Blog Posts by Y! Featured Contributor

  • What to pack on a European vacation

    By Y! Featured Contributor | Insider Escapes – Mon, Aug 13, 2012 5:39 PM EDT

    By Kelly Herdrich

    You might know what you need to head to the beach or the lake on your next vacation. But do you know what you'll need when you're leaving the country? With more trips to and from the UK under our belts than we'd care to recollect (most with a toddler and a baby in tow), my husband and I know firsthand what you'll need when traveling on your next European vacation.

    Travel Documents & Copies

    Hamburg, Germany (Photo: Marcus Herdrich)You'll need a valid U.S. passport for travel abroad from the United States. Be sure to check the expiration date well before your departure date -- my husband recently overlooked the fact that his passport had expired and almost missed a much-anticipated trip to Europe.

    Similarly, be sure to make copies of all relevant travel documents. Leave one copy at home and travel with another copy (as well as your originals).

    Weather-Appropriate Attire

    Traveling to England? Don't forget that rain jacket and boots. Spending a week on a beach in Greece? Don't leave home without the bathing

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  • Top 10 celebrity vacation destinations

    By Y! Featured Contributor | Insider Escapes – Mon, Aug 13, 2012 5:28 PM EDT

    By Sabah Karimi

    If you want to travel like a star on your next vacation, set your sights on one of the most coveted destinations that attract celebrities from around the globe. Spend your days celebrity spotting, party the night away at trendy nightclubs and exclusive hotspots, and get the A-list treatment at several resorts, destination spas, and exotic locales.

    Here's where you'll find some of the most popular celebrity vacation destinations around the world:

    #1: South Beach, Florida

    A luxurious oceanfront hotel is a top choice for many Hollywood stars and A-list musicians including Beyonce, Tom Cruise, and Sean Combs. From Ocean Drive to Collins Avenue, take your pick of five-star accommodations that put you within easy reach of Miami's party circuit.

    #2: Saint-Tropez, France

    Plan a luxury getaway to a celebrity hotspot like Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. (Photo: ostephy)Work up a tan and soak up the sun in the French Riviera. Saint-Tropez has been attracting elite travelers for decades and was especially popular during the days of Brigitte Bardot.

    #3: Lake Como, Italy

    Run

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  • Top 10 destinations for wine lovers

    By Y! Featured Contributor | Insider Escapes – Mon, Aug 13, 2012 5:13 PM EDT

    By Stefanie Michaels

    When the world celebrates known wine destinations, France and Italy pop up to the top of the list, and for good reason. From the uber-expensive-yet-striking Bordeaux and the likes of a Chateau Margaux to the sumptuous and affordable "Super Tuscan" wines of Livorno, what's not to love about these two wine locales?

    As phenomenal as France and Italy's wine regions are, there are several other Adegas, Cantinas and Bodega milieus around the globe worth experiencing; from the wine route of Croatia to artisan wine makers in Tasmania, to Spain's La Rioja region, here's a list of wine destinations around the globe worth venturing to.

    Spain
    La Rioja Region/Northern Spain

    Head south from Bilbao and you'll run into the La Rioja region in Northern Spain, synonymous for Spanish wines and known internationally for being the country's premier wine-producing location.

    Samaniego, Laguardia, Elciego and Labastida are some of the towns on the Rioja Alavesa wine route, leading

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  • Most beautiful destinations in Asia

    By Y! Featured Contributor | Insider Escapes – Mon, Aug 13, 2012 4:33 PM EDT

    Taipei, Taiwan. (Photo: arti1)

    By Steve Thompson

    As the largest continent in the world -- both in physical size and in population -- Asia offers a wealth of beauty. Geographical wonders, architecture, art, and history are all found in great abundance, and it can be difficult to find the perfect place to spend a few days of vacation. Following are five of the most beautiful destinations in Asia.

    1. Singapore

    Both a city and a state, Singapore is a bustling metropolis flanked by undeveloped green space. From beaches to hills to nature reserves, there is plenty of beauty to explore, and the city proper is filled with gorgeous architecture ranging from modern high-rises and condominiums to Buddhist monasteries.

    English is spoken throughout Singapore, which will make American tourists feel more comfortable. Fly into Singapore Changi Airport, considered one of the most efficient and well-equipped airports in the world, and use Mass Rapid Transit or taxi services to get around town. Make sure to bring a raincoat, as the

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  • Best spa getaways in the U.S.

    By Y! Featured Contributor | Insider Escapes – Mon, Aug 13, 2012 4:17 PM EDT

    By Stefanie Michaels

    If it's relaxation you're after, then you've come to the right list. Here are a few U.S. spas to maximize your "getting away from it all" and luxuriating.

    Colorado

    Nestled deep in the San Juan Mountains, in a former mining town of the Colorado Rockies, is the ultra-private Dunton Hot Springs, a small and exclusive place complete with a restored ghost town. The place where cowboys once roamed, it's now a quiet spa destination (leave cell phones behind, they're useless here) for those seeking simplicity and nature.

    Impeccably appointed log cabins (with Internet access), local and organic gourmet food served "saloon style," and fitness challenges on nature trails mixed with hot stone massages and body treatments are included in the "unwinding" offer.

    Those seeking adventure, wilderness horseback trail rides, helicopter skiing, mountain biking, snow shoeing, hiking, camping, fly fishing, river rafting, kayaking, or guided archaeological site tours can get them all

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