WORDS & PICTURES: Kat Smith
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Kat Smith has been living outside of her home country, the USA, for the past 8 years. In that time, she’s lived in Latin America, Europe, and Asia. She currently lives in Da Nang, Vietnam. She’s the founder of A Way Abroad: the ultimate resource for women dreaming of a life abroad.
The Ultimate Travel Checklist is an interview series which allows our guests to reminisce upon their favourite destinations in the world. Whether you long for luxury travel or crave the adventurous nature of backpacking, the Ultimate Travel Checklist will have you adding to your bucket list.
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The Movich, Cartagena, Colombia
This boutique hotel sits in the heart of the historic district of Cartenga. I’ll be honest, I’m a bit biased since I did get married on their rooftop, but we found out about the hotel due to the obscene amount of people gushing over the rooftop views. They did not exaggerate! It’s one of the few rooftops in Cartagena that has views on all sides of the stunning city, with cathedrals glowing next to you in the evenings. There’s also an infinity pool and a bar to make the views even sweeter. The rooms are also comfortable, the staff friendly, and the food was top-notch.
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Fish Market, Tokyo, Japan
I’d highly suggest waking up early in Tokyo one morning to head out to the fish market. It’s pretty impressive to see the size of the tuna being sold for sushi and sashimi in Japan, and just how costly those fish really are. While the market was a fun experience, I’ll be honest with you: strolling around the restaurants afterwards was even better. All of these restaurants cater to the freshest seafood and, honestly, I don’t think you can go wrong with whichever one you pick. I’ve been twice and have squeezed in a few different spots in both visits. Usually, we go where the people – especially locals – tend to be. Don’t miss out on trying the freshest salmon and tuna you’ll probably ever try!
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NAM House, Da Nang, Vietnam
To be fair, almost any coffee shop in Vietnam could make this list but NAM House is definitely one of my favorites. The reason it stands out is because of its vast menu. There, you can try nearly all of Vietnam’s famous coffee specialties: coffee with condensed milk, coconut coffee, egg coffee, and salt coffee, to name just a few. Plus, the design of this coffee shop is like taking a step back into Vietnam in the 60s or 70s.
EXPLORE THIS CITY
Istanbul, Turkey
While I’ve loved exploring each and every city I’ve ever been to, Istanbul really stands out in my mind. The colors, the smells, the food, the people – it’s honestly all so good. I spent a month exploring the city by foot and feel like I’ve left so much to be seen. There’s always so much to do, regardless of what time you go out, from drinking coffee or tea in the early hours to smoking shisha and listening to live music until late into the night. One thing that really surprised me in Istanbul was the late night ambiance. It’s not a heavy drinking culture like most places are at 2am, but people were still lively, friendly, and dancing soberly to great music.
LOUNGE ON THIS BEACH
San Blas Islands, Panama
Why lounge on one beach when you can lounge on many, as you island hop via the San Blas Islands (Kuna Yala) from Panama to Colombia (or vice versa)? There are 365 islands here, 1 for every day of the year, they say. A grand majority of these islands are tiny – and I mean tiny. Picture an idyllic Caribbean island with crystal clear blue water, white sand, and a few lush palm trees to rest under – what you have in your mind is the San Blas Islands.
What makes them so special, apart from being geographically blessed, is they are semi-autonomous to Panama and home to the Kuna. This indigenous group has banned development on their islands, they speak their own language, and still operate under a tribal system with a group of chiefs regularly meeting under thatched roofs. It truly is a special place that I would recommend to anyone.
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TAKE IN THIS VIEW
Napali Coast, Kauai, Hawaii
Kauai itself is a stunning island, full of amazing sealife, great beaches, and lush green jungles. But that Napali Coastline is something special. This coast is protected as a national park, so to visit it you either need to get a permit to hike and camp, take a helicopter ride to see it overhead, or hop on a boat and cruise the coast. We opted for the smallest boat possible, which looks more like a luxurious raft, since there are better odds to spot whales from smaller, quieter vessels. The coastline honestly feels fake. While we spent a few hours out there just staring at it and snorkeling off its shores, I could go back day after day and I’m not sure I would tire of those views.
