Month: August 2009

I am a bath fan. It could be because I spent my first decade on earth in Ireland and England–drafty houses and infernal cold rain make them a must–or the fact that I am a water sign, or that lying in a tub with a fashion magazine and a glass of wine is one of …

The Mexican State of Oaxaca offers culture, cuisine, sun, surf and some seriously good deals. Go now before word gets out, says Ondine Cohane. CLICK TO READ

Looking for an inexpensive Italian coastal getaway that’s got plenty of charm, sun, and beautiful backdrops? Vernazza, in the Cinque Terre, is one of my favorite towns in the country. I’m even loath to write about it because it’s such a gem. I was just back there for my annual pilgrimage, and despite being on …

It may be summer in the States (or at least some semblance of it), but if you are like me, you’re already plotting where to escape when ice, snow, and heavy jackets hit in a few months. Top of my list? The just-opened Shangri-La Villingili in the Maldives, with overwater bungalows (my dream accommodation), postcard-perfect …

Flying provokes myriad emotions for many of us: excitement, fear, the thrill of adventure, discomfort, a sense of escape and claustrophobia among them. A newly released anthology, Flight Patterns: A Century of Stories about Flying, edited by Dorothy Spears, features writings from aviation pioneers like Orville Wright, Charles A. Lindbergh, and Amelia Earhart to more …

As far as I am concerned, you can’t overestimate the importance of a good hotel general manager, someone who is responsible for handling  every whim of guests–dealing with any complaint large or small–as well as making sure everything from the restaurant service to room cleanings happens in the most timely, professional, and effortless manner possible. …