Search results for 'santa barbara'

Guayquil, Ecuador, classiness and luxury come together in this small yet vibrant city. Situated along the Pacific Ocean, Guayaquil delivers exclusive shopping, dinning, culture and luxurious lifestyle.

Take the road less traveled through central Italy and explore the smaller, more authentic towns in Tuscany and Umbria.

“Come with me to the Casbah!”

Who said those immortal words, in which movie, or book?

They certainly capture the magic of what lies ahead when you chose to visit this beautiful city on the water.  For such a small country, Morocco is blessed with several “major” cities, all with their own real and distinctive feelings and fabulous flavors.

I came to Florida looking for sun and surf, and by happy accident found the most beautiful beach in the Panhandle – Gulf Islands. This is a National Park, unspoiled and pristine, with snow-white sand and emerald green waters. A lovely park to drive through and great place to camp.

MYKONOS – is just possibly THE most famous of all the Greek Islands. And a well-deserved honor - as well as being Party Central for the country...

One of the famed Cyclades Islands, Mykonos's fame and notoriety goes back hundreds of years. A war ground between so many differing factions, Mykonos reflects the grandeur of its history, as well as the excitement and modernity of being one of Europe's top tourist island destinations.

It’s been said that the number one leisure activity for the baby boom generation is travel, and, being a boomer, I can attest to the allure that travel holds.  Journeying is invigorating, fun, relaxing, and romantic and it can bring history alive in a way nothing else does.

In the past year, I’ve written many articles and hotel reviews and thought I’d share my top 10 choices for summer fun. In case you’ve missed reading some, here is your chance to find that special spot before summer makes it’s exit.

Experience Northern California with Collette! From its most popular cities to fertile valleys and historic gold rush towns, many hidden treasures await. Travelers will enjoy dinner overlooking the San Francisco Bay, the incredible beauty of Yosemite National Park, the pristine waters of Lake Tahoe, and sipping on California wines at a wine tasting. 

There is no doubt about it, a visit to the Happiest Place on Earth requires more planning than most other destinations. From where to stay to what time of year to visit, there are many decisions to be made, each of them with numerous options. But with thoughtful planning comes great reward, and when you’re taking in the fireworks in front of Cinderella’s Castle, you will no doubt think you’ve been sprinkled with pixie dust. 

Join Collette on an adventure through the art, history and culture of Rome on the brand new Spotlight on Rome tour! This new tour is unique because it offers travelers the luxury to unpack just once for a single hotel stay and it blends the inclusions Collette is known for with free time to explore on your own. Travelers are sure to be captivated by Rome’s old-world charm blending with its lively cosmopolitan energy. Come to know the history and traditions of this spectacular city on tour with Collette. The unforgettable experiences are endless. 

Semsa Denizsel, the chef, owner took one of the very first farm-to-table approaches in Istanbul. She knew in her late teens she wanted to be a chef. Her background started when she studied at London School of Printing. She worked with magazines as a food stylist Semsa ran another restaurant before her dream came to life when she opened Kantin in Jan. 2,000. Semsa has had so much fun with her success. She has her own radio show and does a lot of consulting on the side.

It's always a treat to find an unexpected property in an area that most people visit and stay in high rise hotels. Although many of those properties sit right on the beach and offer a lot of amenities, sometimes it's just plain nice to stay in a cozy, comfortable spot that feels more like home. The Channel Road Inn is just one of those places.

If you like visiting the Mediterranean, you will LOVE coming to Catalina Island. Only 26 miles from the Long Beach pier, you arrive within one hour in the magical town of Avalon. If you have never been here, you must do yourself a favor and put it on your Bucket List. I'm always surprised to find that many people are unfamiliar with this destination. I attended a Film Festival there last year and had the opportunity to spend some time with Stan Lee (yes, THAT Stan Lee!) and learned that this was his first visit to the Island. He said he was coming back with his wife because he was so enamored with this place. He lives in L.A. and never took the time to come the 26 miles.

With its cocaine days in the past, the Colombian seaport of Cartagena has emerged as the belle of the ball. Cartagena, a fairy tale city of romance, legends, and sheer beauty, is a captivating place that can be hard to escape. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site, Cartagena draws legions of tourists and thus, inevitably, aggressive touts and money changers. This is the place to drop all sightseeing routines. Instead, just stroll through Cartagena's maze of cobbled alleys, where enormous balconies are hidden and massive churches cast their shadows across leafy plazas. 

Pensacola Beach has been a destination for our family many times. We have spent Christmas there as well as summer vacations. We visited our niece who worked in the city. Pensacola Beach is on Santa Rosa Island, one of the longest barrier islands in the world. Pensacola Beach pier is a great spot for fishing and one of the longest on the Gulf of Mexico at 1471 feet. 

First of all, please be sure to rent a car. This is a must for Los Angeles no matter where you stay, because everything is so spread out. Having stayed in Santa Monica, downtown Los Angeles, the heart of Beverly Hills and Hollywood, I keep finding myself drawn back to the Beverly Hills Plaza Hotel. This property is located between Westwood and Century City and is about a 5 minute drive into Beverly Hills. The area is residential, so you actually feel like you live here. Also, because it is residential, you can find free parking on the street after business hours and can avoid paying for valet parking, which is available if you choose. Let's face it, you will probably be out exploring all day anyway.

Milan is the fashion capital of Italy, if not the world.  Many plan trips to Milan just to indulge in the many shops that sell high quality leather purses, shoes and clothing.There is always something for everyone and I have found their clothing and leather goods to be very reasonable and of high quality.  For women, even in the local grocery store, one can pick up non-run hosiery that will last for months!

The Balearic Islands that lie to the east of mainland Spain often receive a bad press but, in many respects, it’s hard to know why.

Maybe it’s because of Ibiza’s infamy for being the late night party capital of Europe, or because areas of Menorca and Majorca (or more locally Mallorca) have sold their soul to high-rise package holiday firms catering for the ‘cheap and cheerful’ all-inclusive brigade.

But look deeper and, on the island of Majorca in particular, you will unearth many stunningly beautiful regions with graceful Moorish towns, marvellous beaches and sporting facilities that rival many of the world’s most exclusive resorts.

Avoiding all-night raves like the plague, I travelled to Palma, the historic capital city of Majorca which is the largest of the five Balearic Islands. A beautiful ancient fortified town, I arrived to play golf, try the tapas and taste some wonderful, locally produced red wines. I left, just longing for more.

Santa Barbara – Just 90 minutes from Los Angeles juxtaposed between the local wine region of the Santa Ynez valley and the Pacific Ocean is known as the gold coast of California.  Also known as the American Riviera of the West Coast it’s mild and nearly perfect climate all year round weather make this a perfect destination. 

Come on, you're never too old to believe in Santa Claus and I think I found out that he lives here in Finland, not the North Pole! This amazing Igloo Village and Hotel is located in the vicinity of Urho Kekkonen National Park, just about 21 miles from the Ivalo Airport.

Travel from the Galapagos Archipelago to the Sacred Valley of the Incas.