Our fourth day driving the Ring Road was action packed as we went through the martian landscape of northeast Iceland. The highlights of this section of the Ring Road include the powerful Dettifoss waterfall, the geothermal lava fields of Krafla and Hevrir, a lava cave steam bath, volcanic craters, lava rock fields, and the gorgeous Lake Mývatn. It was a long day that ended with a problem with our Airbnb.
Read MoreThe day is here! Amazon Prime Day is Amazon's biggest day for deals, rivaling Black Friday. It runs from 3:00 pm EST on Monday, July 16th to midnight on Tuesday, July 17th. You can get big discounts on thousands of products, including many of our travel essentials!
Read MoreWe spent our third day in Iceland navigating the Eastern Fjords from Höfn to Egilsstaðir. Most of the morning was spent driving along the coast, making countless stops to take in the scenery or just to let the sheep cross the road. We had our first and only big uh-oh, getting stuck in sinking sand; rescued by the kindness of strangers. After several hours of driving along farms and through the mountains, we enjoyed the charming village of Seyðisfjörður. We also hiked to one of the tallest waterfalls in Iceland, Hengifoss. It was our favorite, but most challenging, hike we did in Iceland. We spent the night in a beautiful cottage on a horse farm, surrounded by mountains.
Read MorePacking for summer in Iceland is tricky. Iceland's summer is a bit unlike the rest of the world. The average temperature is around 10ºC (50ºF), but the temperature hasn't reached above 22ºC (71ºF) in Reykjavik in 10 years. You will likely experience all four seasons in a given day, and all types of precipitation throughout your trip. In late June, it rained all but one day, snowed and hailed. There were dangerous winds that closed whole regions of the country to travel by van. Yet, there are the rare days with completely clear skies and an intense sun that will never set. Being prepared for any and all weather can be difficult to fit in a small carry-on suitcase.
Read MoreOn our second day on the Ring Road in Iceland, we continued heading east along the south coast towards the fishing village of Höfn. Only a 205 km drive straight, it took 10 hours with all of the amazing stops in between. We drove through drastically changing terrains from a lava field covered in moss to glaciers. We ended the day with an exhilarating snowmobile ride on a glacier while it snowed. A highlight of our trip, for sure.
Read MoreImmediately upon our arrival in Iceland, we loaded up our rental car and set off on Route 1. Iceland's Ring Road, or Route 1, is the main highway that circles around the island. It connects all of the small towns dotted around the coast and is the most popular route for tourists hoping to explore the country. Our first day was extremely ambitious, especially after coming off a sleepless red-eye flight. Might as well start off the trip with a bang. We drove counter-clockwise on the Ring Road, starting with one of our favorite region's of Iceland: the South Coast. Our first day included countless waterfalls, puffins, black sand beaches, and lupines as far as the eye can see.
Read MoreIf you haven't already heard it from everyone else, let me be the first to tell you: Iceland is expensive. Super expensive. Iceland is currently ranked as the 3rd most expensive country in the world. During our visit, we tried to limit expenses where we could without limiting experiences. We did everything we wanted (within reason... unfortunately, no helicopter rides over the gorgeous landscape), but for the lowest price we could swing. In this guide, I break down everything we spent money on and how to reduce your expenses while in Iceland.
Read MoreFlorence is the ideal base to explore the gorgeous Tuscany region. Florence is known for its art & culture, stunning landscapes, exceptional architecture, and cuisine. We stayed in Florence for 3 nights. However, we took day trips to Siena and Pisa, so really only had 24 hours to explore Florence itself. If you only have a short amount of time in the city, here are the 10 things you must do while in Florence.
Read MorePrior to going, we heard a lot of mixed opinions about Venice. Either it was a completely overrated tourist trap or the most magical and romantic city in Europe. Our opinion sided closer with the later. This alluring floating city of marble palaces was the perfect first stop for our honeymoon. We visited Venice in late May, right before the busy summer season. While there was a fair amount of tourists crowding San Marco's square, it could have been worse. Two days felt like the perfect amount of time to spend in Venice. Here is an outline of what we did while in Venice.
Read MoreIt might surprise families, but Disney theme parks are actually quite popular for adults without kids. Disney World has repeatedly been ranked as the #1 domestic Honeymoon in the United States. Realizing this growing demographic, Disney has been doing more in the recent years to cater to childless adults. You can enjoy the parks in a lot of the same ways you did as a kid, but there are also many more new experiences now that you have disposable income, no curfew, and an ability to drink. We have been to Disney parks twice in the last year: to Disneyland for a 2nd smaller Honeymoon and to Disney World for my birthday. Here is our guide to making the most of Disney Theme Parks as an adult.
Read MoreWhile travel can be full of adventure and exploring, there is bound to be some downtime while on the move to your next destination. Whether you are on a plane, train or automobile, here are some podcasts to keep you occupied as you travel the world. There are now thousands of podcasts meant to entertain, inform, or distract. Unlike movies, podcasts allow you to watch the scenery as you listen.
Read MoreFlorence is amazing, but to truly experience Tuscany – get out of the big city. Siena is a medieval city in the heart of Tuscany, just an hour bus ride away from Florence. It is most famous for a horse race, Palio, which is hosted twice a year (July 2nd and August 16th). I'd recommend skipping this experience and instead visit for the food, gorgeous views, museums, and architecture. Even if you are short on time while in Florence, a day break to Siena is a must do!
Read MoreImagine going on your dream European Honeyoon without the crazy four to five-figure bill? Maximizing credit rewards and points, you can cover all your airfare, accomodations, and all the additional expenses you accrue on vacation. I get it, credit cards are scary. They weren't applauded by any means in my family growing up. Being the frugal, risk-adverse, deal seeking weirdo I was, I got a cashback credit card as soon as I turned 18. It was not until a couple years ago, the more I got into travel, that I learned about the ample ways to use or "hack" credit cards to get pretty much free travel. In this guide, I will break down how to get two weeks worth of travel for free just by applying and meeting minimum spends on a few credit cards.
Read MoreHome of grand and impressive castles, spectacular cliffs, historical WWII monuments, a city built on a rock off the coast, picturesque gardens, and breathtaking cathedrals: Northern France is a must visit! This region has so much to offer and so much great food to enjoy. We spent a week driving around Normandy and Loire Valley before settling in Paris for another 5 days.
Read MoreThe fairy-tale châteaux of the Loire Valley were built during the Renaissance era and stretch between the cities Orléans and Angers along the Loire river or its tributaries. These impressive castles are a must visit when exploring Northern France. Nowhere else in the world is there such an ensemble of majestic monuments of fortune and history. Overwhelming is an understatement when describing these castles. Here is our list of the 5 most beautiful Loire Valley châteaux.
Read MoreAfter a whirlwind 8-day trek through Italy by train, we were ready to slow down for the second part of our honeymoon – a 10-day cruise through the Greek Isles. While the pace might have been a bit slower, it was still filled with exciting adventures and amazing memories. Whitewashed houses, cobblestone streets, deep blue waters, and the rich history of Greece are just some of the reasons why Greece is time and time again on the top list for Honeymoon destinations. When picking a route through the mediterrean, our priorites were Santorini and Turkey. Shortly after booking, Turkey got replaced by Rhodes, due to political unrest and safety concerns. We were still beyond excited! Beautiful beaches, ancient ruins, and watching sunsets from the balcony were calling our names.
Read MoreSometimes you just need a quick break from reality, need to relax, and take things at a slower pace. A cruise is a perfect way to do just that. You get to explore multiple places in one trip without the hassle of re-packing your bags. A cruise is like an all-inclusive resort ... that moves! After the cruise we took for our honeymoon in June 2017, we were eager to get back to a boat. A short, 3 or 4-night cruise provides a great getaway at an affordable price. Here is an overview of what we did, how much it costs, and tips from our experience.
Read MoreKey West, Florida is a small 7-sq mile island part of the Florida Keys archipelago. It is home to the southern-most point of the continental US, residences of famous Americans, beautiful pastel Caribbean-style homes, dozens of bars on the famous Duval Street, and great beaches and snorkeling spots. Due to its small size and high density of sights, it is an extremely walkable city. We arrived in Key West via Cruise ship which docks right in the center, perfect for a fun (and completely free) day of exploring this eccentric island.
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