Blogs

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

The island of Bali is truly a dreamlike place to visit. The high volcanoes, thick jungles, and the warm surroundings of the Indian Ocean make it a piece of paradise on Earth. It is truly a fantastic place to visit. Bali is a charming place which can mesmerize its visitors with its cultural diversity and a vast number of activities. Your trip to Bali will be a busy one, and you would experience one of the most extraordinary ordinary adventures on your tour to Bali.

Here are some amazing facts you

The recent years have seen Vietnam emerge as a must-see destination in Southeast Asia. Its landscapes are beautiful, beaches are pristine, and culture is richly influenced by both the west & the east. And just as each region has its own beauty to boast about in different seasons of the year, there’s a lot to experience in Vietnam in summer as well.

And if you’re planning a holiday in Vietnam this summer, we give to you a list of best places to visit in the country for a perfect summer vacay.

Halo

To truly understand Brazil, it seems to me, you of course should visit inimitable Rio de Janeiro, but you also really must come to this city of 3 million (metro area 4 million) up on the coast of the country’s northeastern state of Bahia. Founded in 1549 as the first capital of Portugal’s new colony, Salvador is one of the Americas’ oldest still-existing cities, and this city and state have essentially been the crucible of Brazilian culture and identity.

Today, as the country’s third largest

North America has only three countries officially, but even so, culturally manages to be an amazingly varied continent. There’s no better example than the robust, vibrant francophone culture of Canada’s Quebec province. Its historic capital (pop. 541,000, metro 806,000), even more than larger, higher-profile, and more multicultural Montreal, is a lovely place to experience this close up, and summer is when la Ville de Québec truly blossoms.

Founded by explorer Samuel de Champlain in 1608 at t

Is Costa Rica a new foodies’ travel destination? Hotel Trópico Latino Chef Randy Siles takes the world by surprise showing off Costa Rican cuisine.

Award-winning and gaining international celebrity status in his role as Costa Rica’s Ambassador of National Gastronomy, Randy Siles is loving life as a top chef in Costa Rica. He lives and works steps from one of the country’s prettiest beaches, sharing his passions of surfing with creating inventive sustainable cuisine at Hotel Trópico Latino in Sa

Although only a 15-minute drive north of Long Island's chichi Hamptons, Baron’s Cove in Sag Harbor feels miles away from the full-court press of high society's playground of the rich and famous.

Sag Harbor's rich heritage as a whaling port and later in manufacturing, most visible in the elaborate brick Watchcase Factory now converted into loft-style town homes, shape the village's vibrant walkable downtown and reflect the community surrounding it.

Overlooking the tranquil harbor yet just a five-m

by Cristóbal Ramírez

The Acropolis, the Plaka, and the rest of Greece‘s compelling capital are a treasure chest you could rummage through for days on end. But just as important to this ancient country and culture are sites out in the hinterland, where the air is purer and in many cases life is still simpler. Here are the top 4, all within 180 kilometres (112 miles) of Athens.

Corinth  

The closest-in at just 80 kilometres (48 miles), this ancient city on the Pelopponese peninusla is home to