Maria Lisella

Headlines of economic woes and political unrest no longer throw the fear of God into travelers, especially if the destinations are compelling and timeless. Americans, in particular, have shown themselves to be resilient travelers.

Witness the rise in visitor arrivals in Greece, which is now in the throes of its eighth record-breaking year (see Travel Market Report, Aug. 8, 2018), while tourism in nearby Turkey rose by just over 50 percent in the first quarter of 2018 for a total of 7,263,807 ...

Thieves in the Family by Maria Lisella published by New York Quarterly Books is a good end of summer read for lovers of poetry. The broad range of themes presented in everyday language gives a sense of deep understanding of relationships between nature, humans and the overall the culture we live in.
An example of nature and how one reacts is the last poem of this soft cover volume, My Rain, which creates an ending to the lushness of the warmer months and how one can interpret something as com...

Greece has enjoyed record runs of tourism for eight years and tourism professionals expect the country will welcome just as many, if not more, visitors this year.
Despite the wildfires that recently raged east of Athens in Mati and spread to other areas such as Penteli, Viotza, Rafina, and Agios Andreas, the country is on a course for another record-busting year, with 2017 bringing in 10.3 percent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of €194.6 billion, which is $20.22 billion.
Accord...

The more things change, the more they stay the same, goes an old epigram and sometimes that’s just what you want: the same thing only better.

And that includes adding a restaurant and an 11th floor to the Hotel Mediterraneo that already boasts being the tallest hotel in the Eternal City.

Built originally for the 1942 World’s Fair on Esquilino Hill, the Mediterraneo’s 10th floor rooftop bar has up to now been an enviable draw. The hotel is frequently featured in fashion shoots and most recentl...

Make no mistake, New York State’s recent record-breaking visitor counts have raised the bar, as have this year’s crop of new resorts, hotels and inns.
New York State Executive Director of Tourism Ross D. Levi said, “We’re making substantial and targeted investments in tourism because it’s New York State’s fourth largest industry and the historic levels of visitation we’re experiencing are creating a record-high economic impact of $105 billion.”
In 2016, New York State welcomed a record 239 mi...

To celebrate not one, but two weddings of the Queen's grandchildren this year, hotels are selling money-can't-buy "Royal Kensington Wedding Packages,” while hotels near the site are tempting Royal fans and followers with locations and deals.
Both Prince Harry, who will wed American actress Meghan Markle on May 19, 2018, and Princess Eugenie, daughter of the Duke and Duchess of York (Prince Andrew and "Fergie"), who is marrying wine merchant, Jack Brooksbank, reside at Kensington Palace, so it...

"Scenes from the Collection" allows viewers to understand what, why, and how the Museum has chosen the objects it displays and what those choices say about the evolving identity of the institution within the context of world events. At the same time, The Frick Collection has Francisco de Zurbarán’s thirteen canvases representing the Old Testament patriarch Jacob and his sons.
As the world commemorates International Holocaust Remembrance Day this season, two New York art institutions – The Jew...

Olivia Kate Cerrone’s prose takes a decidedly backseat to the riveting story she tells in The Hunger Saint, focused on the controversial sulfur mining industry in Sicily in 1948. For the uninitiated, this chapter of Italian history may shock and may be hard to read, as Cerrone does not give us a break — we are witnesses to the sulfur-laden air, we are trapped not only in the mine but in a life few could negotiate, yet the story is so compelling that one can read it in a single day.

Two of them were listed in the New York Times’ 52 Places to Go in 2018. One of them is associated with the birth of Skype, while the third is one you don’t hear much about, but certainly will in 2018.
Just above Russia, and side by side with Scandinavia, the Baltics have often been add-ons to itineraries to Russia, Germany, Poland and Finland, but this year the region is showing up as a centerpiece.
Operator Busabout’s brochure describes the region as “scandalously sexy,” as Estonia, Latvia a...

When you are planning a trip, likely you deal with the main details: the flight and the hotel. If you have any time left over, you may be able to scope out restaurants. The nightlife may be the last part of your research, and therefore, the most left up to chance. This is how we end up in a dive bar with no character, just because it is around the corner from our hotel.
We don't expect you to plan your trip down to the letter, but articles like this can help to make your nights feel as bright...

New York City is home to legendary steakhouses dating back to the 1800s as well as former speakeasies that stand shoulder to shoulder or chop to chop alongside newcomers with more eclectic approaches. Some of the new arrivals don't even try to break the mold, yet others are investing in extravagant decors in a nod to the finer sex with expense accounts.
When choosing which restaurants to include on our list of the top ten steakhouses in New York City, we looked for delectable, mouth-watering ...

The power of live music to make folks feel good is on full display at a host of New York nightclubs, cabaret spaces, and rooftop bars with spectacular views of the Hudson or East River. If listening to bands and vocalists show off their skills is how you like to spend an evening, you'll find that New York does things right. Multiple options let you tap into the venues that 10Best readers favor, like Amateur Night at the fabled Apollo in Harlem, or B.B. King's Blues Club & Grille steps away fr...

Interest in river cruises and traveling onboard ships with a smaller passenger capacity is on the rise among travelers, according to the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA).
“The small ship sector is a vital and constantly evolving part of the overall cruise industry that excels at creating unmatched travel experiences, making it more popular than ever,” said Cindy D’Aoust, president and CEO, CLIA.
The newest trends showcase itineraries for active travelers, food and wine aficionado...

it started when Manorhouses in the northern part of the country flung their doors open to host the public as overnight guests. Soon river cruise companies, looking to add new ships and new itineraries, began to ply the Douro River. Add in a few glasses of local wine, and a new focus on wellness, and you have a confluence of trends on the Douro River.