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What’s the best Observation Deck in New York City?

Shannon O'Donnell — Thu, 12 Feb 2026 04:44:50 +0000

Last Updated on February 11, 2026

One thing I do in every place I visit: I get a bird’s eye view of the city. If there is a high point in town, a high building, or even better, an observation deck, I head to the top. New York City is especially mesmerizing to see from above, thanks to its unique architecture and island layout, which is why the observation decks are on the list of the ten best New York attractions. But what’s the best observation deck in New York City? Do you even need to go up to an observatory or will a rooftop bar suffice for the best view of New York City? NYC is lucky enough to have not only one, but SIX observation decks – the most popular one, Summit One Vanderbilt, opened only a few years ago (in October 2021), and in December 2025, the sixth observation deck in NYC opened: One Times Square. (I am not including that viewing deck in this article, since it – due to its relatively low height 19 stories above ground – only gives you a view of Times Square, and not the entire city).

Seeing the city from the unique vantage point of the best observatory in New York City helps you to better understand the city’s layout, helps you to understand how New York is set up, where the other boroughs are, and see how close New Jersey actually is. But not just that: it’s a truly memorable experience and it will make you appreciate the grandeur of the Big Apple even more.

As for rooftop bars – there are over 50 rooftop bars in New York, and while they are fantastic in their own way and make for a spectacular backdrop for sunset drinks, they can’t quite replace the observation decks, simply because they aren’t as high and can’t provide the same far-reaching panoramic views. (More info on rooftop bars at the end of this article). By the way, you don’t have to go high up for a great skyline view – here are five places with amazing views of Manhattan – and all of them are free.

What is the best observation deck in New York City?

I’ve been lucky enough to have been atop all of the iconic observation decks in Manhattan – over the years, I’ve visited all of them several times. So which one is the best observation deck in New York City? Read on to find out what I think are each observatory’s advantages, disadvantages, unique features and things to know before you visit.

What observation decks are there in NYC?

The Empire State Building (opened in 1931)
Top Of The Rock (opened in 1933)
One World Observatory (opened in 2015)
EDGE (opened in 2020)
SUMMIT One Vanderbilt (opened in 2021)

Empire State Building: The Icon

Overview

Long gone are the times when the Empire State Building held the title of the highest building in the world – it was in fact the first building in the world to top 100 floors – but it is still the most iconic skyscraper in New York City, and the oldest observation deck in the Big Apple. Today, the Empire State Building is still the 8th tallest skyscraper in NYC, the 28th tallest completed building in the U.S. and the 59^thhighest tower in the world. The Empire State Building’s observatory has been featured in dozens of movies and TV shows, and for most people it is the best observation deck in New York City simply because it is the most famous one. It is the oldest skyscraper observation deck not just in New York, but in the entire U.S., dating back to 1931 and still going strong almost 100 years after its initial opening!

The main observation deck is located on the 86^th floor, and there is an additional observation deck on the 102^nd floor, which you have to pay extra for. I personally wasn’t too fussed about the 102^nd floor deck – you can barely call it that because in reality, it is a tiny space around the spire. Here you don’t have open-air vistas, as there are glass windows. While I thought it was unnecessary to go up there (and pay an additional $40-ish for it), my friend loved it. So, up to you if you want to spend $53.35 or $91.46 for the experience, I didn’t think the views from the 102^nd floor were better than the ones from 86^th floor, and the glass windows made it difficult to get pictures without glare / reflections.

Height: 1,250 feet (381 meters); 1,454 feet (443.2 meters) including its antenna

The actual observation decks are at a height of 1,050 feet / 320 meters (86^th floor) and 1,224 feet / 373.1 meters (102^nd floor) respectively.

Floor(s): Indoor and outdoor deck on the 86^th floor, which is the highest floor in the actual tower. There is an additional observatory on the 102^nd floor (see below for details of closure). The 16 floors between 86^th and 102^nd floor are empty (part of the prominent Art Deco spire, which is hollow).

Advantages: You have great views over Midtown Manhattan from here, and the viewing platforms are outdoors. That means you don’t have any windows to deal with, and no glare in your photos.

Disadvantages: The downside of the Empire State Building is that taking your photos atop this unique structure, it won’t feature in any of your photos.

Empire State Building Details

Admission: 86^th floor observation deck: $49 general admission; $90 express ‘skip all lines’ pass for the 86^th floor observation deck and $125 for both the 86^th floor and the 102^nd floor.; sunrise experience $150 (limited to 100 people per day).

If you want to go up to the 86^th floor observation deck AND the 102^nd floor, tickets start at $84, ($99 during peak sunset hours.)

+ $5 transaction fee per booking.

It is included in several City Passes.

Sunrise Experience: If you want a special experience on top of one of the most iconic skyscrapers in the world, opt for the sunrise ticket (only offered on Saturdays). It includes a pastry and a coffee at the Starbucks Reserve at the ground floor of the building. Tickets from $140 per person.

Address: 20 W 34th St, New York, NY 10001. The main entrance is on Fifth Avenue.

Closest subway stations: 33^rd Street (4, 5, 6 lines) 5 min walk; 28 St Broadway (R, W lines) 7 min walk; 34Street – Penn Station (1, 2, 3 lines) 7 min walk; 34 Street – Penn Station (A, C, E lines) 10 min walk. Times Square – 10 min walk. Grand Central Terminal – 15 min walk.

Opening Hours: Daily from 9am to 11pm. Additional hours at sunrise for a special sunrise experience (times vary depending on time of year). In the winter months, the Empire State Building opens at 10am and closes at 10pm. Check the website before visiting.

Website: Empire State Building

SUMMIT One – The social media darling

Overview

SUMMIT One is located on the 91st, 92nd and 93rd floor of the Vanderbilt Building, which was finished in 2020 right next to Grand Central Terminal. Out of all five observation decks, it is, in my opinion, the most interesting one, or the one that invites to spend a lot of time there, compared to the other ones. That’s because it is designed in a way that makes the interior worth seeing as well – and not just the views of New York City from above. There’s the ball room, which is super fun for kids, and there is a cafe/bar on the third level that invites to linger. There are also two glass sky-boxes on the west side of the building which allow you to look right down onto Madison Avenue 1,100 feet below you.

The first two levels of the observation deck are completely indoor, but on the third level, there is a small outdoors section. Be aware that SUMMIT One Vanderbilt is a one-way experience – that means, once you leave the first level, there’s no way back. After walking through the mirrored levels and the ball room, you can spend some time upstairs at the cafe (they also have snacks), but you cannot go back down to the previous levels.

Height: One Vanderbilt’s roof is 1,301 feet (397 meters) high and its spire is 1,401 feet (427 meters) above ground. It is currently the fourth tallest skyscraper in NYC after One World Trade Center, Central Park Tower, the Steinway Tower and 432 Park Avenue.

Advantages: SUMMIT One offers so much more than “just” views. The design of the 3-storey platform is spectacular, with stunningly high mirrored walls and ceilings, and various rooms to experience. This observation deck is also open the latest (until midnight), along with Top Of The Rock.

Disadvantages: This observation deck is so popular that it is the only one that is not included in any of the New York City sightseeing passes, and it is the most expensive one. As of now, it is also always fully booked, so you can’t just walk up and go up. Book your tickets in advance – but wait until you know for sure that the weather is good on the day you’re planning to visit SUMMIT One. You can get tickets a couple of days in advance, unless you’re visiting during a peak holiday period. The popularity of this observation deck means that it is pretty much always crowded, but especially before and during sunset.

Tip: If you don’t like crowds, book the first available slot at 9am and avoid visiting on the weekend. SUMMIT One can get very crowded.

No sugar-coating: it does get very busy up there!

SUMMIT One Vanderbilt Details

Admission: General admission starts at $44, plus $4.18 taxes and a $3 online booking fee. The total comes to $51.18. Children pay $38, which comes to $44.46 including fees & taxes. The popular sunset time slot is more expensive: $56 ($64.24 all fees included) for everyone aged 13+; $57.71 for children 6 to 12 years old.

Children 5 and under visit free.

There is a special VIP Package for $149 which includes a personalized 90-minute tour led by Summit’s Guest Experience Tour Lead, Skip-the-line privileges at all key points ( entrance, security, elevators and levitation) and a complimentary digital photo package.

Address: 45 E 42nd St, New York, NY 10017. There are several entrances, including a passageway right inside Grand Central Terminal.

Closest subway stations: Grand Central Terminal. Subway lines 4/5/6, 7, and the Times Square Shuttle (S).

Opening Times: Daily 9am – midnight

Website: Summitov.com

EDGE – the highest open-air sky deck

Overview

EDGE opened in March 2020, and offers breathtaking views of Midtown Manhattan from its cantilevered triangular platform, which extends 80 feet (24 meters) from the eastern side of the building. 30 Hudson Yards is located between 33 and 32nd Street, almost the same as the Empire State Building, which is located between 34 and 33 Streets. The ESB is a located a lot more central though, off of Fifth Avenue, while 30 Hudson Yards is located between 10th and 11th Avenues. At 1,100 feet / 335 meters above street level, the outdoor observation deck is higher than the Empire State Building’s 86th-floor observation deck.

Height: The building that houses the EDGE, 30 Hudson Yards, is 1,270 feet /390 meters tall. The outdoor observation deck is 1,100 feet (335 m) above street level.

Advantages: EDGE has a vast outdoor sky deck – and the highest outdoor deck in the western hemisphere. The architecture is fantastic, and you’re separated from the streets below you by nothing but large angled glass windows. This can be scary for people with a fear of heights, but it is definitely thrilling for adrenaline junkies. If that’s what you’re looking for, you can get an even bigger adrenaline rush here: Book the City Climb (starting at $187 per person), which involves a climb up the exterior of the building to the very top at 1,271 feet (387 meters) high.

There is also a small area with a glass floor, allowing you to stand, sit or lay over 1,000 feet above the streets of New York City. If you’re afraid of heights, don’t worry though – this part of the floor is small and you can completely avoid it. If you don’t want to get too close to the glass windows, there are the “skyline seats” – an area with tiered seats further away from the glass walls, which allow to take in the views without getting too close to the “edge”.

There is a bar at the observation deck, where you can buy alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, and some snacks. For a proper meal and an outstanding cocktail, I recommend PEAK restaurant, however (see Tip below).

Disadvantages: Since the majority of the observation deck is outdoors, it gets very cold pretty quickly during the colder months. Some people don’t last more than ten minutes outdoors in the winter, depending on the weather. Remember that it is a lot colder up there than it is on street level. My preferred time to visit EDGE is definitely during the warmer months.

Tip: If you want a more exclusive experience, book a table at PEAK restaurant. PEAK is located just above EDGE, and your dinner reservation includes free admission to the observation deck after your meal. During slow periods (weekdays between 3-5pm for example) you may get lucky and be able to grab a bar table without a reservation. Make your way to the PEAK hostess desk on 4th floor of 30 Hudson Yards and inquire about available bar seats /tables. Sunrise Yoga: Between June and September, EDGE offers sunrise yoga at 6.30am. This an amazing and unique way to start your day in NYC! Tickets from $75 per person, yoga mat included.

EDGE Details

Admission: General admission starts at $45, plus $4.17 taxes and a $2 online booking fee. The total comes to $51.17. Children between 6 and 12 pay $40 / $42 including fees & taxes. Similar to the other observation decks, the sunset time slot is the most popular and thus the most expensive: $56 ($64.24 all fees included) for everyone aged 13+; $57.71 f

Children 5 and under visit free.

Tip: If you book at least 14 days in advance, you can get the Edge Advance Saver Admission for $36 (+$3.20 processing fee). I personally find it risky to book any observation deck far in advance, however, because I want to make sure the weather is perfect on the day of my visit.

Admission to EDGE is included in several City Passes: the New York Pass, Go City, and CityPASS.

Address: 30 Hudson Yards. To get to the entrance, enter the Shops At Hudson Yards shopping mall and follow the signs for EDGE.

Closest subway station: Hudson Yards on the 7 line.

Opening Times: Sunday – Thursday 9am – 10pm. Fridays and Saturdays 8am – 10pm.

Rooftop bars vs observatories

As I mentioned above, NYC also has plenty of rooftop bars, and particularly those in Manhattan offer excellent views of New York City. None of the rooftop bars are as high as the observatories, however, which means you don’t get the same vantage point. You also don’t get a full panoramic view, because most of the bars are located on one side of building, rather than covering the entire rooftop.

If you want to check out some of the best rooftop bars, here are some recommendations:

Bar 54 (54th floor, on top of the Hyatt Hotel Times Square); 135 W 45th St, NY 10036
Overstory (64th floor, on top of the iconic 70 Pine Street Building); 70 Pine Street, NY 10005
Monarch rooftop (18th floor, great Empire State Building views); 71 W 35th St, NY 10018
Upstairs at the Kimberly Hotel (30th floor); 145 E 50th Street, NY 10022
The Skylark (30th floor, Mondays – Fridays only); 200 W 39th St, NY 10018
The Crown (21st floor, on top of 50 Bowery Hotel); 50 Bowery Street, NY 10013
The Heights (31st floor, on top of the Arlo Hotel, this one has a glass bottom); 11 E 31st St, NY 10016
Artie’s Backroom – Rooftop bar on top of Pod39 Hotel (17th floor); 145 E 39th St, NY 10016
PHD Lounge (15th floor, atop the Dream Hotel Downtown); 355 W 16th St, NY 10011

Also check out this comprehensive list of 69 New York rooftop bars; or the 18 best New York rooftop bars as chosen by Conde Nast Traveler.

Have you visited any of the rooftop bars or observation decks in New York City? Which one is your favorite?

Admission: $49 general admission; $59 admission with priority line (+ $3.81 booking fee).

Rooftop bars vs observatories

If you want to check out some of the best rooftop bars, here are some recommendations:

Bar 54 (54th floor, on top of the Hyatt Hotel Times Square); 135 W 45th St, NY 10036
Overstory (64th floor, on top of the iconic 70 Pine Street Building); 70 Pine Street, NY 10005
Monarch rooftop (18th floor, great Empire State Building views); 71 W 35th St, NY 10018
Upstairs at the Kimberly Hotel (30th floor); 145 E 50th Street, NY 10022
The Skylark (30th floor, Mondays – Fridays only); 200 W 39th St, NY 10018
The Crown (21st floor, on top of 50 Bowery Hotel); 50 Bowery Street, NY 10013
The Heights (31st floor, on top of the Arlo Hotel, this one has a glass bottom); 11 E 31st St, NY 10016
Artie’s Backroom – Rooftop bar on top of Pod39 Hotel (17th floor); 145 E 39th St, NY 10016
PHD Lounge (15th floor, atop the Dream Hotel Downtown); 355 W 16th St, NY 10011

Also check out this comprehensive list of 69 New York rooftop bars; or the 18 best New York rooftop bars as chosen by Conde Nast Traveler.

Have you visited any of the rooftop bars or observation decks in New York City? Which one is your favorite?

Other subway stations are: 5 Avenue / 53 St (E & M) 7 min walk; 49 Street (N, Q, R, W) 4 min walk; Times Square is a 10-min walk away; Grand Central Terminal is about 12 mins away.

Opening Hours: Daily from 8am – midnight. Last entry at 11.10pm.

Website: Top Of The Rock Observation Deck

One World Observatory: In the heart of the Financial District

Overview

One World Observatory is located on the top three floors of One World Trade Center in NYC’s financial district, near the southern tip of Manhattan. The observatory opened in May 2015, a few months after the skyscraper, which was built to replace the Twin Towers, was finished after nine years of construction.

One World Observatory is currently the 14^th highest observation deck in the world. The elevator experience alone is worth checking out this observation deck: In only 60 seconds, you’re zoomed all the way up to 102 floor, and during the ride, you are entertained with visuals of the development of the New York skyline from the 1600s to today. Fun fact: Even though the building officially has 104 floors, the number of actual stories is 94. The two floors above the Skydeck, floors 103 and 104, as well as floors 91 to 99, are mechanical floors.

I wouldn’t say that this is the best observation deck in New York City, but if you’ve already done the other observatories and you want to get a different vantage point of the city, this one is for you.

Height: 1,776 feet (541.3 meters) – a symbolic height with a nod to the year 1776, in which the Declaration of Independence was written. The height includes the 408-foot spire, so the height of the actual observation deck is 1268.4 feet (386.6 meters).

Floor(s): 100 to 102nd floors

Advantages: This is the highest observation deck in New York City, considerably higher than the Empire State Building. That alone makes it the best observatory in New York City for many people. It also offers a different vantage point of the city: instead of being in the middle of the Midtown skyscrapers, you are surrounded by the higher buildings of the Financial District. On clear days, you have a great view of the entirety of Brooklyn, all the way down to Coney Island and the Rockaway Islands. From no other building in the city, you have such a fantastic view over the Bay Of New York, including Governors Island.

One World Observatory also offers views of the Brooklyn and the Manhattan Bridge as well as the Statue Of Liberty. This is something you cannot get on any of the other observation decks.

You can enjoy a glass of wine or prosecco with your view. There are a couple of concession stands inside the actual observatory where you can buy alcoholic beverages (and soft drinks).

Disadvantages: The observation deck is indoors, and while you have large floor to ceiling glass walls on all sides, it can be difficult to get photos without glare (especially if you want to be in the photos).

You have to buy your ticket for a specific time slot – so head to the tower with ample time to make your selected time slot. Only the entering time is set, by the way. Once you’re inside the observation deck, you can stay for as long as you want.

One World Observatory Details

Admission: $49 general admission; $59 admission with priority line (+ $3.81 booking fee).

Note that if you choose general admission, you have to select a specific time slot for your visit.

Address: One World Trade Center, 285 Fulton Street, New York 10007

The entrance is on West Street.

Closest subway stations:World Trade Center (E train) 6 min walk; Park Place (2, 3 lines) 7 min walk; WTC Cortlandt Street (1 train) 2 min walk; Cortlandt Street (R, W) 6 min walk; Fulton Street (4,5,A, C, J, Z, 2, 3) 8 min walk.

Opening Times:

Sept. 5 – Dec. 20: 9:00am – 9:00pm (last ticket sold at 8:15pm)
Dec. 21 – Jan. 3: 9:00am – 8:00pm (be aware of special holiday hours)
Jan. 4 – April 30: 9:00am – 9:00pm (last ticket sold at 8:15pm)
May 1 – Sept. 4: 9:00am – 9:00pm (last ticket sold at 8:45pm)

Please note that there are adjusted Holiday hours on all major Holidays, such as Independence Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas – check the website if your visit falls on a Holiday.

Website: One World Observatory

Rooftop bars vs observatories

If you want to check out some of the best rooftop bars, here are some recommendations:

Bar 54 (54th floor, on top of the Hyatt Hotel Times Square); 135 W 45th St, NY 10036
Overstory (64th floor, on top of the iconic 70 Pine Street Building); 70 Pine Street, NY 10005
Monarch rooftop (18th floor, great Empire State Building views); 71 W 35th St, NY 10018
Upstairs at the Kimberly Hotel (30th floor); 145 E 50th Street, NY 10022
The Skylark (30th floor, Mondays – Fridays only); 200 W 39th St, NY 10018
The Crown (21st floor, on top of 50 Bowery Hotel); 50 Bowery Street, NY 10013
The Heights (31st floor, on top of the Arlo Hotel, this one has a glass bottom); 11 E 31st St, NY 10016
Artie’s Backroom – Rooftop bar on top of Pod39 Hotel (17th floor); 145 E 39th St, NY 10016
PHD Lounge (15th floor, atop the Dream Hotel Downtown); 355 W 16th St, NY 10011

Also check out this comprehensive list of 69 New York rooftop bars; or the 18 best New York rooftop bars as chosen by Conde Nast Traveler.

Have you visited any of the rooftop bars or observation decks in New York City? Which one is your favorite?

Other subway stations are: 5 Avenue / 53 St (E & M) 7 min walk; 49 Street (N, Q, R, W) 4 min walk; Times Square is a 10-min walk away; Grand Central Terminal is about 12 mins away.

Opening Hours: Daily from 8am – midnight. Last entry at 11.10pm.

Website: Top Of The Rock Observation Deck

One World Observatory: In the heart of the Financial District

Overview

Floor(s): 100 to 102nd floors

One World Observatory also offers views of the Brooklyn and the Manhattan Bridge as well as the Statue Of Liberty. This is something you cannot get on any of the other observation decks.

You can enjoy a glass of wine or prosecco with your view. There are a couple of concession stands inside the actual observatory where you can buy alcoholic beverages (and soft drinks).

In this photo, you can see the glare I mention, caused by the window reflection

One World Observatory Details

Admission: $49 general admission; $59 admission with priority line (+ $3.81 booking fee).

Note that if you choose general admission, you have to select a specific time slot for your visit.

Address: One World Trade Center, 285 Fulton Street, New York 10007

The entrance is on West Street.

Opening Times:

Sept. 5 – Dec. 20: 9:00am – 9:00pm (last ticket sold at 8:15pm)
Dec. 21 – Jan. 3: 9:00am – 8:00pm (be aware of special holiday hours)
Jan. 4 – April 30: 9:00am – 9:00pm (last ticket sold at 8:15pm)
May 1 – Sept. 4: 9:00am – 9:00pm (last ticket sold at 8:45pm)

Please note that there are adjusted Holiday hours on all major Holidays, such as Independence Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas – check the website if your visit falls on a Holiday.

Website: One World Observatory

Rooftop bars vs observatories

If you want to check out some of the best rooftop bars, here are some recommendations:

Bar 54 (54th floor, on top of the Hyatt Hotel Times Square); 135 W 45th St, NY 10036
Overstory (64th floor, on top of the iconic 70 Pine Street Building); 70 Pine Street, NY 10005
Monarch rooftop (18th floor, great Empire State Building views); 71 W 35th St, NY 10018
Upstairs at the Kimberly Hotel (30th floor); 145 E 50th Street, NY 10022
The Skylark (30th floor, Mondays – Fridays only); 200 W 39th St, NY 10018
The Crown (21st floor, on top of 50 Bowery Hotel); 50 Bowery Street, NY 10013
The Heights (31st floor, on top of the Arlo Hotel, this one has a glass bottom); 11 E 31st St, NY 10016
Artie’s Backroom – Rooftop bar on top of Pod39 Hotel (17th floor); 145 E 39th St, NY 10016
PHD Lounge (15th floor, atop the Dream Hotel Downtown); 355 W 16th St, NY 10011

Also check out this comprehensive list of 69 New York rooftop bars; or the 18 best New York rooftop bars as chosen by Conde Nast Traveler.

Have you visited any of the rooftop bars or observation decks in New York City? Which one is your favorite?

Note: You have to choose an exact time slot for your visit, unless you purchase the VIP ticket (for which you have to select the date, but not an exact time).

Top Of The Rock is included in several City Passes.

Tip: If you purchase a Sunset Ticket, you can visit again the next morning. That means, you’ll get to enjoy the views once at sunset / after dark, and then again in the early morning, when it’s usually not very busy. Price: Around $65.33 incl. fees & taxes.Address: 30 Rockefeller Plaza, NY 10112. You can access the building from 5^th and 6^th Ave. The entrance is on 50th Street.

Nearest subway stations: The subway station 47-50 Streets Rockefeller Center on the B, D, F, M lines is literally right underneath the building.

Other subway stations are: 5 Avenue / 53 St (E & M) 7 min walk; 49 Street (N, Q, R, W) 4 min walk; Times Square is a 10-min walk away; Grand Central Terminal is about 12 mins away.

Opening Hours: Daily from 8am – midnight. Last entry at 11.10pm.

Website: Top Of The Rock Observation Deck

One World Observatory: In the heart of the Financial District

Overview

Floor(s): 100 to 102nd floors

One World Observatory also offers views of the Brooklyn and the Manhattan Bridge as well as the Statue Of Liberty. This is something you cannot get on any of the other observation decks.

You can enjoy a glass of wine or prosecco with your view. There are a couple of concession stands inside the actual observatory where you can buy alcoholic beverages (and soft drinks).

In this photo, you can see the glare I mention, caused by the window reflection

One World Observatory Details

Admission: $49 general admission; $59 admission with priority line (+ $3.81 booking fee).

Note that if you choose general admission, you have to select a specific time slot for your visit.

Address: One World Trade Center, 285 Fulton Street, New York 10007

The entrance is on West Street.

Opening Times:

Sept. 5 – Dec. 20: 9:00am – 9:00pm (last ticket sold at 8:15pm)
Dec. 21 – Jan. 3: 9:00am – 8:00pm (be aware of special holiday hours)
Jan. 4 – April 30: 9:00am – 9:00pm (last ticket sold at 8:15pm)
May 1 – Sept. 4: 9:00am – 9:00pm (last ticket sold at 8:45pm)

Please note that there are adjusted Holiday hours on all major Holidays, such as Independence Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas – check the website if your visit falls on a Holiday.

Website: One World Observatory

Rooftop bars vs observatories

If you want to check out some of the best rooftop bars, here are some recommendations:

Bar 54 (54th floor, on top of the Hyatt Hotel Times Square); 135 W 45th St, NY 10036
Overstory (64th floor, on top of the iconic 70 Pine Street Building); 70 Pine Street, NY 10005
Monarch rooftop (18th floor, great Empire State Building views); 71 W 35th St, NY 10018
Upstairs at the Kimberly Hotel (30th floor); 145 E 50th Street, NY 10022
The Skylark (30th floor, Mondays – Fridays only); 200 W 39th St, NY 10018
The Crown (21st floor, on top of 50 Bowery Hotel); 50 Bowery Street, NY 10013
The Heights (31st floor, on top of the Arlo Hotel, this one has a glass bottom); 11 E 31st St, NY 10016
Artie’s Backroom – Rooftop bar on top of Pod39 Hotel (17th floor); 145 E 39th St, NY 10016
PHD Lounge (15th floor, atop the Dream Hotel Downtown); 355 W 16th St, NY 10011

Also check out this comprehensive list of 69 New York rooftop bars; or the 18 best New York rooftop bars as chosen by Conde Nast Traveler.

Have you visited any of the rooftop bars or observation decks in New York City? Which one is your favorite?

Admission: $48 general admission (about $52 including tax); $57 – $60 during sunset (around $65 including tax). VIP Access (includes: skip the line, glass of champagne, photo package, private “Beam” Experience & Skylift access) is $206.86 (including tax).

Skylift access is an additional $35, and the Beam is an extra $25.

Note: You have to choose an exact time slot for your visit, unless you purchase the VIP ticket (for which you have to select the date, but not an exact time).

Top Of The Rock is included in several City Passes.

Nearest subway stations: The subway station 47-50 Streets Rockefeller Center on the B, D, F, M lines is literally right underneath the building.

Other subway stations are: 5 Avenue / 53 St (E & M) 7 min walk; 49 Street (N, Q, R, W) 4 min walk; Times Square is a 10-min walk away; Grand Central Terminal is about 12 mins away.

Opening Hours: Daily from 8am – midnight. Last entry at 11.10pm.

Website: Top Of The Rock Observation Deck

One World Observatory: In the heart of the Financial District

Overview

Floor(s): 100 to 102nd floors

One World Observatory also offers views of the Brooklyn and the Manhattan Bridge as well as the Statue Of Liberty. This is something you cannot get on any of the other observation decks.

You can enjoy a glass of wine or prosecco with your view. There are a couple of concession stands inside the actual observatory where you can buy alcoholic beverages (and soft drinks).

In this photo, you can see the glare I mention, caused by the window reflection

One World Observatory Details

Admission: $49 general admission; $59 admission with priority line (+ $3.81 booking fee).

Note that if you choose general admission, you have to select a specific time slot for your visit.

Address: One World Trade Center, 285 Fulton Street, New York 10007

The entrance is on West Street.

Opening Times:

Sept. 5 – Dec. 20: 9:00am – 9:00pm (last ticket sold at 8:15pm)
Dec. 21 – Jan. 3: 9:00am – 8:00pm (be aware of special holiday hours)
Jan. 4 – April 30: 9:00am – 9:00pm (last ticket sold at 8:15pm)
May 1 – Sept. 4: 9:00am – 9:00pm (last ticket sold at 8:45pm)

Please note that there are adjusted Holiday hours on all major Holidays, such as Independence Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas – check the website if your visit falls on a Holiday.

Website: One World Observatory

Rooftop bars vs observatories

If you want to check out some of the best rooftop bars, here are some recommendations:

Bar 54 (54th floor, on top of the Hyatt Hotel Times Square); 135 W 45th St, NY 10036
Overstory (64th floor, on top of the iconic 70 Pine Street Building); 70 Pine Street, NY 10005
Monarch rooftop (18th floor, great Empire State Building views); 71 W 35th St, NY 10018
Upstairs at the Kimberly Hotel (30th floor); 145 E 50th Street, NY 10022
The Skylark (30th floor, Mondays – Fridays only); 200 W 39th St, NY 10018
The Crown (21st floor, on top of 50 Bowery Hotel); 50 Bowery Street, NY 10013
The Heights (31st floor, on top of the Arlo Hotel, this one has a glass bottom); 11 E 31st St, NY 10016
Artie’s Backroom – Rooftop bar on top of Pod39 Hotel (17th floor); 145 E 39th St, NY 10016
PHD Lounge (15th floor, atop the Dream Hotel Downtown); 355 W 16th St, NY 10011

Also check out this comprehensive list of 69 New York rooftop bars; or the 18 best New York rooftop bars as chosen by Conde Nast Traveler.

Have you visited any of the rooftop bars or observation decks in New York City? Which one is your favorite?

Top Of The Rock Details

Skylift access is an additional $35, and the Beam is an extra $25.

Note: You have to choose an exact time slot for your visit, unless you purchase the VIP ticket (for which you have to select the date, but not an exact time).

Top Of The Rock is included in several City Passes.

Nearest subway stations: The subway station 47-50 Streets Rockefeller Center on the B, D, F, M lines is literally right underneath the building.

Other subway stations are: 5 Avenue / 53 St (E & M) 7 min walk; 49 Street (N, Q, R, W) 4 min walk; Times Square is a 10-min walk away; Grand Central Terminal is about 12 mins away.

Opening Hours: Daily from 8am – midnight. Last entry at 11.10pm.

Website: Top Of The Rock Observation Deck

One World Observatory: In the heart of the Financial District

Overview

Floor(s): 100 to 102nd floors

One World Observatory also offers views of the Brooklyn and the Manhattan Bridge as well as the Statue Of Liberty. This is something you cannot get on any of the other observation decks.

You can enjoy a glass of wine or prosecco with your view. There are a couple of concession stands inside the actual observatory where you can buy alcoholic beverages (and soft drinks).

In this photo, you can see the glare I mention, caused by the window reflection

One World Observatory Details

Admission: $49 general admission; $59 admission with priority line (+ $3.81 booking fee).

Note that if you choose general admission, you have to select a specific time slot for your visit.

Address: One World Trade Center, 285 Fulton Street, New York 10007

The entrance is on West Street.

Opening Times:

Sept. 5 – Dec. 20: 9:00am – 9:00pm (last ticket sold at 8:15pm)
Dec. 21 – Jan. 3: 9:00am – 8:00pm (be aware of special holiday hours)
Jan. 4 – April 30: 9:00am – 9:00pm (last ticket sold at 8:15pm)
May 1 – Sept. 4: 9:00am – 9:00pm (last ticket sold at 8:45pm)

Please note that there are adjusted Holiday hours on all major Holidays, such as Independence Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas – check the website if your visit falls on a Holiday.

Website: One World Observatory

Rooftop bars vs observatories

If you want to check out some of the best rooftop bars, here are some recommendations:

Bar 54 (54th floor, on top of the Hyatt Hotel Times Square); 135 W 45th St, NY 10036
Overstory (64th floor, on top of the iconic 70 Pine Street Building); 70 Pine Street, NY 10005
Monarch rooftop (18th floor, great Empire State Building views); 71 W 35th St, NY 10018
Upstairs at the Kimberly Hotel (30th floor); 145 E 50th Street, NY 10022
The Skylark (30th floor, Mondays – Fridays only); 200 W 39th St, NY 10018
The Crown (21st floor, on top of 50 Bowery Hotel); 50 Bowery Street, NY 10013
The Heights (31st floor, on top of the Arlo Hotel, this one has a glass bottom); 11 E 31st St, NY 10016
Artie’s Backroom – Rooftop bar on top of Pod39 Hotel (17th floor); 145 E 39th St, NY 10016
PHD Lounge (15th floor, atop the Dream Hotel Downtown); 355 W 16th St, NY 10011

Also check out this comprehensive list of 69 New York rooftop bars; or the 18 best New York rooftop bars as chosen by Conde Nast Traveler.

Have you visited any of the rooftop bars or observation decks in New York City? Which one is your favorite?

Disadvantages: The observation deck is located at a lower height than the Empire State Building and One World Observatory.

Top Of The Rock Details

Skylift access is an additional $35, and the Beam is an extra $25.

Note: You have to choose an exact time slot for your visit, unless you purchase the VIP ticket (for which you have to select the date, but not an exact time).

Top Of The Rock is included in several City Passes.

Nearest subway stations: The subway station 47-50 Streets Rockefeller Center on the B, D, F, M lines is literally right underneath the building.

Other subway stations are: 5 Avenue / 53 St (E & M) 7 min walk; 49 Street (N, Q, R, W) 4 min walk; Times Square is a 10-min walk away; Grand Central Terminal is about 12 mins away.

Opening Hours: Daily from 8am – midnight. Last entry at 11.10pm.

Website: Top Of The Rock Observation Deck

One World Observatory: In the heart of the Financial District

Overview

Floor(s): 100 to 102nd floors

One World Observatory also offers views of the Brooklyn and the Manhattan Bridge as well as the Statue Of Liberty. This is something you cannot get on any of the other observation decks.

You can enjoy a glass of wine or prosecco with your view. There are a couple of concession stands inside the actual observatory where you can buy alcoholic beverages (and soft drinks).

In this photo, you can see the glare I mention, caused by the window reflection

One World Observatory Details

Admission: $49 general admission; $59 admission with priority line (+ $3.81 booking fee).

Note that if you choose general admission, you have to select a specific time slot for your visit.

Address: One World Trade Center, 285 Fulton Street, New York 10007

The entrance is on West Street.

Opening Times:

Sept. 5 – Dec. 20: 9:00am – 9:00pm (last ticket sold at 8:15pm)
Dec. 21 – Jan. 3: 9:00am – 8:00pm (be aware of special holiday hours)
Jan. 4 – April 30: 9:00am – 9:00pm (last ticket sold at 8:15pm)
May 1 – Sept. 4: 9:00am – 9:00pm (last ticket sold at 8:45pm)

Please note that there are adjusted Holiday hours on all major Holidays, such as Independence Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas – check the website if your visit falls on a Holiday.

Website: One World Observatory

Rooftop bars vs observatories

If you want to check out some of the best rooftop bars, here are some recommendations:

Bar 54 (54th floor, on top of the Hyatt Hotel Times Square); 135 W 45th St, NY 10036
Overstory (64th floor, on top of the iconic 70 Pine Street Building); 70 Pine Street, NY 10005
Monarch rooftop (18th floor, great Empire State Building views); 71 W 35th St, NY 10018
Upstairs at the Kimberly Hotel (30th floor); 145 E 50th Street, NY 10022
The Skylark (30th floor, Mondays – Fridays only); 200 W 39th St, NY 10018
The Crown (21st floor, on top of 50 Bowery Hotel); 50 Bowery Street, NY 10013
The Heights (31st floor, on top of the Arlo Hotel, this one has a glass bottom); 11 E 31st St, NY 10016
Artie’s Backroom – Rooftop bar on top of Pod39 Hotel (17th floor); 145 E 39th St, NY 10016
PHD Lounge (15th floor, atop the Dream Hotel Downtown); 355 W 16th St, NY 10011

Also check out this comprehensive list of 69 New York rooftop bars; or the 18 best New York rooftop bars as chosen by Conde Nast Traveler.

Have you visited any of the rooftop bars or observation decks in New York City? Which one is your favorite?

Floor(s): The three-level observation deck spreads out over three floors: 67th, 69th and 70^th.

Advantages: As stated above: you have the Empire State Building in your photos, and you can see almost the entire Central Park. Plus, you’re right above Midtown, which is the part of Manhattan with the largest number of skyscrapers and tall buildings, making for an interesting vantage point. Part of the observation deck is outside, which means you get great photos without any glare. If you’re a thrill seeker, you’ll love the “Beam Experience”, which lets you recreate the iconic “Lunch atop a skyscraper” photo (with more safety precautions though!).

Top Of The Rock is also, along with SUMMIT One, one of the observation decks that stays open late – until midnight.

Disadvantages: The observation deck is located at a lower height than the Empire State Building and One World Observatory.

Top Of The Rock Details

Skylift access is an additional $35, and the Beam is an extra $25.

Note: You have to choose an exact time slot for your visit, unless you purchase the VIP ticket (for which you have to select the date, but not an exact time).

Top Of The Rock is included in several City Passes.

Nearest subway stations: The subway station 47-50 Streets Rockefeller Center on the B, D, F, M lines is literally right underneath the building.

Other subway stations are: 5 Avenue / 53 St (E & M) 7 min walk; 49 Street (N, Q, R, W) 4 min walk; Times Square is a 10-min walk away; Grand Central Terminal is about 12 mins away.

Opening Hours: Daily from 8am – midnight. Last entry at 11.10pm.

Website: Top Of The Rock Observation Deck

One World Observatory: In the heart of the Financial District

Overview

Floor(s): 100 to 102nd floors

One World Observatory also offers views of the Brooklyn and the Manhattan Bridge as well as the Statue Of Liberty. This is something you cannot get on any of the other observation decks.

You can enjoy a glass of wine or prosecco with your view. There are a couple of concession stands inside the actual observatory where you can buy alcoholic beverages (and soft drinks).

In this photo, you can see the glare I mention, caused by the window reflection

One World Observatory Details

Admission: $49 general admission; $59 admission with priority line (+ $3.81 booking fee).

Note that if you choose general admission, you have to select a specific time slot for your visit.

Address: One World Trade Center, 285 Fulton Street, New York 10007

The entrance is on West Street.

Opening Times:

Sept. 5 – Dec. 20: 9:00am – 9:00pm (last ticket sold at 8:15pm)
Dec. 21 – Jan. 3: 9:00am – 8:00pm (be aware of special holiday hours)
Jan. 4 – April 30: 9:00am – 9:00pm (last ticket sold at 8:15pm)
May 1 – Sept. 4: 9:00am – 9:00pm (last ticket sold at 8:45pm)

Please note that there are adjusted Holiday hours on all major Holidays, such as Independence Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas – check the website if your visit falls on a Holiday.

Website: One World Observatory

Rooftop bars vs observatories

If you want to check out some of the best rooftop bars, here are some recommendations:

Bar 54 (54th floor, on top of the Hyatt Hotel Times Square); 135 W 45th St, NY 10036
Overstory (64th floor, on top of the iconic 70 Pine Street Building); 70 Pine Street, NY 10005
Monarch rooftop (18th floor, great Empire State Building views); 71 W 35th St, NY 10018
Upstairs at the Kimberly Hotel (30th floor); 145 E 50th Street, NY 10022
The Skylark (30th floor, Mondays – Fridays only); 200 W 39th St, NY 10018
The Crown (21st floor, on top of 50 Bowery Hotel); 50 Bowery Street, NY 10013
The Heights (31st floor, on top of the Arlo Hotel, this one has a glass bottom); 11 E 31st St, NY 10016
Artie’s Backroom – Rooftop bar on top of Pod39 Hotel (17th floor); 145 E 39th St, NY 10016
PHD Lounge (15th floor, atop the Dream Hotel Downtown); 355 W 16th St, NY 10011

Also check out this comprehensive list of 69 New York rooftop bars; or the 18 best New York rooftop bars as chosen by Conde Nast Traveler.

Have you visited any of the rooftop bars or observation decks in New York City? Which one is your favorite?

Height: 850 feet (260 meters)

Floor(s): The three-level observation deck spreads out over three floors: 67th, 69th and 70^th.

Top Of The Rock is also, along with SUMMIT One, one of the observation decks that stays open late – until midnight.

Disadvantages: The observation deck is located at a lower height than the Empire State Building and One World Observatory.

Top Of The Rock Details

Skylift access is an additional $35, and the Beam is an extra $25.

Note: You have to choose an exact time slot for your visit, unless you purchase the VIP ticket (for which you have to select the date, but not an exact time).

Top Of The Rock is included in several City Passes.

Nearest subway stations: The subway station 47-50 Streets Rockefeller Center on the B, D, F, M lines is literally right underneath the building.

Other subway stations are: 5 Avenue / 53 St (E & M) 7 min walk; 49 Street (N, Q, R, W) 4 min walk; Times Square is a 10-min walk away; Grand Central Terminal is about 12 mins away.

Opening Hours: Daily from 8am – midnight. Last entry at 11.10pm.

Website: Top Of The Rock Observation Deck

One World Observatory: In the heart of the Financial District

Overview

Floor(s): 100 to 102nd floors

One World Observatory also offers views of the Brooklyn and the Manhattan Bridge as well as the Statue Of Liberty. This is something you cannot get on any of the other observation decks.

You can enjoy a glass of wine or prosecco with your view. There are a couple of concession stands inside the actual observatory where you can buy alcoholic beverages (and soft drinks).

In this photo, you can see the glare I mention, caused by the window reflection

One World Observatory Details

Admission: $49 general admission; $59 admission with priority line (+ $3.81 booking fee).

Note that if you choose general admission, you have to select a specific time slot for your visit.

Address: One World Trade Center, 285 Fulton Street, New York 10007

The entrance is on West Street.

Opening Times:

Sept. 5 – Dec. 20: 9:00am – 9:00pm (last ticket sold at 8:15pm)
Dec. 21 – Jan. 3: 9:00am – 8:00pm (be aware of special holiday hours)
Jan. 4 – April 30: 9:00am – 9:00pm (last ticket sold at 8:15pm)
May 1 – Sept. 4: 9:00am – 9:00pm (last ticket sold at 8:45pm)

Please note that there are adjusted Holiday hours on all major Holidays, such as Independence Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas – check the website if your visit falls on a Holiday.

Website: One World Observatory

Rooftop bars vs observatories

If you want to check out some of the best rooftop bars, here are some recommendations:

Bar 54 (54th floor, on top of the Hyatt Hotel Times Square); 135 W 45th St, NY 10036
Overstory (64th floor, on top of the iconic 70 Pine Street Building); 70 Pine Street, NY 10005
Monarch rooftop (18th floor, great Empire State Building views); 71 W 35th St, NY 10018
Upstairs at the Kimberly Hotel (30th floor); 145 E 50th Street, NY 10022
The Skylark (30th floor, Mondays – Fridays only); 200 W 39th St, NY 10018
The Crown (21st floor, on top of 50 Bowery Hotel); 50 Bowery Street, NY 10013
The Heights (31st floor, on top of the Arlo Hotel, this one has a glass bottom); 11 E 31st St, NY 10016
Artie’s Backroom – Rooftop bar on top of Pod39 Hotel (17th floor); 145 E 39th St, NY 10016
PHD Lounge (15th floor, atop the Dream Hotel Downtown); 355 W 16th St, NY 10011

Also check out this comprehensive list of 69 New York rooftop bars; or the 18 best New York rooftop bars as chosen by Conde Nast Traveler.

Have you visited any of the rooftop bars or observation decks in New York City? Which one is your favorite?

***Note that both the Rainbow Room and SixtyFive are only open from 5pm to midnight, and CLOSED on Saturdays, and sometimes closed for private events, so definitely check your preferred date. It’s also recommended to make a reservation. Also note that there is a strict dress code.***

Height: 850 feet (260 meters)

Floor(s): The three-level observation deck spreads out over three floors: 67th, 69th and 70^th.

Top Of The Rock is also, along with SUMMIT One, one of the observation decks that stays open late – until midnight.

Disadvantages: The observation deck is located at a lower height than the Empire State Building and One World Observatory.

Top Of The Rock Details

Skylift access is an additional $35, and the Beam is an extra $25.

Note: You have to choose an exact time slot for your visit, unless you purchase the VIP ticket (for which you have to select the date, but not an exact time).

Top Of The Rock is included in several City Passes.

Nearest subway stations: The subway station 47-50 Streets Rockefeller Center on the B, D, F, M lines is literally right underneath the building.

Other subway stations are: 5 Avenue / 53 St (E & M) 7 min walk; 49 Street (N, Q, R, W) 4 min walk; Times Square is a 10-min walk away; Grand Central Terminal is about 12 mins away.

Opening Hours: Daily from 8am – midnight. Last entry at 11.10pm.

Website: Top Of The Rock Observation Deck

One World Observatory: In the heart of the Financial District

Overview

Floor(s): 100 to 102nd floors

One World Observatory also offers views of the Brooklyn and the Manhattan Bridge as well as the Statue Of Liberty. This is something you cannot get on any of the other observation decks.

You can enjoy a glass of wine or prosecco with your view. There are a couple of concession stands inside the actual observatory where you can buy alcoholic beverages (and soft drinks).

In this photo, you can see the glare I mention, caused by the window reflection

One World Observatory Details

Admission: $49 general admission; $59 admission with priority line (+ $3.81 booking fee).

Note that if you choose general admission, you have to select a specific time slot for your visit.

Address: One World Trade Center, 285 Fulton Street, New York 10007

The entrance is on West Street.

Opening Times:

Sept. 5 – Dec. 20: 9:00am – 9:00pm (last ticket sold at 8:15pm)
Dec. 21 – Jan. 3: 9:00am – 8:00pm (be aware of special holiday hours)
Jan. 4 – April 30: 9:00am – 9:00pm (last ticket sold at 8:15pm)
May 1 – Sept. 4: 9:00am – 9:00pm (last ticket sold at 8:45pm)

Please note that there are adjusted Holiday hours on all major Holidays, such as Independence Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas – check the website if your visit falls on a Holiday.

Website: One World Observatory

Rooftop bars vs observatories

If you want to check out some of the best rooftop bars, here are some recommendations:

Bar 54 (54th floor, on top of the Hyatt Hotel Times Square); 135 W 45th St, NY 10036
Overstory (64th floor, on top of the iconic 70 Pine Street Building); 70 Pine Street, NY 10005
Monarch rooftop (18th floor, great Empire State Building views); 71 W 35th St, NY 10018
Upstairs at the Kimberly Hotel (30th floor); 145 E 50th Street, NY 10022
The Skylark (30th floor, Mondays – Fridays only); 200 W 39th St, NY 10018
The Crown (21st floor, on top of 50 Bowery Hotel); 50 Bowery Street, NY 10013
The Heights (31st floor, on top of the Arlo Hotel, this one has a glass bottom); 11 E 31st St, NY 10016
Artie’s Backroom – Rooftop bar on top of Pod39 Hotel (17th floor); 145 E 39th St, NY 10016
PHD Lounge (15th floor, atop the Dream Hotel Downtown); 355 W 16th St, NY 10011

Also check out this comprehensive list of 69 New York rooftop bars; or the 18 best New York rooftop bars as chosen by Conde Nast Traveler.

Have you visited any of the rooftop bars or observation decks in New York City? Which one is your favorite?

Height: 850 feet (260 meters)

Floor(s): The three-level observation deck spreads out over three floors: 67th, 69th and 70^th.

Top Of The Rock is also, along with SUMMIT One, one of the observation decks that stays open late – until midnight.

Disadvantages: The observation deck is located at a lower height than the Empire State Building and One World Observatory.

Top Of The Rock Details

Skylift access is an additional $35, and the Beam is an extra $25.

Note: You have to choose an exact time slot for your visit, unless you purchase the VIP ticket (for which you have to select the date, but not an exact time).

Top Of The Rock is included in several City Passes.

Nearest subway stations: The subway station 47-50 Streets Rockefeller Center on the B, D, F, M lines is literally right underneath the building.

Other subway stations are: 5 Avenue / 53 St (E & M) 7 min walk; 49 Street (N, Q, R, W) 4 min walk; Times Square is a 10-min walk away; Grand Central Terminal is about 12 mins away.

Opening Hours: Daily from 8am – midnight. Last entry at 11.10pm.

Website: Top Of The Rock Observation Deck

One World Observatory: In the heart of the Financial District

Overview

Floor(s): 100 to 102nd floors

One World Observatory also offers views of the Brooklyn and the Manhattan Bridge as well as the Statue Of Liberty. This is something you cannot get on any of the other observation decks.

You can enjoy a glass of wine or prosecco with your view. There are a couple of concession stands inside the actual observatory where you can buy alcoholic beverages (and soft drinks).

In this photo, you can see the glare I mention, caused by the window reflection

One World Observatory Details

Admission: $49 general admission; $59 admission with priority line (+ $3.81 booking fee).

Note that if you choose general admission, you have to select a specific time slot for your visit.

Address: One World Trade Center, 285 Fulton Street, New York 10007

The entrance is on West Street.

Opening Times:

Sept. 5 – Dec. 20: 9:00am – 9:00pm (last ticket sold at 8:15pm)
Dec. 21 – Jan. 3: 9:00am – 8:00pm (be aware of special holiday hours)
Jan. 4 – April 30: 9:00am – 9:00pm (last ticket sold at 8:15pm)
May 1 – Sept. 4: 9:00am – 9:00pm (last ticket sold at 8:45pm)

Please note that there are adjusted Holiday hours on all major Holidays, such as Independence Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas – check the website if your visit falls on a Holiday.

Website: One World Observatory

Rooftop bars vs observatories

If you want to check out some of the best rooftop bars, here are some recommendations:

Bar 54 (54th floor, on top of the Hyatt Hotel Times Square); 135 W 45th St, NY 10036
Overstory (64th floor, on top of the iconic 70 Pine Street Building); 70 Pine Street, NY 10005
Monarch rooftop (18th floor, great Empire State Building views); 71 W 35th St, NY 10018
Upstairs at the Kimberly Hotel (30th floor); 145 E 50th Street, NY 10022
The Skylark (30th floor, Mondays – Fridays only); 200 W 39th St, NY 10018
The Crown (21st floor, on top of 50 Bowery Hotel); 50 Bowery Street, NY 10013
The Heights (31st floor, on top of the Arlo Hotel, this one has a glass bottom); 11 E 31st St, NY 10016
Artie’s Backroom – Rooftop bar on top of Pod39 Hotel (17th floor); 145 E 39th St, NY 10016
PHD Lounge (15th floor, atop the Dream Hotel Downtown); 355 W 16th St, NY 10011

Also check out this comprehensive list of 69 New York rooftop bars; or the 18 best New York rooftop bars as chosen by Conde Nast Traveler.

Have you visited any of the rooftop bars or observation decks in New York City? Which one is your favorite?

Website: EDGE NYC

Top of the Rock – the one that has it all

Overview

The Top Of The Rock is the observatory atop the Comcast Building. Not a lot of people know the building by this name – by most it is referred to simply as 30 Rock, short for its address 30 Rockefeller Plaza. From 1933 to 1988, the building was known as the CA Building, from 1988 to 2015 as the GE Building, and ever since as the Comcast Building. Many people know the building as the home of NBC Studios, and it is here where popular TV shows such as Saturday Night Live, Late Night with Seth Myers and the Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon are taped.

The 69-story building is only the 28^nd tallest building in New York City and 400 feet (122 meters) shorter than the Empire State Building – the observation deck is 200 feet (61 m) lower than that of the ESB. And yet it is my personal favorite of all the observation decks. And that’s simply for two reasons: It’s the only observation deck in New York City that offers sweeping views of Central Park, and you also have the Empire State Building featured in your pictures, which you obviously don’t have when you’re standing on top of the ESB. Since that one is the most iconic skyscraper in NYC though, I like having it featured in my photos.

Two super cool new additions are the Skylift, which is a revolving, open-air glass platform that elevates visitors three stories above Top of the Rock’s top floor. The “Beam” resembles the steel beam that had workers casually lounging on in the world famous “Lunch atop a skyscraper” photo from 1932. Visitors sit down on the Beam which then rises 12 feet above Top of the Rock’s 69th-floor observation deck and rotates 180 degrees.

There’s also a bar on the first floor of the three-tiered observation deck, the Weather Room. They have a good selection of cocktails, coffee & hot chocolate, snacks and small meals, such as sandwiches and pastries.

Height: 850 feet (260 meters)

Floor(s): The three-level observation deck spreads out over three floors: 67th, 69th and 70^th.

Top Of The Rock is also, along with SUMMIT One, one of the observation decks that stays open late – until midnight.

Disadvantages: The observation deck is located at a lower height than the Empire State Building and One World Observatory.

Top Of The Rock Details

Skylift access is an additional $35, and the Beam is an extra $25.

Note: You have to choose an exact time slot for your visit, unless you purchase the VIP ticket (for which you have to select the date, but not an exact time).

Top Of The Rock is included in several City Passes.

Nearest subway stations: The subway station 47-50 Streets Rockefeller Center on the B, D, F, M lines is literally right underneath the building.

Other subway stations are: 5 Avenue / 53 St (E & M) 7 min walk; 49 Street (N, Q, R, W) 4 min walk; Times Square is a 10-min walk away; Grand Central Terminal is about 12 mins away.

Opening Hours: Daily from 8am – midnight. Last entry at 11.10pm.

Website: Top Of The Rock Observation Deck

One World Observatory: In the heart of the Financial District

Overview

Floor(s): 100 to 102nd floors

One World Observatory also offers views of the Brooklyn and the Manhattan Bridge as well as the Statue Of Liberty. This is something you cannot get on any of the other observation decks.

You can enjoy a glass of wine or prosecco with your view. There are a couple of concession stands inside the actual observatory where you can buy alcoholic beverages (and soft drinks).

In this photo, you can see the glare I mention, caused by the window reflection

One World Observatory Details

Admission: $49 general admission; $59 admission with priority line (+ $3.81 booking fee).

Note that if you choose general admission, you have to select a specific time slot for your visit.

Address: One World Trade Center, 285 Fulton Street, New York 10007

The entrance is on West Street.

Opening Times:

Sept. 5 – Dec. 20: 9:00am – 9:00pm (last ticket sold at 8:15pm)
Dec. 21 – Jan. 3: 9:00am – 8:00pm (be aware of special holiday hours)
Jan. 4 – April 30: 9:00am – 9:00pm (last ticket sold at 8:15pm)
May 1 – Sept. 4: 9:00am – 9:00pm (last ticket sold at 8:45pm)

Please note that there are adjusted Holiday hours on all major Holidays, such as Independence Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas – check the website if your visit falls on a Holiday.

Website: One World Observatory

Rooftop bars vs observatories

If you want to check out some of the best rooftop bars, here are some recommendations:

Bar 54 (54th floor, on top of the Hyatt Hotel Times Square); 135 W 45th St, NY 10036
Overstory (64th floor, on top of the iconic 70 Pine Street Building); 70 Pine Street, NY 10005
Monarch rooftop (18th floor, great Empire State Building views); 71 W 35th St, NY 10018
Upstairs at the Kimberly Hotel (30th floor); 145 E 50th Street, NY 10022
The Skylark (30th floor, Mondays – Fridays only); 200 W 39th St, NY 10018
The Crown (21st floor, on top of 50 Bowery Hotel); 50 Bowery Street, NY 10013
The Heights (31st floor, on top of the Arlo Hotel, this one has a glass bottom); 11 E 31st St, NY 10016
Artie’s Backroom – Rooftop bar on top of Pod39 Hotel (17th floor); 145 E 39th St, NY 10016
PHD Lounge (15th floor, atop the Dream Hotel Downtown); 355 W 16th St, NY 10011

Also check out this comprehensive list of 69 New York rooftop bars; or the 18 best New York rooftop bars as chosen by Conde Nast Traveler.

Have you visited any of the rooftop bars or observation decks in New York City? Which one is your favorite?

The post What’s the best Observation Deck in New York City? appeared first on GlobetrotterGirls.

Globetrottergirls Quick Guide To Staniel Cay

Dani — Wed, 16 Mar 2022 16:48:29 +0000

Last Updated on January 21, 2026

Before I visited the Bahamas, I knew very little about the setup of the islands, about distances, about the islands worth visiting. I quickly realized that island hopping isn’t easy in the Bahamas – unless you travel with your own boat – so I decided to spend a whole week on one island. But how to know what’s the best island for you? For me it was easy, because I wanted to be as close to Pig Beach as possible, and the closest island to Pig Beach is Staniel Cay. I’d never heard of Staniel Cay until I planned my trip to the Bahamas, so if you are also unfamiliar with this island, I put together a quick guide to Staniel Cay, including where to stay, where to eat, what to do and how to get around.

Staniel Cay Travel Guide

How to get to Staniel Cay

Flamingo Air offers two daily flights to Staniel Cay from Nassau – one in the early morning (8am, arriving in Staniel Cay at 8.30am) and one in the afternoon (4.30pm, arriving in Staniel Cay at 5pm).

Round-trip tickets from Nassau to Staniel Cay are cheap: you can find flights for around US$250 return.

Titan Air would be a second option, offering flights from US$259 each way. Titan Air has one flight to Staniel Cay in the morning and one in the afternoon (and vice versa).

There are also direct flights from Florida. Makers Air offers round-trip tickets for around US$630 from Fort Lauderdale.

Tip: The planes that fly to Staniel Cay are tiny – do NOT pack a huge suitcase for your trip to the Bahamas. You don’t need more than a couple of bikinis and some sunscreen anyway.

How to get around on Staniel Cay

Staniel Cay is a tiny island in the Exumas – and when I say tiny, I mean T I N Y. You can walk from the southernmost point of the island to the northernmost point in less than one hour, and east to west in about half an hour. The island is walkable – but only if you enjoy walking. Remember that it’s hot most of the time, so most visitors rent golf carts for their stay.

Embrace Resort is close to the airport (just a 5-min walk) and offers golf cart rentals by the day and by the week ($60 per day – discounts are offered if you rent a cart for several day, or if you’re staying at Embrace Resort).

What to do on Staniel Cay

Be a beach bum

There are several smaller beaches on Staniel Cay – my favorite was Pirate Beach in the north of the island. Visiting Staniel Cay is all about relaxing! You can visit a different beach every day.

Swim with the pigs in the Bahamas

Most people end up on Staniel Cay because they want to swim with the pigs in Big Mayor Cay – and if you skip a trip to Pig Beach.. did you even go to the Bahamas?! This is a must-do excursion when you’re in the Exumas. The Pig Beach Tours also include so much more than just the piggies: You’ll get to swim with sharks, see some of the most picturesque sandbars in the Caribbean, snorkel at a sunken plane wreck, hang out with iguanas, and swim into a sea cave. I wrote about my Pig Beach Tour in detail here.

Get to know the island by golf cart

Even if you don’t rent a golf cart for the entire time of your stay, it’s worth renting one for just a day so that you can cruise around the entire island. It’s a great way to really get to know Staniel Cay and to discover some of the further away beaches.

Go stand-up paddle boarding

If you love stand-up paddle boarding, you can rent an SUP at L&C Island Rentals for $80 per day.

Watch the sunset from the town beach

The town beach (just south of the Yacht Club) is a great spot to watch the sunset from. If you’re staying on the opposite side of the island, it’s worth walking over there one afternoon to watch the sunset over the Caribbean Sea.

Rent a jet ski

For a fun day out on the water, rent a jet ski for the day! A great way to get to know the waters around Staniel Cay and to see the island from a different angle.

Rent a boat for the day

Isles General offers 17 feet 90 HP boats for rent – either for the day or for a full week.

Half day: $190
Full day: $250
Week: $1,450

L&C Island Rentals also offers boat rentals.

70 Yamaha 4-stroke (up to 5 passengers): $300 per day, plus fuel, plus 10% VAT
115 Yamaha 4-stroke (up to 6 passengers): $375 per day, plus fuel, plus 10% VAT
150 Yamaha 4-stroke (up to 8 passengers): $475 per day, plus fuel, plus 10% VAT
150 Yamaha 4-stroke (up to 10 passengers): $525 per day, plus fuel, plus 10% VAT
200 Yamaha 4-stroke (up to 8 passengers): $525 per day, plus fuel, plus 10% VAT
250 Yamaha 4-stroke (up to 8 passengers): $675 per day, plus fuel, plus 10% VAT

Gamble

If you’re into gambling, you’re in luck: there’s a small casino on Staniel Cay, named Island Luck (on the main road, right next to Lindsay’s Boutique. I did not go inside, so I can’t report back on what it is actually like, but from what I could see it is tiny.

Swim with turtles

If you want to venture a little further away or experience more marine life, you can also book a tour to swim with turtles in the Exumas and visit deserted beaches, secluded islands and snorkeling spots along the way.

Where to eat on Staniel Cay

There are only a couple of restaurants on the island, so booking a villa with a kitchen is not a bad idea (if you don’t mind cooking while on vacation).

If you want to eat out, these are your options:

Staniel Cay Yacht Club

The Staniel Cay Yacht Club is definitely the most popular restaurant on the island – mostly because it is the restaurant with the widest selection of dishes (mostly American food and seafood). The restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. For dinner, there’s a daily changing set menu, but you have to make a reservation in advance (you can also order a la carte.)

Expect to pay between $16 – $24 for lunch, and between $36 – $52 for a dinner entree. Breakfast dishes range from $16 to $20. VAT (7.5%) and 15% gratuity are added to your bill.

Flyin’ Pig Cafe

The Flyin’ Pig Cafe is inside the Embrace Resort right by the airport (great place to kill some time at if your flight is delayed!) and they serve coffee, pastries and quick bites such as paninis, wings, truffle fries, and more. Prices are cheaper than at Staniel Cay Yacht Club. Alcohol is served, too.

Big Dogs

Big Dogs is more of a local hangout, you’ll see the locals enjoy a beer here. Feel free to stop by for a beer or for a traditional Bahamian meal if you feel adventurous. There’s no menu, and usually only one dish per day cooked.

Where to stay on Staniel Cay

There aren’t a lot of accommodation options on the island – there are only around half a dozen hotels on Staniel Cay. In addition to hotels, you’ll find a number of vacation rentals, bookable through websites like Expedia, Airbnb, and VRBO.

Tip: To avoid disappointment, I recommend booking a place to stay as soon as you book your flights to the Bahamas – especially if you’re visiting during a busy season, like Christmas or New Year’s. Since there aren’t a lot of options, vacation rentals and resorts do fill up.

Hotels, resorts and vacation rentals on Staniel Cay:

Embrace Resort – A small, family-run resort with seven villas. They range in size and amenities (some villas have a kitchen and a hot tub, and there’s a honeymoon suite) – each villa has a unique design and decor. There’s a small swimming pool and a concierge service. You can read more about Embrace Resort here.Chamberlain’s Cottage Rentals – Six cottages and one 2-bedroom house available for rent. The cottages are all designed uniquely.

Staniel Rentals – They have a selection of luxury vacation rentals on Staniel Cay, ranging from cottages to larger villas with several bedrooms, sleeping 2 – 10 people. Some villas have a swimming pool.

Crow’s Nest Beach Cottage – villa with modern amenities sitting atop the highest point of the island, offering fabulous views over all of Staniel Cay.

Staniel Cay Villas – They have two villas on Staniel Cay, one sleeps up to 10 people, the other one up to 13 people. Both have a swimming pool; one villa has a dock and one has direct beach access.

Lazy Bay Villas – They have three villas to choose from, all with direct water access / docks. Each villa has a small plunge pool and sleeps up to 6 people.

Gibraltar – Oceanfront vacation home that sleeps up to 8 people; comes with outdoor BBQ grill, hammocks and kayaks

Palm Tops Resort – Luxury boutique hotel with 4 villas, ranging from 1-bedroom (sleeping 2 people) to 3-bedroom (sleeping 8 people).

Staniel Cay Yacht Club – The largest resort on Staniel Cay, with 16 waterside bungalows. This resort has a swimming pool, an onsite restaurant and a marina.

Isles Inn – There are two 1-bedroom apartments, a small and a large one. This family also runs the Isles General Store.

Where to shop on Staniel Cay

Don’t expect to do a lot of shopping on Staniel Cay – you really only have a few grocery stores (nothing like an American grocery store – more comparable to a small mom & pop store or a New York bodega).

I found the selection in all of the stores very limited, so if you’d like to enjoy certain comfort foods or snacks from back home (such as specific brands of granola bars, supplements, keto-friendly or paleo-friendly foods), bring them with you on your trip.

I should also note that non-dairy milk alternatives were hard to come by.

The three grocery stores on the island

Pink Pearl Groceries – apparently the cheapest among the island’s grocery stores. You’ll also find price tags on the groceries, whereas Burke’s does not add price tags.
Burke’s Convenience Store – Be aware that there are no prices on the groceries, so you may be surprised by the hefty bill. Burke’s is the priciest of the grocery stores on the island. Groceries are never cheap in small, remote island locations, and the majority of products available in the stores are imported from the U.S.
Isles General A-Z Store – This store is located close to the airport and has, in addition to groceries, marine supplies. You can also rent a boat at Isles General. If you’re staying in the southern part of the island, this store will be closest to you.

If you’re looking for a specific ingredient / food, it’s worth checking out all three stores. Note that all three shops close early (before 6pm) and are usually closed on Sundays.

Liquor Store

There’s one shop on Staniel Cay that sells beer and liquor – and it doubles as the island’s laundry service. You can find the laundry service on GoogleMaps as “Andrews Laundry’ – Staniel Cay Laundromat” and it’s a short walk from the other grocery stores. Expect to pay $4 for a bottle of local beer, and considerably more for liquor than you’re used to pay back home (if you can, stock up at Duty Free on your way to the Bahamas!) Note that Andrew’s closes early – around 4pm if I remember it right.

Souvenir Shop

There’s a small souvenir shop on the island, right on the main road, right by the church. Lindsay’s Boutique and Gift Shop has souvenirs, clothes (shirts, hats, etc) and also sells beer.

Things To Know Before You Visit Staniel Cay

Money Matters / ATM

There’s no ATM on Staniel Cay, so make sure to have enough cash on you. US Dollars are accepted everywhere (the exchange rates is US$1 for 1 Bahamian Dollar), but you may get Bahamian Dollars for your change.

Some places accept cards (like the restaurant at the Staniel Cay Yacht Club), but you’ll need cash at some of the other places. You can use your credit card to pay for your hotel and tours but note that there’s usually a 5% credit card fee.

Safety on Staniel Cay

The island is very safe – I don’t think the policemen on Staniel Cay have a very demanding job! I didn’t feel unsafe once, neither when I was all by myself on a beach, nor when I was walking back to my hotel from dinner late at night. Because the island is so tiny, I think you’d be able to locate a missing or stolen item quickly.

As a solo female traveler who has been to a lot of countries where I was constantly harassed, I also want to note that the local men were all very polite when I was out walking by myself, but they kept a respectful distance.

Weather on Staniel Cay

As I already mentioned in my guide to Pig Beach, the weather can be unpredictable, even though the Bahamas are warm year-round (77 – 87 Fahrenheit on average). It can happen that you wake up to grey and cloudy skies or even rain, but then have the most beautiful afternoon with clear blue skies. I recommend to always make the most of it when the sun comes out, because you never know how long it lasts.

When it rains, it usually doesn’t rain for very long, but I’d recommend packing a long-sleeve shirt or thin jacket for the night, and something to protect you from the rain as well as the sun (a hat / umbrella). The wettest month is October.

The post Globetrottergirls Quick Guide To Staniel Cay appeared first on GlobetrotterGirls.

Visiting A Hammam In Istanbul – My first Turkish Bath Experience

Dani — Tue, 15 Feb 2022 13:05:51 +0000

Last Updated on March 9, 2026

Until my recent visit to Istanbul, I was never interested in a Hammam ritual. I had visited Istanbul three times over the years, and a Turkish Bath was never on my “to do list”. Not because I don’t like spas and saunas – I loved cheap spa getaways when I still lived in Europe – but because somewhere in the back of my mind, there was a little piece of information stored, that made a Turkish Bath completely uninteresting to me. And that fact was that there was some level of nudity involved in the Hammam ritual.It always surprises people when it comes up in a conversation that I am uncomfortable being naked – probably because I am German and my countrymen are known to love nudity. If you don’t know what I am talking about: the BBC published a whole article Why Germans Love Getting Naked In Public, CNN shared The Naked Truth About Nudity in Germany, and the New York Times mused A Very German Idea of Freedom: Nude Ping-Pong, Nude Sledding, Nude Just About Anything

Saunas, nude beaches, nude hiking, nude tennis “Freikörperkultur” – give us plenty of opportunities to undress, and we happily oblige. Well, that may be the case for most Germans, but it isn’t the case for me. While growing up, I had several friends who’d travel to the Baltic Sea with their parents to enjoy the nude beaches up there (oh the horror!), but luckily, my parents never had the desire to join them. That’s not to say that they were prude – growing up, I saw my parents naked all the time, and nudity was encouraged in our house. And yet, somehow I ended up a prude.

When I was 18, I dated a boy (the only boy I seriously dated before I met my first girlfriend a few months later), who loved going to the sauna. And since we were dating, his frequent visits to the sauna included me. Near the town I grew up in there are a number of “Finnish Saunas”, with several steam rooms and saunas at different temperatures, and of course the ice plunge pools. Every indoor pool and spa had a very nice sauna area. I would have probably enjoyed them more had I been able to cover my private parts.

enjoying a spa in Costa Rica – not nude!

But even now, more than twenty years later, I can still remember the discomfort I felt every time we spent an evening in the sauna. I admired the confidence of my boyfriend, who never seemed to have the slightest bit of uneasiness, even though he certainly didn’t have a body you’d see in a Calvin Klein underwear commercial.

After our relationship ended, I never went back to a fully nude sauna. I went to the sauna regularly while I worked in a 5* hotel in Austria a few years later – but I always kept my bathing suit on. On a blog trip to Finland a few years ago to experience the glory of a Scandinavian winter (I’ll leave it to you to decide if this was sarcastic or not), I had a quick freakout when I saw that a Finnish sauna was part of the itinerary, because I knew that in Scandinavia, going to the sauna means being naked.

Imagine the relief I felt when I learned that since there were quite a few Americans on the trip, they had decided to make bathing suits obligatory for the sauna experience, so that nobody would feel uncomfortable.

So how did I end up in a Hammam in Istanbul? Truthfully, it was mainly because I was cold. When I booked a trip to Turkey on a whim, I did expect to brave a snowstorm on my wanderings around town, but here we were. My trip to Istanbul coincided with one of the biggest snowstorms that the city had seen, making global news.

I’d booked this trip because I’d remembered that on a one-day stopover I had in January in Istanbul a few years ago on my way to Asia, it was sunny and warm. I had the best time back then, not even wearing a winter jacket. I made a mental note that Istanbul could be enjoyable in the winter, too – my previous visits had always been during the hot and sweaty summer months. That’s probably why it never even occurred to me to visit a Turkish Bath.But this time around, I was cold. I was walking around the city wearing everything I’d packed, layering up, and still not getting warm. So when I saw a Hammam advertised on my wanderings, it suddenly seemed very appealing. Nudity? Who cares!

Instead of walking straight into the first Hammam, I went to a café and started researching the best Hammams in Istanbul. If I was going to do this, it had to be amazing. After some research, I made a reservation at Kilic Ali Pasa Hamam.

I was intrigued by the beautiful historic building, which I’d walked by a few times, not knowing that it was a Hammam. With its dome roof, it looks more like a mosque than a Hammam. I learned that it was built in 1580, and in fact part of the Kilic Ali Pasa mosque complex. The dome, 230 feet (17 meters) in height and 46 feet (14 meters) in diameter, is one of the largest hammam domes in Istanbul.

One of the largest hammam domes in Istanbul

I also liked that there were separate times for men and women (women from 8am to 4.30pm, men in the evenings), unlike the saunas in Germany which had always been mixed. Other hammams do not offer different times for men and women, by the way, but when both genders can visit at the same time, they have separate areas for each gender.

Instead of making a booking via email, you have to send a request with your desired date and time, and if there’s availability, you get an email back confirming your booking. I sent off my booking request, thinking that if my reservation was NOT confirmed for my last day in Istanbul, then it wasn’t supposed to be.

But it was supposed to be – a couple of hours after sending my email, a confirmation landed in my inbox. The next morning, I’d be going to a Hammam. To be honest, I didn’t know what to expect. I decided not to watch any YouTube videos, not to read any experience articles – all I knew were the vague details I’d seen in the Google reviews I’d glanced through, including the sentence that made me hit the “book” button: “If you do nothing else in Istanbul, go to Kilic Ali Pasa”, had a reviewer named Catherine stated. And I figured, this being my third trip to Istanbul, and my fourth time in Turkey, I should partake in something that was such an integral part of Turkish culture.

So there I was, on a freezing winter morning, ready to get out of my comfort zone, entering the Hammam. It was very quiet, only one other woman arrived while I was still sitting in the lobby, drinking the şerbet, the ayurvedic drink, I was served. One of the attendants told me to go upstairs and put my clothes in a locker, and then to come back down just wrapped in a traditional Turkish cotton towel, the pestemal, the slippers they provided – and with my bikini bottoms on. The attendants for women (natir) are all female, and the attendants for men (tellak) are all male.

I did as I was told and another attendant took me inside the bath. She sat me down on a marble bench and started pouring warm water over my body, before telling me to lay down on a large heated hexagon marble slab (called Göbektaşı) right underneath a high domed ceiling. I was told I’d be laying on the hot marble for about fifteen minutes. The marble was hot, but not uncomfortably hot – and it felt really good. Shortly after I’d laid down, another woman joined me. Both of us were just laying there, staring at the dome above us – I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t a bit awkward. But fifteen minutes went by quickly, and my attendant came back to pick me up and wash me.

This was definitely out of my comfort zone: having somebody wash me. After sitting me down next to a marble water basin (the kurna), she started washing me down with water, scrubbed my entire body from top to bottom with an exfoliating mitt (the kese). I could literally see skin and dirt coming off of my body, and was slightly embarrassed about how dirty I was. How could I be this dirty, despite scrubbing myself with a loofah every day? Wow! I guess I should make Turkish Baths a regular occurrence then.

After I was scrubbed down, the attendant dunked a pillowcase-like cotton bag (a torba) into a soap mixture, and I can’t explain how it works exactly, but somehow the bag filled up with soap and she poured the foamy soap all over my body. I was covered in foam and it felt and smelled amazing. The woman who had arrived at around the same time as me was being washed right across from me while a third guest was laying on the Göbektaşı in the middle of the room. It was fascinating to get a visual of what was happening to me – seeing her covered in bubbles, too, made me wish I had my camera to snap a quick selfie. But phones and cameras are not allowed inside the hammam – they were upstairs in the locker room.

Image via https://kilicalipasahamami.com

The attendant then rubbed the bubbles – apparently olive oil soap – onto my skin. She really took her time soaping me up, it was almost like a full body massage, rubbing the soap everywhere. That included even the spaces between my fingers and my toes! Nothing was left out, only what was covered by my bikini bottoms.

Now, a fourth woman entered the room – the bath started filling up, but I don’t think there’d ever be more than five or six woman in the bath at the same time (because there are only four basins in the room). While she soaped me up, we chatted a bit, she asked me about my life and I learned that she was the mother of two 11-year old children. The attendants only have a towel wrapped around their waist and wear bikini tops because they do get wet during the bath, too.

After she’d soaped me up entirely, she washed my hair with shampoo and conditioner, and then she filled up the kurna next to me with warm water and started pouring it over me from a small silver bowl. And that was it. After all the foamy soap was washed off of my body, she led me to another room where she wrapped me into a soft, dry towel and thanked me for being her guest.

Back outside in the foyer, I was told I could sit in the camegah, the sofa area, and relax for as long as I wanted. An attendant brought a drink menu which included drinks like Ayran and herbal teas, and I ordered a jasmine tea to prolong the experience a little longer. There are separate massage rooms, by the way, and oil massages can be booked as an add-on to the Hammam ritual. I’d hoped that there would be sauna room or a steam room, as I’d read was the case in other hammams, but this Turkish Bath was really just about washing the guests. But even without a sauna or steam room, it was nice to sit and relax in the historic building for a while, admiring the brick dome above me.

Would I visit a Hammam again? Yes, absolutely. Admittedly, I wasn’t entirely comfortable during the experience – being scrubbed down by someone is just weird – but I felt squeaky clean, refreshed and relaxed when I left the hammam. I would be curious to try a different Turkish Bath next time in Istanbul – there are plenty to choose from!

The best Turkish Baths in Istanbul:

- The Hagia Sophia Hurrem Sultan Bathhouse (1556)
- Cağaloğlu Hamamı (since 1741)
- Galatasaray Hamam (since 1481!)
- Süleymaniye Hamam (since 1550)
- Çemberlitaş Hamamı (constructed in 1584)
- Alaturka Hammam
- Çatma Mescit Hammam

The best Turkish bath and spa experiences in Istanbul:

Private Turkish Bath, Sauna, and Massage (at the Doubletree by Hilton Sirkeci Hotel’s Turkish Bath & Spa) from US$58
Traditional Turkish Bath (at the historic Vezneciler hamam) from US$25
Acemoglu Historical Turkish Bath w/Private Options (at Acemoglu Hammam) from US$42
Private Turkish Bath, Massage, and Spa (at the Beethoven Senfoni Hotel’s spa) from US$52
Traditional Turkish Bath with Foam and Oil Massage (at the Victory Hotel & Spa’s Victory Turkish Bath) from US$45
Gedikpasa Historical Hammam with Privacy Add-On (at Gedikpasa Hamami), from US$58
Public, Private or VIP Hammam & Spa in Old City (at Sultan Mehmed Hammam, inside 5-star-hotel Ramada by Wyndham Sultanahmet) from US$40
Hurrem Sultan Hamam Experience at Hurrem Sultan Hamam from US$127
Cagaloglu Hamam Experience at Cagaloglu Hamam from US$104
Private Turkish Bath, Massage, and Pool (at the Grand Hotel de Pera‘s spa) from US$52

The post Visiting A Hammam In Istanbul – My first Turkish Bath Experience appeared first on GlobetrotterGirls.

Sharks, swimming pigs, and iguanas: An Unforgettable Day Excursion in the Bahamas

Dani — Tue, 25 Jan 2022 21:15:49 +0000

Last Updated on January 21, 2026

Swimming with the pigs was the main reason why I wanted to visit the Bahamas. But what’s the Pig Beach tour like? It entailed so much more than just swimming with pigs that I wanted to give you a detailed rundown what to expect when you book a Swimming Pigs Tour. From snorkeling above the wreck of a crashed airplane to swimming into a hidden sea cave to exploring a secluded beach filled with iguanas – our Pig Beach Excursion was packed with so many unforgettable moments!

Most of the tours to Pig Beach are structured similarly, no matter if you’re flying down to for the day from Nassau or if you’re based on Staniel Cay. The only tours that are different are the speedboat tours from Nassau – scroll down to the end for further information and what to look out for when booking a Pig Beach Tour.

My tour was booked through 3 N’s Vacation Services, and I can’t speak highly enough of them. Our captain, Kuenson, was so attentive to every single person on the boat, always making sure that we had everything we needed, got exactly the photos we wanted, and helped the people who weren’t good swimmers.

What To Expect On A Pig Beach Tour

Because the tours to Pig Beach include so many more activities than just swimming with the pigs, the excursions start early. Since I was already staying on Staniel Cay, I was able to sleep in though. Everyone else on my tour flew in from Nassau and had a 6am start – I had a relaxing morning on the deck of my villa at Embrace Resort until I heard the plane land on the nearby airstrip and made my way over there to meet my fellow travelers.

Two American couples joined me on the boat, which was docked just a short walk from the airport. Within fifteen minutes of the plane landing, we were all on board and on the way to our first stop: Thunderball Grotto. It didn’t take us long to get there – Thunderball Grotto is only a five-minute boat ride from Staniel Cay.

Thunderball Grotto – Snorkeling in a Sea Cave

Thunderball Grotto became famous as a filming location for the 1965 James Bond movie Thunderball. When we anchored the boat, we had no idea what to expect, because from the outside, all we could see was a massive rock peaking out of the shallow water. We followed Captain Kuenson to a tiny hole in the rocks – the entrance to the grotto. We would have never been able to spot the small entrance without him! We slowly swam inside, trying not to hit the rocks, and not even a minute later we found ourselves in a stunning sea cave.

Who would think that there’s an incredible sea cave behind this rock?

The water in the cave is full of fish, and we were able to snorkel with them for a while, admiring the beautiful underwater rock formations and the stalactites that were hanging down from the ceiling of the cave. There are three round holes in the cave ceiling, and depending on the weather and the time of day, the sunlight creates stunning sun beams all the way down to the bottom of the grotto. Captain Kuenson asked me if I wanted to swim out of a different cave entrance with him, and he showed me another tiny hole in the rock through which we exited the grotto. Our trip was off to a great start – this cave excursion had my adrenaline pumping!Back on the boat, we didn’t even have time to dry off, because only five minutes later, we reached Stop Number 2: Pig Beach.

Swimming with the pigs in Pig Beach

Pig Beach is a small beach on Big Mayor Cay, which is a small uninhabited island – uninhabited except for 30 or 40 pigs. This was what we were all were most excited for, and it didn’t disappoint. We spent some time frolicking with the pigs in the sand, we took photos, and were even invited to bottle feed some of the piglets. It turned out that the piggies really love belly rubs and I spent most of the time on the beach sitting in the sand rubbing the pigs’ bellies.

I wasn’t sure if anything could top this stop – only the second one of the day! – but Captain Kuenson assured me that there was still a lot to come, and to keep my camera ready. Sure enough, it didn’t take long and we arrived at the most scenic sandbar I’d ever seen: Pipe Creek Sand Bar.

A picture-perfect photo stop: Pipe Creek Sand Bar

There’s no shortage of beautiful sand bars in the Exumas, and every Pig Beach Tour includes a stop at one of them. Ours couldn’t have been more perfect: white, powdery sand so bright that it almost hurt our eyes, surrounded by shallow water so clear that it was hard to believe that this was a real place. This is where you can get the most stunning Bahamas photos to post on your Instagram to make all your friends jealous (bring props!).

Our Captain made sure that everyone in our group got all the pictures we wanted, and there was time to go for a swim. Most of the sand bars in this area are completely under water during high tide, and because of that, they look completely untouched every day when they emerge during low tide.

Because our next boat ride would be a little bit longer, Captain Kuenson got out some snacks for us when we climbed back into the boat. My tour with 3 N’s Vacation Services included sweet and savory snacks as well as beer and soft drinks. After leaving the sand bar, I was once again not sure if anything could top this beautiful stop, but when we pulled up at Compass Cay, we found out that we would be swimming with sharks here.

Compass Cay – Swimming with Sharks

This stop is not for the faint of heart: you literally jump from the boat into shark-infested waters. But no worries, these sharks are nurse sharks, known to be very friendly and harmless, unless they’re triggered by something (but even then they wouldn’t do much damage). Someone used the term “pet sharks” to describe them, and that’s pretty fitting: they’re used to being fed scraps by the fishermen when they return to the marina, which is why they hang around the piers on Compass Cay.

The sharks range in size – some were small, around 3 feet long, but others were seven feet long and definitely looked a bit intimidating. The sharks didn’t give us any reason to be scared though: they were all playful and kept swimming circles around us, waiting to be fed some scraps.

After this exhilarating experience, we were ready for a break, so the longer boat ride back to Staniel Cay was welcome. We would take a break there and have lunch on the island (included in our tour) before heading to our next stop: a sunken plane wreck.

Snorkeling Above A Sunken Plane Wreck

The plane wreck we stopped at is sitting in such shallow water that it is one of the most accessible plane wrecks in the Caribbean. The water is so shallow that you don’t even need to swim – you can simply walk and peek at the wreck through your goggles.

The plane was used by drug traffickers under Pablo Escobar, bringing drugs from Colombia to Miami via the Bahamas, and crashed just off the shore of Staniel Cay in the 1970s. It’s not often that you can get so close to a wreck without having to dive, so this was another awesome stop. After the plane wreck, we had one stop left on our tour: a beach filled with iguanas.

Beach time with Iguanas

The reason for our visit to Bitter Guana Cay? To spend time with iguanas! The Bahamian Rock Iguanas, who live on only a couple of Bahamian islands, are an endangered species, and it is estimated that only 5,000 of them are left. On Bitter Guana Cay, they are plentiful though, and we were greeted by dozens of the colorful reptiles when our boat anchored at the deserted beach.

A few iguanas were hanging out right on the sand, others were lurking behind some bushes. They were not as welcoming as the pigs who came running at us as soon as we descended upon their beach, but I also wouldn’t call them unfriendly. They kept a safe distance and observe us from afar.

While we were strolling down the beach, which we had all to ourselves, we also saw a big stingray in the water, and a couple of starfish. It is amazing to think that this pristine beach is not overrun with people! Once we were back on the boat, we were served a cold beer by Captain Kuenson for our last boat ride of the day: the ride back to Staniel Cay.

While we were gliding through the azure blue water, I thought about all the fantastic experiences we’ve had: meeting the famous swimming pigs, hanging out with sharks, snorkeling in a cave, and seeing some picture-perfect Caribbean islands.. that’s more than most people experience on their entire vacation, and we fit it all in one day.

Book a Pig Beach Tour: The Details

The tour I went on with Staniel Cay Vacations is the standard tour sold by most of the tour operators that offer Pig Beach Tours. You can also book this Pig Beach Tour from Nassau. The itinerary may vary slightly, depending on weather conditions and the company you go with, and if you’re taking a speedboat tour from Nassau or a tour from Staniel Cay. I talk in more detail about the differences between these tours and how much they cost in this article:

Everything you need to know before visiting Pig Beach in the Bahamas

In my tour included were: snorkeling equipment, towels, snacks, soft drinks and beer, all entrance fees and taxes, hotel / airport transfers, and an awesome guide who doubled as our photographer (don’t forget to tip your guide!).

Staniel Cay Vacations also offers private tours, which are customizable, suited to your interests. I went on another tour with them that included snorkeling with sea turtles on a small island south of Black Point Island. Four of the world’s seven sea turtle species can be found in the Bahamas, and we swam with Green Sea Turtles, which was an amazing experience.

I’ve swum with sea turtles in quite a few countries, but on this trip, there was one turtle that was incredibly friendly and let me swim alongside it for a long time. It was not afraid of us at all! This was definitely one of the best experiences I’ve had swimming with turtles.

On the same tour, we also visited the Exuma Cays Land and Sea National Park, an ecological preserve and wildlife refuge. Fishing is prohibited in the entire park, and it is home to mangrove forests, the Rocky Dundas cave system, and a Sea Aquarium. We anchored in Warderick Wells to see the skeleton of a 52’ sperm whale – an impressive sight. Sadly, the whale died because it swallowed so much plastic trash.. the tragic reality of today’s world and the plastic garbage in our oceans.

The Sea Aquarium was also part of that tour, a small snorkeling site near a reef that was named “sea aquarium” because it attracts so many colorful fish and marine life that it literally feels like you’re swimming in an aquarium when you’re snorkeling there. That’s where my underwater camera’s battery died because I took so many videos of all the tropical fish!

If you have special requests – some people want to include the underwater piano, which makes for a great photo opp – I recommend booking a private tour, so that you can customize the places you’d like to stop at.

The post Sharks, swimming pigs, and iguanas: An Unforgettable Day Excursion in the Bahamas appeared first on GlobetrotterGirls.

Everything you need to know before visiting Pig Beach in the Bahamas

Dani — Sun, 23 Jan 2022 21:39:24 +0000

Last Updated on January 21, 2026

The main draw for me to visit the Bahamas was to meet the swimming pigs. Prior to my trip, I hadn’t done much research – I had no idea where the pigs were living (did you know that the Bahamas are made up of 700 islands and 2,400 cays? But only 30 of the islands are inhabited.) or how to get there from the international airport in Nassau (the capital of the Bahamas). As I delved deeper into the topic of how to swim with the pigs in the Bahamas, I learned that they live on a small island named Big Mayor Cay, which doesn’t have any inhabitants other than a few dozen pigs. In this article, I am sharing everything you need to know before visiting Pig Beach in the Bahamas – all the things that I wish I would’ve known prior to my visit, and some facts I learned while I was there. If you have any questions you don’t find answers for here, feel free to contact me via the comment section below.

Things to know before visiting Pig Beach in the Bahamas

Where exactly in the Bahamas is Pig Beach?

Pig Beach is located in a part of the Bahamian Islands known as The Exumas. The Exumas are an archipelago of 365 cays and islands which begin about 80 miles (130 kilometers) southeast of Nassau. The majority of visitors tends to stay in Nassau, but there are various resorts, hotels and vacation rentals scattered across the Exumas.

The island the pigs live on is called Big Major Cay. Apart from the pigs, the island is uninhabited. The closest inhabited island to Big Mayor Cay is Staniel Cay – a tiny island with a population of around 110 people, but luckily it has an airport. If you want to visit the swimming pigs, you have two options: you can base yourself on Staniel Cay (from where you can get to the pigs in only ten minutes!), or you can take a day trip from Nassau. No matter if you’re visiting from Nassau or from Staniel Cay or another island in the Exumas, the only way to get to Pig Beach is by boat.

Tip: When booking a trip to Pig Beach, be sure to ask if the tour visits Big Major Cay. There are other “pig beaches” that have popped up in the Bahamas, but the original Pig Beach is in the Exumas.

How did the pigs get to Pig Beach?

There are various stories about how the pigs ended up in Big Mayor Cay, including a shipwreck that they swam away from, a group of sailors who left them behind, and the pigs being relocated to the deserted island from nearby Staniel Cay because of their intolerable smell. Most often recited as the real origin story is the story of two farmers who brought the pigs to Big Mayor Cay in the late 1990s, preparing for the anticipated Y2K computer crash, which was expected to cause supply chain issues and possibly food shortages. The Y2K crash never came, but the pigs stayed on Big Mayor Cay – and they propagated.

The best time to visit Pig Beach

You can visit Pig Beach year-round, but take into consideration that there are more visitors during high season, and that the weather may not be perfect during hurricane season. Services like Jet Finder offer the flexibility to adjust travel dates around weather windows.

Off-season is between September and mid-November – that’s when you can expect to share the piggies with only few other visitors.

Peak season is in December and January – that’s when Pig Beach can get pretty busy (especially during the Christmas Holidays). High season lasts all the way through April.

Low season is from June to September. But while you’ll run into less visitors during the summer months, you may encounter a hurricane or severe tropical storm, along with rainy days and clouds. Morning vs. evening: The pigs tend to be more active and excited about visitors in the mornings. In the afternoon, they are sleepier, and you may have a harder time convincing them to go for a swim with you. The mornings are also busier, since almost all of the tour operators stop at Pig Beach in the morning. When I visited in the late afternoon, our group was the only boat docked at the beach, and we had the pigs all to ourselves.

However: You will have a great time with the pigs no matter what time of the day you’re visiting!

Tip: If you charter a boat / visit with your own boat, you can plan your visit for a time when no tour boats are docked at Pig Beach. You’ll have the pigs all to yourself between 7am and 9am and at certain times in the afternoon.

What’s the closest island to Pig Beach in the Bahamas?

Staniel Cay is only a short boat ride from Pig Beach – you can get to Big Mayor Cay in less than ten minutes from Staniel Cay! But even if you’re not staying on Staniel Cay, there are ways to visit the swimming pigs:

How to get to Pig Beach

You have different options to visit Pig Beach in the Bahamas, but unless you travel in your own boat, they are all part of a guided tour:

Visit Pig Beach from Staniel Cay (a small island near Big Mayor Cay, the island on which the pigs live) – 10 minutes away by boat
Visit Pig Beach from Great Exuma – 2 hours away by boat
Visit Pig Beach from Nassau – a 35-min flight to Staniel Cay, or 3-hr speedboat ride
Visit Pig Beach on a day trip from Florida (a 1-hr flight to Andros Island, followed by a 45-min flight to Staniel Cay)

All options are usually full-day trips that include other stops in addition to the swimming pigs. You can read a detailed rundown of my Pig Beach Tour here. You can also opt for a private tour vs. a group tour, if you’re willing to pay a premium fee for some private time with the pigs. If you’re visiting Pig Beach from Nassau, you can choose between speedboat and airplane to Staniel Cay.

From Nassau by plane
From Nassau by speedboat

See below for how much each option costs:

How much does it cost to visit Pig Beach

Note that prices are apprx. – just to give you a rough idea about how much you can expect to spend on your trip to Pig Beach.

Pig Beach from Nassau by speedboat: $260 per person (see my note about the speed boat tours below).
Pig Beach from Nassau by plane: $750 per person
Pig Beach from Staniel Cay: $350 per person
Pig Beach from Staniel Cay private tour: starting at $999 for the smallest boat (up to 4 people)
Pig Beach from Florida: There are three companies offering day trips to Pig Beach from Fort Lauderdale’s Executive Airport: Bahama Air Tours and Makers Air. Prices range from around US$849 to US$900 – depending on time of year and availability. It’s worth checking all companies for special offers. Bahama Air Tours is currently offering a day trip from Florida for $949.

Children under 2 usually don’t pay anything.

Prices vary slightly, depending on what tour company you book your tour with.

A note about the speed boat tours: The cheapest way to visit Pig Beach from Nassau is by speedboat. However, this is also the most uncomfortable way to visit the piggies, since the ride is quite bumpy, and you’re spending hours on the boat. It’s also an open-air boat, which means that on rainy and windy days, you’re exposed to unpleasant weather conditions. Tours are sometimes canceled on short notice because of rough weather conditions. Tours by plane are more reliable and are rarely canceled. Most companies operating out of Nassau don’t offer boat tours to Big Mayor Caye anymore, but go to Athol Island. Athol Island is closer to Nassau, but it is not the original Pig Beach. The pigs on Athol Island were brought there specifically to create a tourist attraction.)

What to expect when visiting Pig Beach

Don’t expect to spend all day with the pigs. If you’re on a boat tour from Nassau, you’ll spend only about 15 minutes at Pig Beach. If you’re on a boat tour from Staniel Cay, you get to spend a little bit more time with the pigs, but if you want more than half an hour with the piggies, you’ll have to fork out the money for a private tour. (If you think half an hour with the pigs doesn’t sound like much time: there’s not much else to do on Pig Beach, other than snap a few photos of the pigs, swim with them, and coo over the piglets). The tours all include a number of other stops in addition to Pig Beach – for example swimming with nurse sharks, a sandbar, and a sea cave (stops may vary depending on tour operator and weather conditions).
Don’t expect the pigs to be in the water. They do swim, but not always. When I visited Pig Beach in the afternoon, almost all of the pigs were asleep on the beach.
Expect to share your experience with other tourists – most days, several boats stop at Pig Beach at the same time. If you want the pigs all to yourself, you’ll have to pay for a private tour.
Expect to be in or on the water pretty much all day. If you can’t swim, don’t worry – there are usually life vests on board which you can wear to feel safe in the water. You’ll have to wade through shallow water to get to Pig Beach, the Iguana Beach, and the sandbar, and you will have to swim into Thunderbolt Grotto. If you don’t feel comfortable swimming, you can stay on board during the beach visits / snorkeling excursions.

Is it unethical to visit Pig Beach?

There have been some incidents in the past that made people wonder if the pigs were treated well and if it was unethical to visit Pig Beach.

The pigs are actually well looked after – by a committee of caretakers. These caretakers maintain the enclosures of the pigs, refill their drinking water, feed them, and deal with any potential issues. A nursery was even built for the piglets, so that they’re protected from rain and wind. There’s also a vet who checks in on the pigs regularly. The pigs are all tagged and registered.

The pigs aren’t bothered by visitors, unless visitors behave like a**holes. (see below for Do’s and Donts when visiting Pig Beach). The pigs get excited when boats arrive, because that usually means “Feeding Time”! They also know the boat drivers who arrive with tourists every day, and when our boat driver got in the water, he was surrounded by pigs immediately – they were thrilled to frolic around with him. And our boat driver was equally as delighted to be swimming with the pigs, it was obvious that he was very fond of the pigs and that he treated them respectfully. That can’t be said of all visitors, however, which is why I added the following section.

Do’s and Don’ts when visiting Pig Beach

Unfortunately, not all visitors use common sense when visiting Pig Beach, and there have been incidents in the past during which both the pigs and visitors got hurt. I wish that tour operators would make an announcement on “pig beach etiquette” and state some guidelines before descending on the island, especially with larger groups.

Be respectful when interacting with the pigs. They don’t like being picked up, and don’t force them into discomfort just because you want to get a cute photo. Even worse: trying to ride a pig.
Let the pigs come to you, and don’t chase them down the beach. Remember that these are living creatures and not photo props.
If you feed the pigs, don’t feed them processed foods. They’re allowed to eat vegetables, fruits (apples and watermelon) and bread. When feeding the pigs you’ll also have to be careful – they might go for your whole hand! It’s safer to put down the food for them. If you have food on you, they may try to get to it, so be careful what you take with you when you get off the boat.
Don’t leave any trash behind when leaving Pig Beach.

What to bring to Pig Beach

Most of these items are obvious, but here’s what I recommend you bring to Pig Beach:

Bathing Suit / Bikini
Beach Towel / Sarong (it was great being able to cover up when we weren’t in the water – but a beach dress would also work)
Camera or phone (fully charged, or with a portable charger)
Waterproof case or pouch for your smartphone: While it’s possible to get off the boat and walk through the shallow water to Pig Beach, it’s not possible to get your phone inside Thunderball Grotto without getting it wet. While most iPhones are water resistant these days, remember that it’s still not advisable to get salt water inside the charging port, since salt is highly corrosive and will damage your phone.
GoPro / underwater camera if you want to take underwater photos
Sunscreen & sunhat (especially if you’re taking a long boat ride from Nassau – the sun is relentless and shade on the boats is very limited)
Sunglasses
Goggles if you want to snorkel with the pigs & sharks / take underwater photos or videos. Your tour operator will most likely provide them, but double check when booking the tour.
Insect repellent (the mosquitos are quite aggressive!) – Amazon has several travel-sized bottles
Water and snacks (most of the boat operators have water and snacks on the boat, but if you drink more water than average and you consider yourself a big snacker, I’d recommend packing extra of both)
A sweater or a light jacket – it can get breezy on the boat, especially if you’re on a speed boat. We also got caught in a rainstorm, and I wished I had a long-sleeve shirt or a light rain jacket while it was raining.
Cash or credit card if you want to buy something on one of the inhabited islands you stop at, and to tip your guide. Our tour included lunch on Staniel Cay, but alcohol wasn’t included. There are no ATM’s on any of the islands you’ll stop at, but credit cards are accepted in some places.

Other things to consider when booking a tour to Pig Beach

Bring everything to be comfortable on an all-day excursion

Remember that these are all-day tours and you’ll be on the boat most of the day. Make sure you have everything you need to be comfortable. Some people may want to listen to an audiobook / podcast on the flight / boat ride to Big Mayor Cay, in that case, add headphones to your list.

Weather

Make sure to check the weather before booking a tour to the Bahama’s Pig Beach – tours can get cancelled if the weather is bad, especially the boat tours from Nassau which include several hours in the speedboat (and even if the tour doesn’t get canceled: spending hours in the rain on a boat isn’t all that great). Book your tour for a sunny day to avoid cancellations and disappointment.

The Bahamas are always worth a trip – rain or shine!

The post Everything you need to know before visiting Pig Beach in the Bahamas appeared first on GlobetrotterGirls.

2021 in review: July – December

Dani — Tue, 18 Jan 2022 23:16:44 +0000

Last Updated on January 14, 2026

Here it is, part II of my look back at 2021 – including my travel stats and some thoughts on traveling during Covid.

You can read part I here.

July: New York City

I didn’t slow down in July – I continued my busy “hot vaxxed summer”. I organized a group picnic for 4th July in one of the riverfront parks in Brooklyn that have amazing views of the fireworks, I went on a “Boat Party”, ie. a dance party on a boat that cruised around Manhattan for four hours, I went bar hopping just like in pre-Covid times, and I visited a rooftop bar for the first time in two years. Life in New York felt pretty much like it did in the “before times”.

I also went to a place that had been on my bucket list for quite a few years: Duane Park, a venue that hosts burlesque dinner shows. A friend visiting New York City was a special enough occasion to finally book a fancy dinner there, and it did not disappoint.

I also continued enjoying summer – my favorite season by far! – with a Central Park picnic, a pool party, and an open air dance party (the first of many, as it turned out later.)

Work-wise, I had my strongest month since September 2019 – I led 19 tours in July! That’s only one less than Sept ’19, however, the big difference is that back then all my tours sold out, and this month saw everything from one attendant to fully booked tours. I still have a long way to go to get my 2019 income back, but it was nice to finish the month not having to worry about money – especially since I had a big trip coming up!

Best moments

I can’t single out one moment, but the fact that my business was doing so well really made happy and it was such a relief to earn enough money again to be able to enjoy the notoriously expensive cocktail bars of NYC (my guilty pleasure!).

Worst moments

Two moments come to mind: On our 4^th July picnic, I had a bit too much of the delicious sangria a friend made and I was an emotional mess. There were tears.

The other moment was finally realizing that the pain in my right hip area that had been bothering me for a few months now was becoming unbearable. In fact, I could barely finish my July Half Marathon (my 16^th since May 2020) and I had no choice but seeing an orthopedic doctor to figure out what was causing the pain. I was starting to worry that I wouldn’t be able to run the Berlin Marathon in September.

August: Portugal & New York City

August was definitely one of the best months of the entire year. I went on my first international trip of the year, and even though it wasn’t a new country for me, I couldn’t have been more excited about my return to Portugal! I hadn’t been there in ten years, and while I spent nearly a month in Lisbon back then, I never made it up to Porto or down to the Algarve Coast – two destinations I’ve had on my bucket list for a long time. Neither of them disappointed, and I wish I could’ve spent an entire month in Porto – I absolutely loved that city.

I was a bit bummed out that I didn’t make it to the Douro Valley, Portugal’s most famous wine region, but it would have been too rushed, and now it gives me an excuse to return to Portugal.

The time I spent in NYC this month was also pretty good: I went to a couple of open air dance parties, had rooftop drinks, went to the Bushwick Collective Block Party (the annual street art party in Bushwick that sadly didn’t happen last year), and I finally had visitors in town! I love having friends visiting me or passing through NYC because it always gives me an excuse to tick some touristy things off my list and to eat at restaurants I’ve been wanting to try or that I save for special occasions. I took Jen and Chris to Emmy Squared (one of my favorite pizza places), Dear Hudson on Irving (a great rooftop bar), Apotheke (my all-time favorite speakeasy in NYC) and they also joined me on my Brooklyn Pizza Walk.

Best moment

Exploring a new place again!

Even though I’d been to Portugal before, I hadn’t seen much of the country beyond Lisbon, and I’d never driven there. This time around, we rented a car and drove from Lisbon all the way down to the Algarve, explored Portugal’s famous southern coastal region, and then drove up north to Porto, almost the entire length of the country. Being in “explorer mode” again felt so good! Even though traveling during COVID wasn’t completely painless (COVID tests before and during the trip were necessary, proof of vaccination was required to enter most restaurants and hotels), it was so worth it. Restrictions were mostly lifted in Portugal, which meant it felt almost like traveling in the “before times”, only that we wore masks whenever it was required and tried to stay away from crowds.

Worst moment

Yet another friend leaving New York City 🙁 The problem with NYC is that it is a very transient city: people come and people go. I don’t know how many friends I’ve seen come and go since I started calling NYC home in 2014, but since it isn’t an easy place to make solid friends, I am always sad when friends move away.

September: New York City

In September, my petsitting business started to pick up again. I did three dogsits (all new clients!) and got booked for a long (lucrative!) sit in October. It was notable that people were starting to travel again. I was also supposed to go on a trip – one of the biggest trips of the year. I’d planned a month-long trip to Europe around the Berlin Marathon on 26 September, which included celebrating my sister’s and a friend’s birthday in my hometown, catching up with family, and having friends and family cheer me on in Berlin before traveling to a new country for a couple of weeks with one of my best friends. Only that none of that happened, since I hadn’t been cleared to run the race by my doctor (see below under “Worst Moment”).

After the initial sadness over the canceled Europe trip, I decided to make the most of the last glorious summer weeks in NYC instead. I saw several outdoor movies in Bryant Park, I went to an outdoor Jazz concert, went to more outdoor dance parties (the last ones for this year), took a day trip to Governors Island (my first one since 2019), and I saw a show on Little Island, New York’s brand new “floating” park.

We also had the last rooftop barbecue of 2021, went on a bar crawl in the East Village, and I fell in love with the Peloton exercise bikes, which several of my housesitting clients have. Because I wasn’t allowed to run, but my physiotherapist said cycling was okay, I invested in a pair of cycling shoes. I signed up for the Peloton trial that got me access to all their workout classes and I was hooked immediately. It was a good way to get rid of the extra pounds I had brought back from Portugal (thanks to all the delicious pasteis de nata I ate there).

Best moment

No standout moment in September – I was just happy that life finally felt pretty normal again: I was earning good money again with my various income streams, I loved being out and about in New York City, and I was hanging out with puppies again!

Worst moment

Not running the Berlin Marathon

The worst moment of not just this month, but possibly the entire year, was when I learned that I wouldn’t be able to run the Berlin Marathon. After months of training having my marathon dreams shattered was just soul crushing. The day of the race (26th September), I spent the morning crying in bed while watching all the marathon footage on social media. I don’t want to go into detail, but dealing with the healthcare system here in the U.S. and with my health insurance provider over the past couple of months has been extremely draining and extremely frustrating.

October: New York City

October has always been one of my favorite months in NYC, mainly because of the amazing Halloween decorations everywhere, and the changing leaves, which make the city look picture-perfect. Even though it starts to get cooler, I can still tolerate the temperatures.

I was supposed to be traveling in Europe for the first couple of weeks of this month, but instead I spent those two weeks with two adorable little dogs – new petsitting clients in Brooklyn. I felt a sharp decline in bookings for my tours, a clear sign that tourist season in NYC was coming to an end. Even though I didn’t make anywhere near as much money with my tour business as in previous years, I ended up making enough money during the summer months to cover my costs and to stash some money away. Now it was time to focus more on the blog again.

Since tourist numbers are still very low, I made the decision to leave New York City for the winter – I will be gone for nearly five months. After spending most of last winter in NYC, I was ready for an adventure and I hoped that COVID wouldn’t ruin any of my travel plans (more on those later). Knowing that October would be my last full month in NYC for a while, I made a wish list of things I still wanted to do: see a Broadway show, see a symphony at Carnegie Hall, eat lots of pizza (duh), go to a rooftop bar I’ve never been to, and return to the New York Botanical Gardens to see parts of the Yayoi Kusama exhibit I wasn’t able to see when I went there back in May. I ticked all of these things off of my list, and I was even able to leave the city for a weekend for a fall getaway upstate, even though the leaves hadn’t quite started changing their colors yet. Nonetheless, we went on a refreshing fall hike, we soaked in the jacuzzi, we baked and cooked delicious food, and it helped me clear my head about a few things I was unsure about.

And of course I went on lots of walks and bike rides to take in the Halloween decorations everywhere. I finished October with a Halloween party that came with a 2-day hangover (ouch!), but even though the big dance party we were supposed to go to was canceled at the very last minute, we had a blast and I stayed out later than I had in a long time.

Best moment

Halloween! Everything related to Halloween is what I consider a highlight in October. I love seeing the sometimes over-the-top Halloween decorations on people’s houses, I love seeing kids go trick or treating in the Brownstone neighborhoods of Brooklyn (all the adults get dressed up and sit on their stoops with candy for the kids), and of course I love getting dressed up for Halloween. Admittedly, I was feeling a bit lackluster about dressing up this year (I was just getting over an infection and wasn’t feeling 100%) and just borrowed a costume, but I did end up enjoying the small house party I went to.

Worst moments

Anxiety about my living situation

I made the decision to give up my apartment so that I wouldn’t have to worry about subletting while I was gone, because it’s always a bit stressful, and I want to move to a different neighborhood anyway. In fact, I tried finding a new place for the past three months, but sadly wasn’t able to find an apartment I loved (or was approved for). This meant that I was going to be (essentially) homeless again in a few short weeks. I’ve done this before when leaving New York for a long period of time, but this time it made me feel extremely anxious, one day to the point that I thought I’d hyperventilate. Fingers crossed I’ll be able to find a new home when I get back from my travels in the spring.

My ongoing hip injury

I also got a steroid injection in my butt after months of physical therapy and trying to figure out what exactly was wrong with my pelvis / hip / hamstring… ? I finally got an MRI and was diagnosed with a rare condition: ischiofemoral impingement, and my quadratis muscle was on the verge of tearing. A steroid injection was a treatment that could potentially help – but it didn’t. I went on two short test runs after the injection, but the pain came back straight away. I was referred to a hip specialist to get an arthroscopy to see if I have a hip acetabular labral tear and need surgery. This whole injury thing had been going on for the better part of the year and was just so frustrating. I could also write a whole post on how difficult it has been for me to navigate the healthcare system in this country.

November: NYC, the Bahamas & California

I had simultaneously waited for and dreaded for November to arrive. On the one hand, I knew that I’d be going on two amazing trips, but on the other hand I knew that I’d officially be giving up what has been my home for the last three years, and I truly(d) love my (not-anymore) home. After ten days of frantic packing and countless trips to my new storage unit, I was freed of the burden that having a permanent base means (mainly financially) and left on my first trip, which also happened to be the first blog campaign I went on in 2021: a trip to the Bahamas!

I was over the moon excited when I got the invite to spend a week on a small island in the Bahamas, and not just that: it included a tour to the Swimming Pigs, which for me were the main draw to visit the Bahamas! I ended up visiting Pig Beach three times during my week on Staniel Cay, and I also swam with sharks, with turtles, saw stingrays and plenty of colorful fish. I also saw some of the most pristine beaches I’ve ever seen (and after all these years of traveling and beach bumming around the world, it’s not that easy anymore to impress me with a beach! #beachsnob). It was a great week – despite power outages, some bad weather, tons of mosquito bites and mediocre food.

I returned to New York only for a few days – basically a long layover between two trips. A long enough layover, however, to fit in an epic birthday party, a boozy brunch with friends who were visiting New York, and not one but two birthday dinners.

And then it was time for another big trip: I was going back to California for three weeks! I had agreed to housesit for my friends in Long Beach (who I visited in January 2020 on my way to Australia) and decided to fly in a few days earlier to spend Thanksgiving with them. It just so happened that a friend from NYC was in SoCal over Thanksgiving too, and we decided on a whim to visit Joshua Tree together for a few days – a National Park I’ve been wanting to go to for a while now (I mentioned how bummed out I was about not making it to Joshua Tree in 2016, my last longer stint in California). After Utah, the Algarve Coast in Portugal and the Bahamas, this was another bucket list item I ticked off in 2021.

Best moment

Swimming with pigs and sharks in the Bahamas

Visiting Pig Beach in the Bahamas had been on my travel wish list for years, and getting to do it in my birth month was another amazing animal-themed birthday gift – after gifting myself swimming with manatees in Florida last year (should animal-themed birthday experiences become my new thing?! Coming to think of it, I had another animal-related birthday trip when I went on safari in Sri Lanka in 2014).

Not only did I get to meet the piggies, but the tour I took also included stops at a hidden ocean cave, a picture-perfect sandbar, and a marina where nurse sharks love to hang out, which meant I got to swim with sharks again! I’ve swum with sharks before, back in 2010 in Belize, and in 2017 in the Galápagos Islands, but I still love the thrill of getting in the water with what many people consider beastly creatures (they’re not.) Happy birthday to me!

Worst moments

Travel mishaps

Well, while traveling is back, I’m not going to sugarcoat the experience. Traveling right now isn’t easy. The trip preparation for the Bahamas included a couple of Covid tests, waiting to get my application for travel approved (plus the purchase of obligatory travel insurance through the government of the Bahamas), filling out several forms, and hoping everything would be flawless.

My trip to the Bahamas didn’t go as smoothly as I’d hoped though: the night before my trip I discovered that I was booked on a morning flight from Nassau to Staniel Cay, my final destination, but I wouldn’t arrive in Nassau until the early afternoon. Luckily I was able to reach someone in the Bahamas who was able to book me on another flight. But I almost missed my flight from New York to Nassau because I didn’t realize until I was already on the way to the airport that I didn’t have my boarding pass! I’d gotten so used to easy online check-ins this year and to walking straight to my gate (which is my favorite thing about traveling with carry-on only) that it didn’t even occur to me that I’d have to go to the check-in counter first. But this time things were different: I wasn’t able to check in online because the agents needed to check that all my documents were in order. I arrived at the United desk with one minute to spare before they closed check-in 60 minutes before departure. Phew!

A lost key

I was already freaking out about not having enough time to put all my belongings in storage before leaving New York, so the last thing I needed was not being able to access said storage unit because somehow I managed to lose not one but TWO keys for the padlock on my unit. I still don’t know how I lost two separate keys, but not even hours of unpacking full moving boxes and all my luggage brought the keys back. Thankfully, the company I used to store my stuff was able to help me access my stuff by cutting the lock. This whole ordeal cost me a lot of time on my last couple of days in NYC – time that I had allocated for other things… getting my booster shot for example.

December: California, NYC & Germany

Oh, December. I had such great plans for the last month of what had turned out a much-better-than-expected year, but Covid had other plans for me. Yes, I tested positive for Covid on 1st December, and thus, my travel plans went down the drain. Not just my travel plans, but also the travel plans of my friends, who I was supposed to housesit for. What we thought was “just a cold” was in fact Covid, which I didn’t find out until my friend tested positive while taking their required pre-trip Covid tests. Needless to say that it all was a big mess and something I could’ve definitely done without.

I was doing well the first few days – I even ran a 5k and climbed a mountain in Joshua Tree with Covid (unbeknownst to me at the time), but when I lost my sense of smell a few days into my “cold”, I knew right away that I had Covid and my symptoms took a turn for the worse: I spent a few days in bed with flu-like symptoms (body aches, headache, fever, a bad cough, shortness of breath and fatigue), but at least I wasn’t in the hospital. My sense of taste returned after a few days, my sense of smell is still not back 100% though. It took me about two weeks to get over the worst, but by the time I arrived in Germany I was feeling much better.

Yes, I went to Germany! After being bed-bound at my friends’ house in Long Beach, I left for L.A., which wasn’t part of the original plan, but I felt restless and needed a change of scenery after the whole Covid drama. I wanted to spend the weekend in Hollywood (where I hadn’t been in several years) before meeting my friend Anna in Venice Beach for some sunny beach time before flying to cold, grey and dark Germany for the Holidays. I was extremely relieved to test negative and be able to go ahead with this plan – but Covid once again ruined them.

My weekend in Hollywood was off to a good start with a hike up Runyon Canyon (to see how my lungs were doing after the illness), great food and some much needed “me time”, but I was also looking forward to quality time with Anna. She checked in for her flight as soon as she was able to 24 hours prior to departure time, but started feeling a bit under the weather a few hours later which is why she decided to take a Covid test – just to be sure. Well, guess what. The test came back positive, she had to cancel the trip, and I ended up spending a week in L.A. by myself. I made the best of it though: I took myself out on solo dinner dates, went to a cocktail bar, visited the Hollywood Forever Cemetery and the Hollywood Farmer’s Market, went to Downtown L.A. to finally visit Grand Central Market (for food), the Broken Shaker rooftop bar (both were on my “to check out next time I’m in L.A.” list) and to see new what new street art had popped up in the Arts District. When I arrived in Venice, I went on long beach walks, visited Santa Monica again, saw a Christmas Boat Parade in the Venice Beach Historic Canal District, explored the hidden Venice Walk Streets, strolled up and down Abbot Kinney Boulevard, but overall, I took things slow since I was still recovering.

And then it was time to head to Germany to enjoy the early Christmas gift Santa had made me: My sister had welcomed baby #3 in November! That’s why I decided to go to Europe for the Holidays – I didn’t want to wait a whole year until I’d meet the little guy (I usually visit my family for Christmas every other year, but I’d gone home last year).

Before Germany, I had a long layover in New York to lead some Christmas tours – now that Europeans were finally allowed to travel to the U.S., I’d seen more interest in my tours again. I really hope that this trend continues in 2022 – but the weekend I spent in NYC happened to be the weekend when the new Omicron strain surged and Covid cases doubled every day or so. Several of my friends tested positive during that time, other friends canceled dinner plans because they’d been exposed – I was torn between being relieved about having already had Covid earlier this month and panicking about contracting a different strain than the one I had (which wasn’t Omicron).

Knowing that this would be the last weekend in NYC for 3.5 months, I tried to make the most of it – despite the Omicron surge and ensuing panic (at-home tests were sold everywhere, and lines outside the Covid testing centers were loooong). There was a Christmas cookie baking session with my friend, I indulged in New York pizza, bagels, cocktails and said farewell to friends. I also went on a shopping spree to do get some last-minute Christmas presents, which included my first visit to New York’s new Harry Potter store, and I swung by the Rockefeller Christmas Tree and the Bryant Park Winter Village – quintessential stops in New York at Christmas time… at least for me 🙂

By the time I arrived in Germany a couple of days before Christmas, this month already felt like the longest month ever: Long Beach and Orange County, Hollywood and Venice Beach, NYC, and now two different cities in Germany: a quick stop at my sister’s to greet the new baby, and then my brother’s for the Holidays. In the end, I was just immensely grateful for being able to spend Christmas with my family, feeling good again after contracting Covid, and traveling for several months.

Best moment

Surviving Covid

I know, I know – “surviving Covid” sounds a bit drastic, considering that my case wouldn’t even be considered “severe”, but getting sick while traveling was probably the worst thing that happened to me this year. I was lucky that I wasn’t alone at the time and had someone to look after me, and a place to stay, but I still worried that my symptoms would worsen, I wouldn’t be able to fly to Europe, I would have to deal with long-haul Covid symptoms, wouldn’t get my sense of taste back for months like several people I know, etc. etc… So when I finally tested negative, gained my sense of taste back and started feeling stronger again, I was beyond happy and grateful and relieved.

Worst moment

Getting Covid

As mentioned above, contracting Covid was the one thing I tried to avoid the entire year, and I succeeded.. for eleven months. I think I’d definitely gotten a bit more lax about certain things over the course of the year, like hand-sanitizing non-stop, or double-masking on airplanes. I am 99% sure that I contracted Covid on my way from New York to California at the end of November, and remember even feeling a bit uneasy when my seat neighbor and her husband took off their masks to eat the in-flight snacks we were given. As I wrote above, it messed up not just my own travel plans, but also those of my friends, and in addition to feeling sick, I felt guilty for messing up other people’s plans.

My 2021 Travel Stats

My 2021 Travel Map according to Google

On to the stats! I managed to rack up quite a few beds I slept in this year, and more flights than I thought at the beginning of 2021, when the pandemic was still in full force and vaccines weren’t really on the horizon yet. Thanks to the rapid vaccine rollout in NYC, I was also able to do some housesits again, including several new repeat clients.

Where did I sleep?

I slept in 31 different beds this year – other than my own. They included: friends & lovers, housesitting clients, hotels & hostels.

10 hotels (in Portugal, Utah, California, the Bahamas and one night in NYC)
11 housesits (in Utah, California, and NYC)
1 overnight flight (NYC to Frankfurt)

How did I get around?

I took roughly the same amount of flights as I did in 2020, when I was flying all over Australia pre-Covid, which added up my total flight number. This year, I took 3 domestic trips and 2 international trips.

Flights

1. January: Frankfurt – NYC

2. April: NYC – Salt Lake City

3. May: Salt Lake City – NYC

4. June: NYC – Fort Lauderdale

5. June: Fort Lauderdale – NYC

6. August: NYC – Lisbon

7. August: Lisbon – Porto

8. August: Porto – Lisbon

9. August: Lisbon – NYC

10. November: NYC – Nassau

11. November: Nassau – Staniel Cay

12. November: Staniel Cay – Nassau

13. November: Nassau – NYC

14. November: NYC – Denver

15. November: Denver – Long Beach

16. December: LAX – NYC

17. December: NYC – Frankfurt

In addition to my plane rides, there were:

3 trains (all in Germany)
2 rental cars (in Utah and in Portugal)
2 e-scooters (in Lisbon and in L.A.)
1 sailboat (in Portugal)
1 speedboat (in the Bahamas)
2 ferries (both in NYC: one from Brooklyn to Manhattan, and one from Manhattan to Governors Island)
1 aerial tram (from Manhattan to Roosevelt Island)
several Ubers, taxis and Lyfts – but this year, I tried to be as frugal as possible and took public transportation to and from the airport on most of my trips

Road Trips

I took two road trips this year and both were fantastic: in Portugal we drove almost the entire length of the country north to south and east to west, and in Utah I drove from Salt Lake City to Moab. Coming to think of it, I road tripped a bit in California as well – from L.A. to Joshua Tree, and from Long Beach down the Pacific Coast Highway to Balboa Island.

Utah
Portugal

Final Thoughts on 2021 & what’s next for me

Before I sat down to write down sort of a “conclusion” to the past twelve months, I read through my “Final Thoughts” on 2020, which I wrote a year ago. “I just hope that the world will be largely COVID-free twelve months from now.”, I wrote last January, and that “I hope I’ll be able to put my stash of face masks in the far back of my drawer and never look at them again”. Well, we all know that neither of my hopes came true. On the contrary – Covid is still well and alive, new strains keep popping up, and as of now, only 60% of the world’s population has been vaccinated. Hospitals are still full, lockdowns and restriction are still in place, and people are still dying from Covid-19. Instead of throwing out my face masks, I’ve had to upgrade them from surgical masks to the more protective KN95 masks, which are mandatory in many places here in Germany, where I am writing this.

While travel came back to some extent, we’re still far from living our lives the way we did pre-pandemic. I know a lot of people who are still holding off on booking bigger trips again, put off by rapidly changing local restrictions, quarantine mandates and strict entry requirements to a number of countries. My business bounced back a little bit, but I didn’t make anywhere near what I made in 2019, neither with tours nor with travel writing nor the blog. Again, I am trying to remain hopeful for the year ahead, but seeing the current situation in many countries, it’s hard not to be pessimistic.

Looking back at the entire year, it is interesting to see though how much my life changed after getting vaccinated. The first three months, I felt isolated and anxious, was desperately trying to find work, while watching my savings dwindle. And then, as soon as I was vaccinated, I felt safe enough to travel again. I got more work again. I saw friends who I hadn’t seen in months, because they felt safe to be around people again, now that we were all vaccinated. As soon as summer arrived, we started going out again. The first big crowd events in nearly a year and a half. In the beginning, I was still nervous when I found myself in big crowds, but soon, I felt comfortable enough to really embrace being able to do these things again. I also noticed that I wasn’t as afraid of contracting Covid anymore. In New York, life had almost gotten back to what it had been pre-Covid. Dance parties and barbeques and movies in the park and rooftop drinks and beach days and food markets and bike rides and concerts. Sure, we all have to show proof of vaccination everywhere and wear masks at certain events, but overall, it felt like New York City had recovered pretty well.

After several months packed with group gatherings and trips and social activities, getting Covid in November was a great reminder that we are still very much in a pandemic, and Omicron showed that we’re nowhere near the end of it. I used to sit down every January to do an “annual review”, examining how the past twelve months went in different aspects of my life, like financial, personal, fitness, business, etc, and to set goals for the year ahead. The last time I sat down to do an annual review was January 2020, not knowing that a couple of months later, the world would come to halt, and with it, my plans and goals for the year. Last January, I thought about doing an annual review, but there was still so much uncertainty about Covid and when life would go back to “normal” that the thought of looking at all my 2020 goals seemed too painful. I had so many aspirations and goals for 2020, especially with regards to expanding my tour business. This year, I didn’t even consider doing an annual review. The current situation seems too fragile for me to set any goals with regards to business and finances – I’ll be happy if I make enough money to get by and if I stay healthy. Even though 2021 had many great moments and fun times, I am still mourning my careless pre-pandemic life, and it frustrates me not being able to do what makes me the happiest: travel. Travel without any restrictions and fears and complicated processes.

My biggest wish for 2022 was to travel again, which is why even though it’s complicated and in some ways cumbersome, I am starting the year with a 3-month trip. I know that I’ll be visiting four different countries in January alone, and I’ll set foot on a continent I’ve never been to – a long overdue visit. Beyond the first new country of the year, I haven’t planned anything yet, because with restrictions changing so quickly at the moment, I am still a bit weary of planning too far ahead. Instead, I’ll see where that trip takes me, I’ll “go with the flow”, so to speak. When I get back to New York in the spring, it’ll be time to find a new place to live, and that’s as far I’ve mapped out my year. I am remaining hopeful that things will get better in 2022 – not just for me, but for all of us.

The post 2021 in review: July – December appeared first on GlobetrotterGirls.

2021 in review: January – June

Dani — Wed, 05 Jan 2022 00:12:49 +0000

Last Updated on January 14, 2026

Happy New Year, everyone! We made it through another pandemic year! Who would’ve thought at the beginning of 2021 that twelve months later, parts of the world would still (or again!) be in lockdown, that new variants of the virus continue to emerge, continuing to disrupt our daily lives.

And who would’ve thought that I’d be homeless by the end of 2021. I certainly did not foresee any of these things, but I don’t want to get ahead of myself. Since my Year in Review has become quite long again, I decided to break it up into two parts, like I did last year.

In part I, I’m looking back at the first six months of 2020, which I spent almost entirely in the U.S.. I took two domestic trips, got a life-changing vaccine (honestly, my day-to-day life changed so much after I got my jab back in April!) and I was bitten by a dog (something I definitely could’ve done without).

Stay tuned for Part II, which includes me giving up my home of three years in New York City, a new country visited (finally!), and… spoiler alert: a bad case of COVID.

January: Germany and New York City

I rang in the New Year with my brother, my sister-in-law and my nieces at their house in Germany, which was in full lockdown at the time. It was a far cry from the previous New Year’s Eve, which saw me stumbling out of a techno club in Brooklyn around 9.30 in the morning, completely oblivious to what a hell of a year was ahead of us.

This year, I didn’t have much optimism when we started the New Year. I felt a bit lethargic, but mostly frustrated about the ongoing pandemic and lockdowns. There was uncertainty about my income, my ability to maintain my place in New York City, and in case tourism would still be “on pause”, having to find another job. Not knowing if or when I’d be able to get back to working and traveling wasn’t how I’d hoped to begin 2021, but it was what it was. I didn’t even feel like making any goals, resolutions, or looking back at the previous year to see which of my goals I had achieved, like I usually do in my annual review.

However, I tried to make the best of the situation. I felt incredibly grateful that I’d been able to return to Europe for the Holidays and that I was spending Christmas and New Year’s with my family. Germany was supposed to be in lockdown until mid-January, but an extension of the lockdown was anticipated. I had to make a decision: Should I postpone my flight to NYC and spend more time with my family or should I return to New York?

After a couple of weeks of helping my siblings with homeschooling, I decided that it was time to go back to New York, where I had barely spent any time in 2020 (other than during the seemingly neverending lockdown in the spring).

I tried to resume my tours in New York, but there is just not a lot of demand for them in the winter months, not even in non-pandemic times, and so I ended up making only $364 with that part of my business, and didn’t make a lot other freelance projects either. I tried to make the most of being back in New York and treated myself to a visit to the Guggenheim Museum which I had almost to myself and spent hours wandering the streets of NYC – including a bitterly cold half marathon (my 10th one since I started to run one every month back in May 2020).

Best moment

A winter wonderland hike

Because of the strict lockdown in Germany, I was not able to see as many friends as I usually see when I visit my hometown. The province where my brother lives even introduced a strict rule that non-essential travel was only allowed within a 10-mile radius from your home.

Despite all the obstacles that these restrictions created, I was able to visit a friend who was hunkering down at her parents’ house in a beautiful part of Germany, and that I was able to see her (only a couple of days before flying back to the U.S.) was special, but made even more special by the fact that a snowfall a couple of days before my visit had turned the area into a true winter wonderland. We went on a long hike in the forest, had deep conversations and simply enjoyed each other’s company.

Worst moment

Lockdown restrictions

As mentioned above, the lockdown restrictions in Germany made it almost impossible to meet up with anyone who was not part of our immediate family. I left Germany not knowing when I’d be able to visit again (mid-September, in time for the Berlin Marathon, was the tentative plan, depending on how the pandemic would evolve…) and I would have loved to see more of my friends.

The strict lockdown also made it pretty difficult to entertain my nieces and nephew, who were on their Christmas school break, but all the places we’d usually take them to were closed: Christmas markets, indoor playgrounds, waterparks, ice skating rinks, theaters and cinemas. Since contacts outside the family were also supposed to be kept at a minimum, they couldn’t even see their friends.

February: New York City

February was my first taste of a New York City winter in a while. I’d spent some time in NYC in December 2019 / January 2020, before I went to Australia, but it never even got cold enough for me to get my thick winter coat out. This year definitely made up for the last couple of winters that I had skipped: snow storms and frigid temperatures were a good reminder for why I usually spend the winters in warmer climates. I toyed with the idea of spending a couple of months in Mexico, but uncertainty about insurance (not every travel insurance covered Covid, and with the ones that did it was still not clear to what extent hospital stays / treatments would be covered) and the fear of ending up with Covid in a hospital abroad made me reconsider and I ended up doing what I deemed the more responsible thing: stay put in New York and wait for my turn to get the vaccine before making any travel plans.

I tried to make the most of my time in NYC. I braved a couple of snowstorms and ventured outside to take photos (NYC snowstorms still amaze me, even though I’ve experienced quite a few over the years. But we just don’t get snow storms like this in Europe). I had regular cooking cooking dates with my friend Adam (including making the TikTok pasta, which went viral at the time), I had my first restaurant meal in months after indoor dining reopened mid-February, I froze through an outdoor brunch, reconnected with a couple of old friends, and ran my fastest half marathon to date on a sunny winter day. I even had my first local catsit since the pandemic started, and I saw a cool immersive art exhibit at ArtecHouse, an innovative art space I’d been wanting to check out for a while.

Best moment

I got a loan

I got approved for a small business loan, which I did not expect to get. But it came at the exact right time (see below)!

Worst moment

No work

February was a horrible month in terms of work. I just couldn’t find any work. I got zero bookings for my tours, I made barely any money with the blog, I hadn’t gotten any freelance writing projects in months. Financially, it was a scary anxiety-inducing month, and it was such a huge relief when I got the notification that I was approved for a small business loan.

March: New York City

With spring approaching I was hopeful that I’d get more bookings for my tours again, but they were still far and few between – not enough to even cover my monthly expenses. Despite the challenging time for travel businesses, I decided to create a new tour which I was able to launch after a few hiccups. But launching a tour does not guarantee any bookings, and I wasn’t able to gain much traction for it – but then again, I also didn’t get a lot of bookings for my established tours.

When I wasn’t busy researching for my new Brooklyn Tour and trying to work out the best route for it, I spent time with friends, enjoyed my first indoor brunch in 14 months, I went ice skating and I tried out a new sport: kickboxing. Indoor fitness classes were allowed to resume this month, and I signed up for kickboxing classes to supplement my home workouts and runs. Kickboxing definitely kicked my b*tt!

Best moment

Surprise deliveries & a vaccine announcement

I was surprised with two unexpected deliveries this month. First, I was sent flowers, and then I received an amazing care package filled with candy and with a very thoughtful gift.

On Monday, 29^th March, it was announced that the eligibility for the COVID-19 vaccine was expanded to anyone over the age of 30 – starting the next day, 30^th March! Knowing that I’d be vaccinated very very soon filled me with happiness and a feeling of relief.

Worst moment

Financial worries

I can’t think of a single worst moment, but March was another month with very little income, and even though I tried to keep my spending at a minimum and still had enough savings to hold me over for a while, I couldn’t shake off the anxious feeling about my financial situation.

April: New York City & Upstate New York

April started off in the best possible way: I got my COVID-19 vaccine on the first day of the month. More on that below under Best Moments. April is also the month when, in my opinion, New York City looks the prettiest, because everything is in bloom. Tulips, cherry blossoms, magnolia trees, daffodils – you get spring vibes everywhere, and while I always love being in New York at this time of year, I felt like I was even more appreciative of the spring bloom after having spend pretty much all winter here. I spent a lovely day photographing the spring bloom at the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens and enjoying the cherry blossoms there without any crowds (what a difference from pre-Covid visits when Cherry Esplanade was always packed with people!).

I also took in the spring flowers in Manhattan, spent a weekend upstate, and, for the first time in months, felt an uptick in bookings for my tours. I was so thankful for the efficient and rapid vaccine rollout in the U.S., which seems to be far better organized than most other countries, as it enables at least domestic tourism. And that’s exactly what I did, too: As soon as I got vaccinated, I booked my first – domestic – trip!

Best moments

A weekend upstate and getting vaccinated!

I was up quite late the last night of March, and a friend of mine texted me about available vaccine appointments for the very next day (every day around midnight, new vaccine appointments were added on the vax scheduling websites). I didn’t hesitate – I booked an appointment around 1am for 6 hours later! Not only did I nab an appointment, but it was also for the vaccine I was hoping to get: Johnson & Johnson, which required only one shot. Since I am terrified of needles, the thought of having to get two shots had frightened me, and knowing I’d be done after one jab was so comforting. I cycled to the vaccine site at 6.30am, stood in line in the pouring rain for about an hour, and then I was done! What a relief.

The following weekend, I celebrated my vaccine with a trip to my friends’ house in the Catskills. We toasted to being fully vaccinated with champagne in their hot tub, and we went on the first hike of the year. After not having been able to go upstate in 2020 at all, it felt great to be spending quality time with my friends, enjoy good food and good conversations, and enjoy a beautiful spring day outside.

Worst moment

Financial worries

The worst moment of the month was probably when I updated my income spreadsheet, and I saw just how little money I’d made in March. I still don’t feel like I’m over the worst when it comes to my earnings, and I just hate having to worry about money. That said, I know I have enough savings to hold me over for a few more months.

May: Utah & NYC

May was an amazing month. It was the month when it felt like everything was going back to normal. I traveled to Salt Lake City for a dogsit (my first Trustedhousesitters sit since the two dogs I took care of in Australia in February 2020!) and it was such a good trip. Salt Lake City almost made my list of cities in the U.S. I haven’t been to but really wanted to visit (it was a tie between Milwaukee and SLC, in the end Milwaukee made it on my official list) and I was enamored with the stunning scenery surrounding the city: the Great Salt Lake to the west, and mountains surrounding the city on almost all sides.

After my housesit ended, I extended my trip and visited a couple of National Parks that I’ve been wanting to explore for a while: Arches National Park and Dead Horse Point State Park. During my time in SLC, I was also able to explore quite a bit – I took the dog on daily hikes, I took a day trip to Park City, and I went to the Bonneville Salt Flats with Idaho, the pup, who I hope I’ll get to take care of again.

Upon my return to New York City, most COVID-related restrictions were lifted. Most restaurants and bars were able to operate at full capacity again. Mask mandates were lifted. It felt glorious. I could feel that people were traveling more again because I noticed that I got considerably more bookings for my tours. I was still not able to make a living off my tour income, but I also got a bunch of unexpected freelance writing work – in fact, I scored more freelance writing projects than in the past twelve months combined, and my first blog collaboration since 2019! I was elated, and for the first time in 2021, I felt hopeful and optimistic about the rest of the year. So optimistic that I spontaneously booked a trip to Europe for August when I came across a great flight deal.

Best moment

Road tripping in Utah

I’ll always remember Utah as my first post-COVID trip, and even though it wasn’t the comprehensive Utah National Parks trip that I’ve been wanting to do for a long time (that trip will happen eventually though, and include Red Reef, Zion, Bryce Canyon, Escalante, Capitol Reef and Canyonlands), it was a great introduction to one of the most scenic states in the U.S.. I got to tick two parks off of my travel wish list: Arches National Park and Dead Horse Point State Park. Dead Horse Point gave me huge Grand Canyon vibes, and I loved the epic views over the canyon that majestically rise on both sides of the Colorado River. Arches National Park – with over 2,000 natural sandstone arches – felt like a photographer’s dream. I’d met up with a follower of my blog / Instagram, who I’d been chatting with for a couple of years. She drove up from Arizona to hike with me for a couple of days. I have met quite a few followers and readers over the years, and this was yet another one of the times that me incredibly thankful for the people this website and social media have brought into my life.

We went to Arches National Park twice: on the first evening, we hiked the Delicate Arch trail, a popular trail to do at sunset, and it didn’t disappoint. The next morning, we were up bright and early to hike the Garden’s Devil Trail, a 7.8 mile hike that passes eight arches (we did 8 miles in four hours) and then spent the rest of the day stopping at scenic viewpoints in the park and doing some shorter hikes before driving Scenic Byway 128, which follows the Colorado River, in the afternoon, mostly resting our feet.

But I also enjoyed the solo hikes I did around SLC: I saw an amazing sunset over Salt Lake City when I hiked the Living Room Trail, the Bonneville Salt Flats brought back memories of all the Salt Flats I visited in South America, and Millcreek Canyon gave me winter vibes when I reached snow after hiking uphill for a while. I also encountered snow when I went on a short hike in Park City, and I loved that I was able to take the pup I was looking after on almost every hike (she loved it!). And last but not least: I got to meet up with some travel friends! I went on a brewery crawl in SLC with my fellow travel bloggers Matt & Matt, and my friend Erin showed me some cool bars and restaurants, with a burlesque show in a speakeasy as the grand finale of my trip.

Worst moment

Bitten by a dog

Unfortunately, the return to dogsitting wasn’t 100% positive. Looking after Idaho in Salt Lake City was the first dogsit I’d traveled for since the beginning of the pandemic, but I also hadn’t done any local dogsits in New York. Towards the end of April, I finally started getting some requests from potential new clients and I was stoked. After a Meet & Greet with the owners, two lovely girls, I thought I’d have an easy time with B, the dog I agreed to look after. And it was an easy sit indeed, since he barely wanted to go outside, and when he did, he wanted to go back inside after a few short minutes. But then his anxiety showed one evening when I wanted to pick him up to put him on the bed, and he bit me. It was a horrible bite, and the wound kept bleeding all night long. I was in agony. It took a couple of weeks to heal, and I wasn’t so sure anymore about taking on new clients… Luckily, I had already agreed to look after a friend’s dog at the end of May, and him being the sweetest most loving dog helped me get over the panic of being bitten again. I did turn down a request for another dog with anxiety tissues though.

June: New York City & Tampa, Florida

June would have topped May in terms of how many amazing things I did, but sadly, I was in a bit of a weird state emotionally, and so I often found myself thinking about someone who I had a crush on – but who I deep inside knew wasn’t good for me and wouldn’t work out in the long run. To keep a long story short: I ended things at the end of June.

I thought May was an activity-packed month, but June was even busier. From Pride celebrations to hosting visitors, checking out new sights in NYC, and even fitting in a short trip – June felt almost overwhelmingly busy. I remember saying to a friend: “It feels like I went from Zero (aka Covid lockdown) to 100 (social commitments and work) – but it would’ve been much nicer to be able to settle back into ‘normal life’ gradually, at a slower pace.” However, I don’t want to complain. I like being busy. I’ve always liked being busy. And I like being a social butterfly.

So what did I get up to in June?

Besides running tours (I ran 12 tours in June, which made it my busiest month in 2021 so far, but was not a lot compared to pre-COVID summers), I was busy with deadlines for freelance articles, tried to watch as much of the EURO 2020 soccer tournament as possible, and my social calendar was filled with a ton of fun NYC activities: the KAWS exhibit at the Brooklyn Museum with two of my favorite people, a rooftop BBQ, a beach day at Riis Beach in the Rockaways, and trips to Central Park. I also splurged on lots of restaurants and bars, eating my way through some places I’ve been wanting to tick off my ever-growing NYC bucket list (I will never make it to all of the eateries on that list, even if I ate out seven nights a week!)

When my out-of-town visitors arrived, more sightseeing was added: ferry rides to marvel at the NYC skyline, a trip to the Vessel (not knowing it’d close for good not long after our visit!), a stroll along the High Line Park, and a visit to Chelsea Market. We also checked out two places that were new to me, too: Little Island, a new park in the Hudson River that resembles a small floating island, and The Edge, a new outdoor observation deck. I wrote about both in this article.

I just love being out and about in New York and to take in this vibrant city. Seeing it busy again, seeing restaurants and bars packed with people, seeing people dance in the streets – all of it made my heart so full.

And then there were a lot of PRIDE-related activities: I joined the Trans March, the Drag March, the Queer Liberation March, and my friends’ annual Pride Brunch which I’ve been going to since 2014. Pride weekend also saw me attend my very first dance party since New Year’s Eve 2019 (it was strange and being in a full night club felt slightly wrong, but I embraced every minute of it!).

Oh, and I went to Florida! The trip was mainly to see a friend who was visiting from Europe and who I hadn’t seen in 15 months, but we managed to squeeze in a visit to the fantastic Dali Museum in St Petersburg and some beach time in Clearwater.

Best moments:

We’re doing group activities again!

Every single moment I spent in a group environment gave me so much joy. We had a BBQ, we had a group trip to the beach, the Pride Brunch with 14 people, a dance party with several friends… and I found myself in big crowds several times (during the Pride marches). I thrive in group environments, and I didn’t realize how much I’d missed being surrounded by a bunch of friends until I was able to experience group gatherings again.

Worst moments

The emotional rollercoaster I found myself on was something I could’ve done without. Other than that, June was absolutely amazing!

You can read Part II here:

July – December 2021, Travel Stats & Reflections

The post 2021 in review: January – June appeared first on GlobetrotterGirls.

Everything you need to know about visiting Rottnest Island

Dani — Tue, 07 Dec 2021 02:49:56 +0000

Last Updated on March 27, 2026

A car-free island with only 475 permanent residents and more quokkas than people? An island with 63 pristine beaches, 20 picture-perfect bays, coral reefs, essentially car-free and the majority of permanent residents are nicknamed “the happiest animal on earth”? Who would NOT want to visit Rottnest Island?!

Well, the problem with visiting Rottnest Island is that it is quite remote and quite expensive.

It took me a 6-hour flight from Australia’s East Coast, a tram ride from Perth to Fremantle, and a 30-minute ferry ride from Fremantle to get to Rottnest Island. This little detour from Brisbane cost me quite a bit of money. Was it worth it? Absolutely. Hanging out with the quokkas on Rottnest Island was one of the bucket list items on my Australia wish list.

Beyond hoping to see quokkas, I didn’t have any expectations for Rottnest Island. But my island getaway ended up being one of the highlights of my entire Australia trip, and the only regret I have is that I didn’t spend the night there (because let’s be honest: it’s unlikely that I’ll ever make it back to Rottnest Island, considering how far it is from New York).

If you’re planning a trip to this little island off the coast of Perth, here is everything you need to know before your visit to Rottnest Island – including some things I wish I’d known before I went there, including the different Rottnest Island ferry options, where to eat and where to sleep, tours to take, what to bring, and more!

Everything you need to know before visiting Rottnest Island

How to get to Rottnest Island (Rottnest Island Ferry Options)

Rottnest Island is 19 kilometers (roughly 12 miles) from Fremantle and 33 kilometers (20 miles) from Perth. There are three Rottnest Island ferry companies:

SeaLink (Perth & Fremantle)
Rottnest Express (Perth & Fremantle)
Rottnest Fast Ferry (Perth Only)

There are several Rottnest Island ferry terminals in Fremantle and Perth (pay attention which one you buy your ticket for), and the duration of the trip depends on which ferry terminal you leave from:

Perth’s Barrack Street Jetty (closest to the city center): 90 minutes
Perth’s Hillarys Boat Harbour (25 mins north of the city center by taxi): 45 minutes
From Fremantle: 25 minutes

Tip: Rottnest Island ferry tickets are usually cheaper when you book them online in advance!

Here are the prices, ferry schedules and deals for each company, plus possible add-ons such as bike rentals and snorkeling gear (they can also be rented on the island, but may be sold out):

SeaLink Ferry

Ferry Terminals:

Currently only operating from the B-Shed Terminal in Fremantle

Ticket Prices:

Same day return: AU$48 + AU$21 (Island Admission) = AU$69
One way Fremantle – Rottnest: AU$29 + AU$21(Island Admission) = AU$50
Extended return: AU$55 + AU$28 (2-day Island Admission) = AU$83
Children 4-12 years: AU$33 + AU$10.50 (Island Admission) = AU$43.50
Children 0-3 years are FREE
Family Ticket: 2 adults + 2 children: AU$165.50 + AU$55 (Island Admission) = AU$220.50

Special offer: Same Day Return (7am Departure from Fremantle; only on weekdays): AU$49. Children (4-12 years) traveling with their parents are FREE, they only pay AU$10.50 island admission.

Optional Add-ons:

Bike Rental: AU$33.00
Child Bike Rental: AU$21.00
Snorkel Hire: AU$22.00 / $16 for children under 12
BYO Bike: AU$20.00

For prices from Perth to Rottnest Island, see the full price list here.

Ferry Timetable: You can find the ferry timetable here.

Book your ferry ticket here.

I looked up ferry prices for peak season in January 2024 – when you book a couple of weeks in advance, deals can still be found!

Rottnest Express

Ferry Terminals:

Fremantle: Northport Terminal & B-Shed Terminal
Perth: Barrack Street

Ticket prices (when booked online):

Fremantle – Rottnest Island: Same-day return from AU$79 (children 4-12 years AU$39)
Family ticket from Fremantle – 2 adults & 2 children: AU$205 (AU$156 plus $59 island admission)
Perth – Rottnest Island: Same-day return from AU$113 (children 4-12 years AU$59)
Family ticket from Perth – 2 adults & 2 children: AU$310 (AU$260 + AU$49 island admission)

Special Deal: If you’re a Western Australia local, you can sign up for the quokka club, which allows kids under 12 to travel for free

Ferry Timetable: You can find the ferry timetable here.

Book your ferry tickets here.

Rottnest Fast Ferry

Ferry Terminals:

Hillarys Boat Harbour

The Rottnest Island Fast Ferry brings you from Hillary’s Boat Harbour (north of Perth) to Rottnest Island in only 45 minutes.

Ticket Prices (when booked online):

Same day return: AU$69+ AU$20 (Island Admission) = AU$89
Children 4-12 years: AU$43 + AU$7 (Island Admission) = AU$50
Family Pass: (2 adults + 2 children) AU$181 + AU$50 = AU$231
Same day ferry & bike combo: AU$94 + AU$20 (Island Admission) = AU$114 (children 4-12 pay AU$65)

Ferry Timetable: You can find the ferry timetable here.

Book your ferry tickets here.

Rottnest Island Admission Fee:

AU$20 (day rate) / AU$26 (overnight) – usually included in the Rottnest Island ferry ticket.

How much does it cost to visit Rottnest Island?

Let me start by saying that visiting Rottnest Island isn’t cheap. It can add up quickly, especially if you’re planning to eat on the island and if you’re planning to hire any additional equipment, such as bikes or snorkeling gear, or take the hop-on hop-off bus.

Factor in these costs if you want to snorkel and ride a bike around the island

AU$59 return ticket for the Rottnest Island ferry (discount online price)
AU$20 admission to the island
AU$30 bike rental
AU$20 snorkeling gear
AU$1.42 transaction fee

Total: AU$130.42 for a day on Rottnest Island

And that’s without any food or drinks.

Could I have done it cheaper?

Sure, I could’ve just paid for the ferry, but honestly, I loved being able to see the entire island by bike, at my own pace, and not having to rely on the bus timetable. Since the water around the island is so clear, I did not regret renting snorkeling gear, and I saw some beautiful marine life while snorkeling.

I chose not to eat on the island, but if you’re planning to have lunch or dinner, factor that into your budget as well.

Families: If you’re planning to visit Rottnest Island with your family, expect to pay at least AU$400 for the day – and more if you are planning to spend the night on the island (scroll down to get an idea for accommodation prices).

2 adults and 2 kids pay AU$205 (including admission to the island) from Fremantle / AU$310 from Perth for the Rottnest Express, if you want to add on a bike rental, that’s AU$30 per adult, AU$20 per child, AU$24 per bike trailer, and AU$3 per helmet. If you are looking to rent snorkeling gear, that’s another AU$20 per adult and AU$15 per child. And that’s without any food or snacks.

Tip: Families can save a lot of money by going on weekdays and with SeaLink’s “kids travel free”. It also pays off to compare special offers & packages of Rottnest Express and SeaLink Ferries.

How to get around on Rottnest Island

There are virtually no cars on Rottnest Island, so to get around, you’ll either have to take the hop-on hop-off bus, rent a bicycle, or walk.

Hop-on hop-off bus

There is a hop-on hop-off bus daily from 8.45am to 3pm at 30 – 45-minute intervals, depending on the season (it runs more frequently during high season / holidays). The bus stops at 19 locations around the island. This is the easiest way to explore the island if you don’t want to rent a bicycle, since you can just get on the bus and get off it whenever you see a beach that looks appealing to you. Just make sure to look up when the last bus stops at the beach you’re at in the afternoon, or you risk getting stuck. It’s also worth mapping out in advance what stops you’d like to get off at.

Map via SeaLinkRottnest.com.au

The bus is only AU$20 when booked advanced online, and kids from 4 – 12 years pay AU$15. A family ticket (2 adults and 2 kids) is AU$50, kids 3 and under are free.

Cycling on Rottnest Island

If you want to be more flexible (and explore Rottnest Island past 3pm, which I recommend!) cycling would be a better option than taking the bus. Cycling seems to be the most popular option for visitors to get around the island, and there are hundreds of bicycles available for rent near the ferry dock or as part of your ferry ticket package (see prices above).

If you didn’t book a ferry & bike combo, don’t worry: you can still find bicycles on the island. Pedal & Flipper is a massive bike hire facility with nearly 2,000 bikes, just a short walk from the ferry terminal. They also have kids bikes and bike trailers for hire. Bikes are AU$32 per 24-hr rental period. Find the full price list here.

Note: If you want to bring your own bicycle to Rottnest Island, ferries charge AU$15 per bike. Biking is fairly easy on Rottnest Island, the roads are paved, but there are a few hills. Remember that it gets very hot during the summer months (December – February), so plan your route depending on how much time you want to spend on the bike. I loved doing the full loop, and being able to get to see the fur seals from the Cape Vlamingh viewing platform on the southwestern most point of the island, but if you care less about seeing the island and more about beach time, you’ll want to choose a shorter route.

The cycling loops on Rottnest Island are:

Mini Loop (4 kilometers / around 30 minutes – red on the map below)
The 10k Loop to Wadjemup Lighthouse (2 – 3 hours incl photo stops – green on the map below)
The Full Loop (22 kilometers / 4 – 5 hours including some stops – brown on the map below)

Map via Rottnestisland.com – click here to download it and save it on your phone

Explore Rottnest Island on Foot

It is possible to get around without any transportation, but prepared to walk, and be aware that you won’t see much of the island. There are enough beaches in walking distance of the ferry dock, however, so you’ll be able to beach hop and see a bit of the island still, and most importantly: see the quokkas!

In walking distance from the ferry dock are for example:

Pinky Beach – 10 mins
The Basin – 15 mins
Longreach Bay – 25 mins
Paterson Beach – 30 mins
Henrietta Rocks – 35 mins

When walking, just be aware that it can be very hot and make sure to apply sunscreen and carry enough water.

Take a Tour on Rottnest Island

Free walks with Rottnest voluntary guides

There are daily guided tours led by the Rottnest Voluntary Guides Association (RVGA). There are differently themed walks, for example a quokkas-focused walk or history walks – all of them start outside the Salt Store. Check here for the exact schedule of each tour.

Aboriginal Tours

The Wadjemup (Rottnest Island) Tour, run by Go Cultural Aboriginal Tours and Experiences, is a 60 minute walking tour that showcases Wadjemup (the Aboriginal name for Rottnest Island) from an Aboriginal viewpoint. The tour includes a traditional Aboriginal sand ceremony, Noongar language and a traditional song. Cost: AU$80

Segway Tours

There are a couple of Segway tours offered on Rottnest Island – a fun way to explore a bit more of the island without tiring yourself out on a bicycle. There are two options:

1-hour Rottnest Island Settlement Tour

This tour includes Thomson Bay, the Heritage Common area, the North Thompson settlement, the basin, Bathurst Lighthouse and the pilot boathouse.

This tour runs twice a day: at 11am and at 2.30pm.

1.5-hour Fortress Adventure Tour

This tour focuses on the military heritage of Rottnest Island, but you’ll also get to take in the natural beauty of the island and its stunning coastline.

It runs every day at 9am and at 12.30pm.

Other Tours on Rottnest Islands

In addition to the above tours, a wide range of other tours are offered on Rottnest Island, including:

Train Tours
Bus Tours
Snorkeling Tours
Aquaplay Tours
E-Bike Tours
Aviation Tours

You can find a full list of available tours on Rottnest Island here.

How to see quokkas on Rottnest Island

When I booked my trip to Rottnest Island, I was worried if I’d see any quokkas at all, let alone get a quokka selfie – but it turned out that my worries were completely unfounded. Within minutes of getting off the ferry, I saw my first quokka! One of many, as it turned out. After cycling all over the island I found that the best place to hang out with quokkas was near the ferry terminal. There were lots of quokkas near the cabins and campgrounds north of the Ferry Terminal, near the Basin and Bathurst Point.

But you’ll also see quokkas in other parts of the island – look out for them in the areas that have trees, they tend to hang out there to get some shade from the relentless sun.

In total, there are around 10,000 quokkas on Rottnest Island. They are part of the macropod family (relatives or kangaroos and wallabies) and they are the only mammals native to Rottnest Island.

How to interact with the quokkas

I shouldn’t have to say this, but since there was a popular sadistic sport called “quokka soccer” until the early 2000s (day trippers would use quokkas as a soccer ball, kicking them and thus hurting them, even killing them), please remember that quokkas are living creatures and not there for your entertainment.

Even though this has been made illegal now and acts of animal cruelty can also result in fines up to $50,000 and five years imprisonment (tourists have been sent to jail for hurting quokkas), there are sadly still incidents of violence against quokkas.

Please be respectful when interacting with quokkas, don’t attempt to pick them up, and don’t try to make them pose for photos in a way that could hurt or irritate them. Let them come to you, rather than approaching them.

Don’t feed the quokkas human foods (especially processed foods like chips or cookies!) or alcohol.

In short: Treat the quokkas respectfully and don’t be an asshole.

Bird watching on Rottnest Island

If fluffy little furballs don’t tickle your fancy, but you’re drawn to birds, you’ll be able to get your “bird fix” on Rottnest Island. There are over 50 shorebird species, including red-capped robins, honeyeaters, Western gerygones, waders, Australian ravens, terns, spotted pardalotes and rock parrots. Pick up a copy of the handy “A birds eyes view of Rottnest Island” at the visitors center.

How much time to spend on Rottnest Island

Most people seem to visit Rottnest Island just for the day, and it’s a popular day trip during the summer for people who live in the Perth area.

The first ferries to Rotto leave at 7.30am, and the last ferries back leave around 6.30pm (there are some later departures during Holidays and high season). If you book yourself on the first ferry and the last ferry back, that’s plenty of time to explore the little island.

Tip: If you want to maximize your time on the island, book the last ferry back soon in advance – that one often sells out!

If it’s a bit of a trek to get there though, as it was for me, I’d recommend doing an overnight trip. It’s not cheap to spend the night on the island (unless you luck out and score a hostel bed, or have camping equipment), but it’s such a unique and remote place that for me, it would’ve definitely been worth it spending more time there. I would’ve loved to spend more time on some of the beaches I stopped at, to spend more time with the quokkas, and maybe do an early morning hike.

When to visit Rottnest Island

December through March are the hottest months, i.e. the best time to visit if you want to enjoy the beaches and snorkel. If you’re just here for the quokkas and maybe a bike ride around the island, you are obviously not limited to the summer months.

If you want to avoid crowds, don’t visit during school holidays and weekends. Weekdays are less crowded.

Tip: If you want to save money, visit Monday through Thursday. Not only is the ferry cheaper on weekdays, but also accommodation on Rottnest Island.

My Tips & What To Bring To Rottnest Island

Bring Cash

There’s an Cashcard ATM on the island (right by the ferry terminal), but I’d carry some cash in case the ATM is out of service

Bring food & booze

There are only a couple of small supermarkets on the island (IGA Xpress near the ferry terminal and the Geordie Bay General Store on the northern side of the island)

Water

make sure to have enough water on you, especially if you are cycling around the island. Most of the shops and restaurants are located close to the ferry dock, but once you get further away from that area, there aren’t a lot of places where you can stock up on supplies. There are a few water refill stations on the island: in Thomson Bay settlement, at The Basin, at the Army Jetty, Kingstown Barracks, Geordie Bay and Vlamingh Lookout.

Tip: Since the stations all near the settlement, you’ll have to carry enough water for the day if you’re planning to venture to further away beaches and the southwestern part of the island.

Sun Protection

There’s not much shade on most of the island, so make sure to bring adequate sun protection on your trip to Rotto. That goes from high SPF sunscreen (and lip balm – learned that the hard way!) to sunhats, umbrellas, sunglasses and sun protective clothing – especially for kids. UV radiation is intense down there.

Bring a first aid kit

There is no pharmacy on Rottnest Island. Make sure to have bandaids, basic medication such as ibuprofen, and insect repellent (especially if you spend the night.)

Check the weather

It can make a big difference to visit the island on a sunny day – especially if you want to get good photos. On a cloudy day, the water doesn’t look as clear and blue, and if it rains, it may not be worth spending the money on the trip. I checked the weather before reserving the ticket and booked the Rottnest Island ferry for a sunny day with little wind.

Where to eat on Rottnest Island

There are a few restaurants on Rottnest Island, two convenience stores, a bakery, a couple of cafes, and six or seven restaurants.

Since almost all of the restaurants are located near the ferry dock, I recommend picking up some snacks before you head to the further away beaches, since you won’t find any food at the majority of them. If you take the hop-on hop-off bus, you can grab a bite after your island exploration when you’ve circled back to the small settlement near the ferry dock.

Tip: If you know that you’ll hop on a bike or the bus as soon as you get on the island, you can also buy some snacks and bring them to the island with you – that’s what I did, and I was definitely glad that I had a few things to hold me over until I got a full meal later in the day.

Note that if you’re staying on Rottnest Island overnight, not all of the restaurants are open in the evening, most seem to cater to the day trippers.

Restaurants on Rottnest Island:

Frankie’s On Rotto – Classic breakfast dishes; pizza, pasta and salads for lunch and dinner. Open Saturdays – Mondays open 8am – 8pm; Tuesdays – Fridays open 11.30am – 8pm
Lontara – Upscale South-East Asian inspired dishes. Open for lunch and dinner Fridays – Tuesdays (lunch 12pm – 3pm; dinner 6pm – late)
Riva (part of Karma Rottnest) – Mediterranean-inspired restaurant for gourmet lunch and dining. Open Tuesdays – Sundays 7.30am – 3pm. Open for dinner only Fridays and Saturdays (until 8.30pm) – reservation recommended.
Isola – Italian restaurant. Open Wednesday through Sunday 11.30am till late
Pinky’s Beach Club – Focus on Seafood Dishes. Open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner from 7.30am till late
Hotel Rottnest easonal menu with pizzas, salad, burgers, snacks and seafood. Open Mondays through Thursdays from noon till 8pm; Fridays through Sunday 11.30am till 8.30pm
Gov’s Sports Bar (part of Karma Rottnest) Pub fare like nachos, pizza, chicken wings, sandwiches, pasta, burgers and fries. Open daily from 12pm to midnight.
Subway – If you have a craving for a fast food chain, you’ll be happy to hear that there’s a Subway on Rottnest Island, offering the exact same sandwiches it offers all over the world. Open daily from 8am – 5pm.

Cafes on Rottnest Island

Geordie’s Café & Art Gallery – Wide range of breakfast dishes, burgers, salads, fish & chips. Open Monday / Tuesday from 7.30am – 3pm; Wednesday – Saturday 7.30am – 7.30pm; Sunday 7.30am – 3pm
Dome Café – Breakfast dishes, cakes, pizzas, snacks, salads and burgers. Open daily from 7.30am – 3pm; Fridays and Saturdays also open for dinner from 5pm – 8pm
Lane Café Rottnest – Right by the ferry pier. Great coffee, smoothies, egg and bacon rolls, lobster burgers and cray dogs, Mexican breakfast and vegan bowls, chia pudding, sweet pastries, vegan cookies. Open daily from 6.30am – 4pm
Lexi’s On Rotto –Lexi’s on Rotto is a small coffee stand near the Cape Vlamingh Viewing Platform and Westend Lookout on the southwestern tip of the island. They have an espresso machine and a decent tea selection, soft drinks as well as snacks like chaos and vegan protein balls, muffins and ice cream. Open daily from 10am – 2.50pm
Kalli’s On Rotto – Vintage caravan located at the Wadjemup Lighthouse serving similar snack foods and barista coffee as Lexi’s (above). Open from 10am – 3pm (currently only open on weekends – check GoogleMaps for up-to-date opening times)

Grocery stores / baked goods / Ice Cream on Rottnest Island

Rottnest General Store (Open daily from 8am – 7pm)
Geordie Bay General Store (Open daily from 8am – 6pm)
Rottnest Bakery – Rottnest Bakery is located on Maley Street, just down the street from the ferry dock. They have fantastic pies, as well as cakes, donuts, croissants, coffee and more. Open daily from 8am – 4pm.
Simmos Rottnest – Ice cream shop with over 60 different flavors. They also have iced coffee drinks. Open Friday – Sunday 11am – 5pm; Monday – Thursday 11am – 4.30pm

Where to stay on Rottnest Island

Accommodation is limited on Rottnest Island, and during school holidays, hotels, hostels and campgrounds book out months in advance. If you’re planning an overnight trip to Rottnest Island, my advice is to book your accommodation as soon as you know the date of your trip.

Tip: If you want to save some money, try to find an off-peak deal that includes ferry and accommodation mid-week! Prices go up on weekends, public holidays and during school holidays.

Holiday cottages on Rottnest Island

Accommodation options on Rottnest Island

The Campground

There are 43 non-powered sites which accommodate up to 6 people and 2 tents.

Units start at AUD39 per night.

Kingstown Barracks Youth Hostel

Hostel beds start at AUD57 (note that they have mixed dormitories only)
Family rooms (with one queen bed and one set of bunks, plus a fridge in the room) start at AUD108 per night.

Stay Rottnest Cottages have 250 cottages and villas for rent on Rottnest Island, the most budget option on the island. They usually sell out months in advance, so check availability for your dates early.

Samphire Rottnest – Beautifully designed hotel with 80 spacious guest rooms, all of which have a private balcony. From AUD200 per night – check their website for special sales!

Discovery Eco-Village – Glamping tent village with standard and superior tents (which have a kitchenette). There is an outdoor pool, a restaurant and a bar. Standard Tents from AUD309 (sleeps 2) / AUD449 (sleeps 5); Superior Tents from AUD449 per night (sleeps 2) / AUD549 (sleeps 5)

Tip: The easiest way to find all available accommodation on the islands for your travel dates is the Stay Rottnest website

The post Everything you need to know about visiting Rottnest Island appeared first on GlobetrotterGirls.

2020 in review: July – December

Dani — Sun, 24 Jan 2021 15:12:08 +0000

Last Updated on January 14, 2026

This is Part II of my 2020 review – everything I did in the second half of the year, including some travel stats and final thought on 2020.

You can read the first part here.

Here is what I got up to from July to December 2020:

July: Germany

I finished my 14-day quarantine at my sister’s house, and then I packed my bags: it was time to travel a bit. My first stop was Leipzig, where I spent a week with my nieces, my brother and my sister-in-law, and then I drove to Bavaria to surprise one of my best friends for her 40th birthday. I spent a week with her and her family and then I went back to my sister’s to hang out with my niece and nephew. And I got to spent time with all of my favorite animals, as you can see in the pictures below. I also saw some other friends who still live in my hometown, and I couldn’t believe how normal life felt in Germany. Sure, people were wearing a face mask in supermarkets and shops, but restaurants were open and they were as busy as ever, movie theaters and gyms were open, and one night we even walked by a classical concert (outdoors) that was packed with people. There were concerts happening throughout the summer, beer gardens were open, beaches were crowded. I took my friend’s daughter to a swimming pool and for me, coming from NYC, nothing about it felt right, but nobody in Germany seemed to worry much about COVID. On the contrary: Everyone I talked to was planning their summer vacation. So much so that I decided that I wanted to go on vacation, too!

Best moment

Surprising my friend for her birthday

My friend had invited me to her birthday party early: She told me LAST SUMMER when she’d be celebrating her 40th birthday. But I had told her back then, in summer 2019, that summer travel is always difficult for me, and two trips to Europe during the summer would be impossible (I had a trip booked to Germany for August 2020 for a family event). But because of COVID, I found myself in Germany for her milestone birthday! With the help of her husband, I was able to surprise her. She had no idea that I was even in Germany – I had kept it a secret from her until I showed up on her doorstep.

This is one of my oldest friends (I’ve known her for 23 years!) and we rarely get to see each other, which is why I was super stoked to be there for her birthday party, and to spend a few days with her and her family afterwards.

Actually, July was a month filled with birthdays: I was in Germany for my niece’s birthday, my god daughter’s birthday, my best friend’s birthday and my brother-in-law’s birthday. I am never there for any of these birthdays, so this was a nice treat.

Worst moments

Reading COVID-19 news from the U.S. / Marathon cancellations

Meanwhile, I kept reading about rising COVID numbers back in the U.S. – something that I had not expected. When I left New York, I thought that the U.S. had the worst behind it. I assumed that the reopening of NYC was well underway and that I’d return to a fairly functional city later this summer, possibly even offer some tours. But looking at the speed with which COVID spread throughout the U.S., my hope to return to a more relaxed COVID situation began to diminish. The first grim news came on 7^th July, when the U.S. saw 250,000 new COVID cases in just five days, then a day later, the U.S. was about to hit 3 million COVID cases, and only around two weeks later, on 24^th July, the U.S. hit 4 million COVID cases. The numbers reported in the U.S. were mind-boggling to me, considering that Europe was doing fairly well in containing the virus and most countries had re-opened for tourism. As a result of the virus spiraling out of control in the U.S., many marathon cancellations started to pour in: Chicago, Indianapolis, Philadelphia… and ultimately, the Marine Corps Marathon in Washington, D.C., which I was supposed to run on 25th October. I had initially booked a return flight for early August, but I decided to postpone my return to the U.S. until September, because I didn’t anticipate the situation to change much before then.

August: Germany, Austria, Switzerland & Liechtenstein

I was ready for a vacation. I helped out my sister with childcare while she was finishing her dissertation for the first couple of weeks, and then they left for their summer vacation. This meant I was released from my nannying duties! A friend had suggested we’d go on vacation together, but first I went to Leipzig where I looked after a little zoo while my brother went on vacation: my brother’s dog, my mother’s dog, two guinea pigs, a bunny and a kitten. A couple of friends came to visit me while I was there and I also had a couple of days to myself – for the first time in over two months.

As soon as my brother returned, I was able to go on vacation myself. My friend and I had vague ideas for our trip: we knew that we didn’t want to fly anywhere, we wanted to do a road trip, and we wanted to leave Germany. That left us with a wide range of options: France is only a 5-hour drive away, Italy a 6-hour drive, Prague a 4-hour drive, Austria a 4-hour drive, Belgium and the Netherlands are around 4 hours away, and Poland around 3 hours.

Eventually, we decided to drive down to Italy to experience places like Venice and Rome without the usual summer tourist crowds. On the way south, we stopped in Salzburg, where she’d never been, and somehow we ended up staying in Austria. I felt a huge pull towards the mountains, and luckily my friend was game and agreed to a vacation surrounded by nature instead of the city trip we’d originally envisioned.

I ended the month with a big family event which I was scheduled to travel to Germany for – pre-pandemic. I honestly didn’t think I’d still be in Germany at the time of the event when I left New York in June.

Best moment

Visiting Switzerland, Austria and Liechtenstein

The trip to Austria, which included day trips to Switzerland and Liechtenstein, was, without a doubt, the highlight of the month. I don’t think I would’ve been able to go on a trip had I stayed in the U.S., and being able to just get in the car and drive to another country felt so good. I also loved the areas of Austria I got to explore – besides Salzburg, which I had already visited, I went to places that were new to me: Vorarlberg and Feldkirch. We based ourselves in a small village for a few days and used our vacation rental as a base to go on hikes around beautiful lakes, and then we used Feldkirch, which is minutes away from the border with Liechtenstein and Switzerland, as a base to visit these two countries. It was a fantastic trip and I even got to visit a new country (Liechtenstein) and added a new stamp in my passport.

Worst moment

A cable car ride in Austria

This experience was almost as bad as my flight from Atlanta to Germany back in June. The cable car was supposed to run at 50% capacity because of COVID-19 but when we entered the crowded cabin I wanted to die. This was definitely more than 50% capacity! Luckily, the ride was only 3 minutes long, and the Luenersee Lake atop the mountain (pictured above) made up for this dreadful experience.

September: Germany and England

I was scheduled to return to New York on 1 September, but because the city was still far from “back to normal” and I was still not able to run my Brooklyn tours, I decided to postpone my flight for another month. I felt much safer in Europe, despite COVID numbers slowly rising again, while the U.S. hit a sad milestone: a COVID death toll of 200,000. Germany, in comparison, had managed to keep its death toll below 10,000 (at that time).

Once I had changed my flight, I decided that staying in Europe for four months and NOT visiting some of my best friends in the UK was not an option, and spontaneously booked a ticket to London. My friend Kate and I rented a small house in the Cotswolds for a few days where we held our own little writers retreat – and it was exactly what I needed after a couple of months during which I focused more on helping out my family than writing (other than some paid work). We spent the mornings at the house, working, and the afternoons either on long walks or visiting nearby towns. We spent an afternoon in Oxford, where I hadn’t been in over ten years, and also visited Burford, a picture-perfect Cotswolds market town.

I also spent a few days in London where I treated myself to a hotel instead of crashing on my friend’s couch, and I was so happy with that decision. It allowed for some desperately needed “me time” and I was able to plan my days without having to consider other people’s work schedules. I went for long runs (including a half marathon to Richmond), took myself out on brunch dates and just wandered around my favorite neighborhoods. I hadn’t been able to enjoy London in such a relaxed way since I left the city in 2010 and it reminded me just how much I love my former home. I even considered moving back there should the U.S. election not go the way I was hoping for.

Things in London felt pretty normal while I was there: street and food markets had re-opened, people crammed into restaurants and pubs. It still felt weird to have very few tourists around though – the London Eye had not a single guest when I was walking down the South Bank Promenade, and I was the only person outside the gates of Buckingham Palace, a place that’s usually packed with tourists. I was really lucky with the timing of my trip, because shortly after my visit, London started shutting down restaurants and pubs again.

Thanks to my London trip, I also got to spend 24 hours in Berlin, because my flight left from Berlin’s Tegel Airport. It was not enough time in one of my favorite cities in the world, but enough time to go on a street art walk, have some good coffee and Vietnamese food, meet up with friends and remind myself that Berlin is one of the greatest cities in the world.

After I returned to Germany, we celebrated a good friend’s birthday and my sister’s birthday, and then it was time for me to get ready for my flight to the U.S. I also happened to get work that had nothing to do with travel or tourism, which was a big relief, since a freelance project I’d worked on over the summer had been put “on pause”.

Best moment

Returning to London

London is the only other city – besides NYC – where I resided for several years as a grown-up, and every time I get the chance to visit my old stomping grounds, I’m reminded of how much I loved living in London. Since London was very different because of COVID-19, I spent most of my time walking around the neighborhoods I used to live and work in, to see how they’ve changed over the years and to see which of the places I used to frequent were still there. I got to enjoy some of my favorite markets (Portobello Road Market and Borough Market), I went to all my favorite parks (Regents Park, Hyde Park, Green Park, Kensington Gardens and St James Park) and even made it to Richmond Park, famous for the 600 deer that roam freely there – a park I always loved but didn’t make it to very often when I lived in London.

I also got to check out a new rooftop space: the Skygarden, atop the “Walkie Talkie Building”, which opened only a few years ago. I met up with a couple of friends, ate at some of my favorite restaurants, and checked out new street art in East London. It was almost a perfect London trip, despite the circumstances, but seeing the Westend theaters closed and usually crowded places like Piccadilly Circus and Trafalgar Square completely deserted was heartbreaking. There were barely any tourists around, and tourist attractions were empty. As someone who earns her living in travel & tourism, it is utterly depressing to see this industry suffering so much.

Worst Moment

Driving in England

I consider myself a fairly confident driver, even though I don’t own a car and I don’t drive very often. So I didn’t think twice about renting a car to get to the Cotswolds. However, it had been a while since I’d last driven in London, with the steering wheel on what I consider the passenger side. And it turned out traffic in London was still mad – even during a pandemic. Picking up the car from a Central London rental office seemed convenient, but it meant I didn’t have any time to adjust to driving “on the wrong other side of the road” again, Instead, I was thrown in the deep end. Let’s just say that this was probably the most stressful moment I’d had in months. There were tears, and I was close to having a nervous breakdown when I fully blocked the road sideways after a failed U-turn attempt and I couldn’t figure out how to get the car in reverse. Looking back at it now, I can laugh about it, but back then I wouldn’t have been able to fix the situation without the lovely EMT Driver who came to my rescue.

October: New York City

After nearly four months away, I was back in New York City. I had been nervous to return, because seeing the city I love so much going through such a painful time in the spring had not been easy. But my worries were unfounded: I returned to a city that was so much livelier than it had been when I left in June. It seemed like people had adjusted to life with Covid and had learned to coexist with the virus. Initially, wearing a mask again outdoors was a bit off-putting and seemed strange to me after so many months in Europe, mostly mask-free, but having lived through the horrible COVID-19 months in the spring, I understood why it was necessary to have very strict rules in place. Nobody wanted to relive the dark months of March and April 2020. Other than mask wearing, life seemed much more normal again than four months prior: restaurants and bars were packed, and almost all the eateries had added an outdoor seating area (indoor dining was still not allowed when I came back and was only allowed at 25% capacity in mid-October).

The subway was also busier again, and shops had reopened (they were only open for curbside pick-up when I left New York in June). Midtown Manhattan felt much more crowded again, even though only about 10% of office workers had returned to their office towers. But it was notable that one thing was missing: tourists. With New York still being closed off to most of the world and around 40 U.S. states on a strict 14-days quarantine mandate upon arrival in New York, not a lot of people were able to visit New York. This, of course, meant that my business was still far from recovering, and the same goes for every single tourism business in NYC. I tried to resume my walking tours, but demand was low and I made barely any money. Luckily, a friend had recommended me for a temp job which brought some extra income.

When I wasn’t working, I tried to take advantage of “tourist-free” New York and visited the MoMA (where I hadn’t been in years because it is usually too crowded for me), went to see two exhibits at the Brooklyn Museum, ran two half marathons and caught up with friends. I went on a 50-mile bike ride to New Jersey, marveled at the fall colors in Central Park and Prospect Park, I celebrated Halloween (a little bit), and I spent a sunny afternoon on the beach in Coney Island. Fall is such a beautiful season in New York, and I was so happy to be back – for exactly one month.

Best moment

Celebrating Halloween

To be honest, I was a bit wary of getting together with a small group, but we were only six people and spent most of the day outside in a small park in Brooklyn where a drag show took place. It was very low-key, but simply dressing up (can you recognize me in the photo below?), buying some Halloween candy and making some party snacks felt wonderfully normal.

Worst moment

Election anxiety

Returning to New York a month before the election meant not being able to escape any of the pre-election madness. Reading and hearing about the election every day wasn’t great for my mental health. From stupid remarks by Trump on Twitter (who would’ve thought that this is a thing of the past now?!) to watching the disastrous presidential debates to a general fear of the outcome of the 3^rd November election – I felt anxious for most of the month, had trouble sleeping and couldn’t wait for the election to be over.

November: Florida

Shortly after arriving in New York in October, a client whose cat I had looked after regularly in Brooklyn contacted me and asked me if I’d consider coming down to Florida for a month to care for their cat while they’d be away on an essential trip. They had relocated to Florida to self-isolate there when COVID hit New York hard, and they offered me a nice house with a backyard, a nearby beach, and the use of their car. They didn’t have to ask me twice. The housesit was in a region that didn’t have a lot of COVID-19 cases, and the house itself was also fairly isolated, so that social distancing wasn’t going to be a problem.

So I swapped New York’s grey and cold November for sunny Florida, and I am so grateful that I got to spend a month in a state I hadn’t spent much time in. I was able to do some exploring – mainly solo hikes in state parks near where I was staying, but I also went on a day trip to St Augustine, the oldest city in America, which I’d heard a lot about. It didn’t disappoint, even though I was shocked by the amount of tourists in the city (on a random Monday) – it almost felt like there wasn’t a pandemic going on.

After the housesit, I decided to fly back from Miami instead of Orlando and road trip along Florida’s west coast. A friend of mine had offered me to stay at her place in Miami (she was not there, unfortunately) and I wanted to get at least a taste of Miami, even though I knew it wouldn’t be the same because of COVID. I was able to do some of the things I’ve had on my travel wish list for years, including the Wynwood Arts District (the street art there was amazing!), the Art Deco architecture in Miami Beach, and Little Havana. I also spent a day in the Everglades where I spotted the first wild alligator of the trip (I’d been on the lookout for the famed Florida alligators all month, and I finally saw one three days before my flight back to New York). I want to return to Miami when things are “back to normal”, to enjoy the restaurant scene, dance the night away in South Beach, and spend more time in the Everglades (I ran out of time for an air boat ride, which I think is the quintessential to do there).

November turned out to be the most unexpected month of the year: Four weeks earlier, I hadn’t even known that I was going to spend my birth month (during which I usually go on a big trip) in Florida. And I got to visit a city in Miami, one of the top five U.S. cities on my list (I’ve visited most of the cities on my travel wish list over the years, but the other four I haven’t been to yet that I really want to see are Portland, OR; Milwaukee, WI; Pittsburgh, PA and Detroit, MI). And I even got to tick off a major bucket list item: swimming with manatees – which was definitely the best moment of the month:

Best Moment

Swimming with manatees

Swimming with manatees has been on my bucket list ever since I found out that hundreds of these gentle giants gather in the waters of Florida in November to spend the winter there. When I found out that one of the most popular places to swim with manatees was only 2.5 hours from where I was staying and that the manatees usually arrive there mid-November, I knew I had to go there. I looked int the logistics and COVID-19 safety and found a tour company I felt was taking COVID-19 measures seriously and booked a 7am manatee swim in the hope that other people would be too lazy to get up that early. My theory was right: I ended up being alone on the boat with my guide and the boat driver and had the best time swimming with manatees.

On these tours, it’s actually not guaranteed that you get to see manatees, let alone swim WITH them, but I lucked out: We found a large group of about a dozen manatees shortly after leaving the port and had them all to ourselves for a while before another boat with a large group arrived. We then decided to leave and look for manatees in a different spot, and again, we got lucky. There, we were the only boat and I saw so many manatee mommas with their babies and friendly manatees that swam up to us and said hi. This experience definitely lived up to my expectations. In fact, it even exceeded it, since because of COVID-19 there weren’t many tourists around. From what I’ve heard, the boats are usually fully booked and up to 60 people (from a number of boats) can be in the water with the manatees at the same time – and I know I wouldn’t have enjoyed that.

Worst Moment

Nothing really terrible happened in November, but I wasn’t feeling great this month. I was in a funk. Before the pandemic, I had big, exciting travel plans for my 40^th birthday. Instead, I spent it all by myself in Florida. This did weigh on me, despite all the great experiences I had in Florida.

I was also disappointed not to be in New York City when Biden was announced winner of the presidential election for the very first time on 7 November. All of New York City broke out into one huge celebration, while I found myself surrounded by Trump supporters who took to the streets immediately to start their “the election was stolen from us” protests. After all the tension of the previous months was finally released, I would’ve loved to join the cheering crowds in New York. The outcome of the election was, of course, a giant relief for me, but I’m going to be honest here: I am still extremely disappointed about the huge number of people who voted for Trump and everything he represents. I wasn’t surprised by it – I wouldn’t have been that worried had I not thought he had a very good chance to get re-elected – but seeing that over 74 million people would like to see him rule the U.S. for another four years after his first term, his actions during COVID and during the last four years, and pretty much everything he’s ever said, was extremely disheartening to see.

December: New York City & Germany

I returned to New York and spent just enough time in the Big Apple to get a glimpse of the Christmas lights in Midtown Manhattan, marvel at the Rockefeller Christmas Tree and enjoy the Light Show at Saks Fifth Avenue. I also went ice skating in Bryant Park with my friends Kristin and Adam – something I hadn’t done since 2016! I combined these trips to Manhattan with some last-minute Christmas shopping, and when I arrived in Germany, I was beyond relieved that I’d done the majority of my Christmas shopping in New York because I arrived in Germany just in time for a strict lockdown which required all retailers to shut down – a week before Christmas!!

There were no Christmas markets anywhere in Germany this year, which I was very sad about, and because of the strict lockdown and quarantine requirements I didn’t even get to see any friends. I got some quality time with my family, however, and that was why I took another trip to Germany in the first place. This Christmas trip had been planned before COVID-19 hit, because I only get to spend every other Christmas with my family. I felt pretty confident about flying because New York was pretty much “open”. I surely did not expect to fly into a strict lockdown! In the summer, it had been the other way around – I’d flown from New York, which was still pretty much “closed” back then, to Germany, where life felt so much more normal. This time around, I was coming from a city where COVID-19 seemed under control, and arrived in a country with rapidly rising COVID cases.

Despite some COVID worries and the lockdown, my siblings and I managed to pull off a pretty epic Christmas for the kids, who were almost more excited about spending time with other kids (their cousins) than their gifts, because they didn’t get to see their friends during lockdown. I was so grateful that I got to spend the Holidays surrounded by loved ones, that everyone in my family was healthy, and that I was able to do travel to Germany again – something I do not take for granted.

Best Moment

Baking parties with family and friends

While I was still in New York, I was able to join my friend’s “Christmas cookie baking extravaganza”, which was a lot of fun, and then I had more “baking parties” with my sister and my niece, and I love baking so much. Having an excuse to make hundreds of cookies fills me with so much joy – as does gifting homemade cookies to friends.

Worst Moment

Family issues

I want to keep things real: Even though I love my family and was happy to spend time with them and we had a nice time together, things aren’t always perfect. There were tensions and arguments and frustration and even tears. While most of it has been resolved, there are still things happening in my family right now that make me sad and leave me with a hurting heart.

Some 2020 travel stats

I want to end my 2020 review with some travel stats, since I’m a numbers person. I am sharing some of the same statics I’ve shared in previous annual round-ups, although this year I’ve obviously traveled less. Thanks to my Australia trip at the beginning of 2020, I racked up quite a few flights and hostels, and even an uncomfortable night on a bus:

Where did I sleep?

Australia

14 hostels
3 hotels
1 housesit
1 night bus

Europe

2 hotels in Austria
1 vacation rental in Austria
1 hotel in London
1 Airbnb in the Cotswolds
1 hostel in Berlin

U.S.

1 housesit in NYC
1 housesit in Florida
1 hotel in Florida
1 apartment in Florida (my friend let me stay at her place in Miami while she was out of town)

How did I get around?

Flights

These were my flights pre-Covid:

New York – Long Beach
LAX – Brisbane
Brisbane – Melbourne
Sydney – Proserpine
Proserpine – Brisbane
Brisbane – Perth
Perth – Melbourne
Melbourne – LAX
LAX – New York City

…and these were my flights during the pandemic:

10 LaGuardia – Atlanta
11 Atlanta – Frankfurt
12 Berlin – London
13 London – Berlin
14 Frankfurt – Atlanta
15 Atlanta – LaGuardia
16 New York City – Orlando
17 Fort Lauderdale – New York City
18 Newark – Frankfurt

Interestingly, I didn’t fly much less in 2020 than I did in 2019, when I took 23 flights. However, my Australia trip did account for half of my flights, and four out of eight flights during the pandemic were my trip to Europe, broken up into two flights, since Delta, the airline I chose because of their COVID-19 precautions, flew to Germany via their main hub Atlanta.

Buses

Melbourne – Sydney (Australia)
Brisbane – Byron Bay (Australia)
Byron Bay – Brisbane (Australia)
Leipzig – Berlin (Germany)

I took one bus in Germany during COVID-19, and while restrictions were fairly relaxed during that time and COVID numbers were low, I didn’t feel safe on the bus

Car share

1 car share in Germany (I wasn’t sure how I felt about sharing a car with a stranger during COVID-19, but the car sharing app I used made users sign an agreement that they would take COVID-19 precautions which included only one passenger per ride and mask wearing during the ride. Unfortunately, the driver did not oblige to the COVID-19 measures at all and had more passengers in the car than allowed. I also had to insist on mask wearing – there are people who don’t take COVID-19 seriously everywhere.)

Ferries

Whitsundays boat rides
Staten Island Ferry

The only boat rides I took this year were the boat excursions in the Whitsunday Islands in Australia, and I took the Staten Island Ferry on a sunny day in May because the ferries were only transporting a fraction of their usual passenger load and it felt glorious to take in the beautiful Manhattan views without the usual tourist crowds on the free ferry.

Trains

Frankfurt – Erfurt (Germany)
Erfurt – Leipzig (Germany)
Frankfurt – Erfurt (Germany)

Cable Car

One cable car in Austria – a terrible experience. In fact, the worst moment of August 2020, you can read more about it above.

Road Trips

Australia’s Great Ocean Road
Florida Road Trip
Cotswolds Drive in England
Road Trip through Austria and Switzerland

2020 Review: Final Thoughts on 2020

2020 was a strange year because nothing – except for my Australia trip – went according to plan. Everything that happened was beyond my own control. I had such high expectations for the growth of my business and was excited about the trips I’d planned, but when none of those things happened, and the situation didn’t seem to improve, it became harder and harder to stay motivated and positive that the pandemic would come to an end eventually. Watching my savings dwindle caused me sleepless nights and financial worries like I haven’t had them in years. But I am trying to keep things in perspective. This was (well, in most places it still is!) a period of standing still like we’ll probably never have again during our lifetime. A lot of people who I’ve talked to about this unrequested “pause” in our lives told me that they actually benefited from it, and I think in some ways, I can include myself in this.

Life in New York City is always full-on – juggling three jobs, my social life and relationships, exploring and taking advantage of all the great things NYC offers – there’s not much time to sit down and reflect and to be introspective. There’s never time to tackle all the projects I’ve got on the back burner, or time for self-improvement.

This forced standstill allowed me to do many of the things I am usually too busy to do, to grow personally, to improve my businesses, to educate myself, to learn. I even got to spend some quality time with myself – something that I often miss when I fill my calendar to the brim. COVID also brought me closer to many friends around the world who I usually don’t talk to on a regular basis, but when the world went into lockdown, we set up regular WhatsApp or FaceTime calls and checked in with each other much more often than we used to do.

And how privileged am I that I was even able to stay at home and have all this additional time? I felt for all the frontline workers during the months of lockdown, who had to risk their lives day after day and did not have the luxury of quality family time, the opportunity to start a side hustle, or to use alone time in lockdown for self-improvement.

Nonetheless, it felt like a punch to the face to realize that I wouldn’t make any money this year. Worrying about my business recovering from this (will it? and if so, when? I still don’t know.), and being able to pay my rent. But money isn’t everything and I am incredibly grateful for the last couple of profitable years which allowed me to put some money aside so that I don’t have to worry about running out of money anytime soon (only about my retirement fund, ha.)

However, the longer the pandemic lasted, the harder it became for me to stay positive and not to lose my optimism. As 2020 came to an end, it didn’t look like things were going to change anytime soon – on the contrary: many countries that had reopened went back into lockdown, a new, more contagious strain of COVID-19 was found in the UK, and I knew I wouldn’t be able to make money in travel again anytime soon.

At this point, I have no idea what 2021 will look like. I flew back to New York after the Holidays and am trying to focus on some positive things. I got into the Berlin Marathon, which is supposed to happen on 26th September, which means I’d fly back to Europe then. Other than that, I don’t have any trips planned, I don’t know if I’ll still be working in travel 12 months from now, I don’t even want to get my hopes up that the marathon will actually happen. I don’t think I’ve ever felt this pessimistic about the year ahead. I don’t think I’ve ever felt so defeated. I don’t even want to allow myself to feel this way, because I know I still have it so much better than most people who’ve lost loved ones to COVID, lost their business, haven’t been able to travel anywhere. And yet, I can’t shake these feelings off, and I still mourn my pre-COVID life, I miss seeing my friends and being able to hop on a plane whenever I want to, or to simply be out and about in New York City the way I used to until last spring.

I am trying to end this 2020 review on a positive note, but I don’t really know what to say. I guess life can’t always be all sunshine and rainbows, and for now I just hope that the world will be largely COVID-free twelve months from now. I hope that the majority of people will have received a vaccine, and that the world can slowly come out of lockdown, that businesses can reopen, that people can travel again and that I’ll be able to put my stash of face masks in the far back of my drawer and never look at them again.

The post 2020 in review: July – December appeared first on GlobetrotterGirls.

2020 in review: January – June

Dani — Fri, 01 Jan 2021 03:13:06 +0000

Last Updated on January 14, 2026

When I put together my annual travel reflections for 2020, I did not expect such a massive post, but somehow, despite a global pandemic, this year was anything but boring. In March, when I returned to the U.S. from Australia, my first big trip of the year, just in time to see New York City shut down completely, I assumed that it would also be my last trip of the year. However, I ended up traveling quite a bit – and even ticked a major item of off my travel bucket list (you’ll have to wait until the second part of my 2020 round-up to see what that was) – something that I did not foresee at all.

While I did have some amazing travel experiences this year, I want to keep things real here though and also mention the darker moments – of which there were many. I lost almost all of my income, my tour business came to a halt, I witnessed Covid-19 first-hand and had a rough time in self-isolation for nearly three months. I am sharing my highs and lows of each month below, so read on to find out what I got up to from January till June 2020:

January: New York City, California and Australia

I started 2020 in a techno club in Bushwick, which I left around 9.30am on 1 January, and slept pretty much through all of the first day of 2020. This was the longest I’ve stayed out in a very long time. Since January is low season in New York and it tends to be very cold, I had scheduled only a few tours and spent the rest of the time working from cafes until it was time to leave New York for my first big trip of the year in mid-January.

I started my Australia trip with a little detour – knowing that I’d have to fly through LAX, I added a weekend in Southern California to my trip, visiting friends who live just south of L.A. After a low key weekend with some hiking, workouts, good food and lots of catching up, it was time for my first new country of the year: Australia!

A whole new continent. Considering that Australia was on the original itinerary for the Round-the-world trip that I left on in 2010, but for some reason never made it there, it was a pretty special moment when I finally landed in “Down Under” ten years later than expected.

I started my trip with a few days in Melbourne and a weekend in St Kilda by the beach, took a day trip to Phillip Island during which I got to get up, close & personal with wallabies, kangaroos and koalas (and declared that this had already made the trip for me!) and drove the Great Ocean Road.

Sydney was my second stop, and I immediately fell for Australia’s largest city – I cannot wait to go back and spend more time there.

Best Moments:

Spending time in Southern California

I hadn’t seen my friends Jen & Chris since 2016, when I looked after their adorable pooch Henry for almost a month. I still have fond memories of my time with Henry during that month (September 2016) and was excited to spend a long weekend with them during an extended layover on my way to Australia. Jen showed me a few spots in Orange County I hadn’t been to yet, took me to my first ever kickboxing class, we went hiking, and made pizza in their wood-fired pizza oven. All of that, plus Henry snuggles, made this a fantastic weekend.

Driving the Great Ocean Road

I had to give myself a little pep talk to convince me I’d be fine driving not only on the “wrong” side of the road, but to also have the steering wheel on the right side of the car, which feels foreign to me. Because we’re not talking about driving just any road – we’re talking about driving a narrow, winding road with so.many.curves. But I knew that taking an organized tour of the Great Ocean Road instead of driving it myself wouldn’t cut it for me, and so I overcame my hesitation and rented a car in Melbourne. I hadn’t driven on the left side since I lived in England – I’d guess the last time I drove there must have been around 2009 – but it came back quickly to me and I gained back my confidence after only a few short kilometers. I would’ve never been able to experience the Great Ocean Road the way I did on this drive, and I’m glad I did it. The rock formations in the ocean were spectacular, the sweeping views never got old, and seeing the Twelve Apostels at sunset was incredibly beautiful.

Every moment spent in Sydney

I purposely chose to start my Australia trip in Melbourne and not in Sydney – I just had a feeling that from what I’d heard and read about Melbourne, it was “my kind of city”: lots of street art, a thriving coffee culture (the coffee capital of Australia!), and interesting neighborhoods, some of which had a similar feel to my favorite neighborhoods in Brooklyn. And yes, I did enjoy my time in Melbourne. But when I arrived in Sydney, I fell for the city instantly.

There was just something about Sydney that Melbourne didn’t have. The weather was better, the beaches were nicer, the neighborhoods were just as eclectic and diverse as Melbourne’s, and there was so much to see and do! I started my visit with a scenic coastal walk in Manly (thanks for the recommendation, Katie!), visited a flea market in Paddington, had amazing food, had superb coffee, and replaced the hat that I assume was lost at LAX (see below).

Worst Moments:

Arriving at the airport to check in for my flight to Australia and finding out I don’t have a ticket

When I arrived at the airport to check in for my flight to Melbourne, I was told that I only had a reservation, but not a ticket. My jaw dropped. “What do you mean I don’t have a ticket???”. The agent explained that apparently, the booking had never been confirmed.

A few weeks before my departure date, I had in fact noticed that my credit card was never charged for the flight and contacted Qantas. I usually call an airline when I have a question or problem with my booking, but I saw that Qantas had a SMS chat option to contact customer service and decided to use that instead of calling, because then I’d have everything in writing. Well, I am glad I did! I pulled up the conversation with the Qantas agent on my phone, in which I was reassured that I had a valid booking and my payment had gone through, and the check-in agent was able to get me on the flight that I had booked. Crisis averted! I also want to mention that Qantas was absolutely amazing to fly with, from customer service to meals on the plane to comfort, and every communication ever since.

When this headline was published on 23 January 2020, Australia was still hurting from an extraordinarily harsh bush fire season. Nobody could’ve foreseen that Australia would experience another terrible tourism season – along with the rest of the world.

Losing my hat on the way to Australia (before even leaving the US)

This wasn’t a big deal, but it was annoying. I’d traveled to L.A. with my beloved travel fedora, and by the time I arrived in Melbourne, I noticed that the hat was gone. I assume that I left it at the airport in LA while I was waiting to board my flight to Melbourne.

February 2020: Australia

February was amazing. I started the month in Sydney, where I packed in so much in my week there that I was grateful for the break the Whitsunday Islands gave me afterwards. There, I snorkeled on the Great Barrier Reef – definitely a bucket list item! I also signed up for a skydive on a whim, which turned out to be a highlight, despite my huge fear of heights. I then flew down to Brisbane from the Whitsunday Coast and ended up loving the city much more than I thought I would. It made up for the rained out days in Byron Bay. From Brisbane, I flew to the West Coast – which I’d been deliberating over for a long time. Should I include Western Australia in my itinerary? Australia is such a huge country, I quickly realized I wouldn’t be able to fit everything into my trip, but eventually I chose Western Australia over the Outback for one simple reason: the quokkas! (see below in Best Moments). I also got to look after two adorable Rottweilers just south of Perth which was a welcome break after four weeks of fast-paced travels.

There were so many highlights in February, from celebrating my 10^th “quitversary” (I walked out of my corporate job in London on 1 February 2010) with some bubbly and new friends outside Sydney’s Opera House, to touring vineyards in the Margaret River wine region in Western Australia to falling in love with Fremantle, a port city just south of Perth. I also saw some amazing art: the art museums in Sydney and Brisbane were world-class, and I saw a Keith Haring & Jean-Michel Basquiat exhibit in Melbourne that wowed me. And let’s not forget the wildlife: seeing kangaroos in the wild in Western Australia was a travel dream come true, and snorkeling with turtles in the Whitsundays was as amazing as all my other turtle experiences.

Best Moments

Taking quokka selfies on Rottnest Island

Ever since seeing articles filled with funny and adorable quokka selfies, I knew I had to go get a quokka selfie when I’d finally make it to Australia. One of the first things I did after booking my flight to Oz was researching where these elusive quokkas live. Rottnest Island. A quick look at GoogleMaps revealed that these unique little mammals lived on a small island off the coast of Western Australia. Waaaaaay out of the way of any of the places I had tentatively put on my itinerary! The detour would include a six-hour flight and a 1-hour ferry ride from any place I had on my itinerary. And it’d be an expensive detour.

But it had to happen, and it was so worth it! My visit to Rottnest Island ended up being one of the highlights of my Australia trip and not only did I fall hard for the quokkas – I also fell in love with this tiny island, which is just 7.3 sq miles (19 sq kilometers) big. Rottnest Island was one of the most beautiful places I saw in all of Australia.

Overcoming my fear of heights and skydive

I have a huge fear of heights, and skydiving was a thing that I always listed as something “I’d never do”. Well, never say never! I signed up for a skydive on a whim in Airlie Beach on the Whitsunday Coast simply because the photograph outside the skydiving operator’s office looked so pretty and because it was fairly cheap, especially with the conversion rate to U.S. Dollars.

I am so glad that I took myself out of my comfort zone, because the skydive was incredible. The flight up to our jump height was already worth the money – the view over the Whitsunday Islands was breathtaking – and I gladly admit that I would’ve been happy to just go back down in the plane instead of throwing myself out of it, but my instructor made me feel so safe that I felt positive about surviving the jump. The weather couldn’t have been more perfect that day, and the feeling of jumping out of a plane is something I won’t forget anytime soon.

This was my facial expression for most of the skydive

Visiting the Whitsunday Islands

Snorkeling on the Great Barrier Reef was a “must do” item on my Australia wish list, but it turned out that visiting the Whitsundays is quite pricey. I absolutely don’t regret splurging on the experience – it was a perfect mini vacation during my travels around Australia, and I loved swimming with sea turtles again and seeing a beautiful Maori Wrasse close-up for the very first time.

I had a difficult time deciding if I wanted to sail around the Whitsunday Islands, base myself on one of the islands, or base myself on the mainland and take a trip from there. Basing myself on the islands was the most expensive option, so I decided against it, and sailing seemed to be quite intense (uncomfortable bunks and a lot of time on a small boat). I think I ended up with the best option: a resort from which we took boat trips to several snorkeling spots and of the course the stunning White Haven Beach.

Worst Moments

Not having a debit card

My debit card for my “travel funds” bank account expired on 31 January, and my new card did not arrive before I left on my trip. That meant I had to use my credit card for my entire trip – something I didn’t necessarily want to do (it took money out of my “day to day expenses in New York” account instead of my “travel account”). But I managed, and luckily I had enough money saved in that account that it wasn’t the end of the world.

Falling out of a boat and killing almost all my electronics

Yup, I fell out of a boat. When we arrived at the Paradise Grove Resort in the Whitsundays, we were transported from our speedboat to the resort in a small dinghy, and somehow I lost my balance when we hopped out of the dinghy into the shallow water, so that I ended up falling into the water. I would’ve just laughed it off, had my tote bag not gotten wet. Even though I reacted quickly and got it out of the water within seconds, my electronics all got wet and not all of them survived: my Kindle Fire, my portable charger, some of my charger cords – they all died.

I don’t have any photos of my mishaps, but I took a couple of pictures when the first COVID-19 articles appeared in the paper. The first article was published on 1 Februrary 2020. I had a bad feeling about Covid from the beginning.

March: Melbourne and New York City and NOT Guatemala

I began the month in Melbourne and I ended the month in New York City – and not in Guatemala, as I had originally planned. I was going to return to New York City for a quick job and two conferences and was supposed to fly to Guatemala mid-March. This was going to be my anniversary trip – the trip to celebrate a huge milestone: 10 years of Globetrottergirls.

I don’t need to tell you what happened: COVID-19 brought the world to a halt. I had monitored the spread of the virus while traveling Australia, fearful that it would shut down New York City the way that it had shut down Wuhan in January, but my friends back in New York told me I was being paranoid and dramatic when I left them panicky voicemails from the other side of the globe (Australia). New York City wouldn’t be shut down, I shouldn’t be worried, they assured me. Of course I was worried though, because my tour business is very much reliant on tourists coming to New York. And my fears turned out to be not unfounded: New York City did shut down. Guatemala closed its borders. My business died. My travel blog traffic tanked. My income took a huge hit.

Let’s look at the best and worst moments of the month:

Best moments:

A special visitor in New York City

I was scheduled to be in New York for less than two weeks and had quite a hectic schedule during that time (two conferences, meet-ups, work) but when a good friend told me she could schedule her visit to NYC to coincide with my extended “layover” in New York, I didn’t have to think about it: YES! COVID-19 was starting to spiral out of control, but we were still able to enjoy some fun New York moments: we visited the Vessel, which she hadn’t seen yet, and took a spring stroll around Prospect Park and Green-Wood Cemetery. We had NY-style pizza slices and a yummy dinner at TimeOut Market and we indulged in Levain’s Cookies and Magnolia Bakery’s Banana Pudding, trying to suppress the bad feeling we were both had about COVID-19. For me it was the fear that I wouldn’t be able to go to Guatemala, for her it was the fear of not making it down to Florida and getting back to Europe. Read on for what happened next in Worst Moments below.

I indulged in as much of NYC’s great food as humanly possibly before all the restaurants, cafes and bakeries closed on 17 March 2020.

Worst moments:

COVID-19 bringing the world to a halt

Three days before my scheduled flight to Guatemala, one of the hotel owners in Guatemala, who kept me up-to-date about COVID-19 related travel restrictions in Guatemala, informed me that the government had extended their travel ban for foreign visitors to US residents. The next day, American Airlines canceled my flight. For a moment I had considered trying to bump up my flight to arrive in Guatemala before the travel restrictions went into effect, but in the end, I decided not to tempt my luck. What if I got stuck in Guatemala? (Side note: That’s what happened to hundreds of travelers, and in retrospect, I am glad I got stuck in my lovely apartment in Brooklyn instead!)

My friend was able to get out of New York City, but she never made it down to Florida to visit family and friends there. Instead, she flew back to Europe earlier than planned, on a crowded flight with people scrambling to get back home.

April: Stuck in New York City

April was a difficult month. New York City was hit hard by the Coronavirus, and watching the infection rates and growing death numbers every day was challenging for my mental health. Being thousands of miles away from my family was also not easy. Seeing friends contract COVID-19 (including some severe cases) and two people die from the disease was anxiety-inducing. I spent 22 to 23 hours a day self-isolating in my apartment, only leaving the house for grocery hauls, exercise, and to delivery groceries to my friend who had fallen very ill with COVID-19. My income had dried up almost entirely. The blog only makes me money when people read it, and nobody wanted to read about travel while stuck at home, not knowing when we’d be able to travel again. Almost nobody was paying to have travel content written. And my Brooklyn tours? Well obviously they only make me money when I can run them. I felt completely crushed. What I had hoped was going to be my financially most lucrative year yet was shaping up to bring me close to bankruptcy.

Best moments:

A care package from Germany

This one goes into the category “kindness of strangers”: A follower of my blog and Instagram had seen that I was running out of my international chocolate supply (I am not a big fan of American chocolate) and decided to send me a huge package filled with all of my favorite chocolates: different kinds of Ritter Sport, all sorts of Kinder chocolates– it felt like it was Christmas and my birthday on one and the same day! I would’ve appreciated a care package like this at any time, but during these trying times, it felt particularly special and I was grateful every single day for the sweet treats that gave me comfort. Looking back, I am still amazed by the kindness someone who barely knew me showed me.

A care package from Germany!

Worst moments:

The uncertainty of COVID-19

My mind was constantly racing in April, with thoughts like: Would I be able to keep my apartment? How many more months would I be able to pay rent? When would I run out of my savings? When would tourists be able to return to New York City? When would people start reading travel blogs again? Would I end up in one of the makeshift hospitals that the city had set up? Would I die from Coronavirus if I got it?

There was a lot of fear and a lot of worry. The uncertainty was dreadful.

Witnessing COVID-19 firsthand

As I already mentioned, several friends and people I knew got sick with Coronavirus and two people died from it. It was an emotional time with lots of tears.

Seeing New York City during COVID-19

I love New York City so much, and I was devastated to see “my” city hurt so much. Restaurants closed, theaters closed, shops closed – basically, all life had disappeared from the streets. Seeing a vibrant city like New York so silent, literally shut down, was heartbreaking. Instead of chatter in the streets you’d hear sirens all the time. Seeing “morgue trucks” outside the hospitals, hearing about people having their lives destroyed – it was devastating. I wrote about what it was like to live in New York City during COVID-19 here.

May: Still stuck in New York City

We started May with over 162,000 cases of Coronavirus in New York City, and over 13,000 deaths. Looking at the numbers every day was mind-boggling, especially since so many other countries had managed to contain the virus. New York City, however, had more cases than 190 countries. The good news was that it finally looked like case numbers were slowly declining – NYC seemed to have passed the peak. This month, nobody I knew got sick.

After a long and difficult April, May was also much easier for me personally. I had gotten into a good routine of working, exercising, and socializing either online or with the folks in my “COVID pod”. I didn’t feel lonely, I kept myself busy with work (mainly going through the roughly 1,500 articles on Globetrottergirls, deleting irrelevant articles and updating outdated content, but I also managed to get a few freelance projects). I got used to this “new normal” and kept myself entertained with Online Experiences and cooking and baking – including a 3-week sugar detox after indulging a bit too much in sugar in April thanks to the above-mentioned care package.

I had excellent pizza several times this month (pre- and post-detox), I went to my friend’s house for a dinner after she recovered from COVID-19, I met another friend for socially distant runs, I took a virtual coffee experience, I had picnics in the park, I watched a couple of TV shows that I enjoyed (Derry Girls made me laugh, and Normal People made me cry a few times). I went on long bike rides around Brooklyn, Manhattan and Queens and even made it to Staten Island once. It felt amazing to have the ferry almost to myself (no tourists!).

I also made the decision to spend the summer with my family in Germany, which meant this was going to be my last full month in NYC for a while.

Best moments:

Making it through a 21-day sugar detox

Even though I’ve done this detox several times in the past, I still find it incredibly hard to cut out sugar and carbs completely for a full three weeks. But challenging myself to do it and seeing that I am able to function without sugar feels like a huge achievement every single time. Plus:

Finishing a half marathon in Coney Island

The Brooklyn Half Marathon was supposed to happen mid-May, but due to COVID-19, it had to be canceled. The organizers set up a virtual half marathon instead, which means anyone can run 13.1 miles, no matter where in the world they are. Not only did I sign up for the half marathon, but I challenged myself to run a half marathon while on the sugar detox, during which I usually don’t have a lot of energy because I exist almost entirely on vegetables. I ran all the way down to Coney Island, and admittedly, I didn’t run very fast, but I finished.

Coney Island, 14 May 2020

Seeing friends IRL

After not seeing any of my friends for what felt like YEARS, I slowly started seeing a few close friends in May. Having actual face-to-face hangouts instead of just Facetime and WhatsApp video calls felt amazing. I consider myself a social person and not being able to socialize was the hardest aspect of the shelter-in-place order for me.

Worst moments:

I can’t think of a single horrible moment. I think I put things in perspective for myself this month: I (still) have money, I have a nice apartment, I have access to delicious food, I am healthy, I have people in my life who care about me – I honestly have nothing to complain about.

June: New York City and Germany

After nearly 90 days of self-isolation in New York City, I was more than ready for a change of scenery. My family had already asked me back in April to come to Germany and stay with them, and I thought about it for a long time before I agreed to it. The most important thing for me was not to put them at risk, which is why I decided to wait out the peak of the infection rate in NYC. It was announced that the city would loosen quarantine restrictions in June, and I was hoping that by the time I’d fly out, travel restrictions would be eased.

Unfortunately, by early June, not much had changed in New York City. The city began its reopening, which would slowly roll out in four phases, on 8 June, with wholesale, manufacturing and construction work being resumed, but everyone else was still under shelter-at-home order. Germany, on the other hand, was much further ahead already, with life being almost back to normal (except for face coverings being required inside stores and restaurants). Travel restrictions were still in place, which means US citizens were still not allowed to enter the EU, but since I have a German passport and my trip was considered essential, I was able to leave the U.S.

Traveling! My first time on a plane since March, my first coffee in a cafe since March, my first meal in a restaurant since March, and seeing my family and Odie for the first time in 9 months

Just before I left for Germany, the protests following the George Floyd killing started to go full force in New York and in other cities around the U.S.. It was an interesting time – on the one hand, I was excited to see so many people get involved in the #BlackLivesMatter movement and speak up against systemic racism and police brutality, on the other hand I felt extremely anxious about crowds gathering and a possible new spike in COVID-19 infections, after months of shutdown and the city just starting to reopen. Knowing that I’d put my family back in Germany in danger by exposing myself to the virus, I was only able to watch the protests from the sideline.

Every time things like this happen – another black person dying unjustified, people taking to the streets and making their outrage known, but things normalizing eventually and people seeming to forget about the horrible injustice in this country.. until the next terrible thing occurs – I feel so hopeless about the state of the world and my adopted home country: America. Nobody should feel discriminated against because of their race or the color of their skin. Nobody should experience violence because of their race or the color of their skin. Nobody should be killed because of their race or the color of their skin. And yet, it is happening again and again.

I truly hope that time around, things will change for the better. I hope that white people become more introspective and face their own racism, often ingrained through upbringing and societal norms. I hope that white people will educate themselves on the issue of racism and that police departments around the U.S. will restructure their training process and the way they handle arrests. This will not be a quick change, but if the protests of June 2020 lead to long lasting changes, it’d make me happy.

Best moments:

Reuniting with my family

Easily the best moment of the month! After months of uncertainty about when I’d be able to see my family again, it was such a relief to arrive at my sister’s house. An even bigger relief was to make it through 14 days of obligatory quarantine upon arrival in Germany without developing any symptoms of COVID-19. I’d worried I may have been exposed to the virus on my plane ride to Europe – see below for why.

Worst moments:

The flight from NYC to FRA

After the first flight I booked was canceled by the airline on short notice (less than two weeks before the departure date!), I decided to pay a little more and book a flight with Delta Airlines, mainly because they promised “extra safety” on their flights and social distancing measures. The flight was via Atlanta, a big Delta hub. The first flight was okay – the middle seat was left empty so that I had some distance between me and the other passenger in my row.

New York’s LaGuardia Airport was a sad sight

On the 9-hour flight from Atlanta to Frankfurt, however, I was shocked to discover to have someone sitting right next to me. When you book a flight thinking social distancing isn’t going to be a problem but then find yourself so close to someone that your legs and arms touch frequently on an overnight flight – not great. I convinced myself that I picked up COVID-19 on the flight – after I’d been so careful the weeks prior to my flight, so that I wouldn’t get anyone in my family sick. I was extremely frustrated about this, and spent the entire flight stressing about bringing coronavirus to a part of Germany that had only seen a couple of COVID cases and zero deaths. I was so relieved when I finished my 2-week quarantine without having developed any symptoms.

What’s next

Continue here to read about the second half of my 2020.. The second half of 2020 included some travels around Europe in the summer, and my return to the U.S., which included an unexpected trip to a new-to-me destination:

2020 In Review: July – December

The post 2020 in review: January – June appeared first on GlobetrotterGirls.