Luxury Travel Nightlife Restaurant Chef

After spending the day visiting the largest aquarium in the world, hiking up Stone Mountain, taking in a CNN Studio Tour and filling up on cola at the World of Coke, book yourself a room at Atlanta’s only “Green” boutique hotel.  The Ellis Hotel is a charming and unique property located in the heart of downtown Atlanta.  Conserving energy by using paper products that have been at least 30% post consumer recycled, timed light systems and recycled water - it’s easy to see why this hotel was recently awarded an “Excellence” rating by Trip Advisor.

Enjoy American Heirloom dishes created by Chef Joel Young (stay tuned for our write-up on this hip chef) and taste free wines between 5:30-6:30 p.m. nightly.  When booking a room make sure to ask about breakfast and romance packages! Forget your hair straightener or Spanx at home?  Don’t fret, the “Women’s Only” floor has more than enough goodies to make sure that you look your best at all times!

Listen in to our podcast with General Manager, Stacy Martin, as she discusses the concept of The Ellis Hotel, property amenities and the wonderful menu at Terrace! Enjoy the jazzy sounds of David Baumgarten with his hit “When I still Wonder”.

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On Saturday, for the first time ever, the Sunset Strip was closed down for the Sunset Strip Music Festival. The line-up featured The Donnas, Ozzy Osbourne, Korn, Pepper, and Shiny Toy Guns (seen in photo).

In addition to the two stages at opposite ends of the Strip, the clubs along the blocks, including the Key Club, the Roxy, the Cat Club, the Whisky A-Go-Go and the Viper Room, hosted bands throughout the day. People jumped from club to stage and back all day.

One of the many after parties of the evening was at the host hotel, the Andaz. Formerly the, “Riot Hyatt”, the new Andaz played host to many of the rockers, groupies, and fans. Ozzy even dined at RH, the hotel’s restaurant, immediately following his performance. (Be on the look out for journeyPod’s exclusive interview with RH’s Chef Sebastien Archambault.)

journeyPod chatted with Torry Castellano the drummer from the popular girl band, The Donnas –who kicked off the SSMF. Torry gave us some inside scoop on what clubs artists prefer to play on the Sunset Strip and why! We listened to a rare acoustic set from Shiny Toy Guns at the Viper Room and then we got some inside scoop from Michel Morauw on what makes the new Andaz hotel so unique.

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Just twenty miles from downtown Los Angeles and seven miles south of LAX, Redondo Beach is a hot spot! Located in an area of LA referred to as the South Bay….along with Hermosa Beach and Manhattan Beach, Redondo Beach lies right on the Pacific and embodies the quintessential Southern California lifestyle!

journeyPod scoped out some great dining in Redondo Beach. It’s no surprise seafood was a top choice! ChartHouse Restaurant, Captain Kidd’s Fish Market, Bluewater Grill, and Baleen. Be sure to check out our Chef’s Corner with Chef Daniel from Baleen.

And when it comes time for an overnight, your best bet is The Portofino Hotel & Yacht Club. It’s part of the Noble House & Resorts collection and has recently undergone a $11M renovation. It’s waterfront luxury at its best! journeyPod sat down and spoke with Jeannene Glenn, General Manager at The Portofino Hotel & Yacht Club, and got some inside scoop on this amazing property.

Get away to Redondo Beach, and enjoy the relaxing sounds of Sasha Evans–an up and coming artist from nearby Laguna Beach. You are sure to hear this young talent lady making waves soon! And you heard her first here on journeyPod.com.

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Come along as we explore the island of Singapore.  Singapore is known for its shopping! And Orchard Road is lined with mega shopping malls. After shopping we tried the local durian fruit–even when the locals cautioned us against it!  We sampled the local cuisine: chili crab, chicken & rice, nasi lemak (coconut rice), satay, ba kut teh (pork ribs), and fried hokkien mee (fried noodle with prawn). And my absolute favorite food–Kaya Toast. 
Be sure to experience Singaporean culture first hand by visiting the villages: China Town, Malay Village, and India Town.  
journeyPod even got a glimpse into Singaporean fashion. The latest craze…stylish, colorful footwear made by Braziliano Praia.  A shout out to Kelly Tan and Michelin Star Chef Marco Pedrelli at Mandarin Oriental Singapore. And a huge thank you to Capella Singapore for their kind hospitality! This amazing six-star property open this past Spring and is breathtaking. Let’s take a listen as Michael Luible, General Manager of Capella Singapore, talks to journeyPod.com.

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journeypod continues to jet-set all over Southern Thailand to explore the more laid-back area of Krabi.

A trip to the touristy town of Ao Nang brings back memories of Nha Trang, Vietnam. (Visit our archives from June 2008 to listen to our podcast shows from Vietnam)

This small beach-side town is loaded with shopping, restaurants, bars, and clubs. 

The best “local” dessert is mango sticky rice, or kao neaw ma mung. It’s delicious and fattening! And try the Pad Thai at Ao Nang Cuisine.

For a more authentic and local feel, drive about 30 minutes outside of Ao Nang to Krabi Town. At the main intersection of town you will be greeted by a most unusual landmark–cavemen holding up the traffic signals. If you’re hungry, don’t fret…this is, after all, a small Thai town. Day markets, night markets, roadside stalls, noodle shops - it’s all here. And it doesn’t require much effort to find.

When you’re ready to check-in to sleep off the jet-lag or the one too many Singha beers, journeyPod recommends Rayavadee. Rayavadee, meaning “Island of the Princess” is fit for a princess! It is a luxurious resort at the tip of the Krabi peninsula.

Let’s take a listen as Brian Harries from Rayavadee talks to journeyPod.com and then we’ll get pumped up with the upbeat sounds of AX and their song “Thai Massage.”

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journeyPod is your guide to luxury travel around the world.  Come along as we explore Berlin, Germany including Berlin attractions and things to do.  We hang in the Mitte district downtown at Checkpoint Charlie where they are celebrating the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. 

Travel tips in Berlin as we find a hidden gem boutique hotel called the Adina.  Germans love their beer and there are plenty of places to enjoy the local beers in Berlin.  Berlin nightlife recommendations and suggestions for bars in Berlin.

German podsafe artist Sascha Ludwig gives us classical meets techno with his track “Techno and Fuge.”

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About 130 miles from Los Angeles, Palm Springs is the perfect weekend get-away. It’s a jewel among desert cities and rightly so. Its village atmosphere has been preserved and embellished over the years. The downtown area with its quaint lampposts, benches and Mexican tile-paved enclaves invites strolling among the shops, galleries, eateries and coffeehouses. Rich in history and blessed with glorious weather, it is a prime destination of travelers from all over the world.

And for a place to lay your weary head, we suggest the Riviera Resort & Spa. Originally opening in 1959, the original Riviera Resort immediately became Palm Springs’ go-to hot spot for celebrities and cultural sophisticates around the world who wanted the ultimate “Palm Springs experience.” Today, it’s still a favorite for celebrities like Anne Hathaway and Mira Sorvino.

journeyPod sat down with GM, Brett Schoenfield, to get an inside scoop on this historic and famous property. Then sit back and listen to the soothing sounds of “Desert Song” by Jessie Kilguss.

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Santa Barbara lies on the West Coast of the United States, 92 miles north of Los Angeles and 332 miles south of San Francisco. The area is famous for its beautiful beaches, most of which lie along a unique south-facing stretch of coastline that affords beach visitors sun all day long and greater shelter from winds and surf. But there’s far more here than beaches.

Be sure to check out: State Street, the Santa Barbara County Historic Courthouse, and the Santa Barbara Mission.

Santa Barbara is a very walkable city. You can get everywhere you need to go via foot, the trolley, or public transportation! journeyPod actually took the train—gotta love Amtrak—from Los Angeles. After two hours sipping a nice bottle of Pinot we brought along, the train stopped in the center of downtown Santa Barbara. We walked about seven minutes to our hotel—Hotel Oceana Santa Barbara. (If the name sounds familiar, it’s because journeyPod produced a show on the sister property—Hotel Oceana Santa Monica–last summer. Be sure to check out that podcast as well.)

journeyPod met up with Melissa Treue, the new General manager of this newly renovated beachfront property. Listen up to what she had to say, and then stay tuned for the unique sounds of The Front Street Project and their song, “Nighty Night.”

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San Diego, California. The name conjures up complete bliss: pristine beaches, sunny year round weather, the Zoo, shopping, and of course fine dining and luxurious hotels and resorts. journeyPod has had the opportunity over the past few yeas to cover a few select San Diego area properties such as the Ivy,

The Rancho Bernardo Inn, La Costa, Estancia, L’Auberge, and a few select others. (Be sure to check out our archives for these great podcast shows!) Well, my fellow jet-setters, it’s time to add a new favorite to the list: The Grand Del Mar. As the name suggests, it’s grand. Located in Northern San Diego, this property will make you think you’ve been magically transported to the Tuscan countryside. Really.

Add to the opulent atmosphere of this new destination resort the fact that it’s signature fine dining restaurant, Addison, has earned one of the most coveted awards of all: a Five Diamond rating from the Automobile Association of America (AAA). journeyPod definitely agrees. We had a private tasting with Chef William Bradley and Jesse Rodriguez, Sommelier, gave us the pleasure of a fabulous wine pairing. Let’s take a listen as Tom Voss, president of Manchester Grand Resorts, chats with journeyPod.

And I will leave you with the electronic sounds of amb26 and their song, “The Grand Prize.”

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Fiji Honeymoon Resort & Destination Wedding location Namale Resort right on the beach makes for a perfect romantic vacation. Meg Ryan and Tom Selleck have stayed at this 6 star ultra inclusive resort owned by famous speaker Tony Robbins.

This place is amazing with fantabulous food and all your drinks included.  You can also do water sports, hike on their reef, reserve their private waterfall and have your lunch delivered to a beach daybed.  Paradise awaits at this secluded haven for honeymooners where you stay in a beach bure (think luxury treehouse).

Chillout with podsafe music from PJ and the trance track “Heaven.”

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