Some Thoughts on Solo Travel: How a Surf Trip to Swell in the Dominican Republic Changed My Life
Solo Travel, Dominican Republic, Cabarete, Surfing Kate Van Dell Solo Travel, Dominican Republic, Cabarete, Surfing Kate Van Dell

Some Thoughts on Solo Travel: How a Surf Trip to Swell in the Dominican Republic Changed My Life

In 2014, I had two unexpected weeks off, no plan, and a stranger at a New York bar who told me to look up a surf camp in the Dominican Republic. Ten minutes of Googling later, I booked a solo trip to Swell Surf Camp in Cabarete. What followed was surf lessons, new friends, epic breakfasts and meeting the man who would become my husband.

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Ritz-Carlton Turtle Bay Review: Is It the Best Luxury Resort on Oʻahu’s North Shore?
Hawaii, Beach Destinations, Hotel Reviews Kate Van Dell Hawaii, Beach Destinations, Hotel Reviews Kate Van Dell

Ritz-Carlton Turtle Bay Review: Is It the Best Luxury Resort on Oʻahu’s North Shore?

Set on Oʻahu’s raw and cinematic North Shore, The Ritz-Carlton Turtle Bay is where barefoot Hawaiian beauty meets Ritz-Carlton polish. Think oceanview rooms with lanais for sunrise coffee, beachfront bungalows straight out of a film set, and a cliffside bar with the best surf break views on the island. From Lomi Lomi massages at Nalu Spa to horseback riding on coastal trails, private surf lessons, and even two waterslides that kept our son busy for hours, the resort blends serenity, space, and just the right amount of indulgence. This is not Waikīkī — and that’s the point.

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