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Inspirational Vacation Ideas For The Next Few Years

Traveling can be the heart and soul of some people. Others could take it or leave it. But, I can imagine that most people will have a travel bucket list. Perhaps destinations they would love to see, places they want to experience. Or it could even be to take up a different vacation completely. Whatever it may be, however big, or small, your travel bucket list is something to try and tick off as life goes on. Life’s for living at the end of the day. So here are some inspirational vacation ideas that would be perfect to add to a travel bucket list. 

Image source – Pixabay – CCO License

A once in a lifetime adventure

Think of the place you want to visit most in the world but wouldn’t ordinarily go. Have you got that place in your mind? That’s your once-in-a-lifetime adventure. It’s the vacation that you wouldn’t normally book. The one that costs a bit too much. But you only live once so you have to aim at least to get there one day. Many people have different ideas for this, so take some time to consider what would be a once-in-a-lifetime adventure for you. 

City breaks could be your thing

Maybe you love a city break, and why not? This is the perfect mix of urban fun with sightseeing opportunities and with every country having a capital city, your bucket list could be simply to visit as many as possible. 

Touring the open road

Have you ever fancied just packing the car up and just going on an adventure? A road trip is a great way to enjoy some fantastic places. To some, this is a real bucket list adventure. Think of the adventures you would have and the places you would see. 

Investing in your future vacations 

Perhaps you might like the idea of making an investment in your next vacation. There are so many ways you could do this. You could look at buying an RV so that you can take those road trips to the next level. Or perhaps you like the idea of a place to go to on weekends and during vacation time so may want to find mobile homes for sale. You could also look to invest in camping equipment. Investing in your future vacations could take the stress of organizing them, and allow you to just enjoy the time that you have with family and friends. 

A little bit of luxury never hurt anyone

The holiday that oozes luxury. That has to be one to consider for the bucket list right? Heading off to the spa for relaxation treatments. Or sitting by the most beautiful pool with a cocktail in one hand and a book in another. It’s the stuff of dreams. You could consider traveling to an exotic location for a luxurious holiday. Perhaps a visit to The Maldives or Hawaii is top of the luxury list. The ideal destination to travel as a couple, either for your honeymoon or just to rekindle the romance. 

I hope this inspires you to think about your travel bucket list and make plans to see some of the beautiful places this planet has to offer. 

How To Have The Most Seamless Summer Vacation Possible

A summer holiday is the ultimate gift of relaxation. There is nothing more exciting than having a summer holiday booked so that you know you will get time off work and time to relax and reset.

When you go on holiday, you want to have the best time possible. Whether you plan to relax or spend your days out and about exploring a new place, you should consider the following tips to guarantee that you have the most desirable vacation you can imagine.

Photo by Pixabay: https://www.pexels.com/photo/blue-sun-hat-33622/

Look up recommendations on travel blogs and websites

It is a great idea to look at recommendations and reviews on travel blogs and websites before you visit a new place so that you can understand where you should and shouldn’t visit.

Travel blogs and websites likely offer the most honest reviews which will ensure that you do not waste your time and that you can find and experience unique places in the new destination.

For instance, if you are traveling to Charleston, you can read more here to find the best things to do and ensure that your trip is everything you dreamed about. When you do plenty of research before your trip and seek recommendations, you can guarantee to get the most out of the trip.

Make time to relax

The one thing you will want to make sure of when you go on a summer holiday is that you have plenty of time to relax.

You do not want to come back from your trip and feel more exhausted than when you went. Therefore, ensure to make enough time to relax during your summer vacation so that the holiday feels restful and rejuvenating.

Find the right type of accommodation for the holiday you want

When going on a summer holiday, you might not want the typical hotel accommodation. You might want to rent someone’s house or hire a villa for the week or two that you are spending in the sunny destination.

You might not want a hotel as you might want to spend more time in your accommodation cooking and looking after yourself. You might wish for the trip to feel like a home away from home and therefore you will want to choose the right accommodation to suit the type of holiday that you want.

Hire a car

For any type of vacation, it is a wise idea to hire a car if you want to visit as many places as possible.

The beauty about hiring a car on a sunny holiday is that you can explore further beaches so that you can avoid the crowds and you will get to visit as many places as possible on your summer trip.

Go with the right people (or consider going alone)

Every summer vacation should result in you feeling relaxed and reset. Therefore, you must go with the right people or consider going alone so that you can achieve this feeling.

When you go on holiday with the right people, you will guarantee to get everything you imagined from the holiday.

All You Need To Know About The New European Passport/Visa Rules!!

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VISA for Europe??? Our luxury travel advisor Carrie Mandala has some news for us…

By now you have probably heard that starting in January 2024 U.S Passport holders will need to obtain travel authorization to enter the European Union. 

The European Union has implemented a new security program, European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS), that requires U.S. passport holders to obtain a visa prior to travel.  This is similar to the visa European tourists are required to get when traveling to the U.S.

What does this all mean…

You will now need to apply online for a visa through the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) website https://travel-europe.europa.eu/etias/what-etias_en 

ETIAS is not a visa in the traditional sense. It is an online application that most applicants will receive approval within minutes, but some could take up to 14 days and additional information may be requested. All communication is through email. If you are denied you will be emailed the reasoning and there is an appeal process. 

The visa will cost about $8.00 and will be good for multiple entries for up to three years or until a passport expires, whichever comes first. It allows you to spend up to 90 days within 180-day period. All travelers will be required to have an ETIAS. It is linked to your passport and both documents will be needed to gain entry into a country whether coming by land, sea or air.

Once you receive your ETIAS travel authorization you should double-check that all information listed is correct as any mistakes may prevent entry. They encourage you to apply on the earlier side to ensure there is no disruption to your travel plans.https://elmrocktravel.com/

At the end of the day for most people, it is one more thing to add to the TO DO list.

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PASSPORT BACKLOG – It’s Real

International travel has surged and the demand for passports is at an all-time high. Unfortunately, this is taking a toll on the processing time. Passports are taking up to four months to receive and have some travelers in a panic.

Here are some tips to hopefully keep you out of the chaos:

  1. Your passport must be valid 6 months after your trip return date
  2. You are eligible to renew your passport starting 1 year prior to your expiration date. I would suggest if you do not have pending international travel to go ahead and start the process then.
  3. Always opt for the expedited service.
  4. If you are 2-3 weeks out from your trip – start contacting your local state representative for assistance. They have been very helpful for many in getting their passports back in the nick of time.
  5. They say that emergency appointments will be given 2 weeks prior to travel – you must have proof of international travel – the problem is appointments are hard to get due to the demand and some travelers have had to travel domestically to get one.
  6. When in doubt working with a passport company from the start can be helpful. They do charge additional fees. 
https://www.usa.gov/passport
https://cibtvisas.com/?login=travelexperts

Bottomline check your passports now, set an alarm on your calendar and RENEW early.

Elle Marche Has Opened In Larchmont

Elle Marche, the little chic jewel box of a shop that was previously in Greenwich has opened in Larchmont on Palmer Ave. It is the retail store founded by designer, creative director, and architect of the gypset lifestyle, Rita Overzat, Elle Marché is the expanded expression of her luxury handbag brand — Beirn. The Elle Marché woman has, like Rita and her daughters (Beirn co-founders) Ali Trier and Jenna O’Rourke, a passion for travel, a zest for adventure, and a desire for decadence.

The store is full of eye-catching jewels, and luxurious clothing including a wonderful selection of designer vintage and of course Rita’s signature exotic skin bags.

Elle Marche is open all holiday weekend and there is a special opening sale going on too.

We shopped there last week and found some wonderful one-of-a-kind treasures. You can also shop online at their WEBSITE.

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Battle of the Wine Dinner Coming Soon To Westport!!!!!!!!!!

Restauranteur Carlos Pla invites you to Westport for the celebration of La Batalla del Vino at DeTapas on Thursday, June 29th

This unique festival – translated, Battle of Wine – takes place every year on the 29th of June in the town of Haro which is located in the Rioja Alta region of Spain, home to roughly 40% of the region’s vineyards.

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Lore has it that a land dispute between two neighboring towns, Haro and Miranda De Ebro, is how the battle originated and dates back to the tenth century. People from around the world travel to Haro every summer on this day to participate in one of Spain’s most celebrated events. Here they dress up in all white and spray one another with wine from water guns and wine bottles.

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We won’t be spraying wine all over the place at DeTAPAS, however! We will bring the essence of the wine festival to you in the in the form of a Six Course Tapas and wine pairing featuring six different wines from the Rioja region.

The Special Rioja tasting menu is as follows:

(Wines are still being selected)

Caracoles a la Andaluza

Longaniza (sausage), confit tomato, brandy, and garlic 

Venison Carpaccio

With roasted pimentos, almond brittle, lemon oil, watercress

Monkfish and Prawn Skewers

Featuring Garlic, lime, and an apricot glaze

Oxtail Stew

Sherry braised with roast tomato purée, and a carrot and parsnip mash

Wine poached Cod

with Mediterranean cod, olives, capers, white wine, saffron, and a tomato broth

Poached Pear

Valdeon Blue mousse and a Cava reduction

Each course will be accompanied by a specific wine to create the ultimate wine-tasting experience.

Reservations are required

Cost is $75 per person

De TAPAS Gastrobar

180 Post Road East

Westport, CT

203-557-0257

hola@detapasrestaurant.com

Have An Amazing Vacation: 3 Top Tips

Almost everyone’s been on vacation, but that doesn’t mean it’s been a great time every time you’ve been on one. While it could’ve been nice, you might’ve felt it could’ve been better. You’ll want to make sure you have an amazing vacation the next time you go on out, but you mightn’t know how to figure that out.

Where you go plays a large role in this, but there are more than a few other things to keep in mind. By using a few specific tips, you shouldn’t have a problem planning and having an amazing vacation. If you’ll be going on a trip soon, it’s worth diving into three travel tips to follow.

1. Don’t Overpack

Nobody wants to lug around a heavy bag when they’re going on vacation. While you won’t have this with you constantly on the trip, you’ll need to worry about it when you’re going there and back. Avoid having something heavy to carry around during this time.

Not only will it make getting to and from the airport more difficult, but you could even have extra charges on the plane because of it. Avoid overpacking and only bring the essentials with a few spare bits and pieces with you.

It’ll make the entire process much easier, and you’ll even save some time packing and unpacking.

2. Have A Positive Mindset

Packing up and going on vacation can often be stressful. Between planning things out and getting through the airport, it’s easy to see why that’s the case. The key to this is having a positive mindset as much as possible. It puts you in the right frame of mind for when you go on vacation.

When you’re going through airport security, for example, think of how much fun and relaxation awaits you on the other end. It’ll avoid you getting stressed, which could end up preventing you from enjoying yourself.

3. Pick The Right Hotel

One of the largest decisions you’ll have to make when planning your vacation is where you’ll stay. The accommodation plays a vital role in how comfortable you are and whether you’ll enjoy everything. Spend some time researching your options and picking the right one for you.

Customer reviews and similar factors should all play a role in this. If you’re heading to the USA, then the ROOST Detroit luxury hotel can be worth considering. With the right option, you’ll be relaxing and having an amazing vacation before you know it.

Have An Amazing Vacation: Wrapping Up

Everyone wants to have an amazing vacation, but it’s often not as simple as just picking somewhere and going. You’ll need to put some thought and effort into it to make sure it’s something you’ll actually enjoy. By following a few travel tips, you’ll make sure that’s the case.

Picking the right hotel, not overpacking, and having a positive mindset are all parts of this. With a little effort, you’ll be having an amazing vacation before you know it.