Friday, July 26, 2013

Insider's Las Vegas: Mandalay Bay - Burger Bar - Hubert Keller

Great Las Vegas food rec, Erin Dial Peters: Hubert Kellers' Burger Bar at Mandalay Bay. My choice: Hangover Burger (answer: no, not because I had a hangover) but I did have a beer.



Tuesday, July 23, 2013

Insider's California

Catalina. Here we come! It's Avalon's 100th anniversary.

Insider's California

26 miles across the sea is . . . Santa Catalina.

Insider's California

Bye Catalina!

Insider's West - San Diego - Deer Valley - Las Vegas - Mesquite - CasaBlanca - St. George

Road trip! San Diego to Utah's Deer Valley via Vegas, Mesquite's CasaBlanca and St. George.

Insider's Nevada - Las Vegas

Vegas baby!















Insider's West - Nevada - Arizona - Utah

And we're off! Nevada - Arizona - Utah. Final stop: Deer Valley Montage.





Insider's Nevada - Mesquite - CasaBlanca

Mesquite's CasaBlanca Resort is great alternative to Vegas. Location: I-15 in Nevada a couple of miles from AZ border. Best part(s): Katherine's gourmet restaurant (lit menu and wonderful food); resort pool with waterfall centerpiece; a backdrop of mountains.











Sunday, July 21, 2013

Travel Writer's Recommendation - Greece - Rhodes

I have a recommendation for all of you who love Greece: Richard Clark's book, "Rhodes - A Notebook" available on Amazon.

 
Its accolades are best said in an Amazon Review by Sara Alexi:

“Trying to describe R.Clark style of writing is like trying to describe dew on a spider’s web, or the line between sky and sea, his use of words is so beautiful, subtle and soft it pulls wholeheartedly into his word. Right from the intro, his laid back, gentle monologue just keeps the pages turning. It is almost a guide book, but then again it is almost a history book, but what makes it special is that it is a very personal view of a fascinating island candidly written.
I can feel the sunlight 'calling me on deck to see the emerging dawn', I can see the 'inner city sink estates shamelessly shouting the odds on the otherwise beautiful coastline.' There is poetry in his words and through his eyes. I recommend anyone missing Greece, visiting Greece or just wishing they could go to Greece to take a look!”


Check it out on Amazon.

Wednesday, July 17, 2013

Travia: LAX - World's Busiest Airport - Air Travel

Travia:
Although it ranks as the world's 5th busiest airport, more people begin trips at LAX than at any other airport.
 

Tuesday, July 16, 2013

Travel Quote

Quote du Jour:
“Life is a journey.  Travel light.”
Photo by Cynthia Dial
 

Monday, July 15, 2013

Insider's Switzerland - Swiss Deluxe Hotels - Five-Star Quality

Must share fabulous facts about Swiss Deluxe Hotels, a group of 38 hotels, all 5* and all in Switzerland. Guests have included such luminaries as Sophia Loren, Richard Burton and Liz Taylor.  A mandatory $300 million is spent each year on infrastructure.  And to remain in the group, 'mystery men' visit each property to assure the hotels maintain the Swiss Deluxe Hotels' 850 quality standards, of which 79% must be met or the hotel is expelled from the group.  Wow, that's some quality assurance program.  

Insider's San Diego: The Grand Del Mar - Summer Concert Series - All-4-One

Great night at The Grand Del Mar's Summer Concert Series listening to All-4-One. I melted when they opened with their top hit, 'I Swear.' I swear I did.



Wednesday, July 10, 2013

Insider's San Diego - La Jolla Goodwill - San Diego Pops

Best deal: Newly opened Goodwill store on Girard Ave in La Jolla. Typical of its locale I saw such great-deal items as a St. John knit top for $35.

 Used-to-be best deal: Lawn seats at the San Diego Pops. Used to be $15 ea. This year they're $25 (though it's not a set price; they can go up to $30 per ticket).

Monday, July 8, 2013

Travel Quote of the Day


“To travel is to live.”
Hans Christian Andersen
Yours Truly in Helsinki, Finland
 

Wednesday, July 3, 2013

Tuesday, July 2, 2013

Insider's San Diego

First stop: pig races. And the winner is: Anthony Oscar Meyer Weiner.