A Chic Week in Sydney and Melbourne

December 28, 2011

SYDNEY AND MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA- Last month, my husband and I traded in almost all of our frequent flier miles on Etihad Airlines to fly from our current home in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, to Sydney, Australia. The 14-hour flight seemed to take forever, but it was much shorter than it would… (more)

Paris by way of the Silk Road at Hôtel Daniel

December 10, 2011

PARIS, FRANCE – If you’re like me, your passport is a well-worn hodgepodge of stamps from the Middle East and Far East (Jordan, China, Japan, Vietnam), the best of the West (Spain, France, UK), and a sprinkling of North/South (Mexico, Argentina). But whatever direction my compass points me, I love… (more)

Waxing “Place de Vosges” poetic at Pavillon de la Reine

November 23, 2011

PARIS, FRANCE – As Parisian public squares go, I’m especially partial to the picturesque scenery of Place de Vosges. Built in the 17th century, it served as a prototype of “urban planning” for the residential squares of European capitals: uniform red brick housefronts set above vaulted stone arcades with central… (more)

Posh digs at the Pelham Hotel

October 2, 2011

LONDON, UK–When I’m visiting London by myself, the Pelham is one of my lodgings of choice for two reasons. One, the oh-so-cozy rooms are just a little *too* cozy for two, but cozy (in the good sense!) for one. And two, even after just one night, the whole staff knows… (more)

Trouble-free booking (and bubbly to boot) on Tablet

August 29, 2010

THE WORLD – So let’s say you’ve found that perfect boutique hotel in your favorite destination. You can almost see the stunning city view out your window, taste the freshly made cocktails in the lounge, and feel the soft Frette linens on your skin. Except…you first have to figure out… (more)