While I had visited Macau before on a day trip from Hong Kong, I had never actually stayed overnight there. With one casino being built after the other, I wanted to see what it is all about and explore the “new” side of Macau. With some Hilton HHonors points and a special occasion, I decided […]
Novotel is a mid-scale, full service hotel chain in the Accor hotel group. It’s one of the older Accor brands, started in 1967 and has focused on business travelers, more recently opening up to families and leisure travelers. They only have one property in the US – so who are they and what can you
It’s been a tough week for air travelers concerned about safety – the FAA downgraded Thailand over safety concerns (read my report and advice here) and now, the final report of the crash investigation of AirAsia Indonesia flight QZ8501 has been issued: The cause of the crash causing 162 deaths was a mix of a
Conrad is one of the luxury brands of Hilton Worldwide Hotels, named after the founder’s father. I’ve had some very memorable stays at Conrad hotels – read my overview to see who they are and why you might want to consider them for a luxury stay!
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) of the US announced that Thailand does not comply with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) safety standards and has been downgraded to category 2. What does that mean to flying to Thailand or on a Thai airline – read onto find out!
I stumbled upon my first dinner restaurant in Vilnius on my walk through the old town. along the winding alleys of the old Jewish quarter on Stikliu street: Bistro 18. I often check out the menus and was impressed by the modern, French-European cuisine on offer at very reasonable prices. I was looking forward to
Vilnius was the the last capital of the three Baltic Republics on my Baltic Explorer trip and I wasn’t quite sure what to expect in this landlocked city. It didn’t help that I arrived on the bus from Riga in the rain and the bus and train station are not in the nicest part of
If you are looking for the best luxury spa in Bangkok, the Divana Virtue spa in this review fits the bill! It’s situated in an old colonial building near Sathorn, offers spacious, well appointed spa suites and uses high-quality products for your treatment. It’s a place to pamper body and mind, so bring plenty of
If you are looking for one of the largest hotel suites in Bangkok at a reasonable price, you don’t have to look further than the Grand Mercure Asoke – we stayed at a suite big enough to get lost in at a price that you usually pay for a regular room. If space is at
The recent tragic terrorist attach in Paris and the crash of the Russian plane in the Sinai, Egypt, have caused fear and many people are canceling trips or questioning the safety of travel. I have been shaken by these shocking events as well and asked myself what the right thing to do is with regards
For my last dinner in Riga, I picked a restaurant in the Old Town that was highly recommended for its food and service on Tripadvisor. It’s on a quiet street right behind St. Peter’s church. With nice indoor and outdoor seating and the menu on a blackboard on the door, the scene was set for
Manila traffic is pretty bad on a regular day – and it’s worse for special occasions, like the visit of the Pope or this week’s APEC Leaders Meeting, November 16 – 20, 2015! If you are planning to visit, you should check out my travel tips below to make the best of a bad situation!