If I could only go to one restaurant for the rest of my life, this one would be it. They’ve accomplished the perfect fusion between Japanese and Italian food. As a starter, there is nothing I can recommend more than the “Tacos di Tonno e Burrata” - they are heaven in a bite. After that, personally I usually just go wild on the sushi. Here the credo is: order whatever inspires you, because it will be good anyway. Pro tip: the more people you bring, the more sushi you can order, the more different kinds of sushi you can try. Just something to consider.
Location: Bari, Puglia, Italy
Incredibly cute hotel that fits right into the scenery of Matera. We even got a complimentary glass of their wine at the (super cute) reception during check-in. Also: hotel breakfast in Italy can sometimes be a bit disappointing, but not here! Not only was it the most stunning breakfast location but the food was also super good!
Location: Matera, Basilicata, Italy
One of the most historical city of Puglia, with baroque architecture and almost 100 churches!! Very cute old town, everywhere you stop you’ll find good food and nice people.
Location: Lecce, Puglia, Italy
Super cute old town. Especially the area around the port is worth a visit. Pro tip: combine it with a beach day (e.g. at porto ghiacciolo) and visit the old town by night, that’s when we found it the most charming.
Location: Monopoli, Puglia, Italy
This is one of our go-to places. On multiple occasions we have driven to Polignano for the sole purpose of eating at Pescaria. Zoë’s go-to is the Tuna Tartare Panini. Pro tip: tastes even better if you get a glass of the bollicina (sparkling wine). Pro pro tip: If you’re planning on drinking more than three glasses it’s cheaper to go for the bottle directly.
Good to know: Pescaria also has many other locations all around Italy.
Location: Polignano, Trani, Puglia, Italy
By far our favorite gelateria. Not only is the gelato insanely good, but it’s also suuper affordable. For 2€ you can get two scoops with different flavors of heavenly creaminess. The only tiny downside: it is located in Cassano delle Murge, which is cute but not necessarily worth visiting by itself. But you can, for example, combine it with a trip to Matera.
Location: Cassano delle Murge, Puglia, Italy
Difficult to describe, make sure you go here after 10:30 pm and ask for some rounds of shots. Don’t be surprised if you don’t find a menu, Michele will (and should!) choose all the shots for you. Trust us, you will have one of the funniest nights of your life.
Location: Bari, Puglia, Italy
One of the best wine cellars of Puglia, their wines are amazing and their land is simply stunning. We did their wine tasting for €25.- where we first got a tour of the winery and then got to taste 5 wines and some local snacks. Pro tip: if you want to try some more wines after the tasting you can just ask at the reception and they’ll pour you some sips of whatever you’re interested in! Consider a walk in Locorotondo before or afterwards to complete your itinerary. Good to know: You can literally order their wine to (almost) anywhere in the world! We shipped some bottles to Singapore and they arrived within two weeks in perfect condition.
Location: Martina Franca, Puglia, Italy
This village name translates to “round place” and you’ll realize why by checking its shape on maps :) Very cute old town to get lost in, both during summer and winter (i.e.) Christmas time.
Location: Locorotondo, Puglia, Italy
This town became internationally well known after a James Bond movie was filmed here, but in Italy Matera has always been known for its special charm and the so-called “sassi”, i.e. stones! Here everything is dug in a cave and all buildings are made of stones, how cute is that?
Location: Matera, Basilicata, Italy
Perfect to impress your new girl (as Fede did with Zoë a few years ago) or friends with a nice walk in this historical old town. Ostuni is known as the White City as you’ll soon notice once you step into it, all the little houses of the old town are painted in white and this makes it super special! Pro tip: if you like it more quiet, consider coming here in December. The temperatures are still mild, there are barely any tourists and the town is full of the most beautiful Christmas decoration.
Location: Ostuni, Puglia, Italy
One of the cutest hotels in Bari, highly recommended for their service and strategic location. They also offer free parking and you can just walk to the city center from here. Plus: the room sizes are awesome, we had a standard double room but somehow it was huge.
Location: Bari, Puglia, Italy
One of the most recommended beaches of Salento, with crystal clear water
Location: Lecce, Puglia, Italy
Cute Osteria in the old town of Monopoli, make sure you reserve a table here if you want to taste the local cuisine and a lot seafood!
Location: Monopoli, Puglia, Italy
Trendy and cool seafront restaurant, perfect for a spritz during the sunset just outside Monopoli
Location: Monopoli, Puglia, Italy
We got this beach club recommended by some locals and we were impressed by its location and crystal clear water at the beach. Make sure you stay until sunset time, as you will see the sunset perfectly fall into the Stromboli volcano
Location: Tropea, Calabria, Italy
Hands down the best osteria and pizzeria in Bari
Location: Bari, Puglia, Italy
Known as the Maldives of Salento… do we need to say more?
Location: Bari, Ostuni, Puglia, Italy
One of the best fine dining experiences in Puglia and of our list 😊
Location: Trani, Puglia, Italy
Probably Fede’s favorite beach, perfect to spend a whole day with friends here.
Location: Bari, Lecce, Puglia, Italy
Free wild beach, so you need to bring your own umbrella and towels!
Location: Tropea, Calabria, Italy
One of the best and cutest villages in the whole Calabria. Make sure you visit it both during day and night. Do not miss the view on the sea!
Location: Tropea, Calabria, Italy
Very cute hotel in the middle of Palermo, the location is super convenient and you have a really nice view on the Politeama theatre. The amenities are nothing special but sufficient for a city trip.
Location: Palermo, Sicily, Italy
Cute hotel right at the beach. The location is a bit random but the hotel is great if you want to have a few beach / pool days. Our room was quite basic but in contrast the common areas of the hotel were really beautiful. Pro tip: avoid having lunch or dinner at this hotel, we found it completely overpriced for what you get.
Location: Trapani, Sicily, Italy
Very cute city on Lake Constance, right next to the Swiss border. We love coming here for shopping, for some decent German food and to just stroll around the cute city center and around the lake.
Pro tip: In case you happen to come by during Christmas time you must check out the Christmas market. It’s absolutely beautiful and offers great Christmas shopping.
Location: Konstanz, Baden-Württemberg, St. Gallen, Germany, Switzerland
This is the best beach club in Sibari. Usually booked out during peak season, so call them in advance if you need a lettini and ombrellone.
Location: Sibari, Calabria, Italy
Hands down best pizza in town. And this is coming from Fede… need we say more?
Location: Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
Beautiful hotel with great service and amenities that might just make you feel a little bit like a VIP.
Location: Agrigento, Sicily, Italy
Restaurant in Locorotondo that serves awesome local food. What makes it extra special is its beautiful interior. The rounded walls in true trulli style may or may not have something to do with that.
Location: Locorotondo, Puglia, Italy
Fede’s favorite place for shopping. Make sure you ask for help (ideally from Gino) not to get lost among the thousands stylish opportunities you can get here! Note from Zoë: I find it more suited for men, the women’s section is a very specific type of fashion that – at least for me – is quite different from my own style
Location: Bari, Puglia, Italy
Stunning accommodation where, as the name already suggests, a traditional Ostuni style cave meets exquisite luxury. There is even an entire basement dedicated to a whirlpool!
Location: Ostuni, Puglia, Italy
Our go to beach when in Phuket. It is pretty much exactly how you’d imagine a perfect beach: clear water, soft white-ish sand, and palms in the background. It is more crowded than it used to be, but still very reasonable. We love spending the whole day here, usually we rent sunbeds at Easy Bar & Restaurant, have lunch either there or at Maya Beach Club, and then watch the sunset from our sunbeds (ideally with a couple of cold bottles of Chang.
Location: , Phuket, Thailand
Housed in a beautiful building right next to the Zurich main station, the Swiss national museum is a great way to get to know the country’s history better. Out of all the museums we’ve been to in Switzerland, this one is one of our favorites.
Location: Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
Super cute town just a short drive (or ferry ride) from Switzerland. The old town is basically a little island right on the lake Constance. It has many beautiful restaurants, cafés and bars, and we can highly recommend you to explore all the alleyways and the cute shops they contain.
Pro tip: If the weather’s good enough, bring your bathing suit, rent a paddle boat (we call them “Pedalo”) and spend some time chilling on Lake Constance. We have had a good experience with renting from Bootsverleih Lindau Inh.A.Senninger (though for sure there are also many other good boat rental places).
Location: Lindau, Bavaria, St. Gallen, Germany, Switzerland
Super fun. Especially if you’re a kid, bonus points if you love science, but even as a non-science-loving adult it’s difficult to get bored here. Swiss Tourism summed it up perfectly: “The Technorama is one of the largest science centres in Europe, presenting a unique variety of experiments with almost limitless opportunities to experience science in a playful and educational way.”
Location: Winterthur, Zurich, Switzerland
Switzerland’s favorite museum. Especially fun for kids, but even as adult it’s difficult to get bored here.
Location: Luzern, Zurich, Switzerland
A “Badi” is a public pool and they’re a big thing in Switzerland. While they also exist indoors, during summer outdoor Badis are the place to be. We really like the one in St. Margrethen because it has something for everyone: pools to swim in, pools to play in, two water slides, a natural lake you can jump into, a huge, beautiful grass area you can chill on and many more great features.
Location: St. Margrethen, St. Gallen, Switzerland
Cute city on the Lake Constance. This is one of the places Swiss people from Rheintal come if we want to go to a restaurant, because they tend to have better food at more affordable prices here. Aand the beautiful view on the lake also doesn’t hurt.
Location: Bregenz, Vorarlberg, Austria, Switzerland
This is the place people in the Rheintal go to. It works for pretty much any occasion. I myself have been here among other things, for: celebrating my high school graduation, casual drinks with friends, date nights, long overdue catch ups over dinner, business lunches, brunch, and coffee catch-ups.
Must try: One of their “heisse Seele”, which literally translates to “hot soul”… I think the name says it all. Aand their bowls are also really nice.
Location: Widnau, St. Gallen, Switzerland
Muca is a super cozy café in the village of Berneck. Even though it’s pretty new, locals have already made it one of their go-to meeting places. The atmosphere is somehow calm and lively at the same time, they serve really nice drinks and it is used by many (including Zoë) as a kind of co-working space – so definitely a good option if you need to get some work done.
Pro tip: Try their chai latte
Pro pro tip: their opening time are a little special so I’d recommend double-checking on their https://www.instagram.com/muca_cafe.workspace?igsh=cjBvNHR6YjgxZ3V5 before you go
Location: Berneck, St. Gallen, Switzerland
A bit on the pricier side, but worth it if you are in the mood for a slightly fancier dinner. The food is Swiss inspired, but in a really good, modern way. The restaurant sits on top of a hill, which makes getting there a bit more tedious, but the view definitely makes up for it.
Pro tip: combine your visit with a walk through the Peter & Paul Wildpark (a natural animal park).
Location: St. Gallen, St. Gallen, Switzerland
Nice mexican food and the place has a really nice vibe. It may be a little americanized buut the food tastes good.
Pro tip: Margaritaaaaaaa
Location: St. Gallen, St. Gallen, Switzerland
At this place you can get really nice focaccias, we’re talking (almost) Italian-level good. The way it works is you can choose what fillings you want and they will put it together right in front of you. The quality of the fillings they offer is really nice so it’s virtually impossible to get a bad outcome. And yet the place is quite affordable so I guess it’s not surprising that it’s a go-to place for many students that live in the city.
Location: St. Gallen, St. Gallen, Switzerland
If you want to explore Patong for a night without having to worry about driving home, we can definitely recommend staying at this place. The location is great, the hotel has a nice pool in case you need a break from the chaos and our room was super nice and clean.
Location: Patong, Phuket, Thailand
Cute place to enjoy a local aperitivo and some good wine in the center of Ostuni
Location: Ostuni, Puglia, Italy
We did a looot of research before going to Santorini, landed on this place, and had absolutely no regrets. It is still very expensive, but not as insanely priced as some other options, and you really get a lot for what you pay. First things first: you will basically see the most beautiful sunset of your life, every single evening. The view is really unreal, and if you are staying here you can enjoy it directly from your terrace or from the hotel’s restaurant / bar. Breakfast gets served to your room or terrace every morning, which honestly never gets old. Additionally, the location is great – you’re basically in the center so it’s quite easy to get everywhere – the service is really good, and you just generally have those beautifully stereotypical white-and-blue Santorini vibes.
Location: Imerovigli, Santorini, Greece
Cozy restaurant offering typical Sicilian cuisine. Make sure you try a plate with “gamberi rossi” and pistachios.
Location: , ,
Nice Italian osteria with typical Neapolitan food
Location: , ,
A solid hotel option in Chiang Mai. It did not blow us away, but it is a decent choice for a few days in the city. The room was cute, clean, and the pool is very nice. The location is great too, you can even walk to many places right from there.
Location: , Chiang Mai, Thailand
Chiang Mai is very cute and easy to explore, with lots of great cafes, restaurants, temples, and markets. We accidentally went during the Flower Festival in February, and it was amazing so can highly recommend!
Pro tip: In the beginning of the year, farmers in the region usually burn their fields to remove crop residue. We recommend to avoid going during that time, especially from mid-March to-mid April, the air quality can be really bad.
Location: , Chiang Mai, Thailand
A really nice beach in the northern part of Phuket, close to the airport. It is usually not very crowded and great for a long walk, but also works well for a beach day if you bring a towel. There is even a spot where you can do some amazing plane watching.
Location: , Phuket, Thailand
Between the two of us, we have been to Phuket 7 and 5 times respectively, which gave us plenty of time to explore. We usually like staying in the more northern part of the island and spend a lot of time at the beach (especially Bang Tao). Phuket Town is also always worth a visit, we recommend strolling around a bit to see the cute houses, stopping at a market if you see one and trying out one of the cute restaurants or cafés. In case you happen to be there on the weekend, stay around until the evening and check out the Naka weekend market. Aand if you are in the mood for truly crazy partying, Patong is something you should see at least once.
Pro tip: While April is usually not the best time to go since it is close to the start of the rainy season, it is when Songkran happens, which is incredibly fun. A new years’ celebration rooted in Buddhist customs of purification, today it’s usually celebrated with massive, joyful water fights all over the country. so if you do go in April, make sure not to miss it.
Pro pro tip: If you walk around with anything resembling a water gun during Songkran, it essentially symbolizes that you’re part of the water fight and fair game. If, on the other hand, you make no resemblance of participating, people also won’t target you.
Location: , Phuket, Thailand
Our go to beach club at Bang Tao beach. You can rent two sunbeds and an umbrella for a really decent price (400 THB for the front row, 100 THB for all the others). The service is great, they even keep adjusting the umbrella throughout the day so you always have shade if you want it. On top of that, they serve really nice local food at absolutely reasonable prices, which makes it easy to spend the whole day here.
Must try: One of their fruit smoothies. You can even mix different menu items (I can highly recommend a mix of mango and passionfruit).
Location: , Phuket, Thailand
A bit on the pricier side, but with truly amazing food, great service, and a really cute atmosphere.
Location: , Phuket, Thailand
The food here might not be quite as good as in Puglia, Italy but it’s probably the closest you can get in South East Asia. So this is where we go if we have a desperate pizza craving and no upcoming Italy trips. And if you are not in the mood for Italian, they also have good fish and meat options, and even some solid Thai dishes.
Location: , Phuket, Thailand
A fancy beach club at Bang Tao Beach. It is on the pricier side, but the vibe can be really really nice. That said, it has gotten a lot more crowded recently. We usually stay at Easy just a few meters south and, if we feel like a really nice lunch, walk over here for that.
Must try: Maya Burger!!!
Location: , Phuket, Thailand
Lovely restaurant with beautiful views and great local food
Location: , Santorini, Greece
At the Naka Market you can have great street food, shop for souvenirs, but they also sell handmade products, fashion, streetwear, and secondhand goods. They usually even have live music. It is open every Saturday and Sunday from 4 pm to 11 pm and one thing we love about it is that it’s a place where locals and tourists peacefully mingle and everyone is somehow in a good mood.
Location: , Phuket, Thailand
We booked a sunset cruise with dinner, highly recommended! Both very good food and especially another perfect sunset to watch from a different perspective!
Location: , Santorini, Greece
A really impressive Buddhist temple complex near Chiang Rai. Right next to the temple is a huge white Buddha statue that you can actually go inside. From where the eyes are, you can look out over the area, and the inside is genuinely stunning.
Location: , Chiang Rai, Thailand
Amazing rafting experience for all levels! By far one of the best outdoor activities to do in the whole Calabria.
Location: Sibari, Calabria, Thailand
If you’re looking for a bit of nature close to the city, Belvoirpark is a really nice option. It’s a really cute park close to the lake and usually not too busy so perfect for a nice walk, a picnic or just reading a book in peace.
Location: Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
Must do if you are spending more than one day in Trapani. Visit the beautiful Favignana and the charming Levanzo.
Location: , Sicily, Italy
This café is very beautiful, but also very touristy, so be prepared for that. It is still worth a visit, but we did not stay long. We tried this thing where basically you get milk tea ice cubes, fresh milk, and sugar syrup, and mix your own milk tea with the ratios you like. It was super nice because it stays perfectly cool without getting watery.
Location: , Phuket, Thailand
If you’re craving Thai food and beach views, look no further. This restaurant is literally on the beach and serves really decent local food.
Pro tip: If you go for an early dinner and arrive around 6pm you’ll most likely get rewarded with a beaaautiful sunset.
Location: , Phuket, Thailand
While you can also get a tour of the saline (salt lakes) here, since we’d already had one at the saline Ettore e Infersa in Marsala what we did here instead was to grab a drink at their very cute restaurant and watch the sunset. Aand we can highly recommend you do the same :)
Location: Trapani, Sicily, Italy
We are probably not the first ones telling you this, but if you are anywhere near Agrigento, you have to go to the “Valle dei Templi”. It is hard to put into words, but you can clearly feel the cultural significance of the place when you are there. Seeing what was already possible in ancient Greece, and how these temples have survived until today, is genuinely impressive.
Location: Agrigento, Sicily, Italy
Staying at the Four Points by Sheraton in Sabang was a really nice experience overall. The hotel is directly at the beach, has great pools, beautiful rooms, and very good service (including a 24h reception, which is reeeally helpful if your flight arrives as late as ours). But the key reason to stay here is the location: It is just a short walk from the wharf where the famous Underground River tours start, which makes logistics super easy. One thing to be aware of: while the breakfast is pretty decent, our dinner there was not amazing, especially considering the price. If you find another place nearby that looks good, going for that is probably not the worst idea.
Pro tip: Order a Palawan Colada at the pool bar, they make it with real pineapples!!!
Location: Sabang, Palawan, Philippines
You can easily just walk around Palermo and explore. One thing that makes this city super nice are the many different architectural styles (even including some Arab influence). While you can’t really go wrong with any of the sites, one thing we really enjoyed was exploring the royal palace, and afterwards grabbing a coffee in the beautiful garden.
Pro tip: Don’t forget to eat arancini and cannoli!
Location: Palermo, Sicily, Italy
If the weather is good, packing a swimming suit and a towel and heading to Rentenwiese is always a good idea. It’s one of the spots the locals go to enjoy the lake of Zurich. It can get crowded, but usually that’s not really an issue because there is a looooot of space.
Pro tip: Before arriving, stop at a Migros or Coop (local grocery store), and grab some fresh fruit, veggies, snacks and something good to drink.
Pro pro tip: If you’re feeling extra fancy, add some BBQ things and buy a little disposable grill (they usually sell them at all grocery stores close to the lake).
Location: Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
We can highly recommend going to the saline Ettore e Infersa. To get the most out of it, get a guided tour. You’ll get to walk around the impressive salt lakes (in various stages of saltiness), learn how salt is made (surprisingly interesting) and even get to try some freshly ready salt.
Location: Marsala, Sicily, Italy
Teatro Massimo is a stunningly beautiful theater and, according to our tour guide, the second biggest in Europe. We really recommend getting a guided tour. You can simply buy tickets on the spot, and in true Italian fashion, the tours just kinda start when they start, as soon as they have a couple people together, so you can go whenever suits you during the opening times.
Location: Palermo, Sicily, Italy
When in Switzerland, it is almost impossible not to spend at least a little time in Zurich, and that’s not a bad thing. A stroll through the old town is always a good idea. In summer, we can recommend spending some time by the lake, for example at Rentenwiese. In winter, the city goes all out with its Christmas markets (if you’re not convinced yet, google: singing Christmas tree Zurich :) ).
Location: Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
We ended up going for a private boat tour which was awesome (though there are also many shared options if you’re looking for something cheaper). They took us to many beautiful spots for snorkeling, starfish spotting, as well as some really nice beaches. One unexpected highlight was the food. The captain prepared everything freshly on the boat for us, and then served it beautifully right at the beach of an island we basically had to ourselves.
Location: Port Barton, San Vincente, Palawan, Philippines
Staying at Dryft on Darocotan Island is a very unique experience. We stayed in one of their super cute “Hive Huts”, which are positioned such that you basically wake up at the beach and can start your snorkeling directly from there. The food is really good, the white sand is beautiful, and the staff is very kind. They also offer activities like yoga and pilates classes with a stunning view. Just note that these are not included in the price, but definitely worth trying. You can also rent stand up paddles, which is a nice way to explore the area. And of course the coolest part: you are on a small island, meaning you can go into full explorer mode and just try to discover all the beautiful spots Darocotan has to offer.
However, there are a couple things to be aware of: Except for one (the Lux Tipi) the rooms do not have private bathrooms. There is no Wi-Fi or phone signal (if you’re lucky you can catch some signal on the other side of the island), there is no card payment (cash, Revolut or Wise is possible), and there are no stores nearby, so bring everything you might need.
Pro tip: Go snorkeling on the other side of Dryft, there is a shipwreck right off the coast that you can swim to in about 5 minutes
Location: Darocotan Island, El Nido, Palawan, Philippines
The Puerto Princesa Subterranean River, also known as the Underground River, is one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You can book this independently, but we chose to book it through our hotel (the Four Points by Sheraton in Sabang) to reduce the hassle, since several permits and tickets are required. We paid around PHP 2’500 per person for the hotel organized tour and would do it the same way again.
On the day of the tour, a guide picked us up directly at the hotel and brought us to the Sabang Wharf. From there, you take a motor boat to a small island (which in and of itself is already beautiful) and wait a bit until you’re assigned a paddle boat.
The actual river tour is truly impressive. You are paddled through the cave for about 45 minutes, following an audio guide that explains what you are seeing along the way. Inside, it really feels like a river running through a cave. At some points, the cave opens up and feels incredibly high, easily 60+ meters. The rock formations are beautifully and uniquely shaped, and since it is pitch black inside, the boat paddler uses a headlamp to point out details and formations as you pass them. It is something very special and absolutely worth seeing.
Location: Sabang, Palawan, Philippines
Simple but lovely accommodation in Port Barton. While it’s not super luxurious, you somehow feel like the place is cared for with love. The host provides you with everything you might need (including shampoo, beach towels and even sunscreen), it’s clean and in a great location.
Pro tip: They can help you book (great!) boat tours directly at the reception.
Location: Port Barton, San Vincente, Palawan, Philippines
A bar with stunning views over the sea. The vibe is really nice, the drinks are good, and it is a really great spot for watching the sunset.
Pro tip: Getting there is kiinda funny. Google Maps was not really reliable for us so if you go by car or motorbike, we can recommend following Google Maps to Zurich Bread Cafe Layan. From there, directly opposite the cafe, you will find the entrance to the Pavilion hotel & residences, where the 360 Bar is located. Once inside, follow the signs to the parking spot. From there, a (very funny) buggy/car hybrid vehicle should pick you up and drive you up to the bar.
Location: , Phuket, Thailand
The “Rheinfall” can definitely be categorized as a “must see” of Switzerland. However, if you want a more fun way of exploring it try the Adventure Park. It’s a high rope park with 14 different courses for all levels. Zoë has tried it both when she was a kid and more recently as an adult and absolutely loved it both times, if that’s any indication.
Location: Neuhausen am Rheinfall, , Switzerland
The concept of this restaurant is “USA meets Italy”. It may sound weird, but actually works pretty well. It is one of the restaurants with the nicest ambiance in the city and one of our go to places. Right next to it, they also have a bar, and not gonna lie, we have definitely been there more often than we have been to the restaurant.
Pro tip: Try something from the hot stone section of their menu.
Location: St. Gallen, St. Gallen, Switzerland
The city of trulli, truly unique (and great for some cute instagram shots). If you walk around here in summer you might even bump into a soccer player or famous actor. And if you come here in December, it’s impossible not to get into Christmas mood.
Location: Alberobello, Puglia, Italy
In the center of Intramuros (right around the corner from the Bambike office) there is a super cute cafe we can recommend for breakfast: Royal Cafe. The coffee menu is surprisingly extensive and definitely worth exploring. We also tried the croissants and the raisin banana bread, both of which were really decent.
Location: Manila, Manila, Philippines
While you are staying in Port Barton, we highly recommend having aperitivo, dinner and/or drinks at Barton Bistro. We especially recommend the tuna tostadas, but honestly everything we tried was good (even the pizza was not bad, and that’s coming from Fede). The prices are super affordable, and the place is directly at the beach, so you can enjoy stunning views.
Location: Port Barton, San Vincente, Palawan, Philippines
Batala Bar is a super cute hybrid between a restaurant, bar and gelateria, right in the heart of Intramuros. They have very nice beers on tap, and while it is on the pricier side, the local food is simply lovely.
Pro tip: Try the Adobong Mestizo and Mama’s Tapa.
Location: Manila, Manila, Philippines
When in Phuket, there are few things we can recommend more than doing a boat trip. If you have the budget, go for a private tour with https://5starmarinephuket.com. If you want something a bit more affordable, https://simbaseatrips.com offers small group tours that are still much nicer than the big group options. In terms of destinations, most islands around Phuket are beautiful, but we usually prefer the slightly less touristy ones. Two favorites are Racha Yai Island (specifically Ko Racha Yai East Bay) and Koh Hey (especially Banana Beach).
Pro tip: On private or small group tours, you can usually ask the skippers to take you to less crowded spots, and they will know exactly where to go!
Location: , Phuket, Thailand
This is kind of an unusual place, but in the best way. A former locomotive storage, today the Lokremise hosts not only the restaurant Brasserie LOK but also a cinema, a theater and a spot for temporary art exhibitions. The food is very much French inspired which somehow fits the atmosphere perfectly. It is a bit on the pricier side but tastes good and the service we have experienced was excellent.
Location: St. Gallen, St. Gallen, Switzerland
At Cantine Florio you’ll basically get a wine degustation and a (really nice) history lesson in one. Their highlight is the Marsala wine, which really only comes from this region and is a sweet fortified wine that is very much worth trying.
Pro tip: Watch The Lions of Sicily (we watched it on Disney+) beforehand for some maximum preparation.
Location: Marsala, Sicily, Italy
If you want insanely good food, this may not be the right place for you. However, if you’re okay with decent local food, this place is absolutely worth it. Essentially, it’s a restaurant at the top of the mountain that spins around itself – slow enough to let you fully enjoy all of the stunning 360 degrees of views.
Pro tip: Reserve a couple of days in advance, as it can get quite busy, especially during summer.
Location: Altstätten, St. Gallen, Switzerland
Beautiful vineyards that offer degustations. You start with a surprisingly insightful tour, especially interesting because grapes here have to grow very differently due to the specific weather conditions. Afterwards, you get more than enough wine and food to go with it. The wine has a very special taste (in a good way) thanks to the volcanic terroir so absolutely worth a try.
Location: , Santorini, Greece
Probably our favorite thing to do on our entire Chiang Mai / Chiang Rai trip. Grandma’s Home Cooking School is a really cute little farm that offers cooking classes for local Thai dishes. It’s a super fun (and tasty!) way of getting to know the local cuisine.
Good to know: They do things like the ingredient preparation and washing up for you, meaning you’re only left with the most fun parts of cooking. Perfect even for people who usually don’t like to cook.
Location: , Chiang Mai, Thailand
One of the few hikes Zoë has actually done. It is one of the more well known destinations, but for a good reason. The nature is stunning, the trails are nice and mostly not too difficult. This is a good option if you want a relatively easy and quick hike that still shows off the stunning nature Switzerland has to offer (I even did one of the trails in sneakers, although hiking boots are definitely more recommended). You have a few options for how to do it: you can hike up and down, take the cable car for one way, or even take it for both ways and just hike around the lake.
Pro tip: Make sure to at least walk by the Berggasthaus Äscher. It’s a super cute, very traditional restaurant and guesthouse built into the side of a cliff and just absolutely iconic.
Location: Wasserauen, Appenzell, Switzerland
We only spent about 20 hours in Manila, but if there is one thing we can really recommend, it is visiting Intramuros, the old Spanish quarter (which was recommended to us by a Filipino friend). We spontaneously booked the express bike tour with Bambike, and it turned out to be a great way to explore this historic area.
Our tour guide, Paolo, was super knowledgeable and shared a lot of interesting historical background as well as fun facts. Everything was very well organized, the bikes were in good condition, and the ride itself was easy and enjoyable. The express tour took about 90 minutes, included a refreshing drink and ice cream, and cost USD 25 for adults and USD 12.50 for students. They also offer many other tours, which are definitely worth checking out.
Alternatively, you can also easily walk through Intramuros on your own. You might just need to look up some of the historical background yourself along the way. Around Intramuros, you will also find plenty of tuk tuk drivers offering tours, although we did not try that option. Overall, this was the one area in Manila where we felt quite safe.
Location: Manila, Manila, Philippines
When we saw how affordable the Le Méridien in Chiang Rai was, we could not pass it up… and it did not disappoint! Our room was huge, modern, and had a super nice terrace with more or less direct pool access. The pool itself is beautiful, the breakfast is great (they make you fresh Thai milk tea!!), there is a really nice bar, and the service is outstanding. It is not the most central location, but since we were sightseeing in the wider area around Chiang Rai anyway, that didn’t really matter to us.
Location: , Chiang Rai, Thailand
Our favorite beach close to Bari, very unique as there is an old castle on the left. You can either find yourself a spot on the free beach or pay €20-50 (heavily depends on the season) to get two sun beds and an umbrella at the beach club.
Location: Bari, Monopoli, Puglia, Italy
Impossible to describe in few lines! A city that must be experienced by interacting with locals and Fede 😂 Make sure you visit the old town (Bari vecchia), especially the arch where the old ladies prepare fresh orecchiette and pasta (say hi to Nunzia from us!). The cathedral of San Nicola and the castle (Castello Svevo) are also worth a visit.
Location: Bari, Puglia, Italy
We usually prefer slower, more selective sightseeing, but here we did a full 180 and packed everything into one very full day, and it was absolutely worth it. The tour we did was something like this https://www.getyourguide.com/chiang-rai-l913/chiang-rai-7-major-sites-golden-triangle-tea-plantation-t810479/?ranking_uuid=085488c6-c212-4c7d-a0eb-981d8eebfcdd. It included hotel pick up and transportation to all our destinations – White Temple, Blue Temple, Black House, Golden Triangle, the northernmost point of Thailand, Karen Hilltribe Village, Chui Fong Tea Plantation, and the Opium Museum – all guided by a local. The thing is, while all of these places are absolutely worth seeing, they are (unsurprisingly) also very touristy and can get extremely crowded (especially the White Temple). That’s why it ended up being a really good idea to do everything in one go; there are many things to see, but we found that around one hour per stop was actually enough.
Location: , Chiang Rai, Thailand
Trottinettle is the Swiss word for riding a scooter (the old school where the only motor is your foot). And this is something that many mountain places offer as a more fun alternative to get down the mountain. One we have tried recently is the one on the mountain Hoher Kasten, starting from the Gasthaus Ruhesitz. You can either hike up (will take around 1h 10 min) or take the cable car up to Hoher Kasten, from where you can hike down (around 50 min). While it’s a bit more tedious, we’d recommend the latter because in addition to the fun way down you’ll also get to enjoy some stunning views. Once you arrive at Ruhesitz, simply go into the restaurant and tell them you’d like to rent a scooter (or “i wür gern e Trottinett miete” in Swiss German), then just follow the street all the way down and most importantly: enjooooooy!!
Pro tip: Combine with a breakfast or lunch at the Panoramarestaurant.
Location: Altstätten, St. Gallen, Switzerland