Ocean View Airbnb Over Manu Bay: Raglan, New Zealand
For $130/night (inclusive of all fees), we stayed in this “peaceful bush and beach cottage” in Raglan, New Zealand, directly above the iconic Manu Bay. The house itself was nothing too extraordinary - quite old school, to be honest - but the surrounding areas, the views, and the privacy were what was exceptional.
Wine Tasting on Waiheke Island, New Zealand
Coming highly recommended from a close friend, we decided to spend my birthday weekend on Waiheke Island — accessible with a short 45 minute ferry off of Auckland. Waiheke is a gorgeous little island, which reminds me of a tropical Tuscany, covered in lush greenery over the rolling hills dotted with vineyards above the turquoise water bays and coves. It’s fabulous! The main attraction, other than enjoying the beaches and fine dining, is wine tasting. There are over 30 boutique wineries in the 36 square miles, and over our 3 nights on island, we were able to visit seven of them! We ranked them below, from our least favorite to most favorite….
Exploring Lago Di Como, Italy
Our second (and last) full day in Lago di Como was spent drenched in the sun; exploring the tiny hilltop town Brunate via funicular to soak up the views; our first Lido Beach Club experience which was strange and underwhelming; and topped the night off with Aperol Spritz and a multi-restaurant meal.
Bellagio In The Rain
Upon landing in Milan, we arrived to our Airbnb in Como late at night after a couple of train transfer snafus, and woke up on our first full day in Italy to a forecast of thunderstorms. The morning was grey and cloudy, but still super warm out and generally not too stormy. Luckily I had seen the forecast while packing at home, so we came prepared with raincoats…but still I had high hopes that the projected forecast of 70% rain would somehow not come to fruition. However, our first full day in Italy was wet after all.
One Week in The Dominican Republic
I never really imagined traveling to the Dominican Republic - I don’t know why, but it was never on my radar. But in 2022, the World Surf League has finally restarted the Qualifying Series contests (which my husband Shaun competes on) and they announced a contest in Cabarete, on the north side of the DR. I started to do some research, and even though flights were a bit expensive, I thought why not go spend a week in the Caribbean sunshine?
Our Airbnb in the Costa Rica Jungle
We spent a week in an Airbnb unlike any other rental we've ever stayed in - this was true open-air living in the jungle! Our A-frame bungalow had no walls, so we lived among the monkeys and had the experience of a lifetime. Read on for my review of the good, the bad, and the unexpected.
A Week in the Jungle: Cabo Matapalo, Costa Rica
Shaun had been to Cabo Matapalo on the Osa Peninsula in southern Costa Rica a handful of times growing up, and we finally planned a trip (my first time) to visit last April. I had heard all about it for years and was so excited to finally see the jungle for myself!
Searching for Wildlife: Costa Rica
To be 100% honest, upon arriving to Matapalo on the Osa Peninsula of Costa Rica, I felt a tiny bit disappointed. Shaun and his dad had come here many times together and have really hyped up the wildlife - “monkeys everywhere!” - but the first day here was grey, gloomy, and no monkeys in sight… well, after settling in for a day or two, the jungle started to come to life for us and that bit of disappointment was long gone!
Spontaneous Detour to Tuscany, Italy
After two full weeks in Morocco (and feeling sick for the majority of that time), we decided to spend the last week of our time abroad elsewhere. Morocco is so close to Europe, so I just started looking up cheap flights to literally anywhere! I played with the idea of going somewhere new (Amsterdam? Greece? Switzerland?) but after cross checking the flight prices and weather forecasts, we ultimately decided to return to a very special place for us... Italy!
Trekking Through The High Atlas Mountains
We knew that the High Atlas Mountains of Morocco is a hot tourist spot for hikers and trekkers crossing Mount Toubkal, but we only found ourselves in the area as a detour from a surf contest, so we were obviously not prepared for a real backpacking adventure. However, we organized a short day hike with a local guide through our hotel. We had a memorable and wonderful experience–– even ending with a surprise souvenir purchase!
Kasbah du Toubkal: A National Geographic World's Most Unique Lodge
The drive from the coast of Taghazout to the High Atlas Mountains took around 5 or 6 hours. Repetitive at first (it was backtracking our original route, going back through Marrakesh), but dramatic by the end with beautiful views of the snowcapped mountains and treacherous one-way sized roads on the edge of a cliff. We were headed to the Kasbah du Toubkal, a National Geographic "one of the world's most unique lodges." A three-night stay at this remote lodge was a Christmas gift from my boss– she's known to give extravagant, generous, and extraordinary gifts. (Thank you Kyra!) That being said, we really didn't know what we were getting into, as we drove up the bumpy dirt road to a tiny rural village...
Ups & Downs in Taghazout, Morocco
On our first ever trip to Africa, I was feeling jittery and excited to check off another continent on the bucket list.... and perhaps a bit nervous after reading mixed reviews on Morocco. We were headed to the tiny surf town of Taghazout in Morocco for a surf contest. Our 12-day stay at a local surf and yoga villa had it's ups and downs, from fabulous ocean views and rooftop yoga to multi-day sickness and food poisoning. It was quite the experience...
Living the Resort Lifestyle: Acapulco, Mexico
A few months after returning from Italy, our next stop was Acapulco Mexico for a surf contest. Shaun had been to Acapulco for this surf contest at least 4 or 5 times, but it was a first for me! The contest is sponsored by the Princess resort, which is on the sand at the contest site. We typically opt for Airbnbs or boutique hotels, so the resort lifestyle was a little different for us, but we definitely enjoyed the 4 pools and 5 restaurants over our 7 day stay.
Quick Trip to Palermo, Sicily
We wrapped up our week in Italy with a two-night quick trip to Palermo, Sicily! I knew I wanted to squeeze in a third destination to our seven day trip so we played with the idea of Cinque Terre or Tuscany, but because it was early May, the weather in northern Italy would've likely been pretty chilly and I was hoping for some bikini time! We went as far south as possible (seeking sunshine!) and decided on visiting the beautiful island of Sicily.
Day Trip to Positano, Amalfi Coast
For our 4-day stay in the Amalfi Coast, we decided to make our home base in Sorrento. It's easy to access the neighboring towns via ferry, scooter, taxi or bus. Our first full-day in the area we spent in Capri, and for our second day we decided to explore Positano, the bustling centerpiece of the Amalfi Coast...
The Best Day Ever in Capri, Italy
We planned a beautiful day on the fabulous island of Capri, Italy that would have been romantic and memorable on it's own– but the afternoon ended with the best surprise of my life!
Waking Up in Rome
Our flight landed in FCO at 9PM and we were catching a train to Sorrento at 2PM the next day, so that only left us with a handful of hours to see Rome. I love scheduling these quick one-night stops in big cities and planning a whirlwind sightseeing-filled day before moving on to our next stop...
The Philippines on Film
Shaun always brings a film camera along for our travels, and every time it's always so exciting to have the photos developed and be pleasantly surprised with what was captured. This is the unedited film roll from our two weeks in the Philippines.
Two Weeks on Siargao Island, Philippines
Of all the places we’ve been to, I never really imagined myself going to the Philippines. I didn't know anything about the country, and it just wasn't on my radar. But because of a surf contest, a super-sweet flight deal, and the alignment of the stars, Shaun and I found ourselves visiting tiny Siargao Island for two weeks.
Adventure to Sugba Lagoon
Sugba Lagoon is a must-do while on Siargao Island! The endless crystal clear turquoise water surrounded by dozens of miles of mangrove forests is unlike anywhere we've ventured before. You can take a guided tour from General Luna, arrange a private driver, or you can follow our DIY-adventure for an unforgettable day-trip to Sugba Lagoon for under $10!