Sherman's Travel

How do restaurants make it in New York City? Don’t tell anyone you exist. Seriously…it works. I’ve found a few hardly known and hard-to-uncover NYC restaurants; try them yourself and tell me what you think! Read more

Oasis Collections, an American-run, South American-based short-term apartment rental agency – and self-dubbed “curators of stylish pads” – has recently launched a series of budget-friendly upscale vacation rentals, spanning some of South America’s hottest destinations, for under $250/night. Read more

Abu Dhabi is new to the tourism game. But despite its newbie status, the oil-rich emirate is quickly becoming a destination to reckon with. Whether you’re looking for outdoor thrills (camel rides through the desert), an adrenaline rush (the world’s fastest roller coaster at Ferrari World), or a dose of culture (falconry, anyone?), Abu Dhabi’s got your ticket. In the coming years, Abu Dhabi’s Saadiyat Island will be home to major museums – like the Louvre and Guggenheim – created by Pritzker prize-winning architects Norman Foster, Jean Nouvel, Frank Gehry, Tadao Ando, and Zaha Hadid.

The best part of all? Travelers looking to treat themselves to a little luxury can find great value here. A burgeoning luxury hotel scene means every major international operator is setting up shop along the Arabian Gulf. A glut in room inventory means properties have competitively slashed rates…so you can bed down in opulence for a fraction of the price. But hurry, it won’t last long. Major tourism promotional campaigns, coupled with game-changing strategies by award-winning Etihad Airways, are luring more and more visitors to the UAE. Soon the rates at luxury hotels will bounce back to normal. Here are my picks after scoping out the scene. Read more

It just got a little more expensive to visit the Happiest Place on Earth. Recently, Disney World and Disneyland increased their 1-Day ticket prices (Disney World: $95 for adults/$89 for kids ages 3-9; Disneyland: $92 for adults/$86 for kids ages 3-9). If you’re adding up the cost of a family – say two kids, mom, dad, and maybe even grandparents – you could be looking at upwards of $500, without taxes…or food…or souvenirs! If that number scares you, think of it this way: There are plenty of other ways to save big on your trip to Disney. Read more

Twenty years ago, tourism to Medellin, Colombia’s second-largest city, was entirely unheard of. The world capital of cocaine production, Medellin was overrun with drug traffickers (none so feared as ruthless kingpin Pablo Escobar) and the cartel-backed street violence here was downright paralyzing. Proof of what’s possible in just two decades (Escobar was killed by police in ’93, and the city has been on a steady incline ever since), Medellin is slowly emerging as a dynamic urban center, with safer streets (though petty street crime is still a threat), innovative architecture and infrastructure, and a bevy of new museums, parks, hotels, and eateries. Freshly back from a week on the ground there, and just ahead of JetBlue’s new routes to Medellin (launching June 13), I’ve got some quick value-friendly tips on what to see and where to sleep in the “City of Eternal Spring” (a nod to its pleasant weather, year-round). Read more

Travelers seeking cultural connections might want to roll up their sleeves on an upcoming trip. In big cities and small towns, a variety of hands-on classes are linking curious visitors with local experts. Whether you want to learn about cheesemaking or butchery, there are many opportunities to get your hands dirty and meet locals at the same time.

Many of these classes are focused around food, a pleasure that connects us no matter where we call home. Not only do the following classes teach us something new and provide the framework to connect with locals, but they are also delicious. With every class there is the reward of tasting what you made and feasting with new friends. Here are four of my favorite ways to get your hands dirty around the globe. Read more

Bogotá is abuzz with development. New direct flights have made access to this bustling Colombian capital easier, cheaper, and more comfortable than ever before. Hotels are popping up across the city at breakneck speed (like the much-anticipated W Hotel, set to debut next year), including two of our favorite additions, personally vetted during my trip there last week: the smart-splurge B.O.G. Hotel and great-value Royal Sonesta Bogotá. And if you’re looking for firsthand tips on what to do and see once you touch down, our very own Jim Sherman has reported on some on-the-ground tips from his recent trip. Read more

There’s something so romantically American about a riverboat cruise. Perhaps it’s because they remind us of the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Show Boat, Riverboat, and other great stories. But riverboats aren’t just for the Mississippi. The American Queen Steamboat Company, which runs a successful franchise on the Mississippi, recently announced they’ll be expanding their service to Oregon and Washington! Read more

Despite a lengthy winter, Ohio is finally diving headfirst into spring. And with that begins conference season in Columbus. One of America’s most varied and vibrant cities is also one of the most welcoming, which means you shouldn’t spend all of your time tucked within a concourse. In an effort to get you outside the boardroom and into the heart of Cowtown (yes, that is one of it’s nicknames), we’re offering up two restaurants, two attractions, and one bar that you can hit with just a few extra hours between meetings. Read more

Timing, as they say, is everything. It’s true of romance, successfully poaching eggs and, of course, booking travel. That’s why it’s important to know that it’s currently shoulder season in the Caribbean. The interim period between peak winter and low summer travel months, shoulder season is the perfect time to visit the region without counting dollars or dodging crowds.

Better still, a number of major carriers are celebrating new routes to hot Caribbean locales with killer fares. From unstoppable rates to Colombia’s sexy seaside city, to the first-ever direct flights to Martinique, here are the season’s best new ways to save. Read more