A 50th Celebration in Paris & the Italian Riviera

Annette and Mike were looking for an incredible luxury adventure to celebrate her 50th birthday. Something classic, full of shopping, champagne, great meals, and maybe even a little beach time. We knew Paris had to be top-of-the-list! Adding a little bit of the Italian Riviera to relax and slow down created the perfect grand celebration for a milestone adventure! Here’s how their trip went:


We loved our trip and cannot thank you enough for your help in planning. Everything was so organized and exceeded our expectations!

Paris Tours

Paris was just amazing. Every sight, everything we saw in the short time we were there was amazing. Feret from Paris and Beyond Tours was more than amazing. We would never ever have been able to see as much as we did in Paris being there a short 3 days. He took us on a tour for the entire day of every possible place we would want to see. His knowledge was incredible. We learned so much history, it was incredible.

He also spent extra time with us helping me shop at Chanel and what a disaster that was. We were there on the day of the new launch for Fall collections so shopping in Paris was quite impossible the days we were there. He helped me navigate that process so well. The boat cruise was also a highlight. Ann and her partner (I forget his name) were so so amazing. They made homemade apps, and the cruise and history we saw was something out of a movie. Highly Highly recommend it. They were easy to find too as I was a bit concerned about meeting them at the correct spot.

Paris Hotel

Our hotel in Paris (Le Metropolitan) I have to say was just ok. Great people. An incredible spot, and the view was incredible. But it was very small. No amenities or concierges really. Maybe that is what you get and you pay for that view? The view was unreal. The location was great too in one of Paris’ most famous neighborhoods. (16th arrondissement- learn more about Paris neighborhoods here!) Paris btw, was also very safe and clean I have to say. Transportation was extremely easy with Ubers too when we didn’t have cars. We also just wandered at night and found local restaurants and we had the best meals. Overall it was terrific.

San Remo

We flew into Nice and had the most awesome driver meet us. We fell in love with this family-owned business. Luigi and his son Luca both drove us on subsequent days to Monte Carlo and Portofino/Santa Margherita. Hotel San Remo is a close 45 min drive from Nice airport and we arrived at an incredible room with the most amazing views of the Ligurian Sea. OMG. The hotel was beautiful and full of amenities we like — the spa, the pool, the outside bar and restaurant, and shop in the lobby for a last-minute bag to take home all my purchases lol. It has a very famous history of royalty staying there and it was beyond amazing. Our room was huge. Our day trip to Monte Carlo/Monaco was amazing. The most incredibly wealthy area of shopping, boats, restaurants, and casino I think I have ever seen. We shopped all day, and enjoyed Champagne at an outdoor Veuve Cliquot pop-up champagne spot. AMAZING. I wanted a day to shop, and Monte Carlo did not disappoint.

We then had a day at the pool and by this point in the trip we needed this so badly. The pool at the San Remo was built by a famous Italian architect and has a rich history. The lunch there and the view was amazing. It was a peaceful restful day. The hotel also suggested the best small local restaurants that we ate at the following nights and they were just amazing.

Portofino & Santa Margarita

We then did a day trip to Portofino and Santa Margarita and all I can say is wow. AMAZING. This was my 3rd and Mike’s 4th time in Italy and we have seen a lot of Italy including the Amalfi Coast. This compared.

Small coastal towns with beautiful colorful architecture and restaurants and shopping to die for. The place we had lunch at was amazing in Portofino OMG. La Terrazza at Belmond Splendido. Was a dream location. AMAZING.

Our driver Luigi again, was great getting us there. Gave us so much history along the way. Knew where to take us, how to get us there and tell us all the amazing things along the way. We never could have done our day trips without him. Professional and the best.

Then my bday ended with Roberta (owner of San Remo Experience). We were so moved by her. She took us off the beaten path to a very small village where we learned to make pesto and fresh pasta. Had the most wonderful tour of beautiful churches, the town square, and local osterias. She had such a beautiful heart and was so patient and kind. So knowledgeable. We loved her. We had the best day.

I honestly would not change a thing about our trip. We loved loved loved it. Thank you for all your help and guidance we couldn’t have done it without you!

Annette

A 30th Birthday Surprise

One of my clients recently surprised her boyfriend with a 30th birthday “escape” to Orlando, and they had a blast!  What could be better than a milestone birthday AND a vacation, all rolled into one?

Hi Ann,

So sorry for the delay, but attached are a few pictures from our trip.

Kenny and I had such a great time, and you made it completely stress and worry-free!  Our flights were great, our arrival at the hotel went without a hitch and within 30 minutes of getting to the hotel, we were on our way to the parks!  Even with spending a few days at Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure and a few days at the Disney Parks, we were still able to enjoy some mornings and afternoons at the hotel pool.  The atmosphere was great, food at the hotel was great and we really enjoyed every moment.

Kenny’s surprise destination 30th birthday gift was a true success, thanks to your knowledge and excellent planning!

Thanks again, Ann! 🙂

Celebration Vacations

Wow, I didn’t know how “on the cutting edge” I really am!

For about a year or so now I have been promoting myself as a specialist in “Celebration Vacations“. This includes things like honeymoons, destination weddings, anniversaries, milestone birthdays, family reunions, graduations, etc. — basically any life event that can be celebrated by taking a fantastic, memorable vacation.

Family trip to Krakow for a wedding

Family trip to Krakow for a wedding

Lately, it seem like everyone is jumping on this bandwagon, and I’m seeing the “celebration vacation” trend everywhere in the media.

Walt Disney World, who basically invented the concept (I mean, really, a birthday trip to WDW is like a childhood rite of passage), is heavily promoting the fact that anyone celebrating a birthday gets free entry into the parks that day. They have also created a whole department that caters to family reunions (and other groups). These “Grand Gatherings” have access to special experiences and perks that help make the vacation even more magical.

Several resort chains in the Caribbean and Mexico are promoting special packages (free nights, luxury amenities, and more) for honeymooners who return for an anniversary stay.  Cruise lines are offering special rates and discounts for groups — perfect for those multi-generational families celebrating milestone birthdays and anniversaries.  And, one of my favorites blogs just posted a list of the top five destinations for a celebration vacation (not surprisingly, Disney tops the list).

So what advice can I offer to someone thinking about a celebration vacation of their own?

– The number one suggestion is to lean on a travel professional to help you with the planning. We know what specials and discounts are out there and, more importantly, we’re experienced in handling the myriad of questions and concerns that come up.

– Be sure to involve everyone in the advance planning. If it’s just an anniversary “escape” for your and your spouse, that’s easy. But if it’s a 50th anniversary trip with your parents, siblings, kids, nieces and nephews, it’s doubly important to make sure you’re getting input from everyone upfront and taking their needs/desires into account.

Build in some special moments. This is the time to splurge a little on a relaxing couples’ massage, a first-ever ride in a helicopter, a group portrait on the beach for Grandma and Grandpa, etc.

Most importantly of all, remember to seek out those life events that deserve celebrating!  And share your thoughts (below) on memorable celebration vacations that you’ve enjoyed.

You provided excellent guidance for us. I appreciated that you really had us think about what was most important to us when we were selecting the right cruise – and not to totally focus on what other people had to say. THANK YOU for helping to make this a memorable trip for our family! It really was a trip of a lifetime!

Clare and Mark (family cruise to Alaska)

The level of service we experienced was out of this world (and we did NOT make it easy on Ann). We weren’t quite sure where we wanted to go, when we would be able to go, or what “vibe” we were going for. After asking us some key questions (what we liked, didn’t like, why, etc.) Ann helped us narrow down our trip details and planned the honeymoon of our dreams. She helped book some of our excursions, answered some emergency questions while abroad and was always available/willing to help. I think it’s safe to say we won’t be using anyone else for future travel planning – Ann is a rockstar!

Carli (Italy and Spain)