Sometimes mistaken for a run of the mill desert town, Phoenix is in fact anything but. And while the sky may be bluer, the mountains sharper and the lifestyle simpler than most urban centers, its lack of worldliness has given the nation’s sixth largest city a bad rap. But look … Read more
As summer merged into a chilly fall, we desperately were needing an escape and chose a luxury oceanside getaway in the coastal village of Watch Hill, Rhode Island. Built in 1868 on the bluffs overlooking the ocean, Ocean House was once the darling of this resort community in the 1920’s … Read more
Can one tire of chateaus? That’s the question you ask yourself as you crisscross the Loire Valley, stopping to gawk at the legendary domiciles of French kings and the aristocracy. Invariably though, at the end of the day, most visitors to the region retire to (you guessed it) a chateau. … Read more
Shhh! I’m letting the cat out of the bag … Ottawa. Move over Toronto and Montreal, Canada’s little sister capital is flexing its muscles these days. We were two lucky souls invited to partake in the super showing of the fall foliage in this city and for the life of … Read more
Since it debuted last April, the Hyatt Union Square New York has been a showcase for buzz worthy modern art and cutting edge design. Conceptualized by renowned interior designer Paul Vega, the newly built property brings the outdoors in with the use of materials and elements culled from the natural world. … 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
Admittedly I’m a novice when it comes to over the top luxury in the Caribbean, so it’s fair to say that I could be easily impressed, but when The Somerset’s jovial bellman (a Reggaeton singer on the side) dropped me at reception, I was just about speechless. And I … Read more
The world is full of amazing destinations but one of the sweetest is right here in the good ole’ USA. In Hershey, Pennsylvania the smell of chocolate permeates the air. Avenues have names like Cocoa and Chocolate and street lamps shaped like Hershey’s Kisses light up the town. This is … Read more
“Hey Thom,” I said, “We’ve been hiking for two hours already and we haven’t reached the glacier yet. How much longer do you think?” We’d started out from the little village of Briksdalsbre early in the morning and thought we were doing a half-day hike, but since our guide Ruben … 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
When I told family and friends we were getting ready for a trip to Montana, here were the various reactions: “Montana? What are you going to do in Montana?” “Do you have family there?” “Are you guys doing that “yuppy glamping thing” I’ve been reading about?” The responses were simple: … Read more
Family. Nature. Comfort. These three words perfectly describe South Seas Island Resort, a three hour drive northwest of Miami on Captiva Island, accessible by car from Sanibel Island via Blind Pass Bridge. Put all preconceived notions aside, this is no stereotypical Florida resort but one with a special natural beauty … Read more
On a recent balmy night just before sunset, we set sail on Classic Harbor Line’s “Around Manhattan Architecture Tour.” Hosted by the American Association of Architects/New York chapter (AIANY), the cruise highlights the city’s iconic buildings, bridges and landmarks and helps place Manhattan in an architectural perspective but with a … Read more
Marseille? Who would want to visit this city? Crime, drugs, violence, the Mafia – the city’s reputation has been shrouded by for years. The 1970’s movie, The French Connection, focusing on the city’s thriving drug trade, didn’t help. But, much of the drug trade has moved on to Eastern Europe. … Read more