Jennifer W. Miner's Blog
Posted by Jennifer W. Miner
Perfect Escapes, the website that secures great discounts on luxury hotels around the world, has a good offer up in its listings. One of the nicer luxury hotels on Maui, the Maui Prince, is a quiet adult resort. If you book reservations through Perfect Escapes (offer OID: 350), you can get a romantic vacation on the best tropical vacation island in the world - and Luxury Travel's favorite of the Hawaiian chain - for a relatively cheap price.
The Perfect Escapes Maui Prince Hotel Vacation Package is good for three nights during the prime, peak tropical vacation travel season. Starting at $312 a night (remember this is a luxury hotel, I loved it there), you get a prime room with ocean views and a $100 resort credit redeemable for any on-site resort activities. This offer is good for 3 or more nights, from January 4 to March 31, 2008. Hawaii in the winter? Seriously - it's a great offer.
Posted by Jennifer W. Miner
Hotel Victor is pulling out all the stops for New Year's Eve. This great boutique hotel in South Beach, Florida has several extremely enticing packages for all you young folk who enjoy luxury travel to south Florida. And by young, I mean, like to party until 4 in the morning with live music and gorgeous fellow travelers. Hotel Victor in Miami is enjoyed throughout the year, of course - but it's when school's out (read: Christmas Break, Spring Break, etc) that the parties really get started.
The three Hotel Victor New Year's vacation packages are the New Year Party Essentials package, New Year's in Style travel package, and the Ultimate Sobe vacation package. Each of these South Beach vacation packages include tickets to the hotel party. What's so special about the hotel party? Well, Hotel Victor is hosting the Honey Brothers (featuring Entourage's Adrian Grenier) to perform on New Year's Eve, with an open bar starting at 10:00 PM. What a way to ring in the New Year! If I weren't in California, and around a decade too old, I'd want to get in on this celebration myself.
Posted by Jennifer W. Miner
Longtime readers of this travel blog probably know by now how much I love Hawaii. The snorkeling is some of the best in the world, the 5-star golf courses on Kauai make for the ultimate golf package vacations, and of course, Maui is close to perfect as a tropical vacation island can be.
It's hard to tear me away from staying at one of the best luxury hotels on Maui. Getting this luxury travel writer to Oahu definitely requires something special. And guess what? The Waikiki Parc Hotel has done it. The 4-star Waikiki Parc is known for its clean architectural lines and modern luxury accommodations in a boutique setting. With the Waikiki beach right outside the hotel and the relatively urban pleasures of Honolulu nearby, you'd think the Waikiki Parc Hotel wouldn't need to add any new enticements. Well, think again: Waikiki Parc Hotel is getting Chef Nobu Matsuhisa himself to come to the hotel's Nobu Waikiki restaurant on December 21-24. The famed sushi chef will display his culinary skills and sign cookbooks for lucky guests. And did I mention the gorgeously prepared Japanese food? Now, Nobu Matsuhisa's restaurants are among the top sushi restaurants here in the United States (the Nobu in Malibu is also quite a scene). The Nobu restaurant in Oahu is no different. The Waikiki Parc Hotel is turning this visit into a week-long celebration of this famous chef, culminating with a New Year's Eve exclusive omakase menu (chef's choice) at Waikiki Nobu. Personally, I can't imagine a better way to ring in the New Year.
Posted by Jennifer W. Miner
One of my two favorite luxury resorts in Montego Bay, Jamaica, has completed its new spa. This is good news for people who love Caribbean vacations! The Half Moon resort has been perfecting the new Fern Tree Spa, spending around $4 million dollars to make it as 5-star a luxury spa as possible. And, at 68,000 square feet, the Fern Tree Spa is practically as spacious as the Roman Baths. I can imagine having a spa package appointment, right after time spent in the Dolphin Lagoon...Forget the Ritz-Carlton next door, the Half Moon is quickly becoming the top choice for romantic, 5-star stays on Montego Bay.
Posted by Jennifer W. Miner
As thousands of Americans pack their bags and prepare to fly to relatives' homes for Thanksgiving, many understandably worry about arriving on time.
The latest on the airline industry is out, and the news isn't good. With more delays than ever, on-time performance this year is the worst it's been since landing times have started being collected (New York Times, Nov 15 2007). Jet Blue Airway's Valentine's Day debacle this past year has been echoed by other airlines similarly keeping passengers stewing in their seats for hours on the tarmac, higher fuel prices means higher airplane ticket prices, and British Airways has been socked with both a hefty fine for price-fixing and a class-action lawsuit.
It's enough to make those of us who don't have to fly for Thanksgiving, know what we have to be thankful for this year!
Posted by Jennifer W. Miner
Hawaii is such a great island chain for tropical vacations, isn't it? Well, I certainly think so; witness my periodic raving about the best golf courses on Kauai, or the best family resorts on each island, or the best snorkel and scuba dive sites on each of the main Hawaiian islands.
Be that as it may, my favorite vacation island in Hawaii is Maui. From relatively isolated resorts like the Hotel Hana Maui, to the luxury hotel resort area of Wailea, there is a perfect vacation spot for any traveler somewhere on Maui. And while my favorite luxury hotel is the Fairmont Kea Lani, many other luxury travel experts prefer the Four Seasons Resort Maui right next door. It's easy to understand why; the custom-fitted pool side lounge chair covers to the impeccable room service, first-class amenities unfailingly abound at the Four Seasons Resort Maui. In fact, if only I had had the opportunity to test out the Kids for All Seasons children's day camp (included in the price of your stay), Four Seasons Resort Maui may have leapfrogged over the Fairmont Kea Lani. What can I say? My kids love on-site day camps at luxury resorts.
Luxury travel fans have a chance to check out this award-winning, 5-star resort for themselves - and if you plan your tropical vacation right, take part in a free promotion as well. The folks at Four Seasons Resort Maui are eager to share the recently spruced-up interior and hotel grounds. From January 6 to February 14 2008 - right after the winter holiday season, naturally - guests who stay five nights, get the 6th night free. Yes, free. Yes, at this top luxury resort on the best vacation island in the world. Don't forget your sunscreen.
Posted by Jennifer W. Miner
The weather's changing, and it's getting colder. Holiday travel plans are in full swing for many of us. If you're on the East Coast, you've probably already considered flying south to the Caribbean. Good thinking! Warm up, gaze at the turquoise waters, and leave your Blackberry in your hotel room. But those of us who love our luxury vacations and the chance to try out a first-class golf course may feel stuck. Yes, yes, it used to be hard to find a decent golf course on one of those Caribbean islands, but times have changed. In all the Caribbean, I'd have to recommend Jamaica for golf. Montego Bay, in particular, has three fantastic golf courses in and around luxury resorts, making for easy, quick transportation between sets of links. The Ritz-Carton Golf and Spa Resort has the renown White Witch golf course, and the Trent Jones-designed golf course at the Half Moon Golf Club is less than 10 minutes away. Last, the Cinnamon Hill golf course at the Rose Hall Resort and Country Club makes for a moderately challenging game. And after working so hard to earn this luxury golf vacation, you don't want to work too hard at your game, do you?
Posted by Jennifer W. Miner
One of my best airport hotel picks in San Mateo County is taking part in a quickie money-saving travel deal. The Bay Landing Airport Hotel, 3 miles from the San Francisco Airport, is offering a November 3-night air/hotel package rate of $261 for travelers coming from LAX. The Bay Landing Hotel is convenient, and luxurious for the area; most rooms sport water views, there's free shuttle service to the airport and BART, free deluxe continental breakfast, and high-speed internet access. Check out Expedia's website for more information.
Posted by Jennifer W. Miner
Have you heard? AOL News reports that "Mark Mancina Loves His iPhone." Yeah, yeah, I hadn't heard of him before, either. Turns out, he's the guy who has written the musical scores for movies like "Tarzan" and "Bad Boys." I guess Apple will take its celebrity endorsements where it can!
Seriously, though, the iPhone really is a sight to see, and it's no surprise that celebrities (actually famous people or not) are snapping them up. And as a frequent traveler who relies on a PDA smartphone to keep in touch with family and friends, I sure understand the appeal. It's no exaggeration to say that a small crowd gathers around an iPhone user when he or she oh-so-casually pulls it out of his pocket. Those early adopters who bought the first iPhones on the market enjoyed the bulk of this admiration, of course, as Blackberry Pearl and Blackberry 8800 smartphone users looked on curiously. But there are some complaints about the iPhone, as holds true for any relatively new consumer electronic product (i.e. shiny gadget). These issues users have with iPhones are pretty easy to fix, however. I hope Bill Gates is listening!
Posted by Jennifer W. Miner
It's funny to think about how much fun can be had in your own backyard. All the time I spend planning trips to Santa Barbara, where the restaurants are as casual or cosmopolitan as befits a traveler's mood, means little if my kids are bored and cranky. All the organization it takes for me to haul the family up to San Mateo County is for naught if those selfsame kids don't have a good time. And Hawaii? What a huge trip, what a luxury vacation it is, and still - those children have to be happy and excited to be there. Otherwise, may as well stay home.
But our backyard? It's Los Angeles. Hardly a part of the country that is bereft of activities and entertainment. No wonder my kids are so happy to stay home; the three best amusement parks in LA are an easy drive, and there are boundless other fun child-friendly activities here as well. A luxury vacation while staying at home? Kind of a contradiction of terms, yet...Kind of a great idea, too.
Posted by Jennifer W. Miner
Luxury travel, for me, also involves some ecological responsibility. It's practically impossible to be a world traveler (one with limited vacation days, that is) without flying. Buying carbon credits is way to offset the CO2 produced by airplanes, and this is growing in popularity. I stay in Fairmont hotels when I can: The luxury hotel chain is a leader of environmental responsibility. Luxury travel and eco-travel are not polar opposites. And, of course, there's the day-to-day stuff like recycling, not driving a gas guzzler, etc.
But when I wrote an article in August 2007 about the Hawaii Superferry, I had no idea that a conflict would soon arise: I thought it was a pretty good idea, to tell the truth. In late August, a bunch of protesters stopped the Superferry from docking at the Nawiliwili Harbor in Kauai, and the next thing you know, there's a major lawsuit barred the Hawaii Superferry from continuing its daily ferry service altogether. Eek!
Seems that the Hawaii Superferry, proud to be using an ecologically safe (well, safer) catamaran, is not in compliance with the Hawaii Environmental Protection Act...yet. Read more about the Hawaii Superferry's legal woes here, and tell me what you think - is this radical environmentalism, or do the plaintiffs have a case? I'm curious to see how this turns out.
Posted by Jennifer W. Miner
As a luxury travel writer, I get an odd assortment of email offers. We don't need to get graphic with the details, but occasionally a press release catches my eye. It seems that the San Mateo County Convention and Visitors Bureau was inviting me on a media tour of "the best of the San Francisco Bay." Alright, I thought, this is an easy "yes!" After all, San Francisco is a simple one-hour flight from Los Angeles, and there's a lot of luxury travel opportunities up there.
Well, I got snookered by a well-written press release, is what happened. The focus was not on San Francisco at all, but rather, its more rustic neighbor to the south. San Mateo County is still a pretty agrarian part of California, with huge pumpkin patches, roadside veggie sales, and unflappable seals sunbathing by the off-limits Pigeon Point Lighthouse. We toured an organic goat farm, and as an organic goat rubbed its head against my slacks, leaving an organic smudge of dirt, I realized - this is not for the upscale market.
San Mateo County has a lot to recommend, however. Half Moon Bay is one of the loveliest low-key beach towns around, and there are several pretty inns and hotels there. The activities in San Mateo County also fall more on the low-key end of the travel scale, but I'd bet kids have a good time.
And don't worry about me: The last night of the tour, we were treated to an evening of fine dining and terrific drinks at the Four Seasons Hotel Silicon Valley. Four Seasons! A luxury travel writer has to think: That's more like it.
Posted by Jennifer W. Miner
Last month, I was happy to write an article about the inauguration of a new ferry service in Hawaii, the Hawaii Superferry. Well, I go on vacation for a couple of weeks, and what happens? The whole thing blows up.
Environmentalists, surfers, and random beach dudes protested the Hawaii Superferry's arrival at the Nawiliwili Harbor in Kauai, causing it to actually turn around and head back to Honolulu. This happened on August 28, and the next day, a state judge denied a request to lift a temporary restraining order barring the Superferry from using the Kahului Harbor ferry terminal in Maui. The ban will be in place until an environmental impact assessment is done. The Kahului Harbor Coalition, Maui Tomorrow, and the local chapter of the Sierra Club are concerned that the Hawaii Superferry endangers whales, worsens pollution and helps spread invasive species.
Now, this passenger and car ferry service is done on a catamaran, with no exposed propellers or ballast water needed - reducing potential damage to migrating marine mammals and Hawaii's delicate micro-ecosystems. Every day, many larger boats and yachts dock in the island chain's harbors: It's unclear at this point exactly what the Hawaii Superferry is purported to do to the surrounding marine environment, that isn't being done on a much larger scale by cruise lines and such. Stay tuned.
UPDATE: The Hawaii Superferry Legal Woes
Posted by Jennifer W. Miner
There's no question that frequent travelers' satisfaction with the airline industry is way, way down. We all have our tales to tell, ranging from hidden fees and blackout dates for frequent flyer miles, to sitting on the tarmac for hours and canceled flights. You can fly all-business class airlines, you can wait around in an American Airlines Admirals Club lounge, you can plan ahead to ensure that your kids will be at least tolerable on long flights - but there's not much you can do about lost luggage.
Lost luggage! It's the stuff travel nightmares are made of. And it's only made worse with unsympathetic airline employees who handle baggage customer calls. That's just one problem that British Airways has, and it's won the ignominious award for Most Lost Luggage of Any Airline. In the world. That's not the kind of recognition to write home about, and it kind of puts Jet Blue (after its recent travails) in perspective. Those companies that specialize in shipping important or oversized luggage abroad, pre-flight, are making more and more sense.
It would make even more sense, of course, for airlines to hire more - and better - baggage handers, to cut some flights and reduce runway congestion. But that would imply that the industry is putting their passengers first. I don't think any of us frequent air travelers are expecting that: It would be just too much to ask. Yet, I still hold out hope.
Posted by Jennifer W. Miner
Maui is my favorite island in Hawaii, but that doesn't mean the others aren't worth a visit (or two, or three...) during a vacation. The Hawaii Superferry is up and running as of this summer, and this makes it much easier for inveterate travelers like myself to day-trip from Maui to Oahu. Kauai is also an island serviced by this new ferry; as it's the farthest west of the main Hawaiian islands, this is very handy.
The Hawaii Superferry has three docking harbors; the Honolulu Ferry Terminal in Oahu, the Kahului Ferry Terminal in Maui, and the Nawiliwili Ferry Terminal in Kauai. Now, the ferry company allows cars on board, but passengers must show their driver's license. It's a nice way to see more of Hawaii than the one island you've chosen as "home base." For me, always going back to Maui, Kauai has seemed like an impossibility (getting to Lanai is geographically easier). The Hawaii Superferry takes the impracticality out of the picture. Those award-winning golf courses on Kauai seem a lot closer, knowing that island hopping is possible.
Posted by Jennifer W. Miner
Doesn't a vacation in Hawaii sound nice? Each island provides a different feel for a tropical vacation, from the cosmopolitan scene is Waikiki Oahu, to the ultra luxury of Wailea Maui, to the remote, get-away-from-it-all romance of a vacation in Lanai. And Kauai, as rugged as undeveloped as it is, boasts some of the best golf courses and golf resorts of the entire island chain (Maui is its only Hawaiian competition). And Kauai's Na Pali Coast is one of the best dive sites in Hawaii.
Only 3% of Kauai is developed. It's easy to have an escapist luxury vacation once you get there. However, until recently, the "getting there" was by no means half the fun. There have been no direct flights from the United States to Kauai - until now. ATA Airlines now offers four weekly flights to Kauai is only airport, Lihue Airport, through a partnership with Southwest Airlines. Alaska Airlines is also starting a direct flight from the US to Kauai, from Seattle/Tacoma right to the Lihue Airport. No more transfers in Maui or Oahu! ...And that's a relief: Getting to Kauai has never been easier. Now we can take our kids on what otherwise would have been an arduous journey.
While you're in Kauai, check out some of the best golf courses in Hawaii. Each has won their fair share of awards, and the Princeville Resort's Prince Golf Course, in particular, has been named the best golf course in Hawaii. No, not by me, although I probably would do so if it meant something. This award has been given by Golf Digest, and these guys know a thing or two about what makes golf courses great. So if you love Hawaii but have been putting off a vacation in Kauai, now is your chance to take advantage of an easier way to get there.
Posted by Jennifer W. Miner
Hooray! One of my favorite North American vacation towns, Santa Barbara, may have scored a real coup. The Los Angeles Times reported that a million-year old mammoth fossil discovered in nearby Moorpark, is most likely going to be exhibited prominently and permanently at one of Santa Barbara's museums. The Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History is one of my favorite SB museums; it's remarkable to find such a world-class natural history museum in a smallish, upscale beachy town like this. The fossilized Moorpark mammoth, determined by paleontologists to be an adult female, will be a major part of the Santa Barbara Natural History Museum's geology fossil exhibit.
So, the next time you're planning a long weekend in Santa Barbara, consider taking time out from all the day spa massages, ocean activity and relaxation in your luxury hotel. Check out the Moorpark mammoth at the Museum of Natural History - I know I will, next time I'm in SB.
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Posted by Jennifer W. Miner
Have you ever had such a great time at a resort, that you try to extend your vacation there? I know I have - but sadly, to no avail. I usually only travel during the peak tourist seasons (darn you, schedule!), and hotels at terrific destinations are generally booked solid at those times. Travelers have iffy luck extending vacations even by one day, although admittedly there are worst things to worry about.
I've been thinking about how vacations always seem to end too soon (the good ones, at least). From now 'til December 22, 2007, there's a great luxury travel deal at Hotel Hana Maui, in which guests stay 5 nights, and the sixth night is free. Hotel Hana Maui is a AAA Four Diamond Hotel, on what is generally considered to be the best vacation island in the world: It's one of the best hotels on Maui. This is a terrific travel deal. And, with a little imagination, you can pretend you're only staying for 5 nights - that's all you pay for - so that it seems as if that 6th night is an unexpected vacation bonus. I'm not above psychological trickery if it gets me thinking I was able to extend my Hawaiian vacation. What's not to like?
Posted by Jennifer W. Miner
Father's Day is in a couple of weeks - which is a good thing, because now gifts and a little attention can be bestowed upon the supposed figurehead of the family. Let's face it; after all the love and declamations of gratitude that moms get for Mother's Day, dads really ought to get their fair shakes a month or so later, right?
I've always thought it was amusing that Mother's Day gifts usually involve time away from the kids - home bath treat escapism, trips to luxury day spas, etc. - while Father's Day sees more time with the kids. This is obviously a holdover from days past, when more mothers stayed home and more fathers took more of the classic "hands off" approach to parenting. But there's been a huge cultural shift regarding rigid parenting roles (if they were ever so rigid as '50s TV would have us think). Dads have really taken up a larger, more constant role in their growing children's lives, by and large, and this has benefited both the children and the fathers themselves.
This year, don't get your dad a tie. Actually, don't get him a tie, any year. You know it's a cop-out gift, he knows it's a cop-out gift, so you're not fooling anyone. Instead, think about splurging (your siblings can kick in for this) for a trip. Real "mancation" quality time away, such as a father-son vacation, certainly provides better memories than do cufflinks, or does a mug with an amusing expression on it. And if plans are in the works for a romantic getaway for mom and dad, or even a babymoon if the father and mother-to-be are just starting down the path towards being parents, then there are always gifts to accessorize some lovely luxury travel. I don't mean luggage tags or souvenir t-shirts, though: Great travel gift ideas for men range from useful to pure fun, but all are certainly thoughtful. Not to say that a toddler's carefully drawn handprint won't melt a dad's heart, but - if you're reading this - you're not a toddler anymore. Step up to the plate and give a great Father's Day gift.
Posted by Jennifer W. Miner
It doesn't take a genius to figure out that airline passenger satisfaction is tanking. Now that the numbers are in, however , we have proof: The American Customer Satisfaction Index has passengers' scores of major US airline, and the overall ratings are the lowest in seven years.
If you're like me, your schedule predicates that you must travel during peak vacation seasons. This means that by now you've witnessed or suffered through one of the main reasons for airline passenger discontent. Delayed flights, lost luggage, and unpredictable ticket prices are among the reasons for the dramatic drop in air travel consumer satisfaction ratings. However, the overriding cause of low scores for airlines is declining passenger service. Bad weather can't be helped, after all -- but grouchy airline employees aren't an avoidable element of air travel. And the food! Don't get me started.
Perhaps all this railing against crappy passenger service isn't shouting into the wind: It appears that US Airways, at least, may be paying attention to the suffering of their herded cattle - er, passengers. Starting in May 2007, passengers of US Airways will be offered a slice of Sheraton's signature pie. I know, I know, I hear you: What does Sheraton have to do with air travel? And hotel satisfaction is at its lowest point ever, so how does combining two low-scoring industries equal a positive experience, right? Well, guests of mid-range hotels gave those low scores, but luxury hotels (4- and 5-star) are seeing higher levels of satisfaction. Sheraton's Four Points is the hotel chain's venture into the upscale travel market. Four Points by Sheraton will offer different types of its pie (which is actually quite good) every three months, starting with pecan pie. The promotion ends March 2008.
Can something as simple as a slice of pie help improve customers' air travel experience? There's something so comforting about fresh pie; I'd say Yes. Can't complain about that. It's better than the teeny bag of pretzels you get on American, anyway.
Posted by Jennifer W. Miner
Remember the whole JetBlue Airways fiasco on Valentine's Day? I sure do: Passengers stranded on the tarmac for 10 hours during an ice storm, well over a thousand flights cancelled though the few days' bad weather, etc. All of us who weren't stuck at the JFK airport for the duration of the JetBlue debacle sympathized with those who were (and breathed a sigh of relief that it wasn't us).
Well, it looks like the corporation has decided where the buck stops, and that is at the very top. David Neeleman, the founder and CEO of Jet Blue, is being removed from his position. The new chief executive of Jet Blue, David Barger (what is it with this airline company and Daves?) doesn't expect JetBlue Airways' strategy to change much. Comparably low fares and genuinely friendly service, all in a pretty egalitarian setup, worked really well for Jet Blue up until last Valentine's Day.
David Neeleman isn't leaving Jet Blue altogether, however. He plans to work within the corporation to seek out viable alternate energy for jet fuel and improve upon the existing Live TV unit, as well as research improved e-ticket programs. I have to admit, I'm glad Neeleman's not being kicked to the curb (right by the curbside check-in) by JetBlue Airways. After all, he did create an airline company that is, by community standards, pretty great. Customer satisfaction with airlines is tanking, and it's nice to know that at least one low-cost, friendlier airline company is keeping the guy that helped make it so.
Posted by Jennifer W. Miner
It's a common refrain, this time of year, that Mother's Day was created by Hallmark, or the phone company, as just another way to leech money from unsuspecting consumers. The truth, however, is that social activist Julia Ward Howe started Mother's Day back in 1870, as a way to bring women together to call for peace in the world. Her "Mother's Day Proclamation" demands the end of wars, saying in part:
"We will not have great questions decided by irrelevant agencies,
Our husbands will not come to us, reeking with carnage, for caresses and applause.
Our sons shall not be taken from us to unlearn
All that we have been able to teach them of charity, mercy and patience.
We, the women of one country, will be too tender of those of another country
To allow out sons to be trained to injure theirs."
Powerful words, written fifty years before women even got the right to vote. And in many ways, the meaning behind Mother's Day has changed. Mother's Day in the 21st century is celebrated with gift baskets full of bath salts and other at home spa treatments, gift certificates for massages at day spas, or boxes of chocolates, or even romantic weekend getaways without the kids. But this year - marked by more US soldier deaths in Iraq than ever before, with a media blackout so dark that even the mainstream news sources seem to have forgotten what it means to see our citizens come back in wooden boxes - let's remember Mother's Days' original purpose. A call to disarm, a call for peace: A call to bring our husbands and sons, our mothers and daughters, back home. American citizens back on American ground, safe and sound... I can't imagine a more appropriate, patriotic way to celebrate Mother's Day.
Posted by Jennifer W. Miner
When someone says, "I like to travel," it can mean many things. There's historic tours, adventure travel, luxury travel, and more. Like it or not, all leave their mark on the environment.
It's ironic that the resources used by travel lovers can do much to damage the exotic locales to which they have traveled. Air travel emits damaging CO2 closer to the ozone layer, which many know protects us from the harmful UV rays of the sun, and which is getting thinner. Luxury resorts that spring up in the middle of the rainforest often displace indigenous populations, and curtail the health of the local habitat. And water use by hotels and resorts in arid destinations is alarmingly high - especially when a portion of the water is used for the (vain)glorious well-lit fountains in a desert like Las Vegas. Historic travel can damage the very sites being visited as well.
But not all of us are built of the sturdy stuff: Ecotravel, backpacking, and camping isn't for everyone. How can luxury travel coexist with the knowledge that tourist-friendly wild spaces are dwindling? Fortunately, green travel and stays at upscale resorts aren't diametrically opposed. The article "Responsible Luxury Travel Plans" delineates several ways in which travelers, accustomed to nice amenities, can have their upscale vacations, and be environmentally responsible as well.
For example, frequent flyers can look into carbon offset programs, in which money is donated to supporting solar power, wind power, and other clean, renewable sources of energy. Further, Fairmont is an international, luxury hotel chain, which has been green since before there was any consumer awareness regarding the importance of sustainable tourism. A stay in any Fairmont guarantees that some travel dollars are being spent to promote responsible energy use.
There are many luxury ecotourism destinations. After all, a tropical location can provide for a lovely trip, even without leaving the large carbon footprint luxury vacations (golf courses, day spas) usually entail. The Cotton Tree Lodge in Belize is but one example of a full service resort, which is also built and based on sustainable land use and respect for the land. The Sierra Club offers many environmentally responsible trips of varying comfort, from the very rough, to walking tours in France.
The earth-friendly luxury traveler needn't despair. Travel in style, and don't forgo the luxury amenities of upscale vacations. But do so wisely, and the health of our planet will be better for it.
Posted by Jennifer W. Miner
Wall Street. Politics. The entertainment industry. All three huge North American industries rely heavily on the Blackberry for remote email access, and all three huge industries went into meltdown when the RIM Blackberry system crashed this past week. Like mourning the withdrawal from any drug, Crackberry addicts went into denial ("It just needs new batteries!"), anger ("This is @&#* up!"), bargaining ("I swear I won't check for new emails during family dinner if my Blackberry starts working again now."), depression ("What am I going to do with no Blackberry service?"), and finally, acceptance ("I suppose I can log onto my work email through my laptop.")
Then, as soon as all the hedge fund managers, politicos and line producers Kubler-Rossed themselves into dealing with the systemwide Blackberry crash, it was over. People are still talking about how this Blackberry blackout, less than 12 hours long, affected their business days. Research in Motion, the company that makes the Blackberry line, is getting to the bottom of what caused the Blackberry crash; it may have something to do with the skyrocketing popularity of this smartphone.
The rapid growth of Blackberry products' popularity is due, at least in part, to the user-friendly Blackberry Pearl. The Pearl has a cameraphone and center navigation wheel, is faster than its predecessors, and freezes up less than the Blackberry 7100. It's less for business, more for fun. More recently, RIM launched the Blackberry 8800, a business ready smartphone with faster multimedia functions and a center nav wheel. Both the Blackberry Pearl and 8800 are very fast, with reasonably good web access - and they look great. No wonder RIM may be having a hard time keeping up with demand for these high tech gadgets. Last night, I saw one Blackberry fan absentmindedly press his Blackberry 7700 to his lips: It looked just like a kiss. ...And maybe, it was. As popular as Blackberry phones are, it probably wouldn't be the first time.
Posted by Jennifer W. Miner
The Balsams Grand Hotel, a luxury resort in the White Mountains region of New Hampshire, is offering a great deal on a golf vacation package. The Balsams Grand Hotel is a member of Conde Nasts' 2007 Gold List, and the only Gold List member in New Hampshire.
The "Golf Free Package" offers a $99 a night stay at The Balsams, to celebrate the appointment of Douglas A. Ruttle, PGA, as the new Director of Golf. The golf vacation package includes lodging, breakfast and 18 holes of golf. This is an excellent travel deal for golf lovers, at a world-class resort. Golf Digest magazine has ranked the Balsam Resort Hotel's championship golf course as New Hampshire's #1 Public Access Course, every year for the past decade. With small greens and wide fairways, sand traps and elevation changes, the Panorama golf course at Balsams provides a challenging course for all skill levels. And the Coashaukee 9-hole executive golf course, next to the resort, provides for the perfect warm-up.
The Balsams is a 4-star resort hotel with year-round recreation that goes beyond golf. There is bountiful hiking, lake sports and more during the warm months of the year, and the indoor Game Room provides many popular family activities. The Golf Free Package is available May 18 - June 28 and August 26 - October 14.
This luxury golf vacation package rate is per person, based on double occupancy. For reservations, please call the Balsams at (866) 380-6798.
Posted by Jennifer W. Miner
One of my recent Luxury Travel emails asked a question about hotels in Santa Monica, California. Part of the exchange proves useful, I think, for anyone planning to vacation in Santa Monica. The emailer's identifying information has been removed.
Hi Jennifer,
Loved your article on the Shangri-La Hotel. You convinced me that this would be a great place to stay when we visit Santa Monica on January 2nd to the 5th next year. I was really disappointed to learn that it is presently closed and can't seem to find out when it is scheduled to reopen. Can you advise? - F.
Hi, F. You know, you raise a very good point - I've seen that the Shangri-la is closed for renovations, and I really should put an addendum on that article. I imagine the renovations will do away with that lovely orange shag carpet. :) I have to be in Santa Monica later today for a meeting; I'll head out early, and see if any of the workers there have an idea of when it's due to reopen.
and later: Okay, I went to the Shangri-la a couple of hours ago. They really are gutting it. The man I spoke to told me that they hope for it to be done before July, to take advantage of summer travelers. If they want to be done by July, then, even if they run behind schedule they shoud be done by next January.
My main concern is not whether it will be available next Jan., as I believe it will be. My concern is that the Shangri-la is going upscale and will be priced accordingly. If you'd like to know of a couple of nearby cheapie hotels, I can give you that information as well (but don't tell my boss - I'm supposed to be the Luxury Travel writer!)
Jen,
I can't believe that you gathered the info and responded so quickly. It now turns out that my granddaughter will be marching in the Rose Bowl Parade on New Years Day, in a band representing Canada, and besides spending time in the Pasedena area, we thought staying right near the pier would be great for my daughter, son in law and my grandson. I know they would love to cycle along the beach to the Venice area and beyond and the pier would be a great experience for them too. Thank you so much for all you efforts. If everyone in California is as nice as you, I'm sure we'll have a great vacation. - F.
Posted by Jennifer W. Miner
Used to be, when a woman got pregnant, she didn't let her pregnancy slow her down. In generations past of my family, my ancestors would be working the fields in Hungary, growing...I don't know, paprika. Maybe beets. Anyway, my foremothers were out there tending the crops, same as my forefathers, and a little pregnancy was no excuse to quit working, come inside, recline on a daybed, and ask pitifully for pudding. No, not that pudding! The kind with chocolate and vanilla swirled together! You'll have to go back to the store.
Sound familiar? Apparently I wasn't the only modern woman to view my pregnancy as the last great reason to relax and pamper myself. Witness the exponential growth in the travel industry's packaging of baby moon vacations. Babymoons, or luxury pre-birth vacations for parents-to-be, have really caught on in the United States. The idea is to relax in a romantic setting, preferably with a luxury day spa nearby to tend to all the mother-to-be's prenatal massage needs.
Europe, Asia, the Caribbean, even the United Arab Emirates: Babymoon vacation packages are found in more and more 5-star hotels and luxury resorts across the world. The list is expanding like a gravid belly (sorry). It's too bad a website like the one I describe in this article didn't exist when I was pregnant - a portal to the best luxury hotels offering babymoon packages would have been useful. As it was, I made do with guilting the poor father-to-be into late-night pudding runs, and feeling a strong affinity to pregnant Miranda on Sex in the City. In fact, I went into labor during an episode of that illustrious show; I wonder how it ended?
Romantic weekend getaways are a far cry from tending the fields until the onset of labor. I have to think, however, that my Hungarian peasant ancestors would be proud of the progress that the women in my family have made. After all, what would you prefer to do during your second trimester of pregnancy - dig up beets, or enjoy a professional prenatal massage in Jamaica? Yeah, I thought so. Me too.
Posted by Jennifer W. Miner
A vacation in Peru is like none other. Tourists can really delve into the Peruvian culture, and come away richer for the experience. Any trip to Peru really should include at least a few nights' stay in Cusco. Also spelled Cuzco or Qosqo, this city was the capital of the Inca Empire. Today, Cusco is a bustling, top travel destination.
The high altitude of Cusco takes some getting used to. I know that at least one luxury hotel in the city pumps additional oxygen into its rooms and suites, to aid their guests' acclimation. And another hotel, a sweet, classy boutique called The Garden House, is just a little outside the city limits; It's just enough less elevated to also aid acclimation to the high altitude of this region.
If you're planning a trip to Peru, Cusco is probably already on your list. If not, it should be. Try to arrange your vacation to coincide with one of Cusco's great festivals; you won't be disappointed. My favorite is the Inca Festival of the Sun.
And, of course, you'll be going to see Machu Picchu. How could you not? The route from Cusco to Machu Picchu takes travelers through The Sacred Valley, which in turn has many eye-opening sights to see. People with even a passing interest in the Inca Empire, and the Spanish colonization of Peru, will have an amazing vacation in this region.
Posted by Jennifer W. Miner
American Airlines is offering a decent deal for travelers who plan to vacation in Jamaica. The money-saving deal is at a luxury hotel in Montego Bay, the Ritz Carlton Golf & Spa Resort. Like other Ritz resorts, the Ritz Carlton in Jamaica is high-end, with luxury amenities, and accomodations near the beach. Montego Bay's Ritz Carlton is an all-incusive resort. The resort's White Witch Golf Course is a world-class golf course, and guests at other nearby hotels often reserve tee time there. The Ritz Carlton Golf & Spa Resort is very romantic, but also child-friendly; the Ritz Kids childrens day camp is fun, and keeps children happy and engaged.
Since this hotel deal is offered through American Airlines, prices include air fare, hotel accommodations, and hotel taxes. This is a high-end, luxury hotel, mind you, so even with the deal, a stay here isn't exactly cheap. But an upscale Jamaican vacation in safe environs, can be had now, for a better pricetag than usual. At $1,269 per room (remember; plus air fare, etc), this is a vacation deal worth mentioning. The offer is good for travel from April 16, 2007, to August 31, 2007, but you must call before the end of March 2007. Call 1 (800) 321-2121 to book your trip.
Posted by Jennifer W. Miner
Elite Travel International is run by Stacy Small, a 15-year veteran of the travel industry. She has personally evaluated every one of the many international luxury hotels, resorts, and spas in her files, which she then can wholeheartedly recommend as a fit with her travel clients' vacation wishes. And she's been to an amazing amount of these upscale resorts and spas herself; she is one of the most well-traveled travel agents I've spoken with.
As busy as she is maintaining her high quality profile in an already crowded business, Stacy finds the time every year to organize and run a charitable travel auction through her website. Last year, her Trips for Cancer 2006 luxury travel auction offered many vacation packages at upscale hotels and resorts. The auction raised $90,000, all of which went to the Leukema & Lymphoma Society. She raised more money for cancer research than any other woman that year, making Stacy Small the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's National Woman of the Year.
For 2007's Trips for Cancer luxury travel auction, Stacy Small has amassed even more high-end vacations, resorts and hotels around the world. She's not trying to be the National Woman of the Year again this year, but with 100% of the proceeds going to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation, you can be sure she'll be Woman of the Year to many people who will benefit from research enabled by Trips for Cancer 2007. Her commitment to doing what's in her power, to help fund cancer research, is more than admirable. Those of us in the travel biz could learn a lot from Stacy Small.
Posted by Jennifer W. Miner
Santa Barbara is my favorite town along California's Central Coast. With great beach activities, the nearby Santa Ynez mountain range, great dining, and several world-class museums, Santa Barbara has something for everyone, making it a perfect vacation town for the whole family. The Simpson House Inn B&B is the only bed and breakfast in North America to be a member of the elite 5-Star Alliance, and the other luxury hotels and resorts in Santa Barbara have all the best amenities you'd expect for a high-end vacation.
One of my favorite luxury hotels in SB, the Hotel Oceana Santa Barbara, distinguishes itself by working with inland Santa Barbara farmers to offer fresh, locally grown produce for its continental breakfast.
The Hotel Oceana Santa Barbara has a great deal for people who love to relax with spa treatments while on vacations. The Ahhh! Package, starting at $275 per night, is available for couples who plan to stay for at least 2 nights. The package includes two spa treatments (body massage or anti-stress back massage), two bottles of California wine, a wine tasting at the Santa Barbara Winery, and free parking (usually parking is 9 dollars a night). Further, the earlier mentioned continental breakfast is free with this package; it's quite a good deal for a couple's luxury vacation in a classy hotel. Santa Barbara is already a lovely town for a romantic weekend getaway. The Oceana's Ahhh! Package helps make an upscale vacation in this town more affordable. Call (800) 965-9776 to make a reservation.
Posted by Jennifer W. Miner
One of my recent Luxury Travel emails asked a question regarding great restaurants in Florence. I thought the query, and my reply, could be useful as public information (the emailer's name has been removed).
Dear Jennifer,
My husband and I are visiting Italy (Florence 8 days, Venice 3 days, Rome 5 days) in mid-April and have just read your reviews of three restaurants in Florence. We would like to celebrate my husband's birthday while in Florence with our grandson who is studying in Florence this semester. The Ristorante Enoteci Pinchiorri sounds fabulous, however, extremely pricey. While we don't mind an expensive dinner this one just sounded over the top. Let me know if I am wrong.
Can you please recommend a restaurant for our birthday dinner that you think would be very special?
Thanks in advance for your ideas.
_____
Dear ___,
What a fantastic Italian vacation you're going to have. You are right about Enoteci Pinchiorri, though; the prices are about as high as they get for food in Florence. Also, your grandson might not appreciate the sophisticated (some say stuffy) atmosphere. La Giostra is a great restaurant as well - it's on my list, and I'm very picky. There's also another restaurant I enjoyed there, that didn't quite make my Top 3 list. It's called Cibreo, and it's near the landmark Santa Croce in Florence. It's upscale, but not so much that a student will feel uncomfortable. You need reservations for this one, as it's very popular with both tourists and residents alike.
I hope you and your family have a great time in Florence. It's my favorite city in Italy.
From,
Jennifer Miner
http://luxuryresorttravel.suite101.com
Posted by Jennifer W. Miner
By now, everyone who follows the news knows: There's a problem with airlines not letting passengers off airplanes, that have been delayed on runways for ridiculously long times. American Airlines made news for stranding passengers in the Dallas airport over Christmas 2006. And now Jet Blue has entered the somewhat ignominious fray as well. Valentines Day of 2007 may well be entered into Jet Blue's history as the Day its Reputation Went South: Thousands of passengers were stuck on the tarmac at JFK for up to 10 or 11 hours. Both situations were due in part to bad weather. However, winter storms should be expected in winter, right? At least David Neeleman, the CEO of JetBlue Airways, has offered a genuine and heartfelt apology - along with vouchers redeemable with future JetBlue Airways travel, if those passengers want to ever fly Jet Blue again.
I really do appreciate what JetBlue Airways usually has to offer, in terms of friendly service and cheap seats. But if hiring more staff and making the company a larger one leads to increased air fare, so be it. No one deserves to be stuck on a plane for a day (that is, without the plane actually getting anywhere).
Jet Blue is also putting forth a Passenger's Bill of Rights, so to speak, which should go a long way towards recouping some of the airline's lost customer loyalty. I'd like to see other airline companies follow suit. Feeling trapped on a plane, with the gate in sight, is antithetical to a luxury travel experience. Whether travel is for business or leisure, nothing ruins the fun of travel like being treated like cattle during serious delays. It's good to know that Jet Blue is doing what it can, to remedy the situation.
Posted by Jennifer W. Miner
A lot of people I know are annoyed by Valentine's Day. The pink, the red, the lace...it's all a bit much. But celebrate Valentine's Day the way you want to, not the way Hallmark makes you think you should, and you can have a great time.
For example: Luxury day spas. Ahhh, time in a relaxing mineral bath, followed by a romantic couples' massage - that's a great Valentine's Day treat. Combine it with a gift of gourmet chocolate (a natural aphrodisiac like none other), and now we're talking.
Every year on Valentine's Day, a luxury hot springs spa resort in Japan combines the best romantic factors into one great experience; a chocolate spa bath. That's right, a relaxing spa treatment of chocoate, blended with hot water and aromatic bath powders. It's edible (how could it not be?), smells great, and looks pretty much like a mud bath. Only better, because like I said, it's chocolate.
The Yunessun Spa Resort, in Hakone Japan, offers this Valentine's Day spa treat, as well as coffee baths, wine baths, and more traditional spa therapy treatments. A trip to Japan has never been quite so romantic. A ticket to the Tunessun Spa is only $29 (around 3,500 yen), and provides spa-goers with access to all the baths. Happy Valentine's Day! If you love spa treatments and chocolate (and you travel to Japan in February), this could be your ideal Valentine's Day experience.
Posted by Jennifer W. Miner
One of my favorite hotels in Maui is the Hotel Hana. It's different from the usual upscale resorts I usually review; the luxury is in the remote location, on one of the best vacation islands in the world (as per legit sources).
The Road to Hana is a day trip, especially when one right - rather than rushing to get there, the beautiful photo-op stops along the way make the Road to Hana as much about the trip as the destination. And the Hotel Hana in Maui often offers great deals on their cottages. For example, right now you can stay at the Garden Junior Suite Bay Cottage, usually $395/ night, for only $120/night. Another travel deal, as a current offer, is the Ocean View Sea Ranch Cottage, usually $495/night, for just $170/night. These Maui hotel deals are good through March 31, 2007 (reserve before the end of February). However, the Hotel Hana in Maui does offer deals throughout the year; if you missed this one, chances are that another worthwhile deal will be just around the corner.
Call toll free: 1(800) 321-4262, or email reservations@hotelhanamaui.com
Posted by Jennifer W. Miner
Planning to travel to the Caribbean? The romantic resort Half moon, in Montego Bay Jamaica, has several vacation packages that add luxury to an already upscale trip.
While these travel packages are available all winter, blackout days apply: February 14-22 and April 3-10 are 2007 blackout dates, and I assume that the evergreen deals also exempt Valentine's Day and the first week of April every year.
- Perfectly Pampered is a "girlfriends' getaway." A vacation in Jamaica for women only, the resort package includes a choice of three spa treatments at the Half Moon full-service day spa. Women can choose their three treatments from a list which includes a 50 minute De-stress Buff & Aroma Wrap, Herbal Wrap, Coco Cafe Cleanse, Sugar & Spice exfoliation, Swedish Therapeutic Massage, Stimulating Cerasee Body Scrub, Gentle Body Polish and a Rehydrating Aromatic Wrap. Wow, that's a lot to choose from! The Perfectly Pampered vacation package at Half Moon also includes 5-star dining at one of Jamaica's best resort restaurants, and drinks at the hotel bar.
- Guys on the Green is the men's vacation equivalent of the spa package above. This "mancation" also includes the hotel bar drinks and meals at the restaurant at Half Moon. Men will want to go to Jamaica and take advantage of this golf vacation package, which also includes two rounds of golf per guest, unlimited use of the tennis courts and gym, and a Tired Leg massage at he hotel day spa.
- Last, expecting couples will be able to take one more romantic vacation, at the Half Moon in Jamaica. The And Here Comes Baby couples package includes a baby gift and birth announcement, and a pre-natal massage and foot massage. I can't imagine a better way to spend one last child-free Caribbean vacation.
A vacation in one of the two top luxury resorts in Montego Bay, Jamaica, is practically guaranteed to be relaxing and pampering. These packages help personalize trips, making them even more special.
Posted by Jennifer W. Miner
The Maui Prince Hotel is one of my favorite resorts in Maui. It's in Makena, far from the bustling touristy areas of Kehei and Lahaina, but a short drive to the ultra-upscale luxury resort area of Wailea.
The Maui Prince Hotel is a quiet, zen-like retreat, perfect for romantic couples who don't want a lot of kids running around during their vacation. While there are some children here, the Maui Prince really appeals more to people traveling without kids. It's also adjacent to La Perouse Bay, a protected bay in the Ahihi Kina'u Natural Reserve. Giant sea turtles come here to laze around in the sun, completely unafraid of, or unimpressed by, the human interlopers pointing and staring. It's an incredible experience.
Two of Maui's best golf courses are next to the Maui Prince Hotel as well; Makena North and Makena South. The Makena North golf course is more challenging due to elevation changes (although some say it's the distracting ocean views that make it harder). The Makena South golf course is archeologically interesting: The course incorporates several ancient Hawaiian walls into its design.
If this sounds like your kind of Maui vacation, then I have a great package deal for you. For the rest of the year, all the way up to (but excluding) Christmas vacation 2007, the Maui Prince Hotel can be had at a reduced rate of $466 per night. This is quite a deal, since luxury resorts in Maui typically go for more than this. And, the deal includes one heck of a package: One of the best view rooms in the hotel, car rental, breakfast for two every day of your stay, dinner for two one night, and, upon your arrival, a basket of chocolate-dipped strawberries. Don't worry, the strawberries don't replace the lei! What kind of deal would that be?
Call 877 LUX-ROUTE and mention offer 352-G-7526.
Posted by Jennifer W. Miner
The Half Moon in Montego Bay, Jamaica is a world-class luxury resort. It is an exclusive, highly-rated spa hotel with all the amenities luxury travel fans expect to find in a world-class resort hotel.
I want to let you know about a special "Winter Escape" package the Half Moon Resort & Spa is offering from now until April. For those considering a trip to the Caribbean, now would be a great time. By booking one of the Royal Villas, guests can receive up to $1400 in resort credit. For such a high-end destination, this is an excellent deal that many travelers should appreciate learning about.
The Royal Villas now offer a credit of $1000 for a 5-bedroom villa, $1200 for a 6-bedroom villa, and $1400 for a 7-bedroom villa. This includes breakfast at the resort, and transportation to and from the airport in Montego Bay, Jamaica. The 5-bedroom villas usually cost $2000 dollars per night, so this deal saves the luxury traveler quite a bit of his or her travel budget. The Winter Escape package is good through to April 15, except for Valentine's Day's weekend.
Posted by Jennifer W. Miner
People across the United States have heard of the award winning Ojai Valley Inn & Spa. It's on Conde Nast's Gold List, Travel & Leisure has rated it one of the Top Hotel Spas in the US, and it's also won the AAA Five Diamond Award. I love the Ojai Valley Inn & Spa as well. The golf course is first class, the luxury day spa is ultimately pampering and relaxing (Shape magazine rated it the #1 Hotel Spa as well), and of course, it's in Ojai. This charming small town is a great getaway spot for travelers wishing to take a step back and enjoy a slower lifestyle while on vacation.
The Ojai Valley Inn & Spa is a truly resort hotel. It's less than 40 miles inland from the upscale tourist centered town of Santa Barbara, with nearby hiking opportunities. It has some of the comfiest pillows I've ever slept on in a hotel (not a big deal to you, maybe, but a big deal to me). From January to March 13, 2007, the resort is offering a special rate, starting at $240 per room. If your winter travel plans include a visit to Ojai, I recommend staying at this resort. To take advantage of this special rate, mention "SpecialGuest" as the promotional code when you make your reservations.
Posted by Jennifer W. Miner
Planning a trip to Denver? I just love the idea behind a new hotel there. The newly renovated Curtis opened in January 2007, and boy, does it look fun.
While the new Curtis isn't a luxury hotel a la a Ritz or Four Seasons, those swanky hotels have never been this fun. Each floor has its own pop culture theme - from all Elvis, all the time on the "Mad About Music" 15th floor, to a classic kids' games 8th floor replete with Twister and more. Sounds like a fun place to stay, doesn't it? My favorite floor, however, is probably the "Sci-Fi" 8th floor. Science fiction fangeeks should be happy to hear about an entire hotel floor dedicated to Star Trek, The Matrix, etc. To top it off, celebrity impersonators are on staff to provide wake-up calls appropriate to the theme of each floor. Few things would scare me into a hyperalert, awake state faster than groggily picking up the phone, and hearing Mr. T. yelling at me to get out of bed.
The Curtis is in downtown Denver, right across from the Denver Performing Arts Complex. The first 16 floors are the Curtis theme floors, and the top 13 floors will be The Inn at Auraria (no themes, but some student housing). For business travel, the Curtis hotel has free high-speed Internet access, and twelve meeting rooms for conferences and business affairs. Guests can avail themselves of the gym and pool, as well as two hotel restaurants. For people who love to shop while on vacation, the Sixteenth Street Mall is two blocks away. And, of course, we're talking Denver - a cosmopolitan Colorado city with nearly anything a seasoned traveler would come to expect. Since The Curtis is a dog-friendly hotel, be sure to alert the reservations desk if you are allergic to dogs.
Posted by Jennifer W. Miner
I'm confused. The Transportation Security Administration is ostensibly here to protect us during air travel, right? After all, we're all willing to forgo a little comfort in the name of safe aviation. Biometric passports, the shoes coming off, the solid shampoos or mini shampoo bottles on carry-on bags, and occasional close examinations of our laptops are all tolerable inconveniences when we understand the reasoning behind them (snow globe confiscation, not so much).
That being said, I was surprised to learn that the TSA is test-running selling ad space on the X-ray bins at airports. Huh? How does selling ad space contribute the the safety of the skies? According to this link at Aviation Now, the pilot program has already started in Los Angeles. It doesn't specify that the test run of ad space on bins is at LAX, but I didn't notice them while standing on the security line there on a December '06 trip. Perhaps the ads on bins started in January '07. In any case, what's troubling about this is the message it sends. Has the TSA sold out, or does it truly need the cash? And, if the TSA is so broke that it needs supplemental funds from advertisers, how far will they go? Will we passengers be forced to load our sneakers and backpacks onto visions of GoldenNugget.com, fast food chains and Coca-cola? Please. Some of us travel to take a vacation from the constant inundation of advertisements that flood our senses.
The dystopian worldview of futuristic novels and movies like Bladerunner feature public spaces overwhelmed by commercials and ads. If the TSA follows through with this pilot program, we'll be one step closer to that imagined world ruled by capitalism run amok. Let's hope that this is one idea the TSA decides to end before it begins.
What do you think about this? Please join in our discussion thread.
Posted by Jennifer W. Miner
I've just heard from a new start-up website called Perfect Escapes. Apparently, the folks there work directly with luxury hotels to negotiate great prices for their prescribers.
Right now, The Westin St. Francis Hotel in San Francisco has a deal for Perfect Escape readers: book 2 nights, and get the 3rd night free. San Francisco is not a cheap town to visit, and Westins are generally 4-star, luxury class hotels and resorts. This Westin, in particular, is located right in Union Square; a part of San Fran that's in demand. Union Square is a popular part of San Francisco for luxury travelers for several reasons; there's a large variety of restaurants, high end shopping and nearby sights.
This is quite a deal, and available through Feb 28, 2007. Click here for details.
Prices start at $149 a night: Mention offer Z3H when you book your reservations.
Posted by Jennifer W. Miner
Picture this: A security checkpoint line at the airport, as long as the eye can see. People looking forward to Christmas travel are busily unwrapping the gifts they plan to give, while others hush bored children and take off their shoes. A familiar scene, no doubt, played out over and over throughout the holiday travel season.
For me, this year, the line was the first part of our vacation in Hawaii. No American Airlines frequent flier miles over this peak flying season, so we booked cheap tickets (well, relatively cheap tickets) on Delta. And yes, those were my bored kids getting hushed. Thanks for reminding me.
But what's this? The elderly woman ahead of me on line is upset, her voice raising angrily. It seems that the TSA has decided to ban snow globes in carry-on bags, so hers was confiscated. A gift, she explains, for grandchildren in Hawaii who have never seen snow. No matter; her snow globe is taken from her, and she bitterly passes through the metal detector. When it's my turn, I ask the security dude why the TSA has decided to ban snow globes on airplanes, and he explained that terrorists could replace the water inside the globe with nitroglycerin. I glance at the elderly woman, who is recovering her Sudoku book and AARP magazine. Ladies and gentlemen, the face of terrorism! Go, TSA. Nice to know they've got the grannies-who-love-sudoku terrorist cell covered.
Posted by Jennifer W. Miner
Not that I'm a huge fan of KFC - the last time I ate there was probably college, and college students will eat anything - but I've got to give kudos: The folks in charge there are working overtime to go trans-fat free. Trans fats are the unnatural unsaturated addition to many, many prepared foods, often unbeknownst to consumers, and are a bigger health risk (coronary heart disease, etc) than other fats.
New York City banned trans fats in restaurants, which may have been what spurred the executives at KFC to get busy finding a good replacement. Whatever the motivation, a big concern over at KFC was that the flavor of the "11 herbs and spices" wouldn't be affected by the change in cooking oil. Wendy's is a fast food chain that has already made the switch to healthier oils, and their sales haven't suffered. And, according to this article in BusinessWeek, management at KFC has also found a suitable replacement, in the form of low-linolenic soy oil. Now, this new oil is also not completely natural, as it was developed by gene-modifying giant Monsanto. However, it's a healthy oil, and the lower amount of linoleic acid equals a longer shelf life for the soy oil.
I used to live on the Upper West Side of NYC, and I'm sure I unwittingly ate plenty of trans fats during my many brunches and dinners out while there. It's nice to know that my favorite brunch restaurants in New York City will be guaranteed trans fat free. And, although I don't see myself popping into a KFC any time soon, it's reassuring to know that if I did, it wouldn't be as bad for my health as it was in the past.
Posted by Jennifer W. Miner
We thought Vietnam was somewhat off the beaten path, but tourists abound. Hanoi has American tourists and Central Vietnam (Hue, Hoi An) has northern Europeans - Germans and Swedes especially.
I've seen absolutely no rancor from people here towards Americans, even though several thousands of people continued to be maimed by residual landmines, years after the US pulled out.
The first post-war government re-organization was to put everyone on a coupon-based economy, with coupons for obtaining goods and food distributed according to A thru N, with top Party cadres being A and streetsweepers being N. Only A category got enough to eat. For a full
decade, the biggest desire was to have a full stomach. Then, in 1986 the Party realized their Soviet-like system wasn't working, and they had their own sort of perestroika, so that by 1990 the country was in good shape - farmers were paid according to how much they produced, people were no longer hungry, money was being saved, and Vietnam is now exporting rice (and other commodities and products). The people don't really care about democracy (don't tell Bush!), but are primarily concerned about having material comfort and a promising future. The Party is irrelevant to their daily lives, as long as it stays out of their way and allows them to work, play, travel, etc., without restrictions. The extended family is the basis of societal structure. They take care of each other, help each other out in times of need (such as chipping in for health care expenses, college tuition, day-care).
Curiously (to me), there is no national health care. Only government employees get medical care as a fringe benefit, and that's only for the employee, not for the rest of the family. Everyone else is on their own. A medical crisis is expensive compared to our own costs. But, again, relatives (and neighbors, if necessary) chip in to help a family in crisis.
Literacy is now 97%, comparable to the US.
Happy New Year, everyone! We celebrated here in our Hoi An hotel last night with a tasty banquet and overamplified traditional music and lion dance, then went to bed early.