Blogs

Ever wanted to have your own private tropical island?

That was the dream of Argentinean Jorge Benatuel, co-owner of eco-boutique Hotel Laguna Azul in Bocas del Toro, Panama.

The intense city-life of Buenos Aires is a far-cry from the backwater southern Caribbean archipelago of Bocas del Toro in northwestern Panama. But in 1998, Benatuel and his wife traveled from Argentina to Bocas del Toro on vacation. They spent 15 days boating around Bocas del Toro’s nine major islands and 200-plus islets, lo

“Honey, I still don’t see any action in the restaurant!”  

We were sitting on the balcony of our hotel high above the Adriatic with a view directly into a large, empty, open-air restaurant built in a cave which was also high above the crashing surf. For experienced independent travelers we were getting a little concerned. Did we just make a big leap of faith on a good friend’s recommendation to go to this isolated location for an exceptional dining experience?

The Journey of Faith and a Twinge

Spend a few days in Charleston South Carolina's Low Country and you'll either hear about Wild Dunes Resort or be staying there. An iconic beach getaway across the harbor from downtown Charleston in Isle of Palms, Wild Dunes is a sanctuary from everyday hassles. This means you're not even getting inside the gates unless you're on the guest list or show your pass.

The resort's 1600 acre chunk of barrier island wasn't always so intensely developed. Long the stomping grounds of Sewee Natives and loca