Kauai

The smallest and oldest Hawaiian island, Kauai is also the most laid back and rural. Called the Garden Island, it rains nearly every day and is covered in lush rain forests. Head here for quiet beaches and rugged landscapes away from the maddening crowd.

Kauai is remote and the beaches and trails are a distance from each other. Rent a car for your visit to the island.

EAT

Foodland Princeville Get groceries before heading to your rental in Princeville or Hanalei Bay.

Pono Market This small, humble market on the Kuhio Highway in Kapaa has incredibly fresh poké.

Tiki Iniki Tiki-style bar and grill in Princeville with Hawaiian food and fun cocktails.

DRINK

Tahiti Nui Polynesian dive bar and restaurant in Hanalei. Go for happy hour or dinner.

PLAY

Anahola Beach Quiet, locals’ beach on the northeastern face of the island.

Hanalei Bay This natural bay is stunning. Spend an afternoon at the beach and then walk south a few blocks into Hanalei town for happy hour.

Queen’s Bath This natural tide pool in Princeville is beautiful, but can be a treacherous hike and dangerous. Admire the pool versus swimming in it, as this spot has been responsible for dozens of deaths.

Kapaa Town Quiet town on the eastern shore with a handful of shops and restaurants. Visit the the Wailua and Opaekaa falls, both just off the road.

Kalalau Trail Starting from Ha’ena State Park, this 11 mile trail is not for the faint of heart. While difficult, the hike rewards with stunning views of the NaPali coast and is the only way to access its lookouts and hidden beaches, including the beautiful Hanakāpī‘ai Beach.

Kayak Wailua Take a guided kayak tour through the rain forest and down the Wailua River.

Kealia Beach Long beach north of Kaapa Town.

NaPali coastline Kauai’s ancient, jagged coastline is eerily surreal… and familiar (it was featured in Jurassic Park). To appreciate it’s magnificence, take a catamaran day cruise and snorkel trip with Captain Andy’s.

The Sleeping Giant Another hiking trail. However, the Sleeping Giant himself is best viewed from a distance.

Waimea Canyon The “Grand Canyon of the Pacific” is seriously awe-inspiring. Admire the red canyon walls and waterfalls from one of the look-outs, hike through the Waimea Canyon State Park, or take a helicopter tour through the canyon.

STAY

Rent a house or condo in Hanalei or Princeville depending on the size of your group. Both are near world class beaches, restaurants and nightlife.

Kauai

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Bermuda

Just 90 minutes by flight from New York City, this tiny island nation has the prettiest water and finest sand in all the Caribbean (and perhaps the world, wethinks!). Journey to Bermuda for its the natural beauty and laid-back, island lifestyle.

There are no rental cars on the island and cabs are expensive. The best and easiest way to get around is by electric scooter. Spend your days beach hopping all along the island.

EAT

Bailey’s Bay Ice Cream Parlour Quaint ice cream joint near the Crystal Caves.

Barracuda Grill Posh seafood and steak joint in Hamilton.

Bermuda Rum and Cake Company Bermuda is well known for its rum cake. Pick up a few goodies from the Royal Naval Dockyard location.

Frog and Onion Pub English-style pub in the Royal Naval Dockyard.

Wahoo’s Bistro and Patio Excellent fresh fish in St. George’s.

DRINK

Gombey’s Bar Beachy dive bar at Clearwater Beach.

The Swizzle Inn A historic tavern that claims to be Bermuda’s oldest pub. Good food too! Try the signature Rum Sizzle drink.

PLAY

Clearwater Beach Our favorite beach in Bermuda. Far from tourists on the northeast side of the island, and oh so blue.

Crystal and Fantasy Caves Book a guided tour to the underground caves. Lots of opportunities for rock jumping.

Elbow Beach Lovely beach on the south shore.

Horseshoe Bay Beach This pink sand beach on the southern shore is consistently ranked one of the most beautiful beaches in the world.

Tobacco Bay Beach A small beach cove off the tourist track in St. George’s. Wander through the rock pools nearby.

STAY

Looking to splash out? The Fairmont Hamilton Princess and Beach Club in Hamilton is pure luxury. Its beach club on the southern shore is a gorgeously calm and private bay.

For the budget-minded, or those simply looking for a more authentic experience, we recommend a quiet serviced apartment or AirBnb with a view on the North Shore Road cliffs. You’ll be well away from the cruise ships in Kings Wharf and tourist resorts in Hamilton and the south shore.

Bermuda

Dubrovnik

Poised on the southern coast of Croatia, Dubrovnik boasts crystal clear waters, breathtaking views of the Adriatic Sea and surrounding islands, rich medieval history, delicious seafood, wine, and the loveliest weather. What more could you want? 

Use Uber! Taxis can be a overpriced and unpredictable. The airport is about a 30 minute drive from the Old City.

If it is your first time to the Balkans, check out Tea Obreht's beautiful novel, The Tiger's Wife, set it the former Yugoslavia.

EAT

Azure Asian Fusion in the Old City.

Lucin Kantun Tiny little place in the Old Town with amazing food. Book in advance.

Proto Delicious seafood in a romantic setting within the City walls. Book in advance and ask to sit on the rooftop veranda.

Takenoko Tasty sushi restaurant with a view of the southern City Walls entrance.

Tauris Kinoba Incredible restaurant serving very fresh fish on Lupanska Sipan island in the Elafitis. Try the sea bass and bream!

DRINK

Buza Bar There are two and both are casual beach bars built into the sea-facing cliffs and walls of the Old City. Cliff-jumping and cocktails, anyone?

Banje Beach Bar Sleek cocktail bar and lounge on the beachfront, just outside the Old City Walls.

Coco Beach Bar A cute shack bar serving up drinks on Plat’s local beach.

Culture Club Revelin Set inside the cavernous walls of the Old City, this club’s party doesn’t start until after midnight.

Pelješac peninsula wineries One hour north of Dubrovnik, this peninsula is dotted with boutique wineries and oyster farms. Book a tour or drive on your own. We loved the plavac at Milos Vineyards.

PLAY

Cavtat This adorable town south of Dubrovnik has a lovely harbor, medieval streets and is a great spot for lunch and a swim.

Dubrovnik Boats The best thing to do as a couple or with a group of friends. Dubrovnik Boats is professional group that rents yachts and catamarans for daylong excursions. We particularly enjoyed our cruise around the Elafiti Islands.

Life according to Kawa Contemporary store selling local Croatian products, food, and drink. A must!

Lokrum Island A great day trip. Hike, hang-out, eat, sun-bath, Game of Throne (GOT) tours. Lokrum can be reached by ferry from the Old Town port (no need to buy tickets in advance) .

Mount Srd Hike or take the cable car up to Mount Srd, a low mountain behind Old Town Dubrovnik. 

Old City Walls Walk the rampart walls during non-peak hours. The path can by extremely busy during high-season.

Ston A town at the Pelješac peninsula’s entrance that is famous for its stone walls, salt and oysters!

STAY

You have options depending on what you prefer. Either stay in Dubrovnik’s Old Town, just outside, or a few miles outside in a coastal village. We recommend staying right outside of Old Town to enjoy the view and avoid crowds. While in Croatia, we have always used AirBnb and really enjoyed the local experience.

If you want to rent a house with friends outside of the action, we recommend Plat. It is 15 minutes by car from the Old Town and 10 minutes to the airport. Cavtat is another great option, which is 25 minutes from Old Town and five minutes from the airport.

Dubrovnik

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Western Jordan (Aqaba, Petra, Wadi Rum)

From its ancient lost cities, Bedouin desert-dwellers, desert landscapes and clear Red Sea beaches, western Jordan stuns with beauty and history.

For both Petra and Wadi Rum, fly into the Jordan capital of Amman or the Red Sea city of Aqaba. Or, cross by land at the Wadi Araba Border Crossing between the Red Sea towns of Eilat, Israel and Aqaba, Jordan.

The Jordan Pass provides entry to over 40 major sites, including Petra and Wadi Rum, and for many nationalities covers the cost of a visa if staying in Jordan three or more nights.

If traveling from Israel to Jordan by land, note that rental cars are not permitted to be driven across the border. We entered Jordan via the Wadi Araba Border Crossing and left our rental car on the Israeli side in the Yitzhak Rabin Border Crossing parking lot before coming back into Israel.

As Americans with Jordan passes, we were able to receive visas on-arrival at the Wadi Araba Border Crossing.

If you do not want to rent a car in Jordan, we highly recommend the drivers from Bedouin Directions. Owner Mehedi Saleh Al-Hewaitaat is incredibly responsive and professional, and our drivers were knowledgeable and on-time.

Consider spending at least two days in Petra. The park is enormous and there are several difficult but rewarding hikes. Taking the park at a slower pace will allow you to see more and head back to town for a beer or swim in the afternoons when the park gets hot and crowded with day-trippers.

EAT

Alibaba Restaurant in Aqaba Casual place near the city centre with fresh seafood from the Red Sea.

Red Cave Restaurant in Wadi Musa/Petra Near the Petra Visitor Center, this restaurant serves simple but delicious bedouin fare.

DRINK

Cave Bar Next door to the Petra Visitor Center, this ancient cave is great for a drink at the end of a long day.

PLAY

Petra This 2000+ year old ancient city is a World Heritage site. Built by the Nabateans, it was eventually conquered by the Romans and abandoned centuries later after two earthquakes and changes to trade routes. An absolutely incredible and spiritual experience.

Wadi Rum The beauty of Wadi Rum’s mountains and rock formations against the dramatic red desert sands is unparalleled.

STAY

A few thoughts by location:

Aqaba Stay near the city centre or at one of the resorts on the beach, as the Al-Ghandour public beach is not very nice and would be uncomfortable for Western women in bathing suits. We enjoyed our stay at the Hilton DoubleTree in town, which was midrange, but the InterContinental, Kempinski and Movenpick all have private beaches on the Red Sea.

Petra/Wadi Musa Staying within walking distance of the Petra Visitor Center is critical. The Petra Palace Hotel is a basic, 3-star hotel very near the entrance. For those looking for something a bit more luxurious, try the Petra Guest House or Movenpick Resort Petra.

Wadi Rum Stay at a camp to fully experience the desert and stars by night. Most camps provide dinner and breakfast and can organize tours. We loved the Wadi Rum Bedouin Camp, which had excellent facilities, a lovely community tent and delicious food. For glamping, try bubble tents at Memories Aicha Camp and Sun City Camp.

Western Jordan

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Jerusalem

Israel’s capital lies at the intersection of the world’s three Abrahamic and monotheistic religions - Christianity, Judaism and Islam. While historically this collision has been just that, today followers of the different faiths live together relatively harmoniously. Ancient evidence of the city’s significance abounds in the form of ancient temples, churches, mosques and the Old City.

From the airport there is limited public transport to Jerusalem, unless you take the hour-long 485 bus from the airport to Jerusalem Central Bus Station. To save time and stress, download the Gett or Uber apps to call a cab and pay by card.

Upon arrival at Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv, most nationalities will receive a blue, paper card instead of a passport stamp. Do not lose this card for the duration of your visit, as passport control will need it upon departure. Security at Ben Gurion is also very high. Arrive three hours before an outbound flight.

We found we needed two days in Jerusalem to do everything we wanted.

We did not have time to go, but heard from friends that the Yad Vashem Holocaust World Holocaust Remembrance Center is excellent and a powerful visit.

Jerusalem is one hour from the northern shores of the Dead Sea and two hours from Masada National Park, the site of King Herod’s dramatic, cliff-top palace fortress and where the Romans surrounded the final vestiges of the Jewish Rebellion. Do both in a day trip or stay overnight at one of the Dead Sea resorts in Ein Bokek.

EAT

Focaccia Bar Go for wine and apps or stay for dinner. Excellent food in a beautiful, light-filled building.

Jahnun Bar With two locations in the city, including one in Mahane Yehuda market, this casual eatery serves up sandwich wraps made of the fluffiest, flakiest, pan-fried bread called malawach. Brought to Israeli by Yemeni immigrants, you will not soon forget this delicious pastry.

Machneyuda Perhaps the best restaurant in Israel. Book well in advance and do not miss this.

DRINK

BeerBazaar Fun spot in Mahane Yehuda market featuring Israeli craft beers.

Birman Local dive off of Ben Yehuda Street with live music.

Mahane Yehuda Market Most nights, except on Shabbat, the market comes alive with row after row of tiny bars and shisha lounges, DJs and young people spilling into the corridors.

PLAY

Ben Yehuda Street and Nahalat Shiv’a Trendy shopping areas.

Mount of Olives Views of the city are spectacular but it’s quite a walk from the Old City and the sites are not as clustered. Consider taking the bus or a cab, or hiring a driver.

Mount Zion South of the Jewish Quarter, this area contains King David’s Tomb and the site of The Last Supper.

Old City Split into quarters aligned with the different faiths, the Old City contains some of the holiest places for Christians, Jews and Muslims. These sites include the Church of the Holy Sepulchre (believed to contain Jesus’ tomb), the Western Wall (all that remains of the holy Jewish Second Temple), and the Temple Mount and Dome of the Rock (the third most sacred site for Muslims). Spend hours in the souks, walking the rampart walls and exploring the different gates. If heading to the Old City from the west enter the Christian Quarter through Jaffa Gate. Exiting from the Muslim Quarter’s Damascus Gate places you in East Jerusalem.

STAY

Staying west of the Old City, around Mahane Yehuda market and Ben Yehuda Street, provides access to nightlife, shopping and restaurants and is a 15 minute walk to the Old City.

For the budget-minded, take a look at Agripas Boutique Hotel. It is an older property and basic, but clean and the location is unbeatable.

Jerusalem

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