Ludacris + Eudoxie at Jade Mountain Resort in St. Lucia: 5 Things YOU Should Know

Anse Chastanet Beach near Jade Mountain Resort in Soufriere, St. Lucia

If my husband and I had the same means as Ludacris and Eudoxie our bae-cations would be just as spectacular (annnnd probably more frequent). Don't get me wrong; they already are fantabulous, but clearly on a different level. We do the best with what we have and we do it well, might I add. However, that next-level type of life would be nice too... I'm talking about private jets and private islands to match. 

I think they may be my favorite couple. Both seem so down-to-earth; they're definitely friends in my head. 

I love when these two go on vacation though. I think they need to create an Instagram page just for their trips. A dedication to black love and traveling abroad. This time around, they're in St. Lucia (my husband's home and also where we wed) at the stunning Jade Mountain Resort. I REALLY wanted to stay there on our wedding night but just couldn't justify the cost. With all that being said, below are five things you should know about this bold architectural creation:

1. Expect to pay upwards of $1,200 per night (depending on the season). Meal plans are also available at an additional cost.

2. The rooms are called sanctuaries. Offering the ultimate in rest and relaxation, some of the sanctuary categories do not have televisions, radios, or telephones. Cell phone use is also prohibited in public areas and must be kept on vibrate while on the property. 

3. Upon arrival, guests receive a "firefly" communication device which allows them to contact service team members at any time. Assistance is always a quick call away.

4. All sanctuaries feature 15 ft high ceilings and are designed with the fourth wall open to amazing views while still maintaining privacy. 

Imagine waking up to this in the morning!

5. This one I know from experience - Take the helicopter from the airport in Vieuxfort! I wanted to visit the resort the last time I was there so my husband and I took a short road trip. The roads aren't that bad in St. Lucia but the last 2 miles heading towards the resort are tumultuous (I remember looking out the window and seeing the sparkling blue waters about 70 ft below). I didn't think we'd make it back alive. We eventually made it to the resort (on a narrow road which snakes up the side of a cliff allowing two-way traffic), only to find out we needed an appointment to visit! 

I still want to stay there though. I need to know what sleep is like in a sanctuary with a REAL panoramic view (not that iPhone ish) on the side of a cliff overlooking the striking Pitons while the ocean crashes far below. 

One day!

The Life of a Teacher and Traveler

Many people think that teachers have all this extra time to travel. We really don't. Yes, many of us have the summer to get our trips in but what if your best friend is getting married in Morocco in the middle of March (Teachers have no days off in March)? And yes, this is really happening - Next March to be exact. I am forced to use my FIVE personal days. Days I may have to use if my son or I becomes ill. Or if it snows really bad and school doesn't close. The life of a teacher isn't all about the amount of days we have off. If someone plans a celebratory birthday trip during a time that I don't have off, 9 times out of 10 I won't be able to go. People don't think about that. Teachers tend to miss out on many life events. 

I won't turn down Morocco though. I've already notified my principal that next March I will need to take those days off. I don't know if I'll ever have a chance to visit Morocco. I've never been to Africa, I've never even been to that part of the world. As a traveler, I HAVE to go. I always prepare a PowerPoint presentation for my students on my flight back home (and I can't wait to show them Marrakech!). They end up loving my trips just as much as I do. They often have questions (more questions than they'd ever ask on a given text!). This shows me that they're learning and gaining world knowledge. And I can't complain about that.

What are some travel limitations you might experience in your line of work?

Travel Smarter, Not Harder! Three things I learned about Delta Sky Miles

I'm late, seriously late on this. I've seen the posts from The Points Guy, Rachel Travels and several other travel bloggers. The messaging is always clear: Take advantage of frequent flyer programs. 

I usually conduct most of my "air business" through Jet Blue. Yesterday, I went to log in points for my recent trip to Cuba when I discovered that I had two accounts - one under my maiden name and one under my married name. Putting both of these accounts together would amount to over 11,000 Trueblue points! I immediately called and had the accounts merged. Little did I know I have enough points to book a one way flight. 

This sparked my interest in the flyer programs. I'll be heading to Riviera Maya this week on Delta and thought I might as well join their program too. Why not.

Here's what I found out:

1. General members receive 5 miles per dollar on flight bookings (Delta Sky Miles)
2. Book an Airbnb* through Delta (*Accommodations MUST be booked through DeltaAirbnb to receive miles). Get 1 mile for every dollar spent
3. Delta Sky Miles Dining: There are a host of restaurants, retailers and specialty partners to get miles from. Register your debit card and you'll receive 5 miles for every dollar spent (including tax and tip!). Limited time offer: Earn up to 3,000 miles by eating at a participating restaurant, details here. 

Let's get these trips in ya'll!

Top 5 Lessons I Learned in Cuba

Not as bad as it looks - Pipe was being laid down in the street

I was slightly unprepared for Cuba. I mean, I wasn't entirely caught off guard by some of the inconveniences but I could've been better prepared. Let's face it though: There are MANY guides, articles, and webinars about Cuba out there right now. In typical ME fashion, I didn't do too much research before I left. It is too easy to become inundated with information overload (not to mention conflicting information as well!). I took the little bit I already knew and learned along the way. 

I chose to learn by experience. 

Lesson #1: Patience. I worry a lot. It's part of my genetic makeup. I can't help it most of the time. I was worried about exchanging my money once I got to Cuba. Was there going to be a line at the airport? If I can't do it at the airport where will I go? What if my taxi won't accept my American dollars? I realized I didn't have to exchange my money at the airport (or even ALL of it, for that matter). 

Cuba is so laid back that you can ask your taxi driver to stop at "el banco" (the bank) or a hotel to exchange your change. Don't convert all of your money at one time, do it in increments. If the bank is closed you can always hit up a hotel. If you're in Havana, Habana Libre is a good one to go to. 

Lesson #2: Expect the Unexpected. After picking up our bus tickets to Varadero, I had asked about the Malecon (a seawall along the exterior of Havana). Our Airbnb hostess, Marta, immediately gave us change to board an arriving city bus. My friend and I hopped on not knowing where the hell we were going! On the ride downtown, I saw a lady holding a rabbit, a very young girl holding hands with a much older grown man and people of all colors, shapes and sizes. Through the little bit of Spanish that I knew, my friend and I were able to patch words together and communicate with a woman who had got on with her 3 little boys. She told us the best place to get off in Centro Habana. God bless her heart. 

Lesson #3: Don't let color fool you! It can be slightly overwhelming being in a city where you don't speak the language (thank God for my junior high school and college Spanish classes!). I made the mistake of looking at "color" to gauge who I thought might speak English. In the airport I asked a gentleman (whom I thought was Caucasian) about baggage claim. He didn't speak English. Another time, I thought I had spotted an American black couple. They too, didn't speak English. I really learned to keep my preconceived American-observations to myself and assume that EVERYONE speaks Spanish. I should've done this beforehand but GET THE APP: SpanishDict, this will help immensely. 

Lesson #4: Keep a "Paper Kit". Many of the things we take for granted in the States are hard to come by in Cuba. Paper sources being one of them. Keep a kit filled with tissues, napkins, wipes and toilet paper if possible. Many of the public restrooms do not have toilet paper in the stalls. I almost got caught out there. 

Lesson #5: The internet can wait (but it IS there if you absolutely need it). Most of us are dependent on our phones and social media. I'll admit there were times I wanted to see what was going on with Instagram (Snapchat doesn't work and Facebook rarely worked). I wanted to check-in back home by sending texts to my loved ones too. If you must, you can get a wifi card. Wifi cards will run you anywhere from $1.50 to $5 (CUC) for an hour of data. These cards can be purchased at the airport, tourist shops or hotels (Habana Libre sells them for $5 p/hour, Blau Varadero sold them for $1.50 p/hour). 

I had an amazing time in Cuba and will definitely be returning. I love the culture, the food, the music and the people. My Airbnb hostess and her husband are now considered mi familia en Cuba. 

Planning a trip can be a lot, especially to Cuba. With the abundance of information on the 'net you might still have specific questions needing answers. C+C is offering readers the chance to have 5 questions about Cuba answered for only $5 (plus a little gift thrown in). Click here to learn more.