Disclosure: My stay was hosted by Visit Walla Walla, but views are my own and accurately reflect my actual experience. "A city so nice, they named it twice." If I could sum up the wineries in Walla Walla in one word, it would be intimate. It's all about the people --...
The holidays are officially here! It’s difficult to think up gift ideas for anyone, but it’s especially a painstaking task to figure out what to get the jetsetter--specifically the experiential luxury jetsetter--someone who has discerning tastes and favors experiences...
Time is the ultimate luxury. As a frequent traveler, Global Entry is one of my greatest allies, especially during peak travel times. I usually hate to fly the Wednesday before Thanksgiving because it’s pure madness wherever you look -- mile-long security lines,...
Vancouver has a great range of luxury hotels on offer, so when deciding where to stay, I was excited to see that there was a Shangri-La property in the city. It's only one of two hotels in North America; the other is in Toronto. Every other Shangri-La hotel I've...
Ahh, C H A M P A G N E! With its effervescent fizz and golden sparkle, it's the drink of legends. It's also one of my favorite topics and my all-time favorite drink (well, on par with a fantastic dirty martini). I'm currently working on my sommelier certification, so...
Everyone loves a good comeback story, and cheering an underdog epitomizes Americana. Detroit is the ultimate underdog. There is grit. And if you choose to see it, there is glamour. No city in the U.S. has experienced a tumultuous decline quite like Detroit, but as far...
Autumn and I ignited a love affair long ago, and it's still going strong. The air is crisply inviting. The colors are deeply vibrant. The food is soul-warming. The fashion is cozy chic. It's the season that keeps on giving. Beyond that, it's my absolute favorite time...
Francophiles rejoice! Audrey Hepburn once said, "Paris is always a good idea," and I'm sure any Francophile would agree. I have seen endless gift guides for Francophiles, but I have not seen many that cater to the luxe Francophile -- someone with both luxe and...
In my last roundup of the latest travel news stories in my newsletter (if you haven't signed up yet, here's your chance --> weekly newsletter), I included a link to the new Chase Sapphire Reserve travel credit card. Since then, I've received a few emails from...
Have you read the book, A Year in the Merde by Stephen Clarke? (FYI, merde = shit in French) It's a comical tale that chronicles the misadventures of a British marketing professional as he runs wild through the streets of Paris and navigates his way through the...
Of all the languages I've learned, French has undoubtedly been the hardest. When I first moved to Paris, I didn't speak French very well, though I added words to my budding French lexicon daily. I had 8 years of high school and college Spanish to thank for my relative...
How do I start a blog? Perhaps, one of the most commonly asked questions I receive. It's a simple question with a relatively simple answer. Anyone can start a blog, but starting a quality blog that is successful and profitable takes a lot of time and a lot of hard...