Florida

This Dreamy Islamorada Resort is About to Come Back Better than Ever

January 4, 2018 10 Comments

Update on 1/26: Cheeca has just announced on social media that the official reopen date will be March 30th of this year, woo-hoo! Head here for the list of updated new features and a sneak peak of gorgeous photos…

Stay at Cheeca and you will never want to leave…

Cheeca Lodge & Spa is one of the most enchanting places I have ever been fortunate enough to visit. Sadly, last September, Hurricane Irma destroyed a large part of this incredible property. I am not surprised that Cheeca has announced that they will come back better than ever. My question is, how does paradise improve?

Since my husband and I had never been to the Keys, we did quite a bit of exploring during our stay at Cheeca. However, I still regret not getting to spend more time at the amazing resort! We could have spent the entire trip at Cheeca and been completely satisfied.

Catch your meal and have it prepared…in the most luxurious way possible

I am no fisherwoman but can certainly appreciate a genius amenity when I discover one. Cheeca makes magic happen for fishing enthusiasts by offering such a possibility.

If you like to fish (and can catch one), you can have your catch prepared for dinner in your style of choice at the onsite Atlantic’s Edge restaurant. You don’t have to travel very far to catch a fish, either. Just take a stroll down the stunning dock or hop on a boat right from the waterfront resort. What a perfect place for fishing fanatics!

Additional Dreamy Dinner Options…

Private dining right on the beach is available to reserve, but if that is not in the budget, have no fear. You can still head to Atlantic’s Edge for a front row seat to the calming ocean water.

You can also dine at the open-air Tiki Bar, Nikai Sushi Bar or Limoncello, a Tuscan inspired Italian restaurant.

Relax in the luxurious spa…

For those of us who do not fish, another option is available. Cheeca has an onsite spa that looks to be what dreams are made of. I will add this to my list of things to do next time since I missed out on this before.

I did catch a great view of the spa area since there is a nice pool for adults only available to all resort guests. This was another perfect spot to enjoy the vacation!

Based on the menu, you can even get a massage in your room or oceanside.

The Ginormous Rooms will definitely not cramp your style

Talk about a home away from home! I traveled with my hubby but our room could have easily hosted four, without feeling cramped at all.

Icing on the cake…

The view at Cheeca is droolworthy, as the surrounding scenery is endless turquoise water. The most jaw-dropping part of the actual resort however, is the first thing that sold me on booking a room…an on-balcony soaking tub overlooking the stunning Gulf of Mexico. Wow, just WOW! I am not sure I have ever been more relaxed in my entire life.

Having a glass of champagne while relaxing in the tub with a phenomenal view is my kind of vacation! When we weren’t exploring the different Keys, we spent time in the room soaking in the tub, the view and ordering room service. I would have been happy to stay in the room the entire time.

I cannot wait to see what Cheeca has in store for the future!

Having major wandurlust for Florida? Don’t miss this post…

I Secured Dinner Reservations at Be Our Guest Several Times & You Can Too

November 14, 2017 Leave a Comment

Be Our Guest Restaurant is a Must for Disney Fanatics

Headed to Disney soon? Whether you are days away or months out, you still have a chance of getting Be Our Guest dinner reservations.

This Beauty & The Beast themed dining option is infamous for being one of the hardest dining options to secure. Breakfast and lunch are fairly easy to reserve, but dinner is next to impossible if you don’t know the secret tips.

What is so magical about Be Our Guest restaurant?

Disney fans will love the Beauty and the Beast themed rooms presented in a way that only Disney can deliver. As soon as you venture into the castle ahem, restaurant, you will feel as though you have walked onto the movie.

Taste “the grey stuff” from the “Be Our Guest” scene in Beauty and the Best. Also, dinner is the only time Beast makes a character appearance. And, some menu items are only available during dinner.

How to Get Reservations at Be Our Guest

I have been fortunate enough to get reservations a few times now. Each time I used a different approach. Below are the ways that have worked for me.

How to Book Reservations Months Before Your Trip

1) If you have a few months to plan your trip, you are in luck! You can book dining reservations up to six months in advance. If possible, get up very early on exactly six months before you leave and snag reservations. Don’t have time for that? Don’t worry. The next tip will take care of that for you.

This little known secret gives you a very good chance at snagging Be Our Guest Reservations and is the inspiration behind the post…

2) MouseDining.com: This rarely heard of site is the best chance of getting hard to reserve dining at Disney World. Sign up for FREE to get alerts when dining reservations become available. I tested this and it won us reservations at Be Our Guest! Now – you may not be the fastest the first few times but don’t give up! It took three times before I successfully placed reservations.

Tips:

Bookmark the restaurant pages on your personal computer and phone browser. When my husband and I got the exact same alert, I was able to get the reservation faster on my computer than he was on the phone.
Create alerts for several different time slots. For the free version, you can only get alerts for so many time slots and you will get an alert within a one hour window.

How to Book Reservations Days Before Your Trip

3) The week before and the week of a trip surprisingly tend to show a lot more openings than months out. Check Disney daily for major changes in availability. You can even test this by checking for available reservations this week compared to availability six months away.

How to Book Same Day Reservations During Your Trip

4) Call Disney. You may be surprised that this can actually work. They can see if an opening is available and if you are flexible on a time, you might get lucky. This has worked for me but I have only tried it once. If you are celebrating something special, be sure and let them know. This may help your chances! This can work well because many people simply will not pick up the phone to try this.

If you are able to get reservations, be sure and leave a fantastic review after your phone call. I was in line to ride “Under the Sea – Journey of The Little Mermaid” when I called. I made sure to stay on the call for the follow up survey during the ride. It was not the most convenient time to complete a survey but it didn’t take long at all! Hopefully the cast member is encouraged to go the extra mile for future guests.

5) Wait in line and ask. You can always ask the hostess if there are any last minute cancellations. I have not personally tried this but I have heard success stories from other travelers.

Breakfast and lunch are pretty incredible too…

If you don’t get dinner reservations this time, breakfast and lunch are less expensive and you can sit anywhere in the castle. At dinner, seats are chosen by the hostess (although you are still free to walk around to each room for pictures). Plus, you can use a Quick Service dining credit during breakfast and lunch…how awesome is that?!

Have any of these methods worked for you?

Save on Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party Tickets & More…

Can’t make it to Bora Bora this Year? These FIVE Places in Florida will take you on a trip to Tropical Paradise…

August 2, 2017 Leave a Comment

Florida is filled with stunning beaches – no passport required!

If you live in the southeast, you have probably hopped in the car and driven to Florida a time or two. If you are looking for Florida travel options that resemble certain aspects of a tropical island such as the clear blue water with beach service or an adventurous escape only accessible by boat, check out these ideas…

1.) Destin: Gorgeous Water & Sand as soft as Baby Powder…

Destin, Florida is on the Emerald Coast and has the prettiest water I’ve seen in Florida. The sand is soft and nearly as white and powdery as snow. In fact, you may even see a snowman built on the beach instead of a typical sandcastle! Plus, you will meet lots very cool birds that really don’t care if you are standing next to them.

To avoid crowds and get more of the tropical island feel to your vacation, I highly recommend staying somewhere with private beach access. This will make a HUGE difference in your experience. If you visit a public beach while you are there, you will immediately know what I am talking about.

I stayed at Silver Shells Beach Resort & Spa and had an excellent experience overall. There was plenty of privacy on the beach plus a walk up bar, and beach service was included. You are also within walking distance to The Back Porch Seafood & Oyster House – a bathing suit friendly, open air restaurant that is pretty delicious and has fantastic drinks.

One of my favorite things about Destin is you can choose to be touristy or not. Options are endless for all personalities and ages.

2.) Pensacola: Ahhhh…a place that makes you feel like you have just about the whole beach to yourself!

Similar to Destin and just over an hour away, Pensacola is another Florida beach paradise with beautiful water and sand on the Emerald Coast. I went during the fall and it was hot enough to get in the water and crowds were essentially nonexistent.

Even if you are not a Jimmy Buffet fan, Margaritaville is a fantastic place to stay. The rooms are ginormous, the pool is super relaxing and there is a nice variety of food options. Most noteworthy perhaps, is their exceptional customer service. I hope to go back ASAP!

3.) The Florida Keys: Go here for all the Wanderlusty feels…

Driving through the Florida Keys is such an extraordinary experience. Once you are on the scenic Overseas Highwway, you are surrounded by beautiful turquoise water and you just may spot rare birds and other unexpected wildlife, random islands and gorgeous views for miles (113, to be exact).

Each Key has it’s own personality and you really don’t need signs to know when you are driving through a new one. For instance, Key Largo is filled with pastel colors, fun shops and scuba diving businesses. You will certainly know when you arrive in Big Pine Key because you will begin to notice deer popping up. When you get to Key West, you will again feel in a totally new and fun place filled with interesting characters and endless sights (plus Key Lime everything you can think of).

*Photo Source: Little Palm Island Facebook Page*

If money is no object, treat yourself to a truly Bora Bora type experience and stay in one of these oceanfront bungalows at Little Palm Island Resort (it will only cost you a little over 1k per night!). Sadly, I am still saving up for these dreamy accommodations!

If not, you can also have a dreamy experience at Cheeca Lodge & Spa for less than a third of the cost for these oceanfront, soaking tub from the balcony quarters. The resort fee includes access to kayaks, paddle boards, bicycles, golf, tennis, fishing and more! If you do like to fish (and can catch one), you can have your catch prepared for dinner in your style of choice at the on property Atlantic’s Edge restaurant.

Florida travel — *Photo Source: VRBO listing, “Knee Deep”*

On my Bucket List…

4.) Little Gasparilla Island: The ultimate Island experience as you literally have to travel by boat to get here (awesome!)

With no commercial establishments on the whole island, you are sure to feel like you have gone a seriously long way from home. Think bird watches, nature walks, collecting unique shells, fishing and kayaking. This island is only accessible by boat and golf cart rentals are recommended to travel around the island. Little Gasparilla Island is one of the few dog friendly beaches in Florida, which makes it even better if you ask me! I spotted waterfront condos on VRBO for as little as $40 per night or private waterfront homes for $121 and up.

5.) Captiva & Sanibel Islands: The perfect spot for shell collectors!

This island has no traffic lights and over 200 types of birds and shells! Not to mention, several unique shops and restaurants that you will not find anywhere else. This place seems to have the best of both worlds for indoor and outdoor fun!

I mean…how cute are these little beach cottages at Captiva Island Inn Bed & Breakfast? You can also stay in a single room or opt for a larger vacation home. The cottages and suites are directly between the beach and the bay. Even better, you will get your choice of two award-winning onsite restaurants for free breakfast.

Choose from R.C. Otter’s or Keylime Bistro…yum! At night, they offer live music from local bands too. Southern Living mentions both dining options among the favorite eating spots on the whole island!