It snowed one day last December when I was in Paris. It made our trip even more memorable. It melted a short while later and everyone continued with their day. This year, things are radically different. A heavy snow storm across northern and central Europe is causing major problems — from northern England to Italy…
I’ve skiied in the Swiss and Italian Alps, but it was in the late summer when the air temperature was quite warm and the slopes were very slushy. If you’d rather ski in cooler climes, we suggest the Austrian Alpine village of Hotel Gruner Baum in town of Bad Gastein. This alpine resort is offering…
Want to find tricks and tips to getting the best seat when you cash in your frequent flyer miles? Know how to qualify for elite status? Do you lose sleep wondering how to earn the most air miles? The answers to all these and more can be found at Flyer Talk — the proclaimed “World’s…
On this last day of the year, we want to commemorate a first: our 500th posting since we launched in April! Our Web traffic each month continues to expand geometrically, as does our reputation for serving up daily doses of global fashionable travel. Our most popular articles recently included: • Eve of Reduction: The World’s…
A rose-colored neoclassic building houses the four-story Pushkin Cafe on popular Tverskoy Bulvar in central Moscow. The cafe is on the first floor; the restaurant spreads up to the second and mezzanine floors. Frequented by contemporary diners and the nouveau rich, it’s located near the Tverskaya and Pushkinskaya metro strops. The 24-hour eatery is the…
For the first time since 1957, the first day of Hanukkah was also Christmas Day. The eighth and final night of The Festival of Lights this year will be January 1. And Kwanzaa runs from December 26 through January 1, as well. So since all of these holidays are in a harmonic convergence this year,…
We’ve all seen movies spawn the next big things. For decades, James Bond films have paved the wave for cool cars, from Austin-Martins to BMWs. ET ate Reese’s Pieces (M&M’s turned down the product placement). Now, “Memoirs of a Geisha” — the film based on the 1997 best-seller — is spawning a cottage industry in…
The Vagablond editors would like to wish the warmest of holiday wishes to all of our readers who celebrate Kwanzaa. A Swahili word for “the first fruit of the harvest,” this seven-day holiday was launched in 1965 to celebrate African harvest festivals and its connection to seven principles associated with each day from December 26…
A few blocks from the Colosseum, in the oldest part of Roma, is the Four-Star Hotel Ripa All Suites. Built in 1973, but boldly and minimalistically restyled by King Roselli Architetti in 1998, it’s one of the most innovative and best architectual expressions of Rome’s new international style. The suites here look quite sweet. As…
You gotta love Jet Blue with its leather seats, your own TV/DVD system and other amenities for peanuts. Now, Jet Blue just announced its Winter Clearance Sale. Fares start at $39 one-way from Long Beach to Las Vegas, $40 from Boston to JFK, $69 from Boston to Florida (Ft. Lauderdale, Orlando, W. Palm Beach, Ft….
It seems like everyone I know has the same New Year’s Resolution: Lose 10-20 lbs. So before the reduction begins, we’ve found the best global bashes for New Year’s Eve… 1) Edinburgh, Scotland — The Hogmany three-day party starts on 12/29 with 100,000 people jamming Old Town; 2) Rio De Janeiro, Brazil — Brasilians crowd…
It is a small world, after all. During a year where more hurricanes than ever pounded the Sunshine State of Florida and the Gulf Coast, attendance at North America’s 50 most popular amusement parks was up 4.2%. Catalysts for the positive results included new rides at major theme parks, Disneyland’s 50th Anniverary being celebrated in…