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South Kona’s Best Kept Secret

Cheryl Newbrough — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 13:11:42 +0000

See virtual tour of this unique, off-the- beaten track little slice of paradise in cool, up mauka Kealakekua on the Big Island of Hawaii. I am an avid spa goer and this place is a gem waiting to be discovered. Lush tropical gardens, beautiful hand crafted wooden tubs and incredible massage.
Went back a second time and it was equally as magnificent and romantic since it was after dark. And the prices were so reasonable it made it affordable to return for a second visit. Exquisite experience.

Mamalahoa Hot Tubs & Massage

South Kona’s Best Kept Secret is a post from: www.kristraveler.com

This post was submitted by Cheryl Newbrough.

A Guide to: Maui, Hawaii

admin — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 21:28:47 +0000

A Guide to: Maui, Hawaii

by Eric for kristraveler.com

Kaanapali beach is always our home when we visit Maui - it is on one of the nicest beaches on Maui and some of the best snorkeling and diving on the island is right at the doorstep of the hotels.

Some of the properties have a free shuttle which has 3 stops in the historic whaling town of Lahaina, one of our favorite getaways. It’s a really fun place to stroll and go shopping, lots of art galleries, great restaurants etc.

One of our favorite, must-go restaurants on Maui is just outside Lahaina. It’s a little hole-in-the-wall called Mala Ocean Tavern, in a converted home, right on the ocean. Try to get one of the tables outside – there are only about 10 of them but the food is spectacular and the view is amazing, with the ocean literally lapping at your feet.

View to Kaanapali from Mala Ocean Tavern - Source: Tripadvisor

It’s a wonderful place for breakfast, lunch, or sunset dinner – if you can get in. And don’t tell anybody else ’cause that’s our secret spot on Maui! They use all local vegetables and coffee that grows just up the hill.

Besides Mala Ocean Tavern, Lahaina has many other great dining options – I recently wrote a post with recommendations of few other restaurants you might want to check out: Eat, See & Do in Maui, Hawaii

Wailea is a nice resort but a bit too groomed and new for my taste – it lacks some character and patina. After all, if you’ve seen one Chanel or Ferragamo store you’ve seen them all. And the beach gets very windy there in the afternoon – at noon, every day, like clockwork.

There are lots of things to do on Maui:

- You’ll want to rent a car one day and take the road up to the summit of Haleakala Crater, elevation 10,023 ft…! The real diehards go up for the sunrise, but it takes about an hour and a half to get there, so you have to leave in the middle of the night! Whenever you go, take a warm jacket, because it actually freezes in the winter and has been known to snow there.

- On the way up (or back down) you can stop at Maui’s only winery: Tedeschi Vineyards. You’ll see beautiful views down the rolling hills and slopes of Haleakala as you taste a variety of mostly white wines. It’s very pastoral and scenic.

- Further downhill there’s the also the small historic cowboy town of Makawao, You’ll also find some great art galleries with suprisingly high quality artwork by local artists, along with arts and crafts stores and a true cowboy store.

- Near Makawao, but in its own spot on a lone road you’ll find Hali’imaile General Store, Chef Bev Gannon’s flagship restaurant and one of the best anywhere. The tough decision there is who will be the designated driver, as they have a great bar, incredible fresh fish entrees and you have to eat thei signature upside-down pineapple cake dessert.

- Further down the hill as you near the ocean you’ll find the (also historic!) little sugar plantation town of Paia, which you’d never know but it sits right along the ocean. It also has some great eateries and art galleries, surf shops, clothing stores. Our favorite place to eat there is Flatbread Company, a kiawe-wood-fired brick oven place with great beer to boot.

- If you like to golf, Kapalua Resort, just North of Kaanapali, is home to some of the finest golf courses on Maui. They also have some great diving spots

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About the Author:

Eric is an architect, born and raised in Brazil but lives in Hawaii. Avid traveler and former hotel executive – so very picky about his accommodations.

Favorite thing to do on a trip: photograph the experience so he can share it with others who may not be able to get there.

A Guide to: Maui, Hawaii is a post from: www.kristraveler.com

Maryland’s Eastern Shore: Fine Dining Deals

Sat, 17 Apr 2010 20:44:15 +0000

Washingtonian Magazine is offering a great deal for some fabulous restaurants in Maryland’s Eastern Shore during the month of April 2010.

Print this article and get a 3-course meal at any of the restaurants listed for only $30.

Some of the restaurants participatings include:
- 208 Talbot
- Rupert’s Bar & Tea Rooms
- Sherwood’s Landing (inside the Inn at Perry Cabin)

and many more around Talbot County. You couldn’t have a better excuse for a weekend getaway to these lovely towns!

Click here for more information and list of participating restaurants.

Maryland’s Eastern Shore: Fine Dining Deals is a post from: www.kristraveler.com

This post was submitted by Kris.

Favorite Restaurant in St. Michael’s, MD

Wed, 07 Apr 2010 13:14:17 +0000

Photo Credit: Jason Pier

From the outside it looked like one of the best restaurants in town, so we had to go inside and check it out.

208 Talbot in St Michaels, Maryland, is an elegant little restaurant perfect for any occasion: a romantic dinner with your loved one, family gatherings or even a happy hour with friends.

Prices seemed fair for the ambience and food/service you get – it was certainly not too expensive, especially considering that food was simply exquisite, and service impecable. So much so that even after a couple of years this restaurant still lies in the back of my mind whenever I think about St Michaels or Chesapeake Bay

Favorite Restaurant in St. Michael’s, MD is a post from: www.kristraveler.com

This post was submitted by Kris.

Buenos Aires: places to have lunch

Thu, 01 Apr 2010 19:04:16 +0000

That I love to visit new restaurants all of you already know, so I could had to tell about three fantastic restaurants that we went in Buenos! I will start with one that a lot of followers on twitter told me about: the famous Café Tortoni! This is the oldest cafe BAs and it is a real charm that the gorgeous original environment is all well kept! For all of you that are planning to go there, prepare yourselves for a little wait because it is very famous and a queue at your door is a constant (and the people in the line are not exactly beautiful and look all like typical tourists, but do not give up…)… I highly recommend eating the Churros dessert with lots of “dulce de leche”: absolutely fantastic! I think that it is better to visit Café Tortoni on those rainy days because the place hás no outdoors sitting. If you’re lucky you can even catch a tango show there! (It was not my case… So sad!)

If the day is beautiful and sunny, don’t even think twice and run to the Croque Madame located at the Avenida Del Libertador… What a beautiful and charming place! There you will also find beautiful stylish people! We had to wait about 30 minutes, but the place is so beautiful and it was such a nice area that we didn’t even realize that it took so long! The place is so incredible that I forgot that I was in Buenos Aires and could only think of Paris! Perfect for a nice lunch around a beautiful garden full of trees… It has some delicious sandwiches, but we decided to take the risk and ordered a saffron risotto with a Woki Meat that was just amazing (already tried to repeat the recipe at home and it was really good…)! Since I am a big fan of desserts, I asked for a scoop of ice cream from Persicco (better than the famous Freddo…)!

Another place we loved was the Cabaña Las Lilas… No doubt it was the best parrilla that we ate in Argentina (somewhat ironic, because the restaurant is part of the same group of Rubayat here in Sao Paulo… and the owner of it, for those that are already “wondering”, is not Argentinean nor Brazillian, he is Spanish…)! The food is exceptional, the price compared with the Rubayat in Sao Paulo is almost a bargain and the view of Puerto Madero is simply spectacular! Ask a really cold Quilmes and eat a lot without hurry… The wait is usually about 40 minutes, but it is super worth it. We eat many soufle potatoes (fantastic and hyper crispy) with salad and Vacio (na amazing meat cut)! If you like meat, think twice before asking for the plates alone beacuse they are huge (you can definitely share!)… Be sure to ask for coffee or tea (which by the way is really good) just to eat the famous Rubayat selection of cookies, truffles and other delicious little sweets!

Original post in Portuguese.

About the author:

Camila Penteado Cilento graduated in Business Administration in 2005 and works in the financial market (“the job that pays the rent”)… But the real “Cami”, as she is called by her closest friends, hasn’t found her dream job yet, but she just knows that her real passion is the aesthetics that she finds in fashion, in architecture, in gourmet, and in visual arts. In 2008, she finally had her dream come true and moved to New York City, where she learned that to feel alive you have to run after your dreams! In the end of 2008, she started a blog called “I am leaving today” (http://iamleaving2day.blogspot.com), where she writes about all the discoveries made when she was living her dream for real. While blogging she realized that writing is one of the best ways to communicate her ideas to the world and by doing this she has the opportunity to talk to people that are as far as they are close. Stay tuned…

Buenos Aires: places to have lunch is a post from: www.kristraveler.com

This post was submitted by Camila Penteado Cilento.

Buenos Aires: for those that love bookstores!

Wed, 31 Mar 2010 16:19:23 +0000

Buenos Aires has two bookstores that are absolutely sensational: a paradise for those who like to get lost for hours and hours among books… Despite my pile of books to read, that is already unbelievable, I needed to visit both and tell you all about each of them: they are a must see for those visiting the capital of Argentina!

The Eterna Cadencia Libreria is in Palermo and reminds me of one of those old bookshops with endless shelves of books! It is a super charming store: that left me just ecstatic, I had the sensation that I entered at that bookstore that shows off at the beginning of the movie “Funny Face” with Audrey Hepburn… It has fantastic books and for those of you who like to read it should be the very image of paradise! Inside there is also a small coffeeshop called Croque Madame (which is great for a Nice simple lunch). And come on, what on Earth are those fixtures? Just amazing!

When I asked for tips for my trip on Twitter on the week before the trip, the El Ateneo bookstore, that is located in Recoleta, was the most recurrent one! When I started the planning I could not help but include this fantastic bookstore that is located within an old theater in the itinerarie. It was fully renovated to house the El Ateneo! I cannot believe how fantastic the environment is: the idea to turn a theater into a bookstore is so terrific! On one hand, the Eterna Cadencia is more intimate. On the other hand, El Ateneo can be compared to a Fnac with the difference that it is in a spectacular place! Really amazing and both a must see!

Original post in Portuguese.

About the author:

Buenos Aires: for those that love bookstores! is a post from: www.kristraveler.com

This post was submitted by Camila Penteado Cilento.

Buenos Aires: amazing street fairs!

Tue, 30 Mar 2010 14:42:25 +0000

If I could name one thing that I love to do in Buenos Aires is to visit the two famous street fairs that take place in the Argentine capital every weekend! On every Saturday there is na amazing fair in Palermo: full of stalls of local handicrafts, leather accessories, and necklaces and rings, and many other little cute things! To walk around that neighborhood: besides the typical Saturday fair there are lots of small shops… (I will write about that on the next post!)

Every Sunday, the famous Antique Fair of San Telmo takes place and I must say I was very surprised at the amount of fantastic antiques that you can find there! I saw lots and lots of silver cutlery, many fantastic decorations, and I was in love with a wooden old office chair… You have to negotiate to get the best price and I have to confess that if you are looking for something specific, such as pieces of silver by Christofle, find out before exactly how the real pieces should be marked, not to end up buying something that has no value… I saw in one of the shops nearby amazing travelling trunks from Louis Vuitton that were absolutely amazing! Well, you have to go there!!!

About the author:

Buenos Aires: amazing street fairs! is a post from: www.kristraveler.com

This post was submitted by Camila Penteado Cilento.

Buenos Aires: Home Hotel

Tue, 30 Mar 2010 00:17:39 +0000

I Love boutique hotels!!! They are always more charming and always surprise me more than any other large hotel chain! The service is generally much more personal because usually they don’t have many rooms and this simple detail makes a huge difference!

When I began to plan my trip to Buenos Aires, it couldn’t be different: I found the most amazing “boutique hotel” that was perfect for the occasion, since we’re in the middle of summer and it was the only one that offered a swimming pool! The Home Hotel is located in Palermo Hollywood (a super charming neighborhood of BAs) and it is so gorgeus that I had to show to you!

The hotel won the award for design of the Wallpaper Magazine in 2007, soon after it was renovated… The decor is retro and the entire mixture of several wallpapers, that sometimes is applied directly on the wall ando n other times is framed (a charm!)! They mix well with the concrete and wood and the result is just amazing…

Our room was also fantastic – small and cozy – it had everything we needed: cabinets to store clothes, a comfortable bathroom, space for luggage and little shopping, lcd tv… The bathroom was all finished in cement: just loved it! The attention that the hotel staff give guests is amazing: it was the only hotel I’ve ever been that every day, at dusk, delivers together with cookies a weather forecast for the day after in a very cute card! How has no one had this idea before?!

The breakfast that is included in the daily rate is also very special: it is served in small shots of all the things that are on the menu a la carte… They serve everything in small plates and cups and the selection changes every day which means you will have to wake up early for breakfast every day! Two types of juices are served in special small long glasses, an omelet or scrambled egg is served together with a bread basket accompanied with a special butter, a home made cream cheese, a creamy dark chocolate and jelly… Finally they still serve a special sweet bread (always chose the ones that are stuffed with “dulce de leche”!) The home made yogurt is fantastic! Simply brilliant!

The pool area gives you the impression that you are at a friend’s pool and not a hotel! The chairs are super cute lined with fabric that resemble the patterns of the different wallpapers that are around the hotel! It is right next to a beautiful garden! But be prepared for the mosquitoes that even in the heat of the day insist on attacking: the repellent even in the pool is essential!

For more information on Home Hotel.

Original post in Portuguese.

About the author:

Buenos Aires: Home Hotel is a post from: www.kristraveler.com

This post was submitted by Camila Penteado Cilento.

Washington DC Taxi Fare Estimator

Mon, 22 Mar 2010 23:10:32 +0000

The Washington Post has a very good tool to estimate taxi fares in the Washington DC area. I have used it several times and the ranges they give have been pretty accurate all times I’ve compared with my cab rides. Link: District Taxi Fare Estimator Tool

Please note that the estimator does not include extra fees the taxis charge for each piece of luggage and additional passengers. So have in mind that the fare will likely be a couple of dollars more if you’re coming/going to the airport or train station for example. The list below can give you a reference in what extra charges you should expect.

photo credit: Max Klingensmith

Fare Rates (last updated: March 2010)
Metered Rates (Set by Washington DC Taxicab Commission

•$3.00 First 1/6 mile
•$0.25 Each additional 1/6 mile
•$1.00 Emergency Fuel Surcharge per trip within District of Columbia
•$15.00 Wait rate per hour (begins 5 minutes after arrival, or if stopped in traffic or below 10 mph for 60 seconds or more)
•$1.50 Additional Passenger (age 6 and older)
•$19.00 Maximum fare in the District of Columbia (not including other surcharges)

Extra Charges
•Rate for hire: (1st hour or any fraction thereof): $25.00
•After first hour – each 15 minutes thereafter: $6.25
•Large Luggage in trunk (per piece): $2.00
•Large Luggage handled by drivers (per piece): $0.50
•Telephone dispatch fee: $2.00
•Dismissal of dispatched cab without use: $3.00
•Fare during declared Snow Emergency: 125%
•Personal service (driver leaves cab vicinity): $2.00
•Animal (excludes securely-enclosed or service animals): $1.00

For other cities, you may want to try the Taxi Fare Finder

Washington DC Taxi Fare Estimator is a post from: www.kristraveler.com

This post was submitted by Kris.

2010 Restaurant Week in São Paulo

Marcelo K. — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 00:07:54 +0000

If you are heading to São Paulo in early March 2010, make sure you do not miss the São Paulo Restaurant Week 2010. It starts on March 1st and runs until March 14th. Check the link below and do not forget to make reservations, especially on weekends.

Link: 2010 São Paulo Restaurant Week

Favorite Restaurants:

- Arabia
- Boa Bistrô
- Consulado Mineiro
- Obá Restaurante
- Pitanga

These are just to name a few of the participating restaurants – several offer a great environment and food, so you may want to take advantage of the Restaurant Week’s prices.
Click here to download the 2010 SP Restaurant Week Guide

2010 Restaurant Week in São Paulo is a post from: www.kristraveler.com

This post was submitted by Marcelo K..