Items People Always Forget When Travelling

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May – Atlanta

So, technically this one was a work trip – but it was so much fun that I felt it needed to count as my monthly trip! Another colleague and I went to work on an important project for 3 nights and we had an amazing time!  

We stayed at the Intercontinental in Buckhead and went exploring with our local friends and colleagues.  The first night we went to Portofino, a lovely Italian restaurant with a great patio.  Our server was attentive and knowledgeable and didn’t turn up his nose when I exercised my right to take multiple food photos!  

The following evening, we explored an emerging area on the Atlanta beltline – a long pedestrian/cyclist path that has gorgeous condos, street art and restaurants popping up practically overnight.  

We ended up choosing the LadyBird Grove and Mess Hall for dinner where we shared a board of bacon-stuffed trout, sweet potato gratin and charred broccoli salad.  Amidst conversation of the good ‘ole days of beepers and pigeon carriers, we relaxed and enjoyed specialty cocktails and wine on their enclosed patio.

April – Memories Holguin

This trip will always be special to me as it was my little sister’s first time to a Caribbean destination.  It was so wonderful to experience the excitement and elation of exploring a new culture through her eyes.  

We arrived late at night and then spent the majority of our stay on the beautiful beach.  Holguin is so naturally beautiful, with mountains and trees as far as the eye can see – there were even trees providing natural shade right on the beach!  The resort was simply stunning, with multiple pools stacked one on top of the other, connected by waterfalls leading all the way up the property to the main lobby.  

Because of the way it is situated on the side of a hill, you have an amazing view of the pools and the ocean from the main buffet (La Hacienda), not to mention a great workout going up and down the multiple staircases running alongside the pools!  This resort also has very spacious rooms to accommodate large families and many restaurant options to choose from.   My little sister was so enamored that she drank out of a coconut for her entire trip!  

We also used the VIP Lounge at the Holguin airport, which was such a great way to travel – we had priority check-in, an open bar, snacks and we were the first people on the plane.  

March – Havana and Varadero, Cuba

In March I became even more ambitious and planned a one-night tour of Havana and Varadero!  I flew out with a colleague and we landed early in Varadero.  We had a private transfer to our hotel in Havana, so we decided to stop at the picturesque Bacunayagua bridge, the tallest bridge in Cuba.  We drank pina coladas out of coconuts while we took in the view.  

We arrived at the Memories Miramar in Havana just in time for lunch and had a fantastic mahi-mahi in their International and Creole restaurant, El Patio.  

After a leisurely lunch, we headed into Havana to explore the city with our private tour guide.  I had been to Havana before on a day excursion, but this was much more laid-back as we had more time to spend in each location.  The architecture feels like you’ve stepped back into another century and is simply stunning.  We navigated the cobblestone streets, bought some pastries and mojitos, danced in the square to some live music and enjoyed our time immensely.  

We returned back to the Memories for dinner at the buffet, and it was amongst the best Cuban food I have ever had (the buffet had brie!).  

The next morning, we headed to the Memories Jibacoa, which is located right in between Varadero and Havana (about 45 minutes from each direction).  This quiet resort is so uniquely positioned with mountains on one side of the resort and a coral reef that you can easily snorkel to as it is only 100 feet from the beachfront!  The rooms were spacious and the poutine bar made it feel like home!  I am already looking forward to returning to both of these resorts for a more extended stay.

February - Aruba

My husband and I decided to go to Aruba for 2 nights on a whim in February.  There were several holidays (Family Day, Reading Week, Valentine’s Day and President’s Day), so all of the hotels were sold out, but there was an amazing last-minute deal on flights.  We booked a little villa online and decided to go for it! 

We could not have picked a better time to visit this beautiful island.  Not only were we walking distance to the main beach and hotel area in Palm Beach, but the villa had a beautiful pool and full facilities.  It was also the island’s Carnival celebration, which is such an amazing way to experience the local culture and effervescence.  We shared a cab with a lovely couple also on vacation down to the annual parade in Oranjestad and we danced in the streets as floats and the most elaborate costumes led the giant celebration.  

When we returned to our villa, we met a lovely couple (one was from Aruba, the other, Curacao) and asked them where we could go for some local cuisine.  They brought us to the popular Palm Beach Plaza which has shopping, restaurants and night clubs and we went to a restaurant called “the Queen’s”.  They had local favourites such as “pan bati”, sweet fried bread and delicious stews with plantains and rice.  After dinner, we walked around the shops and watched a fountain show in the middle of the square.  

We spent the remainder of our stay on the beach, it was such perfect, arid weather (it only rains a few times per year) and we had to apply the sunscreen liberally!  On our return, my husband bought me the most gorgeous ring at the airport jewelers – rose gold filled with diamonds and small hearts carved into the sides.  All in all, it was an amazing experience and definitely worth visiting, if only for 2 nights!

January - Royalton Riviera Cancun, Mexico

This impromptu girls' vacation was a long overdue reunion with one of my best friends.  We have kept in touch regularly over the years (29 years to be exact) but I live in the Toronto area whereas she lives in Richmond, VA.  We took separate flights in and met at this brand-new luxury hotel.  I am an avid traveller, but this was my first time to Mexico, so I wasn't entirely sure what to expect.  The airport was quite busy, with several flights landing at the same time.  In true form, I made friends with my fellow passengers in line and passed away the time talking about our previous vacations.  The hotel was only a 10 minute drive from the airport, and the hotel was impressive even from the (albeit long) driveway.  My girlfriend welcomed me and we were whisked off to the Hideaway (adults-only) private check-in area.  As we waited for our room, we caught up at the bar within the check-in area and became acquainted with the local drink selection.  Our room was simply AMAZING - a swim out room, the most comfortable beds, rain showers, a huge tub with jets and 24-hour room service are just a few of the luxurious room amenities.

We had dinner at Agave (MesoAmerican Fusion), the Hunter Steakhouse, Armadillo's (TexMex) and OPA! (Mediterranean).  The Service was efficient, the food was phenomenal and the staff were incredibly friendly.  The Gourmet Marché (Buffet) is amongst the best I have ever had, with a ridiculous amount of options, including fresh guacamole, pastries, grill items and even a mini-buffet for the kids which is lower to the ground.  The SCORE sports bar is open until 4am and serves amazing poutine, chicken wings and is directly across from the disco, so you have easy access to drinks and food while you dance the night away!  There is also a great martini bar (Martini Mix), where most people went before/after dinner.  It was such a great way to meet people and hear about everyone’s experiences at the resort.  We met a couple from our hometown who had actually gone to our elementary school and we have stayed in touch ever since!

My favourite part of the resort was the Hideaway - this section of the resort is reserved for adults only and has daily activities by the pool (stell drum bands, chocolate parties, etc.).  The pool is simply amazing - it is heated in the evenings (which is especially nice in January) and has little "booths" inside of it that are great for socializing while you take advantage of the two swim-up bars.  The pool also surrounds the Dorado (Seafood, Adults-Only) restaurant which serves breakfast, lunch and dinner from a fantastic menu.  It overlooks the ocean and as with all of the restaurants at the Royalton, no reservations are required.

Overall, I highly recommend the resort for families, weddings, honeymoons, couples - there's definitely something for everyone!

A Year in Travel

A Year in Travel

I feel like there is such a negative connotation to New Year's resolutions.  To be honest, I usually abstain completely, but this year I decided to come up with a resolution that would motivate me throughout the year as well as enrich my life in a positive way. It was with this goal in mind that I decided to travel somewhere different every month this year!  I'm officially past the halfway mark with plans for the rest of the year, so it's time to start posting my adventures!