Value Luxury Travel Experiences - Traveling with MJTraveling with MJ

Postcard from Girona, Spain

Colorful homes line the Onyar River in Girona, Costa Brava, Spain. Walking across the bridge is an eyeful of color.

My head has been thinking a lot about Spain these days and have been sussing out all the things to see and do in the Catalunia province in northeastern Spain, from the big city of Barcelona to the mid-sized city of Girona to the small town of Begur. There’s exciting stuff: medieval cities, historic town centers, fabulous food and drink, incredible, art, charming seaside villages, beaches, and lots more. Oh yeah, my time is Catalunia is going to be just fine. As I talked to friends and family members who have been to Spain (I haven’t, this is my first trip there), I discovered that a family member is going to Barcelona to start a cruise during the precise time I am going to be in there. We live 20 miles apart from one another, but we have to travel […]

Postcard: Macadamia Nut Pancakes in Hawaii

While it may be a more touristy choice than loco moco, I’ll take macadamia nut pancakes any time I’m visiting one of the islands of Hawaii. Add some coarsely chopped macadamia nuts to your pancake batter, then plop them on the griddle as usual. Add some slice fruit and more macadamia nuts on top and serve with maple (my preference) or coconut syrup. It’s a little taste of the islands even when you’re at home.

My Favorite Paris Museum

In a city as full of museums as Paris, you might think think it tough to choose a favorite. After a whirlwind week soaking up as much as I possible could, and visiting more than a few museums, there were only a few Paris museums that made a lasting impression. The Louvre was vast and covered an extensive period of time. But while I enjoyed it, the art on display – with a few notable exceptions – wasn’t really my cup of tea. The Rodin displayed statuary that was lovely, but it didn’t offer the depth to really captivate me. Although this museum would score a solid second on my list of favorites in large part because of the gardens that surround it. The Centre Pompidou made me smile with its architecture and exhibits, the Delacroix was nice, the Quai […]

Postcard from Napa: National Cabernet Day

I know that there are all sorts of made up holidays, but National Cabernet Day is one I can get behind. One of the world’s most popular grapes, it’s a cross between cabernet franc and sauvignon blanc grapes. While the Bordeaux region of France is home to some of the best cabernet grapes in the world, you’ll also find a nice selection much closer to home – in Napa. Don’t rush out to buy a card for this holiday, just raise your glass in appreciation.

Postcard from Carlsbad: Pacific Ocean

A few weeks ago, I head to Carlsbad, California, for a weekend retreat with the staffs of TBEX and NMX. We stayed in a beach house along the Pacific Ocean coast which offered a wonderful view to stir up lots of creativity. I love quiet mornings looking out at the ocean.

What’s a Hotel Fail for You?

Just as first impressions are important in business and personal relationships, so are they important in setting the tone for a hotel stay. That impression starts the minute you walk into the lobby, if not before, and just like with your interpersonal relationships, first impressions are usually spot on. Throughout a stay, however, a hotel has numerous opportunities to impress or fail and often this is what separates the so-so hotels from the really great ones. Here are a few things that I think are hotel fails – do you agree? Lines. Lines are a fact of life. But when there’s a line all the time, or the line moves so slowly that people start to get restless (in a not so happy way), it’s a sign of a larger problem. If the lobby is always full of lines, it’s […]

Postcard from Seattle: It Doesn’t Always Rain Here

On a warm Seattle day, I’m happy at home just walking around the neighborhood. See – it doesn’t rain here all the time.

JP Patches & Gertrude Statue

Many cities have statues honoring their founders, heroes, and statesmen. In Seattle, we have a statue of JP Patches and Gertrude. JP (Julius Pierpont) Patches was played by Chris Wedes. I hesitate to say “played” because in many respects the real person was lost in the larger-than-life persona of his television character. His was the first live show to air on then fledgling station KIRO (a CBS affiliate) and was as unscripted as they come. That was a rarity back in 1958 when the show first aired. The JP Patches showed aired twice daily and I remember watching it before school every morning at then again after school. JP lived in the City Dump, and had crazy friends like his best pal Gertrude, Ketchikan the Animal Man, Sheriff Shot Badly, and Boris S. Wort (the world’s second-meanest man) all played […]

Postcard from Maui: Beach View

If you think a beach view isn’t important, just think about how relaxing it is to enjoy a glass of wine or cup of coffee and look at this view from your hotel balcony.