Travel Letters

Costa Rica is lush greenery, tropical climate, and lovely people. Day 1: I traveled to San Jose on a 5 hour flight from LAX and thought it would be useful to be a SIM card. I bought a 4G Kolbi card for $10 that lasted me throughout my week trip. You can buy one at SJO, the same place where you pick up your baggage. I booked my airport transfer in advanced and arrived at Boutique Hotel Casa Las Orquideas. If you wanted to get a taxi, it would be about $25. The hotel here is about 25 minutes from SJO and is centrally located where there is a supermarket and shopping mall by 5-8 minute walk. The staff here is very friendly and offered to store my luggage because I arrive way before their 2pm check-in. Days 2-3: I traveled from San Jose to La Fortuna on a 3 hour private bus for $7. You can also take the public bus to get to La Fortuna from San Jose. Though you would be burning about 7 hours of precious vacation time instead. La Fortuna was my favorite travel destination thro...

For my first time traveling in South America, I chose Colombia for its tropical climate, colorful towns, and undeniable nightlife. There are a few questions I ask myself before I visit any country: 1. Is it safe?  The short answer is yes! Colombia was once known for being one of the most dangerous countries in the world with its drug cartel history. Despite its history, I felt safe walking around the streets both during the day and night. Why? Colombia is filled with bustling streets and locals walking left and right. The locals are also very friendly and are willing to help if you have questions. For someone who spoke basic Spanish, I had tons of questions when it came to pretty much everything. I recommend researching the Department of State for precautions and areas to avoid when traveling. Also, avoid walking around suspicious areas alone at night, and don’t carry all your valuables with you when sightseeing.  2. Is it expensive? No, it’s relatively cheape...

It's still a goal of mine to continue to travel overseas at least once a year. In 2017, I chose Iceland for its breathtaking scenery and atmosphere. I feel like Iceland is best experienced with friends and a sense of adventure on the road. I'll outline my 7-day itinerary for exploring Iceland's southern and southeastern region. Day 1-2: We landed in Keflavik after about a direct nine-hour flight from Los Angeles. After we got our car rental, we drove to Reykjavik to our Airbnb. I'd recommend renting a 4-wheel drive, just so that you're comfortable driving long distances with a lot of luggage. Our car was the ToyotaRAV4 which we found easy and safe to drive in. After we settled in our Airbnb which was an apartment in a great location and walkable distance from downtown, we mostly explored the local area. Downtown is small, quaint, with gift shops, small grocery stores, and cafe and restaurants. Day 2 was mostly getting out of Reykjavik, and exploring a little nor...