I grew up in Chicago and still visit a few times a year. Over the years, I have stayed at some very nice hotels in the city. These are my favorites.
Thanks for visiting.
Rose
Category: Luxury
For me, luxury comes in many forms. Whether it’s glamping far from civilization or staying in a decadent resort, I share those experiences here.
My British Pullman Day Trip from London – Travelling in Luxury to Winchester
There is no better way to get into the holiday spirit than a luxurious train trip from London to the Winchester Christmas Market on the historic British Pullman. A British Pullman day trip is always a special event, and even more so during the festive holiday season.
I love taking unique rail journeys, and the British Pullman day trip from London to the Winchester Christmas market certainly promised to be a magical experience. I can’t think of any better way to get into the holiday spirit than with a special Christmas train trip that hearkens back to the golden age of train travel.
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My Magna Carta Barge Review – History, Heritage, and Haute Cuisine on the River Thames
This Magna Carta barge review is all about our luxury cruise on the River Thames to celebrate our special anniversary
All wedding anniversaries are special, but those ending in a “0” are doubly so. So, when my husband and I were looking for an extraordinary way to celebrate our 40th wedding anniversary, another luxury barge cruise with European Waterways quickly came to mind.
After three other cruises with European Waterways in France and Italy, we knew there was no more indulgent way to celebrate this memorable event. For a week, we would be wined and dined like royalty. And since we were doing a barge cruise on the River Thames in England, the royal treatment was quite appropriate.
Luxury Without Murder – My Orient Express Experience
I am sharing my personal Orient Express experience to inspire your next luxury holiday train trip. Let this detailed review inspire your next luxury experience.
Exotic destinations, quirky sleuths, and twisting story lines are all hallmarks of Agatha Christie’s classic mystery novels. Her most famous story undoubtedly has to be “Murder on the Orient Express,” which takes place on the luxurious and legendary train traveling from Istanbul to London. That same elegant train experience and legendary service can now be experienced again as you travel on the Orient Express from Venice to London, like I did.
This post was recognized by the North America Travel Journalists Association (NATJA) in 2017 awards competition with a Bronze award in the Luxury and Resort Travel Online Publication category
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September 11, 2025 Podcast: The Canyon Spirit – A Luxurious Train Journey Through the American Southwest
In this month’s podcast, I share my experience aboard the Canyon Spirit on the 3 day luxury train journey from Salt Lake City, Utah, to Denver, Colorado. The Canyon Spirit is part of the Armstrong Collective, owners of the Rocky Mountaineer, the famous luxury train journey across Canada.
Podcast link: The Canyon Spirit – A Luxurious Train Journey Through the American Southwest
A Luxury Train Ride From the Rockies to the Red Rocks – My Detailed Canyon Spirit Review
In this detailed Canyon Spirit review I describe everything about my luxury train journey from Salt Lake City, Utah to Denver, Colorado
Along with cruising, traveling by train is one of my favorite ways to see the world, especially if it is a luxury train experience. I’ve been on the Venice-Simplon Orient Express from Venice to Paris, the British Pullman in the UK, and the Andean Explorer and Hiram Bingham trains in Peru, and they have all been memorable journeys.
I was thrilled to have the opportunity to experience the new luxury US Canyon Spirit train route from Salt Lake City to Denver, where I enjoyed impeccable service along with regionally inspired dining while taking in the varied landscapes of the southwest.
Finding the Sounds of Silence at Yukon’s Tincup Wilderness Lodge
The Tincup Wilderness Lodge in Canada’s Yukon was a quiet retreat in the middle of nowhere with all the comforts of home
The first thing I noticed was the quiet – the kind of quiet that is almost impossible to experience in today’s world.
There was none of the background noise that comes from whirring motors, or humming electronics, or airplanes flying at 30000 feet. These are the sounds of modern day life that are always present and have become imperceptible.
Until they are no longer there.
In a landscape where towns and modern amenities are few and far between, Tincup Wilderness Lodge stood out as a luxurious haven of silent solitude that truly was in the middle of nowhere.
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A Complete Riverside Debussy Review – Cruising Europe’s Rhine River in Total Luxury
From spacious cabins to glorious food and attentive service, my cruise with Riverside Luxury Cruises was very memorable. In this Riverside Debussy review I share all the details about my recent Rhine River cruise.
Outside my cabin’s panoramic window, a castle that looked like it came straight out of a fairy tale sat on the crest of a hilltop. Inside my cabin, a steaming cup of tea and a full breakfast had just been delivered by my suite’s butler. That’s right, my cabin on the Riverside Debussy came with my very own butler!
This was my first introduction to river cruises in Europe, and I was getting totally spoiled by the experience.
European Waterways La Bella Vita Cruise Review – Discovering Italy On a Luxury Barge Cruise
Barge cruising with European Waterways is one of my favorite travel experiences. In this La Bella Vita cruise review I share all the details of my fantastic 6 day barge cruise in Italy.
There is a reason that a European Waterways barge cruise has become one of my favorite travel experiences – actually, it’s a lot of reasons. A week long cruise always includes incredibly attentive service, fantastic food, exceptional local wines, and specially curated excursions. And all this is provided in an intimate, small group setting. What’s not to love about that!
Swimming in the Dead Sea in Style – Tips for a Dead Sea Visit
I share my experiences swimming in the Dead Sea in both Jordan and Israel and share tips for the best Dead Sea experience.
You’ve probably seen the photos – the ones of a person effortlessly floating in an almost sitting position while reading a newspaper. This is often the typical marketing image associated with the Dead Sea. The reality is that swimming in the Dead Sea is so much more than that.
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