This time of the year tends to ramp up my “travel bug” more than usual - visions of relaxing (or not!) vacations swim through my brain, and I wonder what we could do as a family, or even just my husband and I over the Summer break. The truth is, neither of us are very good planners when it comes to travel. I wish I were one of those people who loved the process getting a trip all put together, but I’m just not, so, we tend to view Summer after Summer in hindsight, wishing we’d been more on the ball. This year, our kids have a ton of time planned with cousins and grandparents, and my husband and I are celebrating our 15th anniversary, so we have no excuse not to put together a trip where we can both recharge.

We tend to prefer low-key places, where the pace is slower, the people are welcoming, and the food is great - other than that, we don’t have a lot of stipulations! I’ve had a couple of places on my travel bucket list for some time, and I’m hoping we’ll be able to check one off in the next few months - maybe you can help me decide which to go with!

Mallorca, Spain - I grew up in South Texas, where there’s a lot of Mexican influence on the culture. I’ve always loved the hospitality offered by the latin community! When I was in law school, I did a study abroad trip to Malta, where I experienced the beauty, food, and sunshine that is inherent in the Mediterranean, which lead me to learn about Mallorca! Mallorca is a Spanish island off the coast of the mainland - it feels small enough to be do-able in a relatively short amount of time, and offers everything from beautiful beaches and water to totally chill farms, where you can stay near or with locals to get the full Mallorcan experience. I don’t need any more convincing!

WHAT I’M PACKING

Los Catalinas, Costa Rica - Another location on my radar more recently is Costa Rica. This new hotel popped up in my Instagram feed, and I was immediately smitten! A gorgeous location, chill vibe, and yes, a great design! I love that there’s a focus on activities like hiking and stand up paddle boarding, in addition to relaxing (and eating!) I’ve heard great things from people who have travelled to this area, and it might be a tad quicker to get to than Spain. One thing I’ve told to be mindful of is the season in which you’re traveling, and to make sure we go when it’s not the rainy season!

WHAT I’M PACKING

So, we certainly have some thinking and planning to do, and while I’m at it, I can’t help but ponder what I’d take to each very different locale. Shop the style pics above, and let me me know your vote of where we should go, or feel free to make other recommendations!