Love It There

Your favorite sister duo welcomes back their guest, Julia, to share about her recent travel experience to Puerto Rico. She discusses why Puerto Rico may be a surprisingly easy spot to travel with a new baby, in addition to the draw of the beautiful accommodations, the delicious food, and the vibrant culture. Julia highlights the unique aspects of Puerto Rico, including its European influences, warm hospitality, and various activities available for families. 

Puerto Rico Recommendations:

Neighborhood: Condado (Miami of PR)

Hotel: Condado Vanderbilt 

Restaurants:

• Caleta del Vino - wine bar, tapas (next to the world’s narrowest home!)
• Verde Mesa - more traditional Puerto Rican food
• El Jibarito - authentic Puerto Rican food loved by locals
• Al Fresco Rooftop Wine Bar - be aware of the spiral stairs :) 

Must-see monuments: El Morro, San Cristobal

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Your favorite sister duo brings back guest Mannie to share her unforgettable journey through Morocco, a trip that blended budget-friendly travel with once-in-a-lifetime luxury. Traveling solo, Mannie walks through the realities of navigating Morocco—from the sensory overload of Marrakech’s medina to the calm, otherworldly stillness of the Sahara Desert. She opens up about safety, cultural expectations, and why hiring a private driver completely transformed her experience. Along the way, she highlights Morocco’s unmatched hospitality, the magic of staying in riads and desert camps, and how leaning into local support made the trip not just easier, but deeply meaningful. This episode is a must-listen for anyone curious about Morocco and wondering whether it’s worth the adventure (spoiler: it is).

Morocco Recommendations:

Marrakech 

• Stay in a riad in the Medina
• Walk Jemaa el-Fnaa at night
• Wander the souks (shop at Ensemble Artisanal)
• Optional splurge: La Mamounia (lunch or spa)

Sahara Desert (Merzouga)

• Fly to Errachidia (ERH) if short on time
• Book an overnight desert camp
• Camel ride at sunset (non-negotiable)
• Try ATVs in the dunes

Food Must-Dos

• Tagine

Know Before You Go

• Carry cash; tip ~10%
• Pay for convenience!

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Your favorite sister duo welcomes guests Hanna and Firas to discuss their recent trip to Egypt and Jordan. They discovered that Egypt’s chaos is matched only by its jaw-dropping history—from crawling inside pyramids to sailing the Nile on a quiet dahabiya. Transitioning to Jordan, they highlight the historical sites in Amman, including Jerash, and the breathtaking beauty of Petra. Along the way, they were struck by how safe, welcoming, and generous everyone was. The episode is part travel recap, part love letter to the Middle East, and a strong case for why these destinations deserve way more hype.

Egypt & Jordan Recommendations:

Egypt

• Guided tour highly recommended – history + logistics matter
• Pyramids of Giza – allow hours; go inside if you can
• Grand Egyptian Museum – modern, massive, must-see
• Nile River Cruise – dahabiya > big ships
• Abu Simbel – worth the long journey
• Eat local – koshari, ta‘ameya (fava beans), street juices

Jordan

• Amman – walkable, relaxed, great food
• Jerash – world-class Roman ruins, minimal crowds
• Petra – arrive early and/or stay near Petra gate the night before, be prepared to hike!
• Wadi Rum – unreal landscapes, stellar stargazing
• Dead Sea – float, mud spa experience
• Eat mansaf – national dish, don’t skip it

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Your favorite sister duo chats with their guest, Niki (of travel planning company Niki and Thom Travel), who shares her experience living in Portugal, offering insights into the culture, food, and travel tips for those looking to explore this beautiful country. From her journey as an expat to the family-friendly atmosphere of Cascais, Niki provides a wealth of information for travelers. She emphasizes the importance of planning, safety, and the vibrant culinary scene, making this episode a must-listen for anyone interested in visiting Portugal. She even shares some behind the scenes insight on a particularly well-loved HGTV show about buying a home internationally 👀

‼️ Mention Love It There when booking with Niki and Thom Travel to get their top travel planning package for the basic plan price!

Portugal Recommendations:

Lisbon

Where to stay:

• Chiado - trendy neighborhood to stay in 
• Belém - neighborhood near the river (less hills)

Activities:

• Tuk Tuk Tours 
• Pink Street - bars and live music 
• Rua Augusta Arch
• Miradouro de São Pedro de Alcântara
• Livraria Bertrand 
• Day trip to Sintra for castles and stunning views 
• Saint George’s Castle

Where to eat:

• Nicolau - daily brunch!
• Time Out Market - massive food haul

Porto

• Day trip to Douro Valley for wineries
• Port wine

Algarve

• Beaches!
• Stay in Lagos or Faro

Carcavelos

• Surfing/beach town
• Tricana - must-try outdoor cafe

Cascais 

• Family friendly beach town
• Marechal Carmona Park 
• Bike path along the coast, see Boca do Inferno
• Palaphita - jungle cafe with live music   
• Taberna Clandestina - Portuguese tapas on pedestrian-only street
• Souldough- must-try pizza spot

General Portugal Recs:

Food/drink:

• Vino verde
• Bacalo (cod)
• Bifana (marinated pork sandwich roll) 
• Sardines 
• Puri puri chicken
• Pastel de nadas - custard tart
• Brioche croissants 

Honest Greens 

Bio Shop for fresh organic produce   

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Follow Love It There on Instagram: @loveittherepod

Follow Niki and Thom Travel on Instagram: @nikiandthomtravel 

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(Originally published 10/31/2024) Your favorite sister duo share the craziest travel horror stories of their own and those submitted by listeners. Between unknowingly getting on a train that splits to two different destinations, stolen luggage, food poisoning in Madrid, traveling isn’t always glamorous. They end the episode answering listener questions: craziest thing they’ve ever eaten and what culinary bridge would be too far to cross; and where to start when planning international travel.

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(Originally published 04/10/2025) Your favorite sister duo hears about the adventure and perils of traveling to Antarctica. Our guest is the most spontaneous and adventurous traveler who saves money on accommodations by house- and dog-sitting in her destinations. Her trip to Antarctica was special because it checked off her seventh continent to which she has traveled. She describes the rough and wild days sailing through the Drake Passage, what to expect on the landing days, and other aspects of Antarctica that might surprise you. Plus, she explains how to save thousands of dollars on an Antarctica trip by checking Black Friday deals!

Get 25% off your Trusted Housesitters membership!

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(Originally published 02/15/2024) Your favorite sister duo discusses the lure and lemons of Italy’s Amalfi Coast. Learn how to get to these cliff-side towns, even if the ferries are not running. Hear about the club carved into a waterfront cliff, day trips and excursions to do, Argentina friends and “touch and go” relationships. 

Amalfi Coast Favorites:

Towns - Positano, Salerno

Cliff-side club - Music on the Rocks

Excursions - Capri, Pompeii, private boat rides

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(Originally published 12/07/2024) After a recap of Halle’s Champagne and Shackles birthday party and discussion of Christmas wish lists, your favorite sister duo discusses where to get the best fondue in Lucerne, the hike you cannot miss, the app you need to easily travel around Switzerland, and more. 

Lucerne Favorites:

Restaurant - Fondue House Du Pont

Foods - Schnitzel, Rösti

Hike - Stoos Ridge

Airbnb - Yurt With Fantastic Views

Transport app - SBB

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(Originally published 03/13/2025) Your favorite sister duo chats with our guest about traveling to Guatemala as a solo female traveler. She gives her top recommendations for budget hostels (think glamping, saunas, and views of active volcanoes from your bed!), must-do activities (like cliff jumping, hiking, and yoga classes). She tells the story of how she found a local to teach her tz’utujil, the ancient Mayan language still spoken in parts of Guatemala. She shares her regrets and what she learned from her solo travels. By the end of the episode, you’ll be planning your own solo travel adventure, and likely to Guatemala!

Guatemala Recommendations:

Antigua - Acatenango and Fuego hike (Soy Tours), Museo Nacional de Arte Guatemalteco (MUNAG), GuruWalk tour, Chicken Bus Tour, Casi Casa Hostel

El Paredon (beach town) - Cocori Lodge, Caracola Boutique Hostel

Lago de Atitlán - Locutor Jeremias Hernandez for Spanish or tz’utujil class; cliff jumping and yoga retreat at San Marcos, La Iguana Perdida and Free Cerveza Hostels 

Flores - Tikal National Park (biggest Mayan ruin complex)

El Mirador - biggest pyramid in the world by volume 

Food - Tostadas, pupusas, atole, street food next to La Iglesia de la Merced in Antigua

Semuc Champey Nature Preserve  

Check out our website: loveitthere.square.site

Follow Love It There on Instagram: @loveittherepod

Prefer video podcasts? Watch on YouTube!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.