• 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

  • Best Things to Do in Kauai by Region: A Shore-by-Shore Planning Guide
  • America’s Casino Towns Are Having a Moment That Has Nothing to Do With Las Vegas
  • What New Expats Often Forget to Arrange Before Relocating Overseas
  • How to Plan a Weekend Around Great Food
  • User-friendly travel apps in Saudi Arabia – How to choose them?
  • Hilton Millennium Bangkok
    Places To Stay

    One Night In Bangkok At The Millennium Hilton

    September 1, 2014 / 3 Comments

    I had one night in Bangkok and that one night was made a memorable one by the Millennium Hilton hotel. I was greeted with extreme friendliness and attentiveness before I could even step out of the taxi I arrived in. I  stayed in the King Executive Suite at the Millennium Hilton, and it felt like pure luxury from the moment I walked in the room. A  spectacular panoramic view of Bangkok and the Chao Praya river greeted me while the hotel’s signature wild mint scent floated across my room from the diffuser. The huge desk was perfect for getting some work done along with the capsule coffee maker that came…

    Read More
    paradise

    You May Also Like

    Why The People You Meet Are What Make Travel Unforgettable

    May 13, 2026
    California summer house exterior representing seasonal coastal living.

    Planning a Summer House in California: Everything You Need to Know

    July 3, 2026
    The Kinsterna Hotel In Monemvasia: Not Just A Hotel, But An Experience

    The Kinsterna Hotel In Monemvasia: Not Just A Hotel, But An Experience

    May 22, 2016
  • Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep
    Travel Tips

    Two Sacred Sites In Chiang Mai: Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep and Huay Kaew Waterfall

    August 4, 2014 / 8 Comments

    Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep is considered to be one of the most sacred temples by the Thai people. Yes, it’s very touristy, being the third ranked site to visit on TripAdvisor, but it’s still very much worth a visit. Many of the people who visit Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep in Chiang Mai, Thailand aren’t tourists, but pilgrims, who come to this holy spot to pay respect. I recommend taking the 309 steps up the Naga serpent staircase to get the full effect, but if you don’t want to walk, you can also take a lift to the top for 30 baht ($1 USD). At the top, you will find the glistening…

    Read More
    paradise

    You May Also Like

    The Fern Grotto Inn: Kauai Cottages To Make You Sigh

    The Fern Grotto Inn: Kauai Cottages To Make You Sigh

    June 12, 2016

    Solo Trekker’s Guide To Remote Destinations And Hidden-Trail Adventures

    November 19, 2025
    lotus flower how to travel mindfully

    How To Travel The World With Mindfulness

    January 6, 2014
  • meet the locals
    Travel Tips

    Meet The Locals While Traveling

    July 21, 2014 / 18 Comments

    Many people want to go beyond touristy activities and want to meet the locals while traveling.  If you’re like me, not only do you want to meet the locals, but you also want to taste their food. You don’t want the food that’s served at restaurants for tourists. You want the food that’s being cooked in people’s homes. I got just the opportunity to do that when Withlocals invited me to experience a dinner prepared by a local just outside of Chiang Mai.  Nicky, the host, really goes all out with this dinner. He doesn’t want people to just experience the food. He realizes that food is so interlaced with the…

    Read More
    paradise

    You May Also Like

    The Splurge-Worthy Moments Every Peru Vacation Needs

    April 30, 2025

    The Future of Luxury Cruising Is Arriving at Sea

    January 30, 2026

    How to Add Luxury to Your Venice Getaway

    April 9, 2025
  • Riva Surya
    Places To Stay

    Relaxing On The River At The Riva Surya Hotel Bangkok

    June 7, 2014 / 1 Comment

    I had been in Bangkok for almost two weeks when I got the lovely opportunity to stay at the Riva Surya Hotel. I am a huge fan of small boutique hotels, and I have to say I loved the Riva Surya the moment I walked in.  I received the warmest welcome from the staff, and immediately walked out to the beautiful infinity pool that overlooks the Chao Praya river.  I enjoyed the feeling of tranquility from staying on the river. Watching the boats go by was such a soothing way to experience Bangkok. I stayed in a Deluxe Riva room, and my favorite part was having my own private balcony…

    Read More
    paradise

    You May Also Like

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

    April 23, 2025
    Valen Dawson at the Castaway Resort, Koh Lipe www.thiswaytoparadise.com

    Other Travel Articles Written By Valen Dawson

    December 30, 2013
    Hilton Millennium Bangkok

    One Night In Bangkok At The Millennium Hilton

    September 1, 2014
  • Dusit Thani Bangkok
    Places To Stay

    Dusit Thani-An Oasis Of Heaven In Bangkok

    June 4, 2014 / No Comments

    From the minute I walked into the 5-star Dusit Thani Bangkok, I felt like royalty. The smiling staff couldn’t have been more attentive. The lobby with its soothing colors of deep purple and Ceylon blue felt welcoming, and I felt myself deeply relax, even though I had just walked in off the busy streets of Bangkok.  The location, next to the Si Lom subway and Sala Daeng sky train, made it easy to get anywhere in Bangkok that I needed to go. The Executive Suite room, where I stayed, was incredibly spacious and had a stunning view of Lumpini Park, and the sunrise each morning. My bed was one of the most comfortable I’ve ever…

    Read More
    paradise

    You May Also Like

    Why Sao Miguel In The Azores Should Be Next On Your Bucket List

    Why Sao Miguel In The Azores Should Be Next On Your Bucket List

    May 26, 2023

    Your Safety Guide for Embracing the Solo Travel Lifestyle

    August 12, 2025
    Baby in orphange in Sri Lanka

    Being A Temple Instead Of Visiting Temples-My Visit To An Orphanage In Sri Lanka

    May 3, 2013
123

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