Cheers to road-trips and relaxing times!🥂 

 The hubby, Pugie and I, went to Sarasota Florida a week ago for the second time, and I just needed to share with you guys, a little something of the amazing time we had.  

¡Un brindis a los viajes por carretera y los momentos de relajación! 🥂

 Mi esposo, Pugie y yo, fuimos a Sarasota Florida hace una semana por segunda vez, y tenía que compartir con ustedes, aunque sea un poquito de lo bien que la pasamos.

We stayed at The Sarasota Modern Hotel big thanks to them for being so welcoming especially to our Pugie. The Hotel is simply dreamy, the best option for what we were looking for, some time OFF and some relaxing just us 3.  The room we got was simply STUNNING, we had a kitchen, a cute living, and dining area, a huge balcony with a freaking bath-tub, I KNOW, I loved it. 

Can we take a moment to admire the beauty of this place?

¿Podemos tomarnos un momento para admirar la belleza de este lugar?

You can see more details about the room and our overall Sarasota Experience in my Youtube Video below:

Puedes ver más detalles sobre la habitación y nuestra experiencia en general de Sarasota en mi video de Youtube a continuación:

On this occasion, we had more time to explore the city, the restaurants, and simply walk around the neighborhood. It was very lovely and the weather was just perfect. (You can see details of the food we had on the Youtube video.)

En esta ocasión, tuvimos más tiempo para explorar la ciudad, los restaurantes y simplemente caminar por el vecindario. Todo estaba hermoso y el clima estuvo perfecto. (Pueden ver detalles de la comida que tuvimos en el video de Youtube).

Visiting Siesta Key Beach was a mandatory thing to do, it's honestly one of the most beautiful beaches if not the most beautiful beach I've ever seen so far, it simply amazing. It was a need of mine to spend the afternoon there and watch the sunset with my husband, something I really and highly encourage you to do if you ever get the chance to visit. It's a very wonderful and magical moment. We had some wine, played our chill beach playlist on Spotify, had some snacks, almost wrestled with some seagulls (you can see that in the video haha), and had the most amazing time together, the sweetest scape from work, politics and whatever was happening outside our bubble back then.

Visitar Siesta Key Beach era algo obligatorio, honestamente, es una de las playas más hermosas, si no la más hermosa que he visto hasta ahora, es simplemente increíble. Era una necesidad mía pasar la tarde allí y ver la puesta de sol con mi esposo, algo que realmente te animo a hacer si alguna vez tienes la oportunidad de visitar. Es un momento maravilloso y mágico. Tomamos un poco de vino, pusimos nuestra nuestro ''chill'' playlist en Spotify, comimos algunos snacks, casi luchamos con algunas gaviotas (se puede ver en el video jaja), y la pasamos de maravilla juntos, ''the sweetest scape'' del trabajo, la política y lo que sea que estaba sucediendo fuera de nuestra burbuja en ese entonces.

Hey everyone!

Back in October, I had the opportunity to go to Punta Cana with my family, we are Dominicans so it was not a major ''trip'' that required a big budget or preparation by any means. I know traveling, in general, can be quite ''controversial'' since not everyone still feels fully comfortable going to dinner outside or even buying groceries so I won't even mention airports, airplanes, hotels, and such. 

¡Hola a todos!

En octubre, tuve la oportunidad de ir a Punta Cana con mi familia, somos dominicanos por lo que no fue un gran “viaje” que requiriera un gran presupuesto o preparación de ninguna manera. Sé que viajar, en general, puede ser bastante "controversial", ya que no todo el mundo todavía se siente completamente cómodo yendo a cenar o incluso ir al super, así que ni mencionar aeropuertos, aviones, hoteles, etc.

 I already have been in all of the above and even though it's a little stressful to be mindful of everything and being extra careful with what you do with your hands, your mask, and how distant you have to be from other people, I honestly feel like as long as you take care of yourself and are responsible about the required measures you have to take in order to be safe in public you should go ahead and live your life, we are probably very tired about the ''New Normal'' but Oh, well, it's true. 

Ya he experimentado todo lo anterior y aunque es un poco estresante estar atento a todo y ser muy cuidadoso con lo que haces con tus manos, tu máscarilla y lo distante que tienes que estar de otras personas, honestamente siento que siempre y cuando te cuides y seas responsable de las medidas necesarias que debes tomar para estar seguro en público, debes seguir adelante y vivir tu vida, probablemente estamos muy cansados ​​de la '' Nueva Normalidad '',  pero, es la realidad.

We went to Punta Cana with one purpose only, to RELAX, to enjoy each others company, spending quality time together, and to try as much as possible not to think about COVID and all the things that COVID has made hard-impossible as heck this year, like spending time with your family, for example. 

Fuimos a Punta Cana con un solo propósito, RELAJARNOS disfrutar de nuestra compañía, pasar tiempo de calidad juntos y tratar tanto como sea posible de no pensar en el COVID y todas las cosas que COVID ha hecho difícil-imposible este año, como por ejemplo pasar tiempo con la familia.

We stayed in a very big resort I believe it had around 1,000 rooms and to our surprise it was empty, it was the saddest thing, to see a place that's usually full of people having fun, dancing, playing around in the pool and sunbathing with 15 scattered people in one of their pools,  out of their 7 restaurants they were only opening one for breakfast, one for lunch and one for dinner.  

Nos alojamos en un complejo muy grande, creo que tenía alrededor de 1,000 habitaciones y para nuestra sorpresa estaba vacío, fue lo más triste, ver un lugar que generalmente está lleno de gente divirtiéndose, bailando, jugando en la piscina y tomando el sol con 15 personas dispersas en una de sus piscinas. De sus 7 restaurantes solo estaban abriendo uno para el desayuno, uno para el almuerzo y uno para la cena.

We definitely didn't expect to see a full house, but it was truly sad and shocking to see a massive place in that condition.  Putting that aside, we had an amazing time, as days passed we started to see more people and that really comforted us.  We then knew the Hotel had just recently re-opened which was the reason for the very few people in their installations.

Definitivamente no esperábamos ver una casa llena, pero fue realmente triste e impactante ver un lugar enorme en esas condiciones. Dejando eso a un lado, lo pasamos increíble, a medida que pasaban los días comenzamos a ver más personas y eso realmente nos consoló.  Luego supimos que el hotel acababa de reabrir sus puertas, razón por la cual había muy poca gente en sus instalaciones.

  If you have the chance to travel during this time, do it,  do it responsibly, do your research about the location, the area, the measures that particular place is taking in order to keep everything ''safe''. The pros of traveling during COVID (I know it sounds ridiculous to find a positive but, it's definitely real) airplane tickets are waaaaay cheaper, the fees to cancel and change your flight are being waved, hotels like the one we stayed are in amazing prices plus you are also contributing to keeping alive someone else's business and jobs, and I'm not referring to hotel owners here, I'm talking about, the cleaning crew, the chefs, the entertainment people, the waiters, the guy that sells you excursions on the beach, the people that actually make possible you have a good time, the people serving you and making sure your needs are met.  Was this a heavy topic? I hope not haha, these times are something else without a doubt, below I share with you some pictures I took during our stay in Punta Cana.

 I highly recommend visiting the Dominican Republic it'ss the most beautiful place and I'm sure that with or without COVID you'll have a blast. 

Si tienes la oportunidad de viajar durante este tiempo, házlo, házlo responsablemente, investiga la ubicación, el área, las medidas que ese lugar en particular está tomando para mantener todo "seguro". Las ventajas de viajar durante COVID (sé que suena ridículo encontrar algo positivo, pero definitivamente es real) los boletos de avión son mucho más baratos, las tarifas para cancelar y cambiar vuelos no las están cobrando, los hoteles como el que nos hospedamos tienen precios increíbles además, también estás contribuyendo a mantener vivos los negocios y trabajos de otras personas, y no me refiero a los propietarios de hoteles unicamente, me refiero al equipo de limpieza, los chefs, las personas del entretenimiento, los camareros, el señor que te vende excursiones en la playa, las personas que realmente te hacen pasar un buen rato, las personas que te atienden y se aseguran de que tus necesidades sean satisfechas. ¿Fue este un tema pesado? Espero que no jaja, estos tiempos son otra cosa sin duda, a continuación les comparto algunas fotos que tomé durante nuestra estadía en Punta Cana. 

Recomiendo encarecidamente visitar República Dominicana, es el lugar más hermoso y estoy segura que con o sin COVID lo pasarás increíble.

Have you traveled or plan to do so? Where to? I'd love to know!

¿Has viajado o planeas hacerlo? ¿A donde? ¡Me encantaría saber!

The great outdoors. For some, those words will fill them with horror. The thought of being out there without the comforts of modern life will fill them with a sense of discomfort similar to sleeping on a bed of nails. For others, the great outdoors stands for a grand adventure. Something out of the ordinary that defies the uniformity of consumerism and breaks us free from the shackles of the mundane. And you know in which category you fall. Just close your eyes and think of your ideal holiday. If that’s urban shopping and sunny beaches sipping a cocktail, then the great outdoors is not for you. If you think of wild water running, tall trees looming and dirt between your hands and clothes, then you are that adventurer ready for something less ordinary.

The Classic Adventurer

The classic way to enjoy the great outdoors is simply with a backpack, tent, and a pair of functional hiking boots. This is probably the most common image people have of this type of vacation. Also possibly followed by the idea of foraging or fishing for your own meals. And although being able to enjoy the outdoors in such a way will spark the imagination the most, it’s actually meant for the more experienced traveler to partake in. 

Camping To Start With

What you want to do, especially if you are new to this is to start with more organized and structured ways to enjoy the great outdoors: camping sites. Camping sites usually offer a mix between having to rough it out yourself and some basic level of creature comforts. Think of normal toilets and showering facilities, a basic shop for food items and a fairly neat and ready-to-use patch of ground to set your tent up in. For most people, this is the perfect way to get into it and, more importantly, figure out if it’s for them at all.

Hiking Holidays

The next step up is to go on organized hiking trips abroad. You can see stunning places, feel like a true adventurer, all in the company of like-minded people and a skillful guide. You could go see the Scottish Highlands, the Inca Trail in Peru, the Appalachian Trail, Kungsleden in Sweden, or the Bay of Fires in Tasmania. These are genuinely adventures that will provide you a lifetime of memories.

A Lifelong Adventurer

Once you get hooked by the hiking/great outdoors bug, it might never let you go. You might decide that the standard ‘go see London/New York/Berlin/Paris/Barcelona’ holiday won’t cut it for you anymore. At this point, you might want to consider making a life-long investment in some serious adventuring hardware. This could be that super-deluxe tent your wanted but was unsure if you were going to get the use out. Or that solar charging unit that seemed a bit steep but would have been so welcome on your last trip. Or level up, get one of those Austrack Campers that will not only outlast you, but they might also even become heirloom pieces to pass on to the kids! Because in the end, a sense of adventure is personal, but it’s even better when it’s shared.

There is nothing quite like a road trip. It doesn't even have to be a long one - weekends are the perfect length for exploration. You can find adventures, relaxation time and fun all on the same trip. You can discover new things about yourself as well as the new areas you're visiting. Road trips can be daunting and hard to plan at times, but with the right help, hacks, and travel tips, you can make your weekend road trip the best time you've ever had. Let's take a look at some of the hacks that you need to make your dream road trip an easy one to have.

Go For Hire

 A lot of people clear out their cars ready for the trip of a lifetime, but what if your car is on its last legs and just about makes it to the corner store? What you need is a reliable van hire to make your trip go off without a hitch. If you hire a trailer, you get a vehicle which has already gone through the various checks necessary to ensure that it's safe for the road. You also get the perfect car for the things you want to bring with you: plenty of space for your stuff as well as your friends!

Plan Loosely

You can military plan a route, but you can't plan where you're going to be when there are road delays. The best thing that you can do is have a loose idea of which route you want to take and be aware of other routes. You can't predict extreme weather shutting the roads for you, so you may as well plan loosely enough to know where to go. How to get there is part of the fun of the trip.

Preload Your Playlist

 It's so important that you are entertained when you are driving for hours, and you can't always guarantee that you are going to pick up a radio signal. So, you need to think about getting your phone ready and filled with as many playlists as possible. You can always have back up phone chargers in the car to cover you in case you run out of battery before you get to your destination.



Share The Work

. It's highly unlikely you're road tripping alone, so if you're not, take advantage of your mates and get one person reading the maps while you drive. Have someone else on cooking duties with a camper stove and a bag of groceries. It's all about sharing.
Roadside Rescue. If you don't belong to one already, get on the list of a roadside rescue service. They will be able to give you a helping hand if you get stuck in the middle of nowhere. You need to know the local services can come and rescue you when you need them.

Road trips are supposed to be fun, and they can be if you would just allow them to be. Take your time and plan it right for the best weekend ever.

You already know that traveling is a very big part of my life,  so I've had to step up my game when it comes to packing and of course my luggage.  

Ya saben que viajar es una parte muy importante de mi vida, por lo que he tenido que mejorar mi juego cuando se trata de empacar y, por supuesto, mi equipaje.

I recently got this beautiful set from American Tourister I absolutely love the color, so clean and girly, they have a very sleek hardside exterior which I really like as well.  I got the  Stratum XLT 28" Spinner, the Stratum XLT 24" Spinner and the Stratum XLT 20" Spinner all in the ''Petal Pink'' color.

Recientemente obtuve este hermoso set de American Tourister. Me encanta el color, tan limpio y femenino, tienen un exterior rígido muy elegante que también encuentro súper favorable. Obtuve el Stratum XLT 28" Spinner, el Stratum XLT 24" Spinner y el Stratum XLT 20" Spinner, todo en el color '' Petal Pink ''. 

 I like how they move, and how spacious they are, I could store a whole bunch more of stuff thanks to that and of course to a new method of folding and packing my clothes. 

Me gusta cómo se mueven, y cuán espaciosas son, pode almacenar un montón de cosas más gracias a eso y, por supuesto, a un nuevo método de doblar y empacar mi ropa.

I used to pack my clothes in rolls but honestly I find that folding them ''Marie Kondo'' style is waaaaaay more efficient, I definitely recommend giving it a try.

Solía ​​empacar mi ropa en rollos, pero honestamente encuentro que doblarlos al estilo '' Marie Kondo'' es muuuucho más eficiente, definitivamente recomiendo probarlo.

Another very useful tip is to get your hands on this type of bags, best way I've found so far to keep my hair products, perfumes and skincare all in one place, safe and secure, no leaking and no mess.

Otro tip súper útil es tener en sus manos este tipo de bolsos, la mejor manera que he encontrado hasta ahora para mantener mis productos para el cabello, perfumes y cuidado de la piel en un solo lugar, a salvo, sin fugas ni desorden.

If your luggage has this type of compartments give them some use. This one in my suitcase it's perfect to keep small things like chargers, pill cases, brushes and all the little things you don't know where to put and don't want to have all over the place. 

Si tu equipaje tiene este tipo de compartimentos, dales algo de uso. Este en mi maleta es perfecto para guardar cosas pequeñas como cargadores, estuches de pastillas, cepillos y todas esas cositas que no sabes dónde poner y no quieres tenerlos por todos lados.

I've been so happy with these, and I feel they make my traveling experience way easier. What are your packing/travel tips?

He estado muy contenta y conforme tanto con las maletas como aplicando estos tips que les comparto hoy, siento que hacen que mi experiencia de viaje sea mucho más fácil. ¿Cuáles son sus consejos a la hora de empacar / viaje?

I finally get to share our most recent trip as a couple/family. Last week we had the chance to stay in Loews Sapphire Falls Resort and enjoy all the parks at Universal Orlando (Universal Studios, Islands of Adventure and Volcano Bay). This trip was beyond special for us because it was very needed and we were able to take Pugie with us.

Finalmente les puedo compartir nuestro viaje más reciente como pareja/familia. La semana pasada tuvimos la oportunidad de quedarnos en Loews Sapphire Falls Resort y disfrutar de todos los parques en Universal Orlando (Universal Studios, Islands of Adventure y Volcano Bay). Este viaje fue muy especial para nosotros porque era muy necesario y pudimos también llevar a Pugie con nosotros.

The hotel was so welcoming to her I was in awe, they had a bed prepared for her, a set of bowls and even treats for her to enjoy, she felt at home without a doubt. Our room was in the first floor close to their beautiful lagoons where the pet walking area was, SO CONVENIENT. 

El hotel le dio la mejor bienvenida a nuestra gordita, me sorprendí bastante! Tenían una cama preparada para ella, un juego de platitos para comer y hasta treats, sé que ella se sentía como en casa. Nuestra habitación estaba en el primer piso cerca de sus hermosas lagunas donde estaba el área para pasear los perritos, SUMAMENTE CONVENIENTE.

For us finding an option that cares about our pets means the world, specially in places like Universal Orlando Hotels you get the chance to go and enjoy the parks with your family and friends while your furry babies are comfy and secure back in the hotel, just because of this alone our experience in the Hotel was A++.

Para nosotros encontrar una opción que se preocupe por nuestras mascotas significa el mundo, especialmente en lugares como Universal Orlando Hotels, porque tienes la oportunidad de ir y disfrutar de los parques con tu familia y amigos, mientras que tus bebés peludos están cómodos y seguros en el hotel, solo por esto nuestra experiencia en el hotel fue A ++.
 

The hotel was beautiful to say the least, I was amazed with the tropical vibes, I felt in the Caribbean for a moment.  Their pool has a water slide, interactive kids’ play area, hot tub, fire pit and cabana rentals, isn't that amazing?

El hotel era hermoso, me quedé impresionada con los vibes tropicales que tiene, me sentí en el Caribe por un momento. Su piscina tiene un tobogán de agua, área de juegos interactivos para niños, jacuzzi, fogatas y alquiler de cabañas, ¿no es increíble?

They have 5 different dinning options for you to choose from and a 24hr Room service available. The one we loved the most was ''Amatista Cookhouse'' I personally loved the decor, the vibes and the beautiful view and the food of course was AMAZING.

Tienen  5 opciones totalmente distintas para que elijas comer y room service disponible las 24 horas. El que más nos gustó fue ''Amatista Cookhouse''. Personalmente, me encantó la decoración, el ambiente, la hermosa vista, y la comida, por supuesto, fue INCREÍBLE.

The  Hotel also has a pretty fun game room called ''Calypso'' if you want to chill and kill time before going to the parks this is a very cool option, they have a variety of video games you can play with your partner or just take pictures like me here (haha).

Some of the Loews Sapphire Falls Resort exclusive Hotel guest benefits are:

• Early Park Admission to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter and Universal’s Volcano Bay. 
• Resort-wide charging privileges with your room key, this is so convenient, we never had our credit cards or cash on us. 
• Complimentary merchandise delivery to your hotel from Universal shops.
• Priority seating at select Universal Orlando restaurants.

And one of my favorites was free shuttles it’s always a quick hop between your room and the parks. I loved to take our water taxis everyday, it's fun, beautiful and so quick to get to the parks that way. 

We stayed 3 days and 2 nights. The 1st day we went to Universal Studios and had a real blast. One thing I love about Universal in particular is all the amazing scenarios you can find to take beautiful and fun pictures. 

Nos hospedamos 3 días y 2 noches. El primer día fuimos a Universal Studios y lo pasamos de maravilla. Una cosa que me encanta de Universal en particular son todos los escenarios chulísimos que puedes encontrar para tomar fotos súper lindas y divertidas.

Day 2 was all about exploring Islands of Adventure, even though the weather that day was not the best, we had such a great time, there are a lot of rides you can take even if it rains. 

El día 2 fue acerca explorar Islands of Adventure, aunque el clima ese día no fue el mejor, lo pasamos muy bien, hay muchas atracciones que puedes tomar incluso si llueve.

Thankfully we only had a tiny bit of rain so we were able to not only enjoy Islands of Adventure but Universal Studios once again. I HIGHLY recommend getting Express Unlimited Passes, because of this we were able to ride everything we wanted with pretty much a non existent line. We saved SO MUCH TIME, that's why we had the chance to go to both parks at the same day. 

Afortunadamente solo tuvimos un poquito de lluvia, así que pudimos no solo disfrutar de Islands of Adventure sino de Universal Studios una vez más. Recomiendo BASTANTE obtener los Express Unlimited Passes, debido a esto nos pudimos montar  en todo lo que queríamos con una fila prácticamente inexistente. Ahorramos MUCHISIMO TIEMPO, por eso tuvimos la oportunidad de ir a ambos parques el mismo día.

Day 3 was Volcano Bay's turn and honestly guys, I wish I had more content to show you from this one because it was AMAZING, my favorite type of park without a doubt. 

El día 3 fue el turno de Volcano Bay y, sinceramente señores desearía tener más contenido para mostrarles de esto porque fue INCREÍBLE, mi favorito, el tipo parque que me encanta sin lugar a dudas.

It's perfect for the heat because you're walking around in your swimsuit all the time, playing with water all day. We kept our phones in their lockers for our stay in the park, that way we only had HAVING FUN on our minds and only paid attention to which attraction we should take next. 

Es perfecto para el calor porque andas con tu traje de baño todo el tiempo, jugando con agua todo el día. Mantuvimos nuestros teléfonos en sus lockers/casilleros durante nuestra visita en el parque, de esa manera solo teníamos el DIVERTIRNOS en nuestras mentes y solo prestamos atención a cuál atracción debíamos tomar después.

When you get in the park they give you a ''Tapu-Tapu'' which is like a waterproof watch that you use to hold your place in the park's virtual line. You can open your locker with it, activate interactive surprises around the park and make cash-free payments, sooooo bomb!

Cuando entras en el parque, te dan un "Tapu-Tapu" que es como un reloj impermeable que usas para mantener tu lugar en la línea virtual del parque. Puedes abrir tu casillero con él, activar sorpresas interactivas alrededor del parque y hacer pagos sin efectivo, ¡suuuuper útil!

If you're going to Volcano Bay please keep in mind that you won't be needing sneakers, take the most comfy slides or sandals you have, you'll probably keep them in a locker anyway, yes you'll be barefoot the entire time.  Get your sunscreen because believe me you'll get a very toasty tan if you don't, you'll GET WET, this is a waterpark all the rides are with water so make sure you're ready for it, you'll have so much fun!

Si van a ir a Volcano Bay, tengan en cuenta que no necesitarán tenis, tomen tus slides o sandalias más cómodas, probablemente las guardarán en un casillero de todos modos, sí, estarán descalzos todo el tiempo. Consigan protector solar porque, créanme, van a tener un bronceado muy tostado si no lo hacen, SE VAN A MOJAR, este es un parque acuático, todos los juegos son con agua, así que asegúrense de estar listos para eso. Se van a divertir un mundo!

 Make sure to wear very comfortable/fresh clothes, if they are easy to take off the better (they will also be saved in the locker). Try to wear a swimsuit that won't let anything get loose in the water attractions, you don't want to be giving-away anything, trust me I wore a one piece and I almost had an accident, just be safe and wear something nice that would keep everything in it's desired place.

Asegúrense de usar ropa muy cómoda / fresca, si son fáciles de quitar mejor (también se guardarán en el casillero). Traten de usar un traje de baño que no permita que nada se suelte en las atracciones, creánme, yo usé una pieza y casi tuve un accidente, usen algo seguro y bonito que les mantenga todo en su lugar.

Big thanks to Loews Sapphire Falls Resort and Universal Orlando for having us and treating us like family. We had an amazing time and we'll cherish the memories we made. We'll be going back for sure!

Muchas gracias a Loews Sapphire Falls Resort y Universal Orlando por recibirnos y tratarnos como si fuéramos de la familia. Tuvimos un tiempo increíble y valoramos enormemente los recuerdos que hicimos. ¡Volveremos muy pronto!