parks you’ve ever seen!

Rooms

Now on to the rooms itself:
All rooms have airconditioning and a balcony overlooking the promenade of Herceg Novi or offer a stunning mountain view instead.
They all feature a private bathroom with a shower, hairdryer and free toiletries.
Also provided are: a minibar, safe, TV and room service!

Now the balcony and the views in general are what really made this place special to me!
Perhaps we got lucky seeing we were on the highest floor and in a perfect corner but the views were simply stunning!
Coming back ‘home’ after a walk along the promenade or coming back from a far away trip felt great!

The simple pleasure of coming back, sitting down on our balcony and watch the boulevard all lit up at night is something I won’t forget!

I could easily see myself coming back to Palmon Bay and Spa but then with someone of the opposite gender haha.
Traveling with my parents is nice but I can also imagine myself spending hours on that bed, ‘admiring the view’😉😅

Facilities

The hotel features 1 indoor and 2 outdoor swimming pools.
One of the outdoor swimming pools is in the hotel’s garden but is not worth your time.
It is small, undeep and doesn’t serve any function except that it looks cool(I guess haha)

The main swimming pool is amazing though! You’ll have to walk through the hotel’s garden, cross the pedestrian road and enter a seperate section of the hotel where the pool is located.

Here you will find plenty of sun loungers, free towel service, a small restaurant, showers and on top of that a private beach!

Jump into the ocean and go for a snorkeling session or take a dive in the swimming pool instead!
Pick what’s best for you and enjoy your well deserved holiday!

Wellness & Spa

Now on to the main selling point of the hotel if you ask me.
The hotel name kinda gives it away doesn’t it? Palmon Bay Hotel andd … indeed Spa!

So yes the hotel features a really spacious Spa center on the main floor.
Upon arrival you will be greated by a really friendly lady who offers you a bathrobe, towels and slippers.
Then you can get dressed in one of the dressing rooms which also provides showers and a secure safe.

The Spa has an indoor pool with natural mineral water.
I had never swum in such water before but I sure as hell was ready to try haha..
The mineral water felt really refreshing and clean, a real unique experience that freshens up the body and mind. But there is more!

Every hotel guest can also enjoy a steam bath, multiple sauna’s, a hot tub and the salt room.
Extra options like massages are also being offered for a certain amount of time of your choosing.

Same goes for foods and drinks which can be delivered to you while you enjoy the VERY comfortable loungers next to the pools!

Restaurant

For those who prefer dining at the hotel and stay in for the night, the hotel offers a rooftop restaurant called: ‘Olive Terrace’.
Located on the 6th floor, the perfect place for a romantic dinner while you witness the stunning views over the promenade!

Later in the evening the restaurant becomes a bar as well, so do you fancy a nice cocktail while enjoying some stunning sceneries?
Then ‘Olive Terrace’ is where you should be!

Breakfast

The breakfast had a really good variety of local delicacies and Western European things one would expect.
English breakfast… eggs, sausages everything you might be looking for.

At the same time they also provide plenty of fruits, sweets and vegetables, there is something for everyone.
I’d give the breakfast a 7/10, I have seen better but I have also seen much much worse haha.

Conclusion

Palmon Bay is the best hotel Herceg Novi has to offer, a newly built hotel that has comfort, quality and high service as it’s top priorities!
And with a big Wellness and Spa section and multiple swimming pools I’d say they are doing a real good job at that!

Same goes for the rooms: they are clean, cosy, offer stunning views and are a perfect place to come back to after a long day of exploring.
Sitting down on the balcony and watching the day turn into night, seeing the promenade of Herceg Novi lighting up, such a sight to behold!

So I’d really recommend this place when you are visiting Montenegro and seek that touch of luxury you don’t have back home.
The hotel also has the best location in Herceg Novi and is a great gateway to the other amazing sights of Montenegro!

Sold on my story and wish to experience the luxury of Palmon Bay by yourself?
Then book your stay through the Palmon Bay website or the Booking.com link down below⬇️

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Welcome to my first post in the Italy section.
A country so charming, unique and rich in history that it is almost unfair to the rest of the world.
Just take a look at the main focus of today, Venice. A city unlike any other in the world and one that has fascinated mankind for ages.

Now Venice is a city that’s truly one of a kind in terms of charm, beauty but also when it comes to it’s layout and how busy it is, it can be overwhelming.
That’s where this guide comes in to provide you with some useful information and to make your Venice trip as pleasant as possible!

DISCLAIMER: As much as the title suggest, Surviving Venice does not mean Venice is extremely dangerous.
There are no sea monsters, no haunted homes trying to swallow you whole… the plague has been gone for hundreds of years now.

In other words: Surviving Venice is gonna be a piece of cake, your chances of survival are high to very high😉😅

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1. Navigation
2. Mass Tourism
3. Hotel availability
4. Safety
5. Top Attractions

Navigation

Back to a serious note, even though Venice is safe and truly impressive everywhere you look, still there are some things you must know.
Navigating the streets of Venice can be really challenging for example!
There are hundreds if not thousands of small streets that lead to nowhere or that will just make you lose any sense of direction.

Sure those streets are charming and a sight to behold, even the smallest streets and canals can take your breath away. Seeing the gondola’s sway in the waters or laying your eyes upon the authentic Venetian homes for example.

But when you are so desperately searching for your hotel room at night(Yes like I did haha)
Then those streets do get the better of you, especially at night!
That’s why I truly recommend you to use Google Maps or perhaps even better download an offline map like: MAPS.ME, a true lifesaver!

If you are stubborn and think you’ll be fine on your own then atleast remember the biggest canals and use these as your reference point.
The biggest canal that runs through the city is also the one with the famous Venetian bridge: Ponte Di Rialto.

Walking here is charming and if you don’t venture off too far then finding your way back to this canal is fairly easy!
But if you have wandered off too far into the maze that Venice is then good luck and my condolences to you😅

Mass Tourism

Bringing us straight to the next point, crowds.. and then I mean huge fucking crowds.
Venice has been a city that fascinated people for hundreds of years now and no other city has suffered more from mass tourism than Venice did.
Sure it offers a huge boost to the economy but I’m sure the locals wouldn’t mind it to be a bit less dramatic.

The small charming streets are just not built for the amounts of people it sees this day.
In some streets you’ll just have to wiggle your way forward step by step, slowly but surely reaching your destination.

Main cause of this are the cruiseships bringing in thousands of people.
Flooding the streets for a few hours and then boarding again at the end of the day.

Don’t worry though! There are some places that are bigger and can withstand those huge crowds, the famous Piazza San Marco for example.
Crowded? Yeah definitely! But it is such a huge square that you can still take in all the amazing architecture without bouncing into someone every damn second haha.

Same goes for certain areas, I found that the further away you go the less crowded it becomes!
Those are the type of areas that truly give you the authentic Venetian feel.
So my advice would be to stroll around the outer neighbourhoods that are less touristic.

Or go for option Number 2: take a boat to the other islands in Venice: Venezia Murano and Lido di Venezia.
Much less touristic than the main island and a great place to rewind from the huge crowds!

Hotel availability

So my first visit to the city was years ago back in 2016 around July/August after visiting Austria first.
Now I have no idea what in my right mind was going on but I decided to just take a bus from Austria to Venice without booking my accommodation in advance…
Instant regret followed😅💀

Book your accommodation in advance ladies and gentleman because every hotel I walked into was full or way too expensive!
Perhaps this was because we visited during a weekend or we just had some very bad luck but it wasn’t the most pleasant start haha.

In the end some helpful staff of a hotel made some phone calls and found us a room for 180eu per night!
After a long and exhausting hike towards the place we found it to be completely trash!
One of the worst and most expensive hotel rooms I’ve ever stayed in and far from worth it.

So the silver lining of this is that you should always book your accommodation up front and especially in Venice seeing how busy it can be.

Safety

Now the title might suggest that Venice is gonna be the place of your death or that you should atleast watch over your shoulders… WRONG!
Venice is one of the safest cities I have ever visited.

Walking the Venetian streets at night might give you the unfounded fear but none of this is truly grounded!
Walking through Venice whether it be day or night is completely safe and will instead bring you lots of pleasant memories to bring back home!

I found Venice to be much more peaceful and safe than for example the capital Rome.
Where taking the public transport is a constant battle to keep your belongings safe and where the streets can feel ominous as fuck!

The places in Venice I’d recommend you to be a bit more cautious are the bigger attractions where huge crowds gather, like the: Ponte Di Rialto or the Piazza San Marco.

Attractions

Now nobody visits a city to just lay in their hotel room 24/7 right, you at least come to visit some of it’s amazing attractions. Therefore I’d always say to do some research and find out where you want to go!

Sure do keep some time free to just wander around and let the city indulge you with unexpected surprises.
But also make sure to visit the places you truly want to see!
Coming back home and finding out you missed out on some amazing spots is a pretty big disappointment.

So here are a few major attractions in Venice that you shouldn’t miss out I’d say!:

• Teatro La Fenice
• Rewind at the Venezian island of Lido
• Piazza San Marco with the Basilica di San Marco
• Climb the San Marco Bell tower
• Cannaregio area
• Canal Grande with the Ponte Di Rialto
• Doge’s Palace
• Just wander around the charming and romantic streets

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Kotor a city that has left it’s mark on many generations.
If we look at the history of the city then we can find it dates back to hundreds of years ago!
Switching from one ruler to another back in time.

Nowadays it belongs to Montenegro and the place has a significant impact on the country in a whole!
Tourism is becoming a huge thing in the country and biggest cause of this is Kotor city.
Cruise ships come and go to witness Kotor and the stunning Bay surrounding it.

So let’s not delay any further shall we, scroll down and find out what the city of Kotor has to offer!

1: San Giovanni Castle

The hike to the Castle of San Giovanni is one the most exciting things to do in Kotor. Follow the Old City walls and slowly make your way uphill, while you witness the stunning views over the Bay of Kotor.
A fairly short but exhausting hike I’d say, especially in summer so I recommend bringing plenty of water.

Either on your way down or on your way up you’ll pass the Church of Our Lady of Remedy.
This all depends on whether you are sneaking into the castle from behind(through the Ladder of Kotor hike) or pay your way in and hike up from the city itself.
In any case I’d say the Church is the most scenic spot in Kotor and the best place for all you photography enthusiasts out there!

2: Ladder of Kotor

Just a few minutes away from the Old Town of Kotor is the entrance to this breathtaking hike.
A hike that will completely destroy and exhaust you in summer but also a hike that will reward you with the best views over the whole Bay of Kotor and the castle!

The hike is not dangerous in any way just very exhausting(especially when you walk there in summer while it’s 38 degrees, good job Dave😅)
But seeing the Bay of Kotor and the city itself from above is something you’ll never forget!

Another pleasant and unexpected surprise is the abandoned village next to the castle.
I had no idea it was there and I just stumbled upon it by accident.
As long as you walk towards the castle and not follow the hiking trail all the way to the top then you’ll find it as well.
An interesting sight before entering the castle itself!

So as I mentioned before on the 1:San Giovanni section, you can also enter the castle while hiking this trail(and avoid paying the entrance fee).
I’ve seen some warnings online that you might be send down and there’s someone checking the back entrance but I found it completely deserted and lots of people entered this way.

3: Explore the streets of Kotor Old Town

Kotor’s streets are filled with life and full of charm. Bustling streets filed with old historic homes, ancient churches, grand sights all over the Bay and cats LOTS and LOTS of cats!

The city has lots of simularities with Dubrovnik in Croatia, each having it’s own strengths and weaknesses…
My pick would be Dubrovnik but Kotor also has some very exciting attractions and things to do, especially The Ladder of Kotor and the San Giovanni Castle.

So I’d say visit them both, which can be done pretty easily on just 1 vacation.
There are lots of organizations offering 1 day trips from Kotor to Dubrovnik or vice versa.

4: Cathedral of Saint Tryphon

The Cathedral of Saint Tryphon is the most impressive church of Kotor’s Old Town. It is the most popular thing to see in Kotor after the San Giovanni Fortress, and one of the most well-known Cathedrals in Montenegro.
On the church you’ll see the numbers 1166 and 2016, which translates to the date the church was built in 1166.

And the other number shows the year the renovation and repairs have been completed.
The Cathedral has suffered serious damages by multiple earthquakes, the last one being in 1979.
Massive repairs have been made ever since which have been completed in 2016.

5: Walk the castle walls and watch the city gates

The whole city is completely surrounded by old castle walls and majestic entrance Gates providing you access to the city itself.

Several sections of these walls can still be accessed and walked upon.
None of it can be compared to Dubrovnik’s castle walls though to avoid you any misconceptions.
The walls of Dubrovnik can be walked upon for hours and brings you to multiple towers, viewing points etc.

While in Kotor it’s just a small section that is still available.
A very charming part nonetheless which provides you with sights over parts of Kotor Old town and the newer section of the town as well.

Then there are still the entrance Gates that are worth mentioning.
There are 3 of them: The Main Gate, The Norhtern Gate and the Southern Gate(as seen above).
With the Southern one being the most beatiful one if you ask me and The Northern one as a close second.

6: Dine at one of the many restaurants

Dining in Kotor is an experience on it’s own with the cosy streets all around you.
Walk down the public squares, the busy streets or instead get lost in the smaller alleyways and find some place special.

The restaurants I would recommend: Konoba Scala Santa (if you love seafood that is).
If seafood is not your thing and you rather have a big steak on your plate then go for the: Tanjga restaurant!
It is located outside the Old Town which is a shame but the food really makes up for it!

7: Lantern shop

It’s simple, who doesn’t like these kind of lanterns right?
I was just casually walking down the streets when I looked inside this souvenir shop and well they know how to draw my attention.

A small but very cosy souvenir shop with a Middle Eastern kind of vibe!
And now thanks to this place I really feel like visiting Istanbul again….
So I guess you all known now what my next destination will be don’t you?😅

8: Kotor Bazaar

A very small but cosy Bazaar, filled with touristic knick knacks, souvenirs and all that kind of stuff.
The perfect place when you don’t want to visit one single shop but rather choose from a wide variety.
Pick something nice to bring back home for either yourself or someone you hold dear.

9: Kotor beach

Now perhaps not the biggest beach you are gonna find in Montenegro but nonetheless a very refreshing one after you’ve been walking through the heat in Kotor’s Old Town.

Or perhaps even worse, if you’ve been hiking the Ladder of Kotor in the middle of a hot summer day!
(Yeah you guessed it, I’ve done the hike while it was 38°.. well done Dave😅)

The beach is a five minute walk north of the Old Town, past the Port of Kotor and Park Slobode.
So a really decent walking distance I’d say and a great way to spend your afternoon!

10: Stay untill nightfall

Something I’d recommend in nearly every city.
There is a reason why the: ‘like night and day’ phrase exists.
Watching a city in broad daylight versus watching a city at night is an immense difference and Kotor is no different!

Dine at one of the amazing restaurants in the city and watch the day turn into night.
Then walk the cosy streets and see everything all lit up under the night sky, a truly romantic place I’d say!

But what I would also recommend is for you to watch the city at night from afar.
Reason being: the Sain Giovanni Castle walls are completely lit up at night!
As you can see on the picture above a true sight to behold and it gives you a good understanding of how huge the place is.

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Exactly 1 year ago me and my parents and my younger brother felt like going somewhere..
With covid going around there weren’t much options available so we deciced to rent a house in our country.
That place became: TopParken Beekbergen.
Read further and find out if this place is worth your time and money!

– – Categories – –

1. The Holiday Homes
2. Jacuzzi and Sauna
3. Location
4. Dog friendly accommodation
5. Conclusion

The holiday homes

*NOTE: we stayed in the superior 4 person wellness home, thus my review and my experiences will be focused on that type of structure*

There are also homes for 5 and 6 persons, homes without the jacuzzi/sauna and homes that do not allow animals.
For all options and availabilities click on the link below:
https://www.topparken.nl/reserveren?place_id=park_278

So the home we stayed in was made for 4 people and came with a kitchen, nice seating area with views over the forest, 2 bathrooms and 2 bedrooms.
While the homes aren’t of the biggest size they are for sure charming!
The only thing missing was a wood stove haha..

Now besides that I’d say the bedrooms were basic but super pleasant and comfortable, a great place to crash down on after a long day!

But even better was: the home we had came included with a backgarden, a backgarden that had a sauna and a jacuzzi, what a luxury!
Scroll down to the next section and read all about it!

Jacuzzi and Sauna

So as I mentioned before, this place comes included with a jacuzzi and sauna and well that right there is the way to my heart haha!
Nothing better then jumping in a hot jacuzzi while outside the temperatures are dropping to around 0!
Just imagine staying in there with your lover, watching the stars at night while the water is keeping you from freezing to dead haha.

The jacuzzi also comes with an adjustable lights feature, so turn that thing to bright red and get close and personal!😜🔥
(And here I was visiting there with my parents so there was nothing romantic about it hahah😅)
Still amazing ofcourse but next time I’m going I would love to invite someone else haha

Now the sauna is a very pleasant extra but myself I’d choose a jacuzzi over a sauna anyday!
It was still nice tho, sit inside while it’s really cold outside and start turning up the heat!
The sauna itself was kinda small tho so it only fitted 4 people in seated positions, if you want to lay down then there are 2 seats on the opposite site of each other.

Location

The TopParken has an outstanding location when it comes to nature!
The place is very close to some of the best National Parks in the country, for example the Veluwezoom!
Veluwezoom is to my opinion the best national park of the Netherlands and it’s only a 25min drive from the TopParken location.

I made a whole article about the Veluwezoom National Park so if you want more information on the place then click the link below:
https://davesontheroad.com/destinations/europe/netherlands/articles-netherlands/veluwezoom-the-best-national-park-in-the-netherlands/

Now the park is also only a 15min drive from the bigger city of Apeldoorn.
So reaching it with public transport also goes easily altho I’d recommend going by car, there is to much to explore in the area and there is plenty of car parking spots.

In between Apeldoorn and the park’s location is another smaller city called: Beekbergen, where I’d recommend going if you fancy a restaurant or for your daily groceries!
A typical small, unoriginal but cosy Dutch village haha.

Dog friendly!

Now maybe not important for most people but for those who have a dog in house and if you would like to bring him along.
Then TopParken Beekbergen allows it!

We brought Spike(our dog) with us and he had a blast haha..
The minute he got inside the house he felt at home and even funnier he nearly ran through the backdoors because he wanted to check out the forest or something..

Luckily he pulled on his brakes in time otherwise he would have faceplanted himself against the windows. Would have been a sad start to his holiday😅

Also don’t go inside the jacuzzi while your dog is watching or avoid the jacuzzi in general when you have a dog as crazy as mine😅
As you can see on the video below, Spike lost his mind and was obsessed with all of it haha..
Don’t worry tho your jacuzzi adventures will most likely be a lot calmer then mine hahah..

Conclusion

The chain of TopParken offers a wide variety of accommodations throughout the Netherlands and this was my first time staying at one.
And now I’m dying to know some more haha.

Because the TopParken Beekbergen facility left a great impression.
A wonderful park filled with different types of homes, comfortable rooms and facilities for young and old.
Plus, the TopParken location is perfect for exploring Netherlands best National Parks!

Now I have to say the rooms could have been a bit bigger and the price is a bit much maybe..
But still a lovely spot for especially couples who want to spend some relaxed time together.
Go for a walk in the nearby forests, take a trip to Apeldoorn or just spend your entire day in the Jacuzzi/Sauna that (some) houses provide.

For bookings, click on the Booking.com link or the TopParken website link down below⬇️

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Starting off my first post in the Netherlands and my first post in general with this breathtaking place!
Veluwezoom National Park, to my opinion the best natural area you can find in the Netherlands.

A unique environment filled with wildlife, dense forests and viewing points.
But the main selling point of this park has to be the wide open fields, huge fields filled with hundreds of purple flowers, something you’d see on a Van Gogh painting.

This is the perfect place to clear your mind, go for a stroll and be one with nature.
While the fields can be quite busy the forests around it are not!
It’s a huge area where you can walk around for hours while hardly seeing anyone else.
Well except for the occasional deer, squirrel or rabbits perhaps haha..

Like I said the place is filled with wildlife and while the chances of seeing them are slim, they certainly aren’t none.
Deers, boars, squirrels and even wild horses roam these lands!
Especially the wild horses are a sight to behold! They usually wander in groups across the wide open fields, seeing them gallop through these purple lit fields is a rare and beatiful sight.

Another thing I’d highly recommend is to find the viewing point called: Posbank.
It is easily reachible by car and by bicycle and provides you with a stunning view over the wide open fields!
And on bright days you can catch a glimpse of nearby cities and even Germany in the distance!!

Posbank also has plenty of car parking availabilities, so get out of your car, walk towards the viewing point and from there on hike your way down along 1 of the dozens of trails available!
Done with walking and looking for a meal or something to quench your thirst?
Then the Posbank lookout points hosts a nice restaurant called: Paviljoen Posbank.

Location:

The National Park is located to the east of the Netherlands just a 30min drive from the German border.
Now the Park is very close to the bigger cities of Arnhem and Nijmegen, from Arnhem it would take you about 25min by car and public transport or just a 40min cycle!
From the city of Nijmegen it takes you about double the amount of time.

Travel time from the bigger cities:
Amsterdam> about 1,5 hour by car or public transport.
Rotterdam> 1,5 hours by car and 2 hours by public transport.
Utrecht> about 1 hour either by car or by public transport.

Biggest waterfall in The Netherlands

Wanna go for a quick laugh after all that hiking? Then visit the Loenense waterfall nearby, the highest waterfall in the Netherlands!😅

 

A fall of a staggering 15 meters.. and indeed to make it even better, it’s artificially created. A huge contender to beat the famous Austrian waterfalls I’d say😉

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