Off the Beaten Path: 8 Unique Things to do in Paris

In Paris you’ll never be short of things to see and do. For the first time visitor, there are plenty of informative guides on a well-worn tourist trail to follow, covering all the major attractions. But what if you’ve already been there or you just want to escape the hoards and explore the more eccentric side of Paris off the beaten path?

Here’s a list of my top eight things to do in the capital city of France.

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Greece  ·  Review

PEPI Studios: Charming boutique hotel with a personal touch (Review)

Pepi Studios is a very-high rated boutique hotel in Crete’s best kept secret – the town of Rethymnon. I was delighted to learn on arrival that it’s built within a charming old Venetian building, the history of which goes to the early years of 20th century. From private school to material shop, 1985 was the year when the building was first transformed into small apartments. Later on, the hard-working family took over and opened a charming boutique hotel.

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First Time in NYC: What Not to Do

As one of the world’s most visited cities, New York City (NYC) remains an irresistible draw. Often overwhelming, it’s full of surprises at every turn. Here are some advices that will help first time visitors keep a cool head and avoid common pitfalls while discovering the best of what this magnetic metropolis has to offer.

1. Do NOT overplan your trip
We took 10 full days to see everything – and by everything I mean all tourist attractions (Empire State Building etc.) and those less known places. I had a list of all things we must see, however more things were added while there, some were skipped and we never knew more day a day in advance what we were going to do (weather in October can be unpredictable). The main rule was to do 3 things per day – sounds reasonable, right? Not so much. There were days when we did one thing and then those when we had to do five.

First Time in NYC: What Not to Do | The Cheerful Wanderer

Enchanting Brooklyn Bridge

2. Do NOT buy every attraction separately
Get CityPASS and save tons (by the way, I’m not sponsored). Just a little under $80, to be specific.

3. Do NOT skip Staten Island Ferry
It’s free, just avoid rush hour trips because the ferries are packed. Not a good time to take a leisurely ride. We caught one around 4pm and it was great. A different way to see iconic Manhattan and Jersey city skyline.

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Why should Crete be your next travel destination

Most people when they think of Crete (Greece) imagine crystal clear waters and endless sand beaches. It’s true, this is something Crete has, but there’s so much more to see that even if you come in all four seasons, your list will still not be fully checked. Locals like to joke that although they’ve lived in Crete for decades, they had only experienced a tiny bit of everything there is. We’ve spent 9 nights on the largest Greek island and fell in love with the diversity it has. Warm-hearted people, fantastic food, rich history and beautiful nature – when can we move?

1. There’s so much to see!
The island is so rich of beauties and treasures that you will need a lifetime to discover. I know we will be back to explore more.

Why should Crete be your next travel destination | The Cheerful Wanderer

Chrissi Island

2. The food
Plenty of it. It would be a disservice to talk about Greece or most importantly, Crete, and not mention the food. The Cretan Diet does not only ensure good health and long life because it’s nutritious but is also very tasty. It features a lot of olive oil, fresh vegetables and fruit, dairy products and a little wine with every meal. Let’s not forget about raki, so called natural medicine. Yamas!

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