We’ve made it a yearly tradition to celebrate our anniversary by traveling and flying off somewhere. Although, this year was a little different compared to previous years because traveling safely and responsibly was extremely important to us.  We decided to visit Joshua Tree since it is only a 2 hour drive from LA. It’s close to home but far enough to get away from the city! The desert has a special place in our hearts because we’ve always had wonderful memories there. In today’s post, I’m sharing details of our little getaway and where we stayed.

WHERE WE STAYED

I’ve had Villa Kuro saved in my Airbnb favorites for as long as I could remember, and thought our anniversary was the perfect occasion to stay there! What initially caught my attention was Villa Kuro’s minimalist interior design. Their design concept is inspired by nature and wabi-sabi—a Japanese philosophy about finding beauty in imperfections, and the charm of what seems weathered and lived-in. The interior and decor consists of earthy tones and nature-inspired elements, which really gave off a calm, relaxing atmosphere.

This mid-century ranch style property was originally built in the 1960’s, and later transformed by interior designer Mini Inno to create a minimal and serene desert hideaway. Upon entering Villa Kuro, slippers are provided for your use. The beautiful home comfortably sleeps 4 guests with 2 bedrooms, 2 king beds and 2 bathrooms.

There are multiple indoor and outdoor living areas where you’ll have plenty of room to lounge in! Villa Kuro has the following amenities (just naming a few that I personally find important): fully fitted kitchen (with coffee and coffee makers), outdoor fire pit and hot tub, smart TV to watch Netflix and the like, and charging station for electric cars.

Everything was top notch, from the cleanliness, hospitality, location, design, amenities—you name it. The hosts were very helpful and responsive, and made sure we had an incredible stay. 

If you’re looking for a relaxing retreat or romantic getaway, look no further! Villa Kuro is the place. It was such a unique and unforgettable experience, and we had the most wonderful time there. We left feeling recharged and rejuvenated, and already looking forward to coming back in the future! For now, I’ll let the photos speak for itself. If you’re interested in checking out their listing + booking a stay, CLICK HERE.

Last month, I had an opportunity to visit the Big Island with Four Seasons! I’ve only been to Oahu and Maui before this trio, so I was excited to see what the Big Island was like! Located along the Kona-Kohala coast of Hawaii Island, the Four Seasons Resort Hualalai is truly a site to see. It is a whopping 32-acre property with stunning ocean views, luxurious amenities, and top-notch service. Keep scrolling to read about my experience and why you should check it out for yourself!

REASONS WHY I LOVED MY STAY: 

LOCATION – After about 6 hours of travel from Los Angeles, we arrived to the Big Island. It only took us about 10 minutes or so to arrive at the hotel from the airport, which made it very convenient. We were greeted promptly as we arrived to the property, and check-in was such a breeze! 

ROOMS - I stayed in one of the ocean view guest rooms, and I have to say that I absolutely loved it! The sunrise over the ocean was the best thing to wake up to! It was so beautiful. My room was also complete with warm furnishings that immediately felt homey, and a spacious balcony I really enjoyed. The room service and cleaning service was exceptional as they were very prompt with any assistance or requests I have. 

SPECIAL SUITES - Our first night, we checked out the Dom Perignon suite, it’s the only one in the US and one of their special suites on their property! We popped a bottle as the sun was setting and we even got a few snaps of it. It was the best way to start off our trip and Its definitely worth checking out for yourself. SPA

DINING - Our first meal was at ULU Ocean Grill and we had the best seafood hands down. Looking back at our meal, my mouth is watering just thinking about it! I love seafood, and also anything grilled, so this restaurant just screams my name. if you love seafood, you definitely have to check them out. Heck, even if you don’t love seafood, this place will change your mind! All their seafood tasted so fresh, and each dish had so much flavor, you’d want to keep coming back for more.

CULINARY EXPERIENCE – we were blessed to experience a dinner under the stars, as well as a chef’s table dinner by chef Thomas Bellec. Our dinner under the stars was magical to say the least. It was the most intimate, romantic set-up by the beach, with a live performance. It was something i’ve never experienced before, and I definitely recommend for couples out there. The chef’s table dinner was exceptional. A very well-thought out menu to excite your taste buds. This is something a recommend for larger parties of 4 or more! 

AMENITIES – there are plenty of activities to choose from! There’s a total of 7 pools at the property, a fitness center, on-site water activities, on-site boutiques, and even kid’s amenities to enjoy.

SPA – there is also a spa and salon on-site for everyone to enjoy! I booked a lomi-lomi massage in an outdoor private room that even included its own shower. I loved hearing the breeze as I enjoyed my massage and felt so relaxed after my appointment.

If you’re looking for your next getaway, Four Seasons Hualailai is definitely the place! Put it in your bucket list for 2020 and book your trip now, and I promise, you won’t regret it! Big shout out to the Bollare and Four Seasons team for putting together such an amazing trip, and I can’t thank them enough for this wonderful opportunity! If you want to catch a live recap of my trip, checkout my intsagram here and head over to my “Big Island” highlights :)

Located in Downtown Palm Springs, La Serena Villas is a Spanish colonial—style hotel bursting with charm and personality.

La Serena Villas is the perfect weekend getaway for those looking to relax and refresh in the desert.

A little history about the property.

La Serena Villas was originally established in 1933 and closed for demolition in 2002. The community came together and saved it from the wrecking ball after receiving Historic Status. The hotel reopened 2 months ago as a luxury boutique hotel with all the amenities found in a 5-star hotel.  An intimate bungalow style hotel nestled against the San Jacinto mountains.

Upon entering the lobby, I immediately fell in love with the décor. I was greeted with monochromatic interior and colorful accent pieces. The hotel exterior is dominated with whites and complimented with cool tones like grey and blue—something I truly appreciated because it helped me feel refreshed despite the 100-degree weather.

Our gorgeous bungalow had a swing so cute, it was asking for a photo op. Each room feature patios and free-standing tubs, which was perfect for a more private relaxation outdoors. I took this opportunity to a do rose bath-slash-concept shoot that resulted beautifully.

The hotel offers a complimentary breakfast basket for two that includes 2 croissant pastries (with jam and butter on the side), 2 yogurt cups, a banana, an apple, and a glass of OJ.

Whispers, the hotel spa, offers a list of services where you can unwind and let go of your daily pressures. Check out their spa menu here.

Azucar, the hotel restaurant & bar.

You and a few friends can walk or bike to Palm Canyon Drive, where you can find the best restaurants, boutiques and galleries that Palm Springs has to offer. The hotel has four bikes available to rent upon signing a waiver. 

I had such a wonderful staycation at La Serena Villas and will definitely come back soon!

Photography by Virisa Yong