Lauren: Why did you choose a destination wedding?

Kiley and Austin: We both love to travel and wanted our wedding to represent us both as a couple.

Lauren: How many attendees did you have?
What kind of experience did you envision your guests having? 

Kiley and Austin: We had 30 people attend! Since most of our guests were couples we envisioned them enjoying this as a vacation for themselves and being apart of our wedding.

Lauren: What was one part of planning your wedding that you knew you couldn't have done alone?
How did having a Destination Wedding Specialist help with that?

Kiley and Austin: ALL OF IT! We have only left the country on a cruise so this was MUCH different. There are so many moving parts to leaving the country and throwing a wedding in the mix did not make it any easier. With all the back and forth between the resort and our guests I would have not been able to do this on my own.

Lauren: What piece of advice would you give to couples who are just starting the planning process?

Kiley and Austin: Trust the process! It can be overwhelming and communication with the resorts is slower than you would get with someone in the states. Planning over a year in advanced was a huge help.

Lauren: What’s one “extra” you’re super glad you splurged on?  What surprised you the most about your wedding? 

Kiley and Austin: Our DJ! We are huge music lovers so the perfect DJ was a must for us and we did not regret it. 

I was surprised at how smooth it went! 

Lauren: If you could choose three words to describe your wedding, what would they be?

Kiley and Austin: Stunning. Timeless. Romantic.

Lauren: What is your favorite memory from your big day?

Kiley and Austin: Finally walking down the aisle! I had so much anxiety getting ready that morning that it felt like time stood still. 

A Note from Lauren: It was so much fun to work with Kiley and Austin to plan the wedding that they have always dreamed of!

C/O O&O Mandarina

I just returned from our annual exchange with my host agency, Departure Lounge, where we spent 4 nights at the Conrad Punta Mita and then ended our trip with an AMAZING stay at the fairly new One&Only Mandarina right outside of Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.

What is a host agency you might ask? Think of me like a realtor. Realtors work with a broker for their clients that help with relations and licensing. This is what Departure Lounge is to me. They are one of the best know host agencies in the business and are amazing for supplier relations. What does this mean to you? It means that because we have such great relationships with our suppliers they want to make sure our guests are the happiest. I love working with Departure Lounge as well as all of our VIP partners to make sure that my guests and clients have amazing vacations that they deserve!

Anyways, back to One&Only Mandarina!

This resort opened in 2021 in a new complex called Mandarina, right outside of Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. It is a quick 45 minute drive from the Puerto Vallarta airport so that you are in paradise before you know it! This property felt more like Costa Rica to me than Mexico and I loved it. A beautiful mix of jungle that meets the sea!

We stayed in the Ocean View Cliff Villa during our stay. The great thing about this property are that all rooms are villa/suite type accommodations so even the entry level rooms are a great size and still perfect for a family. Kids under 12 years of age are not allowed to stay in the treehouse suites due to safety reasons. That being said, I think this is a fabulous resort for kids! The kids club is so cool with a treehouse and a butterfly garden as well as an indoor area for arts and crafts and fun play. They also have several pools around the property with the Jetty Beach Club being the best for children in my opinion. If you are wanting a more adult only vibe, there is an adult only pool that is much quieter with no kiddos in site!

There is a Rosewood that is planned to open in 2025 that will also be apart of the Mandarina complex similar to the Mayakoba complex in the Cancun/Riviera Maya area. It will connect to the Mandarina beach club and you will be able to “dine around”. I can’t wait to go back and check out this property when it opens.

For my clients, my VIP amenities are as follows:

Daily breakfast for 2
$100 resort credit
Upgrade on arrival (based on availability)
Early check-in/late check-out (based on availability)

I would love to book this fabulous property for you and your family today! Send me an email at lauren@thatblondetravels.com or fill out my contact form to get started!

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Lauren: Why did you choose a destination wedding?

Kathie and Adam: We attended our friend’s wedding in Cancun a couple years before and had the absolute best time. We’ve lived all over so have friends and family that would have to travel no matter where we got married. We also really wanted to have the opportunity to allow everyone get to know each other over a long weekend.

Lauren: How many attendees did you have?
What kind of experience did you envision your guests having? 

Kathie and Adam:  We had 85 guests! Fun and relaxing

Lauren: What was one part of planning your wedding that you knew you couldn't have done alone?
How did having a Destination Wedding Specialist help with that?

Kathie and Adam: Coordinating the rooms and all the guests. Everyone came with their own needs- Lauren did an amazing job accommodating each guest (even if it meant booking a different hotel for them). It’s exhausting enough to plan just the wedding, it’s so helpful to have a travel advisor help with all the other stuff.

Lauren: What piece of advice would you give to couples who are just starting the planning process?

Kathie and Adam: Send out invites early to get a head count.  We did not expect so many guests to come.

Lauren: What’s one “extra” you’re super glad you splurged on?  What surprised you the most about your wedding? 

Kathie and Adam: The “all in” package for the wedding ceremony/reception.This saved a lot of headaches and number crunching. Most surprising thing was how great of a time our moms had 🤪 We also really enjoyed all the pre-wedding events we had at the hotel. 

Lauren: If you could choose three words to describe your wedding, what would they be?

Kathie and Adam: joyous, loving, beautiful 

Lauren: What is your favorite memory from your big day?

Kathie and Adam:  Our good friend Matias being our officiant and marrying us.

A Note from Lauren: Planning this gorgeous Destination Wedding in Cancun with Kathie and Adam was so much fun! I was actually able to go do a tasting with Kathie before the wedding and the food was phenomenal. It was so much fun to be able to help this amazing couple and friends plan this once in a lifetime event. Congratulations to Kathie and Adam on a beautiful ceremony!

Hi guys! I actually get this question a ton as Italy is one of my top selling destinations. I figured I would highlight some of my most requested itineraries below to help you get a jump start on figuring out where you want to go on your next trip to Italy. There are so many amazing places in Italy that it can be very hard to narrow down where you want to go but hopefully these will give you a good starting point. If you are ready to start planning your Italy vacation, please feel out my contact form and we can get started! Happy planning!

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ITALY ITINERARIES

Recommended 10-Night Northern Italy Itinerary:

Arrive Venice (2 nights)

Portovenere (1 night)

Florence (4 nights)

Rome (3 nights)

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Total nights: 10

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Recommended 12-Night Northern Italy Itinerary:

Arrive Venice (2 nights)

Lake Como (4 nights)

Portovenere (1 night)

Florence (3 nights)

Rome (2 nights)

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Total nights: 12

**If this one feels too rushed, I would recommend adding a night to Rome and one to Florence if you can.

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Recommended 12-Night Highlights of Italy:

Arrive Venice (2 nights)

Florence (3 nights)

Amalfi Coast (5 nights)

Rome (2 nights)

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Total nights: 12

**If this one feels too rushed, I would recommend adding a night to Rome and one to Florence if you can.

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So what are you waiting for? Pack your bags and get ready for an unforgettable Italian adventure! Contact me to get started today!

Disclaimer: This post contains Affiliate Links for products I’m currently using. By using these links you won’t pay any additional fees, but support me to keep this site running!

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SWITZERLAND ITINERARY: GENEVA, INTERLAKEN &JUNGFRAU, BERN & LUCERNE, Zurich & Engleberg

Recommended 9-Day Switzerland Itinerary:

Geneva (1 night)

Interlaken (2 nights)

Bern (2 nights)

Lucerne (1 night)

Zurich (2 nights)

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Total days: 9

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Switzerland is known as one of the most beautiful countries in the world, and it’s no wonder why. From breathtaking mountains to crystal clear lakes, there are endless activities and sights to see while exploring this stunning country. If you’re planning your first trip to Switzerland, here is a 9 day itinerary that will help you make the most of your visit!

Day 1: Geneva

Start off your 9 day Swiss adventure by exploring Geneva, the second largest city in Switzerland. Take the opportunity to wander through its quaint cobblestone streets and admire its stunning architecture. There are also plenty of museums and galleries to explore if culture is more your thing. For example, take a tour of The United Nations Palace or immerse yourself in history at the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Museum. There’s also plenty of outdoor activities like kayaking on Lake Geneva or taking a boat ride on some of its many canals. No matter what type of activity you’re interested in, there’s something for everyone in Geneva!

Day 2-3: Interlaken & Jungfrau Region

Next up on the itinerary is Interlaken, which is nestled between two glacial lakes - Thunersee and Brienzersee - making it an ideal spot for outdoor adventures such as paragliding, hiking or skiing during winter months. Be sure to take a cable car ride up to Jungfraujoch – Top Of Europe where you can experience breathtaking views from 11,333 feet above sea level. You can also explore some of the nearby glaciers including Aletsch Glacier and Eiger Glacier for an even more spectacular view! For dinner, try out Hotel Alpenruh’s restaurant which serves some amazing Swiss dishes with local ingredients. Afterwards, enjoy an evening walk around Lake Brienz before heading back to your accommodation.

Day 4-6: Bern & Lucerne

Following two days in Interlaken, it's time to move onto Bern – Switzerland’s capital city - where you can explore its well-preserved medieval Old Town with its picturesque cobbled streets and 15th century fountains. Don't miss out on visiting The Zytglogge – a clock tower built over 800 years ago which still rings out every hour!

After spending three days in Bern head over to Lucerne; its charming old town with its colorful buildings along Lake Lucerne will make for some incredible photo opportunities! Spend a morning exploring Lucerne's Old Town area where you'll find landmarks such as Chapel Bridge and Water Tower as well as boutique shops selling handmade Swiss items like watches or chocolates. One afternoon, take a boat ride around Lake Lucerne for some lovely views of Mt Pilatus and Mt Rigi in the distance before grabbing dinner at Restaurant Weinstube Höfli which serves delicious Swiss-German cuisine with Italian influences.

Day 7-9: Zurich & Engleberg

Before ending your holiday make sure you spend three days exploring Zurich - Switzerland's largest city - where you'll be spoiled for choice with things to do such as visiting museums or taking part in some fun outdoor activities! And don't forget about Engleberg - located just outside Zurich - this ski resort has some incredible slopes perfect for winter sports enthusiasts or those wanting to simply marvel at their beauty from afar. No matter what type of activity you choose here, it's sure to be an unforgettable experience! For dinner, try some traditional Swiss cuisine at Restaurant Kronenhalle.

With so much beauty waiting around every corner it's no surprise why people come back again and again when they visit Switzerland! Whether it's exploring Geneva's cobblestone streets or admiring views from atop Jungfraujoch – Top Of Europe there are endless memorable moments awaiting travelers who embark on this incredible 10 day journey through this stunning country!

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So what are you waiting for? Pack your bags and get ready for an unforgettable Swiss adventure! Contact me to get started today!