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Desert Nights: Oman’s five-star luxury camp a sandy pleasure palace

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I treated myself and Marina to a five-star resort deep in the Omani desert. Desert Nights Resort has 88 tents accommodating 160 people and because only 16 guests were there during last week’s final week of Ramadan in March, they upgraded us to a villa suite. It’s expensive. There isn’t a lot to do. But to experience a sunset from atop a desert sand dune is worth the price.

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Video: Two nights of luxury in the Omani desert

Sometimes I admit videos tell a better story than words. That’s especially true in the Ormani desert where I treated ourselves to a five-star resort. Here’s a video from atop a sand dune. Stay tuned for a complete report next Tuesday.

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Oman: Birthday in the Switzerland of the Middle East

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We chose Oman to celebrate my birthday last week after so many people told me it would be my favorite Muslim country. It would be my 20th. They were close. We loved the friendly people, clean streets, beautiful mosques, great food and desert ambiance, Most of all we loved visiting during Ramadan, the Muslim fast. Oman was nearly empty.

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Video: My 10 Least Favorite Cities in the World

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I’ve been hesitant about joining the social media crowd and doing videos, partially because I like taking my own path and mostly because videos are completely beyond my comprehension. But I’m going to take a shot this year. This is my first and it’s an easy one, shot at my writing desk in Rome. It’s my 10 Least Favorite Cities in the World. After 47 years and 113 countries, I have a few to choose from. Enjoy.

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Barry, Wales: Little-known American camp in World War II now a lovely day trip to the beach from Cardiff

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I love day trips. I try to do one on every trip to a big city. I prefer spending the night but in Wales three weeks ago, I was pressed for time. I took a slow train just southwest of Cardiff to Barry. During World War II, it was a supply center for Allied Forces and housed 5,000 American soldiers. Today it has one of the widest, sandiest beaches I’ve ever seen. It’s worth an afternoon — but get lucky with the weather as I did.

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Wales: Is it a country? Say no and face the dragon’s wrath

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Some travelers disagree with me but I count Wales as one of the countries I’ve visited. Because it belongs to the United Kingdom, many think it’s just like a U.S. state. I visited the capital of Cardiff last week and the locals are adamant about their country status. It has its own language, its own culture and its own history that dates back further than England’s. Its capital is also one of the most charming and walkable in Europe.

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Slovenian wines: A tour recharges my love for one of most underrated wine countries in Europe

Slovenian wines: A tour recharges my love for one of most underrated wine countries in Europe

I fell for Slovenia wines on my first trip to Slovenia 10 years ago. In Nova Gorica, Slovenia, recently, I met a Dutchman who fell in love with them 20 years ago and wrote a book about them. He gave me a tour of a couple wineries which were not only delicious but also fascinating in their history through the communist years under Yugoslavian rule. Now they are starting to get noticed.

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Gorizia-Nova Gorica: Italian-Slovenian odd couple sharing European Capital of Culture 2025

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For the first time in the 40 years of European Capitals of Culture, two bordering cities are sharing the designation. Gorizia, Italy, and Nova Gorica, Slovenia have been on opposite sides of the same international border since Nova Gorica rose from the ashes of World War II. Today they claim to be borderless and civic cooperation led to their dual honor for 2025. I attended their opening ceremony earlier this month and this is my report.

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Borgo Pio: Tiny Rome neighborhood perfect spot to celebrate Valentine’s Day eve and save money

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Occasionally Marina and I spend a night in a hotel in our city of Rome just to remind ourselves why more than 10 million tourists visit every year. Last week we took a room in historic Borgo Pio, a slivert of a neighborhood near the Vatican. We went Feb. 13 to avoid the price gouging the next night on Valentine’s Day. The weather was rainy, perfect to scare away tourists and present Borgo Pio in its rawest form.

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