Hi! We are back from our vacation to hot and sunny Florida and one night in Savannah. Florida was hot, like really hot, like 100 degrees every day we were there. The trip was fun but also a bit exhausting. The high heat and long car rides had a lot to do with it. We also did not like the Airbnb we rented in Florida. I will never stay in another Airbnb ever again - hotels only from here forward. Also, how about a world where listings and reviews are honest?! A hotel feels more like a vacation, and a condo feels more like home to me. This is the second Airbnb we've stayed in over the past few years, and I haven't been happy either time. And we've decided to fly if the drive is over six hours long.
I don't do well on long car rides; we are not big fans, so flying makes more sense. We brought Rosie with us this time, so driving seemed the better option. She'd likely do fine on a plane, or we will just leave her home with a pet sitter next time. She was really restless at our Airbnb. She was up most nights whining. She didn't like the place any more than we did! We spent our last day in Florida at the hotel we stayed at the previous time we were there, and we realized we should've stayed there again this time. The beach was beautiful, though - the water was so pretty and clear, and we enjoyed our pool time at the hotel and ate some great seafood in Florida. We decided to split our return drive and stayed in Savannah one night. The drive is around twelve hours with minimal stops if we drive straight through - way too long. We stayed here, and it was lovely.
I cannot say enough about this beautiful hotel. It's less than three years old, and it's pet-friendly. Everyone loved it, including Rosie. And there was the cutest bakery next door, where we picked up coffee and croissants for breakfast the following day. We walked around downtown Savannah and the waterfront and enjoyed a delicious dinner - scallops for me - they were perfect! So that was our trip, and I was happy to return home. I love traveling, but I also love returning to my home, all my things, and my daily routine.
So, what are you up to this summer? Are you going on vacation or just hanging out at home? We are toying with the idea of going somewhere for a few days in August before school starts back, but we are still thinking about that. I hope you are having a wonderful summer so far. I just looked at the calendar and realized tomorrow is the first day of summer. Happy first day of summer! I'll be back soon to share what I've been cooking since we returned home. I'm always so excited to get back into the kitchen after a trip away. Although we are currently under a heat dome this week, I'll likely be cooking a bit less. Maybe we'll do take-out or go out for dinner when it's too hot to turn on the oven.
Welcome home, Julia! I'm sorry that your vacation wasn't all that you had hoped it to be. I understand about the long drives. Two years ago when we went to Maine, we drove straight through and it took us 13 or 14 hours. My husband insists on doing all of the driving and when we returned home from that trip he said, "from now on when we go North, we are flying." So that was why we flew just a couple of weeks ago when we went for our granddaughter's graduation.
ReplyDeleteRosie is adorable! I'm glad that your experience in Savannah was a much better experience.
Hope you have a wonderful remainder to your week! Happy First Day of Summer tomorrow, my friend. xx
It looks fabulous. We've visited Florida twice, both times to Disney. My dad always took us to hotels when we were kids, he said a holiday was the only time my mum had away from cooking so he wanted her to have her meals cooked for her. We usually stay in a cottage or lodge since we've had Archie, it just makes things easier.
ReplyDeleteWell welcome back. Isn't it funny that a vacation leaves us exhausted. We are snowbirds and live in Florida for 6 months. We came back in June after the loooong ride.We drive 12 hours the first day to Savannah and then we have another 8 the next day back to Pennsylvania. It's boring and exhausting sitting in the car that long- but we need our car in Florida for the winter. Anyway, we are going to Hilton Head in Sept and staying in Savannah 2 nights. I'll check out that hotel. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like you had a lovely time in the end, and that beach is amazing. It looks as though it goes on for miles. It's good that you've decided what suits you best on holiday, and now that you know for certain, you can book hotels in future. If it's any more than a couple of nights away, I find that we're better suited to a holiday home. Lily's dietary requirements make hotel stays rather tricky, and I can relax knowing that I can provide what she needs, even if it means having to cook :)
ReplyDeleteLots of short breaks for us this year. I think I might look at going further afield next spring. Xx
Your holiday photographs are beautiful! I am with you on Airbnb... self catering is not fun when on holiday and the actual accommodation can be a bit hit and miss. I do like hotels but we'll be holidaying in a static caravan this year, on a campsite...
ReplyDeleteHere's a trick to finding a GOOD AirBnB according to both of my daughters (ages 25 and 30) and according to one of my hiking friends who actually owns a large farmhouse and has it listed on AirBnB. ONLY look for "superhosts" ones. both of my kids have used airbnb over the last few years and each time they had AMAZING experiences. But florida.....UGH....not sure...i'm not a fan of the south so don't know much about lodging down there. We are currently in a Residence Inn by Marriot and it's top notch. They even have plant based options at breakfast which most hotels do not. plus of course a kitchenette in their suites. :)
ReplyDeleteI love the ocean but we prefer the northeast beaches (Maine, NH, MA/Cape Cod).
Summer is off to a hot start for sure, at least up here!!
Wonderful photos of your holiday but I'm sorry that the AirBnB experience has not been good for you. I guess different types of accomodation work for each of us. Honest postings on Bnb's would help though.Glad Savannah was a better experience. We are cruising in the Med this Summer. Hopefully plenty of sunshine and gentle sea breezes
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