Here’s some posts you won’t want to miss:

The New York City Traveler combines two of my favorite food groups, bacon and beer, in his post about a limited production beer at the Brooklyn Brewery.  Another reason to make the trek across the bridge!

Nerds Eye View takes us along her road trip – in a 32 foot RV.  I’m not a camper, but maybe RV-ing it would be a little different.  What do you think?  Is a road trip in your future?

MSNBC gives us some tips on how to spot a hotel in bankruptcy.  Ignore these warning signs at your peril.

Seattle PI Blog has an interview with Hollywood screenwriter Mike Thompson, and he talks about his new movie, Love Happens starring Jennifer Aniston and Aaron Eckhart.  Parts of the movie were set in and around Seattle.

Fox Nomad suggests that we ask for a corporate discount, even if we don’t work for that business.  Or ask for a conference rate, even though we may not be attending the conference.  A good topic at the intersection of budget and ethics.

A Traveler’s Library reviews the recent Travel Insight 100 poll about using Twitter.  Members of Travel Insight 100 are travel writers, travel industry professionals, advisors and analysts, and travel bloggers.  (Full disclosure:  I’m a member of the panel.)

A Single View has a beautiful photo of the Hotel Cala di Volpe on the Costa Smeralda in Sardinia, Italy.  Beautiful!  And makes me long for my return trip to Italy.

Traveling the Green Way lists some green activities in the Portland area.  Some great stuff happening just down the freeway a-piece.

Photo credit: SXC

Post from: Fly Away Cafe

San Francisco-Bay Bridge will be closed over Labor Day Weekend

In most cases, this means that repairs are going to happen over a weekend, when the disruption to commuters is minimized.  Okay, that makes sense.

But why, I am asking myself, would anyone schedule repairs to the San Francisco – Oakland Bay Bridge over Labor Day Weekend?

The repairs are necessary bring the bridge into compliance with current earthquake standards.  It’s necessary and important, of course, but why close the bridge over Labor Day weekend?

Sure, there won’t be people commuting into the city.  But this is one of the chief driving holiday weekends, and these repairs mean that the Bay Bridge will be closed down over Labor Day Weekend.  Offering up alternatives like “allow extra time for travel” and “use the other bridges” (Golden Gate Bridge, Richmond-San Rafael Bridge, San Mateo-Hayward Bridge and the Dumbarton Bridge) just don’t seem like they’re going to be terribly helpful or practical.

If you’re going to be traveling in the Bay Area, you’ll want to keep up-to-date with information provided by the Bay Bridge Public Information Office.  And I’d start making other plans straight away.

I’m thinking that lots of car trips are going to be cancelled or changed.

Photo credit: yanec @flickr

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

While I’ve been known to put on lipstick or glance at an email while my car IS AT A COMPLETE STOP at a STOP SIGN, I’ve never believed that I was capable of texting and driving at the same time.  At least not do them WELL at the same time.

Whether you’re taking a road trip, or merely renting a car at your destination, it’s a wise idea to put your phone down and drive.  14 states and the District of Columbia have laws that ban texting and driving.  But I say, don’t bother trying to keep up with the driving laws of the various states, just put down the phone and err on the side of safety.

Do you really think you can drive and text at the same time?  HA!

Check out your reflexes and see how well you can text and drive with the Distracted Driving test (hat tip to the NY Times).

I couldn’t do it!

Photo credit: gcbb @flickr

Post from: Fly Away Cafe

Although the driving was left in the hands of the guys, we’ve covered enough ground that I can make a few observations (albeit from the passenger’s seat) about driving in Italy.

• People drive fast on the Autostrada.  Really, really, fast!
• Tailgating seems not only permissible, but encouraged.  Even when you’re going fast on the Autostrada.  Leaving any discernible gap between the car ahead of you is an invitation for someone to pass.
• You need a navigator or two to read the map and watch for directional signs.  When you blowing by them at speeds of 100+ kph, you need some extra eyes reading them.
• All roads lead to Rome – or so it seemed – as no matter where you are there is a sign pointing you toward Rome.
• In rural areas, you’ll find lots of narrow roads, frequently on the side of a mountain, and frequently containing lots of switchbacks.  People still drive fast.
• When you are driving along the steep side of a mountain, you probably won’t find any guardrails or warning reflectors.
• On these narrow winding roads, drivers will pass on a curve.  And sometimes that driver is in a large bus or truck.
• In the small, picturesque hill towns, the roads are very narrow and rarely go straight.  People drive on them, even though there is very little room on either side of the car.  We did this once, and in error.  The photo shows the street, a term used loosely, that we drove down.  Most of the time we parked and walked.
• Don’t expect drivers to stop for you in a cross walk. You’re going to need to dash across the street.

The stereotype of aggressive Italian drivers has some roots of truth, but these observations are not meant to be demeaning.  We soon found ourselves conforming to many of these driving habits as well.

If you’re staying in one of the larger cities like Rome, Florence, or Milan, you’ll probably have no need for a car.  If you want to take a day trip, you can rent one for a day or two.  But, if you’re going to explore the beautiful rural areas of the country, like Tuscany or Umbria, you’ll need to have a car.

Have you driven in Italy?

Photo credit:  personal collection

Post from: Fly Away Cafe

Here are some tipping guidelines that you’re likely to come into when you’re traveling:

Restaurants – 15% of bill for good service, 20% for fabulous service or for accommodating special requests.  If you are using a discount coupon, remember to tip on the amount of the bill pre-discount.  With large groups, and in some restaurants, a service charge is already added.  There is no need for an additional tip in those cases.  What to do when there’s really bad service?  First off, recognize that a problem in the kitchen is one that the server has inherited, and try to distinguish between bad service and something that you don’t care for.  I try to talk to the manager BEFORE the meal has completely gone sideways, and many times they are able to help get things back on track.  In very extreme situations, I have not tipped and discussed with the manager why I made that choice.  By the time it gets to that point, the restaurant is clearly not interested in keeping my business, and I really don’t care either.

Room service – Most times a service charge is added on, but if you’re not certain, ask at the time you place your order.  With most service charges in the 18% range, and often a delivery charge on top of that, I rarely feel the need to offer any more.  If extra service has been extended, however, you can add a couple of dollars (in cash) inside the portfolio when you sign for it.

Hotel concierge:   Generally speaking, basic concierge service do not require a tip for things like getting a map or directions, asking what’s in the neighborhood, or for simple dinner reservations.  For more detailed assistance, like planning a surprise party, securing hard to come by reservations, or tickets to a sold out show, a tip should be in the $5-25 range, dependent on difficulty of service.  Concierge tips are generally extended at the end of the stay, but I’ve never had anyone turn down a tip offered at the time of service.

Bellman – Many people take care of their own bags these days, but if you use the services of a bellman or valet, the recommended tip is $1-2 per bag.  When calling a cab, $1 is appropriate.  If a bellman moves you to the front of a long line to get you a cab straight away, $5 is good.

Car valet – This tip is extended when your car is brought to you, not when you are dropping it off.  The range seems to be $2-5 dollars, depending on the type of hotel or restaurant, the type of car you want cared for, and if any special service has been extended.

Housekeeper – This is one tip that is often overlooked, and can be one of the most important people to recognize.  These often hidden workers are the unsung heroes of the hotel.  They’ll keep your room sparkling clean, add in some extra coffee or bath gel, or just see to it that your stay is a little extra special.  $3-5 per night is a good range.  You’ll likely have multiple housekeepers over the course of a stay, so I prefer to leave the cash daily, along with a note saying thank you.  It feels like a direct expression of my appreciation to someone who may not get a lot of appreciation.  Alternatively, you can leave money in an envelope for the entire stay, and ask the hotel manager to see that it is distributed among the housekeepers that took care of you.

Hotel Salons, Spas, and other Hotel facilities – The general rule is 10-20%, although you should always check the price list to see if a gratuity is included in the cost of service.  If it’s not listed, ask the receptions when booking an appointment.

All these tips can add up, so consider them when making travel plans.

Photo credit:  Mike Schmid @flickr

Post from: Fly Away Cafe

Check out Family Car Games, created by a family of four to help your family pass the time with instructions for 100 different games.  You can play the games in the car, on a long flight, or while waiting at the airport.  Or waiting anywhere for that matter.

I downloaded the app ($1.99) to check it out.  And hey – I like games, too!  There seemed to be a nice variety, hitting on a number of different themes, from words games to story telling to singing.  I recognized the names of some (so there are so classic car games here), but there were lots of titles that I didn’t recognize.  They claim that no additional equipment is needed, but I’d recommend a notepad and pen as many of them involve counting or keeping track.

You can select a game by various searches (name, degree of difficulty) or at random (a shaker/spinner much like is on Urban Spoon), and you have the ability to bookmark your favorites so you can play them again and again.  Each game is tagged with a degree of difficulty to help you choose age appropriate activity.

It looks like a lot of fun, and next time I’m spending time with a youngster, I’ll give it a more thorough testing out.  For $1.99, though, you can’t go wrong!

Download via iTunes or directly from your iPhone or iTouch.

Photo credit:  Family Car Games

Post from: Fly Away Cafe

First of all, this is both a coffee table book, oversized and full of beautiful photos, as well as a practical road travel book, with entries by state giving you the where and why of what you should see. 

I started my review looking at what they had to saw about Washington, the state that I’m the most familiar with.  Washington has 23 entries, a respectable number for a state that has as much rural area as it does urban.  The expected places were there, in the San Juan’s, Olympic Peninsula, and much in the central part of the state.  While I take issue with Olympic Sculpture Park being classified as off the beaten path (it’s downtown for criminey sake!), it was a fair representation of nature, quirky, and charming.

Still, the book was off to a pretty good start!

Next, it’s time to call in some friends and have them take a look at the states that they’re familiar with.  It was a good way to get additional opinions and reviews, and we sat around having a class of wine playing the “have you been there?” game as we looked through the book.  We looked at Oregon, California, Nevada, Colorado, Arizona, Texas, Louisiana, Ohio, and Massachusetts.  The consensus was a big  THUMBS UP, and that there was a good job of indentifying the hidden gems of nature, science, art, culture, and the unexpected.

The book has 50 chapters, one for each state, with a total listing of over 1,000 sites.  That’s a whole lot of road tripping to do!  You’ll find lots of color photographs, detailed maps, vital details and information, and links to the attraction’s website.  Attractions come complete with a legend of visitor information (camping, swimming, hiking sightseeing, etc.),  and this year three new icons were included – pet-friendly, accessible, and wi-fi compatible.  I liked the “Did You Know” and Seasonal Events sidebars, as they packed in a little more personality about each of the states.

This book isn’t going to make it to my bookshelf; it’s one that I’m going to keep handy for regular reference.  In fact, I got a bunch of ideas for a road trip, along with spots that show great promise for future blog posts.  And I can just refer to that wi-fi compatible icon, and I’m all set!  It’s a great planner for an affordable family road trip.

Pick up a copy of Off the Beaten Path at your local bookstore.  It is also available through Amazon ($19.80).

Photo credit:  Amazon

Post from: Fly Away Cafe

If you know a baseball fan, you’ll want to pick up the updated edition or Roadside Baseball, a book that manages to combine the best and worst of travel with the best and worst of baseball.  Organized by state, the book is perfect for planning a baseball road trip that is close to home.  And it’s equally handy if you’ve decided to do a summer road trip, catching a game everywhere you can.

The guide covers out-of-the-way spots in addition to the major stadiums, and all sorts of significant and insignificant historical sites, ballparks, birthplaces of the sport’s great players, museums, halls of fame, burial spots, and even some important places that no longer exist.  Each entry is full of historical information, trivia, and baseball anecdotes.

This is one of those books that you’ll keep in the glove box of your car – because you’ll never know when you’ll want to refer to it.

For example:

The Buckminster Hotel in Boston, where the Black Sox planned their fix of the 1919 World Series; the original little league field and museum in Williamsport, Pennsylvania; the birthplace of Jackie Robinson; the place where Mickey Mantle was discovered by a scout from the New York Yankees; and the site of the original Wrigley Field, erected in Los Angeles in 1925.

This would make a great Father’s Day gift for dad!  Combine it with a pre-paid gas card, a cooler for the back seat of the car, and an extra memory card for the digital camera, and set a date to hit the road for a summer baseball road trip.

Photo credit: Amazon

Post from: Fly Away Cafe

Make life on the road easy by putting together a basic car kit to get you through any emergencies or mishaps that might occur.

In you glove box keep:

• Car registration and insurance papers (and accident check list)
• Vehicle owner’s manual
• Maps
• Flashlight with extra batteries
• Pre-paid telephone calling card and a few dollars in change (in case you’re in an area with no cell coverage)
• Copy of your AAA or other auto club card
• Waterless hand cleanser
• Small towel (for cleaning up spills or wiping down windows)

In your trunk keep:

• Spare tire (make sure it’s inflated properly), tire jack, and wrench
• Change of clothes, shoes (especially if you’re usually in heels), and a pair of work gloves
• Ice scraper (move it into the glove box if it’s wintertime)
• First Aid Kit
• Duct tape (the universal “McGyver” fix all)
• Jumper cables
• Spare fan belt
• Another flashlight and extra batteries (you may want to consider a larger work light)
• Small tool kit
• Empty gas can (never put a full can in your car)
• Blanket
• Bottled water (you can drink it or use it in your radiator)

With these items you’ll be prepared for most mishaps or emergencies.  Then all you have to do is pack up for your adventure and hit the road.

My car is pretty well outfitted.  How about you? And did I miss any of your must-have items for a road trip?

Photo credit: SXC

Post from: Fly Away Cafe