Category Archives: Travel

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Women Rock – Dallas Symphony Orchestra

BonBon September 8, 2018 12 Comments

Are you overdue for a date night or maybe a girls’ night out this weekend? Maybe you should consider going to the Dallas Symphony Orchestra at Meyerson Symphony Center for an evening of ~~Classical~~ Rock n’ Roll music. This weekend, September 8-9, you can watch a concert at a different venue than you are probably used to and pay homage to the most influential singers and songwriters who change rock n’ roll forever.

The Dallas Symphony Orchestra presents “Women Rock”, conducted by Grammy award winner and pops conductor, Jeff Tyzik, and along with the powerful voices of Cassidy Catanzaro, Katrina Rose, and Shayna Steele, it will surely make your evening an extraordinary one.

Asia Home Travel

Taal Volcano Adventure with Kids

BonBon August 31, 2017 37 Comments

My kids are adventurous by nature, but I guess most kids are. When I told them we were going to ride horses up a volcano, they basically scream with excitement. I am sure they didn’t know much of what they were going to see but I know for sure that they wanted to see a volcano, a first for them. And when I said we are going to one of the smallest volcanoes in the world, they kept quiet. And I left it at that.

Well… would you dare to trek up even the smallest active volcano is the world? It has been recorded to have erupted 33 times and the last eruption was 40 years ago, which is probably why people don’t hesitate to visit this beautiful tiny beast. If you are interested to know about our experience then continue reading and if you happen to have a daring kind of personality then hit me up and I would love to help you plan your next volcano adventure.

LOCATION

About 40 miles south of Manila, you will find the town of Talisay, which is where most people get a boat ride across the lake to the base of the Taal Volcano. Traffic getting out of Manila can be heavy so your best bet is to get on the road as early as possible. A day trip to Taal is about the best adventure you can do if you have an extra day and want to get out of the hustle and bustle in Manila.

Europe Home Travel

F1 Monaco Grand Prix Voyage with Azamara

BonBon February 21, 2017 24 Comments

Being at the Monaco Grand Prix has been on my bucket list since I started watching Formula 1, way back 2003. Aside from the sport, I’ve been wanting to see the beauty of Monte Carlo. My husband and I have been in and out Europe but hadn’t got the chance to visit Monaco and the French Riviera until last year. We just passed our 10th Wedding anniversary so we decided to do a couple’s trip – we haven’t done one since we had our first kid. We were lucky in that my in-laws were kind enough to fly in from South Africa to hang out and spend time with the kids. I know… they are the best!!! We went away for 2 weeks, kinda too long but we were so at peace knowing that the kids are in good hands and thanks to advance technology, we got to Skype with them everytime we got WIFI signal. We are beyond thankful.

You know the famous saying of Mark Twain, “Find a job you enjoy doing, and you will never have to work a day in your life.” Fortunately, I made my passion for travel into something that I can do for a living. I started my home-based travel agency last year and one of “the perks of the job” was to go onboard an Azamara Cruise for free… a choice of any destination I wanted. Pretty neat huh?!? So many options but one stuck out of the catalog was the 5 day F1 Monaco Grand Prix Voyage.

Azamara Quest tendered by Monte Carlo harbor Photo credit by Azamara Cruises — **Azamara Quest tendered by Monte Carlo harbor**
**Photo credit by Azamara Cruises**

Home North America Travel

Autumn Aloft – Park City, Utah

BonBon November 4, 2016 21 Comments

Park City, Utah…. I had heard about the place but was never really interested in planning a vacation to there since I thought of it as more of a winter destination; and as an island girl I am a little adversed to the cold. However, some years back we bought a Hilton Grand Vacations timeshare and of course they have a resort in Park City. First, I thought…. well… maybe it’s about time to hit the slopes (talking about getting out of your comfort zone, right?) but when I started researching I found out that Fall is a great time to visit Utah too, especially Park City.

I got very excited when I learned about their Balloon Festival. I knew from a previous Plano Balloon Festival (our city Balloon Festival) that my kids are crazy for hot air balloons and as my mom was also in town, I knew I had just found the perfect fall getaway for my family. Lock and load… room booked and plane tickets reserved and off we go!

So, we got a warm welcome as we arrived Sunrise Lodge by Hilton Grand Vacations. If you are an owner, you get to have a free valet parking as a bonus. Beautiful property in a charming mountainside village of the Canyons Resort. You know, if you are a family of 4 or 5 then the space offered by a 2 bedroom suite will just be far way better than to squeeze into a hotel room. This is one reason for buying into a timeshare. Read More

Home Travel Travel Tips

Terrorism and Travel

BonBon March 27, 2016 11 Comments

The recent attack in Brussels shook the world and made everyone feel very hesitant to travel abroad. I have few clients changed their minds in traveling to Europe since the Paris attack and a lot asked me if it is still safe to travel. I am no expert in safety nor an expert to know what is going to happen next. BUT I do know that there is no “safe” place anymore in this world and we can’t be hiding.

The Paris and Brussels terror attacks are just two out of the many attacks that have happened around the world. Joining them, there were attacks in Turkey, Syria, Iraq, Jakarta, Afghanistan, Somalia and a lot of other lesser reported ones. YES, we are living in dangerous times and if you call yourself a Christian and you believe in the Bible then this should not surprise you at all- “the last days” as it says. It sure does scares everyone including myself. But I keep my faith and lived life one day at a time.

The Grand-Place is the central square of the City of Brussels where every tourists and locals hang out. — **The Grand-Place is the central square of the City of Brussels where every tourists and** locals hang out.

Home Travel

African Safari with Children

BonBon February 23, 2016 19 Comments

You might be one of those parents who really want go on an African Safari but you have young kids and wonder if it’s the right time to tag them along for many reasons. Well, here’s my take on this issue.

An African Safari is probably on your bucket list and it SHOULD be because it is a very thrilling and exciting journey. Most parents concerns are over the safety of their children and yes, it should be any parent’s priority but honestly, the biggest threat is not brute force injury from the big animals or violent people… it’s the diseases spread by the likes of mosquitoes, fleas, and ticks. So, gear yourself up with knowledge on to how to protect your family. Talk to your doctor or pediatrician about your travel plan to help you determine what vaccines or medications you need before your trip and call a travel professional for latest updates and travel advisories on the issue. For now, my suggestion is to go to a safer region like the South Africa’s Eastern Cape (www.healthmap.orgwww.healthmap.org which is a good source to see the alerts for any disease).

Cape Town is your best option.

The most iconic land mark in South Africa, Table Mountain — **The most iconic landmark in South Africa, Table Mountain**

Home Travel Travel Tips

Fall in Arkansas

BonBon October 7, 2015 22 Comments

Two years ago we discovered the beautiful state of Arkansas. It was summer time when my husband told me that he read an article in an airline magazine about Arkansas during the Fall. I am not just a sucker for colorful foliage but to new destinations and adventures as well. Thus, I immediately started researching about the place – when is the best time to go and where to stay. The Arkansas Fall foliage drives and destinations webpage is a great place to help you plan your trip. If you’re reading this in September or October you might be too late to plan for this season, but it is the perfect time to make a reservation for your next year’s travel. Seriously, there are limited camps, lodges, cabins, vacation rentals and rooms and people already start booking a year ahead of time. I swear, in August I probably called over 20 properties and they were all booked. We were lucky to get a booking with The Arkansas House that time since they had a last minute cancellation.

Our kids were only 3 and 2-year-old when we went so we didn’t do many activities; we went hiking, took pictures, watched some wild animals and we enjoyed every minute spent with the whole family. Here are some of the pictures we took during our stay. Hope this article will convince you to visit this state which rivals even those “foliage” states further up North.

We Love Arkansas!!! — **Overlooking the Grand Canyon of the Ozarks**

Home Travel

End of Summer Vacation

BonBon September 8, 2015 16 Comments

One peaceful morning at Sonestra Resort — **One peaceful morning at Sonesta Resort**

There is no secret on when is the best time to travel; timing and information are the keys. We all know peak season is the summer months. Most families with school-going kids are planning getaways in summer and all are looking at the same destinations. Many families in this situation will feel their choices are limited and the best advice is try book your vacation far in advance and hope everyone will have a great time.

The beach is a popular destination during summer and as expected you will be looking at crowded beaches, theme parks, restaurants with unfortunately costly accommodation, plane tickets, transfers and tours. However, if you have the option to delay the vacation to the shoulder seasons (typically when school is out in your state but other states not) you might be in for a good treat. We did!!!

My family decided to spend few days at the beach end of August this year. We got a cheap flight from DFW to ATL, we met some of our friends on the night we arrived. The next day we drove to Hilton Head Island, SC.

We stayed at Sonest a Resort Hilton Head Island and we had an awesome experience. The resort is beautiful, well- maintained and has direct access to the beach. They have gorgeous pool and a shallow entry pool which is great for kids. They have spa, golf, yoga, restaurants, kid’s club, and rental for bikes and beach chairs- they got it all covered.

Morning stroll around SOnestra Resort with my boy — **Morning stroll around Sonesta Resort with my boy**

Home Travel Travel Tips

Family Beach Vacations

BonBon August 20, 2015 18 Comments

We love the beach!!! Who doesn’t?!?

Beach vacations are perfect for the family. Perhaps the best type you can get especially if you have kids aged between 1 to 5 years – a great learning experience for the little ones and the big ones.

I totally understand that some parents get too discouraged to go on vacation with the kids. It’s hard – they are energizer bunnies that run around and can’t stay focused, they’re picky with their food, but they eat anything off the ground… I mean anything… and the hardest part is that they get sick so easy. However, you can’t be a hermit – not me at least. You have 2 options – 1) leave the kids with grandparents/friends/nanny 2) have them tag along and do something fun for everyone. Believe me, it’s NOT that hard as you imagine it to be.

We started traveling with our kids when they were only a few months old and looking back…. I wouldn’t change a thing.

My boy's 1st time swimming in the ocean:) Hawaii '09 — **My boy’s 1st time swimming in the ocean:) Hawaii ’09**

First time at the beach:) Look at that big Smile... I will forever cherish moments like this. — **First time at the beach…. look at that big Smile:) St. Thomas ’11**

One of the best sunset we've seen... Montego Bay, Jamaica — **One of the best sunset we’ve seen… Montego Bay, Jamaica**

Buena Beach, Costa Rica '12 — **Buena Beach, Costa Rica ’12**

A family beach vacation is easy for novice travelers and here are few things to keep in mind. Read More

Europe Home Travel

Venice with Kids: Know Before You Go

BonBon July 26, 2015 18 Comments

My husband recently had a conversation with a coworker who is going to Venice with his family. He had a flashback of our unforgettable experience last 2011. Then, he asked me to write a blog about it since Venice is such a beautiful city and families who are planning to go shouldn’t hesitate tagging along their kids. Proper planning is needed.

Flashback… Venice -February 2011 while I was 6+ months pregnant together with our 14-month old boy. Imagine that!

It was our 1^st international flight with our son and I was pretty confident that I got everything covered. However, travel is often full of surprises and its part of the whole experience. Our journey started bad – 1^st flight delayed so we missed our connection from Heathrow to Venice, leading to an unexpected reroute with a bus transfer to Gatwick with 1 bag already lost.

We stayed Venice for a few days and it was magical as expected. Actually, it was more meaningful since we shared it with our little boy.