the nomad lab

Lamu Beach House.

Expansive space, white walls and simple wood furnishings. 

This beach house is definitely the right way to escape from all your worries. With an unspoilt panoramic view right on the water, you can take in everything from your backyard.

Things I love: Dark wood ceiling beams. Huge archways on the back patio. Authentic Swahili craftsmanship all around the house. 4 staff members to fulfill your every need! 

For more info, check out Welcome Beyond’s interview with the owners.

(All photos from Welcome Beyond.)

My travel-filled summer lasted well into fall this year. Luckily, this last trip was spent in sunny summer weather in Pensacola, FL. I had a blast during my extended weekend trip last week for DeLuna Fest.

Pensacola Beach is one of the best places you could have a music festival, and the closest I’ve been able to get to some awesome acts. Also, loved getting to see my friends’ band Hands rock their first music festival. 

Some of my favorite moments of the weekend:

Located near the village of Terrasini in Sicily, Italy, Città del Mare is a resort right on the cliffs with a multi-level waterslide that drops you right into the ocean. This looks like SO much fun.

Not quite a secluded or romantic getaway, but I would totally check it out just for those waterslides. Lots of watersports as well: kayaking, snorkeling and scuba diving, kitesurfing, and sailing nearby. 

(Photos from Città del Mare)

My mind is here today. Huvafen Fushi - a Maldives Luxury Resort.

Pictures say it all.

I went up to Carmel last weekend for a close friend’s wedding, and had a little time to wander around downtown Carmel-by-the-Sea during the day. 

Carmel-by-the-Sea is a charming little downtown village of cobblestone streets, galleries and shops filled with eclectic goods, bakeries filled with European pastries, and unique historic architecture. You’ll find that every other visitor has a dog, and many stores and restaurants are dog-friendly. The beautiful Carmel beach is just a few blocks away, there are lots of secret courtyards and studios to discover, and plenty of adorable inns and B&Bs along the way. 

FYI - they don’t really like to use addresses with numbers here. You’ll find directions with intersections, and any shop owner is happy to suggest a nearby shop if you’re looking for something in particular.

This trip was really more about spending time with old friends than traveling, so I did a pretty poor job of taking pictures, but I remembered all my favorite spots to share:

The Cheese Shop

Filled with the typical fragrant smells of cheese, this shop is stuffed to the gills with lots of other goodies as well like wine, cornichons, olives, jam, salami and bread, everything you could need for a quick picnic on the beach. The girls behind the counter are fantastic — they handed me 6 samples of cheese in the first 5 minutes that we were in the shop. Immediately my new favorite cheese place ever. 

Cottage of Sweets

Housed in the cutest little Hansel & Gretel cottage, the Cottage of Sweets prides itself on filling every square inch of its shop with all your favorite candies, with an emphasis on chocolate, including truffles and fudge. Lots of gummi candies and saltwater taffy as well. They joke that the (very) sweet-smelling air in the shop is 5 calories per sniff, according to a sign on the wall. 

The Cypress Inn

Not so much a stop as a suggestion for somewhere to stay, we happened across this place during our walk around town. As Carmel’s landmark boutique hotel, it has the perfect balance of classic charm and modern luxury, and is co-owned by Doris Day. It’s at Lincoln and 7th Street, a quick walk to the beach, with some of the rooms actually facing out onto the street (not great for privacy, though). 

Some rooms have a veranda, private entrance, and/or a fireplace, and all rooms are pet-friendly. If you do have a dog, make sure to check out the Cypress Inn’s online concierge, Sadie, who has tips on pet-friendly locations in Carmel.

Amenities include: complimentary breakfast at Terry’s Lounge, fresh fruit and flowers, pet blanket + bowls, and free wi-fi.

Katy’s Place

This cozy hometown restaurant is a famous stop in Carmel, well-known for its huge variety of eggs benedict on the menu (16! and plenty of other items). Breakfast is served all day, and they have a great outdoor patio. Super cute place with lots of character. (FYI - cash only)

(Photos from Nicola Corboy, LadyHeger, The Cheese Shop, Carmel-by-the-Sea, The Cypress Inn, LA & OC Foodventures)

Lazy Beach is exactly what it sounds like, a laid-back, relaxing private beach where you can laze around and do absolutely nothing (unless you want to). There are 10 beach-side bungalows overlooking clear turquoise waters on the island of Koh Rong Saloem, Cambodia.

Koh Rong Saloem is one of the more popular islands off the coast of Sihanoukville, Cambodia, but still totally charming and private. 

Staying at Lazy Beach is clearly for those ready to get away from it all and enjoy the simple things. The bungalows are pretty basic but spotless, with two double beds and not much else, but the balconies and the hammocks are where it’s at, especially to enjoy Koh Rong Saloem’s famous sunsets. 

They also have a beautiful Octagon Bar + lounge area that do everything they can to promote this whole “lazing around” concept with a sun deck, hammocks, and tons of comfy papasan chairs. 

The only effort you’ll have to put into your trip is actually getting to the private beach and back. They’ll put your belongings into a big waterproof box and you’ll have to wade (or swim) out to the boat, and the boat trip is two hours and may occasionally require a walk through the jungle, depending on the weather. But really? That sounds more like an adventure. 

If you’re not the type to lie around swinging back and forth in a hammock all day, there is beautiful snorkeling at both ends of the bay right off the beach.

Oh yeah, and did I mention the bungalows are $30 a night? For 2 double beds and however many people you want to squeeze into the room. Amazing. 

Perks: the restaurant at Lazy Beach gets pretty rave reviews and buys freshly caught seafood from the fishermen, great attention to detail (according to reviews), book swap and board games, quality snorkeling equipment.

Find out more here: Lazy Beach Cambodia

(Photos from Lazy Beach Cambodia)

The Uxua Casa Hotel consists of 10 unique casas in Trancosco, a fisherman’s village on the Bahian coast of Brazil. I love how the design incorporates local materials and buildings, and that the renovation done for the hotel doesn’t lose the essence of a more rustic and simple lifestyle.

Things I love: Restored fishermen homes, bathroom and kitchen fixtures made from local materials found in the area, Quartz Pool created from 40,000 pieces of green aventurine quartz, a native Bahian stone, AND there’s a library on-site.

More details and tons of photos at Uxua Casa Hotel.

(All photos from Uxua Casa Hotel)