Life, Love, and the Pursuit of the Next Great Vacation

Embarrassing but True

2010-04-11T08:23:00.014-05:00

This is incredibly embarrassing, but after being married on 11/24/2007, I just ordered a wedding album last week. Yea, that is awful.

Truthfully, I’ve had it made since we got our photos back, but I was a) procrastinating and b) it sort of felt incomplete, but I wasn't really sure why.

I used MyPublisher, and back when I originally compiled it, I wasn’t thrilled with the idea that I couldn’t use color in my album. I am, after all, a person who loves a lot of color (as you’ll notice when you see our location). Finally, about a year ago, MyPublisher came out with a version in which I could add color. Perfect! So, I changed the album to my liking, and then….well, just sat on it some more.

Last week, I got an email from the folks at MyPublisher saying they were offering an incredible deal. They launched a new album cover type (photo finish), and you could have your very own (wedding) album for $20 with unlimited pages! This was a savings for me of $75 per album! With one for me, and one for my parents, that was a total savings of $150; definitely not chump change!

So, I finally ordered the album, and let me tell you—it was worth the wait! The new cover type is my favorite of the cover options (it has a very professional look), and the bold color came out beautifully (and true to what I expected it to be)! (FYI: this deal is on for one more day (ends tomorrow), so you have time to make your own! Use the coupon code “PHOTO20”. )

And, since I was a horrible blogger, and never got around to showing off more of my wedding pictures, here’s the link to my album instead. Enjoy!

Location: The beautiful Compass Point Beach Resort
Arriving via: The super fun Carnival Fascination (no longer docked in Miami)
Photographer: The absolutely incomparable (seriously) Kristyn Hogan Photography

Change

2010-03-28T09:28:00.004-05:00

It’s hard to believe it’s been almost a year since I’ve written. Truthfully, due to my lack of involvement, and mostly by default, I had just decided I was going to retire this blog. However, on this rainy morning in Georgia, I felt the need to write, so here I am.

I’ve been thinking a lot about the past year lately, and decided that I missed having the log of my life that this blog represented, and missed all of you. But, should I just come back here? Start something new? Find another way to log my life?

I started thinking about it, and I decided to come back here, but I would expect this blog is going to manifest itself in a slightly different way. When I titled this blog “Life, Love, and the Pursuit of the Next Great Vacation”, I had intended to make this a mix of a blog of my life and, of course, travel. Truthfully, though, I’m not sure my life was quite exciting enough living in small-town upper Midwest, while going to school. School, work, school, work, the occasional vacation. :)

Life has changed a lot, though, in the past year. I graduated with my MBA, and for the first time in my life, wasn’t in school anymore. I moved across the country, leaving behind that small town upper Midwest life, and moving to a former confederate state (talk about a culture shock!) and into a big city. I started a new job, for which I lived out of a hotel for four months, and have been having a lot of fun doing it (the job that is. Not the commuting). I have watched my sister find out she was pregnant, suffer through a BRUTAL pregnancy, and then give us the greatest gift my family has ever received—my sweet little niece. Then, I stood beside her as the matron of honor in her wedding. We’ve visited several countries, cities, and states, and have flown over 32,000 miles in the past three months alone. We’ve met new friends, and set up a little life in this city (well, as much of a life as airline employees set up in any particular city, that is).

This has been a year of change, so I think it’s time for this blog to change a little too. While before my focus was on pretty hotel photos, I rarely search for pretty hotels anymore. Non Rev (non revenue=free travel=employees and their associated family members) travel means booking whichever hotel is available when you find out you’re getting on the airplane at the airport via your IPhone (don’t worry—I haven’t forgone my standards! It’s just that the research is now very last minute). And while I would previously spend months (maybe even years!) researching a big vacation, it’s now “Hmmmm…which flights are open this weekend?”, and then reading a few pages in a guidebook on the flight over.

So, how will this blog change? First of all, it’s going to more of a blog of my life. If you’re thinking “Well, Ashley, what about the travel?” Don’t worry, my friends. Travel is not only a huge part of my life, it’s a part of who I am. Instead of the pretty hotel photos I previously mentioned, you’ll be my seeing trip photos and real life reviews and tips. Additionally, I’ll be posting favorites from my new city (in case you ever visit!), writing about friends, family, every day life, maybe throwing up some decorating photos (another thing I’m pretty interested in), and just generally trying to get back to loving blogging.

If you’re still out there (I’d be shocked if you were!), I hope you’ll stick around to follow things around here. Hopefully you’ll find these changes to your liking, and I’ll be much more active.

I’ve missed you, after all.

http://i.treehugger.com/images/2007/5/24/design-can-change.jpg

::Waving hi::

2009-04-25T10:13:00.001-05:00

A new year a new start. Well, that was kind of true. I said I was going to write when I felt inspired, and, truthfully, the inspiration was lacking. Between job hunting in this economy (depressing!), work, school, etc, inspiration was hiding, and quite cleverly, too!

But, what a difference a few months makes! How about, “A new life, a new start”?
It’s hard to believe that I’m saying this, but I’ve landed my dream job! Literally and truly my dream job.

And, to top that off, without going into too many of the details, my husband and will be making a major relocation and starting over in a new city (yes, city!).

What does this have to do with this blog, you ask? Well…..

I’m now an airline employee! (!!!!) Which means free flights to anywhere in the world! Ha! Oh, the dangers of this for my pocketbook. Although, having lived in a small market for my entire life, not having to pay $1500 for an airline ticket (what we paid for our tickets to Greece EACH) frees up a lot of cash for hotels. ;)

Anyway, bottom line--you can expect to hear a lot more from me in the coming months. As we make a valiant attempt to circle the globe, I’ll be trying to post any helpful information I gather along the way here. :)

It’s going to be a bit slow here for a little while, though, as I attempt to finish up my masters degree, have a full time job, a part time job, and commute between cities (and states) for work/school (that was exhausting just typing it!), but in the meantime, I’ll try to post some pics from some recent vacations (we’ve been busy bees!).

Anyway, if you’re still out there, I hope to be much more active around here! :) ::waves hi!::

A New Year, A New Start

2009-01-01T13:28:00.002-06:00

September 25—the last time I wrote. I could give you the typical blogger’s sob story about how busy I’ve been, etc, but I’ll spare you. Mostly, I was beginning to feel like this had become another job for me. The fun had slipped away, and I felt guilty every time I didn’t fulfill my blogger’s duties. So, I decided to take an indefinite break.

However, as time has passed, I’ve begun to miss my modest little blog. I’ve missed the diary of my life that it had become, the log of travel info for my personal use at a later date, the excitement that blogging a trip brought about, and of course, you, my dear readers.

So, we’re back and live. However, this year’s blog is going to be a bit different.

Don’t worry—the travel focus will still be here. However, 2009 is going to be the year that I start blogging for me. And, hopefully, this will result in better results for you.

I’m going to blog when I’m feeling inspired, when I have something exciting to report, of when I’ve come across something fabulous in the world of travel. I’m going to blog a bit more about my life (this year there will be plenty to report), and a bit less out of obligation. I’m going to blog 2009 from the heart, and for my love of travel.

I’m looking forward to it, and if you’re still out there somewhere, I hope you are too.

Travel Toy(s)!

2008-09-25T12:00:00.000-05:00

For those of us who live in cell phone coverage no-man’s-land, Apple's ridiculous contract with AT&T stinks. :( No iPhone for us. :( (Although, I will say that I did not necessarily miss it until I discovered my new toy. Suddenly, I’m irrationally angry at Apple for this decision).

So, what’s the next best thing? An iPod Touch.

Oh, how I love thee, so, iPod Touch. ;) Your applications to travel are endless, and that makes for a very happy travel addict. Your WiFi capabilities, your ability to turn into a compact portable DVD player (without, you know the dvd’s), your handy little translation and currency converter applications, your downloadable Frommer's Guides, your trusty little weather forecaster, your MP3 capabilities, your ability to map my location—oh, how you make me swoon. I do not doubt that your utility will well exceed the $220 I spent on you.

And, since I needed something to protect you from the harsh realities of the outside world (and because every girl needs a fabulous pink dress!), my precious, I have purchased this super adorable case for you (also available for iPhones) from Etsy seller, Oh My Guiles!...

And so I do not sell your sound capabilities short (and hear the family of bouncing/screaming children that are inevitably seated right in front of, behind me, or right next to me), I’ve purchased these beauties.

I can’t wait until my next trip to utilize you to your full potential.

That Didn't Take Long

2008-09-24T16:55:00.003-05:00

So, yea. As per my previous post, we were feeling a bit of indecision regarding our last day of our trip. Stay in the Plaka and take a cab to the airport at 3:00 am, or stay near the airport and take the metro to the Plaka for the last day?

Based on some advice I got from some fellow travelers, we have canceled our reservation (for the last day only--we can't wait to stay there for the first two nights in Athens!) at the Athens Gate Hotel , and booked at the Sofitel Athens Airport.

The beauty of the Sofitel is that it's literally right next to the airport--as in, you can walk. This will save me precious minutes of sleep (those of you that know me are very aware that I am NOT a morning person).

But, don't be fooled--this is no typical airport hotel. It's luxurious and hip! We've also stayed at a Sofitel before, and it's one of the few chain hotels that I actually really enjoy. :) We had an outstanding experience, and the TripAdvisor reviews seem to support our previous experience.

Ok, now that we've got that out of the way, stand by for some non-greece related posts! I'm sure you're ready! :)

Rounding Out the Trip

2008-09-16T23:18:00.005-05:00

As our trip comes to a close, we’ll head back to Athens for a night, awaiting our 4:50 am flight back to the US (sick, right?!). Since we arrive back in Athens at noon that day (plenty of time to spend further exploring the city), but leave at such an obnoxious hour, we struggled a bit with where to stay. We looked at two options near the airport (the Holiday Inn Attica Avenue
and the Sofitel Athens Airport), but decided against both, and ended up back at the Athens Gate(for now…I’m still not 100% positive about this decision. Any feedback out there?).

Source

The upside to this absurd flight time is that we will get an extended layover in Amsterdam—just enough time to peruse the city and get a tiny taste of the city.

Source

Amsterdam was originally on our itinerary as stopover on our trip, but the silly airline seems to be rearranging flight schedules daily (booo!), so we couldn’t get the schedule we wanted a reasonable price. :( So, for now, our short layover will have to do, and we’ll definitely plan on returning sometime very soon to really dive into the city.

And that, my friends, concludes our brief trip outline. :) I cannot wait for May. :)

Realizing the Dream

2008-09-16T15:42:00.006-05:00

You’re probably thinking that’s a bit dramatic, huh? I'm not disagreeing. But, friends, we must remember who we are talking about here. ;) My love for travel is not something that has developed over the past day, week, year, or heck, yearS, but rather, something that’s traceable back to early grade school and my mom. We won’t get into the background, but let the record state that my addiction is actually a genetic disorder. And, said genetic disorder causes me to measure my dreams in terms of travel. (It's not my fault.)

Anyway, back to the task at hand.

Realizing the dream…

It may sound dramatic, but one of my earliest memories of actually longing to go somewhere (prior to that, my mom would tell me where I was going and I would nod and probably ask for a juice box or something) was after seeing a beautiful picture just like this one. I distinctly remember staring at it (If I remember correctly, it was a poster on the wall of a travel agency), and deciding that I must go there. I could not have been older than 8 or 9, and that vision and feeling of longing have stuck with me all of these years.

Source

::cue dramatic music::

We’ll be spending…

4 Nights on beautiful Santorini:

We’ll be spending 4 nights/5 days on the beautiful island of Santorini. We plan on filling our time diving, hitting up wineries, exploring ancient sites & villages, laying on the beach, and enjoying the famous Santorini sunsets—pretty much my dream mix of vacation activities.

Source

I’ve blogged about Santorini hotels a couple of times on this blog here and here, but, ultimately, we ended up choosing another hotel, and couldn’t be more excited about it!

Located just outside of the village of Imerovigli, the charming Anastasis Apartments hotel is not only gorgeous, but pretty reasonably priced for Santorini, as well. And, for the icing on the cake, it’s also known as having outstanding service. In fact, it’s the number one rated hotel on TripAdvisor on all of Santorini.

Next Stop...

2008-09-12T20:57:00.012-05:00

Originally, the husband and I were going to do an Italy/Greece combo trip. We had been looking forward to it for months. Then, one day, I thought to myself, "Self, maybe you should just double check your school calendar before you book airline tickets." Good call, self. We might have had a major problem if I hadn't. You see, school ends a week later than normal. :( Due to some family commitments, we were unable to extend our trip past our original end date, so we had no choice butto cut our trip.

Tears were shed, temper tantrums were had.

Deep within the depths of my depression, I decided to research alternative options in Greece (our original time span in Greece for the Greece/Italy combo trip was only about 6 days). Well…you know how the best way to quickly get over an ex is to get a "current"? Well, I had found a new boyfriend, and my new boyfriend's name was Crete.

Stop 2: 3 Nights in Crete

When researching Crete, we quickly realized that the capital city of Iraklion wasn’t a great fit for the type of vacation we were looking for. Our solution? Go west, young man.

We’ll be spending all three nights in the beautiful Venetian port of Chania. This little city on the west coast of Crete has managed to maintain its old world charm, while also being an excellent base for additional exploration of Crete.

greece-holidays.sunvil.co.uk
www.homesgofast.com
http://www.ellada.net/

Unlike Athens, our hotel choice in Chania was immediately apparent. The absolutely beautiful, charming, and reasonably priced 600 year old Casa Leone, located on highly desirable Chania harbor, just steps away from the old town, will our be our home base for our three nights in Crete.

Besides the amazing (and healthy!) Cretian food, there’s one major highlight I’m looking forward to exploring outside of Chania: Elafonissi Beach.

I don't really feel like any explanation is necessary here.

http://theworldwithme.files.wordpress.com

Yaaaa!

2008-09-12T20:35:00.002-05:00

So…did you guess?

For those of you who don’t know, the picture below is of the Greek god, Zeus.

What the heck am I talking about? We’re off to Greece, my friends!

Well, not exactly. At least, not yet. But, we’ve booked Greece, so we will be off to Greece (in May). This is an extremely exciting thing for my husband and I! We’ve been trying to go to Greece for a few years now, but it has never panned out, primarily due to time constraints (18 hours of travel time one way for 7 days total just didn’t seem like the best of ideas for us). If we had a list of "dream trips",I’m fairly confident this would be on it!

Ok, I’m done yammering about my excitement. ;) On to the info. :) I have enough info to fill a few posts, so we’ll start with stop number 1.

2 Nights in Athens

We arrive in the late afternoon after 18 hours of what is sure to be nightmare-ish time in coach on one of my “favorite” airlines.

I did extensive research on hotels in Athens, and it was originally a toss-up between Hotel Fresh and The Eridanus. Both hotels stacked up well on Trip Advisor, but I continued to look, because, as you’ll soon see (if you haven’t already figured it out), I’m a sucker for a view, and I just wasn’t convinced that either hotel was “the one” (and yes—I do liken choosing a hotel to choosing a spouse). :)

Then, I stumbled upon our hotel of choice, The Athens Gate Hotel. It rates VERY well on tripadvisor, has a HECK of a view (if you’re willing to pay for it), is very affordable (even if you are willing to pay for aforementioned view), and you just cannot beat the location (as indicated by the view). I cannot wait to sip Greek wine on my balcony overlooking the Acropolis or the Temple of Zeus!

Worst.Blogger.Ever (And trip announcement)

2008-09-11T21:30:00.003-05:00

So sorry about the delay, friends! Aforementioned job has been INSANELY busy (I'm working in academia, and it's the beginning of the school year, so it's a double whammy for me--busy at work and busy with school).

Anyway, I've got a super exciting trip announcement coming this weekend (once I receive all of my confirmations). :) We'll be taking one of our "dream trips", and I can't wait to share it with you!

Until then, a hint...

Image from FanPop

I have an excuse (or 20)!

2008-08-24T23:43:00.006-05:00

Ok, it’s 11:03 PM on a Sunday night, and I’m up composing what will be ½ apology/excuses and ½ of a life post. I’ve been a busy bee since my last entry on July 3oth, and now I’m back, tail between my legs, ready to get rolling again. Hopefully my life update will semi-explain my absence and you’ll find it in your heart to forgive me.

Job Hunting
Sometimes life/fate works in funny ways. You see, it wasn’t all that long ago that I met and hit it off with one of my best friends in the world, Stacy. Strange things brought us together as friends, but I have no doubt that she is someone who will be in my life in a big way for the rest of my days...and that the higher powers that be had a plan for our meeting!

I’m sure you’re thinking, “You’re rambling. What does this have to do with job hunting Ashley?” And you’d be right—I am rambling. ;) But, to answer your question--Stacy has a wonderful friend. We’ll call him Tom.

Tom happens to work at my dream company in what turns out to be my dream job. Tom and I connected, hit it off, and thus began my launch into my possible dream career.

I know, I know. You’re wondering how that consumed so much of my time. I started typing out a step-by-step timeline for you, but it was insanely boring, so I will just say that in a matter of two weeks’ time, I went through about 5 steps of the recruiting process. Which leads me to….

Our mini getaway
Since said recruiting process was moving along, I decided to set a date to meet the division of the office that I am interested in. What started out as a casual coffee meeting with my contact at that office, turned into a lunch interview with three people in the office. I came, I saw, I’m praying that I conquered.

This meeting/interview also gave my husband and I an opportunity to get away for a few days to one of our favorite cities—the Twin Cities of Minneapolis/St. Paul. We had a great time with my family in the area, and spent time all over the cities—Downtown Minneapolis, St. Paul, the Southern ‘burbs, the Northern ‘burbs, Bloomington (home of the Mall of America), etc. Needless to say, it was a busy, busy, busy (and at times, quite stressful!) trip.

While we were there, though…

We started house hunting
If all goes well in the job department for us (and that is a BIG if), we’re considering purchasing our first home when we move. We figured that while we were in the twin cities, along with enjoying some reasonably priced sushi (it’s insanely expensive in my little city!), we would take advantage of the time we had, and start checking out areas we were interested in living in. When all was said and done, we had been in eight (yes, EIGHT!) different cities in the twin cities area checking out property/getting a feel for the various cities.

While we’re not entirely sure if we’ll end up renting or buying when we do relocate, the trip was extremely productive in that we really narrowed down the area that we want to live in--a huge accomplishment, as far as I’m concerned. ;)

Then, when we got back, I….

Left my old job, and started a new one
Since I hadn’t given my notice at my old job, I had been waiting to announce this here, but since I’ve clearly given notice and moved on, I think it’s safe to finally spill the beans. ;)

I have started a new position with my university as a graduate teaching assistant, which is tremendously exciting for me. Along with a terrific resume builder and an opportunity to learn from some extremely bright people, there are a ridiculous amount of perks with this new position.

1) FREE TUITION!
2) Free Health benefits!
3) I’m making about 1.5 times what I was at my old position, working a little more than ½ the hours I was working at the old job.
4) When I’m not in school, I’m not working (but still getting paid), which is fantastic for my husband and I, since, as you may have heard, we really like to travel. ;)
5) I’m really enjoying the work that I do, and making terrific contacts!

I told you I’ve been a busy little bee! Add to all of this the fact that we just found out that two of my friends are pregnant (!), it’s been a very exciting few weeks! And, heck, while we’re doling out excuses, I’d like to throw out there that the beautiful upper Midwest late summer/early fall weather has made me want to be away from the PC and out in the world as much as possible!

However, all good things must come to an end, and it’s time to buckle down and get kickin’ in school. I’ll be laying off of the leisure time, so hopefully I’ll be more disciplined here, as well! It’s going to be a busy year (job, normal class load, thesis-writing), but there’s going to be tons of fun to be had too…

And, of course, plenty of travel.

Oh, and since blog posts suck without pictures, for good measure, here's one of beautiful downtown Minneapolis.

viewfromthetundra.com

Must have!

2008-07-30T18:49:00.002-05:00

How adorable are these? I'm in love. :)

"Oh, the Places You'll Sew" stitching postcards--Chart your route with a needle and thread, then send them to friends and loved ones. Other uses?-- fantastic wall décor, a great trip announcement, moving announcement, or invitation. :)

Adorable.

$5 each from Uncommon Goods.

Heck of a Deal...

2008-07-24T23:11:00.002-05:00

Flight001's Pass/Doc set (document holder and passport cover) is on clearance for $9.99. And, if you use coupon code: FLIGHT001THX, your shipping will be free, too! Trust me--you cannot beat this deal!

I've had the document holder for years, and love it--it's durable, convenient, and its bright coloring makes it easy to find. When I saw that it was on sale, I jumped on the opportunity to replace my lime green model with a fresh pink one. :) It arrived today, and I couldn't be more pleased!

A Picture is Worth a 1000 Words...

2008-07-23T16:20:00.003-05:00

It's been a tough year for the globetrotters and the travel industry, alike. Keep your fingers crossed that this continues, friends!

The Rise of the Phoenix

2008-07-18T12:26:00.005-05:00

I've never been to Phoenix, and truthfully, haven't really had the desire to go. it's not that I have anything against the city, per say, just that there are plenty of other places that are above it on "my list."

However, that's suddenly changed, thanks to the Clarendon Hotel in midtown Phoenix, its hip pool area, swanky roof-top deck, fab rooms, and completely reasonable rates! Suddenly, I have the desire to book one of those cheap Allegiant fares, and get away for a weekend!

Rates start at a measly $99 per night!

An Open Letter to All Airline Customers:

2008-07-10T15:06:00.003-05:00

Source: http://www.wtrg.com/daily/crudeoilprice.html

Well, while I'm sure many of you have already received this, Northwest is running a little behind. This letter started hitting the web yesterday, but just arrived in my inbox this morning.

The airline transport associate (ATA) and many of the major airlines' CEO have composed a little letter to bring airline oil struggles to the forefront of the public's mind.

Obviously, oil is something that I have been closely monitoring. It seems that about 50% of economists believe that this is a speculation bubble as ATA suggests, and the other 50% are saying "Get used to it," and believe that supply and demand is the driving force behind the astronomical growth in crude oil futures.

As this letter indicates, whatever the case may be, it’s a scary economic time for airlines and Americans, alike.

_________________________

An Open letter to All Airline Customers:

Our country is facing a possible sharp economic downturn because of skyrocketing oil and fuel prices, but by pulling together, we can all do something to help now. Visit www.StopOilSpeculationNow.com.

For airlines, ultra-expensive fuel means thousands of lost jobs and severe reductions in air service to both large and small communities. To the broader economy, oil prices mean slower activity and widespread economic pain. This pain can be alleviated, and that is why we are taking the extraordinary step of writing this joint letter to our customers.

Since high oil prices are partly a response to normal market forces, the nation needs to focus on increased energy supplies and conservation. However, there is another side to this story because normal market forces are being dangerously amplified by poorly regulated market speculation.

Twenty years ago, 21 percent of oil contracts were purchased by speculators who trade oil on paper with no intention of ever taking delivery. Today, oil speculators purchase 66 percent of all oil futures contracts, and that reflects just the transactions that are known. Speculators buy up large amounts of oil and then sell it to each other again and again. A barrel of oil may trade 20-plus times before it is delivered and used; the price goes up with each trade and consumers pick up the final tab. Some market experts estimate that current prices reflect as much as $30 to $60 per barrel in unnecessary speculative costs.

Over seventy years ago, Congress established regulations to control excessive, largely unchecked market speculation and manipulation. However, over the past two decades, these regulatory limits have been weakened or removed. We believe that restoring and enforcing these limits, along with several other modest measures, will provide more disclosure, transparency and sound market oversight. Together, these reforms will help cool the over-heated oil market and permit the economy to prosper.

The nation needs to pull together to reform the oil markets and solve this growing problem. We need your help. Get more information and contact Congress by visiting www.StopOilSpeculationNow.com.

Robert FornaroChairman, President and CEOAirTran Airways

Bill AyerChairman, President and CEOAlaska Airlines, Inc.

Gerard J. Arpey Chairman, President and CEOAmerican Airlines, Inc.

Lawrence W. KellnerChairman and CEOContinental Airlines, Inc.

Richard Anderson CEODelta Air Lines, Inc.

Mark B. DunkerleyPresident and CEOHawaiian Airlines, Inc.

Dave BargerCEOJetBlue Airways Corporation

Timothy E. HoeksemaChairman, President and CEOMidwest Airlines

Douglas M. SteenlandPresident and CEONorthwest Airlines, Inc.

Gary KellyChairman and CEOSouthwest Airlines Co.

Glenn F. TiltonChairman, President and CEOUnited Airlines, Inc.

Douglas ParkerChairman and CEOUS Airways Group, Inc.

Does this fall under the PATRIOT ACT?

2008-07-07T15:16:00.004-05:00

Oh my. Oh my my my. I am literally in shock (no pun intended).

As you may or may not know (I’ve mentioned it several times on this blog), my undergrad degree is in an aviation discipline. Ergo, I am far more forgiving of the TSA and the seemingly ridiculous security rules that we all love so much. You see, this is a personal thing to me. Yes, I travel often. Yes, it is sometimes a PITA. But, more than that, I have friends who get on those airplanes and navigate the no-longer-friendly skies for you each and every day. Security, no matter how ridiculous it may seem, is a necessary evil. If it saves just one life, I’m ok with it.

However, I have my limits. This may be it.

Today’s Washington Times reports reports that the FAA is investigating whether or not it will require fliers to wear bracelets that double as stun guns! Yep, I’m serious.

Lamperd Less Lethal is promoting the use of a bracelet (which they, of course, manufacture) that will essentially make aviation security digitized. According to the Times, the “Elecronic ID Bracelet” (well, that’s a considerably placid name, all things considered) would:

- take the place of an airline boarding pass
-contain personal information about the traveler
- be able to monitor the whereabouts of each passenger and his/her luggage
- shock the wearer on command, completely immobilizing him/her for several minutes

The Times adds, “Every airline passenger would be tracked by a government-funded GPS, containing personal, private and confidential information, and that it would shock the customer worse than an electronic dog collar if he/she got out of line?”

I know. I know. This sounds like some sort of science fiction headline made up to grab attention, right? How does the Times know this anyway? “According to a letter from DHS official, Paul S. Ruwaldt of the Science and Technology Directorate, office of Research and Development, to the inventor whom he had previously met with, he wrote, “To make it clear, we [the federal government] are interested in…the immobilizing security bracelet, and look forward to receiving a written proposal.” The letterhead, in case you were wondering, came from the DHS office at the William J. Hughes Technical Center at the Atlantic City International Airport, or the Federal Aviation Administration headquarters.”

Go ahead. Leave your comments. I’m dying to hear what you think.

Some aMUSEment for your 4th!

2008-07-04T10:57:00.007-05:00

Recently, I discovered an amazing new travel site--TravelMuse. TravelMuse has so many features that it's hard to even begin to scratch the surface on all of the handy things here for the traveler. Since that would be impossible, I've chosen a few of my favorite features to share with you. Regardless of time constraints, go play with the website--you won't be disappointed!

The site is actually an online weekly magazine. Each week, you'll find a new cover section and theme. Since it's Independence Day weekend, this week's theme is "Historic America", and features articles on Colonial Williamsburg, Mount Rushmore, etc.

However, a unique and probably the coolest feature of TravelMuse is the "Inspiration Finder."

Here, you'll find a questionnaire. Just let TravelMuse know where you'd like to depart from, how many travelers there will be, what time of year you'd like to travel (or the specific dates you'd like to travel), the desired duration of your trip, your minimum hotel class, your desired budget per person, the type of trip you'd like to take (choose as many key words as you'd like) and your maximum flight time, and it'll come up with....

...this. Based on the information you provided, TravelMuse will recommend four locations. Within this screen, you'll find an estimated cost for the trip (as well as several package options) and how well each trip matches your keywords.

Cool, right? In addition to the "Inspiration Finder", TravelMuse also has some of the best free destination guides I've seen.

Be forewarned--this website is addicting. ;)

Jet Set Essentials

2008-07-02T09:51:00.003-05:00

Enjoy free shipping today only at one of my favorite travel stores--Flight001! Use code JULY208.

Vitamin E Makeup Remover Wipes from LA Fresh. Package contains 6 individually-wrapped towelettes. Alcohol-free. $7.00

Dental Refresher finger mitts from LA Fresh. Package contains 6 individually-wrapped mitts. Each mitt is pre-moistened and leaves your teeth and mouth feeling fresh. $7.00

On The Go Kit from Urban Aid is the perfect quick fix for the little things that happens away from home. Includes mini emery board, 2 dental flossers, sewing kit, hair band, 2 adhesive bandages, and a stain treating towelette. Packaged in a metal tin. $10.00

Compact and convenient Anti-bacterial Paper Soap single-use soap sheets. Just add water to dissolve. Perfect when traveling for washing your hands and face. Contains 30 sheets. $6.00

Herban Essentials towelettes are made from pure essential oils, which makes them smell amazing, as well as naturally antibacterial and antiseptic. Can be used to reduce stress, insect repellent, remove makeup, and disinfect minor burns and scrapes. Mix of lemon, lavender and eucalyptus scents - individually packaged. $15.00

Technical Difficulties

2008-07-02T09:49:00.001-05:00

It was brought to my attention that some of you are unable to see the Oasis of the Seas photos. The problem should be fixed now. :)

Enjoy!

Oasis ON the Seas

2008-06-30T21:29:00.004-05:00

So...remember Project Genesis?

Well, she's been named, and RCCL has released more pictures. And wow--I'm quite impressed with Oasis of the Seas. Where I felt like NCL went very wrong, I feel like RCCL got it all right! The ship, and particularly her loft suites are beautiful!

The suites will feature floor-to-ceiling two story windows, the ability to combine suites to accomodate larger groups, posh interior design, and much more.

Check her out!

Why Hello There, Gorgeous!

2008-06-25T10:20:00.004-05:00

I've been lusting after this hotel for months now, awaiting its opening and then awaiting my turn to stay there. The Gansevoort South in South Beach is brand spanking new, swank perfection, modeled after its sister property in Manhattan!

But, here's there's even better news!! Between now and September 30, you can stay at the Gansevoort for just $99 a night!!! The offer is valid 7 nights a week, BUT there are only 15 rooms per night at this price. Even so, if you miss out on the 15 rooms, you will pay just $50! That's a HE*L of a deal in South Beach for a mediocre hotel, much less an amazing one!

Click here to take advantage of the Grand Opening special.

Now, GO! (and then report back on how you liked it) :)

Travel/Life Goals

2008-06-25T09:07:00.002-05:00

I've been meaning to do this post for a while, but I wasn't quite sure how to go about it. Would you think I was weird? Do other people do this?

Then, this morning, I was reading one of my favorite blogs, Fruit & Bread, and I realized I am not the only crazy person....Kristyn is equally as crazy. ;)

Anyway, the topic at hand: Travel and Life Lists.

For most of my adult life, I've had an ever evolving list that includes goals, places to see, etc. But, the odd thing about this list is that it's completely travel focused....and I don't have a life list for non-travel related things. (I should probably get one, huh?)

Anyway, lists.... I don't really have a written "places to see before I die" because my "places to see before I die" is pretty much everywhere. I'm serious. I honestly haven't met a place that I'm not interested in seeing. My friend Rachel sent me a quote that she said reminded her of me:

"I haven't been everywhere, but it’s on my list"~Susan Sontag

(And yes, I do have that memorized). I think Susan (and Rachel) pretty much hit the nail on the head for me. ;)

I do, of course, have some priority places, but I'd rather you witness them as I visit them here on the blog than in list form. :)

The other list I have (a much more formal list) is a travel goals list. This one is more broad and generalized and encompasses things that I specifically want to work towards. Life goals, if you will.

1) I want to take my parents on vacation on my tab to someplace they probably wouldn't pick up and head to on their own (probably Europe).

2) I want to really visit 6 of the 7 continents (I grew up in ND, so I'm pretty ok without seeing the excessive snow, etc, in Antarctica...but if the right opportunity came up, I would probably take it).

3) I want to eventually be able to work from home, if only during the summers, and spend entire summers in Europe. I know this sounds like a crazy dream, but it's surprisingly affordable to rent apartments, so our three month vacation would cost about as much as a normal week-long vacation for us (assuming we continue to work over there).

4) Two words: African Safari

5) I want to take a substantial vacation with my best friend (other than my wedding).

Anyway, if you made it through this entire post, bless your heart. :) I'd love to hear what some of your goals/places to see before you die are! :)

The Container Store Travel Sale

2008-06-22T20:30:00.003-05:00

Free Travel Guides

2008-06-22T00:03:00.002-05:00

I'm not sure if I'm behind the times, or if these have just recently shown up, but TripAdvisor is offering free travel guides! I can almost guarantee that they are not doing it for every destination, but it's worth a look to see if they have them for your next destination (I checked quite a few locations, and they had almost all of them), as they are chock full of useful tips from tripadvisor users! The guides offer packing tips, what to eat, where to stay, and what to do on all budget levels and for different lifestyles (families or romance), as well as great insider tips! I am quite impressed--these things are fantastic!

Hello, Goodbye (money)

2008-06-20T10:03:00.007-05:00

One of my favorite experiences in Vegas was seeing LOVE at the Mirage. Being the huge Beatles fan that I am, I was in paradise--bright colors, kicka*s music, and Cirque showmanship, oh my! It was fabulous, and if it had gone on for hours, I would have been ok with it. ;) Yes, tickets were pricey, but it was worth every penny--even my husband who is not really a fan of the music really enjoyed the show.

But, if you're looking to take your Beatles experience to a new level, check this out.

A Hard Days Night is a hotel solely dedicated to the Beatles in the band's hometown, Liverpool, England. And a fabulous hotel it is!

Each of the 110 rooms in the hotel feature boutique hotel amenities such as flat screen tvs, plush linens, and original artwork. If that's not enough for you, you can upgrade to a Lennon or McCartney suite with spacious sitting areas & tons of other cool stuff!

Unfortunately, the old Beatles adage, "All You Need is Love" doesn't really apply at A Hard Days Night--rates start at about 340 GBP, or about 671 USD a night. ;)

Oh well, it's fun to look at. Look away...

The Real Price of Your Ticket...

2008-06-13T13:43:00.003-05:00

Inflation splation! It's the fees that will be the demise of the free-market economy!

Yea, Ok, I'm being dramatic, but definitely check this out. Take your ticket, add applicable fees, and see what you'll really be spending--a highly handy tool for the summer travel months, with new fees popping up every day.These tables courtesy of Rick Seaney who has promised to keep the tables updated (and I will try to keep you updated here).

And You Thought We Were Done for the Day....

2008-06-12T18:16:00.003-05:00

And another one bites and another one bites and another one bites the dust…

US Airways says “Hey!!! Me too! Me too!” and announces their new $15 per bag fee (up to two bags).

Additionally, they announced other fantastic (clearly dripping with sarcasm here) news like:

--They will be significantly cutting capacity.

--They will be cutting 1,700 jobs.

--They will be charging for in-flight beverages.

--They will be increasing buddy pass fees.

Then, following all of these announcements, there’s a big “pep talk” by CEO Doug Parker. As employees and passengers alike partake in a collective eye rolling, he states:

“All of the actions we’re announcing today, when combined with the capacity other airlines have already announced, will have a materially positive effect on the financial performance of US Airways going forward. Our team has been here before and we won’t sit by and wait for external circumstances to dictate our future. A lot of “experts” are counting us out – but like all of you, I can’t wait to prove them wrong again. As part of my commitment to achieve this goal, as well as reaffirming my belief in our company, I’ve made the decision to invest an amount equal to my 2008 salary into US Airways by buying stock in the open market at the next trading opportunity for insiders.”

Soooooo....ya. Delta says they will not be charging the fee, but I'm not so sure. Continental indicates that they will probably be charging it sooner, rather than later, and NWA has remained quiet (presumably due to the pending merger?), so I'm having a hard time believing that, if all of the other majors adopt the fee, Delta will not.

However, lets assume that they don't. Will this present a competitive advantage for Delta? Let's have a quick roundtable. Will the fee(s) affect where you buy your tickets?

Personally, I'm in the market for an international flight at the moment, and have been looking around at options, many of which require me to fly NWA part of the way, and then move carriers. American was one of these options, and I refused to fly them, choosing instead to look elsewhere, even if it meant paying more.

Another One Bites the Dust...

2008-06-12T11:05:00.006-05:00

United (who coincidently or not, was also named "The Worst Airline-Ever" this week) announced this morning that it, too, will be charging for the first checked bag. The new fee will be $15 each way for each checked bag, and the fee for a third or an overweight bag will increase from $100 or $125 to $200 or $250.

::insert long, drawn-out sigh here::

I hope the oil bubble bursts, well, yesterday! Although, I'm afraid that even if it bursts today, there's no turning back from the new wave of airlines as we know them.

Welcome to your new life, fellow travelers.

Anyone need a 727?

2008-06-12T10:45:00.004-05:00

Granted, it's a bit of a "fixer-upper" since it's been on the tarmac for a while, but it's nothing a little elbow grease can't fix. ;)

Apparently, someone out there is missing a pretty Boeing 727. Officials at Hanoi's Noi Bai airport are searching for the owner of a 727 that's been chillin' on the tarmac since late last year, owner unknown.

There's a Cambodian flag and the words "Air Dream" painted on the skin, but the communist bureaucracy can't seem to figure out where it came from and who it belongs to.

"Oh hi. Yea, it's me, Ashley. You know, I’ve been thinking about it, and I think I totally forgot my jumbo jet there. Is it there? Oh, ok, super! I'll be by to pick it up next week. Thanks!"

Source: Gadling

Brilliant!

2008-06-09T11:15:00.004-05:00

In case you haven't heard, there's a new type of airport hotel on the block. An airport hotel in the airport. Yep, that's right. The Yotel, located at London's Heathrow & Gatwick airports and soon to be located at Amsterdam's Schiphol, is a hotel where cabins (supposedly comparable to a cruise cabin) with plush beds and rain showers can be rented by the hour for your travelling convenience.

How fabulous would this be if you had a long layover at Heathrow or an absurdly early morning flight. What could be more convenient than being located right at the airport?

Rooms are pretty affordable, as well--especially by London standards. I used an upcoming flight situation (I come in on one flight at 7:30 at night, and my connecting flight doesn't leave until 4:30 am the next morning) and came up with about 59 pounds for a premium room (a queen sized bed--singles and twins with bunk beds are also available). When you factor in the convenience factor, necessary cab fares to another airport hotel, etc, you have a heck of a deal!

Sorry for the crappy quality pictures, but hop over to the website to find out more. :)

Paradise...

2008-06-06T16:00:00.001-05:00

As we all know, one of the world's great paradises was struck by tragedy on December 24, 2oo4. According to the Thai disaster website, the government estimates 8, 457 deaths, 8,457 injuries, and 4,499 missing at the hands of the tragic tsunami.

Almost 4 years later, though, Thailand is still struggling to rebuild its tourism industry. With a slice of paradise like this, I'm hopeful that the industry will be back to normal soon.

Check out the absolutely gorgeous Aleenta Phuket. Not only is this hotel amazingly gorgeous, but rates start at a mere $200 per night. And best of all, all the rooms have private plunge (and sometimes full-sized) pools!

Add this one to our list!

What Happens in Mexico...

2008-06-05T00:11:00.009-05:00

I can't beleive I'm typing this, but with June upon us, it was time to start thinking about our anniversary trip. After being almost 100% positive that we were going to book a hotel in Jamaica, I was doing what I do (looking at various travel sites) and came across a sale for a resort we've been dying to check out.

For this particular trip, we were thinking short and sweet--we have a cruise planned for March and a huge vacation planned for May. Consequently, we were also thinking cheap. I'm not sure this vacation came out to actually be cheap, but we're satisfied with our decision, and I guess that's all that matters. ;)

We'll be spending a long weekend in November at Excellence Playa Mujeres north of Cancun. I've heard nothing but great things about the resort, and am especially excited about our room. ;) We've booked a rooftop terrace suite, which is a 2-story suite. The first story is the actual room with an indoor and outdoor access jacuzzi for two, a walk in closet, and a rain shower for two. The second story is well, a rooftop terrace. But, it's what's on the terrace that is super cool--a private plunge pool with an amazing view! We pretty much plan on only leaving our room to eat--heck, we made not even do that. ;)

The beautiful Excellence Playa Mujeres.

The interior of our room (jacuzzi & verandah behind where the photo was taken).

The private plunge pool on the roof of our suite!

If I do decide to venture out, this is where you're likely to find me. ;)

Or maybe here. ;) (the spa)

Summer Reading. :)

2008-06-03T21:08:00.000-05:00

I just came across this super cool blog which I fully intend to follow throughout the summer.

Matt Gross is a writer for the New York Times and is spending his summer circling Europe on less than 100 Euros a day (and yes--that's including lodging!). He's taking photos, sharing his budget tips, making videos, and finding great hotels and eateries along the way.

Watch this video to check out the video he made to explain his tour & Watch this video for the blog.
http://frugaltraveler.blogs.nytimes.com/

Freebie (again)!

2008-05-28T21:27:00.004-05:00

Chrissy ROCKS!

I don't know where she finds this stuff, but drop over to her blog and give her some love. ;) This is the SECOND free travel magazine subscription she's found for us!

This time, it's Caribbean Travel & Life --a one year subscription, completely free!

Click Here to get yours!

A Diver's Dream

2008-05-27T21:55:00.005-05:00

The cruise we just booked for next March:

Grand Cayman

Belize

Roatan, Honduras

Cozumel, Mexico

Yep, I do realize we're booking way in advance (the price was rising, so we thought it in our best interest to get the rate locked in) and that the last picture is actually Tulum (we didn't make it out there on our honeymoon, so we plan on hitting it up this time!). :)

http://www.carnival.com/Itinerary.aspx?embkCode=MIA&itinCode=WCX&durDays=7&shipCode=VA&subRegionCode=CW&rateCode=BCA&sailingID=46244&sailDate=3%2f15%2f2009

My First Issue of Sherman's Travel!

2008-05-22T09:08:00.002-05:00

My first issue arrived in the mail yesterday, and I spent last night and this morning perusing it. I have to say--I like it! Quite a bit, actually. :)

The premise of the magazine is "smart luxury", which is right up my alley! There are off season deals, unique vacations, affordable spas, etc.

If you missed out on the free offer, click here to pick up your $9.95 yearly subscription.

Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!

2008-05-21T10:32:00.004-05:00

And so it begins.

AMR Corp. just announced that it will begin charging for ALL checked luggage on all American Airlines and American Eagle flights, beginning with tickets purchased after 6/15/2008.

This is bad. bad. bad.

Besides the money issue, it's going to make life hell for those who normally carry-on only--say buh-bye to overhead bin space and hello to very cranky passengers. And while the charge doesn't affect elite passengers, surely the overhead bins will be affected, which, of course means even the "elites" will have a much less pleasurable flying experience.

BLEH!

And we're back :)

2008-05-18T21:13:00.007-05:00

Ok, so not only am I a terrible blogger (sorry about the delay!), I'm a terrible terrible traveler and didn't take many photos on our trip to sin city. In fact, I only took a handful of photos (I do this every once in a while...and always regret it, but can't seem to force myself into the "photo groove"). ;)

My wonderful friend, Rachel , however, took enough photos for the both of us, so hopefully she won't mind if I share a few when she gets back from her weekend getaway. :)

Anyway, first things first (and because it is the only thing I have photos of), we'll discuss our hotel.

When booking this surprise trip for my wonderful husband in January, I knew that Vegas wasn't our "traditional" vacation style (as you may have noticed, we love the beach). With this in mind, I had a "go big or go home" mentality, as there was no guarantee we'd be back to Vegas. After a lot of research and consulting with Rachel & Jack, I selected the Wynn as our home for the weekend.

Overall, we had a great experience at the hotel. The service was great, the rooms were larger, and there was a lot of great food and shopping right in the hotel. Not much more we could ask for. :) The location, while at the end of the strip was still convenient to the strip, and even if we chose to grab a cab, it was relatively affordable to go end-to-end. :)

Would we stay again? Sure. Will we try something else next time (and yes, there will be a next time) we are in Vegas? Probably. While we loved it, there is no shortage of amazing hotels in Vegas, so, at this point, it doesn't have my full allegiance (though we have nothing to compare it to, so you never know what may happen after trying out a hotel or two).

The one and only photo we took together on our camera (as terrible as it may be).

The beautiful lobby of the Wynn.

One of my favorite parts of the Wynn decor were these beautiful mosaics all over the floor.

The infamous Wynn mini-bar. These beauties are weighted, so don't pick up the goodies unless you mean it. ;)

The art work and sitting area in our sizeable room.

The best part of our room--the floor to ceiling windows and the killer view that comes with them.

The decor in the Wynn was very Alice in Wonderland.

The beautiful Wynn waterfall which has free nightly light/water shows.

Coming soon: What we actually did in Vegas, and the great company we hung with in Vegas. :)

I apologize!

2008-05-05T23:06:00.005-05:00

Currently, I'm knee deep in "Accounting for Decision Making and Control" preparing for my final tomorrow night (and yes, it is as awful as it sounds!), followed by a paper I have to write for advanced managerial theory (also as awful as it sounds). I will likely be pretty lame on the post front this week, but I do have a suprise trip announcement. :)

My husband and I are headed here this weekend:

I booked the trip as a surprise to my husband way back in January! I finally announced it to him this weekend, so I can finally post about it here. :) We'll have lots of fun stuff for you upon our return!

While we're talking Earth Day....

2008-05-02T00:12:00.002-05:00

I came across a great eco-friendly product the other day that I thought would also translate well to travel. In fact, I may be picking up one of these for an upcoming trip where packing space is a real concern.

This, my friends, is the Flip & Tumble. It was originally designed as an eco-friendly, reusable grocery bag, but I think it would make a great, all purpose or emergency tote! Possible uses? Laundry, a beach bag, carrying extra souvenir purchases, transporting toiletries, an extra carry-on, etc etc etc...

What's so great about this bag? It's made to fold into a teeny, tiny, little ball.

See?

Additionally, it's actually quite reasonably priced. At $12 and a variety of fun colors, you really can't go wrong! And hey--you could even use it for its orginal intended purpose, waste-reducing grocery shopping, and help the environment while you're at it!

Is there a season for this type of thing?

2008-04-28T11:31:00.002-05:00

If so, we must be in it. ;) Norwegian Cruise Lines announced today that they, too, will be revolutionizing the way you cruise. Calling it the "New Wave" design, NCL is redesigning your cabins.

Honestly, I'm not sure if I'm digging it. It's a little bad-70's-futuristic for me, but who cares what I think. ;)

If you want to learn more about the details, Click Here. We should be learning more about this class of ships soon, and as soon as they release the info, I'll be sure to post more.

Freebie!

2008-04-25T15:03:00.003-05:00

Yaaaaa!

My dear friend, Chrissy, passed on this freebie to me b/c she thought that I would enjoy it, and I think you will too, so I’m sending it your way!

What is it?

A FREE subscription to Sherman’s Travel Magazine!

There doesn’t appear to be a gimmick or a catch—just fill out the form and voila (no credit card required)!

Regular price on the subscription is $10, so if you end up liking it, it’s a pretty affordable travel magazine. I’ve been Clicking around their website, and so far, I really like what I am seeing.

Click Here for your free subscription!

Earth Day

2008-04-22T14:58:00.004-05:00

As I’m sure you know, today is Earth Day, which clearly lends itself to a topic that has been a large part of our life (at least in the sense of the media) over the past couple of years. Al Gore summed it up and won an Oscar for it, the celebs are all over promoting it (despite some decidedly wasteful habits), and the smart car-makers are cashing in on it. What is it, you ask? Green…Green habits, green lifestyles, and in this case, green travel.

Now, this…this is an uncomfortable topic for an aviation enthusiast. We’re not exactly the greenest people on this planet, and we surely won’t be winning any Nobel peace prizes for our promotion of green activities. However, no matter what your stance is on global warming, a few of these pictures show us that we, as a species, have a little bit of changing to do.

I’m not going to lie or be a hypocrite and tell you that I am the greenest of people. No, my friends, I am not. In fact, besides being a vegetarian, at best, I’m a mediocre tree-hugger. While I try to remember those “little things” that make a big difference, I certainly have a lot to improve upon in that department. This is why, I suspect, until recently, green travel is really not something that has crossed my mind.

Again, as awful as it is to admit it, I'm not going to tell you that from now on, I won’t be travelling via airplane, I will only stay in eco-friendly hotels, and raw vegetables shall by my meal of choice. Let’s get real—I’m a bratty American with an affection for flying and those little life luxuries. But I do believe that there are some small steps we can take in travel, just like in life, to make a big difference.

Here are a few small changes you can make while travelling to try to reduce your footprint while travelling.

1) Carbon offset fees. These mini donations can make a big difference. According to about.com, Delta was able to collect enough donations last year to plant enough trees to offset the carbon footprint of 2900 Americans over the course of a year. Oddly, 1% American airlines offer the service, but you can also purchase carbon offset from TerraPass through Expedia, whether or not you booked your trip through them.

2) Unplug those chargers. If you simply unplug those electronic chargers when they’re not charging electronics, you can save up to 100 lbs of emissions each year!

3) Find and select a "green" hotel.

Also, if you're interested in learning more about green travel, Go Green Travel Green is starting a series today entitled 25 Days to Green Travel. Today's post, "31 Reasons to Travel Green in Pictures" was the source of the photos for this post.

And, if this beautiful picture of the Swiss Alps isn't reason enough to clean up our act, even if just a little, I can't imagine what is. ;)

The Evolution of Cruising

2008-04-19T09:25:00.007-05:00

Welcome to the new frontier in cruising--The Royal Caribbean Genesis project. RCCL's newest ship, to be launched in late 2009 will be a new and exciting voyage into the great blue yonder. At the center of this project will be the eight-story, 100 yard long "Central Park". The park will feature flora & fauna, winding pathways, restaurants, and much more.

Genesis will be based out of Fort Lauderdale, which clearly suggests Caribbean itineraries, but RCCL is yet to announce its exact routes.

I have to hand it to RCCL--they're always looking for new and innovative ways to turn their ships into destinations unto themselves. This ship looks like it will be an experience all its own. If you're bored, check out the link at the end. :) There's a video on the site that really gives you a feel for what Central Park will be like (and that I couldn't figure out how to properly embed into this post).

http://www.royalcaribbean-genesis.com/

Random Tip

2008-04-17T22:37:00.002-05:00

How to Dial 911 abroad:

All EU countries: 112
Argentina: 911
Australia: 000
Canada: 911
Hong Kong: 999
Isreal: 100
Japan: 119
Mexico: 060
Switzerland: 144
Thailand: 191

And while we're at it...

2008-04-16T17:16:00.004-05:00

I think this is going a little too far. I am crossing my fingers that other airlines don't follow suit, but you know how they are--if one says "Jump", the others say "How high?"

US Airways announced today that it's going to start charging a fee to reserve "Choice Seats." You may be saying, "Well, Ashley, the airlines have been doing this for a while now?" Well, not by THIS definition of "Choice Seats."

Basically, any seat in the first several rows of coach that's a window or an aisle seat will incur a fee--starting at $5 per leg. So, if you have connections, expect to pay for your seat for each and every flight.

If you're a member of US Airways' frequent flier program, Dividend Miles Preferred, you can choose (and pay for) your seat at any time after booking. If you're not a member, you can book (and pay for) your seat only after the 24 hour point before your flight.

Seriously?

http://www.usairways.com/awa/Content/FAQs/choiceseats.aspx?c=eml_dm_choiceseats_solo_00399_04162008#3

Um, thanks?

2008-04-16T17:08:00.004-05:00

As you probably know, I got married in November. In order to get my newly minted married passport to me in time for our March trip to St. Lucia, I paid the express fees. I received my passport in January (only a few weeks after I applied) and all was well.

TODAY, April 16, 2008, I get this gem from the US State Department:

We have finished processing your passport, and it has been mailed to you.

Your passport application locator number is XXX.

You requested delivery by regular mail. Passport Agencies use Priority Mail. This means you should receive your passport on or about 01/30/2008. Check the USPS status at: *USPS Website with Tracking Number Here.

Um, ok, state department--thanks for the heads up.

Seriously?

Sandals Regency La Toc vs. Sandals Grande

2008-04-15T15:13:00.000-05:00

One of the many confusing things when choosing a resort in St. Lucia is comparing the Grande vs. the Regency. Truthfully, I couldn't find any "concrete" information, and now I understand why. Besides the pretty big price point difference, these are my thoughts on the other differences between the Regency & the Grande. Hopefully this will help a wayward soul or two make the big decision. :)

We, of course, stayed at the Regency, but visited the Grande, and here are our ratings on what we could personally rate. I’ll also note a few things based on research I conducted before booking the resort.

Pools: In my opinion, the Regency has the better pools, so if you are a pool person, The Regency is probably for you.

Beach: The Grande, hands down, so if you prefer beach to pools, you might want to stay here.

Water Sports: The Grande. Much of the time, the beach was “red flagged” at the Regency, which meant no water sports, etc. It wasn’t a huge deal to us b/c we are not windsurfers and aren’t into hobbie cats, etc, but if you are, you may want to stay at the Grande.

Diving: What I can say from experience was that we felt the dive staff of the Regency were EXCELLENT. One of the dive masters had been instructing at sandals since 1993 and was the very first dm at sandals in St. Lucia. The sites we had proximity to from Regency were great (except for the orientation dive). I cannot speak from experience on the Grande in those two categories, but the Grande does have one advantage in our eyes—you can board the dive boat from the beach, so there are no (sometimes traffic-ridden) rides to the harbor to dive.

Dining: *From research* Much of the research I did, including major guide books/hotel critics indicated that the food was better at the Regency. We dined at Gordan’s at the Grande, and it was excellent, but that is for butler category guests only (unless you want to pay $100 for your dinner).

Feel of the Resort: While the Regency was large, we felt like it felt more subdued and, strangely, more intimate. I guess the sheer size of it leads to the illusion of being only 1 of 50 other people (unless you are at the main pool). The Grande felt more Luxe and was definitely more compact and easily navigated. However, it also felt more crowded and rooms felt very close together in comparison to the Regency. The Regency felt more private, due to the layout of the resort and positioning of the rooms in the buildings.

Nightlife: It seemed to us (and this is from limited experience) that the Grande had a bit more nightlife.

Landscaping/views: The Regency, hands down.

Golf: We’re not golfers, but the course was beautiful, and if you’re looking for convenience the Regency is definitely the place for you (its right on property).

Proximity to town/castries airport, etc: The Regency. The Grande is actually quite a bit further North. I beleive transfers between the Regency and the Grande were about 45 minutes.

Ultimately, we would choose to stay at the Grande next time. Not because there was anything wrong with the Regency at all—we loved it! But, simply because of the dive convenience and beach. :) Personally, though, I do not think either resort well exceeds the other—it’s just personal preference and what is important to you.

Deal Alert

2008-04-15T12:57:00.001-05:00

Get 10% off any economy class airline reservation to Greece, Italy, or Spain over $1000 (before taxes) with Air France.

To redeem your discount, use the coupon code reference SPRING301 and follow these instructions to get your discount:
1- Visit our website, select your flights to Greece, Italy, or Spain, and make a reservation.

2- When prompted to provide passenger detail (such as name, email…), select yes to the question "do you have a coupon code"

3- Enter the coupon code: SPRING3014- Click on "apply discount" (bottom right), and the amount of the discount will appear.

Tickets must be booked before April 30.

http://www.airfrance.us/cgi-bin/AF/US/en/local/home/home/homepage.jsp?BV_SessionID=@@@@0999872284.1208282143@@@@&BV_EngineID=cccladedkmejhegcefecekedgfndgfo.0

DAL+NWA=DAL

2008-04-14T21:04:00.006-05:00

Taking a REALLY quick study break to update you in case you haven't heard the news.

As expected, Delta & Northwest officially announced their merger today.

You can view the website they have created explaining the merger here, and you can find the official announcement that WorldPerks members received below.

Of course, NWA is painting a very pretty picture for consumers about the merger, but only time will tell. As a small market consumer, I have my nervous reservations, but all we can do is wait and see.

If you have any questions regarding the merger & how it may affect you, I will try to put that handy-dandy bachelor's degree to use and answer what I am able to answer. Just leave a comment with questions. :)

*please excuse any typos/grammar errors--I meant what I said about a really quick study break. ;)
_______________________________________________

As a valued Northwest Airlines customer and WorldPerks® member, I wanted you to be among the first to hear that we have announced a merger with Delta Air Lines. Subject to regulatory review, our two airlines are joining forces to create America’s premier global airline which, upon closing of the merger, will be called Delta Air Lines.

By combining Northwest and Delta, we are building a stronger, more resilient airline that will be a leader in providing customer service and value. Our combined airline will offer unprecedented access to the world, enabling you to fly to more destinations, have more flight choices and more ways than ever to earn and redeem your WorldPerks miles.

You can be assured that your WorldPerks miles and Elite program status will be unaffected by this merger. In addition, you can continue to earn miles through use of partners like WorldPerks Visa®. And once the new Delta Air Lines emerges you can look forward to being a part of the world’s largest frequent flyer program with expanded benefits.

The combined Delta Air Lines will serve more U.S. communities and connect to more worldwide destinations than any global airline. Our hubs – both Delta’s and Northwest’s – will be retained and enhanced. We will be the only U.S. airline to offer direct service from the United States to all of the world’s major business centers in Asia, Latin America, Europe, Africa and around North America.

Both airlines bring tremendous strengths to this new partnership. Our complementary service networks form an end-to-end system that is truly greater than the sum of its parts. This is a merger by addition, not subtraction, which means all of our hubs – both Northwest’s and Delta’s – will be retained. In addition, building on both airlines’ proud, decades-long history of serving small communities, we plan to enhance global connections to small towns and cities across the U.S.

All of these positive benefits of our combination mean that we can:
-Offer a true global network where our customers will be able to fly to more destinations, have more schedule options and more opportunities to earn and redeem frequent flyer miles in what will become the world’s best and most comprehensive frequent flyer program.
-Continue to serve our current roster of destinations and to maintain our hubs in Atlanta, Cincinnati, Detroit, Memphis, Minneapolis/St. Paul, New York, Salt Lake City, Amsterdam and Tokyo.
-Improve our customers’ travel experience, through new products and services including enhanced self-service tools, better bag-tracking technology, more onboard services, including more meal options, new seats and refurbished cabins.

While we work to secure approval of our merger, which may take up to 6 to 8 months, it will be business-as-usual at both airlines. We will continue to operate as independent airlines and the people of Northwest will remain focused on providing you with the very best in safe, reliable and convenient air travel. At the same time, both airlines will be planning for a seamless integration of our two airlines, one that delivers to you the enhanced benefits that will earn – and retain – your preference.

As we work through this process, we will keep you informed at every step along the way. Thank you for your business and we look forward to serving you on your next Northwest flight.

Sincerely,

Bob Soukup
Managing Director, WorldPerks

Deal Alert

2008-04-14T15:09:00.002-05:00

Delta is running an airfare sale to and from Atlanta (and even better, many of the other carriers are matching their prices).

From Delta's website:

How it Works (The Rules)
Origins and Destinations: Between Atlanta and select U.S. cities
Fares: $89–$139 one-way, based on a round-trip purchase**
Purchase by: April 22, 2008
Travel Period: Complete by June 30, 2008
Advance Purchase and Minimum Stay: 21 days; 3 nights or Saturday night, whichever comes first
Blackout Dates: None
Other Rules: Tickets may be purchased at delta.com.

A few sample fares:

Between Atlanta, GA (ATL) and:

One-way Sale Fare*

Appleton, WI (ATW) $139
Charleston, WV (CRW) $139
Cincinnati, OH (CVG) $129
Fayetteville-NW Reg, AR (XNA) $139
Fort Smith, AR (FSM) $129
Gainesville, FL (GNV) $119
Grand Rapids, MI (GRR) $129
Greensboro, NC (GSO) $99
Mobile, AL (MOB) $89
Springfield, MO (SGF) $139

www.delta.com

Mrs. Clean

2008-04-12T16:50:00.001-05:00

Making a long trek? Overnight flight? Want to be able to wash your face or clean up unexpected spills?

Check out this clever little packing item--Go Towels.

These little 2-inch disks expand into 20 inch bamboo (read: Green) towels.

You can purchase a single Go Towel for $2 or a pack of 10 for $13.

http://www.flight001.com/store/trip.htm?itemid=2253&view=all&sid=509

I [Heart] Food!

2008-04-09T15:16:00.002-05:00

but, not necessarily airline food. ;)

Completely bored and wondering what you could be served on your next flight?

Check out Airline Meals.net for pictures, descriptions, and reviews of airline meals as well as menu cards for just about every airline out there. Look for a similiar route and voila!

Bon Appetit!

Diving

2008-04-07T20:54:00.001-05:00

As you probably know, we're divers. And what do divers do? Well, dive, of course. ;)

Out resort required an orientation dive (which, to be honest, was pretty lame), and then we did a two-tank dive on another day. For the two tank dive, we went to the Leslie-Em wreck and then to the South Beach reef. Both were beautiful. The diving was actually quite excellent—lots of life to see and great clarity. Leslie-Em is actually a deep dive, and the visibility was so great that our 75 foot free decent felt more like a 30 feet. :)

All-in-all, we felt like the Regency dive staff was outstanding and we felt very safe. One of the dive masters had been instructing since 1993 and was the very first dive master on St. Lucia employed by Sandals.

A Life Post

2008-04-05T10:42:00.018-05:00

*Update: I was finally able to find the remaining parts of Hillary's speech. Part three shows "Bill for First Lady". :) AND immediately following that (exactly 36 seconds into clip three), there is a gentleman holding up a sign that says "I love you Hillary". Three people to the left--that's me!!! :) My husband is wearing a blue shirt and tie (i'm to the right of him) and my mom is wearing a navy sweatshirt and she is to the left of him! :)

I apologize. I realize this post has nothing to do with travel, but i felt like it would be a disservice to not blog about my ridiculously awesome experience yesterday. As I mentioned, I got to witness history in the making last night, and it was absolutely unbelievable. :)

So, my mom, husband, and I arrived at the convention center at 1:00 pm yesterday. Yep, that's right--1:00 pm. It meant that we spent EIGHT hours sitting in unpadded convention center seats with 20,000 other people. But, you know what? It was totally worth it! (and we got great seats courtesy of my husband who arrived 10 mins before us!)

I won't share my opinions on the candidates here, because this post is not at all meant to be a representation of my political affiliation. Instead, I'll let you judge for yourself. :) Both speeches are posted below following some photos, courtesy of The Grand Forks Herald. *Note: Unfortuntely, at this time, Hillary's speech isn't posted in its entirely. I suspect, however that is because this just happened a little over 12 hours ago. As soon as I can get my hands on the whole thing, I'll update this post. I'll also post some personal photos soon, but the ones I have from my point & shoot aren't great. My mom did bring her film SLR with a telephoto lens, though, so as soon as we get those back, I'll post some of those as well. :)

Check out the sea of people! This is not even 1/4 of the crowd! I've never witnessed something like this in Grand Forks! Hillary commented that she didn't know there even WERE this many democrats in North Dakota! (we're a traditionally red state, though it should be noted that there's a real chance the ND electoral votes could swing blue this year--one of the reasons that ND was a bit more important to the Dems this year.)

Here in Grand Forks, we LOVE our hockey. ;) In fact, next Thursday, our beloved Fighting Sioux play in the first round of the Frozen Four!

Seated to the right of Barack, is the ND congressional delegation (yep, we're a small state). All have endorsed Barack and are close friends (big hugs all around). And nope, you didn't read that wrong, and nope I'm not crazy--we're a red state with a long standing blue congressional delegation (recently ranked as the second most powerful delegation in the country). This will also explain the introductory speech you'll see from Senator Byron Dorgan at the beginning of Hillary's speech.

This man is UNBELIEVABLY charasmatic--even more so in person than on TV!

Hockey sticks all around!

The Clintons are actually quite familiar with North Dakota. They are close friends with former governor George Sinner and his wife Jane. Additionally, in Part 1 of Hillary's speech, you'll hear her reference the great flood of 1997 in Grand Forks. The entire community was wiped out, but is now completely rebuilt. Many-an-article/essay/statement have been written about the comparison between the reaction and recovery by the government (local, state, and federal) in Grand Forks versus that of New Orleans. The disasters were similar in scale, yet there was no loss of life in Grand Forks and absolutely no living conditions like those that followed in New Orleans.

This sign flashed on the mega-tron during her speech, and Hillary actually lost her composure and started laughing. :)

Hillary was so much more petite in person than I had pictured!

This woman kids you not about being a fighter. As much as Barack is charasmatic in person, Hillary is a spitfire in person. She made reference in her speech about getting knocked down and not staying down--we all know what that was reference to.

Barack's address in its entirety:

Hillary's address Part 1:

Hillary's address Part 2:

Hillary's Address Part 3:

Hillary's Address Part 4:

Hillary's Address Part 5:

Hillary's Address Part 6:

What I will say is, no matter what your political affiliation is and no matter who the candidate near you is, GO SEE HIM OR HER. Even if you don't share the same ideological beliefs, it certainly makes the election feel more personal. I have always had a high interest in politics, but seeing it live makes it feel that much more like its happening in YOUR back yard.

The Answer

2008-04-04T09:12:00.000-05:00

Click Here for the answer!

Crazy, huh?

I'd love to hear what you think! Would you stay? Does this change your image of this brand? Leave me a comment and let me know. :)

Want to play a game?

2008-04-02T21:08:00.002-05:00

Ok, play along with me here. It'll be fun, trust me.

If you would, I'd oh so greatly appreciate it if you would leave a comment with your guess. :)

Ready?

Guess which major US hotel chain these rooms belong to.

If you already know the answer, shhhhh! Don't tell (but do leave a comment letting me know you know the answer). :)

Sandals Regency La Toc Tips

2008-04-02T21:00:00.002-05:00

A few tips for those going to Regency:

1) If you go to the tour desk, they have door hangers that get you 10% off at the spa. Just bring it with you to your appointment.

2) There are all types of pools at the Regency—if you’re looking for action, head down to the main pool. If you’re looking for UBER quiet, head to the Pitons pool right next door to the Pitons restaurant. I don’t think many people even knew about that pool. If you’re looking for the swim up bars/waterfalls, etc, but still looking for quiet (and proximity to your butler), head for the pool on the bluffs.

3) I really wouldn’t waste my time going into Castries to shop. IMO, St.Lucia is not a shopping destination, and if you’re looking for souvenir/art work type of stuff, you’ll find better stuff from the local vendors that come onto property on Fridays. The only thing that you may want to check out is the duty free mall, but again—most of the time, I don’t go on vacation for the duty free shopping and you are looking at about $20 round trip+tip in cab service, so you’ll need to weigh whether or not it’s worth it to you. Also, if you’re like us and like to buy local hot sauces/foods/liquors, you will probably be able to find most of it at the resort shop. Of course, it’s marked up, but again-it’s $20 RT+Tip for a cab, so you’ll need to figure if you think you’ll get your money’s worth by going into town.

4) Sandals has a program called “Soon Come Back” (yea, we didn’t get it either) in which if you put a deposit on your next visit, you not only get a big discount, but all get extra perks like resort credits. The deposit has the same terms as the deposit if you book through the website, and they will gladly credit your travel agent for the booking. Just an FYI if you are planning another sandals/beaches vacation (but, it’s important to note that you are on your own for airfare, so I might check with my TA before I leave to see if you would get a better deal if you book a package through them or by using “Soon Come Back”).

5) The best place to watch the sunset is on the sun deck just below the pool on the bluffs. Head there for a killer view, and then head to Armando’s for dinner.

6) If you are booking a room with a plunge pool, as to be placed in the cream-colored rooms that are to the left of the bluffs pool. These rooms face west, so you’ll get a great sunset view (as opposed to the colored rooms, which face North). Also, if you’re looking for privacy, request a room in the middle of the block, as the plunge pools in the first few rooms were viewable from the decks on the bluffs pool.

The beach at the Regency as shot from the Bluffs.

The golf course at Sandals Regency La Toc (and some killer light!).

Butch Stewart's greatest contribution to mankind--the swim up bar.

A couple of the many beautiful waterfalls in the pool at the bluffs.

A Sandals Regency vs. Sandals Grande comparison coming soon. :)

It's a Cool Time to be a North Dakotan!

2008-04-01T11:28:00.002-05:00

And this is no April Fools joke, my friends!

I'm super excited! I have tickets to check out the key note speakers at the North Dakota Democratic Convention. Can you guess who they are?

Yep, that's right--

This is the first time EVER that both Dem presidential candidates have been at the convention.

I am BEYOND excited for Friday night!

Fine, I give in...

2008-03-30T01:13:00.004-05:00

Since childhood, I've been lucky enough to grace the friendly skies with my presence on a fairly frequent basis. In the past, my typical luggage purchases have been of the standard cloth, rolling upright variety, usually in a boring shade of black. Unfortunately, though, they just don't hold up like I'd like them to--my latest set (a mid-range, highly rated set) has lasted exactly a year! That's a rather dismal shelf life, in my book.

So, on to something bigger and better. This set was a bit more of an investment, but I'm hoping it pays off. I am going with a hardsided bag praying that it will hold up a bit better than my past sets have. Suprisingly, these are pretty light weight as well. In fact, more light weight than most of the comparable cloth uprights I've been checking out! Additionally, a little known tidbit is that hardsided bags also usually have the benefit of more space due to the rounded nature of the bags--big bonus for Ashley.

Also, as I'm sure is the case with many frequent fliers, I am SO over looking for my bags as they fly passed on the luggage carousel. Lifting bags that aren't yours just to find out they aren't yours SUCKS (although, I will freely admit that my husband is usually the one doing the lifting). ;) Regardless, this time I went with something a bit more.....distinctive.

Behold:

Something tells me finding these beauties will be a bit less of an issue than my standard black uprights of the past. ;)

The Resort

2008-03-29T00:12:00.002-05:00

After arriving by Chopper at the Castries airport, we were picked up and transferred to Sandals Regency via dodge viper. Our driver was terrific, and the transfer was quick and easy. I actually think he provided more information in the 10 minutes we were in his car than we received anywhere else—super cool.

Upon reaching Sandals, we were immediately transferred up to the bluff to meet our Butler. Check-in took place in the room and was quick and painless. The room was beautiful and the view was killer. I believe it was the Romeo and Juliet one bedroom ocean-view suite.
The butler service was awkward at first, but works in your favor—especially when it comes to getting reservations at the restaurants (I think a concierge level room would work in much the same way). Every day, we had afternoon appetizers waiting for us, and it was nice to have someone to deal with cab drivers, etc for you.

The resort itself was GORGEOUS. The grounds were amazing and the pools were some of the best we’d seen. We actually felt that the food was pretty good—not as good as a cruise, in most cases, but really quite delicious. A few of the meals were above cruise-level—Kimonos, La Toc, and Gordan’s at the Grande. We ate at all of the restaurants except for Pavilion for dinner, and we had ZERO complaints—they were all great. Lunch and breakfast were served, either at Armando’s, or at the Pavilion (or of course in your room via room service), and both were delicious.

Service at the resort was great in the bluffs and good elsewhere. We heard many Canadians/Americans complaining, but it’s very important to remember that you are NOT in the US/Canada and not every country has the same culture we do. We actually really appreciate Caribbean culture and find we are much more relaxed when we are down there due to the slow pace of life. However, putting aside the fact that we prefer the slow pace of life, we didn’t find the service to be an inconvenience at all, and felt we were treated well at the resort.

Checking out the sunset from the bluffs.

The view off our balcony.

The bluffs pool,

The beach looking up towards the bluffs.

The Regency at dusk.

Regency tips coming soon. :)

http://www.sandals.com/

Deal Alert

2008-03-26T22:15:00.004-05:00

$99 a night, all-inclusive in a suite at the brand spanking new Ocean Coral & Turquesa by H10 in the Riviera Maya.

AND book 7 nights or more and get a $200 flight credit and a $100 American Express gift card!

Go! And then come back and let us know how you liked the resort. :)

Offer valid March 24-July 6, Aug 21-Nov 15. $109 rate from Nov 16-Dec 26. Book by 3/31 for the extras (gift cards, air credits).

http://hotels.bookit.com/mexico/cancun/oceancoralallinclusiveresort/

Random Tip

2008-03-25T21:27:00.006-05:00

It's time to start putting the ridiculous amount of travel reading I do to good use--Welcome to random tips. :)

Random Tip #1:

Avoid Spills in Your Toiletry Kit
"Cut up plastic grocery bags into little squares and place them under the tops of toiletries to prevent leaks. Discard the squares upon arrival, but bring extras for the trip back."

Arthur Frommer's Budget Travel, November 2005

Soufriere

2008-03-24T11:18:00.004-05:00

As part of a promotion at the time we booked, we got two free tickets to the Soufriere adventure cruise. This is basically a catamaran trip (booze cruise) down the west coast of the island to Soufriere. In Soufriere, you do the drive-in volcano, the botanical gardens/diamond falls, and eat lunch at a local restaurant. As a note, I detest group tours which stems from sometime around 2nd grade and a trip to France. So, keep that in mind when reading the following information.

The booze cruise portion was lots of fun and I would highly recommend it (the Spirit of Carnival), but I wasn’t crazy about the volcano or the gardens tour. The Volcano tour itself was fine, but I wouldn’t do it again, as I didn’t really feel there was much to see and it smelt BAD. Like I was gagging bad. The botanical gardens were SUPER boring, IMO. Diamond Falls was nice to see at the end, but you can’t swim in it or anything so you just walk by it, single file with the other 100 people that are with you. Eh.

Lunch was REALLY good. Local food at a local bed and breakfast—plantains, jerk, rum cake, etc. It well exceeded my expectations. The name of the restaurant was the Qualibou Restaurant & Bar, and you may want to check it out, not only for the local food, but for the KILLER views of Soufriere, the sea, and the Pitons.

I highly recommend you go to Soufriere —pictures do not do the beauty of this town justice and it’s very “classic Caribbean.” If you dig Carib culture, you’ll dig Soufriere. J However, I might find another way to do it. Ideally, I would charter a sail boat down there from Castries down to Soufriere and take cabs to the places I wanted to go. I think it would be a great combo of being able to experience the town, experience the west coast by sea, and skipping the group tour crap.

The hubs and I with the Pitons in the background.

Me in front of Diamond Falls.

The hubs at the restaurant overlooking the Pitons.

The Volcano.

Enjoying the view and the sunshine on the way back to Castries.

It’s a woman’s prerogative…

2008-03-18T17:20:00.003-05:00

To change her mind. ;) I completely recognize how incredibly lame my first St. Lucia post was, so I’m going to combine the review with photos. I’ve added some to the Chopper Post.

Next stop: St. Lucia in general.

First of all, let me just say that we spent 22 hours travelling to St. Lucia and 22 hours returning from St. Lucia. We unequivocally thought it was worth it.
St. Lucia is one of the most visually stunning islands we’ve ever been to (and we’ve been to quite a few). Think Hawaii without the development and tons of Caribbean charm. Rainbows, waterfalls, lush mountains, beaches—all of it.

Enjoy some landscapes from beautiful St. Lucia.

Deal Alert

2008-03-18T11:07:00.002-05:00

As an after-effect of the fantastic discussion we had regarding travel, money, and manners, per Courtney's request, I am going to start posting some of the better deals I find. I apologize, as these may not apply to everyone, but I hope at least someone gets some use out of them.

The first deal to grace this blog is a Northwest Airlines sale for $50 off a $250+ ticket when you use your paypal account.

Click Here for the necessary details.

TravelZoo Contest

2008-03-17T19:37:00.003-05:00

I promise more (and more interesting) St. Lucia posts coming soon, but at the moment I'm not feeling too well. In the mean time, check out a new travel-related contest sponsored by TravelZoo. :) LOTS of opportunities to win tons of cool trips, and even some cash. :)

Click on the link below! Good luck!

http://www.winthetop20.com/index.php?Plink=L1205800493673250627

St. Lucia Part 1

2008-03-12T22:07:00.008-05:00

First up, the chopper ride to Castries. :)

I definitely recommend taking the helicopter one way, but only one way. It was great to see the island from the sky, and super convenient (12 minutes vs. a very windy hour and a half). I only recommend one way, though, if you are a first-timer because there is much to see on the drive. We did the chopper on the way in and the drive on the way out, which worked out really well for us. It allowed us to get to our resort quickly after a long day of travel, and allowed us to have daylight the whole way for the drive.

As an additional note, I’m a pilot and have a four-year degree in an aviation field of study, and can tell you that I felt the operation was very safe. Our pilot regularly used his checklists and followed all ATC instructions. I also found him to be highly professional and knowledgeable in the island.

Check out the aviation geek's gigantic grin!

So Flippin' Excited!

One of the many beautiful panorama's from the sky!

http://www.stluciahelicopters.com/

The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly

2008-03-09T19:26:00.004-05:00

Good: I'm tan, relaxed, and had an amazing time!

The Bad: It's high season for air traffic--lots of overcongestion. It took us 2 1/2 hours last night to collect our luggage (just standing there waiting!) in Atlanta for our overnight stopover.

The Ugly: It's -6 degrees F here at home.

More coming soon!

My bags are packed and I'm ready to go...

2008-02-27T23:57:00.003-06:00

My favorite sundresses, the sunglasses, flipflops and dive gear are all packed, and come Friday, we're outta here!

See you in March! :)

Roundtable

2008-02-19T22:55:00.007-06:00

Ok, dear readers. It’s time for our first-ever roundtable discussion.

Since my husband and I recently got back from our wedding and honeymoon, and are now embarking again out into the wild blue yonder, I’ve been fielding the same question over and over and over—particularly from those I work with (since they know I will be taking time off from work soon). What is it, you ask?

“How do you afford to travel so often?”

I have many-a-thought on this topic.

A) When did it become socially acceptable to ask people what they do with their money? I do not ask you how you can afford that brood of children….or the car you drive…or the home you live in…or your smoking habit. Why? Because it is none of my business.

B) What exactly are they looking for in an answer? Is it just a rhetorical question meant to belittle the way you spend your money vs. the way they do, or do they want a day-by-day breakdown of my expenditures?

C) Of all the times I've been asked this question, I can only recall being asked this once by someone of "my generation." The rest have been a generation or two older than me. Is this a generational thing? Is it a regional thing that can be attributed to living in a relatively conservative part of the country?

When asked, I am always taken aback--no matter how many times I've been asked the question. Once I regroup, I always stutter through the standard, “Oh, it’s just a priority for us—we choose to spend our money there rather than elsewhere.” There are usually alternative responses running through my smartas*sed mind that I’d love to give ("I deal drugs on the weekends."), but have resisted the urge thus far. ;)

Anyway, back to the roundtable. I’d love to hear your thoughts on this. Am I overly sensative? Am I missing something? I’ve included some polls below, and please feel free to add additional comments in the comments section.

Take the poll

Free Poll by Blog Flux

Sun Rocks

2008-02-13T23:00:00.000-06:00

I'm.In.Love!

Santorini is one of my "dream vacations." The hubby and I have been thisclose to going a couple of times, but both were over our spring break from school, and it just seemed tough to swing what we wanted to do in 7 days, with two of those completely consumed by travel from the midwest.

However, we are planning a little Euro jaunt next summer, and this little gem is definitely on our possibility list!

Check out Sun Rocks, a gorgeous caldera couples-only hotel in Thira. Beyond the rates, I really don't have much to say--I'll let the pictures speak for themselves. Rates start at 200 Euros/night.

http://www.thirahotels.com/SunRocks_hotel.htm

Spending QT with a FAB hotel!

2008-02-11T22:12:00.000-06:00

NYC is notoriously expensive. Oh, but not anymore my friends. Well, not anymore by New York City standards, that is.

Anyway, without getting into any inappropriate references, I will tell you that this hotel excites me! Behold Hotel QT.

Located in midtown, besides the amazing design, the coolest feature of this super cool hotel is the lobby pool, with underwater sound system and swim-up bar.

Rates start at about $300 per night.

http://www.hotelqt.com/onsite.htm

Interesting Article.

2008-02-09T17:15:00.001-06:00

I, for one, had absolutely no idea...Just thought I would share with you.

___________________________________

http://www.frommers.com/blog/2008/02/we-are-about-to-advertise-delights-of.html

We are about to advertise the delights of visiting the U.S.A. while at the same time adopting constant measures to keep foreigners out

In Washington, D.C. this past week, I heard a lot of talk about the probability that the new session of Congress will set up a public-private organization spending $200 million dollars a year to promote and market incoming travel to the United States. According to various estimates, the United States has lost as much as 20% of the foreign tourists that were visiting our country each year prior to September 11.

That decline has cost us tens of billions of dollars in economic income, nearly similar amounts in taxes, and hundreds of thousands of jobs.

And how would such advertising increase our incoming tourism? Surely, foreigners are already aware of our nation's attractions and of how cheap it is for them to enjoy a stay; the weak U.S. dollar has made us into a staggering bargain. The reason they are not coming here is not a lack of marketing but because we have made the visit into a procedural nightmare.

To visit the U.S.A., most foreign citizens must apply for a visa, in person, at a U.S. consulate in their country, undergoing an interview by a consular official and sometimes traveling hundreds of miles to the consulate. Just to apply for such an interview often takes two months and the payment of $131 per visa, to be paid whether or not the visa is issued. If it is denied, you are out the $131.

In conducting the interview, some consular officials are more concerned with heading off illegal immigration than with thwarting terrorism. In Panama two months ago, I met an educated, English-speaking woman who has a fine job in a Latin American corporation. She has never been able to obtain a visa to visit her sister in California because she fits the profile -- young, single -- of a possible illegal immigrant.

Every month, one or another department in our government erects another barrier to incoming tourism, without consulting any other department having broader responsibilities. The recent increase in the visa fee to $131 was a typical misguided decision by someone in the State Department, who should have been reducing the fee rather than raising it. Not a single terrorist will be deterred by the extra $31 added to the former $100 fee.

This month, the Department of Homeland Security has confronted millions of Canadian motorists with the need to show a birth certificate in order to drive over the U.S./Canada border to go shopping. Not a single terrorist will be thwarted from entering by this need to obtain an easily forged document -- but millions of Canadians will decide that they can put off that shopping trip.

Recently, the Department of Homeland Security has required that even those foreigners who need not obtain visas (because they are in a "visa waiver" country) must provide the Department, 72 hours in advance of arrival, with a proposed itinerary for that trip. What will be done with that itinerary has never been explained, nor has anyone suggested that we have the manpower to check on whether foreigners adhere to their itineraries. After the foreigner provides this wholly absurd piece of paper, they then must be fingerprinted -- all ten digits -- upon clearing U.S. immigration at their arrival airport. Imagine how you would feel if you faced such procedures on a trip to London or Rome.

And I could go on and on. What's needed is not additional marketing dollars, but a dynamic official in our government appointed to a prominent position and given the responsibility of representing our touristic interests with respect to the State Department and the Department of Homeland Security. We need someone constantly questioning whether these random acts of nuisance by State Department and Homeland Security bureaucrats are unnecessarily harming our economic interests while creating no tools at all for combating terrorism.

No one in our government is presently performing that role as a champion of tourism. Instead, we are about to appropriate money to encourage foreigners to visit a country that is working hard to keep them out.

Wow.

2008-02-07T21:12:00.000-06:00

That is really all I have to say about the design of this hotel. Every square inch is so incredibly visually striking that I want to stay here and just stare at stuff. Be still my little heart....

This, my friends, is the G Hotel in Galway, Ireland.

Rates start at 250 Euros.

http://www.theghotel.ie/g/

Palm Springs Perfection

2008-02-04T20:15:00.000-06:00

Looking for a unique getaway with tons of character?

You must check out the uber chic Viceroy Palm Springs. This place is amazingly beautiful and stylish! Plus, it has tons of history--past visitors include F.D.R., Bing Crosby, Clark Gable, and Joan Crawford!

I'm not entirely sure these pictures do this gorgeous hotel justice, so be sure to check out the website.

Rates start at about $319/night.

http://www.viceroypalmsprings.com/index.html

Perfect Prague

2008-02-03T20:42:00.000-06:00

Hailed as one of the most beautiful cities in Europe, Prague is alos one of the most affordable cities in Europe (though that distinction is gradually slipping away, so get there!).

While not traditionally the type of hotel I feature on this blog, I had to share the ultra-romantic, ultra-Euro Alchymist Grand Hotel & Spa.

Remember what I said about Prague being inexpensive? Well, it doesn't exactly apply to this hotel. ;) At a starting rate of 580 Euros a night, it's a wee bit on the steep side. But, fun to look at, right?

Prop Heads, Unite!

2008-02-02T00:44:00.000-06:00

What? Just me? Hmmmmm...Ok, well, I'm going to tell you about my excitement of the day anyway, because even if you aren't an aviation geek, it may be useful. :)

As you can tell from the previous post, we are (quite literally) gearing up for a trip to St. Lucia in less than one month! (::screaming with excitement!::)

Annnywhoo...

If you're familiar with the Caribbean, you are certainly familiar with the driving culture there. It's occasionally--how do I say this gently-- a little on the scary side. Wellll....

If you need to get from Hewanorra airport in south St. Lucia to pretty much anywhere on the island, there is a much more fun way to do it.

www.stluciahelicopters.com offers transfer service via chopper for about $120 pp, which is rather reasonable if you consider it a transfer/tour combined. You take a nice cruise over the island, while cutting your transfer time from about an hour and a half to about 10 minutes (to Castries).

I booked transfers as a Valentine's Day gift to my husband and my stomach knots with excitement every time I think about it! (I told you--aviation geek) I cannot WAIT!
Another new post below.

St. Lucia Shopping Spree

2008-02-01T01:02:00.000-06:00

Somone save me from my debit card!

(Stace, I apologize for the surfer chic heartattack I'm about to give you). ;)

Do I have a problem if this is the third color I purchased this dress in (see day before photos)?

This book is on the New York Times Best Seller list, and is about one man's search for the happiest place on Earth.

The first in the series of the Sand in My Bra books (I read More Sand in my Bra on the way to my honeymoon).

Travel tips for women. :)

Short stories written by some of the world's best female travel writers.

The basic black bikini.

Basic black flip-flops.

New rashguard for all the diving we are going to do (can't freaking wait!)

Cutie Patootie Sundress. :)

The Day Before Shoot

2008-01-30T22:50:00.000-06:00

I've been putting off sharing photos with you b/c I felt like I had to do it like a "normal" blog entry--lots of explanations/lots of pictures. So, instead, I'm ditching the explanation part, and going with the pictures alone. :) Enjoy. :)

Day Before Photo Shoot

www.artoflightphoto.com

South Beach, Miami Beach, FL

Did you say NINE?

2008-01-29T00:51:00.000-06:00

Yep, that's right. NINE beaches, many of them completely private. Add that to over-water bungalow's and Bermuda's most casual environment and you've got an Ashley paradise. ;)

To top it off, rooms are pretty affordable. Rates starting at $170 per night.

http://9beaches.blogspot.com/

http://www.9beaches.com/

Not THOSE arches...

2008-01-29T00:13:00.000-06:00

Thanks to blogger's issues, I can't be sitting good with my 2 posts per week average New Years resolution, so I'm tossing out another one for tonight. :) (Another new post below)

Ladies and gentlemen, check out this adorableness! :) The Arches Boutique Hotel in Barbados.

This adorable, adults-only hotel would be an AMAZING location to hold a wedding (pacakages are very reasonable) due to the killer view and the incredible roof-top reception location, Cafe Luna.

If you're just looking for a getaway, you'll still get to enjoy the killer sunset views, the nearby championship golf, and the on-property yacht (yes, you read that correctly).

Rates start at $192 per night!

Go!

http://www.littlearches.com/index.php?CurrentPage=9&UserKind=1

And I'm warning you--Expect to see lots of warm weather posts in the next few days. ;) It was a decent day here today, but over night, the weather is supposed to take a 50 degree 180, so I'm desperate for some sunshine in my life....1 month until we're on a plane to St. Lucia. :)

I can finally share Ku with you!

2008-01-28T18:20:00.000-06:00

I've been trying to blog this adorable little hotel for you since last thursday, and Blogger has JUST NOW accepted my images! Frusterating, I tell you!

Anyway, Ku, owned by it's sister luxury resort, Cap Jaluca is the perfect alternative for an affordable, yet boutiquey stay in stunning Anguilla. The hotel is an all-suite hotel and is decorated in charming island decor. :)

Rates start at $160 and meal plans can be purchased for $105 USD.

http://ku-anguilla.com/ku_hotel.htm

Sand In My Bra

2008-01-22T22:44:00.000-06:00

Ladies, we've all been there, right?

But, that's not the point of my post. ;) I'm writing to tell you about a little series that started with a book entitled Sand in My Bra.

I picked up More Sand in My Bra (I like to live on the edge and read out of order, ok?!) before leaving on my honeymoon. It sat on my coffee table for a week before I left and I could not WAIT to delve into it.

It completely lived up to my expectations as a fun, lighthearted airport read. The books are collections of short stories written from a comedic standpoint about travel stories by women (with the exception of What Color is Your Jockstrap?) and are written by big names in travel writing and even big names in main stream comedy.

I had a lot of fun with this book and finished it before I even reached CUN! Absolutely worth picking up for your next airport experience & I will definitely be picking up another from the series before St. Lucia. :)

What Can I Get for a Dollar?

2008-01-19T13:54:00.000-06:00

Sadly, not much anymore.

With the decline of the greenback, American explorers are facing an ever-increasing travel price tag. So, where to go, where to go....

In the most recent issue, Conde' Nast Traveler featured a list of places where the American dollar still yields a decent vale.

The List (in order of the best exchange rates):

Costa Rica

Laos

Egypt

Cambodia

Mexico

Vietnam

Panama

Barbados

Jordan

Read, Lounge, Love

2008-01-16T20:18:00.000-06:00

That is pretty much how my honeymoon went down (with some eating, boozing, and diving thrown in).

One of the things I enjoyed most about my honeymoon was having the downtime to read for FUN. (Trust me--when you're a grad student, this is rare). So, after a recommendation from my friend Rachel, I dug into Eat, Pray, Love.

I don't want to give much of the "plot" (it's non-fiction) away, but I highly recommend picking it up. Since you read this blog, I presume you have some interest in travel, so I have a feeling you'll enjoy it. :) The three main settings of the book are Italy, India, and Bali--the rest you can gather from Amazon.com. ;) Enjoy!

Speaking of Bourdain..

2008-01-14T23:31:00.000-06:00

He featured this very cool hotel on his show last night!

The owner, artist and designer, Lars Stroschen calls it a museum you can sleep in. He is not kidding, friends.

Each room in this incredible Berlin "hotel" (Stroschen commented that he only calls it a hotel because German law requires it since you can sleep there) is unique. I'm not going to lie--there are a few that are a little scary (think coffins and cages as beds), but there are some incredibly sexy, unique, beautiful, and even cozy rooms as well. Trust me--it's absolutely worth the 15 minutes of your time to peek at each room on the website.

To top it off, it is ridiculously affordable. Rooms range from 79 Euros to 190 Euros a night (with most of the lying in the lower range) and special rates can be had for midweek stays.

http://www.propeller-island.com/rooms_neu/room_detail/01/index.php

Bourdain-ophiles...

2008-01-14T21:53:00.000-06:00

Yep, I made up my own word. But, in watching the one show that my husband and I never ever miss, I got a little inspiration. Actually a lot of inspiration, which is something I have been lacking lately (hence the lack of posts). Slowly, but surely, though, the wedding fog is lifting, and it's all coming back. So. here's the first of what I hope to be a string of posts to help bring me closer to my new year's resolution of getting my blog average up to 2 posts a week. :)

One topic that we haven't discussed much here is TV. Reading, yes, but TV, no. In reality, though, in modern America, I think it’s safe to say that we get our “fixes” of whatever it is that we love from TV more than the written word. For me, that’s travel.

So, dear readers, I present to you my addiction...

Anthony Bourdain's No Reservations.

It is that show for us--the one that causes our world to pause, if only for an hour. Pathetic? A little. But, at least I'm honest. ;)

Anyway, for those of you that are not familiar, No Reservations airs on the Travel Channel at 9:00 pm CST on Monday nights (and encore presentations run throughout the week at various times—hit up the travel channel’s website for the schedule). Anthony (Tony) Bourdain is a rather smartassed, but incredibly real former chef who somehow ended up in the world of travel. If you are looking for a little comedy (in unscripted, smartassed sense of humor type of way) and a lot of real, honest travel information, this is the show for you. Bourdain has absolutely no issues telling you something sucks (he crushed my dreams of going to the birthplace of Pina Coladas in San Juan when he visited the restaurant and reported that it was actually a spinning frozen drink maker) and will expose you to things you've never seen before, particularly in the area of food.

In short, he avoids tourist traps and seeks out booze.

What more could a traveler ask for? ;)

A Look Ahead--2008 Will Surely Be Great!

2008-01-08T19:39:00.001-06:00

Cheesy title aside, I am really looking forward to 2008. :) Read on if you'd like to learn a bit more. :)

January and February should be fabulously low key! We've had a busy few months and are looking forward to only having school and our marriage to focus on. :)

At the end of February/Early March, we're off to St. Lucia, where we'll spend 8 glorious days in Castries at Sandals Regency. We are really looking forward to diving like maniacs and enjoying the lushness of this stunning island!

In may, I'm planning my first race with my mom. :) The may timetable will mean that I can begin training immediately after our return for St. Lucia (instead of the mid march option which would have mean the peak of my training would have been in St. Lucia, which, lets face it--wouldn't have happened.)

Summer 2008 will bring with it a long weekend in Napa and San Francisco! We're beyond excited because we're going to get to spend some great QT in the California sunshine with our friends Rachel & Jack and Mike!

In Fall of 2008, its looking like I will be on the east coast with some friends for a girl trip. :) I'm excited to visit an east coast city I haven't made my way to yet! (Can you name the city?)

And finally, in December of 2008, my husband and I will be embarking on our anniversary adventure. Nothing is set in stone yet, but our current #1 pick is a cruise through Hawaii. I've been to Hawaii twice, but my husband has never been, so I'm excited to share "my" place with him!

As for my resolutions, I'm not a big resolution girl. In fact, this is probably the first year that I've actually set some resolutions, so I'm keeping it simple:

1) Run at least one race to completion with my mom (and hopefully more than one!)

2) Rid myself of toxic friendships.

3) Learn to use chopsticks.

4) Have my blogging average at 2 blogs/week by the end of the year (it's currently at .7).

I think I can, I think I can, I think I can. :)

So, 2008 should bring no shortage of travel, no shortage of adventure, and no shortage of fun. It's our first full year of marriage, my second semester of grad school, my first year not being a solely fork-using girl, and my 25th year on this earth.

It should be fantastic. ;)

2007--The Year in Review

2008-01-02T11:05:00.000-06:00

2007 has been a wonderful year--I can only hope 2008 brings as many accomplishments and as much joy! Here's a brief recap of 2007 in the life of Ashley. :)

January and February were cold, as usual, so come March, we blew this place like a cheap flip flop. Miami where we met up with our wonderful friends Chrissy and Jess, San Juan, St. Thomas, and St. Maarten were our destinations of choice and life could not have been any better. This trip also introduced us to the wonderful world of diving.

April is usually a lull month for us as we recover from March's trip, finish out school and prep for finals, which brings us to May and a major life accomplishment. (Oh, and in case you're wondering where my aviation/airline background comes from, I actually hold a B.B.A. with a major in Airport Management). :)

The Summer of 2007 was a busy one, and we got to spend some time with friends, got to see my mom run her first 5K (I hope to join her this year), added a new little addition to our family (a bunny, not a person!), and got SCUBA certified.

Fall, as you know, was insane. I started graduate school, got my advanced dive certification in Portsmouth, MN, and, of course, finished up those last few months and before my wedding, including my last tea and krumpets with my girls. ;)

Which brings us to November and the biggest life event of the year (and our lives thus far)--our wedding. (I have my professional photos so a day three recap is coming soon!)

www.artoflightphoto.com

In December, we got the pleasure of enjoying some VERY expensive Executive Suite hockey tickets for the biggest game of the year. Unfortunately, we lost, but it was fun anyway (hello--there was free booze!). ;)

Then, it was off to our super fabulous honeymoon in Playa del Carmen (recap from that coming soon too!)

Immediately upon our return, we headed north for Christmas with my family, and on 12/29, my parents hosted a reception locally so that we could celebrate with friends and family who were unable to make the trip to the wedding. I don't have any pictures yet, but as soon as I do, I promise to share. :)

2008 promises to be an exciting and well-traveled year--A look-ahead coming soon!

Hope you all had a very happy and blessed holiday season and thank you for sharing your internet time with me! I have lots of super fabulous travel info saved up to share with you!

And we're off!

2007-12-13T22:47:00.000-06:00

We're off to Playa del Carmen for our honeymoon! "See" you after Christmas!

Happy Holidays from the new Mr. & Mrs.!

www.artoflightphoto.com

Day 4--Chillin'

2007-12-09T20:26:00.000-06:00

I'm going to bypass day three until we get our professional photos. I have a feeling that I will be able to do a much better job of telling the story with them, and that way, we can avoid repeats. :) In the mean time, here's a little something to hold you over. The beautiful Compass Point in all its glory.

Not many photos from Day 4 because everyone was exhausted from the party the night before. My husband and I didn't even roll out of bed until about noon, and spent most of the rest of the day relaxing by the pool.

In the afternoon, we went to a talent show featuring my SUPER adorable cousins. :) They were fantastic (they are both very talented gymnists) and just FAR too cute. :) I don't feel comfortable posting pictures of children here, but here's a picture of one of our guests who was seriously FREAKED out by Funship Freddie. ;)

After the talent show, we got dressed for dinner and headed to the comedy show which was, truthfully, sub par compared to what we were used to with Carnival, but it was just another opportunity to spend some time with our guests, which we loved.

Other than that, sadly, this is all the pictures we have from day 4. Everyone was nursing hangovers and prepping for their return home.

Day 3 & reviews coming soon.

In the mean time, my husband and I will be finishing out our finals and heading off on our honeymoon in Playa del Carmen. :)

Day 2--Shape Up or Ship Out

2007-12-03T19:16:00.000-06:00

Day two started out with my hubby and I doing our saucy "day after" pictures the day before. Unfortunately, I don't have any of those to show you, but I promise as soon as I do, I'll share. :)

After that, we loaded up our guests into a couple of busses and headed out to the Port of Miami.
After waiting in line, we were informed by Carnival that we were VIPs and supposed to be in the considerably shorter line (no one gave us this information), and consequently, we would have to wait while they hunted down our sail and sign cards. No biggie. We're on vacation. :)

After finally getting our cards and getting on board the ship, we were greeted with the faces of some of the guests we hadn't seen yet. Nearly all of our 51 guests culminated around the pool. It was a fun and exciting time--the booze was flowing, the reggae was blaring, the sun was shining, and we were surrounded by all of the people we love.

About an hour and a half later than it was supposed to be, it was time for the Muster drill. Now, if you've cruised before, you know that it's completely "against the rules" (Disclaimer: Do as I say, not as I do--the muster drill is very important to pay attention to so that you are prepared in case of emergency) to show up at the drill sober. Ashley arriving sober for the drill has never happened, and probably will never happen. It's just the way it is. I accept it for what it is, and you should too. I’ll let these photos speak for themselves. ;)

Following an appointment in the spa for a mani and pedi, we met up with our guests for dinner, followed by and 80's review show.
After this, my husband and I parted ways, only to be reunited at the "alter" at 4:00 pm the following day.

Day 1--Party in the City Where the Heat is On!

2007-12-03T10:12:00.000-06:00

It's that time--time to recap our recent travels for our wedding. :) We were so incredibly blessed to have 51 of our nearest and dearest join us for the trip of a lifetime and be by our side for the biggest day of our lives to date. Before we get to that, though, we needed to get to Miami.

Day 1 started off bright and early for us. We jumped an early am flight out to the nearest hub, where we met up with about 1/3 of our guests. We met in a bar at the airport and got the party started. ;) Who needs to wait for noon--we thought that 9 am was clearly sufficient. Yes, those are screwdrivers in front of us (We'll have a double, please). ;)

We hopped our direct flight down to Miami and got in at about 3:00 (except for my brother and sister who got rerouted to Newark and wouldn't arrive until about 8:00 pm, sans luggage of course). First stop: the beach. One of our best men had never seen the ocean, so it was an incredibly cool experience to take him there and see the sense of awe in his eyes.

Next, we headed back to our hotel (The Courtyard by Marriott South Beach) where we sat by the rooftop pool and enjoyed a few cold bud lights.

At about 8:15, we headed down to lincoln road where we enjoyed a good dinner at the Soprano cafe with about 20 of our guests. Great food, good drinks, great conversation. :)

Then, it was off to a local sports bar to meet up with a few more of our guests. Joey wasn't able to join me for this as his dad, step mom, and brother were scheduled to arrive, but we had a great time none-the-less.

Then, it was off to slumberland for the soon-to-be newlyweds as we had a beach photo shoot at 6:45 am.

Day 2 coming soon. Reviews coming after the full recap. :)

Down Mexico Way

2007-11-18T16:25:00.000-06:00

Well, folks--this will be my last blogging hurrah before my wedding. :) We leave early Thursday morning, and I'll be back with a full review sometime midweek next week. :)

To hold you over until then, check out this AMAZING hotel in Mexico.

The Hacienda Uayaman is located on the Yucatán peninsula in Campeche and would be an INCREDIBLE location for a wedding or a honeymoon! Hotels.com indicates that prices start at $261 a night. And, as a little bonus, this beauty is actually owned by Starwood, so if you are a member, you get to earn points on it as well. :)

A beautiful suite.

An outdoor bathtub.

Check out the pool!

The restaurant terrace.

And last, but certainly not least--the wedding chapel. How amazing would this be?!

http://www.starwoodhotels.com/luxury/property/overview/index.html?propertyID=1376&arrivalDate=2008-05-15&departureDate=2008-05-20&lengthOfStay=5&reservationTotalCost=&roomOccupancyTotal=02&flag1=&rateCategoryCode=&ratePlanCurrencyCode=&rateFrequency=&roomTypeCode=&roomBedCode=&roomRate=&numberOfAdults=02&smokingPreference=&city=&stateProvince=null&country=MX&postalCode=&metroCode=&hotelLocationType=&pOI=&PagingKey=&requestedChainCode=LC&requestedAffiliationCode=LC&goToRooms=no&diffOfCount=-1&rateS=&totalCost=&ratePlanName=&numberOfRooms=01&countOfPaging=0&promoCode=&fromRes=FR&okRate=Y&averageRate=&bn=luxury&rcc=&rac=&bedColor=false&smokeColor=false&rateColor=false&iataColor=false&wheelColor=false&adultColor=false&bid=lx&wheelchairPreference=0&count=0&countOfPages=1&countPosition=0&totalCount=0&fromPage=23XX&roomBedCodeDis=&ratePlanNameDis=&roomSharers%7C0%7CguestFirstName=&roomSharers%7C0%7CguestLastName=&rateCodeDetailsIndicator=Y&fromSearch=11XX&maximumReservationRooms=9&promotionCode=&corporateAccountNumber=&rcdi=&starwoodPreferredGuest=&fromPR=PR&sortingOrder=&iATANumber=&ratePlanID=&LaunchLocation=&ratesortSelect

38% of Canadians View G.W. as a Bigger Threat to World Peace Than Osama Bin Laden

2007-10-28T00:56:00.000-05:00

I'm serious.

Read on.

(2nd part in a series I am featuring from MSN travel on the view of American travelers abroad).

____________________

How American Travelers Are Viewed Abroad: Canada

By Diane Vadino

http://travel.msn.com/Guides/article.aspx?cp-documentid=426625&page=2

Despite similarities in U.S. and Canadian culture, differing political philosophies and Canadians’ desire to assert their own national identity can lead to tension between geographical neighbors. Second in a series.

It's a gorgeous day in Toronto as Bruce Bell, one of the city's top tour guides, begins to unravel the close, complex and occasionally contentious relationship that exists between his country and its neighbor to the south—separated by what’s commonly (if erroneously) cited as the longest unguarded border in the world.

"When Bill Clinton came to Toronto a couple years ago to do his book signing, people were sleeping outside the bookstore, which was unprecedented," Bell says, as he leads a group of visitors through the city's Yorkville neighborhood, past the spectacularly refashioned entrance to the Royal Ontario Museum—the Michael Lee-Chin Crystal, designed by architect Daniel Libeskind, who is best-known in the U.S. for his work designing the master plan for the former World Trade Center site.

The neighborhood is absolutely buzzing—not just in front of the museum but along the streets and sidewalks of this busy shopping district, home to designer shops such as Gucci and Chanel and at least one small art gallery overflowing with visitors. It's exhibiting work by the Canadian musical icon Leonard Cohen, who’s in town to premiere a new collaboration with American minimalist composer Philip Glass at the city's new all-arts festival, Luminato.

As these architectural and artistic projects suggest, the relationship between the U.S. and Canada has strengthened in recent years. But it’s also been strained at times by American foreign policy and by a new U.S. law requiring both U.S. and Canadian citizens to carry a passport when traveling between the two countries. (Until next summer, this law affects only air travel, a rule that was temporarily relaxed this year after record backlogs at U.S. passport offices.) “We’re still trying to get the American government to change that and resume talks for making a special card for Canadian citizens,” says tour guide Bell. “All our lives we’d never needed a passport to cross the border. We’d always felt that America was our family, and [the new law] kind of hurt our feelings.”

While passport rules may be discouraging some cross-border travel, if there’s any single factor promoting it—at least southward—it’s the robust Canadian currency. As of Sept. 21, the Canadian dollar, known as the loonie, was on par with the American dollar for the first time since 1976—giving Americans traveling internationally yet another opportunity for recoil at the currency exchange, and Canadians a firm incentive to cross the border in search of shopping deals on American products.

The boundaries between American and Canadian tastes and identities are an ongoing point of sensitivity among Canadians. “Whenever a famous Canadian is mentioned in conversation, you’re guaranteed to hear one of the Canadians present say, ‘He's Canadian, you know!’ with pride,” says Stu Wilson, a Vancouver native now living in London. “Especially when the person is part of an industry that’s dominated by Americans, like Steve Nash winning MVP of the NBA.” (The Phoenix Suns point guard was born in South Africa, but raised in British Columbia.)

Among travelers, any confusion can be downright disdained: Witness the popularity of the Canadian backpack adorned with sewn-on maple leafs—rather stridently proclaiming the owner’s citizenship. “I used to wear a Canadian flag on my backpack until I met some Canadians that had them plastered with flags all over,” says Chris Vernon, also from British Columbia. “Now I simply state that I’m from Vancouver.” Wilson adds that he thinks the need for demarcation occasionally goes too far. “I think there's a feeling that Canadians want to distance ourselves from the Americans now more than we have in the past. It’s like Canadians want to make sure everyone knows ‘we're not American’ as the definition of who they are,” Wilson says. “I don't think that's a good thing, and in reality we’re so close to the Americans in cultural and general views that it's a bizarre place to be, when we’re so scared of being lumped in with them.”
Despite those apparent similarities, the Canadian affinity for the U.S. executive branch has dimmed a bit in recent years. (In a 2005 survey, 38% of Canadians ranked President Bush a bigger threat to world peace than Osama bin Laden.) But even the creators of that study pointed out that a significant majority of Canadians (68%) maintain an overall positive impression of Americans as individuals.

However, the countries do feature distinct political philosophies that divide Americans and Canadians ideologically. As filmmaker Michael Moore, among others, has amply pointed out, Canada maintains markedly different views from American policy on public health care, gun control and international relations. (Most notably, though Canadian troops were sent to Afghanistan, where dozens have died, Canadian participation in Iraq has been exceptionally limited.)

Dora, a Canadian attorney and mother who now lives with her American husband and children in Los Angeles, has witnessed this schism firsthand: “Very weird to me is the health-care system [in the U.S.]—all the paperwork, and the hassle of dealing with the insurance companies, and the tragedy of not having insurance,” she says. “For all its faults, the Canadian health-care system, as run by each province, is at least available to all—and no paperwork.” But still, she defends her adopted home: “I cannot partake in much of the anti-American sentiment that floats around Quebec,” she says. “Like a mini-France, they trash-talk the Americans, but they’re all over U.S. goods in the most shameless way … Mickey Mouse or Marc Jacobs or whatever.”

Whether that tension is a variation on all-in-the-family ribbing or evidence of a more profound split may all come down to individual beliefs. But the question remains: Do Canadians and Americans maintain fundamentally different—and maybe utterly irreconcilable—worldviews?

“This is something that is discussed endlessly here,” says Sue, an Ottawa-based editor. “For Canadians, if anything, living beside the U.S. has given us a massive inferiority complex, which we express by making fun of Americans at the drop of a hat and being all smug about the fact that the rest of the world likes us better.” But that’s not the end of the story for her. “I don't really think actual Canadians think they're so different from actual Americans,” she says. “I mean, you're not all a bunch of war-mongering Bible-thumpers, right?”

Diane Vadino writes about fashion, travel and film from her base in Brooklyn, N.Y. Her debut novel, Smart Girls Like Me, was published in October.

God Bless America

2007-10-28T00:25:00.000-05:00

Ok, so we all know it. No matter who we are as individuals, as Americans, we're viewed as the a*sholes of the world.

Yes, foreign friends, we are aware.

But, I promise--we are not all loud. We're not all rude. We're not all obnoxious. And, we're not even all rich! Truth be told, contrary to what many other cultures believe, we are not even all supporters of our fearless leader (no, I am not making a political statement--just dispelling a myth). And, shockingly, many of us do have an interest in cultures other than our own.

But, honestly, I suspect that many-an-American has earned us our fantastic reputation. In reality, it came from somewhere and I am pretty sure the entire rest of the world didn't make it up like a high school rumor.

In an effort to help my fellow American's disband our reputation (good luck to us!), I've found a great new series being featured by MSN travel that fills us in on how, exactly, we're viewed in various countries. The first step is awareness, right?

Regardless of whether or not you think you fit the stereotype of a “typical American tourist”, it really is a fascinating read. I’ll be featuring more from this series on the blog. (It came just in time—I’m in the last 3 weeks of my wedding, so I don’t have a ton of time to blog, but I definitely don’t want to leave you hanging.)

Without further ado, I present to you, the British view of Americans.

Enjoy!

P.S. If we have any non-American readers out there, I'd love to hear your take!

_____________________________

How American Travelers Are Viewed Abroad: The U.K.

By Diane Vadino

http://travel.msn.com/Guides/article.aspx?cp-documentid=388354

The Photo Featured With the Article. ;)

Which affects British perceptions more: Stereotypes of the “ugly American” or our country’s foreign policy? Or is something else at play? First in a series.

Despite the title of the smash TV hit, it may surprise you to learn that American Idol had its genesis in the U.K. But when it comes to cultures crossing boundaries, it’s America that rules the waves. So when you journey overseas, you’re bound to confront strong opinions about the U.S.—our culture, our people and our government. Like it or not, an American abroad is a living symbol of his homeland, and is occasionally held to account for it, from the top of the Eiffel Tower to the base of Ayers Rock. In this series, we’ll explore perspectives about Americans from a variety of countries around the world.

To start, here’s a classic view of the U.S. traveler in Britain: “When I think of American tourists, I think of people in front of the British Museum, yelling across large spaces to each other about how to use their digital cameras,” says Ian Hamilton, a university student in Glasgow. “Or complaining loudly in McDonald’s about how the chips taste in London versus how they taste in America.”

Fortunately, that unflattering view appears to be in the minority, at least among the British people I spoke with. When giving their opinions of American tourists, most were positive—as long as we were talking about an American, in the singular. “When abroad as individuals or couples, Americans are sociable, friendly and generous, but something seems to happen when Americans are abroad in groups,” says Geoff Smith, a British tech worker. “A group of Yanks is loud, raucous, insular and appears to have no interest in the local culture.”

Indeed, solitary travelers conjured up an entirely different reaction than a group of Americans, who were perceived as camera-wielding, Bush-supporting boors. “Universally idiotic; large Hawaiian shirts; large cameras; stupid questions,” says Ian Clifford, a software developer from Nottingham, ticking off the stereotypical qualities of a group of average American tourists. And, says Clifford, these are the more cultured members of U.S. society: “Only 10 percent of Americans have passports. What on earth have you left behind?”

Clifford’s deflated figure isn’t exactly right. According to the U.S. Department of State, more than 25 percent of American citizens have been issued passports, and that number has likely risen since new regulations require more U.S. travelers to carry them. But Clifford’s impression—and the unmistakable antipathy it suggests—haven’t developed in a vacuum. What’s made all the difference is our involvement in Iraq, the predominant political issue of the past four years.

In fact, a new MSN-Zogby poll shows that the vast majority of Americans (89 percent) believe that those in other countries view Americans based on their perception of the United States in general, while just 7 percent say that foreigners’ attitudes are based on their experiences with individual travelers. That suggests that at least according to Americans, it’s policy—rather than stereotypes of U.S. travelers—that contributes more to how they’re seen abroad. (The interactive survey of 10,642 adults nationwide was conducted March 5-7, 2007, and carries a margin of error of +/- 1.0 percentage points.)

Bush’s poodle?

Prime Minister Tony Blair’s continued support of White House policy is another factor that affects how American travelers are viewed in the U.K. Popular British endorsement of the war has dropped from roughly two-thirds in 2003 to 29 percent, according to a BBC survey conducted this March. And to many Brits, the much-vaunted “special relationship” between our two countries was brightly illuminated at last summer’s G8 Summit in Russia. In what became a notorious incident, President Bush greeted the leader of the United Kingdom with “Yo, Blair,” displaying a lack of formality—and, some said, respect—that led to Blair’s being pilloried in the British press as Bush’s “poodle.” That sort of disregard between leaders, some said, reflected an assumed American superiority—as well as a general disrespect of other cultures. "It's like the U.S. is the flash kid in school with the money and great clothes and neat stuff who gets 'wanker' muttered behind their back as they walk down the hall," says Smith. "But they either don't hear or don't care, because they have the money and great clothes and neat stuff."

Of course, not everyone in the U.K. believes that U.S. involvement in Iraq reflects arrogance in world affairs. On a recent trip to London, I changed money at a booth on busy Oxford Street. The clerk asked me where I was from, and I asked him the same. "Iraq," he said. "I'm sorry," I replied, not knowing how to respond. What do you say to someone whose country your own has invaded? "Don't worry for me," he said. "I'm a Kurd. My family is better than ever. Saddam is dead. We love George Bush!" And he pointed to a small picture of the U.S. president on his desk.

But even those who admire U.S. foreign policy can be taken aback by America’s ever-spreading commercial culture. Forget about suggesting a coffee break at Starbucks, for example. The British don’t mind chain shops but loudly prefer their homegrown alternatives, such as Caffè Nero and Costa Coffee, even if the number of Starbucks locations overwhelms both. (A 2004 poll by the Guardian newspaper found that more than half of the Britons surveyed believed American culture—coffee shops included—threatened their own.)

Such biases are likely to affect even the quiet American shopping for flowers on Columbia Road, who’ll notice subtle changes in how she’s treated by local merchants. But is there something else contributing to Britons’ impressions of American travelers? Smith gives a clue as he describes his perceptions of U.S. citizens at home and the opinions they express abroad. “All my friends who have traveled through America tell me that on their home ground the Americans are as hospitable as you could ever want,” he says. “But what is it about guns? And alien abductions? And intelligent design?” Don’t think of his questions as proof of irreconcilable differences; instead, consider them talking points for the pub.

Diane Vadino writes about fashion, travel and film from her base in San Francisco. Her debut novel, Smart Girls Like Me, will be published in September.

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