You’re going there?! Okay, you HAVE to…

Every time a friend tells us they booked a trip somewhere we’ve been, we end up texting them the same things. So here they are, one list per place.

This is the short list: our favorite single places and experiences. For itineraries and planning (where to stay, how to split your days), head to the Guides.

How something makes the list: if we’d tell a friend to go, it goes on. If we wouldn’t go back ourselves, it doesn’t. Tap any one for the full guide.

Europe

São Miguel, Azores

1. Swim where a hot spring runs into the ocean at Ponta da Ferraria. Go within two hours of low tide. São Miguel guide →
2. Walk the Boca do Inferno ridge, with crater lakes on both sides, then the Monte Palace five minutes away. São Miguel guide →
3. Eat the cozido in Furnas, slow-cooked underground in the volcanic heat. São Miguel guide →
4. Get a table outside at Alabote at sunset in Ribeira Grande and order the three-fish option. São Miguel guide →
5. Walk the tea rows at Gorreana. Entry and the tasting are free. São Miguel guide →
6. Book Pico do Refúgio for a week. The breakfast yogurt alone. Pico do Refúgio →
7. Splurge on one night at Octant Furnas and soak in the thermal pools. Octant Furnas →
8. Swim in the tide pools below Caloura. Caloura Hotel Resort →
9. Spend your last night on a houseboat in the Ponta Delgada marina. Where we stayed →
10. Chase the sun. If it’s cloudy, drive to another side of the island before you give up on the day. São Miguel guide →

Santorini, Naxos & Paros, Greece

1. Ride a moped to Hawaii Beach on Naxos’s Alyko peninsula, then catch sunset at the Portara. Naxos guide →
2. Spend a full day on a catamaran out of Naxos. We booked Naxos Yachting over WhatsApp. Naxos guide →
3. Take a moped on the car ferry to Antiparos and go down into the Cave of Antiparos. Antiparos guide →
4. Walk down to Ammoudi Bay, have lunch at Sunset Ammoudi by Paraskevas, then swim out and cliff-jump. Santorini last-day guide →
5. Wake up for sunrise over the caldera and have breakfast on your balcony at Avianto Suites in Imerovigli. Where we stayed →
6. Watch the sunset from the infinity pool at Villa Irini above Naousa. Just know the walk back up from town is STEEP. Where we stayed →

Albania

1. Drive the Llogara Pass down to the Albanian Riviera and stop at the viewpoint at the top. Read the story →
2. Hike down to Gjipe Beach, and keep an eye on the sky. Afternoon storms roll in fast. Read the story →
3. See the Blue Eye, but go really early before the crowds and tour buses arrive. The spring itself is spectacular. Read the story →
4. Book a boat day out of Sarandë and ask the captain for an empty beach. Read the story →
5. Join the free walking tour in Tirana for the history, the bunkers and the fun facts. Read the story →

Corfu, Greece

1. Hike to Porto Timoni’s twin beaches and Cape Drastis on Corfu. Read the story →
2. Get up for sunrise at the Kaiser’s Throne above Pelekas. Read the story →
3. Wander Corfu Town at night: the Old Fortress, gelato and music in the streets. Read the story →
4. Eat the gyros and baklava at Grill Room Skampus in Liapades. Hands down our best food on Corfu. Read the story →

Central America

Costa Rica

1. Ride horses straight onto the beach near Puerto Pilón. Ask your host. Itinerary →
2. Sleep near the airport your first night. Don’t start driving in the dark. Where we stayed →
3. Use Waze, not Google Maps, and download your maps before you lose service. Itinerary →
4. Walk the Skywalk bridges in Monteverde, and bungee ↗ if you’re braver than me. Itinerary →
5. Get an ATV delivered if you’re staying in Mal País. Where we stayed →
6. Catch sunset at Playa Mar Azul, with tidal pools and almost nobody around. Itinerary →
7. Take the car ferry back from Paquera to Puntarenas instead of driving. Itinerary →

Pedasí, Panama

1. Spend a day on Isla Iguana. Hire a local captain on Playa El Arenal and bring everything you’ll eat and drink. Pedasí guide →
2. Watch the sunset at Playa El Arenal, when the kitesurfers come out, then get a group photo at the driftwood tree. Pedasí guide →
3. Catch your first wave at Playa Venao. Wear a long surf shirt and sunscreen on the backs of your legs. Pedasí guide →
4. Buy red snapper straight off the boat at Playa El Arenal and cook it for dinner. Itinerary →
5. Get pastries at Le Panier Panadería. Go in the morning. Pedasí guide →
6. Take the tiny plane from Albrook to Chitré. I was scared, and it ended up being great. Itinerary →
7. Wander Casco Viejo and get coffee at Undo Coffee Roasters. Pedasí guide →
8. Get the seafood paella at Casa Alejandro. Start with the croquetas. Pedasí guide →
9. Book the Waldorf Astoria through Amex Travel. Our two nights came to $10. Hotel review →

Asia

Coming soon.

North America

Coming soon.

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Raw travel stories and real memories, all planned, booked and lived by us. Sponsored by nobody but ourselves. Thanks for reading!