Paradise at Sandals Royal Barbados

Stay at one, play at two is the idea here. There are two resorts on property with 17 restaurants, 12 bars, 6 pools, and 5 whirlpools. The resorts are right next to each other, so guests are able to walk between them without having to get in a car.

Many of you guys might not be aware, Sandals is a luxury included resort for couples, meaning you cannot book a single’s room. You’re more than welcome to come here with your best friend, but keep in mind that the experience is tailored for couples looking for a luxurious romantic experience. Love is all you need to bring here, because everything else is taken care of.

One advice, bring bigger pants, because you’re going to need it after eating at all 17 restaurants!

Check-in Process

Sandals Royal Barbados offers complimentary roundtrip airport transfers. They have a stand outside the airport that cannot be missed. Upon arrival to the resort, I was greeted by the welcome staff singing while other staff members took my bags and gave me a cold towel to cool off from my short ride from the airport. It was such a friendly welcome that really set the mood for the entire experience.

The Room

Sandals Royal Barbados is an all-suites resort. I was in the Royal Seaside Crystal Lagoon Penthouse Oceanview Butler Suite w/ Balcony Tranquility Soaking Tub. The room is spacious with a separate living room and a private balcony with a soaking tub. The bathroom is outfitted with a dual-control walk-in shower and a double basin vanity. The best part about it? Personal butler service. I had the pleasure of having three butlers during my stay and I want to give a special shout out to Makeba, who was just wonderful and extremely attentive to all my needs.

The bathrooms are stocked with products from the Red Lane Spa. All products are sulfate-free with all natural ingredients.

Dining

The amazing French Toast at La Parisienne

Believe it or not, I ate at all 17 restaurants between two resorts. I had the pleasure of meeting the executive chef, the F&B manager, the resort manager, and the PR manager each night at different restaurants throughout my stay. There are many options to choose between both resorts, but I’m going to keep my focus here on Sandals Royal Barbados. Global Gourmet is what Sandals Royal Barbados offers to its guests. The restaurants here feature master chefs from all over the world, meaning if you’re eating at a Chinese restaurant, the chef is from the specific region of what the concept of the restaurant is based on.

Variety, authenticity, quality, value, consistency, and modernization are the six pillars of their 5-Star Global Gourmet mission. One major plus for me is that Sandals is in the process eliminating all single-use plastic straws by November 1.

The six restaurants on the Sandals Royal Barbados side are-

Butch’s

This is your steak & seafood restaurants. Butch's Steak & Seafood serves the highest quality grain-fed Midwestern beef together with the finest fish and seafood. I don’t eat beef, so i had most of their seafood dishes. They also have a large selection of side dishes that can be combined into a main meal. The attire is evening resort, meaning no tee-shirts, shorts and sandals.

Chi

One of my favorites meals during my stay. Chi is an asian fusion restaurant combing flavors from Korea, Japan, China, and Vietnam. Everything was delicious and came in great presentation. My favorite was the pork belly bun, which you can see a photo in my gallery below. This is a must stop if you like Asian cuisine.

American Tavern

American Tavern serves contemporary comfort food. I came here for both breakfast and lunch during my stay. The concept changes daily for lunch/breakfast. It is served buffet style for breakfast and lunch. This is the place to go if you want something quick and easy during the day!

La Parisienne

My Favorite restaurant for dinner at Sandals Royal Barbados. Every single item on the dinner menu is meticulously prepped and full of flavor. They also have an amazing wine pairing option here and the staff is educated on recommending the best paring for your evening. Must make this a visit for dinner during your stay!

Neptunes

Neptunes is a casual restaurant by the pool that serves simple, flavorful cuisine in a stunning seaside setting. It’s a nice little stop in the afternoon if you’re hungry but not ready for a full meal yet. The portion sizes are small so you won’t overindulge.

The Jerk Shack

A very popular casual spot at the resort! With open-air seating and a rustic vibe, the Jerk Shack serves up authentic jerk with traditional accompaniments. This is a MUST stop. I came here almost daily during my stay. Get the spicy sauce, you’ll thank me later!

The Service

There is a difference between genuine 5-star service and “forced” 5-star service. At Sandals Royal Barbados, everyone was extremely friendly and warm. The service felt authentic and real. I want to take this moment to talk about Butler’s Elite, which is a service included in all top-tier booking categories. All personal butlers are trained in accordance to exacting standards by the Guild of Professional English Butlers, which provides butlers and valets to nobility and celebrities worldwide.

During my entire stay, my butler made all my dinner reservations, tour bookings, and water activities for me. One day I was lounging by the pool, my butler brought me pizza and made sure I had a drink with me the entire time I relaxed by the pool. In the evening, the butler escorted me to dinner where they have reserved for me, sat me down, and got my first drink for me. Throughout my stay, I built a very good relationship with my butler, Makeba, that she became my go-to for everything. On my last night, she even arranged breakfast for me at 3am to make sure I had some breakfast before I had to depart.

Activities and Entertainment

There are many stunning pools to choose from depending on what you’re looking for. If you are looking for a quiet time relaxing by the pool, then go to the rooftop infinity pool overlooking the ocean. If you are looking to be in the midst of the action, then go to the main infinity pool with a DJ playing all afternoon. For poolside spots, your butlers will hold your chair for you until 10 am. You won’t have a problem finding a spot by the pool. The pool gets busy from 10am to around 5pm.

There are also beach chairs on the beach for guests that prefer to be on the sand. Many water sports are included, such as kayaks, snorkeling, hobie cats, paddle boarding, and glass bottom boat rides. I went out on the hobie cat one of the days. It was a short 20 min ride but great to see the resort and island from the ocean.

There is Lovers Lane for those that prefer land activities. It is a 4-lane bowling alley with a beer bar that serves 19 different beers from around the world. This is normally where guests hang out at night and it is packed from 10pm and on after dinner. There are pool tables outside as well as TVs and fireplaces for guests to hangout. Lover Lane also has a full menu as well. There is live entertainment every night at 9pm at the main courtyard. It’s a great stop after dinner before you head to one of the bars on either Sandals Royal side or Sandals Barbados side.

Final Thoughts

I had such an amazing time being here. It was truly a paradise that I never wanted to leave. I remember at one point telling my friend that it is going to be very hard to go back to the real life after such an experience. I felt pampered, relaxed, and rejuvenated. I probably gained a few pounds, but well worth it! The only con I can think of is the wi-fi goes in and out a bit when you’re at specific spots of the resort, but you’re in Barbados, you should just disconnect and enjoy.

Since the resort is luxury included, it is up to the guests on tailoring their vacation the way they like it. Go out for an adventure on the water, lay poolside all day, or pamper yourself at the spa. If you’re looking to book here, I highly suggest booking a suite with butler service, it’s the best way to fully experience the resort. Now pack your bags and make your way to paradise!

Moulin Rouge! The Broadway Musical

*Please credit me if you are to use my photos. Thanks!

It has been 17 years since the film came out that revived the entire musical genre. The film took a postmodern of the genre take by using previously released popular songs set in the backdrop of Paris 1899.

The film holds a very special place for me as I always credit it as the film that got me interested in the world of cinema- "Moulin Rouge" was my "Cinema Paradiso". I watched the film 27 times in the movie theatre when it was released and have gone to midnight showings when my local movie theatre used to host it. Baz Lurhmann, the visionary director behind "Moulin Rouge!", created the film as the finale piece to part of his red curtain trilogy that included Strictly Ballroom and Romeo + Juliet. Each film contains a theatre motif that reappears throughout the film. In Strictly Ballroom this is the dancing, in Romeo + Juliet it is the poetry, and in Moulin Rouge it is the music.

The musical is expected to open on Broadway in Spring 2019. I will have more to share when it goes on Broadway as I hope to cover it more with insights from people involved with the production.

The moment you walk into the theatre, you're walking into Moulin Rouge. There's the windmill, the elephant, the infinity heart with the Moulin Rouge sign. I was afraid the production design would not come anywhere close to the film because Catherine Martin is such a visionary and creative genius, but Derek MClane, who designed the set and production knocked it out of the park. It is awe-inspiring. The meticulous details and transitions between each set is as if you're transported to a different world each time there's a scenic change. Derek McLane is a Tony and Emmy award winnning designer with a robust list of some of the best scenic designs both seen on stage and on TV, including 2018 Oscars. Check out more about Derek here.

There are so some changes made to the story and many of the songs have been changed, but the major ones are still in-tact, such as "Lady Marmalade", "Your Song", "Come What May", "El Tango De Roxanne", "Sparking Diamonds", with revised "Elephant Love Medley" and "The Pitch". Songs that are sorely missed are "One Day I'll Fly Away" and "The Show Must Go On". Katy Perry's "Fireworks" is a strange choice as a replacement for "One Day I'll Fly Away", especially during a character defining moment.

The entire cast and the creative team behind it did an amazing job and everyone gave it 100%. If you've been following the cast's instagram, you will know that many of the cast members are fans of the film and are excited to be involved to bring this to life.

Aaron Tveit plays a great Christian. I've always loved his voice and I am still keeping my hopes up that when they make "Miss Saigon" the movie, he'll play Chris. Have you guys seen his performance of "Why? God, Why?"- Simply amazing! The character goes through the widest emotional range throughout the show. I'm sure it takes a toll on the actor in a similar way as Dear Evan Hansen, snot and all.

Karen Olivo is a very different Satine than Nicole Kidman's Satine. Karen's Satine is strong, fierce, and knows her worth. Her voice is flawless and she comes off very strong, almost a bit too strong for the character. I understand Karen's making the character her own and female empowerment is very much needed in today's world, however, Satine is trapped in a world where she so desperately wants to escape and I wish there was more vulnerability to her on stage. Nonetheless, it is HER Satine and she is the star of the show. I love every single moment of her presence on stage and her entrance from the trapeze is equally exhilarating as the film's entrance.

The one thing I wish they would change is make "Come What May" the secret love song between Christian and Satine. They use "Your Song" as the secret song instead and also in the finale, which is clearly a choice by the team. There are moments from the film that were made for a stage production that were omitted, such as the entire finale scene with the beautiful and yet tragic petal showers, but as a whole, the show WORKS.

I really wish this scene was in the show! Maybe on Broadway?

The entire supporting cast is superb and really got in the character for every single song and some seriously choreography by Sonya Tayeh. The Opening Number for Act II is probably my entire week's worth of cardio workout. Special shout outs to Tam Mutu as The Duke, Danny Burstein as Harold Zidler, and Sahr Ngaujah as Toulouse.

The show is an experience from the moment you walk in to curtain call. I can't wait to catch it when it goes on Broadway to see the changes they make! If you're in Boston, catch it now till Aug 19.

Charming Boston

From the charming cobblestones and brick row houses of Beacon Hill to the iconic Harvard Square and Fenway Park, there is something for everyone here. What stood out to me the most in Boston was the architecture throughout the city, especially in Beacon Hill. Every single street in this neighborhood looked as if it was plucked out of a coffee table book. For those are you that are looking to get some great shots of Boston, this is the area to be!

I love trying local food and popular restaurants in the city that are chef driven. One of my restaurants highlights was SRV in the historic South End. SRV is Boston's first Venetian style Bacaro and wine bar. SRV pays homage to traditional Venetian food with a modern interpretation. All dishes are made to be shared. I had such a great meal there that I stayed until the restaurant closes!

Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum is another must to put on your list if you're planning to visit Boston. The museum is modeled on the Renaissance palace of Venice surrounding a stunning glass-covered garden courtyard (definitely a photo moment!).

I stayed at the W Boston, which is very central to everywhere I wanted to hit and it has a very lively nightlife as expected from W properties. Some other highlights were Ostra Restaurant (must get the Paella!!) , Boston Public Library, Acorn Street, Tatte Bakery, Neptune Oyster, Rouvalis Flowers, Island Greek Oyster, and Bar Mezzana.

I had such a great time in Boston and really enjoyed the history and the architecture throughout the city. I hope to visit again in the future!

Below are some of the photo highlights from the city.

Cruising with Celebrity Cruises

The Ship

The cruise ship I went on is The Celebrity Equinox. As with all their cruise ships, The Celebrity Equinox is made for the luxury traveler that expects superior guest experience and 5-star amenities. From a wide range of dining options inspired by the incredible regions you visit to luxurious spa treatments, Celebrity Cruises is the ultimate luxurious experience.

Check-in Process

The check-in process was incredibly easy. I was a bit worried upon arrival to the dock seeing long lines of people waiting to get on their cruise ships, but turned out all those lines were for OTHER cruises that were poorly managed. Celebrity Cruises had their check-in system down, it was extremely fast with almost no wait time. The staff is extremely friendly and diverse from all over the world. I loved that all the members on board had their names and where they are from on their name tags. It was a great conversation starter to really get to know the crew.

The Room

I stayed in the Veranda Stateroom, which has ample indoor and outdoor space to create your private sanctuary at sea. The personal veranda was the perfect spot enjoy the sunrise and have breakfast on the sea. The cruise had a welcome gift in my stateroom that included fresh chocolate covered strawberries, a bottle of champagne, and a note from the cruise director. After a long day of traveling, they were exactly what I needed. I popped the champagne as we set sail to the Caribbean!

Michael’s Club

I wanted to point out the utmost customer service that was provided by Adriana Diaz at the Michael’s Club on board. She is a fantastic concierge and extremely welcoming. Michael’s club is an exclusive 24-hour lounge features a large-screen TV, reading areas stocked with magazines, newspapers, and books, plus a continental breakfast. Complimentary pre-dinner drinks and tapas are served 5:00 PM –8:00 PM daily, and the dedicated concierge can help arrange your specialty dining, shore excursions, and even handle inquiries about various ports of call.

Update: Michael's Club is now just for Suite guests

Dining

Lazar, the amazing restaurant manager on board.

There are endless dining options on The Celebrity Equinox. I believe there are 13 restaurants on board, all managed by Lazar Brkic, the restaurant manager. Lazar gave me a tour of all the restaurants and explained the inspirations and stories behind each restaurant. I didn’t think I would run into him again after the first day, but I ended up running into him every day on the cruise and he was friendly and made sure to take care of all my dining needs and questions each day.

I got to meet Alexander Capello, the Executive Chef on board, who came from Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts. He gave me a tour of the kitchen before service and I am so impressed by the amount of work that goes into food service each day. Everything on the ship is freshly made daily. There’s even someone that dedicated to baking bread each day and that’s all he does. It definitely changed my notion on cruise dining.

Murano Restaurant was definitely the highlight of all the restaurants for me on the cruise. It is also the only restaurant on the ship that allows open fire. The lobster dish came with a table side presentation, which was very cool to watch!

Alexander Capello, Executive Chef

On Board Experience and Entertainment

There is an itinerary that is left in your room each day after turndown service that has a full schedule of what the cruise has scheduled for entertainment the following day. Most of the activities are either very early in the morning or later in the evening leaving the day open for guests to go off on their excursions. I want to point out that there was never a time I felt like there were too many people. There are so many things to do on board that you will never feel like you’re on a ship with over 2000 people.

Excursions

There were SO many excursions to choose from at each destinations. The crew on board is very knowledgable of all the activities. You can always pick and choose depending on your preference.

Final Thoughts

The library on board. How amazing is this?

I was very hesitant about going on a cruise and everyone told me I would be bored out of my mind and surrounded by elderly people, but that was completely not my experience with Celebrity Cruises. It completely changed my notion on how cruises are, and I would 100% go on a cruise again, but only with a luxury cruise. I don’t think I even saw a single kid on the cruise and that was my main concern- being stuck on a ship with 10000 kids screaming and running around.

I had such a good experience and I really connected with the crew on board. I love how diverse the crew is and everyone is there because they absolutely love their jobs and have a passion for travel. Everything is executed and managed meticulously, and the staff is all very knowledgeable in their functions.

The only thing I would recommend is…. Bring larger shorts! Because you’re definitely going to be eating a lot on board! If you’re ever thinking about going on a cruise, I highly recommend going with Celebrity Cruises. Toss out everything you think you know about cruises, because Celebrity Cruises is in a whole different category of its own!

Lagos, Portugal

When most people plan a trip to Portugal, the first place that comes to mind is normally Lisbon. Lisbon is full of beautiful ancient ruins and historic landmarks enamored with Gothic grit and glamour (Hello Initiation Well at Quinta da Regaleira!). What most people don’t know is that Portugal also has one of the most beautiful coastal regions in the world, the Algarve. The Algarve is the southernmost region of continental Portugal. With its alluring coast, the Algarve provides the perfect alternative for those seeking relaxation under the sun on some of the most stunning beaches in Europe.

I chose Lagos as my destination in the Algarve because of its charming historic centre and numerous stunning beaches.

Here are some highlights of my trip in Lagos.

Getting here

You will need to fly into Faro Airport. This is the closest airport to getting to Lagos. Lagos is situated on the Western Algarve coastline. If you are coming from Lisbon, you can take a 3 hour train ride to Lagos.

Getting around

Everywhere is pretty much in walking distance. I would say if you’re planning to spend most of your time on the beach, stay at a hotel that is centrally located from all the beaches.

Activities

There are many activities on land and sea that you can explore depending on your interest. This is one of the reasons I chose Lagos over Lisbon, I wanted to be on the ocean most of the time and Lagos was perfect. You can do a kayak tour, grottos tour, catamaran sail, or even explore the countryside between Lagos and Alvor on a quad. I did a kayak tour through http://daysofadventure.com/ and I highly recommend them. I strongly suggest booking a water activity when you’re visiting.

Must sees

The Ponta da Piedade

The Most iconic rock formulation in Lagos. There’s a lot of walking trails and every trail provides a complete difference sensory experience. I found it the most calming during sunset, but if you’re looking to capture some great photos, go during the day where the sun shines through the water from above, you’ll capture some of the best photos during the day.

The Praia do Camilo

My favorite beach in Lagos. There are 225 stairs to get through to get through the beach, but it’s totally worth it. Just see it as leg day. There is also a restaurant at the top of the beach called O Camilo, I strongly encourage you to make a reservation now if you’re planning to go there in the next 30 days or so. It gets booked up really early so try calling them instead of booking online. It will say they are booked online, but if you call, you’ll most likely get a table. Plan it around sunset, it’s breathtaking.

Praia Dona Ana

The Praia don Ana beach is one of the most visually stunning beaches of the Algarve coastline. You can get some beautiful photos on top of the cliff and once you’re on the beach, the arches of the rocks create some very instagrammable moments.

Meia Praia Beach

This is very close by central Lagos. You can walk across the bridge from town center to get here. It is one of the largest beaches in Lagos. It gets very crowded during the summer, but it is so large, you should be able find some quiet areas to get some sun.

Historic Centre of Lagos

Fascinating buildings include the beautiful Santo Antonio church, the Mercado dos Escravos (Europe’s first slave market) and the charming 17th century Bandeira Fort. There are plenty of restaurants and shops you can explore. The best thing about staying in Lagos is that everything is pretty much in walking distance.

One tip to remember, if you’re traveling into Faro Airport, book your airport transportation through Yellowfish at https://www.yellowfishtransfers.com/, otherwise you will be ripped off from a lot of other services.

If you have any other questions or thoughts, definitely send me a message on insta!

W London

There are 660 glitter balls throughout the entrance and the reception area. One of my favorite things here. Definitely a photo moment

London has a special place in my heart for many reasons. The culture, the history, the people, and even the weather are all part of what makes this city unique.

W London Hotel is situated at the geographical and cultural intersection of London’s most vibrant districts: Soho, Leicester Square and Chinatown...the epicenter of the entertainment and nightlife scene. The hotel, like the city itself, is a bold contrast of themes, colors, textures and characters. Taking inspiration from its surroundings, the duality of British culture forms the basis for W London’s design concept - Savile Row meets Soho. Within the hotel, an attitude of formal day turns quickly into informal night aided by classic design with a contemporary twist and nightlife accents.

The building is veiled in translucent glass that will change color according to the time of day, the ambience of the area or happenings within the hotel and city.

With easy access to Piccadilly Circus, Regent Street, China Town and the West End theatre district, you will have everything the city has to offer all within walking distance.

The location

I stayed at 4 different hotels and 2 Airbnbs during this trip in London and I have to tell you, W London is by bar the most convenient location of all. Whether you’re a tourist or a frequent visitor of the city, the location of the hotel is close to everything you’ll need. I was having meetings throughout the city during the day and at night, I was able to catch up with friends at all the bars in Soho.

You have the best shopping/dining on Regent St/Oxford Circus, Carnaby St, and Piccadilly Circus all within 5-10 mins of walking. At night, you have the best nightlife in Soho right outside the hotel, not to mention the incredible lounge/bar the hotel has.

Most people in London consider Leicester Square a nightmare they never want to be near because of the overwhelming amount of tourists and tacky street performers, but during my stay at the W, I didn’t walk through Leicester Square once. I found myself walking through China Town and Soho most of the time, so I was never bothered by the crowd in Leicester Square.

The Service

When I arrived for check in, I was greeted by W Insider, Jamie Rowsell right away. Jamie introduced himself and showed me to my suite. Upon entering the suite, Jamie had left a tray of personalized treats, a welcome gift, and a handwritten card on the bathroom counter for me. I’ve stayed at this W multiple times and every time I come back, the GM and the team had always arranged for something with a personal touch in my room. Personal touches like this are what makes a stay memorable and special.

The Room

I stayed at the Screening Suite during my stay this time. There are three Screening Suites at the hotel and what makes this particular suite stand out is that this suite is half secret cinema and half spa. You can relax in an enormous bathroom featuring a bathtub and a private steam room and then make your way to the bedroom, which offers the ultimate movie experience with a 3-metre wide cinema screen with ambient ceiling lighting, Dolby surround sound and in-bed movement system.

The mood lighting in the room can be manually changed into different colors and you can also have the colors change according to the audio layers of the film you're watching.

If you followed my insta story during my stay here, you would’ve seen W Insider Jamie giving the full rundown of the suite, including the Cinematic Experience. With a tab of a button, the blackout blinds come down, curtains wrap around the entire room, a 3-metre wide screen descends from the ceiling, and the ambient ceiling light transforms the entire room into a cinematic experience.

The iPad allows you to control the lighting, tv, curtains, blinds, and mood lighting in the room.

There is a bathrub, a standing shower, and a steam room in the "spa" section of the room.

I took advantage of having a steam room in the suite. Everytime I fly, I tend to get so extremely puffy from retaining water. Being able to take a bath and then jump into the steam room was the perfect solution to my puffiness. There’s also a standing shower outside of the steam room to rinse off after you steam. The bathroom is adorned with Bliss products as usual.

The view of the suite is overlooking the gym, which was a bit strange at first, but it didn’t really bother me since I had the blinds down most of the time.

In-Room Dining

They have an extensive Breakfast Menu, All Day Menu, All Night Menu and Kids Menu to ensure that everything you need is available to you 24/7. One night, my friend and I ordered off of the All Night Menu: the chicken caesar salad with a side of fries and the W Club Sandwich with a side of broccoli. We thoroughly enjoyed it. I especially liked the W Club Sandwich. Everything tasted fresh and clean.

On a separate occasion, I ordered off of the Breakfast Menu: pancakes with caramelized banana, mixed berries and tonka cream (it comes with a scoop of ice cream or sorbet of your choosing). It was the perfect portion for me. I wish I had tried some of the other items on the breakfast menu, because they have a pretty extensive breakfast menu with so many choices.

Mega Bar Experience

The Mega Bar offers a luxurious in-room bar service complete with an entertaining and knowledgeable personal mixologist, powerful sound system and fun disco ball.

Custom designed for W London, the Mega Bar’s exterior takes inspiration from a music freight case, which opens out to reveal an opulent bar, featuring luxurious design details including an onyx worktop, deluxe leather paneling and a handcrafted gold-hammered sink.

The Mega Bar experience comes with your personal mixologist. Here is Giulio making magic happen. Follow him on insta at @giuliovaldiserri

Every Cloud- Bourbon, Cointreau, orange juice and ginger beer served in a martini glass with a dash of honey, raspberries and candyfloss.

The disco ball spins and there's also a sound system built into the case that allows you to pick the playlist.

Here Comes The Sun- Ciroc Pineapple Vodka, Kings giner liqueur, topped with pineapple juice, egg white, and homemade pineapple , ginger and chili syrup. All served in a fresh pineapple cup alongside W Sunglasses.

Amenities

In the state-of-the-art fitness facility outfitted with Technogym equipment, the gym is open 24/7 adjacent to the Away Spa. There are treadmills, elliptical machines and stationary bikes mounted with LCD TVs, weight machines, free weights, yoga mats, balance balls, jump ropes and punching bags, and even personal trainers on call.

The gym was busy in the morning, but pretty slow throughout the afternoon and empty in the evenings most of the time. If you are an early riser, you will definitely see a lot of other guests in the gym with you.

They also have a spa, but i didn't use it, because I had a steam room in my suite.

There is a small business center. I've used the computers here to print out my boarding passes in the past. Free for all hotel guests. Access is granted by your room keycard.

Final Thoughts

W London is by far my favorite hotel in London. I've stayed here the past few years and each time is better than the last. Jamie, the W Insider, was such an amazing source of information that I went to him everyday during my stay to get recommendations on where I should go eat, drink , and see. All his recommendations were outstanding. If you are staying here, please make it a point to connect with Jamie!

The Mega Bar Experience was one not to forget. I still have people asking me about that whole experience. It is an exciting way to celebrate any special occasion or a fun way to kick off the night with a special someone or friends.

Last year, I had lost my passport in Mykonos, and went through a series of unfortunate events. When I returned to London, I was SO happy I stayed at the W London. After a stressful time in Greece, they upgraded me and made sure I had everything I needed. I always call this hotel my home away from home, because the staff here always took care of me as if I was part of the family, and that is what hospitality should be about.

I can't wait to be back!

book your book at - http://www.wlondon.co.uk/

Follow them on insta at : https://www.instagram.com/wlondonhotel/

Follow W Insider Jamie Rowsell @jamie_rowsell on insta for everything you need to know about London. https://www.instagram.com/jamie_rowsell/ — Follow W Insider Jamie Rowsell @jamie_rowsell on insta for everything you need to know about London. https://www.instagram.com/jamie_rowsell/

Find out more about the hotel here - www.wlondon.co.uk/

Follow W London on Instagram here- www.instagram.com/wlondonhotel/

Museum of Ice Cream, Los Angeles

What is it?

Museum of Ice Cream is part ice cream parlor, part Pop Art gallery space, the Museum of Ice Cream includes a rotating selection of scoops from the likes of McConnell's, Salt & Straw, Coolhaus and CREAM. Don't come here expecting a history of ice cream. I would say this is more of a pop up art installation for very cool instagram photos. On the installation side, you'll find everything from a melted popsicle jungle to a room filled with 10,000 bananas, scratch and sniff banana wallpaper, and of course that hundred-million-sprinkles pool.

Location: 2018 E 7TH PLACE LOS ANGELES CA 90021

Phi Phi Island Village Beach Resort, Thailand

There are many hotels and resorts to choose from depending on the kind of experience you’re looking for. I knew I wanted to be somewhere as remote as possible after being in Bangkok, so I chose to stay at Phi Phi Island Village Beach Resort, which is located on the north side of the island.

Phi Phi Island Village Beach Resort is one of the two premium luxury resorts you’ll find on the island. I picked this one over the other one, because the reviews on TripAdvisor were overall more positive than the other choice and the photos looked much better, especially the bathrooms.

The Resort:

The Bungalows are clean and well kept. There are golf carts that will come pick you up at your bungalow to take you to wherever you want to go at the resort. The main restaurant serves an amazing buffet for both breakfast and dinner. There’s a little village right behind the hotel where you can find local restaurants, bars, and even book tours. If you are planning to stay at Phi Phi Island Village Beach Resort, you might want to check the restaurants here first before putting down the money for the resort buffet.

There are two infinity swimming pools here. They are located on the opposite ends of the resort. The smaller one is located right on the beach, but it gets crowded very quickly. The larger pool was never crowded whenever I visited, but the downside of the larger pool is that you don’t really get to lay out on the beach. The sunbeds are on the grass area overlooking the beach.

There is a tennis court as well for you tennis players.

The Wana Spa is a beautiful spa with various treatments and massages for both men, women, and couples. I did a Yogurt Honey Body Scrub treatment at the spa and my skin was baby soft after. It was the perfect treatment after being in the sun for a few days.

The Location:

The location of the resort was challenging at times. It is only accessible by boat and if you want to go to Tonsai Bay, which is the main town, you have to take a boat there. It is only a 15 minute ride, however, the resort only shuttles to the main town about 3 times a day and the last returning shuttle is around 3pm, so if you don’t get on the 3pm shuttle back, you have to find your own boat back to the resort. It is very easy to find a long tail boat on Tonsai Bay, but the problem I encountered was that no boats would go to the resort between 5pm-9pm because it is simply not safe due to the tides. One night I was able to find a boat back at 9pm, but I had to walk through at least half a mile in the water to get back to the resort because the boat was not able to get close enough to the resort due to low tide. I'm sure it would be different depending on the month you're going. I was there in Feb.

The most off-putting thing that happened was the day we arrived at the resort. The tides were so low that our speedboat had to anchor so far away from land that we literally had to jump into the ocean with our bags over our heads and walk/swim to get to the resort. People tripped over rocks, luggage got drenched, our clothes got wet, and many were bleeding from cuts from walking through corals. It was so poorly handled. If you plan on staying here, please bring water shoes and wear something comfortable on the day you arrive and depart. We had to walk through water on the day we left as well, but it wasn’t as bad as the day we arrived.

Overall

I had an amazing stay despite the nightmare on the first day. I would definitely return again. I will have to say it is more suited for couples and people that want to relax. There is no nightlife around Phi Phi Island Village Beach Resort, all the actions were at Tonsai Bay, which I will follow up with another post about my experience of Phi Phi Island in general.

If you have any other questions about Phi Phi Island Village Beach Resort, don’t hesitate to leave a comment below.

Their website is- http://www.phiphiislandvillage.com

W Bangkok

If you are looking for an exciting hotel with a lively dining and night scene in the heart of the city, W Bangkok might just be what you’re looking for. W Bangkok is composed of two buildings on North Sathorn Road – a new modern tower and a heritage building. The heritage building is the House on Sathorn, which has a fascinating history and at one point used to be a Russian Embassy. When the W Hotel took over, they went through a three-year restoration process in consultation with the Thai government’s Department of Fine Arts to ensure a faithful restoration of the building.

The overarching narrative design of the hotel is ‘Bejeweled Mystique’. The concept was to create a contemporary, modern counterpoint or juxtaposition to the traditional, historic and ornamental heritage building… The heritage building represents the ‘bejeweled’; while the tower is the ‘mysterious’.

The location

Some reviewers on TripAdvisor complained about the location of the hotel, but I found it extremely convenient to everything I wanted to do. It is in the Business District.

The service

I was greeted by Alex, the Director of Rooms, upon check-in and if you ever get to meet him, do make a point to ask him about his experience working in Bangkok and other properties. He offered a lot of great insights to the neighborhood around the hotel. Alex also remembered my name for the duration of my stay and greeted me by my first name whenever I ran into him.

I highly suggest you using their concierge team if you are visiting the country for the first time. They are experienced and efficient at assisting all your needs, including direction for your taxi or uber. I've stayed at many W Hotels, the service here is a notch above a lot of their other propertities.

The room

The room is very well designed and laid out. It feels open, clean, and updated.

My room had a free-standing bathtub with the city view behind it. The bathroom is adorned with full size Bliss products, not just the travel size you normally get at other W Hotels. Everything was extremely clean and spotless. It felt like a brand new hotel.

You can manage the room's AC, lighting, and do not disturb sign from a Lenovo mobile device by the bedside. Water bottles were left all over the room, free of charge daily. Bathroom and the lighting in the room has been specially thought out brilliantly.

Being a SPG member, the wifi was also free, and surprisingly stable. There’s a sound system where you can sync your phone to play your own music as well. All the outlets are internationally equipped, you will not need to bring converters if you plan on staying here.

My room had a great view of the city with ample lighting that floods the entire room. I loved opening the curtains all the way to see the view outside every morning.

The design

I know often times W Hotels can be a sensory overload, but it works here. Everything is meticulous designed and I fell in love with the spiral staircase in the lobby and the light installation by the lift area. The installation contains 800 tuk-tuk lights. It is stunning in person. The carpets in the entrance and in the elevators are changed three times a day, from “good morning” to “good afternoon” to “good evening”.

Amenities

The highlight is definitely the WET Pool, which is the outdoor pool surrounded by lounge chairs, couches and covered day beds. The best of all? It is open 24/7! The pool is attached to the gym, which it also open 24/7.

I wish I had taken some photos of the gym, because it is a fully functional gym, not your typical hotel gym where there are only 4 machines and one rack of free weights. The gym is equipped with TechnoGym® fitness equipment such as treadmills, elliptical trainer, exercise bikes with LCD displays (2 x 46" TV's), free Weights, yoga mats, medicine ball, boxing bag and speed Ball. Towels are provided along with water cooler, refreshments. It is by bar one of the best hotel gyms I’ve been to.

Restaurant and Bar

There are plenty of eateries at W Bangkok. The Kitchen Table brings the essence of a Modern Bistro; dishes here are inspired from all over the world. The restaurant serves a wide selection of cuisine types with strong focus on honest flavors combining the best of global cookery with Thai culinary traditions.

The Kitchen Pantry is your casual spot. It houses a large designer vertical chiller cabinets that present an array of soft beverages, waters, fresh juices, wines and champagne pop bottles. It was my go to spot for my morning latte!

The House on Santhron is their main culinary house. Head to The Courtyard for high tea out in the beautiful outdoor space, satiate your palate with the delicacies at the luxury restaurant, The Dining Room, then start your evening at The Bar before partying the night away at The Woodbar.

Unfortunately, I did not get to eat here because of time constraint, but I did take some photos of the amazing breakfast they were serving in the morning. It has EVERYTHING you can imagine all nicely presented.

I had drinks at Wood bar, which was packed on a Saturday night. Great signature cocktails that are Instagram worthy!

Final Thoughts

W Bangkok exceeded my expectation. Though i’m usually a W fan, it can be a hit and miss at times….hint hint New York Times Square. I would stay here again and would definitely recommend it to friends. The service was impeccable and the hotel feels new. There’s a lot of traffic during the day and at night, but you never feel overwhelmed by the crowd. The lobby bar is definitely a scene at night on the weekends, but if you want something quieter, you can always head next door to the House on Sathorn.

It is one of the most exciting hotels to be at. I did spend time at few other hotels in Bangkok, but W Bangkok blew them out of the water. It’s stylish, sexy, and very well rounded in all aspects.

Ibiza

The trip to Ibiza came much unexpected. I had my itinerary all planned out for London and then last minute my friend asked me to go to Ibiza with him so without a plan, I just went! Normally when I do a trip, I do an extensive research on where to go, where to eat, and where to take photos, but since this was a last minute trip and I was staying with my friend, I didn’t plan out a whole itinerary.

Ibiza was surprisingly expensive, but the beach and the people were extremely friendly. It is a party island, so if you’re looking for nonstop partying, this is the place for you. I went to mostly beaches during my stay and had the most relaxing time. I wish I had remembered all the beaches I went, but the few I remembered were Cala Moli, Cala Vadella, Cala Tarida, Cala Salada, and Cala d’Hort. I really enjoyed Cala Vedella and Cala Moli. Cala Vedella had a lot of action going on and the beach was crowded. Cala Molí is a secluded beach between the resorts Cala Vadella and Cala Tarida that has the advantage of a beach club with its own pool. Set at the end of a 'torrent' (a cleft in the hillside) this pebbly beach has been declared a 'natural' beach by the San José Town Hall and means its beauty isn't spoiled with rows of sun loungers and parasols. It also means fewer tourists.

This is an excellent beach for snorkeling as the sea bed is quite rocky. The water is beautifully clear; perfect for spotting marine life, and the caves add an extra dimension.

I spent a night out in town where all the parties are and it was a lot of fun. It was definitely a different vibe from all the beaches and more of a party vibe with a lot of young people. One of the highlights of my trip here was catching the sunset by Es Vedra at Cala d’Hort. Es Vedra is said to be the third most magnetic spot on the planet and the home of the sirens and sea-nymphs who tried to lure Ulysses from his ship in Homer's Odyssey. It was a sight to remember.

I would definitely go back another time! Until then, here are some of the photos from the trip!

If you are planning a trip there, I highly recommend going through this beach guide. It provides a pretty great description of all the beaches- http://www.ibiza-spotlight.com/beaches_i.htm

My Top 10 Practical Gifts for a Traveler

1. Jord Watch

Why: When I travel, I plan my trip out on an excel spreadsheet with specific times for everything, so it’s crucial for me to have something to keep me on track for all my activities. Checking the time on your phone drains the battery, so I try to avoid that whenever I can, especially when you’re exploring in nature with no electrical outlets. Jord watches are understated and stylish. The watches are made of natural woods sourced from all over the world (which they list on their website). You don’t want to be wearing something flashy or more than a house payment when you’re traveling, so this is the perfect medium. They also offer customize engraving, which makes it a perfect gift for someone special. Hint hint: Valentine’s Day is coming up.

I like the company’s message overall. They focus on sustainability and creating timepieces that are modeled after modern lifestyle. They look and feel modern… Definitely a must for stylish travel.

I’ve partnered up with them to do a giveaway. If you’re interested in the watch, you can click on this link. https://www.woodwatches.com/g/thecameronlee

The contest will close January 15th at 11:59pm.

The one I’m wearing is Dove Series in Zebrawood and Dark Sandalwood- https://www.woodwatches.com/series/dover/zebrawood-and-dark-sandalwood/#thecameronlee

2. Camera

Why: Because your trip did not happen unless you have photos to show! I shoot on my Fuji X-PRO 2, which shoots clean cinematic photos that you see on my Instagram and website.

3. Tom Ford Lip Balm

Why: Dry chapped lips are never attractive. I have dry lips to begin with and they get severely dry after a long flight that it literally take days for them to get back to looking normal. I used to love Burts Bees, but they just don’t do it for me during winter. Tom Ford’s lip balm is moisturizing and provides a hydrating layer on your lips that protects it from the cold. This saved me many times in New York during winter!

4. Anker Portable Charger

Why: It’s small, portable, and a MUST if you’re traveling. The website says it gives you 6 full charges or something like that, but realistically, it’s like 2.5 full charges.

5. Givenchy Cardholder

Why: When you’re traveling, you don’t always need to carry your entire wallet. When I go out to the bars/clubs at night, I use my card holder to bring my ID, one credit card, and some cash. It’s slim and perfect for a night out. When traveling internationally, it is very important not to have your wallet bulging on the back of your pocket so you don't get pickpocketed. The one I have is from Givenchy. This was my favorite print they've ever done. I also have the matching wallet!

6. Personalized Passport Book from Mark and Graham

Why: For whatever reason, you will be less likely to misplace or lose your passport when it’s in a passport holder. I lost mine in Greece once, so I learned it the hard way. Mine is monogrammed with my initials from Mark and Graham. My friend got it for me for Christmas, I’m in love with it.

7. Luggage Tag from Mark and Graham

Why: To save you time to spot your luggage on the carousel. Add a personal touch with your initials.

8. Tom Ford Sunglasses

Why: You will always need a pair of sunglasses regardless where you travel to. I prefer a darker shade for the winter and fun colorful ones for tropical destinations. The one in the photo is a pair of Tom Ford aviators. I have two aviators from Tom Ford, they are timeless and classic.

9. Amore Pacific Facial Spray

Why: Your face will thank you for having this. During the winter, the cold air dries out your skin, it is very helpful to have a facial mist handy. It is also a must when you’re going on a long flight. I usually have the La Mer facial mist, I am currently using the Amore Pacific mist, but I think I will go back to La Mer once this bottle is done. These are definitely a must when you're going to be in the sun for an extended period of time.

10. RXBARS

Why: Because you don’t want to starve to death when you’re on the road. I like these RXBARS, because they are made of simple clean ingredients. I have a sensitive stomach, and these have never bothered my stomach. I bring a few of these whenever I’m out doing a shoot as well.

This post was sponsored by JORD Wood Watches

Watch Gift Ideas

Rise Festival, Nevada

Words cannot describe how incredible the experience was. It is one of those events that you just have to be there to witness it in person. My friend and I drove out to Nevada for the weekend. We spent some time in Las Vegas, which you can see the photos from my Instagram. I do have enough photos from my time in Vegas that I might do a post about it another time.

The actual site of Rise is about 45 minutes out from Las Vegas. For the amount of people that attended the event, the arrival parking was very well-managed, however, exiting the venue was a different story. We got there around 5:30pm and we waited in line for over an hour to get a photo in front of the Rise sign, which thinking back I probably would've skipped. There's live music being performed through the entire night, but I think they could've had better bands.

We got our lanterns very quickly as everything was assigned to different sections. Once we were settled into our spot, we started writing down our wishes and dreams on our lanterns with the markers that were given to us in the package. The first launch was at 8pm, and it was truly one of the most magical things I've ever witnessed. It was such a surreal sight and awe inspiring. I have to say the lanterns were not easy to light and release. We almost killed a few people by releasing the lanterns too early.

The festival ended with an amazing firework display and then it was a bit of a nightmare getting out of the venue. Some people were stuck in the parking lot trying to get out for over an hour. I think they are aware of the situation and will improve on that next year.

If you are even remotely thinking about doing this, please do yourself a favor, and just do it! You won't regret it. I am definitely going to do it again next year.

Paris, France

If you've been following me on instagram, you probably have seen most of my photos from my trip in Paris. I have been to Paris a few times, my trip this time was purely photography driven. I stayed at the 123 Sebastopol Hotel. It was centrally located and close to many metro stops. Each floor of the hotel is designed after a figure in contemporary cinema, mine is designed after Daniele Thompson, a screenwriter and producer. It is a 4 star hotel that was nominated for the World Luxury Hotel Awards in 2014. It also has great reviews on Tripadvisor. I believe I have enough photos from the hotel to do a post about it in the future. I highly recommend it if you are traveling to Paris and wanting something unique and comfortable.

I did a lot of walking on this trip, maybe too much, because my legs were dying on the second day here. I walked through Montmartre, went by the Moulin Rouge, which I was too embarrassed to ask my friend to take me there the last time I was in Paris. I have such an obsession with the movie that I was so happy to finally cross this off my bucket list. I went to the top of the Sacre Coer with no wait! If you plan on going to the top of the Sacre Coer, go on a week day around noon. There was no crowd at all, I literally just walked in and walked up. You get a beautiful panoramic view of the city once you're up there.

I wanted to go to Versailles, but due to time constraint, I opted not to. It would've taken a whole day out of my trip. I did, however, got to tour inside the Palais Garnier Opera House, which was a feast for the eyes. The foyer inside the opera house with the chandeliers rivals the Hall of Mirrors at Versailles.

The most memorable part of this trip was shooting with the amazing Katie Mitchell. If you are ever in Paris, you must schedule a shoot with her. Her website is katiemitchellphotography.com. We shot during sunrise to avoid the crowd at the Louvre and Trocadero. We had so much fun shooting and at one point, the garbage man tried to steal one of my suits and Katie chased after the dumpster truck as they drove away! I would want to fly her out to wherever i'm going next to do another shoot! She is THAT amazing.

Where I Stayed

123 Sebastopol Hotel

Where I Visited

Palais Garnier

Galeries Lafayette

Sacre Coer

Montmartre

Moulin Rouge

The Louvre

Jardin Du Tulleries

Les Deux Plateaux

Trocadero

Eiffel Tower