Maria Russo

There are many eco lodges across the globe but few like Adrère Amellal. Situated in Siwa, one of the most remote desert locations on earth, guests can expect to feel uncomfortable and possibly even out of sorts after the long nine-hour drive from the bustling city...

Once a hub for spice traders hailing from Europe, Asia and the Arabian peninsula, Kerala now lures travelers from across the globe with its hill stations peppered with tea and spice plantations, palm-fringed backwaters, and cosmopolitan history of colonial trade preserved in the old city of Fort Cochin.

In English,...

Love Home Swap, a socially connected home exchange site, is providing travelers interested in a local experience with an inexpensive, yet stylish way to spend their holiday. The site, which has approximately 2,800 listings worldwide and allows members to connect with other members through Facebook, showcases chic homes...

Ask New Yorkers where things are happening and they'll tell you Brooklyn is where it's at. This bustling borough, with a population of approximately 2.6 million, has an ever-changing culture. Yet, one thing that always remains the same is the constant influx...

If you didn't think that fear tactics and dishonest business practices could go without reprimand to the point where a multinational corporation has hired its own crony of shady private investigators to silence anyone who may get in...

Mention Saratoga Springs and its infamous race track is sure to come up. Yet, as exciting as the horse races may be, this friendly city has plenty more to offer visitors looking for a relaxing weekend getaway. Brimming with artisan shops, historic sites and natural attractions, Saratoga is truly a...

Turkey is a vast country peppered with impressive natural wonders, ancient cities and gorgeous coastline. If you're traveling for less than a month, it's wise to narrow your itinerary down to three or four towns or cities.

While what you read in guidebooks about visiting "must-see" attractions should be considered,...

Lake Como is glamorous. So glamorous that when you Google it words like stunning, jewel-like and George Clooney immediately pop-up. And who could deny that this postcard-perfect landscape of vast blue waters and sloping green hills dotted with terra-cotta villas is anything but dazzling? I certainly...

Alberto's bones were like flimsy pieces of cartilage floating in a soft, thin layer of skin and fat. I could feel a tiny set of ribs rise and recede each time I lifted, rocked and held him, fearing that any quick movement would...

The good. The sad. The expensive. That simple description sums up my experience while traveling through Antigua and Lake Atitlán, two of Guatemala's most tourist-laden spots. After the awe-struck feelings wore off from exploring the spectacular Spanish Mudéjar-influenced Baroque architecture in Antigua, and traversing the volcanic terrain around the resplendent...

I am still blown away each time I speak with a New Yorker who has not eaten at Kesté Pizzeria. This tiny eatery in the West Village has the most authentic Neapolitan slice I've ever tasted here in NYC -- and it's...

Guatemalans love ice cream. Well, at least in Antigua they do. At every turn, the historic city's cobblestone streets seem to be crawling with people licking drippy cones of frozen cream topped with a dollop of syrupy strawberry goodness. And it made me want it -- like really...

The scent of frangipani spilled from the trees like the earthy aroma of soil and sand rising from a gushing waterfall. It was July: the tip of the rainy season in southern Thailand, and early morning showers would greet us as the sun rose...

It happened as it always happens. A moment of unfathomable destruction grabs the empathetic attention of millions. We are distraught, sick, apprehensive. We are glued to images of a nation that has become unglued; the crisis far beyond anything our minds can comprehend, yet we try to understand. We ponder...

December 13, 2010 --

"This room can accomplish something incredible tonight. You can walk out of here and say 'I went to a party that gave clean water to over 19,000 people' - that's more than the Madison Square Garden full. We've got 5,000 people in Ethiopia who are waiting,...

I had known about the outstanding social responsibility initiatives fostered by the five-star resort I was staying at in Manual Antonio, Costa Rica, but I never imagined there would be a rehab...

*SEE PHOTOS BELOW*

In the Catskills, there is more than meets the eye. Beyond the unspoiled landscapes of tiered mountain peaks, frolicking rivers and boundless meadows are a quirky mix of places that will guarantee visitors a truly over-the-top experience. Once a popular place for Jewish New Yorkers to...

It was the sight of mellow nyala softly nibbling on leaves drizzled with dew that brought me to the glass wall each morning. Thick bands of sunlight, scattered through strewn branches, illuminated obscure shadows on the forest floor. All life seemed to move with dilatory strides -- a deliberate pace...