Snapshot of the Week: Sunrise in the Florida Keys

As the winter doldrums set in, with this photo we're reminded of breezier days soon to come. This photo was taken on the Marathon Island in the Florida Keys by my sunrise-loving mother, who is off jetsetting with my equally cool dad while I'm holding down the fort back home.

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2012: A Look Ahead

A new year = a fresh start. At least, that’s my mantra du jour as we say farewell to 2011 and ring in 2012.

Last week, I posted a look back at my travel adventures and achievements of 2011. Now’s the exciting part… looking ahead to the future!

With some reflection, I’ve noticed that my years of travel tend to have “themes.” In 2010, my travel theme was Adventure Travel, complete with skydiving and white water rafting in New Zealand, hiking both the Tongariro Crossing and the Milford Trek within the same week (nearly 50 miles!) and hiking to the bottom of the Grand Canyon for a stay at Phantom Ranch.

For 2011, my travel theme was Domestic Travel (as can be read about in my 2011 post.)

I’m excited to officially unveil to you, my dear Packed Suitcase readers, that my travel theme for 2012 is…

FRENCH TRAVEL!

I’m starting the year off with my very first French language class at the local community college. I plan to use my newfound merci’s and oh-la-la’s as I travel to French-speaking destinations such as Montréal, France, Belgium and even New Orleans.

I’ll have some non-French inspired destinations sprinkled in throughout the year as well, including Orlando, Los Angeles, New York, Cancun and hopefully Chicago as well.

Along the way, I’ll try to complete a few items from my 55 Places Travel Bucket List. Particularly:

#9. Try to paint a water lily like Monet at Giverney, France

#18. Walk across the sand to Mont St Michel

#22. Eat chocolate in Brugge

#24. Have a cappuccino at a café in Vieux-Montréal

#42. Try the guacamole at Chicago’s Frontera Grill

Now, I understand that this is an ambitious list of places I have planned. With the same 10 vacation days, it might be tough for me to actually make it to all of these destinations. But, you'd be amazed what I can do with a little bit of planning and you gotta think big, right?!

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Merry Christmas from Packed Suitcase!

Wherever in the world you may be, we hope that your holidays are merry and bright!

Baltimore's famous 34th Street Miracle of Lights in Hamden

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2011: A Look Back

At first glance, 2011 was a bit of a tough travel year for me. Coming off of the epic-ness that was 2010 (A month backpacking around Australia and New Zealand?! Hiking to the bottom of the Grand Canyon?!) it’s been difficult to have to grapple with a consistent lack of excess cash and time off in 2011. This has led to a year where I traveled the least since I’ve been out of college. 

However, this post (initially planned to be titled “2011: A Year of Relative Non-Travel”) has transformed into a celebration of domestic travel and personal growth. You see, it’s taken me until now to stop, reflect and really relish in all of the travel experiences and professional achievements that I’ve been able to procure this year. 

First, and foremost… 2011’s the year where I became a freelance travel writer! I started out the year as a finalist in Gadling’s search for their next travel blogger, then was published on the Huffington Post before becoming a regular contributor to Go! Girl Guides. Most recently, I’ve started to write posts for Travel Channel’s blog. This is all in addition to purchasing the domain “PackedSuitcase.com” and keeping my site stocked with fresh original and contributing content. 

To say I’ve been busy writing is an understatement. 

Then, I became a part of the amazing travel social media community. I’ve made friends from around the globe through the force that is Twitter and went from 0 to over 1,600 followers in under 10 months. I met New York bloggers at a Restless Legs event after attending the New York Times Travel Show in March, and I have become a regular fixture at our own local DC Travel Tweet-Up events.  

When it comes to actual travel, as I mentioned earlier I’ve been pretty hard on myself. It's hard to feel authentic when you're part of a community of people who really value travel, when you're not actually traveling. But, in truth, I made my 10 vacation days really count.

In 2011, I was fortunate to get to travel to the following amazing destinations:

• Santa Barbara
• Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater (one of my 55 Places Bucket List destinations!)
• Los Angeles
• Las Vegas for a glam Gaga-filled girlfriend getaway 
• New York City
• West Palm Beach (three times!) 
• Cancun, Mexico 
• Dewey Beach (twice!) 
• Shenandoah Valley during the peak fall foliage season 
• Philadelphia 
• Richmond

So, all in all, it’s been a pretty amazing year. And you know that I’m just getting started!

Stay tuned for my upcoming “2012: A Look Ahead” post to hear about all of the adventures I’ve got in store for next year. 

Get ready… it’s going to be great.

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Guest Post: Island Hopping the Yasawa Chain, Fiji

This guest post is by Matthew Nunn.

Getting a taste of paradise is often the highlight of many people’s lives, and Fiji with its many islands, including the Yasawa chain, is an excellent place to achieve this. Unlike other tropical island locations, it is a brilliant and viable option for the budget traveler. When incorporated into a RTW trip, as I did, the low cost resorts and authentic culture are ideal, especially as it is only a 4 hour flight from Australia. Being so far flung from Europe, (up to 40 hours+ from London) and to an extent the US (nearly 20 hours from the East Coast) can make it an expensive trip as a standalone holiday, but sticking it in as a stop off on RTW trips brings you to an isolated and idyllic location in the world for a relatively low price.

Fiji and the Yasawa Islands

Fiji is an archipelago in the South Pacific consisting of two main islands and a vast collection of surrounding islands that rise dramatically out of the sea.  The Yasawa islands curl up and away from the West Coast of Fiji, near Nadi and the international airport, and have many resorts whilst still offering isolation for you to choose from.

The itinerary for my trip was a 7 day ‘Bula’ pass that gave me access to the entire Yasawa chain. This pass allowed me to ‘hop-on / hop-off’ the boat on a daily basis, therefore offering a maximum 6 resorts and 7 days in tropical island paradise. I booked my pass months in advance through an agency in London, and numerous agencies in the entire Australia / New Zealand region offer this tour, particularly as package deals combined with other popular trips such as Fraser Island and the Whitsundays. This can tie you down date wise though, and creates too much structure for some travellers. However you don’t need to book until you reach Fiji (the city of Nadi has agencies that can sort you out) and this is likely going to give you a better deal.

The Trip Out There:

The most popular way of accessing the island chain is via the Yasawa Flyer, however being one the prime examples of tropical island paradise you will see sea planes soaring around and the odd private yacht. Surprisingly I did not feel that this detracts from the experience, as the island chain is long and scattered so that there is never the feeling of a cluttered Mediterranean marina. Instead, the beauty of sailing yachts and seaplanes dipping into coves acted as an additional viewing pleasure throughout the day and there is still plenty of isolation to be found on these islands. 

Fleets of private yachts can sometimes be found hidden in the many coves along the island chain

The Yasawa Flyer, aside from being your transport, actually deserves to be seen as a tourist attraction in its own right. The journey from the mainland to the very top of the island chain takes over 4 hours, with a constant stream of breath taking views and plenty of outer deck space my camera finger was trigger happy. As the week progressed the boat also served as an impromptu meeting point as we bumped into travellers we had met at various points along the chain.

Boat transfers between resorts allow you to take in some great views of the islands

The Islands:

Whether booking abroad or in Fiji, booking in advance does give you a higher likelihood of getting your specific resorts. Alternatively, many people like to pick as they go relying on advice from fellow ‘hoppers,’ just be prepared you may not be able to get every resort if it’s the peak season.

With numerous islands which all offer different scenery, atmosphere and activities you should do your research when you get there and grab the leaflet available at hotels and the marina to clue up on where you want to go. Like every great cocktail, I went for a mix, selecting two of the liveliest resorts – Beachcomber and Mantaray, as well as some of the most beautiful and relaxed available – Nabua Lodge, Long Beach, Coral View and Kuata. 

Accommodation at all resorts is a mix of dorms (mixed and single sex) and bures which are traditional Fijian huts for 2 people. Being on a budget, I went for the dorms, finding them comfortable and fully equipped with showers and mosquito nets. Fortunately, at our first stop at Nabua Lodge we got a free bump-up to a bure, and with a spot right on the beach it was a definite bonus!

The view from our Bure at Nabua Lodge at high tide

The smaller quieter resorts are owned and run by the Fijian villagers from the respective islands. Although I’m not accusing the larger resorts (owned by foreigners) as being a menacing commercial blight, the Fijian owned and run resorts were more authentic and the staff were more engaging.

Regardless of where you stay, every island boasts stunning beaches, rainforest scenery and many hilltop walks and views. Taking a stroll through the jungle paths can feel like being in an episode of Lost, and walking far enough will always enable you to find a completely deserted beach for that marooned shipwrecked feeling.

When it came to dinnertime, it would range from traditional Fijian food to more standard Western food. Generally speaking, the smaller resorts offered Fijian food and were less likely to offer a choice aside from vegetarian and non-veggie. Unfortunately I found the Fijian food quite bland, the fish was fresh and we did occasionally see the days live catch being carted in, but there was an over reliance on vegetables for my liking. If you’re a fussy eater, then the bigger resorts such as Beachcomber and Mantaray have menus and are more Western focused.

Getting through the day without a single ‘Bula’ (hello) is impossible and I found it very charming how friendly the Fijian villagers were. If you like impromptu volley ball games, on pitches bordered by sea and palm trees, then this is the place for you.

Activities

Activities range between the resorts, but village trips, snorkel hire, volley ball and sunset summit walks are pretty much standard across the board. Sea fishing using a hand line was brilliant, perhaps because I managed to catch a fish just as darkness fell, and if you catch anything edible it can end up in that night’s dinner! This is only available in some resorts, as is the trip to the blue lagoon, the Sawailau caves and reef diving with shark feeding. 

I would probably chalk up the reef diving as my favourite activity of all; as the 40 minute bumpy and wet ride out to the reef, the Nemo-esque fish on offer and the ability to feed and stroke the Reef sharks in their own habitat is a once in a lifetime experience!

Regular Sunset walks at most resorts offer some breath taking views

Recommendations

With the diversity available I really would recommend flicking through the brochure and having a think before you leave as to which resorts you want to stop off at. Every place has a seasoned pro (the hard core traveller who has been on the island chain for at least 2 weeks) so perhaps grabbing them can help during your trip if you’ve left your options open. My approach to cram in as much as possible and change island daily was great, but the boat journey will take up some of your time and you may miss out on getting to grips with each island. 

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Matthew Nunn is a lifelong keen traveller and has added some awesome locations to his portfolio this year, with Fiji amongst them.  As well as travel blogging, he also works for Citalia, specialists in Italian holidays and Rome Hotels.

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Hotel Review: The Royal Resorts in Cancun, Mexico

Imagine waking up in paradise. You start with breakfast on your balcony, enjoying the warm breeze and the views of the turquoise Caribbean ocean before venturing down to spend the day under a palapa on the beach or lounging by the pool. Happy hour starts at 3, and the only decision you really need to make all day is what you’d like to have to drink.

This, my friends, is an average day when vacationing in Cancun, Mexico.

Cancun is considered a top tourist destination for many reasons…. its rich Mayan culture and historic ruins, exciting nightlife, stunning blue sea and pearly white sand. Driving along the Zona Hotelera’s main strip, you’ll find one luxury resort after another. With so many choices, it’s easy for the first time visitor to get a bit overwhelmed when trying to figure out where to stay.

Lucky for you, my Packed Suitcase readers, I have been vacationing in Cancun annually since I was 14 years old. (Let’s not do the math…) Over the years I’ve stayed at a number of different Cancun hotels, but if you want the best of the best, look no further than the Royal Resorts.

The Royal Caribbean

Overview
The Royal Resorts are comprised of 5 hotels in Cancun (The Royal Islander, The Royal Caribbean, The Royal Mayan, The Royal Cancun, and The Royal Sands- the newest property) and one in the popular Riviera Maya (The Royal Haciendas.)

Each resort features stunning views of the Caribbean, pools (and swim-up pool bars!) and plenty of beach-y lounge chairs. On-site daily activities and dining options abound, making this a convenient and exciting vacation that lets you move at your own pace and get as active as you want to be. (Or, if you’d rather be a beach bum, that’s easily accomplished as well!)

These aren’t your ordinary hotel rooms. These are all-villa properties, which make them ideal for families and groups. Each unit is comprised of a main villa (master bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, living room with 2 pull-out beds, large balcony) and a “lock-off” (bedroom, bathroom, small balcony) which, when combined, can comfortably house around 6 people. However, you also have the flexibility to reserve the units separately if you don’t need as much square footage.

The Royal Mayan's living room - provided by RoyalResorts.com

TIP: While all of the Royal Resorts are part of the Interval International timeshare program, you don’t need to be a member to reserve your stay… you can even book through Expedia.com!

The Royal Sands

Service
One of the things that the Royal Resorts does best is provide top-notch service for its guests. From the moment you arrive, you’re greeted with prompt and courteous attention. From helping you with your groceries to recommending a place for dinner (and then making the reservation) the staff simply wants to do everything they can to ensure you have a happy and effortless stay.


Dining
Cancun has some amazing dining. However, each resort has a number of dining options for those days where you’re worn out from the sun and would rather stay in. Each resort has a small grocery store, fast casual, carryout and fine dining options, sure to suit any need or budget.

My FAVORITE Royal Resorts meal... the Shrimp Tacos! (Official recipe: here)

TIP: When I travel to the Royal Resorts with my family, we always plan one night in where we cook a home-style Italian dinner and enjoy it in our villa together. “Spaghetti night” has become a tradition that we look forward to year after year.

Activities
Some of my favorite travel memories have occurred on the Yucatan with Cancun as my home base; climbing up the steep steps of Chichen Itza (and being more than a little afraid to climb back down), zip-lining down into a centuries old cenote and snorkeling off the shores of Cozumel.

If you’re a first-time visitor to Cancun, you should really try to get out and experience some of the amazing day trips offered. (And the staff will be more than happy to help you reserve your activities.)

But you don’t need to venture far from the resorts to have a fantastic vacation. There is a full roster of activities on site each day, from Zumba to water aerobics, to scuba lessons and volleyball tournaments to tennis match-ups. Or, head over to the Spa at the Royal Sands for a massage and to relax in their luxurious hydrotherapy rooms.

The Royal Resorts put a strong emphasis on the family experience, which means lots of activities for the kids as well. A few favorites are the ceramic painting and the weekly piñata party. (DUCK!)

TIP: Don’t miss the popular Welcome Party, held each Sunday. You’ll meet new friends, do the conga line and there’s free Rum and Cokes!


The Bottom Line
As a travel-lover with limited time off, I think it’s incredibly telling that I choose to dedicate my precious vacation days to this resort chain on the Yucatan. In a way, it’s become my home away from home.

The Royal Resorts are much more than just a luxury hotel chain. It’s the kind of place where bartenders learn your name (and your favorite drink!), where families come together in a safe and fun environment, where everywhere you look is a magnificent view, where you easily make friends for the duration of your stay and longer.

It’s for all of these reasons and more that make the Royal Resorts the kind of place where you will want to vacation to year after year.

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2011 Packed Suitcase Traveler Gift Guide

Welcome to the first annual Packed Suitcase Traveler Gift Guide!

I set out to bring you the coolest travel gift ideas from all over the web, and believe me, with so many fun products on the market it was really hard to choose.

But I made my list, and checked it... twice(!) and whether you've been naughty or nice, here are the top 7 travel gifts that I'm coveting this year, which are sure to impress any traveler in your life.

1.) Moleskin Passions Travel Journal
$19.95, Moleskinus.com
Form and function meet to create a fun and inspirating journal for dreaming, planning and documenting your journeys.

2.) Wilderness Survival Kit
$44, uncommongoods.com
Don't get lost in the woods on your next adventure. Pack along this survival kit, that has everything you need to survive and find your way home-- from fishing hooks to fire starting tinder, to a compass and a rescue signal mirror.

3.) Hand Stamped Custom Aluminum Cuff (Latitude and Longitude)
$15.75, etsy.com
This stylish cuff bracelet is hand-stamped with the latitude and longitude of your choosing. Whether you choose your hometown, your favorite dive bar or your home away from home, this cuff is sure to be a conversation starter!

4.) Lonely Planet's Best in Travel 2012
$14.99, lonelyplanet.com
Help your jetsetter stay on top of the latest trends and up-and-coming destinations for 2012 with this topical tome by the expert team at Lonely Planet.

5.) Scratch Off Map

$20, Flight 001

Keep track of your travels with this fun and whimsical scratch off map... keep those pennies handy!

6.) Travel Spice Kit

$14.99, World Market

Don't settle for bland food while you're on the road. With this handy kit, you'll have everything you need to embrace your inner foodie, whether you're in the hostel kitchen or cooking over a campfire.

7.) Coach Poppy Liquid Gloss Pushlock Satchel 

$379, Coach.com

Make a statement with this bold and oh-so-stylish shoulder bag that's the perfect accessory for any of your travels.

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Snapshot of the Week: The Royal Resorts in Cancun, Mexico

Ah, Cancun. My tropical home away from home! 

I'm freshly back from a 9 day vacation at the Royal Resorts in sunny Cancun, Mexico, where I spent my days lounging by the pool, heading to the spa and relaxing by the ocean with a Banana Monkey in hand. To say it was glorious is an understatement!

Here are just a few of my favorite pictures from this week and look out for a brand new blog post with more pictures and my review of the Royal Resorts next week on PackedSuitcase.com.

The infinity pool at the Royal Sands



Oceanside view from the Royal Caribbean



Stunning sunrise over the Caribbean



***To contribute to the "Snapshot of the Week" feature, please review the submission details and email chris@packedsuitcase.com with a description of what you'd like to submit.***

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Cold Weather Camping: Survival Tips

I was recently invited for a weekend of camping and outdoorsy fun in Virginia’s beautiful Shenandoah National Park. I was excited for the trip but terrified of one small detail… the trip was in late October.

Sure, late October is the perfect time of year to visit Shenandoah. It's literally one of the best places in the country to see the autumn leaves. The problem is that I am distinctly a warm weather person. I’m the type of girl that gets cold in August. (Seriously.)

In the Mid-Atlantic region, October is a month that can often be either really warm or really cold. Of course, our weekend was cold. Like lower 30s cold.

Here are my newly tried and tested tips for surviving a camping trip in brrr-licious cold weather.

Wear Layers. Unabashedly.
Who cares if you waddle like a penguin because you have on 4 pairs of pants and can’t bend your knees! At least you’ll be warm (or warm-er) and when you run into unprepared campers who didn't bring enough layers, you’ll get a jolt of confidence and feel like you are a camping expert.

Side Note: For some good layers info, check out my Packing for Patagonia post... I used many of the same layers for this trip as well!

Build a fire with maximum heat projection
We tried several different methods over the course of the weekend (drawn from various girl scout memories) but by far the fire with the most effective warming was the TeePee style fire.

To build a TeePee fire of your own, start by creating a mound of leaves and smaller kindling materials into the fire pit. Light the base layer and once you've got a steady (yet small) fire going add your larger logs vertically over the kindling to form the shape of a TeePee.

Voila! Hello, warmth!

Plan activities from dusk til dawn
When it's cold, the worst thing to do would be to just sit and think about how cold/ miserable you are. The solution is to keep yourself busy! Make an involved dinner, tend the fire, organize your tent, go on a hike.

The busier you keep yourself, the warmer you'll be...AND the more tired you'll be when it's time to go to sleep!

View from my hike... so pretty!

Bring an extra comforter to pile on top of your sleeping bag.
I happened to bring an extra down comforter and I don't think I would have made it if I didn't have my very own warmth cocoon. If you have it, bring it because the extra comforter can make a world of difference.

Bring the essential warming beverages.
You know... Hot Chocolate, Cider... Bourbon. These will help warm you up in no time!

And remember, if all else fails you can always sleep in your car! But hopefully with these tips, you won't have to!

How have YOU survived a cold-weather camping adventure? Do you have any tips to add?

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Guest Post: Queenstown, A Place for All Seasons

This guest post is by Craig Patterson.

With the 2011 Rugby World Cup now in full flight I thought it might be an opportune moment to cast the spotlight on the host nation, New Zealand and more specifically one of its smaller but no less vibrant communities, Queenstown. Although the closest a rugby match will come to being played in the peaceful resort town is in nearby Invercargill, Queenstown still has plenty to offer at any time of the year.

There is a charismatic and intimate sense to Queenstown that lends it a small-town feel but with many of the benefits of a more sizeable municipality. Visitors can choose from a variety of accommodations in the area from boutique guesthouses, to remote lodges and grand hotels such as the exclusive Eichardt's Private Hotel which looks out over the waters of Lake Wakatipu and backs on the fashionable Beach Street.

Looking out over Lake Wakatipu

What you get up to in Queenstown can largely depend upon the season; this is a town that metamorphoses from a charming slow paced community into a bustling snow sports Mecca during the winter months when New Zealanders from miles around as well as hordes of international enthusiasts descend upon the region to enjoy its renowned ski and snow boarding facilities. Of course being in the Southern Hemisphere this winter period stretches from June to the end of August; although the skiing season does continue into October. 

For anyone lucky enough to visit Queenstown towards the end of June, the annual Winter Festival is a spectacular 10 day event featuring a host of winter-related activities including street parades, exhibitions, workshops, invitationals, fireworks displays, markets, street stalls and much, much more. If you’re not hitting the slopes on one of the 6 international standard pistes then you can take time to explore the beautiful National Parks of Mount Aspiring, the Fiordland or Glenorchy.

During the long, pleasant days of the summer months a steam boat tour of the winding Lake Wakatipu is a must. Whether you choose a historic steamer or a regal sailing ship, the views out across the bay and Otago’s highlands beyond that are breathtaking. The adventure doesn’t stop when the snow melts, and one of the most memorable experiences for outdoor enthusiasts is a helicopter flight and cross country bike ride down from Ben Crauchan, one of the tallest peaks in the Remarkables (yes that’s what it is really called) mountain range. Promising incredible panoramas of the undulating landscape and an adrenaline fuelled race down the mountain this is the ideal way to get the heart racing and enjoy a unique perspective of Queenstown. 

If you really have a stomach of steel you could dare yourself to take the ultimate plunge; the Nevis Bungee jump- a member of the famous AJ Hackett group of bungee sites- stands at over 134m and is New Zealand’s highest commercial bungee. With over 8 seconds of free fall, the Otago countryside will never look as spectacular nor as intimidating when you are stood at the edge of the bungee pod that hovers high above the Nevis River.

Despite its diminutive size Queenstown still boasts a rather impressive catalog of shops, bars, restaurants, museums and galleries to entertain any taste or persuasion from the iconic Fergburger burger bar (a must try) to fine dining experiences such as the skyline restaurant- perched above the city on Bob’s Peak with fantastic views across the lake and beyond. The skyline restaurant actually forms part of the wider skyline complex which features a cable car ride up to the summit and also a down hill luge course promising fun for all of the family. The Skyline Kiwi Haka is a cultural exhibition that allows guests to appreciate up close traditional Maori practices including, dance dress and ceremony.

The view from Bob's Peak

Shopaholics are sure to find a bargain or two as well as "splash the cash" around the centrally located shopping district which boasts a number of renowned outlets and famous labels as well as couture items. Local sheep skin clothing, artworks and crafts such as Pounamu (Jade) jewelery make great souvenirs and mementos of your trip. The shopping area generally encompasses Shotover Street, Beach Street, Ballarat Street and Camp Street.

Milford Sound

If you have time to (or even if you don’t), a tour to Milford Sound- one of the world’s most recognizable and celebrated natural sites- is highly recommended. Judged by Trip Advisor users as one of the world’s top travel destinations, numerous tour operators and services are available from Queenstown to Milford Sound in the Fiordlands of the west coast. Driving times can vary according to weather conditions but are generally between 4-5 hours with a choice of stop offs; usually at Te Anau, a small but quaint town on the banks of the Te Anau Lake. A boat trip around the simply breathtaking scenery is just reward for the long journey time. One of the more expensive but most spectacular ways to encounter the Sound is to combine your trip with a light aircraft flight back to Queenstown; a chance to take in all of the drama and grandeur of the South Land region.

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Craig Patterson is an avid traveller and professional travel writer and has been lucky enough to visit Queenstown on a number of occasions. He is also an associate of The Turquoise Holiday Company, one of the world’s leading tour operators specialising in luxury holidays and honeymoons.

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