To be honest, out of all the hotels we’re staying at in Greece, I was most looking forward to Santorini. I couldn’t wait to see the blue dome churches and the amazing sunsets. So it makes sense that I had a long list of requirements for my Santorini hotel. Shockingly enough I was able to find a hotel that met everything on my checklist. But it’s one thing to look good on paper, but another to have an amazing experience. Keep reading to see how this hotel measures up to an uptight tourist.
In the summertime, my Instagram feed is filled with the white buildings and blue domes of Santorini, and this year I finally got to go! Luckily, it lived up to its name. Santorini was the highlight of my Honeymoon (yes – MY) and encompassed everything that I pictured Greece to be. The pristine, cliffside, white buildings with blue domes were even better in person and I took so many pictures that I won’t be able to go through all of them… but I tried just for you.
As I was booking my trip to the Greek Isles, Mykonos was on the top of my list. Santorini has the amazing blue dome cathedrals, but Mykonos has the white streets with blue shutters and doors that you see all over Instagram. Also, it’s on the list for the best party cities in Europe. Everything I’ve read says that Mykonos is where you go to party, so don’t expect to spend a lot of time if your room and most blogs said to not worry about your room in Mykonos … well no offense to them but I didn’t take their advise and still wanted to stay in an amazing room with a private pool so I can spend the morning and days relaxing by the water.
Let’s be honest, when you hear the words ‘Santorini’ or ‘Greece’, you think of the blue domes in Oia (pronounced ee-yah). And for good reason, the beautiful contrast of the blue domes and white walls with the stunning views of the sea, are just breathtaking. Not to mention that this is all on the side of a cliff means that almost every view is un-obstructive. Even if you’re not staying in Oia, it’s worth the drive up because seeing these cathedrals, up close in person, is a once in a lifetime experience. It’s hard for me to put this into words, honestly those 4 sentences are all I could do and I know it doesn’t do this view justice. So I’ll let the pictures speak for themselves.
This post is super hard for me to stomach because I can’t even believe that I convinced myself to do this. It goes against everything that I believe, and honestly I’m still not sure if I made the right decision. (Deep breath…) I got the Chase Sapphire Reserve, even thought I’m ineligible to receive that 50,000 bonus.
One thing that I’ve learned from earning and using points is that Chase Ultimate Rewards points are wonderful and go a long way when booking your vacation, but they are not always the best option. Depending on where and when you’re going, sometimes the best option could be transfer Chase points or to even not use points and spend the money.
Honestly, Banff and Lake Louise are two of the most naturally beautiful places that I’ve ever been to, and the pictures speak for themselves. I didn’t expect to find such crystal blue water nestled in the heart of the Canadian Rockies but this place is such a dream! Now, I won’t lie, going to Banff is not super original. We found out about Banff from one of those screen-savers that pop up on your television. As I started Googling, I instantly fell in love and started stalking all the fashion and travel bloggers 😂 It’s the best thing I’ve ever done because this place is amazing!!! I love breathtaking views that just make you want to sit and stare for hours and this place delivers.
When I first started traveling for work, for the first couple weeks I honestly didn’t see the point in earning and utilizing hotel, credit card, and airline points. I was under the impression that these companies allowed you to accumulate points but made it nearly impossible to use said points. While this can sometimes be the case, I’ve managed to pay for 6 vacations and saved over $14,000 in the last 2 years!
The Fairmont Banff Springs is nicknamed the Castle in the Rockies. And rightfully so, the resort goes out of it’s way to bring the medieval castle to the 21st century with modern necessities, and somehow keeps all the grandeur of a castle. This hotel is spectacular and truly a once in a lifetime experience.
If you ever find yourself in the most beautiful mountains in the world, aka the Canadian Rockies, then odds are you’re within walking distance of some amazing views. The trick is just to know where to go. Boyfriend and I love being outdoors and we love to hike, luckily Alberta has some amazing walking trails that don’t require advanced equipment.
