Last year I went on a trip to Asia with a really good girlfriend of mine. I wrote about my travels primarily on gogirlfriend.com and you can go back and read my stories there. The trip was everything that I’d hoped it would be…and then some.

For two weeks, we ventured into the unknown – truly, as neither of us had been to this unique part of the world – and it was sublime. Before we went, we created this amazing document on Google Docs, which we titled “Holly & Alaina’s Midlife Crisis Trip 2013” which we referred to constantly during our travels. It was a list of suggested places to visit by friends and family members who had traveled to the parts of Asia we were going to. It was very comprehensive and all the ideas were spot on and really complimented the kind of travel we were both seeking. We were two moms on a mission to have the time of our lives. That’s all we wanted and it made for very happy travels. We saw, we ate, we took it all in one step at a time.

I’ll never forget the night we came together in Hong Kong will forever be etched in my mind. I had spent the entire day walking the streets and getting to know the city prior to Alaina’s arrival and had drifted in a very deep sleep when she walked through the door. But the image of her walking in is still vivid and as memorable as it gets. We traveled so well together and such an amazing time in a city that neither of us knew. So here I bring to you my blog post on “How to Have a Sublime Midlife Crisis Trip in Hong Kong”.

These are truly insider tips!

THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO:

– Get travel insurance.

– Bring mosquito repellant.

– Tap water not safe and no ice in drinks, except top hotels.

– Book train tickets ahead.

– Prices vary widely for tours. Vast majority offer similar tours. Not recommended if you want to see the country and people.

– Haggle for everything.

– Rickshaws can overcharge tourists. Agree price before getting in.

– Taxis are metered and not expensive. Some drivers need persuading to turn them on.

– Show address to taxi driver. Lots of copycat establishments.

– Should check room and bed in hotel. Single room may have single bed. Double room may have 2,3 or 4 beds single or double beds.

– Bargain for rooms, rates fluctuate according to demand.

– 10% government tax added to price. Top class adds a further 5% for service.

– Security a problem in hotels. Keep valuables on you at all times.

– Don’t buy drugs on the streets; they can turn you into police.

– Dong prices will be lower than dollar prices. 20,000 dong to $1.

– Take a GOOD camera. The visuals are outstanding.

ONCE YOU’RE THERE – DO NOT MISS THE FOLLOWING ON HONG KONG ISLAND:

–       Happy Valley tram – Ride it to the end & back again – get on in western or central and ride the Sit up top in front. Great street scenes at night.

–        The Peak* or Victoria Peak in Central – Great views of the South China Sea. Take tram up, walk around top and back down.

–       Aqua Luna – 45 minute boat tour cruising the harbor. Get it at Pier 1 by the Cultural Centre.

–       Central Mid-Levels Escalator – Longest covered elevator I’ve ever seen. Get off at any level (29 stops) and shop or eat.

–       Man Mo Temple – Oldest and most important Taoist temple – walk west on Hollywood Rd. Great antique/junk shops.

–       Stanley Park – Fun market.

–       Admiralty – Home to the Pacific Place shopping and hotel complex.

–       Hong Kong Park  – Best for some peace and quiet.

–       Hollywood Walk of Stars – 8PM with the crowds and see the Light Show of HK Island (every night of the year).

–       Intercontinental Hotel Lobby Bar – The view is THE view.

–       North Point – Hustle and bustle of Hong Kong, but almost no tourists, great shopping, great value.

WHAT TO DO IN KOWLOON: 

You must visit Kowloon Peninsula.  Take the Star Ferry between Kowloon & HK Island. Great views as you cross. 

– High Tea at the Peninsula Hotel – Best afternoon tea. Sit on top floor for view. Elegant, has feel of Hong Kong in 1950s.

– Wan Tai Sin Temple. – Spectacular temple in Wong Tai Sin District (~15 min by train from Tsim Sha Tsui or ~US$8 by taxi). All taxi drivers & residents know it. Have your fortune read or get help from a ‘Feng Shui’ Master.

– Temple Street Night Market – Shopping / eating / fortune telling / cheap fun stuff / knock-offs) in the Yaumatei district, home to Tin Hau Temple and Jade Market, is rich with tradition.

– Kowloon Walled City – Originally a Chinese military fort, the Walled City became an enclave after the New Territories were leased to Britain in 1898.

– Harbour City Shopping Center – Myriad of stores, not cheap.

– Mongkok – Shopping for both tourists and locals. One of the most ‘local Chinese’ places in all of Hong Kong, featuring good street markets incl. the famous Ladies (night) market, the goldfish market and Fa Yuen Street markets.

– Chi Lin Nunnery and Nan Lian Gardens near to the Diamond Hill MTR, just one stop away from the Wong Tai Sin Temple.

AWESOME DAY TRIPS:

● Lai Chi Wo – Hakka Village, cab ride thru the tunnel, close to China border.

● *Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery –  Sha Tin, cab ride. You have to climb 400 steps. A steep climb to reach, but efforts are rewarded with over 12,000 Buddhas both outside and inside the temple.

● The Tsang Tai Uk walled village

● Che Kung Temple

● Hong Kong Heritage Museum

● Man Fat (10,000 Buddha) Monastery

● Lantau Island – The biggest of the more than 200 outlying islands is Lantau, with the Tung Chung area, the Big Buddha, Ngong Ping 360 cable car, Po Lin Monastery and Disneyland.

● Lamma Island – 3rd-largest island hosts large western population and great seafood restaurants – to get to Lamma, take a ferry from Central (~20-30min one way). Freshest seafood/fish ever! There are 2 different boat docks in Lamma, make sure you take the right one.

EATING: 

■ Tim Ho Wan  – Best Dim Sum. Flat 8, Ground Floor, Phase 2, Tsui Yuen Mansion, 2-20 Kwong Wa St. the “Dim Sum Specialists”.

■ Chili club – In wanchai – dive-ish – 88 Lockhart rd, GreatThai 1/F.

■ The China Club – Dim Sum – Phase 2, Tsui Yuen Mansion, 2-20 Kwong Wa St.

■ Zuma – Phenomenal sushi. 15 Queen’s Rd West.

■ Lok Yu – Decent dim sum, but go for the people watching. 24 Stanley St. It’s “old‑school all the way” at this “ancient dim sum palace”, a local “institution”serving “authentic” Cantonese bites and “traditional” dishes in a “classic” art deco–style “teahouse” setting.

■ Red Pepper – Wonderful Szechwan food. 7 Lan Fong, near Causeway Bay.

■ Crystal Jade La Mian Xiao Long Bao – Causeway Bay (HK side) Yummy noodle dishes & dim sum. Near Causeway Bay.

■ 208 Otto – Italian in Sheung Wan. 208-214 Hollywood. Near Man Mo Temple.

■ Lan Kwai Fong: Great place to kick back and relax. Popular expat place. Near Man Mo Temple.

■ Posto Pubblico – Italian, great vibe.

■ Lily & Bloom -Western, Lan Kwai Fong. Hotel Lkf By Rhombus, 33 Wyndham St. This new bar and supper club takes its inspiration from NY at turn of the century with a luxuriously retro look incorporating wrought iron and blown‑glass.

■ Va Bene – Best western restaurant:  17 Lan Kwai Fong, Central.

■Post 1997 – In Lan Kwai Fong – great place to kick back and relax, old fav. Not interesting food – but good place to relax. Popular expat place.

■ Posto Pubblico – Italian, great vibe.

■Lei Garden – Fab traditional Cantonese – best one is in Houston Ctr, Tsim Sha Tsui East (for dinner or dim sum). In Kowloon.

■Crystal Jade La Mian Xiao Long Bao  in Harbor City, Kowloon (in ferry building) – yummy noodle dishes & dim sum. In Kowloon.

■Din Tai Fung – Best soup dumplings in town – nice for lunch, in Kowloon Silver Chord Bldg. 20 Canton Rd. In Kowloon.

■T’ang Court – Fab traditional Cantonese in Kowlooon Langham Hotel (great for dinner or dim sum). In Kowloon.

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When I was invited to spend an evening at Water’s Edge Resort & Spa in Connecticut, it sounded like the answer to my prayers.  It had been many years since my husband and I got away on our own.  I just looked it up on my blog and it was in 2009, before this blog was even born. We don’t have much family support where we live, so it is never easy to orchestrate childcare so we tend to take our kids with us when we travel. Thankfully, when this invite came, the timing could not have been better.  We’ve both been working overtime with long commutes into the city, spending weekends on the soccer field, running ourselves ragged between work and family life.  It was time for a child-free break to refuel and reconnect and childcare was easy to arrange this time.

Water’s Edge Resort & Spa is located on the Long Island Sound, about two hours from NYC. There’s nothing like a walk on the sand before winter hits full on, and we happened to be there in nice weather. The hotel also offers a full-service spa, an elegant restaurant, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, a fitness center and best of all, it’s located near a few very quaint towns on the coastline including Old Saybrook, Essex and Ivoryton. It’s got charm, scenic views and best of all, tranquility, which was exactly what the two of us needed.

We kicked off the weekend with a luxurious meal at the hotel’s restaurant.  We arrived late on a Friday night and were seated immediately at a table directly facing the water, with superb views of the Sound. Relaxation kicked in as we happily drank pomegranate martinis and ate seafood fresh from the sea. Surrounded by other couples clearly vacationing for the weekend, we both indulged in tuna tartare and raw fish appetizers as well as dessert prepared by Chef Joe Vitti. I really didn’t want to have dessert but it was too tempting to pass up Strawberry Shortcake made of scones and cream!

We were thrilled to stay in an oversized room with a view of the ocean, offering both solitude and peace. Complete with a flat panel TV, free high-speed Internet and a big bathroom with a powerful hot shower, we were set.  We spent the evening watching Breaking Bad on the iPad after dinner and loved how in the morning, we didn’t have kids jumping on top of us waking us up at an ungodly hour.  Yes, we were feeling the pleasure of getting away…really away, and I say that as a big fan of family travel.

After a morning walk on the beach (which actually wasn’t as long as intended as the stretch of beach in back of the hotel is not long, but made for a refreshing walk), I returned to the hotel for something called a hot stone massage. Hot stone massage is a specialty massage where the therapist uses smooth, heated stones, either as an extension of their own hands, or by placing them on the body while they massage other parts of the body. The heat can be both deeply relaxing and help warm up tight muscles so the therapist can work more deeply, more quickly. It was positively relaxing and heavenly.  On Twitter, I think I called it an “out of body experience” and it was just that.  My husband enjoyed the pool and jacuzzi while I was at the spa, and we were both incredibly relaxed when we left Water’s Edge.

I was incredibly excited to be in a part of Connecticut where Katharine Hepburn spent much of her life when not in Hollywood.  We wandered over to Old Saybrook, a quaint town with a variety of shops, including a book store full of books about the legend and a small theater named after her called The Kate. After lunch we headed to Clinton Crossing Outlets for a bit of discount shopping. We came back very relaxed from our one night away (and to chaos, I might add, but the chaos blew more easily off our backs).

I’d love to return in December when the local area is offering holiday celebrations. Ivoryton, located just a few minutes from Water’s Edge Resort & Spa, becomes the brightest village in Connecticut with over 200,000 lights and the tallest living Christmas tree in the state. The Essex Steam Train transforms into the Polar Express on weekends with sing-a-longs, hot chocolate, sugar cookies, and a visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus, and Mystic Seaport hosts lantern light tours that take guests back in time to Christmas Eve 1876 and includes a traditional tavern dance and a horse-drawn carriage ride.

If you’re interested in the same kind of getaway this winter that we had, the hotel has a special available November 1, 2013 through March 31, 2014 for what they’re terming the Retail Therapy package. It’s based on double occupancy and starts at $299 per night on weekdays and at $339 per night on weekends, plus tax and a service charge, and includes:

• Overnight accommodations
• A discount coupon book to the Clinton Crossing Premium Outlets
• A snack-to-go for shopping
• A couple’s massage
• A late check-out of 1:00 pm.

For more information or to book, visit www.watersedgeresortandspa.com or call 1-800-222-5901.

Disclosure: I was provided with a complimentary stay and meals to facilitate this review but as always, all opinions are my own. 

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How do you hold your cup of tea? Do you lift your saucer and insert your pinky through the handle of the tea cup?

Little did I know before I had high tea at the Ritz Carlton in Phoenix on Saturday afternoon that I would learn the true way to hold my cup and experience an Afternoon Tea right out of England.  Yes, I do go to the UK every year and I do get served a lot of tea when I’m there, but I haven’t mastered the art of high tea.  I was in for a big surprise at High Tea at the Ritz.

The Ritz is as elegant as it gets and you can’t beat the classic, intimate dining room where High Tea is set.  The room certainly set the tone for our experience.  Our table was set for a Queen, with beautiful china that looks like it stepped out of a castle in the UK.

We were  greeted by our host for the afternoon, Jeffrey Hattrick, the hotel’s designated “Tea Guy”.  Dressed in a white tuxedo and bow tie, Jeffery took us step by step through the process of drinking tea. He clearly loves his profession and answered all of our questions with enthusiasm. In the tea menu (which he created on special tea-infused paper stock), it reads a quote by Jeffrey: “Tea is a vessel by which we can navigate our mood.  It can enhance the space we are in or guide us to a place we would rather be.”  He’s a real tea connoisseur and it was awesome to be in his presence for several hours.  We also love tea in my house but I think I now have a new found appreciation. For Jeffrey, tea is art.  He even told us the history of Afternoon Tea which dates back to 1783 during the time of Queen Victoria.

Let me explain how the afternoon went.  When we sat down, we were told we could choose any tea we wanted from the menu.  The menu has 24 different tea selections, including rare white and oolong teas. There are black teas – rich and full bodied; green teas – lighter and cleansing; white teas – subtle and refined; oolong teas – mild and semi-oxidized and caffeine-free botanical blends. We all chose Winter Blend-Yuletide, a Chinese black tea with cinnamon, vanilla and whole cranberries. When he brought it over, we immediately smelled the  delicious flavor that is neither sweet nor spicy.  Jeffrey kept our cups full the entire time, and did I mention the bubbly?  We had champagne refills during the entire two hours or our tea and all I can say is that tea and champagne does make a beautiful combination!

Then Jeffery brought out a platter of savories including (don’t read this if you’re hungry): Sharp cheddar mousse tart infused with a peach blossom tea, topped with a sweet peach chutney and candied pecan; Inverted cucumber sandwich with jasmine green tea cream cheese topped with a roasted pistachio; Poached shrimp canape’ on a lemongrass black tea cornbread muffin with aioli cream and dill; Tangerine ginger chicken salad with onions and celery topped with orange zest on marble rye; and hand-made puff pastry with a Plum Berry White Tea glee, aguave nectar goat cheese mousse and finished with a sliced blueberry.

And yes, it was all delicious.  Then we had scones with devonshire cream, lemon curd and fruit preserves and then the last course was sweets, everything from chocolate chai flour less chocolate torte and summer provence pistachio opera cake.  Jeffery infuses tea into many of these items and the tastes are really unique.

All this, along with bubbles and tea.  If all this wasn’t fantastic enough, then Jeffery serenaded us!  Accompanied by his pianist, he sang “The Way You Look Tonight”. It was like being in a lounge with Frank Sinatra or Sammy Davis, Jr. and really made the experience rather anti-climatic.

Afternoon Tea is offered at 12pm or 3pm Wednesday through Saturday in the lobby lounge at The Ritz-Carlton, Phoenix. The cost is $38 per person. Reservations are required and can be made by calling (602) 468-0700. Upcoming December tea events include the following:

Teddy Bear Tea (for children with an adult), Yuletide Tea, Breakfast with Santa (Not Teddy Bear Tea) 

Details for all these events can be found here.

The Ritz-Carlton Phoenix is located at 2401 East Camelback Road, Tel: 602-684-0700; www.ritzcarlton.com/phoenix.

 Disclosure: Tea was complimentary and was covered by the Greater Phoenix and Mesa Convention & Visitors Bureau but all opinions expressed are my own.

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Last summer we dropped the kids off in Philadelphia with my sister and her husband and ran to Atlantic City. We booked a room in the Chelsea Hotel and had no idea what to expect. When we pulled up to the hotel, we realized we were staying in the trendiest hotel in town. No dice, no slots, no cards. Not your typical Atlantic City hotel which was fine with us. We were the oldest people in the lobby when we checked in and it stayed that way much of the weekend.  We didn’t mind, however, it made us feel young and hip.

Our room was really modern. Flat screen TV’s, whirlpool bathtubs and an ipod dock are just some of the retro touches rooms at the Chelsea. It was also extremely comfortable.

The pools at the Chelsea are great. With two rooftop pool bars and the terrace lounge on the 5th floor, we were able to drink and watch guests dance in and out of the water night and day. It felt like we were in a MTV video.

The food at the hotel is really good, too.  We dined atTeplitzky’s by the pool on the lower level for dinner and breakfast.  They have a steak house on the top floor of the hotel, as well, but we’ll try that next time.

At night we ventured onto the boardwalk and into a few casinos. We actually won $300 playing roulette and left while we were ahead.

We had a great time – it was definitely not a weekend for kids and it was a great get-away for the two of us. By the way, the hotel has some amazing mid-week deals worth checking out here.

Another time, my mom came to visit from Atlanta and we went to Cold Spring, New York to stay at the Pig Hill Inn. Cold Spring has always been one of my favorite get-a-ways since I moved to New York. When I was single, I used to hop the train with friends and go for long hikes in the surrounding mountains. As a family, we often visit to take walks and go antiquing. The two of us needed some quiet time so we headed to this quaint little inn for one night. The decor at the Pig Hill is Victorian and offers a nice escape. It’s centrally located and we were able to walk to restaurants, antique shops and to the mountain trails. We walked through colorful leaves and majestic forests.

This past November, we went to Mohonk Mountain House in New Paltz, not that far from Cold Spring. It was an experience I had longed to have since moving up north. It is the perfect place to slow down and think about life and the perfect getaway for a couple who never gets much time together.

When we entered the Mountain House, I was immediately struck by the impressive woodwork and old world feel and charm of the building. A walk through the main building leads to the outdoor covered porches that provide a stunning view of Lake Mohonk and the beautiful grounds and rock formations that rise from the edge of the lake.

A big highlight of my visit was the afternoon I spent at Mohonk’s spa. I put on a spa robe and slippers and entered the women’s veranda to await my facial, which was blissful. Afterward, I enjoyed time outside in the spa’s heated mineral pool and read a book in the window-walled solarium while I munched on grapes and sipped a pear elixir. I emerged feeling rejuvenated.

The morning of our visit we chose from a really long list of daily acitivities and decided to do a rock scramble/hike around the mountain house. We had a expert guide who led us on a 3-4 hour hike which challenged us all. His commentary was engaging.

The other activities at the hotel offered included boat rides, fitness classes, swimming, carriage rides, ice-skating and much more. Had we included the kids, they do offer a kid’s club and a whole slew of activities for them.

A few months ago, I celebrated my 40th birthday at the Four Seasons Aviara in San Diego. We dropped off our kids with close friends in Carlsbad and made our way to the Aviara for a peaceful 24 hours. It was exactly where I needed to be on this milestone birthday and was just what the doctor ordered.
We could see the hotel from the main roads. It’s perched high up on a hill. The drive up is dramatic, with dazzling views of the area and the Pacific Ocean. Like the rest of the city, the hotel’s architecture is Spanish colonial and is decorated exquisitely. Our lush room had a private balcony overlooking the pool area which is smothered in palm trees.

My best friend graciously bought me a facial for my birthday so I headed to the spa first. The treatment was perfect and I was glowing when it was all said and one. While in the spa, I partook in the jacuzzi and steam room.

We had champagne in the room and then headed to the lounge for dinner where there was live music. A highlight of our meal was when when a set of twins aged 3 came in to the dining room, walked up to the guitarist and started to ballroom dance. We loved their response at the end – a simple “Bravo!” Gotta get my own kids better cultured….

The next morning we woke up and went for a run down by the lagoon located around a golf course. We had a light breakfast overlooking the golf course. We ran back to the hotel, put on our bathing suits and ran to the pool for the warmest swim ever. We topped off our visit in the jacuzzi and decided life could not get any better.

When we returned to the kids, our son had a complete melt-down but I refused to let it get it to me. I had my time in the sun.

There is nothing as good as being with the kids except being without the kids, when it’s for a quick 24 hour period to revitalize and recharge your energy.  I highly recommend it and am planning my next “without kids” trip in the back of my mind right now…

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