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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

  • The Woman’s Guide to Solo Travel in Colorado
  • Easy Daily Transport in Thailand for Tourists Using eSIM
  • Paradise Found: The Ultimate Guide To Paradise Island’s Tropical Wonders
  • Skip the Hotel, Skip the Villa: The French Summer Luxury Everyone Overlooks
  • Planning a Summer House in California: Everything You Need to Know
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
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
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
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My Favorite Greek Island
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Sacred Sites of Mt Shasta
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Best Things To Do in Milos, Greece
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The Secret Beach on the Big Island
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Do You Know About the Florida Springs?
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Some of the Best Florida Beaches
  • Valen Dawson at the Castaway Resort, Koh Lipe www.thiswaytoparadise.com
    Travel Tips

    Other Travel Articles Written By Valen Dawson

    December 30, 2013 / 2 Comments

    I have written for many other travel websites, and many of you would like to follow my experiences in those articles, too.  Here is a roundup of the other places where you can read about my travel experiences on other great travel websites: 1.  Beyond Bali:  The Morning Of The World on Eye and Pen: An article about where to discover the real Bali and the spirituality that it evokes.   2.  7 Travel Scams That You Should Know on Eye and Pen: 7 tricky travel scams that you should be aware of.   3.  Celebrating Life in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico on Vagablogging.net My observations in San Miguel…

    Read More
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    Pictures of Mirissa Beach, Sri Lanka

    July 2, 2013
    Flower in Victoria Garden, Nuwara Eliya, Sri Lanka

    Pictures From Ella, Sri Lanka To Nuwara Eliya

    August 1, 2013
    San Miguel de Allende hotel

    Casa de la Bu: A Charming San Miguel de Allende Hotel

    November 23, 2015
  • Travel Blog

    The Raja Ampat Islands: Conscious Diving in Raja Ampat

    December 9, 2013 / 15 Comments

    The Raja Ampat islands are by far one of the most breathtaking diving spots that I’ve ever seen. However, what I found even more impressive was that these islands are the world’s most environmentally conscious place to dive. Raja Ampat consists of four major islands in the Indonesian part of Papua, although there are actually 1,500 islands which make up the Raja Ampat islands if you count the uninhabited ones! In the crystal-clear water, I was surrounded by untouched coral gardens in brilliant colors, giant clams, turtles, sharks, and huge manta rays. There are 537 species of coral and about 700 species of animals found in the waters of the Raja Ampat islands.…

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    NINETEEN-A Stylish Brighton Guesthouse In England

    NINETEEN-A Stylish Brighton Guesthouse In England

    June 5, 2016

    Your Safety Guide for Embracing the Solo Travel Lifestyle

    August 12, 2025
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    5 Good Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Travel To Langkawi Island

    June 9, 2015
  • Bird in Yala Park, Sri Lanka
    Travel Blog

    What The Animals in Yala Park, Sri Lanka Taught Me

    December 2, 2013 / 10 Comments

    Sometimes I think that there are no better teachers in life than animals.  If we spend the time to really watch them, we can learn so much.  I had the opportunity to do just that in Yala Park in Sri Lanka, and this is what I learned. 1.  Determination I watched an  elephant struggle with a tree branch for 15 minutes just to get to the leaves on the top of a tree.  There were plenty of other trees around with leaves that would have been easier to reach, but the elephant refused to move on until it had gotten all the leaves off of this one.  It made me…

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    Valen Dawson at the Castaway Resort, Koh Lipe www.thiswaytoparadise.com

    Other Travel Articles Written By Valen Dawson

    December 30, 2013
    Thailand beaches, Koh Lipe, www.thiswaytoparadise.com

    Easy Daily Transport in Thailand for Tourists Using eSIM

    July 9, 2026
    Sky view of clouds from airplane

    Yep, I’m A Goofball-How That Fact Saved The Day (And Had Half of SFO Airport Cheering Me On)

    March 2, 2013
  • Gili Meno www.thiswaytoparadise.com The Powerful Reasons You Should Follow Your Dreams
    Travel Tips

    Winter Holidays-Where To Go Sun Chasing

    November 25, 2013 / 7 Comments

    I used to live in Portland, Oregon, and every Winter I would have to book a plane ticket and head for somewhere with some warmth and sun.  I wouldn’t care where I went for my winter holidays as long as there was sun. I would search the internet for the best winter vacation package and just go.  Are you in the same boat (or wishing you were on a boat) and trying to figure out where you should go? Here are a few of my favorite destinations for spending Winter holidays in the sun: 1.  Cuba There is no place to fill your heart full of sunshine like Cuba.  The…

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    Meet The Locals While Traveling

    July 21, 2014
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    Pictures From Belitung Island, Sumatra

    May 5, 2013

    Best Ways to Combine Casino Trips with Local Sightseeing

    January 14, 2026
  • San Miguel de Allende food, cookies
    Food

    San Miguel de Allende Food: 4 Places For Sweet Treats

    November 24, 2013 / 10 Comments

    Yes, I’ve got a sweet tooth.  My favorite book as a child was, “The Sweet Touch” where everything the girl touched turns to candy.  I am loving all the San Miguel de Allende food, but my particular favorite are all the amazing desserts that San Miguel has to offer.  Here are 4 of my favorites for dessert in San Miguel de Allende. 1.  La Buena Vida Bakery La Buena Vida is my favorite bakery in San Miguel de Allende for many reasons ( the bread, the cinnamon rolls, the chocolate croissants, cookies) but my favorite thing by far are their doughnuts.  They are absolutely perfect.  My favorite one is the…

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    Tep Wireless Review: Use This Travel Wi-Fi Hotspot To Get Wi-Fi Anywhere You Travel

    Tep Wireless Review: Use This Travel Wi-Fi Hotspot To Get Wi-Fi Anywhere You Travel

    October 27, 2016
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    Saving Money For Travel: How I Saved $300 With This Basket Of Cinnamon Rolls

    February 19, 2013

    The Joy of Vacation Prep: Why Planning Can Be Half the Fun

    April 23, 2025
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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