Crystal has been wowing ocean cruisers for years, but now with the launch of the Crystal Mozart on the Danube River, they are setting a new standard for service on the riverways! The Crystal Mozart was stripped to the steel and completely rebuilt before debuting as Crystal's first river vessel. It is the widest ship …
The Dolomites - These UNESCO World Heritage mountains may be the most beautiful in Europe! Located in Northeastern Italy at the Austrian border where "guten morgen" works as well as "buongiorno," the gorgeous limestone peaks of the Dolomites wind through four ski resorts, seven centuries-old villages, and four mountain passes! As is typical with European skiing, …
Continue reading The Italian Dolomites: Hut-to-Hut Ski Safari
Resort to Laura Madrid has the pleasure of finding the most wonderful villas, chalets, chateaus and even flats and apartments in the world's most desirable holiday locations. This past summer, we joined two of our favorite families for a week of fun in a lovely Villa in the St. Remy de Provence. The below pictures …
Continue reading A Week in Provence – Villa Life in the South of France
MONTENEGRO– Wild Beauty (UNESCO: Kotor) It takes a few flight connections to get to some of the wonderful, newly formed countries of the former Yugoslavia along the Adriatic coast, but it most certainly is worth the trip! We started in gorgeous Montenegro where we overcame our jet lag at the sleek and luxurious Regent Porto Montenegro overlooking …
Continue reading Croatia & Montenegro: All Along the Adriatic
What a glorious region of Italy to discover! For those who have been to Italy multiple times and would like to get off the beaten path, the heel of Italy awaits! First stop was to Puglia, on the Southern Adriatic coast. This is a magical and authentic destination full of Italians and Europeans enjoying the beaches …
Living la Vita Local in Italy with Relais & Chateaux
Sometimes you find a place that you realize is immediately extra-ordinary and this is exactly what I discovered at Hacienda Alta Gracia in the authentic and beautiful highlands of Perez Zeledon in Southern Costa Rica. A former working ranch and dream project of a very successful agricultural family, the newly opened Alta Gracia is managed …
Continue reading A Costa Rican Ranch Holiday: Something special in Perez Zeledon
They do say that once you ski in Europe, it is hard to go back and it is true. We flew the easy overnight flight into Geneva and were met by a car and driver. Within two hours, we pulled into the gorgeous Alpine Village of Courcheval, a tiny French hamlet that boasts no less …
Continue reading Courchevel: Charm and Civility of European Skiing Simply Not Found Elsewhere!
No matter how many times you go to Rome, nothing ever quite prepares you for the history! Ok, never mind that as my taxi driver drove by the Collesseum and his response to my, "Bellisima" was "I have been driving by the Collesseum for 45 fricking years" (picture thumb, index and middle finger joined together …
I had the distinct pleasure of escorting 18 couples on a trip we lovingly called "Tuscany by Ferrari." We started at the boutique and swank, JK Place hotel in Florence located overlooking Santa Maria Novella - the piazza and the church. Service is here is so personalized and spot on, it will be hard to …