-
Great Plains: De Lemos Guesthouse, Portugal
When it comes to deciphering a future trip, the accommodation is often secondary to the destination. Alas, the De Lemos Guesthouse and winery in Passos do Silgueiros in North Portugal is a destination in itself. The space, owned by wine brand Quinta de Lemos, was designed by architectural supergroup Carvalho Araújo, the geniuses behind boundary-smashing structures including the Casas […] -
Geocaching Around Eugene, Oregon
Here’s a new way to get out and explore the world—it’s called GeoTouring and all you need is your iPhone or a GPS enabled device to do it. We recently tested it out on a tour of the beautiful areas around Eugene, Oregon and haven’t looked at any journey quite the same again. Check it […] -
Explorer Cabins near Yellowstone National Park Offer Comforts of Home
Yellowstone National Park is one of America’s natural treasures. In the past, visitors to the park would have to rough it in old cabins with leaky faucets and faulty fireplaces. That changed this summer when the chic, new Explorer Cabins at Yellowstone were unveiled in July. Delaware North built 50 unique homesteads that combine the […] -
-
The Legendary Beer Pools of Starkenberger Castle
Every guy has fantasized about diving headfirst into a pool of beer, and thanks to the good folks at Starkenberger Castle in Austria, you can finally make that dream a reality. Deep in the bowels of the castle you’ll find seven 13-foot pools, each filled with somewhere around 42,000 pints of warm, yeasty, swim-ready lager. […] -
Mid Century Nostalgia In Palm Springs
Does the very notion of Mid Century modern rouse illicit thoughts? No? Well perhaps a visit to Palm Springs will change your mind – a place which isn’t all about Coachella and the Ace Hotel – although both are undeniably inextricably linked with the desert resort city. STAY Many have tried, but most have failed […] -
Road Trip Cheat Sheet: The Best Diners in America
It’s hard to believe summer’s end is almost here. With Labor Day around the corner next weekend, it’s time to cross those last “to-dos” off this season’s bucket list and start looking ahead to fall. And if you haven’t taken a good ole cross-country road trip yet this summer, there is still time to make […] -
Delta’s New Sky Deck at JFK
Much has been said and written about rooftop bars around the country. Who doesn’t love having a drink outdoors while the city throngs teem far below? But the concept isn’t limited to just swanky hotels or apartment complexes. Airports can be stuffy and even the nicest first-class lounge can feel a bit sterile at times. […] -
Get High and Watch Movies in PDX
If you happen to find yourself in Portland this summer, searching for something fun to do with a lady friend, don’t think too hard – we’ve got the perfect event for you. Each year during the peak of summer, when the sun doesn’t dip below the westward horizon until your watch reaches double digits, the […] -
The Manual’s Top 9 Beers from the Portland International Brewfest
This past weekend was the Portland International Brewfest – an annual event that fills up PDX’s Pearl District as thousands of thirsty beer enthusiasts show up to sample the festival’s massive and tightly-curated selection of beers from across the globe. We couldn’t miss out, so we put on our drinking shoes, packed our notebooks, and […] -
The Amsterdam Weekend
Notorious for lax laws regarding sex, drugs and hard techno, few cities are preceded by a reputation as infamous as that of Amsterdam’s, and although you come across plenty of red eyed youths ogling around the red light district there is so much more to the city once you venture beyond the tourist laden historical […] -
Gear Up: The Manual’s Summer Camping Essentials
Now that summer is officially in full swing, it’s time to gear up for all the warm weather adventures you’ll soon be having. We’ve come across a slew of incredible new outdoor gear in the past year, so to help you get prepared for your next trip, we took some time to round up a […] -
Copenhagen: micro guide
Copenhagen might be the coolest city in Europe. The Danish capital boasts more hip cafes, concept stores and coffee joints than you can shake a stick at. And its residents may be the best looking race in the world…irrelevant but good to know, right? Book your stay at CPH Living. Essentially a floating hotel, this […] -
Fogo Island Revival
Just off the northeastern coast of Newfoundland lies an island remote enough to have its own time zone; one and a half hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time to be precise. Fogo Island is governed by a sleepy, bygone way of life where traffic lights, advertising billboards and fast food joints are unknown. Not much […] -
New York’s High Line Hotel
For the past four years, New York’s High Line has served as one of the most scenic and tourist friendly outdoor spaces in the entire city. Though the elevated park runs right by the always-popular Standard Hotel, it now has a luxury lodging with its own namesake—The High Line Hotel. One of the newest additions […] -
Meet Me in Montauk
Now in its third summer season, things are looking good for Ruschmeyer’s. This joint venture from King and Grove hotels and creative director Robert McKinley (of The Surf Lodge fame) has a distinct summer camp vibe to it, which sounds about right considering the original location consisted of one back in 1952. Out on the […] -
Stockholm: Home Sweet Hem
Although most Scandi cities are equally well endowed in all things design related, Stockholm ultimately takes the cake amongst its Nordic counterparts when it comes to urban charm – and since May 2012 nowhere is this charm better encapsulated than in one particular hotel; Ett Hem. The name – which means “a home” in Swedish […] -
Top Summer Festivals in the U.S.
From top musical acts, to arts and crafts to craft beer—summer festivals are in full swing. You can definitely get your inner hippie on as you travel to music festivals featuring multiple stages with so much fresh music it will be hard to catch everything. Check out some of these hot tickets around the country […] -
Hip Hop Artist Ben Diamond Shows Us Around L.A.
Even though he didn’t take it quite so seriously in his younger years, Ben Diamond’s calling was always in music. Sure he played in a few high school bands, but it wasn’t until he published a five track EP on Bandcamp in 2012 that he was truly noticed. After catching the attention of underground UK […] -
Surf, Sun and Kopi Luwak: 5 Things to Do in Bali
Pristine beaches, lush flora and cultural treasures surround the island of Bali, which is also part of a province of the same name that belongs to the expansive archipelago that makes up the Asian nation of Indonesia. A definite must-see for anybody who loves tropical settings, there’s sure to be something for everybody on this […] -
Lazy Days on Formentera
The locals might have been onto something good when they decided on the lizard as the unofficial symbol of Formentera – the Spanish island is teeming with these tiny reptiles whom, much like the summer vacationers, spend their days basking lazily in the sun. The island was first stumbled upon back in the early seventies […] -
The Three Amenities Missing From Your Hotel Room
Having the concierge say, “Sorry sir, but we don’t have toothpaste,” at 2:30 am was…an inconvenience. And an annoyance. “Not even mouthwash?” “No, I’m terribly sorry sir.” I agreed. And it was a true sentiment for the both of us, especially since the closest convenience store wouldn’t open until the sun came up and my […] -
Mongolia: The Final Frontier
Bordered by Siberian steppes to the north and Gobi desert sands to the south, Mongolia might conjure images of a mysteriously forbidding land, but it has much to offer (cashmere!) and plenty yet to explore. It is in fact the most sparsely populated nation on earth, with many of its people still leading a nomadic […] -
Hotel and Hostel Meet in Iceland’s Hlemmur Square
Klaus Ortlieb is a gregarious man. This quality is valuable in any person you meet, but especially so in a hotelier, a man who is responsible for creating places you will spend the night—for designing hotels all over the world. Hotels such as Claridge’s in London, the Excelsior Hotel in Cologne, Germany, and the Gotham […] -
Weekend in Dallas: Barbecue, Football and JFK Conspiracies
When people think of Dallas, they think of cowboy hats, who shot J.R., oil and George W. Bush — not exactly the types of things that make you itch to visit a city. But on our recent trip, we saw a sophisticated city filled with pride, sports, culture and fashion. Yes, Dallas — the ninth […] -
Islamorada: A Slice of Paradise
Excluding Hawaii, the Florida Keys is the answer for those seeking a truly tropical escape without leaving the country, offering tourists year-round sunshine and easy access. Islamorada is indeed a far cry from the trollop-fest of South Beach, yet conveniently only a two hour drive south of Miami and half way along the road to […] -
Vacation Like a Local with Wonderful Italy
If you’re anything like us, you try your best to avoid looking, acting and sounding like a tourist when traveling. Because the true beauty of any unknown place always comes to light when you experience it like a local. As we’re always on the hunt for the latest guide that steers away from the mainstream […] -
Turkey’s Caves of Wonder
Looking at a map of Turkey, the town of Ürgüp, amusingly pronounced ‘Oorgoop,’ appears as an irrelevant smidge in the middle of the country. However Ürgüp just happens to be the main hub for Cappadocia; a spectacular region of geological wonders peppered with cave dwellings, underground cities and curious rock formations known as ‘fairy chimneys’ […] -
Beautiful Bruneau Dunes State Park
In recent years, unfortunately, Idaho has become known primarily as the setting for the hit indie comedy, Napoleon Dynamite. However, the state contains some of the most breathtaking scenery in the entire United States—long stretches of plain, punctuated by vast western peaks. Now that spring is fully on its way (even though it may not […] -
Off the Beaten Path in Cartagena, Colombia
Cartagena is kinda like this—go out looking for one thing, and probably—happily—find another. Want some ceviche? You should head to La Cevicheria, but don’t be surprised if you end up being side tracked by the palliative scent of the street food (arepas are a must). Searching for some ice creme (suggested: La Paletteria) and you might […] -
Jackson Hole: Get Your Skis Back On
The end of the skiing season might be approaching fast for most of the US but that’s no reason not to squeeze in one or two last weekends of good snow – the very best of which can be found at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort in Wyoming, renowned for its thrill seeking slopes. Seemingly wild […] -
Gem of the Ocean
Isolation can lead to deprivation so one would think a two-island nation, situated at the bottom of the globe, separated by thousands of miles from the nearest large land mass, would have little to offer the intrepid tourist. But New Zealand has an abundance of riches, from great seafood and lamb to world-class wine and […] -
The Manual’s Picks for Drinking, Eating, Shopping for SXSW
During SXSW – and the rest of the year, really – Austin is home to one of the country’s best local music scenes. No street corner, restaurant, coffee shop, or dive bar goes without it, and during our SXSW stay we had a chance to sample some of the best haunts for live music, and […] -
Hog Roast For A Cause in New Orleans
If you’re anything like us, you probably don’t need much past the words “pig” and “roast” to get your attention. When you add the words “New Orleans,” “Competition,” “Beer” and then garnish it with some live music and a worthy philanthropic cause, then our attention actually starts to smoke with the ferocity of a, well…traditional […] -
The Manual’s Austin City Guide to SXSW
You just arrived in Austin, TX for famed music, film and interactive conference SXSW. Sure you have tons of bands to see and parties to attend, but Austin is also an wonderful city that needs to be explored for its amazing restaurants, shopping and natural beauty. Ditch the travel guide and listen up: we visited […] -
Savannah Crawl: Get Some Culture With That Southern Charm
There’s something extremely seductive about Savannah. It might be the Spanish moss that dangles from the trees — a sight we don’t see too often up north — the 22 squares filled with lush greenery, the colonial architecture or the fact that it’s perfectly legal to walk down the street with an alcoholic beverage in […] -
Going For Green in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka abounds with once private villas that have been revived into tiny boutique-ish hotels; some slightly more decrepit than others but all bursting with history. Perhaps the most intriguing of such reincarnations is the Lunuganga estate, previously owned by Geoffrey Bawa, undoubtedly the island nation’s most illustrious architect. Bawa purchased this 25 acre plot […] -
A New Chapter For New Orleans
Even though you may have just missed the boat (and the flying bras) on the Mardi Gras festivities which happened just over a week ago, the party never ends in the Crescent City. New Orleans is one of America’s liveliest and vibrant cities, offering everything from jazz music and unique creole inspired cuisine to unbelievable […] -
The Magic of Mukul
For people in most parts of the United States, the month of February truly represents the dog days of winter. The winter holidays are far behind and the mild spring weather just can’t seem to come soon enough.. If you haven’t had the chance to escape the ice and wind or are scratching your head […] -
The Atacama: High & Dry
With unclear route signage, ghastly road conditions, lack of cell phone signal and sheer isolation combined with acute altitude sickness and solar radiation, the placid terrain surrounding the Chilean town of San Pedro de Atacama is more threatening than it appears. The small 15th century mining settlement lies 7,900 feet above sea level and is […] -
How Your Hotel Shower Can Help Change The World: The Global Soap Project
You’re probably not really thinking about that half used bar of soap you left in the shower of your hotel. Totally cool. It’s a throw away object (to the tune of 2.6 million bars per day in the US). But, as it turns out, it’s one that thousands of hotels have been turning into a […] -
NUMBER:Lab’s Lima
Occasionally we like to turn over the editorial to some of our pals in the design world. Architect turned menswear designer Luis Fernandez produces a large portion of his collection, NUMBER:Lab in Lima, Peru and offered up a tour of the city from his well tailored point of view based on a recent production-focused trip […] -
A New Way to Send Jet Lag Packing: Pure Flow Fitness
Jet lag typically starts as soon as that cloying voice is piped through the airplane, kindly demanding that you return your seat to its upright position. Not even on the ground and already you’re forced to leave your comfort zone. But even if reclining while landing didn’t lead to certain death (just a theory) you’d […] -
Getting to Know The Wythe Hotel
The days of being flippant about Brooklyn are long gone. No, you don’t ‘need your passport’ to head over the bridge and it’s not only for hipsters anymore. Frankly, Manhattan needs to take some tips from their borough neighbor on how to live life simply and well. Take the new Wythe Hotel. This 72 room […] -
Oahu’s Shrimp Haven
On the North Shore of Oahu, beyond the famed Pipeline beach, is a strip of road dotted with rundown trucks. People crowd the benches beside them, waiting in line for one thing: shrimp. The first truck we come across announces itself miles before its actual location. “SHRIMP! FIVE MILES!” a neon-yellow sign reads as we […] -
No More Beach Blues in Brazil
As a general rule of thumb, the harder a destination is to arrive at, the more pristine and therefore more spectacular it must be. Jericoacoara, Brazil, isn’t the easiest of places to reach; the nearest airport is a five hour 4×4 car ride away in Fortaleza, and budget airlines don’t fly there yet. In Jeri, […] -
Miami’s Hostel Takeover: The Freehand
Anyone remember Miami in the 80s? It was a bit run down, great local seafood and there was always that random Gianni Versace spotting. These days Miami is booming with mega luxury hotels, super clubs and pricey restaurants (although the service is still on par with a gas station in Guadalajara). Needless to say we […] -
MOÖ Bar: Chamonix’s New Hot Spot
It’s almost February and President’s Week vacations are fast approaching, so there is still time to fit in that big winter vacation or ski trip. One of the prime destinations for true skiing aficionados is the town of Chamonix in the French Alps. Chamonix was home to the 1924 Winter Olympics, and has been a […] -
Luxury and History Collide at Bridgehampton’s Topping Rose House
For most people, Long Island is known for its Great Gatsby summers—champagne, stars, bright sunny days, large luxurious homes, the Sound in one direction and the Atlantic Ocean in the other. However, Long Island does exist for all four seasons of the calendar year and the Topping Rose House, located in Bridgehampton, is out to […] -
East London: Micro Gude
Soho aside, London’s East end holds the reputation as the fastest changing area of the city. A constant flux of new restaurants, bars and concept stores keep the hip crowds coming and the rental prices sky-high. But you already knew that right? Well then read on for the new openings that you couldn’t possibly have […]