Monopoli, Italy Best Hotel: Don Ferrante

Don Ferrante In Monopoli, Italy: Hotel Review

Don Ferrante is a boutique hotel that is located in the town of Monopoli, Italy which is in the Puglia region of Italy. The hotel used to be an ancient fortress which made the architecture of this hotel very neat. It is in a perfect location right next to the town which has wonderful shops and authentic restaurants.

STAY SUMMARY:

My stay at Don Ferrante was excellent, especially because of the amazing 5-star quality breakfast that was served every morning overlooking the ocean (picture below). The staff were very friendly and helpful, and my room was extremely comfortable and clean.

Location: 10/10

This hotel is located right on the water which made the views beautiful but also the location to the town perfect. We only had to walk a few minutes to get to the main square where the shops and restaurants were.

Service: 10/10

The service was great here! My room was always clean and the staff helped us arrange dinner reservations and a massage service. Everyone was super helpful and even if something as small as a food item running out during breakfast, they would replace it immediately.

Amenities: 10/10

The pool and rooftop of this hotel are such nice features of this hotel! There are lounge chairs which are perfect for relaxing by the pool and there are also tables in case you want to bring some take-out or food up to the rooftop. I went in March so the weather was still too chilly to go spend time in the pool, but I can only imagine that during the summer months it would be much more relaxing.

Value: 9.5/10

The value of this hotel is very good, but I would say it is on the pricey side of hotels in this area. That is definitely because it overlooks the water and has some 5-star qualities to it. Even though it is a boutique hotel, it was definitely on the small side and had no other amenities but the breakfast room and pool.

Overall Rating: 9.5/10

Overall, I had such a wonderful stay at this boutique hotel. The breakfast, views, and room made up for the higher price tag to stay here. I also highly recommend adding this hotel to your trip to the Puglia region of Italy, as it was a perfect place to base myself out of when exploring the area!

Uncover Hidden Gems: Top 10 Unique Things to Do in Rome, Italy

Top 10 Unique Things To Do In Rome:

I lived in Rome for four months and I am about to share all of my favorite and unique places to go in the eternal city! I found most of these places by exploring around the city or reading about them in books.

1) Visit the secret Keyhole of Malta (video of the experience linked here)

2) The Orange Gardens for sunset (near the Keyhole of Malta). This is the most beautiful spot in all of Rome, Italy to see the sunset. Sometimes, you will even hear someone playing living music here!

3) Babingtons Tea Room for tea and people-watching. This tea room is historic and overlooks the Spanish Steps, which makes for great people-watching and a wonderful view!

4) Trevi Fountain + gelato at Il Gelato di San Crispino (what could be better?!)

5) Dinner in Trastevere at Nannarella and gelato nearby at Otaleg (you must try the lasagna at Nannarella and the blood orange gelato if they have it at Otaleg).

6) Explore Villa Borghese for an afternoon (go here for a walk, take a picnic lunch, or explore around the various areas around the park)

7) Have a traditional aperitivo at Bar Meccanismo (a cocktail and appetizer board for under 12 euro total… amazing!)

8) Dinner at Ristorante al 34 (get the pumpkin gnocchi which is the best pasta I have had in Rome during my 4 months of living there!)

9) Have an authentic Roman dinner experience in a locals home (best thing I have done in Rome). This experience is like no other, and I can guarantee that you will have an amazing time. The food was absolutely delicious, the people were so friendly, and the host Deborah was the kindest person I met in Rome!

10) Try the famous Roman street food Suppli at Suppli Roma (you don’t want to miss this one! Suppli is a delicious snack that is a must try in Rome).

Overall, Rome is such an amazing place to go to and you can never get bored there! Even after living there for four months, I never ran out of new things to do.

Tranquility Bay Beachfront Resort In The Florida Keys: Hotel Review

Tranquility Bay Beachfront Resort is a tropical oasis located in Marathon, Florida which is part of the Florida Keys. The resort has a private beach, restaurant, pools, and beachey villas and rooms.

STAY SUMMARY:

My stay at Tranquility Bay Resort in the Florida Keys was absolutely wonderful. The resort was beautiful and really embodied the look of the old Florida Keys.

Location: 10/10

This resort was a great location and had easy access to walking paths, beaches, and a wide variety of restaurants. The photo below shows the incredible sunset view right from the resort’s beach!

Service: 10/10

The service was great here and they even upgraded our room to an oceanfront beach house which was amazing. They were very accommodating with any problems that came up and I appreciated that so much.

Amenities: 9/10

At this resort, there are many fun things to do right on the property. You can get a paddle board or kayak and go right into the water, or even rent a jet ski which is fun as well.

The only thing that I think could have made the stay better in terms of amenities is if the restaurant on the beach had more options and higher-quality food. This resort had a wonderful restaurant in the lobby called Butterfly Cafe, which had amazing food. I think comparing that restaurant to the restaurant on the beach was a bit disappointing for me.

Value: 10/10

The value of this property is great, especially when you factor in all of the amenities like the various pools and the beach. I would say that this property has one of the best values in the entire Marathon area, and you definitely get way more than you pay for here.

Overall Rating: 9.5/10

Tranquility Bay Resort is a wonderful, family-friendly stay when visiting the Florida Keys. I definitely recommend staying there for the location, beautiful property, and wonderful onside restaurant (Butterfly cafe).

Top 10 Must-Do Activities in Oahu, Hawaii: Your Ultimate Guide

Top 10 Things To Do In Oahu, Hawaii:

I have visited the island 4+ times and all of these recommendations are unique and amazing in their own ways. If you can do just a few things on this list, I can promise you will have a great time!

1. Spend a day at Lanikai beach and get a picnic lunch at Kalapawai Market which is within walking or biking distance from the beach

2. Visit the North Shore and go to the Dole Whip Plantation for a classic Dole Whip, get a bowl at the Sunrise Shack, try a slice of pie at Ted’s Bakery, and grab lunch or dinner at the pool/ocean side restaurant at Turtle Bay Resort

3. Do a Booze Cruise Catamaran Tour in Waikiki beach (there’s a lot of tour companies that do this and you can pick whatever works best for your schedule). Basically, this is unlimited drinks on a catamaran cruise— what an awesome concept!

4. Do the Crouching Lion Hike on the east side of the island (park across the street and cross the street to get to the trailhead.) Make sure you wear good hiking shoes and don’t go right after it rains or it will be very slippery!

5. Hike the Lanikai pillbox during sunrise (the views are incredible and it is a fairly easy hike to do when it isn’t super light outside). This is a must-do during your visit to Oahu, the views are incredible and it is a family-friendly hike for sure.

6. Spend a day at Makapuu Beach Park (soak up the incredible views and take a dip in the magnificent blue water if it’s not too rough).

7. Try warm Malasadas at Leonards Bakery they have multiple locations and always taste amazing!) This is one of the best foods to try in Oahu, and you must add it to your list when you go!

8. Hike Manoa falls to see a beautiful waterfall (it’s a super short and easy hike).

9. Go to the Kailua farmers market which is on Sundays and has wonderful food

10. Do the Likeke Falls hike which is moderate and features a beautiful waterfall at the end (did I mention it also lets you walk through ancient bamboo forests?!)

Overall, Oahu is a beautiful destination and there are so many incredible things to do while you are there!