Travel

By Deeqa Rafle

Welcome to the Verandah Resorts and Spa! Whether you are in need of a quick getaway, honey-moon, or just a romantic vacation with that special someone the Verandah Resort and Spa has got you covered. Equipped with kid-friendly activities and action-packed fun you are bound to get a whirlwind of events done during your stay.

By Jackie Yin

I’ve always been wondering how poetic it would be if there exists a place where seasons stopped changing and in front of my eyes, the vibrant sea finally melted into the veil of the sky. Time is lost; beauty is eternal. When I was strolling down the beach in a quiet afternoon in Fort Lauderdale, I knew my dream had come true.

By Narbeh Minassian

As the temperature rises and the Manhattan madness intensifies after months of work in the heart of the most bustling metropolis in the world, it may be the right time to swap the skyscrapers and suits for palm trees and swimwear.

By Lisa Loverro

A recent trip to Rome landed me in the Eternal City’s first urban resort, the Gran Melia Rome Villa Agrippina. Besides its ideal location on the banks of the Tiber River, just a few blocks from the Vatican and St. Peter’s Basilica, the hotel sits in the quiet and picturesque neighborhood of Trastevere, away from Rome’s tourist-laden streets.

By Ann Anbel

Simple is dead sexy at Carlisle Bay, Gordon Campbell Gray’s outpost in the Caribbean. I’d suspected it would be—I’d heard the English hotelier speak to journalists several years ago about the weird excesses invading five-star resorts. Why would anyone find it luxurious, he’d asked, to step into a 62-degree guest room with the TV blaring the “resort channel” that welcomes you by name and loops images of the hotel you’ve already committed to staying at? Who wants to wrestle with unfamiliar technology? Who needs all the beeping and flashing distractions? Better to give the crashing waves and palm-fringed skies the starring role, and then get out of the way.

By Travelin’ Gal Maxine Albert

I had high expectations for my maiden voyage to Australia with its magnificent terrain, spectacular wildlife and foodie cuisine. I did not expect that the land of down under and its kooky kangaroos and koalas, ravishing barrier reef, luxurious lodges, divine food, fine wine and gorgeous Nicole Kidmans and Russell Crowes, would turn out to be the best trip of my life. Put it on your bucket list and head straightaway to the Land of Oz.

On the Catwalk: Hyatt Regency Curacao

By Michelle Inaba Mocarski

Just name what interests you, and you’re likely to find it in Zurich – a city of immense variety, so much that it even became famous as the “metropolis of experiences.” And if you’re looking for a destination with excellent rail and air connections to virtually any location in Europe, there’s no better place than Zurich Airport. The airport has direct connections to over 150 destinations, and it is just a short ten-minute train ride to the center of the city, where you’ll also find Zurich’s Main Railway Station, known as the European railroad hub. But Zurich is much more than just a connection place to other cities in Europe: it has a lot to offer in art, architecture, shopping, outdoors adventures, festivals, and nightlife.

By Anja Mutić

Getting off the plane on a steamy morning in Santiago, our cold January day back in New York suddenly seemed eons ago. And it was going to get even hotter, as we were headed north, to explore Chile’s desert regions that stretch toward Peru. But we weren’t going to leave without at least a couple of days in Chile’s capital. As our kick-off base, we chose The Ritz-Carlton, Santiago. Located in the heart of a prestigious neighborhood known as El Golf, the five-star hotel gave us the full spectrum of perks, as befits its five stars. Staying in our Club Level room with city views felt like staying in a hotel within a hotel, with a separate lounge offering services of a dedicated concierge and complimentary treats throughout the day – from breakfast and hors d' oeuvres to sweets and drinks.

By Michelle Inaba Mocarski

Tokyo is a wondrous city of welcome and beauty.  As the memory of last year’s tsunami fades, tourism to Tokyo -  and to Japan generally - is increasing every month. Now, come June 1, it will be more convenient than ever for New Yorkers to visit this extraordinary destination. On that day, American Airlines begins direct service from New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport to Tokyo’s Haneda Airport. Flying to and from Haneda is a traveler’s delight, because it is just a half-hour or less from downtown Tokyo, compared to an hour and a half or more from the more distant Narita Airport. And the mood in Tokyo today is positive and enthusiastic, as it would be expected from a culture where the traditional Buddhist idea of impermanence is so strong. Everything changes, and change is to be celebrated as an incentive to live life to the fullest, and Tokyo definitely knows how to do it. The city offers its visitors a contemporary mixture of history, art, and culture: the Imperial Palace, museums, lively nightlife, amazing shopping, and incredible dining experiences. Tokyo is the face of a country where past traditions and modernity coexist harmonically.