Five Dream Travel Destinations

Bora Bora Four Seasons Resort

Shark & Ray Snorkel Safari

Mt Otemanu

Santorini

Pool Suite at Astra

Pool Suite at Astra

Red Sand Beach

Santo Wines

Vineyard Square Hotel and Suites

Black Dog Tavern

Gay Head Beach and Lighthouse

Orlando, FL

Disney World

Universal Studios Orlando

Wizarding World of Harry Potter

Four Seasons Resort Oahu

Oahu Surfing Experience

Reel Intense Sportfishing Oahu

I am in love with traveling and going on adventures with family and friends and thus, I have curated a list of five of my dream vacation destinations. This list not only includes destinations but it also includes where I would die to stay while I am in that place and a couple of things/reasons that made me choose these places.

1. Bora Bora, Tahiti

2. Santorini, Greece

3. Martha’s Vineyard, MA

4. Orlando, FL

5. Oahu, Hawaii

Bora Bora, Tahiti:

• Reasoning - Who wouldn’t want to go to Bora Bora? It is the perfect place to vacation! Island life, sun, sand, and relaxation make this island the complete package if you are planning on escaping your normal, daily life. This island is located in French Polynesia and is surrounded by a natural coral reef that is great for anyone interested in scuba diving. The center of the island is also home to Mt. Otemanu, which is a dormant volcano that any hiker would fall in love with.

• Places to stay - The Four Seasons wins hands down as the top dream place to stay. Overwater bungalows let you relax, play, and sleep right over the ocean water! The one-bedroom overwater bungalow offer a living room where you can walk right out onto a deck and the bedroom has access to a private plunge pool located right over the ocean. For a more reasonable accommodation than the Four Seasons, the Village Temanuata offers a more traditional vacation stay while still holding a luxurious charm even though it is located on land. It is also near many shops and restaurants that would be any travelers dream.

• Things to Do - The first thing I would be sure to do after checking into my accommodations would be to take a relaxing nap on the beach but once I recharged, I would be sure to check out all the experiences that Bora Bora has to offer. I would for sure take advantage of the Shark & Ray Snorkel Safari where you are able to watch, swim with, and feed rays and sharks. Next on my list of activities would be SUP Stand Up Paddle Board in Bora Bora where you can learn to paddleboard on the lagoon of the island. One other activity that I would be sure to fit into my laundry list of activities would be the Sunset Cruise and Star Tour, by Vavau. Who wouldn’t want to sip champagne and watch the stars while relaxing in one of the most beautiful places this earth has to offer? It’s also a great activity if you are visiting Bora Bora with your significant other.

Santorini, Greece:

• Reasoning - Greece has always held a special place in my heart. Since I was little, it has been a dream destination for me. One reason behind this is because I have family from Greece and I am always intrigued by places that have a tie to my family. Even without a tie to family, Greece is a natural travel destination with its beautiful coast, ancient architecture, and rich history. Greek history is a passion of mine and to be able to visit and learn even more about the culture directly would be a dream.

• Places to Stay - Santorini would be one of my main stops in Greece and would be where I would want to stay. The dream vacation accommodations would be to stay at in the Pool Suite at Astra. To be able to have your own private infinity pool that overlooks the volcano and the Aegean Sea would be the Grecian dream of all dreams. If you are on a budget and still want to stay on the island of Santorini, you are in luck. Evgenia Villas and Suites offers luxury suites at a more reasonable cost while still giving you the pleasure of staying somewhere gorgeous and relaxing.

• Things to Do - One thing I would love to do while in Santorini would be to visit the SantoWines Winery. While there, you can indulge in an 18 flight wine tasting and take a tour of the winery. Another thing would be to visit the Red Sand Beach that is located next to the ancient site of Akrotiri. This beach is situated right alongside red cliffs that contrast beautifully with the blue of the water. Visiting the city of Oia is also a must. It is located on the northwestern tip and is able to boast being one of the most photographed places in Greece. This isn’t hard to see why with all of the beautiful white washed buildings that are situated along and on a cliff. One other activity that I would make sure to fit into my vacation in Santorini would be cliff jumping at Amoudi Bay. It is located below Oia and has the most gorgeous crystal blue water.

Martha’s Vineyard, MA

• Reasoning - This small island is located off of the coast of Massachusetts. Martha’s Vineyard is host to beautiful coastal beaches, adorable harbor towns to visit, and of course, Vineyard Haven. This island is the ultimate dream for anyone who loves to feel the ocean breeze in a quaint setting. I would love to go here and experience the harbor life how it truly should be done; on Martha’s Vineyard.

• Places to Stay - Two options for staying on the island include the Winnetu Oceanside Resort and also the Vineyard Square Hotel and Suites. Both of these accommodations offer all types of rooms and room sizes depending on who you are traveling with. They boast a romantic feel also if that is more of what you are looking for. Vineyard Square also offers beautiful pet friendly accommodations if you were planning on bringing your best friend with you on vacation. Both places also offer rooms with a view which is exactly what I would want if I was staying somewhere this beautiful. For a more reasonable accommodation option, look no further than the Mansion House Inn. This beautiful hotel offers rooms starting at $99. Another perk, if you enjoy traveling with your furry friends, is that the Mansion House Inn is pet friendly on a budget.

• Things to Do - One of the first things that I would be sure to jump into on Martha’s Vineyard is enjoying some of the food that the island has to offer. A for sure stop for me would be The Black Dog Tavern. This tavern offers all meals of the day and they also have a bakery cafe. Another place to go for food, especially if you are traveling with a devoted pizza lover, is Rocco’s Pizzeria. They offer pizza, sandwiches, and pasta starting at a great price! One last stop for food is, of course, ice cream at Vineyard Scoops. For activities to do on the island there is way more to be discovered. My first activity after eating would be to for sure go fishing. There are many fishing charters to choose from at all different price points so you can absolutely find one that fits best for you. Another thing to see is the Flying Horses Carousel which gets to boast being nation’s oldest platform carousel and is now a national landmark. One other stop that I would be sure to fit into my trip to Martha’s Vineyard would be Gay Head Cliffs at Aquinnah. These gorgeous cliffs are the perfect end to your day for watching the sunset over the water.

Orlando, FL:

• Reasoning - Alright, I have been here once and it was much too long ago. Although Orlando may not seem to be a dream destination for a lot of people, it sure is for me. To be able to have Disney World, the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, and Universal Studios all in one location is purely magical and it would be a dream to get to stay for a longer visit and get to go to all of these parks. I am purely a child at heart and I would die to get to visit here.

• Places to Stay - One place that I would love to stay is at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas. Not only do they bring me back to my love of The Lion King, they also overlook the Savannah where you can see all sorts of wildlife below you. They offer two different villa locations and multiple different room options. The other place that I would love to stay is on the Universal side of things. This place is the Loews Royal Pacific Resort Suites. Although they offer multiple types and styles of rooms, the Presidential Suite is where I would want to be.

• Things to Do - I think it is pretty obvious what I would be doing while I am staying in Orlando. I would definitely visit each of the parks at Disney World. I would also be going to Universal Studios and the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Ultimately, this dream vacation is for the adventurer who is still an absolute child at heart.

Oahu, Hawaii:

• Reasoning - I have a few reasons to want to go to Oahu other than the fact that it is extremely beautiful island. Hawaii has so much to offer from relaxing on the beach to hiking mountains to surfing in the ocean. I have always wanted to travel to Hawaii and I know that Oahu would be the perfect island for a dream vacation destination.

• Places to Stay - My absolute go to dream accommodation would be the Four Seasons Resort O'ahu at Ko Olina. This resort is gorgeous inside and out and offers many different amenities that vary from beaches for swimming and surfing, a spa for rest and relaxation, to a marina for boating and fishing. Another accommodation option would include the Kahala Hotel and Resort. They offer amenities such as swimming in the pool or at the beach, a spa, and dolphins that you can go see at the resort’s own lagoon. If you are looking for accommodations on a budget, look no further than an AirBnB. They have so many different options from private rooms to entire houses and you can find something for every budget.

• Things to Do - One thing that I would be sure to do is go deep sea fishing. There are plenty of fishing charters that you can choose from depending on what you might be looking for. Another activity that I would not want to miss out on is to learning how to surf. There are many different ways to do this but some options include the Hawaii Surf Guru lessons, the Surf Hawaii Surf School, or Big Wave Dave Surf Co. Once I was done on the board, I would definitely hit up whale watching. Options for this activity include boat tours, snorkeling, sailing, and even by submarine. There is so much to do on the island of Oahu and I know I would not be bored no matter how long I stayed.