Zurich and The Storchen – Days 19
Como to Zurich – Since our plans in Italy shifted in order to reschedule our Lake Como Cruise, we arrived into Zurich rather late in the evening, with an early morning flight scheduled for the next day. As we drove from the train station to our hotel, however, we were quite surprised by how quaint and charming the streets of Zurich were! Zurich is gorgeous at night time. We are so thankful that we made the decision to stay an extra day in Zurich before flying home to Chicago. Zurich is a… Read More
Victoria Jungfrau
Day 10: Interlaken in the Jungfrau Region. I wanted to share photos of our beautiful hotel. This was one of our favorite resorts to date for its relaxing atmosphere, tranquility, and unobtrusive luxury. We knew it was historical and lovely and have had clients stay here but we never knew how lovely it really was until we stayed ourselves. Not only is it a gorgeous resort in an ideal location, surrounded by nature and the Swiss Alps, but the staff goes out of their way to care for you. Enjoy the photos!… Read More
Zermatt, Switzerland – Days 5 and 6
We said a reluctant good-bye to Paris and headed to Zermatt, Switzerland via train. It was a long but fantastic journey. Our arrival into Zermatt was stunning, as the closer you get, the more fabulous the scenery was. We were even fortunate to get clear views of the Matterhorn, which is definitely not a guarantee. If you get a great view, make sure to capture it while you can. Moments later, it can be enshrined in clouds! Zermatt is a car free town so on arrival, you either make your own way… Read More
Paris Culinary Tours and Vintage Cars – Day 1
Paris! For years, I fought the temptation to “love” Paris because – well – everyone loves Paris. This almost always equates to an overwhelming number of tourists, crowded streets, shops and museums, tourist traps, and pickpockets. This famous “City of Lights” or also known as the “City of Love” however, has slowly chipped away at my resistance over the years, and I am finally brave enough to admit that I, too, love Paris! Join me on my little journey. Day 1: Paris – We took an overnight nonstop flight Chicago to Paris… Read More
Four Seasons Gresham Palace Budapest
The Four Seasons Budapest is situated right on the banks of the Danube River, directly in front of the gorgeous Chain Bridge. The entrance is open, light and airy, with several staff ready and waiting to welcome you warmly. Note the gorgeous wrought iron gate with peacocks adorning each side. The lobby itself is lined with over two million mosaic tiles. The decor is elegant but understated and unassuming. Bedroom: The bedroom at the Four Seasons was much more spacious than I had anticipated. European hotel rooms are often much smaller than… Read More
Madeira Hotels – Reid’s Palace Madeira
Surrounded by lush tropical gardens and breathtaking views, Reid’s Palace sits high up on the craggy cliffs overlooking the ocean and scenic views of Funchal, located a quick 10 minute taxi ride away. Approaching the entrance is like visiting a friend who lives in a lovely villa on the ocean. This is your first view as you walk in to the beautiful lobby. You hate the thought of even stopping to check in, because all you want to do is walk straight through the reception area and out onto that balcony or… Read More
Madeira Hotels – The Savoy Palace
The Savoy Palace in Madeira was a very pleasant choice to use for our conference. The staff was friendly, the interior decorating thoughtful and nicely designed, and the pool area was gorgeous. I’ll let the photos do the talking. This is one of the most beautiful pool areas I’ve ever seen at a resort. At sunset, the views are even more stunning. The interiors are designed in such a way that the outdoor beauty is brought inside. And there is the roof top pool! I’d love to return one day!
Douro Valley and the Six Senses
From excellent Port Wine Tasting to scenic panoramic rolling hills, the Douro Valley is a very special place to visit. Just look at these vistas! That said, the highlight for us was our visit to the Six Senses Douro Valley. It was by far one of the loveliest stays we have ever experienced. From the very moment we stepped into the Six Senses until the time we were “forced” to leave, we felt welcomed and relaxed. We did not want to leave. Had we not had a conference to attend on Madeira… Read More
Our Getaway at the Goldmoor Inn in Galena
We have lived in the Chicago area for just over 9 years now and really love it. That said, we realized that while we took a year off to travel all over, we had yet to see some of the beautiful places in our own backyard. So…we decided to explore and based on recommendations as well as a thorough Internet search, we chose to explore Galena, IL, a short 2 and one half hours drive from the western suburbs of Chicago. We wanted to choose a quaint, unique bed and breakfast for… Read More
Day 187: Couchsurfing in Christchurch
If you’ve never heard of Couchsurfing, it’s a site that allows users to travel to many destinations around the world and stay for free with strangers who may soon become friends. It is literally, at times, staying on someone’s couch. This works really well for singles and small families, as not only do they save on accommodation costs, but they end up making really neat friends along the way who also love the city they live in and are willing to share “insider” secrets. Of course, the very thought of Couchsurfing had… Read More
Deena Gainor
Six Hearts One Journey 
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