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Five Places You Must See: Some of Molly's Favorite Places

"Travel is the one thing you can buy that makes you richer."  I love to travel.  I have been very lucky to have gone on some pretty amazing trips (and am actually on one as we speak - more on that later).  So I wanted to spend a little time today on five places you must see, in case any of you are looking to plan a new trip, or (who knows?) a destination wedding.

The Islands of the South Pacific

Bora Bora (image from)

Bora Bora (image from)

How incredibly photogenic is Bora Bora?  French Polynesia, Tahiti, Bora Bora - these islands in the South Pacific are some of the most breathtaking tropical locations in the world.  The downside of visiting these island is its particularly difficult to get to from the United States.  But on the other hand, the upside is that these remote islands are relatively untouched and allow you to completely disconnect and enjoy your vacation. 

The South of France

Provence (image from)

Provence (image from)

Romantic and beautiful with so much character - the South of France has so many different facets that it can please almost any traveler.  Whether you're staying on the Mediterranean coast or more inland, you are not far from wine country, the beach, and plenty of charming little french towns.  A vacation to the South of France is best executed in lots of little excursions so you get to really see the area. I have been fortunate enough to spend a fair amount of time in Provence.  What a slice of heaven!  Some of my favorite towns to visit are Saint Étienne-du-Grès,  Saint Rémy, Eygalière, Arles and Les Beaux.  The best part of hitting these places may be just driving between the aligned large plane trees on the D99, stopping here and there at small vineyards and canals.  Along the way, I highly recommend a good hike up into the Alpilles followed by cheese and crackers with rosé!

India

Taj Mahal (image from)

Taj Mahal (image from)

The history and culture of India is unlike any other.  I have always wanted to go to India to see the Taj Mahal (pictured above) and many of the other beautiful and historically rich sights.  India is enormous, and I wonder if many people shy away from trips there for this reason or perhaps fearing logistics and culture of such an economically stratified country.  I would say, much like a wedding planner can be key to the success of your wedding, employing a travel agent or concierge to help you with the nitty gritty of your time there is a smart investment.  We all have too few travel days to waste any one of them on a less than stellar vacation.

Italian Coast

Genoa, Italy (image from)

Genoa, Italy (image from)

There are too many parts of Italy to easily pick one, but if forced, the coast of Italy is one of the most charming places to visit.  I have also had the luck of spending a fair amount of time there.  The coast line is rugged and imperfect and there are beautiful towns tucked up and down the coast of an already culturally rich country. You get to eat Italian food the whole trip while relaxing and exploring fascinating little towns. The photo above is from Genoa, but I also love Cinque Terre, Positano and the island of Capri. 

London

Notting Hill (image from)

Notting Hill (image from)

London is one of my all time favorite cities in the world and while perhaps not exotic, it is a place I believe that you must see.  Every time I visit I love exploring all the neighborhoods of London.  Of course, the most beautiful, in my opinion, are Mayfair and Belgravia.  My favorite floral boutique is located in Belgravia - Neill Strain Floral Couture.  It is OUTSTANDING!  They are so creative and everything is absolutely stunning.  Right around the corner is my favorite street, Motcomb.  Talk about beautiful boutiques!  ON Motcomb has the most exquisite collection of ladies eveningwear.  Every time I go I wish I had a fabulous event coming up that demanded a new dress (Met Gala, one day - #goals).  And for children's clothing, La Stupenderia is truly to die for.  I always have to pick up one little piece for my girls.   And finally, one of my favorite spots to indulge in a sweet treat after an afternoon of shopping on Motcomb is Ottolenghi.  Their meringues are the size of my head and they literally melt in your mouth.  AMAZING!

I mentioned earlier that I am on a trip right now.  I am actually traveling in Japan!  It has been an amazing second visit to this country and I cannot wait to talk more about it.  In the meantime, I want to let you know that I will be taking time off from the blog next week, in order to fully enjoy the land of the rising sun.  Check back in two weeks for another post and in the meantime, check out my Instagram for posts from my trip!