At JG Black Book, we've been endlessly ranting about our excitement for this summer. With new hotel openings, outdoor festivals, and time to soak up the sun (and some non-virgin pina coladas), there's so much to look forward to. Add another way to spending this sultry season with your loved ones at...weddings! Slip on your dancing shoes and get ready to catch the bouquet at one of these romantic retreats:

Grande Provence (Franschhoek, South Africa)

Continue reading "Photo Friday: Our Top 8 Worldwide Wedding Destinations" »

At JG Black Book, we get the intimidation factor of navigating a brand new city without the comforting voice of a local friend, a tour leader, or your loyal GPS. In the past couple of years, however, we've been turning to City Walks as our trusty travel guides and navigation saviors. With these brilliant deck of cards- each deck of 50 representing a city around the world- we've been led to the cutest cantinas, the most glorious gardens, and the chicest of shops. Each card outlines a self-guided walking adventure, with a detailed map on the front and information on the back filled with insider tips. And the best part: you go at your pace, whenever you'd like, however you'd like!

City Walks-Paris with Kids

Continue reading "Travel Necessities: City Walks" »

One glance at Worlds Apart and it appears to be yet another glamorous coffee table book. Flip through its pages, however, and you'll realize that what it actually is is a magnificent, 3-stop JG Black Book journey around the world. 

Continue reading "Travel Necessities: New Huka Retreats Book, Worlds Apart" »

An awesome travel blog can yield some of the most inspiring content online. If you're like us at JG Black Book, you want in on the action. What's the funkiest undiscovered South East Asian city, the most unusual European dining experience, or the ultimate South American beach getaway? For those of us non-nomads, the following bloggers provide a beautiful glimpse into the world of expert adventure, motivating us to gear up for our next vibrant voyage. Check out five of our favorite travel blogs here and follow them for your daily around-the-world digest:

Continue reading "Travel Necessities: Top Travel Blogs Roundup" »

At JG Black Book, we believe that the next best thing to traveling is participating in a forum that allows us to share our adventures with others. In addition to mantaining the amazing high that follows us back from a trip to Uruguay's southern coast or Italy's capital of couture,  engaging in the world of online blogging opens doors to the most authentic up-to-date travel tips and ideas. That being said, choosing which of the gazillion travel blogs to follow can be dangerously dizzying, so we've come up with five of our favorites to quench your thirst for global getaways:

Continue reading "Travel Necessities: Top 5 Travel Blogs to Follow" »

While Valentine's Day is the ultimate excuse for unleashing our inner googly-eyed cupid, celebrating love is certainly not an activity limited to February 14th. At JG Black Book, our partners constantly remind us of the inevitable romance that accompanies such glamorous retreats. Whether savoring an elegant dinner isolated amongst nothing but Tanzania's wildlife or cuddling on a chaise, sipping champagne with a panorama of Paris, the following are amongst the most exquisite destinations for your next I love you!

Hotel de Vigny Paris, France 

Continue reading "Photo Friday: Romantic Retreats Around the World" »

If you're braving the cold like we are at JG Black Book this winter, your dreams may be bombarded with images of sun-lit turquoise waters, smells of suntan lotion, and the feel-good sound of steel drums, all accompanied by a not-so-virgin Pina Colada. As Chris Brown sings, Don't wake me upppppp!

The magic of Winter Wonderland had its moment. And now that moment is long gone. Thanks to many of our partners, however, simulating summer during months that were surely meant only for penguins and polar bears is a simple flight away. From the Caribbean to Cambodia, these tropical treasures are amongst the world's best spots to make your warm weather wishes come true:

Dolphin Island, Fiji

Continue reading "Photo Friday: Summer in the Winter" »

If you're trying to avoid the sedentary syndrome in 2013, we at JG Black Book are behind you all the way! No matter the vehicle-bike, boat, or bungee-we're avid oglers of the outdoors and bona fide believers of fresh air maximazation. Check out images from our worldwide partners and you'll discover some of the most exquisite backdrops for your next action packed adventure:

Castiglion del Bosco (Tuscany, Italy)

Continue reading "New Year Resolutions: Photo Friday: Get Active!" »

Last week on the Black Blog of Travel, JG Black Book partners shared their holiday wishlists, festive traditions, and magical decorations in anticipation of the most wonderful time of the year. 

This week, as we approach 2013 (the world goes on!), we'll share a mix of our favorite and most popular posts from 2012. 

Before we begin, however, we'd like to wish our partners, friends, and family around the world a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Santas on gondolas in Venice, Italy

Continue reading "Happy Holidays from JG Black Book!" »

Deck the halls with boughs of holly,

fa la la la la la la la la.

From a creatively crafted coconut Christmas tree to a hotel lobby magically transformed into nothing short of Narnia, JG Black Book partners are decking their halls to say the least! If you're celebrating away from home this December, fear not, these getaways are the highest havens of holiday spirit. The decorations are up, the table set, the dinner prepared, so just bring yourselves and hail the new, ye lads and lasses!

Cristallo Hotel Spa & Golf, Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy

Continue reading "Photo Friday: Hotel Holiday Decorations" »