Travel Resources & Recommendations
Deciding where to go is only half the battle; trying to figure out where to stay and how to get there makes up the rest. Fancy web sites, paid advertising and often even guidebooks can be misleading which is why only the places I’ve actually visited, used or stayed at and 100% recommend are listed. If I didn’t find it acceptable, why should you?It’s not always about four stars and extravagance; it’s also about providing a great experience that you’ll fondly remember whether it’s a luxury hotel in Paris or a campsite in Yosemite. I’m glad to share my finds with you below.
An asterisk (*) beside a name signifies that it is highly recommended.
- Places to Stay
- Transportation
- Tour Companies
- General Info & Publications
- Health & Safety
Hotels, B&B’s, Cabins & Guest House Rentals
UNITED STATES
- Austin TX: Driskill Hotel, Hotel San Jose, Hyde Park Inn
- Carmel CA: Cypress Inn
- Chicago IL: The W Lakeshore
- Dallas TX: Rosewood Hotel Crescent Court
- Denver CO: Hotel Monaco
- Half Moon Bay CA: Ritz Carlton Half Moon Bay
- Los Angeles: Four Seasons Beverly Wilshire*, Farmers Daughter Hotel (My Review), Casa Del Mar* (My Review), Hotel Oceana* (My Review), Fairmont Santa Monica, The Ritz Pasadena, Embassy Apartment Hotel, The Huntley Hotel
- MonMaui HI: Maui Hyatt
- Napa Valley CA: Harvest Inn*
- Portland OR: Fifth Avenue Suites*
- San Francisco CA: Hotel Triton* (My Review) , Potter Bed and Breakfast, Ritz Carlton*, Westin San Francisco Airport, Serrano Hotel
- San Jose: Cypress Hotel
- Santa Barbara CA: Canary Hotel
- Sausalito CA: Hotel Sausalito* (My Review)
- Seattle WA: Four Seasons, Seattle*,Fairmont Seattle, Salisbury House Bed and Breakfast*, Edgewater Hotel, Woodmark Hotel*, Willows Lodge*
- Yosemite Ca: Chateau du Sureau*, Evergreen Lodge*
CANADA
- Banff AB: Mount Royal, Banff Caribou Lodge, Banff Springs*
- Burns Lake BC: Sunshine Motel
- Emerald Lake BC: Emerald Lake Lodge
- Jasper AB: Jasper Park Lodge
- Kamloops BC: Lac Le Jeune Resort
- Lake Louise AB: Chateau Lake Louise, Lake Louise Hostel
- Langley BC: Traveller’s Hotel Bed and Breakfast
- Nelson BC: Prestige Inn
- Port Hardy BC: Quarterdeck Inn
- Parksville BC: Tigh-Na-Mara Resort Hotel
- Revelstoke BC: Hill Crest Hotel
- Tofino BC: Wickaninnish Inn
- Vancouver BC: Pacific Palisades (My Review), Wedgewood Hotel* (My Review), Le Soleil, Westin Grand Vancouver* (My Review), Sylvia Hotel, Wall Centre Hotel, Listel, Lord Stanley Hotel, Opus Hotel*
- Victoria BC: Hotel Grand Pacific, Laurel Point Inn, Sooke Harbour House, Aerie Resort, The Empress
- Whistler BC: Hortstman House, Four Seasons Hotel*
SARK
BELGIUM
- Brugge: Dieltiens-Debruyne*
DENMARK
- Aarhus: Hotel Royal*
- Copenhagen: Hotel d’Angleterre*, Tiffany Hotel*
- Ribe: Hotel Dagmar
- Silkeborg: Radisson SAS Hotel*
ENGLAND
- London: The Levin Hotel*
- Oxford: Burlington House Bed and Breakfast*
- York: The Hollies Guesthouse
FRANCE
- Paris: Hotel du Champ de Mars, Four Seasons George V*, Hôtel Particulier Montmartre*
- Amboise: Le Fleuray Hotel*
- Lyon: Cour des Loges*
- Isle sur la Sorgue /Provence: Le Pigeonnier* (the gite)
IRELAND
- Cork: Hayfield Manor*, Clarion Hotel
- Kenmare: Sheen Falls Lodge
- Glendore: Marine Hotel
ITALY
- Lake Garda: The Grand Hotel a Villa Feltrinelli
Transportation & Tour Companies
Canada – Tour Companies
- Brewster Tours - The oldest tour company in the Canadian Rockies offers the best trip – from three hours to a week. Their guides are friendly, knowledgeable and extremely passionate about the Rockies. Their day trips are a must.
New Zealand – Tour Companies
- Elm Wildlife Tours - This company offers day trips through the Otago Peninsula. I took the six hour Peninsula Encounters tour, which started with a pickup in Dunedin and lead me to view the Royal Albatross, Hookers sealions, Blue Penguins, NZ fur seals and Yellow Eyed penguins. This company mixes tourism with conservation – a definite must for anyone visiting the South Island.
- Funyaks: A very unique experience out of Queenstown New Zealand. Take a shotover jet for over an hour up stream, and paddle your way down in a kayak while stopping for lunch to see a waterfall or two. A personal way to experience some of the beautiful scenery that is New Zealand.
United States – Tour Companies
- Maui: Kapalua Kai - A spectacular snorkeling company in Maui HI that offers half day snorkeling trips on a 53ft wing-masted catamaran. They provide equipment, lunch and all the drinks you can handle. Beautiful boat, great crew and a fair price make this a must for any trip to Maui.
- Santa Barbara/Los Angeles: Cloud Climber Jeep tours - a highly recommended company that takes you in an open air jeep to four different wineries that you get to pick (either by telling the driver your name, or telling them your wine preference). Go into the back country, learn some history and drink fine wine. A wonerful way to see wineries (especially great if you’re a fan of the movie Sideways.
- Palm Springs: Red Jeep Tours – highly recommend their night tours through the dessert in an open air jeep.
- Santa Barbara CA: Adventure Company Horseback Riding. It was on my bucket list to go horseback riding on the beach. This private two-hour ride did not disappoint. Great horses, great guide.
Rail
- Europe Through the Back Door’s Railpass Guide
- Deutsche Bahn: Train timetables for all of Europe.
Buses
- Go by Coach: Buses throughout Europe.
- Brewster*: Buses/Tours serving Calgary, Jasper, Banff/Lake Louise, and longer trips to Vancouver.
- Quick Shuttle: Bus Transportation between Vancouver BC downtown/airport and Seattle WA downtown/airport.
Local City Transportation
Metros in Europe: Metro plans for each city.
Airlines
