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People of the World

While on our amazing trips, we always run into some interesting people. Because we absolutely love photography, we can't help but to whip out the camera and snap a shot of some of these awesome people!! Not only are they great for a laugh, but they also reflect the culture really well. Check out some of our finds...

Can you think of some funny captions for any of these photos? Comment and share your ideas!!

Amazing Resorts in the Caribbean

Anguilla

1. CuisinArt Resort & Spa

2. Cap Juluca

3. Meads Bay Beach Villas

St. Barts

1. Eden Rock Hotel

2. Hotel Guanahani & Spa

St. Lucia

1. Jade Mountain

2. Jalousie Plantation

Turks and Caicos

1. The Sands

2. Amanyara Villas

3. Seven Stars Resort

Top 10 of Australia

1. JUICE BARS!!! You can find juice bars just about anywhere in Australia. Our favorite is a chain called "Boost." I think we went to a juice bar at least once everyday, you can even find them in the airport. Not only are they DELICIOUS, but they are really healthy, too! Be sure to get the Mango Tango Crush or All Berry Bang...you won't regret it. Visit Boost's website

2. Bush and beach horse back riding...we rode horses at Ace Hi Ranch. Three things you should know: 1. You WILL be covered in dust if you go on the bush ride (wear sunglasses and bring a wash cloth, face wash, and a change of clothes if you are planning on going anywhere after the ride) and 2. You might get a super slow/obese horse if you have never ridden before (we did) and 3. You will probably be sore for at least three days. BUT the ride is worth it! The beach is amazing and the waves are gigantic! Visit Ace Hi's website

3. Surfing!! You should do it. But you should know that you wont look as cool as you think. We got to wear these super stylish helmets and trendy over-sized wetsuits while surfing at Point Leo Beach! Visit East Coast Surf School's website

4. Melbourne Zoo...This place is awesome, and if you are lucky you might even get to pet an escaped kangaroo. WE DID!

5. The Sydney Opera House! See it up close, go inside, walk around it and see every angle, see it from your hotel, and best of all, from the water.

6. Salted Caramel Gelato. The gelato we ate at Coogee beach was made by an Italian chef AND chosen by Oprah to be served at her party in the Sydney Opera House! Warning: If you try it once you will crave it everyday for the rest of your life. That's a promise.

7. Shopping in downtown Melbourne... If you're staying in a nearby town, away from the city, you can take the train into Melbourne! It's affordable, especially on Sunday's (it's just $2 for an all-day ticket). The train is nothing special, but you'll see some interesting people which was entertaining enough for us! Once you get into the city, there's more shopping to do than you can fit into your day! We recommend that you take the trolly for quick transportation around the city! It's free!

8. "Fish n Chips!" We aren't exactly big fish eaters, but the "chips" (aka french fries) in Australia are to die for! You can go into a fish and chips shop and ask for a bag of chips. They will wrap it in paper and put salt on it. Made fresh to order!! You won't be disappointed! If you like fish, you will also be in heaven!

9. Beach trails... If you're in a beach town, there will be tons of trails leading to the beach, or trails with amazing ocean views! You can wake up early to see the sunrise at the sea line or you can go see the sunset at night. You won't be disappointed in the spectacular view of the sun rising or setting over the ocean!!!

10. Hiking at Bushrangers Bay! If you go here in the evening you will see dozens of wild kangaroos! Parts of the trail overlook the ocean and there are steps leading down to the beach. Don't forget your camera!!! If you're lucky, you could get as close as a few feet away to a wild kangaroo! It's an unforgettable sight to see! At the end of the long walk, you can either head down to the beach, or continue on to see the Cape Schanck lighthouse. Read more

G'day!

Australia was an amazing and unforgettable trip! We were in Victoria, Mornington, and Sydney most of the time. Some of the awesome things we did included learning to surf, riding horses on the beach, shopping in Melbourne, relaxing on the beach, petting kangaroos at the zoo, seeing kangaroos up-close in the wild, enjoying breathtaking views, visiting the Opera House, eating delicious meals, and so much more! We'll be writing more detailed posts very soon, but first we'd like to share a few favorite photos from our adventure down under!

Tips For Standby Travel

If you read our blog then you probably know that we travel standby a lot. Standby means that you can fly cheaper and get on a flight only if there are available seats. We can do this because Claire's mom is a flight attendant and can give "buddy passes." For some people this might sound miserable but for us its just another adventure! Here are some tips for those of you that attempt this unpredictable method of traveling...

1. Plan out your travel dates. As a standby passenger you are automatically lower on the list to get on the flight. People that pay full fare are ahead of you, and depending on how many people buy tickets you may or may not get on the flight. Make sure you aren't trying to fly out or in on popular dates (for example, the beginning or end of school breaks or holidays). Its very important to be flexible when you fly stand by because you never know for sure if you are going to get on a flight.

2. Pack your carry on with things that you will need in case you get stuck. Its very common to get stuck as a standby, especially if you are an S-4 (buddy pass), but it even happens to S-2's (employees on highest rank)! We have been stuck in cities for up to a week before (and we haven't always been prepared). Bring at least two changes of clothes. Phone chargers, medicine, small toiletries, money and anything else that you would need if you got stuck overnight without your suitcase.

3. Bring a computer. If you do end up getting stuck somewhere then you will want to have your computer. You can check the status of your flight, look for hotel options in the area, keep in contact with people from home, and even research fun things to do in the area while you are stuck.

4. Chill out and make the most of it! Don't stress about getting stuck somewhere. Chances are you will end up seeing or doing something that you never would have done otherwise. Learn to laugh instead of getting frustrated. Things don't always turn out perfectly and the best way to get though those things is to laugh about them. Have fun because you may be somewhere you'll never go again.

5. Make Friends. There are probably a lot of other stand by passengers trying to get on the same flight as you. Get to know them because depending on how the flights look you may be seeing a lot of them. Its fun to have people to wait around with and even more fun to celebrate when one of your new friends gets on a flight. If you don't make a flight its nice to have people that are in the same situation as you. You can whine about it to them, then get over it and go have fun.

Christmas Break Down Under??

Thanks to your voting, we are so excited to be traveling to AUSTRALIA this December!!!!!!! We will be in Victoria, send us a message if you have any advice on what to do! Check back soon for updates and posts from our trip!!!

Capri

What we did:

• Took a boat ride around the island
• Went inside the famous "Blue Grotto"
• Ate at da Giorgio restaurant: Da Giorgio Capri
• Went shopping around town
• Hiked to "Villa Jovis"

Tips:

• If you don't mind spending some extra cash then renting a private boat can really enhance your experience. We rented a boat from Positano and our captain made the experience really fun. There are plenty of companies that offer boat trips, some hotels can negotiate cheaper prices so ask your hotel to check into private boat trips to Capri. Our captain saved time to let us take a dip in the clear turquoise water before we departed from the island.
• DO NOT MISS THE BLUE GROTTO. It may be crowded and a little extra money but its completely worth it. If you skip this then you will regret it. Don't forget to bring extra Euros, around 5 per person but it may vary so it wouldn't hurt to bring extra.
• Da Giorgio restaurant had awesome food and an equally awesome view. Its a pretty nice restaurant but no need to stress out about what you are wearing, the friendly staff welcomes all.
• Most of the shops are very expensive. In general, Capri is an expensive place, but its still fun to window shop where the rich and famous purchase their garments while on vacation.
• Hiking to Villa Jovis is NOT easy! Wear tennis shoes, or shoes that do not hurt your feet. We wore flip flops and were not prepared at all for the near vertical hike to the villa. The view from the top is stunning and the ruins are really cool as well. It was absolutely worth the blisters on our feet over the next few days.

Photos from the beautiful Isle of Capri

Playlists

Whenever we take a road trip somewhere, we ALWAYS burn CDs with mixed playlists! This is great for keeping yourself entertained on long drives and it can really set the mood for your trip. For example, on our Cali road trip, we blasted some "California Gurls" by Katy Perry and "California" by Phantom Planet! Also, when we were leaving Positano, we were very sad so we listened to "Time to Say Goodbye" by Andrea Bocelli.
Having music to listen to on your trips is great because when you are back home and you hear that song, you will think of some great memories from your trip!
Music helps us get pumped for all our trips and we strongly believe it can do that for you, too!
Below are a few songs that you might enjoy:

"Yes" by LMFAO

"Semi-Charmed Life" by Third Eye Blind

"The Underdog" by Spoon

"Fancy" by Drake

Positano: Albergo California

We stayed at Albergo California (Hotel California) for 5 nights and absolutely loved it.  It was very clean and surprisingly affordable compared to other hotels in Positano. Our room had four twin size beds, a small but nice bathroom, high ceilings and tile floors. There was also a TV and a mini fridge. The room had plenty of space for the luggage of four people.  It opened up to a balcony with an amazing view (pictured below) and a table that we ate breakfast at every morning. The owner, Maria, became our Italian mother, taking care of our every need. She was even able to get us better prices on boat tours and other activities. Overall, the staff was extremely nice and helpful during our stay. The beach is about a five to ten minute walk from the hotel. It’s a beautiful walk past shops, restaurants, and little grocery markets.  However, on the way back up to the hotel, we got pretty exhausted. It seems like a vertical hike but if you just take it slow and enjoy your surroundings it will go by quickly. Its great because you can eat as much pizza as you want and you wont feel bad because you know you are getting a great work out everyday just walking to and from the restaurants. Albergo California is on the same street as the famous hotel La Sirenuse. So, if you are looking for a hotel in a great location for a reasonable price then be sure to keep Albergo California in mind. We would stay there again in a heartbeat! Hotel California Positano - your hotel in amalfi coast