You’re in New York or Chicago. You want to take advantage of the famed nightlife, go out for a couple of drinks and pass out on the bed of your gorgeous hotel. You’re staying at the James, ideally located in downtown Chicago or NYC’S Soho. How about skipping the going … Read more
*With contributions by Lucille Sitra This is a big hotel with an intimate soul. A stay at the Westin Diplomat involves a number of decisions – the first, between a room overlooking the Atlantic surf or its bright green expanse of golf course, then, which of its eight outstanding restaurants … Read more
The first thing you notice as you walk into the Standard Spa on Miami Beach is the incredible view of Biscayne Bay. Ideally located off the main drag of Miami Beach’s Collins Avenue on a quiet patch of land that fronts the Venetian Causeway, the spa is the Standard Hotel’s … Read more
Copenhagen is very much having its moment. Its culinary scene, led by Chef Rene Redzepi of top-ranked Noma restaurant, is world-renowned, and its design scene is always at the forefront of setting trends. But there’s plenty more going on in the Danish capital to entice visitors, especially in up-and-coming … Read more
Pucón, Chile Wilderness lodge meets luxury hotel, circa 1950 “The wise man built his house upon a rock,” said Rony Pollak, quoting a Bible story as she sat down to dinner with me and four other journalists. The house she was referring to is actually a hotel, and that wise … Read more
The theme parks of Disney World and Universal Studios are bona fide tourism hot spots when it comes to Orlando, Florida. But there’s more to this city than “The Most Magical Place on Earth” for a family-friendly vacation. Check out these suggestions: Medieval Times Dinner Show – Hark back to … Read more
Sitting having afternoon tea at The Fairmount Peace Hotel in Shanghai with its art deco cake holders and lamps I feel as if i have been time-warped back to the time when Shanghai was the most exciting city in “The Orient” and the Europeans and Americans who went there were … Read more
Whether we’re abroad or just out of state, they are the ones who take us in, provide a comfy bed, deliver room service … all for a price, of course. After all, hotel owners have to make a living, too. But who are these owners, the lodging gurus who mastermind … Read more
It was almost summer in Finland and our plan was to spend the longest day of the year in Helsinki. The line from Great Gatsby flashed in my mind when Daisy plaintively asks Jordan and Nick, “What shall we do on the longest day of the year?” Take my word … Read more
When it was announced in 2009 that Helsinki was a finalist in the third Design Capital of the World competition, the only surprise was that it hadn’t been selected to receive this distinction sooner. The honor, bestowed on a city committed to design as a tool for social, cultural and … Read more
Stepping into Sky Ounasvaara, it was crystal clear that the International Style had an impact on Finland. Even a Lapland hotel set deep within the woods, high on a hill overlooking Rovaniemi, Lapland’s capital, had bought into the architectural movement which epitomizes Modernism in a big way. It was … Read more
Finnish Lapland If someone had told me that a diehard sun worshipper like me would participate in a winter adventure trip to Finnish Lapland not once but twice, I would have told him he was out of his mind. But there’s a reason I returned a second time: I was … Read more
Only one travel experience includes the phrases “Santa Claus” and “snowmobiling” in the same sentence. On the Arctic Circle Impressions tour offered by Scantours, tourists can first revel in Lapland’s wintry wonderland, then head to Helsinki where they can treat themselves to fine dining and city sightseeing. First stop … Read more
If you’re thinking of passing on Helsinki this winter as out of the way and too cold, you’re definitely not keeping your New Year’s resolution to be a more trend-setting traveler. In fact, you’re falling way behind the curve. Finland’s capital has been a design hothouse for longer than most … Read more
