Tag: authentic luxury travel
Napa Valley, California, USA, for the Holidays
Where to celebrate the holidays? That seems to be the question everyone is asking these days. If you’re looking for a small community with Currier & Ives appeal, I suggest you head to Yountville in Northern California’s Napa Valley. If you read my earlier post on Yountville, you already know that this small town is […]
My Favorite New Zealand Trifle Recipe
One of the great joys of authentic travel is getting to know local people in the area you’re visiting. I’ve lived in New Zealand and watched tourists rush around the country visiting the same sights that every other overseas visitor is seeing (the places where big buses are stacked cheek-to-jowl in the parking lot). These […]
Napa Valley the Way I Remembered
I used to visit Napa Valley every few years – not just because I like good wine and good food, but because the area was so serene. In addition to the vineyards, I loved the open spaces covered in wildflowers, the mom-and-pop businesses with friendly proprietors, and the grand European-style wineries. However, somewhere along the […]
India – Trade Deals & Top Hotels
I felt very smug this week when President Obama, traveling in India, announced that the U.S. would soon begin trading more with this South Asian nation. Trade deals with India are not new to me. I’ve been making them for years. In fact, each time I’m in Delhi I acquire so many “bargains” that I […]
Authentic travel – fun for us, good for the world
If you’ve been following this blog for a while, you know that my mission is to connect affluent travelers with real, not touristy, experiences. In fact – and I’m not taking credit for it – “authentic luxury travel” has become a significant trend in the travel industry. Thoughtful travelers everywhere are savoring local cultures without […]
Learning Vacations in Worldwide Destinations
Learning vacations are getting a lots of attention these days – especially among well-educated, experienced travelers. In fact, research shows that one out of every three affluent travelers wants to learn a new skill or activity during a vacation – thus turning a good trip into a great – truly memorable – one. The popularity […]
Turtle Island Resort Fiji
Turtle Island Resort is the perfect spot for a honeymoon, whether it be a first, second or “trial.” Everything about this lush green paradise is natural and relaxing. Fourteen luxurious bures are placed so that each enjoys plenty of privacy and a “bure mama” caters to each couple’s every need. The Fijian staff live […]
Zambia Wildlife Walking Safaris & Bush Camps
I almost can’t begin to tell you how much I loved our time in Zambia with Norman Carr Safaris. Their four bush camps in South Luanga National Park are each situated in a different wilderness environment with wildlife nearby – and sometimes on the premises. Each camp offers four grass-and-thatch huts (Luwi Camp), or chalets […]
Germany: The BMW Experience
Vintage cars are my husband’s passion, and since he has a big birthday coming up, I’m on the look-out for unusual automotive adventures. Enter: Paradizo, the luxury travel website, where I read about the “Ultimate BMW Driving Experience” offered by the BMW Museum in Munich. Highlights of this three-hour private driving tour include the home […]
Shanghai Surprise (s)
World Expo 2010 opened in Shanghai on May 1 and runs until October 31. If you’re one of the 70 million expected visitors, you might want to know about the new travel resource from Shanghai Tang. But first – I have to confess that I still think of Shanghai Tang as my favorite clothing store […]
A New Insider Angle on Dubai’s Burj
If you read The Inside Scoop on the Burj Dubai, you know that I suggested two hotels with a great view of the world’s tallest tower – now called Burj Khalifa. Now there’s a new “insider angle” on Dubai’s landmark – and I mean that literally. A luxury hotel crafted by designer Giorgio Armani just […]
Your Travel Expert in Costa Rica
Trip planning is much easier if you have a friend living in the destination you’re going to visit. In the case of Costa Rica, we all have an amigo in the person of Michael Kaye. Michael was the first to run Costa Rica’s whitewater rivers and – in 1978 – he started Costa Rica Expeditions as […]
Vacation Rentals: Homes Away From Home
What could be more authentic than staying in a real home instead of a hotel on your next vacation? Imagine getting to know the neighbors and feeling like a local without having to sacrifice luxurious surroundings. Rental homes are also great for families or groups of friends traveling together who pay considerably less than […]
Best Italian Restaurant in India
One of the great joys of Authentic Luxury Travel is wandering off the beaten path and discovering hidden gems. Actually, I have to confess I didn’t really discover Diva, the best Italian restaurant in India. A friend in London told me about this jewel in Delhi – but if I hadn’t been traveling independently, I […]
