Blogs

More and more travelers want to feel they are contributing in some way to the place where they vacation. Giving back while on vacation has become a global movement sparking volunteerism and community outreach with tourists.

In Santa Teresa, Costa Rica, two top hotels share a heartfelt program that lets their guests feel good about supporting the community there.

Hotel Tropico Latino and Florblanca Hotel implement the “$5 Check Out Program” that allows their guests to add an optional charge on thei

Napa Valley is a gourmand's paradise. A quick 45 minutes north of San Francisco (sans traffic) over the Golden Gate Bridge, across the barren hills of San Rafael and Galinas, and then onto Route 37 along San Pablo Bay and its cooling breezes that ultimately moderate The Valley's ideal growing climate.

The City of Napa is the Valley's southernmost gateway to endless wine tastings thanks to more than 400 vineyards spanning roughly 50 miles anchored by posh inns and retreats along with an extreme

After arriving at the superb Bethany Beach Ocean Suites by Marriott in Bethany Beach, DE (read about our excellent adventure here), the fam (two teen pups + my wife Sue) and I thought that it would be wise to dine in the hotel on our first night rather than venture out to explore the town’s eateries.  Not that there weren’t lots of great choices in the area, but after driving for almost four hours from northern New Jersey and then unwinding for the rest of the day in our awesome rooms, we prefer

Downtown Eugene, Oregon is decidedly more laid back and outdoorsy than much larger and more renowned Portland to the north. The University of Oregon's extensive in-town footprint and streets packed with local non-chain shopping make it a pedestrian haven. Strolling here especially on weekends during the warmer months envelops you in the city's music scene like a sax player belting out tunes under a cavernous overpass enhancing the acoustics and gritty blues guitarists busking on street corners.

Last week I had occasion to send a technology team from my Our Russia Magazine to Moscow. Sasha and Natalya, my partners in the new media experiment, were scheduled to meet with Skolkovo science city executives and other key technology people in town. As it happened, they stayed at a wonderful hotel I knew of, Mamaison All-Suites Spa Hotel Pokrovka, so I thought a review here on Tripatini might be helpful for any of you headed to Russia's capital.

The Mamaison brand part of a group of upscale b

I will jump right into it and rank at number one tropical Elafonisi beach, which is located near a islet of the same name. The islet is small, but the beach is certainly not - in fact, it's the second largest beach in western Crete and starting from June until October it looks like a tropical paradise. It can be easily reached by car; you can also take the bus from Chania and Paleochora. The beach is surrounded by seven places where you can find beach beds and umbrellas available for rent. The

Long been looked upon as North America's most busiest and popular travel destinations, Whistler located in Northern Vancouver is famous for its breathtaking natural beauty and things to do. Resorts scattered there offer many different options that are intended to cater to many different people, and seldom does a customer leave their resort vacation without a feeling of bliss. That blissfulness comes from the beauty of the surrounding landscape and the excellence of the Whistler ski resorts' faci

Mumbai is known for its food, including street food and fine dining. The city of dreams has unbelievably delicious cuisines that are available all year round. From fish stew to mirchi Vada pao, there are a lot of options available to Mumbaikars and those visiting for the first time. What no one tells you about the food here is that the ingredients are perfectly created to tell you a story.

If you order a plate of pani-puri or some nice kulfi on the beach, you are tasting the rich history of the c

The village of Clayton is situated on the St. Lawrence River where it begins converging with Lake Ontario in central New York State's Thousand Islands region. Seemingly untouched by time - not a chain outlet to be found among local shops in historically preserved storefronts along with grand Victorians in a walkable street grid - it's in this setting that an adjacent, long waterfront lot underutilized as a fuel depot was recently transformed into 1000 Islands Harbor Hotel, a spendid, full-servic

Chocolate lovers pay attention!

Get your fill of chocolate at Costa Rica’s fourth annual Chocolate Festival in Puerto Viejo on the Southern Caribbean Coast of Costa Rica. Sample chocolate from local artisan producers and top Costa Rica chocolate makers, try pairing chocolate with single malt whiskey or red wine, and attend workshops and fun events all starring chocolate.

Better than trick-or-treating, the Puerto Viejo Chocolate Festival 2015 will be held Halloween weekend, Oct. 30 through Nov. 1,

CLUB TEN PINE LODGE Mukteshwar near Nainital

The lodge supplies a wide variety of amenities and perks to make sure you get an amazing moment. It offers numerous special possibilities which can be recreational as garden, games space. This hotel provides all the high-standard of amenities and service that best western is famous for. The great thing about lodging here is you don't need to compromise. It is one of the best Hotel in Mukteshwar near Nainital and Bhimtal.

It has particularly called a gre

Family vacations are special times of the year, but they can be very challenging for parents get through. Air travel is especially difficult and can be the cause of significant levels of stress for the entire family. Unfortunately for many types of vacation there is no way around going through an airport and flying by private jet is beyond most of our wildest dreams. However, there are a couple of things that you can do to make the airport experience less stressful and not be a cause of argument

If eco-friendly travel and staying at sustainable tourism eco-hotels is a priority when you go on vacation, you’ll want to pay attention to Playa Nicuesa Rainforest Lodge in Costa Rica.

The Costa Rica eco-hotel was awarded the highest level rating of the Certification for Sustainable Tourism (CST) program last month for the second consecutive year. Playa Nicuesa Lodge is one of only 41 hotels in Costa Rica that have received the highest rating of 5 Leaves in the CST Program by the Costa Rican Tou

If you are visiting the north Pacific region of Guanacaste, Costa Rica, the best day of adventure you can dream of is at Hotel Hacienda Guachipelin by the Rincon de la Vieja Volcano.

Put simply, you can have the best day of Costa Rica adventure tours that you can dream of all in one place. Matter of fact, there are so many fun adventures that most people have a hard time choosing what to do: zip-lines, canyoning, waterfall rappelling, river tubing, horseback riding, mountain biking, nature trails

Are you arriving by London City Airport? There are plenty of things to see and do in London. You may be taking in a show at ExCel London, or heading to some of the other regional sights, including Canary Wharf or The Crystal. Be sure to carefully plan your itinerary for your time in London so that you don’t miss out on anything.

ExCel London

ExCel London is an exhibition centre where there are many events, conferences, and conventions held on every day of the year. It’s located on the northern sid

It’s a simple recipe: Fresh, good food.

The Buddha Eyes Restaurant at Pranamar Oceanfront Villas & Yoga Retreat in Santa Teresa, Costa Rica has that recipe down to perfection.

Now it’s even better. Known in the popular beach town for its fresh, healthy, innovative cuisine, Buddha Eyes Restaurant recently changed its dinner menu to bring back old favorites and give diners new dishes to look forward to trying.

“Over the years, many different chefs had brought their influences to the hotel menu. We wa

When exploring Florida's coastline, there are definitive contrasts between the sugar-soft sands of Clearwater Beach; historic streets of St. Augustine; and the ever hip South Beach, shaped by Art Deco architecture, galleries, and clubbing. Florida's Gold Coast, a special stretch from Palm Beach to Fort Lauderdale is defined as much by waterfront mega mansions as by small walk able towns anchored by beach front parks perfect for pickup volleyball and reveling in the wide open Atlantic.

In recen

Travelers can be environmentally conscious when going on vacation, and it doesn’t take much effort or time. Little things add up, and if everyone followed these sustainable travel tips, communities and the planet would benefit in amazing ways.

10 Easy & Simple Sustainable Travel Tips

1.  Re-use your hotel towels and sheets; don’t ask for new ones every day (you don’t at home!).
2. Turn off the lights and air conditioner when leaving your hotel room.
3. Don’t leave the sink tap or shower running water unnece

The daily hustle-bustle wreaks havoc on the body as well as the mind, because of which it becomes crucial that you treat yourself to some well-deserved pampering once in a while. The best way to de-stress and truly unwind is to book yourself a relaxing spa treatment. Imagine a four-hand massage, the fluffiest of robes and the richest of essential oils topped with a glass of champagne on the side. If this is what comes to mind when you think of a repose, a soothing spa would be just perfect.

Below