Friday Fantasy Vacation: Todos Santos

March 2, 2012 By Morgan in inspire, travel, Vacation Rental, Wanderlust Tags: Baja Peninsula vacation rental, Vacation rental Todos Santos 1 Comment

So I’ve covered where I’d like to have my Friday evening cocktail over at Inside Bars and since I love a good theme, this week’s fantasy vacation spot is also going to be in the sunny surf town of Todos Santos on the Baja Peninsula in Mexico. I’d like nothing better than to gather a group of friends and rent this little hacienda outside of town. It’s on 5 acres and surrounded by avocado, banana, mango, lemon, orange, and olive trees and a sugarcane grove. With four bedrooms and a lap pool, the only other thing we’d need is some tequila. Who’s in?

Friday Fantasy Vacation: Huvafen Fushi Maldives

February 24, 2012 By Morgan in Hotels, inspire, travel, Wanderlust Tags: Huvafen Fushi Maldives, Maldives Luxury Hotel 1 Comment

Here’s a little something to get you through to the weekend. It’s hard to imagine a location more remote but more luxurious than this. I may not ever make it to the Maldives, but while I muddle through the late-Winter cold I’ve been saddle with I’ll be picturing my toes dangling in these warm waters.

A Room For London

February 15, 2012 By Morgan in Europe, Hotels, inspire, travel Tags: Room for London, unique lodging London Leave a comment

The concept of a pop-up store is old hat these days and there’s even been a few pop-up restaurants over the last couple of years, so it shouldn’t have been a surprise that the idea would translate into hotels at some point. A Room for London is the first of such that I’ve seen and it’s pretty fantastic. This one room installation is perched on top of the Queen Elizabeth Hall along the Thames river. It is only there through 2012 and serves as a way for visitors (only allowed a one night rental) and invited artists to take refuge from the busy city and find inspiration from the unique and panoramic view of London. Designed by David Kohn Architects, it was inspired by the boat that Joseph Conrad navigated up the Congo river before writing Heart of Darkness. While this unusual lodging concept has sold out, I can’t help wonder if it will spark imitators in other cities. I’d love to see the inspiration that could result from new and temporary views of places like New York, Vancouver or Rome.

Romance in Greece

February 14, 2012 By Morgan in Europe, Hotels, inspire, travel Tags: Mystique Resort Santorini, Romantic Hotel Greece 2 Comments

Everyone has a different idea of what’s romantic. But while I’m sitting at my desk on this Valentine’s Day watching it hail outside my window I’m thinking that we can probably all agree that the Mystique Resort on Santorini in Greece would make for a pretty sexy getaway. Unlike a lot of “romantic” hotels, there’s no frilliness here, just a modern and relaxing design. And draw-dropping views of the Aegean Sea.

All photos courtesy of Mystique

Spotlight: Race and Religious

February 8, 2012 By Morgan in inspire, travel, Unusual lodging, Vacation Rental Tags: New Orleans vacation rental, Race and Religious, wedding location New Orleans 1 Comment

With Mardi Gras parades going on in earnest this week and Fat Tuesday on the 21st, it seemed like a good time to look at one of the most unique places to stay in New Orleans. Few other cities have the power to make you feel like you’re walking through the past like New Orleans does. This city has a kind of magic that makes it seem like the past and present are existing all at once. Maybe it’s the unusual, and obviously aged, architecture or maybe it’s the existence of old traditions that make it feel like history is poking itself into your modern life. Whatever it is, if you stay at Race and Religious the past will be all around you. More of a vacation rental than anything else, this group of three buildings, including an old slave quarters, joined by the corner of Race and Religious streets date from 1836 and 1843. They have been lovingly restored over the past 30 years by owner Granville Semmes . If you want to learn about the fascinating history of these buildings I recommend reading this. Otherwise, I just recommend taking a group of friends or family and stay here.

photos courtesy of Race and Religious

Trailer Sleeps

December 22, 2011 By Morgan in inspire, travel, Wanderlust Tags: Airstream, Grand Daddy Cape Town, Hicksville, Shady Dell, Trailer Hotels, Vickers Gypsy Caravan Leave a comment

I should have seen this coming years ago when everyone started buying old Airstreams and revamping them into snazzy, modern campers and food carts. The trailer hotel could not be far behind.

Hicksville Trailer Palace, Joshua Tree CA

Imagined as an artist retreat in the desert of Southern California, this delightful hodgepodge of trailers opened in April 2010. In addition to your trailer (there’s 8 to choose from), there is also a saltwater pool, fire pit, horseshoes, archery range, rooftop hot tub, recording studio, and of course stunning views.

Shady Dell, Bisbee AZ

Fans of mid-century design and furnishings will relish this collection of 9 restored aluminum trailers, one vintage bus and a 50s era yacht. The Shady Dell originally opened in 1927 as a spot for tired travelers cruising Hwy. 80, which ran from Savannah, Georgia to San Diego, California. You can still hook up your RV here, but you no longer need to bring your own trailer. There’s also a 50’s style cafe called Dots so you don’t even need to dirty the vintage kitchens.

The Grand Daddy, Cape Town, South Africa

The Grand Daddy hotel has take the Shady Dell American kitsch and refined it into something still nostalgic, but totally hip. Located on the roof of the more traditional hotel, the Airstreams have been re-designed by local creatives and boast themes like Afro-Funk, Love of Lace and Pleasantville. Luckily for guests, there’s a bar on the roof as well so no need to operate the elevator after roof top cocktails.

Blaengors Airstream, West Wales Coast

Airstreams for rent also come solo, for those who aren’t interested in the party atmosphere of the trailer park hotels. This one is located between Aberaeron and Lampeter on the West coast of Wales in a private meadow. Built in 1964 and totally redone it’s quite a nice way to play at traveling gypsy for a weekend.

Photos by Chris Tannock

Vickers Romany Caravan, Shropshire, England

The British built Vickers Caravans were made from the 50’s through 70’s for the gypsy market. Larger than Airstreams, these were meant to be the main home for gypsy families living a traditional life in Britain. This is some serious luxury camping, but don’t worry that it’s gotten too highbrow. There’s still a rowboat and a lake nearby so you don’t spend too much time indoors, even though you’ll want to.

Alpine Ski Hotels

December 8, 2011 By Morgan in Hotels, inspire, travel, Wanderlust Tags: France, Italy, Ski vacation, Switzerland Leave a comment

I am not, nor have I ever been a skier, snowboarder or snowshoer. I hear they are all very lovely ways to spend one’s free time and I imagine that that’s true. However, when I’m faced with the prospect of many hours spent on a snow-covered mountain the only thing that sounds fun to me is a roaring fire and a warm cocktail. Perhaps a deck of cards. Maybe you are like me and are often vacationing with snow-lovers who only come off the mountain to sleep. If you’re thinking of going to the Alps with that lot, don’t worry, there are plenty of hotels to make all of you happy and stylishly so.

L’Alpaga, Megeve, France

The Cambrian, Adelboden, Switzerland

Lagacio Mountain Residence, San Cassiano, Italy

Carlton Hotel, St. Moritz, Switzerland

Avenue Lodge, Val d’Isere, France

Arlberg Hospiz, St. Christoph, Austria

Les Granges D’en Haut, Chamonix, France

Spotlight: Podere Palazzo

November 30, 2011 By Morgan in inspire, travel, Wanderlust Tags: Podere Palazzo, restored stone farm house, Tuscany, Tuscany vacation house Leave a comment

There’s hardly a traveler who has not, at least momentarily, wished for a leisurely week spent at a classic yet modern farmhouse in Tuscany. What better home base for exploring the countryside? What better setting for visiting with family and friends than in front of an outdoor fireplace at a long table with bottles of Chianti, plates of pasta and a perfect hillside view? A restored stone house that’s mere miles away from Italy’s best vineyards and thermal pools is the most ideal locale. The Podere Palazzo in Tuscany, nearly smack in the middle of Rome and Florence, is therefore an ideal hideaway. With five bedrooms, three fireplaces, a pool and views on all sides it would be hard to leave.

Photos curtesy of Podere Palazzo

Alemenys 5, Girona Spain

November 18, 2011 By Morgan in inspire, travel, Wanderlust Tags: Alemenys 5, Girona, vacation rental Spain 1 Comment

Girona is located right in between Barcelona and Perpignan, France in Catalonia at the confluence of four rivers; the Ter, Onyar, Galligents and Güell. It’s a great homebase for exploring this unique part of the world. The town itself has a well preserved medieval center and one of the best preserved Jewish quarters in Europe. The recently restored Alemenys 5, owned by architect Anna Noguera and her husband Juan Manuel Ribera would be an ideal place to stay while seeing the area. Ms. Noguera has accomplished with this property what the Spanish seem so adept at doing, which is to incorporate a modern aesthetic into an historic setting. It’s at once sleek and of the moment but also comforting and beautiful. The house can be rented as a whole or divided into two smaller apartments.

Girona in the Summer

Medieval part of Girona

View of the house from the square

All house photos by Enric Duch

Beaujolais, France

November 16, 2011 By Morgan in inspire, travel, Wanderlust Tags: Beaujolais, France, hotels in France, wine country lodging Leave a comment

Working in the wine business means that I often think of holidays in terms of what to drink. With Thanksgiving around the corner, my thoughts are focused on the perfect wine for the season: Beaujolais. Made from Gamay Noir the wines are delightful all year, but really resonate with roasted birds, cranberry sauces and stuffing. Located in the southern part of Burgundy the Beaujolais region is pretty but not the tourist destination that it’s more northern vineyard cousins are. There are fewer glitzy hotels but that’s best as the wines are less glitzy too. Below are a few places to call home base while touring the region.

Auberge du Paradis, Saint-Amour-Bellevue