Thursday Travel Fashion: for your feet during a beachfront ceremony :)

I would totally consider a beach wedding for a chance to wear these great confections on my feet!

pearl shimmer

arianna

by Barmine

by Michele McColgan

Destination Tuesdays: Runaway Bay, Jamaica

Runaway Bay, Jamaica is off the beaten tourist path and has quiet, preserved beaches and amenity-filled resorts.

About 1 hour from Montego Bay International Airport and only 10 miles west of Ocho Rios on Jamaica’s northern coast, Runaway Bay is known for its lavish all-inclusive resorts and beautiful Caribbean beaches. If you’re looking to hole up at a beach-side resort, sip tropical drinks and unwind, Runaway Bay is a great option. The area has great golfing, pampering spas, and a number of water sports to choose from.  Consider a snorkeling or diving excursion in the warm and clear waters. If you’re adventurous and in good walking shape, the Green Grotto Caves are a unique excursion where you will likely spot hundreds of sleepy bats. Or, take advantage of the many all-inclusive resorts in the area for lounging by the pool or on the beach with a cold drink in your hand. Or, just hang at one of the many beautiful gold and white sand beaches and enjoy the warm Caribbean waters, perfect for swimming or relaxing. 

Recommended hotels:

Grand Bahia Principe Jamaica - family-friendly, all-inclusive resort. The resort offers great programs for children including mini dance club, ecological morning activities, face painting, video games, shows for kids. The views will amaze you at this Victorian-style hotel, where almost all of the rooms accommodate the beauty that is Runaway Bay. It is a dream location for your destination wedding!

Grand Bahia Principe Jamaica

The Luxury Bahia Principe Runaway Bay - exclusively for adults, all-inclusive resort. This Victorian style hotel is part of the Don Pablo Collection, the most luxurious brand of Bahia Principe. Not only will you be able to enjoy all of the wonderful amenities at this hotel, but guests also have access to all of the services and amenities at the Grand Bahia Principe Jamaica next door. Your vacation at the resort will be truly unforgettable.
The 70 Rooms of the Luxury Bahia Principe Runaway Bay hotel are all Junior Suites De Luxe with hydro massage tubs, the majority with beautiful views of the sea and with exclusive services. Come and find your place in the paradise of Runaway Bay, you won't be sorry!

The Luxury Bahia Principe Runaway Bay

Ask about wonderful Destination Wedding packages and let me plan your vacation of a lifetime! 

Travel Tips: 5 no-fail tips for packing for your destination wedding.

5 no-fail tips for packing for your destination wedding.

1) Have everything packed and ready to carry about one week before your departure.

2) Make a checklist for your clothing and accessories using your wedding agenda as a guide. Make a similar one for your groom. For example, Welcome Dinner: (me) DVF maxi dress, flat sandals, white cardigan, turquoise necklace and bracelet; (him) navy pants, cream shirt, Oakley flip-flops. Do that for the entire wedding weekend.

3) Do NOT check your wedding dress or his tux. Have your salon or seamstress pack your dress and veil so you can carry it on the plane. Anything of value — your wedding rings and heirloom pieces — should be on your person when you fly. At the airport, alert the gate agent that you are traveling with your wedding attire, so she can give you the proper assistance. Onboard, ask the flight attendant to carefully store your garment bag.

4) Make a list of the gadgets you’ll need and any corresponding wires. If necessary, make sure you’ve got the proper electrical converter. Place all your connection wires in a single plastic bag and place it in your carry-on. You may also want to label your cellphones, cameras and iPads with your name and e-mail address. Busy brides have been known to lose track of those items over the course of such an exciting weekend.

5) Have your groom pack an extra pair of dress pants and closed-toe, non-sporty shoes. Many resort hotels have at least one formal dining room with dress codes. Also, make sure you’ve got all your medications as well as little helpers like sunscreen, tissues aspirin, Pepto-Bismol and anti-itch cream for mosquito bites.

Credits to bridalguide.com

Promo Friday

1) Pre-opening Special!!! Savings up to 63%

Brand New Zoetry Villa Rolandi - 5* All Inclusive luxury resort in Isla Mujeres, Mexico is now open for sale! Book now for travel from Nov 1st, 2014 to Dec 23rd, 2015
Why stay there?

· myTime perks
· All rooms are oceanfront
· Only a short 25 minute ride from Cancun, transportation provided on the resort’s own deluxe yacht which docks at the hotel’s private pier located on the Makax lagoon.
· Close proximity to Isla Mujeres Underwater Museum (MUSA) with over 400 sculptures that provide areas for coral growth which may be viewed by diving or snorkeling.

Zoetry Villa Rolandi

2) A newly introduced luxury All-Inclusive brand. Hyatt Ziva Rose Hall 5* resort in Jamaica opening November 2014! 

Book now for stay from Nov 7th, 2014 to December 26th, 2014 to save up to 50%.

4 nights start at $729 include All Inclusive and hotel transfers.

Hyatt Ziva Rose Hall

3) Beautiful 4* All Inclusive Majestic Elegance resort in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic offers 25% off and myTime perks, up to $50.00 spa credit, free round of golf and more! Book now for stay from Aug 16th, 2014 to Oct 31st, 2014. 

4 nights start at $529 include All Inclusive and hotel transfers.

Majestic Elegance

Thursday Travel Fashion: Cactus-Inspired Dresses :)

Oh well, while in Cabo I was totally impressed by by the variety of cacti in the destination. 

It's not surprising that fashion designers find inspiration in these plants as well. Check out these cute dresses by Matthew Williamson. How about one of them for your Cabo Wedding? :)

Credits to matthewwilliamson.com

Destination Tuesdays: Los Cabos

Finally I got the opportunity to share with you my recent trip to Los Cabos!
Located in Baja California South, Mexico this amazing destination is often unknown to those who live on the East Coast of the US. And it used to be hard to get there from New York due to lack of non-stop flights.
But now, when there are weekly non-stop flights from Newark Airport to Los Cabos it takes a little more than 5 hours to get there and enjoy everything this destination has to offer.
Cabo is known for beautiful people, celebrities, and lot's of activities and entertainment. It offers a unique combination of desert, mountains, and ocean. Real paradise for cacti lovers :)

There are three major areas in "Cabo":

1. San Jose del Cabo, the "Old Town", which is nearest to the airport. San Jose has old Mexico charm and some shining new resorts.
2. Cabo San Lucas, the "Main Town", which is 20-some miles southwest from the airport at the end of Baja, and the entertainment hub of Cabo. The famous arch, El Arco, is in Cabo San Lucas.
3. The Corridor, the highway which connects San Jose and Cabo San Lucas, which is now lined with golf courses, condos and resorts that hug the stunning coastline.

By night, Cabo San Lucas is one of the hottest party towns in North America with a glittering nightlife and a plethora of dining options that make energetic Cabo San Lucas an all-time favorite. Also called Cabo San “Loco” or just plain “Cabo”, the town’s reputation as the wild party center of the Baja Peninsula has brought fame and infamy to its many bars and nightclubs.

There are lots of beautiful resorts in the area. For young and active, looking for partying, good food, and nightlife - Cabo San Lucas is the place! Stay at ME Cabo with famous Nikki Beach for the ultimate experience! Oh, it has a swimable beach :) Here's my review of the hotel.

For families - Melia Cabo Real is a great place. All Inclusive, conveniently located in the Corridor. It also has a spot on the beach where you can swim, which is rare in Cabo.

For romance - Capella! I was totally blown away by this resort! Gorgeous views, excellent service. Take your love for dinner at the restaurant on the cliff and she'll be impressed!

Restaurant on the cliff at Capella

Let's plan your Cabo vacation! Go to www.noproblemtravel.org. Or e-mail travelnoproblem@gmail.com

Travel Tips: How To Save Money For Travel

Many people say that they'd like travel the world but they often come with tons of excuses not to. Lack of money is one of such excuses so here are a few tips on how you can save money for travel:

1) Set your dream. Put a picture on your wall or a map with pins and strings, make it visual. This will constantly remind you about your goal and help you save money.
2) Create a savings plan which will consist of 5 steps:

• Assessment - compare your trip plan to the reality of your financial situation. Get a general idea of your trip's overall cost, compile a spreadsheet that lists your income vs. your expenses to see how everything stacks up.
• Setting goals - have your savings plan comprise several goals, some short-term and some long. List your goals in a specific round numbers and don't be shy to aim high but not so high it kills your enthusiasm.
• Creating a plan - with details how you'll accomplish your goals. For example, removing unnecessary expenses, setting a strict spending budget or adding additional income to meet your goals.
• Implementation - put your plan in motion and maintain it.
• Monitoring and reassessment - as time passes, your plan will evolve as your spending habits change. Take a look at your progress every month and scrutinize the budget for possible adjustments.

3) Asses you expenditures. Make a spreadsheet, place it where you can find it, and list out every one of your daily/monthly expenditures. Organize them into two columns" "Needs" and "Wants". Slowly eliminate all the "wants" from you list of purchases.
4) Start a dedicated travel fund. Create a new account with your bank called "Bon Voyage" and feed it monthly, weekly?, daily! Make it easy to transfer money over from another account and every time you go online to check your balance, transfer some money. Make it fun. Make it a habit. Make it natural. Make it painless. Enjoy its growth!
5) Cut back on your lunch.
6) Cut back on coffee.
7) Eat out less.
8) Reduce or eliminate your car usage.
9) Kill the cable TV.
10) Reduce your utilities bill.
11) Quit smoking.
12) Cancel your gym membership.
13) Reduce/remove your spa treatments.
14) Get fewer haircuts.
15) Borrow your reading material.
16) Stay in at night. Going out to bars and clubs will force your account balance to go down really fast. Keep your travel goals in mind and invite your friend over for, well..., movies, game night, knitting parties, cooking, etc.!
17) Sell some stuff.
18) Earn some extra income.
19) Keep your distance from people who aren't saving for a trip. Watching your friends going out every night, buying expensive electronics, expensive cocktails and new shoes will destroy all your hard-fought motivation. They know you love them, and they'll understand and probably respect you more for saying no.

Remember,  you're going traveling! That's one of the best goals a person can have!

Credits to airtreks.com