To some travelers, the hotel is critical to the experience. We report on the newest, most noteworthy hotels; old classics we still love; or someplace fun and funky that reflects a special mood. Anything goes: prices range from modest to lavish.
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
Anticipation builds as I exit Miami’s frantic turnpike and begin my journey on U.S. 1 to the Florida Keys. Soon the gawking billboards disappear and I find myself on a simple two-lane road with turquoise water on both sides. I’m finding my way to Casa Morada, an all-suite boutique hotel … Read more
South Australia is renowned for world class wine regions, chefs preaching the joys of eating farm-to-table foods and a countryside where the pace is slow and laid back. An accommodation that immerses you in the lifestyle is Kingsford Homestead, located on the edge of the Barossa Valley. This iconic wine … 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
“My tastes are simple; I only like the best.” (Oscar Wilde) I like the best, doesn’t everyone? With that in mind, it was during my quest to uncover the Dominican Republic’s finest that I discovered Puntacana Resort and Club’s Tortuga Bay, a private enclave of beachfront villas within the expansive … Read more
Put your sunglasses on before entering the Hotel Monaco. Or better yet, take them off. A rainbow of hues greets you in the lobby – powder pink and sky blue then orange, fuchsia, aqua, rose, deep yellow and magenta, all popping off white paneling, black furnishings, emerald green drapery and … Read more
Prying eyes on the beach? No, the only creatures that could peer into our suite at The St. Regis, Princeville, were the endangered shearwater birds circling above the sea. It did take us awhile to figure out how to operate the privacy screen, however, as easy as a flick of … Read more
Natural mineral hot springs have been a source of healing and relaxation for centuries. One example of this geothermal phenomenon, where the water temperature is above body temperature, is the Boyes Hot Springs in Sonoma, California. The Native Americans of Northern California were the first to identify the underground … Read more
Recently celebrating its 100th anniversary, Tel Aviv has grown by leaps and bounds as a popular tourist destination. No longer just a launch pad for a pilgrimage to Jerusalem or an adventure in the Negev desert, Tel Aviv’s history, culture and nightlife together create a kind of hybrid travel experience … Read more
Seduction is inevitable at this gilded age estate in the South, where pampering is a birthright and romance comes with the territory. After a few nights in Charleston’s historic postbellum era Wentworth Mansion (circa 1886), you may feel like you were born in the wrong century. Francis S. Rodgers sure … Read more
Do you have a passion for grand dame Victorian hotels? I do. My goal is to try and stay in as many as possible, provided each and every one is luxurious. The Cliff House in Manitou Springs, Colorado harks back to that glorious era of gilt, velvet and over the … Read more
You’ve had a great day abroad. You saw awesome sites, ate fabulous food, and took fantastic pictures. Now you’re back at your hotel and you just want to unwind and perhaps share some of the highlights of the day with all your Facebook friends. But something is preventing you from … Read more
With the Agriturismo trend in full swing (a style of vacationing that allows travelers to sample the bounty of rural life in the Italian countryside), it makes sense that the proprietors of the Kenwood Inn and Spa would create their own version of it at an urbane Italianate farmhouse in … Read more
Are you thirsty for some action and a bit of intel? It’s time to get reacquainted with everyone’s favorite British spy over a drink starting October 25th. In advance of the opening of the new James Bond film “Skyfall”, The Draycott, a landmark hotel in London will be offering guests complimentary … Read more
The chief would be proud. The Wickaninnish Inn, named after the First Nations chief of the local Clayoquot people at the time of European contact in the 1770’s, is a world class Relais & Chateaux property that manages to offer a completely luxe experience in a wilderness setting. Owned and … Read more