I embarked on an ambitious six-week journey beginning in Belfast, Ireland and ending in Venice. What an amazing experience it was to watch the seasons turn from Fall into a blistery Winter. I enjoyed fantastic hotel stays (as well as many site visits) and walking tours by locals throughout the trip. Since I love live performances, highlights were the Paris Opera Ballet, violinist Emanuel Ax at the Concertbeau in Amsterdam, the musical, “Rebecca” at the Raimund Theate in Vienna, and “Cabaret” in London. Of course there were many High Teas - especially fabulous was at the Waldorf-Astoria in Amst ..read more

This November, after a wonderful week at DUCO France, I took the train down to Avignon, rented a car, and explored Southern France for a week. While it wasn’t quite warm enough to swim, the weather was still extremely temperate, and the fall colors were stunning. I spent a glorious night among vineyards in the Provençcal countryside at the Château de Fonscolombe, followed by a visit to the legendary La Ponche Hôtel in Saint-Tropez. Even though Saint-Tropez was almost completely empty - save for a smattering of yachts - La Ponche stays open all year-round, making it a perfect off-season destina ..read more

Italy in March was spectacular. The crowds were fairly light and the weather was chilly but comfortable with a light wool jacket. My trip began with three nights in Florence where I particularly enjoyed Cappelle Medicee, a walk across the Ponte Vecchio to see the Santo Spirito, located in the Oltrarno quarter. Of course there was the requisite shoe shopping (I loved DIVA Shoes on the Via Del Corso) and there was plenty of options for fabulous ice cream. Off next to the magnificent Il Falconiere, a Relais and Chateaux hotel overlooking the vineyards where I enjoyed a multicourse lumch at the th ..read more

This summer, I had the privilege of spending a blissful week at Casa Velas, a stunning, adults-only luxury all-inclusive resort in Puerto Vallarta. Tucked away in a tranquil suburb just minutes from the airport, 80-suite Casa Velas is an oasis of intimate, peaceful relaxation where the staff knows you by name and you never have to fight for a plush lounger or cabana by the pool. I walked on the beach, swam in the pristine pool at the beach club, enjoyed countless drinks from the swim-up bar, enjoyed the view from my private plunge pool, and was pampered beyond belief at the spa, all while enjo ..read more

Wow! Paris in autumn was the perfect combination of great weather, few crowds, and glorious meals. At the invitation of DUCO, a luxury travel conference in Paris, I met with dozens of hotel providers, excursion specialists and creators of once-in-a-lifetime experiences! My fabulous hotel for my week in Paris was the Cour des Vosge (an Evok hotel). I enjoyed exquisite meals at Le Roch, Le Bristol, The Intercontinental Paris Le Grande, The Four Seasons George V, and Nolinski Paris. I’d love to plan your next adventure to France! View from room of the Place des Vosges. Lunch at Four Seasons Geo ..read more

The Swiss Alps, a short train ride from Paris, was a perfect setting for an excursion the week before Christmas. The Hotel Bellevue Palace offered a luxurious stay in a contemporary suite with tastefully holiday decorated common areas and restaurants. The hotel welcomed travelers as well as local families out for a special holiday high tea or dinner. From Bern, we traveled to “The Top of Europe” on the Jungfraubahn, the highest train in Europe, culminating in a stunning ride by gondola through the Bernese Alps. Our evenings in Bern were spent wandig the Christmas markets, with their artisan st ..read more

I recently had the pleasure of staying at the glorious Hotel Sofitel Legend The Grand Amsterdam, an historic and impressive property that used to serve as Amsterdam’s City Hall. Upon arrival, the attentive and pampering staff (led by the fabulous Guest Relations team) whisked our bags away, upgraded our room category (which is a guaranteed Virtuoso amenity for our clients!), and brought us to a magnificent room overlooking the adjacent canal. It was the perfect start to a beautiful stay in Amsterdam. Due to the hotel’s perfectly central location, we were able to walk all around the city. We st ..read more

Recently, I had a wonderful stay at the Sofitel Paris Baltimore Tour Eiffel, in the heart of the 16th arrondissement. Walking distance from both the Arc de Triomphe and the Eiffel Tower, it was located perfectly around some of Paris’s most recognizable sites. The rooms were beautiful (see the balcony photo below) and the staff was unbelievably kind and helpful. In just a couple whirlwind days in Paris, I managed to walk and Metro around the city to nearly all of my favorite spots: the Sacre Coeur, Notre Dame, Sainte-Chapelle, the Jardin des Tuileries, and, of course, Ile-St-Louis for my favori ..read more

We traveled up north to experience the beautiful coastline of Oregon, stopping in the City of Portland, Bend, and the winery town of McMinnville. A highlight was the “Fruit Loop” through the Willamette Valley. Oregon Coast near Pacific City, OR ..read more

New York is one of our favorite destinations ! History, theatre, music, shopping, museums, and food make this a popular holiday for all. Our favorites - Zabar’s on the Upper West Side, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, boutiques in SoHo, and the Strand for book-browsing! I was a graduate student at New York University - so Washington Square is always on my NYC itinerary! In June 2022, We set out to visit many luxury properties! We loved the Four Seasons Downtown, The Lowell (Upper East Side), The Beekman (downtown), The Dominick (near NYU), The Crosby and The Whitby (Firmdale Hotel Group). The ..read more