Travel

By Paula Conway

Bermuda has long been a favorite of East Coasters in need of a quick escape to a tropical paradise, but if there was ever one thing about Bermuda’s turquoise waters, coral reefs and impeccable British hospitality that made it undesirable, it was the price of admission. With airfares around $600 roundtrip and hotel prices starting at $290/night, few could afford the Bermuda vacation. As of recently, however, Bermuda takes on a whole new hue. The little known USA3000Airlines, based in Pennsylvania, offers flights from Newark for as low as $79 each way. New Yorkers can celebrate the perfect weather with the perfect price tag.

By Rory Winston

We were gringos once again and it wasn’t even Mexico. At least that’s how the laid back locals, the Tico, referred to us. Columbus had slept here, all right. That much was clear as we counted all the missing indigenous tribes: the Nahuatl, the Chibcha, all of them gone without a trace. In lieu of the loss, the conquistadores were gracious enough to leave behind their Spanish diminutives. Costa Rica was one of those unique places where there was a ‘cute’ way to say almost anything. Ironically, it was also a country where flora had a far more successful career than man. Nestled between the Caribbean and the Pacific, the “Rich Coast” (a literal translation of Costa Rica), was an environmentalist’s paradise. Though entire civilizations had vanished without a trace, trees were doing great. Likewise, folivores thrived. An industrious local, the three-toed-Sloth seemed to smirk at new arrivals between bouts of deeper slumber. Perhaps, he realized that our presence—like that of previous inhabitants— was transient.

In Montauk, The Last Town On Long Island, Summer May Not Be Endless—But It Sure Lasts Long

By Lynn Andriani
About 100 miles east of Manhattan, Montauk is the antidote to the Hamptons: relaxed and unaffected, with waters that attract surfers and fishermen. It’s predictably fun in the summertime, but the off-season—fall, especially—is lovely. Daytime temperatures in the fall usually hit the mid-70s, and swimmers can still brave the ocean, which usually hovers around 66 degrees. Hotels offer lower rates, restaurants remain open (and can be filled on weekends, so call ahead) and finding a spot on the beach is no problem at all.

By Linda M. Rovello
My guy’s idea of a great getaway is tennis all day and poker all night. Yeah, good, but my idea of “great” means doing something we haven’t done before like white water rafting, roaming the souks of Marrakesh, or camping out with the dog.

By Anne Machalinski

Esther and Edward Bourg will likely spend Thanksgiving in New York City this year. They’ll travel from the San Francisco Bay area to spend time with their daughter in Manhattan. The Bourgs may stay in a Brooklyn brownstone or a loft in SoHo, or maybe even a posh doorman building on the Upper East Side. While the accommodations are yet to be determined, the retirees know they won’t have to pay hefty holiday rates at a hotel.

By Susan Donaldson James

Nancy Chuang was fresh out of graduate school last summer, tight on funds but ready for adventure. With her 50,000 frequent flyer miles, she spent seven weeks on a solo tour through the Middle East. In all that time, the 29-year-old Manhattan fashion designer never paid for a hotel room. Instead she relied on the hospitality of strangers.

Speechless Retreats Are On The Rise

By Victoria Schlesinger

When Jamie Wyatt asked God for guidance, she received a clear message: "Be still." Taking the inspiration to heart, the full-time mom from Atlanta began to study the virtues of quietness and later that year ventured on her first silent retreat. For two days she didn’t utter a word, as she prayed and meditated at a Catholic getaway in the woods.

By Karen Sloan

Sixty feet beneath the jungle floor in Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, inside a limestone cave filled with water, Tom Stotmeyer was at an impasse. How was he going to get his stout frame through a foot-and-a-half wide opening framed by stalactites hanging from the cave ceiling and stalagmites poking up from the cave floor?

By Nichola Saminather

Lois Gruendl, from Virginia, and Karen Schmidt, from Alaska, decided to splurge on a two-week adventure trip to New Zealand to celebrate their 50th birthdays this year.

By Nichola Saminather

Lois Gruendl, from Virginia, and Karen Schmidt, from Alaska, decided to splurge on a two-week adventure trip to New Zealand to celebrate their 50th birthdays this year.