Culture Traveler

11/09/2024

Did you know that wine was the first product of the nation of Mexico and that its first wines date back to 1529! Kareem George here, feeling very impressed and relaxed following an incredibly informative (and fun!) wine tasting with Maroma, A Belmond Hotel Sommelier, Edward Sanchez.

This intimate experience is available for solo travelers, couples or groups and was a highlight of my visit to the resort. I was previously unfamiliar with the large scope of the Mexican wine industry, which consists of 16 unique geographic regions throughout the country.

Most important to note is that the wines were delicious! I was most fond of a delicious, buttery Chardonnay from Enchillas, Chihuahua and a lighter, yet still well-balanced Nebbiolo from Cananea, Sonora.

How might this evening get any better? Well, I am now off to the chic, beachside restaurant, Woodend, by Australian culinary pioneer, Curtis Stone…

11/06/2024

Kareem George here with 5 reasons you should add the exquisite Maroma, A Belmond Hotel to your travel wish list:

- Incredible Sense of Place
- Sincere, Friendly and Attentive Service
- Stunning, White Sand Beach
- Delectable Cuisine
- Exquisite Spa and Extensive Wellness Offerings

This beautiful resort is perfect for a Thanksgiving break or holiday retreat. I am already planning my return 🙂 Message me for more details and information on the special amenities for Culture Travelers…

11/05/2024

Pumpkin Whoopie Pies With Maple Cream Cheese Filling

Hi - it’s Suzanne here with a little fall baking idea that comes from my own kitchen! I know it’s outside the box a bit but these are too amazing not to share. I baked some pumpkin whoopie pies as an alternative for the little ones for Thanksgiving. The filling is maple cream cheese and makes this extra special!! These are also super quick to make which is great if you’re crunched for time. For convenience make the whoopie pie base ahead of time and freeze individually wrapped in parchment paper and then fill on Thanksgiving day! You will love these and so will the little ones!

Yields: Approx. 4 dozen Whoopie Pies
Prep time: 15 mins
Cook time: 15 mins
Total time: 30 mins

INGREDIENTS
FOR THE WHOOPIE PIES:
* 3 cups all-purpose flour
* 2 tablespoons cinnamon
* 1 teaspoon baking powder
* 1 teaspoon baking soda
* 1 teaspoon salt
* 1 teaspoon ground ginger
* ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
* 1 cup granulated sugar
* 1 cup dark brown sugar
* 1 cup canola or vegetable oil
* 3 cups chilled pumpkin puree (canned pumpkin – not pie filling)
* 2 eggs
* 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
FOR THE MAPLE-CREAM CHEESE FILLING:
* 3 cups powdered sugar
* 8 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
* 4 ounces (½ cup) unsalted butter, at room temperature
* 3 tablespoons maple syrup
* 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

DIRECTIONS
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
2. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda, salt, ginger and nutmeg. Set aside.
3. In the bowl of a standing mixer, combine the granulated sugar, the dark brown sugar, and the oil together and beat until well incorporated. Add the pumpkin puree and mix until thoroughly combined. Add the eggs and vanilla and stir until combined.
4. Gradually add the flour mixture to the pumpkin mixture and mix until completely combined.
5. Use a large ice cream scoop or a large spoon to drop a rounded, heaping tablespoon of the dough onto the prepared baking sheets, about 1 inch apart. (if you want you can use a small ice cream scoop for smaller pies)
6. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, making sure that the cookies are just starting to crack on top and a toothpick inserted into the center of a cookie comes out clean. The cookies should be firm when touched. Remove from the oven and let the cookies cool completely on a cooling rack.
7. To make the filling, beat the butter on medium speed until smooth with no visible lumps, about 3 minutes. Add the cream cheese and beat until smooth and combined, about 2 minutes. Add the powdered sugar a little at a time, then add the maple syrup and vanilla and beat until smooth.
8. To assemble the whoopie pies: Turn half of the cooled cookies upside down. Pipe or spoon the filling (about a tablespoon) onto that half. Place another cookie, flat side down, on top of the filling. Press down slightly so that the filling spread to the edges of the cookie. Repeat until all the cookies are used. Put the whoopie pies in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes to firm before serving. (that’s if you can wait that long – because we know we couldn’t!)

11/05/2024

Good Evening, Culture Travelers. For those of you seeking further information on the recent DOT rulings in effect, the article below provides a helpful summary. You may also wish to visit the U.S. Department of Transportation website.

The Department of Transportation's new refund rules for delayed and canceled flights are now fully in effect. Here's what to know.

11/05/2024

Kareem George here, on location at the newly reimagined Maroma, A Belmond Hotel this week. This recently transformed hideaway boasts light, airy, art-filled rooms created by acclaimed designer Tara Bernerd. Follow me as I enjoy incredible sea vistas, delicious Mexican cuisine, inspired spa treatments and more...

By the way, Maroma still has availability for the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday and the festive year end season (!). Message me while I am on location with any specific questions or to check availability.

Many thanks to our partners Voyage by Pascale and Belmond for the incredible hospitality :)

The beating heart of the Riviera Maya.​​Discovered by chance, born out of love. At Maroma, feel the energy of the jungle - a welcoming labyrinth of pristine ...

11/03/2024

Greetings from Fritz Morsches in chilly Franklin, MI. The spectacular autumn leaves will soon be a wonderful memory- and I'm now dreaming of a holiday in sunny Mexico by the warm crystal turquoise blue Caribbean Sea.
For those with a similar vision, Cancun, Mexico is an easy getaway, with nonstop flights from most major American airports.
The Waldorf Astoria Cancun, located on 100 acres of secluded coastline, is just a 30 minutes drive from its airport. A serene and luxurious destination, this resort, which opened in 2022, combines rich heritage with refined contemporary sophistication, a wonderful 40,000 square foot spa, impeccable service, six unique restaurants, and a spectacular beach. All of the rooms have a view of the Sea.
It's perfect for a relaxing getaway during the upcoming Festive Season or the frigid months following.
Please contact your friends at Culture Traveler to help you with your Festive Season and winter travel plans.

11/01/2024

I was honored to participate in the MasterAdvisor series yesterday talking about the Luxury Cruise business.

https://youtu.be/ZaV6R2nM0Yo?si=-RedIRd8XWpHN6-p

Explora Journeys Solo Travelers - Silversea, Explora, RSSC, Oceania and Crystal. Regent Seven Seas Cruises Oceania Cruises Silversea Cruises Crystal Cruises Ponant Seabourn

There’s nothing quite like the experience of a luxury cruise. As a luxury advisor, you need to understand how to effectively communicate what makes a luxury ...

10/30/2024

Attention Culture Travelers:

On May 7, 2025 U.S travelers must have a Real ID, state identification card or a passport to board a domestic flight, access federal government facilities and enter nuclear power plants.

When renewing your license or state identification card, you can choose to make it Read ID-compliant.

The link below will help you navigate the process.

Check to see if your driver’s license or state ID is REAL ID-compliant. Learn why and how to upgrade to a REAL ID for air travel and more.

10/29/2024

Some helpful tips, including insights from Culture Traveler CEO, Kareem George ...

Air travel experts reveal the common mistakes they avoid when booking their trips.

10/25/2024

Greetings, Happy Halloween and a blessed Day of the Dead from Fritz Morsches at Culture Traveler.
This week I'm thrilled to share my favorite hotel in Mexico, the marvelous Rosewood San Miguel de Allende, located in a quiet residential area near the vibrant main plaza of San Miguel de Allende, Mexico.
This spectacular colonial city is located in Mexico's central highlands, northwest of Mexico City. Rather like Sante Fe in the United States, San Miguel provides residents and visitors with gracious hospitality, incredible artistic, culinary, musical heritage, and varied recreational experiences-- and near perfect weather during the winter months.
This beautiful resort embraces the Rosewood Hotels & Resorts brand's guiding philosophy, a "Sense of Place," in which the hotel reflects the location's history, culture (in the broadest sense), design, and cuisine. One truly experiences the best of Mexico here!
Important news!! Rosewood is currently offering a special "book a three night stay and receive a complimentary fourth night."
For so many reasons, I can't imagine a more perfect destination for the Festive Season and the winter months following.
Please contact your friends at Culture Traveler to help you with your Festive Season and winter travel plans.

10/24/2024

It’s Suzanne here with Kareem George at the Travel and Leisure Cruise Summit in Cancun, Mexico. Kareem and I are excited to learn about new itineraries and also new luxury hotels. Here is a sunrise from the summit! Let the fun begin.

Astoria Cancun Quintana Roo, Mexico)

10/23/2024

As a follow up to our previous post regarding the Schengen Visa Culture Traveler wants you to know which countries make the process difficult.

The link below will help our travelers navigate through it.

Are you planning a European getaway this 2024? If so, securing your Schengen visa is going to be one of the most important steps.

10/23/2024

Shout out to my newest followers! Excited to have you onboard!

Barbara Keywell, Andres Portillo, Danny Sherbin

10/23/2024

Kareem George here, sharing fond memories of one of my favorite meals of the year at Ekstedt. This restaurant is a MUST for any foodies visiting Stockholm. Offering one of the city’s most original dining experiences, Niklas Ekstedt uses no electricity in his cooking; instead, everything is prepared over fire.
We were as amazed with the creativity of our experience as we were with the intensely flavorful cuisine. The wine pairing was also most engaging. I particularly enjoyed the different settings throughout the evening … from the comfy lounge to the HOT open-flame kitchen to the chic, contemporary dining room.
Message us for more information on Ekstedt or visiting Stockholm in general.

10/21/2024

It’s Suzanne here! One of the great joys I have in life (other than my family which is always first) is cooking classes while I travel. Being the child of immigrants much of my history comes from food because food tells the story of your heritage. Through food we learn about different cultures and with that some understanding of our differences.

Many of the cruise ships today have cooking classes in their onboard cooking kitchens. They usually run from 60-120 minutes. The great thing is you get to learn, cook and then eat new dishes. And you get some great recipes to take home and share with friends and family. It is also a wonderful way to connect with fellow passengers- especially if you are a solo traveler. Sharing a meal is always an ice breaker!

Here is a dish that I made on Regent’s Splendor.

Nordic Salmon Rillettes
Makes 8 rilles

Ingredients:

1/2 butter room temperature, 1/4 c, creme fraiche, 1/2 c grated daikon (Japanese radish), 2 tbls minced shallot, 2 tbs thinly sliced chives, 3 tbs fresh lemon juice, 1 tbs aquavit,, 1 pound salmon fillet, poached, cooled and flake (you can substitute can salmon in a pinch), 1/2 lb. Smoked salmon flaked, smoked sweet paprika, 1 baguette thinly sliced and I cucumber thinly sliced.

In a medium bowl, combine the butter and creme fraiche and mix until smooth. Fold in the two salmons, and gently mix until incorporated. Transfer into a small bowl, ceramic crocks or into a mold (as I did in the photo and then removed mold). Serve with baguette and cucumber slices.

Solo Travelers - Silversea, Explora, RSSC, Oceania and Crystal. Regent Seven Seas Cruises

10/20/2024

The festive season will be here before we know it! Have you made your plans yet? We are here to help and full of ideas...

El Encanto, A Belmond Hotel offers hilltop serenity in Santa Barbara, exuding the style of a private estate. Casual, comfortable and even pet friendly, the lovely bungalows and rooms offer panoramic views. This property is the ideal base for fine dining and wine tasting, however there are a host of other activities to enjoy onsite such as botanic afternoon tea, bossa nova brunch and an incredible spa.

Message us for details on availability and the special amenities available to Culture Travelers. We are also pleased to share a list of the top 10 Santa Barbara wineries as well as holiday events in the area...

Celebrating more than 101 years on highway 101.El Encanto, the original Hollywood hideaway celebrates this milestone with an homage to silver screen glamour ...