Luxury Travel

Freelance Travel & Lifestyle Writer

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

~Magical Maremma, Toronto Star

"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

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

~ Chasing The Northern Lights in Norway, Dallas Morning News

"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

"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

"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

"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

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

~Swiss Treat Washington Flyer

"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

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

~As quoted in Cigar Aficionado

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

~Brussels Sprouts Anew, National Geographic Traveler

"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

"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

"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

"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

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

Enter the HomeAway Pinterest Board contest to win a Luxury Retreat – Judged by Becca Hensley, Andrew Harper and others

November 6, 2013 by becca

CLICK IMAGE TO EXPAND

Filed Under: Featured Articles Tagged With: contest, Luxury Travel

Bar Code: Favorite hotel watering holes

October 20, 2013 by becca

Published in Virtuoso Traveler October/November, 2013

Filed Under: Articles, Featured Articles Tagged With: bars, drink, hotels, Luxury Travel, night clubs

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

Monte-Carlo, Monaco

September 5, 2013 by becca

Stay: Hotel Metropole Eat: Joel Robuchon Eat: Yoshi Drink: Odyssey Pool Bar Do: Metropole ESPA

Filed Under: Track Me Tagged With: Luxury Travel, Monaco, Monte-Carlo

Vienna Revival: Palais Hansen Kempinski Hotel Grand Opening

August 12, 2013 by becca

Published in Robb Report August 2013

Filed Under: Featured Articles Tagged With: Austria, luxury, Luxury Travel, Vienna

Storytellers Wanted: Immersion Travel Writing Retreat at Four Seasons Costa Rica

August 7, 2013 by becca

Like a fine bottle of wine, writing is meant to be shared — especially when the subject is an awe-inspiring or life-changing trip. WHAT: Writing workshop for aspiring travel writers WHERE: Four Seasons Resort – Costa Rica at Peninsula Papagayo WHEN: Thursday, November 7 – Sunday, November 10, 2013 HOW: Call (506) 2696-0198 for room […]

Filed Under: Featured Articles Tagged With: Costa Rica, Luxury Travel, workshop, writing

Boutique Is Beautiful: Super Yacht Tour of the Greek Isles

June 16, 2013 by becca

Published in Virtuoso Traveler June / July 2013

Filed Under: Featured Articles Tagged With: Greece, islands, Luxury Travel, Yachting

Nantucket Island, Massachusetts: The White Elephant

June 3, 2013 by becca

Stay: The White Elephant Hotel Eat: Brandt Point Grill Drink: BPG Bar Do: Ride bikes on myriad bike trails Lobster picnic on the beach

Filed Under: Track Me Tagged With: beach, Luxury Travel, Massachusetts, Nantucket, seafood

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