I know when people see the word “jetsetera” they immediately think luxury, bottle service, all-out glamour, room service, five-star hotels, champagne wishes and caviar dreams. I fully admit that I do appreciate the finer things in life, but the need for constant variety always takes over and often trips are off the beaten path. Sometimes waaay off the path.

The other day, a friend asked me what was the best hotel I have ever stayed in. Thoughts of the perfect Plaza Athenee in Paris, The Kempinski in Istanbul and The Residence de Pinede in St. Tropez came to mind, as well as my hometown loves of The Beverly Hills Hotel and The Bel Aire.  But none had the charm and ambiance of The Turtle Inn in Belize, or the historical beauty and Central America flavor of the Casa de Santo Domingo in Antigua, Guatemala.

I think Helen Keller said it best. “Life is either a daring adventure or nothing.”

So go ahead and do something “outside of the box.” Every travel magazine and guide-book will let you check into a hotel and spend your days seeing the same things everyone else sees. Live a little. Get out there! Climb down a live volcano. Hike through the jungle. Ride a camel in the Middle East. Fly Fish in the remote wilderness of Alaska. Feed sharks and gain a new experience in life.

I did.

Yin/The Jet Set:

Yang/Outside of the Box: