Photo taken on the Rialto Bridge. My sister Bridgette makes the fantastic Adventure Awaits garland that you see above. If you like it you can check out more of them at Earmark Invitations.

This is the second review out of two Venetian rentals. Don’t forget to check out our other Venice apartment review for a review of a completely different property and to read about our fantastic host!

Apartment #2: Rialto Bridge Skyline

Because the first apartment was only available for one night Stefy suggested we stay in this Venice short term rental for the remainder of our time. A friend of hers owns this apartment and she handles all the bookings for them. She mentioned that this apartment was more authentic Venetian in its furnishings which some people love and others don’t love as much. The location of this apartment is UNREAL. Literally in the heart of Venice – if you love to be in the thick of things you can’t beat this spot.

The Apartment

It’s HUGE. If you like large rooms in your holiday homes then this apartment will satiate your thirst for space. The apartment is very spacious. It’s a two bedroom/1 bath on the 3rd floor (4th floor for our American readers). Keeping with the typical Venetian style there are huge windows in each room complete with large beautiful Italian wooden shutters. There is actually a TON of light in this apartment. The photos on the Roomorama site do not give an accurate vision of the apartment because they make the apartment look really dark which it is not. It is bright and airy and the large windows provide great views to the life buzzing below. I am actually giving all the photos I took to Stefy so she can replace the current ones. She knows that the photos she has currently on Roomorama really don’t do it justice.

The kitchen is perfect. It’s modern and has everything you need from spices to pots and pans. I loved the kitchen in this apartment and we did a lot of cooking here. We also saved a ton of money by cooking most of our meals here. We would pick up fresh fruits and vegetables at the Rialto Market which was only about a minute away for just a few Euro a day. There are also two dining tables – one in the kitchen and then an additional room in the living room. It was perfect for us because we used the one in the living room as our ‘office’.

What you need to know before you book: We really liked this apartment but….Have you ever heard the term ‘Venetian Clean’? This apartment is a perfect example of the term. Venetian buildings are old. They are beautiful and charming but they aren’t new. They embody the things everyone loves about Venice – crumbling, gorgeous and aged. Expect dust.

I want to point out that the most important parts of this apartment were very clean – the kitchen and the bathroom were spotless. The linens and towels were all very clean. We both felt that the apartment overall was clean but that it was just a bit aged and dusty.

The other issue that detracts from this apartment is the fact that it looks a bit cluttered. For instance there are 17 chairs in this apartment. If you want to invite 16 of your closest friends over for a get together then it’s perfect but other than that there is no need to have so many chairs. There is just an overall abundance of furniture and given the large space of the apartment it doesn’t take up too much room but it just looks like the owners had a bunch of extra furniture and put it all in here. There are two T.V.’s in the living room – I have no idea why. They both appeared to be working when we were there.

The last thing I want to point out is that the listing says it can accommodate 5 people using the couch as an extra bed). Really that’s not accurate. The couch is a sectional (that separates easily) and is more the size of a love seat. A small child could sleep on it but that’s about it.

I don’t want to dissuade you from booking this place. Given the space and location it is a STEAL. I’m just pointing these things out to give you a realistic expectation of the flat. It’s still a great apartment. We would book it again in a heartbeat based on the location (read below for how much we loved it and why this apartment really won us over) and if you’re looking for a well priced flat in the heart of Venice it’s unbeatable. However, if you have a dust allergy or want to stay in a place that is more modern you will probably want to stick with the other apartment.

Currently, it’s perfect for a group on a budget that cares more about location that aesthetics. A young family, college kids or a group of backpackers would be the perfect target audience for this apartment as is.

Stefy has also asked us for our help with this apartment. She said it is very typical Venetian but she wants to know what she can do to make it more attractive to renters, in particular to more Americans. We’re helping her by putting together a list of the changes we would make if we owned the place (we wish!). A new paint job, a thorough cleaning, new linens, removal of extra furniture and updated accessories (lampshades, picture frames & throw pillows) would make this place a star in the Venetian holiday rental community. I’m not kidding either. With updates, the large space and the unbelievable location of this apartment you could probably tack another 75-100 Euro/night onto the cost of this place. A little work and this place would be shining like a new dime. It would most likely be booked every single week of the year.

This apartment does not have wifi but because Stefy is such a gracious host she let us use her personal mifi USB and helped us set it up so if you need wifi just ask her and she can help you out.

The keys and a view out of the living room window:

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The kitchen & some of the yummy food we cooked:

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The living room, hallway and bathroom:

The Bedrooms:

(Note: You need to walk through the bedroom pictured below to reach the room with the double beds.)

The views:

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The Location

If you want to stay in the heart of Venice this is your place.

The reason we fell in love with this place was the location. It’s superb. It’s a one minute walk from the Rialto Bridge and the famous Rialto market! Talk about ideal. You know all those famous photos you see of the Grand Canal? Those were taken atop of the Rialto Bridge. Dream about buying fresh produce for your daily meals and conversing with locals as you shop for fruits, veggies and fish? Head over to the famous Rialto Market. You don’t need to walk far – everything is right at your fingertips. We loved going to the market for food and even more we loved that the apartment was tucked away just enough to be surrounded by local hang outs.

One thing Stefy pointed out to us on our walk around the neighborhood was the square right next to the Rialto Market. She said that on Saturday a lot of locals come to this square. They order wine from the wine shop and they buy some cheese from the cheese shop next store. Then everyone just stands around the square drinking, eating, flirting and laughing. The next day was a Saturday and sure enough she was right. The square was full of happy Venetians enjoying life. Had we not known this little tip ahead of time we wouldn’t have known the protocol and we’ve probably would’ve just walked right past it. Armed with our insider information we decided to join in on the fun.

We walked up to the wine bar, then we hit up the cheese shop. We hung out in the square sipping wine, noshing on cheese and letting the carefree atmosphere unwind our knots from the road. It was probably one of the most relaxing and enjoyable experiences of our entire trip in Europe. It was Venice as Venice was supposed to be and I remember feeling truly happy. In fact, the next time we head to Venice I will be sure to schedule our time around a Saturday just so I can do it again.

Another thing I want to note about the location was the auditory awesomeness that came with it. One thing I love about Venice is the moveable soundtrack. People laughing, neighbors catching up, kids running around, laundry flapping in the breeze, boats buzzing by, friends drinking and lovers dining–it follows you throughout the streets and it’s beautiful. This apartment had it in droves. I couldn’t get enough of it and once we left I missed it tremendously. All I needed to do was open the windows to hear the beauty of life going on around me. It was never very loud but just enough that I could hear the neighborhood gossip (unfortunately I couldn’t understand it) and hear people washing their dishes. As it turned out there was a bar below the apartment where locals gathered after work for aperitifs and conversation. It was sublime. It was also convenient – all we had to do was walk downstairs and order a drink. Perfect! The bar closed down around 8 – 9pm each night so it was always quiet when we went to sleep and to be honest, it was never loud to begin with – just murmurs of quiet conversation.

Even though it’s in a very touristy area and the apartment is a bit dusty we really ended up falling in love with this place. In the end it was the location, the relaxing atmosphere and the moveable soundtrack that captured our hearts and kept us from wanting to leave.

The street the apartment is on showing the local hangout shown at night and by day:

(The doorway shown in the photo on the left is the doorway to the apartment building.)

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Aperitifs from the above hangout:

The Rialto Bridge:

Fresh food from the Rialto Market:

(All this was about 8 Euro and we had more than a couple meals from it.)

Randy enjoying the local square on Saturday. The wine shop Al Merca is shown behind him:

Our apartments in Venice were provided by the good folks at Roomorama who have short term rentals all across the world. If you would like to stay in the flat mentioned in this story you can find it online here: Venice Holiday Rental

Editors note: This is the fourth review of our stays with Roomorama. Headed to Prague or Istanbul? Be sure to check out our reviews for those two fantastic cities as well!

*Get the first glimpse of our new travel photos & posts! Subscribe by email and get new travel articles delivered straight to your inbox:

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*Please remember all photos on this website, unless otherwise noted, are copyrighted and property of Beers and Beans Travel Website, Nariko’ s Nest Weddings & Bethany Salvon. Please do not use them without my permission. If you do want to use one of them please contact me first because I do love to share and I would be flattered. Thanks!

This is the first review out of two. Stay tuned for a different Venice property review tomorrow.

It’s no secret that I adore Venice. I can’t get enough of it. So when we had the chance to swing by Venice on our last jaunt through Europe this past fall, we couldn’t pass it up. We only had a couple days in this magical city, but the minute we walked through the station doors and into the city we were in love with Venice. Again.

I would love to stay there for months on end and really learn my way around the city and live like a local.

On this past trip, I got a step closer to that dream because we were able to stay in two Roomorama apartments in the city instead of in a tiny hotel room. Why two?

The one we wanted to stay at was only available for one night, but the owner actually managed a couple of properties in Venice and she offered to put us in a different one for the last couple of nights.

This actually turned out well because we not only got to live like a local in two different areas of Venice, but we also realized through the process just how helpful a potential host can be when you fill them in on your travel plans.

Before we get into the reviews I do want to make a note that Stefy (the host of both properties) was an absolute gem. She helped us understand the city, buy a sim card for our phone & she even gave us a short tour of Venice. She showed us one of her favorite coffee shops and demystified the several types of coffee (and which is best) – and in Venice there are a lot of coffees to choose from! She even told us how to best enjoy wine in the town squares and introduced us to a great cheese shop. It was through her help that we really experienced a different side of Venice and enjoyed activities alongside the locals. She made our trip to Venice memorable and easy.

While staying in holiday apartments in Europe, we discovered that one of the nicest things about renting a holiday apartment during your travels is that it makes you feel like you have a friend in the city. You feel like you have someone to turn to if you have a question or if something happens that you need help with (finding a doctor, etc.). It’s like having someone in your corner and in a new city that is a real plus. You know the host is never going to lead you astray, and they will do their best to make sure you enjoy the city. It’s a perk we’ve come to really enjoy as it takes a little stress off traveling to a new place.

We loved both properties. But in an effort to provide a fair review, we will let you know our honest thoughts about each place and provide you with photos to help you get a better idea of the apartments so you can make the best choice for your next trip to Venice.

Without further ado I present: Venice – A Tale Of Two Reviews.

(The Grand Canal as photographed from the Rialto Bridge.)

Apartment #1: Venice Romantic Dream

(Currently listed on Roomorama as Stefydream.)

This was the apartment that caught our eye in the Roomorama listings. We were in love with the loft style apartment that had its own balcony. The huge plus was the fact that it was only 100 Euro a night. On our previous trip to Venice, we stayed in a hotel that cost us 100 Euros/night and while it was nice, it was extremely tiny and we had to share a bathroom with all the other hotel guests. This apartment was a great deal because it was bigger, had a balcony and was much more private.

This Venice short term rental was actually a fantastic find, but initially we were a bit confused when we arrived. I’m going to talk about why we were confused so that it can help you book this place if you want to. And we do recommend it – this place really is great.

If you click the link to view this apartment, you’ll see it actually costs 140 Euro and you might be wondering why we got such a good deal. Well the reason for the price difference and the confusion is that there were originally 2 listings for this property (which we did not realize at the time of booking). There is currently now only one listing for this property.

Why two listings? Stefy felt that she could offer the entire apartment as a family sized rental and she could also offer just the loft as a more budget friendly option for a solo person or a couple traveling alone. She listed them at two different price points. It’s smart and makes a ton of sense. The only thing was that it was a little confusing.

When we showed up we were brought to our room by two other ladies (her aunt Linda and a friend) because Stefy was at work. At first we couldn’t believe how huge the place was, then we were a bit taken back when our room (the loft) didn’t have a door. We had no idea that we had rented a room in an apartment. We thought we had rented our own small loft apartment. These two ladies, while very sweet, didn’t speak much English and we didn’t speak much Italian so we were under the impression that they lived on the first floor and that we had this loft room with absolutely no real privacy or security. There were a ton of personal items and photos throughout the apartment that gave it a very lived in feeling.

Our room was spacious and the bathroom and balcony were great but we were completely confused at what was going on. From what we could tell, we had nowhere private to keep our gear and we had no door. We were wondering how this could be billed a “Romantic Dream” without a door and with other people living on the first floor.

Stefy stopped by about 30 minutes later to explain things to us.

This apartment used to be Stefy’s home and she has a real soft spot in her heart for it. One of the reasons there are so many personal effects in the house is because she hopes one day that she can move back into it (she now lives right outside of Venice). Her personal stories about growing up and living in Venice were very touching and I could easily see why she was reluctant to give up hope of moving back into such a great flat.

She also explained that no one lived on the bottom floor and that we had the whole place to ourselves. We were allowed to use the living room and the kitchen. Yah! She has an additional bedroom and bathroom on the bottom floor but unless the entire apartment is rented she keeps those two rooms locked (which makes sense – less to clean). So not only did we not need to worry about the missing door to our room but we actually had access to a beautiful apartment that was much bigger than we were anticipating. Talk about a plus!

She explained the two different listings she had on Roomorama and her reasoning for both. Basically, she wanted a way to help out people traveling on a budget. She asked us if it was confusing and also asked us for our opinion and our help on improving her listings.

It looks like she has decided to remove the initial listing we saw because of the confusion created by it, but she asked that when we reviewed the property on our blog, that we mention this issue and point out that the apartment is available both ways and all you need to do is ask her when you inquire through the Roomorama website.

So if you are a solo or a couple traveling to Venice and looking for a great spot for only two people, be sure to inquire with Stefy and see if the loft is available. You will still get access to kitchen and living room but with a discounted rate. Of course, if you are traveling with a family or small group renting the entire apartment (current 140 Euro listing) is another fantastic option and comes with the bonus of two bathrooms and bedrooms!

Sorry for the lengthy write up but we really needed to point out the different options available with this apartment so you can book accordingly. Now it’s time for the review!

The Apartment

Amazing. This apartment is fantastic. It’s spacious and cozy at the same time. There’s plenty of room to move around. The entire flat is updated and modern. In fact, the bathtub in our bathroom was actually a jacuzzi! The apartment was very clean and it has WiFi throughout. All the family photos and memorabilia really make you feel like you are truly at home in a foreign land. There are also plenty of books in English and Italian to read and there a variety of Venice travel guides and maps to help get you around the city. The balcony is fabulous and provides great views of the neighborhood. It’s a great spot to hang out and drink a bottle of wine. The wood beamed ceilings and loft add a feeling of openness to the entire space. Stefy is a great host and a little bird told me if you hit it off with her Aunt Linda (who lives on the ground floor of the same building but in a different apartment) she might surprise you by cooking you a homemade Italian meal! Guests often leave tokens of thanks for Stefy because they enjoy the place so much. I always felt terrible that we didn’t leave one so Stefy, if you’re reading this, I hope these reviews can be our gift to you.

The Kitchen and Living Room:

Stairs that lead to the loft:

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Family photos of Stefy & her son, books and travel guides:

The loft bedroom & bathroom (the stairs in the bedroom lead to the balcony):

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The great balcony and views:

Location

Fantastic! This section of Venice is a very local spot but still near St. Mark’s Square. Venice can be extremely touristy and if you’ve been there you might have been put off about the general ‘tourists are cattle’ feel that happens around the big sites. This apartment will keep you far from the tourists crowds and allow you to experience a side of Venice you might have only dreamed of. Instead of tourist trap shops, there are local shop that sell things you actually need when you live somewhere. There was a large grocery store nearby (about a two minute walk) and even a pet store on a adjacent street. This is the place to rent when you want to be surrounded by Venetian locals. There are plenty of cute little old Italian women chatting in the streets, school kids running around and neighbors running errands. In fact, everyone we saw looked like a local. If you want to live like a Venice local, hit up local grocery stores and stay in a very relaxed, quiet, non-touristy section of Venice, this would be a perfect fit for you.

Views of the street the apartment is located on:

Map that shows the location of the apartment in relation to St. Mark’s Square (listed as San Marco on the map):

Tip for renting a holiday apartment anywhere in the world: Keep in mind you are renting, most likely, from a local. This is a huge perk because you can get an insiders view to the city but there may be language barriers and customary differences. Be sure to be clear in your questions to the owner. For instance, instead of asking what floor the apartment is on you might want to ask how many stairs there are. In the U.S. we start our floor numbers on the first floor and we call that floor #1. This isn’t the case in different countries around the world; for instance, in Italy, the first floor is actually what we consider to be the 2nd floor. Their ground floor is what Americans would consider to be the first floor (their 1st floor is what we consider to be the 2nd floor). When booking your apartment try to clarify anything that confuses you so that when you arrive you aren’t surprised.

Our apartments in Venice were provided by the good folks at Roomorama who have short term rentals all across the world. If you would like to stay in the flat mentioned in this story you can find it online here: Venice Holiday Rental

Editors note: This is the third review of our stays with Roomorama. Headed to Prague or Istanbul? Be sure to check out our reviews for those two fantastic cities as well!

*Get the first glimpse of our new travel photos & posts! Subscribe by email and get new travel articles delivered straight to your inbox:

Or add us to your favorite feed reader by clicking the orange icon!

*Please remember all photos on this website, unless otherwise noted, are copyrighted and property of Beers and Beans Travel Website, Nariko’ s Nest Weddings & Bethany Salvon. Please do not use them without my permission. If you do want to use one of them please contact me first because I do love to share and I would be flattered. Thanks!

Editors Note: This is the first review in an ongoing weekly series that will highlight each property–hostel, hotel and apartment–we stayed at during The Hazy Shade of Autumn Tour as part of our partnership with the good folks at HostelBookers.com.

Stepping foot into Wombats City Hostel in Vienna changed my perspective on what a hostel could be.

At its core it is a hostel—dorm rooms, social atmosphere, plenty of computers to keep up with the social networks. However, aesthetically Wombats style, attention detail and high level of customer focus is more akin to a boutique hotel.

Before staying at Wombats, it never occurred to me that the words boutique and hostel could live in harmony together, but I just don’t think there is any better way to describe Wombats City Hostel at The Naschmarkt in Vienna than as a boutique hostel.

The rooms are stylish with a modern, minimalist design—kind of like that IKEA showroom that you can just never get your own room to resemble. We stayed in a private double, which had its own bathroom, but each of the many dorm rooms—four or six bed bunks—also contain bathrooms.

OK Randy, so your room had style, but was it clean?

Like Marv Albert always says, “Yes!” In fact, our room, as well as the hostel in general, was so clean that my grandmother could stay here and be happy. And not only that, she could get a good nights sleep too.

Not only was the bed comfortable and the bedding plush, but the design of the hostel works brilliantly to keep the social atmosphere of the lounge, reception/gathering area and bar contained on the first floor, meaning no matter how late or loud things get in those first floor areas, you will not be subjected to the noise. In fact, quiet time in the rooms begins at 10 p.m.

Worried that the 10 p.m. quite time will effect your Late Night with Jimmy Fallon streaming sessions? Well don’t, because there is no WiFi in any of the rooms.

What! No WiFi in the room? Yep. And you know what, I get it.

Look I’m the first one to complain when hotels don’t have WiFi in the room. But this is not a hotel, it’s a hostel, a boutique hostel albeit, but still a hostel. And because of the sans internet in the room, it brings more people down into the common areas—there is a strong WiFi connection throughout the first floor area, including the bar and lounge—creating a social atmosphere reminiscent of the storied Viennese coffee shops. It also means that your roommates won’t be annoying you in the room by Skyping their friends and family.

The Icing on the Cake

Nothing can sour my taste on a place like being nickel and dimed, and I’m happy to say that Wombat’s may be one of the best examples of place that gives back to its customers. Free, all-you-can-eat breakfast buffet, free drink coupon, free luggage room storage after check-out, free WiFi, free use of updated guidebooks (with deposit). If you ask me, that’s a whole lot of free.

Even the extras aren’t expensive. Laundry costs 5 euro for a wash and dry, the bar serves up cheap drinks, including 1 euro beers from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., and free use of hair dryers and other items you may have forgot at home for just a 10 euro deposit which is returned to you when return the item.

Additionally, if you want to bring your “new friend from the night before to breakfast,” it will only set you back 3.75 euros, not too shabby for breakfast that offers six styles of coffee, breads, prosciutto, salami, yogurt, fruit cocktail, honey, fresh veggies, several cheeses, cereals, Nutella and teas.

It would be wrong if I didn’t tell you how truly good the breakfast was. A HUGE buffet with just about everything you could ask for. It would put any hotel offered breakfast to shame. We were shocked and amazed by the selection. (It looks like the hostel now charges 4.95 euro for the breakfast, but, in our opinion, it is still a fantastic deal.)

The Cherry on Top

This hostel is only one block from a metro stop and right across the street from one of Europe’s best markets! It’s also only a 15 minute walk to the Ring district. Oh and let’s not forget multiple grocery and markets (American and Asian) on the same block. Sound to good to be true? Its not, it’s the Wombats City Hostel at the Naschmarkt in Vienna.

If you are looking for cheap Vienna hotels, then be sure to check out Wombats at The Naschmarkt. Getting a private room is really like having the best of both worlds because not only do you get the privacy of a hotel room, but you also get all the perks of a hostel–cheap breakfast, informative staff, free WiFi, usable kitchen and a great social atmosphere.

Beth took a lot of photos during our stay to give you an idea of what it’s like there.

The Rooms:

Two different dorm rooms:

(Note that each bed has it’s own outlet, light and small shelf – so convenient for charging at night!)

The view of the famous market out our window:

The street the hostel is located on:

Common Areas

Bar with awesome lush red & purple interior:

Super cool green area for hanging out, checking email, etc.:

The kitchen with recipes written on the walls:

The breakfast buffet and my yogurt:

The Check in & Computer Areas

Plenty of places to lounge and work:

Discount cards & the exterior of the hostel at night:

Wombats Modern Noir:

No, the hostel isn’t lit like this on the inside but I saw this girl in the hat and I just couldn’t help myself. She inspired a little bit of Paris Noir in this awesome Viennese hostel. I think this is my favorite hostel photo of all time.

Disclaimer: Our stay was complimentary; however, our thoughts and opinions are entirely our own.

*Get the first glimpse of our new travel photos & posts! Subscribe by email and get new travel articles delivered straight to your inbox:

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*Please remember all photos on this website, unless otherwise noted, are copyrighted and property of Beers and Beans Travel Website, Nariko’ s Nest Weddings & Bethany Salvon. Please do not use them without my permission. If you do want to use one of them please contact me first because I do love to share and I would be flattered. Thanks!

Amsterdam is also called the “Venice of the North” and with good reason. There are canals everywhere!

In my opinion the canals are easily the most charming part of the city. One thing that makes the canals in Amsterdam so unique is the fact that many of the residents live in houseboats right on the canals.

When we went to Amsterdam in September we discovered that it’s a pretty expensive city to visit. Most hostels were running about 35 Euro a person. With the both of us and the exchange rate it was going to cost us about $100/night to stay in a dorm room. We weren’t too excited about spending that kind of money to sleep with several other people so we started hunting around for other options.

Staying on a Houseboat in Amsterdam!

My sister Bridgette had been to Amsterdam twice before and said we should try to stay in a houseboat if we could be aue it’s a part of the Amsterdam culture and city life. Luckily we found Apartments Houseboats Amsterdam online and we were able to start our trip off with an incredible stay on an Amsterdam houseboat!

The minute we stepped onto the boat we were in love. There were so many windows and the light just streamed into the boat. It was spacious – actually it was huge. After living on a 27′ sailboat for a year we were in heaven on this boat – plenty of room, big kitchen complete with fridge, dishes, pans and a great dining table, a large comfortable iving room with TV, 2 couches and a bathroom with flushing toilet! We only had a pump toilet on our sailboat. In fact the bathroom was huge with a full bathtub and there was a large bedroom and an additional smaller room with bunk beds. Another small room off the master bedroom contained a built in crib (photo of the green room below shows this) – perfect for those traveling with a small child.

Hardwood floors lined the boat and vintage accessories added to the charm. There was an additional sitting room (complete with ships wheel) and a porch on the front of the boat. The views were great and it was a peaceful, quiet place to stay. It was only about a 10 minute walk to the city center and there was a coffee shop just a few steps from the boat with free wifi.

We’d spend the day exploring the city and we loved coming back to our private houseboat every night. I always sleep really well on boats and this one was no exception. Upon check in they also provided us with a map of Amsterdam and they spent about 30 minutes with us giving us recommendations and directions around the city.

If you’re looking for a unique loging experience in Amsterdam definitely check out Apartments Houseboats Amsterdam. Renting a houseboat in Amsterdam could also be a great option if you are traveling with a large group. This houseboat sleeps six people and it’s perfect for a big family or a group of friends traveling together. We absolutely loved our stay in this unique Amsterdam lodging! The photos below will give you a great idea of what it looks like.

The view from the back of the boat:

*Although half of our accommodation was paid for by Apartments Houseboats Amsterdam the opinions expressed in this article are entirely our own.

*Get the first glimpse of our new travel photos & posts! Subscribe by email and get new travel articles delivered straight to your inbox:

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*Please remember all photos on this website, unless otherwise noted, are copyrighted and property of Beers and Beans Travel Website, Nariko’ s Nest Weddings & Bethany Salvon. Please do not use them without my permission. If you do want to use one of them please contact me first because I do love to share and I would be flattered. Thanks!

*To see the video in all its HD goodness, click the far right button on the right side of player to go full screen and then crank it up to 720p.

Made for travelers by travelers.

That could be the motto for this holiday apartment. Zumrut and her husband Hayri bought this apartment (and the one below it) so they could rent it out and make money to travel. We found this out after we booked it through Roomorama and started chatting with the hosts through the Roomorama system prior to our arrival.

Their dream is to take a year off and travel the world! It was a perfect fit and we had a lot to talk about. Inside there is even a photo collage of their holiday experiences – it’s really cute. To top it off, because they travel so much they know what you need when you arrive. Cheese, bread, beer, wine & water were already there when we arrived – it was perfect! So many times you arrive in a new place and have to run out and find something to eat or drink, so it was great to have the staples right off the bat! They also gifted us a box of local Turkish Delights – something we seemed to nibble on every day.

And as if that wasn’t enough, when we arrived Hayri took us on a small walking tour of the Galata area. He showed us two grocery stores (1 budget, 1 luxury), restaurants, the bridge to Sultanahmet, a dry cleaner and told us how to buy metro tickets. Instead of wandering around trying to find these things on our own, we knew in 10 minutes time exactly where to go. They also had maps at the apartment and English language magazines for browsing through. Attention to detail and personal touches made this holiday rental stand above the rest.

I should also mention they helped us figure out how to get to the apartment from the bus station. Zumrut emailed directions, maps and landmarks to help us find our way by bus or taxi. If you’ve ever arrived in a new city, you know how nice it is to have one-on-one directions to your location!

Everything about this apartment is 100% spot on. The location is killer – 5 minutes to the bridge, 10 minutes to the old town part of Istanbul, 5 minutes to Istiklal Avenue, 10 minutes to Taksim Square. Only 88 steps to Galata Tower and the square with tons of restaurants, bars and shops to choose from. When we were looking for a place to book in Istanbul I was pretty sure I wanted to be in Sultanahmet, or Old Istanbul, but this little gem popped up and quite frankly I was sold on the interior. It just looked cool. I liked the blue/white theme and the details made it seem like somewhere I imagined staying in while in Turkey.

Turns out the location was better than we could’ve asked for. Sultanahmet Square is a great spot since all the old parts of Istanbul are there, but as we discovered it pretty much dies out at night. All the major sites close and therefore all the people leave. Galata Square however is hopping all the time with the perfect amount of excitement (bars and restaurants) and relaxation (cafes and fruit stands). Everything you need is at your doorstep yet the apartment is peaceful and quiet. The location is also very safe. I felt comfortable walking around at night by myself.

We stayed here with Brooke from BrookeVsTheWorld and all three of us loved this spot. The apartment was roomy enough for everyone and it was incredible coming back to after a long day of touring around Istanbul.

I highly recommend this spot to anyone wanting to visit Istanbul. We loved it and even decided that we would love to spend a couple months in Istanbul discovering the city – yep, Istanbul is that incredible. When we make it back the first thing we will do is see what type of long term arrangement we can make with the owners of this apartment. It was a great spot, we felt very comfortable there and would love more time there. I’d recommend this apartment to anyone – a small family, a group of backpackers or couples. It’s a perfect way to discover an unbelievable city.

We’ve included photos from the apartment and surrounding area below. Although the video gives you a great idea of the apartment this way you can also look at the photos at your own speed. Please let us know if you have any questions about this rental. We loved it!

The apartment is located in this building. The windows are the ones located on the 3rd floor – the one above the blue balcony.

The interior is bright and airy. White walls with bright blue accents and black & white photos. It’s beautiful.

The owners left us a box of Turkish Delights upon arrival and the photo of the Galata Tower was taken while looking out of the bedroom window to the right.

This is the door to the apartment building, a convenience store, small restaurant and eye glass store are the most immediate neighbors. The other photo shows Henyri (apartment owner) giving Randy a tour through our new neighborhood.

Travel bloggers unite – Brooke & Randy hard at work in the living room.

This photo shows the street the apartment is on.

The following photos are shops and streets in the immediate vicinity. Galata Tower is only 88 steps from the apartment and all of these photos were taken in the square surrounding the Tower. Except the photo of the boy collecting water – that photo was taken behind the apartment building where there is a mosque and fountain.

We would like to thank Roomorama for hosting us for three nights in this beautiful Istanbul Short Term Rentals. If you would like to view the property for yourself, you can check it out here: Galata Sapphire.

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*Please remember all photos on this website, unless otherwise noted, are copyrighted and property of Beers and Beans Travel Website, Nariko’ s Nest Weddings & Bethany Salvon. Please do not use them without my permission. If you do want to use one of them please contact me first because I do love to share and I would be flattered. Thanks!

When Beth and Brooke, of Brooke vs. the World, decided they wanted to take the Bosphorus River Cruise offered by Get Your Guide, I said, “sure, let’s do it” and then went back to the tedious task of cleaning out my email inbox.

At one point, I think Beth read aloud the details of the tour, but, apparently, I wasn’t listening.

So, I was a bit surprised (in a good way) when I found out at the start of our four hour adventure that the tour was actually broken into two parts: a trip to the famed spice market and then the river cruise. However, since we took took the tour on Turkey’s Republic Day–October 29–and the spice market was closed, we got the alternate tour, a guided bus journey through Istanbul before embarking on the two hour river cruise.

Because we had already visited the spice market the day before, I was okay with our alternative tour. (If you are booking any Istanbul tour that involves the spice market, keep in mind that it is closed on Sunday and holidays.) As we traversed Old Istanbul around the Gold Horn Bay in our modern bus, we received a lot of information about the city, including historical details and fun facts.

For instance, do you know how many people cross between Istanbul Asia into Istanbul Europe on a daily basis?

Three million!

Apparently, the Asian side is more residential, “cleaner and greener,” while the European area contains much of Istanbul’s historic attractions and is where a lot of commerce takes place.

Istanbul is also the only city built on two continents, and guess what divides the continents?

If you said the Bosphorus Strait, you would be 100 percent right! It stretches 20 miles from the Sea of Marmara to the Black Sea cutting Istanbul in half.

*     *     *

Motoring up the Bosphorus revealed a side of Istanbul that I didn’t notice on land: it’s pretty dang hilly. In fact, according to our tour guide, there are seven major hills in Istanbul, each one playing its own role in the cityscape.

On board, we bounced freely from the upper open-air deck to the much warmer lower enclosed deck taking photos and gawking at the scenery. Turkish flags, tiny to huge, were hung throughout the city to commemorate the holiday, adding splashes of red and white to an already colorful backdrop.

The cruise starts just south of the Bosphorus Bridge (First Bosphorus Bridge) and takes a u-turn under the Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge (Second Bosphorus Bridge). Motoring under the magnificent suspension bridges is a treat within itself, but the city really out did itself by hanging gigantic Turkish flags from each bridge.

Just like the bus tour, the river cruise is also narrated by your tour guide. The first part of the tour takes place along Istanbul Europe, while the second part (after the aforementioned u-turn) travels along the Asian side.

Know Before You Go

* Wind got you down? Wait until after the u-turn at the second bridge to avoid windy conditions in the open areas of the boat, because the boat starts heading downwind on its way back to port.

* Sticker shock? You can buy drinks and snacks on board, but you will pay a higher price. Coffee was about $2.50 and a beer was $5.

* Sea Sick? We didn’t have any issues with getting sea sick, and the river was pretty rough, but if you are prone to motion sickness you may want to take precautions.

A Note From Beth:

I loved this cruise. It was really relaxing and easy going and a nice way to learn about the city and see it from a different perspective. There’s just something nice about being on a boat that makes you slow down and enjoy life. Then there’s the photos – shooting on the boat was awesome. There were so many flags and other boats going by – it was definitely a romantic tour in that sense. It wasn’t just me feeling the vibe either – several couples cuddled and kissed on deck. If you like the look of these photos I want to point out I shot them with my new Lensbaby lens! I really fell in love with this lens in Turkey and the pictures always remind me of far off memories. I was actually given an entire kit from the good folks at Lensbaby and I’ll be giving a full review of it in an upcoming post and then I will also post a photo essay of Lensbaby shots around Europe so be sure to stay tuned.

We want to also be sure to thank GetYourGuide.com for providing us with this awesome tour. If you’re headed to a new place be sure to check out what they have on offer for tours. We’ll be taking a few more with them in the upcoming days and will give a full report.

Hope you like the photos!

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*Please remember all photos on this website, unless otherwise noted, are copyrighted and property of Beers and Beans Travel Website, Nariko’ s Nest Weddings & Bethany Salvon. Please do not use them without my permission. If you do want to use one of them please contact me first because I do love to share and I would be flattered. Thanks!

Editors note: This is the first review of three about our stays with Roomorama. Stay tuned for Istanbul and Venice!

I’ve got a raw onion half on the arches of each foot–a home remedy Beth read about, which is suppose to draw out the debilitating toxins from my body–as I lay in bed staring out a huge window into the soul of a city I fear I may never see.

“Sick in Prague,” I say to myself. “Unbelievable!

We’ve been in the Czech capital for less than 10 hours–all of it, except probably 20 minutes, have been spent in our apartment at 14 Liliova Street unpacking and settling in.

Beth isn’t doing much better either. Though, her illness peaked a few days earlier, so she’s slowly coming back to life. She’s decided to go out and forage for food (i.e. find a grocery store). I drift off to sleep.

*     *     *

I awake a few hours later to a smell I haven’t experienced for months: home cooking. The aroma of sauteed onions fills the apartment and brings me to full attention.

Flipping on the lamp next to the bed, I look around our room and see a soft glow of light steaming in from the kitchen and living room. It’s dark now, but our two bedroom flat has made the transformation from day to night perfectly– cozy, warm, it feels like home.

After a little soup and tea, I fall back to sleep to the sounds of Beth typing away on her laptop in the living room.

*     *     *

Dawn comes early and I’m excited to get the onions out of my socks. According to the lore, the onion should have turned black with toxins.

Feeling much better–my aches, shakes and stomach pain are gone–I rip my socks off only to find the onions haven’t changed a bit; they are still white.

Was it the onions that helped me? Or the Tylenol Cold and Flu I took throughout the day? I don’t know, but I feel better and we’ve got about 24 hours left in Prague.

I hop from bed, throw on a pot of hot water for tea and proceed to explore this magnificent flat. Outside the overcast sky is no match for the red clay piped roofs and the golden facade on the corridor of three story buildings leading to the Charles Bridge.

Strolling from room to room, I feel like I’m in a New York City flat circa 1950.

There’s a vintage feel to the place. Its old in a way that feels chic, but never dated. The kitchen and bathroom are lined with tile, while the rest of the rooms have hardwood floors. Each room is large and the space could easily accommodate four to six people, in fact there is no extra charge for a third or fourth person, raising the bar of this place in the sea of other Prague short-term rentals. It blows nearby hotels out of the water.

Overall, the place reminds more of a penthouse suite than an apartment, and I think a lot of that has to do with its layout. The bathroom is large and contains a shower as well as bathtub (the toilet or WC is located in a separate room off from the kitchen). Each bedroom contains two queen-sized beds (two fulls pushed together) and the living room has two more couches (one is a pullout), chairs and cable TV. The kitchen is huge and stocked to the max with anything you could possibly need from rolling pins, pots & pans to about 20+ tea cups. There’s a host of spices to use in the cabinets as well.

After stirring around for 20 minutes or so–opening closets, drawers, doors– Beth awoke and joined me in the kitchen. As she went through all the items she got at the market for about $33 as well as the spices provided by the hosts, it became clear we would be eating breakfast and lunch in.

*     *     *

Our lunch menu consisted of Brussels sprout with a touch of ginger (Bobby Salvon-style), a tomato, cucumber and feta salad as well as baked dish consisting of the left over noodles from the soup.

Kicking back that afternoon during lunch, we laughed about our big plans for Prague that would, for now, have to wait. In fact, Beth even confessed she used the Czech-Republic and all its frothy goodness (plenty of beer!) as a sort of carrot on a stick to get me excited about long-term travel.

And despite being ill, we both agreed that having an apartment to hole up in to weather the storm is far better than a tiny European hotel. We were able to cook homemade comfort foods that reminded us of home and when you’re sick that’s what you really want! Especially, since the process of booking the apartment was simple and straight forward. And unlike some other short term rental sites we’ve checked out in the past, Roomorama had a great selection of places to fit any number of price points from budget to luxury.

Additionally, booking through Roomorama is also reassuring because if  you have any issues in your apartment or need directions or suggestions then your host is just email or phone call away. Unlike booking a hotel online, which is generally a sterile process, finding and securing a place through Roomorama puts you in direct contact with the owner, so before you even arrive you’ve already developed a personal connection.

After our lunch, some work and a nap, we did finally make it out into Prague for a couple hours, and man am I glad we did.

It turns out our flat was only about a 5 minute walk from the Charles Bridge as well as the Old Town Square. Talk about location! We were situated between both spots the entire time! We wondered around both places, grabbing a beer and strudel–kind of like a speed date with the city–before heading onward with a heartache for more.

Below are the photos from our stay and the yummy food we made in our Prague apartment. Enjoy!

The Living Room:

The Kitchen:

Bedroom #1:

Bedroom #1 & #2:

Bedroom #2:

The Bathroom & WC:

The View From The Living Room & Bedroom – Cute!:

The View From The Living Room – Loved the huge windows throughout the apartment:

All this food – $33!

Greek Style Salad:

Making Brussel Sprouts:

Making Soup:

Brussel Sprouts & Yogurt with Bananas:

Hot Ginger & Lemon Tea (this is great for a cold):

Mac n’ Cheese & Noodle Soup:

Time for Lunch:

The View Of the Front of the Apartment (Inside the apartment complex):

The Neighbors & Complex:

The Front of the Building:

The Street The Apartment is on:

In short, we loved this place. It was so spacious! There was a ton of room for us and like I mentioned above, the kitchen was stocked. We spent $33 on groceries that lasted us for the two days we were in town so we saved a ton of money preparing our own food. Even more of a bonus was having a comfortable spot to recuperate from being sick. It was nice, REALLY nice to have our own space that was homey and allowed us to make soup, mac n’ cheese and other various feel-good staples – something you definitely can’t do in a hotel. The location was perfect – literally a 5 minute walk each way to the famous Charles Bridge and the Old Town Square. When we come back to Prague we would love to stay in this apartment again and we recommend it to any of our readers. Great for everyone – especially a larger group or a family.

Our apartment in Prague was compliments of the good folks at Roomrooma who have short term rentals all across the world. If you would like to stay in the flat mentioned in this story you can find it online here: Prague Holiday Rental

*While our lodging was sponsored, the views and opinions in the story are entirely our own.

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*Please remember all photos on this website, unless otherwise noted, are copyrighted and property of Beers and Beans Travel Website, Nariko’ s Nest Weddings & Bethany Salvon. Please do not use them without my permission. If you do want to use one of them please contact me first because I do love to share and I would be flattered. Thanks!

Istanbul is blowing me away. Actually let me rephrase that – Turkey is blowing me away.

We spent a few days in Cappadocia hiking among the fairy chimneys, feeding stray cats and watching life unfold. We even flew in a hot air balloon! Fast forward to today where we are walking the streets of Istanbul with Brooke of Brookevstheworld.com.

We’ve seen candy being made in the streets and sold on the spot, we’ve haggled for spices at the spice market. We walked in awe within the beauty of the Hagia Sofia. We purchased some Turkish Viagra (it’s a sweet made of walnuts, honey & figs) and we even saw a fight break out over a small fender bender. Rug sellers have tried to lure us into the shops. In short Turkey has been everything we dreamed it would be and more. It’s been a dream trip.

Sometimes you get to a place and wonder if it will live up to your expectations and Turkey definitely has. I’m already dreading the day we have to leave.

My sister, Bridgette has been ooohing and aahhhing over Turkey for years now and I’ve followed in her footsteps and it’s absolutely unbelievable that Randy and I are here soaking it all up now.

For me a dream trip is a smorgasbord of factors – the people (the Turks are amazingly hospitable), the food (every corner there is another great food to try), the activities (seriously, it’s Istanbul – it has everything from culture to nightlife) and just a general feeling of experiencing new things and seeing life in a fresh way. If I get a feeling of being Tog Drunk (yes, I made this phrase up) then it’s a pretty good sign I love where I’m at. If I feel so enamored with the life around me that all I see are photos that means I’m tog drunk. Signs of tog drunkeness are losing track of time and direction and even losing items (like sweaters) that you own without realizing it for several hours. I am tog drunk in Istanbul for sure.

So I wanted to ask  – what are your dream trips?

Do you have one place that just keeps calling to you? Have you ever been able to realize that trip and if so did it live up to your expectations? What was it that made it so incredible (or on the flip side not so incredible)?

And unless your dream trip is camping sans electricity did you use any electronics on the trip to document everything in order to share it with family and friends?

I couldn’t travel without my camera and I would be seriously hindered without my MacBook and Iphone. On this trip we brought along a second computer for Randy – a netbook. It’s been pretty good but it is extraordinarily slow, painful almost. About 3 days ago I lost the USB cord for my Compact Card Reader. At the same time one of my 16GB memory cards died. I bought a replacement cord in Istanbul but discovered it doesn’t work on the Mac. We figured it would be no problem since we could just use it on the PC then transfer the files. It does work but that computer is so slow I can’t even download the images! So really why are we even carrying this thing around? Soon we’ll be receiving an Asus Eee Pad Slider and we’re psyched! We’re hoping this can replace his computer with greater speed and less weight/bulk! We can’t wait to test it out and give it a full review!

Having 500+ photos trapped on one Compact Card and then having another 16GB memory card sing it’s last tune has made me nervous for more available space – especially with the Swiss Alps happening in the next week! I gotta find another card reader to get these photos downloaded.  I have become dependent on my travel electronics – is there an electronic you can’t live without on the road – Camera, Tablet, Computer, Phone?? If so, let us know in the comments.

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*Please remember all photos on this website, unless otherwise noted, are copyrighted and property of Beers and Beans Travel Website, Nariko’ s Nest Weddings & Bethany Salvon. Please do not use them without my permission. If you do want to use one of them please contact me first because I do love to share and I would be flattered. Thanks!

My sister Bridgette has been bugging out for a Turkish rug for a long time. Now that we’re finally in Turkey I decided this would be a perfect time to find out what all the fuss is about and see if I could buy her one. Turns out I can’t because they are WAY expensive. Well at least the real ones are.

I’ve been intimidated by most of the rug sellers in Turkey. You can see them eying you suspiciously and you know the minute you enter their shop crazy things are going to happen and you’ll be hassled until you buy something.

Because of this I have been putting off shopping for her rug. All that changed in Cappadocia because out of the trillion Turkish rug sellers there was one really nice guy who had an immense amount of passion for his craft. He was extremely friendly and offered to teach me about Turkish rugs and more importantly fill me in on why they are so expensive.

There are a couple factors that are the most important – the dyes used and the type of weave. Complicated weaves cost more because they take longer to make. Natural dyes cost more because they are natural and not made of chemicals. Sixty+ years ago almost all rugs were made of natural dyes. This means that when shopping for a Turkish rug you really want to shop for an old rug. The older the better. It’s also worth noting that if you spend several hundred dollars for a century old rug you more than likely aren’t going to use it as a rug – instead it becomes a wall hanging or a blanket to cover your couch.

I started wondering how someone would go about finding such old rugs and it basically came down to the fact that the rug seller acts as a middle man and goes out to estate sales and to homes of the elderly and offers to buy their rugs. They usually have the best rugs with more complicated weaves and natural dyes.

Unfortunately a lot of these rugs come with holes in them from lifetimes of use and I learned that it cost about 200 Euro to repair a small hole (about the size of a half-dollar) on an old Turkish rug. So you can see the cost going up and up and up.

I looked at a few more of the rugs and unfortunately all the rugs that I really liked were in the $500+ range and at that size were pretty small rugs. I couldn’t justify spending that much money on something so small. Then it dawned on me, the best way to buy a Turkish rug is to buy it yourself direct from the owner. But how? I don’t know any Turkish and I have no idea how I would go about getting my point across to anyone. Plus to get a really good deal, I’d have to be totally off the tourist path.

That’s when it dawned on me, the best way to buy a Turkish rug is to go WWOOF’ing in Turkey. Seems brilliant! You go and volunteer abroad on a farm where you get to learn about the culture and you get to know your hosts. Your hosts will almost always have family or know several people in the community. At some point you can tell your host you want to buy a Turkish rug and see if they will ask around for you. You can give your money directly to someone who needs it and in turn get a great deal on a real Turkish rug! I haven’t tried this yet but I’m thinking of giving it a go because it makes total sense and you get a great story about how you purchased your rug! Plus, a little bird told me that WWOOF’ing in Turkey is excellent for the wwoofers because the Turkish people are so accommodating that they never want their workers to do anything.

Apparently this is a real problem and they are trying to correct it so that the farmers can get the help they need without feeling bad. Everyone in Turkey has been so welcoming and lovely that it doesn’t surprise me that the WWOOF’ing hosts are over the top and friendly.

So now I have another reason to do volunteer work abroad! I can help out a local Turkish family and try to find a Turkish rug for my sister! To top it off, I can come back to Turkey which is a real bonus because I have already fallen in totally in love with this country.

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*Please remember all photos on this website, unless otherwise noted, are copyrighted and property of Beers and Beans Travel Website, Nariko’ s Nest Weddings & Bethany Salvon. Please do not use them without my permission. If you do want to use one of them please contact me first because I do love to share and I would be flattered. Thanks!

Massachusetts, Mexico, San Diego, Massachusetts, Amsterdam, Serbia and now Greece.

It’s been a fun, but busy month and now we find ourselves behind the 8-Ball (in terms of work) in Thessaloniki, Greece. So, we have chosen to forgo our original (and a bit challenging–financially and logistically) plans of island hopping our way to Turkey.

Instead, we will spend our time exploring northern Greece while making our way to the Turkey border, hitting such spots as Meteora and Mt. Olympus.

Beth and I (especially Beth) are a bit disappointed that we can’t make it to any of the islands, in particular Santorini, this time, but we know its the right thing to do.

Despite, being closer to the islands than we’ve ever been in our lives, the reality is we are still just a bit too far away to make it really work. Getting to Santorini from Thessaloniki would require a five hour train ride to Athens and then a seven hour ferry ride the next morning. After a couple of epic planning sessions, we finally came to terms that we just don’t have the time to fit the islands in this time around. So, we’ve decided to make it a priority to come back to Greece in the future and spend at least a month pitching tents (apparently the country is a camper’s paradise) and island hopping.

It seems like traveling and compromise go together like Joan Rivers and plastic surgery, so I’m curious have you ever had to put a place on the back burner despite it being within reach? If so, did you ever make it back?

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*Please remember all photos on this website, unless otherwise noted, are copyrighted and property of Beers and Beans Travel Website, Nariko’ s Nest Weddings & Bethany Salvon. Please do not use them without my permission. If you do want to use one of them please contact me first because I do love to share and I would be flattered. Thanks!