Mumbai

Mumbai, formerly known as Bombay, is India’s most populous city with 10 million residents. Hundreds of years ago the city consisted of seven islands loosely strung together by swamps. Over time land was reclaimed from the sea to form the metropolis of Mumbai. The Portuguese were the first foreigners to land on the city’s shores and much of their influence can be felt throughout the culture and food today.

Uber is a cheap way to get around but be smart. Ask the driver to start and stop the ride in front of you. Women should take caution; after daylight, only take short trips. Do not use the old, black Fiat cabs as mosquitoes are common and can increase chances of catching of malaria.

While in Mumbai, consider taking time to see another side of the city, not often accessible to or of interest to foreigners. Reality Tours & Travel offers walking tours of Dharavi, one of the largest slums in Asia. Dharavi is home to over one million people living in just two square kilometers, and has a bustling informal economy with an annual turnover estimated at nearly $1 billion. While some may struggle with the ethics of a slum tour (we still do), Reality Tours is owned by non-profit Reality Gives, who employs local Dharavi guides to run the tours.

If it is your first time to India, we highly recommend adding to your reading list Katherine Boo’s Behind the Beautiful Forevers, Arundhati Roy’s The God of Small Things and Aravind Adiga’s The White Tiger.

EAT

Elco Delicious chaats and pani puri on Hill Road in Bandra. It’s busy but worth the wait. (Also known for its good hygiene.)

Pali Village Cafe Iconic and romantic restaurant in Pali Village near Bandra.

Smoke House Deli This cute, calm cafe in West Bandra is the perfect spot for lunch. Try the veggie burger.

DRINK

Colaba Social Hip, industrial-style bar near the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel in Colaba.

Tea Villa Cafe A few different locations and over 30 different types of tea. Food is good too.

PLAY

Bandstand Promenade Take a walk along the Arabian Sea at sunset.

The Gateway of India Considered Mumbai’s top tourist attraction.

Shopping Both Bandra and Colaba are excellent neighborhoods for shopping. Our favorites:

Anokhi Well-priced, well-made, block-print clothes and fabrics.

FabIndia Several locations throughout the city. Indo-Western clothes, beauty products, food, textiles and homewares. While it is a chain, most products are made from traditional techniques by rural craftsmen and women.

Global Desi Bright dresses with bold prints. A few locations through out the city.

Parvati Villa This is a friend of a friend’s shop. Handcrafted jewellery and beautiful tribal designs. A few locations around town.

The Shop A sweet spot in Bandra across from the Pali Village Cafe with Indo-western clothes, hand-crafted textiles and homewares.

Taj Mahal Palace Hotel A historic, 5-star hotel across from The Gateway with stunning interiors and exteriors. The hotel was the site of the November 2008 Mumbai terrorist attacks.

STAY

Bandra is a hip part of town with street art, historic churches and a bit of Portuguese flavor. Great food, shopping and night life.

Grand Residency Bandra A good option for the budget conscious business traveler. Breakfast included and there is a gym.

Taj Land’s End 5-start, modern hotel at the end of Bandstand Promenade.

Mumbai

Galway

Galway is pure, old world magic. A harbor city on Ireland’s west coast, its Latin Quarter holds art shops, Claddagh jewellry stores and medieval pubs pouring tourists and traditional music into the streets.

Shannon is the nearest airport and a one hour drive by car. Buses and trains also run regularly from Dublin to Galway.

While Galway deserves a few days itself, it is also an excellent jumping off point for day trips to the Cliffs of Moher, Aran Islands and Connemara.

EAT

Busker Browne’s Start your holiday in Galway with a pub lunch.

Cactus Jack’s Decent Mexican food.

Xi’an Street Food Casual restaurant with delicious hand-pulled Chinese noodles.

DRINK

Tig Coili Small, friendly bar with outdoor standing space for watching street artists.

Taafes Pub Super fun pub with traditional, live music.

Pádraicíns Seafood Bar & Restaurant Grab a Guinness at this R336 seaside pub while heading back to Galway after a day in Connemara.

The Quays Bar and Restaurant 400-year-old watering hole with an upstairs music hall featuring live music and DJs.

PLAY

Aran Islands and Cliffs of Mohrer The Aran Islands, known for their ancient villages and stone walls, are a short ferry ride (30-90 minutes) from the village of Doolin. The Cliffs are 15-20 minutes south of Doolin. Book entrance to the Cliffs in advance online.

Salthill Promemade Walk along the ocean and breathe in the fresh, Irish sea air.

Connemara Home to Ireland’s fairy folk. While there stop by the romantic Kylemore Abbey and its Victorian estate, and take an afternoon hike through Connemara’s National Park.

STAY

Any AirBnB within walking distance of the Latin Quarter will be conveniently placed.

Looking for something more authentic and away from the crowds? Salthill is a cute, quiet neighborhood with bed and breakfasts on the water and just a 10-15 minute bus ride from the Latin Quarter.

Galway

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Copenhagen

What can we say, we love this city of Vikings. Both vibrant and chill, Copenhagen has it all. We love the city for its danish designs, trendy shops, excellent food, and genuinely friendly people.

Public transportation in the city is easy and accessible. The train and metro run from the airport to city center in about 15-20 minutes. The city is also super bike-friendly and has the infrastructure for it with designated lanes, so we definitely recommend renting bikes to get around the city.

Copenhagen is always a good idea. We particularly enjoyed visiting over the summer months to enjoy the warm weather and outdoor culture of the city. The holidays are also enjoyable as Christmas markets line the city from late November to end of December. Tivoli Gardens, the second oldest amusement park in the world, transforms into a winter wonderland filled with snow capped igloos, food stalls, rides, and most importantly, unlimited amounts of mulled wine to keep you warm and toasty.

If you have the time and want to check another country off your list, Malmö, Sweden is a short 30 minute train ride away.

EAT 

When in Denmark, try the local open-faced sandwich, smørrebrød.

Geist Trendy, fun dinner spot close to Nyhavan.

Lagkagehuset The best spot for Danish pastries. Try them all!

Noma Tasting menu, two star Michelin restaurant. Be prepared to splurge. Recommended by a local friend.

PatePate Cool restaurant in the meatpacking area.

Reffen Previously PapirØen, this restaurant is a 10 minute bike from Nyhavn and a cool spot for quick (delicious) bites and drinks.

Tight Chill, cozy restaurant serving delicious food. Make a reservation!

Torvehallerne Food market with food stalls and bars. A nice spot for lunch.

Warpigs Potentially the best barbecue on this side of the Atlantic.

DRINK

1105 Classy cocktail bar in Indre By near the city center.

Mikkeller Bar A microbrewery with tasty beers and friendly people in a fun spot.

PLAY

Rent a boat or kayaks in the warmer months to tour the canals. Local hack: GoBoat does not require a license and you can bring your own food and drinks to enjoy while cruising. Book in advance.

Christiania This freetown is an authentic, bohemian neighborhood with booths that sell dry herb. Photo-taking is not allowed.

Illums Bolighus and Hay House Get your fix of Danish design with a shopping spree.

The Little Mermaid Statue While small she is an emblem of Copenhagen’s history.

Nyhavn The most recognizable area in the city from pictures. Nice location for a stroll and people watching.

Our Saviour`s Church in Christianshavn Climb to the top for good views of the city. This can be tiring and crowded so go early.

Rosenborg Castle Nice gardens and architecture.

STAY

We love Nyhavn and Vesterbro. While Nyhavn is probably the most touristy neighborhood, the streets are lined with colorful houses, shops and restaurants which make it hard to pass. Try to find an Airbnb off the main road.

Copenhagen

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São Paulo

This sprawling metropolis is Brazil’s financial hub and most populated city.

São Paulo is huge and its public metro system extensive. If you are comfortable navigating public transport systems in major cities, it will be a piece of cake. Pay by ride (like New York City’s subway) or for a longer visit pick up a Bilhete Único reloadable card.

As with any large city, pickpockets are common. Take care and keep belongings close.

EAT

Brazilian food is comforting, dynamic and delicious. A few “must-tries” include the sandwich de mortadela at the Municipal Market of São Paulo, feijoada (black bean stew with chorizo and pork), pão de queijo (baked cheese roll), bacalao croquettes (fried cod sticks) and Brazilian pizza.

The Liberdade neighborhood, or “Little Japan”, has loads of traditional Japanese eats and is home to Brazil’s largest Japanese population.

DRINK

Açaí berries Try mixed into fresh juices. Vendors are plentiful.

Cold beer Brazilians will tell you this is the only way it should be drank!

Cachaça A Brazilian liquor made from sugarcane. Try it in caipirinha, the national cocktail.

PLAY

Ibirapuera Park Run or ride bikes through São Paulo’s Central Park,.

Trianon Park This breath of fresh air is a small but beautiful park in the city center with trails, playgrounds and birds.

Vila Madalena Sweet neighborhood known for its hipsters, bohemian shops, good restaurants and bars.

São Paulo Museum of Art You can’t miss the large concrete building with imposing red pillars.

STAY

Stay in either Vila Madalena or the city center. We had a fine stay at the affordable, 3-star Hotel Ibis São Paulo Paulista in the center.

São Paulo

Tasmanian East Coast

The eastern Tasmanian coastline is rugged, isolated and one of the most pristine places on earth. Admired for its sugar-sand beaches, sparkling blue water and orange granite rocks, the coast is best explored by car. Fly into Hobart and make your way east before heading north.

EAT

Trimbolis Pizza + Pasta This St. Helens outpost is open late-ish and one of the only places in town to get a beer in the evening.

DRINK

East Coast Wine Trail Sample Tassie wines.

PLAY

Bay of Fires’ beaches This string of beaches on Tassie’s northeastern coast was named in 1773 by Captain Tobias Furneaux , who saw Aboriginal fires on the beaches.

Freycinet National Park World-renowned Wineglass Bay, one of the top beaches in the world, is a three hour return hike but well worth the effort. Also take a dip in Honeymoon Bay.

Port Arthur One of the best-preserved penal settlements in Australia, this 100 acre outdoor museum is a UNESCO World Heritage site. It is also the site of a 1996 mass shooting which prompted sweeping gun policy changes in Australia.

STAY

Big4 Iluka on Freycinet Holiday Park A family-friendly campground with private cabin accommodation in Cole’s Bay. The site is very near Freycinet National Park, nature trails, local wineries and a two minute walk from a white sand beach with beautiful sunsets. There is also a small grocery and cafe on the grounds.

Tasmanian East Coast

LOCATIONS NEARBY