Extravigator - Destinations

Summer Road Trip through New England

grouse — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 09:56:49 -0400

One of the most critically acclaimed restaurants in Maine is Arrows Restaurant in Ogunquit.

Just this past March, head chefs Clark Frasier and Mark Gaier were both nominated by the James Beard Foundation as Best Chefs of the Northeast. And Gourmet magazine ranked it #14 in their list of the 50 best restaurants in the United States.

We had the opportunity to dine there earlier in the summer and it was exquisite. The first thing you'll notice is that they have enormous herb and vegetable garden. Arrive a little early to take a walk through the garden if you can. It's impressive. I can't recommend it enough if you're in the mood for a truly memorable experience. Needless to say, you've probably never tasted ingredients this fresh anywhere else.

Here are some of our photos from the restaurant. My appetizer was a proscuitto and mellon, and my entrée was a duck prepared 4 different ways. The small soup in the upper-left corner of the photo was two of the ways — a duck egg in a dark and flavorful duck broth.

Canadian Atlantic Provinces

ffrye1 — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 15:26:53 -0400

We are planning a trip to the Atlantic Provinces in September and welcome suggestions on places to stay, dine and visit. We have 7 to 9 days starting from Portland, Maine, and have Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and possibly Cape Breton in mind.

Suggestions for a Honeymoon?

Nanoose — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 18:50:59 -0400

Travelista, yes that was a rude comment. Basically, if you think someone's post isn't up to snuff, you probably should just ignore it because someone else may get ideas from it. St. Lucia's is lovely. The "honeymooner" who posted originally was open to all suggestions. It's good that you said sorry but consider self editing because critiquing other's posts of not worthy enough to be on Extravigator is very ungracious.

Suggestions for a Honeymoon?

travelista — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 14:36:34 -0400

I completely agree and I'm sorry if I offended anyone. Though I'm not sure it has anything to with who has a more extravagant lifestyle. Believe me, some of the most romantic honeymoons in the world can be had for under $50 a day if you are creative with your plans.

Let me just say that suggesting that someone would be better off using TripAdvisor was not meant to be an insult. TripAdvisor is the world's largest social network for travel. It's incredibly useful, and I check it all the time — as do millions of other travelers. But, suggesting Sandals (which is "full of honeymooners") to someone who is looking into the Seychelles or the Maldives — which is known for its unique and very private properties — isn't very helpful in my book. It has nothing to do with money. It's more about the creativity of the plans than anything else.

Once again, I'm sorry if I offended anyone. But, I don't believe I ever brought the issue of money into this conversation. If I was just plane rude, then I'm sorry.

Suggestions for a Honeymoon?

MMMT — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 13:24:52 -0400

I am very disappointed at some of the rude comments being passed along on this blog. While I quite agree that the point of this site is for discerning travelers to share insights, it would seem that those who are of a more extravigant lifestyle would be able to treat one another at a minimum, with some civility, and not insults.

That being said, I did several months of research before embarking on my honeymoon (in 2005) and the best advice I can give is that the stress and rigors of a wedding can be overwhelming for any couple, and at least a portion of the honeymoon should be set aside to reconnect with eachother, enjoy one another and just relax. While I chose to be a beach bum for two solid weeks, that length of relaxation may not be for everyone. But if you load your trip with lots of sights and events and pre-planned obligations, you may be just extending the hectic pace of your wedding into a hectic trip thereafter.

My husband and I, now thoroughly enjoying our toddler, look back on our honeymoon as a rare opportunity ... one we would love to recreate somed day. Use your opportunity wisely!!

Suggestions for a Honeymoon?

travelista — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 09:38:08 -0400

Not to be a total snob, but I think anyone who wants to go to a Sandals resort should be asking for advice on TripAdvisor — not Extravigator.

If you weren't already aware...Extravigator is for Travelers, not Tourists!

Suggestions for a Honeymoon?

sunlover — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 09:00:40 -0400

St Lucia - Sandals. It's full of honeymooners.

Suggestions for a Honeymoon?

jewel fiend — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 23:26:01 -0400

Two words: Costa Rica

Why? Beautiful, tropical, plenty to see & do (rainforests, pyramids, snorkling, shopping). If you're traveling from the US, its easy to get to. They have an incredibly romantic place to stay within a jungle (Pacuare Lodge), that is, unless you're the Plaza Hotel type, but then again, if you were, you probably wouldn't be asking about a destination honeymoon spot.

Things to do in New York City

forager — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 13:47:14 -0400

I would avoid Tavern on the Green. The food is actually pretty bad, and the atmosphere is cheesy and touristy. In fact, the only thing that's good about Tavern on the Green is that their land lease in Central Park requires that they offer public restrooms. They are among the cleanest in the park.

But, if you really want a fine meal and a beautiful view, The Boathouse in Central Park is a far better choice.

http://www.thecentralparkboathouse.com

Things to do in New York City

sunlover — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 13:02:38 -0400

I think that these are some really fun uniquely New York experiences:-

-Going to roof top bars like 230 Fifth Avenue where you get wonderful views of the Empire State and Crysler Buildings

-Going to the wonderful concerts in the parks like Broadway in Bryant Park and the concerts in Central Park.

- Doing a New York City Photoshoot where you will have lovely pictures taken of you with famous New York landmarks - www.nycityphotoshoot.com

- Eating at Tavern on the Green in Central Park -www.tavernonthegreen.com

Hope that is useful

Is Dubai really worth visiting?

pinb — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 14:41:30 -0400

@laradunston: I had no idea that the State Department travel warnings were so unreliable, though you make a good point about Iraq. I just assumed that the travel warnings on tourist destinations were well researched — since a slight error could send American citizens into harm's way.. It's strange that they don't mention this issue at all. Thanks for setting the record straight!

Is Dubai really worth visiting?

laradunston — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 10:58:16 -0400

Pinb - the state department reports are not very reliable at all. The state department is the last place you want to be getting travel advice from! Um, need I say more than IRAQ. Seth Sherwood is probably the second last person you want to be taking advice from, especially when it comes to Dubai, where from the sound of his article, he spent all of 10 seconds in.

Blondee47 - if you have an Israeli passport OR even an Israeli stamp in your US passport - according to the DDTCM in Dubai (as well as Dubai Aviation (which controls airports and immigration), then there's a high chance you could be turned away at the airport as it is illegal to enter the country. Having said that, the immigration officials never look too closely. Emiratis are some of the most tolerant people in the world, so being Jewish isn't the issue - indeed, as Muslims, they have more respect for people with religion than those without, so Jews are more welcome than atheists for instance.

There are many reasons to visit Dubai, but the Burj Al Arab, while stunning on the outside, is tacky and over-the-top on the inside and isn't worthy of a trip in itself. Dubai does have a culture and a soul, and an incredible history. Do take a read of some of my posts on Dubai here and hopefully you'll see what I mean: http://cooltravelguide.blogspot.com/search?q=Dubai

For those who take time to get to know the 'real' Dubai, beyond the shopping malls and five star hotels (as beautiful and as hard to leave as they are), a visit here - whether a stopover or longer - can be an elightening experience. I've lived in the UAE, first Abu Dhabi then Dubai, for 10 years, and while my work has kept me on the road travelling all over the world for over 2.5 years ago, it's the place I still call home.

Oman

laradunston — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 09:33:39 -0400

The Chedi in Muscat is one of my favorites and I've stayed a few times (I'm a travel writer so I've had the pleasure of writing about it on all three occasions), so just to clarify there are two swimming pools and while one is adult-only, the other (just a hop skip and a jump from the beach) is the family pool.

While kids are welcome at The Chedi, I agree with Pierre that the Shangri-La is a better choice. (I was lucky enough to visit there for work too, soon after it opened). Keep in mind though that the Shangri-La is actually three hotels in one, a rather luxe over-the-top property, a more contemporary business style property best suited to couples, and a more family-style hotel, which is the one you want.

Bora Bora vs. Tahiti

pierre b — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 13:29:23 -0400

You will probably have to stay one night in Papeete. Choose a nice hotel because Papeete is one of the most hideous Town I have ever seen!

Oman

pierre b — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 13:17:27 -0400

You can try the Shangri-la. Great rooms, five restaurants, a great beach, an excellent Dive center, a private Marina and a Wonderful Cocktail Bar!!!
http://www.shangri-la.com/en/property/muscat/barraljissahresort

Oman

CBlack — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 03:14:05 -0400

we stayed a few years ago in both al bustan and other smaller hotels in Oman on a tour.
The hotel is set on a beach which is private - plenty of space and away from the main hotel grounds to explore. The hotel is set outside town so for most meals we relied on the in hotel dining facilities; on our couple of meals outside we took advise and used the Mumtiz Mahl and the Chedi . Both worth a taxi drive. Out of Muscat the hotels are frankly not so good though passable for the journey. The Al Bustan Palace Hotel was a treat and the attention from our local operator Oman Holidays was outstanding . We didnt stay in Sur but a small village beyond it so cant say much about the hotels in Sur.

Suggestions for a Honeymoon?

J.L. — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 02:31:45 -0400

Depends on your travel style.

Do you want surf, sand, & carefree days? Or....
Explore a city, restaurants & nightlife? Or....
Trekking the wilderness with active pursuits? Or...
Visiting historical sites & "roughing it"?...

1: French Polynesia, Maldives, Seychelles, Caribbean
2: Florence, Barcelona, Bangkok, Tokyo, Tel Aviv
3: Patagonia, Australian Outback, New Zealand
4: Peru, Mongolia, Morocco, Egypt, South Africa

FYI: We (with much joy) chose Bora Bora for our Honeymoon. No regrets whatsoever.

Suggestions for a Honeymoon?

LindaTerrill — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 11:51:30 -0400

Have you thought about Belize? Look at the Matachica or Hamanasi. Both have honeymoon packages. Plenty of luxury and relaxation and great diving.

Itinerary needed for first trip to Latin America

hotelguru — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 10:57:43 -0400

For a great selection of experiences in South America, to help you choose, check out World Reviewer's Best South American Experiences

Also, how do you intend to travel? They have a range of tours from specialist tour operators to choose from. You could also check out people like Viator.com if you want to book local trips based in location.

Oman

Trabzon — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 22:48:45 -0400

The Al Bustan Palace Muscat is often considered to be one of the top hotels in the Middle East. If I were going to Oman I would strongly consider the Al Bustan just based on its reputation. I can't say for sure if it lives up to it though. But it is on my list!

Where to stay in Tuscany?

jeannesilbert — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 18:41:23 -0400

You can rent some lovely 2 bedroom apartments very close to Sienna in the countryside. The website is www.vicodarbia.com
I believe the minumum rental time to be is one week. This is on a wonderful farm, olives, vines, corn. We have been going to this location for about 10 years.

Oman

gilvalz — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 16:47:43 -0400

thanks for your advice!

Where to stay in Tuscany?

Vanessa — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 19:42:02 -0400

I have discovered this amazing property at the gateway of Chianti called Borgo di Fontebussi. The rooms are magnificent, the place is a jewel, and it is off the beaten path enough for you to enjoy the real Tuscany!
I also stayed twice at Hotel Villa San Paolo. in San Gimignano, is you want to be closer to "mainstream" Tuscany. I loved this property!

Advice for Croatia

Mary — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 10:52:42 -0400

We'd like to add Croatia to our upcoming itinerary in the Fall and are looking for suggestions. Let us know if you have any wonderful tips! Thx.

Oman

PeterG — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 11:53:28 -0400

The Chedi Muscat in Oman is an absolutely gorgeous property right on the beach. However, it's not ideal if you have children under 16, which are restricted from accessing the private beach and the pool that sits on the beach.

Romantic trip to Bali

jane — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 23:57:51 -0400

Definitely mix a beach resort with a stay in Ubud: there really is a vast difference in the experiences, and both are enjoyable.

We stayed at the Jimbaran Puri Bali on Jimbaran bay and then at the Ubud Hanging Gardens out of Ubud. Both are Orient-Express hotels. The Jimbaran property suited us as it is very small scale and each room is an individual garden cottage. The resort is very simple and unpretentious, so maybe not for those looking for seeomthing more "grand". The position on the beach though cannot be beaten, and dinners with our feet in the sand at a table lit with torches were amongst the most romantic we have had.

The Ubud Hanging Gardens was very dramatic, as the property is built on a steep hillside in the rainforest/jungle....where you even see the occasional monkey. The food was excellent, and the spa very relaxing. bear in mind the different levels are reached by a small funicular, and that being at the top of the hill or right in the valley by the river make for completely different stays!

The other alternative is always to hire a private villa, of which there are many in Bali, but you'll miss the service and the cuisine, and it's always nice to mix - at least to a certain extent - with other guests.

Oman

gilvalz — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 19:11:20 -0400

Hello All:

I'm planning a trip to Oman this fall and would love to hear any suggestions on places to visit and accomodation.

We are thinking of spending a couple of days in Muscat and then taking a scenic drive to Sur.

San Diego way to go

J.L. — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 04:29:26 -0400

So... Do tell, where did you eat? I hope one of your meals was at Sushi Ota!

San Diego way to go

sydneyrandwick — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 00:15:49 -0400

We were in san diego in march and had a local private guide take us around. she suggested places to eat, taht we never would have known of, navigated us about the city with ease and was a pleasure to be around.
we were not sold on getting a private guide- and thought we could do it ourselves, but this was 100% worth it! not only did we have a local at our disposal for advice and conversation, but we didnt have to set any thing for our trip! she had it all arranged and told us what we needed to bring and when we are doing what... lowered our stress level prior to and during the trip tremendously. i highly suggest you consider hiring a local guide in any city.
Ours was based in san diego, but she made arrangements for our hotel in carlsbad as well.

Itinerary needed for first trip to Latin America

Nanoose — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 11:57:44 -0400

Rio is fabulous. Fly there and spend time seeing the sights, enjoying the beaches and the great food. Then head to Igazu Falls and spend a day there. (I took a bus for $8 that took 24 hours but you can fly for one hour). Next, head down to Beunos Aires and spend some time there tangoing. Then head over to Mendoza for some wine tours. Depending on your time, you can head up to Lima, Peru and spend a day there and then get to Macchu Picchu. On the way to Peru, there are some nice beach resorts in northern Chile if you want to do that first.