Four ways to golf the British Open this summer

by Tom Johansmeyer on


The 150th British Open runs from July 11 – 18, 2010, and you could put yourself in the middle of the action. Though you may not be able to hit the links at St. Andrews, Scotland with the top dogs of golf, PerryGolf has put together some seven-day packages that could set you up to soak in the work of the greats. And, while you’re over in Scotland, you’ll have a chance to see what else the country offers.

Don’t worry; you’ll have a chance to get in a few holes, too.

1. Fairmont St. Andrews Package
The main event, of course, is the four rounds of golf at various courses in the area (including greens fees). But, there’s more to Scotland than tee-off time. The deal includes two dinner within the hotel, a pair of 60-minute massage treatments, perfect for unwinding after chasing that little white ball all day, and Ground Series Tickets to the Open Golf Championship, which includes all practice and tournament days. Prices start at $7,350 per golfer and $4,340 per non-duffer.2. Fairmont St Andrews and Turnberry Resort Package
You can save some cash (and drink a bit more at the 19th hole) with this package, which includes five rounds of golf, ground transportation and accommodations at the Fairmont St. Andrews and Turnberry Resort. The price tag begins at $5,995 per golfer and $4,535 for those who don’t swing.

3. The Highlands & Gleneagles Package
You’ll stay at the Golf View Hotel and Gleneageles Hotel, with dinner at Gleneagles at Deseo or the Strathern Restaurant. You’ll also score four rounds of golf and pick up ground transportation for your $4,885 ($3,835 for non-golfers).

4. Do It Yourself
Refine your game, score a couple of sponsors and qualify. How hard can it be?

Top ten historic hotels from around the world

by Scott Carmichael on

Hotel price comparison site www.trivago.co.uk has put together a list of ten historic international hotels and the famous individuals that stayed in them.

The lineup includes some of the most beautiful hotels from around the world and was compiled using reviews submitted to Trivago, booking.com, hotel.info and others.

The top ten lineup is:

1. Palace Beau Rivage, Lausanne, Switzerland

2. Hotel Copernicus, Krakow, Poland

3. Las Casas De La Juderia, Seville, Spain

4. The Willard, Washington DC, USA

5. Reid’s Palace, Funchal, Portugal

6. Steigenberger Grandhotel Petersberg, Bonn, Germany

7. Le Plaza, Brussels, Belgium

8. Grand Hotel Rimini, Rimini, Italy

9. The Cadogan, London, United Kingdom

10. Grand Hotel de Cabourg, Cabourg, France

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Minibar makes a memorable hotdog in Boston

by Tom Johansmeyer on

I was surprised that fellow Gadlinger Melanie Nayer was willing to be seen in a restaurant with me. She generally covers the good life, and when it comes to culinary, I rush for the lowest common denominator. After kicking back martinis at the Fairmont Copley’s Oak Bar – and old haunt from my White Collar Travel days – we circled the Back Bay looking for an upscale alternative to the stuff I’d normally chomp in diners. We landed at minibar in the Copley Square Hotel, an establishment also recommended by @LuxeTiffany, who, as you can guess from her Twitter name, has tastes that tend to run higher than mine.

In this fine establishment, where we were looking to pick up some sliders, Melanie nearly shouted at me upon opening the menu, “They have hotdogs!” No, not for her of course. She’s seen that I look for a dog everywhere I go, however, and knew that a luxe dog from Boston‘s sexiest hotel was a must. So, still buzzing with vodka – not to mention the Pepin Garcia cigars and port I’d enjoyed earlier with Chris Lynn (@colonnade) of the Colonnade Hotel – I prepared to sink my teeth into a Kobe beef dog at minibar.I’ve always been skeptical about Kobe beef. In burgers, for example, the extra fat which delivers the flavor burns off in the cooking process, delivering far less of a Kobe experience than you’d find with a steak. So for hotdogs, I had no idea if the meat from the laziest cows on Earth would make a difference. I still don’t. Maybe it was the Kobe beef … or just the fact that Minibar knows how to find a damned good hotdog. I can’t be sure. But, the Kobe hotdog was nothing short of delightful.

Though my palate was fried with liquor and cigars, I was able to detect an interesting balance among the hotdog roll, the mustard (I missed much of the flavor here, I suspect) and even the roll, which was toasted to perfection, recalling the experience I had with Montreal foodie Katerine Rollet back in September.


For years, I steered clear of the upscale hotdog world. Even with my unrefined (perhaps obliterate) sense of taste, I could still appreciate the sorts of dishes that define an excellent restaurant, and I preferred to get my dogs from the “experts” stands and beside carts on the street. Yet, minibar has confirmed for me what I first began to sense in Antigua last summer: even the stylish can put together a hell of a hotdog.

Daily Pampering: Stay at a knight’s house in Mexico

by Annie Scott on


Sir James Goldsmith (1933-1997) was a financier, politician and publisher of NOW!, a failed UK magazine. Despite the latter failure and early death (pancreatic cancer), it’s safe to say he did pretty darn well for himself — well enough to call the palatial residence above one of his homes.

It’s called La Loma and it’s in Cuixmala, on Mexico’s famed Costa Alegre. Goldsmith’s daughter Alix and her husband Goffredo Marcaccini are running the estate, and rent the suites and bungalows out to the rich and famous during select weeks of the year.

The surroundings are 25,000 acres of dry tropical forest and lagoons, filled with exotic animals like crocodiles and 270 species of birds. The vaulted ceilings in the rooms add to the feel of spaciousness (and the panoramic views of the sea don’t hurt).

The master suite boasts its own living terrace with a pool size jacuzzi and an ocean view bathroom. Three additional deluxe bedrooms, plus living rooms, a dining room, a library, a media room and an office are all available in the main house, as is a full staff of butlers, waiters, chefs and maids.

La Loma’s master suite is $3,000 per night, and if that’s too steep, you can rent one of the six oceanfront bungalows for $1500 per night.

Want more? Get your daily dose of pampering right here.

A renovated NYC boutique hostel, from $24 per person per night

by Amy Chen on

Is a hostel still a hostel if you get a private bathroom and a room that looks like this?

The recently renovated Broadway Hotel & Hostel on the Upper West Side is blurring the line between backpacker digs and, well, boutique hotels. Billing itself as New York’s first boutique hostel, the property is promoting dorm-style rooms that start at $24 per person per night, while a private space like the one to the right will run at least $119 for two people.

The dorm-style rooms have been switched to a more spacious setup that features one bunk bed for two people, as opposed to squishing four people into the space. Booking the dorm-style room category means you’ll have to share bathrooms, though there’s a sink in your room. (How very European.) Like other hostels, a solo traveler can be paired with a roommate of the same gender if you ask.

To upgrade the hostel experience, consider booking one of the private rooms that has a bathroom en suite (which I consider a luxury by hostel standards). Even for April travel dates, I still found plenty of availability for the private rooms; prices will vary if the bed type is a double (from $89), a queen (from $109), or two twins (from $119). The beds are each covered in a crisp white down duvet, and the private rooms come with amenities like flatscreen TVs and iPod docking stations.

Linens and towels with daily housekeeping service are included in all rates. There is no curfew or lockout. Common spaces include a lobby with free Wi-Fi and a fireplace. There’s also a kitchen with stainless steel appliances and granite countertops.

As someone who has let visitors crash on my couch so they can save a little dough, I suddenly feel like my New York apartment and hospitality skills are very inferior. But I should note that recent TripAdvisor reviews are mixed, so as always, practice due diligence in researching beforehand. For example, payment for the dorm-style rooms is cash-only, so make sure you have enough funds to cover your stay.

Update: A Broadway Hotel & Hostel spokesperson informs that they’ve just updated their website; major credit cards are accepted. However, the balance of your stay is due up front, so make sure you’re prepared to pay with either cash or by credit card.%Gallery-73514%

Before you go, be sure to check out Episode 5 of Travel Talk TV, which features a Santa Cruz beach adventure; explains why Scottish money is no good; and shows how to cook brats the German way!