PORTUGAL.

It all started when my coworker received a phone call that there was a glitch on an airline website. Tickets to Lisbon, Portugal from NYC were incredibly cheap; some kind of computer glitch. It was that day that I would book my very first trip to Europe, and without his knowledge, my boyfriend’s as well. He would later thank me. I couldn’t have picked a better city as our first Europe experience if I tried.

We decided to stay in this cute little boutique hotel in the heart of Lisbon, Hotel Figueira, Lisboa. The hotel was perfect: ideal location, delicious food, helpful staff and a relaxing spa. We stayed four days and each one was dedicated to the must-see parts of Portugal: the city of Lisbon, the historic town of Alfamo, the beaches of Caiscais, and the castles of Sintra. Tip: when you explore Sintra, make sure to add Cabo Da Roca to your itinerary, the western most point of Europe. The views will make you feel like you’re in an episode of Game of Thrones. My favorite memories of Portugal? The pastel painted houses, winding roads, buttery croissants and the fairytale-like castles.