Is it possible to honor tradition and history while celebrating the 21st century at the same time? If you are talking about the Clontarf Castle Hotel in Dublin, the answer would be a vigorous yes.

As you make your way down gray stone-walled Castle Avenue in the tree-lined suburbs of Dublin, the ivy-covered hotel comes into view. It is elegant in its design and stately in its stature. A regal stone lion sitting in front of the lobby entrance glares with a haughty expression as though he is asking, “Are you worthy of this hotel?”

Entering the lobby through the Clontarf’s glass doors is less like walking into a hotel and more like stepping through the looking glass with Alice. Deep red Venetian glass chandeliers, a suit of armor, the wall of the original castle, sleek red pillars and recessed lighting successfully blend medieval and modern and create a delightful confusion of time and place.

There is a visual surprise around every corner. An ornate antique hutch stands next to wildly curved gilded chairs that look like they were recently removed from the festivities at the Mad Hatter’s tea party. A sleek black oriental style table snuggles inside a small fireplace alcove. Large modern crane sculptures stand guard to the side. You can linger in this corner in one of the massive red velvet banqueting chairs. It is all a crazy blend of classic, contemporary and kooky; and it works.

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In a dimly lit room filled with harmonic sounds streaming from a CD player positioned in the corner, two stones glide smoothly across my back. Their touch at first is quite hot, but within seconds they cool to a perfect warm temperature which radiates down through to the muscles in my tense neck and back. Within seconds I have entered a state of incoherent oblivion and am completely useless as an eager, constantly curious journalist. Instead I find myself picturing pebbles, smooth and round, decompressing every stiff and stubborn muscle from head to toe.

Rocks are often used for throwing when anger runs high. They are also used in art projects, as decorative pieces in people’s gardens and to help prop a slightly too short table leg up to help achieve balance. It is a little known fact that these grey hunks of rubble are also used in conjunction with attaining inner body equilibrium.

Doug Lehenbauer, a massage therapist at Aesthetically Pleasing Medical Spa in Carlsbad explained, “Hot stone massage has been in use for centuries and probably the most well known is the Japanese technique. Stones can be placed upon the body to help restore the flow of life energy through the channels, or meridians in our bodies, much like what is achieved through acupuncture.”

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Welcome to a land where the meat is as tasty as the expectation and the experience is as unique as the location you are in. Karibu (welcome in Swahili) to Carnivore, arguably the most recognized restaurant in Kenya. If you are a meat lover, and you should be if going to dine at this restaurant, then Carnivore can offer some of the most exotic meats you will ever lay your eyes on. Once greeted by a Kenyan woman dressed in a traditional African dress, you will be escorted to your table, passing a mixture of meats being cooked in a large open charcoal pit along the way, taking in the thick aroma while the chefs behind it are excitedly yelling Jambo (hello).

Taking a seat in a large outdoor area filled with distinctive wooden furniture, you realize all the tables are occupied with people, chit-chatting and laughing as their kids are heard in the large playground provided just outside. You are then greeted by the big smile of a man who offers you the traditional Carnivore drink named Dawa, which means “potion of health and revival.”

Preparing it on the spot off a mini-table strapped with a leather belt across his neck, he pours two shots of Vodka, a tablespoon of sugar, a lime cut into quarters, crushed ice, and a stick of honey. I eagerly wait to take a sip, and when I do, I give him a big smile and say Asante Sana (thank you). As he goes round the table preparing each of my friend’s a drink, the waiters, all dressed in zebra striped shirts, place an extremely hot plate in front of us, warning us not to touch it. I feel it with the tip of my finger, obviously, and understand they weren’t kidding.

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If you’re looking for a place that offers warmth, comfort and a spectacular ocean setting, this is the place for you. While living in Sacramento, my husband and I wanted to plan a weekend getaway somewhere not too far from shops and restaurants, but not necessarily in the middle of everything. Close enough for a day’s drive as well. A friend of ours suggested the Lighthouse Lodge located in Pacific Grove just minutes from Monterey and Cannery Row.

The hotel is a short walk to the ocean where at dusk you can catch a beautiful sunset with nothing to block your view. The hotel is separated into lodges and suites, with the main difference being that the suites are most similar to a room at the Hyatt, a bit more quaint and intimate. It was recommended that we book a lodge, and I’m extremely glad that we did. The lodges are all set apart from the others, which gives you a sense of seclusion and privacy.

When you step into the lodge you feel instantly at home. The lodge features a “real” living room, and when I say real I mean there’s a big comfortable couch with enough room to spread out while cozying up to your honey. An oversized chair in the corner is ideal for wrapping up in a blanket while drinking coffee and reading a book. The wood-burning fireplace is at the center with as a gentle reminder that you have no reason to leave the room except for food.

The décor is very contemporary, with fabulous works of art hanging on the textured walls. The champagne draperies, when opened, reveal lush trees and bushes giving you the impression that you are far and away. Vases with long stem flowers and floor plants give the room just the right touch of sophistication. The recessed lighting and table lamps provide a certain ambiance that you would imagine in a romantic movie setting. The bedroom, which features a King size bed filled with pillows and a big Down Feather comforter, is through French doors. The bathroom is a world unto itself and happens to be one of my most favorite things about the lodge. The tub is equipped with massage jets, and is big enough for two, maybe even three people.

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With just a quick flight from Fort Lauderdale or Miami and a taxi ride from Nassau, Bahamas airport, in 30 minutes you are in Paradise (Island that is). If you have not been, the best of the best is Atlantis. There are several accommodations to choose from beginning with the Royal Towers (located at the center of the property), Coral Towers, Beach Towers, The Cove Atlantis and the newest - The Reef Atlantis for those who like condo-style living with full kitchen.

At Atlantis, we were inspired by their beautiful surroundings of beach, surf and ocean. Uniquely different man-made lagoons have a variety of over 50,000 sea life from tropical fish to sting rays and sharks. Take a daily stroll through underwater tunnels that introduce you to close up views of your marine favorites. Fish feeding takes place at different lagoons and times each day.

You can almost say you are in a water park with all the pools, slides and a lazy river ride. And of course, you have the clear, tricolored water of the Bahamas - complete with walkways and concession stands. At night, popcorn is served poolside for a large-screen movie.

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It only took a moment for me to become disoriented upon arriving in Marrakech. I hear this is a common, but temporary, syndrome for out-of-town visitors.

The dry white heat, deep rose and russet-toned walls of the city’s ramparts, the snow-capped Atlas Mountains in the distance, the mysterious labyrinth of narrow roads, traces of aromatic spices lingering in the air, the chorus of Arabic and French voices as the morning trading begins, and the swift and jarring turns of the taxi to our hotel can all add up.

It’s only 7:30 a.m. I left the airport groggy and exhausted. I was not entirely sure I would arrive at the destination - 108, rue de Berima, across from the palace. I handed over the copy of the directions to the hotel I printed from the computer. The taxi driver shrugged, quoted his price (120 dirham, about $12) and with a one handed turn of the steering wheel, pulled out of the designated airport taxi transport area. Ten minutes later we were in the thick of it all.

Suddenly, the driver hurled the car sharply through an ancient stone archway as two others cars did the same in the opposite direction. Scooters and mopeds weaved in and out. Men outfitted in long pastel colored caftans maneuvered donkey carts carrying prickly pear fruit, mint, or artifacts, ignoring the honking horns and shouting from cars and mopeds as they ambled by.

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The financial district in downtown Sydney appears to shut its doors after happy hour and empty out.

However, if you are diligent and dig deeper to descend a set of brightly lit stairs, or whiz up an elevator to the top of the city you will find many gems. Forty One Restaurant is just one of these amazing discoveries. At the top of the Chifley Tower, in the square by the same name, is a culinary dining experience that is truly second to none.

Founded in 1993 by internationally acclaimed chef Dietmar Sawyere the menu reflects his personal style in a mix of French and oriental influences. Passionate about the superiority and diversity of Australian produce, Dietmar has worked alongside growers to develop his own products, which he uses in his restaurants - adding that personal flair and taste that is Forty One.

His award-winning menu and style reflects the techniques and expertise that he’s acquired at the Culinary Academy of London and beyond. Dietmar has worked with the great chefs of the Savoy, the Connaught Hotel, and the Regent Hotels of New Zealand, Hong Kong and Bangkok. He has blended all of this expertise into Forty One, giving it an international panache and palette that is uniquely its own.

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I would be hard pressed to think of a more relaxing way to pass a few hours than absorbing some Mediterranean-reflected rays of sun and watching the shadows of Marbella’s palm tree-lined harbor go by.

If this atmosphere isn’t enough, try it on one of Odin Café’s outdoor sofas while sipping on a cerveza, vino tinto or espresso.

Situated steps away from the yachts of Marbella’s central harbor on the Costa Del Sol, Odin Café specializes in atmosphere, with surprisingly good music and refreshingly friendly service untypical in Andalusian cafés. Odin strives to treat the customer where other cafés seem to come up short: your tea comes in a French press with fresh tea leaves and each drink comes with complementary crisps and olives (the same ones I buy fresh from Marbella’s weekly open air farmer’s market).

With free wireless internet and more than reasonable prices, it can literally be a challenge to tear yourself away on a sunny day. On a lazy Sunday, if you share my fascination, or derangement depending on how you look at it, you might simply be entertained by the quality level of people-watching as the harbor starts to bustle with a mixture of stylish jet-setters and Spaniards dressed in their finest Sunday attire spending the day with family. If you find yourself getting hungry after a couple of hours, no problem. Odin provides a menu of gourmet pizzas and salads, including a weekly chef’s specialty. I suggest the scamorza pizza, which comes topped with Serrano ham, mozzarella, tomato, cherry tomato, rúcula and, of course, scamorza, an Italian cow cheese like mozzarella but twice as nice. More on Odin Cafe in Marbella, Spain

The Mandarin Oriental Hotel Prague stands out from other chain hotels in that it excels in blending into its historic surrounds by creating a modern, luxury hotel within the structure of an old Dominican abbey. Although it was just opened less than a year ago, the building dates back to baroque and renaissance times. Situated just minutes from the constant wave of tourists that traverse Charles Bridge, the hotel is ideally located in a peaceful neighborhood shared with cafes, embassies and government offices. Entrance is through a leafy courtyard with nothing more than a small plaque announcing the existence of the hotel. The intention is for the focus to remain on the architectural and archeologically significant building that the Mandarin Oriental calls home.

The building’s exterior is a U of orange tiled roofs and beige brick walls. One side is the renaissance abbey, another the baroque wing and the third the home of the Czech Museum of Music. Adjacent to the courtyard entry is the spa complex, which once housed a small chapel. The entrance is a simple glass and marble affair that escorts one to a bright, if not abstract, registration desk. Each guest is personally escorted to his or her rooms and, along the way, one is given a brief tour of the premises and an overview of its unique history.

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Chilled champagne, congratulatory balloons, a warmly lit cottage, and a plate of tea sandwiches—these are the things that awaited us when my husband and I arrived late at night at the Nisbet Plantation Beach Club on Nevis, a tiny island in the lower Antilles. Exhausted after a day-long journey that involved three separate flights—Nevis is unequivocally worth the trip but it’s undeniably a chore to get to—we were instantly swaddled in what would prove to be Nisbet’s constant pampering. We popped the champagne, listened to the tropical insects singing outside the screens, and toasted to a superb choice of honeymoon locales.

The Nisbet Plantation, built in the 1700s, is one of Nevis’s former sugar plantations that have been converted into luxury resorts. There are only 38 guest rooms at the Nisbet, spread out over lush, palm-tree-lined grounds in 16 cottages that face the beach. This plantation was once the home of Fanny Nisbet, Lord Horatio Nelson’s wife, in whose honor the resort is named.

The Nisbet Plantation is an ideal spot for a honeymoon for a lot of reasons, one of which is that it’s not overcrowded with honeymooners. For couples who are less than excited about the all-you-can-drink, fraternity-style debauchery and manufactured romance of notorious honeymoon spots in Jamaica or the Bahamas, Nevis is the perfect way to have your Caribbean cake and eat it, too—in privacy and calm. The Nisbet crowd is decidedly older—more fifty-something empty-nesters than twenty-something lovebirds—and focused on good food and books rather than swim-up bars and nightlife. More on A Sophisticated Honeymoon at the Nisbet Plantation