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Tag: luxury

My Favorite Santa Barbara Hotel (by far)

My Favorite Santa Barbara Hotel (by far)

My favorite Santa Barbara hotel? That’s easy. Belmond El Encanto won my heart with gracious suites in historic cottages, beautiful gardens, and a panoramic ocean view. Spread over seven acres, the hotel feels more residential than commercial. This isn’t surprising, since the bungalows here started out as lodging for students and faculty when a state […]

September 14, 2016 | Updated: September 14, 2016 | By Elizabeth | 1 Reply More
Most Romantic Christchurch Accommodation

Most Romantic Christchurch Accommodation

New Zealand: Christchurch accommodation comes in all shapes and sizes, but Otahuna Lodge is easily the most romantic. The stately Victorian mansion is surrounded by 30 acres of beautiful gardens, emerald green lawns, and fragrant woodlands. Seven spacious bedrooms – most with working fireplaces – are both grand and welcoming. If you’ve ever longed to […]

February 13, 2016 | Updated: February 14, 2016 | By Elizabeth | Reply More
Best Hotel Suites Near La Jolla Cove, San Diego

Best Hotel Suites Near La Jolla Cove, San Diego

La Jolla Cove is easily the most recognized spot in my hometown – and for good reason. The lovely little beach is a mere dollop compared to the long stretches of sand in the rest of San Diego. And – because it’s sheltered by low sandstone cliffs – La Jolla Cove feels cozy. Snorkelers and […]

October 8, 2015 | Updated: October 9, 2015 | By Elizabeth | Reply More
Victoria Falls – Best Places to Stay in Livingstone

Victoria Falls – Best Places to Stay in Livingstone

Victoria Falls – located between the countries of Zambia and Zimbabwe in Africa – is the world’s largest sheet of falling water. It is nearly twice the height of Niagara Falls in North America. In height and width it is rivaled only by Iguazu Falls in South America. As you might imagine, this notoriety has […]

July 21, 2015 | Updated: July 22, 2015 | By Elizabeth | 1 Reply More
Rancho La Puerta – Savor Mexico Near San Diego

Rancho La Puerta – Savor Mexico Near San Diego

Rancho La Puerta, the famous spa retreat in Tecate, Mexico, is a great option for visitors to San Diego who want a taste of Mexican culture. The resort is an hour east of San Diego and just 3.3 miles south of the border. Normally reservations are only accepted for one-week stays, but savvy San Diegans […]

July 16, 2015 | Updated: July 20, 2015 | By Elizabeth | 1 Reply More
Carmel Valley – Where to Stay and Play

Carmel Valley – Where to Stay and Play

Carmel Valley is a popular destination for luxury loving Californians. Resorts, lodges, and restaurants in this area two hours from San Francisco offer the food, wine, and activities that Golden State residents love. Want to connect with the local culture? You couldn’t make a better choice than to spend some time at Carmel Valley Ranch. When I […]

July 13, 2015 | Updated: July 21, 2015 | By Elizabeth | 1 Reply More
Amazon River – Cruising Peru in Style

Amazon River – Cruising Peru in Style

Amazon River cruising didn’t sound all that appealing when my friend Nina first mentioned it to me. In fact, just the words “Amazon River” conjured up visions of someone in a grungy boat swatting at flies and dodging Anacondas. However, I sat up and took noticed when I clicked on the link that Nina sent […]

June 12, 2015 | Updated: June 14, 2015 | By Elizabeth | 2 Replies More
Santa Fe, NM – What’s Hot This Summer

Santa Fe, NM – What’s Hot This Summer

Santa Fe, New Mexico is a popular summer destination because this “City Different” offers an abundance of cultural activities. In this guest post, local Santa Fe expert Judith Moir gives us a heads up on what’s on this season. Judith previously shared her thoughts about Christmas in Santa Fe. As a local, I’m always excited […]

May 27, 2015 | Updated: May 27, 2015 | By Elizabeth | Reply More
Sol y Luna – Enjoy This Luxury Peru Lodging

Sol y Luna – Enjoy This Luxury Peru Lodging

Sol y Luna was our first luxury hotel experience in Peru and it set a high bar for the rest of our trip. The rustic / chic inn is located in the town of Urubamba in the Sacred Valley – about an hour from Cusco. I enjoyed the spacious grounds, where winding paths connect 43 […]

May 20, 2015 | Updated: May 20, 2015 | By Elizabeth | Reply More
About Authentic Luxury Travel, About Me

About Authentic Luxury Travel, About Me

Welcome. You’ve come to the right place if you’re looking for authentic luxury travel options. There’s nothing I enjoy more than sharing what I’ve learned during the course of a long career as a travel journalist and photographer. Looking for a boutique hotel? A private guide in Mumbai? A way to avoid the crowds in […]

March 23, 2015 | Updated: April 14, 2015 | By admin | 7 Replies More
Cozumel Vacation Rentals –How to Find a Home

Cozumel Vacation Rentals –How to Find a Home

Cozumel Vacation Rentals are not in short supply. However, it took my husband and me a couple of days to find a house that would meet the needs of our family. In fact, I thought we might go blind looking on VRBO, Flip Key, and HomeAway – and then we finally found the home of […]

March 16, 2015 | Updated: March 17, 2015 | By Elizabeth | 1 Reply More
Zambia Safari – Hippos & Crocs & Kudus!

Zambia Safari – Hippos & Crocs & Kudus!

The first night of our Zambia safari I awakened to a familiar grumbling noise and issued my usual plea: “Rick, please stop snoring!” “It’s not me,” my husband whispered from a moonlit corner of our tent. “It’s the hippos in the river. They’re really making a racket.” I sat up and listened to the chorus […]

February 28, 2015 | Updated: March 9, 2015 | By Elizabeth | 1 Reply More
Nevis – a Caribbean Island for Savvy Travelers

Nevis – a Caribbean Island for Savvy Travelers

Nevis wasn’t the first Caribbean island I visited. Like many travelers, I started with bigger, more obvious places. Some of these have international airports and almost all of them are on the cruise ship circuit. But what I wanted was an authentic experience, a chance to meet local people and learn about their culture. So […]

February 9, 2015 | Updated: February 11, 2015 | By Elizabeth | Reply More
Love this Romantic Los Angeles Hotel

Love this Romantic Los Angeles Hotel

Most Romantic Los Angeles Hotel?  How about one that’s secluded on 12 lush acres in Beverly Hills and is positively steeped in Hollywood love affair history?  You just couldn’t ask for a better backstory. The Beverly Hills Hotel and Bungalows The “pink” palace was built in 1912 and offers 185 rooms and suites – plus […]

January 30, 2015 | Updated: January 31, 2015 | By Elizabeth | 3 Replies More
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