By Jae-Ha Kim
Tribune Media Services
August 3, 2010
After quitting her corporate job in 1996, Ali Mejia, along with Mariela Rovito, co-founded the lingerie company Eberjey. Based out of Key Biscayne, Fla., the 38-year-old entrepreneur travels around the world for her job. But she still loves to go globetrotting with her family. “One time when we were planning a trip to Cambodia, my husband emailed an old friend who lived in Vietnam for advice on planning our trip,” Mejia recalls. “(His friend) was so excited to share all his knowledge with us that he decided to be our tour guide! It was one of the best trips we’ve ever taken, because we visited places we would have never known about and got to really immerse ourselves in the local culture.”
Q. What is your favorite vacation destination?
A. It’s always changing, but right now I’m loving family-friendly getaways, since I usually travel with my husband and two young daughters. We recently went to Tulum, Mexico, with two other couples and their kids and absolutely fell in love with it! It was easy to get to (at about two hours from Miami), relatively inexpensive and possessed an easy-going, relaxed, untouristy vibe. The beaches are stunning! The hotels were quaint and unfussy and the food was light and savory. The surroundings were lush and seductive. The kids had an incredible time frolicking in the sea and running on the endless strip of beach or napping on the hammocks and staying up late with the adults listening to live music.
I highly recommend visiting the countless cenotes for a refreshing dip at the end of a hot day. In Mayan mythology, cenotes are sacred places — gateways to another world. They are truly magical, taking you back in time and space. You can’t leave Tulum without visiting the Mayan ruins. While they aren’t as grand as some of the other Mayan masterpieces in Mexico, they are still spectacular and are worth visiting.
Q. Where are your favorite weekend getaways?
A. For quick weekend getaways, I love Harbor Island, Bahamas. We spend the entire day on the beach where the sand really is pink and absolutely spectacular or we go on mini snorkeling expeditions or boating excursions. Life on Harbor Island is absolutely divine with no stress or hassles — just pure and utter relaxation. For long weekend getaways, I love St. Barts and Cartagena, Colombia. We usually try to go off-season in November and late April to St. Barts to avoid the crowds. My husband’s father, who is Colombian, turned us onto Cartagena — a gem of a city. It’s wonderful to just get lost meandering around the cobblestone streets and then enjoy a cafesito at one of the many charming outdoor cafes. I highly recommend doing a day trip to Las Islas Del Rosario, which are gorgeous islands right off the coast.
Q. What are your favorite hotels and restaurants?
A. In Harbor Island, I love the Pink Sands (www.pinksandsresort.com) and the Coral Sands (www.coralsands.com) hotels. For dinner we love The Landing (www.harbourislandlanding.com/restaurant.html) and for cocktails the Rock House (www.rockhousebahamas.com). In Cartagena, there are many great boutique hotels, Hotel Agua (www.hotelagua.com.co), Hotel Alfiz (www.alfizhotel.com/ingles/index.html) or Hotel LM (www.hotel-lm.com/the-hotel.php).
There are many great restaurants in Cartagena, but I particularly love La Vitrola. The food is outstanding and they serve the best Mojitos I have ever had. I absolutely adore the Aman (www.amanresorts.com) hotels in the Far East. I’ve been to a few — the Amandari and Amankila in Bali and the Amanpuri in Thailand. The hotels are chic, sophisticated and contemporary, yet they still manage to capture and preserve the culture and spirit of their surroundings. The service at these hotels is top notch — unparalleled service and impeccable aesthetics. It’s a truly winning combination. Most of the restaurants in St. Barts are amazing, but I particularly love Maya’s Restaurant (www.st-barths.com/mayas).
Q. When you go away, what are some of your must-haves?
A. I take my Eberjey bathing suits and caftans, my camera to capture precious moments of the girls, Dita sunglasses, a Panama hat, a cashmere shawl and cardigan, loads of magazines and books, my iPod nano and, if I have room left, a yoga mat.
Q. What are your five favorite cities?
A. I love Hong Kong, Paris, London, New York and Florence — the more chaos the better. I live such a tranquil, secluded life in Miami that I miss the hustle and bustle of city life. Hong Kong is my absolute favorite — the mix of cultures, the sounds, the smells, the movement, the chaos. It’s absolutely amazing!
Q. How do you try to fit in when you’re a tourist?
A. I love to be in the know when I’m traveling to a new place, so I make sure to call or email someone I know who’s an expert on the place I’m visiting. I ask for tips, advice and, most importantly, recommendations on non-touristy things to do.
© 2010 JAE-HA KIM
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