Unraveled Travel by Kirsten

02/03/2025

Final thoughts.
We enjoyed our time at Universal Hollywood. It was neat to finally see and experience Super Mario World. It made my heart happy to have another trip to Hogwarts.
If you live on the West Coast coming to Hollywood is closer and easier than Florida. If you are in LA for another reason, or want to add Universal onto a Disney trip, this is a good location for that. For us it was fun and easy for a short weekend getaway.

However.

Universal Studios Orlando is superior. There are more parks, there are more rides and attractions. You could easily do Universal Hollywood in one day. If someone you love is a Harry Potter fan, Florida is where you want to go. Universal Orlando is opening another park in May, and this will have Super Mario World, so it’s not going to be a Hollywood exclusive. I enjoyed our time, in the right circumstances it is a good park to visit, but if you have hard-core fans Florida is worth the extra to go.

02/03/2025

As I said earlier, unlike Universal Florida that has multiple Universal hotel, Hollywood has none. There are two hotels very close to the park, and quite a few options close by. We stayed at The Garland. The Garland has a retro feel to it, a nod to its Hollywood history, and is one of the top rated hotels in Hollywood. I chose it because it had a free shuttle to Universal. Our room was clean and quiet. We did have a chance to relax with a drink outside by the pool. I would highly recommend!

01/03/2025

The pressing question - was early entry worth it? Yes.

We were able to enter the park around 7:45 and were escorted by workers to Super Mario World - arriving there right around 8 am. We immediately got in line for Mario Kart - and rode that four times before the park opened and 9. This is huge because this ride is popular, and frequently has a wait time of 1-2 hours. We rode is five times in less than 80 minutes. Mario Kart is a 3-D ride where you are racing by to beat Bowzer’s race team. It is actually slow moving and wasn’t bad for motion sickness (in my opinion).

If you have any memories or nostalgia of playing Super Mario Brothers, this area will be a lot of fun. So many of the original characters and game theming is represented. One thing I was unsure about prior to this trip was power bands. The power band is an accessory you can buy for playing interactive games throughout Super Mario World. I wasn’t sure if you needed a band to participate, or if it was something we would enjoy. Answer: yes you need a power band to participate in the games (although you can have just one band for multiple people - like one kid with a band and parents without). The games are a lot of fun, and you run around Super Mario World collecting coins, keys, and stickers (accomplishments). To us, it was worth the cost and rounded out our experience there.

01/03/2025

Yesterday we were blessed with gorgeous sunny skies and warm weather. My favorite of the day (besides my wand) was exploring Super Mario World. I wasn’t planning on liking it as much as I did. I am going to detail more of this later.
Unlike Universal in Florida, Universal Hollywood doesn’t have Universal brand hotels. There are two hotels close to the park (Hilton and Sheraton), but they don’t have any park benefits beyond being close. The only way to have early entry to the park is to purchase it. We purchased early entry for this morning (we get in an hour early). It was $30 per person. We are headed straight to Super Mario World to get some good pictures without people.

28/02/2025

Day One at Universal Studios Hollywood is off to a good start. Our first stop was Hogsmeade. This Universal only has Hogsmeade and Hogwarts (missing the Hogwarts Express and Diagon Alley). However, it still feels like home. This is my fourth time to Universal (twice in Hollywood, twice in Orlando), and it’s the first time I have bought a wand. I am enjoying have my turn doing some magic at the interactive sites around Hogsmeade. It’s a must for any witch or wizard!

27/02/2025

In the US there are two Universal Studios parks - one in California, one in Florida. While they are the same brand and have some similarities, they are also quite different. We just visited Florida in October. Now we are off to explore Universal Studios Hollywood. I have visited this park previously, but my last visit was before the introduction of Super Mario World! What better at for me to advise people than to see it first hand? Come along with us!

23/02/2025

Sunday Someday

21/02/2025

A headline caught my eye. “The top relaxing destination.” Hmmm. Instantly I was thinking it could be a part of French Polynesia, Bali, or maybe an African island.
Nope. Australia.

According to data collected by Book Retreats' Holiday Relaxation Report, Australia ranks as the most relaxing destination to visit. The reason given was the sheer size of the island nation versus the amount of tourists - more space for everyone, more open air, and the ability to accommodate more people.
We absolutely loved our time in Sydney, and I know that is just a tiny drop in the bucket. It was just a little taster preview of Australia.

Is Australia on you list? Or have you been? Share your experiences!

18/02/2025

Tuesday Travel Inspiration
Destin, Florida

Bright turquoise water and white sugar sand beaches make this photo seem like it is from a Caribbean island, but it is Destin, Florida. Located in northwest Florida in the panhandle on the gulf side, Destin is a part of the “Emerald Coast” - the name is exactly what it suggests. This area offers a number of beautiful beaches and many water activities. When you are thinking of a beach destination, you don’t have to leave the US to find an incredible getaway.

14/02/2025

Get your person what they really want

11/02/2025

Tuesday Travel Inspiration
Hobbit Trail, Oregon

The Hobbit Trail is a magical one mile path covered in moss and surrounded by trees that leads to Hobbit Beach. It offers beautiful, lush landscapes and is family friendly. The trail can be reached from the Hobbit Trailhead near milepost 177 on US 101. The pictures do seem as if you are going out on an adventure.

10/02/2025

Anyone else? I feel I have the official winter blahs.

09/02/2025

Congratulations to my fellow agent Tracey! I’ve always known she is the best, but now the rest of the world knows too 😊

I am excited to announce that I made President's Club for 2025 🥳 In a nutshell, this is a distinction given for high sales volume and excellent customer service. The MVT network already includes some of the best travel advisors in the country and to be in the top 5% of that group is an achievement. I couldn't have done this without all of you---my amazing clients---🙂 Thank you to everyone who has supported me and my business for the past 11 years!

04/02/2025

Tuesday Travel Inspiration
Hunters Beach, Maine

Nestled in Acadia National Park, Hunters Beach is a hidden gem. It is secluded from the road and can be accessed via walkway and stairs. The beach is comprised of colorful stones and is surrounded by trees. Natural tide pools are close by. This beach would make a good stop on a self drive tour of Acadia.

03/02/2025

I don’t have one currently. I should probably remedy that… and so should you! Let’s chat Disney World