While shopping maven Suzy Gershman tipples her way through Napa wines, she set a shopping challenge for her partner-in-crime, Sarah Lahey: visit three countries in five days to see what bargains she could uncover without compromising style or experience.

Dear Peter,

I’m often told that I have the best job in the world as Editorial Director for Suzy Gershman’s “Born to Shop” travel guides. Well, it just got better.

Dear Peter,
I know it’s our tradition to leave notes for each other in hotels around the world and for me to send you these electronic postcards as I travel on my own, but today I have decided to begin the Napa Bottle Blog since I am out and about doing the entire area scene.

There’s going to be a Born to Shop California Wine Country, so I will have a lot more to report on besides Napa, but right now I am living in the Westin Verasa in East Napa, California.

Dear Peter,

I am about to do a huge tour of Napa and California Wine Country for a new book, so I kicked off the research the way anyone would—in the city of San Francisco.

It was just a quickie visit, but the main purpose was to attend a re-corking workshop, something I had never even heard about before.

I was hoping for a perfect autumn week in New York, but instead got winter as I arrived to work on a TV show, go to some meetings and check up on what’s new in town.

The great thing about fall in New York City is that even if you don’t get crisp air and gorgeous leaves, there’s still a lot of energy on the streets and new stuff is constantly being introduced to catch your attention.

Dear Peter,
As you know, I often travel with Sarah Lahey, Editorial Director of my “Born to Shop” series.

We aren’t co-joined however, and Sarah is going to be sending you some postcards of her own.

Meanwhile, as promised, here’s an update on our road trip from San Antonio to San Francisco.

Dear Peter,

There’s something about Hong Kong that will always make it home to me—I think because I stay in a handful of hotels regularly and people there remember me, which it adds another layer to a stay that makes everything cozier.

But wait—there is also a bunch of new hotels in town, many with gimmicks, and there are some new tricks for the old faithful, so there is much to tell.

Dear Peter,

You know that we usually save our political discussions for over dinner and in person and I would hardly send a postcard of my views, but now that I have seen the New Shenzhen, I feel like I have to not only share with the world, but make it clear what is so different from the New China.

WELCOME TO “SZ”

Peter is broadcasting his radio show live from onboard a TGV train (that’s Train à Grande Vitesse, or high-speed train) in Paris, France.

Join us for a whirlwind tour of Paris, European travel, and high-speed trains.

To celebrate, since Paris is the Holy Grail of shopping and food, we tracked down some tips from the locals on the best places.