Bonne Journée Travel

10/23/2020

Four years ago, for my parents’ 40th wedding anniversary, we traveled to Inchigeelagh, a small town in Ireland where our ancestors are from. My parents renewed their vows in the ruins of a church where past generations of our family stood and exchanged those same vows. I talk a lot about how travel can expand your heart and create connections with people through new experiences. But this experience was when I learned that travel also has the capacity to lead you to discover a deep connection to a place and people that was in your heart all along. ❤️ ☘️

08/09/2020

You know I love a wine trip (both going on them and planning them). It’s not just drinking the delicious wine. As with food tours, you get to learn about the history of a destination through a very unique lense. Plus the scenery is always breathtaking. These resorts are proof of just how beautiful wine regions can be🍷 😍

Why just visit wine country when you can spend the night?

08/04/2020

That time I fell in love with Lisbon (and all its food). 😍

07/28/2020

Picnicking in my favorite picnic spot - Places des Vosges - a year ago today. It hurts to look back on travel photos and videos, but they also feel like a light calling at the end of the tunnel. I just wish I knew how long the tunnel is. 🇫🇷 ❤️

07/24/2020

For a lot of us, not being able to travel the world to see and experience something new has been very difficult. Fortunately I have a sister-in-law who understands me and knew I’d love this website that gives you a little glimpse at our world through another point of view ❤️ 🌍

Open a new window somewhere in the world

07/16/2020

Not being able to travel has been really tough, to say the least. But last weekend we made a much-needed escape to a farm in West Virginia. We got to be on the water every day and eat all our meals against these beautiful backdrops. It was reenergizing and restorative. And I made friends with some 🐄 🐮

03/25/2020

Trying to focus all my energy into thinking about how amazing that first trip back to Paris is going to feel.

02/23/2020

Italy planning means looking at my Italy photos, this one from when we traveled to Parma in the Emilia-Romagna region. The town of Parma is so lovely and relaxing, and the region is known for its ham - Prosciutto de Parma - and its cheese - Parmigiano Reggiano. We had the opportunity to tour ham and cheese factories in the countryside, learning about what makes Prosciutto de Parma and Parmigiano Reggiano different (and better. Don’t @ me) from all be other ham and cheese out there. Our tour ended at our guide’s 15th century villa on a hill in Costa di Castrignano, where we were lucky enough to taste her homemade, barrel-aged Balsamic. This is the view from one of the bedrooms in her home. It’s ok.

02/10/2020

During our most recent trip, we had the opportunity to visit another UNESCO world heritage site, the Angkor Archeological Park, which spans over 400km and is covered with temples big and small, built from the 9th to 15th century. This photo is taken from inside one of the most well known temples, Angkor Wat. Over the next few posts I’ll share photos of some of the awe inspiring temples we were lucky to see. They truly are a testament to human ability and ingenuity.

02/06/2020

The Kusama exhibit is coming back to in a couple months. Everyone is incredibly excited, and we’ll definitely all drive ourselves crazy to get tickets again. Then there’s Hong Kong, where they have a Kusama Pumpkin just hanging out at a rooftop bar like its NBD.

02/04/2020

In 1995, Luang Prabang in Laos was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its beautifully preserved mix of colonial and Lao architecture. Wat Xieng Thong, built in the 1500s, with gold stenciling covering both inside and out, is just one breathtaking example of the Lao Buddhist Wats scattered around the town.

01/18/2020

During the Khmer Rouge Regime, from 1975-1979, victims of the genocide included artists, dancers, and musicians. Knowing the recent efforts Pol Pot made to rid Cambodia of the arts, and the risks artists took to keep them alive, made seeing this beautiful Apsara show in Phnom Penh an unexpectedly emotional experience.

01/06/2020

We always try to incorporate food tours into our travels because they’re such an amazing way to learn about the people and culture of a place. This was the first time we did a cooking class, and it was so unique and special. After shopping at the local market with our instructor (and with guide/translator, since our instructor spoke no English), we went to her village by boat, about an hour upriver on the Mekong. This is her kitchen. We cooked and ate in her home, while her children played around us. To see and learn about her life in the small village taught us more about another culture, their lives, struggles, and sense of community than just reading or hearing about it ever could. This was definitely a travel experience that expanded our hearts and minds.

📸:

01/04/2020

Exploring and learning about life in the stilted and floating villages in Cambodia was one of those travel moments that challenges your perspective and beliefs in the most incredible way.

12/30/2019

The last two days have been filled with experiencing new foods and learning the stories behind them. We had this delicious green curry congee for lunch at the Kandal market in Phnom Penh. Later in the day we tried cricket and tarantula (I know, I can’t believe it either), and tonight we tried silk worms and grasshoppers, along with other significantly less creepy and very delicious dishes, at a local night market in Siem Reap.

How adventurous are you when it comes to trying new food when you travel? I’ve always been excited to try new things, but this trip has definitely pushed me way farther out of my comfort zone than I ever thought I could go!

12/28/2019

Completely swept away by the contrast of the traditional and the modern in Hong Kong.

12/25/2019

Sebastian and I start our next adventure today to Cambodia and Laos. As a Christmas fanatic, I was not thrilled when the airline changed the flights, having us fly on the holiday. But there’s really no better gift than creating memories with Sebastian as we explore a new destination. So instead of being bummed, I made little candy gift bags to say thank you to all the airline and airport employees who are working over the holidays and making our adventure possible.

Wherever you are or may be going, I hope your holidays are filled with love and happiness!

12/20/2019

Still undecided on whether it was the empanadas or the views that were my favorite part of Tucumán.

12/15/2019

Need a little help deciding where to go next? Afar’s got you covered.

Where will 2020 take you? Below, you’ll find 36 destinations to kick-start your travel dreaming and scheming. We’ve surfaced emerging places. We’ve highlighted unexpected spots. And we’ve blown out a handful of classic destinations—the places we return to again and again, such as Italy and...

12/02/2019

With the holidays quickly approaching and endless Cyber Monday deals at your fingertips, I wanted to share my latest blog post in which I talk about some of my favorite products that help me stay organized when I travel. Hopefully it helps you find the perfect gift for the traveler on your list!

Leave nothing behind when you travel with these helpful packing and organization tips.

11/24/2019

I love traveling the world, but I never take for granted how lucky I am to have some of the most beautiful sights just down the street.

11/20/2019

Wednesday morning vibes.

📸: Sebastian.

11/18/2019

🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨

This is not a drill (but is 100% insane). Sebastian and I were just bemoaning how expensive it is to fly to Australia. This week, Qantas is running specials that get you there for $100. Even the more “expensive” roundtrip tickets starting at $700 are a steal. First limited release starts at 5pm today!

Quick tip: If you don’t live in one of the departure cities that’s part of the special, just book the flight from the participating airport closest to you, then book a separate flight from your home airport to the participating airport. Then call me to plan the rest :)

The Australian flag carrier is releasing 100 economy fares for $100 each day this week to celebrate its centennial.

11/13/2019

Wind chills in DC are in the teens this morning. Daydreaming about Capri seems like the reasonable solution.

11/10/2019

Purchasing a carbon offset to compensate for the carbon you produce on long trips has become big among travelers. Another small effort I make to is to provide my clients' travel documents in electronic form rather than paper. Condé Nast Traveler has a great discussion of these and other small steps you can take to minimize the environmental impact of your travel. What are your tips for staying green while you travel?

A little bit (really, truly) goes a long way.

11/04/2019

I'm beyond excited to share my knowledge and experience to plan travel that expands my clients' hearts and minds. If you're interested in learning a bit more about me or why I started the company, check out my first blog post.

10/11/2019

10/03/2019

Following my wanderlust around the world.