• Start Here
  • Contact Me
  • Advertise/Hire Me
  • Privacy Policy

This Way To Paradise

  • Home
  • About Me
  • Travel Tips
  • Escape Guides
    • Belize
      • Ambergris Caye
      • Caye Caulker
    • Cambodia, Koh Rong Samloem
    • Costa Rica
      • Arenal and La Fortuna
      • The Osa Peninsula, Corcovado National Park
      • Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica
    • Dominican Republic
    • Guatemala
      • Lake Atitlan
    • Indonesia
      • Ambon, Maluku
      • Bali
      • Gili Islands
      • Kai Island, Maluku
      • Raja Ampat
      • Sumatra-Belitung Island
    • Mexico
      • Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo
      • La Paz
      • Patzcuaro
      • San Miguel De Allende
      • Todos Santos-The Antidote To Cabo!
      • Zipolite Beach: A Complete Travel Guide
    • Portugal
      • Beach Porn Alert: 7 Reasons Why You Need To Put Lagos, Portugal On Your Bucket List Now
      • The Top Portugal Beaches To Visit
    • Sri Lanka
      • Colombo, Sri Lanka
      • Ella
      • Mirissa Beach
      • Yala National Park
    • Thailand
      • Bangkok
      • Koh Lipe
      • Phi Phi
      • Phuket
      • Railay Beach-Krabi Town
      • Your Thailand Songkran Water Festival Guide
  • Places To Stay
  • Food
  • Contact Me
  • Home
  • About Me
  • Travel Tips
  • Escape Guides
    • Belize
      • Ambergris Caye
      • Caye Caulker
    • Cambodia, Koh Rong Samloem
    • Costa Rica
      • Arenal and La Fortuna
      • The Osa Peninsula, Corcovado National Park
      • Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica
    • Dominican Republic
    • Guatemala
      • Lake Atitlan
    • Indonesia
      • Ambon, Maluku
      • Bali
      • Gili Islands
      • Kai Island, Maluku
      • Raja Ampat
      • Sumatra-Belitung Island
    • Mexico
      • Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo
      • La Paz
      • Patzcuaro
      • San Miguel De Allende
      • Todos Santos-The Antidote To Cabo!
      • Zipolite Beach: A Complete Travel Guide
    • Portugal
      • Beach Porn Alert: 7 Reasons Why You Need To Put Lagos, Portugal On Your Bucket List Now
      • The Top Portugal Beaches To Visit
    • Sri Lanka
      • Colombo, Sri Lanka
      • Ella
      • Mirissa Beach
      • Yala National Park
    • Thailand
      • Bangkok
      • Koh Lipe
      • Phi Phi
      • Phuket
      • Railay Beach-Krabi Town
      • Your Thailand Songkran Water Festival Guide
  • Places To Stay
  • Food
  • Contact Me

Recent Posts

  • Where to Stay in Los Cabos: 7 Boutique Hotels That Make Baja Feel Unforgettable
  • 4 Stunning Greek Beaches Perfect For Families
  • Hidden Culinary Gems: Extraordinary Dishes Worth Trying
  • 10 Hidden Beaches in Mexico You’ve Probably Never Heard Of
  • UK Escapes That Rival Any Global Hotspot
Escape Guides

10 Hidden Beaches in Mexico You’ve Probably Never Heard Of

If you’re looking for an uncrowded escape, you need to know about these hidden beaches in Mexico. Everyone tends to gravitate towards Cancun, Tulum, Playa del Carmen, and to Cabos,…

read more
May 29, 2026
Travel Tips

Unforgettable Things To Do in Portland, Oregon

I moved back to Portland, Oregon after living in Charleston, SC and St Pete, FL the past four years. Moving back has been one of the best decisions I’ve ever…

read more
April 1, 2025
Travel Tips

San Pancho & Sayulita Travel Guide: Everything You Need to Know

I just got back from my travels to San Pancho and Sayulita in Mexico, and I had a wonderful time. These two beach towns are right next to each other,…

read more
November 28, 2025
Escape Guides

From Dolphins To Fish Tacos: The Best Things To Do In Loreto

I just returned from Loreto, Mexico, and while I can’t say it was my favorite place in Mexico, it still had its charms. Zipolite still gets my vote for being…

read more
August 5, 2025
Link 1
My Favorite Greek Island
Link 1
Sacred Sites of Mt Shasta
Link 1
Best Things To Do in Milos, Greece
Link 1
The Secret Beach on the Big Island
Link 1
Do You Know About the Florida Springs?
Link 1
Some of the Best Florida Beaches
  • beach wisdom, best beaches in the world
    Travel Tips

    You’re Missing Out If You Haven’t Been To These Best Beaches In The World

    July 27, 2015 / 15 Comments

    When booking a beach vacation, most people want to go to the best beaches in the world. But, often these beaches are the same ones that every tourist goes to. I have a different criteria for the best beaches in the world. I look for beaches that aren’t too crowded, that are full of natural beauty, and ones that offer something a little different from the rest. There is in fact a reason why going to the ocean feels so good. If you do some research on facts about the ocean, you will see that the ocean affects your life every day. Here are my favorites that you won’t want to miss. The Best…

    Read More
    paradise

    You May Also Like

    Games To Play While Traveling

    October 30, 2025
    View from the Kei Islands

    Planning A Trip- Should I Plan Everything Ahead Of Time Or Just Wing It?

    March 23, 2013
    Your Isla Mujeres Travel Guide

    Your Isla Mujeres Travel Guide

    January 6, 2019
  • Lake Atitlan Guatemala
    Escape Guides

    Going To Lake Atitlan Guatemala? You Need This Guide!

    July 13, 2015 / 9 Comments

    Lake Atitlan, Guatemala is considered to be one of the most beautiful lakes in the world. The lake fills the caldera of a volcano, and the volcanic activity has caused three more volcanoes in the caldera. Lake Atitlan is surrounded by several villages, the most popular for tourists to stay at being San Pedro La Laguna and San Marcos. Overall, I found the Lake Atitlan views to be beautiful, but I also found it quite costly to stay there. The cost of food at restaurants was expensive. And, I prefer a beach where I can lie in the sun and swim in the ocean. The lake is not recommended for swimming,…

    Read More
    paradise

    You May Also Like

    Dolphins Azores

    My Experience Of Volunteering With Dolphins And Whales In The Azores

    April 1, 2023
    Thai longboat

    Koh Lipe, Thailand

    January 12, 2013

    San Francisco by Night: Views, Vibes, and Vintage Bars

    February 4, 2026
  • traveling to Guatemala, Antigua
    Travel Tips

    The One Thing You Probably Don’t Know If You Are Traveling To Guatemala

    June 29, 2015 / 7 Comments

    If you are traveling to Guatemala and flying into the Guatemala City airport, you should know there are no ATM’s as you exit the airport. In fact, once you exit the International arrivals area, there aren’t even any currency exchanges. I was very surprised that none of my friends who had traveled to Guatemala, nor that any of the internet articles I had read on traveling to Guatemala had told me this. This left me and a few other people stranded without the cash we needed to pay a shuttle to leave the airport. Fortunately, our shuttle driver agreed to stop at an ATM en route to Antigua. The shuttle drivers do take US…

    Read More
    paradise

    You May Also Like

    Crater Lake

    Discovering Crater Lake: Your Ultimate Guide

    September 29, 2024
    The Powerful Reasons You Should Follow Your Dreams

    The Powerful Reasons You Should Follow Your Dreams

    April 7, 2016
    Villa Margherita hotel in Cefalu, Sicily

    Cefalu Hotels: Villa Margherita- A Calm Oasis In Sicily

    April 14, 2014
  • what to pack for your vacation
    Travel Tips

    What To Pack

    June 15, 2015 / 2 Comments

    You will hear it over again and again, but it’s true.  The lighter that you pack, the more you will enjoy your travels. This is especially true if you travel like I do and wander from place to place, rather than staying in just one place on your trip. Since I visit a lot of islands that are only accessible by boat, I find it easiest to have a backpack.  It makes things lighter and it’s easier to get on and off boats with. I use The Truist Touring Pack made by Eagle Creek. The one I have is made specifically for women, but they also have a men’s version…

    Read More
    paradise

    You May Also Like

    Carne Asada in Oaxaca

    Tasting Oaxaca

    February 23, 2013

    48 Hours in Dubai: The Ultimate Weekend Itinerary for the Curious Traveler

    July 8, 2025
    View from the Kei Islands

    Planning A Trip- Should I Plan Everything Ahead Of Time Or Just Wing It?

    March 23, 2013
  • travel to langkawi island
    Travel Tips

    5 Good Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Travel To Langkawi Island

    June 9, 2015 / 12 Comments

    I promised to tell you the best islands to visit with my website, but I also want to make sure you know which islands to avoid. You don’t want to travel to Langkawi Island. I had heard that the beaches in Malaysia are stunning, but Langkawi wasn’t an island I enjoyed. I did enjoy Penang, especially Georgetown, but that island wasn’t about the beaches. So, make the best use of your time in Malaysia, and avoid Langkawi Island. 5 Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Travel To Langkawi Island 1. The Beaches Are Disappointing I visited most of the beaches on Langkawi, and I was really disappointed. The main beach, which I had read was…

    Read More
    paradise

    You May Also Like

    Archangel Michael Celebration, San Miguel de Allende

    Slowing Down: How I’m Learning To Live The Good Life In Mexico

    September 30, 2013
    Val eating fish in Mexico

    Lost In Translation-How My Spanglish Almost Caused Me To Starve To Death

    February 25, 2013

    Why Travel Dries Out Your Skin—and How to Stay Hydrated

    January 28, 2026
3940414243

About Me

I am always looking for the perfect escape, the perfect paradise, the kind of place that tosses your cares into the sea. Fortunately, I have discovered many! I created this site to show you where to go and how to get there. My goal is to show you that Paradise is only a plane ticket (or boat ride) away. I have inspired many others to travel and to create a better life. I am available for inspirational speaking, coaching, writing, travel planning, and photography.

©2026