Photo courtesy The Mt. Washington Hotel

Spending a weekend at the Omni Mount Washington Hotel in Bretton Woods, NH was like stepping back in time, to an era when the pace of life was slower. Yet, the amenities and services of this grand, circa 1902 wooden hotel are very modern: fully equipped spa, 18 and 9-hole golf courses, indoor and outdoor pools, not to mention elegant dining rooms.

You can sit on red plush padded wicker lounge chairs on the long curved veranda, enjoying panoramic views of the entire ridge of the Presidential Range, while wait staff attends quietly, offering to bring drinks, snacks, and light fare. One of the first things you will notice upon entering the beautiful, light-filled, high ceilinged lobby is a majestic Grandfather clock, standing sentinel by a doorway to a sunny lounge, its pendulum moving quietly and with a face that changes scenes with the seasons. Halls and grand staircases are carpeted in patterned, period-appropriate colors that reflect local forest colors and creatures: bear, moose and fox.

An evening meal in the main dining room was memorable, highlighted by delicious food and a pianist playing wonderful tunes, both from the past and the present. The hotel offers many seasonable outdoor activities as well, including golf, hiking, skiing, dog sled rides, and sleigh rides - something for the enjoyment of everyone in your party.

I could go on about the comfortable beds, crisp linens, and beautiful vistas from the room, but my real advice to you: Experience the beautiful Mt Washington hotel for Yourself!

Last month, I had the divine pleasure of spending almost a week exploring and eating my way through Malta and her sister island Gozo.  Just a short hop from most major cities in Europe, I found this little island country has so much to do and see…who knew?!   

From around 5200 B.C., the archipelago was home to a unique temple-building civilization, and Malta and Gozo’s temples are thought to be the oldest free standing man made structures known to exist.  These sites are really awesome - but that’s not all.  The more recent history of the islands’ association with the Knights of Malta, as well as its role in various wars due to its strategic location in the Med, make it a historical mecca of sorts.  

The people are so warm and welcoming and the food was fresh and delicious everywhere I went.   Hiking, biking, touring and exploring.  Ahh….Malta.  There are many hotels and properties to choose from.  I stayed at Corinthia Palace and loved everything about it, especially the staff.  Their restaurant - “Villa Corinthia” - is outstanding.  The chef, Stefan Hogan, is a true master of everything “food.”

I felt like I was leaving family when I had to return home.  The cost of living is relatively low compared to the rest of Europe, so prices were noticeably less than one would expect.   Great destination and one I now recommend to my clients looking for something new and exciting to add to a European adventure.

On a beautiful Sunday afternoon, I was met by a, “hostess,” (their term not mine) at San Diego airport and transferred in a posh new Mercedes van to the Golden Door Spa in Escondido CA.  Weeks before I left Boston for my west coast break, I knew two things; I was fortunate and skeptical about my final destination.

I was told, “it’s more than just a spa… it’s a retreat.”  After the 4-day Interlude Package, I expected to appreciate the difference between the two words.

Pay more, you retreat? Pay less you spa?  The golden elephant in the room is that this operation looks to be one of the world’s most expensive of its type.  Eye-watering expensive.  Enter the doubting Thomas. Granted, I am more experienced with charlatanism than destination spas. I boast a very sharp nose for discerning the sincere from the self-impressed.

Several weeks before the trip, they sent a packet with a decent questionnaire. Decent because the information they asked for is more practical than nosy. I dislike medical questions from the non-medical.  It’s pretentious and conveys the wrong impression to the gullible.  You get my drift? The questions were practical, and meant to asses my ability level, likes, and dislikes. I never got around to the, “pre-visit” exercise and stretching routines that came in the packet.

The brochure is 50% gorgeous and 50% snore.  Stock photos; waist-less beauties on stationary bikes or stretched out corpse-like as though receiving their last rites with hot rocks and lemon wedges. Tired terms like, “renewal,” “transformation,” and, “nurturing” didn’t signal that I was in for anything original. But wait! The alluring shots of the Ryokan style rooms and Japanese inspired environs were so compelling! I couldn’t dismiss the feeling that maybe the Golden Door did have something going for it that the competition is trying to emulate. Maybe this place is the real thing?  Someone has to be doing this right. After all, it was founded decades ago and is credited with pioneering the mind/body connection… that is no small thing! Besides, it’s in California, the source of many trends that are now mainstream.

The main doors may not be made of gold but they’re certainly beautiful.  Followed with a slow, thoughtful walk over a wooden bridge, you enter a peaceful reception area, leaving highways and airports behind. This place seems to have it’s own “buzz”.  I can feel my blood pressure dropping.  The staff I encounter seem happy to see me and happy to be here, an excellent sign!

Image via The Golden Door Spa

My intention was to write a daily blog describing the process of my four day stay. But you see, after I checked into my room, (my beautiful Asian-inspired room) I took an inward look, and thought blog schmog! To hell with that. This place seems to have it, “going on”.

Maybe I was someplace smarter than my smart phone?

I decided to dig into the opportunity I had; relax, let myself be taken care of, and give my hosts a chance to do their thing.  Come on Golden Door, dazzle me!!

There is in fact, no dazzle here.  No gloss.  No shiny marble.  It’s not a wow factor, it’s an OHM factor.

Image via The Golden Door Spa

Over the next four days I participated in 42 activities.  Some were private, others were classes.  All included.  The daily massage is done in your room.  Your closet is equipped with a massage table, and fresh linens.  Also provided daily? A generous supply of Golden Door skin care products on the bathroom vanity and a daily change of good quality workout clothes.

Each practitioner is a star.  Whether it’s a facial or Feldenkrais, yoga or meditation, these people are the best in the business.   I did not have one treatment or class that I felt was a waste of my time.  Another testament that something good is afoot here is the staff longevity. The director of Guest Services? 31 years on staff. The pedicurist? 15 years.  If you’ve been at Golden Door under 5 years, you’re a newbie.

As for the guests, the repeat clientele outnumber the newcomers. From all walks of life and incomes, the very wealthy cheerfully mingle with the schoolteachers that save for a bi-yearly visit.  That’s very meaningful to me and spotlights the staff’s intention that we‘re all even here and all here for the same reason.  No attitude.

Besides the aforementioned 42 activities, you’re served three gorgeous meals a day with snacks in between. They put me on the 1,500 calorie-a-day diet that at times felt a wee spare, but no one suffered.  I dropped a few pounds, and managed not to have a single Marlboro Red. (The option was there, though.  They have a smoking shed for guests.)

Image via The Golden Door Spa

Upon check-out, I was ready to leave, but in a good way.  I wanted to put my newfound skills, (many that persist weeks after going) into practice.

I think of the many times I’ve landed in Boston after a, “vacation” feeling no different from the day that I left. Those trips seem a rip-off now compared to my adventure, “out into inner space” at the Golden Door. Terms like transformation, renewal, and nurturing that I scoffed at earlier, I’m happy to say are very real here.  They’re the experts.

I have a strong memory of my first night at Golden Door at an evening passive yoga class. You do nothing. You’re arranged in the most comfortable postures with pillows and bolsters, covered in heavy blankets. Before I closed my eyes, I looked through the floor to ceiling windows to see the sun setting outside, and reflected in the floor to ceiling mirrors across the dark, warm studio.  Weighted pads were placed perfectly over each eye. Then, a whisper about observing my breath, maybe a soft gong and I was floating down my inner lazy river….. This is soooooo California, I thought.   And I felt so very welcome.

Some of us attend meetings or conferences half a world away. Some of us yearn for adventure beyond familiar surroundings. In the 21^st century, the human species resembles a migratory one: compelled to travel great distances in order to gather together, conduct business, share an experience, or find some rest and relaxation. For many of us, not moving is not an option. This is the powerful concept behind our new brand identity and website design.

We tasked Design & Co. with creating a new brand identity and website for The Travel Collaborative. Using five familiar migratory species (Monarch butterfly, elephant, Canadian goose, tern, and tortoise), D&CO created not just a logo, but a brand identity system that underscores our expertise in getting clients from point A to point B like it’s their second nature.

With TTC, you can go anywhere in the world; the website features backdrops of rich, immersive, full-screen images. The bright, direct design correlates with our ability to provide an effortless experience and personal contact with your travel consultant. Featured content includes our “Top 14 Reasons to Hire TTC”, travel case studies, and our consultant directory.

We hope you enjoy our "migration" to a new brand identity and website.

One hears it all the time: Why can’t air travel be like it was in the old days - something special; something that people looked forward to; time well spent on the way to your destination?

Those of us with a certain number of rings around the trunk can harken back to the time when traveling by airplane meant you wanted to look your best, act your best, and be treated in the best possible way by your onboard hosts. Flying was an adventure, whether you were a kid looking forward to meeting the pilot in the cockpit before takeoff, or an adult waiting for a pillow, a glass of bubbly and a hot meal served with a smile by the friendly in-flight team. Yes, there were actually times when you weren’t in a such a hurry to reach your destination - you were actually having a good time getting there! (No, I’m not kidding.)

If you missed all this, well, sorry. It’s not your grandmother’s air travel experience any more. Given the issues of the day facing the airlines - tightened security; compressed flight schedules; shrinking budgets; and reduced onboard amenities (that includes leg room) - one’s chances of actually having a pleasant trip are greatly diminished. Yes, if your travel budget gets you seated in the first or business class cabin, your experience will be enhanced to a great degree. Generally speaking, however, it’s a slog one way or another.

And, your fellow passengers aren’t blameless, either. On some flights, it’s difficult to tell whether people are actually trying to look anywhere near their best - I mean, should I be buying stock in a sweatpants company? No doubt the airlines have made comfort an unattainable passenger objective, but for the sake of human dignity we really need to pay more attention to how we present ourselves when we’re flying in an enclosed tube for an extended period of time amongst a couple hundred other fellow sufferers.

Regaining any semblance of a pleasant air travel experience, from check-in to baggage claim, may be an unreasonable expectation - but I do think it’s worth an effort, and I will address my thoughts on the matter in future blog postings. In the meantime, on your next trip, look for the guy in the rumpled blue blazer, trying to make it all the way to SFO without using the restroom. Please say hello.