If you’re looking for tips on which luxury hotel to stay at for your next vacation, you have come to the right place. Here is the collection of The Keys to Travel blog posts highlighting luxury hotels all over the world.

Drift Away Eco Lodge Pool

The Drift Away Eco Lodge in Costa Rica

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Four photos of the Drift Away Eco Lodge in Costa Rica
Drift Away Eco Lodge in Costa Rica

If you’re looking for off the beaten path and a remote, beautiful stay in Costa Rica, I would highly recommend the Drift Away Eco Lodge.

Sign at the Drift Away eco-lodge in Cost Rica.

Drift Away Eco Lodge is located just 30 minutes south of Tamarindo in the Guanacaste Province of Costa Rica. The closest and easiest airport to fly into would be Liberia. I would recommend renting a car to get around, but there are many delicious local restaurants nearby and easy to get to and the beach is just steps away.

Drift Away Eco Lodge on a Google Map for direction.

While staying at the Drift Away Eco Lodge, I felt like I was really getting a feel for local Costa Rica and supporting the local community. To them, sustainability means being eco friendly and supporting the community. The staff are all local and so incredibly friendly and helpful. They always put a smile on my face. Drift Away works on local projects to help better the community they are a part of. And many of the products used at the hotel are sourced locally.

Drift Away Eco Lodge local sourced coffee and tea in Costa Rica.

One of my favorite parts about staying here (besides the basically private breach we had all to ourselves!) was the laid back, relaxing vibe. It is really a great place to relax and unwind. My life slowed down, and I was able to just enjoy the now. I enjoyed lounging by the pool, playing pool and ping pong, and eating the daily delicious breakfast.

Pool at the Drift Away Eco Lodge in Costa Rica.

I love that this hotel is built into the landscape. Luckily, I went in December right after rainy season so all the vegetation was so green and luscious. It felt like I was in a rainforest! One thing I noticed is how perfect this location would be for a group getaway, company retreat, or health retreat. There are plenty of spaces for breakout sessions, an area for yoga, and there are plenty of different room layouts to accommodate any group. I could see myself going a yoga retreat here… well any excuse to go back!

Drift Away Eco Lodge seating areas in Costa Rica.

Rooms

The rooms are beautiful and simple. Some rooms do have an open concept bathroom (no door!), so make sure you’re comfortable with whoever you are staying with! The furniture is all sourced and made locally along with the driftwood decorations. The memory foam mattresses are incredibly comfortable. It was hard getting out of bed each day… except the beach was always calling my name!

Hotel room at the Drift Away Eco Lodge in Costa Rica.

Beach

The beach is a 3 minute walk from the hotel. Like I said before, it is like having your own private beach all to yourself! I only saw a few people the couple days I were there, and they were all locals walking their dogs or jumping in the ocean for a quick swim. It was incredibly peaceful and a great way to just reset.

Beach in Costa Rica

If you are interested in staying at this hotel or have questions about Costa Rica, email me at thekeystotravel@gmail.com.

Happy Travels!

Drift Away Eco Lodge Pool in Costa Rica.
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Hammock on a beach at the Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort in Orlando, Florida

Why Stay at a Disney World Resort

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Four photos of Disney World - Why Stay at a Disney World Resort
Why Stay at a Disney World Property

There are many options when deciding where to stay when visiting Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida. When my husband and I spent a weekend at Disney World, we decided staying at a resort on the Disney property was the best option, mainly because of the transportation. Disney has a convenient (and free) bus service to and from the Orlando International Airport, Disney Parks and Disney Springs. Having our hotel so close to the Disney Parks and with the convenient transportation allowed us more time at the parks and less time and money traveling each day.

Of course, another reason we decided to stay at a Disney Resort was to experience the full Disney charm throughout our entire vacation. We were only in Orlando for 2 full days, so that meant wanting to get our fill of Disney the whole time we were there.

There are numerous options to choose from when looking to stay on a Disney property from a campground, to value resorts, to moderate resorts, deluxe villas and luxury hotels. Ultimately, we chose Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort.

  • Moderate resort hotel option
  • Close proximity to the Parks (Epcot and Magic Kingdom) that we were going to go to as well as Disney Springs and the Boardwalk
  • A fun “warm weather themed” resort that I was needing after some cold winter months in Colorado!
Hammock on a beach at the Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort in Orlando, Florida
Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort

Even though we were at Magic Kingdom and Epcot for two full days, we were able to explore and enjoy the Caribbean Beach Resort on the two half days we had bookending our trip. If you’re going to Disney World, I would highly recommend staying on a Disney property to fully experience the Disney charm!

Where have you stayed when visiting Disney World? I would love new ideas for our next visit!

Do you need help planning and booking your next Disney Vacation? Message me here to get started!

Palm trees, grass, river, and bridge that connects Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort in Orlando, Florida
Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort
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Boardwalk Hotel Aruba swimming pool

Where to Stay in Aruba

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Are you heading to Aruba but have no idea where to stay to get the most out of your experience? When I went to Aruba, I chose to stay at two different hotels. Here are my recommendations for where to stay on this One Happy Island! 

I heart Aruba Sign.

Renaissance Aruba Resort & Casino

The first hotel we stayed at was the Renaissance Aruba Resort & Casino. There are two main reasons we chose this hotel to stay at for two nights, with the second one being the biggest driving factor!

  1. This hotel is located in the capital of Aruba, Oranjestad, and is very close to the airport. We landed late at night so easy access to our hotel was a bonus. 
  2. They have their own private island with FLAMINGOS on it! Staying at this hotel gives you free access to this island. So of course we booked two nights here to spend one full day at the island of flamingos! This private island also has hammocks in the water. If you want a unique, perfect island day in the sun, I’d highly recommend staying at this hotel for easy access! 
Flamingo Island in Aruba
Hammock over the water in Aruba

Boardwalk Hotel

The second hotel I stayed at was an affordable, smaller boutique hotel in Palm Beach called the Boardwalk Hotel. This hotel isn’t directly on the beach, but just a short walk across the road will get you to their private part of the beach in between the Ritz-Carlton and Marriott. 

Boardwalk Hotel Beach in Aruba
Boardwalk Hotel Beach in Aruba

The Boardwalk has individual casitas that include a patio, hammock, kitchen, indoor sitting area, room, and bathroom. I enjoyed having the option to cook our meal if I wanted to! It also felt like you were sitting in the jungle with the beach just steps away. 

I think my favorite part of this hotel, though, is the swimming pool. Surrounded by beautiful landscape it feels like your own personal sanctuary in the jungle. 

Boardwalk Hotel in Aruba pool and floatie flamingo.

There are many lodging options, including all-inclusive hotels in Aruba. I think the next time I go, I will try one that is directly on the beach in the Palm Beach area!

How to Book Your Vacation to Aruba

If you need help booking your trip to Aruba, contact me at hello@thekeystotravel.com or fill out our travel inquiry form.  

Where to Stay in Aruba