Our Latest New York Programming
Our original segments straight from the Big Apple just keep on coming.
Experience a truly unique New York attraction in Wow! Factor. This exciting program takes you to the Gazillion Bubble Show at New World Stages in Midtown Manhattan, where entertainer Fan Yang reveals tricks and illusions using “gazillions” of bubbles. You’ll not only get a preview of the show, but you’ll find out about Yang’s childhood passion for these captivating spheres, the numerous Guinness World Records he holds, and what drew him to create this one-of-a-kind magic onstage for audiences of all ages.
Next up head to Chelsea for a visit to the Trapeze Club New York, where adrenaline seekers learn the thrilling techniques of the flying trapeze. In Flight Club you’ll meet Jonathan Conant, the school’s owner and co-founder, and discover his motivation for establishing this exhilarating New York activity. From beginner basics to advanced somersault tricks, adventurous swingers take in incredible panoramic views of the Hudson River, downtown Manhattan and the Statue of Liberty.
In Di-Vine Intervention get an exclusive look inside The Plaza’s Caudalie Spa in Midtown. Learn about the French-inspired spa’s very own Vinotherapie treatments, derived from the natural elements of the grape and its vines. Hear from spa manager Regine Berthelot about the process used to protect, firm and brighten the skin, and then head to the wine lounge where sommelier Clifford Rames complements these relaxing treatments with a taste of aged wines from Bordeaux.
Be sure to check back with Voyage.tv for our latest signature programs.
What We’re Watching
Here are our Top 10 Programs of the week:
1. Rainforest Adventure – El Yunque National Rainforest, Puerto Rico
2. Wine & Breeze – Wine With Me, Jamaica
3. Jamaican Sundown – Rick’s Cafe, Jamaica
4. A Study in Spirits – Brandy Library, New York City
5. Panama Hats – El Galpon, Puerto Rico
6. Oceanside Oasis – Willow Stream Spa, Bermuda
7. Healing Blends – Fern Tree Spa, Jamaica
8. Stir It Up – White Water Rafting & Canopy Tour, Jamaica
9. Rum Shack Baby – The Pelican Bar, Jamaica
10. Savor Old San Juan – San Juan, Puerto Rico
Click on Voyage.tv to see more of our exciting programming.
Insider’s Hamilton: A Guest Post From Our Bermuda Resident Editor
Gentlemen, start your engines. Or whatever the sailing equivalent of preparing for a major race is (Hoist the sails? Batten down the hatches?). According to Cruising World, the Notice of Race for the Newport Bermuda Race 2010 has officially been posted, which essentially means all you sailors hoping to enter the “thrash to the Onion Patch” have until March 30 to enter the historic international ocean race.
The Newport Bermuda Race was founded in 1906 as the first ocean race for amateur sailors, and has since become one of the world’s premier sailing events—a 635-mile open-ocean contest, most of it out of sight of land. Every two years in mid-June a fleet of nearly 200 boats in five classes set sail from Newport, Rhode Island, to the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club in Hamilton, Bermuda, and luckily for us islanders, this is the year. The race kicks off on June 18 and normally takes five to six days to complete. Which means right around the weekend of June 25, there should be a big ‘ol party here in Bermuda.
If you’re thinking of snagging a spot for this event, head to Voyage.tv to book your trip to Bermuda today!
What We’re Watching
Here are our Top 10 Programs of the week:
1. Rainforest Adventure – El Yunque, Puerto Rico
2. Panama Hats – El Galpon Shop, Puerto Rico
3. Savor Old San Juan – San Juan, Puerto Rico
4. Jamaican Sundown – Rick’s Cafe, Jamaica
5. Light Delights – The Restaurant at Round Hill, Jamaica
6. The Art of the Cigar – Graycliff Cigar Company, Bahamas
7. A Taste of Jamaica – Bellefield Great House, Jamaica
8. Wine & Breeze – Wine With Me, Jamaica
9. Stir It Up – White Water Rafting & Canopy Tour, Jamaica
10. One Stop Beauty Shop – Spa Chakra, New York City
Click on Voyage.tv to see more of our exciting programming.
What We’re Watching
Here are our Top 10 Programs of the week:
1. Rainforest Adventure – El Yunque, Puerto Rico
2. Panama Hats – El Galpon Shop, Puerto Rico
3. Savor Old San Juan – Old San Juan, Puerto Rico
4. The Art of the Cigar – Graycliff Cigar Company, Bahamas
5. Chic Eats – Cafeteria restaurant, Chelsea
6. Style Icon – Nicole Miller, Midtown
7. A Ritzy Retreat – The Ritz Carlton Spa, Puerto Rico
8. Jamaican Sundown – Rick’s Cafe, Jamaica
9. Spa and Sea – The Caves Spa, Jamaica
10. A Study in Spirits – Brandy Library, Tribeca
Click on Voyage.tv to see more of our exciting programming.
Wanderlust – St. Maarten
Our VP of Marketing, Libbie Rice, recently took a trip to St. Maarten over the holidays. She shares with us her favorite rainy day activity and some memorable food finds.
A week in St. Maarten between Christmas and New Years was the perfect way to decompress after frantically trying to cram in holiday visits to both sides of the family (who happen to live on opposite coasts) with two preschoolers in tow. I was exhausted by the time we landed in St. Maarten.
The Westin St. Maarten Dawn Beach Resort & Spa was exactly as the pictures displayed, and had all the high-end amenities one expects of the Westin brand. The enormous pool was loved by all, and two huge children’s pools could be easily monitored from a lounge chair.
We did several day trips that were worthwhile. The first was spending a drizzly afternoon at the famous Airport Beach (where the incoming aircraft buzz right overhead before touching down on the runway across the road). The first couple of planes were small ones from neighboring islands, but then suddenly an American Airlines 757 was descending upon us. My son jumped up and waved it in, and after that the fun began. Most of the U.S. and European arrivals are between noon and 3 p.m.—the highlight is the Air France arrival, which, depending on the day, is a gigantic 747. But the even crazier thing is to witness a take off. The plane’s tail faces directly back towards the beach and people stand behind it waiting to be blown over into the water (and pelted by sand) from the engines. Conveniently there are bars on either side of the small beach to pass the time while watching the planes land and take off.
On a better weather day, we took a day trip to Anguilla to visit some friends. It’s a short 20-minute ferry ride from Margot (be sure to arrive with 15 minutes to spare to pay the local departure tax and clear through passport control). It’s also possible to visit St. Bart’s for the day, but we decided to save it for another trip.
We had some wonderful gastronomical adventures in St. Maarten—not surprisingly, they were on the French side of the island. Just down the street from the Westin Hotel is the “border,” and suddenly the food choices change. One of our favorites for a quick bite (especially with hungry children) was Mama’s Pizza on the main road in Oyster Pond.
But the hidden find was the town of Grand Case—about a 20-30 minute drive from the Westin. The town consists of a strip of hip restaurants and bars. We went with a friend’s recommendation and ate at Le Cottage. The food and service made us feel like we’d been whisked away to France for the night. We were the only Americans in sight. Our children decided to put away all their preconceived notions of “yucky” food and tried everything. My son declared that the lobster bisque was heavenly and swore that he would start eating salad if I could make it the French way.
It was sad to leave paradise for snowy New York, but we know we’ll be back again soon. There are nonstop flights from New York (and other East Coast cities), so it’s an easy destination for a long weekend. –Libbie Rice
Introducing Our Jamaica Resident Editor
Before the New Year we introduced you to our Bermuda Resident Editor here at Voyage.tv, David LaHuta. For those of you who missed that post, a RE is an expert located in the field that keeps us informed on what’s new and hot in his or her area and answers any travel related questions you may have, offering a unique perspective you can only get from a local.
Now we’d like to introduce you to another one of our experts, Kaili McDonnough, a journalist based in Kingston, Jamaica. Before she moved to Kingston she spent a decade living in New York City where she worked for the New York Post. Currently, in addition to working with us, Kaili is a contributing writer for several Caribbean publications including The Jamaica Observer, MACO and Skywritings. “I love everything about travel writing,” Kaili says, “and I love being a journalist because I am constantly meeting new people and going on exciting adventures.”
Some of those adventures include traveling around the world with our production crew to host some of our original signature programs, from Island Hopping in Turks and Caicos to discovering Wearable Desserts in her hometown of Kingston.
Since moving to Jamaica she’s started a successful open-air market (Kingston’s answer to Brooklyn Flea or London’s Portobello Road) called Market at The Lawn. Here vendors sell the best of what Jamaica has to offer in terms of arts, crafts, furniture, fashion, food and jewelry.
Check out Kaili’s insider’s perspective on Jamaica at Voyage.tv! –Lisa Bonarrigo
What We’re Watching
Here are our Top 10 Programs of the week:
1. Best Tressed – Devachan Spa, SoHo
2. Style Icon – Nicole Miller, Midtown
3. Haute Chocolate – MarieBelle, SoHo
4. The Art of the Cigar – Graycliff Cigar Company, Bahamas
5. Village Underground – Hotel Griffou, New York City
6. Aruba on Horseback – Rancho Notorious, Aruba
7. Bermuda En Vogue – Cecile, Bermuda
8. Panama Hats – El Galpon Shop, Puerto Rico
9. Island Indulgence – Elbow Beach Spa, Bermuda
10. Mountain Majesty – Jade Mountain, St. Lucia
Click on Voyage.tv to see more of our exciting programming.
Wanderlust – Phinda Private Game Reserve, South Africa
Photos by Edith Mehiel
From Johannesburg to the Phinda Private Game Reserve it was just under a two-hour flight. As we descended we had our eyes peeled looking out for wildlife, but quickly laughed at the idea that with nearly 60,000 acres to romp on, animals would linger near an airstrip. Not 45 seconds off the plane, however, and two Wildebeests galloped by. On the drive from the airstrip to our lodge we spotted an elephant gloriously bathing at a watering hole, monkeys, a couple female giraffes, warthogs, zebra, and several variety of antelope (otherwise known as ‘fast food’ for the big cats).
Phinda (one of several &Beyond properties in Africa and India) had five different hotels, and we were booked at the Phinda Mountain Lodge, which had gorgeous views from the open-air main lodge, and individual bungalows scattered throughout housing the gorgeous guest rooms. The king-size beds were deliciously comfy, the rooms were really spacious (sunken living rooms, huge closets), and the bathrooms were divine (think modern, freestanding tubs, glass showers, separate WCs, and a sliding glass door leading out to the private deck with an outdoor shower and plunge pool).
We quickly settled into a daily routine: up and out at 5 a.m. for amorning Game Drive, back at around 9:30 a.m. for breakfast and midday siesta (swimming, lounging, getting a massage, etc.); out again for an evening Game Drive after tea-time at around 4 p.m. and back for dinner at around 8 p.m. in the traditional Boma dining room. While we would have a goal on each Game Drive (to track and view leopard, elephants, lions etc.) we would invariably stumble upon countless mammals, reptiles, birds, plants, and even bugs that weren’t on our “to do list.” We had booked a 7 Wonders package which included a couple of other activities like a sunset boat cruise (breathtaking!), Flight of the Fish Eagle (a birds-eye view of the property and out to the Indian Ocean for Whale Shark Spotting), and a night drive on the beach looking for rare sea turtles laying eggs. Some of us more adventurous types also opted for a few bush-walks, something that’s not recommended for younger guests.
All in all each and every day was packed with mind-blowing activities and sights, but what made the trip really memorable were our incredible, knowledgeable and lovely Rangers. They were veritable encyclopedias and had stories and info on every shrub, insect and bird call we would throw at them. It got to the point where we were trying to find something they didn’t know…but try as we might, we failed. By the end of the week we had unleashed our inner bird-nerd, rhino-tracker, insect-expert and botanist. Leaving was tragic; but my only consolation was knowing that I have several other incredible &Beyond destinations to add to my bucket list. –Erika Mehiel
Wanderlust – Cape Town, South Africa
Photo by Edith Mehiel
Voyage.tv brings together travel enthusiasts from all walks of life, not just our viewers, but also all of us employees. I work in the Editorial Department writing articles about all the fabulous hotels and unique places that we cover, so hopping on a plane is just another day in the office!
Over the New Year holiday I spent two weeks with my family in South Africa, first in Cape Town before making our way to The Bush. We flew business class on South African Airlines. This was a delight for those of us in rows one through four, but a bit less so for those in rows 15 and 16 (on airlines where the business class is separated into two sections, always opt for the front of the plane. It’s serviced by a dedicated galley, so there’s no heavy foot traffic to the back of the plane, and the temperature control is separated from coach, so you won’t be freezing with the masses).
We stayed at the gorgeous Cape Grace hotel in Cape Town, right in the marina, where the sea lions tanning on the docks were our first animal sighting. We only had a few days, but covered a lot of ground renting a car (mostly stick shifts, and left lane oriented). A drive down the west coast to Cape Point for a hike and back up the east coast was a great day trip. (Watch out for hungry baboons along the way!) Heading out to the wineries is another day well spent – we visited the Spier Wine Estate, which has not only a grand property but also an incredible cheetah rescue project (you can pet cheetah cubs!), an eagle rescue project, and a gorgeous restaurant serving authentic South African meats, stews, vegetables, and fish in a really magical outdoor setting (picture richly draped tents, fire pits, romantic tree houses and live music).
On our final day in Cape Town day we hiked Table Mountain, an incredible rock formation that towers over the coastal city. As the name suggests, the top is flat, but getting up there is pretty steep. There’s a cable car that runs up and down, as well as a multitude of hiking trails with varying degrees of intensity, and each requiring different amounts of time. We opted for a two-hour, near-vertical ascent that definitely had us winded, but left us with an incredible feeling of accomplishment. The views were spectacular, the flora on the way up was almost Seussian (maybe it was the endorphins), and the ride back down in the cable car was well earned! I’ll get into the Bush in my next post. Bon Voyage! –Erika Mehiel
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