Standing in front of the Sydney Harbour Bridge

The tears started before I even set foot on the bridge. It was 8 a.m. and our climb was scheduled to start at 8:30 a.m. I grazed through the gift shop and made back-to-back trips to the bathroom. I walked up one flight of stairs to the ‘holding area’, where I would await my tour guide and watch a quick movie on the climb. It was about 45 seconds into the movie I started to panic. The climbers were making their way up the curved steel structure double-time. Panic stricken, I looked around the room for my friend and when she caught my fear I simply said, “I can’t do this.”

The doors opened and we were ushered inside to another room where we were given breathalyzer tests and asked to sign the obligatory ‘if you die on this tour…’ form. We stood around in a circle and were handed our climbing jumpsuits – polyester slate-blue one-piece fashion disasters that somehow ensured I would be safe. We were asked to go around the circle and introduce ourselves. I learned the names of people from all over the world and when the circle stopped at me and all I could say was, “I’m Melanie, and I’m terrified.”

We harnessed up, lathered on some sunscreen (a sunburn was, quite frankly, the very least of my concerns), took a drink of water and walked into the room of no return. The door shut behind me and I realized there was no handle on the other side – there was no way to get back in. My heart raced, my breath shortened and my eyes closed. “It’s time to climb,” said Richard, our climb leader. “Mel, you go first.” The man was out of his mind, but I took the lead and stepped out onto the steel grate.

The vibrations from the cars speeding across the bridge shook the metal platform that separated me from the concrete ground below. Our harnesses shook as they slid across the one-inch thick cable that kept us attached to the nearly 3,800-foot bridge. We walked along the flat steel-grate surface, ducking under steel limbs and dodging odd-shaped angles that jutted out in our way. One step at a time. One level at a time. With each lift of my leg I was getting a little closer to the arch of the bridge and a little higher from the ground. With every step the city got a little smaller, my breath got a little heavier and my heart beat a little faster…Continue reading on Gadling.com.

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.

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.

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…

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.

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

U.S. Capitol Building

Traveling alone, whether for business or pleasure, can be an eye-opening experience. It’s a chance to do things that only you would do, without having to worry about entertaining or accommodating others. Go to the museums, eat hot dogs from a cart, spend the day laying on the beach, or cuddle up in your hotel bed with room service and free HBO. Whatever you choose to do, traveling solo is a great way to experience a new or familiar city.

On a recent trip to Washington, DC, I was reminded of all the things I loved to do in our nation’s capitol – the Smithsonian, a morning run through The Mall, shopping in DuPont Circle, strolling down Embassy Row, and the list goes on. My past trips were with nieces and nephews or business partners, which meant I set the itinerary to cater to someone else. Not this time – I was taking on Washington, DC, my way! Next time you’re up for a visit to DC take some time to explore your favorite things about the city, and if you get lost I’ve listed a few Washington DC must-sees for you in my recent Women on Their Way column with Wyndam Worldwide.

M Bar & Lounge, Mandarin Oriental: If elegance and extravagance is what you seek, look no further than M Bar at the Mandarin Oriental Boston. The new hotel sits pretty in Boston’s trendy Back Bay and M Bar plays into the style and sophistication of the neighborhood. The crowd is a mix of high-rollers celebrating a new VC-deal and cougars on the prowl for cubs, and you’ll enjoy a little bit of everything from your corner seat with a Mandarin Martini.

Read more (and get the honorable bar mentions) from my column on Oyster.com

In an effort to create a more comfortable environment for my pending economy-class seat I bought myself some new Gap pjs, had my favorite pashmina dry-cleaned and dug out my aromatherapy slippers for the flight. I’m totally ready to go! Now, what to do when I get to Australia?

Thanks to the chaos that has been my life for the past few months, I haven’t had two seconds to plan this trip. I know where I’m staying, and I think I called ahead for a car service from the Sydney airport, but as far as trip planning and reservations – there are none. So, the countdown to Oz is on… and I have no idea what to do. Here’s what I know I want to see/do – if anyone has ideas on how to get this accomplished, please drop me a line:

1. Bridge Climb: Despite my fear of death, I’m committed to doing the Sydney Bridge Climb. I’ve decided it’s best to plan this for one of the last days I’m in Australia – that way if I die from fear on the bridge, at least I would have seen most of Sydney before I go.

2. Sydney Zoo: I’m not really a ‘zoo’ person – I’m afraid many animals are mistreated at zoos – but I’m told the Sydney Zoo is nothing like the zoos in America, and that the animals reside in their own habitats. I’m not sure how that’s possible, but I’m willing to give it a go.

3. Pet a kangaroo/koala bear: I can’t leave Oz without playing with a kangaroo or petting a koala!

4. Sydney Opera House: The Grand Dame of Sydney awaits! I want to play dress up and walk in the icon down-under.

5. Bondi Beach: I forget why I’m supposed to go to Bondi Beach, but it’s on my list so I’ll be going!

6. Chart the stars: The wanna-be astronaut in me is uber-excited about viewing the stars from the Southern Hemisphere. Good thing I’m staying at The Observatory Hotel in the Rocks, where I’m told there is a wonderful viewing room for star-gazing.

7. Shopping! I don’t know what I’ll buy, but you can bet I’ll come back with something fabulous from Sydney.

That’s my list as of today, but I know there’s so much more I’m missing. If you’ve been to Sydney, send along your recommendations so I can add them to the list!