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Kate

St. Jude and my grandfather’s dream told by my aunt Marlo Thomas

Whenever I hear the story of how Danny Thomas created St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital I get the chills. His story pulls at my heart stings because I know how hard he worked. I know how many dedicated people rallied with him to make the dream come true. I know what an outstanding impact St. Jude is making in the world – saving children’s lives. I know because Danny Thomas was my grandfather. Throughout Thanksgiving week, my aunt, Marlo Thomas will be appearing on the Today Show talking about the hospital, introducing us to patients and helping us learn more about our groundbreaking research. Here are the appearances. I’m especially touched by the first one, telling the story of how…

Sunset Sail

I’m on my way to Cabo!

This week I’m headed to Cabo to dip my toes into the Pacific Ocean, South of the border! I’ll be experiencing Cabo having booked entirely through Expedia. It’s not just my flight, I’m also booked at a hotel on Expedia.com, The Cape – A Thompson Hotel. And I’m scheduled on what look like really fun tours. I’ll be horseback riding on the beach and through the desert. I’ll be taking a Sunset Cruise with Tequila Tasting. I’ll be taking a tour of the city and getting up close to sea life. All these tours and many more worldwide can be booked on the Expedia Local Expert® page or in the “Things to do” section when you are booking hotels and…

Kate Thomas Dorset Summer Lodge

The Summer Lodge: English Countryside Luxury #VIDEO

In this video, I feature my experience at the Summer Lodge, a small, luxury hotel in the rural region of West Dorset an easy train ride from London. It was chilly and oh so cozy! I am still dreaming of that delicious multi-course meal.Staying here made me feel connected with the local culture, the land, and its history. Undoubtedly, the Summer Lodge Hotel falls into my hotel ranking category of Local Luxury with a top score. The property is part of the Red Carnation Hotel Collection, a boutique hotel group of “seventeen luxury, award-winning, family-owned and run boutique hotels…in the UK, Ireland, South Africa, Switzerland and the USA.” Summer Lodge is also a Relais & Châteaux hotel – known for…

Travel without a smart phone #ConvoStarter

Recently, I was having a juicy conversation with a friend about the use of smart phones while traveling. We agreed. They certainly make life easier. But they also take a lot of flavor out of travel, too. I asked him to write about his thoughts on the topic for this month’s installment of my Conversation Starter series. This is what Kyle had to say. “I don’t use my smart phone very often while traveling and here’s why. First off, I grew up camping with my family, and that’s like belonging to a traveling circus. Canvas tents and gear spilling out of every compartment in our car as we make home in another new park or forest. Then it was running…

Livret de famille

What is a Livret de Famille?

This blue velvet, gold-embossed gem is a Livret de Famille or family booklet. And if you are getting married in France, you’ll get one too. The Livret de Famille holds your new family’s official records of births and marriage information. And for the rest of one’s marriage, one must record all big family events in their book: the birth of children, adoption, any deaths in the immediate family, divorce, or separation. All families in France must hold onto their family booklet as it is required for official matters. For example, if you enroll your children in school, if you apply for some visas or citizenship, or if you buy property you’ll be asked to produce it. I’ll tell you one thing. I…

La Belle Juliette Paris Travel With Kate

La Belle Juliette: A Romantic Hotel in Paris

Tasked with finding a hotel steeped in Parisian style for my wedding guests and high on romance for me and my husband, I discovered La Belle Juliette. A few days before my wedding in Paris, the plan was to have my parents, my sisters, and their spouses join us in town. And so, I had the task of finding wedding accommodations in Paris that were up to my expectations in my neighborhood of choice: St Germain des Pres. I wanted a hotel on a quiet street, tourist-free, and close to shops and restaurants that would give my family a sense of living in Paris. I also wanted the amenities at the hotel to be modern and the interiors to reflect Parisian…