Thom Meintel 
An elegant yet edgy sense of decorum presides over the lobby of the InterContinental Stephen F. Austin, in Austin, Texas, easy to find at night thanks to the glowing red stripe around the building’s exterior. This is in stark contrast to the rowdy street party in full swing just a … Read more
It’s hard to miss Wynwood Kitchen & Bar as you drive around the nondescript streets of Miami’s Wynwood in search of the place. You’re in the off the beaten path warehouse district, full of galleries and pop-up shops, and all that seems to be missing (at least from a New … 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
The idea to visit a storied resort on Mexico’s Pacific coast, one struggling with negative press, was pretty simple. For as long as I can remember Acapulco had been on my bucket list if only due to its sexy name and glamorous past. “Aka-poole-ko” … it sounds sensual, right? And … Read more
A Memorial Weekend spent in Oslo, Norway, couldn’t have taken me further away from the shores of the U. S. of A. where backyard barbecues and baseball games are typically the norm. The unpredictable May weather was an ongoing topic of conversation with everyone, even at immigration, and as the … Read more
A black messenger bike parked outside THE THIEF emblazoned with the hotel’s name is a subtle hint. “Toto, I have a feeling we’re not in Kansas anymore.” On a dark, dreary and very wet spring morning in Oslo’s Tjuvholmen neighborhood, which is surrounded by water, the wind is gusting outside … Read more
“The Norwegians sure take their sun seriously, don’t they?” said Pop after he saw that we were fellow Americans touring Norway. We’d just zoomed past a few townspeople sunbathing in their backyards and a guy mowing his lawn shirtless. It was a hot, sunny day in Alesund, a popular fjord … Read more
The approach to Jade Mountain says it all … exclusive and private. A steep, winding road meanders along the cliffs of St. Lucia’s Morne Chastenet for what seems like forever then suddenly you enter a kind of natural paradise hugging the side of the mountain. Out of the car, you … Read more
Hailed as a tourists’ mecca and damned for those killer hills, San Francisco’s reputation definitively precedes it. Famed for its glory days as a beat generation outpost then later the epicenter of flower power and acid rock, today the glorious city by the bay has lost none of its “alternative” … Read more
My first trip to the Caribbean was memorable for many reasons, not the least of which was the hotel. It was in Ocho Rios, Jamaica’s tourist and cruise ship hub, a little over an hour’s drive from Montego Bay yet a world away. The property was enveloped in a jungle-like … Read more
The sparkling star trailing the word “Riviera” in the Riviera Hotel’s exterior signage said it all. This was a place where your inner star can shine. I was back in the hedonistic desert city of Palm Springs (move over Las Vegas) after an absence of 20 years and as I … Read more
Famous for its pristine beaches and glamorous nightlife, Miami’s star hasn’t lost any lustre; in fact it’s brighter than ever. Once equated with crime and retirement, the city has staked its claim as a venerable tourist mecca anytime of the year even when the sizzling dog days of summer … Read more
When the “Winter Party” people plan an end of winter party every year in Miami Beach, the word “party” is taken seriously. This year no less than 12 parties were planned over a 5 day span. That’s an average of more than 2 parties a day in case you flunked … Read more
Stephan Fortier’s Tosca, new on the dining scene in Miami’s ever evolving South Beach, feels like a private club. This is a good thing in a destination that’s a magnet for everyone and anyone sporting LV’s and inverted double F’s, but not a lot of clout. Here, a new restaurant … Read more
Sometimes small can be a good thing … like in smart phones, petits fours and hotels, of course. Nestled on a charming cobblestone street in historic Old City, Philadelphia, within seconds of Penn’s Landing on the riverfront and with a view of the baby blue Benjamin Franklin Bridge over the … Read more