I was a longtime New Yorker and am now a Miamian, but on my most recent visit to Chicago this summer I rediscovered that despite its cold winters, there are some things that the Windy City does better than either of them. And now, since Halloween 2011, Chi-town’s  also the first city in North America to boast an outpost of the…

Frontier is making you an offer you can't refuse.

Today, the Denver-based airline announced a series of new "improvements" (to use the airline's language) that are only available to flyers who book directly on the carrier's website, the just-unveiled FlyFrontier.com. These include advanced seating assignments and unrestricted frequent-flyer mile credits. Frontier is…

You got me there, actually. When a friend sent me the YouTube link for “Gangnam Style,” by a pudgy, 35-year-old South Korea hippity-hopper called Psy, I was bemused (no, not necessarily amused), to say the list. Whirling frantically from a kids’…

Sea Island is one of the few remaining destinations to experience Southern hospitality from a bygone-era. She was founded by automobile mogul, Howard Earl Coffin, who envisioned her to be the “Southern jewel for legendary ambiance.” The island has remained true to this vision since the Roaring Twenties. Among the clusters of cozy willows, tropical palms and lush green grass is an elegant, natural setting that is incomparable to other vacation destinations.…

There are lots of reasons why La Jolla is San Diego, California’s favorite coastal community. One of these is the fact that our community offers so many things to do – including looking at beautiful houses and gardens.

Sometimes this can be a frustrating…

North Korea is like the urban legend of the Japanese soldier still fighting WWII out on some lonely island in the remote Pacific.  In his mind, it’s all still very real for him.  When he starts shooting at us, then it’s real for us, too.  At first I didn’t know if they were even going to let me in the country, something about journalists not allowed in…

Philadelphia is home to America’s most historic square mile.  While that may seem like a small area, once you start walking from place to place it isn’t so save steps and stay at the Omni Hotel Independence Park.  It is just a few steps from Independence National Historic Park, the Liberty Bell, the…

Is there a better time to visit Italy than in the fall? The summer madness has died down, yet Italy remains warm and inviting. In the town of Alba, in the Piedmont region, in the northwestern corner of Italy, is a food-festival lover's delight. The region is much less touristed than its Tuscan neighbor.



From October 6 to November 18 in the town of Alba, each weekend it's all about truffles. Yes, truffles, the key ingredient of many a gourmet meal. …

It's that time of year again - Oktoberfest (aka Wiesn) is right around the corner (September 22-October 7; next year it's 9/21-10/6)!  But even if you don't make it for the world's biggest beer bash, Munich is still one of Europe's most attractive and fun…

I'm almost a week back in Holland and no, not much has changed. It's still flat and crowded...;-)but I'm happy to be home to see my friends and family again after 4 days of flying.

It started all in Auckland and it will end in Auckland. The last 10 days I flew to Auckland and stayd in the Northland with Tonio. I…

How hard can it be when just the two of you want to get away? No kids to pack for or consider…just stuff your essentials into a duffel bag and you’re off to reliving the passion of your first dates or honeymoon…right? Well maybe at first flush it seems that easy until you check into your hotel room and ultimately get down to deciding what to do. I’m assuming you…

It’s big business, this ecotourism.

It drives entire economies of countries like Kenya, Botswana, Belize, South Africa, Laos, and especially here in…

Since 9/11 it’s pretty clear that the trend toward the bonding, memory-building kinds of family travel experience  is still strong.



And the Caribbean, with its mix of the sensual and the accessible, is still a perfect place for those tying the knot, again, but who are committed to sharing the event with their children and extended family.



The …

by Andy Jarosz



When it was released in 2001, few suspected that the Mexican movie Y Tu Mamá También would become such a worldwide hit. Directed by Alfonso Cuarón, the story is simple enough: two bored teenagers (played by…

2012 Daily Diversions

FANTASY CYBER SOUVENIRS  Visit the Fantasy Fest Store anytime at www.fantasyfest.com for memorabilia that makes the fantasy a reality! Official posters, t-shirts, and limited edition medallions. To purchase the Official 2012 t-shirt please call Keyboard Advertising at 305-292-9315.

INDECENT EXPOSURE  Party like Adam and Eve day and night at the Garden of Eden, clothing optional rooftop bar, above the Bull &…

China’s cities are so large and mas sively developing that it’s sometimes frightening, and as hard as ever to travel independently.  There’s scarcely a word or destination written in pinyin (Romanized Chinese)—much less English—in the typical Chinese bus or train station, nor counter help equipped to deal with it verbally, something common in most of the world these days,…

Sitting in a dark theater watching a movie is the last place you'll find me. When I heard about SAMSARA, by the same filmmakers as BAKARA, I made an exception and went to see it.

Shot on 70 mm film with not a stitch of digital manipulation and not one word of dialogue, the movie's pure cinematic images and poignant story left me on the floor stunned. This is a must-see for any photographer, filmmaker or travel fanatic. Here is a preview of the magic in store for your…

Costa Rica has a longstanding tradition of attracting holidaymakers around the world. Most of them have a craving for green, relaxing and adventure. However, people have recently discovered the undeniable fact that it has also become much more than an ecotourism destination.

This country is nowadays a location where you can find proficient consultants than can provide you with high…

One of the most frequently heard complaints in the world of travel and tourism is that when things go wrong, few people accept responsibility.  Instead visitors are forced to hear a jet stream of excuses, or simply see a shrug of the shoulders or are simply ignored.  In today's world travel and tourism are hard, and when travel and hospitality professionals simply look the other way or ignore a problem, a hard situation becomes both stressful and often intolerable.  Taking responsibility is…