48 Hours In Cefalu: Weekend Travel Guide
December 9, 2016The Ultimate Travel Companion
December 23, 2016Success and satisfaction are largely felt when others recognize and honor your hard work. For the last 18 months we have been pouring our blood (we are clumsy), sweat, and tears into Couple’s Coordinates. We have had the honor of writing for some of the largest travel publications in the world and have been recognized as a top travel blog by a number of sites and peers. We have collaborated with some of the most opulent resorts in the world. We have even had our story featured by some of the largest news sites in the world. But until recently, we had not received any writing/blogging accolades or travel blogging awards.
Well, that recently changed. It is with great honor and humility that we accept the Liebster Award. The Liebster Award is an honor to receive, simply for the fact that receiving it means being nominated by your peers. The award is essentially meant to highlight the favorite blogs of bloggers in the travel community. Thus, the chain effect of the award puts a spotlight on travel blogs that peers deem to be inspiring, successful, or perhaps some of the best travel blogs on the internet.
Liebster Award
Our nomination came from a blog that we follow quite closely: Light Travels. Carly of Light Travels recently contacted us to inform us that we were one of her choices to receive the award, and of course, we gladly accepted. We have been following Carly’s travels on both her blog and social media accounts (Facebook – Instagram).
Our Answers To Carly’s Questions
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What’s your favorite destination in the world?
This is harder than choosing your favorite child (actually – we don’t have children).
Michael – Tough choice between Florence and Positano, Italy. Both are very different, but both are rich with Italian culture, incredible locals, some of the best food you’ll find on earth, and beautiful landscapes.
Alex – Definitely Bali. Having spent almost 3 months on this gorgeous island, it is safe to say it is my favorite place in the world.
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What’s number 1 on your travel bucket list?
This would probably have to be the Maldives for both of us. We are very much considering this as a wedding/honeymoon destination.
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What’s the most unique/memorable travel experience you’ve ever had?
Probably our engagement in Positano. We have had some incredible travel experiences and some very unique ones indeed. We have faced hard times on the road, and have made some of our best memories while traveling as well. Getting engaged in Positano this past fall would have to take the cake though.
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What drove you to be a travel blogger and what’s the biggest lesson it has taught you?
When we were considering building a travel blog the main drivers were our passion for helping others, our passion for travel, and to be candid, a desire to fund our travels. Success, in our eyes, would be traveling the world for (virtually) free and making money in the process. One of our main goals on this road to success, however, is to be able to help others. When readers reach out to us and inform us that our content is actually helping make their lives easier when traveling, we feel like we have done something right. When we are told time and time again by readers that our website has become an actual travel resource for them, then we are vindicated in what we originally set out to do.Travel blogging has taught us a number of lessons. First and foremost, a lesson of economics that has been reiterated. Over saturated markets sometimes have a difficult barrier to entry. There are literally thousands, if not hundreds of thousands of travel blogs on the internet. This has taught us to do our best to innovate, to own our niche, and to stand out amongst the pack. That’s a lesson that can be taught in most areas in life.
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What is your favorite travel blog and travel Instagram that you follow?
Michael – This is a tough one so I’m going to be super annoying and name a few. The Blonde Abroad is one of my favorites and a blog that we actually contribute to on a frequent basis. You can view our blogs HERE.
The Planet D is easily my favorite couples travel blog. Dave and Deb have had one of the largest and most significant impacts on the global travel blogging community, so it is an absolute honor that we have had the chance to write for them as well: http://theplanetd.com/bali-budget-travel-for-couples/And then, finally, as far as overall valuable travel information goes, The Points Guy. Brian Kelly [founder at The Points Guy (TPG)] provides without question the most valuable and thorough travel advice online as it pertains to miles, rewards, travel credit cards, etc. If you want to learn how to travel for free (or as close to free as possible), you 100% need to bookmark TPG.
As far as trave Instagram accounts go, I’m a big fan of Jack Morris (@DoYouTravel), Chris Burkad (although, admittedly more of a photographer than a travel blogger – @ChrisBurkard), and Quin Schrock (@EverChangingHorizon).
Alex – The Blonde Abroad is definitely my favorite travel blog. Kiersten Rich is one of the most prominent travel influences in our lives and it is absolutely awesome to be a part of The Blonde Abroad team. Kiersten reached out to us over a year ago to be her Couples Travel Experts and we have greatly enjoyed writing for her since.
For Instagram, my favorite accounts are Chelsea Yamase (@ChelseaKauai), Jess Dales (@Jess.Wandering),Quin Schrock (@EverChangingHorizon), and Samuel (@ElJackson) and Hildegunn (@Hilvees) Taipale.
For more of our favorite travel blogs check out a blog we wrote on our favorite travel blogs.
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What’s your number 1 travel hack you’ve learned?
Having made about a thousand mistakes whilst traveling and having done a number of things the hard/expensive/annoying/long way has caused us to learn an extensive number of hacks. The most important hack we have learned isn’t particularly a hack at all but more so properly leveraging travel credit cards and loyalty programs. We have literally flown around the world for free and enjoyed a number of nights in luxurious hotels at no cost simply because we are properly leveraging miles/points. (Again, reference The Points Guy as he provides much more valuable information on mileage programs and travel rewards cards than we do here on Couple’s Coordinates.)
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Who is your favorite person to travel with and why?
Think this one is quite obvious.
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What are your goals for the new year?
We try to abstain from “new year” goals. Quite simply, we hope to travel as much as possible and continue to build Couple’s Coordinates. We also have a wedding to plan, so technically successfully executing that without a single drop of stress could be a pretty solid goal.
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What is your favorite landscape to explore and why? Islands, desserts, mountains, cities…?
Beaches without a question.
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Do you have any travel plans for 2017? If so, where?
Yes, and they’re already becoming quite extensive. As of now we are planning to take trips to Cuba, Aruba, and either the Maldives or Bali. Michael will also be taking a boys trip to Canada and Alex will likely be taking a number of girls trips throughout the year. So far the conversations are around Bali, Sri Lanka, and Hawaii. On top of these trips, we will definitely look to book short weekend trips around North and Central America over holiday weekends.
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If you could see yourself in 5 years, where would you be in the world and what goals would you have achieved with your travel blog?
We would be somewhere together….likely on a gorgeous beach. As far as Couple’s Coordinates is concerned, we will be at a point where we are an internationally recognized brand that is a trusted name and global travel resource.
Our Nominees
Allie, founder of Your Travel Bliss travel and wellness blog, is one of our close friends and one of our strong influences. She is wise beyond her years and makes that incredibly evident with her advice and inspiration on her blog. She also posts a myriad of breathtaking photos on her Instagram. She’s a true travel and yoga inspiration.
Alex and Stephen were part of a group that collaborated with Wonderful Indonesia on an epic 2 week trip around Indonesia. Stephen’s blog has a plethora of awesome travel information and his Instagram is quite an inspiration as well.
Similar to Stephen, Sarah was also on the Wonderful Indonesia trip. Alex was lucky to meet Sarah and enjoy their time together on this trip. Sarah’s blog offers awesome travel inspiration for solo travelers and her Instagram boasts gorgeous pictures both above and below sea level.
Questions & Rules For Our Nominees
Questions
- What is your favorite destination in the world?
- What is the destination that is currently at the top of your bucket list?
- What is the biggest mistake that you have made whilst traveling?
- What was your catalyst for becoming a travel blogger?
- Have you ever had a negative travel experience and how has this shaped any future travel for you?
- What is your favorite travel blog to read? What is your favorite travel Instagram that you follow?
- What’s your number 1 travel hack you’ve learned?
- Who is your favorite person to travel with and why?
- How many countries have you visited? Which was the most unique?
- If you were stranded on a tropical island, what 3 things would you choose to have a never ending supply of?
- Do you have any travel plans for 2017? If so, where?
Rules
- Thank and link the blogger who nominated you in your post / Facebook / Instagram Account
- Write a post using the Liebster Award’s logo
- Answer 11 questions assigned by the blogger who nominated you
- Name the rules of accepting the Liebster Award
- Nominate a few bloggers for the Liebster Award
- Come up with a list of 11 questions you would like to ask the nominees
- Let your bloggers know that they’ve been nominated so that they can follow the tradition
Still want to learn more about the Liebster Awards? Click here!!
3 Comments
Couldn’t think of a more deserving blog!!! You guys are amazing 🙂 Loved reading your answers!
Thanks so much Carly!
Congratulations you two! Well deserved. And thank you for the wonderful shout out. That means a lot to us and we love you too! You are great role models and an inspiration!