In lieu of the traditional Follow Fridays that are rampant over Twitter, I will be doing an online roundup shout out to my peeps, and stories that are the best of the web. Here are some of my fave fellow travelers!
SpunkyGirlMonologuesvisits Banff National Park in Canada, and takes absolutely sterling pictures.
Leslie Travel explores bachelerotte party destinations in New York City.
Gadling talks about working for Netflix and jet setting whenever the heck you want.
SceneByLaurievisits a slice of Cuba in New York City.
Whenever I travel, my first thought is almost always centered around my vivacious, needy Golden Retriever. Butterscotch has become as integral a part of my travel as my toothbrush. It always saddens me when I make a phone call to a Bed & Breakfast or a hotel only to be met with a cold, "We don't take pets" statement.
The good news is that there are far more lodging options for Fido now than ever before. Recently, when I went on a road trip to Acadia National Park in Maine, we stayed at a Holiday Inn at Portland en route. It was a lovely hotel, with a spacious, carpeted lobby and a lively fireplace. Butterscotch bounded in like a husky dragging a sled: in her element. The concierge barely looked up but several guests took the time to pet her and make cute and cuddly remarks. In our room, we had two double beds, but I follow a strict policy of not letting her on the bed. She snoozed by my bedroom slippers on the floor.
Even though she probably would have been okay in a hotel, it was comforting to know that she was just beside my bed.
While this may seem like an innocuous family jaunt, I slept so peacefully knowing that she was by my bedside, and not outside in the car, or in one of those cages in PetSmart. It was as close to getting therapy as I knew it. So, for all you pet lovers out there, here are a few tips that will help you travel a little more worry-free.
Butterscotch hides under a wool throw on a particularly chilly morning in New Jersey
Call and Verify Pet Policy
The world wide web is a lovely repository of information, but its accuracy is not always reliable. Even though you may see print that says, "pets welcome," it does not hurt to ensure the web site's accuracy with a phone call. Fido will thank you for your due diligence.
Pack Plenty of Treats and a Water Bottle for your Pet
Some pets get car sick and some need a lot of TLC. I always pack some dog treats (I never give Butterscotch actual food while traveling, just in case she gets sick) and plenty of water while I travel. Ensure you make appropriate stops and hydrate your pet adequately before you move on.
Get a Lint Remover
Traveling with your pet travel may be the warmest and fuzziest thing, but such an experience can wreak havoc on your clothes. Make sure your lint remover travels with you at all times so your outfit stays fresh and pet-hair free.
Bring Your Dog's Bed or Blanket with You
Dogs have a very fine-tuned sense of smell. They react very strongly to fragrances and scents they have experienced previously, and often long for a sense of familiarity. Bring this element of comfort with you when you travel: whether it's a cage, a blanket or a bed.
Remember to Take Adequate Amounts of Food
It never hurts to plan ahead, or to bring too much food. If you're unsure, just measure an extra cup's worth of dog food, and don't forget your dog bowls as well!
Plan your travel so you start at a time of day where there's not much traffic on the road, so your pet is not subject to an unduly stressful ride. Remember to reach back and frequently pet him or her, and reassure your pet that all is well. It may sound crazy, but you'll be surprised at how well they respond to small acts of grace.
Like everyone else in the nation, I've been roped into the BP Oil Spill fiasco which has left me more irate than a jilted lover. My husband and I used to vacation in Clearwater, FL, shortly after we were married, and we often marveled at the clarity of the water, the smooth and sand-dollar crusted beaches and the crisp, salty air. In fact, we do hope to vacation there sometime soon (I hear Tony Hayward is going to be far, far away….which is all well and good).
So, when I got wind of some great travel deals in the Gulf Coast waters by Anna Maria Island and Longboat Key, my eyebrows started arching and twitching just like those of Groucho Marx. GULF COAST? NOW? I would sooner take that dip into the lethal waters of the Amazon than go to the Gulf Coast, even for the deals.
But reader, it's really not so bad. The waters of the Gulf Coast around Anna Maria Island and Longboat Key are really clear and oil-free (in the picture below, the immediate weather outlook is a little gray, but that should quickly clear up). What's more, this region is offering great deals for the upcoming fall season.
If you don't believe me, perhaps you'll believe the Seaside web cams? Here is a web cam of how the Gulf coast waters of Anna Maria beach look like today:
One reason why you would want to visit during the fall season is because of the great deals that several hotels in the area are dangling. Take a look at some of these offers, and determine if vacationing in this area is for you:
Third Night FREE Participants: Country Inn & Suites By Carlson®, featuring daily hot continental breakfast and outdoor pool, is offering a third night free for visitors paying for two nights. Call (941) 363-4000. For more information, click here.
2 Heron’s Landing offers a third night free. Guests are welcome to bring their boat, Jet Ski or kayak to dock at their door step. Call (713) 498-3549. For more information, click here.
Sand Cay Beach Resort, featuring 60 two-bedroom units, is offering a third night free. Call (800) 843-4459. For more information, click here.
Florida has always been a magical place for me to visit. Ever since I was a child, I remember with great fondness, my trips to Disney World, Clearwater, and most recently, Miami (for my first cruise). The sunshine state may be the brunt of several geriatric jokes (and trust me, I've made a few), but it still is the first state I think of whenever the smallest, tiniest whiff of cold weather enters the New York City atmosphere.
So, if you're into Beach horseback riding, fishing or just like beachin' it with a good old fashioned novel (or your Kindle), take a closer look at this neck of the woods and see if you're feeling its pulse. I might just give it a shot soon.
There are only a few places in the world from where you can see the Northern and Southern Lights. Known as the Aurora Borealis, these natural light displays in the sky are more Cirque du Soleil than most people have dreamed of. Imagine being faced with a black, bleak horizon. There's something so nightmarish yet other worldly about this experience. The feeling that you are almost embryonic, and just a particle in a galaxy is so much more pronounced when you are at the edge of the world.
The term Aurora Borealis is referred to commonly in the Northern Hemisphere, but whether you choose to head North by Northwest or South by South East, the aim for many travelers is to hunt the light …..to truly see the light at the end of the tunnel.
There's something so Big Bang about the whole experience, even if you're not a cold-weather fan. It's so raw, it's so Into the Wild and something I bet Carl Sagan would have liked to do. Even though I really don't dig the cold, I am guessing my heart could warm up to the idea of going on a cruise, wrapped in layers of cashmere and watching the sky light up with these swirls.
One such way to "Hunt the Light" is to use an agency that really knows what it's doing. Hurtigruten is a travel expeditioning company specializing in cruises and journeys to remote regions of the world. Think Antarctica, Iceland and the Artctic's Spitsbergen. If you engage in one of their expeditions, be warned that you'll get your fair share of really "out there" real life experiences.
In the Arctic Circle, for example, they'll give you a "polar baptism" which is essentially an ice cube shower (you'll get a Certificate to commemorate the occasion).
To get some adrenaline into your life and to be "baptized" in the Arctic Circle, you can visit their web site (which didn't really work for me, but you might have better luck), or dial (800) 323-7436.
When I travel, I like to be entertained. I love watching in-flight movies, snacking on free terra blue chips or pretzels, and guzzling down free liquor whenever I feel nervous or irritable. It also helps to ride in an airline that doesn't take itself too seriously.
Case in point: South African's low-cost airlines, Kulula Airlines, which considers itself a no-frills airline that has a web site that looks pretty much like a South African version of Orbitz or CheapTickets.com. What sets this airline apart from others (in addition to their low fares) is their funny bone. Just look at pictures of the airline itself, which reminds me of a Gary Larson cartoon:
These signs had me in splits — I almost swallowed my morning coffee when I opened my inbox to these photos.
As if these were not enough, take a peek at some of the recent in-flight announcements. Suffice to say I'm going to be hitchin' a ride with Kulula when I arrive in Cape Town.
On a Kulula flight, (there is no assigned seating, you sit where you want) passengers were apparently having a hard time choosing, when a flight attendant announced, "People, people we're not picking out furniture here, find a seat and get in it!"
On another flight with a very "senior" flight attendant crew, the pilot said, "Ladies and gentlemen, we've reached cruising altitude and will be turning down the cabin lights. This is for your comfort and to enhance the appearance of your flight attendants."
On landing, the stewardess said, "Please be sure to take all of your belongings. If you're going to leave anything, please make sure it's something we'd like to have."
"There may be 50 ways to leave your lover, but there are only 4 ways out of this airplane."
The year is 2008, and the time is Thanksgiving. My heart sank into my shoes when I heard about the Islamic militant siege on innocent guests at the Taj Mahal Palace hotel, one of Mumbai's iconic buildings that sits majestically overlooking the Gateway of India and the Arabian Sea.
Moorish, Florentine and Oriental styles come together in gracious confluence in this 107-year old hotel, which opens its doors to the general public today — India's Independence Day.
This harmonious, impeccable restoration is both an act of defiance and a tribute to the human spirit. The palace wing has been restored to its former glory, and guests are able to enjoy an even more customized experience than before.
Now guests can choose from 285 newly-restored luxury guest rooms, and if you're a Palace Wing guest, you can dip your toe even more into the pool of luxury and a range of new Palace services, which include:
- Daily access to the ground floor Palace Lounge with complimentary beverage and food services for all guests; Taj Club and suite guests get offered cocktails and wine;
- Access to a 24 hour butler service;
- Complimentary breakfast and high tea in the Sea Lounge;
- Concierge printing of boarding passes prior to departure.
A restored painting by Laxman Pai (at right) in the Harbour Bar at the Taj Mahal Palace hotel: Photo courtesy of The New York Times
The hotel was refurbished and restored along with the prized paintings. The newly-restored Luxury Grand Rooms have a roomy, residential-quality feel to them, with Rajput bay windows showing E.M. Forster-like views. If you have ever felt like living life like emperor Akbar, you may well have to hightail it here.
The artwork managed to escape the siege because it was framed in thick glass, but it too needed restoration. The hotel estimates it has spent closed to $50 million for the restoration of the rooms and artwork.
When it comes to traveling, little luxurious do add up considerably. I'm talking free Wi-Fi, spa options, delicious and nutritive meals and almost Disney-style distractions in an era where transit down time is becoming thinner.
I remember the last trip that I took involving significant down time: my flight to India in November 2009 that involved three hours of down time at Brussels airport. Since the airport was known for chocolate, I practically inhaled the stuff, and bought boxes of well-known Belgian brands from Leonidas to Neuhaus.
I remember thinking, "well, we have three hours to kill in this airport…what the heck do we do?" Now, I was in Belgium, and didn't have a ton of Euros to spend (nor was I prepared to pay a five euros for a cup of coffee — not even a latte, mind you — that I could have brewed myself).
So, what did I do? I went to Starbucks. Yes. STARBUCKS. That Seattle-born coffee store that has sprouted like a weed all over the world. And I paid about five bucks for my latte.
This is what traveling has done to me: it has made me feel entitled. All the little things I was used to at my hometown Starbucks (although hometown for me, means New York City), like Silk Soy Milk (hey, I'm vegan — or a vegan wanna be), free whipped cream (although this is completely an oxymoron with the vegan lifestyle, I admit), but hey, I am American and I am ENTITLED to free soy milk.
The barista at the Belgium Airport Starbucks definitely disagreed. She looked at me with her sharp, piercing eyes and spoke in a voice like the Soup Nazi in the Seinfeld episode. "We don't have soy milk." Excuse me? What was this place? Dunkin Donuts in Narnia? McCafe in Neverland?
"Well, all Starbucks locations have soy milk," I said, proudly, as though I was the founder.
"No, not here," said the barista.
"Well, they do in America."
"Then, go back to America."
That was IT. I was livid. I was so mad I was prepared to write a scathing letter to the Brussels Starbucks Association and quickly realized that there was no such thing. So I sulkily sat in a chocolate colored armchair, sipping my coffee without any milk at all because I was going to boycott all milk products because I had suffered an injustice that almost called for a vegan grassroots movement.
I wanted so badly to pour my hot, scalding coffee on the barista's face and then I realized that I may actually be deported from the airport and I would not really get to see my family (the purpose of the trip).
But why do vegans have endure this type of treatment? Even at Starbucks (which, to those of you who know me, is home away from home. Actually One Degree of Separation away from home).
The End.
PS: Hubby cheered me up by buying me lots of chocolate at the store. COMFORT FOOD!
