Eye on the World

A picture is worth a thousand words, and my week-long press trip through northern and eastern China with Goway Travel left me utterly speechless (in a good way), so I’ll let these photos do the talking.

Have you seen SpongeBob SquarePants or Patrick? I did, just a couple of weeks ago...hanging out at the brand-new Nickelodeon Hotels & Resorts Punta Cana Resort in the Dominican Republic.

This past weekend I headed over to Port Saint Lucie in Florida where I spent a few days at Club Med Sandpiper Bay. This property, located on the St. Lucie River, offers more than a just relaxing escape tanning by the water.

Have you ever visited a garden inside a cave? What about a rum factory on an old plantation? Have you swam with sea turtles or eaten foie gras and duck ravioli in a cliffside restaurant? No? Well, that just means you haven't been to Barbados.

Last month, I ventured off to Iberostar Playa Mita in Mexico's Riviera Nayarit. Here's a peek at what my iPhone and I captured at the resort and in the fishing village (or surfing town) of Sayulita.

In addition to tasting local cuisine, visiting a medieval-themed Christmas market and taking part in an opening musical reception in the quaint town of Quedlinburg, guests of this year's Germany Travel Mart were invited to experience the 1,200-year-old city in eastern Germany through culturally enriching activities, including walking tours, bike tours and cultural programs. 

For four days I ate, slept and played like rock 'n' roll royalty at the all-inclusive Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya in Mexico, experiencing the luxuries and VIP treatment available only to guests of the resort's new Rock Royalty Level.

I took advantage of the long President's Day weekend to take a 3-day trip to St. Augustine, where I experienced the culture (at the Ripley's Believe It or Not! museum's Odditorium), soaked up the history (on a pirate pub crawl), and learned about legendary former residents (on a walking ghost tour) in our nation's oldest continuously occupied European settlement.

Recommend just got back from Gala Vallarta Nayarit, where we got the scoop on what's new in Puerto Vallarta, including updates to hotels and info on new hotels, too.

We just got our hands on this eye candy and couldn’t wait to share.

Thuringia is both the green heart of Germany and the old stomping ground of some of Germany's greatest minds.

For approximately five weeks beginning the last week in November through the week of Christmas, cozy market squares and old town centers across Germany are filled with wooden huts selling handmade mementos, the aroma of grilled sausages and holiday spirit.

Earlier this month, I had the opportunity to travel to Europe for the first time. For my first rendezvous with Europe, I had the opportunity to explore Spain—specifically Valencia—as a guest of the Tourist Office of Spain.

I squealed with excitement upon learning that I would be visiting Universal Orlando for the first time in eight years. Not only is the theme park resort exhibiting exponential growth with the recent openings of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, the Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem 3D ride, and CityWalk expansions, but it's also celebrating 25 years since opening in 1990.

Last week I had the opportunity to step away from the office and make the Bahia Principe Riviera Maya Resort in Mexico my home for four days.

My faithful companion, the iPhone, and I captured these images as we made our way through one of the world's most vibrant capital cities.

Icy Strait Point in Hoonah, Alaska is currently constructing a new dock and welcome center for cruise ships, which will be completed this fall and ready to receive cruise ships in Spring 2016. This small town of approximately 765 residents might seem small for many city-goers, but it definitely doesn't skimp out on experiences.

Although the summer sun rarely made an appearance and the days were a tad too chilly (especially for our Managing Editor who has lived in Miami all of her life), the subtle beauty of Manchester shined brightly through the dreary days during a recently taken FAM trip to England. A city full of rich culture, history, museums, unique hotels, and a thriving restaurant scene, Manchester isn't the industrial town of most people's perceptions, but one with charm and sophistication—not to mention it landed a spot (No. 26) on The New York Times' list of "52 Places to Go in 2015." Here are just a few pictures she chose for Recommend's latest installment of Eye on the World.

The sight of this picturesque island as the plane landed got my heart pumping with excitement and anticipation. Trinidad and Tobago has more to offer travelers than Carnival. Trinidad is an island you will fall in love with, from the mountains and unspoiled beaches to the music and humble food stalls—the fun never stops!

Panama Unexpected was the theme of this visit to Panama's elegant Westin Playa Bonita, located on the beachfront just outside Panama City.