Avia Napa is a bourgeois hotel in the heart of downtown Napa Valley, California—one of the premier travel destinations in the world fitted with year-round warm temperatures, countless wineries, and picturesque rolling hills that soak up the west coast sun. Like most (if not all) top travel locations, Napa Valley features countless exquisite hotels, offering similar views, meals, and quality. However, Avia Napa sets itself apart from the typical Napa Valley experience in one simple manner: customer service.

Avia Napa is a boutique hotel that treats its customers with the attention of a well-informed host family. Ask for a particular type of evening and they will create an itinerary for you that fits your perfectly (and won’t suggest mostly in-hotel restaurants and bars to earn profit). Yet, the hotel has its own treasures that make the travelers’ days much more convenient: ground floor wine bar and restaurant, garden terrace with fire pit and swings, spacious lobby, and modern architecture throughout. (more…)

Leaving Barcelona is probably the worst part of taking a vacation to this Catalan metropolis. This port city has become the it city to visit in Spain and rightly so: there are countless places to visit and there is a neighborhood for all types of travelers. Whether you are bohemian, rich, gay, etc. you could call Barcelona home.

Barcelona is a sea-level city with beautiful natural parks surrounding it that seem like mountains. These parks (Parc Güell, Montjüic) provide you with amazing views of the Mediterranean sea, the city, and the landmarks that make up the skyline of Barcelona. Visit Montjuic Park and you see a great fountain show that illuminates the night. This park is also home to the Olympic buildings and stands behind the pompous entrance of Plaça Espanya. (more…)

Cinque Terre, which is a train ride Pisa or Firenze (Florence)  is composed of five connecting villages: Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore which are nestled on the mountainous Italian Riviera.  The rugged terrain and natural beauty is a must stop for all nature buffs, beach dwellers, and small town shoppers.  Cinque Terre, which translates to “Five Towns”, “Five Islands”, or “Five Lands”, is accessible by train from the village of Levanto which begins at the La Spezia and ends at the Genoa stops.  However, the best way to travel is on foot.  Many travelers opt for the step, narrow, and physically challenging approximately 5 hour hike which for a small fee can take the more adventurous traveler through all five towns. (more…)

Montenegro, Crna Gora, or “Black Mountain, once part of the former Yugoslavia, is an incredibly dynamic country nestled within the rich landscape of Southeastern Europe, along the Adriatic Sea. Slightly smaller than Connecticut, Montenegro, “the pearl of the Mediterranean” boasts a magnificently diverse landscape with an abundance of natural wealth and wild beauty. It is here that impressive mountain tops meet with vivid bougainvilleas, sleek cliffs meet with the soothing blues of the Adriatic and rolling rivers contrast the serenity of the notable and ecologically pure Montenegrin lakes, Skadar and Tara River Canyon. Quite impressive for a country that covers solely 5,019 miles and is home to roughly 678,000 citizens!

In addition to its impeccable scenery, Montenegro boasts a remarkable history rich in cultural diversity and tradition. Bordered by Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, and Albania, Montenegro lies on the Balkan Peninsula in the very heart of Europe. The culture of Montenegro has been shaped by a variety of influences, including the Orthodox, Slavonic, Central European, Islamic, and seafaring Adriatic cultures (notably parts of Italy). As such, it offers a wide array of sights, architecture, dining, entertainment and inhabitants that reflect its remarkable roots.

Montenegro’s capital, Podgorica, and the former royal capital of Cetinje are the two most important centers of culture and the arts in the country.

Bar is a major seaport in Montenegro. A modern city and a major tourist destination, Bar is mostly untouched in nature and is home to beautiful Mediterranean-style cobble and sandy beaches, hiking trails, and outdoor activities.

Budva

Budva is the epicenter of Montenegro’s tourism and is noted for its stunning beaches, vibrant nightlife and Mediterranean architecture.

Budva’s most famous beach is Mogren. Nestled in-between several large cliffs, it is accessed by a scenic pathway from Budva’s Old Town.

Just outside of Budva is Jaz beach, which recently hosted concerts by the legendary Rolling Stones and Madonna.

Sveti Stefan

Sveti Stefan, part of Budva’s municipality, is the most exclusive resort on Montenegro’s coast. Popular among celebrities, it has hosted such greats as Marilyn Monroe, Sophia Loren, Kirk Douglas and Claudia Schiffer.

Kolasin

Kolašin lies on the foot of Bjelasica and Sinjajevina mountains, which act as optimal skiing destinations. Because of its high altitude, Kolašin is considered an “air spa.” Bianca Resort & Spa, a luxury resort in the town’s center, adds additional touristic appeal.

Herceg Novi

Herceg Novi boasts an incredible history which is embodied in notable tourist attractions, including castle Forte Mare built in 1382, a clock tower built in the 19th century, the Kanli tower, and the Serbian church St. Michael Archangel in central Belavista Square. It is also known as a spa and health center thanks to its healing sea mud, “igaljsko blato” and mineral water springs called “igaljske saltine.”

I am proud to call Montenegro my second home, and based on many summers spent there, I can promise you that it’s certainly worth a visit!

I’m sure you all are aware of the dominance that Dubai is putting on the map with their tourist boom which is about to erupt any day now, from indoor ski-slopes to faux-islands designed to look like the 7 continents. Dubai isn’t stopping there, it seems that if you’re an innovative, world-changing architect, you’ve got a project underway in Dubai. The latest addition to the world-class “City in the Sand”, is the Ras Al-Khaimah Gateway, a hotel, conference and exhibition complex by Norwegian architects Snøhetta. The renderings alone, are enough to top anything outside of the UAE.

More after the jump.

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Hamburg, Germany. Let’s skip the Hamburger jokes. There is everything in Hamburg to accommodate the international jet setter, so don’t be shy about stopping off here for a day.

We’ll go through the best places and things to do if in Hamburg, if you’ve only got 16 hours.

When you land at Hamburg Airport, you shouldn’t have any luggage, or carry on. You should be coming in from London or Amsterdam for the day, before heading to Rome or Brussels. Here’s what you do, when land just hop on the U-Bahn, and take it to the Hauptbahnhof (Central Station). Everything is now within reach.
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