• Travelogue 2009

    by  • 9 Jan ’09 • California, Italy, New York, Spain, travel • 21 Comments

    Masseria Torre Coccaro in Pulgia ranks near the top of my travel list. Set in a historic fortified farmhouse it’s a short distance from the Adriatic.

    One of Masseria Torre Coccaro’s beautiful bathrooms. Every room comes with it own private garden.

    As most of you know, travel has become central to my life these days. In part, living in Scotland has facilitated countless transatlantic flights to be with my family in the States. However, it is more than just the distance and a desire to see family and friends, travel is now a passion and way of life.

    On the agenda is the majestic Calistoga Ranch tucked into a private canyon in the Upper Napa Valley.

    A big part of our decision to move aboard was the travel opportunities it afforded our family, especially our son. Over the course of the past few years I have become a sufferer of wanderlust. I relish searching for an out of the way destination, a charming village or the perfect hotel. I especially enjoy the occasion to travel and meet the many wonderful people I have encountered since founding All the Best—and the list is ever growing.

    Grand Hotel Central in Barcelona is on our list of places to stay this fall. The boutique hotel in Barcelona city centre boasts a spectacular rooftop pool.

    This year travel will play an ever-increasing role in my life and on my blog. I plan to take All the Best “on the road” when possible, to meet the many fabulous readers I have come to know and the extraordinary talents that have been central to this blog. A few destinations include New York, California, Texas, DC, West Palm Beach, Pennsylvania, Berlin, Barcelona and London.

    70 Park Avenue was one of my favorite places to stay in 2008. It felt like my very own Park Avenue pied à terre. It was designed by Jeffrey Bilhuber and each evening guests are severed wine in the in living room.

    I will unveil more exciting details over the next few weeks. Rest assured that the hotels, the interiors, the people and the destinations will not disappoint—there will also be a few surprises for all of you!

    21 Responses to Travelogue 2009

    1. Anne
      9 Jan ’09 at 1:16 pm

      All are amazing! I can’t wait to see what you have up your sleeve! If the ‘All the Best Express’ makes it to New England do let me know!

      Reply
    2. pve design
      9 Jan ’09 at 1:19 pm

      Ronda,
      I am ready to roll out the red carpet here.
      The list of places to see, Stone Barns, Kykuit, The Castle, the Hudson River….
      only a stones throw from the city.
      Soup at “Leftiris” the Lemon Soup would be perfect on Sunday.
      Patricia

      Reply
    3. ALL THE BEST
      9 Jan ’09 at 1:19 pm

      “All the Best Express!” That is too funny Anne. I will let you know if New England is on my whistle stop tour! :-)

      Reply
    4. ALL THE BEST
      9 Jan ’09 at 1:21 pm

      You just might find me at your doorstep Patricia! It would be wonderful to see you again!
      xoxo

      Reply
    5. Alandra
      9 Jan ’09 at 1:42 pm

      You should make trip to Madrid too. So beautiful.
      Alandra

      Reply
    6. ALL THE BEST
      9 Jan ’09 at 1:46 pm

      I would love to Alandra! My husband has a good friend living in Madrid, plus he needs to go for business as well! Maybe I should go along with him this year!

      Reply
    7. ArchitectDesign
      9 Jan ’09 at 2:00 pm

      Coming to DC?! Thats amazing!

      Reply
    8. ALL THE BEST
      9 Jan ’09 at 2:06 pm

      I always fly KLM and for the trip to PA I will have to fly to Dulles…sooooo…I was thinking about a brief stopover in DC. Of course, I thought of you, I will keep you posted!

      Reply
    9. muranogirl
      9 Jan ’09 at 3:03 pm

      Puglia is Italy’s best kept secret. My husband is from there and we have spent every summer for the past 16 years there. If one really wants to feel the true soul and warmth of this beautiful country then Puglia is the place

      Reply
    10. ALL THE BEST
      9 Jan ’09 at 3:07 pm

      Puglia looks AMAZING!! I must get there very soon!

      Reply
    11. Katee "e-polishblog"
      9 Jan ’09 at 3:11 pm

      Wow, those all look like fabulous hotels! I love hotels so much, especially hotel pools. The one in Spain looks especially amazing.

      Reply
    12. Karena
      9 Jan ’09 at 3:30 pm

      I have been to Italy, though not Puglia. Wonderful destinations, I wish I could travel more at this time…in the future though it will happen again! I feel fortunate to have been to so many beautiful places around the world.

      Reply
    13. I ♥ NY
      9 Jan ’09 at 4:14 pm

      These places look fabulous. Can’t wait to see what you come up with for other destinations. Thanks for sharing.

      Reply
    14. Tobi Fairley
      9 Jan ’09 at 6:09 pm

      Love this post! I am a travel lover to and also will be featuring several trips on my blog this year. The schedule so far includes my quarterly trips to New York in January, May, August and November, next month is LA and Palm Springs, March we are heading to Costa Rica as a family, and another vacation this summer to Florida, Las Vegas in the fall and hopefully a trip to Blackberry Farms in Tennessee in the midst of all these. If any of our trips overlap while you are in the states we should meet!! I love having drinks with fellow travelers/bloggers!! Bon Voyage and Safe Travels in 2009!

      Reply
    15. Michael George
      9 Jan ’09 at 9:07 pm

      Hi Ronda,

      I was just checking in to see if you had received any of my emails. I was thinking they might accidentally be sent to your spam folder?

      Best,

      Michael George

      Reply
    16. Melinda Browning
      10 Jan ’09 at 12:00 am

      Hope you’ll put Santa Fe on your list! We have some wonderful treasures both old and new. Melimda

      Reply
    17. A Day That Is Dessert
      10 Jan ’09 at 5:04 am

      Fabulous list!

      Reply
    18. ALL THE BEST
      10 Jan ’09 at 9:17 am

      Melinda it’s on the list. I think I mentioned to you that my father is from New Mexico, so I could easily slip in a trip to Santa Fe sometime. My parents go several times a year and my brother-in-law is there now (skiing). I have not been to Santa Fe in years!!! I’ll keep you posted!

      Reply
    19. ALL THE BEST
      10 Jan ’09 at 9:18 am

      Thank you for all of the comments!!!!! So many places and people and so little time!

      Thank you for all of the kind invitations and emails!!! I will keep in touch with all of you!
      Ronda
      xoxo

      Reply
    20. ALL THE BEST
      10 Jan ’09 at 9:20 am

      Tobi your travels sound wonderful!! I would love to be in touch with you. Send me an email when you get a free moment.

      Best,
      Ronda

      Reply
    21. Jennifer Ramos
      19 Jan ’09 at 11:55 pm

      WOW that bathroom is quite interesting! Its like a CAVE… : )

      Jen Ramos

      'Cards & Prints You'll Love…'
      http://www.madebygirl.com
      madebygirl.blogspot.com

      Reply

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