The Best Hotel Essentials (What I Look For)

September 1, 2015

I’ve stayed in a lot of hotels. Traveling since I was a kid, I’ve spent probably hundreds, if not thousands, of nights around the world in hotels. And as an adult traveler, I really like a good hotel. I’m not one of those people that says “you barely spend any time in your hotel, so it doesn’t need to be nice.” I actually do like to spend time in my hotels when traveling, whether it’s a really long peaceful night of sleep after a super long flight or a mid-afternoon nap after a morning of exploring. Nick and I tend to pick boutique hotels over large chains as they most often are more unique and offer a quality experience as opposed to just huge cookie-cutter chains. So when we are booking a trip, the hotels are often a huge part of the experience for us and often one of the first things I look for in a location. So what do I search for? What do I look for in a hotel? Here are the best hotel essentials that I look for when booking hotels for a trip.

Welcoming staff at check in.

While you can’t really know this until you arrive, I read TripAdvisor reviews of all hotels I’m looking at booking. As soon as I have a shortlist of hotel options, I head over to the reviews. I look for things like “welcoming staff” or “staff was really helpful.” If you see those things, that’s usually a good sign.

Cool aesthetic and design.

As an interior designer by trade, I love a well designed hotel. I tend to lean towards more modern designs with an eclectic feel, so photos of the hotel are really important when I’m booking. I pass over a ton of hotels purely based on their photos online (I specifically like hotels.com for this reason as they show large photos of the property.) A cool design and aesthetic is really important to me when booking a hotel, so take a look and see if it fits your style.

Space to roam.

While a lot of city hotels we stay at are pretty small, I do love a spot that we can explore or roam around. Particularly when booking a trip for a “relaxing” few days, I love a hotel with large grounds or cool spaces to explore. I particularly love the Oberoi hotels for this very reason; their hotel grounds are often incredibly vast and gorgeous. It’s nice to be able to get out of your room and explore, even if you’re staying on the hotel’s grounds.

Good bed and pillows.

This is another thing I look for in the TripAdvisor reviews. A good bed and pillows are really important to me when I travel. After a long day of exploring, the last thing I want is an uncomfortable bed.

Efficient cleaning service.

One of my biggest pet peeves around the globe is when my room isn’t cleaned well. The last thing you want to see upon arrival are the last person’s hairs in the shower or spider webs on your ceiling. I look at the reviews for this one, but it’s often just one thing you have to hope is ok and wait and see. But this has often been a make or break item for me when thinking of returning to hotels for a second stay.

5 Things that Travelers Do Better

August 31, 2015

As travelers, we’re a different breed of people. We’ve seen how people live around the world, we’ve missed connections and slept on airport floors. We’ve gone hours without eating and battled sleep deprivation in countless countries around the world. Travelers have had to experience a lot and we’ve seen a lot, so there are some things in life that travelers just do better.

(PS – this post is merely meant to be fun, not to say anyone else doesn’t do any of these things better!)

1. Just go with it.

When you’re relying on other people to get you places or airlines to be on time and then aren’t, you learn really quickly as a traveler to just go with it. Going with the flow is essential to our success as a traveler and you learn very soon that letting go of much of that control is essential to the whole process of travel.

2. Embrace the insignificant moments.

I can’t tell you how many memories I have from my travels when it wasn’t something very significant, but I remember it as such. The insignificant moments end up becoming incredible because you’re out there in the world, you’re exploring, you’re living. All too often we pass over those insignificant moments in our every day lives because we’re too busy with our daily routines. But travelers learn to embrace those moments that are small and insignificant, but maybe the most important.

3. Make the most of every day.

Traveling has taught me to really take in the moment, even when at home. And even though it’s harder, travelers are often more present in their daily lives and make the most of every day we have. We know that life is meant to be lived and experienced, so it’s essential to make the most of each and every second we have!

4. Take care of the planet.

When you see how people in India are living with barely a roof over their head or how people in Cambodia have to bathe in the rivers, you realize really quickly that we are very lucky to have what we have in the West. This also makes us think about how we can better take care of the planet, both environmentally and humanitarian-ly. We’re all in this together, we need to help each other.

5. Understand what’s really important.

I’ve seen children begging on the streets of Marrakech and kids and babies wandering the dirty streets of Agra, India. And as travelers as we see such sights as these, we realize that it’s not about our giant houses and our giant cars and our fancy outfits that make us happy. As humans we don’t need all that much to be happy, but often we let all those material things define our success and our happiness. As travelers, we realize that those are nice, but it’s truly ourselves and those around us that make us happy and it’s about understanding what’s really important.

3 Affordable Fall Trips to Europe (and what they cost)

August 28, 2015

I hear a lot “travel is so expensive!” And while yes, if you are just booking the first thing you see or not scheduling your trip according to dates you can travel cheaper, it can be. But here’s the thing, there are tons of locations and flights out there that you can get at relatively low prices. When we first started traveling abroad after we got married, Nick and I would just search Orbitz not really knowing anything about airfare or how to get deals. We always figured on planning about $1,000 per ticket to fly anywhere abroad from the US West Coast. But in all actuality, we rarely pay that anymore and many times we’re getting both tickets for not much more than that. There are lots of ways to save on travel, but good airfare is one of the biggest. So here today, I’ve found you 3 affordable Fall trips abroad (from the US) and I’m telling you what they cost! If you’re looking for a great fall getaway with a lower price tag, I’ve got you covered!

All 3 trips below are to cities I have personally been to and on airlines I have personally flown, I wouldn’t recommend them if they weren’t great deals and great locations!

Los Angeles – Copenhagen | $555/person roundtrip

18 Nov – 25 Nov (though there are lots of other dates that get you this low of a fare as well)

Book directly through Norwegian Air’s website. (Tip for flying Norwegian from LA, they fly Dreamliners on this route, so choose the last row of seats on the plane, they have a ton of extra space!)

Always wanted to travel to Scandinavia? Here you go. This incredible roundtrip fare from LAX will drop you in one of Scandinavia’s most beautiful cities: Copenhagen. I can attest to this city being beautiful in the Fall and as you wander around the colorful buildings and Scandinavian architecture, you’ll see why!

New York – Dublin | $541.94/person roundtrip

25 Oct – 2 Nov on Delta

Book on Delta’s website or Orbitz (Tip for Delta: they are partners with a lot of airlines, so make sure you’re getting your miles even if aren’t loyal to them directly!)

Dublin is gorgeous in the Autumn! Falling leaves, rich stews for meals and everyone wrapped up in scarves and boots. What could be better? If you’re based on the East Coast, this is a fantastic deal to Dublin, or then even to fly into Ireland and then connect to other places in the UK or mainland Europe.

Dallas – London | $714.69/person roundtrip

17 Nov – 22 Nov on Delta

Book on Delta’s website or Orbitz (Tip for Delta: they are partners with a lot of airlines, so make sure you’re getting your miles even if aren’t loyal to them directly!)

Fancy a trip to beautiful London? Maybe a stroll through Hyde Park as the leaves are falling or spending days just popping from pub to pub? We honeymooned in London in November and I can say, though while chilly, it’s one of my favorite times of year there. London is also a great hub to jump off to other spots in Europe. Want to hop over the channel? I suggest looking at cheap fares on EasyJet’s website!

*I found all of these fares yesterday (August 27, 2015).

5 Simple Ways to Save for Travel

August 27, 2015

Travel costs money, there’s really no way around that. Even when using credit card points or miles to your advantage (which is fantastic), you still have to have money to spend at your location or on other travel related items. The key to traveling often is being able to save for those trips you want to take and having the cash to pay for them. So if you want to travel more and you’re not sure where to start in terms of saving money, here are 5 simples ways to save for travel to get you going!

Eat at home.

The first thing I look at when I need to save money are my food expenses. Most of the time you can save a lot of money by cooking and eating at home instead of going out to restaurants. Take a look at your schedule and your habits and try to be economical in what types of food you buy at the grocery store and how you eat. This can actually cut a huge amount of money out of your normal budget which can help you save long term.

Share meals or do happy hour when you go out.

One of the things that Nick and I do often when we do end up going out to teat is sharing meals or working it into our schedule to make happy hour where food is a lot cheaper. This saves us a lot of money instead of both ordering full meals.

Sell clothes or extra items.

I’m adamant about going through my closet and apartment every month or two and selling anything laying around that we don’t need or use. I sell clothes almost monthly if I haven’t worn them lately or extra technology that isn’t being used any more. I know this doesn’t sound like you’ll make a ton of extra cash, but you’d be amazed how fast it adds up.

Cut out Coffee.

A huge one for many of us, think about how much money you’re spending on Starbucks or whatever place you frequent for your daily fix. I don’t even have coffee every day (maybe 2-3 times per week) and even that really adds up. Your $4 drink every day ends up being around $20 per week, which ends up being $80 per month, which ends up being almost $1000 per year!!! There’s your airfare right there.

Cut out Alcohol/Desserts.

We have friends that complain a lot about not being able to travel but then will spend $30 at dinner on alcohol and extra things like dessert. If you drink alcohol, look at the cost that is adding to your grocery and restaurant bills. It ends up being a huge amount and something that we spend hardly any money on. It’s all about what’s a priority!

The Truth About Traveling : Those Magic Moments

August 26, 2015

There I was high above the Pacific, nearing midnight Portland time when suddenly I woke from my in-flight sleep to the most spectacular sunset high above the world. I don’t know if it was that my iTunes top 25 playlist was playing which features mostly songs that mean a lot to me, songs that have been really present in many memorable moments in my life, or if I just happened to wake up feeling rested, feeling calm or if I just was really content curled up in my seat staring out the window at the sun setting and the puffy white clouds tinged in violet. Whatever it was, it was one of those magic moments when traveling, one of those moments when you feel so entirely grateful to be able to experience it.

Travel is all too often hectic and disorienting and uncomfortable. We’re all too often wide awake when we should be sleeping or battling jet lag at all hours of the day, or rushing through a crowded airport in hopes of making our connections. So when those moments come along where you feel entirely present, when you look out your plane window and feel like you are meant to be right there and then in the middle of that sunset over the Pacific Ocean, you have to take advantage of them, you have to remark at their beauty and their meaning.

Life has been pretty crazy this Summer for Nick and I, with us both taking on a lot of new work opportunities and when most of the Summer so far as consisted of us working long hours and seemingly buried in never ending professional priorities, the moment of clarity when I awoke on that plane headed to Hawaii a couple weeks ago made me really stop and be present. I actually had a lot of work I could have been doing on that flight after being assigned a big new project the day before, I actually had a long list of things I wanted to accomplish on that flight that I had made before hand. But instead, I watched the sunset and I wrote this post. I wrote this post because the moment seemed too important not to document and because sometimes something as simple as watching the sunset from your airplane window can really make you stop and think, it can make you stop and really take a look around at the world around us.

Travel is all about those magic moments, those moments that change you, those moments that make you reconsider how you look at things, and in my years of traveling, I’ve had many of those. But it’s also those small moments here and there like a cotton candy colored sky high above the Pacific that pull us back to what’s really incredible about this world we call home and why it’s so important that we venture out to see it. It’s cotton candy colored skies high above the Pacific that have the power to remind us of who we are and those magic moments can stop the universe for a moment and let us remember what a beautiful world we call home.

Global Food : A Night in Italy

August 25, 2015

Something many Land of Marvels readers might not realize is that I love to cook. It’s always been a big passion of mine and baking, cooking, and hosting dinner parties is something that I love to do and try to do as much as my schedule permits. Food is also such a huge part of travel and as Nick and I have ventured around the world, we’ve fallen in love with so many cultures through their food. So in this new Land of Marvels series, as I learn to cook different cultural food from around the world, I’ll share the process and recipes here so you can have an exotic culinary adventure yourself as well! Welcome to Global Food: A Night in Italy!

A few weeks ago we had a gap in our travel schedule and after trying to get a group of our friends together for a while, we landed on a weekend where everyone was free. I make homemade pasta every once in a while and was craving a good old fashioned Italian dinner. Cooking for eight, Nick and I started our Saturday morning bright and early at the local Farmer’s Market. We wandered through the stalls, editing our menu as we went. Loosely, I knew the first course would be burrata (but I was open to was would accompany it), the main course would be pasta (one ravioli and one fettuccine dish), and our dessert was homemade tiramisu (which I had made the night before). We looked at all the fresh produce and decided on our final items, plus picked up a bundle of fresh lavender for the table.

After unloading our Farmer’s Market haul at home, it was time to get to work. I started on the bread: a Rosemary and Sea Salt Focaccia (see recipe below). As that was rising, I prepped everything I would need for my pasta and started my slow-cooked red sauce for the fettuccine. Then I moved on to the filling for my ravioli (a ricotta and shallot filling). Throughout the day we prepped our Night in Italy, moving from one item to the next.

Finally I got to setting my table complete with our fresh bundle of lavender, a canister of olive oil and setting menus at each place so our guests would know what was to be served. The dinner ended up being a success and we had such a lovely time, gathered around friends, eating fresh, homemade food and enjoying “la dolce vita!”

If you want to cook your own Night in Italy, take a look below at one of the recipes for the items I made for our Italian dinner at home!

Let’s Talk Blogging : Do Your Own Thing

August 21, 2015

All week this week, we’ll be talking blogging! I know it’s a break from regular travel posts but with a lot of questions swirling around the internet about blogging and after having been asked some of these questions regularly, I thought it worth while to commit a week to discuss this crazy world of blogging. And hopefully, you’ll walk away with some answers to your own questions too!

If you’re just getting into blogging or you’ve been doing it for a while, there is an incredible amount of resources out there these days to help you learn about all things blogging. There are also a lot of posts floating around out there telling you to do this or that, that this is the only way to do it or that if you’re not doing this, you’re not blogging correctly. I’m here to tell you today, take all of that with a very large grain of salt. If I’ve learned anything in my 3+ years of blogging seriously, it’s that doing your own thing and not worrying about what we all “should” be doing has been the most liberating and most successful thing I’ve done. Not to say you can’t take advice, because I totally recommend that, but realizing that you might do things differently and realizing that that is totally fine and even better, it’s probably better for you as a blogger in the long run. So if you’re wondering which advice to take, here’s what I suggest to do your own thing.

1. Don’t follow every rule you hear.

There are a million posts out there telling you how to gain followers, how to post, how to do your graphics and on and on. My one piece of advice would be: don’t listen to all of them. Pick the ones you find relevant to you or the ones that you think might fit with your blog, but ignore the rest. The way that my blog operates or gains followers is completely different than someone else’s, so know what works for you and ignore the rest of the rules floating around out there.

2. Don’t let negative comments get you down, know who you are and don’t listen to anything else.

I’ve had my fair share of haters along the way through blogging and in the beginning I would read all the negative comments and really let them bother me. I once had a forum thread tearing me apart piece by piece, saying things like I wasn’t even really born in the Middle East (which I was, you can see my birth certificate) and I had made it up, to tearing apart posts I had written. It was awful, but one thing I walked away from that with, I don’t even read those comments anymore. I know who I am and what I stand for and how I want to live and I don’t need that negativity in my life, nor does anyone else. It’s ok to delete the comments that bother you and to ignore the people that are so unhappy in their own lives that they have to tear everyone else around them down. Just ignore it and move forward.

3. Do things your own way.

I hear all the time, do this to promote your posts. Do this to gain more followers. Do this to increase your SEO. And guess what? While some of the advice might be worthwhile, I’m a true believer in doing things your own way. I know I could be gaining way more followers on Instagram if all I did was post travel photos from a DSLR all the time, but instead, I actually like my followers to see my every day life, travel and my normal routine at home, all shot on my iPhone. I know I could be reaching out to new audiences and gaining more views and followers through increasing my SEO, but the most I do on that is use the SEO plug in on WordPress because it’s all I really have the time or inclination to do right now. Don’t worry about doing things the way everyone else is doing them or going with everything everyone tells you to do… do it your own way and it will work out just fine.

4. Passion vs. Making Money.

Land of Marvels for me has always been about the passion for writing and travel instead of the money. I hardly make any money from my blog but what I do gain from it is the exposure to work with travel brands, the incredible community in the blogging world and a fulfillment in my passion for travel and sharing that with the world. I genuinely love writing each post and sharing travel secrets and amazing places with my followers, so much that I am still writing 5 posts per week years after starting in the blogging world. Land of Marvels still is and I hope always will be, a place for my passion of travel.

5. Do what feels comfortable.

There is a lot of information floating out there telling bloggers to do this and that. The key at the end of the day is doing what feels comfortable to you. If you’re not comfortable using Instagram, then don’t. If you’re not comfortable sharing personal information, then don’t. Do what feels natural and comfortable to you and your followers will support you.

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Let’s Talk Blogging : Where to Find Inspiration

August 20, 2015

If I notice one thing in the blogging community, for myself and other bloggers I follow, is the pursuit to constantly find new inspiration. Inspiration not only on topics to write about or share, but inspiration to keep going, to keep pushing, to keep interacting with the blog community. I get it, I’ve been there numerous times myself, when I wonder if it’s all worth it, wondering if anyone is even out there reading what I write, wondering if I can even come up with another week’s worth of posts. So today, I’m going to share where I go to find inspiration and when you’re at one of those moments when you’re not sure of where to go next, here’s what you can do and where to find inspiration for your own blog.

1. Other Blogs

This first and foremost doesn’t mean ripping off ideas from other blogs, but often times I’ll see a post on someone else’s blog and immediately think of something related or similar I’d love to write a post on. Other times taking an idea and building on it is great too. Other blogs can be a great source of inspiration so when you find something you like or an idea you’d like to build on, write it down. (I keep a running list of post ideas so that when I’m stuck, I can go back to that list and grab an idea from there.)

2. Pinterest

I find that often times when I’m in need of inspiration, I’ll head to Pinterest and browse for a bit. I’ll go through the main feed and see if anything looks interesting, if there is an idea I can grab and work on it my own way and style. If nothing pops out there, I head to my personal boards, particularly my travel and quote boards, which usually will grab me with some sort of inspiration, whether travel related or more inspiration from world issues or famous quotes. (I also like to save screenshots of graphics I really like on Pinterest to help me when I’m blocked on that front.)

3. Life Moments

I actually find that most of my inspiration comes from life moments each and every day. Whether it be while I’m traveling and something inspires me to write a post or I’m at home and an idea suddenly pops into my head, the key here is to write it down. I keep a few different lists depending on where I’m at and then combine them all later. One of my favorite ways to make a note for myself if I’m on the go is to email myself, that way later I can consolidate that idea into my other main list.

4. Magazines

I love using magazines as inspiration. Whether it’s from a lifestyle magazine or a travel one, I will often take an idea I see in magazines and run with it. This is also a great place to get inspiration for graphics.

5. Experiences

Finally I also take a lot of inspiration from experiences I’ve had. For example, many of my blog posts like this series (and previous ones like these) are from moments when I was trying to answer questions for myself about blogging or when I felt like I wished there were more posts out there on a certain topic. So draw from what you see out there in the internet world and also what you don’t see.

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Let’s Talk Blogging : How to Introduce Yourself to Brands

August 19, 2015

Yesterday we talked about how to reap the rewards of your blog, today we’re going a step further and explaining exactly how to reach out and introduce yourself to brands you want to work with. I have come to really value the partnerships I’ve made with hotels and travel brands and often when we travel, half or more of the hotel nights end up being free or for discounted media rates or I’m working with travel brands while we’re gone to experience things wherever we’re traveling. Working with brands can be a really rewarding experience for both the blogger and the company, so get out there and here’s how to introduce yourself to brands!

1. Contact the brand you want to work with through email.

Most of the brands I work with are hotels throughout the world. When I know we’re headed somewhere, I create a short list of the hotels I would like to stay at based on our criteria. Then I go through each of their websites, find their contact pages and their email addresses (9 out of 10 hotels will have an email address on their websites these days). I have a standard email I send to hotels, which I title “Travel Blog Collaboration Proposal.” I then go in and update the details for this particular brand or city.

2. Specify dates or other details necessary.

In your email message, specify the dates you’re looking at. If you only have a time frame and not specific dates, mention that. But most of the time, brands will want to know exactly where and when so they can look up rates and offers. I always specify for hotel brands which dates as well as how many nights, just so they see it both ways.

3. Leave your message somewhat open ended as to what you want.

I like to leave my emails somewhat open ended as to what I’m asking for, leaving it up to them to either offer me a free stay or a discounted media rate. I use the phrase “I was wondering if you’d be interested in offering me a stay at the hotel in exchange for reviews and publicity on my travel site and social media.” That way, it’s up to them to decide which options they can offer.

4. Promote why the partnership would be beneficial.

I then follow up the previous sentence in #3, with a sentence about my blog following and why my blog is worth working with. Promote yourself and your blog and why the partnership with this brand would be beneficial for both of you. I don’t offer specific numbers as those are always changing and growing, but I do say that I have “thousands of followers” to give them an idea of your following before they even look at your site.

5. Be clear about what you’ll offer in exchange.

It’s really important to be clear up front what you’re willing to offer in exchange for whatever deal you’re getting. I always offer a review post for hotels, travel activities or restaurant reviews as well as social media while we’re there, tagging the brand or the hotel or company. Being clear up front will help clear up any confusion later and the brand will know better of what they can offer.

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Let’s Talk Blogging : How to Reap the Rewards of Your Blog

August 18, 2015

I get asked a lot how I use my blog to get travel rewards while we’re venturing off around the globe. The simple answer is: I reach out to places I want to stay or travel to. The long answer… well we’ll get to that below. But the truth is, blogs are a great way to reap rewards with whatever niche you subscribe to. We spend a lot of time on our blogs, growing a following, posting great content, making graphics, and so on and so forth. So why shouldn’t we reap some rewards and work with companies in exchange for publicity on our sites and social media followings? The thing is, often times, it takes you being willing to reach out on your own to ask for something, so if you want to know how to reap the rewards of your blog, here’s how!

1. Reach out.

While travel bloggers with several thousand followers might be getting emails offering free hotels and free trips often, the rest of us have to reach out on our own. Even though brands might not be finding you among the other hundreds and thousands of bloggers, there is no harm in reaching out. I work with brands often, both hotel brands as well as tours or travel guides and almost all of them have come out of me reaching out. And the brands are often very glad I did and often tell me so. The key is approaching brands with something they can look at and see the benefit for them to partner up with you.

(I’ll be getting further in depth with this tomorrow, how to reach out and the best ways to do it!)

2. Follow Up.

I often will spend an entire morning making a list of brands I want to work with and just sending out a bunch of emails. If you don’t hear back in a week or so, follow up. Send another message, just to make sure they got the first one. More times than not, either they didn’t receive it or they forgot to reply. So make an effort and follow up. They will acknowledge your effort 90% of the time.

3. Defend your site and following.

Whenever brands offer a noncommittal response back to my initial email (when they don’t say yes or no), I’ll respond and defend why my site and my social media following can help them. Offer ways that you’ll work with them to promote their product and stand up for yourself and your blog. Bloggers have tremendous power on the internet, explain to them why and how your blog can help them.

4. Don’t take less than you know you’re worth.

I often get emails about sponsored posts that want to pay me either nothing or some dismal amount like $20. I used to jump at any offer that I made a bit of money, but nowadays, I say no to anything under $100. And even then, I’m super picky about which ones I will work with, which lately has been none. Know you’re worth and know what you think is worth your time to format the post, create graphics and post it to your site. Don’t take less than what you know you’re worth.

5. Get yourself out there.

Another great way to work with brands and reap the rewards of your blog is to get yourself and your blog out there. Comment on other blogs, guest post on other sites and make a name for yourself in the blogging community. It’s a great way for people to find you and to push your blog forward.

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Welcoming staff at check in.

Cool aesthetic and design.

Space to roam.

Good bed and pillows.

Efficient cleaning service.

1. Just go with it.

2. Embrace the insignificant moments.

3. Make the most of every day.

4. Take care of the planet.

5. Understand what’s really important.

Los Angeles – Copenhagen | $555/person roundtrip

New York – Dublin | $541.94/person roundtrip

Dallas – London | $714.69/person roundtrip

Eat at home.

Share meals or do happy hour when you go out.

Sell clothes or extra items.

Cut out Coffee.

Cut out Alcohol/Desserts.

1. Don’t follow every rule you hear.

2. Don’t let negative comments get you down, know who you are and don’t listen to anything else.

3. Do things your own way.

4. Passion vs. Making Money.

5. Do what feels comfortable.

1. Other Blogs

2. Pinterest

3. Life Moments

4. Magazines

5. Experiences

1. Contact the brand you want to work with through email.

2. Specify dates or other details necessary.

3. Leave your message somewhat open ended as to what you want.

4. Promote why the partnership would be beneficial.

5. Be clear about what you’ll offer in exchange.

1. Reach out.

2. Follow Up.

3. Defend your site and following.

4. Don’t take less than you know you’re worth.

5. Get yourself out there.

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