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Carrying On in Maui (Maui, HI)
I recently detailed our stay at the Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea, where we experienced both highs and lows pertaining to the resort itself. Off property, carrying on in Maui was fabulous. From a succession of phenomenal meals to taking in the island’s most amazing sites and excursions—we had a magnificent time. My husband booked an a.m. Deluxe Snorkel Sail through Alii Nui Sailing Charters on one of our first mornings. The Alii Nui—a custom-built sailing catamaran that measures 65’ front to back and 36’ across—is one of a kind. It is certified for 100 passengers, but they cap their capacity at 45 for guest comfort. For $398 (two…
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Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea (Maui, HI)
If I am being honest, I’m quite tired of writing about COVID. Unfortunately, there is no separating our experience at the Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea from the coronavirus’s impact on our trip (No, we did not contract the virus—my husband and I stayed completely healthy). We were not even remotely concerned given our vaccination status, mandatory negative tests, the low COVID numbers throughout Hawaii, and our fabulous recent trip to Aruba. None of that really mattered, it turned out, as Maui was in a full production of pandemic theater. The Four Seasons Maui was designed with an open-air floorplan. The architecture is impressive: virtually none of the hotel…
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Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort Revisited (Aruba)
We could have gone anywhere; we chose Bucuti. As soon as my husband and I secured a date to get vaccinated, we meticulously deliberated where we would take our first trip. We had the world to choose from, but the haven that called to us was Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort. Readers of Carrying-On might remember our trip from March 2019, where I extolled the virtues of Aruba as the most revisited island in the Caribbean, Eagle Beach as one of the best beaches in the world, and Bucuti as a phenomenal adults-only paradise. What’s changed in the twelve years since our first visit is that we have gotten to…
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Primland Resort (Blue Ridge Mountains, VA)
When we first considered taking our road trip, I was hoping to design a route that had us finishing the trip at Primland Resort. I had read an article in the Wall Street Journal about their treehouses—actual treehouses—for overnight accommodations. When I called to book, I spoke with Paula, who was an absolute wiz at helping guests navigate all the resort has to offer. She asked me if I was looking to “get away from it all,” as the treehouses are a bit sparse and typically ideal for couples escaping family life and looking to reconnect. I think I actually laughed out loud. After months of COVID isolation, I assured…
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Montage Palmetto Bluff (Blufton, SC)
The Journey Continues. “If there’s ever a zombie apocalypse, this is where we’re coming,” I exclaimed to my husband from the balcony of our room at Montage Palmetto Bluff. In the beforetimes, this would have been a dramatic statement to make. Recently, um… not so much. We’re winding down our road trip on our way north to Primland in Virginia. I had made the two-night reservation at Montage upon realizing that the hotel I had originally selected did not appear to be terribly COVID cautious (one tell was an array of restaurants that only had indoor dining). I rerouted to Palmetto Bluff, and it was the best decision I made…
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The Royal Blues Hotel (Deerfield Beach, FL)
The Journey Continues. How are we Carrying-On? For some of my friends in the Northeast, the answer is, sadly, “Not well.” I can’t say that I blame them—it’s been a rough ten months. The COVID fatigue is real. It was day six of our road trip, December 5, 2020, and I was starting to think we left town just in time when we hit our first taste of warm weather. Would it be too much to call it a breath of fresh air? We’d just entered Deerfield Beach, not far from Fort Lauderdale, and I was becoming more and more convinced that Florida has gotten a bad rap. People are…
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The Lodge & Club at Ponte Vedra Beach (Ponte Vedra Beach, FL)
On the Road Again. We pulled into the Jacksonville Beach area around 5 p.m.—just in time for our second COVID test of the trip. The staff at Crucial Care was extremely organized and professional, and (thankfully) we both tested negative. If I am being honest, I was managing my expectations regarding COVID protocols in Florida. We’ve all seen the news, where the maskless are carrying on in crowded indoor bars. There are bad apples everywhere, but was this the norm or the exception? With our safety (and the safety of those we were visiting) in mind, I conducted exhaustive research into the places we were going to stay. We hit…
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The Ballantyne Hotel (Charlotte, NC)
The Journey Continues. Night four of our road trip was spent at the impressive Ballantyne Hotel in Charlotte, NC. Readers of Carrying-On know that I rarely write about large hotels, as I typically prefer more intimate accommodations, but the Ballantyne Hotel—part of Marriott’s Luxury Collection—is an exception simply because it is exceptional. The hotel is larger than life, with grand chandeliers framed by wraparound staircases, ultra-high ceilings, and floor-length windows that overlook the golf course. The evening we arrived, the lobby was still decorated for the holidays with big, beautiful Christmas trees and glistening lights. They were just finishing afternoon tea, and I so wanted to sit by the fire,…
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Wentworth Mansion (Charleston, SC)
The Road Trip Continues. For nights two and three of our recent road trip, my husband and I stayed in Charleston at the magnificent Wentworth Mansion. A member of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World (SMLH), this historic mansion was a pleasant surprise of sophistication and comfort at a time when we were still dipping our toes back into traveling. Quite simply, the Wentworth Mansion exceeded every expectation. After a long day of driving, we pulled into the secluded parking lot a little after dark. (descriptor) The Wentworth Mansion is an ornate boutique hotel in a prime location of Charleston. We traveled up the stone pathway to the entrance…
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On the Road Again
What a long, strange trip it’s been. I am, of course, referring to 2020. Like so many others over the last ten months, I’ve been asking myself, Are we there yet??? The answer is obviously no—but we appear to be getting close (or at least closer). My last post, from the Brazilian Court, a wonderful little hotel in Palm Beach, was on February 29, 2020. Little did I know at the time how the world was about to change. Since then, my husband and I have been working to keep our business afloat, our employees paid, and all of us safe. We’ve also suspended nearly all entertaining and travel. In…
