Paint the Town Red in Kennebunkport This February
Celebrate Valentine’s Day on the Maine coast, where Kennebunkport is painting the town red for romance. Throughout the month of February, all businesses at Dock Square in downtown Kennebunkport will be decked out in red lights. Hotels, restaurants, galleries, and shops will welcome travelers with savings, from Red Plate dining specials to Five Shades of Red hotel packages, and Red Tag sales from retailers. The Love KPT package starts at $479 and includes a two-night stay at The Boathouse Waterfront Hotel, the Kennebunkport Inn, or the Grand Hotel, arrival goodies of red wine and chocolate-covered strawberries, a three-course dinner for two and late check-out. The package is available for travel through March 31, 2019. For those looking for an over-the-top engagement, Put a Ring on It puts the Cupid Concierge on speed dial to help curate that perfect romantic weekend. The package includes an original love poem, bottle of Dom Pérignon in Waterford crystal champagne flutes, a personal photographer to capture the "big ask," four dozen red roses and chocolate covered strawberries. Available through February 28, 2019, the package can be booked by phone at 1-800-573-7186.
Known for its award-winning Rieslings, the Finger Lakes deserve its reputation as one of the best spots in America to go wine tasting. Yet, its mix of rolling hills and lakes also lends itself well to adventure, especially in September when the summer crowds are gone. At the southern end of Seneca Lake, we hiked alongside a handful of waterfalls in the famous gorge of 
In mid-October, I caught up with Dan Austin, owner of 
Less than a 2-hour drive from New York City is Sullivan County, the western region of the Catskills. Once the heart of the Borscht Belt, where resorts like Grossinger’s and Kutsher’s thrived in the 50s and the 60s, only to be abandoned in the 80s and 90s not long after the mega-hit movie, Dirty Dancing, hit the screens. Derelict buildings on properties the size of college campuses dotted Sullivan County and the region felt like the Pompeii of the Catskills. Today, the county is experiencing a comeback, with stylish new inns and resorts, as well as farm fresh restaurants popping up left and right. This resurgence, coupled with outdoor adventures and genuine affordability means there’s no better time to experience what’s in Manhattan’s backyard (without having to get on an overcrowded train to the Hamptons). 
India recently reported a 17% increase in international travelers this summer compared to last. This despite a steady trickle of Indian rape stories that appear in the newspaper. With a population of 1.2 billion people, there’s no way to avoid crime. But these egregious acts are few and far between, certainly not enough to miss out on this magical and memorable mix of locales that will no doubt overwhelm all 5 senses. The country features some of the most sybaritic resorts in the world, perfect after a day of wandering the often chaotic streets or taking in majestic sights. India also offers a top-notch tourism infrastructure that can help you navigate through the swarming population. For example, we work with an excellent travel firm in New Delhi that provides transport and guides to the Taj Mahal and Jaipur, among other routes. We recently had them escort one of our clients to the Great Stupa at Sanchi, north of Bhopal, and the city of Lucknow, well off-the-beaten-track. So if there’s a will, there’s a way. 
I like to carry my trusty