The Travel Brats

Share your most memorable travel stories with the Travel Brats today by emailing [email protected] or connect on IG - @thetravelbrats

Follow Jenny on her IG - @jennyfromtheboat

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Playlist includes -

• 30/90
• I love Betsy
• Till I hear you sing
• This is the moment 
• Being alive 
• Fight from the heart
• Falling slowly 
• Telly- Matilda
• One of the great ones- Bronx tale 
• Almost like being in love- Brigadoon
• One Day More - Les Mis
• Music of the Night - Phantom of the Opera 
• Sincerely, Me - Dear Evan Hanson 
• If I Loved You - Carousel
• Think of Me - Phantom of the Opera
• Everything Changes - Waitress 
• World Burn - Mean Girls 
• For Good - Wicked 
• Lily’s Eyes - The Secret Garden 
• Burn - Hamilton

Follow along Natalie's artistic journey on IG! 

For more information on Global Entry/ the Trusted Travelers Program, click here. 

Ashley's favorite travel wallet from Amazon, click here. 

To enjoy  Audibles (audio books) while traveling, check out their membership to see if that's something you'd like too! 

A huge thank you to Gracie for being a guest and honorary Travel Brat. Check out her hair page! 

Disney and Universal have out of this world environments with great attention to detail, worthwhile rides, and entertainment that’ll keep you busy for the long weekend. 

Universal’s City Walk

When choosing to go to Universal, you are also presented with the remarkable city walk. The Universal City Walk is lined with shops, delectable desserts, hot spots to drink, and noteworthy restaurants for the whole family. Before you get to the parks or when you need a break, you can enjoy Voodoo doughnuts for fun pictures, Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville for nonetheless margaritas, or try out shrimps at the Bubba Shrimp Co. For a lively environment, there is the infamous Hard Rock cafe and The NBC Studios Grill and Brewhouse, both with great, bar style food. For the most picturesque shakes and a sugar rush, the Toothsome Chocolate Emporium is the perfect spot to hit when ending the night. 

Choosing Your Parks & Season Passes

Now choosing your parks - get the park hopper for Universal Studios and Island of Adventures and allow yourself 2 days if possible. If you are a Florida resident, there are discounts and I’d recommend getting the season pass because after two days, it has paid for itself. The best times to go if you have flexibility are weekdays and avoiding holidays (because that’s when a lot of out of state people are going). 

If you get antsy waiting around and are able to spend a little more money, the Universal Express pass is worth every cent. It allows you to skip the regular lines on almost every ride once so you can enjoy the thrills without an hour or two standing in line. By doing both parks, you can experience simulation rides like Shrek and the Minions while also soaring through the air on Hulk and Rockin Rollercoaster. 

Halloween Horror Nights

Also - I highly recommend going to Universal’s Halloween Horror Night. If you like haunted houses, the Halloween spooky vibe, and rollercoasters, it has it all.

Where to Stay

Especially when you are staying later at the parks, there are options to stay at hotels/resorts right on the Universal property. Two great locations are the Hard Rock Hotel and the Loews Portofino for a little Italy vibe. Those two hotels allow you to take a water taxi/ boat to and from the park, which makes things a thousand times easier than finding parking or trying to Uber later on. If you don’t mind driving or have a larger group, Airbnb in Orlando is a great choice with really convenient spots with pools and entertainment nearby. 

The Taste of Epcot & Festivals

For a more magical environment that essentially requires you wear Minnie Mouse ears, Epcot is the place to be. Whereas, Universal is great whenever, there are times when Epcot is even better. Epcot is known for “Drinking Around the World” but it’s also known for its festivals. Epcot’s Food and Wine Festival is typically hosted the end of August to November; this allows you to try so many different samples and wine (like Floridian Blueberry Wine)  in a magical place. The Taste of Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival is top notch also, hosted during springtime March 3 - July 5th. There are even more festivals worth mentioning so stay up to date by following Epcot Eats on social media. 

Depending how quickly you adventure through the park and how long you want to stay there - you can see the entire park and drink around the world in a day, possibly two if you want to ride a few rides again or enjoy all the pastries in France back to back. It really comes down to preference, but if you are on a budget or choosing between Epcot and Disney park, you only need to spend one day there. 

Tips for Drinking Around the World 

WEAR GYM SHOES. Thank me later.

Go through Mexico FIRST and end in the UK. When in Mexico, get a Margarita and corn on the cob. There’s also an amazing Mexican restaurant called San Angel Inn - there is a market you walk through inside to get there. For more on Mexico - check out Theme Park Hipster.  

Get Dragon Sake in China - delicious!

Drink so much water; don’t get dehydrated. 

There’s a Hibachi restaurant called Teppan Edo in Japan - it’s a little pricer, but excellent. It was a great spot to take a break, get a late lunch, and cool off inside. 

Grapefruit Beer in Germany

Attend the American Adventure in America - interesting. 

Bayou rum in America too.

Get dessert in France, and a cup of water… Pace yourself.

Take some photos / videos in the UK infamous phone booth. 

There’s a hidden waterfall in Canada. Grab a cider and go find it. 

Rides worth riding, in my opinion, are Soarin’, Spaceship Earth, Test Trak, and Living with the Land. 

Enjoy and let us know your favorite Disney and Universal parks. As always, stay safe and use your discretion when using these recommendations. 

Love, your Travel Brats

Puerto Rico is known for its rich history and culture, and for being the perfect island getaway. If you are looking for close quarters with historical sites, landmarks, delicious locally owned restaurants and bars, and only feet from the coastline, Old San Juan is where you should look for your next travel adventure. 

There are so endless things to do while in Puerto Rico, but beware - make reservations, know the rules and regulations with COVID-19 in the area, plan ahead, and check the reviews of where you are going to stay. 

Where to Stay in Puerto Rico 

While staying in Puerto Rico, there are many chain hotels available if you are looking for a resort vibe. The San Juan Marriott Resort is top of the line with insane views, a relaxing beach vibe, and in a prime location. If you are looking to stay in Old San Juan like Jon and Ashley did during their travels, find an Airbnb in all the action. 

What to do in Puerto Rico

While you are exploring, type “Landmarks” into your Apple Maps so you can see sites that are nearby. Some main historical sites to see are the largest fort built by the Spanish, Castillo San Cristóbal, and Castillo San Felipe del Morro. I recommend packing your walking shoes because there are cathedrals and art to view on every corner, so stroll through the beautiful streets. Old San Juan is located on a port, where you can catch a ferry to Cantano. The quick 10 minute boat ride takes you across to another part of the island where the Barcadi factory is. Book your tour ahead of time because after a ferry ride and waiting for an uber or the public bus, I don’t want you turned away like we were. LOL 

A bucket list item is to go to the Laguna Grande Bioluminescent Bay, which is one of 7 bio bays in the world. There are 3 located in Puerto Rico. If you enjoy kayaking, this is a great excursion. 

What to Eat in Puerto Rico

For delicious authentic Puerto Rican food, there are amazing options. We were not disappointed on this trip when it came to food. A highly rated restaurant that we couldn’t get into, but tried to twice, was Barrachina. If you are not on a time crunch or have time to kill, this is the place for you. Since we didn’t want to wait much longer, we went across the street from Barrachina to Cafe El Punta, which was a hole in the wall spot with amazing ceviche and Monfongos. For a more secluded, intimate setting with finer food, Princessa Cocina is a great choice. 

El Yunque Rainforest 

Uber was a great way to get around, but to go longer distances, there are a ton of rental car places near the San Juan Puerto Rico. Like I’ve said, book ahead because we paid a premium to get a car last minute. We rented from Sixt rental car and had a reliable Kia that took us across the island. 

When planning your trip to El Yunque Rainforest, the best way to go is booking a tour so you can explore safely and see the best of the best waterfalls and cliffs. We booked with BesTours, and Carlos was our guide who was born and raised in PR. I had an amazing time and would recommend them if you want a more intense hike where you will get wet and slide off waterfalls. This way you will have a guide who shows you where to park, where to explore, and where the most scenic spots are. 

While in Puerto Rico, stay safe, be aware of your surroundings, adventure where you want to go, and try out something new. Thank you for tuning in. Share your favorite Puerto Rican adventures.