 We only list properties, services and other travel related outlets in which we've had a positive experience. That way, you are assured to have the same. An asterisk (*) beside a name signifies that it is highly recommended and a notepad  denotes a review that is available to read by clicking on the notepad. To return to the top of the page, simply click the "top" link after each section title.
Click on a selection below for resources:
Lodging (Hotels, bed and breakfasts, retreats, etc.)
Transportation (Busses, car rental, airlines)
Tour & Guide Companies
Country & Consulate Information
General Information
Travel Books, Publications & Websites
Banking & Communication
Health & Safety
PLACES TO STAY (including hotels, bed & breakfasts, cabins and hostels)
For more reviews from around the world, please visit my other travel site, Girls Guide to City Life, which features travel reviews of major cities from local travel writers.
BELGIUM
Brugge: Dieltiens-Debruyne*
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*, Wedgewood Hotel*, Le Soleil, Westin Grand Vancouver*, Sylvia Hotel, Wall Centre Hotel, Listel, Lord Stanley Hotel
Victoria BC: Hotel Grand Pacific, Laurel Point Inn, Sooke Harbour House, Aerie Resort, The Empress
Whistler BC: Hortstman House, Four Seasons Hotel*
DENMARK
Aarhus: Hotel Royal*
Copenhagen: Front Hotel*, Hotel d'Angleterre*, Tiffany Hotel*
Ribe: Hotel Dagmar
Silkeborg: Radisson SAS Hotel*
ENGLAND
Oxford: Burlington House Bed and Breakfast*
York: The Hollies Guesthouse
FRANCE
Paris: Hotel du Champ de Mars, Four Seasons George V*
Amboise: Le Fleuray Hotel*
Lyon: Cour des Loges*
Isle sur la Sorgue /Provence: Le Pigeonnier* (the gite)
IRELAND
Cork: Hayfield Manor*, Clarion Hotel
Kenmare:
ITALY
Lake Garda: The Grand Hotel a Villa Feltrinelli
NEW ZEALAND
I stayed exclusively in Hostels in cities such as Auckland, Wellington, Queenstown, Dunedin and Christchurch. Each hostel was fantastic, clean and cheap and would recommend them to anyone of any age who travels to New Zealand.
SARK
Stocks Island Hotel
UNITED STATES
Austin TX: Driskill Hotel, Hotel San Jose
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: The Westin, Farmers Daughter Hotel, Casa Del Mar*, Hotel Oceana*, Fairmont Santa Monica, The Ritz Pasadena, Embassy Apartment Hotel, The Huntley Hotel
Maui HI: Maui Hyatt
Napa Valley CA: Harvest Inn*
Portland OR: Fifth Avenue Suites*
San Francisco CA: Hotel Triton* , Potter Bed and Breakfast, Ritz Carlton*, Westin San Francisco Airport, Serrano Hotel
San Jose: Cypress Hotel
Santa Barbara CA: Hotel Andulucia
Sausalito CA: Hotel Sausalito*
Seattle WA: Fairmont Seattle, Salisbury House Bed and Breakfast*, Edgewater Hotel, Woodmark Hotel*, Willows Lodge*
Yosemite Ca: Chateau du Sureau*, Evergreen Lodge*
LODGING AND TRANSPORATION WARNINGS
Please click here for a list of hotels and tour companies that we do not recommend with an explanation as to why.
TRANSPORTATION (including air, buses & tour companies)
General
Microsoft Expedia: Flights, car rentals, accommodations, and more.
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
British Midland
BuzzAway.com
EasyJet
Jet Blue
RyanAir
Virgin-Express
CheapFlights.com
TOUR COMPANIES
Canada
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
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
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.
Specialty Travel Index: A directory of tour companies.
WORLD WIDE TOURISM OFFICES
Tourism Offices Worldwide Directory: Directory of tourist info offices.
Canada: British Columbia: Hello B.C - provides free accommodation book service for hotels, motels & B&B's throughout British Columbia. As well provides free information. Run by Tourism British Columbia.
Great Britain: Visit Britain: The official website of the British Tourist Authority.
GENERAL INFO & TRAVEL PUBLICATIONS
Lonely Planet: Budget travel guidebook series.
STA Travel: A worldwide travel organization geared towards students.
Red's Travels: Travel Writer/Speaker Amy Harkin's articles on travel and why you should.
Rick Steves: Visit Rick's guidebook library.
Girls Guide to City Life: Articles written by women for women on great cities around the world.
Travel Corner: Travel Articles by Sheree
Travel Intelligence: Excellent resource for hotel and travel reviews.
WorldClimate: Average weather conditions for thousands of locations.
BANKING & COMMUNICATION
Money Matters: OANDA: The Currency $ite: Currency conversions for 164 countries.
Telephoning: Country Calling Codes: Country codes for any country.
HEALTH & SAFETY
Centers for Disease Control: Travel Health Advisories.
U.S. State Department Travel Warnings & Consular Information Sheets |
