Happy New Year in 10 Other Languages

Cheers to the adventures of yesterday and the journeys of tomorrow. We hope 2014 brings you health, happiness, and surprising travel adventures. Bon Voyage!!

Luv,

Di and Mon

  

Happy New Year in 10 Other Languages!

Basque- “Urte berri on”

Croatian- “Sretna nova godina”

Chinese- (Cantonese) “Sun nien fai lok”

Danish- “Godt NytÅr”

French- “Bonne Année”

German- “Glückliches neues Jahr”

Hawaiian- “Hauoli Makahiki hou”

Feliz Anno Nuovo 

Portugese- “Feliz ano novo”

Norwegian- “Godt Nyttår”

A little of BVF's ICEing- Inspiring, Creating, and Entertaining: a MADD moment.

Inspiration and creativity are favs of BVF!! Di loves themes and it makes entertaining so much easier to organise. Here are some fabulous ways on how to create a memorable gathering. Happy entertaining!! 

Just a MADD moment...

Menu- plan your menu in advance to make sure you have all the ingredients and that it meets the dietary requirements of your guests. 

• Nibbles laid out to go with the welcome drinks, so guests can pick whilst chatting.  
• Starters that are easy and you can make in advance so you can mingle when guests arrive. I usually make something cold so I can have it pre-plated and ready to serve. 
• Mains- a dish that doesn't require much last minute attention so you can be with guests rather than in the kitchen. 
• Desserts, my guests always appreciate something homemade but if you're not a baker the shops have tasty treats. Have your pudding on a cake stand or something similar ready so the meal flows and you don't miss out on the social occasion. 
• Cheese, this is a favourite of BVF because there are so many to try! Cheese, crackers and a chutney or relish is a great end to a meal because people can pick at it whilst enjoying the table banter and it's an alternative to those who don't have a sweet tooth
• Coffee and petit fours are a nice finish to the meal. 

Atmosphere- appeal to the senses- music, lighting, scent...what do you want your guests to experience when they walk into your house. For example if you're hosting a Christmas party- carols, soft lighting and cinnamon would come to mind.

Decor- chose a table cloth, napkins & centerpiece that match and incorporate a theme. If it's a special dinner party, I like to include a table present that compliments the theme. For example if it's a summer girly dinner give everyone a jar of homemade jam.

Drinks- I always like a welcome drink, it's a special aperitif that gets everyone in the mood. For example if you're hosting a 1920's party start with a gin fizz.

After a MADD moment of planning, the event should all come together nicely. Enjoy your party! 

12 Tips for College Students Traveling Abroad

We were inspired to create a list of 12 BVF tips for our Alpha Delta Pi sisters Sarah Katz and Samantha G. They will be embarking on a fabulous journey abroad tomorrow.  

As Sarah and Samantha prepare for their travels to Amsterdam, Paris, and London-we hope they have a fabulous journey.  

Bon Voyage, Sisters!!! 

Sarah is the recent past president of our UNLV chapter and we are proud of the incredible leader she has become. How fab to be traveling with an Adpi sister. You never know where these journeys together will lead, after all-the idea our of tradition for an annual holiday began in 2004 at a Spanish restaurant in a small Finnish town!! 

12 Tips for College Students Traveling Abroad

🔹Bring your Student ID card to receive discounted and free admission to museums and other places. 

🔹To save money on transportation, buy a reusable pass such as London's Oyster card. Add some funds to begin with, use this card for buses or the underground, and top up as needed. 

🔹Capture pictures and pen fav moments in a journal.  

🔹Just a SEC:  Search, Experience, Culture.  Search and enjoy the environment you're surrounded by, be spontaneous and carefree. Experience as much as you can in the city you're visiting- local cuisine, markets etc. Culture- do something that is specific to the city i.e. Broadway in NYC or Van Gogh in Amsterdam.

🔹Avoid tourist traps: picture menus, tours that aren't offered through the official attractions, etc. Ask the locals to recommend their fav dining spots off the beaten path.  

🔹Download free apps such as XE Currency Exchange or language apps offered by Odyssey Translator that work sans Internet and can be useful tools. 

🔹Share a table. In a crowded pub or restaurant, the best way to meet new people is to share a table with others. Immerse yourself in learning and have fun, you never know the next stranger you meet could become a lifelong friend. 

🔹Take a nylon reusable bag with you, it's mini, light weight, and great to have when out wandering and you come across items you want to buy. 

🔹Take a SIP: Safety Is Priority. Register your travels with government agencies such as the @TravelGov STEP program 

https://step.state.gov/ or @FCOtravel.  It's easy to let your guard down when traveling, don't do it. Grab a friend and explore together. Learn your local emergency numbers http://studentsabroad.state.gov/content/pdfs/911_ABROAD.pdf

Leave a copy of your passport with your family or a close friend. 

🔹If your budget allows, try to pick one nice meal out for a glamorous experience. Try lunch at a local hot spot to save money.  

🔹Find grocery stores or markets for low cost meals on the go, unique finds, and gifts! 

🔹Contact your mobile phone carrier to find out options and fees for traveling abroad. Be sure to notify your credit card companies and bank of your future travels, to avoid a security freeze on your accounts. 

5 Packing Tips from a Retired Hosty

As a former flight hostess for Virgin Atlantic, Di shares 5 great tips on how to pack for your next holiday! 

- Pack in colour schemes so that everything matches and you only have to pack one set of accessories- for example one handbag that matches everything.

- One pashmina that goes with each outfit- they work great as a wrap for an evening, scarf if it's cooler in the day or even as a sarong for the pool. They are also lightweight, don't wrinkle & are super small to pack. 

- Always pack a swimsuit- you never know if you'll get diverted or if the hotel has a pool, it's great exercise if your gym kit won't fit into your luggage

- LBD- the little black dress or equivalent. There are opportunities that may arise that surprise you and you need to dress up, so best to always be prepared! 

- Travel sized samples make a great weekend away size for your suitcase & you can dispose of them, leaving more room for shopping treasures found on holiday. 

Bon Voyage!!!! 

Merry Christmas in 10 Other Languages!!

Merry Christmas from Bon Voyage Friends!! 

Afrikaans - "Geseënde Kersfees en ‘n Voorspoedige Nuwe Jaar."

Chinese - [Mandarin] - "Kung His Hsin Nien bing Chu Shen Tan"

Czech - "Prejeme Vam Vesele Vanoce a stastny Novy Rok"

Finnish - "Hyvaa joulua"

French - "Joyeux Noël" 

German - "Froehliche Weihnachten"

Italian - "Buone Feste Natalizie"

Spanish - "Feliz Navidad"

Thai - "Sawadee Pee Mai" 

Welsh - "Nadolig Llawen"


Wishing you and yours a splendid and fabulous holiday!!! Merry Christmas!!!!!


Luv,
Di and Mon

Speedy Boarding...

Love the new travel apps that keep being created. Short haul airlines, trains, etc. you don't even have to print your tickets, remember your boarding pass or stand in a long line to check in. Technology is definitely a travellers best friend! 

Inspiration...Notre Dame and 5 Lessons of Faith

Since our 2005 adventures in Madrid, Spain, I have loved visiting the gorgeous cathedrals in Europe. I'm thankful to have a friend so supportive of my Catholic faith and I'm so honored to be Alfie's Godmom. Here's a collage Di made of Alfie's Christening in October. Such a special day!!! 

During my recent adventures in Paris, I went to the Notre Dame and it was a beautiful journey. The cathedral is celebrating its 850th anniversary, incredible!! 

As I was taking a picture of the holy water basin, I was able to capture this image of visitors to the church.  

Luv the compelling quote by Saint Augustine "I Am The Way Which Seeks Travelers". 

It's hard to explain the peace and tranquility I experience when visiting churches. I am often in awe of how such beauty was created hundreds of years ago, without the aid of modern equipment. It's also a time for me to reflect and renew my faith. 

The Lessons Learned: 

Embrace the moments of peace and observe the beauty built by previous generations. 

Regardless of their different faiths or beliefs, its heart warming to witness the desire of people from all over the world taking the time to visit. 

Having the opportunity to even see these amazing cathedrals is a gift and I'm truly blessed. 

Millions of faith goers are inspired to visit  cathedrals each year and while most leave behind their prayers, I can only hope many leave with stronger faith. 

The best of friends are always by your side. Thank you, Di, for always being there as I stop to pause, reflect, and pray. Especially during our 2010 adventures in Prague, when I was on a mission to light a candle for my ailing grandma at every single church we stumbled upon. That meant more to me than words could possibly ever express. 

Prague, Top 5 Things to See During Christmas Market Season! Our 2010 Adventure!

Prague is a magical city, especially during the winter season. 2010 marked our first holiday to Eastern Europe and it was filled with endless adventures!! 

The Christmas markets inspired me to suggest to Monica that we make Prague our 2010

Annual Adventure destination. We arrived on opening day! As we got off the train,

we came across rows of stalls with crafts, mulled wines, candied almonds, sausages, bohemian crystals, and so on. Traditionally, the Christmas markets are open from late November to early January. Check  

http://www.czechtourism.com for specific dates. 

1. Visit the Christmas market stalls

We found hand painted ornaments, wool gloves, beautiful eggs, and endless unique finds. 

2.  See a Performance at the Opera House 

Imagine sitting in the same venue Mozart once performed at. Incredible! We decided to see if there were performances the evening of our arrival. So lucky!! With less than an hour before showtime, we bought tickets for a beautiful ballet for under £10/$15! 

3. Try the traditional Tredlnik 

Monica's Market Fav, Tredlnik-a delicious traditional Czech Christmas treat. These sweet delicious treats are cooked on long rotating skewers over hot coals and immediately after baking they are rolled in cinnamon sugar and almonds. Mon affectionately referred to these as "Cinnamon Nic". You can find Tredlnik sold by vendors throughout the markets, yummy! 

4. Visit the Prague Castle Compound 

Walking up countless steps in the snow was worth it!!! As we came to the top of the compound, we saw the St. Vitus Cathedral-just  breathtaking!

5. Grand Marnier Hot Chocolate at Cafe Savoy 

Perfect on a cold day and yummy! Plus, the ambiance at the Cafe Savoy is fab! Stop in for a cuppa and savor the moment. 

Adventures ahead! Flying with Virgin Atlantic!

Flying with Virgin Atlantic is always an excellent travel choice. I learned about VA when Di first became a member of crew, she spent four years with the airline and was a fab ambassador for the company. 

VA is the fav airline of BVF!! They go above and beyond to give passengers a wonderful experience. Plus, the airline has a great fleet, look at this Boeing 747 at London Gatwick Airport. Impressive! 

The inflight entertainment gives passengers endless options ranging from TV shows to movies. You can even check out "Travel Trip Catcher" for reviews written by passengers on places to check out while you visit your destination or add your own suggestions. 

For an added bonus, the views are amazing. This picture was taken 40,000 somewhere above the US, so fab! 

The crew members are always friendly, hospitable, and awesome. Check out yesterday's Gatwick to Las Vegas VS043 crew, adding some cheer for the holiday season! 

Thank you to the entire crew for a fabulous flight! Happy Holidays!! 

Bon Voyage!

Goodbyes are not fun & never easy, but the best thing about having an annual adventure is that we know we'll see each other again next year! Bon Voyage MM we hope you have a safe flight home on our favourite airline- Virgin Atlantic! Enjoy the Upper Deck!! 

Cheers doll! 

Another BFV Fav! Day adventures!!

You can experience a fun travel adventures even without venturing too far from your home town. With hubby Phil and baby Alfie in tow, we headed 30 minutes away to Winchester for a family day to buy our Christmas tree. It's Alfie's first Christmas and Phil wanted to be sure we picked the perfect tree!! 

Phil and Alfie looking at trees, cute father and son bonding moment! 

There were loads of shops and Christmas market stalls to visit. It was lovely spending time with my family. We are so excited to celebrate Alfie's first Christmas, what a special time for us. The tree is up and decorated, a nice reminder of the beauty of the Christmas season. Hope you enjoy the holidays!! 

Adpi's amazing sisterhood.

What a fabulous week it's been for Alpha Delta Pi sisters connecting abroad. Diana and I had an awesome time in London, it was such a special treat to see her two months in a row!!!

Today in Paris, I had such a fab time with Adpi sister Krystle Richeson. Krystle has been living in Paris, performing in the Crazy Horse.  She is the most incredible and talented dancer I know. As a former Rocket, she graces the stage with such elegance and poise. It's no wonder she was selected to dance in the Crazy Horse in Las Vegas and now in Paris! During her college days, Krystle use to choreograph the performances the sorority participated in, amazing. 

A few months ago-Diana, Krystle, and baby Alfie got together in London and had an amazing time catching up. It had been years since they'd seen each other but it was as though they were back at uni hanging out in the Moyer Student Union at UNLV and no time had passed. Baby Alfie went to London for the first time (adorable) and the sisters had a lovely time. 

Krystle took me to one of her favourite areas in Paris, the Rue Mouffetard-located near the Latin Quarters. This quaint area of Paris offers lots of boutiques, yummy restaurants, fruit markets, cheese shops, and much more! 

We enjoyed a great lunch with dessert and afterwards had another foodie moment...Crepes with: Nutella, coconut, bananas, and chantilly cream. So much food! 

A totally unplanned adventure occurred tonight, we met up with another Adpi sister-Sally Wong! Sally traveled from Hong Kong to Amsterdam for a work conference and came to Paris for a quick holiday. It was perfect timing and great to hear about what's new in her life-she recently got engaged and has been working in Macau for the past 8 months. Exciting! 

Regardless of the distance or time that separates us, it's just so special how we picked up right where we left off. That's sisterhood for a lifetime. 

Adventure- Baby on board

In an ideal world we could keep life as we knew it pre-baby, but in reality we have to pack four times the amount! 

I used to chuck a summer dress & pair of undies into a large handbag & hope on a plane to France to visit a friend for a couple days. 

Now it's a mini suitcase minimum and I need to source all of his accessories down route! My first flight was just that and made super easy. I thought wow travelling with a four month old is so easy- priority security, priority boarding- it was like being elevated to VIP status just for having a baby! 

So Alfie joined us on our 10th annual adventure- reality check! Travelling with a baby is not easy! We can't take a taxi because we don't have a car seat, need to book a cot at the apartment, need a lift to use the underground, the list goes on... 

Paris Restaurant, it's Ćest Magnifque!!!

It's amazing how food experiences can connect us to fond memories. Think back to your childhood and a specialty your grandmother made, that you wish you could still have today, since it brings back happy times. Or, the best dessert you ever had while on holiday and so on. 

A BVF favourite in Paris is the Relais 
de l'Entrecôte (RE) located at  20 rue, St. Benoit. It's a fab restaurant and its right near Café de Flore, where Ernest Hemingway would frequent. Love the history!  

Diana and her dad discovered this restaurant while on holiday with her brother a few years ago. 

Last year, during our adventures in Paris, we enjoyed a wonderful time at RE!! We sat next to a Parisian woman, accompanied by her husband. She was wearing a fur coat and had a tiny dog next to her, too cute!!! 

There is no dinner menu, you read that correctly. Once seated, you are asked how you would like your steak prepared. Then you receive a delicious plate of salad lightly tossed in dijon dressing and topped with walnuts, plus crispy bread-of course!! 

What makes RE really unique is something we've never experience elsewhere. No wonder a line forms outside for dinner!! So, what makes this place so different, aside from not having a dinner menu? Half of your steak is served to you with endless pomme frites, while the remainder is placed on a tray, which is kept warm above a set of burning candles. The steak has an amazing buttery and lightly seasoned sauce, a delicious accompaniment to the pomme frites. 

If you desire a simple yet exquisite French dining experience, add this to your 'must try' list. If your heart desires, end the evening with a delicious dessert-they have a lovely selection of sweets to choose from. 

Bon Appétit!!!

It all starts with a D.O.T.

Join Bon Voyage Friends as we share stories of travel and life adventures. The journey first began when Alpha Delta Pi sorority sisters, Diana and Monica traveled to Finland for a university conference. One night, while dining at a Spanish restaurant in the tiny Finnish town of Porvoo-Borga, they came up with the idea to select a new destination each year for an annual holiday. Raising their glasses of sangria, the tradition began. Cheers!!!

Nearly ten years down the road, the journeys have continued. We have had endless laughter, lessons of life, and many stories along the way. Pick up a cuppa and enjoy the true tales of our adventures of friendship around the world and throughout life.