For those of us who have always loved Mammoth Mountain, while others may have been tempted by the nightlife of Aspen or the art gallery world of Sun Valley, the opening of the new luxury resort comes with mixed feelings.

The Westin Monache is set to take room bookings this week – (so you last minute winter break planners now’s your chance!). It is a hotel with all the nicest amenities and a superb location, right across the street from the village and gondola to the slopes. There’s a restaurant, spa, concierge, etc – everything to make your stay easy and comfortable.

Yet, there’s a part of me that will always appreciate Mammoth for the purest of reasons, I don’t need a glitzy hotel to love the mountain. (That being said, I do love a nice hotel, no doubt – I just don’t equate that with my Mammoth experience.) And we ALL worry that if they built it, they will come. Yes, the monster mountain can accommodate so many people, but on holiday weekends and winter break, it is too darn crowded.

Mammoth is still and will always be one of my favorite ski destinations. Check it out for yourself – www.westinmammoth.com or www.mammothmountain.com

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Well…it’s been a long time since I’ve posted. We moved. Need I say more? A house and three kids can really take up one’s time

Anyway – as I have been writing my holiday cards, I have been able to reminisce about times spent with each person, things we’ve done in the past, etc. (OK, so I’m sentimental) Among many of the cards I send out are to co-workers – or producers I’ve traveled with in the past. One of the most vivid memories while writing these cards is that of a trip to Fiji. I was there three years ago (OMG!) exactly this time of year. As a matter of fact, to put it in perspective, we landed in the US airport on the way home to the news that we captured Saddam Hussein!

Anyway – because this trip is so fresh in my mind right now, I have to talk about a special place that is still somewhat of a secret! I have to let the cat out of the bag….Look up Lalati Resort in Fiji, on the island of Beqa. The accommodations are so nice…the food incredible…the setting gorgeous..the water turquoise blue… and the activities – many, or none – whichever you prefer. And get this – this is why I can’t believe it is still a secret: Depending on which bure you reserve, a couple can stay for less than $300 US dollars a night – that includes three mouth-watering meals! Granted, you are on the water on this small island – but not on a real beach. You have to kayak to the beach – but hey! Not a bad prospect.

While I was there I learned to surf and scuba dive…went to an interesting fire walking ceremony with the locals…did yoga…had spa treatments…and lounged in the beauty of Fiji. The surfing was unreal – on Frigate’s Pass, we surfed(or at least I tried..) on a reef that is out in the middle of the ocean – no land in sight for 12miles! Just picture that in your mind…along with the swaying palm trees…and tropical air. And did I mention the weather is nice right now??? Let me know if you go..and tell the owners I say hi.

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Just a quick note –
For you foodies who love all the food-related travel shows on the Travel Channel, "Hot Dog Heavens" airs tonight, Tuesday August 7….One of my favorite hot dog haunts is featured – Pinks in LA. I am not sure the exact time – check your listings.

More to come later on travel in the shoulder season and all the airline deals to take advantage of!!!

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If you’ve ever thought of taking your children to London, England – tune in to the Travel Channel on Friday July 20  10am EST  7am PST. (YES I did say AM…not PM!! Family hours, mind you)

The reality-based show, "Are We There Yet" explores some of the off the beaten path locales for families…as well as just some plain old fun things to do. It is quite an adventure – don’t miss it! It is one in a series of shows I did for the Travel Channel on family travel.

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Recently a pregnant friend who lives in Southern California asked me where a fun place might be to take the other three kids for a last minute get away before baby #4 comes.
Now, I remember traveling at that stage of the game, and it is hard to move around, participate in an adventure trip, etc. All you want to do is just relax. but with three other kids around?

So – the key my friends is to keep the kids as happy as possible. And you don’t have to put them in a camp at the place I am going to recommend. It will still be a family vacation in all sense of the idea.

The place I am referring to is the La Jolla beach and Tennis Club. Now mind you – my well-healed travel friends have been known to complain about the amenities…the dumpy rooms..the low standards in beds. But – that’s not why you go here…You go here for a true beach vacation, where you don’t mind that the kids are dragging in sand from the beach just steps, YES steps from your door. (There are rooms farther away, so don’t get mad if you book a room that doesn’t happen to be right on the beach.)

You have access to a great family beach with small waves…food service on the beach…all kinds of activities like canoing, tennis, even a small par 3 (OK – maybe 2) golf course right on the property. There is also a swimming pool. It’s all right within walking distance, so the kids, if they are old enough, can go do their thing while you relax on the beach, or you can all participate as a family.

One of my favorite things is the night time dinners – you can order ahead and the LJ Beach Club will set up tables for you with a delicious BBQ right on the beach. RIGHT ON THE BEACH. Sit and watch the sunset while someone prepares dinner for you right there. You can also go to the store and buy your own food, and they will still set up the tables nd BBQ for you.
BUT _ don’t miss the s’mores. Your kids will always have that summer memory. The LJ Beach Club delivers the marshmallows, graham crackers, chocolate and once again the BBQ – and you make old fashioned s’mores right there!
If you want to leave the property, there are some cute dining options within walking distance. And let’s not forget San Diego’s attractions! You might want to add a few days if you are thinking about Legoland, Seaworld, etc. because there is too much to do – or not to do! – at the Beach Club.

I do want to warn the interested traveler, however…this palce can book up a year in advance. September is a great month to go is you can swing it with school starting and all – great weather and better room availability. AND – the prices are steep for the room that you get. But, as i said,  you are paying for the true California beach experience.

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How many of us at some point have accidentally packed some item prohibited by the airlines and proceeded through security with it in our carry on luggage? The consequences in the past have been some TSA screener telling us that we could either A) throw the item away…or B) Go back through the security lines three miles (Yeah right) to the ticketing gate to mail it back home.

It is an easy human error to forget one has packed something like a wine opener for that picnic…or large nail clippers to be well-groomed on the beach. My husband recently went to Portland and forgot that his Swiss army knife key chain was packed in his carry on. This was his father’s knife, so it has some sentimental value to him. He wasn’t about to throw it away, yet if he went back to the ticket gate, he would miss his flight. Lucky for him he was at one of 16 airports across the country that has AMKs by ReturnKey Systems. An AMK is an "automated mailing kiosk." It allowed my husband very conveniently to package his knife in a padded envelope provided right there a the kiosk…type in his home address for a label top be put on the package…and pay for the mailing with a credit card. AND the kiosk was right near security – he barely had to step out of line.

A few days later my husband received his precious knife. Keep your eyes peeled for these AMKs…they are going to be popping up all over. Right now they are in La Guardia, Austin, Niagara, and Portland airports to name a few. For more information, go to www.itemreturn.com

Happy Travels!

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I recently appeared on KTLA’s Los Angeles morning show. It was a fun segment, where I spoke about the increase in women traveling together – chick trips! (www.ktla.com) Let’s face it- women these days are so busy taking care of kids, working, managing the house, or preserving their marriage that they really deserve a little rejuvenation.

Here’s the info you need to follow up on any info I gave, or to plan your own chick trip!

1) www.jeannefeldman.com – for shopping tours of Paris. I have seen others like this – you can also try the tourism board’s website or email someone there – but Jeanne’s trips look good. She will show you the back "rues" where travelers rarely go….take you to outlets…and help you navigate the flea markets. She is fluent in French, and knows the etiquette of shopping in Paris.

2) www.manifestasafaris.com – This tour operator leads three different kinds of trips for women. They vow to make "girls out of women" by teaching them us gals how to surf on their surf and yoga safaris…how to play golf on their golf jaunts..or how to paint in the picturesque setting of Carmel, CA.

3) I also spoke about Napa – a place where there is something for every woman: Gastronomical delights…spas…shopping…wine tasting..hot air ballooning…relaxing. I do recommend taking a private tour of a winery or two. You get a much more intimate picture of the wine making business, and of that particular wine. AND Di Rosa Preserve is a MUST!!!!! One of my favorite places on Earth. Art galleries, mixed with a pastural setting where you can picnic on the grounds…beware of the beautiful peacocks that roam there.

Happy Travels!

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OK…so every year you ruminate over where you should spend your next vacation. You want to go somewhere you KNOW is great..but maybe you want to venture beyond the obvious.

I am here to help! I just went to the Conde Nast Johansen’s travel awards ceremony for that travel publication’s picks on the best of the best in North America, South America, Caribbean, and more. Cindy Crawford co-hosted the event. Not only was it a fun night, it was iluminating; there are so many places in the world that have yet be to explored!

If you are reading this blog, you probably feel the same way I do. So, I am printing a list of the hotels/resorts that won top honors from this elite publication. (Supposedly each hotel is put to a tough test to get high scores from the editors.) Enjoy – and make this your wish list of future destinations! I can vouch for some of the winners; the several on this list that I have visited are top notch. (Mind you, these places are all pretty high end, so budget travelers beware. There’ll be another posting on that topic sometime!)

USA & CANADA:

Most Excellent Lodge: The Wickaninnish Inn, Tofino, British Columbia

Most Excellent Spa Hotel: Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain, Scottsdale, AZ

Most Excellent Hotel: The Hay Adams, Washington, D.C.

Most Excellent Ranch: Sorrell River Ranch and Resort Spa, Moab, Utah

Most Excellent Small Hotel: L’Auberge Carmel, Carmel by the Sea, CA

Most Excellent Golf Resort: The Inn at Palmetto Bluff – Bluffton, South Carolina

Most Excellent Romantic Hideaway: Rancho de San Juan, espanola, New Mexico

MEXICO AND CENTRAL AMERICA:

Most Excellent Resort: One and Only Palmilla, San Jose del Cabo, Mexico

Most Excellent Hotel: Gaia Hotel and Reserve, Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica

Most Excellent Spa Hotel: Grand Velas All Suites & Spa Resort -Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico

Most Excellent Romantic Hideaway: Casa Nalum, Tulum, Mexico

Most Excellent Eco Resort: Hotel Punta Islita, Islita, Costa Rica

SOUTH AMERICA:

Most Excellent Resort: Taxi Resort, Itacare,Brazil

Most Excellent Hotel: Ponta dos Ganchos-Governador, Celso Ramos, Brazil

Most Excellent Romantic Hideaway:Sitio do Lobo, Angra dos Reis, Brazil

Most Excellent Spa Hotel: Kurotel – Gramado, Brazil

Most Excellent Lodge: Isla Victoria Lodge, Isla, Victoria, Argentina

ATLANTIC, CARIBBEAN & PACIFIC ISLANDS:

Most Excellent Resort: Grace Bay Club, Turks and Caicos

Most Excellent Hotel: Horned Dorset Primavera, Puerta Rico

Most Excellent Romantic Hideaway: Royal Davui, Fiji

Most Excellent Spa Hotel: Parrot Cay, Turks and Caicos

AND…..

Most Excellent Service – Hotel Bel-Air -Los Angeles, CA

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Need a last minute suggestion of a romantic place to take your sweetie?

San Francisco is one of my favorite romantic spots ever. So you might be happy to know that one of the most chic hotels in the city by the bay is offering special Valentine’s Day packages…

The St. Regis is a newer high end hotel, with a great location downtown..but before you book, ask how much the tax is that is not included with the prices below if you don’t want any surprises. SF has a high hotel tax rate…(Then again, if you are fortunate enough to be spending that much on a room, you probably don’t care!)

St. Regis’ Astor Suite

Champagne on arrival
Breakfast for two in Vitrine Restaurant
Remede Spa credit of $150
Two personalized bathrobes
A three-course candlelight dinner served in-room
Complimentary parking
$1,300 per night (tax not included)

St. Regis’ Metropolitan Suite

Champagne on arrival
Breakfast for two in Vitrine
Remede Spa credit of $150
Two personalized bathrobes
A three-course candlelight dinner served in-room
Complimentary parking
$2,050 per night (tax not included)

There are many other fabulous hotels offering special romance for Valentine’s Day…I picked this one because, once again, SF is such a wonderful city for couples.

I would also look into the The Sherman House in the Cow Hollow/Pacific Heights area of San Francisco. It is a smaller hotel  – a mansion-turned-luxury-boutique hotel – where most rooms have a view of the Golden Gate bridge – very quaint and very old SF.

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