As temperatures dropped with the arrival of winter, thoughts turned to warmer climates, beaches, tropical fruit, and golden tans. Oh, to break free of heavy coats and winter slush! If you haven’t decided on a winter getaway, consider Bali. Yes, Bali – the magical Indonesian island that has enchanted mystics, 17th century explorers, surfer hippies, artists, and contemporary authors such as Elizabeth Gilbert of Eat, Pray, Love fame. My first childhood memories are of Bali. I remembe...

You’re back at work after a hectic end of year. You’re settling back into the swing of things and catching up with the build-up of work left over from the holidays when, all of a sudden, your boss announces you’re due to take those two weeks of vacation you’ve accumulated. And soon! Normally, the prospect of a vacation seldom puts a frown on anyone’s face, but quite frankly, who has the time (or will) to plan a proper getaway? Let’s just say that after picking a destination, arran...

Retracing the footsteps of a beloved author, our writer separates fact from fiction in the sensual, sun-drenched back roads of southern France. The sun cast a muted grey glow on the craggy Alpine peaks far below as I made my way from Sweden to Marseille. The deep folds of their valleys, the hidden shadows and barely glimpsed villages put me in a pensive frame of mind. As my eyes probed their dimmest corners, my mind leafed through reams of yellowed documents, the musty old books I’d scanned...

Ranking hotels is no small undertaking. Every year, we ask our readers to vote on the places they’ve stayed recently (to participate in this year’s survey—and enter for a chance to win a $10,000 trip—click here). Thousands of readers share their expert opinions on their favorite—and not so favorite—properties. What did we discover in 2009? That in a year filled with challenges, our readers still love hotels that deliver unique experiences and stellar service—particularly if the ...

I’ll let you in on a secret: I am terrified of flying. Rational, no, but present none-the-less; and a continual nuisance if I want to go anywhere outside of Southern Ontario. So I approached reviewing Porter’s new service to Manhattan via Newark, NJ with some trepidation. I would be traveling with my boss, which meant intoxication or consumption of Xanax (either of which is the usual default) was out of the question – at least if I wanted to remain employed. Yet Porter lu...