Category Archives: travel

the dirty dozen – best posts of 2012

twelve of O – 12

tour de eiffel

well, well, well, what do we have here? another tagging blogger thingy-ma-jig. it is hard for me to say no to these especially when i’m tagged by someone who i think is really great like, Erik of On My Feet or In My Mind. not only do i find his stories interesting but, for some reason, the man finds lola amusing. just read this comment he wrote on one of my posts. (see #5)

You being yourself is the number one thing that makes you awesome and makes it so much fun to read your blog and follow your adventures.

Those people who pass judgement on you are trying to mask their own unhappiness by doing it- they aren’t worth any thought or time.

Just keep being your fabulous self!!!!!

thanks for your support, Erik, and for tagging me. and away i go with my dirty dozen of 2012.

1) most popular – from lola, with love!

DSC_0398

why is this my most popular? can you guess?? i’ll give you a hint…it has to do with foreign languages and virtually nothing to do with what i wrote!

2) most helpful travel tip – 5 financial essentials you need while traveling through Europe

euros

because if you don’t have common sense to do these things, at least have the common sense to go get yourself a sugar daddy!

3) a post that was surprisingly successful – postcards, pins, patches – what’s your favorite travel souvenirs?

buddha

since souvenirs seem trite at times i was surprised at how many people commented and liked the post. that’s what 14K gold lucky charms do for you!!! 😉

4) a post that was underrated – Ames Boston: a hotel that aims to please

photo 3

with all my star quality hotel review porn as of late, i was surprised more people didn’t like the Ames post more. it’s one cool hotel and deserves a good long sexy look.

5) most controversial post – my controversial musings for 2012

it's your story

well, the title says so – so it must be! judgers and haters make me mad. the. end.

6) most amusing post – my 7 super shots – done lola-style

in the bathroom of the playboy club in vegas

in the bathroom of the playboy club in vegas

because it’s funny. i twisted this little contest into something that is “lola true”. i mean, c’mon, there’s a photo of a blow up doll getting sandwiched. that alone is amusing!

7) the post i’m most proud of – lola’s making her dreams come true

IMG_5230

this post made me proud of all that i set out to accomplish in 2012 and what i did to achieve my goals. here’s to 2013…

8) best travel story or travel perspective – favorite travel spots – food for thought

budapest, curaçao, cambodia

this was an unplanned post that simply came about from a great question. it made me realize something about myself that i hadn’t stopped to ponder.

9) best travel adventure – surviving Cambodia

some of my Habitat build team

some of my Habitat build team

going to Cambodia was a big adventure for me and now i have the travel bug to do more trips like this. it’s ALL GOOD!

10) best cultural perspective or insights – cambodia starts with the letter P

phnom penh monks

many people liked this post & suggested i replicate it for other locations. thing is, it isn’t something that easily replicated. it has to be true…things need to keep recurring with the same letter in order to make it work!

11) most beautiful – cocktails of cambodia

gigantic glass of red at Topaz - phnom penh

well, what can i say? i’m lola and i like my cocktails. this post has loads of photos of them & that’s a beautiful thing!

12) best photo or photo gallery – Capture the Color with Lola

deep in the heart of Art Deco Miami lives a PINK car that i must have one day

deep in the heart of Art Deco Miami lives a PINK car that i must have one day

i don’t fancy myself an award-winning photographer but this little “capture the color” contest was fun. especially adding in my own category of color – PINK!

so, there it is. what i think are my best posts of 2012! are there any that i missed and should have put in on this list?

now for who i’m tagging…

Tom of Waegook Tom

Jennifer of Scarlett Wonderland

Josh of Engineer on the Road

Anita of traveldestinationbucketlist

let them entertain you with their best of 2012 – much the way they always do lola 🙂

6 Comments

Filed under cambodia, travel

4 Reasons I Love Four Seasons Milano

Milanese Magnificence at Four Seasons Milano

FPO_MIL_324

In the past year, I’ve been quite lucky to have stayed in my fair share of Four Seasons properties and I’ve come to expect certain things. Let’s just say something like excellence on many levels. A prime location. An amazing dining offering. An impeccable staff. And, if I’m really lucky, a unique, personal and memorable experience. Truly inspiring – Four Seasons Milano didn’t let me down with any of these.

FPO_MIL_122

UNO – Property & Location

Four Seasons Milano, located in the heart of the Golden Quad area,  may have the best hotel address ever – certainly in Milan. The “quadrilatero della moda” or “the fashion” district is the square shape made by the intersection of Via Montenapoleone, Via della Spiga, Via Sant’ Andrea and Via Manzoni – Italy’s most POSH, SLEEK & FASHIONABLE streets. Four Seasons Milano, a 118 room hotel housed in a 15th century convent that has been restored with historical references to its past , is nestled in this quad off the quiet Via Gesu. Milan, known as a private city due to much of its beauty being hidden behind closed gates that keep gardens, courtyards and terraces out of sight from the street, can be discovered here in the relaxed elegance of Four Season Milano. Like the view of the gorgeous inner courtyard, some rooms are decorated in shades of green with only the finest of timeless Italian linens from Frette.

photo copy 30

DUE – Unique One-of-a-Kind Experience

When I let Four Seasons Milano know that I was coming for an overnight and hoped to experience one of the things that Milan is most known for, SHOPPING, they did not let me down. They didn’t highlight a map and send me on my way. Nope. They asked a local in-the-know personal stylist to take me on a private tour. Melanie Payge took me to behind-the-scenes sample sales and showrooms and explained the heritage of the fashion design industry in Milan. It was interesting and a great lesson to learn about how fashion doesn’t fall far from the family tree! I loved discovering some of the up and coming Italian fashion superstars. Plus, it was bonus eye candy for this shopaholic and so much fun! I even scored a Fall 2013 item just off the runway. CHA-CHING! oh & Melanie’s tagline is “she knows Milan like the back of her handbag” which couldn’t be any more true or perfetto!

FPO_MIL_309

TRE – Incredible Culinary Experience

Every Four Seasons I’ve stepped foot into has a unique flair for food in its own way. Four Seasons Milano absolutely blew me away with a special VIP invitation to a white truffle &  Barolo wine dinner at Il Teatro. For starters, the restaurant is consistently ranked in the top five in Milan – OOO LALA! Plus, the truffle business is not to be trifled with as it’s edible gold with a very limited season. Not only was this multi-course, multi-wine pairing meal amazing but the table company was wonderful. I had the continued pleasure of Ms. Payge’s bubbly personality, who stayed on after our shopping afternoon, as well as the company of the Four Seasons Milano Sales Manger, Dina, and two handsome wine & truffle reps. I felt like a true VIP to be in such lovely, interesting and fun company.

FPO_MIL_132

QUATTRO – Phenomenal Staff

As soon as you step inside this urban sanctuary you will feel personal service that is exemplary. Greeted by multiple staff who know who you are and are there to ensure you have all that you need is just one of the things I found exceptional about Four Seasons Milano. It is said, the concierge team’s reputation extends city-wide to be the best for arranging almost anything under the Milanese moon. I was particularly impressed with how I was welcomed in as practically one of their own, especially during the special VIP dinner.

A note of gratitude to Four Seasons Milano for hosting my stay in Milan. I haven’t met alola_blackpink Four Seasons property that I didn’t adore but if I didn’t ‘Lola Approve’ it I’d say otherwise. The views here are mine, grazie!

28 Comments

Filed under italy, milan, swanky luxe stays, travel

un, deux, trois – my 3 travel disappointments

travel + disappointments = should NEVER be paired together

photo 2 copy

ok. let’s talk about regrets. i’ll tell you this, i do have a few in my life but they really don’t have much to do with travel. when Anita from traveldestinationbucketlist tagged me to write this i had to think quite a bit to come up with 3 travel disappointments. bottom line, now i’m making up for lost time and feel sure i will not have any travel regrets in my later life.

tumblr_m4th6bHGnX1r47pkuo1_500

UN

i regret not studying a semester or year abroad in college. you know, when life was easy and you really didn’t have many obligations or commitments. that is the absolute RIGHT time to travel abroad. or even just to travel within your own country. if someone, anyone, ever asked me my advice this would be one of my tips. why didn’t i study abroad? i’m not really sure. the opportunity was never presented to me and it wasn’t something i really even considered. such a shame. i mean i am not one to shy away from finding opportunities and going for them. after all, i went to school out-of-state, much to the dismay of my parents and their pocketbook. then, post college, i moved to NYC with a one way ticket, no place to live and no firm job. so, you see, had traveling abroad really occurred to me, i’m sure i would have done it. i regret not thinking bigger than my borders. BUT, i think it’s ok, i’m doing a fine job of that now!

A Ship In Port Is Safe, But That's Not What Ships Are Built For

DEUX

once i got settled in NYC and got myself a place to live and a real job, i moved into the comfortable ‘grid life’ that people fall victim to in NYC and otherwise. after a period of time, FINALLY it occurred to me that maybe traveling was a good idea. don’t get me wrong, i’d traveled all my life. road trips in the deep south and florida. ski trips out west, seeing the natural beauty of the southwest. none of this is a regret whatsoever. anyhow, i digress. SO i took a chance, packed my belongings in storage in NYC and set off to do Europe on my own. completely FANTASTIC! but what happened when i returned to the US? well, after a couple more quick trips overseas, i sunk back into a life of complacency. i regret this. i regret getting too comfortable. i regret taking an unintentional travel hiatus. AGAIN, if anyone asked me, i would say if traveling is important to you keep it in your life. i’m so glad it’s back in mine. it’s my lifeline. nothing makes me feel more alive than being out in the world exploring.

151855818656620076_v4yqukff_c

TROIS

now this regret is one i still actually cope with today. not speaking any foreign languages. AND i do find it a bit embarrassing. not that i’m really doing anything about it. sadly, you really don’t have to. practically everywhere i’ve been people speak English and that makes it so easy to be lazy. i even find it more fascinating that people often apologize to me for their level of spoken English. as if there’s anything to say sorry for. my goodness, almost everyone i’ve encountered on the road knows more English than i do of their native tongue. i think the best way to change this is to move to another country and get fully immersed. i hope that this isn’t going to be another travel regret to add to the list someday.

how about you? do you have any major travel regrets?

merci, Anita for tagging me. i’m curious to hear what Erin from The World Wanderer and Pola from Jetting Around have to say about their travel disappointments.

10 Comments

Filed under travel

5 fun things to do in Dubai

Oh my, why I should try Dubai!

5614220391_e0ae08b26f_z

Known for being a fun and fabulous place, you’d think Dubai would be on the top of Lola’s list. Not quite at the top as I think I’ll need the Sheikh Crown Prince to fund the trip but when I thought I’d be heading there in February, a bit of research did prove it is worthy of a Lola visit.

Dubai has developed a reputation recently as the new glamorous place to be seen, promising the very best shopping and nightlife in the United Arab Emirates, and possibly even in the world. With so many great Dubai hotels to choose from, you can enjoy everything the city has to offer in comfort and style. (You know how I feel about a swanky hotel!) Picking the top five things to do was a difficult challenge, and this certainly shouldn’t be treated as a definitive guide – just some of the most weird and wonderful attractions available in the state!

The Dubai Fountain

Set on the Burj-Khalifa Lake close to the Dubai Mall, this fountain is easily one of the city’s best attractions. It consists of a huge number of water jets and shooters, as well as an incredible 6,600 lights to illuminate the choreographed routines, which it displays to music every 30 minutes. Beautiful and inspiring, this must not be missed.

Desert Safari

4268599098_d9f16c2ea8_z

Explore Dubai’s surrounding landscape with an exhilarating ride across the sand dunes, finishing off with sunset over one of the many cliffs and vantage points out in the countryside. Many tours also include dinner, so look out for something that will cover the whole day for the complete experience – chances are you’ll be hungry after that ride! (I’m envisioning a Sex and The City picnic set up!)

Diving

Diving is no longer a tourist trap, thanks to ongoing off-shore construction work, so diving in Dubai now requires a boat trip further out to sea. It’s worth it to see the stunning marine life around the region, and many tours will take you out to explore shipwrecks as well as other areas of interest. You can also dive with one of the on-shore dive centres, although going out on a boat offers far more in the way of scenery and a chance to see the beautiful Dubai skyline.

Souk shopping

Subai's Spice Souks #6

A trip to Dubai wouldn’t be complete without getting a day of shopping in at some point, but for something a little different ditch the shopping malls and instead head down to the souks, the traditional market stalls selling handmade crafts and produce. The gold souks literally gleam, covered with gold jewellery and ornaments from top to bottom, most created with amazing craftsmanship. (A new charm for my charm bracelet perhaps!) The spice souks are just as enchanting, promising a cacophony of tastes and smells to discover – ideal for those who want to see traditional Dubai.

Wild Wadi Water Park

Okay, so it’s not a particularly cultural attraction, but the Wild Wadi Water Park is Dubai’s biggest amusement park, featuring 23 water rides and even a fake thunderstorm, and it’s a lot of fun for all ages. Highlights include the Jumeirah Sceirah, a free-falling water slide reaching speeds of up to 50mph, and Breakers Bay, the largest wave pool in the Middle East.

6 Comments

Filed under dubai, travel

60 Shades of Awesome at 60 Thompson

60 Shades…

That’s right. I went there. Why? Because 60 Thompson is a sexy hotel. The kind of hotel that conjures up foreplay to all kinds of fun. How, you wonder?

60 Thompson exterior3

Well, I can tell you the usual tidbits about 60 Thompson. Like it’s a small luxury hotel with only 100 rooms in the heart of uber swank Soho. Things like complimentary wifi, bath products by Kiehls, in-room pantries with Dean & Deluca treats and i-Pod docking stations are standard. I know, just that alone is enough to make anyone’s heart race a little.

The minimalist yet retro feel of 60 Thompson’s design helps with the seductive nature of the property. Designer Thomas O’Brien certainly knew what he was doing. Welcoming you but not overwhelming you so you can truly appreciate what is playful about 60 Thompson.

60 Thompson lobby

The lobby’s over-sized couches invite you to come take a seat for a while and watch the flurry of activity. It definitely feels like a place to see and be seen. The warm tones of the guest rooms make you wish to relax and perhaps even slow down. Not always an easy thing to create in the rush of Manhattan.

60 Thompson  Bar1  60 Thompson  Bar 2

Then there’s the chic Thom Bar with it’s spirited touches that will make you want to cozy up with your company or easily branch out and make some new friends. It is definitely a spot for some intimate fun. As a guest you can also enjoy the members-only rooftop lounge, A60, in the warmer months.

60 Thompson terasse

60 Thompson’s restaurant, Kittichai, must not be left out of the formula of what’s provocative about the property. A favorite among local New Yorkers and international foodies, the whimsical decor alone makes it worth the trip.

60 Thompson Kittichai1

So there you have it. It’s a gorgeous property that lures you in with its sexy sophistication. But you want to know what I find the most attractive about 60 Thompson? The warm reception of the staff and their distinct service. Now that’s something that would get any guest hot & bothered. Go check them out next time you’re in New York and you’ll be hooked too.

7 Comments

Filed under new york, swanky luxe stays, travel