Stephanie Serino's Travel Blog

We interrupt this South America coverage to review my night at the Waldorf Towers in New York on September 29, 2011. This is the residential part of the legendary Waldorf Astoria and is perfect for extended stays or when you want more space than the typical NY room (which can be as small as a “New York minute” is fast). Click here for my photos .  My Luxury Suite at the Waldorf Towers My  Luxury Suite was huge and had a Park Avenue view. The décor was traditional but with modern amenities: iPod docking station, flat-screen TV, etc.   A grand foyer complete with chandelier led to the living room, which had ample space for entertaining with a sofa and plush chair. There was also a desk and the dining area had a table for two.   Then a corridor led to the Bedroom, but closer inspection revealed a wet bar, full size fridge, and cabinets stocked with glassware, etc. The bedroom had a very comfortable King bed and an antiqu...

Hotel das Cataratas, Iguaçu Falls, Brazil The penultimate stay on our whirlwind tour of South America was at Hotel das Cataratas , an Orient Express hotel within Iguaçu National Park on the Brazilian side of Iguaçu Falls. Once again, we arrived late after a really long day of travel. It was too dark to see the falls upon arrival, but the elegant lobby and comfy leather sofas were immediately calming. Click here for my photos . Our Deluxe rooms were special. The décor was warm and bright with dark woods and tropical accents.  I especially admired the exquisite Orient Express closet. The bathroom featured traditional Azulejos painted tiles that were ever so pretty. After a quick change, we met our hosts on the veranda for Caipirinhas. (p ronounced 'KIE-PUR- REEN -YAH'). These Brazilian cocktails are made with Cachaca (sugar-cane rum), limes and sugar and taste refreshingly delicious. Click here for the recipe (but beware of the second caipirinha ). ...

Welcome to the Four Seasons Buenos Aires The final stay of our whirlwind trip to South America was at the Four Seasons Buenos Aires . We arrived late after a long day of travel and had very little time to freshen up for dinner at 10pm.  We went to our Junior Suites to discover a delicious chocolate welcome amenity, which was a needed pick-me-up. Sadly, there were no coffee makers in the room and I didn’t have time for room service.  It was a large room (646 square feet) with the bedroom separated from the living area by a large TV armoire thing. The room décor was attractive in a subdued hotel way, but there were evocative tango paintings on the walls. The furniture was comfortable and looked expensive. Thoughtful touches, like the electric converter in the desk drawer, were appreciated.  The walk-in closet was very well designed. After I surveyed the room and took some photos, I needed to quickly get ready. At that point of our journey, the dark c...