Many of us associate Romania with vampires, creepy stories and the infamous gypsies that roam Europe. And many of us actually have no idea what Romania ACTUALLY has to offer!
I kept getting asked by so many people, why are you going to Romania for a week? Now, imagine a country full of castles and citadels, legends and traditions, mixed with beautiful landscapes of colorful forests, lakes and mountains, medieval towns, fairytale houses and kind welcoming people… Welcome to Romania! Romania is more than definitely worth visiting for a week.
BEST OF ROMANIA: MY ROMANIA ONE WEEK ITINERARY
Days 1-2: Bucharest
Bucharest has it’s own airport which is serviced by many budget European airlines and flights are usually cheap. You can also arrive by train or bus from neighbouring countries. Chances are you will get to Bucharest in partway through the day which is perfect, because I think Romania’s capital is worth a day and a half at least.
Monteverde was my second stop in Costa Rica. I chose to visit it as Monteverde has a Cloud Forest, which is the only in Costa Rica but also one of the few Cloud Forests in the world, as they only represent 1% of the global woodland. I had never visited a Cloud Forest before! If you are wondering what a Cloud Forest is, well it’s just that, a forest which is constantly covered in clouds at the canopy level and is very, very moist.
When I began doing research about Monteverde I found that it is very small, but also that there are a lot of things to do! See below a full list of all the best things to do in Monteverde, where to stay in Monteverde, and how to get there and around.
VISITING MONTEVERDE: THE ESSENTIALS
Transport / The easiest and fastest way to get to Monteverde is by car, but the roads getting there are not paved and are in a pretty rough state, so you’ll need a 4×4. After searching around various Costa Rican 4×4 companies, DiscoverCars provided the cheapest rates with full insurance included which you’ll want. For buses and private transfers, check this site.
Connect / You’ll need mobile data while you are in Costa Rica, I always recommend using an eSIM (there’s absolutely no need for a physical one!) – here’s some eSIM options for Costa Rica.
Get Insured / Unfortunately, things can and do go wrong when you travel. World Nomads offers coverage for more than 150 activities as well as emergency medical, lost luggage, trip cancellation and more.
Koh Phi Phi is an absolute must of Thailand. It’s most well known for being the gateway to Maya Bay. My top reason to visit Koh Phi Phi though, is the color of the sea. I’ve never seen such a beautiful range of turquoises and greens in the sea water all within the same area. Most people complain that it’s too touristy and so busy that it’s not worth going. If you go in late April like I did, I assure you that you won’t have that problem. In fact I was a bit like, where’s everyone at?
See below my bucket list items for the island of Koh Phi Phi, plus transport and accommodation tips!
VISITING KOH PHI PHI: THE ESSENTIALS
Transport / The only way to get to Koh Phi Phi is by ferry or speedboat, as there are no airports on the island. You can catch ferries from Krabi, Phuket, or other nearby islands. Once on the island, no cars are allowed, so you’ll get around by walking or using longtail boats. Pre-book your ferry tickets here.
Connect / You’ll need mobile data while you are in Thailand, I always recommend using an eSIM (there’s absolutely no need for a physical one!) – here’s some eSIM options for Thailand.
Get Insured / Unfortunately, things can and do go wrong when you travel. World Nomads offers coverage for more than 150 activities as well as emergency medical, lost luggage, trip cancellation and more.
Malta was definitely my travel find of the year. Although not at all tourist free, this tiny island is still not a super popular destination and hence why you should go like – right now. I love how it’s an island and a beach destination but also has beautiful and interesting historic places to visit. Hence, Malta basically meets the needs of the beach lovers, culture seekers and those like me that need a little bit of both. I just get bored being all day at the beach! Anyways, it’s truly awesome. For your convenience I’ve created the below bucket list which covers everything you can possibly do in Malta.
VISITING MALTA: THE ESSENTIALS
Transport / There are two forms of transportation in Malta, rental car or public bus. Public buses are incredible, regular and take you to any part of the island. However, a rental car is almost always the best option, and especially if you go for a few days only. Malta is small and easy to drive through and, although the buses are good, you’ll takes a lot less and see a lot more if you get around by car. Book using DiscoverCars, the website I recommend for all international car hires. If you are not renting a car, should you require an airport transfer, I always use WelcomePickups.
Connect / You’ll need mobile data while you are in Istanbul, I always recommend using an eSIM (there’s absolutely no need for a physical one!) – here’s some eSIM options for Malta.
