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  • Archives

  • Jan13

    2 Comments

    A Fusion of Funk, Art, and Elegance in Spain

    Posted in: Accommodations, Culture, Eastern Hemisphere

    Image to the left taken from the Hotel Arts Barcelona website.

    Spain is a place where people are not afraid to be artsy and funky while retaining a touch of elegance. Some of its hotels celebrate this unique fusion, and we’re going to look at three of them.

    Hotel Arts Barcelona

    A feast for the eyes and the heart, Hotel Arts Barcelona must be seen to be believed. Each guest suite has a panoramic view of the city and the sea, and you’ll find unsurpassed luxury and comfort in the feather mattress pad and lush linens. Exclusive room service 24 hours a day and housekeeping service twice a day ensure you lack nothing during your stay.

    Six Senses Spa offers amazing massages and beauty treatments, such as hot stone therapy, deep cleansing facials, and deluxe eye, hand, and foot treatments. Restaurants include Arola, run by famed chef Sergi Arola; the Michelin-starred Enoteca, with delectable Mediterranean fare; Bites, an informal eatery; and Café Veranda, which serves a buffet breakfast and Sunday brunch. Read More | Comments

  • Jan6

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    The Savory Delights of Switzerland: Swiss Chocolates and Cheeses

    Posted in: Culinary and Drinks, Eastern Hemisphere

    swiss chocolateWhen you think of chocolate and cheese, Switzerland often comes to mind. Its savory chocolates and cheeses are like no other treats in the world. One of Switzerland’s secrets is that they do not pasteurize their milk, so their cheese and chocolate begin with velvety, full-flavored (and full-fat) milk and cream.

    Over 400 varieties of cheese are produced in Switzerland, and cheese is made continuously with only fresh milk and cream. Cattle are typically grass fed, and depending on the area, they have easy access to wildflowers and herbs that give their milk distinctive flavors. In fact, Swiss law mandates that cattle be outside foraging for food most days of each month.

    Overall, Swiss cheesemakers run small, local operations and do not export much of their cheese. In any village, you can find cheesemakers who will be happy to show you their operations and allow you to sample their wares. One factory, located in the Engelberg Monastery, carries a large selection of regional cheese and is Switzerland’s only show cheese factory. Read More | Comments

  • Aug3

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    The World’s Most Uniquely Designed Luxury Hotels: Part I

    Posted in: Accommodations, Culture

    Image to the left of the Nordic Light Hotel taken from the Nordic Light Hotel’s website.

    Here at Well Designed Journeys, we like our five-star hotels. Who doesn’t? We like our turndown service, bellhop, chocolates on the pillow, jacuzzi tub, and balcony. What makes a hotel even better is when it features unique décor, designs, or amenities you won’t find anywhere else. Today we begin a new series that spotlights some of the world’s most uniquely designed luxury hotels.

    Nordic Light Hotel, Stockholm, Sweden. When your country is noted for a hotel made completely out of ice, you can expect to find some other unique accommodations. As the name alludes to, the Nordic Light Hotel is a light show for your lodging experience. Each room features different designs and shapes that come to life through light. However, for the most extraordinary experience, book one of the mood rooms, which features customized light beds in which you control the color, tempo, and intensity of the lights. Don’t miss out on the Light Bar and Lounge, which is a unique blend of lights, sound, and cocktails.

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  • Jul11

    2 Comments

    You Can’t Leave Without Trying This Dish

    Posted in: Culinary and Drinks

    french cuisineImage to the left taken from FoodNetwork.com.

    You really can’t travel without food as a major part of your experiences. For many it’s tasting new foods, savoring international classics, and finding those hole-in-the-wall places that only locals know about that makes travel fun. It’s those experiences at restaurants, street festivals, cafes, and farms that travelers wish they could take home with them. No matter where you’re traveling, there’s often that one dish that stands above all others. We’ve highlighted some of the best foodie destinations in the world and spotlighted the best dishes in each city.

    1. Paris, France. French cuisine is one of the most renowned in the world. Whether it’s breakfast danishes, fresh deli meat, or chocolate crepes, Paris has so much to offer. The thing about France is that it features fresh courses that you can’t experience elsewhere, whether it’s appetizers, bread, meat, or dessert. With so many famous dishes, it’s hard to just choose one, but you won’t find too many restaurants that don’t serve bouillabaisse (depicted in the image above). The traditional French dish is a seafood stew that features various seafood and vegetables. It’s a good starter before your main entree.

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  • Jul4

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    J΄adore Shopping in Paris

    Posted in: Eastern Hemisphere, Leisure Activities, Tips and Ideas

    paris shopping

    Few destinations in the world rival Paris. From its beautiful architecture to elaborate museums to delicious cuisine, Paris pleases all the senses. Another one of the great features of Paris are the shopping opportunities that are available throughout the city. High-end boutique shops, shopping districts, and department stores can be found throughout the city, offering opportunities you just can’t find at your typical shopping mall. We scoured the city and found a few of the best places to do your shopping in Paris.

    Printemps. Printemps is one of the premier department stores in France. The flagship Paris store is on Boulevard Haussmann in the IXe arrondissement. The store exudes luxury even before you walk inside with its beautiful French architecture. Printemps has multiple features that make it stand out as a luxury department store, such as restaurants, valet, hands-free shopping, concierge, and personal shoppers. Since it’s a department store, Printemps features many of the world’s most notable luxury brands for both men and women including Giorgio Armani, Chanel, Lancome, De Beers, Tommy Hilfiger, and hundreds of others.

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  • Jun29

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    Step into a Dream at Milan’s Maison Moschino Hotel

    Posted in: Accommodations, Culture, Eastern Hemisphere

    Image to the left is taken from the Maison Moschino Hotel website.

    Italy features one of the highest concentrations of luxury hotels in the world. With so many luxury hotel offerings, it’s hard to narrow it down to just one. However, we’re making the choice a little easier by featuring one of our favorite luxury hotels in Italy: the Maison Moschino. This special spot is one of many European hotels you could put it into a category of its own because of its unique design and architecture. Today, we give you the rundown of the Maison Moschino Hotel.

    Rooms. You haven’t stayed in a unique hotel room until you’ve visited Milan’s Maison Moschino Hotel. While the hotel is split up into a few different room types, each room has its own theme. There is the Life is a Bed of Roses room, which looks as it sounds. The red and white room is highlighted by a bed that looks like it was actually made from rose petals. Other rooms take on themes that include Alice in Wonderland and Little Red Riding Hood. Each room matches its theme from floor to ceiling. Rooms are small, but with the hotel’s amenities and the many attractions in Milan, you shouldn’t be spending too long in your room.

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  • Jun24

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    A Look into the Netherlands: Amsterdam’s Top Attractions

    Posted in: Eastern Hemisphere, Leisure Activities, Tips and Ideas

    amsterdamHearing the name of Amsterdam often brings a lot of stereotypes to mind. However, as much of a nightlife destination as it is, there’s much more than meets the eye. Amsterdam is full of history and things to do, and isn’t a European destination you should overlook. Learn more about Amsterdam’s top attractions.

    Amsterdam Dungeon. The Amsterdam Dungeon is less of an attraction and more of an experience. You may have heard of similar dungeons that are located in other European cities, including Edinburgh, London, and Hamburg. The dungeon is part attraction and part live entertainment, telling a historical story through actors and special effects. This is one of the most unique experiences Amsterdam has to offer.

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  • Jun22

    1 Comment

    Italy – The Basics

    Posted in: Eastern Hemisphere

    The country of Italy …some journey basics

    Italy,  what an amazing country that covers 116,303 square miles and has a population of over 56 million people which translates to a density of approximately 487 persons per square mile.  The capital is Roma which has a population of 2, 775,000 inhabitants.

    Map of Italy - by Freebase

    Italy is situated in Mediterranean Europe and has land frontiers with France in the Northwest, Switzerland and Austria in the north and Slovenia in the northeast.  The peninsula is surrounded by the Ligurian Sea, the Sardinian Sea and the Tyrrhenian Sea in the west, the Sicilian Sea and the Ionian Sea in the south, and the Adriatic Sea in the east. Italian is the language of the majority of the population but there are minorities speaking German, French, Slovene and Ladino.  Sixty seven percent of the population lives in cities.

    There is a great deal of variety in the landscape in Italy, with two mountain chains: the Alps and the Apennines.  The Alpine foothills are characterized by large lakes:  Lake Maggiore and the lakes of Como, Iseo and Garda.  A visa is not required for a US or Canadian citizen holding a valid passport unless one is lucky enough to plan on staying for ninety (90)  days or to study or seek employment.  No vaccinations are required and for medical emergencies in Italy dial 118 and for 113 for police service.

    Electrical Converter

    Electrical current in Italy is AC – the cycle is 50Hz 220V which means you need to carry a converter to have your appliances work in Italy. Note:  flat irons do not work well with converters and they may overheat or not heat at all.  Italian fire regulations do not allow hotels to provide irons for guests’ use.

    Italy is part of the European Union so the Euro is the currency that is used.  ATM’s are abundant throughout the country and are known as Bancomat’s.  Travel to Italy, northern-southern-eastern or western is always fun, enjoyable, and filled with history, great food and wonderful people.

    Your Travel Expert can assist you in creating your journey of a lifetime.

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