Tag Archives: Travel

Hotel Unique and SKYE Bar in Sao Paulo

Unique Hotel Sao PauloI always enjoy spending a few days in Sao Paulo, Brazil, but if you don’t know where to go it can seem like a massive concrete jungle that is tough to navigate. Fortunately that isn’t a problem for me since I’ve been several times and have good friends who are Paulistas.

Cocktails in Sao Paulo taste sweeter from atop the SKYE bar.

On our recent visit to Sao Paulo we met friends for cocktails at the SKYE Bar atop Sao Paulo’s Unique Hotel.  Located near Ibirapuera Park, the roofdeck bar offers some pretty spectacular views of the city’s skyline (see above).

Hotel Unique Sao PauloWhen you drive up to Unique Hotel you realize the name is accurate – regardless of what you make of the architecture – which I loved by the way.  Our taxi driver referred to it as “melancia” (watermelon), which made me laugh.  The bar is sleek and designed to impress from the minute you enter through the marble hallway and walk through the dining room.  Red lights reflect off the lap pool that runs the length of the deck beside comfortable furniture that is available on a first come first serve basis. Hotel UniqueIf for some reason, the weather is not cooperating but you would like to visit the hotel, they have an impressive second option in the hotel lobby on the ground level worth checking out. You can grab a seat at their large bar or sit down in their library which has plush red seats and can be seen in the image below to the right.

Sao Paulo Regardless of the weather, this is a great place I would recommend for cocktails.

Heading to Brazil

gay travelI’m heading to Brazil later today so I may not be able to cross post on FB and Google+ while gone.

You’ll spread more than a little holiday happiness my way if you would share the posts you like on FB with your friends on my behalf while I’m away.

I do anticipate writing some posts when I am in Brazil since I will have a lot of quiet and down time but my regular activity will not resume until I return from my vacation with my in-laws after the New Year’s holiday.  Enjoy this bit of Brazilian man candy who we met last year when we visited Paraty. For more photos from that trip link here.

Brazil Hunk

Dreaming of Brazil

Sexy, Brazilian, HunkTwo weeks from tonight I will be boarding a plane to fly to Brazil where I will spend the Christmas and New Year’s holiday.  This will be the first time in several years that I will be in Brazil for the Christmas holiday and while I’ll miss the holiday traditions Sergio and I have made for ourselves here in Boston, I’m looking forward to the warmer weather and time with my in-laws.

Google flights

Google FlightsI’m not a fan of using traditional travel sites because I can’t always find the cheapest and most convenient travel destinations.  However, I do like Google Flights, because it allows me to select dates and shows me the prices of multiple destinations near and far that I can travel to if I just want to get away.

If you find yourself looking for a quick break from winter, I’d suggest you check out Google flights to see what airfares cost from your closest airport.  At one glance you will be able to see airfares to multiple destinations in the US, Caribbean and beyond.

www.google.com/flights

One year ago I was here

The Maverick MenHanging out on Ipanema Beach in Rio de Janeiro.  Can’t believe it has already been a year.  I leave for Brazil later next month; this time Sergio & I travel alone to spend time with his family before spending a few days in Sao Paulo.

Heading to Cayman Islands this winter

travel, Caribbean

Seven Mile Beach on Grand Cayman Island

Lest you think I don’t practice what I preach, earlier this week Sergio and I booked a trip so we can escape from Old Man Winter.  Earlier this year I wrote, How to survive a Boston winter.  The first post in that series suggested that you book a trip prior to the holiday season so you aren’t stretched by the Christmas credit card crunch and so you can score cheaper airfare.

Caribbean, Cuba, Jamaica, mapWe were able to get great airfare to Grand Cayman Island in the Caribbean so we booked a trip. If you feel like demands at work would prevent you from getting away, keep in mind my previous post Please go away – often and book a trip to get away – even if only for a couple nights.  Great airfares out of Boston remain available to warm destinations like Florida, Puerto Rico and Caribbean.

Please go away – often

VacationOxford Economics released a report in September that found Americans are taking fewer vacation days than ever before.  In 2013, Americans took an average of 16 days of vacation, compared to 20.3 days in 2000.  Taking fewer earned vacation days translated into nearly 170 million lost paid days off. Interestingly the report found those who forfeited vacation time did not receive better raises or bonuses.  The message I take from this is:

Plan Your Vacation Today

Anyone who reads this blog, knows that I love traveling and I love spending time with friends and family.  If you haven’t the opportunity to get away, plan a stay-cation and enjoy time away from work. You might be surprised to learn that 1) Your colleagues miss you and appreciate you more; 2) You feel refreshed.

You can read the Boston Globe article and the study by linking here.

Hotel review: Westin Times Square

Gay Travel, NYCWhile I am not a fan of staying in Midtown and prefer neighborhoods like SoHo and Tribeca, I often stay in Midtown because that is where my office is located.

Last month when I visited NYC my usual hotel was booked so I had to look elsewhere and ended up staying at the Westin Times Square, which is on 8th Ave by 43rd Street.

Despite the hassle of Times Square which I could do without, the hotel is conveniently located on the cusp of Hell’s Kitchen; a great neighborhood.

This 45-story tower is an impressive property with all the amenities you would want and come to expect from a Westin Hotel.  I had no issues with the internet connection and enjoyed my expansive view of Manhattan during my stay. Travel, Gay Travel, NYCGay Travel, NYCIf you are planning a trip to NYC and want to be near Hell’s Kitchen, this is certainly a property you may want to consider.  The rooms are spacious and conveniently set up for one to work, relax and enjoy their stay.

WOW airlines comes to Boston

travel, icelandWOW air, an Icelandic discount carrier announced its first flights to the US earlier this week.  WOW air’s decision to fly to Boston starting March 27th means that Iceland Air which has owned this route for years now has competition.

WOW air will start with five weekly trips in the spring, and I’m itching to go. Iceland Air introduced Bostonians to this cool European destination years ago and I’ve never heard a bad word about the this tiny little (gay friendly) country.

Boston – Iceland fares start at less than $250

WOW air also has connections through Iceland to more than a dozen European cities including Berlin, Copenhagen, London, Paris and Warsaw – so look for more competitive fares to these and other cities once they start flying in the spring of 2015.  More details about WOW air here.

 

Flightright.com for international travel

flightright.com, flightrightHave you ever been inconvenienced by a delay or cancellation on an international flight? International travelers in the US and Canada can now seek recourse and potentially be compensated for those travel headaches by filing a claim with flightright.com. This online site specializes in European flight delay compensation laws and they will do all the heavy lifting for you; assuming 100% of the risk while pursuing your claim.  Once the claim is settled flightright will send you a check less the 25% commission they charge.

Aspen gay ski week

Aspen Gay Ski Week 2015With more than 5,000 attendees, Aspen Gay Ski Week is the nation’s largest and longest running gay ski event.  This year’s event runs from January 11 – 18, 2015.  Some of the events include:

Each afternoon during Aspen Gay Ski Week, Limelight Hotel is the site for après-ski parties from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

On Friday afternoon, the city of Aspen gathers to view the popular Downhill Costume Competition, hosted by Miss Richfield 1981.

Th Aspen Recreation Center host the infamous pool party, featuring DJs, dancing, hot tubs, water slides, a lazy river and open bars.

More information about Aspen gay ski week can be found on the event website at www.gayskiweek.com.

A wild night in Austin with Brian and Laura

Austin, TXAfter spending a few days in Dallas, TX for work I was able to hop a flight down to Austin, TX to visit Brian and Laura.  Brian and I have been friends since elementary school and were roommates for about five years in Boston in my late 20s and early 30s.  He moved to San Francisco where he met his wife, Laura, who is in the photo with me, wearing this ridiculous, over sized foam cowboy hat.  A few years after they met and married they moved to Austin, TX where Laura had family.

We had a fantastic dinner at Searsucker.  Sorry, no pictures or food reviews since it was all about drinking red wine, enjoying each other’s company and getting caught up. My last visit to Austin was back in January 2010 when I flew down with a group of friends to surprise Brian for his 40th birthday, which I wrote about in my post Brian’s birthday party in Austin.

Here is a photo of Laura (without the cowboy hat) and Brian from my first visit to Austin, TX back in 2009. friends, friendship

How to survive a Boston winter

For the past few years, I’ve been writing posts in the fall to help people prepare for the oncoming winter.  Feel free to share these tips; pass them off as your own if you like.  Please feel free to share your own personal suggestions and tips in the comment section for this and the forthcoming, related posts.

W Hotel ViequesBosGuy Tip #1: Book a vacation now.  Our winter is at its worst in January, February and March so make plans now to get away someplace warm.  If you wait until the end of the year or early January not only are flights likely to cost more but you’ll also be saddled with paying off your credit cards during or after the busy holiday season.

You will be amazed at how therapeutic it is to get away – even if only for a long weekend.  Flights to Fort Lauderdale and other destinations in Florida tend to be quite affordable.  Sergio and I prefer Puerto Rico and have lucked out in the past finding affordable non-stop fares on Jet Blue.

Travel Tip:  When you book your flight check out departures / arrivals during the middle of the week; the flights are often more affordable.  I like flying on Tuesdays and Wednesdays so I have a short work week leading up to and following a vacation, but if you can’t take that much time off, treat yourself to a long weekend. Trust me – you’ll be glad you did.

Heading to Texas

Source: bigskyline.com

Source: bigskyline.com

Once again work has me traveling this week, but this time it is for meetings in Dallas, Texas and then some fun in Austin, Texas.

I leave on Tuesday for a two day meeting in Dallas and then will fly down to Austin to visit a friend and his family.  I have not been back to Austin for about 3 years so I am looking forward to the visit.

Airline humor

airline humorPart of me wishes everyone had to do this. It seems like we could get rid of all those wasted minutes with passengers throwing fits once they get on board a plane either insisting their bag will fit or more disturbingly they will fit.

I just flew across country in a middle seat for 6 hours and my 6’2″ frame didn’t appreciate the lack of leg room. It adds insult to injury when the passenger next to you also invades what little space you have.