It’s not just oil. Before oil was discovered in 1958 the Emirate was famous for its pearls. Once the 
oil money started to flow, Sheikh Zayad decided to build a modern city. He hired Japanese architect Katsuhiko Takahashi to oversee the project turning Abu Dhabi into an architectural destination famous for its innovative skyline. Must sees include the Capital Gate (world record holder leaning building at 18 degrees, four times as far as Pisa’s tower), The Sheikh Zayed bridge by Zaha Hadid (said to be the most intricate bridge ever built) and the Alder Headquarters (a completely round skyscraper)
TRM, as it affectionately known, is one of those wonderful little places that has something to offer everyone at great rates. Sitting on four acres in a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve on the edge of Pacific Rim National Park, it started life as 1970’s style motel. The views look out to one of the largest temperate rainforests on Vancouver Island. The current owners, who include professional hockey player, 2 time Stanley Cup winner Willie Mitchell, completely renovated the property from the ground up for the July 2017 reopening. The rooms now have a fabulous simple Scandinavian vibe with shockingly comfortable beds and terrific giant Jeremy Koreski photos of BC. on the walls. The full service marina can accept boats up to 130 feet. Harbor Air flies regularly from downtown Vancouver to the dock in only 45 minutes. Clients include the aspirational lifestyle crowd who use the property as a springboard for all things adventure including surfing, fishing, free diving and forest bathing. Serious foodies come to eat at the 1909 Restaurant. Canada’s Top chef winner Paul Moran heads the kitchen. His food, a mix of foraged and local is creative, adventurous and always delicious. Try his fresh sea urchin, tuna taco or white pizza if they are on the menu and sit outside if the weather permits. The views over the Inlet are amazing, we watched eagles circle as we dined. For somewhat less gourmet offerings and a more relaxed vibe there is the Hatch Waterfront Pub that specializes in craft beer… 14 are on tap at all times. Collaboration dinners with other west coast top chefs are held regularly and are very well worth a special trip. TRM’s motto is “inspired by adventure” you will leave inspired by the food, the location, the rooms, Tofino and the price!
No wonder Audrey Hepburn used to stay here. The Hassler exudes the same classic elegance she was renowned for. Situated at the top of the Spanish Steps it has the best location and the best views in Rome. And now it is better than ever… they did a big reno and refresh in 2018 in time for the 125th Anniversary, eliminating the smallest rooms and creating more suites. Every room is unique. Roberto Wirth, erudite and charming, is the current, very much hands on owner. He regularly strolls The Hassler keeping an eye on everything. It was his many greats grandfather, Franz-Josef Bucher who started the family hotel dynasty when, in 1870, he bought and developed the then impossible to get to Trittalp area of Switzerland. He built several hotels, a chair lift and railroad to reach the remote spot. He sent his son-in-law, Heinrich Wirth to Rome in 1890 to work at the famous Minerva. It was his son and Roberto’s father, Oscar who joined the Hassler in 1921, later buying full ownership of the hotel. He tore down most of the original structure and began rebuilding in 1939. Not great timing. The US Air Force requisitioned the property and used it as its headquarters. The glamourous ‘new’ Hassler didn’t open unitl 1947. It was an instant hit and favorite of the new jet set celebrities. In addition to Audrey, VIP’s have included Karl Lagerfeld, Queen Noor of Jordan, JFK, President Eisenhower, Robert Downey Jr. and Jennifer Lopez. They continue to flock to The Hassler for its impeccable discretion and faultless service. Many employees have been with the hotel for decades. Daniele Fabrizzi heads the legendary concierge team. They are a truly magnificent resource … I asked about shoes, they sent me to Barilla Boutique for great locally made shoes at fabulous prices. It is worth the splurge for an upper floor room or suite with a view!
Madagascar is big. The fourth largest island in the world. And while it now has more than 27 million people, humans came relatively late to the scene arriving sometime between 300- 500AD. The island had split off from the Indian continent about 88 million years before that. This long period of isolation is what makes this country so special- a diversity hotspot. 90% of its wildlife is found nowhere else! 70 unique species of lemurs and half the world’s population of chameleons call it home.
Cool Geography. Looking for amazing beaches…tick. Rain forest, jungle, desert, sandstone cliffs, baobab trees…tick, tick, tick! There is a huge bizarre karst World heritage site. Karsts are sci-fi formations created by eroding limestone, peaks can reach 800 m. The Tsingy de Bemaraha park is bigger than Singapore; offering fantastic trekking. From a geographical perspective, Madagascar has a lot to offer. Where it falls short is on infrastructure. There are only 854 km of railroad track and most roads are unpaved. Makes for a great adventure but you might want to add a little extra time to get around!
Heaven for wildlife lovers and birdwatchers. Dozens of species of lemurs roam… keep an eye out for the elusive aye-aye recognized by its extraordinarily long middle finger…its used for digging grubs out of trees, not for flipping off annoying tourists! Less adorable, more exotic critters include the giraffe necked weevil who uses his long appendage to roll leaves into tubes to hide its eggs and the Malagasy giant rat who can jump 3 feet in the air.
Pirates loved the island. Far away from European powers and difficult to get to (still is) Madagascar was for centuries a pirate hideaway. During the golden age of piracy the many coves were used to repair boats and restock fresh food. A colony called Libertatia was thriving by 1690. Captain Kidd visited. Check out old cemeteries to look for some of their graves.
It is a poor country but there is insane luxury! Luckily it is luxury with a conscience. Top of my list is heading to Miavana , a Time & Tide resort. This private island is only accessible by helicopter. There are 14 villa right on the beach. Each with its own golf cart, butler, bikes, snorkels and a fully stocked pantry and bar in addition to the gourmet meals.
The resort is expensive though it seems more reasonable when you consider that everything even scuba diving is include. Ok, helicopters are extra. It is a true eco lodge that employs 250 local people, paying above minimum wage. The goal is to make a small impact on the environment and a big impact on the community. Each year they add $500,000 to their foundation. Good to know that while spending a lot and enjoy luxury on steroids you are also doing good!
Ah Berlin… where the party goes for 24 hours, there are more canals than in Venice or Amsterdam and museums (180) out number rainy days (106). 70 million curried sausages are eaten each year. Bits of the infamous Wall sit beside glamorous 18th century palaces, a constant reminder of the cities long and checkered history. So much wall remains because there was so much wall built…it was actually two barriers built with a 140 m death strip between them to discourage anyone planning to hop this nasty fence. JFK’s speech was grammatically questionable but he never actually said “ I am a jelly donut”. For the gentleman on the go Berlin is packed with places to tempt and entertain. Start by withdrawing a gold bar from the ATM at Galeries Lafayette.
Top ten travel experience of the last ten years… no problem…this will be easy. I could not have been more wrong. Turns out this was one hell of a decade…narrowing it down incredibly challenging. After all, I went to the opening and closing ceremonies of the Vancouver Olympics, drank Dom Perignon out of the Stanley cup twice (two years apart), drove across Canada three times and visited 70 countries. I moved to Beijing, became a blogger and started a career for the first time in my life. After much deliberation here are ten of my top travel experiences in no particular order.
Mathieu Germond is one of the world’s great sommeliers though it is likely that you have never heard of him. He doesn’t have a column in the FT, write books or appear on reality tv shows. But finding the perfect wine is Mathieu’s super-power. Tell him what you like to drink, your budget and what you’re eating. He will find the right bottle. He is a wine savant.
While others were building their personal brands, Mathieu spent the last two years building Noize, a gem of a restaurant offering the best of French cuisine and English ingredients in the burgeoning central London neighborhood of Fitzrovia.best beds…find your perfect place to sleep
Figuring out where to go is easy, figuring out where to stay is not. I have carefully curated this list of places to sleep. I have stayed in each and every one. I have slept in the bed, eaten the breakfast and visited the pool, spa or ice machine. I have chatted with the who’s who in charge. These are the places I recommend… you don’t need to know about the others! Trust me!
I’d be delighted to connect you… my friends, my clients, my readers… with these hosts. Some offer special amenities due to my affiliation with the Virtuoso network and some offer perks because I am providing your introduction. Either way let my goodwill be your goodwill. Alternatively, you can click on the link and book or explore further on your own.
Some pay a commission to travel advisors, many do not. I’m transparent. I’ll tell you if you ask me.
