CHIANG MAI, THAILAND – Working crazy hours?  In the initial stages of career burn out?  Need a life re-charge/re-eval?  If any of these answers is “yes”, this resort tucked away in the mountains of Northern Thailand might be just what you need to de-stress and get your so-called life back on track. Located on the outskirts of Chiang [...]

LAS VEGAS, NV – Man, do I love Vegas.  I love the cheesiness, the non-stop party and the promise of naughtiness around every corner.  I used to get there 3 times a year back when I was a Californian but, sadly, now only make it there about once every two years or so (including one trip to have my wedding [...]

  PATTAYA, THAILAND - Civil unrest, political coups and floods… if you’re a frequent visitor to Thailand, chances are, you’ll probably have the unfortunate experience of encountering one or more of these dramas.  For me, it was the Red Shirt Protests, whose leaders chose to make Ratchadamri, my neighborhood at the time, their very own ground zero for all red activity. [...]

  LOS ANGELES – When it comes to Downtown hotels, there’s no better choice for us than the old Los Angeles Biltmore.  Built overlooking Pershing Square in the 1920’s, when Downtown was the center of the city, the Biltmore is one of LA’s last grand dame hotels – classic, opulent, glamorous, from a bygone era.  It’s primarily known as the [...]

  TOKYO - Tired of forking out US$500+ bucks a night for a hotel room in Tokyo, when all you do is sleep there?  Ever wonder if there’s a better deal to be had for your Japan visit?  With the yen being so strong these days, this no-frills hotel located in one of the swankiest districts in Tokyo may be the just [...]

  CARMEL, CA – Miles removed from Highway 1, Carmel Valley Ranch is like a hideout amidst the trees.  As we drove into the Carmel Valley – seemingly miles off the beaten track – I said to my husband, “Man, this sure is far from everything.  I hope it’s worth the trek.”  It is. Carmel Valley Ranch sits atop a [...]

  SAN LUIS OBISPO, CA – Everyone should stay at the Madonna Inn at least once in their lifetime – especially those souls who have a sense of humor and an appreciation of retro irony.  Why?  Because it is a truly singular experience. Located just off the 101 Freeway in San Luis Obispo, Madonna Inn is essentially a motel (the [...]

  BANGKOK – Love, love, LOVE the Metropolitan Bangkok’s Met rooms:  super spacious and modern, with soothing earth tones; big comfy beds (and lovely sheets to go with), huge bathrooms (shower, tub and silky smooth robes) and a full-on entertainment system (to watch all those pirated discs you ‘didn’t buy’).  The rest of the hotel – service, pool (which annoyingly, [...]

  BANGKOK – Excellent service and NONE of that colonial attitude one gets at its so over rated sister motel in Hong Kong or at other so called ‘top’ establishments in Bangkok make this one of our favorite hotels in Bangkok.  Whether you’re checking-in; tanning by the pool; boozing at their Bamboo Bar; getting done at the spa; or being [...]