✈️ Tropical Paradise.
✈️ Tropical Paradise.
Puerto Rico lifts all entry restrictions for domestic travelers.
👨✈️ The Briefing Room:
Notes and open topics from the editor’s desk.
Welcome Departures. The place to be for where to go and what to see. This week, book lovers rejoice as we continue our deep dive into France, we take a trip into a tropical forrest to check out one of the most beautiful waterfalls in the Caribbean and take a peek at some of the most practical pieces of luggage for tight spaces. So now without further ado, let’s take it away!
Alvin
📰 This Week in Travel:
A TLDR approach to some of the week’s most important headlines.
Puerto Rico to drop all entry requirements for US travelers. Beginning on Thursday, passengers inbound from the mainland will no longer be required to present proof of vaccination or negative coronavirus test to enter. Mask requirements are also due to be lifted in most indoor venues. The island, who had been one of the few places in the world open for US travelers at the height of the pandemic, was also one of the places with the strictest mitigation measures out of all the states and territories. Lifting restrictions will finally bring a sigh of relief to an island that depends so much on tourism. This edition’s Bucket List and Deal of the Week are dedicated to the island.
After 2 years, India to resume internationals flights beginning March 27th. After operating on an extremely limited basis for over 25 months, the new arrangement will allow all airlines to resume operations to the country.
In a follow up to last week’s closure of Russian airspace, airlines are taking massive detours in order to accommodate the flight restrictions over the country. The new routes are adding thouthands of miles and between $4,000 and $12,000 in additional operating costs per hour to the airlines.
📸 Destination Deep Dive:
Comprehensive multipart series on a single destination.
France Part 04
Last week on Destination Deep Dive: France Part 03 we escaped indoors to one of the city’s latest premium shopping experiences, La Samaritaine. This week we go across the river to a more modest and what is arguably the most famous used book store in the world: Shakespeare & Company.
Located on the left bank of the river about a block away from Notre-Dame, this iconic bi-level bookstore has been serving book lovers for over 70 years. Founded in 1951 by American expat George Whitman, it has been used as a back drop in several movies including Before Sunset, Julie & Julia and Midnight in Paris. Through out the years it’s also been known to have served as playground for the likes of Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald and Ezra Pound.
Though a bit more of a niche landmark, I thought it’s unique history was worthy of its own section. Note that mornings tend to be the best times to avoid the crowds.
Official website:
For those left wanting more (or anyone not willing to wait through the queue), another very quaint and equally charming books store is not far from the area. Hidden away on a side street in the middle of the Latin Quarter, The Abbey Book Shop is also 2 levels of reading materials from floor to ceiling.
The Abbey Book Shop sits quietly on a relatively calm side street. Away from all the the hustle and bustle that is typically the Latin Quarter. A stark contrast from Shakespeare and Company’s river front location. But in my opinion this is without a doubt to it’s advantage and the reason I love it so much.
Official Website:
Next week on Destination Deep Dive: France Part 05 it’s all about coffee! We’ll explore a couple of my favorite cafe’s in the center of the city.
About Destination Deep Dives
Destination Deep Dives offer a more immersive look at one particular destination in a recurring format over a several editions of the newsletter. It is where I give myself room to explore a broader set of points of interests, for all travel styles and budgets. Think of them as small parts of a larger travel guide. Even though I will be publishing them all together as one guide at the end of the series, you may access them all as individual articles as inside their corresponding Departures edition here:
🗺 Bucket List:
Short highlight of a dream destination.
When we think about bucket list destinations, there is a list of very common places that come to mind. But once in a while we come across certain underrated gems that just make you wonder how has a place like this remained under the radar for so long. Gozalandia Waterfalls is now of those places. Nestled in the mountains 2 1/2 hours outside the San Juan metropolitan area, in the outskirts of a little town called San Sebastián, the waterfalls are one of the island’s best kept secrets.
As always I have included link to the location right on the image and caption. And trust me you will need it. It is not the easiest place to find. Once you are in the vicinity though, people in the neighborhood are super friendly and will guide you the rest of the way if you get lost or loose you phone’s data connection. To visit you will need to rent a car or book a private excursion, but the trip and subsequent hike to get to the waterfall is most definitely worth it. Once on the site there is a parking lot and a little restaurant and bar called “Sha’s” that serves local comfort food, beer and cocktails. From there you will find signs that will guide you to both waterfalls on the site. Although the trail is light to moderate, unpaved and can be quite slippery if it has rained so I would not recommend it for anyone with mobility concerns.
🧳 Carry-on Only:
Travel experience, tech and accessory reviews.
Luggage is definitely one of the most basic of travel essentials. But one of the most annoying aspects of owning multiple pieces of luggage is the large amount of space they take up when not in use. Even when packed inside themselves there is no way around how bulky they are. In comes a company called Rollink with their Flex Collapsible Carry-On. They feature front and back polycarbonate shell in several sizes and colors. Mated to a very durable, soft fabric panel that compresses the bag to 75% of its expanded size when not in use. Check out the entire range here:
💰 Deal of the Week:
Special sales and offers from all over the web.
In celebration of Puerto Rico’s opening to domestic US travelers we have a landed a VERY special deal from Spirit Airlines. Round trip out of New York (LGA) to Aguadilla (BQN) for $158! I’ve payed more to Uber from LGA to Midtown. This tropical travel deal is a great excuse to start the summer early. Don’t let it fly away!
via Google Flights
🛠 Hack of the Week:
Tips and tricks for better travel quality of life.
Flush - Toilet Finder
Ever find yourself having the urge and absolutely no idea where to go? In comes Flush the Toilet finder. Available for both iOS and Android devices, Flush is a simple to use map database with the location of over 200,000 toilets. So whether alone or with the family, on the other side of the world, or just on a side of town you’ve never been, this free app is a definite must have. Download it for you respective device here:
Flush - Toilet Finder for Android
🛫 About Us:
Departures is a free newsletter about photography, travel & lifestyle. To find out more about what this is, who I am and why should you be here, visit our dedicated about page here: