About Rachel Jones

Rachel Jones left a career in nursing and lived on the beaches of Goa, India for the five years. Now she lives in Mexico where she gives advice on the 40+ countries she’s visited in the last 10 years. She’s the author of two India travel e-books: Guide to India and Insider’s Guide to Goa. Her blog, Hippie in Heels, like its name, is a contradiction combining off-beat adventurous places with glamorous and bespoke travel. Hippie in Heels has been featured in ELLE, Marie Claire, Grazia, and Cosmopolitan magazines. She’s a writer for Bravo TV.

Gypsy East’s Tips for Buying Jewelry in India

Remember when I shared about the cool people I met while backpacking India solo? Well, one of those girls introduced me to her hippie friend that lives on and off in Goa. The group of girls own Gyspy East, a unique jewelry company that sources silver and gemstones from all over the world (but mostly

Backpackers Boutique: Packing Tips from Paula Through the Looking Glass

Welcome to Backpacker's Boutique. Every Sunday, this spot will feature a new travel blogger. Some weeks it will be a really fun interview about packing, fashion, and fitness so you can snoop inside their bags & lives a little bit and other weeks it'll be a detailed luxury guide to a city the featured blogger/expat knows very well. E-mail me

This is India! 56

Welcome back to This is India! I always have funny/weird stories about India to share with friends or family when I talk to them. This is just meant to be an honest portrayal about my life in India through short anecdotes. I also share here what I’ve been up to online outside Hippie in Heels.

Absolute Bliss at 3 Top Spas in Maui

I am just addicted to massage. I mean, I give Thai massages, but usually after I give one I tell people OMG I need one myself now. In India they aren't that expensive so you could get one for $10 bucks & weekly if you felt like it. In Maui they are a little more

Complete Guide to Traveling in Karnataka & 9 Hotspots

I am BLOWN away by Karnataka. For some reason, tourists just don't spend much time traveling in Karnataka. Backpackers pop over to Hampi (the mysterious boulders) or maybe a trip to Jog Falls and that's about it. Even Indian nationals were saying, "holy cow is that REALLY in India!?" on comments of my Karnataka photos. Karnataka is

Luxury Guide to Austin

Welcome to Backpacker's Boutique. Every Sunday, this spot will feature a new travel blogger. Some weeks it will be a really fun interview about packing, fashion, and fitness so you can snoop inside their bags & lives a little bit and other weeks it'll be a detailed luxury guide to a city the featured blogger/expat knows very well. E-mail me if

This is India! 55

Welcome back to This is India! I always have funny/weird stories about India to share with friends or family when I talk to them. This is just meant to be an honest portrayal about my life in India through short anecdotes. I also share here what I’ve been up to online outside Hippie in Heels.

9 things I can’t wait to do when I’m back in Ohio, TODAY!

I am coming back to the US! I will be in good ol' Lexington Ohio for the most part for the almost 6 weeks I'll be home. So many things were running through my head of what I want to do when I'm back, and more importantly what I want my mom to cook. When