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December 19, 2019

Places to Travel in America 2020

By Gabriella Alfonso | Article, Blogs, Destinations, feature, Tips & Tricks, Vacations

As the New Year rings in travel junkies are already planning their travel itinerary for 2020. We often talk about tropical destinations on this blog, but I thought it would be interesting to explore some cool American locations that are worth seeing this year.

1. Antelope Canyon, Arizona

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Antelope Canyon is a pair of naturally stunning slot canyons. One of them is referred to as the corkscrew, and the other, horseshoe. The Canyon is so photographable, the aesthetic beauty brand Glossier has created a replica in their showroom in Malibu.

This is a photo of me and my friend at the faux Antelope Canyon.

You can take a trip to Phoenix Arizona and make the road trip to Antelope Canyon for a day trip. The Canyons are a guaranteed way to get amazing travel photos, with people taking photography tours.

2. Key West, Florida

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Key West is not an obscure travel choice, but I thought it was worth mentioning since it is a time-sensitive vacation: with the oceans rising, Key West will cease to exist in around 10 years. Of course, you can do the typical Key West activities, drinking, eating, and more drinking, but the Keys has made it onto my places to visit because of the home of Ernest Hemingway.

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If you are a literature buff, this is a great landmark to visit. I think it is an amazing piece of history and is allegedly a limited time availability.

3. Grand Prismatic Spring, Wyoming

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This one speaks for itself. The Grand Prismatic Spring is a stunning natural rainbow wonder. It is a very large hot spring in Yellowstone National park. It is the 3rd largest hot spring in the world and is a sight to see.

4. Lake Tahoe, California

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Lake Tahoe is in Northern California and its definitely a must-see. As you can see, the lake is crystal clear. I visited Lake Tahoe during Christmas last year, and there was sledding, skiing, and other snow activities that were very fun. I think Lake Tahoe would be great to see during the summer; the lake transforms with kayaks, blow-ups, and people swimming in the crystal Lake.

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5. Austin, Texas

Austin is often referred to as the only place worth visiting in Texas. I think the best time to visit Austin is during one of their renowned music festivals with SXSW (South by Southwest) in March, which is also a film festival, and Austin City Limits in October. This will ensure you have plenty to do, along with eating Barbeque and all of the other foodie restaurants that litter the city.

So these are just some ideas for you guys to explore this year. You don’t have to go outside of the country to experience some really beautiful places! No matter where your adventure takes you this year, be sure to book with a Luxevo Vacations Travel Specialist. Not only will they get you to your destination, but they will also tailor your trip to you so you get the MOST out of your vacation, at the same price as booking it yourself. Be sure to visit our links at the top of this page.

November 22, 2019

The Best Reviewed Restaurants in the World

By Gabriella Alfonso | Article, Blogs, feature, Places, Tips & Tricks, Vacations

There’s been a trend online of going to the Most Expensive Restaurant in My City. I was intrigued to find out what the most expensive, highly rated restaurants were in some of the most popular cities to visit in the world. These are not something most people get to enjoy, but I found it very interesting while doing my research, even if I’ll never get to eat at any of these places.

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The first city on the list is London.

Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester, London

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The first restaurant is located inside of The Dorchester, a 5-star hotel in the heart of London. To give you an idea of the caliber of this posh hotel, a King Room will cost you nearly $900. The restaurant is that of Alain Ducasse, a prestigious French chef. The restaurant holds 3 Michelin Stars and is home to the Cartier Race Awards (I’ve never heard of this, but it’s probably because I am too poor).

These people have what I like to call resting rich face

This is what one person had to say about the room service at The Dorchester hotel. I am sure it is not prepared by the kitchen of Alain Ducasse, but it is incredible to see what sort of luxury food is served even when just calling for room service. Pizza served a la morceau de Bois, translation: Pizza served on a piece of wood.

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As for the menu at Alain Ducasse’s restaurant, there isn’t one to choose from. You pay for a 7-course experience that will cost you about $200 per person. They base their menu off of the seasons: for the Fall season, they are featuring Wild boar, mushrooms, marigolds, leeks, grapefruits, walnuts, and figs.

Here are some photos of past meals served at the restaurant:

They even over an exclusive offer to sit at the Table Lumière or the Table of lights which is located at the very center of the restaurant and surrounded by thousands of fiberoptic strings. This table will cost you around $300 per person.

It’s like a rich person’s blanket fort!

Aragawa, Tokyo

Aragawa in Tokyo topped the charts for the most highly-rated restaurant in Tokyo, along with being voted one of the most expensive dining experiences in the world. They are most well known for their saki fed Kobe beef (Purebreed Tajima Cattle to be exact), which is sourced from only one local farm. A piece of this steak will cost you around $400 US dollars.

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But Agawa is rated as one of the best restaurants in the world for a reason. This will quite possibly be the best steak you’ll ever taste.

Ko, New York, New York

We couldn’t possibly do a “best of” without including New York City. There were many restaurants to choose from in the city, but Ko topped many of the food blogger’s lists that I found. Along with the rest of the restaurants on this list, this is a Michelin rated restaurant garnering 2 stars. Ko is a unique eating experience: for $255 you’ll earn yourself a front-row seat to a culinary experience. Reservations need to be made 3o days in advanced to enjoy the curated menu. You do not get to choose what your meal will be, and the website warns that you may wait up to 2.5 hours to eat. For such a steep price and wait time, we must assume the food is outstanding. I’m not sure what exactly you will be eating here but it is described as “Asian accented American meals” (along with sushi).

If you are ready to splurge on your next vacation, any of these options would be more than suffice- the biggest understatement of the century. I have to say that a couple of these have no made it to my mental bucket list.

But no matter where your next vacation will be, or how many Michelin stars your meal will have, book with Luxevo Vacations.

November 6, 2019

The Non-tourist Guide to Paris

By Gabriella Alfonso | Article, Blogs, Destinations, feature, Tips & Tricks, Vacations

Paris is a dream vacation for many people (myself included). I was lucky enough to visit for 4 days when I graduated from high school, but now I have the desire to return and avoid all of the tourists traps I fell into on my family vacation. As you do when you are obsessing over a future vacation, I’ve fallen down a rabbit hole of Youtube videos. The first mistake my family and I made the first time around was visiting Paris in July. I’ve learned that this is the month with the highest tourism rate, and one of the hottest months as well. We were frustrated a lot of the trip because of the immense amount of people no matter where we went (not to mention that it smells like pee and sweat!).

The best time to visit the city is between April and June.

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I am a very thrifty person: no matter where I visit, I look up the nearest thrift shops and antique shops. Paris, being such an old city, has some amazing vintage finds. You can visit Le Puces, one of the oldest flea markets in Paris.

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There you will find hundreds of stalls filled with oddities and rarities, trinkets and priceless antiques. This is a great way to spend the day perusing the different stalls and finding unique keepsakes to remember your long awaited trip to France. After you are done shopping, you can head to a unique Parisian Cafe. You could try out Chez Louisette that offers classic casual French cuisine with musicians and singers.

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There are some unique food options for those who are feeling like getting out of their comfort zone. You can try the infamous escargot. (snails)

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After being surrounded by people in the city, you can head to a ghost town right outside of the city, or the Goussainville.

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This town is just 20km (12 miles) outside of Paris is almost completely abandoned. It was abandoned in the 70s after an airport was built right next door and polluted the untouched town with the booming sound of jet engines. There is a bookstore that has taken home amongst the ghosts-

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Very odd to find a dying commodity in a deceased town. You’ll have the town almost all to yourself. This is definitely a unique excursion and makes for some interesting photos.

Another great thing to do in Paris is visit a park. This is a Parisian favorite: art, wine, food, and art in the park. You can visit the Coulée verte René-Dumont: a linear park built on top of a railway.

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You can walk along the pathway and have a scenic stroll, or buy yourself some pastries and cheese from a local bakery and relax in the grass. You are sure to hear some music being played, or see some painting being, well painted.

You can’t come to Paris without eating 50 pastries minimum (this is the law!). You can choose from thousands, but one that is a Parisian favorite is Poilâne.

Poilâne is a renowned baker who has won multiple awards. He is most known for his loaf “Le Pain des Ami” that is cooked in a wood fire oven. He also has all of the classic Parisian pastries so this is a perfect go-to.

When in a city with such a rich history of the Fine Arts, you cannot miss out on a trip to a museum. Consider the Petit Palais.

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This stunning museum has it all: architecture from the 1900s, Monet Paintings, a beautiful courtyard. The best part is, entry is FREE!

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Can't get over how beautiful it is!


At the end the end of your long Parisian adventure, you can stop at a classic sidewalk cafe and enjoy an espresso. 


If you are ready to pull the trigger on the Parisian trip of your dreams, be sure to do it with a Luxevo Vacations Travel Specialist! AU REVOIR <3

August 20, 2019

The Best Vacations for When you Don’t Have Much Vacation Time

By Gabriella Alfonso | Article, Blogs, Destinations, feature, Places, Tips & Tricks, Vacations

Sometimes you are in desperate need for a vacation but don’t have much time to get away.
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You could call in those extra days sick…
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Or you could make most of those 2 days you have saved up, and take a long weekend to put all other long weekends to shame.

Here are just some ideas for when you need to get away in a hurry.

IF YOU WANT TO MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR SHORT VACATION: CHOOSE SOMEWHERE CLOSE!
Travel time can chip away at your vacation time; choose somewhere not too far away from home (but far enough away to forget work).

I live in Tampa, Florida so a great example of a trip not too far away is:

A Trip to New Orleans

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If you can get a nonstop flight that is ideal. From Tampa to New Orleans it’s just a little over an hour and a half plane ride.

Although Spirit is not my airline of choice…. for under $90 round trip you can make it there and back in a flash!
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This is a great choice if you are very limited on time because even if you don’t make it there until later- the party is just beginning on Bourbon Street.

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Stop into one of the hundreds of bars and get a drink…or 3. Bourbon street is a great option for people watching or just a scenic view of historic building.

New Orleans also has an amazing selection of cuisine. From Caribbean, to Italian there are so many restaurants to choose from.

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And as you can see there is so much to see. It is also a very walkable city. Get an Airbnb near the city center and hit all of the sites. From restaurants, bars, museums, or even the famous St Louis cemetery.

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A 3 Day Cruise

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For under $500 you can go on a 3 to 4 day cruise. A cruise is an easy getaway! It’s a floating all inclusive. If you are looking for a simple vacation, you never even have to leave the boat. You can take advantage of the

included meals and drinks, and relax on the deck.

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If you are looking for more, you can take advantage of one of the offered excursions. No matter what you are thinking, a cruise is a great vacation for those on a time budget. You can jam pack your long weekend with

karaoke, unlimited food, tanning, swimming, and a quick tours of some really beautiful places FAST.

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A Bed and Breakfast

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A bed and breakfast is the perfect local get away for when you just need to get away from it all. You can choose to stay cooped up in one of the charming rooms, ordering breakfast in bed (no pun intended). Or you can take the time to see

a nearby city with local sites and museums.

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This is a very low key vacation, and can also be a very affordable option. This is also a great option if you are bringing a significant other along. It can be a very romantic way to get one on one time with some peace and quiet.

Amusement Park Hopping

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If you’re looking for a get away that’s a lot of fun, amusement park hopping might be a good fit. This is especially a good fit if you are planning on bringing the kids along. If you are going this route, the best option is to get a package

through the amusement park you are thinking of going to. Whether it’s Disney or Universal studios, they are always running park hopper promotions. Universal often offers free nights at their resort when you purchase multiple day park hopper tickets.

This is a trip that requires very little planning. Just get to the park and enjoy!

Just Stay Home

This may seem like a stupid one, but I have one question for you-

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Just kidding. But sometimes the best thing is just staying at home for a long weekend, watching all of the Netflix shows you’ve missed while you’ve been too busy, and swimming in your pool if you have one.

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This is obviously the most affordable, least effort option and with zero travel time, you can take advantage of every minute of your vacation time.

but seriously

No matter what vacation you choose, or how long you have to get away, Luxevo Vacations can make it happen!

Book Here

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