Travel plan idea blog

Review of luxury hotel site

The following is a paid review:

I've been asked to review this luxury travel site. The focus is on hotels, and I enjoyed reading about experiences in different luxury hotels (even if I know I won't be staying in them any time soon). I can recommend nearly all the articles I read, but Lapa Palace in Lisbon is a good example. The writing is very descriptive so if you might want to go there or just enjoy vicarious experiences, it's a good read.

When reading about the Ritz Carlton in Wolfsburg, Germany I learned about a Volkswagen theme park. I’m not a big Disney fan, but I wouldn’t mind checking out some different theme parks (and I do plan on taking my wife to Disney at some point since she has never been there - not exactly for a honeymoon but something romantic hopefully). This Volkswagen theme park must be interesting, just like the recent Volkswagen festival must have been interesting. Apparently the place has a traditional antique car museum and some interactive computer programs where you design your own car. The writer says it's good for the whole family.

In the end, I can’t really review their hotel booking service since I’m not in a position to stay at any of the hotels they talk about, but I can and do recommend the articles about different luxury hotel experiences.

What do you do when the airline loses your luggage?

This is not from me - but someone needs advice from savvy travelers and hopefully some of the readers here can offer some:

Delta lost my luggage from the plane to the baggage claim or someone just stole my luggage. I was flying back from Boston, connecting through JFK. My girlfriend and I were sitting on the plane, and we see our bags as the last ones sitting on the carts, and we actually saw them go up the ramp and onto the plane, so I know they were put on the plane at JFK. She got her bag here in Lauderdale, but mine is mysteriously missing. I was standing and watching where the bags first come out onto the baggage claim, so I don't think anyone could have taken it. Delta only insures up to $2800, and I know there was much more than that in value in that bag. I'm in an extremely bad mood now.

I was in Boston and Connecticut for my niece's christening, so I had a Hugo Boss suit, my dress shoes, a few dress shirts, plus I was visiting friends as well so I had all of my nice jeans, more shirts for going out, my north face fleece, sneakers, my shaving case (Christmas present from my sister last year and it was coach so not cheap), and my suitcase was even a Travelpro I got on sale at the time for $200, but is worth over $500... that and my girlfriend stuck a bunch of her makeup in my bag. Oh all of my chargers (ipod, phone, camera, etc.) were in there too.

So what do I do now?

And by the way, my brother traveled on Delta from Tulsa to Atlanta last Christmas season. He packed presents and his clothing in a golf club bag. The trip from Tulsa to Atlanta was fine. When he was returning to Tulsa the bag checker said he could not use this type of bag for anything but golf clubs. Delta ended up confiscating the bag and they were supposed to ship it to my brother. My brother had Christmas presents that were given to him in the bag (Digital video camera, and some other things). To this day he has not received his belongings. I will never fly Delta again.

Khon Kaen, Thailand: advice please

I have a conference in Khon Kaen in January but have never really heard of it before. I know the name of the hotel where the conference is but I'm not sure if that's where I want to stay:

Sofitel Raja Orchid Khon Kaen Thailand
9/9 Prachasamran Road, Nai Muang,
Muang, Khon Kaen 40000 Thailand

And a few web searches revealed that there isn't too much on Khon Kaen but that some of the main attractions are:

Khon Kaen National Museum
Kaen Nakhon Lake and Wat That
Tortoise Village 50 km south of Khon Kaen
Cobra Village (not sure if I want to go there and not sure where it is)

So what, if anything, can you tell me about Khon Kaen?

Some scary places to visit!

Yes – it’s that time of the year again! With Halloween just around the corner, I wondered what were considered to be the most haunted places in the world. There is no shortage of sites that claim to list some of the most haunted places – this web site lists a dozen of the most haunted in the US, including such predictably eerie places as Gettysburg battlefield, Alcatraz prison and the quirky Winchester House, near San Jose, Ca.

New Orleans is generally considered to be the most haunted city in the United States – at least 10 hotels in the city are reported to be haunted, and several companies offer ghost themed walking tours. I have been on one of the ghost walks and it was quite fascinating. It also seems as though New Orleans is quite a place to spend Halloween!

Other cities with more than their fair share of ghostly inhabitants include Charleston, SC, Savannah, Ga and Salem, Ma, famous for the witch trials held there during the 17th century. Salem is also quite a place in which to celebrate Halloween, with witch and ghost themed events happening throughout October, culminating with the town’s official Witches Ball on Halloween night.

But the most haunted place in the world is apparently the city of York in England which has a total of 504 recorded ghostly sightings, according to the Ghost Research Foundation International. And York is also home to the oldest ghost – the famous Roman Legionnaires that are supposedly seen marching through the Treasurer’s House. At least six companies offer ghostly walking tours of York, costing around $8 per person – although they don’t actually guarantee a ghost sighting.

But if you really want to communicate with the other side, you should visit the small community of Lily Dale, NY. This town is populated and run entirely by spiritualists – over 40 registered mediums live and work in the town. Lily Dale attracts around 22,000 visitors each year.

Happy Halloween, wherever you are celebrating!

Guest entry by Mancunian

I'd just like to add a couple of notes. First I have a friend in New Orleans doing a masters in social work who says it's getting more dangerous to live there. She lives in what should be (used to be) a nice neighborhood but now when she goes outside for a smoke at night she's afraid to turn a light on. She made it sound like you wouldn't really want to visit just yet, though I'm sure plenty of the touristy spots are safe.

Then just some old related blog entries: ghost hunting vacations and Haunted places.

Is it too easy to become a travel agent?

Apparently Royal Caribbean thinks so. According to Travel Weekly, the cruise line has ended sales partnerships with travel agents that could be viewed as "card mills", places where anyone can pay $500 plus $50 a month to get a website and a travel agent ID card.

Becoming a travel agent gets them a chance to earn commissions for referring travelers and a chance to get industry discounts.

Royal Caribbean did not identify the card mills, but two have identified themselves: YTB Travel Network and Joystar. Naturally they both argue that the Royal Caribbean decision makes no sense since they aren't card mills...

And I know I sometimes get comments on this blog that go something like "My wife and I just started our own online travel agency - go visit our site www.spammy-link-here.com/1234/" (obviously not a real link). Sometimes those commenters actually include some useful information on the blog, but often there is no 'real comment' so I end up deleting those comments because they look like spam.

So what do you think about Royal Caribbean's decision or becoming a travel agent in general?

the Philippines

This article on the Philippines is not very specific but they do mention that it offers great variety and is affordable. They also mention the crazy airports - I know Cebu airport was not very relaxing...

Anyway, if you're looking for some more specific ideas on the Philippines try Pagudpod, Hills of Chocolate, or Cebu.

Genealogy inspired travel

I liked this article where the author talks about how she travels in order to research family history. I guess I had always imagined having the research done first and then going to wherever mainly to see the place, not really to do more research. This author seems to do research on location as she travels.

Crater of Diamonds State Park in Arkansas

I wrote once about how panning for gold would be a fun vacation (more fun if you find gold of course) but how about searching for diamonds. It worked for this guy who found a 1.49 carat diamond and then a 3.92 carat diamond in Crater of Diamonds State Park in Arkansas.

It would take some luck to bring home a diamond from vacation but apparently 700 or so have been found so far this year...

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC DIGITAL MEDIA ZOOMS IN ON PHOTOGRAPHY BUFFS

For many of us, taking pictures is one of the great joys of traveling. So I thought this National Geographic press release might be of interest:

WASHINGTON, Oct. 23, 2007 - National Geographic Digital Media has dramatically expanded its online photographic offerings to include new interactive features such as original videos, guides and new uses for famous images.

Debuting on the National Geographic site (www.nationalgeographic.com/photography) is an original video series featuring renowned photographer Mark Thiesen.

In the "Photo Tips" video series Thiesen walks shutterbugs through the dos and don'ts of getting that perfect shot, whether it's capturing a candid action moment at a birthday party or telling a story with a series of photos.

National Geographic Digital Media's expanded offering also tells behind-the-scenes stories of some of the most iconic National Geographic images. The site even offers users the chance to purchase prints and download wallpapers and screen savers of famous National Geographic photos.

Visitors have long been able to explore stunning picture galleries from the National Geographic archives and check out incredible pictures accompanying news stories, but additional features to the site now allow users to become more involved than ever.

Budding and skilled photographers alike will benefit from the recently added photo tips section, which offers advice from professional photographers on everything from how take magazine-quality shots to printing great-looking digital photos. The experts even give their advice on choosing the right digital camera and offer up comprehensive do-it-yourself workshops for anyone looking to improve their skills or turn from appreciative fan to photographer.

Amateur photographers can show off how well they put those photo tips to use by entering various photo contests including a chance for possible publication in the famed National Geographic magazine.

Photo hobbyists and fans alike will find the new National Geographic photography web site to be a truly interactive experience.

Expensive cruises and mineral water

Cruise ships are not only getting bigger, they seem to be getting more expensive as well. The cruise line Seabourn plans to introduce a new ship, the Odyssey sometime in 2009, described as the world’s most luxurious cruise liner, and built at a cost of around $250 million..

Cabins on the ship will begin at around $1200 per night and will cost as much as $7000 per night. That’s per night – not for the entire cruise! The more expensive cabins will feature such touches as luxurious marble bathrooms, flat screen televisions and a fully stocked mini-bar. The bathrooms will also contain separate showers and tubs – a rare thing when space is at such a premium.

The Odyssey plans to make its maiden voyage in June 2009, with a Mediterranean cruise originating in Venice. The inaugural season will feature several different cruises around the Mediterranean, with plans for a world cruise in 2010. The Odyssey is one of several huge or luxurious cruise ships – which have made their debut in the last few years.

Expensive as it is, the $7000 a night cabin on the Odyssey still seems like quite a bargain when compared to some of the world’s most expensive hotel rooms and suites.

And if you think the cost of looking at the water from a cabin on Seabourn’s Odyssey is expensive, you could try paying $42 to drink a bottle of the stuff. USA Today recently reported that a bottle of mineral water at London’s Claridge’s Hotel can cost just that. Although the water has come all the way from a spring at the bottom of an extinct volcano in New Zealand and is described as having a “pleasant smooth sensation”. The hotel offers over 30 different mineral waters from around the world on its new “water menu” although if you just ask for a drink of good old English tap water, it won’t cost you a thing.

Just think – if you take an Odyssey cruise and stay in one of the expensive suites, you may have all the mineral water you can drink included in the price of the cabin!

Guest entry by Mancunian

Pyeong Chang Korea travel experience

So I just got back from Pyeong Chang. This was a good experience for me because it’s a real Korean vacation spot, meaning that Koreans go there to visit. I didn’t see any other white people so I’m thinking that foreign tourists don’t usually make it there.

Of course, the only reason for a foreign tourist to go would be to see an actual Korean vacation spot. The activities themselves are nothing too exciting.

The first place was a school turned art gallery. My wife really liked it. I thought it was OK - certainly different, but there were only afew artists represented despite the fact that Mooee Art Gallery could have packed a lot more art into the school. One artists had about 50 paintings of Memil flowers. Most of the rest were crazy modern sculptures - never really did learn to appreciate modern sculpture.

Then there was the home of a famous Korean author – Lee Hyo Suk - the sign said he was born there and lived there until he was 13. It also said that another family lives there now so you can’t actually go inside. We spend less than 5 minutes there.

Then there was a memorial to Lee Hyo Suk. The information signs there said that his birth house had been destroyed – weird since we thought we had just come from the house where he was born. They also had his former gravesite. Apparently he’s no longer buried there. We walked around for about 30 minutes because the place was pretty big but we didn’t actually see much. Korean tourists like to pose for pictures by the sculpture of Lee Hyo Suk sitting at his desk writing. There’s also a museum – it looked pretty boring and we wanted to go to the next big attraction.

Herb Nara (Herb nation) is basically an herb garden. We had fun walking around and sniffing all the different herbs which are labeled in English and Korean. There are some nice picture spots in the gardens there and you can buy plants, herb bread, herb cookies, herb candy, etc.

Then we went to try some of the local beef; Haeng Sung (next to Pyeong Chang) and Bong Pyung (part of Pyeong Chang) are famous for beef. Now Koreans think that Korean beef is superior and are willing to pay for it. At the butcher, 600 grams cost us 42,000 won, probably $45 or so. We also stopped in another store and got some cooked rice, some side dishes, some sauce, etc. and went back to our hotel for a feast.

Now the hotel was Memil Flower Valley Pension. The area is famous for Memil as you can tell from the pension's name and the paintings in Moose Art Gallery I already mentioned. Plus one of Lee Hyo Suk’s novels was titled (this is a rough translation) When the Memil Blooms. Anyway, the place was dog friendly so we went there.

A pension, by the way, is just a hotel where the rooms have little kitchen areas.

Our room was spacious and we were, I’m fairly certain, the only customers last night. Pretty bad for a pension that I estimated had about 50 rooms but my wife guesses had 10 at most. Anyway, we were the only ones there and it would have been very quiet and peaceful if not for the construction next door where they seem to be building another hotel. Still, they stopped around 7:00 PM so it was quiet at night. Of course they started before 7:00 AM so the morning wasn’t so peaceful... The room was about $130/night.

Anyway, we cooked our local delicacy but the beef was tough. Anyway, we had fun walking the dogs and watching Animal Planet (the only channel with English programs we could find). And we did spend some time looking at the moon and stars. We couldn’t see many stars because of some clouds but those clouds did look pretty when they passed in front of the moon.

All in all it was nice to get out of the city and experience a place I had never been before.

Birthday getaway

I won't be writing much today, but hopefully will have something to share in a couple of days. We're going away for the weekend to celebrate my birthday. I'll give you details after I experience it, but the plan is to get out of the city, go somewhere quiet, ruin the quiet with our two dogs, enjoy the fresh air (dogs can't ruin that), and look at the stars at night.

It's been a long time since I saw and took the time to enjoy a really beautiful starry sky. Since the summer really in Vermont and before that in Cebu in April.

Australian Tourist Visa: online application

The following is a paid review:

This review is the first I've heard of getting visas online. Apparently through this site you can get an Australian tourist visa if you're from one of the select countries. I suppose this doesn't surprise me - actually as an American I'd be surprised if I needed a visa to visit Australia at all.

The site also lists short-stay business visas and long-stay business visas; these I would be surprised if you can get online.

If it's secure enough, I think it's a great system. Who wants to go to a consulate and wait in line (I never had much of a wait getting visas for Korea but at the US embassy in Seoul people start lining up hours before they open and that is a very long, very slow line)?

Unlike traditional visas, there are no application forms and no visa stamp in your passport. I might miss the stamp but certainly not the forms.

After looking at the online process more closely, you do have to fill out at least some information online. I knew there had to be something - they can't be giving out visas without getting your name, address, and so on.

At 20 British pounds, around 40 US dollars, the fee seems reasonable enough - I think I paid something similar to an agent in Korea to get my visa for China a few years back.

Still I wonder how they keep the system safe enough with these online visas.

Where not to take a road trip: England

Here's a press release about driving in England. Is it really worse than the New York area?

THE thrill of the open road is a distant memory across the nation, according to a study released today - almost half of all Brits can't name a great place to drive.

New research by YouGov for Sat Nav experts Garmin found that endless traffic jams (84 per cent), accidents (35 per cent), boring scenery (26 per cent) and confusing road signs (20 per cent) are to blame.

Garmin's Claire Carter said: "Driving in America conjures images of Route 66 and Route 1 and in Australia it's the Great Ocean Road. In Britain, we're more likely to think of the M25 and the M6. It's hardly surprising that driving in Britain is regarded as more pain than pleasure."

Endless traffic jams saw the M25 crowned the worst road in Britain to drive by almost one in three people (31 per cent).

London was voted the worst city for driving with confusing road signs, one way systems and constant road works making the experience particularly unpleasant.

In contrast, the A591 between Keswick and Lake Windermere in the Lake District was voted the best road in Britain to go for a drive, closely followed by the A82 Glasgow to Fort William in Scotland.

Garmin's Claire Carter added: "The open expanses and sweeping hillside routes of Cumbria, Scotland and Devon dominate Britain's best drives taking the top three spots in our poll. The stunning scenery, challenging twists and turns and almost traffic-free driving on these roads are ideal for an enjoyable and relaxing journey."

Former F1 driver Perry McCarthy, Top Gear's original "Stig", said: "For most of us, driving in Britain is one long traffic jam, but it doesn't have to be like that. It's easy to forget how much pleasure you can get from driving down a country road with its variety of corners, views and challenges.

"With all the headlines about congestion, speed cameras and poor road surfaces, it's easy to forget that driving can be such a positive experience."

More that one in five (22 per cent) of British men regard driving to a holiday destination as their most memorable drive - more than said their own wedding day (6 per cent).

Just one in ten men (10 per cent) reckon taking their baby home from hospital for the first time was their most memorable journey.

Sunday was voted as the best day to go for a drive by almost a quarter (23 per cent) of those polled, apart from younger drivers between 18 and 24 years old who prefer driving late at night on a weekday.

Top Ten Worst Roads in Britain
1) M25
2) M6
3) Spaghetti Junction in Birmingham
4) North Circular in London
5) Oxford Circus
6) M1
7) Hanger Lane Gyratory in London
8) South Circular
9) M62
10) M5

Top Ten Best Roads in Britain
1) A591 between Keswick and Lake Windermere in the Lake District
2) A82 Glasgow to Fort William in Scotland
3) A38 from Exeter to Plymouth
4) M48 across the Severn Bridge
5) A696 from Newcastle Upon Tyne to the Scottish Borders
6) A3 overlooking the Devils Punchbowl in Surrey
7) A1 or A167 when you see the Angel of the North
8) A537 out of Macclesfield
9) A25 from Dorking to Guildford
10) Oxford Street in London

Top Five Most Memorable Drives
1) Going on a holiday
2) Taking your baby home from the hospital for the first time
3) Going to your wedding
4) Going on a road trip with friends
5) Going on a romantic drive/date

For more information, visit www.garmin.co.uk

Or see my previous entries:

California road trip
Baseball road trip
Movie tourism road trip
Road trips with kids
Memphis to Portland
Jamaica road trip

Vacation Advice on St. Croix (Virgin Islands) please

Here's a question from Larry - let's see if we can help him out. I've also collected replies from some travelers and included them after the question:

Our vacation plans fell through so me and the wife are scrambling trying to find somewhere to go starting on Friday. I know it's short notice but we both need a break from the office so rather then give the days back we are looking for somewhere to go. I've found a good deal on a couple places at St Croix, but having never been to the Virgin Isles I wanted to know if anyone had any opinions on the island in general.

Or any suggestions for another secluded place with more of an emphasis on nature than nightlife, and no passport required. Thanks

1. The Virgin Islands are wonderful. I haven't been to St. Croix, but St. John was fantastic. The perfect vacation. A much quieter island than the main one, St. Thomas, we found secluded beaches where we were the only ones there and if you do feel like going out there's a small downtown with restaurants and bars.

2. Have a great time w/ whatever you choose. I can second St. John - beautiful beaches and a low key night life if you are looking just to take a break from everyday life. Everything from 1st rate accommodations to eco-tourism.

3. St.Croix is not St John. There is a big difference. St John is a much smaller island of which about 80% is a national park. It is not very populated. Because of this it is very expensive. I think there is only one hotel on the island. Most of the rentals are private houses. It is however, a great place to vacation.

That being said, I am not familiar with St Croix. I just would not assume they are similar.
I've spent a lot of time on St John and HIGHLY suggest you trying to go there...Haven't been to St Croix.

4. I have lived in STX for 21 years and it is one of the most underated and beautiful places in the world. The big Island is not a huge tourist destination as most people got to St. John or St. Thomas, that said there are good hotels here, great places to eat, and beautiful beaches.

If you tell me which places your thinking of staying I will give you the skinny on them. Bucaneer is probably the most complete place and great for kids. We also have great golf here, and a casino.

5. I used to live on St. Croix for about 2 years when Marilyn decided to change my vocation. I worked for Miles and Mark Sperber of Dive St. Croix. I called the top of Strand St. my home in Christiansted.

St. Croix is a big island. Plenty to do and see. North end of the island has a rainforest while the East end is a desert. Great diving, golf, lounging on the beach, etc. Cruz Bay is a definite. Swim out from the beach, and you are over one of the deepest walls in the Caribbean. Excellent restaurants also. And like Big VI said, they have gaming also. St. Croix is a killer spot for scuba diving...

6. St. John is wonderful! Relaxtion, Beaches, Quiet! St. Croix is nice as well but a little more commercialized and NOT as laid back. Good Luck! I worked at the Hess refinery on St. Croix for a couple of months. It's very nice but I prefer St Thomas or St Johns.

7. Great snorkeling in both places.. St. Croix has an underwater national park at Buck Island. Chenay Bay is a little guest house type hotel. pretty beach, close to town, ok bar food but clean rooms with their own kitchen. You can probably get a better deal at Carambola but 20 minutes from town... great beaches, pools, rooms all 1st class... close to golf and everything if its just you and the wife carambola is very romantic and used to be a Rock Resort back in the day.. also just redid all the rooms.. carambola is also right by the rain forest very tropical...

8. Maho Bay on St. Johns is where I honeymooned. Excellent, "eco-resort." Right on the beach. Snorkeling in Waterlemon Key and exploring the old Sugar Plantations is a blast. St. Croix, I don't know about. But St. Thomas looked like a zoo to me from the ferry to St. Johns...

9. I would second the Carambola. It is on the north shore so it is tropical and lush as it is in/near the rainforest. Also, the proximity to Cruz Bay is ideal for you and your significant other to do some snorkeling/scuba diving. There is a watersports business called Cruz Bay Watersports. They can outfit you for some snorkeling or instruct you with a resort course certification in diving. You don't want to miss seeing the East or West wall. In all my years of diving, it is in the top 5 of wall dives in the world. I also worked in Grand Cayman and San Salvador, Bahamas so I do know my wall diving.

Buck Island National park with underwater snorkeling trail. Makes a nice day. The botanical garden is also nice to stroll through. There used to be (I'm not sure if they are still in business) a concession that would arrange horseback riding on the beach near Carambola. Perhaps Big VI knows the name. Also, be sure to head to Christiansted for some shopping and dining.

10. Take an island safari tour one day. there individual open jeeps with a driver/guide you get to see a little bit of everything and some stuff you wont see unless with them. Carambola can arrange for you. Have a great time you won't be sorry.

Travel deals and a jazz cruise

It's midterm week and I'm busy looking at students' papers so you might see fairly short entries the next few days.

Today I just have a few travel deals from AM New York. Deals to Grenada, the UK, and Thailand sound good, but not as good as this cruise:

A jazz cruise, Dec. 1-8, round-trip from Miami, with stops in Key West and ports in Mexico and Belize, will feature a jazz brunch with lecture by an expert in this field of music and nightly performances throughout the ship. Available staterooms are priced from $2,920 a person plus fees; shore excursions are extra. (888-799-4625; crystalcruises.com)

Not sure it's really a "deal" but it sounds like a whole lot of fun.

Possible Fall vacation destinations: New England, Oregon, Jamaica

I wonder if anyone here is planning a fall vacation because I found several articles with some tips for your travel plans:

This article previews the fall issue of Town & Country Travel, which argues that Fall is the right time to vacation. The feature visiting Bora Bora, Mexico City, Nairobi, New England, and Northeastern Italy.

While Bora Bora would be great, a more realistic plan for most of us might be New England. I would include some city and some country, not unlike my summer trip to Boston and then on to Vermont.

If you need to hit the beach in the fall, Jamaica might be an option. The author talks about Jamaica but stayed in an all-inclusive. That's not bad, but it doesn't really qualify you to talk about the actualy country outside the resort in most cases. I know when I went to Punta Cana, I learned next to nothing about the Dominican Republic. Same thing when I went to Cebu actually even though on that trip we left the resort twice...

Another quick note on Jamaica: everyone I know prefers Aruba. I don't see it making any difference if you're staying on a resort the whole time but that's what I heard anyway.

And here's a very interesting article on Oregon. I've never been there but it's certainly on my list. I actually learned recently that an old friend moved to Bend, Oregon. They love it there and enthusiastically recommended I visit, noting that the outdoor activities were great and varied. Anyway, this article talks about variety too:

Inspired, this year we looked into Oregon and realized it's a Midwesterner's vacation paradise: in the northwest quadrant of the state, there are mountains (including a dormant volcano, Mount Hood), the Pacific Ocean, wine country and, of course, Portland. Another huge plus: a fraction of the crowds you'd get during a comparable California trip. What started out as a wine-trip idea quickly became a full-blown vacation plan, with a wine stop just one of many detours we'd take. Another bonus: All of these places were within a few hours' drive of each other -- about a tank and a half of gas in a Chevy Tahoe rental.

Well that's about all I have to write but why not end with a discussion question? I haven't gotten a comment in over 2 days so I'm starting to feel a bit lonely...

Where are you going this fall?

Who wants to see a volcano erupt on vacation?

Here's an interesting article about how in the Philippines, people are trying to prmote active volcanoes as tourist destinations:

"People are fascinated by the phenomenon of volcanic eruptions," said Francois Dominique de Larouziere, scientific director of Vulcania, a volcano park that has drawn some 2.45 million paying visitors a year since its opening in 2002 on an extinct volcano in the remote Auvergne region of central France.

During last year's deadly eruptions of the Mayon volcano 340 kilometres (210 miles) southeast of Manila tourists flocked to the area to catch a glimpse of the eruptions.

Now I would go to a volcanic spa, but I also hope it doesn't erupt on me...

If people can die on a plane, why not give birth on a plane?

If people can die on a plane, why not give birth on a plane?

I'm glad I've never been on a flight where anything really weird happened.

Lake Tahoe changing, evolving away from its niche

This article is pretty interesting because it relates to one of my favorite books, Seth Godin's marketing book, Purple Cow. His idea is that new products have to serve a specific niche (and do it very well) to have a chance. Then if you succeed you need to exploit your "purple cow" (your unique product that people like enough to recommend to friends) for all it's worth.

It seems like that's what's happening in Lake Tahoe (which I've mentioned only briefly in past posts) and other areas. Tahoe was very successful in its niche so now the best way to profit is to use that popularity to make as much money as possible by attracting people from outside its old niche:

Massive redevelopment and an influx of wealth in recent years have all but wiped out the old kitschy charm of Tahoe's southern shore. As the transformation proceeds, the area is trying to become all things to all people: an upscale resort town as well as a draw for the younger set looking for all-night clubs and tequila shots.

It's a similar formula playing out in vacation spots across the country, from Atlantic City, N.J., to Aspen, Colo.

Speaking of change, although this one is not permanent, how about the Spa Experience in Grand Central Terminal, NYC? The Spa Experience will run from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Oct. 31 and Nov. 2, and from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 1 and Nov. 3. Who would've thought that commuters would have time for a spa treatment? Of course it may be perfect - I know there have been a few times when I left work feeling like I needed a massage or something.

Living near a criminal who isn't going to jail

Sorry for not posting yesterday but we had some excitement in our apartment building (we live in an apartment complex for foreign faculty) when one teacher beat up an old Korean man (with a chair).

He's not in jail. Apparently according to Korean law you have to hurt someone 4 weeks worth to earn jail time. The old man went to the doctor and will "only" be hurt for 2 weeks so the teacher is safe in that sense it seems.

Still something obviously needs to be done. When my wife went outside to see what all the yelling was about the bad guy yelled and cursed at her a lot. By the time she woke me up (heavy sleeper) things had calmed down somewhat but we're still pretty mad about it all...

I have a couple of articles coming in the next few hours but meanwhile, I thought I'd pose a discussion question inspired by the Korean law (as it was explained to me) that if you injure someone for less than 4 weeks you don't get prosecuted (I mean when a young man attacks an old man with a metal chair the young guy deserves to go to jail, right?):

What crazy laws have you learned about places you've been?

Let me qualify this by saying that I'd rather talk about laws that actaully matter or affect people. We've all heard crazy laws like "In Delaware it is illegal to get married on a dare" or "It is illegal to have sex with a porcupine in Florida" (who knows if those are even truly laws?).

Anyway, I'm not talking about weird, obscure laws that people will never encounter. Let's share laws that might be worth knowing or might actually matter to travelers.

71,000 Volkswagen fans in Hanover

I thought this was an interesting press release. It sounds like there weren't any Americans crazy enough to go (surprising actually) but some Australians and a bunch of Europeans made it to Hanover for a special event:

Hanover, 9 October 2007. An official event to celebrate 60 years of Volkswagen vans held in Hanover, Germany, last weekend (5-7 October) attracted 71,000 visitors with a selection of over 5,000 Transporter vans and camper vans - from the original 'split-screen' T1 to today's fifth-generation models - and included the highlight of an exclusive concert by British rock legends, The Who.

Volkswagen van fans travelled from as far away as Australia, Portugal, Russia, The Ukraine, Denmark, Poland, the UK, France and Holland. They came in Volkswagen vans from every decade since the 1950s and when gathered, covered a total area of 255,000 square metres - the equivalent of around 35 football pitches.

The celebrations started with a special convoy through Hanover from the Volkswagen factory to the showground hosting the event where there was a covered stage to honour vehicles nominated for special prizes, plus a display of 100 historic and unusual models and exhibits from the Volkswagen museum, including the original design sketch from 1947.

The weekend generated some impressive figures: 11,500 visitors camped overnight in 3,724 Volkswagen vans, while 6,000 German sausages and 100 barrels of beer were consumed at the food stalls.

The exclusive, open-air concert by The Who on Saturday night was enjoyed by 44,000 people. They were pleased to hear that Pete Townshend owns a Volkswagen van and particularly enjoyed the performance of the song 'Magic Bus' which was played against a backdrop of footage of the iconic 'split-screen' Volkswagen Transporter from the 1950s.

Airlines become entirely ticketless + airline collectibles

If you have a paper ticket to travel by air, you may want to hold on to it – paper tickets may well become a collector’s item. IATA recently announced that all the major airlines will stop issuing paper tickets, effective next summer. Most airlines are already almost entirely electronic – American for example, now estimates that around 98% of its tickets are "e-tickets".

Electronic ticketing is much less expensive for an airline – on average, an electronic ticket costs less than $1 to generate, as opposed to between $10 to $17 for each paper ticket printed. In addition to being less expensive, electronic tickets also make it easier and quicker for the airlines to measure revenue and balance the books. In the past, entire bundles of paper tickets had to be packaged, counted and sent to a processing facility where the data was collected.

Most passengers prefer e-tickets as well – they don’t have to worry about losing their ticket. If you have a paper ticket, airlines generally charge you a fee to replace it or even make you buy a completely new replacement ticket. If you lose the copy of your faxed or e-mailed electronic ticket, the airline will replace it for you – although as the airlines now charge for just about everything, there may be a small charge for that.

If collecting plane tickets doesn’t seem exciting, how about collecting air-sickness bags? You would have to rack up a lot of air miles to surpass the collection of over 5000 bags, by Niek Vermeulen, from the Netherlands, who apparently has collected the most. I was amazed to find just how popular this is; of the many web sites devoted to collecting air sickness bags, http://www.airsicknessbags.com is one of the most intriguing. Fortunately, I have never had to use the air-sickness bag on a plane, but neither have I had the urge to take it with me when I landed.

And how about someone looking into the possibility of electronic passports...? Given the delays this summer in issuing passports, that may be a good idea...

Guest entry by Mancunian

Tourism marketing in Tanzania and Brazil

I've always been interested in how countries market their tourism opportunities so i found this article on Tanzania and brazil pretty interesting. One line from the new Tanzania commercial is "Tanzania: Land of Kilimanjaro, Zanzibar and the Serengeti."

Brazil is focusing on "golf attractions, beaches and natural wonders."

Where should university exchange students study in America? Where did you (or should you have) studied?

Many of my students plan to study as exchange students (undergrad) in the US or attend graduate school here. For example, just today, one student told me he would be going to Madison, Wisconsin for a semester.

I've never been to Madison so there wasn't much I could tell him, but it got me thinking. Exchange students face all kinds of challenges. They think the language will be a big issue but if they pass the university interview system I think their English is good enough.

One of the big problems for those not going to a major city (and who can afford to live in New York or Boston these days?) is transportation. I wonder if my student will be able to get around in Madison.

Of course, there are other possibilities as well. Vancouver, Canada is a popular choice for students. And countries such as the Philippines are often less expensive options.

The other question I'd like to ask is where did you go if you did a study abroad program? Or where do you wish you had gone?

Personally, I always ignored the study abroad choices at my university. Now I realize that I was being stupid. There are hundreds of countries where a semester could have really helped me see the world. Some place close like Mexico, some place exotic like China. But I really wish I had experienced Europe during my college years.

Lake Las Vegas and Rancho La Puerta

I have two articles for you today. The first is on a traditional vacation theme, but not where you would expect to find a quiet vacation full of luxurious spas and concerts under the stars on an ingenious "floating stage" on the lake. Stars have included Andrea Bocelli, John Legend, Natalie Cole and LeAnn Rimes.

Of course it is still Vegas so there is a casino...

So that one sounds good. You could go to vegas for both the bright lights and strip craziness plus the relaxing resort in nature (the concerts on the floating stage sound great).

The next one is a health oriented resort. The author is obviously a fan:

It’s a palette of wellness awaiting your arrival, with creative organic cuisine, eye-opening nature at every turn, and hundreds of activities and programs to keep you busy - or not, the choice is up to you.

I didn't see anything about price but since the article is titled "investing in wellness", I get the feeling it's expensive.

Is it time to travel to Europe, become a travel agent, both, or neither?

I'm back with a few articles for you. The speech went well and seemed to impress my boss if you were wondering.

First, now that it's fall, traveling to Europe is becoming more affordable (but it's still expensive). Just not as bad as it was this summer when this article says prices could be $10 for a Pepsi! Now I guess it depends on where you shop for Pepsi too. In this article they give examples of declining hotel prices:

The Four Seasons Hotel in Prague, for example, is offering a Bed and Breakfast package from Oct. 17 to Dec. 27, with rates starting at 245 euros a night, or about $345 at $1.42 to the euro, down from 355 euros in high season. The Ritz-Carlton, Berlin is offering rates from 225 euros a night in November, including breakfast and two glasses of Champagne. Prices normally begin at 355 euros a night.

Not the first hotels I look at... The article does list some tour packages that are somewhat affordable.

No matter where you're going, you have to decide if you'll be using a travel agent or not. Apparently business isn't as bad as young people think it is because the ASTA feels that they need to do something to convince more people to become travel agents.

And speaking of travel agents, here's the story of how one business succeeded.

I suppose one of the things a travel agent might do is help you answer the questions found in this article:

1. HELP! My husband wants a romantic second honeymoon, but we're taking along our toddler. Where can we go and what can we do?

2. We want a big family vacation, but we're on a budget. What should we do?

3. I always wind up overpacking - and yet I still forget things. Any advice?

4. Our flight is nearly six hours long and we have two kids with us! What can we do to make the long trip less stressful?

5. Is there a way to make everyone happy on a vacation — two adults, a teenage son, an 8-year-old daughter and our 2-year-old?

6. What are some resources for family deals, trips, advice, etc.?

I need some time...

Sorry, but I may need a day or two off. I'm working on and delivering a big speech this weekend and I want to impress my bosses (plus whoever else is there). Many of you already know I am a linguist, but if you didn't that's what my speech is about.

Wish me luck!

Laptop tips for travelers

If you frequently take a notebook PC (laptop) with you when you travel, try out these tips Michael Miller, author of the new book, Your First Notebook PC.

If you’re flying and don’t have enough room to place your widescreen notebook on the coach class tray table, consider investing in Keynamics’ Aviator Laptop stand, which positions your notebook at an angle to make the most of the available space. www.keynamics.com.

Don’t be tempted to place your notebook PC in a plane’s overhead storage area; it can easily get knocked around or even stolen by your fellow travelers. Instead, store it under the seat in front of you, where it’s always in sight.

Some long-haul flights provide power ports that supply 15V direct current to power your notebook and other devices. Your best bet for finding such power ports are on cross-country and international flights on American, Delta, United and US Airways. To use a power port, you’ll need a compatible DC auto/air power adapter. Keep in mind that power adapters are device and model specific – although you can always go with the iGo Juice power cord, an all-in-one power adapter that connects your device to any AC or DC power source.

If you’re a mobile professional who likes to check in during driving breaks, consider investing in a mobile notebook desk that provides a good resting surface for your notebook. Some of these mounts attach to the passenger seat, some mount permanently to the front floor of the car, and others just sit on your lap.

If you travel by car, use a cellular data card for roving Internet access. You’ll find lots of Wi-Fi hotspots when you stop your car at rest stops and hotel parking lots, but not on the highway. For connecting from anywhere you get cellular phone service, invest in a broadband cellular data card for your notebook, and the accompanying data service.

If you can get Internet service, there’s no reason not to use your notebook to help you navigate – and find gas stations, restaurants and hotels on the road. I like to use Google Maps (maps.google.com) for these tasks, although any general-purpose mapping site will do the trick.

If you’re traveling with kids, let them use your notebook PC for in-car entertainment. It can function as a mobile game player and a portable DVD player. For long trips, you might want to consider a rear seatback notebook mount.

For safety of your notebook PC, identify it before you take your trip. Try taping a business card to the bottom of your notebook; if it gets stolen and found, you can identify it as yours.
Take an extra battery – it doesn’t hurt to travel with a second fully-charged battery. When your main battery runs out, replace it with the auxiliary battery.

Want to keep your nosy seatmate or the guy at the next table from seeing what you’re typing? Use a privacy screen filter. It fits on your notebook screen and uses microlouver technology to reduce off-angle viewing. You can see what’s onscreen, but people on your left and right can’t.

Arizona ranch vacation deals

This travel deal article talks about two ranches in Arizona.

Bison Ranch Resort Suites (see bison, fish, hike):

Couple packages, family packages
One- and two-bedroom condo suites (with kitchens and electric fireplaces)

"Suites Stampede" promotion lets guests reserve a condo stay through March 31, 2008, (excluding holidays) at rates from $119 a night and receive a second consecutive night or a second condo unit on the same night at half-price.

Autumn in the White Mountains means beautiful sunny days and cool crisp evenings. On Sunday-Thursday, arrivals rates start from $69 on the "Tree Huggers and Leaf Lovers" package.

The "Explore Northern Arizona" package includes a six-day self-drive tour of northern Arizona with a two-night stay at the Prescott Resort and Casino in historic Prescott; two nights of lodging in the stunning red rocks of Sedona at the Junipine Resort, and one night at the Bison Ranch Resort Suites. Rates vary by season, but start from $575.

Tanque Verde Ranch (a Travel Channel Top Ten Family Vacation Destination with all inclusive packages plus hiking mountain biking, horse riding, tennis, kids programs and spa): from $370 to $610 / night.

What to look for in all-inclusive packages

Here's an article that should be common sense but has a message worth repeating - know what's included with your all-inclusive package. A Club Med spokesperson is quoted saying something about shopping for value rather than the lowest possible price.

There are a list of things that are sometimes not included: certain beverages, restaurants, transportation to and from the airport, etc.

If you haven't seen it already, you might be interested in my recent all-inclusive experience in Punta Cana.

Plan your winter vacation in advance

One line from this article about planning vacations in advance rang especially true for me:

Pam Seagle, an agent with Carlson Wagonlit Travel in High Point, N.C., said the families who "get it" booked their holiday travel plans back in January and February of 2007.

My wife and I were making plans for our trip to Europe this winter back in April when we called a travel agent to ask about flights (after shopping online).

It turns out that the cheapest flights from Seoul to Europe are with Thai Air. It's a very long flight, Seoul - Bangkok - Munich (or wherever). However we figured we could make it worthwhile by spending some time in Thailand, maybe a week to study Thai massage in Wat Pho or something. Then we learned that all the flights from Seoul to Bangkok for Dec. 19-21 (our possible departure dates) were already booked.

So we ended up with flights on Lufthansa or something but I just couldn't believe that everything was full so far in advance.

Mancation vacation contest

This is an article about Mancations that has a cryptic reference to a contest for a free mancation:

If you win the Great Winter Escape Contest, the Winnipeg Free Press and Signature Vacations has a week-long holiday in the sun for two as your prize, with four possible destinations and vacation themes. (There is only one prize at the contest's end).

Maybe I'm not reading carefully but I still don't know how to enter the contest...

Genealogy travel experiences

A very brief article here with 3 short genealogy travel experiences.

A few people have left comments on this blog about how rewarding their genealogy travel has been so it's something I'd like to do in Italy, Germany, and Ireland where my ancestors mostly come from. At this point it's just a wish - I haven't actually done anything to make it happen. I did actually ask my mom to collect some family history information, which she did. I put it in a folder and never looked at it... I should do something about that.

California road trip: cities and nature

I was picking up a pretzel for my wife the other day (she was getting hungry while having her hair done) at the only gourmet pretzel / coffee place I know in Korea (near Sookmyung Women’s University).

I’ve been there several times, but the other day was the first time the owner spoke to me. Pretty soon he had out his Atlas and was showing me the routes of his North American road trips, which focused on National Parks. This Korean pretzel shop owner who has spent many months driving around the US and Canada inspired this California road trip that features California’s 3 National Parks and 3 most famous cities.

I think I see more than 3 on the map, but the pretzel store owner assured me there were only 3 national parks in California (46 in the 48 continental US states). Maybe someone reading this can clear that up for me?

Anyway, we start south and work our way up spending 3-5 days in each place. Now road trips are supposed to be somewhat spontaneous, but what can I do? I’m a planner. I like having reservations and itineraries all set up in advance.

San Diego
LA (2 hour drive from San Diego)
Joshua Tree National Park (3 hours from LA)
Death Valley National Park (5.5 hours from Joshua Tree – it didn’t look that far on the map!)
Yosemite National Park (4 hours