The main town in Skye is Portree, where you’ll find small gift shops selling harris tweed, cafes with warming veggie soup of the day & fresh bread, or the local grocery store offering cheese and wine for a picnic.

There are so many sights to visit on Isle of Skye, including the Fairy Pools, Coral Beach, Neist Point lighthouse, and Talisker Whisky distillery. One of the most iconic experiences is to climb up to Old Man of Storr. From the vantage point at the top, giant rocks jut out from swirling misty clouds, and the lakes and ocean glisten below in rays of stray sunbeams. For us this was a truly special moment, the cumulations of months of planning and hours of travel, finally attained undeterred by howling wind and rain drops splattered across our faces.

Right as we were steps from the top, the last steep climb through the slippery mud, a young indian man called out “be careful, go this way… your efforts will be well rewarded!” and off he disappeared down the side of the hill with his camera in hand.

Stay:
Lochshore House

Lochshore is a beautiful house set on a sheep farm, with views overlooking the water. In the mornings the sun rises over the small the duck pond and you can watch the farmer going about his chores, with his sheep dog in tow  while they herd the sheep across the fields. Each morning an impressive home cooked breakfast is served at the dining room table, with decadent made to order choices like delicious blueberry waffles or duck eggs Benedict which you select the night before.

See:

• Old Man Storr | With breathtaking views over Isle of Skye, the steep hike up to the jagged outcrop of rocks that make up Old Man Storr is well worth the effort. Be prepared to get wet and windy no matter what the weather might be when you start up the hill. Waterproof hiking boots and a waterproof clothes make life much easier if the path is muddy.

• Neist Point Lighthouse | Located on the western point of Isle of Skye with panoramic views of the cliffs and ocean. Especially beautiful at sunrise or sunset.
• Dunvegan Castle & Gardens | Explore the gardens and walk through furnished and decorated castle of Dunvegan, with beautiful views all around.
• The Fairy Pools |  Beautiful interconnected crystal blue waterfalls, a great place for photos or a cold swim in the icy water.
• Kilt Rock View Point | A pretty lookout over steep cliffs
• The Quiraing | A popular hiking loop with lush green rolling hills
• Coral Beach | Unique white coral beach with turquoise waters for a great walk or picnic spot.

Eat

• The Caledonian Cafe | a popular cafe in the middle of Portree, with good veggie soups and wraps,
• Cafe Arriba | Cafe with a vegetarian friendly menu in Portree with great views over the harbour.
• Edinbean Inn Restaurant – A local’s favorite with a few good vegetarian options to choose from.
• The Old Inn | Pub with a good atmosphere, live music, and a delicious red ale on tap. Great place for a drink before the Distillery tour.

Whisky

• Talisker Distillery | This distillery tells the story of Talisker, inspired by the strength and salt of the sea, and reviews the essentials of how whiskey is made. Known for peatier smoky whiskeys with an salty profile, Talisker sets a good example of the spectrum of whiskeys available and how they are shaped by their environment. Note that it does get busy so it’s a good idea to book a tour in advance. Last tour of the day takes place at 4pm in the winter, and the distillery closes in January for maintenance.

We hope you get a chance to visit this gem of an island soon – we had a great time! Let us know if you have any questions or ideas to share with other travelers. Happy trails.

Sailing the Greek Islands is a dream holiday and one of the best ways you can visit Greece. Away from the crowds, take your time  sailing from island to island.  Making your own itinerary as you go, you will see Greece in a way you can only experience by sailboat.

THE EXPERIENCE

Start your day in the Greek Islands by going ashore, and walking by the heaps of tangled fishing lines on the dock, to pick up some strong coffee, fresh pastries, and supplies for the day. With your day’s itinerary planned out, it’s time to raise the anchor and sail out of the harbor, past the cliffs with little white washed houses perched high at the top.

Sailing across the deep blue sea, relax into rhythm, watch the waves roll by, and soak up the sun. After a while, when you decide it might be a good time for lunch, find a small island with a quiet beach cove and stop for a swim in the clear azure waters.

Happy hour starts with a cold beer in the sailboat cockpit when you’ve arrived at your next destination. Once settled in, the islands beckon you to head into town to explore the narrow cobbled streets, arches of bougainvillea, and stucco whitewashed houses.

Dinners are always a highlight, a feast of salty cheeses, honey, and fresh produce enjoyed with a bottle of wine while sitting outside under the stars. Greek food is delicious! Whether we’re in Greece, or just wishing we were, our favorite Greek recipes are in regular rotation.  For your next Sunday supper or meal with friends, explore the Super Greens Spanakopita, Lemon Roasted Potatoes, Heirloom Greek Salad, and Tzatziki.

THE CYCLADES ISLANDS

The Cyclades Islands are the most iconic islands in Greece. They are all very picturesque with stunning beaches, ancient ruins and rugged landscape. These are just a few of the most popular islands:

• Santorini – Santorini is so beautiful! With dramatic views, classic whitewashed houses and the blue dome churches; this is the picture perfect spot. If I had to pick one place to stay it would be here, in a boutique hotel with a pool overlooking the Aegean Sea. Santorini is also very popular for its sunsets where hundreds of tourists show up in Oia to jostle for a prime spot on the cliff steps.

• Mykonos – Mykonos is glamorous, with a reputation for its vibrant nightlife. Little Venice is a charming destination with seaside terrace bars and quaint shopping streets. Beware this is also a cruise ship town, so plan accordingly if you are trying to avoid the crowds.

• Ios – Ios is known as a party town, but can also be a place to get away and relax, especially off-season. The hilltop town is a perfect place to immerse yourself in the winding streets and get lost in the best way possible.

• Naxos – Naxos is the largest island and a great place for a buggy adventure day. Driving around you can experience ancient ruins, tucked away mountain villages with the best home-style restaurants, and small fishing towns.

Santorini

Santorini

Naxos

Naxos

SAILS & SPICES TIPS

• Sailing – Unless you already have a boat and plan on sailing the Greek Islands, it might be easiest to charter a boat and skipper. Share the trip with some friends and you will have your own personal guide to the best islands and restaurants on your trip. One week to 10 days is an ideal amount of time to visit.

• Souvenir Shopping – Find an iconic blue ‘evil eye’ pendant to ward off evil and keep you safe.

ISLAND INTERVIEW RATING

We dream of retiring to an island paradise, and we love interviewing the candidates!

A Greek Island seems like a great place to retire (on a sailboat or on land!). Firstly there’s the Mediterranean climate, the olives, wines and produce, a laid back atmosphere, and absolutely gorgeous beaches. It is close to other European countries, is relatively affordable, and there are visa options for retirement! The main hurdle would be learning some Greek to interact with the locals, but that’s part of the fun.

Island Livability Score: 5/5

This is one of those places where by visiting you think you have checked it off the bucket list, but really it was so beautiful and there is so much to see you really just want to return. This trip was a big inspiration for Sails & Spices and the unique experiences you can have while traveling.

Island Dream Vacation Score: 5/5

FINAL WORD

Sailing the Greek Islands and visiting Greece should be on everyone’s bucket list. There is no other place like it.  The clear blue skies, brilliant blue seas and picturesque whitewash buildings are stunning.  The islands are easy to explore on foot and by boat, so what are you waiting for?

For trip planning recommendations, give us a shout!

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It’s exciting planning a trip to Rottnest Island, or Rotto, as the locals call it.   You know you’re in for an amazing day! There’s no wonder it was recently voted the Top Destinations in Australia to Experience.  After a short Rottnest Express ferry ride from Perth or Fremantle, pick up your bike and a sandwich and spend the day exploring. Along the way you will find the most serene, deserted beaches.  Take a dip, and savour the sparkling turquoise views… all while knowing there is an ice-cold cider and some cute little quokkas waiting for you at the pub when you finish your ride.

What could be better?  The views are incredible, the water perfect hues of blues, and the beaches never crowded.

GETTING THERE

You can sense the excitement when you get to the B-Shed docks at Fremantle, 30 minutes from Perth. Friends and families gather and enjoy a coffee and a pastry as they get their tickets and wait for the ferry to arrive. Those going to Rottnest for several days all have coolers full of supplies to last them while they stay in one of the cottages spotted around the island.

The ferry takes about 25 minutes and before you know it, you are pulling up to the crystal clear waters of Thompson Bay. If you have your own bike this can easily be loaded onto the ferry (for a fee). Otherwise, include a bike rental with your ferry ticket and your rusty trusty bike will be there waiting for you on the pier when you arrive on Rottnest Island.

GETTING AROUND

The biggest choice you are going to have to make all day is deciding if you want to start your ride around the island clockwise or counterclockwise. The second biggest is which of the 60+ beaches you want to stop at for a swim. With no cars on the island, a bicycle is a great way to get around. Be prepared for a few steep climbs up the rolling hills and enjoy soaring down the other side. It is all so worth it.

TO-DO

Rottnest has a calm and relaxed vibe to it, a place where kids can run free and time holds still. Just don’t miss the ferry back! While you are there you feel a million miles away from Perth, even though you can just see it floating on the horizon. Riding along it’s only a matter of time before you spot a Quokka. Quokkas are the cutest little marsupials, a tiny relative of the Kangaroo. They are ridiculously friendly, and will come over for a visit if you stop your bike to say hi.

BEACHES

The best part of Rottnest is finding your favorite beach… often you will be the only person there. The water is a hundred shades of brilliant blues and invites you in with a siren’s song. Some of our absolute favorites are Little Parakeet Bay, the Grand Basin, Parker Point, and Salmon Bay.

Little Parakeet Bay, Rottnest Island

Little Parakeet Bay, Rottnest Island

Little Parakeet Bay, Rottnest Island

Parker Point, Rottnest Island

Parker Point, Rottnest Island

Salmon Bay (Eastern Corner), Rottnest Island

FOOD & DRINK

When you are completely covered in salt and sand, it’s usually just one or two more bays before you reach the Hotel Rottnest Bar & Bistro (formerly the Quokka Arms). Relaxing on the patio is the great prize for all your hard work pedalling. Here people gather to talk about their day around the island, while enjoying Australia’s great cold ciders and some fresh hot chips. Don’t be surprised if the resident peacock wanders through the pub and a cute little Quokka runs by your feet.

ISALND INTERVIEW RATING

We dream of retiring to an island paradise, and we love interviewing the candidates! As an Australian A-Class Nature Reserve, you can’t actually live on Rottnest… but you could live in Perth or Fremantle, both very close!

Island Livability Score: Not Eligible

This is a great place to visit for the day, or stay the week for a relaxing vacation in paradise.

Island Dream Vacation Score: 5 / 5 

GETTING TO ROTTNEST ISLAND

• Rottnest Express Ferry Service – For quick, comfortable, and convenient access to Rottnest Island from the Perth CBD, Northport (North Fremantle) or B-Shed @ Fremantle, the Rottnest Express Ferry Service is your best bet.  From transport to bike rentals and tour bookings, they have you covered.  For info and bookings visit www.rottnestexpress.com.au.
• By private boat – Rent or charter a boat with friends for a unique view of Rottnest and its beaches. This is a popular option on holidays like Australia Day where you will be moored among lots of other boats also having a good time.
• By helicopter – For a special occasion, a romantic helicopter ride to Rottnest is sure to impress.
• Stay overnight – Staying overnight is a whole different experience to going for the day. When the last ferry leaves, the pace slows down (even more) and you can enjoy some wine by the beach or a live band at the pub. This is also when all the nocturnal Quokkas come out to play. You can choose to say at Hotel Rottnest in Thompson Bay, or one of the cabins or cottages around the Island. Due to demand, the cabins and cottages require advance planning and can be booked up to 18 months in advance!

SAILS & SPICES TIPS

• Tickets – Save money and time and buy your tickets online at www.rottnestexpress.com.au a couple days ahead of time to get the “Red Hot Deals”.
• Timing – Take the 9:45am ferry there and the 4:25pm ferry back for a relaxed day with lots of time to tour the island.
• Packing – Remember to pack a swim suit, water, sunscreen, hat, sandwich for lunch, beach towel, camera and some money for a cold cider and hot chips at the end of the day. A Subway sandwich and snacks can be picked up at the small shops in Thompson Bay.
• Snorkeling – Bring your mask and snorkel if you want to explore the underwater paradise. Parker Point and Little Salmon Bay have underwater snorkel trails with informative plaques along the seabed.
• Getting around – Riding your bike offers the most flexibility to explore the island, but there is also the option of a air-condition hop-on hop-off bus if this suits you better.  While cycling around you will do a big loop of the island. When you get to the Western point there is the  option to extend, this side is a little rougher and wilder.
• Essentials Guide – Check out the Rottnest Island website to download the latest essentials guide full of all kinds of helpful information and a map of the island.

LAST WORD

Rottnest was one of my absolute favorite parts of Western Australia. It’s hard to believe that a little island paradise can be just 18k offshore from Perth. I can’t wait to go again soon!

After a challenging year at work with a relocation and new role, we had one goal: ultimate relaxation.  The turquoise waters of the Turks & Caicos Islands beckoned.  Not content to settle in with the holiday crowds, we opted to go off the beaten path passing up the popular island of Providenciales (Provo) for Salt Cay and Grand Turk.

Getting to Salt Cay is a multi-day adventure. On advice we stayed one night at Grace Bay on Providenciales (Provo) to pick up fresh groceries and load them up in a cooler bag. One couple we met tried to make the direct connection through Provo and got jammed in the immigration line up, missing their connection… predictably, the last of the evening.

Graceway Gourmet will be a (pricey) must-make stop on Provo.  Having most of what you would expect from a community-sized Whole Foods, we recommend packing your bags light from home and filling them up on arrival in Provo.  Your puddle jumper to Salt Cay or Grand Turk has luggage weight limits and the shopping options are minimal once you arrive.

The flight to Salt Cay takes around 20 minutes on a tiny single-prop 10-seater plane that touches down on Grand Turk on the way over. Keep your camera handy… The views of the blue, tranquil waters are incredible and may be a trip highlight!

If you’re lucky, as we were, you may even get the co-pilot seat.

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VISITING SALT CAY … NEED TO KNOW 

OVERVIEW

Salt Cay is an underdeveloped off-the-beaten-path getaway ideal for empty nesters (young or old) looking for quiet diving, snorkeling, or beach relaxation.  Expectations of high-end modern amenities will leave you disappointed, but the stunning North Beach makes a few days on this tranquil island most worthwhile.

FOOD & DRINK

There are 3-4 restaurants on the island serving lunch and dinner daily.  If you want dinner, you’ll need to let them know your intent to join by around 2:00pm so they can prepare… your visit will no doubt be one of the highlights of their night. Vegetarians will find tasty and authentic Caribbean Rice & Peas at Pat’s.

Several accommodations on the island include kitchens or kitchenettes.  If you, like us, don’t fancy Conch three ways and generally want to be in the drivers’ seat for your meals we recommend packing some simple cooking supplies in and being self-sufficient.  We enjoyed frequenting the restaurants for a happy hour cocktail and light appetizer.

While we were there we discovered some great recipes.   The Bajan Seasoning is a delicious caribbean marinade, the ‘secret-sauce’ of local cuisine.  For happy hour, the island’s slow afternoon pace inspired us to mix up the refreshing Coco Loco Cocktail.  It’s a must-try whether you’re in the caribbean, or just wishing!

BEACHES

North Beach is the star of the island.  Untouched and undeveloped you can walk along it for ages.  For maximum beach enjoyment, we recommend staying up there.

Snorkeling is easy and accessible from the leeward side of the island.  Walk-in sites are accessible at Lighthouse Point (our favourite), Deane’s Dock, and the “Swimming Pool” near the old government wharf.

Snorkel gear is available for rental from the dive shop, though you may prefer to bring your own and use it as you please.

Stay tuned for our upcoming post on Salt Cay diving!

TO-DO

Relax!  If you are in a hurry on Salt Cay, you’re lost…

GETTING AROUND

Your own two feet will be the most reliable, but not the only mode of transport on the island.

Bicycles are available with many accommodations, and may be hired on island.

Golf carts (pricey) are available for rent and are recommended if you are staying several nights up at North Beach, as without it will be a 30 minute walk down a rocky path.  Island living is tough on a golf cart, and replacement parts must make the same long journey you did to arrive. Expect your cart to be in well-worn condition.

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ISLAND INTERVIEW RATING

We dream of retiring to an island paradise, and we love interviewing the candidates!

For us, Salt Cay lacks the infrastructure to be a long term home.  Real Estate prices are a bargain for the caribbean, but existing structures offer only the basics.   The gravel airstrip and lack of deep water mooring for a container ship or barge (building supplies) means even the most adventuresome home builders will run into logistics nightmares until the access improves.

Island Livability Score: 2 / 5

That said, Salt Cay, and particular North Beach, is a gorgeous place to get off the grid for a few days and enjoy the sound of the lapping waves, without the crowds that come with a typical built-up destination. We have great memories of riding off into the sunset on our golf cart with a drink for the road, going to explore the island’s views, among the donkeys.

Island Dream Vacation Score: 4 / 5

SAILS & SPICES TIPS

• Humpback Whales – Salt Cay is a perfect escape during the cold winter months. Between January and April you can spot migrating humpback whales, and if you are diving you can hear them underwater!
• Pink Flamingos – Make it a point to try to find the elusive pink flamingos in the salinas before sunset.

LAST WORD

Worth 2-3 days to enjoy North Beach, a good book, and a bit of snorkelling or diving.