Tag: hotels
Vietnam Alive
Vietnam Alive is easily the best travel company in Vietnam. They excel at planning customized trips for families, couples, individuals and small groups of friends or colleagues. Van Nguyen, founder of Vietnam Alive, works with guests to create an itinerary based on their interests, available time, and budget. He and his staff of travel specialists […]
Intro to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Reader Tom Jeffries provided this guest post. Rio de Janeiro was recognized as a World Heritage Site in 2012. Known as The Cidade Maravilhosa (“marvelous city”), it is one of the most striking urban areas in the world and famously home to the annual Carnaval, which takes place on Rio’s bustling streets. Cariocas, natives of […]
Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy
Friuli-Venezia Giulia is the most northeastern region of Italy. It lies on the Adriatic Sea and is bordered by Austria and Slovenia. My young friend Marta Cossettini lives in Friuli-Venezia Giulia, which she refers to as “Nel Dolce Nord Est” or “The Sweet Northeast.” Marta is very proud of Friuli-Venezia Giulia, especially the agriturismi – […]
Carmel California Trip Report
A four-night stay in Carmel California was the prize in the first Getaway contest on Authentic Luxury Travel. Marie and Mark Bologna won the trip and spent their anniversary there in April. I always love hearing from readers, but this note was a special pleasure. Read on and you’ll understand why: Dear Elizabeth, I […]
JapanQuest Journeys – Bespoke Luxury
I know you’re interested in Japan and I don’t feel qualified to provide insider advice on this destination, so I asked Scott Gilman, Managing Director and Co-Founder of JapanQuest Journeys to contribute a guest post. Scott’s company is well known for specializing in customized luxury trips to Japan and providing personalized “platinum quality” service. Cheers, […]
The Pierre Hotel, New York
Travelers don’t have to go to museums to learn about the history of a destination. Perfect example: I love the sublime ambience of The Pierre Hotel in New York City. When I stay there, I feel that – in addition to great accommodations –The Pierre provides an authentic glimpse into bygone eras. The lavish 700-room […]
Cape Town, South Africa – Things to Do
Beautiful Cape Town is easily my favorite city in South Africa. It may be that I just feel comfortable here because the climate and the vibe are so similar to my hometown – San Diego, California - but I think relative safety and natural attributes are also factors. The best way to see this sprawling city’s sights is with […]
New Zealand North Island Trip Report
This “New Zealand North Island” Trip Report was written by Maya & Mark from San Diego, California. They asked for my help with trip planning last spring when they were headed to New Zealand for the first time. I was happy to oblige, since this is an area I know quite well. They traveled during the […]
Ibiza, Spain
This guest post was contributed by Dan Perdomo. Is it just me or does anyone else find planning the perfect romantic holiday stressful? One of the most important decisions to make is the destination. Sure, Paris instantly springs to mind, but it’s a little clichéd don’t you think? So I started searching for other destinations […]
San Diego Trip Planning
Some people are ho-hum about their home town, but not me. I’ve lived in San Diego most of my life and appreciate it more every day. When I’m in Balboa Park, I gape at the truly elegant Spanish Colonial architecture as if I was seeing it for the first time. I never tire of watching […]
San Diego Padres, Omni Hotel & Petco Park
San Diego Padres invited us downtown – and we gladly accepted. In a city like San Diego, it’s easy to have a great travel experience without really leaving home. The first time my husband and I went to a San Diego Padres game, we discovered that – while we apparently weren’t paying attention – downtown San Diego […]
Library Hotel, NYC – Check It Out
“Hey, Elizabeth, my mom’s coming into town and my apartment is too small for her to stay here. Can you suggest a good hotel?” As I said in Planning a Trip to New York, I rely on locals for dining tips and ideas on things-to-do, but they often ask me about places to stay. […]
Can I buy you a drink in La Jolla?
Kimpton’s Hotel La Jolla has a great little lounge on the garden level near the swimming pool. Guests enjoy a cozy fire that takes the chill off the night air and the sound of palm trees swaying overhead. I live nearby and walk past “Hiatus” a couple of time a week. Can I buy you […]
One of America’s Happiest Seaside Towns
I minored in English and taught school for ten years, so you’d think I’d be able to write instructions clearly – but apparently not. I’ve heard from several Authentic Luxury Travel followers who assume they are automatically entered in the “La Jolla Getaway” because they are subscribers. Not so. The way our system handles contests requires […]
