Your reservations are in order, your bags are packed, you’ve got money, and are ready to go. But wait! Before you head out the door — did you forget anything? Getting ready for a weekend getaway is easy, but there is a lot more to do to get ready for an extended vacation. With summer nearly upon us, a lot of people are planning for extended periods of time away from home, but sometimes getting out the door can be the hardest part. Whether it’s to that beach house for a couple of weeks, Europe for a month, or some time spent driving cross-country, there are things that need to be taken care of before you leave. Use this checklist for advance planning and you won’t worry about a thing as you close the door and head out on your […]
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5 Extras for Your Beach Hotel
If you’re a sun-loving vacationer, you probably pay attention to weather reports, predictions, and warming trends at the destination where you’ll be. In fact, that information may be critical in deciding whether you’ll be going to a particular destination and a particular time. If you idea of a vacation paradise is to spend your time by the pool, on the beach, or picnicking in the warm sunshine, you still need plan for the possibility that it might — gulp — rain. Or be cloudy, or cold, or worse. And that means you’ve got to have plans for some indoor activities. Even if the weather is outstanding, you’re going to have to come out of the sun at some point. I hear many people say that they don’t want to spend much money on their beach hotel because they’re never going […]
Read More6 Travel Destinations for Chocolate Lovers
Culinary and wine travel are popular travel trends, but if you want to drill down into the trends a little more specifically, how about chocolate travel? Chocolate is a universally loved flavor, and there are plenty of great spots around the world where you can give it a taste. Here are 6 Travel Destinations for Chocolate Lovers: We’ll start in my home city of Seattle, where we are no strangers to chocolate. Seattle is home to several chocolatiers, among the more notable Fran’s Chocolates (President Obama is a fan of her salted caramel chocolates), Theo Chocolate, and Boehm’s. Theo’s offers classes and tours and Boehm’s offers public tours. From Seattle, we head south to the San Francisco area, where there are plenty of great food options. Most people have heard of Ghirardelli chocolate and its namesake attraction Ghirardelli Square along […]
Read More20 Tips for a Safe Hotel Stay
With so many heightened travel alerts in effect, it seems like a good time to review some basic personal security precautions. It’s very easy to think that once you’re at your hotel that you’re safe. And you generally are. However, it’s still wise to take precautions at your hotel — being proactive decreases the likelihood of becoming a victim. I first wrote these hotel security tips nearly four years ago. They are just as true today as they were then, and I have included a little updated information. Here are some easy, commonsense tips to protect yourself at your hotel: When checking in, make sure that the front desk does not say your room number aloud. If they do, insist on a room change and remind the staff member not to announce the room number. This practice seems to […]
Read MoreChoosing the Right Hawaiian Island
A trip to Hawaii is a dream vacation for many, but choosing the islands for a vacation is only the beginning. Although the Hawaiian Islands are made up of many islands and atolls, along with smaller islets, when it comes to vacation, you’re probably talking about visiting one of the six main islands. Depending on what you want out of your vacation, frenetic levels of activity, rocking nightlife, or peaceful sandy beaches, a babymoon in Hawaii, you’ll want to choose an island that fits your personal preferences. While sharing the basics of beautiful sun, sand, and surf, each island has its own special ambiance, so be sure to make the right matchup and have a perfect vacation in paradise. Here’s a brief rundown to help with your preliminary research. Hawaii, the Big Island: This is the largest of the islands, […]
Read MoreFare Thee Well 2009
End of the year time, and that means it’s time for personal reflection, taking stock of myself and life in general, celebrating (mostly) and whining (just a bit). There’s lots to complain about, if I let myself get in that frame of mind, but I’m determined to count my many blessing as I bid farewell to 2009. Here are just a few of my travel experiences, special moments, and thoughts on this last year of the decade. Memorable Travel Experiences: Walking the ramparts surrounding the Old City of Dubrovnik. Passing through Bosnia – Herzegovina Taking a 5 year old to see Lion King in Las Vegas Staying at La Montalla in Tuscany Lots and lots of gelato in Italy Wine tasting in Napa A Few of My Favorite Things Family and friends, including the four-legged kind My business family and […]
Read MoreHow To Save Money on Your Vacation Food Budget
Food expenses are a major budget consideration when planning your vacation, and while you can’t eliminate the expense, there are lots of things you can do to keep it as low as possible. Here are some ideas to keep in mind: Book accommodations that have a kitchen. Whether it’s staying at a condo, an extended-stay property, or maybe just a room with a coffee maker and refrigerator, these will all presents ways to help you save on food expenses. With a full kitchen you can stock up on supplies so that you’re not dining out for every meal, while still keeping in mind that no one should have to cook every meal of every day – that’s not much of a vacation for the cook. Even if you don’t have a full kitchen, stocking up on some cereal, milk, juice, […]
Read MoreLAX to the Beach (and Back) for Only $3
Being stuck at an airport is never any fun, whether it’s long ground time between flights, or a flight cancellation and serious delay. Wandering an airport can be fun. . . for the first couple of hours, at least. But when you’ve checked out every last gift shop, book store, restaurant or bar, and what have you, it’s easy to become bored to tears. So what are you going to do? Well, at LAX, if you have enough time to get away, you can leave the hustle and bustle of the airport and head to the beach! The Ocean Express trolley service operates every half hour, roughly between 9 am and 9 pm, with extended hours in the summer. It serves the LAX area hotels and businesses along Century Boulevard with several stops, and provides transportation to the Manhattan Beach […]
Read MoreDriving in Italy: Not for the Faint of Heart
While normally I am a big fan of public transportation and opt for trains, planes, and buses while on vacation, our trek to Italy and Croatia required covering a lot of ground to remote locations. A car was a necessity. Although the driving was left in the hands of the guys, we’ve covered enough ground that I can make a few observations (albeit from the passenger’s seat) about driving in Italy. People drive fast on the Autostrada. Really, really, fast! Tailgating seems not only permissible but encouraged. Even when you’re going fast on the Autostrada. Leaving any discernible gap between the car ahead of you is an invitation for someone to pass. You need a navigator or two to read the map and watch for directional signs. When your blowing by them at speeds of 100+ kph, you need some […]
Read MoreHow to Spend Ground Time at Salt Lake City International Airport
If you’ve got substantial connection time at Salt Lake City International, you can spend time just hanging out, or take advantage of your ground time and get in a little sightseeing and cultural expedition. Between the hours of 9 am – 6:30 pm, a complimentary van service makes scheduled trips between the airport and Temple Square. The service delivers you to one of the two visitor centers where complimentary tours are offered. You can take a quick guided tour of this 10 acre area at the center of the city, then return to the airport for your outbound flight. Regardless of religious affiliation, Temple Square is one of the most popular attractions in the state. It is home to the Salt Lake Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and the Salt Lake Tabernacle and the huge […]
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