KOSHER ADVENTURES

Italy: Airports: We flew in and out of Rome airport and took trains to the other major cities. Weather: The weather was hot and sunny, somehow didn't get sunburned. TYH Amalfi Coast Transportation: We landed in Rome, took a train to Naples, and hired a driver to take us to Sorrento.  +39 339 220-8831 We took a ferry to Capri. We hired a driver for the day to take us to the different coastal towns (Positano, Amalfi, Maiori, Minori, and Ravello). Same phone number as above. Accommodations: Syrrenton Home  - cute boutique hotel in Sorrento. The host, Giacomo was so nice and drove us to the port to take the ferry to Capri. Otherwise, it would be a 20 minute walk in the heat. You can message Giacomo directly +39 334 330-8034 Kosher Food: There is a restaurant in Capri - Capri Kosher . They also host Shabbos meals. Other than that, survival mode. Activities: Capri - we took a ferry to Capri from the port in Sorrento. Went to Capri Kosher for lunch. Then we walked to the Augustus Gar...

Jamaica: Airports: We flew into Kingston airport and flew out of Montego Bay. Best decision ever. Weather: The weather was perfect. Hot and sunny. Bring sunscreen. Transportation: We used tour guides in Kingston and Ocho Rios (AKA Ochi). In Montego Bay (AKA MoBay), we used Uber. Tip: Uber charges more in hot spot areas, so if you walk a bit further away from the main area, you can order a regular Uber, not the Uber taxi option. Private Drivers in Montego Bay: Frank - 876-861-6629 Jeff - 876-425-0702 He's the man if you're in a rush and need to speed;) Accommodations: Ocho Rios: Richmond Estate  - We stayed here for 2 nights. Very spacious, in a safe area. Security doesn't let anyone on the property without the host calling first and giving the name of the driver. However, if you walk to the security booth and asked them to let in your driver, they're pretty nice about it:) Montego Bay: Hip Strip - We stayed in this apartment overlooking the water, on the hip strip. It...

Vietnam: Attention Americans -  you need 3-5 days for your e-visa to be approved! Airports: We started off in the north and headed south. Flew to Hanoi - Noi Bai International Airport Flew to mid Vietnam - Da Nang International Airport Flew to Ho Chi Minh City (AKA Saigon) - Tan Son Nhat International Airport Weather: Mid 60-90's, cooler in the north, warmer in the south. We bought North Face jackets in Hanoi (super cheap) and used them for the Ha Giang Loop motorbike tour where it can get pretty windy and foggy.  Transportation: Grab is the Uber of Vietnam. They are so cheap (think $1 for a 10 minute ride)  For day trips, we used drivers/tour guides (Around  $80 for 12 hours, private driver) Hanoi: +84 93 685 9189 (Ethan Hunt, driving company) Hoi An/Da Nang: +84 93 586 5804 (Binh, best driver in the world) Ho Chi Minh City: +84 93 148 6863 (Highly recommended, we used Grab though) You can also take sleeper buses for much cheaper. Accommodations: Hanoi:  D...

Colombia: Airports: We mainly stayed in Medellin (flew to MDE airport). You may want to change money at the airport. Yes, the exchange rate is higher, but it's a tiny amount due to inflation. You can get an Uber at the parking lot entrance on the second floor. W e did spend one day in Salento and flew to PEI airport.  Weather: Mid 70's. A bit cloudy and rained a couple of times, but it didn't affect our trip. We got suntanned without even trying. Transportation: Ubers are so cheap (think pennies for local rides!)  For day trips, we used drivers/tour guides. Accommodations: We stayed in 2 Airbnb's near Chabad (10 minute walk). Wake - in a beautiful hotel, jacuzzi on the porch, pristine. The Spot Bldg #52 - cool interior design, I'd say 4 stars because it can use a deep clean, but the security guards were great for Shabbos. They removed the battery from the door and were at the front desk all the time. D estornillador is screwdriver in Spanish, you're welcome;) ...

Greece: Flights/Ferries: We flew from Israel to Mykonos on BlueBird Airways (yes, it's a legit airline lol). Took a 2 hour ferry to Santorini (through Seajets ) and a 40 minute flight to Athens (via Volotea airline). Mykonos: Weather: 80-90's. Sunny, hot, and very windy. Hence the nickname  The Island of the Winds. Transportation: Hermes Tourist Agency: Book a driver by messaging  +30 695 134 3434.  ATV - Once you have your luggage in your hotel, we recommend renting ATV's to get around the island. It's so much cheaper than using a driver. We used  ONE Rent a Car   +30 2289 026400. Address is Ornos 846 00. Accommodations: Aelia  - Pretty boutique hotel. I would recommend sleeping with a weapon near you. JK;) Just had a little scare when we heard a woman screaming at 3am and thought there was either domestic abuse happening next door or an axe murderer on the loose. Turns out a drunk woman showed up and the hotel sent her away. Kosher Food: Kosher Mykonos ...

San Juan Del Sur, Nicaragua: Weather: Mid 90's. Sunny and hot!  Flights: You can either fly to MGA (Managua airport) or to Liberia airport in Costa Rica. If you fly to Liberia, it may be cheaper, but you will need to have two drivers - on each side of the border. It's probably around the same travel time. We waited over an hour at passport control in the MGA airport and a different traveler said it took 5 minutes at the Costa Rica border. I guess check flights to both airports and make a decision based on prices. Transportation: Within San Juan Del Sur, we didn't need any taxis. Everything was a max 10 minute walk. There are taxis lining the streets in case you need one. We did use a driver for the initial 2.5 hour ride from the Managua airport to Chabad and back. I recommend Joel - +505 8282-7749. Mention that you got his number from Ahuva:) His rate with me was $80 from the airport to Chabad. Other recommended drivers: Guillermo Mendoza (english speaking) +505 8987-3141 A...

Maui: Weather: High 70's. Sunny and beautiful.  The surf conditions, not as amazing.  Waters were murky too. Sign up  here for a daily email with the snorkel report. Transportation: We rented a car through Hertz. The highways are smooth, parking is a non-issue, and if you do the Road to Hana roadtrip, you'll definitely need your own car. Accommodations: Wailea Beach Condo Airbnb  - Beautiful airbnb. It's in a complex with a stunning pool. The only downside is the checkout process. The host requires you to do a load of towels, take out the garbage etc.  Maui Kosher Farm -  Mendel Zirkind and his amazing wife, Chana, run a farm in Maui.  You can stay at their cottages for a fee, or work on the farm and get free room and board. You can see more details on their website . Kosher Food: Maui Kosher Farm - This is a must! They have daily dinners with delicious food. Mendel is a world-class chef. He used to work at t op Kosher restaurants in NYC includi...

San Francisco: Weather: Foggy and cloudy weather, 50's-60's. Rained a little bit too.  Bring a poncho and/or raincoat. Transportation: Uber. Some streets are so steep, the sidewalk is stairs. I can't imagine parking on those roads! In general though, it looks pretty tough to find parking spots. We used Uber the whole time. We actually put in a few stops so our Uber driver took us to all the famous places and waited while we got a quick photo. Waymo - Also, self-driving cars through the Waymo app were in beta mode - invitation only. It's possible that they are in full service by the time you read this. They looked so cool! Accommodations: Courtyard by Marriot Union Square  - We stayed at the Marriot. It's a couple minute walk to Chabad. The guy at the front desk was familiar with Shabbos - we got a room on the second floor and he walked us to our room Friday night and Shabbos day. Keep in mind, it's pretty close to the Tenderloin area. When we landed at 1am, our...

Guatemala: This post is mainly about Antigua, Guatemala. We did make plans to visit San Pedro for a day, however, due to political unrest and protests, we were unable to make it. I included San Pedro research at the end of the post, but I cannot verify any information as I didn't get to experience it. Weather: Sunny in the morning, cloudy/foggy as the day went on, short bursts of rain at night. Bring a poncho. Transportation: Chabad is AMAZING. They have daily shuttles for you to take you almost anywhere, not just within Guatemala. You can do overnight rides to other countries. Check out their website for exact details. We used Uber to get around. Super cheap. For short distances, you can get a Tuk Tuk ride. The cobblestone roads are SO bumpy in Antigua... use the bathroom before you get into the car;) If you are taking an Uber to a location further out, you might get stuck finding an Uber to take you back.  Here are some drivers' numbers for long-distance rides: Yisroel Meir T...

Paris: Weather: Mid 70's. Beautiful weather.  Transportation: We used Uber. Do not try driving, the traffic is insane and motorcyclists weave in and out of lanes. Accomodations: Hotel Beauchamps   - Located right off Champs Elysees, it's in a perfect location. Quaint, clean, small boutique style hotel.   Kosher Food: Please do your own research in terms of Kashrus standards. Do not rely on the blog. Kavod - Delicious meat restaurant. Awesome waiters. Really not expensive. Portions are super generous. The steak we ordered was enough for a family of 6... and the menu said it's for 2. Go figure.  L'inte - Pretty dairy restaurant, perfect for lunch. We tried some cool sounding dishes with cheese balls that we couldn't pronounce. The food was light and filling. La Reserve - We had brunch at the Reserve. They have sushi, pizza, croissants (duh), salads, pasta, etc. Le XXV - Dairy cafe with outdoor seating. Amazing pastries and coffees.  Damyel -  Located in ...

Dubai: Weather: High 90's, low 100's. The UV index was hovering at 13. For context, New York is around 4 and Bahamas is 7. Wear SPF 100 sunscreen, you don't want to get sun poisoning! We still got a nice tan without any burning. Transportation: We used Uber, no regrets.  We also had a tour guide for 2 days with pickup and dropoff at our hotel. You technically can go all out and rent a Lamborghini, but it's probably a hassle to figure out parking. Accomodations: Jumeirah Beach Hotel  - The famous wave shaped hotel. Beautiful resort on the beach.  Right across from the Burj Al Arab (the sail shaped hotel on its own island). Highly recommend staying here! The Wild Wadi waterpark on the resort was under maintenance so only a few rides were open. If you're a committed KosherAdventures follower, you'll know this already:  #lifehack  go to the gym - there are waterbottles there for free;) Address Marina  - We spent Shabbos at the The Address Hotel because Chabad h...

Puerto Rico: Weather: Mid 80's. Beautiful and sunny. Transportation: We used Uber. It was NOT cheap. It probably would've been cheaper to rent a car.  Most of our activities were over an hour away from San Juan, and each way was around $75-$100. Also, Uber is not available in some areas (i.e. Toro Verde) so you need to call taxi companies and they only take cash.  Super Taxi: (787) 938-7584 Luis Rosa: (787) 448-7967 Fajardo Taxi: (787) 513-7685 Mario: (939) 529-5663 Jireh Transportation: (787) 439-6099 / (787) 361-9741 Accomodations: AC Hotel San Juan Condado   - Clean and nice hotel. Part of the Marriot chain. It wasn't cheap, but it was the cheapest of the decent hotels.  They give you complimentary drinks from the bar if you're over 18, but there are restrictions on which drink you can get.  You can get soda there too, if you're not a alcohol girl;) They charge you for water from the lobby shop, but #lifehack go to the gym on the penthouse level - there are ...