Condensed perfectly for your exploration pleasure, York is an inviting place that tends to captivate its visitors.  Enchanting, enriching, and easily walkable there’s no reason not to fall in love with England’s medieval gem.  Get some shopping done in “The Shambles,” Britain’s most picturesque street and move on to marvel at the York Minster, easily one of the world’s most beautiful cathedrals.  York is a place straight from the fairytales with cobbled streets out of a Harry Potter movie, inspiring architecture, and a café culture where lingering is way of life.  York may be quaint and contained, but it promises to delightfully entertain.

Though it’s been relatively low on the tourism radar, Bratislava is certainly making a name for itself as a charming haven of European culture.  With some of the world’s most renowned museums, including the Museum of Folk Music and Clocks & Decorative Art, Bratislava is a city seeped with knowledge to be had.  However, like its neighbor, Vienna, Bratislava knows how to elegantly mix her culture with classic European fun.  The city is teeming with upscale bars, clubs and you-haven’t-lived-until-you’ve-tried-this-place restaurants.  Enjoy an elegant evening of fine dining and then go join in the energetic nightlife.  It’s OK to mix sophisticated culture with dancing that ends at dawn when you’re in Bratislava.

Meet fabsearch.com, your fab new friend, for real.  She is “your private secretary who reads glossy magazines, speaks with local trendsetters, then reports valuable info to you.”  She allows you to save “clippings” from a search, browse destinations for fun, or get down to business with a “serious search.”  Fabsearch spent years combing through old magazines and documenting their finds here just for your perusal…how fabulous!  There’s content from Elle, Vanity Fair, New York Social Diary, and many more trusted publications, so you know you are getting your info from all the reliables.  It saves you time, clips the important stuff and there’s no print waste as it’s all online.  Fabulous.

The Plaza’s most famous six-year-old guest, the fictional Eloise, now has a room dedicated in her honor.  Since 1955 when “Eloise at The Plaza” was first published children have marveled at the appealing Eloise and her experiences at the Plaza.  Designer Betsey Johnson collaborated with The Plaza to design the Eloise Suite that “blends luxury and whimsy for a charmingly original result.”  The suite is on the 18th floor and dons pink and black decor, as Eloise would have wanted it.  Johnson’s very astute eye for detail has produced a room that is eloquently Eloise.  The Plaza also offers Eloise-style tea time downstairs as well an Eloise shop for souvenirs.  Wonder if they offer special rates for guests named Eloise…

It’s hump day.  In order to get through the rest of the week, we decided to pick a dreamy destination to write about in hopes of daydreaming ourselves over the hump and into the end of the week.  That said, we are heading south for sun and sand.  Marking the southeastern most part of the Yucatan Peninsula, the Mayan Riviera - Mexico's Caribbean gem - is idyllic in every sense of the word. From the sunny skies to the crystal blue water, the weather is perfection. Stretching from the fishing village of Puerto Morelos to the town of Carrillo Puerto, the activities and culture are in abundance.  Add in the wealth of beautiful flora and fauna, as well as the fascinating ecological parks and archeological sites, and you’ve found the perfect destination…and mid-week diversion.  Sigh.

Ah, lovely Lugano.  Switzerland is a country of astonishing yet humble natural beauty, but it’s not often fully realized until you venture outside of the city centers.  The lakeside town of Lugano is the ideal place to marvel in all that the Swiss have to offer, especially that infamous natural wonder.  With a lake straight out of a postcard and the dramatic Alps looming overhead, it is clear why Lugano has become a haven for.  While Lugano is a showcase for Swiss beauty, it also has an undeniable Italian flavor, and that delightfully includes gelato!  With cobblestone streets and colorful mansions and villas, you may question whether you are in Switzerland or Italy.  Not a bad uncertainty to have as who wouldn’t enjoy a blend of these fabulous countries?  Pack your swimsuits for the lake, hiking boots for the alps, your appetite for gelato, and your camera for the incomparable beauty that Lugano has to offer.
 

The beloved non-light beer that has long made us appear more cool to the opposite sex when we order one at the bar is taking its hip worldwide reputation to a whole new level.  The ever reliable makers of Heineken are offering much more than a trustworthy cold beer, much more even than the affection of the males standing at the bar, they are offering the official Heineken Experience, a more pleasurable and educational one than you've experienced after having too many.  The interactive journey takes you through the brand's history and the brewing process through a special effects ride, interactive exhibits, and interpretive graphics.  The restored brewery, housed in Amsterdam, offers you a total sensory experience of seeing, touching, smelling, and most importantly, tasting through Heineken's entire production process.  Nothing like adding a hip and innovative brewery journey to your list of tours in the Netherlands.

Undiscovered, underrated, undeniable, this is Malta.  The small island off the coast of Italy has gone unnoticed for years, and we’re not really sure why.  Serving up quaint cafes for lingering, palaces for exploring, museums for pondering, and 300 days of sun a year for basking, Malta is the very definition of an undiscovered idyllic beauty.  The capital, Valletta, is the heart of the island and “one of the most concentrated historic areas in the world,” proudly boasting a UNESCO World Heritage rating.  After years of being occupied by its neighbors, Malta was granted independence from British rule in 1964.  The nation is now embracing its past while enjoying a culture purely Maltese as well.  The culture we speak of is perfectly chill and focuses on swimming, sun-bathing, and scuba diving.  We predict this relatively undiscovered gem of the Mediterranean is going to be the next big thing.  Pack up and be ahead of the game.
 

The blend of bohemian and artsy with affluent and intellectual create the fascinating and attractive appeal that’s the essence of Galway.  It’s one of Europe’s most rapidly growing cities and when you wander the medieval streets brought to life by the street musicians and lined with brightly painted pubs, you’ll clearly see why people are flocking to this romantic and eccentric city.  While Galway is staying true to its roots, it’s often called the most “Irish” city of Ireland, it boasts a contemporary and youthful vibe as well.  A fourth of the population is made up of students fueling the progressive and alternative energy that energizes this city.  The luck of the Irish certainly smiled upon Galway blessing this picturesque destination with the perfectly balanced appeal.

Who puts the W in wonderful?  Why, W Hotels of course.  Aug. 16 was the opening of their newest property in downtown Manhattan.  It is located on Washington Street in the Financial District, the perfect base for sightseeing, museum-going or getting down to business.  Knowing W, the rooms are spectacular, hip and definitely wow-worthy.  Of course, the hotel comes with a terrace bar and a grill that will only further impress your entertaining expectations.  Get your stay booked and enjoy the pristine newness of the latest from the W and let us know what you think!

 Contrary to Belfast’s undeserved grim reputation, it is a city undeniably alive with the Irish spirit.  While Belfast is an ideal starting point for exploring the Northern Ireland countryside, take some time to be captivated by this “city in transition."  The compact city center offers world-class luxury accommodations and Michelin-starred restaurants, housed in extraordinary Victorian architecture.  A city full of students, Belfast is hip and you never have to wander too far to find a good drinking hole.  Once marked by unrest, Belfast is now emerging as a city of resilience and strength, attracting tourists with its never-ending optimism.

It's time to waltz on over to Hamburg, the entertainment capital of Germany. When you’re not clubbing or bar-hopping there’s always the theater or the “Art Mile” where you can get your culture on. Germany’s second-largest city was home to The Beatles for a while, clearly indicating that this “capital of lust” certainly has much to offer. Wander the infamous Fischmarkt, soak in some Maritime history and marvel at the mansions of the rich. After all, you are in the richest city in Germany, home to the many media and shipping magnates. This city is booming, both economically and culturally. That said, we definitely suggest satisfying your traveling appetite with some flavorsome Hamburg.

We must confess, celebrity gossip is right up there with chocolate, shopping, and Saved by the Bell on our list of guilty pleasures, which is why the new book "My Favorite Place on Earth" has our attention.  Jerry Camarillo Dunn, of National Geographic fame, premises the book on one simple question posed to a wide range of celebrities, "What is your favorite travel discovery?"  We don't want to divulge too much, but a snippet of the vastly varied responses includes:  Jerusalem for actress Natalie Portman; Kauai, Hawaii for Matt Groening of "The Simpsons;" Runyon Canyon Park in Los Angeles for dog whisperer Cesar Millan; Trinidad for basketball hall of famer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar; and Monument Valley on the border of Arizona and Utah for George Lucas, "Star Wars" creator.  Other celebrities profiled in the book include Sandra Day O'Connor, Robin Williams, Morgan Freeman, Buzz Aldrin, Sally Ride, Jean-Michel Cousteau, Donald Trump, Jerry Seinfeld, and the Dalai Lama.  The celebrity contributors not only provide their favorite destinations, but also contribute a few pages describing the special appeal of each place.  Thanks National Geographic for merging our number one guilty pleasure, celeb gossip, with our biggest pleasure, travel.  It's a perfect combo.  And we sign off for the weekend contemplating, what is our favorite place on earth...

Two things that we love in life are travel (obviously) and our four footed friends.  Both enrich our lives and and make us better people.  But, when we want to combine the two, it's never easy.  Who better to share the surf, sand and sunsets with than your best friend?  Dan and Alysa, the genius founders of Pet Airways, shared our predicament.  They, however, did something to solve the problem.  How can we ever thank them?  Pet Airways is a new American airline that will fly pets domestically and seat them in the main cabin of the plane, not in cargo.  Pet Airways assures us, "We promise to transport your pet with lots of love, care, safety, and comfort in the main cabin.  Pet Airways is the first airline exclusively dedicated to pets - no humans please - and we take the job of providing a comfortable experience for pets very seriously.  We'll do everything in our power to make sure your pets get the best care during their journey because we're committed to taking care of our pet "pawsengers" as if they were our own."  We are pawsitively grateful for such a service and the excuse to book more trips, but this time with our best friends in tow!
 

The “Queen City” perfectly blends old southern charm with the comforts of a modern metropolis.  Charlotte has been named one of the top 20 fastest-growing cities in the U.S. and for good reason.  With skyscrapers dominating the skyline, this city’s progress is undeniable, making it evident that this is the place to be.  From deep-fried comfort food to the hippest sushi restaurants and commitment to culture that would make Monet look shabby, Charlotte’s got it all and manages to blend together class and comfort as gracefully as her name suggests.