Turning 45 in Paradise: My Solo Trip to the Dominican Republic

For my 45th birthday, I gifted myself something that didn’t come wrapped in a bow - I gifted myself peace, freedom, and the thrill of exploring a beautiful island solo. I booked a flight to Punta Cana, Dominican Republic via Frontier Airlines, and traded those freezing Philadelphia temperatures for calm waves, warm sunshine, and time to pause and reflect.

This wasn’t just a vacation to celebrate my 45th birthday - it was a celebration of how far I’ve come and the woman I continue to become.

Why Punta Cana?

Punta Cana Airport

I wanted somewhere warm, relaxing, and easy to navigate alone. Punta Cana just kept popping up on all of my socials “for you” pages, it was the sign I needed to look further into visiting this island. Not to mention, the beaches looked stunning, the culture inviting, and something about it just felt like it would be a good decision! I chose to stay in the Bávaro area, away from the big resorts but still close to everything I needed, especially the beach.

The Airbnb Vibe

I stayed in a cozy Airbnb just a short walk from the beach. It was clean, safe, and it came with all the amenities this solo traveler needed — it was definitely the kind of space where you wake up feeling refreshed. It gave me the perfect blend of comfort and freedom. I could explore at my own pace, cook if I wanted, or just sit on the balcony with a cigar and soak up the moment, something I did every night before bed. Also, at this Airbnb, I was able to have the space decorated for my special day. I told them my favorite colors, and they took care of all the rest.

Details on the Airbnb:

https://www.airbnb.com/l/agGg1j8Z

Exploring Punta Cana, My Way

Prior to my arrival, I booked all of my excursions via Viator. I had something planned for every day that I was there, except for Saturday because I knew I would want to sleep in after celebrating my 45th birthday at Dinner in the Sky. But, when I arrived, the transportation service I used had a travel agent onsite that was able to help me save a few dollars on the Saona Beach tour. So, when you’re booking your excursions, make sure they’re refundable, so if an opportunity comes where you’re able to save some money, you can take advantage of the savings.

I did the following excursions during my stay in Punta Cana:

Punta Cana Half-Day Montana Redonda Adventure with Hotel Pick Up - This excursion was absolutely breathtaking. You take a 4x4 up into the mountains to capture these amazing views. Also, while up in the mountains, I had a typical Dominican lunch that was very tasty. After lunch, I met with one of the photographers who captured the images of me below.

Dinner in the Sky - This was truly an experience that I can honestly say, once was enough for me. It was overpriced and the portions were small. But, again, it’s an experience and if you’re able to take advantage of the opportunity, I definitely would add this to the Things to Do in Punta Cana list.

And, for this outing, I hired a local MUA to get me all the way together, lol - I posted an ad on my IG account prior to my arrival and got a lot of messages and referrals. Yolainy Rondon was referred to me and she was amazing; she was punctual, prepared, and I was highly satisfied with the end result.

Saona Island Full Day Tour - This was a fun tour! Your first stop was to a natural pool where we had unlimited servings of rum and coke, followed by a photo shoot in the water, if you were interested. From there we went to Saona Island for a buffet style lunch and some free time on the beach. Everything moved fairly quickly, I feel like, most of the time was taken up in travel. But this excursion is definitely a must!

I did book an excursion to Monkeyland, but it was cancelled, due to the date falling on the same day that the doctors were scheduled to visit. Next time!

Reflections at 45

Turning 45 solo in another country wasn’t something I ever thought I would be doing a decade ago - But, at the end of the day, it’s exactly where I was meant to be, exploring the world on my own terms. This trip reminded me that solo doesn’t necessarily mean lonely. It means free. It means strong. It means showing up for yourself in ways that no one else can.

I thought about everything I’ve overcome, what I’ve built, and the woman I’ve grown into. I toasted myself (with Brugal rum, of course) and promised to keep showing up with the same boldness that has gotten me to the point where I am today in life.

Final Thoughts

Solo travel continues to be one of the most liberating gifts I can ever give myself. This trip wasn’t about escaping anything; it was about returning to me. And if you’ve ever considered taking a solo trip, especially for your birthday, I’d say go for it. Book the flight. Sip a drink or two, but don’t overindulge. Take the photo or many photos. And, if you’re like me, and love a good cigar … light the cigar!

You deserve every bit of joy you can give yourself, because who knows you, better than you?! Nobody.

Travel Tips for Solo Women Visiting Punta Cana:

• Stay near Bávaro Beach – It’s scenic, safe, and very easy to navigate.

• Use WhatsApp to communicate with local hosts or drivers. WhatsApp is the go-to app. It’ll be heavily used during your stay and if you do any excursions, your host or photographer will use the app to transfer any literature or photos to you for review.

• Airbnb Tips – Read recent reviews, view the photos, and look for places not only hosted by “super hosts”, but also places listed as a “guest favorite”.

• Resort vs Airbnb - I originally booked my stay at the Royalton Chic, but I changed to an Airbnb, because I didn’t need the all-inclusive price tag. As a solo traveler, I knew I wouldn’t need the unlimited drinks or all the food options. Switching to an Airbnb cut my accommodation bill in half and what I saved, I put towards my excursions and the local spots I dined.

• Transportation - Local taxis or pre-arranged drivers work best; Uber is limited. That’s why I pre-arranged my transportation with Shuttle Central; they were very efficient getting me to and from the Punta Cana airport.

• Language - Spanish is the primary language spoken in the Dominican Republic, therefore a few Spanish phrases go a long way and Google Translate will definitely be your best friend during your entire stay. Just listen and be patient, because at the end of the day, both you and the person you’re communicating with are learning.

• Photography - How does a solo traveler capture all of their memories?! Simple! Most excursions come with a team of photographers that are trained to get you at every angle … And, if not, there’s always your host or the other guests on your tour that can help take photos, in exchange you can take their photos.

• Bring your confidence - Walk like you know where you’re going, because at the end of the day, you’ve done your homework! Any place that I visit, you would think that I live there … I get my directions before I head out and I just enjoy my time out exploring.

Contact Information:

For any inquiries, please feel free to reach out to me via e-mail at thiswomantravels@yahoo.com or you can follow me on Instagram @iam_jennifer.

The Best Personal Item Bags for Frontier Airlines

TikTok has been buzzing lately because Frontier passengers are being made to pay an extra $100 before they can board, if their personal item does not meet Frontier’s size requirements.

According to Frontier’s website, “personal items must not exceed 14 inches in height, 8 inches in width, and 18 inches in length”.

As a frequent traveler with Frontier Airlines, I’ve witnessed this firsthand. In most cases, travelers will just pay the extra $100 to get it over with and be done, while others will remove the items that they need the most, and just leave the bag behind so they can board their flight.

It wasn’t until recently that I started taking advantage of Frontier’s inexpensive flights, that I wanted to maximize my savings even more by traveling with only a personal item bag. The two bags that I’m sharing in this blog have been my family’s go-to bags for quick trips that are no more than three days in length.

Amazon’s TPRC 15-Inch Smart Under Seat Carry-On Luggage with USB Charging Port
$52.74

I found this bag on Amazon, and it passes the Frontier personal item test with no problems! This bag is pretty basic, but it definitely serves it purpose. The highlight of this bag is its USB charging port, which comes in handy when you’re waiting in an area where all of the charging ports/outlets are in use. If you don’t already have one, you will also need to purchase a portable charging bank for this bag, which you can also find on Amazon for under $10.

London Fog’s 15-Inch Queensbury Under The Seat Bag
$79.99 - $129.99

This is my all-time favorite bag that I found unexpectedly at Burlington Coat Factory for $79.99. The bag is sturdy and moves with no issues on carpet or tiled floors. The retractable handle drops into its compartment and then you’re able to carry the bag by its handles. The bag is also very versatile. I also found this bag in other color options for a little higher at other retailers, such as Kohl’s and Macy’s. The bag comes with more than enough interior and external compartments for your clothes, shoes, jewelry, and personal hygiene items. This bag can also slide down on top of your carry-on’s retractable handle.

In conclusion, these bags do meet Frontier’s requirements, but you cannot overpack these bags. Overpacking will drastically change the dimensions of the bag, resulting in your bag not fitting in their sizer. Your bag must be able to enter and exit the sizer with little to no assistance. And, if you’re unsure if your bag is going to pass the test, you can always test your bag at any available sizer prior to boarding.

Contact Information:

For any inquiries, please feel free to reach out to me via e-mail at thiswomantravels@yahoo.com.

This Woman Travels to Saddlehill Winery - Voorhees, NJ

Saddlehill Winery was not on my winery radar until I came across a post on Facebook of a woman looking to get a group of ladies together to visit on a Saturday afternoon … Of course, I commented that I would be interested in joining because I’ve never visited Saddlehill before, but that quickly changed to me wanting to go on a solo mission after doing a little homework and finding out that Saddlehill Winery had recently opened and the locals were raving about their wines and the alpacas that live on the grounds!

To prepare for my visit, I visited the Saddlehill Winery website where I learned more about the winery and how to plan ahead for my visit.

Since I’ve never tried any of their wines, I opted to reserve a spot for their 1 PM wine tasting, which costs $25, but required a $10 deposit to secure your spot online. Balance is to be paid upon completion of your wine tasting. And, to complete the experience, I made lunch reservations an hour after the start of my wine tasting in their dining room.

I arrived at the winery at 1 PM.

I walked over to the podium to be checked in and from there I was shown the bar area. I walked over to the bar and I was greeted by Lisa who was very welcoming and ready to share all of her knowledge about Saddlehill and their 16 wines …

Lisa asked me about my preference in wine and I shared that I enjoy both the sweet and fruity wines. She gave her recommendations and from their I opted to taste the following six wines for my wine tasting:

• Sauvignon Blanc was not one of my favorites, it was on the dry side.

• Starflower has a great taste, very refreshing, and perfect for the summer!

• Rosato was one that I had high hopes for, because I was looking for a rosé replacement … This rosé was very dry and it just didn’t do anything for me, but it may work for someone else, just not me …

• Raspberry was very delicious! It has the perfect amount of tartness, I loved it!

• Blueberry was a miss for me … I could taste the blueberry, but it didn’t have that tartness that I enjoy in a blueberry wine.

• Vinho de Sobremesa was definitely a fave, so much so, that I ordered it with my wine flight at lunch.

For $20, I ordered a wine flight that came with (4) 2 ounce pours of your faves or you could order one that already had the wines preselected. I ordered three that I enjoyed from the wine tasting and one that I wasn’t too sure on, but ended up enjoying at lunch.

For my wine flight, I ordered the following:

• Starflower

• Raspberry

• Mead is a honey wine that I thought would pair nicely with the salmon I ordered and it did …

• Vinho de Sobremesa

From the wine tasting to lunch was a smooth transition …

For lunch, I ordered their arancini, as an appetizer. For my entree, I ordered their salmon which came with roasted brussel sprouts and sweet potatoes. And for dessert, I ordered their apple strudel with a scoop of their vanilla gelato.

I truly enjoyed both the arancini and the salmon with my wine flight. Portion size was good, along with the food’s temperature. I did not care for the apple strudel, it just wasn’t anything to rave about …

After lunch, I walked the grounds and found the alpacas, a horse, a pony, a few sheep, and some chickens.

This is not a petting zoo.

The animals are there to look at, not to be fed or to pet. But, it was nice, because this is the first winery I’ve ever visited that had animals living on its grounds.

My experience at Saddlehill Winery was an enjoyable one, because I got to do everything that I wanted to do at my own pace on a beautiful, Saturday afternoon.

Contact Information:

For any inquiries, please feel free to reach out to me via e-mail at thiswomantravels@yahoo.com.

The Best Instagram Accounts to Follow if You’re Planning a Trip to Philadelphia

Here’s a list of my favorite Instagram accounts to follow if you’re planning to do anything in Philadelphia, in no particular order …

These content creators will tell you everything there is to know about Philadelphia … If it’s happening in the city, one of these content creators will definitely be spilling the tea!

I plan to build on this list, so check back from time to time to see if this list has been updated.

@fullonphilly

@thelonebruncher

@tasteofphl

@happyhour.philly

@phillyfoodladies

@josheatsphilly

@dietstartstomorrow.phl

@cass_andthecity

@phlbucketlist

Contact Information:

For any inquiries, please feel free to reach out to me via e-mail at thiswomantravels@yahoo.com.

Going solo?! 7 Travel Tips Every Woman Should Know

As a solo traveler, these are the top five questions that I often get asked when it comes to traveling solo.

What made you want to start traveling solo?

When you travel solo, you get to see the world at your own pace … There’s no one there to rush you along, you get to do all of the things that you want to do without hearing any complaints from others, and you get to reconnect with yourself!

Do you worry about safety?

No, not at all! Just like things can happen in your hometown, things can happen anywhere … you can’t live your life in fear! But, I will say this, I won’t travel to any country that’s listed as a level 3 or higher on the government travel advisories website. Level 3 is advising travelers to reconsider their travel plans, while level 4 says in plain language, do not travel. Say no more …

Isn’t it expensive to travel alone?

Travel doesn’t have to be expensive … I hate to admit this, but I stay on the Frontier Airlines app, constantly looking for flight deals out of Philadelphia International Airport. And, I’ve been pretty successful … I was able to book a roundtrip flight to Orlando for $50; I got a flight from San Juan, Puerto Rico to St Thomas USVI for $21. In regards to the accommodations, I’ll do a Google search to find hotels in the area and then I’ll book directly with the hotels and if the rates aren’t to my liking, I’ll find a nice a condo or home through Airbnb or VRBO.

How do you find things to do alone?

Your first source for recommendations will always come from friends/family that have visited your destination in the past. Once I get all of their recommendations, I’ll make a list and look into each one of their recommendations. From there, I will check out Viator, TripAdvisor, Groupon, Living Social, and even Airbnb — Airbnb has an experiences tab that has a lot of cool things listed for you try out! Everything listed on the apps are rated and come with plenty of reviews to help you narrow things down for your solo experience!

And the last question is always, do you have any tips that you can share that will help me to be able to plan/take my first solo trip?

And, these are the seven tips that I always share …

Do your homework.

Ask yourself, why do I want to visit? Did a friend recently return from a trip raving about all the fun that they had? Or, are you like me?! And, something popped up on your social media feed that sparked your interest. Know where you’re going and what they have to offer, because you’ll be absolutely miserable if you fly out somewhere and it’s not the vibe you thought it was going to be …

Know where you’re staying.

Don’t be sold on the pictures alone, because a lot of the listings today have filters … Like, who would’ve thought?! But, yes, a lot of filtered pics to mask wall and furniture imperfections. So, take your time, and look for places that are close to the attractions that you’re going to check out. Allow Google to be your best friend when researching neighborhoods and things like that … And, once you’ve narrowed down your top picks to stay, read the most recent reviews, along with those 1 star reviews, and compare. Sometimes starting out as an Airbnb host, there will be a couple of issues … What you’re looking to see happen, is whether or not the host took those reviews and made the necessary changes for future guests. If changes were made, you can consider that Airbnb as a potential accommodation for your upcoming trip.

Pack for the occasion.

Whenever I’m traveling solo, I match my outfits up to my itinerary, nothing more, nothing less … Extra undergarments and socks, if anything!

Bring back up.

Bring cash, credit cards, and a fully charged power bank, because you just never know …

The cash is for emergencies or for when cash is the only accepted form of payment. Not to mention, if you ever find yourself visiting a place that doesn’t have a reliable internet connection, having the cash on hand allows you to be able to settle your tab without any worries … this goes for hotel stays, too!

Create an airtight itinerary and stick to it.

The best thing you can do as a solo traveler is plan out your day from beginner to end - your itinerary should include all meals, activities, and any time not accounted for … Once completed, save it and share with a close relative or friend, just to be on the safe side. Stick to your itinerary and if you should find that you’re off schedule or you need to make a change, update your close relative or friend, so they’re aware …

Know how you’re getting around.

If you’re like me, coming from a major city, you have many options when it comes to getting around … But, where you’re visiting that may not be the case - they may have Uber and not Lyft or the other way around … or they may have neither as an option! I’ll use St Thomas, as an example — they didn’t have Uber or Lyft on the island, they rely heavily on their taxi system. With Uber or Lyft, you expect to pay for the ride itself, whereas in St Thomas, you are charged a fee, per person - in most cases this fee was to be paid in cash, because a lot of the cab drivers didn’t have access to a card reader.

Do not overindulge.

Overindulging in alcohol, not food! I’m a foodie, so a lot of the places I visit, I’m visiting because I saw a few cool TikToks and I read a lot of amazing reviews that had me wanting to fly out to the check them out the next day! It’s okay to have a drink or two with your meal, but know your limit/tolerance level, because you’re alone and you just never know who’s watching you … And, this also goes without saying, never leave your drink unattended … if you leave it, when you return consider it trash!

Traveling solo is an experience you will never forget … so don’t waste another minute trying to decide, just do it, and let the good times roll!

Contact Information:

For any inquiries, please feel free to reach out to me via e-mail at thiswomantravels@yahoo.com.

A Woman Alone in Vegas?! Here's What Really Happened

This isn’t my first-time visiting Las Vegas, but this is definitely my first-time visiting as a solo traveler on a daycation after finding a day pass offer on the ResortPass app.

The cost of this roundtrip flight from Philadelphia was $86 with Frontier’s Denver pass. And, since this was a day trip, all I needed was my personal item, which is free when you fly with Frontier airlines.

And also, as crazy as it sounds to travel from Philadelphia to Las Vegas to hang out poolside … you do get some of your travel time back, because of the three-hour time difference. My flight from Philadelphia left at 7:24 AM and I arrived in Las Vegas at 9:30 AM. But I will say it does suck returning, because granted I had a 9 PM flight with about 5 hours flight time — my arrival time in Philadelphia was 5:05 AM.

Month Traveled: May

Weather: Sunny, 95 degrees

Where I Visited:

There were a number of hotels that came up on the ResortPass app for Las Vegas, but after reviewing all of the reviews and the amenities offered for the day, I selected Virgin Hotels. Virgin Hotels was rated a 9.0 out of 10 and the pass included access to their outdoor pools, hydrotherapy pool, sauna, hot tub, relaxation lounge, and a locker room with showers.

My Thoughts on Virgin Hotels:

I did not stay overnight, so I can’t speak on the rooms at Virgin Hotels, but I can share my thoughts on the layout of the property, the restaurants, the staff, and the amenities I did get to experience with my day pass.

The grounds are immaculate, nothing was out of place - I truly felt like I was in a good place. From the center, you can see their restaurants, pools, and bars. Everything was very accessible and if you had any questions, it wasn’t hard to find a friendly face ready to point you in the right direction.

If you would like to book a stay at this hotel, click here and if you would like more information on the day pass I found on ResortPass, click here!

What I Did:

I arrived in Las Vegas at 9:30 AM and from there I went to the ridesharing pick up location to request my Uber. The ride from the airport to the Virgin Hotels was less than 10 minutes.

Since I was a little early, I walked around the casino floor, before heading out back to the pool area. From there, I was able to locate the restaurant I had reservations for at 11 AM.

After my brief walk, I headed up to the spa to get all of my questions answered, since this was my first time using the ResortPass app or purchasing a day pass for any hotel/spa. The attendant at the front desk was very pleasant and introduced me to the attendant, Tiffany, who would be giving me a tour of the spa. From the tour, I was able to see the hydrotherapy pool, jacuzzi, sauna, showers, and the locker room.

Since I had reservations for Casa Calavera at 11 AM, I stored by belongings in the locker and headed down to the restaurant for brunch.

For more information on Casa Calavera, just scroll down to the “Where I Dined” section of this blog.

After brunch, I headed back up to the spa to change into my swimwear and to grab my journal.

Hotel guests use their room keys to access the pool, but with the day pass, you just show security your day pass by on the app and from there you’re granted access.

Pass the gate and down the steps, you instantly feel like you’re walking onto the beach. Plenty of loungers around the perimeter of the pool, all first come, first serve. And, since I was early, that wasn’t a problem!

Once I got comfortable, I ordered a Paloma and had it delivered poolside. Wait time was to be expected and the server was pleasant.

After I finished my Paloma, I headed into the pool and the temperature was perfect, not too cold, and not too warm — it was refreshing, to say the least … And, let me also add, the pool had a sandy bottom … so, you literally feel like you’re at the beach without getting beat up by the waves!

I hung out at the outdoor pool for a couple of hours, before heading back up to spa. The spa closes at 6 PM, so I wanted to have enough time to check out their hydrotherapy pool and to also take a shower, before leaving to head back home.

The jets in the hydrotherapy pool were perfect for my lower back, I was in heaven. I spent a good amount of time there, before heading over to the shower to end my daycation.

I would also like to add, I visited the Virgin Hotels on a Saturday and I was the only one in the hydrotherapy pool, before a couple of ladies joined me. This spa isn’t congested, like some I’ve been to. You can truly relax here.

Where I Dined:

Since this was supposed to be a daycation at the Virgin Hotels, I made sure I didn’t have to leave the property for any reason. I researched all of the available eateries at the hotel and this is what I found and to ensure that I didn’t have any issues, the first restaurant allowed you to reserve a table via OpenTable which I did for 11 AM.

• Casa Calavera: Casa Calavera serves a traditional Mexican cuisine. Granted I was there for brunch, I was able to order items from both their brunch and lunch/dinner menus. Since I’m all for the experience, I ordered their La Piña margarita to start, followed by their Paloma. I love to eat grapefruit, so the Paloma is always a favorite for me - it’s just so refreshing on a hot, sunny day! For my appetizer, I ordered their queso fundido, which came with chips, salsa, and tortillas. For my entree, I ordered their chorizo and egg tacos, three came in an order. And, for my dessert, I ordered their Abuelita’s Brownie Pie! I love chocolate! Everything I ordered was well seasoned and delicious! I will definitely visit again!

• Pizza Forte: I found Pizza Forte on the first floor of the hotel towards the back. The website stated that they had NY style pizza, so before I left to head back to airport, I grabbed a slice of their combination pizza, and it was very good.

To get more information about restaurants I visited, just click on the hyperlinks links above.

How I Got Around:

I used Uber to get around during my time in Las Vegas.

Contact Information:

For any inquiries, please feel free to reach out to me via e-mail at thiswomantravels@yahoo.com.

Deep Dish & Deeper Thoughts: Exploring Chicago Alone with No Regrets

This was my first-time visiting Chicago and I managed to visit the following in less than 8 hours - Millenium Park, Shoreline Architecture Boat Tour, Giordano’s Pizza, and the 360 Chicago Observation Deck.

I’m always finding cheap flights with Frontier — The cost of this roundtrip flight was less than $50 with Frontier’s Denver pass. Short trips like this never require a carry on, so I can always get by with my free personal item bag!

Month Traveled: May

Weather: Sunny, 75 degrees

Where I Stayed:

I stayed at the Arlo Chicago, formerly known as Hotel Julian, located at 168 N Michigan Avenue.

My Thoughts on the Arlo Chicago:

As a solo traveler, I’m always looking for hotels that are centrally located with excellent reviews. All of the Arlo reviews I found were 5/5 for cleanliness, location, service, and value. And, I concur! The room was clean and the bed was extremely comfy - the pillows just swallowed my head! The room came with a fridge and complementary water. Also, in the room was a robe and some Arlo slides for a fee. The location was perfect, because it was within walking distance to Millennium Park and some other great sights! The service I received at both check-in/out was great! Also, I was able to leave my bag at check out which helped me out tremendously, because I didn’t have to bring it along with me when I did my activities.

If you would like to book a stay at this hotel, click here for more information!

Where I Dined:

Before heading out to Chicago, I did my homework and found that Chicago is best known for their deep-dish pizzas, Italian beef sandwiches, and hot dogs. Since I love a good pizza, it was a no-brainer for me to research who had the best pizza near Michigan Avenue. I got lucky when I found Giordano’s, located at 130 E Randolph Street. This pizzeria was literally only a block over from the Arlo Hotel.

• Giordano’s : I ordered their Classic Chicago deep dish pizza, personal size. And, since the wait time on their pizza is 45 minutes to an hour, I ordered their Italian beef and giardiniera stuffed risotto balls served with beef au jus and marinara to help pass some of the time. And, let me tell you, when it all came out … The food was delicious! I give both a 10/10 😚🤌🏾

What I Did:

Before I decide on what I want to do, I always use social media, as a tool to help me plan things out. My go to platforms are TikTok and Instagram, because not only do I get a video, in most cases - I also get to read the thoughts and opinions of others, which is extremely helpful. And from there, I go to the Viator app to book my activities. I enjoy using the Viator app, because it gives me the flexibility I need to book. Whether I’m looking to pay now or later or over time with either PayPal or Affirm, the payment options are there. So, you never have to feel stressed about planning an activity.

• Millenium Park - I visited the park, before I went on my architecture boat tour. The purpose of visiting the park was to see The Bean (Cloud Gate), but the area where it sits remains under construction.

• Chicago Architecture River Cruise: I truly enjoyed this 60-minute activity by Shoreline Sightseeing, because the tour guide was very informative about Chicago’s architecture and its waterways. I will say, I started the tour seated in one of the chairs. But, once the tour got going, I moved over to the rails and sat on the bench that stored the life jackets for a more unobstructed view from the other passengers standing or moving about on the boat.

• 360 Chicago Observation Deck Sip and View: Like any other observation deck, the tour always starts with a brief history about the building and how it all came to be. And, in my opinion, the history of a building is always pretty interesting, because there’s always something cool to learn. After the brief history, you follow the line to have your picture taken, then off you go to the 94th floor to see the 360 degree view of Chicago!

Disclaimer: If you should decide to book an activity using any of my links, I will receive a small percentage from the total of any activities booked.

How I Got Around:

I used Lyft to get around during my stay in Chicago.

Contact Information:

For any inquiries, please feel free to reach out to me via e-mail at thiswomantravels@yahoo.com.

Solo en San Juan: Island Vibes, Rum Punch & Self-Discovery

I love visiting Puerto Rico so much, that this time my stay on the island was for less than 24 hours and I enjoyed every minute …

With less than 24 hours to work with I did everything I could, because I was flying out of San Juan and heading to St Thomas USVI at 2:30 PM the next day. And, since this is an informative travel blog, I opted to fly out of San Juan because the cost of the flight was only $21 with Frontier’s Denver pass. I couldn’t beat the price and the flight time between the two islands was less than 20 minutes.

Where I Stayed:

Normally, I would book a room at the Residence Inn in Isla Verde, but this time around, I opted to book an Airbnb in Hato Rey. Location is everything when I book a stay and this Airbnb was about 15 minutes from the Luis Munoz Marin International Airport, 10 minutes from Santurce, and about the same amount of time to get to Isla Verde in the morning for brunch.

The Airbnb was separate from the main home and was located in the rear of the property on the 2nd floor. This Airbnb was also gated, and the host provided a key fob for easier access to get on and off the property.

My Thoughts on the Airbnb:

As a solo traveler, I’m always looking for safe and cozy accommodations and this Airbnb definitely exceeded my expectations. It was a one-bedroom apartment with all of the necessary amenities for a pleasant stay. The apartment was clean, and the layout was perfect for my short stay.

The only con about this Airbnb is its location - the highway is nearby, and you get all of the highway noise. If you don’t have any issues sleeping, you’ll be fine. But, if you need complete silence, you’ll be signing yourself up for a sleepless night.

If you would like to book a stay at this Airbnb, click here for more information!

Where I Dined:

Whenever I travel, I usually have a list of restaurants on my bucket list to try, but since I arrived late, I revisited a couple of my favorites.

• San Juan Smokehouse - La Placita Santurce: When I dine here, I always order their brisket - This time I ordered their brisket taco, along with their pork belly bacon taco with watermelon chunks. Both tacos were flavorful and absolutely delicious. San Juan Smokehouse also has a bar that makes great drinks, so I had their rum punch.

• Bistro Cafe: Brunchin’ is my favorite thing to do, so when I visited Bistro Cafe last month it instantly became one of my favorites! Just like the last time, I had to order their Gaucho omelet again. The Gaucho is packed with churrasco, plantains, spinach, veggies, and feta! And it’s that good!

How I Got Around:

I used Uber to get around and each ride was about $10-15, tip included.

Contact Information:

For any inquiries, please feel free to reach out to me via e-mail at thiswomantravels@yahoo.com.