Bike Bermuda with Ciclismo Classico

Even in early October, the Amalfi Coast was swarming with people, especially the well-known coastal towns of Positano, Sorrento, and Amalfi. That’s why I was happy to spend the days on the coast but my nights up in the serene hill town of Ravello. As soon as we hit those narrow cobblestone streets of Ravello, with far less foot traffic, I could breathe again. Our room at Villa Maria Hotel had a balcony with a glorious view of the mountains sloping down to the sea. Service and the food was excellent, especially the duck and lamb we had at dinner. In the day, we hired a driver with Amalfi Car Service, Pasquale, to show us the properties we like to book for our clients and also suggest some of his favorites. We went to Antiche Mura in Sorrento, perfectly located in the heart of the town, and Le Sirenuse in Positano, where people line up for hours to have a drink at their champagne bar, offering the best views of the coast. There were two surprise properties that we’d happily recommend, especially for quiet and romance. Il San Pietro di Positano, a Relais and Chateaux boutique resort on the outskirts of town, has its own dreamy beach, pool, and fantastic views of the coastline. Just north of Positano clinging to the hilltop is a former 17th-century monastery, now a luxury property called Monastero Santa Rosa. Their infinity pool is in the most dramatic locale I’ve ever seen, on the edge of the hillside overlooking the vast waters below. Tell ActiveTravels what type of vacation you want on the Amalfi Coast and we’ll suggest one of these dreamy properties or others.
Brewster Travel Canada has been involved with the Canadian national parks since 1892, when the founders, two teenaged brothers, Jim and Bill Brewster, began guiding guests through the Rockies. If they were around today, the Brewster brothers would be in awe of their company’s latest development. Opening in Jasper National Park this coming May is the Glacier Skywalk, a glass-floored observation platform 918 feet above the Sunwapta Valley. The bird’s eye view provides an unobstructed vista of the glaciers and snowcapped peaks of Jasper, accessible to all. You reach the Glacier Skywalk by a 5-minute coach from the Glacier Discovery Centre.
We were hungry as soon as we arrived at our room at the Anantara Siam in Bangkok after our flight from Hong Kong. We scouted out the choices and found that there was a Michelin-starred restaurant called Paste within easy walking distance. It was early Sunday afternoon and we were hoping we could grab one of their tables. Initially, the hostess said no, but as we were leaving, she said they had a cancellation. It turned out to be one of the most memorable meals of the trip, a 7-course tasting menu created by Bee Satongun, who was called the finest female chef in Asia. Each dish was prepared like a work of art on the plate and was the proper size for sharing. But it was the unusual spices that excited the palate. Favorite appetizers included roasted duck, nutmeg, and sawtooth coriander on rice crackers, and tapioca pudding of smoked trout, toasted peanuts, Thai mustard leaf, and wild sesame. Then came a hot and sour soup of crisp pork leg, roast tomatoes and fried garlic in a smoky chicken broth before the sublime entrees arrived. Laos Duck Curry was a highlight. The next dish was equally tasty but I had no idea what it was. Here’s what it said on the menu: "Southern Thai-Muslim origin. Kimmedai, saffron, in-house made curry powder and nutmeg. Fried off in ghee, served with pickles and cured catfish eggs." Say what? It’s actually a type of fish.
n 1974, a team of Mexican government computer analysts picked a long sliver of land on the Atlantic shoreline as the country’s next Acapulco. The powdery white sands and turquoise waters, separated from the mainland by a lagoon were ripe for development. Sheraton, Hilton, and Marriott swiftly built their hotels, soon joined by upscale Ritz-Carlton and the flashy Le Meridien, and Americans took the bait wholeheartedly. Today, Cancun is the number one tourist destination in Mexico. Sadly, however, the Mexicans catered far too much to their northern neighbors. With a Hard Rock Café, Planet Hollywood, Rainforest Café, Outback Steak House, and a McDonald’s or shopping mall on every other block, the 14-mile-long Zona Hotelera (Hotel Zone) looks much more like Miami Beach than any Mexican village. In fact, the Cancun version of the Miami Herald arrives at your hotel doorstep each morning. Roads are often flooded and prices for dinner are exorbitant in a country known for its affordability.
Guest Post and Photo by Amy Perry Basseches