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While it can get busy, Chileno Bay and its beach of the same name—considered by many repeat visitors to be the best all-around beach in the area—offer a calmer vibe than the party-hearty Medano Beach. Those who want to experience Los Cabos underwater should head here for snorkeling or scuba sessions. Expect to see colorful fish, sea turtles, manta rays and sea fans.


There’s a lot to recommend the tourist-corridor beach known as Chileno Bay, or Playa el Chileno. It’s consistently ranked as one of the cleanest beaches in all of Mexico and has earned coveted Blue Flag status multiple times (the award goes to sand stretches that boast excellent water quality, safety, and services). Here you’ll find ample parking, handicap access, restrooms with showers, and nice palapas for free shade. It’s easy to understand why it’s one of the most popular weekend escapes for locals. The swimming and snorkeling conditions are great, especially the farther out you go. During the winter, take a moment to hold your head underwater. You might hear gray whales’ melodic songs in the distance.

Kimball House is one of Atlanta‘s top rated restaurants and it doesn’t take long to learn why. Every detail is impeccable, from the excellent service to the carefully crafted cocktails to the meals themselves. Set in an old train depot in Decatur, dinner at Kimball House is a splurge you won’t soon forget. Start with a few oysters, their main attraction, and a cocktail in a vintage glass. If your group is feeling adventurous, try the bottled old fashioned, which serves 4, or the full absinthe service, complete with sugar cubes and all the fixings. Beer and wine are also options. The menu changes seasonally, but always offers some form of fish, meat and vegetables, as well as steak and caviar. They don’t take reservations, so you’ll have to be patient or go early. They also have outdoor seating for when the weather is nice. Named for the former Kimball House Hotel, the interior of the restaurant is the star, so don’t forget to look up from your meal.

This little private church is probably the most photographed stop in Oia. Our rented house was right next to it but lower on the steps so we could see lots of people getting lots of photos. Married couples would take their photos next to it, photographers were offering workshops that included this spot. I woke up at 5.30AM to wonder when nobody else was around. Best time of day to walk around this very busy tourist destination.

Hungry locals cram this Willemstad lunch spot every weekday, but the lines are well worth the wait. The massive outdoor food court hosts six different kitchens serving up local fare on an open flame. You can’t go wrong no matter which stand you pick—this is the place to sample authentic Curaçao cuisine at an affordable price. Try a bowl of kadushi (candle cactus) soup, or a plate of red snapper or goat stew with funchi (polenta), and an arepa di pampuna (pumpkin pancake) for dessert. Walk it off by checking out the nearby Floating Market or Punda Museum after lunch.

Looking directly onto the turquoise and emerald sparkle of the Atlantic Ocean beyond a ribbon of powdery white sand, The Melia Nassau Beach - All Inclusive is in a prime location on Nassau’s beautiful Cable Beach. The property features bright and modern rooms and suites on, all with private balconies, and either pool or ocean views. There are also three pools with waterfalls facing the sea, one of which is adults only, and two hot tubs. Seven restaurants and four bars round out the all-inclusive offerings. When booking, there is an option for THE LEVEL, which is the property’s elevated services and amenities package, and guests have access to an exclusive beach area, private lounge, premium top shelf liquors and preferential dining bookings. The property is also very family friendly and there is a children’s pool as well as a Kids’ Club offering daily activities for children 5 to 12 onsite, so parents can get some downtime. On a recent visit to see the newly renovated LEVEL rooms (these are on the 8th and 9th floor and have the most direct ocean views) this writer was seriously impressed by the quality of food at the Melia Nassau Beach - All Inclusive. It’s often the low-point of an all-inclusive experience, but this wasn’t the case here, where there is plenty of variety, and a lot of fresh and healthy choices. Another plus were the strong drinks, which were not watered down as often happens at all-inclusives. With six included restaurants, the variety of what you eat is also awesome. And while the seventh restaurant, Black Angus, isn’t included in any of the packages, it is worth shelling out the extra bucks for — in fact, it’s a popular choice with locals, who book for diner. The steaks here are massive and cooked to order, and the fresh line fish is an excellent pescatarian selection. The lobster mac and cheese is also delicious. Even if you don’t dine at Black Angus, the included restaurants still have you eating around the world: Nikkei serves Japanese and Peruvian fare, including show cooking on Teppanyaki tables and a fresh sushi bar; Cilantro is focused on fresh Mexican and tequila (note some of the speciality cocktails do have extra cost associated with them, but it’s clearly noted in the menu); and O’Grille, which is an American grill. There are also multiple bar options and different entertainment - try the karaoke - depending on the night of the week. Right on Cable Beach, the location is fabulous with water you won’t want to get out of -- it’s the most beautiful color of turquoise, warm, calm and crystal clear, and the hotel offers complimentary floats, SUP boards and kayaks to enjoy it. Should you tire of the vitamin sea, you can hop on the free shuttle to the Baha Mar development, whi-ch includes a casino, 18-hole, par-72 golf course, dining venues and shopping.

Jean-Michel Cousteau and family have created an award-winning, five-star resort on the island of Vanua Levu, in Fiji. No phones, no wi-fi and no worries at this casual, luxurious resort. The thatched “bures” are private rooms and suiteswith views of the ocean or gardens. “The Villa” is the ultimate in privacy and island-style luxury with a private infinity pool, Jacuzzi tub, your own waterfall and outdoor shower. If you are familiar with the Cousteau family and the work Jean-Michel, and his father ocean conservationist and scientist Jacques Cousteau have done, you will be happy to know that the resort continues their work to preserve ocean life and teach people to co-exist with the flora and fauna of earth. Recycling, earth-friendly lighting and growing their own food for the kitchen along with ocean activities that promote learning and understanding of our world are key features. If you are a diver, you are in true paradise here. The resort provides access to the best dive sites in Fiji and the South Pacific. The Jean-Michel Cousteau Dive Centre is located just minutes away from a host of exciting dive sites. Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort’s restaurant offers a diverse cuisine, using only sustainable fish and local products. You’ll have an extraordinary ocean views from your table. If you brought the children, they can attend the complementary Bula Club at the resort. Glass-bottom boat excursions with the resort’s full-time Fijian naturalist/marine biologist Johnny Singh is a highlight. Children under the age of five have their own nanny assigned to them included in the accommodation. Website www.fijiresort.com

Jackson’s cool kids kick back at Hatch, a stylish newcomer to the cocktail scene (it opened in December 2014). Sure, it serves Tex-Mex tacos and snacks, even chicken in an unctuous pumpkin-seed mole. But you don’t come here for the food: The draw is the central location (one block off the town square) and the sunny outdoor deck, which serves up primo people-watching to accompany your bracing “Hatcharita.” You may overhear details about the latest real estate deal, or a young professional’s quest to find a guy who’ll prioritize her over skiing/climbing/fishing—chatter that reveals plenty about the Jackson Hole way of life.

Leave it to Disney to give visitors the chance to travel the world without leaving a theme park. At Epcot’s World Showcase, you’ll find several countries re-created to surprisingly realistic effect, all surrounding a centerpiece lagoon. Experience the landscapes, food, and cultural performances of such diverse lands as China, Italy, Canada, and Morocco, or embark on a “drink around the world” journey by grabbing a Hefeweizen in Germany, a vin rouge in France, a margarita in Mexico, and so on. The staff working in each area are natives of the country, so you can expect an authentic experience wherever you stop. Also worth visiting in Epcot are the 3-D rides, the Frozen-themed attractions, and the underwater coral reef. In addition, the park hosts annual events like the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival in the late fall, and the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival each spring, making it more than worth a visit.

My first visit to The Lazy Fish was for a wedding and I simply wish I could have stayed longer. This is not your usual guesthouse; for a start you can only access it by boat and at the end of the private jetty where you disembark is an old style telephone box - that actually works! The Lazy Fish is secluded in the Marlborough Sounds at the top of the South Island. Perfect for a real ‘getaway’ the serenity is amplified by the native birdlife and the gentle washing of water on the pebbled shore. There is a beautiful native garden you can walk through, complete with large palms, and on those rare occasions where the weather isn’t the best you can simply pick up a book and relax inside on one of the most comfortable chairs in the world!

Never underestimate the power of shocking pink. The intimate but lively dining room at Dulce Patria—the smash hit by celebrity chef Martha Ortiz—feels not unlike a stage set. Soon after 2 p.m., it starts to fill with high-powered ladies-who-lunch types, cooing over a menu of updated Mexican classics with extravagant, architectural presentations that are at least half the fun. That said, chef Ortiz’s flavorful sculptures really deliver: Tastes are delicate, authentic, and quite delicious. The well-balanced offering presents ample choices without overwhelming, in favorites like the corn-kernel soup, a full portfolio of quesadillas, duck mole, and an extravagant dessert list (gelatin lovers rejoice) that really does drive home the dulce part. A recent seating included telenovela stars and a former Señor Presidente. And who knew there were so many edible flowers?

Bến Thành market has been around Saigon in one form or another for over 300 years. At some points it neighbored bodies of water including a small lake. It is a monster, overwhelming at first. If you come to Saigon and you love to shop, this is the one-stop shop you are looking for. Personally nothing is more thrilling at Bến Thành than the art of “The Barter.” It’s a strategic game of wits of where you pit product desire against pocketbook ability and the house always wins. It’s not always easy, in fact it’s never easy. Hot, stagnant air ripe with the smell of fish and squid always seems to hang in the air right over that gift you can’t live without. You’re constantly walking that fine line between feeling like you got ripped off or feeling you’re further oppressing the local population. Bến Thành is the stadium packed with hundreds of thousands of pieces of clothing, jewelry, and art- and they’re all yours to play for.

The public market stalls are the best place to hear Yanito, the regional dialect, as the locals barter for the freshest fish, meat and produce. A visit to this 1929 covered market, located just outside Casemates Square, provides insight into language and traditional Gibraltar cuisine as well as a great opportunity to find edible souvenirs.

The Mitilíni market is one of the best cultural experiences in Greece. The agora stretches from the south port to the north port and has an impressive variety of goods. Stroll the narrow alleyways and discover antique shops and boutiques. The fish market is the place to go for fresh sardines and octopus. Lesbos is famous for its ouzo production, so be sure to stop by an ouzerie to pick up a bottle. This part of town is usually busy with shoppers, so take your time and enjoy the people-watching.

On a private island just off the west coast of Barbuda that is home to gorgeous Palm Beach, is the Outback restaurant. Open for lunch only, it does fresh grilled dishes – mostly fish and seafood including lobster, but they also do a good chicken – and meal prices include free pick-up by water taxi from the Codrington pier. Full of island ambiance, it’s very casual spot located just a few feet from a deserted white sand beach, and a classic Barbuda experience. Just make sure to book in advance and bring your swimsuit and a towel so you can relax on the beach with a cocktail after dining.

Beginning at Palmetto Point, at the southeastern most tip of the island, and separating the rough Atlantic waters from the quiet tranquility that is Codrington Lagoon, is a narrow swath of barrier land that runs north for 11-miles, and on one side includes one of the most stunning and isolated beaches in the Caribbean. A strip of pillow soft pink sand runs parallel to the calm turquoise, crystal-clear lagoon and apart from the Lighthouse Bay Resort, there is nothing here but sand and sea. No other hotels, or bars, or restaurants or evening a fishing shanty interrupt the natural landscape. And the remoteness of Barbuda, and this beach in particular, make it perfect for meditation, solitude or romance as it’s often void of other people too.