Getaways Guest Blog Series: Joanna from Design Shuffle

This week we're going to try something a little different, instead of info on a fave past vacation we have a guest post about a destination that a blogger dreams of visiting. Joanna is a writer for Design Shuffle, where you can find top tier interior design ideas from around the world – from New York Interior Designers to Los Angeles Interior Designers and more. If you love scoping pictures of interiors and decor inspiration then you should check out Design Shuffle! Read on to find out where Joanna is planning on visiting next...

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Favorite Vacation Spot

My long time friend D. has been working furiously for the past few years launching yet another successful online venture (his first sold for over $43 million a few years ago.) Too bad none of my interior design ideas ever pan out quite like his ideas do. Anyway, his latest venture is proving to be quite interesting. Recently, he let family and friends know, via Facebook no less, that he was picking up and moving his whole operation to Malta.

Excuse me, Malta, where the heck is that?

I must have been out sick the day they covered this small little gem of a country in geography class because I had no clue where it was. Once D. broke the news, I jumped on Google and read everything I could about his new country to be. I instantly fell in love and will be visiting my friend over the summer, thus the “wanna-be” getaway post status. While I haven’t actually visited yet, I have done my homework enough to give you a good idea what wonders Malta has in store for the prospective visitor.

Malta (via)

With a land mass of a mere 316 sq. km and a population of only 400,000, Malta is one of the smallest countries in the world. Yet, it is one of largest inhabited islands amongst a group of seven in the Mediterranean Sea. There are actually three main inhabited islands that make up the Republic of Malta: Malta, Gozo and Comino. According to LonelyPlanet.com, “few European countries have such concentrated history, architecture and, yes, beaches in so tiny an area.”

Fisherman's Cove, Malta (via)

This photograph of the Malta coastline, by Anselmo Albert Torres, looks so vivid it appears to be a painting instead of an actual image of the island. And this is just one tiny area amongst all the beauty that can be found throughout the country.

Where to Stay

Fortina Spa, Malta (via)

Considered to be an important part of the overall “Malta experience,” the five-star Fortina Spa Resort offers over 250 luxurious health and beauty treatments, superb accommodations and eating experiences not to be missed. Amazingly, it is the second largest spa resort in Europe.

Where to Eat
 

Malta Dining (via)

Due to its mixed European history, Malta offers a wide variety of cuisines from Asian to Italian at its many restaurants. Steak, seafood, pizza and pasta are favorite dishes among tourists and locals alike. St. Julian’s Blue Elephant restaurant is known as one of the most romantic spots in Malta. Diners sit in private huts among waterfalls, lush greenery and tropical flowers. They also serve what is considered the best royal Thai cuisine in the country.


What to Do

Storybook of Malta (via)

Known for its shopping, Malta is filled with touristy shops and markets. Maltese artists and craftspeople offer handicrafts such as Gozo lace, silver filigree work and decorative glass and pottery. You won’t be lacking for home décor ideas after visiting the local shopping scene.

Historical sites are plentiful in Malta due to its rich heritage as a stronghold for many past governments. St. John’s Co-Cathedral, Casa Rocca Piccola, and Hal Safflieni Hypogeum are three of the top historical spots visited by tourists.

Sunbathing and water sports on Malta’s beaches are highly popular amongst locals and tourists alike. While sandy beaches tend to be the most popular, especially for families, there are rocky cliff areas for diving and exploring as well. Popular sandy beaches include Meliieha Bay, Ghaidra Bay and Golden Bay.


Packing Tips

Malta Beaches (via)

Take your typical beach attire as Malta’s summers are long, hot and dry. Sundresses and espadrilles are perfect for sightseeing and bathing suits and cover-ups are standard attire for the beach and water activities.

Thanks Joanna - Stay tuned for more great Getaways Guest Posts from some fabulous bloggers that will be coming down the pipeline soon!

Getaways Guest Blog Series: Stacey from Quintessence

I'm very happy to have the lovely Stacey from Quintessence as a a Getaways Guest Blogger today. Stacey's blog is filled with thoughtful, informative posts on everything from wine and design to movies. Here's a bit about Stacey's vacation tips and faves...

Favorite Vacation Spot

I want to thank Connie for inviting me to participate in her fun Getaways Guest Blog Series. For me it was an easy choice since I have been going to the same vacation spot for many years. Nantucket is a small (only 14 miles long by 3-1/2 miles wide) island 30 miles off the coast of Massachusetts with over 82 miles of beautiful unspoiled beaches, a charming historic town of cobblestone streets, chic shops and restaurants and an abundance of natural beauty, 40% of which is protected by the Land Trust.

Photos Courtesy of The Wauwinet Inn

Where to Stay

The Wauwinet Inn is a luxe Relais & Chateau property on the northeast part of the island where it is very narrow, so there is access to both bay and ocean. You can stay in the lovely main building or rent a cottage. Toppers is their award winning restaurant and there is a fabulous spa as well but the best part is sitting out on the lawn in the evening enjoying a spectacular Nantucket sunset overlooking the bay with a glass of champagne or a cocktail.


Photo Credit: Michael Galvin/Nantucket Chamber of Commerce



Where To Eat

Nantucket has a wide variety of great restaurants. For an adult evening out without the kids, our choice frequently is The Chanticleer in the “other town” of Siasconset (pronounced Sconset). Reopened a couple of years ago as a more casual version of the original French restaurant, we like the more laid back bar area to enjoy the bistro cuisine. Or go for a leisurely lunch and sit in the beautiful rose garden outside.

What To Do

One of the best aspects of Nantucket is that there is something for everyone at every age making it the perfect getaway location for either a family or a couple. From exploring the many beaches to visiting the historic whaling museum to renting bikes to tour the island, you could easily fill up a long weekend or week with activities.

And there is always town with its many tempting shops for fashion, art and decor. I always find something new to bring home.


Photo Courtesy of NJ Tours



5 Vacation Essentials

Essentials for a Nantucket vacation are good sunscreen, strong sunglasses, a great cap or hat, a book for the beach, and your camera. And if you’re renting a house, make sure you have a hair dryer because Nantucket is a notorious bad hair island.

Top: Birger et Mikkelson, pants: J Brand, sandals: Prada,

Bag: Chloe, Hat: Helen Kaminski, Sunglasses: Oliver Peoples

Packing Tips

Packing for Nantucket can be tough because of the unpredictable weather. Style tends to be casual chic. For day I pack long slim shorts or capris, fitted tees and a couple sun dresses with flats or comfortable sandals and havianas and a cover up for the beach. For evening I always bring several pairs of white pants from jeans to dressier versions that I can wear with a variety of tops, a couple sleeveless summer dresses in case we get invited to a party and sandals with a bit more of a heel. You have to bring an assortment of layers like sweaters and wraps because it can be hot during the day but the ocean breezes mean evenings get quite cool. I add belts and accessories to mix up my looks.

Favorite Travelling Companion

My favorite traveling companions to Nantucket are my husband and children. My kids have been going their entire lives and look forward to our traditions such as lobster dinners and family game nights - thank goodness we have an even number for teams. As you can see, even my dog likes it! My husband and I try to go up by ourselves once a year for a long weekend where we just relax and do things both together and apart. We’ll spend afternoons lounging at the beach (me under an umbrella) or he’ll get in some golf or fishing while I poke around town. Then we’ll rendezvous back at the house for a home cooked meal of fresh grilled swordfish and sweet island corn or go out to Chanticleer’s (see above) or Lola’s for sushi.

Photo of Prague via

Next Spot I'd Like to Visit

My husband would like to go to Hawaii because he prefers vacations where he can do things outside -golf, snorkle etc. Another option he likes is a ski vacation in the Rockies or Alps. Any more urban destinations that interest me like Prague or Barcelona I'll have to do with girlfriends!!

Getaways Guest Blog Series: Christine from Bijou and Boheme

This week's Getaways Guest Blogger is the lovely Christine from Bijou and Boheme. Christine's blog is filled with gorgeous images, beautiful fabrics, pretty furniture and a generous dose of pink. If you haven't already you should check out Bijou and Boheme and Christine's wonderfully decorated home. Here are are some of Christine's vacation favourites...

Where to Go

My favourite vacation spot, without a second of hesitation is PEI, Canada.

I have been travelling to PEI every year since birth and it's simply my place of bliss. This little island feels like how you'd imagine the world 50 years ago..calmer, more peaceful, more centered on family, easier.

I honestly breathe better when I'm there and as a person who has moved so often over the years, I feel as though it's one of the true constants in my life. A place that will ALWAYS feel like home.

My love affair with PEI started with my very earliest memories. My family would travel there to visit my grandparents. When we lived in Vancouver, we'd fly but most of my memories involved the 2 day drive from Toronto. When I was little, the trip involved a ferry ride from New Brunswick to the red island.

Now, we drive across this....

Confederation Bridge - longest bridge over ice covered water in the world.

It's honestly an engineering marvel and to see it built was incredible.

The bridge is almost 13 KM long...
which means you're over water for about 15 minutes.

Crazy.

After a long drive, seeing this was and still is, pure happiness.

Where to Stay

When we visit ever year, we stay here.
This is the view looking up from the water side.

And this is what we look at while sitting on the porch above.

The cottage used to belong to my grandparents and has now been passed down to my parents. They have renovated the once 2 bedroom cottage and now it can accomodate most of my family at once...they're already talking of another expansion so we'll see. If our cottage wasn't there though, I would happily stay in any number of gorgeous retreats.

Here's my little PEI for visitors guide.

If you are a shopper and like the city, I'd stay in Charlottetown.

You like the beach, I'd stay near Greenwich...the dunes are incredible.

Or Cavenish- and if you stayed here, you could come on knock on my door - we're just down the road.

For a quant little town with amazing antiques, I'd stay in Victoria by the Sea or Rustico. These fishing towns are full of charm and history.

And for a place to stay, try some of these lovely little hideaways:
Dalvay by the Sea
Inn at Bay Fortune {home of the amazing chef Michael Smith}
Stanhope Beach Resort
Delta Prince Edward
Georgetown Inn

What to Do

For sporting exursions, you could go whale watching, cayaking, bike touring, or parasailing {just to name a few.}

And if you're a golfer, you're about to die and go to heaven.

PEI is Canada's #1 golf destination.

Here's why:

{you can click here for a complete list of courses}

PEI's most famous tourist attraction is of course, Anne of Green Gables.

First stop, the birthplace of its writer Lucy Maude Montgomery.

Next up, then the fictional home of Anne herself.

And then, Avonlea...a full scale replication of the town town made famous in the books.

After all of the sport, shopping, beach and Anne activities,
you'll probably have to take your kids to one of the
 dozens of amusement parks on PEI's shores.

It's ridiculous actually - I think the per capita ratio of people to
\amusement parks in PEI must be the highest in perhaps the world.

Makes for a brilliant family vacation though - something for everyone.

Where to Eat

Now while you're visiting PEI, you'll of course have to eat and when you're there, you simply must indulge in some seafood. Lobster, muscles and oysters are the delicacies of choice.

If fact, if you enjoy any of these things where you live, there's a pretty good chance much of it is coming from this island's waters.

Along with the seafood, PEI is home to honestly, the best baked goods in the world - goes back to the 50 years ago thing.  The bread is almost like sugar bread and the butter...don't get me started on the butter- it's like cow to plate in 5 minutes - so so good.

And of course, you'll need to have some potatoes.
The iron rich red soil produces the best potatoes in the world. Seriously.

Green/yellow beans, carrots, berries and rhubarb are also PEI staples- good earth.

Some of my favourite restaurants are:

Carr's- seafood on the patio while looking over at Cavendish dunes

Shipwrights

Lot 30- fine dining in Charlottetown
The Home Place- B+B with amazing little cafe
The Pearl
Merchantman Pub
Peakes Quay- casual lunch on the water in Charlottetown

Silver Fox B+B- amazing afternoon tea

The Preserve Company

Old Glasgow Mill

What to Pack



When planning your trip, you'll have to make sure to pack some island essentials:

1. A variety of warm clothes, even if you're planning a summer trip.  It cools right down most nights and if you want to stroll around the towns or beaches, you'll need a warm sweater or light coat.

2. Binoculars

3. Bathing suit

4. Camera - you will want to take MANY photos of the gorgeous landscapes, etc.

5. Money - PEI is home to some of the most amazing shops- if you love antiques, hand made crafts (pottery, quilts, glass etc.) and gorgeous art, you'll need to come prepared.  Honestly, PEI has some of the most talented artisans I've ever come across so if you're a lover of this sort of thing, make sure you budget ahead.

Most importantly, make sure you pack for a variety of scenarios.  It can go from sunshine to wind to rain to a heat wave seemingly within hours so you need a little bit of everything in your case.

Favourite Travelling Companion

All in all, I can't really sum up how utterly divine I think this place is.

Truly, my heart and soul lives on this little island and I so hope some of you are lucky enough to visit one day.

I'll be making my annual pilgrimage this year with this lot...my absolute favourite travelling companions.

Happy travelling everyone and thanks so much to Connie for having me...it was such a treat to be here!

xo



Getaways Guest Blog Series: Sarah from Fairy Tales are True

Today I'm happy to introduce Sarah from Fairy Tales Are True, who is not only totally sweet, but a perfect person to participate in the Getaways Guest Blog Series here at Sogni e Sorrisi. Sarah has been travelling around quite a bit since getting hitched--check out her blog for more details on that and her Etsy shop for great travel photos--so I was excited to find out what her fave spot so far has been.


Favorite Vacation Spot

Photograph Courtesy of Sarah Tucker Photography

My husband and I have traveled all over the past year so you may think it is difficult for me to come up with my favorite. But nope, I can easily pin point my favorite vacation spot - Positano, Italy. Hands down. First of all, I am completely enamored by Italy. I lived in Milan as a child, and that is where my love affair began and hasn't stopped since. Positano is catch-your-breath beautiful. The scenery, food, atmosphere is all authentically Italian. It still feels pretty small even though more and more people know about it.



Where to Stay

We stayed in a Bed and Breakfast called the Villa Sofia, which was 45 euros a night! A steal for Positano. Although it is a crazy bus ride up and down to the villa, the view makes it all worth it.

If you want to spend and feel like a movie star, you need to stay at Le Sirenuse! Everything about this hotel just makes me swoon. You can also grab dinner or drinks there - which is what we did (:


What to Eat

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Most meals here come with bruschetta to start off, whether you ask for it or not. There's something so good about the tomatoes in Italy so definitely take advantage of that. Other than that another speciality is Bruschetta Steak. If you want one of the best authentic Italian meals of your life then head to La Tagliata. Oh, and you've got try some of their Limoncello.



What to Do

I loved swimming in the Tyrrhenian Sea, indulging in Italian pasta, drinking mojitos, hiring a boat to Capri, and swimming in the grottos along the way.



Five Vacation Essentials

1. You're going to want a good camera to capture it all.

2. A cute bikini!

3. White linen, if you want to dress like the locals.

4. Chic Sunglasses

5. Sunscreen.



Packing Tips

Pack light! I packed dresses, a couple bikinis, and some pashminas.



Favorite Travelling Companion

My husband! He makes even the most uncomfortable traveling experiences fun. He also speaks Spanish, Italian and passable German.



Where You'd Like to Go Next

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We're headed to Greece, Turkey, Scotland, and Sweden in 2011 for sure. And who knows where else the wind will blow us ( : !!


All images courtesy of Sarah Tucker unless otherwise noted.

Loving Sarah's Photos?

Be Sure to Check In Tomorrow

for a Fabulous February Giveaway!

Getaways Guest Blog Series: Naina from Style'n

Soooo happy it's Thursday, although I think this week went by really quick. It really feels like I don't have enough hours in a day and I'm tired of this icky weather. Which makes it the perfect times to dream about vacations. I haven't had one of these Getaways Guest Posts in awhile and I'm super happy that the first of the new year is courtesy of the gracious and stylish Naina of Style'n. Read on to find out all about Naina's vacation faves.

Favorite Vacation Spot

It was difficult to select my favorite vacation spot because I have so many favorites. Traveling is truly a passion of mine and my husband and I take every opportunity we can to travel. Most recently we went to Argentina and Costa Rica and I loved both places. But the one place we seem to go back to over and over again is Maui, Hawaii. We went to Maui on our honeymoon and have been back two more times since then.

Where to Stay

We like staying at the Grand Wailea but last time we stayed at the Maui Four Seasons because we found great room rates during the off peak season. All I can say is that the Four Seasons is truly paradise.

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Where to Eat

Here are the three restaurants I highly recommend in Maui:

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1. Spago at the Four Seasons has great ocean view seating and we also love to sit at the bar and chat with the bartenders. They usually give us the scoop on the local hot spots and events going on. Even if you do not stay at this hotel it is still worth it to check out the restaurant.

2. Lahaina Grill - We go there to eat the tequila shrimp and firecracker rice. Sometimes we even hit this restaurant twice because the food is that good.

3. Mama's Fish House - This beach side restaurant always draws a crowd and we like to go here for lunch and sit at the bar. We usually stop here again on the day we fly out because the restaurant is on the way to the airport.

What to Do

There is so much to do in Maui but we prefer to lounge by the beach, drink cocktails in the Infinity pool, pamper ourselves with spa treatments, and take long walks and jogs on the beach. We also look forward to the beautiful sunsets in Maui as well.

Vacation Essentials

Camera. I always travel with my Nikon D90 SLR camera. Vacations are always a good excuse to learn and improve my photography skills.

Sunglasses. There is nothing more chic than wearing a pair of sunglasses and another benefit of sunglasses is that I can forgo wearing eye make up.

Books/magazines. I always treat myself to one or two new books to read and I bring along my own stash of fashion and fitness magazines for the trip.

Journal. I like to jot down favorite sites and restaurants, tips on what we forgot, items we should bring on our next trip. My husband and I also like to use vacation time to write down our goals, future plans, and other thoughts or ideas we come up with.

Travel Book. My personal preference is Fodors and I buy a book for every trip we go on. I have a shelf dedicated to travel books and since I do not like to buy a lot of trinkets and souvenirs when I travel, these books serve as nice reminders of our travels.



Packing Tips

I am not an expert at packing but I admit I am getting better at it. I think packing for beach vacations is the easiest because I usually wear workout clothes in the mornings, bathing suits and cover ups in the afternoon, and dresses in the evenings. I keep everything simple in terms of shoes, jewelery, and handbags. Everything is color coordinated and I keep all items monochromatic so that everything is interchangeable and I can mix and match outfits and accessories.

I also pack a foldable duffle bag and on the way home we use it to stuff our laundry items. This gives us more room in our suitcase for any purchases we have made.

Also one thing we have learned to do when we travel (especially for connecting flights) is to ALWAYS bring a carry on suitcase with two days worth of clothes. If our luggage were to ever get delayed or lost we could at least enjoy a couple of days of vacation, right?

Favorite Travelling Companion

My husband, we are great traveling companions. Even though we did not take my daughter with us to Maui, I enjoy traveling with her as well.

She is starting to comprehend more, she is so inquisitive, and she loves to travel too. It is also quite amusing and fun to travel and experience new places through a 3 year old's point of view.

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The Next Spot I'd Like to Visit...

I would love to go to travel around Thailand next. I have never been but I hear the temples, beaches, food, culture, and people are all amazing.

Thank you so much Naina for telling us all about your vacation memories! xo

All photos courtesy of Naina from Style'n, unless otherwise noted.