This was my last glimpse of Anguilla as we left by boat this week.

With my husband, and five month daughter, Stella and her Nanny in tow, we stayed at Viceroy Anguilla for five days.

It was supposed to be a romantic post-baby trip for Eric and me, but I decided I didn’t want to leave Stella. We brought the Nanny and it was the best of both.

This was my third time to the island and my first time staying at Viceroy Anguilla. Typically I like to try new destinations but Anguilla is such a gem – and the Viceroy can’t be beat. We’re already talking about when we can go back.

Where should we go? The Hamptons was our first thought until we looked at the weather. It wasn’t expected to get over 70 degrees for the entire week. Not to mention that renting a nice house in the Hamptons for a week cost more than our over-the-top island getaway to the Grenadines. We then thought about Nantucket, Martha’s Vineyard or Cape Cod, but being early in the season, those destinations could also be chilly.

Eric then mentioned the Jersey Shore as an option – it’s close to NYC and the weather was anticipated to be in the high 80s for the week. I immediately shot it down. I’m a (closet) Jersey Shore fan and all I could think about was spending my Babymoon in the same destination where fist-pumping and fake-baking is the norm. How could I go from a tropical island paradise to the land of Snooki and The Situation? This was not going to happen — or so I thought.

We then stumbled upon Long Beach Island, a little known island on the Jersey Shore, about two and a half hours south of New York City. We could rent a gorgeous home on a white sand beach, and would be guaranteed gorgeous weather — and no sign of the Jersey Shore that is portrayed on the tv show we all know (and love).

I was desperate for a getaway so I gave in. Luckily I did because it turned out to be one of the best vacations we’ve had and I fell in love with Long Beach Island. Beautiful homes, little fish markets, adorable families and more ice cream parlors than you could count. We spent a week walking wide beaches, grilling out, swimming and sunning. We brought our dog, Bear, and he, too, could be on the beach because it was so early in the season.

We’ve spent time in Lavallette and Long Branch, also both on the Jersey Shore. I love them both, especially Lavallette, where our friends have a home.

Lesson learned: never judge a destination by its cover. My Jersey Shore Babymoon was unforgettable.

I know, I promised I’d update more and I’ve been completely slack. In the midst of running a business, traveling, and trying to maintain order in my everyday life, I got pregnant. I’m thrilled with the news, but I’ve added “preparing to be a mother” to my already long to-do list. I’m due in September with a baby girl. Of course, applying for her passport will be a priority once she’s born.

However, first things first, I needed to plan a Babymoon. A Babymoon, a term derived by someone in the travel industry years ago, is a (completely fabulous) trip you and your partner take before the baby is born. A last hurrah of sorts before  your life is completely turned upside down. My first thought was to go on a far flung adventure. Maybe Southeast Asia or the Maldives? Somewhere I wouldn’t be traveling anytime soon. The thought quickly changed when the idea of flying 20 plus hours at six months pregnant really set in. Eric, the amazing father-to-be, and I searched and searched for the perfect destination. For us, this meant white sand, turquoise water, complete privacy and a place where absolutely no kids were allowed.

We decided on Palm Island, a secluded private island paradise in the Grenadines, a chain of tiny islands in the Caribbean, north of Grenada. I hadn’t heard much about Palm Island but it was love at first sight I found it online. It had everything we were looking for – stunning beaches, private beach bungalows steps from the sea, complete seclusion and no phones or tvs. I was sold. We booked to travel the week of June 3 and I couldn’t wait…

I had a doctor’s appointment scheduled a week prior to our departure. Going to the doctor each month had actually been something I’d looked forward to since becoming pregnant. You’re able to see the baby, hear the heartbeat and chart the progress. With each visit the reality further sets in that a (BIG!) new chapter of my life is right around the corner. Unfortunately, this visit was different from the rest.

I found out that I have a high risk of pre-term labor and could no longer travel (GASP!) or workout. Luckily, the little lady is just fine (which is all that really matters) but she needs to stay put for a while. I’m grounded – literally and figuratively.  This is a hard pill to swallow for someone that is constantly on the go and has spent the past several months dreaming about my idyllic vacation with my husband. Not only did we have to cancel our trip to Palm Island, but I also had to cancel several other trips, both work-related and personal, including a trip to Turks & Caicos with a best friend and one of my two business partners.

I was devastated, but the reward of ensuring a healthy, happy baby is far greater. For now, I have to keep myself busy in New York City. I’ve lived here for eight years and have never spent more than three weeks at a time here without traveling. This should be interesting…

XOXO Travel Girl

Let’s face it, flying isn’t necessarily fun these days unless, of course, you’re flying privately (I wish!) I often walk off a long flight feeling dehydrated, exhausted and germ-ridden. Sad, but true. For these reasons I carry what I like to call my “necessity kit” on each flight, including items that revive and refresh me so I can hit the ground running. I don’t fly the not-so-friendly-skies without it.

Here’s what’s in my bag:

- Burt’s shea butter hand repair cream; mine is lavender-scented.

- Lavender oil; I put it on my pulse points before take off! It’s calming and smells great.

- A cashmere eye mask by Plum & Ivory.

- Evian mist to prevent dehydration and tone my skin.

- Bath & Body works hand sanitizer in Sea Island Cotton scent.

- A Lancome Juicy Tube to prevent chapped lips (I’ve been using them since high school!)

- Airborne because you never know when you’ll have someone coughing and sneezing next to you.

- Scented Galimard towelettes that I got in Eze, France last summer. LOVE.

Happy flying!

XOXO Travel Girl

I know I’ve been a complete slacker lately when it comes to Glam Globetrotter. I promise to blog more in 2011. Promise. There, I said it, so now you have to hold me to it!

I will start out 2011 by posting one of my most memorable trips of 2010, my stay at Ani Villas, a brand new villa estate on my favorite island, Anguilla. 

I first visited Anguilla on my honeymoon in 2007 and had been dying to get back ever since. If you’ve never been to Anguilla it’s a must go. And, if you’ve been, I’m sure you’re plotting to get back. Anguilla is only about a five-hour jaunt from NYC (fly directly to St. Martin and take a ferry to Anguilla). It’s a seaside paradise that boasts some of the most talked about hotels – (Cap Juluca and Viceroy Anguilla) and restaurants (Veya and Blanchards) – to name a few. Celebs have flocked to the island for years. Infamously known as the last place Brad and Jen vacationed together before announcing their split, Anguilla has since hosted many A-list celebs from Jay-Z, Beyonce to Sandra Bullock.

As you can imagine, I was over the moon this past fall when I started representing Ani Villas, Anguilla’s newest gem. Ani Villas is a 10-bedroom villa estate overlooking the island’s most fantastic snorkeling spot, Little Bay. The seaside stunner is fully serviced, with its own pools, hot tubs, kitchens, indoor and outdoor dining areas, lounges and decks  a tennis court and fully outfitted gym. If only I could live there…

It’s basically impossible not to feel like a celeb when staying there. It’s A-list all the way.

The video is a sneak peek at Ani North, one of the two villas. Now I have to plot how to get back…

XOXO Travel Girl

When I found out I was heading to Nice, France, the picturesque playground in the South of France, I went into planning mode. Nice has been on my ‘list’ for years. I was thrilled to finally have the opportunity to check out the seaside beauty of Nice, a city best known for Matisse, the Nicoise salad and the Promenade des Anglais. That street overlooks the beautiful—but extremely rocky—beaches.

I’d always heard of the big hotels in Nice, the Hotel Negresco and Le Meridien, but wanted to find a boutique gem in an ideal location. Enter Hotel Beau Rivage. I’d initially read about the hotel on Concierge.com and looked no further. Chic, excellent location, clean and affordable. Not to mention, it has a private beach club on the Promenade de Anglais and an incredibly charming staff.

We booked through Hotels.com and paid $200 a night in high season. You can’t beat that for a fantastic French beauty.

XOXO Travel Girl

I was recently in Portland, Oregon for the 3rd time. Each time I go, I fall even further in love with the city. The Nines, a Starwood Luxury Collection Hotel in the heart of downtown, sealed the deal for me. This boutique gem has struck the ideal balance of comfortable yet chic, and sophisticated without being stuffy.

Here’s my room — two nights was not nearly enough. I’ll be back.

XOXO Travel Girl

My husband and I recently spent two nights in Rome at Hotel Aldrovandi Palace. It’s a hidden gem located in the posh Borghese Gardens, about 5 minutes from the Spanish Steps. Two nights wasn’t nearly enough! Here’s a glimpse into our room and the hotel.

XOXO Travel Girl

Here’s a snapshot of our trip from Rome to Nice July 1 – 12, 2010.

XOXO Travel Girl