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Photos are all property of ESCAPETHEROOMers Geography: Capital of the Nagasaki Prefecture on the island of Kyushu Population: Approx. 400,000 Currency: Japanese Yen (Yen) ; Currency Converter Cruise Port: Google Map Location Tender Port: No Best Time to Visit: April-May & September-November Upon disembarking from our Celebrity Millennium cruise, we reached the Nagasaki, Japan port at 8AM and are required to return to the ship by 5:30pm. A public bus from the pier can take you to the peace park, with a journey time of approximately 34 minutes. It is advisable to plan your timing carefully, as the bus service is not very frequent and the stop is located beside a highway-like road. Google map was very useful in this situation. The majority of the path in the peace park was equipped with escalators, making the journey quite effortless. Following our visit to Peace Park, we also explored Amu Plaza, their large shopping center with a variety of shops and dining choices. When we boarded a bus to Megane Bridge, we found it to be quite beautiful, and you can even descend to step onto the rocks for a photo. The area is typically crowded, so be prepared to wait patiently for a photo opportunity. After that, we walked to Hamamachi Shopping street and Shinchi Chinatown (famous for their “champon noodles”). This Chinatown is much smaller compared to Yokohama’s. However, if you are a fan of castella cake, Fukusaya is highly recommended and conveniently located nearby. Around lunch time, we discovered a delicious Katsu restaurant in the shopping street and enjoyed pork buns, coffee, and incredibly fresh grape pudding afterwards. Our final destination was Nagasaki Nagasaki Dejima Wharf, but most of the shops were closed during the day. I recommend visiting at night if you are staying overnight. Nevertheless, it's still a great spot to capture some photos. If you have any last-minute shopping to do, there is a large mall located at the far end of the Wharf. It takes about 18 minutes to walk from the wharf to the cruise port, so ensure you allocate enough time to return. I also suggest admiring the breathtaking views when entering and leaving the port on the cruise ship! Here are some tour options if you don't want to explore on your own: Nagasaki Half-Day Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide Nagasaki Like a Local: Customized Private Tour Nagasaki Full-Day Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide Nagasaki Half-Day Sightseeing Tour with 1-day Tram Ticket Full Day Private Shore Tour in Nagasaki from Nagasaki Cruise Port Battleship Island Cruise Experience in Nagasaki Nagasaki Highlights Half-Day Private Walking Tour Tickets to popular attractions: Japan Nagasaki: Huis Ten Bosch Ticket Discover Stunning Nagasaki: Self-Guided Audio Tour Gunkanjima Digital Museum Attraction Ticket If you have more time here: Private Fishing and Dining Experience in Ojika Japan Sea kayaking in Ojika Island, Nagasaki Kyushu | Huis Ten Bosch/Mt. Unzen/Unzen Hot Spring/Kujuku Island Customized Chartered Car One-day Tour Suggested Food/Drink Options: Nagasaki station NGS COFFEE Hamaya Coffee Other attractions: Suwa Shrine Matsumori Tenmangu Shrine Teramachi Street Huis Ten Bosch Mount Inasa’s Observatory Glover Garden (620 yen - if you dont want to pay entry fee then just go up to look at view. Nagasaki Minami Yamate Pudding is also close to there). Feel free to reach out to us with any questions! #CiciCao #Travel #Guide #Tips #Explore #Japan #Asia #Celebrity #cruise #Nagasaki

Photos are all property of ESCAPETHEROOMers Geography: lies in the Korea Strait, southwest of South Jeolla Province Population: Approx. 680,000 Currency: Korean Won (KRW) ; Currency Converter Cruise Port: Google Map Location Tender Port: No Best Time to Visit: Pretty much all year round for different reasons We reached Jeju Island aboard the Celebrity Millennium cruise on August 27, 2024, at 7 AM. The immigration checkpoint for entering Korea was set up at the cruise terminal. Due to the terminal's small size, there was a bit of a wait. Our return to the ship was scheduled for 3:30 PM, allowing us limited time on the island. Depending on the port of arrival on Jeju Island, this guide may or may not be useful to you as each side of the island offers different attractions that can be visited within the time frame before returning to the ship. On this occasion, we docked at the port closest to Jeju City. At our dock, there was a free shuttle service that operated every 20 minutes, transporting passengers from the pier to Gwandeokjeong (market area) until 2:45 PM. In case you miss the final shuttle, you will need to take a taxi (consider downloading the k.ride APP just in case). Google Maps is not reliable in Korea, so I primarily relied on Kakao Map and Naver map along with Google Translate. To receive accurate guidance, most locations must be entered in Korean characters on the map. Navigating a self-guided tour in Jeju was undeniably challenging. Additionally, a "Hop on Hop off" bus service is available. But due to uncertainty about the waiting times at each stop, we opted out of that option because we had specific places to visit within a tight schedule. Upon arrival at the drop-off location in Gwandeokjeong, there was a convenience store (available at GS25 or 7Eleven) at the corner of the street where we purchased our T Money card (used for transportation on the island) and topped it with 10,000 WON. This option is also cheaper than the "Hop on Hop off" bus as whatever extra money you have left in the card at the end you can buy some snacks or souvenir at the convenience store. The Jeju City Traditional Five Day Market operates on the 2nd, 7th, 12th, 17th, 22nd, and 27th of every month. We were lucky to be there on one of these days when the market was open so we had to go check it out. Although the bus was slightly delayed compared to the Kakao Map schedule, we boarded it as the bus number matched what we were looking for. The bus lacked signage and didn't call out any stops. It didn't have air conditioning. Unexpectedly, the bus broke down, but we followed the driver onto another bus ahead, which was equipped with AC. With my Kakao map guiding us, I monitored the location closely and press the "stop" button when the red dot on the map (us) was approaching our destination. Upon disembarking from the bus, we walked for approximately 10 minutes until we arrived at the expansive market. The variety and affordability of the food there were impressive. It seemed like we were among the few tourists who had arrived at the market via public transportation, a fact that filled me with pride. After that, we boarded the bus once more (by then, I already felt like a local) and made our way to "Cafe Antoinette" perched on the cliffside. Nearby, there is a stunning viewpoint you might want to visit later. The cafe itself is charming, offering a panoramic view of the sea from its windows. You have the option to sit at a regular table or on tatami mats. The desserts were delightful, although the coffee was quite sweet, almost like having a dessert itself. Adjacent to the café is a bus stop (although the buses are not particularly punctual, so if you have time to spare, waiting a bit for the next bus is fine). We took a risk to visit one more place before returning to the ship, Black Pork Street. It would be unthinkable to come to Jeju and not experience Black Pork BBQ. Despite warnings about "Dombedon" being a tourist trap, we found few options open at that hour and actually found the food to be decent. In comparison to the US, we realized that there were not many complimentary dishes, although leaving a Google review would earn you a free cold noodle. The taste of the pork didn't differ much from what we were used to back home, and the prices were comparable to those in the US. If we were to return, we would likely opt for "Hwaro Hyang" based on the more positive reviews we have read. On the way back to the ship, we made a brief stop at the newly established shopping area known as "Jeju Chisungro Shopping Street and Tamla Culture Square." Although not all shops were open at the time, it is evident that this place has the potential to become a popular spot in the future. If you are in search of a Starbucks with Wi-Fi, you can find one here. Additionally, there are shops located beneath the subway stations, but they didn't seem particularly appealing. At the meeting point, we seized the last opportunity to capture some photos in front of the Gwandeokjeong Pavilion before riding the shuttle back to the ship. Although I had anticipated Jeju to resemble the paradise destinations portrayed in K-dramas, I found it to be more urban, especially in the northern area, rather than a beach destination. For those who enjoy the beach, I suggest staying in the northwest or south (Seogwipo City). I look forward to revisiting Jeju Island to explore the destinations mentioned below and perhaps gain a new perspective on the island.   Here are some tour options if you don't want to explore on your own: 1-Day Jeju Island Tour For 'JEJU PORT' Cruise Guests 1-Day Tour to Jeju for Gangjeong Seogwipo Cruise Guests Private Day tour on the fantasy island for CRUISE customers K-DRAMA Tour in Jeju island Jeju Main Attractions One Day Tour If you have more time here: Jeju Island West UNESCO Day Tour with Lunch included Private Tour UNESCO Place with Experienced Driver in jeju island Jeju Island Private Taxi Tour : 3 Full days Jeju Western and Southern Routes Sightseeing Day Tour 2 Day Private Jeju Island Tour Jeju UNESCO Original Day Tour Other suggested places to visit: Gimnyeong Maze Park UNESCO Seongsan Ilchulbong Cheonjaeyeon waterfall Jeongbang waterfall Sojeongbang waterfall (less crowded) Seogwipo olle market Gyorae-ri Village Cheondonga UNESCO Manjanggul Cave Jeolmul Forest Rosebay Spa Dongmun Traditional Market Arboretum Theme Park Yongyeon Suspension Bridge Sumokun Theme Park Food/Drink Recommendations: Chilsimni Food Street Arang Joeul Food Street Jeju Coastal Road cafe district Seogwipean Bakery Starbucks Jeju Jungmun Jakie Coffee Cafe NamoNamo Habilis Coffee Roasters Alice Cafe Jeju City Hall Location Feel free to reach out to us with any questions! #CiciCao #Travel #Guide #Tips #Explore #Asia #Celebrity #cruise #jejuisland #Korea

Photos are all property of ESCAPETHEROOMers Geography: A city on Osaka Bay in Central Japan Population: Approx. 1.5 Million Currency: Japanese Yen (Yen) ; Currency Converter Cruise Port: Google Map Location Tender Port: No Best Time to Visit: Spring (March to May) and Fall (September to November) Our ship, the Celebrity Millennium, arrived at the port of Kobe, Japan on August 21, 2024. The vessel docked at 8:00AM and remained stationed overnight until the departure time of 5AM the next day. The cruise offered a complimentary shuttle service for guests, putting us close to Chinatown and the vicinity of Motomachi shopping street. There were limited options that were open early in the morning, prompting us to swiftly capture some photos before boarding the train to Herb Garden & Ropeway. For those who prefer not to utilize the ropeway, there is a hiking trail available for ascending and descending. As the weather was super hot, we opted for the roundtrip ticket as the walk would have been challenging as there were many up hill trails as well. The descent is relatively effortless for enthusiasts of walking, as it is predominantly downhill and offers the opportunity to explore various attractions. Our visit was primarily focused on the upper section of the garden, featuring a shop, beer stand, light visual room, and a perfume museum. Should you wish to take the tram to the midway point, disembarking there allows for a partial walk, albeit at the same cost. The garden shop offers a selection of natural herbs and honey for purchase. Upon reaching street level from the ropeway, we proceeded to walk for approximately 10 minutes until we reached Kitano-cho, where we encountered a variety of houses designed in western styles. While tickets were available for entry and exploration, time constraints led us to simply pass by. Noteworthy was the historical Starbucks establishment in the vicinity. Additionally, the Ikuta Jinja shrine, offering free admission, was identified as a site of interest worth visiting. We enjoyed a delightful lunch at Kobe Beef Steak Sakura, where the set lunch menus proved to be a particularly appealing option for midday dining. Given the restaurant's popularity, we made sure to secure a reservation in advance, observing fellow patrons from our cruise ship doing the same. The quality of the set menu was exceptional, and the Kobe beef, in particular, stood out for its tenderness and rich flavor. While Wagyu options were available, we found the Kobe beef to be superior in terms of texture and taste. Opting for different cuts of meat at varying weights, my husband and I found ourselves thoroughly satisfied and pleasantly satiated by the end of our meal. Following our midday meal, we proceeded to the expansive AEON mall, which boasted a wide array of culinary offerings and retail outlets, including a sizable grocery section. For dinner, we dined at Shabushabu Isidaya Kitanozakaten, a renowned establishment favored by locals. Securing a reservation was essential for us to enjoy a delightful meal at this establishment. The menu featured options such as shabushabu, grilled dishes, and steak. Opting for the shabushabu experience, we savored two distinct cuts of meat and found ourselves pleasantly satiated. The quality of the beef was exceptional, characterized by its freshness and tenderness. The cruise offers a complimentary shuttle service to the ship, with the final bus departing from the designated drop-off point (same as the one in the morning) in Chinatown at 7:45 PM. The shuttle service operates promptly, therefore it is advisable to arrive early. Given the multiple gates and exits in Chinatown, it is important to remember the specific point of disembarkation for ease of return later in the evening. As night falls, Chinatown transforms with vibrant lights and a variety of food stalls, creating a lively atmosphere worth exploring. Here are some tour options if you don't want to explore on your own: Sake Brewery and Japanese Life Experience Tour in Kobe Private Shore Excursion Kobe Port - Best of Kobe with a local Kobe 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide 4-Hour Multicultural Kobe Walking Tour with Genuine Kobe Beef 1-Day Walking Tour around Kobe : Mountains, Sea and Sake Cruise Stop-over: Day Tour to Kyoto from Kobe Port Port of Kobe, Kitano Ijinkan-Gai, & Mt. Rokko Day Tour from Osaka Sake Brewery Tour with Tasting Experience in Kobe If you have more time in Kobe: Kobe's Harmony: Mountains, Sea, and the Serenity of Arima Onsen Nara private tour (Shore excursion available from Osaka or Kobe port) Kyoto Full Day Tour from Kobe with Licensed Guide and Vehicle Suggested Food/Drink/Other Places to visit Options: Kobe-Sanda Premium Outlets Setsugetsuka Kobe Bon Odori Festival (mid-August Aug 19) Granite Cafe (evening view) Kobe Beef Steak Ishida Takenaka Meat Minato-Ken Sannomiya Kokashita Himeji Castle Sorakuen Garden Feel Free to reach out to us with any questions! #CiciCao #Travel #Guide #Tips #Explore #Kobe #Japan #Asia #CelebrityCruise #cruise

Photos are all property of ESCAPETHEROOMers Geography: Principal city of the Chugoku Region, Honshu Island, Japan Population: Approx. 2 Million Currency: Japanese Yen (Yen) ; Currency Converter Cruise Port: Google Map Location Tender Port: No Best Time to Visit: September - November We rolled into Hiroshima, Japan on the Celebrity Millennium on August 24, 2024. Our ship docked around 1PM, and we had to be back on board by 9:30PM. Man, it was scorching in August, hitting about 95 degrees. Luckily, the terminal had a free shuttle to the train station. They even had a waiting room, so we didn't have to roast outside while waiting for the shuttle. The shuttle service started at 1:30PM and ran frequently to the tram terminal. If you're not into shuttles, you can just take a 15-minute stroll. The ship's last shuttle back to port was at 8:45PM. Remember the stop name "Hiroshimako station" - it's the final stop, but double-check you're heading in the right direction. When we were at the tram terminal, we had the chance to hop on a boat to another island too. But since we were short on time, most of us decided to take the tram to the memorial park (both 1 & 7 trams go there). You can pay with Suica (set it up on your phone before the trip) or cash on the tram. If you didn't have exact change, no worries - there's a change machine on board to turn bills into coins. The tram ride lasted about 30 minutes because it made a lot of stops along the way. We didn't have time to go inside the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, so we just snapped some photos outside because we wanted to catch a river cruise to Miyajima island. The boats had limited seats, so I recommend getting there early to secure your tickets. You can buy either a one-way or round-trip ticket. If you pay by credit card, there's no chance of a refund, but if you pay with cash, you might be able to get a refund once you're on the island in case you decide to not take the same return route. I suggest taking AquaNet there (it's about a 45-minute ride from the Peace Memorial Park) and then taking a JR ferry back since it's cheaper, although it will be more crowded as the boat is bigger. If you also plan to visit Hiroshima Castle, the JR ferry is a quicker option. Just keep in mind that the castle closes at 6 pm, so it depends on how much time you have. There's plenty to explore on the island, so I'd recommend setting aside at least 2-3 hours. You can spot deer wandering around, visit the Torii gate, and check out the Itsukushima shrine (we didn't get to go there due to timing). We also tried the local specialties - oysters and Momiji Manju (the place that serves it with ice cream is a must-try, especially on a hot summer day). Since we got round-trip tickets using our credit card, we had to catch the river cruise back. It gets pretty busy, especially during the last few ride times. We were super close to Hondori shopping street when we got off the ferry. We decided to grab a quick dinner and checked out the shops before heading back to the ship. The tram that can take you back to the cruise ship is also nearby, so you can make the most of your time here. This island is famous for Okonomiyaki, but since we already had it in Osaka, we decided to go for some yakitori instead. If you do want to try Okonomiyaki, you'll find it everywhere, but the best-known spot is the Okonomi Mura building with lots of shops to choose from. Suigun seems to be a top-rated choice there. Don't forget to enjoy the amazing night view as your cruise ship sets sail from the dock! It's truly breathtaking! I really hope this One-Day Hiroshima tourism guide will help you plan your day at the port with ease! Here are some tour options if you don't want to explore on your own: Hiroshima Peace Memorial and Atomic Bomb Dome Private Tour Hiroshima Private Tour for Shore Excursion Hiroshima and Miyajima by Bike and Boat Hiroshima Bar Hopping Food Tour Hiroshima Highlights Private Day Tour Prepurchase tickets for a discount and to avoid lines! Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum Ticket Orizuru Tower Admission Ticket in Hiroshima Hiroshima Tour Pass Mr. Senkoji Ropeway If you have more time in Hiroshima: 1 Day Hiroshima & Miyajima Tour from Hiroshima, Kyoto, or Osaka 2 Day Bus Tour in Hiroshima and Miyajima Korona Onsen Natural Hot Spring Experience in Hiroshima Suggested Food/Drink Options: Fumi-Chan’s Okonomiyaki Restaurant izumiya (tea) Kaze coffee Okonomi Mura building Feel free to reach out to us with any questions! #CiciCao #Travel #Guide #Tips #Explore #Hiroshima #Japan #Asia #Celebrity #cruise

Photos are all property of ESCAPETHEROOMers Geography: located in the center of Kameda Peninsula on the island of Hokkaido Population: Approx. 240,000 Currency: Japanese Yen (Yen) ; Currency Converter Cruise Port: Google Map Location Tender Port: No Best Time to Visit: Early Summer As a result of typhoon Shanshan, our cruise itinerary was altered, leading us to change our destination from Kagoshima and Mt. Fuji to Hakodate, Hokkaido. The ship arrived at the port on August 29, 2024. Since our previous stop was at Jeju Island, Korea, we had to go through customs upon arrival in Hakodate, as it marked our first entry point into Japan. If your travel plan is similar, you may undergo a similar process. The customs inspection was efficiently conducted, and we were done around 1PM. The deadline for boarding was set for 6:30 PM, allowing us time to only explore the areas near the port. Our first stop was the morning market, where we found numerous seafood restaurants in the vicinity. By the time we arrived, it was nearing its closure (around 2 PM). Fortunately, we were able to enter a food court and savor some exceptionally fresh salmon sashimi. The majority of visitors seemed to relish the enormous grilled crab legs. Additionally, you may want to sample their local delicacy, the Hokkaido melon. After that, we strolled towards the red brick warehouse, following a straightforward path along the harborside. There are seven warehouses housing approximately 50 restaurants and shops. You can explore all of them with ease. Don't miss the opportunity to sample the renowned cheesecakes at Petite Merveille and at Pastry Snaffle's. We also indulged in a delicious Re di Roma Gelato made from original Hokkaido milk. Thereafter, we started to walkup Motomachi hill. It was quite challenging to climb up but we did see a bunch of senior cruisers making it up there with no issue. Coming down was a lot easier. We recommend avoiding school hours due to the large number of students on the stairs. At the hilltop stands a renowned church, although we did not visit on this occasion. Our last stop was at the Lucky Pierrot Burger Chain. We had to find out what all the fuss was all about. We decided to go with the #1 combo, and I have to say, it was actually quite good. The chicken was moist, and the cheese gravy fries were delicious as well. In the vicinity, there are two of these stores; make sure to visit the larger one opposite the red warehouses for more seating capacity (even if there's a queue, it will progress swiftly). The alternative venue is significantly smaller. Public transportation in this port is more challenging compared to the others we visited. Due to our limited time at the port, we decided against taking the bus, as the waiting time for each one is typically over 30 minutes. If we had more time, we would certainly have ventured into other areas. Check out the recommendations of places we missed below and share your experiences if you had the opportunity to visit them during your trip! Here are some tour options if you don't want to explore on your own: Hakodate 4hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide Hakodate 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide Port Pick-Up: Hakodate Tour with Licensed Guide and Vehicle Hakodate Food and Exploration Tour with Private Guide Tickets to popular attractions: Goryokaku Tower Ticket in Hokkaido If you have more time here: JR Hokkaido Rail Pass Mt. Hakodate Night View Sightseeing Bus Tour Explore Hakodate❘ 2-Day Highlights Tour from Sapporo Suggested Food/Drink Options: Goryokaku Motomachi Gotoken Restaurant Daimon Yokocho Sushi Dokoro Minami Sushi Bar Hakodadte Marukatsu Suisan Feel free to reach out to us with any questions! #CiciCao #Travel #Guide #Tips #Explore #Hokkaido #Japan #Asia #Celebrity #cruise #Hakodate

We recently returned from a 15-day journey to Japan in August 2024. Our itinerary included 5 days exploring Tokyo on foot and 12 days cruising from Yokohama. For detailed guides on our complete trip, please click HERE. I would like to offer some helpful tips to simplify your future travel planning in Japan. Before your trip, remember to install your Suica card into your phone wallet. Ensure that you top up the balance each night as some areas may have poor wifi or cellular coverage, making it challenging to refill the card. The Suica card is widely accepted on most buses and subways in Japan, simplifying your transportation payments. Double-check that you tap your card correctly, especially when boarding buses, to avoid errors upon disembarking. In case the card didn't register, inform the bus driver promptly, and they can manually input the information. Be prepared with the name of your bus stop, as many drivers may not be fluent in English. In Japan, it is rare to find trash bins on the streets, and if you do come across one, it's like hitting a jackpot. If you need to dispose of trash and walk into a random store, the employee will likely refuse. So, if you decide to bring a drink with you, be prepared to carry it with you. However, if you happen to find a Starbucks, you will find trash bins inside. Remember to bring a reusable grocery bag because you may have to purchase bags at convenience stores and certain mall shops. Bring your passport if you want to enjoy tax-free shopping. Keep in mind that your purchases should total 5000 yen or more. Certain stores offer immediate tax refunds at the cashier's desk. People rarely eat or drink on the street, except in designated food areas with stands. Eating in subways is prohibited, so it's advisable to take your food back to your hotel to enjoy. Make sure to carry cash with you at all times, as certain food stalls (such as those in Yokohama Chinatown) may not accept credit cards. Additionally, some massage parlors may waive the tax if you pay in cash. Ensure you verify the dates of your travel to avoid any inconvenience, as certain places may be closed on Japanese holidays. For example, during our trip, the fish market was closed due to a national holiday in Japan. The majority of subway stations are equipped with elevators for passengers with luggage, although they may not be accessible at every exit, requiring you to walk some distance to reach one. Be sure to pay attention to the signs within the station. For added convenience, consider utilizing a luggage delivery service . Google Maps is very effective in determining which train or bus to take, and it also provides accurate arrival times. Plus it shows arrows to point you in the right direction once you type in your destination. Google Translate and Papago (App) are valuable tools to use when seeking assistance by asking questions. There is a significant number of Japanese individuals, particularly in smaller cities, who do not speak English fluently. #tipsfortravelingtojapan #japan #japantravel #traveltips

Photos are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers Geography: Port Louis is the capital city of Mauritius, in the Indian Ocean. Population: 155,226 Currency: The Mauritian rupee; Currency Converter Cruise Port: Google Map Location Tender Port: No Best Time to Visit: October to December The final stop and disembarkation point of our Norwegian Cruise Line (Dawn) on February 25th, 2024, was Port Louis. We were kept in quarantine on the ship for two days due to a stomach virus and were not permitted to leave until the 27th. This occurred a few days into our voyage, so it's important to pack appropriate medications and maintain good hygiene, especially for this particular itinerary. Port Louis, situated in the northwest of Mauritius, serves as the capital city. It is a vibrant mix of cultures, blending traditions with modernity. While we were able to dock at the port, it primarily functions as a commercial harbor, offering limited activities for visitors. Due to our limited time before our flight back home, we decided to book a private tour . Our tour guide, Shafiiq, provided an enjoyable experience in a comfortable car. The tour was customizable, allowing us to choose our destinations and conveniently keep our luggage in the car for a drop-off at the airport. In Mauritius, driving is on the right side, and the well-developed roads made our journey smooth, despite occasional traffic. Our first destination was Le Caudan waterfront, where we stopped to capture a photo with the iconic umbrellas. It was a pleasant morning stroll, although the shops were not yet open. Nonetheless, you could easily find a nice coffee spot to relax. The area also houses the Blue Penny Museum. On our way, we passed by the Central Market, which offers fruits, vegetables, and crafts, but it was still closed at that time. During our journey to Trou aux Cerfs, a dormant volcano, we made a brief stop at a rum tasting shop. Among the various rum flavors available, we particularly enjoyed the one containing a "dodo" bird at the bottom, which was the most delicious. Our tour guide assured us that there was no obligation to make a purchase, so we simply sampled the rums and continued on our way. While visiting Trou aux Cerfs, be cautious of wild monkeys that may be present. Avoid approaching them closely as they are untamed and may become aggressive if they sense danger. Although the volcano is mostly covered in greenery, the view from up there is still quite pleasant. For those with extra time, there is a jogging trail leading to the neighboring town. Our next stop was at the Aux Vacoas Reservoir. This natural reservoir is truly remarkable in its capacity to hold a large amount of water for various purposes. Due to the frequent rainfall in Mauritius, the reservoir never runs dry. According to the tour guide, the lowest level he has witnessed was at 50% capacity. During our visit to Takamara vineyard, we had the opportunity to sample Lychee wine, which was a unique experience for me. At the vineyard, you can opt for a tasting menu to try three different wines, although this is a paid option. If you prefer to taste the wine for free, they may offer you just one type, so be sure to specify your preference to avoid any unexpected charges. Our following destination was the Grand Bassin Hindu Temples. We were fortunate as we arrived just a few days before the Maha Shivarati celebrations. Visitors were already participating in the traditional practice of washing their feet and taking water from the sacred lake back home, as the water is sourced from the Ganges. Additionally, two imposing statues of Shiva stand at the temple's entrance. It is definitely a worthwhile stop to make.   On this trip, Alexandra Falls and Black River Gorges were inaccessible, which gave us an extra an before we had to be at the airport. Since one hour is quite short to do anything else, we opted to visit Tribeca, the largest mall in the Indian Ocean. The mall appeared modern and well-maintained. While some shops on the upper level seemed vacant, the lower level was bustling with activity. Inside, there was a huge grocery store offering a wide range of products. The food court was also noteworthy, but it's important to note that certain vendors only accept cash or their local payment app. It's advisable to have cash on hand if you wish to sample some local cuisine. However, most of the stores and the grocery store accepted credit cards. We arrived at the airport three hours in advance for our international flight back home. Since we had the Amex platinum credit card , we were able to use the lounge for free. I'll do a separate blog on the benefits of this card and how I utilize it for FREE airfare, hotels, etc...Although not very large, the airport was quite impressive for Mauritius. It features a lounge available for business travelers and Priority Pass holders. The upper level had better lighting and offered a view of departing flights. The bathrooms seemed outdated, but we appreciated the variety of food and coffee choices. Mauritius is an incredible destination! Imagine a picturesque island about 2,000 square kilometers in size, where you can drive around the entire place in just 4–8 hours. There are countless amazing sights to explore and discover. To truly experience all the wonders of this island, you'll want to spend about 3-10 days (depending on your travel speed) soaking it all in. It's the perfect spot to conclude our NCL cruise. Mauritius is simply stunning, and we are already dreaming of returning someday! Here are some suggested tours that we didn't have time to do: Mauritius' South Coast(Chamarel Waterfall, 7-Colored Earth, Alexandra falls, black river valley, Grand Bassin, and Trou aux Cerfs) East Coast of Mauritius (from Blue Bay to Ile aux Cerfs 5 islands) Whale watching and swim with dolphins Trou d'Eau Douce: Southeast 5 Island Adventure North Day Tour: Botanical Garden, Sugar Museum, Rum Tasting, Port Louis The Adventure Tour: Vallée des Couleurs & La Vanille Nature Parks & Gris Gris Southern Tales: Full-day incl Crocodile Park & 23 Colored Earth Activities you can do on this island: Snorkeling with turtles Quad biking Horse riding Kayaking Hiking Dolphin Encounter Feel Free to reach out to us with any questions! #CiciCao #Travel #Guide #Tips #Explore #PortElizabeth #SouthAfrica #Africa #Norwegiancruiselines #ncl #cruise

LOCATION: Fribourg, Switzerland Photo above is property of Friscape Photos above are property of Friscape 📝   ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME : Secret Mission to St. Petersbourg 📅 DATE PLAYED : August 15, 2024 🎬 GENRE: Espionage 🧠 DI FFICULTY (Based on 2 ppl) : 6/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS : 2-6 ppl 🕒 LENGT H OF T IME : 60 Mins. 💰 PRICE : 100-150 CHF ☎️ BOOKING TYPE : Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED? : Yes [30:18] 📖 THE STORY The Tomachevsky theater troupe is about to start its final performance in St. Petersburg’s largest theater. During the height of the Cold War, your informant has arranged a critical meeting to provide you with vital information. Your target, the wealthy Russian oligarch Aleksandrov, is in attendance with classified defense documents. He must hand these documents over to the theater's director, a former KGB operative. Your team of secret agents must discreetly infiltrate the backstage of this grand venue and retrieve the top-secret documents. The clock is ticking, the performance lasts only 60 minutes, and you must escape before it ends, or risk being discovered. Video above is property of Friscape 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE Although we had expected a more opulent design for the room, it still held a certain whimsy for us. There were just enough props and decorative items to convince us of our surroundings, which included some fun Soviet hats, which we of course wore, and numerous theatrical posters. The room also played classical music continuously, something we appreciated and merrily hummed along to. Of all the rooms at Friscape this also had the most interesting layout, although nothing too ‘wow’, it still impressed us since we had to split up in order to complete with on the puzzles. As with the layout and interior decoration, this room also contained the most interesting set of puzzles. There was some dexterity, code breaking and decryption, searching and observation, as well as classic logic tests. We liked the cooperative challenges the most and were happy to see them included. 🧩 MISSED THE MARK The room certainly has a unique and interesting story, we just wished that it held some evolution once the game commenced. Unfortunately, there were no twists and we learnt nothing else about Aleksandrov or his motives. One of the puzzles relies on knowing the rules of chess, specifically how each piece moves. We were fortunate to have this knowledge, but players who aren’t familiar with chess would either need to guess the moves or ask the Game Master for assistance. 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? As already suggested, this was our favourite of the five rooms at Friscape. It offers a decent amount of immersion and charm, and a varied and satisfying number of puzzles to complete. Due to the limited amount of space, this is a room which I would advise to play as either a 2- or 3-person team. ℹ️ ADDITIONAL INFO Parking is not available on site. There are several car parks in the near vicinity. Players will register and pay at the reception desk of the upstairs bowling alley. A member of Friscape will then come to greet you and escort you downstairs to their rooms. Downstairs there are some shelves for your belongings and seating. There are no secure lockers. Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers (If you do decide to try this game, give us a shoutout or tag us on social media so we know you heard it from " ESCAPETHEROOMers "!) Disclosure :   We thank Friscape  for providing a media discount on the tickets for this game. Although discounted admission was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion of the review whatsoever. #RyanDriver #IRLescaperoom #EscapeRooms #Friscape #Espionage #Fribourg #Switzerland

LOCATION: Zürich, Switzerland Photo above is property of Escape City Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 📝   ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME : Star Wars 📅 DATE PLAYED : April 23, 2024 🎬 GENRE: Sci-Fi 🧠 DI FFICULTY (Based on 2 ppl) : 4/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS : 2-6 ppl 🕒 LENGT H OF T IME : 60 Mins. 💰 PRICE : 99-210 CHF ☎️ BOOKING TYPE : Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED? : Yes [33:00] 📖 THE STORY As members of the Rebel Alliance, you find yourselves trapped on an Imperial ship. Can you find a way to escape before your presence is noticed and the Stormtroopers come to find you? 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE Needless to say, this is a room aimed primarily at those who enjoy the Star Wars universe. Inside, you can expect to find an abundance of themed props and decorations from the franchise, such as a Stormtrooper, lightsaber, and even a life size R2D2! I would say it is the quality of these props that make this room memorable. In addition to the assortment of props, we were also impressed with how the little space ship looked at the end. Definitely more could have been done to really make it look and feel like a complete ship, but the frontal part alone was well done. Although the puzzles have little to no bearing on the story, they are well connected to the Star Wars theme and keep the subject at the forefront of your mind throughout. Everything we do relates to either the characters, ships, or some other aspect in a very tangible way, meaning we get to be very hands-on with many of the props. The incorporation of R2D2 was a pleasant surprise and we only wished he could have played a bigger role in the game. This is a very family friendly / entry level escape room with simple to solve puzzles that even younger children will be able to enjoy. Escape City offers a modern comfy lounge and fully stocked bar. A lot of thought and effort was clearly put into a team’s welcome experience. We also found the staff to be friendly and engaging. 🧩 MISSED THE MARK Although there are a lot of props to push the theme, sadly the story is very much lacking and never feels part of the overall game. This dampens the immersion level significantly, which isn’t helped by the lack of special effects. Some smoke or better aligned audio would be helpful, as would a more elaborate set design; such as replacing standard doors, or detailing all of the walls in the escape ship not just the front one. There isn’t much depth to any of the puzzles and only one very small cooperative puzzle at the very end. Beyond that, this room could easily be solvable for a single person. 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? The target audience for Star Wars is clearly families; the simple mission structure, collection of props, and basic puzzles will undoubtedly keep children engaged and entertained. Likewise, adults newer to escape rooms will also likely get a lot out of this experience. However, experienced players or die-hard Star Wars fans will likely leave feeling somewhat underwhelmed by the lack of immersion and depth of game play. The game certainly has ‘good bones’ and the potential to be improved upon should the designers so wish. ℹ️ ADDITIONAL INFO Parking is available on site. Parking is available around the escape room. The escape room is about a 10–15-minute walk from the train station, which is only one stop away from Zurich’s main station. There is a lobby area with comfortable seating and both alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages for sale. There are no obstructions to wheelchairs. One of our team played whilst on crutches. Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers (If you do decide to try this game, give us a shoutout or tag us on social media so we know you heard it from " ESCAPETHEROOMers "!) Disclosure :   We thank Escape City  for providing a media discount on the tickets for this game. Although discounted admission was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion of the review whatsoever. #RyanDriver #IRLescaperoom #EscapeRooms #EscapeCity #SciFi #Zurich #Switzerland

LOCATION: Zürich, Switzerland Photo above is property of Escape City Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 📝   ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME : The Ring 📅 DATE PLAYED : April 23, 2024 🎬 GENRE: Horror 🧠 DI FFICULTY (Based on 2 ppl) : 5/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS : 2-6 ppl 🕒 LENGT H OF T IME : 60 Mins. 💰 PRICE : 99-210 CHF ☎️ BOOKING TYPE : Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED? : Yes [35:00] 📖 THE STORY You are locked in an old house; caged and separated. Can you escape your torture devices and solve the mystery surrounding the death of Julia? 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE Escape City has created a dark and eerie set using high quality materials, with the final room, which contains the well, being the most impressive. Despite there not being an actor or any special effects, the atmosphere was always tense, just the suspicion of something or someone lurking in the shadows was enough to keep us on edge, particularly in the last room… who knows what might be locked inside the well. The first collection of puzzles was impressive and perhaps our favorite of any of the three games we played at Escape City this trip (also " Star Wars " and " Resident Evil "). This was because they were cooperative and had a good layer of depth to them. Both players had to perform actions and communicate to one another effectively to figure out the entire puzzle, whilst each being locked to a chair. Once the first player was freed, we had to continue working together on a separate puzzle in order to free the second person. Again, each of us could only see some of the puzzle. We appreciated that this required not only skill, but patience and perseverance to complete. Although there is technically no actor involved in the game, our game master secretly entered to provide us with one brief jump scare at just the right moment. It was such a simple act, but provided a memorable and unexpected shock that had us both nervous on how to proceed. Escape City offer a modern comfy lounge and fully stocked bar. A lot of thought and effort was clearly put into a team’s welcome experience. We also found the staff to be friendly and engaging. 🧩 MISSED THE MARK " The Ring " fell short in a couple of big areas for us, namely, storytelling and the overall puzzle selection. Storytelling – It became quickly apparent to us that the connection between our game and the actual movie was minimal, at best. The room’s design correlates much closer to that of the movie Saw, and we wondered if this was what the room was initially built to be? In the movie The Ring, nobody is locked in cages or interacts with the kinds of props we came across, and although there are a couple of small tv screens that play a few seconds of the movie, the actual VHS tape that the story is based around plays no part in our game. There is definitely a strong and unfortunately obvious disconnect here. Puzzles – The game gets off to such a good start with our cooperative challenges, but then the puzzles quickly dry up both physically and terms in creativity. We counted a total of six puzzles, eight if you include two very simple tasks which require little to no brain power. And, like with the room design, the puzzles have absolutely nothing to do with the movie and are again, more akin to those you’d find in a Saw themed room. Additionally, one of the ‘puzzles’ was supposed to have several special effects occur once an action was completed, however the machine is broken, resulting in a flat and confusing experience. 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? For people looking to ease their way into the horror genre, this is an ideal room to begin with. The level of tension remains fairly high throughout due to the good use of light and décor. Likewise, for those who are not familiar with the movie (or for those who are not concerned by a lack of correlation), then this should provide an immersive experience. Teams should remember that although there are several challenging and interesting puzzles to overcome, the actual number of puzzles appears more limited than you may typically expect. ℹ️ ADDITIONAL INFO Parking is available on site. Parking is available around the escape room. The escape room is about a 10–15-minute walk from the train station, which is only one stop away from Zurich’s main station. There is a lobby area with comfortable seating and both alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages for sale. There are no obstructions to wheelchairs. One of our team played whilst on crutches. Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers (If you do decide to try this game, give us a shoutout or tag us on social media so we know you heard it from " ESCAPETHEROOMers "!) Disclosure :   We thank Escape City  for providing a media discount on the tickets for this game. Although discounted admission was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion of the review whatsoever. #RyanDriver #IRLescaperoom #EscapeRooms #EscapeCity #Horror #Zurich #Switzerland

LOCATION: Zürich, Switzerland Photo above is property of Escape City Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 📝   ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME : Resident Evil 📅 DATE PLAYED : April 23, 2024 🎬 GENRE: Sci-Fi 🧠 DI FFICULTY (Based on 2 ppl) : 6/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS : 2-6 ppl 🕒 LENGT H OF T IME : 60 Mins. 💰 PRICE : 99-210 CHF ☎️ BOOKING TYPE : Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED? : Yes [35:55] 📖 THE STORY You are locked in the lab of the infamous Umbrella Corporation. Find the vaccine and prevent the spread of the dangerous T-Virus before their security teams find and exterminate you. 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE The most enjoyable aspect of this game was the overall atmosphere and level of tension achieved throughout. The room has been thematically constructed, with the implementation of some basic, yet effective special effects, such as light, smoke, and sound. The quality of materials used, the overall room look, and the choice of props, create a cohesive space, which isn’t scary but definitely emits a spooky vibe that you want to escape from. Although the story doesn’t have a lasting influence on the game, the ending does provide one unexpected twist which created drama and a sense of pressure which wasn’t found earlier in the game prior. So, the final few minutes were our highlight of the game. The puzzles are set out in a linear path that observe a logical flow and seem to guide you through the proceedings. We found the tasks to be varied in terms of style, yet always hands-on and engaging. We particularly enjoyed each of the two cooperative puzzles. Escape City offer a modern comfy lounge and fully stocked bar. A lot of thought and effort was clearly put into a team’s welcome experience. We also found the staff to be friendly and engaging. 🧩 MISSED THE MARK Although there was nothing ‘wrong’ with any of the puzzles we did find them to be quite one dimensional and perhaps too simple to solve. For newer teams this is a good thing as it probably allows for a increased likelihood of escaping in time, but more experienced teams may leave without really feeling challenged. 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? " Resident Evil " was our favorite of the three games we played this visit, Star Wars and The Ring were the others. It had the most complete story progression, immersive set design, and interesting and challenging sets of puzzles. The game probably plays best for experienced teams with only two, and up to four for those less so ℹ️ ADDITIONAL INFO Parking is available on site. Parking is available around the escape room. The escape room is about a 10–15-minute walk from the train station, which is only one stop away from Zurich’s main station. There is a lobby area with comfortable seating and both alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages for sale. There are no obstructions to wheelchairs. One of our team played whilst on crutches. Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers (If you do decide to try this game, give us a shoutout or tag us on social media so we know you heard it from " ESCAPETHEROOMers "!) Disclosure :   We thank Escape City for providing a media discount on the tickets for this game. Although discounted admission was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion on the review whatsoever. #RyanDriver #IRLescaperoom #EscapeRooms #EscapeCity #SciFi #Zurich #Switzerland

LOCATION: St. Charles, Illinois, USA Photo above is property of iPanic Escape Room (St. Charles) Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 📝   ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME : The Last Wish 📅 DATE PLAYED : May 31, 2024 🎬 GENRE : Fantasy, Magic 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 2 ppl) : 8/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS : 2-10 ppl 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME : 60 Mins. 💰 PRICE : $66.00 (2 ppl) - $330.00 (10 ppl) ☎️ BOOKING TYPE : Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED? : Yes 📖 THE STORY Embark on an exhilarating and thought-provoking adventure when a dream tour unexpectedly goes awry, leaving you in a sticky predicament. Work alongside your team to locate the idols and navigate the unpredictable challenges set by the Genie, ensuring your escape before being trapped indefinitely. Seek out the idols for your chance to make that final wish and break free! Video above is property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE I absolutely adore Disney, and Brandon is absolutely obsessed with Aladdin! The set design completely blew us away by flawlessly capturing the magical essence of an Arabian Night setting. The atmospheric lighting, intricate gold details, and delightful little marketplace instantly lit up our faces with pure joy. And guess what? To make it even more magical, there was a genie! How awesome is that?! The puzzles were cleverly crafted with props that perfectly matched the theme. One of our favorite challenges involved physicality, and may or may not involve our little friend "Abu". Not only will you be treated to a visually stunning experience, but also an auditory one. The surround sound was expertly synchronized with the various reveals throughout the experience, with the final ones being particularly impressive. This room offers numerous areas to explore. Some may not be immediately visible, but discovering them later will bring a delightful surprise. 🧩 MISSED THE MARK Some clues in the room are intended for the Forbidden Tour mode and may cause confusion for players in Adventure Tour mode since these clues are not utilized. We recommend incorporating sound or light alerts for items that can be interacted with or that unlock when a puzzle is solved. The Game Master provided pre-written clues that sometimes did not assist us with our particular query. We propose granting them some flexibility in responding to specific clues; otherwise, players may simply opt to be given the final solution. 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? "The Last Wish" provided an immersive experience that resonated deeply with us. The attention to detail and production quality within the game truly made it feel like stepping onto a movie set from a beloved Disney film. Despite the enjoyment we derived from the game, it is important to note that it posed a significant challenge for a team of just two seasoned players. During our playthrough, we opted for the Adventure Tour mode, which was engaging and thrilling. However, our Game Master hinted at the existence of the Forbidden Tour mode, which included an additional complex puzzle at the end. The prospect of delving into this more intricate challenge intrigued us. Perhaps, in the future, we will gather a group of like-minded individuals and challenge the Forbidden Tour mode together. But for now, to all you Disney fanatics, get ready to dive headfirst into the magical world of Jasmine or Aladdin - it's your chance to go on a wild and wacky adventure you'll never forget! Photos above are property of iPanic Escape Room (St. Charles) ℹ️   ADDITIONAL INFO Free parking in front Lobby with waiting area & lockers available Merchandise for sale Two modes of difficult level to choose from: Forbidden Tour 10% Escape Rate // Adventure Tour 40% Escape Rate Warning: This game contains Theatrical Fog, Loud Noise, Visual And Lighting Effects and sudden startles/scares. Parts of the game may require a member to duck or crawl. Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers (If you do decide to try this game, give us a shoutout or tag us on social media so we know you heard it from " ESCAPETHEROOMers "!) Disclosure :   We thank iPanic Escape Room for comping our tickets for this game. Although complimentary admission was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion on the review whatsoever. #CiciCao #IRLescaperoom #EscapeRooms #iPanicEscapeRoom #Fantasy #Magic #Illinois #USA

LOCATION: New Haven, Connecticut, USA Photo above is property of Escape New Haven Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 📝   ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME : Escape New Haven 📅 DATE PLAYED : August 8, 2024 🎬 GENRE : Monsters 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 2 ppl) : 8/10 - adaptive! 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS : 2-8 ppl (Recommend 2-4 ppl) 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME : 60 Mins. 💰 PRICE : $28.50 - $46.00/ pp (depending on day and # of ppl) ☎️ BOOKING TYPE : Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED? : Yes 📖 THE STORY You've set out on a beautiful, guided evening hike, when a terrible storm hits the area! Fortunately, you find a small, inviting old cabin. Tastefully decorated and clean, it looks like the perfect place to take shelter while your guide heads back to the Ranger Station for help. Surely the owner won't mind. It comes with a lovely view of the full moon rising out the window! Video above is property of Escape New Haven 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE The experience begins even before you arrive, when you receive a welcome email featuring details about the area and tips for your upcoming hike. This was a lovely way to set the scene, build some anticipation, and is indicative of the thought and care put into crafting this adventure. The room is built around a smoothly developing narrative progression, from the opening scene to the story's conclusion, with many moments along the way providing tension and uncertainty. These narrative elements are well delivered and fully integrated into the feel of the room. They even go the extra mile with an added reveal at the end to bring one more "oooooh" moment. With three possible endings, your decisions have a real impact on the story's flow and the actions you take. Hints are freely available in two ways, both using the cabin's rotary phone. You can call the Ranger Station to reach your guide for tailored individual tips. Or, you can use the Yeller Pages to dial townspeople who might be able to assist you with a specific challenge, like a local locksmith. Calling one of these people leads to a pre-recorded series of tiered hints with entertaining voice acting and quality audio production that allow you to remain fully immersed and expand the world beyond the cabin! This was the first time we've experienced this kind of dual hint system, which provided great flexibility and made you curious about some of the hint possibilities, even if you didn't need them. The puzzles were cleanly designed and varied in nature, with lots of quality tactile and cooperative components. While the middle section is more linear (and smells great!), there are a number of times where more parallel puzzling is possible. There is also some adaptive difficulty, whereby several puzzles can be removed for smaller or less experienced groups. Though, enthusiasts will likely want to stick to the harder version! There is no timer in the room. Instead, time is marked by a far more creative and thematic method that gives you a good sense of where things stand without breaking the immersion - in fact, much like the introductory email, it adds to the feeling of being in an abandoned cabin in the woods. 🧩 MISSED THE MARK There were no major misses in this game, but there were a few places where we could see minor improvements, such as reduction of other sounds when working on an audio puzzle, one lock that shorter players might struggle to reach, and one puzzle component that could have been more clearly identifiable. 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? This is one cabin you definitely want to get stranded in! Escape New Haven does a fantastic job crafting an immersive experience from start to finish and effectively using tech to deliver a compelling story. You can definitely feel the love, care, and varied skills of the myriad folks involved in its creation (as highlighted on its movie poster in the hallway). The puzzles were challenging and satisfying, and there were several fun, unexpected reveals. While there are some mildly spooky elements, it definitely has more of an autumn adventure feel, rather than a true horror vibe. So, strap on your hiking boots and get ready for a challenge. Just watch out for that full moon… Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers ℹ️ ADDITIONAL INFO Escape New Haven is easy to find in downtown New Haven. There is on-street parking (both 2 and 5-hr limit areas) as well as parking lots nearby (both are paid). The location itself is well marked with a big sign on the front of the building. The rooms are located down a flight of stairs. Once inside, there are fun benches (modeled after six sided dice) with storage compartments beneath. They have merch for sale, as well as bathrooms, a coat rack (in a fun room with board games on the walls) and a water bottle filling station - much appreciated after our drive! There are also beautiful movie posters made for each room, crediting the employees who worked on each one and decorated with a Hollywood-approved velvet rope. Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers (If you do decide to try this game, give us a shoutout or tag us on social media so we know you heard it from " ESCAPETHEROOMers "!) Disclosure : We thank Escape New Haven for comping our tickets for this game. Although complimentary admission was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion on the review whatsoever. #KristaJones #IRLescaperoom #EscapeRooms #EscapeNewHaven #Monsters #Connecticut #USA

Photo above is property of ESCAPETHEROOMers Company: The Deadbolt Mystery Society Game: The Game Show Murders Country: USA 🇺🇸 Language: English Type of Game: Tabletop Game 📬 Genre: Murder Mystery Date Played: June 14, 2024 Difficulty (based on 4 players): 5/10 Size of Team: Unlimited (Recommended 1 to 4 ppl) Time: Unlimited (Recommended 2 - 3 Hrs) Price: $52.00 USD 🆃🅷🅴 🆂🆃🅾🆁🆈 It’s the 1,000th episode of The Ultimate Game Show and you have received a special invitation to be a contestant. As you are in the studio getting ready, the host Rob Rogers pulls you aside to tell you that he was the one that sent you the invitation. He has brought you here because he is suspicious that someone will try to murder him during the 1,000th episode. Can you make it to the Grand Prize round and figure out who the killer is? 🆃🅷🅴 ❞🅻🅾🅾🅺🆂❞ Looking inside the branded box, on top of the DMS standard items that include a collectible trading card and the beginning brief, we find a letter from the killer, interviews with key people, a few other high quality items to examine and some envelopes to open as we progress through the game. Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 🆃🅷🅴 🅶🅰🅼🅴 🅿🅻🅰🆈 Opening the box, we started the experience by reading the “Beginning Brief” sheet which kicked off the story. For those who are new to DMS, how the game progresses is once we solved the puzzles or believe we knew key information, we would scan QR codes and input the information. If we were right, something will open and continue the story or tell us more information. To continue through the story, they would also have envelopes with more clues and information for us to read once we were told to do so. The theme of this game was perfectly done with the story, contents and flow all relating around the game show theme. Even one of the items in the box was a contestant badge. The story was well written in a more humous style. One thing our group was a fan of was that each envelope could be played non-linearly so we could easily divide and conquer. Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 🆃🅷🅴 🅿🆄🆉🆉🅻🅴🆂 Most of the puzzles required us to make the right connections between items. The DMS team utilized the game show theme by including a bunch of puzzles based around familiar game show games. As someone who grew up watching “The Price is Right”, we saw a lot of tie-ins to some the show as well as other memorable game shows from the past. The core puzzles around the games though were direct and straight forward. We would know the rules to the game but at times, would need information from elsewhere to be able to solve it. There were also some high production video recordings of Rob Rogers explaining how each of the games worked. How the hint system works is there is a document that can be downloaded online. It is a nicely formatted pdf that presents a table of contents at the start that we could find the puzzle we need hints on and go to that page. There are sufficient tiers provided for each of the puzzles. The solutions are provided in a separate document. Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 🅲🅻🅾🆂🅸🅽🅶 🆃🅷🅾🆄🅶🅷🆃🆂 " The Game Show Murders " included humor, nostalgia and puzzling fun. What really stood out here was that DMS mixed their style of puzzles and the game show theme together perfectly. The story writing and video production quality made it an easy game to follow and immerse us in. We played with 4 people and found that there was plenty to go around and lots of people able to work on puzzles. Any game show fanatic or armchair detective should “come on down” and make this game your “final answer”. (If you do decide to try this game, give us a shoutout or tag us on social media so we know you heard it from " ESCAPETHEROOMers "!) Disclosure : We thank The Deadbolt Mystery Society for providing us with samples of the game. Although a complimentary experience was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion on the review whatsoever. #MatthewLui #AtHomeGames #TabletopGames #PuzzleByMail #SubscriptionGames #MurderMystery #USA #TheDeadboltMysterySociety

Photo above is property of Thames & Kosmos Company: Thames & Kosmos Game: Dodo Country: USA 🇺🇸 Language: English Type of Game: Tabletop Games (Cooperative Game) 📬 Genre: Strategy Date Played: August 28, 2024 Difficulty (based on 3 players): 3/10 Size of Team: 2-4 ppl Time: Approximately 10 Mins. Price: $34.95 🆃🅷🅴 🆂🆃🅾🆁🆈 It’s that time of year again for the Hagulaminapoitopasi tribe, where the legendary and sacred Dodo bird lays their egg on top of the highest mountain in Mangalopanesia. Unfortunately, the Dodo bird is clumsy and knocks the egg out of her nest, sending it tumbling down the mountain. The tribe is always prepared though to build as many bridges as possible to get the “wibbly-wobbly egg” down the mountain safely. Can you keep ahead of the egg? Photo above is property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 🆃🅷🅴 ❞🅻🅾🅾🅺🆂❞ Looking in the box, there are plenty of pieces that need to punched out, lots of plastic parts, instruction manuals and more. Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 🆃🅷🅴 🅶🅰🅼🅴 🅿🅻🅰🆈 First thing to point out is before the first play, there will be a lot to punch out and assemble to make the mountain. It took us about 20 minutes the first time around to get it set up. After the initial set up, there are a lot of pieces that stay assembled so it would only take about 5 minutes to set up in the future. The rules of the game are simple. As the Dodo egg rolls down the mountain, we must build bridges along the way. How we do that is roll the dice that has different building materials on it. We then flip over a circular tile. If the tile material matches the one on the dice, hurrah! Place it on the storage of the next bridge piece and pass the dice to the next player. If it does not match, flip the tile back over and simply pass the dice to the next player. If the storage is complete, then you get to install that bridge piece. Continue building the bridges to stay ahead of the egg and finish with building the boat to get the egg to safety. What is this magic egg?! When we first encountered the “wibbly-wobbly egg”, we were not sure how the egg was supposed to move down the mountain on each turn but this is a real time game and the egg will roll down the mountain on its own. We am still not sure how this “wibbly-wobbly egg” works but it was definitely the highlight of the game to check out. Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 🆃🅷🅴 🆂🆃🆁🅰🆃🅴🅶🆈 This was a simple game with minimal strategy. The instructions mention this strategy, which is we are all on the same team and should help each other out. If you remember where a tile is that your teammate needs, say something. Another tip we learned was to keep passing the dice and move along, even if someone is installing the bridge. Granted, the kids were having too much fun laughing and giggling in between so it was still a win. Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 🅲🅻🅾🆂🅸🅽🅶 🆃🅷🅾🆄🅶🅷🆃🆂 " Dodo " was a simple game with a lot of great components and design to build the mountain with. The “wibbly-wobbly egg” was a standout feature of the game and blew us all away. The game is designed for 6+ making it easy to learn, especially for the kids. If after a few plays, you find this too easy, there are some advanced options that include adding more storage for each bridge piece or removing some of the wild card tiles. If you do take it out to play though, have a couple of plays in mind, since it does take some time to set up. This is a fun family friendly game that will get everyone excited to save the Dodo egg. Photo above is property of ESCAPETHEROOMers Check out our interview with the creators to understand more on the development side of the game: Video above is property of ESCAPETHEROOMers (If you do decide to try this game, give us a shoutout or tag us on social media so we know you heard it from " ESCAPETHEROOMers "!) Disclosure : We thank Thames & Kosmos for providing us with samples of the game. Although a complimentary experience was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion on the review whatsoever. #MatthewLui #AtHomeGames #TabletopGames #PuzzlesByMail #OneOffs #Strategy #ThamesandKosmos #USA