Sara Jeanne Gulley

The Tour du Mont Blanc is one of the world’s greatest hikes. It covers approximately 100 miles, and although there are many different ways to break it up, most people attempt to tackle the TMB in 10 days. When I began to plan a small group TMB trip, I knew that staying in mountain huts, dormitory style, was not what we wanted. Instead, we booked a deluxe self-guided trip with a company that specializes in European hiking trips and has been doing it quite well for many years. The trip ended up being fantastic—sore bodies, strenuous climbs, and epic views. The deluxe part was the icing on the cake—European-style spas where we could soak our aching legs at the end of the day, followed by delicious three-course meals paired with excellent French wines.

In December 2023, my teenage daughter and I took a last-minute trip to New York City to take in all of the holiday sights. We invited her best friend and the friend's mother to come along. Taking into consideration their budget and the location we wanted, we decided to try the seven-month-old Virgin Hotel in the Nomad district. From the moment we pulled up to valet our car to the moment we checked out two days later, we were treated warmly and efficiently by a personable, youthful staff. I would definitely recommend the Virgin Hotel.

I traveled with my sister and my daughter, Eliza, to London and Barcelona at the tail-end of March 2024. I hadn't been to London in several years, and I was eager to revisit this vibrant city, and to also experience some hotels I had my eye on. Barcelona was a launching point for a road trip to Costa Brava, and the medieval city of Girona, with its ancient Roman walls and preserved Jewish Quarter. Over the course of nine days, we stayed in five different hotels, each completely unique and equally wonderful in their own way.

Orcas Island - The moment you drive off the ferry onto this Pacific Northwest getaway in the San Juan Islands, you can feel your whole being relax. You are surrounded by the most magnificent views everywhere you look. There is water all around of course, but there is also Moran State Park with its winding roads leading to the high peak of Mount Constitution. At the center of Orcas is the lovely town of Eastsound with its delightful cafes and shops. There are the different fingers of the island, each adding its own flavor to the local culture. You can completely unwind and relax here simply soaking up the view from a steamy hot tub, or you can go all out with adventure, or ideally you will do a bit of both!