This is the last part of a great article found at the Independent Traveler.
"Where to Eat
There are so many -- and so many kinds of -- restaurants, pubs and cafes in Sydney that it's hard to go wrong. Here's a guide to neighborhoods (or, as Australians say, "eat streets") where there is a fun variety of restaurants for the choosing:
Fashionable and trendy cafes and restaurants abound in Paddington and in Darlinghurst and Double Bay. Among the best options here are Tigerbakers, a cozy casual cafe that has the best breakfast in town; Gertrude and Alice, a bookstore with an attached coffee shop; and the Victoria Room, an upscale destination specializing in great tapas dishes and even better cocktails.
Head to the Rocks for elegant restaurants with historic atmosphere. Rockpool and Altitude both create superior meals prepared by chefs that have garnered considerable attention from international critics for their Australian cuisine. The fresh seafood is exceptional at both locations.
Head to Woolloomooloo Wharf for superb food and even better views. The row of restaurants along the wharf includes China Doll for Asian fusion and the Italian Otto Ristorante.
Manly and Bondi are known for fresh seafood and the many outdoor cafes that line their beachfronts. Try the fish and chips, especially at Fishmongers in Bondi, which serves the best battered barramundi in town.
Darling Harbour's King Street and Coco Bay wharves have such mind-boggling variety that there's something for everyone. The wharves' collection of restaurants and bars includes everything from the London's cheap noodle chain Wagamama to classy lounges like The Loft and Cargo.
In Sydney, Leichhardt (Norton Street) is considered a bit of "Little Italy." Grappa serves up great pasta with genuine Italian flair.
For ethnic cuisine, head to Glebe (Glebe Point Road) where there are numerous Mediterranean, Asian and Middle Eastern restaurants.
Where to Stay
Visitors have their pick of Sydney's neighborhoods, as hotels are spread throughout the city center and around the Eastern beaches. High-end properties are clustered along Circular Quay. Though there are some hotels and hostels in the King's Cross area, the neighborhood can be a bit seedy and isn't recommended.
Good deals can be difficult to find during the summer high season from November through January. Many locals have time off from work around Australia Day (January 26) and hotels sell out quickly -- so be sure to book early if you're planning on traveling during that time.
The luxurious Hilton Sydney recently underwent a flashy $200 million renovation. Its 577 rooms and suites are elegant and modern, with lots of natural light.
Feeling starstruck? Sheraton on the Park and the Park Hyatt cater to elite visitors and host most of the international celebrities who come to town.
BLUE Sydney (formerly the W) is one of the city's trendiest hotels, located on the wharf in Woolloomooloo. Russell Crowe lives in one of the apartments in the building.
Darling Harbour hotels are centrally located, on the water and generally affordable. Our favorites include the Ibis Hotel at Darling Harbour and the Novotel Sydney on Darling Harbour.
Hotels right around the Rocks tend to be the most expensive, but if you're willing to venture up to the Holiday Inn Potts Point, which is located in the heart of Darlinghurst cafe society, prices drop considerably. The Mercure Sydney (818 - 820 George Street) are also reasonable and centrally located.
Some of Sydney's best hotels are outside of the central city. The beaches have particularly attractive options, with small places like Ravesi's in Bondi and larger chains such as the Crowne Plaza - Coogee Beach providing beachfront accommodation.
Where to Shop
Melbourne has long been considered Australia's premier shopping city, but in recent years Sydney's shopping scene has been quietly gaining ground. Major international labels Christian Dior and Burberry launched their first Australian locations in Sydney, not Melbourne, as did local designers Tsubi and Sass & Bide. In addition to cutting-edge fashions, Sydney is also home to some of the world's best opal jewelry, drawn from the nation's many opal mines. Local handicrafts and unique artwork are on display in open-air markets around the city.
Go beyond the kangaroo T-shirt. Visitors in search of unique souvenirs and mementoes should browse the Rocks Weekend Market, held on Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. The local art, handcrafted jewelry, photo albums and antiques here are distinctive and well made. More traditional souvenirs -- Aboriginal art, Australian cowboy boots, paintings of the Opera House, even didgeridoos -- can be found in neighboring shops in the Rocks.
The Queen Victoria Building and the Strand Arcade, just a block apart in Sydney's CBD, are must-see shopping. While both complexes are home to a wealth of good boutiques, the real attraction is the historic buildings themselves, which are ornately decorated and stately -- definitely the opposite of a typical mall.
While you'll find the usual international labels (Hermes, Louis Vuitton, Prada) in boutiques on Castlereagh Street, head to Oxford Street for a sample of Australia's own cutting-edge fashion scene. Some of the biggest names in Australian design have their flagship stores here, including Lisa Ho, Sass and Bide, Scanlan and Theodore, and Alex Perry. Another popular designer, Colette Dinnigan, is located on William Street, just off of Oxford.
For good deals and unusual merchandise, join the locals at the weekly open-air markets in Glebe, Paddington and Bondi. Vintage clothes, antiques, handmade jewelry, local art and fashions by up-and-coming designers are just a few of the unique offerings. Glebe's market is held each Saturday at the Glebe Primary School, while Paddington's is held the same day at the Paddington Uniting Church. Bondi's market is held Sundays at the Bondi Beach Public School.
There's a fierce rivalry between Australia's two biggest department stores, David Jones and Myer, both located in the CBD near Hyde Park. They literally war over who can sign Australia's top designers to exclusive contracts -- so if you see a certain label carried in one store, it's likely that you won't find it in the other. While David Jones is the older and more established of the two, we'll let you decide which store you find truly superior."
Friday, October 30, 2009
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Sydney Australia- Part 2
Again, this was featured in the Independent Traveler
"What to See
Take a tour of the world-famous Sydney Opera House. There are a handful of varieties (including an intimate backstage tour), held throughout the day. Of course, schedule permitting, travelers can also take in a show.
The best way to see the harbor is to get a bird's eye view from the top of the Harbour Bridge on a Sydney Harbour Bridge Climb -- not your ordinary stroll across a bridge and not just for the young and crazy. The 3.5-hour trek up and down the famous landmark is safe, slow and suitable for people of all ages and fitness levels; you'll don a bridge suit and wear a bridge harness along the ladder-like stairways and narrow catwalks. Recently added is an Express Climb, which takes only two hours and 15 minutes.
The climbs are guided tours and are offered during the day as well as at night. There are lots of rules and regulations, including: no kids under 10 (and children aged 10 to 16 must be accompanied by an adult), no women more than 24 weeks pregnant, climbers must wear rubber soled shoes, and all climbers must pass a breath-test (for a blood alcohol limit of less than .05 percent).
From the bridge, visitors can walk around the inlet to tour the always-crowded Opera House. It is easy to continue from there through the Royal Botanical Gardens, a collection of flowers and trees overlooking the water, where it is possible to see some of Australia's unique flora without leaving the city.
Get your bearings in Sydney by taking a ride on the Sydney Explorer bus, an air-conditioned motorcoach that offers commentary (and hop-on, hop-off options). The service stops at Circular Quay daily at regular intervals, beginning at 8:40 a.m. You can also board the "Bondi Explorer," which offers the same kind of service to areas outside of the city, including Bondi Beach and the eastern suburbs. The SydneyPass Network also offers a harbour ferry ride (morning, afternoon and evening).
Take a self-guided walking tour of the historic Rocks, Sydney's birthplace (it dates back to Sydney's beginnings as a British convict colony). There are numerous historic buildings (archeological sites and the like); plus, the neighborhood is a lively one, with many shops, restaurants and bars. Today, the narrow, twisting streets are free of criminals and fun to wander through. The shops here sell every kind of Australian souvenir imaginable, but the best come from the Rocks market, which is full of handcrafted and unique mementoes.
Explore Darling Harbour. While one main attraction is Harbourside, a waterfront shopping and dining complex, Darling Harbour is also a nexus for tourist attractions such as the Sydney Aquarium, the IMAX Theatre, the Australian National Maritime Museum and the Powerhouse Museum, which focuses on "creativity," whether through art, technology or science. There are also exhibitions, displays and impromptu music performances, plus numerous restaurants grouped around King Street Wharf. Also worth a visit is the Chinese Garden of Friendship, which features winding pathways, meandering waterways, and exotic flora and fauna.
Visit Sydney Wildlife World, an exhibit of Australia's most exotic critters and plants. You may not be able to find wild koalas lounging around Sydney, but you can get up close with them at the koala sanctuary. The park includes nine sample habitats, such as the Rainforest and Wallaby Cliffs, that supply a peek into different climates and animal homes around Australia. The Sydney Aquarium is right next door, and combination ticket deals are available.
Get out on the water via Harbour Jet (departing daily from the Convention Jetty in Darling Harbour). It's not for the faint of heart -- the speedboat ride offers some commentary, but the real fun is in the 270-degree spins, wild fishtails and other boat-acrobatic maneuvers. Captain Cook Cruises offers a gentler ride.
See Sydney from above on a helicopter tour (offered by several companies, including Adrenalin). They offer views of Sydney's entire extensive coastline, as well as the harbour, the city and even the Blue Mountains out to the west.
Check out Sydney's art scene with a visit to the edgy Museum of Contemporary Art. The Art Gallery of New South Wales features a wide range of art, including Australian, Aboriginal, Western and Asian exhibits.
A slightly different kind of museum is the Powerhouse, which is devoted to celebrating outstanding technology and design. An old power station in the former industrial district of Ultimo has been converted into Australia's largest museum. Exhibitions change continuously (recent topics have ranged from the Great Wall of China to Australian pub history), but are always fascinating, interactive and well planned.
Explore King's Cross, Sydney's infamous red light district. This once-bohemian town is now in the process of gentrifying into one boasting fancy bars and upscale apartments. Take a Crimes and Passions tour to catch a glimpse of the area's seedy, sometimes sordid and always fascinating history.
Rent a car or hop on one of the bus tours that leave from Sydney and go wine tasting in Hunter Valley (a two-hour drive from Sydney), which features some 50 wineries. Boutique Wine Tours will take you from Sydney up to the Hunter in a Mercedes limo and ferry you from winery to winery.
If you have a couple of days to spare, drive out to the Blue Mountains, where draws include beautiful scenery, bushwalking, rain forests, waterfalls, a scenic railway and more. The area is an hour and a half by car from Sydney. It's also a very romantic destination with lots of intimate inns.
Hit the beach! Manly, accessible via a 30-minute ferry ride from Circular Quay, offers scenic walking, watersports ranging from windsurfing to parasailing, and numerous cafes and restaurants. Bondi Beach (reachable by bus from Circular Quay) is Australia's best known, with lots of restaurants, shops and cafes. It's also the most crowded strip of sand in Sydney. Be aware that topless sunbathing is accepted and common.
A hiking path cuts through the cliffs between Bondi and Coogee, another beach suburb several miles south. The walk can be strenuous, but the views of the seemingly endless Pacific Ocean from the top of the cliffs are unbeatable, and there are several other beaches to make rest stops at along the way for a refreshing drink or swim."
"What to See
Take a tour of the world-famous Sydney Opera House. There are a handful of varieties (including an intimate backstage tour), held throughout the day. Of course, schedule permitting, travelers can also take in a show.
The best way to see the harbor is to get a bird's eye view from the top of the Harbour Bridge on a Sydney Harbour Bridge Climb -- not your ordinary stroll across a bridge and not just for the young and crazy. The 3.5-hour trek up and down the famous landmark is safe, slow and suitable for people of all ages and fitness levels; you'll don a bridge suit and wear a bridge harness along the ladder-like stairways and narrow catwalks. Recently added is an Express Climb, which takes only two hours and 15 minutes.
The climbs are guided tours and are offered during the day as well as at night. There are lots of rules and regulations, including: no kids under 10 (and children aged 10 to 16 must be accompanied by an adult), no women more than 24 weeks pregnant, climbers must wear rubber soled shoes, and all climbers must pass a breath-test (for a blood alcohol limit of less than .05 percent).
From the bridge, visitors can walk around the inlet to tour the always-crowded Opera House. It is easy to continue from there through the Royal Botanical Gardens, a collection of flowers and trees overlooking the water, where it is possible to see some of Australia's unique flora without leaving the city.
Get your bearings in Sydney by taking a ride on the Sydney Explorer bus, an air-conditioned motorcoach that offers commentary (and hop-on, hop-off options). The service stops at Circular Quay daily at regular intervals, beginning at 8:40 a.m. You can also board the "Bondi Explorer," which offers the same kind of service to areas outside of the city, including Bondi Beach and the eastern suburbs. The SydneyPass Network also offers a harbour ferry ride (morning, afternoon and evening).
Take a self-guided walking tour of the historic Rocks, Sydney's birthplace (it dates back to Sydney's beginnings as a British convict colony). There are numerous historic buildings (archeological sites and the like); plus, the neighborhood is a lively one, with many shops, restaurants and bars. Today, the narrow, twisting streets are free of criminals and fun to wander through. The shops here sell every kind of Australian souvenir imaginable, but the best come from the Rocks market, which is full of handcrafted and unique mementoes.
Explore Darling Harbour. While one main attraction is Harbourside, a waterfront shopping and dining complex, Darling Harbour is also a nexus for tourist attractions such as the Sydney Aquarium, the IMAX Theatre, the Australian National Maritime Museum and the Powerhouse Museum, which focuses on "creativity," whether through art, technology or science. There are also exhibitions, displays and impromptu music performances, plus numerous restaurants grouped around King Street Wharf. Also worth a visit is the Chinese Garden of Friendship, which features winding pathways, meandering waterways, and exotic flora and fauna.
Visit Sydney Wildlife World, an exhibit of Australia's most exotic critters and plants. You may not be able to find wild koalas lounging around Sydney, but you can get up close with them at the koala sanctuary. The park includes nine sample habitats, such as the Rainforest and Wallaby Cliffs, that supply a peek into different climates and animal homes around Australia. The Sydney Aquarium is right next door, and combination ticket deals are available.
Get out on the water via Harbour Jet (departing daily from the Convention Jetty in Darling Harbour). It's not for the faint of heart -- the speedboat ride offers some commentary, but the real fun is in the 270-degree spins, wild fishtails and other boat-acrobatic maneuvers. Captain Cook Cruises offers a gentler ride.
See Sydney from above on a helicopter tour (offered by several companies, including Adrenalin). They offer views of Sydney's entire extensive coastline, as well as the harbour, the city and even the Blue Mountains out to the west.
Check out Sydney's art scene with a visit to the edgy Museum of Contemporary Art. The Art Gallery of New South Wales features a wide range of art, including Australian, Aboriginal, Western and Asian exhibits.
A slightly different kind of museum is the Powerhouse, which is devoted to celebrating outstanding technology and design. An old power station in the former industrial district of Ultimo has been converted into Australia's largest museum. Exhibitions change continuously (recent topics have ranged from the Great Wall of China to Australian pub history), but are always fascinating, interactive and well planned.
Explore King's Cross, Sydney's infamous red light district. This once-bohemian town is now in the process of gentrifying into one boasting fancy bars and upscale apartments. Take a Crimes and Passions tour to catch a glimpse of the area's seedy, sometimes sordid and always fascinating history.
Rent a car or hop on one of the bus tours that leave from Sydney and go wine tasting in Hunter Valley (a two-hour drive from Sydney), which features some 50 wineries. Boutique Wine Tours will take you from Sydney up to the Hunter in a Mercedes limo and ferry you from winery to winery.
If you have a couple of days to spare, drive out to the Blue Mountains, where draws include beautiful scenery, bushwalking, rain forests, waterfalls, a scenic railway and more. The area is an hour and a half by car from Sydney. It's also a very romantic destination with lots of intimate inns.
Hit the beach! Manly, accessible via a 30-minute ferry ride from Circular Quay, offers scenic walking, watersports ranging from windsurfing to parasailing, and numerous cafes and restaurants. Bondi Beach (reachable by bus from Circular Quay) is Australia's best known, with lots of restaurants, shops and cafes. It's also the most crowded strip of sand in Sydney. Be aware that topless sunbathing is accepted and common.
A hiking path cuts through the cliffs between Bondi and Coogee, another beach suburb several miles south. The walk can be strenuous, but the views of the seemingly endless Pacific Ocean from the top of the cliffs are unbeatable, and there are several other beaches to make rest stops at along the way for a refreshing drink or swim."
Monday, October 26, 2009
Sydney Australia- part 1
This article was taken from the Independent Traveler. Since it was so long, it will be posted in a couple of different blogs
Sydney Essentials
Sydney is the largest city in Australia, boasting many of the nation's cultural and financial institutions -- as well as truly dramatic natural scenery. Although it is a modern city strongly influenced by British roots and current American popular culture, Sydney's real character is derived from its exotic location and brash beauty. Walking through the glass and concrete downtown, known as the Central Business District (CBD), you could be in any other Western-culture metropolis -- until a fluorescent red and green lorikeet parrot swoops overhead or an unexpected flash of the brilliant blue harbor appears between the skyscrapers.
Any proper visit to Sydney must begin in the harbor, which is both the birthplace of the city and its current iconic centerpiece. The area is called Circular Quay (pronounced "key" by locals). It is hard to imagine a more picturesque setting for a city's heart than this, with the Opera House and Harbour Bridge displayed against the inlet's bright water.
Sydney spreads across a massive geographic area, but the majority of its most interesting areas can be found near the ocean coast, in the area known as the Eastern suburbs. Oxford Street, the main thoroughfare running east from downtown to the ocean beaches, hosts Sydney's famous gay and lesbian Mardi Gras parade each February and is popular year-round for its upscale shops and cafes.
Sydney is a well-balanced blend of a big-city lifestyle and the laid-back Australian mentality. Although Aussies who hail from other towns often disparage Sydney for its flashiness and hectic pace, urban inconveniences seem minor here compared to places like New York and London. Tourism is a huge industry around Sydney, and locals are accustomed to providing visitors with service, helpful directions and a rousing welcome to the stunning city that they call home.
Sydney Essentials
Sydney is the largest city in Australia, boasting many of the nation's cultural and financial institutions -- as well as truly dramatic natural scenery. Although it is a modern city strongly influenced by British roots and current American popular culture, Sydney's real character is derived from its exotic location and brash beauty. Walking through the glass and concrete downtown, known as the Central Business District (CBD), you could be in any other Western-culture metropolis -- until a fluorescent red and green lorikeet parrot swoops overhead or an unexpected flash of the brilliant blue harbor appears between the skyscrapers.
Any proper visit to Sydney must begin in the harbor, which is both the birthplace of the city and its current iconic centerpiece. The area is called Circular Quay (pronounced "key" by locals). It is hard to imagine a more picturesque setting for a city's heart than this, with the Opera House and Harbour Bridge displayed against the inlet's bright water.
Sydney spreads across a massive geographic area, but the majority of its most interesting areas can be found near the ocean coast, in the area known as the Eastern suburbs. Oxford Street, the main thoroughfare running east from downtown to the ocean beaches, hosts Sydney's famous gay and lesbian Mardi Gras parade each February and is popular year-round for its upscale shops and cafes.
Sydney is a well-balanced blend of a big-city lifestyle and the laid-back Australian mentality. Although Aussies who hail from other towns often disparage Sydney for its flashiness and hectic pace, urban inconveniences seem minor here compared to places like New York and London. Tourism is a huge industry around Sydney, and locals are accustomed to providing visitors with service, helpful directions and a rousing welcome to the stunning city that they call home.
Friday, October 23, 2009
Spot light on Celebrity Cruises
Celebrity is one of my favorite cruise lines. We sailed on the Constellation last November and loved the ship.
Here is a little synopsis on Celebrity:
Consistently recognized with five- and six-star rankings as the highest-rated premium cruise line, Celebrity Cruises is committed to innovative design, impeccable service, and unparalleled spa and dining offerings.
Since its inception in 1989, Celebrity has held true to its original commitment of taking the very best aspects of classic, elegant cruising and updating them to reflect current lifestyles.
What sets Celebrity apart from other vacation choices today is the cruise line's dedication to providing guests with a cruise experience that exceeds expectations.
2010 Europe Season
Celebrity Cruises in 2010 will base all three Solstice-class ships in Europe--the 2,850-guest Celebrity Solstice, which sets sail for the first time in November; the Celebrity Equinox, launching later this year; and the Celebrity Eclipse, setting sail in 2010 as Celebrity's first primarily U.K.-sourced vessel. The trip will be joined by the 2,039-guest Celebrity Constellation.
Celebrity Constellation will sail 12-night "Scandinavia and Russia" and 7-night Mediterranean sailings. Celebrity Eclipse will offer a varied lineup of new 11-night and longer cruises to the Mediterranean, the Baltic Sea, and the Canary Islands. Celebrity Equinox will sail 12-night voyages throughout the Mediterranean, and the Celebrity Solstice will offer 10- and 11-night Eastern Mediterranean as well as 13-night Holy Land cruises. Pre-cruise escorted land tours of three to five nights are available with each of these cruises.
The four-ship program includes 76 trans-Atlantic and Europe sailings visiting 22 countries and calling at 65 different ports. Four ports are new to Celebrity: Alicante, Spain; Cagliari, Sardinia, Italy; La Spezia, Italy; and Gran Canaria, Canary Islands. Celebrity Constellation's seven-night Mediterranean sailings will call on Genoa, Livorno, Civitavecchia, and Naples, Italy; and Villefranche, France. Guests can extend this vacation with pre-cruise escorted land tours, including a four-night Madrid and Barcelona tour or a three-night Paris and Amsterdam tour.
Celebrity Eclipse will offer 13 open-jaw, 12-night sailings between Barcelona and Venice from from May into October 2010, with an overnight stay in Venice included. These cruises visit Athens and Santorini, Greece; Florence, Naples, Rome and Venice, Italy; either Dubrovnik or Split in Croatia; and either Villefrance or Toulon in France.
Celebrity Solstice's 10- and 11-night Mediterranean voyages from Civitavecchia are similar to those offered in 2009. The 10-night voyages in 2010 will feature a call to Rhodes, Greece, and the 11-night cruises will include an overnight in Istanbul. Solstice's five 13-night Holy Land sailings, sailing roundtrip out of Rome from late August through mid-October, will include overnight stays in Alexandria, Egypt, and calls throughout Italy, Greece, Turkey, and Israel.
Open Seating Dining
Celebrity Cruises offers passengers the option of open seating in the main dining rooms of its ships. The offering will be in addition to -- not a replacement for -- traditional assigned early and late seating on the line's vessels. Passengers can choose which type of seating they want -- open or traditional -- at the time they book their cruise.
Contact me for information and reservations on any Celebrity cruise at mindy@myvacationlady.com
Here is a little synopsis on Celebrity:
Consistently recognized with five- and six-star rankings as the highest-rated premium cruise line, Celebrity Cruises is committed to innovative design, impeccable service, and unparalleled spa and dining offerings.
Since its inception in 1989, Celebrity has held true to its original commitment of taking the very best aspects of classic, elegant cruising and updating them to reflect current lifestyles.
What sets Celebrity apart from other vacation choices today is the cruise line's dedication to providing guests with a cruise experience that exceeds expectations.
2010 Europe Season
Celebrity Cruises in 2010 will base all three Solstice-class ships in Europe--the 2,850-guest Celebrity Solstice, which sets sail for the first time in November; the Celebrity Equinox, launching later this year; and the Celebrity Eclipse, setting sail in 2010 as Celebrity's first primarily U.K.-sourced vessel. The trip will be joined by the 2,039-guest Celebrity Constellation.
Celebrity Constellation will sail 12-night "Scandinavia and Russia" and 7-night Mediterranean sailings. Celebrity Eclipse will offer a varied lineup of new 11-night and longer cruises to the Mediterranean, the Baltic Sea, and the Canary Islands. Celebrity Equinox will sail 12-night voyages throughout the Mediterranean, and the Celebrity Solstice will offer 10- and 11-night Eastern Mediterranean as well as 13-night Holy Land cruises. Pre-cruise escorted land tours of three to five nights are available with each of these cruises.
The four-ship program includes 76 trans-Atlantic and Europe sailings visiting 22 countries and calling at 65 different ports. Four ports are new to Celebrity: Alicante, Spain; Cagliari, Sardinia, Italy; La Spezia, Italy; and Gran Canaria, Canary Islands. Celebrity Constellation's seven-night Mediterranean sailings will call on Genoa, Livorno, Civitavecchia, and Naples, Italy; and Villefranche, France. Guests can extend this vacation with pre-cruise escorted land tours, including a four-night Madrid and Barcelona tour or a three-night Paris and Amsterdam tour.
Celebrity Eclipse will offer 13 open-jaw, 12-night sailings between Barcelona and Venice from from May into October 2010, with an overnight stay in Venice included. These cruises visit Athens and Santorini, Greece; Florence, Naples, Rome and Venice, Italy; either Dubrovnik or Split in Croatia; and either Villefrance or Toulon in France.
Celebrity Solstice's 10- and 11-night Mediterranean voyages from Civitavecchia are similar to those offered in 2009. The 10-night voyages in 2010 will feature a call to Rhodes, Greece, and the 11-night cruises will include an overnight in Istanbul. Solstice's five 13-night Holy Land sailings, sailing roundtrip out of Rome from late August through mid-October, will include overnight stays in Alexandria, Egypt, and calls throughout Italy, Greece, Turkey, and Israel.
Open Seating Dining
Celebrity Cruises offers passengers the option of open seating in the main dining rooms of its ships. The offering will be in addition to -- not a replacement for -- traditional assigned early and late seating on the line's vessels. Passengers can choose which type of seating they want -- open or traditional -- at the time they book their cruise.
Contact me for information and reservations on any Celebrity cruise at mindy@myvacationlady.com
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Some Tips on Tipping
This was published by the Independent Traveler on 10/7/09 and it is worth repeating.
"Tipping requires more than cash and generosity; a modicum of research is essential for travelers to know exactly who deserves a tip and how much to give. Generous travelers shouldn't hand out gratuities like Halloween candy to cover their bases. In some countries -- like Japan, where giving someone a wad of cash is often considered rude -- tipping can be an insult. On the other side of the coin, traveling tightwads shouldn't try to save money by stiffing their service person, because millions of waiters, bellmen, tour guides and other workers in the tourist trade rely on tips to feed their families and pay the rent.
The happy medium between spendthrift and scrooge is a well-informed traveler! Below, we've listed some solid-gold tips for handling the tricky practice of tipping in a foreign country with often different and sometimes confusing customs and codes of behavior. Take our advice and tip wisely...
Know Before You Go
Here's the most important tipping tip you need: destination-specific tipping information is vital if you want to avoid an awkward or offensive encounter with a service person during your trip. Magellan's offers a useful Worldwide Tipping Guide that summarizes acceptable tips in other countries in a convenient chart.
You'll also want to pore over a good guidebook for more detailed information on local tipping practices; this way you won't be caught off guard when the colorfully dressed musicians in Marrakesh's Jemma el-Fna square want a few dirhams for letting you snap their picture, and you'll know not to leave a tip at that trendy restaurant in New Zealand.
Cover Your Bases
Whom you should tip (as well as how much you should give and how often) varies by destination. But here's a list of the types of folks you may have to present with some extra euros or pesos when you're jetsetting around the globe. Yes, the list is long, but remember that you will probably not need all of these services on a single getaway (unless you have some kind of elaborate around-the-world spa and boat trip planned -- in which case we're jealous!).
• Waitstaff
• Hotel cleaning staff
• Porter
• Bellhop
• Taxi/van driver
• Tour guide
• Concierge
• Restroom attendant
• Local who is posing for a photograph
• Bartender
• Tour boat captain and staff
• Maitre'd
• Childcare staff/day camp counselor
• Hairdresser/masseuse/manicurist
Carry Cash
If you're taking a cab or shuttle from the airport to your hotel, in most countries you'll have to tip. This means that you will need some local currency almost as soon as you get off your plane. Although some countries, like many Caribbean destinations, accept U.S. dollars in addition to their own local currency, it's important not to tip in dollars if it's not an accepted national currency.
Most airports have ATM's and exchange rate counters -- even if you're not planning on exchanging all of your money at the airport, you need to get enough local currency to cover your tips before you get in that cab. Contact your airport before you leave to find out what banking or money exchange facilities they offer.
Make sure you have plenty of small bills on hand throughout your trip, too. Use larger bills to pay for souvenirs, meals and other expenses, and keep the change to use as tips. If you run out of small bills, your hotel's front desk may be able to make change for you.
Follow the Leader
If you forget to research the acceptable tipping practices of your locale, or simply don't know what to do, look around and see what other visitors are doing. Is there money on the empty tables in your restaurant? Did everyone else on your boating excursion offer the captain and crew a few dollars? You get the idea.
If that doesn't work, here's a basic, common-sense rule of thumb: tip 5 to 10 percent, or a few dollars (in the local currency), to anyone who is providing you with a service -- like arranging an excursion with a tour company, bringing you a meal, or handing you some mints and a warm towel in the bathroom -- when you are visiting a country where tipping is generally an accepted practice.
Don't Ask
A common mistake made by travelers is asking their service person if he or she requires a tip. Not only does this present a conflict of interest to a cash-strapped service person who doesn't normally take tips, but in countries where saying what you mean is not the social norm, a clueless traveler may end up stiffing a polite waiter or bellhop. For example, in India, a service person whose income is mostly comprised of tips may say that he or she requires no gratuity out of modesty and good manners. This doesn't mean you shouldn't tip if it's the acceptable practice in your destination! Know before you go (see above) and you won't have to ask.
Beware of Service Charges
You may think that a "service charge" on your restaurant bill indicates that the tip is included. This is true for most countries; for others, not so much. In destinations such as Greece, Guatemala, Italy and Hong Kong, you should leave a tip in addition to a service charge. This is because the service charge may not necessarily go to the waiter -- and your tips make up a significant percentage of your server's salary."
"Tipping requires more than cash and generosity; a modicum of research is essential for travelers to know exactly who deserves a tip and how much to give. Generous travelers shouldn't hand out gratuities like Halloween candy to cover their bases. In some countries -- like Japan, where giving someone a wad of cash is often considered rude -- tipping can be an insult. On the other side of the coin, traveling tightwads shouldn't try to save money by stiffing their service person, because millions of waiters, bellmen, tour guides and other workers in the tourist trade rely on tips to feed their families and pay the rent.
The happy medium between spendthrift and scrooge is a well-informed traveler! Below, we've listed some solid-gold tips for handling the tricky practice of tipping in a foreign country with often different and sometimes confusing customs and codes of behavior. Take our advice and tip wisely...
Know Before You Go
Here's the most important tipping tip you need: destination-specific tipping information is vital if you want to avoid an awkward or offensive encounter with a service person during your trip. Magellan's offers a useful Worldwide Tipping Guide that summarizes acceptable tips in other countries in a convenient chart.
You'll also want to pore over a good guidebook for more detailed information on local tipping practices; this way you won't be caught off guard when the colorfully dressed musicians in Marrakesh's Jemma el-Fna square want a few dirhams for letting you snap their picture, and you'll know not to leave a tip at that trendy restaurant in New Zealand.
Cover Your Bases
Whom you should tip (as well as how much you should give and how often) varies by destination. But here's a list of the types of folks you may have to present with some extra euros or pesos when you're jetsetting around the globe. Yes, the list is long, but remember that you will probably not need all of these services on a single getaway (unless you have some kind of elaborate around-the-world spa and boat trip planned -- in which case we're jealous!).
• Waitstaff
• Hotel cleaning staff
• Porter
• Bellhop
• Taxi/van driver
• Tour guide
• Concierge
• Restroom attendant
• Local who is posing for a photograph
• Bartender
• Tour boat captain and staff
• Maitre'd
• Childcare staff/day camp counselor
• Hairdresser/masseuse/manicurist
Carry Cash
If you're taking a cab or shuttle from the airport to your hotel, in most countries you'll have to tip. This means that you will need some local currency almost as soon as you get off your plane. Although some countries, like many Caribbean destinations, accept U.S. dollars in addition to their own local currency, it's important not to tip in dollars if it's not an accepted national currency.
Most airports have ATM's and exchange rate counters -- even if you're not planning on exchanging all of your money at the airport, you need to get enough local currency to cover your tips before you get in that cab. Contact your airport before you leave to find out what banking or money exchange facilities they offer.
Make sure you have plenty of small bills on hand throughout your trip, too. Use larger bills to pay for souvenirs, meals and other expenses, and keep the change to use as tips. If you run out of small bills, your hotel's front desk may be able to make change for you.
Follow the Leader
If you forget to research the acceptable tipping practices of your locale, or simply don't know what to do, look around and see what other visitors are doing. Is there money on the empty tables in your restaurant? Did everyone else on your boating excursion offer the captain and crew a few dollars? You get the idea.
If that doesn't work, here's a basic, common-sense rule of thumb: tip 5 to 10 percent, or a few dollars (in the local currency), to anyone who is providing you with a service -- like arranging an excursion with a tour company, bringing you a meal, or handing you some mints and a warm towel in the bathroom -- when you are visiting a country where tipping is generally an accepted practice.
Don't Ask
A common mistake made by travelers is asking their service person if he or she requires a tip. Not only does this present a conflict of interest to a cash-strapped service person who doesn't normally take tips, but in countries where saying what you mean is not the social norm, a clueless traveler may end up stiffing a polite waiter or bellhop. For example, in India, a service person whose income is mostly comprised of tips may say that he or she requires no gratuity out of modesty and good manners. This doesn't mean you shouldn't tip if it's the acceptable practice in your destination! Know before you go (see above) and you won't have to ask.
Beware of Service Charges
You may think that a "service charge" on your restaurant bill indicates that the tip is included. This is true for most countries; for others, not so much. In destinations such as Greece, Guatemala, Italy and Hong Kong, you should leave a tip in addition to a service charge. This is because the service charge may not necessarily go to the waiter -- and your tips make up a significant percentage of your server's salary."
Monday, October 19, 2009
Airlines surcharging holiday travel- can you avoid it?
This article is pretty long but worth the read.
Taken from the Independent Traveler published on 10/13/09
Just when you thought the airlines had exhausted every possible surcharge, they still manage to impress with their ability to reach into our pockets. This time, it is a $10 holiday travel surcharge on all seats on peak travel dates, reaching very nearly into summer. There is both good news and bad news to be found in these latest duns, and some hints on how to save money and avoid crowds this winter and holiday travel season.
American and United first floated the surcharge a few weeks ago, focusing on three peak holiday travel dates: November 29 (the Sunday after Thanksgiving), and January 2 and 3 (the Saturday and Sunday after New Year's, when everyone is going to be traveling to get back to work and school). US Airways soon followed suit, and when they were only mildly pilloried in the press, all of the other major airlines fell into line late last week, with the complete list now comprising American, Continental, Delta, Northwest, United and US Airways.
In the meantime, the list of affected dates ballooned from three to 13, to include November 29 and 30; December 19, 26 and 27; January 2 and 3; March 14, 20, 21 and 28; April 11; and May 28.
Southwest and JetBlue have not adopted the surcharge, and have given indications that they will not do so.
Why Not Just Raise Fares?
These are, of course, fare increases by any other name, but the airlines greatly prefer to levy them as surcharges for a couple strategic reasons. First of all, the airlines can hide the surcharges when promoting sale fares; laws governing truth in advertising allow the airlines to bury surcharge information in the fine print. So the airlines can advertise $39 sale fares as they did last week, but they don't have to mention the date-specific $10 in their headlines.
The airlines are pretty much shameless when it comes to this kind of thing. For example, according to Tim Smith of American, the surcharges "absolutely are not a fee." Ha. Even a kindergarten kid caught red-handed sneaking treats knows he can't get away with saying "this is not candy; it is a piece of caramel wrapped in chocolate."
Perhaps more significantly, the airlines get the $10 revenue on every seat sold, whether for first class, business class, coach, discount, name your price and so on -- every person is paying the extra $10. The $10 remains the same irrespective of what the sale price or the airline's yield management pricing system says the seat is worth. So even if they are advertising seats for $39, they know they're at least going to get the extra $10, even on the (very few) seats they sell at the advertised sale price.
On a peak travel day, that is a lot of "free" income. How much income? If we use AAA's number from last year, when they estimated that 4.5 million people would fly over the Thanksgiving weekend, and make the assumption that most of those folks will be flying home on Saturday the 29th or Sunday the 30th, you're talking about upwards of $45 million dollars in just two days.
And note that the surcharge is applied to the base fare each way, so they can literally get you coming and going.
The surcharge is likely here to stay. After all, last year's fuel surcharges never really went away completely, despite gas at the pump edging down close to $2/gallon these days. These surcharges will show up again next winter holiday season, and don't be surprised when peak summer travel dates are added to the list; the inclusion of May 28, the Friday before Memorial Day, is the proof. It's going to happen, folks.
Peak Travel Days, Holiday Season 2009 - 2010
At this point, I don't have to tell you which days will be the peak travel days -- the airlines have already done that for me. From the list of dates above, I predict that January 3 will be a particularly rough day this year. When January 1 falls on a Friday, as it does this winter, almost every business and many schools in America will resume "normal" hours on the first Monday morning after New Year's. Similarly, the workers and students on furlough will try to extract every last minute from their vacation time. Add to that the potential for some travel-hostile winter weather, and you have a perfect storm of travel volume and maxxed-out airports all day long on Sunday, January 3.
True to form, the airlines added January 2 to their surcharge calendar to snag the more sensible among us who avoid that last-minute Sunday crush. No one wants to travel on January 1, so if you are in good enough shape to board a plane on Friday morning, you should be able to get low fares without surcharges, and have a pretty smooth go of it as well.
As for Thanksgiving, consistent problems over the past several years (not to mention all the resulting media attention) have actually resulted in a change of behavior among the traveling public, where many have adjusted their travel schedules to avoid the peak days. People are traveling a little earlier in the week, and heading home either a little earlier or later than usual. As a result, the overall volume is much more spread out. I have several friends who damn the torpedoes and travel each year on the day before Thanksgiving, and all have had tales of short lines and uncongested airports to tell in recent years.
Folks may leave work on Tuesday or even Monday, and the day before Thanksgiving no longer seems to be the relentlessly nastiest travel day of the year. Similarly, travelers may head home earlier as well, perhaps on Friday morning, which is traditionally one of the lighter holiday travel days.
With Christmas falling on a Friday, the Christmas travel week could be horrendous. I had been hopeful that schools might let out on the 18th, which would make it among the easiest Christmas travel years possible; a full week between the end of school and Christmas day would help to spread out the volume nicely. But then I did an informal sample of a dozen universities and school districts, and all but two set the last day of school as December 23.
When that is the case, the business world often follows suit to some extent, which means that the entire country will be getting off work at lunchtime on Wednesday, December 23 and muscling their way to airports to be home in time for the holiday. I recommend you try to avoid being in that number.
The upside potential for folks who can travel earlier in the week, or even the previous week, is obvious: lower fares and empty airports could be all yours. My advice would be to plan to travel on or about the 21st of December. That way, folks who freed up and bolted to the airports on December 19 will already be long gone, and you'll avoid the December 23 onslaught entirely.
The Silver Lining
The peak travel surcharge is targeted toward family and vacation travelers; let's face it, there's not a lot of business travel happening on January 2. So the folks who give the airlines their business and create the environment that lets them jack fares up around the holidays will be ponying up even more.
However, there may be a hidden upside for leisure travelers in the trend toward surcharges: holiday travel is expected to be down considerably this year, and fares are down as well. At present, holiday fares are down 12 - 15 percent, according to FareCompare.com, who broke the surcharge story. The airlines are terrified that they are going to have to price fares extremely low on the peak holiday travel dates, and are trying to figure out another way to dip into your pockets with the surcharge gambit.
If you're not forced to travel on the peak travel dates, the silver lining is that you may be able to find some fantastic fares, even just a day or two off the most popular travel dates. Many fare-tracking experts believe that we won't see a lot of last-minute fare sales this year, and I tend to agree; in a round of tests, I found a large selection of very low fares on popular routes on popular travel days. I suspect that folks who are searching for holiday travel now will pounce on these fares, and there won't be as many discounted seats later on in the game.
Thus, my recommendation would be to choose your travel dates well -- and well in advance -- to get the best fares and flight times. It may be more risky in 2009 - 2010 than in recent years to try to wait it out until the last minute.
Best Fares
The airlines' list of peak travel dates is useful in at least one respect: it functions as a perfect roadmap of when not to travel, as the surcharge dates are also most likely to have the highest base fares as well. And if travel is down sufficiently that fares stay low even on the busiest days, the $10 may seem like a pittance in the end. My suggested travel dates for getting the best fares, avoiding the crowds and eluding the surcharges are as follows:
• November 23
• November 26
• November 27
• December 21
• December 25
• December 28
• January 1
• January 6
• January 9
And don't be afraid to check out the surcharge dates as well; a really cheap fare with $10 tacked on is still going to be very affordable. If the airlines scare everyone away by piling up the fees, they may have to lower the fares, and the thorough consumer will win in the end.
Taken from the Independent Traveler published on 10/13/09
Just when you thought the airlines had exhausted every possible surcharge, they still manage to impress with their ability to reach into our pockets. This time, it is a $10 holiday travel surcharge on all seats on peak travel dates, reaching very nearly into summer. There is both good news and bad news to be found in these latest duns, and some hints on how to save money and avoid crowds this winter and holiday travel season.
American and United first floated the surcharge a few weeks ago, focusing on three peak holiday travel dates: November 29 (the Sunday after Thanksgiving), and January 2 and 3 (the Saturday and Sunday after New Year's, when everyone is going to be traveling to get back to work and school). US Airways soon followed suit, and when they were only mildly pilloried in the press, all of the other major airlines fell into line late last week, with the complete list now comprising American, Continental, Delta, Northwest, United and US Airways.
In the meantime, the list of affected dates ballooned from three to 13, to include November 29 and 30; December 19, 26 and 27; January 2 and 3; March 14, 20, 21 and 28; April 11; and May 28.
Southwest and JetBlue have not adopted the surcharge, and have given indications that they will not do so.
Why Not Just Raise Fares?
These are, of course, fare increases by any other name, but the airlines greatly prefer to levy them as surcharges for a couple strategic reasons. First of all, the airlines can hide the surcharges when promoting sale fares; laws governing truth in advertising allow the airlines to bury surcharge information in the fine print. So the airlines can advertise $39 sale fares as they did last week, but they don't have to mention the date-specific $10 in their headlines.
The airlines are pretty much shameless when it comes to this kind of thing. For example, according to Tim Smith of American, the surcharges "absolutely are not a fee." Ha. Even a kindergarten kid caught red-handed sneaking treats knows he can't get away with saying "this is not candy; it is a piece of caramel wrapped in chocolate."
Perhaps more significantly, the airlines get the $10 revenue on every seat sold, whether for first class, business class, coach, discount, name your price and so on -- every person is paying the extra $10. The $10 remains the same irrespective of what the sale price or the airline's yield management pricing system says the seat is worth. So even if they are advertising seats for $39, they know they're at least going to get the extra $10, even on the (very few) seats they sell at the advertised sale price.
On a peak travel day, that is a lot of "free" income. How much income? If we use AAA's number from last year, when they estimated that 4.5 million people would fly over the Thanksgiving weekend, and make the assumption that most of those folks will be flying home on Saturday the 29th or Sunday the 30th, you're talking about upwards of $45 million dollars in just two days.
And note that the surcharge is applied to the base fare each way, so they can literally get you coming and going.
The surcharge is likely here to stay. After all, last year's fuel surcharges never really went away completely, despite gas at the pump edging down close to $2/gallon these days. These surcharges will show up again next winter holiday season, and don't be surprised when peak summer travel dates are added to the list; the inclusion of May 28, the Friday before Memorial Day, is the proof. It's going to happen, folks.
Peak Travel Days, Holiday Season 2009 - 2010
At this point, I don't have to tell you which days will be the peak travel days -- the airlines have already done that for me. From the list of dates above, I predict that January 3 will be a particularly rough day this year. When January 1 falls on a Friday, as it does this winter, almost every business and many schools in America will resume "normal" hours on the first Monday morning after New Year's. Similarly, the workers and students on furlough will try to extract every last minute from their vacation time. Add to that the potential for some travel-hostile winter weather, and you have a perfect storm of travel volume and maxxed-out airports all day long on Sunday, January 3.
True to form, the airlines added January 2 to their surcharge calendar to snag the more sensible among us who avoid that last-minute Sunday crush. No one wants to travel on January 1, so if you are in good enough shape to board a plane on Friday morning, you should be able to get low fares without surcharges, and have a pretty smooth go of it as well.
As for Thanksgiving, consistent problems over the past several years (not to mention all the resulting media attention) have actually resulted in a change of behavior among the traveling public, where many have adjusted their travel schedules to avoid the peak days. People are traveling a little earlier in the week, and heading home either a little earlier or later than usual. As a result, the overall volume is much more spread out. I have several friends who damn the torpedoes and travel each year on the day before Thanksgiving, and all have had tales of short lines and uncongested airports to tell in recent years.
Folks may leave work on Tuesday or even Monday, and the day before Thanksgiving no longer seems to be the relentlessly nastiest travel day of the year. Similarly, travelers may head home earlier as well, perhaps on Friday morning, which is traditionally one of the lighter holiday travel days.
With Christmas falling on a Friday, the Christmas travel week could be horrendous. I had been hopeful that schools might let out on the 18th, which would make it among the easiest Christmas travel years possible; a full week between the end of school and Christmas day would help to spread out the volume nicely. But then I did an informal sample of a dozen universities and school districts, and all but two set the last day of school as December 23.
When that is the case, the business world often follows suit to some extent, which means that the entire country will be getting off work at lunchtime on Wednesday, December 23 and muscling their way to airports to be home in time for the holiday. I recommend you try to avoid being in that number.
The upside potential for folks who can travel earlier in the week, or even the previous week, is obvious: lower fares and empty airports could be all yours. My advice would be to plan to travel on or about the 21st of December. That way, folks who freed up and bolted to the airports on December 19 will already be long gone, and you'll avoid the December 23 onslaught entirely.
The Silver Lining
The peak travel surcharge is targeted toward family and vacation travelers; let's face it, there's not a lot of business travel happening on January 2. So the folks who give the airlines their business and create the environment that lets them jack fares up around the holidays will be ponying up even more.
However, there may be a hidden upside for leisure travelers in the trend toward surcharges: holiday travel is expected to be down considerably this year, and fares are down as well. At present, holiday fares are down 12 - 15 percent, according to FareCompare.com, who broke the surcharge story. The airlines are terrified that they are going to have to price fares extremely low on the peak holiday travel dates, and are trying to figure out another way to dip into your pockets with the surcharge gambit.
If you're not forced to travel on the peak travel dates, the silver lining is that you may be able to find some fantastic fares, even just a day or two off the most popular travel dates. Many fare-tracking experts believe that we won't see a lot of last-minute fare sales this year, and I tend to agree; in a round of tests, I found a large selection of very low fares on popular routes on popular travel days. I suspect that folks who are searching for holiday travel now will pounce on these fares, and there won't be as many discounted seats later on in the game.
Thus, my recommendation would be to choose your travel dates well -- and well in advance -- to get the best fares and flight times. It may be more risky in 2009 - 2010 than in recent years to try to wait it out until the last minute.
Best Fares
The airlines' list of peak travel dates is useful in at least one respect: it functions as a perfect roadmap of when not to travel, as the surcharge dates are also most likely to have the highest base fares as well. And if travel is down sufficiently that fares stay low even on the busiest days, the $10 may seem like a pittance in the end. My suggested travel dates for getting the best fares, avoiding the crowds and eluding the surcharges are as follows:
• November 23
• November 26
• November 27
• December 21
• December 25
• December 28
• January 1
• January 6
• January 9
And don't be afraid to check out the surcharge dates as well; a really cheap fare with $10 tacked on is still going to be very affordable. If the airlines scare everyone away by piling up the fees, they may have to lower the fares, and the thorough consumer will win in the end.
Friday, October 16, 2009
Some Favorite Hawaii Places to Stay and Play
This article was printed in the Seattle Times last week.
By Gary A. Warner
Here's a sampling of my favorite places in the islands.
Favorite beaches
Hanalei Bay, Kauai: A golden crescent of sand on the lush, green north side of Kauai. The waves are gentle in the summer and manageable in the winter. Much of the bay is ringed by homes, many of which can be rented for family getaways.
Lumahai, Kauai: A small, gorgeous and sometimes dangerous beach. It was featured in the movie version of "South Pacific" and can be reached only by a sometimes muddy trail leading off the road just west of Hanalei. It's the hidden tropical fantasy that everyone thinks of when they visit Hawaii. Just be aware that the surf often is dangerous.
Kailua, Oahu: Along with nearby Lanikai, this is the beach featured in dozens of postcards and calendars over the decades. Its white sands, gently sloping drop-off and brilliant green-blue waters are huge draws, but its distance from the tourism crush of Waikiki means there's rarely a crowd. It's suffered from severe erosion in recent years, but I'm hopeful the state will do the right thing and save this iconic strand.
D.T. Fleming Beach, Maui: A great bodysurfing beach on the sometimes-turbulent northwest shore of Maui. There are trees along parts of the mile-long strand for when the sun gets too hot. When you are ready to call it a day, head for the bar at the Ritz-Carlton hotel, just up the hill, and enjoy the sunset.
Mauna Kea Beach, Big Island: The Big Island is the youngest of Hawaii's volcanic islands, so the lava hasn't been smashed into the fine grains of Kauai, Maui or Oahu. Finding a decent beach is tough. One of my favorites is in front of the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel. Though the deluxe resort doesn't advertise it, the beach is open to the public and a small number of parking spaces have been set aside for nonguests.
Favorite historical-cultural spots
Pearl Harbor, Oahu: The harbor on Oahu has become synonymous with treachery, disaster and revenge after the Dec. 7, 1941, attack by Japan that brought the United States into World War II. In recent years, the sunken remnants of the battleship USS Arizona have been joined in the area by the USS Missouri, where the Japanese surrender in Tokyo Bay was signed in 1945, along with a submarine warfare museum and an aviation museum.
Pu'uhonua o Honaunau, Big Island: Restored and maintained by the National Park Service, the old lava walls and reconstructed simple buildings on the southwest coast of the Big Island represented the city of refuge where those who had broken laws — kapu — could flee to safety. There's a stone bench where Mark Twain once sat with Hawaiian royalty.
Iolani Palace, Oahu: The only royal palace in the U.S., it is a reminder that Hawaii was a sovereign nation taken over by the United States in a dubious series of events in the 1890s. Built in central Honolulu by King Kalakaua, it shows Hawaiian rulers had embraced the architecture, culture and religion of the West as symbols of modernization. In the end they lost nearly everything their forefathers had fought to build.
Nakalele Point, Maui: One of the most mysteriously beautiful areas in the islands. At mile marker 38 is a turnout on the winding, rugged Highway 340. Visitors stroll a green, rolling field above sea cliffs. Visitors have stacked scores of stone piles — cairns — and made stone circles. Eerily beautiful, especially on sunny weekdays when you can sometimes be alone at the spot. A trail leads to a blowhole that shoots sprays of water into the air on days when the surf is large.
Favorite natural spots
Pipeline, Oahu: Ocean meets land on the North Shore of Oahu in a creation of natural perfection — curving, thundering pipe-shaped waves known around the world that draw top surfers.
From Ehukai State Park, walk to the left down to the beach. Pipeline is the wave that breaks from your left to your right. The wave breaking the other way is called "Backdoors."
Diamond Head, Oahu: The view from Waikiki has been unforgivably hemmed in by rows of boxy hotels and apartment buildings, but the extinct volcano's prow-shaped edges say Hawaii more than any other symbol.
Mountains from Hanalei Bay, Kauai: The crescent-shaped beach would be fantastic all by itself, but the jagged, green flank of the backside of the Na Pali Coast gives it a tropical quality unparalleled in the islands. Add a rainbow and it's a magic kingdom of surf, sand and sky.
Waipio Valley, Big Island: A rare spot on the islands that feels much like it must have been like to live in Hawaii 50 or even 100 years ago. This is the kind of place where Hawaiians have always traditionally lived — deep valleys by the sea, often accessible only by boat. Waipio Valley on the northeast coast of the Big Island can be visited on tours that go down a steep, narrow road. Once there, you'll find a few shacks, wild horses and taro fields, along with a beach popular with local surfers. It takes work to get there, but it's worth the journey.
Pools around Hana, Maui: I prefer the lush, rainy, green parts of Hawaii. The twisting, slow road to Hana on the rain-bathed eastern end of Maui passes by several pools fed by waterfalls. There are more just beyond the tiny town of Hana. They're idyllic swimming holes for the adventurous. The pools come with their own dangers — slippery rocks, waterborne illness and sudden flash floods that can turn a gentle waterfall into a thundering torrent. At least look, even if you don't touch.
By Gary A. Warner
Here's a sampling of my favorite places in the islands.
Favorite beaches
Hanalei Bay, Kauai: A golden crescent of sand on the lush, green north side of Kauai. The waves are gentle in the summer and manageable in the winter. Much of the bay is ringed by homes, many of which can be rented for family getaways.
Lumahai, Kauai: A small, gorgeous and sometimes dangerous beach. It was featured in the movie version of "South Pacific" and can be reached only by a sometimes muddy trail leading off the road just west of Hanalei. It's the hidden tropical fantasy that everyone thinks of when they visit Hawaii. Just be aware that the surf often is dangerous.
Kailua, Oahu: Along with nearby Lanikai, this is the beach featured in dozens of postcards and calendars over the decades. Its white sands, gently sloping drop-off and brilliant green-blue waters are huge draws, but its distance from the tourism crush of Waikiki means there's rarely a crowd. It's suffered from severe erosion in recent years, but I'm hopeful the state will do the right thing and save this iconic strand.
D.T. Fleming Beach, Maui: A great bodysurfing beach on the sometimes-turbulent northwest shore of Maui. There are trees along parts of the mile-long strand for when the sun gets too hot. When you are ready to call it a day, head for the bar at the Ritz-Carlton hotel, just up the hill, and enjoy the sunset.
Mauna Kea Beach, Big Island: The Big Island is the youngest of Hawaii's volcanic islands, so the lava hasn't been smashed into the fine grains of Kauai, Maui or Oahu. Finding a decent beach is tough. One of my favorites is in front of the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel. Though the deluxe resort doesn't advertise it, the beach is open to the public and a small number of parking spaces have been set aside for nonguests.
Favorite historical-cultural spots
Pearl Harbor, Oahu: The harbor on Oahu has become synonymous with treachery, disaster and revenge after the Dec. 7, 1941, attack by Japan that brought the United States into World War II. In recent years, the sunken remnants of the battleship USS Arizona have been joined in the area by the USS Missouri, where the Japanese surrender in Tokyo Bay was signed in 1945, along with a submarine warfare museum and an aviation museum.
Pu'uhonua o Honaunau, Big Island: Restored and maintained by the National Park Service, the old lava walls and reconstructed simple buildings on the southwest coast of the Big Island represented the city of refuge where those who had broken laws — kapu — could flee to safety. There's a stone bench where Mark Twain once sat with Hawaiian royalty.
Iolani Palace, Oahu: The only royal palace in the U.S., it is a reminder that Hawaii was a sovereign nation taken over by the United States in a dubious series of events in the 1890s. Built in central Honolulu by King Kalakaua, it shows Hawaiian rulers had embraced the architecture, culture and religion of the West as symbols of modernization. In the end they lost nearly everything their forefathers had fought to build.
Nakalele Point, Maui: One of the most mysteriously beautiful areas in the islands. At mile marker 38 is a turnout on the winding, rugged Highway 340. Visitors stroll a green, rolling field above sea cliffs. Visitors have stacked scores of stone piles — cairns — and made stone circles. Eerily beautiful, especially on sunny weekdays when you can sometimes be alone at the spot. A trail leads to a blowhole that shoots sprays of water into the air on days when the surf is large.
Favorite natural spots
Pipeline, Oahu: Ocean meets land on the North Shore of Oahu in a creation of natural perfection — curving, thundering pipe-shaped waves known around the world that draw top surfers.
From Ehukai State Park, walk to the left down to the beach. Pipeline is the wave that breaks from your left to your right. The wave breaking the other way is called "Backdoors."
Diamond Head, Oahu: The view from Waikiki has been unforgivably hemmed in by rows of boxy hotels and apartment buildings, but the extinct volcano's prow-shaped edges say Hawaii more than any other symbol.
Mountains from Hanalei Bay, Kauai: The crescent-shaped beach would be fantastic all by itself, but the jagged, green flank of the backside of the Na Pali Coast gives it a tropical quality unparalleled in the islands. Add a rainbow and it's a magic kingdom of surf, sand and sky.
Waipio Valley, Big Island: A rare spot on the islands that feels much like it must have been like to live in Hawaii 50 or even 100 years ago. This is the kind of place where Hawaiians have always traditionally lived — deep valleys by the sea, often accessible only by boat. Waipio Valley on the northeast coast of the Big Island can be visited on tours that go down a steep, narrow road. Once there, you'll find a few shacks, wild horses and taro fields, along with a beach popular with local surfers. It takes work to get there, but it's worth the journey.
Pools around Hana, Maui: I prefer the lush, rainy, green parts of Hawaii. The twisting, slow road to Hana on the rain-bathed eastern end of Maui passes by several pools fed by waterfalls. There are more just beyond the tiny town of Hana. They're idyllic swimming holes for the adventurous. The pools come with their own dangers — slippery rocks, waterborne illness and sudden flash floods that can turn a gentle waterfall into a thundering torrent. At least look, even if you don't touch.
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Teeth of the Dog Golf Course ranks as one of the best
Golf Magazine” has recognized in its last edition that the “Teeth of the Dog” golf course, situated in Casa de Campo – one of the Caribbean’s best known tourism resorts – is one of the 50 best courses built in the past 50 years.
The “Diente de Perro” (Teeth of the Dog) golf course was built in 1972 and designed by Pete Dye. Today, it is ranked amongst the top 100 golf courses in the world, and is the only Caribbean golf course listed in the list published by “Golf Magazine”. It is also the first for the Latin America listing, placed high above the “Cabo del Sol” golf course in Mexico, which ranks number 95 on the list.
At the same time, in October 2009 “Golf Digest” magazine places “Diente de Perro” amongst the 75 best golf resorts in North America. Important international figures
such as former U.S. presidents George Bush and Bill Clinton, as well as the famous
international golf champion Fred Couples have played on this seaside golf course.
In addition to “Diente de Perro”, Casa de Campo offers “Dye Fore”, “The Links”, and the Romana Country Club, which now features nine additional holes known as the “The New Nine.”
Whether you are looking for a golf getaway or a vacation with the option to play on one of the best courses in the world, My Vacation Lady can help plan your next vacation. Contact us at mindy@myvacationlady.com
The “Diente de Perro” (Teeth of the Dog) golf course was built in 1972 and designed by Pete Dye. Today, it is ranked amongst the top 100 golf courses in the world, and is the only Caribbean golf course listed in the list published by “Golf Magazine”. It is also the first for the Latin America listing, placed high above the “Cabo del Sol” golf course in Mexico, which ranks number 95 on the list.
At the same time, in October 2009 “Golf Digest” magazine places “Diente de Perro” amongst the 75 best golf resorts in North America. Important international figures
such as former U.S. presidents George Bush and Bill Clinton, as well as the famous
international golf champion Fred Couples have played on this seaside golf course.
In addition to “Diente de Perro”, Casa de Campo offers “Dye Fore”, “The Links”, and the Romana Country Club, which now features nine additional holes known as the “The New Nine.”
Whether you are looking for a golf getaway or a vacation with the option to play on one of the best courses in the world, My Vacation Lady can help plan your next vacation. Contact us at mindy@myvacationlady.com
Monday, October 12, 2009
Carnival Dream to Offer Laser Shows
The new 130,000-ton Carnival Dream will introduce the first outdoor laser shows that will combine the latest in laser technology with high-energy music to provide your clients with a unique and exciting nighttime entertainment option. Carnival Dream’s laser shows will be the first ever for a North America–based cruise ship.
The 15-minute nighttime laser shows will feature choreographed lasers projecting brilliant aerial patterns of blue, red and green set to music by popular artists such as Styx, Rush, Van Halen, Boston and Pink Floyd. Smoke machines will be used to enhance the laser light effects in the starry, moonlit sky, creating an ideal setting for guests to relax on Carnival Dream’s expansive open deck.
The music will be amplified by the 70,000-watt sound system of the ship’s Seaside Theatre LED screen and the jumbo-sized monitor will display custom-designed graphics and original music videos of the various artists during the show.
Carnival Dream’s new laser shows are just one of a wide range of entertainment choices available aboard the magnificent 3,646-passenger vessel.
Carnival Dream commenced service in September with the first of three 12-day Grand Mediterranean cruises operating round-trip from Rome, followed by a 16-day trans-Atlantic crossing from Rome (Civitavecchia) to New York Oct. 27 - Nov. 12.
From New York, Carnival Dream will operate two eight-day Bahamas/Florida cruises departing Nov. 15 and 23, then reposition to Port Canaveral, Fla., for a special nine-day Caribbean cruise departing Dec. 3. Carnival Dream will launch year-round seven-day Caribbean service from Port Canaveral, Dec. 12, 2009.
For more information and reservations, contact My Vacation Lady at mindy@myvacationlady.com
The 15-minute nighttime laser shows will feature choreographed lasers projecting brilliant aerial patterns of blue, red and green set to music by popular artists such as Styx, Rush, Van Halen, Boston and Pink Floyd. Smoke machines will be used to enhance the laser light effects in the starry, moonlit sky, creating an ideal setting for guests to relax on Carnival Dream’s expansive open deck.
The music will be amplified by the 70,000-watt sound system of the ship’s Seaside Theatre LED screen and the jumbo-sized monitor will display custom-designed graphics and original music videos of the various artists during the show.
Carnival Dream’s new laser shows are just one of a wide range of entertainment choices available aboard the magnificent 3,646-passenger vessel.
Carnival Dream commenced service in September with the first of three 12-day Grand Mediterranean cruises operating round-trip from Rome, followed by a 16-day trans-Atlantic crossing from Rome (Civitavecchia) to New York Oct. 27 - Nov. 12.
From New York, Carnival Dream will operate two eight-day Bahamas/Florida cruises departing Nov. 15 and 23, then reposition to Port Canaveral, Fla., for a special nine-day Caribbean cruise departing Dec. 3. Carnival Dream will launch year-round seven-day Caribbean service from Port Canaveral, Dec. 12, 2009.
For more information and reservations, contact My Vacation Lady at mindy@myvacationlady.com
Friday, October 9, 2009
Update on Disney Attractions
On Sept. 12, 2009, Disney announced detailed plans for these future attractions and adventures:
• First, a new 3-D version of the tremendously popular "Star Tours" attraction will debut in 2011 at both Disneyland® Park at the Disneyland® Resort and Disney's Hollywood Studios™ at the Walt Disney World® Resort. The attraction will include new immersive and interactive elements that will take guests to familiar places in the Star Wars galaxy.
• Plans were announced for the largest expansion in the history of the Magic Kingdom® Park at the Walt Disney World® Resort, nearly doubling the size of the Fantasyland® Area by 2013. Guests soon will be able to:
• Visit their favorite Disney princess in her castle, cottage or chateau to share a dance with Cinderella
• Celebrate Sleeping Beauty's birthday with the Good Fairies
• Join Belle in an enchanting story performance in the Beast's castle library.
• "Be Our Guest" and dine in one of three enchanted rooms inside the Beast's castle.
• Fly with Dumbo high above brand new circus grounds, twice the size of the existing attraction with a new interactive, three-ring circus tent.
• Journey under the sea with Ariel (from Disney’s "The Little Mermaid") in her very own attraction.
• Meet Tinker Bell and her friends in the magical world of Pixie Hollow.
• In addition, Disney has a multi-year expansion of Disney's California Adventure® Park. Projects include The Little Mermaid attraction scheduled to open in 2011; the new "World of Color" show slated to open in the spring of 2010, and the addition of the 12-acre Cars Land scheduled to open in 2012, where Guests will literally step into the town of Radiator Springs and its six acres of hand-carved rockwork.
Disney is now offering a fabulous special promotion for some arrival dates in Nov and Dec 2009 and for Jan-March vacations. If you buy 4 nights of a hotel and park pass at a moderate or higher resort, you will get an additional 3 nights free. Stay 5 nites at the value resorts and you will get and additional 2 nites free.
Contact me for info and reservations at mindy@myavacationlady.com
• First, a new 3-D version of the tremendously popular "Star Tours" attraction will debut in 2011 at both Disneyland® Park at the Disneyland® Resort and Disney's Hollywood Studios™ at the Walt Disney World® Resort. The attraction will include new immersive and interactive elements that will take guests to familiar places in the Star Wars galaxy.
• Plans were announced for the largest expansion in the history of the Magic Kingdom® Park at the Walt Disney World® Resort, nearly doubling the size of the Fantasyland® Area by 2013. Guests soon will be able to:
• Visit their favorite Disney princess in her castle, cottage or chateau to share a dance with Cinderella
• Celebrate Sleeping Beauty's birthday with the Good Fairies
• Join Belle in an enchanting story performance in the Beast's castle library.
• "Be Our Guest" and dine in one of three enchanted rooms inside the Beast's castle.
• Fly with Dumbo high above brand new circus grounds, twice the size of the existing attraction with a new interactive, three-ring circus tent.
• Journey under the sea with Ariel (from Disney’s "The Little Mermaid") in her very own attraction.
• Meet Tinker Bell and her friends in the magical world of Pixie Hollow.
• In addition, Disney has a multi-year expansion of Disney's California Adventure® Park. Projects include The Little Mermaid attraction scheduled to open in 2011; the new "World of Color" show slated to open in the spring of 2010, and the addition of the 12-acre Cars Land scheduled to open in 2012, where Guests will literally step into the town of Radiator Springs and its six acres of hand-carved rockwork.
Disney is now offering a fabulous special promotion for some arrival dates in Nov and Dec 2009 and for Jan-March vacations. If you buy 4 nights of a hotel and park pass at a moderate or higher resort, you will get an additional 3 nights free. Stay 5 nites at the value resorts and you will get and additional 2 nites free.
Contact me for info and reservations at mindy@myavacationlady.com
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Fairmont Kea Lani in Maui
The Fairmont Kea Lani is one of my favorite resorts in the Wailea section of Maui.
"The Fairmont Kea Lani, Maui is the only all suite and villa resort in Hawaii. Each suite is a spacious one bedroom featuring 840-square feet of luxurious living space including one bedroom, extra large Italian marble bathroom with deep soaking tub and separate walk in shower, a living room with full entertainment system and a large furnished lanai. Each suite also offers a wet bar, microwave oven, coffee maker and compact refrigerator in the foyer.
The villa accommodations are our premium category and are steps from the ocean. These accommodations provide all the luxuries of our suites, with a flat panel 32-inch TV in the living room, plus a private courtyard with plunge pool, barbeque grill, a full gourmet kitchen, and a washer and dryer. Every villa reservation is inclusive of a rental car (SUV, Minivan, or Luxury Car), which the guest will pick-up at the Kahului airport and drive to the resort.
As we were recently voted "top 100 hotels in the world" by Travel & Leisure, we are the perfect accommodation for everyone. Additional features include the following:
• Two lagoon style pools, which are connected with a 140-foot slide and a separate adult pool
• Complimentary resort activities include a cultural canoe experience, lei making, cultural walks and more.
• Complimentary Fitness center available 24-hours a day to include yoga, water aerobics and body contouring classes.
• Complimentary Business center available 24-hours a day
• Complimentary shuttle service throughout the Wailea area (3 mile radius) daily
• Complimentary self-parking (Valet overnight is $20)
• Complimentary internet access for all Fairmont President Club Members
• A brand new state licensed children's program (Keiki Lani), which incorporates daily Hawaiian themed activities such as lei making, tide pool exploration, and volcano building are available for full day, half day, or evening programs. Keiki Lani Kid’s Club is open to all children ages 5 – 13. Full day programs from 9:00 am - 3:00 pm are $85 to include a healthy lunch and snacks.
• Additional occupant fees do not apply to suite or villa reservations
• No Resort fee!!!!"
Contact me at mindy@myvacationlady.com for some special value added benefits that My Vacation Lady can offer you when you book your reservation through us!
Monday, October 5, 2009
Travel Improves Your Health
We all "feel" better getting away on vacation. Did you know it really is not just your imagination? Science and statistics show it is true. Vacations can reduce risk of heart disease, depression and even slow down the aging process. How about this statistic... Two vacations can cut your risk of heart attack by 50%. Vacations help reduce stress, which will always help your health. Here are some other tips to reduce stress during travel.
• Get away long enough time to let go of your daily grind. A week is recommended.
• Watch your time zones - too many time zones actually increase your stress on your body’s natural rhythms.
• Don’t over schedule your trip - Make sure you have quiet time each day.
• Be social - make new acquaintances has a restorative power.
• Enjoy physical activity - moderate exercise like swimming and walking are great energy boosters.
How sad that a third or us do not use all our vacation days! Hopefully this will help you understand the benefits and inspire you to take some time to better your health with travel.
When you are ready to plan your next vacation, and improve your health and well being, contact me at mindy@myvacationlady.com!
• Get away long enough time to let go of your daily grind. A week is recommended.
• Watch your time zones - too many time zones actually increase your stress on your body’s natural rhythms.
• Don’t over schedule your trip - Make sure you have quiet time each day.
• Be social - make new acquaintances has a restorative power.
• Enjoy physical activity - moderate exercise like swimming and walking are great energy boosters.
How sad that a third or us do not use all our vacation days! Hopefully this will help you understand the benefits and inspire you to take some time to better your health with travel.
When you are ready to plan your next vacation, and improve your health and well being, contact me at mindy@myvacationlady.com!
Friday, October 2, 2009
The Scoop on the Carnival Dream
Carnival's newest ship is out and the travel community is abuzz with excitement. New cabin categories, new entertainment venues and lots of new amenities.
The largest "Fun Ship" ever constructed, the 3,652-passenger Carnival Dream, takes seagoing technology to an entirely new level with the introduction of the FunHub, a comprehensive shipboard intranet portal featuring the cruise industry's first on-board social network, along with access to a wide variety of information on the ship's services, facilities, and daily activities.
Dining
From a two-level casual eatery featuring a new Italian pasta station, Indian tandoori and burrito bar, to an elegant steakhouse, and Ocean Plaza -- a stunning indoor/outdoor cafe and live music venue -- the Carnival Dream offers an array of culinary choices. All of the Carnival Dream's dining options, except for the reservations-recommended steakhouse, specialty coffees and select patisserie items, are available free of charge.
Adults-Only Retreat
The Carnival Dream features the fleet's largest adults-only retreat called Serenity. The 11,250-square-foot Serenity area will encompass two levels and accommodate up to 200 guests who can relax in plush chaise lounges and chairs, shaded sun loungers, and hammocks. The Serenity area will also feature a full bar on the lower level in a shaded area, while the upper level will offer two whirlpools.
Entertainment
The massive scale of the Carnival Dream, combined with recent technological advancements and the incredible imagination of the line's entertainment team, have created the most spectacular shows at sea that raise the bar on shipboard entertainment. In addition to three spell-binding production revues that will feature elaborate sets and costumes, state-of-the-art video technology and sophisticated special effects, Carnival Dream will offer a multitude of entertainment choices. Guests can enjoy solo singers, comedians, live bands, and line's high-energy acrobatic team.
The Carnival Dream will be sailing from Europe this month, will be in New York for a couple of 8 nite Caribbean sailings and then she heads down to the Caribbean sailing from Port Canaveral.
For more info and reservations, email me at mindy@myvacationlady.com
The largest "Fun Ship" ever constructed, the 3,652-passenger Carnival Dream, takes seagoing technology to an entirely new level with the introduction of the FunHub, a comprehensive shipboard intranet portal featuring the cruise industry's first on-board social network, along with access to a wide variety of information on the ship's services, facilities, and daily activities.
Dining
From a two-level casual eatery featuring a new Italian pasta station, Indian tandoori and burrito bar, to an elegant steakhouse, and Ocean Plaza -- a stunning indoor/outdoor cafe and live music venue -- the Carnival Dream offers an array of culinary choices. All of the Carnival Dream's dining options, except for the reservations-recommended steakhouse, specialty coffees and select patisserie items, are available free of charge.
Adults-Only Retreat
The Carnival Dream features the fleet's largest adults-only retreat called Serenity. The 11,250-square-foot Serenity area will encompass two levels and accommodate up to 200 guests who can relax in plush chaise lounges and chairs, shaded sun loungers, and hammocks. The Serenity area will also feature a full bar on the lower level in a shaded area, while the upper level will offer two whirlpools.
Entertainment
The massive scale of the Carnival Dream, combined with recent technological advancements and the incredible imagination of the line's entertainment team, have created the most spectacular shows at sea that raise the bar on shipboard entertainment. In addition to three spell-binding production revues that will feature elaborate sets and costumes, state-of-the-art video technology and sophisticated special effects, Carnival Dream will offer a multitude of entertainment choices. Guests can enjoy solo singers, comedians, live bands, and line's high-energy acrobatic team.
The Carnival Dream will be sailing from Europe this month, will be in New York for a couple of 8 nite Caribbean sailings and then she heads down to the Caribbean sailing from Port Canaveral.
For more info and reservations, email me at mindy@myvacationlady.com
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