Miami spice travel recap

Happy Monday, friends! A couple weeks ago I ventured down to Florida for a getaway with my friend Haley (if you're new around here, Haley is one of my best friends and who I lived with in London last year). We hadn't seen each other in far too long (since we moved out of our flat in Earl's Court!) so we were long overdue for an adventure together. I had already planned to visit her in Jacksonville for the week, so when she told me an invitation had popped up from Greater Miami and The Beaches to come experience Miami Spice Month, naturally we were in!

We had been to Miami together before for Haley's 30th birthday so we were so excited to return together to explore more of this vibrant city. As I previously mentioned, from now until the end of September it's Miami Spice Month! Miami Spice essentially offers amazing deals on select hotels, spas and restaurants (three of our favorite things) so you that you can stretch your budget a lot farther than usual. You can browse their site (here) to view all the offers, but here's the DL on what Haley and I took advantage of: 

DAY 1

CHECK INTO THE BILTMORE

We stayed at The Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables: a luxury resort overflowing with beauty. Built in the 1920s, this hotel is a National Historic Landmark. But don't let the date of construction fool you-- this property has no shortage of amenities (including multiple restaurants, a full-service spa, 18-hole golf course, tennis center, fitness center and a 21,000-sq-ft outdoor pool). Needless to say, we had plenty to do during our stay. In fact, we spent the large majority of our trip right here at the hotel! And with decor this lovely, can you really blame us? 

DINNER AT FONTANA ITALIAN RESTAURANT

As previously mentioned, part of the Miami Spice deals include restaurants and a few of them were right in our hotel! For our first proper meal in Miami upon arrival, we dined at Fontana Italian Restaurant for dinner. Haley and I both love Italy but have never been together (at least not YET anyway ;) ) so it was fun indulging in Italian fare while swapping stories from our travels. The chef came out to meet us and we loved getting to chat with him as well (he's an Italian native, so he jumped right into our conversation about his home country!) 

Everything we ate was absolutely delicious, but what's great about visiting in August and September is that you can have a three course meal for a discounted price of $23 for lunch or $39 for dinner if you order off the Miami Spice Menu. Whatever you order, I have no doubt it will be yummy. 

 

 

DAY 2

ROOM SERVICE AT THE BILTMORE

Who isn't a sucker for room service? Any occasion where I get to lay in bed while someone brings me food is a fine activity in my book. So Haley and I made the most of #vacationmode and had omelettes and waffles and all sorts of fuel for our day ordered in while we watched the TODAY Show to start our day. 

 

THE BILTMORE SPA

After our slow + cozy morning in the room, we went to the spa at The Biltmore to partake in some of the Miami Spa Month specials- another set of discounts available if you visit in July or August! Haley and I each got a 90-minute massage, which is included in the Miami Spa Month specials. We both agreed it was wonderful (that extra bit of time really let's you relax so much more!) Afterwards, we spent the afternoon in their beautiful relaxation room reading + sipping that spa water everyone loves. You can view photos of the spa here, but we wanted to be respectful of other spa-goers and keep our cameras put away. 

DINNER AT KAORI BY WALTER MARTINO

For dinner that evening, we ventured away from The Biltmore to dine at one of the coolest restaurants: Kaori by Walter Martino. Chef Walter Martino is known for having created the most expensive plate in the world . He once created a plate made of solid gold (including 84 diamonds) for an Arab Prince and has since earned himself the title of "Million Dollar Chef." He has gone on to open Kaori in downtown Miami, a revolutionary culinary journey of the senses. This means that not will the food thrill your taste buds (he uses global cooking techniques + top notch ingredients from around the world) but everything around you awakens your awareness of sight + sound. The room is lit by the glow of artistic 360-degree projection screens, which means the wall art is continually changing. I loved that one minute we were in Hong Kong and another minute we were on top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris! 

The food was truly delicious and incredibly unique (it's a fusion of Japanese and Italian fare!) The presentation was impeccable, the menu thoughtfully designed and the staff was amazing. They're typically closed on Monday but were so kind and opened the restaurant just for us! I'm so glad they did because this was easily one of my favorite parts of the entire trip. Regardless of when you visit Miami, be sure to add this gem to your list (and again- if you come in August or September you can participate in the Miami Spice menus!)

 

DAY 3

THE POOL AT THE BILTMORE

We had seen some rain our first couple days in Miami, so for our final day we were SO happy to see blue skies and sunshine! As I mentioned earlier, The Biltmore has a 21,000-sq-ft outdoor pool so obviously, that's where we decided to spend our final day. 

SUNGLASSES: DIFF EYEWEAR

 

PALME D'OR FRENCH RESTAURANT AT THE BILTMORE

For our final Miami meal, we went to Palme d'Or, a top-rated French restaurant (clearly, the traveler genes in us have a soft spot for global cuisine!) Once again, Palme d'Or is a participant in Miami Spice, meaning you can get a three-course dinner for only $39. I recommend the "Le Filet De Boeuf" which is a Prime Beef Tenderloin with Potato Soufflées- it was incredible! 

Miami may be known for it's Cuban influence or South Beach party scene, but it was so fun to experience a different side to this vibrant city. If you're looking for a destination for relaxation, world class spas and a blossoming culinary scene (not to mention stunning beaches!) Miami is a solid option. 

I'm so thankful such a great trip and for the time I got to spend with Haley. This girl's friendship means the world to me and it was so fun to share yet another adventure to add to our collection (and to scheme up a few more adventures we have coming later this year!) Thanks for being my go-to travel partner in crime, for spear-heading this trip (not to mention being our noble photographer) but in general, for being such an amazing friend across the board. Love you mean it! x

A very special thanks to Greater Miami and The Beaches for sponsoring this post and providing us with such an amazing trip!

Thanks for stopping by! Stay tuned later this week- I'll be recapping my trip to Porto, Portugal!

xx, 

Whitney

Étretat France

Hey friends. Happy Monday! Hope everyone had a great weekend. 

When I was in Europe a few weeks ago, I got to meet up with my friend Caitlin a few different times over the course of my trip. She lives in Berlin so we don’t get to see each other as often as I’d like, but I can always guarantee it will be an amazing adventure whenever the two of us travel lovers get together! To bookmark the end of an incredible journey, she joined me for road-trip through some of the most beautiful bits of north-western France. Our first stop? Étretat. 

Image c/o Augusta Leigh Photography of SnapSquad

Before I dive into this destination, let me caveat by saying my goal for this road-trip that Caitlin and I embarked. There are tons beautiful destinations near Paris to visit, and we wanted to showcase them. Don’t get me wrong- Paris is an incredible city (one of my very favorite in the world). But I’ve learned that smaller, more remote destinations offer such a unique + special experience that I believe is really valuable for travelers. So when you find yourself booking tips to the “heavy hitter” cities, my hope is that you’ll find a day or two to venture out to some other, less “popular” destinations. 

Étretat was made famous when impressionist painters like Monet captured the seaside landscape on canvas. Today, its three natural arches and white chalk cliffs that soar high above the sea attract visitors from all over the world. It wasn’t until one rainy afternoon in Berlin when we started scheming up this trip that I even knew Étretat existed (I think one of us found a photo of the arches on Pinterest) but it didn’t take long for us to commit to visiting this breathtaking coastal town. 

Image c/o Augusta Leigh Photography of SnapSquad

Étretat is a popular day-trip destination for tourists visiting the D-day beaches, thus your average visitor won’t spend much time here (we stayed for one night). The town itself is quite small, though offering plenty of shops and restaurants to choose from no matter the length of your stay. But it goes without saying the real showstopper of any visit here is the natural landscape. One of our favorite parts of this trip was hiking to Falaise d'Etretat (a giant archway lurking over the sea and Chemin des Douaniers) and taking in the breathtaking scenery. 

Image c/o Augusta Leigh Photography of SnapSquad

We stayed at Domain Saint Clair: an idyllic Anglo-Norman style castle from the nineteenth century that’s nestled in a picturesque park overlooking the cliffs and the sea. While we only stayed in Étretat for one night, Domain Saint Clair showed me I could easily spend a week retreating, relaxing and embracing the French “art of living” where people know how to take their time. It’s an ideal place to relax, read, have a drink, play a game of cards or just listen to the crackling fire in the hearth on winter days. Overall, this place offers a tranquil energy that feels like you’re in a novel and seems to soothe the soul. 

Image c/o Augusta Leigh Photography of SnapSquad

Image c/o Augusta Leigh Photography of SnapSquad

Image c/o Augusta Leigh Photography of SnapSquad

Image c/o Augusta Leigh Photography of SnapSquad

Image c/o Augusta Leigh Photography of SnapSquad

Image c/o Augusta Leigh Photography of SnapSquad

We loved the beautiful design of the rooms, the incredible food served at the restaurant, the hospitable staff that made our stay unforgettable and most importantly, the stunning views. 

Image c/o Augusta Leigh Photography of SnapSquad

No matter how long you plan on staying in Étretat, Domain Saint Clair is a fantastic place to stay that I can't recommend enough! Do yourself a favor and book your stay here. 

Overall, Étretat is one of those locations where you simply feel like you're in another world and I highly recommend that you pay a visit yourself. As I said before, we drove here from Paris (only 2.5 hours by car) so it's very easy to do. Just be sure to plan ahead for tolls, because they are expensive in France (we spent ~€40 just from Paris to Étretat).  

Image c/o Augusta Leigh Photography of SnapSquad

Image c/o Augusta Leigh Photography of SnapSquad

Want to know some other destinations you should add to this road trip? Stay tuned, because Caitlin and I hit 2 more beautiful spots that I'll be recapping soon! 

Thanks so much for stopping by, and feel free to ask any questions about Étretat in the comments below!
 

xx

Whitney

Provence Travel Guide

Happy Wednesday, friends! Last month in Europe, I spent two weeks road-tripping through France with my friend Marcia. She had never been to Europe before, which is secretly so fun for me (I equate the reaction to taking a kid to Disneyland and watching them stare at everything in great wonder). We started in Toulouse + Montpellier (which I'll share more about in a future post) and then slowly worked our way through Provence. 

Provence is arguably one of the most beautiful regions in France (which is probably why Rénoir, Van Gogh, Cézanne, Picasso and other great impressionist artists frequented the area to inspire their work). Whether you're nestled in the foothills of the Dentelles de Montmirail, by the sparkling waters of Côte d'Azur or discovering endless fields of lavender or sunflowers, Provence is a stunning variety of landscapes. 

There's so much to do here that you could easily spend months in the area and never get bored. So from the moment I planned my trip, I began researching the "must-see" stops to hit in a limited amount of time. While I obviously couldn't see everything, after scouring my favorite travel publications and fellow travelers for the best destinations, I prioritized seeing these villages in our few short days. 

But before I dive into those, let me first suggest renting a car. Lots of these quaint villages are super remote and I'm not quite sure how you'd get to them otherwise to be honest. It may seem intimidating to drive in a foreign country, but I assure you that if I can do it, so can you! Just be sure to always have plenty of Euros handy because the tolls in France are a pretty penny (I'd guess we spent ~€120 driving from Toulouse to Paris over the course of the week). Now... onto the top villages to see in Provence: 

VALENSOLE

Seeing the lavender fields in all their glory was the highest "to-do" on my list whilst in Provence. Generally speaking, fields are in bloom from June to August, so you have to be be rather strategic while planning to avoid missing them. Since my trip to Europe started with a one-way ticket, I didn't originally know that I'd be in Provence this time of year. Once my plans came to fruition, I began searching high and low for any traces of lavender in bloom (we went in mid-June, which can often be too early depending on the year). 

We were pointed to Valensole, where lavender covered the grounds as far as the eye can see. 

While the lavender fields are obviously the main draw, it's certainly worth going into the town. It doesn't take long to see (it's tiny!) but it couldn't be more charming + picturesque. Be sure to stop at the Patisserie behind me (Le Palais D'Or) for a delicious lavender eclair! 

 

 

 

SAINT-RÉMY-DE-PROVENCE

Saint-Rémy-de-Provence was hands town my favorite town we visited (full disclosure: I didn't snap as many photos as I would have liked because I was too busy taking it all in myself!) I loved it because it was small enough to maintain its charm but large enough to stay interesting and have plenty to do. This quaint village is home to where Van Gogh painted Starry Night and is built on one of the oldest archeological sites in Europe. We spent our time getting lost in the streets + shopping for Provencal goods. I bought a beautiful woven basket from a vendor on the street, and then tons of delicious food (tapenade, wine, cheese etc.) from the store pictured below. 

We wished we had more time to explore all the culinary options, but only got to enjoy one dinner there. Should you find yourself with more time, some great options include: 

LE BISTROT DES ALPILLES

À LA TABLE DE NICOLAS

FRATELLI

HOTEL LE VALLON DE VALRUGES

We loved staying at Le Vallon de Valrugues: a 5-star hotel in the historical district and only 600 meters from the town centre. 

They offer a full-service spa, an upscale gastronomic restaurant where you can dine for any meal (we had breakfast there and it was one of the most impressive buffets I've ever seen!) and my favorite part of the property was hands down the beautiful outdoor pool. 

We spent the afternoon relaxing by the pool with a glass of champagne, which was one of my favorite parts of the trip. Staying here was the perfect blend of convenience to the town and a tranquil oasis to retreat to. I definitely recommend it when you come to the area!

 

 

HÔTEL B DESIGN & SPA

Just outside of Saint-Rémy-de-Provence is a little town known as Paradou where you'll find Hôtel B Design & Spa. Set in the heart of the Alpilles, the landscape of this area couldn't be more beautiful. We retreated to this property for 24 hours of pure, Provencal bliss. 

We started with lavender massages at their spa- which was a state of the art facility. I loved sitting in their relaxation lounge before and after the treatment- it was one of the most beautiful rooms I've been to at any spa!

After our treatments, we went back to our (GORGEOUS) room. Every single detail was intentional and well-thought-out (my favorite bit was the luxuriously plush bed).  No photos that I have even do it close to justice, but I couldn't have been more impressed. After changing and enjoying some time in our room, we went to the pool to enjoy yet another fantastic facility of this property. 

After relaxing all day, we went to the main portion of the property to have dinner at the restaurant (which was one of the most magical nights). We dined al fresco amongst candle light and the cyprus trees while watching the sunset. Top it all off with the fact that the food served was comprised of the highest-quality, most delicious Provencal ingredients (we even went back to the kitchen to see them making everything from scratch). 

While my Hôtel B Design experience was of course wonderful because of how high-quality every tiny detail was, what really made it so unforgettable to me was the staff. This family-owned and operated property welcomes you in and makes you feel like you're one of them (we may have started calling them Mom and Dad). They went above and beyond to make sure we had everything we needed, and then went even further to greatly surpass any expectations.  All in all, I truly can't say enough wonderful things about Hôtel B Design & Spa + highly recommend that you stay here while visiting Provence. 

 

 

AIX-EN-PROVENCE

Arguably the most well known town in the region, Aix-en-Provence is famous for its outdoor markets, café lined avenues and its established art + culinary scene. It's also the birthplace of Post-Impressionist painter Paul Cézanne (you can visit his former studio here). But aside from that, I would argue that Aix-en-Provence isn't someplace that's brimming with sights you have to see. Instead, it's a town to simply get lost in: admire the gorgeous architecture or browse through Provencal finds at the markets that line the street. Whatever you fill your time with, you're bound to fall in love with this charming town. 

Also worth noting: Aix-en-Provence is a University town so this area has a much more youthful energy than some of the tiny surrounding towns. So if you're wanting just a littleee taste of a city vibe to liven up your tranquil journey through this region, this is the spot to get your fix. 

Looking for a place to eat? Check out these favorites in the area: 

LE POIVRE D'ANE

LA TABLE DES DELICES DE SEBASTIEN

LE JARDIN D'AMALULA

 

MÉNERBES

Ahh, Ménerbes. You charmed my socks off. This walled village on a hilltop in the Luberon mountains is tiny and won't take too long to see, but nevertheless, I can't recommend it enough. Even just walking through it for an hour allows you to feel like you've transformed to the quiet Provencal town Belle speaks of in Beauty & the Beast where everyday is like the one before. Aromas from the local boulangerie fill the streets as locals pop in to gather their baguette for the day (while I don't think you'll have trouble finding it, the name is "Boulangerie Pâtisserie Epicerie Roche & Fils.") It couldn't have been even a sliver more charming. If you are interested in sticking around for a bit, this is a good resource with some more information on what to see + do. 

 

 

GORDES

For our last stop in Provence, we went to Gordes: a beautiful + historic village that's perched on the edge of the Plateau de Vaucluse. Unlike so much of the colorful architecture in these tiny villages, Gordes is predominantly comprised of neutral colored stone resembling castles. But even without buildings that adorn cute colors, this village has been known as one of the most beautiful in France and it's not hard to see why. Go for a stroll around the town (seemingly a bit bigger than Valensole or Ménerbes but much smaller than Saint-Remy-de-Provence or Aix-en-Provence) and be sure to take in the sweeping panoramic views. 

SHOP THE POST HERE:

There is so much more that I could speak to and even more that I didn't get to see this trip (which means I'll just have to go back!) Have you been to any other villages worth visiting in Provence? Let me know in the comments below!

Thanks for reading (as always!) and I'll be sharing more adventures with you soon. 

xx

Whitney