Off to the exclusive private island of Tetiaroa on their own tiny plane, so excited! ✈️
Flight to paradise 💙
You know you’ve left your real life behind when your resort has its own airline! The Brando is a unique luxury resort on French Polynesia’s breathtakingly beautiful private island of Tetiaroa, it is where the rich and famous live out their own desert island fantasy. The resort was the legendary actor Marlon Brando’s tropical island hideaway. There are 35 beach villas each with its own separate media room and study, outdoor bath and infinity plunge pool that overlooks the most beautiful sugary white sand beach.
Exclusive and private villas on a private island paradise. Each private villa is nestled amidst the palms. Secluded from everything in your private pool, the beach and ocean are a backdrop, my own little piece of Heaven.
Sunset at the The Brando with dinner at the fine dining Les Mutinés, the tasting menu was delicious! It is a Polynesian fine dining experience, sophisticated, yet completely laid back. Ingredients sourced from local seas, ranches and farms are perfectly paired with wine from top chateaus in France, this is my kind of fine dining.
After dinner it was time for an outdoor bath in my villa. I love the outdoor bathtub, perfect for late night stargazing at the southern hemisphere constellations that the Polynesian navigators used to find these islands. It’s a challenge for me to find and identify this whole new set of constellations but I’m in the perfect place.
Great morning with the Tetiaroa Society exploring the motus and the crystal clear blue water that looks unreal! We stopped to swim at the Queen’s Bath, as the name suggests, it is where Tahitian royalty used to bathe due to its mineral rich sands and pure waters!
Coconut crabs, kaveu in Tahitian, are the largest terrestrial crabs in the world, and in my opinion, the most beautiful! Look at all the colors!
Time for a sundowner at The Brando 🍸
Bob’s Bar was around long before the Brando existed. It was where Marlon would come at the end of each day and order his favorite cocktail – a Dirty Old Bob. Put your feet in the sand, order a Dirty Old Bob, then raise your glass, and give a toast to Tetiaroa.
The Polynesian Show at The Brando was one of the best I have seen in all of the South Pacific. The performers weren’t playing a part but truly sharing their culture with us, it was beautiful.
I am sad to leave the Brando, Air Tetiaroa is taking us away from paradise. We will land in Papeete and Air Tahiti will then take us to another island….can you guess which one??
Landed in Honolulu with a beautiful rainbow in the sky. Ready to have fun in Waikiki! 🌺
You know that image in your mind of Waikiki Beach, the one with Diamond Head in the distance and outrigger canoes in a turquoise bay of warm water? That’s what you have at Duke’s plus great music and fun! Our Outrigger Advisory Board definitely had fun and laughs – Thank you Outrigger Resorts!
With two of the only seven true beachfront resorts in Waikiki, Outrigger is a great option for your vacation. Between the Reef and Waikiki Beach, there are so many choices, the suites are beautiful! This is the Coral Reef Suite and the Voyager 47 Club.
Excited for our Outrigger Advisory Council meetings in Hawaii. Tonight’s dinner brought together all the councils from the US.
Swimming with the Mantas on the Kona Coast!
Swimming with manta rays is listed as one of the most thrilling experiences on earth, with an incredible adrenaline rush! Known as gentle giants of the sea, many reside in front of our hotel right on the Kona Coast. These magnificent mantas can weigh more than 1,000 lbs and span more than 15 feet! This only happens in a few locations on earth – one of them is here on the Big Island of Hawaii. It’s so hard to not gasp when they swim up and are less than an inch from your body! Such a humbling and awe-inspiring experience I will never forget! Thank you Outrigger Kona Resort and Spa and Eka Canoe Adventures!
Great morning at Kealakekua Bay, a paradise on land and under water. With one of the most abundant coral reefs on the island and the lush, tropical Kona coast. It also is an important historic location because it is where Captain James Cook landed for the first time on the island of Hawaii and ultimately was killed here on his third visit.
The Feast and Fire Luau is a signature experience that tells the story of the cultures of the islands. I love how it is a plated dinner and smaller tables of just your group. It was a beautiful evening and a great show!
A great spot for our Outrigger Advisory Council meeting. Perched above the lava-rock cliffs of Keauhou Bay on the lush southern end of the Kona coast, the Outrigger Kona Resort and Spa has stunning views of the Pacific Ocean, where graceful manta rays swim right up to the shoreline and I was able to see them from my lanai! This resort is great for those looking for some adventure and culture on the Big Island, mantas, snorkeling, volcanoes and much more. Mahalo for a wonderful experience Outrigger Kona Resort and Spa!
ESPACIO is the ultimate oceanfront sanctuary that can only be described as The Jewel of Waikiki and ranked as one of the finest properties in the world. Each of the nine suites has a private entry and occupies an entire floor with Italian marble, Moroccan metalwork, a designer kitchen, bathrooms furnished with TOTO Washlets, and an expansive balcony with a Jacuzzi and daybeds. I am looking forward to a few days of opulence, tranquility, and rejuvenation at this exclusive retreat. Follow along for the next few days and I’m sure you will want me to book your experience here on your next trip to Hawaii.
Evening in Waikiki 🌙
While a bathroom might not be a big consideration for some, the bathrooms at Espacio Waikiki are like a trip to the spa – tranquility, and rejuvenation for an exclusive retreat!
The private rooftop infinity swimming pool, whirlpool, and sundeck at Espacio Waikiki is GORGEOUS and one of the best spots in Waikiki Beach 🌺
It’s a beautiful morning at Espacio Waikiki! Breakfast and a walk on the beach.
Sunset BBQ in Waikiki, Chris made the most delicious BBQ on the rooftop!
My son and I had the most exceptional fine dining experience at Mugen Waikiki! Now I know why it’s so hard to get a reservation. Executive Chef Jason Yamaguchi offers a 7-course seasonal tasting menu that combines French and Japanese influences, utilizing local ingredients and specialty items from around the world. It is located in Espacio Waikiki so just a quick ride down the elevator. Next time I book your Hawaiian vacation let’s make a reservation for Mugen too, you won’t be disappointed!
Excited to go to Sandals Royal Grenada! It has been on my list for so long but the flight is long and expensive so it was put off a lot, we’ll finally I am going.
Left Miami with a rainbow in the sky and arrived in Grenada with another rainbow 🇬🇩
Beautiful evening when we finally arrived.
Beautiful day at Sandals Grenada, local breakfast, the beach and the pool 💙Skypool SuiteSkypool SuiteBeautiful views
Dinner at the Italian Restaurant with visits from our Butlers
So much fun on our bar crawl through Grenada 🇬🇩 and sunset on Grand Anse Beach ☀️
The best experiences in a new country are when you leave the resort and learn about local food and customs. We learned so much about the history of Grenada, the food and the people in a fun way. We learned how to make Grenada’s National dish, Oil Down, in a private villa overlooking the water. This purely Grenadian dish is made with breadfruit, coconut milk, dumplings, turmeric, callaloo, saltfish, smoked herring, chicken or salted beef. We chose chicken and fish for today. Plus we made fresh Caribbean style lobster salad and chocolate mousse. Grenada is known as the Spice Island and especially for nutmeg, but it is also known for some of the finest cocoa in the Caribbean. We enjoyed chopping and dicing while talking about all the different ingredients and the tradition of Oil Down. While it simmered on the stove we relaxed with rum punch and swam in the pool.
Last day in Grenada after a wonderful time 💗
Enjoying the lazy days of summer in Grenada 🇬🇩 A swim out suite is a must on your vacation and having good friends to enjoy it with 😊
Turkey has been on my list for a long time and I am excited to finally be going!
My flight was at 1:45pm nonstop from LAX and arrives in Istanbul at 10am the next day. I have never flown on Turkish Airlines so I was curious to see how it was. I love flying other airlines besides our legacy carriers in America.
I was in economy class for this flight but happy that there was a seat between me at the window and the passenger on the aisle. So at least I have some room. Before takeoff we were handed a menu and an amenity kit.
Economy Class Menu
The amenity kit came in a pretty vinyl case with a pattern that was adapted from motifs in classical Turkish decorative arts. it had the usual flight needs: slippers, socks, blinders, ear plugs, toothbrush and paste and lip balm.
Amenity kit
The first meal was actually very good for an economy class airplane meal. I didn’t eat the chicken Caesar or the profiteroles but the eggplant appetizer and fish main course were good. Mashed potatoes were creamy and didn’t taste instant and the fish was perfectly cooked and flaked nicely. Not sure how they do this on an airplane?
Main course after take off
Watching the House of Gucci, heard it wasn’t great but so far it’s keeping my interest.
May 12
I slept about 7 hours of the flight, not solid but enough. Breakfast and coffee were served 2 hours before landing. I finished watching the movie.
Breakfast
The airport is very large and modern, I had no problem finding my driver.
Istanbul Airport
I was pleasantly surprised when I arrived to my room. I have a beautiful suite that is exactly what I need right now!
Hotel in Istanbul
The hammam was next, the perfect welcome to Istanbul. Çemberlitaş Hamamı is a famous Turkish bath with a lot of history and a beautiful ambiance. Mimar Sinan, the favored architect of the Ottoman Empire, was commissioned to construct this hammam by the royal family.
The Hammam
After three hours at the hammam, I was starving! Some traditional Turkish food overlooking the city and then a good night sleep 😴
May 13
Today was exciting as we explored Istanbul! First stop – once a Byzantine stadium for chariot racing, it held 100,000 people! The Hippodrome takes a big of imagination to picture it’s grandeur but some monuments still stand. It’s mind blowing to think of history here.
The Hippodrome
Church of the Holy Wisdom, or Hagia Sophia, is one of the greatest works of Byzantine architecture in the world, and for over a thousand years it was the worlds largest and most important religious monument. Only St. Peter’s in Rome (17th century) surpasses the Hagia Sofia in size and grandeur. First a church, then a mosque, now a museum for everyone to see.
Hagia Sofia
I could have taken a hundred pictures here!
Hagia Sofia
In 1935, Atatürk – father of the Turks – turned the Hagia Sofia into a museum and restored it, uncovering all the mosaics that were plastered over.so you can see both the Christian and Muslim history.
The Blue Mosque
The Blue Mosque was built in 1609 to outshine the Hagia Sofia. But the architect went too far but building six minarets, this was the same number at the mosque in Mecca. So they had him build a seventh in Mecca to reestablish the eminence of that mosque. Unfortunately we could not go in to see the reason why it’s called the Blue Mosque, the 20,000 shimmering blue-green Iznik tiles, because it was Friday and there was a service.
Istanbul
We flew from Istanbul to Sigacik on the Aegean Sea. From a bustling city to a beautiful green and blue seaside town was a nice change.
Sigacik
We were tired from a long day and had dinner at our hotel. A beautiful restaurant overlooking the water during sunset.
Dinner in Sigacik
May 14
The Aegean is one of Turkey’s most visited regions with treasures such as white sand beaches and the ancient ruins of Ephesus. It was nice to relax here and enjoy nature this morning.
Morning in Sigacik
We drove to Ephesus this morning and I was so excited! Ephesus was once the most important Greco-Roman city in the Eastern Mediterranean. It is also home of the best preserved ancient sites in the world. It’s awe inspiring to walk through ruined temples, theaters and colonnaded streets of ancient civilizations.
Ephesus
What an experience! We had the best guide who told us so much about the history and many fun facts. A guide makes such a difference in how you see Ephesus.
It was hot and we were hungry so we went to a great local restaurant for some delicious köfte, mezze and the local Efes beer.
After lunch we learned all about Turkish rug making and we’re able to feel all the different types with bare feet. They were so luxurious and absolutely gorgeous.
After visiting Ephesus I said a few prayers at the House of the Virgin Mary. It is the site where Mary is said to have arrived in Ephesus with John the Apostle and spent the last years of her life.
House of the Virgin Mary
Off to the airport again and headed to Cyprus tonight. But we were late getting to the airport and didn’t have some of the necessary documents. So running around the airport was not fun….
Flight to Cyprus
We flew Pegasus Airlines from Izmir to Ercan, the airport in Northern Turkey, the only one that Turkey is allowed to fly into.
Excited to check another place off my list, Cyprus! It was a quick hour flight to Ercan Airport from Turkey. 🇨🇾 With a painful modern history, Cyprus is divided by the Green Line into north and south with two Cypriot communities – Greek and Turkish. We explored North Cyprus and it was beautiful.
May 15
Excited for the day in Cyprus to explore the island and some beautiful hotels.
It is a beautiful place with mountains, evergreen trees and beautiful water. I absolutely loved Bellapais Abbey! It is a beautiful old Abbey that is perched on a cliff with views down to the sea, it was so picturesque!
Flight from Cyprus to Izmir
After landing back Izmir, we had a long drive to Bodrum so we stopped for lunch midway there. The kebabs were tasty and the town was really cute.
On the way to Bodrum
Known in antiquity as Halicarnassus, Bodrum is located in Asia Minor and known for sun, sand, luxury, and nightlife in the Turkish Riviera. We kicked off our visit with a white party before we started work.
White Party
May 16, 2022
Work day at a beautiful resort in Bodrum.
Tonight is the Awards Dinner and everyone looks fabulous!
“The Family”
May 17, 2022
With another full day of conference, we were ready to party again.
Pasanda Panorama in BodrumAdrián, Ali, Lori & Kitzia
Pre-party cocktails overlooking the beautiful Aegean in Bodrum 🍸
We had a sweet visitor who was really trying to get our attention!
Cocktails & Mezze with a view
Bodrum is absolutely gorgeous! We were able to watch sunset from the best location in town ☀️
Sianji Resort
The Farewell Dinner was a beautiful event at the Sianji Well-being Resort. Hotel, food, accommodations and service are excellent.
May 18, 2022
We left this morning and went to visit the Castle in Bodrum. There is so much history in this area it was fascinating! Shopping is also really good in Bodrum.
Before heading to the gulet, we stopped for cocktails at The Marmara Bodrum. A beautiful hotel with commanding views of the water in Bodrum. I loved the pink touches, especially the pool towels. Looked great against the blue backdrop of the Aegean.
The Marmara Bodrum
We boarded our gulet for our cruise, finally time to relax for a few days as we explore the coast of Turkey on the Aegean Sea ⛴
It was a little breezy and cool when we boarded the gulet and we were worried about the weather, it had been beautiful all week. My cabin was perfect, it was on the top deck, opened to the outside and had two windows. There was a double bed, plenty of space for my things and a bathroom. The bathroom wasn’t bad, a shower, sink and toilet with enough room to move around.
The meals have been very good, fresh and local, served family style. Waking up to this breakfast was so nice! A typical Turkish breakfast with juicy tomatoes, cucumbers, arugula, olives and salty feta.
Ready for a swim
The water was salty and chilly but really refreshing. Just the color was enough to entice you to swim.
The best part of the day was when we started dancing. We were relaxing in the sun on the deck and our Egyptian friend put on music and made us all get up and dance. None of us knew how to do the moves but he taught us, it was a lot of fun!
The fun continued into the evening with a delicious dinner. The crew all came out again and we were able to thank them for their wonderful service. We made toasts to each other and to this memorable trip.
This morning was sad as we all left the boat to go home. It was a beautiful day and I left with beautiful memories of an unforgettable time in Turkey.
“But the most beautiful things in life are not things, they’re people, and places, memories, and pictures. They’re feelings and moments and smiles and laughter.”
Garza Blanca is new in Cabo but has been in Puerto Vallarta for a long time. So I had to see it here in Cabo. It’s beautiful, modern and new!
There are 8 different pools located inside the horseshoe of the building. Each had a different character or purpose. Some had kids playing, another was for laps, one was adult only, so everyone can find a pool they like.
The lobby was very light and airy with very tall ceilings. It wasn’t open air and felt good to get out of the heat but there were huge sliders facing the water that could open up the wall if the weather was cool.
The rooftop pool was really nice, and adult only. The views were so gorgeous with the infinity pool.
The Spa was also expansive and they saved the best view for the relaxation area with the lounges. An open air wall high up in the hotel with unobstructed views.
There were a few restaurants but not as many as the other resorts that have an all inclusive option. Garza Blanca has the choice of AI or EP.
Kids Club1 Bedroom Suite and Junior Suite
Rooms are really pretty, very light and large terraces all with a hammock.
4 Bedroom Penthouse
They have so many options for large families like 2, 3 and 4 bedroom options.
What a beautiful resort!!! It was even more than I thought it was going to be. Much admired for its architecture and artistry, also the resort’s approach to landscaping is key to its look and feel. Designed to be in harmony and oneness with the local ambiance, the external color scheme reflects the white of the sands and ocean surf.
The lobby is absolutely gorgeous, the openness, the views and the design. There is no check in desk as they are all done privately in your suite.
Look at the blue water!
I love the white buildings against the blue water.
The beachfront accommodations are practically on the beach. There is the adult only pool right in front of them too. The terraces are so beautiful and the rooftops as well.
The open air restaurants and pools never seem crowded. The resort was at full capacity and you’d never be able to tell.
Strolling around the resort, a zero entry pool is popular with kids. A great spot for tequila tasting and a yoga pavilion.
The Spa is relaxing and fits so well into the environment. It’s lush and beautiful, the perfect spot to spend a few hours. The fitness center is very nice too.
The mini golf is adorable and on the way to a family favorite area.
Kids love the lazy river and the cave! It’s a great area with a restaurant there too. I love the Rosé All Day area with the pink bean bag chairs.
Las Ventana’s is such a pretty resort that is great for families or adult only. The resort, accommodations, food and service are some of the best in Cabo.
The Cape has commanding views of El Arco. A grown up resort with a relaxed 1960’s Southern California-meets-Baja aesthetic and killer sunsets.
Sunset is spectacular here, the views of the Arches are the best. Plus you’re not in the crazy loudness of Medano Beach but close enough if you want to go.
After a 2.5 hour transfer from the airport, I was so behind schedule! It usually takes about 25 minutes but there was an accident. So I finally made it around 5pm.
I had a Grand Club room which gives me a great location overlooking the Grand Club pool and the sea.
Dined around the resort and tried a few restaurants, an app here and there, some wine, it was a nice night.
The Grand Club
It is a beautiful resort and the colors match the landscape. It cuts into the mountains so there are amazing views.
The beach is beautiful with a lot of rocks and blue water. There is a small area where you can swim but it’s a little rocky but calm and protected.
It is a great option for everyone, families and adults only.
