Blogs

by Cristóbal Ramírez

Guatemala might bring many things to mind – the ancient Mayan majesty of Tikal…the present-day culture of their descendants in places like Chichicastenango and Atitlán…the colonial elegance of Antigua. But this Central American country also has a small sliver of Caribbean coast, and this is another, unexpected Guatemala altogether.

Livingston is a small barefoot town on this coast that can be reached only by ferry or motorboat from two other towns, Puerto Barrios and Río Dulce

Few public inns in the United States can boast the patriotic pedigree of the Thayer Hotel at West Point, in New York State's Hudson Valley.

We paid a visit to the award winning Thayer Hotel during the holiday season, and felt it especially appropriate to write about this unique hotel on Veterans Day, when we honor the members of the military that have gallantly served our country.

General Douglas MacArthur stayed at the Thayer whenever he visited the military academy. Dwight D. Eisenhower did the

Members of the International Food, Wine, and Travel Writers Association (IFWTWA) gathered in the Temecula Valley for their SoCal regional area meeting to showcase two area wineries.  We had lunch and a winery tour at Mount Palomar Winery and we visited Europa Village to learn about the progress of the future Europa Village Wineries, Resort and Spa.

Annata Bistro/Bar, Mount Palomar’s full-service bar and restaurant, opened in 2015.  Italian for vintage, Annata has lovely views of the valley; serve

Notebooks, ultrabooks, and tablets have become traditional gear for the private and business travelers. However, significant benefits of possessing plenty of data on hand while on en route does include a risk to private and business files and documents. 

Below are several techniques you may increase the security of your computer while traveling.

The bag

Always keep the laptop computer in a strong and durable bag created specifically for laptops. The sleeve must be well padded. It is convenient to u

Following up on posts serving up the best vegetarian dining options in Europe and Latin America, I’m turning to the United States, one of the countries where the veg trend was pioneered. The variety at this stage in dining history is impressive, from hardcore little raw food cafés to elaborate and très stylish haute cuisine. Read on, and you’ll see what I mean. 

Boston

In greater Beantown, the veggie trend has long centred most noticeably in Cambridge, with its strong academic and “crunchy” com

A long, curving driveway through the middle of ranch country led us to what was going to become a charming and serene couple of days full of natural beauty at Holman Ranch.

Each of us gathered our belongings and opened the door to our private rooms off the ranch-style patio complete with rocking chairs and artwork. Once inside, we found a hacienda-styled room with leather chairs around the dining table. To add to the ambience, the Western-style comforters were topped with suede-covered pillows. R

Greenpoint, Brooklyn's northernmost neighborhood, started out as farmland that was eventually parceled out during the 19th Century to accommodate insatiable residential expansion away from New York City's core. There was also abundant commerce thanks to direct shipping access via the East River to New York Harbor the Atlantic Ocean beyond. Miles of factories and warehouses fueled the neighborhood's livelihood and character until the 1970's when the economy and manufacturing experienced the first

Shopping in any town or city of Morocco is an unforgettable experience, because the color, the spirit and the variety of these bazaars are a gift for the senses. You’ve pretty much got to haggle—accepting the first price they offer you is considered offensive, so it’s best to play along with the tradesmen if you want to buy something, otherwise you’ll get ripped off.

At these bazaars you can find almost anything. Buying is easy because everything you may want or need to buy can be found at these

In Peru’s south, some 11,200 feet (3,400 meters) up in the Peruvian Andes, one of Latin America’s most fascinating small cities is one of the country’s most popular destinations thanks to its quite unique mix of adventure travel options but most especially Spanish colonial architecture mingled with extraordinary pre-Columbian Inca sites. It’s an absolute bucket-lister for all travelers, and here’s why. 

Any exploration of this city of about 435,000 (whose name is also widely spelled Cusco, and i

Whether you're planning a trip to properly kick off Montreal's 375^th Anniversary or simply want the latest scoop on maximizing your visit to the most sophisticated city north of the U.S.- Canadian border, the following hotels and activities are all sure bets:

Hotel Gault

It's hard to believe that Hotel Gault actually got its start in 1871 as a cotton factory. Now one of Old Montreal's smallest historic boutique hotels, its exterior retains the original ornate Paris-inspired Haussman greystone fas

by Cristóbal Ramírez

The forests here in this part of northern Spain are lovely and verdant, but they also exude an aura of mystery – and not just because of the sounds of the animals and the wind in the trees. Up in the north of the of Spain’s ethnically Basque autonomous community of Navarre, near the French border, the shire of Xareta is home to a town called Zugarramurdi, an hour’s drive from San Sebastián and just slightly more than that from Pamplona. Once upon a time, it was a hotbed of w

photos: David Paul Appell

Way up in the Andes, Ecuador’s capital city – the word’s highest official capital – is something muy especial indeed, its bustling modern precincts surrounding a historic old town dating back to 1543 that is not only Latin America’s largest but also the very first UNESCO World Heritage Site, back in 1978. And while you’re taking in Quito’s inspiring sights, sounds, and experiences, naturally you’ll want to amply sample the local food. It’s available in many venues, fro

The laid-back pace of Chincoteague Island, Virginia is perfect for visitors who want to turn off their engines, hang loose, and soak up the stunning beauty of the surroundings.  But for vacationers who, after they’ve appropriately chilled out, begin itching for stuff to do, there’s plenty of memorable action to choose from.

Based on tips from the good folks at Fairfield Inn &  Suites by Marriott, Chincoteague Island, here’s a trio of excellent activities that I checked out and experienced with

by Myrna Katz Frommer & Harvey Frommer 

My birthday is this month and I turned 50, so wanting to do something I always I want to do I headed over the Munich, Germany for the famous Oktoberfest. Contrary to what you might think, it starts in mid September and goes into the first week of October.

It was part of a larger trip that I will write about another time. We got into Munich on the Friday before it started and planned on going to the opening ceremonies. Honestly we had not done a whole lot of research before going so we had a lot t

As traveling with pets has become increasingly common, the hospitality industry is warming up to furry guests. More and more hotels and restaurants are opening their doors to pooches. (NOTE: Delta has tightened policies and other airlines are prohibiting animals in the passenger cabin). In addition, several movers have entered the travel and tourism arena, specializing in pet shipping services. Pet tourism is a million-dollar market for pet parents who cannot imagine a trip without their four-l

Sri Lanka's political and business capital, on the island country's west coast, is blessed with a rich colonial heritage is a fine blend of races, religions and cultures, as well as colonial and contemporary architecture. Its streets are packed with three-wheel motorised vehicles called tuks-tuks, which can be convenient to get around (just be sure to choose metered tuk-tuks instead of trying to negotiate rates with drivers).   Alternatively, you can look for a tourist-friendly fleet that’s oper

Australia's biggest city truly comes alive during springtime (and remember, those of your in the northern hemisphere, that's your autumn!). From fantastic music festivals and extraordinary exhibitions to refreshing feasts and popular rooftop bars, you can indulge in the beauty of Sydney’s most amazing scenes, vibrant nightlife and appealing outdoor activities. Here, the spring runs from September to November and the days are warm and sunny with comfortable temperatures reaching 24 degrees Celsi

Clustered within the Aegean and Ionian seas, 227 of Greece's 6,000 islands are inhabited and a few of these support some impressive wineries. Thanks to a wide-ranging Mediterranean climate with sundrenched days, deep blue seas, and mountainous terrain with challenging soils, 38 distinct indigenous grapes varieties, some nearly lost to the ravages of market demand and changing weather patterns, are still growing strong. Thanks to newly invigorated interest increasing imports worldwide, now has ne

The next time you are in Honolulu, make it a point to experience this unique site. Take a short drive up the Pali (Cliff) Highway to one of Hawaii’s most scenic points – the Nuuanu Pali Lookout.

This vantage point oversees Oahu’s lush and panoramic windward coast. The location was the site of the historic Battle of Nuuanu, after which, victorious King Kamehameha I was able to unite Hawaii under one ruler.

The famous battle claimed the lives of hundreds of warriors from both sides. It is recorded t