Alli Talley

August 29, 2017

Italy

Terme Di Saturnia - Maybe Our BEST 24 Hours in a Hotel

Alli Talley

August 29, 2017

Italy

Last time we were in Italy we had the opportunity to stay with Terme Di Saturnia, a Leading Hotels of the World property. While we were only there for 1 night, it may have been one of our favorite hotel experiences ever. In Alli's words, "If I ever get very ill later in life, please bring me here to relax and recover." We are going to let the photos speak for themselves, but here is what you need to know:

-Terme Di Saturnia sits surrounded by thermal springs that have been used for thousands of years, arguably the first spa and wellness retreat location!

-You are encouraged to wear a robe the whole time.

-The rooms are simple, have everything you need, including a super comfortable bed.

-The restaurant at the hotel is AMAZING!

-If the natural springs aren't enough, they have a wonderful spa where you can receive a variety of pampering treatments :)

Keeping it short... we will be back.

Alli Talley

August 29, 2017

Travel Essentials

Start Saving Even Before You Leave the Airport

Alli Talley

August 29, 2017

Travel Essentials

In a past article here on Traveling Newlyweds, we showed how you can enjoy luxurious travel without spending a lot of money. While it's good to plan and monitor your expenses with regards to your destination, the practice of saving should start early on in your trip.

After all, anyone who travels wants to save money, and we’re always looking for ways to save in everything we do. From the hotel and accommodations to the food we eat, travelers in general want to find the most affordable choices possible, but what we don’t always realize is that we can save money even before we leave the airport.

Airports are notorious for being non-budget friendly places. The items, including food, are generally expensive, with Boarding Area reporting that it’s because even restaurants and retail stores have to pay fees to the airport for operating. “Airports as public entities make things more expensive too,” they write. “There are often monopoly suppliers of certain goods that all restaurants are restricted too.”

But of course, aside from restraining yourself from buying things at the airport, there are other ways to save as well, including:

1. Taking the Express Train

Whenever people travel to the airport, they either ask friends and family to take them, or take taxis, as they’re more convenient. However, many people forget that most airports now have their own express railways. For example, Singapore Changi Airport has a train station that’s accessible by foot from two of its terminals, with the first train arriving at 5:26am and the last departing at 11:18pm. Many people often forget this, but it’s a very convenient way to get to the airport.

2. Choosing Long Stay Parking

There are still many travelers who take their cars to the airport, especially those who are coming from somewhere relatively far from the air hub. If you’re driving yourself to the airport and staying away from home for a few days, airports also have options that allow you to stay frugal. As a point of reference, London’s Gatwick Airport has both short stay and long stay parking, according to the information on airport parking resource Parking4less. Gatwick also has a meet and greet option that can work for passengers in a hurry, and its parking lots also have shuttles that go straight to the airport. This is generally the same across all leading airports, especially in Europe so make sure you do your research well before you set off on your travels.

3. Only Exchanging a Small Amount of Money

Convenience tends to cost a lot, which is why, if at all possible, you should exchange your currency pre-departure. Foreign exchange booths at the airport charge two fees: a service charge on top of a high currency exchange rate. To avoid such hefty costs, travel expert Krystin Arneson suggests that you exchange just enough to get you into town so that you can search for reputable international services like Western Union. It also might be slightly cheaper to withdraw cash from a local ATM depending on your bank, as each financial institution has their own rates for foreign charges.

Traveling doesn't always have to be an expensive hobby, as you can find small ways to save on even the most trivial things. Follow these three tips, and you’ll find that traveling isn’t as expensive as you first thought.

Alli Talley

August 28, 2017

Central America, Costa Rica

Volcanos, Hot Springs, and Geckos... Oh my! – How Tabacón and La Fortuna Prove Costa Rica is Much More Than the Beach

Alli Talley

August 28, 2017

Central America, Costa Rica

It goes without saying that Costa Rica is a traveler’s dream.

Beautiful coastline, lush rainforests, exciting weather (especially for us "Cali folk" - we experienced thunder storms like we've never seen before!), and the BEST overall vibe (Pura Vida baby!).

We decided to take a risk and pass on some of the more popular tourist areas, and instead spend the majority of our trip at the base of the Arenal Volcano in La Fortuna. We chose to stay at Tabacon Thermal Resort & Spa, having heard that there were life-changing hot springs on their property, and that it was part of the Leading Hotels of the World collection (one of our favorite hotel collections EVER!). Needless to say, we were really excited to explore Tabacon, and had high pretty high expectations for the property and surrounding area. And it definitely did not disappoint!

We flew into Liberia Airport with Alaska Airlines, which was a dream (more to come on that experience). We rented a car, which we highly recommend, and made the slow, windy drive to La Fortuna. The drive is about 80 miles (totally doable!), but slow, and we definitely advise against driving in the dark. If you go in the summer (their rainy season), you’re likely to get hit with some weather and it may be a little rough. Plus, during the day the views are AMAZING, with lush green rainforest, lakes, and volcanoes to look at!

After the three-hour trek, we were so thankful for the lovely welcome at Tabacón Thermal Resort & Spa. Within minutes of arriving, we were in our room with a welcome-drink in hand, being encouraged to put on our robes and head down to the hot springs for a late-night dip. Did we just check into HEAVEN?! We’re obsessed with robe-life, so obviously we took the advice. Outfitted in our robes, we had a quick dinner (there's something about eating dinner in a lush robe - can we say #vacationgoals?) at the lovely Ave del Paraíso before heading to the hot springs.

The hot springs at Tabacón are indescribable. They're everything we had hoped they'd be and SO much more. We met a couple at dinner who described the springs as “A labyrinth of streams that you may not see all of”, which was a fantastic representation of what it was. Even at night, in the pitch black, we were totally in awe of the hot springs.

One thing you may wonder is how hot they are? Between 77 and 122 degrees!!! But don’t worry, it honestly feels totally refreshing. Even though it was probably 80+ outside most of the time, the springs we spent the most time in (with temps around 95-100) felt SO good. Alli is never one to sit in jacuzzis very long, but she could sit in the springs for hours!

Insider tip: A lot of people stay at other hotels and then spend the day at Tabacon Hot Springs, but we want to let you in on a little secret. First of all, the springs are included in your room rate if you stay at Tabacón (non-guest day pass is between $70-105). Second, if you’re a hotel guest, then you need to take advantage of the time that only hotel guests can use it (between 8-10am). We would go before breakfast in the morning and have the place completely to ourselves. Combine the cooler morning temperature with the normal rain showers, and the hot springs are straight up heavenly. Our mornings in the hot springs ended up being one of the highlights of our trip!

The rooms are amazing and spacious! We enjoyed the honeymoon suite and had a view of the Arenal Volcano! Sort of… One downside to the rainy season is that your views may be blocked by clouds. So, while we knew Arenal was back there, we never actually saw it. Which is the PERFECT excuse for us to return!! ;)

When we weren’t in our room, we were either exploring the nearby town, frolicking in the springs, getting massages (Alli here - I had one of the best massages of my LIFE at Tabacón! Highly recommend!!), or indulging in the restaurants at Tabacón. The breakfasts here are phenomenal. Each day we did the breakfast buffet, which has everything you can imagine, and comes with LEGIT Costa Rican coffee (we even brought some home)!

Although it is hard to leave a resort like Tabacón, we love experiencing the culture of a new destination by visiting the nearby towns. We went into La Fortuna, about 15 minutes from Tabacón, nearly every day. We had great coffee, had some of the best meals of our trip, and enjoyed sitting outside and simply observing... Watching the storms roll in, the local vendors selling their goods, and seeing kids walking in their school uniforms while we just sip on coffee and ponder how different life looks in different parts of the world.

A couple adventures we recommend outside of town included hiking to the La Fortuna waterfall, looking for wildlife at Ecocentro Danaus, and exploring the Arenal hanging bridges!

All in all, we were totally impressed with this area of Costa Rica. Without a beach in sight, we were in awe of the natural beauty, the people, and the food. There is SO much to do there, three days barely scratched the surface. We will definitely be back to try and see Arenal and soak in the amazing hot springs of Tabacón! ... And get another massage. ;)

Alli Talley

August 21, 2017

Central America, Costa Rica, Airlines

Squashing Those "In-Flight Fears" With Alaska Airlines

Alli Talley

August 21, 2017

Central America, Costa Rica, Airlines

It goes without saying that we fly. A lot.

Whether we’re flying domestic or international, we’re some of the few that actually really enjoy air travel. We love the thrill of arriving at the airport, checking our bags, and exploring the terminal before we take off. We get a kick out of people watching, catching up on magazines, and having a glass of wine while we watch reruns of “Friends” on the plane. But we realize we’re not normal.

For MANY people flying on an airplane is matched with anxiety, stress, and fear. That fear literally hinders millions of people from exploring the world - which breaks our hearts! We get emails all the time from couples that want so desperately to travel but have reservations when it comes to flying on a plane. Today we’re going to talk about our most recent experience in the air with Alaska Airlines, in hopes that we can calm some of those fears, as:

Flying truly is one of our FAVORITE parts of our trips
Choosing which airline you travel with makes all of the difference

CHECKING IN AND BOARDING THE PLANE

One of the worst parts of flying can be the check in / boarding process. People pushing each other in line, disorganization, carry-on bags rolling over your toes, etc. We’ve seen things get scary.

However, we can honestly say that EVERY time we have flown with Alaska the check in and boarding process has been quick, easy, and orderly. Their systems are flawless, the check-ins are efficient, and the ticket agents are extremely accommodating and friendly. Which leads us to our next point…

THE FRIENDLIEST AIRLINE EVER? WE THINK SO.

We really can’t say enough about the incredible Alaska Airlines staff. (Shout out to Holly!) They are truly the kindest, most helpful people we’ve met in the skies. We’ve seen them bend over backwards to help their guests, they have the best senses of humor (seriously - they’re always laughing!), and they are so thoughtful in every situation.

We just returned from a trip to Costa Rica with Alaska, and when the attendants heard that it was Alli’s birthday, they surprised us with a tray of champagne, chocolates, and pilots wings!! We have NEVER seen that kind of attentive behavior from another airline! Before we can even say a word the attendants are there to re-fill our drinks, offer us snacks, or make sure we’re comfortable. When you fly with Alaska it feels like you’re flying with family. And we love that.

THIS IS NOT “NORMAL AIRPLANE FOOD”

The food on Alaska Airlines is GOOD. Whether you’re flying first class or economy, you won’t be disappointed.

On our way to Costa Rica we flew economy, and decided to share one of the famous “snack trays” we’d heard so much about. Inside was chips, hummus, crackers, almonds, olives, dark chocolate, and more! It was filling, delicious, and HEALTHY. We liked it so much that we ordered another!!

On our flight home from Costa Rica we flew first class, and were blown away by the food and service. We drank delicious wine, had a fresh and tasty salad, stuffed roast beef with mashed potatoes, and a TDF (to die for) strudel dessert with kiwis. IT WAS SO GOOD! We’ve had some pretty questionable airplane food in our days of travel, but this folks, you just can’t even compare. We’d order it at a restaurant!!

THE CHAIRS ARE COMFY

We repeat, THE CHAIRS ARE COMFY. This is huge. There is nothing worse than being uncomfortable on a long flight. Alaska takes pride in their fleet, and it shows. No matter where your seat is on the plane, you’re definitely not going to be disappointed. It’s roomy, pleasant, and every seat comes with an outlet to charge your phone! Beyond that, the “Alaska Beyond” In-Flight entertainment is solid. We were able to watch some of the new releases we’d been dying to see, and even play some of our favorite card games! Alli was actually SAD when the announcement came on that the flight was almost home! She didn’t want the trip to end!!

AN EXPERIENCE TO REMEMBER

We arrived home from Costa Rica raving about Alaska to our friends and family, and we haven’t stopped! From the check-in process to the customer service, to the entertainment and “comfort factor”, we really could not have had a better experience. We were too busy having fun to even begin to stress about “in-flight fears” and we know the same would be for you! Alaska, thank you for making our trip to Costa Rica so enjoyable and stress-free. We can’t think of a better way to begin and end our vacation!

And for those of you that have a fear of flying, we hope this blog opens your eyes to how much fun air travel can be. We challenge you to book a flight with Alaska and see what a difference this airline can make - and then let us know your thoughts!! We have a feeling you’ll be obsessed too. ;)

Thank you to Alaska Airlines for sponsoring this post!

Alli Talley

July 28, 2017

California, USA, Weekenders

DANA POINT OR BUST

Alli Talley

July 28, 2017

California, USA, Weekenders

If you’ve been following us for awhile, you know by now that we’re big fans of weekend trips. They’re easy to plan, easy to prepare for, and they do wonders to what would otherwise be a monotonous week. Because we both have full time jobs, we LIVE for spontaneous (or planned) weekend getaways!! This past weekend we adventured to Dana Point, a quaint Southern California beach town (just south of Laguna Beach), and it was the PERFECT weekend destination! The stunning resorts (if you’re short on time – scroll to bottom for quick rundown on the resorts), delicious restaurants, beautiful views and crystal clear ocean… Dana Point is a dream. Here’s what we did:

FRIDAY:

First stop on our weekend trip was lunch at Coastal Kitchen. Located on the Pacific Coast Highway, we HIGHLY recommend stopping here - even for a drink! The ambiance is amazing, the servers are so kind, and the french fries are some of the BEST we’ve ever had. No kidding, we take french fries very seriously. Make a stop at Coastal Kitchen, if only for the french fries.

We had some time to kill after lunch, so we headed to one of our favorite hidden gems of Dana Point. Across the street from Doheny State Beach is the Doubletree Suites Doheny Beach. They have an amazing bar on their rooftop with KILLER ocean views. Best part is? It was just us and a few locals up there! This truly is one of the best kept secret spots in Dana Point… so don’t tell too many people. ;)

Next item on our agenda: check into our hotel! We stayed at the Monarch Beach Resort, a property that honestly blew us away. It sits atop a hill overlooking the Pacific, and it has it all: stellar service, amazing restaurants, and championship caliber golf. Our room was beautiful, with stunning views of the property and the pool. AND THAT POOL!! Absolutely dreamy. We took a quick power nap (the big comfy bed was calling our names!) and then headed out to explore.

Speaking of which: One thing that we LOVED about the Monarch Beach Resort is all of the transportation options. There’s a complimentary driver for guests, that will drop you off anywhere in an 8 mile radius! There’s also the Dana Point Trolley that stops at the resort every ten minutes, and makes a giant loop around the town. AND the Monarch Beach Resort has their own little trolley that will take you to the beach! But more on that later...

First stop of the night was at The Ritz Carlton Laguna Niguel, located right on the water. We arrived right as the sun was setting, and the views were glorious. We sipped our cocktails, made some friends at the bar, and watched the sunset. Could this night get any better?!

The answer is yes. Definitely, yes. While it was hard to leave the gorgeous views at the Ritz, we were getting hungry, and we’d made dinner reservations at a new restaurant in town called the Craft House. We sat outside, ate a delicious dinner, and tried some of their famous whiskey cocktails. Needless by the time we got back to our room we were exhausted - and that big hotel bed couldn’t have felt better!

SATURDAY:

Saturday morning, we slept in (obviously!) and then decided to take the complimentary car to the Dana Point Harbor. It’s one of our favorite spots in Dana Point - there’s several restaurants, shops and bars, and a really scenic walking path along the water. We walked for awhile and then grabbed a bagel and some juice at the local’s favorite, Coffee Importers. If you go, make sure you get the California Bagel: cream cheese, avocado, tomato, red onions, and lemon pepper. The BEST!

We meandered our way to yet another stunning resort, The Laguna Cliffs Marriott, located directly above the harbor. Another one of our favorite “secret” spots in Dana Point is the coffee shop inside the hotel. There's the perfect deck just outside to sit and drink your coffee and look out at the ocean. Plus, on Saturdays they offer free yoga classes on their front lawn, so we watched over a hundred people do yoga as we drank our coffee! Drinks and a show!! ;)

We took the trolley back to the Monarch Beach Resort (can we take trolleys everywhere from now on?!), and we headed straight to the pool! We had the most relaxing couple of hours reading, swimming, and napping in the sun. And then we decided to head to the beach.

Like we said earlier, the Monarch Beach Resort has their own little trolley that takes guests to their private beach resort.

Later in the afternoon, Alli treated herself to a trip to the Drybar - located in the Monarch Beach Resort’s lobby. If you haven't been to a Drybar, whether you're a girl or a guy, you've got to try it. $45 for them to wash your hair, massage it, and style it. YES PLEASE! It's really the best thing ever.

After Alli's hair was perfected (Thanks Caitlin!!), we headed to the Stonehill Tavern, the famous Micheal Mina restaurant, also located inside Monarch Beach Resort ( We're telling you - one stop shop)! This ended up being hands down one of our favorite "date nights" so far. From the sexy ambiance, to the amazing service, to the mouthwatering food... everything was perfect.

A few highlights for when you go:

1. The bread and butter. Serious - the homemade sourdough with the honey, ricotta, thyme, and sea salt spread was one of our favorite things we ate. And it's free - so ask for seconds. And thirds.

2. They have an amazing sommelier that will help you choose your wine - tell him what you like, and let him surprise you. He's really that good!

2. The truffle mac and cheese. Nothing else needs to be said - just get it. And eat it. And love it.

3. The root beer float and chocolate chip cookies dessert. Two of our favorite things together, it really doesn't get any better.

SUNDAY

This was the perfect morning to sleep in - not only because we were in the most HEAVENLY bed, but because the British Open was on, making it a great excuse for breakfast in bed! ;) We ate breakfast, watched Jordan Spieth rock the British Open, and packed our bags. Taking our time and leisurely leaving an amazing resort is our best way to say goodbye - we leave feeling like we truly maximized our stay.

We left Monarch Beach Resort (boo hoo) and headed to the Craft House (again!!) for brunch. Yep, we like it that much that we had to go again! We met some friends and enjoyed bottomless mimosas, avocado toasts, and really delicious breakfast sandwiches. Nothing like two breakfasts in one day!! ;)

Our last (and final) Dana Point outing was stopping by the "Concerts in the Park". Happening every Sunday afternoon through Labor Day, the city hosts an INCREDIBLE (and FREE!) outdoor concert series featuring the most amazing cover bands. We were lucky to hear an Abba tribute band, and boy did they rock. Perfect way to close out the most memorable weekend getaway we've had in awhile!!

Four Can’t Miss Resorts in Dana Point – QUICK SNAPSHOT

Double Tree Resort

Strengths: Affordable, Clean and classic beach-y theme, Ocean views

Why Here? The Double Tree offers amazing views of the famed Doheny State Beach from rooms, rooftop bars, and secret patios. It is the most affordable of the four resorts, so if your on a vacation with the whole family this is a fantastic option. The Double Tree offers easy access to the Dana Point Harbor, and is walking distance (5 minutes) from Doheny, which is a great beach for surfing (lessons available), tanning, volleyball, biking, and chasing sunsets. Our favorite spot is the Longboard Rooftop Lounge! Bring the family and prepare for some long beach days full of sand castles, surfing, weenie roasts, and s’mores! The Double Tree won’t even be mad if you come back a little sandy…

Laguna Cliffs Marriott

Strengths: Dana Point harbor location, Hilltop views, Relaxed luxury

Why Here? The Laguna Cliffs Marriott is perched atop a hill looking over the picturesque Dana Point Harbor. The property is surrounded by pathways that meander their way to Doheny State Beach, the Harbor, and to the shops along PCH above. This is a prime location if you plan on nestling in the harbor or have any maritime activities planned. From the Marriott, your only steps away from eating a scrumptious brunch at RJ’s, learning to hang-ten at Doheny, educating yourself on local sea life at the marine institute, or indulging in a famous (and strong) mai-tai at Wind & Sea.

Monarch Beach Resort

Strengths: Grandiose five-star luxury resort vibes, Incredible restaurant options, Pool-side AND Beach-side service

Why Here? We may be a bit biased (because we stayed here), but the Monarch Beach Resort may be our favorite when it comes to resorts in Dana Point. It has it ALL. It is a large (but not overwhelming) property on a beautiful golf course overlooking the Pacific, and it boasts five-star service, rooms, and restaurants. One of our favorite aspects is that you can spend your day tanning by the pool and when you get tired of the pool-scene you can hop on their private trolley to head down to their beach club. So it’s your choice… margaritas by the pool, or by the crashing waves? After the day in the sun, indulge in AVEO Table + Bar for Mediterranean food, or Stonehill Tavern for elegant tavern fare. You won't regret either, we promise. From the moment the valet attendant opens your door, the Monarch Beach Resort takes you to the blissful vacation mode that everybody hopes for.

Ritz Carlton

Strengths: Unrivaled ocean and coastline views, Impeccable five-star service, Timeless décor, Best overall beach access

Why Here? The grand-daddy of them all, the Ritz has a history of luxury, flawless experiences, and knowing how to spoil their guests. Honeymooners, splurgers, and those in need of a pampering… the Ritz may be for you. You can be confident that if you book a room at the Ritz, you will have an unforgettable experience and likely will return home with tan skin and a full belly. Indulge in their amazing Raya, spend the day at Salt Creek beach, and watch the sunset from the best viewpoint in all of DP, 180blũ. This oceanfront lounge sits on the edge of the cliff where you can watch the surfers, as well as catch the last moments of color and light as the sun tucks below the pacific curtain. “Ritz Carlton” is synonymous with luxury, and the Ritz Laguna Niguel will likely exceed whatever you envision prior to your stay.

Thank you to Visit Dana Point for sponsoring this post!