Wine and Spirits Travel

I don’t usually write about hotels I haven’t been to, but when the Ritz Carlton PR rep approached me with New Year’s Specials and unique drinks at her hotels, I couldn’t resist passing the information along – especially since she’s sharing yummy cocktail recipes! Happy New Year, everyone! from the The Ritz-Carlton, Philadelphia Ten Arts by Eric Ripert “Green Tea White Chocolate Martini” Created by Steven Diaz 2 oz. green tea mint infused Godiva White 2 oz. vanilla vodka 1 oz. white crème de cocoa House made green tea mint simple syrup Swirl the green tea syrup and green tea mint infused Godiva White around a martini glass Add vanilla vodka and white crème de cocoa Garnish with a strip of white chocolate. from the The Ritz-Carlton Georgetown, Washington, D.C. Degrees Bar & Lounge “The Sparkling Melange” Created by Christine Moore Veuve Clicquot Champagne St Germain Elderflower liquer Mix and serve up in champagne flute. from the The Ritz-Carlton, Washington,

Between my trips to far off locations like Punta Cana and Champagne , France, I often receive invitations to check out events and places within the two states I am in most – New York and Illinois.   What I didn’t imagine when I headed into New York City a few weeks ago was that I would really be heading into another worldwide adventure. I visited the Hotel Elysée a few months ago.  I loved it, but I didn’t get a chance to experience all it had to offer.  I was determined not to do the same at its sister property, Casablanca Hotel .  The Casablanca offers a whole different atmosphere than the Elysée, with a Moroccan flair and a more laid back feel.  It is literally a stone’s throw to Times Square, in fact, I probably walked by it 100 times in my life and didn’t realize all that was being offered inside.  They offer mini-suite rooms, with a separate living area, perfect for couples and families, but singles like us can also get two queen beds, with free internet and a helpful staff.

My last morning in Mazatlan couldn’t have gone any better, with a relaxing room service breakfast at El Cid Castillo on the balcony overlooking the Pacific Ocean.  I was a bit concerned that the Midwest storms would upset my travel plans, but Delta assured me that all my flights were running on schedule. Or, so they said. Maria Elena of the Mazatlan Hotel Association  and Abraham of Pronatours  picked me up at my hotel for my final ride in the van with them.  (I can’t say I will miss climbing in and out of that van!) We were at the airport in 20 minutes and I went to the Aeromexico desk to check into my Mazatlan flight to Mexico City.  The clerk then advised me that the flight was running FIVE hours late and I would miss my connection.  In the next half hour she proceeded to tell me that there wasn’t a way she could get me home in the next two days unless I wanted to fly to Guadalajara and hope I could get on a morning flight!  I was fortunate to have the travel expertise of Jul

Abraham of Pronatours and Maria Elena of the Mazatlan Hotel Association picked me up first thing in the morning and I sadly left the Riu Emerald Bay .  I was quickly smiling again as I checked into the All-Inclusive Elite VIP area of the El Cid Castillo .  My junior suite was ready and I only had a short while to enjoy it before I was heading across the street to the El Cid Country Club. The Country Club has three golf courses and eight tennis courts for use by the guests of all El Cid’s properties.  For anyone who has the All-Inclusive Elite Package, unlimited golf and tennis comes at no extra charge.  Gustavo was waiting for me at the courts for my private lesson.  I have spent much more time watching (and photographing tennis) the last few years than playing it, but I always enjoy the chance to hit some balls.  I had a great instructor and definitely worked hard out there, picking up a few pointers for my strokes. After tennis, there was just enough time to shower and change

I happen to really like Mexican food, but I did enjoy the opportunity to check out the Riu Emerald Bay’s incredible breakfast buffet Saturday, settling on a good old-fashioned American omelet with some banana bread and hash browns.  I was then on my way with Maria Elena of the Mazatlan Hotel Association and Abraham of Pronatours to Huana Coa . Before she was faced with a family emergency, my friend Theresa (aka, The Local Tourist ) was accompanying me on this trip and she had elected to go zip-lining through this Mazatlan excursion.  It was not something I was interested in doing, but we did decide to head over the anyway, hoping to catch somebody in the action.  We were a bit too late, but I did get a chance to speak with a Canadian couple who had a blast gliding through the Blue Agave plants (more on that in a minute) and riding the ATVs back to the starting point. There is a lot more than zip-lining in this area of Mazatlan.  It’s home to Los Osuna , which is “almost” tequi

It was one of those days where I couldn’t possible deny that I have a fun job and Mazatlan is the perfect place to have some fun! We’ve had a bit of fog that comes and goes, blocking the sun a bit, but it’s still in the 70s with absolutely no chance of rain (or snow, like they are having back home), so I am not about to complain about not perfect weather.  My trusted guides Maria Elena of the Mazatlan Hotel Association and Julio of Pronatours took me to the Cenaduria La Regional, where I had an authentic Mexican breakfast of Panqueqes, a rolled pancake with cinnamon and sugar, and Chilaquiles Rojas, fried squares of tortillas in a sauce with salsa and cheese.  It was tasty and definitely filled me up for our trip to the aquarium. The Mazatlan Aquarium is tiny by the U.S. standards, but they are currently under construction in a number of areas, including a large shark exhibit.  We enjoyed the sea lion show and walked around a bit, checking out the turtles, alligators, stingrays,

It was another picture-perfect day in Mazatlan, where it’s hard to imagine the weather isn’t always beautiful.   I picked the perfect time to come – though there are rarely bad times – with temperatures ranging in the high 70s and the sun constantly shining.  There wasn’t any sunbathing for me, as I went touring some of the area’s newest hotels. The day started with breakfast at La Terraza, a cute little restaurant at the Azteca Inn.  I enjoyed the chips, salsa and cheese, before having my first taste of Corn Tamales.  They were delicious (especially with the homemade salsa).  After some coffee to energize, Maria Elena of the Mazatlan Hotel Association led me out to the van where Julio of Pronatours was once again at our service for the day. Our first stop was at Pueblo Bonito Emerald Bay and it was indeed bonita  (beautiful).  Each suite Jessica took us to  appeared to be nicer than the last and the tropical atmosphere – complete with birds and iguanas – was more Caribbean than

It was a really long day of sightseeing, hotel visits and lots of food, but don’t worry, I didn’t jump off any cliffs! I was picked up first thing in the morning by Maria Elena of Mazatlan Hotel Association and Victor of Prono Tours, who knows everything and anything about Mazatlan.  We drove through the Golden Zone and Ocean Avenue, as I listened to the history of this beautiful city, the statues along the way and the people who live here.  We watched the fisherman, whose main object is shrimp, and saw an overview of the hotels from the original to the new. We also saw the divers who jump off the cliff (it is too dangerous for the inexperienced) as a way of earning their living, and the markets around them. We had one picturesque stop after another and I tried to keep myself from wanting to stay and photograph all day.  We still had many more places to go.  I loved Machado Square in the Historic District and was fascinated with the European influence on the old buildings in cont

It was a long day Tuesday, with three flights and a total of 12 hours of traveling, but I have to say Delta came through this time, with great service in the air and getting my bags through to the ground. They also provided me with an empty seat next to me on each flight (though I’m sure that’s not something they want to happen. The most unusual part of my trip was the Mexico City Airport. I’ve been in a lot of airports and I’ve never seen one quite like this. It was the most modern I’ve seen, even through customs and immigration. Their security systems are different from the U.S. and I have to say they seem to work. For one thing, you are actually allowed to bring a bottle of water through security. You can leave your shoes and your sweater on too, but before anyone worries that it’s not safe, I have to add that there are more police, security guards and workers watching than I’ve ever seen before. And, yes, people are searched, but after a few security personnel have deemed

I know my thoughts aren’t quite as important as Oprah Winfrey (and I’m not giving away Volkswagon Beetles), but I am often asked about my favorite wines, spirits and travel gear, as well as any other tips I may have for saving money. Here are some of the things on my holiday list… First stop, Mr. Rebates I can’t say enough about Mr. Rebates . Not only do you get back cash from shopping, but there’s more coupons and offers on this site than I’ve seen anywhere else. Before you buy anything, see if you can get a deal -- and cash back -- through Mr. Rebates . Must have in 2011 The Amazon Kindle is on my daughter’s Xmas list this year and it’s a must for the avid reader. The selections starts at $139, making it more affordable. Travel necessities I love the Packing Guides at TravelSmith. I have bought a number of their Eagle Creek Packing Cubes and they're great for keeping the suitcase organized. There is no place like Minimus to find an incredible selection of tr