When I first started writing about Authentic Luxury Travel no one seemed to know what I meant. Most folks thought that ALT was synonymous with five-star resorts and high-end cruise ships. In those days, I spent a lot of time defining “authentic” as it applies to travel.



But times have…

by Tripatini staff

Meet Gabriella, Ádám, and Zsolt, Budapest thirtysomethings who formed the electro-pop group Unique in 1997 — and who’ve been music-obsessed ever since they were mini-Madyars. Blonde Gabi, for example, made a splash way back in ’92 when she walked away with “best solo singer” on the Hungarian TV show Teenage Star…

The first thing you should know about the Dominican Republic is that it’s hotter than Hades. A mile-long beach walk in the midday Dominican sun will suck the life out of you quicker than the torture machine from The Princess Bride. Thank god for Willis Haviland Carrier, who invented air…

"I wonder what it would be like to fly on one of those things?” I said to hubby when I saw the Farmers Airship float over the Home Depot parking lot on Saturday.



Well, guess what? I’m about to find out – and you can, too.…

From NMT Images

Princess Cruises’ Facebook Travel Contest May Sink the Ship



In the last month or so, I’ve received a half dozen Facebook Travel…

by David Paul Appell

When it comes to birthday parties in Latin America — these days at least — nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition.

Yet here they were, a pretty young Colombian señorita and maybe a hundred or so of her family and friends, happily celebrating her quince (“Sweet…

I love a good Inn. When I'm off taking a break, I really don't want to see staff coming and going, I just want a place to relax and get a good night's sleep. And not a kid in sight.

At the Sandpiper Inn, I did just that.  The Gulf was a stroll away--I could hear it from my bedroom window--and it was a quiet and peaceful place to relax and write.  There was a tiny pool, but the temps while I visited didn't merit a cool-off swim; The landscaping was beautiful and several places…

Maine is well known for its lobster, lighthouses, mountains and Martha Stewart. A standout among these and many other State of Maine bright spots is our restaurant community. Maine's chefs and restaurateurs have developed a stellar reputation. Dining scene accolades started flowing in years ago and thankfully, buzz about Maine as a place for good food has not slowed. National newspapers and culinary publications have no shortage of positive things to say about our chefs, brewers, specialty…

There are several things that are expected when one lives in Maine and not necessarily in a good way. Take winter for example. We know it's going to be cold (this morning it was 2 whole degrees) and that snow will be involved at some point. In the last few days we've received a foot and are told to expect another major storm within the week.

Snow is so pretty to look at, especially the light fluffy stuff that has settled on…

Here in Maine, we know alcohol. Of course the best known Maine alcohol would be "Allen's Coffee Brandy". Someone, somewhere, probably having to do with ice-drinking fishing, decided that Allen's goes well with milk, and the drink went viral.  Young men refer to the drink as LPR (liquid panty remover); all I know is what I've seen--too many years of whole milk and Allen's…

Winter Sun Hot Spots – great getaways this winter With the golden beaches and warming sun easily accessible nowadays, it’s easy to travel anywhere to escape the cold British weather and head off to some welcoming sunshine. In fact, even more of us are expected to jet off this winter than ever before. But where are the warmest, hottest places at this time of year?

Well firstly, here are a few short haul ideas if you’re thinking about escaping to…

As the winter season approaches where scenes of stranded cars and trucks and poor souls wrapped in more layers of clothing than an Inuit´s baby are played out day after day, does the question arise at some freezing “Aha!” point of why spend my life fighting mother Nature and her Winter Wrath?  After spending many seasons in what I knew as “Sunny California”, I had no idea that there was a place called the City of Eternal Spring, Well, I did know something about this town from the stories…

From NMT Images

Untroubling Tunisia: Waiting for Travel and Democracy



The thirty or so countries that make…

If wildlife Holidays india pushes your adrenaline level into high gear, visit the enchanting Bandhavgarh National Park in Madhya Pradesh. It is located in the Umaria district and is famous for tigers, leopards and several other…

Some random thoughts about random events occurred to me today…

People ask me why I don’t like cruises or go on packaged tours.  Then I wonder why people in my area with limited time continue to spend every vacation they have getting drunk in Vegas and losing all their money.  I guess the answer for me is that I don’t travel to be pampered, act out, or see a…

Paul Hogan (AKA Crocodile Dundee) promised to “slip a shrimp on the barby” for us and Americans and others flocked to Australia in record numbers. Will Oprah Winfrey have the same impact on Australian tourism?

We’ll soon find out. The four shows she taped down under will air January 18 -21, and rumor has it that she waxes lyrical about the place and touts its many attributes.

Of course, I couldn’t agree more. For ten years I wrote and revised…

by Max Pesling

A2-1/2 to 3-hour drive from Marrakesh, one of Morocco’s jewels is theAtlantic port city of Essaouira, built by the Portuguese as thefortified town of Mogador in the 18th century and today a UNESCO WorldHeritage Site. Here in this mix of traditional and hip alternative vibe(along with…