Friday, February 26, 2010

Tips for Family Travel on Planes

We all know the famous question: “Are we there yet?” Traveling by plane with kids does not have to be draining. Here is a checklist to help right from the planning stages of your trip so you will arrive at your destination excited and ready to have fun.

Start by making things easier – If your budget is a little flexible, the best practice is have as few connections as possible. Book direct or non-stop flights whenever you can.

Make sure you arrive at the airport early so you are not stressed while finding parking, checking in and getting through security. Realize that traveling with young children always takes longer to walk through the airport than you expect.

Have your children carry their own bags with snack and entertainment items. Even toddlers can wear backpacks or use rolling bags and they like the responsibility. You may also want to carry on any favorite stuffed animal to avoid a problem if the checked bag gets lost.

Bring a favorite pillow to help your children sleep on the flight and on while on vacation. Airlines no longer supply everyone with pillows on flights.

Have some healthy snacks packed. Don't rely on the schedule of the flight attendants for food. Bring some paper cups and buy a bottle of water after you get through security. Some people take an empty water bottle and fill it after getting through security, saving money and the wait in line to purchase water. A suggestion from one of my colleagues with young kids: bring instant mac and cheese, soups, or meals that only require hot or boiling water. The flight attendants can always give you hot or boiling water.

Bring your own entertainment. Do not count on the movie selection being appropriate for children or being something that can hold their attention. Here are some suggestions for the different age groups:
• Older Babies and Toddlers - nested containers, sets of things to put into containers, Busy Boxes with hand activities and moving parts, board books, blanket, stuffed animal
• Pre-Schoolers - books, stickers and activity or coloring books, crayons, lap-sized wipe-off easels and pens, post-it notes, scotch tape, magnetic letters or dolls & metal tin
• Young School Age - books, comics, stickers and activity or coloring books, small magnetic puzzles, travel-size Etch-a-Sketch, Go-Fish cards, books on tape, miniature worlds: little houses with figures, hand-sized playsets, LeapFrog Leapster- fun games and assisted reading
• Older School Age - books, activity kits, blank paper for drawing, Hangman, or Xs & Os, deck of cards, travel size board games, Mastermind: a great game for age seven and up, cribbage set, small Lego sets, hand-held toys with the sound turned off, electronics (iPods, games, DVD players, used with headphones). If you do not have a DVD player, they can be rented at many airports.

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Tips on Spring Travel

I just got a call last nite (Feb 23) from a client's son who wants to book his spring break vacation. When did he want to leave? Break starts the weekend of March 6 but he wasn't ready to book yet- he still had to check with his friend and his parents. I doubt Matt will get on the cruise of his choice since, by the time he is done checking with everyone, the cabin and price will be gone.

Here are some tips from the Independent Traveler:

"Spring break travel tips

As I write this here in the Northeast, the rodent saw his shadow, a snowfall fell the next day and we're headed for a single-digit deep freeze this weekend -- all of which are indicators that it is time to distract ourselves with dreams of spring travel.

Of course, planning a trip these days can induce its own kind of chills -- like the one that might run down your spine at the thought of going through the roiling and unpredictable experience of heightened airport security. And there's not much comfort on the airfare front either; a recent surge in business travel has somewhat emboldened the airlines, and while they recently had to retract a proposed fare increase, you can bet that this won't be their last attempt at inching fares back up toward pre-recession levels, especially as the busy summer travel months approach.

But none of this means you should abandon your dream of Paris in the spring (or Easter in Antigua, or May in Morocco...). Read on for nine ways to save both your money and your sanity as you plan your spring travel this year.


1. Beware of spring break.
Unless traveling amongst crowds of other people appeals to you, you may want to avoid traveling around spring break this year. Many view the spring break travel rush as mainly affecting routes to and from touristy beach destinations, but it's not just folks looking for Jersey Shore-style antics in warm and party-friendly climates -- it's also more placid kids simply heading back to the family abode to enjoy sleeping in and eating some home cooking. And don't count out families with younger kids traveling during "school vacation"; all add up to more folks on the road.

When is spring break? This guide should help out. And if you don't think spring break accounts for a lot of people traveling, this week-by-week, school-by-school guide will change your mind. Whoa.

For this high-volume, high-profile period, fare increases are coming -- and coming soon, according to the folks at Bing Travel: Bing Travel predicts 9% jump in airfares.

2. If you are traveling for spring break, consider offbeat and "difficult" destinations.
The conventional wisdom during an economic downturn is that travelers are most likely to choose less expensive domestic destinations over exotic international destinations, and all-inclusive packages over DIY outposts. As a result, college-friendly beach towns will be packed, while offbeat yoga retreats may be empty. Some traditionally more expensive destinations may have to lower prices as demand drops out; investigate booking away from "easy and affordable" and you may find your ideal exotic destination to be, well, both easy and affordable.

3. Book now for mid-spring.
Although I have seen an uptick in fares over the past week or so, the airlines are not yet programming heavily for some of the sweet spots of spring that roll around come late April and early May. There's far less competition then from school kids, families, vacationers and long weekenders; it's mostly just you and a lot of business travelers. Folks traveling on a mission tend to make for more efficient airports and slightly less expensive fares, and the airlines themselves don't have any major holidays on which to hang predatory fares. Book now and you could nab a great deal on a mid-spring trip.

One point made by the Bing folks leads me to recommend that you...

4. Take a broad view of overall trip costs, especially with respect to lodging.
As the Bing folks suggest, you may see some budget creep in airfares, but hotel rates are down across the board. As I have mentioned in the past, many folks price out airfares and decide whether to travel from that info; however, for most trips, even a sizeable airfare increase has negligible budget implications when compared to lodging costs.

For example, say you were hoping to pay $500 per person for airfare, but can't find anything less than $650. For a family of four, that's an extra $600, no chump change.

However, if your hotel is offering heavy discounts, free breakfasts or even free nights, you can nick away at that $600 very quickly. I have seen four-star hotels that previously demanded $250 a night selling for $109 a night; over an extra-long weekend, there's your $150 per person right there. If you are traveling alone or in smaller groups, you can make this money back very fast. Rather than living and dying by airfares, my recommendation is to budget your whole trip, including the lodging and rental cars, and then see what you can find.
5. Don't wait for summer, especially in Europe.
Even if you want to avoid the spring breakers, you may not want to wait too long. The airlines have already started pushing up fares for international routes; the folks who run our Travel Deals section have already noticed that airfares to Europe are on their way up, particularly for summer -- so early spring may be your last chance to get a decent fare on a Europe flight until the fall.

6. Spring security will be no better than winter security has been.
Over the past month or so, the number of security breaches both serious and stupid seems to have multiplied to the point that any traveler who does not have a backup plan is risking considerable inconvenience. And the passage through security is as unpredictable as ever. The TSA folks say they like it that way, as it keeps potential terrorists on their heels, but it often appears to observers that the whole spectacle is less organized and thought-out than the parking lot at a Dead show.

For more on this topic, see What's Wrong with Airport Security (and What to Do About It). You will want to expect the worst show, and bring your best game.

7. Manage the exchange rate roller coaster.
The dollar has been doing a bit better in Europe the past couple of weeks -- down to $1.39 to buy a euro from near-record highs over $1.50 just two months ago -- but it's still a roller coaster ride for anyone trying to plan and pay for a trip. For example, in just the past two weeks, rates for the dollar against the euro improved eight cents, and they did the same in the middle of December. There doesn't seem to be a way to know if or when the trend might reverse just as quickly -- so travel expenses that look good at today's exchange rate could be better once the weather changes, or could be much worse.

If you had to ask me for a prediction, however, I would guess that the dollar won't get a whole lot stronger against the euro; this week's $1.38 is as low as it has been for a while, and it's hard to see it plummet from there. The same goes for the British pound; at $1.68 in November, it's now down to $1.59.

I read recently about a freelance foreign correspondent who watches the currency market incessantly because the exchange rate on the day he cashes his paycheck dictates how much money he makes. Similarly, a colleague notes that expenses incurred with a strong dollar end up costing a lot of money when reimbursed a few weeks later against a weak dollar.

To avoid this fate, the best way to understand how much your trip is going to cost you is to get all the quotes you can in U.S. dollars -- then at least you know what you are going to pay. Note, however, that if exchange rates shift in your favor, you lose out when using this tactic.

8. Look for package deals.
Many hotels are really hurting, and you can find truly good deals at excellent hotels. The trick here can be finding the best deals; just this week, I priced out a room at a Doubletree hotel in Boston, and found four prices for the same two-night stay: over $250 a night on the hotel Web site, about $180 on one booking site, $149 on another booking site and finally $109 on the third booking site when I bundled the hotel with an airfare. Guess which one I purchased. Instead of poking around the entire Internet for the best deal, try bundling it up with your airfare instead; you might find rates that are otherwise completely hidden and unavailable.

I found the same thing with my rental car; when I bundled it in with the airfare, the rate was $11 a day -- I can't even get rates that low using my most aggressive car rental tactics.

9. Where to go?
Looking for a new destination that fits your style and mood for spring 2010? Check out this cool app from Fodor's. I tried it out on a lark and it gave back some great results; I may have to start planning my spring trip this week....


Go Anyway,
Ed Hewitt
TravelersEd@aol.com
Features Editor
The Independent Traveler

Monday, February 22, 2010

Jaclyn and Jimmy's review of Excellence Playa Mujeres




Jaclyn and Jimmy got married in one of the worst blizzards that Philadelphia has seen and left for their honeymoon 2 days later. Here is their review.

"Our trip to Excellence Playa Mujeres was beyond anything we could have imagined. I have never been out of the United States, so I wasn't exactly sure what to expect with a beautiful resort.

Upon arrival, bags were taken, checked, and brought to our room. The concierge checked us in, and as we were giving information, champagne was brought over to us to enjoy. Checking in was so easy and fast, and we were soon on our way to our beautiful honeymoon suite.

One of the tour guides took us looking around the resort on our way to our room. He explained the restaurants, the pools, the bars, night life, everything that you could want to know. They also supplied us with a booklet that listed everything out, as well as it's location on the resort.

Entering our room was like entering paradise. The balcony over looked the ocean. The huge master King bed also showed the ocean. There were beautiful towel folded swans kissing with a rose in the middle, and rose petals all along the bed. The jacuzzi was indoors, but allowed you to open the windows to make it outdoors, and become a part of the beautiful balcony.

The balcony had a table with chairs and a beautiful bed to lay on so we could look out at the beach. We spent many nights on the balcony looking up at all of the stars, listening to the waves crashing in against the sand.

Our bathroom was like a spa. The huge sinks overlooked these two beautiful sun mirrors. There was also a huge two person shower, with many shower heads, that were so wonderful to use.

There was also a living room area, which had a bottle of champagne chilling, along with two champagne glasses. There was also plenty beer, water, soda's, and other drinks in the free mini bar, that was stocked daily. On the table there was a booklet that gave us our 24 hour inclusive room service menu. We surely didn't have to leave our room at all while we were there if we didn't want to.

Through the course of the week we learned the resort. We at at all 8 fantastic restaurants. Spice - the Asian restaurant, was by far my very favorite. Others that were very high on my list were Chez Isabelle - the French restaurant, and Barcelona - the Mediterranean restaurant. All 8 were fantastic though, and you really couldn't go wrong with any of them. The presentation of the food was just beautiful, and I always loved seeing how each restaurant folded their towel into a different animal. They were all so beautiful. All of the food was 5 star, and every last bite was more delicious then the one before it.

During the day there were many activities you could chose from. Some of our favorites included the beautiful bike tour around the resort, which also showed you the exotic animals there. We also really enjoyed riffle shooting. It was a neat activity we didn't usually do at home. If you are interested in sports, they had a ton of those as well! From poker tournaments, to water volleyball, to boccie ball, they really had it all.

At night they had shows that they put on. Circus night was my favorite. It was a take on Cirque Du Soliel, which I love. The people were so very talented. I was blown away at how fantastic they all were. There was a show going on every night, and all were very entertaining.

The resort also did theme nights outside. I was there for valentines day, so they put up a huge buffet dinner, and had a saxophone player going and playing around the beautiful tables with roses and rose petals.

By the 3rd night we noticed the cigar shop, and my husband just HAD to get a few Cubans to smoke for the week. The woman was very knowledgeable and we were able to pick out some really nice one's. These were smoked outside near one of the best bars there, Cafe Kafe. This was the main bar for the night time, and the bar tenders were so friendly.

By day 9, we were both really upset to be leaving our favorite resort. Between the beautiful warm beach, the 8 beautiful pools, the 10 bars, the servers walking around to every pool and the beach taking any order you could possibly want, and the amazing 5 star food, it was really difficult to leave and come home.

With 3 resorts to chose from, and a 4th being built right now, we are sure to go back to an Excellence resort again. "

Friday, February 19, 2010

Best beaches for beach combing

Beach combing, is defined as someone who "combs" (or searches) the beach looking for things of value, interest or utility. To some it is a serious hobby or life style. For most of us it is a time to enjoy the fresh sea air, sand, breeze and a good walk while we pick up some treasures that are great for craft projects or tokens of a beautiful day.

Here are some beaches that offer a wide variety of collectible items in addition to the standard sea glass and seashells. Some of the treasures you might find at these beaches are coquinas, scallops, whelks, sand dollars, shark teeth, ark shells, moon snails, razor clamshells, and much more. Experts will tell you the best picks come the days after a storm.
• Sanibel Island, FL
• Point No Point Beach Hansville, WA
• Gulf Islands National Seashore Pensacola, FL
• Shipwreck Beach Lanai, HI
• Cumberland Island, GA
• Point Reyes National Seashore, CA
• Silver Strand State Beach Coronado Island, CA

If you plan to collect treasures while traveling bring some sturdy ziplock bags. Rinse the items several times. Let them dry thoroughly and put them into the ziplocks and make sure they are sealed well. Make sure you cushion them well in your suitcase or have a box you can put the ziplock bag into for extra protection.

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Royal Caribbean- new online dining reservations

Royal Caribbean's My Time dining has gone one step further- allowing advance dining reservations and advance reservations for the specialty restaurants on board. The Oasis of the Seas is the first of the fleet with this capability but the others will be onboard soon.


"Royal Caribbean Launches Online Dining Reservation System
Published on: February 17, 2010

Royal Caribbean International is launching Daily Reservations, an online reservation system for guests enrolled in the My Time Dining program. Through Daily Reservations, My Time Dining guests can make nightly reservations in the main dining room for themselves and guests at their table. Guests can access, request and review their Daily Reservations in advance of their sailing through the Pre-Cruise Planner or Cruise Enhancements section of www.RoyalCaribbean.com. Daily Reservations is currently available for Oasis of the Seas sailings and will be deployed fleetwide throughout the spring.


Dinner reservations can be requested for a table for two to 10. Guests can request reservations for the same time with the same people nightly or a different time every evening with different companions. If a particular time is unavailable, Daily Reservations will suggest an alternative time that is closest to the request. Guests can then review their daily dinner reservation details in a calendar view, as well as request changes.


My Time Dining lets guests dine in the main dining room whenever they wish during dining hours. Guests choosing My Time Dining will not have a pre-assigned table, but will be seated in the main dining room and order from the same dinner menu. To ensure a smooth and undisrupted experience, no additional guests will be seated at a table once dinner service has begun. Guests choosing My Time Dining must prepay gratuities and enroll in advance through www.RoyalCaribbean.com, their travel agent, or the cruise line’s reservations department.


Guests also can make dinner reservations in four of the ship’s specialty restaurants, including Chops Grille steakhouse. Oasis of the Seas also features new specialty dining concepts that require reservations, such as Italian family-style dining in Giovanni’s Table, healthier fare in the Solarium Bistro, or the sophisticated experience of 150 Central Park. Other select Royal Caribbean ships offer the signature Portofino Italian restaurant."

For more information,
contact My Vacation Lady at mindy@myvacationlady.com

Monday, February 15, 2010

Oahu's THE BUS - Insider Tips

This info came from Stacey from the Oahu's Visitors Bureau. She is full of great ways to save money on your next visit to Oahu!

Oahu’s Public Bus
www.thebus.org
Bus fare: $2.25 each way, plus one transfer good for two hours
Bus passes are available at ABC stores in Waikiki
Exact change required
Insider tip: Purchase a 4-day bus pass at any ABC store for $25.00. Good for unlimited use for four consecutive days. This equates to $6.25 a day for unlimited use. * Great alternative for visitors between 18-24 years (since they can’t rent a car) and seniors.
Insider tip: thebus.org website has a listing of all major Oahu visitor attractions and their corresponding bus numbers and routes. The website also has a downloadable “Quick Reference Guide”.
For both, go to the website and click “visitors”. Then select either “attractions” or “quick reference guide”

FREE Hilo Hattie Trolley
Insider tip: Take the Hilo Hattie trolley to the Hilo Hattie store on Nimitz. Go to either Zippy’s or Sam Choy’s (across the street) for lunch and shop at Hilo Hattie. Return on the trolley to the Aloha Tower Marketplace or Ala Moana Center for more shopping. The trolley stops at the Aloha Tower or Ala Moana Center on the return trip to Waikiki.

Friday, February 12, 2010

Unusual Beaches

Do you always picture the beautiful white sand and blue water of the Caribbean when you think of a beach escape? Here are some more unusual colors you might consider visiting.

Pink Sand Beach, Bahamas - Considered one of the most breathtaking in the world. It is a mixture of fine golden sand and pulverized coral and shells.
Punalu Beach, The Big Island, Hawaii - One of the rare black sand beaches. The black sand is from molten lava that poured into the ocean and cooled rapidly. (I was on this beach in Nov 2009 and it was very different from the white sand beaches I was used to. The black sand ranged from rocks to pebbles to fine granular sand)
Kaihalulu, Maui - On the far side of Ka'uiki Hill south of Hana Bay on Maui. The sand gets its red-black color from the crumbling cindercone hill that surrounds the bay.
Papakolea Beach, Hawaii - Green Sand Beach is one of only two beaches with olive-green sand in the world. The unusual green color of the sand comes from a semi-precious stone called olivine that surrounds Papakolea Beach that the ocean has eroded. .
Pfeiffer Beach in Big Sur, California - Purple Sand Beach has beautiful views of rocks and sea stacks. The purple sand comes from manganese garnet particles washing down the hillside.

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

An interesting article about Trip Advisor

Many travelers take consumer review websites as "gospel" and make their travel decisions strictly from reviews of strangers who post 'unbiased' reviews on those sites.

I know many of my clients will review sites such as TripAdvisor so I also scan reviews as one part of my research process before recommending a hotel that I don't have recent personal or client feedback on. It is not my sole research tool- just one part. Yesterday, I was checking into hotels in Europe for clients and was amazed to think that the reviewers actually stayed in the same hotels at the same time. One reviewer loved the property while the next hated it. You might wonder about who wrote these reviews and what their motivation was for writing these reviews.

A colleague of mine sent this article to me a while back, but it is worthwhile sharing.

http://www.foodvacation.com/id40.html

What do you think?

Monday, February 8, 2010

Four Seasons Hualalai (Big Island of Hawaii)

When you enter the lobby of the Four Seasons, you know why this resort is consistently ranked among the top 10 hotels in the world. Is it that you are greeted with a lei, mango rum drink, scented towels and pineapple upon arrival? That could be part of it but it is more the beauty, tranquility and serenity of the property that makes this hotel stand out.

The Four Seasons is not a huge resort, just 243 rooms and suites spread out within 2 story bungalows through out the property. The rooms are decorated with island inspired décor, with bathrooms that are to die for. Many of the first floor rooms and suites have private outdoor showers which are perfect for honeymooners or couples looking for romance.

Five pools include a sandy bottom kids pool, Kings Pond which is their natural aquarium and is perfect for snorkeling, the seashell pool, adults only pool and a lap pool. Lounge chairs and cabanas surround the pools. The beach is just beyond and turtles will rest right on the sand.

The Kids for All Seasons program is a complimentary camp/child care program designed for kids 5-12. Three restaurants are on the property. Service is attentive but unobtrusive- exactly the way the upscale guests who frequent this resort want it to be.

There is a basketball court and rock climbing wall on site. A great fitness center is complimentary to guests but some fitness classes have additional fees.

The biggest draw to the Four Seasons Hualalai is the spa. Probably the best on the Big Island, the spa is 28,000 square feet including outdoor hales. What makes the spa so unique is that you can customize the ingredients in your spa treatment.

Between the great golf courses surrounding the Four Seasons, the spa, the rooms and suites and the service, this property justly deserves the ranking of one of the 10 best hotels in the world.

We took these pictures on our last visit. Enjoy!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/myvacationladycom/sets/72157623008905069/show/

Friday, February 5, 2010

Cheap Eats on Maui?

Hawaii: 20 cheap eats under $20 on Maui
A Taste of Maui: Dining on a budget? Here's a guide to 20 yummy meal deals. You'll like the ambience, variety and views, too.
By Rosemary McClure, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
April 4, 2008

Lahaina, Maui
Everyone wants to score a first-rate deal on the road. But deals can be difficult to come by in a tourist zone -- especially one like Maui, where the cost of dining can be as breathtaking as the landscape.
So we went to the people who know Maui best -- its residents -- and asked them for suggestions on how to eat well here on a budget.
Our local experts included Charmaine Tavares, the mayor of Maui; Bobby Santos, chef instructor of the Maui Culinary Academy; students at the academy; Bonnie Friedman, cookbook author; and Benita Brazier, of the Maui Office of Economic Development.
Their advice helped us develop this list of 20 great Maui meals for less than $20, our second in a series of occasional stories on getting the best value for your vacation dining dollar.
Bon appétit, or as they say in the islands: E mea ai maik'i.
(Note: Some of the restaurants take cash only, and some are hard to find; call first for hours and directions.)
1. CJ'S DELI & DINER
Price: $7.95 to $9.95
Scoping it out: Only $10 to spend? Stop at CJ's Deli & Diner for what may be the best burger in Maui. For $9.95, our burger combo included half a pound of Angus beef (topped with caramelized Maui onions, cheese and bacon) a refillable soda and a heaping mound of wonderfully seasoned fries. The diner is cheerful and appealing and is just down the street from the über-expensive resorts at Kaanapali. "I opened this restaurant because I was tired of all the tourist traps," says owner Christian Jorgensen, formerly executive chef at the Westin Maui. His menu includes more than burgers: Jorgensen's comfort meals include entrees such as meatloaf ($8.50), pot roast ($9.95) and roast turkey ($8.95). And you can BYOB without a corkage fee. Other pluses: Order lunch to take on a picnic or the road to Hana, and CJ will lend you an ice chest.
We loved. . . everything, including CJ's wickedly wonderful sweets, such as Road to Hana brownies or macadamia nut Hana bars.
We didn't love. . . that the place is hard to find.
CJ's Deli & Diner, Kaanapali Fairway Shops, 2580 Kekaa Drive, No. 120 (just off Honoapiilani Road); (808) 667-0968, www.cjsmaui.com.
2. ALOHA MIXED PLATE
Price: $6.25 to $13.95
Scoping it out: Lahaina, once a whaling capital, is now a tourist hub with restaurants crowding Front Street, the main drag. Many are chain eateries with high prices -- hey, you might as well have stayed at home. So try something different: Aloha Mixed Plate. The funky ocean-side restaurant features plate lunches, an only-in-Hawaii cuisine that includes foods of many cultures. Typical dishes are teriyaki beef, kalua pork, poi, rice, macaroni salad and lomi lomi salmon, but finicky eaters can skip the local food and get a burger or salad. You'll dine outdoors on paper plates, but the view is worth a million dollars, especially at sunset: tiki torches, lush vegetation, crashing surf and a flotilla of sailboats riding at anchor. Come around 8 p.m. and you'll hear the music and dancing from the Old Lahaina Luau next door.
We loved. . . the location and setting.
We didn't love . . . the difficulty finding a parking space.
Aloha Mixed Plate, 1285 Front St., Lahaina (behind the Lahaina Cannery Mall); (808) 661-3322, www.alohamixedplate.com.
3. SUNRISE CAFE
Price: $5.95 to $9.95
Scoping it out: Sunrise Cafe is a day brightener. Tucked away on a side street in busy Lahaina, the diner offers breakfast specials for $5.95 each. At a resort hotel, you'd pay as much as $28 a person. This tiny, family-run restaurant has only 13 tables but is charming, with two shady covered patios for dining and people watching. It's an easy stop on the way to the whale watching and snorkeling boats. Breakfast is served until 3 p.m., when the cafe closes for the day. After 11:30 a.m., appetizers, soups and sandwiches are added to the menu.
We loved . . . the eggs Benedict, the restaurant's specialty.
We didn't love . . . the cash-only policy. No credit cards.
Sunrise Cafe, 693 N. Front St., Lahaina (next to the Lahaina Library on Market Street); (808) 661-8558.
4. BA-LE FRENCH SANDWICHES & BAKERY
Price: $7.75 to $8.25
Scoping it out: This food court restaurant, with two locations in Maui (and 23 others in the state), may have an identity crisis. Is it Vietnamese, French or Hawaiian? It's a little of each, with various dishes to complement the cultures. Visit here for pho (a Vietnamese soup), hot or cold noodle dishes, saimin and lunch plates featuring short ribs, teriyaki chicken and pork. Sandwiches are served on French-style baguettes. Pastries and puddings round out the offerings.
We loved . . . the fast service.
We didn't love . . . the French bread, which was too hard.
4a: Ba-Le French Sandwiches & Bakery, 1221 Honoapiilani Road, Lahaina (in the Lahaina Cannery Mall); (808) 661-5566. Also, 4b: 270 Dairy Road, Kahului (in the Maui Marketplace); (808) 877-2400, www.ba-le.com.
5. SCOOPS
Price: $3.25 to $6.25
Scoping it out: Selling ice cream is the best job in the world, says Scoops' owner Michael Martinelli, "because 99 out of 100 customers go away smiling." After tasting Lappert's Hawaii ice cream, we understand why. Lappert's Hawaii ice cream, a boutique brand from Kauai that's sold at Scoops, is creamy and delicious. Scoops, on the main drag in Lahaina, offers 32 flavors and is a granddaddy of ice cream stores: Martinelli has dished up frozen goodness almost every day for 22 years. His biggest seller is Kauai pie (Kona coffee ice cream laced with fudge and coconut) on a chocolate-dipped, nut-encrusted handmade waffle cone. Yes, we know, ice cream isn't a meal. But sometimes nothing else tastes as good.
We loved . . . luscious ice cream on a hot night.
We didn't love . . . the diminutive size of the scoop.
Scoops, 888 Front St., Lahaina; (808) 661-5632.
6. FISH MARKET MAUI
Price: $8.99 to $12.99
Scoping it out: It's easy to get hooked on the food at Fish Market Maui. If you want a great fish dinner without paying a fortune, this tiny shop in a West Maui strip mall makes it easy. Owners Jim and Tricia Patch buy from local fisherman and resell to the public. Plan a condo picnic or beach-side barbecue and pick up ready-to-grill varieties such as opakapaka (Hawaiian pink snapper), mahi mahi, ono, wild salmon and striped marlin. Or phone ahead and ask them to cook it for you. The market also has a to-go counter with sandwiches, fish tacos and pizzas, including crab and avocado. And there's a deli counter with delicacies such as lobster salad, poke (raw ahi salad) and smoked fish.
We loved . . . eating fish that just came off the boat.
We didn't love . . . the location, north of Kaanapali, which is too far for visitors staying in Kihei or Wailea.
Fish Market Maui, 3600 Lower Honoapiilani Road, Lahaina; (808) 665-9895.
7. HONOLUA STORE DELI
Price: All less than $7
Scoping it out: Kapalua is a pretty tony address. This resort community at the far end of West Maui is home to the swanky Ritz-Carlton Kapalua and other pricey digs. But it's also home to the quaint Honolua Store, a fixture since 1929, when the area was part of a giant pineapple plantation. The store, which sells T-shirts and tourist necessities, has a new addition. In December, a deli was added; its takeout menu has quickly become so popular that locals and tourists line up outside before the 6 a.m. daily opening. Chef Romeo Arruiza, formerly of the Westin Kaanapali, offers a changing menu of lunch plates, pizzas and sandwiches. And you can walk out the door, with a beverage, for less than $10. Stop by for a picnic lunch if you go snorkeling at beautiful Kapalua Beach or drive the West Maui coast road. Or dine outside on the patio.
We loved . . . the fast, fresh, inexpensive local food.
We didn't love . . . getting lost on Kapalua's dead-end roads.
Honolua Store Deli, 502 Office Road, Lahaina; (808) 665-9109.
8. MAUI CULINARY ACADEMY
Price: $5 to $8.50
Scoping it out: Where on Maui do you find the best food for the lowest prices? The winner, hands down, is Maui Culinary Academy, which operates seven specialty kitchens and a high-end restaurant at Maui Community College. The restaurants are part of the school's food service program and offer a terrific place to eat breakfast or lunch if you're lucky enough to visit the island during the school season. Sushi, seafood, pasta, salads -- all beautifully prepared and presented -- are available in the Paina Food Court daily. (It's near the airport and is open 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.) "A lot of people think we aren't open to the public," says longtime chef instructor Bobby Santos. "We embrace the public. The busier we are, the more the students are going to learn."
We loved. . . the choice, the taste, the prices.
We didn't love. . . that it's not open for dinner.
Maui Culinary Academy, Maui Community College, 310 W. Kaahumanu Ave., Kahului; (808) 984-3225, www.mauiculinary.com.
9. DA KITCHEN CAFE
Price: $6.75 to $13.95
Scoping it out: Ask a Maui resident about his or her favorite budget restaurant and the name that keeps popping up is Da Kitchen, which has two strip mall locations. (The main cafe is in Central Maui near the airport; an express version is in Kihei.) Da Kitchen is known for its plate lunches. It's also known for huge portions. The teriyaki chicken plate has about 1 1/2 pounds of chicken, the kalua pork has about a pound of meat. "And at least 75% of our customers have no problem eating it all," says Mariah Brown, who owns the cafes with Les Tomita. "He's a big guy who likes to eat," says Mariah of her business partner, "and he thinks we should serve big food." That's why their motto is "Home of da world's biggest plate lunch."
We loved. . . the tempura mahi mahi.
We didn't love. . . the 30- to 40-minute wait in line for lunch or dinner at the Central Maui location.
Da Kitchen, Triangle Square, 425 Koloa St., No. 104, Kahului; (808) 871-7782, www.da-kitchen.com. Da Kitchen Express, Rainbow Mall, 2439 S. Kihei Road, No. A107, Kihei; (808) 875-7782.
10. BANGKOK CUISINE
Price: $7.50 to $17.50
Scoping it out: In some ways, this 11-table strip mall restaurant is amazing. Given the low prices, it's amazing that the restaurant has cloth napkins, colorful sari tablecloths and bright tapestries on the wall. And there's amazing food too. In fact, that's the dish you should try: "The Amazing, your choice of chicken, beef or pork simmered in peanut curry sauce and coconut milk and served over steamed veggies" ($10.50). We loved it. Visit Bangkok Cuisine on the way to or from the airport or bound for Kmart or Costco.
We loved. . . the speedy service and eye appeal of the food.
We didn't love. . . long lines on weekends.
Bangkok Cuisine, 395 Dairy Road, Kahului; (808) 893-0026.
11. STILLWELL'S BAKERY & CAFE
Price: $5.45 to $12.45
Scoping it out: Planning a trip to beautiful Iao Valley? Stillwell's is an easy stop for pastries and sandwiches. If the cream horns and macadamia nut muffins don't tempt you, nothing will. Roy Stillwell's Bakery & Cafe has a pastry case chock-full of wonderfully excessive treats. No surprise: He was once a pastry chef. Arrive early for the best variety of pastries; everything sells out fast. (He makes and sells about 200 cream horns a day.) Not into sweets? Try his sandwiches; the breads are 100% homemade, and some people swear the tuna sandwich is the best they've ever tasted. "Unique, fresh, fast and reasonable" is how Stillwell describes his restaurant. We agree.
We loved. . . the sweets and the Reuben sandwiches.
We didn't love . . . that the restaurant closes at 3 p.m.
Stillwell's Bakery & Cafe, 1740 Kaahumanu Ave., Wailuku; (808) 243-2243.
12. TOKYO TEI RESTAURANT
Price: $5 to $14.50
Scoping it out: A grainy black-and-white photo of John F. Kennedy hangs in Tokyo Tei. It was taken when he visited the restaurant in 1959. This Maui institution -- about 75 years old and counting -- is off the tourist routes, but well worth the trip if you'd like to hobnob with locals and try Japanese food with a Maui flair. Tokyo Tei opened in 1934 and has been a local favorite ever since, although during World War II the owners were forced to rename it Rainbow Inn for a time. The matriarch of the family, Betsy Cardoza, 83, still comes to work every day, but daughter Eunice Kitagawa does the heavy lifting now. Order the teriyaki steak ($14.50) or the ahi sashimi ($10).
We loved. . . that customers feel like part of the family.
We didn't love. . . that it's very hard to find. Call for directions.
Tokyo Tei, 1063 E. Lower Main St., Wailuku; (808) 242-9630.
13. DOWN TO EARTH
Price: $7.75 to $8.25
Scoping it out: Tofuand organic food fans, this is your place.Down to Earth, a Honolulu company, has two outposts in Maui; the main store is in Kahului on Dairy Road, near the airport, and a satellite store is Upcountry in Makawao. If you forgot to pack your ginseng, you can pick up some in the wellness center, which is packed with vitamins and elixirs. Or score lunch or dinner at the salad and food bars or the deli counter. (Try the Greek salad or the blackened tofu, both $7.59 a pound.) Other pluses: pastries, lots of fresh produce, ethnic foods and plenty of legumes, nuts and grains.
We loved. . . having healthy vegetarian choices.
We didn't love. . . the staff's lack of aloha spirit.
Down to Earth, 305 Dairy Road, Kahului; (808) 877-2661, or 1169 Makawao Ave., Makawao; (808) 572-1488, www.downtoearth.org.
14. CAFE O'LEI
Price: Lunch $6.95 to $12.95; dinner $14.95 to $38.95
Scoping it out: Many of our under-$20 restaurants are modest. Diners order at a walk-up counter, and the food comes in Styrofoam containers. That doesn't mean the fare isn't tasty, just that the surroundings and amenities are simple. Cafe O'Lei Steak & Seafood is a pleasant exception. It's a real restaurant, with cloth napkins, white tablecloths, fresh flower arrangements and candles burning on the table. It has martini and sushi bars to add to the setting. The food is more expensive, but more than half the dinner entrees make our under-$20 cut, and the artfully prepared dishes and enjoyable ambience make it worth the price. We overheard a fellow diner call it "a terrific value." We agree.
We loved . . . baked Maui onion soup en croûte ($6.95) and macadamia nut-crusted breast of chicken ($17.95).
We didn't love . . . a $5.95 charge to split a meal.
Cafe O'Lei, 2439 S. Kihei Road (upstairs at Rainbow Mall), Kihei, (808) 891-1368; or 1333 Maui Lani Parkway, Kahului, (808) 877-0073; www.cafeoleirestaurants.com.
15. SHAKA SANDWICH & PIZZA
Price: $6.35 to $25.95
Scoping it out: Maui is one of the last places you might look for a good slice of New York-style pizza, but this open-air pizzeria in Kihei has the recipe. For 18 years, Shaka has dished up hoagies, hot and cold sandwiches, cheese steaks, calzone, Stromboli and New York- and Sicilian-style pizzas. Magazines, local newspapers and guidebooks (including Frommer's) have listed it as having the best pizza in Maui. We liked it too. The crust is light, and the toppings are generous. Try the Maui pineapple and ham or the white cheese and spinach varieties.
We loved . . . pizza by the slice for $2.97.
We didn't love . . . the traffic noise from busy Kihei Road, which can be daunting.
Shaka Sandwich & Pizza Inc., 1770 S. Kihei Road, Kihei; (808) 874-0331.
16. JAWZ TACOS
Price: $6.75 to $12.95
Scoping it out: Baja-style tacos go Hawaiian here. Jawz is a strip-mall cafe in Kihei (also operating two taco trucks at Big Beach daily) that will help satisfy your need for a Mexican beer, chips and a good jolt of salsa. Diners order fast-food-style at a counter, but the dining room has an appealing tropical ambience, with floral tablecloths, beach murals and plants. The salsa bay is one of the most interesting we've seen, with roasted jalapeño, serrano, habanero, corn and chipotle salsas. The menu runs the Mexican food gamut, including fajitas, burritos, quesadillas and fish and meat tacos. But don't expect California-style Mexican food or you'll be disappointed. This has its own very different style.
We loved. . . the enchilada pie and the many varieties of salsa.
We didn't love . . . the mounds of salad and paucity of protein on the tacos.
Jawz Tacos, Azeka Mall, 1279 S. Kihei Road, Kihei; (808) 874-TACO (874-8226), www.jawzfishtacos.com
17. ALEXANDER'S FAMOUS FISH CO.
Price: $7.95 to $13.95
Scoping it out: Chickens graze in the breezeway at Alexander's Famous Fish Co., a rustic highway stand on the main drag in Kihei. Nearby, patrons sit at resin tables, wolfing down fish and chips. A mural of a hula dancer decorates the walls. Alexander's doesn't offer much in the way of ambience, but the fish is fresh and perfectly cooked, not dry or mushy. The takeout stand specializes in local fish: ahi, ono and mahi. Order it fried or grilled. There are also fish tacos, sandwiches, salads, shrimp, fried chicken and ribs. Most people take the food to go, but some eat it there. Just don't be surprised if a chicken hops by looking for a handout.
We loved . . . the simple menu and fast service.
We didn't love . . . that it may be a little too plain and laid-back.
Alexander's Famous Fish Co., 1913 S. Kihei Road, Kihei; (808) 874-0788.
18. SERPICO'S
Price: $6.75 to $17.25
Scoping it out: What's a nice New Jersey family doing in Upcountry Maui, tossing pizza dough, layering lasagna noodles and cooking up tennis-ball-sized meatballs? Serpico's Pizzeria & Restaurant, a 10-table Italian eatery in Pukalani, offers a fine, low-cost family stop on the way home from Haleakala National Park. This is a plain-wrap kind of place, where the chairs and tables are mismatched, but the food is big-city Italian. Owner Charles Clark was in the pizzeria biz for 32 years before visiting Maui on vacation with the kids. (He and wife Miriam have six.) No one wanted to go home, so he opened Serpico's.
We loved. . . the meatballs and the pizza, which is hand-tossed, East Coast-style.
We didn't love. . . the decor. Serpico's needs a little ambience.
Serpico's, 7 Aewa Place, Pukalani; (808) 572-8498, www.serpico
19. PAIA FISH MARKET
Price: $8.50 to $17.95
Scoping it out: This is a popular place in a popular town. Paia, a one-time sugar plantation town turned New Age settlement, is one of the last stops on the North Shore road to Hana, so things can get hectic, especially on weekends. Seafood, of course, is the specialty at Paia Fish Market. Order at a counter; you have your choice of various seafoods prepared as a steak, in a sandwich or a taco, and you can have it fried, charbroiled, sautéed in butter with garlic and lemon, or blackened Cajun-style. (Burgers are also available.) Eat at a picnic table or take the food to go. This low-key diner is a tourist favorite; when we visited late on a Saturday afternoon, 16 people were in line ahead of us. But the fish is well-prepared and very fresh.
We loved. . . the ahi and the mahi-mahi.
We didn't love. . . waiting in line and jockeying for a table.
Paia Fish Market, 100 Hana Highway, Paia; (808) 579-8030.
20. FOR A SPLURGE . . .
Price: $20 or less
Scoping it out: The bartender smiled when I asked him about drink prices. "Maui isn't the place to visit if you're on a budget," he said, shaking his head, "and the Grand Wailea especially isn't the place to visit if you're on a budget."
He's right, of course. The Grand Wailea, Maui's top-tier resort palace, is priced for kings and landed gentry, not commoners.
But if you keep a tight rein on your wallet, you too can live like the moneyed class that stops here. The Grand Wailea is one of three beachfront resorts we're lumping together as our 20th entry. The others are in West Maui: the Westin Maui in Kaanapali and Napili Kai Beach Resort near Kapalua. Each offers spectacular surroundings or scenery that is worth a little splurge. Just don't splurge too much. Have a drink and an appetizer and enjoy the vibe as long as possible.
At the Grand Wailea, the draw is the hotel's massive open-air lobby. Stroll through the grounds and watch the sunset from the beach or the lobby for the price of a drink (mai tai, $12.50) or order a beer ($6.50) and an appetizer (a heaping plate of onion rings for $11).
The Westin grounds are also impressive, with wandering pools, slides, great sunset views of the beach and a flock of flamingos to watch. I had lunch poolside at the Ono Bar & Grill, where my grilled chicken ciabatta sandwich came with portabello mushrooms, Asiago cheese and a side of French fries for $14. I could have ordered chicken noodle and wonton soup; a big bowl with veggies costs $9.50. And there's a bonus here: Children dine free at the Westin when accompanied by an adult who orders an entree.
At the far end of Maui, my favorite stop is the Sea House Restaurant at Napili Kai Beach Resort, with stunning views of Napili Bay and Molokai. Walk through the resort grounds, play in the water or snorkel at beautiful Kapalua Bay on the opposite side of the hotel, then have lunch or appetizers on the outdoor patio. (An order of coconut macadamia nut shrimp is $11; a crab cake sandwich $12.) It's a great way to spend a day in paradise.

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

How cheap does a bad vacation have to be before it becomes OK?

This is a question that was posed by a wonderful speaker and motivational travel agent trainer, Nolan Burris, at one of his seminars a while back but I think it is the time to bring it up again.

With all of the options in booking travel, why should you work with a travel professional? Isn’t it just easier and cheaper to do the research online and just book it all yourself? Yes, you could do that if you just want the cheapest trip out there and aren’t looking for the assistance, guidance and expertise that a travel professional can offer.

Let me give you an example:

Did you hear about the honeymoon couple that booked their Greek Island honeymoon through one of the big online agencies that starts with an E? They were traveling in November. That would bring up a red flag in any good travel professional’s eyes. Honeymoon couple gets to Santorini and finds a cab to take them to their hotel which is closed for the season. Unfortunately, they booked it online so there was no one to advise them that the season in Santorini is May-September and most hotels are closed down in October for the winter. What did the honeymoon couple do? Obviously, they didn’t get the honeymoon of their dreams. They did, I believe, get their money back from the big online agency for that part of their trip.

If a honeymoon couple insists on visiting the Greek Islands in November, I might have suggested a Mediterranean cruise that instead. A couple of cruise ships still stop at numerous Greek Islands in November as Meredith and Matt did aboard the Celebrity Solstice this past November.

Let me give you another example:

You want to go to Maui for a vacation and you do all of your research online. How hard could Maui be to book? It’s part of the US and they use US$ and they speak English.
So you find a great deal at a great property in Maui that is right on the beach and you book it with airfare. The price is too good to be true and they are giving you a 3rd night free and breakfast, too. Also, the reviews on all the consumer websites were really good. Perfect- you put down your credit card # and you start to pack.

OK, the flights weren’t ideal. The lay over in LAX was a bit longer than you expected but you’re on vacation, so you can deal with it. You finally arrive in Maui and it is almost dark there. You get to the airport and figure you’ll just hop a cab to the hotel in the Ka’anapali Beach area. Shouldn’t be too far and, anyway, you don’t need a car in Maui, right? Fifty five minutes and $100 later, you arrive at your gorgeous hotel. The lobby is everything you read about. It looks like you are in a tropical rain forest. You forget about your $100 cab ride and put it behind you. Your bell hop takes you to your terrace view room. That sounds so great- terrace view. Too bad it’s dark by now and you won’t be able to see the view until tomorrow morning.

The room is nice- great bathroom, comfy bed, big TV. You put down your bags and go get a bite to eat and wander around the hotel just a bit before going back to your room to unpack and go to bed. It’s a long flight to Maui from the East Coast.

Every few minutes you are hearing a weird noise. Beep, Beep. Sounds like the noise when you are locking your car door. You just ignore it thinking that you must just be tired. You settle into your wonderfully comfortable bed and then hear a car alarm go off.
Now you aren’t imagining it and you go to sliding glass doors and step onto your lanai to realize that your terrace view is actually of the parking lot. This might be happening all week long (:

Had you called a good travel professional, especially one who has been to Maui, they would have recommended you rent a car – probably for less money than a round trip cab ride to the airport and they would have been able to get you that same deal but would have recommended the mountain view room instead.

Again, how cheap does a bad vacation have to be, before it becomes OK?

If you are ok with a vacation like the 2 described above, by all means, please book your vacation online. If you are looking for an experience, please contact me at mindy@myvacationlady.com

Monday, February 1, 2010

New Carnival Luggage Policy

This stirred a bit of debate on one of my travel agent forums.

Carnival is requiring that all luggage that is going to be given to porters and later delivered to cabins be left unlocked so that they can search them.

These are similar rules to the airlines but is Carnival's motive to boost liquor sales on board the ship or for the safety of the passengers? What are your thoughts?

"SECURITY SCREENING AND PROHIBITED ITEMS POLICY

In order to maintain a safe and secure environment, Carnival prohibits certain items onboard, i.e., weapons, candles, irons, alcohol, or other dangerous goods. According to our policy, Carnival conducts security scanning of all luggage and if prohibited items are found, they will be removed and stored for safekeeping until the end of the voyage. Retained item(s) will be delivered to the guest’s stateroom on the last night of their cruise. Unsealed liquids that are prohibited will be discarded, as well as any unclaimed items left after the voyage, and no compensation will be given in either case.

IMPORTANT - All luggage must be unlocked before being turned over to the porters in order to avoid any inconvenience or delay in delivering the luggage to the guest’s stateroom.

For additional information, please refer to the terms and conditions located in our cruise ticket contract and related FAQs on Carnival.com.

This policy will now be strictly enforced effective with January 30th sailings of all of our Miami ships, with the rest of the fleet to follow shortly thereafter. We kindly request your assistance in making sure your clients are aware of this policy so they can be properly prepared once they arrive at the port for their cruise departure."