Romance can be found in so many different and unique places around the world. Yes, you want that beautiful romantic element to your travel experience, but what else are you looking to pair it with? The following is a list of some of my favorite destinations around the globe, compiled into categories you can identify with and will be drawn to based on your own interests. This list could easily change seven times before Friday, but it’s a fantastic starting point to help you think about creating the type of travel experience that fits you personally.
Read MoreIs planning a vacation last minute a good idea? No. Not if you really are trying to have your best experience. I think many people either don’t realize that planning in advance can work to their advantage, or they believe that all the best deals are found last minute. That’s simply not true. Planning in advance allows you to craft the perfect trip to suit your tastes, and gives you access to everything your trip should encompass. You aren’t settling, you are able to set the tone for your perfect trip.
So, the question to ask is when is the optimal time to start planning your next vacation? There are 3 main things to consider when deciding how far in advance you should begin planning, and booking all the necessary components.
Read MoreI have an entrepreneurial spirit. I have always known that about myself, and it was further confirmed when I took a multitude of tests after I retired from being an athlete that were supposed to help guide me into my next career. It told me I was driven, self-motivated, unafraid of taking risks, resourceful, don’t need to actually get paid to work my tail off… and on and on.
I took that entrepreneurial spirit and paired it with my love for travel for two very important reasons. The first is pretty obvious — I am passionate about travel and love helping others experience more of the world in an authentic way. Planning and organizing is a skill set, and I pair it with my knack for understanding the desires of others and finding great joy in seeing their dreams come to life. The second reason that lights me up as well, is that it is a business I can build that allows me to have location freedom.
Read MoreHere is yet another thing I love about traveling the world: You can literally pick the season you want to enjoy at any time of year, and go somewhere perfectly suited to experience it. Did you miss your opportunity for a summer vacation? Or are you like me, and jump at the chance to work on your tan any chance you get? Well, you’re in luck.
Since most people don’t start their winter travel until mid or late December, traveling in November and early December means crowds are small and your vacation dollar will go a lot further in huge sections of the travel world.
Today’s blog gives you some fantastic ideas to help you add a week or two of summer vibes toward the end of the year.
Read MoreIs there anything worse than getting off of an international flight tired, cranky, and hangry, only to be met with a ridiculously long custom’s line, that inches forward at the slowest pace known to man?! Of course, the person right ahead of you will have forgotten to sign their paperwork and the agent will probably have about 17 extra questions for them. These are all first world problems, I know. But coming home from international travel and dealing with customs is by far my least favorite part of traveling. Unless you have Global Entry, you’re stuck- until now.
Enter Mobile Passport. Music to my globe-trotting ears.
Read MoreOver the past week, continued tragedy has hit our world. There hardly seem enough hashtags to keep up with all of the horrific events taking place around the globe and in our own backyards.
It’s pretty frightening, isn’t it?
I happened to catch the story of what occurred in Nice, France right as it was unfolding. I know people who live there. I recall my own vacation in Nice, walking the same streets that were now making dark history. I have clients who vacationed there only weeks ago. It hit close to home.
While events such as this one can very easily make us feel like it’s not safe to go anywhere these days, I don’t believe we should give them the power to prevent us from carrying on with our lives.
Read MoreFor the last two weeks I’ve been glued to the T.V. watching the Olympic Trials for Track and Field, and witnessing the life transforming moments of athletes seeing their dreams be realized as they become Olympians. There is not much more thrilling to me than the Olympics, and I become consumed every 4 years.
If you have the opportunity to make your way to Rio this summer for the Olympic Games, let me first tell you that I am insanely jealous— in the best way.
Rio is an amazing city that I have had the opportunity to visit a handful of times, and I know that it will add it’s special magic to the 2016 Summer Games. Because a trip like this is a fusing of my two biggest passions, I'd love to pass along some helpful information for anyone traveling there next month.
Read MoreFour years ago I moved away from San Diego after I retired as an athlete and was heading into a new career field. I had gotten hired as a pharmaceutical sales rep with an LA territory, and my life was taking a pivot. It was not a huge move— San Diego to Los Angeles hardly qualifies as a big change. But the overall look of my life was a complete makeover.
I was bummed to be leaving San Diego, but it wasn’t long before life in LA started to grow on me again. I had friends and family nearby, there were great restaurants and cool, hipster coffee shops on every other corner. I also had a ton of awesome boutique workout studios to choose from for all my new civilian workouts, and began to take advantage of all the great things that make LA an awesome place to live (from the opinions of everyone who doesn’t hate LA).
Read MoreThe Game of Thrones season finale may mean life feels a little empty but you can cheer yourself up with a trip to Northern Ireland and the dramatic locations where the series was filmed.
I recently had a client depart for a month long trip to Europe, with half of that time spent in Ireland/Northern Ireland with—you guessed it—a focus on Game of Thrones sightseeing. Unbeknownst to me at the beginning of our vacation planning, some of the most majestic locations in Northern Ireland have become part and parcel of Westeros.
Read MoreI love a good beach club. There’s something about the beach AND a party vibe that makes all the sense in the world to me. Yes, I want to lounge in comfort, sip my overpriced umbrella’d drink, nosh on some yummy food, and listen to some great tunes— all while watching the waves crash!
When I visited Bali last year, I actually researched all the different beach clubs and made a list of all the ones I wanted to visit. They were all unique. Some were your typical party vibes, while others were laid back and unpretentious, letting the scenery and the essence of Bali do the talking. And honestly, when you are in Bali that is quite enough. But I made sure to sample a variety of them, for research purposes of course.
Read MoreTraveling by train in Italy is my favorite way to travel. Not only are their network of trains convenient and reliable, you also get some spectacular views of the countryside. Today, I wanted to answer a few of the most common questions I get about traveling by train in Italy, and hopefully guide you towards choosing the best mode of transportation for you on your next Italian adventure.
Read MoreOverview: A visit to French Polynesia is about as close as it gets to experiencing paradise. Enjoy 7 beautiful sun-soaked days as you quickly slip into a slower-paced way of life and spend your days enjoying the turquoise waters and top of the line luxury accommodations in your own overwater bungalow. Bora Bora is considered one of the most the most romantic islands in the world. From the dramatic scenery to the privacy and amenities of the overwater bungalows, everything here equals a 10 on the romance scale.
Read MoreExploring a new city through it’s culinary offerings is pretty much my favorite thing ever. I like food. I hesitate to call myself a “foodie”, simply because I’m not fancy with it at all. I just like what I like, and what I love most of all is the experience a good meal can provide. It makes you savor and appreciate the moment. To me, that is what life is all about.
So, what did I do while I was in Vancouver for an entire week? I ate my way through the city. Many of my favorites came from locals or visitors who passed along their favorites to me, and recommendations through my people on social media (thank you!). I am sharing my favorites with you in hopes that during your next visit to this amazing city in the Pacific Northwest you can tag me in your foodie photo on Instagram, and let me know how amazing your meal was as well!
Read MoreI love Central America. Costa Rica is one of my “soul destinations”, and by that I mean a place I go to to get in tune with the deepest parts of me, and where I feel like the beauty of nature is on display everywhere you turn. There are so many destinations within Costa Rica to visit and fall in love with, but it also happens to be neighbors with some other pretty awesome countries as well.
Recently, I had the opportunity to plan an incredible trip to Costa Rica and add on a side trip to Nicaragua. I feel so inspired by it, that it’s on my to do list to take my own adventure to Nicaragua sometime soon! It’s proximity to the Guanacaste region makes it an amazing addition to a Costa Rican adventure, or an experience all on it’s own.
Read MoreYes, you should explore the world. But you should also take the time to explore your own backyard. I have become more and more inspired to make these trips a priority in my travel experiences, and it’s been amazing!
If you don’t know where to start, here is a good place. This is basically my itinerary from the trip I just got back from. It’s a week long itinerary and we are going to have it start in Phoenix and end in Vegas for the out of towner who isn’t driving from home. It’s easy to do flights this way, and it makes a lot more sense when you want to get in as much as possible and not backtrack. These are literally the shortest amounts of time I would recommend spending—if you can, stay longer!
Read MoreLet’s face it: the selfie is so yesterday. Yes, they’re great for instant gratification, Facebook feeds, and fun Instagram updates. But couples are moving away from letting “the selfie” define their honeymoon.
Couples are still taking impromptu snapshots while walking along the bridges of Paris or lingering over afternoon cocktails in Rome. But the selfie is now seen as a fun snapshot, a digital moment to share on social media. In addition to these fun self-portraits, couples are now craving something more. They want higher quality pictures that truly reflect their personalities. They also want pictures that are worth printing or using to make beautiful photo books of their trip. Because a honeymoon is such a unique and once-in-a-lifetime trip, couples now value honeymoon photography just as much as their own wedding photography.
Read MoreTulum is fast becoming one of the “go-to” Mexican destinations for many travelers. It’s easy to see why this Mayan city built next to the sea is so popular. It has a spectacular setting, and a laid-back, casual chic vibe that makes it an ideal place to relax and rejuvenate.
Here is my personal rundown of how to best enjoy this Caribbean beauty.
Read MoreLiving in Southern California my whole life sometimes makes me forget that it is also an ideal vacation destination. I frequent the best beaches when I have an afternoon free, meet my friends for dinner at some of the finest restaurants, and enjoy cocktails at sunset on some of the city’s most picturesque rooftops. These moments are actually what others consider a vacation—and a nice one at that!
Recently, I’ve explored some fantastic properties in Beverly Hills and wanted to expand on that and provide you with an easy and amazing way to have the perfect getaway in LA’s most famous zip code.
This is a perfect itinerary for a girls getaway, or just an excuse to add a little glitz and glamour to your life with your significant other one weekend because life is too short not to enjoy it to the fullest.
Read MoreThere are so many things I love about the Tuscany region of Italy, that I consider it my top destination for honeymoons in Europe. And there is nothing I love more than crafting a perfect honeymoon experience. There are two main ways you can do Italy— spend your time seeing a lot, or take your time having an experience. For couples who appreciate the ability to soak in the true essence of Tuscany, and create lasting memories of special moments within a trip customized specifically for you, consider the following outline as a sneak peek into my version of la dolce vita.
Begin in Florence…
Read MoreI will never forget the first time I packed for a 3 week trip to Europe. I exited the airport with 2 full sized roller bags, a carryon roller bag, and a backpack. Included in those suitcases were various outfit options for whatever might come up during my time abroad, about 10 pairs of shoes, and at least 6 pairs of jeans. I wanted to be prepared.
I then remember the moment when I needed to take the train from one city to the next. I looked around anxiously for the elevator or escalator that would take me from street level to where the platforms were and saw nothing. So I made 3 trips up and down the stairs with two 50 pound bags, as frenchmen whisked past me with no offers of help.
Never again.
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