Month: December 2017

My Stay at the Hilton Dead Sea

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I received a complimentary stay in exchange for writing this post.  As always, all opinions are my own.

I have always loved taking advantage of the natural healing powers of the earth. I use natural and organic products and I am a vegan. The Dead Sea has been a dream destination of mine for ages. The minerals in the water have been known to help with many skin problems. The salt in the water helps heal scrapes (don’t go in with a serious wound though). And the low elevation makes the Dead Sea one of the easiest places to breathe in the world because of the high oxygen level. My dream came true and I spent a few days at the Hilton Dead Sea.

The hotel has a vibe that feels close to nature. The decor is simple, fresh, and natural. All of the staff members are incredibly kind and helpful. It is the perfect place to unwind, relax, and let all of your worries slip away.

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We even got specially made vegan food, including these adorable desserts:

The Hilton Dead Sea almost feels like a wellness retreat. Our days started with breakfast and relaxing by the pool. Later in the afternoon, we would walk down to the Dead Sea for a soak, mud massage, and salt scrub. Then we would eat dinner, go to sleep, and repeat.

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Did I mention that the mud massages and salt scrubs are free for guests? That’s right, a daily treatment on the beach is included with your stay.

When I left the Hilton Dead Sea I was mentally relaxed. It was just what I needed. My skin was the softest I can remember it ever being. My face had a glow. My pores were smaller. The Dead Sea is like magic. And the Hilton is the perfect place to stay during your visit.

My Stay at the Grand Hyatt Amman

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I received a complimentary stay in exchange for writing this post. As always, all opinions are my own.

The Grand Hyatt Amman is a gorgeous luxury hotel situated in the heart of Amman. It is conveniently located within walking distance of many sights in Amman, a short drive to the airport, and close enough for a day trip to the UNESCO world heritage center of Petra. If you’re looking for luxurious accommodation where you can see the best Jordan has to offer, the Grand Hyatt Amman is the place to stay.

The first thing I noticed when I reached the Grand Hyatt Amman is the high level of care for guest safety. The security is top notch and I immediately felt safe.

The lobby is warm, inviting, and comfortable. It’s the perfect place to sit down, relax, and read or talk.

The staff are extremely friendly and helpful. The hotel worked with the Jordan Tourism Board to set up a day trip to Petra with a wonderful guide.

Restaurant staff were friendly and very helpful with making meals suitable for my vegan diet (including dessert!).

After a few weeks filled with flights, early wake ups, and tours, there was one day I just wanted to relax. Lucky for me, the Grand Hyatt has a lovely steam room, sauna, and whirlpool in the spa area. I spend the day enjoying these facilities.

I highly recommend the Grand Hyatt Amman to anyone traveling to Jordan!

Egyptian Pyramids with KKday

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I received a complimentary tour in exchange for writing this post. This post contains affiliate links which I may receive compensation for.

I visited the pyramids in Egypt with a guide set up by KKday. KKday made the process seamless. Our guide picked us up in a comfortable car and handed us waters before telling us all about Egyptian history. We reallllllly wanted Starbucks (typical Americans) so our guide found the nearest Starbucks and made a stop for us. Talk about good service!

We stopped at the Nile River on the way to take a photo. When we got to the pyramids, our guide gave us a safety briefing and told us everything we needed to be aware of. I’m glad I was warned not to leave my expensive camera on a tripod to take selfies! Our guide even told us which places were good for buying souvenirs. We walked around and our guide explained the history of the pyramids to us. He was so knowledgeable! He was also very patient with our obsessive photo taking and had no problem re-taking the same photo 20 times until we were satisfied 😉 We went to the Sphinx after the pyramids and our guide took us to the best photo spots and explained all of the history.

I loved that the whole trip was catered to our preferences. Our guide was great about finding out what exactly we wanted to do and making it happen. KKday was extremely helpful throughout the process and made setting up a tour with a local guide in a foreign country easy.

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My Stay at the Cairo Marriott

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I was invited by the Cairo Marriott to experience and share about the hotel for a weekend getaway.

The Cairo Marriott isn’t just a hotel – it’s a historical palace rich in history. The palace, originally called Palace Al Gezira, was built in 1869 to serve as a guest palace during the Suez Canal inaugural celebrations. The palace hosted several noteworthy weddings and other important ceremonies throughout history. The hotel’s meeting rooms were once bedrooms. Much of the furniture and decor has been preserved. You really feel like you are in a palace.

The hotel staff are friendly and accommodating. We are vegan and Saraya Gallery made us a delicious vegan dinner.

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The rooms are spacious and the beds are comfortable. And of course the location is excellent! The hotel is conveniently located near the historic sights around Cairo – including the pyramids, Sphinx, and Nile River. There is a lot to do around Cairo, and the Cairo Marriott is the perfect place to stay to immerse yourself in history.

Finally, for those of you who are worried that Egypt is an unsafe place to visit, it is not. Before visiting Egypt, I was admittedly concerned. Once I arrived, I felt 100% safe. In fact, I felt safer than I do in many European countries. Egyptian people are kind and friendly.

My Stay at Calimera Habiba Beach Resort

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I received a complimentary stay in exchange for writing this post. As always, all opinions are my own.

Before I visited Calimera Habiba, I didn’t know that Marsa Alam exists. It’s a small, hidden gem on the Red Sea in Egypt. Marsa Alam isn’t crowded and it’s a divers paradise.

If you find yourself in Marsa Alam, Calimera Habiba is the place to stay! The staff are friendly and attentive. The rooms are spacious. The beach is amazing. And the dive center next door is awesome.

Aside from diving, there is a 4×4 tour company across the street and the desert dunes are so much fun!

The front desk was extremely accommodating and arranged all of our activities for us. We just said what we wanted to do and within an hour, they had it booked. Talk about good service!

We are vegan and the restaurant managers were quick to come up with delicious vegan options for us. After we went to our first meal, every server knew about our dietary restrictions and was prepared to cater to us.

I can’t recommend Calimera Habiba and Marsa Alam enough!!