By Jae-Ha Kim
Tribune Media Services
February 23, 2010
Elliott Yamin says there’s something special about getting to stay home every now and again, especially since he has purchased a new house in Los Angeles. “I have a big, beautiful house that I never really get to see,” says the 30-year-old former “American Idol” contestant.
“Sometimes it feels like I’m on vacation when I just get to sit on my sofa and hang out in front of my TV. But I will say that the thought of a really great, relaxing vacation can get me off my butt in no time because I really do love to travel. I love every part of it. Getting the chance to see the world is just an amazing perk of my job. It’s great.”
Currently promoting his latest album “Fight For Love,” Yamin will return to Africa this spring as part of “Idol Gives Back.”
Q. What is your favorite vacation destination?
I’ve traveled a lot for work but I honestly haven’t taken that many vacations, so I’m looking forward to planning a few more trips in the future. But I have to tell you this; I love Hawaii. We pretty much just hung out there at the resort and relaxed. We also rode ATVs, which was awesome, but the great thing about Hawaii is that you don’t have to be doing anything particular to be having a great time. The scenery, the people, the food — it really is a paradise. I can see why everyone who has been there goes on and on about it. I find myself doing the same thing.
Q. Where are your favorite weekend getaways?
A. Virginia Beach, Va., Nags Head, N.C., Palm Springs, Calif., and Washington, D.C. Both Virginia Beach and Nags Head are beach areas, so we do the obvious and just chill out and relax. Palm Springs offers some fun resorts in the desert. And D.C. has some great bars, clubs, museums and hotels. I always love going to Washington Wizard games. Growing up in Richmond, Virginia Beach and D.C. were easy places to escape to. I find myself returning there as often as I can.
Q. What are your favorite hotels and restaurants?
Ninja Akasaka (www.ninjaakasaka.com) and Morimoto — both in Tokyo — are really great restaurants. Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto owns Morimoto. Casa Natalie Hotel & Spa (www.casanatalie.com) in Ensenada, Mexico, and the Shangri-La Manila (www.shangri-la.com/en/property/manila/edsashangrila) in the Philippines are both very nice hotels. To be honest, all hotels are pretty much the same and I get tired of them after a while. I mean, some certainly are swankier than others, but I’d rather be at my house ‘cause I’m never there.
Q. When you go away, what are some of your must-have items?
I’m Diabetic, so insulin. That’s the only thing I really have to have.
Q: What is your best vacation memory?
A: January 2009, Kona, Hawaii on the Big Island. My girlfriend and I decided to take a much needed vacation and we did everything the island had to offer. We went four-wheeling, took a helicopter tour, went parasailing and rode jet skis. We also drove around the entire island exploring and discovering things on our own. It was beautiful and a lot of fun. We actually spent about three days being really active and we just took it easy and didn’t do much for the other seven days. It was great to just sit still and soak it in. It really was the best vacation ever.
Q. Where would you like to go that you have never been to before?
A: Greece and Rome.
© 2010 JAE-HA KIM
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