CUBA 2015 PHOTOS

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From ruin and decay comes beauty and strength. Cuba is a wonderful and magical place. Its people are resourceful and with the promise of negotiations with the US and the potential lifting of the embargo, I found new hope in the eyes of its residents.

I spent a couple of days in La Habana, but this time I also ventured out into the towns and neighborhoods outside of the city. (Click on each photo for a brief description.)

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The Discovery Trekking Extreme Ultralite Travel Towel

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You may be wondering why you should bring along your own towel if you plan to stay in hotels this summer. Simple! The Discovery Trekking Extreme Ultralite towel is different. Its a towel, a travel blanket, a sun-protective sarong, and much more!

This silky towel takes almost no room, but provides a lot of use.  Going to the beach and the pool? No problem! Your towel will dry FAST so it’s ready to go when you are. The Extreme Ultralite towel also functions as a sarong or swimsuit cover, so you can bring it along in style and then use it to dry off after your swim.

If your fun in the sun includes sand this summer, the Extreme Ultralite towel is the perfect choice. Since it doesn’t attract sand like other towels, you don’t have to worry about trekking grains through your hotel room or vacation rental. Whether your travel plans include workouts, running, or just hanging by the pool your Extreme Ultralite towel is the perfect companion. While you travel, it makes a lovely blanket to keep you or your kids comfortable as you head to your fun destination. 

With so many uses for your Discover Trekking Exteme Ultralite towel, the real question is why wouldn’t you bring it along? For more information, please visit www.discoverytrekking.com

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Video Tour through Miami's Wynwood Art District

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The Wynwood Art District and its Wynwood Walls have become a regular stop in my visits to Miami. Art lovers and tourists alike will appreciate the burst of talent and creativity flowing through and up the sides of window-less warehouses, bringing them to vibrancy. I've presented a photo gallery in the past, but more recently, we had a chance to "play" with our GoPro and take video. Enjoy this tour through the Wynwood Art District and next time your in Miami, make it a stop during your visit!


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Jet Set to the beautiful Toscana Resort Castelfalfi in Tuscany

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The beautiful, rolling hills of Tuscany in Italy are as alive with history and culture as they are with flora and fauna. In the heart of the region, in the area between Florence, Pisa and Siena, is an 800-year-old estate dominated by an ancient castle once home to the Medici family. This beautiful but neglected corner of Italy has been thoughtfully redeveloped and reborn as Toscana Resort Castelfalfi. In the 1960s, the 11,000-hectare estate was abandoned by all but five of its residents in a countrywide rural exodus. Then in 2007, TUI AG, one of world’s leading travel groups, came across the property and saw its potential.  ‘From the very outset the idea was to restore the ancient village and bring it back to life,’ says CEO Stefan Neuhaus. ‘We are preserving the site’s original structure and reinstating part of Italy’s heritage, but with all the additional modern services and standards that you would expect from such an upmarket resort. ’

Work on transforming the estate into a luxury resort began in 2011. The renovation of the borgo – the outskirts of the castle walls – commenced with the restoration of the residential complex comprising 41 apartments completed in the summer 2013, and with the development of the first of three planned hotels. Built within the walls of the old tobacco factory, the 31-room La Tabaccaia retains many of its host structure’s original features and there’s also a typical Trattoria-Pizzeria in a renovated building close by and a restaurant that opened its doors in June 2014.  

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Scattered throughout the estate are 26 original farmhouses, or casali, four of which have been dismantled and lovingly rebuilt using the same stones. The buildings’ wooden beams have also been preserved and each farmhouse has a traditional terracotta tile roof, while bathrooms have been brought up to date using local marble or ceramic tiles. With the capacity to adapt each interior according to its owner’s specifications, these casali present an exciting prospect for would be buyers, whether seeking a stunning second home or a superior rental investment. Several of the properties also line the resort’s 27-hole golf course, which is already considered one of the best courses in Italy. Some of the farmhouses are also available for weekly rentals.

Strewn with vineyards and olive and cypress trees, the estate is also a hunting reserve, playing home to wild boars, deer and foxes. It is also self-sufficient in terms of water and there are plans to create a biomass plant, which will enable Toscana Resort Castelfalfi to produce its own biofuel.  ‘We searched for this place for a long time,’ says Stefan Neuhaus. ‘What we are developing is not a typical resort, it’s a new approach for the international luxury travel market that offers apartments, a range of farmhouses, a luxury club concept and four and five stars hotels. Our guests are well travelled and looking for an authentic experience. With us, that is exactly what they will find.’

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Shop the City by Conrad: Conrad Miami Debuts Inspired Luxury Shopping Experience

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Conrad Miami announced the launch of Shop the City by Conrad, a guest package providing extraordinary VIP shopping experiences. Conrad Hotels & Resorts understands that its guests are looking for a unique and immersive stay in the cities they visit, and Shop the City by Conrad provides a customizable shopping experience complete with local boutiques and sightseeing. Beginning April 1 through May 21, Conrad Miami will serve as the backdrop for the Shop the City by Conrad experience.

Guests will delight in this bespoke shopping experience, which includes a 2-night stay in the hotel’s Deluxe City View or Premium View Rooms, breakfast-for-two each morning with Miami’s famous Cuban coffee before embarking on a full day of shopping at the city’s chicest boutiques - all from the comfort of their own chauffeured vehicle. 

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Conrad Miami has teamed up with some of the most exclusive retail brands in the city including Burberry in Miami’s Design District, Saint Laurent at Bal Harbour Shops, Tourneau in the Village of Merrick Park in Coral Gables, and The Webster – a locally inspired multi-brand boutique on Miami Beach. The hotel’s knowledgeable concierge is happy to offer personalized recommendations for cultural destinations based on the guests’ preferences.

“Miami is known worldwide for its shopping, and Conrad Miami is perfectly located near all the best shopping hot spots in the city,” said Stephane Mercier, general manager, Conrad Miami. “The Shop the City by Conrad package is part of our ongoing commitment to connect our guests with the local culture and excitement of Miami. This experience allows our guests to explore the best of what Miami has to offer from luxury shopping to beaches, great dining, and much more.”

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Situated in the heart of the city’s financial district and vibrant city center, Conrad Miami offers contemporary luxury with soaring views of the city and Biscayne Bay. Guests will enjoy the rooftop poolside oasis, gourmet dining at the hotel’s signature restaurant, Atrio, the newly renovated rooftop tennis courts, and the personalized service for a warm weather getaway. In addition to Conrad Miami, the brand will offer limited-time Shop the City by Conrad stays in select cities throughout 2015, including: Conrad Dubai, Conrad Istanbul, Conrad Tokyo, Conrad Beijing, Conrad Hong Kong, and Conrad New York.

The Shop the City by Conrad package for Conrad Miami starts at $405 per night for a two-night minimum.

For more information on Shop the City by Conrad and details on participating properties and retailers, please visit shopthecitybyconrad.com.

For more information about Conrad Hotels & Resorts please visit www.conradhotels.com or http://news.conradhotels.com.

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Classic Cars & Photos of My Trip to Cuba

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I was a little boy when I left Cuba to come to the USA. Even at the young age of five, I already new that my family and I would never return. (So I thought.) Like so many Cubans, I grew up with that mindset. After months of planning,  permission from OFAC in D.C. and a temporary Cuban visa, I traveled back to Cuba after more than four decades last April. My mission: to reunite with my 80 year old father who I hadn't seen since 1970. The outcome: a beautiful, life-changing experience. With the proposed changes to US / Cuba Policy this means that I will continue to enjoy visiting with dad. For me and for many many others, this change is the beginning of hopes, dreams and familial unification. Something that my generation and that of my parents' have longed for... for over 50 years.

In October, I premiered the film I made with Gil Guillama called Finding Dad: Mira... tu Papa. This is a documentary about my first trip back to Cuba and the reunion with my father. Dad is 81 now and every time we speak on the phone he asks when am I going to come see him again. Now I can say, "soon, very soon!"

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THE BLOOMINGDALE'S HOLIDAY SHOPPING SPREE PACKAGE with ROW NYC

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This season Row NYC is giving the gift of shopping, hot chocolate and cocktails! Our Bloomingdale's Holiday Shopping Spree package gives you access to a 15% savings pass – plus an option to book your very own personal shopper. It doesn't get more New York than Magnolia Bakery, and we can’t let you end your shopping spree without a warm mug of their hot chocolate topped with delicious whipped cream – the girls of "Sex in the City" would be proud! Once your wardrobe is complete, head back to District M at Row NYC to toast your purchases with complimentary cocktails. *Package available for stay dates between November 1, 2014 and January 5, 2015!

Book your Bloomingdale's Holiday Shopping Spree package here and let the holiday season begin!

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