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Sunset in Hanoi

Vietnam is a beautiful country of rice paddies, cyclos, water buffaloes and tasty food. When people first travel to the country, they know very little about it all, but after a couple of days in Vietnam, people they learn quickly. There are several key things if you know about before packing your bag to travel to Vietnam will make your trip smooth and more trouble-free.

Motorbike sin Ho Chi Minh City

A Motorbike Paradise

There are millions of motorbike in Vietnam; some even claim

We were off to explore the Santa Maria Valley along the central California coast, and as I hopped into the backseat of my friends’ car, I was shown all the preparation they had prepared for the trip.  There was a tablecloth, a napkin, a bottle of Bellini and wine glass, the New York Times, and some snacks just in case I got hungry on the way.  This was like limousine service!

This time of the year is a magnificent time to drive from Southern California to the central valley area. The hills are

Long gone are the days when you could hover over the Andes Mountains to view Machu Picchu from above in a helicopter. All flights have been suspended due to environment concerns - and rightfully so I might add.

So what are your options to get to the lost city of Machu Picchu? Here follows your different options

By Train

The large majority of travelers who visit Machu Picchu each year go by train to avoid a hike that can be a bit challenging to some people. You can take the train from the Peru city

 
In another, more benign sign of climate change, mountain resorts in the U.S. Rockies make history by extending ski season to July 4th. 


For the first time in history, mountain resorts in Lake Tahoe , the ski area that straddles the California-Utah border, have officially extended their ski season through July 4th weekend. After several dry winters, the Lake Tahoe resorts saw their snowiest season on record, reporting 700 inches of snow - approximately 300 percent more snow than a normal se

With 70 destinations and 133 aircraft, Saudi Airlines is the third largest in the Middle East, with Jeddah, Riyadh, and Dammam as its main hubs. The airline pride itself on its network strengths to Asia, Europe, Africa and North America, and is aware of the responsibility of being a pioneer within its region. Here some of what you can expect on every Saudi Arabian flight:

Why Saudi Airline has been continuously voted one of the best airlines in the Middle East?

Saudi Airline is the favorite bec

      David Kay

The United States can claim a number of marvelous destinations that offer a unique sense of place, attractions, and traditions: Key West, South Miami Beach, New Orleans – and New Mexico’s petite capital, Santa Fe (pop. 68,000, metro 144,000). Founded by Spanish colonists in 1610 in an area settled by Pueblo tribes as early as the 11th century, La Villa Real de la Santa Fe de San Francisco de Asís (The Royal Town of the Holy Faith of Saint Francis of Assisi), was conquered by th

When staying in the Hamptons, you simply can't do better than a manor house consistently ranked by Condé Nast Johansens as “Most Excellent Inn of the Americas.” Nestled in East Hampton Village, The Baker House 1650 puts you within a quick stroll of shops and restaurants, coveted nearby access to East Hampton Main and Georgica beaches, and a place to play the role of robber baron for the duration of your stay.

Describing The Baker House 1650 as a boutique property is an understatement. Don't even

by Cristóbal Ramírez

A city of nearly two million inhabitants some 200 kilometres (170 miles) from Mexico City, Santiago de Queretaro (usually known simply as Queretaro, and pronouced ke-RE-ta-ro) is one of central Mexico’s great colonial cities, but a little more under the radar to non-Mexicans than, say, San Miguel de Allende or Cuernevaca.

It’s mostly a modern place these days, but the the gridlike city centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, dripping history at every turn. A prime example is

An easy flight from the U.S., Canada and Europe, Costa Rica is a great place to travel, especially to family-friendly Santa Teresa Beach.

Blue ocean and broad white sand beaches, lots of sunshine and warm temperatures make family vacations in Santa Teresa, Costa Rica the best place to go.

Costa Rica is always a favorite destination for family vacations. It’s safe, with plenty of direct flights from the U.S.,
Canada and Europe, and there’s so much for outdoors-loving families to do. The best pa

It was a few years back on a rainy night that we wended our way to Palazzo Manfredi and dinner at its Michelin-starred Aroma restaurant. A lot of hotel stays and superb dining experiences later, we still had a memory of that time and also of our meeting with the elegant Bruno Papaleo, general manager.

Now we were back in Rome, guests at the Palazzo Manfredi, a five-star Relais & Châteaux property (Via Labicano 125), right near the Coliseum. In the 17th century it became a villa of the Evangel

Bai Chay Commercial Center

On Vuon Dao Street in Halong City, the city's most modern mall was once a minuscule market. Its merchandise is diverse, from normal to luxury goods, with slightly higher prices than elsewhere in town - arguable worth it due t

          kelifamily

Of the key developments that have altered Western (and world) civilisation, it could be argued that the Protestant Reformation of 16th-century Europe ranks right up there.  It revolutionised large swaths of the continent’s old mediaeval order as well as myriad aspects of culture, thought, and politics – not to mention creating wars, rivalries, and general upheaval that have profoundly shaped history down to this day.

And the revolt against the corruption, abuses, and excess

           Trial

Though yet another of China's megalopolises, Xi’an (pop. 13.6 million), on an inland plain in the country's northwest, is one of the Middle Kingdom’s oldest cities (dating back some 3,000 years, as well as one of its four great ancient capitals, under a dozen dynasties and 73 emperors). It was also the end of the legendary Silk Road trade route, and in many ways, Han Chinese civilisation was forged here in the city once known as Chang’an.

Time has erased much of this past glo

Hidden deep inside another one of French designer Phillipe Stark’s hotels is the Spa at the Fasano Hotel. This hotel, built with core materials such as wood, glass and marble overlooks life-guard stand Posto 8 on Ipanema Beach. With its spirit of sophisticated casualness- in Havaiana flip-flips or Kenzo espadrilles- you will fit in no matter what your footwear. 

Albeit it is a warm 77F (25C), autumn is full swing here in Rio de Janeiro. I enter the lobby of this beachfront property after a morni

Spring break for my ninth-grade daughter Diz was scheduled for the middle of April.  Since we had such a fantabulous off-season getaway at the Maryland beach resort town of Ocean City in November ‘16, a return trip during the week long spring vacation off was a no-brainer - so in February, I researched our options. We wanted to do our own cooking, so having a kitchen in our room was top priority.  We also wanted to find a hotel that had an authentic O.C.  feel, and preferably some history as we

Following the Japanese Government’s New Initiatives, Japan's Capital and Largest City Also Hopes to Attract International Visitors by Promoting Sake (aka Nihonshu, Literally "Japanese Rice Wine")

As a new and official central government initiative in the 2017 fiscal year (April 1, 2017-March 31, 2018) the Japan Tourism Agency plans to promote “sake brewery tourism” for international tourists visiting Japan. While the agency will select model districts in various parts of the country, where planni

Part of the landmark Café des Artistes restaurants on New York City's Upper West Side (just across the street from Central Park on West 67th Street), The Leopard at des Artistes features museum-quality Howard Chandler Christy wall murals from the early 1930s showcasing nude nymphs modeled on his mistress Elise Ford.

Owned and operated by husband-and-wife-team Gianfranco Sorrentino and Paula Bolla-Sorrentino, along with Executive Chef Vito Gnazzo, The Leopard at des Artistes curates a menu inspi

by Cristóbal Ramírez

In the shadow of Mount Vesuvius, Italy’s third largest city, ancient queen of the Mezzogiorno, the country’s south, is a glorious contradiction. The face of Napoli is luminous, yet sports plenty of wrinkles, scars, and squalour. History, good eating (hey, pizza was invented here), and high culture – right alongside the sinister machinations of the notorious Camorra, as the local mafia is known. Where the traffic is chaotic (even more than in Rome, some claim) and the loca

When you think Goa, midway along India's west coast, a land of wild waves, music, and church bells might come your mind. Yes, the country's smallest state is no doubt the fun capital of Incredible India. 

Colonial Churches

You can feel the Portuguese air in Goa, especially at the old churches. These century old churches of the state remind you of the glorious past of the place; both gorgeous and rich, treasuring the oldest bibles and rare Christian scripts, these churches are believed to be abod

The michelada became popular in Mexico during the 1940s, when people started to mix beer and spicy hot sauces. There are two versions to explain the origin of its name: one attributes it to Michel Ésper, who was said to have invented the drink at the bar of a sports club in San Luis Potosí; time went by and the invention became known as michelada as a tribute to its creator. The second, more simple version says that the name is just a contraction of the phrase “Mi cerveza helada” (my ice-cold b