This was my first New York Times Travel Show and I was excited at the prospect of mingling with industry veterans, taking in seminars and broadening my travel perspective. Until now, I never thought of travel as a series of seminars and trade shows. I had associated the art with gap year adventurers, backpackers, thrill seekers, nomads and inner migrants. The "Armchair" traveler approach (or in this case, the "schoolgirl taking diligent notes at lectures" approach) was something I had not considered.

But the Travel Show is a fertile ground for meeting industry veterans: from bloggers to tour operators, everyone has a story to tell, a favorite destination to share, a local dish the love. It's a ground for networking, feeling inspired by fellow travelers and figuring out the next destination on your road map.

Here are some of the things I learned from cool people I met at the show:

Meeting & Hanging out with Travel Bloggers is Healthy and Vital:

The internet can only give you one dimension of a person's personality. I absolutely loved hanging out with fellow travel bloggers at the show:

From left to right: Matt Stabile from The Expeditioner, Maria Russo, Leslie Koch from DowntownTraveler, & Jeffrey Tanenhaus from @essentialnyc

The same suspects, minus Leslie, & moi

It was a joy and thrill to finally meet the famous Andi Perullo from My Beautiful Adventures. Andi and I have been tweeples for several months now, and I was so happy she decided to take the last minute opportunity to fly up from Charlotte, NC to indulge in a weekend in the Big Apple.

Another lovely gal I was charmed to meet was Laura from Travel For Love.  Laura hails from Pittsburgh, PA and has a thing for Brazilians!

Had a ball hanging out with Aaron from Aaron's Worldwide Adventures and Teresa Gotay from Art of Backpacking.

With Sarah Wu @swgraphic on the left. Sarah and I have also been tweeples for a month now, and I was thrilled to get an opportunity to finally meet her in person.

Taking in countries and costumes is a highly colorful and sensory experience:

Another aspect of the travel show I absolutely adored is the costumes. I LOVE national costumes that exhibit cultural pride and a sense of humor. One look at women and men wearing their national costumes leads you to believe an adventure there is not only probable, but necessary. Everything from the patterns, fabric, choice of accessories, ruching and beading suggests careful craftsmanship and artistry. 

Leslie and I hanging out with the gorgeous women of Barbados

The extremely ornate, gilded costumes of Thailand

Two of many ethnic dresses from Ecuador's regions, but with the emblematic poncho, fedora and felt hat

Listening to seminars by world-renowned speakers:

There were a host of seminars attended by eager travel show conference attendees, and some of my favorites included Rick Steves' "Traveling as a Political Act," and The Keynote speech given by Michelle Bernier Toth. Rick Steves' lecture had be enraptured from start to finish, and he talked about Americans' fear of traveling in a world filled with terrorism while several other countries go about their every day work while bombs are exploding in their city square. If there was ever a seminar that could force you to put aside your prejudices and explore a country even when the media was warning you not to, his was it.

I also profited from some words of wisdom from New York Times' Seth Kugel of "The Frugal Traveler" and attending a seminar on Social Media in travel journalism that featured travel bloggers and editors Kim Mance (TBEX) , Where's Andrew (National Geographic), Jen Leo (L.A. Times) and Robert Reid (The Lonely Planet and Reid on Travel). 

A lovely finish to the evening was the "Restless Legs" reading at Lolita Bar in the LES, featuring the bloggers mentioned above. As far as indelible memories go, it doesn't get too much better than this.

The New York Times Travel Show was held from February 25 through the 27th at the Javits Center in NYC.

- Charu Suri

Two weeks ago, I escaped the shock and mantle of New York City's blizzards with my third visit to Aruba. For my husband and I, that island located 16 miles off the coast of Venezuela is nothing short of a slice of Nirvana.The many beaches, the strangely zen and twisted Divi Divi trees, and the waters lacing the island with every possible hue of the proverbial azure, turquoise and navy blue.

We were "hotel hopping" over the course of several weeks because I wanted to really find out the best places to stay on the island. Our first stop was the Renaissance Aruba Resort & Casino, which was smack dab in the center of Oranjestad, the island's capital.

The hotel is a magnet for the well-heeled shopper, and the lover of a thriving cafe culture (you get access to the finest restaurants, cafes and designer stores right underneath your hotel …a glitzy maze of shops and stores buzz with activity, and give you a metropolis experience that's so typical to cities like New York).

One significant absence in downtown Oranjestad is the beachfront (stay tuned for a separate post about the jewel tones of the Dutch city soon). Instead of the proverbial cabana outside your hotel door, there are souvenir shops, a well-worn and sun dappled boardwalk, and a port glittering with lobster boats, skiffs and cruise ships. Ah…a busy view from the hotel!

So, how does one get beach access from the Renaissance Aruba Resort & Casino? You take a boat (accessible to hotel guests only: you'll need to scan a functioning room key) to Renaissance Island, which is a 10 minute boat ride away from the mainland. Since this is an adult friendly resort, there are two separate "beaches" there: a kid/family friendly beach on the left, and an adults only beach on the right.

This is where we saw the flamingos.

I expected Renaissance Island to be quintessentially Caribbean: hammocks, swim-up bar, breakwater, coconut/palm trees. The set up did not disappoint. But the flamingos were such a mirage in the desert of my mind's eye: they were unexpected, colorful, robust. Not just one, but at least eight of them pacing, quivering, craning their supple, ballet dancer necks.

I bought a whole cup's worth of food (dried cereal) to feed them. I was both in shock and awe. Their feathers were a true, palpable pink with hints of white. Their long and curvy beaks were both audacious and cheeky. And their S-shaped necks! These creatures could teach Natalie Portman a thing or two about grace, in the movie Black Swan.

I felt as though I was getting free admission to a theme park. Those fragile-looking legs like glass stemware, those webbed feet perfectly adapted to swimming (although, to be honest, I've yet to see any flamingo swim like a duck).

We drank in the scenery, the magic of it all. 

Obviously Matthew felt at home with these birds

When the day seems too full of weary thoughts and what I like to call the "debris of the mind," a glass of wine brings everything into perspective. This photo was taken at Tabor Hill Vineyards in South Michigan, a delightfully fertile knoll near New Buffalo, and in the heart of Lake Michigan's wine country. The vineyard produces a range of dry, semi-dry, sparkling and dessert wines that dance with flavor.

This perfectly laid-out table shows the glass of Pinot Gris that has won several awards because of the vineyard's techniques and excellent clay soil that is similar to those of France and Germany. You can taste a rich bouquet in many of the wines, and also delight in a Michigan favorite — the ice wine.

I love this photo because it reminds me of an idyllic summer afternoon when we visited the vineyard. The vineyard also pairs the wines with exquisite Norman Love chocolates, which are themselves gems of confection — a feast for both the eye and the palette. The afternoon's bustle and business of the restaurant is reflected on the glass, which deepens the memory.

The recent riots in Cairo and the Yasi Cyclone in Queensland were unexpected: sometimes, the perfectly planned holiday can be interrupted by disaster. While it's disappointing to consider canceling or discontinuing your well deserved holiday, it's often necessary to alter your plans and make the required arrangements to leave in order to ensure your personal safety.

When should I leave?

Sometimes it's hard to know when conditions in your area become unsafe especially when you're in a foreign country and you're unfamiliar with the local language and customs. If you suspect something in your area, check news headlines in your home country or for any online alerts for travellers from the government, such as the Smart Traveller website in Australia. In some instances, the government will issue advisories that caution tourists to take extra care in certain areas, while in other circumstances arrangements will be made to evacuate nationals. In these situations, travellers should follow the recommended actions or contact their embassy to find out more.

If you're registered with Smart Traveller, they'll make an effort to contact you in the case of any emergency and provide the information on evacuation plans.

What should I do to stay safe?

First and foremost, travellers should take the precautions to register before they head overseas, especially if they're travelling to nations that could be of a particular concern. Australians can register online at Smart Traveller. It's also important to know where to find your embassy before you leave for your trip.

While travelling, be sure to keep all your travel documents on your person and it's also a good idea to keep a separate copy stored in another location, such as with your luggage.

What if I choose to stay?

In some situations it may be advisable to stay as it may be unsafe to leave during certain situations – it'll be safer to stay in your Townsville accommodation than risk driving unprotected on the roads right before a tropical storm. In these situations, be sure you're adequately prepared for the long wait. Stock up on sufficient supplies to stay for the time you need to and minimise any unnecessary trips out of your hotel room if it's unsafe. After the disaster has passed, it's a good idea to get in touch with your embassy so they can let your friends and family know that you're safe if you can't do so yourself.

When is it safe to travel to a disaster affected area?

You'll find that there are a number of bargains and hotel deals to snatch up at destinations that have recently experienced a disaster. Travellers looking to score deal should keep an eye on these cheap travel options, but do ensure that you thoroughly research the current situations thoroughly and ensure they're safe before you decide to travel to these afflicted regions.

Have you had your holidays altered because of disasters and political situations? How did you handle it?

**

Paige Green writes for Quickbeds.com, Australia's leading online resource for cheap accommodation – Perth, Sydney, Melbourne and more.

This is a sponsored post

For many people, the idea of the cliched "Caribbean vacation" is a luxury. From the air fares to the hotel rooms, sunset cruises or catamaran escapes, everything adds up. Given this economy, you may be hard pressed to make a decision between paying your PSE&G bill for another month, or simply turning the heat off and jet setting to warmer weather.

But, last week, my husband and I did just that. We couldn't face the blizzards and deep freeze covering the Northeast anymore. Mother Nature simply stopped being that loving, nurturing being and started to throw tantrums the size of asteroids: so much so that we decided to jet set to our favorite Caribbean island, Aruba, to outsmart her.

Words cannot express how much we love this happy island, with its romantic, twisted Divi Divi trees, the endless litter-free beaches  and balmy, tangy sea water. There will be many posts to come on our romantic adventures on this island, so stay tuned!

But first, our reasons for going there:

A Caribbean Vacation Is Good for your Health: Romans were taking baths for their health thousands of years ago, and the healing properties of the ocean include relaxation and well being. Wave a hearty goodbye to the common cold, bruises, nicks and cuts etc. Just spending time in the salty ocean is like Nirvana.

More Affordable Than You Think: Thanks to great Jet Blue airfare sales, we were able to snag round trip tickets to Aruba for $250. Seriously! It's not as bad as you think it may be. Of course, the airfare is only one part of the equation. There's also lodging fares to consider, and during peak season, many hotels charge as much as $379 per night. One smart way to beat these prices is investing in a time share (I know, it's cliched, but it works). The least expensive one I found was $7,000 for a week, each year for a lifetime. If you like to visit the same Utopia again and again, then this might be the option for you.

Otherwise, look into renting apartments. In Aruba, I saw a lot of apartments going for $1,000 for the week, which is a great deal during peak season. There were also studios and one bedrooms for $90 per night (you'll have to do the cooking and there's no maid service or mint on the pillow, but it sure beats forking over your trust fund).

Work Productively: If you can't go there for a vacation, why not visit for a work-cation? Not to be Captain Obvious, but the weather this year has indeed left all meteorologists working overtime. If you need to escape somewhere warm to be productive, then head on south. There's nothing like surfing the web while lying on the beach, sipping mojitos. Trust me on this one.

Good for your Chakras: The "chakras" are the energy centers of the body. The word "chakra" comes from Sanskrit that means a wheel or a disk, and an energy center typically runs from the crown of your head to the base of your spine. Colors and light directly affect the body and its energy; therefore, that brilliant patch of oceanic blue is not only for postcards and catalogs. They have a purpose: they elevate your mind and spirit.

I don't know about you, but as soon as set foot on a beach my chakras are all exuding energy. I feel alive. It's the closest thing to a physical or a visit to the spa…yes, those Romans were smart to indulge in therapeutic baths.

Outdoor Sports: If you're into sports like windsurfing, kite surfing, hiking and biking, then a Caribbean vacation fulfills every desire in the book. You can rent ATV's, hike, run up to a lighthouse, and treat the outdoors like your gym. It's seriously UPLIFTING!

There are many other obvious reasons for indulging in a Caribbean vacation –especially right now — so start surfing the web and line up a trip. Even if it's for a few days, it will do you a world of good! Ready…set..JET.

- Charu Suri

For your next vacation, consider booking a Budget Hotel in the Caribbean.

For me, a good photo is about color and composition. If a picture has to say "a thousand words," then it had better be one heck of a picture, because I love words!

This photo really stood out for me in Aruba because of its urban feel. There's something so vivid and city-slick about it (the two cars, and the bright red fire hydrant). The "Stop & Go" painted sign is funny because there are so many back roads in Aruba, and intersections where there SHOULD be stop signs but aren't. So the "Stop & Go" is actually a wish for order in a city where order is a little more lax than usual.

But the Caribbean flavor speaks for itself: can't you tell you're not in Kansas anymore?

Fulfilling unusual and romantic requests without flinching or using the word “impossible” may well be one of the true tests of a great concierge. Upscale hotels around the world pride themselves on their concierge services. These impresarios are able to wrangle impossible to get dinner reservations, produce carriages and chocolates in nanoseconds like magicians, and cater to every family member’s whim. Does the wife want a purebred poodle delivered to her room in a few hours? All in day’s work. But there are some requests that border on the quirky –even downright impossible.

With Valentine’s Day around the corner, you may want to feel inspired to get your A game on by reading some of the most unusual concierge requests received at hotels around the world:   

A Daring Proposal: The concierge at the Mandarin Oriental in New York was once asked to orchestrate an over-the-top marriage proposal in the form of a private helicopter tour around Manhattan. The chopper flew over Liberty State Park where a huge banner with the words, “Marry Me” stood in plain sight, and paparazzi were around to photograph the happy couple. Fortunately, the story turned out to have a good ending.

Personalized iPods: Jess Paice, a Ten Lifestyle Concierge specialist says that some requests have been very thoughtful and precise. “We’ve been asked to complete some really lovely requests. For example, one member has asked us to buy his girlfriend an IPod and preload it with songs which have special meanings for the two of them.”

The Setai, Miami Beach

A “Bordello” Room: At the Setai in South Beach, Miami, a guest once asked concierge Maite Foriasky to transform his hotel suite into a gloriously upholstered “mock bordello” and to also purchase some gaudy red lingerie for his wife. Foriasky managed to pull it off without a hitch.

A “Mariachi Band” on Two Hours’ Notice: At the SLS hotel in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, the concierge services operate faster than the speed of light. Or at the very least, on par. Head Concierge Waldo Hernandez operates with a “can do” attitude, no matter how audacious the request, and once he was asked to obtain a 12-piece Mariachi band for an anniversary dinner with two hours’ notice. Fait accompli.

Hearing with the Pope: Denise Thomas, Executive Vice President for LesConcierges, which provides concierge services for patrons with certain elite credit cards, says she was once asked arrange a hearing with the pope for a pair of newlyweds. Being a skilled and trained specialist, she anticipates odd requests, but this one bordered on completely unusual; nevertheless, she pulled it off to the couple’s complete satisfaction.  

Concierge services are becoming increasingly utilized among the discerning clientele these days, and several concierges will offer unusual or innovative suggestions to help your Valentine’s Day be extra special. Since the services are typically complimentary, we suggest that you don’t forget to tip, especially if you have a particularly outrageous or quirky one.