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I just threw a new dart at the world map and I am happy to travel to my new destination in just a few days! Watch the video below to see the dart throw (there is a little contest in there too)!
Just finished the Indonesia trip and episode!!! This country is truly amazing.
You can read the article and watch the episode HERE.
![45 Castles, Fortresses and Monasteries That Will Take Your Breath Away In Romania [WITH PICS]](https://www.sorin.tv/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Castelul-Corvinilor-Hunedoara-Romania-iancu-castle-900x675.jpg)
I was born in Romania, where you can discover some of the best castles in the world. However, while I grew up there, I thought fortresses, castles and monasteries were something extremely common, which you could find anywhere in the world. After traveling to more than 50 countries up to date, I was proven wrong. Not only I didn’t find many – except in Wales, Scotland, Germany, Spain and a few other regions – but I discovered that Romania, if traveled from East to West and North to South, offers phenomenal sceneries rarely seen in the world. It should be on your Top 5 countries to see before you die (make sure you do it with the Spark Experience, a once-in-a-lifetime adventure consisting of 10 selected applicants – you could enter your name HERE).
I decided to put together a list with the most beautiful castles, fortresses and monasteries around Romania. Without a doubt, I am sure I am also missing a lot of them, so feel free to suggest for addition to this article. Without further do, here is a list with amazing locations:
Bran Castle (Romanian: Castelul Bran) is one of the most famous castles in the world. It is situated near Bran, a town located in Brasov County, right at the border between Transylvania and Wallachia. It is commonly known as Count Dracula’s castle. The first documented mentioning of Bran Castle is the act issued by Louis I of Hungary on 19 November 1377. A few months ago, a Canadian brother and sister spent a night at Dracula’s Castle, sleeping in coffins as beds, after winning a competition. Siblings became the first people to pass the night there in 70 years. Watch the video below to see the two siblings spending the night in coffins at Bran Castle:
Spending A Night in Dracula’s Castle Video
One of the cool things is that you could join a fabulous tour of Dracula’s Castle by being part of the Spark Experience, which I mentioned above. It will take you to Transylvania for something that’s more than a vacation. Enter your name for the amazing trip HERE.
Peles Castle (Romanian: Castelul Peleș) was built between 1873 and 1914 and is located near Sinaia, a town in Prahova County. It was constructed for King Carol I and had its inauguration in 1883. More details here. Below there is an image from the interior. 
This Gothic-Renaissance castle (pronounced Castelul Corvinilor in Romanian) is one of the largest castles in Europe. It was built in 1446 as a fortress, but also contained jail cells. More details here. The main image of this article also features the Corvin Castle and was taken by Florin Ihora. Watch the video below to see a complete tour of the Corvin Castle: Corvin Castle Complete Video Tour
The Voroneț Monastery (Romanian: Manastirea Voronet) is a medieval monastery in the village of Voroneț, now a part of the town Gura Humorului. It is one of the famous painted monasteries from southern Bukovina (more below), in Suceava County. The monastery was constructed by Stefan Cel Mare (Stephen the Great) in 1488. It is also known as the Sixtine Chapel of the East.
Putna Monastery (Romanian: Manastirea Putna) houses the tombs of Stefan cel Mare (Stephen the Great, one of the most important voivodes in the Romanian history) and several of his family members. It is a place of pilgrimage very popular these days. Located also in Suceava County.
The construction of the castle started at the request of Prince George Grigore Cantacuzino and was finalized in 1911. It is built in Neo-Romanian style. The total surface of the estate is over 3,000 square meters. Nowadays is a museum, just like all the other castles. Located in Prahova County and it is one of the other best castles to visit in Europe.
This monastery is one of the oldest monasteries in Romania, built in 1450. It is located in the village of Crisan, Ribita town, in the Hundeoara County. The Crisan Monastery is also known as Manastirea Vaca (Cow), after the name of an adjacent village called Vaca. Photo by Irinel Carlanaru.
The citadel was built between 1211-1225 as part of a defence system for the Transylvanian villages exposed to outside invasions. It is located in the city of Rasnov, Brasov County.
Located in the village of Radauti, Suceava County, this church contains both Byzantine and Gothic elements, and some elements typical to other painted monasteries of northern Moldavia. Both interior and exterior walls are covered by mural paintings and depict biblical episodes from the Old and New Testament. Built in 1585.
This fortified church in located in the Viscri village, Brasov County, Transylvania. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site. It is a Lutheran church built by the German Transylvanian Saxon community. One of the oldest of its kind, built between 1141 and 1162.
Located in Miclauseni, Iasi County. It is a Gothic-style palace built between 1880-1904 by George Sturdza. The castle had many valuable collections of books (over 60,000 pieces) and documents of the time, paintings, jewelry, medieval costumes, weapons, etc. Most of them were burnt by Russian soldiers.
Located in Carei, Satu Mare County. The castle is named after an old noble family, the Károlyi family. Their first known residence here dates back to the end of the 15th century. It survived over the medieval era to several attacks from the Ottomans and other barbarians. It is considered as one of the best castles to visit in Europe as well.
Built in 1310 on the site of a former wooden fortress, Fagaras (Brasov County) was enlarged between the 15th-17th centuries. It was considered one of the strongest fortifications in Transylvania. It also functioned as a residence for various princes and their families, such as Gabriel Bethlen (1613-1629) and Georg Rákóczi (1630-1649).
The famous Black Church (Romanian: Biserica Neagra) rests in downtown Brasov, one of the largest Romanian cities (also a very touristy spot). It was built by the German community and stands as the main Gothic style monument in the country. The structure was partially destroyed during a fire set by invading Habsburg forces on April 21, 1689. Afterwards, it became known as the Black Church. Here is a great quick video about the Black Church in Brasov:
Rupea Citadel (Romanian: Cetatea Rupea) is one of the oldest archaeological sites in Romania, the first signs of human settlements dating from the Paleolithic and early Neolithic. The first documentary attestation dates from 1324 when the Saxons revolted against King Charles I of Hungary took refuge inside the citadel. Located also in Brasov County.
The legend says that this church was ordered by Radu Negru to be built by Architect Manole. With Manole being unable to finish the walls, the prince threatened him and his helpers with death. At last Manole suggested that they should follow the ancient custom of placing a living woman into the foundations; and that she who first appeared on the following morning should be the victim. The other workers warned their families, and Manole was forced to sacrifice his own wife, called Ana. Thus the cathedral was built. When Manole and his assistants told Negru that they could always build an even greater monastery, he had them stranded on the roof so that they could not build something to match it. They fashioned wooden wings and tried to fly off the roof, but, one by one, they all fell to the ground and died. A spring of clear water, named after Manole, is said to mark the spot where he fell.
The Iulia Hasdeu Castle is a house built in the form of castle by historian and politician Bogdan Petriceicu Hasdeu in the city of Câmpina, Prahova County. Work on it began in 1893, after Hasdeu’s daughter, Iulia, died at the age of 19. The construction was finished in 1896.
Located in Camarazani village, Suceava County, this monastery adds a drop of beauty to Bukovina. It was built in 1863 by Boier Emanoil Mortun.
Timisoara Orthodox Cathedral (Romanian: Catedrala Metropolitana Timisoara) was raised between 1936 and 1941.The building’s style is Neo-Moldavian style, late Renaissance, Ottoman, and Byzantine architecture elements. Photo by Adrian Benea.
The Alba Carolina Fortress (Romanian: Cetatea Alba) encloses between its walls several centuries old attractions laden with history, including Saint Michael’s Cathedral. Cetatea Alba is located in the city of Alba Iulia, Alba County, and is the largest citadel in Romania.
Barsana is one of the wooden churches in Maramures County, a beautiful synthesis of Eastern and Western European architecture, with Gothic and Byzantine elements. It was built in 1720. It is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Neamt Citadel (Romanian: Cetatea Neamtului) is a medieval fortress located in north-eastern part of Romania, near Târgu Neamț, Neamț County. It was built in 14th century Moldavia during Petru I of Moldavia’s reign and expanded in the 15th century. The citadel played a key role in Stephen III of Moldavia’s defense system. 
One of the oldest monasteries in Transylvania, Ramet stands out through its shape and boldness. It was built in 1214 and is located in Alba County.
Ghika Palace is situated in Comanesti, Bacau County, was built in the last decade of the nineteenth century by Dimitrie N. Ghica, under the guidance of architect Albert Galleron, in baroque style.
Cetatea Greavilor is located in Garbova, Alba County. It was built under Hungarian and German influence in the second half of the 13th century. In English, “greav” means earl, so the translation would be the Earls’ Fortress.
The church is located on the Danube River’s shore, in the Mededinti County, close to the border with Serbia. The place is called Cazanele Dunarii (“Danube’s Boilers”). The monastery was constructed in the late 1400’s, the exact date differing from one historian to another. “Mraconia” apparently means a place being hidden. The church is also known that during the Russian – Austro – Turkish battle (1787-1792) when it was almost destroyed.
The Bethlen – Haller Castle is situated in Cetatea de Balta, Alba County. Built between 1570 and 1580, the castle was completely redone between 1615 and 1624 by count Stefan Bethlen who based his construction on the example of Chambord castle in France. It was built in the French Gothic style, on four levels, and its purpose was recreational. It is now owned by Necşulescu family, owners of Jidvei, one of the largest Romanian winemakers. Needless to say, nowadays it is the host of many wine tastings and events related to the industry.
The Dragomirna Monastery was built during the first three decades of the 17th century, 15 km from Suceava, in Mitocu Dragomirnei village. It is the tallest medieval monastery in northern Moldavia.
This church is located in Moroeni, Dambovita County. It is situated in a unique place, right into the Bucegi Mountains, which makes it the most visited monastery in the area. The legend says that at times the walls of the cave turn into mysterious girls that are holding hands and dance like the wind around the church.
The fortress is located atop a volcano in the Poiana Ruscă Mountain Range within the Western Carpathian Mountains of Romania. From the foot of the hill, the city of Deva, Hunedoara County, spreads out. Deva Fortress was built in the 13th century.
Located in Carta, Sibiu County, this church is a former Cistercian (Benedictine) monastery in the Ţara Făgăraşului region in southern Transylvania. It is currently a Lutheran Evangelical church belonging to the local Saxon community.
Kendeffy Castle is located in Sântămăria Orlea, Hunedoara County. It was built in 1782 by the Kendeffy Family, a noble family at the time. The castle was nationalized by the Communist Party in 1982, and in 1982 went to the Hunedoara County Administration, which turned it into a hotel.
Chindia Tower (Romanian: Turnul Chindiei) is located in Targoviste, Dambovita County. It is the palace where Vlad Tepes (Vlad The Impaler) used to live. Built in the 15th century.
This castle is located in Zau de Campie town, Mures County, in 1911 by a baron called Istvan Ugron who was in love with a Russian princess. It was supposed to be an engagement gift, but the princess never came. The Castle is also known as the ‘Calendar Castle’ as was built based on the principles of a calendar. It has 365 windows as many days a year has, four towers as the number of the seasons, and 52 rooms as are weeks, 7 terraces as there are days in a week and 12 suites as are the months of the year.
Corbii de Piatra is a unique monastic rupestral cave, located in Arges County, close to Corbi village, 33 kilometers away from Curtea de Arges. The first official attestation was on June 23, 1512. The settlement, carved into a massive yellow sandstone wall that used to be a hermits’ shelter, still keeps on its limestone walls one of the oldest paintings in Romania. Experts say the mural paintings are executed in the purest Byzantine tradition. 
Prejmer Peasant Fortress (Romanian: Cetatea Taraneasca Prejmer) protects the fortified monastery inside. It’s been one of the best kept fortresses in the world, being in perfect shape. It was built in 1211 by the Teutonic Knights in a Gothic style.
Built between 1864-1866 in vicinity of Bacau, the Red Castle (Romanian: Castelul Rosu) is not in use.
Another beauty from Bukovina, one of the painted monasteries. It is situated inVatra Moldoviței, Suceava County. The Monastery of Moldovița was built in 1532 by Petru Rareș, who was Stephen III of Moldavia’s illegitimate son.
The Prislop Monastery is a place of pilgrimage for the Christian Orthodox believers from all over Romania. Most of them wish to pay respects to the grave of priest Arsenie Boca. It is said that arguably after visiting Boca’s grave miracles happen for the pilgrims.
Situated at 1,300 meters above the sea level, in Alba County, the Ponor Monastery (Romanian: Manastirea Ponor) is considered the Athos Mountain of Romania. Only men are allowed to visit.
The Bucea wood church is located on Gorban Hill, Cluj County, and was built in 1791 by the first seven Orthodox families in the village (now with 705 inhabitants). The event is also engraved on a beam from the entrance to the church. The church, composed of the narthex, nave and altar, is made of oak wood.
Cozia Monastery, built close to Călimănești – Valcea County today – by Mircea Cel Batran (Mircea the Elder) in 1388 and housing his tomb, is one of the most valuable monuments of national medieval art and architecture in Romania.
Feldioara Citadel, located 21 km North of Brasov, it is also known as the Teutonic fortress and is the oldest fortification in Barsa Land. It was officially attested in 1225. It was founded by the Teutonic knights between 1211 and 1225 and transformed into a peasant citadel later on in 1457.
The Lainici Monastery (Romanian: Biserica Lainici) is located 32 km away from targu Jiu, Gorj County. First mention of this monastery was in 14th century. The monastery was constructed during the reign of John Voivode between 1812 and 1817.
Some people claim Nămăeştii Church is the oldest convent in Romania. It is located in Campulung, Arges County. The monastery is a cave that houses an icon of the Virgin Mary that allegedly makes miracles (attributed to Luke tradition, framed in silver in 1798 and lithographed in 1871 by Major Papazogeu).
It was built in 1862 in Byzantine style. The Cathedral has countless valuable items inside, many of them covered in silver. This is it folks, thank you for taking the time to read my article. Feel free to drop a comment or subscribe to my newsletter here to be the first to get future articles. I am on my way to Indonesia – my last dart throw took me there, watch it here – so rest assured I will share some good information from that amazing as well.
I have visited over 50 countries and flown with probably 200+ airplanes. Over the years, I have learned some travel tricks and tips that saved me a lot of grief, money and time. I am not talking about “Pack light” cliché kind of advice, but rather cool, useful, and practical ideas.
I am happy to share these with you as I discovered, tried, and even researched for this material. You may have heard of some of them, but I can guarantee that you do not know about most. Without further do, let’s dive right into it – the order is aleatory:
If you are among the last passengers to board a plane, you may be surprised to find that there is no room for your carry-on in your overhead bin, which is why many people prefer private jets over regular flights. Those who are skeptical about the costs, on the other hand, often are found seeking answers to questions such as how much does a private jet cost? And once they are comfortable with the same, they decide to charter one for themselves.
Also, for that reason, a lot of people hustle to get on the plane right away so that they have a spot guaranteed above their heads. Otherwise, the flight attendants may place their luggage somewhere else.
I don’t know about you, but I don’t like to stand in that line up for 10-15 minutes. I continue to sit and read – or whatever else – and I wait until most of the passengers are on.
As I am walking into the plane, I put my carry-on in one of the first overhead bins that have an empty spot. This way, I don’t have to carry it until the end of the plane (or wherever I am seated) since I am coming back the same way anyway.
Also, most of the passengers are already seated at that point and I am not taking anyone’s spot. Trust me; there is always room available or you can easily make some.
Instead of just holding your phone in your hands and read or watch something, turn your glasses into an awesome support while flying or waiting in an airport. This way, you can sip on your drink with one hand and munch on something with the other! 🙂
There will be a time when you will be waiting to board the plane and hearing the airline’s employee on the PA announcing that the flight was overbooked. Which means, someone will have to miss the flight. It happens ALL the time.
In that case, the airline offers to pay volunteers to give their seat away for a later flight.
The amounts of these compensations vary, but they always start low (depending on the distance and destination, it could start at $200). If you can afford to stay in the airport a little longer, that’s great, but don’t jump and take the first offer. It will eventually raise A LOT more. Here is one example:
I was in the Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport coming back to Edmonton not too long ago. My Delta flight was overbooked. As they announced they’ll give $300US plus meal vouchers to those who can wait for the next flight, I got excited. However, my delay meant I had to cancel a date that evening, which I didn’t want to cancel. I decided to take the plane.
Fifteen minutes later, the offer increased to $500US. Tempting again but…
The only problem was that my next flight home would be the next day, at the same time. Not only I had to spend an extra night on the road, but next morning I had to go to work, too. A bit complicated, so I went ahead with my decision to embark.
As time got closer to the boarding and they couldn’t find volunteers, Delta had to raise the stake: $1,000US.
That’s when I took it. I also got meals and hotel vouchers. Which, in perspective, it meant a free accommodation day in a different city, plus a “call-in-sick” the next day at work! Oh, plus a thousand dollars. That’s my parents’ pension for four months in Romania. Or, a 7-day all-inclusive trip to Puerto Vallarta for a person.
I waited to see how far they can go and it was perfect. The $300 they initially offered versus a thousand. Winner.
Do the same thing, but make sure to notice if anyone else around seems excited and interested. It’s a two-edge sword, as someone else may grab the low stake. They may steal the deal right under your nose.
Let’s say you have to do a lot of online research on a flight. Or maybe you want to read the latest article published on your favorite blog. As you know, there is no internet on the plane so what do you do? Check this out:
I like to read posts from a marketer called Neil Patel. He writes super long articles that take about 30 minutes to read, but during a regular day, I don’t have enough time to immerse myself in that. So I save them for a flight. How do I do that? And what should you also do with long articles that you want to read on the plane?
Open the article before departure (or at home when preparing for the trip) and simply save the page. Go to File->Save Page As->Format.
Save as Webpage (in Chrome) or Web Archive (Safari) on your desktop. While flying, you can access the article just like if you would read the Internet. Save as many articles as you want, and you can read during the entire flight. Just note that videos don’t play when using this trick, since they still need Internet to start.
The perfect day of the week to book your flight varies from company to company, but according to a study made by Expedia last year, it seems like Tuesdays and weekends are the best.
However, keep looking for deals all the time. The same report also says that if you fly overseas (Europe) the lowest prices could be found, in average, around 160 days before desired your departure – or 176 days if you’re traveling to the Asia/Pacific region.
On the other hand, if you are interested in finding best flights within North America, the magic number of days before booking is 57.
Are you the type of person that schedules his/her holidays months in advance? Are you a last-minute deal junkie? Do you prefer only hotels or would you experiment with something else?
I have three places I check out all the time:
Momondo.com – one of the best cheap flights aggregators out there. It never disappointed me. My trip to Colombia (details below) for $335 was through them. Access Momondo using the link below:
Google Flights – on the same level with Momondo. Sometimes the prices extracted from the websites are not available anymore once you get to the carrier’s website, but nonetheless a diamond finder.
Bootsnall – this is the best website if you are looking for an ‘around the world ticket’ type of experience.
What is on your bucket list? Say you want to fly to Bali. You would probably pay close to $2,000.
What if you want to visit 7 different fantastic locations in one year instead of one? Say the Caribbean, Rio de Janeiro, London, Paris, Istanbul, Dubai, and Bali. It would probably cost you a fortune to buy 7 different round flights. Two thousand dollars times seven destinations will sure send you over $10,000.
With the Bootsnall aggregator, all seven could be done with only $4,160 (see below).
If you don’t want to spend time online looking for deals on a regular basis, I have the best alternative for you. I discovered it earlier this year, and I am notified DAILY with PHENOMENAL deals.
If you don’t know what destination to pick for your next vacation, Scott’s Cheap Flights is the best you can get. Scott Keyes is a seasoned traveler who searches for you, daily, the best flights in the upcoming months. If you subscribe to his membership, you will receive a discounted deal anywhere in the world. Did I say daily yet (starting most likely later on today)? Here is how an email from Scott looks like:
Chances are, within a month after signing up, you have at least 4-5 destinations that are hard to ignore. Deals like $500 for Hong Kong, $300 for Costa Rica, or $400 for Portugal are always popping up. Plus, the rest of the world, whatever country you can think of.
Scott’s membership fee is just a bit over $30 per year. Rest assured you will save that ten times on your next flight. The best thing is, when you set up your account, you get to insert your departure city, so you will always get the best deals and flights leaving from your town!
Last week I got my car towed. It was because, well, I parked illegally. When I found out that I had to pay a $300 fine to retrieve my car, the first thing I thought was wondering about which country I could have visited through Scott’s Cheap Flights, with that money. Weird, I know.
We talked about travel hacks and tips, but how about mobile applications that do that? There are some great apps out there that will help you through every part of your trip. From planning, to help at the airport, and even assistance when you are at your destination. Here are 13 must-have apps when traveling:
Dayuse – Wouldn’t it be nice to be able to rent a hotel room only for a few hours, in case you want to take a shower and a quick nap? Well, now you can, with Dayuse. The app lists hotel rooms for up to 75 percent off regular nightly rates, at 3,000 hotels around the world.
Airmule – If you have extra room in your luggage, you can sell it to someone who needs it! The app verifies the sender and the cargo so they make sure it’s all legal. Why not get some money back from that expensive ticket?
iFly Pro – This app provides in-depth information on more than 700 airports worldwide. This includes in-terminal navigation, flight statuses, parking rates, layover ideas and tips on services and amenities near you. It costs $4.99 (iOS) and $6.99 (Android).
GateGuru – It pulls out information on shops, restaurants and other amenities in both domestic and international airports. It’s a free app.
Turo – It is the Airbnb of cars, meaning you can rent a vehicle directly from the owner. It is available to users in the US and Canada. Turo lets you search for the exact type of vehicle you want at a fraction of what the rental car companies offer. Very cool, here is a video:
LoungeBuddy – It gives travelers the ability to discover, book, and access airport lounges around the world. It has over 230 lounges! It’s also free.
Seatguru.com – It lets you look at what seat is preferred on a plane, based on reviews from other passengers. Cool!
SkyGuru – This is interesting. If you find yourself getting stressed by the movement of the airplane and the bumps of a flight, SkyGuru will explain it all to you in real time, making you feel more secure about the flight.
Entrain – You beat your jet lag with this app. You can monitor your body’s circadian clock by adjusting faster to new time zones and schedules. Free app, see below how it works:
HappyCow – Are you a vegan? This app provides vegan and vegetarian restaurants in over 10,000 cities from around the world. Each restaurant listing comes with a short description of the menu and reviews. It costs $3.99.
One:Night – How about a price-reduced luxury room booked on the same day, helping both you (get instant accommodation) and the hotel (book a non-reserved room)? One:Night offers stays at luxury hotels in New York, Los Angeles, Miami, and Austin. Every day at 3 PM, the app unveils discounts for that evening. Discounts may vary, but it is known to feature $600 rooms for only $190.
Google Translate – People often forget about this one as they struggle to figure out communication in a foreign country. Download before the trip to get help with any language issues.
Lola – It is a brand new mobile app that serves as your concierge. It instantly connects people from all over the world to its travel agents who find and book flights, hotels, and cars for the customers. The app also provides support while the clients are on their trips.
I’ll show you how to turn “OMG, f–k that,” into “OMG, I would love that.”
Let’s say you consider visiting Colombia for your seven-day vacation. A flight is $600. What would you choose from the following three options:
A. Fly to Colombia for $600 on a direct flight, get there in a few hours and enjoy your full 7 days.
B. Fly to Colombia for $335 but arrive 30 hours later (a day and a half later).
C. Screw it, fly to Mexico for $400, get there in a few hours and experience Aztec civilization.
How about I will get you get BOTH Colombia and Mexico for $375?
Most people want direct flights to their desired destination, to save many hours and days. Nothing wrong with that.
How about you get points B and C in the same package? I just had it a few months ago, for $375. How can you do it?
It’s a problem of mentality. Every time people book their flights online, they freak out when they see a total time of, say, 52 hours to their final destination. “OMG, 52 hours?! F–k that!”
I look for the longest. Why? Because the longest total time means there is a long layover in a different country. Which means, you have a free day or night to experience a different culture and country. Get out of the airport, spend the night, make some friends, AND rest in a bed.
People have the misconception that they have to spend their layover time in the airports all the time.
Think about it: your big luggage is on the plane, so it’s taken care of – it will make it to the final destination. You don’t have any other worries or things to drag around. All you have is your carry-on with whatever you need for the night.
That’s what I did when I booked my flight to Medellin, Colombia. It was $335, with a 21-hour layover in Ciudad de Mexico, from 9 PM to next day at 6 PM.
Typically, the wrong mentality of a tourist is: “No way, I rather pay more to get there faster as I don’t want to sleep on the airport chairs.”
I booked the $335 flight to Medellin. Then I went to Airbnb and booked a $30 room in an apartment located in downtown Ciudad de Mexico.
I specifically looked for a property that had young owners so that I could get along with. I contacted them, I introduced myself, and after we had trusted each other, I offered to pay for some gas if they pick me up from the airport. How much?
I paid another $10, they picked me up from the airport, and then we partied all night in the fabulous Mexico City. Then I slept for a few hours. The next day, Roberto and Tabata (my hosts, below) took me through Mexico’s capital, showed me around, went to a soccer game, and had a great time.
Needless to say, I am now very good friends with them, and we are constantly keeping in touch. Roberto is a lawyer and may consider moving to North America.
In retrospect, instead of saying “OMG, f–k the 30-hour total travel time, I will pay $600” I got to:
– Visit two countries instead of one (Colombia and Mexico), in the same week
– Paid only $375 for flights and accommodation in between
– Made friends for life
– Rested in between flights
It’s a matter of looking at the total flight time with different eyes.
Recommended: Join This Dream Trip to Argentina
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Type in the Search box the name of the country or city you are visiting and it will tell you what scams you could fall for in those locations. Be smart.
Scam Detector started as a mobile app but turned into a responsive web-platform for easy access all over the world. You can subscribe to their newsletter to also get the Top 5 scams of the week.
Recommended Trip: Join This Once-in-a-Lifetime Adventure in Brazil
Have you ever been scheduled on a flight that was canceled or delayed by a few hours, while you were in the airport? Did you see all those hundreds of passengers hustling to the one counter trying to get first dibs on rescheduling?
It happened to me last week while flying to Romania to see my parents.
It is not uncommon. In case this happens in the future, don’t get into the crowded line to see the gate agent (along with the other 200 people).
Instead, call the airline’s toll-free number and talk to their customer service representative. You’ll be helped within minutes. Then you can enjoy a coffee while the others are stepping on each other’s toes at the gate, struggling to rebook a new flight.
The person on the phone can take care of things for you the same way the gate agent can. If you want, you can get in line while calling the airline. If the customer service reschedules you before you get to the counter, you can simply step out of line.
One of the regrets I have during all these years of traveling is that I didn’t sign up for the loyalty programs of EVERY airline I ever have flown with, at the VERY FIRST flight. What does that mean?
Time goes on anyway. Chances are, you will fly at some point with the same company again. Many times.
Do what I didn’t do initially: use every airline’s loyalty program and allow the points accrued in time to move you up to more comfort. Sure, not for your first flight with them, but later. That time will come.
Don’t be lazy today. Use a minute to sign up, that’s what I mean. Not only that, but nowadays when competition is so high, airlines throw in other amazing rewards that you wouldn’t know about or take advantage of, otherwise.
Here are some: Delta SkyMiles, American AAdvantage, Southwest Rapid Rewards, Air Miles, Aeroplan, British Airways oneworld, JetBlue TruBlue, etc.
When it comes to your mobile data, there are a few other tricks you can use. What kind of telephone do you have: an Android or iPhone?
If you have an Android phone – Nexus or Pixel – you can make it work abroad (135 countries) exactly like home. All you have to do is to use Google’s Project Fi, which is your next-gen cellular carrier. Click the link below to access it:
If you have an iPhone, you can set it up to work on Project Fi using this hack.
On the other hand, if in doubt you could purchase a portable Wi-Fi hotspot like Skyroam. All it takes is $8 for unlimited data in over 100 countries.
You know that at every airport you will be going through the tedious TSA procedure. The good news is that now it is possible to make things easier by using TSA PreCheck for an annual membership fee of $85.
This will help you get through without the hassle of issues with shoes, your items being gone through, and increased ease at getting through the process.
However, what’s even better is to sign up for the Global Entry Program. For $100 (only $15 more), you will get the TSA PreCheck benefits plus a faster access through the US border, along with a better “treatment,” so to speak. Well worth it. You can sign up for a Global Entry application using the link below:
Besides the United States, other countries that qualify for the Global Entry Program are Canada, the UK, Germany, Panama, Colombia, Netherlands, Mexico, Singapore, India, Switzerland, Argentina and South Korea. No Australia just yet.
In Canada, you can also sign up for a Nexus membership, as long as you don’t have a criminal record.
How many times have you been stopped at the gates for a routine “random” check of your luggage or your clothes that you’re wearing? It’s annoying and uncomfortable as hell.
Batteries represent a huge issue when it comes to going through the airport scanners.
Be sure you have taken all the batteries out of your travel appliances before you pack. There is nothing like a vibrating device to set off security concerns and delay your flight as the crew makes sure everything is safe. Put the batteries in the big suitcase that you check in.
The security people don’t even tell you why they look through your luggage. I’ve heard from someone working at the airport that a lot of times is because they want to make sure the batteries in your carry-on (which they can see when scanning the bag) may be the cause.
How annoying is when you go through the security gates to take everything off your pants’ pockets? Those quarters you got at the coffee shop, your keys, your wallet? Plus the glasses and the bracelet? And the watch or the necklace?
When going through the x-ray machines, speed up the process by putting all these small objects into your jacket pockets minutes before getting in line. This way you can use fewer bins, and it moves the conveyor belt process along faster.
I know it seems obvious now, but a lot of times I forget this myself, only to throw everything in the bin and pick them up one by one on the other side.
Recommended Vacation: Join This Trip of a Lifetime to Tuscany and Venice!
Did you forget your phone charger at home? Most of us do.
Don’t panic. You’d be surprised, but it is very likely that the airport has many that have been left behind by other passengers. MANY. Here is the trick:
If they have been unclaimed for 90 days, the airport staff is allowed to give them away, so most likely will give you one. To keep the place clean and tidy is what they want, also.
Once you get past security, you may have a decent wait time before your flight. You are a captive audience for all those pricey little stores and vendors.
You can avoid spending extra money on water if you pack an empty bottle in your carry-on bag. When you are past the security checkpoint, just fill it up.
Also, frozen water or juice is not judged in the same way as liquids when you go through security. Frozen liquids are let through with you, so you could simply bring a bottle that you that contains frozen liquids.
Did you ever lose your passport in a different country? It’s the worst experience ever. The thing is, you always think you are careful until… you’re not 🙂
It happened to me while in was in Los Angeles. As a Canadian, I was lucky enough to find a consulate in LA, but the procedures of proving who you are, well, are not that easy. I had to spend two extra days in Los Angeles (until I was verified), meaning I also had to pay for a couple of nights at a hotel, for which – of course – I needed my passport!
Imagine you lose your passport in China.
Here is what to do before holidays: send a copy of your passport to your email. If bad news happens while you’re away, you always have handy proof of your identity, which will help speed up the process.
Not only that, you only have to do this once, and you will always have it accessible.
Just make sure that when you send yourself the email to write a different subject line than “My Passport Details,” just in case your email ever gets hacked.
A lot of times, booking two one-way flight tickets, with two different airlines, might be cheaper and more convenient than round trip tickets. If you have some reward points to take advantage of as well, you could get a hell of a deal.
In my case, a flight two-ways to Romania costs about $1,300US during the hot season. I flew to Romania last week with a one-way flight that cost me $283US (I used some Aeroplan points, too).
The other one-way ticket (return) cost $478US. A total of $751US.
Many locations have different prices according to the “Point of sale,” meaning where the ticket was purchased. That happens because the transaction is subject to regional pricing.
The cost of the tickets is lower in an underdeveloped country or when travel companies are trying to set up shop in a new region. There are basically different costs for tickets for the same flight, and one can find this out from sites, for example, such as Expedia.com and Expedia.co.kr (which is a Korean version).
While checking the flights you need to be aware that the prices will be given in the local currency, so have a currency converter handy.
This is one of the most critical things to be aware of when it comes to travel hacks and tips. Did it ever happen to you to find a great deal online, save it for a few hours or days, only to find a higher price when you return to it? It happens all the time, and it’s nerve wracking.
That is because the cookies stored on your computer tell the booking website you already visited it and you are interested. When you go back to it, their software detects the same interested visitor and increases the price automatically.
I am sure you probably know how to avoid the problem, but just in case you don’t – here it is.
When you are ready to start looking for deals on flights, open a new incognito window in your browser, not a regular one. The incognito window doesn’t store cookies, and the prices won’t increase because you’re always be considered a new visitor. While booking a ticket, you may want to ensure that you are surfing on a safe and reliable internet connection as an unsafe network might be prone to a potential data breach while you were doing the transaction. In order to get a high-speed and secure internet connection, you can look for “atlanta internet providers” or something related to your location to find the relevant and trusted firms for internet services. Once you are surfing over a high-speed and protected connection you are good to go for booking tickets.
However, if you’re going back to a great deal found a few hours or days ago, make sure you clear the cache in your history panel as well.
I always get a smile on my face when I am in an airport and see suitcases falling over randomly.
Maintain the balance of your suitcase by packing shoes, books, full bottles or other heavy items at the base, near the wheels. This helps keep the suitcase straight and it would not keep falling over.
Typically, flights have a 24-hour window where you can cancel the booking without paying any fees – even for most of the “nonrefundable” flights! This provides you with the opportunity to book a flight and then keep searching for a day to get a lower price.
Airlines such as American Airlines, Virgin America, and Southwest render the 24-hour hold services, where you can put the airfare on hold.
Meanwhile, there are services such as FareLock, which provides the chance to wait up to a week before booking with a minimum charge beginning at $6.99.
Another great service is Options Away, which can hold flights for up to three weeks at a rate starting from $4 to $45.
A lot of people don’t know what their credit cards offer when they are away. And I am not even talking about the travel-oriented credit cards.
Numerous credit cards come with complimentary benefits, such as entry to airline lounges, insurance coverage, renting cars and hotel room upgrades. Check with your credit card company to see if you have such bonuses which you probably didn’t know about.
When it comes to travel credit cards, many are great according to your lifestyle and location.
If you live in the US, Chase Sapphire Preferred Card is one of the premium travel credit cards. For every $1 spent you get 1 point, and for every $1 spent on traveling you earn 2 Ultimate Rewards Points. With a yearly charge of $95, it renders various offers such as waiving foreign transaction fees.
Also, if in the first three months of joining Chase you have spent $4,000 on goods, then you get a signup bonus of 40,000 points. Last but not least, while redeeming points for car rentals, cruises, hotels and airfares you can boast 20% off travel.
If you are on the road a lot, click the link below to see four travel reward credit cards that you need in your pocket:
Four Best Travel Reward Credit Cards.
On the other hand, with the American Express Platinum Card, you can get a Boingo membership, which offers in-flight Internet. Which takes me to the next point:
Roaming and in-flight Internet are extremely expensive. Get a subscription to Boingo, which provides Wi-Fi hotspots and costs only $4.98 per month for access in America and $59 per month to get access all over the world.
This may sound like common sense now, but a lot of people don’t think of it when the time comes.
Most of us call our relatives (moms, spouses, etc.) every time we are in holidays. While a lot of travelers purchase mobile data plans that offer a tempting number of minutes for calls, there are still many people out there who ignore/forget the fact what you can now make FREE phone calls with mobile apps such as Facebook Messenger, Viber, Google Voice, or Skype. It’s 2017, people!
A student ID card gives discounts in your country, but can also be valid in others. This can translate into cut price travel, accommodation, attractions and events – even food and alcohol.
An International Student Identity Card gives the holder access to more savings and extra discounts across 45 countries. How to get one?
Here it is for: US Citizen, Canadians, Australians or UK Citizen.
If you travel within bigger countries (such as Japan, US, etc) and visit multiple cities, schedule your transportation strategically. The best is the night train.
Not only do you save the price of a night’s accommodation, but less travelers choose night or inconveniently timed flights and travel options, meaning better prices for you.
A night bus or train can be a great choice, especially as comfort levels are improving and many have reclining seating. You may have to wait an extra half hour for the destination train station to open, but it could save you money for the inconvenience.
If you’ve ever been to Las Vegas or any other major city, you know that if you play any game in a casino you get free drinks. Well, in a lot of other places in the world, you can also have similar benefits.
While some hostels might not have the amenities of 5-star resorts, a smart traveler can live in the dorms and still party like a millionaire.
For example, in South East Asia, you can lounge by the pool in 5-star locations simply by buying a drink at the bar inside the hotel. Other places might require a spa booking, or even just a room enquiry. Just don’t act guilty.
Many high-end resorts allow guests and members of the public into their social areas, even though it helps to know (or make friends with) someone already staying there.
That was it, folks. Meanwhile, you can travel with me to my next adventures. I am going to the 6 exotic destinations below within the next 12 months, so why don’t you join me while we’re being followed by a camera? To every single country, I will go with an exclusive group of only 10 people (selected applicants only). I call it The Spark Experience. It’s for those people who work hard and rarely treat themselves, is for those who don’t want to have regrets, is for those who want to do something they’ve never done before. Is that you?
Click on the links if you’re interested:
Brazil (Rio de Janeiro & Amazon Jungle)
Argentina (Wine & Tango theme)
Transylvania (Romania, Meet Dracula theme)
Italy (Tuscany & Venice Affair)
Colombia (Mysterious Cartagena)
Feel free to let me know if you want to join at the bottom of every page listed above. Cheers!
What to do in Medellin? Certainly, you can’t plan what just happened to me, but you might get close. Watch the video below to see the story, or read on:
I grew up in Romania thinking that Medellin, Colombia, was the worst city in the world. It was because I heard daily news about the hundreds of gruesome murders, from politicians to journalists.
Stories of Pablo Escobar, Popeye (Escobar’s hitman, responsible for the deaths of over 3,000 people), blood baths, and car bombings were fascinating, yet frightening. Yet, I was intrigued – because I was a huge soccer fan – how the Medellin Cartel sponsored the local soccer team and the Colombian national team (despite the criminal activities, both teams did extremely well – Nacional Medellin winning Copa Libertadores in 1999) and gave support to schools, hospitals, and other public institutions.
The Medellin Cartel’s blood full stories made me scared, at 13, to ever end up in Colombia. Although deep down or secretly, I wanted to. It must have been that “going there will be like going to a movie set” kind of mindset.
Life beats the art, though.
I ended up in Medellin two and half decades later. And as faith would have it, I ended up face-to-face with Popeye, aka Jhon Jaime Velasquez. But I will get to that in a minute.
The city is phenomenal. I have seen 50 countries so far, and Colombia is my second favorite. The first one was Bermuda (check out my article/video on the truth about the Bermuda Triangle mystery, as I am also giving away a free hotel room and a car to drive while there).
In Colombia, people are extremely friendly. Thousands of joggers are seen running through the neighborhoods; public gyms are populated at night, Zumba sessions are in plain sight in a mall (Unicentro), and – my favorite – not once, was I the victim of an attempted scam.
Not to mention that Medellin probably has some of the best nightlife out there – I had a blast.
People warned me about the scammy ‘mujeres’ and how they would try to lure one into all kinds of scenarios. I never had a problem in dealing with the ladies, so Medellin was an easy breeze. Except for the night, when I couldn’t run fast enough from Maria Luisa, a 19-year old prostitute. It happened in Parque Lleras, which is the best neighborhood to party in Medellin.
After she had said hi to my friend Nathan and I, she took her iPhone out to use Google Translate – just to let me know her name, her age, and the fact that I won’t be ‘escaping’ too easy that night. Needless to say, ‘gringos’ are a high target.
As Nathan and I moved to a different corner of the bar, she followed us along with another teenage prostitute. They must have had some guys around them too because they were always looking for and signalling random people.
We left the bar, and so they did. When we saw that, we literally started to jog. I felt like I was running away from a cobra with a lethal bite.
Of course, every city has its prostitutes. Medellin didn’t differ. And sure, there are also robberies and scams everywhere, but in my 10-day trip, I didn’t get to experience any of that nor did I hear of any such happenings around me.
Both my Airbnb hosts were amazing. I totally recommend using the platform. I always did and I always will. Locals are your best tool if you want to have the best experience.
It always amazed me how a lot of people are reluctant to immerse themselves in other cultures. Traveling teaches you about life in a way that school never does. The more you learn and immerse yourself into other cultures, the more powerful you become, whether that’s speaking Spanish or mastering Salsa.
There will be moments in your life where the knowledge you accumulated on a previous trip will save you in difficult situations. Guaranteed.
One of the coolest people I met was Diego, an Uber driver who picks people up at the Jose Maria Cordova Airport, exclusively for Airbnb hosts that hire him. Diego doesn’t speak English, but he knows a lot and can get you a lot.
As I was telling him about my childhood soccer days when the Nacional Medellin and the Colombian national team identified themselves with Pablo Escobar and the Cartel, he offered to drive me around town to all the ‘historical’ places related to the drug lord, and give me a private tour of some of the exclusive local spots.
However, as a note, if you ever go to Medellin, never tell a local that you are going on a Pablo Escobar tour.
The first location Diego took me to was the house where the infamous drug dealer was killed. Or, as his brothers would say, where he killed himself. If you’ve ever seen documentaries or a Netflix show like Narcos, you know what I am talking about.
After 16 months of intense searching for Escobar after his escape from La Cathedral prison, Pablo was finally located via phone satellite capturing his phone signal. He was in one of the medium-class neighborhoods of Medellin, called Los Olivos.
As the Search Squad found him and a shoot-off was going on, Escobar and his bodyguard, El Limon tried to escape through the back window on the roof, only to be surrounded and killed.
However, Pablo’s brothers – Roberto and Fernando – claim that he shot himself with the final bullet: “He was always saying that if he ever gets cornered without a chance to escape, he would shoot himself in the ear.” Escobar was found dead with a gunshot in his pelvis, and one in his ear.
For those who don’t know, Escobar was on the run after he escaped from La Cathedral (see pic below), a prison which he designed himself after reaching an agreement with the Colombian Government.
According to the deal, Pablo asked not to be extradited to the United States, in exchange for reduced sentence in a local jail, plus ceasing any violent conduct and crimes against authorities. However, that didn’t last long.
Escobar agreed to spend five years in prison, but with the condition of picking and choosing his jail. This led to the construction of the La Cathedral, on one of the beautiful hills overseeing Medellin.
La Cathedral was more like a mansion, with entertainment rooms, soccer fields, and many more facilities. I visited La Cathedral as well, see below.
The next place Diego took me was the neighborhood that Pablo Escobar funded and built for the poor people of Medellin. Located in the Caldas area of the city, ‘el barrio’ (neighborhood, in English) overlooks the town and has very abrupt and narrow streets.
Paraphernalia is sold all over, from mugs with Pablo’s mug (no pun intended) to matchsticks and T-shirts with his face on.
The atmosphere is friendly with children playing, and hundreds of motorbikes buzzing. Not a day passes (even now, 25 years later) without the locals seeing Pablo’s face on the walls.
While Escobar was imprisoned in La Cathedral, his wife Maria and two kids lived in a building called Monaco, in downtown Medellin. Even though it was 50 kilometers away, Escobar had a tower built at his jail on the top of the hill.
From that tower, he used a powerful telescope that could zoom in all the way to the Monaco building (photo below) in the middle of the city. This way, he would call his family and talk to them on the phone while watching them through the telescope.
The Monaco building was the object of a car bombing that killed two of the guards and made $7 million in damages (6 feet crater was created on the street and several adjacent buildings destroyed).
The Escobar family was not hurt, and the buildings and the neighborhood have been restored. Unfortunately, the Government of Colombia decided to demolish the building in March 2019, so if you visit Medellin there is no way you can see it anymore.
This place is still majestic although partially ruined. A small part of it was turned into an asylum for older people, but most of it is presented as a historical landmark.
“The country that doesn’t know its history is doomed to repeat it,” is printed on a small sign as you walk in. The original statement belonged to Italian philosopher George Santayana and was more like: “Those who cannot learn from history are doomed to repeat it.”
Relevant in all sorts of ways. See this pic below taken at La Cathedral
Escobar designed his own prison, ordering everything a mansion has, and more: playing rooms, soccer pitches, a helicopter landing platform, etc. He would regularly entertain guests, including victims that were brought there to be killed.
The jail even had a sexually fantasy room with a rotating bed, where Escobar would have young girls for his pleasure. At the time, the part of the building was destroyed by an earthquake and all that was left is the round rock below that the bed was installed on.
Escobar escaped La Cathedral when he got word that the government was about to break the deal and move him into a conventional prison, with the possibility of extraditing him to the United States.
The drug lord escaped through a back gate, running into the mountains.
The biggest surprise I had was the last stop that Diego and I had.
As we visited Pablo’s grave, we found another person there. It was Jhon Jaime Velasquez, aka Popeye. The one I was terrified of as a kid. The one responsible for the deaths of over 3,000 people. The man who would kill daily with only ice running through his veins. The one who kidnapped tonnes of powerful individuals and bombed several places. The one I saw in movies such as The Two Escobars. The man who killed his own girlfriend.
Popeye was there, in front of me, holding his hand up for me to shake it.
After 22 years of jail he is now free, but still walking around with guards, guns, and walkie-talkies. In an interview for Daily Mirror HERE (which calls his the world’s most dangerous man), Popeye confessed that: “I am a repented and reformed man. If possible, I am looking for reintegration back into society. I am still capable of killing, but unless I am cornered, I hope I will never have to do it again.”
In my encounter with him, he was affable and sociable and even shared a bunch of stories over Escobar’s grave.
He spent about 15 minutes telling us how close he was with Pablo, and about the people that buried around him (Escobar’s father, El Limon, other family members).
A photo op came, naturally. His tattoos on his arms say it all. Twenty-four years since Escobar’s death and Popeye still comes to his grave on a regular basis.
I posted this picture on Instagram, and I was immediately followed by the CNC Medellin, a local TV channel. And maybe by others too, not just on social media. Plus, it was inevitable not to have some judgemental friends sharing their thoughts on my image. Truth be said, I don’t give a f*&k. I wanted to capture the moment.
The Escobar tour that Diego gave me was priceless. If you are ever in Medellin, hit him up. Send me an email at sorin at travel by dart dot com, and I will give you his contact.
Just a reminder not to tell the locals you are doing an Escobar tour. You are just another gringo.
This beautiful region has a lot of attractions to visit. I want to share with you a few of them:
One of the amazing places you should visit if you go to Medellin is La Piedra, located in Guatape, two hours away east from the city. It is a massive 700-feet rock that stands out, overlooking a wonderful ‘pueblo’ (village).
It has 700 steps to climb but the breathtaking (literally) scenery at the top is worth it.
At the top of the rock, there are a couple of patios where you can have a bite to eat and a couple of ‘cervezas frias’ (cold beers).
When you come down from La Piedra, you can visit Guatape, which is a town sitting by a lake, featuring a bunch of great little attractions, including a zip line ride along the water.
If going to the countryside is not your thing, visit Pueblito Paisa. It is a miniature cultural city located at the top of a Medellin hill. You can take a taxi or Uber. It features traditional Colombian shops with artifacts, souvenirs, restaurants, and…a church.
“Paisa” refers to whatever is Medellin-specific; whether is its people or things. “Pueblito” means ‘little town.’ See pic below.
If you are a night owl, you cannot go to Medellin and not visit Parque Lleras. It is the neighborhood party. Tonnes of restaurants open late at night, every day of the week. It’s the place where anything can happen.
Uber cars are readily available. And be especially watchful here for the taxi tricks.
Although I didn’t have enough time to do it, in Medellin, there is also a cool cable ride that takes you in a gondola above the city. Consider taking it. Ask locals for Metrocable and directions.
As for the food, if you are ever in Medellin make sure you try a Bandeja Paisa, see below.
As a big soccer fan, I was lucky enough to stay in Medellin just three minutes away from the Atanasio Girardot Stadium, where local teams Nacional and Independiente host their home games.
I went for a run every morning around the stadium, along with many other people. On Sundays, the streets are closed and hundreds of locals are jogging or walking their dogs.
It is like a huge park, with many food shops around – so you can even take your family and dog for a walk and good times.
Of course, I had to visit the stadium inside, and I asked for a tour guide. A young girl working there took me through the tunnel, locker rooms, and VIP boxes. We ended up on the freshly cut grass pitch.
Tons of history here as well, if you like soccer.
If you want a real Colombian experience on a Saturday night, go to Dulce Jesus Mio. It is an amazing bar/nightclub with only Latino music; people dressed up in characters, patrons singing along all the songs, dancing like you’ve never seen before.
Overall, an unforgettable experience. And man, it was the first time in my life when I finished a bottle of tequila! I had help from friends, of course, and the next morning I felt great.
By the way, the picture above shows the sinks in the washrooms at Dulce Jesus Mio. :))
If you decide to go, visit the one located in the Las Palmas neighbourhood, as there are a few Dulce Jesus Mios across the city.
I visited many countries – usually with friends or a TV crew – but I never travelled alone. This was the first time I did it, and I was skeptical in the beginning.
But what an experience it was!
Going by yourself somewhere far away enhances your perceptions and feelings. You have no one else to influence your thoughts or dilute your perceived values. Do it.
Colombia is worth every single penny. Visit soon. Or leave me a comment below. While you’re doing that, I am going to throw a dart at the world map and travel wherever it lands.
Feel free to also read my posts about the Bermuda Triangle mystery (I am giving away a hotel room and a car to drive while there), Panama, Russia, Svalbard, India and Brazil. Many more to come, subscribe to my blog using the form provided on this page.
I just went to Panama City where I threw a new dart at the world map, but I felt like sharing with you a few experiences I had while there. In this article, you’ll see suggestions about what to do in Panama City, and I’ll give you some insights about main attractions, tours around the Panama Canal, places to party at, financial aspects, and local beaches.
But first, let me pinpoint five interesting things that stuck with me during my visit:
1. Prices in Panama City are actually quite high, very similar to the ones in the US or Canada. Food is almost the same, while drinks and clothing, for example, are a bit cheaper.
2. There are Police patrols everywhere, including in the darkest corners of Panama City. One or two soldiers are planted in almost every second corner, which made us feel safe despite the dangerous-looking neighborhoods.
3. Panama City is split into two different worlds. Beautiful luxury and cultural buildings one street, EXTREME poverty 400 meters away. There are amazing areas of town mixed with very scary looking neighborhoods, tied to each other.
4. People in Panama are extremely polite, from every single Uber driver (we had over 30) to clerks, neighbors, kids, etc.
5. Time in Panama is a bit slower if you know what I mean. It always takes longer to get everything you order. One restaurant on Amador Causeway, called Pencas, probably holds the record for the slowest service ever. It was the first restaurant that I went to in my life where the drinks came out 30 minutes later after the food was ready. And no, the waitress didn’t forget about them, as she acknowledged the fact that she has to bring them during our wait.
Now let’s take a look at what to do in Panama City:
Honestly, this country could be great for any kind of travel: whether you’re looking for solo or couple escapes, mother-daughter trips, or even for 50th birthday trip ideas, Panama could be the answer.
The question every traveler in this country has is: What to do in Panama City and where to go? One place I really liked was Casco Viejo, which is the old town. It has great patios and bars, beautiful cobblestone streets, and great views of the city.
The neighborhood is surrounded by extreme poverty areas, so don’t be surprised if during your Uber ride you will go through some scary streets, populated with garbage and dubious-looking characters. It’s not as dangerous as it looks, though.
Recommended Trip: Travel to the Amazon (Brazil)
If you want to dance, go to Teatro Amador (jazz on Thursdays, salsa/Latino beats on Fridays) or Zaza. I also like a patio on Zaza’s rooftop.
The best patios are Acentos and, located right in front of Hard Rock Cafe Hotel. Tell your Uber driver to take you to the Multicentro Mall and drop you off at the Hard Rock Cafe doors. Cross the alley and walk up the stairs, there are four different great patios tied to each other.
One last recommendation is to go to the Trump Tower rooftop, to a restaurant called Panaviera, for amazing views of Panama City.
The best time to go is around 5 or 6 PM for the magic hour, right before it gets dark (it depends on the time of the year), but obviously, you can do it anytime.
The restaurant also has an infinity pool (smaller, just for design, not for use) that looks amazing.
Prices here are a bit expensive – you pay for the view.
Last but not least, someone recommended us to go to Calle Uruguay, as they said it’s a touristy spot. Although popular, I didn’t like it one bit. I got a weird vibe.
Recommended Dream Trip: Tuscan Vacation Packages
The most recognizable building on the Panama City skyline is BBA (242.9 m), also known as the “Screw” or the “BBA building.” BBA is a Panamanian bank that resides in this modern shape building. Although not a place to visit per se (inside), BBA is a majestic work of art that needs to be seen from the very bottom-up. Emporis selected the F&F Tower amongst the Top 10 best skyscrapers in the world, in 2011.
This amazing building below is Biomuseo. It was designed by Frank Gehry, who also designed the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao. Biomuseo is located at the Pacific entrance of the Panama Canal, on the Amador Causeway. Its purpose is to change the way the world sees, understands and preserves our environment.
The cost for the building 95 million dollars project. The funding was received from over 100 local companies and the government. The Panama Tourism Authority, which also helped finance the museum, was hoping for an “instant icon” – it certainly happened.
You can visit Biomuseo’s official website HERE for more information.
Unfortunately, there are no amazing beaches within Panama City. The Bay in Panama City (Cinta Costera) and Amador Causeway, also in the city, are apparently polluted – say some locals like Paul K. Apart from that, there’s no sand. There’s a small beach in Casco Viejo which is also polluted and not safe.
To the East of the city is a large new residential area with mangrove (no beach) and highways (rocks), to the west is the Panama Canal which has no beaches either.
Playa Bonita is not great but is about 30–45 minutes driving from Panama City. It’s safe but just not too nice.
Veracruz is a beach and local village nearby Playa Bonita that apparently doesn’t have a good record. Some locals say there have been quite a lot of robberies and it’s unsafe here, due to the shacks and people living in this place.
Relatively good beaches are Gorgona and Coronado (1.5 hours by car). Some have black sand, but they aren’t too busy with people on weekdays, and it’s green around. On weekends without rain, it gets busy with families doing barbecues.
However, if you look for awesome unspoiled beaches with pristine clear waters the best “nearby” option is Ilha Grande up North, but it will take you 2+ hours to get there. By bus or boat, it probably takes you over 2.5 hours.
Along the way, you can visit the historical place where Columbus had his fortification. Note that in rainy season that coast gets a lot of rain, make sure to check the forecast the same day.
If you have more time and money to spend the island group San Blas is your best choice. It’s expensive and isolated to get there because native inhabitants are the only ones that are allowed to organize the trip.
Another option nearby is taking the boat to Isla Taboga from Panama City. It is the most affordable beach tour. It is a 30-minute ferry ride for $20US. The ferry leaves at 8 AM, 9.30AM, 11 AM, and 3 PM from the Balboa Yacht Club. You can return on the same day at 8.45AM, 10.15AM, 2.45PM, 4 PM or 5 PM (the 5 PM departure is added only in the weekends).
You can stay overnight if you want. Taboga has only one main beach, but there is not much to do there otherwise – if you are looking for other activities.
I spent my birthday in Panama City and that day my desire was to be on a ship, a speedboat, or a yacht. The best deal I found was a 45-minute tour of the city on water, on a speedboat. And boy, you can see a lot in that time when you go with 80km/h.
It cost $250US to rent for four people, but we saw an amazing view of the downtown, the Trump Tower up close, the Panama Canal, and went under the American Bridge and got a great little history of the city and the Canal from our guides, Charlie and Alberto (photo above).
Not to mention that we stopped to have a birthday champagne on the boat, with the music blasting, right in the heart of the Panama City-bay.
If you are interested in renting this speedboat you can call Dennis, the owner of Pana Thriller Speed Boat Tours, at (507) 6934-1546. I don’t get any commission from him, so do whatever you want or ask him what else he can offer.
If you are still wondering what to do in Panama City, here is another option. If you are into fishing trips, there are a few companies in Panama City that take you offshore if you don’t have your tools with you. My friend Raz (photo below) found the best deal at $250 for a full day, from 7 AM to 3 PM.
The actual fishing trip was $100, but to get to the lake, he had to pay $120 for a driver, as the location was an hour and a half away from the city. A part of the road was also in very bad condition, with a bunch of potholes.
In terms of the captures, they were fishing for Bass (photo below) and Oscars. Oscars (Raz is holding one in the picture above) are a bit sweeter if you can say that about a fish taste. We cooked it on our grill at the house we rented and came out delicious.
If you want to go out with the same people you can call Dennis (a different Dennis from the speedboat) at …***
The next best deal Raz found was for $375US, for the same amount of time. However, unlike the first company, this one would pick you up from home and offer you lunch and drinks (beers) during the day. You can take this deal by calling ***.
I was surprised to see that prices are higher than I thought. A dish at pretty much every restaurant we were eating was between $12-30US ($15 for a Cordon Bleu, $30 for a high-end steak), while the drinks were a bit cheaper. For example, a local beer is $2-3, and import is over $4.
We preferred to stick with Panamanian beers for the whole trip: Balboa, Panama and Soberana, which we could buy from the grocery store for $0.65 a pop.
On the other hand, a little airport souvenir (mini statue of a landmark, for example) that you would buy in other countries for $4-5 is from $10 up in Panama City.
Check this panel here for a good understanding of the prices in Panama.
The average salary in Panama is around $33,000US per year.
I visited Panama City at the beginning of April, so the temperature was always between 31-36 Celsius during the day, and just about $22-28 during the night.
Make sure the place you rent (if you use Airbnb) has air conditioning system. Ours broke a day before we left and the last night was horrible. However, we loved where we stayed, as the place had two pools and a hot tub (not hot 🙂 ) – see below, view from our balcony.
In four of the eight days we spent there, it rained but only for a half an hour. Needless to say, it evaporates quickly, so don’t worry about being rained on, unless you have a video camera or laptop that you are using in an open space (like I did).
I went to Cinta Costera 3, which is a beautiful strip facing downtown offering amazing views of the city. While I was recording a time-lapse of the skyline (and the picture of this article), it started pouring. The closest roof was about 5 minutes away walking distance, so I got soaked with my camera and gimble under my shirt.
A very bizarre incident happened while we were having drinks at Acentos, a great patio by the Hard Rock Cafe Hotel. It must have been 1.30am or even later when I went to pay my bill.
As I walked into the bar to use my credit card and use my PIN, all of a sudden all the waitresses started running around like crazy. It was like switch that generated unprecedented chaos.
They were stepping on each other’s toes (including mine), and although I picked on some Spanish, I couldn’t understand what they were saying. The bar staff and even some ‘familiar with the bar’-looking patrons (or maybe owners – you know, those who always have a reserved table by the bar) were also agitated.
My waitress asked me to sign the bill in a huge rush and left me there for a few seconds. Then she came back as she forgot to give me my copy. When I asked, what’s going on, she said with a grimace on her face: “Immigration is here.”
What that means, I could only imagine, so I am not going to share an uneducated opinion on the topic, but my Uber driver said that many workers in Panama City are illegal immigrants from countries like Venezuela or Costa Rica. There are definitely a few more layers deep down, so I will try to find that out.
Many people say that Panama is the best when it comes to saving on taxes, yet legal. I was curious to find out if anything has changed after the Panama Papers scandal. What is the aftermath of that? Here is what Vishal, a financial guru from Panama City, says:
“Nothing has changed so far, and like everything that comes on the media, this will too fade away. It’s tough for me to believe this is a conspiracy against someone specific because there are many tax havens or fiscal paradises around the world. If a person is using an offshore company to hold assets, he/she would most likely spread the risk between different jurisdictions, depending on the size and value of his/her assets.
Before passing of law 18, on 23rd April 2015, Panamanian law did not require disclosure of the names of shareholders of a corporation. It means pre-2015, you could have issued bearer shares, and the corporation could be directed by people assigned by shareholders. Directors of a corporation and owners are different people. Since they were bearer shares, the shares could change owners, without requiring disclosure or a person, trust or corporation’s name on the shares.
What Mossack Fonseca did pre and post-2015 was within the legal limits. They built companies and sold them to corporate clients such as other law firms or banks. Mossack Fonseca was not directly responsible for who owned these corporations and their shares, but, unfortunately, this big scandal broke out and made the law firm look like it was engaged in some evil business, which was not the case.
In fact, there were thousands of law firms or lawyers doing the same business, but Mossack came into attention, when after Law 18 passed, the names of shares bearers came to light, and because the number of registered companies was staggering for the size of our country.
What people don’t realize is that Panama is truly international, it has parties conducting business with people from all around the world. What is legal in this jurisdiction, might not be legal in other jurisdictions. All countries have different tax codes suited for their major industries, but not designed with a specific purpose of facilitating criminal businesses.”
Thanks for taking the time to read my article. As I mentioned, in Panama I threw a dart at the world map (see the throw here) and I hit Indonesia! I just went there and had an amazing time – see the Travel by Dart: Indonesia episode HERE. If you want to see my next destinations feel free to subscribe to my newsletter using the form on this page or follow on the social media channels.
Meanwhile, you can travel with me! I am going to the following destinations within the next 12 months, so why don’t you join me – click on the links if you’re interested:
Argentina: Wine & Tango theme – 60th Birthday Travel Ideas
Transylvania Vacation Packages: Meet Dracula theme
Cartagena Colombia Travel (Mysterious Cartagena)
To every single country of the ones mentioned above, I will go with an exclusive group of only 10 people (selected applicants only). I call it The Spark Experience. It’s for those people who work hard enough and rarely treat themselves, is for those who don’t want to have regrets, is for those who want to do something they’ve never done before. Is that you?
Feel free to let me know if you want to join at the bottom of every page listed above. Cheers!
