Best Views, London

For me, London is a home not a holiday-tion. But even after 6.5 years of living, working and breathing in the city life, I still discover something new each week. London is not a city of sky-scrapers (except for the more recently developed financial district called Canary Wharf), so restaurants or bars with amazing views are hard to find.

Here are my 3 favorites:

Eat/Drink

1) Galvin at Windows

This swanky NY-style bar is on the 28th floor of the London Hilton on Park Lane. The decor is decadent and so is the extensive cocktail list. The restaurant and bar offer 360-degree views of London's expansive metropolis. Galvin is dark and trendy at night, but if you really want to take in the scene, go before the sun sets and score a table on the balcony.

http://www.galvinatwindows.com/thebalcony.html


2) The Portrait Restaurant

Tucked away on the 5th floor of the National Portrait Gallery is this lively restaurant, packed at lunch-time with Londoners wining and dining for leisure or business. Take in the spectacular views over Trafalgar Square to Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament, the London Eye and more. The perfect place to sip a glass of wine and rest your tired museum-trekking bones.

http://www.npg.org.uk/visit/food/restaurant.php

3) Roof Garden at the Trafalgar

At the other end of Trafalgar Square, enter the Trafalgar Hotel, and catch the lift right up to the rooftop for a cool, tropical setting. I can't believe it took me over 6 years to realize this hidden gem was so easily accessible. We happened to hit it on a perfect summer day (infrequent in London!), which was our 1st wedding anniversary. This spot is unforgettable.

http://www.thetrafalgar.com/roof_garden.shtml


Up next: Naples and Miami, Florida

Mozambique

Holiday-tion is back from hiatus!

Benguerra Island, Mozambique
We took Pelican Airlines from Nelspruit Airport near Kruger National Park in South Africa to Vilanculos, Mozambique. From there, we were whisked away by Marlin Lodge staff who drove us to the port in Vilanculos. We waded through the water to our motor boat and arrived at Marlin Lodge on Benguerra Island in 40 minutes. Mozambique is an up and coming tourist destination...don't miss it before it becomes mainstream!

Stay/Play

Marlin Lodge is one of 3 resorts on Benguerra Island, part of the Bazaruto Archipelago. It is isolated and exclusive, but lacks the stuffiness you find in some 5-star resorts. Guest have their own villas with direct access to the white-sandy beach. Mouth-watering fresh dishes (including just caught squid in photo below) are served in the main dining room. Enjoy daily excursions to uninhabited islands, deep sea fishing, excellent diving, and snorkeling in what feels like an aquarium. We became friendly with some of the 100 or so villagers that live and work on Benguerra Island. Rob played football twice with the boys and we took a tour of the center of "town."

An eye-opening experience and a fantastic and relaxing end to our honeymoon.

http://www.marlinlodge.co.za/

Safari, South Africa

Tanda Tula, Timbavati National Park

Stay/Play
Tanda Tula is a tented, but luxurious game reserve located in Timbavati National Park, near the well-known Kruger Park. On safari, everything is arranged for you...Warm muffins and coffee delivered to your tent for the morning wake-up. Breakfast is served in the middle of the bush, on a dried-up river bed. Cocktail hour takes places half-way through the afternoon game drive. And dinners are spectacularly prepared in a different venue around camp each night. The animals will genuinely take your breath away.

Ask Harry, our friend the bartender, for the hot chocolate & Amarula (S Africa's take on Baileys) combo after your evening game drive.

A Safari Holiday-tion is one of the most spectacular activities of a life-time, and it suits all ages (except young children!).

http://www.tandatula.co.za/

Holiday-tion lit pick

• Chasing Harry Winston - Lauren Weisberger

Holiday-tion beauty tip

• Kikoy wraps. If you stay at Tanda Tula you'll find kikoys in your tent to borrow while lounging by the pool or on the veranda. I ended up buying 2 from the boutique. They are hip, yet authentically African, and you can use them as sarongs, beach towels, and apparently tablecloths (haven't tried it). http://www.kikoy.com/

Holiday-tion charity note: Harry and his brother, Smilling, have started the Kunavelala Community Project to raise money to give young boys the opportunity to play soccer in a safe environment. The project is only 1-year old but the dream of revitalizing their rural village is slowly taking form. Harry is now working on a vegetable garden that will assist the local community by providing food resources and social support. If you're interested in getting involved, please contact me and I can send you information on the project.


Up next: Benguerra Island, Mozambique

Hermanus, South Africa

In August 08, after a fun-filled 5-day wedding fete in Cleveland, Ohio, Rob and I embarked upon a Holiday-tion of a lifetime: a honeymoon in South Africa and Mozambique. Here is the first of 3 posts on my highlights of the trip:

Hermanus, South Africa

Stay/Play

Hermanus is a whale-watching village about a 2-hour drive from Cape Town. We stayed in the cozy, yet stunning Schulphoeck Guest House. The honeymoon suite has sweeping views of the ocean and a huge jacuzzi. The ideal place to rest up after 2 overnight flights.

http://www.schulphoek.co.za/the_house.html

Eat/Drink

Heaven and B's Steakhouse. 2 of the best meals of my life. We lunched at Heaven after a wine tour of Newton Johnson and surrounding vineyards. When we found out B's Steakhouse was owned by the same couple as Heaven, we knew we had to try it. B's is a graffiti-scrawled barn that serves heavenly steaks and a damn good bloomin' onion. DO NOT MISS IT!

Heaven

http://www.newtonjohnson.com/

B's Steakhouse (no website)

No. 5 Hemel -en-Aarde Village, Hermanus, 7200
South Africa

+27 28 316 3625

Eat/Drink/Stay/Play

Marine Hotel - an elegant colonial hotel which overlooks Walker Bay and its various hues of blue - one of the most beautiful panoramas in the southern hemisphere. We randomly stopped here for drinks, but I would also recommend staying here if you can afford it. Brad Pitt stayed here a few years ago when he went great white shark diving; his photo is on the walls near the ladies room.

http://www.relaischateaux.com/en/search-book/hotel-restaurant/hermanus/

Up next: Safari, Timbavati Game Reserve, South Africa

Guancaste, Costa Rica

Eat/Drink

Mar y Sol restaurant

The top level of Mar y Sol has one of the most stunning views I have ever seen. My Aunt Leslie hosted her birthday party in the exclusive private room of this spectacular restaurant in the Guancaste region. We had appetizers, sushi and cocktails, watched the sunset, and then sat down to a delicious and creative dinner.

http://marysolcostarica.com/



Holiday-tion lit picks

• Half of a Yellow Sun - Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
• The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society - Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrow

Up next: Hermanus, South Africa

Sardinia, Italy

We just returned from 8 days of road-tripping across the north part of Sardinia, an Italian island north of Sicily. Spectacular beaches, dramatic landscape, and authetically Italian resort towns.

Here is my do not miss guide for northern Sardinia:

Santa Teresa di Gallura
We landed in Alghero and drove approx 2 hours to this lively beach resort facing the Straits of Bonafacio and the French island of Corsica. Get ready to speak Italian because we didn't hear a word of English in our 4 days here.

Sleep/Play
Hotel da Cecco - adorable 3* hotel in an awesome location in the center of Santa Teresa. Friendly staff (but no English) and basic breakfast. €70 a night in September.
http://www.hoteldacecco.com/
Eat/Drink
Bar Conti - we went here 3 nights in a row. Drink €5 glasses of prosecco on the main square with a free appetizer buffet of traditional Sardinian foods (7-9pm daily).

Longoni Restaurant - 10 minute walk from the center of Santa Teresa, lively atmosphere and outdoor seating, noteworthy homemade pastas.

Pape Satan Pizzeria - traditional Neapolitan style, melt in your mouth crust with delicious fresh ingredients.

Visit/Hang

Capo Testo - 10 minute drive from Santa Teresa. Dramatic rock formations, sea views, hidden beaches.

San Bonafacio - stunning cliff town on the island of Corsica (France), a 50-minute ferry ride from the Port of Santa Teresa.

Baia Sardinia
A beach resort near Porto Cervo in the Costa Esmeralda, known as "the billionaire's paradise".

Sleep/Play
Hotel Punta Est - 4*, great location, within 5 minute walk of the beach, restaurants, and boutiques.
http://www.hotelpuntaest.it/where.htm

Isola Rossa
A small fishing village and resort town which overlooks an island of beautiful red rock = Isola Rossa.

Eat/Drink Da Michele - lively atmosphere, authentic Italian ristorante and pizzeria. Hands down, best meal of our 8 day Holiday-tion.

Holiday-tion lit picks

• The Rough Guide to Sardinia
• The House on Mango Street - Sandra Cisneros
• How to Stop Worrying and Start Living - Dale Carnegie
• Vanity Fair - August issue with MJ on the cover

Holiday-tion beauty tips

• Essie Cute as a Button - the perfect nail polish color for a beach vacation, 8 full days of wear http://www.essie.com
  
• Nivea 50+ Spray Sunscreen - for the bronzed tan and no burn...tho still can't compete with those Italians

Boston, Massachusetts

Eat/Drink
Stephie's on Tremont is the sister restaurant to Stephanie's on the famed Newbury Street. We had a fun-filled and cocktail-fueled dinner at Stephie's with a group of friends in August 09. The bar area is lively and the food was innovative and delicious.
http://www.stephisontremont.com/

Nice, France

Sleep/Play
A weekend in the South of France with girlfriends is one of my favorite mini breaks. July 4th weekend, we stayed in the perfectly situated Beau Rivage Hotel on Promenade des Anglais. My brother and I stayed here almost 10 years ago. Since then, it's been refurbed by the famous French architect, Jean-Michel Wilmott. Super stylish and a 5-minute walk from the trendy Beau Rivage beach, this is the ideal location for a weekend Holiday-tion.

We got a great deal of around €200 for 3 of us including a full breakfast + beach passes.

http://www.hotel-nicebeaurivage.com/web1/

Holiday-tion beauty tip

• Nice's beaches are stone, not sand, so bring a pair of Havaianas and wear them all the way to the water's edge. Flick them off, then gracefully stumble your way into the sea like the Frenchies....getting out is another story.
  

Bray, England

Eat/Drink
Most foodies visit Bray to make a pilgrimage to the renowned Fat Duck restaurant. We skipped the £100pp tasting menu there and headed around the corner to the 3 Michelin Star Waterside Inn, run by the Roux brothers. The scenery is spectacularly English countryside and the service and food is exquisite. It's worth the 40-minute train ride from London just to experience lunch or dinner at the Waterside Inn.
http://www.waterside-inn.co.uk/