Tropic Like It's Hot - The Philippines

February 09, 2020 by Lauren katzen

First and foremost, it’s clear that life has grabbed me by the horns and thrown me around a bit since I haven’t taken an extended personal vacation or written on my blog in far too long. Needless to say, I realized it was time for an extended break far away from strong cell service and WiFi networks to disconnect from work and remind myself what is out there in this world.

To be quite honest, I didn’t know what I was getting myself into heading to the Philippines, but it was surely a destination I will never forget which I will tell more about below. In order to get to experience the most pristine waters surrounded by jagged limestone formations with bright green trees on them and bustling marine life, you need to mentally prepare travel on multiple modes of transportation across many miles.

I was fortunate enough to spend a little over 2 weeks in the Philippines. Since it’s not to easiest place to travel to, nor predict weather/mode of transport wise, my girlfriends and I opted for the ‘less is more’ route. Oh, one last thing before I dive in… If you’re a foodie and looking to have mouth-watering meals when you travel, the Philippines cuisine was pretty sub-par, so don’t plan to go there for the food.

First Stop: Coron

Getting there: Plane from Manila to Busuanga

Days Needed: 2 - 3 days

Accommodation: Hop Hostel (Rating: 8/10) - great roof views, clean, great location & had good breakfast options

Food Recommendations: Summer Café and Bar, Full Lotus, Hop Hostel, Hermanos Tapas, Altrove Coron

I didn’t know anything about Coron except the fact that it is famous for shipwreck diving. Since I had such a blast scuba diving in Belize, I knew I couldn’t pass up an opportunity to see some shipwrecks. On my first day, I signed up for a diving trip that stopped at Barracuda Lake, Morazaan Maru wreck, ad Olympia Maru wreck. I went with Corto Divers, and I felt very safe and even lucked out with a personal guide. Did I mention it was about ¼ the cost of diving in Belize? The lake and the wrecks were very different, with the lake being over 100 degrees Fahrenheit under water the deeper we got. Too hot. But, I will say there was some extremely exhilarating about scuba diving through Japanese ship masts and seeing coral life now live on vessels shot down by the U.S. Army in the 1940’s.

Given that I only had 2 full days in Coron, I wanted to make sure I could see as much as possible for the island hopping tours available. For my second day, I opted for the Island Super Ultimate Tour, which was a great way to tackle all the sights in one go and took up a full day. The tour stopped at Barracuda Lake, Kayangan Lake, Siete Pecados, Banol Beach, Skeleton Wreck, CYC Beach, Malwawey Reef, and Twin Lagoons. Every single stop: breathtaking.

I wouldn’t spend more than 3 full days in Coron since it’s an island that doesn’t have clean beaches without traveling by boat and is quite small. As for sunset views, make sure you check out Mt. Tapyas hike or head up to Hop Hostel’s roof.

Second Stop: El Nido

Getting there: Ferry from Coron (be prepared for potential ferry debacles)

Days Needed: 5+ days

Accommodation: Output Hostel (Rating: 5/10) – crazy young party hostel, bad outlets (sounds dumb, but is important if you think about it), poor food and the only real perk is the location had amazing sunset views

Food Recommendations: Happiness Beach Bar, Altrove El Nido, The Nesting Table, Big Bad Thai Bistro and Bar, Bella Vita, Sava Beach Bar, Marimegmeg Beach Bar, The Birdhouse

Tour A, B, C or D? Do I go in order? Or…? After going on Tour A and Tour C (two of the most popular), it’s hard to believe that you could really go wrong with any one of them. The tours are consistent across all providers and you end up with a 9-4 boat day with lunch provided and snorkel masks. They will charge you to rent water shoes, which you will need on any boat tour in the Philippines given the jagged rocks. I will say that doing all four boat tours would feel like a bit of overkill, and 2 was the perfect amount mixed in with beach and island exploration days. Tour A destinations are Three Lagoons at Miniloc Island (Big Lagoon is SPECTACULAR), Shimizu Island, and Seven Commando Beach with Tour C going to Helicopter Island, Secret Beach, Matinloc Shrine, Talisay Beach. It’s hard to have a bad time on the boat tours and you most definitely will get all the most breathtaking photos you could ever imagine.

After one to many cocktails during a night out at Pukka Bar, I needed a day of R&R, and there was no better place to do this than Nacpan Beach. While not the easiest or quickest place to go to from town, it was well worth it. The ride from El Nido town is about 45 minutes in a tricycle (we paid the driver to stay all day which I recommend. It should be around 500 pesos each way.) As the WORLD’s 10th best beach, this destination did not disappoint. Water so clear you can see straight to your feet, and plenty of tasty coconuts to go around. Did I mention it’s empty and you can get an hour massage for $6 USD? The sunsets from Nacpan Beach are like something I’ve never seen before, and if you have the chance to stay here and wake up to a sunrise, I have heard that’s quite jaw dropping as well.

In dire need of changing the color of my corporate skin tone from printer paper white to golden, I opted for another local beach day at Las Cabanas Beach which is spectacular. Very loungy vibes at local beach bars where you can get your swing picture with a daiquiri in hand. The sunsets from this beach are also amazing and if you’re feeling super adventurous, you can do the zipline for $10USD, which I highly recommend because you feel like you have the aerial view of a drone over one of the prettiest places in the world.

Third Stop: San Juan (Siquijor)

Getting there: Flight from El Nido to Bohol then ferry to Siquijor

Days Needed: 3+ days

Accommodation: Tequila Sunset Air B & B (Rating: 9/10) Kel manages the property and is a super laid back Aussie who was extremely helpful, the accommodations were spacious and right on the water.

Food Recommendations: Coco Grove, Baha Bar (Live Music!), Luka Loco

Siquijor felt like a jungle island, filled with moquitos, marine life, and of course many waterfalls. Given that one of the full days I was there was Christmas, I decided to head to Paliton Beach, which was beautiful and had some of the nicest locals. Beware of sea urchins here since the water is filled with marine life that you may not be able to see. For the second full day in Siquijor (and once again due to limited time), I did an island tour which stopped at the famous Balete Tree, The Cantabon Cave, Saladoong Beach and my favorite of all, Cambuguhuay Falls. The island is small and it’s quite easy to get an open air van to drive you around the island, but whatever you do, do not miss Cambugahay Falls – it’s some of the brightest and freshest water I have ever jumped in (for a small fee you can jump off the rope swings into the water!). For the ultimate sunset, head to Coco Grove and snag the sunset IG from one of their hammocks on the beach.

Final thoughts and tips

Don’t forget to pack bug spray, water shoes (no joke), Immodium, and protein bars. Overall, the Philippines is amazing and breathtaking. I have traveled to over 35 countries, including the Maldives. While the Philippines are not the easiest and quickest place to travel around, the environmentally friendly Filipinos know how to keep their islands clean which makes every mile worth it.

Mykonos 101

July 17, 2017 by Lauren katzen

Mykonos Island... The perfect combo of beaches, partying and amazing food

Accommodation

I want to emphasize that the location of where you stay in Mykonos is really important given the issues around logistics on the island (which I will elaborate on). During my stay in Mykonos, I split my time between Mykonos Town and a 5 star resort that was secluded from everything. One key thing is if you stay in Mykonos town, it becomes closed off to pedestrians at a certain point, so get ready to carry your luggage down the narrow streets full of pedestrians.

We stayed at the Fresh Boutique Hotel,which had the perfect location in town, right next to top food places like Avra and Interni and nightlife locations like Void and Scandinavian Bar. Mykonos town has quaint streets and beautiful décor, along with some great shopping. The second half of our stay in Mykonos was at the Anax Resort and Spa, secluded on the cliff side and has only been open for 2 years now, which is no surprise by the décor, service and top-notch amenities throughout the resort.

Transportation

Transportation in Mykonos is an absolute disaster. Yes I read online that there are only 30 taxis, but no one gave me advice on the best way to get around. If you are not drinking, I would recommend getting an ATV, which allows you the freedom to get wherever you want whenever you want. I caution you though, people are crazy in Mykonos and definitely be smart about driving on one – it can be dangerous. Make sure you get at least 150cc, otherwise you’ll be crawling up the hills.

We rented an ATV our first day after waiting 30 minutes at the Taxi stand with no sign of a taxi. Getting a taxi in a short period of time is all luck in my opinion, and if you have reservations anywhere, it’s not worth risking and ruining your trip standing by a taxi stand the entire time. Mykonos also has this sneaky system of “private transfers,” (aka expensive taxi) and they linger outside the clubs/restaurants – they are definitely a last resort and can be a saving grace to get home so you’re not stranded outside the club at night (buyer beware they are pricey). Mentally prepare yourself and plan accordingly for transportation in Mykonos.

Food & Beach Bars

I ate my way through Greece, and I recommend that you do too. The food is fresh and amazing, and if you love seafood and Greek salads, then you’re in the right spot. If you want to go to some of the best food places in Mykonos, I highly encourage that you make reservation. Like many other European cultures, lunch doesn’t happen until around 4pm and dinner isn’t until 10pm and likewise clubs thereafter. Most of the beach lounges have restaurants attached to them, where you can have beds reserved to lay out and then go eat at the restaurant and return to soaking up the sun. I didn’t have one bad meal in Greece, so I'll highlight below some of my favorite places in Mykonos.

Alemagou: I missed Iza Goulart and Alessandra Ambrosio here but one day. This is a hippie, chic day beach club and food spot. This part of the island can get windy, so check the weather before you go. The food is good and the location is hidden which is rad, but make reservations.

Interni: This restaurant is in Mykonos town and has the coolest vibes inside – all white décor with overarching bougainvilleas. Cocktails are over 15 euro each, but they are crafty and yummy. Don’t be surprised if by midnight you have 60 year olds turning up and grabbing you to dance. Overpriced spot, but you’re paying for ambiance and a good time and it’s absolutely worth it.

Nammos: Nammos is definitely one of the “sceniest” places I have ever been, with everyone rolling in on their yachts and ordering more magnum bottles of rose than I’ve ever seen. This is a beach club and a restaurant. Note that there are politics related to where your beach lounges are, and it’ll cost you whopping 60 euro per beach bed, but the water is calm and clear for you to see right down to the bottom. 1pm it’ll be nice and quiet and by around 4 o’clock the yacht moms will be commandeering the tables dancing on them and having champagne showers. You might spot a VS model or pro athlete here, and I feel like Nammos is a place that shouldn’t be missed if you go to Mykonos. The 5 star restaurant attached has fresh seafood and prime time people watching. Make reservations for beds and the restaurant.

Sea Satin: Sea Satin, which is located in Mykonos Town, looked like a nice candlelit seafood dinner place when I arrived at 10pm, but after about 1 hour of being there for dinner, people were dancing on the tables the waiters were giving free shots. The food was excellent (expensive of course), but you pick out your dinner – fish, shrimp etc. and they cook it fresh family style. Don’t order King Crab Legs – they are frozen from Alaska.

Scorpios: Another “sceney” and expensive place with lots of older, yet very attractive and wealthy, people eating, drinking and dancing. Scorpios is a beach lounge in the day and then turns into a dinner and club/lounge (that closes at 1am!) at night. The setting is absolutely STUNNING and the food is quite amazing. This place is massive and has a hippie, bohemian vibe to it, almost like Coachella. Get the hummus- you won’t be disappointed.

Spilia: Spilia is a tucked away, romantic and tiny restaurant built in to the cliff side near Agia Anna. This place is not sceney and not turning up quite like the other places I’ve talked about so far. The views are amazing and so is the food. They are known for their Uni, so if this is your thing then you should definitely order it. We also ordered the sun dried octopus which you can see is fresh when you walk up and it was to die for. Spilia is a must do if you are in Mykonos.

Looking for late night food? Try Souvlaki Story in Mykonos Town or one of the many crepe places to satisfy your sweet tooth.

There are several great beach bars and restaurants in Mykonos (Avra, Panormos, Solymar, Kalua etc.), and while expensive, they are fun and have good food. I didn’t highlight all spots out there to go to, but these are just some of my favorites. And if you still have enough energy after day partying then head to Cavo Paradiso, Scandanavian Bar, Carpice, Void, Paradise club, or one of the many more places to watch a Mykonos sunrise.

Next stop… Santorini!

Hidden Gem: Ischgl, Austria

January 07, 2017 by Lauren katzen

Snowboarding has been a passion of mine since the ripe age of thirteen years old, when I had my first snowboarding lesson at June Mountain. There is something so exhilarating about snowboarding for me… I am not sure if it’s the speed, or the fact that you can always be better, or maybe it’s all the different trails and mountains that are out there to discover. I find the mountains calm and serene, and always tear up when I get to a view point on a mountain as I inhale crisp air and look out over mother nature’s beauty, feeling blessed at by the fact I am healthy and I am present.

While I’ve only been snowboarding in the United States, I decided to take my adventure into a completely new ski town… Ischgl, Austria. When you go on a ski trip in the US, most resort areas have a village center and then areas where people rent houses, apartments etc. My favorite part about Iscghl was that everything was within a 10 minute walk, and there were no houses or apartments or timeshares. It was all Europeans staying in the Bavarian inspired hotels or B&Bs. This gave Ischgl a sense of community, which I hadn’t felt in other ski towns I’ve been to. It felt small and personal which I loved.

I will continue with all the amazing things about Ischgl. Anyone who has been to mountain resorts in the US knows how expensive the sport is here, but when I purchased my lift ticket in Iscghl for one day, it was only $55 USD. Mind you, this isn’t some small mountain like Big Bear with no snow… This is a HUGE mountain on the Austrian/Swiss Alps border. With over 45 lifts and 80 runs, this mountain has plenty of terrain to snowboard or ski and with high enough elevations, there was plenty of snow. Most of all, the views from up on the gondola or the chair lifts of the Alps are absolutely breathtaking.

One of the famous things Ischgl is known for is après ski. While I came to this resort to ski and see the Alps, it is a huge plus when you’re 26 and there’s also lots of other people in your age range who are spending time post ski drinking and mingling. Needless to say, around 4pm the bars are packed and people are still wearing their ski clothes with beverages in hand. The quiet ski town that sleeps during the day when people are skiing, all the sudden comes alive at 4pm. It was like nothing I had ever seen before. People were jolly and friendly, and since I was alone, I made friends with a group of friends that live all over Europe and were on their 10th annual ski trip. They quickly showed me the ropes of après ski which involved dancing and singing to local music, and ordering drinks consistently from the bartenders dressed in traditional Bavarian outfits. Being one of few American tourists in the sea of people was unforgettable.

I don’t know what more to say about Ischgl, Austria, except for the fact this is a hidden gem, and of all the places I’ve traveled, I will absolutely be traveling back here again.

Know Before You Go: the Maldives

January 20, 2016 by Lauren katzen

Bright blue pristine waters, pure white sand, and beach hut bungalows – welcome to the Maldives. The Maldives is a popular destination for many honeymooners looking to escape and relax, much like Tahiti and other tropical places. But since I was only an hour flight away from these islands, I decided to hop on a plane to experience the Microsoft desktop background I stare at every day at work.

I learned a lot while researching and taking this trip, and here are a few things I think you should know before you go!

Religion

One of the most important things I learned about the Maldives is that the government declared Islam as the official religion of the country in 1997. While this doesn’t sound like a big deal, it is. Freedom of religion in the Maldives is strictly prohibited, among many other things. This means no alcohol, no pork, and no bikinis. Yup, you read that correctly- no bikinis…unless you’re at a resort. If you decide to stay at a resort, feel free to lather on the SPF 4 and wear your swimsuit all you want, but if you are on one of the local islands, there is a strict dress code that one must cover their shoulders and thighs. There are some local beaches for tourists on the islands, such as Maafushi Island, but once you step foot off the beach be ready to be fully clothed in tropical weather.

Resorts

If you want to drink beers while watching a sunset and get a few shades darker, you’ll want to stay at one of the resorts in the Maldives. The Maldives has over 100 resorts, each as its own island. As you can imagine, you pay a hefty premium to tan and enjoy alcoholic beverages on a deserted island, but I will say it is worth it. I ordered a Diet Coke while watching the sunset and it only set me back $6.00 (no refills). I chose not to do an all-inclusive package because I knew it didn’t make economic sense for me, but many resorts offer this option and you may want to consider it if you like unlimited sodas, beer and food.

Activities

I highly recommend researching the resort activities because it is easy to get bored if you don’t like reading books or sitting in the sun for too long. Consider things like scuba diving, snorkeling, day trips, and how easy/difficult and or costly it is at your resort. I stayed at the Eriyadu Resort, which has a house reef surrounding the island and this was a huge benefit since I never had to leave the island to snorkel. For $8.00 a day I snorkeled all around the island with sea turtles, nurse sharks, and sting rays. This was probably the best bargain of the trip.

Transportation

Logistics in the Maldives can be a pain. You will arrive in Male, the capital of the Maldives. From there, you will either take a speedboat or sea plane to your resort, or a ferry to the local islands. Be mindful that many resorts group arrivals and departures, so while you’re flight may land at 2pm, you may not board your speedboat until 4pm when more people who are at the same resort arrive. Be prepared for weather delays and extra costs for sea planes and speed boats. If you decide to take a ferry to a local island, it is very inexpensive. If you're planning on taking the ferries, be aware that theydon't always run that often and don't run on Fridays for religious purposes.

Conclusion

Despite the cost staying at a resort while traveling to the Maldives, I thoroughly enjoyed every minute I was there. The money spent was well worth the tan, good memories and pictures with sharks and turtles. If you want to know more about the Maldives just let me know!

City spotlight: tel aviv, israel

August 27, 2015 by Lauren katzen

Did you know?

Population (City): +500K

Year founded: 1909

Fact: Tel Aviv was the first all Jewish city ever founded

Wait really? Israel has more companies listed on NASDAQ than any other country outside the U.S.

Meaning of Tel Aviv in Hebrew: Tel= Hill and Aviv = Spring. Tel Aviv = Hill of Spring

Currency: New Israeli Shekel (1 USD:3.92 ISL)

One word to describe Tel Aviv: Dynamic

Must try: Goldstar Beer (dark lager)

My Experience:

This past summer I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to go on Birthright, and extend my journey for 6 days in the amazing city of Tel Aviv. I am typically one to do extensive research before any trip, but I was tied up at work and spare time didn’t exist. I decided to wing it in Tel Aviv and this may have been one of the best decisions of the trip. Below is a quick glimpse into my time in Tel Aviv.

Culture:

It may come as a surprise when I tell you that Tel Aviv is considered to be the gay capital of the Middle East. I find this fascinating, considering the fact that surrounding counties have some of the harshest penalties for people of the LGBT community. Tel Aviv is a city that is open and tolerant, and is home to one of the largest gay pride parades in the world. To add to Tel Aviv’s verve, the city is at the forefront of the tech spotlight, with over 5,000 start-ups, coining the term “Startup Nation” for Israel. You know what this means? There’s free wifi everywhere!

The Food:

If you think Sabra makes good hummus you need to travel to the Mediterranean to have your mind blown. All of the foods are fresh and flavorful, and I definitely indulged in all the foods the city had to offer. Here are a few of my favorites and places I highly recommend:

Miznon : If you are looking for quick Israeli food, this is the spot. They make amazing pitas filled with all kinds of goodness. This little hole in the wall restaurant, filled with a funky vibe and loud Israeli music, is run by famous Israeli chef, Eyal Shani, and surely will not disappoint. The fresh tahini mixed with minute steak in a fresh pita is simply mouthwatering!

Dallal: Dallal is located in Neve Tzedek, which happens to be one of Tel Aviv’s oldest districts. Neve Tzedek is a romantic neighborhood with narrow streets, boutiques, art galleries and high end restaurants. If you have time take a stroll around and explore! The restaurant itself is small, yet beautiful, with a relaxing mood and outstanding decor. My meal here may have been the best meal in my life and I will never forget it: Seabass with truffle pasta.

Tamara Yogurt: Tamara Yogurt blows Pinkberry out of the water. Not only is it the freshest yogurt I have ever had, but they also give unlimited toppings (as many fit in the container). After a rough day of tanning on the beach this is a great refresher.

Old Man and the Sea: If you didn’t read Ernst Hemingway’s book “Old Man and the Sea” in high school, it’s a quick easy read and was the inspiration for this restaurant. Located in Jaffa, Old Man and the Sea involves a wonderful experience for eating Arab Israeli food. As soon as you sit down they immediately bring over upwards of 20 dips (all fresh) and pita bread to dip. After enjoying the dips, ocean views, and some fresh seafood, I suggest walking over towards the port to check out the street fair (Saturdays).

Port Sa’id: I ended up at Port Saiid more than once during my stay in Tel Aviv. This restaurant has the same head chef as Miznon, but has a very different feel. It gets extremely crowded at night, with people (hipsters) overflowing into the street while having a drink and listening to the record player. With this being said, if you want to eat here, I recommend going for lunch. It is a tapas style restaurant, which is great because you can order a lot and share with everyone. I tried everything from meat that was roasted for 7 hours with tahini to a chicken sandwich. If you are looking for a fun place to get a beer or two at night before heading out, this is an awesome spot right of Allenby to hang out for a while.

Benedict: If you want breakfast food/brunch or have late night drunchies you might end up at Benedict. They are open 24 hours and have great chocolate chip pancakes in case you are wondering what to order.

Shopping:

Nahalat Benyamin St: On Tuesday and Friday mornings there is a street market with handmade arts and crafts. This is a great time to pick up a gift for your sister (cute handmade necklace) or wind chime for your Dad.

Shuk Ha Carmel: This market is full of fresh fruits and veggies, cheap jewelry and clothing, and is jam packed on Fridays when people go out to purchase everything for Shabbat.

Dizengoff St: Dizengoff Street has several clothing boutiques, cafes and is a fun street to walk down. Stop by a juice stand and get a fresh squeezed OJ if you have the chance.

Beaches:

The beaches in Tel Aviv are all beautiful with white sand, warm water, and… jelly fish (meduzots). You can pay a few shekels and rent a chair/umbrella for the day, which makes your time in Tel Aviv truly feel like a vacation. In Tel Aviv, the beaches are named by what street they are closest to, which makes it simple if you are using Google Maps. If you are looking for a young crowd or the “popular” beaches, you should find a spot in the sand anywhere between Gordon Street and Allenby St. Frishman Beach is action-filled, full of tourists and also a lot of fun. The one beach I didn’t get to go to but wanted to was Herzliya beach. From what I have heard and researched, Herzliya Beach is the place to go to relax, since it is away from the crowds (15 min away) and is filled with cute restaurants and young people.

Nightlife:

Tel Aviv nightlight is not one to be missed and doesn’t follow the same schedule as the U.S. social scene. Things don’t get poppin’ until around 1 a.m., so make sure you take a long nap on the beach to get ready for a night out on the town. My favorite thing about going out in Tel Aviv was that the women were natural- barely any makeup and dress very casual. Here are a few clubs and bars to check out if you’re feeling up to it: Clara, Valium, The Passage, Jackson Bar, Bootleg, Kuli Alma, Breakfast Club, and Radio. Le Haim! (Cheers!)

Conclusion:

As you can see, dynamic is one of the best words to describe Tel Aviv based on the few things I touched on above. Tel Aviv is a contrast to any other city that I traveled to while I was in Israel. Everyone speaks English, people are less religious and more hedonistic and it’s becoming a tech capital. It is a spectacular and vibrant place, with wonderful foods and nightlife, and if you have the chance to go I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. Check out my time lapse I shot of a Tel Aviv sunset below - Enjoy!