Casa Divina is a cloud forest retreat in the middle of the Ecuadorian jungle near the town of Mindo. It is run by a couple – Molly, who hails from the bay area in Northern California; and Efrain, a Mindo native and lifelong naturalist. They both share a love of nature and work hard to help the Mindo community preserve the cloud forest. They are very aware of the benefits of a sustainable economy, and therefore grow and use local ingredients, and run their lodge in harmony with their surroundings…

Looking to escape from the rat race we call life to an island paradise? Do you love to scuba dive or snorkel more than anything you can imagine? Look no further than Roatan, Honduras. And, being the most tourism-driven economy in Honduras while also an island that is separated from the mainland, it makes for a unique cultural escape of its own…

When you travel, one of the best ways to get to know the culture is to eat the local food. So when we travel, we do a lot of it – eat that is. My parents (who we recently traveled to London with) tend to do a bit of homework in advance via guides and recommendations from friends as well as Frommer’s. Our bellies greatly appreciated this extra planning effort. So here’s a recap of our caloric intake in London, England, during the summer of 2013…

Delicious tapas, cold sangria and cervezas, laid back lifestyle, all in the magical and beautiful backdrop of the coast? What’s not to love about Mallorca. Mallorca, a Balearic island off the coast of Spain, it is a hidden gem if you ask me. Just a short flight from London (or direct flights to dozens of other European destinations) it is full of history, charm and a perfect mix of both sightseeing and relaxation. There are cathedrals, museums and of course shopping. And all extremely affordable. My first time to Mallorca, and hopefully not my last. I wanted to recap some of the places we stumbled upon as tourists in hopes that it would be useful for others should they get so lucky to experience this place (aka heaven on earth)…

So you’ve only got three days to spend in Bali, Indonesia. Where will you go and what will you do? We considered Kuta Beach but found it to be more of a party scene than the tranquil experience we were seeking. So we looked a little further north but not too far from the airport since we were only there for such a short time. This led us to Seminyak…

Our friend Derrick is from Singapore and recently moved back, making it the perfect place to vacation and spend time with our gracious host and friend. Derek also acted as our local tour guide. He set this Singapore 3 day itinerary for us which hopefully will serve useful for you as well…

Have you ever wanted to stay in an overwater bungalow? Bocas Del Toro, Panama has some of the best, and they’re more affordable than you might think. I give you my first hand review of a hotel over the water I stayed in for my 40th birthday, as well as a gorgeous, secluded hotel in the jungle that rounded out our trip and left us wanting more sun, surf, and fun!…

If you’re Europe-bound, a stopover in Iceland is a bonus worth considering! If you can fly out of a handful of cities in the U.S., you can get there for no extra charge to your European flight and can stay in the Nordic country for up to 48 hours! Why not take advantage of this opportunity to experience a new culture and get an extra stamp in the passport? I recently had the chance to take part in an Iceland stopover and wanted to share some tips and advice on how to make the most of your trip…