Hello everyone and welcome back. In this post I ‘ll be sharing my experience of our stay at the Camping Jungfrau Holiday Park in Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland.
So before I go into details I would just like to stay that when you are in Switzerland , you want to be as close as possible to the nature , open air which is why I would recommend not to go looking for high end hotels. When I found this gem , I thought to myself this is going to be the best trip ever. I have always wanted to camp in a place that offered breath taking views when you wake up and trust me this is it and it ‘ll be worth every penny of yours. Another thing I had to keep in mind was my 17 month old , I obviously couldn’t go in the middle of no where with him and Camping Jungfrau is absolutely child friendly. If that isn’t enough for you then let me just say that Camping Jungfrau received a 9.4/10 on booking.com 2017 Guest Review Award , 4.5/5 on tripadvisor.com 4.6/5 on google reviews , I mean basically everywhere you ‘ll look you ‘ll find nothing but excellent reviews and once you are there you ‘ll see why.
Arriving
We arrive at Genève Aéroport early morning around 7:00 from Belgium. We got our car and left right away for Lauterbrunnen , drive of about 2 hours 20 minutes. There are plenty of fast food and healthy food options along the route but they ‘ll end about around 30 minutes before you are in Lauterbrunnen. You know you have reached Camping Jungfrau Holiday Park when you see the Staubbach Falls. We parked in front of the reception located right next to the restaurant Weidstübli Lauterbrunnenon on site. We arrived around 1:30 pm the reception was on lunch break so we had to wait outside. Luckily somebody came, asked us our information and showed us to our bungalow and kindly asked us to check in once the reception opened around 2:30. That was really nice of them because traveling with a child can be super tiring and that gave us some time to settle in and get some rest. When we went to check in the super friendly staff checked us in as well as helped us decide what to do and see the three days we were going to be there.
Bungalow Details
We got a fully equipped bungalow which included one bedroom with a queen sized bed ( i am guessing ) , the other room had a bunk bed , bathroom with shower area and a full loaded kitchen which included utensils , pots , coffee maker, toaster and a fridge. I think the kitchen was such a great addition for us I was able to warm Azlan’s milk ( my 17th month old ) , make breakfast and tea whenever we needed to relax.
Nearby
Inside the reception there is also a grocery store which has everything that you might need for your stay from fresh milk , eggs to other needs as well as souvenirs. Right next to it there is wonderful restaurant as i mentioned before called Weidstübli Lauterbrunnen. They have a pretty diverse menu to choose from so, I am pretty sure you can find something for even the picky eaters. There is a playground right on property near where the RV’s are parked for kids , which is a great thing if you are traveling with little ones like we did. I think its important to find time to just walk around the area , there is a lot to see as you keep walking obviously the Staubbach Falls is the first thing you’ll see but if you walk towards the left side you ‘ll small family farms along the way take deep breaths and just enjoy nature like its meant to be enjoyed.There is a train station nearby about 10-15 min walk that can take you to nearby towns.
I hope this article helped you guys , if you have any further question while you are planning feel free to ask. Enjoy the photographs and the video tour below.
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Bonjour tout le monde! On our recent trip to Geneva , we had the pleasure of staying at the Luxurious Ritz Carlton Geneva. My husband and I were trying to decide between Ritz Carlton or The President Wilson hotel, we ended up choosing Ritz Carlton because they always have amazing service. Our last stay at Ritz Carlton was when we went to Honolulu, you can read that post by clicking here.
So the hotel is located on the Quai du Mont-Blanc street , right in front of the Jet d’Eau which is Geneva’s most famous landmark and is easily accessible from the hotel on foot. The location is particularly wonderful because you are in walking distance of plenty of things such as shopping, high rated restaurants , boat rides, cruises , parks etc. Traveling with our 17 month old , ease was always our priority.
Checking In
As we arrived the super attentive and friendly staff checked us in , the manager came and welcomed us as well. Our suite wasn’t ready when we arrived so we had to wait 15-20 min and traveling with a young child is already tough enough but the manager and their staff made sure we were comfortable until our suite was ready, they settled us in into the Living Room Bar & Kitchen which is right across the lobby and offered us free snacks and coffee.We did get a Garden Suite which was nice but we wanted something with the view of Lake Geneva. Unfortunately, they had some tour group coming the same weekend and all of those rooms were booked.
The hotel is very clean, all of their staff is super friendly and always ready to help you out.The hotel is child friendly , we were offered a crib but my son doesn’t really like sleeping in new cribs because he so used to the one at home so we were okay. We had a king bed which was enough for the three of us. I also ran out of whole milk for Azlan and was too tired to go looking for a grocery store so I asked in the lobby instead if they would be able to provide us with a bottle of milk , they did bring us a glass of milk but they didn’t have any bottles which worked out okay for us.
Bed & Bath
In the bathroom Asprey bath amenities are available as well as a hair dryer, scale , robes and slippers. Toilets are separate , Bidet/Muslim shower is also located in the toilet room. Bathroom is equipped with a bath tub and a shower area. Bedroom has a big cozy sofa and the second room also has a sofa bed. Working desk with stationary set , coffee maker and in-room bar is also available in the second room. Other things included were:
Full-length mirror, iron with ironing board
Complimentary Wifi was also provided
Two LCD Televisions With Cable
Complimentary bottled water is provided daily.
Room service done twice a day. morning/evening
Getting Around
Just another fyi , there is no ramp at the entrance so you actually have to pick up the stroller to take in and out of the door , the doorman actually helped us pick it up every time we had to go out. Since , we did have a car your only option is to valet park at the hotel, no self parking available because parking is so tight around this area. The car parking costs extra $45 per day which can be pretty expensive. If you have older kids who are good with public transportation then its your lucky day , Ritz Carlton offered each of us a free pass to use for public transportation which can save you a lot of money. Shopping at Rue du Mont-Blanc is only a 5-10 minute walk from the hotel , plenty of restaurants as well as high end brands are available here but obviously a lot of walking is required you can easily spend half or a whole day here. ( To name a few: Louis Vuitton , Hermes, Burberry , Zara , H&M , Guess , Souvenir Stores etc. ) Visit the famous landmark of Geneva located right across the hotel Jet d’Eau or take a stroll in the park. Boat and Cruises are located along the Jet d’Eau park as well , walk around to find the option that fits your schedule the best.
Overall , It was definitely a great experience and stay. I am always in awe of how amazing and helpful the Ritz Carlton staff is , it leaves me speechless every-time. Scroll below to see of my photographs and video tour of the hotel as well as our room. Thankyou for reading if you have questions don’t forget to comment below.
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Welcome back everyone . Its been a while since i have finished writing my blogs lol they are all sitting in drafts , been so busy lately.Today I ‘ll be sharing my trip and tips to the beautiful city of Brugge in Belgium. We took this trip early April but I can’t imagine how dreamy it must be during winter when all those Christmas lights are on. Brugge or Bruges is recognized by its gorgeous canals and medieval buildings. Its a small yet gorgeous little town full of history. Its best to arrive early and take the whole day to walk around and see everything it has to offer.
I didn’t realize since we went on a Sunday , I was expecting everything to be closed but it actually has a great traffic free shopping street with all kinds of low and high end brands which were open until 6 even on a Sunday but we walked through that street exactly around 6 so everything was closing bummer for me yay for my kid and husband hehe.
Taking a boat through the canals of Brugge is a must do. You can do a boat tour or a horse carriage tour they both end up around 50$ , we decided to go with the boat. The boat ride was around 50 minutes, Azlan ( my 16 month old at the time ) being a super hyper baby who loves water , I had a little phobia that he might want to jump off the boat. That particular thought made me make sure to take my baby carrier with me and I had him strapped in it through out our boat ride. To my surprise it went surprisingly well and he loved the boat ride so much he didn’t wanna get off in the end. I have had the BabyBjorn Baby carrier since Azlan was born and it has been great , I will make sure to post the link below.
I think its a great place to visit and spend a whole day . Near the shopping street , there is a whole area with restaurants of all kinds. Plenty of souvenir shops , that you must visit to purchase something nice for yourself, family or friends. They have carousels and other attractions for young kids.
The drive from Mechelen to Brugge was pleasant as well , its only about 1 hour and 30 min , probably an hour if you are coming from Brussels. Plenty of gas stations on the way to stop for a quick snack or if you are with kids bathroom breaks. To my surprise unlike in the United States the gas station we stopped at had a cost to use the bathroom services. I had to change Azlan’s diaper and the way it worked was it was a few cents that you had to put in to use the restrooms and they pay you those cents back in a coupon which you can use to purchase something for the store. Coming from the States that was quite shocking for me lol but anyways I definitely think its a great idea though.I hope you guys enjoyed this post , photographs and the video tour below. Stay updated by subscribing to my accounts below for more travel related posts.
Fossil Rim Wildlife & Safari park is an endangered species research and conservation center located in Glen Rose, Texas. About an hour drive from Fort Worth and includes over 1,000 animals from 50 species. Great place to take kids and adults, you can drive your on vehicle or take a guided tour.Prices vary from 20- 25$ depending on day of the week, children under 2 are free. Food for animals is 7$ per vehicle. More information at https://fossilrim.org
Don’t forget to Donate before you leave ! <3
Enjoy!
Fossil Rim Cafe At The Top
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Alohaaaa my beautiful people ! This blog is long overdue I know , life has been pretty busy lately.I am still working on the video travel diary which will be available soon , I want it to be perfect which is why I am taking my time hehe. Thank you to everyone who read and watched my Ritz Carlton blog. You guys are the best and if you haven’t you can read it by clicking here. Also, you are always welcome to leave your feedback below in the comments , I would love to see what you guys think.
Anyways all that aside let me take you on a beautiful journey to one of the incredibly beautiful places on this earth Hawaii! Hawaii is made up of 8 Islands , my husband and I visited Maui for our honeymoon ( read it here ) which is known as “The Valley Isle,” and is the second largest Hawaiian island.It is a recommended Island for honeymooners because its less noisy and has a secluded feel to it. This time for our 5th year engagement anniversary , we visited Oahu which is known as the “Heart of Hawaii”. It is the third largest Hawaiian island and is home to the majority of Hawaii’s diverse population, different cultures and also home to the state capital of Hawaii, Honolulu.
So , it was our first time leaving Azlan with my parents for more then 1 day, so I was kind of worried how he will react. He was only 6 months ,turned out he doesn’t care about me lol jk but he enjoyed staying with my parents and didn’t give them a hard time at all but since it was his first time without us, we did keep our trip short to 3-4 days.My husband surprised me with the tickets a few days before and asked me to create a little itinerary of the places I would like to see. Shaka Oahu app is a great way to have a to godrivingmap of all the tourist spots.It uses your location to let you know about all the interesting spots as you drive around. If you don’t have a lot of time on your hands to create an itinerary, I would definitely recommend this.
So there are two sides to the Island .. Waikiki,Honolulu has all the city views and North Shore has all the natural landscapes. Both sides are short drives away from each other and are amazing in their own ways so do plan to see both. We rented our car from Hertz , definitely recommend renting a car because you get to stop and explore on your own whenever you want, which is what exploring is all about.
“If You Want To Share Please Give Credit With The Picture Or Ask For Permission. Thankyou”
Leaving From DFW Airport
“If you are wondering about using your DSLR during your flight, this should give you the answer.”
” 8 hour non-stop flight from DFW Airport , finally arriving over the Islands of Hawaii “
Views Of Downtown Honolulu From Our Hotel The Ritz Carlton Waikiki
Lookouts
Breath taking lookouts of Oahu are definitely a must see when visiting the Island. These lookouts aren’t just beautiful but some of them have plenty of history behind them as well.
Nu‘uanu Pali Lookout
” It does get very windy up here so hold on tight to your stuff & your wife lol :p “
Tantalus Lookout
“So this lookout is what I considered my win win view instead of doing the Diamond Head hike.”
Puʻu ʻUalakaʻa State Wayside
“Keep driving up once you arrive at Tantalus Lookout & You’ll end up at this beautiful sight”
” Hi Hunny <3 _ <3 “
Hālona Blowhole Lookout
If you are in Oahu and don’t come here , you really missed out. The Hālona Blowhole is one of Hawaii’s natural wonders , the sea water comes gushing out in the air through the rock formation created thousand of year ago by volcanic eruptions. It was definitely very windy when we were there, I am not sure what its usually like and it also started raining again so yeah bummer because my photographs came all blurry.This blowhole not only offers great views of the ocean but the Koko Crater is located right behind it as well. The Halona Beach Cove is located right underneath it as well , one of Hawaii’s iconic beaches.
” Then came the rainbow “
Sunset View
We were told by one of the staff of Ritz Carlton to stop by this lookout on our way back from the Halona blowhole. it doesn’t really have a name but it was near Hanauma Bay. You ‘ll see cars parked in the lookout parking and thats just how we found it and enjoyed the sunset.
Makapuu Lookout
Definitely another must see , plenty of parking and beautiful views. Great place to view humpback whales if you come in winter.
Hiking
Manoa Falls Trail
I really wanted to do a hike this time in Hawaii but because I had never hiked before. Since I had developed back pain after my pregnancy I wasn’t too sure if I would be able to do it. Its not everyday that you get to go to Hawaii , so I really didn’t want to have any regrets. I decided to go for it and after some research decided to choose between Manoa Falls or The Diamond Head Crater. Obviously, Majority of people go for the Diamond Head because it is the most popular attraction/hike of Oahu. I read that you get really sweaty and you have to leave early morning otherwise it gets very crowded. I absolutely hate crowds ! When I think of Hawaii, I think of peace , nature , relaxation and none of that crowd, sweaty business.
Both hikes are 0.8 miles (one way) both are estimated to take about 2 hours but if you are in good health it wont take two hours. It took my husband and I barely 25 min to get to the fall. Elevation change for Manoa Trail – 800 ft vs Diamond Head 560 ft. I went for Manoa Falls because its surrounded in nature and I get a view of the beautiful fall up close , I wasn’t really interested in the views offered by the diamond head which I got to see through another place anyway without doing that hike so win win for me. ( I ‘ll talk about that next ) Another reason I chose this trail was because some of the scenes from one of my favorite show Lost were shot here .
We arrived around 9:00 AM , parked our car in the parking lot . There is a guy walking around to whom you have to pay the money for parking.(Cash) I believe it was 5-10$ , don’t remember for sure. Then you have to walk up to the entrance and begin your journey. God really wanted me to have the full nature experience , it started sprinkling lightly as we began and ahhh the fresh air , muddy trail, sounds of birds chirping and water stream , absolutely beautiful. Make sure you have proper clothes and sturdy sneakers on , a light jacket and plenty of water bottles. The trail does get muddy and slippery specially if its rainy , you never know when it’ll start raining.There are some steep slopes along the way , better to take it slow and grab on to the giant rocks to climb.
“The Banyan Tree”
Charlie from Lost was hanged at the Banyan Tree in episode 1.11 “All the Best Cowboys Have Daddy Issues”
( Plenty of other scenes were shot here , this is just one example )
“The earlier you go the lesser the crowd and more enjoyable for you”
Other Hiking Spots To Consider
Koko Head
Diamond Head
Makapuu Lighthouse
Waimea Falls
Maunawili Falls
Haiku Stairs – Stairway to Heaven ( Illegal & Closed to public for now )
Kualoa Ranch
So here I go another location that I wanted to visit because “Lost” was shot here.heheh But hey even if you have never heard of the show or you just don’t like for some weird reason like my husband Ahem.. This has been THE LOCATION for plenty of your favorite movies and tv series such as Jumanji, 50 First Dates, Jurassic Park etc. Plenty of things to do here , they have got tour packages for you to choose from and plenty of activities as well. Do keep the opening hours in mind before you go and plan ahead, you might want to spend a whole day here who knows. 😉
( of course I was searching for my losties 😀 )
” Some of these horses have been in movies “
“View of Chinaman’s Hat from the ranch”
Ahupua’a O Kahana State Park
Well we just landed on this gem randomly but I loved it because no one was here. I love it when there is nobody else at the beach but me lol Its peaceful and hey I even found something that looked like a coconut maybe it was but I am unsure. Even-though the pictures look gloomy because of the cloudy and rainy weather , I still think it was amazing and breathtaking.
“one of my favorite pictures , taken on our drive back from the beach”
The North Shore
The north shore is your destination to get out of the city life and enjoy a gorgeous scenic drive in the north side of Oahu. We actually went for Manoa Falls hike first and then left for the north shore drive right after. You ‘ll just have to stop and see everything that will come your way. Plenty of beaches , farmer’s markets and activities to do here . If you are planning for some activities such as diving with sharks ( you know you want to ) hehe so search and call ahead of time to confirm your booking.
” Stopped here to take a lunch break and sip on that yummy fresh organic Hawaiian Coconut “
Turtle Beach” at Laniakea.
You ‘ve just got to stop by and meet these cuties .
“please follow the rules and do not touch them. Let them enjoy as well.”
“Other location to view turtles will be at Kaena Point side of Ali’i Beach Park ( Haleiwa )”
Sunset Beach
“Known for big waves surfing”
” how sweet is my husband ya’ll …. thanks hun” 😀
Food
Doraku Izakaya and Sushi
Located inside the Royal Hawaiian Center , pretty nice staff and great tasting food.
Bombay Palace
Located on Ala Moana Blvd in heart of Waikiki. We walked from our hotel Ritz Carlton instead of driving and it was definitely a good idea to walk but not so much after eating though haha. I don’t know why for some reason every time I have eaten Desi food in Hawaii, It has been AMAZINGLY DELICIOUS. That should just some it up for you , obviously its Hawaii so its a bit on the pricy side side but totally worth it.Yummmmyyy!!
SPA LATHER
The Ritz-Carlton Spa was completely booked for the time we were there , So we decided to go to a different one. The concierge at Ritz-Carlton recommended and booked us with Spa Lather at the Modern Honolulu. Great environment and staff,I decided to get the LOMI-LOMI Massage + The hot stone therapy . The lady that worked with me was wonderful and understanding specially because I told her about my back pain after pregnancy. Therefore she paid extra attention to my back, definitely worth the money,
Snorkeling
The best spot in Oahu to snorkel is Hanauma Bay located on the southeast coast. We couldn’t go because of the rainy and chilly weather but that is definitely a recommended place to visit. Parking is limited and there is a fee , best thing to do is leave early as possible. It is closed on Tuesday because they like to give the reef some break.
So thats it for now. Watch my Oahu Travel Diary Video Below.
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“The Banyan Tree”
” Some of these horses have been in movies “
