Most Romantic Locals: Antigua

Yes, any island in the Caribbean is going to have a bit of romance but combine Sandals' four poster king size beds, butler service, and unlimited luxury with Antigua's crystal blue water, pink sand, and natural wonders and you've got the perfect getaway with your loved one.

Want more on Sandals? See my blog: Bahamas and Turks & Caicos

Most Romantic Locals: Anywhere but Paris

Imagine a villa all your own in the French countryside...

These photos are a mixture of some of my favorite villas in the French Riviera and Provence. Did you know AAA can book villas in Europe, Hawaii, Central America, and the Caribbean? You'd be surprised how reasonable the rates are.. especially when you can split the cost when you travel with a group, some of these villas have 10 rooms!

Most Romantic Locals: Santorini

Everyone will argue over which Greek Island is their favorite, Mykonos or Crete? Or..? My favorite is Santorini. This is where the famous lost city, Atlantis is legend to be.

Many of these photos are provided by Astra Suites, a gorgeous 5 star hotel in the area of Imerovigli. I found the photo below on a website called, Freaking News that had a photo shop contest and thought that it was just fantastic in portraying "The Lost City."

Most Romantic Locals: Costa Rica

Happy Valentine's Day!

I hope you are celebrating with a loved one.. and if you're not, celebrate with friends and how great is being single!

Aww.. Costa Rica. It's hard to pick just one area! Arenal.. Jaco.. Monte Verde.. You have beaches, adventure, animals, city, history, and so much more.

My favorite place is Rio Celeste, there is a gorgeous water fall and a crystal blue pool. The closest hotel near the fall? Rio Celeste Hideaway.

After some time in the rain forest you can head over to the Arenal area to see the volcano and take a dip in the hot springs.

Most Romantic Locals: Zihua

In honor of Valentine's Day, I will be posting a photo gallery of the most romantic locations, a new destination everyday of the week. Let's start off with one my favorite places, Zihuatanejo, Mexico. "Zihua" as I like to call it, is tucked away from the hustle and bustle of the other popular tourist towns, between a mountain range and the bay. If you are planning to go here, there is no other place to stay than The Tides, a five star property.

A fun fact: Zihuatanejo means "the place of women." "A Tarascan leader named Caltzontzin built a safe harbor here to protect his people's women so they could swim safely in the sea." Many believe the legend of the Amazon women came from here.

There are ten different beach breaks, or surf locations, within 30 miles of the resort.

The Tides offers wedding packages and a honeymoon registry. AAA offers wedding packages in most destinations and in some cases, the bride and groom can fly free!

The Tides also offers an all inclusive option, this means all of your meals and drinks (including cocktails!) are already included! No need to pull out your wallet!

Although in most tourist destinations, travel is safe, there is still a government advisory for Americans traveling to Mexico.

Top Places to Visit in 2012

The New York Times did an article on the 45 Top Places to Visit in 2012 and it's definitely a good article, so if you missed it, here is a glance at the top 5.

1. Panama: There is more than just the canal.

2. Helsinki, Finland: Design District.

3. Myanmar: Find genuine hospitality in a place not effected by tourism.

4. London: The Olympics are coming! The Olympics are coming!

5. Oakland, California: If you are from the bay area, you are probably just as shocked as I am! Since Oakland is just in my backyard, I'm planning to spend a whole day there to see what all the fuss is about and I'll share my photos, dining experiences, etc. So check back soon!

The World's Roller Coasters

If you haven't figured out yet from my Bucket List, I am some what of a thrill seeker. So I thought it would be fun to show you some of the top roller coaster in the world. The USA has the most in the top categories but Japan is not too far behind either. Here's my top ten (in no particular order):

Surf Coaster, Sea Paradise in Yokohama, Japan

This isn't in the top ten fastest or longest but the engineering is amazing! 279 feet of the coaster is under the Pacific!

Kingda Ka, Six Flags in Jackson, New Jersey

"The fierce Kingda Ka is the tallest coaster in the World, fastest in North America. The remarkable thrill ride breaks all world records for coaster speed and height, zooming from 0 to 128mph in 3.5 seconds and catapulting you 45 stories in the sky."

Formula Rossa, Ferrari World in Abu Dubai, United Arab Emirates

"Formula Rossa: Strap yourself into the F1 cockpit and hold onto your soul as you blast away on the fastest roller coaster on the planet. You'll accelerate up to 240km/h and see what 4.8 Gs really feels like."

Superman: Krypton, Six Flags in San Antonio Texas

"Flying 16 stories high at 70mph - with nothing between you and Texas. Welcome to Superman: Krypton Coaster, the largest steel roller coaster in the region - and the only one with no floor. Let it all hang out as you jet along with the pavement far below your dangling feet. Nothing feels more like true flight."

The Beast, King's Island in Mason, Ohio

"The Beast is the longest wooden roller coaster in the world at 7,400 feet (1-3/4 miles); travels at speeds up to 65 miles per hour and has a ride length of more than four minutes."

Takabisha, Fuji-Q Highland in Yamanashi, Japan

Takabisha received world recognition when it opened in July 2011, it was the steepest roller coaster in the world at the time.

Steel Dragon 2000, Nagashima Spa Land in Mie, Japan

Steel Dragon 2000 is the longest steel roller coaster in the world. It was built in the year 2000, the "Year of the Dragon," hence the name.

California Screamin, Disneyland in Anaheim, California

Although California Screamin doesn't seem to be the most thrilling coaster in the world, I am a Disney fanatic and it is one of my favorites. It is the 6th longest coaster in the world and accelerates guests from 0 to 55 mph in 4 seconds. 

Skycycle in Japan's Washuzan Highland Park

Forget the loops and the speed, this coaster in Japan is peddle-powered and the heights alone will give you a fright! But check out the views...

Top Thrill Dragster, Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio

Very similar and second to Kingda Ka this coaster this is one of the tallest and fastest coasters in the world.

Do you have the urge to go to Japan or Dubai or Texas now? Contact me here.