Tulum, part of the Rivieira Maya, is an easy 3.5 hr flight from New York and then a 1.5hr drive.
FLY direct to Cancun with a choice of airlines. We flew with American using miles.
TRANSFER to your hotel depending on how active you're going to be. Driving is very easy - the airport is right on the motorway and hugs the coast very close to all the resorts. And cars are very cheap at around $20 per day. If you don't plan on leaving your hotel, then take a cab.
STAY
In Tulum we stayed at The Mezzanine which is at the north end of the town. Nice accommodation with friendly staff and a cool vibe. We stayed in the nicest room with a balcony and view for $260 per night. The issue with Tulum is its pricey for what it is. Either stay cheap at around $100 per night for a non AC hut on the beach. Or pay up to $400 for somewhere like Be Tulum for swankier digs.
Further up the coast we stayed at the Banyan Tree Mayakoba. Half way between the airport and Tulum. All are villas with private pools. Pure luxury but at a cost of $415 per night. Top notch accommodations, staff, food etc. Highly recommend it.
EAT at Hartwood. Owned and run by the same team at Vinegar Hill House in Brooklyn, truly great food
DO snorkel in a cenote - an underwater cave. Also visit the Mayan ruins. But note it gets very hot
Thursday, September 19, 2013
Sunday, March 3, 2013
Nashville tips
Nashville, birthplace of a lot of the country music and rock and roll from back in the day, is a pretty easy trip from New York
FLY on a few different options. We used miles on American Airlines regional carrier American Eagle. Was pretty easy – 2.5hrs there and 2hrs back, to/from La Guardia. LGA is so much easier to get to than JFK or Newark, so I encourage to fly from there as much as possible. Also, we learnt about gate checking bags. These kind of planes are too small for some carry on so they gate-check them for free and then give them to you as you get off the plane
DRIVE a rental car. For some reason, I hadn’t rented one initially, but soon realized we’d need one. Everything is quite spread out into neighborhoods, so a car is vital. Avis standard car worked out at $25 per day
STAY either downtown or near Vanderbilt. We stayed at the Hutton Hotel for $200 per night. Looks average from the outside, but very nice inside and excellent service. Walkable to the Parthenon and Vanderbilt
AREAS
East Nashville: Very cool and trendy area, similar to Williamsburg
South 12th/Hilsboro/The Gulch/Vanderbilt: All west of downtown and each a pocket into themselves and worth taking the time to see
Downtown: Has a strip of music bars on Main St, the Country Music Hall of Fame, Ryman Auditorium, Bridgestone Arena
Germantown: Home to a couple of good restaurants
East: The Grand Ole Opry, and The Hermitage (Andrew Jackson’s house)
EAT at the Wild Cow (East Nashville) for some pretty great vegan food. City House (Germantown) has great reviews, but we didn’t get there. Catbird Seat (Vanderbilt) is supposed to be a cracker but you have to book a month in advance. Hattie Bs (Vanderbilt) for some of the best fried chicken you’ll ever taste. Jeni’s (East Nashville) for some of the most flavorful ice-cream you’ll ever taste. Frothy Monkey (South 12th) for a cool coffee shop. Fido (Hilsboro) for a good lunch. Marche Artsican Foods (East Nashville) for brunch
DRINK along the bars of Main St (Roberts is famous). And the “speakeasy” above Catbird Seat called Patterson House. Also recommended are Douglas Corner café, Stone Fox, Gold Rush, Wolfy’s, Flying Saucer, Boscos and F Scotts
DO go visit the Country Music Hall of Fame, Belle Meade plantation, Grand Ole Opry, The Hermitage, The Parthenon, Vanderbilt .
FLY on a few different options. We used miles on American Airlines regional carrier American Eagle. Was pretty easy – 2.5hrs there and 2hrs back, to/from La Guardia. LGA is so much easier to get to than JFK or Newark, so I encourage to fly from there as much as possible. Also, we learnt about gate checking bags. These kind of planes are too small for some carry on so they gate-check them for free and then give them to you as you get off the plane
DRIVE a rental car. For some reason, I hadn’t rented one initially, but soon realized we’d need one. Everything is quite spread out into neighborhoods, so a car is vital. Avis standard car worked out at $25 per day
STAY either downtown or near Vanderbilt. We stayed at the Hutton Hotel for $200 per night. Looks average from the outside, but very nice inside and excellent service. Walkable to the Parthenon and Vanderbilt
AREAS
East Nashville: Very cool and trendy area, similar to Williamsburg
South 12th/Hilsboro/The Gulch/Vanderbilt: All west of downtown and each a pocket into themselves and worth taking the time to see
Downtown: Has a strip of music bars on Main St, the Country Music Hall of Fame, Ryman Auditorium, Bridgestone Arena
Germantown: Home to a couple of good restaurants
East: The Grand Ole Opry, and The Hermitage (Andrew Jackson’s house)
EAT at the Wild Cow (East Nashville) for some pretty great vegan food. City House (Germantown) has great reviews, but we didn’t get there. Catbird Seat (Vanderbilt) is supposed to be a cracker but you have to book a month in advance. Hattie Bs (Vanderbilt) for some of the best fried chicken you’ll ever taste. Jeni’s (East Nashville) for some of the most flavorful ice-cream you’ll ever taste. Frothy Monkey (South 12th) for a cool coffee shop. Fido (Hilsboro) for a good lunch. Marche Artsican Foods (East Nashville) for brunch
DRINK along the bars of Main St (Roberts is famous). And the “speakeasy” above Catbird Seat called Patterson House. Also recommended are Douglas Corner café, Stone Fox, Gold Rush, Wolfy’s, Flying Saucer, Boscos and F Scotts
DO go visit the Country Music Hall of Fame, Belle Meade plantation, Grand Ole Opry, The Hermitage, The Parthenon, Vanderbilt .
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