Travel Inspiration: Where My Friends Have Been

As much as I love reading travel magazines and memoirs, nothing compares to getting the inside scoop from my inner circle. Many of my friends travel quite frequently and have racked up miles visiting some pretty interesting places. Keep reading for three of their recommendations!

Mexico City
A view of the Zocalo - one of the world's largest urban squares.

"Great food and amazing architecture, you gotta go!" raved one of my dearest friends about his recent business trip to Mexico City. He only wished that his busy schedule allowed more time to explore the cultural, commercial, political, and economic capital of Mexico. This 700 year old city of nearly 10 million residents boasts ancient archaeological sites, majestic monuments, more than 150 museums and 3,500 restaurants (including 2 rated the world's best by Michelin.) Visit the Mexico City Experience website for more information about what to see and do.

Istanbul

The Bosphorus - also known as the Istanbul Strait

Istanbul is another destination that gets high marks from several friends. If you visit Istanbul you can actually claim that you visited two continents  - divided by the Bosphorus, the western part of the city is in Europe and the eastern part in Asia. One friend traveling alone to Istanbul, signed up for a great culinary walking tour hosted by a local. Click here for more tips on planning a trip to Istanbul.

Guatemala

Lake Atitlán

Have you thought about visiting Central America? My friend, photographer Leslie Yerman, recently visited Guatemala and has beautiful images of people and places on her site. I also recommend Pauline Frommer's article about her family's vacation in the highlands of Guatemala that included roasting marshmallows over the lava of an active volcano! Both ladies told me that Guatemala is a very affordable vacation.