Quantcast
   
Tuesday - March 28, 2023

Articles Written By Hannahmarsala

 

Schaffhausen, the Ideal Day Trip from Zurich

April 15th, 2015

Last weekend my dad and I decided to go somewhere new close to Zurich. We wanted to go somewhere on the train, but not too far away, and not too expensive. Switzerland is notorious for being outrageously expensive and their trains are no exception. A one-hour ride can cost you upwards of 30 Swiss Franks each way. After a few days of thinking my dad had a brilliant idea for our weekend day-trip, Schaffhausen! Schaffhausen is a small city located about 45 minutes by train from Zurich. It’s most known for being home to Europe’s largest waterfall, Rhine falls. Also, not to be overlooked is the... Read More

Sri Lanka in Twenty-Five Photos

April 1st, 2015

Everyone is starting to catch on to the little secret that has been remained fairly hidden in the Indian Ocean for quite some time; Sri Lanka.  In fact, the New York Times just posted an article about Sri Lanka’s tea country on their front page!  Luckily for me I was able to travel to Sri Lanka last month and experience the beauty and rich culture for myself before the secret got out. Plagued by decades of civil war and a 2004 tsunami devastation, it seems that Sri Lanka is finally back on it’s feet and ready to show the world what they have to offer.  Here is an account of my visit... Read More

The Best Travel Apps

March 4th, 2015

Whether you’re in Thailand or Switzerland, apps can be a make or break to a situation.  Here is a list of some of my favorite and most used travel apps.   Photo Goggles: Take a photo or select one from your library and this app will search for information regarding the picture’s context.   Touchnote: Turn your photos into personalized postcards! For roughly $2 you can turn your own travel photo into a postcard and have it mailed anywhere in the world.   TravelSafe: The ultimate safety app for all travelers. Put in the country you’re in and immediately you have access to every... Read More

The Female Traveler’s “Heels to Hiking Boots” Spring Packing List: Travel in Style

February 18th, 2015

Whenever it comes to traveling there’s always one thing almost every girl struggles with, packing. Either packing too much, packing too little or just not knowing what to bring. I’ve come up with a packing list that I use for almost ALL warm weather destinations. Although there’s always a chance of rain, fog or clouds wherever you’re going this list is warm weather focused however has all the easy essentials to keep you warm if for some reason the weather isn’t up to par. I included pricier options as well as some more affordable options so everyone can get a little taste of the travel... Read More

Ten Must-Do things in Rio de Janeiro

February 11th, 2015

I honor of Carnaval season in Brazil being underway… …besides the massive block parties that happen ALL the time during the month of February and sometimes into March (which you can see above from last year’s Carnaval)..here is a list of my favorite things to do in Rio if you get a chance to get away from all the madness for a few minutes! 1: Dos Irmaos Hike: I’ve posted about this hike before and I will continue to write about it for many reasons, the most important being it’s not only a hike but a cultural experience as well. To get to the top of the famous Dos Irmaos,... Read More

How I Traveled Around Jamaica for Just $300

February 4th, 2015

You’ve probably either been to Jamaica or heard of someone going to Jamaica. However, I have to ask the question…how many of these people have actually been to Jamaica? Not just their resort, or their resort and a few spots in the resort town? My best guess is very few. Very few people have seen what Jamaica is actually like. Because of this belief my partner in crime and I had (we are currently filming a web series bases on showing real places, real people and real culture) decided Jamaica, a massive tourist destination, would be the perfect place to dig deeper and get a feel for what the... Read More

From the Bay to the Golden Gate

January 21st, 2015

From the Bay to the Golden Gate, this guide is the picture-perfect way to see diverse parts of the city, distinctive neighborhoods, eat at some of the most sought-out food in San Fran, and get a work out all at the same time. 1st Stop -> The Ferry Building for a Quick and Easy Snack: Start with an early morning bite at the Ferry Building to get your energy going and your enthusiasm at a high.  The Ferry Building is filled with amazing snacks, produce, and even great home good items! Get a snack from the grab and go-“Out The Door”- the takeaway version of The Slanted Door. For those... Read More

The Best Place in the World to Learn How to Scuba Dive

January 13th, 2015

Scuba Diving in Koh Tao, Thailand   Following Australia, Koh Tao, a miniscule island in the gulf of Thailand, certifies the second most amount of people for scuba diving every year. Koh Tao is home to over fifty, Five-Star PADI scuba diving schools on an island only thirteen square miles in size. The whole island is centered on diving. Like several of the islands in Thailand, there are heaps of young people running around everywhere. On Koh Tao, there are instructors and students of all ages hailing from various areas around the world, simply here for the main purpose to teach and/or learn... Read More

The Ultimate Barcelona Travel Guide

January 6th, 2015

The Ultimate Barcelona Travel Guide   SITES: La Rambla: A long, blocked-off tourist walkway filled with souvenir vendors, tapas bars, and tons of characters running right down the middle between the Gothic Quarter and Raval neighborhood. Fun to walk down but to avoid overpriced meals and drinks, avoid eating here. La Boqueria: This famous covered-outdoor market has been around since it’s first mention in 1217. Numerous butchers and fishmongers set up shop here. The market not only has extremely fresh produce and poultry but there are several ready-to-eat stands, serving everything from tapas... Read More

Simple Travel-Related New Year’s Resolutions to Get You Traveling Better and More Often

December 30th, 2014

1: Travel somewhere alone. The best way to learn about yourself is to be alone with yourself.   2: Go on more road-trips. Sometimes the best getaways are right in your backyard. 3: Go camping. 4: Go somewhere you know very little about. This for me in 2015 is going to be Turkey. 5: Go somewhere where you don’t speak a lick of their native language, Brazil perhaps? 6: Do something you’ve never done. Why not go to Morocco and ride camels through the Sahara Desert? 7: Go somewhere outside of your typical holiday destination. Yes, Cancun will still be there next year.   8: Go somewhere... Read More

Last Minute Christmas Gifts for all Travel Lovers

December 17th, 2014

1: Lush “Travel Friendly” Products:toothpaste, shampoo, conditioner, and body washes, you name it, they have it. Before any long-trip (any trip over two weeks) I march straight to Lush to stock up on their life-changing travel-catered beauty products. They have several different options for solid or goo-like beauty products for each and every skin and hair type. They even have travel tins to put your products in, and wah lah! No liquid fussing when you go through security and bam, you smell like roses. *Each tin full of shampoo or conditioner is good for 30 washes! The toothpaste is... Read More

Chiang Mai 12-Step Guide

December 2nd, 2014

Chiang Mai is the largest city in northern Thailand and is known for its abundance in Buddhist temples, vast jungle brush, and northern spicy Thai food that will make you sweat.  Follow this guide to get all the best tips and places to go during your stay! This guide is broken up by region, all centering around the Old City in Chiang Mai. North of the Old City Banilah Guest House: ( http://www.banilah.com ) This family run boutique guesthouse is located just north of the Old City where most of the visitors stay.  I preferred to stay a mile outside of the square and I’m extremely happy with... Read More

10 Things to Know Before Going to Venice

November 25th, 2014

Venice is one of the most surreal places I’ve ever been in my life.  The entire time I was there I kept asking myself if it was real.  I had seen Venice so many times in movies, television, and books, and then I was actually there.  It is such an amazing place.  The people are charming and the town itself is magnificent.  After spending almost a week in Venice I can easily say I fell in love with it.  Follow these ten steps to ensure a good stay! 1.  Beware the time of year you plan to go to Venice. Italy is a summer destination. During this time of the year people say that if you... Read More

The Perfect Day in Zurich

November 4th, 2014

Day Itinerary: –Breakfast at Bohemia in Bellevue -Hike up Uetliberg -Lunch in the Train Station -Felix’s Café –Rent a Paddle Boat on Lake Zurich -Window Shopping in Old Town -Dinner at Zuegkellerhaus (The Arsenal) –Dessert at Cafe Schober    Zurich, Switzerland is a timeless city.  The buildings are authentic and beautiful, dating back a thousand years.  Rolling green hills and the snow-topped Alps surrounds Lake Zurich.  The water shines like expensive diamonds as the perfect amount of sun beams down from the crystal clear blue skies.  Zurich isn’t... Read More

Sagrada Familia in Barcelona: Gaudi’s Unfinished Masterpiece

October 28th, 2014

Sagrada Familia, where to start? This astonishing piece of architectural perfection is Antonio Gaudi’s most prominent –yet still unfinished–project. I have lived in Barcelona for four months now, however I hadn’t actually gone inside Sagrada until last weekend. Within seconds of entering the church I was blown away. I couldn’t believe anything, a church for that matter, (which sadly become monotonous at times) could be so original, innovative and inspiring. The magnitude and the dimensions, the illumination and the uniqueness. This awe inspiring piece was something I had to write about... Read More

Siem Reap and ANGKOR WAT in Cambodia

October 21st, 2014

Angkor Wat -Schein Guesthouse -Fish Pedicures
-Foot Massages
-Pub Street It was a humid summer night and we flew in from Bangkok to Siem Reap. Siem Reap is known for being home to the famous temple complex of Angkor Wat. It was down pouring when we stepped off the plane. Upon arrival our driver, Kao, was waiting for us holding our names on a piece of cardboard. What a cute little man he was! He took us over to our tuk tuk and drove us to our guesthouse where we’d be staying for the night. He told us it’s the first rain of the year and that they’ve needed it. He also told us the rain was... Read More

Mendoza Wine Camp

October 14th, 2014

Mendoza, Argentina is famous for it’s mountain ranges that surround the city, and just the right combination of cool and warm temperatures and soil that make the perfect recipe for growing succulent grapes, and in turn, producing delicious wine.  Mendoza being the highest wine producing region in Argentina.  When we arrived in Mendoza we knew we’d be in for drinking tasty local wine and enjoying the beautiful mountains, laying just east of the Andes, but what we didn’t know was just how luxurious and lavish the experience was going to turn out to be. From traveling around South America... Read More

Iguazu Falls, Waterfalls and Wildlife

October 7th, 2014

In the midst of the lush jungles and rainforests of Argentina and Brazil lies the tiny town of Iguazu, and within Iguazu lies the famous and world-renowned fifth largest waterfall in the world, Iguazu Falls. With a majority of the falls, eighty percent, in Argentina, and the other twenty percent in Brazil, Iguazu as a town, river, and falls is vast and well worth the visit. A three-hour flight from Mendoza, or an hour flight from Buenos Aires and you’re right in the middle of the tropical rainforest of Iguazu.     Most people say the falls if better viewed from the Brazilian side,... Read More

My Experience at Tiger Kingdom in Thailand

September 30th, 2014

Millions of people travel to Thailand every year. Known for it’s immaculate waters, beaches, infinite shimmering temples and their undeniably delicious Thai food, there is a part of Thai tourism that many people don’t discuss, the bad part. Although Thailand has so many positives there are a few negatives worth talking about before making your trip across the world. The negative includes their poor treatment of animals for human pleasure, i.e., elephant riding and visiting tigers. I am not an animal activist, however, I’ll admit I am an animal lover and after visiting Thailand and experiencing... Read More

Ha Long Bus Ride to Halong Bay, Vietnam

September 23rd, 2014

Halong Bay in northern Vietnam literally translating into “descending dragon bay” is a stunning natural wonder of our world. This majestic bay consists of massive limestone formations with lush jungle-like foliage that soar high out of the water from deep below the cool green depths. On a clear day, the views are breathtaking and the some two thousand-island formations can be seen from miles away. On a foggy day you are sometimes unable able to see the immense formations until they suddenly rise up out of the mist above you only yards away.     People spend anywhere from a single... Read More