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(At right: What you want to avoid.)
Fuel prices are high, the economy is slow, and airlines are cutting back accordingly. While the number of people flying is also likely to decrease, there may be more people herded onto remaining flights (and, thanks to new luggage surcharges, more stuff crammed in the overhead bin). Sounds like the recipe for a stressful flying experience, no?
We spoke with Jeff Burger, executive editor from Business Jet Traveler,
about what frequent leisure flyers can do -- besides giving up
entirely and buying their own planes -- to reduce stress when they
travel. Here are his four top tips for avoiding the
queues, the hassles and the wasted time. (Image via the Clarion Ledger.)
1. Join the Registered Traveler Program
For about $100 a year, passengers who pass a background check get a "smartcard" for use at the security checkpoints. The card gives you access to a reserved security lane' hence, a shorter wait at the security checkpoint. Other benefits include retaining some of your dignity, in the form of keeping your coat and shoes on, and your laptop in your bag. Some companies who offer this program are: Clear, Preferred Traveler, and FLO.
2. Ditch the Luggage
FedEx isn't the only way to go when shipping luggage. FlyLite stores your travel clothes and catalogs them online. Before a trip, you go to the Web site, check off what you want to bring, and it's waiting for you by the time you get to your destination...
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If your kids are clamoring for Universal Studios, but you are yearning for a calmer summer vacation, the Portofino Bay Hotel in Orlando gives the overworked phrase "fun for the whole family" actual meaning.
It's not so easy to seamlessly integrate relaxation for grown-ups with kid-friendly amenities, but the hotel -- which aims to recreate the seaside village of Portofino, Italy -- manages to pull it off in their six new two-bedroom Dr. Seuss suites (trying saying that five times fast).
The children's rooms (pictured after the jump) are playfully decorated with Horton and other characters from the beloved books, while the parents' portions of the suites are all tasteful European style and elegance. As an added security detail, children do not have their own exit -- so mom and dad can sleep soundly knowing the little ones won't escape into the hallways.
A reservation at the Portofino also means VIP status at Universal Studios Orlando...
(Image from K2 Printables)
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The federal government -- not usually known as purveyors of upscale lodging -- may be entering negotiations to open a hotel on Alcatraz Island, site of the infamous prison that emerges from the fog every so often in San Francisco Bay.
The National Park Service administers the island, and the potential
accommodations could wind up being of the same variety as those found
at the renowned (and lovely) Ahwahnee in California's Yosemite National Park.
In
one plan on the table, hotel rooms would be carved out of former
guards' quarters, not the actual cellblocks. But any development on "the Rock" is at least two years
away, and most likely longer.
(Photo from the San Francisco Chronicle/Frederic Larson)
"Prison luxe" is not without precedent...
Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises took us out last night on the first day of Olafur Eliasson's New York City Waterfalls exhibit. We grabbed a camera and shot a quick tour of all four waterfalls. Check it out here:
For more on the much buzzed-about exhibit (rivaled only in New York City by Christo's Gates in Central Park in 2005), The Wall Street Journal has an intelligent look at the project called "Niagara's Rivals -- For a Time, Anyway".
If your desire to go green when you stray far from home goes beyond the bare minimum (i.e., you’re willing to do more than simply re-use your towels), you’re just the sort of traveler Fairmont Hotels had in mind when it unveiled its Lexus Hybrid Living suites.
Ensuring that both coasts were covered, Fairmont debuted one Hybrid Living Suite in its San Francisco property and one in Washington, D.C., this spring. The accommodations embrace all things sustainable, like organic mattresses, environmentally friendly paints, recycled glass kitchen countertops and drapery made of recycled polyester. In the nation’s capital, guests can reserve the Eco Power Package (from $999 per night). In the City by the Bay, the hotel offers the Eco Is the New Chic package (from $869 per night).
One of the first things you’ll notice about these suites, which were created by eco-designer extraordinaire Kelly LaPlante, is how clean the interior air is. Free of synthetic materials, dust-collecting upholstery and noxious chemicals, the suites are certain to be favorites of visitors who suffer from allergies and asthma. No matter how delicious the interior air may be, however, you won’t be spending all of your time in your room. To that end, you’ll happily enjoy the sights of these cities from the seats of your Lexus LS 600H L — a hybrid vehicle, of course. Guests enjoy complimentary use of this luxury sedan during their stay.
This past March we lauded luxury cruise line The Yachts of Seabourn for their wi-fi access, family-friendly policies, generous loyalty programs and exotic ports of call. Now, Seabourn is launching the largest spa on any luxury cruise ship: an 11,400-foot monster on the Seabourn Odyssey (pictured left), a 450-passenger ship that launches in June. The highlights of the spa are the two private villas, which can be booked along with appointments and are large enough for partner treatments, complete with a shower, a Jacuzzi, a private balcony for sunbathing, a full living room area and a dining room. If eating is more your thing, try out Seabourn's "Shopping with the Chef" program, where 15 lucky foodies accompany the chef in port as he shops for fresh produce and fish for that evening's dishes.
Another great amenity we didn't mention in March: easy-to-use luggage shipping. If you're traveling independently before a cruise and don't want to lug all your ship-appropriate items along (after all, who needs an evening gown in, say, Costa Rica?), Seabourn's Personal Valet service will ship it via DHL. Bags are tucked away in the guests' suites when they arrive on board, and are sent home when the cruise ends. The average cost of shipping a bag to Europe is $350. Seabourn said it saw use of the service double from 2005 to 2006, and that most people who use the service are hooked after one go. Given airlines' ever-tightening restrictions on baggage and the increasing hassle factor at the airport, divesting yourself of your luggage before the trip even starts is a sure way to start your vacation out stress-free.
Read Day 1: Colony Palms Hotel
Read Day 2: JW Marriott Desert Springs
It's a relief to check out of the giant Marriott mega-resort and slide into a tranquil, service-forward property like Miramonte Resort and Spa in nearby Indian Wells (pool area pictured, right). Refurbished completely in 2005, the $10 million rehab simplified the main courtyard pool area and upgraded the rooms with marble tubs, double vanities, and giant beds with overstuffed comforters that, truthfully, seemed a tad out of place in the desert. Nevertheless, the property now has a AAA Four Diamond Award, a Conde Nast Johansen's recommendation and a new 12,000 square foot spa ranked one of North America's 10 Best Resort Spas in 2008 by Conde Nast, though it was much smaller and a less-relaxing experience than the JW Marriott Spa.
When we pulled into the property's driveway, the valet addressed me by name. "Mr. Graham?" he asked, opening my car door and offering to help with the bags -- something the other properties neglected to do. From that point on during my stay I was addressed by name by everyone on the meticulously gracious staff.
We checked into the spacious Presidential Suite, a 1,038 square foot unit on the second floor, overlooking terracotta tiled roofs and the pool's new rentable cabanas. The rooms were designed by Robertson Group in Los Angeles and furnishings were by turns Tuscan and corporate -- leather dining chairs, large dark wood credenzas and maroon overstuffed couches. Still, the two-bathroom suite came stocked with Sicilian red orange Tarocco products, free wifi, and were spacious and comfortable enough for a small family or couple that needs a lot of breathing room. The room's best feature was the Venetian-style balcony, with expansive views of a courtyard planted with olive trees, and citrus groves trailing off to the dusky Santa Rosa Mountains.
Unlike some of the resorts we visited, there was a good chair-to-guest ratio poolside. There is no "it factor" here, meaning crowds tend to be on the 40-something side. It's a tranquil, no-pressure spot to get some sun. On one side of the pool sat a young French family drinking blueberry smoothies under the cabanas with their toddler daughter; on the other side, a foursome of middle-aged couples from Los Angeles casually dangled their legs in the pool and munched on cool crisp Caesar salads ($10) from the affordable menu's uber-healthy selection of snacks. The Miramonte, it turns out, is best experienced poolside.
Miramonte Resort & Spa
45000 Indian Wells Lane
Indian Wells, Calif. 92210
760-341-2200
A few weeks ago I was invited to come try out the new menu at Brasserie. I had just eaten a meal at Benoit during its opening week, at Florent during its closing week, and had found myself sharing a bottle of Sancerre one night at Pastis with friends after seeing Olafur Eliasson's Waterfalls exhibit. I was suffering a bit of bistro fatigue. All the polished brass and tromp l'oleil were turning into a blur, and how many frites can one person eat, anyway?
Thankfully, I was in for a change. Despite its traditional name and its 1959 opening date, Brasserie's decor (pictured, left) -- redesigned in 2000 by Diller Scofidio + Renfro, the same visionaries responsible for New York's High Line project -- evokes Battlestar Galactica more than Brasserie Bofinger. Definitely a nice change from frescoed angels and gilt.
The menu, on the other hand, didn't seem at first glance to stray much from classic French offerings. But Luc Dimnet (pictured below right) -- who returned to the restaurant in March as executive chef, having held the same position from 2000-2005 -- translates the restaurant's modern sensibilities onto the plate in the form of inventive twists on traditional dishes. 
Kumamoto and Beau Soleis oysters were served with a sprightly, frozen mignonette. Foie gras beignets -- small, molten pockets of rich liver -- were countered with a tart, pleasantly viscious balsasmic gastrique. Order these at the futuristic bar if you don't have time for dinner.
The whole grilled durade was light and aromatic. For something more substantial, tuck into the lobster thermidor (which half the patrons seemed to be eating), from the seasonal Lobster Celebration menu. The tarragon hollandaise was not too heavy, and the aged parmesan delivered the right amount of bite. We were somewhat wary of the addition of the (seemingly omnipresent) truffle oil to creamed spinach, but found that with a light touch, it worked perfectly. The unobtrusive and uber-professional wait staff at Brasserie -- which received two stars from William Grimes in the New York Times -- was adept at picking the perfect wine for each course; we happily left our choices in their hands. Pastry chef Kenneth Larson offered up a juicy and buttery seasonal plum tart; if you visit during the winter, the cheesecake is what you should order. Our only gripes: the leather on some of the dining chairs would benefit from a buffing, and a place to set a handbag in the sleek ladies' room would be a nice touch.
As for the frites? I found they were good enough that a person can, in fact, eat many more.
Brasserie
100 E. 53rd St.
New York, NY 10022
(212) 751-4840
New York was the first state to pass a law requiring a hands-free
cellphone device for drivers back in 2001. Ever since then,
road-trippers have been forced to reach for the headset. Quality has
vastly improved over the years, but you’d be hard-pressed to call very
many of them stylish, unless black plastic and blue blinking lights are
your thing.
Enter the Jawbone Bluetooth headset, launched in May. Half the size of the original, the upgraded
version ($129.99) has an improved ergonomic design, military-grade
noise-cancellation technology, rich, sleek metallic finishes and a sassy advertising campaign that offers a $20 discount to “criminal” customers who can show they’ve been issued a hands-free ticket.
On a recent drive up to the Berkshires, I tested out my new Jawbone...
"We don't have Vegas envy," says Jeffrey Vasser, executive
director of the Atlantic City Convention & Visitors Authority. You
can excuse Vasser for being a bit defensive. For years, Las Vegas has
been recasting itself as an all-around tourist destination -- luxe
hotels, top restaurants, high-end shops, art galleries -- that just
happens to have casino gambling, and it has done so to great success.
(In what is surely a pitchman's wildest dream, Hollywood even took the
tagline of the infamous What Happens in Vegas campaign and slapped it on a Cameron Diaz movie.)
During most of this time, Atlantic City was relegated to the realm of
the day-tripping slot-machine junkie and not much else.
But
all that is changing. As gambling in its various forms spreads across
the country like kudzu, its novelty is wearing off, and even those
casino-seeking day-trippers from New York and Philadelphia don't have
as much reason to make the trek to the Jersey Shore anymore. So the
city is aiming for another market altogether: the upscale traveler. At
Atlantic City's newest hotels, you may be shocked -- shocked! -- to
discover that gambling isn't going on here...
Like many San Francisco visitors, I often find myself climbing the
city's fog-mantled streets in search of new flavors. My latest
discovery, which also happens to be the town's hottest reservation, is Spruce (right: image by Frankie Frankeny), a new, elegant and already grown-up feeling restaurant tucked away on
Sacramento Street in the lesser-known Presidio Heights neighborhood.
After being seated at a prominent dining table in the rear, I took stock of Spruce's elegant details: Christofle silverware, amaretto leather chairs fastened with brass tacks, Baccarat crystal chandeliers, and German Rosenthal époque china are merely the set pieces to rakish Chef Mark Sullivan's
cuisine. Our server Jennifer brought out an amuse bouche plate of
savory cheese puffs called compte gougers, and proceeded to answer all
my difficult questions with aplomb, including what types of grapes were
in the Beerenauslese and the roasting method of the peony tea.
Apparently, each server must complete a two-week course before working
here, and I'm betting Jennifer came out at the top her class.
She
also informed me that 80% of the restaurant's produce comes from its
own private farm (SMIP Ranch) just south of the city in the hills of
Woodside. Dish after ornate dish that she brought abounded with flavor...
Town & Country's August issue is on the stands and we are rolling out its travel stories online:
Going to visit your friends in the Hamptons and want to bring more than the de rigeur bottle of wine? Always wanted to see gorillas in the wild? Wondering what people are buzzing about in Chicago (a new museum, pictured left), or where to dine in Dallas? Check out these stories:
- Chicago's New Gem: The Driehaus Museum
- Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek Gets a Makeover
We'll continue rolling out August's travel stories throughout the month, and in early August, look for our coverage from Town & Country's fall issue, including our reports on trips to Yunnan province in China, New York's Hudson River Valley, Easter Island, and Copenhagen.
The Plaza, arguably New York's most storied hotel, has come to life once again. In bits and pieces this past spring and summer, the wraps have been taken off the renovated property, which is being operated as a small hotel within what is now a white-glove luxury condo building.
If you'd like an excuse to drop in to see the transformation, I suggest you treat yourself to the hotel's afternoon tea. (Image, right, by Ellen Easton.) Fans of this civilized ritual (whatever you do, do not call it high tea, which will immediately brand you as a rube) will be thrilled by the diverse selection of loose-leaf varieties to sample from Kenya, Malawi, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe and Japan, among other nations.
Presented in the hotel's heart -- the opulent, domed Palm Court -- the tea is poured from gorgeous teapots as you sit back in one of the room's comfortable and conducive-to-privacy high-back chairs. There are two ordering options from which to choose: $60 for a plentiful menu of sandwiches (like English cucumber with diced mint and peekytoe crab salad), savories and pastries and sweets, or $80 for the same menu, but with sevruga caviar. Champagne and sherry also are available.
The light from the translucent ceiling above is artificial, but you'd be forgiven for not realizing it. The hue changes during the day to reflect the appropriate color of sunshine outside. By the time you've finished your treats (and the attentive staff will be sure to send you home with anything you can't finish), you'll be bathed in a pinkish glow -- the Plaza's homage to a New York sunset. Fortunately, there's no reason to expect the sun to go down on this glorious tea ritual anytime soon. Served from two in the afternoon to five o'clock.
The Plaza Hotel
Fifth Avenue and Central Park South
New York, NY 10019
212-759-3000
All the talk of "staycations," reducing one's carbon footprint, and
the wastefulness of private jet travel are enough induce a guilt attack
when one thinks of jetting off to New Zealand to explore Great Mercury Island (pictured, left) or driving back and forth to a summer house every weekend. But
our friends over at the The Daily Green have a different take on the impact of travel on the earth's resources:
"...how do you measure the value of expanding your horizons, gaining knowledge and insight about other places, ecosystems and cultures? The powerful desire to protect tends to follow exploration. Those who have visited an ecotourist hot spot tend to be much more likely to do something to protect it...Read More