Vacations Archives - Oh My Heartsie Girl

April 28, 2019October 17, 2020

Making the Most of Your Beach Vacation Destination

Vacation is a wonderful thing. It’s relaxing, fun, and helps us recharge before we head back to our work and everyday personal lives. Vacations are good for us, but they’re only as good as what we do with them. Heading to a beach is a wonderful choice, but how you use your valuable days off will make the difference between a forgettable week off and a once-in-a-lifetime journey.

With that in mind, we’re laying out a few of the things that you might want to do in order to make the absolute most of your beach vacation. Here’s what you should think about as you make your plans!

Plan adventurous and physical activities

Beaches are relaxing — but, if you’re not careful, they can be a bit too relaxing. There’s nothing wrong with whiling away a day chilling on the beach, but if you do that for seven days in a row, you might leave your vacation feeling like you didn’t do anything (because, of course, you didn’t).

Here’s a better idea: Book some tours and physical activities. Scuba diving and snorkeling are great ways to make swimming more fun, suggest experts who run tours snorkeling around Peanut Island in Florida. Or you could take a lesson and learn a new skill, like surfing.

Water sports and other beach activities are a great way to get moving during what might otherwise be a bit of a lazy week for you. Being healthy on vacation is smart, so get out and move! Activities like these will also bring a bit of excitement to your laid-back beach week.

Get out on the water

The beach is beautiful, and looking out toward the ocean is relaxing. But the ocean itself is beautiful, too, and heading out on the open water in a boat is a great way to escape the bland and everyday world you’re trying to take a break from.

You don’t necessarily have to head to a boat dealership to pull this off, of course. You could rent a boat, or take a tour with an experienced captain. You may also want to consider specialty tours, such as ones that will take you deep sea fishing.

Appreciate the culture

If you’re visiting a beach community on vacation, then you’re most likely not from a beach community yourself. Even if you are, you’re presumably not from this beach community. So why not learn a bit more about local life? Beaches are beautiful in similar ways, but life is very different in different beach areas. In between sunbathing and swimming sessions, you should talk to some locals and learn more about what makes this place special.

This is true in places like Hawaii and Tahiti, of course, but also in places like the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Whether the place you’re in feels foreign or familiar to you, there’s sure to be some distinct local flavor that reminds you that you’re on an adventure in a new and exciting place.

Go to town

Culture is everywhere, but it’s likely to be concentrated in the nearest town or city. So, once in a while, you should get off the beach and go hit the town. Whether it’s a small beach community or a thriving city, the population nearest to your beach destination is likely to be the place where you’ll find the most vibrant cultural attractions.

It’s also, of course, the place where you’re most likely to find great restaurants and nightclubs. Resort restaurants and beachside bars are all well and good, but getting into town will spice up your vacation with a bit of variety and will encourage you to be social. You’ll get to try some great food and perhaps drink a few alcoholic beverages. Go to town — the beach will still be there tomorrow.

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March 1, 2019

5 Reasons That You Must Visit Mykonos This Summer

Reasons That You Must Visit Mykonos This Summer

Mykonos is a famous summer destination for the whole world. Thousands of tourists visit the island every year to relax or to join the wild parties or to dive into the luxurious lifestyle Mykonos offers. Many of them will return again as they find here even more than they expected.

Here are the top five reasons that will make you take the decision and visit Mykonos this summer.

The Destination that Celebrities Choose

Each summer, hundreds of celebrities visit the island for their vacations. You will see them walking on the narrow streets of Old Town among the crowds, taking their sunbath on a comfortable sunbed at one of the southern beaches or dancing next to you in one of Mykonos’ famous night clubs.

Celebrities love Mykonos because they can have high-level concierge services, they can meet their friends and other celebrities and they can retrieve to privacy whenever they want to. Locals and returning travelers are used to meeting celebrities and they treat them like all other people.

For their accommodation, celebrities usually choose one of the many Mykonos Luxury Villas that are available for rent.

Famous Restaurants on the beach – Scorpios, Nammos, Principote

Mykonos has many wonderful places to eat, from luxury, fine dining restaurants to more traditional taverns. Although the menu varies, the quality of food is excellent and the ingredients are fresh – especially the seafood dishes.

Eating next to the sea is a Greek tradition that is very well accepted by international visitors. You can find beach restaurants all over Greece, from the touristic islands to the mainland. The relaxing sound of the waves, the fresh air, and the beautiful surroundings ensure a pleasant meal.

In Mykonos eating by the sea can offer much more than this. As a luxury island, Mykonos has some very cozy, gourmet restaurants that look more like day resorts. Scorpios at Paraga Beach, Nammos at Psarou Beach and Principote on the north side of the island, at Panormos Beach are the most famous beach restaurants in Mykonos. Mykonos is a famous summer destination for the whole world

Cosmopolitan Restaurants – Nobu, Katrin, Hakkasan

International gourmet cuisine is another dominating trend at Mykonos. Here you can find a lot of tasteful dishes from faraway places like China, Japan, Peru or closer ones like France or Italy. Some of the best choices for international dining are:

Nobu, run by the famous chef Nobu Matsuhisa, located in Belvedere Hotel just outside Mykonos Town. The menu is mainly Japanese with some delicious additions from Peruvian and Southern America cuisine.

La Maison de Katrin is a boutique French restaurant in the center of Mykonos Town, near the Old Port. Guests can taste some of the best French dishes accompanied by a good French wine.

Hakkasan, or mostly known as Ling Ling, belongs to the well-known, homonymous chain of Chinese restaurants. It is situated at the heart of Mykonos Town and offers a great gourmet Asian menu in an exotic Cantonese atmosphere. Famous Restaurants on the beach

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Party island

Maybe this was how you first heard about Mykonos. The island’s fame as a party destination, with sleepless nights and huge beach parties, is attracting thousands of tourists who want to join its intense nightlife.

The best places to experience this side of Mykonos are either the center of Mykonos Town or the four-party beaches at the southern shore of the island.

In Mykonos Town, you will find the big nightclubs with multiple levels, smaller clubs with indoor and outdoor tables and bars with different kinds of music.

At the southern beaches, the whole area becomes a dancing floor from sunset till dawn.

Most Luxurious Accommodation in Greece – Cavo Tagoo, Belvedere, Bill and Coo, Katoikies, Luxury Villas

Luxury accommodation in Mykonos is just unparalleled. Big five star hotels and resorts offer stylish rooms and suites and high-quality services. Some of the best hotels are Cavo Taggo near Mykonos Town, Belvedere at the center of the city, Bill and Coo at Megali Ammos and Katoikies at Agios Ioannis beach.

For guests who prefer more privacy and bigger spaces, the best option is to rent a Mykonos Villa. There are many wonderful ones on the island in different locations, capacity and prices.

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Related:
10 Tips You Must Do Before Traveling
What To Take When Traveling
Enjoying Luxury World Travel at a Reasonable Budget
7 Most Romantic Rio Vacation Ideas for Couples in Love

July 9, 2018

5 Essential Travel Tips for Your Trip to Australia

It’s that time of the year, work has been stressful, and you notice that you’ve not taken a few days off to Australia. So, you open your calendar and start planning a vacation. The wide landscape and then a change in scenery is the better part of the holiday, but often, there is something that keeps eating away at you, “THE BUDGET!” Now the last thing we want that ruins your walk on the beach or your meal at a restaurant is the fact that your savings account plummets crashing down because of a vacation. Here are the 5 tips that you should think about when you travel in Australia.

Create a daily cash allowance

Other than your hotel, attraction and transportation costs in Australia you should still set aside some money for daily use. Maybe you’d go and pick up a memento or just shop for something you do not get back home, for that you need to carry pocket cash. You can go a step ahead and then divide that total amount by the number of days and put it in separate envelopes. Try sticking to one envelope a day and only use your credit card for emergencies or if there is an actual reason worth doing so.

One of the things that people who are vacationing abroad have to remember is that foreign money doesn’t feel like real money. It’s a psychological thing! To avoid spending almost half of your money on a restaurant or cab tip, we recommend jotting the total amount of money in your home currency on the envelope and keep changing it to make sure you have a proper track. Or just keep looking at the envelope to see how much is left for the day!

Live Like a Local

Why go to an exotic destination when you end up trying its local cuisine in a posh restaurant? The fun lies in trying out the local food at its street stalls and even inexpensive cafes or sandwich shops. It may not be ‘over the top’ like you would find in a plush hotel, but it will surely satisfy your hunger and keep you wanting more! Moreover, you can think to hire a limousine at low cost to make your journey for memorable and exciting.

Stay Space-Efficient

To avoid spending money on a new suitcase, always leave room for additional luggage in your current bags. This way, no need to purchase an additional suitcase piece during your vacation in Australia and get stuck with additional baggage fees. To make things easier, add newly purchased things to your handbag luggage.

Shopping

Shopping in Australia can be extremely expensive or extremely cheap, or somewhere in between, depending on where you are shopping from. Designer boutiques and high-end sports stores are the best places where you can spend a lot of your money with relative ease. However, if you are looking to get some cheaper souvenirs, weekly markets in different cities are the best places for you? If you make a single transaction of more than 300 Australian dollars, you can get a tax refund under the Tourist Refund Scheme. From mass-production jumble to precious gemstones, everything can be found within different price scales.

Currency

You can easily get US dollars converted into Australian dollars before you set off for your trip. Another option is to get the currency exchanged at the airport once you land in Australia. In both cases, you will be required to pay exchange rates. On the other hand, if you have an ATM card from Visa, MasterCard or other international banks, you can easily withdraw money from an ATM machine. While a transaction fee will be charged, it will be the same for all amounts so you can withdraw a large amount of cash at once.

Travel Tips
Benefits of Using Gift Cards While Traveling Overseas
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March 29, 2018September 4, 2020

Picking Your Level of Luxury

We all deserve the chance to get away and truly feel like we’re being pampered. Daily life can be a real grind, and it’s hard to find a moment to relax, much less a full few days. Sure, staycations are cheap, but they aren’t really that rewarding unless you just really want to do nothing more than not work with your paid time off. If you have the time and money to really take a look at your luxury travel options, you’ll find that there’s no one-size-fits all model for taking an elegant, relaxing vacation that you’ll remember forever. There are levels of luxury, and you should feel comfortable picking the one that works best for you.

What matters most

We all have deal breakers when we’re going on vacation. Some people won’t go camping without indoor plumbing or even a fancy RV. These people are known as “glampers.” Other people won’t take a plane anywhere unless they can get seating that’s better than basic coach. Some travelers want a certain type of pillow at their hotel. The list of deal breakers can be endless, and some demands are harder to meet than others.

Do you want a room that looks out upon the beach? Then be prepared to pay for the view. But if you don’t want that view, maybe you should spend that money on a room with a hot tub instead. Consider how much you’re going to use each available amenity. Sure, hotels with room service are nice, but if you’re on a special diet and can’t eat most of the food on the menu, then it’s not worth paying extra for a place with 24-hour room service.

Hidden fees

One possible dealbreaker you should look out for? Resort fees. Hotels of almost every star rating charge them. They may not show up in your initial bill, but you have to pay the resort fees before you leave the hotel. “Resort fees” are a catch-all term for services like free drinks or use of the hotel’s fitness facility. You’re going to pay the resort fees even if you don’t use all the amenities, which is one reason some people really dislike them and will do anything they can to avoid them. Other people consider them just a part of travel, and that’s a good mindset to adapt when you’re headed to places where resort fees are almost impossible to avoid.

If you’re staying on the strip in Vegas, go ahead and budget an extra $20, $30, or even $40 a day for services you might not even use. They’re a really common way to get extra money from tourists visiting hotspots, so you’ll also see resort fees pop up in places like Mexico or the Caribbean. To avoid surprises, make sure to do plenty of research before you give out your credit card number. Let’s say you’re looking for luxury resorts Cabo, but the language on some of the websites is unclear. By all means, feel free to call and ask if the property charges resort fees. If you want luxury, you’re going to have to pay at least a little extra for it, but that doesn’t mean you should let resort fees sneak up on you.