Travel Blog

Though it’s always advised to leave extra room in your suitcase when traveling should you return home with a souvenir or two, this suggestion is especially relevant around this time of year. With some of the best Black Friday deals expected, November 26, 2010 is sure to leave some of you wondering how you’re going to get all your new merchandise back home. For those who are traveling this week and plan to take advantage of Black Friday deals, here are a few things to keep in mind:

1. Leave Room in Your Suitcase. Or Bring An Empty One.

This is a no brainer, yet so many travelers are forced to be cautious about what they purchase or worse, purchase something that they end up having to leave behind. If possible, bring an empty duffel bag. Or Three. Just don’t bring so many that your baggage fees end up costing more than what you saved.

2. Be Mindful of What You Purchase.

A puffy parka might not squeeze into your suitcase so easily. Neither will anything that comes in a large and/or oddly-shaped box. Since your space is limited (unless you brought the three extra duffle bags, of course), focus on items that are flat and relatively small. If you purchase something which comes in a box that is considerably larger than the product itself, remove the product from its box and package it in soft clothing or bubble wrap.

3. If All Else Fails, Mail.

If you end up buying way more than you anticipated, find the nearest Post Office – the concierge can help with this – and mail your items home. It’ll probably cost less than checking another bag anyway.

Thanksgiving is only a week away. And if you plan on traveling next week, you can expect one helluvah experience at the airport (hey, we’re just being honest). Lines will be long, parking will be nearly impossible, and people are going to be cranky. Unfortunately, this is something you must get through in order to arrive at your turkey-filled destination. So rather than dreading it, we urge you to come up with a Pre-Thanksgiving Airport Plan. Start by asking yourself the following questions:

1. When do I need to leave my house in order to arrive at the airport on time? The general rule has always been to arrive at the airport two hours in advance. During this time of year, we’d suggest three (better safe than sorry!). Add on to that the travel time from your house, plus one more hour for mishaps like traffic or forgetting something and having to turn around.

2. Aside from my checked luggage, what will I need to bring with me and what will I carry it in? DO NOT LEAVE THE HOUSE WITHOUT A PHOTO ID. WE REPEAT, DO NOT LEAVE THE HOUSE WITHOUT A PHOTO ID. Make sure you have all the necessary travel documents with you, and make sure they are easily accessible. We’re not sure if we’d go as far as to recommend wearing a fanny pack, but a bag or purse of a similar fashion will make your life easier when it comes to presenting your travel documents. It will also make the lives of everyone around you easier, as fumbling for your ID when it’s finally your turn can significantly hold up the line. Did we mention people will be cranky?

3. What can I bring with me that will make the whole experience a bit more bearable? Snacks, iPod, laptop, etc. Anything to take your mind off of how long you’ve been waiting to get on that damn plane.

While this by no means represents a comprehensive strategy for arriving at the gate with 10 minutes to spare, it’s a great start.

By now, you’ve no doubt heard about the engagement of Prince William and Kate Middleton. What does this have to do with travel, you ask? After reading this post from USAToday’s Cruise Log about whether or not the newly-engaged couple will go on a cruise for their honeymoon, we came up with a suggestion of our own.

Will and Kate, if a honeymoon at sea is in fact in your future, we recommend Norwegian’s 14-night Mediterranean cruise on the Norwegian Jade. The itinerary is as follows:

Day 1: Venice, Italy

Day 2: At Sea

Day 3: Corfu, Greece

Day 4: Santorini, Greece

Day 5: Mykonos, Greece

Day 6: Katakolon (Olympia), Greece

Day 7: At Sea

Day 8: Venice, Italy

Day 9: Dubrovnik, Croatia

Day 10: At Sea

Day 11: Piraeus (Athens), Greece

Day 12: Izmir, Turkey

Day 13: At Sea

Day 14: Split, Croatia

Day 15: Venice, Italy

Why do we think this cruise is perfect for a royal honeymoon? Besides the phenomenal itinerary, we think Will & Kate will feel right at home in the ship’s 3-bedroom Garden Villa (above), complete with floor-to-ceiling glass doors that open up to a 1035-square-foot balcony, a living room, dining room, 3 separate bedrooms, and a private luxury bath with whirlpool tub. Oh, and don’t forget the butler service and access to the exclusive concierge lounge and private courtyard area (below) with pool, hot tub and sundeck.

When the newlyweds become hungry, they’ll have 12 dining options to choose from, including a steak house, a sushi bar, and a gourmet French restaurant. In between dining, the couple can enjoy a walk through the ship’s art gallery, shop at the Galleria Boutiques, or perhaps relax side-by-side at the Ying & Yang Health Spa & Beauty Salon.

What’s your recommendation for William and Kate’s honeymoon? Do you agree with our suggestion?

In most instances, your selected hotel room is merely a place to sleep at night. But some hotels just won’t settle for that. Instead, these hotels transform their accommodations into some of the coolest themed rooms you’ve ever seen. These are our favorites:

1. The “007” Suite at Hotel Seven in Paris, France

Aside from the usual amenities, this retro-chic accommodation features a gold toilet and every 007 film ever made.

2. The Divas Room at The Palms Retro in Atlantic Beach, Florida

The room itself is pretty basic, but the divas adorning each wall are really something special: Marilyn Monroe, Bridget Bardot, Audrey Hepburn, and Jayne Mansfield.

3. The New York Central Park Room at Wildwood Inn in Florence, Kentucky

The in-room balcony is perfect for taking in the stunning views of the Manhattan skyline – which is painted on the walls, of course.

You’ve seen it before – the crowds, the balloons, the performers. But watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on TV isn’t quite as magical as seeing it in person. Here’s a quick guide for those of you who will be travelling to New York City to witness the festivities…

The 2010 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade will take place on Thursday, November 25. The parade begins at 9 a.m. at 77^th Street and Central Park West, and ends a couple of hours later at 34^th Street and 7^th Avenue. The best public viewing areas are as follows:

Central Park West: West side of street from 70th Street to Columbus Circle & east side of street from 70th to 65th
Columbus Circle: West side of street
7th Avenue: between 58th & 42nd Streets
42nd Street: from 7th to 6th Avenues
6th Avenue: between 42nd & 34th Streets
34th Street: between Broadway & 7th Avenue

Keep in mind that people will show up as early as 6 a.m. to stake out space, so arrive early for the best views. And remember to bundle up! Temperatures in NYC are already in the low 50s/upper 40s, and are sure to drop even further by the 25^th.

And no worries if you haven’t booked a hotel yet – this page lists some great NYC hotels with Turkey Day vacancies, starting from just $99/night.

For the fourth consecutive year, Travel + Leisure asked their readers to rate 35 U.S. cities in 54 categories. To spice things up a bit, this year’s survey included “seven new destinations: Savannah; Salt Lake City; Baltimore; Memphis; Anchorage; San Juan, Puerto Rico; and Portland, Maine,” said T+L’s Katrina Brown Hunt. “We also threw in some new categories, such as the all-important best burgers, best flea markets, and how ‘green’ a city is.” You can check out all the results here, or read on for our favorites…

Nashville, TN

-Nashville was ranked as the #1 city for affordable hotels

-America’s best hamburgers are found in Houston

-New Orleans was listed as having the best singles/bar scene. Santa Fe was listed as having the worst.

-The people who live in New York City are the most stylish. They’re also #34 (out of 35) on the “Friendly” list (LA was ranked as the rudest).

-Charleston was ranked as the #1 noteworthy neighborhood under the “Quality of Life & Visitor Experience” category

It happens – the room isn’t up to par, the service wasn’t satisfactory, etc. Whatever the issue is, you always have the right to complain when you’re not happy with your experience at a hotel. The key, of course, is complaining effectively, and via the right channels. Here are our top tips for drawing attention to – and hopefully resolving – your hotel stay complaint.

1. Stay Calm. We can’t reiterate this enough. No matter how right you are about the situation, kicking and screaming never solves anything. Overexaggerations (“You’ve ruined my vacation!”) don’t help either. Calmly and clearly explain what went wrong and why you are unhappy. The more pleasant you are, the more likely someone in charge will want to resolve the issue.
2. Hint at Future Kicking and Screaming if Your Complaint Isn’t Taken Seriously. No, we don’t mean threaten the poor girl at the front desk. But if the first person whom you’ve explained the issue to is simply brushing it off or refusing to solve it, make it clear – while still remaining calm – that you have no problem taking things to the next level. Ask to speak with a manager. Still nothing? Raise your voice ever so slightly – the thought of other customers overhearing your complaint is the last thing a hotel wants.
3. Resort to Kicking and Screaming via Social Media if Your Complaint is Still Being Ignored. Each day, more and more hotels create an account on Twitter or a page on Facebook, specifically for the purpose of monitoring customer complaints. Use this to your advantage, without forgetting tip #1. If all else fails, take to your social media accounts, and announce your unresolved issue. Something as simple as, “Not happy with the __________ at ____________ hotel. Don’t plan on staying here again,” can be effective. If the hotel uses or monitors social media sites, they are likely to respond.

When putting these tips to use, keep in mind that there are some hotels out there – albeit, very few – who will continue to ignore your complaint. In this scenario, our advice is to do your best to enjoy the rest of your trip, and don’t stay at that hotel again. On the other hand, you should also keep in mind that this is an industry that revolves around customer service – chances are the hotel staff wants to help. Follow our advice, and a solution is likely to be found.

Travel resource Lonely Planet released their Top Ten Regions for 2011 just a few days ago, and none other than Sinai, Egypt was listed as number one. Perhaps it’s because of the region’s sandy beaches and colorful mountains, or maybe it’s Sinai’s historical significance. Either way, we agree.

Sinai is situated in Northeastern Egypt at the crossroads of Africa and Asia. The region experiences summers that are hot and dry, and winters that are mild, though overall the temperature is prime for tourists year-round. One thing to consider when choosing your travel dates are the holidays celebrated in this region, such as the Islamic New Year (March 16). Additional holidays and celebrations to take note of are listed here.

So what should you do on your trip to Sinai?

Snorkeling and diving are highly popular activities throughout the region, most notably at the Canyon and Blue Hole (left) dive sites. In these areas you’ll encounter a variety of cafes, restaurants, and places to rent snorkeling equipment.
Horseback riding on the beach is another great activity to partake in when in Sinai. In fact, Bedouin, or members of the desert-dwelling ethnic group which reside in Sinai, are found walking many of the area’s beaches with horses for hire. Expect to pay somewhere between $25 and $50 for a ride.

The Sinai region is also filled with an extensive collection of restaurants and markets. Tourists love Bedouin Market(right) in Al Arish, and Ghazala Supermarket in Dahab. One of the most popular restaurants in the region, Funny Mummy, is also located in Dahab.

Last but not least, your trip to Sinai is not complete without a visit to the hot springs known as Hammam Musa. It is believed that these hot springs were a stopping point used by Moses and the Israelites on their journey through Sinai. Today, visitors can bathe in the springs or enjoy a snack at the nearby café.

Seriously considering a trip to Sinai? We recommend Le Meridien Dahab Resort. Rooms start at $97 per night.

TRY DIFFERENT AIRPORTS

(Via Chron Business)

To get the cheapest holiday fare, airfare experts suggest alternate airports. Flying into Fort Lauderdale is cheaper than flying into Miami during the holidays, for example. Try not to fly on the busiest travel days, such as the day before Thanksgiving.

Ask if hotels offer shuttle service instead of renting a car, and if you still need a rental, try to book one in the city instead of paying the generally more expensive airport rates.

“You need to rethink your vacation,” Parsons said.

Traveling during Dec. 21 to 28 is generally cheaper than traveling Dec. 26 to Jan. 2, Parsons’ company found.

He also suggests considering traveling to Europe for Thanksgiving instead of a domestic destination because the Christmas decorations will already be up in some cities.

“Nobody else celebrates Thanksgiving,” Parsons said. “It’s one of the more intriguing times to be in Europe if you like bright lights.”

TAKE NOTE OF FLUCTUATION IN TICKET PRICING

(Via Mercury News)

For Thanksgiving flights, fares are just starting to climb, according to historical data analyzed by Expedia for the Associated Press. Ticket prices usually peak about three weeks ahead of the holiday, said Daniel Kissin, Expedia’s manager of strategy and analysis. For Christmas travel, ticket prices will likely be highest in mid-November, he added.

But procrastinators take note: There should be a period after those peaks when fares will fall — two weeks before Thanksgiving and two weeks before Christmas — as airlines evaluate their bookings.

DON’T PICK A SEAT

(Via Jaunted)

We’ve booked plenty of flights where we get that dreaded message about our seat being assigned at the airport. However, it might not necessarily be a bad thing. Even if there are open seats available when you look online be sure to resist the urge to pick out one that isn’t up to your standards. Often the bulkhead rows—or other halfway decent seats—are only assigned by the agent working at the gate. This means that instead of selecting something sub-par in advance, there’s a chance that infinite legroom can become yours thanks to a little bit of seat gambling.

BE MINDFUL OF NEW SECURITY MEASURES

(Via MSNBC Travel Tips)

Secure Flight is a behind-the-scenes effort by the TSA to better match potential terrorists with watch lists. The program, which has been rolled out in phases, will formally start on Nov. 1. It requires airlines to collect a passenger’s full name, birth date and gender at booking. Passengers that don’t provide that information at least 72 hours before a flight won’t be issued a boarding pass.

All the airlines and most of the third-party sites like Hotwire or Orbitz already require this information when you book. But you could run into problems when you get to the airport if your name as listed on your government identification is different than on your ticket.

The TSA estimates that only about 1 percent of travelers won’t make it through security because of a discrepancy, Kimball says. Although it’s unlikely you won’t be able to fly because of a mishap, you still might be delayed if your ID and ticket don’t match up. That hold-up will likely be less than five or 10 minutes while screeners verify your ID and boarding pass, Orbitz’s Tornatore estimates.

But when you’re trying to catch a flight, “10-minute delays can make a difference,” she said.