Category Archives: Travel
Must See: The LINQ & Its High Roller Ferris Wheel In Las Vegas
The High Roller, the world’s tallest observation wheel, has officially opened and has been lit up for all the Las Vegas Strip to vast in its neon glory. Standing at 550 feet, it changes the city’s skyline just as the London Eye did 14 years ago over across the pond.
As part of The LINQ by Caesars, it is the key concept in the project of an outdoor area that is now filled with (and will continue to add) new activities, shops, dining options and nightlife. The LINQ will span more than 300,000 square feet, with a pedestrian mall running about one-third of a mile from Las Vegas Boulevard to the High Roller.
Share:
Travel Inspiration: Adventure Outside Of Quito, Ecuador
Recognized by National Geographic Traveler as 2013’s Best Destination, Ecuador offers the Andes mountain range, the Galápagos Islands, relaxing farmlands and large cities with more than just native shopping and restaurants. Among these cities is the capital Quito, which I recently had a chance to explore its diverse offerings and see how its history is preserved, but for the adventurer, you’ll want to go just outside of the city.
Quito, Ecuador:
First a couple city musts. Filled to the brim with religious and artful history, and as it should be since the whole city is UNESCO World Heritage site, the historic center of town is where a first timer would want to start his or her visit. Here you’ll find colonial plazas, museums, monasteries, convents and churches, including the gold-studded Iglesia de la Compania (below).
Share:
Saving On A Last Minute Luxury Stay With HotelTonight
If you’re a spontaneous traveler, you probably have the mobile booking app HotelTonight downloaded to your iPhone already, but If you haven’t yet you should right away to check out some of the fantastic last minute deals across the major cities and towns across the U.S., Canada, Europe and Mexico.
When I went to London this winter on a press trip I was able to add a couple extra days to the trip and used one to try out the app first hand. Before flying out, I searched the week before and the days leading to my departure to see what my options could be and where I might be staying. Hotels marked ‘Hip’ and ‘Luxe’ (other hotels categories include ‘Basic’, ‘Charming’ and ‘Solid’) ranged from the Heathrow airport area for $100-$150 for hotels such as the Radisson Blu Edwardian Heathrow, the west side near Earls Court for around $200-250 for hotels such as the Belgraves – A Thompson Hotel, and Central London and SoHo for $200-$350 for hotels such as The May Fair.
Share:
7 Gay Sports Bars To Visit
With the Super Bowl this Sunday, I thought it would be great to share an article for NewNowNext I wrote on some of the best LGBT sport bars to visit across the country if anyone still needs to make plans to watch the game or for any last minute travels:
Hi Tops
Hi Tops (above) must be doing something right: Eater SF ranked this newcomer the second-best sports bar in the city, gay or otherwise. The casual Castro saloon wins over locals and visitors alike with an attitude-free aura and menu of bacon burgers, fried-chicken sandwiches, corn dogs and homemade warm pretzels. Swing by Thursdays for Gym Class and get free whisky shots from jockstrap-wearing bar babes. A double win!
2247 Market Street, San Francisco, CA
Crew Bar + Grill
A Chicago favorite for its array of American and Tex-Mex eats (make sure to stop by during $1 Taco Tuesdays), Crew Bar & Grill is a straight-friendly watering hole showcasing sports on more than 20 screens. Weekly parties include pop-music and karaoke nights, and every last Friday of the month there’s a popular jockstrap contest. If you ‘re new to the Windy City, join the Beer God club: Try all of Crew’s dozen-plus beers on tap and get your picture on the wall, a free “Beer God” t-shirt and discounts on imperial, 20oz, pints for a year.
4804 N. Broadway, Chicago, IL
Share:
South America Travel Inspiration Photos For 2014
More travel should be on everyone’s resolution list for life, but if you’ve made it one of your 2014 goals, I’ve put together a travel photo slideshow for Latina.com that will surely cause you to experience wanderlust.
I lurked through LAN airlines’ hashtag of #OnlyInSouthAmerica, and picked out 20 of the best photos shared by LAN, fellow travelers and two from myself that’ll make you add countries such as Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Argentina and more to your bucket list.
See the slideshow here, visit back soon to see photos from my trip to Ecuador in the fall.
Follow Vee Travels and Andrew Villagomez on Twitter and Instagram: @AndyVeeNYC
‘Like’ and follow Vee Travels on Facebook
Share:
In The Bag: Accessories For London Travel
In this edition of Vee Travels’ In The Bag series, essential accessories for travel in London. Shot in one of the luxury personality suites of The Savoy, these accessories are based on a blue color scheme, that also mix winter accessories with unique tech designs. Just in time if you’re headed to London early next week for the spring/summer 2014 menswear collections at London Collections: Men.
Backpack – Tumi
The Tumi Lejeune Backpack Tote ($445) is very versatile, and the camo pattern option got me several compliments during my time in London last month. Wear as a backpack or use as a tote with the backpack hide-a-way straps and its military-inspired, cord top handles Offering four pockets on the outside (three zips and two open), inside you’ll find several pockets (a large zip, large open and small open pockets) with an orange color scheme.
Share:
Outfit: The Perfect London View To Wake Up To At The Savoy
While in London earlier this month, I had the pleasure to stay in and explore the iconic London luxury hotel, The Savoy. Located on the Strand in the southern area of Covent Garden, The Savoy continues to add on new features from its £200 million refurbishment a couple years ago.
Along with its historical credentials of being the home away from home to icons such as Coco Chanel, Oscar Wilde, Winston Churchill, Audrey Hepburn, Judy Garland and Frank Sinatra, to just name a few, The Savoy also boasts spectacular views of the River Thames.
Waking up to a glorious view is every traveler’s ideal, and the perfect view here can undoubtedly be found in the Royal Suite (entrance to main quarters above). One of the finest and most elegant accommodations in London and in the world, it’s spread across the entire fifth floor (at 3,498 sq. ft.) and has an Edwardian style interior that’ll make you feel like a royal. When you gaze out its large windows, you can see from Canary Wharf to the House of Parliament and everything in-between.
I got to explore the suite in one of my final days in London, for which I styled myself in an imported tan Italian wool duffle coat from Gap, and paired with a brown and orange ombre pattern wool blend sweater from Perry Ellis. Added on micro Houndstooth patterned pants from Kenneth Cole in cave that I paired with Ben Sherman’s tan Cranston Leather boots with contrasting red and black laces.
Share:
In The Bag: Accessories For Traveling From City To Rural Ecuador
In this edition of Vee Travels’ In The Bag series, the essential accessories for traveling from Quito, Ecuador’s city life to its rural, mountain regions in the outskirts. Traveling light is key, but personal style can easily be implemented to the accessories selected as they all come in several design or color options.
For the bag, I selected the local find of a woven wool cross body, as the Andean pattern called my name. Other bags such as backpacks, duffles and satchels can be found throughout both the city and rural areas of Quito (and the rest of Ecuador), but often they will have the country or city’s name splattered on it. It was nice to find one that didn’t give away where I found it just be looking at it.
External Power – myCharge
One of the most important necessities for traveling from city to rural, an external power source. myCharge’s Hub 6000 ($99) comes in a sleek silver body and can add over 25 hours of talk time. Called the “Swiss Army Knife of portable power devices”, you can power three gadgets at once with the built-in Apple Lightning, USB port and micro-USB port (useful for my Sony Cyber-shot I used on the trip). It’s also very light and as you can see below, about the length and width of an iPhone.
Share:
Outfit: Styling to Explore Rural Quito, Ecuador
Exploring Ecuador just before Thanksgiving with the Ministry of Tourism, I had a chance to visit the capital, Quito, and the rural outskirts such as the Pululahua Crater (a volcano that has been dormant for 3,000 years and just under an hour away from central) and the nearby Ciudad Mitad del Mundo (a historical and cultural site that is set on the equator). Quito is a city where layering and versatility are key, and was the same for these northern areas.
Share:
Gift Guide: 12 Luxury Carry-on Travel Bags You’ll Want For Yourself
Continuing Vee Travels’ gift guide series, this week features luxury carry-on bags that’ll make anyone very happy to receive as a present this holiday, but you’ll probably want to pick one or more of these up for yourself to bring along on your next flight or train ride.
Tumi – Alpha All In One Duffel
Bold use of white and orange are paired with the trendy camo, Tumi’s Alpha All In One Duffel lives up to its name with the functionality to split into four smaller bags. The three exterior compartments each detach from the main duffel and convert to a messenger/brief, a crossbody bag and a tote (which opens up from the section on the right below), leaving a slimmer and sleek carry-all to use on its own as desired. ($495, Tumi)
Mulberry – Small Clipper Leather-Trimmed Canvas Holdall
A small holdall, it makes up for size with its eye-catching blue canvas body. Trimmed with a brown resilient leather and two handles, the shoulder strap is of course detachable. ($950, MR PORTER)
Vee Travels 
