So what are you going to do?  Well, at LAX, if you have enough time to get away, you can leave the hustle and bustle of the airport and head to the beach!

Manhattan Beach Pier

There are several stops along Century Boulevard, so you can pick up a stop near the airport or near your hotel if your stuck without a car.  The airport is a very big place, and you’ll need to walk out to Century Boulevard, so check at one of the information centers in the airport to get directions from whatever terminal you’re in.  Here are the stops in the general LAX area:

• 5249 West Century Boulevard
• Century Boulevard & Concourse Way
• 5757 West Century Boulevard
• Century Boulevard & Airport Boulevard
• Century Boulevard & Avian Way
• Century Boulevard & Vicksburg Drive

The shuttle costs $3 round trip.  If you’re near at airport hotel, you can buy a ticket from the hotel front desk or concierge.  If you’re coming from the airport, you can buy a ticket when you get onboard.  Cash only, although the driver can typically make change.

The shuttle operates in a loop, and it will take about a half hour to get to the beach.  Make sure that you calculate your return, allowing yourself plenty of time walk back into the airport, clear security and get to your gate.

If your staying at an airport hotel, as I was last week, Ocean Express is a great way to see a little of the sights without the need for a rental car. 

I caught a shuttle around 1 pm and headed to the beach, getting off at the Manhattan Pier stop.  From there, I grabbed a quick late lunch, and then walked along the beach until I got to Hermosa Beach.  It was a bit of a walk, but nothing too strenuous, and a great way to enjoy a few hours.  After exploring Hermosa Beach, I walked back, and jumped on the trolley for a return to my hotel.  A GREAT way to spend an afternoon away from the airport!

Photo credit:  SXC

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The image of the submarine varies. Let it be Jules Verne’s submarine, the Nautilus from the book 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, the claustrophobic World War II U-boat searching the Atlantic for it’s next target, a nuclear-era stealth “boomer” playing blind man’s bluff with the Soviets, or a deep sea exploration sub diving to uncharted regions of the ocean for an underwater documentary film.

Yet most people probably don’t know that you can take a ride in an actual submarine.  Not in a simulator, not at a museum or in a pool, but in the open ocean.

Atlantic Submarines operates submarine tours in 8 destinations in Hawaii, the Caribbean and Guam.

All of the submarine tours visit local reefs, marine parks or, in some cases, shipwrecks. The Aruba submarine tour, for example, passes over two WW-II wrecks, while the Maui tour in Hawaii visits the Carthaginian, a replica of a 19th century vessel that was sunk off Lahaina to create an artificial reef.   My recent tour was in Cozumel, Mexico, diving on the one of the world’s most extensive natural reefs. 

Most of the Atlantic submarines dive to depths of 100-120 feet, and carry up to 48 passengers in their standard 65-foot (19.8m) submarine .  In Waikiki, they operate their 100-foot, 64-passenger Atlantis XIV, the world’s largest passenger submarine.

After a short boat ride, usually about 20-30 minutes, you arrive at the transfer point.  Once on site, the sub surfaces from the previous tour and the transfer boat ties up to the sub.  Passengers are efficiently transferred from the submarine to the boat and visa-versa. 

Anticipation rises as you climb aboard the submarine and are directed toward one of the two hatches.  To descend into the submarine, you need to turn around and climb down a short ladder into the sub’s hull.

Two rows of molded back-to-back seats facing outward line both sides of the submarine, and passengers are directed where to sit.  All the seats offer the same view, but seats up front allow you to also watch the sub operators in action.

My 40-minute submarine dive started with some brief safety instructions, information about our submarine and recommendations as to what to watch out for during the tour.

Within seconds, we heard “Dive, Dive” over the PA system, followed by a klaxon sounding and we were gently descending into the ocean’s depths.  Rows of windows offer great outward viewing for an unforgettable experience as you watch marine life pass by.  On some tours you may experience sea turtles and sharks swimming past your window, in others, colorful fish, anemones and other reef life, such as long sea fans and soft corrals swaying with the currnet.

Many people assume that viewing the ocean will be similar to an aquarium with its artificial lights. But in the ocean, at depths over 40 feet or so, the water filters much of the sunlight so everything has a bluish-green tint. 

As the sub descended deeper, there was no sense of claustrophobia as most people were mesmerized by the views out of their window. The electronic depth gauge clicked off our depth in feet, eventually reaching our maximum depth – 103 feet (31m).

The ride is comfortable and seems virtually motionless. The operators were able to hover the sub even in the strong Cozumel currents, giving people a chance to see large sea fans or spectacular orange corrals. 

And even as a scuba diver, I thought the Atlantis submarine tour was an enjoyable and very memorable experience. 

After the tour, each passenger was given a certificate to document their trip to 100 feet below the ocean’s surface. 

If you take the tour, remember, a submarine is referred to as a “boat, not a “ship”. And don’t let the music playing from the movie Jaws as you descend into the sub unnerve you. Just sit back, relax and enjoy your “dry” dive.

Atlantic Submarines

• Aruba
• Barbados
• Cozumel
• Grand Cayman
• Guam
• Hawaii (Oahu, Maui, Kona)

Prices – Vary by destination – about $100.00 for adults, some destinations offer discounts for teens, $65.00 for children 4-14. Children must be at least 4 years old and a minimum of 3 feet (0.91m) tall. You can pre-book your tickets on the Atlantis Adventures website as most tours offer a discount or around 15%.

Jon Rochetti is the writer of the Washington DC-based travel blog, The DC Traveler, for PlanetEye.

Images – ©2009, Jon Rochetti

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Between the hours of 9 am – 6:30 pm, a complimentary van service makes scheduled trips between the airport and Temple Square.  The service delivers you to one of the two visitor centers where complimentary tours are offered.  You can take a quick guided tour of this 10 acre area at the center of the city, then return to the airport for your outbound flight.

Regardless of religious affiliation, Temple Square is one of the most popular attractions in the state.  It is home to the Salt Lake Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and the Salt Lake Tabernacle and the huge pipe organ that accompanies the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.

The Temple, with is six-spire design, is an operational house of worship.  No public tours of the interior are available.  (If you are member of the church and wish to enter the Temple, a temple recommend is required.)  The rest of the grounds are open to the public.

There’s no reason to feel stuck at the airport here in Utah.  Put down your work, and enjoy a little cultural outing.  It’s one of the most unusual cities that I’ve visited, and I’m fascinated at how religion as shaped its architecture, culture and development.

NOTE:  Allow a minimum of 90 minutes for the tour and round trip transportation.

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Harry is a fellow Seattle resident, and a recognized expert on the life of one of the world’s most famous adventurers – Marco Polo.  Harry gave me his recently published book, and I was finally had time to sink my teeth into it.

Over a period of about ten years, Harry became the first person to re-trace Marco Polo’s 13,000 mile Silk Road across Europe and Asia. 

In three expeditions (1971, 1981, and 1985), and using every imaginable type of transportation (including camels, goatskin rafts, and farm tractors), this journey went from Venice to Israel, Turkey, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and finally crossed China to Beijing.

During this time Harry also produced and appeared in On the Roof of the World with Marco Polo, a documentary film about his travels.  The film premiered at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City in 1981.

Following the completion of the last expedition, Harry wrote The Marco Polo Odyssey, chronicling his adventures and authentication of the journey of this famous 13th century explorer.  The book tells the story of Harry’s journey, weaving in a little history from the writings of Marco Polo as well, and how the Silk Road gave birth to what became global markets. 

Combining geography, history, culture, humor, adventure and a love of travel, this book is easy to read, getting you hooked from the very beginning.  It features photos and maps, and I felt like I was along with Harry for the journey as well. 

In Harry’s words:

As journeys often do, my Marco Polo odyssey began in dreams, designed with maps and books.  It began in a love of travel; an eight year old boy’s craving to explore places where ancient cultures lived and still live today.  In the end, my odyssey became “living history” making history come alive by traveling along the Old Silk Road and entering the world of Marco Polo.

The book comes with the DVD On the Roof of the World with Marco Polo.  You can find it at your local bookstore or through Amazon for $20.40.  You can purchase an autographed copy through the Marco Polo Foundation.

Image credit:  Amazon

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While you can get away with being fashionably late to your office or party or neighborhood gift exchange, airport counters and security lines are not that forgiving. This will be a busy travel season, despite the recession, and if you’re one of the ones who’ll be flying it’s time now to start planning on how you’ll be getting to the airport.

As you’re making plans, remember to leave plenty of time to get to the airport, and make sure you take into account heavier traffic, less parking places, and longer security lines. 

Here are some options on how you can get to the airport.  Pick one that is economical – both in price and in stress level!

• Drive yourself and park at the terminal. Depending on where you live and the traffic patterns, this could take a fair amount of commute time. Additionally, terminal parking is generally the most expensive parking option, with prices in many airports nearing $30/day.  Sure, you have the convenience of complete control over your schedule, but compute the driving cost, parking cost, and time factor and see if this is really the right choice.
• Drive yourself and park off-site. Again, you have to deal with the traffic and commuting issue, but at least parking off-site saves a bit of money. Allow plenty of time to not only get to the parking lot, but also to get from the parking lot to the airport. The farther away the lot, the cheaper it will be.  Lots close to the airports are running around $15/day, and further away around $10/day.  If your off-site lot of choice accepts them, make a parking reservations to avoid finding the lot full on your travel day.
• Take a cab to the airport. You still have the traffic and commute to deal with, but you don’t have the headache of managing it.  The cab can take advantage of HOV or commuter lanes, and at most airports can drop you curbside at your airline ticket counter.  You can make a pick up reservation a few days in advance, and most accept credit cards.  This can be expensive for a short trip, but do the math and find out what you’ll save on parking.
• Use a car service. Although not available in all cities, I’ve found a car service to be more reliable than a taxi service when it comes to a timely pick up. Cars are clean and comfortable, and comparably priced to a taxi.  This is the option I use when I’ll be gone for any length of time.  During the holidays, I’d recommend making a reservation at least a week in advance.
• Shared van service. There are a variety of companies that provide these services, combining several pick ups in one shuttle. Because these are shared rides, it will take more time to get to the airport as you’ll make a couple stops, but you’ll also save some money.  The pricing is per person, rather than per trip, so if there are two or more of you traveling together, it’s probably more cost efficient to use a taxi or car service rather than to use a shared service.
• Stay at an airport hotel that offers parking in addition to the room.  For the price or a room, you can stay close by and take the hotel shuttle to the airport. If you live a ways away from the airport, this is a great option if you have an early morning flight.  The price of the room may offset the price of parking, and with some planning you can avoid peak traffic times.  There may be limits on how many days you can park free, so check to make sure than any limits meet your travel schedule.
• Public transportation. Depending on where you live this could be a subway, train or a bus. It’s cheap, it’s green, and it is relatively fast.  Unfortunately, this is not a viable option from my home, but it is in many major cities.  If you’re traveling with kids, remember that you’ll have to juggle your luggage and theirs, so think about  the additional stress this may place on you.
• Have a friend or family member drive you. This is probably my least favorite alternative, because you really are pushing your schedule and commute time onto someone else.  There are ways to avoid putting your travel stress on someone else, and that is always my first choice.  In considering this option, remember that you’ll need to bring home a gift or treat your chauffeur in some way, so it may be cheaper to consider another arrangement.

This time of year, I recommend planning to arrive at the airport at least two hours ahead of your scheduled departure for a domestic flight and three hours for an international flight.  That gives you plenty leeway for a few things to go wrong without disrupting or ruining the entirety of your travel plans.

Frequent travelers most likely know what’s the best way to travel to the airport, but it’s something that the infrequent travel often forgets. Planning ahead will not only make things less stressful, but will also help to make sure that you aren’t rushing around on the day of your flight.

Photo credit:  SXC

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And even though the price of gas had dropped substantially, in many locations under $2/gallon, we’re not driving this holiday either.

Here’s a CBS news account:

Post from: Fly Away Cafe

Don’t worry!  You can always get back to ground level, usually the location of the hotel lobby and front desk, by looking for the star sign. 

The star sign is universal elevator-speak for ground floor.  And that piece of information can help keep you grounded.

Photo credit:  flickr

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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

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But what do you do when driving a loaner or rental car?

Just take a look at the instrument panel!  There’s usually an arrow right by the fuel gauge that points to the side of the car where the tank will be found (as seen in photo above).  If it’s not by the fuel gauge, take a look for a fuel symbol or other fuel indicator, it may be there instead.

While this is just a simple little thing, it can save some aggravation when you pull in to the gas station to fill ‘er up.

Photo credit: flickr

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Public transportation:  I’m a big believe in public transportation.  When at all possible and practicable, I use a subway, train, or other form of public transportation to get from the airport to my hotel.  A call to the hotel usually will confirm what line I need to take, the stop or station where I need to get off, the fare, and how/where to buy tickets.

Recognizing, however, that public transportation is not always possible or practicable, there are other options.  I’d recommend checking out all of these options BEFORE you leave home.

Continue reading for further recommendations

FREE shuttle:  Hotels often offer a free shuttle from the airport to their property.  Sometimes, a few hotels use the same shuttle.  A quick call to the hotel can get this information for you.  I recommend calling the hotel directly, rather than relying on information on a website or from a central reservation number, because I want to talk with someone who knows first hand how the shuttle operates.  Ask what sort of a schedule it runs on, or if it’s on demand and you need to call when you get your baggage. 

Community shuttle:  Some small communities offer a general shuttle from the airport to their community.  It may take you directly to a hotel, general plaza area, or a scheduled series of drop off points.  Community shuttles are usually FREE or low cost, and can offer a budget option, if not necessarily a speedy one.

Taxi:  If you can’t find a taxi at an airport, you just aren’t looking hard enough.  Follow the lines to the taxi stand area and queue up.  There’s usually an orderly procedure, and even if the line is long, it shouldn’t take long to get a car.  If it looks like you’re going to need to take a car, I’d recommend calling the hotel directly and asking the operator or front desk person what a typical airport to hotel fare would be.  In many places it won’t make a difference, but the front desk person may tip you off asking for a flat rate, using the meter, or a particular travel choice that they’d recommend.

Other service:  This could include things like a limo company, car service, or other forms of transportation that may just not come to mind.  Again, this is information that you can get from the front desk.  Hotels may have discount arrangements, or know where to pick up a discount coupon, so this could be valuable information.

Did you notice a theme here?  The hotel and a phone call. 

While I normally do most of my research online, this is one time when the personal contact really matters.  A helpful operator or front desk person will know the best way to get to their hotel and will be eager to share that information with their guests. 

Don’t overlook this valuable resource — it can save you a bundle!

Photo credit:  SXC

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