Vacation in Hawaii? Kauai Vacation Rentals has hotels, condos, and more.
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Travelers: Kauai Condos offers vacation rentals at Kuhio Shores.
Vacation with views: try Hanalei Bay Resort on your Hawaiian vacation.
February 29, 2008
A couch to crash on anywhere in the world
This article talks about couchsurfing, when travelers stay in a stranger's home (well someone they met online anyway) instead of going to a hotel. It does sounds interesting to get a local person to show you around and to see how a local person lives - no doubt this would teach you something about the culture of wherever you're visiting.
It also has the added benefit of being cheap.
Now I feel like making a bit of a digression and expanding on a relatively minor point in the article.
One student teacher had this to add: "A lot of Americans, they vacation, they don’t travel. I differentiate between vacationing and traveling," Breault said. "You’re learning something about the world, rather than viewing the world."
Here I have a problem. When I was a poor college student I was an elitist traveler like this student teacher. I drove to New Orleans for Mardi Gras, slept in my car every night, ate loaves of bread and unheated cans of spaghetti (totally disgusting by the way), hung out with apparently homeless New Orleans kids for a day, etc. I thought I was a real traveler especially compared to the tourists staying in expensive hotels.
Now I stay in hotels, but I still think I'm traveling. I don't understand people who say you can view the world without learning something. It kind of reminds me of those people who said I shouldn't go shopping when I travel.
I didn't do any shopping when I was 22 and in New Orleans for Mardi Gras. Now I shop when I'm on vacation. The experiences certainly are different but I don't think anyone can say one is 'real' and the other is not real traveling.
Anyway, enough about how young people who travel cheap think they are the real travelers. Let me ask a discussion question:
Would you crash on a stranger's couch while traveling in your own country or abroad? Would you invite someone you met online into your home so that they could travel cheap?
Personally, I would have no objection to sleeping in a stranger's house as long as I had talked to them online or something. But inviting someone into my home would be entirely different. I don't think I would. I guess it seems like it would be easy to leave the stranger's house if I was uncomfortable there (partially because I have money for a hotel) but kicking someone out of my house would be more trouble.
Interestingly, I blogged about one of these couch surfing sites 2 years ago. I'm still waiting for hospitalityclub.org to review my application...
February 28, 2008
Orlando hotel advice for one of our own
Jill has been an important part of our community for a long time and now she could use our help.
She has tickets to the Police/Elvis Costello concert in Orlando in May and they need a hotel. It's the weekend before their 20th anniversary, so a splurge would be appropriate. One possibility is a savannah-view room at Disney's Animal Kingdom. Can anyone else recommend a nice hotel?
They are also considering a suit-and-tie, no-kids-allowed dinner at Victor and Albert's. Can anyone comment on this or another nice restaurant in Orlando?
Discrimination in the air?
Christopher Elliott, the well known Travel Troubleshooter and National Geographic Traveler's ombudsman, has this article on discrimination by airlines. He suggests that most cases of discrimination go unreported. Of course even if you do report it, the airline "can contest the complaint and have it removed from their record."
Well even though I'm happy to be back and want to keep writing I do have to go to the bank and to a graduation ceremony at the university. But I will be back.
February 27, 2008
And I'm back
I don't know how to describe the trials I've gone through in the past few days trying to get my web host to get this site back online. Let's just say that I've been losing more hair than normal and not sleeping real well. I'll be blogging like normal shortly. Right now I need a drink or three and some sleep.
At least it has been almost a year since my last major problem. Hopefully I'll be retired before I ever have another huge disaster...
February 22, 2008
Orlando beyond Disney plus resort press releases
Here's an article on things to do in Orlando other than family-oriented Disney. The list does include some Disney though: Walt Disney World Speedway where people get to drive a NASCAR-style stock car.
Other activities listed in the article include golf and airboat tours, sky diving, hang gliding, water-skiing, canoeing, and the "sophisticated nightlife" in Winter Park, a tony suburb of Orlando (I don't know what a tony suburb is but the article also spelled skiing as skiiing with an extra i...).
I didn't find much else in the regular news I went through but I thought these 2 press release excerpts would be interesting:
Mike Ditka, former NFL Coach of the 1985 Super Bowl champion Chicago Bears, will soon celebrate the official grand opening of the first two Mike Ditka Resorts in Orlando, Lighthouse Key Resort & Spa and Runaway Beach Club Resort on Feb. 27th.
Lighthouse Key Resort & Spa and Runaway Beach Club Resort are both located in the heart of the Orlando attractions area and are minutes from Walt Disney World Resort. Lighthouse Key Resort & Spa is a gated resort community featuring spacious two-, three- and four-bedroom lakefront villas. Runaway Beach Club Resort offers one-, two- and three-bedroom villas and loft villas.
And excerpted from a different press release:
BookIt.com Deal: $99 per night at the Regal Sun Resort. This official Disney hotel is part of the Lake Buena Vista Hotel Resorts. I don't know what's so special about this deal since the same price is available from a link on the hotel's home page. That link sends you to ihotelier.com instead of bookit.com...
For more on Orlando I searched my own blog and found the following:
Tampa Bay vacation plan (with Orlando side trip)
Disney honeymoon experience
Disney honeymoon discussion
Disney resort comparison
At least I found one that wasn't Disney focused! So has anyone here gone to Orlando and not gone to Disney?
February 21, 2008
Destination wedding scam in the Dominican Republic
We talked about destination weddings not too long ago and how they are supposed to reduce stress. That isn't happening for British and Canadian couples who had destination weddings in the Dominican Republic but haven't gotten their marriage certificates.
Of course the wedding planner says to hire a professional, but how does a wedding planner in your home country know if whoever is doing the ceremony has the proper credentials?
And if you're curious about America's changing wedding culture this article may be of interest. Scroll down to see the mention of destination weddings near the end.
February 20, 2008
New book on road trips and American culture coming out
I link to this article hesitantly because I fear the comments that may follow but I do think this book is likely to be worth reading: Are We There Yet? The Golden Age of American Family Vacations by Susan Rugh. Apparently part of the book is dedicated to how difficult it was for black Americans to experience the freedom of the open road.
Coming out in May, the book's press release notes say: "Rugh's study recounts how postwar prosperity and mass consumption - abetted by paid vacation leave, car ownership, and the new interstate highway system - forged the ritual of the family road trip and how that ritual became entwined with what it meant to be an American."
I think road trips are a pretty American experience. I don't think they are nearly as big a part of the culture in most European or Asian countries for example.
By the way, if anyone knows of an article or TV episode or documentary that talks about the importance of road trips in American culture, please leave a comment here because I'm teaching a course on US culture and would like to consider including this as a topic in my class.
And of course there are some related blog entries:
California road trip
Baseball road trip
Elizabethtown
With kids
LA to San Francisco
Memphis to Portland
Jamaica
Baseball (out of date but a good example for a more current plan)
February 19, 2008
Nickelodeon Family Cruise on Freedom of the Seas
We wrote about Freedom of the Seas a while back and now there is a special cruise on this same ship. The Nickelodeon Family Cruise has famous guests like Dora the Explorer and SpongeBob SquarePants.
This article calls it the largest cruise ship, although I thought Liberty of the Seas was bigger. After I read the article I thought the author simply named the wrong ship - surely she is describing Liberty of the Seas:
Look for your young daredevils at the FlowRider surfing simulator or scaling the line's largest rock-climbing wall with 10 routes. Younger kids should be splashing in the H2O Zone water park with interactive fountains, ground geysers and a cascading waterfall.I was wrong. A little research revealed that all 3 Freedom class ships from Royal Caribbean have these attractions. And Freedom is the biggest - Liberty is the newest.Other kid-pleasing amenities aboard include an ice-skating rink, nine-hole mini-golf course, full-size basketball court, Johnny Rockets for burgers and Ben & Jerry's for cold treats.
The article also mentions a few other cruises ships. Carnival Inspiration, Carnival Imagination, and Carnival Fantasy have been or soon will be upgraded.
Hyatt Regency Tamaya near Santa Fe
This article about the Hyatt Regency Tamaya doesn't really capture the experience of staying there but it does describe the hotel and how it works with the local Native Americans. It makes me somewhat curious - I'd certainly like to check it out.
I guess it is as close to an authentic cultural experience you can get at a Hyatt. This old blog entry might be related - I was reminded of it...
If anyone has some vacation ideas that really allow travelers to experience Native American culture, please comment here or email me - jtrotta@gmail.com
February 18, 2008
Does a Delta + Northwest merger mean trouble for US air travelers?
This article contains some speculation about how US airline mergers might be a bad thing for travelers. Basically, fares are expected to increase and service is likely to get worse.
Mother & daughter vacation in Fiji
Here's an interesting story from a woman who took her 16-year-old daughter to Fiji. I don't know that most of us can afford to imitate her experience though:
Navutu Stars Resort and Spa, an exclusive and stunningly beautiful property on an uninhabited island. Six smiling staff members greeted us from the beach with songs, fresh fruit cocktails and leis of pink hibiscus.The author talks about another resort, diving and snorkeling, how friendly Fijians are, and more.
February 17, 2008
Travel agents and the service they do or do not provide
This article talks about two things. One is the risk of Malaria in Punta Cana and elsewhere in the Dominican Republic. I didn't know that when I went...
The other thing is the role of the travel agent, something we have discussed here on this blog. Travel agents just aren't telling their customers about the Malaria risk. Whenever a travel agent comments on this blog about how necessary they are, they always imply that they would give their customers this kind of information.
I'm sure that some travel agents are good enough to give people all the relevant information, but are most travel agents good? The influx of "travel agents" from YTB and other card mills certainly isn't helping but even traditional travel agents don't always do that much for their customers.
I used a travel agent in New Jersey when I went to Cancun. I never went back to her because the service she offered was nothing special. In Seoul we have 2 travel agents that we use often because they really take care of us.
Skiing accident, medical helicopter bill, and travel / medical insurance question
The following is an email I received from a reader who wants to remain anonymous. Any helpful comments would be appreciated:
So one of my wife's classmates went snowboarding with her boyfriend this last weekend. Her boyfriend had some kind of mishap and fractured his cheekbone against a tree. They took him down to the bottom of the mountain and elected to send him to Reno via helicopter. 5 days later he gets the bill -- 30,000 dollars.
What the hell!??! The total time that thing spent in the air couldn't have been more than an hour. I hope the dude has insurance, though they probably won't cover all or even much of that cost.
Pretty outrageous. The reason I am writing in is to see if any of your readers know about this stuff. Travel insurance, medical insurance, travel medical insurance, medical evac (domestic) insurance, etc. What do we do to protect ourselves from these $30,000 bills? What should my wife’s classmate’s boyfriend do if he doesn’t have the right insurance?
February 16, 2008
Photography equipment for travelers and Silk Road tour itinerary
This is a follow up on my previous interview with Simon Foster about the Silk Road photography tour. Ewen Bell, the other tour operator has added some more details that might interest you:
James Trotta: What photography equipment should travelers bring (is a pocket size digital camera good enough)?
Ewen Bell: Yes a compact digital will do, but they will get the most from a Digital SLR. There are many advanced techniques people can learn quickly, when given the chance to be shown how and practice non-stop for two weeks! A regular Canon or Nikon DSLR will perform wonderfully, and when coupled with a standard lens and a wide-angle lens you have all you need. People tend to drift towards the fancy telephoto lenses, but unless you're shooting wildlife they're not very useful. A Nikon D40 with 18-55mm is good, or a Canon 40D with 18-55mm is also good. I like very wide angle, so a 10-24mm wide angle lens is a nice match here.
He also sent a long a more detailed itinerary of the tour:
Itinerary in Detail for Silk Road
Day 1 Xi'an
Theme: Get Closer
We'll meet in the hotel lobby at 6pm and then head out for a delicious dumpling banquet! We'll spend this first evening getting to know one another and discussing the objectives and structure of the tour. (D)
Day 2 Xi'an
Theme: Follow The Light
Today we'll head out onto the lively streets of Xi'an, walking through the artist's quarter and around the Ming dynasty city walls. The walk will also provide one-on-one time with the photographic instructor in order to assist you with any basic skills relating to SLR photography. (B)
Day 3 Xi'an
Theme: Still Life
Early this morning we'll visit a fascinating antiques market before heading to the incredible Terracotta Warriors. The visit is included as much for your interest as for photographic study but a telephoto lens of 150mm is still sufficient to take photos of the warriors. Later in the afternoon we explore the lively Muslim markets where we'll also dine and shoot further into the evening to capture the ambience. (BD)
Day 4 Jiayuguan
Today we'll take a short flight west to Jiayuguan and then have the remainder of the day free to relax and review our work. (BD)
Day 5 Jiayuguan
Theme: Landscapes
The stark ochre ramparts of the Ming dynasty Great Wall Fort afford commanding views over the surrounding desert to the mountains in the distance and we start the day here. Later we head into the desert to a crumbling outlying section of wall dramatically perched on the edge of a gorge. (B)
Day 6 Dunhuang
Theme: Colour and Light
We set off early for the long drive through the desert to Dunhuang. During the journey we'll have the chance to review our work, and then we'll have the rest of the day at leisure in this laid-back oasis town. (BLD)
Day 7 Dunhuang
Theme: Candles
This morning we'll explore the desert surrounding Dunhuang, including the huge dunes which border the town. After a free afternoon we'll meet for afternoon drinks on the terrace of our hotel, which is a great spot for the classic dune sunset. (B)
Day 8 Overnight Train
Theme: Digital Techniques
After a free morning we visit the stunning cave art at the Mogao Grottoes a short drive from Dunhuang. No photography is allowed inside the complex so we'll have the chance to rest our tired trigger fingers. We board an overnight train to Turpan. (B)
Day 9 Turpan
After a free morning we'll explore the outlying desert, taking in the fiery Flaming Mountains, a hidden valley oasis vineyard and the graceful domes of an 18th century mosque. (BD)
Day 10 Turpan
Theme: Portraiture
Today we'll visit the nearby ruins of an ancient desert settlement and have a chance to explore the dusty lanes which surround the town. The lanes are lined with grape trellises and are popular thoroughfares for farmers and their donkey carts. (B)
Day 11 Kashgar
Theme: Telling a Story
We drive to Urumqi to catch a flight to Kashgar, the quintessential Silk Road desert trading town. Its proximity to a host of other Central Asian countries lends the town a unique blend of cultures. Kazaks, Kyrgyz, Tajiks and Uighurs are all represented in the region and a stroll along one of Kashgar's bustling alleys will reveal market traders, traditional artisans and daily life. Our explorations are landmarked by mosques and beautifully carved gates. (BD)
Day 12 Lake Karakul
Today we'll make the long, steep drive along the Karakoram Highway from the desert to the 7000m plus mountains that border Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and northern India. We'll overnight in a simple Kyrgyz yurt on the edge of breathtaking Lake Karakul at 3600m. (BD)
Day 13 Kashgar
We'll rise early to enjoy the best of the light as it catches the ever-changing hues of the lake, backed by huge snowcapped mountains. After a simple breakfast and some time to explore the lake we'll wind our way back to Kashgar where we'll have a free afternoon. (B)
Day 14 Kashgar
Theme: Motion
Kashgar's Sunday Bazaar has to be seen to be believed and affords a kaleidoscope of people, produce and photographic potential. We spend the morning here and then the afternoon at the former site of the Sunday Bazaar, now a huge covered market selling trash and treasure, new and old. This evening we head out for a traditional Uighur banquet to celebrate the end of our Silk Road journey. (BD)
Day 15 Kashgar
The tour ends after breakfast. Hotel rooms are held until noon – please advise us well in advance if you require an extra night or two. (B)
February 15, 2008
MM2H = Malaysia My Second Home: good retirement or vacation home option?
A colleague of mine was telling me today about a program the Malaysian government runs that he might take advantage of. The MM2H program is designed to encourage foreigners to either buy a vacation home or retire in Malaysia.
This Malaysian article (it's a business article) says that many MM2H people are buying in Penang. I went to Penang and have no real desire to go back (though the hotel was very nice). Partly that was because the taxis stressed me out (they don't use the meter so taxis in Penang are always more expensive then in Kuala Lumpur (assuming you take the time in KL - different KL link - to find one who will use the meter).
In the article, people predict that real estate in both Penang and KL will go up. That's one possible reason to buy a vacation or retirement home in Malaysia but it's not enough.
This article lists some more reasons:
1. It's always hot. Obviously this won't thrill everyone but if you hate winter...
2. There is no language issue. Almost everyone speaks English, unlike in Charles de Gaulle Airport...
3. Good health care - Malaysia is a medical tourism destination.
Then the article gives you the basics of MM2H:
To attract affluent retirees, the Malay government operates the Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) Programme to allow foreigners to stay in Malaysia for extended periods. Participants over 50 must deposit a minimum of RM150,000 (or about $43,000) in a Malay bank account (yes, you get interest and you can withdraw part of it after a year) or have access to a monthly pension of at least RM10,000 ($2,900), as well as having at least RM350,000 ($102,000) in liquid assets back home. In return, you get a 10-year pass that allows you to come and go. The pass is renewable and you pay no tax on income derived outside of Malaysia. Property prices in Malaysia are reasonable: you could buy a three-bedroom, 100-sq-m condominium in Penang for RM300,000 to 330,000 ($86,000 to $94,000) or pay about RM1,000 to 2,000 ($285 to $570) per month to rent the same space.So basically they want people who have money moving there. I guess you can't blame them for that. Most countries prefer people with money...
The other interesting thing is that the program is for people 50 and over. I don't have any idea why they would prefer people 50 and up. Isn't a 40-year-old with money just as good?
If you don't have money, maybe Long Beach would be good (no electricity bill).
February 14, 2008
Single vacation deals for everyone
I blogged a while back about traveling alone even if you are not single and do receive requests for more articles geared toward single travelers. I do try to honor those requests, but don't see that many articles on single travel...
Anyway, here is an article on travel deals for the single traveler.
There are several resorts trying to attract solo travelers with special packages. These include the Arawak Beach Inn in Anguilla, Le Meridien Cancun Resort and Spa, South Seas Island Resort off Florida's Gulf Coast, Tortuga Bay in the Dominican Republic (Punta Cana actually - where I reviewed Sirenis), and Westin St. John Resort.
They also have a bunch of "activity" or "adventure" based vacation packages. Getting mentions here (on page 2 of the article) are Intrepid Travel's Solo Active program, Tauck World Discovery, "the gorgeous Villa San Michele's popular Single Is Beautiful and Tasty, Too! package", International Expeditions, and Country Walkers.
Finally, the article lists a few sites for people who are single and looking (not just solo travelers).
February 13, 2008
Travel scams
This British article talks about some common travel scams including fake free trips to Florida, card mills (which aren't necessarily scams but you should know that it is network marketing and that many network marketing companies plus many network marketers don't deserve your trust), fly-by-nights, issues with travel insurance, people calling your room pretending to be hotel reception, bad exchange rates, fake cops who search you after a 'friend' gives you some drugs, drink-doping, unlicensed taxis, getting your bags stolen at security (especially common in US airports according to the article), trying to get in on a scam, and then a bunch of reader submitted scams.
The only real scam that I've experienced (one I didn't fall for since I had read about it before traveling) happened in Thailand. It's near the end of this travel essay. I remember being amazed that the Wat Pho guard sat there watching the scammer work on my wife and I. I don't know what those Wat Pho guards get paid, but whatever they get is more than that jerk deserves.
February 12, 2008
What do FEMA, the IRS, and TSA have in common?
Americans don't like any of them. This article talks about complaints Americans have with TSA expressed on the TSA blog.
Apparently, commenting on this blog can make a difference:
Last week, readers scored a point after some complained about a security procedure. At some airports, screeners had been ordering passengers to remove all electronics from their bags, rather than just laptops. There is no such rule. “We learned that this exercise was set up by local T.S.A. officers,” the agency reported back on the blog. By Monday afternoon, the word had gone out to T.S.A. screeners nationally: BlackBerrys, iPods and other electronics stay in bags.Of course, people complain about TSA everywhere, even on this blog. But it's nice to know that on the TSA blog management may be reading...
Beatles themed hotel opens in Liverpool, UK
After many years of effort, a Beatles themed hotel has just opened in Liverpool, the birthplace of course, of the Fab Four. The hotel is rather aptly named “A Hard Day’s Night” and features Beatle motifs and music playing constantly in the public areas – although the hotel assures the music won’t be too loud!
The hotel also boasts rare photos of the group on the walls and a “Yellow Submarine” jukebox in the lobby – one of only a thousand in existence, apparently.
The hotel is situated on the edge of a neighborhood in the center of Liverpool which is known as the Cavern Quarter and is the site of the famous club where the Beatles used to play. The three concierges who work at the hotel hold the key to the city, meaning that they are a good source of local knowledge.
Liverpool is also celebrating its role as European city of Culture this year. Cities that have had this title in past years include Madrid, Paris and Florence. The city has dozens of concerts, festivals and other attractions happening throughout the year.
The rooms at the hotel aren’t cheap – they start at around $340 a night and the John Lennon penthouse suite costs around $1,300 a night. Although that’s still quite a bargain compared to some of the most expensive hotel rooms in the world. And I would imagine that any Beatles fan staying in the hotel would find it quite hard to resist the temptation to take something with them from the hotel room. I would take the Yellow submarine jukebox if I could figure a way to sneak it out of there...
And following on from a post about stealing from hotel rooms, items from cruise ships are in high demand as well, as this article points out.
Guest entry by Mancunian
February 11, 2008
Hard to find a seat?
I know from experience that flying between New York and Tokyo gets difficult during summer. This Australian article talks about some other situations where they expect a shortage of seats on planes.
Heading to Beijing for the Olympics is one. Late July when Pope Benedict XVI goes to Australia for World Youth Day is another.
I was thinking about heading to Beijing for the Olympics this summer, but I've decided not to. Since I went to Europe this winter it has been a while since I've visited New York and that's where my family is.
Vacation deals for Fort Lauderdale and more
The Washington Post has a lot of different vacation deals for us. They mention the American Express Going once sale, an all-Asia pass from Cathay Pacific, some hotels, and more.
February 10, 2008
Spa vacation ideas
There aren't too many people who wouldn't enjoy a spa vacation. I mean who doesn't want to get pampered on vacation?
This article reminds us that celebrities do. The article promises to tell you about "rates from $422/night at exclusive, pampering holiday hotels" and while that is expensive is nothing compared to this next place.
This article talks about a new spa being built that will have "high-end teepees, spa packages and music shows to the green-minded vacationer."
Interesting how they combine the pampering of a spa vacation with teepees. And what is a high-end teepee anyway? They better be nice for $2,000 / night.
If that's too expensive, maybe Glenwood Springs is more your style. This article calls it the working man's spa town. Here the Hotel Colorado has the world's largest mineral bath:
The 90-degree main pool measures 405 feet in length, with a diving section and Olympic-size swimming lanes; an adjacent 104-degree therapy pool is a mere 100 feet long. On a night last month, the pool glowed turquoise, steam rose 30 feet, and “Le Freak” by Chic played over the sound system. Bodies appeared and disappeared as the mists tumbled over the water’s surface.At $169/night (and up) it's a bit more affordable than the new teepees being built.
Back to expensive stuff, this article mentions Bora Bora Pearl Beach Resort & Spa and Jaguar Reef Lodge and Spa as top 5 dream vacation destinations.
This article on romantic vacation ideas for couples who have been together for a while also mentions spa vacations, namely learning a sport like golf at a resort with a nice spa. If you don't like golf, you can always "court each other at a resort in a couples' sensuality workshop." If you love golf then read this article.
This article reminds us to think about both the spa and the overall experience. That means pick a place with nice surroundings and good food. Of course most spa resorts have nice stuff around them and good food...
And this is an old article I've been hanging on to for a while. Time to get rid of it! It has got spas from New York to Africa and that focus on yoga, spirituality, etc.
February 9, 2008
Travel agents: besides medical tourism, in which niches are they needed?
When I asked about what travel agents will be doing in a few years, I stirred up some discussion. Many people say travel agents are no longer necessary but others have reasons why travel agents are still employed.
This article talks about how travel agents are still needed. The evidence they offer is that many people buy their plane tickets through travel agents.
Certainly there are niches where travel agents will always be needed. I think we can include the super wealthy vacations (though how would I know?), medical tourism, and a few others.
Speaking of medical tourism, we do have this article on dental vacations. Of course, I don't think you want to copy everything the family described in this article does since one person skipped going to the dentist for 10 years...
February 8, 2008
Winter vacation in or near Chicago? Bowling, candy, Key Lime Cove
This article talks about winter vacation ideas in Chicago. Not surprisingly that's when hotels are cheapest. There's a bowling weekend getaway, a feed your kids as much junk food as possible vacation, stuff aimed at locals who aren't going to leave the Chicago area, and another interesting one...
I do like water parks but I'm not so sure this one is for me (seems to be geared toward kids):
And opening Feb. 29 right in Gurnee is the 30-acre KeyLime Cove Resort, where you can pretend that it's not winter and it's not cold outside. It's like an indoor mini-vacation to the Caribbean. Guests stay ins suites that include flat-screen TVs with cable and refrigerator, and they have exclusive rights to use the 65,000-square-foot Lost Paradise Indoor Water Park with whirlpool, body slides, water slides, river tube rides and kiddie pools. The Rip Tide Reef Arcade features foosball, air hockey and loads of other kid-oriented games. KeyLime has also created its own cast of charismatic characters like Toukie the Toucan and Marty the Chameleon who tell stories and do performances throughout the resort."KeyLime Cove is putting a new twist on the way Americans vacation," said managing director Andrew Bateman.
And parents, get this -- you can purchase a predetermined amount of "fun" for your kids at the resort.
February 7, 2008
Interview with Silk Road photography tour guide, Simon Foster
I recently learned about the following tour:
Silk Road Photo Tour
15 day adventure, 13-27 October 2008 from Xian to Kashgar
Maximum of 8 people
US $3400 per person. Further details go online to www.ewenbell.com.
I've sent interview questions to the two tour guides, photographer Ewen Bell and travel writer Simon Foster. Here are responses from Simon:
1. Can you give us an idea of the trip itinerary? What do travelers see the first day, the second day, etc.?
Days 1-3 = Xi'an
Days 4-5 = Jiayuguan
Days 6-8 = Dunhuang
Days 9-10 = Turpan
Days 11-15 = Kashgar and Lake Karakul
2. How is this tour different from other Silk Road tours (many of which do the Terra-Cotta Warriors of Xi'an to Kashgar)?
Whilst this tour visits many of the “regular” Silk Road destinations, that is where the similarities with other trips end:
Firstly, as a photographic tour, the emphasis is on spending enough time at each of the places we visit (rather than the whistle-stop tours offered by some operators). This enables us to capture the ambience and scenery of the environments we pass through as well as to interact with locals and thus get some great people shots.
Secondly, travelers will enjoy the benefit of two expert leaders. This being a photographic tour, Ewen Bell’s skills both as a photographer and an instructor are paramount (Ewen was voted Australian Travel Photographer of the Year 2007). But the experienced tour leader, Simon Foster, is also an accomplished author in his own right and has contributed to numerous guidebooks, including the current editions of the Rough Guide to China and Frommer’s China as well as having penned a solo adventure guidebook to the Middle Kingdom for Hunter Guides (www.hunterpublishing.com).
3. I know that I can't even imagine 100,000 people in a Sunday market like you would have at kashgar. Would you mind sharing a photo to help people like me picture Asia's (and the world's?) largest market?
Not sure quite how many people head for Kashgar’s Sunday market, but it’s safe to say there are at least ten times more animals than people! In order to get a feel for the atmosphere of the market I’ve attached a few photos to a separate mail, but it’s also worth checking out my blog (www.simonfoster.wordpress.com) which has a story about the Silk Road markets (“Silk Road Rocks”) and my photo website (www.flickr.com/photos/mebesimon).
Note: I did receive several photos, but I need to resize them before I can post them here. So a future blog entry will have the photos...
4. Which part of the itinerary is the least heard of and can you explain why you chose that place?
Lake Karakul is probably the least well known destination on the tour. It was chosen as it offers both spectacular scenery (a crystal clear lake at 4000m surrounded by 7000m peaks, including mighty Mustaghata) and an insight into nomadic life in these harsh conditions, Bactrian camels and all! We spend the night in a typical Tajik or Kyrgyz yurt which gives us the opportunity to interact with the hardy locals, witnessing mountain life firsthand, idyllically beautiful and yet at the same time, unforgivingly tough. What’s more the journey to Karakul (along the start of the Karakoram Highway) is as stunning as the lake itself, starting from the desert and ascending through colossal barren mountains and high plains dotted with goats and yaks.
5. What will travelers learn on this tour?
As well as getting an understanding of the cultural and geographic diversity of China, travelers have the opportunity to learn about photography with a wide range of subject matter, and tips from an expert photographer. The tour leader is also conversant in Chinese and will pass on the basics of the language.
6. What photography equipment should travelers bring (is a pocket size digital camera good enough)?
I’ll defer to Ewen for more expert advice on this one, but a pocket digital is certainly adequate, although many travelers bring a digital SLR.
7. In what ways is this tour eco-friendly, low impact, or sustainable tourism?
By limiting the group size to 8, visits to out of the way communities remain personal and uninvasive. Furthermore, to support local communities, we use local services and guides, which also gives a more accurate regional perspective than is achieved with some of the larger operators who often use Han guides.
Well that's the end of this interview. I hope you found hearing about the Silk Road from a travel writer / tour operator as interesting as I did. I'll get the pictures resized and posted soon, probably tomorrow.
February 6, 2008
Destination weddings - how much easier are they?
According to this article, one advantage of having a destination wedding is easy for the couple:
"Everything is pretty much handled for them,” Goetschel said. “It’s not really a do-it-yourself wedding. The couple is treated as a guest even if they are stars of the show. They don’t have to do the extra labor, either."Since my wedding was in Korea, my wife got stuck with making most of the arrangements but is was a substantial amount of work for her.
And I remember when my sister got married - she and her husband had a lot of work to do and were real busy making plans.
So I wonder if anyone here has had a destination wedding and if it really was easy.
Naturally there are some disadvantages. For example, destination weddings are often expensive. This article talks about extremely expensive ones. For normal people, though, I don't know if it would be much more expensive for the couple getting married, especially if they honeymoon where or near the place of the wedding.
However, for guests who live near the bride and groom the extra plane fare might be a big deal.
February 5, 2008
What will travel agents do differently in 2020?
This article talks about the IATA Agents Association of India (IAAI) annual convention with the theme, 'The travel agent by 2020 - Goals and challenges.'
One of the more interesting comments was this one, which makes it sound like travel agents will rely almost exclusively on wealthy customers (those who are willing to pay a travel consultant to help them plan a vacation):
Later, Raghavan offered travel agents a way by which they can resurrect their fate, considering the impending danger of zero per cent commissions by airlines. "With their major source of revenue being usurped by the online medium, now travel agents should no longer be agents; they should become consultants. They should start a system, wherein they charge a fee for every service that they offer. This will ensure a regular source of income for the travel agents," he said.Would you pay for a travel consultant to help you with your vacation plans and reservations?
February 4, 2008
Kauai's identity: changing for the worse?
One of these days I will go to Kauai. I think I've written about these vacation rentals before and I know I've written about west Kauai.
However, this article talks about how Kauai is at a crossroads. Locals blocked the ferry Mancunian blogged about a while back because they were worried about increased traffic. The natives also have to deal with quickly rising real estate prices, and too much new construction.
February 3, 2008
Babymoon article
This article talks about babymoons, specifically the Mohonk Mountain House 'Hello Baby!' BabyMoon package. This hotel is in New York (Hudson Valley area).
$374/person (Sunday through Thursday) gets you three meals daily, afternoon tea and cookies, and resort activities. That includes time in the spa in the Couples' Treatment Room, where moms-to-be get a 50-minute Maternity Massage and dads-to-be have a choice between a deep tissue massage or revitalizer facial.
You get chocolates each night, a spa gift for the new parents, and a gift for the baby.
It sounds like quite a nice package but the article doesn't say if it's $374/person total or each day...
They also have some tips for babymooners. It's simple stuff like talk to your doctor and buy travel insurance in case you need to change you plans. This previous article I blogged about also had some stuff about pregnant women in spas (hot tubs are bad for example).
This blog entry also talks about babymoon packages. I think in there I also talked about how free gifts seem like a waste to me. Personally I wouldn't even consider that if I were pricing any sort of vacation package.
Hitler hotel room / Don’t even think of stealing that ashtray!
It’s probably something we have all done on at least one occasion – taken an ashtray, towel or some other item from a hotel room. Theft from hotel rooms costs around $100 million every year, according to the American Hotel and Lodging Association.
To some extent, the hotel chains don’t mind the theft of small items such as washcloths, toiletries and ashtrays as it often gives them free advertising. Apparently, washcloths are the most popular item to steal. I always take any pads of paper, envelopes and pens, as I know that I will use them, and I assume they are there to be used or taken away.
But some thefts are clearly completely over the top – a man was able to remove an entire marble fireplace from the Four Seasons Beverly Wilshire Hotel; and a couple somehow managed to load up a U-Haul in the middle of the night with every piece of furniture from their Holiday Inn room.
And some hotels have had so many items taken from their rooms that they are offering a “no questions asked” amnesty in an effort to have some or all of the items returned. The Peabody Hotel in Memphis and the Hotel Del Coronado in San Diego, as well as Washington’s exclusive Mayflower Hotel have all requested items to be returned. The most “in demand” items at the Mayflower are wine glasses etched with the hotel’s name.
And there seems to be different opinions on the Gideon’s Bible that you find in most hotel rooms – some people think it’s OK to take that with you; some people consider it to be stealing.
I expect people will be tempted to take items from the “Hitler Room” - one of the rooms in a new hotel in Belgrade, Serbia. The luxurious rooms are all named after world leaders, such as George Bush, Fidel Castro and Margaret Thatcher. The Hitler room is very reasonably priced at around $200 – compared to around $500 a night for the President Tito suite. It is also in high demand – apparently the room is booked through sometime in 2009.
Here’s your chance to confess – what have you taken from a hotel room?
Guest entry by Mancunian
And me again (not Mancunian) - this reminded me of the hotel we stayed in while we were in Zurich. They said they used to have a DVD player in every room but they kept getting stolen. Now only the 3 suites have DVD players...
February 2, 2008
Trips to Outer Space... Long awaited new shows on Travel Channel
For the person who has been absolutely everywhere (and some people have been just about everywhere, it seems) a trip to outer space (is there such a thing as inner space, or is all space considered to be outer?) is the next big thing in travel.
There seems to be something of a competition to be the first company to offer tours of space – this blog has talked about this on a couple of previous occasions) And if you want to honeymoon in space too, you may soon be able to do that.
Virgin Galactic (a subsidiary of Virgin Atlantic) is one of the main contenders when it comes to offering trips into space for those who can afford to pay for them. Virgin has even signed a contract with up to 50 travel agencies - meaning you can walk into a travel agent and book your space flight.
The company actually had plans to commence the trips this year, but now it seems as though they have postponed until 2009. Not that I have the money to pay for such a trip at the moment, anyway – the cost per person is around $200,000. Virgin already has around 200 people signed up for potential trips, although, apparently if you have enough Virgin frequent flyer miles, you can use those, according to one story.
On a completely unrelated note, the Travel Channel has started to show some new shows at last. This Monday saw the debut of Michael Palin’s new series “New Europe” in which he travels through various Eastern Europe countries. The first episode featured the intrepid traveler visiting a minefield in Serbia and exploring one of the most mysterious European countries - Albania.
The bad news is that Saturday evening saw back to back episodes of that old favorite “World Poker Tour”. According to our source at the Travel Channel, the Poker show won’t be on for much longer...
I’d better start buying those lottery tickets if I want a trip into space.
Guest entry by Mancunian.
And on a personal note, (this is me, not Mancunian) I wonder if anyone at the Travel Channel ever saw my blog entry on an idea for a budget travel show...
February 1, 2008
What is hard travel?
A friend of mine who has spen many years living and traveling in India and Nepal once called India "hard travel". This vidoe of a train ride in India reminded me of that statement and that I wanted to blog about it to get your opinions on hard travel. So what is hard travel?
Being on this train would certainly qualify:
However the term "hard travel" doesn't seem to be that common. A Google search showed me lots of hard travel cases, but that's about it.
So let me ask you, what is hard travel? Have you experienced it, heard about it, seen videos of it?