Tag: insider tips
Japan – Restaurant Reservations for Foodies
Japan is a wonderful destination, but not an easy place for authentic travelers. We can’t just rent a car and drive around on our own. If we wander off the beaten path, it’s challenging to use local signage to find our way back. In addition, the resident population is very polite, but most people are […]
Denali National Park – Musings on the “Great One”
Denali – the tallest peak in the U.S. – has been in the news a lot lately because of its recent name change. What’s the fuss about? In 1896, a gold prospector labeled the mountain “Mt. McKinley” when he heard that Ohioan William McKinley had just secured the Republican presidential nomination. In 1975, the state of Alaska officially changed […]
Best Time to Visit La Jolla, California
The best time to visit La Jolla – my hometown – will depend on what you want to do when you get here. For classic car enthusiasts, that means early April, when the La Jolla Concours d’Elegance takes place. In fact, the 2016 La Jolla Concours will take place Sunday, April 10. Now in its 12th […]
About Authentic Luxury Travel, About Me
Welcome. You’ve come to the right place if you’re looking for authentic luxury travel options. There’s nothing I enjoy more than sharing what I’ve learned during the course of a long career as a travel journalist and photographer. Looking for a boutique hotel? A private guide in Mumbai? A way to avoid the crowds in […]
Giverny – Monet’s Garden Travel Tips
Giverny – I’d dreamed about seeing this garden for at least a decade. Actually, maybe longer. I think I was still in high school when I wrote a term paper on the French Impressionist artist Claude Monet. In the process, I fell in love with his garden at Giverny, France. And now I was in […]
6 Santa Barbara, California Secrets
This wonderful guest post was contributed by Lauren Bray, Managing Editor of edhat.com, Santa Barbara’s #1 website for all things local. Santa Barbara is known for its red tile roofs, relaxing beaches, fine dining, and a burgeoning wine industry. It’s the laid-back vibe and natural beauty that brings many visitors to our American Riviera. State […]
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 […]
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 […]
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. […]
Planning a Trip to New York
There was a time when I felt overwhelmed by the Big Apple’s options. That was before I learned to rely on the advice of friends and family who live there. Now planning a trip to New York is a piece of cake. I send out emails, make a few phone calls and – voila […]
