The food scene in Cape Town is as bold and vibrant as the city itself. Every meal I had was full of color and flavor, and a lot of them were almost too pretty to eat. Almost. I spent a week and a half there at the end of February soaking up the summer sun and exploring the coast. Below are a few of my favorite restaurants in the city.

The food here was next-level gorgeous and crazy unique. The lunch menu (R245 per person) includes six tapas-style plates. You can also add a bread board for R35. 

The dishes included:
Smoked Potato Panna Cotta – tuna tartare / leek / lentil soil
Boerenkaas Croquettes – curried aioli / shaved radish
Tomato Salad – smoked buffalo curd / Bhaji / tamatie smoor / chive oil
Free range chicken – sweet corn / crème fraiche / chive oil/ quail’s egg
Organic Beetroots – whipped goat’s milk yoghurt / black rice / onion powder
Roasted Cauliflower – purée / sambal / coconut curry / pistachio / fennel seeds

You'll find this one atop almost every single "best restaurant" list in Cape Town. It's a huge hit, and I get why. But it's also a little overly expensive. The pork belly changed my life it was so good, but the goat cheese and parm fries were way too rich. While several of the restaurants on this list serve tasting menus that allow you to sample a little bit of everything, The Pot Luck Club is more traditional. 

I ordered: 
Pork belly, Jerusalem artichoke relish, pecan butter, parmesan and celeriac foam–R170
Lamb rib, pomegranate and harissa marinated tomato, cauliflower and buffalo yogurt puree, sultanas and preserved lemon dressing–R180
Goat cheese and parmesan tries with aioli and tomato ketchup–R75
Mint and chocolate ice cream sandwich–R90

Absolutely everything I ate at Janse & Co blew my mind. It was by far and away one of the best meals I've ever had. You can get as many plates as you want, but I chose to do three for R385. 

My three courses:
​Tomatoes: Dr. Weiss, striped german, sweet currant, consomme 
Mussels, papino melon, charcoal butter, chives
Raw Dexter beef, oyster emulsion, linseeds

This is probably the best bang for your buck. If there was a set menu, I wasn't aware of it. The waiter just kept bringing out plates, it was delightful. The lunch tasting experience was R350 per person. I also got a gin cocktail with Barker and Quinn hibiscus tonic, fresh berries and thyme for R80.

To start, they brought out chicken liver parfait with a fig compote.
Then impala carpaccio, garlic marinated tomato, crispy garlic, olive oil and parsley with Kabous #2 (a type of bread they make) croutes on the side. 
Next, they served a local hake dish
Followed by Karoo lamb
To finish, I had ice cream and fig financiers with cream and toasted pecans

And lastly, a special shout out to Reverie Social Table, where 18 strangers crowd around one long table to enjoy a 5-course meal and tons of wine. It was incredible in every way, but I didn't take a single picture because I was so busy talking to the people around me.

I ate supremely well in Barcelona. Before my trip, I'd never been to a Michelin star restaurant. I never thought I was the type of person who could afford such luxury. But then I discovered lunch menus, and a whole new world of culinary bliss was opened to me. 

Sure, the concept of lunch isn't new. But at a few of the city's best restaurants, mediodía (midday) tasting menus are €50-100 cheaper than regular tasting menus, and it's much easier to snag a table. 

Lunch at the following Michelin starred restaurants cost between €35 and €50 per person. That's not the cheapest meal, but it's on par with what you would pay at most good places in Barcelona. If I splurged on lunch, I would typically balance it out with a cheap dinner from the market: shaved ham or salami, cheese, a baguette and a cup of cherries for less than €5. Spain is great.

Though there are often empty seats available at lunch time, it's always best to make a reservation so the chefs can prepare. Michelin star dining is a whole production. Unfortunately, if you have dietary restrictions or severe food allergies, these restaurants are probably not for you as the menus are specialized and set. 

Wednesday-Saturday, 1:30-3:30 pm
€42

This place was so good I actually ate there twice. I recommend sitting at the bar–it's fun to watch the chefs prepare the plates, and it makes the whole thing feel a little less formal. The menu changes every week depending on what's available at the market. So I had two different meals, but they followed the same structure:  

• 3 amuses-bouche 
• Bread with three flavors of butter, made in house: Black olive, tomato and rosemary
• A lighter starter (1 of 2 options)
• Then a heavier main (1 of 2 options)
• Dessert or a selection of cheeses
• Water, a glass of red or white wine and coffee are included in the price
• They will typically ask if you would like a glass of cava to start. It's an additional €8.

On my first visit, I got a zucchini salad, steak and potatoes and the cheese selection. On the second, I got tuna tartar, lamb shoulder and Saint Honoré for dessert. Both knocked me over they were so good. On the second visit, I was invited to take my coffee up to the roof of the hotel. There's a bar and pool up there that overlook the whole neighborhood. It's absolutely breathtaking.

Via Laietana, 49 (Hotel Ohla Barcelona) Barcelona 08003

Tuesday-Friday, 1:00-4:00 pm
​€38 "Executive Menu"

Unlike most of the other restaurants on this list, Xerta doesn't reveal what's on their "Executive Menu" online. Once you order it, the wait staff recites your options. But this is the structure:

• A bunch of "appetisers"
• Bread course
• Starter (1 of 2 options)
• Choice of a meat or fish dish
• Dessert (1 of 2 options)
• "Mini sweets" (petit fours)
• Water and a glass of red or white wine are included in the price
• You will be offered coffee (typically espresso) at the end of the meal. It's an additional €3.30

On the day I visited, the appetisers included a mini ice cream cone topped with some kind of savory cream, mango gazpacho, and a map with four different bite-sized snacks. The map depicted Tarragona, the province just south of Barcelona where Xerta's chef Fran López was born. The starter I chose was a delicious rice dish, which ended up being one of the best things I ate the whole trip. It had garlic and mushrooms and who knows what else, but it was GOOD. After that I was in heaven and barely paid attention to the fish dish I ordered. The waiter said it was traditional for the region. It was basically just a bowl of stuff from the sea: a shrimp, a squid, fish, etc. For dessert, a sweet cream custard served in a frozen orange peel. 

Còrsega 289 (Ohla Eixample Hotel) Barcelona, 08008

Monday-Friday, 1:30-3:30 pm
€50

By far the most expensive meal I had in Barcelona, but also easily the highest quality. There wasn't a single weak course, and it felt like the perfect amount of food. Angle is helmed by famed chef Jordi Cruz, one of the stars of MasterChef Spain. Cruz's other restaurant ABaC has earned three Michelin stars and is way out of my league (no cheap lunch menus there). 

One thing I liked about Angle was that the menu spelled out exactly what they were serving. Usually these restaurants bring you a few extra things like the amuses-bouche and petit fours, but Angle put it all on the menu:

• Frozen, smoked latxa sheep’s cheese with Leon cured beef chips
• Braised young leek with black garlic charcoal bread and chilli romesco sauce
• White asparagus from Navarra with citrus water and curry spheres
• Red mullet and small Norway lobster rice with alioli mortar
• Painted roast sweet potato, guinea fowl with foie, crispy skins with truffled corn
• Chocolate and hazelnuts textures with vanilla ice-cream and bourbon
• Petit fours
• (There was also a bread course somewhere in there)

While the food was outstanding in every way, you will have to pay extra for all your drinks: 

• ​Sparkling water: €4
• Cava: €7.50
• Coffee: €2 

Carrer Aragón 214 Barcelona, 08011

Monday-Friday, 1:30-3:45 pm
€38

The daily menu is updated regularly, but it follows this structure:

• An amuse-bouche
• Bread course
• Starter (1 of 3 options)
• Main (1 of 3 options)
• Dessert (1 of 3 options)
• ​Petit fours
• Water and a glass of red or white wine are included in the price

During my visit, the amuse-bouche was a tomato-water with little chopped bell peppers. I ordered a salad with tomato, burrata cheese and pesto sauce, lamb with eggplant caviar and "tzatziki" and for dessert, chocolate mousse, creamy vanilla and hazelnut ice cream​. 

Carrer de la Granada del Penedès, 14, Barcelona, 08006

Thursday-Saturday, 1:30-3:30 pm
​​€45
​
While this place was exceptional, it was also confusing. After you're seated at the sushi bar, a waiter offers you a choice between three different tasting menus: one with eight plates, one with 18 and one with 21. They don't tell you the price of each option and it feels weird to ask. I chose the smallest one, thinking eight plates sounded like a lot, but it wasn't really. This is the only restaurant I left feeling anything less than completely satisfied. It was also one of the most expensive. The food was great, but you get more bang for your buck at the other restaurants listed here. The chef was there changing up the menu on the spot that afternoon, so I assume it's pretty flexible from day to day. My dishes were:

• Sake tonic to start
• Edamame 
• Thai lily pads
• Thinly shaved pork belly with bok choy and spicy sauce
• Lacquered “toro” sashimi with yamaimo and fresh wasabi 
• Some kind of rice dish with seared fish, egg, okra and fresh ikura
• Shrimp and pork belly dumplings
• Nippon burger 
• Iberian pork jowl Cantonese style
• Mochi

No drinks were included in the price except for the sake tonic:

• Sparkling water: ​​€3.20
• Cava: ​​€5.90 

Carrer d'Elisabets, 9, Barcelona, 08001 

Monday-Friday, 1:30-3:30 pm
​​€35

It's hard for me to review Nectari because while I think the food was great (and it's the cheapest meal on the list!) I got crazy nauseated after the starter course and suffered through my main, dessert and the petit fours in an effort to both maintain decorum and get home and go to sleep as quickly as possible. I swear the food was good! My memory of it is just coated in agony.

• 2 amuses-bouche
• Bread course
• 2 mini tapetes 
• A starter
• Choice of a meat or fish dish
• Dessert of the day
• Dúo de Chocolates
• Water is included in the price

It was all fun at the beginning. The meal started with a tiny bloody mary in a bottle served on ice followed by what was described to me as "cauliflower espresso." It was foamy on top and weirdly meaty on the bottom, I think. The first "mini tapete" was cold canelón of marinated salmon stuffed with avocado mousse, tobiko roe with wasabi and textured soy. The second was three croquettes from different regions: Mexico, Spain and Japan. The starter was "Salmorejo" (cold soup) of tomato with quail eggs and red shrimp. My wave of nausea hit just before I scraped the bottom of the bowl. I ate maybe two bites of my Iberian pork dumplings with potato, pumpkin and apple parmentier before smashing up the rest to make it look like I'd eaten more. I repeated that step with a dessert I didn't even want to hear the name of. When the 2 chocolates came, I stuffed them in my purse to avoid having to take another bite. 
A glass of cava was an extra ​​€7.50. I declined coffee (which would have been extra) and fled. 

Carrer València, 28 Barcelona, 08015

If a volcano and a glacier had a baby, that baby would be Iceland. I won’t pretend to completely understand the complicated climatology responsible for creating the aptly named Land of Ice and Fire, but it started when a ton of volcanos erupted over millions of years and formed an island on the border of two tectonic plates. The coastline is covered in fine-grained volcanic rock (black sand), and several of the still-active volcanoes create a number of hot springs and geysers scattered across the country. Atop the volcanic rock, so much snow falls during the winter that it can’t melt completely during the summer. Over time that created glaciers, which cover more than 10 percent of the country. The snow that does melt during the summer months spills over mountainsides, creating tons of waterfalls. 

The best way to see this gorgeous country in all of its dichotomous wonder is to rent a car, stock up on snacks, download a few Icelandic punk albums and embark on a road trip. 

Iceland is expensive. Like, extremely expensive. There’s no way around it. Our car—a sick, automatic BMW crossover—cost around $600 for the week. Gas was another $200. It hurt, but it was well worth it. The black coastline turned to mossy green rock, followed by pale yellow grass and snow-capped mountains. White herds were dotted with one or two little black sheep, and stocky, small horses huddled around their feed. When my friend Ben and I weren't driving in stunned silence, we were tripping over ourselves trying to express how unbelievably beautiful it all was.

Day 1: 
We grabbed sandwiches at the airport while I tried to shake my jet leg. Our first stop of the day was the Blue Lagoon, but we had some time to kill before our appointment (yes, you have to make an appointment beforehand—they fill up), so we headed straight for the coast.
Not even 10 minutes from the airport, we spotted an opportunity to do some off-roading. Now, you might think it unwise to risk getting your (very nice) car stuck in the mud within an hour of arriving in a foreign country—and I tend to agree—but luckily Ben did not. We slowly made our way down a winding path to a secluded beach that served as a perfect introduction to the country's black sand, bright blue water and volcanic rock formations. 

​After exploring, climbing and taking about 8 million pictures, we hopped back in the car and headed to the Blue Lagoon. The entrance fee is $97 and includes a free drink at the bar and a mud mask. When you arrive, they give you a towel and a fancy wristband that you can use to open a locker in the locker room and buy additional drinks at the bar. After rinsing off and putting conditioner in your hair, you head outside and wade into the water. The lagoon, which stays at about 100 degrees, is pretty massive and something about it compels you to move in slow motion. There are banks to sit or lay on, a walk-up bar and a waterfall massage thing I never actually made it to despite being there for four hours. It was a lot of fun and a great way to relax after my flights. I wish I'd brought my sunglasses outside with me because the bright blue water, white silica and steam had me squinting the whole time. 

​After we finally dragged ourselves out of the water, we hopped back in the car and started our nearly three hour drive to Vik—about as far south as you can go in Iceland. We stopped at a number of gorgeous waterfalls on the way, which landed us at Reynisfjara, the most famous black sand beach, around 10 pm—just as the sun began to set. We had driven along the coast for most of the evening and noticed that all the sand in Iceland seemed to be black. We wondered what would make THE black sand beach any different. Turns out it's just the blackest. That coupled with the massive waves and weirdly shaped basalt stacks make it iconic. We hung out there until exhaustion nearly knocked me over, then headed to our hotel in Vik, about 10 minutes away. 

Day 2: 
The next morning, we jumped back in the car and drove three hours east to Vatnajökull National Park where we met a guided glacier hiking tour. The three and a half hour tour, booked for $105 through Arctic Adventures, takes you on an hour long hike up to the Falljökull glacier, an outlet glacier of Vatnajökull, one of the largest ice caps in Europe. The tour spends an hour on the ice followed by an hour long hike back. Unfortunately for us, the wind picked up just as we got on the ice and we had to turn back. The rest of the day's tours were canceled, and we got a full refund. But we still got to experience a good bit of the hike and spend some time on the glacier. Before you get on the ice, you have to attach ice crampons to the bottoms of your boots. The metal spikes claw into the ice and prevent you from slipping. It's the coolest thing! If you go, I definitely recommend bringing a pair of gloves and renting sturdy hiking boots from the tour company for $10.

We thawed out a bit on our hour long drive to the Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon and the Diamond Beach. Chunks of glacier ice make their way across the lagoon and wash up on the black sands of Diamond Beach. 

I was beyond freezing at the end of the day (yeah, glaciers are cold) and starving. We knew everything would be closed by the time we made it back to Vik, so we stopped at Fosshotel Glacier Lagoon for dinner. After an entire day of rain, the sun came out just in time for us to fully enjoy the view from the restaurant. We got the most insane looking charcuterie board—the cheese was all brie but who cares when you've got this much going on?

Day 3:
To be completely honest, I was dreading the third day of our trip because we signed up to go snorkeling between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates—in 35 degree water. I live in Texas for a reason. I used to skip class when the temperature dropped below 70. Diving into ice cold water sounded like torture, but all the other travel bloggers out there convinced me it would be worth it...And they were right. It was.
We woke up in Vik and drove two hours northwest to Þingvellir National Park, where we met up with another guided tour group. We paid $124 each to spend about 30 minutes in the water. The tour guides strapped us into these super flattering "dry suits" that are supposed to suction around your wrists and neck to prevent water from getting in. They give you a hood and gloves, but tell you that your head and hands will get wet and it will be cold. Both were true. Each guide took four of us out at a time and guided us through the plates, taking pictures of us the whole time (you aren't allowed to bring your own camera...probably because you can't hold it with your gloved hands). It was super cold. I bit down so hard on the snorkel that my jaw was sore the next day. But it was a gorgeous, once in a life time experience.

From Þingvellir, we set off to explore the other two major attractions on Iceland's Golden Circle: the Geysir Geothermal Area and Gullfoss waterfall. It rained almost all day, so we did our observing and appreciating quickly before running back to the warm car. 

Finally, we made our way to ​Reykjavik. It was our first night in a real city, so we set out around 10 with the sun still shining (in true Icelandic fashion). We wandered around and popped into a few bars. Drinks, like everything else in Iceland, were expensive, but it was a good time. 

Day 4:
I didn't feel my hangover until I was offered fermented shark at lunch the next day. I passed and ate what I could of my Icelandic meat soup before setting out to explore the city on foot. Just across the street from the restaurant was Hallgrímskirkja, one of Reykjavík's only notable architectural structures. It's a Lutheran church and the tallest building in the city. The interior is minimalistic and modern, minus the massive pipe organ. After that we headed to the Punk Museum located in a converted underground restroom. The stalls are plastered with a written history of punk music in Iceland and headphones hang from the ceiling blasting the hits. When we got back to our hotel, we downloaded a few of the landmark albums we learned about at the museum. I was happy when my only request, an all girl band called Grýlurnar, turned out to be my favorite. Ragnhildur Gísladóttir founded the band after she got tired of playing with boys.
It provided the perfect soundtrack to what turned out to be the highlight of the trip for me. We drove north of Reykjavík for about an hour along the coast to Glymur, the country's second tallest waterfall. The drive alone was breathtaking and took twice as long to make because we kept stopping to take pictures. 

But the hike was phenomenal. Every few steps, a new view takes your breath away. I'm typically not a huge hiking fan, but I could've kept going forever. A few of the best parts of hiking in Iceland: There are hardly any bugs, the temperature prevents you from sweating and you're pretty much always at sea level. I can't possibly say enough good things about it. If you do one thing in Iceland, make it this.

After recovering from having our minds blown by Glymur, we enjoyed a late dinner of whale steaks and gourmet hotdogs in Reykjavík before our last night out. Walking home at 3:30 am, we caught the sun just beginning to rise. 

In March, my friend Ben texted me to ask if I would be interested in going on a trip in early May. We immediately started throwing around ideas, but didn’t really land on anything. “What do you think about Iceland?” Ben asked 10 days before our trip. We kicked around the idea for another two days, debating the weather, before we bought our tickets. 
Round trip tickets from Houston to Keflavík typically go from $750-$1100 on traditional airlines. With the short notice, they were all on the higher end of the spectrum, and there was nothing that fit my schedule. 
I had to present at a meeting all morning on the day before I wanted to get to Iceland. The meeting was held at a hotel in Galveston, an hour away from Hobby Airport. Hobby’s not my favorite or the most popular airport in Houston, but it’s significantly closer than Bush Intercontinental. The only way to get to Iceland by Tuesday morning was to airline jump my way across the US: 

​My first flight from Houston was scheduled to land in New Orleans at 6:15 pm and boarding was set to close on my flight to New York at 6:30 pm. Obviously I was super nervous. There was an identical flight leaving Houston an hour earlier than the one I’d booked, and I called the night before to make sure there were seats open on the off chance I made it to the airport early. I rushed through my meeting, changed out of my business casual clothes in the bathroom of the hotel and hopped in my car.
Luckily, I made it to the airport with time to spare, so I called Southwest from the parking lot and changed my ticket. The difference was about $100, which is a lot less than I would've had to spend if I had missed my flight to New York. It turned out to be a really good move because I had to leave the terminal and go through security again in New Orleans to get on my JetBlue flight to JFK. 
Once I got to New York I had to leave the terminal and go through security one more time before I could get on my WOW Air flight to Keflavík. The airline is so small it isn’t even labeled on airport signs, and security didn’t recognize the name. A quick Google search told me it was in Terminal 1, a hodgepodge of cheaper, internationally-based airlines. I had the whole row to myself and slept through the entire five + hour flight. Through WOW Air, I paid $360 including taxes and fees for a roundtrip flight from New York to Keflavík. The fare probably would’ve saved me a ton if my schedule beforehand had been more flexible. As it was, this was not at all the cheapest route to Iceland, but I got there by Tuesday morning well rested and ready to start the day. 

If you’re forced to piece together an itinerary with multiple airlines, make sure to leave plenty of time between your flights. ​

While the Opera House is definitely worth a look, there is so much to do and see beyond those iconic walls. I started and ended my trip to Australia in Sydney with 4 days on each end. My first trip consisted of a lot of neighborhood walks, oyster eating, park going, window shopping and--yes--a few trips to the Opera House and Sydney Harbor. I fell in love with the city's architecture, cleanliness and overall vibe. People were always out walking, no matter the time of day. On my second trip, I decided to go exploring beyond my beloved city center.

Day 1: 
The Bondi to Coogee walk is a must for any beach lover in Sydney. We decided to reverse the trek so we would end up at Bondi Beach, where we planned to spend the rest of the afternoon. To get there, we grabbed a bus to Coogee from Sydney's Central Station. The trip is about 20 minutes long and cost around $4. (Be sure your Opal card is loaded beforehand,. You can use it on buses, trains and ferries throughout the city.)
The 6 km walk takes about an hour and 45 minutes to complete, leading you along a cliff-side path that overlooks a number a beautiful beaches. The path itself is paved and includes plenty of nice restaurants and picturesque shores you can stop and rest at along the way. Sunscreen, water and comfortable shoes are a must, but you also won't want to forget your camera.

​Cool down with a dip in the ocean at Bondi Beach, or visit the pool ($6.50) at Bondi Icebergs Club if you want to enjoy the view without the sand. 

​After a quick shower to wash all the sand out of my hair and the sunscreen off my face, I got dressed and headed out for dinner and drinks in an area called The Rocks, right around the corner from Circular Quay. My friend Gabby and I both got delicious and reasonably priced burgers at the aptly named Ribs & Burgers, then headed out in search of a trendy bar. I recommend getting a drink at The Glenmore Hotel (pricey cocktails but great harbor views from the rooftop bar) and skipping The Argyle (which charges a $25 cover). You could easily spend the whole night in the area. 

​Day 2:
We started the day with a trip to Glebe Markets, a massive flea market held every Saturday from 10 am to 4 pm on the lawn of Glebe Public School. You'll find a variety of locally sourced food, desserts, clothes, jewelry and art to fit nearly any taste. Personally, I loved the hand-crafted rings so much I came back a second time to buy more. Glebe itself is a really cute neighborhood with a good selection of restaurants and coffeehouses. I stopped at the bookstore when I was there and picked up a few souvenirs/Christmas gifts before heading back towards the city center. 
Depending on where you're coming from, you can either walk or take a bus directly to the markets. I was staying in Paddington the first time I went, so I decided to take the bus. It took about 20 minutes (10-11 stops) and cost $3.58. On my second trip, I was coming from Chippendale so it was a quick 7 minute walk. 
I'm pretty solidly in the camp of, "if you've seen one zoo, you've seen them all," but I made an exception for Taronga Zoo on the recommendation of a few friends. The zoo is a 12-14 minute ferry ride from Circular Quay near Sydney Harbor, and home to a number of Australia-specific animals like kangaroos, koalas, wallabies, penguins, seals and a massive crocodile. Tickets are $41.40 if purchased online or $46 on site. It's definitely worth a visit it you haven't seen any of these animals elsewhere on your trip to Australia.

Day 3: 
Start the day by catching yet another ferry from Circular Quay, this time to Manly. The ride takes about 30 minutes and is absolutely stunning. If you're not up for another beach day, just take the ferry ride for the views. But who isn't up for more beach days? Manly Beach was my favorite yet. It's packed with people sunbathing, swimming, surfing and playing this adorable game called Spikeball (check it out, it's fun and every gorgeous man in the country seems to play it). We spent a few hours getting some sun and watching for sharks before grabbing some fish and chips and making our way back home. There's another ferry that runs from Taronga Zoo to Manly if you wanted to do both in one day. 

​If you have spare time in the afternoon, like I did, spend it exploring my favorite Sydney neighborhoods: Paddington and Surry Hills. Talk to the friendly store clerks at boutiques on Oxford St., eat at every restaurant on Crown St. and lay in the grass at Moore Park. 

"You're going to travel alone...?"
That hesitant, disapproving question was the most common response I heard when I told people I was going to Australia for a month by myself. I'd never traveled alone before, but I assumed I would enjoy it. I've lived alone since college, and it's not like I have a ton of friends with the means and available vacation days to tag along. So, I started planning my first solo trip. 
I knew I wanted to see Sydney and Melbourne and definitely visit the Great Barrier Reef. But there were a ton of places all along the East Coast I wanted to see as well. Australians drive on the wrong side of the road, so renting a car was out of the question. And 13-17 hour bus rides every other night weren't super appealing either. The 10 day G Adventures tour from Brisbane to Cairns seemed to offer the solution. All of your travel and sleeping arrangements are made for you, and you just get to sit back and enjoy your trip--while making a bunch of new friends from all over the world. 

The tour was available to 18-39 year olds, but my group of 15 ranged from 21-32. The whole thing was pure joy. We spent all of our time in one big group, huddled around a camp fire or on the beach. It felt like we all instantly reverted back to grade school--digging up every game we learned at summer camp and teaching a group of expectant 20-somethings on a yacht. We were all traveling alone--some straight out of university or using up a year's worth of vacation days--but the tour allowed us to do it together. 

Day 1: Brisbane
Arrive at any time and get to know the other girls (or guys) in your shared room at the hostel. Then head down to the bar next door for dinner and a round of musical bingo/get to know each other time. 

Day 2: Noosa Everglades
If waking up at 6 am every day of your vacation sounds miserable, this may not be the trip for you. After the first of many toast and cereal breakfasts, we got on a bus headed to Noosa. We settled into small cabins at a camp site near the Noosa Everglades, then spent the afternoon canoeing through the everglades. The still water was dyed brown by the falling bark of tea trees that surrounded the perimeter. Back at the campsite, we played a game of backyard cricket (my first exposure to the sport) and watched as dozens of kangaroos grazed nearby. 

Day 3: Fraser Island
The next morning, the group climbed into an army-like utility vehicle that's built to handle tough terrains. It was the roughest ride of my life--if you're at all prone to motion sickness, I recommend taking precautions. Our first stop was Lake McKenzie, a beautiful rainwater lake surrounded by sand and trees, where we ate lunch and went for a swim, followed by a hike through a rainforest that grows on sand. We kept our eyes peeled for venomous  snakes, but didn't see any. I was equal parts relieved and disappointed. The highway on Fraser Island is just the sand on the side of the ocean, meaning frequent detours up through the hills during high tide. We were warned repeatedly to beware of the dingos, but only managed to see one. We sat on the beach talking, drinking and playing "never have I ever" until late that night.

​Day 4: Travel day
First, we got back on the giant army vehicle, then a train and lastly a bus. We got to Emu Park just in time for dinner and--after a quick game of Twister--called it an early night. 

Days 5-6: Whitsunday Islands
Another long bus ride first thing in the morning then we hopped on the yacht that we called home for the next three days. We did a ton of snorkeling and went to shore once for a beach day (where--no joke--we were chased by a shark). We never wore make up and my salty, unwashed hair nearly curled into dreadlocks. It was sweaty, sunny and gorgeous.

​Day 7: Airlie Beach
After one last snorkeling trip off of the yacht, we sailed back to Airlie Beach. That night we went out and stayed out until our bus arrived at 4:30 a.m.

Day 8: Travel day
Another day of travel, which we all used to catch up on lost sleep. A bus to a train to another bus finally landed us in Cairns--the last stop on our journey. 

Day 9: Great Barrier Reef
Probably the best day yet. We all signed up to go snorkeling on the Great Barrier Reef with the option to scuba dive (no certification required). There were a bunch of girls who had never done a dive before who hesitantly expressed interest in giving it a try (myself included). After a two hour boat ride out to the reef and a 5 minute intro course, they threw us in the water with a group of three other beginners and all of our gear. An instructor held onto us the whole time, first walking us through the safety steps on the surface, then guiding us deeper into the water. It was, in a word, spectacular. The first dive went by quickly and seemed over just as soon as it started. We all signed up for a second, longer dive at a different site. On this one, the instructor let us go, but kept us within eye sight. Learning to control your movements with your breath and glide effortlessly through the water--all the way down to the ocean floor--was indescribable. I wanted to do it 1,000 more times, but we had to head back. I had never considered diving before this trip, and now I can't wait to do it again. 

,,Day 10: Thanksgiving
The last day of our tour happened to fall on Thanksgiving Day (U.S.), and, being the only American in the group, I insisted we all get together to celebrate. A few people signed up to go skydiving and bungee jumping, but I chose to get breakfast with some of my favorite new friends, then start shopping and prepping for dinner. We grilled kangaroo steaks and turkey kababs, and I attempted to make a pumpkin pie (it was more of a pumpkin custard thanks to a weak refrigerator and the humidity in Cairns). It was the perfect end to the trip--relaxed, fun and full of appreciation that we all met and got to experience it together. 

​10/10 would recommend. But be ready for a lottttt of travel days and not a lot of sleep. 

This looks great, right? Nice view, glass of champagne--it would've been a perfect afternoon if I hadn't paid $4 each for these oysters. Sydney's rock and Pacific oysters are smaller than the Gulf oysters I'm used to, but cost more than twice as much at every restaurant near the harbor. Recognizing this injustice, I set off on a search for The Cheapest Oyster in Sydney™. It didn't take long at all because happy hour was right around the corner and, as it turns out, more than a few places offered $1 oyster deals.  I went with Riley St. Garage because it was nearby, and it didn't disappoint. 
​
Join them for "Oyster Hour" from 5-6 pm Monday through Saturday, and never pay full price again. 

Fifteen hours trapped in a flying metal tube isn’t exactly my idea of a good time. The long flight from the U.S. to Australia is part of the reason I decided to stay for a whole month—any less almost didn’t seem worth the trouble. 

Luckily, I spotted a deal American Airlines offered back in June to fly nonstop from Los Angeles to Sydney in their new Premium Economy section for the same price as Main Cabin—about $1,500 roundtrip starting in November. Premium Economy seats are a little wider and offer more leg room, a fold out foot rest, thicker blanket and a handful of amenities. The ticket is also supposed to come with Business Class-level food and beverage service, but that wasn’t the case on my flight—more on that later. 

American Airlines developed Premium Economy seating in response to feedback from budget-conscience customers who said they wanted an experience somewhere between Main Cabin and Business Class. The company has been rolling out retrofitted planes throughout the year. 

On board the Boeing 787-9 that carried me across the Pacific, Business Class passengers basically have their own bedrooms, complete with a seat that lies flat into a bed and a door you can close to block out the rest of the cabin. They also paid at least $8,000. 

Premium Economy is definitely closer to Main Cabin than Business Class on the comfort spectrum, but the small improvements made a huge difference. The seat was wide enough for me to sit cross-legged when I got cold, and you can lower the aisle-side arm rest for even more space. The seats recline a little more than those in the Main Cabin, and the footrest tricked me into thinking I was more horizontal than I actually was. 

​If you really want to get your money’s worth, snag a seat in the first row. My feet couldn’t even reach the wall in front of me, and the foot rest and entertainment screen are better than those in the next few rows. 

Speaking of, the available in-flight entertainment was off the charts. They have every Harry Potter movie! I went with The Beguiled (meh), An Education (a personal fav) and Bridesmaids (classic). 

The Premium Economy ticket also includes a little bag with headphones, a sleeping mask, ear plugs, a tooth brush and tooth paste and socks. It was a bit overkill (who gets on a 15 hours flight without their own pair of headphones and socks?) but appreciated nonetheless.

I made fast friends with the woman next to me as we struggled to figure out which buttons raised the footrest, entertainment screen and arm rests. The flight attendants tried to help, but were equally as unfamiliar with the new aircraft. By the end of the flight we had figured out every button except one. 

After talking for awhile, my new friend asked me how much I paid for my ticket, and I told her it was around $1,600 after taxes. She said she paid about $600 more. I attribute my good fortune to First Class Flyer, a site that tracks anomaly fares like the one I snagged. 

I saw the deal and bought my ticket during the two-day window it was available in June, but it looks like American ran a similar deal again last month, so I’d keep an eye out. 

As for the food situation…American sent out an email the morning of my flight saying they had stopped using one of their onboard caterers based in Los Angeles, resulting in "limited service" on my flight. A quick Google search revealed that listeria was discovered at the caterer's facility. 

From Business Insider: "According to American, the airlines use a total of three catering companies and is working on securing alternative food service for its flights out of the LA. Some flights were able to secure snacks while others were made to do without food service at all. A person at the airline told Business Insider that some of the company’s flagship Los Angeles-New York flights were reduced to only drink service on Wednesday."

Worried that meant 15 hours with no food, I stocked up on snacks before I boarded. But American managed to pull through. We were served two meals (dinner and breakfast) and one snack-type thing in between that resembled a hot pocket. (TBH I was in a ZzzQuil haze at that point).

Regardless, American Airlines issued $200 vouchers for those of us in Business and Premium Economy, presumably because the food is supposed to be substantially better than what we received. I'll be sure to give a full account following my flight home. ​

​Premium Economy is definitely worth a few extra bucks on long flights, especially if the first row is available. But temper your expectations—you still can’t lay flat for 15 hours, and you never know when the airline is going to run out of food. 

Hello, all! Thanks for stopping by. If you didn't already know, I quit my newspaper job in Texas a few months ago, and I've been freelancing (ok, kinda...making an effort, at least) ever since. I love being a journalist, and I don't think I'm done with it, but I want to try a few new things before I settle into another full time reporting job I love.

Part of that is traveling--as far and as often as possible. Since I moved out of my apartment in San Antonio in September, I haven't had an address I can entirely call home. I've spent the last few weeks crashing with friends and family--and I've never been more grateful for our family beach house in Galveston, which thankfully made it through Hurricane Harvey unscathed.

But for the next month, home is Australia. I'm spending a few days solo in Sydney before I head to Brisbane, where I'll join a 10-day group tour that will take me up the East Coast to Cairns, known as the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef. After that, it's a week in Melbourne then back to Sydney. Hopefully it's a good mix of super touristy and chill. 

While I've never considered being a travel writer before, I figure it's probably a pretty good skill to have in my arsenal. So consider this practice. I'm not making any money, I have no idea what I'm doing and it's going to take up entirely too much of my time...but let's see how this goes.