But boy did I learn!

Now, after more than 3 1/2 years, and 1,325 posts, Flyaway Cafe is being retired.  Today’s post, my 1,326th, will be my last.

As I write this, there is an incredible range of emotions rushing through me, the first of which is a huge amount of thanks.

I am very thankful for the early days of b5media, and the people who were willing to take a chance on Flight Attendant who loved to travel, and said she could learn all the rest of this blogging stuff.  The people who have helped me along my journey are too numerous to mention, and I know I’d forget someone anyway, so I hope you realize that this big THANK YOU is for you.

My next thank you goes to the many, many bloggers I’ve met over these years.  You have taught me and encouraged me.  We’ve shared hopes and frustrations, common goals and common problems, and more than a drink or two.  I am a better blogger and travel of the world for knowing you.  I hope to someday be in a position to “pay it forward” and help others the way that you have helped me.

And my final thank you, and probably the most important thank you, is to you – all of my readers.  As I’ve learned a little more about blogging, I hope that I have helped you learn a little more about travel.  I hope we were able to create a place to discover new information, share ideas, share a Flight Attendant’s perspective, and have a little fun.  I hope you have tools to be a better traveler, that you are inspired to see something new, and that along the way of discovery, you’ve had a few laughs.  If you have learned even a small portion of what you’ve taught me, then Flyaway Cafe has been a success.

Although there is a little bit of sadness today, there’s lot more excitement and enthusiasm.   As much as I have loved blogging at Flyaway Cafe, I am even more excited about the new projects that I’m involved with

Since January 2009, I have worked with PlanetEye as their Travel Editor,  Earlier this month we’ve launched our fabulous new online travel magazine, PlanetEye Traveler.  I get to work with an exciting management team and a group of wonderfully creative travel bloggers to help bring you great photographs, expert reviews, cool interactive maps, and fresh content every day.  We have over 50 destinations around the world, along with some fun travel specialties, so stop by to see what catches your eye.  You’ll find me there blogging about Seattle.

And. . . of course. . . you know that I have lots more Flight Attendant stories to share with you.  And lots more trips to plan and take, hotels and spas to review, restaurants to sample, wine to drink, products to test and review, and plenty to do that will keep me full of personal travel blogging stories.  You can find me blogging about all those topics at my new personal travel website, Traveling with MJ.  I’ve already got a few posts up, and scads of reviews (including some really great products) and more information on trips to Las Vegas, Croatia, and Italy, that I’ll be posting over the next few weeks as I get settled in.  Please stop by and see what I’m up to, and put up with a little clean up left to be done there.   Of course, you can always reach me by email.

While I may be leaving Flyaway Cafe, I’m certainly not leaving travel blogging.  It’s gotten into my head and my heart, and I look forward to another 1,325 posts.  I hope you’ll come along for the next leg of the journey.

Photo credit: Mary Jo Manzanares

Post from: Fly Away Cafe

Royal Caribbean Cruise Line and USA Today newspaper have launched the Reporter at Sea contest, looking for a talented citizen journalist (blogger?) to cover the pre-inaugural voyage of the Oasis of the Seas, the largest cruise ship in the world.

Royal Caribbean Cruise Line's Oasis of the Sea

Oasis of the Sea has 16 decks and can carry 5,400 guests in 2,700 staterooms.  It’s themed around a neighborhood concept, with specific themed areas:  Central Park, Boardwalk, the Royal Promenade, the Pool and Sports Zone, Vitality at Sea Spa & Fitness Center, and Entertainment Place.

Starting today, and running through October 9, 2009 at 11:50 pm (Eastern Time) you can submit a creative video that is no long than 45-seconds that showcase your reporting skills, and giving RCCL a reason to choose you to be their reporter at sea for this preview sailing on the Oasis of the Sea.  One winner will be chosen from the United States, and additional winners from Canada, Germany, Mexico, and the United Kingdom will also be chosen.

After the entry deadline, the judges will select 10 finalists from each of the above countries, based on creativity and quality, as well as the entrant’s ability to entertain, effectively bring to life and clearly explain travel or cruising concepts, and articulate why he/she should be chosen to represent their country.

Following the judges narrowing the field, the selection process moves online.  Voters will have the opportunity to choose their favorite video between October 20-25th, with the winner from each country announced on November 4th.

What’s the prize?

The winner and a guest will be flown to Fort Lauderdale, Florida on November 18th, 2009, where they will have overnight accommodations in a local hotel and a $200 allowance for food.  The next day, they’ll board the ship for a 3-night cruise with balcony cabin stateroom.  During the cruise, the winner will experience the sailing right along with Gene Sloan, USA TODAY’s cruise editor, and receive behind-the-scenes information and access to write blogs posts and video clips.

Sounds like a lot of fun, huh?  Who’s going to enter?

Photo credit:  Courtesy of Royal Caribbean Cruise Line

Post from: Fly Away Cafe

Consumer Traveler thinks that when it comes to tarmac delays that we want to have our cake and eat it, too.  See what you think.

West Seattle Blog gives us a peek at some wildlife along the shore.  It’s part of the reason why Seattle is such a great place to live.

Gadling shares what it would be like if airlines ran restaurants.  This would be funny if it weren’t all too true.

LA Times tells us about FREE tours of the White House Gardens.  If you’ll be back DC way, this sounds like a great idea.

My Marrakesh always has such wonderful finds from her corner of the world.  One day I’m heading that way for a visit, and will convince her to take me shopping.

AAA Travel Views snagged me with an article about what goes into a 5-star hotel evaluation.  Ahhhhh, luxury!

Ron Dubin always captivates with his photography, and this one of the Seine in Paris brings back memories of a wonderful vacation.

LUXUO introduced me to Louis Vuitton City Guides.  Love their bags, but have never seen their city guides.  Anyone?

Nerds Eye View advises about mistakes that rookie RV-ers make, and owns up to the one she made herself.

A Single View provides a little airline humor.  Who has the guts to use this bag tag?

Sharing Experiences talks about what it takes to be a travel writer, and how to get some good travel learnin’.

Tripbase tackles the age old problem of post-vacation blues.  My choice?  Start planning another vacation ASAP.

Travel Rants talks about Google Sidewiki.  What do you think?

What a Trip talks about a trip to Ketchikan.  Read about the must-do in the great city in Alaska.

The Vacation Gals have a great giveaway, combining the Wii and travel.  Go and enter!

PlanetEye Traveler – Lisbon has my mouth watering with a great fine dining review.  Now I’m hungry!

Till next week, happy reading!

Photo credit:  Mary Jo Manzanares

Post from: Fly Away Cafe

iTravelnet writes about ActionAid Australia’s TOTO project.  They’re looking for an outreach blogger to write about poverty.  Deadline to apply is August 30th, so if you’re interested move quickly.

(c)Mary Jo Manzanares, 2009

My Bella Vita explains how a simple geography question about how many continents there are can fuel an international discussion.  The answer may not be as simple as you think.

The Amsterdam Guide explains proper tram etiquette.  If you’ll be traveling Amsterdam by public transportation, this is good advice to make things easier for you.

AAA Travel Views writes about the AAA Roadside iPhone app that’s now available.  I love my apps, so you can bet that I’ll be using and reviewing this one soon.

My Mélange lists her travel regrets.  We all have some, of course, but reading her list will make you more determined that ever to travel to the fullest.

The Vancouver Traveler revisits Woodstock, British Columbia-style.  Not just a US phenomena, Woodstock resonated, and continues to resonate, around the world.

Intelligent Traveler has a writer putting Jet Blue’s Flight Pass to a test.  You can follow along as Katie travels and uses the pass for a month.

Money Hacker lists 12 ways to travel for free.  They won’t work for everyone, of course, but maybe you can find one that captures your attention and give it a try.

Upgrade Travel Better writes about Hertz’s decision to start photographing rental cars in order to avoid conflict about whether there’s been additional damage.  Sounds like a good idea to me.

The South Florida Traveler helps us learn how to prepare for a hurricane.  Good info to know before your need it, rather than after, but I still hope I never have to put it to a test.

Consumer Traveler names the world’s worst hotel, and spills the beans on a few others as well.

Richard P. Carpenter’s Travel & Trivia lists information to consider when deciding when to travel where.  It takes into account weather, special events, vacation times, currency valuation, and more.

Global Nomad has great photos and accompanying commentary about the beggars who work Sudder Street in Kolkata, India.

Northwest Cheapsleeps recommends things to do and see in Long Beach, Washington, reminding me that I haven’t been there in quite awhile.

Eye Flare picks up the discussion on whether or not TripAdvisor censors reviews – especially negative ones.  Jack’s advice is solid, always read with some skepticism.

Travel Rants points out how to spot a fake travel site.  Sad, but true, travelers continue to get hoodwinked by unscrupulous vendors.  Ignore this advice at your own peril.

Enjoy the week!

Photo credit:  personal collection

Post from: Fly Away Cafe

The Edinburgh Guide – Although it has been called Auld Reekie, it never meant smelly until now.

Wisebread – Good tips for finding free wi-fi at airports.  Unfortunately, some of these means are getting encrypted and/or shut down, but it’s a great starting point.  And why, oh why, can’t there just be free wi-fi at the airport?!

Concierge – From Conde Nast Traveler comes this great guide to tipping around the world.  Read it, print it out for future reference, and understand how tipping appropriately maintains the culture of where you’re traveling.  It’s really not about throwing your money around to feel important!

The London Traveler – The Cult of Mithras, the patron god of the Roman Empire Army, is depicted in statues around the city.  Andrea puts it all together and explains why it’s important to the history of the area.

Wanderlust and Lipstick – What’s worth the money and what’s not.  Mostly not.  A good read on how to avoid the airline fees that plague us all.

Intelligent Travel – A review of S’Mac, in New York City, where the specialty is macaroni and cheese.  Ooooh, oooooh, I love my mac and cheese, and this lower east side restaurant serves their versions of it right in the skillet.  My mouth is watering even typing about it!

Tripso – A great discussion of how social media can help make your vacation better.  Twitter anyone?

Stood There – I love this fun site where there are lists and list of attractions and locations where you must have your photo taken.  Divided up by geography, these lists are a lot of fun.  How many can you check off?

Traveling the Green Way = Travel is certainly not the most green of activities, but seeing the world and learning about other cultures is important.  Jennifer lists a variety of ways to help minimize our traveling impact, giving us good food for thought.

Photo credit: SXC

Post from: Fly Away Cafe

The Buenos Aires Guide – Be careful when booking you’re hotel, or you may wind up at one that rents by the hour.

Nerds Eye View – Pam is off at BlogHer with a bunch of other Seattle travelbloggers.  While I had to miss the event due to a scheduling matter, I’m keeping up on the travels via her blog.  I loved this section of their trip through Cody, Wyoming.

Travellious – My pals over here spent three weeks in Italy shortly before I did.  While I love, love, LOVE the food in Italy, I could relate to the urge for a food quintessentially American – onion rings.

Tripso – Cruising may not be the luxury experience we hope for.  Read about the five dirtiest cruise ships before making your plans.

LA Times – Commuting airline crew members who “live” in RV’s in the parking lot at LAX.  Yep, this is a real glamour job.

Gadling – Always a great stop for great photography, but this photo taken from the edge of the Grand Canyon made me realize how insignificant we all are.

Wanderlust and Lipstick – Beth gives some solid advice for a young woman about to embark on her first solo trip.  I’m reading Beth’s book on solo travel right now, so look for a review and more solo travel tips in the coming weeks.

Photo credit: irrezolut @flickr

Post from: Fly Away Cafe

Often referred to as the “Garden Isle,” Kauai is one of the wettest spot in the world, with an annual rainfall of 460 inches. 

I’m most familiar with the town of Lihue, on the southeast coast of Kauai.   Most visitors, however, may be more familiar with Waimea, once the capital of the island, and the first place in Hawaii visited by Captain James Cook. 

While there’s still beaches and sand, the lushness of Kauai lends itself to lots of other outdoor activities.

To learn more about Kauai, and all the other Hawaiian Islands, head over to The Hawaii Traveler, and read what Jody has to say about one of the top vacation spots in the United States.

Photo credit:  personal collection

_________________________________________

Post from: Fly Away Cafe

Now in its second year, the only industry-wide trade show, conference, and media event promotes blogging and new media with its seminars, panel discussions, keynotes, and exhibitor booths.  Not only that, it’s a heck of a lot of fun!

If you are already a blogger, vlogger, or podcaster, or maybe you just want to know more about them all, this conference is sure to give you a chance to learn, network, and party with some of the stars of the blogosphere.

BWE conference pricing starts at $75 for exhibits only, $300 for full access, and $750 for the Executive & Entrepreneur conference.  If you want to go, register by August 22nd when the prices go up. 

The conference will be held in the South Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center, 3150 Paradise Road, Las Vegas.  The convention center is conveniently located on the monorail system, providing easy access to and from major strip hotels.

One more reason to go to BlogWorld Expo – I’ll be there.  If you’re going, be sure to leave a comment so that we can meet up!

________________________________________

Post from: Fly Away Cafe

Unlike many countries, the United States has no national sales tax that is comparable to the GST (goods and services tax) or the VAT (value added tax) that is found in many other countries.  Instead, each state, county and/or municipality sets their own tax rate.

This means that what you pay in tax in one location may be different from what you’d pay in another location.

Additionally, in some locations certain goods are tax exempt, most typically food, and some things are taxed at different rates.

Prices quoted on a sales tag or by sales personnel do not include tax, so be sure to take that additional charge into consideration when evaluating a purchase price.

Confused?  Just ask what the sales tax is.  We don’t try to keep track of what it is from one place to another, and not knowing isn’t a big deal.

One way that you may avoid paying sales tax is to have your purchase shipped out of state.  Since a shipping charge will likely apply, you need to make sure that any savings outweighs the additional cost.  If you’re making a rather large purchase, ask your sales clerk about this option and decide if it’s the way to go.

And if you’re visiting Alaska, Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire, or Oregon, you’re really in luck.  Those states have no state sales tax at all.

Photo credit:  wikimedia

__________________________________________

Post from: Fly Away Cafe

No, it’s not Venice.  It’s the Gondola ride at the Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Okay, it’s a little touristy, and it’s definitely NOT Venice, but it’s still a bit of romantic fun away from the flashing lights and noise of the casinos.  You need to take a break from the fast paced action some time, and this isn’t a bad choice.

The gondolas have been fashioned after authentic Venetian ones, each seating four, and operate rides both indoors and out.  If your party doesn’t fill the gondola, you’ll likely be paired up with others.

The indoor gondolas float their way through the Grand Canal Shoppes, beneath bridges, shops, and cafes that have been created to give the feel of Venice.  The ride lasts about 15 minutes.

The outdoor gondolas offer a more “authentic” feel (since you really are outdoors), but are a few minutes shorter.  On a nice day I’d choose outdoors.

Same day reservations can be made in person, starting at 9 am for the indoor ride, and 10 am for the outdoor ride.  The gondolas operate Sunday – Thursday 10 am – 11 pm, and weekends till midnight.

The ride costs $16 per person.  A private two person gondola ride can be arranged, and is often used for special celebrations.

The Venetian Hotel is located at 3355 South Las Vegas Boulevard (map it).

Photo credit:  personal collection

__________________________________

Post from: Fly Away Cafe