Hard Rock Hotel San Diego Making my reservations for the Hard Rock San Diego, I was a little scared I wasn’t cool enough for the property. My style is more relaxed than rock-n-roll. However, I was cheerfully welcomed to the property’s sleekly Spartan lobby – white marble floors, mirrors, … Read more
Hotel Monteleone Luxury in the Heart of the French Quarter An ornate entrance to New Orleans’ famed French Quarter, the curlicued façade of the 17 story Hotel Monteleone, rises grandly in salutation to city locals, celebrities, trendsetters and literati. Lovely to gaze upon, this Beaux-Arts beauty proves even more spectacular … Read more
The Clinton Hotel and Spa New Miami Newly opened in 2004, The Clinton Hotel fully embodies the new Miami, with its finger on novelty but with a subtle nod toward the past. This boutique hotel and spa in the heart of South Beach just steps away from its white sandy … Read more
The Veneto It’s Christmas in Panama and the lobby of the Wyndham Veneto in Panama City is bedecked, bejeweled, beribboned, besparkled and beyond belief. It’s as if a Macy’s Christmas display has given notice and decided to catch some warm tropical breezes. Poinsettias abound, huge swaths of red garland drape … Read more
The Omphoy Hotel – Palm Beach Redefined The Omphoy Ocean Resort in Palm Beach, Florida has redefined the classic and exclusive resort destination on Florida’s Gold Coast. Opened in July 2009, the hotel is the creation of owner & designer Leslie Schlesinger (who along with her husband owns the Brazilian … Read more
The Hydroussa Hotel As you pass through the tall gates into the courtyard of the Hydroussa Hotel on the little Greek island of Hydra, you instantly experience its inviting embrace–even before stepping through the intricately carved wooden doors and into the marble coolness of the lobby. The allure of the … Read more
The Glasson Hotel and Golf Resort Only ninety minutes by car from Dublin lies a part of Ireland that some call “hidden Ireland”, the Midlands. As the name implies, it’s the center of Ireland, so expect to see a thousand shades of green and feel a real peacefulness that’s … Read more
Mount Falcon Country House Hotel I let out a gasp as we drove past the gates of the Mount Falcon Country House Hotel. It was a real Irish “Castle” situated on gorgeous grounds in County Mayo, northwestern Ireland. We followed a circular drive to the regal manor house and entered … Read more
A Stay Worthy of a King When your flight touches down on the island of Kauai you think that you’ve landed in paradise … at least until the taxi drops you at the Kauai Marriott and then you think – this is beyond paradise! An escalator whisks you past … Read more
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, right? Perhaps there is something more to breakfast that just proper nutrition, however. No wonder then that different cultures around the world interpret this meal differently, from “smorgas” in Scandinavia to banh mi in Vietnam. TheDailyMeal.com and its’ editor Nicole Campoy-Leffler … Read more
Adventures in the Garden City When most people think of Bangalore they imagine high-tech, computers and call centers. Indeed, in last year’s Booker Prize winner, White Tiger (by Aravind Adiga), the main protagonist claims “Everything in the city, it seemed, came down to one thing. Outsourcing.” That’s a little … Read more
When one thinks “Tokyo”, immediately futuristic technology, enormous Sony Trinitron screens, Hello Kitty and “Lost in Translation” come to mind. While these images are truly a part of the Japanese urban landscape, a new neighborhood in Tokyo has recently begun to sprout, offering a respite from the overwhelming cacophony … Read more
Majestic Phnom Penh Phnom Penh, Cambodia’s capitol, is in the midst of a major upheaval. Old and new are constant clashes—it’s a city where cycle drivers share the road with elephants and BMW SUVs; where tented houses sit in front of high rise modern apartment dwellings. Poised as a … Read more
Considering the efficiency of Japan, it’s interesting to witness the dramatic change to Roppongi, an enduring neighborhood in the city of Tokyo. This district has had a diverse and colorful history not unlike the amusement park aura of Times Square, New York, but in its current metamorphosis, Roppongi has … Read more
I love Tokyo and in my next life I imagine you’ll find me in my suite on the 47th floor of the Park Hyatt showering and dressing for drinks and dinner with Scarlett Johansson between takes of, “Lost in Translation,” which was filmed at the hotel. Tokyo invokes manic … Read more