Zens Inn, a pod hotel in Canada’s Thousand Islands region Hotel-Scoop correspondents stay in a lot of hotels. So we’re always excited to discover unique properties, whether it’s a boutique hotel in a former church, a hostel where you sleep in a jail cell, or a grand lodging that excels at service. On a recent…
The cost of living in Panama may not be the cheapest in Latin America, but when you consider all the positive factors that lure lots of expats there each year, it comes out high on the value scale. You’ve got good air connections, a dollar economy with low inflation, easy paths to residency, good retirement…
In a Colorado mountain town where 19th-century brick buildings and antler chandeliers are the norm, a stay at modern Aspen Meadows Resort, on 40 sprawling acres just outside downtown Aspen, is a delightful change of scenery for visitors — and locals. To celebrate my June birthday with a close-to-home getaway, my husband and I motored…
The very name Tashkent conjures up exotic images of the fabled Silk Road that traversed Central Asia, linking China with the West since the days of Marco Polo. Even today, Tashkent is one of the most important portals for tourists wishing to admire the architectural marvels reflecting the wealth generated by the legendary trade route;…
Responsible tourism is an active awareness about the effects travel can have on destinations and the people and wildlife who inhabit them, both positive and negative. The general idea is that when all segments of the tourism industry– tour operators, hotels, government organizations, locals, and travelers themselves– take responsibility for ensuring travel is sustainable, it makes better places for people to live in…
Create Your Own DIY Wildlife Habitat For far too long, we’ve invested too much time, money and energy (both ours and the planet’s) in striving for perfectly manicured lawns. But we never stopped to consider whether making our yards look like competition-level golf courses was truly green. As it turns out, the domestic use of fertilizers and weed-killers…
Remember when you used to earn frequent flyer miles by flying halfway around the world or taking lots of segments? If you haven’t flown for a while, you may need to relearn the system. Now they’re called frequent flyer points because miles have nothing to do with them and as you’ve probably guessed, the changes…
Every year at Christmastime, my mother chooses and champions a charitable cause. In lieu of fruitcakes, popcorn tins and kitschy socks, she sends out donations to what she considers the best non-profit organizations in our honor. It’s not that she isn’t festive, or doesn’t believe in celebrating Christmas traditions. But when it comes to gift-giving, she assumes…
The Smith Hotel in Kingston, Ontario It would be easy to joke about sleeping in church, when you write about The Smith Hotel. The building that houses this deluxe boutique hotel in the Canadian city of Kingston, in eastern Ontario, is a former 19th-century church, its stately limestone facade and arched Gothic windows still intact….
If you are looking for a boutique bed and breakfast in Newport, Oregon, Ocean House is an excellent choice. This Newport oceanfront inn is tucked in a quiet residential neighborhood, steps from Agate Beach. My husband and I have been spending quiet a lot of time on the central Oregon coast. We particularly enjoy Newport,…
