Are you ready to embark on a journey of a lifetime, filled with breathtaking views, luxurious indulgences, and thrilling adventures? Whether it’s soaring above Cappadocia in a hot air balloon, attending unique annual festivals, or sipping champagne in the Eiffel Tower, this bucket list will ignite your wanderlust. From the pristine beaches of Bora Bora to the icy wonders of the Antarctic Peninsula, every experience is handpicked to give you memories that will last forever. Start planning your ultimate escape, one unforgettable destination at a time.
Tag: Festivals
Explore: The Ultimate Tool for Discovering Event-Based Travel Experiences
Welcome to Crewfare Explore, the future of event-based travel. Imagine an all-in-one platform where you can not only discover events but also book nearby hotels for them. That’s exactly what Explore offers — an AI-powered event marketplace tailored to your unique interests. Whether you’re craving an electrifying music festival, a must-see art exhibit, or a cutting-edge conference, Explore curates the perfect experience for you.
Last Minute NYC Pride Hotels + Guide
NYC Pride 2024 is just around the corner, offering an electrifying array of dance parties, film festivals, drag shows, and street fairs. Scheduled for June 30th in New York City, this event stands as the largest pride parade in North America and one of the world’s biggest pride celebrations, drawing tens of thousands of participants and millions of sidewalk spectators from all over the world. The NYC Pride March kicks off from 25th Street and 5th Avenue on June 30th. To enhance your NYC Pride weekend experience, we’ve crafted a last-minute guide featuring the finest restaurants, hotels, and activities for you to enjoy during your stay!
Top Events Around the World Perfect for Group Travel
Traveling with a group can be one of the most exciting and rewarding experiences. Whether it’s with family, friends, or colleagues, attending major events can make your group trip unforgettable. Here’s a roundup of the best events around the world that are perfect for groups to travel to and attend together.
Best Food Festivals of 2024
Exploring food festivals is a delightful way to experience diverse culinary landscapes. From the barbecue capital of Austin to the diverse flavors of New York City, each festival offers a unique taste of local and international cuisine. Let’s dive into some of the best food festivals, including those in Austin, Miami, and NYC:
Top Music Festivals of 2024: Your Ultimate Guide
If you’re a music lover who lives for festival season, 2024 is shaping up to be an incredible year full of can’t-miss events.
From long-running mega festivals like Coachella and Glastonbury that draw the biggest names and over 100,000 fans to intimate events catering to specific genres like jazz or reggae, there’s something to fulfill every musical taste. No matter what kind of music you love, be it rock, pop, rap, country or electronic dance music (EDM), the festival scene has got you covered. Annual music festivals taking place across the United States like Lollapalooza, Bonnaroo and Electric Zoo continue to offer incredibly diverse lineups with both emerging and iconic artists while attracting music fans from the entire world. Beyond just the tunes, part of what makes these bucket list festivals so special are the art installations, party vibes, people watching, and good times that last from dawn till dusk across sprawling festival grounds.
Your complete guide to the Preakness Stakes
If you’re looking for a complete travel guide for the Preakness Stakes… you’re welcome.
The Preakness Stakes in Baltimore, Maryland brings together legendary horse racing and excellent entertainment for the perfect day at the races.
If this sounds like a good time, here’s a bit more about Preakness Stakes:
The race takes place on the third Saturday of May each year at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. It’s called the Middle Jewel of the Triple Crown series because it falls between the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes on the yearly racing calendar.
What makes this event even more exciting is that there is a music festival at this event now too; Preakness Live.
This music festival and horse racing event combo is attended by tens of thousands of spectators each year.
This year get your tickets to see Bruno Mars and Sofi Tukker.
If you’d like to prepare yourself for this incredible experience, we’ve created an itinerary for the two-day event.
*To check out the list of our partner hotels for this event, go here.
Friday, May 19 – Black-Eyed Susan Day
Morning:
Start your day at the Pimlico Race Course for the Black-Eyed Susan Day Festivities. The gates open at 9 a.m., and there are things to check out (and eat) before the races start. Head to the infield and grab some breakfast from vendors, and also take a tour of the stables, and see the horses up close.
Closer to noon:
settle in to watch the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes, the day’s feature race, which is a Grade 2 race for three-year-old fillies. It’s named after the state flower of Maryland and is run over a distance of 1 1/8 miles on dirt. Get a good spot along the rail to watch the excitement of the horses racing by
Lunch:
After the race, head to the Jockey Club for a gourmet lunch buffet featuring fresh seafood, carving stations, and a dessert bar. The Jockey Club is an exclusive members-only club, but on Black-Eyed Susan Day, it’s open to the public. Reservations are recommended.
Afternoon:
Spend some time watching the races and placing your bets. There are a total of 14 races on Black-Eyed Susan Day, so there are plenty of opportunities to win. Grab a drink and a snack from one of the many concession stands and enjoy the atmosphere
Evening:
After the races, head to the infield for live music, food, and drinks.
Saturday, May, 20
Early day:
Explore Pimlico Race Course (5201 Park Heights Ave, Baltimore, MD 21215)
Before the races start, take a walk around Pimlico Race Course and soak up the atmosphere of the historic track. Check out the vendors selling souvenirs and handicapping guides, and grab a bite to eat from one of the many food stalls.
During the day:
Find a spot to watch the races and cheer on your favorite horses as they compete for the $1.5 million purse. And basically, you’re also going to want to plan on alternating between watching the Preakness Stakes races and Preakness Live acts.
You can also go on carnival rides, play games, and visit art installations while here. Take your pick.
Insider Tips for a Great Time at Rolling Loud Rotterdam (June 30 – July 1)
Happy Wednesday everyone.
Are you planning to attend Rolling Loud Rotterdam, one of the biggest hip-hop festivals in Europe?
We’ve been so fortunate to be able to attend Rolling Loud festivals over the years that we’ve decided to make this post about *insider advice to help you make the most of your Netherlands festival experience.
*Our insider advice is based on going to Rolling Loud festivals in previous years.
So here are a few tips to have the best time at Rolling Loud Rotterdam. This is a really good post to read through if you’re new to Rolling Loud festivals in general as well.
Insider Tips for a Great Time at Rolling Loud Rotterdam
June 30th, Day 1
Gates open and you’ve made it to the festival site AKA Rotterdam Ahoy.
It’s always worth getting there early to avoid the rush and so that you have time to check out the lounge areas and merch. And we just like not feeling rushed when we exchange our ticket for a wristband before entering the festival grounds. Being a relaxed festival-goer is the look.
During the day:
- Bathrooms: This move is gold. Look for fully flushable toilets on site to avoid the long lines at the regular port-o-potties. It’s absolutely worth taking the time to walk around earlier in the day so you can see if there are any areas with flushable toilets that might potentially draw less traffic than the more obvious bathroom locations.
- Lounge areas: Do a bit more groundwork and check out the lounge areas. That way you and your group will be able to decide way more quickly where you want to go if you want to sit and relax.
- Set up a meeting point: Before your group separates for the day, find a spot to meet up. There are so many people in the fields and venues after 5:00 pm that cell service can be spotty and it may be impossible to make a call or send a text.
5:00 pm:
- Head to the main stage and find a spot. If you need a break, you already know where to find a place to relax and grab some food or drinks because you and your group found your favorite lounge area earlier in the day.
July 1st, Day 2
- Rolling Loud starts a bit later on day two, so take advantage of the extra sleep and rest! ZZZs >>
- If you feel a bit less than hydrated, make sure you have plenty of water on you and know where to fill up, and make sure to level up your hydration game today.
- Stick around until the very end, as some of the most memorable moments of the festival can happen during the last few performances.
- Have a good exit strategy for getting home safely, whether that means arranging transportation in advance or staying nearby for the night (see Crewfare’s list of partner hotels here).
-Crewfare
4 Hacks To Have An Amazing Experience At Rolling Loud Portugal’s Main Stage
4 Hacks To Have An Amazing Experience At Rolling Loud Portugal’s Main Stage
We have been so into hacking how to have the best experience at festivals lately – just anything to enhance our time at a festival, really. And we’ve realized that it’s the little tweaks that can make all of the difference in how much we enjoy our time at a festival.
One thing that we’ve learned is that you can make your time at the front of the main stage way more comfortable if you come prepared. Iykyk.
It’s no secret that you’re not going to want to risk losing the spot you kept all day near the main stage to see Travis Scott, Playboi Carti, and Meek Mill perform at Rolling Loud Portugal (July 5-7, 2023).
During the day there is less of a crowd and the energy is more lowkey so it’s easy to take turns with whoever you’re with to leave your spot and go to the bathroom before 5 pm.
But you’re taking a gamble if you leave after 5 pm.
After 5 pm, the area near the main stage gets way more crowded, and the energy is way more intense. So if you leave your spot to grab food or go to the bathroom after 5 pm, there’s no guarantee that you’re spot will still be there or that you’ll be able to find your way back through the high-intensity crowd even.
So what do you do? Easy, you’re gonna come fully equipped to comfortably stay put all night long in that spot you carved.
With that being said, we put together our favorite hacks to comfortably stand your ground at the Rolling Loud Portugal main stage. Let’s get into it.
*Access flexible payment options and discounted accommodations when you book through CREWFARE.
Hack #1 Bring Provisions
Pack yourself some serious provisions. Your backpack should be full of the following items:
- a portable charger
- sunscreen
- a spray fan
- a water bottle
- liquid IV
Hack #2 Bring Lots Of Snacks
Snacks are a must to have on hand. And snacking actually has a calming effect. So if you get nervous in the crowd, snacking can help calm your nerves. Have protein bars, trail mix, fruit (such as apples or bananas), and granola bars stashed in your backpack.
Hack #3 Bring Earplugs
Earplugs are so essential. Don’t forget to pack them because the sound can be overwhelming when you’re that close to the stage.
Hack #4 Deep Breaths
If you feel overstimulated, give yourself a chance to pull back and relax and recover for a few minutes. Try doing one of the following to feel calmer:
Deep breathing – inhale slowly through your nose and exhale through your mouth
Stretching – gentle stretching can help to release tension in the body and calm the mind
Drinking some water – make sure that you’re taking the time to drink water and stay hydrated
-Crewfare
16 Places To Eat In Montreal: Metro Metro Edition (May 19-21)
Festival Metro Metro!
This year, Festival Metro Metro runs May 19-21, 2023. Metro Metro is known to feature rap, hip-hop, and R&B artists.
And of course, you’re gonna want to fuel up between performances.
So today we wanted to get into all of the granular details on where to eat in Montreal.
Specifically, we get into where to find local fine dining establishments, where to take advantage of late-night menu prices at fancy bistros (expect to pay 50% less off of a late-night menu), and where to pick up foods that Montreal is famous for (poutine, smoked meat, and bagels), plus we list off some vegetarian spots (because French food can be quite heavy on all of the proteins ya know).
Let’s get into the Montreal dining scene:
*Access flexible payment options and discounted accommodations when you book your hotel through CREWFARE.
16 Places To Fuel Up In Montreal
Special Occasion Restaurants / Fine Dining
Damas
Known For: Syrian food and an unforgettable dining experience. Every.single.detail is well thought out. The food and atmosphere are incredible. You’ve never seen more beautiful traditional Syrian tiles than here. Seriously go for these details alone
Order: hot and cold mezzes for the table like the fattouch, hummus, falafels, rice, and anything from the grill
Location: 1201 Ave Van Horne, Outremont, Quebec H2V 1K4
Hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 5:30 pm to 10:00 pm
Toque!
Known For: this place received a Michelin star in 2020 for their French dishes inspired by Quebec ingredients
Order: if you plan on going all in, yes to ordering the tasting menu
Location: 900 Pl. Jean-Paul-Riopelle, Montréal, QC H2Z 2B2
Hours: open for lunch and dinner, closed Sunday and Monday
Au Pied De Cochon
Known For: head-to-tail cooking, hearty and comforting Quebec classic fare done in only the way this chef – Martin Picard – can. This is Anthony Bourdain’s buddy, Martin Picard’s restaurant. Watch a clip of from Parts Unknown that features this restaurant and the next one on this list here
Order: PDC dinner
Location: 536 Av. Duluth E, Montréal, QC H2L 1A9
Hours: Wednesday to Sunday, 5:00 pm to 11:00 pm
Joe Beef
Known For: Quebec classic fare, steak, and seafood in an old-school setting
Order: lobster spaghetti
Location: 2491 Notre-Dame St W, Montreal, Quebec H3J 1N6
Hours: Tuesday to Saturday 5:00 pm to 10:30 pm
Late Night Menus
In Montreal, upscale restaurants Are Not Out Of Reach!
After 10 pm, you can fine dine at less than 50% off the main menu at certain fine dining bistros.
Here are a few spots to check out and take advantage of their late-night menus:
Estiatorio Milos
Known For: the best Greek taverna in Montreal
Location: 5357 Park Ave, Montreal, Quebec H2V 4G9
Hours: late-night menu runs from 10 p.m. to midnight, Thursday through Saturday
Ferreira Café
Known For: traditional and upscale Portuguese cuisine
Location: 1446 Peel St, Montreal, Quebec H3A 1S8
Hours: Late night menu – Monday to Saturday after 10:00 pm
Chez Victoire
Known For: contemporary French cuisine
Location: 1453 Mont-Royal Ave E, Montreal, Quebec H2J 1Z1
Hours: the late-night menu from 10:00 pm to midnight, 7 days a week
Leméac
Known For: popular French bistro
Location: 1045 Av. Laurier O, Outremont, QC H2V 2L1
Hours: the late-night menu from 10:00 pm to midnight
Vegetarian Restaurants
Lov (3 locations, see website)
Known For: a vegan restaurant specializing in comforting, nostalgic plant-based cuisine
Order: the mushroom risotto and kimchi fries are a must
Hours: open for brunch, lunch, and diner
Mandy’s (various locations, see website)
Known For: being the Quebec equivalent of SweetGreens
Order: we love the habibi salad (romaine lettuce, mixed greens, quinoa, parsley, mint, chickpeas, roasted sweet potato, cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, red onion, feta)
Hours: Monday to Friday, 11:00 am to 9:00 pm, and Saturday and Sunday, 12:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Aux Vivre (2 locations, see website)
Known For: Montreal’s first vegan restaurant
Order: it’s got to be the dragon bowl with house sauce
Hours: Monday to Sunday, 11:00 am to 10:00 pm
Institutions
Bagels
There is a longstanding rivalry between Fairmount, St. Viateur Bagels, and NYC-style bagels. Do not expect to an NYC-style bagel here. Expect a bagel that’s denser, thinner, chewier, and has a crispier exterior than NYC style bagel
Where to grab a Montreal-style bagel:
Fairmount Bagels
Location: 74 Fairmount West Montreal, QC, H2T 2M2
St. Viateur Bagels
Location: 263, rue St-Viateur O., Montréal, QC, H2V 1Y1
Smoked Meat Sandwich
Schwartz’s Deli
The legendary smoked meat house is known as one of the oldest smoked meat houses in Canada.
Tip: make sure you have enough time to wait in line. Lineups run at minimum of 30 minutes on a good day
Location: 3895 St Laurent Blvd, Montreal, Quebec H2W 1X9
Hours: 10:00 am until after 10:00 pm most days
Poutine
Poutine – a combination of French fries, gravy, and cheese curds – was invented in Quebec.
If you’ve tried poutine anywhere besides in Quebec, it’s not the same. Quebec-style poutine is made with “squeaky” cheese curds (cheese that has not yet been aged so quite fresh and it actually squeaks as you chew)
La Banquise
Known For: more than 30 types of poutine on the menu
Order: the classic poutine
Location: 994, rue Rachel Est, Montréal, Quebec, H2J 2J3
Hours: open 24 hours
Chez Claudette
Known For: comfort food like burgers, poutine, and a beer
Order: classic poutine
Location: 351 Laurier Ave E, Montreal, Quebec H2T 1G7
Hours: Monday to Thursday, 4:00 pm to 10:00 pm, and Friday to Sunday 11:00 am to 10:00 pm
-Crewfare