For the ultimate find-yourself-lose-yourself tropical hideaway—Riviera Maya’s Zoëtry Paraiso de la Bonita is the place to exhale. Tucked between a lush mangrove and the Caribbean Sea, the whole vibe of this 100 all-suite, all oceanfront boutique retreat oozes nature-loving tranquility. And while it’s all-inclusive—the experience defies…
Tag: travel writer
ForbesLife: Three Wow-Worthy Winter Retreats In The West
From the gorgeous beach retreats of Cabo to Arizona’s luxe desert havens and L.A.’s toniest hideaways, we scoured the West Coast for the most wow-worthy resorts to escape the winter chill. Here are three must-visit destinations to crank up the…
ForbesLife: 3 Insanely Luxurious Mexican Caribbean All-Inclusives To Beat The Winter Blues
From Cancun to Playa del Carmen, Mexico’s Caribbean probably has more all-inclusives than grains of sand, appealing to every traveler’s unique taste. But when you’re craving high-end with an adult bent, where do you go? Whether you’re seeking serious tranquility,…
ForbesLife: Why This Chic Milan Hotel Is the Ultimate Design Lover’s Escape
A brilliant blend of modern Milanese design and Oriental luxe, Mandarin Oriental, Milan has nailed the sweet spot where swank meets serenity. Set within four glorious 18th century buildings (that will win architecture-adoring hearts), this former Manor house has been transformed into…
ForbesLife: 3 Must-Visit Luxury Venice Hotels For Your Italy Bucket List
Sublime canals, romantic bridges, mazing alleyways, ancient architecture—Venice is simply beyond compare. And these three luxurious retreats, from centuries old palaces brimming with Venetian history to private island escapes, are even more reason to visit this City of Water. …
ForbesLife: Adults-Only Oasis at Mexico’s Marquis Los Cabos
Secluded on a sandy stretch at the Sea of Cortes’s edge, the adults-only haven of Marquis Los Cabos takes leisure to the luxe with inescapable oceanfront views from all 235 private-balconied suites and pristine, palm-tree laden grounds. Check out my FORBES…
ForbesLife: 5 Reasons to Escape to Healdsburg, California this Summer
Like a fine blended wine, Healdsburg tantalizes with its heady mix of small town charm, eclectic boutiques, incredible eateries and historic homes. And the wine—don’t forget the wine! About an hour and a half drive from San Francisco brings you to…
ForbesLife: Three Ultra-Romantic Provence Hideaways for Fall
There’s romance—and then there’s Provence in the fall where autumn hues and golden sunrays paint sprawling vineyards, rolling fields, and ancient stone villages in a beauty beyond compare. And for a très magnifique escape to explore it all, head to…
ForbesLife: Budapest’s Best High-Design Hotels
Ah, beautiful Budapest: grand, elegant, and old worldly. It stuns with enchanting castles, ornate palaces, tree-lined boulevards, and that shimmering blue Danube. But venture to either end of its iconic Chain Bridge and you’ll find a spate of high-design hotels…
ForbesLife: 4 Prague Hotels That Need To Be On Your Bucket List Now
Stunning vistas, delicious local eats, and anything but cookie-cutter design: consider Czech-ing into one of these standout Prague retreats to take your stay from ordinary to extraordinary in the city of a hundred spires. 1. Le Palais Art Hotel (Preferred Hotels…
Entrepreneur Magazine: Branding at Work
From drab cubicles and cardboard curtains to game rooms and concert stages, startup offices runs the gamut from bare-bones to over-the-top-perks. But if the look doesn’t jibe with your company’s brand, you may be missing out on a valuable opportunity…
Travel + Leisure Magazine: America’s Most Romantic Winter Destinations
“When we venture out to the wide, open plains and drive up the mountains, it feels like we’re the only ones there,” says Dan Warner, reflecting on the appeal of Jackson, WY. The L.A.-based COO of Atlas Digital production company…
Coastal Living Magazine: Dream Town, Bodega Bay
One of my absolute favorite NorCal escapes is the quaint, coastal town of Bodega Bay. So I was beyond excited to write about this pristine spot for Coastal Living Magazine. CHECK OUT MY ARTICLE BELOW! (click to enlarge)
Entrepreneur Magazine: Refinery29 Gets A Branding Makeover
Everyone can use a makeover now and again – even a super stylish site like Refinery29. For the November issue of Entrepreneur Magazine, I talk all things design with Refinery29 founder Justin Stefano along with the brand wizards at Wolff Olins…
San Francisco Magazine: A Bonfire Fest
There are a gazillion reasons why I love Northern California. Topping the charts? Fall weather that feels like summer and the utterly romantic coastal town of Carmel-By-the-Sea. Combine the two and it’s the perfect recipe for a bonfire-on-the-beach weekend getaway. CHECK…
Communication Arts: Book Review
For the latest issue of Communication Arts (one of my favorite design magazines ever!), I had the awesome opportunity to review design editor Mason Currey’s new blog-turned-book, Daily Rituals: How Artists Work, which snapshots the daily routines and habits of over…
Dwell Magazine: A Seaside Art Hotel in Los Cabos
Besides white-sand beaches and warm weather, creative geeks have a new reason to head to Los Cabos. Hotel El Ganzo is a newly opened modern design escape set on a quiet marina in Puerto Los Cabos, the less-developed neighbor to…
Dwell Magazine: A Modern Desert Retreat In New Mexico
On the edge of the Sangre de Cristo foothills, Rancho Encantado is a modernist hideaway tucked within New Mexico’s Tesuque Valley. Once a decades-old dude ranch, newly reinvented as a Four Seasons, the retreat was designed to preserve and embrace its…
CNN Travel Article: America’s Most Over-The-Top Hotel Suites
Indoor basketball courts, private bowling alleys, bathrooms that belong in museums, more square footage than your entire house – America’s got some crazy indulgent hotel suites with price tags to match. With every whim catered to, you’d almost feel guilty…
CNN Travel Article: Best Places to Escape the Wired World
There’s nothing like stealing away to that tropical island hideaway only to have email bleeps, blaring tablets, and annoyingly loud cell-phone talkers drowning out the serene sounds of the ocean. In my latest article for CNN, I uncover the 10…
CNN Travel Article: America’s Most Amazing Hotel Pools
When the humidity is off the charts and temps are sky-high, there’s nothing like taking a quick dip to cool off. But throw in jaw-dropping views, insane settings, and ingenious design – and the pool is more than just a…
CNN Travel Article: America’s 10 highest-tech hotels
Every vacation you swear off technology. You’re not going to check your email or look that evil, nasty thing you call a laptop. You bring your iPhone “for emergencies only,” lock it in the room safe, and pinky promise you’re…
Travel + Leisure Article: America’s Best Hotels for Foodies
What’s more satisfying than a hotel with a luxurious four-poster bed, marble bath, wood-burning fireplace, and Blue Ridge Mountains views? How about a dinner courtesy of James Beard Award–winning chef Patrick O’Connell—and waiting right downstairs. Guests of Virginia’s Inn at Little…
DailyCandy Article: Get Schooled in San Francisco
Mixology 101, the ABCs of paragliding, DIY designing: Study up on the city’s best spots for picking up a new pastime. Read my full article on DAILYCANDY.
Spa Magazine Article – At Your Room Service: Kimpton’s Hotel Monaco Chicago
For the latest issue of SPA MAGAZINE, I uncover what makes Kimpton’s Hotel Monaco Chicago the ultimate urban unplug. Check out my article below:
California Home+Design: Design Meets Dinosaur Land
Who says you need a museum, art gallery–or even civilization–to experience an out-of-this-world design getaway? Just a hop, skip, and two short flights from SF, arriving at the remote Southern Utah digs of Amangiri Resort feels like you’ve landed on planet Mars…
Conde Nast Traveler Article: Norwegian Cruising
Rest stops with the starchitect treatment? Only in design-minded Scandinavia. Norway is halfway through an 18-year plan to spruce up its motorways with roadside overlooks, art installations and architectural walkways that put American rest stops to shame. Read on in…
Travel + Leisure Article: World’s Most Romantic All-Inclusive Resorts
Traveling with kids in tow can be a blast – but sometimes you want a table just for two. When you’re craving l‘amour, adults-only all-inclusives can be a sure flight to an ultra-romantic escape. Read my full article for TRAVEL…
7×7 SF Article: 9 Coastal Hotels With Views To Die For
Going coastal? Forget a “room with a view” and get a view with a room. From Big Sur to Bodega Bay, we’ve scoured Northern California for the best waterside retreats where sea vistas rule. From patio to pillow, these nine…
DailyCandy SF Article: Three-Day Northern California Getaway
For DailyCandy SF, I recently wrote about road tripin’ it Northern California style. From Sausalito to Big Sur, I cover the best places to fuel up, shift gears, and park it along the way. Read my full article on DAILYCANDY. And…
7×7 SF Article: Take a Staycation at the Revamped Casa Madrona in Sausalito
Wrangling a sea-worthy vessel of your own may be a pipe dream, but anchoring yourself in one of Casa Madrona’s hilltop, oceanfront bungalows for the weekend is sure to keep those dry-dock feelings at bay. Nestled in the heart of Sausalito,…
7×7 SF Article: Ziplining Adventures in Northern California
Bay Area urbanites are escaping to the forest to dangle from cable-thin ropes as they take death-defying, high-speed leaps into nothingness. And the scenery is pretty rockin’ too. From Wine Country to Gold Country, Tahoe to Santa Cruz, we’ve got…
California Home+Design: THE SCOOP – SF’S CIAO BELLA GELATERIA GETS A TASTY REDESIGN
Gelato enthusiasts be advised: Although the colorful new tiles in SF’s Ciao Bella shop are a dead-on match to their scoop-worthy flavors – the walls are not meant for licking. With a sweet new revamp, you’ll need all the willpower you can…
Photography feature in Travel+Leisure!
While I’ve been travel writing for years, I couldn’t be more stoked to add “travel photographer” to my bag o’ tricks! The latest issue of Travel+Leisure features this dreamy pic from my recent Capri trip. (How insanely beautiful is that water!)Out of the mag’s…