Author: Nicole Benedetta

Visiting One of World’s Top Beaches

Posted on by Nicole Benedetta

Eagle Beach, located in Aruba, has been named the second best beach in the Caribbean and third best in the world. The 21-mile Caribbean island of Aruba be found north of Venezuela and south of the Dominican Republic. 

  • Aruba’s Capital
Oranjestad Colurful Buildings

The capital and largest city in the country is Oranjestad. It contains a large amount of government buildings and colorful Dutch architecture. The Renaissance Mall is a great place there to shop at luxury stores, including Prada and Gucci. The city also is filled with boutiques, street vendors, casinos, clubs, museums, dining, and entertainment.

  • When to Visit
Aruba

The average temperature on the island throughout the year is approximately 85 degrees Fahrenheit. But, the recommended time to visit is between April and August, due to the lower prices on hotels and slim chance of precipitation within those months. The climate is dry and desert-like, yet the winds will cool you down. Peak season extends from January to March, so it is recommended to try to avoid that time period.

  • Where to Stay

Bucuti & Tara

This boutique beach resort is for adults only and is situated on Eagle Beach. A few of the amenities are the outdoor pool, spa, fitness center/beach yoga, courtyard garden, movie nights on the beach, a bar, and two restaurants.

Hyatt Regency Resort

The hotel/casino sits directly on Palm Beach. The full-service spa, gourmet dining, outdoor pool complex, two-story water slide, restaurant/bar, gym, outdoor activities, and gift shop are sure to satisfy any guest! 

Aruba Marriot Resort

This chain resort, with multiple restaurants including Ruth Chris Steakhouse and Starbucks, is also located on Palm Beach. The outdoor swimming area, multi-level fitness room, casino, dining on the beach, gelato shop, bar/lounge, spa, tennis courts, and water sports will definitely keep you entertained.

Ritz-Carlton

The Ritz-Carlton is, of course, a top choice in Eagle Beach. This five star resort includes two outdoor heated pools, delicious places to eat, retail shops on the property, fitness center, beauty salon, in-room mini bar, casino, lounge area, jacuzzi, and nightly entertainment. 

  • Popular Attractions in Aruba

Beaches: Eagle Beach, Palm Beach, Black Stone Beach, Baby Beach

Aruba Divi Tree - Eagle beach
Eagle Beach

Arikok National Park

Arikok National Park - Aruba

Shipwreck Sites

Shipwreck

Natural Pool

Natural pool

Butterfly Farm

Butterfly

Atlantis Submarine Expedition

Atlantis Submarine
  • Food
Aruba traditional food: Keshi Yena

The national dish of Aruba is Keshi Yena (pictured above), a large, round ball of cheese that is stuffed with meat (typically chicken).

Popular Aruban dishes are:

-Stoba (stew)

-Pastechi (pastry with cheese and meat)

-Pisca Hasa (fried fish)

-Pan Bati (pancakes)

-Bananas Hasa (fried plantains) 

-Keri Keri (flaked white fish) 

Some of the American food chains in Aruba are: Wendy’s Dunkin’, McDonald’s, Domino’s, KFC, Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, Subway, and Sbarro. 

Other fast food options on the island:

  1. Kikoriko
  2. Isla Pop (Venezuelan)
  3. Ritz Snack (Caribbean)

Excellent fine dining options:

  1. OceanZ (Caribbean/seafood)
  2. The Kitchen Table (Caribbean/Cajun)
  3. Senses (8 course dining) 
  • Transportation
An Arubus

To explore the island on your own time, you can rent a car. Taxis (at a fixed rate), shuttles to/from hotels and attractions, and trolleys passing through Main Street are also available. If you are looking for the cheapest way to get around though, the Arubus will most likely be your best bet. It runs between 5:45am and 11:30pm. 

  • Traveling Tips
  • 1 Aruban Florin = $0.56 USD.
  • The currency is Aruban Florin (AWG or AFL), but USD is accepted everywhere.
  • Restaurants and bars add service charges to your bill, which is usually 10-15%, yet you may still tip if you prefer to.
  • With the VisitAruba Plus Card you can get discounts at more than 85 locations in Aruba.
  • People in Aruba typically speak four languages: Dutch, Spanish, English, and the native language, Papiamento.
  • Aruba is one of the safest islands in the Caribbean. 
  • Drinking water meets the highest quality.
  • The minimum drinking age is 18 years old.
  • Taxis must be called ahead of time, rather than trying to hail one off the streets.
  • In case of emergencies, call 911 for an ambulance or the fire department. The police can be reached at 100.
  • Bring plenty of sunscreen; the burn will be worse due to its closeness to the equator.

For more details on booking a trip to Aruba, please contact me.

Thanks for the read!

-xo, Nicole 🙂

Where Tom Cruise, David Beckham, & Gordon Ramsay Stayed at in the Maldives

Posted on by Nicole Benedetta

The Love Island couple, Molly-Mae Hague and Tommy Fury have flown to the Maldives numerous times. Molly-Mae even claims it to be her “favourite place in the world” on one of her Instagram posts. In 2020, they stayed in the SAii Lagoon. This Hilton resort has beautiful 2-bedroom beach villas with customized aroma bath amenities and stairs leading right down to the sparkling water.

They have also stayed at the Hard Rock Hotel. The Rock Star Villa there includes an infinity pool on a massive deck, a small, in-room cocktail bar, and a look into the ocean right underneath your suite!

Joe Jonas and Sophie Turner traveled to the Maldives for their honeymoon in 2019. They stayed at the Soneva Fushi. At this resort, the most exclusive villa is called the Private Reserve. However, having 9 bedrooms, it is more like a mansion. The reserve includes a gigantic private pool with a sunken day bed and water slide. Not to mention, the in-suite spa had a sauna and direct access to the beach.

In 2017, the Pretty Little Liars star, Shay Mitchell, traveled around the Middle East. When stopping in the Maldives, she relaxed in the COMO Maalifushi. At this boutique hotel, you can choose from garden rooms, which are located in the middle of the island, or from beach suites and villas. If you book a Como Villa, you have your own butler service available, a sun deck, and a pool. Under the palm trees on the beach, you will find swinging benches, where you can watch the sunset over the clear waters.

About five years ago, world-famous boxer, Floyd Mayweather, took a luxurious trip to the island, Landaagiraavaru, a resort island in the Maldives. He basked in the sun at the Four Seasons Resort Maldives. This Four Seasons has four public pools and lounges. Some villas have hammocks that hang right about the sea. Meanwhile, the 3-Bedroom Landaa Estate comes a waterfall-linked two-tier pool and a private beach!

Tom Cruise, David Beckham, and Gordon Ramsay have all stayed at the same resort there, which is the One & Only, Reethi Rah. The Grand Sunset residence is completely private, as it is engulfed in gardens and sits on its own beach. This 3-bedroom residence provides two swimming pools AND a personal chef too. 

Each one of these resorts looks immaculate, as well as the islands themselves. However, the high quality comes with a high price tag. I can only hope that travel here sometime in the near future!

Thanks for reading 🙂

-xo, Nicole

15 Must-Haves For Your Next Beach Trip

Posted on by Nicole Benedetta
  1. Waterproof Tote Bag

2. Canopy Umbrella

3. Beverage Can Insulator



4. Tanning Lotion


5. Portable Folding Table


6. Sunglasses

7. Beach Pillow

8. Swimsuits


9. Spikeball

10. Waterproof Underwater Camera


11. Beach Towels


12. Backpack Cooler


13. Giant Beach Blanket


14. Swimsuit Coverup

15. Sunscreen Bundle

Cruising to the Caribbean

Posted on by Nicole Benedetta

In September 2018, I went on a Carnival cruise, which was my first cruise ever. I can honestly say that it was my favorite vacation I have ever taken because there was never a dull moment. The trip lasted for 8 days and 7 nights, sailing from Baltimore, MD to the eastern Caribbean, and back.

Costs

This being a Sunday to Sunday cruise, at the end of September, the cost per person was $599. This did not include taxes and fees, which can be around $250 on average. There is also the option to pre-pay gratuities and/or add travel insurance. An abundance of other options are available for cruising as well, including shorter trips with ports that are closer to its destination. For instance, a 4-day, 3 night cruise from Miami, FL to the Bahamas would be nearly $1,000 cheaper than the one I took for the same room, dates, and number of people!

Room

Oceanview Stateroom

The least expensive room type is interior, which is a basic room with a bed, but without windows. Because I wanted to have a window to look out, we chose the Oceanview room. For slightly more money, you could add a balcony onto it. The largest and most costly room would be the suite, which is much more spacious than all of the others. Each room typically has a queen-size bed (or sometimes two twin beds), a small flatscreen television, and a private bathroom. Mine had a couch, coffee table, and desk as a well, so it was somewhat spacious.

At Sea Activities

Pool on Lido Deck

When at sea for a few days, there were plenty of onboard activities to keep me entertained.

While most activities are free, some are an additional cost. I participated in scavenger hunts, games, and went to the comedy club every night because the performers were hilarious. The first day of the cruise, I actually went to a prize giveaway that the cruise line was hosting, and I won three free rounds of bingo. Besides prize giveaways, the Carnival Pride provides passengers with: 

  • Punchline Comedy Club 
  • Mini golf
  • Basketball hoops
  • Pools, water slides, hot tubs
  • Cornhole
  • Deck parties
  • Karaoke
  • Competitions, scavenger hunts, games, trivia
  • Night club (18+), with DJ
  • Arcade 
  • Jogging track
  • Dive-in movies
  • Adult only deck (21+) with hot tub, lounge chairs, hammocks, bar, and pool
  • Shops for essentials, souvenirs, and candy
  • Art & crafts
  • Fitness center (treadmills, dumbbells, benches, machines)
  • Camp for kids

Additional cost:

  • Spa (hot stone massages, body wraps, aromatherapy)
  • Bars/pubs
  • Casino (slots, blackjack, poker)
  • Bingo
  • Fitness classes

Food

All of my meals were already included in our total price! However, people sometimes chose to go to restaurants on the ship that cost extra, such as Bonsai Sushi and David’s Steakhouse. Or, they could order room service and have it charged to their card. The included breakfast was a large buffet, where you could order eggs anyway that you want them. Lunch options were burgers from Guy Fieri’s onboard joint, tacos from Blue Iguana Cantina, a slice of Pizza Pirate, Asian dishes from Mongolian Wok, and more. For dinner, I always went to the dining room, where they served me my meals. The menus were varying each night. They offered steak, seafood, vegetables, pasta, and even dessert. Other desserts like cake, brownies, and a soft serve ice cream station were available each night on the Lido deck, too.

Islands

After two days at sea, we docked at Grand Turk, which is a part of Turks and Caicos. When we got off the port, we were surrounded by palm trees on the gold sand and sailboats in the blue water. On Grand Turk was a small shopping center and one of the seven Margaritaville locations. It provides a bar and an enormous pool that is free for cruise passengers to take a dip in.

The next destination that the ship stopped at was Half Moon Cay in the Bahamas. It is a private island owned by Carnival. In my opinion, it was the most beautiful location of the three that we visited on the cruise. The sand was so white and soft, while the water was so clear that you could see all of the fish and shells in the water. The temperature of the ocean had me floating in there for over an hour. Although I did get slightly sunburnt from that, I had never felt more relaxed in my life.

The last island was Freeport, Bahamas. As soon as I stepped off the ship, there was a cluster of tiny shops, but no beach in sight. I chose to purchase a dolphin excursion there. All of the people participating in the excursion took a 20 minute shuttle, then a 15 minute boat ride through the canals and past the beach. Finally, we had arrived at where the dolphins were. Everyone got to interact with them and see how smart the dolphins are. They were all very well-trained and performed a few different tricks. With dolphins being my favorite animal, it was amazing! Plenty of other excursions are offered as well, like ATV riding, horseback riding, or water sports.

That being said, if you are wondering if you should book a cruise, I highly recommend it!

Thanks for reading 🙂

-xo, Nicole

Best U.S. Hiking Spots to Hit on Your Next Road Trip

Posted on by Nicole Benedetta

If you need a getaway but also would like to maintain social distancing, a road trip might be the perfect solution for you. There are alternatives to staying in a hotel that may be safer. You can rent an RV/camper, rent a private cabin or Airbnb, or go tent camping. Here is a list of amazing spots that you can take a road trip to throughout the United States:

Yellowstone National Park

Grand Prismatic Spring Overlook
Grand Prismatic Spring, Wyoming

Yellowstone is located in Wyoming, Idaho, and Montana, consisting of almost 3,500 square miles. It contains geysers, canyons, rivers/lakes, hot springs, forests, and hiking trails, all scattered throughout. The most well-known destinations located within the park are the Grand Prismatic Spring and the Old Faithful Geyser.  

The Canyons of Arizona

Grand Canyon - South Rim - Mather Point
Grand Canyon, South Rim, Arizona

The famous one that everyone should already known about is the Grand Canyon. The South Rim of the Grand Canyon has the greatest views and is the most suitable path for hiking. Much further north is the Antelope Canyon, which is described as a slot canyon with upper and lower sections. The Upper Antelope Canyon is easily accessed, as it is located on ground level. Meanwhile, Lower Antelope Canyon is a more difficult hike, even with the stairs for visitors to walk down, but draws people in due to the beauty of the spiral rock arches. 

Blue Ridge Mountains 

Blue Ridge Mountains Aerial 2 - Near Asheville NC
Blue Ridge Mountains, North Carolina

These mountains get the name from their blue tint that is seen from a distance. It is located in the eastern part of the United States, from Pennsylvania, down to Georgia. The highest peak of the mountains is Mt. Mitchell in North Carolina. In this range are the popular national parks, Shenandoah and Great Smoky Mountains. Shenandoah National Park is located in Virginia, and has trails leading to waterfalls, mountains, and limestone caves like Luray Caverns. From the overlooks, you can get gorgeous views of the sunrise or sunset. The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a mountain range along the borders of North Carolina and Tennessee. It has scenic valleys, nature trails, rivers, and waterfalls. 

Appalachian Trail

Sunrise at Great Smoky Mountains
Clingmans Dome

From Maine to Georgia, there are countless places to start hiking on the Appalachian Trail. It has various types of scenery on this 2,200 mile path. Hikers have arguably ranked McAfee Knob, Mount Katahdin, and Clingmans Dome as some of the top places to visit. 

Mount Rainier National Park

Tolmie Peak, Mount Rainier National Park
Mount Rainier & Eunice Lake, Washington

Mount Rainier itself is an active stratovolcano located in the state of Washington. Besides mountains, the park is filled with waterfalls, glaciers, blue lakes, and wildflower fields (only in July and August). Scenic gondola rides are offered with breathtaking views of Mount Rainier and the Cascade Mountains. Tipsoo Lake Loop and Snow Lake Trails are must-sees while you are there.

Glacier National Park

Two Glaciers, tarn lake and waterfall
Upper Grinnell Glacier, Montana

This national park is located in Montana, right on the United States/Canadian border. It has over 700 miles of trails for visitors to hike on, as well as, part of the Rocky Mountains. Glacier National Park is filled with hundreds of lakes and waterfalls. The largest lake in it is Lake McDonald. In it is an abundance of naturally colored rocks that can be seen from Apgar Village. Some recommended paths are Hidden Lake Trail or Grinnell Glacier Trail.

Acadia National Park

maine 18 jordan pond
Jordan Pond, Maine

Acadia is on the coast of Maine, consisting of rocky beaches, ponds, and forests. Jordan Pond, Cadillac Mountains, and Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse have excellent views of the sunrises and sunsets. The best time to visit would be September to November if you are interested in colorful fall foliage.

Zion National Park

Sunrise on Angels Landing, Zion NP 2014
Angels Landing, Utah

Located in Utah is Zion National Park. The red cliffs, waterfalls, hanging gardens, and emerald pools are  what draws visitors in. You will want to see the Lower Emerald Pools, Angels Landing, and The Narrows while in that recreation area. 

Arches National Park

Arches National Park Delicate Arch
Delicate Arch, Utah

Arches National Park is in Grand County, Utah. It is such a unique location with over 2,000 natural red arches. The Delicate Arch Trail is rated the #1 in the park. 

Olympic National Park

Waterfall Along Hoh River Trail
Hoh River Trail, Washington

The beautiful national park is found in Washington state. Inside it are alpine areas, rainforests, and the coastline. If you are looking to explore a temperate rainforest, Hoh River Trail is a great option. If you take the Third Beach Hike, you will end up on the pacific coast.

Silver Falls State Park

Middle North Falls, Silver Falls State Park, Oregon
Middle North Falls, Silver Falls State Park, Oregon

In Oregon is Silver Falls State Park. If you love waterfalls, like myself, you will really enjoy this recreation area. Along the Trail of Ten Falls is 7.9 miles of 10 incredible waterfalls.

There are so many breathtaking parks to choose from all over the United States. I would love to visit them all!

Thanks for reading 🙂

-xo, Nicole

Kylie Jenner and Justin Bieber Stay in Canyon Point

Posted on by Nicole Benedetta

The ongoing pandemic may have restricted travel to and from certain countries, but that didn’t stop people from going on their vacations elsewhere. This includes many celebrities/influencers. Just a few of them are:

#1 – The Bieber’s

In the summer of 2020, Justin and Hailey took a road trip in an RV throughout the western United States. They started out from Los Angeles, California, and stopped at numerous places, including Utah. There, they stayed at an upscale resort in Canyon Point, called the Amangiri.

As of more recently, in January 2021, the married couple was seen in Hawaii. Justin owns a beautiful vacation home that overlooks a waterfall and has an Olympic infinity pool in the community of Ninole. The photos from their trip show them snorkeling in Hanauma Bay and hiking in the jungle. While they were on the island, the two also visited a few of their friends, Joe Termini and Kelia Moniz, who live there.

#2 – Kylie Jenner

Weeks after the Bieber’s, Jenner stayed at the same resort in Utah. If you take a look at her Instagram, you will see her basking in the sun and lounging on a recliner. She was accompanied by family friend, and model/musician, Fai Khadra.

A month later, she traveled to Paris, France, again, with Khadra. Her posts show her posing in front of the Louis Vuitton store. However, E! News claimed that this trip was mainly for business. It seemed as if she had arranged to meet with a cosmetics brand named Coty.

#3 – J. Lo

Just the other day, January 11, 2021, Jennifer Lopez flaunted some pictures of herself on vacation. She spent the beginning of the new year paddle boarding in the ocean and meditating on the white sands of Turks and Caicos. Lopez also was spending time there with fiancé, Alex Rodriguez and his nephew, Nick Silva.

#4 – Chrissy Teigen & John Legend

Chrissy & John took their two children, Luna and Miles, on a getaway to Mexico in July of 2020. For most of the trip, it looks like the family spent a majority of their time on a private yacht. According to MSN, the pair extended their trip by two extra days in order to film a music video for Legend, and his song, “Wild.”

Then, right around Christmas, they all traveled to the Caribbean, also on a yacht. This time around, they participated in jet skiing and kayaking.

#5 – Dua Lipa

In July 2020, this pop artist flew down to St. Lucia with current boyfriend, Anwar Hadid. The happy-looking couple shared photos of themselves on the beach, as well as, some gorgeous sights of the island.

Lipa also started out 2021 relaxing on a nice beach. This time, she went to Tulum, Mexico. Of course, Anwar came along, and so did a group of her friends.

I’m sure that most of these celebrities, if not all, traveled in their own personal jets to arrive at their destinations. That would be pretty convenient for me to have right about now. Seeing all of these posts makes me so jealous that I’m not on vacation too. I’m craving an island getaway!

Thanks for reading! 🙂

-xo, Nicole