Luxuo introduces us to a new type of architecture, a house built out of the iconic Louis Vuitton brown and gold print.  It’s rumored to be located in Mexicali.  I wonder how many tourists stop by for a look.

LA Times Travel lures us with exotic details of a cruise to Antarctica.  I would love to be able to afford a trip to this least inhabited of the continents.

Vintage Seattle shows us photos of Sea-Tac Airport circa the 1950’s.  It’s changed!

Tripbase lists 14 juvenile things to do with an underwater camera.  Come one, how many of these have you done while on vacation?

Over at Gadling, Heather lists 20 things you can do inflight with a maxi pad.  Yes, flight attendants really do ordinary items in unusual ways.

Traveling Mamas introduces us to the Broadmoor, a luxury resort in Colorado Springs.  The pool area sounds great, despite her little one’s misadventure.

Travel Writer News shares some airline humor.  Although many of these have been around for awhile, you’ll likely find a new one to chuckle at.

AOL Travel lists some ways to tell if a user generated review of a hotel is real or fake.  Take it all with a grain of salt seems like a good idea.

Almost Fearless gives good suggestions on how to find safe, affordable, and clean places to stay while traveling.  You’ll find these useful whether you’re traveling for a short duration or living on the road.

I’m off to learn more about what to expect in the travel industry for the next year, and what the trends will be.  I’ll have more to report on those topics coming up.

Photo credit: SXC

Post from: Fly Away Cafe

Have I found myself telling friends all about the place – either raving or complaining?  Or has the visit failed to stand out as a memory at all?  A true gem stands the test of time and shouldn’t be forgotten a week later!

While a hotel visit is about evaluating a combination of amenities and experiences vs. price point (and those don’t necessarily go hand in hand), I’ve devised a list of things that I’m on the lookout for:

1. How easy and clear was the reservation process?  Will a guest feel like they’ve gotten the best deal available, or are they going to feel ripped off?  Even when I’m the guest of a hotel and don’t make my own reservation, I play around with the hotel website to see how easy it is to use.
2. How am I greeted and treated at check in?  Whether the first impression is the valet parking or the front desk staff, I like to know that my presence is appreciated and that I’m a valued guest.  I’ve already written about by annoyances when checking into a hotel, so I’m paying particular attention to how welcome I’m made to feel.
3. Room first impression.  Opening the door is the first make or break moment for me.  It’s the time when a guest takes a breath and either gasps, OMG this room is great, or sighs and says ugh.  I want to see a spotless room, with chairs and bed linens neatly in place, without a smoke or funky smell.  I want lights that work, burned out bulbs replaced before I have to call down and request it, a television and remote in working order (even though I rarely use them, I check them out), and and easy to adjust temperature control.  After I walk in, I do a quick once around the entire room to see how things are laid out, make sure that everything works, etc., and I usually take a few photos in this process.
4. The bathroom.  This had better be spotless, with not a scrap of paper or hair in the sink left behind.  I check out the amenities, looking both for the quantity of products (shampoo, conditioner, bath gel, soaps) and the quality (upscale brands and upscale hotels).  I look for those features that make this home away from home easy to use, like the hairdryer, make up mirror, magnifying mirror, jetted tub, dual shower heads, lighting, supply and quality of towels, etc.  When I use the shower, I take note of how the water flow is, if the water is hard or soft, and how easy it is to adjust the water temperature.
5. Desk/work space.  Although I love relaxing in a great hotel room, the reality is that I’m usually there working.  I want FREE wi-fi.  Hotels don’t always provide it, but all of the business guests want it.  And if we’re paying for it, it better be a darned strong signal!  I get very irritated when I’m paying top dollar for wi-fi and the signal is weak.  I look for adequate plug ins around the desk area, good lighting, a comfortable chair that adjust in height for the desk, multiple phones in the room with a speaker phone in the work space area, sufficient waste bins with recycling options, and enough space to spread out and actually work.  I’m about functional work space more than pretty, but bonus points if it’s both.
6. Bed and bedding.  I’m not a picky sleeper, and unless it’s a really, really bad mattress, I can sleep on one that’s hard or soft, but I do try to take note of which it is.  I want an alarm clock handy, a phone by the bed, and good lighting to read by.   I like lots of pillows, an extra blanket (I tend to be a cold sleeper), and wi-fi that works in case I want to work in bed.
7. Beverage center.  I don’t care about a mini bar, and am not sure who does anymore, but I do like a refrigerator (for leftovers from dinner).  A coffee pot and coffee/tea is important, because I like it first thing when I get up – before I hit the shower.  Adequate cream and sugar is important, and the cream shouldn’t be the powdered stuff.  Bonus points for the flavored kind.  Plug ins should be convenient for use.
8. Hotel restaurant.  I try to have at least one meal at a restaurant at the hotel or order room service.  While it’s fun to get off the beaten bath and find a hidden gem, the majority of guests will have at least one meal at the hotel.  I check to see if the restaurants are over-priced because they have a captive audience, or if they’re fairly priced for the area.  I’m also looking to see what kind of variety is available, and whether the choices are family friendly (and priced accordingly) or more upscale adult dining.  I check out how long the line is for coffee, knowing that many guests will want to grab a cup on the run.  This is often a separate review category.
9. Conference/business space.  While this is hard to check out unless you’re actually using the space, I do try to take a peek or two and see what’s available, as well as look at the business center.
10. Public spaces.  I spend some time wandering around the public spaces, not just the lobby.  Are there little spots to sit and have a drink or chat?  Is there work space in the lobby?   When I encounter staff in the public areas how are they acting?  Am I greeted or ignored?  Cleanliness and tidiness is important.
11. Pool, jacuzzi and/or beach area.  Is the pool indoor or outdoor?  What hours is it available for use?  Are kids permitted?  I check out locker room and shower areas (if available), and notice if the smell of chlorine grabs my nose a block away.  Is the beach area kept clean?  Is food and beverage service available, and if so, what’s it like?  Are there charges for a chaise lounge, and can you find one?
12. Work out room.  If it’s on premises, I take note of any fee that is charged and match that up with what’s available, how it’s maintained, and how many people I see using it.  If there’s nothing on site, I find out what’s close by and what’s the fee.
13. Concierge.  A good concierge is worth their weight in gold, so I try to ask a variety of questions during my stay.  And they’d best be able to answer the most basic ones!  My questions range from basic information (where to catch the bus) and facts about the hotel (how many rooms are there), to asking for recommendations on where to go (is there a bookstore nearby) and things to do (any good happy hours going on).  If they only suggest hotel facilities, I’m immediately suspect.  If they engage me in conversation to try to get a feel for my preferences BEFORE making suggestions, I know they really care about the quality of my experience.
14. Operator.  Phone etiquette is one of my pet peeves.  When the operator answers the phone, I need to be able to understand him/her.  If the first part of the message is said so fast that I can’t figure out if I’ve called the right placed, then the ending “how may I help you?” won’t really matter.  Staff that answers the phone should be trained to speak slowly and distinctly so that they can be understood.
15. Spa.  This is a review category separate to itself, and just as extensive.
16. Demographics.  Who would like to stay at this hotel and why?  Is it perfect for a family reunion, with lots of kids, or is it a romantic gem?  We all want a different hotel experience for different reasons, and matching up expectations with a selection is always important.
17. The unknown factor.  Not everything is quantifiable, and many times staying at a hotel isn’t about a check list, but about an emotional feeling.  The “it” factor, if you will.  I never discount it.
18. One-week later.  As I said before, it’s important to reflect on how I feel about the visit a week later.  Many times, I’ve mellowed, and something wasn’t really horrible, I was just having a bad day.  Conversely, maybe the bar wasn’t really that much fun, it was just the third glass of wine.  A great experience will be a great experience next week or next month.

After collecting and evaluation all that information, I then evaluate the experience against the price point of the room.  It’s all about value, and what’s a value at $100, $200 or $500 per night will be vastly different.

What are your considerations when evaluating a hotel room?

Photo credit:  SXC

Post from: Fly Away Cafe

On this trip I stayed on the strip at the Palazzo Hotel, (3325 Las Vegas Blvd. South, Las Vegas).

The Palazzo, like its sister property The Venetian, is an all-suites Las Vegas hotel with an Italian theme in the rooms, common area, and extending into the casino.  You enter through a soaring multi-level lobby.  There’s lots of glass, arts, marble and faux marble, giving an upscale feel to the hotel.

For my stay, I had booked a room on the Concierge Level, a little larger in size and giving me access to the concierge lounge.  These suites are located on floors 24-28. There is a separate concierge level check in area, although it was not staffed when I arrived.  In fact, I didn’t see it staffed for most of my stay there, giving me reason to believe that this amenity may have been discontinued.

Still, the check in process was a breeze and then it was off to the room. 

The walk to the elevator bank takes you through the main part of the casino.  While I understand that the real money is made among these tables, I really like to be able to get to my room without having to roll my luggage through the casino floor.  This is the primary negative to the check in process, and in my opinion it’s a big one.

The suites have sunken living rooms with couches, desk and work space, Italian themed art and decor, spacious bathrooms and upscale amenities.  There were three plasma televisions, two large ones in the living room and bedroom and a smaller one in the dressing area of the bathroom.  The suites are quite large, the concierge level ones being slightly larger than the others.  I enjoyed the spaciousness of the room, and it was a pleasant to feel like my room was a pleasant place to spend time in rather than just to sleep in.

Keep reading for more information about the Concierge Lounge and Pool area

The Concierge Lounge is a very large multi-room area covering over 12,000 square feet on the 23rd floor.  It has its own concierge service, very handy for booking show tickets and dinner reservations, as well as for printing out boarding passes.  The lounge also has a business center with the typical equipment that you would expect, and if you’ve brought your laptop you’ll appreciate the FREE wi-fi throughout the lounge (there’s a charge in the rooms).

  Complimentary continental breakfast (cereal, pastries, bagels, fruit, coffee, juice, etc.) is offered in the lounge.  Pick a spot by one of the floor to ceiling windows for a bright space to look out at the pool or the strip while you ease into the day.  I spent an hour or so there every morning – having a bite to eat, catching up on emails and work, as well as doing a little blogging and other writing.  It was peaceful and productive time.

Come evening time, you can relax in the lounge with a complimentary happy hour offering appetizers and cocktails.  It’s a nice selection of upper shelf liquors and good wine, along with hot and cold appetizers.  It’s a good spot to meet up with everyone if you’re traveling in a group, or just to relax before heading off for dinner.

Since the reason for the trip was to get a few last days of sunshine, I spent much of the day at the pool.  It covers a lot of ground, with various pools and hot tubs.  The weather was nice, and it was quite crowded, so if you want a chaise in the sun, get to the pool early.  There are private cabanas available for rent along all of the pools, but I wasn’t able to determine the prime location for maximum sun time.  (None of the cabanas were in use the days that I was there.)

If you’re lying by the pool for some time, it’s entirely possible that you’ll need a cold beverage.  And that’s where this otherwise great hotel falls short.  Food and beverage service in the pool area is very poor.  It was difficult to find someone to even take my order, and it didn’t improve from there.  The service was slow and inattentive.  You’d better hope that your not dying of thirst, because it’s going to be awhile before you get anything to drink!

And here’s my real pet peeve!  If you’re going to charge $14 for a drink (and that doesn’t include the tip), even if it’s by the pool, it needs to be a decent drink.  No pre-made mix crap!  If I order a fluffy tropical drink like a pina colada, it should have REAL juice and ingredients and NOT come from a mix.  One sip of my drink and I knew it was a mix.  When I asked the cocktail server about it, she said that it was pre-made and came out of a machine.  Ick!

To her credit, she offered to take it back to the bar and have it made by hand.  OK, this had potential.  However, my mistake was in believing that “made by hand” meant “made with fresh ingredients.”  When the drink returned, it may have been made by hand, but was still out of a mix.  The closest thing to fresh in this drink was the maraschino cherry garnish!

Lesson learned – do not order cocktails by the pool!

Suites at the Palazzo start in the neighborhood of $159.  It’s hard to quote a price range as prices vary greatly depending on date and availability.  There are usually lots of promotions available that may package the suite price with other amenities like show tickets, dinner, and gaming coupons.

I’d stay at the Palazzo again.  And again and again, for that matter.  I enjoyed the spaciousness of the room.  I enjoyed the comfort and congeniality in the concierge lounge, providing me a location for some online time along with a bite to eat and drink.  And I even like the pool, although you can bet I’ll never order another cocktail there!

Image credit:  personal collection

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Post from: Fly Away Cafe

Although the concept was interesting, there just weren’t enough hotels for me to decide just how reliable the site was going to be.  As we approach the one year mark, I took a look back to see how they’ve evolved.

For starters, there are a lot more properties available.  Still, while they claim to have over 1,000 hotels, many of those do not have videos.  In Seattle, 10 hotels were listed, only one had video.

I checked out some hotel samples for Seattle (where I live), as well as several cities where I’ve booked hotels lately.  I wanted places that I was familiar enough with that I could judge how fairly the videos represented the properties. 

The first thing I discovered is that the videos are fairly amateurish, sort of like something that I could video myself (making note to self there).  There’s nothing wrong with amateur video, however the site touts that “all our videos have been shot by TVtrip professionals.”  I expected a little better quality.

The video shows the exterior of the hotel, a bit of the neighborhood, and then moves inside for some common areas – front desk, lobby area, etc.  After that we get a sample of the room, shown from different angles in an attempt to showcase the various features of the room.

So what did I think?

From those hotels that I viewed (10), I believe the videos to be fair and accurate representations of the properties they were showing.  Here’s a big A+ for honesty.

Along with the video, each hotel listing has other information organized by tabs, much like you will find at other hotel search sites.  You’ll find additional photos, room information, reviews, and ratings from guest.  I didn’t notice anything outstanding in the area – all very basic stuff, and many listings without any additional information other than price and booking details.

I was disappointed. 

The site was heavy with booking and price information and light in details and video.  After a year, I expected more.  More video, more hotels, more independent information, and more details. 

Although they’ve won a bunch of web awards (and congratulations for that), I don’t think they yet deliver the information that travelers need.  We need real meat, not popular Web 2.0 features.

It’s not that TVtrip is bad, so much as it just fails to deliver enough for me to make it a regular stop for travel research.  I’ll have to check back again, if they’re around in another year.

Image credit:  TVtrip

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Post from: Fly Away Cafe