Hotel Bela Figueira in Figueira da Foz, Portugal delights travelers with its close proximity to the beach, the town center, the casino, the tourist information center and great eats in the area. The hotel is run by its owners Anil and Rozy, one of the warmest and friendliest couples you will ever meet.

Hotel Bela Figueira

Bela Figueira is a bed and breakfast or as the Portuguese say, a Pensao, located steps from the sandy beaches of Figueira da Foz in central Portugal. Figueira is a must-see destination on your way from Lisbon to Porto and is an hour from other famous places like Coimbra, Batalha and Fatima. With Porto just two hours north, and Lisbon approximately two hours south, Figueira is a great place to spend an afternoon. And for a good night’s sleep, there is Bela Figueira.

Bela Figueira has fourteen large, clean rooms, including two suites. The decor is simplistic, yet tasteful. When you are in Figueira, you will not spend too much time indoors, but if you decide to relax indoors, perhaps work on your blog or read a book, the large windows throw lots of light in the rooms to give you the beachy, sunny feeling that makes your stay special.

Taj Figueira Restaurant

There is an on-site restaurant at the hotel, called Taj Figueira. The food here is a delicious blend of Portuguese and Indian, so definitely try it out. Be warned though that the restaurant is seasonal.

Prices are quite cheap considering the location and other comparable bed and breakfasts in the area and are based on seasonality. So for your next trip to Portugal and Figueira da Foz, I recommend Bela Figueira. Click here to book your stay.

For those who are unfamiliar with the vast array of hotel offerings in the Southern California area, it is often a daunting task to pick the right one. How does one get the best comfort and cool? Well look no further, because The Huntley Hotel in Santa Monica, California is the perfect hotel for the trendy and single.

A single person’s dream, this hotel stands tall, a block away from the warm sandy beach of Santa Monica. The view from this high-rise is nothing short of breath-taking and the crowd here is young professionals including lawyers, actors and entrepreneurs.

A few years ago, The Huntley Hotel was simply the Radisson Huntley. Aside from its great location and its height, the hotel was an embarrassment to the area. Its musty corridors and stale carpeting, along with lack-luster food and service made it a sloppy choice for a place like Santa Monica. In fact, the only reason I ever went to this hotel as a local was to listen to a ZZ-top look-alike perform rock and roll at its roof-top restaurant called Toppers.

When Preferred Hotels bought this property from Radisson (in 2005-06), the $15-million renovation under the direction of designer Thomas Schoos completely changed the look and feel of the hotel.

Now the hotel is a happening place. With its dark wood and white contrast furniture, it boasts a succinct Los Angeles feel. Toppers is now the Penthouse and it is a hot spot for straight and gay singles. The view of Malibu’s beaches as they welcome the gentle waves of the Southern California coastline under a sliding-top open-air restaurant/bar with white furniture and dark trims, a huge fireplace and expensive drinks make the Penthouse an ideal place to meet new people after a hard-day’s work. Of the many celebs that frequent the Penthouse, I have run into Luke Wilson and Dean Cain myself.

I won’t bore you with the amenities and room sizes. You can get that off any decent website. However, I will admit that rooms are pricey, but then it is Santa Monica. Also, the food isn’t the best, but that is not a problem. The hotel is minutes away from the Promenade in Santa Monica and the Santa Monica pier, so there are plenty of alternatives for the hungry traveler.

Book a room at the Huntley Hotel for your next visit to Los Angeles.

Wedding season is upon us and many of you are probably in the planning stages of your honeymoon or know someone newlywed couples looking to make a quick getaway once the bouquet is tossed. While I can list off plenty of great honeymoon destinations across the world (as can you I’m sure), given the economy and the need to be thrifty, there are a few US destinations that are quite worthy of your honeymoon and will not weigh heavily on your wallet. My pick of such destinations is Maui.

Maui is a perfect destination for couples, with soft sandy beaches, calm waters and plenty of sunshine. It is peaceful, quiet and attracts more couples than families, but at the same time, packs a good balance between serenity, adventure and nightlife. For those who want privacy, Kapalua, Hana and Wailea offer plenty of alone time and pampering. If a little crowd is your thing, Kaanapali or Lahaina are just what you want.

Some of the things you should definitely do while in Maui (whether on your honeymoon or otherwise):

Take a Sunset Cruise that will take you out to the Pacific ocean, where you will meet other couples and have a few drinks, all while enjoying the beautiful Maui coastline.

Drive to Hana. Hana is a two hour drive from the main resort areas of Wailea or Kaanapali, and lies at the south-east tip of Maui. The drive is absolutely stunning, with ooh’s and aah’s at every turn. The road winds and curves countless times giving you new stunning views at every turn. I recommend packing a picnic basket to enjoy once you get to Hana.

Partake in the Old Lahaina Luau. The Old Lahaina Luau is one of the most popular luau’s in all of Hawaii. Everything from the hosts, table settings, pig roast and the food is authentic. In fact, Emeril hosted his recent Maui visit program from the Old Lahaina Luau grounds.

The Spa Grande at Hotel Grand Wailea is truly an incredible way to pamper yourself and your significant other. This spa spans over 50,000 square feet and has been voted a Top 10 Spa in the US by Condé Nast Traveler and Travel & Leisure magazines. For guys, if spa is not your thing, you can enjoy a round of golf while she relaxes under a Pacific Seaweed Masque.

Outdoor activities. While honeymooners might not be up for a lot of physical activity, I do recommend you try snorkeling or parasailing or both. One of the things I enjoyed while in Maui is doing a sunrise bicycle tour of the Haleakala National Park. Needless to say, there is lots to do for adventure seekers in Maui.

Finally, remember to shop around. Hawaiian shirts, Kona coffee, Pineapple jam and souveniers for the home are quite cheap in Maui.

Most hotels in Maui are on the beach, so you are never too far away from the ocean. Sheraton, Hyatt and Marriott have hotels in Kaanapali that go for $200 to $400 per night depending on season. For more upscale and secluded hotels, I like the Grand Wailea, the Fairmont Kea Lani and the Ritz-Carlton Kapalua, all of which run from $400 to $700 per night. If you don’t care for maid service, room service or large swimming pools there are plenty of hotels like the Outrigger and the Aston Maui which run less than $200 and are still right on the beach.

Happy honeymooning!
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