MJ’s Travel Favorites 3-28-10

This past week of travel had me in and out of a variety of warm weather destinations, including Maui, San Jose (California) and Palm Springs, before returning home to chilly Seattle.  My travel pet peeve for the week is hotels that promote their property as having free wi-fi, but then it doesn’t work.  If you’re free wi-fi keeps signing me off every 10 minutes, you need to get some issue resolved!

Here’s what I’ve enjoyed reading this week – when I did have internet access:

• BootsnAll has a list of ways for a non-resort person to enjoy a resort stay.  As someone who enjoys both resort stays and independent travel, this is a good reminder that you occasionally have to experience something outside your comfort zone to have a well-rounded travel view.
• Travel Savvy Mom has 4 questions to ask yourself before booking a stay at an all-inclusive resort.  If you have reasonable expectations, these can be great family options.
• PlanetEye Traveler – South Florida tempts me to stay at the Angler’s Boutique Resort in Miami Beach.  Beautiful and convenient, it’s worth a look see.
• The Great American Travel Dream has a great list of things that Europeans do right.  The one that I enjoy the most is that table turn times at restaurants barely exists.  Enjoying a leisurely meal is important!
• Sharing Travel Experiences discovers that there’s plenty of things to do is Los Angeles that aren’t Hollywood related.  The Watts Tower was new to me, too.
• Suite 101 Luxury Travel tempts me with some of the world’s most marvelous travel toiletry kits.  These aren’t for the budget-minded traveler, but they pack a serious WOW factor.
• Brilliant Tips explores the many ups and downs of non-revenue travel.  It’s a life of standby travel, but for the patient and adventurous, it’s a great way to see the world.
• The Wall Street Journal explores the mistakes that are made in airline fares, and wonders why it’s a do-over when the airline makes a mistake, but a costly error when it’s the passenger’s error.  I wonder why that is, and when we’ll do something about it?!
• Luxuo profiles the beautiful Versace Mansion in Miami.  It’s now a 10-room hotel, priced to appeal to the rich and famous.
• Consumer Travel introduces us to Chicago’s Elysian Hotel and its no tipping policy.  The hotel claims it pays its employees well enough that they will provide superior service without having to rely on tips to make ends meet.  What do you think of the idea?  Would you pay a little more per night to avoid having to deal with tips?
• PlanetEye Traveler – St. Petersburg tells us that Ryanair is getting the world closer to Russia, with twice a week flights between Dusseldorf, Germany and  Lappeenranta, Finland.  Lappeenranta is only 15 miles from the border of Russia, and 3 hours to St. Petersburg.  The world is getting smaller.
• Intelligent Travel shares a volunteer travel opportunity that gives you a chance to work with pandas in China.  It’s a 14-day tour of China that includes a number of days panda sitting some of the last of these creatures remaining in the world.  It’s a great chance to see the world and do something meaningful, too.
• Hotel Marketing tolls the death knell of the 4-color travel brochure.  A recent study confirms that more travelers rely on reviews from strangers, search results, and word of mouth from family and colleagues than from travel brochures, media reviews, advertising and advice from travel agents.  Yep, it’s what we travel bloggers have been saying for quite some time.

I hope you enjoy these great travel posts – and hey, have a great week of travel!

Photo credit: personal collection

Share on Facebook