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A city steeped in fine food, dramatic history and a veritable river of whisky to warm the cockles. We sent our Edinburgh Destination Specialist, Jamie B, on a mission to get a taste of the very best this world-famous party city has to offer.

At GoHen we take pride in visiting all our cities in person to get the best deals for our hens and ensure we get the highest quality of hen fun and accommodation. So here’s our guide to your Edinburgh hen weekend…

Best Bar For Laughs

Tiger Lily – Swanky, upmarket and with a cocktail list as long as your arm. Turns out I have very long arms and the next day I had a very sore head and a weird memory of challenging the barman to an arm wrestle (he tactfully declined). This is a place to get dressed up, and the food is fantastic.

Tiger Lily – 125 George St, EH2 4JN

Best Local Poison

Well clearly, it’s the whisky. Now don’t worry if you’re not normally a whisky drinker, you can still enjoy it in all kinds of forms, on puddings, in cakes, in ice cream, you can get whisky flavoured fudge (although, in Scotland, they have ‘tablet’). The city does have plenty of amazing cocktail bars so if you want to enjoy the whisky, but find it a little harsh neat, that could be the way to go.

Best Local Bar

More than just a single bar, the Royal Mile runs from the Castle all the way downhill to the Queen’s Holyrood Palace. It’s actually more than a mile, it’s also packed in amazing and very old bars and pubs. If you want a real sense of the city and its history, then the mile is definitely a walk that is enhanced by the friendly locals and a wee dram along the way.

Edinburgh Party Areas

Grassmarket – It’s here you’ll find more of the local bars and pubs, while the mile does have a bit of a tourist feel, Grassmarket is where Edinburgh’s party crowd can be found every night of the week. Cowgate – Packed full of more modern bars, Cowgate is also home to some of the city’s biggest and best clubs. George Street – This is the slick-looking Edinburgh, trendy bars, fancy diners and good times!

See all Edinburgh offers

Top 5 Things to Do in Edinburgh

Boozy Afternoon Tea Bus – Delicious afternoon tea with cakes and booze served on a double-decker bus!

Highland Games – A mix of traditional games and some hilarious hen party alternatives.

Ghost Tour – A spooky tour of this incredible, historic city and it’s often murky past.

Harry Potter Tour – Discover the parts of the city that inspired JK Rowling’s Harry Potter books.

Cocktail Potions – Grab your wands and try working your own magic on some tasty cocktail potions.

See more Edinburgh hen party activities…

Tastiest Treat

If you’ve never sampled haggis, then Edinburgh is the place. Forget the terrible the tales, it is essentially spicy sausage and it is absolutely amazing. You can have it served traditionally or get a modern twist with a haggis burger and whisky chaser.

Best Activity

JK Rowling lived in Edinburgh while writing her famous series of books, so it’s no surprise to find her influence everywhere including this amazing wizard themed escape room which is one of my favourite activities in this or any other city. Brilliant fun!

Read more about the Harry Potter Escape Room.

Best Way to Get About the City

There is a really good tram service that runs directly from the airport to the city centre. Most of the city is small enough to navigate by foot but, be warned, there are a lot of steep slopes and you’ve never seen so many steps! However, it really is well worth it and if the steps get too much you can always grab a cab.

Top Edinburgh Tip

Go native. This is an amazing city; it has some wonderful sights, but it’s well worth getting off the tourist trail and discovering the real city. You’ll find the prices are better and the city just has some of the most incredible food and drinks.

Anything to Declare

I’m lucky, I’m in a job where I get paid to travel to amazing destinations and explore the best they have to offer. You’d think I’d know better than to eat and drink too much. But no, I really don’t. I returned from Edinburgh knowing I’d eaten and drunk too much and would need to work that off at rugby training. Yet, the thing is, in Edinburgh, it’s totally worth it. I love the city, there’s always something new sight to see and new foods and drinks to sample. I already can’t wait for my next visit!

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It’s ALL that and much more. Underground nightlife scenes will blow your mind and ruin your entire next day (lol). Berlin is so many things wrapped up into one city, and the only way I can adequately describe it is this: it’s anything but mainstream. What’s “in” is actually “out” here. The WWII history and rise/fall of the Wall not only materializes museum after museum but complexities and pieces left for Berliners to pick up. Any attempt to put a label on the city becomes futile because it chooses to be defined by its complexities and contradictions – not by beauty, wealth, or industry. And I absolutely love that.

Population of Berlin: 3.5 million

Language: German

Currency: Euro

Climate: Cold winters, hot summers, mild autumn and spring

Getting Around

Jump Bikes – Highly recommend these electric bikes by Uber…even in a dress

U-Bahn – The underground railway in Berlin is fast, cheap and pretty decent as far as pubic transportation systems go

Uber – Available all over Berlin!

Foodies

Silo Coffee – Ethically sourced specialty coffee house in Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg with bomb poached eggs and avo toast (above)…however next time I’m ordering the oven baked pancake due to massive food envy from the table next door.

Roamers – Set in the Neukolln neighborhood, this cozy space has a DECADENT chai tea latte and avo toast offering

W-Der Imbiss – In the heavy foot-traffic neighborhood of Mitte lies an Indian food spot that’ll satisfy all of your taste-bud needs. Order the Tasters Menu full of alllll the winners and bask in the naan glory.

POTS – Hands down my favorite dining experience in Berlin because not only was everything in copper pots as seen in the open-concept kitchen but also the food inventions were delicious (think classics with a modern twist) and the staff was crazy memorable. Many thanks to Sommelier and host Mathias Brandweiner for somehow knowing my tastebuds better than, well, me.

Boxhagener Platz Market – On Sundays, go here hungry

Lots of food stalls and clothing stalls to indulge in! I ate my body weight in foreign foods.

Markthalle Neun (Market Hall Nine) – I ADORED this place. What’s not to love about cannoli, ice cream, pizza, empanadas and Trdelník (cinnamon/sugar pastry wrapped around a stick with creme inside) all being served under one roof?! Thursday in Berlin’s Kreuzberg neighborhood stuffing your face with street food. BE THERE. More markets throughout the week as well!

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Biergartens

Cassiopeia – Nightclub by evening but an even better biergarten by day! Berlin is FULL of hidden gems around every corner – which is why lots of walking is required to find said gems (or just keep reading this post). With a rock climbing wall, biergarten and food stalls, I could spend many hours at this repurposed rail station.

Holzmarkt – SO nice we went here twice

This eclectic spot by the river is full of yummy coffee, beer (duh), lively crowds and delicious pizza. Learned here that customers pay a deposit, or Pfand surcharge, to the bar/food stall and can get it back when bottles are returned.

FUN FACT: The German Pfand system was brought into force to ensure that there was a responsible policy in place for the recycling of plastic bottles. It encourages drinks companies to supply their product in multi-use, refillable plastic or glass bottles. These can be refilled up to 25 times for the plastic variety and up to 50 times for glass which reduces the average CO2 emissions per bottle in circulation because fewer new bottles have to be manufactured. The process of washing and sterilizing these bottles is loads more environmentally friendly in terms of CO2 output than the production of single-use bottles.

Klunkerkranich – Sprawling open-air bar on top of a shopping mall garage…bringing new life to rooftop bars

Berlin, you’re so damn cool!

Urban Spree – Sometimes all you need in life is live music, German craft beer and some pretty art to enjoy. Love the vibe here in this multi-faceted, multi-leveled space!

Museums & Memorials

Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe – Also known as the Holocaust Memorial, this space holds 2,711 concrete slabs of varying heights and wavelike in form. There’s a somber mood over the area with a side of uncertainty as the observer wanders through the tall slabs. Don’t miss the underground Rooms for more information from families and victims.

Topography of Terror – It’s strange that this history museum, the former site of both the Gestapo and SS headquarters, was a highlight of Berlin for me. How something entitled “Topography of Terror” where terror is so tangible could possibly make its way to the top of my list is all a bit morbid, but the amount of history and information pouring out of this place in an organized fashion is truly mind-blowing and educational.

Book Burning Memorial – I’d go ahead and assume that many people pass right by this memorial not having a clue what it all means. That, or you come upon a big crowd standing around a glass plate in the ground. The public square of Bebelplatz holds a sunken library with empty white shelves to signify the 20,000 books that went up in flames here on 10 May, 1933 at the hands of the Nazis.

Museum Island (Museumsinsel)- 1 island, 5 museums. Enough said

To-Do

Brandenburg Gate – 18th century monument in the western part of the city and historically a site for major events

Reichstag – With a war-torn past and many restorations later, this stunning building now serves as the German Parliament building

Checkpoint Charlie – Also known as Checkpoint C, this was the best known Berlin Wall crossing point between east and west Berlin. Lots of people are here taking photos of the checkpoint, but if you don’t know what it is exactly, you’ll likely walk right through!

Berlin Fernsehturm – TV tower in the center of Mitte in Berlin allowing spectators to get a 360-view of the entire city

Gendarmenmarkt – A beautiful square in Berlin with rotating markets and concerts showcasing an architectural ensemble with German and French influences

Eastside Gallery – Serving as a massive piece of history, this 4,318 ft. section of the Berlin Wall painted with murals acts as an open-air art gallery

Potsdamer Platz – Modern-day entertainment, shopping and business district with a loaded past as the Berlin Wall went through this area. Easily reached via U-Bahn.

Berlin Cathedral – A main landmark of Berlin, you can’t mistake this stunning dome for anything else! After the division of Germany, the Cathedral was in East Berlin. After many damages in WWII, the full restoration was only completed in 1993, four years after the Berlin Wall fell.

Tiergarten – Berlin’s most popular park coming in at 520 acres. Great spot for a run, some shade or a little peace and quiet.

Mauerpark – If you like flea markets, karaoke and lounging in the park with your friends – look no further. Sundays here are lots of fun, especially if you’re brave enough to belt it out while singing karaoke in front of a few hundred people

Badeschiff – Floating public swimming pool in the Spree River with a bar and views for days. Be prepared for an entry fee and mediocre service.

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Sleep

Ritz-Carlton Berlin – A grand marble staircase greeted us as we checked into the property. It’s hard to take your eyes off of it and pairs swimmingly with the recent remodel and art deco theme running throughout. Situated in Potsdamer Platz with a backyard of the Tiergarten, I hiiiighly recommend this gem!

The post What to do: The Best of Berlin, Germany appeared first on The Road Les Traveled.

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It’s hosted Olympics, been sung about by George and Freddie, and is home to artists, musicians and philosophers. And I’m the lucky man getting to pack my bag and go explore one of the world’s greatest party cities. It’s a tough job…

You see, here at GoHen, we don’t just pick a hotel, close our eyes and hope for the best. While not all hen companies are so thorough, we insist on visiting all our destinations regularly to ensure our hens get the best weekends and we get you the best prices.

Our Barcelona Destination Specialist Symon Stephens reports back on the best of Barcelona hen parties.

Best Bar For Laughs

Chupitos – There are just so many reasons to love Chupitos, 500 of them are the shots you can buy, starting at just €2 a drink. Yes, they have over 200 different shots available, some delicious, some ‘nasty!’ but all lethal. The décor is cool, the bar staff are really friendly, and the tunes are good. A great place to start any big night out.

Chupitos – Passeig de Colom, 8, 08002 Barcelona

Best Local Poison

Spain produces some excellent wines. In particular, there are some reds from the Catalonia region which are definitely worth getting acquainted with. Full-blooded, dark, passionate, if I was a good wine critic, I’d be using all those words but I’m not, I’m just a bloke who enjoys good wine, sitting in the evening air along Las Ramblas as he watches the world go by.

Best Local Bar

Sor Rita – Ken and Barbie dolls in sex positions, blasphemous religious icons, and more kitsch than a drag queen’s Christmas tree, this weird bar is amazingly cheap and all kinds of odd, in a good way. Playing mostly Spanish music you’ll also find Spanish drinks and Spanish snacks. If you really want to go local, this is the place to do it, right in the heart of the vibrant Gothic Quarter.

Sor Rita – Carrer de la Mercè, 27, 08002 Barcelona

Party Districts

If you’re heading out in Barca there are three main areas.

La Ramblas, the famous avenue is lined with bars and restaurants that come alive at night, it’s also a great spot to people watch.

Gothic Quarter (Barrio Gotico), home to some of the best bars and restaurants in the city, this is the place, to explore and where you’ll find the locals.

Port Olympic, you’ll find the most flamboyant and shouty of the bars and clubs here. The area is far more about being seen, but if you like clubs, this is the place.

See full package

Top 5 Things to Do in Barcelona

Spain Games – Packed full of hilarious games, it’s like your own giant game show experience.

Cocktail Mixing – Shake what yo mama gave you as you learn to make classic summer cocktails.

Private Cruise – Hit the waves and drift away on your own private catamaran. Tan-tastic!

Spanish Cooking – Learn how to cook wonderfully authentic Spanish cuisine.

Arab Baths – A simply amazing experience in these historic baths. Pure bliss!

See more Barcelona ideas…

Tastiest Treat

Tapas! Clearly. But this is the real deal, packed with flavour and the best local ingredients. You’ll find tapas all over the city, but my top tip would be to head to the Gothic Quarter and look for where the locals are dining. Grab a table and enjoy the true taste of the city.

Did I sit down, order too much but eat it all anyway? Yes, yes I did, and after so many visits to Barcelona, I really should know better!

Best Activity

There are so many to choose from but if it was me choosing (and I’m putting my hen hat on) I’d go Cowgirl Training. It’s really intense but brilliant, you get to try horse riding, lassoing and target shooting, like a real cowgirl, in a stunning location. It’s one of those experiences that you just never forget and it’s brilliant fun for a group of friends.

Read more about Cowgirl Training.

Best Way to Get About the City

Barcelona has a metro (underground) train system which covers the city from the beaches to the bars, to the best shops and biggest landmarks. Grab a Hola BCN travel card for the best deals and hop-on, hop-off travel.

Top Barcelona Tip

Shopping. If you’re a fashionista or simply a lady who likes her clothes, Barca is packed with stores and designers you won’t see back home. The Spanish love their outfits, they’re very good quality and, in particular, bags, shoes and leather goods are excellent. Not something I reported when I got home, I don’t think my credit cards could take that kind of a battering.

Anything to Declare

I am a little bit in love with Barcelona, it just has a great feel and there’s so much to see and do there, whether you want to party, shop, relax on the beach, catch a live band or catch your own dinner, it’s a city that never disappoints and I already can’t wait to go back again.

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Bath, one of our favourite party cities, in fact, we love it so much we built our offices right in the city centre (if you’re passing, pop in, the kettle’s always on). So when it came to getting the lowdown on Bath hen weekends, James, our Bath destination specialist and our team are best placed to be in the know (and we also get the best deals in our home city

Best Bar For Laughs

Bath has more than its share of great bars and one of our real standout favourites is Circo. Great food such as the ‘Dirty Harry’ smoked brisket burger with melted cheese and incredible cocktails with a HUGE cocktail menu. The cool interior, chill tunes, Circo has just ‘got it’ even if we’re not 100% sure what it is (X-factor, baby?).

Circo – 15 – 18 George Street, BA1 2EN

Best Local Poison

No question, there can only be one winner here and that’s Bath Gin! Gin is sophisticated, cool and has so much historical provenance any gin session can merely be considered ancestral research. In Bath, we’re lucky to have the friendly and brilliant team at Bath Gin who keep us cool in the summer and warm our cockles in the winter. The perfect gift to take home if you’re visiting Bath.

Bath Gin – 2-3 Queen Street, BA1 1HE

Best Local Bar

If you want real insider info then us locals would recommend The Dark Horse. It’s not the biggest bar in town, but it’s definitely one of the coolest (it’s also so close to the office we can almost order our drinks from our window). It really is where all Bath’s coolest kids hang out. It uses only the best local produce, that includes English and wherever possible regional beers and wines. They even forage fruit from the local hills. That’s dedication!

The Dark Horse – 7a Kingsmead Square, BA1 2AB

Bar Tips

If you want to try something really different stay out of the pubs and head to the Roman Baths. Yes, you can actually taste the mineral spa water Bath is so famous for. And it tastes… Disgusting! Yeah, I’m not going to sugar coat it, it’s pretty grim, but some say it has healing properties.

See full package

Top 5 Things to Do in Bath

Thermae Spa – This world-famous spa really is sensational with rooftop pool views over the city.

Somerset Challenge – Imagine drunk farmers were running the Olympics. Like that but crazier!

Punting – Relax and unwind as you giggle your way along the River Avon.

Cocktails & Cupcakes – The two most important food groups combine in one amazing activity.

Cookery School – A private lesson from an expert chef. Get your cook on!

See more Bath hen party activities…

Tastiest Treat

Bath Bun, yep, the city has its very own type of cake. Not too dissimilar to a scone but softer and sweeter, it’s best served with jam and cream and a cuppa. Or if you’re feeling reckless a nice cold cocktail. However, please don’t be confused by the name, this isn’t a bun to eat in the bath, you’ll end up with cream everywhere!

Best Activity

There really is so much to choose from in Bath but if we had to name just one it would be our Somerset Challenge. Wild, hilarious, physical, silly, it’s everything a group of hens could want to do on a summer’s day in one of the best and most picturesque areas of the country.

Read more about Somerset Challenge.

Best Way to Get About the City

Walk. Bath is a really compact city so everything in the centre is easily accessible on foot. If you do feel the need to explore further then you can jump on a Next Bike which you can pick up around the city.

Top Bath Tip

Parking vs shopping. Bath is fantastic for shopping, there are some real gems among the independent shops and also a good collection of vintage clothes shops. Bath is incredibly trendy and there’s no end to the variety of cafes and bars when you’re feeling a bit of shopping fatigue. But a word of warning if you’re driving into the city centre, parking in Bath is expensive so park and ride is definitely the budget-friendly option.

Anything to Declare

Bath is lovely. A city with timeless elegance and charm. It’s no Benidorm, if you’re after a loud brash city with cheap drinks and noisy people Bath really isn’t for you. But if you want something a little bit different with a touch of class then this UNESCO World Heritage City is ideal.

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Capital: Sarajevo

Population: 3.5 million

Language: Bosnian, Serbian, Croatian

Currency: Convertible Mark (BAM) but Euros accepted in some places

Location: Balkan Peninsula, southeastern Europe

Climate: Hot summers and cold winters

Why does Bosnia and Herzegovina have two names?

Behold…geography, explained! Still a single nation, Bosnia occupies most of the country while Herzegovina occupies the small triangle in the southern portion. The word Bosnia comes from a river while Herzegovina originated from Germany.

Formerly part of Yugoslavia, the country gained independence in 1992. The country looks landlocked, but take a closer look at the map. Bosnia actually has a lovely Adriatic coast that you could walk across in a single afternoon. When Yugoslavia broke up in 1991, the twelve miles of Bosnia-Herzegovinian coastline separate the Dubrovnik region from the rest of Croatia to the north, and the Neum corridor gives Bosnia and Herzegovina a shorter coastline than any other nation on earth aside from Monaco.

Where to Stay

Neum or Mostar. Neum occupies a few miles of beachfront making for some epic sunsets….but Mostar has more going for it.

What to Do

Rent a car – you won’t get far unless you have your own vehicle. I rented with Sixt in Zagreb, Croatia, and made my way down the coast!

Drive to Pocitelj – This stop was a spur-of-the-moment, pull-over-on-the-side-of-the-road because it was such a pretty scene. The historic fortress village has come crazy picture-perfect architecture. Although damaged in the Bosnian War of ’93, lots has been restored including the stunning Hajji Alija Mosque from 1563. I reallyyy wanted to hike up to the Ottoman Clock Tower, but we didn’t have enough time.

Blagaj Tekija – You know when you’ve viewed a landmark so many times online or on Instagram and you wonder if you’ll ever see it in real life? Cue ALL THE FEELS when I laid eyes on this beauty for the first time last month. This 15th century monastery is situated at the base of a cliff next to the Buna river and waterfalls. Note that you’ll need to pay for parking and entry if you want to see the inside of the monastery. There’s also a boat that will take you into the cave for a short visit, but we opted to go across the river to see it from the other side. Lots of restaurant options here, too!

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Mostar – I loved this town so much! We ate lunch here and wanted to do so much more that what we actually accomplished. Within an hour of arriving, a monsoon came over the city…a sign to get on to the next spot! We were able to see Stari Most, the 16th century Old Bridge destroyed by the Bosnian Coat Army on November 9th, 1993. It took about 5.5 million USD to reconstruct the bridge which is now an UNESCO world heritage site (that lots of daredevils jump off of and into the Neretva River below!) serving as a reminder of the rich history of the area and of a violent (recent) past.

Kravice Waterfalls (Studenci) – On the loop back towards the main highway/Croatia, our last stop was Kravice where the sun came out to play! You can get in the water here, but we chose a cute lil boat to get closer to the falls. Cafes are near the waterfront and note that there’s a small entrance fee of KM 10 ($5-6) to enter, and you may want to bring a swimsuit

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The post 24 Hours in Bosnia and Herzegovina appeared first on The Road Les Traveled.

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We were supposed to go sailing with a family friend, and right beforehand, the friend broke his leg! Needless to say, the entire trip was off. For them, not us. We continued on with…

No plans. No reservations. No…really

I knew there’d be pros and cons to seeing a country this way. On one hand, it allows for more freedom. On the other hand, I probably spent entirely too much time scrolling Booking.com or Airbnb on my iphone for places to sleep that night. Must-haves: good reviews, A/C, Wi-Fi, preferred Superhost, location, location, location.

If you’re going from Hungary to Croatia, you have a few transportation options:

Rent a car with a v high one-way drop free (unless you plan on going back to Budapest)

Hire a car & driver for a high fee

Take a train (that wasn’t running the day we left because of a public holiday)

Take a bus

Day 1

We left Budapest at 10:30am on a FlixBus (booked day-of!) for about €20/passenger. Now I’m not a traveler that typically gravitates towards the public bus systems of central Europe, but this one didn’t disappoint mostly because it was half full, clean, and came with a view…and because the bus driver let me off to get a banana because HUNGER PAINS. With a border crossing consisting of 25 minutes, the total drive was ~5 hours. That’s 5 episodes of GoT. All good in my book.

Once at the Zagreb bus station, t’was time to hail a cab to the airport so we could rent a car and be on our way. (So let’s rewind and count: that’s 1 cab to the Budapest bus station, 1 bus ride to Croatia, 1 cab to Zagrab airport just to get to the rental car. PHEW). I wasn’t in the Volkswagen for 5 minutes before I went the wrong way down a one-way while stopping traffic everywhere. Then Google Maps took us the scenic route which was the definition of backroads if I’ve ever seen ’em – tractors, horseback, cyclists, greenery, and loooots of wide open land. Honestly, it looked a lot like Arkansas. I immediately felt right at home

After another 2 1/2 hour drive with a pitstop at Cowboy Western Ranch for lunch (if you’re doing this route, you must stop here and get the Texas Burger. Just do it. Not because it’s good, but because it’s a monstrosity and funny when you’re sleep deprived. Plus, it’s like you’re in Texas but you’re in Croatia. It’s weird).

Stay

Around 8pm we finally rolled into Ethno Houses Plitvica Selo. It’s not perfect (rude creaky floors), but I’d stay here again for its location in the heart of Plitvice Lakes National Park and extremely close proximity to Entrance 3. While you can’t purchase entrance tickets to the national park at Entrance 3 (big question mark here), the hotel offers to do it for you – alleviating you of getting back in the car and driving to Entrance 1 or 2. *Raises hand*

Day 2

Explore the gems of Plitvice Lakes National Park

Breakfast at the hotel

All day exploration of Plitvice Lakes National Park. Note: You walk here, there’s no driving, and you also can’t swim. I’m sure it’s for safety/sustainability reasons, but the waters are crazy inviting. Near the entrances, there’s food/water/ice cream stations. Stock up on water! Beware of the circus during the hours from 10am – 6pm. I honestly can’t come up with too many other nature-derived experiences that have been *this* crowded. Once 6pm hit, it was insanely calm and beautiful.

Dinner at Ethno Houses Plitvica Selo

Shop my favorite pair of high-waisted pocket leggings (pictured below)

Stay

Ethno Houses Plitvica Selo

Day 3

More Plitvice Lakes National Park + Travel Day

Breakfast at the hotel

Morning exploration of Plitvice National Park. Here’s a favorite spot of mine:

In front of the Big Waterfall is a staircase. Go up the stairs and at the top, walk right. You’ll find a road. Walk for about 2-3 minutes until you see a wooden bridge. Turn right after the bridge onto a path and walk for 1-2 minutes until coming to a lookout point. STUNNING!

Around noon, head towards Split (or Krka National Park on the way to Split)!

Dinner in the Old Town Harbor while the best people-watching unfolds before your eyes for some gold nighttime entertainment.

Stay

Marasovica Apartments – highly recommend based on location (5 minute walk to Old Town), communication, price and terrace views!

Day 4

Explore Split!

Wander the many historic alleyways and dig deep. Get lost. Eat at any gelato stand. Twice. Maybe three times. Take too many photos of 4th century Diocletian’s Palace. Head towards Marjan for a 550-ft high hill forested with cypress and Mediterranean pine trees – a perfect spot to hike off the questionable decisions from the day before.

Fig Split for dinner (or all meals because it’s *that* good)

Stay

Marasovica Apartments

Day 5

Island Day!

We went back and forth between hiring a private sailboat for the day or taking a small passenger speed boat to neighboring islands. Ultimately, we chose the speed boat because it allowed us to go further, see more AND get dropped off at Hvar that evening. We booked the tour the afternoon before down at the Old Town Harbor where many tours are on offer.

Komiža on Vis island

Stiniva Cove

Budikovac Island for snorkeling (lunch here)

Blue Cave

Hvar (we got off the boat and stayed on Hvar, although everyone else went back to Split)

Shop my easy breezy black sarong (pictured below)

Stay

DeVecchi Rooms in Hvar – This was one of my favorite hotels from Croatia due to the location, furnishings and outdoor space/view! We booked a Deluxe Double with balcony

Day 6

Langonini Beach Club

But first, coffee. Head right outside the hotel to Kava 37

Catch a small boat docked at the harbor (you can’t miss them) for the 15 minute journey

Just typing the name of this beach club makes me exhaleeeee. Laganini means “slowly” in Croatian, and it’s the exact vibe we encountered while there. A relaxing, no worries atmosphere, where water splashes and Balearic music make up the soundtrack. Note that there’s a spending minimum for bungalow use. We enjoyed a few cocktails and sushi mMmMm.

Leave on the last boat back to Hvar (6pm I believe, the same boat that took you over will pick you up) and wander into somewhere yummy for dinner. I’m not going to lie – we chose a very bad pizza spot so I can’t recommend!

Shop my Red Carter bikini top and bikini bottoms

Stay

DeVecchi Rooms

Day 7

Travel day

But first, wake up and hike to the Spanjola Fortress for insanely beautiful views.

Breakfast at Fig Hvar

More options: St. Stephen’s Cathedral and Square, Hvar lavender fields, Sveta Nedjelja aka wine region! Red Plavac Mali grapes thrive here.

11am ferry back to Split (ferries are every hour and tickets can be bought at a booth near the docking point)

Find the rental car where you left it at the last hotel Drive to Dubrovnik. Realize that the drive from Split to Dubrovnik is insanely pretty. Cancel all plans to swim next to pirate ships and explore Bosnia.

Shop my Aritzia yellow one-piece

Stay

In order to get to the southern portion of Croatia, one must pass into Bosnia and Herzegovina occupying just 12 miles of Adriatic coastline in the city of Neum, the 2nd shortest coastline in the world after Monaco…essentially cutting Croatia in two. There are a few other examples of geographically discontinuous countries, but this is definitely a rarity, and I hope you’ve enjoyed this geography lesson. Due to extremely late booking (around 4pm day-of!), options were minimal, especially good ones. We ended up booking at the Grand Hotel Neum, an extremely large hotel that I’d never recommend. Between feeling like cattle and the horrid buffet, I’ll sleep in my rental car next time… (kidding, sort of).

Day 8

Wake up very early to explore Bosnia & Herzegovina. This little country is super underrated. Having only spent 24 hours here, I’m sure there’s SO much we missed. Next Up: What to do for 24 Hours in Bosnia

Drive 2ish hours to Dubrovnik

Eat dinner at Horizont (recommended by host, yummy Mediterranean!)

Stay

Airbnb Stella Mia with a Sea View 2 – I highly recommend this Airbnb due to its size, location, price, and host. Fair warning: If you don’t like stairs, don’t stay here. Scratch that. If you don’t like stairs, don’t go to Croatia at all.

Day 9

Walk the Old Town, get lost in the alleyways and get your steps in on the steep staircases

Let the Game of Thrones tour commence (sorry not sorry)! It was fun, it wasn’t cheesy (not to me, at least!), and our tour was mixed in with lots of Dubrovnik history. 2-in-1, how good is that?! You can find times inside the Visitor’s Center near the Onofrio Fountain.

For everyone who said take the cable car: It was closed due to tax evasion. *EmBarRasSing*

Dinner at Pizzeria Tabasco (recommended by host b/c I had a pizza craving!)

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Stay

Airbnb Stella Mia with a Sea View 2

Day 10

Walk the City Walls as soon as they open (8am). Note: It’s HOT, even early.

Hydrate, eat somewhere yummy in Old Town, try to stop sweating

Take a ferry from the Old Harbor near the east gate (10 minutes) and relax on Lokrum Island for the day

Find the window cave (near station 5 and 6)

Take the 6pm ferry back

Walk to Buza Bar for sunset drinks (and cliff jumping if you dare). This hole-in-the-wall bar on the side of a cliff was so nice, we went twice!

Stay

Airbnb Stella Mia with a Sea View 2

The next morning, we flew to Slovenia. On my wish list for the following Croatia visit: Pula, Rovinj, Brac, Korcula and the Peljesac Peninsula!

The post Road Trip Itinerary: A Guide to Croatia appeared first on The Road Les Traveled.

[dakotahiggins-blog1]

Protected: 15 Ways to Eliminate the Use of Plastic Every Day

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The post Protected: 15 Ways to Eliminate the Use of Plastic Every Day appeared first on The Road Les Traveled.

[dakotahiggins-blog1]

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[dakotahiggins-blog1]

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[dakotahiggins-blog1]

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[dakotahiggins-blog1]

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[dakotahiggins-blog1]

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[dakotahiggins-blog1]

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[dakotahiggins-blog1]

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