A comprehensive travel recap.

Where I visited, stayed, and ate in August.

Long time, no talk! After reading my friend Olivia’s recent post, I decided to try Substack for something other than serious musings. I’ve received questions about recent trips, so I wanted to put all my thoughts in one place.

Disney World

I threw big parties for Nora’s 1st and 2nd birthdays, but I didn’t have the energy to do it this year. She loves Disney movies, so we thought a trip to Disney would be even better for her than a huge birthday party. (I thought it’d also save us money, which was false hope.) My tips for Disney with a toddler:

• Lower your expectations, and then lower them again. 

• We did Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom this time, and Nora loved them both. I do think that Magic Kingdom was more her speed, though.

• The Contemporary Resort is so worth the cost. Being centrally located is a significant bonus.

• Ask for allergen-friendly menus at restaurants. Nora has food sensitivities, and Disney is very accommodating.

• Don’t go during August if you can help it. After we sweated through our clothes, we were promptly greeted with a thunderstorm. 🥵

Playa Mujeres, Mexico

I asked my college friends if anyone wanted to plan a vacation with me in March. I fully expected the plans to fizzle out, but the trip shockingly came together very quickly. Within a few weeks, we’d booked flights and picked a resort, Excellence Playa Mujeres. (I know all-inclusive resorts aren’t the best way to experience a country, but sometimes you just need to lay by the pool with access to unlimited mojitos.)

I’ve stayed at two other Mexico all-inclusive resorts: Atelier and Unico. Excellence had the worst food out of the ones I’ve visited, but there were other upsides.

• There are a ton of pool and beach chairs, so you don’t have to get up early and stake out a spot (this was my least favorite thing about Atelier). 

• The nightlife was pretty hopping, and screaming Whitney Houston lyrics with my best friends at the top of my lungs was a top-notch experience. 

My favorite restaurant at Excellence was Agave, which is their Mexican offering. There are often long waits for dinner, so I recommend putting your name down earlier than you want to eat. If you’re looking for a culinary experience, I’d recommend Unico or Atelier, but Excellence is a more affordable group option. All in all, we had a lot of fun.

Washington, D.C.

Five days after I got home from Mexico, Vagner and I headed to D.C. I had a hotel voucher that I wanted to use before its expiration date, and we’ve wanted to return to the city for years. I lived in D.C. for a college internship but haven’t returned since 2014. We had a time. I asked for restaurant recommendations on Instagram, which I’ll share below. The highlighted places are the ones we visited. 

• Rasika (Indian)

• Lapis (Afghan)

• Rose’s Luxury (Italian)

• The Dabney (American)

• Ambar (Balkan)

• Nina May (American)

• Call Your Mother (Deli)

• Compass Rose (Intl Street Food)

• Duke’s Grocery (Pub)

• Zaytinya (Greek)

• Supra (Georgian)

• Le Diplomate (French)

• Thip Kao (Laotian)

ZAYTINYA: We went for lunch and sat at the bar. They offered us a restaurant week menu, which we happily took advantage of. The service was excellent, and the margarita was one of the best I’ve ever had.

CALL YOUR MOTHER: These were really good bagels, but I’ll add the caveat that I don’t think I’d wait in a long line for it. I ordered online from our hotel, and the food was ready about 45 minutes later. I’d definitely recommend this option over waiting.

AMBAR: Ambar was my favorite meal of the trip. The price felt steep ($49/person) until I realized the menu was all-you-can-eat. We also did the unlimited drinks package. I expected them to be watered down, but the sangria was surprisingly strong.

RASIKA: I was sold once I heard that this is one of President Obama’s favorite D.C. restaurants. We needed a reservation to get in here, but it was worth it. The palak chaat was the stuff of dreams, and Rasika had a nice ambiance.

LE DIPLOMATE: We visited for brunch, which was a great experience. I ordered pancakes and bacon, which are hard to mess up, but I imagine the other menu options are also good. I’d love to return for dinner the next time we’re in town.

We stayed at the Conrad Washington D.C. and loved the hotel. It’s one of the nicest properties I’ve ever visited and has a rooftop bar. I’ll probably pick a location other than downtown in the future, but it was a great experience. I regret that the trip wasn’t a smidge longer — Friday to Sunday wasn’t enough.

If there’s anything that I didn’t get to, please let me know in the comments or via D.M. Happy travels!