Where We've Been Lately

Our advisors and staff have been to some amazing places and luxurious hotels in the past few months. Watch our videos and check out our photos below to learn more about where we've been lately!

Once settled into my beautiful room – well
more like an amazing Villa – I headed over
to lunch. The Head Chef is amazing and has
a great way to combine all the foods and
flavors of the area into some amazing
dishes. Once properly fed and completely
satisfied, I headed up to The Well – a New
York based Spa/Lifestyle health-focused
company that runs all the wellness
programs at the resort. I enjoyed a
wonderful massage with some added
therapies that made the experience even
better. During my visit, I not only enjoyed
great food, drinks and wonderful spa
treatments, but some great adventure as
well. I climbed a 100-foot tree (Tree Net
Experience) in about 25 minutes, and then
while resting enjoyed some delicious treats
prepared by the resort while overlooking
the entire rainforest. There is great hiking
on property as well. One of my favorite
experiences while at AltaGracia was a
horseback ride to visit a local farm. After a
45-minute ride we arrived at the farm, we
toured the grounds, milked a goat, saw
newly hatched chickens, then sat down
with the family for a great Costa Rican
lunch. We also enjoyed some local, freshly
made sugar cane juice and candy (both we
made ourselves).

Overall, I had a fantastic visit to Costa Rica and AltaGracia. I would definitely head back to Costa Rica, and probably spend my entire stay at AltaGracia as well. There’s so much to do and enjoy in the area, and I can’t wait for another spa treatment at The Well. Unlike most other luxury properties, rates include all meals, non-alcoholic beverages, daily programming, and a personal compa (butler). Plus, as an added benefit, AltaGracia has a great relationship with a Meet and Greet service in San Jose, so I bypassed all lines in and out of the country. Happy to share much more about my trip to Costa Rica, just let me know.

Some people wore them around the ship and in crowded areas like the theaters. I felt very safe and I would definitely go again. This cruise was amazing! Reach out if you'd like to hear more about my experience.

The views from the lodge are simply stunning and the lodge itself was amazing. The tents are more like a 5-star hotel with large decks to take in the views. The food and service were outstanding too!

From there, I traveled to the Northern Serengeti in Tanzania and stayed at Sanctuary Kichakani. It was not fancy, but the Serengeti is what you go for! This is where I had the best guide! We were fortunate enough to witness the wildebeest migration crossing. It happened by luck and what a special and emotional experience it was to see. I felt like I had stepped into a National Geographic documentary! I hope the memory never fades.

I ended my adventure at Tulia Zanzibar for some beach time before the long flight home. It's a small luxury resort with only 15 bungalows, white soft sand beaches, the bluest of waters, and gorgeous views. The service and food were excellent. It was the best way to end my favorite trip to Africa! Feel free to reach out if you'd like more info about Africa and my recent trip.

Leslie's Trip to NYC Dec. 2021

NYC in the winter is magical. I love the fall colors of the leaves, the festive lights and displays prominently displayed throughout the city, the chance to wear boots, hats, scarves and gloves!

It's not unheard of to see current musical
artists stroll in to play a set with the piano
player or jazz band. It was easy to walk to
both an amazing bagel shop where I
indulged in bagels and schmear on a daily
basis, and then jumped on the subway to
go anywhere else I wanted to go. Sant
Ambroeus is also a hidden gem of a
breakfast place just around the corner from
The Carlyle. Reservations are highly
recommended, but OH SO worth it!

One of my favorite things to do is walk along the Brooklyn Bridge. The ideal time to go in early in the morning (before 10am), as that helps avoid the large crowds of locals and tourists alike that always seem to appear in the afternoon.

The tree at Rockefeller is always incredible to see. Pack your patience when you go, as you will undoubtedly be with thousands of other friends also trying to get a close-up photo of the tree.

I hadn't I hadn't been so up-close and personal to Lady Liberty since I was a kid. She is as magnificent as ever, and the day reminded me of spring. It reminded me of the importance of layering clothing as it also got a bit warm at 58 degrees!

I also visited the One World Observatory for the first time since 9/11. I had not been and truth-be-told, I am not sure I would do it again. The views of the city from the top are truly spectacular, especially if for a first-timer. I'd recommend getting the VIP ticket, which is approximately $53 per person, and navigates you through the priority lines, allowing you to miss the lengthy lines for the general public. Allow for 45 minutes to an hour to walk all around the top of the observatory deck.

Then there is Central Park. What is there not to love about it, especially on a day like this. The colors are vibrant, the air is fresh and crisp, making it a great place to find a moment of tranquility in the city that never sleeps.

I made brunch reservations at the iconic Tavern on The Green. I love going during the holidays, as the menus include amazing cocktails and tasty delights that just scream festive time! The place smells like cinnamon, nutmeg, apples and so much more!

I can't go to NYC and not go to Broadway! So, I spruced up and headed over to see Moulin Rouge. Vaccination cards and masks worn during the duration of the show are required, but it was so worth it!

I had a one-bedroom spacious Suite at The Carlyle. It was approximately 650 square feet and had one and half bathrooms, along with a living room. That's almost unheard of for the city!

Simply stated, going back to my hometown in winter is always a great idea!