tripgirl

Both your plans sounds great

xyz:

I really meant ot check out the Villa Adriatic since I know alot of people like to stay there, but alas, I did not see it. But I do know , yes, it is close to the Argentina, so you will enjoy the same views and the walk into town is not far at all.

Have a marvelous time!!!!!

jefftkeller

tripgirl:

I will also be leaving Split on Europe by Air. Can you tell me what the taxes were so that I can be prepared?

Lolo12

Tripgirl - I changed hotels because of the view, the full-service feature and the proximity of old town. I know the Stari Grad is right there, but we don't mind a few minutes walk. I also like the idea of a pool. I expect the weather to still be warm in mid-Sept, so we can take advantage. I'm sure we won't regret it - and no pressure on you!!!
Our second hotel is the Argosy, much further from town. Those will be the days that we plan to take our privately guided tours of Mostar and Korcula. If only all of us Fodorites could wear a "Fodor beanie" so as to identify us - what fun that would be!!!!

tripgirl

jeff,

I believe the taxes were $50 per ticket. not a huge amount considering the cost of the ticket is $200 but still, $50 in taxes sounds like alot when you figure in the US it is all lumped in there already.

Lolo,

you will love the Argentina then. I just wanted to be sure you were not too hasty and that my "raves" were taken into careful consideration; like Catbert who originally recommended the argentina, I am also "nervous" when I tell what is the truth for me about a place and it does not meet the expectations of someone.

Knock wood, I actually never had to experience that, all my recommendations for hotels, restaurants, guides, shops, etc are usually met with enthusiasm.. but there is always a first...

I just wish you a fab stay and do let me know how it all turns out.

What room did you request: are you in one of the Villas and not the hotel? I think you will enjoy a Villa so much more.

rcormier

tripgirl - what a discussion you've generated! i think since you have great taste in hotels and food, you must also have great taste in shoes and im guessing someone borrowed your black sandals for a few hours for a must-impress date. ive changed from hotel croatia to hotel riva in hvar, and cant wait for our trip in sept. thanks for all the wonderful insight!

tripgirl

Got your personal e mail to let you know how happy I am you have chosen the Riva; you'll love it.

Actually I am the grandaughter of shoemaker, but the "Imelda Marcos"( I think I spelled Imelda wrong) award actually needs to go to my Mom and my sister. They are both shoe fanatics. We could not pass by a shoe store without them both drooling all over the shop window ( what a site!)

I do actually like shoes and have gotten better about buying a few more pair, but I have have a runners foot; I pounce and pounce on them between my running and what I do for a living ( standing up as I teach cooking), so I have to have really comfortable shoes which rules out most of the styles I really love; pointed shoes with great heels, that look great, but oh so not comfortable!

Again, you'll love the Riva and do post when you return and let us allknow how your trip was!!!

Images2

Tripgirl,

You must tell us about your job. I'm really interested! I'm reading Julia Child's book, My Life in France, right now and dream of the opportunity of taking a cooking course in France!

tripgirl

Images2

My schooling is in nutrition, I have my bachelors and masters degree in nutrition.

After various venues in the nutrition and culinary worlds( PR, worked for Farberware in the test kitchen, teaching nutrition), I opened my own business 16 years ago; it is a combination of nutrition and culinary sevices.

I have a private nutrition practice specializing in diabetes and weight loss and I have written 10 cookbooks on the subect, with the tenth set for release in Jan. I am also the Food Editor of Diabetes Forecast magazine and serve on the American Diabetes Assovcation Editorial board. I also do alot of freelance work for the American Institute of Cancer Research and Cooking Light Magazine. I'm also the nutritionist for the World Bank.

The culinary side of my business involves private cooking lessons for people in their homes in the Washington DC metro area ( I go out as far as Southern Maryland and almost to the W VA border). They can be one-on-one lessons or group lessons.
I also teach at Sur La Table; a national cookware store at the one we have here in VA. I am part of their regular teaching staff.

I grew up in the hotel business in upstate NY ; think the movie dirty Dancing, and you get the picture, as the movie is not an exaggeration; it is exactly like that. The name of the hotel I grew up in was the Concord Hotel; the largest resort in upstate NY. My mother was the executive secretary to the owner for 38 years and my father was the social director ( think Wayne Knight's character in Dirty Dancing). My Dad passed away in 1966 however after a performance, he collapsed backstage suffering from a massive heart attack.

so I had a "Borscht Belt" upbringing, so you understand why I love hotels so much.

I think I perhaps gave you more info than you needed!!

But after 15 years of my own business, while extremely rewarding, I am looking to go into a career in travel. However not as a guide or travel agent.

What I'd like to do is to develop itineraries for an upscale travel company. But so far I have not made any moves into this arena; but will probably get serious around the first of the year. I don't have alot contacts in this arena and have not had to change careers in such a long time, so this will be interesting....

Ok enough about me!!!

Lolo12

Tripgirl - I will be at the Villa Glavic, staying in a double room with sea view. We will be there for 3 nights beginning 9/18. Don't worry about your recommendations - I have heard about this hotel from other sources as well. Besides, I usually go with my gut feeling - which is favorable about the Argentina.
I will let you know when I get back. Although that may be a while since my daughter will be getting married a week after we return.
By the way, your background sounds wonderful. I spent many summers as a kid going to various hotels in the Catskills. In fact, the first time I got behind the wheel of a car was at Young's Gap Hotel.

ckwald

Tripgirl,

Think about travel writing, too. That way you can have your cake and eat it. This old editor certainly knows you've got the talent.

laartista

OMG- My parents honeymooned at the Concord and I used to go there as a young child in the winters. I remember them having a luge sled run that me and my dad used to go on. How funny.

Images2

What an interesting life you have! It sounds like so much work, but so much fun also!

I know Sur la Table well, since I'm one of their best customers here in Cincinnati, although most of my copper pots I haul home from France. We were even able to go to the Mauvial factory store in Villedieu-les-Poeles earlier this year.

Thanks so very much for sharing your background with us. I'm sure others were curious also! It's very nice, getting to know you a bit!

Best wishes in starting your new business. I think you'll be a great success.

tripgirl

ckwald: Actually I think I am a better writer when it comes to short clips.. the newest restaurant in .., kind of thing.

I do write food articles and while they do turn out, I really don't passionately love writing long features. I really do not have a way with words, I am a fluff writer, nothing substantial.

Laartista: Wasn't the toboggan sled the best! We used to pile my sister, me and some of our friends all on one sled and then pump our way down and see how far we could make it to the edge of Kiamesha Lake.

Everyone's parents from NY went to the Concord!!!

Lolo12: Oh good, Villa Glavic is supposed to be nice, I wanted to go in and see some of the rooms, but they were all occupied. You just come down a set of stairs and just hop across the street and then go two floors down from reception to have your breakfast on level 4. The pool is on level 0.

Images2: Thank you for your wishes. I don't spend hours and hours on this board, although I think I began posting sometime in 2000 or 2001. I like to pick and choose where I might post. So I usually don't reveal alot, but it was so kind of you to ask me to elaborate.

But I have enjoyed writing a few of my Trip Reports. Had I the interest back then I could have written plenty of reports, as we travel twice, sometimes 3 times a year abroad.

And yes, I've always worked hard, so I am pooped!!! Since DH is retiring soon (we are 21 yrs apart), I really don't have to worry about a big income anymore and so I know entering something travel related might mean less money. And I won't be taking on anything big.

Syl

Tripgirl,
I honeymooned at the Nevele & stayed numerous times at the Concord. In fact, you may have even been there when the NHL hockey players were there over the years in the summertime. We are friends with the Montreal fellow who organized their visit.

tripgirl

Syl,

This is TOO much!!

The Canadiens were so close to my Mom; they loved her. They would come and hang out in her office and she personally saw to their comfort.

They also had a pair of skates designed for me! I used to ice skate alot ( not now though)

Small world!!!!

Ahh the Nevele... My Mom lives here now near Dh and me in DC area, as she is now 82yrs old. The entire Catskills remains kind of depressed; not like it was in the 50's, 60's and even 70's....

Not sure who may be older, you or I but I am sure we've "met" at the Concord over those years.

Lolo12

Syl - I honeymooned (first marriage) at the Nevele also. Remember the big round towers? Mostly everyone there at that time (mid-1960s) was on their honeymoon. Are they still around????

tower

Ah, TripGril...I once did some comsulting work for an upstate NY company with offices in California. They invited me to a conference they had scheduled at the Concord (around
1964) and one of their managers based in California was asked to be there also. He was a native Anegleno and had never been east of Vegas...for me, it was my first time to the Catskills, but I was a Massachusetts native. I'll never t=forget the first orning at breakfast in the gigantic dining rooms, and our (Rudy, the native Californian, and me)first exposure to Catskill waiters!!!!! We were sort of stunned with their outright brashness and "take no prisoners" demeanor, almost throwing the food at the guests.
Rudy innocently asked: "Do all eastern wait staffs treat people this way?"

We were politely told that "this was an important part of the overall Catskill ambience, and savvy guests expected no less"

Good answer.

Stu T.

tripgirl

Yup, that about sums up a waiter experience at the Concord.

The waiters ( of whom I think some are still trapped inside the hotel even though it closed in the early 90's)were all part of the schtick. You could have easily skipped the show in the nightclub in the evening and just enjoyed the show the waiters put on for you during the day!!

If you were not from the NY/NJ area, it might be hard to comprehend such a hotel culture. My DH who is not Jewish and was born in the Midwest, swore he was in a movie when he would coem up with me. He particularly was intrigued about how much food the guests could put away!

Aaah.. those were the days....

tower

Tripgirl...
>>>( of whom I think some are still trapped inside the hotel even though it closed in the early 90's)<<<
LOL

Stu T.