When youβre visiting Moab, youβll quickly learn there are two kinds of travelers: those who just need a clean bed after a day in the parks, and those who want a true home base with all the extras. I fall firmly in the second camp, and thatβs why I booked the Hoodoo Moab, Curio Collection by Hiltonβand this Hoodoo Moab review explains exactly why. Spoiler: it was perfection.
If youβre building your Moab itinerary, youβll also love my guide to Where to Stay in Moab: From Luxury to Budget, which compares options before choosing Hoodoo.
You cannot beat Hoodooβs location. The hotel sits right in the heart of downtown, which meant I could walk to shops, restaurants, and the Moab Food Truck Park across the street (yes, I went there multiple times for sushi and gelato).
The convenience made it easy to split my daysβhiking in Arches or Canyonlands in the morning, then strolling through boutiques like The Sundry and Moab Made in the evening without ever getting back in the car.
Walking into the lobby, it immediately felt warm and welcoming. The chandeliers caught my eye, along with the desert-inspired dΓ©cor that nodded to Moabβs hiking and red rock vibe without being over the top. It was stylish but still felt true to the place.
Hereβs the deal: if you stay at Hoodoo, book a casita. Seriously. It felt less like a hotel room and more like a vacation rental wrapped in Hilton service.
Our casita had:
Two bedrooms and two bathrooms (perfect since I was traveling with a friendβno bathroom-sharing drama).
A full kitchen with a big dining table (handy for snacks, coffee, and spreading out all my hiking gear).
A spacious living room with a sectional couch and electric fireplace.
Large TVs in every room (not that I watched much with Moab outside, but still).
Private parking right at the doorβno lugging gear across a huge lot.
One bedroom had a king bed, the other two queens, plus the couch had a pullout, so it could easily fit a family. The only downside? Our room was upstairs. If Iβd known, I wouldβve requested ground level because, well, me and luggage donβt mix.
The bathrooms were big and smartly designed with plenty of hooks (a lifesaver for hanging my favorite travel bathroom caddies), large countertops for all the βstuff,β and showers that didnβt feel cramped.
Hoodoo has two pools:
A private casita pool just for casita guestsβquiet and easy to access.
A larger resort pool in the middle of the property, surrounded by desert landscaping and mountain views.
The main pool had padded lounge chairs with umbrellas, a hot tub, waterfall features, and fountain jets. It felt lush but still very βMoab.β After long, hot days in the parks, this was exactly where I wanted to be.
If youβre staying at Hoodoo because itβs close to the parks, check out my Top 5 Stops in Arches National Park to help plan your day.
The hotel has its own restaurant, which I didnβt try, but I did eat at their sister spot, Pasta Jayβs, and loved it (hello, tortellone Alfredo and garlic bread trio). Based on that, Iβd bet the Hoodoo restaurant is just as solid.
That said, one of Hoodooβs best perks is that itβs walkable to downtown dining. I went to Antica Forma for wood-fired pizza, Thai Bella for curry, and Desert Bistro for upscale diningβall within minutes on foot.
Perfect Location: Downtown, walkable, close to everything.
Casita Comfort: Spacious, private, with full amenities.
Luxury Touches: Gorgeous pools, stylish dΓ©cor, and thoughtful details like fireplaces and hooks (yes, hooks matter).
Great for Groups: With multiple bedrooms, full kitchen, and parking, casitas are ideal for families or friends.
Sure, youβll find cheaper motels in Moab, but this is luxury that feels worth every dollarβespecially if youβre here for more than a quick weekend.
Moab is all about adventureβhiking, biking, rafting, off-roadingβbut when the day is done, you want a comfortable place to crash. For me, the Hoodoo Hilton casita was more than that. It was the perfect home base: spacious, stylish, and just steps from downtown.
If youβre deciding where to stay in Moab and want luxury with convenience, this is it. Splurge on the casita, spend your afternoons at the pool, and let Moabβs red rock magic unfold right outside your door. For even more ideas to round out your trip, read my Spend a Weekend in Moab: The Perfect 3-Day Itinerary before you go.
The tulip fields in the Netherlands look exactly like the photos, except the photos donβt capture how massive the color blocks actually are stretching across the countryside. Or the windmills. Or the sheep randomly standing in the middle of everything like they donβt know theyβre in the most photogenic country on earth.
The honest caveat: tulip season moves fast, the fields rotate every year, and peak bloom is not a guarantee, it depends on the weather, the harvest schedule, and a little bit of luck. But thatβs also part of what makes it feel less like a tourist attraction and more like something you actually found.
Full driving route with towns, parking tips, and what to expect | linked in bio. π·
#netherlands #travelling #tulipfields #exploreeurope
Amsterdam has a way of making you feel like you need to see everything, and then rewarding you most when you slow down anyway. The museums and canal cruises are worth it, but so is just wandering neighborhoods, eating whatever looks good, and sitting along the canals with a grilled cheese and nowhere to be.
First-time visitor guide is on the blog. Link in bio. π·
#travelling #travel #amsterdam #visitamsterdam #traveleurope
10 stops. One very full day. Zero regrets. Amsterdam has one of the best food scenes Iβve experienced anywhere in Europe, but the honest caveat is that some of the viral spots come with lines that will genuinely test your character. I skipped a few. I regret nothing.
Hereβs what actually made the cut on my self-guided Amsterdam food tour:
Fresh stroopwafels at Hans Egstorf: made right in front of you, warm caramel, no line. This one won.
Lourens cookie croissant: flaky outside, gooey chocolate inside. Did not share.
CafΓ© Winkel 43 apple pie: one of the rare viral places that fully lives up to the hype.
Davieβs Amsterdam for the Lelie sandwich: pastrami, pickles, marbled bread. Deceptively simple. Absolutely excellent.
De Kaaskamer to end the day: 400+ cheeses, grilled cheese with what they call ketchup (itβs not ketchup, and itβs better), and bunker cheese aged in underground military bunkers.
The full route covers 10 stops through Jordaan, the 9 Streets, the canal district, and the flower market area with a Google Map included so you can just follow along.
Full guide with every stop, tips for beating the lines, and what Iβd skip vs. do again | link in bio.
#amsterdam #visitamsterdam #netherlands #travel #visitnetherlands #traveleurope
Thereβs a version of Gatlinburg thatβs all fudge shops and tourist crowds, and then thereβs the version that actually makes you want to come back.
Hereβs everything worth doing downtown, in the order Iβd do it: ποΈ
β¨ Start at @gatlinburgskypark before the crowds hit
β¨ Walk the strip mid-morning when itβs still manageable
β¨ @googooclusters stop (see my post from Tuesday: donβt skip it)
β¨ Dinner at one of the local spots off the main drag
β¨ Wander back out at night when the lights are on and it gets actually pretty
This isnβt your overscheduled Smoky Mountain itinerary. Itβs more of a βhereβs what Iβd actually do if I had one solid dayβ kind of list.
Full downtown Gatlinburg guide linked in bio. π
If someone told me Iβd spend five hours at SkyPark, I would not have believed them. And yet. π
Gatlinburg SkyPark sits above the strip and itβs one of those places that looks like a quick stop on paper and turns into most of your afternoon. The SkyBridge alone is worth it β longest pedestrian suspension bridge in North America, and yes, you will look down.
β¨ SkyBridge (longest pedestrian suspension bridge in North America)
β¨ SkyLift ride up with views of the Smokies
β¨ Walking trails with mountain views in every direction
β¨ Way less crowded than downtown
Fair warning: if heights genuinely freak you out, the bridge might not be your thing. The rest of the park is still 100% worth it. Full guide with tickets, tips, and what to skip linked in bio. π
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