Blog
Travel Reviews, Rants, Advice & Other Dispatches from the Champagne Aisle
Welcome to my corner of the internet where travel isn’t always filtered, the opinions are very much my own, and yes—sometimes the Wi-Fi still doesn’t work, even at the $1,200-a-night resort.
This blog is part postcard, part journal, part gentle (and not-so-gentle) rant space.
And because I’m a former history teacher with opinions (and zero chill when it comes to disinformation), don’t be surprised if a post about Tuscan villas is followed by something on political hypocrisy, historical context, or why it’s time to start reading beyond the headlines.
This is where travel meets the rest of life—with humor, honesty, and the occasional eye-roll.
If you’re into luxury with a wink—and a few strong opinions—you’re in the right place.
Honest reviews of hotels, destinations, and experiences—because not everything that looks good on Instagram is worth your PTO
Practical travel advice that balances smart strategy with a love for the good life
Personal reflections on travel as a way of living, connecting, and sometimes just escaping
Occasional spicy takes on travel trends, tourist behavior, and why some people should not be allowed in business class
The Latest
-
Ending the Year the Right Way: Off to See THE BOY
To finish out our year of travel, we’re heading to Spain and Southern France — with a quick stop in Andorra along the way. Of…
-
Five Stars, Then a Very Long Nap: Our Safari at Garonga
I’ve been dreading writing about our safari for over a month. How do you describe something you absolutely loved, yet have no desire to repeat…
-
Taj Cape Town Review
As always, I base my hotel reviews on how the property positions and markets itself. There’s no point comparing a Four Seasons with a Courtyard…
-
South Africa Trip Diary- The Cape
Day 1 — Gay South Africa After 25 hours of travel, multiple connections, and more airplane coffee than any human should consume, Matt and I…
-
Ethiopian Airlines Business Class Review
Overview Ethiopian Airlines offers one of the best-value business-class experiences in Star Alliance. Here’s what sets them apart: In short: full business experience, half the…
-
Trip Intro: South Africa and Zimbabwe
South Africa and Zimbabwe I haven’t been blogging much over the last few months as work has been busy, and with the state of the…
-
Vienna: Beauty, Luxury, and a Difficult Past
You may not be Jewish, but you probably have something, whether faith, gender, sexual orientation, or another characteristic, that some countries do not like. It…
-
Rosewood Vienna Review
Review Context The Rosewood Vienna is considered one of the top luxury hotels in the city offering pristine views, beautiful rooms and top quality service.…
-
Adler Alpe hotel Review
Location and Review Context The Adler Alpe is a 5-star luxury hotel and spa situated 1800 meters above sea-level located across the Alpe Di Siusi…
-
Venice photoshoot July 2025
During our three days in Venice, Matt and I decided to do a photoshoot to get some cute pictures of ourselves. I spent time at…
-
The St. Regis Venice Review
Venice Context/Disclaimer This is one of the more difficult reviews I have had to write up until this point as Venice is a difficult city…
-
Europe Summer Vacay 2025 Trip Diary Part 2: Venice
We landed in Paris and then Venice after two excellent Air France Flights. Everything was great, the food was tasty, the doors in our pods…
Out And Abroad Luxury Travel 