A Retsina Revival Plan There’s a quick way to go broke in Greece, and I don’t mean letting an octopus swallow your wallet. It’s cocktails. Johnny Walker and Jim Beam only travel first class; mojitos and Blue Angels, strictly deluxe. So what’s a thirsty traveler to do? Drink Greek. It’s … Read more
Ireland’s Pot o’ Gold – Bushmills Irish Whiskey To experience the spectacular northeast corner of the Emerald Isle is to be enthralled with Gaelic passion. The nation of Northern Ireland is expecting you and you should come expecting the max. You’ll be charmed by County Antrim’s bucolic village of … Read more
New Mexico has always been a counterculture destination in the southwest – a natural place for outsiders to end up. It’s an old tradition; the amazingly scenic Roadrunner State was settled by adventurers from New Spain – today’s Mexico – in the 1500s through 1700s. In 1947, some visitors from … Read more
For anti-tourist Aegean island hoppers, check out the recently renovated K Boutique Hotel. This stylish, modern hotel is beautifully located near the beach and the center of Rhodes. It’s a great spot for exploration yet off the tourist trail. The hotel offers 30 two-room suites including 23 superior suites, three executive … Read more
The Island Beyond the Beach Zanzibar is officially part of Tanzania, but it’s always been different. A small island off the coast of East Africa, it has a history straight out of 1001 Arabian Nights, more Sinbad than Swahili. While most of Africa was carved up by Imperial European powers … Read more
Photos courtesy of Hyatt Hotels and Resorts. South Beach has long been associated with extravagant glitz and glamour. Daytime is beach time: bikini-clad beauties sizzle in the sun and cool off in the clear surf. Nighttime is party time: fabulous folk stand in line at thumping clubs, blazing bars, and … Read more
“No other location in Belize that has such a pristine diving environment with no crowds and is so close to land,” said one of the Tranquility Bay owners David Fiedler. Whether you snorkel, dive or just swim this incredible underwater paradise is just 100 yards from your room. Tranquility Bay … Read more
Chicago is one of those beautiful combinations of a big city attitude with the ease and comfort of a small town. Beautifully situated on Lake Michigan, it’s a town that’s great for shopping, dinning and sight seeing. It also boasts some of the chicest places to sleep. One of … Read more
The Trip of a Lifetime “You want me to get in there?” “How old are you?” “You’ve only been flying for how long?” “Is there another way for us to get there? “Can we really fit?” This tiny plane looks like it was borrowed from the Wright Brothers.” The … Read more
Art lovers will feel right at home in Modigliani Art & Design Suites, located in Mendoza, the capital of Argentina’s wine region. An urban oasis in the heart of Mendoza’s city center, the property is eloquently described as “a unique boutique complex” with “just 11 exclusive units, emphasizing Architecture, Art, … Read more
Talk about trying to stand out! The new Mandarin Oriental Las Vegas is one of the few hotels on the Strip without a casino. The 47 story, 392 room property (opened in December 2009) doesn’t have even a single slot machine. There isn’t an all you can eat buffet … Read more
If you take a seat in Opium, the airy, glass-enclosed restaurant set like a jewel in a corner of the Ipanema Plaza Hotel, your seat will practically be ringside. The non-stop show of people watching commences in the early hours and even from the tiny sushi bar, which spills out … Read more
There are those hotels that meet the needs of the typical traveler. They’re conveniently located, reasonably priced, and offer comfy rooms with cushy mattresses, flat screens and Wi-Fi. Then there are those that do that, of course, and something more. They provide a sense of elegance, of romance, of … Read more
The Langham Huntington is just nine miles north of downtown Los Angeles, but it seems worlds away from the concrete and congestion of the city. Its out-of-the-way location at the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains, in one of Pasadena’s most beautiful residential neighborhoods, makes it ideal for peaceful getaways. … Read more
La Mamounia Every hotel that undergoes a substantial remodeling or restoration has a vision of the end result and when it will reopen for business. But let’s just get one thing straight right here – how many of them take three years to complete and are worth the wait? … Read more