Top Four Solo Vacays

Iceland

Ditch the Eurail pass and forego the usual suspects around Europe. Opt for something more unique like Europe's lesser-visited Iceland. Iceland is not for those on a shoe-string budget, Iceland is one of Europe's most expensive countries.  But its totally worth it as Iceland does not skimp on nature or luxury! Majestic glacier-wrought scenery and healing hot pools, turquoise pools, toppling cascades, and glaring-white icecaps await you.  Head to Reykjavik if you are itching for a more a more cosmopolitan locale . For the ultimate in luxury, check into the Blue Lagoon, where you can take a  dip in healing waters pool and lava rocks flanked by surreal Icelandic scenery.

Arizona

Ok so Arizona is not a glamorous far away land but for what it lacks in mystique it more than makes up for in spas, open roads, and tranquility. Rent a convertible, rock a fab-scarf,  and take a drive la Savannah in Waiting to Exhale. See first-hand the Sonoran Desert on your way to Sedona. Savor the diverse scenery as you go from desert to chapparal to tall Ponderosa Pine forests. Visit the Grand Canyon or just relax and rejuvenate in one of Arizona's many 5-star spas. Try Miraval (www.miravalresorts.com) Miraval is a top-rated all-inclusive resort, and award-winning spa situated in the warm shade of Santa Catalina Mountains in northern Tucson, Arizona on 400 acres of idyllic land, Miraval is a place dedicated to opening eyes, minds, and hearts. Hey if its good enoug for Oprah and Gayle...

England

England is an obvious choice, not just because they speak the same language, but because they speak the universal language - shopping. London has some of the trendiest boutiques and shops. Whether you are bargain hunting on the high street, digging for treasures in Camden Market,  or salivating over the hottest fashion in Harrods, there is something for everyone.  Fawn over Kate Middleton's impeccable sense of fashion like we do? Head towww.katemiddletonstyle.org to plan a shopping trip fit for a Queen. If the exchange rate has you shaking in your welly's, there is still plenty to do that does not involve burning up your credit card. Visit the city's many museums and cultural institutions, tour Westminster Abbey and Buckingham Palace, or retrace the infamous steps of Jack The Ripper. Be sure to journey to some neighboring towns that over a bevy of  charming castles and inns like Bath or Cornwall.  

Croatia

The Dalmatian coast is quite simply a slice of heaven here on earth.  To call it one of Europe’s most stunning escapes is an understatement. The azure waters of the Adriatic provide the perfect backdrop for my search for self fulfillment,  the coastline is punctuated by a series of lively towns, old castles and city walls, and cute restaurants with the freshest seafood and great wine. If you are on a time crunch, set your sites on Dubrovnik, This tiny town packs in all of the best Croatia has to offer, not to mention the people are beyond friendly and always willing to help a lone traveler. Despite the recent hype, Croatia’s pleasures are more timeless than trendy. Along its 1778km coastline, a glistening sea winds around rocky coves, lapping at pine-fringed beaches. City centers throb with nightlife and pop culture amid ancient Roman ruins. Your favorite movie star probably already snapped up one if its many tiny islands or docks his/her yacht there on a regular as Dalmatia is a fave in celebrityville.

5 FAB GETAWAYS FOR 2012

Happy New Year! I am proud to announce that I am now an published author outside the blogosphere. Check out the article I wrote for Jones Magazine!  

http://jonesmagazine.com/content/lifestyle/407/5.fab.getaways.2012

It’s that time of year again, the time to dismiss the old and ring in the new. For many of us the New Year is about setting new goals, dismissing last year’s bad habits and people for good, and charting new territory. What better way to do that than with a fab vacay? Here is our Fab-5 guide to great getaways to usher in the New Year. After all “(Wo)man cannot discover new oceans unless she has the courage to lose sight of the shore.” – Andre Gilde 

Koh Samui, Thailand – Despite its up-market luxury trend, Koh Samui something for everyone at every price point. White-sand beaches, swaying palm trees and clear green seas provide the perfect back drop for plotting diva world domination for 2012. Koh Samui offers everything from ridiculous to the sublime to everything in between. There are isolated spots where serenity, water sports, and VIP treatment are the name of the game or you can opt for a boat trip around this picture-perfect archipelago made up of around 40 small islands. Sheer limestone cliffs, white-sand beaches, and hidden lagoons all add to the cosmetic beauty. 

The Maltese Islands - This tiny island packs a big multi-ethnic punch, from its North African and Arabic influences to the Sicilian-inspired cuisine. Yum! With the average temperature ranging from 60 – 70 degrees during the winter, it may not be suitable for beach bumming but there is no shortage of activities. Head to a nearby uninhabited island to unwind, or wander into the interior to check out the megalithic ruins of the island’s conquered indigenous inhabitants. Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt have been spotted, brood in tow, on one of the islands many beaches.

The Maldives –Perhaps the ultimate in long haul luxury destination , mega-star and Jones covergirl, Beyonce rung in the new year here with her hubby Jay-Z a couple of years ago. A geological eccentricity nestled in the middle of the Indian Ocean, the Maldives are a series of ancient coral reefs that jut up around the sides of towering prehistoric volcanoes. These old volcanic structures have long since sunk into the ocean, leaving behind coral islands of jaw-dropping natural beauty, 365 days ofsunshine and lagoons the temperature of bath water. This is no budgetnista destination, prepare to exercise your black card for this trip of a lifetime.

Rancho la Puerta Fitness Resort & Spa in Tecate, Mexico – This two –time winner of Travel & Leisure’s World’s Best Destination Spa (2010 -2011) is the perfect place to unwind and set the tone for a healthier you Enjoy 325 days of sunshine and 3,000 acres just for you and 125 other guests each week-space to breathe, stretch, learn, and immerse yourself in serene beauty. You’ll return home with the healthful glow and a pep in your step that comes from a vacation devoted to relaxation, good eating, learning, and exercise. Find your wellspring of energy and maybe even loose a pound or two.

Siena , Italy – Siena, one of Europe’s best kept secrets, bristles with majestic architecture, boutiques, and museums. Wander the snarled lanes of the historic centre, a Unesco World Heritage Site, shopping and eating your through this quaint little city. Siena is filled with one of a kind boutiques and shops at every corner, but you'll want to stroll along three main pedestrian streets for sure: Via di Citta, Banchi di Sopra and Via Dei Montanini. Styles range from trendy to classic. You'll find a gelateria, pizza shop or bar between every few shops, so you can stop for gelato breaks!

It Was All A Dream!

  "It was all a dream....I used to read National Geographic Magazine..."

I know that's not how the song goes but that was indeed the story of my life. Unlike B.I.G I used to hang pictures of the Sphinx and the Champs Ellyses on my wall...next to my poster of Salt-n-Peppa and Heavy D up in the limosine. Despite my young age I knew that it was quite possible I'd meet them all at some point (and I did). Like most 80's brown babies I grew up reading VIBE, Essence, Ebony and the rest but I had a secret obsession with my dad's Robb Report and National Geographic magazines. I would make mental notes of all the fabulous and mysterious places I would one day visit once I was able to break from the confines of homework and chores.........

I started off not taking no for an answer. I saw no reason why I couldn't see the world even though I had no real income to speak of and barely knew how to get around the block. At 17 I decided Martha's Vineyard wasn't an option for my senior trip since a friends parents had a time share in the Bahamas. I convinced my parents that a week in the Bahamas was a better investment in my future. At 18 a professor told me I wasn't qualified to be a delegate for the school in Argentina for the Model Organization of American States because I wasn't a political science major. I told him I was a better politician than he could ever be and proceeded to convince his boss that I was not only going on the trip, but that I would co-lead the delegation. And I did, the rest as they say, is history. The following fall, at 19, I moved to Tokyo to study Japanese and International Business. Since then I've been to China, England, Scotland, Wales, Canada (yes it counts dammit), Ireland, Italy, France, Spain, Portugal, the Czech Republic, The Netherlands, Croatia, Montenegro, Egypt, Brazil, Dominican Republic.

What I've learned over the years is that the destination is really the journey. The greatest reward in travel is to be able to experience everyday things as if for the first time, to be in a position in which almost nothing is so familiar it is taken for granted. I live for the possibility to experience a thousand sunsets a thousand different ways, and most importantly, I believe its my life's purpose to bring that experience to everyone. With that said, I present to you the "Adventures in Divaland" logo. It's just a step, but we all know a journey of a thousand begins with just that.....

 To me this is much more than a logo, this is something I can look at, along with the stamps on my passport, to remind me where I've been but most importantly where I'm going. There's so much love left to spread over the  world to see and I'm just the girl for the job.

-Carmen

 “The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page.” - St. Augustine


o. 

Tis the Season to be Carmen.....

Le sigh…. The holiday season is indeed upon us. Time to max out your credit cards, od on pumpkin spice latte’s, and endure another family gathering where you have to explain to everyone why you are STILL not married (just me?) Yep!  Tis the season to be Car-men (Sandiego that is)! For those of us who don’t live in our hometown or are looking to escape,  it’s time to hit the road. Whether you’re hastily coordinating the logistics to get to big mama’s house or frantically scouring the net for those last minute getways, finding the right flight, hotel and rental car can be a beast, especially if you are pressed for time and on a budget.

Not to fret my dears, I’ve compiled a list of six smart phone apps, ipad apps, and websites that help make flying the skies friendly again… You are now free to haute-strut around the world…..

Before You Go:

1. Hipmunk  http://www.hipmunk.com/

Hipmunk is a virtual savior for the young broke and fabulous who don’t have time to scroll through flight options we can’t afford, or that leave at god-awful hours of the morning. Flight results are presented in a visual "timeline" that allows people to select the best flight for them at a glance. Hotel results are shown on a map so that people can view where in a destination they will be staying and the landmarks near them.


2.    Yapta.com - http://www.yapta.com

Yapta aims to help travelers get a better handle on pricing by providing easy-to-use tools and information that assures they get the best value from their travel spending. Yapta allows you to track the pricing of your desired route and will alert you when it’s the best time to buy. All you have to do is enter in your email address and your desired trip. It works for hotels too! It saved me $100 on my trip to Minnesota. No offense to Minessotans (?) but no one should be forced to pay $100 more to go there…jus saying 

3.     Trip it – http://www.tripit.com

This is perfect for us who party til 4am before a 6 am flight and then go to the wrong airport and then blame our assistant for confusing LGA to JFK on our itinerary….or you know.. whomever. TripIt turns chaos into order by making it easy for anyone to:

•  Organize trip details into one master online itinerary — even if arrangements are booked at multiple travel sites
• Automatically include maps, directions, and weather in their master itinerary
• Have the option to book restaurants, theatre tickets, activities, and more right from within the online itinerary
• Safely access travel plans online, share them, check-in for flights, or print an itinerary

4.     FlightTrack – http://www.mobiata.com/apps/flighttrackpro-iphone

So you managed to wake up in time, run all your errands, and grab a cab in to make it to the airport with plenty of time to spare just to arrive to find that the plane was having a bad day and your flight is now delayed, despite the fact that there is no bad weather in sight. Sweet! You probably should’ve downloaded FlightTrack, by Mobiata. Using this app, you can track flights using graphically beautiful maps or you can view the information in simpler ways. What makes FlightTrack really stand out is its international coverage – this means exactly what it says – you can track every single one of your flights worldwide. If you’re travelling on the same flight as someone you know, you can upload your flight’s status by email, Facebook or Twitter.

While You’re there

5. Uber -  https://www.uber.com/

So you’ve arrived to your destination, now what? Uber is a handy car service, which is available for iPhone, Android and via text message, will summon a driver to your location and take you to your destination for a pre-negotiated fee. This app is perfect for New Yorkers who’s idea of driving responsibly is remembering to hide your flask (again, just me? ok). No money changes hands, as the service automatically charges the credit card on file, including tip. However, Uber is only available in San Francisco, Seattle, Chicago, Boston and New York City for now.

6.    AroundMe -  http://www.tweakersoft.com/aroundme.html

This app quickly identifies your position and gives you directions to the nearest Bank, Bar, Hotel, Movie Theatre, Restaurant, Supermarket, Theatre or Taxi, etc. without pulling out a stupid travel guide. Once you’ve chosen which building you’re in most need of, AroundMe places this location on a map and gives you the most direct route to your intended destination. So simple, yet so useful, and best of all, you can download AroundMe from the App Store for free. 

Happy travels folks!

The 30th

After 3 planes, 2 continents, 1 flight cancellation and numerous layovers and mental meltdowns, I was finally flying over the Adriatic Sea en route to the my promise land, Croatia, when I read this passage:

That’s what I mean by routine, You think that you exist because you’re unhappy. Other people exist merely as a function of their problems and spend all their time talking compulsively about their children, school, work, etc .They never stop to think: I’m here. I am the result of everything that happened and will happen, but I’m here. If I did something wrong, I can put it right or at least ask forgiveness. “you are not here any more. You’ve got to leave in order to return to the present”…

-“The Aleph”, Paulo Cohelo

And that’s what I did…I left in hopes to return to the present, refreshed, renewed in spirit and prepared to finish walking in my destiny.

  The Dalmatian coast is quite simply a slice of heaven here on earth.  To call it one of Europe’s most stunning escapes is an understatement. The azure waters of the Adriatic provided the perfect backdrop for my search for self fulfillment,  the coastline is punctuated by a series of lively towns, old castles and city walls, and cute restaurants with the freshest seafood and GREAT wine, which I partook in many…many times. 

I spent my days lounging by the beach near Hotel Dubrovnik... 

I cruised to Korcula Town, rumored to be the birth place of Marco Polo. This place is absolutely sublime. It’s set on it’s own peninsula framed by the sea and the mountains...

I swam in the Adriatic at Lopud Beach. Which is by far the most beautiful beach I’ve ever seen...

  I climbed the walls in Old Town and walked through the Strandun also known as the Placa, Dubrovnik’s main thoroughfare 

  The highlight of the trip was my day trip to Montenegro. Montenegro formerly belonged to Serbia before claiming its independence after the war in Yugoslavia.   Just look at that view! 

 

Many don‘t understand my desire to travel alone. Why would you want to celebrate your 30^th birthday in a strange land with people you don‘t know?  Why would you spend all that money to be by yourself, you can do that at home? The answer? I‘m not sure that I‘ve found one sufficient enough, but I will leave you with the words of Paulo Cohelo

 “Travel is never a matter of money, but of courage. After weeks on the road, listening to a language you don’t understand, using a currency whose value you don’t fully comprehend, walking down streets you‘ve never walked before, you discover that your old “I“ along with everything you ever learned, is absolutely no use at all in the face of those new challenges and you begin to realize that, buried deep in your unconscious mind, there is someone much more interesting and adventurous and more open to the world and to new experiences. ”

The journey to Croatia took  2.5 days. I left a stormy foggy New York on Thursday and did not get there until Saturday, but I know that’s its by no mistake at all that I arrived exactly when I did. I’m sure it may take me another 2.5 months, or maybe even a life time,  to be able to put in words what this trip meant to me. I returned to New York with that same spirit that guided me here four years ago in the first place, my inner Carmen Sandiego is ready to leave you all wondering "Where in the world is Ms. Guyton?"

Welcome, yokoso e, Beinvenido

Welcome to my life, unintentionally hilarious, sometimes melancholy, always full of surprises.....let the adventures begin