Travel Blog
Sensational Casa Elar in Ojai
Earlier this month, I had the pleasure of visiting Casa Elar in the quaint valley of Ojai. This elegant residence was developed for the owners of Ojai Valley Inn and Spa by their children as a surprise gift. Nestled among rolling hills, fruit trees, and meandering grounds, you feel as though you have just arrived in Italy. There’s even an outdoor pizza oven! Two bedrooms are located on the ground floor and feature a King bed which can be separated into two Twin beds, both are en suite with individual in-room safe and mini-bar....
read morePrivate villa home rates
If you’re one of those who enjoys researching travel online and you’ve found the private villa home with heated swimming pool, four bedrooms with two master suites and a kids room with two sets of bunk beds, three car garage all within walking distance to the shops, restaurants, and entertainment – you feel you’ve accomplished something. And then you look at the rate sheet and try to figure out the bottom line. What’s it going to cost? Confusion begins while reading the cancellation clause, your brow beads up...
read moreRenting the Right Villa
The reality of renting a villa is that it can be tricky. You may know you want three bedrooms, a pool, one or two massages, and a beachfront location, but there are other items that can make or break a stay. If you’re traveling with young children, you won’t want anything but a sandy beachfront location, rocks and seawalls won’t work. Get the details of the beachfront from your rental agent. There’s nothing worse than having to helicopter parent your children for two weeks when you’re trying to relax and...
read moreTips for Villa Rentals
This morning I began jotting down “Tips for Villa Rentals” and it occurred to me that I recall a couple of good articles from the past. One I liked in particular was in Travel+Leisure at http://www.travelandleisure.com/articles/7-tips-for-villa-rentals listed 7 tips: Run the numbers Know what you want Get on the phone Take advantage of extras Put it in writing Consider buying insurance Try an emerging destination I liked these because they make great sense when considering travel today. Comparing the cost of multiple hotel...
read moreAmanresorts
My first experience with Amanresorts was in 1996 when I joined Prima Hotels, now Leadings Small Hotels of the World. Aman represented fewer than ten percent of the portfolio of 150 boutique hotels yet they consumed more than half of my day. At that time there were only Amanpuri, Amandari, Hotel Bora Bora, Le Melezin, Amanusa, Amankila, Amanwana, Amanpulo, Carcosa Seri Negara, and Milton Park. Shortly after joining the group, both Amangani and Amanjena opened. I joined Aman two years later, 1998, and immediately set off on the first of many...
read moreDelivering winter clothes to children along the Snowman Trek
Kuzuzangpo la, Former Amankora Punakha’s Lodge Manager, Ms. Torunn Tronsvang, has embarked upon an adventurous, philanthropic mission to deliver winter clothing to children at risk whom she’ll meet along the infamous Snowman Trek. Despite recent development in Bhutan’s health services, infant and child mortality remains high. The under-five mortality rate has decreased over the last few years but is still above 80 per 1000 live births. In comparison, in the United States figures are at five per 1000 live births (WHO,...
read moreA brief visit in winter
Happy New Year, With just five nights to visit Bhutan, I charged ahead spending one night at Amankora in Thimphu, 2 nights in Punakha, and 2 nights in Paro. While it may be sufficient for some, I felt as though I needed at least another 5-7 nights. I missed a number of activities that I absolutely adore including the ultimate hike to Tiger’s Nest. However, I fully enjoyed the stunning snowcapped mountain vistas and hanging prayer flags at Dochula Pass even though my visit felt altogether too brief. This visit was my first into Bhutan via...
read moreGross National Happiness – A breath of fresh air
Kuzuzangpola, With the world tumultuously trudging through uncertain times, Bhutan remains a sanctuary, the calm in the storm, a nurturing center of authenticity where life is measured by the quality of existence rather than quantity of accumulation. Bhutan’s Gross National Happiness offers a breath of fresh air. A journey through this tiny Himalayan Kingdom reminds us that while our personal achievements and wealth may come and go, we are never without the joy and wonder of life, our children, and the beauty of the present. Leave behind...
read moreA summer visit to Bhutan
My return trip to Bhutan was nothing like I could have imagined. I had only been there in winter and was going to see the country in summer. Before my visit, I had these grandiose ideas of revisiting particular temples and being flooded with memories, of gaining back the calm that I had left with the first time. I kept thinking that I would immediately sink back into the blissful state I left, and while I did feel immediate relief from my hectic life, my return was not what I had expected. It wasn’t one of those homecoming type returns...
read moreWaking with Bhutanese monks
Kuzuzangpo la, Recently I read that the archaeological finds in central Bhutan date earliest human inhabitation to around 2,000 BC. Bhutanese history begins in the 7th century during the reign of the famous unifying Tibetan King Songtsen Gampo. Religion plays a vital part in the life of the country, and the senior religious figure, the Je Khenpo (Head monastic Preceptor) is theoretically of equal rank with the King. There are approximately 5,500 monks in Bhutan, half under the patronage of the Je Kenpo, the other half subsidised by private...
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