The Entrepreneur's Travel Log

My Blog has Moved...

2007-09-12T13:07:00.001-07:00

I've recently switched to a new blogging system to get you more information quickly.

For the latest posts and musings, my blog can now be found at:

http://www.successconnections.com/melanie/

Please bookmark this new location and drop by whenever you like.

I look forward to seeing you in my new 'blog' home.

- Melanie

Ojai Valley...Inns & Spa

2007-05-28T19:18:00.000-07:00

Last week, for my post-speaking, birthday spa retreat, my boyfriend and I decided to check out the Ojai Valley Inn & Spa. It's a AAA 5 Diamond resort and one of the historical hotels of America.

I've heard wonderful things about the resort. I've even eaten lunch there before but never actually stayed in one of the rooms.

Here is a link to the hotel: http://www.ojairesort.com/about-luxury-resort.php

When you arrive, you are whisked into the reservation counter by one of the bellman who introduces you to the check in person, who then walks you through all of the important logistics -- restaurants, pools, golf course and spa details -- then walks you back to the bellman who takes you in a golf cart to your room.

We had a fabulous room overlooking the golf course and valley with a fireplace and a HUGE sunken tub. I even fell to the bottom of the tub it was so big!

But here is the thing.

Everything was nice...but it wasn't spectacular. I just didn't love it. For $600 a night rooms (now, I honestly didn't pay that much because we ALWAYS find a way to get the best deal possible) it just didn't cut it.

I did really enjoy the service -- everyone from the restaurant server to the bellman to the registration team was amazing. And if you follow my travels you know that goes a long way in my book!

The restaurant has excellent food and it is served on a patio or in a fireplace-lit room overlooking these HUGE oak trees and an awesome view of the golf course. I highly recommend it even if you just go for the day to enjoy a romantic lunch.

I did not end up going to their spa...I have actually found a wonderful little day spa that has some of the best treatments I've ever enjoyed so I'm quite partial now to them. I'll share about them on another day. =-)

Firesky "Wow Factor" in Scottsdale Arizona

2007-04-29T09:25:00.000-07:00

I'm sitting at the little desk in my room at the Firesky Resort in Scottsdale, Arizona. Usually I wait a little bit to post on a property I've stayed at but this time, I couldn't wait. I'm actually here 2 days early for a retreat I'm conducting for 10 of my Platinum Level Business Owner Clients. My event planner found this property and I was a bit skeptical to go someplace new with my elite group of clients.

The minute I pulled up I was positive I made the right choice.

It's like a combination of a Four Seasons resort and a cozy, quaint retreat area. The hotel has recently been acquired by Kimpton Proprieties and overhauled, including the restaurant.

When I walked in, the front of the resort has a cozy little sitting area with padded chairs, candles and even a welcome sign for the pets that are staying here with their owners. There is a beautiful pool area, spa and a very scrumptious restaurant.
The foyer is small, but well set up with cushioned chairs, candles, a big open feeling to it. The rooms are well thought out and have the best of a high-end resort:
- Comfortable beds with super-soft sheets and down bedding
- Nice bath tub
- High end decorations

Now here is where I went wow:
- I have a fish named Elmo in my room keeping me company
- Every night I've gotten a gift on my pillow that is part of their story of representing the four elements (fire, water, air and earth.)
- The welcome your pets
- The service is reminiscent of the Four Seasons and Ritz Carlton with prices more like a JW Marriott or Hyatt.

I'm loving this place. I'll post picture soon. Needless to say I'm already trying to figure out how to get in their Inner Circle for regular guests and looking at what cities they are in for my next big retreat!

The Four Seasons Westlake Village

2007-04-12T17:30:00.000-07:00

I treated myself to a five star R&R day at the Four Seasons Spa not too long ago. This resort opened up not to far from my house in Westlake Village, California and I just had to go check it out.

The hotel is interesting...a bit sterile for my taste. We decided to have lunch at the Japanese restaurant and it was "underwhelming" in taste and a bit "overwhelming" in price.

But the spa...oh boy...the spa was worth every penny. The decor is a high end Asian feel with a river running through the middle. The spa pool is right outside with the ULTIMATE feeling of being pampered.

I found myself lingering around the chaise lounge, bundled up in my spa robe and a cozy blanket with a cup of tea. It was totally delicious relaxation time.

I also really enjoyed the massage. I only indulged in a 50 minute massage with a world class masseuse. I definitely wanted more at the end!

If you are looking for a great spa experience, I highly recommend it!

The Body Sanctuary Day Spa

2007-04-03T17:16:00.000-07:00

Monday's are my day to do whatever I want (notice I don' t make them Fridays...somehow it is much more decadent to take Monday as a "me day.")

I felt the call to enjoy some spa time...so off I went to my one of my new favorites: The Body Sanctuary in Westlake Village, California.

This little day spa has a very special energy and all of the staff is excellent.

I splurged and had the massage, facial AND a 20 minute session in this really cool water pod. I don't remember what they call it but it was like a little space ship cocoon that vibrates, plays music, and sprays a viche shower. It was really quite enjoyable.

Both treatments were fantastic! And I always love a spa that has fruit, plenty of bottled water, juices and tea out to nurish your body in between treatments. The only down side is the lack of spa or steam rooms. But the space ship pod definitely makes up for it.

I highly recommend this place for a local day spa. Most importantly, I was totally relaxed coming home!

Kayaking with Dolphins in Hawaii

2007-03-21T19:02:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite adventures from my trip was a kayaking trip on the Big Island with some friends and clients. We were all there for the Billionaire Bootcamp and spent the day prior in search of dolphins and excellent snorkeling.

The spot we chose is called Captain Cook's landing. First we had to rent the kayaks. This is the "girls" and the "guys" getting ready.

Michele PW (michelepw.com), me,

Tracy Monteforte (wtpowers.com) and
Beth Schneider (processprodigy.com.)

Paul Wacek, Pat Monteforte and my honey, Mark Bayliss.

We kayaked over to a little lagoon and snorkled in a beautiful reef for hours. We saw eels, schools of yellow tangs and puffer fish. It was like snorkeling in a gigantic fish tank.

But the magical part was as we kayaked back towards the docks, we ran across a school of baby dolphins. Imagine what it would feel like to have hundreds of dolphins jumping in an out of the water right in front of you. I tried to capture it with our underwater camera...but it just didn't do it justice. =-)

This experience was so amazing we just sat out there on the water for about 45 minutes watching the dolphins spin, jump and play all around us. It was absolutely the highlight of my trip!

South of France

2007-02-02T15:13:00.000-08:00

The South of France was one of my dream destinations. I had always imagined what it would be like to sit on the beach in Cannes. After watching so many movies glamorizing the beaches in South of France, it was a must-see. This area is a beautiful but definitely a tourist-trap.

One of my favorites was Juan Le Tibs, just next to Cannes, where they hold the Cannes Film Festival. The beaches are very different from America. Here the sand is more rocky and you rent chairs or mats. In Juan Le Tibs, we rented mats on the wooden deck overlooking the ocean.

This dock is where we enjoyed the sun -- along with all the top-less sun bathers. Interesting how most of them were over 50. =-) They also had a cafe at the top of the dock where we ordered amazing salads. The had "mat service" and brought them out to us. I loved the cafe & sun concept.

This is our view looking back towards the beach. The water isn't as warm as the Caribbean, but just as beautiful. You can see some of the many hotels near the water.

One of our decadent treats was crepes. We had a hard time finding good crepes, even though they seem to be a French treat. We heard that it is actually more of a street food from Paris. We did find this one cafe in Cannes, right near the famous hotels, that had the BEST crepes ever. Of course, we had to load them up with peaches, strawberries and chocolate. We tried to come back 2 more times and they were closed!

The Princeville Resort (and Spa?)

2007-01-30T08:02:00.000-08:00

In November, we took a one week trip to Kauai in Hawaii. I'd been speaking every week for almost 12 weeks all through out the West Coast and I was exhausted! Kauai is one of my favorite islands. We rented a beautiful house on the North Shore in the Princeville Estates that overlooked the Ocean from the cliffs.

We spent the first day just driving around, seeing the sights. These waterfalls in the picture to the left are even more beautiful with the rainbow behind it.

The next order of business, being the spa junkie that I am, was to check out the spas on the island. The closest and seemingly best spa seemed to be at the Princeville Resort. This is a beautiful hotel overlooking the North Shore. I've played some great rounds of golf here a few years ago. This picture to the left is of the view from the Princeville lobby balcony.

The spa was a HUGE disapointment. My treatment was OK -- I got a massage. But the amentities were poor. Its strange because this property is very nice. The spa pool barely had any sun! There was a very small and weird sauna. And the steam room was old and let's say, very noisy.

I wouldn't go again, that's for sure. After a week on the island, we flew back through Honolulu and spent the day there. I'm not too crazy about the "city" feel to it but we did find this magical hotel, Turtle Bay Resort, away from it all. This picture was the "shack" they served lunch from on the beach. It was just so magical to sit and watch the ocean with the breeze through my hair enjoying my lunch! I'd go back to this hotel in a heart-beat.

I can't wait for my next adventure...hmmm, Caribbean? Tahiti? Where should I go?

Florence Italy & the Medici Palace

2006-08-13T20:25:00.000-07:00

Florence, Italy is rated the #1 European vacation spot by Travel & Leisure Magazine (Aug 06.) I can tell you why. It is absolutely, positively the most captivating city I've ever been to. Maybe it's because I'm such a history addict and I love books on the European history. I've recently been reading many fiction books on the 13th Century Italian culture. So visiting Florence and the Medici Palace felt like I was stepping into one of my novels.

To get to Florence from our cruise ship, we took a train through the Tuscan Countryside. I can see why it is such romantic area to visit -- the grapevines, Tuscan villas and terrain is absolutely delightful. We weren't able to stop but it is a must-see for our next trip to Italy.

The bridge has a legend -- apparently Hitler decided NOT to bomb it because he thought it was so amazing. The bridge links old Florence to the Medici Palace -- where the ruling royalty lived and is now a museum. The bridge used to be filled with butchers but because they threw out their meat cuttings into the water and polluted the river, the government kicked them out and now hundreds of little tourist shops exist.

It was a rainy day in Florence so to get warm and nourish our bodies a bit, we ducked into a wonderful little cafe. We ordered these gastronomic delights -- little sandwiches with mozzarella, ham and tomatoes that we could have eaten the rest of our trip -- and real Italian espresso.

Our next stop was the Medici Palace museum. Now luckily (or not, depending on your view of crowds) we somehow arrived in Florence on a national holiday where all the museums were free. Unfortunately it made it quite difficult to get into all the museums we wanted to see but it could be a blessing in disguise because we spent HOURS at the Medici Palace.

We couldn't take pictures inside the museum but each room was filled with art and remnants of the Medici rulers and their significant guests. The frescos (wall and ceiling paints) were breathtaking. I've been reading about them forever and it was just amazing. Each room had a sign that explained what the room was used for, how lived in it and it's history. Wow. I was standing where Kings and Queens slept. =-)

One of my favorite wings was the Costume Gallery. Outfits that they wore in the 17th century and beyond were preserved. Then, we moved on to the gardens. This was absolutely one of my most favorite experiences on the whole trip. The gardens were more expansive than the palace itself. There were wooded walking areas, fountains, groundskeepers homes, statues, rose gardens. Just beautiful. Everything has been preserved from the original landscaping when the Medici wife modeled her "backyard" after her famous Parisian friends.

Check out the hedges and the view from the balcony of one of the garden buildings. We could have spent an entire day at this one place. But we had many more areas we wanted to experience before we left. I'll post more on Florence soon!

Sorrento and Positano, Italy by Scooter

2006-08-10T20:51:00.000-07:00

"Oh, beautiful Sorrento. You won't ever want to leave." One of my past clients said to me before I left for my trip. Well, she was right. This was by far one of my most favorite trips on the entire excursion throughout Italy.

Once Mark & I landed at port, we jumped a water taxi to Sorrento. Our first order of business was to find a scooter so we could make our way over to Positano on the Amalfi Coastline. After getting lost three times trying to get out of the city, we finally made it into the country and the most amazing views of the Amalfi Coastline.

The Amalfi Coastline is a magical windy road on the side of a mountain with old towns and little castles which are now hotels, restaurants and night clubs nestled into the rocks overlooking the ocean. We even found little "towns" carved into the side of mountains like replicas. If there hadn't been a big bus on our tail I'd have taken a picture.

After driving for hours taking in the scenery, we came back to Positano, Italy for lunch. The city is quite dense and packed into the hillside (see above pictures). We found a section of town with restaurants that have great views of the ocean and settled on one for lunch. This is where we discovered "rocket lettuce." It's a slightly spicy lettuce grown locally that is delicious. So we enjoyed a wonderful locals lunch of bread, fresh rocket salad and chicken. Italian bread is melt-in-your-mouth good.

After lunch we began to make our way back to Sorrento. Now I had heard that Sorrento was a "must have pizza" area so I went in search of great pizza. We found this piazza where we could people watch and enjoy some authentic pizza. After returning the scooter we walked down to the ferry area and marveled at the century old castle. We had to climb about 100 stairs to get down and we imagined knights and merchants doing the same thing (we do have active imaginations!)

The ferry area has another awesome view of the old walls and castle as well as boats that are docked for fishing. See the picture below that has water and a wall? At the top of that hill is a five star resort that is our next Italian trip destination! All in all, Sorrento was one of my favorite stops. Many people on our cruise didn't go there at all and when we shared our great experience they realized that the Amalfi Coastline is not one to miss! Plan for a few days to really get the full experience!

Cruising Through the Italian Riviera.

2006-07-11T11:02:00.000-07:00

On our 4th day in Spain we boarded The Norwegian Jewel for our cruise through the Italian Riviera. First stop -- Sicily!

We were beside ourselves with excitement to make a stop at the island where Al Pacino portrayed the Godfather in the first movie. Mark incessantly researched the area to find the "Godfather" tours. We finally settled on a train ride to Turino where we could see the sights.

But first, the cruise ship. What a ship! This is one of the cruise ships that now offers "free-style dining." Remember The Apprentice episode where the teams have to present their marketing campaigns for free-style dining? That was absolutely one of our favorite parts of the cruise was the fabulous restaurant experiences -- we visited the steak restaurant, the French restaurant, the Chinese restaurant and the Italian restaurant. For only $7.00 per head, we kept finding ourselves back at the steak restaurant. Go figure.

This is a picture of Mark & I on our "last meal." We ended up leaving the ship at the French port and decided to have one last real breakfast. As you can see, everyone else had hightailed it for port.

Being sun-worshippers, our first stop on our "at sea" day was some much needed R&R by the pool. I just love cruise pools -- not sure why -- probably cause they are always the perfect temperature.

We completely recharged our batteries and soaked in the Italian Riviera sunshine. Listening to the salsa band and watching fun-loving cruisers making complete fools of themselves in games like the male sexy legs contest. Yikes! Not so sexy guys!

I also fell in love with the bar. No, not because the alcohol was flowing and the music made me want to dance. Because of these crazy fun chairs! I wanted to just hang out in them all day long. I had to come back during the day though to get the pictures so you could actually see how cool they look. And they were comfy!

Then there was chocolate night. There was one room dedicated completely to a chocoholics dream. There were chocolate fountains, chocolate carvings, chocolate bon bons, chocolate cakes, and even sugar-free chocolate desserts! Mark and I way-over indulged. And he doesn't even really like chocolate. I just wished I had brought my camera. I obviously had NO IDEA how amazing chocolate night was going to be. But I wasn't going to leave that area because it was like someone said "Gold is being handed out at the restaurant" because people flooded the room as soon as it opened.

Now, back to Sicily.

We pulled into port, hopped the train to our stop, and got off. Our first realization was that we had a VERY large hill to climb to find the little town. And then, after huffing our way up, we realized, it was just a glorious shopping center! That has no restrooms!

After meandering for 30 minutes we realized this wasn't our cup of tea and we found a gondola ride to the bottom of the mountain and found a cool little beach-front resort to have lunch and hang out at.

We met a really nice couple from our cruise ship on the walk -- who had the same idea we did. It was really fun to just meet random people in another country and realize they are traveling on the same ship you are.

All in all, I'd say skip Sicily. There were so many fabulous cities in Europe and Sicily just didn't do it for us. I mean, how long can you walk around looking at stores of olive oil and linens?

Tarragona, Spain

2006-06-19T18:39:00.000-07:00

Oh magical Tarragona. At the risk of slighting Barcelona, I must admit that my breath was taken away when I got off the train and experienced this view. We had no idea what we were in for and set about to discover the magic of this quaint little town. Tarragona was captured by the Roman Empire in 218 BC and later became the capital of "Tarraconensis" under Augustus' rule. The city is rich in Roman ruins and devoid of tourists. I absolutely suggest making this day

Having spent a good portion of the morning getting to Tarragona, Mark and I jumped at the chance to have a peaceful lunch under the yellow umbrellas of the quaint restaurant.

We were anxious to visit the cathedral but found out it was closed until 4pm (this town takes it siesta time seriously.) We also learned the hardway about Spanish eating habits. Lunch starts around 1pm, siesta is from 1 - 4pm, tapas and gelato (a fancy name for ice cream) are avialble until 6 pm, but the serious dinner time starts around 8:30 - 9 pm. This town totally shuts down their food until dinner time! We were very hungry and very bummed about that. That was the day that I succumed to the local McDonald's.

After lunch we took a walk around the city to see the big Roman wall. The Roman's built this wall to keep out their enemies. It still stands today and envelopes the old city. You can see it here to the left.

One of the most amazing experiences on our trip was to be in the presence of century old ruins. Two that we saw were The Forum and the Colliseum. The picture of steps is the colliseum -- where people in the early AD centuries enjoyed their "performances." AKA gladiator and animal fights. Too gruesome to think about but I was quite captivated by the history.

Mark decided to sit on the steps and "be" like the spectators. I think he is taking my coaching advice a bit too far. =-) The picture of the arches and pillars is the Forum, where people conducted business and met for meetings. There were many old nooks, statues, pillars and remants of an ancient city life.

As we left the colliseum on our way to see the cathedral, we had to climb about 60 stairs. As we turned around, this was the view.

After a very hot and water-deprived walk, we got back to the cathedral. By the way, water is a serious commodity in these areas. A .79 cent bottle of water in the US went for around 2 Euros (about $2.45 cents US.)

Anyway, once we entered the cathedral, I was awestruck. The entrance is an archetectural wonder in itself. Here are pictures of the entry way and a detail of the carved statues in the arch.

The details, the opulence and the magnificence were tremendous. A few of the pieces that actually turned out in the photoes are here.

We ended our day just outside the cathedral at a wonderful cafe which specializes in chocolate. My favorite. This is a picture of the little cafe -- it was so peaceful to sit and enjoy a te (tea) and enjoy the surroundings. On our way back to Barcelona on the train, we both passed out. It became a ritual for us to nap after a long day of sight seeing -- maybe those siestas make perfect sense afterall.

First Stop: Barcelona, Spain

2006-06-17T15:50:00.000-07:00

Barcelona, home of the 1996 Summer Olympic Games, was our first stop, and the city where we would start our cruise of the Southern Ports of Italy and France. One of my first sights was in the taxi over to the apartment we rented -- beautiful monuments everywhere. This one monument was at the hub of the port and one of the big tourist areas -- La Rambla.

One of the decisions we made was to enjoy as much of the "real life" as possible. So we selected apartments in a couple of cities. Our apartment in Barcelona was really cool -- and really small. It amazed me how little space people lived in on a regular basis. Our place was in a little district across from the wharf and a major restaurant row. On the first day, we went out and investigated the local market. We are real big on eating vegetables and fresh food so we had a lot of in-home breakfasts. I loved going to the market and picking out our food, including our meat, in a big out door market.

We enjoyed much of the local architecture -- Gaudi has many amazing and quite bizarre sights. This is the Gaudi's Parc Guell -- on top of a hill that you have to climb. It spans quite a large area and includes many unique hallways, benches and stairways. I tried to capture with the camera but it was difficult to really do the view justice.

As you walk up the stairs, under the pillars, is a huge area with a beautiful mosaic inlaid ceiling. This picture to the left is a mosaic in the ceiling -- it was about 3 - 4 feet in diameter and there were many of them. I kept thinking "how long could it take to build something like this?"

There was another flight of stairs and then a huge park where you could see the whole valley. Very breathtaking. Thank goodness because we were about wiped out from all the stairs and needed a good rest!

There are many sites of architecture from Gaudi. We decided to take a bus tour and drive by most of them. The camera's just don't do them justice.

We learned a few interesting tidbits about Barcelona: 1) pickpockets are rampant. Our second day, someone tried to pick pocket our backpack on the bus. We were prepared though and had a bunch of my personals in the outside pocket-- lipstick, chapstick, etc. When it all fell out, we realized someone had tried and failed. We had our super-strength lock on the zipper -- no one was getting in! 2) restaurants in this area love iceberg lettuce. Ick. Hated the salads and never really got a fabulous meal there. This was also about the time I learned that ice-tea only comes in a bottle in Europe. After three failed drink orders produced water, a soda and a frustrated waiter, I gave up and went for hot "te". 3) Fashion is interesting -- or doesn't exist -- not sure which. We cruised a mall one afternoon at the port and found the clothes to be very bright, 80's-ish style. Wow.

The next area we enjoyed was the tree-lined walk of La Rambla. Many street magicians are there to entertain you as well as about 3 million people. This one "statue" really caught my eye. I was so impressed by the complexity of their costumes. Again, a big pick-pocket area, so we didn't linger much.

The entrance to the Barri Gotic (the oldest part of town) was found by these small streets filled with shops, cafes and even local American favorites like Gucci and Prada. Go figure. I could have shopped for hours -- enjoying the feeling of real cobblestone streets and knowing you were in the middle of centuries-old buildings.

The Cathedral was absolutely amazing. Breathtaking. I kept saying to myself how amazing it was that something so old was still standing (I we hadn't even experienced Rome yet.)

After a couple of days of running around we opted for our last day to be on the pebble-lined beach. Being as the beach was across the street, we rented chairs and spent a few luxurious hours melting into the beautiful beach sun. You will notice that there aren't many pictures of the beaches -- that's because we couldn't get any PG rated views. Yes, they are topless beaches and the sites weren't that pretty =-)

This is a picture of me as we walked to dinner -- notice it was a bit chilly in the evenings. I loved how peaceful it felt as the sun went down very late in the evening -- this is about 8:15 at night.

Next stop, a beautiful "locals" area an hour south of Barcelona -- Tarragona.

My Summer Vacation in Europe

2006-06-17T15:01:00.000-07:00

My summer vacation started early this year with a whirlwind trip to the coasts of Spain, Italy and France. I should probably start by saying that most sane people would not take on so many cities. After the last post, many emailed or said in passing, "Boy, that's a lot to take on."

Your were right.

The idea for the trip started with a cruise through the Western Mediterranean. As we researched the area, Mark suggested that we add on a couple days on the front in Barcelona and on the back in France. In theory it was a good idea. But the temptation to "see it all" really took it's toll.

Bottom line -- I learned (again) that doing too much can take the joy out of your experience. I don't want to give the impression that the trip wasn't marvelous, it was, I am just a big relaxation princess when I travel. I didn't get enough of that.

I'll go through each city and share some stories and pictures. To kick things off, I have to laugh at Mark. It was a hectic day when we left. My family had all been in town to help me celebrate by big 4-0 and I had to drive my brother to the airport shuttle at 5:30 am. As I arrived home again, we noticed much to our dismay a big water leak in the water heater. So there was a lot of commotion and strategizing as we finalized things. As I always say to my clients, you can't plan for the unplannable!

Here is a picture of Mark, down to the wire, handling his real estate deals on the runway as we leave for our first stop in Heathrow, England. I, on the other hand, was very proud of myself. I didn't touch my cell phone or email once.

My team knew the secret phone # in case of emergency. This is the first time I left on vacation for 3 weeks and it felt really good to just be completely in vacation mode!

My Itinerary & Cruise Resource

2006-05-16T10:00:00.000-07:00

As the date gets closer to my big birthday trip to Europe, all the research we've been doing is paying off. For instance, Mark found this awesome resource for getting tips, insights and resources from "cruisers" who have learned the best options through their own travel.

Here it is: www.cruisecritic.com

We have asked them everything from scheduling drivers & trains to how to adjust to the time changes. People are so friendly and enjoy helping others make the most out of their trips. We have learned that there are many "seasoned" cruisers -- they sign their posts with all the ship names. =-)

Many people have written to ask...where are you going on your trip? Being the efficient planners that we are, we have put together an itinerary of each stop and what our preferred sites to see are. Plus, of course, being out of the office this long, I have to let someone know where we are in case of emergency. (ha ha)

Here is the plan:

Barcelona, Spain
Italy: Sicily, Naples, Rome, Florence
Nice, Monaco and VilleFrance
Geneva, Switzerland
New York

I'll be sure to post lots of pictures when I get back...

Where are your fun travel plans to this summer?

The Dream to Travel Europe

2006-04-12T20:06:00.000-07:00

Ever since I graduated from college I have dreamed of going to Europe. At first, as a young and inexperienced traveler, I thought I'd hoist a back pack over my shoulder and sleep under the stars (or probably more like a hostel) as I hiked through Europe as my college graduation gift to myself.

That dream came and went as my best friend ditched me for a trip with her boyfriend.

But I never gave up on my dream. Once in a while, a friend would say, "We should plan a trip to Europe." I'd get all excited, envisioning all the beautiful places in Italy I wanted to see. Greece and France were also top on the list I imagined the canals of Venice, the cathedrals in Rome and the beautiful, green countryside filled with wine grapes. Or the white washed homes overlooking the ocean.

Every movie I watched that had Europe in called forth my pining even more. I longed to fulfill my dream, my vision, of experiencing this lifelong goal.

A few of my friends would go on a trip. I was green with envy devouring all of the details from their trip.

Last year I started talking about it again. I figured if I talked about it someone would want to go right? I mean, how hard could it be. I have a gazillion airline miles racking up and I kept asking myself, what am I waiting for? Again, the months went by and no trip.

As 2006 arrived I was determined to experience the trip of my dreams. I wrote down my goal as if it had already happened (using The Unstoppable Goals Method.) I shared my goal with my honey and he said, let's make it happen.

Well, it's happening. As a celebration of a very monumental birthday this year, I'm going on a 2 1/2 week journey throughout the Mediterranean.

I can't wait! But on a much more basic level, I'm really proud that I've FINALLY manifested my dream. I'll share more on the trip soon but for now, if you know of any great resources for researching great accommodations in Italy, France and Switzerland, I'd love to know. Just post it here.

A Great Spa in the Calabasas, CA

2005-11-06T19:19:00.000-08:00

Today was a must-have spa day. I've been traveling for almost 2 weeks solid and I'm a bit burned out. And after lugging around my laptop and briefcase my shoulders were screaming! (I am currently coveting my friend Ali Brown's (theezinequeen.com) weight-less rolling briefcase.)

So I checked out a spa near my house called Zen Spa nestled in office building heaven in Calabasas, CA (near Los Angeles.)

I have to admit it was one of the best massages and facials I've ever had! The spa is very nice (beautiful fountains and zen sand pits.) They have fabulous teas, nuts and fruit put out. And the staff is sooo nice. The only bummer is they don't have much in the way of saunas and jacquzzi.

I feel like a new woman now with my spa pick-me-up. Be sure to check it out if you live in the San Fernando Valley and want a local spa day.

Back to work I go....

What's Your Favorite Caribbean Island?

2005-10-18T08:31:00.000-07:00

Mark & I are planning our next trip. Now I've only had limited experiences with the Caribbean and so far, St. John is my favorite. But we thought we'd check in with our readers to find out...

What's your favorite spot?

What we want is:
>> Tropical feel with trees and mountains
>> Lots of beautiful beaches for sunning
>> Places to stay right on the beach
>> Daytime activities such as snorkeling, horseback riding, etc.
>> Great food!

Feel free to share your greatest trip here.
And we will be sure to share it all with you as we go along!

Thanks and happy travels!

Refugees in Cambria

2005-10-04T09:30:00.000-07:00

Last week the Topanga Fire ravaged through my neighborhood and we were evacuated from our homes. Unfortunately, we also did not have power for 5 days. So rather than rent a hotel in the smoke infested skies of the Valley, we headed for the ocean -- Cambria, CA.

Mark found a wonderful house for rent overlooking the ocean.

Here's the view from the living room (forgive the glare.)

It was the perfect retreat from the chaos of the fire. This home had a downstairs rec room with a pool table and sun room. The upstairs had two bedrooms, a living room and a TV room. And of course, a spa tub on the balcony. After two afternoons in front of the fire catching up on last season's episodes of LOST, we were finally a bit more rested up.

Unfortunately Sunday at 5:30 am we awoke to three earthquakes. Now after the fire-scare, this was NOT an ideal way to wake up on Sunday. I hear though that they have earthquakes all the time so I guess the locals are used to it. Not me!

Cambria is a quaint little town north of San Luis Obispo. There are many bed & breakfast type lodgings as well as houses you can rent on the beach. If you are looking for a serene, relaxing, low-key vacation, this is your ticket.

Bacara -- The Celebrity's Resort in Santa Barbara

2005-09-11T10:57:00.000-07:00

The other day, my partner Mark surprised me by booking spa treatments at Bacara in Santa Barbara. Now I've ALWAYS wanted to go to this resort -- it is one of those places you read about in magazines.

www.bacararesort.com

Imagine pulling up into a Mercedes and BMW lined entry way and walking into a pristine foyer filled with waterfalls. The architecture at Bacara is divine and as we strolled along the property, I began to understand why they charge upwards of $500 per night for the rooms.

Plus it is one of the only properties where you have walking access to the beach.

At lunch, I knew I was in a very chi-chi restuarant when they brought me liquid sugar for my ice tea. The food was phenomenal at The Bistro as well as the views of the ocean.

So after a few hours of sunbathing on the "clothing optional" sundeck and a nice walk along the coastline, we enjoyed a fabulous spa experience (we had facials.)

My next surprise was just down the highway at the CircleB Ranch -- horseback riding along the ridges of the Santa Barbara mountains. It was absolutely beautiful. Waterfalls, views of the ocean, and perfect weather.

Mark even packed my jeans so I didn't have to wear shorts on the horse. =-)

It was a perfect way to recharge from my big house and office move and get geared up for the next round of travel and speaking.

In Town for a while...but what a Treat!

2005-08-15T18:23:00.000-07:00

August has found me grounded in Los Angeles as I'm investing in some property. Luckily for me, one of my amazing clients, Jim Connelly, (www.teamcuisine.com) decided to celebrate his birthday in high-style with a privately catered event. I felt like I was on a tropical island retreat center at a 5-star restaurant!

Now the reason this event made the Freedom Blog is because I believe this man lives his passion every day. That, to me, is the ultimate expression of freedom. And the fact that he and his gorgeous wife Renee decided to share it with their close friends is a cause to celebrate.

Let me just set the tone for you here. First, their home is just amazing. Check out the beautiful setting for this extravaganza. Bob Cotto (www.wethepeoplela.org) and his beautiful wife are the centerpiece of the "love seat." And we had to take pictures of the 5th and 6th courses (by the 7th course our taste buds were in heaven) On top of it all, they served some of the best French champagne and wines I've ever had.

The night was one of the most wonderful evenings I've ever had. Some of my favorite things -- amazing food, awesome environment and great friends. What more could a girl want?

The ULTIMATE in Freedom - Own Your Own Island

2005-07-24T10:00:00.000-07:00

At dinner last night, we were talking with some friends about the idea of ultimate freedom....owning our own island. Could you imagine what vacationing would be like on your own island?

You wake up one day and decide...I want to go on vacation. You hop on your leer jet and after landing in your own private air strip, you enter the ultimate lap of luxury. Your own private island. Talk about getting a good tan...you don't even have tan lines!

Here the Top 5 reasons to make owning your own island a goal:
1. You never call for reservations and find out your favorite hotel is sold out.
2. You always get the best room and view at a great rate.
3. The service is superb!
4. You can get amazing room service at any time of day or night with exactly what you want.
5. You will be the envy of all your friends.

Want to learn more? Conde Naste recently had an article on owning your own Island in the Bahamas. Check it out here: http://www.concierge.com/cntraveler/articles/Editorial/Article/data/
cntraveler/2005/07jul/isletakeit.xml/

When I buy my own island (or at the very least a vacation property) it will have to be in the Caribbean. Or maybe the Dominican Republic. They absolutely have some of the best snorkeling in the world. Where would you buy your island? Share your island-purchase goals here...

A Quick Overnight to Recharge...

2005-07-20T08:33:00.000-07:00

Ever have one of those weeks where even though life is good, you just need to decompress to "gear up" for the week ahead? Well Sunday Mark surprised me with a quick overnight get away to my favorite little spot...

You guessed it.

The JW Marriott Desert Hot Springs. (this is a view from our room)

So I quickly packed a bag (I wasn't told where I was going...just bring a bathing suit and a cute dress for dinner.) An hour into our drive, I noticed that the weather was rapidly changing from the 95 degrees in the Valley of Los Angeles.

100 degrees....105 degrees...110 degrees.

At this point I'm pretty sure I know where I'm going. It can only be the Desert or Las Vegas. And since I have to run the Shared Vision Network meeting in 2 days, I figure it must be the Desert.

Upon our arrival at 3:30 it is a whomping 122 degrees!!!! It felt like 5000 degrees.

We decided to make the best of it. After our last crazy experience we are in good shape with our favorite gal at the hotel. We realize that we have now achieved VIP status and have lifetime passes to the spa pool (hooray) and there just happens to be a suite open for the nite.

So here we are in 122 degrees, with a summer rate (way less than $100) in the executive suite. It's a great way to recharge. So we head to the pool for a quick dip (you can't stay outside too long) and our favorite spa-tea's. We finally learned that the secret reciepe is SportsTea. It is a great combo of ginseng, anti-oxidants and a fruity taste. I suck them down pretty quickly out there when it's hot.

The other funny thing was that the resort was packed full of Mike Ferry's Real Estate coaching program participants. We had just been hearing about the program the day before.

Coincidence? I think not.

Especially when we shared a table at the Mikado's with more people from the program. Since Mark is in real estate, we picked up all kinds of great ideas and tools for his business.

Another fun little excursion. And since you all keep asking...I don't know exactly where we are going next...but I promise to keep you posted!

A Mini-Travel Day - The Best Way to Recharge

2005-07-13T15:16:00.000-07:00

What do you do when your plate is full but you really need to recharge? A mini-vacation. Over the weekend the Valley was rapidly approaching triple digit weather (and yes, I do melt) so Mark & I headed to Marina del Rey to get some exercise, sun and cool off with some kayaking.

It was so much fun we've decided to do it again.

The best part is that I can row right up to my good friend Ali Brown's (www.ezinequeen.com) place right on the marina and say hi. (She wasn't home that day...but next time!) She was busy planning her big bday bash for August 5th where we will all be joining her on a big yacht for some high-end networking and celebration. Want to come party with us? Join us here.

How about sharing one of your most favorite ways to take a mini-recharge break? Need some ideas? Here is a post from a recent ezine I wrote.

Take a Break! 10 Mini-Vacation Ideas to Spark Your Creative Juices

When I was in corporate America, it was so easy to take a vacation – I was getting paid for it! As an entrepreneur, I find months slip away and I’m still going full speed ahead. I think, “Who’s got time for a vacation?” I’ve noticed many of my clients and friends have a similar mindset.

What is the cost of not taking time off to recharge?

We may become grumpy or perhaps we get writers block and the creative juice aren’t flowing. Or worse yet, we start suffering from the entrepreneur’s worst nightmare -- fatigue (five cups of coffee later and you still can’t get in gear.)

It is time to give yourself a break. For those of you who have great discipline and balance, you can stop reading now. You have probably already mastered this area. For those of you who rarely take time for yourself, let alone a vacation from the business, take good notes.
Why is this important?

Because as an entrepreneur our most important and valuable skill is our creativity. And creativity flourishes when we are rested. Have you ever noticed that our best ideas come at times like when we are sleeping or in the shower? Maybe you are like me and they drop in when you are driving? Well, to tap into that cherished creativity more often, we need to have downtime. Let me introduce the idea of the “entrepreneur’s vacation.”

You may not have the time or inclination to go to Yosemite or Las Vegas, so here are 10 ways to give yourself a “mini-vacation” without losing momentum from your business. (And all ten are doable no matter what you say about your schedule.)

Read a good book. No…not another marketing or leadership book. Be really audacious – read a fiction book. Recently, I’ve read “The Kite Runner” and “The Time Traveler’s Wife.” Anything that will let your imagination run free and the creativity flow.
Hang out in a coffee shop. You’ll meet the most interesting people (especially in L.A.) I’ve run into Dr. Phil, Allison Jaimes (from the West Wing), Robert Downey Jr., and many others. Coffee shops are great for people watching.You can’t throw a wet noodle without hitting a Starbucks around here so I prefer the “local” places (like Aroma Café in Sherman Oaks.)
Go for a drive. Pick a place you haven’t been before. I’ll often jump in the car and drive down to the beach just to get my head clear.
Have lunch with a friend. You know, at one of those fancy, chi-chi restaurants with the great view. I highly recommend Shutters in Santa Monica if you are in the neighborhood.
Go to a mid-day matinee. Be decadent and make it a 2:00 showing. Plus it’s a great way to escape the summer heat waves.
Enjoy a hobby. Golf, tennis, knitting, painting, gardening, whatever it is, give yourself some time to have fun with it. Internet surfing and chat rooms don’t count! (But planting a few house plants does!)
Play games with friends. Two of our family favorites are Guesstures and Canasta. Games are an amazing way to let off steam. The idea is to laugh like a kid again.
Get some culture. Most towns have outdoor concerts for the summer that are free. Visit a museum. Be a tourist in your own town.
Spend the afternoon with a child. If you don’t have any of your own, borrow one from a friend. Do something you would never do unless you were with a five year old! When was the last time you build a fort in your living room? Remember how fun that was?
Treat yourself to a spa day.
My personal favorite – massage. It is something that is good for EVERYONE!

The pay off for taking breaks can be significant. Writers who suffer from writers block often say that the best thing to do is disengage for a while and do something else. When you notice you are reading the same sentence over and over again or when you sit staring at the computer for over 15 minutes, trying to remember what you were just working on, it’s time to take a break! Have fun with it and just enjoy yourself for a few hours. I promise, nothing horrible will happen and you will be much more creative when you return.

So here’s an opportunity for you to integrate more time to tap into your creativity…Plan to do at least one of these 10 recommendations within the next week. Watch what happens. Realize how your energy is rejuvenated. Observe how much more productive you become when you take time for fun. Open your mind to the flow of creativity and new ideas. Pretty soon you’ll be pleasantly surprised at how nice an “entrepreneur’s vacation” can be.

Want to get these tips on a regular basis? Visit www.successconnections.com and sign up for the "5 Massive Mistakes" gift.

4th of July in Paradise

2005-07-05T17:04:00.000-07:00

Paradise to me is San Diego, California. Home of my alma mater -- San Diego State University.
Believe it or not, it has been almost 1 year since my last visit...way too long. So my boyfriend surprised me with a 2 day get-away to paradise at the new 4-Star Spa Resort called Estancia. (www.estancialajolla.com) Conde Naste voted them one of the best new properties for 2005. So we went to see if we agreed with their rating.

What I loved about this property first and foremost is the amazingly friendly staff. I give them 5 stars for helpfulness and rapport-building. From the housekeeper to the restaurant manager, each and every person on this property was very helpful and friendly. The pool area was great with these cool little cabanas and big, comfy hammocks. Of course, I took full advantage of the 78 degree sunshine and sun-worshiped in the hammock!

They also have a great pool-side restaurant that grilled up the most amazing chicken kabobs. Now as a pool-side munchie connoisseur, I must admit that the 2nd day of noshing didn't go so well. The yummy looking cobb salad wasn't quite so awesome. But they made up for it with a protein-style hamburger slathered with grilled bermuda onions and brie cheese (yes, I went off the diet just slightly.)

Now for those of you who are hard-core spa'ers like me I didn't venture to the treatments on this trip. I did check in with some very relaxed looking ladies by the pool who truly enjoyed their spa experience. I did get to the gym one day and even though the equipment was adequate, without the music (their system was broken) I just wasn't all that motivated!

Sunday we ventured to George's Ocean Terrace Bistro (http://www.georgesatthecove.com/) in La Jolla for a divine lunch of smoked chicken and black bean soup, sea bass and Caesar salad (am I starting to sound like a food critic yet?) George's is a 3 Start restaurant with the best views of the cove and ocean that La Jolla has to offer. On top of the restaurant is a huge patio --that's where you will find me!

We capped the evening off at a great club in the Gaslamp District called The Bitter End. Here is a pix of us out on the town, getting ready to dance up a storm.

On the 4th, we managed to secure great seats to the legendary La Jolla Cove fireworks show by parking right in front of the gate to the Scripps Institute. We had the best views in the entire beach area and managed to bypass all of the traffic! If you have ever tried to hit the beach during the 4th of July, you learn the hard way to avoid it at all costs.

Back to The Estancia hotel. Now of course we negotiated an out-of-this-world deal at this one-year old 4-star resort. (Let's just say they swore us to secrecy.) There are some beautiful meeting rooms and the bed was one of the most comfortable beds ever. But we both agreed we wouldn't come back. It just doesn't really have that "special something" that a 4-star resort must offer it's guests....

On our way back to L.A. we stopped by a great new find in Del Mar called The Pacifica Breeze at 15th and Camino del Mar. We had two of the best egg dishes I've ever had. We both voted it the best breakfast place IN THE WORLD! You have an amazing view of the ocean coupled with fabulous food. You can also check out the dinner menu at Pacifica Del Mar (0pen for lunch and dinner.)

Another fabulous trip and I've returned completely rejuvinated!!!

Back to planning the next big trip!

Maxing out The Marriott

2005-06-23T15:44:00.000-07:00

At the last minute, my boyfriend decided to surprise me with a trip to my all time FAVORITE property in Palm Desert, CA called the JW Marriott Desert Hot Springs Resort. Why is it my favorite? Well besides the amazing waterfalls, wonderful rooms and a great staff, the spa is THE BEST place to relax.

http://marriott.com/property/propertypage.mi?marshaCode=CTDCA.

What made this trip a little more interesting is a story in itself. First of all, let me share an insider secret that Mark taught me -- always ask the front desk staff to help you with your reservation. The hotel was sold out but somehow Mark got a reservation. Then he got the front desk manager to help him get the "sold out" entertainment book rate. Since this is a $300+ per night room, let's just say this was quite a "deal."

Next, he asked if they could help us really top our stay with a really great view and 2 days at the spa pool (technically you only get to go if you are getting a spa treatment.) So upon our arrival, we were quite pleased to find a top-notch view of the mountains, lakes and pools in addition to 2 tickets to the Spa pool.

Now at this point I'm in heaven. I'm happy as a lark and excited to enjoy 2 full days in one of my favorite places.

So here is where the story gets really good.

Have you ever heard of the problems with valet services having thieves? A 17-year old parking attendant with the eyes of Golom (you know, from Lord of the Rings...I must...Have....It....) decided to take the speakers out of Mark's car.

Let me tell you how a high-class hotel property solves a problem like that.
>> They buy you breakfast IMMEDIATELY to calm your nerves.
>> They take care of your entire stay.
>> They get you a discount at the spa.
>> AND they arrange for a wonderfully romantic dinner at the best restaurant on the property.

To top it all off, the valet services manager was amazing. He researched the entire incident, identified the thief, then confronted him and convinced him to return the speakers. So not only did we get treated like royalty but in the end, there was no loss.

Needless to say, we will return frequently to the Marriott Desert Hot Springs. We even have a guaranteed "front row" parking spot forever! =-)