Misti Travel Agency

The best options to travel arounf the world!

The Art of the Quest: St. Lucia By Clarinet

by

Fake Elvis’s rose-colored shades are straight out of an old Starsky & Hutch episode. Behind him, a faded tapestry emblazoned with the real Elvis flaps in the breeze, while the King’s “Welcome to My World,” released in 1977 just months before his death, crackles through cranked boom box speakers. Soon Fake Elvis leans into a stance, then pumps his arms furiously to simulate a drum fill. I couldn’t have predicted my trip … [Read More]

Batanas and Bitinadas – Preserving Ancient Traditions in Rovinj, Croatia

by

The captain wielded his long white oars like hot knives through butter, each dip barely dimpling the glassy sea. His muscled arms moved fluidly, tiny adjustments keeping us on our course around the old city of Rovinj. We rounded the ancient pier and hugged the coast, where sun-splashed houses of many colors balanced precariously on rock outcroppings. Every so often, he abandoned the oars to smile and wave at a passing boat or residents who hung out of their windows, watching our little parade. “Ciao! Come va?” He seemed to know everyone… [Read More]

Food Obsession: Halloumi

by

Whenever we travel, we’re on the lookout for halloumi: a salty Cypriot cheese often griddled or grilled until crispy and golden brown. Halloumi can be very difficult to find in the United States, but it’s wildly popular in some of our favorite travel destinations: Greece, Turkey and Lebanon, especially, but also cities like London, Berlin and Dublin, where it has become an integral part of the culinary landscape. Both vegetarians and omnivores love it tucked into a pita sandwich as a quick lunch during a… [Read More]

Golf for men, spa for women

by

It’s terrible to adhere to clichés and stereotypes isn’t it? Especially if in the past you’ve been mildly outraged when someone else is guilty of doing exactly the same thing. Last week I was invited on a corporate day out you see. These invitations don’t come along very often so I tend to leap on them immediately when they do. But this one annoyed me a tiny bit. It was a golf and spa day. Golf for men and … [Read More]

Zermatt – you have to see it to believe it.

by

Welcome to the world’s most iconic ski resort. Altitude, electric cars, wooden houses… Luxury brands, celebrities, exquisite chalets. Zermatt is a destination where charming, cozy atmosphere coexists perfectly with the latest technological improvements, resulting in a seamless mountain fairy tale. If you haven’t been there yet, it’s about time you planned your trip! Getting there [Read More]

One Eleven Bali, Seminyak: hotel of the week

by

Seminyak attracts a dance-till-dawn crowd, but One Eleven Bali bucks that trend with temple-quiet spa gazebos – prepped for holistic massages – and tranquil private plunge pools… all in a sleek minimalist package. STYLE SULTRIER-THAN-THOU SETTING PRIVATE PETITENGET PLAYGROUND WHY THIS WEEK? Spiritual awakening? A little soul searching? Perhaps you have a touch of the Elizabeth Gilberts? Whatever you’re seeking, make Bali the setting; with a Smith-exclusive hotel offer for 25 per cent off villas, it’s a total… [Read More]

Visiting Jasper National Park

by

Day 3 in Canada had us venturing out of Edmonton and onto Jasper. We left our hotel at 7.45am to get a head start on the 4.5 hour journey through Jasper National Park to our first activity of the day – the Sulphur Skyline Hike. As you can see it’s a STUNNING drive, with some The post Visiting Jasper National Park appeared first on The Travel Hack. [Read More]

My Flight: British Airways Club World A380 from London to Los Angeles

by

Flight Review: British Airways Business Class A380 (Club World) Our flight to California each Summer is one of the ones I look forward to the most all year. Why? Because it is a good 12 hours – I don’t know about you, but I love long flights as they provide me with the opportunity of not doing much, for a change. No interruptions, no internet, no emails – all … [Read More]

10 Questions: Vella Ramasawmy, Iconic Santorini

by

In our General Manager series, we catch up with heads of hotels for personal stories and insider perspective. This week, we get to know Vella Ramasawmy of Iconic Santorini, a boutique cave hotel in Greece. Best hotel room at the property: The Iconic Suite. The hotel’s most interesting detail, service or historical tidbit: Our boutique […] [Read More]

PHOTO: Medieval Town of Piran, Slovenia

by

Click on above photo to view it in large format: Medieval town of Piran, Slovenia, located on the Adriatic Sea. The well-preserved town walls seen atop the hill were constructed to protect against Ottoman invasions. No visits yetThe post PHOTO: Medieval Town of Piran, Slovenia appeared first on Hole In The Donut Cultural Travel. [Read More]

You’ve been doing airports all wrong

by

The worst thing about going on holiday is, well, the going – traffic jams, suitcase slaloms, queues, more queues, other people. What if you could get that shoulder-loosening Smith-hotel feeling as soon as you left home? We tried Heathrow‘s star treatment… Let’s face it, until you do that victory face-plant onto your hotel bed, your holiday hasn’t begun. If you’re anything like me, the build-up usually involves playing Tube Tetris with your luggage, enacting full-body pat-downs every half … [Read More]

Downtown Edmonton and Elk Island National Park

by

Our Wednesday began at 8.30am where we met our fellow adventurers in the lobby and together, we headed on a 15 minute drive to Downtown Edmonton. To all of our delights, we were welcomed with a cup of coffee from Nomad Espresso and a selection of breakfast dishes from Northlands Truck 1879… Breakfast poutine (UNREAL), The post Downtown Edmonton and Elk Island National Park appeared first on The Travel Hack. [Read More]

I Heart My City: Jelena’s Perth

by

Jelena Stipanicev has lived in Perth just about all her life, and no matter where her wanderlust takes her, she will always be a “Southie” at heart. “It’s not Melbourne and it’s not Sydney, but my city is unique and resourceful because of its isolation,” she says. “There is no place that’s sunnier, friendlier and more laid-back than Perth.”… [Read More]

Burlesque in the bedroom: three weekends with Immodesty Blaize

by

Burlesque superstar Immodesty Blaize knows how to do a dirty weekend in style, and we’re lucky enough to count the showgirl, novelist and Smith Hotel Awards judge among our team of hotel reviewers. Here, we look back at three of her finest travel tales… MARTINIS ON THE MOUNTAINSIDE IL SALVIATINO, FLORENCE ‘Il Magnifico has been alerted.…’ BREAKFAST ON THE TERRACE… [Read More]

Experiencing a Gourmet Skisafari in Alta Badia, Italy (by Mr. O)

by

The culinary season on the slopes of Alta Badia, in Italy’s Dolomites, starts on a very special day: the day that the Gourmet Skisafari, haute cuisine at 2,000 m altitude, takes place. This event brings seven Michelin chefs in five mountain huts in the Alta Badia ski region. Basically, you ski from one hut to the other during the morning, and on… [Read More]

The List: 9 Turkish Delights

by

Turkey has cultivated a reputation as one of the world’s top travel destinations and it’s easy to see why. Visitors are provided with the opportunity to explore everything from stunning seaside resorts to ancient historical sights, as well as all of the culture one would expect from a modernized country. Herein, we’ve selected nine luxurious hotels to whet the appetite for a Turkish getaway. [Read More]

Reader Recs: Best Beer Cities

by

Harvest season brings fresh hops, but not every city in the world can boast an overflowing offering of craft beers and homegrown breweries. That’s why we tapped our Nat Geo Travel Facebook fans to share their favorite beer-drinking destinations. So crack open a cold one and find out which cities are tops for hops: The Czech Republic consumes more beer per capita than any nation in the world, so it’s little wonder our readers gave it love. Both Tomáš M. and Udo G. point to 2015 European Capital of Culture… [Read More]

PHOTO: Tartini Square in Piran, Slovenia

by

Click on above photo to view it in large format: Tartini Square in the coastal town of Piran, Slovenia, was named for its most famous citizen, violinist Giuseppe Tartini. A bronze statue of the musician can be seen at left. (Visited 4 times, 4 visits today)The post PHOTO: Tartini Square in Piran, Slovenia appeared first on Hole In The Donut Cultural Travel. [Read More]

El Otro Lado, Panama: hotel of the week

by

Boxes that need ticking for our next escape: wild nature , sunny, Caribbean waters, off-the-grid and with a dose of culture. It’s a tall order, but one that El Otro Lado in mellow Panama  fills – oh, and for less than you’d expect right now, too. STYLE Native arts and culture SETTING Placid Portobelo Bay WHY THIS WEEK? This whole post-… [Read More]