Blogs

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

From awe-inspiring nature to the joy of slowing down, discovering magic and finding gratitude, a visit to Santa Teresa, Costa Rica just might alter your life forever.

You’ll change your relationship with nature. In Santa Teresa, nature is center stage and everywhere. Walk down amazingly beautiful beaches where it’s just you and the sand, surf, sky and serenity. Encounter the mighty power of Mother Nature in a gushing thunderstorm. Experience the delicate fragility of life in an orchid. And you’ll

Located an hour north of San Diego and a few minutes more than that south of Los Angeles, Temecula Valley wine country just keeps getting better, with mature vineyards and beautiful places to enjoy. On my recent visit, I was impressed by how much the area had grown since my visit 20 years ago. Upscale wineries that rival Napa and Sonoma and scenic views as far as the eye can see.  At that time, you could count the number of wineries on one hand, and now 44 wineries dot the Temecula landscape. Th

by Miguel Martínez Rabanal


Chile is a very special country, full of very special sights and experiences. But the Polynesian island of Rapa Nui is not only special, but dramatically unique in all the world. What makes it worth the time (a five-hour flight from Santiago), effort, and expense to make your way out to this wee chunk of rock in the middle of the southeastern Pacific Ocean –  one of the world’s most remoted inhabited islands? 

Named Isla de Pascua because it was found by Europeans (th

One of Central America’s most atmospheric cities, named upon founding in 1524 after the original Granada in southern Spain’s Andalusia region, this city on the shores of Lake Nicaragua (aka Lake Concibolca) in the west of Nicaragua is the oldest on the the Americas’ continental mainland. About 40 minutes by road from capital Managua and its airport, this Granada (pop.  1118,000) is also one of CentAm’s loveliest and most popular with visitors (quite on a par with its colonial sister capital A

Lucca is a captivating walled medieval city located in Tuscany, one of Italy’s most visited regions.  The exploration of a destination city can be either measured in hours or in days - day tripper versus slow traveler. And we encourage the latter whenever possible… so stop and smell the pizza!

The Day Tripper’s View of Lucca

With a relatively tight timeframe, the challenge is to see as many highlights as possible during a brisk march through town and checking off the must-see sites within the cit

Chile offers a broad spectrum of varietals produced in eight regions across 600 miles of vastly diverse terroir, running the gamut from coastal highlands to craggy Andean plateaus 13,000 feet or more above sea level.

The concept of grapes and wine making was little known in Chile before Spanish conquistadors invaded during the 1500s, planting Pais vines, which are now considered Chiles national grape. At the time, Pais, also known as “mission grapes” fed a growing need for sacramental wine used

The Mayan Riviera, right in the Mexican Caribbean, is not only to be enjoyed during the daytime, with the huge beaches, the bright sunshine and all the water sports and parks. The Mayan Riviera has a wide variety of nightlife for the most demanding partygoers.

On the Mayan Riviera you will find small discotheques and bars in towns such as Tulum, Akumal, Puerto Aventuras and especially at the heart of the Riviera, in Playa del Carmen, a town that concentrates the largest and most varied offer of l

Originally, the Temple of Débod stood in Egypt, on the right bank of the River Nile, and was dedicated to the god Amun and the goddess Isis. At the beginning of the 20^th Century, it was decided, for water conservation purposes, to dam the river at Aswan, downstream of the temple.

Unfortunately, some important ancient monuments would be lost beneath the surface of the resulting lake … including the beautiful Temple of Isis on Philae Island, and the not-so-well regarded Temple of Débod nearby,

How

In case you didn't already know it, Puerto Rico is a commonwealth territory of the United Sates. While Spanish is the official language, just about everyone knows some English, so you should be fine if you don't speak any. 

As you can imagine the area is tropical, with temperatures nearing 90 degrees year round. There is minimal change in water temperature through the different seasons, making this a great destination for both snorkeling and scuba diving.

Since the temperature only fluctuates arou