Teai and John's Journeys

30/06/2025

I asked ChatGPT to help me with travel ideas. Criteria was travel time less than 12 hours, beaches, and off the radar options. What do you think of this list?

Absolutely! If you're looking for off-the-radar beach destinations that are affordable, relaxing, and still within 12 hours of air travel from Madison, here are some gems that don’t draw huge crowds but still offer beautiful beaches and local charm:

🐠 1. Isla Holbox, Mexico

Why it’s special: No cars, sandy streets, whale sharks in summer, laid-back vibes.

Fly to: Cancún → taxi + ferry (~2–3 hours total after landing).

Budget tip: Boutique hotels and small guesthouses are way cheaper than big resorts.

🏝 2. Caye Caulker, Belize

Why it’s special: Small island with no cars, “Go Slow” lifestyle, snorkeling, great seafood.

Fly to: Belize City → water taxi (~45 min).

Budget tip: Many budget-friendly hostels, beach shacks, and cheap eats.

🐢 3. Bocas del Toro, Panama

Why it’s special: Caribbean feel, colorful buildings, great for island hopping, surfing, wildlife.

Fly to: Panama City → small domestic flight or overnight bus.

Budget tip: Local guesthouses and hostels are cheap, and the food scene is diverse.

🏖 4. Zihuatanejo, Mexico

Why it’s special: Authentic fishing town with charming beaches and fewer tourists than nearby Ixtapa.

Fly to: ZIH airport (Zihuatanejo/Ixtapa), usually via Mexico City.

Budget tip: Great seafood, quiet beach hotels, and local feel without resort prices.

🐬 5. Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca, Mexico

Why it’s special: Surfer paradise, bioluminescent lagoon, incredible sunsets.

Fly to: Puerto Escondido (PXM), usually via Mexico City.

Budget tip: Tons of hostels and budget hotels; street food is amazing and cheap.

🌊 6. Placencia, Belize

Why it’s special: Beach town with fewer crowds than Ambergris Caye, calm waters, reef snorkeling.

Fly to: Belize City → short domestic flight or drive (4–5 hours).

Budget tip: Guesthouses and small inns are more affordable than big hotels.

🌅 7. San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua

Why it’s special: Beach town popular with backpackers and surfers, sunsets are unreal.

Fly to: Managua → ~2.5 hr shuttle.

Budget tip: Very affordable lodging, food, and activities compared to Costa Rica.

🐚 8. El Tunco, El Salvador

Why it’s special: Known for surf and sunsets, with a mix of chill beach culture and adventure.

Fly to: San Salvador → ~45 min drive.

Budget tip: Backpacker-friendly with beach hostels, local food, and affordable tours.

28/06/2025

Girls Night Out at Little Cloud ✨🍽️
We had a lovely evening at Seven Acre Dairy Company in Paoli!

We started with the cheese curds and the indulgent Butter Lover dish—made with their house-made cultured butter that’s crafted right on-site. So good!

For dinner, I enjoyed the brown-butter basted cod, Alyssa had the heirloom tomato pasta, and Jenna went with the Norwegian salmon—all thoughtfully prepared and beautifully plated.

We ended the night with two orders of the strawberry chiffon cake, and I also had a dish of their vanilla ice cream, which was a perfect way to cool down on a warm evening.

Prices are a bit higher than average, but the quality and focus on supporting local farmers and producers really comes through in every dish. Definitely worth a visit for a special night out.

Seven Acre Dairy Company
6858 Paoli Rd
Belleville, WI 53508

26/06/2025

I think about traveling everyday! ✈️
Where are you off to next?

24/06/2025

Soft opening is here for The Windsor! Can't wait to check it out! 🎉

Good morning, Jet Room Faithful!
I'm happy to announce, to you first, that we're starting our soft opening today at The Windsor!
We'll have one table available every 15 minutes, beginning at 11 AM and going until 2 PM this afternoon. Our goal is to increase the number of reservations and extend our hours each day this week as we continue to build towards our Grand Opening.
Please keep in mind that we're still under construction, and many things need final touches. This soft opening is strictly designed to help us refine our process both on the cook line and service side while improving our technology.
Lastly, we know you have many questions but to get us to open we need this step first, follow The Windsor on FB for updates.
To see if a reservation is available, please call 608-912-1340.

23/06/2025

We don't fly Delta that often, but recently found them to have the best options for an upcoming vacation. I did notice all these new seat products and I'm not sure how I feel about them.

𝐍𝐨𝐰 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐧 𝐃𝐞𝐥𝐭𝐚: 𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭 𝐧𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐥 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬, 𝐟𝐥𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐟𝐚𝐥𝐥

What’s changing?
Starting May 15 for flights on or after Oct. 1, we’ll begin offering a combination of products and experiences that give you more choice and control over your journey than ever before.

Delta’s seat products will now be classified into the following categories:
• Delta Main (formerly Main Cabin)
• Delta Comfort (formerly Delta Comfort+®)
• Delta First (Formerly First Class)
• Delta Premium Select
• and Delta One

Full article below: ⬇️

Starting May 15, customers shopping and booking tickets for travel on or after Oct. 1 will start to see a new shopping experience when on Delta.com and in the Fly Delta app – one that lets them shop for and select the travel that best suits their needs and preferences.

22/06/2025

Cruise's over… now what? 🧳🚢✈️
Disembarkation day might not be the most exciting part of cruising, but it is one of the most important to understand—especially for first-timers! We’re breaking down what it’s like getting off the NCL Getaway and heading to the airport in New Orleans.

If you’ve got a cruise coming up (or just curious how it all works), this one’s for you!

Have any tips or tricks for first-time cruisers? Drop them in the comments—we’d love to share helpful advice with others!

🎥 Watch here: https://youtu.be/lcNh7_ZoR14?si=91mYRQpPg5oWKguk&list=PLRX6ti2FDhIpMkEgAC3BwOc5H6MHs1kuv

It’s disembarkation day on the NCL Getaway! 🛳️In this video, we walk you through what it was like getting off the ship in New Orleans, from the early mornin...

22/06/2025

Anyone been to the Museum of Ice Cream? Looks like there are several locations including Chicago. There is unlimited ice cream, but the website makes it look cheesy, am I wrong. Would it be worth a trip?

Unlimited Ice Cream and Unlimited Play! Experience our world famous ice cream attraction and rediscover the kid in you!

18/06/2025

Sad to hear this news. Love all the Food Network chefs. 👩‍🍳

We are deeply saddened to share the news that beloved chef, Anne Burrell, passed away this morning. Anne was a remarkable person and culinary talent – teaching, competing and always sharing the importance of food in her life and the joy that a delicious meal can bring. Our thoughts are with Anne’s family, friends and fans during this time of tremendous loss.

16/06/2025

Our last day at sea aboard the NCL Getaway was all about soaking up the sun, enjoying our final specialty dinner at Cagney’s, and making the most of our last moments onboard. 🛳️🌞🥩

This cruise was back in January, and we know it's taken a bit to get these videos out—thanks for sticking with us while we caught up on editing!

There’s one more video coming up where we’ll walk you through getting back into New Orleans and the disembarkation process.

🎥 Watch Day 7 of our cruise adventure here: https://youtu.be/CbxVOpPmHI0&list=PLRX6ti2FDhIpMkEgAC3BwOc5H6MHs1kuv

Got any questions about cruising with Norwegian? Drop them in the comments!

Day 7 aboard the NCL Getaway was our final sea day—and we made the most of it! With New Orleans just around the corner, we soaked up the last bit of sunshine...

14/06/2025

New Thai Spot in Sun Prairie Worth Checking Out! 🍜🇹🇭

John and I had dinner tonight at Thai Boat Noodle which just opened on March 27th—and it did not disappoint! From the moment we walked in, we had a great experience and the food was top notch.

We started with the Spring Rolls (no mint—yay!) and Crab Rangoon, which might honestly be some of the best we’ve ever had. Highly recommend grabbing an order of those!

For dinner, I had the Pad Thai with beef and John went with the Boat Noodle soup. Both were flavorful and filling—definitely generous portion sizes. If you order Boat Noodles or Pho, they bring a full spice rack to the table, which was such a fun touch! John really liked adding the chili oil to customize the heat.

I also ordered a Thai Iced Tea and it was perfect—not too sweet and had just the right balance of flavor. I might have to make a batch this weekend. 🧋

One thing to note about the atmosphere—when the restaurant gets busy, it can get pretty loud in the dining area. The space is open and modern, but could really benefit from some acoustic panels or sound barriers to help dampen the noise. On the flip side, when it’s not crowded, it’s surprisingly quiet. Just something to keep in mind depending on when you plan to visit!

This place is a fantastic addition to Sun Prairie’s food scene. If you’re in the area, definitely give them a try!

📍 Thai Boat Noodle | 950 W Main St, Sun Prairie
Open:
• Monday–Thursday & Sunday: 11 AM–8:30 PM
• Friday & Saturday: 11 AM–9 PM

📸 Sharing pics of the food + menu so you know what to expect!

11/06/2025

Sad to hear that BelAir Cantina in Madison is closing its doors for good on Sunday, June 29th. Located right on the Capitol Square, it was always a convenient lunch spot—especially being so close to work.

While it wasn’t my all-time favorite (besides the salsas), I did enjoy the food and having the option nearby. It’s always disappointing to see another restaurant close downtown.