48: Chatham, Cape Cod. Where to stay and what to do?

There’s something special about New England summer vacations.

Growing up in another country, I watched countless movies and shows where affluent Americans showcased their quintessentially WASP-y style in Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard, and Nantucket. These places became synonymous with the American Dream in my mind. I aspired to look as effortlessly chic as the blonde women in Lilly Pulitzer dresses at garden parties and the petite brunettes in J.Crew striped sweaters and navy shorts on sailing boats with their preppy boyfriends.

Since I moved to New York 7 years ago, I have been fortunate enough to spend some summer weekends in the Hamptons, Kingston, and other beautiful parts of New York State. However, until this week, I had never been on Cape Cod, Massachusetts, where I was determined to immerse myself in my "old money aesthetic" Pinterest board.

Invited to attend the opening of the newly renovated GREYFINCH INN in Chatham, I eagerly packed my best East Coast preppy casual outfits and took a short 38-minute flight from LGA to Hyannis airport, accompanied by my mom.

Upon landing, I was immediately struck by the lush greenery, fresh air, abundance of lakes and lighthouses, and the presence of generational wealth - a quiet luxury, as they call it these days.

It's no wonder that John Kennedy and Jackie loved to vacation on Cape Cod and maintained a gorgeous mansion here. Their love for this place has made it more popular since the '60s, and it remains one of the most expensive summer destinations in the US.

Fortunately, the GREYFINCH INN is relatively affordable for such a beautiful, luxurious property that has been completely renovated and offers all the comforts one could possibly need. It opened only at the end of June, but it's already in high demand by those who, like me, aren't fortunate enough to inherit a seaside home from their chic grandparents. You can check prices and book your stay HERE.

This is your chance to stay in a cozy, comfortable, and immaculately designed inn right on Main Street and explore the lovely nautical town of Chatham yourself!

The shops and restaurants are only a short walk or a 2-4 minute bike ride away, yet the inn itself is conveniently located in a quieter part of Main Street, providing everyone with a serene stay.

Our trip has been amazing, and I am delighted to share some tips on what to do and where to eat in town.

Where to eat?

Wild Goose Tavern is hands down the best restaurant in Chatham, and we dined there twice. Every single dish was exceptional, and the service was incredible. On Friday night, we also enjoyed some live music there, which made the experience even more enjoyable!

Fish market

If you love fresh seafood, Cape Cod is the place to be. It's famous for its lobsters, clam chowder, a variety of grilled fish, clams, mussels, oysters, and much more. Not only can you savor the freshest seafood here, but you can also watch fishermen sorting their catch and feeding some leftovers to cheerful (and perpetually hungry) seals, who look like sea puppies bobbing in and out of the water.

Chatham Square

A local favorite and the heart of Chatham's social scene, Chatham Square restaurant is a great place to grab a quick casual lunch on the Main Street. As the sun sets, Chatham Square restaurant transforms into a vibrant hotspot, attracting the young and lively crowd in town.

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What to see?

Explore the quaint boutiques and art galleries lining Main Street. I never leave charming American vacation spots without a souvenir sweatshirt and some other little memento (an ornament or perhaps a book on the town’s history!)

My favorite store in Chatham is Yankee Ingenuity, which had one of the most unique and interesting gifts selection I have seen in a while! My mom and I left with a bag filled with jewelry and trinkets for our friends and ourselves.

No trip to Chatham is complete without a visit to the iconic Chatham Lighthouse Beach. Stroll along the sandy shores, feel the gentle sea breeze, and bask in the picturesque views of the lighthouse standing tall against the blue horizon. It's the perfect spot for a relaxing beach day or a memorable sunset picnic with your loved ones.

Check out my Instagram and immerse yourself in the picturesque moments of my Chatham escapade, on feed and in the "Cape Cod” Stories Highlight. Witness the enchanting opening of the Greyfinch Inn and experience the essence of New England's effortlessly chic style.

Get ready for some fabulous summer-to-early fall fashion inspiration soon, complete with links to recreate that charming, slightly waspy allure.

And that's not all! Stay tuned for more exciting adventures and insightful hotel reviews as I gear up for my upcoming trip to Rhode Island in August. The journey continues, and there's so much more to explore and share!

Love,

Ulia

P.S. You should stay at Greyfinch Inn on Cape Cod if you like:

New England style, JFK & Jackie, sailing, seafood, cozy little towns, Summer I turned Pretty, pretty seashells, Nicholas Sparks novels

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Theme 45: EXPLORING ASIA. Krabi, Thailand

Wonderful Thai Adventure of Ulia, Angel and Sarah

Krabi, Thailand with AseanTourism

Traveling for work has always been one of my biggest dreams, and in the last few months I was lucky to have fun in Mexico with NKDSKN, party with Amazon Prime and Lady Gaga in California and was sent on an unbelievable, unforgettable adventure by the ASEAN Tourism Board to Thailand, Malaysia, and to the island of Bintan in Indonesia.

The trip to Asia has been so rich in memories and enlightening in every way that I really wanted to share with you more details about my experience in every country I have visited with the team. Shall we begin?

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When I received an email invitation to join a trip to Southeast Asia, I couldn’t quite believe my eyes. I think I almost screamed from happiness. I was still in a wondrous shock and disbelief until the tickets information hit my inbox and I marked my calendar with the date of my first flight (and oh boy, did we take many!) I have never been to Asia before and it meant so much to me to be able to explore this part of the world as a blogger.

An important thing to note is that all three countries - Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia are quite conservative, therefore we were advised to bring more modest hot weather clothes.

As we had such a long adventure ahead filled with different activities (more about them later! It is the most exciting part!), I, like a typical girl, decided to pack 1000 outfits ‘just in case’. Luckily, I didn’t have to stress about packing, because I got a great gift from Victorinox - an expandable big suitcase.

My Victorinox, in a beautiful red color, proved to be very durable, but the best part of it that the one I have EXTENDS BY 45%! I honestly filled it with so many useful and not so useful things and every time I thought that this suitcase had enough, it would still fit ANYTHING I added. I had my share of different luggage and will do a detailed review of all of them one day, but so far Victorinox is my top favorite. 

Well, after the bags were packed, the goodbyes were said, me and Angel, who also lives in New York, flew to Hong Kong to meet our third travel partner Sarah (Los Angeles). Before I begin detailing all the adventures, I have to explain that this trip was not a regular one…

The main decisions on experiences were made by our followers, and they had to choose what each one of us was going to do and see. All the voting was taking place in our Instagram Stories!

By the time of our flight, I already gave my followers two choices for my first activity in Krabi, Thailand:

1. A visit to Elephant Sanctuary

2. Relaxing Natural Hot Springs Spa

However, an eccentric side of me decided that I should give my followers to pick my food and outfits sometimes too. So, there we were in Hong Kong, haven’t even started our official part of the trip, and I was already letting my audience to pick between me eating a cold fungus soup or some black herbal jelly. As these food decisions had to be quick, it looked like at the beginning the soup was winning, but 10 minutes later people voted more for the jelly… So I ATE THEM BOTH. If you want a good laugh or missed my Stories initially, go to my Asian Adventures Highlights on Instagram and watch that recording :D In short, jelly was not bad, but skip the soup!

Finally, after I filled myself with exotic Chinese food and drinks, our boarding to Bangkok started. Then we waited for another few hours in Bangkok, getting to know Sarah, who is AMAZING by the way, and finally after 24+ hours got on our final plane to Krabi.

USEFUL TIP: I highly recommend to exchange money at the airport as it is not that easy to find an exchange place later. At least change $50-$100. I know that doesn’t sound like a lot, but Thailand is a very pleasantly affordable country!

And there we were.. in Krabi!

When you imagine a classic picture of a paradise, you see Krabi. The scenery is breathtakingly beautiful: clean white beaches that stretch on for miles, turquoise blue waters filled with colorful sea creatures, dense mangrove forests, gorgeous limestone cliffs, and lush green jungle, intimidating and inviting at the same time. The rich, fresh smell of a grand adventure, spiced with the aroma of exotic flowers and wildlife, filled my lungs immediately.

We checked in at Centra by Centara Phu Pano Resort and started getting ready for our first dinner in Thailand, which was at a gorgeous and romantic Ruen Mai Restaurant. The restaurant’s roof is made from bamboo and reminded me of Tulum, and the whole structure, set in the open air is extended over a maze of canals and ponds and surrounded by beautiful nature.

The food and decor of every restaurant in Krabi that we visited on this trip exceeded my expectations. I got hooked on Papaya salad and Tom Yum soup, and hope to recreate some of the local Thai dishes at home for my friends and loved ones at home in New York.

After the dinner, we enjoyed a short night of sleep at the hotel (we really didn’t sleep much for two weeks while we were there, to be honest, but we loved every second of the trip!), and again, were impressed by the breakfast spread at Centra by Centara Phu Pano Resort. I think it was the best resort we stayed at during the entire trip, and the pool view was absolutely spectacular. 

But as much as I would have loved to eat my way through the buffet and then tan by the pool the entire morning, I was MADLY EXCITED for my first activity that was chosen by my followers - A VISIT TO ELEPHANT SANCTUARY!

Krabi Elephant Sanctuary is an ethical experience and a place where overworked and abused elephants find a new home and a safe haven. I was so lucky to get close to these magnificent creatures, feed them bamboo leaves and bananas, play with them in dirt and then bathe them in a river in the jungle. The whole experience was out of this world, and if you know me long enough, you know that interacting with animals is one of my favorite things in the world.

I also learned that you can make paper from elephant poo, and witnessed a few women and a cute little girl going through the whole process. I, of course, bought a couple of elephant poo paper notebooks as gifts and a big roll of paper for my own art projects :)

After the Elephant Sanctuary, the ASEAN Tourism Board and V’explore Tours informed us that after lunch on water (another delicious delicious lunch place, but unfortunately I cannot find its name! I will update this post if I do!), we actually were going to have another surprise. 

They must have read our minds because after the long flights and an active morning with elephants and shoots, we really wanted to relax a little bit and a visit to the famous Klong Thom Hot Springs Spa just made the whole day even more perfect. 

We enjoyed natural thermal springs, scrubs, neck massages and…. an hour-long INCREDIBLE Thai massage in a beautiful hut overlooking the jungle with pretty birds singing their beautiful songs. The whole experience was almost spiritual.

For Day 3, my followers chose between adventurous rock climbing overlooking Phra Nang Beach, Railay West and Tonsai Beach or canoeing Phang Nga Bay and visiting the Monkey Temple - Wat Suwanakuha.

Both of the options seemed extremely appealing to me, but I really wanted to see the temple and canoe, and that was what my followers chose for me to do!

I got to explore more of Krabi’s stunning scenery, fed monkeys, had a quiet moment of prayer and meditation followed by a mind-blowing adventurous ride in a canoe, a boat ride to a 𝗠𝘂𝘀𝗹𝗶𝗺 𝗙𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝘃𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗴𝗲 on the water, and a visit to the famous 𝗝𝗮𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝗕𝗼𝗻𝗱 𝗜𝘀𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱!

Did you know why monkeys are worshipped in Thailand? It’s all thanks to the 𝗥𝗮𝗺𝗮𝘆𝗮𝗻𝗮 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆, where the monkey Hanuman and his army helped Rama to take his wife Sita back, who was kidnapped by the demon Ravana!

That is why there are so many monkeys roaming around temples freely. The official name of the 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝗸𝗲𝘆 𝗖𝗮𝘃𝗲 is 𝗪𝗮𝘁 𝗦𝘂𝘄𝗮𝗻 𝗞𝗵𝘂𝗵𝗮 and it’s home to a magnificent reclining gold Buddha statue and to hundreds and hundreds of monkeys. Not going to lie, but I did not expect monkeys to be so hyperactive and at times a little bit scary to be around!

Useful Tip: Throw food at monkeys fast, otherwise they will snatch it and might hurt you. Also, don’t wear a backpack to the Monkey Cave as monkeys will definitely try to steal it :D

I also was so excited to see the famous James Bond Island and feel like a real Bond girl (of course I took some dramatic swimwear photos!). The island was featured in TWO FILMS about the iconic #007 Agent: ”𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝗮𝗻 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗚𝗼𝗹𝗱𝗲𝗻 𝗚𝘂𝗻” and “𝐓𝐨𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐨𝐰 N𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 D𝐢𝐞𝐬”, so the fans of the British agent will definitely enjoy the visit.

All our Thailand days were packed with various fun activities, beautiful experiences, and I absolutely fell in love with Thai culture, cuisine, and nature and with the very soul of the kind and hospitable Thai people. All three of us girls agreed that we would like to come back to Thailand as soon as possible and hopefully explore other parts of this magnificent country… 

But then, we were off to Malaysia, which I will tell you about in my next post!

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Theme 8: California Diary. Loews Hollywood Hotel Review

"There's something in the air in Hollywood"

As every self-respecting blogger who is trying hard to fit in, every April I attend Coachella festival with Ben, who from a highly ranked financial consultant transforms into my full time photographer during our trips. The festival is actually our favorite excuse to stay in Los Angeles and explore the city more (aka looking for the most instagrammable places). One of the hotels we stayed at during our annual 'Californication', was Loews Hollywood Hotel.

Located in the heart of Hollywood - literally just next to the Hollywood Walk of Fame and Dolby Theater that is best known as Oscars location since 2002, Loews Hollywood Hotel is a dreamy and tasteful choice of accommodation for every traveler that wants to be close to the La La Land world.

The Hills! The Hollywood sign! The Theaters! Do I even need to say more?!

Waking up to the world famous Hollywood sign is definitely a very cliche thing that HAS TO BE on your bucket list, and Loews Hollywood can make that dream come true! Apart from having the A-list view, the hotel room we had was beautiful, spacious and comfortable, and had a bunch of informative magazines and books that helped to plan our city walks.

As Ben and I used to live in hotels full time, we have an eye for details and pay a very close attention to how a hotel's staff treats their guests. We were very impressed by how clean and equipped was the room, and how INCREDIBLY friendly and respectful every member of the Loews Hollywood family was. It is mind blowing how many luxury hotels nowadays have problems with their staff. W Hotel in Dubai was a great hotel, but had the worst valet service ever; St. Regis Kauai staff couldn't remember our names after two weeks of us staying there and were not attentive at all. We not only had zero issues with Loews Hollywood Hotel, but we actually had one of the best valet experiences in the last few years. It might seem like a small detail, but small things do really matter!

There are a lot of great amenities at the hotel, including a well-equipped gym, but me and my friend Vivien, who joined Ben and I on this trip, fell in love with the pool and hanged out there more than we initially planned. The view at the pool area make me geek out to this day as it a little bit reminds me of Ancient Assyrian wall reliefs. And any historical reference and a unique photo spot ranks high in my book.

I honestly think it is one of the most Instagrammable and just photogenic in general, pools in Los Angeles!

If you are hungry, Loews Hollywood offers a great variety of dining options, including a lovely American restaurant Preston's and a fun, filled with beautiful people, H2 Kitchen & Bar. It is not a secret that the breakfast buffet is one of my favorite parts of the staying at hotels (oh c'mon, we all can appreciate a variety of pastries and 10 types of cheeses on a plate to choose from!), and Loews Hollywood has an excellent one. I am getting hungry now by just thinking of that freshly made omelette and a bowl of fruits, soaked in honey :)

Another thing to mention and that is, I am sure, important for many of you, is the pricing point. For the service, location and the comfort you can't beat Loews Hollywood prices (less than $300 a night). The hotel is modern, chic and upbeat, but is family friendly and offers a calm retreat to the adventurers in the middle of the Hollywood's delicious madness!

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Swimsuit from: Yandy

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Theme 39. Arabian Adventure. Four Seasons Dubai, Sea Fu review

Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach - Jet Set Oasis

Dubai has made a name for itself catering to the luxury-minded jet set crowd over the years, so it was only a matter of time before the Toronto-based Four Seasons Hotels group installed their beach-side desert offering: Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach (FS for short because #carpaltunnel).

For those of you who have not had the privilege of gracing the threshold of a Four Seasons, let me be the first to tell you that you are in for a treat should the opportunity arise to visit one of their 109 (and counting) properties worldwide.

Like many of their locations, the FS exudes opulence from the moment you approach the grounds. A sweeping paver stone driveway lined with trees lifts you up and away from the bustle of Jumeirah St. Through gaps in the greenery as your drive deeper, you will begin to notice the neutrally colored, Arabian influenced lines of the main building. Terraced construction incorporating terra-cotta and neutral tones is the perfect complement to the landscape, causing one to forget that a city of steel and glass is only 15 minutes away. If you look closely at the buildings, you may notice nods to the Arabian culture in the form of Horseshoe Arches and large, ornate doors standing between you and marble lined lobby of the FS.

As one would expect from a Four Seasons, the lobby is the crown jewel. Every Four Seasons seeks to make the entry way to each of their hotels a statement. Dubai is no exception. With an attention to detail second to none, the FS unabashedly flaunts the line between palace and hotel. Gold trim, deep brown hues, neutral tones, complex light fixtures comprised of baubles and more flowers than Versailles in spring, the FS transports you.

Now, our engagement on this particular adventure was at one of the FS’s dining venues known as Sea Fu. The FS mantra is about experiencing sensory environments. So, if you can accept that the lobby overwhelms, Sea Fu relaxes, much to the same degree.

Set in a quasi-outdoor, beachside setting, Sea Fu serves an Asian-inspired menu amongst pillars of wood and beneath umbrellas and billowing fabric. I highly recommend sitting outside as the breeze in winter or early spring is still pleasant. However, should the sun be too harsh, the interior of Sea-Fu is a perfect alternative and a welcome respite from the sun. There is something about an ocean breeze and eating lunch on a terrace that is just…pleasing.

The staff at Sea Fu was, for lack of a better term, phenomenal. From the moment we approached the host stand to announce our arrival, we were treated with near-perfect deference (I say near-perfect because I have a penchant for restaurants that maintain a dress code that includes white gloves for their staff, but that is a story for another time). The truly standout quality however, ignoring the smiles, friendliness and attention of the staff was something that I believe every restaurant should take to heart and do: responsive and thoughtful guidance on the menu.

This may sound like a simple task, but the vast majority of restaurants do not ensure that their staff knows the menu.

When I patronize a restaurant I like to ask the waiter or waitress to pick items from the menu that they believe will constitute a meal representative of the quality and diversity of the restaurant. Few get this right. More often than not, the selections are representative, but not of what is good, but what is popular, or what they think I will like based on their judgement. For those of you who know me personally, you will know that I drink and I know things. But you will also know that I eat. I love good food.

Sea Fu understood this. Our waitress selected dishes that complemented one another, were varied enough in their execution to not leave us bored and diverse in flavor to the point that we had to throw in the proverbial towel for lack of capacity. It was beautifully executed and showcased what I love best in a restaurant: mastery of a variety of techniques. 

In the words of Paul Prudhomme: “You don't need a silver fork to eat good food.”. Fine by me, the FS (and Dubai) happens to prefer gold anyway.

Until next time,

- BAP

P.S. For the curious among you, here is what we had for lunch:

Small Plates: Edamame, Spicy Chicken

Sushi: Yuzu Tempura Roll

Raw Bar: Hokkaido Scallops

Main: Seared Black Cod

Dessert: Mochi Selection, Lotus Flower

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SHOP MY LOOk:

My Dress - Free People (it comes in 4 colors and it is my favorite dress EVER!)

Bag - Louis Vuitton (It was a Christmas gift from my hubby)

Jewelry - Sequin Jewelry (My favorite Jewelry company! Everything is so gorgeous)

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Week 30: Utah. Exploring Park City in Thursday Boots.

Here is a little photo diary of our trip to Park City! Check out my summer posts about Park City here, if you haven't seen it before.

Almost the whole trip Ben and I were rocking our awesome matching pairs of Thursday Boots. They are definitely not just pretty shoes, but very well designed, durable and comfortable boots that you can wear almost in ANY weather conditions. I am 5'5 (167 cm), so I always feel I need that extra height, so I was happy that my pair had a small heel. The design of these boots is very classic, and won't go out of "trend" in, dare I say, decades!

The left boot was rubbing my foot in the first few days, however a pair of wool socks worn with the boots quickly solved the problem. And a week later I was able to put on my Thursday Boots pair with just thin stockings, and could walk for hours! They are really comfortable and super affordable, so I definitely recommend you to have at least a pair of these durable, timeless shoes that are perfect for not only city walks, but for even hiking adventures, and long road trips.

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I am wearing PRESIDENT in Brown and Ben is wearing CAPTAIN in NATURAL.