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Category: Travel

Last time I went to The Colony Hotel in Palm Beach they told me they’d be redoing all their guest rooms and suites. When they let me know the “new” rooms had debuted, how could I not go back to check them out and overnight at one of my top getaway places, Palm Beach (love the shopping among other things), and The Colony. The boutique hotel is very Palm Beach in its lovely design sensibilities, relaxed aura, and the graciousness of its staff.  Like “PB” as I call it, it’s a haven, its own world that’s small (93 rooms) and of good taste and style. If you're just going for the day, Swifty's is a great bet for lunch or dinner.  And speaking about shopping, look for an upcoming post on my fave shops there.
Though not typically thought of as a foodie destination, after a week in Antigua, Guatemala, I put it on my list for culinary travel (and other reasons you'll read about besides).  Have a look at the fruits and vegetables you see in the supermarket in Miami, and many of the better ones come from Guatemala. Since the country was part of the Capitancy -General of Guatemala which included the Mayan empire reaching to Mexico, it was no surprise that there are a number of similar dishes. But the food here is much more -- Guatemala has its own delicious traditional dishes, others that mix Spanish and Mayan influences, and then in Antigua there’s a further exciting offering of dishes from restaurateurs who have studied around the world or moved here and opened restaurants and take advantage of the wonderful local produce. Plus, there’s the booming coffee and chocolate scene, both locally grown. Better than my just talking about the food, best for you to see some of the many exciting dishes my foodie friends and I tried at different restaurants in Antigua, Guatemala. Here's my photo gallery along with other reasons for a visit.
Looking for a travel getaway for next year? It’s not too early to not only start thinking, but booking, given the high demand for travel. (Plus, there's a Black Friday offering for January 2024, read on). Here’s a getaway that I find so appealing, I just had to share it (and am thinking of going). It’s “Nature, Wine & Art”, a five-night slow travel program in Mendoza, Argentina among endless acres of vineyards set against the Andes Mountains. It’s the offering of Susana Balbo Winemaker’s House & Spa Suites, a boutique hotel and estate that’s the creation of Balbo, one of the foremost female vintners in Mendoza. The lesser-known region of Mendoza appeals for its dramatic natural surroundings and soft adventure which you can enjoy horseback riding, biking or  with a private air safari.
I met some of the leading designers in Mykonos a number of years ago and of course knew of some from Athens, but Thessaloniki? Yes, I was told, so the fashion design in this second largest city in Greece became reason for a day tour with Christina Dimitriadou who works with fashion brands and also writes for Glow, a luxury lifestyle magazine in the city. After experiencing the city for a week and coming to see its dynamism and creative talent, it came as no surprise that there’s some exciting Greek fashion design going on that’s worth saving up some Euros for if you go there (and also look for the brands, some of which are sold in the USA). This is part 3 in a series. The first, an overview of Thessaloniki such as history, what to do, where to stay (click here); the second, a foodie's tour of Thessaloniki (click here)
Where to go next in Greece, one of our favorite countries? One of the reasons we settled on Thessaloniki, the second largest city, is this year it enjoys the prestigious distinction of being only one of 36 cities in the world named a Creative City of Gastronomy by UNESCO and the first in Greece. But there’s much more as you’d expect from a city that has seen Ottomans, Byzantines, Normans, Venetians, Lombards and Jews leave their cultural mark and influence as well as Alexander the Great and Aristotle. What to eat in Thessaloniki that has been named the foodie capital of Greece?  Here are some of the amazing eating highlights you can enjoy as we did in a visit, along with valuable tips if you cook, on everything from buying olive oil and yogurt to olives. For an overview about what to do and see and where to stay, click here for Part 1.  And for shopping, stay tuned for Part 3.
Food, fashion, Byzantine and Macedonian history, culture on the Aegean coast with an over three mile long seaside promenade, Thessaloniki, Greek’s second largest city and port. In the distance is the legendary Mount Olympus, the highest mountain in Greece and the birthplace of the Greek gods. Thessaloniki has been on our “to go” list for a long time, and this year we made it, spending eight days. And what’s the other best thing we can say about it? We resolved to return next year.For what to eat in the foodie capital of Greece, look for Part 2 coming up.  And for shopping, stay tuned for Part 3.
Have you been on holiday and ended up having to buy a suitcase for  your new purchases and then lugging it around if going to more than one destination? Plus then you have to pay for excess baggage more than once. There’s a solution which I recently tried out: shipping my new suitcase home in advance of my return. I did this and it worked like a dream thanks to First Luggage.
Rethinking your summer and fall plans because of high airfares? You may want to think about places that are a short flight away, ideal for getaways from Miami,  and still qualify as world class travel destinations. I asked Lea Lane,  a friend and travel industry colleague (writer) whom I've known and greatly admired for many years to come up with a list of places she would pick and their highlights. Heaven knows, she is in the know. She has traveled to more than 100 places and, in fact, wrote a book on the topic. At the end I've added a few suggestions from nearby places I've been to in the past few years and highly recommend.  And please comment if there are places you'd like to add to the list. Enjoy!
Here's a special idea for self gifting for you men, for a birthday or surely one of the fathers day unique gift ideas, a travel and fashion experience created by Yours Truly, her team and Roman client.