It's time to tell you about my ultimate favorite stay in Puerto Vallarta. You guys know from my Instagram that Puerto Vallarta trip was one of my favorites this year, not only due to the people I met, the variety of activities we did, but also for the perfect hotel, where we stayed - Casa Velas. Casa Velas is an exclusive adults only all inclusive resort in Mexico's Pacific Riviera, awarded 4 stars by Forbes Travel Guide and a member of Small Luxury Hotel Group. It has been in the top 5 on Trip Advisor for Puerto Vallarta since 2010! It feels like you are living in a tropical oasis with onsite golf course, luxurious swimming pool and organic garden. The pool is never crowded, somehow it feels that that you are visiting family or friends. Dining on site is fantastic, and room service food is equally as incredible. But if all of the above is not enough luxury for you, you can head out to a private beach club which is located 2 minutes away from the hotel. It features a pool, a jacuzzi, full-bar service and fine dining restaurant.

It's been over three months since I came back from Bali, yet I am frequently going back to my epic trip in memories, and my mind takes me to Jimbaran in particular, which was the last stop of my Bali adventures. I am sure, it has a lot to do with the hotel, where I stayed - Kayumanis Private Estate and Spa. It’s a high end property with massive private villas and excellent customer service, that is beyond any other I have ever experienced. As mentioned, it was my last stop in Bali, so I was already pretty exhausted from moving around and having explored Canggu, Ubud, Seminyak and Gili Islands. I wanted a quiet place to relax and recharge before returning to my hectic lifestyle in the USA, and Kayumanis exceeded my expectations in that matter.

I stayed in a private 1 bedroom villa, that consisted of a separate bedroom with an outdoor bathroom (a dream!), open plan living and kitchen area, a separate personal spa room and a huge private pool. Beyond the excellent customer service, guests enjoy a personal 24 hour butler, daily high tea, a complimentary bike service,and a shuttle service to anywhere in Jimbaran/Nusa Dua area. Hotel stuff feel like old freinds, they have many stories to share and are always happy to assist. Every single one of your needs is met and exceeded to make sure you feel comfortable and welcome. 

It's time to continue my story of exploring Bali. After introduction to the island in Canggu, and cultural zen experience in Ubud, it was time to check out the most stylish and upscale area in Bali - Seminyak, famous for the best Bali shopping, beach clubs, top restaurants and the most luxurious resorts. 

I stayed at the beautiful luxury boutique hotel Blue Karma, which is a bit tucked away from the action yet just a short walk away from the best local shopping streets, restaurants and the beach. Artistic creativity, ethnic design and a beautiful garden came together to create a unique hidden paradise in the middle of all the action. With only 9 villas from 1 to 4 rooms, the hotel feels very private and peaceful, and of course their service is beyond excellent. I stayed at a 1 bedroom villa called Lavender, and I was completely in love. I think the designers were building it specifically for me, because I would literally live in that place! Minimalistic ethnic decor with lots of wooden elements, a private pool and so much space - it is truly my personal interior dream.
Unfortunately I had to leave the hotel very early on the last day, hence cut my stay there short. But I was up for a spontaneous last minute adventure trip to Gili islands, that you can check here :)

Check out the video tour on my INSTAGRAM (scroll right for the video!)

As you know from my social media accounts, I recently went on a solo trip to Bali, which was full of adventures and self-transformational experiences. I managed to go to 5 different places (one of them is not even in Bali, it's another island in Indonesia!) over a span of 2 short weeks, but it seemed like I spent a lifetime there. I only had my first and last two nights of the trip planned, everything else was meant to be figured out as I go. I was following my heart and local advice, and ended up having the best travel experience of my life!

Bali is truly a magical island, with its own spirit and way of life. It is made up of fascinating history, a blend of religions and spiritual atmosphere all around. Local people are warm and welcoming, they believe in karma and energy, live in the moment and practice gratitude. I learned a lot from the local way of life. All areas in Bali are different from one another with their own unique twists, however they all unite under one balinese spirit. So without further adieu, let me introduce you to each area (and the place I stayed at) individually. 

My first stop in Bali was at a coastal village Canggu beach famous for great waves for surfing, cute cafes, co-working spaces and also known to be an up-and-coming resort area. I chose to stay at Hotel Tugu, which is a family owned museum-like property owned by a renown Indonesian art collector Anhar Setjadibrata. He owns a few hotels in Indonesia, all of which store his unique collections of art, therefore being on a mission to bring back to life the art, soul and romance of Indonesia. No wonder the hotel feels like his private property, and it seems that you are just vacationing at your friend's place. From museum-like decorations and a huge collection of antiques to the greenest tropical garden area, everything at the hotel looks dreamy and surreal.

The staff treats you like family, and goes above and beyond to meet each one of your needs. I felt like I am the only person staying there, despite the hotel being fully occupied. My suite had an oceanfront view, and I had a hard time leaving my balcony both in the morning and at night - sunrise and sunset ocean views are stunning! The location of the property is just footsteps away from the beach, where I took my surf classes despite myself never being an avid surfer. Weather you are into surfing or not, I definitely recommend it for an intense workout, super fun times and even a spiritual journey. 

As for the food, I was obsessed with Tugu Hotel's cuisine, which is almost upsetting as I didn't even get to try many other places in the area. Their breakfast bowls were delicious and dreamy, and dinner at JI Restaurant, which is located on the premises serves the freshest sushi that melts in your mouth! Check out full photo diary below:

Last year was full of travel experiences for me. I stayed in lots of lovely hotels, from big chains to boutique ones, and one of my favorites and freshest in my memory is Hotel Augustine in Prague. It was my first time visiting Czech Republic, and the hotel was a perfect choice. It is centrally located in a quiet neighborhood walking distance to city's sights like Charles Bridge and Prague Castle, and, most importantly, it has the most fascinating history. 

The hotel's suites feature amazing views of Prague castle, the monastery or garden courtyards. But the most impressive room is the 360-degree-view Tower Suite, a three-story penthouse that once served as the monastery's observatory. You can see the whole Prague from there!

This post is sponsored by Radisson Blu but my love for their hotels is all my own.

You all know that I love to travel and try to get out of LA as much as I can - and it's not nearly as often as I'd like to! My longest trip this year was a three week non stop European tour, and I tried to share every detail with you guys. But more than that, now YOU have a chance to take 30 days and travel around the world yourselves and visit 5 amazing destinations (airfare for two included). 

I partnered with Radisson Blu - one of the world's leading brands with nearly 300 hotels in operation in 69 countries and territories to give away this phenomenal experience. And participating in the giveaway is also super FUN! To enter, take a journey through Paper City, and discover fun facts/clues about each location, helping you guess the city. It's simple and fun!

Here are my top 5 destinations that I would definitely recommend :

1) Athens, Greece - I started exploring Greece this year, and I definitely fell in love with the country. I am yet to see it's beautiful capital - Athens.

You guys know how much I enjoy travelling and staying at cool hotels. As of right now, I am typing this from Bodrum, Turkey, prepping for a boat tour along the Mediterranean coast until the end of the month. I love exploring other countries as much as I love to travel around my local California. There are so many essential things that I need for comfortable travel, but perhaps the most important one is proper lodging. I need to stay as productive and comfortable as possible, especially since I am always on the go. So good hotels are extremely important to me. They don't have to be upscale, but I need a proper comfy bed, great customer service, fast internet everywhere and "at home" atmosphere.

LEARN HOW TO GET A FREE TWO NIGHT HOTEL STAY in the US and Canada BELOW:

I know, I know. I promised this post for quite a while and have been teasing you guys with gorgeous photos of this beautiful hotel for the whole month. But here it is, the highly anticipated review of my luxury experience in Geneva.

While traveling to Switzerland, I stayed at a luxury Hotel d'Angleterre, conveniently located on the banks of Geneva's Lake Leman and set in a refined building dating from 1755. The first thing I noticed was the warm welcome each guest receives while staying there. You don't feel like a hotel guest, you feel like a family friend thanks to excellent service and meticulous attention to details of the hotel's staff. 

The hotel boasts 39 luxury guest rooms and 6 elegant suites, which are individually designed in a combination of refined Swiss style and traditional charm with modern amenities. No room looks similar to one another, making the hotel feel like a warm and welcoming luxury estate, full of tastefully selected and placed antiques and exquisite works of art.

My favorite place to relax at night was their swanky and wildly popular Leopard Bar offering live music in a luxury cozy library setting enhanced by a lit fire.

As I continue my hotel reports, it's time to talk about my stay in Brussels. I stayed at the ultra modern and chic Pullman Brussels Centre Midi, which is located right outside a major local and international train station of Brussels. Considering that I spent two out of three days traveling outside Brussels, and left Brussels for Amsterdam by train, I couldn't imagine of a better place to stay. But regardless if you need to travel outside of Brussels or prefer to spend your time in the city, the historical heart of Brussels is only a 15 min walk away, or a short 5 min metro ride, with the station located right next to the hotel. 

Location aside, the whole hotel is simply superb. Designed by architect Jean-Philippe Nuel, this 4 star upscale hotel is definitely a place to be - sleek, modern, minimalistic and glamorous! Out of all the places I stayed at, this one was by far the hardest one to leave! I am just too addicted to cool designs and great customer service :) And of course, the best part of any European hotel stay is... breakfast! It was definitely superb and the variety was just insane. I wished I stayed there longer so that I could try everything they had :) So delicious!

It's already been two weeks since I am back, but I am still not over my post-trip depression :) It was such an amazing experience, particularly due to the beautiful hotels I got to stay at. 

Today I'll tell you a bit more about my stay in Amsterdam. First of all, I arrived at the airport and got a TESLA cab - that's how you ride in Amsterdam! Definitely in style ;) Then it took me to the WestCord Fashion Hotel Amsterdam and I can't imagine a better place for your home away from home in this vibrant and international city. My hotel choice was pretty straightforward for two reasons. First, I am a fashionista (hence "the fashion hotel") and second, its convenient location. The hotel is close to public transportation which takes you directly to the center of the city, an airport is only a short drive from it and, most importantly, it's located right across the World Fashion Center. The rooms are very convenient (and quiet, which is kind of a big deal for me!) and the design throughout is all about fashion and glamour - definitely my vibe! 

My favorite amenities of this hotel are The Wellness Garden with 2 saunas and Turkish steam room, indoor swimming pool, and the SKYY bar on the 10th floor with great views of the city. And I was definitely obsessed with breakfasts there - seriously I don't think I ever ate so much food at once. But I don't regret it at all - it was healthy and definitely delicious. I can't wait to get back to this beautiful city and come back to WestCord Fashion Hotel Amsterdam.

While in Vancouver, I stayed at the Pan Pacific Hotel, a 4-diamond hotel which is perfectly situated in downtown Vancouver overlooking the city's magnificent waterfront and surrounded by Coal harbor, Stanley Park and Coastal Mountains.  With the iconic five sails rising above it, the Pan Pacific is an unparalleled downtown luxury hotel destination which is very popular with celebrities, athletes and famous artists. It feels like you are on board of the giant cruise ship with the latest amenities - quite surreal!

Honestly, after exploring the city I couldn't imagine a better location for my Vancouver stay. And the views that you get to see every single day just by looking out the window are so magnificent that you don't want to leave the room! As for my favorite amenities, the hotel offers several waterfront restaurants with breathtaking views (one of them even hosts weekly Opera nights!), outdoor swimming pool and a hot tub overlooking the city's harbor (I wasn't brave enough, but there were quite a few guests that enjoyed the outdoor hot tub even in wintertime).

And most importantly, I love the hotels that like to give back. For the last 22 years, Pan Pacific hosts an annual Christmas Wish breakfast where thousand of toys and cash are donated to needy children. All of those who donate are invited to a complementary breakfast buffet. It's truly an extraordinary experience and I wish I could witness it myself, because even the thought of it warms my heart.

I  had a truly festive Christmas experience there with tons of Christmas decorations around and truly amazing personnel to make all my christmas wishes come true.