City Life – FROM TAMPA TO [ ]

London — My first solo hostel trip

“Juan, you’re going to London,” loosely read a meeting invite on my work email. An excitedly grateful reply ensued, followed by a question to myself — “how can I make the most of this trip?” I had to stay the weekend. I had to do the most.

“We’re sorry” money from a few complaints and “thank you” money from volunteering to stay an extra night to salvage an overbooked flight got me to London for free when I was in college. Expectations were higher this time around. Thanks, Delta.

All I needed was a place to stay, a (small) budget to burn, a local to take me on a proper night out, and the willingness to explore new places on my own. Right on, sis’.

A Tiny Bed in Big London

Location, location, location — and what a location. Four stops north of Green Park station on the Jubilee line of the underground, about twenty minutes from Buckingham Palace. I had never heard of “Swiss Cottage” before this trip, but it added a nice ring to the name of the hostel I found on Hostelworld.com. Never having stayed at a hostel before, I wondered how this 10-bed shared room situation would work. Turns out I sleep more soundly when spending only $20 a night for a bed.

Everything about Palmer’s Lodge Swiss Cottage was pleasant. The free Wi-Fi. The pristine bathrooms and showers. The monitored luggage storage room. The vibe of the crowd at the bar stumbling back into the hostel after midnight. I might never book a room at a hotel again — at least when traveling solo.

Ballin’ on a (Small) Budget

I had roughly two months to save, from the end of July till the second week of October. A few Yelp searches and my cheap hostel snatch brought me to an estimated $300 for the days I would be on my own — after business ended and leisure started. That was accounting for a couple nights out — mischief had to be managed.

Hostel: $67 after taxes and fees (three nights at $20/night)
Oyster Card (for the underground): $60 (I went all over that city)
Noms: $200 for two brunches, two dinners, one lunch, one late night recovery meal, couple o’ beer breaks, daily coffee and dessert break (hungry boy was out to play)
Nighttime activities: $70 Friday night out in Soho, Saturday night out near Trafalgar Square and in Camden, Uber back to hostel (definitely did the most)
Ghost Bus Tour: $33 for a one-hour tour (unexpectedly worth it)
Plane Ticket: priceless (work covered the airfare, but one-stop tickets for a five-day weekend in London from Atlanta to London go for as low as $585 on KAYAK Explore)

GRAND TOTAL: $430 (overbudget BUT my godmother gave me €100 as a college graduation present so I was shy of $50 overbudget)

Note: 1 U.S. dollar was worth roughly 0.78 British pounds during my trip.

Doing the Most in a Few Days

Friday

A hot date for my solo lunch in Central London.

First day off work. It was just the two of us — a small town boy and a megacity. Left the hotel I was staying at for work before noon. Headed to Swiss Cottage station to drop my luggage at the hostel.

Treated myself to lunch at Duck & Waffle. Walked all over Central London, north and south of the Thames. Met up with my friend Charley in Soho to pre-game at The Cock Tavern before cheeky mischief at Simmons Bar. Indulged on Chinese takeout from Chopstix. Crashed at Charley’s place.

Saturday

Boogieing at Made in Brasil in Camden Town with my gal pal Charley. Mischief managed.

Woke up in Balham. Walked to MILK for a delightful brunch in Charley’s neighborhood. Finally checked into the hostel after almost losing my reservation for not showing up the day before. Took a nap before exploring the Hampstead area. Satisfied my crêpe craving at La Crêperie de Hampstead. Did an unplanned pumpkin hunt at Fenton House before an unplanned trip to Camden Town. Light souvenir shopping before coffee and dessert at Caffè Nero.

Sunday

Orange blossom macaron on the Millennium Bridge moments before the TATE Modern.

In the mood for a chill solo day. Woke up in time for an early lunch at Nando’s near King’s Cross Station. Explored Platform 9 ¾ before walking across to St. Pancra’s Station.

Pit stop at Ladurée for much needed macarons. Tube ride to St. Paul’s Cathedral — absolutely breathtaking from inside. Stroll through Millennium Bridge, past the giant Harry Potter wands, on the way to TATE Modern. Three hour stay at the museum, featuring rooftop views and sunset brews. Table for one at The Grazing Goat. Early night in to prepare for the flight back home.

This weekend getaway made the world feel so small. I felt exhilarated and energized at all times. Being alone in a foreign environment got me closer to myself, bringing to my eyes my true essence — the ideas and behaviors that make me who I am. This brief immersion into the multicultural and globalized nature of London’s past and present reminded me that no matter how small I might be in this world, I should always dare to dream as big as my heart desires.

Love and light, from Atlanta to [London].

3 Reasons to Visit Bogotá — The Crown Jewel of Colombia

There was a time in which Colombia had a less than desirable reputation. But despite what you’ve heard about its past, the country has undergone a political, economic, and social revival in the last couple decades that has made it a very attractive destination for tourists from all over the world. Whether you’re seeking adventures in the Amazon rainforest, trying to escape to a remote beach, or craving a cosmopolitan experience, Colombia has a spot for you. But before you reach your destination, your first stop will most likely be the capital — Bogotá.

Nicknamed “the Athens of South America,” Bogotá’s educational institutions have shaped most of the brightest minds in the Republic, so it’s no surprise that the people, along with the city’s history and culture, make it one of my favorite cities to visit. Though I could go on and on about everything I love about this beautiful metropolis, here are my top three reasons why everyone must visit Bogotá.

1. The Food

Follow me on Instagram (@jsuarezsandino) for more sexy food stories.

I actively encourage myself to indulge in all traditional meals and treats from my motherland whenever I’m in Bogotá. Arepas, tamales, empanadas, hot chocolate with melted cheese inside, and freshly brewed Colombian coffee. Bogotan breakfasts never disappoint. If I’m really lucky, my aunt Nury will invite me over for lunch so I can feast on several helpings of ajiaco, a succulently creamy chicken and potato soup served with rice, avocado, heavy cream and capers — an undeniable staple of Bogotan cuisine. And if I get my way, dinner is out at my favorite local restaurant, Crepes & Waffles, or at any food stand on the streets where gigantic hot dogs with crazy toppings are sold.

Even beyond the dinner table, pastries and snacks are sure to hit all the right spots. Choclitos, De Todito, and Mama-ia chocolate-covered, caramel-filled brownies are just a few of my favorite snacks. And local pastries like pan de yuca, pastel de pollo and mojicón con queso y arequipe always make my heart skip a beat. So much yum yum for everyone’s tum tums.

2. The Museums

A country with a history as rich and diverse as that of Colombia is sure to have some of the most fascinating museums in the world. The museums in Bogotá are no exception to this rule.

Grownups might find a fascination for the Botero Museum, an old colonial house showcasing over a hundred pieces authored by world-renowned Colombian figurative artist Fernando Botero, whose signature style “Boterismo” can be easily spotted on all his paintings and sculptures around the world. Younger crowds might be more enthusiastic to spend a day at Maloka, an interactive museum that invites visitors to experience the wonders of science and technology.

But the whole family is sure to enjoy a day at the Museum of Gold, one of the most visited tourist attractions in the country, featuring vast selections of pre-Columbian gold artifacts and indigenous pottery and objects. No matter your taste, Bogotá has a museum to feed your curiosity.

3. The Nightlife

There is never a time in which there is nothing to do in Bogotá. By day and by night, the city stays thriving.

If you’re looking for a low-key night out with friends, go out to a groovy neighborhood bar with Colombian-inspired cocktails and live music like El Anónimo in the Suba neighborhood or drink your way through one of the nicest neighborhoods in town at a bar strip known as La Zona T. If you’re like me and you’re always looking to bust some wild moves on a dance floor, head to Bungalow for an upscale nightclub experience.

But if you’re feeling truly edgy and beyond ready for a long night of unexpected fun, spend the night at Theatrón, an old theatre turned into a gay dance club with 13 different dance floors. No matter your music taste, this place has at least one dance floor where you can live your best life. Disclaimer: you might see more than

When you’re planning your next vacation, imagine yourself exploring a global city atop the Andes mountains in the middle of a richly biodiverse country among visitors and residents from all corners of Colombia and the world. Whether you stay for a single night or for a while, Bogotá is sure to leave you wanting more no matter what you do. As we say in Colombia, the only risk in visiting is wanting to stay.

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DIY Napa Wine Tasting Tour on a Budget

As per usual when traveling with my friend Cheralynn, our plans to visit Napa came into discussion less than 24 hours before the trip. As per usual when traveling with my friend Cheralynn, we killed it.

It took only a few minutes of searching for deals on Groupon and sorting through reviews and locations on Google Maps to devise a comprehensive three-stop wine tasting tour — for under $30 a person. And of course, what is a DIY tour without a little DIY competition? That’s why we developed our very own scoring model to determine which of our three stops offers the best wine tasting experience overall.

The Itinerary

Whoever sits in the passenger seat of Cheralynn’s car during a road trip bears the responsibility of calling places and planning the day — this is why I always volunteer to drive. After several calls with very kind people, our day was set:

1. Heitz Wine Cellar
Free tasting, choose two wines from a list of three

2. Rutherford Ranch Winery
$35 chocolate and wine pairing for two, four wines and four pieces of chocolate

3. Sutter Home Family Vineyards:
$5 tasting for premium wines, five wines with a few snacks

The Scoring

After passionate discourse over several glasses of wine, we concluded there are four criteria that determine the quality of a wine tasting: the venue’s wedding worthiness, the wine’s tastiness, the overall learning experience, and the bang for our buck.

The three wineries we visited scored all over the scale:

	Heitz Wine Cellar	Rutherford Ranch	Sutter Home
Wedding Worthiness	5	4	1
Wine Tastiness	5	5	2
Learning Experience	1	5	3
Bang for Buck	3	4	3
Bonus	/	4	3
FINAL SCORE	3.5/5	4.4/5	2.4/5

The Breakdown

Heitz Wine Cellar
Free tasting, choose two wines from a list of three

This first spot was magical. While the staff was rather unbothered by our presence, the two wines we tasted were absolutely delectable. And the views of the vineyard with the Northern California mountains in the background made the whole experience breathtaking. The lady pouring our wine didn’t care enough to give us any significant background into the wines we were tasting, so we read their descriptions on the menu and left the rest to our imaginations. Overall, this was definitely a stop worth making.

Rutherford Ranch Winery
$35 chocolate and wine pairing for two, four wines and four pieces of chocolate

This was undoubtedly the winner. For starters, we found a deal Groupon, so for only $35, the two of us got to taste four delicious wines paired with four chocolates that were specifically crafted for each wine. While the view from the tasting room is not quite as breathtaking as it is at Heitz, Rutherford Ranch has several venues that look ideal for weddings — we weighed those into its final score. Plus, our insightful sommelier gave us a bonus round of Cabernet Sauvignon, so it’s no surprise this was our favorite stop on the tour.

Sutter Home Family Vineyards:
$5 tasting for premium wines, five wines with a few snacks

Coming from a non-wine-connoisseur like myself, this might sound slightly unfounded, but the experience at Sutter Home Winery was just a step above the taste of its most popular wines — just “meh.” Not remarkable, simply acceptable. The free tasting includes all the brands we knew and loved as college students, so we opted for the $5 premium wine tasting. The “better” wines were okay, but we got good insight into their origins, which, along with the delicious snacks available for sampling, brought this place’s final score slightly above zero.

Reflections

We strongly recommend not leaving your planning to the very last minute. Get on Groupon and on Google Maps and start looking for deals to redeem and brainstorming for wineries to visit. But even with our last minute planning, we were still able to visit three wineries for under $30 each.

Paying full price for wine tastings can hurt any budget, but you don’t have to hurt your wallet to live it up in Napa. You’re guaranteed to have a good time even if you get there with no plans — there are plenty of wineries with free tastings all over town. Be sure to bring good food and better snacks for a full day of activities, and don’t forget to make time for sightseeing stops through the vineyards and around downtown. Happy wining!