Todos Santos is one of those places that has you exhaling a giant a sigh of relief as soon as you arrive. Far away from the touristy area of Cabo San Lucas, it’s a good 2 hour drive down the coast to reach this (once) sleepy fishing town. Now a creative hub for artists, wanderers, yogis and expats alike, it still clings to its’ humble roots. Everything takes a little longer here. Dinners stretch out as long as the horizon over blood orange sunsets and into the ink black night. You won’t find all of your normal creature comforts here, but that is the beauty of a place like Todos Santos.

Things to do in Todos Santos

Nothing. Everything.

While there is plenty to do — packing your days with a list of tourist stops isn’t what this destination is about. Take it slow. Roll out of bed to the sound of crashing waves, spend a slow morning with strong coffee overlooking the water. Cook a hearty breakfast at home or pop into one of the many spots in our guide of what to do in Todos Santos or discover a hidden beach one afternoon. Stroll through town stopping in at the many artisan shops selling rainbow pom pom garlands or tightly woven patterned blankets hailing from Oaxaca. Grab an ice cold chili mango paleta to bide your time before an obligatory 5:00 margarita, or don’t wait, we won’t tell.

As always, I love to hear about the hidden destinations that you found elsewhere…. please drop me an email if you have a tip or would like to chat about your upcoming trip to Todos Santos.

Get the Found Elsewhere Todos Santos guide below, including hidden beaches, local favorites and things to do in this magical Baja Mexico destination. Fill out your info and the download will be instantly available.

Baja California: Todos Santos Travel Guide

After 33 countries, countless flights and more hairy travel situations than I'd like to admit, there are now a few things that come second nature when I travel. I also sometimes forget that I’m a subject matter expert on all things travel, and that these smart travel tips for beginners are ones I had to learn through making mistakes.

Tips like always put a change of clothes, undies and toothbrush in your carry on (if you are even checking a bag) can be filed in the common sense bucket. But some travel tips, like the ones listed below, I didn't know to expect until the unexpected happened.

Whether you are planning your first international trip or your tenth, these still apply.

Smart Travel Tips For Beginners

SAFEGUARD YOUR FUNDS 

Only take one credit card and a small amount of cash when you go out or leave your hotel room. This ensures that if you do lose your wallet or get pick pocketed that you always have a backup for the rest of your trip. We’ve “lost” ours in Mexico City, Cape Town and Barcelona - oops!

BRING A SECOND ID

Make a copy of your passport (everyone should already be doing this) but also take a physical ID like your drivers license out with you when you leave the hotel. Most museums use an id in exchange for renting headsets and self guided tours and a drivers license is much less important than your passport. 

USE THE AIRPORT ATM

Withdrawal a few days worth of local currency at the airport when you arrive in a destination. It's the easiest way to avoid high exchange rates and you don't have to deal with the hassle of doing it before your trip and carrying it all on you when you fly (also not the best idea). 

TRAVEL WITH SINGLE U.S. BILLS

Sometimes things unfold and it is impossible to get local currency, or you run out of cash in an inconvenient location. In those cases, we've found it incredibly helpful to have a stash of $1 US bills. In a pinch you can use them as a tip, and sometimes even pay with USD. 

UPDATE YOUR APPS

Download Uber and update your credit card info before you depart. Super savvy trip trick — request the Uber at your hotel or cafe over free wifi and the ride will still work even after your out of the wifi area, if you plan this right it you'll never have to turn on international data. 

NOTIFY YOUR BANK 

Tell your bank and add travel plans to your credit cards before you leave if you aren’t a frequent traveler. This one is right up there with copy your passport (as in, an oldie) but I'm amazed at how often this comes up as an issue with casual travelers. You can log upcoming trips easily online or using your bank's app and it insures your card doesn't get declined or held up in fraud protection.

UTILIZE OFFLINE MAPS

Save your trip highlights or itinerary in google maps (see mine from Mexico here) and access it offline. You can also use maps.me or another offline map app to navigate from place to place without having to jot down directions or pull out your guidebook late at night. Another fun tip? Save your places on your google map while you are out and about, each time you come back (or need to give a rec to a friend for a place to eat) you can look back at where you were. 

KNOW YOUR INSURANCE POLICIES

Visa, Amex and even your homeowners insurance can come into play while on vacation. If you are smart about what card you use when booking, it can save you money in the long run on things like car insurance, stolen goods reimbursement or cancelled travel plans. For example, we always use our Amex when renting a car (and decline insurance at the car rental desk) and Chase when booking air travel because my Chase Sapphire Reserve card has such generous trip delay and cancellation credits.

Feeling lost on where to start with planning your next big adventure? Check out the different levels of travel planning I offer here. I help everyone from beginners to advanced travelers in need of logistics and travel planning assistance.

Looking for information so you can do the travel planning on your own? Drop your email below and be the first to know when our DIY travel planner guide comes out next month!

What to do in San Miguel de Allende With a Family 

San Miguel de Allende has gotten a lot of hype recently and has landed on Condé Nast Traveler’s "Best Small City in the World" five times now. It has long been an artsy escape for expats and even with the press I still think it’s laid back enough to warrant visiting. Here’s why: It’s the perfect combination of old Spanish architecture, beautiful food and for the most part as an American, still affordable. Also, the shopping is fantastic. The markets there are easy to navigate compared to Mexico City so if you aren’t comfortable in large crowded spaces in foreign countries or are looking for a slower pace, this is a great place to dip your toe in. 

An important note on planning A Family Friendly itinerary to San Miguel de Allende (or anywhere!)

I don’t love a super structured itinerary when traveling as a family. Instead I tend to plan our days in time blocks, which would vary based on what age kids you have and their nap schedules. If yours no longer nap, then add in a lunch or an activity in place of the nap block. Or, make that block quiet time to recharge then head out for an afternoon activity and dinner as a family.

Here’s what I do when planning a family itinerary:

Make a list of all the things we want to do while in a destination and then pick one of the things per day and focus on JUST that. Everything else is just a bonus. It helps keep me sane (travel with kids is not easy!) and also makes days when you tackle a few things feel like such a win.

While we were in SMA I was working with a midday 2-3 hour break for nap unless for some reason my daughter fell asleep in her stroller. On those rare days we would find a cafe with street level tables, park her in the shade and have drink or an appetizer outdoors.

Also, because hangry family members are never fun, I now always like to plan for early breakfast before attempting anything else, either at our accommodation or a coffee shop I want to try. Keeping it separate from other actives (not “let’s just grab something at a place we see on the way”) ensures everyone gets fed before we venture out.

I always map out a park around where we are staying and try to balance sightseeing and restaurants with regular life experiences peppered in. Like an afternoon on the swings or a picnic lunch somewhere easy where we control the menu and time we eat. If you have good sleepers you could choose to keep them out a little later and have them tag along to dinner as well, but since we had extra adults with us this trip we took the pressure off and took turns going out for dinner instead. 

We typically eat at places that don’t require reservations, but if there is somewhere specific I know we want to go that doesn’t make you leave a cc deposit, I will make the reservation for two different times during our stay. That way if we miss the first one, we have a second time option already booked. Also in my experience a late lunch reservation is almost always easier to secure than dinner, fits well after a mid-day nap and is a way to visit higher end restaurants that might be too formal in the evenings with kids (Contramar in Mexico City comes to mind, we had a lovely long lunch there with our daughter and the waiters brought out rice and beans for her immediately upon seating us without us even having to ask for a little something to keep her busy.

Not having a stroller meant a lot of carrying our daughter around San Miguel de Allende

Exploring Casa No Name with our daughter, who loved the lush pathway up to the rooftop

What to Know About Traveling to San Miguel de Allende With Kids

Should You Bring a Stroller to San Miguel de Allende?

San Miguel de Allende is an old Spanish colonial city and every road in the center of town is cobblestone. It was fun (and a little challenging at times) to figure out how to get places with my daughter. Strollers are not an option in San Miguel de Allende. Because of the old bumpy streets we mostly used our Ergobaby carrier and also had my daughter walk while holding her hand, although the latter took quite a while. Even if you brought a city cruiser like the Thule jogger the issue would be the narrow sidewalks and streets with cars passing. It just doesn’t make a lot of practical sense once you see how the city is laid out. Plus many of the restaurants and rooftops require you to take stairs on the way up which makes having a stroller useless. So make sure you are ready for a challenge or have kids that are slightly older in age and can easily walk the city by themselves.

Breakfast spread on our suite’s balcony at the Rosewood San Miguel de Allende

Where to Stay in San Miguel de Allende

We stayed in a charming hacienda (photo above on the left with the climbing vine and rust colored building). It was located on the corner of a narrow cobblestone street near the cathedral. When traveling as a family sometimes I prefer an Airbnb stay for the ease of having your own kitchen and space to return to but as a hotelphile (is this a word?) I like to either start or end my trip at a hotel I’ve been wanting to check out. This is a great way to stretch your budget and allow you to experience the service and amenities of luxury properties without having to spend your entire trip bunking up in a single room with a slumber pod and eating dinner on the bathroom floor after the kids go to bed (IYKYK).

Here are my top picks for hotels in San Miguel de Allende:

Rosewood San Miguel de Allende - gorgeous hotel grounds, a stunning pool, famous rooftop tapas bar, Luna. This is where I chose to stay at the end of our trip to have some R&R time after exploring the city.

Casa de Sierra Nevada - a Belmond Hotel with a strong sense of place and beautiful decor. Smaller than the Rosewood if you are looking for a more intimate feel.

Casa No Name - a boutique hotel that is a member of Small Luxury Hotels. It has a tucked-away hidden hideaway feel to it with 6 rooms, a rooftop bar and beautiful breakfast service for guests. I would stay here as a couple if we ever returned without kids.

As a Fora Travel Advisor I can get clients VIP perks at all the hotels listed above, which means I have access to book all of the club or loyalty program benefits. It’s free for you and easy for me to book your hotel stay (and sometimes I can even add benefits if you’ve already booked!) so drop me a line and let me help you get the VIP treatment!

Landscape of San Miguel de Allende

San Miguel is a beautiful colonial city with baroque old world architecture, colorful buildings, cobblestone streets and hilly topography making for stunning views from just about every rooftop patio in the city - and there are quite a few. The city is landlocked and high in elevation at over 6,000’ (similar to Denver, CO). Pack layers as it can go from hot during the daytime to a cool breeze in evenings. We experienced record breaking rain while we were there in September. The city is old, so streets flooded quickly but then dried out quickly as well. 

How long to stay in San Miguel de Allende

San Miguel de Allende is a city that you could return to time and time again and still not fully explore every corner. It is doable in just a long weekend, however I would suggest longer, so that the town has a chance to work its magic on you. I found that every time I walked the flower lined street back to our Airbnb I noticed something new, a little shop, a new rooftop, a small cafe I wanted to pop into. I think that is the case for a lot of older cities where the majority of the living happens up off the street level, hidden verandas and patios, rooftops and viewpoints all behind closed doors and walls. It takes time to explore and really sink into the pace of life there. SMA is a popular city break destination, meaning people flock here over long weekends from nearby areas. It tends to be the most crowded Thurs-Sun and most shops here are closed on Mondays. 

Evening light after the rain from Luna tapas bar on the roof of the Rosewood hotel San Miguel de Allende

Where to Drink/Eat in san miguel de allende

Luna Rooftop - this tapas bar at the Rosewood in SMA is on all the lists for a reason. It has an amazing view, Rosewood properties are top tier and the grounds are magical. It’s worth the pricey margarita just to stroll around and get a peek behind the gates if you aren’t a guest at the hotel. Make a reservation if you are going during peak sunset hours, or one of my favorite travel hacks if there aren’t any reservations available, walk in during the off hours before the rush. Most of the time you can secure a table and a lot of places we have visited won’t make you leave once you have a seat.

Rooftop at Selina - This one is hard to get up to, be prepared for lots of stairs! But the little bar and patio have a fantastic view. We had drinks and some chips and guacamole (our afternoon staple snack while there) and got to see a large thunderstorm roll by in the distance. 

Lavanda Café - there is a location right next to the artisans market, a little easy to miss if you aren’t looking so keep an eye out! It makes good stop off before or after shopping at the markets. 

Ki’bok Coffee - this cute spot for coffee in SMA was right down the street from our Airbnb, but it is worth making the detour off the main square for their pour over Chemex coffees and interior decor.

Jacques - A great spot for brunch or lunch. Has a very cool high desert art vibe to it. We hiked the stairs to the top patio and had a leisurely late breakfast here. 

San Agustín Chocolate and Churros - great for an afternoon sweet fix, dip them in the chocolate, it’s the only way. This churro cafe in San Miguel tends to have a long wait, pro tip: sometimes it is faster to get a table than carryout!

Casa No Name - above a cute shop with the most intoxicating branded scent. I still think about it. If you are looking for a boutique stay, this is on my list of hotels to try if I ever go back to San Miguel de Allende without kids. We had drinks at the rooftop bar, and my daughter enjoyed the lush vine lined staircase you have to climb on the way to the top.

Café Rama - A laid back brunch spot near the Rosewood San Miguel and Parque Benito Juárez. The food was decent, but our wait for food was pretty long. The interior doubles as a lively art gallery which kept our little one entertained, so it is worth stopping in if you aren’t in a rush.

We did not make it to Mercado del Carmen but it’s on the list if I we ever go again! I love a modern food court with kids or larger groups as there is usually ample space to spread out, everyone gets what they want and you can walk in without reservations. 

Poolside at the Rosewood San Miguel

Exploring Parque Benito Juárez

What to Visit/See in San Miguel de Allende (Easy with kiddos)

Plan to spend an afternoon by the pool at the Rosewood (or your Airbnb!). We scouted out an amazing old house with a courtyard plunge pool that was heated, daily housekeeping, grocery shopping and one homemade meal of our choice per day. This was such a game changer for our family trip to San Miguel. It tends to be affordable if you have a larger group, and for us made all the difference knowing that we didn’t have to even think about one meal a day, we could just eat when we wished in the comfort of our casita. We ended up scheduling this to be our afternoon meal most days, and one of the adults would put our daughter down for her nap while the rest got to enjoy a leisurely meal and then we would all hang by the pool. 

We played an ongoing game of ‘spot the door’, keeping an eye out for interesting details like a hand shaped knocker or tall carvings in unique patterns. I now treasure the photos I have of my daughter in front of the many towering doors around town, mainly because she looks so small on the trip compared to now!

Wander around the centro early in the day. Take a leisurely stroll by La Parroquia de San Miguel Arcángel, stopping to take a photo in front of the beautiful pink sandstone church. Grab a drink or snack nearby at Lavanda or the famous churro shop and listen for the bell tolls which made my daughter go wide eyed every time they chimed. We enjoyed seeing the church in the early hours of the morning before all the tourists started milling around as well as in the evening after dinner when it was all lit up. 

Stroll through Parque Benito Juárez. Not a huge park, but the winding pathways and play structure were plenty to keep us entertained for a morning after brunch at Café Rama. I always seek out a local playground when on vacation with kids, and it served us well to get some energy out before returning to our casita for a siesta. 

My tip for keeping things organized while touring is to map everything you might want to visit ahead of time on a google map. That way you can locate places around you while out and about, saving time and wasted energy. I love being able to pull up restaurants I’ve already vetted in my pre-trip research on a map when everyone is hangry or check to see how close we are to a park if everyone is getting stir crazy.

If you choose a full service package with me to plan your next trip I will provide you with a personalized google map with recommendations just like I make for my family! Drop me a line to start planning here.

Shopping in San Miguel de Allende

Mercado SANO - an organic market with artisan textiles and other odds and ends for sale. They have a juice bar right in the middle and small individual stands throughout where you can stock up on organic produce, yogurt and other snacks for the family. 

Mercado de Artesanías de San Miguel de Allende - this is the main artisans market filled with textiles and colorful folk art. The market is less extensive than those in Mexico City or other Central American countries I’ve visited making them the perfect place for novice market goers. We went twice during our 6 day stay, partly because we needed to take it in sections as my daughter got overwhelmed and lost interest easily and partly because I have a rule for any big purchase that I like to browse once and then buy towards the end of our trip if I’m still thinking about it. I picked up the cutest hat for my daughter while we were here that she wore nonstop during the rest of our trip, as well as linen napkins, pom pom decor and few child size embroidered Mexican dresses. 

Fabrica La Aura: this one is great, but with the caveat that a lot of the art here is not appropriately placed for a toddler. We spent the majority of this visit taking turns with my daughter on the playground at Geek&Coffee, a cute outdoor coffee shop, where she drank hot chocolate and played with other kids outside. 

Elsewhere

My brother and sister in law made it to both Escondido Place and La Gruta (sans kiddos) and had a wonderful time soaking. Either would be a fun family addition to an itinerary if your kids are a bit older. 

Also on my list was El Charco del Ingenio, we didnt make it but I have heard good things about these botanical gardens located just outside of the city. They have an interactive garden of the senses where they have binoculars and a sunken pollinator garden to explore. This would be a good place to roam and explore after a few days of traversing the city, again, especially with slightly older kids. 

San Miguel’s narrow sidewalks and cobblestone streets don’t lend themselves to being stroller friendly but it’s all part of the adventure

6 Day San Miguel de Allende Family Friendly Itinerary

We took this as part of a longer trip, flying into Mexico City and out of Leon so we could combine both Mexico City and San Miguel de Allende and maximize our time in the country with our little one. Multiple flights on one trip seemed daunting as our daughter was 18 months old, and since she slept well in the car seat at the time we opted for a private transfer from Mexico City to San Miguel de Allende (~4 hrs). If you are just doing San Miguel de Allende choose to fly into the city that has the easiest flights from your home airport as the transfer time is negligible (Leon/BJX ~ 1.5hrs, Queretaro/QRO~ 1 hr).

Here is a loose 6 day San Miguel de Allende with kids itinerary based on the places to see / eat / visit in the list section below. A note on restaurants listed for dinner in this itinerary, unless it was listed in the list of places to eat and drink above, we did not take my daughter. Also, it can be so nice to recharge on the final day of your trip before heading home, so while these activities can be easily swapped out, I would recommend keeping the final day of your time in SMA as chill as possible!

Day 1: Travel to SMA

Morning / Depart Mexico City in the morning or fly in to BJX/QRO. Private car with driver to San Miguel de Allende.

Afternoon / Check in at your accommodation. I loved the Rosewood San Miguel de Allende. Set up and unpack all your kid gear so you don’t have to worry about where the sound machine is later tonight when you are exhausted.

Stop by a nearby grocery or Mercado SANO to stock up on essential snacks and easy to gab breakfast items to have on hand during your stay.

Have an early dinner on a patio with a view, or heavy appetizers and a cocktail at The Rooftop at Selina if you ate already at the market like I ended up doing.

Day 2: SMA

Morning / Breakfast at your accommodation or walk over bright and early to Ki’bok Coffee.

Go for an extended stroll through the historic city to get your bearings, or jump on the trolly car tour through San Miguel de Allende if you feel like sitting back and letting someone to guide you (note these are only conducted in Spanish but you can still sit back and enjoy the ride if you don’t speak the language).

Walk through the main square of the tree lined El Jardin and take a look inside the famous pink sandstone church, Parroquia de San Miguel Arcángel.  

Late lunch at your accommodation / Nap

Evening / Enjoy cocktails and appetizers at Luna Rooftop at the Rosewood. This requires reservations, however we walked right in after some heavy rain and it was completely empty. We got a prime table with an umbrella and it ended up being so great!

Dinner at The Restaurant.

Day 3: SMA

Morning / Breakfast at your accommodation or hit up Lavanda Café at the entrance to the artisan market. Their signature lavender latte is delicious.  

Our daughter perusing the textiles at Mercado de Artesanías de San Miguel de Allende

Playing baby shark on repeat… sightseeing but make it toddler-friendly.

Spend the morning perusing the folk art and souvenirs at Mercado de Artesanías de San Miguel de Allende. Bring along a larger tote bag to carry all your finds.

Lunch at your accommodation / Nap

Afternoon / Take a taxi to Fabrica La Aurora and peruse the artwork. If your kids are antsy, head straight to Geek&Coffee to play outside on the lawn and playscape and the adults can trade off going inside to browse.

Day 4: SMA

Morning / Get a slightly later start and head to brunch at Café Rama.

After eating, walk the tree-lined pathways of Parque Benito Juárez and stop to play at the playscape. My daughter enjoyed exploring and people watching as well as posing on top of one of the bronze statues of a turtle.

Mid day / Nap

Late lunch at Mercado del Carmen then take a walk back towards El Jardin. Poke around the shops of the old town and when you have sufficiently walked off lunch, pop in for churros dipped in chocolate at San Agustín Chocolate and Churros.

Evening / Dinner at Quince, The Kitchen or La Parada.

Day 5: SMA

Morning / If you want another pass at the markets, head there first thing. Then back to your accommodation for time by the pool, a spa treatment at your hotel or a trip to La Gruta or Escondido Place.

Mid day / Nap

Late lunch by the pool or on a patio somewhere nearby.

Evening / We ordered in the last night in San Miguel so we could spend a little time packing, have one last dip in the pool and not have to worry about making it to reservations anywhere.

Day 6: Depart Private car and driver to Leon to catch your flight home.

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PIN This San MIguel De Allende Itinerary FOR LATER!

about FAMILY TRAVEL BLOG FOUND ELSEWHERE

A disclaimer on my travel style, so you know what you are getting into up front. This is not a family travel blog about how to do Disney World on a budget… I’m not saying I wont EVER take my family on a trip to Disney World. I have a lot of happy memories from Disney as a kid, riding the monorail between hotel pools and the park first thing in the morning, staying up late to watch the light parade over the lagoon, running off Space Mountain to get right back in line again.

This is also not a guide to every family-friendly museum or park in a new city. It’s a real life experience based on how I love to travel, with my pre-kid life experience heavily influencing my post-kid travel itinerary. This is not a guide to cookie cutter destinations or even what some might call easy travel destinations with kids. Just like I did before I had kids, I still love to push boundaries of where we might travel and try to figure out ways to make a destination meet our needs based on the age of my kids and how we approach the itinerary.

What I’ve learned while traveling with kids is that almost anywhere can be family-friendly if you plan correctly and stay flexible. We now practice a much slower pace of travel, staying put in one destination for longer, instead of jumping between hotels or leaving a day after an overnight flight to see the next place. Also keeping expectations reasonably low for each day and focusing on keeping a similar daily routine in a new place allows us to have a reasonably good experience anywhere.

Even with kids, I still like to see cool things, eat good food, savor a drink on a rooftop, explore a market and walk the city top to bottom side to side. The best part is that when your kids are young, as long as you aren’t stretching them too thin between naps they like that stuff too. Because they simply like to be with you!

My family travel style may not be yours and that is okay. But I also want you to know that family trips don’t have to be terrible, boring or mainstream. Are they going to be hard? Yes 100%. Life with kids is hard, and a trip is just life but slightly harder because usually you lack the familiarity of home and routine. But as long as you take that into consideration, you can still have a nice trip even with kids.

Ready to plan your trip to San Miguel de Allende? Contact us here to put together your itinerary.

What to do in Athens, Santorini and Mykonos

Here is a little updated city guide from our time spent by the Aegean Sea a few years ago. This guide follows a loose 10-day Greece Itinerary, but we don’t always love to be told how to do things when we travel, so in that spirit, this itinerary can be done front to back, back to front or mix and match — you can take a section or place and use it however you decide. For example, we spent a wonderful three days in Athens on the front end of our trip followed by four days chilling by the ocean in Mykonos, two days in Santorini and our last day back in Athens to catch our flight home.

When to Visit Greece & How to Get around

We visited Greece in May during shoulder season in the islands which is perfect if you time it right. Just be careful when planning because the islands basically close up during off-season, so make sure everything has started opening up before booking your trip!.

Mykonos was a short and easy flight from Athens. We took the ferry between Mykonos and Santorini (because we would have had to fly back to Athens to get to Santorini by plane) and then flew back from Santorini to Athens for the departure.

Mykonos vs. Santorini

Most everything we read before going was comparing these two island so here is where we would recommend visiting: If you have the time, do both. If you only have time for one, then it depends on your travel style and reason behind the trip. Mykonos is known for being a party island, but if you visit during shoulder season like we did it can be quiet and peaceful. Santorini is known for honeymooners and sunsets (and also for getting terribly overrun with tourists) but if you avoid the hotspots during cruise dockings and plan your sunset views for places other than just Oia it can be really lovely. That said, both are major tourist destinations, so if you are looking for something a little more off the beaten path, check out some of the many great but lesser known Greece islands.

What to do in Mykonos

Where to Stay: San Giorgio, Mykonos

I've talked about this bohemian chic hotel before, but that was even before I had stayed there. It truly is everything that it promises. My favorite part? The laid back beachy vibe the whole place. You can walk around barefoot, dress up, whatever you feel like. The staff is friendly and welcoming, and hang out at the resort all day, mingling with the guests. It is like a home away from home – an ethos that owners Thomas and Mario worked to instill in the Design Hotels property. Rooms come with boho-chic decor (think hammocks and peacock chairs) and plush daybeds dot the common areas. The food was superb and I would LOVE to get my hands on their recipe for rosemary mojitos.

Where to Beach: Psarous and Paraga 

The San Giorgio Hotel was located in between both, and it was an easy 5-10 minute walk to each. I loved Psarous because it was all around more chill. But if you are looking for the party then your heap of sand is over at Paraga. At the time we visited, Scorpios was not open yet, but it is on our list for a return visit.

Where to Party: Paradise

Paradise Club is where the party is at on Mykonos. They weren't open yet when we were there, but they constantly have the biggest EDM names on their bill for the summer. Also - as a guest at the hotel you get special VIP treatment (major bonus if you are there during high season).

What to Do: Rent A Car

Renting a car in Greece was by far the easiest and unexpectedly casual process I have ever been a part of regarding international driving. Your hotel calls up the car rental place, gets a quote, you say ok and they deliver the car and paperwork to you in the next 15-30 minutes. You can choose to bring the car right back to your hotel and leave the key at the front desk for drop off. Easy, right? It cost around  €40 for the day and gave us the freedom to explore the island at will, which was awesome.

Where to Eat: Kiki's Tavern

Kiki's is a small rustic restaurant located on a beautiful little cove on the side of the island. There is no electricity and they only take cash. Just a little old lady and her family cooking on a wood, almost untouched by time. The food is delicious and hands down one of my favorite meals in Greece. Try the grilled octopus and the giant fava bean salad. You’ll need a car to get to this spot!

Where to Explore: Mykonos Town

I wish we had done this on the very first day, so that I knew exactly how picturesque the town could be. Everything here is whitewashed, even the streets. Have a drink at Caprice in Little Venice and watch the sun set over the horizon. 

What to do in Athens

In total, we were in Athens for 3 days, which was an ideal amount of time to get to know the city before setting out for Mykonos and Santorini. If you find yourself in Athens, here are our recommendations for things to do and sights to see. 

Where to Stay: Hotel Grand Bretagne

Insane views and old world charm. Plus, a breakfast spread that I still dream about — think piles of freshly baked croissants and pastries — served on the rooftop overlooking the acropolis.

What to Bring Home: Grecian Sandals

Get some Greek leather sandals made at the famed Poet Sandal Maker. Slightly touristy for my travel-taste, but overall worth it. You get your foot measured for custom leather sandals, choose a style and either wait in the store or come back later that day to pick them up. We got the "Cleopatra" and the "Ionian". 

Where to Eat: Psaros

Psaros is one of the oldest Taverns in the Plaka, which is also a great area to walk around. The whole area is really cute at night, with a bunch of winding little roads and cobblestone, hills and lights.

Where to drink: on a Rooftop

Have a drink on one of the many rooftops in the city – we stayed at The Hotel Grande Bretagne which has a CRAZY view of the Parthenon and Parliament from the top. 

What to See: Parliament

Watch the changing of the guards at the Parliament building or just go hang out with one the guards during the day. 

Where to Wander: the Gardens

Wander through the National Gardens. A free and easy afternoon stroll. 

What to Drink: a Frappe

Drink a frappe or two (or three). I liked them "medium, sweet". Here's how to make a Greek style frappe at home. 

Where to Explore: the Acropolis and Acropolis Museum

We spent maybe 3-4 hours total wandering around and walking through all of the sites. Bring sunscreen and book a guide if you want to learn the history while you wander. The museum has a nice cafe on the rooftop that is a great place to rest your legs (and drink more frappes!).

Where to see locals: Central Market

Head to the central market (the one for locals) filled with stalls selling nuts, fish, meats. Stimulating to all of the senses, and a great way to get a feel for the country your are in - we make a point to wander through neighborhood markets wherever we go.

Where to gain elevation: Hike Mount Lycabettus

Enjoy the view from the top. Our hotel's view was good enough so we ended up just eating a gyro at a cafe near the base. Which on that note...

What to Eat: Plenty of Gyros

Seriously delicious and the cheapest way to feed two for lunch. If you do takeaway at any of the busy restaurants you save a few extra euros (we ate for €6-7 total for two lunches this way every day) and bonus, you’ll get your food way before the people waiting to be sat. 

What to do in Santorini

Santorini is a top honeymoon spot for a reason. Stunning views, wine, food and of course the beaches. That said it was also the most crowded and touristy spot we visited in Greece. We liked the vibe over near Firostefani, a little set back from the tourist masses in Oia. There is a beautiful little walk from Firostefani down to Fira that hugs the coastline from above and several cute restaurants along the way to pop in and have a glass of wine or a bite to eat.

What to Do: Rent a Car

In order to get a better feel for the island, we rented a car for the day and hit almost all of these at once ...

Ammoudi Bay // You can rent a car and drive down or walk down from Oia (a LOT of steps). Great place for photos and lunch. We ate at Dimitri's where they let you pick out a catch of the day and they grill it up for you.

Akrotiri // Ancient ruins or the Pompei of Santorini, but a lot smaller. interesting, and cool (temperature-wise) because they are covered which made for a welcome escape during the hottest part of the day. 

Red Beach // Loved this. Located near the Akrotiri ruins. So beautiful, and the red volcanic rock really is incredible. Take the path down for a quick hike to the beach. 

Black Sand Beaches // There wasn't much going on here when we went (right before high season). When we posted on Instagram that there were black sand beaches in Santorini we got a lot of questions — so this bumps it to the top of our list if only for the fact that you can’t see these many places.

Where to Stay: Firostefani

We stayed in Firostefani at the Tsitsouras Collection. Both Fira and Firostefani felt more laid back and less touristy than Oia while we were there.

Where to grab a bite with a view: Irini’s Cafe

Our favorite spot in Fira/Firostefani for a glass of local wine and Santorini salad. It’s chill and has a great view from a big open air patio (pictured above).

Where to Sample Greek Food: NikolaS

Don’t miss this spot for a good home cooked Greek meal, located in in Fira. We popped in for lunch.

Where to Watch the Sunset: Oia (maybe)

Oia is the place to watch the sunset, but honestly if you feel like avoiding the crowds you can watch it from anywhere. You can't go wrong anywhere - everywhere has a spectacular view.

Where to fix your Sweet Tooth: Lolita’s Gelato

This is a really cute gelato shop located near the public transportation let off. We had an amazing honey and greek yogurt gelato there! 

Elsewhere

We heard from friends that the thing to do is hire a boat/catamaran and sail around the island. Everyone we talked to said it was worth the extra money to splurge on one of the more private options vs. the big tourist boat that is full to the brim. We didn't have time, but we are sure it would be amazing!

(Full disclosure: way back when we wrote The Weekend Edit lifestyle & travel blog, we were invited with 20 other bloggers from around the world to stay at The San Giorgio Design Hotels property in Mykonos, Greece. We also stayed as guests of Hotel Grand Bretange and the Tsitsouras Collection. As always, opinions are always our own. Thank you for supporting the brands and collaborations that help make this travel brand possible.)

The most beautiful batch of Moroccan Berber rugs just arrived on our doorstep and I am so excited to show you all of them.

We held our first porch pop up sale this week in Austin to celebrate our new rug drop and do a few private showings of the collection. If you missed it, make sure to follow us on Instagram @thebohohome and watch your inbox for updates about the next one. To extend the celebration for all our non-local friends we are running a flash sale online of 15% off our entire rug collection this week — newbies included! We never do sales... so if you are waiting for a sign that it's time to get your forever rug, consider this it.

Head over to our shop to check out our new dreamy pink Moroccan rugs. Don't hesitate to contact us if you have any questions or want to see a walkthrough video of a rug you have your eye on.

What a magical, bustling destination. Orderly disorder is the best way to describe the red city. Ochre stained walls, spices and foreign smells at every turn. Motorbikes and pushcarts noisily race along the narrow old city alleys, leaving little room for feet or absent-minded wanderings. We are dreaming of the day we can set off to this part of the world again. Until then, here are our favorite things from our recent trip…

Marrakech is a city that I can only imagine gets better the more times you go — first-time visitors will most likely experience sensory overload, but sometimes that is the best part of visiting somewhere new. We recommend getting an elevated view of the main square, ordering a mint tea and watching the madness from above. It always seems to help acclimate us to our destination, plus when sweltering temperatures have you soaked in sweat, a cool breeze and misters on a rooftop cafe are so nice.

To Eat/Drink.

Nomad // Trendy rooftop cafe overlooking the Rahba Kedima spice square. The modern take on traditional Moroccan cuisine was a welcome treat — the flavorful Nomad couscous, Cauliflower roasted in chermoula and the iced mint tea were favorites. Reservations on the top terrace (at sunset!) recommended.

Cafe Épices // Another rooftop worth visiting in the Nomad restaurant group family. The three story restaurant has a cute top patio and is a great place for a casual bite to eat or mint tea. The sun can be brutal up top midday, so grab one of the complimentary woven hats and sit under the shade of one of their palm umbrellas.

Le Jardin // The moroccan Zellige tile is this hot spot’s calling card, peer in from the medina alleyway and you will be greeted with a jade green jungle oasis. Late evenings spent in the courtyard here are a blissful escape. Fresh fruit juices and moroccan cuisine were worth the late hour we ended up dining because we waited too long to get a reservation.

Limoni // A serene Italian restaurant tucked in to the outer edge of the Medina off Bab Taghzout. Enter through the large wooden moorish door into a white courtyard filled with lemon trees lit by twinkling lights. Go here when you are craving something outside of couscous or tagine. Dishes on the Italian menu are well made, salty and delicious. Reservations recommended.

To Explore.

Royal Mansour // Just across the street from Jemaa El Fna square. Go for an afternoon tea in the extravagant lobby area and take a little stroll around the gardens when you are done.

La Mamounia // The famous blue pool of Marrakech (only accessible to hotel guests and those with a spa booking). For a more affordable look at the property, go for a cocktail in the garden and take a little self guided tour around the hotel lobby and grounds while you are there.

Jardin Majorelle // Go early to try and avoid crowds. A stunning blue outdoor oasis that took over 40 years to create. Right next door to the YSL museum.

Musée Yves Saint Laurent // A stunning collection of Laurent is on display in the permanent collection. Crowded but worth the visit.

Le Jardin Secret // A beautiful garden complex tucked inside the old city. We had a guide take us here, which made the visit all that more special.

To Sleep.

There are so many adorable riads in Marrakech, we stayed at P’tit Habibi, but recommend doing a bit of searching to find one that suits you and your budget. If we had unlimited budget, El Fenn or Amanjena would be our top picks for places to stay in Marrakech.

P’tit Habibi Riad $ // A quaint (and super affordable!) riad near Bab Taghzout gate on the outer edge of the markets. We loved the location which is a bit set back from the craziness, but also an easy walk to get wherever you need to go. The rooftop plunge pool was the perfect landing pad after a day of sourcing in the souks. Don’t miss scheduling a traditional home cooked meal for one of the nights you are there, which can be done on arrival.

El Fenn $$ // Boldly decorated rooms and hallways, and home to what might be the most photographed nook in all of Marrakech with a yellow suede settee (if you know you know). The riad also has two cocktail bars (somewhat hard to find in a city that is dry) and takes booking for lunch from non hotel guests.

La Mamounia $$$ // A Leading Hotels of the World property located in the city center. Stunning grounds and an insta famous spa pool (only accessible to those staying at the hotel or who booked a treatment btw).

Amanjena $$$$ // The dream hotel (any Aman property that is), peachy pink walls, a turquoise blue pool fringed in palms set amongst 15 acres of property lies just outside the Red City. Aman hotels set the service bar of excellence in the luxury travel world. If you have the budget or are looking to splurge for a celebration, this is where you should stay.

Elsewhere.

Next time we would love to go on this sidecar tour ending at the artist-owned boutique home, Dar El Sadaka.

A day pass and afternoon spent by the pool at Beldi Country Club is a realxing way to escape the heat of the city.

Getting a treatment at a hammam at a spa like Hammam del La Rose is a must while in the red city. Book ahead as they fill up fast. If you want a behind the scenes look at one of the luxury hotels in the city, booking a treatment is a good way to gain access.

The tranquil sanctuary at Berber Lodge is a must-stay for a return visit.

With more time and a return visit, a desert trip from Marrakech with a stay at Scarabeo Camp and multi-day excursions to Essaouira and the Atlas mountains are both on our list.

What to Buy in the Souks of Marrakech.

The best advice we received before visiting Marrakech was to not buy anything the first time you go to the souks. On your initial visit, take your time, browse, and note the items that catch your eye. Then, leave. Go back to your riad, sip a cocktail on the rooftop terrace and discuss your finds. Let the overwhelm of the day settle. Then go back the next day and bargain once you’ve had time to scope out competitor stalls and have the distance needed to decide what items really resonate. My go-to mindset when traveling is that I like to window shop in the beginning of my trip and if I’m still thinking about the item before I leave, then I’ll purchase it.

These are a few of the items we couldn’t leave Marrakech without! Click below to visit our shop featuring our debut Morocco Collection.

Bring These Souvenirs Home

Please note that due to Covid19 many of these establishments are temporarily closed, and travel restrictions are in place. We are in no way promoting travel outside of your area... This list is simply meant to provide a bit of armchair wanderlust during this time and future inspiration when we can travel again.

Morocco is filled with inspiration, dreamy desert colors and hidden souks. Our senses were completely overwhelmed on arrival, and although we tried to pack light on the way there, coming home was a different story. There were too many amazing treasures that had to come home with us. A favorite from the haul? The sea green handblown glass tumblers that are a perfect stand in for modern stemless wine glasses. And of course all of the beautifully aged vintage moroccan rugs we brought back.

Our first release is a selection of vintage treasures and glassware that have been hand-picked from the souks of Marrakech. Our debut rug collection features a stunning color pallet of blushes, reds and ochres.

Vintage Moroccan rugs are unique treasures in their own right — each holds a story and history of a life well-lived before we chose them for our collection. Because of their age, any imperfections, fading or flaws are not considered defects and instead lend to their beautiful worn nature and value. Our vintage Moroccan rugs are handwoven by the Berber women of tribes in the Middle Atlas region of Morocco, and as such, each is a unique piece of art, no two are the same. The ones featured in our shop have different qualities and thickness depending on their original intended use. Each aged to perfection with nuances, beautiful abrash and muted hues.

Please get in touch if you are looking for something in particular. We would be happy to source your dream rug for you.

Everyone we talk to lately is heading to Mexico City to eat, drink and explore. We’ve been twice now to the buzzing city and have compiled a long weekend travel guide highlighting our favorite places to explore. 

With a population of over 21 million and almost 9 million of them living within the city, you could spend a month in Mexico City and not see everything. A long weekend is just the right amount of time to dip your toes into the vibrant cosmopolitan metropolis, just make sure to plan a return trip. 

Our guide heavily features the Roma and Condesa neighborhoods of Mexico City, but there are quite a few gems further afield in here as well.

GETTING THERE

From Austin a weekend trip (or slightly longer) is the perfect amount of time to get acquainted with CDMX (previously D.F., more on that here). It's a short 2 1/2 hour direct flight on Aero Mexico, which means by lunchtime you can be out navigating the colorful streets of the historico central. 

EXPERT TIP

Do yourself a favor and don't try to crisscross the city every day. Pick a neighborhood and explore it fully, then move on to the next. However if you are short on time, you can always regroup at your hotel in the evening and go back out to a second neighborhood for dinner. 

Where to Stay In Mexico City

We’ve bunked down in several different areas of Mexico City, and so far Roma/Condesa were our favorites. They are both walkable and overall safe neighborhoods featuring beautiful old architecture and leafy green trees. I would suggest staying there or Polanco which is the ritzy neighborhood where the Pug Seal is located. We found Polanco to be a bit more sterile than the others but still nice.

HOW TO GET AROUND

The city is huge and getting from point A to B can take forever.  Places that were 2-6 miles away sometimes took up to 45 min by Uber which luckily was super affordable, our average trip ran $2-$7USD. You can also walk or use public transportation but Uber is hands down the best way to get around in Mexico City. 

Top things to do in Mexico City

EAT

Our favorite restaurants in Mexico City spanning the city from La Condesa, Roma and the Hippodrome area. Leave flexibility to pop in a neighborhood place that catches your eye. We always have the best meals and snacks off the beaten path (and typically off the “hot list” of places to eat in a city).

Tacos at el Califa / The al pastor and steak tacos here are simple and perfect. And the guacamole was fresh and perfectly creamy. This place was straight out of our taco dreams (yes we have those, no judging). There is a street in Roma south/ Hippodrome that has an el califa and el farolita (two rival taco joints) right across the road from each other and can make for a fun casual progressive dinner. Stop by Felina down the road has cocktail before or after.

If you re really into tacos, check out this late night taco and mezcal tour by Eat Mexico. We were eyeing it, but ended up doing a DIY version instead. 

Churros at el Moro / We broke down and had these twice on our trip. The first time I tried the classic straws dipped in fudge-like hot chocolate and the second time I tried the las casuelas trio of mini churro + Neapolitan ice cream sandwiches. Both were mouth-watering good but overall I preferred the original style. When in doubt, classic is my pick. 

Rosetta / Italian / This is the place to go when you can’t eat another taco. House made pastas, burrata and other seasonal dishes were delicious. Don’t miss Panaderia Rosetta, one of the two bakeries opened by the owner nearby is known for a great breakfast.

Contramar / Seafood / Make reservations for lunch and get the full tuna fillet Contramar-style, which is split down the middle and doused in red chili and parsley before being grilled.

Yuban (since closed) / The first time we visited I’m not sure it lived up to the hype. But, the second time we had the most delicious mole, and a stunning dry-ice cocktail infused with rosemary. We also tried grasshopper tacos here which was fun (and only slightly gag-inducing).  

Mercado Roma / Gourmet Food Hall / This food hall is a favorite for a casual lunch spot or if you’re traveling with a few people who can’t make up their minds. There is a satellite el moro here and really great sushi burritos. You can take your food up to the chill beer garden on the roof and order a few drinks to pass the afternoon.

Pujol / Upscale Modern / A must eat for any foodie. Make reservations for a tasting menu as soon as you book your trip, or before if you are planning your trip around certain stops.

DRINK

Gin Gin / Roma

Feliz / Roma

Felina / We had mixed feelings about this one, as it was a little bit too Brooklyn-meets-Tulum. On one hand it’s a cool tucked away drink spot with a chill ambiance with an amazing Japanese-style bathroom completely concealed in the hallway wood paneling (I had to do a double-take to find it). But at the time we visited there was a noisy table of tourists in the back, regaling their Coachella-meets-LA life story, and that is the last thing I want to hear while exploring another country. 

Hotel Condesa: Sunset is the time to see and be seen here, and understandably, the staff was overwhelmed. If you are in the area and want an elevated view, go. But as a word of warning, at the time we went, everyone surrounding us was American and the drinks were just okay. Plus we found way better rooftops around the city.

Coffee

Coffee at Café Avellaneda / Coyocán / A hole in the wall coffee joint (it's the size of a micro-garage) where we had the best cortado of our trip. Plus the cute Japanese-infused presentation and overall vibe made us smile. Stop here after visiting Casa Azul.

Dosis Cafe / Roma / This little spot was right down the street from our Airbnb on Av. Alvaro Obregon and saved us from utter exhaustion a few mornings. The San Francisco inspired decor was a little out of the ordinary in the colonial neighborhood of Roma Norte, but all the same to us as it served a strong espresso.

SEE

These are our can’t-miss tourist spots, that can leave you a bit frazzled after (re: LOTS of people). Take a page from our book and plan liberal drink and snack breaks between the must-see cultural highlights.

Casa Azul - The childhood home of Frida Kahlo is totally worth the confusing lines out front. Buy your tickets online ahead of time or risk getting turned away — the line for people who just showed up was never ending and we got in without much hassle at our scheduled time slot. Buy a camera permit and rent a headset for the self guided tour. Both Diego and Frida has the most fascinating lives which are detailed on the audio guide. A few blocks from here is the Mercado Coyoacán food market that can be interesting to walk through. And just a few more blocks is the hole in the wall coffee shop Café Avellaneda mentioned above.

Historico Central: a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Take yourself on a walking tour of the area, and make sure to stop at the Zocalo, Palacio Bellas Artes, Casa de Azulejos (the house of blue tiles), Palacio de Correos (the post office- it’s gorgeous inside), the Zocalo, and Templo Mayor. Pro tip: there is a great symmetrical view of the Palacio Bellas Artes from the 8th floor café at Sears across the street. If you need a little zen amongst the concrete jungle of downtown, stroll through Alameda Central, a beautiful park right next to the Palacio de Bellas Artes.

Mercado Ciudadela: Our favorite out of all the bustling markets with amazing finds if you are up for digging through the touristy chachkies. We picked up leather hurache sandals and a handful of colorful figurines as gifts. There's a small plaza in the center lined by a Mexican food place serving ice-cold Coronitas perfect for people watching.

Casa Luis Barragan / If you love architecture, book a tour to see the private estate of Luis Barragan. Strong design and dreamy pinks await.

STAY

We know there are a million choices for boutique hotels in Mexico City, especially in the Roma and Condesa neighborhoods. If you are new here, we want you to know that it isn’t always our move to stay at one of the top/best/hip hotels in a city. One, because they can be spendy and two, because sometimes it’s more fun to stay … well elsewhere… at a place that is less expected and unique.

Pug Seal Allan Poe / We stayed here our first visit to Mexico City and loved it. Located in the trendy D.F. district of Polanco, the neighborhood itself was a little ritzy for our tastes, but it provided an easy inaugural landing pad in the busy city. The hotel offers a hosted happy hour, hot breakfast and bike rental which were fun to hop on to get around the neighborhood. Pro tip: book through Tablet Hotels with a free 30 day Plus membership for extra perks (they were worth it!).

AirBnB / Roma Norte or Condesa / There are so many adorable AirBnB properties in the trendy neighborhoods of Roma Norte and La Condesa. If you are looking to really get to know the neighborhood, this is our recommendation for where to stay in Mexico City. Haven’t booked with AirBnb before? Snag up to $55 towards your first trip with our code.

Ignacia Guest House / Roma / This is the new new in Mexico City. We haven’t been yet, but it’s on our list for the next return visit. It’s a total vibe, just look at the interiors.

Elsewhere

A few recommendations for things that don’t require a certain address or location. Just be on the lookout!

Street Quesadillas: Pull up a seat at any of the street vendors and order quesadillas de huitlacoche and flor de calabaza. Filled with a pungent yet delicious corn fungus (yes you read that right), zucchini blossoms and chewy pull apart cheese. Somehow it all just works. You’re welcome. 

Mezcal cocktails - We particularly liked the smokey vanilla and citrus cocktail at Bistro Béc and mezcal with rosemary and dry ice at Yuban.

Carajillos: A divine a coffee drink with liquor 43, a delightful blend of citrus, vanilla and spice with frothy iced coffee. The perfect afternoon pick-me-up. We had a great one on the rooftop at Hotel Condesa.

Museums / There are plenty of museums to keep busy, and have been to both the Natural History and Soumaya (the one that looks like a giant disco ball). To be honest, with limited time on both our visits, our focus always swayed back to food and drink.

Have you been to Mexico City? What were your favorite things to do and neighborhoods to explore? 

This carefully curated Mexico City Guide by goop and the 36-hours in Mexico City by New York Times were favorites while planning our trip.