Surprise Getaway in Carmel with Amex and Airbnb
For my boo boo cookie's birthday this year, I surprised him with a getaway in Carmel, California. For this sweet trip, I teamed up with American Express. They recently partnered with Airbnb which means Amex cardmembers can now sign up and book travel more seamlessly. You can also redeem your Membership Rewards points for all the places you want to stay, and earn $50 back when you spend $100+ on Airbnb with your Amex card. I think this promotion is only valid for certain cards so double check before you book.
It was our first time in Carmel. I can't believe I never went when I was studying at Santa Cruz. I've always heard so many wonderful things about it. We flew into San Francisco, then rented a car and hopped on the highway to Carmel. It's about a two hour drive.
Our Airbnb is this beautiful cottage perched on a hill with incredible light pouring into the space. And you can see the ocean through all the lush greenery. It's definitely giving me some ideas about building a little cottage studio in our back yard.
We did a light afternoon hike around Point Lobos State Natural Reserve. It's a beautiful and calming walk with breathtaking views of the ocean. We even spotted a few sleepy seals. And then I proposed to him at the end of this trail. JK JK JK! I pretended to pop the question after seeing a few love birds perched on benches for the sunset.
We had dinner at La Bicyclette. Good vibes. Good wine. Good food. Across the street from the restaurant was this staircase with gorgeous Spanish tiles. I made sure to come back during the day to snap this beauty.
I don't know if I've ever mentioned what the heartmate does. He's a school director at a K–8 charter school in New Orleans. I have so much respect for all principals now. It's a tough job. And he's worked so hard this year so this was a much needed trip. Carmel was the perfect weekend getaway. It's such a quaint town with a beautiful landscape. It kind of has it all. Good food, easy hikes, nice beaches, and cute boutiques. A major sweet thanks to American Express for getting us there and making the trip super relaxing and easy to book through Airbnb!