How Much A Weekend in Puerto Rico ACTUALLY Costs

This past weekend, my girlfriend and I decided to take a trip off-island. We hopped on an 18-minute flight from St. Thomas to Puerto Rico for a three-day trip. Neither of us had ever been to Puerto Rico before, so we were excited to travel someplace new together.

Starting out, my girlfriend and I had a very clear picture about how much money we wanted to spend. We weren't willing to break the bank for a 3-day trip, but we also didn't want to be so frugal that we couldn't enjoy our time; we still wanted it to feel like a vacation. 

We agreed that $500 each ($1,000 total) was all that we were comfortable spending. To be clear, we wanted this amount to cover absolutely everything.

Here's a look into our wallet:
Item                                                                       Cost
Taxi to/from St. Thomas Airport.........................$20.00
Flight from St. Thomas to  Puerto Rico.............$184.20
Flight from Puerto Rico to St. Thomas..............$154.20
Hotel...........................................................................$227.24
Rental Car..................................................................$113.62
1 bottle of water at St. Thomas Airport...............$3.25
1 paleta (popsicle).....................................................$3.40
2 tickets to tour the fort...........................................$10.00
1 bottle of water at the fort......................................$1.55
Lunch at St. Germain................................................$45.00
9 postcards..................................................................$3.35
Coffee............................................................................$8.00
Dinner at Ali Baba......................................................$63.00
Casino...........................................................................$10.00
CVS (cereal, milk and orange juice)......................$8.40
1 lemonade and 1 water in the rainforest.............$5.00
Sushi delivered to the hotel.....................................$64.67
Gas for rental car........................................................$12.36
TOTAL: $937.24

1. Transportation

As we expected, our largest expense was transportation, because it included our flights to and from Puerto Rico. We spent $169.20 each on flights. For ground transportation, it was imperative that we rented a car because taxis in Puerto Rico are very expensive and they would have eaten up our whole budget. Since we did not want to rely on public transportation, I did some research and found a cheap car rental that charged only $7.00 per day (bonus: they had shuttle service to and from the airport!). But, when we added up the insurance, taxes, and other ridiculous fees, our total came to $113.62. Taking into account gas and other nominal fees, the total amount we spent on transportation came to $484.38.

2. Accommodations

When it came to choosing a hotel, I quickly learned that a cute modern suite in downtown Old San Juan would break the budget. Also, places downtown either don't have parking, or they charge around $20 per night to park your car in their lot. Instead, I found a place that was about a 10-minute drive from Condado (the center of nightlife in PR). For 2 nights, our total came to $227.24. In all honesty, there were some ups and downs to the hotel (it was actually a condo that rented out individual units for a minimum 2-night stay). There wasn't any type of housekeeping service (no extra towels on demand, and no one to make the bed after our first night), and the location wasn't exactly what we wanted. But on the flipside, the room was spacious, clean, and quiet - it had everything we needed. A pleasant surprise was that It also had an incredible ocean view and a view of the marina.

3. Food

Buying inexpensive food in Puerto Rico is not a problem. However, we wanted our trip to be romantic and we love eating out...so we went a little overboard in this category, and our total food expenditure came to $194.27. When deciding where to eat, we took two different approaches. Sometimes we bought street food as we came across it and other times we searched on Yelp or Tripadvisor for the highest rated and most popular restaurants nearby. Our favorite meal of the trip was at a cute little bistro tucked away in Old San Juan called St. Germain Bistro & Cafe. They had the most delicious sandwiches, and the ambiance was so relaxing!

4. Souvenirs/Gifts

Casey really wanted to buy postcards to send home and authentic Puerto Rican coffee. I wanted a new sarong, but I wasn't quite able to find what I was looking for when we were shopping...so I spent (and lost) my souvenir money (a whopping $10.00) at the casino instead. Our total for this category came to $21.35.

After all this, our grand total was $937.24 - $62.76 under budget! We were delighted that we were able to keep our expenses under the amount we had agreed upon. We knew that we could have done better - we did not need to spend $70.00 for each of our fancy dinners - but, the time and effort we spent towards planning our trip ahead of time paid off! We met our goal without having to sacrifice certain luxuries (such as our modern hotel room and after-hike lunch overlooking the rainforest).

Now, we can start saving for our next trip!

Check it out for yourself:

St. Germain Bistro & Cafe
156 Calle Sol
San Juan, Puerto Rico, 00901
Instagram: @stgermainpr

Villa Fratelli Cresta

Last week at work, I received an invitation to attend an art fundraiser to support the victims of tropical storm Erika in Dominica. I haven’t attended many fundraisers, so I wasn’t really sure what to expect. I wanted to show my support for a fellow Caribbean island, but I was a little apprehensive.

First of all, the fundraiser was being held at a fancy gated villa. I was unsure of what to wear, because the invitation made no mention of what would be appropriate attire, and I didn’t want to be under-dressed. Also, I was worried that my girlfriend and I wouldn’t fit in with the crowd – not only are we gay – but I assumed that we would also be the youngest attendees. Another stress point was that I knew that we would be expected to donate (that was made very clear in the response to my RSVP). I didn’t want to be embarrassed if I couldn’t donate as much as what was expected, and I had no idea how much these art pieces would be selling for…$50…$100…$1,000? How was I supposed to know these types of things before I got there?

Despite these concerns, I really wanted to go. One of the main reasons I moved to the Virgin Islands was because I wanted to try things outside of my comfort zone. I wanted to challenge myself to participate in new experiences so I could feel more fulfilled, and awaken the sense of adventure in my life I so desperately craved. So, with checkbook in hand, my girlfriend and I decided to accept the invitation and wear our little black dresses.

As the villa security team escorted us to the entrance of the estate, I wondered if we had made a mistake. We were among the first ten people to arrive, so there was no hope of blending into a crowd. After we had signed our names in the guest book of visitors, the host of the event personally escorted us to the silent auction tables where donation sheets were paired with expensive paintings. The lowest bids for the smallest, least expensive pieces started at $150. The prices weren’t as high as I had feared, but I knew that the prices would only go up from there.

As a distraction from my impending financial panic attack, we decided to explore the villa. The main focal point of the entire event was the pool, as the auction portion was held outside on the expansive deck. There were high-top tables with gourmet hors d'oeuvres set out by a catering team, a fully stocked bar with cocktail waitresses, cabana seating around the pool, and photographers.

The villa itself was a massive 7-bedroom estate with exquisite finishes, fancy brickwork and granite tile. Despite our lavish surroundings, we felt surprisingly at ease (this may or may not have been due to the free wine and fried finger foods). As the evening progressed, we found ourselves having a great time.

Looking back on the event, I’m glad we attended even though we didn’t know what we’d be getting ourselves into. Putting ourselves out there wasn’t easy, but it was definitely worth it…not only do we have a cool experience to share with friends and family, but we also have a wider network and feel more connected to our community.

Check it out for yourself:

Villa Fratelli Cresta
St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands
Website: www.fratellicresta.com

How To Choose The Best Camera For Travel Photography

Your packing list for an upcoming vacation, road trip, or study abroad program is probably long enough already - but one item that you can’t leave behind is a quality camera to capture the scenic views, exotic meals, and other Instagram-worthy moments. If your standard cell phone camera doesn’t quite cut it – what camera will?

If you’ve seriously been considering purchasing a new camera, I’m sure you’ve poked around a bit online, searching for what you might want to buy. But with so many options out there, the decision can be seriously overwhelming. Trust me, I’ve been there and I understand the stress – what if you make a bad choice and you never get those great shots you’ve been dreaming of?

Well, lucky for you, I just went through this process and I’m going to help you remember a few things to consider before making this investment. My amazing girlfriend and her family bought me a Nikon D3200 DSLR camera for my birthday (#TeamVirgo), and I couldn't be happier or more excited about my new toy.

Here are some important factors to take into consideration when buying a camera:

1. Photo Quality & Battery Life

For most people, photo quality and battery life will be the most important factors when choosing a camera. It is a common misconception that more megapixels = better quality…but this isn’t always the case. In fact, a high megapixel rating on a small camera is often a bad sign. When too many megapixels are packed into a camera, images can get grainy because so much information is being captured in a small space. This is why it is important to consider other camera features such as the sharpness of the lens and the size of the sensor.

When it comes to battery life on a camera, you’re going to want something that lasts. This is especially true if you’re going to be using your camera on full-day excursions, where you won’t have the opportunity to re-charge if your battery gets low. In my opinion, a long-lasting battery is a must-have…because no one wants to be caught in a position where you miss a prime photo opportunity!

2. Size/Weight & Durability

Size and weight are two huge factors for frequent travelers. Let’s be real - the more portable your camera is, the more likely you are to take it around with you and actually use it. If you enjoy being active and taking part in outdoor activities such as hiking, the weight of your camera will be a big concern… and if you’ve ever tried to hike up a mountain with a heavy DSLR camera hanging around your neck, you know exactly what I mean.

Depending on what you’ll be doing during your trips, durability is also an important factor to think about. A smaller camera might be able to handle being dropped on a carpet or beach, but if it falls on a tile floor, the camera will likely shatter (along with your heart). The bigger DSLR cameras are very fragile as well, while GoPros on the other hand could probably survive the zombie apocalypse.

3. Usability

Another way to choose the right camera for you is to consider how you are going to use it the most. If you’re planning to spend most of your time shooting action shots while mountain biking or scuba diving, a GoPro is an excellent choice. However, if you’re looking to take snapshots of landmarks, food, or family and friends that you want to keep for memories, a simple point and shoot camera or even a cell phone camera will do. But if you want to take spectacular photos of landscapes or professional-looking portraits, you may want to look into investing in either a mirrorless or DSLR camera.

4. Accessories

Some people might not care too much about camera accessories, but that certainly wasn’t the case for me. One of the main selling points that helped seal the deal on my decision to get the Nikon D3200 was the *bonus* option I added to my purchase. For only $50 more, I was able to add a camera bag, a tripod and a 16GB memory card to my purchase – definitely worth it. These little extras might not be deal-breakers, but they are certainly nice to have!

4. Price

Between flights, accommodations and food, travel expenses can add up quick. Not everyone can afford to drop a ton of cash on a camera. My suggestion is to try and get the most bang for your buck. Sure, you can find a simple point-and-shoot camera for a hundred bucks, but is it going to meet your needs? On the flip side, what’s the point in dropping a grand for a camera that’s just going to sit on your shelf at home and collect dust?

The truth is, purchasing a camera is an investment, and it’s about finding a balance between both quality and price. Don’t rush your purchase – take your time to research what types of cameras are out there, and only put down that hard-earned cash of yours for something that you’re truly excited about.

Testing Out My Camera:

Now that I've had my camera for a little over a week, I took a day trip on the car barge over to St. John to test it out - I still have some playing around to do to learn more of the features, but I'm looking forward to seeing what else I can do!

Check it out for yourself:

US Virgin Islands
St. Thomas, St. John & St. Croix
Instagram: @visitusvi

Nikon
Instagram: @nikonUSA

Roadtrip: Austin, TX → San Diego, CA

My name is Chris. I live with my girlfriend Angelica and our rambunctious pup, Frankie in Austin, TX. This summer we had originally planned to travel to New York for our friends’ lesbian wedding, but our plans fell through. So, at the last minute we said – screw it – let’s take a road trip to San Diego, CA. Here are a few snapshots from our trip.

[Tap or hover over the photos below to see our thoughts along the way!]

We woke up early to hit the road for our summer road trip adventure. There was nothing but this hot asphalt beneath our tires for a couple hundred miles....it was just me, my girlfriend, and our sweet dog, Frankie chillin' in the backseat.

At a gas station in Gila Bend, Arizona...we came across a patriotic dinosaur. It was 104 degrees, so we kept it movin'. #GoUSA #'Murica

In Hurley, New Mexico we stumbled across this cute little tee-pee tourist trap. The place advertised on the sign led us to a store with an unbelievable amount of fireworks. It made me nervous because I'm sure if they all went off at the same time the place would have blown up pretty quickly.

When we approached Dateland, Arizona we noticed a ball of doom up ahead. This was our first time driving through a dust storm, but Angelica did a great job navigating through it. The terrible visibility lasted about 10 miles and it was the longest 10 miles of our lives!

The California coastline is peppered with 18th century Spanish missions. Mission San Juan Capistrano is one of the most famous missions outside of Los Angeles, California in Orange County (the "OC"). Not quite on the way...but well worth the stop.

We finally made it to our destination! No trip to San Diego is complete without a stop at the beach, so we visited our dear hometown friends in Mission Beach & Encinitas for some fun in the sun. We brought a book, a boogie board, and fresh goodies from the local farmer's market.

Of course we visited the world famous San Diego Zoo! We took the safari ride and explored the park on a beautiful San Diego day.

We also took a mandatory stroll through the “gayborhood.” Hillcrest has some funky delicious breakfast spots, like Hash House A Go Go. We also found Bubbies Hawaiian Mochi Ice Cream! 

Check it out for yourself:

Mission San Juan Capistrano
26801 Ortega Highway
San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675
Instagram: @missionsanjuan

Mission Beach/Belmont Park
3146 Mission Boulevard
San Diego, CA 92109
Instagram: @belmontparksd

San Diego Zoo
2920 Zoo Drive
San Diego, CA 92101
Instagram: @sandiegozoo

Hash House A Go Go
3682 Fifth Avenue
San Diego, CA 92103
Instagram: @hashhouseagogo

Bubbies Homemade Ice Cream & Desserts Hawaii
Whole Foods Market
207 Fifth Avenue
San Diego, CA 92101
Twitter: @BubbiesHawaii

Bay Area Brunch & Hike

BRUNCH: Outerlands

Living in the Bay Area, I find that brunch is the best part of a non-working day and there is an endless array of choices. Just in San Francisco alone, there are so many amazing brunch spots that it would be impossible to try them all out – but I still try, despite the multitude of choices.

On this day, which started off a foggy one, the goal was to seek out a chill Cali vibe brunch spot close to one of the best hiking views in SF. My girlfriend and I left home with the hope that the fog would burn off eventually, because that is what typically happens in the “City by the Bay.”

San Francisco is broken up into many different districts and sub-cultures. It is a true melting pot. The Outer Sunset is one district, in particular, that contains unassuming gems. There we found the spot that fit the brunch bill, Outerlands. Surrounded by the quintessential-inches-a-part (if that) SF homes with the Pacific Ocean a few blocks away, this amazing spot was just the ticket. Its rustic modern décor and simple/straight to the point menu is filled with brunch goodies ranging from sweet & savory “Dutch Pancakes” to “Eggs-in-Jail” with Avocado. I recommend pairing your selections with refreshing “Cognac & Rum Buck” with plum, ginger beer, and lime and you’ll have yourself a great start to an awe-inspiring day off.

More importantly, Outerlands provided the rustic-wood paneled, chill vibe without the weight of a heavy food baby before our historic, nature-filled Lands End Trail hike.

HIKE: Lands End Trail

We were looking for the type of hike that could be tackled in a couple of hours without the realization of exercising. Of course the amazing distraction of the 360-degree views of the Bay and Golden Gate Bridge usually do the trick.

Taking the Great Highway along the ocean helps build up the excitement along the way. By the time we finished the 10-minute drive from Outerlands we had perfect hiking weather. Our earlier hope of the fog burning off came true!

The 3.4-mile trail is easy enough for all ages – regardless of exercise level. Before the trail began, we were met with the amazing ruins of the Sutro Baths and Ocean Beach. The majority of the trails offer cliff-top walks, dark Cypress trees, and historic treasures along the way.  These treasures include shipwreck remains, a rock patterned labyrinth, Mile Rock Beach, and a back entrance to view the famed Legion of Honor museum.

If you’re looking for a way to decompress from city life (or just life in general), brunch at a chill spot followed by a hike that takes in some of the best sights that San Francisco can offer is definitely a great option!

Check it out for yourself:

Outerlands (Between 45th Ave & 46th Ave)
Outer Sunset
4001 Judah St.
San Francisco, CA 94122
Instagram: @outerlands

Lands End Trail
680 Ponit Lobos Ave.
San Francisco, CA 94121
Sea Cliff
Instagram: @goldengatenationalparks