“Secluded, but not removed, private, but not regimented” was how the Silverpoint manager described the hotel’s charms to me as I stood on the balcony staring at the azure Caribbean Sea. A few blissful days later I realized that his description perfectly captured the essence of this intimate property. If … Read more
Travel assumptions can often be misguided and my recent trip to Macau is one such example. But a happy surprise is a traveler’s true gift. Although I thought I knew the characteristics of this island, I was glad to discover a deeper and more complex, hybrid culture. While many of … Read more
It’s not 2008 anymore: gone are the days of the “staycation”. This year’s travelers have got big plans in all corners of the globe. The summer of 2012 will mean the Olympics, and exotic locations that have undergone significant changes. Here are our top predictions for what savvy tourists have … Read more
The Hotel Jerome has been a mainstay in Aspen for over 100 years. By the 1890s, thanks to the invention of the Pullman Sleeping Car, Aspen had developed into a burgeoning destination for touring socialites, stage performers and politicians. Founded in 1889, the Hotel Jerome was one of the first … Read more
I admit it. As soon as the annual travel magazines’ “Best Of” editions hit my mailbox, I immediately dive into them and flip to the pages to find “the best” hotels in a certain city or country where I am traveling to, have traveled to, or would like to someday … Read more
The flight, the cab rides, and the water it takes to wash your towels every day at the hotel … vacations are great for relaxing, but even better for making an enormous carbon footprint. For those who’d rather be a little more ecologically conscious this travel season, here’s a list … 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
In Colorado, people have been skiing for over 150 years, beginning with the miners who figured out it was the best way to get around in a place where snow covered the ground most of the year. In fact, until the railroads arrived, even the mail was delivered on skis. … Read more
At TravelSquire we believe you should know before you go what to expect when traveling. Have you ever visited somewhere new expecting people to be friendly and receptive—then for some reason, just weren’t? It puts a damper on the whole trip, even if the experience itself was OK. This scenario … Read more
Buenos Aires is a huge city with thirteen million people living in the greater metro area. While it is low on the list of the top 20 largest cities by metropolitan area, most people don’t know that it’s the second largest city in South America (after Sao Paulo). In … 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 or … Read more
Who doesn’t enjoy staying at a fabulous hotel, receiving world-class service, and just leaving your cares and worries at home? I’ve stayed at some intriguing hotels but none have produced the level of excitement and wonder like the castle hotels in Ireland. There’s nothing quite like the experience of spending … 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
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