The Savvy Tourist

The Golden Bee

Just recently I was treated to a night out at "The Bee" by my favorite USAFA kiddo. I was visiting for the weekend and was informed that we would be going out to celebrate a friend's birthday at The Golden Bee at The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs. Unbeknownst to me, this was some kind of torturist birthday ritual started by our extended host family in Colorado Springs. The highlight of the evening is the massive amounts of beer you can drink in one sitting. Your favorite beer is served in "yards" and "half yards" depending upon your ability to pour it into your mouth without drowning or involving the table next to you. Drinking a yard of ale is actually a famous drinking game in pubs in the UK. I must say after watching several hours of this, it does appear to take some actual skill, although I don't expect to see it as an Olympic event any time soon.

 You can all probably guess how the drinking game ended, so I will tell you a little about "The Bee". The Golden Bee is a 19th century pub that was shipped to the US from London in pieces and later purchased  and reassembled at the request of William Thayer Tutt, Chairman of The Broadmoor. Mr. Tutt was looking to offer an authentic "English Pub" experience for his many guests visiting Colorado Springs so he purchased the pub from an English Ale company known as Whitbread.  Whitbread asked, as part of the purchase agreement, that Mr. Tutt serve their ale. And so he did.

In May of 1961, The Golden Bee opened in the lower section of the International Center of The Broadmoor.  They have since served yards and yards and yards of ale and become a favorite for locals and tourists alike. The Bee isn't just about the drinkin' though. The authentic English Pub food is a great compliment to the atmosphere and libations. That night I had the age old English favorite, Fish and Chips. The fish was very moist and flavorful while being served in what looked like an old newspaper, just the way they did it in merry ol' England. The menu also offered other traditional English fare such as Shepherd's Pie and Bangers and Mash.

 What else could you possibly want from an old English pub besides beer and food? Well, how about a fun time singing along to tunes being played by the piano man? That's right, after dinner you get a chance to sing along with the rest of the crowd from The Golden Bee song book. Luckily there are enough to go around for those of us that don't know all the words. There is tons of fun for the whole family at The Bee, but watch out for the bees buzzing about the room, one might land on you.

Unfortunately, The Bee is not very large in size. It is first come, first served and they do not take reservations. So, get there early or you will be one of those people in the lobby looking in and watching the rest of us having a grand ol' time, pub style!! The Golden Bee is located at 1 Lake Avenue in Colorado Springs, CO.

 

Huntington, West Virgina

Huntington is a city in Cabell and Wayne counties in the U.S. state of West Virginia, along the Ohio River. Most of the city is in Cabell County, for which it is the county seat.^[3] A small portion of the city, mainly the neighborhood of Westmoreland, is in Wayne County. Its population was estimated at 49,129 in 2009.^[4] Huntington is a part of the Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH, Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA). As of 2009, the MSA's population was 285,624. Huntington is the largest city within the MSA and the second largest city in West Virginia, behind Charleston. The city is also the home of Marshall University.

The city was named for Collis P. Huntington, who founded Huntington in 1870 as the western terminus for the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway (C&O) on the land west of the mouth of the Guyandotte River at the Ohio River. It was created as a railroad town for the C&O, when it initially stretched from Richmond, Virginia to the Ohio River. The city houses numerous railroad shops which expanded east to Newport News (and coal piers) and west to eventually reach Cincinnati and Chicago in the years after its founding.

Well folks, those are the facts, straight from Wikipedia. Now let me tell you a little about Huntington from my point of view.

You see, I recently had to travel to Huntington for a family funeral. Not exactly a vacation hotspot, but you can't exactly pick where your relatives choose to live and die. I had a picture in my head of what I thought Huntington was from when I was a little girl and visited my grandparents on occasion.

Downtown Huntington was made up of old brick buildings with architectual character that took you back to another era. There was much hustle and bustle from the many shoppers and all the people that worked in the area. There were small diners and small boutique shops and also fancy restaurants and huge department stores. When my grandmother took me shopping at Stone & Thomas, I was enchanted with the fact that every department practically had it's own floor.

Huntington was home to the coal and chemical industries as well as glassworks and steel. Huntington Alloys Corp., known more recently as Special Metals Corp. was begun in 1922 as a processing mill for nickel alloys melted at the Orford Works of the International Nickel Company in Constable Hook (near Bayonne), New Jersey. This company is still today one of Huntington's greatest life supports. The coal industry has lost a lot of it's appeal and many other companies and factories have shut down.

The current economy has taken it's toll on Huntington. The five-story Stone & Thomas building has been vacant for years (since the company went defunct in 1998) as well as many other surrounding buildings. Broken glass and emptiness is what you see downtown as several small specialty shops and a few restaurants struggle to survive.

Huntington is still home to Marshall University, which for some people was unknown until made famous by the movie "We Are Marshall" depicting the town's struggle after the horrible crash on November 14, 1970, of a chartered Southern Airways McDonnell-Douglas DC-9 jet transporting 75 Marshall University football players, coaches, staff, and supporters. Everyone on board was killed.

The Delta Queen Steamboat used to serve the city's downtown port and brought much tourism and gaety to the area with it's music and enthusiasm for the good life. Now, it has sadly become a floating hotel docked in Chattanooga, TN. Huntington has had many things going against it over the years, but it has the potential to thrive again with the help of a new generation. This small West Virgina town affords a comfortable lifestyle, a low cost of living, state-of-the-art health care, modern educational facilities and unrivaled natural beauty.

 

 

Delta Queen Photo Credit: Jon Tschiggfrie

Is this your kind of vacation?

There are endless vacation options for today's savvy tourists but the one I am asking you about in this post is a Bed and Breakfast vacation. Have you ever experienced the type of lodging where you actually just feel like a guest in someone's home, rather than a large impersonal chain hotel? As luxurious and special as some B&Bs can be, I personally don't think they are for everyone. Large families with children will probably not feel comfortable in such a place, nor do many B&Bs provide the proper accommodations for such families. Bed & Breakfasts, as well as some small boutique hotels and Country Inns, are reserved more for the intimate traveler such as the romantic couple.

I personally was able to experience a stay in a lovely romantic B&B called The Darley Manor Inn located in Wilmington, DE. as a gift from my grandparents on my wedding night. It was very quiet and exquisitely decorated and I surely felt like I was a friend of the family as the Inn Keepers were waiting up for us and excited to congratulate us on our recent nuptuals. The strange part was that we got married on a Tuesday, so the Inn was empty that night except for us. We were the main attraction and got lots of attention, maybe even too much attention. Breakfast was a little uncomfortable since we were the only guests at a very large family sized table with many people waiting on us and asking us questions and trying to be personable and polite. As much as I appreciated their hospitality (and awesome breakfast) and would definitely stay there again, I prefer not to be the center of attention.

Next time I think I would like to try a larger scale B&B, where we will be able to enjoy the home cooking and the hospitality, but also be able to blend in and possibly mingle with some of the other guests. I just happen to have my eye on a few in the Napa Valley Wine Country up in northern California. My savvy sis-in-law lives in St. Helena so I will be using that as an excuse to try these fancy places when we visit her. One of the ones I have my eye on is The Wine Country Inn where they offer full buffet breakfast, afternoon wine and appetizers, luxury honeymoon cottages, spa services, pool and jacuzzi, wine tours and a shuttle to local wineries. This is my kind of vacation!

For a more intimate setting, I would also like to try The Glass Mountain Inn which is more of a homestyle environment and nestled in a secluded wooded area that is very close to town even though you feel like you are very far away in your own little paradise. Activities include biking, hiking, horseback riding, golfing and birdwatching or just lying around while you recover from the two course gourmet breakfast.

So, for the more intimate savvy tourist, let me suggest trying a Bed and Breakfast vacation for you and your special someone. If you already have a B&B that you are crazy about, please write in and share with all of my savvy readers.

Now is a good time to plan your next B&B vacation or possibly give one as a gift.

Orbitz Weekly Specials!

Just a quick reminder to check out the Orbitz weekly specials that are posted in the left sidebar. These are some incredible deals and you won't want to miss them. They change all the time and some will be expiring very soon so don't delay.

 

Jumbo Hostel

Here is an innovative new concept when it comes to the "all-nighter" on an airplane...the Jumbo Hostel. Now you can sleep in luxurious accommodations on an airplane without ever leaving the ground. You can actually spend the night on board a real jumbo jet and never leave the airport. To some, this may sound like an incredible waste of time, but to others it could be quite the novelty in sleep-overs.

The airplane, a decommissioned model 747-200 jumbo jet was built in 1976 and was last operated by Transjet, a Swedish Airline that went bankrupt in 2002. It was originally built for Singapore Airlines and later flew for Pan Am. The airplane is now located at Arlanda Airport on it's permanent concrete foundation after undergoing a complete conversion. Over 450 seats were removed to make room for what is now a unique sleeping experience for guests. The hostel is built like any house, subject to regulations and standards. It now serves as a spectacular and (not so) original landmark at the Arlanda Airport.

There are 25 rooms on board this newly renovated Jumbo Hostel with a total of 85 beds in all. The rooms are configured with 3 bunk beds in most rooms. There are also quad dorm options, all with separate shared shower and bathroom facilities. There is one luxury suite in the converted cockpit with a panoramic view of the airport.

If sleeping in an airplane (when you don't really have to) is not exactly your cup of tea, well then, you can just stop by for...well, a cup of tea! There is a cafe' where you can purchase breakfast, coffee, cookies and snacks. You can also walk along the left wing observation deck and experience the feeling of standing on top of a real Jumbo Jet's wing.

In the travel industry convenience is a big plus, so if you have an early flight to catch, staying right at the airport (literally) may be the solution for you.

I'll be back...to Breakers Inn

Next time we venture to the Gualala and Sea Ranch area up in Northern California, we will absolutely be staying at Breakers Inn. I took a chance on it from reviews that I had read and pictures on the Internet. It turned out to be just what I was looking for. Our time in Gualala was very relaxed and we didn't have much on our schedule. That left us all the more time to thoroughly enjoy the accommodations provided by the Breakers Inn.

            
Breakers Inn is a sprawling beachfront hotel that looks as though it ties the entire town together with it's quaint and welcoming atmosphere. It has a weathered exterior and a warm, inviting inside. It really is the perfect place to be while watching the sun set over the Gualala River as it flows out into the ocean.

Each room has it's own individual theme and is decorated with the feel of a different region. We stayed in "Denmark". We had a beautiful four poster bed with soft comfy bed linens. Our bathroom had a separate steam sauna and huge shower. The best part was the whirlpool spa tub situated perfectly in the room with a private ocean view. We also had a fireplace, but since it was July we really didn't have an occasion to use it. I think I will return in the winter just so I can have a fire burning while in the tub watching the sun set over the ocean (maybe a glass of wine would be in order too). To make things even better, the room was also equipped with a wet bar that included refrigerator and microwave and coffee pot. You really don't have to leave your room if you don't want to. Of course you will probably want to venture over to the free continental breakfast provided each morning. I ate my breakfast in my room, sitting on my own private deck, drinking my morning coffee and watching the sea gulls play on the beach. How great is that? If I had more time on this trip I think I would've curled up and read a good book out on that deck. Could be a plan for my winter trip!!

       

If I am only staying somewhere for a few days, I usually prefer to forego the maid service. Breakers Inn offered a service where the housekeeping staff will leave a basket by your door filled with everything you need including fresh towels, toiletries and coffee supplies. This is absolutely where we will be staying for all of our Gualala area visits. I recommend this place whole heartedly.

The Tale of Tiburon

Back in the day, I think the hustle and bustle of Tiburon, CA. was more than it is today. The tiny peninsula that plays host to three different communities was a very busy industrial center. The Town of Tiburon (as it became known in 1979) was the center of activity with fish packing plants, dairies, military installations, cattle ranching and the railroad. Railroad cars, locomotives and also ferry boats were built there to serve the San Francisco Bay area and beyond. Tiburon even survived Prohibition being that it's location made it very easy to sneak in alcohol from ships anchored in the bay. The Town of Tiburon is the largest of the three communities. There is also Belvedere, which was known as a subdivision for the wealthy San Franciscans who built weekend homes there, and Strawberry, which remained a dairy ranch until after World War II.
Today, Tiburon is a nice quiet place to relax and "get away from it all". There are still many buildings and establishments that have been there for many years and keep the charm of the town intact. The railroad is long gone, except for a few casual reminders like the passenger depot and the Depot Palm that had been used to mark every passenger station in the Northwestern Pacific system.
Even with tourists, the town is peaceful and the people are friendly. Many of the residents are commuters to the San Francisco area and use the ferry system to get to work. The tourists (like myself) use the ferry to spend the day in San Fran while being able to get back to peace and quiet for the night.
That was a perfect day! We grabbed a bite to eat at the coffee shop on the corner of Main Street, then waited for the ferry to arrive while exploring the downtown wharf area with camera in hand. The cost of the ferry was a little high at $9.50 per person each way, but considering you are not fighting traffic,or paying for gas, toll, and parking,I would say it was worth it. The schedule is very convenient for both commuters and tourists and the trip itself was very pleasant and relaxing. They do not waste any time either. You board the ferry and buy your ticket onboard after leaving the dock. Very simple. We walked around Fisherman's Wharf, taking in all the sights, mostly just around the Pier 39 area. We shopped (my favorite thing to do) and ate (my other favorite thing to do if I'm not shopping) and took pictures of everything and anything as usual. We ate a fantastic lunch at Pier Market Seafood Restaurant which had the best clam chowder ever and some luscious libations to go along with it. It is very difficult to decide where to eat while at Fisherman's Wharf. Everything sounds and smells so good and many menus are similar in that their specialty is seafood. Price can be a deciding factor and also ambiance (if you can call it that on a wharf). All the restaurants have their menus posted outside so you know what they offer before making a commitment.

So, with tired feet and full stomach we headed back to Tiburon at the end of the day via ferry with the sun in our faces and the cold breeze at our backs. This is July and yes, you need a jacket to be able to enjoy the ride from the outside deck. You can also take shelter inside where there is a little beverage bar for anyone needing a coffee, beer, or snack. Again, very convenient.
There are actually many different ferry services to choose from whether you are departing from Tiburon or from San Francisco. You can visit Sausalito, Angel Island, or even take a tour of Alcatraz Island. Of course, you cannot do all that in one day.
It was back to Tiburon for us, and the ferry trip gave us the opportunity for even more picture taking that we could later bore our family to tears with.

There are most certainly things to do without leaving Tiburon. There are many adorable little shops and eateries all along Main St. to explore, although a tad pricey. Everything is very unique and a little "artsy", mostly gallery and boutique type establishments. There is a strip of shops known as Ark Row, where all the shops used to be houseboats on the lagoon. They are now anchored permanently by land and a parking lot and almost resemble a movie set because of their small size.

Many people rent bikes from San Fran and ride the ferry over to Tiburon and spend a leisurely day riding along the coast of the bay and through the town. For us, it was a perfect place to relax and do whatever we wanted without the pressure of a schedule or activities list. We even took an evening stroll through town admiring the architecture, beauty and peacefulness that is the Town of Tiburon.

As if to mark this lovely spot on the map, there is a beautiful sculpture in the center of town that moves likes sails in the wind.

Sea Ranch and Gualala

As I mentioned in an earlier post, I will be headed to Northern California next month for a little business and pleasure mixed together. My intended destination is the area known as Sea Ranch located about 100 miles north of San Francisco along the coast. Sea Ranch is a quiet little unincorporated area that has become a popular vacation spot. Not widely known, Sea Ranch is actually filled with repeat customers every season as people are always coming back for more peace and quiet and getting back to nature once they discover this beautiful little part of the country. There are many ways to experience Sea Ranch. You can stay in an upscale hotel, a Country Inn, an historic hotel, or perhaps a small cottage in the tree covered cliffs. There are also many homes for rent, whether for a week or a season. There is also camping for anyone interested in sleeping with the bears.

Just about 10 to 12 miles north of Sea Ranch is a quaint little town known as Gualala. Gualala (pronounced locally as wa-la-la) used to be a very profitable logging town, providing much needed lumber to the San Francisco area after the earthquake in 1906. Tourism is now their main source of economic resource. Gualala is named after it's perfect location where the "river meets the sea". Being in Gualala is like being in a novel and turning back time. You can sit for hours on the beach and never get enough of the view or the undisturbed wildlife that surrounds you. I plan to take a "moonlight float' down the Gualala River while I am there, and of course I will also be using this wonderful place to refine my amateur photographic skills (or lack thereof). Speaking of photography, that leads me to the reason for my trip. I will be attending a photographic arts showing in the Burnett Gallery of the local Gualala Arts Center.

I have made my reservations for lodging at The Breakers Inn and I look forward to writing about it upon my return. I have made arrangements to take a tour of the property and their facilities so I will have more to share with all of you.

A savvy vacation choice

With the price of gas (and everything else) everyone is looking for new and improved ways to budget. Having been a travel agent, I can tell you that vacations are the first thing to either get thrown out of the budget completely or else purchased as cheaply as possible. Unfortunately, when you skimp on your vacation, you are essentially cheating yourself out of the best time you have with your family and friends. Personally, I would rather clip coupons and carpool than skimp on my vacation. I was always sorry when I booked a "budget" vacation.
There are ways to have a great vacation without skimping and one of them is by renting a house, possibly with friends and family, instead of paying resort prices. Sharing the cost of a house or condo is always more cost effective. You have facilities to cook some meals instead of eating out 3 times a day. You don't have to pay for parking your car, you don't have to walk through the lobby in your swimsuit, you don't have to tip anyone or cram 4 people (or more) into 1 hotel room. Everyone has a little more space to call their own and in some cases, you can take the family dog. One of the online booking agencies that I recommend is HomeAway. There are more destinations to choose from than you can imagine. Whether you prefer Italy or Martha's Vineyard, North Carolina or Africa, there is a home to suit your vacation needs. There are even homes for rent for RV travelers to "take a break" and spread out for a little while. I consider this a much more savvy way to travel, and I will always recommend it over timeshares any day.

Traveling to Tiburon

If you have been a savvy tourist for awhile now, you will know that I am humorously known as "Annie Ego", the much-feared travel critic. This is derived from the movie Ratatouille by Disney, whereas "Anton Ego" is the very much-feared food critic. For me, it is all in good fun. The name that is, not the critic part. I take my reviews very seriously and I am a stickler for Customer Service. That is something else that all you savvy tourists already know about me! The reason I even bring this up is because it is time once again to travel and I am trying to decide which establishments I will be evaluating on this trip.
I am scheduled to attend an exhibit and reception at the Gualala Arts Center on July 12th. There will be a photographic exhibit inspired by one family's travels to Switzerland over many years. I am very much looking forward to this trip and I plan to make a stop or two along the way. After all, that is what a good travel critic does, right?

I am hoping to spend a little time in Tiburon, CA., just across the Bay from San Francisco. I drove through there about seven years ago and made a mental note to myself to go back if ever I got the chance. They have ferry service across the Bay to San Fran's Fisherman's Wharf and other area attractions, so I thought it would be nice to stay in a quiet little romantic town and take the ferry over to the hustle and bustle of the big city. I have had my eye on The Lodge at Tiburon ever since I heard about their $6 million renovation. It has the perfect location at the tip of the peninsula and is surrounded by quaint little shops and cozy restaurants. This should be a great place to add to my "review repertoire" and share with my devoted savvy tourists. Guess what? The Lodge also has complimentary wireless Internet access which we all know ranks very high on my list of criteria.

A toast to my 100th post!!!

I am sure you all know by now that hubby travels a lot for work. Well, his last trip found him in none other than the famous Raffles Hotel Singapore  where the legendary Singapore Sling was created around the year 1915. Apparently, people really knew how to mix a cocktail back then because this particular drink is very popular (and tasty, I was informed). It has been said that the recipe for the original Singapore Sling may have been revised slightly over the years (or perhaps just remembered incorrectly), but the Long Bar found at the Raffles Hotel makes it as close to original as they know it to be. Below you will see a picture of the recipe card used at the Long Bar for their version of the decadent drink. So, just in case your travels won't be taking you to Singapore any time soon, I am sharing this with you in hopes you will toast my 100th post here on The Savvy Tourist.

SINGAPORE SLING The Singapore Sling was created at Raffles Hotel at the turn-of-the-century by Hainanese-Chinese bartender, Mr. Ngiam Tong Boon. In the Hotel's museum, visitors may view the safe in which Mr. Ngiam locked away his precious recipe books, as well as the Sling recipe hastily jotted on a bar-chit in 1936 by a visitor to the Hotel who asked the waiter for it. Originally, the Singapore Sling was meant as a woman's drink, hence the attractive pink colour. Today, it is very definately a drink enjoyed by all, without which any visit to Raffles Hotel is incomplete. Recipe 30ml Gin 15 ml Cherry Brandy 120 ml Pineapple Juice 15 ml Lime Juice 7.5 ml Cointreau 7.5 ml Dom Benedictine 10 ml Grenadine A Dash of Angostura Bitters Garnish with a slice of Pineapple and Cherry

                                                    

 

                                                                                                                                                      

And now....for the rest of the story!

I am going to try and wrap this up in what I will refer to as "The Final Chapter" of the Las Vegas Liar and My Encounter in Sin City.
Now that I had escaped the clutches of Westgate Resorts , my son and I decide to relax and enjoy a leisurely breakfast and try to put all this behind us. We ate at a lovely place called Lombardis Romagna Mia where the service and the food were impeccable. That calmed me down a bit to once again be treated like a human being.
While waiting for my parents to complete their "3 Hour Tour", we decided to try and come up with something fun to do later when we were all reunited. We decided the Comedy Magic Show that my parents would have tickets to after the tour would be fun. I would just buy our tickets so we could all still go together, even though I was being punished. The show times were 1pm and 3pm so we planned on the latter. It was now only "noonish" (that is a technical airline term I have been informed by one of my readers).
One of the "perks" of staying at Planet Hollywood is it's convenient location to shopping.  Miracle Mile Shops is basically attached to Planet Hollywood. It is what used to be the really cool outside-like shopping experience at the Aladdin. The ceiling is painted to feel like the open sky above, and the floor is tiled like an old cobblestone walk. But don't worry, they are changing all those quaint little features into more glitz, glitter and excitement for your future pleasure. Anyway.....we window shopped while we waited for my parents. We waited........and waited.....and waited. By 2:30pm I was very worried and figured my father had picked up where I left off and possibly they too had been impounded for their behavior. Finally, nearing 3pm, I heard from them. It had been a horrible experience and had we not already paid for a second night at the hotel, we would be leaving immediately, I was informed.
This had been much worse than your typical timeshare routine. They had been given a tour alright! They showed them the model suite of the "yet to be built" Planet Hollywood Towers, the building site, and the lovely shopping mall. Then they dragged them into a room with what looked like a bunch of telemarketers (land salesmen) feeding everyone Kool-Aid and discussing their future on "vacation ownership". My parents have always been very "savvy" with their investments and were anxious to read the fine print and fully understand what the offer entailed. They wanted to read the paperwork, discuss their options and also talk to a lawyer. Can you imagine someone wanting to do all those things before buying real estate? They must be crazy!! Westgate was having absolutely no part of that. They either bought right now, on the spot, or the price goes up $3,000. If they walk out of that room to discuss anything with anybody (namely me), the deal was off the table. At this point, several options had been tossed at them, and all the facts and figures were very fuzzy. They asked if they could take some paperwork with them to look over for awhile. The answer was "NO". They needed to buy right away, before this opportunity to vacation next door to George Clooney passes them over. What? I am going to have to call George and see if he knows they are throwing his name around to sucker people into buying here. Believe me when I say "buying" is loosely interpreted. For your purchase, you get the chance (Las Vegas lingo) to possibly vacation at Planet Hollywood, if it is available, or possibly "somewhere else" just like every other timeshare offers. You also get the privilege of paying real estate taxes on the 1/12th of the ownership, but you do not get any income from the rental profit. Sound familiar?
After my parents repeatedly declined the offer(s), the original salesman just up and left the table. In walks "a higher up" to give them one last chance. He is the only one that has this ability, yeah right!! Do you feel like you are buying a car yet? Anyway, after once again declining the offer, yet another guy came in to "escort" them out. There was no thank you, nice to meet you, we appreciate your time, nothing!!! Just get the hell out!
Hey .....what about breakfast? Oh....you can grab a sandwich out of the cold box on your way out. OMG!! Can you believe the lack of professionalism here? I figured if the "product" was worth anything, it could easily sell itself. Real Estate usually does. Instead, these people try to shove it down your throat and then threaten you and withhold nourishment. So, if they had actually bought anything, would they get the "breakfast" carrot that had been dangled in front of them? Well, guess what? Not only have they not eaten anything all day, we have managed to miss the only 2 show times that were available for the Comedy Magic Show. There's some worthless gifts. As for the "rest of the gifts", we took advantage of the 2 buffet tickets to the Sahara and we managed to win $137.50 at the black jack table with the $100 worth of "non-negotiable" chips.
The next morning we got the hell out of there so fast it would make your head spin. Who wants to vacation in something that looks like the ass end of an old Cadillac anyway?

Being in college (and always thinking), my son decided I needed a "nice" business card, like the one I gave to Westgate, and a "not so nice" business card for times such as these. He said he didn't think they felt very threatened by my cutesy little pink and white card. So, a new business card is on the drawing board for "Annie Ego", the much feared travel critic. Any suggestions from my readers would be welcomed.

Las Vegas Liar

After a pretty good sleep in my beautiful room at Planet Hollywood I was anxious to see what this tour had to offer, especially the breakfast part of it. First things first....coffee! Uh oh, where's the coffee pot? How could this be? Such a beautiful room and they forgot the coffee pot? Of course they didn't forget the coffee pot, they would prefer you go back downstairs (all 34 floors....again), stumble through the casino and pay $7 for a cup of coffee. That's where the coffee pot is...it's in the coffee shop! I'm catching on now! This is not about my convenience at all.
Westgate Resorts has their office on the Mezzanine level of Planet Hollywood so that is where our tour begins. We checked in on time at the reception area, once again showing photo id and presenting paperwork that had been included with our reservation and confirmation. This time, the gentleman at the desk point blank asked me if I was married. I said "Yes, I am, but I am traveling as a single female, as my husband is out of the country". Well, you would have thought I was either the millionth customer or I had committed murder. (Let me give you a clue...there were no balloons or confetti dropping from the ceiling at this moment). I was told that I would not be allowed to take the tour and I was then escorted downstairs where I was informed I would incur my penalty. My what? Holy Crap! Is this some sort of police action? I felt like I had accidentally lifted a can of tuna from a Sack O' Suds in Alabama and forgot to pay. Due to the serious faces on my "escorts", my parents decided they better go with me wherever I was being "escorted" to, along with my son. I guess the family that travels to Vegas together gets put in the slammer together. Don't worry, I didn't really get arrested. Instead I got royally scolded and had all my toys taken away. Seriously, the show tickets, the buffet tickets, the gambling chips, all gone! Wait, they had never really given them to me had they? (I believe this is the fourth flag up the pole).

Westgate Resorts proceeded to inform me that I had lied about my marital status and therefore I was  ineligible for the vacation package at the discounted price. They would now be charging me the full price of the room for the 2 nights and I was not getting any of the "complimentary" gifts. Somehow, that part I knew!  I informed them that I had not lied, I had always been clear about how I answered the questions. No one ever directly asked me if I was married, that is, until the guy at the reception desk. I had always clearly stated that I was traveling as a single female. The original reservation agent had stated that I had to answer the questions properly to get the package (and she, her commission). That is exactly what I had done. I answered the questions properly and without lying.....give me a break, I'm a woman, it's not that difficult. At this point, my sense of humor was dwindling. I asked these people if they were really that stupid or was it me? I said "you do know we are coaxed into answering the questions in order to qualify for this, right?" The assistant manager then glared at me and said  she was getting her manager. Great! Get the manager and while you are at it, give him my business card because I was here to write about your little presentation that has turned into a huge production. Did you forget we are in Las Vegas and your marital status can change at any minute around here?

You may be wondering what my poor supportive family is doing right about now and how proud of me they must be, ha ha!! This is the last family vacation I will ever convince my 18 year old to take, let me tell you that much. I urged them to go ahead and take the tour and get me lots of information about the place. I also didn't want them to incur all these penalties and beatings taking away of gifts that I was getting.

As you can guess, the manager never came out of his hiding place and only sent his assistant back to inform me they had made their final decision and I was being charged the full amount, blah, blah, blah. She also informed me that if I felt I had not lied, they would be glad to pull the tapes from my conversation with the reservation agent. I told them I thought they should pull the tapes and maybe they would be enlightened as to what really goes on (like they don't already know). They took down my cell phone number and said they would call me in a few hours as soon as they had a chance to listen to the tapes. That was one week ago...............

Who's afraid of the 34th floor?

Me! That's who!! You guessed it, my room at Planet Hollywood was on the 34th floor. How lucky for me, NOT! So, we checked in at the  PH front desk with little to no trouble. The rooms were prepaid and we could check in with Westgate Vacations for the rest of our package up until 10pm that night. After being in the hills of Tennessee without Internet service, I asked the guy at the front desk if Internet was provided in the rooms. He informed us that Wi-Fi and cable hook-up were provided in all the rooms. I was ecstatic! That is such a great amenity for hotels to provide these days. We proceeded to the elevator and I held my breath for 34 floors. Ordinarily not an easy task, but we had the "express" elevator that basically flies past the first 23 floors (again, lucky me). The rooms were absolutely fabulous! That particular floor had recently been remodeled (Planet Hollywood used to be The Aladdin) and we had a gorgeous bathroom with huge jacuzzi tub, large shower, and lots of room overall. There was a 42 inch wide-screen TV for our viewing pleasure and a very comfortable bed with lots of pillows. We were able to get adjoining rooms so that made it really fun, like being in a suite. So far, I was pretty impressed. Everyone else appreciated the view too. Me, not so much.
Anyway, I plugged in my laptop and began following the steps to hook up to the Internet. While reading the directions posted I noticed there would be a charge of $12.99 per day. I guess "provided" or "available" does not actually mean "complimentary". I was sure that front desk guy had left me with the impression the service was free, but then again, they have a knack for that in Las Vegas. You think something is complimentary, but you later find there is a catch that requires a purchase of some kind. At this point, I was so happy just to have Internet available to me I wasn't too bothered with having to pay for it. This could easily have been my error. (Please make note of how reasonable I can be, it will come in handy later). I followed all the procedures for Wi-Fi hook up as it really wasn't very difficult. At least not until I actually wanted to visit a website. My computer was pretty sure it was connected, but I couldn't navigate to anywhere. I called the Internet help number and was put on hold by a computer that was busy helping other customers for almost 30 minutes. Finally, after much time went by it was determined by Cox Communications that the hotel has not turned on the Internet access to my room because they do not have a credit card on file for me. Are you kidding? So, I called the front desk and tried to give them my credit card over the phone so as to gain access to the Internet. I was told I would have to come back downstairs for that......all 34 floors. Yikes!!!! Tell me they didn't know they needed my credit card when I asked them if I had Internet available in my room. Maybe that is another reason I thought it was a free service........silly me! Well, far be it from me to waste a good trip downstairs so I decided to go ahead and check in with Westgate Vacations and pick up the rest of our amenities (gambling chips). We did a rather uneventful check in that required a photo id and a signature and instructions to meet at 11:30 am for our tour the next day. Unfortunately, their "system" was down and they were unable to provide us with the dinner tickets, show tickets, or chips. They asked if we would mind waiting until tomorrow and pick everything up when we came for the tour. We were still very unsuspecting at this point so of course we were agreeable. Third flag up the pole........

Sin City Saga continued.....

I should probably fill you in on a little "back history" as to how we got involved in this mess to begin with. We wanted to visit some relatives who live in Las Vegas and I thought it would be a good time to show my parents some of the sights and maybe take in a show. So, I sent my mother on the great quest for a good "middle of the week" deal at a hotel on the strip. I figured if we were going, we might as well be where the action is, or at least some of the coolest hotels. Well, my mother is not only a "savvy tourist", but also a "savvy shopper". She can spot a deal a mile away. I told her not to go cheap, since you do get what you pay for in Vegas, but stay within reason. She found a great deal on the Internet for a "vacation package" offered by Westgate Resorts. When she called the toll free number they were anxious to book this package for her. Listen to all you get.........2 nights at Planet Hollywood, 2 tickets for the buffet at the Sahara Hotel, 2 tickets for a comedy magic show, a free breakfast presentation and $100 worth of gambling chips. All this for $149. We thought Mom had found her usual great deal. Apparently these packages were of "limited availability" and they only had certain packages available for a certain demographic of people at these prices. I figured this was some sort of promotional thing that happens in Las Vegas so as to rip people off in every age group, race, religion and sexual preference category. So as luck would have it, they had a package available for a married couple, and one for a single female. So, my parents took the "married couple" package and I took the "single female" package. I informed them that I was "traveling as a single female" (knowing my husband would be out of the country for work). The customer service rep informed us that we had to make at least $60,000 per year and fit into the category (married, single) that we booked to qualify for all the special amenities that we were being given, including and most important, the 90 minute breakfast presentation. (This is where the first red flag went up.) 90 minute breakfast presentation? I heard breakfast but I had no idea it was going to take me 90 minutes. For what exactly I asked. Oh, it is just a little tour and presentation showing us the new Planet Hollywood Towers I was informed. Tour? Who said anything about a tour? Anyway, the rep explained a few things about how Planet Hollywood was building a new resort and it was being offered as a vacation opportunity. Oh, now I get it, it's a timeshare! She tried to say everything except "timeshare", since it carries the same stigma as "Amway". Believe it or not, I was actually kind of excited to see this new "vacation opportunity" since I write a travel blog and hope to be that "much feared" travel critic some day. I planned to bring home lots of great information for my readers. The next step was being transferred to the Confirmation Center and having us answer these questions we were prompted for on a recorded phone line.(second flag up the pole). So, yes I make at least $60,000 per year, and yes, I am traveling as a single female. The damage was done, the trip was booked and paid for and we would be on our way to Vegas in a week for a fun filled adventure. Or so we thought............

A New Twist on an Old Tradition

For as long as cruise ships have been traveling around the islands of Hawaii, passengers have thrown their leis overboard while sailing away, symbolizing their hopes to return someday. Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort and Spa has given that tradition a new twist by establishing a pohaku (stone) where departing guests can leave their leis. Located between the beach and lagoon near Tidepools Restaurant and facing the waterfall, the pohaku bears a plaque encouraging guests to drape a garland of flowers as a remembrance of their stay. Each lei contributes to the cycle of beauty at the resort as it turns into compost for landscaping long after the original flowers have gone. What a beautiful way to serve a tradition and to keep it going for years to come.

Travel Specials and Updates

Does this cold winter weather have you dreaming of warmer climates? Well, check out my Travel Specials page where Pleasant Holidays  has teamed up with Marriott Resorts  to offer you some great deals for travel to Hawaii, and Palace Resorts  has some great incentives for traveling to Mexico (like you need incentives).

Just a heads up - I am starting a series of posts on Sydney, Australia. My husband has been spending some time there for work and has some fabulous pictures to show off. Having never been there myself (but planning to go soon), I would love some input from my loyal Aussie bloggers as to things to do in Sydney or great places to stay and eat. So, keep an eye out for my upcoming "Disoriented Down Under" series. Here's a sample of hubby's photographic prowess.........

And here is the biggie.......I finally released my Disney blog this week for public consumption. Keep in mind, we are still under construction, but please stop by and visit Mickey and Me...........A Love Story!
I currently have Jay over at Dat Money working on a cool banner for Mickey. Jay is running a fabulous special for the month of January and does some really great work. Check him out!!

Sandals On Sale!!!

My vendors have been bombarding me with the sale that Sandals is currently promoting so I thought I would put it out here for all to see. I have included some details below, but please be aware that this is a limited time offer and is only good for booking until January 31, 2008. You can travel all the way up until Christmas of 2008 (blackout dates may apply, as usual), but you must book early. Usually, it only requires a deposit to book your trip so if the holidays have left you short of funds, don't worry, you don't have to pay for the whole trip now. It is kind of like putting your vacation on layaway!

Not only are they offering your 7th night free, but they are very excited about their "Suite of the Month" sale at Sandals Royal Bahamian Resort. Here is a quick link for booking an incredible vacation at an incredible price:

Sandals Royal Bahamian Spa Resort & Offshore Island, winner of the prestigious Five-Star Diamond Award, stands alone as the premier destination for people in love who demand only the very best. From our offshore island - a veritable resort within a resort - to world-class dining in 8 gourmet restaurants; from rooms and suites, ranging from the merely sumptuous to the over-the-top lavish, to Versailles - like gardens filled with stunning statuary - you will know beyond a doubt, that you've discovered paradise. For a limited time, book one of three luxurious suites for seven nights or longer and the seventh night is FREE! Plus, save up to 45%!

Luxuriously-furnished suites offering spacious, elegant accommodations, 24-hour room service, exclusive butler service, VIP Rolls Royce or Mercedes Benz airport service and exclusive dining at Gordon's on the Pier. 

Choose from 3 luxurious categories and receive a 7th night FREE and SAVE up to 45%:   

• Royal Windsor Beachfront One Bedroom Suite (WS)   
• Royal Bahamian Oceanview One Bedroom Suite (RS)   
• Royal Village Honeymoon Villa Suite (BV)

My biggest recommendation is to purchase trip cancellation insurance! I will follow up soon with a post on trip insurance, but in the meantime, do not reserve your trip without it!

Working behind the scenes.......

When you don't see your favorite blog putting out a new post every day does that mean that your favorite blogger is just lazy? No indeed!! It means we are working hard behind the scenes to bring you a more enjoyable experience. First of all, let me remind you all that I am working diligently on my Disney blog that I hope to unveil in a few short weeks (or sooner).
I have also updated the way I offer you links to book online travel. There are now separate pages for each category such as Airfare, Hotels, or Car Rentals. This should make things simpler since I will be adding new affiliate links every day and this will eliminate the clutter.
For anyone looking to get away from the winter blahs.....Pleasant Holidays is offering some pretty good deals to Hawaii, so check out my Travel Specials page.
There is more to come for the new year so keep checking back and oh....don't forget to send me those postcards .

The Islands of The World

One of my readers wrote in to update me on what's going on in "The World." She wasn't talking about the world as we know it, but rather the islands of Dubai that are shaping up to resemble the world.
The World is a man-made archipelago of 300 islands in the shape of a world map currently being built 4 km (2.5 miles) off the coast of Dubai, United Arab Emirates.  The World is one of a series of artificial island projects in Dubai, along with the Palm Islands, and like the other islands The World is being built primarily using sand dredged from the sea. The only access to the islands is by boat, helicopter, or seaplane.  There are many speculations as to the exact plans for each island. Resorts and private hideaways for the rich and famous are among some of the rumors afloat, including islands purchased by Tommy Lee, Rod Stewart and David Beckham. Let's hope they will have some public access to some of these "posh" resorts (Oh, I kill me!) for us savvy tourists!! I'll keep you informed. Thanks to Cleo for the info!!

CAYO ESPANTO...a private island

If the cost of your honeymoon or romantic getaway has no price limits, then have I got a place for you!! This is paradise on a private island, just off the coast of Belize and Ambergris Cay. They offer private oceanfront bungalows with private plunge pools, personal housemen and three personally tailored meals per day.

They also offer snorkeling and scuba in some of the clearest waters anywhere............

and a sunrise like no other..................

So if this sounds interesting to you check them out at Cayo Espanto.

Crystal Ball....or Farecast?

One of the questions that used to give me the most distress as a travel agent was "Do you think the price will go down if I wait?" UUGGHH!! How the heck should I know? It is a crazy world out there where airfares are concerned and if I could've looked into a crystal ball, then I still would not have known!! Airfares and travel prices in general are based on so many things that are not always predictable. Availability is a huge factor. Supply and demand. If there isn't much space left, then you are going to pay premium prices to get it. The seasons are also big players in prices for some things. Of course Caribbean cruises are cheaper during hurricane season and airfares are cheaper to London during the rainy season. Today's economy has forced all transportation vendors to gouge us with a fuel surcharge for all of our purchases. Who saw that coming? Okay, maybe that's not such a good example!

There are a lot of tools available now like Orbitz, Hotwire, and Travelocity that at least make you feel like you are getting the best deal out there....today that is. Tomorrow is another story. There will be a different, and possibly better deal available. Too late....you booked yesterday!!! It is kind of like buying a car. You do the research, you save the money, you make the deal. You feel good about your purchase. A week later, they offer better financing and bigger rebates that you didn't get when you made your "good deal". The same thing is true in the travel business. You have to do your research, but you have to feel good about your purchase when you finally decide to make it. There is no magical way to  figure out ahead of time when that great cruise deal is going to be offered or when the airlines are going to drop their fares. You have to know what your vacation is worth to you and be willing to pay for it.  You might get lucky and  actually get the best deal going. You can also book your travel with a vendor that offers a price guarantee. If they drop their prices after you book, then your price goes down too. Your travel agent will know who these vendors are.
In the long run, can you put a price on a great family vacation?

Just in case you need some reassurance that you might be getting the best deal (or at least a darn good one), try the newest tool out there....Farecast. I think they may have that crystal ball I have been looking for all these years.

Traveling With Pets

Traveling with pets can be a very daunting task. I found this to be too true when I had to travel across country with a dog and 3 cats for a family move.  It was then that I discovered my animals are not the adventurous type. (I must've rubbed off on them.) Instead of taking my pets with me when I travel, I usually pay a pet sitter so that they may remain in the comforts of their own home and overly spoiled lives. Better yet, when my parents do not travel with us, the animals get the benefit of being loved and spoiled by their grandparents. This is a lot like handing over your kids to grandparents. Sometimes, they just aren't as glad to see you upon your return because grandparents are much more attentive.

Well, despite the fact that my pets are not the jet setting type, I know many people travel with pets now more than ever. There is a "toy dog" traveling trend that I believe was started by celebrities awhile back and looks as though it is no more trouble than carrying a purse. Well, it isn't really that easy. Whether you are taking your beloved furry friend across state line in your car or across the country in an airplane, there are many regulations that must be adhered to. In my search for better information about traveling with pets, I found a website that I really like. It is called Pets On The Go. It does require a small membership fee of $15 but I think it is worth it for the extensive database of information they offer.

Let me know if you have any stories about traveling with pets!