The country has yet to fully recover from the catastrophic devastation caused by the Category 5 hurricane in September 2017. We were only there for a few days so we did not see the extent of its damage but did notice that a number of trails were currently closed or under construction in El Yunque National Park. But overall, Puerto Rico’s tourism game is still strong.

Our catamaran journey was rather choppy and several people got seasick but arriving to our ‘private island’ and having the beach to ourselves was totally worth the rough ride. We also made a stop on the way for some snorkeling in crystal clear waters.

I also got to check off one of my bucket list items – night kayaking in a bioluminescent bay. There are only 5 bays in the entire world with dinoflagellates (microorganisms that emit light when disturbed, causing the water surrounding them to glow) and Puerto Rico is home to three of them. The most famous and brightest bioluminescent bay is Mosquito Bay, located in Vieques. Since we did not have time to travel to Vieques, we visited Laguna Grande in Fajardo, which is located about 60 km from San Juan. We were fortunate to have clear skies and a nearly full moon that night, allowing for some incredibly bright bioluminescence, though kayaking through pitch dark mangroves leading to the bay at night was a little scary. I don’t have any photos of this since I didn’t want to risk dropping my iPhone in the water so you’ll have to trust Google images on this one.

Like most trips I take, I wished I’d had more time to enjoy Puerto Rico and venture to Vieques and other parts of the island. Lucky for me, my friend has a condo there so I’m definitely planning on going back soon!

Here’s why you should skip the summer months and visit Greece this winter:

1. No scorching hot weather.

Unlike the sweltering summer months, the winters in Greece are quite pleasant and since you will be spending most of your time outdoors visiting the archaeological sites and beautiful coastlines, why not enjoy the mild winter climate?

2. No long lines or crowded sites.

All of the typical tourist sites and museums are opened in the winter and though many close at 3pm, you never have to worry about standing in line to get your tickets and your photos won’t be full of pesky tourists.

3. You can truly experience the country like a local.

There aren’t too many tourists in the winter months so when you see a crowded bar or restaurant, you know it’s good because the customers must be locals and you can bet they’ve been there before. Plus, it’s fun to learn how another country celebrates the holiday season.

4. No need to book hotels or transportation in advance.

Aegean airlines and Ryanair have super cheap flights within Greece and between other European countries and hotel and car rental prices aren’t jacked up like they are during tourist season.

5. Greece is dependent on tourism now more than ever.

Think of it as helping out their economy.

Let’s start with the base. If ever I am in a rush or going somewhere that I hope I won’t run into anyone I know, I simply rub on a thin layer of tinted moisturizer to hide my major blemishes and dark under eye circles. I’ve been perfectly content with Maybelline BB cream in the past but recently upgraded to La Roche Posay’s SPF 50 tinted moisturizer and my skin couldn’t be happier. Its liquid consistency is great for dry skin but also light enough that it won’t clog pores. It also gives my skin the slightest bit of color so passersby don’t wonder if they’ve just seen a ghost.

Another item I have come to love is Baby Skin solid blush. The name is horrific and makes it sound like I’m applying something much more morbid to my cheeks but it is the easiest blush I’ve ever used and you can also smear some on your lips if you’re too lazy (like me) to apply lipstick. The peach shade is especially flattering on my fair-skinned face.

I hate wearing mascara because my eyes are really sensitive but when you have blonde eyelashes that are virtually invisible, a quick touch up is the difference between a creepy Guillermo del Toro character and an actual person. The verdict is still out on this one because I haven’t found a brand that doesn’t make my eyes itch the next day but I’m currently testing out Almay’s hypoallergenic mascara.

Usually I just apply some chapstick to my smoochers and call it a day but I recently bought Neutrogena’s hydrating lipstick and liked it so much that I went back and purchased it in a much more daring color – RED. I always have chapped lips and most lipsticks make it worse but this is the first lip tint I have used that didn’t need to be followed by Carmex. I’m in love.

There you have it; my insanely simplistic makeup routine in a nutshell. Feel free to comment below if you have any other low-maintenance makeup pro-tips.

We were invited to Kathmandu to attend a friend’s wedding but we wanted to experience other parts of the country as well. I spoke to my best friend who had recently gone trekking in Nepal to get some tips and also did a lot of online research to find out which treks were feasible with the limited time we had. We were originally planning on doing a trek without a guide but once I started looking into all of the permits and logistics we would have to plan in advance, I decided that paying a little extra for a guide who would sort all of that out before we arrived was the way to go. Here are the main things you should know if you’re thinking about going on a trek in Nepal:

1. You don’t necessarily need a guide but if you are on a tight schedule, it is in your best interest. If you decide to go it alone, make sure you give yourself enough time to get your TIMS card and research the route you want to go beforehand.
2. Buy most of your gear in Nepal. It is a lot cheaper and saves space in your suitcase, which most hotels will let you store for free while you’re off trekking.
3. Bring your own hiking shoes, wool socks and long underwear. Sweat-wicking materials are best because they will dry quickly and keep you cool or warm. Break your hiking shoes in at least a week in advance so you don’t get blisters.
4. Pack as little clothing as you can and pack in layers. You will be going from 80 degree temps to below freezing so make sure you bring clothing that you can easily pull on or take off.
5. Dress to be comfortable and don’t worry about being smelly. No one cares if you wear the same thing three days in a row or if you are wearing makeup because once you’ve been hiking for 8 hours, I can guarantee that no one will give a shit.
6. It is not necessary to book hotels (tea houses) in advance – there’s almost always a room available. Just be prepared for basic accommodations, squat toilets, and cold showers.
7. Prepare yourself physically. I don’t consider myself out of shape but I also don’t exercise regularly and trekking for three days was no cakewalk. The altitude will make you feel tired quickly so make sure you are ready for hours upon hours of a seemingly never-ending stairmaster.
8. Guides typically cost $15-30 a day. This includes food and accommodations. If you want a sherpa to carry your stuff for you that is extra.
9. Plan to spend around $25 a day yourself on food, accommodations, etc (not including your guide’s fee).
10. Pack a reusable water bottle because after a certain point, no plastic bottles are allowed.
11. Make sure you bring enough cash to pay for anything you might need while trekking because ATMs in Pokhara are incredibly unreliable.

We decided to do the Poon Hill trek because it was short enough to complete in less than three days and offers some amazing views of the Himalayas. The downside was that it was not a circuit trek so we weren’t able to see as much because our return route was the same way we came. We met our guide in Pokhara and he showed us where to get our gear and gave us recommendations on what we actually needed to bring along (I bought a sherpa hat and sun hat and rented a sleeping bag). We then took a taxi from the city to the official start of the trail where our guide signed us in and we began our trek! This was in November when daylight was limited and it was already afternoon by the time we started walking. We walked for about 3.5 hours on a relatively flat path before stopping at a tea house for the night. The next morning we woke up around 6am and hiked for almost 10 hours, with a 45 minute break for lunch, before arriving at our next tea house at the foot of Poon Hill in Ghorepani for the night. We got up super early the next morning so that we would make it to the top of Poon Hill (a 40 min hike) to see the sunrise. We spent about an hour at the top sipping hot tea and taking photos before beginning our descent. We were able to make it the entire way back in less than a day (though we heard some Spaniards saying we “cheated” because we took a Jeep for the final hour of the trek in order to get back to Pokhara before dark).

Once we arrived back to Pokhara, we checked into our hotel and crashed for about 4 hours before grabbing some excellent chicken tandoori for dinner. I also took advantage of the hotel’s spa and got my first deep tissue massage (at an incredibly reasonable price) to help ease some of my muscle soreness.

I guess you could say we did the “light version” of trekking but I am glad we did because I don’t think I was physically prepared for anything more. We were able to experience some amazing views and get enough of a taste of trekking to make it worth our trip to Nepal.

1. Osprey Farpoint 55 Travel Pack

This backpack has been with me through so much and I love it (shoutout to TravelFashionGirl for the recommendation 3 years ago)! The S/M is the perfect size for petite women, it easily fits in the overhead compartment of an airplane, and it has a neat zip-off pack for day trips.

2. Money belt

Ok, I know you’re thinking that you wouldn’t be caught dead wearing one of these but the trick is – no one has to know! I keep my passport and any essential documents or credit cards in here, tuck it underneath my jeans, and all is safe.

3. Comfortable shoes

Comfortable shoes are a must. No matter how cute your strappy stilettos may be, leave them at home and pack shoes that won’t destroy your feet after 12 hours of walking. Clarks are a great go-to or Superga sneakers if you want to look like a local in Europe. I also recommend rubbing any sensitive areas with Band-aid Friction Block as a preventative measure.

4. Credit card with no international fees

Those fees may seem small but they add up fast! All of my jet-setting friends are currently raving about the Chase Sapphire Preferred. NerdWallet is a great resource to find the best credit card to fit your needs. Here’s their list of the best travel cards of 2017.

5. Sunscreen

I’ve made the mistake of thinking I could buy this once I got to my destination but many places don’t sell sunscreen or they charge an arm and a leg for it. I always carry a bottle of Oil Free Faces sunscreen that I can use on my entire body if I’m in a pinch. Nothing’s worse than falling asleep on the beach and getting a 2nd degree burn on your eyelids on the first day of vacation (true story).

6. Neutral sweater

Even if you’re headed somewhere warm, it’s always a good idea to pack a sweater for overpowering a/c or chilly nights. I suggest a dark, neutral color that matches the rest of your ensemble and won’t show stains so you can wear it more than once. This Eddie Bauer cardigan is a great lightweight option.

7. Imodium

This stuff has seriously saved me a time or two (once before a scuba diving excursion and during many long bus rides). It hardly takes up any space in your toiletry bag and it’s the one item you’ll be glad if you don’t have to use. 

8. Collapsible water bottle

Airports always charge a ridiculous amount for bottled water. Save a few bucks and bring your own bottle to fill up at a water fountain once you pass through security.

9. Multi-purpose soap

More than once I have failed to pack enough underwear for my entire trip. Even if you’re not going camping, instead of paying to have your laundry done, you can buy a tiny bottle of biodegradable Super Concentrated Wilderness Wash at REI that can act as laundry detergent, body wash, and shampoo all in one.

10. Packing cubes

I didn’t know what I was missing until I purchased these Shack Pak cubes. If you’re using a backpack, these are essential to keeping your clothes organized and easy to access. They’re also super convenient when my husband and I are sharing a suitcase.

Now get to packing!