Costa Rica’s borders are opening to travelers from some U. S. States. As of September 1st, residents of Connecticut, Maine, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York and Vermont, Virginia and Washington D. C. will be permitted to enter the country. Two weeks later, on Sept. 15, residents of Colorado, … Read more
History has a funny way of weaving its way in and out of our lives. Some of us are lured to it, others perplexed as to how to reconcile the past with our high tech lives we maintain. Even if you could care less about the Louisiana Purchase and the … Read more
In the 1985 film The Trip to Bountiful, an old woman longs to return to her childhood home, a small Texas town called Bountiful. Unbeknownst to her, her memory of the place would be all that is left when she gets there, the town having been devastated by the Great … Read more
For many of us across the U.S., summer is getting underway and that spells pool time. A pool is a dichotomy of sorts; a place for both relaxing and exercising. And you have to admit that pools have a kind of sex appeal and elegance to them (hello, any infinity … Read more
Sometimes mistaken for a run of the mill desert town, Phoenix is in fact anything but. And while the sky may be bluer, the mountains sharper and the lifestyle simpler than most urban centers, its lack of worldliness has given the nation’s sixth largest city a bad rap. But look … Read more
Las Brisas Acapulco screams “notice me” from the moment you drive through the hotel’s porte cochere and spot the hot pink hibiscus flower logo, till you’re ensconced in your “casita” high above the city 15 minutes later. And you should! The hotel is right out of a dream and it … Read more
I’d been to Barbados before, and counted it as one of my favorite Caribbean islands. Now having recently been there again, I have to say that it’s not just one of my favorites; it’s my absolute favorite. Credit of course has to go to the island itself—its warmth, its beauty, … Read more
Coffee, rain forests, eco lodges, zip lining, and lizards. These are typically what come to mind when one thinks about Costa Rica. As someone who has traveled to this beautiful country half a dozen times, those used to be my thoughts, too. However, a recent stay at Los Altos De … Read more
Laying poolside and soaking up some summer rays at your five star resort, near the translucent waters of the Caribbean, cannot sound more like perfection. Once the sun sets, enjoy a top-notch performance of circus acrobatics with colorful costumes. This is exactly why a stay at the Moon Palace Resort … Read more
*With contributions by Sarah Meyer The town of Oia on the Greek island of Santorini is the new kid on the block. A beautifully scenic 20 minute drive north from Fira, the capital of the island and the major draw, it’s the Malibu to Fira’s Beverly Hills. Smaller and more … Read more
“Secluded, but not removed, private, but not regimented” was how the Silverpoint manager described the hotel’s charms to me as I stood on the balcony staring at the azure Caribbean Sea. A few blissful days later I realized that his description perfectly captured the essence of this intimate property. If … Read more
The music at the pool bar is in a deep eighties groove. From David Bowie to the Thompson Twins, Alpha Ville to Bananarama, the sounds of the era of excess are taking center stage at the Aressana Hotel’s pool, that is, along with a gurgling waterfall and the occasional clink … Read more
“The first and greatest of necessities is food, which is the condition of life and existence.” ~ Plato Plato’s, located in the Aspen Meadow’s Resort, immediately transports guests to a relaxed and calmer state of mind, perfectly appropriate in this hotel for ‘higher thinking.’ Exactly what does that mean? Well, … Read more
Matetic Vineyards, Chile Driving down a long dirt road surrounded by 27,000 acres of vineyards and beautifully landscaped gardens, I think that I may have discovered one of Chile’s best-kept secrets. La Casona Guesthouse at the famous Matetic Vineyards is the ultimate wine aficionado’s dream. Located in the Casablanca Valley, … Read more
The first thing you notice as you walk into the Standard Spa on Miami Beach is the incredible view of Biscayne Bay. Ideally located off the main drag of Miami Beach’s Collins Avenue on a quiet patch of land that fronts the Venetian Causeway, the spa is the Standard Hotel’s … Read more