michelle gross

If you’ve ever wanted to profess your undying love for Nutella, well, now’s your chance. According to an announcement made this week, the world’s most popular Italian chocolate-hazelnut brand will be opening up a pop-up hotel in Napa Valley this January and you could be among one of three lucky winners to get in on all the action.
According to a press release, the ‘Hotella Nutella Weekend Breakfast Experience,’ includes roundtrip airfare for you and guest as well as accommodations for three d...

One of the Med’s most elusive island getaways, everyone from James Bond to Jay Z and Beyoncé have been taken by this Italian island paradise.

As we make our way on foot along a sandbank in of Zambia’s South Luangwa National Park, dozens of Carmine Bee-Eaters, a reddish bird sporting black eyes and a blue crown, cheerfully zip, dip and dive their way into the hundreds of tiny nesting holes carved into the cliffs. “On walking safaris, you see the small things and learn about the things that nature has left behind,” our guide, Abel, said as we made our way around the park that morning. “You see the big things, too, like zebras, giraff...

It’s been a gloomy, wet and overall murky week here in New York City so far, a fate far worse than the stifling heat everyone (this writer included) seemed to complain about just a few short weeks ago. However as I write that I take stock of the fact that rain is something we tend to take for granted, especially now as the fires continue to blaze out west and heartbreak continues for so many in Northern California. Rain or shine, wherever you find yourself in the world today, it’s as good a t...

A quick getaway to a glitzy metropolis can be invigorating, but really, you need a full week to truly experience America's biggest and best cities. And while we're all for a relaxing trip to a cute small town, there's only so much leaf-peeping and antiquing you can do before you get bored. So why not split the difference? America's small cities offer the best of both worlds: all the trappings of a small town -- don't worry, there will be many opportunities to use the word "quaint" -- with eno...

Harvest season is now well underway in California’s Napa Valley, and with an estimated 400-wineries that span across the region’s roughly 35-mile stretch between Napa and Sonoma, choosing where to go can be just as persnickety as the very grapes that grow here. From the cooler climates found in Carneros that turn out some of the areas best chard’s and pinots in the south to Calistoga’s fabled zinfandel’s, cab sauv’s and slight warmer climate to the north, there’s really no going wrong when it...

In an exclusive interview with Forbes, Hurtigruten CEO Daniel Skjeldam discusses the importance sustainability on the high seas and why it’s imperative that cruise ship operators conform to more sustainable practices before it’s too late.
When it comes to sustainability, cruise ships have always been somewhat of a boondoggle. However, Norwegian cruise operator Hurtigruten is working to change that with the launch of MS Roald Amundsen, the world’s first hybrid electric–powered expedition ship....

It was a warm night in late August as the Napa Valley Wine Train slowly made its way past the rolling hills and vineyards that dot Napa’s illustrious valley. On board, around a hundred or so of Beaulieu Vineyards wine club members and special guests were celebrating the launch of the winery’s 80th anniversary bottling of Georges de Latour.
Considered the area’s first cult Cabernet, BV’s reputation as one of Napa Valley‘s longest running wineries is reason enough to celebrate; but between this...

Even for the savviest of travelers, the journey to Antarctica is anything but easy. Best case scenario you're talking multiple flights and then there's the infamous Drake Passage. But once you're there, electric blue icebergs piercing through cobalt colored water and an entire continent dotted with hundreds of thousands of waddling penguins awaits you. It’s a bucket list destination like none other, however unlike other places, traveling to Antarctica takes a f...

After a devastating fire tore its way through the Bungalows Key Largo last May, the luxury, adults-only hotel will officially reopen its doors just in time for the holidays. The only all-inclusive resort in the Florida Keys, the hotel is back and better than ever, featuring 135 private bungalows each of which are outfitted with its own bougainvillea-laden veranda complete with oversized alfresco soaking tub and garden shower.
Located on the Northernmost part of the Florida Keys just 63 miles ...

Follow the antique balustrade that guides you to reception on the mezzanine level where a classic fireplace, original chandelier and plush velvet armchairs awaits. This is LABOTESSA, a brand new luxury boutique hotel that opened in the heart of Cape Town earlier this month and is now accepting reservations.
Formerly a 17th-century congressional church turned lifestyle hotel, LABOTESSA is the love child of South Africa natives and childhood friends Johan Du Plessis and Jan Fourie. With six sig...

Sometimes confused with its island cousin Antigua, Anguilla has nevertheless long held a certain cache amongst celebrities and savvy travelers. Leonardo DiCaprio, Justin Timberlake, Sandra Bullock, and Beyoncé / Jay Z have all held court here. Even Justin Bieber owned a home on the eel shaped island once upon a time.
It’s not just the electric blue water and diverse culinary scene that set Anguilla apart (although they both serve as major draws), but the prestige that comes with the island’s ...

We’ve all been there. The race to the airport followed by long security lines and ubiquitous flight delays due to “weather” or “mechanical issues.” And once you’re comfortably seated and settling in as best as can be expected at a cruising altitude of 35,000 feet, turbulence starts to fray your last remaining nerve. Sound vaguely familiar? For some, the rush that comes with making it to the gate with seconds to spare can be exhilarating. But for the rest of us, the stress that’s associated wi...

For Naples, Florida residents Jayne and Jack Lahti, picking a cruise is no easy feat.
“We’re not your typical cruisers,” Jayne told HuffPost. “We’ve tried a few different (cruise) lines, and you really start to figure out what you like and don’t like. We mostly cruise because we like the itinerary. It’s a great way to see a lot of places, or even places we may have been but want to see another side of.”
According to a study conducted by Cruise Lines International Association, 26 million passe...

All due respect to Florence + the Machine, but the dog days are definitely not over and depending on where you are in the northern hemisphere, August is shaping up to be one hot one mother. Despite the instinct to retreat into air-conditioning, August is one of the best months to travel for music and food festivals -- like Fringe Fest in Edinburgh, Scotland, or a lobster festival in Rockland, Maine. And speaking of Florence, she’s headlining at Sziget, one of Europe’s biggest parties of the s...