Hey my travel family! ✨

After all these years sharing our adventures together (can you believe it's been over a decade?!), I have another wild story that proves sometimes the universe just knows what we need! Remember Tom's milestone birthday we've been chatting about in my last few posts? Well, buckle up, besties, because THIS. IS. EPIC! 🌺

You know how I usually spend months planning every detail? Well, this time our usual villa in Maui fell through (thanks, wedding season!), but my angels at AwayBNB pulled the most incredible switch-up ever - enter Hale Hoaloha on the Big Island! The moment they sent me the photos, I just KNEW this was meant to be!

Emma (yes, my Paris art student who you've literally watched grow up on this blog!) managed to sneak away from her studies again - my heart is still doing happy dances! She brought her same artsy crew from the St. Barths trip, and you should see the Hawaii-inspired pieces they've been creating! 😍

Y'all, this villa! After 10+ years of reviewing properties, I don't say this lightly - but this place is EVERYTHING! Five bedrooms (each with its own bathroom - you know how I feel about shared bathrooms after that disaster in Greece we still laugh about 😅), and the most incredible infinity pool overlooking the Pacific. Remember that sunset photo I posted in 2019 that you all kept asking about? This view puts that one to shame!

Tom (who's been following my blog comments about needing more outdoor living space) would NOT leave the lanai setup - we've got a BBQ area that made him forget about his beloved grill back home, and this fire pit area where we've been recreating those storytelling nights you all loved from our Bali posts!

The best part? Those sunrise coffee chats we always have in the comments? Imagine having them while watching whales breach in the distance! I've been going live every morning from the terrace (sorry about the 3 AM notifications for my European followers 😂).

Remember Emma's "morning person" phase I wrote about last summer? Well, she's back at it - but this time leading sunrise yoga sessions on the lawn. The same kid who used to refuse to get out of bed before noon! Those of you who've been here since her teenage blog takeovers are probably as shocked as I am! 🧘‍♀️

At $2,200 per night, it's a splurge, but after a decade of travel blogging, trust me when I say - for this level of luxury and these views? It's worth every penny! Plus, you all know my tips for splitting costs with family.

Some magical moments that had me reaching for my journal (you know, the one you all convinced me to start after that transformative trip to Bali):

  • Tom finally learning to paddleboard (after 10 years of promising he would!)
  • That impromptu luau night where we recreated our infamous Maui 2018 dance party
  • Finding the same type of rare shell we spotted on our very first Hawaii trip in 2015

Special shoutout to AwayBNB for:

  • Saving our trip after the Maui cancellation
  • Setting up Tom's surprise birthday dinner
  • Arranging those sunset sails you saw on my Stories
  • Remembering our family's favorite breakfast items (10 years of booking with them pays off!)

To my OG followers who remember my first shaky Hawaii vlog - look how far we've come! And to everyone who's joined our travel family along the way - this is what it's all about: finding those perfect places that become part of our story. ✨

For my detail-oriented travel planners (you know who you are!): yes, the villa has everything we always look for - that fully equipped kitchen for Tom's famous pancakes, the washer/dryer setup we learned to appreciate after the "Great Packing Disaster of 2017," and enough space that everyone can have their quiet time.

Drop a comment if you remember our first Hawaii trip together - or if you want more details about this slice of paradise! You know I always share everything with my travel family!

P.S. Tom's already talking about Christmas here - looks like those "where should we spend the holidays" polls might have a clear winner this year! 🌅✨