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A Celebration of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando Resort

by Filed Under: Amanda

As a huge fan of Harry Potter, I was so insanely excited to be invited to attend the 2018 Celebration of Harry Potter event at Universal Orlando Resort. I had read great things about this event in the past, but was anxious to see if it lived up to all my expectations and all the hype.

Apart from the annual expo, panels, and demonstrations, guests of the 2018 event were treated to the extra special opportunity to see the premiere of The Nighttime Lights at Hogwarts™ (which will be running on select nights through Labor Day 2018). Check out this amazing video of the lights show, that really is breathtaking! 

Photo credit: 2018 Universal Orlando Resort. All rights reserved.

For fans who are considering attending A Celebration of Harry Potter, I wanted to share a basic recap of the events, as well as my tips for how to have the most magical weekend ever!

#1: Amazing access to Harry Potter film talent: 

I was really impressed by the access provided to the Harry Potter film talent! Even as a regular park guest, you are able to get pretty close to the stage as they host the Q&A sessions – on the main stage in Universal Studios Florida. Depending on which ticket package you purchase, you can even meet the film talent in person, take a photo and get their autograph. Each year, they announce different talent who will attend, so make sure you sign up for their email list to get the latest news! If you want to guarantee that you get a photo opp with these stars, then defintely go for one of the more exclusive packages!   

#2: Extraordinary Expo: 

So much to see and do at the Celebration of Harry Potter Expo! My biggest tip for this element of the weekend, is to plan to arrive early so you can avoid the longer lines at some of the more interactive portions of the expo. We arrived first thing in the morning to be sorted by the amazing Sorting Hat Experience…and later in the morning, we noticed 50+ people waiting in line!

The 2018 Expo featuring the following booths/experiences:

  • Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
  • Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter™
  • Pottermore/Audible
  • Warner Bros. Home Entertainment
  • Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment
  • The Harry Potter™ Film Concert Series – CineConcerts
  • Scholastic
  • Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter™
  • MinaLima
  • Harry Potter™: The Exhibition

Make sure you set aside plenty of time during the day, so you can explore each booth! Keep an eye out for freebies that they give away at each booth. This year I snagged an adorable print from the Scholastic booth that I already have mounted on my wall!

#3: Magical Panels & Demonstrations

For those who want to dig a little bit deeper into world of Harry Potter – the panels and demonstrations during the weekend set the muggles apart from the wizards! From learning wand battle skills to studying the graphic design techniques from the films, these panels were the most surprising part of the weekend to me. I went in thinking I was a relatively educated Harry Potter fan, only to learn that I’m only in touch with about 5% of all the magic there is to learn!

Here is a summary of all the panels at the 2018 Celebration of Harry Potter event, which change each year:

  • Dance Like A Beauxbatons And Battle Like A Durmstrang
  • Harry Potter™ Knowledge Challenge
  • Learn Wand Combat Skills with Paul Harris
  • Warner Bros. Studio Tour London: Discover Special E–ects Secrets with John Richardson
  • MinaLima: Graphic Design of Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes
  • Harry PotterTM: The Exhibition The Magic Of Costumes In Harry Potter
  • Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment: Explore Harry Potter™: Hogwarts™ Mystery
  • CineConcerts: Sound & Image: The Magic Behind The Music, And The Journey To Construct A Complete Score Live To Picture

#4: Creative Cosplay: 

After all of the amazing panels and fun demonstrations, I have to admit that my favorite part of the weekend was just taking some time to sit and people watch! The costumes and cosplay were top notch and everyone that I met was so very friendly and happy to pose for photos!

For the best opportunity to get good photos of the cosplay community, I recommend linking up with one of the local groups – who coordinate group photos and meet-ups, so you can capture all the characters together in the same place! This is defintely a part of the weekend that can be enjoyed by ALL!

Make sure you wear comfortable shoes, stay hydrated and bring an extra cell phone battery…so you won’t miss a minute of all the fun! I defintely will be attending next year’s A Celebration of Harry Potter and I hope to see you there! Send me a tweet to @TravelBlogueras on Twitter if you have any specific questions about this event and I’ll be happy to share more details!

Visit Universal Orlando Resort for more information about upcoming events and to purchase tickets! 

Best Trips for Couples: Spain with City Discovery

by Filed Under: Amanda, Travel

There’s nothing like finally getting to take the trip that has been on the top of your “To Go” lists for years, am I right? In November, I headed off to Madrid with my husband to explore this country that has always been so intriguing to me! All through high school and college, my favorite courses had always been Spanish and several of my professors where from Spain. I grew up with amazing stories of La Mancha, flamenco dancers, and tasty tapas!

As I was preparing for this trip, I knew I wanted to schedule plenty of time to explore the city of Madrid but also take a few day trips to surrounding areas. I knew I wanted to visit Sevilla and while I was that far South, decided to also head down to the Southern trip of Spain (Cadiz) to see the contrast of that area of the rest of the country.

After some research, I landed on the following itinerary:

Day 1: Arrival in Madrid
Day 2: Explore Madrid & Tapas Tour
Day 3: Train to Sevilla & Rooftop Tour
Day 4: Day Trip to Cadiz/Jerez
Day 5: Sevilla
Day 6: Return to Madrid
Day 7: Day Trip to Toledo
Day 8: Madrid
Day 9: Departure from Madrid

Packed agenda, right? My strategy for using my time efficiently when traveling is making sure you book the right tours who will help you explore the “must-see” areas but then also provide some insight on the area – so you don’t waste any time wandering around trying to decide what to do next. That’s just my preferred style of travel!

With this strategy in mind, I was very happy to partner with City Discovery as they offer the amazing tool of being able to search through an aggregate of tours to know which would be the best fit for your needs and your schedule. There are so many “hidden gems” out of there their website allows you to find these smaller to medium sizes tours – as well as some of the larger companies as well, all from the same website dashboard.

City Discovery is about helping you find that unforgettable experience and bring you the best part of your vacation. Established in 2003 by a team of travel professionals, City Discovery started out as a simple web-based reservations system that allowed travelers to book tours and activities quickly and easily. Over the years, City Discovery has proven to be an invaluable online resource for travelers looking to book attraction tickets and things to do worldwide.

I have to say that it took me maybe 45 minutes to look through the tours, filtered based on those who had openings during my travel dates and were within my price range. From there, City Discovery handles everything else and provides you with an agenda and voucher via email which is then processed directly with the local tour guide/company.

Tours in Madrid that I loved:

If you ask me, a great way to learn about a culture is to eat and drink it! That was why the first tour that I booked was the Spanish Iberian Ham Experience in Madrid with Wine Tasting with MadridTapasTour. It involved a small group tour, lead by a local foodie who takes you to several bars/restaurants for a sampling of local food and wine. As we are eating/drinking away, he explained to us the history behind some of these dishes, the cultural significance and also additional recommendations of places to visit during our stay.

The tour isn’t long, just a few hours, but it was the perfect sampler to get a good taste for the city and also help me navigate the menus for the rest of the trip.

Hop on/Hop Off: While this might seem a little “too touristy” for the experienced traveler, I find that the Hop On/Hop Off bus services as always a great way to get to know any new city. Whenever I travel, I try and book this for my first or second day – as a great way to get your bearings and understand the layout of the city. I recommend that you take the entire loop the first time around, taking notes of areas where you want to return and then on the second loop start making stops. We were also able to book this via City Discovery which was great, as we didn’t have to make our way to any specific “starting point” of the busses, but were able to jump on the stop nearest our hotel using our printed vouchers as tickets.

Great Tour of Sevilla:

During my stay in Sevilla, I wanted to make sure I heard from a local about what its like to live there. Sevilla is very walk-able, so you could really just wander around and absorb it all, but hearing it from a local just adds an extra layer of understanding for me.

In this case, instead of just the standard walking tour, I found the Seville Rooftop Sunset Tour. This tour was packed with great info about the city with the perk of getting to see the city at sunset from rooftops with some of the most amazing views. Sevilla at Sunset? Yes, please! You must book this tour!

Day Trip from Madrid:

If you are looking for a good day trip from Madrid, I believe everyone can agree that Toledo is a must! It was amazing to learn that Toledo actually used to be the capital of Spain – which means that this city is just dripping in history and cultural significance.

We found a Half Day Tour from Madrid via City Discovery, so that we could visit this city, get a little sample and then return to Madrid for dinner. I will say you need to get ready to walk! For obvious reasons, the streets in the core of Toledo are tiny so the tour buses drop you off at the base of the city and its all walking from there.

Day Trip from Sevilla:

I decided I wanted to see a totally different angle of Spain and I found the perfect tour!! The Jerez and Cadiz Wine Tasting and Horse Show Day Trip from Seville. Again, if it wasn’t for the search features of City Discovery, this honestly would not have crossed my mind! This tour took us to a sherry winery and an Andalusian horse show in the city of Jerez before heading down to the coast to visit the vibrant port city of Cadiz. I especially loved this tour since it was of smaller size (only 10 of us in the bus), so it was really intimate and comfortable making the 2 hour trips there and back!

Wow, that makes me tired again just thinking about it! I will say, like any European vacation, wear comfortable shoes and stay hydrated! If you have any questions about these specific tours or my experience with City Discovery, please send me a tweet via @TravelBlogueras and I would be happy to share more details with you!

You can also check out my complete VLOG of my experience, in Spanish, on my YouTube channel!

Thanks again for City Discovery for joining me on this Spanish adventure and until the next time…

My favorite tour in Spain: In and Out Madrid

by Filed Under: Amanda, English, Travel

Being the major metropolitan city that it is and a major tourist destination, you can imagine just the amount of tours to explore the city of Madrid that are available out there. Just looking through the internet at all the options had my head spinning…well, until I came across In and Out Madrid and – given their logo I’m pretty sure you can tell why I clicked immediately on their website to inquire about more information.

Their tour through the city of Madrid was a blast and the highlight of my trip in Spain. Why, you might ask? Let me break it down for you!

The Ride:

I’m not going to say that this VW Bus wasn’t the main reason that I booked this tour. Sure, yes, I also wanted to learn about the city – but why wouldn’t you want to learn about the history of Madrid while cruising around the comforts of this retro van!

The van is the perfect size for 4, but you could probably squeeze in a few more. I loved being able to stretch out and for the winter months, they have blankets to cozy up with.

The Guide:

Andres was a delight! He did a great job of taking us around the city to see the most important sights, but also through some of less touristy neighborhoods so we could see what real life is like in Madrid for a local.

He offered the tour in both English and Spanish and was also kind enough to offer us recommendations of restaurants in and outside of Madrid.

While most of the tour is spent in the car, we did enjoy a few stops along the way, so we could get out, take photos, and stretch our legs.

During our tour, we visited the Templo de Debod, Estadio Santiago Bernabeu and the Plaza de Toros de Las Ventas .My favorite was defintely the Temple, as it offered some amazing views of the city and a great photo opp!

The Perks:

They give you snacks and wine! Did I mention there are snacks? and wine? After our first stop at the Temple, we were welcomed back to the van with a platter of traditional Iberian ham and cheese, as well as a local wine that was so very tasty!

I really can’t even express how content we all were, snacking on the ham and wine, sipping on the wine, as we absorbed the rest of our tour of the city. While this might not seem like must, this was the perfect addition to this tour!

The Fun:

Overall, its just the funnest experience. Between the amazing guide, the stellar ride, and the tasty tapas and wine – its just the full package! I will say, I got some extra joy from the looks of jealousy while the VW bus was parked outside my hotel. All the other tourists were green with envy!!

Also, be ready to get stared at during your tour! At pretty much ever stop light, we had people pointing and staring and taking photos of the bus. We even had a guy in the motorcycle stop us so he could ask for more information about booking it for himself!

Saying all that, I defintely think you should check out the trip options from In and Out Madrid for your next trip to Madrid. Make sure you contact them well in advance, as their VW bus is actually booked for a lot of wedding and promotional events – so you need to make sure you get on their schedule for a tour of Madrid!

This really was the most memorable evening for me during my 10-day trip to Spain and I just know it would be for you as well!

Escape to Nature with Plant-Based Detergent Gain Botanicals™

by Filed Under: Uncategorized

Disclaimer: This post is part of a sponsored campaign; however, all opinions about the product are my own.

As much as I would like, I can’t embark on adventures into nature every day. So, to help me feel connected with the outdoors, I like to integrate decorations, aromas, and even sounds (love my sound machine!) that remind me of the elements of the outdoors that I most wish to have around me more often. Beyond just home decorations, I’ve recently embarked on the mission to bring in more nature-inspired household products. Saying that, when Gain® reached out me to try its brand-new plant-based detergent, Gain Botanicals™…I didn’t hesitate for a second!

 

Inspired by scents from nature with White Tea & Lavender and Vanilla Orange Blossom, Gain Botanicals™ now offers a simple and more responsible detergent with vibrant scent-sations that transport you away from the laundry room and directly into nature with every load!

Besides the irresistible scent experience that we all know and love from Gain®, I was intrigued to read that this new detergent is a 65% plant-based formula that is free of dyes, chlorine, phosphates and optical brighteners.

After using this product for a few days, I’m happy to report that you do not have to sacrifice any of the cleaning power with this new Gain Botanicals™ formula. Additionally, if you have sensitive skin like me, you will be happy to hear that it is also very gentle on skin!

Everyone in the family really enjoyed the scent and didn’t find it too overwhelming. A little added bonus that I read about is that the bottle is actually 100% recyclable and the formula itself was made with 100% renewable electricity!

As with any cleaning or household product, this detergent should be handled with care and be safely stored away.

Gain Botanicals™ hits shelves in September 2017, so make sure you keep an eye out for it on the detergent aisle nearest to you!

U-Pack Trailer Review: Flexible & Affordable Moving

by Filed Under: Amanda

Upack Trailer Review

Let’s be honest, moving is usually never a pleasant experience. Between the logistics of moving your life, cleaning up your old house, finding a new place to live…it pretty much becomes a game of survival, right? That is how I felt when I started planning my move from South Florida to South Texas. The 1,600 miles between my new home and my old home was going to make this move especially painful, so I was determined to do the proper research and find a moving company who would going to be there for me every step of this process and do everything in their power to help things goes as smoothly as possible.

Saying all that, I was really excited when I had the chance to partner with U-Pack for this move and be able to share my experience with all of you. For those who don’t know, U-Pack is the “you pack, we drive” moving company that makes staying on budget easy and is flexible enough to make the experience as easy as possible!

So, if you are perusing the internet looking for a moving solution, let me share with you the things I appreciated about U-Pack, my experience with their trailer service, and why I recommend them:

  • Budget-friendly: With U-Pack, you pay only for the space you use, so you know the exact price as you load. There are no surprises and no hidden fees. Since you are the one packing the truck, you can see with your own eyes how much money you will be paying and can make decisions based on your budget. This was huge for me because I was struggling with the vague quotes I was getting from the full-service movers. Not knowing how much money I was about to spend until it was already spent was just not going to work for me. On the flip side, I was afraid I might over or underestimate the space I needed with a rental truck – and then I would be stuck with that decision!

    Once you pack your belongings, you lock them in with the provided wooden barrier and metal dividers.

  • Flexible Scheduling: Since I was planning to take my time on the 1,600 mile drive from Florida to Texas, I was having a hard time giving the moving companies exact dates for my trip. I appreciated the flexibility of U-Pack who delivered the trailer within a day after I requested it, let me keep it for several days and then picked it up again when I was finished. The packing process ended up taking longer than I had planned, so that flexibility was a stress-saver! During the delivery process, they were actually 1 day ahead of schedule and let me know in case I wanted the trailer delivered early!
  • Peace of mind & Control of Process: Some people might not value this aspect as much as I did, but I was really dreading having strangers in my house packing up my belongings. So with U-Pack, I was able to pack and load my own belongings myself (well, with family and friends of course…I’m not that crazy!). This gave me the peace of mind that my items would be safely packed and everything would arrive just as I had left it. I also appreciated their online tracking system which gave me step-by-step updates so I knew exactly where the trailer was during the transportation process.

    Packing up the house!

  • Friendly service: From start to finish, I had a great experience with U-Pack. From the sales person, to the dispatcher, to the trailer driver, everyone was very friendly and helpful. I also appreciate that the U-Pack sales team didn’t turn into used cars salesmen like I felt from some of the other full-service movers. I’m still getting sales calls from some of them, even though I was clear that I was no longer interested. U-Pack is happy to have your business, but defintely don’t harass you in the process.

Hopefully this perspective will help you get closer to making the important decision of how to move your belongings! I would be happy to answer any questions you might have about my experience, so please send me a tweet to @TravelBlogueras and I’ll reply back right away!

If you are ready to get your plans rolling, then you can get a quote from U-Pack today and see how they compare to moving with full-service movers, rental truck companies, PODS® and other self-move services.

Lake Buena Vista Resort Village & Spa: Review

by Filed Under: Uncategorized

This luxury Orlando resort is a full-service luxury destination offering something for everyone to enjoy. Whether you are bringing your family for a fun vacation, or attending a meeting or conference in Orlando, Lake Buena Vista Resort Village & Spa has something for you!

From their ‘Pirates Plunge’ resort pool, 24-hour fitness center, and full service spa – you can find an amenity that will make every member of the familia smile! During a recent stay in the Orlando area, we had the chance to try our the Lake Buena Vista Resort Village & Spa for ourselves and share exactly what the experience is like – in case you are also considering booking this property!

So much space! Not even kidding when I say you could fit your family of 4 in their 2 bedroom suites and still have plenty of space left over! Having the bedroom separated by the kitchen and living space means there is extra privacy – so we would defintely even consider this property for our next friend’s trip to the Orlando area.

For those who like the cook while they are on vacation, the kitchen was a nice size and the resort provided all of the basics you would need to make dinner for your friends/familia.

Finally, I have to talk about the jacuzzi! It really was the perfect touch to the suite! There is really nothing more perfect after a long day in the park, to be able to come back to your room and soak in a warm bath!

We enjoyed the location of the Lake Buena Vista Resort Village & Spa because it was near enough to the parks where you didn’t have to worry too much about traffic – but far enough away that you could enjoy some peace and quiet. The property is perfectly situated where you don’t feel like you are crammed on top of another hotel or resort!

We really can’t say enough good things about the service! We arrived to the Lake Buena Vista Resort Village & Spa late in the evening (around midnight), but the front desk was very welcoming and helpful. Being a later property, it is easy to feel lost in all the number of guests – but they defintely showed personalized attention to us during our stay.

So maybe you aren’t planning a trip right away to the Orlando area, but that doesn’t mean you can’t start dreaming about it now! We recommend that you stay connected with Lake Buena Vista Resort Village & Spa via social media. On their Facebook page, they will keep you updated on events happening in the area and they even do Facebook Live tours so you can see the property for yourself!

Weekend Sports Adventure in South Florida

by Filed Under: Miami, Places

Weekend Sports Adventure in South Florida

Living in Florida  for about 5 years now, we have been able to explore all that this state has to offer! We are lucky that South Florida, especially, has unlimited fun options for weekend trips, especially for the sports lovers! With that in mind, we decided to pack in some action and take a road trip to enjoy some of our favorite sports venues in the sunshine state.

 

The journey is as important as the destination for us; so riding in style during a road trip is a must! For this particular adventure we had a very reliable and fun teammate, the Mazda 3. The MAZDA 3 is a very well rounded player, on offense: its SKYACTIV®-G1 2.5L DOHC 4-cylinder with VVT and the SKYACTIV®-DRIVE1 6-speed automatic transmission with manual-shift and Sport mode gives you enough power to dominate the road but the fuel efficiency to last the whole game. On defense the i-ACTIVSENSE® Safety Package brings all the security your team needs for the road. The Mazda 3 comes equipped with lane-keep assist, Mazda Radar Cruise Control, Smart Brake support and a lot other features that will help you keep your head in the game even if you have to go into overtime.

We took to the road with our squad ready for our first destination, Roger Dean Stadium, home of the Miami Marlins and St Louis Cardinals spring training games in Jupiter, Florida. We are loyal Cards fans, but since we live in Miami there are very few opportunities to cheer on our team in person. Built in 1998, The Roger Dean Stadium is a beautiful 6,871-seat stadium with luxury skybox seating, 2 levels of permanent seating and delicious food and drink in their concessions. We highly recommend the St. Louis bacon wrapped hotdog, but make sure you are hungry before you order it. Unfortunately it wasn’t the best day for the cards, but the season is long and we trust our team. The truth is that we had a lot of fun and we want to thank Roger Dean stadium and its entire amazing staff for having us! It was time to regroup, and after a quick huddle we were on the road again.

Our next destination was the Daytona International Speedway, one of the most important circuits in the U.S. and the home of the most prestigious race in America. The 181.4 mi trip was delightful thanks to the Mazda 3 and all its “Swag.” Our companion was nothing but fun with its 7 inch full color touch screen display, 9 speaker surround sound Bose® system and the MAZDA CONNECT™ Infotainment System with Pandora and Stitcher radio integration and of course Bluetooth®6 hands-free phone and audio streaming capability so you can sit back, relax and enjoy.

We had a quick pit stop in Cocoa Beach for the night and got ready for the Daytona 500. The Great American Race is like no other sporting event in the country. Those lucky enough to have a “hot pass” as they call it, really get to be close to their idols, the cars and the track. The Daytona 500 could be described as a 12-hour massive race party. The adrenaline rush of 40+ massive speed machines flying through the track at almost 200 mph will engage even those who claim to be not too keen on racing. Being able to live such an important event up close is really amazing, but it is even better when you can you can enjoy it with your team!

Tell us what you think, and let us know what are some of your favorite sports adventure in Florida!

Quick Trip Tips: Experience New Orleans In 3 Days

by Filed Under: Amanda

Experience New Orleans In 3 Days

New Orleans is known for it’s rich history, diversity, musical heritage, party vibe, architecture, food…and the list goes on and on! That means there is a lot of ground to cover for first time visitors. It’s a tall order to try to see it all, especially if you are only in town for three days or less. Even if you can’t see everything, it’s definitely possible to be strategic in what you choose to do so that you get a great introduction to the town. It is totally possible to experience New Orleans in 3 days!

After a recent sojourn of our own to NOLA, we got a solid grasp on where to stay, what to see and what to eat and drink! We arrived Friday evening and hit the road to head home early Monday morning. So, we had just a shade under 3 days to experience as much of the city as we could! So if we can do it, so can you! Below are our recommendations for the best way to experience New Orleans in 3 days!

Location – Stay Close to the Action

To get the most out of your weekend, the best option is to stay in the French Quarter. There are a ton of hotel and Airbnb options in this area whether you’re traveling solo, as a couple or a larger group. We had the opportunity to stay at the trendy Hotel Le Marais. It was right in the middle of all the action on Conti street right around the corner from the famous Bourbon street, and either walking distance or a short Uber ride to all the stops we wanted to make throughout the weekend. As 30-somethings who need their sleep, a big bonus for us was that despite the close proximity to all the hustle and bustle of the quarter, the interior of the hotel, including the rooms, was quiet. The Hotel Le Marais included good sized rooms with comfortable beds and nice bathrooms, a relaxing courtyard with pool and comfy seats, a full bar open until 1am and coffee and breakfast available each morning (included in room price). Check out our full review of the Hotel Le Marais for more details.

A big benefit of staying in the Quarter meant you could just step out the door and having a tasty coffee or drink in your hand in under 10 minutes. A couple of my favorite spots just a few feet from our doorstep included Erin Rose bar, Addiction coffee, and Beckham’s Bookshop. Erin Rose bar has a fun, dive bar kind of atmosphere and features food from Killer PoBoys. We sample the roasted sweet potato poboy and the whiskey grilled cheese. Both were, well, killer! Addiction coffee offers the traditional cafe au lait experience in addition to spicier options like one their signature drink signature drinks, Miss Tracy’s Addiction, sure to wake you up with a dash a cayenne.

Activities – Guided Tours

A bike tour is one of the best ways to cover a lot of territory (9 miles of it!!) and get a solid grip on the basics of New Orleans. On Saturday afternoon, BuzzNola Bike Tours & Rentals offers a great guided tour. Our guide was funny and knowledgeable. So, we got to learn a little, get some exercise The tour took us along the Mississippi River, through the Marigny and the Seventh Ward, up to City Park, back down into the Bayou St. John and Treme-Lafitte neighborhoods and then back through the French Quarter. Along the way we spotted lots of famous landmarks like Jackson Square, the French Market, the cemeteries, and Louis Armstrong Park.

We also stopped for a mid-ride break and sample beignets and frozen cafe au laits from Morning Call. The 24 hour cafe was packed and bustling, probably because the weather was gorgeous and it was a perfect Saturday afternoon, but the service was quick and friendly. If you can’t make it to the iconic Cafe DuMonde, Morning Call is a delicious option for the quintessential beignets and au lait.

Another option for seeing the city and sampling flavors is to take a guided brewery tour. We spent our Sunday afternoon with the NOLA Brew Bus, and visited three different craft breweries: Second Line Brewing, Urban South Brewery, and The Courtyard Brewery. The tour includes a brew bus to transport you and your group between breweries and 2 tokens equaling half a pour at each stop. Second Line Brewing offered a tour of their facility while we sipped on our beers and had a big outdoor space. Urban South had a food truck on site, TVs tuned to sports and games to play. The Courtyard had a fun atmosphere, although pretty compact in space, with funky chairs and accents like hot pink chandeliers. The selection of beers overall was really fantastic and delicious. The best from the bunch, though, had to be the refreshing and light Grapefruit IPA from Urban South. The Brew Bus was a fun and safe option, especially for a group!

Hot Spots – New Orleans Classic Nightlife

While you defintely need to experience Bourbon Street, you need to make sure you save a good chunk of time to experience the “other” street that New Orleans is most know for! We really enjoyed exploring Frenchman Street as it offered a more relax atmosphere, but with all the same Nola vibes that you love. The intensity level was much more management and it offered a variety of types of bars/restaurants/things to do. We fell in love with the Frenchman Street Art Fair, which is set up most nights and run into the early morning hours – so you can shop in between drinks!

If you want to experience a quintessential New Orleans dive, then you should squeeze yourself into  The Spotted Cat. Try and get there early though, since later in the evening it really gets packed! Finally, for some great grub we recommend Dat Dog! While there are other locations besides Frenchman Street, this location was perfect for some pre or post-drink grub!

Do you have any other must-see items to experience New Orleans in 3 Days list? Let us know below in the comment section.

Hotel Le Marais New Orleans: Hotel Review

by Filed Under: Amanda

If you’ve made your way to this blog post, there is a good chance you are looking to stay at the Hotel Le Marais New Orleans! We recently stayed at this property during a weekend getaway in January of 2017 and we are very excited to share with you our experience! So you can get a true understanding of what its like to stay with Hotel Le Marais, we will break it down for you by categories, so you can prioritize what it most important to you! We know that everyone is looking for something slightly different when they travel, so hopefully this review will make the trip planning process a bit easier!

To get the most out of your weekend, the best option is to stay in the French Quarter. There are a ton of hotel and Airbnb options in this area whether you’re traveling solo, as a couple or a larger group. We had the opportunity to stay at the trendy Hotel Le Marais. It was right in the middle of all the action on Conti street right around the corner from the famous Bourbon street, and either walking distance or a short Uber ride to all the stops we wanted to make throughout the weekend. As 30-somethings who need their sleep, a big bonus for us was that despite the close proximity to all the hustle and bustle of the quarter, the interior of the hotel, including the rooms, was quiet.

The Hotel Le Marais included good sized rooms with comfortable beds and nice bathrooms. We were especially impressed with how quiet the rooms where, given their proximity to constant loud music and party-goers. When you are sitting in your room, you really could be anywhere because you can’t hear a thing! It was a perfect way to shut out the craziness of New Orleans when you needed a break to relax and recuperate!

Outside of the rooms, we really loved relaxing in the courtyard with its heated, sparkling pool and comfy seats. Add to that a drink from their full bar open and we were happy campers! .

Our intro in to New Orleans could not have been more New Orleans. The moment we pulled on to Conti street we were stopped, in our tracks, by a police motorcade escorting a real life Bourbon street parade. This was both a ton of fun but also really stressful. Once we got through the intersection and were able to stop in front of the hotel entrance, I was feeling a little confused and overwhelmed. Luckily though, the concierge at the front desk had all the answers I needed! They immediately helped us sort out the valet, got us checked in quickly and seamlessly and pointed us in the direction of our room, which was clean and comfortable!

We covered a lot of ground while we were in NOLA, and we were in and out of the hotel throughout the weekend. It always seemed, though, that whatever we needed at the hotel was easy to access and readily available! Whether we wanted to stay hydrated, relax by the pool, or grab a late night drink, there was always a cheerful face manning the front desk or at the bar to make sure we had what we needed. The bartenders especially had lots of good advice to offer on where we should eat, bars to try out, best brunch spots and hot spots that only the locals know about.

Besides the wonderful service, one of the great things about our hotel is that it was a good fit for all types of visitors. The location, in the heart of the French Quarter, can’t be beat. You are right in the middle of all the action and an easy walk to most of the touristy, must see spots. This is works for hotel guests whether you’re in town to immerse yourself in the party scene or you’re visiting as a family or a group to appreciate the rich history and culture the city has to offer. Overall, there seemed to be a good mix of people staying the same weekend as us, from families, to friend groups, to couples.

One thing I also appreciated was the vibe of the hotel. It was trendy and fun, but not overly raucous or full of intoxicated 20 somethings making a mess. It was close to the action, but once inside, it was pretty chill. The bar was open late if you wanted a nightcap or a convenient place for evening drinks, but it wasn’t at all a club scene situation.

From our research, this property was in the middle range as far as the cost of hotels in the hear of the French Quarter. What I would say is that this hotel is defintely a great price for the luxe experience that you receive. Maybe this wouldn’t be the hotel for you if you intend to stay out partying for 20 hours of each day and just need a place to crash, but for those who want to experience New Orleans in a more well-rounded way and want a new home-base each day to take some time to reflect on your day – this would defintely be worth the price!

Included in your fee is welcome drinks at the bar, free wi-fi, as well as a hot breakfast every morning in the lobby! If you drove into the city, keep in mind that you will need to pay for parking, which is around $40/night.

Hotel Le Marais is part of the New Orleans Hotel Collection which has quite an impressive list of boutique hotels under their control. So, if you are planning a trip to the area soon, I recommend that you stay in touch with both of them. Hotel Le Marais always posts their special offers and packages on their Facebook page and if you want to get a feel for all the boutique hotel options available for you, stay connected with the New Orleans Hotel Collection on Instagram which highlights all of their properties! Of course, once you are ready to book your stay, visit their website or give them a call at (800) 935-8740.

Taking a Dog-Friendly Road Trip

by Filed Under: Amanda

Have a furry friend that you don’t want to leave behind on your next adventure? Why should you? There are so many dog-friendly options now that bringing your pup along for the ride is totally do-able and enjoyable!

During the holidays, I always take my 2-year old dog, Peach, on the road to visit my family so I’ve become quite the expert in organizing the most puppy-positive trip possible. So here are my tips for how to take a dog-friendly road trip!

5 Tips to Take a Dog-friendly Road Trip

  1. Health first: Make sure your dog has all the proper vaccinations and proof of these shots for the state/country for which you are traveling. Through my research, I discovered that Tennessee recommended a different shot than what was required in Florida, so make sure you ask your vet!
  2. A spacious and safe car: During my latest road trip, I was lucky enough to drive the 2017 Mazda6 Grand Touring. This was the perfect fit as it combined luxury with fuel efficiency and some stellar safety features. So, while cruising up I-95 with the EPA-estimated 35 mpg, I was feeling good about getting great mileage while also feeling safer with the Mazda’s i-Activsense batch of active-safety assists. Thanks to a new camera, this setup can detect pedestrians, cars and large objects moving into the Mazda’s path at city speeds and, as with the system’s existing collision-warning function, it can automatically hit the brakes. 
  3. Keeping your pup in their place: If your furry friend is going to be a good road trip buddy, you need to make sure they are happy and comfy, but also secure. The last thing you need to happen is that your pup jumps into your lap while you are cruising along the interstate. Depending on your dogs size and personality, there are endless options for crates, booster seats, harnesses, and carrying cases. I recommend you check out all the options on Amazon and let the reviews be your guide as to which would ideal for your pet.
  4. Take your time: The key to a happy road trip with your pet is keeping them happy. Each time that I travel with my pup is a different experience, based on her mood and physical state. So, instead of rushing and focusing on getting to my destination at a specific time – I let my dog’s attitude be the gauge for our trip. When she gets restless, we stop for a break. I know she needs exercise, so I always opt for the roadside rest areas with ample space to run versus only stopping for gas in urban areas where it wouldn’t be safe for her. I especially love the service areas on Florida’s Turnpike which almost all offer dog run areas.
  5. Hotels that love pets: Instead of trying to force road trips in one day, I try and break them up across a few days. This lowers stress and gives me more time to do the idea mentioned above. However, doing that means I have to book a hotel. But no fear, there are now so many great options for pet-friendly hotels these days! I personally love to stay at the Best Western properties and during my recent road trip, we found a Best Western Plus in Valdosta, Georgia which was perfect! Between the spacious suite, pet-friendly floors, and free breakfast – it was the ideal rest place for us. My pup felt right at home and it helped us both rest and relax before getting back on the road the next day. 

Doesn’t Peachy look cozy? If you have any other tips for how to make the best of a road trip when you have your four-legged friend to think about , please let us know in the comment section below!

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