Tonight I am exhausted, anxious and beyond excited preparing for our second annual “adults only” birthday celebration. I’ll will be on hiatus for a much needed week of sun, fun and relaxation.
Oh, did I mention no kids and lots of sleeping?
This year husband and I are headed to the Hard Rock Punta Cana, the world’s first ever all-inclusive Hard Rock. I’m not sure who is more excited, me about the 15 pools and 65,000 square foot Rock Spa or him about the 45,000 square foot casino and 18-hole Nicklaus designed golf course.
Doesn’t really matter because pretty soon, I’ll be sipping cocktails from here. I’ll also be taking lots of pics and have a full report upon our return. Stay tuned for more details!
As much as I love to travel, I despise packing. The destination never seems to matter, whether it’s international or domestic I always bring too many shoes, too many beauty products, too much of everything. But there are five things I never leave home without….. There’s nothing overly glamorous about these, but each allow me to feel comfortable away from home.
The All-Purpose Pillow by Tempur-Pedic – $49 – Husband thinks I’m crazy but you never know! Five star hotels have been known to provide thin, flimsy feather pillows which are not the best option for neck support. It’s small enough to fit in a carry-on luggage or tote.
Travel Tranquil Moments Alarm Clock Sound Therapy Machine – $99 – This little gadget has been to Germany, Switzerland, Bahamas, Mexico and beyond over the past 10 years, never letting me down. It guarantees a great night sleep when your hotel neighbors may not be so considerate. Yes, there’s an app for that but I tend to be old school and like having this by my nightstand. Plus, I don’t worry about theft – not too many hotel staff interested in taking an alarm clock/noise machine.
iPad 2– $499 + – This really needs no explanation but I will tell you why. Last year having this device poolside was amazing. We made dinner reservations using the Open Table App, read the paper online, listened to music and read books. Yes the iPad 3 is out so if you haven’t made the plunge yet, go for it. My only complaint is the inability to watch Adobe Flash videos.
Australian Gold Spray Gel SPF 15 – 30 – $8.99 – I’ve been using this product for over ten years. It is seriously one of the best tanning lotions on the market. Being from Florida and growing up on the beach, we used tons of products, but Australian Gold has a one of a kind bronzing technology. It gets you dark. Really dark. Available in SPF 4 all the way to 30. I don’t use this on my face, just my body.
Blow Dryer – Call me crazy again but this is one hair care tool I don’t leave home without. You could tell me the hotel was providing twenty blow dryers in the room, I would bring my own. Just call me high maintenance but it really comes down to knowing without a doubt my hair will resemble something similar to how I look at home.
