Tag: spa
My Favorite Santa Barbara Hotel (by far)
My favorite Santa Barbara hotel? That’s easy. Belmond El Encanto won my heart with gracious suites in historic cottages, beautiful gardens, and a panoramic ocean view. Spread over seven acres, the hotel feels more residential than commercial. This isn’t surprising, since the bungalows here started out as lodging for students and faculty when a state […]
Shell Beach – Best Central CA Vacation Spot
Shell Beach: What makes this area the perfect spot for a summer vacation? Great weather and a relatively laid-back atmosphere. Further north, coastal fog can be a problem, and in some areas to the south, beach resorts are packed in cheek-to-jowl. But Shell Beach, which is the upmarket resort area of Pismo Beach, feels quiet […]
Saratoga Springs – A Gem in Upstate New York
Saratoga Springs made me want to travel more – and better. And by “better,” I mean it made me want to take time to explore small towns and cities that are a bit off the beaten path. While I was enjoying Saratoga Springs, I kept wondering what I’d missed in other “flyover cities.” Saratoga advice […]
Catalina Island – An Insider’s Guide
Catalina Island – the place that’s “26 miles across the sea,” has a reputation as being touristy, but it doesn’t have to be that way. There’s also an authentic side to Catalina. On my last visit, I found a charming inn, a great place to eat, and a spa that truly reflects the island’s heritage – all […]
Rancho La Puerta – Savor Mexico Near San Diego
Rancho La Puerta, the famous spa retreat in Tecate, Mexico, is a great option for visitors to San Diego who want a taste of Mexican culture. The resort is an hour east of San Diego and just 3.3 miles south of the border. Normally reservations are only accepted for one-week stays, but savvy San Diegans […]
Carmel Valley – Where to Stay and Play
Carmel Valley is a popular destination for luxury loving Californians. Resorts, lodges, and restaurants in this area two hours from San Francisco offer the food, wine, and activities that Golden State residents love. Want to connect with the local culture? You couldn’t make a better choice than to spend some time at Carmel Valley Ranch. When I […]
Sol y Luna – Enjoy This Luxury Peru Lodging
Sol y Luna was our first luxury hotel experience in Peru and it set a high bar for the rest of our trip. The rustic / chic inn is located in the town of Urubamba in the Sacred Valley – about an hour from Cusco. I enjoyed the spacious grounds, where winding paths connect 43 […]
Costa Rica – Moon, Stars, Magic
Larry Kessler contributed this guest post. Costa Rica magic. Abracadabra! Alakazam! Spin the globe and throw a dart. Where do you go to find the perfect getaway? And what makes it so special for you? Relaxing, invigorating, spiritual, and socially responsible? No? How ’bout educational, romantic, secluded or breathtaking? Maybe it’s to reconnect. Or to […]
Best Romantic Hotel in Tuscany
“We’ve found an exquisite romantic hotel in Tuscany,” readers Deb and Tom Tucker wrote recently. “It’s Borgo Santo Pietro, located about 35 minutes from Siena and one hour from Florence. They offer 15 rooms and suites – all elegantly furnished. It’s the perfect place for Authentic Luxury Travelers. “There is a main building with suites […]
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 […]
Le Marche, Italy
Vera Marie Badertscher contributed this guest post. The first time I went to Italy, I wanted to see the popular cities, but I also wanted to settle in to one of the country’s lesser known places. One by one, I looked at various areas. The fact that I couldn’t find much information online about Le Marche, […]
Award Winning Bernardus Lodge, Carmel Valley, California
While it can be foggy along the Carmel coast, the sun shines 320 days a year about 15 minutes inland in Carmel Valley. This makes the lucky people who are staying at Bernardus Lodge happy. The sunshine also makes many, many acres of grapes very happy. Northern California insiders know that Carmel Valley produces wonderful wine and […]
Abu Dhabi – Sir Bani Yas Island Wildlife
Abu Dhabi – the UAE’s hot new destination Dubai was the first destination in the United Arab Emirates* to draw large numbers of overseas visitors, but now that city is sharing the spotlight with Abu Dhabi. Here, one of the big draws is Sir Bani Yas Island, home to an Arabian Wildlife Park and three luxury Anantara resorts. This island was […]
Best Bermuda Hotel – The Reefs
Best Bermuda Hotel? I think it’s The Reefs Resort & Club on the south side of the main island (see map below). This beautiful family-owned resort is geographically not far from the Fairmont Southhampton – but a world away in terms of amosphere. At The Reefs, we couldn’t stop staring at the beautiful beach just steps away and loved snorkeling over the coral […]
