Luxury is not having to stay in New York City. We chose the Connecticut alternative and discovered a new hotel with an excellent restaurant and a nearby commuter rail station.

I spend a lot of time on the road, so I thought I knew all the tricks of the trade. But two books, “Smart Packing for Today’s Traveler” and “101 Tips for Women Travelers” taught me a lot of ways to make my travels smoother.

If I were handing out prizes for the best hotel concierge I’ve met, David at Blythswood Square Hotel would be in the top contenders. He was everywhere, thinking of everything before we did. But that was typical of this charming hotel in the heart of Glasgow.

For me, summer’s greatest luxury is being outdoors, whether it’s in my garden, in a White Mountain campsite or paddling my favorite lake. Some new products have added to this summer’s enjoyment.

Kid-friendly Royal Sonesta Hotel, overlooking Boston from across the river in Cambridge, was a perfect base for exploring the city.

Our first view of the red sandstone pile that fairly screams late-Victorian Scottish baronial estate, was one of those “oh, wow!” travel moments. And it just kept getting better and better.

Set in its own wild garden, above a long beach on Cape Elizabeth, Inn by the Sea combines very modern comforts -- and a green attitude -- with old-fashioned sun-and-sand-and-spa relaxation.

New products can solve travel problems, from using a cell phone safely while driving to cold feet on airplanes and unmentionable odors anywhere.

When I stepped off the bus in front of the Guggenheim Bilbao on a spring morning, it was love at first sight. That was several years ago, and it was time I returned to see more of this exciting city in Northern Spain.

Most travelers don’t use the words “luxury” and “family” in the same sentence, but at Purity Spring Resort in New Hampshire’s White Mountains, the two words come together as naturally as cookies and milk.