Whether you're traveling on business or pleasure, you can spend your luxury holidays at the top luxury boutique hotels in the world. The following are some of the top luxury boutique hotels.

Canyon Ranch Hotel & Spa, Miami

This is an award-winning hotel and spa located in the beautiful Miami, Florida.  This modern-chic hotel has an assortment of amenities ranging from wellness spa to fine dining.  The hotel accommodations are phenomenal, to say the least.  Amenities include HDTV systems with i

Bistro de Leon

Tucked away on Cathedral Place across from the Plaza in St. Augustine's historic district, Jean Stephane Poinard serves up la cuisine de meres “French home cuisine”. To your left upon entering Bistro de Leon is a tantalizing display case filled with tarts and other fresh baked desserts. To your right and further into the dining area's interior, intimate yet unpretentious tables await.

Both Chef Poinard and his wife Valerie stand ready to serve either a quiet candlelit table for two

On the lovely morning of September 11, 2001, I was working as usual in my 7th Avenue Manhattan office as executive editor of Arthur Frommer's Budget Travel, when thanks to somebody over on the publishing side with a dinky in-office TV came word that a plane had hit the north tower of the World Trade Center. As we sat there increasingly nervous yet numbed, trying to continue to work with one eye on the news, one editorial assistant admitted to me at one point, "people here are scared, they don't

Start by driving up the NY thruway to Exit 18 – New Paltz, stop for breakfast in this quaint college town, pack a picnic lunch and head up to the Mohonk Preserve. 

You can’t miss it…aim for the tower set atop the alabaster cliffs of limestone.

The preserve is a world-renowned Mecca for rock climbers.  As you make your way up the winding Route 55, keep your eyes on the road.  It is hard to resist the temptation to watch the colorful climbers on their precarious routes.  Park at the Wes

It appears that my last post Professional Photo Tips for Travelers started some discussion on the use and types of
tripods. So for those unfamiliar with this three-legged companion I offer the following:

Tripods are used to steady a camera for a variety of reasons:

1)  Allowing for slower shutter speeds without blurring stationary objects

1. Low light
2. Night shots
3. Eliminating people from a shot. They don’t stay
   in frame long enough to leave a substantial image. Although phantom blurs may be evident.

2)  Pe

Nothing throws a wet blanket on a vacation faster than dropping your phone or camera into the water.

You hear the dreaded “Ker plop” as you lean over a railing to get a better view, or you step out of taxi into a rain puddle, or worst- positioned over a toilet bowl. Whenever or however it occurs, it dampens your spirits immediately.  Your favorite piece of electronics is now a soggy mess. You can’t make phone calls or text your BFF.

Your vacation memories are now in Davey Jones’s Locker. Or are

St. Augustine’s distinction as oldest U.S. city combined with an extensive heritage featuring Ponce de Leon‘s quest for perpetual youth just happens to closely parallel Greece’s reverence of top quality olive oil. Ancient Greeks believed that olive oil, particularly when infused with flowers and herbs, promoted a long healthy life. Even medicine and cosmetics were developed using olive oil as a base. Turns out they were onto something since countless studies now point out the health benefits of

There are many great cities in the world either on or near rivers. During my lifetime of travel, I have had the pleasure to visit the many picturesque cities situated on winding rivers. Here are my favorite cities to visit on a River. The cities and the rivers that define them. Because these rivers lends charm, ambiance and culture, and provide the rhythm and soul to these ten out of this world cities.

Melbourne, Skyline from the Yarra River.

Melbourne may be Australia’s second most populous cit

Consider the following:

>> Small companies operate the majority of business aircraft. Most companies with business aircraft have fewer than 500 employees.

>> Business aircraft users have a major presence in the business world. On average 92% are amongst the most innovative

>> Charter operators and general aviation serve over 5,000 airports in the USA. Commercial carriers serve about 400 which number is declining fast!

>> The business traveler saves up to three weeks per year by avoiding long lines

by Maryann Virack

I love the ocean. Growing up in NJ, my parents had a summer home on Long Beach Island and every summer, weekend, and holiday was spent at “the shore”. With dad in California again for the summer, I am always looking for new destinations. This year we decided on an adventure to the mountains – a far cry from the beaches on the Atlantic Ocean.

Lake Arrowhead, at 5100’, is within an hour’s drive; (90 miles east of Los Angeles) but I had always thought of it as a winter destination

Manuel Antonio is cataloged as one of the main tourist destinations in Costa Rica. One of the most usual itineraries chosen by tourists is the Arenal-Monteverde-Manuel Antonio, having this last one as the perfect choice for their beach part of the trip.

This popularity has been gained thanks to the number of elements composing this very favorite destination. First of all, the biodiversity of wildlife is incredible, with the primary and secondary tropical forests and a very large number of animal

There came a point when the routine of my life began to annoy me. Don’t get me wrong. It was a lovely routine that involved the blessings of children, but with that came dishes and shopping carts and lots of time in a car. I understood the need and comfort of it all and even thanked God for it, usually on Sundays at ten o’clock.

I began to regard this ordered life with a sense of claustrophobia, like living in an alley. A beautiful alley, but still it had narrow walls and shadows and, for some re

The news about the apparent end of the 42-year regime of Col. Mummar Qaddafi has me remembering about the last time I visited Libya.  Actually, it was the only time I visited Libya, just before he led the military coup led that deposed the ruling family of King Idris.

My trip to Libya included visiting the incredible Roman ruins at Leptis Magna (pictured here), and visiting with troops at Wheelus U. S. Air Force base and the small U. S. Coast Guard on the shores of Tripoli, and the World War Two

The smallest national park in Costa Rica has something big to brag about: it was just named in the top 10 national parks in the world Forbes Magazine.  Manuel Antonio is a pristine rainforest park and includes five secluded beaches.  During a visit, you will see sloths, a variety of monkeys (watch out! They'll steal your food!), toucans, intricate tropical flowers, the occassional boa lazily resting on a branch and a variety of colorful birds.  The beaches are among the most beautiful in Central

The Hottest Party in Spain.

Fires are burning all over Valencia. I cannot glimpse an intersection that is not ablaze. 

Bombaderos , firemen dressed in black turnout, stand by just waiting with tanker trucks full of water, and portable pumps. I inhale the acrid smoke with gusto, awakening the latent pyromaniac within. My heart races as I turn left and head down Calle De Trafalgar. An elaborate archway of carnival lights, designed like the onion tops of a Russian Orthodox Church, frames the narrow e

by Maryann Virack         

My dad’s summer visits to California have often forced us to join in the “traipse of the tourists” visiting every theme park and attraction, including casinos, within driving distance.  Some have been extraordinary adventures; others much more ordinary. This year I opted for culture and a very different kind of destination. The Pageant of the Masters in Laguna Beach runs for one month in the summer and has been doing so since 1933.

               Laguna Beach was establ