24 Hours in Sydney

View of Sydney from The Observatory

“I can’t believe how off-balance and dizzy I felt earlier,” I said to Mary, the marine scientist who works at the Sydney planetarium.

“Well that’s normal,” she said. “You are, after all, standing upside down.”

G’day from down under!

It’s an amazing feeling to know you’re flying over the equator to the other side of the world from a 777 at 36,000-feet. My friend Heather, who’s with me on this journey, slept soundly after a few cocktails and a Ativan, while I spent my 14-hours exploring all parts of the new VAustralia plane. On my journey through the classes, I met families from all over the world and shared a nightcap a few cast members from “Home and Away,” a very popular TV drama in Australia. Approximately 14-hours later, we arrived Sydney safe and sound and made our way through customs where we met Habib, our (very informative) driver who took us to The Observatory Hotel.

The rooms weren’t quite ready, so we took advantage of the spa area for a shower and change of clothes. A hot cup of coffee later and a quick rest hour on the hotel’s sofas, and we were ready to explore our area of Sydney, known as The Rocks. We made our way to the The Observatory and Planetarium, where we caught of glimpse of the sun from a super-powered telescope.

Peering at the sun

Jif, an astronomer, explained how the night sky looks from this part of the world… I can’t wait to see it later this week during a star-gazing hour at the planetarium.

Our rooms were finally ready. The harbor view is amazing and the space is spectacular. Off to dinner for a Touheys New and a pizza, then back to bed to attempt to regulate the jetlag.

Side note: Travel is nothing if not an adventure. Thanks to everyone who checked in to ensure we were safe following the tsunami warnings placed on Australia. Our thoughts and prayers are with those Chile.

Redefining Luxury with Ritz-Carlton’s Simon Cooper

The Ritz-Carlton, Boston

The term ‘luxury’ is synonymous with glamour, grandeur and extravagance, and often accompanied by a hefty price tag. But what if you were told you could travel luxuriously without breaking the bank? That’s the concept of Ritz-Carlton’s brand strategy, and more travelers are finding that ‘casual elegance’ means living it up without breaking the bank.

The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company has been around for nearly 100 years and has set the gold standard in luxury hospitality worldwide. Its first hotel, The Ritz-Carlton, Boston opened on May 19, 1927 with a room rate of just $15 – mere pennies in today’s pockets, but a stretch for those recovering during the Great Depression. Throughout its century-long life, the Ritz-Carlton weathered the economic storms and continued to provide a level of quality synonymous with luxury.

I recently spoke with Simon Cooper, president and chief operating officer of The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, to get his thoughts on how luxury, by definition, has changed over the years, and I also got a sneak peak at what’s to come in the next 100 years for the Ritz-Carlton.

Read my entire interview with Ritz-Carlton President and Chief Operating Officer Simon Cooper on Gadling.

Going Back to Cali…

Photo credit/Larry Dale Gordon

It’s been 11 years since my feet have walked down Sunset Boulevard, or my hands held bags from Rodeo Drive. The last time I was in California I walked the pier in Santa Monica, got stuck in rush hour traffic in my Dodge Stratus rental and snapped a photo with Jeff Goldblum at Lucky Seven’s nightclub. Last time I was in Cali I was a novice traveler with not one stamp in my passport. How times have changed.

Next week I’m going to back Cali… Los Angeles to be exact. I wasn’t a fan of the City of Angels last time I was there, but I’m looking forward to giving this another try. I’ll be shacking up at the Four Seasons Beverly Hills, touring some new properties at LA Live, and visiting some friends at ABC. I’ll be having dinner with editors and literary agents, interviewing some of the top promotional booking coordinators in the city, and if I’m lucky, spending a little time poolside before getting on a flight to Sydney, Australia.

There might be some shopping, some cocktails, some pampering and some dreaming. Simply put, this pretty woman is going back to Cali…

Happy Valentine’s Day

“Love is a promise, love is a souvenir, once given never forgotten, never let it disappear.” -John Lennon

My McQueen

Alexander McQueen, Harpers Bazaar

It’s no secret I have a passion for scarves. Whether it’s from Canal Street in New York City or a boutique shop on the Via Condotti in Rome, my wallet knows no limits when it comes to the comfort of a scarf. From my cashmere pashminas to my Gap special, scarves hold a unique place in my life – they are the security blanket I reach for on a long flight, or the wrap I seek on a cold night. But, but it’s my Alexander McQueen scarf that is the most special.

The devastating loss of Alexander McQueen rattled the fashion world and rendered me speechless. I remember the day I bought my first McQueen…

I was in London on a business trip with my co-worker and fellow McQueen-fiend friend, The Missus. In fact, it was this friend who first introduced me to McQueen, and this friend who was with me when I made my first McQueen purchase. We arrived in London on a Saturday and after a quick nap and a cup of coffee, we went straight to Harrods. We made our way through the Jo Malone, Anya Hindmarch and Mulbury, passed the tea and chocolate shops and found our way to the McQueen accessories. We dug through the coveted skull scarfs until we found what we wanted. I held up the black and purple silk skull scarf and proudly declared it mine. Within minutes I was checking out, claiming my VAT tax and wrapping my McQueen around me. To this day, that scarf is in every suitcase on all my travels, because you just never know when you need to spice up an outfit with a few skulls.

At 40-years-old, Alexander McQueen was a designer who knew no limits. He was a stylist beyond our wildest dreams – he pushed the envelop and made people rethink they way they approached fashion. He was known for taking risks and creating controversy.  He made skulls sexy.

His life was cut short but he’ll forever live on as one of the most influential designers of our time.

Hotel Review: Copley Square Hotel’s Modern Remake

The Copley Square Hotel opened in 1891 in Boston’s famous Back Bay neighborhood. Near trendy Newbury Street and tucked behind the Boston Public Library, the seven-story boutique hotel seems overshadowed by its Westin and Marriott neighbors, but what it lacks in stature it makes up in grandeur.

The hotel closed in January 2008 for a $18-million renovation and reopened later that year as a luxury contemporary boutique with old-school elegance and modern amenities.

THE ROOMS
I heard about the modern-meets-sexy designs and decor that graced the rooms at the Copley Square Hotel post-renovation, but I wasn’t quite prepared for the seductive atmosphere I walked into. Simply put: these hotel rooms set the mood. Read more of my review at Gadling.com