Universal’s Aventura Hotel Review

Universal's Aventura Hotel

Eleana at Universal's Aventura Hotel

Pool time with Eleana at Universal's Aventura Hotel

Rooftop drinks with Eleana at Universal's Aventura Hotel

Universal Studios visit with Eleana

Jurassic Park encounter with Eleana

Universal's Islands of Adventure with Eleana

Visiting The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando with Eleana

Visiting The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando with Eleana

Room views of Universal's Aventura Hotel with Eleana

Grabbing a poolside drink at Universal's Aventura Hotel with Eleana Lazy River rides with Eleana at Universal's Volcano Bay

Bikini time in the wave pool with Eleana at Universal's Volcano Bay

Lazy River rides with Eleana at Universal's Volcano Bay

Room views and technology overview of Universal's Aventura Hotel with Eleana

Universal Orlando Resort recently invited me to experience their newest addition, Universal’s Aventura Hotel. This hotel is perfect for the budget traveler.  The 17 floor glass tower is modern and sleek and has everything you may need during your visit, from Starbucks in the lobby to an amazing rooftop bar and even a Virtual Reality Game Room.

Room: The guest rooms are very spacious with modern decoration. With windows from floor to ceiling, you can see the amusement parks and other Universal Hotels from your room. Also all rooms come with an iPad that controls everything from lighting to room climate and television programming, all at your fingertips.

Food: Bar 17 Bistro on the rooftop offers custom-crafted cocktails designed to pair with the urban international flavors on their menu. It is the perfect place to grab a drink and relax & enjoy the beautiful 360 views. Urban Pantry is great to grab a burger or pizza made right in front of you and if you’re relaxing pool side, a drink from Bar Sol is a must as well. Bar Ventura is located in the lobby, to grab a drink before dinner, and last but not least is Starbucks, located in the lobby too.

Pool: The pool was small but perfect for a quick cool down before heading to the parks, because it was hot, hot, hot on my visit! Orlando didn’t participate in Fall this year as we are still in the high 80’s now in November as i write this. If you don’t like a small pool, no worries! Volcano Bay is just a quick 3 minute walk from the property and I must admit I’m obsessed!

Transportation: Universal’s Aventura Hotel is just a 5 minute ride to the Universal Orlando Resort theme parks. Bus transportation is provided to Universal CityWalk, where you can access both Universal Studios Florida and Universal’s Islands of Adventure.

Hotel Perks: If you stay at Universal Orlando Resort, you get exclusive early park admission to the theme parks, complimentary on-site transportation and resort-wide charging privileges.

Summary: If you’re a budget traveler heading to Orlando who is looking for a modern environment property with fast amusement park access and plenty of spots to grab a drink, then Universal’s Aventura Hotel might just be the spot for you! Don’t forget to head up to the roof if you stop by … the views are some of the best in Orlando!

Until Next Time! XOXO -E 💋

Resort Review: Zota Beach Resort

While researching what beaches to visit in Florida, I came across a gorgeous picture of a swing on the beach in Longboat Key … and as a blogger, it was an immediate must-visit place for me.😍 So I quickly looked up places to stay nearby and stumbled across Zota Beach Resort. The property had great reviews and beautiful pictures as well. So now, this too was a must-visit for me.😋

Room: Zota Beach Resort is a contemporary luxury resort in the Gulf of Mexico with 187 guest rooms and suites. Room choices vary from pool views to gulf views or both and they have numerous room sizes and sleeping configurations available to accommodate your party. We selected an ocean front room on a high floor with an awesome balcony overlooking the gulf. We had breakfast there in the mornings and watched the beautiful sunsets in the evenings. The rooms are super comfortable with plush beds, flat-screen televisions, refrigerators and coffee makers. Cris did a little work from the room and found the desk area to be plenty comfortable and the high-speed internet was very fast. Our girls loved the daily turn down service, especially because the staff put extra chocolates under their pillows for them. What kid doesn’t like chocolate before bedtime, right?😝

Food: The hotel has two restaurants, Viento Kitchen + Bar and Cascades Pool Bar. We really enjoyed them both. The Viento Kitchen + Bar was a great place to have an early dinner and watch the sunset, since the elevated outdoor seating overlooks the pool area and the ocean. Their menu included bucatini bolognese, lobster ravioli, grilled Alaskan salmon, espresso bone ribeye, and more. They also have plenty of kids options too, with classic favorites like chicken fingers for your picky eaters, lol. Cascades Pool Bar had your bar food favorites like pizza, wings, french fries … but more importantly, they had wonderful hand crafted drinks and a daily happy hour.

Pool: As you can see in the photos, the giant oceanside pool and hot tub are the center piece of the resort and the poolside service was amazing. They literally delivered fresh drinks straight to your hand as you lounged in the pool or hot tub, which in my opinion underlines a luxury experience. Cris and I kept those piña coladas coming and it was pink lemonades for the kids. They also offer gorgeous cabanas if you bring a group or plan to stay poolside for an extended timeframe.

Beach: The beach is beautiful of course and the Gulf Coast never disappoints. From the beautiful blues & greens to the awe inspiring sunsets and the bath warm waters … you just can’t go wrong. The resort compliments this amazing nature with your choice of anything from a simple towel and umbrella all the way to a full size bed & canopy + side tables, to lounge away your day. Note that these amenities are a paid feature though, so bring your own umbrella if you’re seeking budget savings.

Things to do near by: When I go to the beach, I mainly like to relax and disconnect. On this particular trip, we literally never left the resort and didn’t feel like we needed to. The unwind was much needed and enjoyed. However for those who do want to get out or are staying for an extended timeframe, you can find everything nearby that Florida destinations generally offer. Golf, fishing charters and a wide variety of water sports are available with a quick call down to the resort concierge. The Mote Marine Aquarium, Tree Umph and Marie Selby Botanical Gardens are some other places to visit while you’re there.

In Conclusion: I would highly recommend Zota Beach Resort. We found it to be the perfect resort to get away with the family, or for a romantic and relaxing couples getaway. I’m going to have to go back for sure and find that swing I mentioned above … because that was the main reason I went to Longboat Key in the first place. But since the resort was so great and we unwound so well, we honestly forgot all about it until we were driving home.😋 Make sure to check out my Insta Story with some of my Zota Beach Resort highlights.

Hotel special: To celebrate the official start of Summer and the Summer solstice, the Opal Collection summer flash sale starts today, June 21. Book during this 72-hour sale to save on your next Longboat Key getaway. *Blackout dates apply. Must book by 11:59 p.m. EST on June 23.

Until Next Time! XOXO -E 💋

Staycation at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort

Orlando was just picked to be the number one place to staycation in the nation, for the second year in a row, and I couldn’t agree more! The unbelievable amount of stunning resorts in this area is amazing and I plan to staycation at all of them.😝 Being able to drive down the street and stay at a resort for a day or two, where you can feel you’re in a completely different country, is an amazing way to disconnect and relax. One of my favorite resorts to do so is the Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort. This resort truly transports you to the Polynesian Islands. From their bungalows over the water to the music playing throughout the resort, you instantly relax in a whole new environment.  ☀🌸

A must do while you’re there is the luau with Polynesian dancing in their open-air theater in Luau Cove. They serve a wonderful feast of authentic Aloha pulled pork, Polynesian ribs, roasted chicken and a vegetable medley. Fresh salad with mixed greens and ginger-lime dressing too before you finish your meal off by indulging in pineapple-coconut guava cake with chocolate crunch! YASSSS!!!

‘Ohana is another must do for me. Even though we generally avoid the Disney theme stuff when we’re seeking the “far from home vibe“, their breakfast is just too good to pass on. Besides that, during a quick staycation, we do a lot of poolside sunbathing and drink lots of piña coladas and margaritas.☺

Resort Review: Eau Palm Beach Resort & Spa

I’ve received tons of questions about the Eau Palm Beach Resort & Spa where I stayed in Palm Beach, FL for our girls trip! I’ll start by rounding up some of my pictures and outfits from the trip, so scroll down to the bottom of the post for the full review.Pink Off the Shoulder Top | Wedge Sandals | White Jeans | Pink Suitcase | Boater hat | LV Bag | EarringsPink PJ ShirtFlower Print Midi Dress | SandalsPink Bow Sandals | White Lace Top | Bag | TasselShorts | Salty Swimsuit | Sandals | Bag Sold out (similar here)  | Bracelets | Sunglasses | HatLaura Beverlin Swimsuit | Jaimie Cittadino Swimsuit | My One Piece Swimsuit  Orange Temple Terrace | Hat | Bracelets | Shades | SwimsuitBreeze Ocean Kitchen | Hat | Shorts | Black Off the Shoulder Swimsuit Yellow Salty Swimsuit | Hat White Maxi DressHat | Black Off the Shoulder SwimsuitPink Swimsuit here & here | Leaf Print SarongEau SpaEau SpaBlack Polka Dot Swimsuit Flower Print Swimsuit | Necklace | Earrings | Bracelets


Room: I’ve received so many questions about our room, which as you can see is literally what I’d call picture perfect. We had an ocean front king room with a balcony that overlooked the adult pool. The room was really spacious with a desk and lounge chair. The balcony sliding doors would turn off the air conditioning as soon us you open them to capture the ocean breeze and turn it back on as soon as they were closed to keep your climate perfect at all times. The bedroom balconies overlooking the ocean truly give you the feeling of having your own private cabana in your room and the room decoration captures the true sense of Palm Beach; a casual luxury. The vibrant yellow and blue colors set the tone for the perfect Palm Beach destination experience.

Pools: The property has two large pools and they both overlook the ocean. One is exclusive for adults with a lap lane and the other for family fun. The first two days we were there, there was no humidity and a cool ocean breeze. I’m the kind of girl that doesn’t get in a pool unless it is extremely hot outside or the pool is heated.  I have to say that I’m very picky with the water temperature in pools and these are both kept at the perfect temperature for even a sunrise swim. There’s also a large hot tub immediately beside the Breeze Ocean Kitchen’s outdoor bar that we loved and frequented as well.

Food: Let’s just say that we were a bit more on a liquid diet because the drinks were amazing!! But, we did eat at two of the four dining options on property, Breeze Ocean Kitchen and Temple Orange Mediterranean Bistro. Temple Orange is the perfect restaurant providing indoor and outdoor dining anytime of the day from breakfast to dinner. Breeze Ocean Kitchen was the perfect pool and beach restaurant and we ate there multiple times. They specialize in fresh food with light sauces & local FL craft brews and the menu was simply to die for. The drinks, the decor and of course the ocean view … we just loved this place.

Beach: The beaches are so beautiful every time I’m in Palm Beach. You’re far enough south that you really get that Caribbean vibe with the light colored sand and stunning array of blues and greens in the ocean. I love getting up early and going for a walk on the beach to catch the sunrise (and for those of you who know me well I am generally not a morning person).  One of the cool historical facts I learned about this beach was that in 1947 part of the A1A highway sank and had to be moved to the opposite side of the property.  So when it’s low tide you can see the remnants of the old sunken A1A that’s now covered in natural coral. It makes an incredible backdrop for pictures or a great opportunity to explore for sea life.

Spa: If I had to describe the Eau Spa experience in one word, it would be incredible. It is a whopping 42,000 sq. ft of relaxation bliss. You will definitely leave feeling like a new person and it truly reflects the idea of taking time out and treating yourself to some well deserved “me time”, which was much needed in my case. #MomLife. What made this Spa experience even more wonderful and unique was that before we started our massages, we enjoyed signature cupcakes and champagne. They sure knew the way straight to my heart and I felt that they delivered an out-of-the-ordinary spa experience. After our massages we hung out in The Self-Centered Garden, which is truly a wonderland. My favorite thing to do there was to sit on the swinging chairs and listen to the waterfall while playing in the water with my feet. I truly relaxed and enjoyed my “me time”.

In Conclusion: I would highly recommend the Eau Palm Beach Resort & Spa. It is definitely a resort that I’ll be visiting quite often. In fact we loved it here so much that Cris and I are considering coming back in August to Celebrate our 15 year Anniversary and experience some of the amazing couples treatments at the spa.  Of course my kids had tons of questions when we returned too and I shared with them some of the amazing kids activities we toured. They informed me “they are already planning a family trip there” because they can’t wait to get their hands on the DJ booth.  I don’t want to forget to mention the amazing staff either. From the minute you pull up in your car till the moment you get back in you car, they make you feel welcome and extremely spoiled. I have truly enjoyed my stay and feel extremely glad to have found an incredible resort that you can have multiple kinds of experiences … from a girls trip to a romantic getaway or family fun in the sun!

Our girls trip was awesome, so if you and your girlfriends would like to visit too, here is some information about a package that they offer for your ultimate girls trip.  XOXO  -E

 

GIRLS’ GETAWAY
Girls always have more fun. Sun, sip, and spa the day away with the ultimate girls’ escape in Palm Beach. The Girls’ Getaway includes:
· Glass of champagne upon arrival
· Complimentary beach bag
· Luxurious accommodations for two nights
· Choice of one spa treatment* daily per person in the Forbes Five-Star Eau Spa
· Choice of one cocktail or mocktail daily in Breeze Ocean Kitchen or Stir Bar & Terrace
· Complimentary transportation* (one-way) to Worth Avenue or Downtown Delray Beach
· Complimentary makeover at Neiman Marcus Palm Beach with glass of champagne and take-home gift
· A minimum two-night stay is required and package is available for up to two persons per room. Spa treatment includes choice of Self-Centered Massage, Essence Facial, Personal Training Session, Hair Cut, or 90-minute Manicure/Pedicure. Complimentary transportation is available for one-time only. Cannot be combined with any other offers and available for stays from March 1st – December 31, 2017.

Eric Paskel
Celebrity instructor and renowned “Bad Boy of Yoga” Eric Paskel, and the Five-Star Eau Palm Beach Resort & Spa have teamed up to host the first “Eaummm Yoga Rocks Retreat” August 11-13. In addition to lux touches, stellar dining and a gorgeous oceanfront setting, the weekend includes unique expert instruction. Planned sessions will zen out to a Prince-themed soundtrack, another 80’s version, and there’s even a class that will challenge students to execute all movements while remaining in one spot (for two hours!).

If you would like to book or just want to check out room rates, click here.