All posts filed under: budget vacation

french pick me up in san francisco

First rain of the season and I must say, it didn’t bother me a bit. It was almost sereal, because although the sun made an appearance through the clouds, it rained almost continuously throughout most of the day. I decided with the rain, I needed to sit in one of my favorite French Cafes for lunch and daydream the hour away.  As soon as I entered the cafe, I was seated at a round marble table near the window and offered a bottle of water and the best French bread and sweet butter on this side of the Atlantic.  While I looked over the menu to figure out what I wanted to order, I began to hear French conversation all around me, from locals and tourists alike. While I sat there smiling, the waiter asked what I was so happy about and all I could do is shake my head as if there was nothing to smile about. However, I couldn’t have asked for a better pick me up on a rainy Monday then to …

indian summer in san francisco

I used to hate the end of Summer, because although it was foggy and cold in San Francisco, I felt a sense of sadness when the season ended. I suppose Summer for me marked the beginning of outdoor activities and longer days and colorful fashion, suntan and sidewalk cafes. However, since in San Francisco we normally experience what is known as Indian Summer at the end of September to almost mid to end of October, I have begun an appreciation for the Fall season as well and actually look forward to it, secretly. Since this past week we have experienced the hot, gorgeous, weather of Indian Summer, I decided to take my camera to work and capture some of the most beautiful colors reflecting off of the high-rise building in downtown, at the early morning hours. Please enjoy the photographers  and remember they are the property of http://www.rawsilkandsaffron.wordpress.com. Thank you

boutique hotel pick – palace hotel – san francisco, california

I have, for a while now and on occasion,  dedicated an entire blog entry to some of my favorite boutique and luxury hotels in Europe. But this past week, since the weather has been the most ideal in San Francisco, I almost felt like a tourist visiting because the entire city had a beautiful glow to it. Anyway, every day as I walk to work, I pass by the Palace Hotel and while in front, I slow my pace in order to get a glimpse of the tourists lined up at curbside waiting for their limousines to whisk them away, whether it be to the airport or a private tour of some sort. It dawned on me that I needed to include this amazingly, beautiful hotel as one of my favorites in the city by the bay. Have an amazing weekend everyone! {For photos reference of Palace Hotel, please click here}

boutique hotel pick – hotel martinez – cannes, france

Right about now I begin to crave a trip to the French Riviera and a fantasy stay at the Hotel Martinez. I mean seriously, I don’t think I need to sell anyone on the idea of experiencing pure luxury and elegance, while getting the most golden tan possible and dining at some of the finest restaurants along the French Riviera. However,  I do want to point out one of my favorite 5-star properties in Cannes, Hotel Martinez as the choice hotel for romance and special occasion celebration or simply a place for rest and relaxation.  Of course the modern classic room decor doesn’t hurt either. Anyway, enjoy the photos and have a wonderful weekend.

boutique hotel pick – royal hotel – san remo, italy

As I organize my impending trip to Italy hopefully very soon, I can’t help but reminisce about some of the places I have visited and the boutique hotels I have stayed in. One particular hotel which comes to mind is the Royal Hotel in San Remo, Italy – just so you understand where it is, San Remo is about 64 kilometers from Nice, France. It’s a well know resort town located along the Italian Riviera between Genoa and the French border.  San Remo is also known for its casinos and the beautiful harbor lined with cafes and shops. Considering I haven’t seen much sun this summer, I am longing to spend a week in San Remo and staying at the Royal Hotel for a much needed rest and relaxation.

chasing french and italian countryside in napa

Over the weekend I needed to get away from the cold and the fog and find some sun. So what  better way to do that then to take a trip to Napa and emerse myself in a  mini replica French and Italian countryside escape, while taking in the sun. We got an early start because we wanted to stop off  for breakfast in Sausalito before the town was packed with tourists. We usually eat at my favorite breakfast place, Sausalito Bakery and Cafe  (I don’t care if it’s touristy spot) because of the ambiance, a great cup of coffee and a slice of blueberry and cottage cheese strudel made with filo dough. (It’s actually really delicious and much lighter than the typical strudel made with regular dough). While we sipped coffee we discussed our course of action for Napa, knowing very well we would end up at our usual favorite wineries. Finally or actually after forty five minutes of sipping coffee and watching the restaurants and shops open up and prepare for business, we head …

boutique hotel pick – grand hotel de bordeaux – france

I suppose being busy is a good thing in one’s life, but not having the time to do the things you love is not so good. I have been experiencing this lately with too much to do and not enough time to do my writings and blog. So, you ask what does that have to do with today’s entry. It doesn’t, I just wanted to throw it out there for those who have asked  why I haven’t posted on a daily basis. Anyway, the beauty of researching online for a hotel is the fact, the ultimate choice is in your hands. I say this because, in the past I have had a terrible time working with those in the travel industry, who have blindly reserved what they believed was the best hotel for me to stay, during my travels. I think one of those unmemorable hotel stays was in Bordeaux, France. During that experience, I realized how important a descent hotel was to making the trip worth while, because since our hotel was, not only …

romance with the island of santorini, greece

Having lived on almost an island (well a Peninsula) all my life, I have a certain appreciation for places around the globe which are either small towns or villages near water or an actual island. With that said, I can’t resist reflecting on my trip to Santorini, Greece a while back. Santorini is hop skip away from Athens Greece and can be accessed via air or sea. I chose air, because I figured I didn’t want to get seasick and a flight in my mind meant a shorter trip to my destination. Of course at the time, I didn’t factor in getting to the airport, waiting for the flight, dealing with weather delays and of course finding a means to get to the car rental agency on Santorini. But an adventure is always exciting, even if at times it is scary. So, with a small luggage in tow, my travel partner and I, after enduring the longest flight on the shortest distance ever, finally got to the island in the afternoon. The airport, being very small, …

mental therapy: stop and smell the roses

I am not sure if many of you are familiar with the term ‘stop and smell the roses” well if not, just to give you a background. In the US we have alot of sayings to feed the soul but sometimes we forget to practice what we preach. So, after a week of torment and undo stress, I decided last night, even though the weather is the worst in San francisco right now, to take a walk through my favorite neighborhood (Seacliff) and smell the flowers along the way, just to give myself the long overdue mental therapy I so very much deserved. I must say it worked and when I got home and retired for the night, I actually fell asleep and stayed asleep through the entire night. Find something to escape to even if only for a few minutes out of your busy life. I highly recommend it.

romantic vacation recommend: isle of capri, italy

Most of my previous travels are to the main cities or towns within a country in Europe. But a few years back, when I ventured towards the Southern tip of Italy (the booth) I decided to take a ferry to the island of Capri. I must admit I wasn’t disappointed with the choice, even though the ferry schedule a bit unreliable and the frequency less than desirable, the trip was well worth it. The way it works is, after disembarking the ferry from Napoli, you have to take a taxi or a bus up to the top ( Alta Capri). This is where the main town square is and most of the civilization on the island. I did get a bit sick because of the altitude or maybe because of my fear of heights, but every where I looked there was the most beautiful view anyone can imagine. We stayed 3 nights 4 days and because the best way to see a place is by walking. We walked one entire day around the island, actually …