Travelling Divas' Blog

Amazing Bali Holiday - 'Body, Mind & Spirit Retreat' - May 2010

If you're looking for a holiday that will rest the mind, heal the spirit and revive the body then this is the one for you. 

Fully escorted by me, so you don't have to worry about the details whilst you are away, you will indulge in 8 nights and 9 days of pampering, rejuvenation, eat in fabulous restaurants (and a few secrets I have up my sleeve!), new friends, fitness with some group training sessions when we are in our private villa near Seminyak, a little shopping and loads of fun!.  We have combined 5* luxury accommodation at Royal Pita Maha in Ubud, with a private 5 bedroom Villa Alir near Seminyak, and if that's not enough, you will get to meet some fabulous like-minded women who are searching for some serious 'me' time.

So click on 'Body, Mind & Spirit' Retreat to get away from the every day (what about taking Mum for Mother's Day?)

Great Travel Tips from my Diva European Holiday - November 2009

Italy (week 2)

Where to start.  I can only tell you how much I love what I do.  Here I am in Italy researching the amazing 'Do It Like Audrey Hepburn' Experience that will be happening in September 2010 ( confirmed for 09 September).

Firstly SO and I spent two nights at a beautiful Agriturismo B&B near Montepulciano, where not only did I eat my way through as much incredible Italian food as possible in the first two days, I think I slept about 12 hours a night.  The air was so clean and the area so peaceful that it just knocked me out!  The property we stayed at is run by a published American author, who has 15 cook books in circulation, all focused on Italian cuisine, and it is my intention that we will spend 3 nights here if I can work it at the end of the Vespa experience, to indulge in alot of rest and relaxation, as well as a little culinary activity.

After that it was onto Florence, where we stayed at the Orto de' Medici, a great little hotel on via S. Gallo, just out of the frenetic centre, but close enough to everything that the position was perfect.  Diva Tina Sparkles joined us fresh from New York City (where three Divas had been eagerly boosting the US economy AND checking out hotels and activities for our 'Live like a Native New Yorker' experiences for 2010) and we shopped, ate and generally had ball researching for all of you Divas who will join us here in September. 

We discovered this fun bar called The Club House at via De' Ginori 6R. It has three sections - a bar, a restaurant which includes a communal dining table and then the take away pizzeria.  The staff were great, the Bellinis large and the food was wonderful.  And I have to say the prices were great value for money.

The shopping was excellent and have invested in some rock star boots from a great little department store called Coin, and then topped up the lingerie at another little chain store called Intimissimo, which again offers beautiful lingerie at affordable prices, and there are quite a number of boutiques throughout Florence..  I think that when anything gets sold in Australia with the label 'Made in Italy' on it, it seems to be an excuse to pump the price up exponentially, so when I get the opportunity to shop here it is very worthwhile.

SO, Tina Sparkles and I also went into the countryside with the gorgeous Claire, one of the guides for the vespa company I am creating 'Do It like Audrey Hepburn' with, to checkout proposed accommodation and restaurants and I can assure you that everything was absolutely sensational. Claire really knows her stuff, and the restaurants and hotel we saw met the criteria we set for a Divas experience.  We also saw the vespas and they are sexy red, and quite beautiful.  Perfect for that 'Audrey Hepburn' photo opportunity (don't forget to pack the scarves as you will get helmet head!)

So now we are all in Siena and have decided to stay at a B&B to run the gamut of accommodation types.  SO and Tina Sparkles have disappeared to Montereggio to leave me in peace so I can write my blog.

If you are looking for something a little more cost effective (around 45 euros for a single and 65 euros for a twin) then this might be for you.  The position is great - just outside the ancient town by Porta Camollia, B&B Camollia is central to the historical centre, shopping, food etc., however it is noisy so you need to be aware of that.  I would suggest that if you are staying in Siena and you don't like road noise, then inside the main town would be a bit quieter.

We have been to some great little restaurants, but they have no websites so I will try to get the addresses and write them down.  I am off to meet with SO and Tina Sparkles now to try some more vino rosso on your behalf.

Ciao for now and talk tomorrow.

London (week 1)

Well here I am in my favourite capital city on earth - the amazing London!

I know many disagree with me, but there is a timeless beauty and elegance in this city that I am yet to find in others.  Oh, Prague is more beautiful in its romanticism, but it doesn't have the black cabs or double-decker buses that are so wonderfully familiar and comforting.  And many would say Rome or Paris are far more beautiful, but for some indefinable reason this city holds a place in my heart that no other does.

It is freezing cold and wonderfully sunny; over the weekend we have beaten the English in the rugby (and as Significant Other (SO) is with me he is very, very happy) and yesterday I had lunch at Bluebird Restaurant on the Kings Road in Chelsea, with some of our closest friends - a fabulous place that is withstanding the test of time.  The food, service and price were all great.  A fallout of the GFC is not only is our rate of exchange the best it has been in years, there are a number of specials on at good restaurants meaning that London is no longer quite as expensive as it was 12 months ago.

On Friday I also was taken for a look at a great hotel in London called '41'.  Owned by Red Carnation Hotels, this is an exceptional property and one I would highly recommend to those of you who want luxury and a very private club feel to where you are staying.  It's position is also perfect.  Opposite Buckingham Palace Mews, it is secluded and exclusive, and sits atop another really great hotel, Rubens Hotel, a lovely 4* property owned by the same group.  I can highly recommend the Leopard Champagne Bar, only opened this year.

On Monday, I also spent the day checking out hotels for my Travelling Divas.  The Chesterfield in Mayfair, the Milestone in Kensington and the Egerton House Hotel in Knightsbridge (very handy to Harrods, Harvey Nichs and Sloane Street) all receive a massive tick of approval.  It is worth your while spending a little more in London as hotel rooms are small, and location is everything.  These hotels all meet my extremely exacting criteria.  They feel like someone's lovely English country home, and the level of staff to client ratio is exceptional.

I also went and checked out The Halkin in Belgravia and the Metropolitan Hotel in Old Park Lane.  These two hotels offer a totally different experience that the hotels above.  They are a more contemporary, minimalist option, however, that does not mean they are not hotels of the highest standard because they are.  Exuding elegance and style, the Halkin is a discreet and quiet, whilst offering accommodation and a dining experience of the highest standard.  Nahm, is the only Michelin-starred Thai restaurant in Britain, and indeed only one of two in the world. 

The Metroplitan on the other hand, is very hip with it's own gym and spa in the basement, one of the two Nobu restaurants in London (and the only one michelin-starred also) and the famous 'Met Bar'.  So if you prefer something more contemporary then either of these two hotels are for you.

Thursday we are off to Tuscany to check out the details of next years 'Do It Like Audrey Hepburn' Vespa tour of Tuscany.  Talk to you then!

Inside Coffee Tip for Brisbanites and Visitors!

Check out the best coffee around on the Southside at Dudley Street Cafe, Annerley, on the Corner of Dudley Street and Ipswich Road.  The coffee is consistently sublime (as is the old style basil, mozarella and tomato toastie) and the guys who run it are great!

Great Travel Tips from my New York Diva holiday - September 2009

Day 1

I have just spent my first day in New York in 10 years, and I have to say I am feeling totally revitalised.  I had forgotten how energised this city makes you feel, even when you are suffering from the worst jetlag.

My Significant Other (SO) is here on business, and seeing as how it is my duty to explore this world and pass on the best of it to all Travelling Divas, I have tagged along to check out the latest and greatest in this fabulous city.

SO and I are staying at the Alex Hotel in Midtown East on East 45th between Second and Third, and it is a great property.  Rooms are large and there is plenty of space to spread out, which is a bit of a luxury, and the staff are great.  This hotel is good value for money.  Check it out at Leading Hotels of the World.

But best of all, down the street is a little market called the Amish Market which not only has great food but has good coffee! This is a bit of a find, because getting a good coffee in the USA is a bit hit and miss so we are very excited. 

Following my burning need to hunt squirrels out in Central Park, we went to the Oyster Bar and Restaurant in Grand Central Station for lunch.  It is a bit of an institution and one that I highly recommend.  Not only were the oysters and lobsters (so much sweeter than ours) sublime, Grand Central is such a beautiful building that it is worth a visit in its own right.  Following a jetlag nap, we also hit paydirt for dinner, with Sparks Steakhouse at 210 East 46th Street.  It's been around for about 50 years and used to be an old mob hangout.  We tried to spot a few Godfathers, but frankly the steak was out of this world and in the end the food was so good that it was impossible to focus on anything else.  It is a little pricey but it was worth it.

That's it for now talk to you in the morning!

Day 2

Today was such a great day.  After a massive sleep-in and a sensational coffee from the wonderful Amish Market, I dragged SO off to the Lower East Side to check out a hotel that some of my fabulous Divas will be staying in this November.  Called Hotel-on-Rivington, it is funky and hip, within walking distance to Soho, Little Italy and the Chinatown districts just to name a few.  Rooms are light and airy, and the space in the lounge downstairs is great for a bit of paper reading or a relax before hitting the pavements all day.  One of the best things is that unlike most boutique hotels, this one includes continental breakfast in the room rate.  And the rate is also good value in a city of high priced hotels.  Even better, whilst I was toiling away doing hotel inspections SO found another coffee haunt that received a tick of approval at a little cafe and wine bar on Rivington Street just near Ludlow, called Bruschettaria.  Good coffee and good service.

After a session in the gym, SO suggested a visit to the Metropolitan Museum might be a nice idea.  I ceased the opportunity to walk him 33 blocks up Madison Avenue past the elegant mansions of yesteryear that now house fabulous labels and even more fabulous shop assistants, and up the side-streets of beautiful brownstones that house some of the city's wealthiest.  It is here that you find the Museum Mile of Fifth Avenue.  Opposite 79th Street East, and flanked by Central Park, is the extraordinarily beautiful Met building, home to an amazing collection of art, spanning ancient cultures including Rome, Greece, Egypt and the Byzantine Empire to more recent American collections. I could have spent hours, however, knowing I had limited time before SO's eyes started rolling due to an overdose of culture, I immediately made my way to the 2nd floor and the beauty of European Masters and Impressionists. After gorging myself on paintings and sculptures by such artists as Monet, Gaugin, Matisse, Van Gogh, Degas and Rodin just to name a few, it was time to leave and hike back to our hotel.  This really is a place that needs to be visited at least once in your life and is an absolute must-see when you come to New York.

Dinner topped a perfect day at an exceptional Vietnamese restaurant in the beautiful district of Chelsea.  O Mai is on Ninth Avenue between West 19th and 20th Street.  The restaurant is only tiny, but the ambience is great and the food even better.  The menu and wine list are not huge but the food and wine are exceptional.  Even better was the price - 2 courses and a bottle of wine for just over $100 including tip.

Time to sleep.  Chat tomorrow.

Day 3

Low key day today.  I left SO at the hotel and wandered up Fifth Avenue for some retail therapy.  Abercrombie & Fitch was worth a visit, but was hideously crowded.  However, the price and the quality shouldn't be missed - not to mention the fact there is not one unattractive shop assistant in the whole place! Otherwise, it was a quick trip into GAP and that was the end of it.  Again great prices and good service.  When are we going to get them in OZ?

But the highlight was definitely a visit to McSorley's Old Ale House, meant to be the oldest pub in New York.  I don't know about that, but if it's down-to-earth fun and local flavour you're after this is it.  Not only that, but you get 2 beers for the price of 1, which in this town is great value.  Of course, that is the catch:  there are two types of beer - light and dark, and that's all there is on offer.  We had a great time talking to several locals who were generous with their time and their beer!  Situated at East 7th St between 2nd and 3rd, it really is worth a visit.

We then headed over to The Spotted Pig Gastro Pub in the West Village.  It was really going off and had come highly recommended both by the Mr & Mrs Smith website and Lonely Planet.  We had high expectations, and certainly the crowd that was there led us to believe it would be dynamite.  Sophisticated, a mix of locals and Brits, but we didn't rate it that highly.  Food was nice but for the price I felt that it didn't really deserve the rave it received.  Also the service was a bit hit and miss - again we expected more.

Day 4

We walked for kilometres today.  But the weather was great and it really is the best way to get around and see everything. Having coerced SO with the promise of a really good lunch and permission to watch the sports channel when we got back to our hotel, he agreed to shopping and an in-depth investigation of Meatpacking District, Soho and anything in between.  Oh my - it is fabulous. Converted warehouses filled with designer boutiques; cobbled streets and restaurants to die for I could have spent all day in the Meatpacking District alone.  Lunch was a joy at The Spice Market which we stumbled onto quite by accident.  Food was exceptional, (the shaved tuna, chilli tapioca, Asian pear and lime was truly one of the best dishes I have ever eaten) the price was good and the service was not too bad. 

It was then into retail heaven where I dropped some cash on a great pair of jeans at Zadig & Voltaire, a favourite French label; spied the Scud shopping in another boutique and salivated endlessly over the fabulous shops that greeted me at every turn.  This place is high end but worth a treat if you can.

SO started to sweat as I headed towards another boutique, so I took pity on him and we walked through Greenwich and the West Village to Soho.  So lovely and full of great bars, pubs and restaurant. This is where I will be staying next time I hit the Big Apple (maybe have to be combined with a stay at the Gramercy Park Hotel - totally lush!)

Soho is a shopper's delight, and if you like people watching, this is one of the great areas to do it in.  Full of the fabled NY Fashionistas don't be offended if they look at you like an alien if you don't quite live up to their fashion requirements.  If you want to shop for your man I can highly recommend John Varvatos on Spring Street.  Helpful, hip and on trend no matter what age you're shopping for. Again the whole area was sensory overload - but oh so much fun!

Tonight we morphed in Big and Carrie and headed to The Boathouse Restaurant in Central Park for dinner.  Beautiful, romantic and again worth it.  We floated out of there full of divine food and feeling the love for NY and each other!  An iconic treat not to be missed.  Make sure you book for dinner.  Brunch on weekends is a turn-up-and-hope-for-a-table affair, but if you don't mind queuing I think it would be worth it, particularly in the warmer months.

All in all another fabulous day.  Night, night.

Day 5

You're going to get sick of me saying it, but another day that has been fabulous! 

There is much excitement in the city as Kevin Rudd and many self-serving 'leaders of the Western World' have turned up in NY for a pre-meeting on climate change. The United Nations building is at the end of our street so there are lots of people running around in uniform with little ear pieces, microphones and dark glasses.  I feel like we are in an episode of 24! 

SO and I escaped to Fifth Avenue following a brisk walk and a detour (and the discovery of Modells Sport Store on the corner of Vanderbilt and E 42nd Street where I picked up my Asics for USD59 instead of $180!).  Following lunch of a pretzel from a streetside vendor, I finally made it to the shoe floor of Saks.  Oh My God.....a whole floor of shoes that has its own express elevator to take you to the top. A shoe floor that has its own zip code for crying out loud!  It was incredible and should be listed as a must see destination for all women who travel to NY.  I bought a fabulous pair of Dolce & Gabbana new season pumps that are to die for, and make me feel incredibly gorgeous (and tall).  According to the rather interesting shop assistant my feet look very sexy due to my toe cleavage - SO found this incredibly amusing and now won't stop staring at my feet!

Dinner tonight was at Craft and again we managed to find an incredible meal.  It's all about sharing your food just like and Asian restaurant, but using contemporary food instead.  And it was fantastic.  The wine list was very diverse as well, and we indulged in a Pinot Noir from Oregon that definitely gives NZ Pinot's a run for their money.  Another pricey meal, where the service was a little hit and miss, but at the end of the day, we were well fed with interesting, locally sourced produce that made us feel the love for this great city yet again.

Tomorrow is my last day unfortunately, but now it's off to bed for a good night's sleep before 23 hours of Qantas economy!

Day 6

This morning has been very educational.  I have had the privilege of going onto the floor of the New York Stock Exchange.  So sad that now you have to go through an amazing amount of security to get in; there are armed police and big metal road blocks on the way in to Wall Street, that have appeared since 9/11.  Hilary Clinton rang the bell to start the day's trading and I managed to catch a glimpse of her head over the top of her secret service men as she slid into her limo.  The building is beautiful inside, the architecture has been maintained even as technology has taken over and replaced many of the people that used to work the floor.  TV channel's reign supreme (interesting to note that most people working the floor are male, and nearly all the TV presenters are women) and take up alot of floor space all waiting for the next disaster in the economy so they have a story to tell.  It was great to actually hear from our tour guide that if there is no story that is bad news - yes you guessed it, they put up a headline to make us think there is!

But now I am sitting in LA airport after a non-eventful flight on American Airlines out of JFK, getting ready to board my flight.  SO is still in NY doing business, but it is time for me to go.  It feels right, and tomorrow I will be back in the land of OZ, rocking Brisvegas and designing the 'Invest in Yourself' experience to NY in 2010. 

By the way, Qantas were great in both directions.  A pleasant surprise and excellent value for money!

Hope you can join me.  It will be fab!

Cheers!

Andrea