Luxury Villa Review: The Blue Door in Palm Springs, California

The Blue Door in Palm Springs, California The Blue Door, is a beautiful 3-bedroom and 3-bathroom villa located in Palm Springs, California, which accommodates 6 people. On this occasion, I travelled with my husband, his daughter and my friend Trudi – making this the perfect-sized holiday home for us. We stayed for 5 nights. Booking process  We booked the property via a vacation rental website, and it was done in minutes. We had excellent communication with…

The List: Where to Stay for England’s Rugby World Cup 2015

Every four years, Rugby Union’s elite come together to decide the destiny of the famous Webb Ellis trophy at the Rugby World Cup. The 2015 edition takes place in the United Kingdom this fall, marking the perfect opportunity for fans to catch several games in person. For those mulling over a trip, herein we’ve highlighted key clashes, and matched them up with winning hotels nearby.

Five reasons Brighton’s lured us back…

With its brazen artwork and graffiti’d sea-view rooms, Artist Residence Brighton has made us come over all unnecessary – well it is the original dirty-weekend destination, after all. So here are five reasons why this is the time for a stay in Brighton again. Sunnies, knotted hankies and a cheeky sense of humour at the ready, we’re all going on a retro British beach break…  ITS …

Is the Lloyds Bank AVIOS Upgrade Voucher good value? £85 for business class flights to Stockholm would suggest so…

I recently managed to bag two business class flights to Stockholm for just £85. How you might scream? AVIOS Upgrade Voucher Well on this occasion, I was using the Lloyds Bank AVIOS Rewards Credit Card, which rewards you with a AVIOS upgrade voucher when you spend £7,000. The voucher allows two people to upgrade one class The post Is the Lloyds Bank AVIOS Upgrade Voucher good value? £85 for business class flights to Stockholm would suggest so… appeared first on The

The Fine Art of Focus in Travel Writing

I recently led an all-day in-the-field writing workshop in one of my favorite places on the planet, the hamlet of Point Reyes Station, population about 900, located an hour west of San Francisco, on the edge of the continent. The purpose of the workshop was to replicate a day in the life of a travel writer—or more specifically to illustrate how I go about trying to “get” a place and a story when I’m out in the world. The first part of the day involved walking around the town as a group, and our focus …

PHOTO: Dragon Bridge in Ljubljana, Slovenia

Click on above photo to view it in large format: One of four dragons that adorn the Dragon Bridge in Ljubljana, Slovenia. One legend says that the city was founded by Jason, who, along with his Argonauts, slew the dragon. Another legend insists that the dragons wag their tales when a virgin crosses the bridge. (Visited 58 times, 58 visits today)The post PHOTO: Dragon Bridge in Ljubljana, Slovenia appeared first on Hole

High five from the English countryside

Tamara Kaye-Honey, founder of Los Angeles interior design studio House of Honey, is our kind of traveller: intrepid and in-the-know. It’s why we tapped her as a Smith Hotel Awards judge, and to share top tips from a recent family escape outside of London.  1. BEST PLACE TO FIND RELIGION | AT THE CHAPEL BAKERY Take the scenic route southwest from London and stop off for a mid-morning nibble in Somerset At the Chapel bakery, a charming congregational church-turned-coaching-inn. …

Provence Road Trip Part 1 – La Bastide de Marie + The Luberon

I have wanted to visit Provence in the South of France for some time now. The vineyards, the stone farm houses, the colorful shutters, the hilly countryside, and the amazing food have been calling my name for years. When my husband and I decided to take a holiday for our first wedding anniversary, I knew The post Provence Road Trip Part 1 – La Bastide de Marie + The Luberon appeared first on The Travel Hack.

Texas’s German Roots: New Braunfels

“Do you speak German?,” I ask. “Un poquito.” Joyce is minding the register at the oldest bakery in Texas, Naegelin’s. Opened in 1868, the establishment remains a landmark in downtown New Braunfels—and a quirky reminder of the Lone Star State’s German roots. Around Joyce are bins brimming with traditional German goodies: Lebkuchen cookies, ornately embossed Springerle biscuits, and sweet, croissant-like pretzels laced with pecans and drizzled with icing. “Texas pecans,” she adds as a point of…

Slovenia Tourism – Not Ready for the Big Time

I explained why I don’t like living in the U.S. anymore to the manager of Hostel Val in Piran: the work, work, work; money, money, money; buy, buy, buy mentality that has become so pervasive in American culture. She reflected on my comment for a moment before replying, “But it is becoming the same for us.” Later, after dealing with a sneering woman in the Slovenia tourism office, who might as well have thrown brochures at me, I fled…

What to wear and when?

Dress codes can be very confusing sometimes. And I’m not even talking about the cryptic ones. The likes of ‘elegant casual’ or ‘chic’ are beyond me. What on earth do they mean? I spend the weeks leading up to almost any event confused and terrified. Tonight for example I’ve been invited to a black tie event. Well, Henry was invited and I am his ‘plus one’. Black tie sounds innocent enough and it doesn’t cross his mind to wonder what he should wear. He doesn’t know quite how lucky he is. He see’s black tie on an invitation …

Bed hopping: new hotels from Rome to London to Brazil

Our hotel curation gang get about it bit, and for October they’ve discovered three sumptuous stays with supremely sexy bedrooms. Meet G Rough hotel in Rome, Artist Residence London and Insólito Boutique Hotel in beachy Buzios, Brazil. G ROUGH Rome, Italy: shabby-luxe style, quiet central setting and an eye for design. ARTIST RESIDENCE LONDON London, UK: coolly creative interiors, brilliant bistro and smiley …

A Shy Weekend in Ibiza

Is it possible to escape to Ibiza for the weekend and not end up on a packed beach at sunset dancing to David Guetta? Indeed it is. In fact, the Balearic island has many sides to its nature and can, if you know where to go, even be a little shy at times. As Travel The post A Shy Weekend in Ibiza appeared first on The Travel Hack.

There’s Something About Riga

Look skyward while walking around Riga and you will be rewarded with glimpses of fanciful architectural flourishes. Roughly 40 percent of the buildings in this port city were built in the Art Nouveau style. Some of these stately stunners—constructed primarily at the turn of the 20th century, during the height of Riga’s wealth, and clustered in the city’s historic city center—have seen better days. This fact, along with the blustery weather that accompanied my visit, lent an air of Baltic melancholy to the streets. Still, there is a quiet but palpable spirit of renewal in Riga, demonstrated by…