Shanghai is a city of complications and successes. It’s one of the most modern cities in China, yet still holds sacred its roots in China’s history. It’s lived in the shadows of Beijing and Hong Kong for centuries but today offers travelers a new experience, thanks in part to its hosting the World Expo Shanghai. Shanghai is a juxtaposition of old and new on every street. A five minute walk from the world’s largest Louis Vuitton store is one of Shanghai’s oldest parks, where locals converge to practice the art of Tai Chi and take part in morning dance rituals as a form of expression and exercise.

Imagine you have exactly 24 hours to explore one of the world’s most historical and modernized cities. What do you do first? Whether you’re heading to Shanghai as a stopover to somewhere else in China, or your spending your vacation in the Expo City, make sure to save a day for the following:

Early morning in Renmin Park 7 – 8 a.m.
Only a short walk from The Portman Ritz-Carlton at Shanghai Center (where I stayed during my trip to Shanghai), Renmin Park at People’s Square of Puxi offers a unique glance at the life of old Shanghainese. Early Sunday mornings are filled with generations of Shanghainese taking part in familiar rituals including Tai Chi and ‘disco’ – their version of what Americans would consider “line dancing.” Join the dance or just stop and take it all in. Everyone is wonderfully friendly in the park and welcome tourists to join the dance or take part in Tai Chi.

Read more and see photos from my column on Gadling.com

Los Angeles can be a very tempting place.

From Rodeo Drive to the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Los Angeles is wrought with desire. With so much to do and see in LA, it’s hard to know where to begin. The best part about Los Angeles, though, is the city’s hidden gems. Sure, there’s plenty to do and see at Universal Studios and I’m confident at least one of the companies selling tours of the stars’ homes is legitimate, but when you take Hollywood out of the equation, Los Angeles becomes a mecca for art, culture and scenery.

Annette Green Perfume Museum

If you find yourself alone in LA, don’t fall for the same old tourist traps – take these tips to navigating Los Angeles on your own and you’ll experience an entirely new side of LA unbeknownst to most travelers.

What to see: One of the best things about Los Angeles is its random museums and hidden hideaways just waiting to be explored. Head downtown to check out the Annette Green Perfume Museum at the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising. It’s the only perfume museum in the country and a great way to get the history and science of perfume making while sampling some of the best scents in world.

Read more from my column on Women on Their Way

I drove into Newport, Rhode Island, just as the sun was setting over the sleepy little summer town. It’s not quite summer, yet, which means Newport is still waking from its winter hibernation. As I made way over the bridge to Goat Island, I pulled over to catch a glimpse of the sky’s colors before it faded to black. Standing next to a few dozen fisherman – all eager to get their catch for the next day – I counted slowly as the colors meshed and the sun faded behind the horizon.

3…2…1… and it was night.

Sunset over Newport, RI

The fisherman packed up their tackle and bait, closed up their ice canisters that contained any catch from their day, and packed up their cars. After a few more shots of the lit-up Pell Bridge (which can easily be mistaken for San Francisco’s Bay Bridge on a foggy day), I got back into my car and headed to the hotel, a short drive over the foot bridge that connected Goat Island to Newport.

The Hyatt Regency in Newport was home for the next 24 hours. A fixture in the Newport landscape, the hotel is also the only lodging on Goat Island making it a perfect getaway for those needing a little privacy but still wanting all of Newport’s boutiques, restaurants and beachside activities at their fingertips.

Gold Army boot serves as the centerpiece for tables at the Army Ball

The Army Ball was taking place at the Hyatt. Men in full military uniforms walked proudly around the hotel grounds, and I silently wished them a prayer of peace. I walked past the two separate weddings taking place in the hotel, but not before stopping to watch the couples sway to the crooning of Frank Sinatra classics, and kids lining up to learn The Hustle. The summer fling from a lifetime ago forced itself to the top of my mind only this time, I was reminded of how far I’ve come, instead of wondering how long we would have before the reality of Monday morning arrived.

I checked into my room in the Captain’s Quarters and immediately went for the balcony doors to let some of the ocean air into the nautical-themed hotel room. Room 3314 was room was far from stale – the king bed was placed ceremoniously in the middle of the room, flanked by a sofa and table, desk and chair, walk-in closet and full bathroom with his and her sinks (I only used the ‘her’ sink on this trip). Turn-down service had already come, which meant chocolates on my fluffed pillows (the perfect way to fall asleep). I uncorked a bottle of Cabernet, poured myself a glass and took a seat out on the private balcony that overlooked Newport’s waterfront. The Pell Bridge was lit in the background and for the first time since Australia, I was in a location far enough from the bright lights of the city see stars.

It was unseasonably cold in Newport but it didn’t matter – there was a big bed, warm blankets and a full bottle of wine to keep me warm. The next day was full of business meetings, arranged dinners and hotel tours, but tonight was all about me. I went inside, drew the blackout shades over the balcony door but kept the door open just slightly so I could hear the sound of the waves as I fell asleep.

Tomorrow I’d tackle the pros and cons of the hospitality industry. Tonight, I needed a good night’s sleep.

Read my full hotel review of the Hyatt Regency Newport on Gadling.com

The Lighthouse at Newport bay

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. (more…)

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. (more…)

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.

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!

(more…)

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. (more…)

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. (more…)

Red Rocks at Dusk: Sedona, Arizona

It started off as a simple getaway: three days in Arizona, one of which would be spent at the Hilton Sedona spa, the other two days would go-with-the-flow, mood depending.

I arrived in Phoenix early Friday morning, Aug. 28, and spent the afternoon driving through Camelback Mountain and enjoying the scenery. That evening, I met one of my favorite people, the owner of SingleMindedWomen.com, for dinner.  We dined on steak, drank wine and reminisced like old friends who hadn’t seen each other in years… a wonderful way to start your vacation.

The next morning I was on my way to Sedona by 8 a.m. The sky was a clean slate of blue, the heat was just peaking at its morning high and the radio was programmed to some of my favorite stations. Me and my rental KIA SUV were off down I-10 toward Flagstaff, next stop: Sedona.

The two-hour drive was desert-like, and no surprise: driving through Arizona leaves a lot to be considered, unless you’re into cactus. Turning off the road on Rt 189 to Sedona, the landscaped the changed and immediately I was drawn into the Red Rocks. Many have said that the Red Rocks produce a power unexplainable to man, but embraced by all: I think it’s entirely possible. Within seconds, you’re captivated by the beauty and history of the rocks and without hesitation, an entire day has passed without checking email, text messages or searching for a cell phone signal. Instead, the day is spent exploring, intrigued and interested about your surroundings. Before you know it, you’ve hiked 3.5 miles, burned thousands of calories (thanks to the Arizona heat in summer) and captured some of the most breathtaking landscapes in the US. (more…)