Published February 28, 2014 on AOL Travel || Spring weather in New York may still be a month or two away, but after a winter this rough it’s time to infuse some warm-weather fun into city life. Here are our favorite “spring break” experiences in NYC — that you can even enjoy during another snow day. Read more…
Published February 28, 2014 on AOL Travel || Rio de Janeiro’s famous sites like Copacabana Beach, Sugarloaf Mountain and the Christ the Redeemer statue have been the stuff of postcards as long as people have been sending postcards. Whether you’re traveling here for Carnival, scored 2014 World Cup tickets or are just taking a Brazil vacation, here are five first-timer tips for traveling to Rio. Read more…
Published February 5, 2014 on AOL Travel || Sure, we’re all rooting for Team USA. But in the spirit of Olympic competition we wanted to know: what’s the best part of Team USA?
It turns out that when it comes to producing gold medal-winning winter Olympians, the 50 states are far from equal.
From the snowy beginning — the 1924 games, when speed skater Charles Jewtraw from New York won the first gold medal ever awarded in a Winter Olympics (USA! USA!) — up through the 2010 Vancouver games, there have been 138 winter gold medalists from the United States. Read more…
Published on February 1, 2014 on AOL Travel || From romantic beach vacations to skiing adventures to winter city breaks for a long weekend, here are our picks for places to travel in February. Read more…
Published on January 29, 2014 on AOL Travel || In tonight’s penultimate episode of Top Chef Season 11, the final three Cheftestants say goodbye to the Big Easy and arrive on the Hawaiian island of Maui. There they’ll slice, sauté and serve their way to the final, which airs February 5 at 10 p.m. ET on Bravo.
While on the Valley Isle, the chefs will be living the luxe life in the villas at the new Andaz Maui at Wailea. The hotel, on Maui’s South Shore, overlooks Mokapu Beach, which you can see in the background of this “Last Chance Kitchen” episode. The competitors also will be rubbing shoulders with Hawaiian culinary royalty: Sam Choy and Peter Merriman, two of the founders ofHawaii Regional Cuisine, and chef/owners at some of Hawaii’s most recognized restaurants. (Merriman runs Merriman’s Kapalua, and while Choy currently doesn’t have an outpost on Maui, rumor has it he’s considering a Kaanapali location.)
Following the chefs’ footsteps on Maui is easy and delicious — if you have the bank account to support it. But if you’re traveling here without a Top Chef-caliber budget or palate, and just want some ono grinds (aka yummy food), here are some must-try Maui foods, and where to eat them. Read more…
Published October 24, 2013 on AOL Travel || You’ve chosen your cruise operator and picked which river you want to explore. Your airline tickets are booked and you’re eager to relax with a glass of wine as a dreamy landscape passes by. Before you go, here are five tips to help you make the most of your river cruise adventure. Read more…
Published October 23, 2013 on AOL Travel || A castle looms larger as it gets closer, jutting out over terraced vineyard hills that slope down to the cloudy river water. A crew member appears, clean gray vest buttoned over a white collared shirt, asking if you’d like another glass of wine. You smile, nod, sink deeper into the sundeck chaise lounge and watch as your river cruise ship floats serenely along.
Dream trip, right?
For many, yes. River cruising is hot right now, with more ships and new lines flooding waterways around the world. Smaller ships and passenger loads make for a more intimate experience than ocean liners. It’s arguably more scenic, too, as you’re always close to shore.
But it’s not a one-size-fits all vacation. Read more…
Published on October 22, 2013 on AOL Travel || One of the biggest draws of river cruising is that you pay a lump sum and your entire vacation is handed to you on a silver platter (or a black neoprene travel folder in Viking‘s case).
Included in the package are your hotel, which travels with you (unpacking only once, score!); all meals, some of which are three courses or more; ground transportation (again, the traveling hotel); and local tours and information. Perks can include air conditioning (rare in parts of Europe that can exceed 100 degrees Fahrenheit in summer) and a full-service staff to keep you informed and oriented despite any local language and cultural barriers.
The ease of travel is enough to justify a river cruise’s price tag for many. Others, myself included, who are used to coordinating every element of a trip, may wonder whether the cost is worth it. If you DIY, how much money would you save? Read more…
Published October 22, 2013 on AOL Travel || Onion-domed churches, vineyards chiseled into hills, ancient castles and grand palaces: a river cruise on the Danube is a scenic affair. In August I joined Viking River Cruise’s Romantic Danube trip from Nuremberg to Budapest. Along the way the boat stopped at historic riverside towns and cities, including Regensburg, Passau, Melk and Vienna.
Follow along to see what it’s like to spend a week on the water cruising one of Europe’s grandest rivers. Read more…
Published August 13, 2013 on AOL Travel || As New York City’s bike share program enters its third month of service, the blue cruiser bikes have already been absorbed into the city’s daily landscape. Sure, a few wealthy people grumble about the docks being eyesores. But in general New Yorkers are taking to the streets, using the Citi Bikes as a quick way to dodge traffic, avoid ever-increasing subway fares and, occasionally, take advantage of a free spinning machine. Travelers can also take advantage of the new rides. But should they? Read more…