The Haute Travel Writer

Beau Monde Traveler Luxury Travel Magazine •

Exploring Porto Venere in the Italian Riviera

Italy has so many gifts to offer the intrepid traveler that it’s hard to figure out which one to unwrap next. In the Italian Riviera, in a peninsula that juts out into the Ligurian Sea, is where you’ll find one of those gifts. Porto Venere is an idyllic coastal village complete with an old town and picture perfect views into the endless horizon. There is no access by train and with little parking, it is one of the few places along the sea shielded from mass tourism, especially in the evening whe
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The Tochigi Prefecture: Japan's Destination for Exceptional Nature, Culture, and Cusine

Prefecture offers an unforgettable travel experience from its gorgeous nature with sublime lakes and waterfalls to its rich culture and historical landmarks. Three of its most alluring destinations, , , and , are connected by the water that flows from its mountains through rivers and underground to resurface again in hot springs or as a source for the region’s fertile soil and abundant agriculture. The region is located a short train ride from Tokyo and makes an ideal destination to visit for a
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Exploring St. Albans, One of England's most charming towns

So close but so far away. That is what comes to mind for those who know St. Albans, a lovely town a mere twenty minutes by train from the cosmopolitan metropolis of London. But St. Albans is a complete world away, a charming town surrounded by rolling hills and pastures and steeped in so much intrigue and historical riches. For those visiting London or just touring around England, 48 hours in St. Albans St. Albans’ most dominant landmark is the 11th-century St Albans Cathedral named after the C
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Exploring Bath: England's Most Genteel Holiday Destination (Part 2)

Bath is one of England’s most fascination and culturally rich cities. Read our PART ONE of Destination Bath for insights on this unmissable city’s history, sightseeing and more. To use a sports analogy, Bath scores a hat trick, trifecta, and threepeat in terms of what it offers the refined traveler. Of course the Bath hot springs and its history and architecture, and next Bath is also a foodie destination that appeals to the most demanding gourmand. From refined afternoon teas to scrumptious fi
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Exploring Bath: England's Most Genteel Holiday Destination

We all know that a bath is one of our first experiences in this life and continues until the end. A ritual of immersing ourselves in soapy water to clean ourselves of the day's grime. After all, cleanliness is next to Godliness. But for those in the know, Bath is also a magical place in the heart of England. Steeped in history from before the Roman invasions and one of England’s most romantic cities, it is the place where Jane Austen penned many of her novels and is even in today’s time the quix
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Exploring Iceland and a Stay at its Most Chic Boutique Retreat, The Reykjavík Konsulat Hotel

Iceland is one of the most fascinating places on earth. There are volcanoes, glaciers, black sand beaches, and waterfalls that look like they fell off the pages of a fairytale book. It is also a country filled with endless adventures from mountain biking, white water rafting, horseback riding, and countless hiking trails in pristine nature. Reykjavik is Iceland’s capital and the major city and makes the perfect base to explore all that this incredible destination has to offer. An ideal place to
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Destination Bled: Slovenia's Real Life Fairytale

There’s something a bit more exciting about traveling off the beaten path. The idea that you are going somewhere that everyone you know has not already visited certainly carries its own cache. Slovenia is one of those places. It has so much to offer from gorgeous medieval cities to the pristine wilderness where wild bears still roam free. In the center of Slovenia is its most magical treasure, an emerald-green lake surrounded by the Julian Alps and dotted with an little island at its center. Thi
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Touring In Style: Exploring Versailles With Cartis Classic Motor Cars

One cannot think of Paris without thinking of the Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, or the Avenue des Champs-Élysées. One of Paris’ most treasured experiences is actually not in Paris at all. It is Versailles and lies a short distance away in miles but light-years away in the regal remnants of a time when France dominated the world in culture and power. Versailles is arguably the most opulent palace in the world and even today, the town surrounding this royal abode is home to the privileged few an
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Kalimera! Discovering Crete, the Richest Island in the Mediterranean Sea | Part 1

All images credit Destination Greece or the respective companies featured Kalimera! Discovering Crete, the Richest Island in the Mediterranean Sea Richness is not always about money. It’s about abundance. And when it comes to a richness in history, culture, beautiful nature, and enriching experiences, arguably one of the wealthiest destinations in the world is Crete. Another thing you’ll notice on your first visit to Crete is that the people have a well-placed sense of pride in who they are. C
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Exploring Chania and Crete, the Richest Island in the Mediterranean | Part 2

All images credit Destination Greece or the respective companies featured Exploring Chania and Crete, the Richest Island in the Mediterranean The feature continues from Part 1 of the Discovering Chania Feature. The most popular tourist destination in Crete is Chania and with good reason. The city is a blend of the ancient and the modern with a beautiful old town that spans along the coastline with an ancient harbor, cobblestone walking streets, and a plentiful offering of seaside bistros, sho
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Destination Brisbane: Australia's Newly Minted Jetset City: Part 1

Australians have a peculiar habit of giving everything childish-sounding nicknames. An umbrella is a brollie, breakfast is brekkie, and sunglasses are sunnies. And thanks to Crocodile Dundee, we’ve all heard of their word for barbeque, a la “throw some shrimp on the barbie”. This quirk of adding “ie” to the first syllable touches pretty much everything, even their cities. Brizzie just so happens to be the endearing title that Aussies have bestowed upon on one of the world’s most up-and-coming je
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An Avatar-like Adventure of Rainforests and Reefs on Australia's Great Barrier Reef Drive

An Avatar-like Adventure of Rainforests and Reefs on Australia's Great Barrier Reef Drive The Great Barrier Reef is a mandatory destination for the global explorer that ranks along with the Grand Canyon, Machu Pichu, Petra, and the Great Wall of China. As amazing as the Great Barrier Reef may be, the far northeastern reaches of Australia are blessed with more than one natural wonder. The Tropical North Queensland region is also home to the Daintree, the oldest rainforest in the world. This pris
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Exploring Stellenbosch, South Africa: One of the World's Most Spectacular Wine Routes

When we think of the world’s top destinations to enjoy wine, the first that comes to mind are Bordeaux, Tuscany or perhaps the Napa Valley. They are known for their excellence in wine but also as places where lovers of wine can go to be immersed in the terroir of the locale, amongst the rolling hills filled with grape vines and to be able to swirl and sip at the winery’s cellar door. The experience does not end at the cellar door; beyond the bottle are culinary experiences where gastronomic menu
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An epicurean adventure in Australia’s Bellarine Peninsula & the eco-luxury B&B, The Nest

Australia is a destination of many natural gifts; from dramatic coastlines with jutting mountains that plummet into the sea, to  calm waters on sandy beaches, and of course, the arid and majestic beauty of the Outback. An hour and a half drive south of Melbourne is where you’ll find a unique treasure; the Bellarine Peninsula. Here you’ll find quaint coastal towns built at the turn of the century, sweeping farmland and livestock grazing on wide-open pastures, and vineyards as far as the eye can
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Savoring and Swirling in the Feast-Fest Down Under, Western Australia's Gourmet Escapes

One thing that no one will ever argue is that the people of Margaret River, Australia know how to do three things extremely well; make great wine, appreciate good food, and know how to have a good time. The celebration of those attributes takes place each spring down under in their festival of epicurean good living; the Western Australia’s Gourmet Escapes. Gourmet Escapes is a foodie fantasy land of entertaining culinary and wine events with a few fun parties thrown in for good measure. The Gou
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A Delicious Exploration of Bologna, Italy and the Grand Hotel Majestic già Baglioni

When most think of Italy, they will think of its gleaming cities of Rome, Florence, Milan and Venice. Others may dream of visiting its major attractions like the leaning tower of Pisa, marveling at the Sistine Chapel or perhaps a few days in the Mediterranean Sea in Capri or on the Amalfi Coast. It been said that one can take their entire life to visit all of Italy’s special sites and not see them all.  Although it should be, Bologna is one of Italy’s special treasures that is often not at the t
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Discovering The Wine Heaven of Australia's Margaret River

Australia is a country known for kangaroos, the Great Barrier Reef, the unspoiled nature the Outback as well as their bustling cosmopolitan cities of Sydney and Melbourne. Australia is also renowned for two other definitive attributes. Australia is known for its tough and defiant people; mavericks who, as a result of being cut off from the rest of the world by geography and endless oceans, forged an independent and self-sufficient country. Australia’s second notable feature is a gift to the oeno
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Discovering Italy's Best Kept Secret: the Wine-Rich Collio Region

Discovering Italy's Best Kept Secret: the Wine-Rich Collio Region The saying goes that one could travel for their entire life and never see all of Italy’s beautiful destinations. That saying rings true, yet most travelers stay on the beaten path visiting Florence, Rome, Venice or perhaps one of Italy’s many islands. Lovers of wine usually pick Tuscany, whose roads in summer months quickly fill with wine hungry tourists buzzing around on their Vespas. In the northeast part of Italy is where the
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