Yotel: Japanese Capsule Lodging Comes to NYC

 Photo courtesy of Yotel.

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Yotel, a hotel chain offering a larger, upgraded version of Japanese capsule lodging (popular hotels with rooms slightly larger than coffins, which cost around $30 a night), has come to New York. With locations in London and Amsterdam airports, the chain's first US location on 42nd and 10th avenue opened mid-June.

Desert Hot Springs: Soaking in the Views

The Spring, Desert Hot Springs, CA.

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Set in the midst of a residential area in Desert Hot Springs, California, is The Spring, "A natural hot mineral spring resort and spa." An oasis with swaying palm trees, impressive views of the San Jacinto and San Gorgonio mountains, The Spring boasts "some of the richest mineral water in the world." Part of "Miracle Hill," a hotbed for powerful, healing mineral waters, its aguas have been compared to the miracle waters of Lourdes, France. People flocked to The Spring in the 50s to take advantage of its waters' restorative properties. The property includes an indoor pool, outdoor jacuzzi, sauna, massage rooms, outdoor fire pit and a large swimming pool, around which are most of the boutique spa's rooms.

Grand Canyon: Living on the Rim

Mr D'z Route 66 diner, Kingman, AZ.

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The Grand Canyon is a 6-7 hour drive from Las Vegas. It’s a drive with an impressively expansive, flat, no-man's-land feeling landscape. There are long stretches of road with few rest areas, so bring provisions. We made a pit stop at the Hoover Dam, which straddles Arizona and Nevada.

El Gran Cañón: Una Vida en el Extremo

el cafetería Mr D'z en el famoso autopista 66, Kingman, AZ.

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Desde Las Vegas, el camino hacía el Gran Cañón dura 6 o 7 horas. El paisaje que encuentras durante el camino es muy plano y a veces se siente como que eres la única persona en el mundo, porque pasa tiempo sin ver ni una casa, ni un área de reposo. Es importante tener bastante comida y agua en el coche. Parabamos para ver la Presa Hoover, que está en la frontera de los estados Arizona y Nevada.

Las Vegas: One-Night Stand

Mandalay Bay on the Vegas strip.

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Snap! Snap! Snap! That was the sound that greeted my travel companion Gemma and I during our first and only walk along the iconic Las Vegas strip. As we made our way past the new $8.5 billion City Center 7-building complex; Luxor and Mandalay Bay hotels, in the direction of the classic Las Vegas welcome sign, we were accosted by mini-teams of florescent clad folks flicking stacks of naked lady cards in our faces. This was just one assault on our senses as there were pungent scents of perfume and cologne wafting through the air, mist from peculiar outdoor bar mist machines hitting our skin and the dizzying flashing of multi-colored lights from the massive hotels and billboards. Here are some tips for surviving the sensory-overloading adult playground that is Sin City:

*When renting a car, as we did, get a comprehensive quote before making a reservation. Ask about upgrade (for power locks and windows), GPS and insurance costs. Also see if there are penalties for returning a car late/picking it up early. Take photos of the vehicle at pickup, so you won’t mistakenly be charged a surprise later!

Bar Basque: Worth it for the drinks and view, but not for the food

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I was really looking forward to sampling the fare at Bar Basque, a tapas restaurant on the second floor of the swanky new Eventi hotel between 29th and 30th on 6th Avenue in Chelsea. I ventured there after work with my friend Danny, a former Barcelona, Spain resident as well.

As we approached the hotel, there were no signs indicating BB's existence. When we stepped off the elevator on the second floor we were confronted by a red wall with plastic computer chip replicas embedded into it. We were confused. The decor was deranged, with a sci-fi meets coastal Mediterranean fine dining restaurant weirdness.

Napa Shmapa: Go to Sonoma!

Ledson winery

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On a tip from a co-worker, while I was visiting my brother and his fiancée in San Francisco, I was to instruct them to take my friend and I wine tasting in Sonoma County. Less crowded and less pretentious than Napa, the same co-worker suggested we head to Healdsburg and tour the Alexander Valley and Strykker wineries. My brother had other plans. After living in San Francisco for nearly three years and taking many house guests wine tasting, he had committed a personal wine tasting tour map to memory. We were driven to the city of Sonoma and sampled sips at Jacuzzi, Schug, Ledson and Chateau St. Jean. The one thing I was not prepared for was the mass quantities of wine I would be imbibing.