Track Me

Freelance Travel & Lifestyle Writer

"I see an oceanscape turbulent with blues. They mottle the water like smudges, bits of sapphire, jade and rich turquoise splayed out in a frenzy of Van Gogh-like brushstrokes."

~Next Stop Paradise, Austin Monthly

"In bygone days hungry wolves skulked along the newly built Nevsky Prospekt like rapacious adversaries from a children's story."

~St. Petersburg: City of Dreams Mariner

"The city of Lucerne nestles the water--scattering around its edges and up the mountain like a slowly spreading spill."

~Swiss Treat Washington Flyer

"While I wait for the bartender at Dukes I ponder the big question: would I rather be Miss Moneypenny or a Bond girl? It's easy to meditate on such things at Duke's Hotel."

~Bar Bash Washington Flyer

"Being with him in the the room where he paints . . . is like being a string on Itzhak Perlman's violin or a pot in Thomas Keller's kitchen."

~Beyond The Tango, Toronto Star

"We follow a path abundant with draped, fading prayer flags that flap in the cool wind like colorful bird's wings. Pine trees scent the chilly air, and the faraway rhythm of rural villagers at work sounds like nature's solemn hymn."

~Taking the richer road less traveled in China Austin American Statesman

"Like a pointer finger, a rainbow as thick as a column, illuminates the sky above Castello di Vicarello."

~Magical Maremma, Toronto Star

"The ancient city’s main square sits just behind the one-time convent (now a sleek, restored, boutique hotel), the silence is so ponderous one might think the entire staff and every guest has taken a vow of silence."

~Cognition and Reflection - Organic Spa Magazine

"A sudden herd of reindeer crosses our path like a truck running a red light."

~ Chasing The Northern Lights in Norway, Dallas Morning News

"The crowd cheers. And, a royal band emits a euphonious serenade. I dismount the immense beast by ladder, snuggle my elephant’s crusty, swishing trunk and accept a well-deserved flute of champagne from a nattily clad waiter."

~Yoga Overlooking the Taj Mahal - San Antonio Magazine

"Huts made from cow pies look like gingerbread houses—some are being repaired by women so concentrated in their tasks they resemble painters fretting over a canvas."

~India in Style Virtuoso Traveler

"Brussels is as textured as the tapestries that put it on the Medieval map."

~Brussels Sprouts Anew, National Geographic Traveler

"We’ve exchanged our car for a boat and we’re heading across rollicking seas to Skellig Michael—an immense rocket of stone that explodes amid water straight toward the sky. Just visible on its face are steps that we know lead to the remains of a centuries-old monastic settlement high above the ocean."

~Irish Indulgence, The Ring of Kerry -- CAA Magazine - Canadian Automobile Association

"Villages with colorfully painted houses seemed torn from the pages of a storybook. You’ll want to linger in them, as we do, for scones or a pint of beer. Even the narrow undulating roads, lined with hedgerows and flower-flecked meadows thrills."

~Irish Indulgence, The Ring of Kerry -- CAA Magazine - Canadian Automobile Association

About Hotel Guanahnai: “[Its} as if Paris put on flip flops, but still donned a little black dress.”

~As quoted in Cigar Aficionado

Sonoma Valley, California

December 7, 2013 by becca

Stay: Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn and Spa Eat: Boon Fly Cafe for Breakfast Eat: Sante at Mission Inn Drink: El Dorado Hotel and Kitchen on the Sonoma Square

Filed Under: Track Me Tagged With: California, Sonoma, vineyard, wine, winery

San Francisco, California

November 28, 2013 by becca

Stay: Ritz Carlton San Francisco: an urbane city hotel with timeless grace Eat: Parallel 37: farm-to-table globally inspired cuisine Eat: Bocanova (in Oakland’s Jack London Square): Relish the crab-topped deviled eggs Do: Take a dip at the Dolphin Club Stay: Kimpton Hotel Triton Eat: A16 Eat: Louie’s (for breakfast) and the […]

Filed Under: Track Me Tagged With: California, San Francisco

Los Angeles, California

November 24, 2013 by becca

Stay: The Four Seasons Los Angeles at Beverly Hills Eat: Culina Restaurant Do: XOXO Spa Do: Q Salon for Hands & Feet

Filed Under: Track Me Tagged With: Beverly Hills, California, Los Angeles

The Maldives – Indian Ocean

November 19, 2013 by becca

Stay: Four Seasons Resort, Kuda Huraa Stay: Four Seasons Resort, Landaa Giraavaru Eat: Baraabaru Eat: Reef Club Drink: Sunset Lounge Do: Visit The Marine Discovery Centre Do: Discover scuba diving Do: Take a cruise on The Explorer – The Four Seasons’ Floating Hotel […]

Filed Under: Track Me Tagged With: beaches, islands, Luxury Travel, Maldives

Peninsula Papagayo, Costa Rica

November 11, 2013 by becca

Stay: Four Seasons Resort Costa Rica at Peninsula Papagayo Eat: Papagayo Eat: Di Mare Drink: Tico’s Do: Make chocolate from the raw cacao seed at The Beach Chocolate Factory Do: Have a Rainforest Aromatherapy Massage

Filed Under: Track Me Tagged With: beach, Costa Rica, Luxury Travel

St. Petersburg, Russia

November 6, 2013 by becca

Stay: Four Seasons Hotel Lion Palace Eat: Sintoho Eat: Percorso Drink: Russian vodka–what else! Do: Visit The Hermitage for their jaw-dropping classic collection of art, and, for contrast, The Erarta Museum for their provocative contemporary collection Do: Take in the ballet or opera at the Mariinsky Theatre

Filed Under: Track Me Tagged With: Luxury Travel, Russia, St. Petersburg

Zurich, Switzerland

September 27, 2013 by becca

Stay: The Dolder Grand Eat: 2 Michelin Star The Restaurant for cuisine of Heiko Nieder Drink: The Bar for savory cocktails like the Saffron Mojito Do: The Spa for the Nature’s Organic Seasonal Facial by Amala Amala Beauty

Filed Under: Track Me Tagged With: Luxury Travel, Switzerland, Zurich

Aschau, Germany

September 25, 2013 by becca

Stay: Residenz Heinz Winkler Eat: 2 Michelin Star Venetian Restaurant for cuisine of Heinz Winkler

Filed Under: Track Me Tagged With: Aschau, food, Germany, luxury, restaurants

Bad Blumau, Austria

September 23, 2013 by becca

Stay: Rogner Bad Blumau Eat: Use Kernol (pumpkin seed oil) on everything Drink: Try local Styrian wines Do: Therme Rogner Bad Blumau

Filed Under: Track Me Tagged With: Austria, Bad Blumau, spas

Vienna, Austria

September 21, 2013 by becca

Stay: Hotel Sacher Eat: Zum Schwarzen Kameel Eat: Cafe Leopold Hawelka Do: Albertina Museum

Filed Under: Track Me Tagged With: Austria, Vienna, Wien

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