Category: Daily Traveler Blog

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. …

I want a dog. A small dog with a big dog personality. But is it responsible for a writer who goes on the road at least every two weeks–New York, Miami, Hawaii, Mexico, Colombia, etc. etc.–to procure a pup? It is still far from clear, but I must admit that I was heartened to read …

On my recent trip back to New York, I couldn’t miss a pilgrimage to Frankies 457, one of my favorite haunts in Carroll Gardens. The restaurant enjoyed a buzzy opening a few years back; it was the perfect spot for dinner with friends or a lunch getaway in an area that was short on great …

I am sitting in bed at New York’s Standard hotel staring out at the quintessential city view: the wide swath of Hudson River with its sailboats, tugs, and cruise ships; New Jersey on the other shore; and the Statue of Liberty in the distance. After a few months away from the city, it’s been the …

If the answer is no, then I highly–highly–suggest you add it to your wish list. I made my second sojourn there last week and found it’s still made with my favorite ingredients: wonderful food (a cuisine that utilizes both ingredients from the coast and interior countryside), fascinating architecture (Greek, Norman, Baroque, you name it), beautiful …

I just got an e-mail from Rizzoli about a new coffee table book that the publishing house will release this October, Lamu: Kenya’s Enchanted Island. It got me thinking about my honeymoon, which I spent on the island, one of seven in an archipelago off the coast of Kenya. A beautiful beach destination in a …

We are having a heat wave in Italy at the moment. Despite the almost unbearable 90-degree temperatures, May and June remain my favorite months here in Tuscany. We’ve got sunny skies; green fields full of wildflowers; cherries, zucchini, and artichokes are in season at the food markets; and there’s no sign of the tourist fatigue …

II have never been to the Jersey Shore. Well, actually that’s not technically true: I went to see Velvet Revolver perform in Atlantic City. But I haven’t ventured to the beaches there, even though plenty of my surfing pals have brought me back good reports. The opening of Bungalow, a 24-room boutique property in Long …

I love Chicago. I started traveling there for work a few years ago, and I immediately became a fan, particularly after discovering some of the city’s great hotels and restaurants. Among my favorite stops? The Peninsula for its luxurious rooms and perfect location; the newly refurbished Ritz-Carlton Chicago (which, confusingly, is actually a Four Seasons) …

Where to catch Lily Allen, Kraftwerk, Arcade Fire, Fleet Foxes, Franz Ferdinand, Kings of Leon, and other music-fest faves this summer What: OUTSIDE LANDS, August 28-30
Where: Golden Gate Park, San Francisco
The Vibe: Jack Johnson and Ben Harper are alumni of this West Coast eco-chic festival, now in its second season, which attracts surfers and hippie …