http://www.luxurylink.com/community/blogs/bonniejoy03/ en Wed, 19 Jun 2013 10:12:30 GMT vBulletin 60 http://www.luxurylink.com/community/images/misc/rss.jpg http://www.luxurylink.com/community/blogs/bonniejoy03/ http://www.luxurylink.com/community/blogs/bonniejoy03/weekend-travaasa-austin-1652/ Thu, 09 May 2013 11:24:12 GMT What an experience! _Travaasa... What an experience! Travaasa is located in the "hill country" of Austin. The location is so serene with no other properties close by.

We arrived on Friday afternoon. Michael and I decided to enjoy the activities immediately. He did the archery session. I did the foam roller class. Later in the afternoon we enjoyed a meet-and-greet in Jean's Kitchen. Nice wine and cheese by the fireplace and a chance tolearn more about the property from Brian Bastress, Programs Manager. Later, we enjoyed a group dinner at the Solidago Gardens. Nice to meet our LL friends after talking together for years. We then had a s'mores session at the outdoor fire pit....FUN!

Lovely buffet breakfast on Saturday morning. Our team had a get together in the morning followed by spa treatments. Michael had the deep tissue and I had the sacred stones massage. WOW. So relaxing, quiet, and peaceful. We then had lunch on our own. After lunch, we headed to the horse stables for our equine encounter. I have never had this experience. We learned to relax, use our minds, and guide the horses. This is a MUST for anyone visiting Travaasa. I really believe each participant was moved by this activity.

We then enjoyed the pool and whirlpool. RELAXATION. Dinner was at Jean's Kitchen and we enjoyed this meal outside. Nice relaxing time to learn more about each other. Sunday breakfast and then spa treatments. Michael had the deep tissue and I tried the Hill Country Massage and Body Treatment. This involved honey!! Boy, did I smell great!!!

Our next activity was the chili cook-off. I am going on record that our team of Ben, Min, Michael and me really was the winner. We used tequila, beer, tofu, beef, zucchini, herbs, spices, and tomatoes. Doesn't that sound tempting!!!! Afterwards, the chef made lunch and even made his own chili. Michael and I then hiked one of the trails and enjoyed trying to identify the birds we saw.

Our time ended with a farewell dinner in the pastures. OH MY....beautiful setting in the pasture with a creek close by. The food was all locally-grown. We enjoyed the free flowing Texas wine.

Monday was time to go. I hit the gym first thing to try to get rid of all the calories I added! Back to the real world in Central PA. I just am in awe of the time we had and the activities available. I am sad that I didn't have a chance to experience some of the other classes such as Heart Starter Hike, Yoga, Pilates, and even Harmonica!!! Travaasa Austin has activities galore! Well, time to get back to reality. What an experience!!!! ]]> bonniejoy03 http://www.luxurylink.com/community/blogs/bonniejoy03/weekend-travaasa-austin-1652/ http://www.luxurylink.com/community/blogs/bonniejoy03/galapagos-islands-cormorant-1587/ Mon, 18 Mar 2013 20:45:02 GMT WOW....What a trip of a lifetime. We flew to Guayaquil Ecuador and stayed two nights at the Hotel Oro Verde ( a Leading Hotel of the World.) I... WOW....What a trip of a lifetime. We flew to Guayaquil Ecuador and stayed two nights at the Hotel Oro Verde ( a Leading Hotel of the World.) I prepaid and received an amazing low price for a junior suite. WOW Again....Huge SUITE in the new wing. We enjoyed our visit in the city and loved walking Malecon 2000 and visiting Cerro Santa Anna. There was so much written about safety yet we never experienced any type of scary situation. We even went to a neighborhood fruit/empanada local hang out and then to a little pub. We chose The Cormorant (Haugan Cruises) ship because we wanted a more intimate travel experience. The Cormorant is a 110 foot stabilized catamaran. It has capacity for 16 people in two suites and 6 rooms. The crew numbers 11. We were assigned "Roberto" as our class 3 naturalist.. The room was huge and also had a lovely balcony, sliding windows in the bathroom and bedroom. I was describing the room to someone who traveled on National Geo's boat and said they had a porthole and tiny bathroom. Our days were spent with between 2 and 4 activities. We snorkeled 2 or three times a day and hiked 1 or 2 times a day. We had the flexibility to track wildlife if needed.. For example, we saw an Orca Whale at a distance.....this just got our group going....we went right from snorkeling to taking the zodiacs on a whale trek....and we found it!!! WOW again! We enjoyed swimming with cormorants, sea lions, penguins, marine iguanas and hammerhead and galapagos sharks. We had no one around and we saw very few other ships in our path. This trip was sooooo "us." We didn't want or need fancy formal sit down dinners. Instead, we spent our days hiking, swimming, snorkeling, and learning. Our meals were taken at a table for our entire group where we carried on and discussed the days finds. We even had a few barbecues on the deck. We were barefoot the entire time! We are so fortunate to have had this experience!!! Our last night was spent at the Courtyard in Guayaquil. Another great property. Now we are home and miss the carefree life of living on the sea and experiencing nature at our fingertips......

ps-I posted some photos under the Photo Gallery section.... ]]> bonniejoy03 http://www.luxurylink.com/community/blogs/bonniejoy03/galapagos-islands-cormorant-1587/ http://www.luxurylink.com/community/blogs/bonniejoy03/argentina-what-delight-1546/ Fri, 14 Dec 2012 12:25:39 GMT Just returned from a wonderful holiday to Argentina. Flew AA via Santiago to Mendoza. (used Admirals Club pass in Miami and Santiago and was quite... Just returned from a wonderful holiday to Argentina. Flew AA via Santiago to Mendoza. (used Admirals Club pass in Miami and Santiago and was quite pleased. Great relaxation, drink, showers, and snacks.)

We went to Chacras de Coria (had stayed there in January and loved the location). Stayed at Finca Adalgisa. This property is a small working vineyard. We loved it! We enjoyed tapas and wine in the vineyards each evening.. (included in your price!) (please LL-add this property!) We took their bikes and visited Weinert winery and LaGarde winery. We were fortunate to have private tours. Lovely! We enjoyed lunch at Clos de Chacras. Beautiful wine pairing menu. What a life!!!

We then flew to Bariloche directly from Mendoza and stayed at the LL property "Charming Lodge." The lodge is directly on the lake in Northern Patagonia. We were given the ground floor room (handicap room) We were a little taken back by the room and realized we had no heat (it was about 40 degrees.) The staff worked to fix it. We were told no other rooms were available. We were taken back because other guests had told us they were upgraded! We really enjoyed the property but did have a little bad taste in our mouth. Our included dinner was not as expected. We were told it was fine to eat earlier (7pm). When we arrived for our "special dinner" nothing was ready!! It went downhill from there so we didn't finish eating and left. Maybe we should have been more vocal but that is not our style. We really did love the property so it is mixed that I write this. The woman manager was absolutely amazing. So loving and helpful. Everyone really tried. In the area, we did visit many scenic sites and got around by the local bus. Great place.

We then flew to Buenos Aires. We stayed at the BOBO (an LL property.) OH MY GOODNESS....absolutely amazing and attentive service. The staff was so efficient and helpful. Our room was lovely with a great balcony. Just loved the BOBO experience. We enjoyed the included 5 course wine pairing meal. SUPER amazing. So perfect and so good. We cannot speak more highly of the Bobo. We did not have to ask or beg for service; it was part of the experience. LL-you have a real gem there!!

Argentina was a great experience. The country is going through serious inflation issues that have affected some of the people we met. Costs have increased since our visit in January/February. I still highly recommend a visit. We can't wait to go again!! ]]> bonniejoy03 http://www.luxurylink.com/community/blogs/bonniejoy03/argentina-what-delight-1546/ http://www.luxurylink.com/community/blogs/bonniejoy03/another-wonderful-trip-virgin-gorda-1497/ Wed, 05 Sep 2012 18:14:39 GMT Just returned from a wonderful getaway to Virgin Gorda in the BVIs. The water was perfect. We dodged a few hurricanes. We didn't have one drop of rain. Not many tourists "on island" at this time of the year. We did a day trip to Jost Van Dyke, the infamous Willy T, the Indians and the Caves for snorkeling. We stopped along the way and picked up guests at Scrub Island. Scrub has been a LL property for a little time. It is now owned by Marriott. It is a lovely location with a few beaches, pool, and a few restaurants. I was surprised at the amount of guests there off season but it sounded like many had received packages. (no one from LL though!)

We were quite surprised at the number of travelers through San Juan airport. The place was packed, mid-week and the weekend. I guess a lot more tourists are looking at the Caribbean off season. ]]> bonniejoy03 http://www.luxurylink.com/community/blogs/bonniejoy03/another-wonderful-trip-virgin-gorda-1497/ http://www.luxurylink.com/community/blogs/bonniejoy03/another-wonderful-pup-friendly-getaway-washington-dc-liaison-capitol-hill-1470/ Sun, 15 Jul 2012 16:29:51 GMT WOW. We just returned from the Liaison in DC. We used the LL package that included breakfast, internet, and $50 dining credits daily. The best... WOW. We just returned from the Liaison in DC. We used the LL package that included breakfast, internet, and $50 dining credits daily. The best part was that the property is SO pet friendly!! Pets are permitted in your room (3rd floor is the pet floor.) They are also permitted in the lobby. The lobby had funky chairs and couches where you could enjoy a drink and a light bite. Pets are also permitted at their outdoor restaurant, Art and Soul. We loved the location which was within three blocks of the Capitol building. We were able to meet a lot of pet friendly people in the nearby parks. The Liaison has a rooftop bar and pool; very unique for the DC area. This was a little crowded with families but what a refreshing way to end the day. The hotel is very popular with tourists. We met many people from all over the world. Of course, MacKenzie was a big hit with everyone. (she was the cutest dog staying there this past weekend!)
I would highly recommend the Liaison for a family get away. Also, the property is conveniently located close the the major DC sights. We did take our car to the Arlington Cemetary. We were able to view a great exhibit highlighting women involved in the military. (I was able to read about two of my aunts and their service in World War II.) WOW.

Thanks again LL for offering this property!! ]]> bonniejoy03 http://www.luxurylink.com/community/blogs/bonniejoy03/another-wonderful-pup-friendly-getaway-washington-dc-liaison-capitol-hill-1470/ http://www.luxurylink.com/community/blogs/bonniejoy03/greece-simply-stunning-1450/ Thu, 31 May 2012 11:13:17 GMT We just returned from Greece. What a trip. I haven't been there since the 80's. Because I am part Greek, I cherished going back to my grandparents land.

We had a direct flight from Philadelphia to Athens. In Athens, we had a 5.5 hour layover so headed to the Sofitel on airport grounds. We relaxed by the pool. After the relaxation, we headed to the comfy benches outside the airport.....We fell asleep on the benches and got our first tan! We had an easy flight on Aegean to Rhodes. We stayed for five nights at the Melenos Lindos (an LL property and our winning auction.) This was STUNNING!!! We were in superior suite room 3 overlooking the bay. We loved the room and terrace and hated to leave! We enjoyed the magnificent view. (of course, the wine the provided was also welcome!). Maria, the manager, arranged everything for us. She gave us so many wonderful tips. We had a car for three of the days and drove around the island. It isn't large however, it can be quite tricky with the mountains. We went to Rhodes Town but only spent about an hour because of the tourists and cruise ships. It was crazy compared to our village of Lindos! The southern part of Rhodes is peaceful and so traditional. The Melenos is absolutely perfect; great food, great scenary, and so perfectly located! Thanks LL for showing us this option!

We then flew to Crete on Olympic Air. We rented a car at the airport and drove over the mountains at dusk....very scary!! We stayed at a small guest house, Niriida, about 2km from the Libyan Sea. Niriida has three stand alone houses each with a rooftop viewing deck. Oh my goodness!!! View to the snow covered mountains one way and the Libyan Sea the other. We were so pleased!! We were in a small traditional village where we just sat and ate!! Food was never ending!!! On Crete, we mostly drove the car to small villages and monasteries. It was a pleasure. Our last night was in Heraklion. We stayed at the Galaxy Hotel. It was quite nice and about a 15 minute walk to the sea and the fortress. Heraklion was crazy compared to the peaceful nature of the rest of the trip. We had so many people all over....it felt overwhelming to us. We realized how we appreciated the peaceful nature of the earlier part of the trip.

So, we are home and sad to be out of Greece. Our biggest experience was the food. We ate and ate and ate! Everyone kept giving us more and more. Many hadn't had American tourists in their area. We came home quite fat but happy.......Can't wait to return!!!! ]]> bonniejoy03 http://www.luxurylink.com/community/blogs/bonniejoy03/greece-simply-stunning-1450/ http://www.luxurylink.com/community/blogs/bonniejoy03/inn-perry-cabin-our-3rd-visit-pup-1423/ Thu, 05 Apr 2012 11:08:42 GMT Yes, this was our third visit in four months. We love the property. The Inn is located on the Miles River. The Miles River connects to the... Yes, this was our third visit in four months. We love the property. The Inn is located on the Miles River. The Miles River connects to the Chesapeake Bay. It is a peaceful setting. The grounds are covered in flowering trees and plants. Our room was on the 2nd floor. We were able to have the same room as the last visit. Our pup, MacKenzie, felt right at home. She enjoyed sitting on the deck with us watching the world go by! We enjoyed our "pub" fare each afternoon while MacKenzie napped! The town of St. Michael's is so quaint. They have a winery with wine tastings and also a brewery. Both are pet friendly! This time, we also found "Ava's" which is an Italian restaurant. We were able to sit outside with the pup and enjoy some drinks and a light bite. They put the heat lights on for us (It was about 55 degrees outside!) The Luxury Link package to the Inn really made the property affordable. The package included a $100 food credit and also a daily breakfast! (up to $45). These two incentives really allowed us to enjoy!!! Thanks LL for keeping the Inn on your auction list!!
]]> bonniejoy03 http://www.luxurylink.com/community/blogs/bonniejoy03/inn-perry-cabin-our-3rd-visit-pup-1423/ http://www.luxurylink.com/community/blogs/bonniejoy03/argentina-delight-1384/ Tue, 07 Feb 2012 20:36:59 GMT Just back from a lovely trip to Argentina. Enjoyed the first four nights in Chacras de Coria, a suburb of Mendoza. We stayed at a small lodge... Just back from a lovely trip to Argentina. Enjoyed the first four nights in Chacras de Coria, a suburb of Mendoza. We stayed at a small lodge called Lares de Coria. (10 rooms.) We spent two of the days touring the vineyards by bike. First day was easy and we stayed more in the Chacras area visiting Clos de Chacras, Patti Carmelo (lovely place and gentleman), and the lovely Altavista. The second day we arranged a private driver to tour the Uco Valley Area. . My favorite was Andeluna. We had a short tour followed by a gourmet lunch prepared for us as we watched. We had three chefs prepare the most amazing lunch. We also visited Nieto Sentiner, and Pulenta Estate. WOW. We were actually becoming wine experts. The third day was tricky. We actually took the bikes on the highways to visit some more out of the way places. With no helmets, I didn't feel as comfortable. (of course, the wine did help.) We had one bike with a baby seat to carry our purchases. We loved riding through the countryside. We were able to enjoy the small town feel of Chacras and meet some fellow travelers from all over the world. We then headed to Buenos Aires. We rented an apartment at The Poetry Building. WOW! Fourth floor studio with all the special extras. Lovely pool on the fourth to cool off after a day of touring. We used the "Free BA" tours and were thrilled with their knowledge and insight. We did two of the tours. We also explored on our own by subway. EASY and inexpensive. Actually, for some reason, we were allowed to ride free on Saturday! We ate at local neighbor restaurants and parillas. The only touristy places we ate were Cafe Tortoni (for their "submarines and cerveza.) and Don Julio in Palermo neighborhood. We Just had so much fun!!! Looking forward to our next trip back! ]]> bonniejoy03 http://www.luxurylink.com/community/blogs/bonniejoy03/argentina-delight-1384/ http://www.luxurylink.com/community/blogs/bonniejoy03/inn-perry-cabin-maryland-great-location-pet-friendly-1353/ Thu, 24 Nov 2011 11:09:39 GMT Just returned from the Inn at Perry Cabin. This is an Orient Express Hotel located on the Chesapeake Bay region of Maryland. We chose the property... Just returned from the Inn at Perry Cabin. This is an Orient Express Hotel located on the Chesapeake Bay region of Maryland. We chose the property mainly because it is pet-friendly. We used an LL package that included a food credit and spacious room. The planning process for the trip was spot on. I worked with the room Manager, David Merryman. He understood our needs; quiet location, first floor location, and terrace. He chose a room for us. WOW!! Beautiful location on the river. Every staff member was so professional and accommodating. We were treated like royalty! We enjoyed all our meals at the pub on the premises. Again, fantastic service and great seafood. We were able to enjoy the quaint town of St. Michael's. The Inn provides bicycles or complimentary transfers to town. The town is extremely pet friendly. Kenzie, our Scottie, was even able to enjoy the Eastern Shore brewery with us in town! We enjoyed flights of beer with her and other pup families!! We had minor difficulties with noise one evening and the staff went out of their way to accommodate us and assure it would not happen again. The problem was upsetting HOWEVER, they way in which it was handled was extremely positive. We were very impressed. We were so impressed that we are booking our next trip back there in December.....Thank you LL for offering this great package!! ]]> bonniejoy03 http://www.luxurylink.com/community/blogs/bonniejoy03/inn-perry-cabin-maryland-great-location-pet-friendly-1353/ http://www.luxurylink.com/community/blogs/bonniejoy03/pier-5-hotel-family-getaway-package-pet-friendly-1341/ Sun, 18 Sep 2011 14:49:43 GMT This was our 4th visit to Pier 5. The hotel is located at the Inner Harbor in Baltimore Maryland. What a great time!! The hotel is on Pier #5... This was our 4th visit to Pier 5. The hotel is located at the Inner Harbor in Baltimore Maryland. What a great time!! The hotel is on Pier #5 which is right next to the Baltimore Aquarium on one side and the Pier Pavilion for concerts on the other side. I believe there are about 66 rooms. The property had two other pups staying. We didn't hear one "bark" from either of them. Our MacKenzie did let out one bark when she entered the property.....she wanted to make sure everyone knew that she was on vacation!!! We took the hotel's free shuttle to their sister property at Fell's Point, the Admiral Fells Inn. They host a reception on Saturday afternoon and then a ghost tour....great fun! The staff at the Pier 5 always remember us. They surprised me on this trip with some amazing goodies for my "birthday" celebration. (Our trip was actually supposed to happen on 8/28, my birthday, but a nasty hurricane caused us to reschedule. Dena at LL helped rearrange the dates and Empress and Jill at Pier 5 remembered my birthday with some nice surprises!) I would highly recommend this property (and their sister property-Admiral Fells and their newest addition-Henderson's Wharf) Great team of Jill and Empress at Pier 5 and all their supporting staff.....What a great "birthday!" ]]> bonniejoy03 http://www.luxurylink.com/community/blogs/bonniejoy03/pier-5-hotel-family-getaway-package-pet-friendly-1341/ http://www.luxurylink.com/community/blogs/bonniejoy03/awasi-lodge-atacama-desert-chile-1325/ Sun, 03 Apr 2011 22:35:05 GMT WOW....that is a summary of our visit to Awasi...WOW! We were picked up at the airport by our guide, Gonzalo. His background was impressive and his... WOW....that is a summary of our visit to Awasi...WOW! We were picked up at the airport by our guide, Gonzalo. His background was impressive and his knowledge of the area superior to none. Upon arrival to Awasi, Gonzalo mapped out our next 5 days and organized our trips. Every detail was taken care of by Gonzalo and the staff. We never had to worry, think, plan, etc. What a relief after our past few months at home and dealing with family issues. Gonzalo took us to all the major sights of the desert. He comforted me with my fear of altitude sickness. With his encouragement, I participated in activities I never would have dreamed of doing. I avoided altitude medicine completely! I loved the trip! We hiked the Valley of the Moon, swam in salt ponds, walked ON geyser fields, stargazed (with Jorge) at night identifying stars and constellations that I only read about. Only a small group of people stay at Awasi at any time. There are only 8 casitas which limits the amount of guests. The food was lovely; traditional foods with modern twists. My husband and I were touched by this experience and really can't find all the words to completely describe the scenery, accommodations, food, guides, staff, and overall effects of this magical lodge. ]]> bonniejoy03 http://www.luxurylink.com/community/blogs/bonniejoy03/awasi-lodge-atacama-desert-chile-1325/ http://www.luxurylink.com/community/blogs/bonniejoy03/beautiful-guatemala-1016/ Sun, 28 Feb 2010 21:14:38 GMT Just returned from our fourth visit to Guatemala. Great flights on Delta. Used Elizabeth Bell's services for transfers and our hotel in Antigua. Stayed at Hotel Cissus in Antigua and just LOVED IT!!! Great quiet location. We stayed in Std Suite 2 on the 2nd floor. Lovely room with two terraces; one to take breakfast and one to enjoy the views of the volcanoes. Eat at Las Palmas and enjoyed bebidas at Sky Bar (great location on the 2nd floor with magnificant views....get there early...the place books up quickly!!) On to a new LL property; Laguna Eco Lodge. Really enjoyed the location on Lake Atitlan. We had the least expensive room on the ground level. Beautiful views on the lake and quiet location. We enjoyed walking in to Santa Cruz to Arca de Noe, a lovely restaurant and inn owned by a lovey couple; Anne and Wolfgang. She loves to cook so would have amazing meals and desserts. Thank you!!! We also loved Isla Verde for food and Perdida Iguana. Great atmosphere. Planned some activies with Lee Beal from Kayak Guatemala...great guy from the States. Has a pontoon boat to do tours. We went hiking one day and enjoyed lunch at the relatively new "Club Ven Aca". Great food, swimming pool, and lake views. We visited every little town and received wonderful directions from Anne as to finding the least developed location. Lee took us and another LL couple on his pontoon for a tour of the entire lake on the pontoon and then visiting San Juan and having lunch at a lovely local place....Great job LEE!!!!!! He is the man to work with on the lake.



On to the best place and best manager....Casa Palopo and Jennifer!!! Room 6 this time which I thought would not be as nice as the junior suite (room 3) we had last year...WRONG!! Just lovely view of the lake and great room...Absolutely amazing service by the staff...so amazing and relaxed. Loved the food!!! Jennifer coordinated several of our outings and we couldn't go wrong. Her suggestions and knowledge of the area is incredible!



If anyone is looking for a more remote get away, with beautiful scenary, great food, peace and quiet!!, Lake Atitlan and Casa Palopo is the place to go.

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View from Room 6 (ps-one taken from one terrace and one taken from the other terrace for the room....lots of outdoor living space!) ]]> bonniejoy03 http://www.luxurylink.com/community/blogs/bonniejoy03/beautiful-guatemala-1016/ http://www.luxurylink.com/community/blogs/bonniejoy03/chile-cliffs-preserve-patagonia-1012/ Sun, 06 Dec 2009 15:46:13 GMT We returned back from an amazing trip to Chile two weeks ago. What an adventure! We stayed in Santiago for one night at the Radisson Santiago Plaza.... We returned back from an amazing trip to Chile two weeks ago. What an adventure! We stayed in Santiago for one night at the Radisson Santiago Plaza. We navigated the metro and visited Bellavista Neighborhood, San Cristobal Hill (funicular ride) and the Plaza de Armas. The city is very easily accessable by metro and the price is so inexpensive. We found every Chillean eager to help us navigate the system. Even though English was rarely spoken, our broken spanish worked quite well. We then flew to Puerto Montt and stayed in Puerto Varas on the Lake at the Hotel Bellavista. Puerto Varas is a quaint town that reminds you of a "German/Austrian village" Many of the original inhabitants were from that region. We ate at "Donde el Gordito" which was recently featured on Anthony Bourdain's visit to Chile for the Travel Channel. Absolutely amazing place with great seafood. I had a plate full of salmon. Yes it was the size of my plate. My husband had the conger eel which tastes and looks like a white fish. Super and found all over Chile. Great drinks at a place called "Dublin" across the street from the lake. Nice visit to a very safe, clean, and interesting town.



Now..for "the" trip!! Roberto and Francisco picked us up in "the buffalo" from the Cliffs Preserve Patagonia. Wonderful and knowledgeable! We drove to the lodge which was about 2 hours from Puerto Varas. I can't even begin to describe our view of the lodge when we arrived!! It sits right on the Pacific Ocean with great waves, rocks, etc making for a beautiful scene. Our junior suite was building one. (there are 6 villas.) Each villa is very spaced from the rest. The lodge itself has a spa, workout room, restaurant, and kitchen. We were staying a week so enjoyed our activities. One day Roberto took us to a school about an hour away. We visited each classroom. The children were lovely. We even met the administration. One of our most special days was our visit with two others to Chiloe Island. Yes....it was a look day but so rewarding. We actually took two ferries to arrive to the island and then a few hour drive to the penguin preserve. Here, we departed from the beach into the ocean on small boats (there were 8 of us.) to see the penguins, otters, and sea lions living naturally. We saw the Magellian and Humboldt varieties and received an excellent lesson about them from a German girl who was part of the program to protect the region. What a magnificant day! This was all included from the lodge. Another day was spent trout fishing in the river and having a picnic lunch in a pasture. Each day, there were various hikes to explore the region. ANother highlight was being able to "cook" in the kitchen with John and Byron (the chefs). My hubby participated in preparing our evening meal. Another night we had an anniversary cake prepared for us!!



I can't even begin to go on about the lodge, facilities, adventures, and especially the people. The staff all want to please and want to give the best possible service. Yes, we did have some hiccups but it is the way that they were handled that makes those "hiccups" disappear. Drake, the manager had a heart of gold to really make sure everything was to the upmost standard. Alex, waiter, facilitor, and absolute gentleman, ensured that drinks were always available and helped us learn more of the customs of Chile and the region. His english was so perfect and he really enjoyed what he was doing. He would amaze us each day with discussions on music, history, foods, etc....I cannot thank the property properly for all they did to ensure an absolute trip of a lifetime. I was trying to make this as brief as possible but the experience warrants a book! I hope Luxury Link continues to include this property in their offerings!!! ]]> bonniejoy03 http://www.luxurylink.com/community/blogs/bonniejoy03/chile-cliffs-preserve-patagonia-1012/ http://www.luxurylink.com/community/blogs/bonniejoy03/different-guatemala-1005/ Sun, 08 Mar 2009 14:40:26 GMT Just returned from a fantastic trip to Guatemala. This was our third trip to Guatemala and it keeps getting better. We arranged our land... Just returned from a fantastic trip to Guatemala. This was our third trip to Guatemala and it keeps getting better. We arranged our land transportation with Elizabeth Bell's company, Antigua Tours. Elizabeth is fantastic and offers great trips in the Guatemala area. All of her drivers are prompt, efficient, and truly excited about their country. Our first stop was to Montericco; a beach town on the Pacific. It is not a tourist destination...yet. We were told that it is mainly visited by Guatemalans on the weekends. Our stay from Sunday to Tuesday was sooo peaceful. We stayed at Dos Mundos. Dos Mundos has 14 stand alone bungalows on the beach...lovely. It is Italian owned. We could walk into town (about 1 km) and enjoy small restaurants. Montericco is known for its turtle rescue efforts. We were able to also go out on the estuary with a local man on his boat. Great and inexpensive day trip to see the birds and learn more about Mayan culture, etc. The weather was absolutely perfect. The beach is black sand so by mid-day it is hot!! The waves are also HUGE. Not a great swimming beach but Dos Mundos has a pool on the beach.



Our next destination was a 5 hour drive to beautiful Lake Atitlan. The drive was truly beautiful but a lot of traffic and road constuction. We stayed at the magnificent Casa Palopo on Lake Atitlan. This property is a 7 room villa in the village of Santa Catarina. We had won this property on a LL auction. Our room, a junior suite, had a beautiful terrace looking out the lake. The room was almost like an indoor/outdoor living area. The wall was actually a glass sliding door that we mainly kept open. At night, we could sit outside with all the candles lit (they had a hanging candle holder) and watch the stars and fireflies!! BEAUTIFUL. Mario, the chef, was wonderful and could whip up anything you liked. We were fortunate to follow a fellow LL traveller, Omeget to the property. He had set us up with wonderful ideas. (see his post on Guatemala.) We did use Carlos for his services to the Markets and for a lake tour. All perfect! The only intersting thing to note is that for the first time in my life.....I WAS PICKPOCKETED!!!! Well, to be honest, I couldn't really be bummed. Mario's great cooking had left me feeling so big and my pants felt so tight. I still can't believe someone could have stolen $33 from my pants pocket!!! Crazy...I just had to laugh AND LEARN MY LESSON!!!! Oh well, someone needed it more than me.



Our last dayour driver took us to Antigua. We had lunch at a friend's restaurant, La Calle Del Fonda. This is our favorite Guatemalan restauant in Antigua. After lunch we headed back to Guatemala City and stayed at the Westin. Nice property but very commercial and PACKED (weddings, tourists, etc.) We enjoyed dinner at Fridas (there is also a Fridas in Antigua) and then went pub hopping (it was Valentine's Day) to some nice small properties.



This trip was fantastic. Tourism is slowing growing. It is so lovely to visit a country as beautiful as Guatemala!!! ]]> bonniejoy03 http://www.luxurylink.com/community/blogs/bonniejoy03/different-guatemala-1005/ http://www.luxurylink.com/community/blogs/bonniejoy03/washington-dc-pup-997/ Sun, 08 Jun 2008 17:27:51 GMT Just returned from an overnight getaway to Washington DC. This was my husband's 50th birthday. He didn't want a party, hoopla, or any type of crowd activity. His idea was for the three of us (him, me, and our Scottish Terrier, Bonnie Joy), to get away. I did research on properties within a few hours of our home and found the Fairmont Washington DC would accomodate us.



Well...who knew we would be arriving in DC during a major heatwave!(Close to 100 on Saturday and due to be over 100 on Sunday.) We checked in around noon. Our room was lovely; 10th floor at the end of the hall. We were given a pup door hanger (pup sleeping or pup touring the city on the notice!), and a pup bowl (so cute!). We were starving so went to lunch OUTSIDE at their courtyard restaurant, Juniper. No guests outside during the heatwave so Bonnie Joy was able to hang out with us. The staff was extremely accommodating and supplied her with water and company. We enjoyed a great lunch of crabcake and rockfish...YUM YUM! Now, after lunch we took a hike to Georgetown to the Harbour. Beautiful view and cute restaurants but toooo hot for hanging out with pup....back to the Fairmont.



The Fairmont dropped off a 50th birthday gift for my husband of beer and chocolate truffles and white chocolate in the shape of the Washington Monument...what a treat!



For dinner, we did take out from a Thai restaurant around the block. The Thai Kitchen is quick with great food. Our concierge had recommended it. Too hot to eat outside. We did walk around the Georgetown area and the parks. What a beautiful city. In the early evening, we took the Capitol Cruise Lines (they permit pets) for a 50 minute boat ride on the Potomoc. Great scenary and really feeling like we were sightseeing! The boat ride provided some semi-cool breezes.



Sunday morning was a beautiful morning for a walk with the pup. The city feels so safe and seems so clean. Other joggers and pet owners were enjoying the early morning hours also. Another lovely breakfast at the hotel courtyard. Fresh fruit and French pastries (plus of course other selections!) Pup was looking forward to any leftovers but instead had to settle for her kibble and a little bit of cantelope. We took an early drive to the White House to see if Barney and Miss Beazley (Bush) were home. No tour groups, crowds, etc. We asked one guard if the presidential pups were around. No luck...we were told they were in Texas for the weekend. So, another nice drive around the monuments before the tours and people arrived. What a great getaway and great that Bonnie Joy could enjoy it with us!



PS- Photo of Bonnie Joy waiting for someone with to play on the White House Lawn!!



]]> bonniejoy03 http://www.luxurylink.com/community/blogs/bonniejoy03/washington-dc-pup-997/