Blogs

Guests visiting the luxury Esplanade Spa and Golf Resort will adore its excellent location in the lovely spa town of Mariánské Láznĕ (also known as Mariendbad), two hours from Prague. The five-star residence is close to many attractions and landmarks and found in the pretty countryside of the Czech Republic. The lodgings are close to another spa town, Karlovy Vary, as well as a lovely golf course, Royal Golf Club Mariánské Láznĕ, that’s ideal for a game. The residence is housed in a gorgeous bu

If you plan to visit the Golfo Dulce/ Osa Peninsula region on your Costa Rica vacation, one of the most wonderful excursions you can take is to Casa Orquídeas Botanical Garden, one of the oldest and most interesting botanical gardens in southern Costa Rica. As the name implies, especially phenomenal is its collection of orchids.

The beautifully landscaped private tropical garden shows off hundreds of species of ornamental and edible tropical plants that have been collected and cared for by U.S

On my New Zealand trip, after windy Surat Bay, I drove along the South Island's southwest coast to Te Anau. Where famous sounds are -you know, Milford Sound and Doubtful Sound. Te Anau was a really beautiful place with a beautiful lake and the sounds in the background. It was a little town, that mostly popular was in summer because now it was almost deserted.

But no worries - without the tourists it was even more beautiful! :-)

The next day I headed to Milford Sound - 120 km to the sound and

Spain can be a romantic place indeed - and in a country crammed with crenelated castles, Arabian Nights palaces, and dreamy beaches, it’s a tall order indeed to zero in on the “most” romantic. It’s true, too, that one way to enhance the romance of almost any spot here is to opt for one of the paradores (inns), usually sited in some of the most gorgeous spots and historic buildings imaginable. But as I have traveled the length and breadth of the peninsula and its islands over the years, I have am

by Cristóbal Ramírez


The small country of Uruguay and its progressive president have been making a good bit of news lately,  but its pleasant capital – the Western Hemisphere’s southernmost – on the oceanlike Rio de la Plata remains pretty much as laid-back as it’s always been. And one thing you notice after walking around this city (to which Iberia starts flying four times a week on Sept. 1) is how muchMontevideo residents truly love their mate, an herb tea also popular in Argentina and Parag

Choosing to rent a car during your business trip or holiday in Dubai is a great way to explore Dubai and the rest of the United Arab Emirates at your own pace. However, you want to make sure you are well versed with the local rules and driving culture.

Especially if you have come to Dubai from a relatively quieter city or a suburb, you will find that driving here can be quite an overwhelming experience. Regardless of how experienced you are as a driver, when driving in a foreign country, you

The TAMAR Sea Turtle Project was founded in the 1980s, although it all began in the 70s when some students who loved oceanography documented the mistreatment of sea turtles on Brazilian beaches by some people, and it has grown since to form the large organization it represents today.

Praia do Forte, in Bahia, is the national headquarters of the project. Around 30 kilometers of the beach are monitored, also ensuring the protection of the young of four species of sea turtles. This is the center th

恭喜發財 (That's Kung hei fat choy! to you). As hundreds of millions ring in the Year of the Monkey for Chinese New Year (aka Lunar New Year) today, I'm reminded of one of the Chinese diaspora's great gifts to travelers across the planet: funky Chinatowns where the age-old culture of the Middle Kingdom (and increasingly, other parts of Asia) meets a variety of others in sometimes fascinating ways.

The best ones are the traditional ones, which developed organically, as opposed to a recent trend

There will be even more reasons to ranch this year, properties across the U.S. West catering to the wannabe cowhand and the luxury city slicker.

Tony Daly, managing director of London-based dude ranch clearinghouse Ranch Rider, observes, “With WestJet announcing direct flights from London Gatwick to various Canadian destinations and America’s National Park Service celebrating its centenary, there will be even more reason to hit the trail this year. Canada is currently great value for Bri

Michelle Mariani

There’s a stereotype in Colombia that the country’s fourth-largest city, a bustling but somewhat nondescript bit of business on the Caribbean coast about an hour east of Cartagena, is also their country’s “happiest.” Well, like any broad generalization, this one’s greatly exaggerated. But it doesn’t come from nowhere.

Costeños – the folks who live on and near the coast, not just Barranquilla but also Cartagena and other cities and towns like Santa Marta –  are indeed a bit of

It’s not always easy to be eco-friendly or sustainable when running a business, especially in a country like Costa Rica, which sets the bar high for ecotourism.

Costa Rica essentially pioneered the flourishing ecotourism trend nearly two decades ago. Since then, with the many stringent demands of its Certification for Sustainable Tourism (CST) program, it takes a great deal of commitment, hard work and dedication to authentically be a sustainable eco-friendly business.

Veragua Rainforest Eco-Adv

We often hear about the fabled Route 66 in the United States; the latest offering I’ve seen is the excellent TV series describing comedian Billy Connolly’s ride along it. In England, we also have our ‘Route 66’ … nothing like as long, but maybe one day, someone will make a TV programme about it?

The A66 road over the Pennines is one of England’s main transport routes. Originally running from Scotch Corner, on the main London-Edinburgh road to Penrith, in Cumbria, it’s now been extended to the

Grand Cru, Medoc, St Émilion, Bordeaux Left and Right Banks - all terms of which I was aware, but wanted much more information. That’s the beauty of a river cruise with wine as its main topic (and the wine isn’t bad either, to put it mildly!). We were about to embark on an eight-day UniWorld boutique wine river cruise along the Garonne River - an area settled by ancient Romans and once ruled by the English, but every bit a French region.


Each evening of the cruise started by imbibing in the "

by Cristóbal Ramírez

You’ll barely hear a sound, except maybe for the wind and the waves. For there’s a side to Central America’s southernmost country, away from its famous Panama Canal and the bustling streets and towering skyline of capital Panama City, that still looks and feels much the way Christopher Columbus must have experienced it back in 1502. Here are four such paradises where you can unplug:

Islas de las Perlas 

The Pearl Islands archipelago is absolutely stunning for the colour

It was exciting to stop by the Wonder 500™ Project exhibition pop-up at Exhibition Hall (4-16 West 43rd Street) to experience Japan in New York City! 

Daily traditional tea and sweet tastings enhance your experience as you peruse the 500 unique Japanese products  –
both edible and utilitarian -- on display and for purchase, only through February 9.  Many of these items are unfamiliar outside of Japan.  

Items from all 47 Japanese prefectures were selected by 30 of the country's top producer

Welcome to the French Quarter!

As I wandered the streets of the Vieux Carré (aka the French Quarter) on my recent visit I was so thankful that it had survived after Hurricane Katrina a decade ago. What a tragedy it would have been to lose all of this – this history, this architecture, this joie de vivre that is New Orleans, Louisiana (sometimes dubbed NOLA). It is not nicknamed "the Big Easy" for nothing!

Window dressing

I had been to New Orleans twice before – both times pre-Katrina. It had been

Villa of Gabriele D’Annunzio

A Surprise Discovery in Gardone Rivera

We selected the town of Gardone Rivera, on the shores of Lake Garda, because of its proximity to the Sirmione Peninsula and the archaeological site of well preserved Roman ruins.

We usually plan some “open time” in our travel itineraries to allow us some flexibility during a visit to a new area to explore an interesting town, or museum, or just take a spontaneous side trip.

The Vittoriale Degli Italiani (Shrine of Italian Vict

My dining extravaganza began with a spinning salad as dressing was poured from high above and the bowl spun in a mesmeric rotation. I tried to finish my salad until being distracted by the silver cart brought tableside and loaded with slow roasted prime rib roasts. 

Lawry’s The Prime Rib in Beverly Hills, California, opened in 1938 and has a loyal clientele in its many locations. Known for the “old school” service, female servers wear pressed uniforms, big bows and head pieces to compliment th

Diving in Colomitos Cove

For the last decade, I have been fortunate enough to live a dual life, residing both in California and in Mexico. Puerto Vallarta is where I call home during the winter months, as well as part of the summer.

My favorite month in Puerto Vallarta is the month of July. Many travelers stay away from Mexico in the summer months, as it is hot and humid and these are the months when the rains come. July to me is the perfect month to be on the Pacific side of Mexico. Less crowded