Travel Tips for the Holidays

I absolutely love the holiday season. While it's a busy time, it's also a great time to reconnect with friends and family. In the past few weeks alone, we've had out of town visitors every weekend and even took a few trips of our own! 

Each visit left us recharged with positive vibes but that warm energy can easily be drained with a poor travel experience. So with Christmas amongst us, here's some sage advice for hassle free travel!

-        1) Minimize wait times at the airport by applying for Global Entry and TSA Pre-Check. Global Entry is a great option for any fancy trips abroad and you are automatically registered for Pre-Check as well, which makes domestic travel a breeze!

-        2) Get the right credit cards for maximizing your points multiplier– we are fans of Chase Sapphire and Reserve. They provide great perks especially while traveling and let's admit it, we love pulling out that heavy metal card like a BOSS!

-        3) Ask for upgrades! Upgrades are always worth asking for - the worse that can happen is a polite no! 

-        4) Pack a scarf. I always travel with a long scarf as it can be used as a blanket, hoodie, or eye/gas mask.

-        5) Invest in the right accessories. I highly recommend buying an Anker iPhone battery case. It doubles as a hard phone case and will give you a full charge after a morning of traveling so you don’t miss a single selfie or Snapchat with your loved ones!

There you have it folks, some of my favorite tips for traveling like a pro. Hope you have a happy holidays and safe travels!

Planning A Destination Wedding (Curaçao)

Planning a wedding can be a gruesome process. There are so many moving parts and so many people involved. Adding the destination component to it, can magnify the stress --- but it's so worth it when done the right way!

We got married in Curaçao, in July 2016, and had the most epic wedding weekend. It was was a great experience, not only for us, but also for our families and friends, who got to blend and enjoy a wonderful vacation together. Though it was definitely not without hiccups, we would still make the same decision to marry overseas every single time and highly recommend it!

 Here's what I learned about planning destination weddings:

1) you must plan in advance - We started planning our wedding 14 months in advance and that time was critical. Since I was completing the second year of my MBA program and not working full-time, I took most of the responsibility for planning. Yet, even with my flexible student schedule and over a year of planning, we could have still used ANOTHER month or so! With that said, if you don't have a flexible work schedule, I'd advise taking off time to plan or hiring local help.

Planning in advance also gives your guests extra time to determine whether they have enough vacation days and funds to participate. The more notice you can provide, the better.


2) be prepared for family drama - Weddings wouldn't be the same without their fair share of family drama. Even with good intentions, drama is almost inescapable. My advice is to remember at the end of the day, what's most important is this beautiful new chapter that you're embarking on. Your commitment to each other is what this entire process is about! So, discuss issues with your partner and work through conflict as a team. It's great practice for the long road ahead!


3) build contingencies into budget - Even with fancy spreadsheets and predictive models, shit happens. Be prepared for the mishaps that may come and also last minute add-ons! This is one of the most special days of your life and it's in an exotic, foreign locale. Give yourself the wiggle room to make it the best day ever.

4) throw a welcome event - Welcome events are a great way to get your friends and family to mingle before the big day. we found that after the welcome event, our guests became fast friends, exploring town together and cutting up on the dance floor. Make your welcome event even smoother by designating someone from the bridal party to ensure your guests are all up-to-date with the schedule. Even with all the messages you may have provided prior, doubling down on communication is never a bad idea.

5) pay what you can in advance - Triple check with vendors (photographers, singers, DJs etc) and see what can be paid in advance electronically. The last thing you want to do is have to make last minute withdrawals from your bank and/or carry loads of cash while you're traveling.  Remember you can only carry $5000 USD per person while flying, anything over you have to declare, which may lead to unnecessary stress.

6) have back-up plan for rain - You wouldn't believe it from our pictures, but the morning of our wedding, there was a torrential downpour. Though Curaçao, is typically dry and hasn't really rained in 2 years, mother nature will find a way to mess with your head. Fortunately, the rain cleared up by afternoon but if it didn't, we had already discussed a rain strategy with our planner. Having a plan in place will ease your heart palpitations, if you wake up to thunderstorms, like we did! Even if you do get rain on your wedding day, apparently that's a sign of good luck! According to some cultures, it's a symbol of fertility, of new starts, unity and renewal...I'll take it!

7) incorporate local culture into ceremony & events - One of our favorite parts of our wedding day was our "Hora Loca". Hora Loca translates to "crazy hour" and in Curaçao,and surrounding countries, it's an hour of extreme energy, fun and festivities. We surprised our guests with carnival dancers during our hora loca and distributed masks to everyone. This really got the party jumping and everyone (especially the groom!) enjoyed incorporating the local culture during our dance party!

8) take a separate honeymoon or mini-moon - If you can I would strongly advise still taking a honeymoon or mini-moon after your destination wedding. Though we were on a tropical island, after days of running around Curaçao, for wedding tasks and hosting guests, you will want a little R&R just with your honey. It's even better when you can experience something new with your new spouse, which will be hard to do after you and your guests have been exploring the destination island for days. We caught a short plane ride to Medellin, Colombia and spent three fantastic nights exploring together. It was both of ours first time in the country and the continent, which made this even more special. View pictures and read more about our mini-moon here!

9) plan additional day for professional pictures - Despite having thousands of great pictures, I've accepted that we are part of the media obsessed generation. It is what it is! I would still have loved to have planned an additional day for pictures. Things move so quickly the day of the wedding and you may not have gotten all the shots you wanted! Great thing about destination weddings is that you have extra time with your guests and bridal party. So you could definitely have a pre or post wedding shoot to capture shots you didn't get or chronicle one of your wedding weekend events with your crew.

10) rent a villa - We rented a huge 12 bedroom villa for our bridal party and it was one of the best decisions. The villa added a different element to our trip by allowing us to experience a different part of the island since it was away from our wedding venue. Despite some "Real World" moments, it gave our crew more space and the chance to bond together. We had pool parties, family meals and late night convos about life - our villa definitely left an indelible mark on our experience!

As with major life milestones, you plan for so long, relish in anticipation of the big event and then it comes and it's awesome. But like everything else, it's gone quickly. Sometimes too quickly and you're left clinging only to your memories. So, if you're thinking of getting married overseas, consider these tips to make those memories even more sweet!

Surviving a Baecation

You want to know if the love you have is real? Go on an extended trip with your significant other ("baecation"). Feeling real ballsy, invite another couple to join you!

Traveling in general already puts you way out your element. You may be unfamiliar with the customs, language and area. When you're traveling with bae, you now also have to consider their style, agenda, mood, appetite, etc. Unlike when you're back home, it's harder to leave and go to your happy place when you're frustrated with each other. 

This can all be extremely challenging to maneuver, which is why I'm sharing some "baecation" survival tips! My fiance and I recently took a tour of Paris, Amsterdam and Marrakech with one of our couple friends - here's how we all came out alive:

1) Plan together: You both should set expectations for each trip. The best way to do this is to plan together! Planning together is a fun way to build excitement for your baecation and ensure the proper mix of activities to satisfy your traveling personality. 

2) Know your role: In almost any context, it's important to play up your strengths. With traveling, this also holds true. On every baecation, I know that I'm in charge of finding the great eats and Jordan is the master at navigating the streets. Though we may offer our suggestions every now and then, have a role on the trip that you can own!

3) Agree on a budget: I firmly believe in thoroughly enjoying your baecations; but, be sure to set a reasonable budget (with wiggle room) together. This will drive how much money you decide to withdraw, avoid unnecessary trips to the ATM and prevent embarrassing moments when deciding which cards to use...

4) Watch your liquor: Trust me when I say you don't want to get #fratboy wasted when traveling with your partner. Something always goes wrong. You're either up all night taking care of the other, or you do something stupid that pisses your partner off, or you put yourself in an even more vulnerable position while abroad. We're all adults and know our limits. Don't ruin your baecation (or your partner's) just because you have to have another tequila shot.

5) Put time aside: Sometimes you just need a little break! Whether that's a day at the spa or just a morning coffee alone - put that time aside! This is especially important when you're traveling with another couple. Be sure to schedule some girl/guy time to talk about the things that you talk about when your significant other isn't around :)  

6) Load up on swag: Souvenir shopping is one of my favorite activities when traveling. You can make this even more special by purchasing at least one souvenir that you both can enjoy together. Whether that's a painting for the dining room or hand embroidered sheets for the bedroom - this is a great way to have staple pieces to feature back in your home. 

7) Hedge on time: I strongly recommend hedging on time when traveling. Arrive to the airport, appointments, and reservations with ample time to spare. This will ensure your plans go smoothly and keep your anxiety at bay! Baecations should be relaxing, don't waste energy stressing in the security line you underestimated or worrying about losing your table at the restaurant! Being on the giving or receiving end of the resulting resentment due to tardiness is a surefire way to dampen your trip!

8) Seize the day: Have a "seize the day" mentality and realize that this wonderful vacation will be over before you know it. Don't sweat the little things things. Instead, take lots of pictures, have fun and create memories that will last you a lifetime! 

Naturally, you and your honey will have disagreement(s). However, with proper planning and a willingness to compromise, you can make your next baecation the best one yet!

 

 

                                       

Going the Distance

My fiance Jordan and I started off our relationship long distance, nearly six years ago. I lived in Atlanta, he in St. Louis. Though we did this for two years, without fail I would cry every time we parted ways at the airport.

Currently, 4000 miles away, this has been the furthest and longest we've been apart. We've now spent more time long distance than we have lived in the same city.

Here's how we've managed long distance over all these years:

1. Communicate daily. It's important for us to have some form of contact everyday. In the age of FaceTime, WhatsApp and Skype, staying connected is easier than ever. Even with the time difference, Jordan will call me in between patients when he has a moment and I always call to wish him goodnight.

2. Share the day. We keep up with each other on social media and we send each other Snapchat-like montages everyday. This keeps us engaged in each other's daily events and the random things that come our way.

3.  See each other at least once a month. There's a point where phone calls won't do and you just want to cuddle with your special person. For me, it's around week 3.

4. Be your own, independent and complete person apart. It's so important to have rich, separate lives filled with your own friends, interests and hobbies! Otherwise, you're the one that's in front of the TV with a bucket of ice cream pining for your long distance lover! While missing each other is a given, having full, busy and independent lives is key.

5. Plan fabulous vacations together. Jordan and I are headed to Morocco in a few weeks and we both have been having so much fun planning the details together. From where to stay, things to do, souvenirs to buy and food to eat; this gives us something grand to look forward to and work on together. 

6. Have an end in sight. This is probably the most important tidbit. Long distance is definitely doable but knowing that the distance is temporary, helps tremendously. 

Long distance relationships are not for everyone. They're expensive and can be emotionally draining. But I believe that couples who do survive, emerge stronger, and solidify their commitment to each other. 

People always comment on how hard being away must be; but, for me, distance is a minor detail that can be managed. For Jordan is home and I carry him everywhere I go.