California, Weekenders
Alli Talley
Family Friendly Fun in Santa Ana - Kid AND ...
Family Friendly Fun in Santa Ana - Kid AND Parent Approved
California, Weekenders
Alli Talley
FIVE REASONS YOU SHOULD VACATION IN OXNARD 
FIVE REASONS YOU SHOULD VACATION IN OXNARD 
California, Weekenders
Alli Talley
ANACAPA ISLAND - ONE OF CALIFORNIA’S BEST KEPT ...
ANACAPA ISLAND - ONE OF CALIFORNIA’S BEST KEPT SECRETS
California, Weekenders
Alli Talley
OXNARD - A BEACH TOWN FOR THE DOGS
OXNARD - A BEACH TOWN FOR THE DOGS
Alaska, USA
Alli Talley
Alaska Itinerary 2022 - Reese Journeys to the ...
Alaska Itinerary 2022 - Reese Journeys to the Far North!

Travel Essentials

Why We Roll On (Four-Wheeled) Spinners

Luggage comes in all shapes and sizes, and most of us start with what we’re given. When we were younger, all we ever used was duffle bags. At some point, we matured and graduated to a two-wheeled carry-on. It seemed like the BEST thing ever compared to having your bag on your shoulder, and for about twenty years, both of us never thought to change things up. But then we came across Delsey Paris, and we realized we have been missing out on the 4-wheeled revolution. Over the past year, we’ve swapped out all our luggage for a fleet of Delsey bags, including the Chatelet, Titanium, Shadow 3.0, and Bastille Lite (our current favorite). While we are huge fans of the style and durability of hardside luggage, that isn’t the purpose of this blog. Here we want to share with you why we are convinced that 4-wheeled spinner cases are the way to roll.

Disclaimer… Four wheels vs two wheels may seem like a super random blog post. And it is. But we can honestly say it makes all the difference! And we aren’t business travelers that travel weekly, so we don’t claim the following to be true for everyone… but this is what WE have found :)

 

Pulling with the wrist vs. pushing with your body. First off, it really just feels easier to push your suitcase by your side as you walk rather than pull it. Assuming you have good wheels (Delsey bags are SO ridiculously smooth), pushing the bag really feels effortless. If you have bad wrists/shoulders and a heavy bag, pulling it all around the airport will eventually cause a sore wrist/shoulder. Pushing a slick four-wheeler really is as effortless as it gets! 

The 360-degree maneuverability is a game-changer. It really is the main reason why we love these bags so much. These bags allow you to quickly bring it in front of you if you need to go through a narrow opening or turnstile. Think about how many times the line to deplane is held up by somebody who’s two-wheeler can’t fit down the aisle. Glide a four-wheeler sideways, and that will never be your problem. When you hop on the subway/train, the four-wheeler can efficiently move into small open spaces.

(We will say that there are times you do need two-wheels, like bumpy or uneven surfaces where gliding along side of you won’t be ideal. Not a problem, because you can lean it on to two-wheels and advance through the difficult terrain with ease.)

 

If you’ve never had the four-wheel experience, trust us and take one for a spin! Because why settle for two wheels... when you can have four? 

,

Last-Minute Packing Tips

,

We're pretty spontaneous when it comes to travel planning. Most of our "big" international trips are planned at least a month or two in advance, but when it comes to domestic travel and weekend trips, sometimes we book those the week of! For many travelers, packing last minute is cause for panic, stress, and an extra strong cocktail. Here's some of our tips for efficiently packing on a time crunch - with a cocktail in hand. ;)

 

1. WRITE A QUICK LIST

This point is probably pretty elementary, but making a list really does help us. Whether we're heading to the Bahamas or backpacking Africa, it's helpful to write down what you need. We start our list at least a week before we leave, giving us plenty of time to mull over it, buy what we need to, and make any last minute additions. If it's truly "last minute", then we start making a list as soon as we know we're going. We recommend sticking your list somewhere you'll see it regularly, like the fridge or the bathroom mirror. That way what you need to get/do beforehand will stay on your radar!

 

2. KNOW YOUR ACCOMMODATIONS

Camping? Cruising? Staying in the penthouse suite? Research where you'll be, what kind of accommodations they have, and what you'll need to bring. If it's somewhere international, chances are you'll need at least one converter. (We recommend bringing at least two - but we have a lot of equipment). If you're staying in a nice hotel, you probably won't need to pack a hair dryer. And if you're roughing it in the Sahara, you might want to pack extra face wipes... You get the picture. ;) We always ask our friends that have been to the destinations before us for packing advice, or even reach out to someone that's a local! You can never be too prepared!

 

3. LESS IS MORE

Let's be real... Bobby is definitely better at sticking to this motto than Alli, but it's something we both stand behind. Do your BEST not to overpack. Chances are, no matter what location you're adventuring to, you'll be able to buy what you need there. We've never been in a bind where we wished we would have brought something that we couldn't purchase later in that destination (knock on wood). Do yourself a favor and get a medium sized suitcase, not the biggest one you can find. If it's not huge, you can't overpack it (well you're at least less likely). Our current favorites are Delsey's Bastille Lite and Shadow 3.0. 

Delsey Bastille Lite

Delsey Titanium

4. USE A LUGGAGE SCALE

If you've never had one, you probably don't think you need one. We got one as a gift a couple years back and have used it on every trip since. Definitely gives you peace of mind as your packing. Something simple like this. It doesn't have to be digital and pricey. 

 

5. ALWAYS BRING A DECK OF CARDS

There will be times when a flight gets canceled, the power goes out at Hertz and you're stuck without a car (this happened to us in South Africa), or you're waiting in line for a museum to open. You always need a deck of cards. 

 

6. DO YOUR REALLY NEED 4 BATHING SUITS?

This is a HUGE struggle when packing, but we never regret it (so far). Lay out everything you want to take, and then try to start picking items to leave at home. For Bobby this mostly includes shirts. For Alli it's outfits. And shoes. And bathing suits. You are taking 7 t-shirts? How hard would it really be to take 4? Try to halve what your bringing and you'll never overpack.

 

7. DON'T CHECK IMPORTANT ITEMS

This may be obvious, but you should carry-on your passport, cash, credit cards, identification, jewelry, electronics, etc. Keep this stuff in your carry-on. It's not worth the hassle if/when an airline loses your luggage. 

 

8. BULK UP ON THE PLANE

If you have time to kill, scroll through our blog our Instagram and find any and all photos where we are at the airport. We'd bet you money that Bobby is wearing boots, jeans, and probably even a jacket. That's because we always where are bulky items to the airport so we don't have to pack them. We've literally been flying home from Italy in 100 degree heat wearing layers upon layers so we can get one extra bottle of wine home.  Wear your bulky items through security so you don't have to check them, and then peel off some layers once on the plane. Worth it!

 

Do you have any tips for us? We would love to hear!

,

Luxury Travel Without Breaking the Bank

,

One of the most common questions we get is how we can afford to travel as often as we do. After replying to countless emails about this, we decided it was time to write a blog! After all, we’re here to encourage, motivate, and inspire you to travel - but we want you to travel wisely! Here’s some of our tricks and hacks for “doing it up” and not coming home broke!

1. BEFORE YOU PLAN ANYTHING, BUDGET.

This may sound elementary, but it always blows our minds how many people don't budget... And then they wonder why they don't have any money to travel! Friends, traveling is SO do-able, no matter what you are making in your 9-5! But you have to save and prepare for it. We use an app called YNAB (stands for You Need A Budget, which is appropriate) and it's synced on both of our phones. We come up with a monthly budget for food, gas, restaurants, allowances (yes, you're never too old for an allowance!), travel, etc. It's worked wonders for us, and given us the freedom/ability to use the money we saved for our next adventure!

 

2. KNOW YOUR DESTINATION.

It's no surprise that certain destinations are going to be more affordable then others. If you're wanting to head to Greece for two weeks, it's going to add up fast. Spend time researching each location; how much the hotels cost, local restaurants, activities, renting a car, etc. Know high-season for the destination, and decide what kind of climate you are looking for. Maybe you want to experience the weather your spot has during low-season... and it's way more affordable  The more prepared you can be, the better - as these costs won't come as a surprise! If there are a handful of locations on your bucket list, go through and price check each one - chances are you'll be able to spend two weeks in Panama for a third of the cost as Paris!

Casco Viejo, Panama City!

Going through the Panama Canal!

Winter in South Africa - Hotels are cheaper, weather is colder, and just as BEAUTIFUL

3. CHOOSE YOUR SPLURGES WISELY.

It's no surprise that we like to splurge. Whether it's a massage on the ocean or a fancy dinner at the best restaurant in town, we try to splurge on one or two things each trip. Or there might be a five star hotel that we've dreamed of staying at, so we'll stay somewhere affordable for the majority of the trip, and then the last two nights we'll splurge. Splurge every once and a while... you won't regret it. 

Helicopter over Cape Town? Yes, please!

Always choose a convertible.

Huge bucket list adventure!

View from the sky!

One of the most colorful places we've ever been... San Juan, Puerto Rico.

4. SHARE!

Some couples adamantly don't like to share, but we are not one of those couples - especially when we're traveling!!! One of our favorite things to do in a location like New York City where our restaurant list is endless, is "graze". We'll start at a bar where we will each get a drink and SHARE an appetizer. From there we'll head to another spot where maybe we'll SHARE a salad and an entree. From there maybe we'll take a walk to the next spot, where we'll SHARE something else, and then maybe hit up one last spot to SHARE a dessert! We end up hitting up most of the hot spots, trying some of the best food in the city, and not breaking the bank. You might say we're professional grazers!

Sharing an appetizer while "grazing" during our first night in Rome.

The birthplace of the Pina Colada... San Juan, Puerto Rico.

 

5. YOLO, FRIENDS. IT’S ALL ABOUT THE YOLO.

"You Only Live Once" = YOLO. And we live by this motto. At the end of our trips, more often than not, we end up going over our budget. It's inevitable. But you know what? We always make it work, and we never regret it!! So budget and save to the best of your ability, and then don't forget to YOLO once or twice too. Because hey - you only live once!!! ;) 

 

Happy travels!

Hiking the Cinque Terre with beautiful Vernazza behind us!

Robe life...

... is the BEST life!

The Time is Now...

We kicked off 2017 with matching Daniel Wellington watches. We have both wanted new watches for awhile now, but we're the WORST when it comes to decision making. (Especially when it comes to fashion choices!)

While we were in Japan, we visited a Daniel Wellington store in Tokyo. That's when we knew we had found EXACTLY what we'd been wanting for so long. Classic design, elegant yet laid back style, and designer qualify at a fraction of the price. Alli picked the Classic Black style and Bobby went with the Classic Bristol, and we haven't taken them off since!

Not only are watches a timeless statement piece, (get it?! ) but they really do come in handy when it comes to travel. There's moments where our phones are dead or out of reach, and being able to check the time on our wrist (what a monumental idea!) truly helps. Plus we get a weird satisfaction when we manually change the times as we cross from one time zone to another. I guess you could say that it makes traveling the world feel that much more real. 

We realize there are a lot of watch companies and brands out there to choose from, but we urge you to give Daniel Wellington a try. Not only is their style and design right on the money (obsessed) but their quality - at such an affordable price - is unheard of! (And you know we're all about a good deal!)

If you've been wanting a watch, don't wait. The time is now. And you'll get 15% off with the code NEWLYWEDS... so yolo!! ;)

Daniel Wellington #danielwellington

Meet Our Luggage: Delsey Paris

Our biggest traveling game changer.

Let’s be real. Traveling with old, bulky, and broken luggage is the WORST. 

When we first started traveling together, we were both using suitcases we’d had for years - and those suitcases were the cause of several arguments, bad attitudes, and really, REALLY dramatic travel days. One day we realized we couldn’t do it anymore. Our luggage was weighing us down (literally), and the idea of trying to use them “just one more time” was not going to fly.

We started investigating luggage and were immediately overwhelmed. Those of you that have shopped for luggage recently know that the possibilities are endless. There are countless brands, sizes, and shapes to choose from. Finding one that is actually durable, lightweight, and affordable is a lot harder than you would think.

It took some research, but we found them. We were drawn in by their style and price, and then blown away by their durability, weight, and functionality. We hope that if you're in the market for new luggage, that you will trust us and give Delsey a try!

Delsey is a French luggage and travel accessory brand that has an impressive assortment of colorful, stylish, and theft-proof luggage pieces. We currently have 3, and will give you a brief rundown of each.  

First, we both have the Helium Titanium 21" Carry-On Expandable Spinner Trolley. Our favorite features are right there in the name. Helium. It is INCREDIBLY light. Titanium. It has a solid hard-shell exterior that will keep your delicate items safe and secure. Expandable. While this piece is a carry-on, it also has an expandable feature that provides you with more space if needed. Perfect for the souvenirs you need room for on the way home. Spinner. Neither of us knew that wheels could spin so smoothly on luggage. If you see us walking around the airport with these bags, it won't be uncommon for you to see Bobby shoving his bag and marveling at how fast and smooth it whizzes away from him. The smooth roll may not sound like a big deal, but we're confident you will let us know when you experience it and are as satisfied as we are.

Next up is the Helium Shadow 3.0 29" Spinner Suiter Trolley. This is Bobby's go to for bigger trips where we are checking bags. Like the carry-on, this bag is light, hard-shelled, and really smooth. The unique part of this luggage is the top lid opening, which is super useful when packing and unpacking. 

The other piece we have is the Honore+ 27" Spinner Trolley. This is a beautiful piece of luggage. Along with the same Delsey features as the others, the Honore+ also features a heavy duty aluminum frame with a single click opening system. It is amazing. This case is stylish and sophisticated, and is Alli's choice to bring along whenever possible. 

By now we’ve taken our Delsey suitcases to Mexico, Florida, the Caribbean, South Africa, Uganda, and more, and we’re amazed at how well they’ve held up. Pushing our trusty luggage through the airport, down the street, even up several flights of stairs is a breeze. We can honestly say they’ve made our travel days a lot more enjoyable! ;)

So, friends, there you have it. Our biggest traveling game changer is definitely our Delsey luggage. We won’t leave home without them!