Katie's Bliss

Babymoon Recap | Four Seasons Resort Palm Beach Review

Amy Clackner — Mon, 22 Aug 2022 21:34:08 +0000

OUTFIT DETAILS // Green Bikini Top | Green Bikini Bottoms | Sun Hat | Oversized Sunglasses | Louis Vuitton Tote

Nick and I had the best getaway to the Four Seasons Resort Palm Beach earlier this month. We went for three nights and four days and felt like it was the perfect amount of time to recharge before we start nesting for baby #2.

This was actually our first solo trip as a couple since our honeymoon, where we coincidently also stayed at a Four Seasons property. Since the bulk of my first pregnancy took place during the pandemic lockdowns, we never got to take a babymoon before Nate’s arrival so this trip was very overdue and exactly what we needed!

OUTFIT DETAILS // Blue Gradient Bikini Top | Blue Gradient Bikini Bottoms | Sun Hat | Oversized Sunglasses

OUTFIT DETAILS // Stripe Maxi Dress | Tory Burch Sandals | Louis Vuitton Tote | Sun Hat | Oversized Sunglasses

We’d been to Palm Beach once for a work event for me a few years ago, however this was our first time really getting to enjoy the beach and sunshine that Palm Beach is known for. Since the goal of the trip was to simply relax we chose the Four Seasons Resort Palm Beach due to its waterfront location, beautiful pools, world-class spa and restaurant. We wanted to stay somewhere that had everything we needed right on-site so we wouldn’t have to rent a car or feel like we needed to trek around to entertain ourselves, so it was perfect!.

OUTFIT DETAILS // Lavender Midi Dress | Tory Burch Sandals | Louis Vuitton Tote | Flower Statement Earrings

The resort is incredibly beautiful and we were really happy with our accommodations, the service and the hotel’s amenities. We spent the majority of our stay by the pool and beach, but did indulge in a couples’ massage at the spa (mine was a prenatal) that was amazing! We had breakfast every morning + one dinner at Florie’s, the hotel restaurant, and then ordered lunch everyday from the expansive poolside menu. The food and drinks we had at every meal were wonderful!

OUTFIT DETAILS // Ribbed Tank Dress | Braided Heels | Louis Vuitton Tote

OUTFIT DETAILS // Red Bikini Top | Red Bikini Bottoms | Sun Hat | Oversized Sunglasses

OUTFIT DETAILS // Blue Midi Dress | Tory Burch Sandals | Louis Vuitton Tote

If you’ve seen my other travel guides and hotel reviews then you’re probably used to getting a lot more information and recommendations, but honestly this trip was meant to be low key (not the norm for us lol) so I don’t have much else to share! If you’re looking to visit a destination that’s sunny, beautiful and warm all year long and want to stay at an intimate luxury resort, then I can’t recommend the Four Seasons Palm Beach enough!

OUTFIT DETAILS // Lilly Pulitzer Cover-Up | Tory Burch Sandals | Louis Vuitton Tote | Sun Hat

The post Babymoon Recap | Four Seasons Resort Palm Beach Review appeared first on Katie's Bliss.

Bahamas Trip Recap | Grand Hyatt Baha Mar Resort Review

Katie — Thu, 24 Feb 2022 23:22:20 +0000

We had the BEST time on our recent trip to the Bahamas. Not only was it our first vacation as a family of three, but it was also the first trip Nick and I have taken since our HONEYMOON. Talk about a change of pace… For this trip we really wanted to find a resort that was family-friendly, yet also had the amenities and perks that we would look for in a hotel if we were planning a vacation without

kids.

While we’ve typically always planned all of our trips ourselves, traveling with a toddler is just a different ball game and the research process became too overwhelming. We realized we needed some help so we decided to use Beachbound to find the right destination and hotel. BeachBound is a travel company that specializes in planning all-inclusive getaways and curated beach vacations for groups and families. They work with over 70 different destinations and will assist you from start to finish with booking your perfect vacation. They handle everything– the hotel search process, booking your rooms/flights/car transfers, setting up excursions, making dinner reservations– the list goes on. Their services were a game changer for us and really helped take a lot of the stress that comes with planning a trip off of our backs.

With the help of the Beachbound team, we ultimately decided to book a 5-night stay at the Grand Hyatt Baha Mar in Nassau, Bahamas. It checked all of our boxes: family-friendly, lots of activities for kiddos, wide variety of restaurants and bars, beautiful pools and beachfront. We really wanted to make this a relaxing vacation (well, as relaxing as it can be with a toddler lol) which meant choosing somewhere where we’d never have to leave the resort. And boy let me tell you, Baha Mar has it all. You could probably spend a month there and still find something new to do. The property is HUGE– almost like it’s own little city.

Before I get into more detail about the resort itself, I’ll quickly explain how we traveled to The Bahamas as well as the pre-flight Covid-testing requirements.

The Bahamas is currently open to all US travelers who have the following: a negative Covid test completed prior to your flight and a Bahamas Health Pass. Once travelers have their negative test results, they can apply for the health pass on the Bahamas government website. This page explains all of the requirements in more detail.

I won’t lie. It was a bit nerve-wracking completing the testing and applying for the pass in such a short timeframe prior to our flight. We ended up paying out of pocket for tests at a local clinic that would provide immediate results vs going to a pharmacy and possibly having to wait 24-48 hours. The most stressful part was not knowing when we would be approved for the health pass (which was required to board our flight) but thankfully the process was quick. I submitted our applications 2 days before our flight and was approved within three hours. Side note– children under 2 are completely exempt from any Covid requirements when traveling to the Bahamas. I still had to submit a health pass application for Nate but just with our general trip details and his age.

Before heading home, we also had to take another Covid test (just a rapid). Baha Mar actually has a testing clinic right in the hotel where we were able to get this done. We received our results within the hour and then we were able to upload them to check in for our flights and return to the US. It was a very easy and stress-free process.

SWIMSUIT DETAILS //Asymmetrical One Piece Swimsuit | Panama Hat | Oversized Sunglasses

Our flight to the Bahamas went smoothly– other than Nate having a meltdown the final hour. Poor bub was due for his nap and just too over-excited to relax and fall asleep. I felt so bad Other than that we had a seamless experience with boarding, security, customs in the Bahamas and our transfer to the Grand Hyatt Baha Mar. Thankfully our flight home went much better and Nate actually napped! PS this post has all of my toddler travel trips + must-have products.

Beachbound booked our transfers between the airport and Baha Mar using Majestic Tours. They were able to provide a car seat for Nate, which was amazing. The drive to Baha Mar took just 10 minutes and was incredibly easy.

SWIMSUIT DETAILS // Ribbed Bralette Bikini Top | Ribbed Hipster Bikini Bottom | Panama Hat | Oversized Sunglasses

Grand Hyatt Baha Mar Review

Baha Mar has three hotels: the Grand Hyatt, SLS and Rosewood. We chose the Grand Hyatt as it seemed like the best fit for kids. We booked a 1-bedroom suite with a separate living area so Nate would have his own quiet space to sleep and we could still be in the room at the same time. The hotel also provided a crib for him. Nate slept great our entire trip (we brought his sound machine from home to replicate his sleep environment) and we were really pleased with our accommodations.

SWIMSUIT DETAILS // Underwire Adjustable Bikini Top | Banded High Waist Bikini Bottom | Panama Hat | Oversized Sunglasses

OUTFIT DETAILS // Spotted Cover-Up Romper | Panama Hat | Lilly Pulitzer Gold Tote | Oversized Sunglasses | Tory Burch Sandals

Baha Mar Restaurants & Bars

I feel like often at large resorts, the food can be just average. This wasn’t the case at Baha Mar. We had some really incredible meals– way better than I was anticipating. The resort has a ton of dining options that range from traditional sit-down style to food trucks to casual grab-and-go. In total there are 26 restaurants and 16 bars throughout the Baha Mar complex. At many of the restaurants, kids under 5 eat free if you’re ordering off the children’s menu. Every restaurant we went to had highchairs and were very accommodating of our needs with Nate. I included a list below of all the spots we tried!

Costa— upscale Mexican restaurant in the Rosewood. The food and drinks were fantastic and the restaurant itself was absolutely gorgeous. Like eating in a jungle paradise!

Katsuya— upscale Japanese restaurant in the Grand Hyatt. I would go back to Baha Mar just to eat here again. My mouth is watering just thinking about the yellowtail sashimi, spicy tuna on crispy rice and the miso-glazed black cod. I also had the most amazing spicy margarita.

Marcus Fish + Chop House— upscale beachfront restaurant specializing in land and sea with a Bahamian twist. Everything we ordered kept getting better and better. The service was also so over-the-top in the best way. We truly felt catered to here!

Swimming Pig— casual English pub great for burgers, sandwiches and beer. We had dinner here our first night!

Da Poke Bowl Shack— grab-and-go lunch spot located near the Grand Hyatt pool area and beach. I ordered lunch from here one day just to switch things up and have a healthy option. So good!

Drift Bar & Grill– casual food and drinks conveniently located by the Grand Hyatt pools. We had two really yummy lunches here!

El Jefe— retro beachside taco truck just steps from most of the Grand Hyatt pools. We grabbed tacos from here for lunch one day that we ate poolside!

Pizza Lab— this is where we grabbed breakfast most mornings. We ordered food to-go and ate by the pool, but you can sit down as well. There was also a night that we indulged in some late night pizza that hit the spot!

Manor Bar— elegant Great-Gatsby inspired bar in the Rosewood. We’re past our clubbing late night out days, so we opted for this quiet bar most nights after we put Nate down.

Baha Mar Activities + Experiences

There is no shortage of activities and experiences to partake in at Baha Mar. The resort has something to satisfy every interest: sports, a Jack Niklaus-designed golf course, a spa, an animal sanctuary, its own waterpark + water activities, 6 luxury pools, a casino, day and night life, retail– it’s impossible to get bored. We really wanted to relax on this trip so we didn’t do a ton of extra activities, but I included brief recaps of everything we did below!

OUTFIT DETAILS // Amazon Crochet Cover-Up | Panama Hat | Lilly Pulitzer Gold Tote | Ray-Ban Sunglasses | Pink Lilly Pulitzer Sandals

Baha Bay— is Baha Mar’s new luxury waterpark (opened July 2021) and omg, we spent two mornings here and had SO much fun. I’ve never been a fan of water or theme parks, but I LOVED this place and was really impressed with the facilities and layout. Baha Bay is located within a five minute walk of the Grand Hyatt pool area, near the SLS hotel. Nate had the time of his life at Turtle Beach– Baha Bay’s small kiddo area complete with splash-pads and toddler-sized slides. There were lots of activities for big kids and adults too: a wave pool, surf-simulator, lazy river, group slides, straight-shot solo tube slides (I was too scared but Nick had a blast on these), there was even a water playground for big kids and teens. There were complimentary life jackets available in all sizes + access to Baha Bay is FREE to all Baha Mar hotel guests. Experiencing Baha Bay was definitely one of the highlights of our entire vacation!

SWIMSUIT DETAILS // Lilly Pulitzer Cap Sleeve Bikini Top | Lilly Pulitzer High Waisted Bikini Bottoms | Panama Hat | Oversized Sunglasses

Pools— we spent a good portion of everyday by one of Grand Hyatt’s beautiful pools. Our favorite pool was Dean’s Blue Hole. It was the closest to the beach, only a few steps from the pool bar and very kid-friendly. It has rock walls you can jump off of, a waterfall and a really cool grotto where you could walk inside and look through glass windows at all the sea life in the wildlife sanctuary.

We actually booked a private cabana at Dean’s Blue Hole for one day and loved the experience. It was really nice having our own reserved chairs, a private space and extra attention from the serving staff. That said, you can absolutely have an amazing time at the pool without paying extra for a cabana. Just keep in mind that the pool chairs are first come first served. The days that we didn’t have a cabana, Nick actually went down first thing in the morning to snag us chairs as we noticed seating could get competitive in the prime areas at certain pools.

The other pool that we really liked was Drift, but you honestly can’t go wrong. The property is so beautiful and all the pools are close together. You can easily move around and test out different spots.

Wildlife Sanctuary— if you or your kiddos love animals then you’re in for a treat at Baha Mar. At the Sanctuary you can have an encounter with all types of marine life: stingrays, sharks, sea turtles and fish. I believe these experiences require signing up in advance + a separate fee.

We felt Nate was a little too young for the marine life encounter, so we opted for feeding the birds at the Aviary instead. We didn’t need a reservation for this– you can just drop in during the hours it’s open. You can feed the birds and they’ll even land on your arms (they were all tiny– nothing crazy or scary.) Nate got such a kick out of it!

Flamingo Cay— twice a day at 9:30AM and 3:30PM there is a FLAMINGO PARADE. Yes, you read that right. Baha Mar has it’s own flock of flamingos that you can mingle with during their daily parades. They have a habitat right near the beach and pool area, where you can walk by and check them out over their fence. I believe the resort also offers Flamingo Yoga classes too.

childcare on vacation

We decided to bring our nanny with us for a few reasons. 1) It was the first time Nate was ever going to be taken out of his routine and the environment he was used to at home. We had no idea how he would react, especially during naps. 2) She’s the only person (besides us) who has ever watched him for an extended period of time and we felt more comfortable having her there vs using unfamiliar childcare at the resort. 3) Nick and I really wanted to be able to relax and have some time to ourselves. It would have been impossible to achieve that without an extra set of hands.

OUTFIT DETAILS // Orange Maxi Dress | Panama Hat

I got a lot of questions on Instagram asking how bringing our nanny worked, so here’s the general gist. We covered all of her expenses. This included her roundtrip flight, baggage fees, all of her meals, her own private room in the hotel, Covid test fee and her Bahamas health pass fee. She just charged her meals to her room and then at the end we covered the bill. Everything else we reimbursed her directly.

We also paid her normal hourly rate during the times she was watching Nate. We ended up giving her most mornings off to do her own thing and then let her take over to watch him while he napped until dinner. She also would come back to our room to watch him after we’d put him to sleep and would go out to grab a drink.

It ended up working out really well and I felt that by having her there we were able to get the best of both worlds on our vacation. We made so many great memories with Nate and were also able to unwind and relax.

OUTFIT DETAILS // Lilly Pulitzer White Eyelet Dress | Lilly Pulitzer Flower Statement Earrings | Braided Heeled Sandals

That said, you could absolutely have a great vacation at Baha Mar without bringing extra help. The resort offers a wide variety of childcare options: a kids club, activities everyday, in-room babysitting– even CPR-certified pool buddies that can play with your kids in the water. We were very nervous first time parents on this trip, but after seeing how well Nate handled everything, I think we would definitely consider using on-site childcare for future vacations.

The post Bahamas Trip Recap | Grand Hyatt Baha Mar Resort Review appeared first on Katie's Bliss.

Dubai Travel Guide | 2 Day Itinerary

Katie — Tue, 18 Feb 2020 22:28:26 +0000

Oh beautiful Dubai! Our time in the most populous city in the United Arab Emirates was short and sweet, but oh so worth the visit. We spent two full days in Dubai over the course of our honeymoon. We had a short half-day stopover while en route to Tanzania, which I’ll be honest was spent entirely napping and showering at the Shangri-La Hotel. Then again nearly two weeks later for two nights, following our stay at this incredible resort in the desert outside of Abu-Dhabi.

If you’re planning a trip overseas to Africa or Asia, I would highly encourage making a stopover in Dubai if your schedule allows. Not only is it a great way to break up long flights and exhausting travel, Dubai is an incredibly fun city that’s very friendly to Western tourists. There’s so much to do and it’s very easy to get around! English is also widely spoken in Dubai.

Dubai Travel Guide 2 Day Itinerary

Dubai has always been on our bucket lists and our honeymoon was the perfect excuse to finally visit. It’s an ultra-modern city that feels like something from out of the future. Right away we were completely wowed by the towering skyscrapers and innovative architecture. Dubai is also located on the coast of the United Arab Emirates and has warm weather year round, so it’s a great destination to hit the beach and get some sun. There’s tons of luxury shopping and many sight-seeing opportunities.

Here’s a recap of everything we did along with a few more suggestions for planning your trip!

HOW TO GET THERE

We flew to Dubai via Emirates and had a great experience. Emirates is the only airline that has direct flights to Dubai from the United States so if you don’t want to deal with layovers, it’s your best bet! The service was incredible and if you have the budget to treat-yo-self I would highly recommend business class seats. We splurged for our honeymoon and it was an experience we’ll never forget! Going back to economy on our next trip is going to be toughhhh.

OUTFIT DETAILS // Cheetah Print Long Sleeve Shirt | Black Leggings | Gray Sneakers | Leather Backpack

WHAT TO WEAR

Dubai has gorgeous warm sunny weather all year long, however summer can get unbearably hot. During the “colder” months (November-April) temps average in the 70s and 80s making it the perfect place to escape if you live in a cold climate.

Is there a dress code in Dubai? Do women need to be be covered? I got these questions a lot while we there and to be totally honest, we felt there was very little pressure to dress any differently than we would at home during the summer. It appeared as if tourists could dress however they please i.e. in shorts, tanks, etc. without any fear of breaking a rule or being reprimanded. Dubai is a very International city and you’ll people of all colors and cultural background. At the Dubai Mall we noticed women wearing everything from burqas to mini dresses.

We visited Dubai in mid-January and the weather was sunny and in the low 70s. I personally opted to dress somewhat modestly when we were outside of our hotel, mostly for my own comfort and desire to be respectful of locals. I packed a lot of midi and maxi dresses and always had a light sweater with me (it got breezy in the evenings.) My husband wore lightweight linen pants and a mix of t-shirts and button downs.

MIDI & MAXI DRESSES

The only place where we wore our swimsuits was at our hotel and from what we could tell all types of bikinis and swimwear was accepted!

SWIMWEAR

OUTFIT DETAILS // Sun Hat | Tiger Stripe Bikini Top | Tiger Stripe Bikini Bottoms

WHERE TO STAY

We had a lovely stay at the Shangri-La Hotel Dubai. Since our time in the city was so short we purposely booked this hotel because of it’s convenient location downtown and quick 10 minute drive from the airport. The Shangri-La is gorgeous and immaculately maintained– as you’d expect from a luxury hotel.

OUTFIT DETAILS // Red Gown | Chanel Bag | Nude Heeled Sandals | Watch

I’ve never experienced such an easy quick check in and been made to feel immediately more at home as I did when we arrived at the Shangri-La. The service was incredible and any question we had was answered with such care and detail.

We utilized the concierge for nearly all of our dinner reservations and had the front door bellman call us taxis for wherever we needed to go. There was a line of taxis always nearby so we never had to wait more than a minute for a ride!

We loved our luxe room overlooking the city. The view was incredible and we could even see the famous Burj Khalifa!

^^ the incredible view from the rooftop of the Shangri-La Hotel, Dubai

OUTFIT DETAILS // One Shoulder Satin Gown | Rainbow Statement Earrings | Chanel Bag | Nude Heeled Sandals | Watch

Even though our time at the Shangri-La was short, we did get to utilize many of the hotel’s amenities like the spa and pool. Nick had an incredible full body scrub and I visited the in-hotel salon for a pedicure and blowout. Highly recommend checking out both if you decide to stay at the hotel. The level of service was on another tier compared to what you’d get at a US salon or spa. Can we also talk about the pool deck view?

DUBAI SIGHTSEEING & ACTIVITIES

Heading to Dubai? Here are so some landmarks and activities to add to your must-visit list!

Burj Khalifa- 160-floor tower with an observation deck and restaurant. Highly recommend making a reservation for high tea at Atmosphere– the tower’s famous bar and restaurant located on the 122nd floor.

The Dubai Mall- huge shopping and activity complex. There are 1200+ stores, an aquarium, ice rink, theme park and more. It’s impossible to see everything in one day but it’s worth a walk through even if you don’t plan on buying anything!

The Dubai Fountain- located within the Dubai Mall complex with choreographed shows everyday!

Palm Jumeirah- Dubai’s man-made palm-shaped island that’s home to many luxury hotels like the Atlantis and sunny beaches.

Dubai Creek- this area of the city is where to go if you want to get a feel for “old” Dubai. Here you can shop at traditional gold, spice and textile souk marketplaces and visit the Dubai Museum.

Dubai Miracle Garden- 72,000 meter garden with incredible floral sculptures of animals, Disney characters, landmarks and more.

Dubai Desert- located just 20 minutes outside of Dubai you’ll find rolling dunes of sand as far as the eye can see. There are a plethora of tour companies that offer desert excursions like off-roading, camel rides, sandboarding and more.

Madinat Jumeirah- a shopping and hotel complex located right along the water that has a mix of traditional souk marketplaces and upscale eateries.

DUBAI RESTAURANTS

Atmosphere at the Burj Khalifa- famous bar and restaurant located on the 122nd floor of the Burj Khalifa. Offers daily high tea service!

White Beach- Super chic beach club and restaurant that just opened within the Atlantis resort complex on Palm Jumeirah. We sat outside and had the freshest seafood for lunch. The food was delicious and we loved the atmosphere!

Sea Fu- High-end Japanese beach-front restaurant within the Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach. Major Nobu vibes! I’m usually not a fan of Asian cuisine but we loved our dinner here. The sushi options and black cod entree were amazing!

ZOCO- hip Mexican restaurant where you can dine on alllll the tacos, margaritas and guacamole. This is just what we were craving the last night of our trip and our meal was incredible! The fish tacos I had were better than any I’ve ever ordered from a restaurant in New York.

The post Dubai Travel Guide | 2 Day Itinerary appeared first on Katie's Bliss.

United Arab Emirates Travel Guide | 5 Day Desert Itinerary

Katie — Tue, 11 Feb 2020 19:25:49 +0000

The second half of our honeymoon took us back to the sunny United Arab Emirates, where we spent five days in the desert at the dreamiest resort. While the first portion of our trip was very adventurous (as you’d expect from a safari) our time out in the desert was super low key and relaxing. It was a nice change!

OUTFIT DETAILS // Ruffled Midi Dress | Statement Earrings | Beaded Bracelet | Waist Belt

Typically on trips Nick and I go fast and furious trying to cram in as many activities and sightseeing as possible. We love traveling that way, but we decided for our honeymoon that now was an opportunity to bring the speed down a notch and actually just chill.

OUTFIT DETAILS // Anthropologie White Dress | Statement Earrings | Layered Necklace | Woven Tote | Sunglasses

United Arab Emirates Travel Guide | 5 Day Desert Itinerary

And that’s exactly what we did! Nick actually planned this entire part of our honeymoon himself and did an excellent job. I was so impressed! We stayed at Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort by Anantara and loved it. Truly one of the most beautiful hotel properties I’ve ever experienced. I felt like I was in a real life Aladdin!

It takes about 3 hours to drive to Qasr Al Sarab from Dubai (1.5 if you’re coming from Abu Dhabi.) We set up a private car shuttle through the hotel concierge that picked us up from the Dubai airport after we landed back from Tanzania. It was a really easy drive– Nick and I both slept nearly the entire way. The roads and highways in the United Arab Emirates are all brand new and so smooth. Once we reached the desert the views from the car window were incredible too! All rolling dunes of sand.

We splurged on a One Bedroom Pool Villa Room because we figured why not? It was gorgeous and felt like our own little luxury cottage out in the middle of the desert. The highlight was definitely the heated infinity pool right outside our bedroom door!

OUTFIT DETAILS // Ribbed Swimsuit | Sun Hat | Beaded Bracelet | Sunglasses

Qasr Al Sarab truly looks like an Arabian castle or a medieval fortress. The property is huge. It’s the type of resort where you eat, sleep and do all your activities right on site. You’re so far out in the middle of the desert that it’s very much a private oasis feel. It’s very much the type of destination to go to if you’re looking to escape and relax.

OUTFIT DETAILS // Floral Maxi Dress | Statement Earrings | Woven Tote | Gold Necklace

That said, it is a big resort with hundreds of rooms. If you prefer a hotel with a small private boutique vibe this isn’t the place to go. The other guests were about an equal mix of couples and families. So yes this resort is kid-friendly! I was actually kinda jealous of all the cool activities and the club they have for kids on site.

OUTFIT DETAILS // Pink One Shoulder Swimsuit (just $18!) | Headband | Sunglasses

OUTFIT DETAILS // Orange Swimsuit | Sun Hat | Sunglasses

We spent the four days that we were there mainly posted up by the main resort pool or in our villa. One morning we did a sunrise dune excursion where we were driven out into the desert by a guide to enjoy Arabian coffee while watching the sun come up.

Every evening we would head to the main resort buildings where the property’s 5 restaurants are located for cocktails and dinner. We tried somewhere new every night and overall were pleased with the food. I wouldn’t say any of the meals were out-of-this-world memorable, but everything was very good. Breakfast was included in our room rate so we only paid extra for lunch and dinner.

The service at Qasr Al Sarab was incredible too. All the staff was incredibly attentive as you’d expect from a 5 star resort.

So what was the weather like? January is winter in the United Arab Emirates, which means sunny skies and 75 degree temperatures. If you’re planning a trip, here are a few more outfits ideas! I included one of Nick’s go-to honeymoon looks as well

OUTFIT DETAILS // Anthropologie Maxi Skirt | V-Neck Metallic Cami | Heeled Sandals | Statement Earrings | Beaded Bracelet

OUTFIT DETAILS // Lilly Pulitzer Silk Dress | Beaded Bracelet | Headband | Sunglasses

OUTFIT DETAILS // Belted Swimsuit | Patterned Skirt | Platform Sandals | Woven Tote | Sunglasses

NICK’S OUTFIT // Linen Shirt | Linen Pants (he ordered these in 3 colors) | Espadrilles

The post United Arab Emirates Travel Guide | 5 Day Desert Itinerary appeared first on Katie's Bliss.

Tanzania Safari Itinerary + Four Seasons Serengeti Lodge Review

Amy Clackner — Fri, 31 Jan 2020 15:52:34 +0000

Miss me? In nearly 10 years of blogging, I don’t think I’ve ever gone this long without posting! I hope you can forgive me for taking a break while I was on my honeymoon

A little over two weeks ago, Nick and I embarked on our biggest and longest adventure yet. First to Tanzania for a 5 day safari and then to United Arab Emirates where we spent 4 days at a desert resort and 2 days exploring Dubai.

Why these destinations? I touched on this already in this post, but to sum it up briefly both an African safari and a visit to the Middle East has always been on both of our bucket lists.

Considering the distance and time required to really enjoy both locations, using the 2+ weeks we allocated for our honeymoon seemed like this perfect time to check them both off… and escape the cold in the north east!

NICK’S OUTFIT // Linen Shirt | Linen Pants (he ordered these in 3 colors) | Safari Hat | Boat Shoes

Tanzania Safari Itinerary + Four Seasons Serengeti Review

This travel guide is going to focus solely on our first destination: Tanzania. There are many countries in Africa where you can go on safari, however we decided on Tanzania mainly due to it being home to the Four Seasons Safari Lodge in the famed Serengeti National Park.

We’ve only ever had positive experiences staying at Four Seasons properties (see my reviews for Miami and Hawaii here) and trust the brand. Once we read the thousands of positive reviews online written by previous guests of the lodge, it was really a no-brainer.

We booked a 5-night stay in late January and felt it was the perfect amount of time to enjoy the gorgeous lodge and take advantage of the property’s safari excursions.

Getting To Serengeti National Park

I won’t sugarcoat it. Getting to Serengeti National Park from the United States is not simple. Nick and I book all of our trips ourselves— flights, hotels, excursions, etc. and this was our toughest adventure to plan yet. Primarily due to the number of flights, a few of which were only available on certain days of the week.

We found it was nearly impossible to fly to Tanzania in a single day. Honestly I’m glad this was the case, because I don’t think I would’ve survived the back-to-back flights and multiple long layovers. The only airline offering a direct flight to the region was AirKenya (New York > Nairobi) but we quickly nixed that as an option after reading airline reviews.

OUTFIT DETAILS // Black V-Neck Tee | Pink Waffle Knit Cardigan | Cheetah Print Joggers | Leather Backpack | Gray Sneakers

Our Flight Itinerary: New York to Tanzania

In the end we decided on United + AirCanada combo: Newark > Toronto > Dubai. The sole reason we did this was because I stubbornly wanted to maintain my United Gold Premier Status via the miles we’d gain from flying business class on AirCanada (a Star Alliance airline and United partner).

If you watched my Instagram stories on what was supposed to be our departure day, then you already know our planned flight itinerary turned into a complete dumpster fire.

Long story short: due to internal IT issues, United massively delayed (& ultimately cancelled) our flight to Toronto causing us to miss our connecting AirCanada flight to Dubai where we had planned a 1.5 day stopover before our final two flights to Tanzania.

TRAVEL FYI: After revealing our flight fiasco on Instagram, I was inundated with messages from followers recounting similar negative experiences flying United and connecting in Toronto for an international flight. If we’d known beforehand of the potential problems we could encounter, we would’ve never booked our flights this way. If you’re considering flying internationally on United or one of their partner airlines I would be very wary of connecting in Toronto. Moving forward we are going to try to avoid flying United anytime we aren’t flying somewhere direct.

The situation was a nightmare. After spending the entire day in Newark airport trying to figure out a solution (during which I had 2 panic attacks) we ended up having to completely cancel our United/AirCanada itinerary and re-book entirely new, significantly more expensive direct flights to Dubai on Emirates (what we should’ve booked in the first place.)

Doing this was the only way we could get to Dubai for our flights to Africa. We had strict visas that would only allow us to be in Tanzania over a specific block of days— re-booking via United and AirCanada would have meant re-booking every single one of our hotels and applying for new visas. If there wouldn’t have been an Emirates flight first thing the next morning, I think we would’ve had to cancel our entire honeymoon.

BIG lesson learned. Always book a direct flight if it’s available, even if that means cheating on your go-to airline. This experience personally taught me that loyalty doesn’t mean anything to United or Star Alliance. As a consolation for nearly ruining our honeymoon, United offered me a pitiful $100 voucher and Nick $75… Talk about rubbing salt in the wound. PS yes we plan on getting in touch with customer service to fight for higher vouchers. Will share an update on Instagram if anything changes…

Glad that’s out of the way! While our honeymoon got off the a rocky start, I’m happy to share it was smooth sailing once we boarded our new Emirates flight to Dubai. The service was exceptional!

Dubai Stopover

We arrived in Dubai with 12 hours to spare before our next two flights. Since we’d originally planned to arrive in Dubai a day earlier, we already had a room booked at the Shangri-La Hotel Dubai. Even though we couldn’t take advantage of the overnight, we still kept our reservation so we could wash up and nap over the long layover.

The Shangri-La Dubai is just 15 minutes from Dubai International Airport and the perfect place to stay if you’re doing a stopover in Dubai. I’m so happy we planned our trip this way because that 1+ day long layover gave us the time we needed to figure out our flight fiasco. As much as we would’ve loved to get to our final destination as quickly as possible, this experience taught us that it’s better to be safe than sorry especially when multiple expensive flights and strict visas are involved.

After a long nap, hot shower and a yummy lunch and dinner, we packed up our safari duffels and headed back to the airport for our next leg of travel.

OUTFIT DETAILS // Brown Long Sleeve | Floral Maxi Skirt | Platform Sandals | High Waisted Belt | Leather Watch

Safari Luggage + Packing Tips

Let’s talk safari luggage! Why one duffel bag? To fly to Serengeti National Park, you have to take a very tiny flight (aka a small propeller plane) and there are strict weight limits. Our flight only allowed 33lbs (15kg) total per person and each bag couldn’t be larger than 14.5” x 27.” Right away we knew bringing our hard luggage was out of the question, so we purchased these inexpensive duffel bags for the safari portion of our trip.

We kept these folded in our luggage for our first flight to Dubai with the intention of re-packing them during our layover. Prior to leaving for our trip, we both practiced filling our duffels at home so we knew exactly what items we were bringing to Tanzania and how much it all would weigh. Here’s a link to the luggage scale we use. It made the re-packing process during our layover in Dubai a breeze!

So what did we do with our hard luggage? The concierge at the Shangri-La was kind enough to keep our bags locked in storage during the 5 days were in Tanzania. We would then pick up our bags once we returned to Dubai for the second portion of our trip.

FYI I reached out to the Shangri-La concierge in advance of our trip to ask if this was possible— I wouldn’t assume all hotels would be willing to do the same so make sure to plan accordingly if you’re considering a similar trip. I believe airports also offer luggage storage options as well, however I can’t speak to experience using this method.

PS I plan on sharing more about our time at the Shangri-La in my Dubai recap (we spent the final two days of our honeymoon there!)

OUTFIT DETAILS // V-Neck Tee | Green Joggers | Safari Hat | Hiking Boots

What To Pack For A Safari

Going on safari? Here are some ideas for what to pack! We visited the Serengeti in January, which is summertime in Tanzania. Afternoon high temperatures averaged in the low 80s, while the mornings were cool in the high 60s. On average it rains 13 days out of the month in January, however we got lucky and only had sunshine on our trip. You can read more about the weather in the Serengeti by month here.

Since we had such limited space in our luggage, we were very strategic about what we packed. For safari excursions I would recommend packing comfortable long sleeve cotton tops and lightweight pants that you can mix and match. Even if the weather is warm, you’re going to want to be covered due to the flies and bugs (not a big deal as long as you wear repellant.) I would also make sure to bring a pullover or sweater because it can get chilly in the mornings and evenings even during the summer months.

PANTS & TOPS

If you’re staying a resort or camp with a pool definitely bring a swimsuit or two, along with comfy clothes for when you’re not out on safari.

SWIMWEAR

OUTFIT DETAILS // Asymmetrical Cutout One Piece | Sunglasses | Elephant Necklace | Gold Bar Necklace

OUTFIT DETAILS // Leopard Print Bikini Top | Leopard Print Scalloped Bottoms | Leopard Hair Scarf | Sunglasses | Elephant Necklace

I brought four pairs of shoes: hiking boots, sneakers for travel days and two pairs of sandals for wearing around the resort. Sunglasses and a wide-brim hat are also must-haves to protect your face/eyes from sun exposure and bugs. I would 100% recommend getting a hat with chin strap so you don’t have to worry about it flying off when you’re driving in an open air safari jeep.

SHOES & ACCESSORIES

I also want to touch on cameras and other tech gear! Since we knew I would be chronicling our trip on social media and here on my blog, we packed our Nikon D850 camera and 35mm lens (what we use to take my outfit photos.) I don’t think it’s necessary to bring professional equipment on a safari as many of the photos you see here were taken on my iPhone, however if getting close up shots of animals is important to you then you will need a telephoto zoom lens and DSLR camera.

The Four Seasons Serengeti conveniently had camera equipment on site available for guests to rent so that’s where we got the Sigma 150-500mm lens that Nick used while we were out on safari. All of the close up high resolution animal shots in this post were taken with this lens. I believe we paid $60 to use it during our stay.

Our Flight Itinerary: Dubai to Tanzania

To get to Tanzania we took a 5 hour AirKenya flight from Dubai to Nairobi. From there we connected to our final flight to Serengeti National Park via small regional airline called Coastal Airways. We actually had the Four Seasons concierge book and set up the final Coastal Airways flight for us because the timing was just so confusing. You can read more about how to get Four Seasons Serengeti on this FAQ page here.

I got a lot of messages on Instagram asking me about the small propeller flight to the Serengeti. Was it scary? Could you feel turbulence? How long was it?

A few years ago I probably would’ve been freaked out by flying on such a small plane, but honestly I was just so happy to finally be in Tanzania and almost to our destination that the circumstances of how we were flying really didn’t phase me. You have to remember just two days earlier we were facing possibly having to cancel our entire honeymoon, so I was thrilled to get on that little plane.

Not sure if this is a consolation for anyone nervous about flying in a plane like this, but I was pleased to find out that these small flights don’t fly as high as typical planes. We were able to see the ground the entire time and the landscape was beautiful! Each time we landed there were wild animals on the runway— so surreal! PS I believe you can get to the Serengeti via car if you are flying into Kilimanjaro airport, so if you are very against the small propeller flight that could be an option too.

It took a little over three hours to get to Seronera Airstrip (our arrival point in the Serengeti) from Nairobi Airport, however it was only about 1.5 hours of flying time. The reason for this is because depending on what passengers are booked and where they are going, the plane will make multiple stops as there are numerous airstrips throughout Serengeti National Park. There was another couple who had connected in Nairobi that was going to a different camp in the Serengeti, and on our way the pilots dropped then off at another small landing strip close to where they’d be staying in the park. We also made a stop at the Tanzanian border to go through customs and get our visas checked and processed.

PS you can apply online here for a visa via your local Tanzanian embassy. I remember the application process was pretty easy (I believe it cost $100+ per person) and it took a little over a week for our visas to be emailed to us. Make sure you print these and bring them with you before you leave for your trip or else you won’t be able to enter the country!

If I hadn’t been so tired, I probably would’ve started singing Hallelujah when I stepped off that final flight. In total it took us 25+ hours to get to the Serengeti— it was a tough two days of travel, but as you’ll see from the rest of my post it was completely worth it. We had the time of our lives in Tanzania!

Getting To Four Seasons Safari Lodge, Serengeti

Our Four Seasons Serengeti guide for the week (Dickson or Dicky as he was called by the rest of the staff at the lodge) was already waiting for us at the airstrip when we arrived. He loaded our bags into our safari jeep, where inside we found cold water, champagne and some snacks waiting for us. From there we began the nearly 3 hour drive through the Serengeti to the Four Seasons lodge.

Side note: the lodge is only an hour from the airstrip, but since you will see so many animals along the drive it’s common that guests will ask to stop for photos, thus why the drive can take much longer!

If you couldn’t already guess, we opted to stop for lots of photos along the way to the lodge. The drive there is an experience in itself— within minutes we were crossing paths with giraffes, elephants, cheetahs, baboons, warthogs and so many more wonderful creatures! It was like something out of a storybook or movie… Real life Lion King!

Four Seasons Safari Lodge Review

When we finally arrived at the Four Seasons Safari Lodge, Serengeti we were warmly greeted by the staff who would be taking care of us for the next 5 days. We were offered cool towels to wipe our hands and a welcome drink as we were checked in and whisked off to our suite.

The lodge is gorgeous and as you can see so much care was put in to incorporating the property structures into the existing park landscape and bringing the outdoors inside. There’s a main lodge where all the common areas, restaurants, gym and infinity pool are located, however the guest rooms and spa are located in outer wings that you access via outdoor elevated pathways. Getting to your room feels like you’re walking through the jungle!

We booked an all-inclusive package for our stay at Four Seasons Serengeti. We had a Terrace Suite with a king size bed, double sink, outdoor and indoor showers, infinity pool and terrace. Our room was divine and the view was incredible!

All our meals, alcohol, a couples spa treatment, laundry credit (we both had our safari clothes washed daily!) and two half-day private game drives were included in our resort package. You can see the accommodation options + all-inclusive packages offered by the Four Seasons Serengeti on the lodge website here.

So what’s a game drive? Essentially it’s an excursion via jeep where a guide takes you out into the park in hopes of seeing lions, elephants, giraffes, leopards, baboons, monkeys, hyenas and more!

On our first game drive we saw a herd of 100+ elephants, zebras, a lion and gazelles within the first 45 minutes of driving out into the park. Later that day we also saw many hippos, baboons and other wildlife. The next day we came across two lions and a hyena chilling right in the grass next to the road just five minutes outside of the Four Seasons entrance and a huge herd of giraffes shortly afterwards. We also saw many antelope, buffalo, giraffes and zebras again.

On our third came drive it took us about 2 hours of patient searching to finally find a gorgeous rare leopard, however we never saw any elephants that day and far fewer types of wildlife then we’d seen on our previous two drives. We learned that every drive will be different and there’s no way to anticipate what you’ll see or won’t see. Some days you may easily spot every exotic creature on your bucket list, another day you might not see anything.

We did three half day private game drives and were very happy with each experience. These excursions are truly the highlight of visiting the Serengeti and why people will travel for days to get here. We saw so many beautiful animals on every drive and are glad that we opted to do three excursions versus our originally planned two. If we hadn’t have paid separately for a third drive then we never would’ve spotted that leopard!

The safari drives were such surreal experiences and I find it tough to even put into words just how special it felt being there in the moment. You can read more about the excursions offered by the Four Seasons Serengeti here.

PS the Four Seasons Serengeti offers both private and shared tours (where you’re paired in a car with other guests.) A shared tour is obviously priced lower, but I’m very glad we opted for private due to the fact that in order to use the restroom you have to literally pull over and do your business off of the road. I have the world’s smallest bladder and had to make stops at least 4 times on each of our drives. If we had been with other guests I know I would’ve felt terribly guilty and embarrassed– just something to keep in mind when booking your excursions. Sorry for the TMI but just wanna keep it real!!!!

If you’re planning a trip to the Serengeti, keep in mind that it’s not a place where you’ll find little towns and villages with restaurants or shops. Wherever you choose to stay is where you’ll likely be eating all of your meals, sleeping and spending any downtime where you’re not out exploring the park via jeep. This is another reason why we chose the Four Seasons Serengeti— the gorgeous pool was the perfect place to spend the afternoon following our morning game drives.

The lodge also has multiple restaurants and a full bar so there are different options available for every meal. Breakfast was probably my favorite meal! I loved the juicing station where you could pick any fruit and veggie and have it freshly squeezed.

I think that five nights and four full days is the ideal amount of time to spend at the Four Seasons Serengeti. We really felt like we got the experience the perfect amount of adventure and relaxation. We essentially spent every morning out exploring and then afternoons and evenings chilling at the gorgeous lodge. We never felt rushed or like we were missing out on anything. It was honestly the most peaceful week and we loved our suite!

The staff was incredibly attentive as well. It’s the type of lodge where are all the staff will learn your name and go out of their way to remember your preferences i.e. my love for spicy margaritas, that we like having extra water bottles sent to our room at night, etc.

I would highly recommend the Four Seasons Serengeti to not only anyone interested in going on safari, but also those who are looking for a five star luxury lodge experience. The property’s incredible location and excursions are truly what makes it so special and the reason people from all over the world will travel to stay there. I personally have always found safaris to be so romantic, so we felt it was the perfect way the begin our honeymoon. The five days we were there were incredibly calm and relaxing, but also exciting and eye-opening– if this sounds like qualities you look for in a trip then you may want to add this spot to your bucket list.

FAQ

I received a lot questions via Instagram DM during our trip– here are some of the ones that were most commonly asked.

Did you need to get any vaccinations? If you go to the Center For Disease Control website you can see what medical precautions and vaccinations are recommended before visiting any country. I conveniently got all of my necessary travel vaccinations last April prior to my trip to India so I didn’t need to get anything additional in advance of this trip. Nick chose not to get any vaccinations– he’s the type who won’t even take tylenol or medication when he’s sick, so that was his personal choice. I can only speak to our own experience and would always recommend talking to and running any exotic travel plans by your doctor first.

Would you recommend this trip for anyone that’s disabled or elderly? Based on the long travel time and rough terrain (all roads in the Serengeti are dirt) I personally would not recommend our itinerary for anyone with mobility issues. That said, I can only speak to my own observations and would encourage you to do your own research. For all I know there could be tour companies that offer disabled-friendly safari trips.

Would you recommend this trip for families and children? Since I don’t have kids yet, I’m probably not the best authority for this question. I would say yes and no… Yes, if you have the budget and your kids would be genuinely interested and engaged in the experience. No, because getting to the Serengeti was not easy and the flights were incredibly expensive. That said, the Four Seasons Serengeti is actually free for children 10 and under aka all their food and beverages would be included when staying in the same suite as parents.

How many nights would you recommend? We did 5 nights and 4 full days and felt it was the perfect amount of time.

Did you feel safe? Do the animals ever approach or attack humans? The Serengeti is honestly one of the most peaceful places I’ve ever been. Not once did I feel concerned for my safety or nervous about being close to the animals. Our guide explained it very simply: humans and wildlife live in peace together in the Serengeti. Since the people do not harm or bother the animals, the animals pay no mind to the people. It truly was a very calm experience and not once did an animal ever approach our car or make any type of aggressive action towards us.

Was your trip expensive? Yes, it cost significantly more than our previous trips to Europe and elsewhere mainly due to the flights. This was our honeymoon so we gave ourselves a much larger budget to fly business class and stay at 5 star hotels. That said, a trip like this could definitely be done on a smaller financial scale if you opted to fly economy and stay at a moderately-priced hotel or camp– there are options at all budgets within Serengeti National Park!

The post Tanzania Safari Itinerary + Four Seasons Serengeti Lodge Review appeared first on Katie's Bliss.

Honeymoon Packing List + Trip Q&A

Amy Clackner — Tue, 14 Jan 2020 22:16:50 +0000

Honeymoon countdown is ON! In just two days we’ll be leaving the states and heading off on our biggest adventure yet: first to Tanzania and then Dubai.

I only just started pulling together outfits for our trip this morning, but here you can see a few of them! Last week I ordered up a storm from Nordstrom.com. Some of the new arrivals were just too hard to resist! I snagged a few cute swimsuits (one pieces & bikinis) colorful flowy dresses, sandals, a new pair of comfy travel sneakers and jewelry– mostly statement earrings & dainty necklaces. Since the safari portion of our trip is going to be relatively casual and low-key, most of what you see here I’ll likely rock in Dubai! Can’t wait to share more

PS I included a Honeymoon Q&A at the bottom of the post! I explain more about where we’re heading and how we chose the destinations!

SHOE DETAILS // Blush Wedges | Platform Sandals | Nude Ankle Strap Sandals | Travel Sneakers

OUTFIT DETAILS // Ruffled Yellow Dress | Rainbow Crystal Hoop Earrings | Nude Ankle Strap Sandals

OUTFIT DETAILS // Sleeveless Maxi Dress | Statement Earrings | Gold Bar Necklace | Woven Tote | Nude Ankle Strap Sandals

OUTFIT DETAILS // White T-Shirt | Green Joggers | Gold Bar Necklace | Round Woven Tote | Platform Sandals

OUTFIT DETAILS // Lightweight Jumpsuit | Gold Bar Necklace | Woven Tote | Platform Sandals

OUTFIT DETAILS // Lightweight Midi Dress | Gold Bar Necklace | Woven Tote | Platform Sandals

OUTFIT DETAILS // White Buttoned Midi Dress | Gold Bar Necklace | Statement Earrings | Woven Tote | Platform Sandals

OUTFIT DETAILS // Ribbed One-Piece Swimsuit | Gold Bar Necklace

OUTFIT DETAILS // Reversible One-Piece Swimsuit | Gold Bar Necklace

OUTFIT DETAILS // Reversible Bandeau Top & Bottoms | Gold Bar Necklace

OUTFIT DETAILS // Reversible One-Piece Swimsuit | Ribbed One-Piece Swimsuit | Reversible Bandeau Top & Bottoms | Leopard Headband | Statement Earrings

JEWELRY DETAILS // Gold Bar Necklace | Circle Necklace | Rainbow Crystal Hoop Earrings | Statement Earrings

So why Tanzania and Dubai? Well, a trip that combines an African safari with a visit to the Middle East has always been on both our bucket lists. Neither of us has ever done anything like what we have planned so it was an easy decision. This is also the first time Nick is taking two full weeks off from work for a trip, so we really wanted to take advantage of the extra time and go somewhere far away. This is the longest trip we’ll have ever taken together— nearly three full weeks!

Why the three month delay post-wedding? This is another question I’ve been getting a lot on Instagram. A few reasons!

1. We didn’t want to deal with the stress of having to pack and pay for a long trip directly after our wedding.
2. We wanted an excuse to escape the cold. January is probably my least favorite month of the year to be home. There isn’t a lot going on and the weather tends to be miserable.

But you went to Paris right after your wedding? We did and had the best time! Two days after our wedding we flew to Paris where we spent three nights in the city and two nights exploring the Loire Valley. It was a bit of an impulse trip and not something we’d originally intended to do when we started our wedding planning journey.

A few weeks before our wedding we remembered that Nick had an extra day off from work for Columbus Day, so we went ahead and booked it to extend the post-wedding excitement. We love Paris and had already been there twice so it was really easy for us to plan. Packing would be simple too since the weather would be the same as at home.

Traveling has been a huge priority for us the last three years and we’re very pro-spending on experiences over material things. While it may seem a bit extra to take essentially two honeymoons, to us these trips are something we’ve always had in mind and likely would’ve done anyways regardless of being newlyweds. We are both very grateful for our jobs and it’s not lost on us just how blessed we are to be able to afford and travel as much as we do.

I also absolutely plan on creating travel guides for both Tanzania and Dubai following our honeymoon! You’ll be able to read both here, however in the meantime definitely following me on Instagram for daily updates in real time!

Big thank you to Nordstrom for sponsoring this post!

The post Honeymoon Packing List + Trip Q&A appeared first on Katie's Bliss.

Quebec City Winter Travel Guide

Katie — Sat, 14 Dec 2019 18:23:34 +0000

So nice I had to visit twice! I loved my first trip to Quebec City so much that I decided to return again this time with Nick and my grandparents.

Nick and I typically travel as a couple, but we decided to invite my Gram and Pop Pop to join us for a little holiday adventure. In their younger years they spent a lot of time in Europe and LOVED traveling, but they sadly can’t make it overseas anymore as the distance is just too far. We’ve always wanted to do something special for them and thought this would be the perfect opportunity to give them a little taste of the Europe culture and charm they love a bit closer to home.

For those unfamiliar with Quebec City, it’s the capital city of the Canadian province of Quebec where French is the official language. The city itself dates back to 1608 and to this day still maintains its colonial roots. Quaint cafes, cobblestone streets, an intact fortress and the tall ramparts that surround historic Old Quebec all contribute to making visitors feel like they’ve stepped back in time in France.

OUTFIT DETAILS // Gold Pleated Midi Skirt | Faux Fur Coat | Black Turtleneck (similar fully stocked style) | Embellished Headband (similar budget-friendly style) | Similar Black Heels

QUEBEC CITY WINTER TRAVEL GUIDE

Y’all know how much I LOVE France so I had a feeling that Nick would adore Quebec City. Since we all had the best time, I’m hoping this will become an annual December trip.

what to pack

If you’re visiting Quebec City in the winter you’ll want to pack your warmest clothing like chunky sweaters, leggings and fleece vests + pullovers. Don’t forget about winter accessories either! You will also need a hat that covers your ears, a scarf for your neck and a pair of gloves.

WINTER PARKAS

Oddly on this trip the temperatures were similar to what I’m used to in New York in December (30s) however my trip last year during the same timeframe was painfully cold. I’m talking single digit temperatures with wind and snow. I wore multiple layers of clothing under my Canada Goose coat and I was still freezing. I would recommend checking the weather the week before your trip and planning accordingly.

SNOW BOOTS

Quebec City gets a lot of snow in the winter so you’’ll also want to bring boots that are suitable for the elements. This is my favorite pair that I wore on both of my trips! I also included a few more recommendations below.

COLD WEATHER ACCESSORIES

SWEATERS & PANTS

HOW TO GET THERE

Depending on where you are coming from, I would recommend flying into Québec City Jean Lesage International Airport. It’s about a 20 minute drive from Old Quebec, very well-run and easy to navigate. U.S. airports should take note…

We flew direct from Newark airport to Quebec City on United Airlines. The flight was just 1 hour 9 minutes!!! I believe Air Canada has direct flights to Quebec City from the New York area as well.

If you don’t mind a road trip, you can also drive to Quebec City. We have friends who have done this and they said it took them about 8 hours to get there from New Jersey.

Sightseeing & winter activities

We decided to take a slower pace on this trip because 1) I had already visited last year (you can read my Quebec City December Travel Guide here) and 2) we were with my grandparents and wanted the experience to be enjoyable for them. I think they would’ve been on the first flight home if we’d tried to do everything fast and furious like how Nick and I usually are on our trips LOL.

You’ll notice we visited a few of the same restaurants and attractions that I included in my first travel guide, however there are a bunch of new spots that I happily got to check off my Quebec City bucket list.

HOLIDAY SIGHTSEEING:
German Christmas Market (Address: Place et Jardins de l’Hôtel-de-Ville)
European-style holiday market that’s walking distance from the Fairmont Chateau Frontenac hotel

Old Port Christmas Market (Address: 160 Quai Saint-André at the Old Port Market building)
Another well-known Quebec City holiday market that’s full of European charm

Boutique de Noel de Quebec (Address: 47 Rue De Buade)
Festive boutique where you can shop for Christmas decor & ornaments. Across the street from the German Christmas Market at Place et Jardins de l’Hôtel-de-Ville!

QUEBEC CITY SIGHTSEEING:
Quartier Petit Champlain (quaint historic shopping district)
The Funicular (photogenic cable car ride down to Quartier Petit Champplain)
Quebec City boardwalk
Rue Sous le Fort (street for good photo opp)
Place Royale (pretty street & cobblestone square)
Notre-Dame-des-Victoires (oldest stone church in North America located in Place Royale)
Place de l’Hôtel-de-Ville (shopping + German Christmas Market)
Rue Christie (cute colorful street)
Rue Couillard (cute street)
Rue du Sault-au-Matelot (cute street)
Pierre-Dugua-De Mons Terrace (for good city view photo)
Place D’Youville (cute area + ice skating rink)
Grande Allée and the Parliament Building (bars, restaurants + good area for walking around)

QUEBEC CITY WINTER ACTIVITIES

Dogsledding
I really wanted to surprise Nick and my grandpa with an adventurous new experience, so I booked a half day dogsledding excursion. There are a number of places to dogsled near Quebec City, but since I wasn’t sure of the best one so I asked the concierge at our hotel for help. I told the concierge we wanted to go somewhere that was 1) not a far drive and 2) would be easy and not too intense since my Pop Pop is 80 (but 50 at heart :P)

They recommended Expedition Mi-Loup Dog Sledding on nearby Île d’Orléans– a small island in the middle of the St. Lawrence River just 15 minutes from Old Quebec. The concierge set everything up for me including the car transfer to/from Expedition Mi-Loup. All in I believe I paid around $100 per person.

We had the BEST time. Expedition Mi-Loup provides snow pants, boots, jackets and gloves so all you need to do is wear a warm outfit and bring your own hat. I would also recommend sunglasses since the sun glare against the snow can be very bright.

The actual dogsledding lasted about one hour. After a ten minute briefing on safety and how to steer the sled, we were paired with our sled dog teams. There are two people per sled– one person stands on the back to steer and the other person sits in the sled. Then halfway through the course you’ll stop and switch places so both people get a chance to steer.

We did a group excursion so there were about 16 other people (paired 2 people per sled) sledding at the same time as us. Expedition Mi-Loup had all the sleds set up in advance and you basically just follow the leader. Since we had three people, my Pop Pop actually got to pair with one of the Expedition Mi-Loup guides in the front sled dog team and lead our entire group. Nick and I were right behind them second in line.

It was a little intimidating at first because the dogs are so excited to run and you take off quite fast, but once you get going it’s actually really fun and relaxing. These dogs LIVE for this job and love being outside in the snow. You really don’t have to do much because they know the trail by heart. The scenery was beautiful as well!

The fun didn’t end after our trail ride. After thanking our pooch team for a good run, we spent the next 30 minutes playing with about 15 HUSKY PUPPIES. I didn’t want to leave! Dogsledding was fun and all, but the puppy time was definitely the highlight for me.

If you’re visiting Quebec City during the winter months and are looking to do something adventurous and out of your comfort zone, I’d definitely recommend dogsledding. We had a blast!

More Winter Activities:
Quebec City Winter Carnival (annual week-long event held in late January or early February)
Visit an ice hotel (Quebec City’s Hôtel de Glace opens every year in January)
Go to a thermal spa (I would love to visit nearby StrØm Spa Nordique or Sibéria Station Spa on a future trip!)
Skiing/Snowboarding/Snowtubing
Snowshoeing
Ride the Au 1884 slide (toboggan) on the Quebec City boardwalk
Ice skating
Ice fishing

restaurants & bars

Quebec City has a great food and drink scene! Here are some of the restaurants and bars I recommend.

QUEBEC CITY RESTAURANTS & BARS
Lapin Sauté- Adorable cozy spot in the heart of Quartier Petit Champlain that’s equally great for lunch or dinner
Café La Maison Smith- Casual cafe for lunch or a hot chocolate/coffee breakBar 1608
Bar 1608- Epic wine and cheese bar in the Fairmont Le Château Frontenac hotel with an amazing view of Quebec City and the St. Lawrence River. The cheese and charcuterie boards are incredible!
Bistro Le Sam- Another chic spot in the Fairmont Le Château Frontenac hotel that’s part restaurant and part lounge. I had dinner here on my last trip and lunch on this trip and both meals were fantastic!
La Grolla- Casual cozy traditional fondue restaurant. Highly recommend for a memorable AND tasty dining experience.
Chez Muffy at the Auberge Saint-Antoine- Farm-to-table restaurant serving innovative local cuisine in the Saint-Antoine hotel. We had a lovely dinner here!
Pub de L’Oncle Antoine- Cozy no-frills old stone pub in Quartier Petit Champlain. Great spot to stop for a beer!

^ Lunch at Lapin Saute restaurant

^ Fondue at La Grolla

^ Cozy ambience at Chez Muffy

^ Incredible drinks and charcuterie at Bar 1608

^ Lunch at Bistro Le Sam

^ Beer break at Pub de L’Oncle Antoine

If you’re looking for more Quebec City restaurant and foodie ideas, here are some additional spots that were recommended to me by followers and friends. Hopefully on a future trip I’ll be able to check these off my list!

MORE QUEBEC CITY RESTAURANTS + BARS

Le Continental (fine dining restaurant in Fairmont Le Château Frontenac)
Auberge St. Antoine + Bar Artefact (hotel bar with fireplace + good hot chocolate)
L’Affair est Ketchup (quirky local dining spot featured on Anthony Bourdain’s “Parts Unknown”)
Chic Shack (casual burger spot)
Bistro Sous le Fort (traditional French food)
Gaël Vidricaire (pastries + hot chocolate)
Bar Ste-Angèle (drinks + live jazz)

OUTFIT DETAILS // Wide Sleeve Turtleneck Sweater | Black Tote | Leggings | Over the Knee Boots | Aviator Sunglasses

hotels

We actually decided to book the same hotel I did for my trip last year: the gorgeous Fairmont Le Château Frontenac. I’ve never stayed somewhere that’s reminded me so much of Hogwarts castle! It’s by far the largest and most visually stunning hotel in Old Quebec City.

Having the chance to stay at Le Château Frontenac is an experience in itself and I would highly recommend it! The service level is a 10/10, rooms are super chic and cozy, there are multiple restaurants and shops within the hotel and the location is walking distance to Quartier Petit Champlain (Old Quebec’s photogenic historic shopping district) and many of the city’s top restaurants and points of interest.

I would especially recommend Château Frontenac if you’re traveling with older relatives or kids and anticipate needing to drive anywhere. My grandma can’t walk long distances and the concierge and valet were beyond helpful with coordinating car service. The hotel actually has a complimentary valet car and can drive you to/from nearby restaurants and activities if you request it and the car isn’t being used. We took advantage of this perk throughout our trip and they were always available to drive us! So so convenient.

PS airport pickups/dropoffs to Château Frontenac must be scheduled separately and are not complimentary. We didn’t book ours through the hotel and just grabbed a taxi outside the terminal! Uber is also readily available in Quebec City.

The Château Frontenac is the only hotel in Quebec City I’ve ever personally stayed at so I can only speak to my experience there, however if you’re looking for more options here is a list of other top-rated properties.

MORE QUEBEC CITY HOTELS

Auberge St. Antoine
Hotel du Vieux Quebec
Le Germain Hotel Quebec
Hotel le Priori
Hotel 71
Hotel Clarendon
Auberge Place d’Armes

The post Quebec City Winter Travel Guide appeared first on Katie's Bliss.

Blue Lagoon Iceland Travel Guide

Katie — Sat, 07 Dec 2019 21:52:55 +0000

Blue Lagoon Iceland Travel Guide

The Blue Lagoon is truly one of the wonders of the world! I expected it to be beautiful from seeing it in photos, but wow it really is a sight to behold with your own eyes. The milky blue water covered in an enchanting cloud of steam looks more like something you’d find on another planet.

In November, I had the amazing opportunity to visit the Blue Lagoon for the ultimate 3-day weekend with a small group of bloggers and travel journalists. We had the best time experiencing all there is to do at the Blue Lagoon (it’s more than just a warm dip!) and even got to do some exploring around the Reykjanes Peninsula, where the lagoon is located. It was an incredibly fun trip with just the right amount of adventure and relaxation.

HOW TO GET THERE

You can get to Iceland very easily from the east coast, specifically if you’re flying out of New York or Boston. To get to Iceland and the Blue Lagoon, I took a direct flight on Icelandair leaving from Newark airport and had a really pleasant experience. I believe Icelandair also offers direct flights out of JFK as well. The flight time was only 4 hours and 45 minutes– that’s less time than it takes to fly to Los Angeles.

To visit the Blue Lagoon you’ll want to fly into Keflavík International Airport. This is Iceland’s largest airport located just outside of the capital city of Reykjavík. It’s also conveniently just a 20 minute drive away from the lagoon and the hotel where I stayed, Silica Hotel.

You can take a shuttle transfer direct to the Blue Lagoon from the airport or from Reykjavík. Renting a car also seemed like a popular way to get around. I noticed there was a very big parking lot near the walking path that leads down to the lagoon.

A lot of travelers who visit the Blue Lagoon often stay in Reykjavík as there are many more hotels and attractions there. I personally think the Blue Lagoon is worth a one or two night stay, however many visitors will come just for the day. Either way it’s worth it!

THE BLUE LAGOON

So what exactly is the Blue Lagoon? To put it simply, it’s a very large geothermal pond. The water in the lagoon is enriched with silica, algae, along with other beneficial minerals that contribute to the lagoon’s healing properties… and it’s gorgeous blue hue!

This unique geothermal spa attracts visitors from all over the world for more than just it’s beauty. The lagoon’s waters are particularly healing for those with skin ailments like Psoriasis.

Today the Blue Lagoon is so much more than just the lagoon itself— it’s a travel destination with two luxury hotels, a full-service subterranean spa, saunas, a boutique and two restaurants. I didn’t realize until I was there just how much more there is to do and see beyond going in the lagoon.

OUTFIT DETAILS // Headband | One Piece Swimsuit

One thing I was really curious about was the “touristy” aspect and if the experience would feel cheesy. There’s no denying the Blue Lagoon’s popularity on social media— it’s definitely become a prime travel hotspot in the last five years. So did it live up to the hype? Honestly y’all, yes,

I truly didn’t expect to enjoy the experience as much as I did. I expected the lagoon to be beautiful, but I didn’t anticipate the high quality of the spa and the lagoon’s facilities.

I also completely underestimated the spa’s size. There are multiple locker rooms for men and women with rows of showers, bathrooms, etc. and there is plenty of seating for lounging inside.

The lagoon itself is also HUGE. I’m not talking olympic pool huge— it’s more like a lake. I honestly don’t even know what I could compare it to. Trust me though… You can easily find your own private spot to wade and relax in the water away from other people.

While the waters, locker rooms and common areas were definitely busy with other travelers, the environment still felt incredibly peaceful and luxurious. I also never felt crowded or overwhelmed by the number of people (and I HATE crowds.)

Some personal highlights of my Blue Lagoon experience were the swim-up mud mask and drink bar. Yes! These are in the water! They kinda reminded me of what you’d find in the pool of a big tropical resort— just Icelandic versions

The mask bar was so cool. There’s a menu and you can choose a formula based on your skin concerns— dryness, anti-aging, etc. Once you pick a mask you apply it directly to your face while you’re chilling the lagoon. The “bar” bar had a variety of non-alcoholic and alcohol beverages— so yes, you can get your drank on in the lagoon too!

If you have the time and really want to take your Blue Lagoon experience to another level, I’d recommend booking a treatment at the on-site spa. Some services are even done directly in the water!

OUTFIT DETAILS // Headband | Black One Piece Swimsuit

The Blue Lagoon tourism office was kind enough to book the lagoon’s signature service, an in-water full-body massage, for me and the other girls I was traveling with. Essentially you lay in the water flat on your back on a partially submerged mat, while a therapist massages your entire body.

Full disclosure— I was too scared of getting my hair wet (more on why below) so I just asked for a shoulder massage where I could sit upright. It was lovely and so relaxing! PS all in-water spa services are done in a private section of the lagoon blocked off from other guests.

If you’re planning a visit I’d recommend allocating at least half a day to explore the lagoon. It’s not an experience that you want to rush because the entire point is to relax and enjoy wading in the water.

Premium tickets to the Blue Lagoon start at $79 per person and include the entrance fee, two silica mud masks, towel, robe, slippers, one drink, a reservation at LAVA restaurant and a glass of sparkling wine with your meal at LAVA. A Comfort ticket is also available for $56 and includes the entrance fee, a silica mud mask, towel, and one drink. There is no time limit with either ticket— once you arrive you can stay as long as you’d like until closing!

Can you get your hair wet?

Yes you can and many people do! The reason why this is even a question is because the rich minerals in the lagoon adhere very easily to hair and can be difficult to wash out, if you don’t prepare appropriately. When you walk into the lagoon locker rooms you’ll notice huge containers of conditioner and signs instructing you to apply it liberally to your hair before entering the water. This is to protect it from the minerals and allow you to easily wash them out afterwards.

I personally opted not to get my hair wet because 1) I have extensions and 2) the minerals in the water are known to be difficult to wash out. I honestly just didn’t want to deal with the hassle of washing and drying my lion’s mane (I still had my extensions in from my wedding) so to save myself a headache I rocked a bun instead. No regrets!

WHAT TO WEAR

All you need to go in the Blue Lagoon is your swimsuit! The water is very warm, but by no means scalding hot– temps range from 37-40°C or 98-104°F. It felt similar to a hot tub!

When you check in at the lagoon, the spa staff will provide you with a cozy robe, slippers and a locker key so you can store your personal belongings. Street clothes aren’t allowed to be worn beyond the locker rooms, so I wouldn’t bother bringing your own sandals or coverup to wear over your swimsuit. The robes and slippers they provide are very comfy and you won’t need them much anyway since you’ll be going straight in the water.

PS the Blue Lagoon stays open in all weather– don’t let rain or snow deter you from visiting!

I visited Iceland in mid-November and was pleased to find the weather and outside temperature was similar to what I’m used to at home in New York and New Jersey. I want to say it was around 35°-45°F over the three days of my trip– aka chilly winter weather.

Mother Nature can get a little crazy in Iceland. You can experience all types of weather in one day: sun, rain, snow, hail, wind– it’s so unpredictable! I’d recommend packing layers and appropriate clothing for wet winter weather. When I was there we were blessed with partly cloudy skies nearly everyday, however there were a few random moment of rain and hail. It also snowed about an inch one night!

WHERE TO STAY

Travelers wishing to visit the Blue Lagoon now can stay overnight thanks to the recent openings of two new hotels: Silica Hotel and The Retreat Hotel. Both are nestled within the lagoon itself– The Retreat at the main lagoon and Silica just a few minutes away down a scenic walking path.

OUTFIT DETAILS // Bubble Sweater | Fringe Scarf | Leggings | Black Shearling Lined Boots

I stayed at the Silica Hotel and was very impressed. The property is incredibly luxurious and photogenic from the Scandinavian-style interiors to the exterior amenities that really make you feel one with your surroundings. There are just 35 rooms so the vibe is very private. Each room has floor to ceiling windows with gorgeous views of the surrounding volcanic terrain.

To me, the most amazing perk of staying at the Silica Hotel is the hotel’s private section of the Blue Lagoon. Guests of the hotel have access to their own oasis away from the main lagoon. It’s so serene, peaceful and gorgeous!

PS rates at the Silica Hotel start at $560/night and include Premium entrance to the main Blue Lagoon.

OUTFIT DETAILS // Lavender One Piece Swimsuit

NEARBY SIGHTSEEING

While my trip was primarily focused on experiencing the Blue Lagoon and Silica Hotel, we did get in a little nearby sightseeing on the Reykjanes Peninsula. The Blue Lagoon team set up a guided tour for us with a driver who took us around to all of these incredible spots:

OUTFIT DETAILS // Abercrombie Green Parka | Knit Beanie | Knit Mittens | Leggings | Sorel Fur Lined Boots

Reykjanes Peninsula Sightseeing:

+ Reykjanes Peninsula Lighthouse- the most popular lighthouse to visit among Icelanders
+ Reykjanes UNESCO Global Geopark- the only place in the world where the Mid-Atlantic Ridge is visible above sea level
+ Brimketill- a small, naturally carved pool, by marine erosion, at the lava shore edge west of the town of Grindavík
+ Bridge Between Two Continents- This bridge was built as a symbol for the connection between Europe and North America
+ Gunnuhver- Iceland´s largest mud pool and steam vents. Legend says a female ghost inhabits the steam pits after being laid there almost 400 years ago.
+ Grindavik- a family-oriented fishing village located on the peninsula

The post Blue Lagoon Iceland Travel Guide appeared first on Katie's Bliss.

Loire Valley France Travel Guide

Amy Clackner — Tue, 05 Nov 2019 16:30:46 +0000

Just two hours southwest of Paris you’ll find the Loire Valley. This UNESCO heritage-listed site spans 280 kilometers along the Loire River and is dotted with hundreds of fairytale castles (aka “chateaux”) and local wineries.

If you’re looking for a beautiful region to road trip in France then the Loire Valley is the perfect place! It’s also a great second destination to add on to a Paris getaway as we did. PS you can read my Paris Travel Guides here.

Our time in the Loire Valley was short and sweet. Even though we had only two days, I still feel like we were able to get a good sense of the region and see many top sites.

Loire Valley France Travel Guide

HOW TO GET THERE

Getting to the Loire Valley is quite easy from Paris.

We chose to rent a car and drive ourselves the two hour trip, however public transportation is an option too. Buses and trains depart daily for Tours– the largest city in the Loire Valley.

However, once you arrive in the Loire Valley you will need to rent a car or hire a driver. The Loire Valley is comprised of many small towns and the famed chateaux and wineries are spread out across the region. A car is necessary to get from place to place! We really enjoyed driving here– the roads were easy to navigate and there wasn’t any traffic or congestion.

What to Wear

We visited in mid-October and temperatures were in the mid 60s fahrenheit. I packed clothing that was similar to what I would wear at home in New York at that time of year. Lots of cozy sweaters, boots that were comfortable for walking (you’ll likely be doing a lot!) and layering pieces.

The Loire Valley is known for its incredible Michelin-star restaurants so I would check the dress code if your itinerary includes any fancy dinners.

OUTFIT DETAILS // Anthropologie Red Lace Midi Dress | Black Pumps | Red Headband | Saint Laurent Bag

OUTFIT DETAILS // Revolve Blue Sweater Dress | Tall Knit Socks | Black Over the Knee Boots | David Yurman Bracelets

Where To Stay

You won’t find many recognizable chain hotels or resorts in the Loire Valley. Bed and breakfasts and converted chateaus-turned-boutique-hotels are more of the norm. Usually we are able to decide on a hotel quite quickly when planning a trip, but we went back and forth on where to stay for our two nights in the Loire Valley.

Our biggest challenge was finding a hotel that was in a convenient location for touring chateaux and wineries, but also had multiple nearby restaurant options for dinner. Since our time in the Loire was so limited, we wanted to avoid any unnecessary driving. During the day we knew to expect 30 mins – 1 hour+ drives between wineries and chateaux, but in the evenings we wanted to be able to go back to our hotel to wash up and be able to drive to dinner in under ten minutes.

After a lot of research, we decided to book a room at Chateau des Arpentis near the medieval town of Amboise. Staying there would allow us to get to many of the top sites in the Loire Valley in under an hour. We’d also be able to have dinner every night at one of Amboise’s handful of highly-rated restaurants. We were also really intrigued by the history of the chateau. The chateau itself dates back to 1313 (!!!) and throughout the centuries it changed hands between many French aristocrats. The 75 acre property is surrounded by a moat in the middle of a forest (totally felt like we were in a movie!) and is incredibly gorgeous. It was restored in 2007 and since then has been open as a boutique hotel.

We were pleasantly surprised by the quality of our room. During our research we noticed that many hotels in the region had sub par reviews and the interiors looked a bit dated. Our suite at Chateau des Arpentis was cozy, very clean and decorated in a traditional style that didn’t sacrifice modern comforts. The hotel also had free wifi, our bathroom had a free-standing shower (not always common in European hotels) and a yummy continental breakfast was included with our stay.

The property manager was also very helpful and spoke English. He was able to answer all our questions, provided us with recommendations of what to do/where to eat and happily called to make all of our lunch and dinner reservations.

What To Do

If you’re visiting the Loire Valley, you’re likely coming to do two things: drink wine and explore the region’s fairytale castles.

Tour Historic Loire Valley Châteaux

The Loire Valley is known as the “Valley of the Kings” for good reason. For centuries it was the playground of French aristocracy looking for a place to relax away from the bustle of Paris. Because of this there are literally hundreds of extravagant chateaux in the Loire Valley– aka 14th century vacation homes. What a life right?

Fast forward to 2019, you’ll find that many of these incredible chateaux are now landmarks open to the public. Since we had just under two days, we decided to focus our time on three different chateaux: Chateau Chambord, Chateau Villandry and Chateau Chenonceau.

^^ The magnificent Chateau Chenonceau

We really enjoyed touring all three, but our favorite was definitely Chateau Chenonceau. It had the most interesting location– literally built on top of the river Cher! The interior rooms were completely restored and styled with furniture and decor that made you feel as if you had stepped back in time to the Renaissance. Even though it was raining on the morning we visited, we still left completely in awe of the grounds and gardens.

The Loire Valley Châteaux We Visited:

+ Chateau Chambord
+ Chateau Villandry
+ Chateau Chenonceau

Chateau Chenonceau

Chateau Chambord

More Popular Loire Valley Châteaux (if we’d had more time!)
+ Château Royal de Blois
+ Château de Chaumont-sur-Loire
+ Château de Cheverny
+ Château de Amboise
+ Château de Sully-sur-Loire
+ Château d’Azay le Rideau
+ Château du Clos Lucé

Chateau Villandry

OUTFIT DETAILS // Pink Wool Coat | Revolve Blue Sweater Dress | Tall Knit Socks | Black Over the Knee Boots | David Yurman Bracelets

Go For A Wine Tasting + Vineyard Tour

While touring chateaux was the priority of our trip, we still wanted to make time to do one wine tasting– ideally at a winery that was also once a historic chateau. There’s no shortage of vineyards in the Loire Valley, but not all can offer a 2-for-1 duo of being a historic castle AND having wine.

Château de Minière hit all the marks for us! It was conveniently located in the Loire Valley town of Bourgueil, between Tours and Saumur, just 25 minutes away from our final chateau tour of the day at Chateau Villandry.

We stopped in without having a reservation and right away were warmly greeted by the winery manager Jean Pierre. Over the next 2.5 hours we indulged in a tasting where we sampled Château de Minière’s red, white and rosé varietals.

Looking for another Loire Valley chateau winery recommendation? During our research Domaine du Closel popped up frequently as a top spot to visit, though I can’t speak to it personally.

Explore The Small Town & Villages Of The Loire Valley

You won’t find this in Paris! The Loire Valley is known for being home to some of the most charming villages and small towns in France. While driving from chateau to chateau we passed through the ones I’ve listed below. We also had dinner every night in the lovely town of Amboise near our hotel.

+ Amboise
+ Chinon
+ Candes-Saint-Martin
+ Fontevraud-l’Abbaye

WHERE TO EAT

Chez Bruno (Amboise) – This was our favorite meal in the Loire Valley! At Chez Bruno we feasted on pumpkin soup, lamb and homemade creme brûlée. The setting and atmosphere of the restaurant was super cozy too!

L’Epicerie (Amboise) – Another delicious dinner spot in Amboise. The menu consisted of traditional French fare where you could order dishes a la carte or a prix fix 4 course. I opted for the latter They also had the most epic cheese selection for dessert!

Bigot Chocolatier (Amboise) — Ok we didn’t actually eat a meal here but I’d highly recommend stopping in for a sweet treat. Bigot is a famous chocolate shop in the region that’s been owned by the same family for over 100 years!

La Cabane à Matelot (Bréhémont) – Great spot to stop for seafood along the Loire river. It’s only open a few days a week and the menu is very small because the chef cooks whatever has been freshly caught that day! It was all in French so I’m honestly still not sure what we ate, but it was tasty!

The post Loire Valley France Travel Guide appeared first on Katie's Bliss.

Paris Travel Guide | Honeymoon Edition

Katie — Fri, 01 Nov 2019 12:36:42 +0000

Paris has quickly become our favorite city. I mentioned in my last travel guide how Paris just has this magical energy that fills the soul. I know that probably sounds a little corny, but for us it rings true! Paris is a breath of fresh air compared to the bustle of New York. Being there almost feels like stepping back in time– it has a romance and nostalgia that no U.S. city could ever replicate, simply because of its history.

When we decided that we did indeed want to do some sort of trip right after our wedding, Paris was a no brainer. We’ve been there before and have visited most of the popular landmarks and museums, so it was the perfect place to go to unwind and just enjoy ourselves for a few days without the pressure of having to explore as a first time tourist.

Similar to our last trip, we skipped making a strict itinerary and instead let our feet take us where we were feeling each day. Over the course of three days we indulged in all the yummy French cuisine and drinks, saw a cabaret show, got in some museum action and checked out a few areas of the city that were new to us on foot.

Paris Travel Guide Honeymoon Edition

What To Wear

Heading to Paris in the fall? Here are some outfit ideas!

Hotel Review

I remember getting an email alert about Hotel Grand Powers grand opening earlier this year and thinking WOW I need to stay here. I held on to the information and when it came time to book a hotel for this trip it was the first place we looked. Right away I fell in love with the hotel’s elegant interiors, luxury amenities and convenient location close to the Champs Elysees in the 8th arrondissement. The fact that some of the rooms have Eiffel Tower views may or may not have played a part in my desire to stay there as well

“European glamour with 1920s heritage in the very heart of the Paris’s Golden Triangle, close to the Champs Elysees”

We booked a Deluxe Room with balcony for three nights and we loved our room. It was chic, super luxe and cozy and just looking out the double door balconies and seeing the city views gave me chills! We paid a pretty penny staying here, but we figured if there was one time we should splurge on a hotel room with an Eiffel Tower view it should be for our first trip as husband and wife

PS Hotel Grand Powers is a Small Luxury Hotels member property, which y’all know I’m such a big fan of! We stayed at an SLH hotel on our last trip too that we loved. I would say both are equally lovely and if you’re going to choose one over the other, I’d do so based on which location is most convenient for getting to the activities and sightseeing you have planned.

Restaurants & Bars

You may recognize a few spots on this list! Now that we’ve been to Paris a few times, we’ve found a few restaurants and bars that we really love and will likely frequent again on future trips. Nick and I are the type of people where if we find a place that’s really good– we’re happy to return. We also love trying new spots and found some awesome gems on this recent trip.

Breizh Cafe – After a long flight with very little sleep nothing sounded better than hot crepes. Nick and I shared a savory crepe with cheese and mushrooms followed by an equally delicious one filled with chocolate sauce and bananas.

Cafe Charlot – Great cafe with outdoor seating (perfect for people watching) in Les Marais! We had some time to kill in between exploring the neighborhood and the opening time of Little Red Door, so we grabbed a drink here and posted up for a good hour just taking in our surroundings. I’m a big fan of any spot that gives a healthy heavy pour

Little Red Door – This cocktail bar has been on Nick’s Paris list since our first trip and I’m so happy we were able to finally try it. Major speakeasy vibes from the get-go– the door isn’t even a real door. The left wall actually opens if you want to enter. We didn’t know this and thoroughly embarrassed ourselves and spent five minutes trying to figure out how to get inside. We had similar difficulty trying to decipher the menu. Every drink was inspired by a different world language and had ingredients we’d never heard of. The waiter encouraged us to read the spiritual description listed next to each one and choose whichever “spoke the most” to us. Well we rolled along with it and I still have no idea what we drank, but I can tell you it was very tasty!

Bistro Les Papilles – I feel like a broken record raving about Les Papilles because we’ve had dinner here every time we’ve come to Paris. I talk all about it in my first Paris Travel Guide and again in my second, but these are the cliff notes! Each night the chef serves all diners the same four-course meal, which consists of a soup, entree, cheese and dessert. Whatever he is feelin’! The night that we went the menu consisted of potato leek soup, lamb stew, bleu cheese with a fig compote and chocolate panna cota for dessert. SO good and just a really authentic and unique experience.

Hotel Costes – On our second day in Paris we had lunch at another discovery from a previous trip. I’m not lying when I say that Hotel Costes’ creamy mushroom pasta is the best I’ve ever had. I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it since our last trip so a repeat visit was a MUST. I ended up ordering the exact same things I got last time: a bloody mary, tuna crudo with jalapeno and the creamy mushroom pasta. The restaurant is expensive and a bit bougie, but the ambiance and experience is worth it in my opinion. Plus the location is perfect if you have plans to stop by the Louvre or explore the designer shops near Place Vendôme.

Le Petit Moulin – The most precious wine and cheese bar in Montmartre! We stopped in for a glass of wine before dinner and ended up wishing we’d had time to stay the whole night. There are only four tables and the owner serves you himself. We got there right at opening and he was kind enough to treat us to a wine flight explaining the background of each one as we sipped.

Le Refuge Des Fondus – FONDUE. Omg this restaurant was SO fun. There were no frills– you just tell them if you want cheese or meat fondue (both in our case!) and they bring you out steaming posts with all the accompaniments for dipping. If that doesn’t sound exciting enough just you wait. Wine is served in BABY BOTTLES. They’ll ask you if you want red or white and minutes later you’re getting handed a bottle. It was hilarious and everything was so tasty!

Au Petit Suisse – Traditional French bistro near Jardin Du Luxembourg. We had a very casual and extra cheesy (order the croque croque monsieur!) lunch here before exploring the gardens.

Botaniste – We had such a lovely experience having drinks at the Shangri-La Hotel on our last trip that we couldn’t resist visiting again. Fancy and expensive, but oh so worth it for vibe and experience!

OUTFIT DETAILS // Black and Gold Formal Dress | Black Channel Bag | Black Pumps | David Yurman Bracelets

Jazz Club Chez Papa – This French restaurant with nightly live jazz has been on my Paris list since our first trip! So so happy we were able to eat here this time. The food was great (traditional French cuisine) but the draw is really the ambiance and music. Something we’ll remember forever is when they played our wedding song ‘Cheek To Cheek!’

What To Do

We did a mix of sightseeing and leisurely exploring on this trip! If you’ve never visited Paris before and want first time recommendations definitely check out my previous travel guides: First Time Visiting Paris Travel Guide & 2019 Paris Travel Guide.

Explore Le Marais – This is a neighborhood where you’ll find many small boutiques, top foodie spots and cocktail bars. It’s charming, residential and feels more like “real Paris” since it’s removed from the touristy bustle in the city center. We spent our first afternoon just walking around without any specific destination in mind. Le Marais is also where you’ll find the famous Parisian square Place des Vosges, the Paris history museum– Musée Carnavalet and the Musée National Picasso- an art gallery dedicated to the works of famed Spanish artist Pablo Picasso.

Place Des Vosges – I highly recommend walking around Place Des Vosges if you’re in Le Marais. It’s a great place to sit and people watch and just enjoy Paris. The surrounding red brick town homes are SO photogenic!

Musée Jacquemart-André – We aren’t big museum people, but Paris has so many great ones that we try to hit up one on every trip. This time we chose to tour Musée Jacquemart-André, a small privately-owned museum featuring the art collection of wealthy 19th century banker Édouard André and his wife Nélie Jacquemart. The museum itself was once their private mansion, but today it’s been converted into galleries that can be visited by all. We went on a weekday morning and perused the galleries for nearly two hours on our own (they do offer an audio tour in all languages.) It was lovely and very relaxing compared to the crowds of the Louvre!

OUTFIT DETAILS // Black Turtleneck | Tweed Mini Skirt | Pearl Hair Bow | Black Channel Bag | David Yurman Bracelets

Place Vendôme + Palais-Royal – Walking around Place Vendôme and the nearby Palais-Royal gardens is a must! We strolled around both after having lunch at Hotel Costes. Place Vendôme is home to many designer stores (Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Dior, etc.) and the Ritz Paris Hotel (highly recommend Bar Hemingway for a cocktail!) then just a ten minute walk away you’ll find Palais-Royal– a former palace with the most spectacular gardens and courtyard. These are open to the public and there’s no entrance fee.

Montmartre – If you’re looking to get off the beaten path in Paris and away from the tourist hustle then I highly recommend Montmartre. It’s a bohemian neighborhood located on a large hill in Paris’s 18th arrondissement known for being a haven for local artists and home to some of the city’s best nightlife and cabaret shows. Walking around the narrow cobblestone streets you can almost forget you’re in Paris because it feels (& looks!) like a small village. The most recognizable landmark in Monmartre is the Sacré-Cœur Basilica, however the biggest draw for us was just seeing the charming Parisian cafes, carousels, idyllic cottages and street art. There are so many local boutiques, restaurants and bars here too!

Moulin Rouge – Montmartre is home to Paris’ famous Moulin Rouge cabaret. We bought tickets in advance and loved the show! I was worried it was going to be a bit cheesy or too raunchy, but the show itself was very tastefully done despite having some nudity. When watching the show you’re seated at a table with other patrons (specific seats can’t be reserved– the staff chooses when you arrive) and served beverages of your choice!

OUTFIT DETAILS // Black Lace Dress | Kate Spade Watch | Black Pumps | Heart Earrings | Saint Laurent Bag

Couples Shoot at the Eiffel Tower – Can you name a more beautiful backdrop for pictures? I did a separate blog post all about our fun photo session at the Eiffel Tower. I highly recommend booking a photographer to get some cute shots while you’re visiting– it was so easy and a great way to get pictures together as a couple.

OUTFIT DETAILS // Black Turtleneck | Polka Dot Midi Skirt | Wool Coat | Black Heels | David Yurman Bracelets

Jardin Du Luxembourg – Walking around the Luxembourg gardens is another thing that had been on my Paris bucket list that we finally were able to check off. We strolled through here after lunch one afternoon and were pleased to find so many beautiful flowers and fall colors!

Champs-Élysées – You have to walk down this famous avenue in the 8th arrondissement that runs from Place de la Concorde near the Louvre museum all the way to the iconic Arc de Triomphe. It’s also home to many of the city’s best shops and restaurants. Conveniently for us it was located just steps from our hotel so we got to enjoy it multiple times when heading from place to place.

The post Paris Travel Guide | Honeymoon Edition appeared first on Katie's Bliss.