Travel

By New York Travelin’ Gal Maxine Albert

My fascination with Hawaii began when I first saw the movie ‘ South Pacific’ and its idyllic island ‘Bali Hai.’ The movie – and the real life Bali Hai - was filmed in Hawaii, a tropical paradise that intoxicates with palm fringed beaches, impossibly blue waters, rainbows, spectacular sunsets and balmy trade winds perfumed with the fragrance of exotic flowers. Not surprising that a recent survey found the happiest person in America lives here. From the moment I arrived, I was smiling and buoyant – uncharacteristic for us New Yorkers. The friendly aloha spirit was delightfully contagious.

By Bob and Sandy Nesoff

Age is relative. In the United States we revere as ancient structures and institutions that that reach over two or more centuries. Europeans laugh at that. Walk through the streets of Rome and you can still feel the hoofbeats of the Circus Maximus; in Paris the famed Notre Dame Cathedral has been inspiring awe for 849 years.

By Lisa Loverro

It doesn’t get any more stylish than the Benjamin Hotel in midtown Manhattan. With its central location on 50th Street and Lexington Avenue this understated New York hotel caters primarily to the business traveler– super easy for hailing a taxi or jumping on the subway when running late to a meeting. But while the business traveler will enjoy easy access to mass transit, the leisure traveler will surely delight in the hotel’s in-house spa, fitness center and steam room…as I discovered on a recent overnight stay.

By Angela Pape

While the cold winter months linger over the Northeast, I often envision a tropical paradise where I can feel the warmth of the sun radiantly shining down upon my skin. For millions of us every year, this dream becomes a reality as we travel to popular destinations including Miami, Cancun or the Bahamas. We have all taken pleasure in such vacationing hot spots at some point or another but why do we insist on revisiting these tourist havens? What ever happened to discovering the enchantment of the road less traveled? Located on the exotic island of Nevis, West Indies, Nisbet Plantation Beach Club offers just that, an experience which is refreshingly like no other. It truly represents all that is “unhurried, unspoiled, uncommon.”

By Judy Harrison

Barcelona is a jewel that gleams brightly on the Mediterranean and offers visitors a sumptuous variety of cultural attractions, beaches and fun. Barcelona was also the correct answer to Resident’s most recent Mystery Destination Contest, won by Susan Permutt, who earned two roundtrip tickets for international travel on American Airlines for guessing the destination and submitting the winning 75 words-or-less essay on why he/she loves Barcelona.

By Nora Walsh

It wasn’t the pristine scenery of Hawaii that impressed me most, nor was it the oceanfront hotels, idyllic sunsets, scenic waterfalls or the delicious mai tais; what impressed me most was that you could enjoy the perfect temperatures of Hawaii, both day and night, undisturbed by pesky insects. There was never an adventurous hike or sublime evening cut short by bothersome mosquitoes, or a day at the beach disrupted by sand flies.  As a traveler who loves the outdoors, I found this to be an unexpected and rare luxury. This may seem like a small detail in the face of so much beauty, but it actually creates an environment that allows you to deeply relax while enjoying the gifts Mother Nature has bestowed this Polynesian paradise.

By Lavanya Sunkara

A four-hour flight landed me in Aruba, an island in the Southern Caribbean known for its trade winds, casinos and white sand beaches. Away from the hustle of New York, I felt an instant calm the minute my feet touched the buttery soft sand of Palm Beach on the western coast where Aruba Marriott Resort and Stellaris Casino was located. More relaxation awaited me at the Tradewinds Club at the Marriott and the new adults only H2Oasis pool.

By Lisa Loverro

Mexico has always been one of my favorite destinations; the diversity of the people and landscape to its history and unique cuisine, every visit has been awe-inspiring and educational. While there are many well-known tourist spots here: Riviera Maya, Cancun and Cabo, I thought I’d search for new piece of paradise in the country. So, when I was invited to attend a gourmet food festival in Nayarit, on the Pacific coast just north of Puerto Vallarta, I hopped on a plane faster than you could say “tequila.”

By Hillary Latos

As the temperatures in the Northeast hover below freezing levels, we should take cues from the birds and head south to warmer climates. What better place to go than uber chic lush playground of the international jet set, St. Barths? Only three and half hours away from JFK, you can have breakfast in the Big Apple and a late lunch at Nikki Beach with only the warm Caribbean tradewinds beckoning you.

By Bob & Sandy Nesoff

We’ve all seen photos of Curaçao and its picturesque pastel colored buildings lining the waterfront. But to really see and know the island--and the islanders--you need to dig deeper…a lot deeper.