Mary Charlebois & Kevin Scanlon

PUBLISHED 09/11/25
With spectacular film locations, a long cinematic history, high-profile productions, and cultural immersion, Set Jetters are making Malta their #1 destination to see the locations for some of the biggest blockbusters of recent years.
Malta has become a prime location for box office successes. More movies have been filmed on the islands than any other destination in the Mediterranean. Since 1925, over 350 productions have been filmed on the islands of Malta, Gozo, and Camino, giving them the nickname “the Mediterranean’s mini-Hollywood.”

PUBLISHED BY BUSINESS INSIDER 09/11/25
After living in Northern California for 25 years, we moved to Gozo, Malta. When we share this with strangers, they often ask, "Why?"
It's a fair question: Why did two Americans in their mid-70s leave an oceanfront community in the California Redwoods to live on an arid island in the middle of the Mediterranean?

PUBLISHED 08/03/25 BY International Living
Some folks love Malta; others find it chaotic and crowded. Some think Gozo is the best of the Maltese islands, while others believe it’s slow-paced and uninteresting. How you feel about these two islands depends on your lifestyle and what interests you.
If you like quiet, uncrowded beaches, you won’t find many on Malta. If you want heart-pumping nightlife, Gozo’s not the place for you. If immersing yourself in local life is your holiday dream, get on the ferry to Gozo.

PUBLISHED BY CBS Sunday Morning 08/03/2025
A lower cost of living and a sense of adventure are leading more and more Americans to retire overseas. Correspondent Seth Doane talks with ex-pats Mary Charlebois and Kevin Scanlon, who now live full-time on the Mediterranean island of Gozo, part of the Maltese archipelago, and with Jennifer Stevens, executive editor of International Living, which offers advice and seminars for those considering...more

PUBLISHED 08/03/2025 BY International Living
Malta expats Mary Charlebois and Kevin Scanlon answer your top questions on cost of living, visas, healthcare, safety, and what life is like on Malta and Gozo.

PUBLISHED 07/24/25 BY International Living

The La Spezia Central Market seemed to go on forever. Stalls overflowed with just-picked produce, fresh seafood, handmade cheeses, and fragrant herbs. Each day, locals fill their baskets with the best of the region, and it’s easy to imagine ourselves doing the same—shopping daily, chatting with vendors, and deciding on dinner based on what’s freshest.

PUBLISHED BY LuxeBeat Magazine 07/01/25
Eat all of Europe one city at a time! Florence was our first European feast with Eating Europe. Join us as we eat our way through Florence, enjoying not only great food, the city's history, and great company.

PUBLISHED 07/01/25 by LuxeBeat Magazine
We planned a scouting trip to Hotel Mulino di Firenze in April 2025. Mulino is an enchanting hotel situated on the River Arno, just outside Florence, Italy. But floods on the River Arno changed our plans. Here is a sneak peek until we can return to Florence for a complete review.

PUBLISHED 06/25/2025 By LuxeBeat Magazine
Have you ever fallen in love with a hotel the moment you set eyes on it? After walking for a few minutes, we arrived at the square, where our destination, the Grand Universe Lucca, stood sentinel over t...

Published 06/17/2025 By LuxeBeat Magazine
The Walk from Firenze Santa Maria Novella train station was much further than we thought. Rolling our bags on cobblestoned streets, dodging zipping cars, and making our way through tour groups, following a guide proved to be challenging.
But our arduous trek was forgotten the moment we stepped through the exquisite brass and glass doors into La Gemma, Florence’s most captivating five-star hotel.
The agave green reception area combined ...

PUBLISHED 06/13/2025 by LuxeBeat Magazine
Above the banks of the River Arno, Antica Torre di Via Tornabuoni 1 Hotel was our home while scouting the magical city of Florence.
We found Antica Torre situated next to the lovely 13th-century Basilica of Santa Trinita in central Florence. As you enter the lobby of this historic building, you pass the polished brass door buzzers used in the mid-twentieth century when Antica Torre was an apartment building catering to Firenze’s elite.
There is a vintage porter’s station just inside the first...

Our retirement to Gozo, Malta, has been one of the best decisions of our lives. After almost three years in Gozo, we are settled and have adapted to a new way of life that has brought us health, happiness, and a renewed sense of adventure.
We’ve had many inquiries from folks interested in Malta as a retirement destination. That inspired us to put together this list of things that will be handy to know whether going for a vacation, extended stay, or taking the retirement plunge.
1. More than o...

PUBLISHED 03/30/25 BY LuxeBeat Magazine
The tires rumble across the cattle guard and roll onto the gravel drive. An ancient cedar tree dominates the skyline with its grey twisting trunk and branches. To the north, cattle graze in the headlands and meadows. To the west, the Pacific Ocean crashes against the rocky, wild Mendocino Coast. The inn’s peaked metal roofs and cozy chimneys stand out against the bright blue sky. The Inn at Newport Ranch (INR), indeed, is a ranch and a five-star hotel.

PUBLISHED 03/30/25 by LuxeBeat Magazine
We hailed a taxi standing outside London Bridge Train Station in the 35°F winter weather, bundled in our wool coats and gloves. The ride to The Hub by Premier Inn London Westminster Abbey Hotel was captivating. The route was similar to a sightseeing tour. As the cab drove along the Thames, we saw the brightly illuminated London Bridge, Scotland Yard, MI5, and the London Eye.
We were mesmerized as we reached Big Ben. When the cabby turned right, taking us past the House of Commons and Westmins...

St. Ermin’s Hotel, London — When you arrive at St. Ermin’s, the garden-lined driveway is breathtaking. A secluded setting shelters St. Ermin’s from the endless traffic a block away. A doorman invites you into a hotel “exactly like nothing else.”