international travel Archives

18Dec

TheCultureMom Hotel Review: Munich’s Hotel Laimer Hof

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On a recent visit to the city of Munich, I had the opportunity to stay at Hotel Laimer Hof. Having never visited the city before, combined with coming during the last leg of an European adventure, the hotel was a breath of fresh air. Set slightly outside the central part of the city in a charming neighborhood, the hotel is housed in a neo-Renaissance villa that was constructed in 1886. Not only is it a proud homage to its heritage, but it's family-run and the hotel's owners are fully invested in their guests. They want to make sure that not only are Read More

25Nov

TheCultureMom Hotel Review: The Westin Warsaw

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On my recent visit to Warsaw, I spent two nights at the Westin Warsaw, a modern hotel with 20 stories in the heart of the city. It was my first time to the city, so I was particularly excited about this part of my European vacation.A short ride from the airport, we were there within 15 minutes. When I walked in and my eyes caught sight of its modern design featuring a vertical glass elevator tower and a glass spiral staircase, I was intrigued and pretty much won over. The staff at reception was very accommodating and we were eager for a good night's Read More

04May

A (Solo) Visit to Grand Residences Riviera Cancun

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Last week my travels took me to Mexico for a stay at Grand Residences Riviera Cancun, a five-star, Leading Hotel of the World property. Located between Cancun and Playa del Carmen, just 30 minutes from the Cancun airport, Grand Residences in the newest addition to the Royal Resorts family. While I was there, I indulged in all the hotel has to offer - from their complimentary sunset cruise to an aqua-aerobics class to a spa treatment to a tea tasting session with a professional sommelier to a bike ride into Puerto Morales, a nearby fishing village. The Read More

28Apr

Preparing for a Trip to Iceland with Ask Guðmundur

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I've written about travel to Iceland many times, over on MiniTime where I gave 10 reasons to take the kids and Family Vacation Critic where I talked about Icelandair's amazing stopover program, and, of course, here on The Culture Mom. I've never gotten the trip out of my mind. It was such a raw, exotic, memorable experience and I've been itching to go back. So, when I was invited by the folks at Inspired by Iceland, I jumped at the opportunity. You'll be reading about my adventures soon, many of which I will write about here and elsewhere. In Read More

05Jan

A Few Days in York, England

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As a traveling mom, it’s always key for me to incorporate a few ingredients into our family trips: adventure, education, history, culture and solid bonding experiences. A recent trip to England took us to the northern city of York, located in the heart of Yorkshire, England and incorporated all of these elements. Known as one of England’s most historic cities, the experience provided two days of looking up and gazing at medieval architecture, walking down winding cobble streets, learning about its diverse and sometimes troublesome history and wandering Read More

12Jun

Swimming with Dolphins in the Bahamas

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Let's talk about bucket lists. What's on yours? I have so many things on mine....mostly destinations like Australia, New Zealand, Thailand and Cambodia. But I also dream about doing things that make me feel brave. Most recently, I took a 40 mile bike ride through NYC's five boroughs. That was brave. This past weekend while traveling in the Bahamas on a solo trip, I decided to have another adventure: swimming with dolphins. It's something I've always wanted to do and there's certainly no time like the present. Dolphins are smart, beautiful creatures and Read More

10Jun

My #SoloTrip to Grand Lucayan in Freeport

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If you're looking for a laid back weekend (and I know you are), you should consider the Grand Lacayan the Grand Bahama Islands. I've just returned and can honestly say that it's extremely relaxing and a solid, clean resort on a beautiful stretch of land. I spent my days lounging on the beach, wading in the sea, exercising and getting a facial at the resort's spa, sipping cocktails during sunset on the beach, swimming in the three pools, munching on Caribbean cuisine and reading and writing. As a result, I came back well-rested and ready to take on Read More