I personally LOVE the beach. Staying in an all-inclusive resort on a white sand beach, with a view of the sparkling blue water is pretty much all I dream about. And having the option to stay in an over-the-water bungalow would be an amazing bonus! Therefore, my next destination of choice would have to be Montego Bay, Jamaica.
About
Montego Bay, located in the northwest portion of the Jamaican island, is full of resorts, beaches, and some golf courses. It is a popular vacation destination for tourists, as it is full of natural beauty, lively nightlife, shops, and activities. On average, the temperature is between 72 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit, which is ideal for taking a dip in the ocean or the pool.
Attractions
Doctor Cave’s Beach
Luminous Lagoon Glistening Waters
Chukka’s Jungle Outpost – includes river rafting/or ziplining
Sam Sharpe Square
Aqua-Sol Theme Park
Cornwall Beach
Main Street Jamaica
Gloucester Avenue – includes dining, stores, and art galleries
Over 6 years ago, I took a trip to the City of Angels, or more widely known as, Los Angeles, California. My AirBnB was in a prime location of West Hollywood, just steps to the Walk of Fame. Within the week that I was there, some of the major attractions that I hit were the Griffith Observatory, with a view of the infamous “Hollywood” sign to my left, the Santa Monica Pier, Koreatown, and the Grove. And yes, of course, I had to try In N’ Out Burger. Besides West Hollywood, I took transportation to and from North Hollywood and Anaheim. In Anaheim, I attended the annual Vidcon event, as I was in two YouTube Collab groups at the time. While at the event, I met popular YouTube stars including Christian Collins, Maggie Lindemann, Arden Rose, Lauren Giraldo, and Zachary Piona. I had an overall great vacation in Los Angeles and am looking forward to eventually going back again.
About L.A.
Located in Southern California, Los Angeles has the most amazing weather, especially when I visited in July. During that time, it was, on average, 75 degrees Fahrenheit and sunny, every day. The coldest month there is January, and even then, the weather only drops down to roughly 55 degrees Fahrenheit. However, if you want to avoid larger crowds, you may want to try to go between March and May or between September and November. For specifically going to the beaches, July or August would be recommended.
L.A. is the biggest city in the state, consisting of over 500 square miles. There are a total of 88 smaller cities just within that metropolitan area.
Favorite Tourist Attractions
Runyon Canyon – This is where you may have a chance to spot a celebrity on a hike. Justin Bieber, Channing Tatum, and Natalie Portman have been seen here before.
Griffith Park – Being 5x larger than Central Park in New York City, it contains a planetarium/observatory, golf courses, zoo, train rides, tennis courts, trails, and the Bronson Caves, where the Batman series took place. This park, and Lake Hollywood Park, are likely the greatest places to observe the Hollywood sign.
Universal Studios – Found in the San Fernando Valley region is this 425 acre theme park and film studio. There are tours with attractions there, based on movies, including Jaws and the Fast and Furious franchise. If you are a Harry Potter fan, you need to check out the “Wizarding World of Harry Potter” area within the park. Get tickets here.
Disneyland – Based off of Disney-themed movies, it is nearly impossible to not have fun spending the day at the Disneyland park in Anaheim.
Santa Monica – This coastal city, beach, and pier, home to the end of Route 66, overlooks the Pacific Ocean.
Sunset Boulevard – This iconic strip is 22 miles long. You will probably want to explore the stretch between North Crescent Heights Blvd and Doheny Drive, where the stores and nightlife are. Along the boulevard are tourist stops, like the Roxy Theater, where Bob Marley recorded live albums, and The Comedy Store, where Jerry Seinfeld has performed.
Rodeo Drive – This Beverly Hills road is known for its designer boutiques, Armani, Cartier, and Coco Chanel, to name a few. Britney Spears, P. Diddy, Paris Hilton, and Jack Black are some of many public figures who shop here.
Warner Bros. Studio – Here, you can purchase tickets to take a tour of the studio where the hit TV shows Friends and The Big Bang Theory were shot.
Beaches – Huntington, Venice, Laguna, and Malibu are among the highest-rated beaches on the Southern California coastline.
Hollywood Blvd – Along this lively street, you can find the Walk of Fame, with approximately 2500 Hollywood star’s names on it. Plus, the Kodak Theater is where the Academy Awards are held annually. And let’s not forget about the TCL Chinese Theater, the location at which the Stars Wars franchise premiered back in 1977.
Capital Records – Intended to look like a stack of vinyl records set on a turntable, this building is the studio in which Frank Sinatra and Nat King Cole have recorded songs.
Guided Tour – Ride in a vehicle and take pictures of celebrity homes in Hollywood Hills and Beverly Hills.
Know an avid traveler that you need to purchase a present for this holiday season? I’ve got you covered! Here are 10 excellent gift ideas that you can buy online.
Leonardo DiCaprio, Naomi Campbell, Beyoncé and Jay Z are among some of the A-list celebrities who have traveled to the coastal town of Saint Tropez, located in the French Riviera.
Hawaii
Photo by Erik Cooper
Nina Dobrev, Billie Eilish, Owen Wilson, Selena Gomez, Jason Mamoa have visited one of the gorgeous Hawaiian islands before.
Aspen, CO
Photo – Perfect Zero
The Kardashain/Jenner family, Mariah Carey, and Rebel Wilson have all hit the slopes in the Sawatch Range of the Rocky Mountains.
Bora Bora
Photo by Benoit Mahe
Courtney Cox, Keith Urban, and Halle Berry have taken a trip to this blue-water paradise in French Polynesia.
Dubai
Photo by Michaela Loheit
A few well-known stars who have been to this luxurious city on the Persian Gulf are Zac Efron, Will Smith, and David Guetta.
The Hamptons
Photo by Jens Karlsson
The Hamptons is a place where many celebrities actually own vacation homes, such as Neil Patrick Harris, Anderson Cooper, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Brooke Shields.
Los Cabos, Mexico
Photo by Carolyn Savell
The cast of The Hills, including Lauren Conrad, Audrina Patridge, and Brody Jenner shot an episode of the show in Los Cabos. Oprah Winfrey and Cameron Diaz are among others to have been here as well.
Lake Como, Italy
Another location where multiple celebrities have homes is Lake Como. A couple of them are Madonna, George Clooney, and Johnny Depp.
Western Australia is the largest of the 6 states in the country, covering 1/3 of it. This land mainly consists of a dry, open desert with plateaus and mountain ranges.
Yet, it is also home to vineyards, caves, and beaches along the Indian Ocean. So, if you are wondering if you should travel there in the future, the answer is definitely yes!
Photo taken by Pedro Szekely
Perth (pictured above), a huge metropolitan area on the coast of Western Australia, is worth stopping at. Inside of this area is the international airport, historical sites, museums, a planetarium, retail shopping, arcades, dining, bars, nightclubs, rum distilleries, parks, and much more.
Another option would be the town of Margaret River. Located south of Perth, it is known for the production of wine, as well as, its surfing locations along the coast. Some note-worthy spots would be:
A great location for exploring the Outback would be the region known as the Kimberley. It is at the very top of the country, bordering the northern territory. It has several breathtaking sites all throughout, such as gorges, rock pools, beaches, and waterfalls. However, you will either need to take a guided tour, which can last between 2 days and 2 weeks, or use a 4WD vehicle, due to the uneven terrain.
Attention, avid hikers; this book is for you! It discusses all 62 national parks located in the United States. It will let you know what makes each park unique, along with maps, facts, what to do, and where to go.
It’s always nice to be prepared! This kit featured above contains medical grade equipment such as bandaids, prep pads, bandages, an emergency blanket, scissors, tape, tweezers, a towel, flashlight, etc.
This planner/journal is the best way to keep your road trip organized. The pages have checklists, a travel calendar, a route planner, budgeting sheet, and more!
Here’s another product that those going on long hikes are sure to need. A durable backpack will be very helpful in carrying water, snacks, the first aid kit, and anything else you need to bring.
The purpose of this 5 star item is to jump start your car without the help of another car. It could really come in handy if you break down on the side of the road.
You have the option to keep drinks or your skincare products cool in this mini fridge, or keep anything warm, such as food, just by flipping the switch!
Cup holders are full and have no where to put your accessories? This car air vent organizer would be great for holding your keys, sunglasses, and phone!
While you can get several different travel kits, this one includes a razor, shaving cream, tooth brush, tooth paste, feminine products, deodorant, body wash, shampoo, conditioner, mouth wash, and a few other products too.
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.
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!
A Sweet Paradise 
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