Here’s how the airlines faired.

Alaska and Continental scored one and two among traditional carriers, and Jet Blue and Southwest and WestJet a close second among the low cost carriers.  Alaska scored highest for its inflight crew, Continental for its inflight service, JetBlue for its aircraft, and Southwest for its costs and fees.

At the other end of the list, United and US Airways were at the bottom for traditional carriers, and Frontier and AirTran for low cost carriers.

Do your flying experience parallel these results?  Who do you think ranks at the top and why?

Photo credit: SXC

Post from: Blisstree

Airline Customers Continue to be Dissatisfied

Air New Zealand is hoping to change your mind with a safety demonstration video called Bare Essentials – starring employees with body paint.

What do you think?  Would this make you pay attention?

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Naked Safety Demonstration from Air New Zealand

Chances are, with the large corporations and the local convention business, if you travel for work, you will have opportunity to spend some time in Chicago. It’s also a great city to visit with your family.

We recommend a day trip to Chicago’s neighbor to the near west, Oak Park, Illinois. Many visitors find themselves in Oak Park to explore the Frank Lloyd Wright sites of his home and studio or Unity Temple.  Each of these are early examples of Wright’s work, but essential for the Wright tourist.

However, there’s more to Oak Park than these anchor sites and it also happens to be where Married with Miles calls home.

The main attractions for most of the tourists we see in our city are the Frank Lloyd Wright home and studio and his Unity Temple. Wright’s philosophy on architecture seems very relevant to many people now concerned with the environment and merging design with the natural world. I also recommend the book Loving Frank for background on him and a sensational true story set in this very town.

But what else is there to do to make this side trip from exciting Chicago worthwhile?

First, getting here from downtown Chicago is a breeze via either the blue line or the green line. The best way to get to the heart of Oak Park, Lake Street, and the Wright sites, is via the Green Line. Stop at either Oak Park Avenue or Harlem. Oak Park’s business and shopping districts will be along the way to the Oak Park Visitor’s Bureau or to the Home/Studio itself to buy tickets.

The best place to stop to eat is our new Marion Street Cheese Market for artisanal cheeses and meats, a great beer list, and a full menu of small plates with big taste. Take a seat at the bar for some good conversation and enjoy the beautifully designed restaurant space where every detail of the (green, environmentally-concerned) design, down to the plates and the tiles on the floor is impeccably chosen.

Along Marion Street are some boutiques for browsing and unique gift-buying from several locally owned boutiques (mostly home and gift-oriented). If you walk all the way east to Oak Park Avenue, you’ll find another cluster of great shops: Magic Tree Children’s Bookstore, Gepetto’s Toy Box full of imported, handcrafted toys, and Fly Bird for more unique design items for your home. You won’t find a Restoration Hardware or a Pottery Barn, but instead a growing locally-owned economy with laid-back shopping experience.

If you found yourself in Oak Park as a side trip to enjoy more history and architecture, note that it’s also the birthplace of Earnest Hemingway and you can also visit his childhood home.  We also have a beautiful main library that’s a treat to you if you’re interested in public space or books.

This is also a city of parks and on the corner of Lake and Oak Park is Scoville Park, a great place to relax in the outdoors before heading back to the bustle of Chicago.

Rob and Amanda stay connected despite work travel through their blog, Married, with Miles.  It allows them to see more of the world together and write about it.

Photo credits:  amanda.rea.also @flickr (Unity Temple) (Cheese Market) – all photos used with permission

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Two Recommendations for a Visit to Oak Park, Illinois

The top five countries for American spending are:

1. Mexico
2. United Kingdom
3. Canada
4. Germany
5. Japan

We set new spending records in Germany, Japan, Italy, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Korea, Australia, Netherlands and Argentina.

Since I’m currently traveling in Europe, I found these numbers interesting.

I think they indicate that we are still traveling, and that we are working travel expenditures into our budgets.   Economic times may have shifted our traveling priorities – fewer trips, heavier importance on value for our dollar spent, more cautious travel expenditures, etc. — but we still think spending money to see the world is important.

I think traveling broadens the mind in exposing us to cultures and places where things are not just like home.  It’s a big beautiful world out there!

Are you still traveling?  How has the economy impacted your travel choices?

Photo credit:  personal collection

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US Travel Abroad Declines in 2008

The Empress, now part of the Fairmont brand, opened in 1908, and although it has been through a variety of restorations, the original look remains.  It’s been a favorite of Hollywood, old and new, and is a popular choice for special occasions.

Many people, even if they’re not staying at the hotel, opt to visit for the legendary Afternoon Tea.  Served in the Tea Lobby, the Harborside Room, and in the Library, Afternoon Tea has been an Empress tradition for nearly 100 years.  Seating starts at noon and requires reservations, often times weeks in advance.  You can always check for a last minute cancellation, or no-show, as reservations are only held for 10 minutes.

The hotel strives for authenticity with the menu and the presentation.  Here’s a little sample from the menu:

• Fresh Seasonal Fruit with Chantilly Cream
• Warm Raisin Scones served with Strawberry preserves and Devonshire Cream
• Smoked Salmon Pinwheel Sandwiches
• Multigrain Crostini topped with mixed Mushroom Pate, drizzled with Truffle Oil (open-faced)
• Battenburg-Vanilla and Chocolate Sponge Checkerboard wrapped in marzipan
• Lemon Tart- Lemon Curd with Berry Garnish
• Marble Chocolate Tulip- a cherry hidden under milk and white Chocolate in a Chocolate Tulip Cup

An Afternoon Royal Tea, which includes a glass of champagne is also available.  If you’re traveling with children, they’ll be treated like royalty with the Prince & Princess Tea, which has menu selections specifically designed for a child’s palate:

• Teddy Bear Cookies
• Mini Cup Cake filled with Jelly Beans
• Cucumber Finger Sandwiches
• Heart-Shaped Cream Cheese & Raspberry Jam Sandwich
• Bubblegum Tea

The Fairmont Empress is located at 721 Government Street (overlooking the Inner Harbor) in Victoria, British Columbia.

Photo credit: Paul Mannix @flickr

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A Bit of Old England at the Empress Hotel, British Columbia

If a king was coming to visit my house, I am sure I would be in a whirlwind of preparations.  Such is the case of The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis.  After months of construction, reconstruction and improvements the world’s largest children’s museum is set for the arrival of the king – King Tut that is.

A new exhibit, Tutankhamum: The Golden King and the Great Pharaohs will open at The Children’s Museum on June 27th and run through October 25th, 2009.  Over 130 treasures from the tomb of the “Boy King” and other important rulers from 2,000 years of ancient Egyptian history will be on exhibit.  Many of these splendid objects have never been seen in the United States.

The wonder of the Egyptian pharaohs, their purpose in the earthly and divine worlds, and what their rule meant to the people of Egypt will be the focus of the exhibit.  Among the powerful leaders whose artifacts will be displayed:

• Khefren – whose great pyramid remains among the seven wonders of the ancient world
• Hatshepsut – the queen who became king
• Psusennes I – owner of a golden death mask
• Tutankhamum – the boy king who died under mysterious circumstances around the age of 18 or 19 during his ninth year of reign, in 1323 B.C.

Of the 11 major galleries located within The Children’s Museum, four will be devoted to King Tut.  Each will correspond to the four rooms of his tomb – the antechamber, the annex, the treasury and the burial chamber.

The legendary treasures, discovered in 1922, will include Tutankhamun’s golden sandals, jewelry, furniture, weaponry, one of four canopic jars inlaid with gold and precious stones and CT scans of Tut’s mummy.  Among the statuary will be the largest image of King Tut ever found, a 10-foot statute that retains much of its original paint.

A timed-entry ticket must be purchased in combination with General Admission to the Museum, and specifies a 30-minute entry window for admission to the exhibit. Once inside the exhibition, visitors may stay as long as they wish within normal business hours.  Purchasing tickets in advance is highly recommended to ensure entry for a preferred date and time. Check information for exhibit hours and ticket prices.

The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis is a nonprofit facility committed to enriching the lives of children as it enhances their natural curiosity and love of learning.   Through its dedication to the areas of physical and natural science, history, world cultures and the arts, The Children’s Museum is a place to interact and learn.  The Museum has been a favorite place of mine to visit since I was a child and a place I love to take my children.

The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis is located at 3000 North Meridian Street in Indianapolis.

Jenni Ingersoll shares her love of all things Disney, writing at The Disney Traveler for PlanetEye.

Photo credit: Valerie Everett @flickr

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The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis: Fit for a King

Managing the myriad details can be daunting, and author Candy Harrington breaks the process down into bite-size pieces, explaining things like traveling with oxygen, finding the best travel agent, locating accessible ground transportation, and resources for accessible recreation.  And given the tough economic times, travelers will appreciate the section on budget travel (stay at an accessible yurt on the Oregon cost for $28/night).

Full of resources from A to Z, this book is perfect for anyone dealing with the details of accessible travel.  Whether you’re a traveler yourself, a family member, or a travel industry worker, there’s much to be learned from this book.

Candy Harrington is also the founding editor of Emerging Horizons, and is the author of several other accessible travel titles.  She also blogs at Barrier Free Travels.

You can purchase Barrier-Free travel at you local bookstore or online as a pre-order from Amazon ($13.57).

Photo credit: Amazon

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Traveler’s Bookshelf: Barrier-Free Travels

With purchases from a market, you can easily create a picnic lunch or dinner, or stock up your hotel room (or apartment, or wherever you’re staying) with tasty and healthy snacks.

I’m traveling in Italy right now, and a stop at a local market yields a variety of salami and hams, cheeses from the local region, fruits and vegetables, bread and pastries, and a few other little odds and ends.  Add in a little olive oil and a bottle of wine, and I can make a fabulous dinner.

Even if you don’t speak the language, it’s easy to point or gesture at what you want.  Food seems to be a universal language.

Besides food, many markets will include flowers, local crafts, and other agri-business items.  It’s also a great way to meet locals and get some tips about things to do and see, and places to go.

If you’re traveling in the United States, you can refer to the Department of Agriculture’s listing of farmers markets around the country.  At the website you can click on the state and get information for the area, including market location, hours, and contact information.

If you’re traveling abroad, many guide books will list local markets.  Or, check with a local tourist office or look for signs around town.  A front desk clerk at a hotel or property manager at an apartment rental is also a good resource.

Photo credit: SXC

Post from: Blisstree

Good Food for Travelers at Farmer’s Markets

What started as a way to move the bulls from one part of town to another, can now become romanticized in film and books.  Make no mistake about it, however, this is a dangerous undertaking.  Every year you can count on more than a few gorings.  No wonder it takes a fair amount of alcohol for runners to build up a little liquid courage for the event.

The bull running happens every day of the Fiesta at 8 am.  It’s a half mile run, with six bulls and hundred or so people.

If you’re craving the daring-do of the run, but not the dangerous, try something a little more risqué with another annual event, the Running of the Nudes.  Sponsored by PETA, this run takes place the day prior to the beginning of the Fiesta of San Fermin.  You’ll get to run through the very same streets, and get your thrill from being scantily clad rather than getting gored.

The Festival of San Fermin runs July 6 – 14th.

Photo credit: will_hybrid @flickr

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Adventure Travel to Run With the Bulls in Pamplona

Queen’s Day

The birthday of the Netherlands’ Queen Beatrix is celebrated each year on the 30th of April. It’s not Queen Beatrix’s actual date of birth but her grandmother’s. Queen’s Day is characterized by a multitude of outdoor activities. Recognizing this, two queens in succession decreed that Queen’s Day should continue to be celebrated on 30th April due to the warmer weather in April.

This is the only day of the year that anyone is allowed to open a street stall and sell anything they want (usually old junk but a lucky gentleman once picked up a small painting for several Euros, got it examined by experts and it turned out to be an original Rembrandt!). The streets of Amsterdam turn into a massive open-air flea market just for this special day.

Amsterdam is also famous for its many Queen’s Day street parties and concerts (in photo right).  The parties begin the night before (Queen’s Night) and continue the next day. These are centered around the Leidse-, Rembrandt- and Museum Squares and attract thousands of visitors. This years’ Queen’s Day celebrations in Amsterdam attracted 600,000 people! For the foreign tourist, it really is an amazing, exhilarating experience to see the Dutch doused in orange (the royal color) and partying it up.

Open Garden Days

This is the perfect opportunity to get a peek inside Amsterdam’s historic canal-side mansions. These mansions were built during Amsterdam’s Golden Era in the 17th century and most are currently privately-owned national monuments. However, for several days in June, visitors are given a chance to step inside these stately houses and admire the interior as well as walk around the secluded, immaculate gardens (in photo left).

Holland Festival

Each year in June, cultural organizations from throughout the world descend upon Amsterdam to showcase their productions. For culture-lovers, the Holland Festival is a dream. Everything and anything one can think of: music, theatre, dance, opera and visual arts; the offerings are so diverse that visitors often have a tough time deciding what to see and do!

Gay Pride

Gay Pride is held during the first week of August but the highlight is undoubtedly the Canal Parade on the first Saturday of the month. The celebrations burst into life on Friday when the major gay areas in Amsterdam (around the Leidse- and Rembrandt Squares, the Reguliersdwars street and the Warmoes street) organize hugely popular street parties. Everyone, gay or straight, young and elderly, from all over the world joins in the fun. Later in the evenings, more parties are held in various bars and discos in Amsterdam.

The Canal Parade starts at about 2pm the next day (Saturday) and follows the entire length of the Prinsengracht (Prinsencanal) and the Amstel River. As many as 80 boats participated in the previous edition while about a half million visitors joined in the party along the canals and bridges.

Grachtenfest/Prinsengracht (Prinsencanal) concert

The Grachtenfest made its debut in 1997 and has since become a much loved Amsterdam event. Held during the warm summer evenings, the Grachtenfest offers classical music enthusiasts a unique opportunity to appreciate classical music in some of the most stunning locations in Amsterdam such as in the private chambers or gardens of canal-side mansions, the Westerchurch or in the Anne Frank House. This week-long event features world renowned musicians and ensembles as well as up-and-coming talent who perform opera classics and chamber music. The Grachtenfest culminates with the world-famous Prinsengracht concert. It is a free concert held on barges anchored in the Prinsengracht (Prinsencanal). It’s a great idea to pack a basket with some food and wine and get there early for the best spots. Set against the flood-lit façades of historic canal houses, the concert is an unforgettable, not to mention highly romantic, experience for every visitor.

Keith Jenkins is a 30-something based in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.  Travel and writing are his biggest passions, and he has traveled extensively across 60-plus countries on six continents.  The experience he’s gained from traveling are priceless.  You can read more about his adventures on his blog, Velvet Escapes.

Photo credits:  Keith Jenkins (Gay Pride); all others courtesy of Amsterdam Tourism & Convention Board

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5 Not-To-Be-Missed Annual Events in Amsterdam