• Destinations
    • South America
    • North America
    • Caribbean
    • NYC
    • Asia
    • Europe
    • Siberia
  • Hotel Guide
  • About
  • Resources
  • Contact

Claudia Looi

Riga, Latvia: A City That Reveals Itself Slowly

By Claudia Looi Leave a Comment

30 Dec

Riga doesn’t arrive all at once. It doesn’t announce itself with spectacle or scale. Instead, it unfolds street by street, façade by façade, until you realize you’ve been walking through centuries without ever feeling like you were chasing anything. This is a city that rewards ... Read More about Riga, Latvia: A City That Reveals Itself Slowly

Filed Under: Travel Tips

Traveling to Georgia for the First Time: Tbilisi, Georgian Wine, Ancient Monasteries, and Everyday Life

By Claudia Looi Leave a Comment

19 Dec

Traveling to Georgia for the first time feels like stepping into a country where history, hospitality, and daily life are inseparable. From walking through Old Tbilisi and riding a cable car above the river, to tasting wine made using 8,000-year-old methods and exploring UNESCO-listed religious ... Read More about Traveling to Georgia for the First Time: Tbilisi, Georgian Wine, Ancient Monasteries, and Everyday Life

Filed Under: CAUCASUS, GEORGIA Tagged With: Caucasus travel, Georgia itinerary, Georgia travel guide, Tbilisi travel, Travel to Georgia

Traveling to Armenia for the First Time: What to See, Eat, and Experience on a Cultural Journey

By Claudia Looi Leave a Comment

17 Dec

Armenia surprised me—in the best possible way. Often overlooked on the travel map, Armenia is one of those places that quietly stays with you long after you leave. It’s ancient yet approachable, deeply spiritual yet incredibly warm, and culturally rich without feeling overwhelming. If you’re ... Read More about Traveling to Armenia for the First Time: What to See, Eat, and Experience on a Cultural Journey

Filed Under: Armenia, Travel Tips Tagged With: Areni, Armenia, Armenia Travel, Dilijan, Echmiadzin, Khor Virap, Lake Sevan, Mount Ararat, Noravank Monastery, Visiting Armenia, Yerevan

Where to Stay in San Rafael, Mendoza: Why I Chose the Tallest Hotel in Town—and Why You Should Too

By Claudia Looi Leave a Comment

1 Dec

Most people visiting Mendoza head straight for the capital city—and miss the quiet magic of San Rafael, the province’s second-largest city and one of Argentina’s most underrated wine-country escapes. I’d been wanting to explore it for years, but every time I researched places to stay, I hit the same ... Read More about Where to Stay in San Rafael, Mendoza: Why I Chose the Tallest Hotel in Town—and Why You Should Too

Filed Under: Argentina, Hotel Guide, South America Tagged With: Hotel guide, Hotel review, San Rafael Mendoza Argentina

Where to Stay in Mendoza Wine Country: My Honest Review of Entre Cielos Wellness Resort in Luján de Cuyo Mendoza

By Claudia Looi Leave a Comment

24 Nov

If you’ve ever wondered, “What’s the best place to stay in Mendoza’s wine country?”, this is the review you were probably hoping someone would write. Because when a resort earns global attention for design-forward rooms, vineyard views, hammam rituals, and a restaurant that locals and travelers ... Read More about Where to Stay in Mendoza Wine Country: My Honest Review of Entre Cielos Wellness Resort in Luján de Cuyo Mendoza

Filed Under: Argentina, Hotel Guide, South America, Travel Tips Tagged With: Entre Cielos Wellness Resort, Luján de Cuyo Mendoza, Mendoza wellness retreats, Mendoza Wine Country, South America, South America luxury travel, travel tips, Vineyard resorts, Wellness travel, Wine tasting in Mendoza

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • …
  • 86
  • Next Page »

Search

Travel Makeup Mirror

https://travelwritingpro.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/0821.mp4

Get Your Travel Makeup Mirror Here

Makeup Eraser

https://travelwritingpro.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/0821-1.mp4

Get Your Makeup Eraser Here

travelwritingpro

Helping you plan, pack & explore with confidence
Firsthand travel tips, destination insights & useful finds
104 countries explored 🌍

Staying in Santa Teresa? Sort out your tram ticket Staying in Santa Teresa? Sort out your tram ticket before you plan to ride downhill.

There was no ticket counter at our stop. Following our guide’s advice, we bought ours at Carioca tram station in Centro the day before, then used the ticket to travel down and back up. Confirm your planned travel date at the counter when buying.

Here’s what to know:

The fare is R$20 per person, including the outward and return journeys. Keep your ticket.

The main ticket office is at Estação Carioca, Rua Lélio Gama, 2, Centro, near Carioca metro station. Ticket sales at Curvelo depend on availability, so don’t assume you can buy at your stop in Santa Teresa.

Go early. Each tram carries just 32 passengers, and ticket sales can close early on busy days. You’ll see the crowd we encountered at Centro waiting to head uphill at the end of this video.

You can pay with cash, debit, or credit card.

Why take it? Rio’s famous yellow tram crosses the top of the Arcos da Lapa aqueduct before winding through Santa Teresa’s hillside streets. The views and the aqueduct crossing make the journey part of the attraction.

The full Centro–Silvestre route stretches about 5.8 kilometres and takes roughly 30 minutes each way. Confirm the destination before boarding, as services vary by branch.

Save this for your Rio trip. Would you take the tram for the views?

#SantaTeresa #RioDeJaneiro #SantaTeresaTram #BrazilTravelTips #globetrotter100club
Midlife travel style: one denim shirt, several out Midlife travel style: one denim shirt, several outfits, and everything in a carry-on.

If you want to pack light, choose clothes you can wear more than one way. These are pieces I already owned and brought on my trip to Brazil.

I wore this sleeveless denim shirt open over a white camisole with black shorts or dark purple wide-leg pants. Buttoned up on its own, it worked with either bottom too.

For sightseeing in Rio de Janeiro, comfortable walking shoes were essential for me. Cobblestone streets are much easier to enjoy when you’re thinking about the view instead of your feet.

I also carried a plain canvas tote. It’s discreet in places where I prefer not to draw attention, and there’s room for purchases without collecting extra paper or plastic bags.

Watch the last slide to see the buttoned denim shirt with the black shorts, no camisole, and my walking shoes in real life. That video was filmed in Salvador, Bahia, where I visited before heading to Rio. The outfit portraits are AI visualizations using my photos and clothing.

I always travel carry-on. This is the first of more simple travel outfits I’ll share for women in midlife who want to pack less and make each piece count.

Would you like to know where I shop for my travel clothes? These pieces aren’t new, so the exact styles may no longer be available, but I’m happy to share where I found them. Comment “OUTFITS” and I’ll DM you the details.

#Globetrotter100Club #MidlifeStyle #TravelOutfits #CarryOnTravel #RioDeJaneiro
This was the lovely surprise I mentioned: Gerthrud This was the lovely surprise I mentioned: Gerthrudes Bed & Breakfast in Santa Teresa, Rio de Janeiro.

On my second trip to Rio, I spent two nights at the Grand Hyatt in Barra da Tijuca, then one night here. A charming old house, a good breakfast, and a view of Sugarloaf Mountain made this a memorable part of the trip.

If you enjoy smaller places with character, put this one on your list. One practical detail before booking: there are stairs, so check access with the property if that matters to you.

Save this for your Rio planning. Would you choose a small B&B or a larger hotel?

#SantaTeresaRio #GerthrudesBedAndBreakfast #WhereToStayInRio #RioTravelTips #globetrotter100club
The Grand Hyatt Rio de Janeiro is in Barra da Tiju The Grand Hyatt Rio de Janeiro is in Barra da Tijuca, far from the central areas many first-time visitors want to explore. Traffic can add considerably to the journey.

If you have just three nights and want to visit Copacabana, Ipanema, Santa Teresa, and Centro, this wouldn’t be my first choice for location.

For a longer stay, perhaps five nights, with time for shopping and a quieter side of Rio, it’s worth considering.

This was my second trip to Rio. I split my stay: two nights at the Grand Hyatt and one in Santa Teresa.

Save this before booking your Rio hotel. A beautiful hotel still needs to fit your trip.

Stay tuned for the hotel I stayed at in Santa Teresa. That one was a wonderful surprise!

#GrandHyattRio #BarraDaTijuca #RioTravelTips #WhereToStayInRio #globetrotter100club
Follow on Instagram

Copyright © 2025 Claudia Looi