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Bainbridge Island offers visitors all the benefits of picturesque Washington while serving as the ideal getaway from the bustle of Seattle.

The island and city of Bainbridge Island are just a 35-minute boat ride west of Seattle. Bainbridge, which sits amid Puget Sound and overlooks the Cascade Mountains, is a favorite among outdoor enthusiasts. This lovely island in the Pacific Northwest offers a variety of museums, parks, and restaurants to keep tourists occupied.

The little town retreat from Seattle’s bustle is Bainbridge Island.

Ideal Time to Visit

Since we are in the Pacific Northwest, rain and clouds are inevitable. Although the large, moss-covered trees that are typical of the region tend to look much more impressive in the mist.

But June and August are the best months to visit if you want to see Bainbridge during drier weather. These are also the months when tourists are most in demand, which is not surprising.

August falls during the busiest travel period, thus lodging costs will probably increase.

Due to the proximity to the Sound, it does become humid throughout the summer. But it is a worthwhile trade-off on days with less cloud cover. Enjoying the area is greatly enhanced by clear skies.

The Cascade Mountain Range and the famous Mount Rainier can be seen peeking over the still lake on clear days.

What to understand before going

The island’s past is convoluted. It served as one of the Suquamish people’s ancestral dwellings. In the 1850s, the tribe traded their land rights for fishing privileges near the Sound and a reservation in Port Madison, Washington, with the United States government.

The government has repeatedly violated the terms of the treaty since it was ratified, necessitating intervention by the Supreme Court to uphold the rights of the Suquamish people.

It’s crucial to know the history of Bainbridge Island and, if at all feasible, leave greater room for Puget Sound’s indigenous people.

Consider making the little trip up to the Suquamish Museum in the north of the island, a fantastic educational destination for both tourists and locals. Consider donating to the Suquamish Foundation if you visit and take in the breathtaking beauty of this historic island; the Suquamish were stewards of the land even before the treaties.

The charity supports the island’s original guardians’ cultural and educational initiatives.

Best Transportation Methods

Getting to Bainbridge Island must come first. The ferry boat is the simplest and quickest method. Day visitors can continue driving and taking in the sights from the deck, or they can continue walking.

Although it is possible to drive onto the island, taking the ferry offers stunning views, the potential to spot wildlife, and the chance to breathe in the fresh sea air.

Ferry Ship

• Walk-on Price: $4.60 for seniors, children, and those with disabilities; $9.25 for adults.
• Motorized Ferry Fare: $20.90 (For most passenger automobiles) (For most passenger cars)
• Colman Dock, Pier 52, Seattle; Address (Departing Seattle)
• Address: 270 Olympic Drive SE Bainbridge Island, WA 98110 (Departing Bainbridge).

Note: Passengers can return to Seattle for free, but cars must pay.

Bike

By bicycle, the island is easily accessible. On the ferry, you can bring your bike or hire one when you get there. Even paved road is not a requirement for cyclists. Bikers may access the island’s famed natural beauty on some Bainbridge Island riding trails.

The Bike Barn, which offers road, hybrid, and electric bike rentals, is conveniently situated near the ferry dock. Given how mountainous Bainbridge Island is, give a hybrid or electric vehicle serious thought.

• Renting an electric bike costs $65 for two hours and $90 for four hours (Full day)
• Hybrid Bike Rental: $30 (2 hours), $40 (3-8 hours), $75 (2 days), $90 (3 days), and $175 (weekly)
• Renting a road bike costs $80 for a day, $145 for two days, and $350 for three days (weekly)

Car

While travelers could rent a car at the Seattle airport, Bainbridge Island offers a more distinctive choice. Volkswagen Vanagons with all the gear for an adventurous road trip or a night out camping is available for hire through PacWesty.

It is effectively a hotel on wheels, albeit costly.

Deposits: $500; $1500 (Security) (Booking)

Rental rates for Westfalia Vanagon begin at $195 per night (Depending on the season)

Starting at $225 per night for eTofino Vanagon rentals (Depending on season)

Including the van: A lot! All the kitchen necessities, sleeping bags, pillows, blankets, a power source, a cooler, etc. that campers could require. The website of PacWesty contains a complete list.

Places To Stay

Since the island is compact and accessible, there are no restrictions on where guests can go. Nevertheless, the Fort Ward region in the island’s south has some wonderful hiking paths.

However, for visitors without a car, the majority of the museums, hotels, and restaurants are located close to the downtown, also known as Winslow. Travelers can spend the night in Seattle and visit the island during the day by taking a short ferry ride.

But for those looking to experience small-town life, the island does offer a few hotels, inns, and other fascinating lodging alternatives.

Look into neighboring lodgings if you want to remain on Bainbridge without camping or sleeping in a Vanagon.

Luxury lodging:

SailBainbridge Sailboat

If my memory serves me well, staying on a yacht is referred to as being “fancy-schmancy.” A night spent onboard this traditional-style yacht will offer a distinctive and memorable experience for tourists ready to splash out.

A 2-hour cruise to see the Puget Sound sunset is included with the cost of the hotel room. Along with the night at sea, SailBainbridge offers other excursions.

• Price: $925 (up to 6 guests)
• Harbour Marina is located at 233 Parfitt Way SW in Bainbridge Island, Washington.

includes a breakfast and a sunset cruise

• Time to leave: 6:00 PM (Captain takes guests back to shore at 9 am)

Skiff Point Guest House and Retreat

Skiff Point Guest House is an excellent choice for individuals seeking a cozy and pleasant atmosphere. The Loft Suite and The Carriage House, two completely furnished guesthouses, are available at this adorable getaway.

It has all the conveniences of home along with the vistas and design of Bainbridge. There is a 2-night minimum stay requirement; during certain portions of the summer, it is 3 nights.

• $250 for one night (Suites sleep 4-6 people)
• Location: Bainbridge Island, Washington, 11040 NE Mountain View Road
• A full kitchen, DISH TV, a garden, and a porch are all features of the suites.

Accommodations of a Middle Class:

The Marshall Suites

The Marshall Suites is a less expensive boutique hotel. This choice is in a prime location close to the Bloedel Reserve, Puget Sound, and downtown Winslow.

Price: Nightly rates begin at $190.

350 High School Road NE, Bainbridge Island, Washington

The hotel, Eagle Harbor

This beautiful inn features two townhouses that are separated by a courtyard and five rooms with distinctive decor. Perfect for a romantic weekend away, the accommodations enjoy a beautiful view of the lake.

Address: 291 Madison Ave. S., Bainbridge Island, WA, starting at $200 per night

Affordable Accommodations

An Elf House

To experience hobbit life, visitors don’t need to take a flight to New Zealand. This tiny hobbit hole carved into the ground for a terrific glamping experience is one of the more unusual lodgings on Bainbridge.

Of course, it includes a cardboard cutout of a real hobbit.

• Cost: $126 per night
• Address: Highway 305, 3 miles north of the ferry station (exact location provided when booking)

Hotel on Bainbridge Island

This inn has outdoor doors and a motel-style design. However, the charming exterior and inviting accommodations live up to the inn’s name. Its proximity to Winslow makes it an excellent choice for those on a tight budget.

Address: 920 Hildebrand Ln NE, Bainbridge Island, WA, starting at $125 per night

What to eat

Breakfast is available at Pier on Bainbridge Island in Washington at Pegasus Coffee.

There are lots of individuals on the island who get up early to go on treks, go kayaking, or just watch the gorgeous sunrises over the Sound. They must eat in a reputable restaurant, such as Pegasus Coffee. With its exposed brick front covered in ivy, one could easily mistake it for a tavern in a small Irish village.

They are most known for their coffee, which has earned them a spot on the Financial Times’ list of the world’s greatest coffee shops. They even provide a coffee beginning kit and one-on-one teaching.

They do offer soups, delicious breakfast sandwiches, and other morning essentials.

• Hours are 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

Lunch

The Japanese restaurant Hi Life serves poke bowls, sweets, and Japanese food right in the heart of Winslow. Of course, the island offers excellent seafood, but Hi Life seems to stand out.

The poke shokado, a sampler of their poke and appetizers, is their most well-known meal. Additionally, a restaurant must be good if its sauces had to be packaged because consumers loved them so much.

• Time: 11 am to 7 pm (Every day)
• Location: 220 Olympic Drive SE, Bainbridge Island, Washington

Dinner

This is a real farm that provides food from its farmhouse and is sustainable. The main floor of the house has communal seats, while the upstairs is for private events.

Of course, for a Bainbridge experience, the farm uses regional and seasonal ingredients, including their own. Consider making a reservation in advance because tables are in high demand due to the experience, atmosphere, and food.

• Hours: 4:30 pm–9:30 pm Price: $$$ (Thu-Sun)
• 4370 Old Mill Road NE, Bainbridge Island, Washington 98510

Distillery

Which is that? Not a whisky fan? Fear not, gin is available from Bainbridge Organic Distillers. Not a fan of gin? They produce vodka as well. At this distillery that is family owned and operated, there is something for everyone (kids excluded).

They exclusively use crops cultivated organically to maintain the island’s sustainability focus. A taste is offered after a tour of the distillery.

12 p.m. to 5 p.m. (Wed-Sun)

Address: 101, Ste. 101, 9727 Coppertop Lp. NE, Bainbridge Island, WA

Popular spots:

• Marketplace (Coffee/Deli/Taproom), another hot spot
• Italian/Pizza Brewery on Bainbridge Island Bruciato
• (Seafood, Tapas, Bar) Seabird
• The Bakery & Chocolatier L’Atelier TR

We could all use a little mental calm this year.

When we thought the holiday meltdowns were over, the FAA’s systems malfunctioned, causing a lengthy nationwide suspension of air travel. And just when we think the war in Ukraine is about to come to an end, another horrifying missile attack shocks everyone who is considering travelling to Europe.

According to Jackie Friedman, president of Nexion Travel Group, “travel continues to be complex.” By offering the tourist expert advice before, during, and after their journey, a travel advisor will still be valuable in 2023.

But not everyone needs a travel counsellor. You may be able to avoid hiring an advisor and avoid paying the hefty booking costs if you only require a simple domestic flight ticket or a room at a roadside motel. A professional is required if you’re organizing a more involved vacation, such as a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, an Antarctic cruise, or a safari in Kenya. more than ever before.

But in 2023, what’s new in the world of travel agents?

They can hardly be destroyed. Today’s travel advisors have seen it all, as my grandma would say. That covers the epidemic, the savage agency commission cuts, the revolution in online travel, and 9/11.

They have picked up new skills and honed new specialities.

These days, travel consultants tailor everything, including your lodging, activities, and mode of transportation. With technology, they’re doing it better.

They’ve advanced their knowledge of travel by studying nations, cities, and even communities. With that, Google cannot compete.

Additionally, in 2023, travel advisors will continue their educational journey as they continue to improve.

Travel experts are prepared for any challenge:

If it’s been a while since you’ve organized a trip, you’ll appreciate the expertise of the best travel agents.

According to Claire Riley, owner of Duende Travels in La Jolla, California, “one of the major benefits across the board is that we’re into the fourth calendar year of planning a vacation with COVID-19 still in the picture.” “Over the past few years, a significant portion of the job has involved dealing with last-minute trip adjustments, coordinating with travel insurance providers, and managing traveller concern around impending journeys in the COVID era. And with that expertise comes a tonne of fresh information that, in my opinion, is improving the sector as a whole.”

In 2023, travel agents will have greater training.

Keep in mind that travel advisories have endured lockdowns and travel restrictions. What did they do when they had free time? Well, several of them returned to school to improve their craft after assisting their clients in receiving reimbursements.

The CEO of Special Needs Group, a supplier of medical equipment, Andrew Garnett, claims that “they focused on learning through training certifications.” Therefore, they are better able to assist passengers in achieving their dream vacation thanks to their experience and recently obtained knowledge, as well as the added security of knowing what to do in case something goes wrong while they are travelling.

They can provide advanced customization.

According to Shane Mahoney, CEO of Lugo’s Travel, “Travel advisers will be offering more customized and bespoke trips to their clients than ever before in 2023.” According to him, there are new programmes that enable advisors to learn more about their client’s interests and travel plans.

For instance, he explains, “We have very advanced algorithms that can build trip itineraries in under five minutes. These plans create a highly tailored and carefully curated itinerary by taking into account the interests and aims of each customer, rather than just generic paperwork listing usual tourist attractions.

A website cannot perform that level of in-depth customization, at least not yet.

“Hyperlocalized” travel professionals

Travel consultants have long had a niche. But according to analysts, they’re going to a completely new level in 2023.

Go Ask a Local travel site owner Manny Salorio provides a case study of “hyper localization.”

According to Salorio, Luca Dolfino, an Athens-based travel agent who has been organizing island-hopping trips for ten years, is the person to contact when planning a trip to Greece. “Use Nicholas Cino’s twelve years of knowledge in adventure planning and design if you’re going to Peru. Andrés Helguson, a travel advisor based in the Reykjavik countryside who has spent almost two decades working as a driver-guide and agent, will be in charge of organizing your vacation to Iceland.”

Throughout the entire sector, this trend is developing. Some travel consultants and brokers concentrate not just on a nation but also on a single city. and maybe even a small section of a metropolis. You’ll gain from their assistance if you’re going there.

In 2023, travel advice will still change.

Kenroy Herbert, the creator of Leviticus Lifestyle & Travel, a concierge company that specialises in renting out luxury homes, aircraft, yachts, and private islands, agrees. According to him, this year will see an acceleration of the transition from transaction-focused travel agents to professional advisors that provide recommendations on your next holiday.

“They get to know customers better, and the relationship goes beyond that of an agent, but also that of a trusted friend,” the author claims.

Finding a travel agent in 2023

How can you locate a travel agent who is developing their talents, is extremely knowledgeable, and is extremely sensitive to your trip requirements?

Ask a friend, relative, or coworker who already uses a travel advisor for a recommendation. Ask for references and look up the advisor’s internet reviews and endorsements.

Ensure that your travel expert is well-versed in the locations and travel experiences you are interested in. It is fair to anticipate an itinerary with thorough details and suggestions based on the agent’s personal experiences and investigation.

Investigate joining a specialized organization, such as the American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA) or the Institute of Certified Travel Agents (ICTA). Both of these groups hold their members to high standards and can offer the advisor more resources.

Will there be travel advisors in 2023?

Travel agents, as they were known back then, and I recall having a contentious discussion about going beyond transactions and becoming actual authorities in their profession. The agents claimed that the method functioned well, but 20 years later, I believe the advantages prevailed.

But these professionals can be pricey. Typical advisor costs range from $25 for a straightforward airline ticket to more than $500 for a complex foreign trip. The fees are typically charged for services like booking flights, hotels, and rental vehicles, as well as designing personalized itineraries and offering general advice. They may be a fixed amount or a percentage of the entire cost of the trip.

Additional fees for services like passport and visa help, travel insurance, and emergency travel support may also apply to the services provided by travel consultants.

The expense of a fee might be reduced by the commission that many travel professionals also take. Always inquire about the financial details of a travel transaction before making any reservations.

The year 2023 might be the year that travels advisors—sorry, agents—arrive as the experts they were always supposed to be. The winners will be travellers like us.

Great dining, fine art, and fine clothing are well-known in Paris.

However, a recent assessment from the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) also claims that Paris is the most influential tourist destination in the world.

The WTTC, a nonprofit organization for the travel sector with headquarters in the UK, examined tourist statistics from 2022 to determine where visitors were spending the most money.

However, more than just hotel rooms and museum admissions were taken into consideration while compiling the overall list of the most effective tourism cities. The amount of money that local, state, and federal businesses and governments invest in these towns as tourism destinations was the other determinant.

As the number one city on the list, Paris is getting ready to host the 2024 Summer Olympics. Less than 5% of the venues will be brand-new for the Games, but the city is investing heavily in infrastructure, security, and other preparations to host the world.

According to that calculation, the entire revenue from tourism in the French capital was $35.6 billion.

Who else made the list, then?

The WTTC list included three cities from each of the two nations. One was the United States, represented by Orlando, New York City, and Las Vegas.

Even though each city earns a sizable sum of money from tourism, they all cater to different types of tourists. For example, families who want to visit the city’s theme parks frequently choose Orlando, while gambling and nightlife enthusiasts flock to Las Vegas and New York City respectively.

Orlando had the greatest revenue of this group, bringing in $31 billion for 2022. There are a lot of Mickey Mouse ears there.

China is now developing tourism destination

For 2022, three Chinese cities—Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou—made the top 10.

Additional Chinese locations are rising in the ranking. Sanya, a beach resort on Hainan Island in southern China, and Macao were specifically mentioned as sites to watch in the future.

Since its border has been reopened, China has made significant investments in the tourism industry and is actively marketing to foreign tourists. 

The only place in China with legal gambling is Macao, and unlike the mainland, it is simpler for most foreigners to travel there without a visa.

China will rule its ranks by 2032, according to the WTTC.

According to Julia Simpson, President & CEO of the WTTC, “major cities like London, Paris, and New York will remain global powerhouses, but over the next few years, Beijing, Shanghai, and Macao will be climbing up the list of top city destinations.”

Other notables

Of course, the WTTC list includes representation from more than two nations. To finish out the top ten, Tokyo, Mexico City, and London was ranked seventh, eighth, and ninth, respectively.

Finding out who didn’t make the list was intriguing in some ways.

There were two unexpected omissions in the Middle East, whose popularity has soared in the last ten years.

Despite dominating the list of destinations with the highest amount of tourism money was the opulent Dubai and the soccer World Cup host Doha, they didn’t perform as well in the other categories and fell outside the top 10.

The same thing happened to Amsterdam, Barcelona, and Singapore, which received high marks for visitor spending but didn’t make the overall “most powerful” list.

The top cities in the world for tourism in 2022

1. Paris, France

2. Beijing, China

3. Orlando, Florida

4. Shanghai, China

5. Las Vegas, Nevada

6. New York, New York

7. Tokyo, Japan

8. Mexico City, Mexico

9. London, UK

10. Guangzhou, China