What is going on here? Travel bloggers turned next medical TV drama?

Nope that’s just Ryan van Duzer filming Carol Cain while Ryan Whaley looks on as she suits up for her zip lining excursion at Aktun Chen. Fun Times!

While we were in Riviera Maya we were lucky enough to stay at the top notch Barcelo resort, eat some of the most mouthwatering Mexican dishes and take in several activities like the ruins at Coba, the ruins at Tulum, a relaxing float down the waters at Si’an Kaan Biosphere but the visit to Aktun Chen quickly made it to the top of my favorite activities.

Aktun Chen is natural park with a wildlife zoo, a cave that is over 5,000,000 years old, an underground cenote for snorkeling and it also has 10 ziplines that can take you over the trees, flora and fauna of this beautiful park.

One of things that really stood out to me is that everyone who worked at the park was really friendly and passionate about their job. We were taught quite a bit about the local wildlife and the cave tour was very informative. Zip lining was intense! Here’s a round up of the things we did at Aktun Chen and what you can expect when you visit.

Caving!

Walking through the cave was my favorite activity at Aktun Chen.

The cave is over 5 million years old and full of stalactites, stalagmites and a cenote (natural underground water well). The cave is almost a half mile long and the lesiurely paced tour is very informative so it takes at least an hour to walk through and learn about it. It was a shame I didn’t have my tripod with me because the lighting inside was pretty dramatic and made for some great shots.

If you head to Aktun Chen definitely make time to see the cave. It’s a really cool activity perfect for all ages and fitness levels. Here are some photos to give you an idea.

The Wildlife Zoo:

Some of the wildlife at the 6 acre park includes a wild pig (very cute and friendly little guy who dug a pear out of my bag and ate it), white tail deer, wild collared peccary, parrots, toucans, oco pheasants, agoutis, sereques, coati mundi, different types of monkeys as well as plenty of the regional snakes!

One of the greatest aspects of the park is their commitment to preserving the natural area and one of their main areas of focus, besides education, is repopulating the local species. In fact, due to the preservation efforts of the water, land & animals you can only wear bio-degradable sunscreen at the park so keep that in mind when you visit.

With the exception of one monkey on a rope, the rest of the monkeys are allowed to roam free within their large enclosures. We were told that it is common practice in the Mayan culture to have one monkey on a rope and that many local families use them as their own security alarms. Personally I don’t agree with keeping any monkey on a rope but I did notice that everyone at the park loved all the animals and cared greatly for them. Sometimes when you travel you are forced to see things that you don’t agree with but is culturally accepted as normal routine. The fact that all the animals were well cared for caused me to think this really was common practice in this region.

Unfortunately we were running really late (we had to skip snorkeling in the cenote because we were so behind) so we didn’t have time to see all the wildlife but here are some photos of the ones we did see.

Zip Lining in the Jungle!

I want to be adventurous so badly. Yet I keep coming face to face with situations that scare the life out of me. Zip lining was the case in point here. I have no idea why I was so afraid. It seems that in the past few years I have become afraid of so many things. I’m blaming on my frontal lobe but really I think I just need to get out more and push myself beyond my comfort zone. Maybe I should do one daring thing a month?? Hmmm…

Roni getting suited up for the zip line extravaganza. He looks happy huh?!

The reality is that Zip lining is really not as scary as I worked it up to be. There are 10 zip line runs at this park and it’s fun, really it is. I was really nervous in the beginning but became more relaxed with each run. Actually on the last two run I really enjoyed zipping through the trees – at least until Roni Weiss decided to close his eyes and not stop in time. We ran the last two runs together and he was in charge of slowing us down before we did a face plant into the tree at the end of the line. The first run was great – the second run was also great but he decided to go all yogi on me and close his eyes which means we barely had time to stop before hitting the tree and if it wasn’t for the great guys at Aktun Chen who literally caught us I think we would’ve ended up with splinters and black eyes. But all in all it was fun ziplining with Roni – who taught me that I prefer to zipline when I’m not the one in charge of stopping – thanks Roni!

If you’re worried about ziplining at all (like I was) Aktun Chen could be a great place for you to make the leap – literally. They are into safety here in a big way. So much that when you wear your helmet you put on a surgical cap underneath it (hence the medical TV drama photo at the beginning) and you wear a pair of rubber gloves under the large gripping gloves so that all your sweat stays where it should – on you, not buried into the fabric. It seemed odd at first but it’s actually a great idea to keep things sanitary and it was that type of attention to detail that makes you realize how meticulous they are about everything they do.

A zip line guide giving us a demonstration.

The zipline guides were very informative, funny and understanding. They’ll help to coax you onto that zip line and they’ll wow you with all the fun tricks they do. They make it look so easy!

So if you’re looking for a real adrenaline rush on your trip to the Riviera Maya definitely check out the zip line park at Aktun Chen!

I wish I had more photos but I wussed out. We were given the choice of bringing our cameras on the zip lines with us (a perk of being a blogger!) but I decided to put mine in the locker instead. I was already nervous enough and when I jumped out on the line I knew I made the right choice. Next time I’ll remember to bring a point and shoot!

If you want to contact Aktun Chen their website has all their contact info and information. You can do one activity or all of them (including snorkeling in a cenote). There is also a small restaurant on the site with some great food.

However I warn against eating the habenero pepper whole. You can watch a short video of Roni eating a habenero at the restaurant. Yours truly is heard in the background saying things such as “Don’t look at me & There was drool, there was drool”. Traveling with Roni as part of our blogger group was really a good time. He is a fun guy and the trip would not have been the same without him.

While writing this post I did a lot of reflecting on just how great this trip was. We had such a blast in the Riviera Maya and my traveling companions were all really awesome and a lot of fun. If you’re looking for new travel bloggers to read be sure to check out: NY City Mama (Carol Cain), Nomadic Matt, Ryan van Duzer and Roni Weiss. If you need a great PR rep be sure to contact Ryan Whaley who did a great job putting this trip & our group together.

*This trip to Aktun Chen & the Riviera Maya was sponsored by the Riviera Maya tourism board but all of the views and opinions 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!

If you loved some of the yearly round up posts that were going around the blogosphere then you’re sure to love this new 7 Super Shots Photo round table put together by our friends at HostelBookers.

We were asked to put together a photo post by choosing photos that we loved and that fit within the categories chosen by HostelBookers.

They started the game off on Friday by putting together the first Super Shot photo meme and we’re participating by choosing our 7 super shots and then nominating 5 other great travel photographers that we would love to see participate.

We’ve chosen:

Ken Kaminesky, Drifting Focus/Traveling Tomboy, Ordinary Traveler, OverYonderlust & GoSeeWrite.

To follow along on twitter, check out the hashtag #7SuperShots.

To see the round up HostelBookers put together and the rules and guidelines check out: 7 Super Shots

Without further ado here are the categories and some of our favorite photos. Hope you like ‘em!

1. A Photo That Takes Our Breath Away

Flames of Florence – Florence, Italy

This has always been one of my favorite in-the-moment travel photos. Walking toward the station, we passed this street and photographically, the couple couldn’t have been more ideally placed. They were bathed in the glowing store front light perfectly. It was also drizzling rain, just enough to create steam on the cobblestones and  the perfect atmosphere for sprouting love. His enchantment and nervous tension was unmistakable even from down the street. You could tell they were probably at the very beginning of what would no doubt blossom into a steamy love affair, the kind you only get a couple times in life, maybe only once. The streets of Florence are so old and full of life, I wonder how many people have stood in this spot with this very same twinkle in their eye. Nothing in the world can compare to the blushing skin and golden glow of a love affair about to burst into wild flames.

Learn more about the Flames of Florence.

2. A Photo That Makes Us Laugh or Smile

The Bacchus Band – Pontassieve, Italy

This is one from the personal archives and I can’t help but smile every time I see it. The photo is from dinner on the last night we stayed at the Cerreto Libri farm in Tuscany. We volunteered as WWOOF’ers and spent two of the best weeks in our traveling lives working the grape harvest on the farm. The days were long and laborious and we spent the nights cooking, talking, laughing and drinking endless amounts of wine that the WWOOF’ers two years before us made. We were exhausted and dirty 95% of the time and honestly it’s hard to remember a time that I was so happy. Every night was an absolute blast and on this last night, those of us that remained decided to dine by candlelight. And drink.

Learn about more of our WWOOFing adventures in Italy & Serbia.

3. A Photo That Makes Us Dream

The Crossing – Village of Vernazza, Cinque Terre, Italy

Cinque Terre is the place where Italian travel dreams are realized. Step into any of the five towns that cling to the sea and you’ll feel as if you waltzed right into the pages of a guidebook, only 100x better. After a long hike throughout Cinque Terre we climbed a hill and turned a corner. Right around that corner was this amazing view of Vernazza. The stone cottage complete with wooden shutters and flower box overlooking the view of the village was too perfect to ignore. As Randy headed down the trail I paused and took this photo before continuing on the hike. We had been traveling for weeks but this was THE moment for me. I was standing right here looking at this very scene when it all sank in. I realized that I had actually changed my life to become a full time traveler and I couldn’t believe it. This photo is the moment when the dream had become a reality. Even though it’s my life, it’s still bizarre to think about it all.

Learn more about our time in traveling in Cinque Terre.

4. A Photo That Makes Us Think

Modern Magdalenes – Red Light District, Amsterdam

This is a new photo that is part of an upcoming photo essay on the Red Light District in Amsterdam. I feel slightly crass in saying this but the best part of Amsterdam was this illicit section of town. It was beautiful in all the sad, cunning and melancholic ways that happen when you have women selling themselves for money in window fronts. Taking photos in the Red Light District is NOT allowed and I heard horror stories about what happened to photographers who were caught. It was dark, I was stealth and I ended up with photos that, to me, reflected the anonymous longing of girls living on the edge. The girls were all beautiful and seemed somewhere on the cusp of something – maybe hope? One foot still lies in the possibility of a normal life while the other is dragged by cheap sex, debts owed & g-strings. I look at this girl and can’t help but think about her life when she isn’t bathed in the red light. Is she happy? Is she sad? Is her glass half empty or half full? Does she knit? What is life like being on the other side of that glass? I wish I knew her.

We’re just starting to publish Amsterdam articles now but if you’re interested you can read a bit more about about our time traveling in Amsterdam.

5. A Photo That Makes Our Mouth Water

Rialto Market Harvest – Venice, Italy

It’s hard to believe but eating in Venice can be tough. There are so many BAD restaurants and unless you’re armed with some insider knowledge there is a good chance you’ll find one or ten of them. However there is a flip side to the coin – cooking your own food. If your hostel has a kitchen or if you stay in an apartment you can completely get away from the barrage of crappy food and create your own dishes. Venice has some amazingly fresh and fantastic foods at the markets. Everything tastes like it was picked off the vine that day – it really makes you wonder how the restaurants seem to muck it up so badly. This photo makes me hungry because I love everything in it and I remember how bursting with flavor everything was. Don’t even get me started on the figgies! Plus, all this fresh food was under $10 USD! Throw in a box of macaroni and a bottle of wine and you’re set for days. Well who am I kidding? You’ll definitely need to buy more wine…

Learn more about our time traveling in Venice.

6. A Photo That Tells A Story

The Mirage – Marrakech, Morocco

It was our first night in the Marrakech medina when I spotted this unlikely duo. The medina was chaotic – people walking, vendors selling & bikes whizzing by. But these two just seemed content in their little world. Honestly I can only hope that’s the truth here – he seemed like a happy monkey but who really knows? I can only hope that this man treats him well and loves him like a friend – it seemed like he did. They gazed at each other for a while talking with their eyes in a way that old friends do when they know each other well. There was something unique between them and I couldn’t take my eyes off them. It was as if they had their own bubble in this sea of Marrakech craziness. Little did I know when I took this photo that I would walk by them about 16 hours later and this cute monkey would end up magically on my shoulder. Sadly, I didn’t have any change so I couldn’t give him any hugs but up close his owner seemed nice and the monkey looked happy.

Learn more about our time traveling in Marrakech.

7. A Photo That I’m Most Proud Of  aka My Nat Geo Photo

Backpacker Blues – Venice, Italy

This category was a tough one. Although this photo is one of my favorites, I wouldn’t say this is the one I am the most proud of. But I do think it has a classic travel feel to it. National Geographic is full of not only breathtaking landscapes but also stylish urban scenes and that’s why I chose it – hopefully it fits! We spent the day walking around Venice and getting lost in its wonderful maze of streets. The end of the day found us facing this large church as the cat-in-the-cradle moon hung low in the sky. Randy went onto the bridge for a better view and behind him a street light glowed, just hiding behind his body and his backpack. I snapped a few quick photos because I couldn’t believe my good luck in having such a perfect silhouette with this stunning Venetian sky as the backdrop.

If you want to see more photos from Venice be sure to check out our photos of Venice After Dark.

Well there they are! I hope you enjoyed them. Keep your eyes peeled for photos from other great travel bloggers as the game grows.

*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!

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

Story by Randy | Photography by Beth

(Great views of the Chefchaouen hills out of the bathroom window.)

We stood outside of the Chefchaouen bus station looking up at a steep street trying to orientate ourselves to a city that we forgot to prepare for. Luckily, we spotted a cab nearby, so we grabbed it to Plaza Uta el-Hammam, the main square, just as the rain stopped.

During the Hazy Shade of Autumn Tour, we got pretty good at preparing for our arrival into new destinations. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case for Chefchaouen. Halfway through the four hour bus ride from Fez to the famed blue-walled city, we realized we had forgotten to write down the name and address of our hostel, Riad Baraka, as well as how to get there. Oops.

The road to Plaza Uta el-Hammam dead ends in front of the Hotel Parador, so we paid the cab driver (11 dirham or $1.25) and immediately went into the hotel to see if we could use its internet or Wi-Fi. Bingo! They had free Wi-Fi, we were set…but then we couldn’t connect. After 20 minutes of trying to communicate with the hotel staff about the Wi-Fi issue we started to think of plan B. Next option, locate one of the cyber cafés from our guidebook.

I waited at the dead end turnaround with our bags, as Beth disappeared into the foreign plaza. Several minutes later, I saw her reappear and enter a no-name store about 100 yards from me. She went in the store to find the location of the cyber cafe and as it turned out it was the cyber cafe – luck was on our side! After a long 10 minutes (she said negotiating an Arabic keyboard was tougher than it looked), she finally emerged with the details and we were on our away.

Walking through Plaza Uta el-Hammam with luggage is like walking into a kindergarten classroom with a bag full of lollypops. Within in a few minutes, we had a guide who offered to take us to the front door.

These “guided tour” transactions happen quickly, and go something like this:

Guide: “Hello. What are you looking for?”

Me: “Riad Baraka, I say, pointing to our notebook address.”

Guide: “OK, OK, follow me,” he says, and then he’s off.

That’s it. It happens fast and if you don’t want his services speak up quickly and loudly. In my experience, there is no talk of cost, because these guys work strictly on tips.

Into the Medina’s Blue-Walled Heart

Dashing through the narrow, rain washed blue walls, Beth and I smiled at each other, fully realizing we would have had a difficult time finding the Riad for the first time without the help of our guide, because we were at the other end of the Medina. (Later, we found out that Riad Baraka is only 70 meters from the Medina’s main gate, Bab el Lain). At the door, we handed our guide a 20 dirham ($2.35) tip just as Joe opened the door and welcomed us inside from the cold November drizzle.

Walking into Riad Baraka was like visiting an old friend’s house. The guest house had a warmth and coziness, like that of a bed and breakfast, with the style and character of a high-end boutique hotel. It is run by a British family—brothers Joe and Trevor and their mother, Ann—who’ve been living in Chefchaouen for nearly a decade. They’ve transformed the 600-year-old Riad into an immaculately clean guest house that blends traditional Moroccan styles—rugs, lamps and architecture—with western comforts, including plush beds, Wi-Fi and in-house laundry.

In itself the guest house is fantastic, but what really sets it apart is the love that the family brings to the Riad and its guests. In fact, thinking about Riad Baraka always reminds me of this line from Tom Waits, “What makes a house grand / Ain’t the roof or the doors / If there’s love in a house / It’s a palace for sure.” From our first English Tea to our last, Joe and Trevor (Ann was out of town) made us feel at home. The atmosphere in the guest house was light and jovial and there were often guests siting in the common living room reading and talking about past and future travels. And even though Riad Baraka was full or nearly full each day we were there, the four-story guest house and its shared bathrooms never felt crowded.

Additionally, having Joe and Trevor’s knowledge of Chefchaouen as well as Morocco was an invaluable benefit. Not only did they know the ins and outs of the city, but they also were able to provide fantastic recommendations for dining options and tips for sightseeing around the city and nearby towns. One of the brother’s was always around to answer questions or help out in a way they could. For example, midway through our stay Beth got food poisoning and Joe and Trevor went out of their way to make her as comfortable as possible, including sending out their friend and co-worker Mohammed to get the ingredients for a traditional Moroccan tea to help her stomach.

YUM. The Riad’s breakfast was a great way to start the day.

During the Hazy Shade of Autumn Tour, Beth and I got to stay at some phenomenal properties as part our partnership with HostelBookers, and Riad Baraka was one of our favorites. A splendid breakfast— fresh fruit, yogurt, croissant and tea—coupled with impeccable service, atmosphere and location are all hallmarks of this guest house. If you are going to Chefchaouen, we couldn’t recommend this place more, private rooms (dorms only have 2 beds in the room) range from $15.83 to $23.41. (If you are a solo traveler make sure to ask about a discounted room rate.)

The two bed dorm room with handmade lamps and paintings.

Our bedroom and one of the beautifully tiled bathrooms. Note the inlaid star and moon tiles in our room – so cool!

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The Living/Reading/Breakfast hang out spot:

The Nook – a great place to work, chill out and read!

Gorgeous patio with breathtaking views of Chefchaouen:

Note from Beth: I really loved this Riad. Not only was it really cute and comfy it was also the personalities of Joe and Trevor that really made it stand out. I was so violently ill and honestly there couldn’t have been a better place to be. I knew if I took a turn for the worse they would make sure that I was ok and had the medical attention I would’ve needed. Plus, they are just great, funny guys who are easy to hang out and talk with. It felt a bit like being home in a location that was very far from home. Joe also speaks four languages (English, French, Arabic & Spanish) which is very helpful. Mohammed is their very talented employee who did all the paintings in the Riad! I also wanted to note that their outdoor, multi-level patio is beautiful! With the same inlaid moon and sun tile throughout it is absolutely gorgeous and a relaxing place to hang out. They also prepare meals at Riad Baraka and host BBQ cookouts on the roof. If you’re headed to Chefchaouen please consider staying here. It’s a perfect spot to enjoy the town and relax.

*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:

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!

Story by Randy | Photos and Captions by Bethany

I’ll never forget the moment I first laid eyes on the TOM BIHN Tri-Star.

The front exterior boasts four pockets – one made for a water bottle or an extra pair of shoes.

Freeing the bag from its cardboard shipping cage, I held the midnight blue luggage into the air as if it were a newborn cub and I was its proud father.

“My god, this is a piece of work,” I thought to myself, just then realizing Beth had the same gleam in her eye too.

The bag was sleek, cool and had more pockets than a 1980s Michael Jackson jacket. Immediately, I had visions of being that minimalist traveler you see strolling through the airport with only a carry on. Confident, light and happy, they step on and off the plane with ease, slipping their luggage easily into and out of overhead bins.

I wanted to be light and airy too. Even more so, I wanted to be light and airy in Europe. And that’s when it hit me. “By George,” I exclaimed silently, “could I take this bag on our upcoming Hazy Shade of Autumn Tour?”

Unzipping the bag, I got my answer: ‘Yes!’

The TOM BIHN Tri-Star (19″ x 13″ x 8″) is deceptively cavernous. Its design is more representative of a messenger bag than a traditional rectangle suitcase or even its slightly larger brethren, the Aeronaut, which is the company’s innovative take on a duffel bag.

While the Tri-Star as well as the Aeronaut, which I’ll discuss later in this review, could certainly work without packing cubes, I think to get the most out of the bags it’s best to use the specific cubes TOM BIHN has designed for each piece, especially the packing cube backpacks, which make great, extremely light and packable day bags and fruit market bags.

The backpack cube in action. We brought both of them with us on the trip and used them just about every day. They are genius, multi-tasking items for light travel.

For example, with the help of a large packing cube and the aforementioned packing cube backpack, I packed five t-shirts, four pairs of socks, four pair of underwear, two long-sleeve thermal shirts, two pairs of jeans, two dress shirts, a fleece, beanie and a pair of long underwear into the Tri-Star for our three month/three continent trip. Additionally, I packed a pair of Vans classics and flip-flops in the front pocket, which has a vertical zipper to split the pocket into two.

The view of everything packed into the back before it is zipped up.

With my clothing packed in the front and back pockets, I turned my attention to the middle pocket, which would serve as my mobile office. In fact, one of the main reasons I chose the Tri-Star over the Aeronaut was so I could test out its functionality for the working traveler. When TOM BIHN sent us the bags to review, they were kind enough to include the Horizontal Freudian Slip—an insert for organizing files and accessories— and a hard sided laptop case known as the Horizontal Brain Cell, which fit perfectly into the Tri-Star’s center pocket. By utilizing the aforementioned additions as well as a 3D Clear Organization Cube for wires with the Tri-Star, it was like converting that section into a messenger bag.

The Freudian Slip & Brain Cell. Both have plenty of pockets and on the other side of the Slip there are two large pockets big enough for magazines, spread sheets, newspapers, etc. This slip held all of our office supplies and paperwork when we traveled. It was a great go-to spot for keeping everything organized and streamlined.

By setting up the mid-section with our work materials—files, pens, notepads, business cards and computer—I could grab the Freudian Slip and my computer easily from my bag before hoisting into the overhead bin on flights and trains. However, if I were to use the Tri-Star for a multiple month trip again, I would swap the Brain Cell with a slimmer neoprene laptop sleeve to free up space in the mid-section.

OK, Randy, so it packs up like a dream, but how did it handle the road?

The Tri-Star travels perfectly by air and is flexible enough to travel off the beaten path but still look nice in places like Morocco (above).

Like a champ! The Tri-Star passed the durability test with flying colors. During the course of our three month trip, the bag rode in nearly a dozen overhead bins on trains and airplanes—it fit perfectly every time and I never once got a second-look from a flight attendant, even when it was stuffed to its maximum. The Tri-Star racked up more than 60 hours in the dusty, rustic underbelly of public long-haul buses and was checked in several times because of carry on restrictions for budget flights that only allowed one carry on bag, which had to be a gear bag for each of us. Looking at the bag now, it’s hard to imagine that it endured anything other than a weekend trip; the exterior is free of abrasions and scuff marks and the zippers work as good as the day it was delivered.

Another feature I loved about traveling with the Tri-Star was having the option to easily hide-away the backpack straps (you can see photos of these on the Aeronaut below – the straps are the same on both bags) during times when it was easier to carry the bag with its shoulder strap or by one of the three soft handles—top, left and right. (I used the upgraded Absolute Strap, which is a stretch neoprene that does a fantastic job of distributing the weight; however, any shoulder strap will work with the Tri-Star or Aeronaut.)

Having several different options to carry the bag made transportation days that much more easy and stress free. Keep in mind, though, that the backpack straps and waist strap are more akin to what you would find on a daypack than an internal frame multi-day pack, meaning they don’t distribute the weight as well. I assume this approach helps the weight and flexibility of the bag as well as the functionality of the hide-away strap system. And while Beth preferred carrying her internal frame pack because of the extra support, I found the Tri-Star’s straps to be more than adequate for our urban treks through subway and train stations and city streets.

Apparently also the perfect size for Chachy to travel in!

The Aeronaut

While the Aeronaut’s design is simple—one main center compartment (think: duffel bag) complemented by smaller left and right side compartments—its versatility is huge. Coming in at 22″ x 14″ x 9″, the TOM BIHN Aeronaut blends the elements of soft luggage, a duffel bag and a backpack (it also features hide-away backpack straps) into a carry-on bag that, according to Tom Bihn, meets most non-commuter domestic airlines’ carry-on size standards and many international carry-on standards, including Heathrow. In fact, looking back, if I were to do a multi-month trip again, I would choose the Aeronaut over the Tri-Star because of its extra space and more flexible design. I loved traveling with the Tri-Star; however, its one drawback is also one of its main assets. Because the Tri-Star is made up of three compartments, it doesn’t have the volume of the Aeronaut, which makes packing souvenirs (excluding books and vinyl LP’s) into an already full bag difficult.

The Aeronaut with side cubes and backpacking cube.

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The above photos show how the backpack & waist straps tuck away seamlessly into the back of the bag. Both of the bags have this fantastic feature. Below are photos using the shoulder strap and the backpack straps.

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Final Thoughts

Whether you are embarking on a weekend trip to the coast or a multi-month, overseas journey, TOM BIHN’s Tri-Star and Aeronaut are more than capable of handling all of your luggage needs. Intuitively designed with impeccable craftsmanship the Tri-Star and Aeronaut are instant classics. Manufactured in the United States, Seattle to be exact, TOM BIHN’s stylishly hip collection of travel bags make packing fun again.

He really looks cute in these bags – doesn’t he? I do believe Chachy is tired of being left behind when we travel. Whenever we pull out a bag he jumps right in it ready to tag along. I think it’s time to take Chachy on the road with us.…

*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:

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!

A few weeks back I published an article and photo essay of the ruins in Tulum, Mexico. Overlooking the blue Caribbean Sea and surrounded by palm trees, they were perhaps the most beautifully situated ruins I have ever seen. However if you’ve been enamored by Indiana Jones flicks and you’re in the mood for something a bit more adventurous the ruins at Coba might be more up your alley.

The History Of Coba

The Coba ruins are only about an hour from Tulum but they feel a world away.

Settled between 100 BC and 100 AD, Coba became the largest Mayan civilization in the state of Quintana Roo, Mexico. Coba is located in the heart of the jungle and surrounded by two lagoons complete with plenty of alligators. The dense jungle location made Coba extremely hard to find, let alone reach and/or attack it. The population flourished and it grew in social and political standing. It is estimated that at the height of civilization over 50,000 Mayans called Coba home. The burgeoning population and the hidden-in-the-jungle location helped Coba grow to super power Mayan status.

(The thick jungle foliage keeps many of the ruins hidden even today.)

The people of Coba knew many of the surrounding Mayan dialects and this further helped their growth as they were able to trade (and coordinate trades) with other Mayan communities. Coba became not only one of the largest traders in the Yucatan but also even further South into what is now known as Central America. They also controlled farmland and several ports.

Coba flourished as a powerhouse for centuries but started losing ground as nearby Chichén Itzá gained in popularity & political status around 1000 AD. In time, trading routes along the coast gained in popularity and although Coba was still culturally important it was abandoned at some point in the early 1500′s.

Due to the difficult location, Coba remained hidden from most of the world until the 1920′s when it was briefly visited by an explorer, Thomas Gann who was brought by some local Mayans. A few archeological visits were made after his visit but the tucked away location meant the ruins would remain just a little known mystery until the 1970′s when a road was finally built. The road allowed more archeologists to discover and sort through the ruins. It wasn’t until the 1980′s that tourists starting visiting the site.

One of the most exciting aspects of Coba is that it is still vastly undiscovered.

Only a very small portion of the region has been excavated and most areas are still hidden in the dense, deep jungle waiting to be brought to light by the next real life Indiana Jones. Could that be you?

What can  you do at Coba?

Hike, Climb & Bike!

The other thing that makes Coba stand out as a tourist destination is the fact that you can not only walk among the ruins but you can also climb one of the large temple pyramids. Climbing to the top will get you a view of the surrounding jungle that stretches on for miles. Because Coba is so vast it can be quite a hike to see all the ruins so they offer another unique feature here which is the ability to rent a bike. As part of the Riviera Maya press trip we were all able to ride bikes throughout the ruins. I definitely recommend renting one because it will speed up your visit and allow you to feel the Mayan wind blowing in your hair and really that’s pretty cool.

Check out the ancient ball court and a live Mayan ballgame.

(The ball court – the ball would need to be put through the small hole on the top to score.)

The other thing I really loved at Coba was the Mesoamerican ballgame court. When I saw it I really felt like I was in an Indiana Jones movie. I’m sure you’ve probably seen photos of a similar court at some point on a TV documentary or in a history book. I had always learned it was a high stakes game where the loser (or possibly the winner) became the next sacrifice. Everyone wanted to know if this was indeed the real deal but the guide told us there is absolutely no proof of any ballgame sacrifices at Coba. But then again – no one really knows! Given that the ballgame was such an important aspect of Mayan life it would be hard to believe there weren’t any sacrifices associated with it. Playing this game was a HUGE deal to the Mayans and the ball players were highly regarded and were bathed before games. The game mirrored the heavens and symbolized the struggle between day and night. Wagers were placed and even political problems were solved (and created) by the game. The game was a large part of Mayan life.

In any case, it was pretty exciting to see one of these ball courts in real life. I imagined the players, the audience, the fear of losing, the fear of winning. The high stakes and a hard 9 pound ball that is meant to be kept in play at all times – but only with your hips – makes this a game that must’ve been quite stressful to play.

(Part of the Mayan tale before the game started.)

It is still played today (sans sacrifice) and we were lucky enough to see a live game later that night. The game was played on a court deep in the jungle and the players were dressed up as the Mayans would’ve been. The players acted out a folk tale between two brothers and the jungle god. In the end the ballgame was used to settle the argument between all of the parties. Then they played the game and even lit the court on fire at one point. I actually thought this whole production was pretty cool and I really enjoyed watching it. The game looked really tough to play and it was hard for the players to get the ball through the hole.

Visit Ancient Roots – a local pottery school.

Another great experience we had in Coba was visiting the Ancient Roots pottery school. Originally from Argentina, ceramist Agustin Villalba founded the school as a way to teach local children how to make the pottery of their ancestors. Mayan pottery is an ancient art form and until Agustin founded the school the techniques were in danger of being lost to modernization and poverty in the region. With his help the school is free for all the children that live in Coba so they can continue the ceramic traditions. We were lucky enough to spend time at this school hanging out with the children and making pottery.

*The tour described in this post was the Coba Sunset Tour. This trip to Coba & the Riviera Maya was sponsored by the Riviera Maya tourism board but all of the views and opinions in this article 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!

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

Story by Randy | Photography by Beth

One of the greatest things about growing up in western Pennsylvania was living 30 minutes from one of the area’s premier ski areas, Seven Springs Resort. Sure, its highest peak is only 2530 feet and its base is mostly man-made snow, but, aside from the even-smaller Hidden Valley Ski Resort next door, it’s all we had, and you know what, it delivered.

My first time to the resort was for my eighth birthday with my mom, and I remember two things from that day: sliding down a black diamond slope on our butts and the resort’s magnificent Swiss chalet-style lodge. I expected to fall in love with skiing that day, but what I didn’t expect was falling hard for mountain-style chalets and A-Frames. Since then, I’ve stayed in a lot of cool places, including a 27-foot sailboat in San Diego Bay, but A-Frames and chalets have always eluded me, until now.

Checking into Landgasthof Hirschen was a pretty special moment for me.

Not only is it a true Swiss chalet, but the hotel/hostel is also one of the oldest buildings in town, dating back to the 16th century.

The ornate wooden building has been meticulously renovated by owners, Nicole and Jacqueline, to restore the property to its original grandeur.

(Photo below: Gina hanging at the front desk.)

Nicole and Gina, a sweet golden retriever, greeted us at the front desk. Nicole was super polite and helpful with orientation information about Matten-Interlaken in Switzerland’s Bernese Highlands. She and Jacqueline bought Landgasthof Hirschen several years ago and the whole operation is very DIY (Do It Yourself); they handle the cooking, cleaning, guest check-in, and a plethora of other things that go into running a successful international boutique-style hotel.

Walking to our room, I immediately felt that same feeling I had as a kid wandering around Seven Spring’s lodge, except Landgasthof Hirschen was much cozier. We had a private double ensuite and it was more like a hotel room than your typical hostel private room. In addition to a comfy queen-size bed, the room had a micro-fridge, flat-screen TV and large bathroom with bathtub and shower. Our room as well as the overall hotel was extremely clean.

Aside from the Landgasthof Hirschen’s fabulous free breakfast buffet, which tops the list as one of our favorites, one my favorite aspects from our stay was being able to open the window at night and hear the sheep, who wore bells around their necks, ringing in the crisp, still night from a nearby pasture.

Matten-Interlaken is a cute town and great place for day trips by train into the Bernese Alps to visit the mountain towns of Gimmelwald and Grindelwald as well as Jungfrau-Aletsch-Bietschhorn, a glaciated UNESCO World Heritage Site. And because your hotel stay includes free passes to ride the city’s well-maintained public buses, it’s easy and free to get around town and to the two main train stations: Interlaken OST (east) and Interlaken West.

The hotel offers 20 rooms, which all feature private bathrooms, wireless LAN, radio and cable TV. The rooms range from two bedroom dorm rooms ($37.28 pp) to private single ($85.21 pp). Currently, on HostelBookers our room, a private double costs $74.56 per person.

If you are looking for a more social hostel—be it partying or heavy socializing— Landgasthof Hirschen is probably not for you, since its designed more like a bed and breakfast than a traditional youth hostel. However, Beth and I found this style of lodging more refreshing because the owners are more hands on and take greater care in creating a comfortable, peaceful atmosphere.

The beautiful dining area where the huge breakfast buffet is served:

The exterior of the hotel – check out the incredibly detailed (and old) wood siding:

The street the hotel is on:

Photos from around town including the nearby sheep!

*Our stay was complimentary; however, our thoughts and opinions 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!

Ok, I’ll admit it.

I’ve never been much of a resort person. Generally I prefer a more off-the-beaten path type of lodging. But I had also never stayed at an all inclusive resort before. On my recent trip to Riviera Maya, Mexico I stayed at Barceló Resort and I have to say – it was pretty awesome. In fact, they may have ruined me.

Unlike the more rustic accommodation I am used to (read: bunk rooms, no hot water and even composting toilets) Barceló does it up and does it right. From the minute you step onto the grounds you get the distinct feeling that you are officially on vacation. You know that song – It’s 5 O’Clock Somewhere? Well Barceló is 5 O’Clock Somewhere ALL the time! Turns out that being at a place where you don’t have to think about anything can actually be relaxing and fun.

Traveling to new countries can be stressful but at Barceló there’s nothing to stress or get nervous about. Nope – all you need to do is enjoy the countless luxury pools, numerous water activities or simply spend your day swinging in a hammock with a good book. Looking for great views? No problem here – the water is cerulean blue and stretches as far as the eyes can see. Palm trees growing straight out of the white sand complete the utopian vacation vista. I should also mention that the crystal clear water is the *perfect* temperature. You literally walk right in – no need to adjust the internal thermometer. One day the sky was brilliant blue with puffy white clouds and the water was a beautiful jewel tones blue/green. It was so beautiful it was almost surreal. This is the type of ocean you see on travel brochures and dream about. Ocean swimming doesn’t get any better than this.

This is the kind of place you want to go when you want to just unwind, relax and not worry about anything. I swear this is where all those Corona commercials are made. I guess you could say resort vacationing has it’s definite and undeniable perks.

As for the actual lodgings the rooms are LUSH. The beds are really comfortable and thanks to Barceló I have to work about 100% harder because I have discovered what life is like with a nice bathroom. Sure a large bathtub is nice but what’s really luxurious is having a large bathtub AND a doorless, tiled shower with a large circular rain style shower head. No shower curtain to fiddle with, no shower doors to clean – instead just make a large portion of your bathroom a walk in shower – brilliant!

If you need more than margaritas and a good book to entertain you on vacation don’t worry – there’s plenty more. Families, couples & friends vacationing together will all find tons of activities – water sports, mini golf, a spa, life size games and dedicated kids pool to name just a few – to keep busy with. Plenty of food and bars to keep you occupied and a dance club called Jaguars (complete with ambient fog) if you want to take it to the next level.

If you feel like taking the stress out of travel on your trip to Riviera Maya, Barceló is a great place to do it. A few days under the palm trees with a drink in hand and swimming in the balmy waters will take the work stress off instantly.

This place is very laid back and might not be the spot for spring breakers looking to get wild because much to my surprise it remains very quiet at night. I definitely recommend it for families, seniors, couples or groups of friends that want to chill out and have fun.

From the minute I arrived I thoroughly enjoyed my stay. If I was going on a trip to Riviera Maya with my family I would definitely stay here because there is something for everyone. In fact, when I got back to the States I gave my friend Lauren the complimentary bottle of Tequila (yes you read that right – an entire free bottle of Tequila) that I received in my room. She actually said “Barceló! That’s where I stayed with my family last year. We loved it!”

True story.

I took plenty of photos that give a great overview of what it’s like to stay at Barceló. If, like many people, you’re headed south for your February break be sure to check out this great resort for your stay in Riviera Maya.

Welcome to Barcelo!

My room:

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The view from my balcony:

The resort grounds:

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The resort beaches – Look At That Water!

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Evening photos including a snapshot from Jaguar’s Dance Club:

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A cool panoramic that you need to click on to enlarge:

Curious about what else you can expect on your trip to Riviera Maya? Be sure to check out our other posts:

The Unbelievable Food of Riviera Maya

Visiting The Ruins of Tulum – A Must on Your Trip to Riviera Maya

Si’an Kaan Biosphere – A Relaxing Adventure on the Shores of Riviera Maya

*This trip to Riviera Maya was sponsored by the Riviera Maya tourism board but all of the views and opinions in this article are entirely ours.

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!

The souks of the Marrakech Medina at Djemaa el-Fna are a shoppers paradise.

On this recent trip to the city of constant excitement we strolled through the souks and were amazed at every corner. There were so many beautiful items to gawk at. They all seemed to shimmer in their own way creating a yellow-brick road of sorts that led us through the maze of shopping alleys.

If you’re headed to Morocco and wondering what to do in Marrakech be sure to spend at least a couple days just exploring the souks. You can get anything and everything (from shoes to baskets and from pastries to batteries) in the souks. Even if you hate shopping you won’t be able to get enough of the souks as they are a great cultural scene perfect for people watching.

Tips for enjoying the souks :

Take Your Time – A lot of people come to Marrakech to do some serious shopping, and in retrospect, I really wish I had done more. Initially, the souks are a bit intimidating and approaching a shop seems a little nerve racking, so my advice is if you want to shop, spend the first day just looking around, snapping photos and taking note of everything on offer in the souks. Approach a couple shops to get a feel for the bargaining process. Make the following day your big shopping day, start small and then as your shopping confidence grows work up to the big items you want.

Bring Something To Trade – even chewing gum will help get you a great deal. During the bartering process throw in your item and watch their faces light up. Everyone loves getting a good dealer including the sellers in the souks and it helps when you can give them something that might be hard to get in Marrakech. Trading also helps alleviate serious bargaining matches and gets a smile from all people involved. It’s especially good if you can bring small items like gum, LCD flashlights and small tools. Next time we go I will be sure to stock up on small items to trade with, it makes the purchase much more fun and helps get a great deal.

Watch out! – Yes, you’ll be enamored by the endless amounts of glittering jewels, teapots and coins. You’ll follow your nose by the wafting smell of pastries and roasting nuts. You’ll feel like you are in a completely different world and find yourself gawking at wares you only thought existed in a Pier 1 catalog. Just remember to watch out around you – not only do people walk through souks, donkeys also stroll through and motorbikes speed through at speeds that seem very unsafe to the uninitiated (you & me). A couple of times I was looking above and around me and almost got swiped by a couple bikes. While you’re muttering ‘oh wow’ to yourself a million times, just remember to keep a clear view of what is going on around you and look out for blind corners with speeding bikers.

Get Lost & Have Fun – The souks are HUGE, beautiful & confusing. Don’t get stressed about getting lost – you will get lost but ultimately you will end up back in Djemaa el-Fna Square. It’s strange how it happens but each time we were lost we ended up right where we needed to be. Wandering around, getting lost and taking it all in is just part of the fun. Enjoy it and know you’ll find the way out eventually. If you get truly stuck you can always ask the shop owners who will point you in the right direction.

Bring Small Change – Most of the sellers in the souks will take Euros and U.S. dollars along with the Moroccan Dirham so remember to bring plenty of small change. It becomes a lot harder to bargain when you only have large bills. Having change in your pocket is a great way to add a little value to your offer without costing you a lot of money. Keep your money separated as well–sellers are more likely to give you a good deal if you can show them your empty pockets proving to them all you have is a certain amount of money. You don’t want to put all your cards on the table when you pull out a huge wad of bills.

Here are some photos of life in the souks. Enjoy!

Were always looking for good shopping tips, so if you have any you’d like to share, feel free to leave them in the comments below.

Editor’s note: We originally published this story on Travel Thru San Diego, in conjunction with LowCostHolidays.com who we partnered with for five days in Marrakech. While we’ve made some editorial changes for this reprint, the core of the story and photos remains the same.

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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!

In between farms while volunteering in Serbia, we had the chance to stay with Katarina and Mirolsav, the founders of WWOOF Serbia, in Belgrade.

While we only had a few days together before moving onto our next destination, our time with them was one of our early highlights from The Hazy Shade of Autumn Tour. During the day, Katarina and Miroslav showed us the city, explaining Belgrade’s tumultuous history and their hopes for the city’s future. And at night, we sat talking around their kitchen table listening to music and eating Katarina’s superb homemade meals.

Below our three places Katarina and Mirolsav introduced us to, which also happen to be free (Ethnographic Museum is free on Sundays). And while we didn’t get to visit the Great War Island during this trip, Miroslav’s enthusiasm about the island’s summer season was all I needed to justify a return summer trip to Belgrade.

Ethnographic Museum

One of our favorite things to do when we arrive in a new capital city is to visit its country’s heritage museum. For several hours, we’ll browse the permanent and special exhibitions to help gain a better understanding of the country’s history and culture.

In Belgrade, the Ethnographic Museum is the place to get in tune with Serbian history. Free on Sundays, the museum’s first and third floor contain permanent exhibitions with the former focusing on traditional costumes and the latter lifestyle matters, like living and working during the 19th and 20th century.

Address & Link to Google Maps

Studentski trg 13
Belgrade 11000, Serbia

For hours of operation and admission prices, click here.

Great War Island

During the summer months, Belgrade sets up a pontoon bridge between the island and Zemun, one of 17 municipalities that makeup the city. The island contains a nature preserve for 196 bird species–many of which are endangered–and is a documented natural fish spawning area, protecting it from commercial development. The island’s beach, Lido, is located on the northern tip of the island and is a popular place for summer swimming and sunbathing.

The Great War Island was given its militant name due to its continued use throughout history as an important strategic location in the conquest or defense of Belgrade, in particular for attacks against Belgrade Fortress. Today, the confluence is considered to be the true heart of Belgrade because it was the site of one of Europe’s first Neolithic settlements.

Belgrade Fort and Kalemegdan Park

Overlooking the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers, the Belgrade Fortress is the oldest section of Belgrade’s urban area. For centuries, Belgrade’s population was concentrated within the thick, grey fortress walls. Some of the world’s greatest empires, including the Roman and Ottoman, conquered, occupied and defended the fortress. The fort endured nearly two millennia of continuous sieges before being declared a Monument of Culture of Exceptional Importance in 1979.

The fort and expansive park grounds are free to explore and offer up great panoramas, winding paths and shaded spots with benches. One of my favorite locations inside the fort is the Chapel of Saint Petka near the Rose Church. The chapel was built on top of a spring believed to be miraculous, especially for women. You can drink a cup for free or pay 30 dinar (50 cents) for a bottle.

Additionally, the fortress and park contains an observatory, planetarium, tennis, basketball courts, the city Zoo, Military Museum, and Museum of forestry and hunting.

*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!

Editors Note: This is the second review in an ongoing 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.

By the time we reached our hostel in Lucerne we were beat.

Coming off the nightmare overnight train ride we had just endured—the rail staff lost our Eurail passes during the night— and then the three hour standoff to get our tickets replaced, all we really wanted was exactly what Backpackers Lucerne had to offer: a peaceful and comfortable place to rest and work.

Located approximately 15 minutes by foot from the train station, the hostel sits right across the lake in a quiet, but not deserted, part of Lucerne. It’s an area of tall, big leafed trees, rowing clubs, lush parks full of people, dogs and white swans.

After checking in early (thank you Simon), we got to our room and did the first thing we always do when we arrive somewhere new: check the Wi-Fi. And just like friendliness of the staff and the cleanliness of our room, it was perfect.

We had a private double, which was more than enough space for the both of us, and our room, as well as every other one, had a patio/balcony. While none of the rooms have ensuite bathrooms, the hostel has ample toilets, showers and plenty of sinks near the rooms. Over the years, I’ve stayed in many hostels and this is by far one of the cleanliest with shared facilities.

With only one day in Lucerne before moving onto Interlaken, we mustered up the little strength we had left and hit Old Town Lucerne, which is just a 15-minute walk from the hostel. As we strolled through town digging the Swiss architecture, we happened onto a grocery store. We had planned on eating out, but once we realized how much we could save by cooking back at the hostal, we stocked up on some essentials—beer, yogurt, fondu, cheese, a ready-bake pizza—and hurried back.

Just like everything else at Backpackers Lucerne, the kitchen was clean and well looked after. There is an oven and stove (these are not available for breakfast use though), a refrigerator and all the other necessities—plates, silverware, glasses—you need for an enjoyable meal. In addition to this kitchen, there is a larger lounge area, which contains another cooking area.

The hostel was pretty quiet when we were there, and I got the feeling that’s common here. If you are looking for a place to mellow out after a day of exploring, then I would say Backpackers Lucerne is perfect for you.

Have you ever stayed at Backpackers Luceren? If so, what did you think of the hostel?

The Exterior & Peaceful Views:

The Rooms With Private Balconies:

The Bathroom and Common Areas:

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They Rent Bikes Too!

*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!