THE NY TIMES ON THE BEST PLACE TO VISIT IN 2011

The New York Times has selected its list of the 41 Places real travelers ought to consider visiting this year. Heading the List, at # 1, is a city that has survived an 8.8 magnitude earthquake less than fourteen months ago. By all reckoning this city should not even be standing. But Santiago, Chile has enjoyed a quite recent cultural change that has resulted in museums like the Fashion Museum, upscale boutique hotels like the Aubrey, and a local, affordable dining scene that is almost worth the trip. Also high on The Times list is Iceland where multiple pleasures await at some amazing prices given the devaluation of the Krona. Milan also gets high grades, the often forgotten sibling of Rome, Florence, and Venice. But Milanese design makes for a truly contemporary take on Italian culture and we love the Townhouse at the Galleria Hotel where the restauranthas no menu – just a chef who interviews you and then prepares your “dream dinner”.