Ireland: The Village of Enniskerry

My family had stayed at The Ritz-Carlton Powerscourt on our last trip to Ireland a few years ago, just 30 minutes outside of Dublin, in beautiful County Wicklow. We loved the nearby village of Enniskerry so much that we decided to stop for lunch again last week on our way back from Glendalough.

This is an ideal day trip from Dublin if you want to get away for just a bit - you get a real taste for the Irish countryside by exploring the Powerscourt Estate, gardens, and waterfall, and stopping for lunch in Enniskerry. Poppies is our favorite for breakfast or lunch - great sandwiches, quiches, and vegetables. If you feel like ice cream, try a cone from the adorable Sugar & Ice near the town clock. Ever see the movie Leap Year, with Amy Adams? You'll recognize Enniskerry and Poppies, from the scene where they miss the bus. The entire Powerscourt area has been the backdrop for many movies, for how beautifully Irish it is.

My Interview With The President of Ritz-Carlton

The Ritz-Carlton debuts their second Reserve property, Dorado Beach in Puerto Rico, this December, after Phulay Bay in Thailand. I interviewed the President & COO of Ritz-Carlton, Herve Humler, to get more information and am SO excited about this hotel opening. Especially Su Casa, which was THE place to spend a vacation in the 60s (JFK and many more stayed there). It has been restored to its original glory as a four-bedroom villa. EVERY suite and room here will be on the beach. Definitely on my list for 2013.

Here's my interview and scoop on Dorado Beach!

8 Luxury Travel Trends for Summer 2012-From World's Top Hotels

Check out my latest piece on Forbes - 8 Luxury Travel Trends for Summer 2012 - I love summer and hotels, so this piece was extra fun to write.

I chatted with some of the world's top hotel brands, including Mandarin Oriental, Ritz-Carlton, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, Orient-Express, and a great cruise line, Regent Seven Seas, about what they're seeing and the number one thing? People are traveling a LOT. Great news.

The Ritz-Carlton Laguna Niguel, California

Sometimes, there's a view at a hotel that stops you in your tracks and forces you to focus on where you are.  I think of the pagoda at the Banyan Tree Lijiang in China or my plunge pool at the Four Seasons Resort in Costa Rica. At the Ritz-Carlton Laguna Niguel, this view shows off Southern California in all its glory.

This terrace was one of the most blissfully perfect locations for a drink that I've seen.

And I would be okay having four-hour lunches with a view like this.

Even better for me now, the resort is pet-friendly! Great pool areas too. 

A few more "Holy S, is that Photoshopped!?" pictures:

Beyond the grand views and location in Laguna Niguel (six miles from Laguna Beach), the rooms unfortunately felt uninspired, which is obvious in this photo of the living area of a suite. I believe I read recently that they are giving the rooms a facelift soon, which will better match the indoors with the outdoor beauty. 

There's a beautiful spa and my favorite part was this view from the fitness center.

The Huffington Post: Two Days in Moscow

My visit to Moscow was such a whirlwind, incredible experience. We stayed at the Ritz-Carlton Moscow, which added to the "can't believe I'm here" feeling.  I posted room photos on a previous blog about the hotel.  You can see more of my tips for visiting Moscow here on The Huffington Post.

"Golden cathedrals and historic buildings aside, Moscow is experiencing a stirring revival. It is a city moving away from its traditional roots and towards vibrant new art and restaurant scenes. Admittedly, I didn't know much about Russia before my recent visit. My remedy: A quick immersion.

Standing on Red Square and glimpsing the early spring sun reflecting off the brilliant colors of St. Basil's Cathedral took my breath away. Like the layers of the onion-shaped domes dotting the skyline, Moscow began to quickly unravel itself. New adventures were layered over old history."

Read more here

With Andy in Moscow: