Tag: travel
Why I love this New Zealand Beach Resort
New Zealand beach communities are dotted along the country’s coast. Until recently, I thought I’d experienced the best of them – but then I found Waikanae. In a roundabout way, I have my husband to thank for this discovery. If he hadn’t wanted to spend “at least one full day” at the Southward Car Museum, […]
Trip Planning Help Just For You
Trip planning making your head spin? I feel your pain. Even though I’ve been planning trips for myself and others for a long time, I still spend hours sorting out the options. It doesn’t help that I’m somewhat obsessive (ok, strike somewhat) about finding the perfect lodging and figuring out ways to avoid crowds of […]
Catalina Island – An Insider’s Guide
Catalina Island – the place that’s “26 miles across the sea,” has a reputation as being touristy, but it doesn’t have to be that way. There’s also an authentic side to Catalina. On my last visit, I found a charming inn, a great place to eat, and a spa that truly reflects the island’s heritage – all […]
Hilo Hawaii – Best Authentic (Logo Free) B&B
Hilo…If you’ve been following this blog for a while, you know I’m not a fan of highrise hotels covered in corporate logos. This is particularly true in places like the Big Island where the local laid-back lifestyle includes surfing, hula, and celebrating the culture of Old Hawaii. On my most recent trip to the Big […]
Best La Jolla Shores Hotels, San Diego
La Jolla Shores Beach is a long stretch of sand about a mile from La Jolla’s popular shopping and dining areas in the “village.” The Shores is where San Diego locals and visitors head for walking, kayaking, surfing, sunning, SCUBA diving, and playing in the waves. In short, La Jolla Shores is pretty much paradise. […]
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 […]
Air New Zealand, Santa & Our Fabulous Trip
Air New Zealand made it possible for my husband Richard and me to enjoy four wonderful weeks of New Zealand summer. We left Los Angeles on December 24, 2015 and came back on January 21, 2016 – and it was all terrific. As I’ve mentioned before , I’ve spent a lot of time Down Under […]
Christchurch NZ – Rooms With A View
Christchurch NZ is a little short on places to stay at the moment. The earthquakes that shook the area during 2010 and 2011 wiped out almost 80% of the city central, including several hotels. So what’s a visitor to do? Had I been looking for a chic boutique hotel, I would have opted for The […]
Holiday Gifts for the Travelers on Your List
Holiday gifts for travelers? I’m not a great shopper, but if your friends and family are nomads – like me – I do have some thoughts on pressies they might like. And because I know how busy you are at this time of the year – I’m only going to suggest things that can be […]
Japan – Restaurant Reservations for Foodies
Japan is a wonderful destination, but not an easy place for authentic travelers. We can’t just rent a car and drive around on our own. If we wander off the beaten path, it’s challenging to use local signage to find our way back. In addition, the resident population is very polite, but most people are […]
Houston Restaurants – Insider Tips & My Favorite
Houston restaurants have evolved. Once limited to Tex Mex and BBQ, they now offer a wide variety of other cuisines and some very unusual preparations of local ingredients. I learned this during a recent brief visit, during which I managed to try at least a half dozen Houston restaurants. Best Houston restaurants After all the sipping and […]
Bargain Airline Tickets From Santa
Airline tickets: if you’re like me, shopping around for the best airfares is not your favorite thing to do. I mean, could it be more confusing? You have to research a zillion carriers, times of day, days of the week, seasons of the year, and – now – even specific seats within the plane. Seriously, […]
Authentic Tuscany in a Day with Km Zero
Authentic Tuscany…Before I read this guest post, I thought exploring Tuscany was, by definition, a multi-day event. However, I now realize I thought that because I’ve always driven around on my own and not really known where to go. In contrast, the author of this post toured Tuscany with two very connected locals. They knew […]
Lava Lava Beach Club – Eat, Play, Slumber
Lava Lava Beach Club. Isn’t that a great name? And here’s the best part: unlike many cool monikers that aren’t as great as they sound – this place is even better. Located right on the beach on the Kona side of the Big Island of Hawaii, the Lava Lava Beach club is both a great […]
