Whilst I LOVE my job (we’re talking, pinch-myself in love with it),
we all need a break sometimes. Often, all it takes to find your most
inspired self is to step away from the daily grind and immerse yourself
in nature. What better place to do that than Byron Bay? Just an hour’s
flight from Sydney, you can head there for a long weekend (minus the
jet-lag) and leave feeling like you’ve been on a tropical getaway.
Set on the most eastern tip of Australia, Byron Bay is famous for its
pristine beaches and healthy lifestyle. The town was made popular by
hippies and surfers in the 1970’s. Byron boasts a deep sense of
spirituality, world class dining and adventure experiences, along with
plenty of yoga.
To get the most of my relaxing weekend, I headed to The Byron at Byron – a beautiful resort just 15 minutes from the centre of town. Here’s why you need to book a trip there, pronto:
1. THE SURROUNDS
Set in 46 acres of wild rainforest, and just a short stroll from the
beautiful Tallow Beach, this resort is luxurious and serene. Wake up
from your deluxe king-size and meander the boardwalks through the
rainforest that contains 200 species of native plants, over 90 species
of birds and a range of native wildlife. In a clearing through the trees
you’ll find the main buildings, architecturally designed built using
natural materials.
2. THE FOOD
Head to breakfast where you will enjoy a huge range of fresh fruit,
chia puddings, gluten free slices and muesli by Brookfarm. If savoury is
more your thing, there’s eggs of every variety, gluten free bread and
roasted tomatoes on offer. The seasonal menu features 75% local
ingredients sourced from within the region, including high quality
produce from Tenterfield lamb, Eastern Tweed King Prawns, Coopers Shoot
Tomatoes, Byron Bay Pork and handmade Bangalow Cheese.
For lunch, dine on the six metre wide verandahs overlooking the
rainforest canopy, for an unforgettable culinary experience. The
Restaurant practises Slow Food principles, sourcing produce from within
the Northern Rivers region and working with local farmers.
Thursday evenings are a must, offering a meal centred around the best of the pick at the morning farmers market in the area.
3. THE HEALTH + WELLNESS ACTIVITIES
Every Thursday morning Head Chef Gavin Hughes treats guests to a
complimentary tour of the Byron Bay Farmer’s Markets, offering the
ultimate producer-to-plate experience. A must for any foodie!
Check out the fabulous Spa & Wellness Centre with a signature
treatment menu that captures the spirit of nature. It includes six
luxurious treatment rooms, spa, steam room, relaxation area and Vichy
shower to re-energise and quieten the mind. I opted for a rainforest
massage – set in the middle of sub-tropical trees. Listen to the birds
as your muscles are treated to pure bliss.
Set your alarm for the free 75 min yoga classes at 8am. The teachers
vary daily, so you can be sure there’s a style you will resonate with.
Hire a bike from within the resort and take a trip to Lennox Head for views of the amazing coastline.
Want to break into a sweat? The report has an on-site gym for that, too. Winning.
PACKAGES
Boasting a plethora of tailored packages, The Byron at Byron is
perfect for year-round holidays. Guests can choose from an array of
packages including the Endless Love Romance Package, Gourmet Getaway
Package for food lovers, Spa and Wellness Bliss for a wellness escape or
Mother Earth, the increasingly popular baby-moon package. The Resort is
also a favoured wedding and honeymoon destination.
The Byron at Byron Resort and Spa
Address: 77-97 Broken Head Road, Byron Bay. NSW
Phone: 1300 554 362 or +61 2 6639 2000 (international)
Website: www.thebyronatbyron.com.au
This store offers a “whole life concept” – aka, is a grocers and
wellness store, as well as a cafe. It’s a great concept, and one that
really appeals to the die-hard healthy eaters. So much so, that this is
one of four locations on the island. I couldn’t spend the morning
growing the shelves, new-age books, testing out organic hand creams and
soaking up the vibe – it’s a pretty cool place. Serving up breakfast,
lunch and dinner, these guys have something on the menu for
everyone, at any given time of the day. Acai bowls, tacos, zucchini
pasta, raw cakes, smoothies and teas are in abundance. Go wild. www.dtebali.com/earth-cafe-market-ubud
2. Soma Café
This was my favourite evening eatery – set around courtyard with
twinkly fairy lights, the menu caters for raw vegans and every other
dietary requirement possible. Service is kinda slow, but hey, you’re in
Bali. Just sip on the essential-oil infused water and kick back, man.
Better yet, get the Ojas Booster Smoothie (Cacao, dates, cardamom, maca,
cinnamon, cashew and coconut milk). For those looking for something
hearty (give me some protein!), there’s delicious fish stew and some
other meatier options. gentle live music is often humming away in the
background. You’re bound to leave feeling blissed-out. www.facebook.com/Soma-Cafe-Ubud
3. Alchemy
Alchemy Bali is the island’s first 100% raw vegan cafe & juice
bar, organic health food store, and holistic clinic. It was my favourite
casual dining spot (and I visited A LOT of places). The interior is
kinda shabby (they were mid-renovation), but it only adds to the
laid-back ambience. Try one of everything on the menu (especially the
Hawaiian Pizza), and don’t go past the desserts. There’s tiny chocolates
available, so make sure you share with a friend and pick as many as
your stomach can manage. The peanut butter bars were my personal fave. alchemybali.com/
Tasting Plate @ Alchemy, Ubud
4. Garden Kafé at the Yoga Barn Ubud
Yoga barn is the sole reason many people visit Ubud. It’s an amazing
yoga school with open-air studios set in lush surrounding forest. It’s
also home to the Garden Kafe – a raw foodies delight. It also has a
special menu geared towards the Ayurvedic way of eating – but if that
that’s not your jam (your thinking the WHAT way?), the dishes
are yummy regardless. Theres also a selection of cooked foods for those
that need it. The ambiance is garden-romantic with a lovely view,
overlooking the terraced lawn & amphitheatre of The Yoga Barn. Tip:
service is definitely on Bali time. Get there an hour before you’re
hungry! www.theyogabarn.com/healingfoods.html
5. The Seeds of Life
I visited here often on my trip to Ubud. One taste of the raw pizza
and I was hooked. They also save up killer raw onion bread and jimaca
chips that are not to be missed. This raw food cafe in the centre of
town is also a Taoist Tonic Bar, serving up elixirs and
remedies on their extensive drinks menu. If you have some time, check
out their raw food classes (including raw chef certification), or treat
yourself to a relaxing yoga class. http://theseedsoflifecafe.com
6. Fivelements Sakti Dining Room
if you’re looking for fine-dining in Bali (which isn’t easy to find)
this has to the at the top of your list. Set in a luxury boutique style
hotel that just has 9 rooms, this is where celebs come to hide out. It’s
a 30 minutes drive from the main part of Ubud, bu the tranquility that
greets you is well worth it. Escape the bustle of the town and enjoy the
seclusion with amazing food. We’re talking the best raw food you will
ever eat. The Raw Food Chef – Maddy- has been trained extensively in
America. He knows to execute amazing flavour, presentation and grace
with every dish. I was lucky enough to try the raw degustation menu, and
sampled so many exquisite dishes. The kind of place you want your
partner to propose (did I say too much?!), surrounded by flowing water
and native forest. Get back to real food, and nature, in this slice of
paradise. www.fivelements.org/en/cuisine/sakti-dining-room
Raw mushroom dish @ Sakti Dining Room
7. Clear Cafe
Offering a delightful menu of frosty drinks, fresh fruit juices and
hearty fare, Clear Café is an Ubud sanctuary. Most of the drinks are
made with Irish moss, a mineral-rich seaweed and healing superfood. The
menu is packed with plenty of vegetarian, vegan and raw options. – See
more at:
http://www.theurbanlist.com/melbourne/a-list/foodies-guide-ubud#sthash.68OCeqnd.dpuf www.clear–cafe-ubud.com/
8. Mozaic
Enter through the beautiful Balinese doorway into this fine-dining
experience. A must for a special occasion, this place is worlds away
from the hippy vibe at most Ubud eateries. The menu is seasonal and
ever-changing, as they make the best of the freshest available
ingredients. It’s unlikely that any of the dishes you have here are
similar to anything else you’ve eaten before. The menu is inspired,
creative and delicious. These guys also run workshops to teach you how
to re-create food masterpieces at home. Yes please! www.mozaic-bali.com/mozaic-restaurant
9. Sage
Catering to vegans and veggies, this menu has less of a focus on health food,
and more on delicious, hearty plates. Think burgers, waffles and chips.
There’s still some delicious green salads to be had, but they come with
a big helping of dressing too. Go here when you want to stuff yourself
silly. You’re on holiday, after all. www.facebook.com/sagerestobali/
These guys have a focus on sustainability, and gets the prize for the
best view. Overlooking the beautiful Tjampuhan Ridge, head straight to
the back of the restaurant for the best seats and you’ll be awarded with
breathtaking scenery. The menu is HUGE, so take 20 minutes at least to
browse all your options. Being 100% veggie, this is not the place to
squash that protein craving, but there’s so many delicious options, I
promise you won’t miss the meat! www.elephantbali.com/
So you’re visiting Sydney or have healthy friends arriving and you want to show them the ropes.
Rather than fumble your way around
TripAdvisor looking for things that might suit, I’ve compiled my top
things to eat, see and do to showcase a slice of the good life in my
favourite city.
BREAKFAST: Grounds of Alexandria, Alexandria Top Dish: The Healthy Plate
Rise and shine with The Grounds gluten free granola, vanilla bean
organic yoghurt, fresh mixed seasonal berries, grapes, rambutan,
selected nuts, dried organic mango crisps, fresh mango and a kale juice
shot. It’s the platter of dreams.
LUNCH: Egg of the Universe, Rozelle Top Dish: Perfect Circle Salad
Hands down the best salad i’ve ever eaten: a selection of raw +
fermented salads, activated nut pesto, cashew cheese, tahini cream,
green leaves + activated linseed crackers. You can literally feel your
insides glowing. Theres also a yoga studio attached to you can totally
bliss out. Take a seat in the leafy courtyard and order the daily
changing kombucha.
DINNER: Chiswick, Woolahra Top Dish: Steamed trevalla, fregola, zucchini and broad beans.
Matt Moran heads up this delightful garden-restaurant. Food is
locally sourced, in season and from the Chef’s own family farm (Matt
Moran) or the onsite veggie patch.
SWEET TREATS: Sadhana Kitchen, Newtown Top Dish: White Chocolate + Salted Caramel Banoffee
I don’t know how this is legal. Aside form the insanely indulgent raw
cakes on offer, they also offer Australia’s first Raw High Tea, in the
event you were hoping for one hell of a healthy food coma.
SHOPPING:
Bondi Farmers Market, Bondi Public School Grounds.
About Life (5
locations) – whole foods market and health food store carrying
everything from organic frozen berries (by the scoop) to house-made
caramel slices (also available in party-size slabs), kale pesto, and
everything else that makes you drool. Check out the Nourishment Bar for
fresh daily salads catering for every dietary requirement known to man.
The Sydney Morning Herald Growers’ Market Pyrmont–
sadly this is only on the first Saturday of every month (wish it was
weekly!) but it holds the top producers across NSW, set on the Sydney
Harbour. Find whatever has been freshly harvested (think hairloom
carrots, oriental mushrooms and baby leeks) plus delicious coffee from
Campos and fresh bread from The Bread and Butter Project. The perfect
way to start your weekend: grab your brekkie on the way round,and sit by
the warf looking out to the harbour bridge. There’s nothing like it.
ACTIVITIES:
Hom Yoga, Darlinghurst–a beautiful
bight-filled studio right next to the city with an excellent timetable
of both energetic and calming yoga styles on offer.
Bondi to Coogee Coastal Walk–
the perfect walk for on a summers day. Stretching across 6km of
gorgeous coastline, you can take in the beautiful views and escape the
city madness. If you’re feeling energetic, join the hoards of runners
that make this trip every weekend.
Scenic Cycle, Sydney–
an indoor cycling studio that has revolutionized gruelling spin
classes. Cycle the globe in your lunch hour with mind-blowing HD
technology.
This unique and meditative ritual brings the bodies’ seven main
chakras into alignment through fluid combinations of massage, healing
crystals and guided meditation. This experience leaves you feeling calm
and in a state of harmony.
Best Facial: Uspa, Sydney
A bespoke treatment designed by your therapist who chooses highly
active plant extracts to give you a glowing complexion, naturally. It
runs like this; a welcoming back massage, a deep cleanse, exfoliation,
masks, cell therapy and a therapeutic face and scalp massage, followed
by an eye contour wrap to take care of the delicate eye area and
hydration treatment to nourish and protect. Seriously, you won’t
recognise yourself.
Best Hair Salon: RAW Anthony Nader, Surry Hills
Dividing his time between New York and Sydney Anthony Nader is an
international hairdresser and editorial stylist (think Harpers Bazaar
and Vogue) who has a pretty long waiting list at his salon in Surry
Hills. As one of Australia’s most respected and in demand hair stylists,
he has a flair for making you feel like a natural goddess. Needless to
say you might want to prepare yourself for the bill, but don’t forget,
it’s because you’re worth it.
If you’re a healthy foodie and you don’t know who Ella Woodward is,
you’ve probably been out meditating at a yogi retreat in the wilderness
for the past year or so and missed the whole Deliciously Ella
scoop. In a few brief sentences – Ella is one of the present darlings
of the European health and wellness scene. She shot to fame after
starting a blog, Deliciously Ella, documenting her plant-based recipes
and health tips as she recovered from a rare chronic illness, POTS
(postural onset tachycardia syndrome).
If you have been keeping your fingers on the plant-based pulse, you
may already know Ella’s recently opened her very first deli in West
London, The Mae Deli, in partnership with her soon-to-be-husband,
Matthew Mills. With Ella’s enormous social media following, it’s
probably no wonder the deli has been incredibly popular since it opened a
few months ago. So, what’s it like?
THE SPACE
Let’s start with the locale. The Mae Deli sits on a peaceful pretty
street close to the edge of Hyde Park, an idyllic place for a healthy
cafe. Walk through the blue façade and you’re welcomed into a
cozy-countertop and high-stools-and-benches space; it’s fairly narrow
inside but this is Central London, where space is at a premium!
Thankfully for those of us with time to sit, there’s also some seating
downstairs where you can chill a little more.
THE FOOD
More importantly, let’s move on to the food. The deli operates a
breakfast and a lunch/evening menu, both of which have a bit of a
“create your own” kind of theme (a concept that I love, because I always
want a bit of everything):
In the mornings, choose from a base of oat porridge, coyo, acai or
chia pudding and go loco with the topping options including house-made
granola, fruit compote, coconut flakes and nut butter. If toast is more
your thing, grab a slice or two (rye or GF) and top with smashed avo or
the deli’s health-ified version of PB&J.
Later in the day, mix and match your favourite rainbow bowl
combination from deli’s salad bar that is packed with Ella’s favourites
like miso and sesame glazed aubergine, maple roasted sweet potato, wild
rice salad, various legume-based salads and homemade dips. Omnivores can
add a portion of salmon or chicken to their salad plate.
All day long, the dishes can be paired with freshly made smoothies,
cold pressed juices (on my visit I had the Deep Greens juice, which I
really liked) and tea or coffee. For a sweet fix there are a selection
of Ella’s creations available such as pecan brownies, mango flapjacks
and cacao energy balls.
I visited The Mae Deli on a weekend morning for a quick brekky.
Though we arrived quite early there was already a hum of busyness to the
place, and the inside of the window was fogging up with the warmth of
all the people inside already guzzling on lattes and porridge bowls.
Service is relatively fast as you order at the counter, though I’d
definitely recommend nabbing a spot to sit before you do. As an added
bonus – if you get healthy foodie star-struck – you might meet Ella
there! (She served me my juices and bliss ball; I was chuffed and also
admired that she was in there with the rest of her team manning the
counter.)
THE VERDICT
Ella has copped a bit of flack since opening the deli, as though it
is a predominantly vegan-friendly menu, the salad bar offers animal
protein options. She has explained that, since this deli is a
partnership with Matt, the menu reflects their combined preferences. I
think The Mae Deli is respectful of different eating habits; and it is
overwhelmingly plant-based. To be honest, I wouldn’t be opposed to the
deli expanding its protein options a little further to include some
ethically-sourced eggs at breakfast. Having options like this draws in
more people and encourages them to experiment with the healthy plant
food The Mae Deli has on offer.
The verdict? The Mae Deli is hip, pretty and predominantly powered by
plants. If you’re looking for a replenishing juice, warming porridge
bowl or a sensationally veggie-inspired lunch, then this is the place
for you. Enjoy your favourite brekky or lunch bowl with all the healthy
trimmings, then grab a juice and a bliss ball for a stroll around nearby
Hyde Park afterwards. Bliss!
Whether you’re in to fashion, green juice or cocktails, New York City
is an epicentre of cool, in whatever form coolness takes for you. If
you know anything about me, you’ll know that delicious, healthy food is
very high up on my priorities list. So, on a recent holiday week in NYC
(staying in Soho), I made it my mission to try as many fit tasty eats as
I could.
If you’re keen on discovering a healthier side to the big apple, you
are going to love this list of foodie finds. All places mentioned have
gluten-free options!
Daytime
Two Hands Café: a gorgeously decorated café with a bit of an Aussie feel (I spied Matcha Maiden
on the shelf!). I had the Harvest Plate + a green juice, the boy a BLAT
+ watermelon juice. My harvest plate was packed full of veggie
goodness, including roast pumpkin which I adore, and the green juice was
pure veggies and super low sugar.
Brekkie is served at Egg Shop NYC
Egg Shop NYC:
the concept – eggs served on sandwiches, or in bowls (called Cruisers).
So delicious we ate there twice. The cruisers are pure healthy goodness
in a bowl; I had The Spandex (miso infused quinoa, greens, avo, pickled
carrot). There are some seriously deluxe sanger options (hello fried
chicken!) but you can still make a nutritious choice like I did with The
Reformer (feta, spinach, tomato, avo). Also, the GF english muffin I
got my sandwich on was absolutely tops.
The Butcher’s Daughter:
this healthy café has a very vegan-friendly menu including lots of
purely plant-based options like acai protein smoothies, smashed avocado
toast and rice flour pancakes. I had an avocado + egg sandwich on soft
GF bread with cashew cheese, kale and a tasty salty-sweet tomato jam,
which was super filling.
Jack’s Wife Freda:
a gorgeous cafe that serves great coffee and a Mediterranean-inspired
menu. All of the breakfast and lunch options sounded so incredible, but
we went with a green shakshuka + challah bread and I had the breakfast
bowl (quinoa, kale, spaghetti squash, tomato, poached eggs). The brekky
bowl was a generous portion and I loved the herby spaghetti squash on
the base.
Sweetgreen:
so…I ate sweetgreen THREE times. It’s a funky chain of salad bars
dotted throughout NYC where you make your own or choose from a range of
made-to-order salads or grain bowls. Their Kale Caesar is amazing, as
were the Avo-Cobbler and the Guac & Greens salads. And did I mention
they have kombucha and completely sugar free iced tea. Love. The
perfect lunch stop between sightseeing.
Sweetgreen are doing salad bowls right!
Snack time
Erin McKenna’s Bakery: this cute little bakery shop is tucked away on a relatively quiet
street in the lower East of NYC. Gluten free vegans, you can go crazy
here; there are so many amazing treats! Sure they’re not sugar-free, but
hey you’re on holiday…We tried a samoa donut, a mini double chocolate
brownie and a huge chocolate chip cookie, and all were delicious.
Night-time
ABC Kitchen:
this super trending restaurant prides itself on using organic
ingredients that are locally-sourced as best possible, even sourcing
some of its greens from the restaurant’s own rooftop garden. It’s a
beautiful place to sit for dinner. The menu changes based on seasonal
availability but expect to find light starters, fresh veggies and an
array of main dishes and wholemeal pizzas. I had freshly grilled seafood
and lots of broccoli.
BareBurger:
if you’re going to go and eat a burger in NYC (which you totally should
do), you should do it here. BareBurger is an amazing chain of
restaurants built on local, organic produce and always using natural
pasture-raised meat (and they’ve got vegetarian and vegan options, too).
On each table there’s a huge list of the suppliers they get each of
their ingredients from. Fitties, you can get sweet potato fries and have
your burger patty wrapped in collard greens or served on a GF tapioca
bun!
The BareBurger Philosophy
Rubirosa:
okay, so this probably doesn’t really tick the box as an uber healthy
eating spot, but it is one of the best places to enjoy a pizza in New
York, and I think any NYC foodie list needs a pizza place! Rubirosa gets
my vote for having incredibly delicious pizza AND for offering a
separate gluten free menu, meaning you can safely choose from their
appetizers, pastas and pizzas. The sausage + broccoli rabe pizza on
gluten-free was divine.
And that’s a wrap! I’m kind of drooling just thinking about all
of the amazing meals I had. Have you been to NYC recently or do you live
there? What are your favourite healthy places to eat? Leave a comment
below!
While it’s highly unlikely you’re going to win the lotto
any time soon, there is another way you can enjoy a luxe lifestyle. It’s
time to get savvy with your credit card provider. Yup, fo’ reals. You
know those points systems that have been around for ages? I’ve found one
that really lives up to the hype – we’re talking free flights, top
restaurant benefits, dreamy hotels, Amex Invites lounge access and more!
It’s time to check out the American Express Platinum Edge Card, and
earn some serious rewards to treat yourself.
Read on to find out how you could WIN a million American Express points to spend on whatever your heart desires. Foodies + wanderlusters, take note.
So what are points good for? It’s a good question. The
list is actually pretty endless, but here’s what my day in the life of a
point millionaire would look like:
Fly
I’ve always wanted to go to China for the culinary
experience. It boasts one of the world’s greatest cuisines and
is divided into several regions with distinct styles of cooking – ALL of
which I want to try. Yes please. You can get there by transferring your
American Express Membership Rewards points any of their airline
partners to book flights around the world.
Alternatively, explore your own back yard right here in
Australia. We have some of the best produce and chefs in the world for
amazing foodie getaways! A complimentary domestic flight every year with Virgin Australia is included as one of the benefits of the Platinum Edge Card – so good!! Check out this interactive destination guide to show where your complimentary flight could take you.
Travel in style via @theloveassembly
Dine
An ingredient-focused award-winning restaurant, Fish & Meat
in Hong Kong focuses on the best produce, and techniques to deliver
fresh farm-to-table cooking. As an American Express Card Member, there’s
free canapés on offer here too – no points required. Don’t mind if I
do! American Express have teamed up with top restaurants round the world
so we get lovely little treats for just flashing your Card. Kinda like a
secret diners club. From a bill discount to a free bottle of wine, you can expect awesome foodie benefits when travelling overseas, see all the offers here.
Dinner is served at Fish & Meat
Do
Catch a show or go shopping and soak up the culture, then settle into a beautiful cafe and watch the world go by. With access to pre-sales and reserved tickets,
you’re sure to get the best seats in the house. Even better, do it for
FREE by using your American Express Membership Rewards points to pay for
tickets through Ticketmaster! You can also shop up a Kardashian-style
storm using your points to shop online at David Jones. Amex are one of the early adopters of Apple Pay, so you can breeze through the checkout with a simple touch of a button on your smart phone – no wallet required!!
Go on a culture tour and soak up every moment
Sleep
Rest weary legs in top luxury boutique hotels around
the world and pay with your points. On my hit-list has to be the
foodies delight: Mandarin Hotel. It has the highest star factor for food
– Pierre Gagnaire, the high priest of modern French cooking, has his
branch at the top, and holds a Michelin star. Pay partially or fully
with those amazing points (using Select and Pay with Points), turn back
those crisp white sheets and rest well, superstar.
Room with a view: Mandarin Hotel via @theloveassembly
HOW TO WIN
Like the sound of being a points millionaire? If you are
already an American Express Card Member, enter here for your chance to
WIN one million points – and take me with you, pretty please.
Whether you spend hours wanderlusting over slick travel blogs, or
just scrolling through your Instagram of beautiful scenery and beaches,
you’ll know that travel blogging is the dream job. Not only do they get
to see some amazing cultural variation, but they also get to savour the
culinary delights, local experiences, people, and more.
While it can be a little sad scrolling through all this from behind a
screen on your couch or at the office, you don’t need pockets as deep
as the ocean to join them – and you don’t need over a million social
media followers either.
EXPLORE AUSTRALIA FOR FREE
Want to follow in their footsteps? Now you can with American
Express. Explore the amazing sites of Australia – I have the American
Express Platinum Edge Card, which gives me a complimentary domestic return flight each year to lots of convenient domestic locations which is great for the weekend getaway!
Ever wanted to have dinner under the stars at Ayres Rock? Go diving
in the Great Barrier Reef? Or explore the rugged wilderness of Tasmania?
There are so many amazing things to see and do within Australia –
you’ll feel a million miles from home, and it’s just an internal flight
away. Australia’s landscape is so diverse – it will take me years and
years to explore – and I personally can’t wait to use my free yearly
flight to do just that…
If you’ve already used your complimentary flight, don’t worry, American Express are currently running a competition giving Card Members the opportunity to win one million points… this could help you tick a few places off your bucket list!
Other amazing benefits:
As an American Express member, there are some super-cool benefits that you can swag when travelling around. My faves are:
Smartphone screen protection – perfect for when you’re taking lots of photos on your travels, offered to all Essential Members.
Airport lounge access on selected cards – so you can relax in style and comfort before boarding your complimentary flight.
Free travel insurance – because who wants to pay for that when you
need a new pair of holiday sandals instead?! Safety first, Fitties.
Need some wheels? Use your American Express Membership Rewards points for car rental at your chosen destination.
If you’re a foodie like me, American Express has partnerships with
amazing restaurants across Australia with special offers for Card
Members too! Head to Taste from American Express Invites to find out
more.
Need some #travelinspo? Head to American Express Travel Online to
help find the perfect place to rest your head. There’s also peace of
mind when booking your trip with their Refund + Purchase Protection – no
need to worry about card fraudsters.
Go further:
Get to your dream destination faster by boosting your points balance in 3 super-simple ways if you have the Platinum Edge Card:
Earn 3 points per every $1 spend on groceries at major Aussie supermarkets. Perfect for foodies!
Get two points for every $1 spend on petrol too – so you can clock up Membership Rewards while you drive around.
Refer a friend. Win massive brownie points (plus a travel companion)
by spreading the love with your bestie. You’ll receive 10,000
Membership Rewards points for each friend approved for a Card using your
referral link. Not only that, they will receive 15,000 Membership
Rewards points if they are approved for the American Express Platinum
Edge Credit Card and spend $550 in their first 2 months of Card
Membership. So now you BOTH get points to use together!
We all need time to relax and recharge right? I so rarely do it. In
fact *guilty admission* I’m not that great at getting 8 hours sleep
either, even though I know it’s amazing for my health.
Whilst I’d love a week in Bali to zone out and do yoga, it’s not
something I can do regularly whilst running two businesses. On top of
that, I’m in the midst of moving house and office, so I need to be on it and connected at all times. The answer?
A Staycation!!
If you need a mini break, it’s the perfect solution!
IS THIS YOU?
Are you overdue for a staycation? If you answer yes to the any of the below, it’s time to check out.
Your weekends are just as busy as your weekdays.
You’re low on vacation time.
You don’t have much in the way of travel funds.
You need to disconnect from the world.
You’ve been neglecting yourself and need some me time.
WHY A STAYCATION?
You can tune out, but be on hand to deal with family / business emergencies.
It’s wallet friendly (read on for a travel hack to get your staycation for FREE using American Express Membership Points)
You can keep it short and sweet, without a lot of disruption to your busy schedule.
Minimal travel time. Why wait at airports when you could be in the spa?
Say goodbye to jet lag! No international flights, no worries.
You can explore new parts of the city you live in and try out new experiences.
You can still meet your friends for brunch!
FREE ‘ME’ TIME
Moving house, funding Fit Mixes growth, new packaging, designers, and the like is pretty draining on my resources.
I need to do it cost-effectively, or even better, for FREE!
Sounds good right?!
You can do it too. You’ve probably got a friend who talks a lot about
their amazing credit card deals or how they’ve moved one provider to
another for a free bottle of wine (I say friend in the loosest sense).
Whilst there can be some great offers out there, by far my favourite way
to gain benefit from my every day spend is my American Express Platinum Edge Card.
With the membership points that accumulate from making purchases, you can redeem them on top hotels – giving you your much-needed getaway for absolutely zilch.
Head to Amex Travel,
and check out their city guide of your own town. You’ll probably find
some amazing things to do and see you never even knew existed!
My Staycation Spot
To put my money (or American Express Points) where my mouth is, I booked a night at The Langham Hotel in Sydney. Roughly 30 minutes walk from my current place, but still far enough to feel like I’m separated from the daily grind.
The hotel was beautiful – just what I needed to relax and recharge the batteries as we’re heading into a new year.
What’s important to me is that I can take my pup there too, and they
have a bed and in-room menu for him too (no joke). Saves me the hassle
of looking for a dog-sitter or putting my fur baby in a kennel.
It’s super important to treat yourself when you’re working hard so
that you can come back with an even clearer mind and sharp focus on the
goals your trying to kick. Look after yourself Fitties,
