Five Reasons to Love the El Dorado

Posted on by goldenlifemusings

I’ve traveled all over the world and stayed at a number of fantastic properties. However, there’s only one property in the world I’ve traveled to five times. I have not visited this beautiful resort since launching Golden Life Musings so naturally, I just had to blog about the reasons why I love the El Dorado Spa Resorts by Karisma and why you should too!

  1. The accommodations

First, let me share that the AAA Four Diamond award-winning, adults-only El Dorado Spa Resorts in Riviera Maya, Mexico consist of El Dorado Royale, El Dorado Casitas Royale, El Dorado Seaside Suites and El Dorado Maroma. The Karisma brand also includes Generations, the family friendly resort that is connected to the El Dorado property. During my previous visits I stayed at the El Dorado Royale and the El Dorado Seaside Suites, which is a little further away in Tulum. However, on this stay I decided to try something new and explore the El Dorado Casitas Royale. My casita, which means “little house” in Spanish, was everything I thought it would be AND more!

Casita
My casita made me feel right at home

One of the things I love about these resorts is the spaciousness of all of the accommodations, including the lead-in category room, which they call their standard room, but is anything close to standard. The casita, however, boasted even more space and came complete with its own expansive indoor and outdoor shower stalls and an indoor alcove for a private spa jacuzzi. Depending on which category of casita you select – I opted for the oceanfront casita – you have either an outside deck that expands into a swim-out pool or an outside deck or balcony that leads out to the ocean. In either category you also have a private pool and swim-up bar for you and your neighbors to enjoy.  So, you have options – either a pool or the ocean is your backyard…decisions, decisions!

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I had some of the best quiet times on my veranda

Something to Note: The casitas really only work if you are traveling solo or you are a romantic couple. As is the case with most adults-only resorts, there are limited or no options for double beds. Therefore, if you want to travel with your bestie, your best bet is for each of you to get your own casita or stay at the El Dorado Royale or Generations (the family resort next door) if you want to room together.

  1. The culinary experience

If this is your first time reading Golden Life Musings let me just share with you now that I’m a foodie. That means any review that I do is going to talk about food and how much I love it. That being said, this resort had me at “gourmet-inclusive.” That means this is not your typical all-inclusive resort. These properties specialize in culinary arts and aim to give you the full palate-pleasing experience. In fact, on their web site it says, “it’s not just cuisine. This is a culinary journey.” Hello!

El Dorado Food
Some of my favorite dishes to view and eat 🙂

What does that mean exactly, you ask? Well, let me just share with you some of the amenities. There are more than 12 restaurants on the property (including the Royale, Casitas, and Generations) serving an array of gourmet options, there is 24-hour complimentary room service, and the kicker – the El Dorado Royale has a 76,000 sq. ft. greenhouse on the property where fresh vegetables and spices are grown.

El Dorado Greenhouse

Additionally, this time I opted to partake in a unique feature of the El Dorado brand – Fuentes, a Culinary Theatre. This five-course culinary experience features a full cooking show where the resort’s Head Chef and Sommelier prepare a demonstration of each course using some of the finest ingredients from their greenhouse and pair them with a premier selection of wines. It was truly an experience, and not to mention delicious!

Something to Note: This is one restaurant where you definitely need to have a reservation. There is only one sitting each night, which begins at 7 pm with a welcome cocktail and 7:30 show and dinner.

El Dorado Fuentes

  1. The service

Having stayed at this property on more than one occasion, I can say with confidence that this resort is one of the best I’ve experienced in customer service. The staff is not only super-friendly and cordial, they are extremely helpful and do what they can to make you feel like a rock star. During this stay, because I was a Casitas Royale guest, I was able to experience the convenience of having a personal concierge. This person was there to essentially take care of whatever I needed from booking my massage and restaurant reservations to finding me a toothbrush if I needed one. When you experience service like that, well it’s hard to go back to anything else!

Check-in appetizers and champagne
This was our check-in experience – appetizers and champagne!

Something to Note: There is a complimentary shuttle service that runs every 20 minutes to take you anywhere you want to go on the property. This service ends at 11 pm so if you plan on enjoying the many restaurants or bars after 10 pm, know that you will have to get yourself back to your accommodations on your own.

  1. The spa

As it is one of my duties as a travel consultant to fully inspect a property for my clients, I had to do my due-diligence, of course, in experiencing the spa (smile). There are two spas on the resort and this time, since I was a Casitas guest, I opted for the Casita Spa. Both have an ancient Mayan-themed motif and are designed to “soothe, refresh, and rejuvenate your entire being.” And that it did!

I elected to indulge in what they call “The Sky” massage, which is conducted in an open-air cabana right on the beach where you can hear the sound of the waves crashing in the background and feel the warm Caribbean breeze graze your skin as you get rubbed down. It was so magnificent, in fact, I had to go back for a second visit a couple of days later…for research purposes of course (smile).

El Dorado Naay Spa
Be sure to ask for Saidy or Angeles…their hands are magic! That photo on the bottom right shows how relaxed I was lol.

Something to Note: Try your hand at the 80-minute Kukulkan massage, which infuses different massage techniques using natural oils derived from the benefits of Mexican herbal therapy and massage accessories that include native dried gourds and bamboo. They also use a combination of various techniques including Lomi-Lomi, Reflexology, Shiatsu and Swedish, which will have you in the deepest state of relaxation and serenity you ever thought possible.

  1. The vibe

This might be the hardest part of the resort to describe, but probably one of the most important parts of a vacation for me. Every time I visit a new destination, I am keenly aware of the feeling I get when I experience all of the aforementioned amenities. It is an intangible, yet very real part of the experience, and that is the vibe.

Most of the times I visited this resort, I have been with a large group of people and with those large groups, sometimes it is hard for a resort to maintain the essence of what makes its brand shine and the quality of service that it provides. Not here. From the convention group services to our private foam party and swim-up bar service, each staff member served us with excellence and made us feel like we were right at home. And that’s why the El Dorado will see me again.

El Dorado Maroma
The El Dorado Maroma’s overwater bungalows are next on my list! Yes, please!

From Thailand With Love Part Two

Posted on by goldenlifemusings

Last month I began to tell you about my amazing trip to Thailand and yes, it was that epic I had to break it up into two parts. One of the beautiful things about Thailand is in fact, the diversity of the places to see while you’re there. The experience in Bangkok is very different from the experience in Phuket, but I very much appreciated them both. But before I get into sharing my love affair with Phuket, let me interrupt this program to share with you my experience getting to the other side of the world.

My travel mates and I knew we wanted to make a stop in Dubai, so we decided to do it big and have the Emirates experience. If you’ve never heard about or actually had the Emirates experience let me enlighten you. It is beyond first class – even if you are flying economy class. Since this was also birthday trip, my saint of a mother upgraded our tickets to business class as a birthday gift. BEST BIRTHDAY GIFT EVER!

Business Class

Literally from the moment we stepped out of my house to find our Suburban waiting to escort us to the airport, Emirates made us feel like superstars. Every meal, from breakfast in the lounge to the lunch and dinner and snacks on each flight, was cooked and seasoned to perfection. The service was impeccable. The rest that I got in my seat that converted into a lay flat bed was the best sleep by far I’ve ever gotten on a plane. Emirates even took care of a complimentary hotel room where we could go and freshen up during our 10-hour layover in Dubai. The only bad part about it all is that they’ve completely ruined me from wanting to experience another airline, and certainly not economy. [Insert chuckle and fake eye roll here.] I will be flying Southwest in a few weeks and I will be just fine.

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I have to admit though, after the hustle and bustle of Bangkok, which is not unlike most highly populated major cities around the world, I was ready for the calm and serenity of Phuket. And it did not disappoint. Phuket is by far one of the most beautifully charming cities I’ve visited. From the moment we stepped out of our transfer onto the beach, my heart skipped a beat. I felt like I was in heaven on Earth. The almost white sand and blue green water glistening from the brilliance of the sun immediately relaxed all the leftover tension I was holding in my body from back home.

Baan Amandeha

We walked onto the property at the villa and I had another reaction – complete awe. This villa was incredible and none of the photos or videos quite do it justice…but I tried! At the last minute, the vendor that I used to book the villa upgraded us from what was already a phenomenal property to this 10-bedroom beachfront dreamhouse. There was nothing about this place I didn’t love, but my favorite part was the infinity pool and the direct view of the sunrise from my bedroom every morning. The day of my birthday I decided to take a bath while I watched the sunrise. It just doesn’t get any better than that!

Sunrise

While I have to admit that it was quite hard leaving that place, all of the activities we experienced off the property were just as incredible. If you know me you can probably guess my favorite, which was the Thai cooking class. It was awesome! Our concierge connected us with Pat’s Home Thai Cooking Class – a must visit! We cooked several traditional Thai dishes – Tom Yum Goong soup, spring rolls, chicken green curry, papaya salad and a banana in coconut milk dessert. Yum! It was one of my favorite meals on the entire trip.

Thai Cooking Class

Next on our agenda was to visit the Big Buddha Temple of Phuket and the Elephant Sanctuary. The temple was one of the most gorgeous structures I’ve ever seen. The Big Buddha statue sits on a hill directly overlooking a 360-degree panoramic view of the island and Chalong Bay. It was absolutely breathtaking. The temple, which sits adjacent to the statue, has a number of Buddha statues made of gold and marble that are equally incredible.

Big Buddha

Our visit to the Elephant Sanctuary was just as we all wanted it to be – short and sweet. We liked the fact that the sanctuary we went to gave us the option to ride or feed the elephants and we all opted to feed them. I had researched prior to the trip about how elephants’ backs are actually not built to hold the weight of humans. Our interaction with them was just long enough to get our photo ops and get some baby elephant kisses along the way.

Elephant Sanctuary

One of my other most memorable parts of the trip was our trip to the Phi Phi Islands (pronounced pee pee if you were wondering). Ever since I put Thailand on my vision board and bucket list, I had dreamed of going to the Phi Phi Islands. And I must say, I was not quite prepared for what I actually experienced. Let me explain. First, no one told us about the speedboat ride there. It was rough, to put it mildly. So rough, ten minutes into our trip we had to turn around and go back because two of the ladies could not take the ride – for stomach and fear issues. To say it was bumpy would be an understatement! But the rest of the girls and I battled it through for the more than an hour-long ride. Once we got there, we could all say that it was absolutely worth it. There really are no words to really describe the majestic beauty of this place.

Panoramic Phi Phi Islands

We stopped a few times, once to see Monkey island (where you can imagine what goes on there) and another time to hop off and do some snorkeling. I don’t know if it was the crazy ride or the heat of the afternoon sun, but that was the most refreshing water I’ve ever experienced. The final stop was a shopping area where we scored on some great souvenirs and a delicious lunch.

Phi Phi Islands

After that day trip, we were happy to get back to our villa where our massage therapists were awaiting our return. We had no idea how much we were going to need them that day! One quick note here, massages are amazingly cheap in Thailand (as low as $20 for an hour), so make plans to load up on massages while you are there!

Massage Therapists
We had our own massage room in the villa!

I would be remiss if I ended the recap of my Thailand trip without sharing my birthday experience with you. We hired a chef to come in and cook three meals for us that day (which was also very cheap by American standards) and it was absolutely amazing! Imagine this: you wake up when you’ve finished sleeping (which happened to be at sunrise), soak in a nice warm bath, eat breakfast that’s waiting for you, have a photo shoot with your friends, wade in the water, have another amazing meal, get a massage, take a nap, and have another amazing meal. Heaven!

Birthday Meals

That’s pretty much the word I would use to describe this trip. Absolute heaven. That’s why I will be returning to this charming destination and I recommend you add it to your bucket list as well.

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From Thailand With Love

Posted on by goldenlifemusings

In case you haven’t noticed, I love to travel. With each new destination I visit, I get a renewed thirst and joy for visiting a new place. And just like that, it becomes one of my favorite trips to date. My most recent journey to Thailand proved to be no different.

This beautiful country located in Southeast Asia has everything I love about a travel destination – beautiful beaches, a fascinating culture, kind people, amazing food, and lots of hidden and not so hidden treasures to explore.

Our trek began with a day-long layover in Dubai, which I was eager to get back to after spending some time there a few years ago. I had the opportunity to show my traveling buddies some of my favorite sites – Miracle Garden and Global Village. We split our time between the two, but you could easily spend a whole day exploring and still not see everything these destinations have to offer. (For more insights on Dubai, why you should go and what you should do while you’re there, visit my “Why Dubai?” blog post.)

Dubai 2019

Our first stop in Thailand was Bangkok. We stayed in the beautiful Okura Prestige. Since by American standards Bangkok hotels are pretty cheap, I figured we could afford to splurge on luxury accommodations here…and luxury it was! Between the breathtaking views from the rooftop infinity pool, the first-class customer service and stylish, spacious rooms offering panoramic views of the city, we took no time to fully immerse ourselves into luxury Thai living with a bit of Japanese flare. 

The foodie in me could not resist the urge to indulge in pad thai as my first meal in Thailand. And it did not disappoint!
Jet lag took me down! 😦
This rooftop infinity pool was everything.
I loved my personal welcome message. 🙂

Our first adventure was testing out the street food at the infamous night markets in Bangkok. Well honestly, getting there was the first adventure. We decided to try our hand at Bangkok public transportation, which was not bad, once we got the hang of it. It’s definitely one of the cleanest, civilized public transit systems I’ve experienced. I definitely recommend it because it was the quickest, cheapest option to get around considering the horrendous traffic!

We were all smiles because we finally figured out where we were going after 15 minutes of wandering lol.
Yes, they had a nail shop in the station. US we gotta step our game up!

Our concierge at Okura Prestige recommended The New Rot Fai Market Ratchada right next to the Esplanade shopping mall, which was conveniently just a few steps from the Thai Cultural Center transit stop. I was definitely overwhelmed with all of the food options at the market – but in a good way. I spent a great deal of time surveying the rows and rows of vendors until I finally landed on what essentially were dumplings filled with yummy goodness. There was a lot of chicken, seafood, fish, and yes, they even had a wide array of insects (yuck). Vegetables seemed to be a bit scarce. I tried everything from Thai fried chicken to pork belly to marinated prawns and grilled squid, and honestly, I did not try one thing I didn’t like. I did have one regret though. I did not try the whole fish filled with herbs roasting on a spit that some of my travel mates went back and tried the next day. You know what that means…I have to go back!

Thai street food

Our journey the next day took us to the Floating Market. A word of caution – it’s best to leave super early in the morning (6:30 or 7 am) because it is an actual journey getting there. The distance and traffic from downtown can easily make it a two hour ride each way! I can’t say that I was wowed by anything in the markets, as you could find what they were selling at most of the vendors in the markets closer into the city. But, the experience of floating down the waterway to visit the different vendors was pretty cool. I don’t have to do it again though (smile).

On our return visit on the back end of our trip, we had a chance to visit what is affectionately called the “Weekend” market, which was even larger and filled with more shopping options than the night market. This market seemed to be one that more of the locals visit for retail shopping. They had literally every trinket, piece of clothing, and food option you can imagine. I just wish we had been able to spend more time there.

Speaking of shopping, one note about Thailand. In general, it’s extremely affordable once your feet hit the ground there. Most everything – food, souvenirs, even massages – is pretty cheap considering the exchange of the US dollar to Thai currency, which is called baht, is in our favor. One dollar is equivalent to 30 baht. A decent meal at the street market might run you 150 to 300 baht depending on how hungry you are (smile).

So that was just Bangkok. Stay tuned for Part 2 of From Thailand With Love where I’ll share more on my favorite part of the trip: Phuket! I’ll give you a sneak peek…this was our 10-bedroom home for five days!

Baan Amandeha

Seven Must Have Experiences in Cabo

Posted on by goldenlifemusings

Anybody who knows me knows that Mexico is one of my favorite destinations. Somehow I end up there at least once a year and haven’t seemed to tire of it yet! I’ve traveled extensively throughout this beautiful country but I find Los Cabos, otherwise known as just simply “Cabo”, to hold a special place in my heart. Not only is the landscape distinct from more popular regions like the Riviera Maya region on the northeastern Yucatán Peninsula, but the more laid-back feel and charm of this destination make it worth visiting.

As it is on the southwestern tip of Mexico’s Baja California Peninsula, the climate and “desert meets sea” scenery resembles the southern west coast of the United States. In addition, what makes Cabo really visit-worthy are the experiences I outline below. You definitely want to check out these must-have experiences that surely will land Cabo on your radar:

  1. Watch the sunset. It is true that the further you travel down south, the more glorious the sunsets are because clearly, you are closer to the sun. Well Cabo does not disappoint in this area. In fact, the distinct landscape of this beautiful location adds to its beauty. And the way the rays reflect off of the mountains and cloud formations, is uniquely beautiful each day. On our day of arrival, my friends and I had an opportunity to experience it just in time!

Cabo sunset

2. Watch the sunrise. Most destinations I’ve visited are either known for their glorious sunrises or sunsets but Cabo shines well in both categories. Pun intended. In February when I most recently visited, the sunrise was a little later than some of the sunrises I’ve seen around the world, at roundabout 7 am, so your wake-up time isn’t too crazy. If that sounds way too early for you, I promise it is worth it! The way the sky changed colors leading up to the sunrise, contrasted against the sea and the mountains…it was nothing short of magnificent.

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3. Visit The Arch. The Arch, or “El Arco”, is a natural stone arch over the ocean in Cabo San Lucas (one of the two towns in Los Cabos) where the Pacific Ocean and Gulf of California meet. I don’t know if words can even express how glorious this was and the pictures and videos don’t do it justice either. You just have to experience this for yourself! Additional Tip: I recommend renting a private boat for a few hours so you can soak in the whole experience and enjoy some snorkeling as well.

The Arch
I was so proud of my panoramic shot of the Arch from our boat. 🙂

 

4. Go to The Office. No not your office, THE Office. The first time I visited Cabo, our concierge recommended this delightful local gem on Medano Beach (which is also where you can catch the best views of the sunrise). Not only is the food excellent and the margaritas on point, there’s tons of entertainment and people watching to do there as well. Just a word of caution, if you sit on the front row of tables facing the beach, be prepared to harassed by the beach vendors. Yes, they will try to sell you on holding and petting their iguanas while you have a fork up to your mouth.

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5. Get a massage on the beach. If you are a beach bum and a massage lover like I am, well this one is self-explanatory. For those who need some selling, I can’t tell you how amazing it is to hear the real sounds of the ocean in the background (versus recorded sounds) while the ocean breeze grazes your skin as your muscles relax from the rub down. And the best part, it won’t break your pockets. I got a 90-minute massage for $50 and there are some places where it is cheaper!

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6. Dance the night away at Mandala Club. I get it, partying may not be your thing but the laid-back mood of Cabo, combined with the charm and feel of this destination, makes it worth having on at least one night of your trip. They have a wide selection of music that will satisfy just about anybody’s music preferences and they go well into the wee hours to satisfy you party animals out there.

mandala

7. Eat street tacos. You know the foodie in me couldn’t resist saying something about the food, right? Yep, Cabo has some of the best tacos in the world, as you can imagine. When in Mexico, right? And you can find an excellent taco at just about anywhere, and particularly the street vendors.

Street tacos

A final word of advice. Don’t let the reports of Cabo and Mexico, in general, being dangerous and crime-ridden scare you off from visiting. The violence and crime that does take place in Cabo primarily involves locals, not tourists, and it takes place nearly 100% in the rural, hillside communities. As I’ve recommended before with anywhere you go, take part in recreational activities responsibly and be careful of your surroundings, especially when traveling off resort grounds. I still cherish Mexico as one of my favorite travel destinations and I will continue to recommend it to travelers looking for an amazing vacation experience.

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Review: Barceló Maya Grand Resort

Posted on by goldenlifemusings

As part of my participation in a company retreat a few weeks ago I had the opportunity to stay at the sprawling Barcelo Maya Grand Resort in Riviera Maya, Mexico. This resort is comprised of five all-inclusive resorts – Maya, Tropical, Colonial, Beach and Palace – and happens to be one of the largest properties I’ve visited to date. That can have its pros and cons, depending on the reason for your travel, so I’d love to give you a little taste of what I experienced so you can decide for yourself if this is the right property for you.

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First, one of the great things about this resort is there is a little something for everyone from the little humans to seniors so it works well for large groups like weddings, family reunions, retreats and any other group function that comes to mind. Each resort has its own unique feel to it with its own lobby, pools and specialty restaurants. I opted for the Palace considering all of its rooms are suites and offered the highest level of accommodations and adults-only options.

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The lounge area of my Junior Suite at the Barcelo Maya Palace

One of the least appealing things about this resort is that it is massive and everything is pretty far away from each other. We found ourselves walking a lot, which wasn’t always a bad thing because it gave us a chance to work off all the food we ate! But, if you have some type of disability or ailment, this resort will prove to be challenging. They do have shuttles that can take you back and forth between resorts, but they take time to get around the property and unfortunately, they are not air-conditioned, which proves to be difficult in 90-degree heat and when the shuttle is packed with guests.

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If you’re a Golden Life Musings follower you can probably guess what my favorite part of the resort was. If you guessed the spa, you are absolutely right! You know me so well (smile). One area where the Barcelo brand really shines is certainly the spa. It was quite a trek from the Palace (30-minute shuttle ride with multiple stops or 20 to 30-minute walk depending on your pace) but once I arrived, it was well worth the struggle to get there. The relaxation room certainly lives up to its name, with multiple comfy lounge chairs, soft music, assortment of teas and fruit flavored water, and a beautiful view of the lush landscaping surrounding the property, another thing Barcelo does right.

The beautiful relaxation room
Where the 90 minutes of heaven went down.

I opted for the 90-minute Swedish massage, otherwise known as an hour and a half of heaven. From there I ventured off to the hydrotherapy section of the spa, where I spent the remainder of my morning and afternoon until I got hungry. For those who may not know, hydrotherapy is simply the use of water for therapeutic effects. Specifically, you use a combination or “circuit” of warm to cold to hot water, which serves to energize and rest the body, improving blood circulation and helping with detoxification. Just being completely honest, I absolutely hate cold water so the idea of intentionally submerging my body into cold water does not even remotely trigger relaxation. For that reason, I always opt out of that part of the treatment. (Don’t judge me.) But I will say the sauna, steam room, and jacuzzi are all amazing!

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My own personal oasis

My favorite part of the hydrotherapy section of the spa was the outdoor pool. The design and size of the pool paired with the outdoor landscaping just makes it feel like your own private oasis. And I just happened to be there when there weren’t many guests  so I was able to have the entire pool to myself for most of my visit. Winning!

Onto the food, which you know for me is one of the most highly anticipated parts of my travels. At large resorts like Barcelo, I always have to manage my expectations because the reality is, this resort has to feed thousands of people on a daily basis. I get it. With that in mind, I try to take it easy on the larger resorts but honestly, the buffet options are hit or miss for me. The breakfast every morning was amazing because they have omelets cooked to order, smoked salmon (which I would eat every day of the week if I could), and fresh squeezed orange juice. I don’t need much else but even those mornings when I ventured a little bit from my norm, I was pleasantly surprised with the options.

Lunch on the other hand was a different story. Any time I tried to venture away from anything else but chicken, I was disappointed. At that point, I was just eating to make the hunger pains go away. But I will say, the saving grace one day was the fresh fried fish they were serving as a feature item at one of the smaller buffet restaurants. It changed my entire life. It was so delicious I raved about it to my friends and recruited them to go back the next day for it but sadly, they were not offering it that day. If you have the opportunity to go to his resort and you see they are serving the fish on that day, jump on it! It can take up to 20-30 minutes to wait for it depending on how many people are in line waiting for it, but it’s well worth it! [Side note: Yes, it is a whole fish including the head, but it’s ok just deal with it, the meat behind the head is where most of the deliciousness is!]

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The fish that changed my life.

For dinner, I highly recommend the specialty restaurants and that’s where having Premium status will come in handy because it is imperative you have a reservation at these restaurants. Premium guests have first dibs on these restaurants and you don’t have to stand in line to make them like the regular guests. I found this out the hard way because I was not paying attention and made a mistake by not selecting Premium status this time around. Upon my arrival, I had to spend the first 45 minutes of my trip waiting in line to purchase wi-fi and make my reservations for the specialty restaurants. And after all of that waiting I was told there were no more reservations for that night. Fail.

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Four course meal at the French restaurant that included shrimp salad, escargot, sea bass and creme brulee…delicious!

If you venture into the specialty realm, my personal favorites were the French restaurant, Spanish restaurant and the Brazilian Steakhouse. Barcelo does a great job of making you feel like you’ve stepped into another country by not just nailing the cuisine, they create an entire experience for you with ambiance and décor as well.

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At the Brazilian steakhouse, my friend James opted for the authentic experience where the unlimited meat options were presented and carved at the table.

Other things to note:

  1. In general, the beach on which the Barcelo is located is on one of the best beaches of the world. However, we arrived just days after a storm so the beach was filled with seaweed. Fortunately, the pool areas of the resort are beautiful and more than made up for the seaweed-mired beach.
  2. Be sure to catch the sunset at least one of the days you are there. It is breathtaking.
  3. If you are a cruiser and have been spoiled by the great shows on cruise ships, you may just want to manage your expectations with the entertainment.

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Poolside fun!
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They did the best they could with Marilyn bless their hearts…

Overall, the Barcelo resorts are a solid choice. If you remember, I went to the sister property in Punta Cana about two years ago [see review HERE] and I recommended it particularly for group travel and even first-time travelers to Mexico. If you are looking for a more intimate 5-star luxury experience with your loved ones and you are a more experienced traveler, this would not be my first choice. One thing is for certain about the Barcelo brand though, they give you great value for the price and you will have a little something for everyone to love.

Five Things to Know About Working with a Travel Professional

Posted on by goldenlifemusings

I’ve been in the travel industry for 11 years. Over those past 11 years I’ve learned a thing or two about designing epic experiences for the people I have the honor of calling my clients, but I’ve also developed a deep appreciation for those who call themselves travel professionals. While everyone has had some type of experience with the industry – whether it’s booking travel online, working directly with a vendor or booking a trip through a travel agent or consultant – most really don’t know the inner workings of the travel industry and how truly it’s transformed over the years.

Since last week I celebrated my third year of the wonderful world of full-time entrepreneurship, balancing two distinct business entities (Golden Life Getaways and Golden Life Communications Consulting) and a growing ministry, I figured it was time to use Golden Life Musings to educate on some of my beloved industry’s least understood topics.

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  1. The term travel agent no longer means what it used to. In the days of old – like more than 20 years ago before online travel was such a thing – travel agents were “agents” to the airlines. You could not book an airline ticket without an agent, so there was a commission embedded in the cost of the airline ticket. Today, there are no commissions embedded in airline tickets for agents and you can often find the best deals online, therefore most agents do not book solo airline tickets anymore. So, before you think about going to your travel professional friend and asking them to find you a deal on two tickets to such and such, think again. Your best bet is to go online just like everyone else and find your best deal there.
  2. There is a difference between a travel agent and a travel consultant. Today, travel agents primarily work in the travel departments of large corporations or brick and mortar travel agencies that still exist, yes despite the growing trend of online travel. Their primary purpose is to book your travel arrangements so you don’t have to. They typically earn a salary in addition to the commissions paid by the supplier or vendor with whom they book your trip. A travel consultant, on the other hand, is a specialist. Their purpose is to design an experience for you by collaborating with you and helping you figure out how to bring your dream trip into reality. They often times are an expert in a particular specialty or niche and you go to them for their expertise in where you are looking to travel. Travel consultants are generally independent, meaning they don’t get paid unless they charge a fee for their services or they rely solely on the commissions generated by the supplier/s with which they book. Why-use-travel-agent-
  3. Quotes require research, thus time. When you ask a travel agent or consultant for a quote and you have a few different destinations in mind, it requires them to do research with various suppliers to find and present the best packages based on the parameters you set for dates, budget and other preferences. In some cases, depending on how involved the trip will be, this can require hours upon hours of research and time. If you’re working with a home-based agent or consultant who only gets paid when you book the trip, providing quotes for potential clients with no intentions to book can be dangerous because that agent is potentially working without getting paid for the time and energy he/she spends researching. That’s why there is a growing trend in the industry for travel professionals to charge a travel design fee, so in the event the client decides not to book, they’ve at least been paid something for their time, and expertise I might add. If you’re working with someone who is knowledgeable and can provide you options based on first-hand experience, they deserve to be paid for what they offer.
  4. It’s not about the deal, it’s about the service. If you are on an extremely tight budget and you are looking for the lowest possible deal you can find, working with a travel professional is probably not ideal. Now don’t get me wrong, if there is a deal to be had without cutting ourselves out of the commission that is already embedded in the cost of the trip, we will find it for you. But, if you are expecting your travel professional to beat the rate that Groupon is offering or that last minute deal from Priceline or Expedia, you might as well go with the online guys. It’s like the difference between fast food and eating at a restaurant. Either place offers you food, but when you go to a restaurant, you are going for the quality, service and experience and as a result, you’re willing to pay more for that food.restaurant-service-and-supply-chain-1
  5. You’re already paying a commission when you book online. To the point above, going with a travel agent or consultant does not always mean your trip is going to be more expensive. In fact, you may end up saving money by working with a travel professional because if they’re any good they know how to get their clients more benefits, privileges and access than what you actually pay for – yes, we like to upgrade you using our connections. One of the first things I learned when I entered the industry was there is a commission already built into bookings, whether you book online or with an agent. If there is no agent involved, that commission just goes back to the company. All companies, including online travel entities like Expedia and Priceline, include a markup on travel in order to make a profit. At a bare minimum, if you know what you want and your agent can meet or beat the rate of what the online provider is offering, go with your agent so they can claim that commission that’s built into the booking. So, what am I saying here? If you know someone who is a travel professional, at least give them a chance to earn your business. And who knows, next time you book, they might find a way to upgrade you.

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Review: Sedona, Arizona

Posted on by goldenlifemusings

As soon as I feasted my eyes on those mesmerizing red rocks my body immediately relaxed. It was my first time in Sedona, actually the whole state of Arizona, and the charm and beauty of the area had preceded my introduction. The purpose of my visit: relaxation and the exploration of an untapped and, in my opinion, underappreciated American gem. Even having done some research on this hidden treasure prior to my visit, I wasn’t quite prepared for all of the magnificence of what I experienced.

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Let me preface my review with a slight detour from the destination itself. This delightful weekend was a girl’s trip and much needed mental health weekend that could not have come at a better time for any of us. From demanding careers to newborns back home and everything in between, we were all worn out and I was happy to provide the perfect prescription for the woes of adulting. If you are reading this right now and you haven’t scheduled your own mental health break or some type of getaway to rejuvenate your mind, body and spirit, stop right now and schedule it! Well, first finish reading the blog and then get to scheduling (smile).

Being the travelpreneur I am, I thoroughly researched the resorts in the area and landed on the Amara Resort, which is in the family of one of my favorite hotel brands, Kimpton. I love the boutique resort feel and the attention to detail in customer service and of course, the food. I also loved that a ginormous red rock formation served as the backdrop and focal point of the outdoor pool, communal lounge area and restaurant. Additionally, out of all the luxury hotels offered in the area, the Amara presented some of the most reasonable rates.

View from my courtyard room balcony
View as you step out on the patio of the hotel restaurant
I loved that the double rooms featured amazingly comfortable queen sized beds

I loved pretty much everything about this hotel, including the glorious infinity pool and decent sized hot tub adjacent to it. However, based on the capacity of the resort, the pool area is a bit small. On more than one occasion, particularly during peak hours of the day (noon – 3pm), there were more guests than lounge chairs and cabana beds. Aesthetically, it is a lovely, well-landscaped and designed area. But if you want to have a relaxing day at the pool, you better arrive before 9 am or you won’t have a place to lay your towel, much less your body.

What’s not to love about an infinity pool with a glorious backdrop like this?
My friend Marnel and I could not wait to get in this pool. The water was just right!
Cheers!

What I loved most about the resort was pretty much what I most look forward to on any trip: the spa and the food. Considering Sedona is spa country, meaning that it is most well-known for its spas, I was excited about venturing to a destination that specializes in my beloved past time. The Amara Spa itself is not a full-service, large-scale spa but it certainly delivered in service and quality. After a glorious 90- minute massage, a rejuvenating nap in the relaxation room and a refreshing visit to the sauna, I literally had to pry myself away from the place. If it wasn’t for my grumbling stomach, I might have stayed all day.

If you’re a foodie like me, you’ll appreciate that the Kimpton brand specializes in an award-winning collection of seasonally-inspired restaurants and bars. Considering that type of yummy goodness was just steps away from our living quarters, we spent a lot of time at Saltrock Southwest Kitchen, Amara’s signature restaurant. Literally everything from breakfast to lunch to dinner and everything in between was absolutely delicious. And since it was Cinco de Mayo weekend, we just HAD to indulge in the handcrafted margaritas as well. Delicious!

There was a lot of “cheersing” this weekend lol
This salmon was delectable
I thoroughly enjoyed this frittata
Definitely one of the top benedicts in my life!
Researching the handcrafted cocktails 🙂
My friend’s delightful, falling off the bone osso bucco
My friends raved about this huevos rancheros

We also had top-notch experiences at other well-known Sedona gems such as Mariposa Latin Inspired Grill, which boasted ridiculously beautiful views of the mountainous Sedona landscape, and Etch Kitchen and Bar of the beautiful L’Aubuerge Resort and Spa, which is nestled along the banks of Oak Creek. Neither of these options were cheap but they were well worth the delicious fare and breathtaking views. We opted for the all you can eat gourmet brunch at Etch where we thoroughly stuffed ourselves with some of the most delicious brunch bites I’ve had to date.

One of the most delicious ribeye’s ever!
My friend’s surf and turf (lobster and filet mignon)
The seafood platter…yummm…
My friends clowned me for being “double-fisted” with the desserts…and yes I ate every single bite. 🙂
Brunch!
The photo doesn’t even do the view from the Mariposa justice
Pretty much sums up our weekend! The creek setting for brunch was amazing…

The most unexpected but memorable highlight of the trip came at nearly the tail end and in hindsight, it should have taken place at the beginning because I needed another massage afterwards. Anyone who knows me knows I have two fears: insects and heights. I can’t say that I was ever excited about the idea of hiking, but I did want to explore Sedona and see some of the magnificent views I’d heard and read about, so I looked at it as a necessary evil when two of my girlfriends suggested we go. Little did I know, a hiking trail called Devil’s Bridge would have me stare my fear straight in the face.

When presented with two options, I selected the trail because the reviews said it offered hands down, the best photo ops. Sign me up! Let me be clear. I had NO idea what that meant. I got to what I thought was the top and jumped for joy that I had made it through my first hike without passing out or having a heart attack.

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Then I was rudely awakened to the fact that I was not at the top and I had some serious climbing left. Yes, climbing. At one point we had to use our feet, legs, core, arms and hands to pull our bodies up to what was the real top. Then nothing prepared me for what I was going to see next. Devil’s Bridge. They don’t call it that for nothing. Granted, the natural sandstone arch is not as high or as narrow as it looks, but when you’re standing on it and look out and see that you are peering down on a forest and there’s nothing on either side stopping you from plunging hundreds of feet to your death – well it’s pretty scary. But, it was a magnificent view. I can say without a shadow of doubt, I was afraid (heart beating through my chest and legs trembling), but I did it anyway…with the help of my friends, holding my hand as I gingerly stepped towards the middle of the bridge.

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Now you can understand why I was regretting getting the massage before the hike. But, I was able to reward myself with the brunch I mentioned above and a nice long dip in the hot tub afterwards, which sufficed.

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Needless to say, Sedona was in fact, a trip of a lifetime. For you Americans reading my blog I want you to know you really don’t have to go outside of the United States to see some of the greatest wonders of the world. They literally are right here in our backyard. And believe it or not, I didn’t even get to experience all there is to experience so yes, I’ll be returning. Upon my next visit, I plan to check out the famous spiritual vortexes, take a pink jeep tour, and maybe just maybe indulge in a hot air balloon ride if I want to get my heart pumping again.

There are a few things to note if you plan to take my word for it and make Sedona one of your next travel destinations. Save up some money because the best places to dine and spa are not cheap. Fly into Phoenix, rent a car, and enjoy the amazingly scenic two-hour ride to Sedona. It is useful to have a car while there. Everything literally shuts down by 9 pm so you’ll want to make sure you grab some munchies and perhaps a bottle of wine or two from the Circle K to keep you entertained until your bed time. Lastly, stay off of social media and away from the rest of the world as much as you can while you’re there. Otherwise, you’ll miss all the magic this splendid little town offers.

 

Five Reasons to Stay at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas

Posted on by goldenlifemusings

I’ve been to Vegas a lot, too many times to count in fact. But for as long as I can remember (likely since it’s opening in 2010), I’ve wanted to stay at the Cosmopolitan. It’s always had this classy, sleek, elegant vibe to it and I knew I was just destined to stay there. For whatever reason, things never seemed to line up to make it happen. When I heard a business conference I wanted to attend was taking place in Vegas, the stars aligned – and Southwest Vacations was offering a great flight and hotel combo – so I jumped on the opportunity. Needless to say, I was not disappointed. I can also see why it was named by Condé Nast Traveller as one of the Top Hotels in the World.

There’s a lot to love about this hotel, but I thought I would offer a different type of review from the norm and give you the top five reasons I recommend staying here. By the way, they are in no particular order.

  1. The views. Nestled smack dab in the middle of “The Strip” and next door to the infamous Bellagio Hotel, The Cosmopolitan offers literally the best views in Vegas I’ve seen to date. Now all views are not created equal throughout the hotel, but if you are blessed to be given a view of the Bellagio fountain, I’m sure you will fall in love immediately just as I did. Particularly at night, these views are magical.
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View of the Bellagio Fountain and the Vegas strip from my 30th Floor room.

In addition, I learned that the Cosmopolitan is one of the very few hotels on the Las Vegas strip that offer balcony rooms and suites. My partners had the opportunity to stay in one of the wrap around balcony suites, which offered a glorious front and center view of the Bellagio Fountain that was to die for. If you have the coins and spectacular views are at the top of your must have list when traveling, I highly recommend the balcony suites.

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View from my friend’s 64th floor suite balcony…just amazing!
  1. The pools. Because we were traveling towards the end of pool season in Vegas there was only one pool open while we were there, but that’s all we needed. This was considered to be the “relaxing” pool in the Chelsea Tower right outside the spa, which I’ll get to in a minute. There are two more pools: The Boulevard, which is slightly more “turned up” and lively, and then there’s the Marquee Pool, an extension of the famous Marquee nightclub, that apparently is all the way “lit” and hosts day parties. The Cosmopolitan describes it this way: “a vibrant beach club experience for adults. By day it exudes a lounge-like feel, while at night it transforms into an extension of the nightclub.”
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Having a little fun with my partners at the Chelsea Pool.

We were quite comfortable with the Chelsea pool and some of us even indulged in the jacuzzi. Note, there is also a pool bar that is quite lovely but be prepared to spend some cash. I paid about $35 for chips and salsa and an adult beverage. I concluded that they were charging me for the scenery as well!

  1. The restaurants. Well you know they had me at food. I’m sad I didn’t get to try all of the restaurants the hotel offers but you know I could not leave without experiencing a restaurant with the name Eggslut. Just wow. While the egg sandwich I had was quite tasty, it was my least favorite experience out of the three restaurants I experienced. And really to call it a restaurant would be giving it too much credit. You ordered your food at the cash register, picked it up from a counter, and hunted down a seat in the crowded area of small tables and chairs they provided. While I do give them an A for originality and creativity with the variety of options and serving an all-day breakfast menu, I felt it was quite overpriced.

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But The Henry and The Wicked Spoon made up for it. I quite possibly had one of the top five cheeseburgers of my life at The Henry. So much so, I couldn’t eat the whole thing due to it’s massive size, so I asked a friend to store it in her refrigerator and made sure I found a way to heat it up so I could enjoy the rest of it before I left. That’s a lot of effort for a cheeseburger but I promise, it was worth it. It was everything a cheeseburger should be and more.

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My top 5 Cheeseburger cooked perfectly and topped with provolone cheese and grilled onions…yummy!

And then there was Wicked Spoon, their buffet dining option. Buffets are tricky. They are hit and miss for me but this one was right on target! This buffet had essentially everything you could want in terms of options from breakfast to dinner, from sushi to flatbread, and a variety of pastas, freshly carved meats and veggies. I quite possibly had some of the best fried chicken (definitely top 5) in my life. On a buffet! I was shocked. And considering how much they offered and how expensive other food options in the hotel were, it was only $35. Just about the same as my chips and salsa and adult beverage (sideye).

4. The shower heads. You may think I’m odd for this one but for me, it’s really the little things that make me happy—like rainforest, high pressure rainforest shower heads. I’ve stayed in many hotels and a lot of them do not invest in shower heads. I can think of another brand that does, and that is Westin. The heavenly showerheads Westin uses, and yes that is the name of their line “heavenly”, impressed my mom so much, she bought a handful of them online so each of my family members could have them in our homes. But, I digress. Other than my shower at home, my shower experiences at The Cosmopolitan were some of my all-time favorites!

 

5. The spa. Now there’s a caveat I hate to admit. Miss Spa Queen herself missed an opportunity to get spa services on this trip. [Insert tears here.] But I did get to take a mini tour and from the reviews of my partners on the services and the full-service spa facility, it is a must have experience. Therefore, I’m going ahead and calling my missed opportunity a strategic move. This just means that I will have to return to The Cosmopolitan so I can indulge in the Sahra Spa experience for a full site inspection (smile).

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This picture doesn’t do it justice but the entrance replicates a cave with a beautiful glowing waterfall at the end of the hallway.

Review: My Cuban Adventure

Posted on by goldenlifemusings

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As the case for many others, just a few years ago Cuba was not on my radar. But ever since the ban for travel of US citizens to Cuba was lifted, the little Caribbean island that has brought big political controversy over the decades sat prominently on my vision board as a must-see destination. I thrive off of visits to destinations that are rich in culture and history, and it’s an added bonus when it exists in a tropical climate with beach and sun. So, imagine my delight when I heard my parent travel company was hosting a cruise to Cuba inviting all of us travel consultants to attend, making it not just a bucket list trip, but a tax-deductible excursion as well. Winning! [Note: We cruised via the Norwegian Sky, a ship I had previously sailed to the Bahamas. For a review of the Norwegian Sky click HERE. Also, if you are used to 4 and 5 star luxury accommodations, I recommend cruising, as the hotels there aren’t quite up to American standards yet.]

As a caveat, let me start off by saying I had not done a whole lot of research on Cuba and what to expect prior to my visit because I wanted to learn and get the full experience of the country and the culture while I was there. I knew that it was a Communist nation but I hadn’t really thought fully about how that impacted the country and its residents. Needless to say, this probably was one of the most educational and mind-blowing travel experiences for me to date.

Thanks to my senior intern and research assistant, aka my mom (smile), my family and I had one of my best tour experiences to date out of all the countries I’ve explored. If you are visiting Cuba, definitely reach out to Fernando FerTours to schedule your tours! Our tour guide Alejandro was super knowledgeable about everything, having been born and raised there, and he was amenable to pretty much everything we requested along the way, including indulging us ladies stopping at every shop we saw in Old Havana LOL. Because we were a small group (7 of us), we were able to customize the trip to our liking and see and experience what felt like all of Cuba within the two days we spent there.

I’ll get to our exploration of Old Havana in a second but can you indulge me while I talk about my favorite part first? Can you guess what it is? If you guessed the food, you would be correct and you get a gold star (smile)! Me being the foodie I am, that was one of my most anticipated parts of the trip and Cuba did not disappoint. Alejandro, who did not lie when he told us he was taking us to the best restaurants in town, explained how fresh the seafood was to the point that your fish that you ate in the afternoon was actually swimming earlier that morning. So guess what I got an overdose on? Yes, fish and crustaceans! Because Cuba is a multi-ethnic society you get the best of the Caribbean, Spanish and African parts of their heritage in their foods. Each dish was prepared and seasoned to perfection and many of the dishes were styled so beautifully, I ALMOST didn’t want to disturb it because it was plated so masterfully. You notice I said almost right?

This has to be one of my favorite ceviche dishes to date. (Habana 61)
My awesome garlic shrimp dish at El Biky
Cheers to a delightful food experience at Habana 61!
Can you tell I was excited to have my very first authentic mojito experience at Habana 61?
My aunt’s lobster feast at Habana 61
Our tour guide Alejandro’s mouth watering fish dish at Habana 61
Alejandro told us the best pizza on the island was at El Biky so we indulged!
The snapper was grilled and seasoned to perfection at Habana 61!

After talking to my colleagues who had taken other tours I realized that not everyone’s experience was created equal with the food. I also talked to some friends who had previously visited who did not have a good food experience either, primarily with the hotel restaurants. Therefore, I’m referring you to the places where we ate so you can be sure to have an enjoyable experience! Definitely visit Habana 61 (where I had my first authentic Cuban mojito!), El Biky and Vista Mar, with the latter being my favorite food experience of the trip. That had to do partially with the view, as it sat right on the water (hence the name – Vista Mar, translated view of the sea) and had a beautiful pool and lighting. I indulged in the seafood platter, which was amazing!

Me in front of our beautiful view at Vista Mar
My family with our awesome tour guide Alejandro
Delectable seafood platter

It’s essential to note, each of the restaurants I mentioned are known as paladares – small, family-run restaurants, usually in a converted part of a home. In addition to the quality of the food being better because it’s not mass produced, they have more of a homey, welcoming feel to them. Naturally, these types of establishments are harder to do with larger groups but if you can get to one, you should. Just thank me later.

During our excursion in Old Havana, which consisted of a walking tour around different squares where we saw many churches and museums, we learned a lot about the history and culture of the city of Havana, and of course the country as a whole. Some interesting things we learned: because education is completely free and they do not allow privatization of schools, Cuba has a nearly 100% literacy rate and close to 95% of Cubans graduate from high school. Also, due to free healthcare, the infant mortality rate is of the lowest of all of Latin-America. While homelessness is also pretty much non-existent, poverty is real there and close to 100% of the population makes less than $1,000/month (more than 80% earning less than $200/month). Nevertheless, the people for the most part were very welcoming and friendly and of course they loved us spending our American dollars there. Word of caution: women dressed in traditional garb will run up on you to take a picture with them and then tell you after the picture was taken you owe them $5. It’s a nice hustle, but trust they won’t ever get me again! In the words of George W., fool me once…lol.

My second favorite part about Cuba was the music, with the artwork at a close third. Being a lover of music, dance and everything entertainment, I truly enjoyed our “Havana nights” experience at the Buena Vista Social Club. The band was grooving all night with multiple artists coming up to perform and give you a taste of their own unique flair. I also had an opportunity to brush up on some of my salsa moves when one of the waiters propositioned me for an impromptu dance (see video here)! We even encountered an all-female band (two of the members were missing when I captured the video) at the cigar and rum shop we visited. How cool?!

We had an opportunity to join the band and dance with the singers so I couldn’t resist. 🙂

My final unexpected surprise of the trip was the beautiful artwork we encountered at the old train station, turned market in Havana. The pieces bring out every part of the country’s diverse, multi-ethnic culture, leaving you a bit overwhelmed upon your departure. All of the artwork is fairly cheap with none of the pieces costing more than $200, and it helps that the market sellers allow you to bargain with them a little bit. I had an opportunity to purchase a striking piece of artwork that I’m excited to find a place for in my living room, among the other Afro-centric artwork that line the walls.

I could not complete my review without sharing my final highlight of the trip, which was having an opportunity to ride around for the afternoon in Cuba’s infamous classic cars. There are literally thousands of old American cars from the 1940’s and 1950’s that contribute to a significant portion of the transportation on the island, many of them serving as taxis. It was fascinating to see how well-kept and preserved many of the cars were. If you’re a car buff and thinking about buying one of them, think again. Most of them are owned by the government and if they are sold from owner to owner, they can only be sold to other Cubans in the country. Sorry folks!

View of old military equipment on our joy ride in the classic cars
I just thought this guy was too cool for school, I had to snap a pic

I could literally talk all day about my precious two days in Cuba but I really want you to go and experience it for yourself. If you are a travel addict like I am and you want to get away from the norm of the same old travel destinations you visit, Cuba should definitely be on your list!

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Despite the weather, the beach was gorgeous.
Unfortunately, the weather was not conducive to an extended amount of beach time but that just means I just have to return for that experience!

Review: Dîner en Blanc

Posted on by goldenlifemusings

A few weeks ago I received my first invitation to attend Dîner en Blanc (DEB). I knew what it was based on photos I would see pop up on my friends’ timeline in previous years towards the end of the summer. Or at least I thought I knew what it was. It was a huge “white party” at an outdoor location where thousands of people gathered for dinner, adult spirits, dancing and fellowship. After experiencing my first Dîner en Blanc this weekend I have to say that perception was mostly accurate. But boy is it so much more to it than that.

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Enjoying my first Dîner en Blanc experience

I thought once I received the invite, I would pay the fee, find my white outfit for the event and arrive on the designated day ready to be served and fed at this pop up outdoor restaurant. Not quite. I quickly learned that DEB is all about creating your own experience. I’ll get to what that looks like in a minute.

Upon receiving the invitation I quickly realized the exclusivity of it all. You cannot attend unless you are invited by a previous guest or someone who is defined as a group, pedestrian or table leader. You cannot just go to a web site, pay your money and participate, well unless you get on a 20K+ waitlist depending on the city. This is one of the draws of the event.

After doing some research I found that DEB originated in the late 80’s, when a French man wanted to host a dinner party but didn’t have the space. So he invited friends to a large public park in Paris and told them to wear all white, so they could identify each other. That epic idea turned into a now worldwide event in 70 cities every year. The one I attended in my hometown of Washington, D.C. is in its fourth year.

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DEB in DC 2017: Photo Courtesy of Dîner en Blanc Washington

So back to creating your own experience. After receiving the invite, I went to a web portal where I was given a list of instructions and guidelines for the event. I never knew dinner could be so complicated and detailed. But I quickly learned why. Each participant is expected to bring their own tables, chairs, linens, decorations, silverware, plates, and yes food. Wait what? Now why do I, or anyone for that matter, want to do this again? Lol. I almost declined the invitation, but something told me to try it.

I resisted the urge to complain about the whole experience because after all, I made the choice to attend – no one forced me. And since I paid my $49 to attend I was going to make the most of it. What exactly am I paying for if I have to bring literally everything, I asked myself. I read my long list of guidelines and found it covers the costs of making the event happen – permits for use of public space and amenities such as security, DJs and porta-potties, etc. Ok fine, whatever.

I opted to go the basic route. I did not buy a new outfit, I did not buy any decorations (I used what white accessories and tea light candles I could find at home), and I made a homecooked meal that would be easy to transport in a cooler I already had. Fortunately, the only thing my date and I had to buy was the tablecloth and chairs. Winning!

Now for the experience itself. I must also note that you are not informed of the location of the event until the day of the event, only the meeting location of your group. Upon learning of the location, you either have plans to walk or take public transportation. Wait, what? I’m expected to walk in my nice white outfit with tables and chairs and decorations and food? Sideye.

It actually wasn’t that bad, but there has to be some planning that goes into place on how you and your table partner are going to get all of what you need to the destination. It takes coordination for sure.

Once we arrived and got our tables set up, I must admit, it was quite an experience. I was not quite prepared to see all the ways in which people go out for this event. The incredible outfits, elaborate decorations and intricate designs of group tables were amazing. I found that it was almost as much of an art show as it was a dinner gathering.

By far the most elaborate table decorations I saw at DEB DC 2017!
My bestie Lauren designed her table beautifully

As the event was happening I finally got why the event was a draw for people. As I sat at my little table immersed in a sea of white in the middle of Pennsylvania Ave staring at the U.S. Capitol and laughed and exchanged toasts and smiles with my friends and danced around with our sparklers, I had a moment to take it all in. It was about the experience. It was beautiful. And we had created it all.

Couldn’t do DEB without sparklers!
Apparently waving of the napkins is a thing!

You also get to connect with some pretty interesting people who you may not otherwise have an opportunity to meet. I actually came across a woman who attends three to four DEB events around the world every year. She was just coming from the Baltimore DEB, which she highly recommended because it was more intimate than the D.C. event, which hosted 4,500 people this year. She was on her way to the one in Hawaii that coincided with a work trip. I can’t say that humping all of my materials around from city to city is attractive to me but hey, to each his own!

Some things to note about Dîner en Blanc, if you have the opportunity to attend.

The guidelines stated that you could not bring in outside alcohol and you are required to purchase wine at the event. But in doing so, you are subjected to an extremely long line to pick up the wine you purchased online. I stood in line for 40 minutes waiting for my wine. It made me wish I had just brought some from home, especially since security did not check our coolers going in.

If you are one of those who wants to create an elaborate table and get ideas about what to bring and the most effective way to do it, there are plenty of Pinterest profiles and suggestions within the Dîner en Blanc available for you to peruse.

I can’t say that I ever need to go back and if I do, ever be as elaborate as some of my fellow DEB participants were, but it was certainly something to experience. And if there’s anyone who’s looking to get out of their rut of doing the same ol’ thing each summer and do something different, this will certainly satisfy your appetite!