Michi Photostory

If you are planning a move, and looking for amazing weather with year-round mild temperatures, southern California is the spot for you. There are also various landscapes to enjoy, all within a quick drive from most cities. You can head to the beach, the mountains, or even to the desert to take in all the beauty it offers. 

All over the world, Orlando, Florida is known for its dining, entertainment, and activities that tourists and vacationers enjoy. The options are limitless and fit all range of tastes and styles.

However, before you get to the next plane to Florida, make sure you know these things about Orlando, Florida.

Photo by Brian Erickson of Unsplash

Orlando has a subtropical climate. The rainy season often occurs from May to October. If you visit during the summer, you can expect afternoon rains.

The average temperature is 72F. However, the mild, dry winters can quickly give way to wet and cold weather.

So, when you visit Orlando, it’s best to prepare for a wide range of scenarios. Pay attention to weather updates and warnings for wind, lightning, and rain.

Golf Courses for Pro Golfers 

If you love playing golf or simply watching the pros go at it, Orlando offers nearly 200 golf courses and academies.

These golf courses host world-famous tournaments like the Arnold Palmer International. What’s better is that the city claims more pro golfers as residents than anywhere in the world.

Various Transportation Options 

When in Orlando, you have access to a wide range of transportation options.

Around the metro area, hotels and resorts provide complimentary shuttles to popular venues and other locations around the city.

Public transport options include bus lines and the SunRail train network. Or you can try StressFreeCarRental.com to find great deals on rental cars.

A City of the World 

Orlando is an international city; a cultural melting pot where various cultures and histories intersect.

So don’t be shocked when you hear different languages and see various currencies being passed around.

Of course, the US dollar is the primary tender and English is the common language. If you have these two, you’ll be fine.

Dominant Ecotourism 

Orlando is blessed with natural landscapes, such as lakes, cypress swamps, marshlands, and pinewoods.

If you love the natural world and you’re an environment enthusiast, Orlando offers many opportunities to go on nature trips.

Major Theme Parks 

Orlando is the “Theme Park Capital of the World” for great reasons.

Tourists and vacationers can enjoy the Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando, and SeaWorld Orlando -- all in the same city.

What’s more, all these attractions are very close to each other, just around 20 miles southwest of the downtown area. So you can go theme park-hopping all you want.

Two Major Airports 

Orlando sports not one but two major airports, which are the:

● Orlando International Airport (MCO)
● Sanford Orlando International Airport (SFB)

MCO is located southeast of the city center, while the SFB is to the north.

Further, Orlando also serves as a major Florida crossroad you can reach in several ways. These include Interstate 4 and the Florida Turnpike.

Water Parks All Year 

Orlando is also home to world-class water parks that are open all year. If there are no extreme cold or weather conditions, you can expect them to remain open forever.

Get Ready for Orlando, Florida 

Keeping these things in mind will help you prepare for a wonderful Orlando visit. Plan and prepare your trip so you can have a fun, memorable adventure once you set foot in Orlando.

I was searching for Courtyard by Marriott in Dallas and I was surprised when I saw the long list of the hotel and I asked my husband the name of his hotel and he said Fort Worth and when I searched for it, Google is giving me 10 Courtyard Fort Worth hotels. Waah! There are so many Marriott hotels in Dallas.

Two years ago my husband went to Austin, Texas and stayed at Marriott Residence Inn but this year since he is already working with a new company and he stayed at Courtyard Fort Worth University Drive.

Read: Marriott Residence Inn Austin Lake

It was supposed to be a one-week business trip only in the USA but few weeks before my husband’s trip, his boss advised him to attend one-day training in Dallas, Texas. And because of this, he was not able to attend their company anniversary in Singapore and he was not home during our wedding anniversary.

It was last minute changed so he was not able to get a direct flight from Greensboro, North Carolina to Dallas, Texas.

Greensboro to Charlotte via American Airlines
Charlotte to Dallas/Fort Worth via American Airlines


For their transportation, they just rented a car at the airport “Avis”. Two years ago my husband applied for an International Driving License but this year, he was able to drive in the USA even without the International Driving License. As far as I can remember, as long as English yung details nung driving license mo at naiintindihan nila, okay na yun.

Read: How to Apply for International Driving License  
Glimpse of Austin Texas


Courtyard Fort Worth University Drive is a 3-star hotel under Marriott Hotel. According to my husband, the hotel is beautiful, well-designed and looks new. This hotel is near Fort Worth Zoo, Texas Christian University, Amon G. Carter Stadium, and Will Rogers Memorial Center.



This is the room, although the room is smaller compared to Austin Texas hotel, it is clean and comfortable. The water from the faucet is potable too and you can get a free water bottle at the reception area.







There are only few hotel staff in the hotel but the service is good. You have the option to eat your breakfast at the hotel for additional USD10 or you can eat outside. Fortunately, there are nearby restaurants where you can eat breakfast, lunch or dinner.


The hotel offers a fitness area and an outdoor swimming pool but it was so cold so my husband did not check the swimming pool.


If you want to wash clothes, there is a laundry room too and the machines are coin-operated. You need quarter coins to buy detergent soap, fabric conditioner, dryer sheet and of course to wash and dry your clothes.


The only thing I liked for my husband extended business trip is “Outlet time”. Yey! He has two days two visit Outlet Stores and buys stuff at a discounted price. I will upload a video on my YouTube channel so you will get an idea kung Gaano ba talaga Kamura sa Outlet Store.



Courtyard Fort Worth University Drive by Marriott 
3150 Riverfront Drive,
Fort Worth, Texas 76107 USA

Last year, my husband informed me that he will go to the USA in February and because of that, wala kami wedding anniversary celebration. I don’t understand kung anong meron sa February at lagi na lang sa month na ito pinapupunta si hubby sa USA. It happened two years ago but I was fortunate that he arrived the day before our wedding anniversary. But this year, no celebration talaga, walang pre or post-wedding anniversary celebration.

Moving on, hubby went to North Carolina, USA and there is no direct flight from Manila so he took two plane rides.

Manila to New York (15hrs and 15 mins) via Philippine Airlines
New York to Charlotte (2hrs and 4 mins) via American Airlines


He stayed at Sheraton Greensboro at Four Seasons also known as Koury Convention Center. The hotel is big and it can accommodate big groups. Actually, their company reserved the whole hotel for their one-week event so most of the time, they just stayed inside the hotel. The hotel is adjacent to a shopping mall, my husband was able to visit the mall since it is just walking distance or you can take the complimentary shuttle.



The hotel has a casual restaurant, 2 cafes and 2 bars. It offers a gym, business center, hot tub, and indoor and outdoor pool. But because of the busy schedule, my husband was not able to visit these facilities.


If you are staying in Sheraton hotels, expect for a good room and comfortable bed. The room offers free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs and desks with ergonomic chairs, minifridges, and coffeemakers.


For food, taste is just okay. According to my husband, most of the foods taste bland so you need to add salt and pepper. Overall, my husband was satisfied with the service and hotel rooms.





Sheraton Greensboro at Four Seasons 
3121 W Gate City Blvd,
Greensboro, NC 27407, USA

Planning and budgeting for a large group in Las Vegas is a difficult task. But, if you have an idea of what the group will do while in the city, it will take the pressure off your shoulders. Such a  vacation requires your group to consider some key factors when budgeting. You must have a good plan for all the activities the group will engage in. You need to know how the group will be accommodated, what they will eat, and how they will be transported.  In this article, we focus on three things you need to budget for when traveling with a group to Vegas.


1. The Hotel 

There are plenty of accommodation facilities in Vegas. But picking a hotel that can accommodate a group of people could be a challenge. You need to plan and make your reservations early to avoid the inconveniences. The facility should have rooms for conferences, just in case you need to assemble at one place to plan for the day. Group hotels charge between $200-250 per room. So if you are in a group of 10 people, you need to budget about $2,500 per day. If you will be in Vegas for 5 days. You should allocate $12,500 to accommodation. The goal here is to have all the members of a group stay in one place for safety and planning purposes.

2. Meals

Obviously, budgeting for meals is very important when traveling in a group.  If the facility you will be accommodated in does not serve meals, you’ll need a restaurant where you can go for meals. Many hotels offer buffets that cost about $30 for breakfast. So for 10 people, you need about $300 per person. If you will be in Vegas for 5 days, it will cost you about $1,500. Picking a hotel that offers a group menu is important. It will allow you to dine at the same place. Group menus may be cheaper depending on the hotel chosen. Some hotels offer rigid menus while others allow you to choose what to eat. Lunch will cost about $45 per plate so you need about $450 per day for a group of 10 people. For 5 days, you need about $2,250. Dinner will cost about $50 per person. For a group of 10 people, the budget for dinner should not be less than $500 per day. If you will be in Vegas for 5 days, you need to spare about $2,500 for dinner.

3. Transportation

Las Vegas is a popular vacation destination.  So, you need to make plans for transportation early enough. If you are in a group, you need a Charter bus Company Las Vegas to move your members from the airport to your hotel. You will spent about $750 to transfer members of your group to destinations of their choice. It will cost about $15 to transport each member of the group to a chosen destination. So, for ten people, you need about $150 per destination. If you are planning for a group tour in Las Vegas having a budget is necessary. You need to budget for transport, accommodation, and food. You should also have some spare money to use to pay for entry fees.

Fishing is a low-stress physical activity that keeps your body moving for hours at a time. Therefore, if you are looking for ways to unwind after a hectic schedule, you should consider fishing. With fishing, not only do you get the opportunity to cook a meal that could give seafood restaurants a run for their money, but you also get the chance to spend time in the outdoors. If you want to increase your chances of catching delicious fish, we would advise you to visit the 4 places mentioned below. Visit the site, villagefishmongernyc.com, for detailed information on fishing. 



1. Florida Keys, Florida 

If you want to enjoy a heavenly fishing experience, you must pay a visit to Florida Keys. Many visitors even charter a boat and head to the deep seas of the Atlantic Ocean, caught in the warm Gulf Stream, to catch some of the most exotic fishes in the world; some of these fishes include swordfish, sailfish, and white marlin etc. However, if you aren't feeling too adventurous and would rather fish from the coast, you will still be able to catch fishes such as permit, snook, bonefish, redfish, and tarpon etc. You shouldn't be too disheartened if you fail to get any bite; there isn't a dearth of great sea restaurants in the region.

2. Kona, Hawaii 

Professional anglers and recreational anglers alike love fishing in the waters of Kona in Hawaii. If you love deep-sea fishing, you will love this place as the depth is just a few kilometers outside of the harbor. How deep is the area? Well, it bottoms out at 6,000 feet below. So, what fishes can you expect to catch here? You can catch tuna, ono, and even sharks! And, of course, the views are quite breathtaking as well. 

3. Bighorn River, Montana

If you consider yourself a fly fishing enthusiast, you must pay a visit to the Bighorn River in Montana. Although most parts of the river are inaccessible as they pass through private property, the fishing spots that are accessible are worth braving the crowds for. The river is filled with brown trout; however, if you are lucky, you may even be able to catch prized rainbows. 

4. Kobuk River, Alaska 

Are you tired of catching the same fishes again and again? If you are, you should perhaps head north for rarer catches; you should consider paying a visit to the Kobuk River in Alaska. The river is over 200 miles long and is a hotbed for fishes such as lake trout, chum salmon, arctic grayling and northern pike etc. However, if you truly want to boast about your fishing adventures in Alaska to your friends, you must attempt to catch the river´s true prize, the sheefish.

Read: Our Fishing Adventure in Norway

Our family has a sweet tooth so we always have chocolates at home. There was a time that we ran out of chocolates and my son said “Mommy, dapat lagi may chocolates sa ref”. “Oh, sorry naman, I’m not aware na bawal maubusan ng chocolates.” Hehehe! 

He likes eating chocolates especially during our review time, pampatanggal stress na rin. So every grocery, I always buy chocolates, it doesn’t need to be imported, Flat tops, Curly tops or choc-nut, masaya na kami. But I’m thankful for my family, relatives and friends who give chocolates. 

Though my husband is always out of the country, I don’t obliged him to buy pasalubong every business trip at nakakasira siya ng monthly budget. I always tell him, only buy chocolates if it is not available in the Philippines. So when he went to Austin, Texas, he sent me photos of these chocolates from Target. 





He asked me if gusto ko and babalikan na lang niya. Of course, I said yes. I haven’t tried these chocolates pa and feeling ko mura siya compared sa nakikita ko na price sa airport. Now, you will understand, why my son cried when he learned that his dad’s luggage was missing. His toy and these chocolates were inside the luggage kasi so sayang talaga kung nalost siya.

Godiva



I told my husband to buy Godiva chocolates before and he said, “di ba sabon yun?”. Hahaha! Naloka ko bigla! Anyway, Godiva is one of the premium fine chocolates founded in Belgium since 1926. Godiva also offers coffee, cocoa, truffles, biscuits, sweets, dipped fruits and many more. 

My husband bought Dark Chocolate Almond and Milk Chocolate. The Godiva Milk Chocolate is good but my husband said, mas type pa niya yung IKEA chocolates. We haven’t tried the Dark Chocolate yet since we’re not fond of dark chocolate.

Ghirardelli 



We are very familiar with Ghirardelli brand because that is one of our favorite instant brownie mixes. Ghirardelli is the third oldest chocolate company in USA, it offers chocolate in bar version or in mini squares. My husband bought the mini squares, Assorted Milk Chocolate and Milk and Sea Salt Brownie flavor. 



We liked the Milk Chocolate and Milk Chocolate Sea Salt & Almonds. I’m not fond of caramel so the Milk Chocolate Caramel is too sweet for my taste. The Milk & Sea Salt Brownies is a combination of sweet and salty, di ko lang mataste yung brownie. Hehehe! 

Lindt

Lindt is founded in 1845, it is a Swiss chocolatier and confectionary company that offers chocolate bard and chocolate truffles. We tried Lindt chocolates before so I know that their chocolates are really creamy and smooth. As of this writing, naubos na yung Lindt chocolates, I hope next time I can try the Milk and Hazel Nut variant. 



The price of these chocolates is not cheap so it is not something that we can eat anytime we want. What is your favorite chocolates?

When my husband told me that he will have a training in USA, I had mixed emotion. Part of me was happy because he can travel outside Asia but part of me was sad because he won’t be home for two weeks. For the very first time, absent siya sa Valentine’s Day which is our couple anniversary.



Anyway, last month off he went to Austin, Texas and it was his first long haul flight since he always travels within Asia only. Since it is 8,401 miles away from Manila, he needs to ride two airplanes.

Manila to Los Angeles (12hrs and 20 minutes)
+ 4 hours and 35 minutes layover 
Los Angeles California to Austin Texas (3 hours and 3 minutes) 

It is more or less 20 hours flight, PAL provided travel kit which includes eye mask, socks, toothbrush and toothpaste. Good thing Philippine Airlines has wifi and seat monitor during his Manila to Los Angeles flight to entertain him. 



Upon arrival to LA, he passed the immigration. He was a bit nervous because during that time, President Trump just signed an executive order and this order banned the citizens of 7 countries and there is even a rumor that the Philippines will be included. 



When he reached Austin Bergstrom International Airport, he looked for National Car Rental counter so he can get his key for the rented car. Yes, this time he will drive from hotel to office. He applied for International Driving Permit prior to his trip. 



Read: How to Apply for International Driving Permit in the Philippines 



It was a different driving experience because the roads and highways are wider compared to the Philippines. Thank God for GPS, he was able to reach his hotel. He stayed at Marriott Residence Inn Austin Lake for two weeks. 

Read: Marriott Residence Inn Austin Lake



For the very first time, he experienced jet lag. It was hard for him to adjust his sleep and cold weather. It is challenging for us to communicate because of the time difference which is 14 hours. 





He spent most of his free time in visiting different outlets looking for affordable pasalubong for us. He visited Round Rock Premium Outlets, San Marcus Premium Outlet and Tanger. Yes, there are so many sales and discounts but he just bought the stuff that he can afford. For chocolates, he went to groceries because the price is much cheaper. 


 

Since I was not there, he washed and ironed his own clothes too. I even teased him to finish his laundry para wala na ko labhan pag-uwi niya. Hehehe!



After two weeks, it is time to go home. He just parked the rented car at the airport and dropped the key in the box. 

Austin Texas to Los Angeles California 3 hours and 35 minutes
+ 2 hours and 10 minutes layover
Los Angeles to Manila 15 hours and 55 minutes + 1 hour layover in Guam




He was disappointed with Philippine Airlines because there was no wifi and no seat monitor during his LAX to MNL flight. How can you entertain yourself for 16 hours, parang budget airlines na lang ang PAL.


He was excited to go home but he experienced a lot of mishaps during his Austin to Manila flight. It started with a delayed flight, he almost missed his connecting flight in LA, unexpected layover in Guam and the worst part is when he landed in Manila, his Luggage was missing. 

Read: How to Deal with Lost Luggage 
Texas Roadhouse