You may have already noticed on Instagram and Facebook, but we're in Germany! We couldn't be more excited to spend a couple months with my sister, brother-in-law, and our two adorable little nieces (stationed here with the U.S. military). As the weather has started to cool, we've been enjoying the great outdoors as much as possible! I'm still bogged down with work, so that hinders me from permanently living outside (I have an insane amount of content to share with you from New Zealand, Bali, Italy, and Croatia). We decided to take a trip to Ruedesheim (Rhine River — wine country) yesterday after the weather once again pulled out for the win. As we arrived at one of the many parking areas in Ruedesheim, I couldn't have been more ... Read More
Archives for August 2015
Living Expenses in New Zealand
I'm writing this post because a year and a half ago when we were planning our move from Korea, I wish I had a reference point on living expenses in New Zealand . It was incredibly frustrating to be told "It's super expensive" yet have nothing to base it off of. Living in South Korea was also pretty expensive, and I just wanted to know in comparison how much we were going to have to budget each month and overall to make our time in New Zealand not the worst thing ever on our bank accounts. For all you fellow "I-want-to-travel-and-live-in-New-Zealanderers" hopefully you can use this as a general guide to help you get an idea of what things are going to cost while living, or even just visiting New Zealand. PLEASE NOTE: our living ... Read More
A Romantic Stay at The Gangsa Private Villas
Relaxation, away from the hustle and bustle of life, is sometimes the best gift you can give yourself. Add a little romance and significant other to that equation and you have the perfect couples' getaway. There's nothing more refreshing than a few days relaxing in a private villa…just you, your loved one, the sun and a fruity drink or two. The Gangsa Private Villas Review The Gangsa is one of three private villa resorts owned by Kayumanis, a team of professionals committed to offering some of the most sought after villa retreats in Bali — which I can attest to being true the second we stepped into The Gangsa's grounds. Although the area of Sanur doesn't exactly scream luxury, Kayumanis has done a fantastic job creating an oasis out ... Read More
The Best Time of Day to Post on Instagram
Instagram. One of the coolest yet most frustrating social media networks ever. It can be such a finicky child to figure out, but once you get it, you can actually do quite well when it comes to exposure, followers, and engagement. One of the things I've noticed since moving to Europe is that my typical Instagram posting times (10am and 8pm) has not done me any favors over here. Unfortunately when I post at 10am in the morning it's 4am back in New York — meaning all my US followers are dead asleep and probably won't even see my post at all as it'll be far buried by the time they wake up. Alternatively, if I post at 8pm, it's 2pm back in the U.S. and most people are right smack dab in the middle of their work day — also no bueno for ... Read More
5 ways to encourage travel bloggers
Being a travel writer/blogger can be seem like one of the best jobs ever. I mean, what's not to like? We get to travel [sometimes] for free, stay at amazing places, take sweet pictures, and then share it all with everyone else. Although it seems like we're on a never-ending vacation, there is actually quite a bit of hard work behind being a travel blogger. What you don't see are the hours and hours spent behind the computer while visiting that "ultimate vacation spot" due to deadlines and obligations. Or the hours spent pitching stories and jobs, plotting future travels, taking pictures to share, and researching the latest in blogging/social media/computer-everything to stay up to date with the latest trends. I absolutely hated the fact ... Read More
A Luxurious Getaway at Samabe
Derik and I absolutely adore Bali. We visited way back in August of 2012 (where has the time gone?!?), and knew from the second we boarded the plane back home that we were going to return. Luckily for us, after we decided to leave New Zealand, a few marketing opportunities came up in Bali, and it became the perfect 30-day stopover before heading up to Europe. After initially landing in Bali, we needed a place to relax and unwind from the stress of moving, and Samabe , a Bali all inclusive resort turned out to be exactly what the doctor ordered. Samabe Bali Suites and Villas Review I remember initially looking at Samabe's website and thinking, "Are you kidding me? This place is absolute paradise!" It's new, it's clean, it's private…and ... Read More