Travel plan idea blog

6 Marvelous Beer-drinking Days in Bavaria and Munich, Germany

Day 1: We started off at Nuremberg and did a quick trip to see the Nuremberg Toy Museum which boasts of 200 years of toy making; seeing all those unique and beautiful dolls, trains and wooden soldiers will make you feel like a kid again. We then headed to Swiss Franconia; the world's number 1 beer brewing district where you can find about 300+ breweries still operating to this day. Make sure to stop by several breweries where the locals will be glad to guide you. And taste their mouth watering beers. We had more time to spare so we decided to look around the quaint village of Buttenheim, Levi Strauss' hometown, and later checked in to Hotel Strauss.

Day 2: Day 2 called for a tour of the majestic and popular walled city; Rothenburg, considered the popular and majestic walled city of Germany. We then went to Wurzburg where some of the most famous churches and the grand palace of The Residenz await. If you are a lover of crown jewels and Egyptian art, you've got to see the Residenz.

Day 3: The most sought after tourist route The Romantic Road, called to us. Towns rich in history gorgeously surrounding the landscape of the magnificent Alps are just something you wouldn't want to pass up. Next stop is Oberammergau, famous for its unique houses and its paintings of the brothers Grimm Fairytale paintings on its many walls; think the really old book editions of Snow White and you'll get the picture.

Day 4: Hail Mad King Ludwig! Neuschwanstein and Linderhof will literally take your breath away! Walt Disney Castle anyone? We were told that Ludwig's castles were the inspiration behind Walt's. If you can actually take yourself out of Ludwig's castle, you can try visiting nearby Garmisch were the Nazi Olympics in 1936 took place and Wies famous for its splendid Rococo church.

Day 5: Munich! Museums, Munich Olympic Park, beer gardens, Hofbrauhaus, the chilling Dachau concentration camps which housed over 200,000+ people during Hitler's reign - he killed 36,000 of them. A tip for those who want to go the Olympic Park, an adventure tour is offered daily at 2pm and you wouldn't want to miss that. Plus, do what we did and climb the actual Olympic Tower to get a full view of the entire park and the stadium and get a reduced price of 2.50 instead of the usual 4. We then visited Dachau before immersing ourselves in the beer gardens (via bike tour I might add), because we knew it would be a bittersweet affair. The best thing to do after visiting Dachau is go directly to a beer garden to brighten up your mood. And what do you know; we ended up tasting at least a dozen kinds of beers by nightfall.

Day 6: Museums, museums, museums! Pinakotheks and some more Pinakotheks! If art is your thing, you really shouldn't miss these museums. The Alte Pinakothek houses over 800 masterpieces of medieval to modern paintings including Goya, Da Vinci, Boticelli, Raphael, Rembrandt, El Greco, Durer and Rubens. While the Neue Pinakothek houses an extensive collection of French Impressionists by Pissaro, Degas, Renoir, Van Gogh Cezanne, Gauguin, Monet and Manet among others. The Pinakothek der Moderne on the other hand showcases modern art and the Lenbachhuas features Bahaus, Blue Rider artists and expressionist art such as Kandinsky. Immerse yourself and pray to heaven that you will remember all the details of the masterpieces. To cap the last day of our glorious tour, we headed to... guess where? The Beer gardens of course.

Road signs in the city are somewhat confusing so be sure to be a really good map interpreter if you plan to rent a car. Your best bet to get around the city is to take advantage of walking tours, bike tours, trains and buses as most people would gladly help you out if you get lost; though getting lost is somewhat of an adventure in itself since you will get to see tons of off-road attractions not normally set in the itinerary. Within Bavaria, you can take advantage of the Bavaria Ticket used to get around the entire city state by train. The ticket will give you an all day travel within Bavaria.

Reader submitted vacation experience published anonymously on request. Send your expereinces to jtrotta@gmail.com if you'd like to see them published. Or comment below.

World’s most expensive hotel rooms

Perhaps the last hotel you stayed at was overpriced – but it was probably quite a bargain compared to the cost of a room at the world’s most expensive hotels. The world’s most expensive hotel room seems to be either the Penthouse suite at the Hotel Martinez in Cannes, France or the Bridge Suite at the Atlantis resort in Paradise Island, the Bahamas.

I’m not sure how much the Penthouse suite costs as two different web sites list two vastly different prices - $37,200 a night and $18,000 a night. Regardless, the price includes four luxuriously furnished bedrooms and a private terrace. Considering you could probably comfortably fit 20 of your family members and friends in there with you, it doesn’t seem quite so expensive if you split the cost!

The Bridge Suite at the Atlantis resort costs $25,000 a night and includes a personal bar lounge, entertainment center, kitchen and butler. There are two master bathrooms and the entire suite is built on top of a bridge that connects two towers. It supposedly offers spectacular views over the Atlantis resort and marina – I would settle for nothing less than a spectacular view if I were paying that much money to sleep there.

The other expensive hotel rooms around the world are located in predictably expensive cities – Geneva, Rome, Los Angeles, London, Hong Kong and Las Vegas. And Las Vegas now has 19 of the world’s 24 largest hotel rooms as well as some of the most expensive.

One of the most intriguing expensive hotels is the Burj Al Arab hotel on the coast off Dubai. This hotel is considered to be the world’s only 7 star hotel - with spacious luxury suites and gourmet restaurants, one of which is under the water. The hotel was cleverly designed to reflect the character of the area, and resembles a huge billowing sail. At night, the 1000 foot high building is surrounded by spectacular choreographed displays of fire and water, making it visible from miles around. Oh, and the cost of one of the better suites will set you back almost $7,000 a night.

I noticed that it isn’t easy to determine prices by looking at the web sites for some of these hotels – I suppose the old saying is true: If you have to ask, you probably can’t afford it!

Guest entry by Mancunian

Some relevant blog entries: hotel pillows, Naomi Campbell's birthday at the Burj, 5 star underwater hotel.

Presentations on how to be a travel agent who works at home

Thetradeshow is coming to Las Vegas in September and there's a definite focus on home-based travel agents. I get spammy comments from home travel agents sometimes where they say "visit my website for the best vacation deals" or something along those lines.

I delete them, but I'm still curious about how one becomes a travel agent, wherever you work. And I'm not saying that we don't have travel agents who leave valuable comments because we do.

Anyway, here are some abstracts for presentations at Thetradeshow in Vegas:

Should I Go Solo or Work Through A Host Agency? (Panel). Moderated by Gary Fee. Six panelists—three host agencies and three independent agencies—will discuss the pros and cons of working with a host agency, being an independent agency and working both ways. This panel will prove to be a lively debate that will help the audience with travel business decisions.

The Home-Based "Agency"-Taking Your Business to the Next Level. Presented by Gary Fee. This seminar is targeted to agents who are already selling travel from home, but want to learn more business options that will help their home-based business grow. Among the topics to be discussed are legal issues for home-based agents, use of Web sites, e-commerce, database systems, supplier recognition and the future for home-based sellers of travel.

How to Write and Execute an Effective Business Plan That Can Grow Your Sales 20% per Year! Presented by Mark McMullen, CTC. Attendees will learn the importance of having a written marketing and business plan, the steps involved in developing a solid promotional plan, and be given a real-world example that works.

What Are the Technology Needs for the Home-Based Agent? (Panel). Successful home-based agents will discuss which technologies have helped them become more efficient and profitable. Attendees will hear first-hand about their daily routine and the products these thriving home-based agents use – from phone systems, PDAs, printers, software and much more.

Home Alone? Legal Guidance for the Home-Based Agent. This seminar is designed to help home-based agents with both elementary and more complex legal issues. Advice will be given on topics such as: accounting issues, federal standards, registering with the state, new laws, accepting cash and checks in your own name and disclaimers.

Home-Based Travel Agents - Your Tool Chest for Success. Presented by Joanie Ogg, CTC, MCC. Marketing a home-based travel business requires a unique set of tools and a focused direction. In this seminar attendees will discuss such hot issues as which technology tools are key to a home-based business, how to create a business identity and how to take advantage of modern communication trends and a home-based agent’s mobility to create a successful business.

There Really Is No Place Like Home! Presented by Joanie Ogg, CTC, MCC. (Offered on Sunday, Sept. 9) Owning and operating a home-based travel business in the 21st century is a gold-mine of opportunity. Any agent thinking about becoming a home-based agent cannot afford to miss this presentation. Topics that will be covered include: being a hosted agent or going it alone; setting up a home office; and finding your travel passion and what you need to succeed in order to sell travel from the comfort of your home. Monday’s general session is also specifically designed for home-based agents. Among the scheduled speakers is Bob Abrams, best-selling author of Seizing Your Success, who will address the importance of focus and systems as it relates to running a successful business.

So if you might want to be a work-from-home travel agent, this could be the convention for you.

Where are you going to read Harry Potter? Edinburgh?

I really liked this article on hotel specials. We have mancations, , and why not go to a release party and then to a hotel to read Harry Potter:

Attend a private party at Waterstone's West End bookstore in Edinburgh, Scotland, on July 20 to celebrate the release of the final "Harry Potter" book. The party begins at 10 p.m., two hours before the book's official release, and offers partygoers the chance to retire to specially reserved "fan reading rooms" at their hotels once they have the book. Fans can also reserve the room in Edinburgh's Balmoral hotel where author J.K. Rowling finished the book, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows," with travel packages offered by HP Fan Trips, a Harry Potter-themed fan tour group.

Sure you could just read the book at home, but at home you have only one or two crazy people to entertain you. I'm guessing that in those hotel fan reading rooms, you have lots of muggle fanatics to read with.

The Harry Potter themepark isn't open yet, but these Harry Potter-related tourist attractions are. And in this England vacation itinerary, Harry Potter fans get to tour Christ Church and listen to Evensong (during day 2).

Anyway, is anyone here going to a Harry Potter themed party or are you just waiting for your books to come in the mail so you can read them at home?

Vacation deals: cruises, resorts, rafting, Ireland, and more

Here's an article on vacation deals, including lots of cruise deals:

Royal Caribbean Cruise Line: Splendor of the Seas 7-night Greek Isles (Visit: Athens, Mykonos, Katakolon, Corfu, Split)

Royal Caribbean Cruise Line: Voyager of the Seas 7-night Mediterranean (Visit: Nice, Rome, Naples, Vallette, Palma de Mallorca)

Celebrity Cruise Line: Summit 7-night Southbound Alaska (Visit: Hubbard Glacier, Juneau, Skagway, Icy Strait, Ketchikan, Cruise Inside Passage)

and 9 more...

Plus a few land package vacation bargains:

Resort Riu Palace in Aruba ALL INCLUSIVE 5 nights from $1175 per person

Paradise Island Harbor Resort in Bahamas ALL INCLUSIVE 3-nights from $699 per person

and 4 more...

For me the really weird part is when they say to call someone named Amanda. Is Amanda the travel agent for 3 on your side's vacation deals or something?

Here's an article on a British consumer's experience looking for a vacation bargain. This particular problem was with Thomson travel agency but the author makes it seem like a problem common to most British travel agencies.

This New York Daily News article mentions deals for a few places we've blogged about here, including white water rafting the Ocoee River and St. Maarten. The Irish history tour sounded pretty great too.

Here are some travel deals for our New Zealand readers. This one seemed pretty unique: "Herald Travel readers staying at California's Mendocino Hotel will find their Kiwi dollars are temporarily worth the same as United States dollars."

Hard to have fun in the state of Las Vegas when you have no cash

Here's a scary story that's mostly about a horrible experience with a bank that blocked access to the "State of Las Vegas" so that a honeymooning couple had no access to cash. Strangely they were traveling with one credit card that had a limit of $300. I didn't know it was possible to get such a low limit, but anyway, the lesson for travelers here (besides avoiding Farmer's and Mechanics Savings Bank NJ) is to have a little credit (2 cards or more with high enough limits to get you out of a jam).

The best bet would be credit cards that get you free travel rewards when you go to Las Vegas.

Visiting Greenland is getting easier for Americans

To me, Greenland is one of a handful of impossibly distant and exotic destinations, along with Tibet and Easter Island that I will probably never actually go to. But now Greenland is a little bit closer and more accessible than it was before – on May 24th, Air Greenland introduced the first direct commercial flights from the US to Greenland.

The flight departs from Baltimore-Washington twice a week and the travel time to the town of Kangerlussuaq is only 5 hours. Surprisingly, the time difference between Greenland and the East coast is just two hours and round trip fares start at around $1100. Air Greenland also flies within Greenland to such equally unpronounceable places as Upernavil, Uummannaq and Kangilinnguit. (It’s also possible to fly to Greenland from Iceland and Copenhagen, Denmark).

But why would you actually want to go to Greenland? For me, part of the appeal is simply traveling to somewhere that nobody else ever goes to – as well as being able to boast of having visited the world’s largest island. Greenland is about three times larger than Texas and has a population of only 56,000.

I assumed that Greenland was just a huge cold island with little to see and do, but I found that there is actually a lot to do, according to the country’s web site.

Some of the sights and activities described on the web site sound quite intriguing – a musk ox safari, a whale watching expedition or a round of golf on the world’s most northernmost golf course. And as you might expect, winter sports such as snowmobiling, skiing and dogsledding are all widely available.

And an unforgettable part of any trip to this part of the world is a unique chance to see the northern lights – or Aurora Borealis.

Guest entry by Mancunian

Santa Fe Trail, Red Rock Fantasy, Moose Jaw

I'll try to be brief today as I have tons of papers to mark and final grades to calculate...

This experience is an interesting one, horseback riding on the Santa Fe Trail. Having no idea how to ride a horse, it doesn't seem like much of a vacation to me, but the camping part sounds pretty good.

We've also got a story on the Red Rock Fantasy in Sedona, Arizona. This goes from November 16, 2007 to Jan. 1, 2008.

Up in Saskatchewan, Canada, you have Moose Jaw. This city is featured in Chatelaine, a Canadian women's magazine. Apparently Moose Jaw is the best place to vacation in Saskatchewan. The July issue of Chatelaine has more information. If you're not a subscriber, try the official city website.

I wouldn't mind going to the Saskatchewan Burrowing Owl Interpretive Centre to see some of these endangered owls, but something has me confused:

SBOIC is a non-government, non-profit, charitable organization. Our work is funded entirely through donations and grants. Donations are tax deductible. Donations from conservation organizations, corporate sponsors, local business, and the public enable the Centre to continue providing educational opportunities to concerned citizens. Donations should be made payable to the City of Moose Jaw...

Now if this is a non-government thing, why are people making their checks out to the city government?

Of course, there's lots more to do in Moose Jaw so don't worry if you're not excited about the owls.

Aritcles on the importance of travel insurance and information on medical evacuation membership programs

This article contains a pretty scary scenario:

My aunt and I were visiting Mexico, and due to a medical emergency she had to be evacuated back to a hospital in the U.S. because we felt that adequate care couldn’t be provided in Mexico. This emergency medical transport cost over $40,000. Is this an unreasonable amount, or is this what such evacuations cost?

The answer is that air ambulances really cost $40,000 or more. Here's a blog entry explaining Medjet Assist. This is a program where for an annual membership fee you can get medical evac services if you need them. The first article I linked to mentions the same one, Medjet Assist, and another one, AirMed.

Speaking of medical evacuation and things, here's an article on the importance of travel insurance:

Even if you have comprehensive health insurance at home, your coverage abroad might be significantly reduced or nonexistent. Medical coverage typically is offered for travel insurance, though the limits vary widely.

Apparently those limits don't usually include bringing you home when there's a medical problem. They usually drop you off at the nearest hospital that has a high enough quality rating, no matter what country it's in.

Here's another article recommending travel insurance. They quote a travel agent who says "most, but not all, private company insurance does cover people who become ill or injured while on vacation in the United States.... Definitely purchase (travel insurance) if you are traveling internationally. Most insurance companies don't cover you outside the U.S."

All this talk about the necessity of travel insurance makes me wonder about taking it out myself. It would be the first time, but why not? Apparently insurance isn't all that expensive ($35 according to one article). And the chances of me getting sick are probably small, but if I do, I don't want to end up paying $40,000 like the person in the first article...

The question would be do I go for travel insurance, or so I add medical evacuation coverage of some kind (with one of the Airmed or Medjet membership programs).

PhD programs for travel writers including creative writing

I don't know why I'm considering a PhD (my Master of Applied Linguistics was hard enough), but here I am looking up various PhD programs. I figure if I study creative writing and / or travel writing (stuff I do anyway) the PhD would be bearable and practical. Still hard though...

Anyway, so far I've contacted:

Nottingham Trent University's Nottingham Trent Centre for Travel Writing Studies - This British University has MA and PhD programs.

The University of the West of England, Bristol - their list of research degrees does not include travel writing, but Professor Robin Jarvis said that he welcomed inquiries on any of his research interests (which included travel writing).

And read about:

The University of Denver's PhD in Creative Writing (because they mention travel writing and I did do my undergrad in creative writing - I love writing). To study there, you have to be a teaching fellow. As an Assistant Professor I know I can help students learn something so this is an interesting program for me.

The University of Pittsburgh has a 5-6 year program. I was planning to commit 3...

Ohio University has a PhD in Creative Writing where you can specialize in fiction or nonfiction. Travel writing ought to be included there.

I still have to look at journalism programs as some of them probably have concentrations in travel journalism.

I also accidentally found one tip for travel writers trying to get published (although you should really be submitting to this blog! jtrotta@gmail.com). Anyway novice travel writers should submit travel articles to major newspapers or small community papers because middle size newspapers tend to use syndicated pieces while magazines go for experienced writers.

Of course if I were smart I'd just spend my time traveling and writing but who knows? Maybe I'll find a program that seems even better than saving my time and money for actually traveling...

July 4th fireworks around the USA: Where are you going? Where have you been?

I got an email from Tri-Valley Convention & Visitors Bureau in California about their July 4th events. I'll publish part of their press release below and then add some other fireworks related stuff of my own:

Red, White and Blues Festival – Alameda County Fair, Pleasanton
This non-stop festival features outstanding blues acts homegrown in Tri-Valley and the surrounding cities. Plan for a full day enriched by a truly American cultural experience with roots right here at home. Festival is from 12-8 p.m., and is free with admission to the Alameda County Fair. For more information call (510) 836-2227.

Star Spangled Spectacular – San Ramon Central Park, San Ramon
Bring the entire family for a fun old-fashioned Fourth of July celebration. The festivities will kick off at
5 p.m. with food booths, entertainment and fireworks. For more information call (925) 973-3200.

Livermore Old-Fashioned 4th of July Celebration – Robertson Park, Livermore
Gather for music, family games, food, and the grand finale of fireworks with synchronized music. Event runs 4-10 p.m. For more information call (925) 373-5748.

4th of July Parade – Downtown Danville
Celebrate the nation's history with a traditional, patriotic parade. Starting in Downtown Danville at 10 a.m. For more information call (510) 297-7693

Now, without a doubt, the best fireworks on July 4th I've seen were in Boston. Boston Harborfest goes from June 28th to July 4th. This article is a good description.

One place I'd love to see July 4th fireworks is in Washington DC. At the National Mall, the Smithsonian's annual Folklife Festival (June 27-July 1 and July 4-8) features the Mekong River, Northern Ireland and the great state of Virginia. You'll want to find a spot near the Capitol for the fireworks accompanied by The National Symphony Orchestra.

Here's an article on fireworks in Detroit. It took me a long time to read because I kept going back to look at the awesome picture at the top.

New York City has its famous Macy's Fireworks display. It's kind of funny that New York City and Jersey City can't both set off fireworks from the water thanks to an 1834 treaty... One time I watched this from the roof of my friend's apartment in Queens. That was good but the view of lower firewors was somewhat obscured.

The Southeastern US has lots going on. This list covers July 4th and beyond.

I've also seen fireworks in Wilkes-Barre, PA. I think the Pennsylvania Pops Orchestra or Pennsylvania Philharmonic (can't remember which) performed. The last piece was the 1812 Overture and the fireworks started during the piece. I don't know if they still do this - there doesn't seem to me much about it online.

Anyway, where have you been or where are you going for July 4th fireworks?

Vacation ideas in America

Today I have some news articles on different US family vacations. If none of these interest you, exploring this blog will reveal hundreds more US family vacation ideas...

We'll start with these family vacation ideas including San Antonio, Texas; Williamsburg, Virginia; the Florida Keys; and Gatlinburg, Tennessee. Williamsburg is famous for its history, not entirely unlike Gettysburg.

Seaking of Florida (OK it's a rickety transition if I can borrow two words from Frank Zappa but the previous article did talk about the Florida Keys), Florida's popularity as a vacation spot is coming back. Interestingly they talk about Miami and Fort Lauderdale but not Disney World.

We have another article with a few different ideas including momcations, dolphins, and walking tours. Maybe it's just me, but is it a little sexist that they have mancations and momcations? Why not womancations instead of momcations? Men are defined by gender but women are defined by their role in the family? Seems a bit old-fashioned to me.

In a feel-good story (well it's a sad story really) here's one on a summer camp charity for children of deceased US soldiers. No doubt those kids deserve something special.

Here's the story of a family vacation to Hawaii, a destination the author figured would have something for everone in the family plus the oder son's girlfriend. Their plan involves kayaking and the USS Arizona. There's so much to do in Hawaii it's hard to plan a trip.

By the way, and here's where the US vacation ideas end, for you celebrity gossip lovers, Tony Parker and Eva Longoria really are getting married in France as reported here a few weeks ago. The ceremony will take place in Chateau Vaux-le-Vicomte, a 17th-century castle. The honeymoon will be in Paris.

Opera vacations: press release turned musical travel idea article

I get a lot of emails from different companies who want free publicity. Most of the time they want me to publish their press release (obviously the one offering me a free cruise on Liberty of the Seas was a nice change of pace) but most of them aren't really inspiring. I mean here we have big companies that make a lot more money than I do looking for what amounts to free advertising.

This one is different so here is the first press release I'm publishing on this blog. Actually now it's more an article on different opera-related vacation ideas than the original press release. I asked the company to add some real travel ideas for people who like opera but know next to nothing about it (like me). Anyway, here goes:

Multi-lingual text technology from http://Figaro-Systems.com motivates travelers to go see Opera around the world at some of the worlds most historical and forward thinking spaces - because Figaro is making enjoying arias easier.

Finally, you can get into opera with the aid of a simple technology that is revolutionizing live subtitling. With supertitles, everyone can keep up with the story. And if the opera house has our seatback system, just push the little red button from Figaro Systems, and you can glance at simultaneous translations on the back of the seat in front of you.

Theater goers now expect a similarly connected experience that can offer them performance notes, and simultaneous translations in up to seven different languages on cutting edge screens. The message is: now you can get into Opera without knowing a thing about it, just push the little red button from Figaro Systems.

These are just some of the houses running Figaro subtitles or supertitles.

New York, Metropolitan Opera: Kirov Ring cycle.

Wiener Staatsoper:

Vienna is a city of cafes, and is the second home to Motzart, who was born a cobblestone’s throw away in Salzburg. The light charms of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's Die Zauberflöte have long rendered it a favorite of both experienced operagoers and first-time attendees. Set against an Egyptian backdrop, the plot seamlessly unites comedy, romance, and intrigue. The opera's musical highlights are some of the most memorable in the operatic canon, including an overture that is a fixture in concert repertoire and the Queen of the Night's celebrated aria, "Der hölle rache."

http://www.staatsoper.at/Content.Node2/en/spielplan/saisonvorschau.php?month=

Royal Opera House:

London is known for many things, and one of those things is the Royal Opera House. A classic tale of love, betrayal, and sacrifice, Giuseppe Verdi's Rigoletto unfolds in the court of the Duke of Mantua. A poor jester goes to great lengths to shield his daughter from the excesses of the aristocracy, with tragic results. Verdi's lush score is punctuated by classic arias such as the Duke's "La donna è mobile" and several spectacular ensemble pieces.

http://esales.roh.org.uk/tickets/production.aspx?pid=120

The Santa Fe Opera:

The southwestern city dedicated to the arts has a forward thinking reputation. The Santa Fe Opera has long been known for its commitment to presenting new works from rising contemporary composers. The 2007 season is no exception, featuring the American premiere of Tan Dun's widely acclaimed Tea: A Mirror of Soul. In this work, based upon the story of a doomed love affair between a Japanese monk and a Chinese princess, organic sounds of nature unite with vocal, percussive, and orchestral strains to evoke the power of the four elements.

http://www.santafeopera.org/TEA/

Teatro alla Scala, Piermarini:

This is one of the worlds most famous opera houses, in Milan, and includes a museum dedicated to one thing – opera, of course. Giuseppe Verdi's La Traviata offers a heartbreaking glimpse into the life of a courtesan. Based upon a play by Alexander Dumas, this audience favorite goes far beyond a typical love story to explore themes such as filial duty and the transience of pleasure. With dazzling arias and sumptuous duets, the tragedy of La Traviata is a joy to behold.

http://www.teatroallascala.org/public/LaScala/index.html

Opera Theatre of St. Louis:

Who knew the home of the Cardinals was also hosting one of the funniest opera’s of all time this summer? Gilbert and Sullivan's comic opera The Mikado deserves its status as one of the most frequently performed musical theatre pieces in history. Set in Japan, the work centers around an absurd plot: the Lord High Executioner must execute himself unless he can find a replacement. With its beloved music and brilliant libretto, The Mikado offers a hilarious send-up of the British obsessions of the Victorian era. Hurry, the last performance is on June 23rd

http://www.opera-stl.org/Season_Operas_show1.aspx

Des Moines Metro Opera:

Yes, Iowa has more than farms and political primaries – and Des Moines is actually a pretty happening town. Georges Bizet's Carmen is already sold out, but many critics consider Giuseppe Verdi's Otello to be one of the composer's finest works. Based on William Shakespeare's epic tragedy, the opera's sophisticated musical themes underscore a classic tale of love and jealousy. With stunning choral passages and rich orchestration, Otello offers viewers an intense and moving theatrical experience.

http://www.desmoinesmetroopera.org/event_otello.htm

China - Tibet high altitude rail link

I have always wanted to go to Tibet – not just because it is a fascinating destination in itself, but part of its appeal lies in the fact that it’s difficult to get there. A handful of other places have the same almost legendary allure – Easter Island, Zanzibar and Timbuktu. At least one other reader of this site has been lucky enough to go to Tibet.

You can already fly into Tibet (or Katmandu) and Air China now has a direct flight from Beijing to Lhasa. And the Chinese government plans to build another airport near the Indian border – at 14,000 feet it will be one of the world’s highest.

However, recently another option has become available – a train from various cities in China. Visiting Tibet recently became a lot easier when in July 2006 the first rail service between Lhasa and the outside world was opened. The railway line – a masterpiece of engineering – stretches around 2,500 miles between Lhasa and China’s capital city Beijing and the journey time is around 48 hours.

The line runs through mountain passes of up to 16,000 feet high and large parts of the terrain traversed by the line are frozen all year round. The highest station on the line is at Nagqu at an altitude of around 15,000 feet on the Tibetan plateau.

To increase the comfort of passengers, the cars have oxygen supplies for the thin air and filters in the windows protect against UV rays. A state of the art high-tech cooling system helps to keep the rails frozen. Hopefully, all this is quite safe – although a man has died on board the train! Of course he had heart problems and was traveling against medical advice...

Despite the rail link, Tibet still isn’t the easiest place to travel to. You need various permits from the Chinese authorities, and you will almost certainly have a problem with altitude sickness. Here's something on health and politics (there's more but it's a year old).

This article talks about ticket prices and has phone numbers for ordering tickets. The page is in English so presumably travelers can order their tickets in English over the phone...

What next, I wonder? Other amazing engineering feats are being planned around the world including a tunnel from Europe to Africa and maybe one day, a tunnel under the Atlantic Ocean.

If I ever make it to Tibet, I promise to post some photos on here!

Guest entry by Mancunian. Related entry: Nepal & Tibet trvael plan.

Can big British travel companies compete with specialty travel agents?

I'm collecting articles from British newspapers today. First, the British travel industry is changing. Thomas Cook will merge with MyTravel and First Choice will merge with Tui, the German owner of Thomson.

According to the article, "The key to their long-term future will be offering holidays that Ryanair and easyJet can't hope to provide, such as cruises to Antarctica and treks to Tibet."

But how does a company that tries to do it all compete with niche travel companies? This article talks about companies that specialize in all sorts of niche travel markets:

Custom itineraries such as "gorillas in Rwanda, Latin American bird-watching and musical festivals in Mali."

Tours to the Middle East, Iraq, Afghanistan and Iran that often change due to military activity.

Expeditions in Egypt into unvisited areas of the Sahara.

Adventure sports like "motorbike safaris through the Philippines, volcano surfing in Nicaragua and trips to Switzerland to replicate James Bond's famous leap off the Verzasca Dam in Goldeneye."

Weekend bike trips that "trace the stages of the Tour de France and Dauphine Libere cycle races."

Skydiving, skiing and summer breaks in the Alps.

Races in crappy cars (or riding crappy scooters) through dangerous areas known for bandits and whatnot.

I just don't see the big companies doing well in these specific niches. At some point, travel has to be a labor of love rather than a corporate exercise.

Travel the home exchange way blog

I wanted to share another travel blog, with you, this one specifically about traveling by doing home exchanges. I understand that the author owns a home exchange website is has quite a bit of experience. It makes for an interesting read.

I'm sure that a lot of people, thanks to Romantic Holiday (what they called it in Korea), are considering a home exchange for a future vacation. I know I have been considering it for a while now but I haven't gone ahead and joined a site yet. I guess I'm thinking it won't be as easy as it is in the movies...

Gettysburg Civil War Tourism in Pennsylvania

So I got an email from someone who read this old PA with kids travel plan, and had a slightly different plan. He asked for some advice specifically about Gettysburg, PA:

I was thinking of taking US 15 into Hershey PA this summer and saw it goes through Gettysburg. Is it worth a stop? I'm into all that history stuff but I'm not sure the wife and kids are...

Anyway, here's he plan: Gettysburg, Hershey, Dorney park, 4th of July BBQ and whitewater on the Lehigh. Good times. Didn't realized I'd be passing Gettysburg, so thats a bonus. Screw em! We're stopping. What should we do at Gettysburg?

For official information, here's the official military park website. I've collected some less official information from fellow travelers:

1. Expect a lot of walking in nature since the land has been preserved. You can also do a car tour where you drive from point to point and listen to the tour guide tell you stuff but you are still just looking at some very nice landscape. If you kids like to play, take them to devels den at the base of litte roundtop, it's a giant rockmaze your kids can climb through.

Watching Gettysburg the movie first with the family could make the trip more meaningful. It is truly a solemn, goose bumpy kind of place. Beautiful and so quiet.

2. There are certified battlefield tour guides for hire at the visitor center. I highly recommend that you hire one. Your wife and kids will then understand a little better what happened there.

3. I have gone several times. Had the kids watch Gettysburg with me their first time...so they were thrilled to be where the 207 Maine charged down the hill...and at sundown we walked the route of Pickets charge together across the field, over the Emmittsburg Road fences and to the same Angle you see in the movie. You can even recreate Picketts charge if you like and realize exactly why it didn't work.

Almost no amenities for good food, or clean bathrooms, but the 'burg is an excellent place to go for the history. Rte 15 could not be an easier drive. The tour guides are great. The town a chotchke infested tourist trap.

4. Rent the audio / car tour... be prepared with water and a lunch. its an all day affair... there are a lot of ghosts there.. be respectful to the fallen. also hit the "Electric Map" place.. will give you a good overview of the battle... climb Little Round Top, walk through the Wheat Field, Devils Den, and go to the "High water mark of the Confederacy".. humbling place.

5. Every July 3rd our reenacting unit traces the steps of the 8th Virginia during Pickett's Charge. We start off from Seminary Ridge with full flags and battle gear, no musketts because the park won't allow it. It's an exhausting and sorrowful experience. By the time we get to the point where the 8th Virginia reached Cemmetary Ridge we are exhausted. You realize that even those Confederate soldiers that did make it to Cemmetary Ridge were probably exhausted by the time they got there.

A separate reenactment is scheduled for the weekend right after the 4th of July. It doesn't take place on the battlefield but at a local farm near by. You might find it interesting if you have never seen one. The reenactment has gone down hill over the years and a lot of reenactors like myself avoid this event which we call Goofysburg because of poor treatment by the organizers.

6. If you have time you may want to visit the Civil War Museum in Harrisburg. It is a few years old and gives you a first hand look at equipment and the military. Harrisburg was the big staging center for the Union when the trains came from the north. I could never imagine the march they had because there was only one train to Gettysburg for the troops.

The South came within the distance of the Susquehanna at Camp Hill of raiding Harrisburg, about 2-3 miles. The day they planned to go over the river was the day Lee called for the invasion of Gettysburg.

7. I love Gettysburg. I find it fascinating. Not sure how kids will react. Depending on how old they are, rent Gettysburg the film (based on The Killer Angels") and maybe that will get them psyched. Then go, hire a tourguide or do the driving tour (buy the CD or tape in the giftshop and drive it). You can do the cyclotron (360 degree painting) while you're there. Richard Dryfus narrates it, and they light up different parts of this massive painting. Kinda cool for setting the stage.

When you're at Little Roundtop, there's a good story I heard. When Chamberlain was Gov. of Maine after the war, he got a letter from an anonymous reb soldier who said he was on the hill that day. He had Chamberlain lined up, but for some reason couldn't pull the trigger. He cursed himself and lined it up again, but again didn't pull the trigger. He said he was now glad he didn't pull the trigger, but he wanted him to know: he had him!

Chamberlain was an amazing American. Wounded by bullet fire six times in the war. He served to the end, became Governor of Maine and later Professor and the President of Bowdoin College. What a life!

There's a nice campground nearby. I like to go camping there and then do the park.

Well that's what I was able to gather - would you like to share your Gettysburg experiences or travel tips?

Hills of Chocolate in the Philippines: picture and information

I first heard about the Hills of Chocolate in my Cebu Pacific in-flight magazine. I read that these hills are Bohol Island's most famous attraction. The city of Tagbilaran is likely to be your base for exploring the Hills of Chocolate, Baclayon Church, a waterfall in the rainforest, the Tarsier (the world's smallest primate) Visitor Center, plus beaches and dive spots.

The Hills of Chocolate (but not all 1,268 of them):

Apparently this is a popular place with celebrities: Robin Williams (one of my favorite actors), Daniel Radcliffe (the Harry Potter guy), and Eugene Kim (it says "Korean star Eugene Kim" but that could be an actor or an actress since Korea has both a famous male Eugene Kim and a famous female Eugene Kim).

Anyway, I just wanted to share this very cool picture with you. I'm definitely putting Bohol Island, Tagbilaran, and the Hills of Chocolate on my places to go list. It's a beautiful place for hiking and it's not the kind of mountain scenery you can see in a few places. As far as I know, Tagbilaran in the Philippines is the only one place to go to see something like the Hills of Chocolate.

For more on the Philippines see: Plantation Bay 1, Plantation Bay 2, Plantation Bay pictures, Manila and Palawan, when to visit Boracay.

See our small but growing collection of travel pictures.

Passports, the Bronx, New Orleans, & vocation vacations

Here's a crappy vacation story for you. Just because the US says it won't require passports for travel from the Caribbean, doesn't meant the country you're going to doesn't require a passport. Turks and Caicos, a British territory, does require a passport to enter.

Here's an interesting one about a vacation for amateur choral singers.

As a New Yorker, I thought that the Bronx's new advertising campaign is an interesting one. They have good attractions (Bronx Zoo and Yankee Stadium), but I'm not sure being so close to Manhattan will help attract people who actually stay and eat in the Bronx.

I really like this article about visiting New Orleans. I missed almost everything when I went there for Mardi Gras right after graduating college, but next time I'm going here:

Get the ultimate cheap lunch at Johnny’s Po’ Boys, an eatery whose interior is as humble and scrappy as the sandwich itself. The po’boy is New Orleans’s answer to the submarine or hoagie, served on French bread with the filling of your choice. The classic po’boy is made with fried oysters or shrimp, but favorite deli foods—roast beef, ham, meatballs—also have strong followings. Nobody does po’boys like Johnny’s. If you ask for your po’boy “dressed,” it will come with lettuce, tomatoes, pickles, and mayonnaise. (511 St. Louis St; 504/524-8129; open noon-4 p.m. daily; cash only)

Here's a real interesting one on "vocation vacations" where you check out another career by doing internships during your vacation time. Now I hope you can read the article (the Google news pages said "subscription" but I had no problem seeing the article without being a subscriber so hopefully you can too). If not, here's a little excerpt:

"Seventy-five per cent of these people are truly looking for new careers," said Brian Kurth, founder of the company, which is based in Portland, Ore. "About 25 per cent are signing up for brew master or sports announcer or something like that that's usually a gift from women to men. But most are serious job seekers."

Travel agencies offer programs for travellers seeking to spend a vacation doing some volunteer work or exploring a new culture, and groups like Internships For America connect people with short-term positions in everything from hotel management to culinary training.

But VocationVacations' two- or three-day internship model is unique. It offers dozens of "dream job" holidays across the U.S., including white-water rafting outfitter, chocolatier, sword maker, raceway manager and dog day-care owner.

It seems a little expensive because the vocation vacation company makes money and the company they set you up with also gets paid. But where else can you be a dog trainer ($400 / person / 1 day) for a day or something like that?

Who gets vacation time and why we all need more holidays

We've talked about vacation time before, but this article has an interesting country by country comparison. It looks like Finland and France make sure workers get plenty of vacation time.

Of course the real issue is what kind of work you do. When I was a kid I thought that teaching was a good gig because of summer and winter vacation. I have a friend in the Air Force who gets 30 days vacation and university professors can get 4-5 months.

Back to Americans and their too short vacations, this article speculates on the financial implications of shorter vacations:

John A. Challenger, of the Chicago-based consulting firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas, said the trend toward weekend trips could hurt expensive and distant vacation destinations and help local attractions....

“Where this will hurt is places like Hawaii and Las Vegas, where so many fly to get there,” said David Jackson, of the Bucks County Conference and Visitors Bureau. “In our scenario in Bucks County, this could kind of work in our favor.”

They also point out that vacations are pretty expensive, especially for families who according to AAA "would spend an average of $650 a day — $9,100 for two weeks — on food and lodging in Hawaii this year. The same family would spend $611 per day in Washington, D.C., and $345 per day in Rhode Island" (for a family of four).

This article reminds us why we need to spend a little money on vacation: "Companies are beginning to realize the benefits of vacations for their weary workers - fewer sick days, smaller health care bills and a more motivated workforce." Of course, you also have to wonder how many vacationers are still working on vacation. I know when I'm on vacation I'm always looking for stuff to blog about on here. Not that I'm complaining - I think I do a good job keeping my life fairly low stress (although that stray dog is still driving me a bit nuts).

I imagine that the readers here, like me, know how important it is to travel a bit. And this is true not only for corporate types but also for people who get their stress from raising kids.

Lecturer in Tourism and Event Management at University of Central Lancashire

There is a university teaching position available for a Lecturer in Tourism and Event Management (One year limited term contract) at the University of Central Lancashire, Preston, UK in the Lancashire Business School - Department of Tourism & Leisure Management - Division of Tourism and Hospitality.

The blockquote areas come from a current faculty member who was kind enough to answer a few of my questions.

Lecturer :£25,570 to £31,881 per annum (new Framework Agreement scales pending)

A suitably qualified person is required to fulfil an additional role of Lecturer in Tourism and Event Management, initially as cover for a member of staff on secondment. However, the role will provide an excellent development opportunity for the right candidate to establish an academic profile in Higher Education.

We are looking for candidates who can contribute and add value to our existing teaching provision, especially within the subject areas of tourism and event management. Thus, some experience of teaching these subject areas at Higher Education level is essential. Additionally, operational experience of tourism and/or event management is desirable. A good first degree within tourism, hospitality management or event management is also essential, as is a Masters degree in a related field of study. A research degree (e.g. PhD) is desirable, as is research potential and/or publications within a related field.

The role will involve teaching aspects of the subject/s of Tourism and Event Management on a range of modules and in particular teaching an introductory tourism module to tourism students. Desirable would be the ability to teach service operations management to students on events, tourism, and hospitality programmes. The role will also involve visiting students on Placement throughout the UK and, if appropriate, internationally.

The introductory tourism module is at Level One (1st year undergraduate), and examines contemporary issues of the tourism sector, either from socio-cultural, political and/or environmental perspectives. The module is already designed, although the successful candidate will have the flexibility to adapt the content, within the confines of set learning outcomes.

Tourism and Event Management is a growing area within the Department on many fronts. There is an increasing research culture and the Department will make a major contribution to the RAE profile of the Faculty. Already the Institute of Transport and Tourism, headed by Prof Les Lumsdon, is at the cutting edge of this contribution to new knowledge in the area. In the medium term there will be a step change in research capacity and the recent appointment of an additional Professor of Tourism will help to achieve this aim.

Reference Number: 248E-08-06
Closing Date: 22nd June 2007 at 4pm

For further information, job specification and an application form, please visit http://www.uclan.ac.uk/other/hr/jobs/external.htm#248

Different cruises: mass market, preminum, deluxe, luxury

This article talks about Royal Caribbean's Liberty of the Seas which we reviewed about a month ago. Liberty of the Seas recently received some bad press. Another article tells us that Royal Caribbean's larger ships are appealing to younger passengers than other cruise lines' ships, possibly because they have more room for sports.

The first article I linked to also talks about a ship I hadn't heard of before, the Azamara Journey although we did touch upon this briefly before (when I wrote about the success of Oceania Cruises I mentioned that Royal Carribean was entering the niche:

The itineraries of the Azamara Journey include more than 200 ports in more than 70 countries. Many of these destinations are not accessible to the larger liners.

Dan Hanrahan, president of Azamara and Celebrity Cruises, said Azamara -- targeting a new "deluxe" category between "premium" and "luxury" -- is for the traveler who is looking for something "a little more special."

Passengers visiting off-the-beaten-path ports will enjoy enhanced immersion in the local culture and history, after being prepared by the onboard "excursion expert."

Azamara does remind me of Oceania... Here's another article on the "deluxe cruise" niche which falls somewhere between premium and luxury:

For years the cruise industry has split itself into three broad categories: mass-market (think Carnival, Royal Caribbean), premium (lines such as Celebrity, Princess) and luxury (Silversea, Crystal)....

There's also a big price gap between premium and luxury cruises. On Wednesday, Expedia was listing 12-day Mediterranean sailings in August on the mass-market Carnival Freedom starting at $1,499 a person. On a premium ship such as the Emerald Princess, prices in August start at $1,799. But the least expensive cabin available on a 12-day sailing on the Crystal Serenity, a luxury ship, is $5,545 per person — three times as much....

"They're for people who love the sea and love the ports but don't give a hoot about the glitzy nightlife (of big ships) or the personal pampering on the luxury side of the business," Driscoll says.

My next cruise will be NCL, thanks to my NCL credit card, but after that I'd like to try Oceania or Azamara. I wonder if choosing a particular room is an issue on the smaller ships.

Amtrak to Glacier Park experience

Here's a letter to the editor arguing for more trains and more government support for trains. To support his argument he talks a little (not many details unfortunately) about the Amtrak ride to and from Glacier Park.

New Discovery Channel travel show: 1,000 Places To See Before You Die

We talked about travel shows a while back and here's an article on a new one based on the popular book 1,000 Places To See Before You Die (also the name of the new show). The hosts spent 4 months traveling aorund the world - getting paid to travel is a great job if you ask me!

By the way, who has seen Christopher Elliott's new travel show?

Code shares and flight costs

I remember thinking how strange it was a few years ago when I was flying from Seoul to Rome on my honeymoon. We were flying Korean Air, but we booked through Alitalia because it was several hundred dollars cheaper than buying the Korean Air ticket. Same flight, same service, different price.

Here's an interesting article on how this works. Apparently airlines are not permitted to cooperate when they set prices for code share flights; this is what sometimes results in big price differences.

Trying to find that elusive frequent flyer seat

If you have tried to use your frequent flier miles recently, you’ll know how difficult it can be to try to cash them in. When American Airlines introduced the world’s first frequent flier program back in 1984, it had little idea how popular the innovative program would become.

The program became a victim of its own success – there were not enough ‘free’ seats for people, a problem which most of us are only too well aware still exists today. So here are a few tips for trying to get that elusive mileage seat...

Make sure you are talking to the right person! Most airlines have a specialized mileage reservations department – if you call to cash in your miles, or have general questions make sure you are speaking to that department. If you feel you aren’t getting good service, call back and speak to someone else.

Book early! Try to book as far ahead as you can; most airlines can book almost a year ahead. It’s almost impossible to get mileage seats to Europe during the summer or the Caribbean at Christmas unless you book a long way ahead. Consider booking dates that are close to those that you want - there’s usually no charge to make date changes to mileage tickets once booked. However, airlines are starting to use extra charges more often.

Try to be flexible with your dates and times; sometimes the least popular times of day may have mileage seats available. Mileage seats may be available on connecting flights – even if you have to change planes twice. You may want to also look at flying to an alternate destination; if flights to Los Angeles are full, try flying into Burbank or Long Beach. Try Oakland instead of San Francisco.

If all else fails, try calling the airline back in a few days – mileage availability can constantly change as airlines may make available more seats on a flight. You can also easily check mileage availability on line with most airlines.

Don’t forget to ask about using your miles on partner airlines. Most airlines also have mileage ‘partners’- for example if you have American frequent flier miles, you can also use those miles to fly on British Airways, Qantas, Cathay Pacific and a dozen other major airlines. So if you have miles on a particular airline and they don’t fly where you want to fly – or they don’t have mileage seats – maybe they can get you there somehow.

Compare mileage programs, get tips and keep up with the latest news at http://www.frequentflier.com.

Finally, keep in mind that it doesn’t always pay to use your miles; you may want to compare it against the cost of the ticket. Many people accrue their miles over years (on JAL they expire after 2 years) and use them for a once in a lifetime trip overseas.

Guest article by Mancunian

Avoiding hurricanes, the online travel business,

I really love this article for suggesting some interesting outdoor vcations:

The National Outdoor Leadership School in Lander, Wyoming offers an array of courses for people long out of school—including a 14-day Alaska sea kayaking trip reserved for participants older than 40. For much of the trip, the guides often don’t even “lead,” leaving the task of wilderness navigation to the group. These are not tour vacations, but courses demanding physical and mental exertion.

I'm not sure why but it reminds me of a day trip I took once to a Native American sweat lodge. There were 4 sessions in a totally dark tent. During each session, the leader (an old Native American) would sprinkle water on rocks that had been in the center of a large fire all day. More rocks were added after each session so that by the 4th one I was scared my hands and knees were melting. I mean the rational part of me knew they wouldn't but it really felt like they were melting...

But now I have a cool experience to talk about at parties so I'm glad I did it. Sometimes I mention the very young baby that enetered the tent in his mother's arms with us (the baby and his mother were Native Americans - I think the daughter and grandkid of the guy doing the ceremony). That baby was tough.

Here's a good article (having trouble with the link - it's an LA Times article titled "Keep summer storms & hurricanes from spoiling your trip") on avoiding hurricanes. They say not to go to the Caribbean in August, which is exactly when I'm going. But I think hurricane season is later August into Septemeber. I hope early August is safe. I should look into travel insurance just in case.

This article is more for investors considering the online travel industry. I found it pretty interesting.

And if you like listening to travel rants, this is a good one. The author complains about pretty much everything but especially the Atlanta airport.

If you were looking for an update on the stray dog my wife and I rescued, we had a scare today when we went to pick Libby up at the vet (she was spayed today). Some bruises indicated internal bleeding that the vet had never seen before. My wife thought it was serious and started crying. The vet didn't know what the problem was but brought her home overnight to watch her and called us not long ago to say he thinks Libby will be fine. We pick her up tomorrow.