Travel Pet Peeves

I'm a glass half-full kinda gal who always makes do when I travel, irrespective of my 1-5 star accommodation du moment.  Yet, here are a few things I wish the travel industry would pay more attention to AND the hotels or airlines that exceeded my expectations:

• Beds that feel like plywood.
  • Best hotel bed = Balboa Bay Club & Resort
• No conditioner/Bad conditioner.
  • Best hotel conditioner = Wailea Marriott
• Weak hair dryers.
  • Best hotel hair dryer =  Anywhere that doesn't have a dinky wall-mount unit or one with air vents on either side vs the back
• Watered-down lotion/Shower gel.
  • Best hotel lotion/Shower gel = Neutrogena lotion & shower gel at the Doubletree SeaTac
• Tile floors (and then the hotel provides no slippers???).
  • Best Slippers = Oceania Cruises
• Small cups at all-inclusives.
  • Best cups = Yet to find good, tall cups
• Airlines who don't recycle (no the papers and plastic cups don't go in the same bag - ahhhhhhh).
  • Airlines who do recycle = Continental
• Resorts with no day facilities to change in when departing after 11am
  • Best day facilities = Sandals WhiteHouse
• No Free Wi-Fi in the year 2010
  • Best free wi-fi = Most hilton brands have free wi-fi in the lobby, Fairmont gives it to anyone who becomes a member of their loyalty program
• Airport Hotels without Airport Shuttles
  • Best Airport Shuttles = ...the ones that have shuttles
• Weighted mini bars (not because I want a Snickers Bar, but so I can put cheese or apples I buy in the fridge)
  • Best hotel fridges = ...the ones that have fridges like the 3Palms Scottsdale

What are your Travel Pet Peeves & best-in-category?

Finding Glitter in the Gulch :: Vegas Baby

[trip style = sun] The sprawling desert destination whose blinding lights and tall towers pop up out of nowhere is more than just glitter. Past the sequins, slots and smut is a fun, ever-changing entertainment mecca designed to sizzle your senses. On that note, there's a reason most vacation packages are 3-nights.

Tangoing with Lady Luck Complete with year-round sun, ravishing restaurants, sultry shows and mega malls, Vegas is the king of re-invention offering something for everyone. Go at the right time of year (see more below) and vegas can be fun, and dare I say: relaxing. I'm not a gambler, but between last-min getaways and girls trips, I've tangoed with lady luck a few times. Yep, I've pulled the occasional slot and wound my way through the never ending lines of nightclub goers (passing a stressed-out Steve Wynn enroute---man behind The Mirage, The Bellagio, The Wynn and others).  Some would argue that's Vegas at its best.  I disagree.

The Glitter in the Gulch When - it can get cold in late fall & early winter, so wait until spring if you're looking to soak up the sun - avoid US holidays, particularly Memorial and Labour Day long weekends - to find the best deals, rooms, easy access to shows and restaurants, go mid-week or sunday-wednesday - unless you want to roast like a marshmallow, avoid the summer - in other words, visit in spring or early fall and avoid long weekends! Stay - contrary to what it might seem, vegas is massive, so decide if you want to stay on or off the strip - each hotel tends to draw a different crowd, so choose which crowd you want to hang with, for example: mandalay bay: young and sporty, bellagio & wynn: high-rollers and their entourages, excalibur: deal seekers less concerned with aesthetics, caesar's palace: those who want to be in the centre of it all Do - any cirque de soleil show (get tix in advance, or chance it with half-price tix at fashion show mall) - shop forum shops at caesar's or fashion show mall (across from wynn) - sit by the pool - golf - spa more than 3 days in sin city... - visit the hoover dam - hike in the red rock canyon Eat - tao restaurant is lively (to say the least), has amazing service and to-die-for japanese-inspired food - fiamma at the MGM is a triple-threat: pasta, 400+ wine list, modern design (recognized by Wine Spectator in 2009) - Botero at Encore takes the steakhouse concept to a whole new level offering chill-laxed, pool-side dining

Choosing the Best Type of Carry-On

[trip style = packing light]

With airlines continuing to raise prices for checked baggage and carry-on allowances getting more scant, traveling with the right type of carry-on can increase your packing space and provide an extra dose of peace of mind.

Except from recent trip home from Palm Springs Front Desk Agent: "May I see your Carry-on (measures it). I'm sorry mam, this is too large" Me: "But it's within your luggage requirements and I used the same bag to get here with no issue." Front Desk Agent: "It is a quarter-inch too long in height" Me: "Yet it slides perfectly into the overhead bin" (straight in vs sideways) Front Desk Agent: "We have an faa agent on our flight today and he is measuring every bag"

To make a long story short, I ended up being allowed to bring my bag on the plane even though it was a quarter-inch too long, but the other people beside me weren't so lucky (and they too brought the same bag on the inbound flight with no issue). As I expected, my bag slid perfectly into the over-seat bin. Strangely,  I never saw an FAA agent on or near our flight, maybe he/she was in plain clothes?

Had the front desk agent not provided a mini amount of grace, I would have had to pay $35 to check my bag. I fly with a carry-on for convenience, so giving up that convenience coupled with the extra $35 that I would not want to spend for an extra quarter inch made me re-think the type of carry-on I'll use when traveling on this airline again.

Why does type of carry-on matter? If an airline ever has any suspicion on your bag's size, it will be tested in either the carry-on 'cage' (as I like to call it) or with a good, old-fashioned measuring tape. And if your bag's wheels stick out slightly preventing it from passing the measurement test, too bad. From now on, if my carry-on does not 100% fit the airline's baggage requirements--even by a quarter inch--I will always travel with a flexible bag (like my preferred Longchamp Le Pliage) so it can be moulded and punched into place if selected for a sizing test. This will allow me to a) maintain the convenience of carry-on travel b) pack to the fullest knowing that if required, the bag could be forced into the airline's carry-on configuration c) travel with confidence.

Tips - know your airline's baggage sizing requirements, and be able to quote them if your bag is in question - if you think there's any grey area between your measurement and the airline's measurement of your bag, bring a smaller size - always favor bags in darker colors, they stand out less and seldom attract a 'random measurement' - when buying a carry-on, look for long and lean vs short and wide. wider bags 'appear' bigger - in all this talk about sizing, don't forget about weight, some airline's max carry-on weight is now 25 pounds - most airlines allow a max carry-on size of 45" total, OR 22" x 14" x 9"

Understanding Hotel Star Ratings

The background The intent of hotel star ratings, AAA's diamond ratings, Michelin's Red Guide ratings and Mobil/Forbes' Stars is to provide a classification system for customers to evaluate the facilities and quality of accommodation they are considering. For example, a 1-star hotel would be considered basic, while a 5-star would be considered superior.  See hotel rating differentiators below.

Anomalies Ever had the experience where you go to a resort in a developing nation and the facilities are not quite up to par with the 4-star rating you expected? That's because, contrary to popular thought, many countries have their own rating systems. For example, in Europe, each country (and sometimes city) tends to have its own rating system. To make matters more confusing, in addition to the country's governing body ratings, hotels are also rated by travel writers, travel websites and travelers on sites like Trip Advisor (see trip styler's reviews here).  Since star ratings only go from 1 - 5, 7-star hotels like the Burj al Dubai or 7-Stars Galleria in Milan are thought to be self-rated.

Can you trust hotel star ratings? Generally yes. Especially when it pertains to big brands like Intercontinental, Hyatt, Starwood, Hilton and Fairmont. The challenge comes when considering one-off properties on foreign soil.

Hotel ratings explained 1-Star Rating - Usually a small hotel managed and operated by the owner. - Basic accommodations. - Services and transport options should be within walking distance. Criteria: abides by standards such as room size, window screens and coverings, clothes storage, linens, door lock, smoke detector, and parking facilities. (note, all Italicized text paraphrased from canadaselect.com)

2-Star Rating - Typically a chain that offers consistent quality and limited amenities. - Small or medium-sized rooms with a phone and TV. - No room service but should be a restaurant on-site. Criteria: exceeds the 1-star level in quality of mattress, bed linen, floors/window/wall coverings, and in provision of bedside and seating area lighting, additional room furniture, and parking space.

3-Star Rating - Often located near a major expressway, business center and/or shopping area. - Offers nice, spacious rooms and decorative lobbies. - On-site restaurants will offer breakfast, lunch and dinner. - Valet, room service, small fitness center and pool are often available. Criteria: these above-average properties will offer larger units with additional room furniture, coordinated furnishings, better quality mattresses and linens, and will be equipped with clock/alarm, extra amenities in washrooms.

4-Star Rating - Formal, large hotels, with multiple in-hotel services. - Nearby shopping, dining, entertainment. - Usually other same-caliber hotels clustered nearby. - Synonymous with above-average service, well appointed rooms, restaurants, room service, valet parking, fitness center and a concierge. Criteria: indicates exceptional quality in facilities and services. Offering superior quality throughout the property in areas of guestrooms, bath and common areas. The property typically provides laundry/valet service as well as many additional amenities.

5-Star Rating - A lux hotel with highest degree of personal service. - Rooms are equipped with quality linens, DVD, CD/iPod stereo, jacuzzi tub and in-room video. - Multiple restaurants on-site with extensive, gourmet menus, and room-service available 24-7. Fitness center, valet parking and concierge top off the experience. Criteria: offering outstanding facilities, guest services and amenities, a 5-star property is intended to impart a luxurious experience to a discerning international audience.

Tips - if worried, ask a hotel what governing body gave them their star rating - keep in mind that most hotel ratings systems rely heavily on facilities and service 'quantity' vs quality.  For example, a three-star could have an incredible atmosphere and decor, but lacked the facilities to reach a 4-star rating. - remember, a 4-star rating doesn't always guarantee top-notch service

Travel iPhone Apps :: Near Me BC

In case the Olympic footage of British Columbia isn't enough to entice you to visit Canada's beautiful West Coast, hopefully the above video will...but really, as if you needed convincing.

Ok, like the 4.5 million other international visitors in 2008, you're now excited to visit "The Best Place on Earth" (caption on all BC license plates). But what now? The planning stage prior to a trip can often be the most time consuming. This is why Tourism British Columbia has put together a list of 4000 activities, restaurants and accommodations to assist in your BC trip planning. An apt explanation of this app is "it's like having a visitor centre in your pocket."

Near Me BC Travel App Details

• free
• select categories like active & outdoors, attractions, food & drink, transportation & rentals, accommodations and visitor centres for most cities
• determines your location and presents info of what's nearest at the moment
• on a road trip? select from list of locations and find out what's ahead
• save all important info for offline browsing
• also contains 2010 Games info (if you happen to read this post before Feb 28th)

Other Travel iPhone Apps we've Reviewed

• 2010 Guide
• Nat'l Geo World Atlas
• hostelworld.com
• kayak first class
• flight control (game)

Tom Brokaw's Explanation of Canada to USA (Shown during NBC's Olympic Broadcast)