Aug 12, 2010Luxury Spas: Intimacy is an elusive quality for resorts and spas to master, and I often write how it's a quality so paramount to the guest experience. On a recent visit to Rancho Valencia's spa,... Read More |
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Aug 13, 2010Food & Spirits: Organic, chocolate, immunity boosting? I'll eat it. In the case of Mayesa, I'll drink it. Mayesa, pronounced "my-es-ah," is new drink made with organic cacao, hemp protein, and a variety of spices. I came across this intriguing concoction at my local Whole Foods store, although Mayesa is also sold in Ralph's and Henrys stores.... Read More |
Aug 16, 2010San Diego Travel Guide: When a swanky spa makes my beauty boost a one stop shot, I'm interested. When I learned iTAN solariums, with 24 locations throughout San Diego, was more than a tanning haven, I quickly made it to their Mission Valley location for an investigation.... Read More |
Jul 20, 2010Resort Review: Some destination spas can pamper or pep guests up, but only the best shift souls. Miraval a desert retreat near Tuscon, Arizona, is such a spa that has nurtured, soothed and delighted patrons for nearly a decade. As Miraval claims, "You won't find you anywhere else."... Read More |
Jul 22, 2010Resort Review: Northern California is one of my favorite retreats. The region's crimson waves that smash rocky coastlines backed by majestic woods and grape wines so differ from Southern California's sandy shores and lofty palm trees.... Read More |
Jun 28, 2010 City Guides : My favorite street of a musical is coming to San Diego: Avenue Q, the world wide hit musical featuring puppets embodying the conflicts and struggles of today's 20-something year old, comes to America's Finest city from July 6th-11th.... Read More |
Jun 28, 2010 Luxury Vacations :The secret is out: Pelican Hill Resort, the 504 acre resort resting atop rolling golf greens and enjoying view of the Pacific Ocean in Orange County , has travelers flocking to it from around the world. Not even two years old, this impeccable resort has already racked up the industry’s top distinctions, including Travel + Leisure’s, It List and the Robb Report’s Best of the Best.... Read More |
Jul 12, 2010 Hotel Review: Enchanting: that's the best one word description for Carmel, if not the town's picturesque L'Auberge Carmel, a 20 guest room inn that has made the guest service experience a shining masterpiece. The village of Carmel, founded is 1906, holds a number of artistic masterpieces within quaint galleries and showrooms, but a true work of lies in the L'Auberge experience.
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Jun 23, 2010 City Guides: Any American, or foreigner for that matter, could spend a lifetime visiting America's array of cities and towns. It should be mandatory for all to visit one unique city for for a full Americana experience: New Orleans. Oozing culture and vibrant with its motley people, New Orleans is unapologetic for its quirks and imperfections. New Orleans is a delight for curious travelers. On a recent visit, I uncovered a few of the city's best gems.... Read More |
Jul 19, 2010Hotel Reviews: The Fairmont San Francisco has long been the epicenter of San Francisco’s most discerning events: 600 pounds of turtle, 13,000 oysters, and $5,000 worth of California and French wines were served just for the opening, in 1907.... Read More |
Jun 22, 2010 Hotel Reviews:
San Francisco, the sweet soul of California, still delights travelers the world over with its charm and historical prestige, perhaps best encapsulated by The Westin St. Francis.... Read More |
Jun 21, 2010 City Guides: Is it just me, or do most spa fanatics feel a little flutter in their hearts upon hearing a new spa is about to debut? When I learned Sugar and Spice Studio, by the notable ladies of First Class Wax, was about to open in Old Town, I nearly did a tap dance.... Read More |
May 18, 2010 Leisure Restaurants, clubs and hotels often have their own private rooms to host celebrations in but how often is that space spacious or truly private?... Read More |
May 15, 2010Travel Review: Only on the Vegas Strip could a stand-alone city be built. Not just any city, either. Vegas' CityCenter, MGM's most impressive and prodigious project ever, is nearly complete as the most modern, glimmering metropolis yet seen in N... Read More |
Apr 28, 2010Food & Spirits: "Not your mother's cupcakes," the Cups advertisement reads. Indeed.... Read More |
May 27, 2010Luxury Travel: The perfect balance between chic and charm is met best by the Simpson House Inn, the most stylish little bed and breakfast in the country.... Read More |
May 6, 2010Resort Review: How I love Santa Barbara, the natural hybrid of Northern and Southern California with the sturdy oak trees of the North, the balmy palms of the South, and a stunning navy colored ocean backed by green mountains.... Read More |
Apr 9, 2010San Diego Breakfast Spots: There are too many hustle bustle breakfast nooks in San Diego where constant dish clanking and sloshing cups of coffee are the norm. That's why I cherish Cody's in La Jolla ever more.... Read More |
Apr 12, 2010Resort Review: The 44-acre balmy plot of paradise on San Diego's Mission Bay, also known as the Paradise Point Resort and Spa, has never looked so alluring. Now flaunting a $20 million renovation, the resort has upped the meaning of "paradise" with 462 lushly upgraded bungalow-style guestrooms and stunning meeting facilities. Our lovely bungalow featured exotic furniture facing a double door patio that led out to a private strip of beach along Mission Bay. Sailboats and sea birds lazily crossed our view during the afternoon, while the sun finished the day with a dip into the horizon. A quick stroll along the grounds led my travel companion and I to the resort's charming 18-hole mini golf course, which was meticulously landscaped and provided us with bouts of laughter. (We ti... Read More |
Apr 12, 2010San Diego Restaurants: I've never heard of a "kabobary," let along a "neighborhood" one. But Luna Grill, a restaurant with two locations in San Diego, is making "neighborhood kabobary" part of the foodie lexicon.... Read More |
Apr 19, 2010Hotel Review: If it were not for a sharply dressed, demur, name tag-less bellhop, I would have never have found the Mercer Hotel in broad daylight.... Read More |
Apr 19, 2010Hotel Review: I'd be hard pressed to find a snappy, stylish hotel that gives me a panoramic views of New York City without an exorbitant room rate.... Read More |
Apr 13, 2010Hotel Review: How I love a classic hotel, timeless and impeccable, cherished and refined. The Four Seasons Hotel on 57th Street, just a stroll away from Park Blvd and Madison Ave in the business mecca of Manhattan, couldn't be more classic.... Read More |
Mar 22, 2010Home Decor: I'm not a huge do-it-yourself home decorator. Perhaps because it's hard for me to fathom cracking open some paint cans, whipping out some fine tipped brushes, and hoping for the best.... Read More |
Mar 1, 2010San Diego Restaurants: Glitzy, grand restaurants have a certain appeal, but I've increasing been lured by little gem eateries that have a quaint flair and sweet coziness. My latest discovery in San Diego is Café 21, a darling and unassuming restau... Read More |
Feb 9, 2010Health & Fitness: Some might say I'm a fitness freak. Marathons, rowing, polo, ping pong, pole dancing-you name it, I've tried it for the sport of it.... Read More |
Feb 10, 2010San Diego Wellness: I admit, I don't own a boat at this moment in time, nor does this latest JustLuxe experience involve a boat.... Read More |
Jan 14, 2010Pets: Three weeks ago I had an epiphany filled with guilt: how could I be savoring the freshest produce, the best organic milk, and the tastiest hormone free meats while Susie, my 5 year old spunky poodle, was eating the same canned dog food day i... Read More |
Dec 30, 2009San Diego Dining: Food is one thing, but cuisine is a fine art. Even the humble ‘ol pizza pie has taken new artistic heights in fine dining restaurants in the last few years, and recently I found a sharp casual restaurant portraying the pie with n... Read More |
Dec 30, 2009Luxury Hotels: The Island Shangri-La is indeed a little island of respite in Hong Kong’s metropolitan mayhem. A master of Hong Kong hospitality and size with grace, the Island boasts 531 spacious guest rooms and 34 suites.... Read More |
Dec 8, 2009Hotel Review: In a packed and disjointed city, a hotel that makes itself a regal retreat is a must on my list. The Grand Hyatt in Beijing is so well situated and superbly accommodating that one will forget the city’s serious traffic and its... Read More |
Dec 27, 2009Luxury Cruises: When one wants to travel to obscure destinations, the options for a luxury experience are often limited.Fortunately, the cruise industry has increasingly answered the call from travelers looking for exotic travel with the comforts... Read More |
Dec 9, 2009Resorts & Spas: Amid a jungle of overgrown skyscrapers and a sea of serious money moguls, a bounty of luxurious hotels, restaurants and spas have cropped up in cosmopolitan Hong Kong.... Read More |
Dec 8, 2009Hotel Review: In a packed and disjointed city, a hotel that makes itself a regal retreat is a must on my list.... Read More |
Dec 2, 2009Hotel Review: This was my first visit to Tokyo. It certainly won’t be my last to this cosmopolitan city or its Ritz-Carlton.... Read More |
Nov 19, 2009Luxury Hotels: Historical is the new sexy in the hotel biz. I’ve been investigating a few properties of late-the Andaz in West Hollywood, the Peninsula in Beverly Hills, the Island Hotel in Newport Beach-none of which have been torn down, but inst... Read More |
Nov 19, 2009San Diego: Sometimes it’s difficult for a woman to remember her stunning beauty, especially on a daily basis.... Read More |
Oct 7, 2009West Hollywood: Who would guess that a town encompassing just 1.9 square miles would be the epicenter of the world's A-list Oscar and Emmy parties, celebrities, and the most creative talent of the entertainment industry? West Hollywood is small only when measured in square feet. Here's my latest roundup of findings to feast on in the west side of Tinseltown.... Read More |
Oct 8, 2009Indian Cuisine: There's a new class of curry in downtown San Diego: Royal India, a spacious Indian restaurant cloaked by a bright golden awning, has set an unprecedented standard in Southern California for truly authentic Indian cuisine combined with an invitingly elegant environment.... Read More |
Oct 7, 2009Vegas Attractions: Indulgence- that's one word to epitomize Vegas, perhaps the most elaborate adult playground in America. On a recent trip to Sin City, I enjoyed whirlwind sampling of the Strip's latest offerings. Here's my roundup on entertainment, spas, and restaurants in 72 hours.... Read More |
Oct 6, 2009Luxury Camping: I haven't embarked on some luxurious African safari yet, perhaps because the idea of the open African terrain, with its rhinos and cheetahs, and me housed in a flimsy tent is a tad unsettling. Fortunately, a lovely and more secure way to experience the mystic and majesty of Africa's creatures is at the San Diego Wild Animal Park's... Read More |
Sep 2, 2009Moab, a quirky town of 7,000 in the heart of Utah, certainly doesn't rival the grandeur that Dubai does, I replied, but it's one area worthy of a trip. In my four-day stay in August, I rounded up the best picks for the discerning luxe traveler:... Read More |
Aug 19, 2009The coastal area between San Diego and Los Angeles has slowly sprouted a collection of 5 star and 5 diamond resorts: The St. Regis at Monarch Beach, the Lodge At Torrey Pines in La Jolla, and the Ritz-Carlton in Laguna Niguel, just to name a few. Adding to this exquisite list of properties is perhaps the best addition yet: The Resort at Pelican Hill.... Read More |
Aug 13, 2009Something old is new again in the Newport Beach area: The Island Hotel - Newport Beach, a 23-year old cherished property snuggled between the corporate towers in the Newport beach area, just unveiled its two year, multi-million dollar facelift.... Read More |
Jul 15, 2009Discover the San Diego based gem along Washington Ave that has mastered the balance of one-stop service with a cozy ambience: The Beauty and Body Lounge.... Read More |
Jul 2, 2009No matter the millions poured into building or renovating a fantastic resort, it's impossible to replicate a compelling portrait created by nature.... Read More |
Jul 1, 2009The Spa at Broadmoor- a five diamond, five star resort enveloping 3,000 acres in the pristine foothills of Colorado Springs.... Read More |
Jun 21, 2009There's still an Island getaway that may have slipped passed your Island-eying vacation planning: The Galapagos Islands.... Read More |
Jun 21, 2009A few clicks led me to SexyFurnishings.com, a cool company with a keen eye for renowned furniture designs at delightfully reasonable prices.... Read More |
May 21, 2009There are few places where everyone is someone, and someone could be anyone.... Read More |
May 11, 2009Home Decor: With the plethora of design and home remodel shows, we've all come to think interior design looks like a breezy pastime. But as any optimistic homeowner who's held a paint brush or wielded a hammer before knows, interior design... Read More |
Apr 18, 2009Event Planning: Sometimes I wonder why some galas go as smooth as a sleek velvet jacket, while others seem as chaotic as an 80s sequined jumpsuit. As most seasoned event planners and savvy socialites know, it"s the behind the scenes work... Read More |
Apr 14, 2009Fashion & Style: It's not easy looking chic when you're rocking a beach ball sized bump. Moms-to-be know the dilemma well. But mega mamas like Angelina Jolie, Courtney Cox and Christina Aguilera have found Timi and Leslie diaper bags to be... Read More |
Apr 2, 2009Who knew a little portrait of Provence, France, exists right in the middle of San Diego County.... Read More |
Mar 22, 2009Health & Beauty: To most around the country, San Diego has a full-time summer season. With an average annual temperature of 72 degrees, San Diego really does seem to exist in a constant sunny season, and the expectation of having a... Read More |
Mar 18, 2009Food & Spirits: One has to look far and wide for a steakhouse that's not another chain, just not another cog in a vast restaurant group. It's not that I can't enjoy chain-eating, it's just that there's usually a deep character and story... Read More |
Mar 16, 2009Home Decor: Is it me, a devoted lover of tea, or is tea about to have its "in" moment like grass fed beef, farm-to-table organic greens, and charming wine bars? Regardless, I'm set with my set of Bailey Doesn't Bark's... Read More |
Mar 14, 2009Many hotels and resorts try to give their guests rock-star service, but few can make a guest actually feel like a rock star.... Read More |
Feb 26, 2009Home Decor: Regal painted portraits of people? So 19th century. If you want the portrait of the 21st century, then it's one made of your actual DNA. Right now, I'm staring at a 5-foot long DNA portrait of my hair strands in a stunning... Read More |
Feb 15, 2009Home Decor: It's one thing to travel to the most over-the-top, lavish hotels and resorts (like I have by some fortunate fate), but it's another to enjoy your home as much as a favorite luxurious retreat. So I have, thanks to my discovery of... Read More |
Feb 11, 2009Luxury Spas: Larger than life-that's the vibe of Vegas. On my last trip to Sin City, life felt beyond grand at the newly renovated Canyon Ranch Spa at the Venetian and Palazzo Hotel. Nestled between the hotels, a few... Read More |
Jan 20, 2009Fashion & Style: There's a little more glam to glorious cashmere now that Jade Phoenix Designs has been donning celebrities with its jewel button cashmere sweaters. How could I resist the cuddle-like chic of a sweater line worn by Tiffany... Read More |
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