London wine and dine: The best restaurants and bars in Shoreditch

Enjoy this appetizing guest post highlighting the best restaurants and bars in Shoreditch, London. When you think of a night out in London, you may think of Leicester Square, Covent Garden or the West End. Perhaps Camden comes to mind, or the alternative streets of Tottenham Court Road? It’s surprising how fabulous the bars and restaurants are if you move …

My newest addiction...

Don’t just lie there… Six adventure activities in Riviera Maya

Riviera Maya, known for its alabaster beaches and blue water, is also home to a variety of adventure activities. Some are adrenaline packed while others are relaxing forays into the natural side of the region. So when you are sick of just laying there, get up and find adventure. I recently visited the area on a fast-paced adventure trip with …

Cenote Ikkil

Returning to Riviera Maya

This May, I visited Riviera Maya to attend the Word Travel and Tourism Council Summit of the Americas. While I was thrilled to be part of the event, I was restless to get out and explore the more adventurous side of the region. This part of Mexico offers numerous adventure activities from snorkeling to rappelling into deep cenotes. Thanks to …

Photo essay: The boutique hotels of Puebla

Few modern hotels have distinguishing features. However, in Puebla, all of the hotels we visited were in interesting historic buildings. The architecture alone was enchanting, and the rooms were tranquil refuges from modern glitz. Historic and avant-garde features combined to create fascinating contrasts, each making the other more interesting. Additionally, each property included a restaurant serving both classic and contemporary dishes. …

Cantona Archaeological Site, Puebla, Mexico

Treading silently along ancient roads where 80,000 people once passed engaged my imagination. I pictured the streets full of people going about their daily routines, never thinking their home would later be abandoned, encased in centuries of accumulated soil and plant growth. Cantona, a Mesoamerican archaeological site located roughly 58 miles from the city of Puebla, was deserted sometime after …

Robert Redford speaks on sustainable tourism at WTTC Americas Summit

It’s a viscous circle. Tourists seek unspoiled destinations but then threaten the very places they enjoy. Sustainable tourism is more than a public relations buzz-word, it’s industry survival. Celebrated actor, director and environmentalist Robert Redford, brought star power to this important issue at the recent Word Travel and Tourism Council’s (WTTC) Americas Summit. “Tourism is a wonderful business, and it …