The Standard Spa

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

Miami Parties With a Purpose

“Now this is the winter outfit I’ve been waiting to wear all season,” said my new friend Richard as he strutted onto the pool deck of Miami Beach’s Surfcomber Hotel. He wore short shorts and a naked torso, accessorized by a pearly white smile.  “I have friends who go skiing … Read more

Passion Point Travel

Traveling may be one of your passions, but we understand you have other interests in your life. Why not combine the excitement of traveling with your zealousness for adventure, your passion for philanthropy, your fascination with art? The following passion points feature popular hobbies and interests that can be enjoyed … Read more

Copenhagen, Denmark

  Copenhagen is very much having its moment. Its culinary scene, led by Chef Rene Redzepi of top-ranked Noma restaurant, is world-renowned, and its design scene is always at the forefront of setting trends. But there’s plenty more going on in the Danish capital to entice visitors, especially in up-and-coming … Read more

Merriman’s, Kauai

If you’re travelling to Hawaii and you haven’t heard about Merriman’s, consider this your wake up call.  The owner, Peter Merriman, is one of twelve chefs who revolutionized fine dining on the Hawaiian Islands in the early 1990s by utilizing high quality, locally grown ingredients in innovative ways, a movement … Read more

Hotel Antumalal

Pucón, Chile Wilderness lodge meets luxury hotel, circa 1950 “The wise man built his house upon a rock,” said Rony Pollak, quoting a Bible story as she sat down to dinner with me and four other journalists. The house she was referring to is actually a hotel, and that wise … Read more

Shopping Destinations

From the pristine marble floors of sumptuous shopping malls to the ad hoc stalls of mile-long souks, retail venues across the globe ultimately provide the same service for all their patrons: shopping. But just where can you find the most fashionable, trendsetting stores? The largest indoor gold souk? The metropolis … Read more

Coachella Music Festival

Coachella Music Festival

It’s become increasingly popular in recent years – so much so that it’s now spread out over two weekends instead of one — and there’s nary a celebrity who would dream of missing the Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival in Indio, California. You name them, they’ve been: Twilight’s Kristen … Read more

Traveling Photo by Photo

Looking to be the next Bill Cunningham? So is everyone else. Get a leg up on the competition and check out the best places to bring your camera in 2012.   New York, NY When you’re walking in New York, one block can make the difference between a quaint, gentrified … Read more

The Federal, Miami

The first words that come to mind when one thinks of Miami aren’t “rustic”, “patriotic” or “nostalgic”, but that’s exactly what the newest addition to the Biscayne restaurant scene is trying to change. The Federal, a self-described “modern American tavern” opened its doors in January and has already become a … Read more

Kailua-Kona, Big Island

Kona Inn Positioned at the water’s edge of Kailua Bay on the Big Island of Hawaii, the Kona Inn is a striking reminder of why people continue to travel to the middle of the Pacific Ocean for vacation.  With an open-air dining area that allows a sea breeze to blow … Read more

The Rittenhouse Hotel

Mary Cassatt once commented on how she touched some people with a sense of art, saying, “They felt the love and the life. Can you offer me anything to compare to that joy for an artist?”  Well Mary, I think we found it. Between the old world atmosphere and the … Read more

Istanbul, Turkey – Indulge

It’s the perfect blend of east meets west.  With the sounds and smells of the Middle East but the shopping of Western Europe, you simply can’t go wrong in Istanbul.  Call it what you will – Byzantium, New Rome, Tsarigrad, Constantinople, or Istanbul – it’s a place where you can … Read more

Cruising the Mississippi River

Let’s skip the American Revolution (we all know what happened anyway), because the Civil War is when it really got down and dirty. With the upcoming 150th anniversary of the Civil War, Crown Cruise Vacations presents the Epic Civil War Journey Voyage. All you history buffs are going to love … Read more