Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania

Secret Little Hideaway You would never think you could find such a peaceful and secluded getaway just 60 minutes from Philadelphia and 90 minutes from New York City, but I did. Perfectly tucked away in Pennsylvania’s Lehigh Valley is the Glasbern Inn; a wonderful escape from the long office meetings, … Read more

Inn on Fifth

The Inn on Fifth is an elegant, well-appointed, inn located in the heart of ‘Old Naples,’ Florida offering a ‘Romance on Fifth’ vacation package that includes three days / two nights’ accommodations, a couple’s massage in the hotel’s Asian-inspired spa, champagne and chocolate in your room, complimentary breakfast each morning … Read more

São Sebastião, São Paulo, Brazil

Nestled in the Brazilian jungle, overlooking the Atlantic Ocean in the mountains along the southern Coast of São Sebastião, about 125 east of Sao Paulo, is the creation of Edson Pavão, businessman and entrepreneur.  Ilha de Toque Toque Boutique Hotel requires little introduction and escapes every descriptive cliché about a … Read more

Las Vegas, Nevada

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 or … Read more

The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas

It’s hard not to be intrigued by a Sin City hotel with the tagline “just the right amount of wrong.”  Perhaps you’ve seen the hotel’s TV commercial, featuring pant-less bellhops, bustier-clad women, bedroom photo shoots, and animals crashing a suite party. Unusual, yes – but The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, … Read more

Go Select: Lets You Go Places

Planning an itinerary around seeing the important sites in a city can be a time-consuming pain, and if you don’t get a head start, the admission prices can rack up and ruin your best touring mood.  But now Smart Destinations has got your back, launching Go Select in May, the … Read more

Geirangerfjord, Norway

Virtually Visiting the Norwegian Fjords Thousands of visitors flock to Norway every year, but for those who can’t afford to take a plane, train, or automobile they can now take the Internet. If you’ve always wanted to see the beautiful Norwegian fjords, but don’t have the time or money to … Read more

Hazlitt’s London, England

Hazlitt’s:  Like a Clock in My Heart Located on a quiet street off Soho Square, Hazlitt’s occupies three historic 18th century townhouses in the heart of London.  Beautifully restored to its original Georgian style, the hotel blends the charm of yesteryear with modern innovation.  [wide] [/wide]As owner Peter McKay states, the … Read more

Sheraton Bucks County, PA

SHERATON BUCKS COUNTY HOTEL Some interesting rock formations in a kind of pink quartz guide the way toward the spartan entrance to the Sheraton Bucks County Hotel and the driveway winds its way under a large porte cochere that can easily harbor 2 vehicles.  Located in one of the main … Read more

San Francisco, California

Better Than Ever By the end of May in New Orleans you can easily find yourself with a case of the summertime blues. This year, mine were bad. With temperatures nearing 100 for days on end, 90 degrees felt like a cold snap. I knew I had to get away … Read more

New England, USA

INNside New England   It was summer in the city, New York that is, and the livin’ wasn’t easy. My friend Danielle and I were stressed out. What to do? Two words: ROAD TRIP!! Between us we have three daughters who were frolicking at summer camps in New England so … Read more

Little Italy, New York

Little Italy – Still Hanging Tight to Its Immigrant Roots Photo Credit: Meryl Pearlstein Despite some rumors to the contrary, Manhattan’s Little Italy isn’t dead. Some famous Mafia and movie figures have breathed their last living or liberated moments in this well-known part of Manhattan, but the neighborhood lives on … Read more

Melbourne, Australia

  The Hidden Laneways of Melbourne Meandering down a dark graffiti-painted laneway, I fall behind the others in our group. Drawn to these ugly but somehow beautiful works that cover entire walls, I pause to grudgingly admire the back end of buildings daubed with artwork. Stumbling a little on the … Read more

Ishikawa, Japan

Samurai Central On the Sea of Japan, northwest of Tokyo, lies the serene, mountainous region known as Ishikawa. With its pristine coast and remote villages, Ishikawa offers a respite from life’s stressors. Ishikawa is easily reached by plane or car, but the most romantic way to get there is on … Read more

San Miguel de Allende, Mexico

After a morning of wandering the hilly, cobbled streets of San Miguel, I was quite tired and on the lookout for a nice spot for lunch. I ended up in the Jardin, the central square that is the heart and soul of this Spanish colonial town in central Mexico. I … Read more