Hiking Mexico’s Sierra de la Laguna
Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. The stories of generously flowing champagne, chic hotels and hedonistic nightlife dominate travel headlines about this jetsetting playground in the sun. Perhaps it’s the lure of sunset cruises around the iconic Los Arcos, seasonal whale watching, blue marlin fishing and wor
St. Thomas, Sophisticated
St. Thomas had a deep-rooted seafaring heritage long before I plied its waters. As a cruise director for many years, I visited the small, quaint island every Tuesday. Twenty-five years later, it has matured into destination adulthood, but in spite of its modernization, the island retains its playful
St. Croix Cocktail Hour: Try the Breadfruit Vodka
Serendipity has provided a new take on the old adage, when life gives you lemons, make lemonade. On the US Virgin Island of St. Croix it’s become when life gives you breadfruit, make vodka. Watching the short shelf life of ripened breadfruit go to waste on the ground post Hurricane Maria, founder
It’s Time To Go Now
Would I be alone in sharing that over the past ten months of travel isolation, I’m tired of the ritualistic trip to the supermarket, the daily perusal of Netflix for mental stimulation and most of all the non-stop regurgitation of political discourse that’s fed to us every day? OK, good, we’re
Suite Secrets of the Riviera Maya
It’s inconceivable how the vibe of two neighboring regions could be more disparate than the tequila-induced debauchery of Cancún and the upscale chic of the Riviera Maya. But there is little doubt that the prominence of Cancún as a highly marketed tourist destination has greatly contributed to t
Deep In The Art Of Mexico
Once a sprawling textile factory before converting into a hybrid museum gallery, shopping, and cafe complex, Fabrica La Aurora is one of the most popular attractions in San Miguel. The spirit of the facility is fed by diverse artistic talents and the opportunity to exhibit conceptual designs in a re
Steve Leland’s 2020 Travel Recap
After nine months of travel lockdown, 2020 hindsight takes on new relevance as we grapple with how things could have been done differently, but then again who could have imagined the havoc that a renegade virus would wreak on the travel industry. Finishing out 2019 with a Transatlantic cruise from L
Eating It Up in St. Thomas
In my 10 years of weekly visits to St. Thomas by cruise ship, it had never entered my mind that a food tour would be an excursion of any consequence. I had indeed savored dozens of delicious dinners at world class restaurants on the island but with gourmet dining my prime objective, a food tou
A Tale of Two Transatlantic Cruises
Cruising has always fueled the imagination with dreams of far-flung destinations, and 2020’s unimaginable pause in cruising has amplified those dreams tenfold. It is very likely that we took this indulgent mode of travel for granted … but never again. Only when it was taken away from us could we
Looking Covid-19 In The Eye…Hey, I’m A Traveling Man
As friends cried out to me “are you crazy?”, I briefly contemplated that they might be onto something. With a pandemic raging throughout the world, why would anyone take flight from the safety of home base and travel? In my case FOMO was remedied with a CTA and the YOLO mantra. While you social
Binging in Baja: The Luxury Resorts of Cabo San Lucas
Depending on your personal perspective or inclinations, the trendy playground of Los Cabos, Mexico can either be party time central or ultra luxury paradise. It’s swank and snazzy, lively and hedonistic with an identity that precludes bland. Regardless of the attributes you tend to gravitate towar
A Taste Of San Miguel: Tacos and Tequila
I’m always hungry. Hungry for travel, knowledge, friendship and it goes without saying, food! If presented with an à la carte menu of excursions or adventures, a food tour is always my first choice. Hey, a guy has to eat! These ever growing foodie tours are popping up all over the glo
Cure Your Wanderlust in Guanajuato
Perched on the central plateau of the Guanajuato Mountain Range, there are very few destinations that can compete with the color, culture and character of San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. The city’s humble past has sprouted into full bloom and if it’s authenticity and character you seek in an
The Art and Soul of San Miguel de Allende
Although the ‘no sail’ mandate may be loosening its suffocating grip, cruising’s self imposed extension lingers with ships motionless at anchor or tightly tethered to their docks. What seems like a painful eternity finds cruising socially distanced from our travel wanderlust, making land trave
Mexico’s Cenotes: Exploring Chaak Tun
With the provocative civilization of the Maya on eminent display at the ancient ruins of Coba, Tulum and legendary Chichen Itza, Mexico’s Riviera Maya is awash with attractions just waiting for intrepid exploration. Although these are perennial bucket list favorites, even more intriguing are the s
Escaping The Bummer Of A Summer
One of the keys to happiness has always been having something to look forward to, but the unfortunate pause in river and ocean cruising has inflicted a heavy toll on my travel wanderlust. Making a rebellious move towards mitigation from induced isolation, I discovered the prescription and ultimate c
Travel Jeopardy
“I’ll take 2020 Travel Potpourri for $200 Alex” Answer: In 2020 ‘’It’ brought the travel industry to a standstill. Question: What is COVID-19? “2020 Travel Potpourri for $400 Alex” Answer: The duration of the 2020 international travel lockdown. Question: What is six months and six da
Not Guilty!
I’m pretty sure that we all glossed over the chapter on the rules for pandemic survival in the master plan of life. Regardless of our innocence and lack of complicity, we have all been convicted (somewhat unjustly) by the judge and jury to serve the collective six month and counting sentence of so
The Northern Sights of Norway
Savvy cruisers with a penchant for upscale travel will find a treasure trove of destinations to choose from in Seabourn Cruise Line’s catalogue of globetrotting itineraries. Few, however, would be as compelling as their summertime 14-day Majestic Fjords and North Cape itinerary aboard the impressi
South Seas Trifecta
In a land far, far away — from Porthole HQ, at least — lies the down under continent of Australia, flanked on the southeast by New Zealand and the petite island paradise of Fiji to the northeast. A marathon flight to these far-flung destinations may require diligent planning, but there is nothin
