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.

24 Hours…in Tortola

Tortola, British Virgin Islands

I arrived Tortola around 4 p.m. on a Thursday. I had never been to the British Virgin Islands, but will never forget being herded around St. John and St. Marteen as part of the cruise ship brigade back in 1999. I was sure this would be a little more enjoyable.

There’s something unique about island life – it’s a slow (casual) way of living, and a foreign concept to the rushed and panicked Americans (like me). Everything and everyone is friendly in the islands.

Even customs was an enjoyable experience. Continue Reading…

24 Hours…in Mexico

The sun sets in Mexico

The beach, the tequila and the ocean air breezes through your window. The palm trees sway in the wind and the smooth sounds of the salsa waft through the air as you watch couples stroll by your ocean-view villa. You sip champagne as the sun sets over the ocean.  You have one night in Mexico, and it’s all yours.

The Riveria Maya is an intoxicating section of Mexico’s Gulf Coast. The white-sand beaches, private cabanas and moonlight massages create a sexy atmosphere even a single gal isn’t immune from. Room service is on the way – five cheeses, a bottle of Malbec and a hot brownie sundae appear and grace your in-room dinner table.

The water from the pool outside your room glimmers as mosquitoes fight their way through the humid air.

One glass of wine down. You find yourself lying in the day bed on your private deck, the open bottle placed perfectly within arms reach as you watch for shooting stars, guided by the man in the full moon.

A deep breath and the smells of chocolate-covered strawberries and jasmine flowers fill your senses. One night in Mexico is fast becoming the moment of solitude you’ve been seeking.

24 Hours…in Martha’s Vineyard

Edgartown Lighthouse, Martha's Vineyard

There are few things as pleasant as Martha’s Vineyard in the off-season. Rain boots, sweatshirts and fall hats serve a purpose that only a true New Englander can appreciate.

Gone are the tank tops and flip-flops, and in their place are fleece cover-ups and cotton scarves.

New to the off-season is the Martha’s Vineyard Food & Wine festival, which is now in its third year. The ferry left at 6:15 pm Friday night and just made it — there was a storm coming in and the seas were getting rough. We arrived in Vineyard Haven 45 minutes later and made our way to Edgartown. Navigating Martha’s Vineyard in the dark isn’t easy, but thankfully, the rain had held off long enough for us to reach the Harbor View Hotel.

The hotel is perfectly placed on the harbor with amazing views of the Edgartown Lighthouse. The wrap-around porch is welcoming with bright blue rocking chairs and an inviting restaurant. Each room is decorated in blue and brown tones and my favorite part: instead of bottled water in the room, the hotel provides its guests with water bottles (free of charge) to fill up on their way in and out for the day. A great green effort!

Continue Reading…

24 Hours…in Miami

Room service, Mandarin Oriental Miami

Yin. Yang. Up. Down. Breathe in. Breathe out. Relax. Repeat.

That was the instruction from my spa therapist at the Mandarin Oriental Miami’s spa during my Mandarin Oriental Signature Spa Treatment (MOSST). I needed a quick getaway alone – away from the laundry, the dirty dishes, the emails, the dust bunnies… I grabbed a cheap flight on JetBlue and headed to Miami. A good night’s sleep, warm bath and one spa treatment later and I was a new woman.

My Saturday in Miami started with a cup of coffee on the balcony of Room 816 at the Mandarin. I highly recommend this hotel to travelers – the price is right and every room has a balcony or terrace, making it an ideal Miami getaway. My spa appointment wasn’t until 11 a.m., but the request you arrive an hour early to check-in, fill out forms and enjoy the relaxation room before your treatment. With two hours to spare, I opted for a run along Brickell Key to start to day. Continue Reading…

24 Hours…in NYC

NYC at Night; Empire State Building

The song ends, “the best that you can do is fall in love…” While it is meant to bring Dudley Moore and Liza Minelli  together at the end of “Arthur“, the concept isn’t lost on me as I stand on the balcony of my 15th floor hotel room, overlooking the iconic Empire State Building and the Chrysler Building.

New York City is a little bit of everything in 34-square-miles: it’s inspiring, exciting, daunting, sexy, stunning, inviting, disturbing, dream-like and mesmerizing. It can blow a 5-year-old’s mind, as she watches the characters of “The Lion King” come to life before her eyes, or bring out the kid in any adult during the tree lighting in Rockefeller Square every December. New York can be complicated – it can cut a young business owner’s dream in half with 50% less funding or forbid a blind date’s dream of love when the ex walks in the door. It can also be the city where dreams come true.

Dancers pirouette on Broadway, entrepreneurs invest on Wall Street, restaurant owners taste-test in Chelsea, artists inspire in SoHo, students co-habitate in the Upper East Side, historians investigate on Ellis Island, tourists stop and gaze at buildings as if they don’t have tall steel structures where they’re from. Whatever borough you’re in, there’s something new to see, do and feel. Continue Reading…