A mist hung over the pre-dawn woods, the dampness seeping through our clothes and chilling us to the bone. The car’s thermometer gauge displayed +3 degrees Celsius but we knew that could be way off. Here we were in Piedmont, Italy, deep in the Italian countryside sometime after 6 a.m. … Read more
This past week one of the world’s most awe inspiring natural wonders, the Aurora Borealis, made a rare appearance in parts of the northern U.S. The northern lights are just one example of the many magical sights on our planet that you have to see to believe. Everywhere around the … Read more
“Milan is one of those cities that you need to know and have rifled your way through, like a good book,” said Kristen Scott Thomas, the prolific British/French actress. I rifle through as much of Milan as I can, trying to pack the long and short of its story and … Read more
These days’ fashion designers are putting their personal stamp on much more than clothing and accessories. Some, like Guess owners Maurice, Paul and Armand Marciano, are getting behind spirits and wine with the purchase of a landmark L.A. liquor store. Others like Roberto Cavalli are into opening nightclubs. Still others … Read more
If you’re a bonafide fashionista or just like to hang with the supermodel crowd, no doubt you prefer a hotel to be scene central from the lobby to the pool to the after hours lounge. Our friends over at LuxuryTravelBible.com really know their stuff when it comes to traveling deluxe … Read more
Lots of places celebrate Fat Tuesday; some with decadence (hello, Sydney), excess (hello, Rio) and bead-throwing (hello, New Orleans). Even your own hometown probably does something to celebrate Mardi Gras. But the following destinations really focus on this special time of year — they are where the eyes of the … Read more
Why visit Rome in the winter? You mean besides the food, the fashion, the world class opera and expositions taking place in the city’s museums and palazzos besides what is already fascinating like the Pantheon, the Colisseum and the Spanish Steps? Well for starters, there are fewer tourists for sightseeing … Read more
While New England embodies fall in America, Tuscany is the place to spend autumn in Europe. With warm days and cool nights, options are almost endless and it is still warm enough for swimming in a pool, hopefully one at Adler Thermae. Fill your day with mushroom and truffle hunting … Read more
Perhaps you’ve seen the film or at least the overplayed cigarette lighting scene on an Oscars telecast. Bette Davis as Charlotte Vale, heiress to be from a prominent Boston family, has a tragic nervous breakdown, gets shipped off to a sanitarium, loses 50 lbs. and is handed the offer of … Read more
The shoreline of Lake Como, Italy, like the lake itself, is nothing short of overwhelming—the green of the untouched mountains, the centuries old villas, the hidden, almost magical grottos—it’s almost too much to handle. Taking in all of the beauty and majesty, you can’t help but wonder why anyone would … Read more
On my last visit to Florence, I made sure to see all of the city’s most famous attractions, from Michelangelo’s David in the Accademia Gallery, the Uffizi with its gallery upon gallery of Renaissance treasures from the masters like Botticelli and Titian, along with the city’s most famous landmark, … Read more
A-listers always know what’s hot, which is why summer is such a suitable time for a celebrity wedding. But it also translates well for the hoi polloi, as those who decide to tie the knot in June, July or August are savvy enough to realize that tropical locations are picture-perfect … Read more
Summer is around the corner, and that’s not all. Trailing along are also the fast approaching summer Olympics in London. Already, the world is abuzz with anticipation, and we’re no exception. In commemoration, we decided to hark back to past Olympic hosts. The bar has been set high, but can … Read more
Anything but Italian On the surface, Venetians fit the Italian profile. They speak the language, eat pasta, dress impeccably and love opera. And yet, they are different. They are less religious, have built no walls around their old city, have sacrificed cars for gondolas, and generally look outward rather than … Read more
Hotel Mediterraneo Looking for an escape from the long winter? Dream of roaming “under the Tuscan sun” but feel overwhelmed by summer’s masses of tourists? The Squire has the solution for you. With discounts of over 50% off rack rates, Bettoja Hotels offers winter visitors fantastic nightly rates on … Read more