Not Your Average Gal

Copywriter. Content Creator. Constant Sassypants.

Archives for February 2016

Adios, Bitchachos! My First All-Inclusive Experience Begins.

By

I’m leaving on a jet plane for Cancun this weekend. My first time in Mexico. My first time at an all-inclusive.

12013_10106042525252773_9040999789811682870_n

(Not my first rodeo with beergaritas.)

My Type-A planner mind isn’t quite sure what to do. I haven’t felt it necessary to look up the best restaurants or bars because, well, I’ve got that in unlimited quantities at our hotel. Olé! I briefly looked at excursions but we are truly only there for 4 days and 3 nights. I’m okay with every moment not being planned for the sake…the sake of…relaxing?

WTF is happening to me?!

Quick someone give me a To Do list before I lose my mind.

I am adequately prepared with obnoxious beach apparel though that can only be described as…Floridian. Basically, imagine the colors pink, peach, coral, yellow, aqua and lime green all throw up on maxi dresses and flowy tops.

maxidress

Boom, nailed it. Living in Florida for nearly 4 years has paid off! (I really did buy this dress. Cute, right?)

Debating on bringing my laptop to catch up on some blog posts and post pictures. I’m sure the hubster will be thrilled with that idea. <side eye>

I guess that’s really it? I’m not sure what to expect, so I don’t have many expectations, which I suppose is the best way to go on trips. If the food sucks I won’t be very aware because I haven’t been to an all-inclusive before. Plus, I’m sure soggy cheetos will taste good to me after a few frozen piña coladas. What? Stop judging. The resort is right on the beach and each room is a suite with an ocean view, so if I somehow manage to complain about that, you have full permission to slap my ass. You’re required to enjoy it though. It’s a good bum.

Adios, bitchachos!

Have you ever been to an all-inclusive? Where and how did you like it?

Total Costs: Travel to Australia, New Zealand and Hong Kong

By

The biggest costs to any trip are usually airfare and hotels. I’m here to show you how those can be cut significantly, so you can easily take a quick round the world trip like I did recently to Australia, New Zealand and Hong Kong.

I wrote about the miles and points associated with flying and staying in hotels here:

Airfare: How I Flew in Business Class to Australia, New Zealand and Hong Kong for Under $100
Hotels: How I Stayed in Fancy Hotels for 10 Nights for Under $400

Flights:

FLL-ATL-LAX: Delta Economy – $179
LAX – SYD: Virgin Australia Business Class – 80,000 Delta Miles + $37.10 tax
SYD-AKL: Air New Zealand Economy $324
AKL – HKG: Cathay Pacific Business Class – 30,000 American Miles + $20.90
HKG – JFK: Asiana Airlines Business Class – 80,000 United Miles + $41.60
JFK-FLL: Delta First Class $397

Total: $999.60

Hotels:

Park Hyatt Sydney: 3 nights – 2 free-night certificates + 30,000 Ultimate Rewards points
New Zealand AirBnb: 2 nights – $127/each
Intercontinental Hong Kong: 3 nights - 120,000 IHG points (plus $240 for my upgrade)

Total: $367.00

FINAL COST: $1,366.60

Now, obviously there are costs associated with food and fun purchases like snazzy scarves you hastily buy because it was 60 degrees in Hong Kong and you are a full-blooded Floridian now so you were freezing.

hongkongtravelhacking

I digress… But since those costs are very particular to each person, I didn’t include them here.

If I desperately wanted to save more dolla dolla bills, I could have forgone the room upgrade, and perhaps planned a bit better and bought my ticket to New Zealand sooner. We paid a lot for that one-way ticket, but weren’t exactly proactive about finding flights in time.

Also, my flight from JFK-FLL was in paid first class because it was only $40 more than economy and I knew after a 15 hour flight from Hong Kong, I’d appreciate it. All of those costs could have been cut, but since I saved so much money in other areas, I was okay with spending it. That’s what’s so great about travel hacking!

The bulk of costs for any vacation are getting there and staying somewhere, I hope you took something from this to see that taking a major trip is a very real possibility if you plan it well and use miles and points.

Thoughts On The Eve Of My Third Half Marathon

By

As I’ve mentioned before, I haven’t exactly had a stellar training schedule this season. I’ll be running the Fort Lauderdale A1A Half Marathon tomorrow and I’m not as nervous this year going into it because I’ve ensured I won’t PR with my lack of training.

So, with that said, my thoughts this year are pretty vastly different than the last 2.

Thoughts On The Eve Of My Third Half Marathon

  1. Hope my knee holds up. Must pack ibuprofen.
  2. Double check Body Glide. Boobs can’t chafe.
  3. What am I going to eat afterwards? Burger? Fries?
  4. Well isn’t this a splendid way of spending Valentine’s Day with the hubster.
  5. What am I going to eat afterwards? Sushi?
  6. If I’m in pain, I’ll walk. It’s okay to walk.
  7. What am I going to eat afterwards? Pizza?
  8. Probably should put together that running music list at some point…
  9. Wonder if I can sleep in the car before the race.
  10. What am I going to eat afterwards? Girl Scout cookies?

Wish me luck!

fortlauderdalea1amarathon

2016 Travel Plans

By

February: Cancun, Mexico

link Source
Source

Yup, you read that right. I’m finally letting go of the planning reigns and doing an all-inclusive resort for the very first time. We’re using points to fly and stay there. Duh. (Less one night paid in cash, so I can earn some points). A couple of our pals were planning on going to Cancun and asked us if we wanted to go. They were looking at the Hyatt Zilaria, which is an adults-only Resort.

You only have to say, “adults-only,” once for me to say, “MARGARITA!” I mean, I love your kids, I swear. Just not when they are playing Marco Polo for the umpteenth time.

 

March, April or May: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

link Source
Source

The hubster has to take an exam in Philadelphia in order to graduate medical school. Much to his personality, he hasn’t planned when he’s taking it yet. Much to my personality, I want to know dates so I can see if I’m able to tag along. Go ahead, hubster. Take your exam. I’ll be over here high-fiving Ben Franklin and ringing The Liberty Bell.

We’ll see. Schedules have to permit.

Fun fact: I used to live in near Philly as a youngster.

 

June: Southeast Asia

Help us take more smiling pics like this! Railay Beach, Thailand

Remember that trip we had to cancel? (I hope putting in on here doesn’t jinx it.) We’re going to try to do it again this year, but probably revamp the itinerary a bit. Even after I had to cancel, I felt we probably would have been too rushed on that trip and that notion sat with me for a while. Enough to make me rethink what we’d do with 2 weeks this time around.

I’m still debating about which countries to visit…stay tuned. Our flights there and back have been booked, using points of course!

 

July – beyond: No clue

madewithOver (1)

The hubster will officially be a doctor after May. I can’t believe it. I mean, I can, he’s fucking smart. But it’s been one long, tough road. I’ve supported this guy as he busted his ass to go back to school, just so he could get into med school and then, you know, go through the rigors that happen in med school.

So, after this summer, there may not be much traveling going on except maybe to visit each other when he starts his emergency medicine residency. More on that later.

So, those are my travel plans. What do you think? Share yours!