Back in mid-May, my husband and I joined Staffa Tours for their Treshnish Isles and Staffa tour, departing from Fionnphort on the Isle of Mull. We spent the morning wandering around the neighboring Isle of Iona (which I’ll cover in a future post) and boarded our boat bound for the Isle of Lunga (aka Puffin Island) around noon. Continue reading “Playing with puffins in Scotland”
Author: Rebecca Pattee
Rebecca started Away From the Office to encourage office workers to temporarily step away from the 9-5 grind and see the world. Follow along for advice on amazing destinations, packing tips and more.
How I balance traveling and my career
At this point in my life, I want it all: a successful career and a life of adventure and travel. I have a husband, a mortgage, two cats, a retirement plan. I also spend my time obsessively researching new destinations and trying to figure out how to cram as many activities as possible into one week when I would rather spend four weeks in a single place. Continue reading “How I balance traveling and my career”
London hotel review: 51 Buckingham Gate
I’ve been fortunate to stay at a number of luxury hotels and resorts over the years but none of them have been quite so special as 51 Buckingham Gate in the Westminster area of London. Just a short walk from Buckingham Palace, 51 Buckingham Gate is a 5-star all-suite hotel owned by Taj Hotels. The hotel features 85 suites, ranging from one to nine bedrooms, all with fully-equipped kitchens, a living room, bathroom and bedroom. Continue reading “London hotel review: 51 Buckingham Gate”
Review: International Delta Economy Comfort
If a non-stop route exists to the destination that I want to visit, I will book that flight, even if it’s a few hundred dollars more. Nonstops are great for obvious reasons: No connection delays, less chance of lost baggage and more time to enjoy your vacation destination. Thankfully, there are two airplanes that fly the Seattle to London route nowadays: British Airways and Delta. Continue reading “Review: International Delta Economy Comfort”
7 tips for driving on the other side of the road
I recently returned from a trip to Scotland, which involved driving over 1,000 miles on the other side of the road, starting at the Edinburgh airport. I’m not going to lie when I say I was having pre-trip nightmares about driving on the other side. I’m happy to report that driving on the left was easier than expected and I only scared my husband a couple of times.
If you want to rent a car in the UK, Ireland, Australia or a number of other countries, you’ll need to adjust to driving on the left side. In Scotland in particular, renting a car gives you the most flexibility to visit the highlands, islands and other rural areas.
Here are a few helpful tips for driving on the other side of the road: Continue reading “7 tips for driving on the other side of the road”
Colonial Colombia: Villa de Levya
If you’ve been following my 10-day Colombia adventure, you’ll know that I spent a couple of days relaxing in Villa de Levya, a colonial town of about 9,600 people. It’s considered one of the best colonial villages in Colombia and was declared a National Monument in 1954 in order to preserve its architecture. Continue reading “Colonial Colombia: Villa de Levya”
51 hidden gems to visit in America
From the Grand Canyon to the Statue of Liberty, the U.S. boasts world-famous national parks, historical sites and landmarks. Beyond the well-known locations, there’s a wealth of undiscovered destinations stretching from coast to coast worth visiting. From scenic sand dunes to wild mountains, here’s 51 places within America that you’ve probably never heard of.
Two days in Tayrona National Park, Colombia
As I’ve mentioned in previous posts, I joined Intrepid Travel for a 9-day tour of Colombia. After joining the group in Cartagena and spending a couple of days exploring the colonial city, we packed up our gear and headed to “Santa Marta.” I put Santa Marta in quotation marks since we were about 45 minutes outside the city and about 5 km from Tayrona National Park. We stayed two nights at Posada Villa Margarita, a basic hotel with lovely views and even lovelier hosts. Continue reading “Two days in Tayrona National Park, Colombia”