“Best” List

Best European City: Monaco. I always thought it looks like a fairytale land with its castle overlooking the harbor dotted with white boats, pristine parks and French influence.

Best United States City: Right now I am in love with New York. Every time I go to the city, it is a different experience. I can’t get enough of the people, the food and the tourist attractions.

Best Kept Secret: Vietnam. Beautiful beaches, super friendly people and awesome food.

Best Beach: Puente del Este, Uruguay. Untouched.

Best Island: Bora Bora. It is a postcard come to life.

Best Island Food: Jamaica! I am head-over heals for the street vendor jerk chicken, Norma’s coconut chicken, plaintains, lobster and Appleton Rum!

Best Nightlife: I wouldn’t have guessed it while I was there, but Madrid, Spain! Sophisticated, friendly, international crowds. Another close runner-up is Istanbul, Turkey. Their clubs on the Bosphorus River are beautiful, and the European-Asian influence is perfect!

Best Travel Value: I apparently haven’t gone there yet. Tips have told me India and Thailand are cheap and amazing places to visit! Central America is very reasonable and one of my favorite spots to visit.

Best Refuge From the World: Wayaka Island, Fiji. The privately owned island is picture-perfect. Relax in your own bure and indulge in luxe island life.

Best Fear Factor Moment: Feeding sharks in Tahiti. I should have tried eating live termites in Belize, but that was a little too fear factor for me.

Best Landscape: The island of Santorini in Greece is inspiring and breathtaking. I typically never want to go back to the same place twice, but would love to go back here…

Best Real Life Postcard: Bora Bora, French Polynesia. The over-the-water villas and cystal clear bluish-green waters are amazing.

Best Hotel: Hotel Santo Domingo is Antigua, Guatemala is at  the top of the list. Don’t get me wrong, I appreciate the ambiance and opulence of The Four Seasons, The Keminski and The Peninsula, but staying in a former montasary is surreal.

Best Hidden Gem: Istanbul, Turkey.  A perfect blend of the old and the new, land and sea, Europe and Asia.

Best Spiritual Spot:Jerusalem.

Best City for Shopping: Coming from the US where we have Los Angeles, New York  and Las Vegas I may be a bit spoiled. I would have to say Korea or Philippines.

Best Cuisine: Greece and Italy! I never had a bad meal in Greece, and I still dream about the pasta at The Splendido in Portofino.

Best History: China. You can spend weeks exploring ancient cities, temples, The Great Wall, Xian Warriors, The Forbidden City, etc.

Best Place to Live: The United States. =). And if I had to be specific…Los Angeles.