With temperatures reaching 40 degrees below zero, Harbin, China most certainly lives up to the nickname “City of Ice.” Rather than suffer the cold, residents celebrate with an annual festival! During the months of January & February, the Sun Island Park is the destination of the Snow & Ice Festivals.
On one end sits the infamous Snow Festival, where sculptors from all over the world come to compete against one another. And as you can see, there’s nothing small about these intricately detailed snow sculptures!
On the other side of the Park sits the Ice Festival, where huge blocks of ice are carved into grandiose structures and lit up with neon lights!! Some of the ice structures are also constructed to be long ice slides too! If you thought the snow sculptures were intense, wait till you get a look at these ice structures constructed in the past!
All images courtesy of TotallyCoolPics – See more photos of the Harbin Snow & Ice Festival here
Interested in going to China for the Ice Festival? Contact us!
I hope everyone had a fantastic holiday weekend! I have a beautiful honeymoon to share today! Levi & Allison escaped to the beautiful Riviera Maya after their wedding celebrations and stayed at one of my favorite hotels, Zoetry Paraiso de la Bonita. The two had a fabulous time and said that Zoetry was, “the perfect spot for relaxing, yet as adventurous as we wanted it to be for our honeymoon.”
One of Allison & Levi’s favorite things about Zoetry was the community vibe that surrounded the hotel. They met many other honeymooners that they had such a blast getting to know & hang out with at the pool each day. They also loved the size of Zoetry (just 90 rooms). It’s not too small to where they felt isolated, but not too big either. I have to agree that a hotel like Zoetry is pretty ideal for any couple looking for some social interaction, prompt & personable service, & memorable activities!
Interested in going to Zoetry Paraiso de la Bonita for your honeymoon?? Contact us!
During my latest stay in Paris I rented an apartment which I loved! It was a great way to experience the city like a local for a few days! So I was really excited to discover Cobble Stay. They have an incredible selection of beautiful apartments in Paris in the best locations in the city. This is perfect for honeymoon couples that want privacy and space- hotel rooms in Paris are tiny! It is also great for couples that want to cook some meals, or just have a picnic of wine, cheeses and baguettes in front of the fire place!
Here is one Cobble Stay apartment in my favorite neighborhood of Paris, Marais Magic…
Not only is the apartment itself amazing, the property is in a prime location. Marais is a really cute area filled with little boutiques and cafes.
I’m absolutely in love with the postcard backsplash in the kitchen. Isn’t it so cool??
Interested in going to Paris & staying in a Cobble Stay property? Contact us!
It’s quite chilly over on the West Coast right now, so I think it’s time to warm things up with a Real Honeymoon to French Polynesia! Tai & Jeff started their honeymoon adventure at The Intercontinental Resort Tahiti and then ventured to The Intercontinental Resort & Spa Moorea & the Sofitel Bora Bora Marara Beach & Private Island. The two knew they wanted a tropical beach destination and this French Polynesian combination allowed for the perfect mix of relaxation & adventure.
Their favorite memory was most definitely shark & stingray feeding in Bora Bora. Tai & Jeff spent the day out on the water, enjoying views of the beautiful island, exploring the coral gardens, & getting some one-on-one time with the sharks & stingrays. Talk about an experience they’ll never forget!
When asked if there was any advice the two would offer to other couples planning their own honeymoons, Tai said, “Go to your dream destination. Splurge a little while there, and be open to adventure. Memories are created through experiences and the memories you create on your honeymoon will last forever.” Well said! Thanks Tai & Jeff for sharing your honeymoon adventures with us!
Interested in going to French Polynesia for your honeymoon? Contact us!
One question I am always asked is how/when/where is the best place to get cash when traveling abroad and dealing with exchange rates. So, if you’re getting ready to jet-set somewhere fabulous for the holidays I have two words for you: DEBIT CARD.
Photographer: Patrick Ng
Debit cards typically end up getting the best exchange rates, so always be sure to bring this along with you. You will need to pay a fee to use a foreign ATM, but even with the fee the exchange rate is the best. And since you will need to pay a fee for each transaction, take out larger amounts each time.
And last, always be sure to call your bank to notify them ahead of time of when and where you will be traveling. This way they won’t put your card on hold thinking the foreign charges are fraudulent.
For more information on foreign exchange rates, check out these sites: XE & X-Rates
