Travel Editor

Last winter I made my way out West to Steamboat Springs, Colorado (also known as Ski Town, U.S.A.) to visit family and hopefully snowboard with my nephews on Mt. Werner. I have to mention that it started snowing each day from when I arrived in late November, and didn't stop snowing until the day I flew back to sunny Orlando, Florida.

I arrived without a board or gear and lucked into my nephew's previous board, pants, and jacket since we were the same size. All I had to rent were the boots and bindings and I had to pay to get an edge and wax on my borrowed board. The resulting costs were not high, and I made out really well. My nephews took me to this really cool shop named The Click where I was able to rent and purchase what I still needed and spent less than $100. The fact that my nephews are loyal customers of The Click may have had something to do with the great deal I received, but they were very reasonably priced anyway. It was a blessing to be able to borrow a board since all of the shops were completely depleted of rentals.

My advice to you is to reserve or purchase your board and gear ahead of time because they do go quickly.

Throughout the whole trip, the most I shelled out was around $400 for lift passes, which wasn't too bad. Although, if I had bought my passes before I arrived I could have saved quite a few dollars. After beating myself up on the slopes and in the terrain park, I went to Strawberry Park to unwind by taking a dip in their hot springs. It was such a relaxing experience and a highly recommended stop. Steamboat is set in a relaxed atmosphere at 6,695 feet above sea level, and everyone I met there was extremely friendly and down-to-earth.

Other than spending most of my time on the mountain, I also enjoyed stopping in the shops that are owned and operated by locals in the downtown Steamboat area. (I mean, who really wants to go to the same old shops as they have back home?) One place I wandered into was the Off the Beaten Path Bookstore. In addition to being a Wireless Hot-Spot, they had a wide array of books to choose from and a wonderful coffee house, wine bar, and cafe combined under one name of "Elements".

A restaurant that I enjoyed was The Tap House Sports Grill. It's a family environment with great price lists on their menu, especially on "Wing Tuesday" with 3 wings for a dollar!

From the time I arrived until the day I left, over 300 inches of snow descended from the heavens. It was any boarder's dream made reality. Steamboat is a spectacular place to visit! And I would recommend scheduling as much time as possible to vacation there. With breath-taking views and all around enjoyment, what else could anyone desire on a trip?

Photo by Shaun Quinlan (lightbox) at Morguefile.com

Labels: Mt. Werner, Snow, snowboard, Steamboat Springs, Travel

Posted by nordn8 at 9:36 AM | Permalink | Comments

The iPod is currently the world's best-selling digital audio player and its worldwide mainstream adoption makes it one of the most popular consumer brands. The creators, Apple, have teamed up with six different airlines to enable them to offer passengers seat connections that will power and charge their iPods during flight and allow the video content on their iPods to be viewed on the back of the seat's displays.

Air France, Continental, Delta, Emirates, KLM and United, will have the option available in mid-2007, but those airlines probably will be just the beginning of many. Apple said it is working with Panasonic Avionics Corporation to bring in-flight iPod connectivity to more leading airlines. Apparently, they are going to be using a system that is solely ipod-friendly, so no other players will work. This gives iPod an advantage over its competitors once again.

Seemingly everyone (including myself) wants an iPod these days, making it well ahead in popularity of all other players, and it's no surprise that they've already sold 70 million units. Where in the world do these teenagers come up with $300 to spend so freely and guiltlessly?! When you find the answer please let me know so I can buy one! Apple's booming iTunes store online offers over 3.5 million songs, 65,000 podcasts, 20,000 audiobooks, 5,000 music videos, 250 television shows and 100 movies. I too have tapped into the wonder that is iTunes and must admit that it is a heavenly abyss of musical and visual entertainment.

Delta must agree because its expecting to equip its entire domestic transcontinental fleet with those little suckers, fully functional by 2008. Also, Delta gave the news about its fall launch of an upgraded transcontinental product that includes digital, in-flight entertainment with on-demand movies and live satellite television.

With the expansion of the iPod in this manner, the airline company expects to offer it to all travelers on domestic flights longer than four hours by the end of 2008. So get ready all you travelers who love iPods! A new generation of flights awaits you!

Labels: airplane, entertainment, Flights, foreign travel, ipod

Posted by Sparkling at 4:47 PM | Permalink | Comments

Families with children have been flocking to Orlando for domestic leisure trips increasingly each year. Some 49.3 million visitors were reported visiting in 2005, generating about $29.6 billion from the tourist industry to the local economy. This information was researched by Global Insight. In 2005 alone, visitor statistics grew 3.3 percent from 2004 while spending grew by 4.2 percent.

The Orlando/Orange county Visitors Bureau, Inc. said that 46.6 million domestic visitors accounted for 95 percent of total visitation and 83 percent of visitor economic impact, totaling $24.6 billion. The area has 2.7 million international travelers which accounted for 5 percent of visitation, were responsible for 17 percent of visitor spending, adding a whopping $5 billion to the local economy.

Leisure visitation increased 3 percent to 36.2 million in 2005 and business travel shot to 4.2 percent to 10.4 million visits. Of business travelers, overnight visitors attending meetings, conferences, and conventions increased by 4.9 percent to 3.8 million.

Both domestic and business visitation to Orlando by Florida residents added up to 24.6 million in 2005, up 3.7 percent from 2004. Visitation by non-residents increased 2.9 percent to 22 million. The division between residents and non-residents of Florida remained unchanged from 2004 with Florida residents accounting for 53 percent of domestic visitation.

Overall, the number of domestic leisure visitors staying overnight increased by 3.2 percent to 23.6 million in 2005. The average leisure travel party in 2005 consisted of 2.9 visitors who spent an average of $1,585 over the course of 2.7 nights. Domestic overnight leisure visitors spent an average of 4.1 nights during their stay.

Families with Children accounted for 46 percent of domestic leisure travel, which was an increase from 41 percent in 2004. Sixty-five percent of domestic leisure travelers visited a theme park, making the attractions the top activity for visitors, which isn't a huge surprise.

Information from TravelAgent Magazine -Article by Joe Pike

Labels: attraction, families, Florida, Orlando, Travel

Posted by Sparkling at 3:40 PM | Permalink | Comments

So I was thinking about traveling to Las Vegas to catch one of Lance Burton's shows, because you know, he's just an awesome magician (at least I think so, anyway) and I came across this site. It's awesome. It's so informative, and I had to blog about it. So here goes...

The site is called Trip2Earth.com. It's run by Attractions Wholesale Travel. It is waaaaaay ahead of its time. The developers of the site spent over a year in the design of the site, and it is actually the culmination of over two years of research, development, and conception. This site will revolutionize travel arrangements through the Internet.

So far, they have only launched three prime destinations, and many secondary destinations near those primary destinations. For instance, for their major Florida destination, Orlando, they have Trip2Orlandousa.com. The site also follows with trips to Tampa, Daytona Beach, Miami, Key West and other Florida destinations. For more details, check out Trip2Florida.com.

For Nevada, which was my destination, Las Vegas is the premier travel destination in Nevada, and is fully covered by Trip2Earth. Secondary destinations, Lake Tahoe and Reno, are also covered on the website with their own separate subdomains, complete with travel guides and accommodation information.

Eventually, I'm going to plan a trip to The Bahamas with my significant other, and lucky for me, Trip2Earth has all the information I need. Freeport is currently the location of choice on Trip2Earth, but Nassau and Paradise Island are soon to follow if their information page for The Islands of the Bahamas is any indication. Unlike Las Vegas and Orlando there isn't much of an event guide for Freeport. No one really goes to The Bahamas for parties or anything like that unless they are going for Spring Break or Junkanoo, which is sort of a mixture of Mardi Gras, New Year's, and Carnivale all rolled into one. When I go to The Bahamas I want to relax on a beach with an island drink next to me on a small table, and watch the sun set over the water. If I feel adventurous, I will go snorkeling in some of the clearest water in the world, or scuba diving through one of the world's top 5 largest reefs. If I'm in the mood for some shopping I'll head down to the International Bazaar in downtown Freeport. Trust me, heavy events and nightlife won't be the priority for that particular vacation. If I want that, I'll head to Miami, and not do the whole passport/international travel ordeal, but I want to live it up Island-style, so I'll do my relaxing in The Bahamas. However, if you do need to find events in The Bahamas, check out their Ministry of Tourism website.

With T2E I can look up my destination, book my hotel, get tickets to a show (or theme parks, if I'm in Orlando), get airfare and all that jazz, and basically do everything I need to do in one fell swoop. It's like one-stop shopping for all my travel needs! I love it! Though they've only just recently launched with three main destinations, over time, Trip2Earth will launch different locations complete with travel guides, hotel information, and some will even have event guides. Their information will not just cover the United States, but will extend to include global destinations as well. It is just a matter of time.

Labels: Bahamas, Daytona Beach, Florida, Las Vegas, Miami, Orlando, Travel

Posted by Anonymous at 10:29 AM | Permalink | Comments

There are so many reasons people won't go on cruises, but many of them are fears that are unfounded. These are a few of the common sentiments of those who make excuses as to why they shouldn't go on a cruising experience -- (insert whiny tone here)

• It's too expensive!
• I'll probably sink like the Titanic!
• I'll get seasick!
• I can't bring my kids!
• I won't be able to stay in touch with people from home!
• I have a social phobia or a severe claustrophobia!

I am going to address these and add a bit of my personal experience in the matter, since I have actually gone cruising before, and let me tell you.. it was fun!

It's too expensive!

Okay, so it seems a little expensive at first. But you have to bear in mind this amount covers food, lodging, discounts on shore excursion options, possible lower airfare, shows, amusements, etc. (No, this doesn't include alcohol, sorry) If you really want to think about it, it ends up costing you less than a land based vacation (like a road trip, especially with the price of gas these days, sheesh!). Furthermore, if you book in advance, for instance, through a Travel Agent, you might actually be able to pay it over a period of time. When I went on my trip, it was with my mother, and she was the one paying, as it was a birthday present for me, but she had made arrangements to pay it in installments for nearly a year in advance, but it was more manageable than paying it all at once, and we had a great time!

There is also the possibility of having your trip during certain parts of the year, such as in the shoulder parts of the season (near the beginning or the end of a season) and it might be cheaper since it's not a high season kind of fare, which is usually more expensive. I'd recommend talking to a travel agent, or the cruise line booking representative.

I'll probably sink like the Titanic!

Uh.. no. You will not have a Kate and Leo "I'll never let go, Jack" moment on your cruise. That kind of occurrence is highly unlikely to the point of being nigh impossible. For one, since the Titanic, cruises do not "damn the lifeboats" for the sake of being more aesthetically pleasing. Rather, the lifeboats are actually visible on the outside around mid-ship. Secondly, as part of procedure, within 24 hours of your voyage you are required to partake in a safety drill which shows you how to get to your assigned lifeboat and includes usage of those lovely bright orange life jackets. For me, it was a loud, somewhat uncomfortable, hot, and echo-y experience. I hated it, but good grief did I ever appreciate it! I did take pictures of the process, as I was the official/unofficial photographer for our first cruise, ever (and my mom wanted pictures of everything!).

Safety is paramount on the seas, and thanks to the international regulations known as SOLAS (from the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea) all cruises have fire extinguishing systems, and smoke detectors to further contribute to passenger safety. For more information on passenger safety, MSN Travel has an article on Cruise Safety.

I'll get seasick!

There's actually a fat chance of this happening. Ships are really huge, and they have these things called stabilizers which keep the boat from rocking too much in water, ensuring a relatively smooth passage. I say relatively because if you're going against the current or if there's a small squall (that's a storm to you landlubbers) the seas can get a bit rougher, and you'll feel the motion of the ocean a bit more. But generally, you hardly feel it.. trust me. (I get motion sickness and I didn't feel a thing.) However, if you are really afraid of getting sick, don't hesitate to buy some Dramamine or Bonine from your local pharmacy. I recommend the non-drowsy stuff myself, because who wants to miss anything on their cruise?!? If you are unsure about taking meds on your vacation, or you just don't like pills, head to your doctor before you go, and see if you can get a Transderm patch, so that you don't have to take any pills. There are also more alternative and rather holistic remedies, as well. These include ginger capsules (ginger is a natural stomach soother for those queasy moments) and acupressure wristbands, which can also be found at your local drugstore.

I can't bring my kids!

Oh yes you can! Cruise companies are aware that their target customers bring kids, which means they have kid-friendly cruises. There are all sorts of supervised activities for all ages, from tots to teens. Some cruises even have babysitting available if you want to spend a romantic evening for two on the Promenade.. or whatever tickles your fancy.

I won't be able to stay in touch with people from home!

Yes you can! Sure, it costs an arm, a leg and a couple of other body parts to make calls from a cruise, especially on international waters, but most cruises nowadays have Internet cafes where you can pay for some Internet time and keep up with e-mail and send digital photos of your vacation to all your jealous friends! ;) I did it, and it wasn't too expensive. I was still able to keep in touch, and check up on my e-mails, which was important since I was about to go back to the university the following week.

I have a social phobia or a severe claustrophobia!

Then you probably won't like cruises. Cabins are not necessarily huge (unless you have some kind of suite or something), so they might make you feel a bit hemmed in, especially if you have an interior cabin with no window as opposed to one with a window. As for those who don't like crowds.. well, cruises tend to be somewhat crowded, full of different kinds of people, old and young alike. If these are your phobias... you might be better off in a different kind of vacation.


So be adventurous, take your cruise and explore that horizon... you just may enjoy it and want to come back for a second trip!

Until next time, clear skies and happy times!

Labels: cruise, expensive, kids, seasick

Posted by Anonymous at 11:03 AM | Permalink | Comments

Many fliers have experienced the dry, poorly oxygenated airflow on airplanes. It's not unbelievable that passengers would want to bring masks on board to filter out the filthy air in effort to prevent them from catching a cold. No wonder airplanes make us sleepy. There's very little oxygen in the air!

The creator of the Boeing 787 finally heard the cries of the people and decided to act on it. Much research was done and a decision made to make a new model the Dreamliner, a new long-range, mid-size jet scheduled to begin running in 2008. This new airplane will have the capacity to hold around 300 passengers and will contain more oxygen and humidity with less pollutants. This will make a much easier, more breathable flight for most fliers.

Normally, air comes from the inside of the jet engines which is then cooled and sometimes filtered through high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters which then circulates inside the cabin. Because of the circulation within the cabin, you are basically breathing everyone else's air, including those who are sick. Not only that, but not all airplanes are equipped with filters. Only 75% have filters which capture bacteria, pollen, dust, and other kinds of contaminates. The other 25% of older planes have not been required to update their systems.

The new 787 system will be completely restructured. Currently the humidity in airplanes in 4% to keep costs down, but the new model will be able to give off 15% humidity because the air will be coming directly from the outside rather than the engine. Also, the cabin air pressure will be adjustable by the crew depending on the numbers of passengers. It will be possible to make it feel like you are flying at 6, 000 feet altitude rather than 8,000. Consequently, there will be 8% more oxygen being absorbed into the blood, making people feel a lot better.

Airlines are already crazy about the dreamliner. Approximately 400 have already been ordered. The new jet will be more efficient in that it will be lighter, faster, and cheaper than its competitors. On longer flights of 8 or more hours, occupants are expected to feel much more refreshed upon arrival. Comfort obviously makes a huge difference!

Labels: air filter, airplane, Boeing, Dreamliner, Flight, HEPA, oxygen

Posted by Sparkling at 3:50 PM | Permalink | Comments