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Claudia Looi

22 Ways to Have a Fabulous Time in Barbados

22 Ways to Have a Fabulous Time in Barbados

By Claudia Looi Leave a Comment

Over 70 miles of brown, pink and white sandy beaches await you as you descend from your plane to the…
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Super Friendly and Sunny St. Maarten

Super Friendly and Sunny St. Maarten

By Claudia Looi Leave a Comment

Imagine sitting in an outdoor area of a bar with a bucket of Miller Lite Island Flavor and with a…
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The Restaurant and Café Gouverneur de Rouville in Curacao

The Restaurant and Café Gouverneur de Rouville in Curacao

By Claudia Looi Leave a Comment

The crimson colored old building reminded me of another place in another part of the world also recently declared a…
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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
Would you stay farther from Rio’s famous sights fo Would you stay farther from Rio’s famous sights for a view like this? 🇧🇷

Sunset over Marapendi Lagoon, filmed in mid-September from the Grand Club lounge balcony at Grand Hyatt Rio de Janeiro. A boat passing across the water, apartments in the distance, and a view worth taking your time over.

My connection to Barra da Tijuca goes back to 2013, when I spent two weeks here in a private duplex apartment, before the Grand Hyatt opened. Returning last month gave me another way to experience this part of Rio.

If you want a quieter base, away from the hustle and bustle of the main tourist areas, I’d consider staying here. Grand Hyatt Rio is a lovely option for that kind of trip.

The trade-off is travel time. Copacabana can be roughly half an hour away by car in light traffic, but allow an hour or more when traffic is heavy. If your visit is short and packed with sightseeing, staying closer to the places you want to explore may be more practical.

But if you have time to slow down and enjoy another side of Rio, Barra da Tijuca deserves a look.

Save this for planning your Rio stay. Do you prefer a quieter base or staying close to the action?

#GlobeTrotter100Club #BarraDaTijuca #GrandHyattRio #RioDeJaneiro #BrazilTravel
Most visitors only spend a few hours in San Marino Most visitors only spend a few hours in San Marino. I decided to stay overnight, and it completely changed the experience.

As the day-trippers left, the streets fell silent. The medieval castle took on a different charm in the warm evening light, the sunset over the surrounding countryside was unforgettable, and dinner was a delicious plate of fresh truffle pasta.

If you’re planning a trip through Italy, don’t just make San Marino a quick stop. Spend the night. You’ll experience a peaceful side of one of the world’s smallest countries that many visitors never get to see.

Would you stay overnight in San Marino?

#SanMarino #VisitSanMarino #EuropeTravel #CastleViews #TrufflePasta SunsetLovers
I couldn’t believe it when our guide showed us thi I couldn’t believe it when our guide showed us this tiny rainforest seed in Kinabalu Park. After a few tries with the lighter, it finally caught fire and burned like a candle thanks to its natural oils.

Nature never stops surprising me. Have you ever seen a seed that can do this?

#KinabaluPark #globetrotter100club #Sabah #Rainforest #TravelMalaysia
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