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Best Things to Do in Barcelona, Spain

Best Things to Do in Barcelona: Rooftop at Casa Milà
Best Things to Do in Barcelona: Rooftop at Casa Milà

The best things to do in Barcelona range from the ancient to the modern. The Barri Gòtic and its maze of narrow streets harken back to its Roman beginnings while the dramatic glass high-rises near the water scream contemporary architecture. And Gaudì? You cannot escape the city without visiting several of his iconic modernist buildings.

Most iconic sight: the almost-finished Sagrada Familia

Best Itinerary Theme: Visiting everything Gaudì

Best tapas: Ciutat Comtal

Wildest dining experience: El Nacional tapas

Most worthwhile day tour: Mount Serrat

Most disappointing: Not everything is within walking distance

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Archives Hotels

The Four Seasons Hotel Sydney: Review

Four Seasons Hotel Sydney: the lobby

The Four Seasons Hotel Sydney has all the luxuries one would expect from the brand. The premises are open and modern, with clean lines. And the well-trained staff, particularly the concierges, offer cheerful greetings and lots of assistance. If you want to stay in, you can always head to the coffee shop for a snack or to the Mode Kitchen and Bar for a gourmet meal. Although I didn’t try it myself, Grain Bar looked fun.

Décor: Luxury modern

Location: The Rocks

Room Size: Comfortably large, but not huge

Best amenity: the offer of showers in the spa upon arrival

Advantages: Excellent location, steps from the Circular Quay

Disadvantages: The ground floor event space can spill out into the lobby

Tip: Rates vary with season and length of stay. Be on the lookout for deals.

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Archives Restaurants Travel

Where to Eat in Sydney, Australia

Where to Eat in Sydney: Oysters and sparkling wine at the Sydney Cove Oyster Bar
Where to Eat in Sydney: Oysters and sparkling wine at the Sydney Cove Oyster Bar

During a recent trip to Australia, I narrowed down where to eat in Sydney. I’ve done all the research and the taste-testing for World Oyster readers so that you won’t be disappointed. (Hey, someone had to do it!) All you need to do is read, book, and go.

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Best Things to Do in Sydney, Australia

Best Things to Do in Sydney: view of the city from the Sydney Opera House.
Best Things to Do in Sydney: view of the city from the Sydney Opera House.

When trying to plan the best things to do in Sydney, I found that I had to re-vamp my expectations of visiting an international city. Yes, Sydney has culture and, yes, Sydney has history; however, unlike European cities, you won’t find yourself steeped in the past. Instead, you end up embracing the now.

Most surprising: how the climate allows for outdoor activities, year round.

Best activity for families: visiting the Tarango Zoo

Most iconic sight: the Sydney Opera House

Best walk to get away from the bustle of the city: the Royal Botanical Gardens

Best restaurants for foodies: Silvester’s and Café Sydney

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Archives Restaurants Travel

Where to Eat in Amsterdam

When I visited the Netherlands earlier this year, I wanted to carefully plan where to eat in Amsterdam. Sometimes I chose by location. Other times, I wanted to satisfy my inner foodie. Not familiar with Dutch cuisine, I had no idea what to expect. On my visit I discovered that while Dutch cuisine, even at a Michelin-starred restaurant, embraces different ingredients and styles than I’m used to, the food can be delicious.

You can’t go wrong with any of the below. From Michelin-starred restaurant to casual bar, each offers quintessentially Dutch ingredients prepared in a style unique to the establishment.

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Archives Hotels

Hotel Estheréa in Amsterdam: Review

Hotel Estheréa in Amsterdam: Bar and restaurant area
Hotel Estheréa in Amsterdam: Bar and restaurant area

The delightfully quirky Hotel Estheréa in Amsterdam earns a spot as one of my favorite hotels of the year. The lobby’s eclectic décor entices hotel guests to look and linger. Each day, the staff puts out a tier of Dutch cookies and chocolates that guests can accompany with complimentary espresso, cappuccino, or tea. Plus, the location can’t be beat. Our trip to Amsterdam was made that much more special by this hotel.

Décor: Eclectic Dutch

Location: on the Singel Canal

Room Size: Small, but large enough for two to move around

Most surprising: the riot of disparate objects in the public spaces creates an elegant, relaxing ambience.

Advantages: Excellent staff and location

Disadvantages: Popular with tour groups

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Archives Restaurants

Rosso Crudo in Florence: Review

Rosso Crudo in Florence: Review

During our last trip to Florence (Firenze), the staff at our hotel recommended that we try Rosso Crudo for dinner. The location suited us, being only a block from our hotel, the Domux Home Ricasoli, on a day when we hadn’t slept much the night before. We wanted something nearby but delicious as our culinary entry into the city.

Specialty: steak and pasta

Dress: Business casual

Price: antipasti 5-19 Euros; primi platti (pasta) 8-12 Euros; Steaks 17-24 Euros or, for premium cuts, 5-8 Euros per 100 grams.

What to order: steak, pappardelle cinghiale, proscuitto e melone

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Archives Travel

Three Days in Amsterdam, the Netherlands

Three Days in Amsterdam: A hot August day on the canals
Three Days in Amsterdam: A hot August day on the canals

Our three days in Amsterdam, the Netherlands became a whirlwind tour, mostly because, in truth, we had only two-and-a-half days. Plus, we cheated a bit by taking a tour outside of the city. No matter. Our jam-packed itinerary gave us plenty to do and see. I’m amazed by how much we managed to fit into a short period of time.

Best museum: the Rijksmuseum

Best restaurant for foodies: Rijks

Most surprising: the speed and danger of the cyclists whirring down the streets

Favorite out-of-Amsterdam stop: Edam

Most disappointing: The Heineken Experience

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Archives Hotels

Domux Home Ricasoli in Florence: Review

The Bargello Room in the Domux Ricasoli Apartments in Florence
The Bargello Room in the Domux Ricasoli Apartments in Florence

We never would have stayed in the Domux Home Ricasoli in Florence if my husband’s colleague hadn’t found it first. I argued that I wanted a full-service hotel, with a front desk and housekeeping, not an apartment. My husband wanted to stay in the Domux Home Ricasoli because of the reviews. Eventually I relented after reading what he had. Even so, the reviews didn’t prepare us for the luxury within. We had a real wow moment when we stepped inside. Despite my fears, our trip to Florence had begun in style.

Décor: Contemporary

Location: a block from the Galleria dell’Academia and down the street from the Duomo.

Most surprising: the luxurious dual bathroom with the tiled, jetted tub and rain shower head.

Room size: huge, with a living room, kitchenette with island, enormous bathroom, and king-size bed.

Disadvantage: Housekeeping every other day. Front desk is manned only during business hours.

Security: You are given a security code to be used on the front door keypad to gain entry.

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Three Days in Florence, Italy

Three Days in Florence, Italy: View of the Arno River from the Ponte Vecchio
Three Days in Florence, Italy: View of the Arno River from the Ponte Vecchio

Get on your walking shoes because this week I cover three days in Florence, properly known as Firenze. You will clock some serious distance on foot.

The Centrale, or old city center area, holds all of the interest, with the immense, colored marble Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore (better known as the Duomo) dominating it all.

Most iconic sights: Florence, as seen from the Duomo, and the Arno River, as seen from the Ponte Vecchio.

Best secondary church: Santa Croce

Favorite Museum: the Uffizi Gallery

Best foodie activities: comparing gelato across the city and sampling foods in the Mercato Centrale

Local specialities: Florentine steak, Ribollita, Paparadelle al Cinghiale, anything with truffle (tartufo.)

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