Hotels & Accommodations
Relais & Châteaux
Relais & Châteaux Independent, character-rich properties in some of the most beautiful places on earth. No two are alike, and that’s exactly the point. If you want a hotel that feels like it belongs to the destination — rather than dropped into it — this is the collection to start with. My husband and I stayed at Herdade da Malhadinha Nova during our honeymoon, and it totally sold me on Relais & Châteaux hotels – it was an incredible experience.
Read More: Hotel Highlight – Herdade da Malhadinha Nova
Marriott Bonvoy
Marriott Bonvoy My reliable anchor when I’m traveling for work or when I want the comfort of knowing exactly what I’m going to get. The points add up quickly, the properties are consistent, and there’s a Marriott everywhere you need one. They have a range of choices, from budget-friendly to luxury, so no matter the type of stay you want, Marriott has it!
Pousadas de Portugal
Pousadas de Portugal Historic castles, convents, and palaces converted into hotels across Portugal. We stayed in a couple Pousadas during our Portugal trip, but the most memorable by far was the turret of the Pousada Castelo Óbidos, where during our honeymoon we sipped champagne on the castle walls overlooking the Portuguese countryside. If that doesn’t sell you, I don’t know what will.
Airbnb
Airbnb Sometimes the best way to experience a city is to actually live in it — even briefly. Airbnb is my go-to when I want to be embedded in a neighborhood rather than hovering above it in a hotel lobby. I’ve also used Airbnb quite a bit for hiking trips where there are few hotel options and Airbnb offers a nicer selection.
Hostelworld
Hostelworld Budget-friendly, surprisingly well-reviewed, and intuitive to use. This was my go-to for finding hostels in Iceland and Ireland when I was on a tight budget, but wanted somewhere safe, convenient and clean to stay.
Torel Boutiques
Torel Boutiques A Portuguese boutique hotel collection that gets the details right. We stayed at the Torel Avantgarde in Porto during our honeymoon trip through Portugal, and it was one of the highlights of the journey. The rooms were spacious, the art throughout the property was genuinely wonderful, the pool was a welcome retreat, and the parking situation — never a given in Portugal’s older cities — was well handled. If you’re planning a trip to Porto and want somewhere that feels considered and characterful without sacrificing comfort, this is where I’d point you.
Airlines
JetBlue
JetBlue Legroom. Free snacks. Pleasant staff. JetBlue is my favorite domestic airline, and I’ve had consistently good experiences flying up and down the East Coast with them. If they have a direct flight where I want to go, I always try to book JetBlue. Their points don’t expire and they value the budget-conscious flyer, unlike so many other airlines. It’s for this reason alone that I recommend JetBlue to anyone looking to fly affordably and find an airline that won’t rip them off.
Icelandair
Icelandair I used Icelandair for my most recent flight to Scandinavia. We flew Icelandair from Dulles through Reykjavik to Bergen, and it was a genuinely smooth experience. They have quite a few direct flight options too!
TAP Air Portugal
TAP Air Portugal If you’re flying to Portugal — and you should be — TAP is worth your consideration. Good service, reasonable fares, and the obvious advantage of flying the national carrier into Lisbon. My honeymoon trip through Portugal started with TAP, and it set a good tone for the whole journey. We got a direct flight to Lisbon from Dulles, which is tough to beat.
Aer Lingus
Aer Lingus Efficient, friendly, and a solid choice for transatlantic travel to and through Ireland. The Dublin connection opens up a lot of Europe affordably, and the onboard experience has always been pleasant in my experience. While I haven’t had the opportunity to fly Aer Lingus yet, I’ve looked at quite a few of their flights for prospective trips, and they always have competitive fares. Plus, they have a points partnership with JetBlue, which offers another value to travelers.
Have a favorite airline or hotel I should know about? I’m always building out my list.
