To Mexico or Not to Mexico.....Part DOS....

As the reports roll in from all the Spring Breakers, I must say that the happiest people are those that went to....drumroll....MEXICO! Over the top, hands down, most awesome, most excited people that I have talked to went to Mexico.

AND, of those....Capella tops the list of awesome resorts. I had people at Capella Pedregal and Capella Ixtapa....

"Thank you for assuring me that this was exactly what I was looking for! Capella was amazing!"

"OMGoodness!! LOVED my stay. THANK YOU. The staff was so wonderful. They all took very good care of me. Just as you'd promised. The week was relaxing and peaceful. The view was gorgeous and oh, how I miss that ocean...Thanks again, Denise. Spot on!!!

Just sayin.....

To Mexico or not to Mexico

That is the question….

So when I get a call for the beach these days it usually goes like this….

‘We want a beautiful beach, great resort, great food BUT NOT MEXICO….’

I know Mexico has is drug cartels and political issues, but honestly the resort areas are amazing! The Riviera Maya has some of the most beautiful beaches, great snorkeling and some off the charts luxury resorts.

Punta Mita is also a beautiful destination and sits on a secure peninsula in a private gated oasis!
The Four Seasons Punta Mita has great villas for families and a plethora of things to do….and the BEST lazy river EVER! A sample itinerary from the Four Seasons:

Upon arrival in the Puerto Vallarta airport, you will be greeted by Four Seasons Staff. Cold towels and refreshments await in an air conditioned Suburban – step in and embark on your journey to paradise. Take in the vista as you drive through the Sierra Madre Mountains, edged by pectacular views of the Pacific Ocean.

Day 1 – Welcome to the Four Seasons Resort Punta Mita
Start your getaway by unwinding and reconnecting.
· Order breakfast from our extensive In-Casita Dining menu, and enjoy the meal on your private terrace.
· Following breakfast, take advantage of the many activities available at the Resort.
· The complimentary Kids For All Seasons programme is a fun way for children to spend their day. The programme offers outdoor and indoor activities.
· Both novices and experts can enjoy a round of golf at either of our two 18-hole ocean-view courses, both designed by Jack Nicklaus.
· The Pacifico course features an optional par 3 hole on a natural island, a challenge to the most avid golfer.
· After a round of golf, attend a yoga class on The Rock, a beautiful cliff that overlooks the ocean.
· In the afternoon, catch up with the rest of the family and unwind while drifting on the Lazy River.

Evening -
· For dinner, enjoy Mexican modern cuisine at Ketsi Restaurant.
· At the end of the day, let our experienced spa staff guide you in your pursuit of complete relaxation. Choose a therapeutic treatment at Apuane Spa, open until 9:00 pm everyday.

Day 2 – Discover the activities Punta Mita has to offer
Day
· For breakfast, visit Tail of the Whale and try the Huevos Rancheros, one of our specialties.
· After your meal, take the whole family horseback riding – a magical way to explore the beaches and trails of Punta Mita.
· Embark on an exciting adventure aboard the luxurious Four Seasons Yacht and visit the Marietas Islands, an ecological sanctuary that several endangered bird species call home.

Evening
· Dine right on the beach at Bahia restaurant, and try the delicious grilled specialties by Richard Sandoval.
· Make a selection from our DVD library and enjoy a movie in your room with the family.

Day 3 - Getting familiar with the property
Day
· Enjoy breakfast al fresco by the pool at Ketsi Restaurant with the whole family.
· After breakfast, visit our Las Cuevas beach and compete in a family kayak race.
· Catch of the day makes for a special lunch – meet our local fisherman on the beach with the fresh catch and allow the Executive Chef to make preparation suggestions.
· Relax by the infinity-edged Nuna pool. Pool attendants cater to your needs with towels, cooling facials sprays and hourly amenities.
· Children will love the snow cones!

Evening
· Have In-Casita Dining set up a romantic dinner for two on The Rock, and enjoy your meal while taking in endless views of the horizon.
· While you're dinning, the kids can visit Nunutzi, our game room, where they have access to PlayStation, an air hockey table, dancing machines and more.

Day 4 - Enjoying it at its most
Day
· Enjoy breakfast al fresco by the pool at Ketsi Restaurant with the whole family.
· Take a nature walk together and learn more from our local flora and fauna, while enjoying this morning activity.
· Paint ceramic figures for the kids while the parents enjoy Las Cuevas beach one of the relaxing day beds overlooking the Pacific.
· Enjoy lunch at Las Cuevas through in-room dining.
· Build castles on the beach
· Participate in a shell treasure hunt by Manzanillas beach.

Evening
· Enjoy contemporary Asian food at Aramara restaurant.
· Enjoy the cuban live music at Aramara's Bar while discovering one of our infusion signature cocktails.

Day 5 - A final wind-down day
Spend your last day relaxing with the family before heading back to reality.
Day
· Enjoy an à la carte breakfast with the whole family at Ketsi thatched roof palapa restaurant.
· After breakfast, enjoy a tennis clinic for parents and kids.
· While the kids discover the playground at the Kids for All Seasons programme, parents can relax in one of the ten cabanas at the Tamai adult pool complete.
· For lunch, enjoy a sushi and tapas menu at Tamai restaurant, while kids can order through in-room dining.

Evening
· Let the fun continue by watching a movie at the Kids for All Seasons programme.
· Complete your day enjoying the sunset while having a memorable family dinner at Bahia by Richard Sandoval.

I say ABSOLUTELY to Mexico every time! It is beautiful, fun and safe for the whole family!

Lions & Tigers & Bears

OH MY!

That certainly makes for a great list to check off doesn’t it?! Each majestic and beautiful and fierce, these creatures fill our hearts with intrigue and mystery.

The lions of Africa are just beautiful! Lions have been celebrated throughout history for their courage and strength. They once roamed most of Africa and parts of Asia and Europe. Today they are found only in parts of sub-Saharan Africa, except for one very small population of Asian lions that survives in India's Gir Forest. Eastern Africa (Kenya & Tanzania) or Southern Africa all offer wonderful lodges from which to explore and find a pride to watch.

Nestled in the natural beauty of the wilds of India, The Oberoi Vanyavilas is the country’s leading luxury jungle resort on the edge of the Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve. The perfect base from which to explore the territory of the majestic tiger. Tiger sightings are most frequent during the months of May and June. While it is warm during the day, mornings and evenings are pleasant. The resort setting is picture-perfect with a dramatic watercourse and sun-kissed private decks. The luxury tents with finely embroidered canopies, luxurious bathrooms and private walled gardens are in perfect contrast to the ruggedness of the jungle.

A high Arctic archipelago situated between Norway and the North Pole, Svalbard is a place of deep fjords, snow-capped mountains, massive sheets of ice, and magnificent polar bears. Travel under the midnight sun aboard the National Geographic Explorer and experience nature in its purest form. This is a wonderful article in National Geographic about the polar bear:
http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2011/07/polar-bears/mcgrath-text Honestly, my life list didn't have the polar bear on it, but after reading the National Geography article....it now is! They lead an amazing trip with National Geography photographers and naturalists...the only way to go!

Summer Ceviche

On a recent trip to Cabo, I made it my mission to find the BEST ceviche. I first tried this awesome fresh fish deliciousness when we went to Costa Rica in 2002 and it has been a favorite ever since.

So after searching high and low, my favorite was at The Sea Grill at Las Ventanas. I ordered a sample of all of their ceviches (5 varieties) and they were all standouts really. BUT, my favorite was their Coconut Sea Bass Ceviche – supper refreshing! And as usual, I asked for the recipe and so….here you go!

Ingredients:

600 g Sea bass Fish Fillet

1 pz Carrot

1/2 pz Cucumber

1/4 pz Red Onion

6 oz Lime Juice

1 pz Jalapeño Chili Pepper

1 Bunch Cilantro

4 oz Natural Coconut Milk

Salt to taste

Procedure:

• Cut in small cubes and Marinate the Sea bass in lime juice for half an hour to one Hour


• Chop all vegetables into small cubes and marinate in lime juice


• Take off the Sea bass from lime juice


• Mix with chop vegetables, Jalapeño chile and Cilantro


• Add the Coconut Milk


• Season to taste

So in all honesty, I am not sure what ‘pz’ is an abbreviation for. I made the recipe and substituted tilapia for the sea bass and just did ‘some’ carrots, cucumbers & onions. It turned out wonderful. The sea bass of course would have been better – with its delicate buttery flavor – but at $30 / pound, I decided to experiment with tilapia. It worked out great.

A Sincere Sense of Place

The Four Seasons Biltmore in Santa Barbara has been the weekend get-away choice for Hollywood celebs for decades. As I sat in the lobby lounge, sipping my champagne, I watched couples dance and laugh and unwind. It was really a beautiful picture of guests enjoying the lounge of a hotel as if it were their own home, not just using the hotel as a place to put their bags and sleep while they did other things. It is a destination in itself.

So many times I hear people say of Four Seasons that they don’t really have a true sense of place. I absolutely disagree across the board, but especially with The Biltmore. The old Spanish colonial style is uniquely Southern California late 19^th century and every corner of the estate evokes warmth that could not be found elsewhere. While there is Spanish architecture elsewhere, there is only one Biltmore. Ty Warner owns the resort and is passionately committed to its history and preservation. One of the significant points to the resort is The Coral Casino. Ty Warner also owns this ultra exclusive and iconic private club and it is available to guests of the hotel to use. The swimming pool is 60' wide and 167' long. It was said to be California's largest outdoor pool and was originally built with a 30' high dive. The size of the pool is just 1 foot longer than a standard olympic sized pool so that there would never be the possibility of hosting any sporting events at the club. The club has private cabanas and the Four Seasons has 2 designated for the exclusive use of hotel guests. There is also a fantastic restaurant and a fitness club.
The Biltmore could be a great choice for a couples weekend away or for a full week family holiday. It is funny, sometimes you just really feel an emotional attachment to a hotel. OK, maybe that is just me, but I do! I love this place!

When a Hotel REALLY Wows You

Being in the luxury travel industry, it is actually rare that a hotel just really WOWs me. Don’t get me wrong, there are some very very WOW hotels in this world. I am not talking about the appointments, or the amenities or the restaurants. I am talking about a level of service that goes beyond knowing my name.

The Hotel Arts in Barcelona currently holds my ‘Most WOW Moment’ award. The hotel’s restaurant Arola is a beautiful sea of white with the only color being gorgeous purple orchids…everywhere. I asked the manager if she knew what the variety name was for that particular orchid – which she did not. By the time the evening was over, the manager brought me a picture of the orchid with the variety name. WOW. I was so thankful and impressed. See, I just got my first orchid, it hasn’t died yet, so I would love to see about getting this beautiful Purple Vanda orchid.

That is not all….the following day, after a long day of sightseeing, I was in my room getting ready for dinner when my doorbell rang. When I opened the door, standing there with THE most gorgeous bouquet of purple orchids was my maid. She had noticed the picture on my desk, mentioned it to the head of housekeeping and they felt like I should have a bouquet to enjoy in my room. WOW!! When has housekeeping ever noticed something and taken action to wow you? I was staying on the club level (once you have stayed on club, no other level will do!) They say that they want club level to be more personal, and they mean it!

That is not all….I went to the concierge to ask how I should get to Mercat de la Boqueria. ON the map, he showed me the route. IT wasn’t far, but not really walkable. He suggested the bus as you can pick it up just outside the hotel and it stops right at the market for 1 EUR. The concierge is on the 30^th floor or something like that….he walked me to the elevator, got on, walked out of the hotel with me, down the street to the bus, helped me onto the bus, then (in Spanish of course) he told the bus driver where I needed to get off. WOW!!!

Seriously! I have never had such distinct service experiences at a hotel. And of course beautiful flowers will make any girl go WOW.

Cruces de España

In looking through the pictures from my recent trip to Spain, I noticed an inordinate amount of crosses. Of course there are churches everywhere - as in any European country. I visited Madrid, Toledo, Acala de Henares, Barcelona & Tarragona. The following is a sampleing from these beautiful cities and villages.