Just Sailing- A week at our first vacation home experience!
Well hello you, can you believe it’s June? How did this happen?
It has been very hard to come back to all of the recent events and even harder to focus on positivity when there is so much injustice around us. There is no justification for any of it, I just hope we continue to work on being better and doing better and as a community we create the change we want to see. It is without a doubt long overdue.
For the past 10 days I’ve been back to the office, in huge denial and heavy dozes of caffeine, yet so excited to write this blog and tell you about our trip to the beach, what a week, it was everything we needed and so much more!
So, here is the story, after 12 weeks of sheltering in place and the kid’s school year being officially over, we didn’t really have much of a plan, everything was paused. Little did we know all Stars were aligning and I received an invitation from Two Sails PBI, A luxury 3 Bedroom vacation home in West Palm Beach, to preview their property before opening. I could not turn this down, I was quite honored to be given the chance for the preview, so I gladly accepted and off we were to the beach! Full disclosure this is the first time we have stayed at a vacation home and it was a great first time experience!
Getting there…
The easiest way to get there without a doubt would be flying to PBI airport, that is a no brainier. Due to my husband’s underlying health conditions we decided to drive there. The drive is approximately 8.5 hrs from Atlanta (including a few pit stops. Traffic was super light.
Location ...
Once we arrived, I immediately fell in love with the intimacy of Flamingo Park, neighborhood where the house is located. It has such a traditional Floridian feel, Beautiful historic homes, Spanish colonial architecture, and pops of modern new built blend seamlessly amongst quiet tree-lined streets. It feels so private and secluded, yet you are so so close to it all! Various Palm trees, hibiscus flowers, blooming buganvilla and mango trees are all part of the scenery. In the middle of it all, is Two Sails, popping up with a soothing sea foam exterior and arched driveway that invites you in saying welcome home. The moment you get out of the car you feel the Florida breeze and smell of the ocean so so perfect!
The site inspection (click on slide show)
As you open the door you are welcomed by a beautifully and tastefully decorated home. Crisp white walls, earth tones, natural fabrics and pops of color all meet the eye at first glance! When you first walk in there is a beautiful living room that Opens up to the family room, the dining room and the fully renovated, open concept, Chef’s kitchen.
(click on slide show)
The house is a split floor plan ranch, with the master to the right of the house and two additional bedrooms to the left of the house. Each wing to the bedrooms can be closed off through a hall door for further privacy, which makes it ideal for friends, couples and families traveling together.
There are twin bathrooms, one on each side of the house, both newly renovated and smartly equipped with luxury hotel collection amenities like Turkish cotton towels, Terri robes and environmentally friendly toiletries.
The linen throughout the house is luxury hotel quality and plentiful. The memory foam mattresses are a delight to sleep in and the blackout blinds provide the perfect touch for lazy mornings, which we had pretty Much everyday of the week!
(click on slide show)
The kitchen is the heart of the house, no details were missed, from Ily espresso maker to vintage bagel toaster and tea kettle, a fridge to hold groceries for the entire week (or month to be honest) and for the more adventurous guests set of chef kitchen knives, pots and pans complemented by a waterfall island to lay out your mise in place.
The family room is Delightful. The comfiest sectional and sitting area, smart Tv and cable included. The dining room table Sits 8 comfortably and it’s perfect for family dinners, puzzle making and game nights.
(click on slide show)
The screened in porch is furnished with lounge style puffs and Acapulco chairs, ideal for relaxing and enjoying happy hrs. al fresco. The backyard is large and I could Talk about the foliage all day, but I rather take the chance to let you know that a good portion of what the backyard is today, will soon be turned into an even more beautiful swimming pool area, Yay!
There is also an attached, covered garage and front porch perfect for pre-dinner corn hole and TikTok vídeo making (we have hrs. Of footage to prove it, all courtesy of my squad).
The itinerary...
The plan of the week the plan was the no plan. We wanted to rest and play it by ear and so we did ! We quickly fell into a lazy morning, Latin food breakfast and Long Beach days routine that we loved. When we came back from the beach we enjoyed evening walks through Flamingo Park front and back porch games with the kids and light dinners in the kitchen. Most of our nights were early, because we were exhausted from boogie boarding all day, but they don’t have to be! There is so much to do in the area, that a week is not enough to enjoy it all. The beaches are gorgeous, the water activities readily available, high end shopping and a plethora of restaurants, every foodie’s dream come true.
The insider tips...
Before I keep going and write for dayyys how about a round of Q&A?
Which is the closest airport? PBI. Saying the airport is close is an understatement, the house is about 2.5 miles from Palm Beach International (PBI); so literally a hop from the airport.
Do you recommend car rental? Yes, there is plenty to do and parking is available, most of the time is free, so having your own car allows you to move at your own pace. I definitely recommend it ! One tip, avoid the compact, beach trips take up a lot of space.
Is there UBER/LYFT available? Yes. Just download your apps and you are good to go.
How do I check in/out? Two Sails works with a management company in charge of onsite operations. Including check-in, check-out and any on property maintenance requests, including housekeeping.
How close is the closest beach? So close you can bike there ! It is about a 15 minute bike ride and all you need is your towel and SPF 50 (see bike map attached).This is just one of many many options within palm beach county including many recreation parks such as John D. MacArthur Beach State Park, great option for multiple water activities, Palm Beach Shores, a quieter more residential feel stretch of beach, we did find this one to be a bit rocky specially going in, so water shoes highly recommended. Juno Beach Park, this one is also very nice, perfect for kite surfing and also super pet friendly, an entertainment in itself !
(click on slide show)
6. What can we do beyond the beach? So so much. Lion country safari is very popular, Henry Morrison Flagler Museum, Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens, Palm Beach Zoo & Conservation Society, Rapids Waterpark, Norton Museum of Art, Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse & Museum. These are all very close to Two Sails and perfect for before/after the beach or when you want to take a break from it!
7. Where can we go out to eat? How much time do you have?! walking distance from the house and the perfect option for Breakfast is Tulipan Cafe, a Latin cuisine cafe that will absolutely blow your diet and will be absolutely worth it ! You must try a Cuban colada, with your choice of pastry or empanada. You can call in your orden and pick it up in the morning, it is so close that It’s like room service!
Also walking distance there is a local Greek restaurant, Souvlaki Grill, with the cutest courtyard where you can have a light family dinner, very casual. Other close options include : GRATO, GRANDVIEW MARKET, BASQUE AT BIBA, TABLE 26, KITCHEN, JO BISTRO, SUSHI JO, SERENITY GARDEN TEA HOUSE & CAFE, RH ROOFTOP, CITY CELLAR, THE REGIONAL KITCHEN AND PUBLIC HOUSE.
*many of these options are available for lunch and dinner
8. How many people can the house accommodate? There are 3 bedrooms, master with king bed, a second bedroom with a Queen Bed and a third bedroom with two double doubles. There is also a sofa bed in the living room perfect for younger children. The house is ideal for families or groups of 6 to 8, The max adult capacity is 6.
9. Do they offer beach amenities? Yes. The house is equipped with beach essentials including towels, chairs, cooler and beach umbrella for guests’ use.
10. How early can we start booking? Booking is open and availability starts August 01.
The perks
As with most of luxury reservations around the world, my travelers receive a special amenity and vip treatment. In this case my travelers receive a one time, $100 grocery provision credit as well as early check in, subject to availability, courtesy of yours truly.
My dearest, I could not recommend this vacation home enough, it is perfect for you, your family, your friends and everyone in between ! It will also make vacation planning a breeze and that is always what we need!
Travel well, travel often and travel with me,
G.
The End.