Book Review: Ultimate Journeys for Two

I know it was just summer, but I'm already counting down the days until next summer and I miss vacation. Not that we can really afford to go on vacation again, but I told Matt that him and I really have to figure out a way for just us to go on vacation. This year is absolutely kicking our ass, so I'm sure by next summer we'll be practically desperate to go anywhere! 

Ultimate Journeys for Two - Mike & Anne Howard

Written by the founders of HoneyTrek.com, this inspiring book reveals hidden-gem destinations and insider tips for unforgettable couples travel.

In these informative pages, Mike and Anne Howard--officially the World's Longest Honeymooners and founders of the acclaimed travel blog HoneyTrek--whisk you away to journeys of a lifetime. Drawing on their experience traveling together across seven continents, they curate the globe and offer tested-and-approved recommendations for intrepid couples, bringing culture, adventure, and romance to any couple--no matter their age or budget.

Chapters are organized by type of destination (for example, beaches, mountains, and deserts) to help travelers discover new places and experiences based on their interests. Each entry focuses on a specific region, getting to the essence of each locale and its one-of-a-kind offerings. The authors reveal the best time to visit, the best places to stay, and recommended activities--each with their own adventure rating to illustrate level of intensity. Special features include funny and insightful stories from the Howards' own adventures, expert advice from other renowned traveling couples, and tips to increase the romance and excitement at each destination. A large map shows every location covered in the book, and each entry has a locator map depicting the city and country. Both entertaining and informative, this book is an invaluable resource and inspiration for a lifetime of travel.

If you had to pick one kind of vacation, which would you choose? Mountains, lakes/rivers/falls, beaches/islands, on a safari, history/architecture, at sea, deserts, snow and ice, jungles and rain forests, road trips, or supernatural? It's so hard to pick, but that is kind of the point of this book, to help you narrow your trip down. 

We're a road trip kind of family so when we do a vacation that is usually our top choice. A close second would be a beach, mostly because we really want to relax and do nothing. No matter the vacation type you choose, this book has you covered with trips set in your own backyard/country to adventures around the globe. Each destination gives you ideas on where to stay, when to go, how to get romantic, but also some helpful tips to keep in mind to make your trip stressfree. I loved the "couples adventures" under each destination, all of them are unique and will impress anyone listening to your vacation story with envy. 

One trip I've been eyeing is road tripping the southwest of the United States. I feel like I would need more than a week to really see it properly and do all of the things I'd want to do, though. I also knew it existed, the Olympic Peninsula, but I really had no idea the continental US has a rain forest. How did I not know this?! The other great thing is that each trip features a "to explore more.." area with other places in the book that would be easy to combine on your trip. 

If I had to give this book a critique, I would say the idea that traveling outside of the country isn't worth it unless you have a huge amount of time to do it, and I just don't think that's true. Not everyone can just travel for a month (or more) at a time; not to mention the expense of doing so is mostly impossible for people. I do think that if you have a set budget, and a set amount of time to travel, using a book like this is probably the best idea because it basically lays out where you should go, do, and stay. Don't let an "extraordinary destination" scare you, I think using the advice in this book will give you a great starting direction. 

Thank you to TLC Book Tours for having me on this tour! I'm including the purchase link but also one for the spiral bound version because spiral bound versions of travel books need to become the norm. I'm just saying. 

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