Budget-Friendly Family Staycation at Premier Inn Dubai Dragon Mart

Long before COVID-19 shook the world, my parents flew over to Dubai for a quick visit. It became a sort of tradition to spend a night or two in a hotel every time they arrive. Ed and I are often caught up with work, hence staying in a hotel has been an excellent way to spend more quality time, catch up and bond with them in a relaxed atmosphere.

Tested and proven for comfortable yet budget-friendly stays, we spent a night in the newly-opened Premier Inn Hotel in Dubai.   

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Brazil Travel Itinerary and Expenses: 6 Days, 3 Cities, Countless Memories

If you're given a week to travel to another continent, where would you go? 

Ed and I were caught up in this situation last year. We wanted to go somewhere we have never been, preferably to a visa-free country for us Filipinos. Given the short amount of travel time, Brazil which is a long airplane ride away from our current home base - Dubai, UAE - was a crazy idea... but we felt it would be crazy fun to finally set foot in South America. 

So we went!

And now, I am happy to share three things:

1. Visiting 3 cities in less than 1 week is tiring. But it's possible!

2. We made countless memories; zero travel horror story!

3. Brazil is MARVELOUS! Go if you have the chance! 

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Highlights of Rio: Christ The Redeemer, Sugarloaf Mountain and More!

Rio de Janeiro is a city that few people warned me about. It's either you'd love it or hate it! My heart played tug-of-war the moment Ed and I stepped out of Galeão International Airport. The city exudes a certain relaxed vibe that made me feel at ease despite those horror travel stories.

Our journey from the airport to our accommodation in Copacabana was a breeze. Uber is well-organized. Outside the arrival area, there are signboards leading to the "Uber terminal" and there's a staff assisting passengers to their respective rides.

In less than 30 minutes, we have already checked-in at B&B Hotels RJ Copacabana Forte where we booked a 2-night stay. We originally planned to spend 4 nights in Rio but decided to book only the first half just in case we need to cut our holiday short... which eventually happened.

So, having only one day and a half, Ed and I focused on the highlights and the must-dos in the city they fondly call Cidade Maravilhosa.

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Helicopter Ride over Rio de Janeiro

Ed and I would always settle for budget and mid-range activities whenever we travel. However, during our trip to Brazil, we decided to see Rio de Janeiro in a ritzy way. We felt that if a hot air balloon ride is a must in Cappadocia, flying above Cidade Maravilhosa should be another travel experience that we need to splurge on.

To see Rio from above, we had two options: hang glide or helicopter ride.

My husband, as adventurous as he is, has dreamt about having a birds-eye of the city on a hang glide. But since he couldn't convince me to do it and also don't have the heart to leave me behind, he compromised with a less-thrilling but equally rewarding Heli Ride. 

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A Quick Travel Guide to Brazil's Iguazu Falls

Right after a lazy travel day in Sao Paulo, Ed and I bid goodbye to the concrete jungle and made our way to a real one. The Iguazu Waterfalls was not in our travel wishlist, but we couldn't afford to miss this UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature while we're in Brazil.

Iguazu Falls is tucked in a lush rainforest between Brazil and Argentina. It is the largest waterfall system in the world, spanning over a distance of 2,700 meters and composed of over 270 mighty water cascades.

Well, enough of the Wiki facts. What I'm trying to say is, Iguazu Falls is so incredible that it turned out to be the highlight of our Brazil trip!

Here is a quick guide to visiting the Brazilian side of Iguazu Waterfalls... 

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Sao Paulo, Brazil: A 1-Day Lazy Travel Itinerary

From OC to Lazy real quick? Ed and I laughed at ourselves while we munch on pizza in our hotel room on our first night in Sao Paulo - our first night in South America to be exact. We arrived at Guarulhos International Airport past 5 PM and reached our accommodation in Avenida Paulista three hours later. The young receptionist suggested that we go to a pub street after we check-in, but instead, we called for pizza delivery. 

Lazy Travelers or have we become such a Tito and Tita? Hahaha.

I don't know how it happened, but I have developed a love for spontaneous slow travels. I no longer spend hours jotting down a packed travel schedule in Excel. And Ed who has always loved going with the flow excitedly embraced the idea of heading to Brazil without an actual day to day itinerary for his birthday.

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