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Practical Honeymoon Destination Ideas

August 8, 2016 by Amanda T. Filed Under: Weddings

practical-honeymoon-destination-ideas

Looking for practical honeymoon destination ideas? Look no further! While some people plan to take 2 weeks to explore Europe for their honeymoon, it seems to me that most people just want the opportunity to relax and unwind after your wedding, right? Who wants to be coordinating even MORE things after you just finished coordinating the biggest party of your life? So, I’ve pulled together a list of my favorite trips that I’ve taken recently that would be make really good options for practical honeymoon destinations!

Practical Honeymoon Destination Ideas

  1. Sip wine in Napa Valley: Why not spending your honeymoon enjoying great views and tasty wine? With all the tour options, you can easily book a few and then let your guides handle all the coordinating for you! You can read about my recent “couples” trip there to see what we recommend putting on your agenda.  NapaValleyYoungCouples
  2. Drive up the Pacific Coastal Highway: Does driving count as planning? For those who find cruising in a car a relaxing way to spend their time, this is a great option! I would recommend starting in LA and working your way up to San Francisco. The only coordinating you would need to do would be deciding which lovely Bed and Breakfast to stay in on the way. I recently did this with my fiancee and we are counting down the days until we can return!
  3. Be a kid in Orlando: Depending on the time of year, the parks in Orlando might actually be a stress-free way to spend your honeymoon! I would avoid the summer months, but if you can land an off-month and plan to visit during the week, this is defintely a great option for a honeymoon! practical-honeymoon-destination-ideas-orlando
  4. Relax in West Palm Beach, Florida: Looking for a beach get-away but want to avoid the stress of Miami? I love the West Palm Beach/Palm Beach area that gives you the best of both worlds! I recently took a road trip there and you can see why this would be a great place to chill!
  5. Spoil yourself at Isla Mujeres Resort: We recently enjoyed an amazing weekend at the Palace Resort at Isla Mujeres and it would make a perfect honeymoon spot. Besides the amazing views, its all-inclusive, so that means no planning!

Do you have any other recommendations of practical honeymoon destination ideas? Let me know in the comment section below!

Safe Travels

Beau Wine Tours: Napa Valley Tour Review

December 15, 2015 by Amanda T. Filed Under: Amanda, English, Places

Beau Wine Tour Napa

Beau Wine Tours: Napa Valley Tour Review

If you’ve made your way to this page, its most likely because you are in the process of planning a trip to Napa Valley and are looking through the options of wine tours. First off, GREAT decision! My recent trip to Napa Valley has been one of my favorite vacations EVER and while there is plenty of research and planning required, the experience more than makes up for all the prep work! During our 4 day trip to the Napa area, we were able to snag an opportunity to join one of the group tours with Beau Wine Tours.

To be 100% honest, I was a little intimidated by the serious tone and imagery on their website; thinking that it might not be the best fit for us…a young couple who are beginner wine drinkers, mainly looking for an over-all pleasant experience versus a more formal sommelier training session. However, I was totally mistaken! What was so amazing about Beau Tours was that they combine the luxurious…with the pretty much whatever vibe fits you best! Before we even started the tour, I received a call from our tour guide who asked me a few questions in order to determine the best possible experience for us.

There are so many amazing highlights from our Napa day tour with Beau, but I’ve picked my 5 most memorable elements of this tour company that might help you while planning your trip!

  • The luxurious van…with the bubbly perks: Not that you spend crazy amounts of time in this van, but I can guarantee you that when you see this baby pull up in front of your hotel, it will put a smile on your face! We were the first pick-up of the day, but we were greeted with bottles of bubbly (and water of course), already chilled!

Loving our guided tour with @beauwinetours! Our ride is sweet and the tour guide is awesome! #beauwinetours

A photo posted by Las Travel Blogueras (@travelblogueras) on Sep 14, 2015 at 4:06pm PDT

  • Informed and friendly tour guide: Our tour guide, Jay, totally made our experience a special one! He is extremely knowledgeable, but shared that information in an unpretentious way…which made us feel at ease. While we loved the group experience, we will definitely be reaching out to him again on our next trip to the area for one of his private, Cadillac tours so that we can learn even more!
  • Door-to-door service: Depending where you are staying, this can be a major perk or unimportant. We were staying rather far north in the valley, but Jay was still kind enough to pick us up in the morning and drop us off at the end of the day. Other tours would have asked us to drive closer in to Napa…meaning we were stuck driving our car back to the hotel after a long day of drinking. Helpful tip: there aren’t very many Ubers in this area, so don’t think you can count on them!
  • Tasty lunch: I was highly impressed by our “picnic” lunch that was provided for us during the day. Honestly, I wasn’t expecting much, but the food hit the spot and was very tasty! Definitely an added bonus since we had been drinking all morning and needed something in our stomach! Beau Wine Tour Lunch
  • Fun surprises: Finally, while Beau prides themselves in the knowledge and professionalism of their guides…don’t think that you won’t have tons of fun! During our tour, the guide found out that my boyfriend’s birthday was coming up soon and during one of our stops, decorating the van and passed around a glass so everyone could sing to him! It was such a lovely surprise that really made our day special.

Hopefully this helps you a bit as you are exploring the options of wine tours in Napa Valley. If you don’t want to take my word for it, just check out all the happy customers on their Trip Advisor page…everyone seems to agree with me also!

Of course, if you have any specific questions about my experience, don’t hesitate to send me a tweet to @TravelBlogueras.

Safe Travels

Platypus Wine Tours: Napa Valley Tour Review

December 10, 2015 by Amanda T. Filed Under: Amanda, English, Places

PlaytpusWineTours

Platypus Wine Tours: Napa Valley Tour Review

Planning a trip to Napa Valley can get very overwhelming, very quickly. As I began research for this adventure, I discovered right away the endless options of vineyards and wineries that the valley offers, each with their own unique experiences and vibes. The secret is finding the right winery for your specific style and attitude. I’m not going to pretend like I’m a wine connoisseur, so as I was digging through my options, I was looking for wine tastings and tours that incorporated laid-back and friendly wineries versus the biggest names or the fanciest labels.

Saying all that, I was really happy that I stumbled across the Trip Advisor reviews for Platypus Wine Tours and as I read more and more about the tour company, they definitely seemed like the right fit! Everything I saw on the internet confirmed that Platypus does a great job introducing you to hidden treasures in the Valley that you otherwise might have missed on your own. Also, from the attitudes of the reviews, the other tour go’ers definitely seemed like fun/laid-back people to me….I’ll pass on the wine snobs, thanks!

This video, posted on their website is what sealed the deal for me, just look at that!

My experience with Platypus Wine Tours definitely lived up to all my expectations and all the reviews that I read online. There were so many amazing moments, but I will break it down to the 5 favorite things about my Platypus Wine Tour experience.

  • Fantastic tour guide: Your tour guide can really make or breaks your experience in Napa. While there is nothing wrong with a more formal, educational program…that just really wasn’t the vibe I was looking for. Our tour guide, Greta, was a joy! She was the perfect combination of interesting facts and knowledge but presented in the most welcoming and unpretentious way possible. She even snuck in an extra stop at a few vineyards that weren’t originally on our agenda so we could see the grounds and take photos!
  • Great vibes: Not just with our guide, I felt so at ease with the rest of the group. There was about 12 of us in total and you can tell that Platypus attracts a great crowd! We felt right at home with the other couples, who seemed to be all around the same level of wine knowledge as us…beginner level, but with a thirst to learn!
  • Range of wineries: We found out the hard way that not all wine tastings were created equal! They come in a variety of price points, length, quality, and overall experience. What I appreciated out of Greta was that she was very informative and straight-forward about which tastings would be a good bang for our buck. She also planned our day so that we had a good mixture of low-to-medium range costs to ensure those with the smaller budgets could still have a great experience.

We saw SO MUCH during our afternoon with @platypuswinetours, I especially appreciated the “bonus stops” so we could jump out and take photos!!

A photo posted by Las Travel Blogueras (@travelblogueras) on Sep 16, 2015 at 1:42pm PDT

  • Great investment: From my research, Platypus was neither the cheapest nor (anywhere near) the most experience tour experience in the valley. However, I can say will all confidence that these types of tours are 100% worth the amount that you pay. There is no reason to try and “taste and drive,” you are on vacation after all! On top of the convenience of not having to drive, you learn so much more than you would otherwise and have much more of an enriched experience overall.
  • Tudal Winery: Finally, I was so grateful that Greta introduced us to my favorite winery during the entire trip. I even wrote an entire blog post about why they were my favorite, all thanks to Platypus!

If you have any more questions about my experience with Platypus, please let me know and I would be more than happy to give your more specific details. You can comment below or send a tweet to @TravelBlogueras.

Safe Travels

Tudal Winery: My favorite in Napa Valley

November 7, 2015 by Amanda T. Filed Under: Amanda, English, Places

 

TudalWinery

As I was planning my trip to Napa Valley, I was blown away by all the options and possibilities when researching wineries and vineyards…especially when it came to the boutique variety. We decided to join Platypus Tours to help make these decisions for us and I’m happy to report that they over-delivered when they took us to the Tudal Winery.

While the bigger name labels and show-like atmospheres can sometimes draw you in, the real treasures of Napa lie in the lesser known places hidden in the valley. These are the kind of places that will steal your heart…just like the Tudal Winery stole mine!

Tudal Winery Chickens

So to find the Tudal Family Winery, we had to venture off the beaten path just past the town of St. Helena, right off Highway 29. Tucked away on the most charming dirt road, you really feel like you are visiting someone’s farm house instead of arriving at a vineyard. Apart from their modern amenities and winemaking technologies, this property is like a little time capsule that is layered with interesting stories and hidden treasures. I had the pleasure of speaking with John Tudal, who let me tag along as he fed his chickens (pictured above) and then shared with me the amazing nostalgia that this property has for him. He has painstakingly managed to keep the property as his father and grandfather kept it (still using some of their same vines!) even restoring their old tractor shed and turning it into a barrel room and tasting facility. He also proudly displays their antique tractors on the property which ads to the charm.

The @tudalwinery is such a unique and amazing experience! Our favorite stop of the trip, thanks to @platypuswinetours!

A photo posted by Las Travel Blogueras (@travelblogueras) on Sep 16, 2015 at 1:22pm PDT

My favorite part of the property was the gorgeous vegetable garden where the outdoor tastings are held and were our tour enjoyed a light lunch from Platypus Tours. I have quite a keen appreciation for “junk” so I loved wandering around and seeing all the displays of old empty bottles of wine and oak barrels.

Tudal Winery Shed

As much as I loved the grounds, I can also say I love their wines. Here are those that are considered the most notable at Tudal Winery:

  • 2009 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon
  • 2009 Clift Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon
  • 2010 Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc
  • 2009 Napa-Sonoma Cabernet Sauvignon

Between the charming grounds, the charming stuff, and the charmingly delicious wines, our experience at Tudal Winery is what most tempts me back to visit the Napa Valley. Attending their Annual Harvest Party officially has a spot on my bucket list and I intend to continue buying wines from them for years to come!

Safe Travels

Napa Valley Vacation for Young Couples

September 27, 2015 by Amanda T. Filed Under: Amanda, English, Places

NapaValleyYoungCouples

Napa Valley Vacation for Young Couples

Not all vacations are created equal when you are a young couple looking to enjoy a get away from your crazy schedule. Some destinations are too “family-friendly” aka hundreds of kids running around and ruining your romantic moments, while other “adult-friendly” trips might cater to the needs of couples, yet they are just too out of the budget range for young folks living on a early professional or just-graduated incomes.

Napa Valley has been a trip that was on the top of my must-see list for years, but I always assumed it was a vacation that was way out of my budget and not quite exciting enough to keep my attention. Well, this month, I set out to prove that a young couple can enjoy the Napa Valley area just as much as anyone! While I did get to “cheat” a bit and enjoyed a media rate on several of these excursions, I purposefully chose options that wouldn’t break the bank and made sure to spend money on the moments that would be most memorable.

GettingtoNapaValley

Flying in to San Francisco was the best flight option from Miami and booking about 3 month in advance gave us the lowest rate. I highly recommend setting a price alert on Kayak.com so that you spot the ideal week to visit. In general, rates are lower during the week (versus during the weekend) in Napa, so keep that in mind when booking!

Love zipping around #Caifornia in this guy! Our #mitsubishi #mirage is the perfect size with great gas mileage! #drivemitsubishi @mitsubishimotors

A photo posted by Las Travel Blogueras (@travelblogueras) on Sep 15, 2015 at 9:14am PDT

The Napa Valley is about 1-2 hours from the San Francisco airport (depending on traffic and where in Napa you are staying), so you should definitely pass on the larger vehicle options when picking out a rental. The Mitsubishi Mirage helped us save a pretty penny on the gas and also helped us navigate the windy roads of the California hillside. The bright blue color sparkled against the green landscapes of the valley and we found that while the Mirage was on the smaller side, it provided ample space for the two of us! The engine also had sufficient “get-up-and-go” to maneuver us up and down the mountainsides – while also keeping our gas consumption to a minimum.      NapaValleyWheretoStay Within the Napa Valley, there are endless hotels and inns – each with their own nuances and specialties. Most people think they have to stay right in the city of Napa to enjoy the area and that is just not true. Up the valley, there are several small towns that have just as much to offer as the larger city of Napa. If you are looking to watch your budget, consider a hotel in one of the smaller towns, which tend to offer better rates (especially during off-season) to tempt you away from the city. We stayed in the Mount View Hotel & Spa in Calistoga, which is at the top of the valley. This quaint little town was the perfect get-away we were looking for during our romantic getaway. Main street looks like it comes out of a storybook and the locals are very welcoming to tourists. Definitely check out the town website to check to see if they are hosting a special event like the Harvest Table or Hoe Down.

  We never wanted to leave our #winecountry oasis in #Calistoga! @mountviewhotel was a perfect getaway!   A photo posted by Las Travel Blogueras (@travelblogueras) on Sep 16, 2015 at 7:49pm PDT

Depending on the type of vacation you are hoping to have, these smaller towns might be the perfect fit or leave you wanting more. Think about it this way, the farther north you go and the farther you get from the city of Napa, the earlier the restaurants close and the fewer bars you will find. If you are looking for late night bar hopping, then downtown Napa or closer to Yountville might be the better fit. However, after a long day of wine tasting, I was perfectly happy to have an early dinner and call it a night!

NapaValleyWhattoDo Obviously, the answer here is wine tasting and tours. However, how you schedule your trip and plan your days can really make or break your experience. Let’s get real here: You are coming to Napa to taste wine! Unfortunately, the best vineyards aren’t all lined up next to each other so you can hop from one to another like you do a bar. So, the smartest and safest option is to join one of the tours or get a driver for the day. Obviously you can save some money if you go with the group tours, but you do have a sacrifice a bit on the personalization – opting for letting your tour guide pick out their favorites or best options for the day.

We saw SO MUCH during our afternoon with @platypuswinetours, I especially appreciated the “bonus stops” so we could jump out and take photos!!   A photo posted by Las Travel Blogueras (@travelblogueras) on Sep 16, 2015 at 1:42pm PDT

The group tours were a GREAT option for us since this was our first trip to Napa Valley, so we got to sit back and let someone else do all the scheduling and planning for us. In these group tours, it was also great that they can usually pick you up directly from your hotel and then drop you off there at the end of the day, meaning you can drink to your hearts content and not have to worry about driving yourself! We tried both the Beau Wine Tours and Playtpus Wine Tours based on their amazing views on Trip Advisor/Yelp. You definitely can’t go wrong with either of these tours!

  Loving our guided tour with @beauwinetours! Our ride is sweet and the tour guide is awesome! #beauwinetours   A photo posted by Las Travel Blogueras (@travelblogueras) on Sep 14, 2015 at 4:06pm PDT

Both of these companies also offer private/charter tour, which I definitely think I will splurge for on our next trip. After taking these two group tours, I feel like I have a better understanding of the area and type of vineyard/winery that is a good fit for me. So keep that in mind, also! If you want to read more specific details about these tour companies, check out our reviews here: Beau Review & Platypus Review.

NapaValleyRomantic

Napa Valley definitely oozes with romance, especially in the evenings when things cool down a bit and can snuggle up to a fire with a glass of wine. While we were there, we tried to pick a few excursions that would be especially romantic, since its pretty easy to caught up in the “vineyard” hopping that you need to make sure you take a few minutes at the end of the day to enjoy your significant other. We did this by booking the dinner at the Napa Valley Wine Train and also hand-picked a few vineyard that have an extra-special romantic feel.

Our first night in the valley, we joined the dinner trip of the Napa Wine Train! Your journey begins in downtown Napa and the train takes you north through the valley and then back down on the same tracks- in total, it was about a 2-3 hour trip. The dinner trip is very romantic, as the 2nd part of the journey after sunset. While this doesn’t make for the best site-seeing experience, the overall vibe of the train is very classic romance.

Wine and a sunset from the #winetrain ❤️?❤️?❤️

A photo posted by Las Travel Blogueras (@travelblogueras) on Sep 13, 2015 at 8:06pm PDT

If you are looking for a unique way to observe the wine country, go for the lunch tour – if you want to enjoy more of the train and your partner’s company and conversation…then go for the dinner train! Apart from the Wine Train, we found that some of the tastings/tours could also be romantic! We ventured to Del Dotto Vineyard in St. Helena to explore their caves as an interesting alternative to the typical outdoor vineyard tour. The cool and dark caves can definitely make for a romantic environment…as you wander and enjoy their exquisite wines.

Had an amazing experience at the @deldottowine vineyard this morning. The cave tour is a must see!! ?️? A photo posted by Las Travel Blogueras (@travelblogueras) on Sep 15, 2015 at 7:37pm PDT

We were even lucky enough to try some of their 10 point wine! Following the tasting, they fed us some tasty cheese and prosciutto…which topped off the experience perfectly. Would highly recommend this tour to take a break from the outdoor vineyard experience to cool off in the cave with your special someone!

Do you have anything you would recommend for young couples during their Napa vacation? Please let us know in the comment section below!

Safe Travels

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