St. Lucia

Whether it is romance you are looking for or adventurous family fun, the lush West Indies island of St. Lucia is the perfect getaway for all varieties. Known for its' palm-fringed white and/or black sand beaches, miles of luscious rainforest and the majestic Piton Mountains, St. Lucia is a legendary escape from reality.

I must admit that I did not know much about this amazing island until all its' luxuries were introduced to me via the ABC TV show The Bachelor: Season 14. I think what sold this idealistic location to me the most was the 600 acre beach front resort that the bachelor, Jake Palveka, and his two final contestants stayed at called Jade Mountain. Winning Traveler Magazine's "One of the Top Two Caribbean Resorts" and Travel+Leisure Magazine's "World's Best Services" I instantly knew this had to be a place to check out!

{Photos : Courtesy of World Wide Vacation Spots}

The architecture of this resort is absolutely stunning. Architect and owner Nick Troubetzkoy created this hotel based on his philosophy of building in harmony with Caribbean nature. Each room is deemed a sanctuary with individual bridges leading to private infinity pool with the fourth wall entirely absent to embrace the beauties of the island.

"Expect grand sweeping spaces where bedroom, living area and an extravagant private infinity pool glide into one another to form extraordinary platforms floating out into nature."  

- Nike Troubetzkoy -

Weather it is a luxurious spa experience your looking for or exciting beach activities, you can find it all at Jude Mountain. Being situated in the southern part of the island, major sightseeing attractions such as the Rainforest, Botanical Gardens, and Sulphur Springs are all within easy reach it you decided to leave the premises of the hotel for awhile.

Out of all the eco-adventures offered throughout the island zip-lining through the rainforest is a MUST! For those zip-lining new-b's this exhilarating rush along a cable extended from one tree platform to the next is the perfect way to explore the beauty of St. Lucian rainforests. Check out www.adventuretoursstlucia.com for details.

For those of you looking for a more relaxing trip be sure to check out the spa, yogo, and fitness experience at Jade Mountain. Many of the spa treatments are available in the privacy of your sanctuary or in Jade Mountain's boutique St. Lucia spa Kai en Ciel. In addition to these classical body and beauty treatments, complimentary yoga classes and fitness options are available for guests.

{Photo : Courtesy of Jade Mountain}

St. Lucia is the perfect destination, whether you're after romance, rejuvenation or adventure. Personally, I think this is the perfect escape for a honeymoon as well as a legendary family getaway!

Until next time, safe travels everyone!!

The French Riviera

Hello and welcome to my very first blog post!! For those of you who don't know me, my name is Morgan Buckley and I am a Senior Marketing major at Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, Texas. My greatest passion in life is travel and there is nothing I love more than discovering amazing, unique places around the world. Whether it is fascinating locations, gorgeous views or world-renown 5-star hotels there is just something about escaping the complexities of day-to-day life and taking a breath of fresh air in a foreign country. That is why for the next 10 weeks I will be sharing with you 10 of my favorite places that I would love to escape to someday. I may have to win the lottery (multiple times) to be able to afford half of these trips but hey a girl can dream, right?

With out further ado, I would like to introduce you to my most ideal travel spot in the whole wide world - CANNES, FRANCE!

{Photo : Courtesy of Dr. Hostel Travel Guide}

Located on the French Riviera, Cannes is one of the best known cities on the Mediterranean. Home to the annual Cannes Film Festival, Cannes is also famous for its various luxury shops, restaurants, and hotels. Many say it is a busy tourist destination but for some reason this place just screams perfection to me. There is nothing more breath taking than the South of France and I would love nothing more than to spend my summer months running around in this town.

The waterfront avenue, La Croisette, is what makes this city so incredible. Boulevard de la Croisette is known for its picture perfect beaches as it stretches along the shore of the Mediterranean Sea. La Croiseete is also known for its renown upsale shopping boutiques selling all kinds of fashionable items. It is a favorite spot for both locals and visitors and has magnificent views of the ocean as shown below.

{Photo : Courtesy of Wayfaring Travel Guide}

Located on the Boulevard de la Croisette is a beautiful hotel called the Intercontinental Carlton Cannes.

Registered as a Historic Landmark in France, many people call The Carlton the hotel of stars on the French Riviera. Welcoming prestigious guests for many of centuries, The Carlton is closely linked to the Film Festival and to the world of cinema. I, myself, would love nothing more than to spend a few nights at this elegant palace on the Mediterranean.

I highly encourage anyone who is interested in traveling to the South of France to take a look at Cannes, France and especially look into staying at The Carlton. Although I have yet to experience this opportunity, I can assure you that it would be an incredible escape.

Until next time, Bon Voyage!