Anantara Kihavah Villas from the sea plane

1. Location

As one of the lowest-lying nations in the world, the 1,200 islands that make up the Maldives are geographically dispersed over 90,000 square kilometers. Anantara Kihavah Villas is located in the Baa Atoll on Kihavah Huravalhi Island, approximately a 35 minute sea plane ride from Malé, the capital of the Maldives. We loved the feel of being secluded out in the middle of the Indian Ocean, surrounded only by uninhabited islands!

Dolphins jumping just after landing

2. Arrival

From the moment we cleared passport control, an Anantara Kihavah representative was waiting to escort us to the sea plane terminal. There we enjoyed refreshments in the Anantara Kihavah lounge while the sea plane was readied.

As we disembarked from our sea plane onto a floating platform and boarded a boat to take us over to the island, dolphins jumped out of the water! Villa hosts were awaiting our arrival with refreshing towels and ice cold bottles of water, before whisking us away to our villas in buggies. Once in our villa, a relaxing foot bath and cool tropical drink awaited us.

Romantic bedroom in our over water pool villa

3. Over Water Pool Villas

Our villa was set over the sparkling, crystal clear waters of the Indian Ocean. As if dolphins jumping as our plane landed wasn’t magical enough, a pod of dolphins welcomed us with more jumps as we stared out from our amazing deck. I could have lived on that deck with its three over water hammocks, a swing as big as a full-sized bed, sun loungers, and steps leading down right into the ocean.  The bathroom was an amazing space with a glass bottom bath perfect for a romantic soak in the evenings, an outdoor rinse shower, and a massaging rain shower. Sliding glass doors opened up to our private infinity pool. I’m rarely a fan of the hotel bed, but I slept like a baby cradled in the Egyptian cotton as the waves crashed up underneath our villa each night.

Looking out from our over water pool villa

4. Views

We were met with an endless view of the ocean right from our villa. I hardly wanted to leave the villa, but when we did, we were surrounded by 360 degrees of pristine white sand, coconut palms and mangroves, turquoise waters clearer than any we have ever seen, and other uninhabited islands dotting the horizon.

5. Villa Hosts

Your very own villa host attends to your every need. We didn’t call upon Mausool often (what else could you possibly need in heaven?!), but he left his cell phone number should we need him. Each night we would return after dinner to find Mausool had turned down our bed and left us a bedtime snack and bottles of water on our bedside tables. One night we even returned to find a romantic bubble bath with rose petals scattered on top prepared for us.

Maldivian limo

6. Buggies

Villa hosts will pick you up in a buggy, aka golf cart, at your villa if you are too lazy to walk or in a hurry. Never wanting to pry ourselves away from snorkeling right off our deck, we used the buggy service a few times.

Spotting bottlenose dolphins

7. Resident Marine Biologist

We were blessed to have Jenny Karmy, Anantara Kihavah’s resident marine biologist, join us on a dolphin watching and snorkel excursion. Jenny expertly named all the colorful reef fish for me while we snorkeled on what she dubbed the most beautiful reef in the Maldives.

Clown Trigger Fish

8. Snorkeling

Speaking of snorkeling, not only did we have a fabulous time on our snorkel excursion, Tim and I took every opportunity to get in the water with our masks and fins on. We had a reef right in front of our villa, where we spotted stingrays, lobsters, stonefish, and a variety of colorful reef fish daily. Another fantastic place to snorkel is the reef between the spa and underwater restaurant, Sea. The reef is situated on a sea cliff that suddenly drops off over 90 meters. We saw sea turtles regularly at this spot and the bigger fish of the deep skirt along the reef.

Anantara Kihavah Coral Adoption Program

9. Coral Adoption Program

Anantara Kihavah knows that coral reefs are much more than snorkeling spectacles. To ensure countless magical beach vacations just like this one are part of the future, Anantara Kihavah created a Coral Adoption Program. Coral gardens were created by attaching coral to iron frames. Guests can contribute to on-going reef conservation by adopting a coral frame from the resort’s website. By purchasing a small frame at $100, a medium frame at $200, or a large frame at $400, you can help save our oceans! Images of the coral are uploaded to Anantara’s website every 3 months so that you can monitor the growth of your adopted coral.

10. Green Globe Certified

The Green Globe Certified recognition highlights Anantara’s sincere commitment to operating in an environmentally, socially and culturally responsible manner through a broad spectrum of initiatives in the Maldives, and Anantara is proud to be the first operator in the Maldives to have all of its resorts Green Globe Certified.

Maldivian beetle leaf wraps at Salt

11. Food

You are on a tiny island, yet Anantara has plenty of dining options to keep meals exciting for the length of your holiday. We tried them all! Our villa was so spectacular that we didn’t want to leave it. So we didn’t! We called up Mausool, our villa host, to order in-villa dining for lunch on our first day. In no time, he was unpacking burgers and pizza and setting up a lovely lunch for us on our deck. Who needs a swim-up bar when you can have a swim-up lunch?

Breakfast was just about the only time we were keenly aware we weren’t the only ones on Kihavah Huravalhi Island. Everyone would converge from their villas for a fabulous breakfast buffet at Plates that had just about everything under the sun: fresh fruit, a yogurt bar with no less than 20 different toppings, freshly baked breads, eggs, and at least three different kinds of curries, to name just a few.

Wagyu beef burgers poolside

We enjoyed Wagyu beef burgers for lunch on another leisurely afternoon sitting poolside at Manzaru Pool Bar and Restaurant. In the evening, Manzaru turns into a fine Italian dining restaurant with Chef Umberto hailing from Bergamo, Italy.

Anantara’s signature Sea.Fire.Salt.Sky. dining complex is a truly unique dining concept of four different restaurants. At Salt, our meals were served in bowls and on plates made of Himalayan salt. And a salt sommelier makes recommendations of various salts to enhance the flavors or each course. At Fire, chefs entertained us with their culinary acrobatic skills as they fired up sea scallops and Wagyu beef on the teppanyaki grill.

Tim naming the reef fish at Sea

12. Sea

Sea, part of Anantara’s signature dining complex was so magical, so mystical that it deserves its very on place on my list of reasons to stay at Anantara Kihavah Villas. Lunch under the sea at Sea is an absolute must! A fixed three course lobster lunch is on offer. Lunch is blissfully drawn out so that you can enjoy the reef fish, sharks, and turtles swimming majestically all around. Each table has a book of Maldivian reef fish on it and we had a great time naming the various types of fish that swam by!

Black Ivory coffee being poured

13. The World’s Most Expensive Coffee

Only available at a few luxury hotels in remote corners of the world, Black Ivory is something to try at least once in your life. So what makes it the world’s most expensive coffee? It is produced from hand picked Arabica beans eaten by Thai elephants and plucked a day later from their dung. The elephants are highly inefficient. It takes 33 kilograms (72 pounds) of raw coffee cherries to produce 1 kilogram (2 pounds) of Black Ivory coffee. The majority of beans get chewed up, broken or lost in tall grass after being excreted.

It far surpassed our expectations and we enjoyed the earthy flavor of the brew, which is sweetened with chocolate instead of sugar and always served black.

Anantara Kihavah Spa

14. Spa

Just in case spending your days lazing on white sands and swimming in the warm waters aren’t enough to ease your cares away, Anantara Kihavah has an amazing spa. Each treatment room is in its own over water bungalow with glass windows in the floor to watch the reef fish swim while enjoying a variety of treatments. I had a relaxing 90 minute signature massage, and like Goldilocks who searches for a bed that is just right, I found a massage therapist with just the perfect pressure. Post-treatment refreshments are served on a relaxation deck where I watched the sun begin to dip below the sky.

Snorkeling on the reef in front of Anantara’s private island

15. Private Island

Despite being on such a small island, we truly felt like we had it to ourselves. But if even more seclusion is your thing, Anantara Kihavah will drop you off on your very own private island for the day. Options include a simple picnic basket lunch or a ritzy beach barbecue. The island is uninhabited with a coral reef ringing around it, perfect for snorkeling.

Know Before You Go

• Over water pool villas at Anantara Kihavah Villas start at $2580 per night. There is a mandatory sea plane transfer fee of $500 per person.
• The sea planes do not fly in the dark, so if you arrive to Malé in the late afternoon or evening, you’ll need to stay the night in Malé.
• In case you’d still like to be digitally connected on this island paradise, Anantara Kihavah has free wifi in all villas and throughout the island at the various restaurants and spa.

Note: This trip was sponsored in part by Anantara Kihavah Villas.

The Salvatore Ferragamo Museum in Florence, Italy

Marilyn Monroe was enigmatic, the quintessential American sex symbol, and a fashion icon. She remains one of the most photographed women of all time, and in homage to her on this 50th anniversary of her death, Ferragamo is hosting two exhibits in her honor in Florence, Italy.

The Salvatore Ferragamo Museum hosts an exhibit simply titled “Marilyn” until January 28, 2013. The exhibit houses an extensive collection of photographs from Marilyn’s life and career. Interestingly, the exhibit compares the similarities of many of Marilyn’s poses to famous painting and sculptures such as Sandro Botticelli’s “The Birth of Venus” from 1484.

Also on display are 30 pairs of shoes, size 6 and a half with toe prints still inside and the lettering of Salvatore Ferragamo nearly worn off, handcrafted by the shoe monger himself for Marilyn Monroe.

A video montage plays scenes of iconic scenes from Marilyn’s film careers: that white dress being blown up over a New York City subway grate in The Seven Year Itch and Marilyn shimming in a pink gown as she sang Diamonds are a Girl’s Best Friend. As the scenes play, I spot the costume itself from my perch on a pink velvet sofa, Marilyn’s costumes surrounding me on a circular platform stretching around the room. I had to ignore the urge to reach out and touch the shiny pink fabrics, beaded frocks, and kid leather of the stilettos.

Unfortunately, photos aren’t allowed inside of the museum, so you will just have to visit for yourself!

And if a visit to the Salvatore Ferragamo Museum doesn’t satisfy your Marilyn fix, stay at the Gallery Hotel Art. The hotel has a special collection of original black and white portraits of Marilyn temporarily on loan from the Getty Gallery in London until September 15th. The portraits of the stunning blonde line the walls of the lobby, breakfast room, library, and restaurant and are a look into her life of screen.

Photo courtesy of the Getty Gallery London

Photo courtesy of the Getty Gallery London

Since the hotel is owned by the Ferragamo group, it regularly treats guest to a free visit to the Salvatore Ferragamo Museum as well as an exclusive discount at the Ferragamo flagship boutique above the museum so that you can own your very own pair of Ferragamo’s, just like Marilyn.

1. Tipping is not required and can even be considered offensive. No, really. Let me repeat: You do not need to tip in Italy. Tim and I tried explaining this concept to my father-in-law on his visit to see us. He didn’t believe it until a breathless restaurant owner came chasing after us, wildly waving the extra €10 note that my father-in-law had left and yelling in Italian that he had forgot his change.  In general, the attitude in Italy toward tipping is that you can’t buy a person off.

Espresso in Italy

2. Standing at the bar is cheaper than sitting down. Ever noticed all the Italians standing at the bar drinking their cafes? That’s because there is one base price for coffee and pastries and another price for table service if you sit down. So order your cappuccino al banco (at the counter) and enjoy it standing with the rest of the crowd!

Gelato in Italy

3. Spotting artisan gelato. High-quality, artisan gelato can only be stored for a few days. It’s also a time consuming process to make it (as I recently learned at the Carpigiani Gelato University), so some shops in Italy are beginning to sell industrial, mass-produced gelato instead of making it using traditional methods.

Still, you can find the good stuff if you know what to look for. Beware of the photo-worthy gelato bulging high from its container; that’s a sure-fire sign it was made from an artificial mix. The color of gelato should be a muted, natural color. Brightly colored gelato is another sign it is made with artificial flavoring and colors.

The easiest trick is to check the banana gelato: if it is a grayish hue, it was made with real bananas. If it is bright yellow, move on to another gelateria.

Euros

4. Cash is king. For me, one of the biggest cultural differences I had to adjust to after moving to Italy was always needing to have cash on me instead of relying on my debit card. Credit cards still aren’t widely accepted in Italy. Also good to know is you can’t pay for anything under €10 with a credit or debit card in establishments that do accept them.

Always have cash with you and have a variety of notes. If you present a €20 note for your €1 cappuccino, you’ll be frowned upon.

5. Don’t walk off without the bill or receipt. Ever had the cashier thrust the receipt at you for your €2 gelato? There’s a reason for that! The Guardia di Finanza (tax police) may stop you as you leave an establishment and ask you to present your receipt. The shop keeper can be fined €2500 if you can’t produce it.

Why all the fuss over a piece of paper? Taxes are expensive in Italy and some shop keepers skim off the top to avoid paying taxes. It is their responsibility to make sure you leave with your receipt. So always take your receipt and wait until you are at least 100 meters from the establishment before tossing it out.

6. Speaking of fines…In Italy, your train/bus/vaporetto (water bus) ticket isn’t considered valid unless you validate it at a machine before boarding said train/bus/vaporetto. The machine time and date stamps your ticket so that it cannot be reused.

Just yesterday I was headed home from Florence and had one minute to change trains. The validation machine said fuori servizio (out of service) and I didn’t have time to look for another machine if I was going to make that train. So I hopped on without a validated ticket. The conductor came around just a few minutes later and to avoid the €30 fine, made me get off at the next stop to validate my ticket. I was lucky that he didn’t make me pay the €30 fine; turning my €5 fare into a €35 one!

7. Don’t assume you can buy your train/bus/vaporetto ticket on board. You’re required to buy your train/bus/vaporetto ticket before boarding, which can be challenging when there isn’t a ticket machine next to the stop. Instead, look for the tabaccaio (tobacco shop) to purchase your ticket. If you plan to travel on a Sunday, purchase your ticket ahead of time. You’ll save yourself the time and stress of looking for an open tabaccaio on a Sunday.

And don’t forget to validate your ticket just before you get on board!

Dress appropriately

8. Cover bare shoulders and knees when entering a church. Churches such as St. Peters Basilica in Rome, the Duomo in Florence, and St. Mark’s in Venice have strictly enforced dress codes. Basically no bare shoulders, midriffs, or knees. And while there isn’t a door keeper at every single church in Italy, these are still places of worship and you should be respectful when entering them.

I always carry a scarf that I can wrap around my shoulders or even use as a sarong.

9. Riposo. Stores and businesses close for riposo (like an extended lunch hour) generally between 12pm and 3/3:30pm. Store and business hours are set at the Comune (city) level, so opening times vary from city to city.

10. Don’t touch without permission at the markets. Visiting markets in Italy is something I highly recommend. Not only can you find the freshest, local produce but you’ll find clothes, cheeses, leather goods, kitchen supplies, and more.

But when visiting markets, keep your hands to yourself! Always ask permission to see something and the vendor will wait on you attentively, getting you the correct sizes or selecting your produce for you while wearing plastic gloves.

And if you visit a grocery store, you’ll also notice plastic gloves in the produce section. Be sure to wear them when handling produce.

Pizza in Italy

11. Peperoni means peppers. Ever ordered a peperoni pizza only to be surprised when it arrived at the table? Peperoni means sweet peppers in Italian. If you want American pepperoni, order a pizza with salami picanti (spicy salami).

Italian condom machine

12. Condom vending machines. Just last week I was walking around my little town with Johnny and Natalie. As we passed the farmacia (pharmacy), I jokingly pointed and said “Anyone need a condom?” We proceeded to discuss not only the 24/7 availability of condoms, but also the variety on offer. This particular vending machine had quite the selection!

Italy doesn’t have one of the lowest birth rates in Europe without reason. These little vending machines have popped up all around the country in the last year. They even caused quite the controversy when they were installed in schools in Rome.

The farmacia may close at 7:30pm, but if you find yourself in a pinch and in need of a condom, you’re likely to find a condom vending machine outside of most farmacias these days. Just make sure you have Euro coins. Vending machines take €2, €1, €.50, and €.20 coins.

About the author: 

We’re Jennifer and Tim and we love traveling! We are just one ordinary couple who have found that travel brought us closer together, taught us patience, the art of compromise, and how to truly appreciate the diversity of this extraordinary world. Our bucket list continues to grow with far flung places on this beautiful planet. Join us as we share our travels and adventures with you! We aim to inspire you to travel and we’re always happy to offer our advice. Follow their adventures on Twitter at @jdomb or on Facebook.

Balloon above Napa. I arrived in Napa in the pitch darkness, so my first glimpse of this beautiful countryside was literally a birds-eye view from a hot air balloon. And what a way to start my trip! I must admit I groaned when the alarm clock started buzzing at 4:30 am but I was soon to find out that my very early start would be well worth it. I was ballooning with Balloons Above the Valley and enjoyed pastries and hot coffee while our guides checked in everyone patiently waiting in the lobby of the Napa Valley Marriott. We all piled into vans promptly at 6am for a short drive to our launch spot.

As we arrived, the coffee started to kick in and everyone was chattering excitedly at the sight of our four balloons being inflated. With the help of fans, the balloons inflate quite fast and before long we were all ready to climb aboard. Let it be said that there is absolutely no way to gracefully climb into a balloon basket. The basket is about four feet tall and there are two footholds to climb up with. You will need to swing yourself over and in, all while trying not to kick other passengers already inside the basket. And forget the concept of personal space, so leave any unnecessary items like large bags at the hotel.

That’s just about all you need to know for ballooning. Up, up and away we went! For the next hour, I took in the sunrise and scenery around me. I spotted 11 other balloons in the sky during our flight. And what fun to have our very knowledgeable pilot point out the various vineyards I would be seeing in just a few short hours. It was actually such a clear morning we could easily see all the way to the Bay. After landing, we enjoyed a champagne brunch in the gardens back at the Napa Valley Marriott.

Balloons Above the Valley, flights daily (weather permitting), $240 per person.

Ride the Wine Train. Were you watching that recent episode of The Big Bang Theory in which Raj wanted to host Howard’s bachelor party on the Wine Train? Wondering if it’s real? Well, I assure you it is! The Wine Train runs for 36 miles from McKinstry Street Station in Napa all the way to St. Helena.

“All aboard!” I boarded the 1915-1917 Pullman Le Petite Gourmet dining car and took my seat at the picture window. The lunch includes choice of soup or salad, a selection of entrees including a daily chef special, and choice of dessert. The meals are prepared under the director of Executive Chef Kelly MacDonald right on board in a specially crafted kitchen car. You can even watch the meal preparation through a glass wall!

After finishing my salad and entree, I had a bit of time to relax before arriving at Grgich Hills Winery, where I would disembark for a private tour and tasting. Grgich Hills founder and winemaker Miljenko “Mike” Grgich became famous after he crafted the 1973 Chateau Montelena Chardonnay that won the historic 1976 Paris Tasting. I was quite excited to visit this particular vineyard since I had recently watched the movie Bottle Shocked, which is about Chateau Montelena and the 1976 Paris Tasting!

Once back on board, I enjoyed a chocolate tart and coffee while passing by bright orange bursts of California poppies and vintage style homes set amongst sprawling vineyards. Don’t miss stepping out onto the caboose and giving a wave to passersby!

Wine Train Grgich Hills Winery Tour, daily, $134 per person.

Eat Local at Oxbow Public Market. Located in downtown Napa, Oxbow Public Market is the answer to the age old question “What’s for dinner?” You’ll find everything from wood-fired Italian pizza to grilled oysters to even the famed California fish tacos. Everyone in your party can’t agree on just one cuisine? No problem! The cafeteria style seating makes it easy for everyone to satisfy their craving!

I was craving tacos and tried C Casa at the recommendation of Tom at Uncorked. He told me I must try the roasted fingerling and new potatoes taco. Potatoes on a taco? Well, when in California! I ordered three tacos: the potato taco, a grilled garlic citrus prawns taco, and a spiced lamb taco. All were delicious but the potato taco did end up being my favorite!

Be sure to check out the specialty artisan shops selling everything from local cheese to olive oil. Anette’s Chocolates has a shop here; don’t leave without some of her homemade Chardonnay filled truffles and chocolate Cabernet wine sauce!

Get Cultural on the Napa ARTwalk. Now in its 2nd year, the Napa ARTwalk is a rotating temporary outdoor exhibit which winds through the streets of downtown Napa. The current exhibit has 14 three dimensional sculptures. It became a fun challenge for me to find them all! Download a QR reader to your mobile phone before starting your ARTwalk. Each sculpture has a QR code on its plaque to listen to the free audio about each sculpture and its artist.

Visit Tasting Rooms. There is no shortage of tasting rooms in downtown Napa. So how do you know which ones to visit? My method was pretty simple: I absolutely loved the sign outside of Uncorked, “Wine a bit – you’ll feel better!” and so off I went! The tasting rooms typically offer five different wines to taste for $10. Tom explained each wine and pointed out his favorites. I particularly like Uncorked’s 2010 Provocative Chardonnay.

How to get there: Unless you own or know someone with a private plane, you’ll need to fly to San Francisco International Airport (SFO), Oakland International Airport (OAK), or Sacramento International Airport (SMF) and then make the 1.5 hour drive. You can  either rent a car at the airport or take Evans Airporter service to Napa. Once in Napa, taxis are readily available.

Where to stay:  The Napa Valley Marriott Hotel & Spa is Napa Valley’s premier hotel. It’s located a few miles outside of downtown Napa, but has a free shuttle to downtown on Fridays and Saturdays. Guests can also take part in a daily complimentary wine tasting in the lounge. After a busy day, wind down relaxing in the over-sized comfy chairs surrounding the outdoor fire pits.

Standard room rates start at $249 per night. Packages are available.

1. Location, location, location. “Ravello is closer to heaven than it is to the shore,” claimed André Paul Guillaume Gide, a French author and winner of the Nobel Prize in literature in 1947.  Ravello is the smallest and considered to be the quaintest and most exclusive of the towns dotting the Amalfi Coast. Palazzo Sasso is perched on a 1,000 meter cliff with postcard perfect views over the towns of Amalfi and Maiori and the azure Mediterranean stretching out as far as the eye can see.

Ravello was not overrun with tourists like some of the other towns, making it seem like we were in our own private world above the Mediterranean.

2. The View. I know I’ve already mentioned location, but the view warrants its very own place on my top 10 list. The hotel has 32 rooms and 11 suites; most are sea view. Even the gym and the heated pool (with underwater glass viewing window) have panoramic views of the Amalfi coast. When the weather is nice, breakfast is served on the terrace with sweeping views over the Mediterranean. But for the very best view, head up to the twin rooftop jacuzzis!

3. Service. It was truly all the little touches that made Palazzo Sasso nothing short of spectacular – from the sparkling wine and fresh fruit to welcome us to the bottle of limoncello thanking us for staying, we felt like we were guests in someone’s home. I don’t know how on earth the staff remember all the guests’ names, but it was impressive that we were always greeted by name.

Antonio Ferrara, the front office manager, was extremely knowledgeable on all things Ravello and is happy to point out Ravello’s hidden gems! It was at his recommendation that we dined at Cumpa’ Cosimo, visited the Museo del Corallo, and toured the Villa Rufolo.

Whatever the request, the staff will do everything in their power to accommodate it. It’s no wonder they were named #1 in Italy and #4 in the world for Travel and Leisure’s “The World’s Best Service” awards last year.

4. The bed. For as much as I love traveling, I dread the hotel bed. It’s never as comfortable as your own bed and some are downright impossible to get any rest in. Not at the Palazzo Sasso; I felt like Goldilocks and found a hotel bed that was just right!

But just in case the cotton bedding or the pillows aren’t to your liking, you can select satin or silk on your bedding menu card for a bedding change for the next night.

5. Rooms fit for a king. Staying at the Palazzo Sasso is about staying in grandeur and luxury. The rooms feature 17th and 19th century antiques, Vietri tiled floors, and bathrooms with Jacuzzi baths. We stayed in a suite with a beautiful view of both the sea and Palazzo Sasso’s private gardens.

6. Bvlgari toiletries. The bathrooms are stocked with Bvlgari shampoo, conditioner, shower gel, soap, and lotion. Don’t like the scent? Not a problem! Simply fill out your menu to select white tea, green tea, or red tea instead.

7. Rossellini’s. Rossellini’s is Palazzo Sasso’s 2 Michelin star restaurant where food literally meets art! Each dish was so  beautifully presented that we almost – almost – didn’t want to spoil the presentation by actually eating. But soon the allure of delicious smells wafting from the table was just too much. We recommend the tasting menu, on which our favorites were the Ahi tuna filet with caramelized capers and fried potato puree and the herb and cheese crusted rack of lamb with white asparagus and a leaf potato chip that we’re still talking about!

8. The art. Interesting works of art abound throughout Palazzo Sasso. Statues are tucked into insets along the hallways, glass cases display sculptures, and even the tables in the restaurant are adorned with Venetian glass. Take a walk to explore the Palazzo Sasso’s collection!

9. The history. The Palazzo Sasso owes its name to the prosperous Sasso family from Scala, who were descended from San Romoaldo, founder of the Cistercian order, and San Dominico Sasso, the successor to Saint Dominico who created the Dominican order. Another ancestor was the legendary Gerardo, founder of the Knights of Malta. The “Ravello” branch of the family was linked to Cardinal Ottavio, Governor of the Emilia Romagna region during the reign of Pope Pius the III.

Some of the original rooms remain, such as the entrance hall and a small bathroom used as a cellar in the restaurant.

10. Sasso by the sea. Just a short 15 minute drive from the Palazzo is a private villa by the sea for hotel guests. There is complimentary access to the beach platforms for all hotel guests, a small swimming pool, the casual Sasso  Restaurant, changing rooms and relaxing living rooms.  A complimentary shuttle service is available starting from 10 am.

Note: We were hosted guests of the Palazzo Sasso and we appreciate their hospitality! Rates change by low, medium and high season with sea view queen rooms starting at €530 per night in the high season.

Palazzo Sasso will become Palazzo Avino in 2013, proudly and lovingly wearing its founding family’s name.

My mom loves New York City. We used to visit together annually when I lived in the United States, so my mom was beyond excited when I asked if she wanted to meet me there for a quick getaway. “What are we going to do there?,” my mom wanted to know. “We’ve been there so many times!” I promised I would find us new and exciting things to do and here are my recommendations:

Have a proper afternoon tea. A timeless and elegant tradition, afternoon tea at The Plaza Hotel has made an appearance in many a “chick flick.” What girl wouldn’t want to get dressed in her afternoon finest à la Kate Hudson and Anne Hathaway in Bride Wars? So I booked a reservation for my mom and I and off we went to The Plaza where we were greeted with a glass of champagne. “To a fun weekend!,” I said as we clinked glasses.

There are four menu choices: The Classic, The New Yorker, Chocolate Tea, and Eloise Tea (perfect for little girls). I chose The Classic and my mom chose The New Yorker. White-gloved waiters elegantly poured our tea into bone China cups and our tea sandwiches, scones, and pastries were beautifully presented on three-tiered silver trays.

Everything was delicious; I split my Maine lobster with sturgeon caviar in half to share with my mom and we both agreed it was to die for! My mom loved the chocolate cupcake, fawning over the white chocolate chip adorned with the Plaza insignia on it. It was so fun pointing out all the little details to each other!

Indulge in some retail therapy. Louis Vuitton, Fendi, Bvlgari… 5th Avenue is the ultimate shopping mecca! Pop into the shops and ogle the season’s latest fashions. Afraid of being able to resist whipping out the credit card for that amazing pair of shoes? 5th Avenue also makes for great people watching; its sidewalks are like a catwalk of New York’s trendiest.

Relax at a spa. Manhattan should be called Spahattan – there’s practically a spa on every block! We were lucky we happened to visit during Spa Week, where a long list of spas offer various treatments for just $50. (The next Spa Week is in October). One of our favorite spas is Bliss Spa; swing by for an excellent foot rub to soothe your aching soles after all that retail therapy.

Get a new perspective on NYC on the High Line. The High Line is a relatively new public park on Manhattan’s West Side running from Gansevoort Street in the Meatpacking District to 34th Street. The park is built on the historic freight rail line elevated above the streets giving you a unique perspective over Manhattan’s streets – literally. The High Line crosses right over the top of some of NYC’s busiest streets and you can take a front row street to watch all those yellow cabs zoom by.

If your mom loves gardening like mine does, download the Monthly Bloom Guide and challenge your mom to see how many blooms she can name! Also keep an eye out for the miniature sculptures in unusual places all along the High Line. These are part of the Lilliput exhibition, which opened on April 19th and will remain on view through April 13, 2013.

Explore Chelsea Market. If you walk the High Line “backwards” starting at 34th Street like we did, you’ll end just a few blocks from the famous Chelsea Market. Built in the former National Biscuit Company factory complex where the Oreo was invented and produced, Chelsea Market is an urban food court with every kind of food under the sun. You’ll find artisanal cheese, bakeries selling intricately decorated cupcakes you almost don’t want to eat, and even a raw bar inside of the Lobster Place where you can try oysters on the half shell or have a lobster freshly steamed.

Bop around Bleecker Street. Bleecker Street is known for its cool cafes, eateries, and vintage shops selling everything from vintage frocks to vinyl records. If you spot the line of people wrapping around the corner, you’ve found Magnolia Bakery. All those people are queuing for NYC’s most famous cupcakes. If you’ve never tried one, you should – they are to die for! If you like tea – and want a remembrance of afternoon tea at The Plaza – pop into David’s Tea for loose leaf teas you can steep at home. You might even get lucky and see some of the awesome street musicians putting on a show.

Escape the City in Central Park. Remember how my mom loves gardening and flowers? When I spotted the beautiful tulips in bloom on my morning runs, I knew she’d enjoy a walk in the park. The Central Park Conservancy has made its inaugural Conservancy Bloom Guide available, making it easy to tour the park by bloom location.

Both animal lovers, I never feel too old to visit the zoo! The Central Park Zoo is a great way to spend a few hours. Our favorite exhibits were the penguins, the sea lion feeding, and the polar bear.

Brunch like a New Yorker. Where will you find New Yorkers on a Sunday morning? At brunch, of course! And Sarabeth’s knows brunch; it often finds itself on NYC’s best brunch lists. You’ll find a line out the door with people even braving the cold temps for a prime spot outside overlooking Central Park. The Farmer’s Omelet with a side of homemade pork and apricot sausage had me convinced just why Sarabeth’s has all those awards.

Find luxury at the Four Seasons. Sex and the City’s Mr. Big only would stay at the Four Seasons. There must be a reason Mr. Big preferred the Four Seasons and we wanted to find out! Our large deluxe city view room was more than enough space for my mom and me. We would meet downstairs in the spa after my morning run and relax in the whirlpool and sauna for a bit before heading out each day. When we were too tired to venture out one evening for dinner, we enjoyed relaxing by the fire in big cozy chairs and dining on TY Lounge’s special burgers: Ahi tuna with miso glaze for me and the special blend beef burger for my mom. Both were excellent.

I had promised my mom I would find us new things to do in NYC and she was not disappointed! We covered areas of Manhattan we had not previously been and discovered a whole new side of the Big Apple.

A bond with the dog team is essential to be a good musher. To help build that bond, our day started out with meeting each of the 50 Alaskan huskies that live at the Svalbard Husky dog yard. Extremely friendly and social, they are thrilled for a few pats and a few even returned the affection by sneaking in some kisses!

Owner Robert Nilsen gathers us for a few important lessons about the sled. “Most important” he says, looking each of us directly in the eye to impress this point, “no matter what happens, never let go of the sled!” We get further instruction about how to use the break pad, steer, and properly hold onto the snow hook.

Robert then tells us it’s time to bond with our team and shows us to harness the dogs, pointing to a board listing the dog teams and their positions. Right and left don’t matter; the dogs excitedly hop back and forth over each other. Position, however, is important as each of the dogs has a particular job.

Frøya is our lead dog and the queen of the yard. She is from what Robert calls the Norse Gods litter, or the best dogs of his yard, and is mother to many of the other dogs. Tim easily slides on her harness and hooks in her neckline and towline. Frøya then patiently waits with me while Tim goes off to gather Charlie.

One by one, Tim harnesses the remaining four dogs for our team and hooks them in to their necklines and towlines. The team is getting more and more excited, barking as if to say “Let’s go!”

All ready with her own team, our guide slings the rifle easily over her shoulder and climbs aboard her sled.

Tim hops on the brake pad at the back of our sled and the dogs jump for joy, yelping out “run, run, run!” I hop in and pull up the snow hook. As Tim lets off the brake pad ever-so-slightly, the dogs immediately stop barking and leap forward with a little jerk.

We head out across the snowmobile free zone of Bolterdalen in 6 teams, 36 dogs in all. It’s nearly silent; the only sound is the pitter-patter of happy husky paws running on the snow. We glide past Svalbard reindeer digging for food in the snow. The mountains loom on both sides of us; everything tinted shades of blue.

Finally it is my turn to mush! Tim and I carefully swap out positions, making sure to keep the brake pad firmly pressed into the snow. With Tim settled into the sled, I ease off the brake pad and find a comfortable position on the footboards. I feel like a pro as I lean into turns and control the speed of our sled with my heels.

As we pull back into the dog yard, the dogs aren’t even tired. They’re barking as if to say “Let’s go again!”

We carefully unhook the necklines and towlines and unharness the dogs one-by-one, putting them each back in their homes. After all 36 dogs are back in their individual homes, we all pitch in to help feed the dogs.

Everyone fed and bowls collected back up, it is finally time to say goodbye to our new four-legged friends.

We absolutely loved the entire experience with Svalbard Husky. Getting our own dog team ready really did allow us to bond with and get to know the personalities of our dogs. We can now call ourselves successful mushers!

Svalbard Husky winter tours begin at 1090 NOK per person.

About The Author
Jennifer Dombrowski is a training specialist and social media strategist in the field of higher education. Based in Italy with her husband, Tim, they have a passion for travel and love discovering the world. Follow her on twitter @jdomb or on Facebook.

NOTE: This trip was sponsored in part by Northern Norway and Visit Norway USA.

Enjoying Twilight at Adventfjorden

The world’s northernmost city  – and Svalbard’s only town with more than a handful of inhabitants – Longyearbyen is the base for tourism in Svalbard. While you might get “island fever” (as the locals call it) and want to spend all of your time snow scootering across the glaciers and frozen fjords, spend some time exploring this quirky town! We took a Maxi Taxi guided tour and learned these fun facts about Longyearbyen:

1. Longyearbyen was founded by an American.

An American, John Longyear, started the Arctic Coal Company and set up a mining operation for around 500 people in 1906. The settlement was known as Longyear City. Today it is Longyearbyen, meaning Longyear City in Norwegian.

Colorful Wooden Houses of Longyearbyen

2. Longyearbyen is built on stilts.

The ground in Svalbard is permafrost, which means the soil is permanently frozen year round. In Longyearbyen the permafrost ranges from 10 to 40 meters deep, with an active layer that melts each summer as the temperatures rise above freezing. The slilts, or piles, keep the building away from the active layer to prevent flooding and sinking!

3. It’s customary to take your shoes off.

It’s a local custom to take your shoes off indoors and you’ll see a sign kindly asking you to do so in many establishments. This extends to hotels, the Svalbard Museum, the church, and the tourist information office. But don’t worry, slippers are often provided to keep your feet from getting cold!

Skis. Check! Gun. Check!

4. Check your gun at the door!

More than 3,000 polar bears live around Svalbard; they are curious and sometimes hungry after not eating for months at a time. It is required to carry and know how to use a high-powered rifle anytime you leave the settlement.While it became a usual sight to see everyone casually walking about town with a rifle slung over their shoulder, guns are not allowed inside any building.

Clever signs remind you, “All the polar bears in this shop are already dead, please leave your weapon with the staff.”

5. Snow scooters are the preferred mode of transportation.

There are no roads outside of the settlements of Longyearbyen, Barentsburg and Ny-Ålesund and the roads do not connect the settlements with each other. Snowmobiles, called snow scooters in Svalbard, are crucial for transportation in the long winter months. They are so crucial, in fact, that there are 4,000 snow scooters for Longyearbyen’s 2,000 residents.

6. The sun does not rise for 4 months!

The sun sets each year for the very last time on October 25th and it will not rise above the horizon again for four months. The sun officially returns to Longyearbyen on March 8th, when it is finally high enough above the horizon to illuminate the steps of the old hospital.

Solfestuka is a week long celebration to welcome the return of the sun and the entire town gathers on the steps of the old hospital at precisely 12:15 to await its arrival.

7. Home to the world’s northernmost gourmet restaurant.

The historic Huset is the world’s northernmost gourmet restaurant and boasts one of Europe’s largest wine cellars with more than 20,000 bottles. The tasting menu is a great way to indulge in Arctic fare.

The Northernmost Church

8. Speaking of northernmosts…

The world’s northernmost church, ATM, Post Office, museum, commercial airport and university are all located in Longyearbyen!

9. The streets have no names.

The streets of Longyearbyen do not have names; they simply go by numbers. As Peter Adams said, “Grown men do not build houses on streets that are named Blueberry Road or Teddy Bear Yard!”

10. You can’t have a cat as a pet.

You won’t find cat food at the local co-op. Svalbard is home to abundant Arctic bird populations and cats pose a problem for the bird life. So Svalbard has prohibited them.

A Reindeer Wandered Right Into Our Path

11. Reindeer wander through town.

The Svalbard reindeer have no natural predators and so are very docile animals. They wander right through town and aren’t generally bothered by people being nearby.

12. It’s illegal to die.

Yes, you read the right! Death is forbidden. Longyearbyen only has a small graveyard that stopped accepting new burials over 70 years ago. Why? Because the bodies never decompose. Scientists found that bodies are perfectly preserved because of the permafrost.

So if you’re going to die, go do it somewhere else. It’s the law!

Svalbard Maxi Taxi 275 NOK per person; includes transport from/to accommodations.

About The Author
Jennifer Dombrowski is a training specialist and social media strategist in the field of higher education. Based in Italy with her husband, Tim, they have a passion for travel and love discovering the world. Follow her on twitter @jdomb or on Facebook.

NOTE: This trip was sponsored in part by Northern Norway and Visit Norway USA.