Why Couples That Travel Together Stay Together

Traveling as a couple or as a family is not only an extremely fun thing to do, but also, an extremely healthy thing to do. Families who take regular family vacations tend to be closer, happier, and stronger. The same goes for couples!

There are plenty of reasons why couples that travel together stay together, but here are our favorite!

You See Each Other at Your Best & Worst

Anything can happen when you’re traveling. Trust us. The unexpected will eventually come to fruition. You’ll experience highs and lows and as a direct result your partner will get to see the real you.

Seeing your partner at his or her worst and still loving him/her is the ultimate testament of love and the ultimate test of a relationship.

If you can deal with these situations and still love your significant other, you’re going to be just fine when it comes to a tedious argument about the toilet seat being left up.

You Face Adversity… Together

As a couple you’ll encounter a plethora of challenges you have to face both as individuals and as a couple. From a loss in the family, to job and money troubles, issues with friendships, or whatever it might be, life is going to present you with challenges that you ultimately must conquer together.

Working as a unit when faced with adversity truly illustrates the strength of your relationship. While you travel together you’ll undoubtedly encounter issues and they’re always resolved most quickly and efficiently when you work as a team.

You Have Fun Together

Being able to parasail over the sea in Nice, Kayak the waters of Positano, Italy, climb the castle walls in Dubrovnik, Croatia, or taking a yoga class in Bali Indonesia, are just a few examples of the fun to be had together while traveling!

Let your hair down and simply enjoy the beauty of experiencing a new culture and new place together. What’s better than having fun while traveling the world with your best friend!?

You Grow Together Rather Than Apart

Many of our previous relationships as well as many of those of our friends ended due to growth. Growth is generally a good thing, but in the aforementioned situations the growth was away from one another. Growing apart is cancer to a relationship.

Growth is inevitable, however, especially if you start dating in your 20s and plan to be together until you die. The most important thing is to grow together. Traveling is a catalyst for mutual growth that helps a couple bond. So go experience new places and cultures together.

Go deal with adversity together. Go fine yourself in awe in a place you’ve never heard of. Go find YOURSELVES and grow together!

You Make Memories

Both of us will admit that many, if not most, of our strongest, most fond memories, are from travel. Whether it’s a family vacation to Hawaii as a kid or a nomadic adventure around the world with your better half, travel will always endow you with wonderland memories.

Having those memories to share will enable your relationship flourish to its full potential. You will always be able to laugh and think back on those amazing experiences you two had together while traveling.

You Keep the Spark Alive

Having something new and fresh around every corner of your travels will make your experience together nothing short of magical. Any time a relationship becomes stagnant there is room for contamination. Rather than allow your relationship to become dull, constantly sharpen it and keep that spark alive.

Travel is one of the best ways to make sure you never lose that spark.

You Live in The Now

Knowing what’s really important in life and honoring that as an individual will help when it comes to building a successful relationship.

Travelers are generally quite good about living in the present moment. Generally travelers value experiences over material possessions. Being able to live in the now and truly be content anywhere, in any circumstance, is incredibly powerful.

So grab your significant other and just go. We say this so often, but seriously, just go! Your relationship will flourish and you’ll be happier than you ever imagined.

READ NEXT: 10 Essential Tips for Traveling as a Couple

 

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Bali-Inspired Travel Nails

Bali is a heaven on earth! It is one of the best (and cheapest) places to unwind, relax and focus on your wellness. It is home to the freshest ingredients, juices and organic eats and you can find them around every corner.

To get ready for the trip, I wanted to try out a travel nails style that was loosely inspired by the paradise and beach vibes of Bali!

Waterfalls, mokeys, rice fields, beautiful beaches, and fresh smoothies daily- after two weeks in paradise, I couldn’t fathom the thought of leaving!

If you’re looking for some Bali nail inspiration, I fell in love with these colors- Asia and Ziv. My favorite polish is Zoya Nail Polish because it is the longest wearing, natural nail polish available. All the colors are toluene, formaldehyde, DBP and Camphor Free- can’t ask for anything better!

Shop Polish for Bali-Inspired Travel Nails!

ASIA by ZOYA

ZIV by ZOYA

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Staying at The Cove Atlantis at Atlantis Resort

Atlantis Paradise Island is a gorgeous ocean-themed resort in the Bahamas. With a 141-acre waterscape, 14 lagoons, and 21 world-class restaurants, it’s one of the more beautiful beach getaways the Caribbean has to offer.

The Cove Atlantis, is a dream-like luxury palace, and is one of the best places for a girlfriend’s getaway that we’ve come across! I spent a week with gal-pal Courtney Scott, my other half of Girls Meet Globe, and we had a BLAST.

Here’s more about our experience staying at The Cove Atlantis, Paradise Island!

•• The Resort ••

Atlantis Paradise Island Resort is a gorgeous ocean-themed resort in the Bahamas. With a 141-acre waterscape, a massive waterpark, 14 lagoons, and 21 world-class restaurants, it’s one of the more beautiful beach getaways the Caribbean has to offer.

The island features a variety of accommodations built around all the fun, that range from family-friendly to an adult’s paradise. Overall, staying on Paradise Island was truly paradise. All of the activities the resort offers is sure to bring out your inner child!

•• The Rooms at The Cove Atlantis ••

Built in 2009, The Cove Atlantis is an all-suite, sophisticated tower. High-class décor and amenities meet an array of sun-soaked activities and water fun. It also includes easy access to the rest of Atlantis Paradise Island, seaside attractions, and the Atlantis Marina.

Each one of the 600 rooms at The Cove Atlantis is fully equipped with furnished balconies, deep-soaking tubs, and sandglass-bricked showers. There are also flat-screen TVs, sitting areas, minibars, coffeemakers, and free Wi-Fi available—some rooms even offer panoramic views of the Caribbean waters below.

Definitely book an Azure Suite—these rooms boast some of the best views on the top five floors. And if you feel like splurging, spring for The Club—features of these exclusive suites include a dedicated concierge, access to The Club Lounge, gourmet hors d’oeuvres, and specialty cocktails made just for you.

•• The Waterpark ••

Aquaventure, Atlantis’s famous waterpark, is the highlight of any visit. The vast water playground includes 18 water slides, 11 pools, 14 lagoons, 3 white-sand beaches, and two river rides. There’s nothing like diving down The Abyss, a 200-foot body-slide, or slipping on The Surge, a waterslide rollercoaster.

Aquaventure is great fun for kids and adults alike; you can be sure your entire visit will be a fun-packed stay!

Need a breather?

You can always relax in a private cabana, enjoy a private massage, or recline on the island’s white sand beaches!

•• Dining and Drinking ••

The Cove Atlantis has a variety of options for sophisticated palates. Indulge in the best and freshest cuisine—Japanese, Mediterranean, Chinese, South American, and Tuscan.

After your meal, take full advantage of the multitude of bars offering premium top-shelf liquor. Play it classy in the Café Martinique wine cellar, or enjoy a refreshing microbrew at the Moon Club—famous for its in-house moon jellyfish floating directly behind the bar.

For a delicate fruit-infused martini, your best bet is the Sea Glass, where you can sip signature cocktails while playing your hand at blackjack or roulette.

My favorite, Cain at The Cove, offers delicious food, and the Aura Nightclub offers a fun night out as well! This adults-only ultra-pool features two bars, an outdoor gaming pavilion, and 20 private cabanas.

Helpful Tip: Food at the resort is quite expensive, so be sure to factor in at least $100 per person per day for food!

•• Activities ••

Aquaventure waterpark isn’t the only diversion on Paradise Island. Guests can check out the fitness center, spa, tennis courts, rock-climbing area, pottery studio, movie theatre, or library.

The Mandara Spa brings European and Balinese therapies to the Bahamas. On-site you’ll also find the Caribbean’s largest casino with 75 tables.

With day trips in Nassau and boat charters to luxury shopping, what’s not to love about The Cove Atlantis?

What’s the first thing you’d try at Atlantis Resort?!

READ NEXT: What to Pack for a Week in The Bahamas

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Special thanks to Atlantis Resort for hosting me as their guest. As always, the content & opinions expressed here are entirely my own.

Staying at The Cove Atlantis at Atlantis Resort is a post from: The Blonde Abroad

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The Ultimate West Hollywood Travel Guide

West Hollywood (a.k.a. WeHo), is a hip, premium destination in L.A. County. Home to the Sunset Strip, this is where you’ll find pioneers of the motion picture industry and major activists of LGBT rights. It’s all about trailblazing fashion design and dining here!

Check out all of my tips in the ultimate WeHo travel guide!

• Getting Around

• Where to Stay

• What to Do

• Where to Eat

Getting Around West Hollywood

Located in Los Angeles, West Hollywood has TRAFFIC! The city traffic tends to be congested so it’s best to stay off wheels but if necessary, get dropped off so you don’t have to find parking.

Although only 1.9 square miles, you’ll find endless energy, style and fun around every corner in WeHo.

If you plan to stay in WeHo, you don’t need to rent a car, but be sure to download the Uber App as you’ll need to use a cab. Bus service exists, but Uber is more efficient and quite cheap. Ride the Metro from WeHo to downtown, but avoid late-night rides.

No matter how you get around, expect traffic.

Where to Stay in West Hollywood

Madrid is an extensive city, with many different neighborhoods. While getting around via metro is easy, picking an awesome area to begin with can only make the trip better!

The Best of Budget Accommodations in WeHo

• Airbnb: Budget travelers should try Airbnb first—there are tons of rooms and houses of varying shapes and sizes for rent. 
• Banana Bungalow Hostel: This fun and lively hostel is one of the most popular in the country! It’s perfectly situated just a simple drive away from Universal Studios, Disneyland, downtown L.A., Chinatown, and Venice Beach. They have private, dorm-style and street-side patios rooms, ranging from $22 to $100 per night.
• USA Hostels Hollywood: This hostel is smack-dab in the thick of the action in the entertainment district, just steps away from Grauman’s Chinese Theatre. It offers its own tours, bbq nights, and free comedy shows. You can find private or dorm-style rooms available from $37 to $130 per night.

The Best Luxury Accommodations in WeH0

• Mondrian: The chic and trendy Mondrian is right on Sunset Strip and it sure knows it. With pearly decor, a teak deck pool, and the classy restaurant—Ivory on Sunset—it dresses to impress. Standard rooms, suites, apartments, penthouses galore, with prices start from $369 per night.
• The London: If you really want to pamper yourself, book a few nights of luxury at The London. This glamorous, all-suite hotel, starting at $299 a night, will make you feel like a Hollywood star. It offers spacious suites, most of which come with a private terrace and premier view of the chic Hollywood hills.
• Petit Ermitage: Petit Ermitage is my favorite hotel by far—it is a charming boutique hotel with an intense feel of La Vie Bohème. The interior is beautiful, elegant, and cozy, and is designed to make you feel like you’ve been transported back in time. With its rooftop pool and proximity to hip Santa Monica Boulevard (walking distance!), what’s not to love?

What to Do in West Hollywood

No matter if you walk, bike, drive or take public transit, WeHo is the best jumping-off point to see LA’s hottest spots. After a day of adventuring, you can come back and enjoy West Hollywood’s amazing  restaurant and nightlife scene!

• Gaze at the Heavens at Griffith Observatory: The observatory is a cool place to check out the cosmos, see space-related displays, and get a stellar view of the Hollywood sign. You can look through telescopes and enjoy live shows in the planetarium.
• Hike Behind the Hollywood Sign: It’s easy enough to climb up behind the sign for some fantastic panoramic views. Choose from three routes: Mt. Hollywood Trail, the Canyon Boulevard Trail, and the Cahuenga Peak Trail.
• Runyon Canyon Park: Outdoor enthusiasts should stretch their legs at the 160 acres of Runyon Canyon Park. The park is located below the Santa Monica Mountains and has routes for varying degrees of endurance. It is particularly popular with dog walkers as off-leash walking is permitted.

• 

• Pool Party: If you’re on the lookout for an amazing party with vivacious energy and nighttime music, check out West Hollywood’s WET pool deck at the W Hotel. Enjoy its crazy vibe and dive into wild and wet parties Friday through Sunday.
• Concert or performance at Hollywood Bowl: The Hollywood Bowl is a 1920s amphitheater, which holds a variety of concerts; be sure to buy tickets as soon as you can—shows sell out quickly!

• 

• The Grove at Farmers Market: Foodies should try the Farmers Market on the corner of 3rd Street and Fairfax Avenue. Featuring more than 100 restaurants, food trucks, produce stalls, and souvenir shops, it’s the place to go for American and ethnic cuisine.
• Hollywood Forever Cemetery Movie Night: Cinespia plays host to outdoor movie nights and is complete with preshow DJs and themed photo booths. Bring your blankets, picnic basket, and drinks for the full experience.

• 

• Urban Lights at LACMA: The Los Angeles County Museum of Art is a perfect place to stroke your inner artisan. The beautiful Urban Light is a large sculpture at the entrance and is an installation of 202 restored street lamps from the 1920s and 1930s.

Where to Eat in West Hollywood

West Hollywood’s hottest foodie spots rotate as quickly as the nightlife. Be sure to check the listings for the latest updates. You can always count on these spots.

• E.P & L.P: Hit it classy with handcrafted cocktails and Southeast Asian-inspired appetizers at this rooftop bar.
• California Donuts: While these donuts are probably not THE best in Los Angeles, but they are just something you have to get while in WeHo!

• 

• Joan’s on Third: This gourmet marketplace will have your mouth watering with items like apricot-glazed ham, fried chicken with jalapeño, coleslaw, and chicken milanese.
• Gracias Madre or Café Gratitude: Vegans will be happy at Gracias Madre, a stylish Mexican place that serves 100% vegan cuisine. Stay healthy with hippie-inspired dishes at Café Gratitude’s sandwiches and wraps.
• Cecconi’s: Head to Cecconi’s for lunch. This modern restaurant serves classic handmade Italian fare like orecchiette with claims, calamari fritti, and chicken paillard.

• 

• In-N-Out Burger: Nothing is so quintessentially Californian as the fast-food joint In-N-Out Burger. Grab a bun, hand-cut fries, and a thick shake.
• Urth Caffé: Stop at Urth Caffé for your organic blends. There’s one on Melrose Avenue with a cozy outdoor patio. You’ll find a great selection of teas including matcha and tisane.

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Where to Find the Best Food in San Francisco

San Francisco is a city that is a strong contender to NYC when it comes to awesome food.  The variety is there, the spaces are creative, and the eats are top notch.  

There’s also a super fresh, what feels like very seasonal theme gently running through everything which gives a feel that the people really love and somehow deeply care about what sort of goods they’re putting in your precious mouths and bodies.  

Whether or not this is emotional side of things is entirely true or not I’m not sure, but it often makes things taste even better than they already are.

When I was last there, I hit this city hard and I hit it aggressively.  What I came out on the other side with was a tight roster of some pretty excellent spots, that I’d love to dine at again and again.  If you soon find yourself in SF, you should, too.  

Here were a few of my favorites places for food in San Francisco!

– – Craftsman and Wolves – –

Craftsman and Wolves is a Mission based coffee shop first and foremost, but this morning breakfast treat is the highlight.  

Mind-numbingly good, warm soft-boiled egg that somehow makes it’s way into a warm, crunchy, delicious scallion, bacon muffin.

I was completely blown away by this creation and wish I could eat it on the daily.

– – Mourad – –

Unsure whether to go here or to April Bloom’s Tosca Cafe for a Saturday night dinner session, after much debate Mourad was the choice. The second restaurant from Mourad Lahlou in San Francisco well exceeded expectations and endlessly impressed.  

From the first bite, a caviar brioche, to the last, a lemon and huckleberry dessert that was among the best I’ve ever eaten, my experience here was exceptional.  

I would definitely add this to the roster for one of the nicer skewing nights out.

(source)

– – Taqueria Cancun and Pancho Villa Taqueria – –

The Mission district of SF is home of dozens of down and dirty Mexican joints, among them Cancun Taqueria and Pancho Villa Taqueria.

At Cancun, I had a late night burrito, at Pancho Villa I ate a second lunch in the form of tacos. Both were very simple, and very good.

– – The Progress – –

This might be one of my favorite restaurants so far of 2015, in any city. While I had initially wanted to cross sister restaurant State Bird Provisions off of my list, this was also a place I wanted to hit and I jumped at the 5:45pm opening on OpenTable.

The Progress pulled me in the moment I walked in. The impressive and articulately designed space has a breathlessness and a buzz about it, and a menu to match.

Every person we came across on the well but casually and somewhat nautically dressed staff was exceedingly passionate and friendly, each dish we tried seemed somehow better than the last, and the presentation of the plates was as notable as the taste.

Stand outs included the pecorino roti with black truffle buttermilk, the maitake, tofu and bok choy ‘stir fry’ and the snapper, turnip, and crème fraiche.

I would go back again in a heartbeat, and be extremely excited to do so.

– – Swan Oyster Depot – –

Family owned and operated Swan Oyster has been pumping out seafood for over 100 years, and it doesn’t look like the business is slowing down anytime soon.

It opens at 10:30am and there was a line out the door by 9:30. I was the last one seated of the day’s first batch.

The “restaurant” is comprised only of one long counter, several friendly, happy looking men running the operation, and a ton of fresh fish everywhere you look. Menus are on the wall and the options include just a few things, crudo, clam chowder, and oysters of course to name a few.

The mixed crudo is what I tried, complete with salmon, scallops, tuna and hamachi, and all topped with diced onions, capers and olive oil. It was awesome.

(source)

– – Tartine Bakery – –

Cheese on bread, bread pudding, croque monsieurs, croissants, morning buns, bread baskets.  

There’s a theme here, and it’s certainly not one of light food and low carbs.  Tartine Bakery is a bit tricky to hit, as the line can often be as legendary as the place is itself, but it’s definitely worth an attempt. 

– – Plow – –

When visiting new cities, getting yourself to a solid brunch spot or two is always a great provider of insight into the local scene.  There are several well known spots for this in SF, one being Plow in the Potrero Hill neighborhood.

It’s a smallish simple cafe like place, with seats inside, outside, and at the counter, and a wait that starts early and goes long. The infamous ricotta pancakes were delicious, as were both of the egg dishes we stacked onto our little table.

(source)

– – Bi-Rite Creamery – –

Bi-Rite was so damn good that it was worth including, even though yes, it’s ice cream and not actual food. Get some scoops, and go chill in the famous Mission Dolores Park nearby.

Read more about Kate’s San Francisco adventures on We Travel We Eat!

 

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Where to Find the Best Food in San Francisco is a post from: The Blonde Abroad

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Staying in a Lighthouse in Croatia

By now, you probably know my love for the Istria region of Croatia- fresh seafood, olive oil, wine, rugged coastlines, and so much natural beauty. Last summer, I was lucky enough to enjoy the region all over again, including some amazing experiences I would have never thought possible.

Well, off the coast of Pula, sits a beautiful little islet, and the Porer Lighthouse!

Looking out to sea from Cape Kamenjak, the sight of the lighthouse during sunset was breathtaking. But it turns out, that lighthouse would be my nights’ accommodation, and I think I died a little inside.

Porer, built in 1833, takes just two minutes to walk all the way around and the lighthouse can sleep eight people. It contains 2 small apartments, along with the the lighthouse keeper (and his adorable dog), and is available for rent.

You heard me correctly!

For less than $150 per night, even in the high season of July and August, you can stay in a private apartment in a lighthouse… on a small islet… off the stunning coast of Pula.

Waking up to the gentle sounds of the water, salty air, and nothing else, was the most relaxing morning ever. While I did get up way too early to see the sunrise, it was worth it! Watching the sun rise over the Croatian coastline is something I would highly recommend to anyone traveling through.

The lighthouse lies about a mile and a half southwest from the southernmost cape of Istria, Cape Kamenjak. The sea around the island is a great diving destinations, with shallow waters and underwater cliffs. It is also a sought after fishing destination!

Other activities back on land, include exploring the town of Premantura, camping along the beaches, cliff jumping, and hanging out at Safari Bar– all of which sound like a great time to me!

READ NEXT: Top 6 Foodie Experiences in Istria, Croatia

 

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