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Couple Road Trip Survival Guide

By on August 18, 2012 in General, Slideshowable

How to survive a long road trip

Long road trips can be great couple time for busy couples.  They also can be an exercise in trench warfare.  We put together some handy tips to make your next trip a little more civil.

Bigger is Better

A confession:  I am a bit of a petrol-head so this is area that I feel passionate about.  One of the most often overlooked “secrets” to a happy road trip is the choice of car.  Now I know the first thing that you are going to say is…but I don’t have the budget to rent an S-Class Mercedes.  You don’t have to.  First off, when you do your initial car rental search, don’t just select the economy class only, search three or even four levels above.  Check out the luxury level.  We have found that at times the luxury or even the SUV price is cheaper than the mid size.  Crazy huh?

road tripIf you headed out on an extended road trip, don’t skimp on the car.  Pay a little extra for size.  You are likely to spend more waking hours in this metal box.  Skimp a little on the hotel.  Size does a number of things for you:  larger cars ride smoother, are more safe, give your more “personal bubble space”, and typically have dual climate controls (very helpful).  Although tempting, never, ever rent a convertible.  I know, they are sexy and the desk clerk is going to give you a great deal on one.  Don’t do it.  The problems with convertibles are many.  First off the are small.  Trunk (boot) space is at a minimum.  Convertibles (unless they are a BMW, MB, Porsche, ect.) are LOUD.  The outside noise is going to get annoying.   Driving in any sort of weather can also be harrowing. Convertibles are great for a day or two in places where going “topless” is a must.  Leave them at the rental agency on the long trips.    A few more pesos on the right car will go along way.

Lets recap:  cast your rental car search wide.   Price out a number of different car class options, and invest a little more than you would normally.  Rent the largest car that you are able.  Our last pointer would be to ask for an upgrade at the rental car counter as well.

Give America Car Rental a look for great deals on rental cars.

The Three F’s

We classify stops into three general categories: food, fuel and fun.  A word about food.  If you follow our posts at all, food is extremely important component to our relationship.  I know all of you health-nut types out there are going to mummer…but fast food makes for the best option on road trips.  You can defiantly make healthy choices at fast food places.  Get out of your car and order to go in the restaurant.  This gives you some much needed vertical  and lou time, but why sit in the restaurant and eat?  If it takes 30 minutes to sit and chow down the whopper you could be 30 miles down the road.  The sooner the road trip ends the better.  Fuel-let your blater define fuel stops.  Don’t wait till the tank is on E.  Fill up mid tank during a bio break.  Save yourself time.  Stops equal slow.  The last F is important.  Build in some fun on the road trip.  Find stops where you can get out, and do something active.  Get the blood flowing again.  We have found outlet malls to be great stops.  It gets you apart (very helpful).  They also get you walking.  Make the most of your food, fuel and fun stops!

rental car

We had a few problems with our rental car in South Africa.

Tunes

Many wars have been fought over control of the radio dial.  The Fighting Couple are not immune from this clash.  Luci loves Broadway tunes.  She really does.  She loves to sing along.  Me….not so much.  On the flip side…I do enjoy me some bluegrass on occasion.  Luci….not so much.   On our most recent auto expedition we chose an audio book: Catch Me If You Can: The True Story of a Real Fake by Frank Abagnale Jr.  Great book!  Books on tape are amazing “time killers”.  Most novels are 8 hours long and if you pick the right one, time flies.  It also give you a topic for discussion.  Cool huh?

The Little Things

couple road tripThe little things on road trips make a big difference.  Buy/borrow/rent a gps.  This small item has almost single handedly saved our relationship. This little devices of genius save time, prevents arguments (darn!) and most importantly they find food and fuel.  Gotta have one.  Don’t rely on an Iphone or worse a wireless connection to navigate.  Trust us.  The other small thing is keeping the car clean.  Junk and clutter are distracting to the driver and they invade on the “personal bubble space”.   The little things can make all the difference.

Couple road trips can be a ton of fun.  It gives you quality time to talk, listen and fight!  These are just a few of our hints to make the trip a little more enjoyable.  So what have you found that works?  How do you avoid killing each other on long roadies?

A couple more posts that you might enjoy:

5 Things Every Woman Should Know About Men…While Traveling.

The Man’s Guide to Traveling with a Woman

 

 

Romance, Leeches and Elephants?

By on July 28, 2012 in General, Slideshowable

Thailand is likely best known for its inviting beaches and vibrant cities.  One of the best kept secrets of old Siam is its rain forests.  A short and affordable drive from either Phuket or Krabi, is the crown jewel of the Thailand forests, Khao Sok National forest.   Khao Sok is perfect for the active couple.  There is so much to offer!

Romance Tree HouseOne fun idea for lodging is to stay in a tree house deep in the forest!  We chose “Our Jungle House” located on the edge of the national forest.  It offers “rustic” accommodation with excellent service.   The Jungle House is located right on a small river that offers great wading and if you wish, take an inner tube float from the bridge down to the resort.  The resort has a main lodge and a number of cabins and tree houses along the river.  Many command excellent views and all are spaced out enough to make you feel like you’re the only ones out there!  Of course the “Fighting Couple” elected to take “Romance Tree House”.

 

What to do

Bird of ParadiseDay hikes

There are so many great little day hikes all through the park.  When you arrive at the entrance, pay your 100Baht entry fee and they will supply you with a really good map.  Scope out your adventure according to your time.  There a many lakes, waterfalls as well as caves to explore.  Remember to pack your water and take your time as you hike due to the extreme heat and humidity.   Take your time and don’t overdo it.  Better yet, pack a picnic and spend the entire day exploring one of the pristine rain forest in Asia.   Hiring a guide is up to you.  It is Thailand, so they do come cheap.  Many of the hikes are just fine as self guided adventures.

 

If you are looking for more pictures of the Rain Forest, check out the Fighting Couple on Facebook.

Night hikes

You can arrange through the park or your lodging a night hike to explore the jungle.  A number of the creepy crawlers can only be seen at night.  Our guide’s command of english was limited, but the flora and fauna was truly beautiful.  One thing to be mindful of when traipsing through the rainforest is to beware of Leeches.  Yes, we said leeches.  They fall from the trees and are about an inch long and very skinny (that is before they latch on and begin to vampire you).   Our guide was wearing shorts and sandals.  He kept picking these little things off his toes.  Mike was supremely confident since he was wearing long slacks with tall socks and shoes that no harm would come from these pesky things.  Oh contraire!  Once we returned to our “romance” tree house,  Mike found that he had acquired an unintended souvenir, a leech.  It latched on just above the kneecap.  It came off fairly easy, but the blood flowed for quite awhile.  following are some of the shots we caught while in the Jungle:

Thailand night hike

 Elephant expedition  This is Thailand, so everywhere you turn there is a vendor wanting you to sign up with them to “ride and elephant”.   If all you want is a quick photo op, go ahead.   On you hop, then a quick saunter around the parking lot, and you are done.  Boring!   If you really want to experience a true elephant adventure, work with your accommodation to take a half day trek.  Our elephant wranglers loaded us in the back of a pickup at our hotel and took us up in the mountains.  We were assigned an “elephant driver”.  We mounted our pachyderm and off we went.  The driver sits on the elephants neck offering verbal cues as to our path.  Words and pictures cannot capture just how gorgeous our trek was.  It felt like something out of Jurassic Park.  Stunning!  At our turn around point we had a swim in a waterfall fed lake.  It was a great day!  (Sorry, no fighting on this one)

Thailand Rain Forest

 

Thailand Rain forest

 

Thailand Rain Fores

The Thailand rain forest is not to be missed.  Thailand has it all, lovely beaches, lush rain forest and  the people are some of the most welcoming and gracious we have come across in our adventures.  So, have you been to Khao Sok?  What were your impressions?

7 Questions with Traveling 9 to 5

By on July 25, 2012 in General, Slideshowable
In our continued quest in introduce you to some of the best traveling couples, this week’s installment is one of the best.  Meet Caroline and Josh of   www.traveling9to5.com.   This duo, after working in the corporate world decided to sell (almost) everything they owned and travel the world for a year.  Their fun blog captures the ins and outs of travel as a couple.   One interesting fact about Caroline, she is a professional “cart wheeler”.  Check out her cart wheeling board on pinterest!

Give them a follow:

couple traveling1) How many countries visited between the two of you?

We have been to 18 countries between the two of us and have at least 7 left to visit this year. All of our international travel has been together. We are that cheesy couple that met in high school and got married right after college traveling together since we both had passports.

2) If you had to travel with someone else besides your travel partner, who would it be?  (this person can be living, historical or mythical?.)

He Said: I would travel with Chris Guillebeau from the Art of Non-Conformity. I’d probably still be at my old job if it wasn’t for his blog and inspiration.

She Said: I would travel with Matt… the dancing one. I love to dance, more specifically I love to dance badly. His videos still make me laugh and inspire me to keep traveling. I haven’t met him yet, but he seems as if he has a good time traveling, adventures to new locations and has some wicked dance moves.

couple at cooking school3)What has been your favorite destination in your wanderings?  Why?

He said: Thailand. Especially Bangkok and Chiang Mai. It’s the only country on our trip that we’ve been to  more than once. I absolutely loved the people, the food, the noise and the energy of these cities. We met so many great people and enjoyed so much good FOOD.  I can’t wait to return.
She said: Botswana. I have never fallen in love with the sky and the stars as much as I did in Botswana. Camping in the middle of nowhere lends a certain peace while at the same time is scary as &@*% considering there are wild animals creeping in every shadow. The colors of the sunset and sunrise are incredible, the terrain is constantly changing, the people you meet are so unique… I could go on forever!

4)  If you had to eat one last meal, what/where would you eat?

He said: I’d have Vietnamese pho ga (chicken soup), fresh french bread and butter, my mom’s buffalo chicken mac & cheese, a fillet mignon with sauteed mushrooms and finally, some homemade chocolate chip cookies. I’d make sure to have some Thai desserts too, so Care could eat off my plate. :)

She said: Do I have to limit the number of courses in the meal?
I would start by jumping on the first flight to Thailand .
I would pick up a fresh coconut smoothie from Pa’s stand at the Chiang Mai Gate night market.
Next, red curry from the small shack in Chiang Mai
Finally I would end with my three favorite Thai Desserts:
Mango Sticky Rice – a BIG serving of it with lots of coconut milk and fresh mangos.
Mochi Balls covered in coconut with brown sugar and more coconut in the middle
Coconut pudding balls from the street
HEAVENLY!

5)Seriously, on your site there is a tab titled: Exercise!  What’s up with that?

He said: You’ll have to ask her. :)
She said: This one is my fault. I was a personal trainer with Equinox back in Chicago. I promised my clients that I would keep up with my own workouts and document them along the way. I am a bit of a health/fitness junkie. So most of our adventures are hiking, walking, cycling, anything to get the extra exercise in!  Traveling and exercising isn’t easy, so I carry a jump rope everywhere I go and focus on a lot of body weight exercises. Many more travel workouts are on the way!

woman doing cart wheel

Caroline-The Cart Wheel Queen!

6) Josh, loved your post on “retiring” at a young age.  Tell us about
how and why you made this decision.

He said: (Caroline actually wrote this post!) Americans make a big deal out of retirement. It is seen as a phase of life that is to be feared and endlessly prepared for. That you should sacrifice everything now so you can hopefully enjoy your life when you are old. Instead I think it should be embraced as a positive change of direction. You can experience a “mini-retirement” way before your 60s. For us, it isn’t retirement in the traditional sense. It’s opting out of the rat race and choosing to live a life that fulfills us. We will still work, and we’ll still work hard, but we plan on working for ourselves and writing our own life story instead of having someone else write it for us.

couple wearing slicker7)You knew it was coming….What has been your greatest travel fight/disagreement?

She said: Our most recent argument was over Josh’s top notch driving abilities. We recently drove ourselves through Botswana and Namibia in a 4×4 Toyota Hilux. Prior to arriving in Africa, Josh hadn’t driven anything in a long time bigger than a motorbike. We got in our new home, a HUGE diesel 4×4 truck and he suddenly is Mario Andretti. He is driving over tree trunks, whizzing around cars and plowing through 3 feet of sand. I am terrified, and do what any strong-minded wife would do…I become the backseat driver that no one wants to have. I yelled out when it looked like we were going to hit trees or were plowing through thorn bushes and insisted he slow down as he tried to jump the potholes on the endless gravel roads in Namibia.
He said: It was awesome. I’m just trying to keep us from crashing into elephants, and Care keeps yelling, “Left…LEFT!” … I have no idea what this means. We both got pretty fired up over how we should warn each other to watch out for something in the road, which is a pretty dumb argument, but we were so mad. It was just a stressful drive with animals coming from every direction, but I was an awesome driver.
She said: LEFT means “look to the left, we are going to crash into a tree”. We had a $2,000 deductible, we shouldn’t be driving the huge truck like we are on a race track!He said: I had to drive fast enough to not get stuck in the sand, unless we wanted the added adventure of digging ourselves out of the sand while looking for hungry wild animals.

She said: This is why we left this argument in Namibia. :)

1000Fights:  We love it!  I think that this is the very first time we have had a fight in the post!  Impressive!
Seriously aren’t these two a kick?!

5 Unwritten Rules for Being an Elegant Traveler

By on July 20, 2012 in General, Slideshowable

Elegance is not the prerogative of those who have just escaped from adolescence, but of those who have already taken possession of their future.-Coco Chanel

Rule #1 Manners-

Japan bowI know, I know…you knew that we were gonna start here.  For good reason.  The easiest way to be an “Ugly ( Aussie, Brit, Yank….enter country of choice)” is by completely tossing all convention of what is classy and what is not to the wind whilst on holiday.  Don’t be that guy/gal!  One of the beauties of traveling is exposing yourself to new cultures, social norms, and new viewpoints.   As a part of your trip prep, don’t skip of the chapter on local traditions and customs.  No need to go over board and bow to the Japanese waiter every time he returns to your table to fill your water glass.  But you might use “Nin” instead of “Ni” when speaking to someone in China to show respect.

The elegant traveler treats the bellboy with the same respect as the hotel’s CEO.

 

Rule #2 Dress-

This is likely one of the more obvious aspects of traveling with elegance.  I remember the first time I traveled abroad and saw a gentleman wearing a sharp tweed jacket, tasteful kerchief in the pocket, button down shirt and cotton pants.  He looked so sharp.  A great example of an elegant traveler.  It doesn’t take much to go from blah to vavooom.

Beautiful woman black dress

Guys–  OK guys, I know, this is vacation and all, but let go of the jeans with paint on them from the last remodel project.  Leave the grubby ball cap at home.  No need to go overboard here either.  You don’t need to pull a Mike with his preppy kakis and button down shirt.  Spiff it up a tad gents.

 

Gals–  Lets start with hemlines.  Harken back to rule #1.  Just because your wardrobe is acceptable where you came from, does not mean that it will be ok where you are going.  Conservative countries in the Middle East, Asia and even parts of Europe frown on too much exposure.  Know your location.  The elegant traveler plans ahead, and has the right ensemble for every occasion.  And for heaven sakes leave the fanny pack at home!!!  Better yet throw it away!

 

Rule #3  Courtesy

Common courtesy is an international language.  Unlike manners, it is not requisite to be fluent in the local customs to show courtesy.  One simply must put others needs before their own.  Ideas include holding doors open for others, accommodating those that need “a little extra time down the jetway”, patience in trying circumstances.  Some of the stuff your grandmother tried to teach you.  Show respect to seniors, give a harried mother a hand in the airport, lift a bag for someone.  And of course the golden rule of courtesy …please and thank you.  These should be the first words you learn in the new language.

 

Rule #4  Dress for dinner

montecarloTake a lesson from the popular TV show “Downton Abbey” and dress for dinner.  The Elegant Travel Dame always has a little black dress.  The Traveling Gentleman always has a fine dinner jacket.  One of our most elegant travel moments came in Cusco, Peru of all places.  We try to include at least one really nice meal when we travel.  During our Peru adventure, we elected to have dinner at the il Monastery in Cusco.  Highly recommended! We had just come out of the jungle, and we cleaned up and had an amazing meal dressed to the nines.  It made us feel like a million bucks.

 

Rule #5  Do the Homework

Our final rule is to do your homework.  Truly seek to understand what you are seeing on vacation.  Find destinations that really interest you.  Plan a trip to Turkey!  Dig a little deeper.  Ask questions.  Do all of this before you get on the jetplane.  Learn a little bit of the language, enough to show respect for you host country.  We typically plan our trips 6 months to a year out.  We do this on purpose, it gives us enough time to do the homework.  We learn the language, a little of the dominant religion and culture as well as search out the off the beaten path locations.

So those are our rules for becoming an elegant traveler.  Did we miss anything?  What advice can you give to others?  Leave us a comment below.

 

 

 

Krabi for Couples

By on July 7, 2012 in General, Slideshowable

Picture this setting: A sleepy beach town stuck in slow motion.  The sun drifting below the horizon throwing pinks and orange streaks across the water and sky.  Walking hand in hand along the golden sandy strip of beach with you lover.  A light ocean breeze comes across the water.  Behind you, a thick lush jungle wraps the town like a warm comforter.  If you believe that this paradise simply sounds too good to be true, you have never been to Krabi, Thailand.

Thailand BeachesKrabi is  located an hour south of Bangkok, Thailand via airplane, or a stunning 2 hour boat ride from Phuket.   Phuket is a great base to visit the entire area.   If you are looking for holidays in Phuket start here.   More about incredible Phuket in a future post.  The Krabi area offers beach of choice: Koh Lanta, Ao Nang, Koh Pi Pi, Railai ect.  We stayed in Ao Nang and highly recommend it for its food, access to boats, and quality yet affordable accommodations.

What to do

Make your visit to Krabi the ultimate quest to find the perfect beach.  The night before your adventure, head into one of the small grocery stores along the main road in Ao Nang.  Load a basket with some of your favorite picnic items.  Don’t forget your favorite beverages.  You will need some water as well, as it was not readily available at many of the beaches we explored.  Step one:  head down to the beach area in the early morning (early = 8 a.m. on vacation for us).  Step two:  approach at least two, preferably three of the boat kiosks along the water front and ask for the 4 to 5 beach private long boat tour.  Don’t go cheap and book a boat with a bunch of other people…the price is really not that much more, and going out as a couple is so much more fun.

Time to get on the water!  You will pay your bill which should range from $50-75 for the entire day.  Then they will direct you to a truck that will take you down to their boat launch.  Board your craft and off you go!  The boat drivers typically speak enough English, Swedish, German, or Japanese to make basic communication possible.  The driver takes you from one small island to the next in you quest for the perfect beach at your leisure. The sand is as white as sugar and the water is warm, about 80 degrees. Luci hates cold water so it was perfect for her!  It will be a day, that you will never, never forget.  Take a look at some of these pictures:

Thailand Beaches

 

Thailand Beach

Thailand Beaches

Thailand Beaches

 Would you like to see more lucious pictures of Thailand?  Give the Fighting couple a follow on Facebook.

Where to stay

One of the great things about Krabi is the big “monster” resorts have yet to arrive. (This is a very good thing.)  What you will find in terms of accommodation varies in quality and correlating price.  There is everything for basic hostel type with shared facilities to self-catering cottages.  We elected to stay in two different bed and breakfasts.  Our priority was price and comfort.  Staying right on the beach wasn’t a big deal to us.  Both locations were a short 3 minute ride to the water and both places had their own shuttle AKA pick up truck.  Not a problem.

Krabi, Thailand

Phu Pi Maan

Phu Pi Maan–  Despite the poor choice of  name…this resort is really wonderful.  The resort offers free transport to and from town.  It is really easy.  We also liked being off the main drag.  Rooms were clean and large.  Beds are a bit hard, but we are softies from the states.   One of our favorite parts of this place is the pool.  It is a split level with makes it perfect for couples.  The owners are devout Muslims so alcohol in any form is not available for purchase.  Don’t miss June and Jane’s Massage just down the street, great massage for a great price. We paid $50 for  two hour massage and scrub for the two of us! A clean facility and nice people!

 

Krabi Thailand

Phu Petra Resort

Phu Petra-The best service we had in Thailand was at this superb little resort a couple minutes from town.  Much like Phu Pi Maan, free transport was offered to and from Ao Nang.  Phu Petra is a little more upscale, with its huge suites and setting at the base of stunning limestone cliffs.  Breakfast is included in the price and is more than adequate. You’ll have your choice of made to order omelets, meats, fruits and fresh juices.  The front desk is a fountain of knowledge on the area and can make just about anything happen for you.

 

What to Eat

Krabi ThailandKrabi is seafood mecca!    We did struggle to find traditional Thai in the area. It’s definitely a tourist zone!  Load up on the good traditional Thai fare in Bangkok.  We did find the perfect seafood grill.  Perched on the side of a small hill overlooking the city is the Lae Lay Grill.  This place is so good that we ate there twice during our stay!  (This is unusual for us, we typically like to explore a different place every night.)  So yes, it is that good.  We love the open kitchen as you walk in.  They take their food prep serious!  Service is above average, and the quality of the food is high.  The best part is of course the view of the ocean that the place offers.  Try the rice cooked in a pineapple and the seafood platter.  We ate there our last night and we were speechless watching the sunset.  (the Fighting Couple speechless?  We didn’t think this was possible.)

Krabi, thailand

The warm waters of Southern Thailand are truly meant for couples.  Take the challenge to find the perfect beach!  Southern Thailand has so much to offer!  Stop dreaming and make it happen!

3 Great Places to Cool Down as a Couple

By on July 2, 2012 in General, Slideshowable

Summer is here!  Its time to hit the beach!  We are always on the lookout for the perfect summer travel ideas for couples.  Are you trying to come up with a great place to cool down as a couple?   We have some sizzling ideas for you.  In coming up with our three recommendations we established three key factors: 1) It must have amazing water.  2) It must offer something for couples. 3)It must be fun!

Lets start!

Nice, France

Eze, FranceWater:  Poetry has been written for centuries about the lovely waters of Nice!  The Nice area, also called the Cote d’Azur is believed to be one of the oldest regions inhabited in Europe by humans!  Not hard to believe once you take in its beauty and warmth.  Nice offers miles and miles of sandy sunshine laced beaches.  Pick your spot and soak in the sun and enjoy the warm water.  A word of warning to those of us prudes visiting the region from the states.  The economic downturn in Europe has forced a number of women in the area to only afford to buy the bottoms for their bikinis.

Couple angle:  The city’s formal name is Nissa La Bella or Nice the Beautiful.  Take evening strolls together along the seafront.  Pop into one of the many street side cafes for a late dinner.  Love in always in the air in Nissa La Bella.

monte CarloFun Factor:  Two of our favorite places in Europe are right up the road from Nice.  The first is Eze.  Eze is a castle fortress on a rock outcropping.  It is truly a magical place.  There are little shops and cafes as you wander around the quant city.  Our second favorite is Monte Carlo.  If you are a regular follower of the fighting couple, you know of Mike’s crush on Napoleon and that he is a petrol head.  Monte Carlo suits both of these addictions.  The “country” is home to one of the finest Napoleon Museums in the world.  Of course if you time your visit, you can take in the Grand Prix, one of the best motoring events in the universe!

 

Las Vegas

Pool scene in vegasWater:  Granted Vegas is not perched on the Mediterranean, nor does it have the sandy beaches of the Caribbean but it truly is an oasis in the dry desert.  Vegas literally offers over 100 plus pool resorts!    Vegas offers indoor and outdoor pool options.  Some may require you to be guest of the hotel, other charge a cover fee and others still offer cabana rentals with just about any amenity you can imagine!  The king of the Vegas pool scene is hands down the Wynn Hotel.  Evian Water spritzers?   Yes.  VIP pool?  Yes.  Poolside black jack?  Of course.

Do keep in mind, a number of the pools cater to couples and prohibit anyone younger than 21.

Couple angle:  Las Vegas has a so much to offer couple travelers.   Lets start out what the city offers the active couple.  For those couples that want to hit the links together, there are over 100 different golf courses in the Las Vegas area.  You don’t have to go far to find excellent mountain biking and hiking trails.  Couples can take in one of the excellent shows or concerts offered.    Vegas also offers some of the best outlet mall shopping in the west.

Putting together a romantic evening in Vegas is a sure bet.  Get your evening started at one of the many excellent dining choices in the city.  Check out one of our fave Mexican Cantinas.  After dinner why not take her on a gondola ride in the Venetian?  For those the like something more on the wild side, why not a roller-coaster ride or even a helicopter tour over the city of lights?  Whatever you choose,  Vegas has it!

Fun Factor:  Ok…this is Vegas, need we really need to discuss the fun factor?

 

Durbin, South Africa

South Africa BeachWater:  The tip of South Africa hosts one of the most beautiful coast lines on the Planet.  Lazy shadows from lush vegetation and the cool Indian Ocean breezes make the Dolphin coast of South Africa our last pick.   Located a short drive west of the thriving metropolis of Durban, the beaches of South Africa are second to none.

Couple angle:  The Dolphin Coast is a couple’s paradise.  Choose one of the many full service resorts, and get ready to be pampered.  Send him out to go deep sea fishing and take in a full day massage at a world renowned spa!  Team up and play on one of the championship golf courses where all kinds of wildlife will cross your path!

Fun Factor:  Visiting South Africa without going on a safari is kind of like going to Paris and not kissing!  There are so many different options for going on safari, it is guaranteed to fit any budget.  Ever wanted to ride an elephant?  Now’s your chance!

10 Things to See at Angkor Wat….besides Angkor Wat.

By on June 19, 2012 in General, Slideshowable

Ask any traveler…and one of the locations in their top 10 will likely include a visit to Angkor Wat.  What makes this location so special?  We just returned from a visit to these historic Hindu and Buddhist temples, and trust us, there is plenty that makes this place worthy of anyone’s top 10 list.  We came up with a list of our favorite things about visiting Angkor Wat.  Enjoy!

1) Cambodian Ferraris (aka tuk tuks)– It is a little hokey, but we really enjoyed using the tuk tuks.  Why you ask?  First of all, we had a great driver.  He offered ideas on what to see and when which proved very helpful.  But our favorite part of the tuk tuk was the smells.  Driving through the forests that surround the temples, we would catch the scent of flowers and trees.  Tuk tuks offer cheap and easy transport between temples, lodging and foodstuffs.

Cambodia

2) The Pink Temple-One of our favorite temples wasn’t even on the Angkor Wat premises.  The Pink temple or its formal name Banteay Srey Temple is a 45 min. drive by car away from Angkor Wat.  What makes this temple special is the color of the sandstone.   It is quite remarkable.  We also found these ruins were in a little better shape than other temples in the area. The reliefs on the sculptures were much more complete.

Cambodia

3) The People-This should really be at the top of the list.  The people of Cambodia are some of the most hospitable and generous we have come across.  Life in Cambodia has been marked by political upheaval, economic turmoil and human atrocities that are legendary.  This is a given.  What was shocking to us, was the how despite this background, the people retain a positive if not even optimistic outlook on life.  We miss our friends in Cambodia.

4) Amuk Soup–How can a soup make the top ten list?  Easy.  It is just that good!  It was our first full day of touring the ruins and we were sweltering in the heat.  We were already beat at mid day.  Our trusty guide Mr. Thy, asked, “hungry?”   Sheepishly we both nodded.  He drove us to what looked like a nice restaurant, then we drove behind it and there was kind of a garage looking building.  We were not impressed.  Large fans were mounted on the walls and the tables looked a makeshift.  As the adage goes, never judge a book by its cover.  We had one of the best culinary experiences in all of our travels in South East Asia.  It was here that we were introduced to Amuk Soup.  The workingman’s soup is a delightful blend of shallots, lemongrass, garlic, and kaffir lime.  It was the perfect pick me up.  Try it!

Cambodia Angkor Wat

5) The Tomb Raider Temple—Yes, we had to pay our homage to Angelina Jolie.  The Tomb Raider Temple or Ta Prohm is located a few minutes away from the main Angkor Wat complex.  It was built in the Khmer style in 1187 AD.  What is most remarkable about this temple complex is how the jungle is taking over.  Huge trees have invaded the temple and are sucking it down into the jungle.   This temple makes for some amazing pictures.

Cambodia Angkor Wat

6) Palm sugar-the second food item on the list!  This one is pure sugar!  One of our guides explained the process of collecting the nectar from the male spores, heating the sugar up, and putting it is the bite-sized forms.   Palm sugar is a sweet treat between temples.

Angkor Wat

7) Cambodian Massage-How could we not mention one of our fave parts of visiting Cambodia?  Two words: Cheap Massages.  We use the word cheap in reference only to the price.  The quality was above and beyond!  We enjoyed our Cambodian massages more than our Thai ones!

8) Monk watching–  We know, this one sounds just a little creepy.  But we are a little weird…we live in Idaho we don’t have monks.   We sad for an hour and just watched them interact.  It was fascinating.  The bright orange togas for the males and the flowing white robes of the females made for great pics.

Cambodia

9) Baby monkeys-How could this not make the list?  Seriously!

 

 angkor Wat

10)Angkor Wat at Sunrise-I know, I know, everyone does this….and for good reason.  The sunrise at this holy of holies is simply something to behold.  The skyline is especially impressive preceding and during the rainy season.  The clouds reflecting the light make for a few moments of magic.   Making yourself get up at O’dark hundred in order to join with the throngs of camera wielding tourists can be a little discouraging.  But the views are simply breathtaking.  The pictures simply do not do it justice.

Cambodia Sunrise

 

A word about getting to Angkor Wat.  There is the hard way which is cheap, take a bus from Bangkok.  Leave in the spring, you should get there by the fall.  Or there is the easy way which will cost your first born, take Bangkok Air from Bangkok.  The have a monopoly and get a king’s ransom for the 45 min. flight.

That’s the list!  What an amazing/crazy place.  Cambodia-the first reaction we received when we let our friends and family know we were headed to Cambodia was utter shock and horror!  “You guys are going where?”  Cambodia and Angkor Wat have become one of the Fighting Couple’s favorite places.

Ever been to Angkor Wat?  What was your fave part?

 

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of Couple Travel

By on June 12, 2012 in General, Slideshowable

 

Traveling as a couple is rough!  We have been a couple for over 15 years, and traveled to 25 plus countries on 5 continents. One thing that we have learned traveling over this time is that traveling together can be the best and worst.  We thought that we would offer you some handy tips on how to travel together.

Traveling with a man-

“Being a woman is a terribly difficult task, since it consists principally in dealing with men.”  -Joseph Conrad

Traveling with a man is truly a test of patience and will power.  We want to arm you with some tactics that will make your next holiday much more enjoyable.  So let’s start with the basics: Hunger.

1 Hunger-One of the intriguing features of male physiology is the constant need for…..food.  In the bible of understanding all men aka: The Godfather note when big decisions need to be made…food is included ie  “Leave the gun bring the cannoli.”  A little known fact is that 61 scenes involve food.  Why?  Men need Man Fuel.  It makes everything go much better.  Those little mini-meals they serve on long haul flights?  Not gonna cut it.  Ladies in order to combat this challenge plan your meals.  Make time for food!  A little planning goes a long way.

2 Directions-Just like the pitiful scene of Napoleon at Waterloo or Lee at Appomattox, asking a man to hand over his sword and ask for directions is just as humiliating.  Admitting defeat, even in the face of insurmountable odds, is next to impossible!  Instead, might we suggest that if possible you approach by using rule number one.  “Hey I am starving…is there anyway we could stop by this store/café and grab a quick bite?” (see rule #1)  At the same time… this will give you a chance to inconspicuously ask for some pointers on where the heck you are.  The invention of GPS has quite possibly single handedly saved our marriage.  It is now a travel must.

Traveling Couple Love

 

Traveling with a Woman

“The great question that has never been answered and which I have not yet been able to answer, despite my thirty years of research into the feminine soul, is ‘What does a woman want?”   -Sigmund Freud

It’s all about the journey, not the destination.  Men, for whatever reason have a “let’s get there attitude” when traveling and doing other things. As women, we tend to focus a little more on the path.  Men: build in a little extra time into your schedules.  Be flexible. Here’s an example from our recent trip to Venice which turned into another 1000 fights. We were driving from Triste, Italy to Venice.  We were looking through tourist books and spotted an amazing castle cradling the bay outside of Triste.  It wasn’t in our plan.  Mike had an Excel spreadsheet that kept a strict schedule with everything we were to see that day and the castle wasn’t on the list. He didn’t even know about the castle. Of course Mike was like, “Gotta get on the road, got to see Venice, got to obey the spreadsheet.” After a fight that resulted in zero pictures of Mike and I together at the castle (in fact, Mike wouldn’t even take pictures of me-our friends were the photographers), we went to the castle.  We ended up seeing one of the most incredible sites of our entire trip.  Mike admitted he was wrong three weeks after the trip, and I have a few pictures of a fairy tale castle in Italy. Guys take the hint.  Be flexible.  Slow down a little and enjoy the ride!

A little more talk and a little less action

Couple travelTalk.  Women need to talk.  We need to communicate.  We need to discuss.  Guys: a couple of different options for you.  Some of you are talkers as well, so no problem.  Some of you are good listeners, no problem.  If you are neither or your name is Mike, a few ideas for you.  Let your spouse known that you need some time to talk. You finally have some time together, and for women it’s all about communication. If you don’t know what to talk about, we suggest “The Book of If: Questions for the Games of Life and Love” by Evelyn McFarlane and James Saywell.  On a four hour drive through Croatia, we found out a lot about each other. Like, “If you could fire someone from work, who would it be,” or “If you could relive one romantic date from high school just as it was, which would it be.”  Some answers we had to plead the “fifth.” But overall, it’s a great way to get a conversation going.

Of course one of the most important part of a successful trip as a couple is the place.  Why not try one of the Club Med all inclusive resorts?  Sun, sand, and your sweetie what more do you need?

There they are, a few ideas to help you travel as a couple.  So get out there and explore the world together!

Our A to Z Guide to the Best Couple Travel Bloggers

By on June 9, 2012 in General, Slideshowable

Take me by the hand… show me the world…remember to pack socks-

 

There are some amazing couples out there, seeing the world together.  We wanted take a moment to highlight some of our favorites.  (this is not all of our faves…just ones that fit our alphabet.)  Take a few mins, check out their adventures.

A As We Travel  Nathan & Sofia have visited some 40 countries and are always traveling in style!

B Beers and Beans  Beth and Randy are a freewheelin’, 30-something couple with a 7lb hound named Chachy. Beth is a professional photographer and Randy is a professional journalist.

C Couple of Sports  This crazy couple is traveling the US doing a “sport” in each of the 50!  We invited to Idaho and Luci cooked for them!  Wow!

The Couple of Sports and The Fighting Couple

D  Deb and Dave  This couple are the king and queen of traveling couples.  Solid writing.  One of the more professional couple blogs.

E  Geeky Explorers  Keith and Tricia are on a mission to run a 5K in all 50 states!

F  Follow our Footsteps  Greg and Ash are one of those brave couples that are on a Round the World quest!

G  GranTourismo  Another very established couple blog.  Rock solid writing.  Interesting takes.  They offered some great advice on recent trip to Thailand.

Cambodia

H  Hither and Thither  Some couple bloggers branch out to a number of different area.  H and T has great takes on style, food and of course travel.  One of the more visually appealing sites in the herd.

I  Ian and Wendy  Is one of those blogs that you really get to know the couple.  They posted pics from their wedding!  Brave!

J  Four Jandals  What in the heck is a Jandal?  Read their blog to find out!

K   Kilt and a Camera An American photographer and her hot Scotsman husband traveling the world and writing about it.

L  Living if  Matt and Erica are on a round the world adventure.  They have one of the best travel packing lists we have found!

M  Married with luggage  do you need a kick in the behind to get going and travel?  This is your boot camp.

N Never ending voyage  Simon Fairbairn and Erin McNeaney, are a couple who have sold everything to travel the world indefinitely.  Brave!

O  Overyonderlust  Erica and Shaun are the “cool” kids of the couple blogging universe.  Their adventures at Burningman are legendary!

P Phd Nomads  If Overyounder lust are the cool kids, PHD nomads are the most likely to succeed!

Q  GQ Trippin  Travel duo of Gerard and Kieu. G for short, and Q because, well, that’s exactly how you pronounce it — Q. Together,they’re GQ — a twenty- something couple who share a common passion for all things food and travel.

R  The SprinteR Life  This has to be the craziest couple on the list!  We LOVE them!  If you are looking for fun adventures and zany insights, look no further.

S  Swassie  What do you get when you combine a Swedish girl and an Australian boy?  Yep, a Swassie.

T Traveling Canucks  We met Cam and Nicole at our first TBEX in their hometown of Vancouver, BC.  They took us under their wing and gave us some great advice.  Nicole also was one of our Bloging divas!

U  Uncertianty and Beyond  Clark and Kim set out to discover the world…they found themselves.

V Vagabond Quest  Dina and Ryan have been traveling around the world since April 2009 and are still going. They’ve hit 29 countries together. It’s their dream to be permanent travelers.

W  We Travel and Eat  This couple met online, work online and play online- and have not-so-average appetites for healthy, unique and outrageous foods- from all over.

X  the X Plorers of Captain and Clark are two of the best videographers in the couple travel world.  They make some great stuff!

Y Y Travel Blog  This is another one of the pillars of the couple travel world.    They give back to the couple blogging community.  They are so kind to share their idea and hints.

Z  We couldn’t find one…sorry.

 

 

The Waters of Thailand

By on June 3, 2012 in General, Slideshowable

 

Thailand Beaches

One of our fave fighting locations in Krabi, Thailand.  The water was so clear.  You can see in the horizon there was a bit of a storm brewing. It made our stay amazing, to say the least! If you are visiting Thailand, but don’t want to stay in Krabi, you have the option of booking a hotel in Phuket.The city is only two hours away, close enough to take a day trip to Krabi and enjoy the amazing views, like we did.