Michelle Gross is a Jersey City based multimedia journalist covering all things travel, food and lifestyle. She loves great food, cold beer and her two pugs, Bear and Ted.
18 brand-new US hotels to add to your 2021 bucket list
With the COVID-19 vaccine beginning to roll out, there's hope on the horizon for travelers eager to get away next year. In anticipation of a better, brighter year ahead, we rounded up the best new hotels across the US to book for 2021. From a resplendent lakeside inn in North Carolina to an all-inclusive adventure lodge in New Mexico, these noteworthy new stays should go right to the top
I spent 7 nights working from a 5-star resort in Arizona. From live-music happy hours to poolside cabanas, here's what the 'Work From Hyatt' program was like.
In an effort to incentivize business and leisure travelers alike, hotel brands like Hyatt have been rolling out 'workation' packages at deeply discounted rates.
Freelance writer Michelle Gross spent a week spent working at the 5-star Royal Palms Resort and Spa in Scottsdale, Arizona to see if the 'Work from Hyatt' amenities were worth the $254 per night price tag.
During the day, she and her partner did their jobs remotely from their patio or from a designated hotel banquet roo...
Expert tips and advice for camping with dogs, including what to pack and the best pet-friendly campsites
When it comes to camping, we are a family divided. On the one hand, Teddy, our 1.5-year-old rescue dog, and I love the great outdoors, bug bites, sleeping on a slightly deflated air-mattress and all. On the other hand, my partner and our 10-year-old dog, Bear, prefer the air-conditioning and high thread-count sheets that come with a luxury hotel stay.
Recently, due to COVID-19 and uncertainty around the safety of travel, I've talked my partner into enjoying more of the great outdoors and taking our dogs on nearby camping trips.
The Best Hotels In The Catskills
Just two hours outside of New York City, the Catskills is a year-round destination offering an outdoor escape teeming with a wide range of activities from hiking and skiing trails to breweries and sweat lodges.
Fear of 'travel shaming' has some people keeping their trips quiet on social media, but numbers show people are on the move
Travel has continued to surge in July and August, and travel shaming and COVID-call outs are becoming more common. While some travelers continue to share their photos and experiences on social media, many are choosing to curb their online presence or to not post at all.
I've been using Zoom to do weekly Zen meditations with a Buddhist monk in Japan — it's helped relieve my anxiety and given me a sense of hope in this trying time
Therapeutic voice meditation, called Arigato Zen, can be practiced from anywhere through chanting and repeating a simple mantra or word.
The Best Airbnb Beach Houses In The US
With the summer heat and humidity in full swing and many states continuing phased reopenings, some people are cautiously looking for a beachside vacation away from the crowds.
I stayed at a Hyatt, IHG, and Marriott during the pandemic to see how hotels are handling new coronavirus protocols
Traveling right now is a highly personal decision and I know full well that it is still a risky proposition at that. I've been reporting on how the travel industry and hotels in particular have been operating in light of COVID-19. According to a recent study by The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA), while domestic travel has continued to tick up in recent weeks, hotel booking in smaller markets and towns are also on the rise.
17 of the best campsites across the US for a scenic outdoor getaway
After months of isolation, self-quarantine, and canceling travel plans, many people are starting to think about vacations again and future trips. The possibility of hitting the road with nothing but open fields and endless trails sounds especially good right about now.
Staying in a hotel will be very different post-pandemic
Welcome to the new normal, which, it's important to note, will vary from city to city and hotel to hotel. Here is a look at the new policies being implemented at each major hotel brand to safeguard your stay. Just don't be surprised if you find a face mask on your pillow instead of mints on your next visit.
24 hotel-branded products that will mimic a luxury travel stay at home — from Ritz-Carlton sheets to Marriott wine glasses
Have you ever stayed at a hotel so glorious you wished you could stay there indefinitely, Royal Tenenbaums style? I know I certainly have. It's hard to resist falling into a deep sleep on crisp ironed linens or lounging in fresh towels and plush robes. Nightly turndown service and room service aren't bad either.
20 tasty recipes from hotel chefs around the world
Whether you fancy yourself an aspiring chef, are an apprentice in the kitchen, want to reminisce over travel memories, or simply inspire a post-quarantine vacation, these hotel chef recipes are all worth trying out. Complete the mood by throwing on a travel-themed Zoom background or by giving your space a hotel-inspired refresh. Buon Appetito!
A Spanish-mission style hotel and winery just outside San Diego, Ponte Vineyard Inn offers an affordable and low-key alternative to Napa Valley
An hour east of San Diego in Southern California's burgeoning Temecula Valley, The Ponte Vineyard Inn is a charming 90-key Spanish-mission style boutique hotel. Set on 300-rolling acres of farmland and vineyards all overlooking the Palomar Mountain Range, Temecula has seen an uptick in visitors over the years, all in search of an affordable and unpretentious wine-infused getaway worthy of rivaling its neighbors to the north.
9 remote jobs that let you travel around the world
The ability to work remotely while having the flexibility to travel is becoming more important for workers. We rounded up nine jobs that will let you travel the world while getting paid in the process.
7 Times It's Worth Using a Travel Agent
In an age when booking a vacation online can be done in the same amount of time it takes to order a used copy of "The Girl on the Train," you would be right in assuming that using a travel agent is a thing of the past. Many sites, like...