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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

  • A holiday by bike: a unique way to discover the world
  • 4 Best Car Rentals for European Road Trips with Unlimited Mileage (2026)
  • How To Do a Sports Weekend In Las Vegas Without Blowing Your Budget
  • 8 Mistakes First-Time Solo Travelers Make and How to Avoid Them
  • Discover Two Unforgettable Southern Hemisphere Campervan Road Trips
  • 10 Things You Should Know Before Quitting Your Job To Travel The World
    Travel Tips

    10 Things You Should Know Before Quitting Your Job To Travel The World

    October 30, 2025 / 20 Comments

    So, I’ve come home. I’ve returned to Portland, Oregon. The place I lived before I started my 3 year and 3 month journey around the world. During my journey, I visited most of the countries in Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Mexico (most based out of San Miguel de Allende), Guatemala, Costa Rica, Thailand, Cambodia, Myanmar, Vietnam, Malaysia, Greece, England, Scotland, Spain, Italy, Portugal, and Iceland. After three years, I realized that I was ready to find home again. While San Miguel de Allende, Mexico felt like a second home, I realized, it didn’t feel like my first home. I did try to move back to Hawaii, but with the expensive cost of living,…

    Read More
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  • Travel Tips

    All The Best Things To Do In Dubai

    September 11, 2025 / 3 Comments

    It’s hard to believe that just 40 years ago, Dubai was nothing but sand dunes. One thing is for sure now. There are plenty of things to do in Dubai. You can visit the Dubai attractions, explore the local culture and food, or explore the vast Arabian desert. Also, make sure to rent a car to make the most of your time. Based on my experience, using Discover Cars makes the rental process much smoother, especially with helpful features like filters that let you easily find the right vehicle for your trip. I highly recommend choosing full coverage for peace of mind—it’s worth it if you want to avoid unexpected…

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    The Best Things To Do In Savannah

    March 19, 2021 / 1 Comment

    I recently visited Savannah, Georgia, on a weekend trip from where I live in Charleston, SC, and was very impressed with the Southern charm of the city. While I think there are more things to do in Charleston, (and the food is better here) Savannah is still a beautiful city and I enjoyed my time there. Savannah is full of history and beautiful architecture, and it’s definitely worth a visit. Here are my suggestions for the best things to do in Savannah. The Best Things To Do In Savannah 1. Visit The Farmer’s Market In Forsyth Park Forsyth Park is a delight to walk through at any time, though I…

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    April 7, 2026
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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
  • Best Beaches in St Maarten / St Martin
    Travel Tips

    Best Beaches in St Maarten/St Martin

    January 1, 2021 / 3 Comments

    There are over 37 beaches on the island of St Maarten/St Martin, and while I didn’t make it to all of them on my trip, the ones I did go to were stunning. The beaches in St Maarten/St Martin are some of the bluest and clearest you will ever see. I will say, while I did enjoy the beaches of St Martin, it wasn’t my favorite place to visit. The water may not be as blue, but I still prefer the untamed beach of Zipolite on the Oaxacan coast in Mexico where you can see the sun rise and set on the same beach. I also prefer waves that I…

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    Pictures of Mirissa Beach, Sri Lanka

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    The Osa Peninsula, Corcovado National Park

    January 19, 2013

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    January 14, 2026
  • Balinese offering
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    Bali Bliss: Unique Things To Do In Ubud

    July 1, 2019 / No Comments

    Ubud, just an hour away from the airport in Bali, is most people’s favorite place to base themselves on a trip to Bali. However, it can be very easy to heed the call of “transport?” and get caught up in leaving Ubud every day. While, I highly recommend seeing the sights around Ubud, you’re missing out if you don’t take at least a few days to explore this cultural heart of Bali. Spending time in Ubud instead of doing a tour every day is also a great way to make sure you come back from your vacation rested and relaxed rather than feeling like you spent every day in a…

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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