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Rome on Holiday | Tips for a Better Trip

2018-08-01T09:33:00.000-04:00

In choosing to add Rome to your list of have-to-go's, you're already well along the right road.

When that road leads you to arrival in The Eternal City you'll find it difficult to overstate the impact of the resonance of history, the energy, the surprise-at-every-turn delight, and the celebration of the rich potential of human endeavor on your outlook ever thereafter.

And you may find yourself, on-site at just about every one of the city's most storied and glorious sights, accompanied on your journey of discovery by what feels to be the population of a small country. Somewhat slightly - or hugely - distracting.

Worry not, and keep that reservation that you will never regret. Then make plans to make an unforgettable experience even more so with these Rome trip tips.

The Top Tip: Learn to Skip

If there is a key piece of advice to give on planning a trip to Rome - indeed, as with most other highly sought-after destinations - it is this: whenever you can, skip the line. As in: go through hell, high water and all other impediments before your trip to avoid 3 hours on line for St. Peters, or the Colosseum, or the Forum, or...you get the idea.
There are a couple of ways to enjoy the VIP-esque joy of strutting past the sweating or freezing huddled masses suffering and shuffling along to the wonder in question. Choose the option that keeps you most comfortably on budget.

A group guided tour - offered by many operators and often bookable though the Activities pages of travel booking sites - tends to be the least expensive option that gets you skipping. As you set about making your reservations, look closely at the information the tour operator provides re:

the size of tour groups; is it you and ten others or you and 40 more, with the guide endlessly wrangling stragglers back on track

the length of the tour; little Suzy or Johnny might not thrill to three hours of Bernini and Raphael the way you might and could turn your tour to tearing out of hair and endless apologies to others

cancellation policies and deadlines; tours offer the best value to both your bank balance and your peace of mind when booked as far in advance as possible, yes, but it's important to be aware of your options should a situation arise that prevents you from getting to follow the flag that most guides use keep their troupes on track

Small group tours will also get you into sites ahead of the crowd. A far more intimate experience, of course, and closer attention and answers to questions from the guide. Small group tours also tend to suffer fewer along-the-way delays. And on any guided tour you're certain to gain a host of insights and interesting tidbits about the rich, complex history of Rome that you might otherwise miss.

verify cancellation policies and deadlines; important as small group tours tend to be higher on the spending scale than larger-group tours

Private tours offer the ultimate attention to your questions and desired itinerary pace and places. Had enough Baroque for the day - tell your guide and on it is to the next experience. Remember (you'll sense a theme emerging) to:

verify cancellation policies and deadlines; important as small group tours tend to be higher on the spending scale than larger-group tours

be sure that the tour is indeed private - as in you and your chosen companion(s) only - and not semi-private, which is in essence a small group tour

And no need to worry if half-way through you find you have to cut and run, whether for an emergency, because you made the mistake of wearing heels for a hike through the Vatican Museums and are on the verge of calling for a stretcher, or because your eyes are bleeding from Splendor Overload.

As is the case with combo passes in many other cities around the world, Roma Pass gets you to the head of the line at a host of museums, attractions and events, with free admission the first couple, with reduced fares through the rest of the pass' validity.

A Roma Pass will get you to the head of the queue, yes. It will also get you riding as much as you like on public transportation networks. At attractions, you'll be on your own to decide whether to sign up for a guided tour on the spot, go the more independent, increasingly popular audio guide route, or grab a brochure and map and impress your friends and family with your expertise. If you're the DIY travel type, know your Roman Empire everything inside and out, and prefer a spur-of-the-moment vibe then you'll find appeal and value with a pass.
And, again, all-important access to the head of the line will be yours to enjoy.

The last skip-the-line option to mention is buying your tickets in advance from the site or sight in question's ticket office. Note that for some attractions advance reservations for the time of your visit are required. And if you're visiting at a busy time of year (just about any time in Rome).

It's just about impossible to overstate the importance of selecting the most hassle-free option for skipping the line that suits your budget when in Rome.

It's equally important to remind that even if you are on a private tour through the major sites, you certainly will not be alone. Not by the longest shot. Crowds - underscore - are a part of just about every Rome/Vatican experience - even at those with time-controlled entrance. But worry not. There's a way to minimize the mayhem and make the most of the city's glories.

More from a Tour?

Even the most savvy, seasoned traveler benefits from a little help with The Planning of the Big Trip from time to time; especially when the destination involved is as complex as Rome. If ever there were a time in your traveling life to leave it to the native experts, you Rome adventure is it.

Logistics, itineraries, advance tickets, admission requirements (important, and more on that later) transportation in some cases - here's the time to let go and let the Guide. You'll enjoy the city infinitely more.

Which doesn't by any stretch mean that you should schedule every hour of every day of your stay for tours. In fact, don't go there. Do try to reach a balance between structure and strolling, so that you enjoy both the marvels and the dolce far niente during your time.

As mentioned in the Top Tip section above above, choices for organized travel range from running with a crowd - and the chaos there can be fun and add to the Italian energy of the day - right through having you and your companion or few taken around in exclusivity and privacy.

As you're deciding, it is highly advisable to include these among the sights for which you choose to skip the line and enjoy the insight of an expert as well: The Colosseum, Forum, Palatine Hill, and anything, as in anything, related to the Vatican.

Seeing the Pantheon (just show up when it's open and stroll in), pizza in the piazza (Navona and its church are must-do's), strolling lamp-lit lanes, wandering into one of the city's 900+ churches - all that and more will fill the rest of your time and leave you wanting a Rome return.

And so to an excellent case in point re: what a tour can offer. And one that is highly recommended as a core staple of your stay in Rome. Walks of Italy's "Premium Colosseum, Roman Forum & Palatine" small group tour gets you into these sought-after sites well in advance of the infamous tour buses that bring people in by the hundreds at peak times.

But that's not the only advantage of this superbly-put-together tour. It's the wealth of information and insight packed into the tour's time, thanks to your guide who knows more fascinating detail about these historic places than could ever be gleaned by scanning a brochure. Never. Think more PhD+-level knowledge.

And its knowing where to go within the vast complex to find the richest history, detail, views - not to mention practical places like rest rooms. No matter how far and wide you've roamed, you'll hard pressed to find a better run outfit.

Dean Alan Innerarity | DeanAlanPhoto.com

Again: not so much, the appeal of packing every day with back-to-backpack tours, unless you're really pressed time. And here's a great way to pack a lot in: our perennial favorite worldwide City Sightseeing's Hop On - Hop Off rides. Why? Because sometimes it's great to just come out and proud saying "We're leaving it to you guys". In Rome in particular you'll find that the itinerary really does offer up the top sights in the city. Hop off or stay on, and you won't be disappointed. And your wallet won't be worried much either. And if using the completely private route is what you choose, you'll know where to go first.

Know admission

This tip is a quick read. Prego. It's also one of the most important you'll get when it comes to Rome in particular.

Whether you're on a luxe private tour or taking it to the streets with 50 of your soon-to-be-closest friends, take the time to scan the entrance requirements for every - every - site you'll visit in a day. Are cameras allowed? Do all bags need to be checked or just some? Is an advance reservation a go-/no-go consideration? What time does the turnstile turn for the last time on the day you're planning to visit. "Plan Your Visit" pages for wherever you're planning to go are essential clicking/tapping/swiping territory to be explored and understood.

A little homework and you won't be the ones turned away from the tour of the Sistine Chapel because you arrived right at The Hour and didn't realize you needed to check you bag. And there's the line for checking it. And it's heaving with humanity. A little research and reading go a long way.

Vatican? Do! Like This.

No need to waste time and energy here enumerating the many reasons that visiting the Vatican on a Rome trip is a must-do. Just about everyone on the planet has a reason they've got it on their Bucket List: the spectacle of St. Peter's Basilica, the parade of priceless art and design treasures in the Vatican Museums...etc. Which means that when you arrive you're likely to meet a fair portion of the planet's population who have had the same idea to be there on the day.

Here are three tips to help you have fewer not-so-nice surprises and more delight:

Relish the the beauty of before- and after-hours tours: Head to your favorite search engine, and search on "before- and after- hours tours Vatican" or similar and you'll find tour offerings - typically for small groups - that take you through various of the vast Vatican collections. A very, very good thing.

Because there is no overstating the impact of the sheer scale and numbers of the humanity that passes through here daily on the experience. None. The good news is that select tour operators are "Vatican Partners" and are allowed access a couple of hours before or after official opening hours. So you can see the Sistine Chapel before it's filled with (unbelievable) numbers of neophytes and aficionados alike craning necks ceiling-ward. If there's one time to splurge during your Roman holiday this would be it.

Less can be more rewarding: An important decision to make about a Vatican visit is just how much you can take in within the time you have available during your trip. To reiterate, the collections are vast. Very.

So when contemplating a tour through the Vatican Museums that includes the Sistine Chapel and ends with the grand finale of Saint Peter's, know that by the time you step into the Basilica (and, yes, many tours of the Museums get you through a special entrance, skipping the sometimes 3-hour-wait-long lines) consider carefully how much you are reasonably able to take in in the time you have.

In some cases - and especially if you're along with young children - it might well be worth it to, say, see the Sistine Chapel and Saint Peter's, enjoying being able to really take it all in at these stunning sites, and save the Museums or other exploration for the next time around, or another day.

Don't go until you know this: In the enthusiasm that inevitably builds around seeing spectacles in storied places it's easy for even the most savvy, seasoned traveler to forget practical points of information. The quickest way to sum up how to prepare for a Vatican visit is to remind that the Vatican is a sovereign nation. Your hotel may be just down the road in Rome, but you'll still have to go through surprising-to-some, almost-airport-level security to enter the Vatican museums in particular. Save yourself disappointment and read these official FAQs. And if taking a tour, be sure to understand logistics (like meeting points), and leave-it-behind-because-you-can't-have-it's.

DEANStravel.com >

Pure Ireland Island Escapism at Inis Meáin Restaurant & Suites

2018-07-20T15:18:00.000-04:00

In your mind’s eye it’s a day spent with a soundtrack of surf splashing into cliffs and rolling up as you’re strolling an endless beach.

It’s you and your dearest coasting a country road on bikes alongside endless dry stone walls, meadows spilling down to the sea, stopping to marvel at sites steeped in history stretching back centuries.

It’s you, cozied up to a pint of Guinness in a picture perfect pub.

It’s you in gumboots, wading through tidal pools, plucking treasures from the shallows.

Occasionally the wind whips your hair around, waking you again to the stunning landscape and sea views stretching in every direction.

Splendid island isolation.

And then it’s you back in your sleek suite, just out of the power shower in your designer done-up bath, robed and slippered, sipping something special and drinking in views across Galway Bay to mainland Ireland. Then, dressed and off a few steps to a gourmet dinner in one of the Emerald Isle's most highly acclaimed restaurants.

Too much to ask?

The answer: Inis Meáin Restaurant & Suites. So, no – not all too much to ask. Done, dusted, delivered.

Inis Meáin Restaurant & Suites from Inis Meain Restaurant & Suites on Vimeo.

A weekend to recharge or a week of we want to be alone.

Five suites total. Nestled into the spectacular scenery of one of the Aran Islands. And, shame on you, yes there’s Wifi.

Inis Meáin Restaurant & Suites >
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Help Victims of Natural Disasters, Terrorism and Humanitarian Crises Aross the Globe

2015-01-15T04:20:00.001-05:00

http://www.charitynavigator.org/

Many of the wonderful, welcoming destinations featured in this archive are dealing with the aftermath of devastating crises. The work of charities and individuals to provide rescue and relief across the globe - in the face of current challenges and all year round - is heroic and invaluable. You can help. Please do. >

Bucket List Bonanza | Part 1: Smithsonian Journeys

2014-10-01T17:46:00.000-04:00

Whether you have a List of 100 Places, Dozen Dream Destinations, are a Bucket brigadier - however you've packaged it - the next few posts celebrate the outfitters and operators that offer the chance to turn wanna-do's the world over into gonna-do's and into the unforgettable.

Whether your mind's on Machu Pichhu or Morrocco, kimonos, kilts or the Kerala, one exploratory session on Smithsonian Journeys' website (or perusal-with-Port-and-cheeses at hand, through a catalog that might as well be re-titled The Dream Book) is sure to get that list of yours growing.

Smithsonian Journeys prides itself on offering the "destination brought to life" by preeminent scholars from the world over who add incomparable expertise insider insight+ to their tours and experiences.

This approach - this delight in enriching travel - is evident in everything from the titles of SJ offerings to the combination of always-wanted-to-see's with really?-I-never-ever-knew!'s in itineraries that shine whether you've been to two or two dozen countries, or have never left your home turf.

No matter how you want to travel - a family trip to the Galapagos or on safari; a luxury train trip for two or a few from Bangkok to Bali; a cruise from Japan to Alaska, through the Mediterranean or to the Antarctic, or; a girls'-fortnight-out-among the wonders-of-China's Middle Kingdom, you'll find all that of your ideas will fly with Smithsonian - and higher than you might have imagined.

And, heck, if at the end of the day it's all about an expertly-curated private jet tour around the world for you, prepare for departure.

Smithsonian Journeys >
Request the Smithsonian Journeys catalog >
News and special offers with the SJ e-newsletter >

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+Blogger's note: When in Washington D.C., add a (great!) extra dimension to your trip by including a Smithsonian event in your itinerary.

* Subscribe to the RSS feed using the slide-out tab in the vertical bar at the top right of the page. Note that some posts re: time-specific offers are typically deleted from shortly after offer expiration.

Picture Perfection and More in Porto: Hotel Infante Sagres

2014-09-25T14:23:00.000-04:00

The Hotel Infante Sagres website includes a gallery of fashion photos shot throughout its stunning public and private spaces. So right away the 70-room boutique hotel in the heart of historic Porto promises an exceptional experience, as far as delicioso design is concerned.

Camera-ready, fabulously photogenic it is, yes. And the good news is that there are lots more reasons to smile pretty in this perfectly located property.

Hotel Infante Sagres is much more than just a pretty place.

Step into the reception foyer and you'll be hard-pressed to keep your attention attuned to the business at hand. As in checking in. The masterful melange of the Manueline, the modern, and just about everything in between, effortlessly sends even the most travel-weary heart tripping, and the most world-weary jaw to dropping.

Once you're out of bobblehead mode and ready to focus, you'll enjoy a feel-good reception experience that's the hallmark of members of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World family [see my post on their excellent loyalty program, The Club, here >].

We arrived by train from Lisbon mid-morning, and, naturally, too early to check-in. Cheery, warm and genuine greetings as if we were regulars. And, not a beat missed, without our needing to ask, Laura (a name I had to mention) had our time-until-check-in filled with a tour for two of Porto, arranging an itinerary with our driver - the affable, animated Bernardino - recommending and securing us a table for a late lunch at 5 Oceanos, and clinching a sought-after same-day slot for a tour of the Palácio da Bolsa (a must-see).

Already charmed by the city and seaside sights, spirits were high - even before a tour and tasting at the Porto home of award-winning boutique Port and Duoro Wine producers Churchills. And back to the Infante Sagres it was.

Keys presented just about the moment we stepped through the front door. Through the stunning lobby with its surreal, show-stopping chandelier suspended in an ornately balustraded oculus between the ground and first floors.

Channeling past guests, now, as the room door swings open: European royalty, Deneuve, Dylan, the Dalai Lama...

Fine fun, yes. But you want to hear about the business end. Done.

All the expected amenities: Complimentary (and blisteringly fast) WiFi; minibar; safe; climate control; satellite flatscreen; robes and slippers. The Drill well done.

Beyond expectations: extravagantly proportioned rooms - including marble-all-over bathrooms the size of a Manhattan studio flat, with Carnegie Hall-quality acoustics (don't worry, they won't hear that false note in falsetto - superlative sound insulation); signature SLH welcome treat (including, appropriately, a spot of Port), and; design details that carry through the sophistication, the exuberance and the eclectic excitement of the public spaces.

Hotel Infante Sagres | Small Luxury Hotels of the World

And don't collapse into the embrace of that duvet until you're truly ready to turn in, or your traveling companions will be tugging at your ankles to get you up and out to explore the sights of the Porto UNESCO heritage site sights (you've no excuse when they're steps from the front door, and here even taking the stairs is an event) - or, at the very least, to the spa, or to table at the storied Book.

As the evening of our stay settled in, we realized that in twirling through the whirlwind of touring and oohing and aahing there was the matter of sustenance. And here is where the Infante Sagres shines as brilliantly as its aesthetic attributes. In just about no time our vague wish list became a reservation and waiting cab. All warmly, cheerily delivered by staff who'd yet to set on eyes on us, but made us feel like family.

Hotel Infante Sagres takes a great picture.

And, close up, the place and people here are that beautiful and more in person. Unforgettably so.

DEANStravel.com >
Hotel Infante Sagres >

Bucket List Bonanza | Part 2: Vacations By Rail + Luxury Train Club

2014-09-24T15:33:00.000-04:00

I'm a rail geek.

My status was upgraded from enthusiast years ago (okay, yes, many) when I woke in the middle of the night, raised the shade of my sleeper compartment to the stunning surreality of Alpine scenery slipping by, meadows and mountains glowing in full Moon light as we gently rocked our way along. Unforgettable.

That said, it doesn't take a geek to appreciate that particular power of rail travel to meld the excitement of the escape that comes from locomotion - slowly or at speed - with a connection to the landscape in a manner very different from that of the abstracted view from above in flight.

If your list of Do-Some-Day trips includes a rail journey - across Africa or Alaska, through the Rockies, in luxury in India, into inland Peru, or any number of other legendary rail rides, these two operators - long-standing favorites at DEANStravel.com, and going from strength to strength - should be among your first stops.

Vacations by Rail builds comprehensive escorted and independent holiday packages around memorable rail riding experiences, across a vast array of price points. You'll be spoiled for choice with their beautifully organized selection of possibilities. Sort itineraries by season, country or continent, scenery along the way, combinations with ocean or river cruise or self-drive, and more.

Always wanted to live it up on one of the world's legendary luxury train journeys? No problem. Thailand, Ireland, The Silk Road, The Trans-Siberian and more are all on offer. Like to tinker with a trip to tailor your training to your group? Ditto.

As its name suggests Luxury Train Club specializes in bookings for the world's ultimate luxury sojourns by rail. Sign up and get the inside track on special member offers, gifts and discounts for escapes on iconic luxury rail experiences. A handy calendar of these sought-after trips is great for getting the long view on trips and availability.

Not traveling particularly light on your trip of a lifetime? Not surprising. No worries. They'll get your bags to the train for you.

The Club also signposts arrangements for private rail car rentals. Going with a group of your closest? They'll give white glove service to the planning and coordination of charters.

The great advantage of both Vacations By Rail and Luxury Train Club is that they bring together the best of of the world's trips that celebrate they journey as much as the destinations. They're also wellsprings of ideas for unique and memorable travel.

And if you morph from curious to interested to rail geek, so much the better. And welcome.

Vacations By Rail >
Luxury Train Club >

DEANStravel.com >

In The House: Where Museum Memories Are Made

2014-09-20T15:59:00.000-04:00

To my mind, a house museum brings the artist, the personality, the family, the person or the thing to whom the museum is dedicated to vivid, vibrant life.

Yes, of course, strolling storied halls of the Louvres, the Mets, the Tates and the National Galleries of the world has its own particular thrill.

But unless you've done your time at ballet lessons, perching tiptoed to catch 1-second glimpses of your Mona Lisa, your Winged Victory or your David, barely visible through the forest of backs of tourists' heads and backpacks -- tourists On A Mission to snap it and get out of it onto the Next Big Thing -- a Major Museum can leave you tired, in a tirade, even, over the lack of common courtesies observed, and major works not able to be fully be appreciated.

Get yourself to a better experience. Get to a house. Museum, that is.

I put this post on my calendar because I realized, in planning my next trip, that the most memorable museum experiences I've had have been in house museums. And I'm happily planning to continue the trend.

Fewer crowds, carefully controlled entry, more intimate spaces, a closer connection to history and personality.

Get to a house? you say, then get to it, already.

Heard.

Staying stateside? There's no more rewarding house tour than the Biltmore Estate. America's largest private home, yes. But a fascinating peek into everyday life in the Vanderbilts' world. Don't let the 8,000-acre estate intimidate you. You'll find a very human face on the Gilded Age here, in some of the most beautiful country in the Eastern U.S.

Another stateside stunner is the Kaufmann estate in western Pennsylvania -- more familiarly Frank Lloyd Wright's Fallingwater. If the stunning overwater woodland site and setting don't wow, the fascinating insight into a time when people were, well, smaller (you'll feel giant in some of the home's spaces), and architects pushed their dreams of The Modern to exciting extremes of engineering and design, will have you looking at every piece of architecture you encounter with new eyes.

Fly away, now, shall we, to Europe.

In Amsterdam you'll find The Rembrandt House, which awakens the spirit of the legendary artist, and the Amstelkring Museum, where the sight and spirituality of a breathtakingly beautiful chapel stuffed into a canal row-house will stay with you forever.

Oh, so Spain's your stopping place? Head north of beautiful Barcelona to the Portlligat Dali House Museum. The eccentric, rambling mansion is a touchstone to the mind of a true visionary. And you can't fault for a second the perfection-bar-none location on a breathtaking little bay.

As with most house museums, know that you'll need to make a reservation for Dali house tours.

Well (underscore) in advance of your arrival.

And don't think that they're kidding. And that when you don't show up on time, your reservation is D.O.A.

Color me a witness to travelers being turned away.

So, you're likely getting The Gist of all this just about now. House museums are an intimate experience compared to that of The Big Name art spaces. Reservations must be made, and attention must be paid to your reserved time if you want to gain access.

The commitment is more than worth it for gaining an understanding of the everyday lives of those that gave us not-remotely-everyday experiences with their work, their lives, and their contributions to our culture and society.

I've mentioned five so far (were you counting?). Let's fast-track the rest of this post and get into five more.

Nemours Mansion and Gardens, Delaware: The Duponts have been the source of inspiration and drama for as long as they have held their place as one of the premiere families in America's history. Want drama? Head to this over-the-top, worth-the-price-of-admission-and-then-some sleeper among Brandywine Valley attractions.

Seeking something further Over the Top? Take the beautiful drive along California's Pacific Coast Highway, and pull into the parking lot of the Hearst Castle. Call it San Simeon, call it the Hearst Estate, call it Orson Welles' inspiration for his most famous film. Whatever the label, whatever your aesthetic take on the whole thing, when the fog rolls in, and rolls out again, you just might feel yourself closer to the Hearst world view. Love it, hate it, you'll never forget it. And that's precisely what history should impart to us.

Let's jump The Pond again.

Plopping down in Paris? The Musee Carnavalet beckons with offerings of not just superlative art, artifacts and exhibitions, but recreations of resplendent residential interiors from throughout the city's ages and stages. Too grand, this former private residence? Don't hate on it as being ostentatious. The Louvre, after all, was also a home.

On that scale of the spectacular, we might also think of the castle that inspired Disney's Cinderella Castle, Neuschwanstein, an Autobahn blink away from Munich. Certainly worth the visit.

Just down the road, however, is the Linderhof. By the time you've driven the access road , you'll feel that you've been transported ages back. Wander the gardens and halls of this jewel-box of a home and you'll be congratulating yourself for your traveler's wisdom.

Castles, you say. Mansions, you mention. All of these above the norm of everyday lives.

If a house is a home, then surely we can see what homelife was like for simpler folk than the glitterati that built multi-million-dollar mansions the world over.

Yes.

So now, let's get to my number 10 of ten, which, by the way, are here in no particular order. Rarely have I seen a fuller range of sociology and history brought to life than that at the Bunratty Castle and Folk Park in Ireland's County Clare.

The castle showcases a loving restoration undertaken in the 20th century, with attention to historic detail to the hilt. Around it is a recreation typical of the town-scape that would have hugged the castle's walls in its heyday.

n the Folk Park, the reconstruction of a village street, farm, pub, church, Georgian mansion and more will bring the most cynical of cynics about assembling collections of historic structures to true belief in the value of projects like this stunningly successful one.

There's a reason they're gaining in popularity worldwide. A good one.

So, do your Google, your Yahoo! or Bing -- whatever's your thing. On your next trip, add a house museum into your must-do mix.

The ten I've mentioned here are a paltry portion of the museums worldwide that celebrate the lives of both the lauded and the overlooked. And these museums bring us into close -- often surprisingly moving -- contact with the everyday doings of headliners and gossip-generating go-getters, not-to-be-forgotten ne'er-do-wells, and ordinary, everyday, great-in-many-ways folk.

Proving that when it comes to making real connections with other people, places and times, there's no place like house and home.

DEANStravel.com >

Grande Roche Style | All the Right Rhythms in Scenic South Africa Wine Country

2014-09-18T14:23:00.000-04:00

There's that promise. It tempts and tantalizes you.

Stunning setting, history and heritage, delectable cuisine, superlative service. All adding up to aisé, laid-back luxury.

You hold out hope. And, as you pull up to the drive of the Grande Roche Hotel in South Africa's storied wine country, what's promised is delivered.

After an early-morning game drive and a long drive from the Southern Karoo, we pulled off of wine route star Paarl's main street to the Grande Roche gates. The nav announced that we had arrived.

And so we had.

A quick check from the guard and we were up the short drive, the vineyard spilling down the hill, the stately Cape Dutch manor house presiding.

By the time we'd gone through the usual post-road-trip routine of making ourselves presentable, locating lost this-and-that and unfolding ourselves out of the car, a porter and a Grande Roche Guest Services team member were standing patiently by.

Attention was being paid.

The porter whisked our bags away, and Whentzel led us through a carefully tended, classic Dutch rose, topiary and boxwood garden to the manor house terrace.

We were seated. Sparkling South Africa wine was offered and quickly arrived. So did a local newspaper and area guide. And there was Whentzel once more with our check-in paperwork and recommendations on the possibilities for the evening's activity - hotel car at our disposal should we choose to venture out.

We sat, and sipped, and stared out across the vines to the valley below and the breathtaking mountainscape beyond. Serenity settled in.

Drinks done, we were led on a tour of the storybook cluster of whitewashed, thatched-roof buildings and gardens nestled amongst vineyards that make up this magical member of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World collection [see my post on their superb guest loyalty program here > and an account of a stay at one of the group's Venice properties here >]. Along the way, a stop the see works in Lina's Gallery, showcasing vibrant paintings by Grande Roche's marquis artist.

A French door introduced our suite. Spacious. Sublime views over the vineyards to one side. To the other, roses spilling over manicured hedges. Up the stairs a cozy bedroom under a soaring beamed ceiling under the thatch. A fairy-tale scaled window with a vineyard vista.

Service superlatives

Well alright, you say, great setting. You get it. How about service standards.

In answer: when we felt a chill in the main living room, maintenance arrived within minutes to show us the control for the underfloor heating. When we ordered room service, three waitstaff arrived and paraded single-file into our suite, trays held high, dishes under cloches, white linen hither, thither and all around. The turndown threw down with mats everywhere, lights and climate control adjusted, towels and trappings of a great bedtime everywhere.

Breakfast in the multiple-award-winning Bosman's restaurant in the manor the next morning continued the everything-exquisite theme.

As we ended our all-too-short stay, fireplaces crackled at either end of the main manor house salon. The mist rose to reveal the monolith that is the hotel's namesake. The gardens and vineyards lined the hillside.

Out the gates and the Grande Roche was in our memories forever and until our return.

A promise to ourselves well worth keeping.

http://www.DEANStravel.com/ >
http://www.slh.com/hotels/grande-roche-hotel >

Bucket List Bonanza | Part 3: Voyages to Antiquity + Dark Rome

2014-09-17T12:33:00.000-04:00

Athens, Angkor Wat, Agra, Pompeii, Palermo, Venice, Syros, Santorini.

At the world's great historic sites and sights, there's always a kind of hush - no matter how many visitors are sharing the experience. Silent, the stones speak.

Which is just another way of saying that there are landmarks, testament to great epochs of human history, that never disappoint as subjects of a pilgrimage.

In looking to put a line through items on your list of must-see's, two outfits offer up great ways to experience wonders of antiquity, without woah!-is-that-the-line? where-the-heck-is-it? woes.

Voyages to Antiquity offers Mediterranean and Far East vacations that blend all-inclusive small-ship cruising aboard the MV Aegean Odyssey with land excursions that explore storied cities and sites. Experts on the history of each itinerary's port of call enrich the experience with on-board lectures and insightful commentary during tours ashore. All that stuff you studied in school comes to life, vivid.

Voyages' trips include pre- or post-cruise hotel stays, full board including wine with dinner, and all gratuities.

The company's philosophy: "We have created a cruise experience that fulfills our passion for the history, cultures and natural wonders of the ancient world ...".

And when it comes to ancient wonders, Italy is Spectacle Central. And with that spectacle comes the crowds. The lengthy lines before being able to sigh at the sight of the Sistine Chapel. Bemoaning blisters before being dumbfounded at the Doge's Palace.

You know the drill. Now drum it out of your thinking.

Dark Rome - part of the City Wonders family - has made a name for itself with its private tours of the Vatican and Skip-the-Line tours in and around Rome, Venice, Florence and Milan.

So you want to see the Sistine Chapel. Sure you do. You and a few ga-zillion others. With Dark Rome, enter the hallowed space before official opening time as part of a small group (no more than 20 per tour/no more than 2 tours per day) and enjoy the luxury of jostle-/hustle free appreciation of a not-to-be-missed experience.

Dark Rome is an official Vatican partner, and the only company offering this special tour. On select Vatican itineraries you'll have the rest of the day to explore the Vatican Museums at your leisure on an included all-day ticket.

Don't be misled by the Dark Rome name, which covers a range of special access and other Italy tours. There's a full menu of no-wait and VIP experiences in Paris, Normandy, the Loire Valley, Barcelona, Madrid, New York and Washington, D.C. from parent City Wonders, all accessible through the Dark Rome portal.

Voyages to Antiquity >
Dark Rome >

DEANStravel.com >

Bucket List Bonanza | Part 4: Hurtigruten

2014-08-27T16:38:00.000-04:00

Do you know what would be really cool? Of course you do.

Sailing serenely through the jaw-dropping scenery of Norway's fjords, stopping at plus-que-picturesque villages along the way as you head north.

Now you're getting cooler.

Your thoughts turn to the intrigue of an Iceland adventure. Icebergs ahead. You see spectacular glaciers. Greenland. Once-in-a-lifetime images.

And in go your all your chips. You're ready to go Polar.

Hurtigruten is happy to oblige, and to put their 120-year heritage - the pride of Norway - at your disposal. They've been there. And just about no one does the coolest parts of the planet better than the Norwegians.

Many Hurtigruten trips combine experiences - example: on Arctic trips, enjoy a lazy sail along the scenic Norwegian coast, then cross the Arctic Circle to Spitsbergen, where launches immerse you in the icy landscape, or; follow the Viking Trail along Norway's fjords before crossing the North Sea to take in the Orkneys, Shetlands and the Faroe Islands, ending the voyage in Reykjavik.

If your attraction is to Antarctica, your passion for penguins and pulse-rate-raising panoramas, Hurtigruten's, um, cool with that too. Calving glaciers, King Penguins, seals - sights to savor.

In addition to Norway and Polar trips, Hurtigen offers European and Trans-Atlantic voyages - with great excursions and pre-/post-trip possibilities.

By the time I arrive at the point of wrapping up a post - and especially when the subject offers such exciting possibilities - I'm fairly certain that these last few words will never be read, as readers are already off tapping, clicking and swiping through to the next adventure.

And I'm completely cool with that.

Hurtigruten >
DEANStravel.com >

Bucket List Bonanza | Part 5: Micato Safaris

2014-08-20T06:54:00.000-04:00

It's been well up there on your wanderer's wish list for longer than you can remember. Saying, as you're sashaying off to pack, that you're going on safari.

Immersed in adventures through stunning landscapes rich with wildlife - and especially The Big Five, of course. The revelation of the rhythms and rituals of cultures eternally inspiring. A sundowner, fireside at the end of an exhilarating day, savoring the sights of the landscape's magical metamorphosis as night's cloak settles. Pleasingly pampered in your exquisite enclave, drifting into dreams of the next day, lulled to sleep by a symphony of sounds you can't believe you're hearing just out there.

Oh yes. You know what you want. The Dream.

The thing about The Dream of Once in A Lifetime Trip is to be careful in the choosing of those who'll be entrusted to realize, and, for the fortunate, radically transform the dream from the exciting into the unexpected, the transcendental.

Such a promise.

What's a dream trip if you're worrying about the details of the day to come, swiping and tapping 'til mad, straining for a signal, wondering when that guide will show up and where in the heck your bags are at the moment. Is there change for the tip? Is that second serving of wine driving the evening's tally into the triple digits?

Do not dismay. If all of the above and more has folded its way into your safari reverie, Micato Safaris says can do, and will do that and much more. In high style.

Browse your way through their legendary, multiple-award-winning luxury safari selections by country or by style of trip. Ooh and aah your way through their want-them-all itineraries - including those in their Bespoke Collection, with stopping off places like Singita's Kruger Park Boulders Lodge property in South Africa, pictured above, part of the package.

Then really get your craving for khaki roiling by taking a look at the incredible list of Micato safari inclusions that redefines all-inclusive with things you'd never thought to ask for, in a style you may have thought was beyond your reach.

Welcome to Micato Safaris from Micato Safaris on Vimeo

From paying for a child to attend school for every safari booked and a host of other charitable endeavors, to an invitation to the family home of Micato's founders; from all gratuities, meals and drinks to a host of amenities and experiences that only the well-versed could ever suss out, to great books to read to add to the excitement of you African odyssey. And, yes, sundowners are included. And more.

Micato's offerings run the gamut from family safaris to private jet tours through Africa, and beyond that to completely custom-tailored trips to just about wherever, whenever you like, with the insider info to help you decide.

Incredible Africa, in inimitable style.

Take that, Bucket.

Micato Safaris >
DEANStravel.com >

London's Historic Royal Palaces Celebrate "The Glorious Georges." Curious?

2014-01-24T15:51:00.000-05:00

Hampton Court Palace | © Historic Royal Palaces

2014 sees the 300th anniversary of the Hanoverian accession to the British throne - the beginning of the Georgian era.

In celebration of these glory days of the Empire's evolution, during which many enduring British Royal traditions were inaugurated and socio-cultural changes innovated, Historic Royal Palaces - the independent charity charged with the enviable task of care and conservation of the Tower of London, Hampton Court Palace, the Banqueting House, Kensington Palace and Kew Palace - is laying on a series of events and exhibitions at three royal venues central to the story of the Georgian court, with festivities scheduled to begin 17 April, continuing into autumn.

Okay, you say. Will there be a wow factor, you wonder?

By George, yes.

And this is not just another Jane Austen affair. It's about the how Georges I-IV influenced and inspired the Court, the country, and points far beyond. With the "Glorious Georges" summer-to-autumn program, Historic Royal Palaces gets you right to where, and how, they and their subjects lived.

A visit to any of the three palaces where the story of Georgian glory will be brought to life - Hampton Court, Kensington Palace and Kew Palace - is well worth it at any time. This year that bit much more so.

Events like the Georgian Big Picnic featuring period cuisine and performances planned for May, the Georgian Garden Party on 26/27 July, choral performances and more, happening at Hampton Court, will add a rich dimension of sights and sensations to the palace's stunning spaces, inside and out.

Hampton Court Garden | © GardenVisit.com

At London's heart, Kensington Palace will be the setting for a Georgian-themed Easter Egg hunt inspired by the fauna of the Georgian Court. The 14th and 15th June will see a garden party there as well, with family-friendly activities and entertainment throughout the palace grounds.

Kensington Palace | © ArtFund.org

Leading thinkers from academia, politics, as well as the arts and journalistic worlds will explore Things Georgian and their relationship to contemporary culture in autumn.

Intimate in comparison to the other two in the trio, Kew Palace will host its own Georgian-themed Garden Party on 16/17 August as the centerpiece of a series of events that include themed lectures, activities palace-wide and a cricket match scheduled for the 25 August Bank Holiday weekend.

Kew Palace | © en.Wikipedia.org

Of special note at Kew are the culinary creations being brought to life in the Royal Kitchens.

With Georgian sensibilities and style's profound impact and enduring influence on architecture and design, from the Home Counties to the farthest-flung reaches of the British Empire, it's fitting that fresh presentations of the magnificent Queen's State and Private Apartments at Hampton Court, the State Apartments of Kensington Palace, and expanded exhibits at Kew of objects from the early days and everyday life of George III (the "mad" king) are central to the celebration of the Georgian era's impact on the life of British Royals and regulars alike.

Under just about any circumstances, pomp, ceremony and celebration in the British style are arguably just about without rival. Put the era central to much of that glory in the spotlight (and, yes, there will be lots of period dress on display, in exhibits and worn by interpreters) during the spring/summer season into autumn - height of the Isles' scenic splendor - and an England expedition is entirely in order this year.

More details on events, exhibits and activities at the bursting-with-info Historic Royal Palaces site >

DEANStravel.com >

Two That Do "Downton"

2014-01-14T14:16:00.001-05:00

No need for "my name is (state your name) and I'm...". You are of the many. Out with and proud of your downright die-hard "Downton" addiction. It's all great.

What's not so great is sitting around thinking that you can saunter up to the storied series' set at Highclere Castle on a whim, with only your hours logged lapping up the luscious series as credentials for admission. Not quite, deah.

If last year was any indication, Downton Fever spreads fiercely and fast, and tickets go likewise. Suggestion: Avoid an Oh Footman situation on your vacation. And, better still, include your Highclere pilgrimage as part of a further-ranging expedition into the places and spaces that set the stage for "Downton" drama.

Act quickly and the operators of two compelling tours will not only get you through into the hallowed halls of Highclere, they'll also help you to soak up the spirit of the story, the bucolic beauty of the English countryside, and the energy and exquisite charms of the series' London and other filming locations.

Tours International's deluxe "Downton" immersion experience

Take Tours International's "Downton Abbey" London-originating tour and you'll get Highclere and a whole lot more.

To wit: an exclusive visit to Highclere Castle; afternoon tea at Byfleet Manor, setting for the residence of Violet Crawley, and; a visit to Basildon Park, location for scenes of the Granthams’ London residence.

Soak up more of the aristocratic atmosphere with a special visit to Windsor Castle hosted by a serving Military Knight, and a London tour taking in lots of other series locations.

On the "Downton" tour, Tours International also treats you to a Private Capsule Champagne ride on the London Eye and a River Thames cruise.

Get your three nights' well-earned rest in 4-star style at a select London luxe hotel.

Tours International "Downton Abbey" tour is 27-30 May, 2014, US$1650.00 per person double, US$2010.00 single, with tour size limited to 30.

Details and booking here >

The Wayfarers' "Downton Abbey, Castle Combe and Avebury Circle"

The Wayfarers' "Downton Abbey, Castle Combe and Avebury Circle" luxury walking tour is designed around an upstairs/downstairs theme to put you in close touch with the lives of lord and servant.

Thatched cottages in the Cotswolds, stately Bowood House and its exquisite gardens, and, of course, Highclere Castle, are among the stopping points.

Also along the route: "Downton" location Bampton village; the picturesque village of Castle Combe; Lacock, the village showcased in BBC’s "Cranford", "Pride and Prejudice", as well as "Harry Potter"; the Neolithic stone circle at Avebury and; Savernake Forest, with a walk-by of Wolf Hall, home of Jane Seymour.

The 6-night luxury tour begins at Clanfield (arrival at Oxford Rail Station) and ends in Chippenham (departure from Chippenham Rail Station). Rates for the tours, with 4 monthly departures July-September '14 are US$4995.00 per person, double occupancy.

Details and booking here >

So. Your opinion. Will these tours fill up, um, fawst? Rawh-tharh.

Meaning: get booking.

DEANStravel.com >

An ICE! Holiday Treat at Gaylord Hotels

2013-11-19T09:46:00.000-05:00

The four members of the Gaylord Hotels family are continuing their holiday tradition, in typical grand Gaylord style, with the return of ICE!

Not inclined toward anything done in half-measures, Gaylord is going even bigger this year.

At each resort, more than 2 million pounds of ice will be transformed by artisans - working for more than a month - into colorful super-sized sculptures, 2-story ice slides and holiday vignettes.

Pull on a parka (provided) and wonder from room to room, designed to bring each resort's holiday theme alive.

The sequence culminates in a Nativity scene crafted in crystal-clear ice.

A quick preview of ICE! is included in the Gaylord National's '13 Christmas clip below. Use the link at the end of this post or click here for YouTube videos from past years.

ICE! is the marquee attraction of each resort's extravagant holiday displays and festive family experiences. Tickets for the mid-November - 5 January '14 run are included in holiday packages at all four properties and also available to the general public.

Cool.

(...just had to).

Gaylord Hotels holiday packages > | YouTube ICE! videos

DEANStravel.com >

"Thanksgivukkah" at Turnberry Isle Miami Kicks Off Seasonal Celebrations

2013-11-08T15:49:00.000-05:00

Thanksgiving Day hasn't coincided with the first day of Hanukkah since 1888, the folks at AAA Four Diamond-rated Turnberry Isle Miami would like to remind.

Hence, this year we have what's come to be known as "Thanksgivukkah".

Others coined the term; couldn't have said it better myself.

And in anticipation of an amped up '13 Holiday Season kick-off, the resort has rolled out a lengthy roster of events, activities and celebrations. It all begins with the lighting of the Menorah on the evening of 27 November. Yes, of course, there'll be dreidel, chocolate gelt and jelly doughnuts.

Get Thanksgiving Day off to a running start with a fitness-pro-guided 2.9-mile "Turkey Trot" followed by soothing smoothies. After that, you'll savor afternoon holiday cookies and apple cider guilt-free.

From special holiday meals, to cooking and mixology demos, to special "Energy-to-Go" breakfasts to fuel you for the Black Friday frenzy (complimentary shuttle to the very-close-by Aventura Mall), to kid's activities, Black Friday "Shoppers' Recovery" spa treatments, live music and more, Turnberry's holiday calendar will keep yours as full or as blissfully I'll-be-at-the-Beach-Club" as you like.

Turnberry Isle Miami > | Holiday schedule > | Packages >

DEANStravel.com >

Yes, Virginia (& Family & Friends), There Is More | At a Holiday Hotel Gem in D.C.

2013-11-07T16:07:00.000-05:00

When I posted my "5 Days of Deals" for the '13 holiday season selection [see it here and find lots of other deals for travel through the end of the year at DEANStravel.com], I made every effort to include a cross-section of bundles of travel value joy - not just as flag bearers of the premium offers of the season for procrastinators, but as signposts toward the inspired inclusions that make for a memorable holiday.

Whether it be in price, or in sit-back-and-relax-everyone touches, I preach, and always will, the virtue of taking a good gander at the true value of packages. And then doing a double take on the thing. Because a holiday cookie and 2% rate reduction does not a holiday deal make.

Amen.

Let us stay. Where they get it.

And let us start with the brilliant deal below, and continue from today through to the weekend with a few gems that are shining through in these early November days. Deals that illustrate my point so clearly that all I have to do is pass along the details and my work is done. Until more roll in.

Easy. Rewarding. Just like your happy holidays should be.

Capella Washington, D.C., Georgetown | "A Capital Way to Celebrate"
1-/2-night Christmas packages | New Year's "Capital Celebrations" package

Tucked behind a reserved exterior, in the heart of historic Georgetown (always stylishly be-dazzled for the holiday season), C&O-canal-side, Capella Washington, D.C., Georgetown's doors open into an uplifting enclave of sumptuous, stylish spaces.

Celebrate Christmas in style at the Capella with their 1- and 2-night Christmas packages, both of which include accommodations, 2 tickets to the Washington Harbour Ice Skating Rink (skates included), welcome drink, five-course Christmas Day dinner at The Grill Room,and breakfast for two and late check-out on 26 December. The 2-night package (24 Dec check-in) includes Christmas Day brunch.

Their ne-plus-ultra "New Year's Capital Celebrations" package includes overnight stay, evening cocktails and hors d'oeuvres in The Rye Bar, five-course dinner with wine pairing at The Grill Room, live entertainment and dancing after dinner, midnight Taittinger toast on the hotel's roof deck, after-midnight supper, all-day New Year's Day brunch, and late check-out.

Capella Washington, D.C., Georgetown > | Hotel brochure > | Holiday offers >

DEANStravel.com >

But Of Course! You Do Have Time To Plan a Holiday Getaway | 5 Days of Deals

2013-11-04T16:46:00.000-05:00

Hmm.

I hear your wheels whirring.

The Idea, this year, was to spend the holidays home-style. Throw a festive get-together or two. Turn out a triumph of a turkey banquet. Effortlessly entertain everyone in your circle from 9 to whatever until Baby New Year bounced in.

Now you hear that Belinda and Brett are off to Bora Bora. The Sapersteins are hitting the slopes. Veronica and her new beau (how does she stand him) are heeding the call of the Caribbean. So now you're thinking...

But, no. You couldn't. You shouldn't. Shouldn't even bother. Too late.

Not so.

There's a growing awareness in the travel industry that bookings are being made closer and closer to departure dates. What does this travel trend mean to you? Ever-expanding offerings on last- or second-to-last-minute trips - from the simple room and round trip to elaborate, extended tours. But your Inbox could have told you that.

Now, as October and November change guard, is a great time to change your mind and switch up your holiday plans. And to save enough for a few extra gifts to boot.

Five days of deals

For five days (31 October - 4 November), I'll be sorting through offers, picking out the good lookers and posting on this page, as many times a day as something good comes along. Check back often and/or subscribe to the RSS feed.

And if a deal here sparks an idea, as you gallop through Google, do your Bing thing or reach Expedia ecstasy, don't get so swept up in the merriment that you forget to pay close attention to total travel time on discount fares and air+hotel packages, and check into what services will/won't be available at your destination on and around holidays. Also, revelers: get. travel. insurance.

Not ready to commit? You just might find inspiration for next year, here on theBLOG and at DEANStravel.com.

[UPDATED: 4 NOVEMBER 4:46AM ET]

SeaDream Yacht Club | Holiday voyages | Caribbean, Mexico, Asia
Nov + Dec '13

With 56 couples enjoying the service of a crew of 95, SeaDream says of its boutique ship voyages that they're "yachting, not cruising. Enjoy the difference." And the difference is in the indulgence in an intimate small-ship sojourn, with all the luxury touches.

At the writing of this post, I can confirm that if your last-minute holiday maybes include taking to the seas – with 5-star pampering including gourmet meals with wine at lunch and dinner, 24-hour in-stateroom "small bites" dining, open premium bar, Champagne and Caviar Splash™ on Caribbean voyages, complimentary laptop, duty-free boutique, entertainment, on-board 1,200-volume library, pool, Jacuzzi, sauna, fitness center, water “toys”, a host of shore-side excursions and more – give serious consideration to one of 16 November and December Caribbean, Mexico and Asia voyages with availability as of today (4 Nov ’13).

SeaDream Yacht Club > | November + December voyage info and booking >

Omni King Edward Hotel, Toronto, Canada| “Elves and Eggnog” package
15 Nov – 30 Dec '13

Toronto’s landmark Omni King Edward Hotel reigns as the city's first luxury hotel, and continues to live up to that legacy and then some.

From the impressive lobby to guest rooms’ relaxed elegance, from the state of the art fitness center to the Victoria’s Restaurant premiere dining experience, legacy meets modern luxury at “The King Eddy.” Be sure to join the Omni Select Guest program and take advantage of a host of perks, including free WiFi, right from your first stay. The Omni Kids Program will make sure that your younger traveling companions have plenty to fill their time at the hotel.

Book the hotel’s holiday season “Elves and Eggnog” package and get a 20% reduction on rates for a 2-night stay, complimentary specialty eggnog cocktails in the hotel bar.

Turn in after your Toronto day out (for zipping to the head of the queue at the city's top attractions, a Toronto CityPASS is well worth the investment, as is a trip to the must-do Art Gallery of Ontario) - turn-down service and holiday treat included. Wake up to breakfast in bed or table-served in the restaurant and enjoy late check-out privileges for 1pm departure.

Omni King Edward > | “Elves and Eggnog” package details and booking >

DAY 4

Boston Harbor Hotel, Boston, Massachusetts | “New Year’s Eve on the Wharf”
New Year's

The Boston Harbor Hotel’s “New Year’s Eve on the Wharf” sets you up in fine style with all the must-haves of the occasion.

Check into a luxe room for two on Boston’s waterfront. Relax and rest up for the night ahead. Restless? Do a few laps in the hotel’s 60-ft. indoor pool or get a workout in at the fitness center.

Later, enjoy a four-course dinner for two at Meritrage. A bottle of Moet champagne and chocolate-covered strawberries will be delivered to your room to get the celebration in motion.

On the morning after, revive and recover from the night’s festivities with selections from Meritrage’s breakfast buffet. Then retire to your room to enjoy recuperative relaxation. No hassling with late check-out requests; the package includes check-out at the ultra-understanding hour of 4pm.

Boston Harbor Hotel > | “New Year’s Eve on the Wharf” info and booking >

Inn on Biltmore Estate, Asheville, North Carolina | Holiday packages
Thanksgiving | Christmas | New Year's

Inn on Biltmore Estate is an ideal setting for creating holiday memories that blend the grandeur and history of the Biltmore tradition with the thoroughly modern luxuries and amenities of an award-winning, AAA Four Diamond, Forbes Four Star hotel.

Inn on Biltmore’s holiday packages for Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s include daily admission to Biltmore House – decked out in all its holiday finery – for length of your stay.

Also included with packages are audio guides to the mansion, admission to Candlelight Christmas Evenings in the mansion, daily Chef’s buffet breakfast, complimentary shuttle to the mansion, valet parking, Thanksgiving, Christmas or New Year’s dinners, and all gratuities for housekeepers, bellmen, wait staff and valets.

The New Year’s Eve Black-Tie Gala features open premium to get you in the spirit, five-course gourmet dinner with wine pairings, premium party favors, champagne toast at midnight and post-midnight reception.

Inn on Biltmore Estate > | Holiday package info and bookings >

DAY 3

Trapp Family Lodge, Stowe, Vermont | Thanksgiving package
Thanksgiving | 27-29 Nov '13

Courtesy Trapp Family Lodge | © EasternSlopes.com

The Trapp Family Lodge's Thanksgiving package includes two nights in the mountain resort's appropriately-Austrian-style (yes, it's Trapp, as in von Trapp) Main Lodge, Thanksgiving Dinner, gift in room on arrival, and all taxes and gratuities. And, of course, the beauty of the back-story.

Name the outdoorsy or indoor activity you'd expect in a country mountain setting and you'll find that the lodge lays it on.

And in the unlikely event that can't find something to take you and your family's fancy on the lodge's 2,500-acres, Stowe is minutes away.

Two days not? Add additional nights (meals/activities not included in added night rates).

Trapp Family Lodge > | Thanksgiving package booking >

Affinia Manhattan, New York | Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade Package
Thanksgiving

Book three nights at Affinia Manhattan, and the hotel that's official partner of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade will set you up with up to four Central Park West Grandstand tickets (which aren't available for sale to the general public).

You'll also get Breakfast To-Go to fuel you for the event's 8am start, complimentary hand warmers, and an official parade gift.

Once the parade passes by, keep the festive spirit going with a US$100 food and beverage credit, 20% off dinner at Niles New York City, and 10% discount privileges for getting the holiday shopping going at Macy's.

Fresh off of a multi-million-dollar renovation, the Affinia's midtown location is ideal as a base for seeing the sights and lights of the season.
Affinia Manhattan > | Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade Package >

Coconut Bay Beach Resort & Spa, St. Lucia | Holiday Specials up to 45% discount
Nov - Dec '13 | Book by 30 Nov '13

Stunning St. Lucia is an exceptional island experience at any time of year. For the '13 holiday season Coconut Bay Beach Resort & Spa is tempting you to indulge in either a festive family getaway or romantic escape at their two-in-one, all-inclusive enclave, minutes from Hewanorra International Airport.

The Harmony wing of the resort is reserved for adults to enjoy peace and us time. Splash is a family-friendly resort within the resort focused on kid- and the-whole-gang activities and amenities - including an expansive water park.

Coconut Bay is offering rates at discounts of up to 45% for the holidays, as well as a US$250 resort credit for stays of 7 nights or more.

Coconut Bay Beach Resort & Spa > | Holiday specials >

DAY 2

Cameron House, Loch Lomond, Scotland | "Christmas Like the First Time" packages + activities
Dec '13

This year, Cameron House, the stately manor on the shores of Loch Lomond, is celebrating the holiday season by bringing back the warmth and conviviality of our earliest memories of the season.

For the '13 holidays, the hotel's quintessentially Scottish countryside experience will carry through to a host of seasonal special events and activities. So, you can take to the lake, as always, on the yacht Celtic Warrior, soar over the Highlands on a seaplane ride, mount up onto a mountain bike, slip away to the spa, or simply snuggle up your luxury room.

Then get into the Christmas spirit, as screenings of classic movies, carolers and performers, holiday-themed banquets, pipe bands, fireworks and other celebrations usher in the holiday and New Year.

Cameron House packages are for between 2 and 4 nights [see page 12 onwards of the brochure for details].

Cameron House , Loch Lomond > | "Christmas Like the First Time" brochure >

Viking River Cruises | European holiday vacations
Nov - Dec '13 departures

A great last-minute trip is one that's as details-done-and-dusted as possible, and - during the holiday season - adds the excitement of sharing unique culture and celebrations to the merry mix. There's still time to do that this holiday season.

Award-winning Viking River Cruises offers both and more with its suite of 2013 Holiday Cruises through Europe. With a choice of 5 itineraries that take in the famed Christmas markets along the Danube, Paris all dressed up for the holidays, the romance of the Rhine from Amsterdam to Basel and more, it should be easy to find an trip that makes for a memorable '13 festive season. And, yes, there's still availability.

Unpack once on a November or December departure and enjoy shore excursions, entertainment and activities on-board and ashore, meals with complimentary beverages, celebrated European beers and wine, and more. And watch the beauty of holiday-happy Europe gently unfold along storied rivers.

Viking River Cruises holiday cruise bookings >

Balboa Bay Resort, Newport Beach, California | "Experience a Bayfront Holiday"
1 Dec' 31 through New Year's

From the 2 December Christmas tree lighting through Thanksgiving, on to Christmas and New Year's celebrations, the 4-Diamond Balboa Bay Resort - the only waterfront resort in California's Newport Beach - is laying on a seasonal celebration that includes year's-end guest room packages, and special holiday meals and events all through the last weeks of '13 [brochure here >].

Be front and center for the 105th Annual Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade, delight in multi-course holiday meals, ring in '14 at your choice of black tie gala or informal knees-up.

Roughly midway between Los Angeles and San Diego, Newport Beach is an ideal base from which to explore and to soak up SoCal seasonal spirit. Though the resort has more than enough to keep you happily ensconced.

Balboa Bay Resort > | Holiday brochure >

Eurail | 20% off Global and Select Passes
1 Nov - 31 Dec '13 | Travel until 13 Mar '14

Eurail is spreading cheer with its 20% discount on its Global Pass - good for travel for European travel in up to 24 countries - and its Select Pass for 3, 4, or 5 countries.

If you're in the mood to go where the rails take you this holiday season [see my Eurail post here] the passes are an exceptional option for adding the excitement of the spontaneous to your holidays.

From snow-cloaked mountains to the Mediterranean, peaceful pastoral landsapes to the bustle of urban festivities, a pass is a great way to turn your holiday season into a memorable celebration.

Eurail Winter '13 20% pass discount information and ordering >

DAY 1

Dromoland Castle Hotel & Country Club, Clare, Ireland | Christmas packages
Dec '13

For a decade, dreams of a dreamy Dromoland Castle Christmas remained just that.

Awake, you dreamers. As part of its 50th Anniversary celebrations the County Clare castle resort is once more opening its doors to guests for Christmas.
The Christmas packages offered are for 1 night, 2 nights and Christmas Day celebrations.

I won’t waste your time naming the endless inclusions – from activities, to cuisine and libations (see the brochure ) – because the word is definitely out and availability is quickly dwindling, as the clock on the booking page attests.

Dromoland Castle Hotel & Country Club Christmas bookings >
Christmas brochure >

Rosewood Tucker's Point, Bermuda | Celebrate the Holidays at Rosewood, Tucker's Point
Thanksgiving 15-30 Nov '13 | Holiday Season 20-31 Dec '13

Book a three-night stay at Rosewood Tucker’s Point during the holiday season and celebrate in high Bermuda style with the resort's Thanksgiving and holiday season offers, superlative amenities and stellar service.

Both packages include daily American breakfast and nightly dinner for two (with special Thanksgiving and Christmas menus).

Also included are round-trip airport transfers, an 18-hole round of golf, seasonal welcome amenity, and a complimentary spa treatment.

Rosewood Tucker’s Point holiday offers >

Radisson BLU Edwardian, Bloomsbury Street, London | "Festive Feasts & Seasonal Celebrations”

11 Nov ’13 – 5 Jan ‘14

In my post on the Radisson BLU Edwardian, Bloomsbury Street, I sang the praises of its London location – convenient to so much – as well as the hotel’s style and service. Since then, the hotel’s been moving from strength to strength.

The hotel’s “Festive Feasts and Seasonal Celebrations” includes double occupancy rates on offer starting at £226 – VAT and all-important Full English Breakfast included.

Throughout the holidays, the hotel’s restaurant, Steak & Lobster, Bloomsbury is serving up a special seasonal offerings 1-24 December and New Year’s Eve.

And whether you celebrate Christmas or not, their special Christmas Day Lunch is a welcome option on a day when options can be hard to come by, particularly when landing last minute.

[Reminder: in the giddiness of planning your getaway, don’t forget to check holiday opening times, e.g. The British Museum, National Gallery, St. Paul's, London Eye, etc. The days around Christmas often mean locked doors. Smaller and specialty venues might surprise you with their Christmas hours - The Charles Dickens Museum is a good example.]

Radisson BLU Edwardian, Bloomsbury Street “Festive Feasts & Seasonal Celebrations” >

Langham Place, Mongkok, Hong Kong | “Absolute Christmas” package
13 Dec '13 – 10 Jan ‘14

Book in for 3 consecutive nights with the luxe Langham Place’s “Absolute Christmas” package and receive welcome cocktails to toast your holiday, a seasonal welcome gift, and a letter from Santa for the kids or the kid in you.

And that’s just the beginning.

The package also affords you all the benefits of the hotel’s Club L. From special check-in and late checkout, to all-day snacks and drinks in the Club L Lounge, to evening champagne cocktails and canapés, to complimentary spa treatments, and more, you’ll have no problem adding jolly to your holidays.

Langham Place “Absolute Christmas” package >

Wild Dunes Resort, Isle of Palms, South Carolina | Holiday Packages
Thanksgiving | Christmas | New Year's

Whether for a romantic couple's getaway or a festive family holiday, the award-winning, oceanfront Wild Dunes Resort - just outside of top tourism spot Charleston [I'd recommend renting a car] - offers up a particularly relaxing, renewing rhythm during the winter months. The resort's holiday packages include accommodations, a host of themed activities, special seasonal spa offerings.

And don't worry about about sweating the details of your Thanksgiving or Christmas feast, or any meal for that matter.Their Dinner Delivered has you covered, with multi-course meals for 8-10 delivered to your condo or vacation home, with choices including the holiday classics, regional fare and more. The resort also offers seasonal specials at its dining venues.

Wild Dunes Resort Holiday Packages >

American Queen Steamboat Company | 2-for-1 Holiday Packages
Thanksgiving through December

The American Queen Steamboat Company has made many appearances throughout this blog and at DEANStravel.com. And with good reason.

A one-of-a-kind river cruise experience blending the best of modern amenities with timeless attention to quality and service, meals, entertainment, shore excursions, complimentary beer and wine at dinner, and a host of other inclusions. All the qualities that earned the American Queen its place in the Historic Hotels of America collection.

With the line's Holiday 2-for-1 Cruise sale on four New Orleans/Memphis itineraries (departures from Thanksgiving through the end of November) the first passenger sails on full fare, the second gratis.

Perfect for a spur-of-the-moment adventure into Americana.

American Queen Steamboat 2-for-1 Holiday cruises >

DEANStravel.com >

Need Sun, Need Fun, You Sigh. Well, Come to Miami, They Say.

2013-10-17T15:40:00.000-04:00

Oh you. Already?

Autumn has barely begun and already you're ready to call in sick. It's a fever. The Cabin kind. Two nights ago you woke up screaming "fingerless gloves."

I see you over there. Squatted. Rocking. Certain you won't survive the season without extensive, expensive therapy.

This should snap you out of that summer's-over stupor. Get up and out of that corner, and get ready to hit the pool deck, beach, and more, on a trip that's sure to cure. To Miami.

Here's a trio of first-rate fall deals at simply marvelous Miami Beach prestige properties. Great values on stays at a great time of year to make a Miami move.

But move fast. These deals won't last. A little, um, snowbirdie told me.

Fontainbleau Miami Beach | "Fall For Bleu" | Book by 31 October, travel by 3 November

The legendary, landmark Fontainebleau is a destination in and of itself. In addition to third-night-free rates, the iconic resort's "Fall For Bleau" package includes a US$50 Glow Bar food & beverage credit. Book here >

SLS Hotel South Beach | "Fall into Luxury" | Book/travel by 15 November

This South Beach boutique show-stopper tell its own story best.

A feast for the senses. A creative cocktail of sophistication and playfulness. A hotel with style, luxury and service. From the minds of Sam Nazarian, Philippe Starck, Chef José Andrés and Lenny Kravitz, a surreal boutique luxury hotel journey through Miami, Latin America, Asia and the Mediterranean.

Enough said.

Book the "Fall into Luxury" package and savor swag including complimentary room upgrade at check-in (availability based), US$25 food & credit for each night booked, 20% off best available rate. Book here >

Eden Roc Miami Beach | "Countdown to Winter" | Book by 22 November

Through its storied history, the landmark AAA Four-Diamond Eden Roc has welcomed celebrities including Katherine Hepburn, Elizabeth Taylor and Humphrey Bogart. Not to mention thousands of the just-you-and-me's who know a good thing when they see it.

Get ahold of your piece of the Roc by 22 November and pocket 10% savings for any stay of two or more nights. Book here >

DEANStravel.com >

UPDATED | More Than You'd Ever Imagine: Insight on the Real Value of Jamaica Villa Rental from Leading Authority Linda Smith

2013-09-28T10:31:00.008-04:00

[Added content follows original post]

Jamaica villa rental aficionada Linda Smith didn't hesitate for a second when I asked what she thinks travelers choosing a villa vacation for their stay are apt to find most unexpected about the experience.

"It's the deep and lasting person-to-person connections they make," she said; not a beat missed.

"It's something wonderful that happens that they didn't bargain for."

As we spoke it became clear that she was referring not just to the idea of families reveling in the revitalization of their bonds in a stunning setting, but also the creation of connections with the superbly-trained staff that realize her villa vacation vision day-to-day.

And I'd been silly enough to think that I was writing a story about the fact that for families and groups (couples too) renting a Jamaica villa means unmatched privacy, luxury and amenities, spacious and breezy accommodations, a private pool, their own beachfront playground and an ultra-attentive staff; for lots less than the word "villa" suggests to many.

Yes, Corrected is now a good color on me. Oh yes: I'm standing in it head to heels.

All of this indulgence -- as the inimitable Ms. Smith was quick to point out when I broached the topic far too soon -- often costing less than a hotel or resort stay of the same length.

But she made it clear that that bottom-line dinero discussion was a topic for later on, thanks very much.

So, right there at the outset of my chat with the lady who boasts a stellar record of more than a couple of decades transforming Jamaica villas into transformative family vacation sanctuaries, the rationale for her recognition by Conde Nast Traveler as Jamaica's top villa rental consultant from 2007 to today (yes, every year) was as crystal clear as Caribbean coastal waters.

Power of the people

"To a person," Linda shared, on her guest experience surveys (true to her signature attention to detail she conducts one with every group mid-way through their stay and gets any issues set right right away) the ovations from guests are universally for the staff.

The incomparably warm, friendly, efficient, attentive service; the sensitivity to guests' preferences for less or more staff visibility; the villa teams' ability to effortlessly craft memorable experiences on the fly -- from gourmet or Caribbean comfort food feasts to mum-and-dad escapes to multi-generational beach barbecue get-togethers. All of these, she points out, win the highest praise from her guests.

"It's never about how beautiful the home is, how great the private pool or beach are. They know all that from the web site. They know they're going to be in a beautiful property. The raves are always about the whole family's deepest affection for, and connection with, the villa staff."

That affection has guests returning year after year to the same villa for a reunion with the crew with which the family has bonded.

And, just to be clear, in addition to leading ground-up renovations of the gracious, impeccably-designed, fully decked-out properties in her villa rental portfolio, Linda personally trains each and every member of the staff.

She also stays in every villa she handles to be au fait with every nuance. Of every property. (I need a nap myself just thinking about that much fact-finding).

Linda is quick to share credit for the success that has won her a loyal clientele of celebrities and savvy travelers with her Jamaican teams and their in-born "fondness for people, their wisdom and their intuition."

For as much praise as Smith showers on her staff, it can't go unmentioned that -- in addition to training them until they're completely at ease and ready to deliver on her premiere-experience promise to guests -- she devotes immeasurable energy to taking care of her team's welfare.

She jets to Jamaica bearing both necessities and gifts for her staff at least twice a year. And with an irrepressible energy that fair crackled down my land line, she not only takes the time to ensure that both newbies and vets are keeping up on delivery of exceptional experiences for her guests, she makes sure that they're taken care of off duty as well.

Vision realization

That unending energy is what transformed holiday-maker Linda Smith into the award-winning powerhouse leading Jamaica Villas by Linda Smith.

In Jamaica on vacation, with the idea of a holiday home in the back of her mind, she purchased a fixer-upper on the beach -- known now as Tranquility on the Beach.

She never looked back.

And for Linda it is and has always been about the vision of non-pareil family travel -- a vision she's realized with superlative style that sets the standards for villa rental worldwide.

"Picture this," Linda said to me, "three generations of a family in their private sanctuary; a beautiful home -- and it's about home when you rent a villa -- under stunning blue skies; beautiful views; tropical breezes; the kids playing in the pool and on the lawn and all cared for by a warm, caring caregiver; grandma and grandpa watching and relaxing on the pool deck; mom and dad sharing a rare moment of talk-time on the private beach. A family reconnecting with each other. And creating lifelong relationships with the wonderful, warm, superbly-skilled people taking care of them."

A beautiful picture.

Sold, Ms. Smith. Sold.

Villas by Linda Smith: http://www.JamaicaVillas.com/

DEANStravel.com >

UPDATE | Making the Best Even Better

Never one to rest on her laurels, Linda Smith continues to earn accolades as Jamaica villa rental specialist par excellence.

It was no surprise to find that for the 7th time in a row she was named Jamaica's Top Villa Rental Specialist by Condé Nast Traveler. In what has been a very good year, Jamaica Villas by Linda Smith was named to Travel+Leisure's list of the Top 40 All-Star Villa Agencies in the World.

An ever-extending tradition of winning. I had to call her on it. As in get on the phone and get back in touch.

And when we spoke, it was abundantly clear that the infectious energy and enthusiasm that had characterized her initial interview for my post earlier this had, if nothing, doubled and then some.

How, I asked, does she so seemingly effortlessly continue her winning ways?

The obvious first answers are her genuine love of the Jamaica, and an eye for detail evident even in conversation. She reeled off an extensive list of the hospitality touches that are part of the villa experience in her portfolio of properties: from the thermos of celebrated Jamaican coffee discretely placed outside each guest bedroom every morning, to the call she makes during her clients' - including a loyal celebrity and high-profile personality following, as well as a roster of devotees who simply enjoy her signature attention to all things that make a family vacation great - stay to ask that they tell her "one thing that would make this holiday even better", to recommending a professional photographer to capture the family's villa memories, to specifics and nuances of villa location, ambiance and design that she gleans by staying in each and every room. And more.

She went on to reiterate that far and away her most valuable assets are found in the staff that provide the service to her guests that builds such loyalty that most all of her cadre of repeat clients contact her not to ask about availability, but to ensure that they're taken care of by the staff they've come to know on previous trips.

"This is the magic of it," she said. "The magic of the villa experience is in the staff: the chef, the housekeeper, the laundress, the butler. No matter their role, families come to treasure the warmth and caring service they experience in our villas."

Smith intends to make even more service magic by taking training of staff to even higher levels, exploring her options for creating schools for butlers, cooks and housekeeping staff.

"The beauty of working with the people we hire in Jamaica is how receptive they are to the training we give them." Not sure at first how education on her exacting service standards would be received, she found that "from the very beginning, staff took to training effortlessly. They grabbed it. They felt empowered."

The business and pleasure of leisure

With her portfolio expanding and her reputation growing ever more stellar, Jamaica Villas by Linda Smith continues a steady, subtle evolution.

Visitors to the JamaicaVillas.com will find the same easy elegance that has characterized the site content and presentation, as well as one of the most thorough briefings on what to expect and how to best enjoy a villa vacation that I've encountered online. Return visitors will also notice enhanced, robust search capability and even more user-friendly navigation that makes the first steps in planning a Jamaica villa vacation

And if you still have questions, Smith's staff will take all the time you need to sort through the array of possibilities to plan a family villa vacation (or intimate couple's getaway).

How, I asked, does this all happen?

Smith explained that the first thing one of her agents (who, by the way, like her, have experienced all the villas in the portfolio) will do is build a client profile that includes how many are traveling, their ages, who will share with whom. Is a nanny needed?

From there, it's on to questions of preferred activity (or respite therefrom), cuisine choices, extra amenities, special occasions and celebrations during the trip, and more. Will you need a driver during the stay?

Do you need an airport transfer? Would you like to take advantage of Club MoBay?

Smith has also amped up and streamlined her operation with enhancements to marketing and other back-office administrative functions.

"That leaves me," she says, "to concentrate on quality control, product development, and client relations", including the aforementioned check-in calls to villa guests during their stay.

And when the answer to that question comes, she says, it's so said, so done.

You. Autumn. Make the Most of Harvest Time Travel: Tips + Ideas

2013-09-10T17:17:00.000-04:00

Leaves turn. Deals and discounts turn travel into a tempting prospect, as crowds thin, lines at must-sees are more manageable, and weather mellows to a milder mood.

Autumn is an awesome time to both take stock of your plans for end-of-year holiday travel and take advantage of deals that will find you exploring experiences you may not have thought of before.

Once you've done the dotting and crossing of your core travel plans for the holidays, there's an abundance of opportunity for improvisation and the impromptu during the harvest season.

Here and on the DEANStravel.com Spotlight are ideas to get you thinking about the possibilities for great getaways for the season.

Now, about that fall travel and all...

Mark up your calendar

Before you set to planning that Pennsylvania private pumpkin picking tour for two, tap into whatever app or pull out whatever paper planning medium is of your choice, look things over and be sure you can see your way clear to the end of the year.

Do you need to tweak the timing on that Thanksgiving drive to grandma's so that you're not careening along the interstate at 3:30 in the morning of The Big Day, blinking bloodshot eyes? Have you had all the shots you need for that once-in-a-lifetime safari or river cruise through exotic climes? Are you pet care plans put in good order? Do you need to add a vacation day here or there to allow for recovery or travel prep time?

Map out the months through to the end of the year then make way for more. Because Fall is the season of great deals that can make the year's last months memorable.

Live it up in the city

The city when it swelters can be less than thrilling. When gentler temperatures take hold it's as if a whole new world unfolds in the urban environment. If, after you've
set your calendar to rights you find a free few days here or there, a city break may just be the thing to set your stress levels right as you steel yourself for the season of holidays.

That 90-plus-person line in 96-degree Fahrenheit heat becomes a step-or-two stroll to when the summer rush subsides. That exhilarating exhibit is even more so when you take to the rooms fresh, ready and excited to be enlightened. Not when you're sweat-soaked and surly.

City breaks are particularly tempting on fall weekends, when rates are lower than during the business week.

Don't plan an urban escape without checking to see if the city - and your selected hotel in particular - is hosting conventioneers and associated activities. If you mega-atrium hotel is hosting the Member of the Millennium event in said celebrated atrium, you may find your suite not so sweet a deal as the celebrations carry on into the small hours. Book a boutique hotel and you're more often than not safe. Deal too good to pass up at Olympic indoor pool/mega fitness center/right downtown digs? A quick check with the hotel's Reservations - or, insider tip, Catering/Sales department (they book meetings) - will let you know if name tag toters will be on site during your planned getaway.

Once settled on your staying place, turn your attention to attractions. Then take a pass. Most every major urban destination worldwide offers a visitor pass for attractions, transportation, or both [By way of example: Citypass has great North America offers in several cities; [see examples of other pass benefits in the DEANStravel.com Venice Spotlight feature here>, in a Florence theBLOG post here >]. More often than not, the pass price covers the the cost of admission of the key attractions you want to see, with the rest as a bonus that can sometime serve up the happy surprise of an off-the-beaten-track gem you'd never considered. Get to your preferred search engine and find the official (a key Key Word) tourism bureau site of your destination to discover deals with passes.

A city break doesn't mean missing out on the scenic splendor of the season's change. Just about any major metropolis offers a modicum of greenery that will splash up a touch of seasonal color. So you'll be able to mix a little bit of country with your urban roll. The planet's most celebrated autumn colors happen to be in the northeast of the United States, with October offering up most of the primary color.

And smaller cities in New England in particular offer both enviable urban hospitality and views to beautiful, rolling country, resplendent in seasonal scenery. That said, all across the U.S. and northern Europe we're on the cusp, here in early September, of the season's great displays. And, as luck would have it, in the "shoulder" season that offers up great travel deals and discounts.

Think locally

If after mapping your travels through the end of the year you find that the idea of adding another trip to the timetable makes your wallet sad, and the long wait for the next sojourn makes your puts a hitch into your getaway giddyup, consider capitalizing on the exploration opportunities close to home.

Getting into a staycay situtation may be just the ticket to celebrating the season. Find your local or regional tourism association's site and suss out the stuff that's surprisingly better known to visitors to your part of the world than to you; small museums, historic sites, scenic stops - make it a project to find new dimensions of your home territory.

Plan a long weekend (start on Thursday evening or end on Monday night) that doesn't eat away at vacation days. Do That Thing you always had in mind to try but never did. Fall is fantastic for horseback riding lessons, kayaking and canoeing, hiking, biking through parkland, learning to fish. All the things that, if you live in a hot-summer region, are deodorant-taxers in peak vacation months, are much more appealing when the mercury starts to dip.

And while the most broadly understood definition of a staycation involves spending nights at home, a couple of nights' stay in an easy-drive-away-from-home hotel enriches the escapist experience. Many hotels offer special deals on bookings by locals. Ask your local tourism bureau about newly-opened hotels close by - grand opening deals are an industry staple and savings can be considerable. Consider going for history and character in a hotel like those in the Historic Hotels of America collection, where you'll find surprising levels of luxury for less than you might think, as well as wonderful insight into local lore.

Time for a tech check

That Bora Bora beach locator, Fourth of July fireworks finder Hanoi hotdog stand seeker - all those apps that made our summer spectacularly successful are now gnawing away at your memory, endlessly updating, sucking away at your bandwidth. Tell them all thanks for coming and send them into the bin and beyond. Free up your start screen for new priorities.

Once you've seen your schedule through to year's end, turn your tapping to the application offerings that will add the most appeal to your fall and winter wanderings [App Store travel apps here >; Android travel apps here >].

So. Sit and see what your calendar looks like for the rest of the year. See the ideas for fall forays at DEANStravel.com, and cruise through the ideas here on theBLOG. Whip up a wish list. Thinking a U.S. fall foray? Farmer's Almanac predictions for peak fall leaf peeping are here >. Then click back here for more fall travel thoughts.

You. Autumn. Awesome.

DEANStravel.com >

Green Three | A Trio of California Hotels that Echo Eco-Chic

2013-08-14T17:09:00.000-04:00

It's ever easier to go eco. And in high style at that.

Look no further than these wow-worthy U.S. West Coast hotels to find the idea affirmed.

San Francisco's chic celebration of California history, Inn at the Presidio, and SoCal style stalwarts Hotel Palomar and Hotel Wilshire offer green-made-great experiences.

If your first word association response to mention of Los Angeles is "jam" you just may change your tune when the "Car-free, Care Free" package from both Hotel Wilshire in West Hollywood and Westwood's Hotel Palomar gets you flying along, wind in hair, fading from the rear view mirrors of envious drivers tied up in the traffic trap.

Both Kimpton family hotels have introduced custom, complimentary, appropriately L.A.-stylish bikes by PUBLIC for guests. L.A.-stylish meaning cherry-red, orange- and blue-accented frames, brass bells, cream-colored tires and double-walled rims.

A welcome amenity kit is included in the "Car-free" package at both properties [Wilshire > | Palomar >]. Inside: pedometer, bottled water, healthy snack and sunscreen. Also included are car-free maps and suggested neighborhood itineraries to guide your ride through neighborhood highlights. From two-wheel touring, keep moving on two feet with custom jogging maps. The reward for presenting a package pedometer with more than 10,000 steps logged is 20% off a future stay.

When ready to rock and roll your cream-colored wheels, Hotel Wilshire guests are invited to stock their bikes' back-mounted baskets with selections from the Wilshire's specially-crafted "Roof on the Move"picnic menu. At the Palomar, a new picnic lunch menu perfect for packing in the custom-designed baskets showcases locally-sourced farm-fresh ingredients.

At Hotel Wilshire, you'll return from your ride or run to a sleek boutique sanctuary. And since we've got green on the mind here, know that there's a guest recycling program, as well as a range of organic nibbles to be had in your room or suite. Not too many crumbs on the Frette linens please.

Just as the Wishire does, equally sleek and chic Hotel Palomar hosts a nightly wine reception, if you can pull yourself away from the perfect-for-post-ride pool area or motivate yourself to unwrap yourself from the house leopard print robe. Ditto for coming down for the wine soiree from the Hotel Wilshire's breezy rooftop retreat.

Up the coast, San Francisco's Inn at The Presidio showcases the powerful possibilities in reviving historic structures as luxury lodgings in a green-from-the-get-go spirit.

Officers' quarters from the days when the main structure served as an army base have been carefully restored using a host of recycled materials - including shredded blue jeans for insulation - and cutting edge architectural techniques. Energy-efficient lighting, advanced architectural technology and extensive adaptive re-use of the buildings fittings and fixtures are features of the historic home turned luxe boutique hotel.

Inn at the Presidio - member of the Historic Hotels of America family - is located within the Presidio of San Francisco National Park, which features landscapes from forest to beach for exploring, and spectacular vistas of the San Francisco skyline across the water.

Feel good about feeling good and doing good for the planet.

Awesome.

Very California.

DEANStravel.com >

Hotel Wilshire >
Hotel Palomar >
Inn at the Presidio >

It's In the Water | Amazing Grace Bay Beach in Providenciales

2013-08-02T17:28:00.000-04:00

You remember it.

Younger days, yes. Memory-ingrained nonetheless.

The transporting bliss of Being At the Beach.

A secluded spot. Romping in the surf. Floating on and diving through the waves. Sand in your toes, and everywhere, and, no, you didn't care. Sights, sounds and sensations that never failed to bring the kid in you out to play.

No gargantuan throngs of tote-toters. The view from your shady or sun-drenched spot to an endless sweep of sea. The charms of carefree days.

You can go back.

Because no matter your age, Grace Bay Beach in Providenciales - TripAdvisor Travelers Choice #1 Turks & Caicos Islands attraction - is certain to bring to vivid life the worry-free inner child that you thought a permanently missing person.

"Provo" for short, Providenciales is the most developed of the 40 islands and cays (8 of them inhabited) that make up the Turks & Caicos Islands, aka "TCI", a British Overseas Territory southeast of the Bahamas. But don't think that "most developed" means overcrowded or overrun.

The opposite.

Even though most of the island's resorts are clustered along Grace Bay, with the string continuing northeast and southwest on the Atlantic coast, if you're looking for that often-elusive elusive luxury of a laid-back vibe combined with world-class amenities and activities, look no further.

Getting going

As is the case with travel to many Caribbean islands, regardless of your originating point, our flight from the East Coast of the U.S. to Providenciales [see Getting There info for air and sea arrival here >] arrived in the early afternoon - in this case with a (very) early departure from Washington Dulles International, connecting through Miami.

If you're in a similar situation, don't live particularly close to your departure airport, and don't relish the idea of a dangerously bleary-eyed borderline sound barrier speed expedition to the airport in the pre-dawn hours, consider a park-stay-fly at an airport hotel. These flat-rate packages (we chose the "Park Here, Fly There" deal at the Washington Dulles Airport Marriott) give you the opportunity to sleep in a bit later on departure day, arrive more refreshed and ready to go, and worry-free when it comes to an extra hour or two of flight delays possibly adding up to a mortgage payment or two in added airport parking fees on return day.

Just be sure that the hotel really is right on (best) or very close to the airport - definitions of "airport hotel" can mean drives that defeat the purpose -, that their shuttle is free of charge, that the shuttle runs at the hour you need it to for on-time arrival at the terminal (critical), and that the trip from the hotel - shuttle wait and travel timing taken into account - isn't just about as long as it would have taken you to careen along the interstate from home.

Depending on your budget, a car service is a good alternative, of course. Just take into account any potential challenges contacting the company should you be delayed along the way back from the trip. It's never nice to arrive home 8 hours late and find that the car isn't around and won't be for another hour. Again.

Though shared shuttles and cabs offer decent prices, for trips that involve high levels of sleep deprivation on the day, and late-night arrivals on the return, I confess freely that I don't have the appropriately low blood pressure levels to deal well with the added anxiety of waiting and wondering where and when transport will roll up. More power (and saved cash) to you if you do.

Where's the beach

Yes, yes, you say. Thanks for the advice. Start talking about the beach. You know, the one in the title. The one ranked by this, that, the other publication and site in the world's top one, two or few.

Where to start.

Flying into TCI, it's clear that all the raves about surreally clear, see-to-the-bottom waters, near-blindingly-white sands and plus-que-postcard-perfect islands scattered through the aqua blue are not merely myth.

As you take to the stairs from the aircraft, you'll be at once invigorated and soothed by the island's signature steady breezes - the same breezes that make TCI beach days blissful no matter the temperature.

Our transit through the Providenciales airport (PLS) was relatively painless, given that ours was the only flight arriving at that particular hour [on departure day it's worth considering the VIP Flyers Club, as the departure area gets chock-a-block with passengers and amenities are limited]. Shuttle to our rental, into it and out onto the road. Out the window waters of a ridiculously beautiful aqua stretching far out from shore, dissolving into shade after shade of blue.

Checked into the Royal West Indies - what turned out to be a great boutique condotel option [great provisioning for condos/villas at Graceway IGA on the Leeward Highway and Graceway Gourmet a block from the Seven Stars Resort; U.S. currency is used country-wide] that more than merits its Expedia Insider's Select status - we made our way through what would turn out to be arguably the most extravagant tropical garden we encountered on the trip - lush vegetation, dozens of hues of green, uncountable flowers dripping from trees and shrubs, two free-form pools winding along the main path, complete with waterfall and footbridges.

And then there it was. The Beach.

I have been to many (many) a beautiful beach in my (many) years. Few like this.

Water the color of the fashion shoot backgrounds that you're sure have been photoshopped, and the temperature of a perfectly-drawn bath. Fine, white, sugary sand. Waves perfect for bobbing and not leaving you waving for a lifeguard. Child-friendly water depth at shore with just the right transition to over-the-head deep swimming. And, in the water or on the sand, the wind in your soul experience of That Breeze.

Getting the picture?

And what's great about 12-mile-plus Grace Bay Beach is that just south of it lie the beachfront and waters of the Princess Alexandra National Park and other beaches that stretch southwest - all with different characters, all equally, stunningly beautiful. Perfect for snorkeling. Equally perfect for oceanside dining (Bay Bistro at the Sibonné Beach Hotel and Mango Reef at The Alexandra Resort are good choices - be sure to make reservations for dinner; go more upscale if you prefer at the Seven Stars Resort's Seven; great Indian dining to be had inshore at Garam Masala in the Regent Village and Yoshi).

This video by Turks & Caicos Reservations is a great intro.

Over and out

As in high over Grace Bay in a parasail. A great trip thanks to That Breeze mentioned earlier. Tandem or even triple, should you choose. Boats pull right up onto resort beaches.

And as in out into the Atlantic for what we agreed was the most - no exaggeration - extraordinary snorkeling expedition we'd ever experienced. The three-stop, "Snorkel Mania" three-hour tour along the island's celebrated, absolutely stunning barrier reef - led by Silver Deep's Captain Pringle and his energetic, personable crew - was quite frankly life-changing, and provided the greatest incentive ever to graduate from snorkel to SCUBA, well as being one of our most unforgettable, met-great-people excursions. They even threw in a pre-snorkel stroll around Iguana Island. And enough rum punches to make its inhabitants borderline beautiful.

The archipelago's endless variety of experiences includes wetlands, dramatic rocky beaches, deserted salt flats. The list goes on. And here you thought it was all about the SPF and nothing else. Not so.

And as in over and out both, when we decided that all we wanted next was rekindle carefree memories of beach days full of the enriching simple nothings of life. But we're more demanding now. It's got to be perfect, memorable, gotta-be-back soon, you're-in-a-postcard stuff. We get picky that way, right?

Yes.

Done.

http://www.DEANStravel.com >
http://www.turksandcaicostourism.com/ >
http://www.RoyalWestIndies.com/ >
http://www.SilverDeep.com/ >

Stress-free Summer Travel? Tips and Try-em's for Getting There

2013-06-18T16:53:00.000-04:00

"Where did it go?" you wonder, wide-eyed, at the calendar.

"Where did the time go?"

You do not know.

What you do know is that seemingly ten minutes ago you were wrestling with winter wardrobe plans, toes in the sand, finalizing your tan.

Suddenly, here we all are, slightly stunned at the rumblings that are reminders of the eruption that's about to come around again: the summer travel season.

For many, summer brings the greatest financial and emotional travel investment of the year.

No pressure? Please.

If you've visited DEANStravel.com and this blog before, you're aware that I'm a passionate preacher of the gospel of maximum planning to ensure minimal travel trials.

And I say unto you that spring - yes, meaning now, folks - is a great time to dive into strategies, suggestions, and, well, stuff, to help make those sooner-than-you-know-it summer trips even more enriching, rewarding and relaxing. Less stressful and screamfest-inducing. I'm looking at you. You know you've been there.

The nice news is that this mind massage of a post has a happy ending.

We're off.

Points gains

A recent survey by ThePointsGuy.com found that nearly three-quarters of Americans have no idea of the balances they hold in their airline rewards programs. And nearly 60% are clueless as to how the programs of which they're members work.

It's so nice to belong. Because until I took inventory of my own miles and points and such I was a (multiple) card-carrying member of this clueless club.

Past tense.

First: a desktop sit-down with my travel wallet [eBags' great selection here >; Pianki offers >; Rakuten.com is a good source; great choice from Brookstone >; (search "expanded travel wallet" online if you're rustling a lot of plastic)].

A simple spreadsheet, and a sip of wine or twenty to calm the password-doesn't-work, you're-not-registered, you-have-no-miles (except for a few thousand expired ones, of course) crisis negotiations.

Next: a quick review of the "redeem" sections of rewards sites of each airline, hotel and online booking site, and every other program for which the memory of signing up had escaped me absolutely.

Result: before you could say upgrade I was be-boppin' and scattin' all over the travel rewards world stage (thank you Seinfeld): sending hotel points to airline accounts; transferring points from hotel brand to hotel brand - sometimes even sending them back just for the thrill. The rush. The power. I was running - no, ruling over - my own trading floor. With slightly less shouting.

Then: a doorstep deluge of free. From fine fragrances to equally-fine accessories, electronics to magazines, room nights to upgrades.

But this is about you.

Once you've taken your own inventory, and depending on how often you travel, consider joining a rewards points exchange program, including one or more that facilitate trades with travelers who want to top up balances in their programs and send you their points for use to the same end.

Even if you're not ready for the trading floor, a great toe in the water is signing up with a site - TripIt.com is great - that keeps track of earning activity in your myriad of mileage earnings sources, amongst a host of other time and tension saving tools.

In sum: summer is far-enough off that there's still time to reap the rewards of dusting off your miles for some swag, or a suite, or even adding (something I love to do with Expedia) a spontaneous side-trip that brings that great second-destination dimension to vacations.

Bag check

Should you begin be-boppin', scattin', or both, when you do become a points pro, I strongly suggest a good look through your luggage collection be a pre-summer priority. It may well turn out to be a better idea to redeem some miles for a good strong bag or two (or a few) rather than a $700 pair of sunglasses or platinum potato peeler.

If you've ever had your Favorite Bag come around the baggage belt with your delicates attempting escape through a ripped zipper, you know the agony of misjudging durable vs. done-its-time. No place for nostalgia on this front.

Likewise, should an impromptu lesson in analytical dynamics have come to pass as that garbage-bag hastily crammed with overflow objects and strapped to the roof of the stuffed-to-the-dome-light mini-van ahead of you explodes across the interstate sending you swerving you'll have come to appreciate the value of making sure there's a place for everything when hitting the road.

For family travel in particular, now's a good time to ensure that you've got close - let's face it, with a family you never seem to quite get there - to packing capacity for you, the kids, and the entire entourage.

On road trips with the kids, consider a car organizer, [OneStepAhead is a great source] in the unlikely event that you haven't already found it a life-saver.

The Fold Flat Luggage from Hammacher Schlemmer, which got a great click-through response when posted on the new DEANStravel.com Facebook page, is a brilliant bag buy. Once you've unpacked, the case folds to less than 7 inches deep. A godsend in countries where hotel room sizes skew smaller. I, for one, am drawn to the prospect of not face-planting over a pullman in my bijou luxe Paris double during the night. Again.

For an incredible range of products, ease of use, and far and away one of the best online shopping experiences I've enjoyed - including, yes, a great rewards program - I can say without reservation that eBags is a must-check.

While you're browsing, know that Converse has a great range of trendy and durable casual bags, all under $100, perfect for tossing into the car, toting to the beach, or stuffing under the seat in front of you when so instructed [eBags Converse offerings>].

What's in the bag - and how it is in the bag - can have quite a bit of impact on the overall getting-there and over-there experience.

In plain English, I hate packing.

I am even more unenthusiastic about unpacking after running the gauntlet of arrival protocols and procedures.

By mid-trip latest, my socks are in an unsortable pile, my foldeds a tragic, twisted tower of sleeves, my drawers a disgrace.

You too? Breathe. Deliverance awaits.

If you believe that packing organizers are a traveler's best buddy - especially for color coding your entourage's endless stuff - take a gander at a couple of riffs on a product concept that elevates the duffel-stuffer to the status of need-no-butler (except for the fetching of cocktails and such).

You're welling up, I know. You've been delivered. So moving.

And we're moving on.

Documents inspection

Your papers. Please. They must be checked.

It could be making certain that your driver's license isn't set to expire half-way through your cross-country road-trip of a lifetime, or that your passport has the requisite remaining validity that some countries' immigration agencies demand, even for short visits.

It might involve more complicated considerations such as certificates of vaccination (get them in plenty of time - the joy of travel is in the spontaneous, not quarrelling in quarantine; Passport Health offers great information and stellar service), authority for a non-custodial child to cruise with the gang, an International Driving Permit, or a Letter of Coverage from your insurance agency or credit card company (prudent if you're planning on declining all coverage from the rental agency per the requirements of many credit card companies).

Most importantly, check on every country along the way to your destination - even if it's scheduled as a short stopover - for requirements. Official tourism and embassy sites (and make sure that they are indeed that) are the ultimate and most reliable sources of quick, easy info access. In doubt? Call.

Insurance assurance

A go-to sermon in my preaching the value - nay, the virtue - okay, nay again, the vital nature - of putting aside time for proper planning to ensure smoother sojourning is the plea that you take on travel insurance.

As Carol Mueller, Vice President of one of my most oft-used providers Travel Guard points out: "It's important for families to pause and consider how they'll handle the expense of a medical emergency on vacation, or losing trip investment from cancellation or interruption due to any number of disruptions that can happen in travel today."

She goes on: "Travel insurance is a good idea if your family has any non-refundable deposits or pre-payments associated with your trip."

Amen.

If you haven't been a travel insurance devotee in the past, you will be astounded by the amount of stress taken out of the equation with the investment of just a few minutes and likely far less coin than you might think.

Travel Guard's Gold Plan is a staple of my travel, and includes trip cancellation, interruption or delay coverage, reimbursement for medical expenses and loss of luggage, superlative customer service and a travel assistance team available 24/7 [lots more in my post on an interview with Carol Meuller here >].

But don't take my word for it.

Check InsureMyTrip.com for product comparisons. Whatever you do, pick a provider.

And a footnote: keep in mind that the (gotta love it) Cancel for Any Reason option is typically off the table within a few days of your making payment on your trip.

If you're headed overseas, it's also wise to register with the U.S. State Department's STEP program, or your country's equivalent if you're reading this outside of the U.S. Registering your trip and traveler details (easily done online) gives the State Department a helpful head start in assisting you should an emergency arise during your trip.

Tech know-how

Picture this? Well, actually you can't. In the final, pre-dawn hours of your Venice trip, your gut-wrenchingly gorgeous Grand Canal shot escaped into the ether as your last memory card burped its last byte and declared "I'm done".

And gentle reader, you won't be so gentle in your language if you're on the Ring of Kerry, the Ganges or Yangtzee or Matterhorn or at Macchu Pichu when you realize that there's not another pixel to be squeezed from your stash of memory cards.

Whether you choose to Cloud the issue, go with the estimable Eye-Fi or the like, smartphone it all in, or simply stock up on cards the old-fashioned way, get yourself a solution and get on with the rest of things. Avoid the desperate detour to track down more memory.

Planning, my people.

A few months out is also a good time to consider your phone coverage concerns. If you're headed overseas, all those apps won't be so appealing if they're out if you've not got even a flicker of a bar in sight. Look into as many offline apps as you can is my philosophy [a great one from Eurail on the DEANStravel.com travelNEWS + INFO page].

Lastly, if it's electric, make sure it'll be able to do what it does so well by reviewing the power situation where you're headed. Check Voltage Valet's global list or your destination's official travel site, your cruise line, your hotel.

And if you're hitting the road with enough tech toys to stock a small branch of Best Buy in your baggage, you may want to invest in a couple or more adapters to avoid call-from-the-front-desk-inducing tussles over tablet recharge time and conked out cameras and phones.

De-deviling the details

I've thrown quite a bit at you.

And there's more.

Mais, of course, my objective is not to induce panic three months out.

It's the opposite (my Seinfeld's showing again - wait, yours is too - no worries).

And the strategy for bringing blood pressure down before - and especially during - a Big Trip is actually quite simple.

Print your itinerary (double-sided, if possible - for the trees). Or put one together, if it's more of a DIY deal or simple there and back.

Let us turn to page one, line one.

Now walk it out.

Walk through every day and every activity of your trip, from the time the alarm shrieks on departure day 'til you dump your bags inside the front door on your return.

You may ask yourself:

Do you need to plan for extra drive time during the mad rush-hour rush?
If you're parking at the airport, what are the fees?
If you're taking a shuttle from home, when do you need to be ready?
If your flight departs extremely early, might a Park-Stay-Fly airport hotel package lessen the stress?

Have you selected seats for your flight, if permitted (never too early)?
How soon prior to departure is online check-in permitted?
What are the baggage restrictions and fees on all your planned flights - in both directions? (you may be surprised by some intra-Europe strictures that can be costly; check their sites)
**What is the cut-off time for check-in on your return flight? (don't end up plopped down at the pool while the plane that was meant to be your flight flickers its shadow mockingly over your mojito)
**When does your cruise line expect you to be checked in; and - key - what paperwork do you require?

Have you got timers for lights?
Do you need to stop newspaper delivery and/or have your mail held?
Should you let a trusted neighbor know your plans?

Can you meet the paperwork requirements for auto rental at your destination (including the amount of time left on your license validity)?
Is auto rental insurance included in your booking? (if you book through a non-European agency, for example, your Ireland insurance rates may send you running to the airport bar)
Is the navigation option on your rental a nearly-must-do? (Google a few routes you're planning to take; if the results resemble spider webs then there may be wisdom in springing for the nav - and make sure it's available)

Will your hotel allow early check-in, and, if not, have you added the request to your reservation (if not, best to call the hotel directly)
No early check-in? What are your options for the interim besides attempting to use all that lovely new hardside luggage as a futon?
Is it worth paying for arrival the night before?
What are meal service hours at the hotel/inn/B&B? (if you arrive at 11:30 p.m. and room service ends at 11:00, it'll be a long night)
If you're self-catering, and arriving at the condo or cottage late at night, what are your plans for the first meal in situ?

Are there deviations to standard opening/closing hours for the attractions on your planned itinerary? (holidays and days around them can serve up surprises - check sites carefully, and keep checking right up to departure)

You get the idea.

Hear me: investing the hour or maybe less it takes to go through this process will add exponentially to the enjoyment of your trip.

My personal Excel-on-the-desktop and hard copy spreadsheet geekdom (um, yes, I do that) back-up plan is a packet of print-outs with essential details of each component of my trip. Sometimes a simple sleeve or file folder will do. For more complex trips a slim, carry-on-ready flexible binder does the job. Don't say it.

List check

What have I done to you, is your query, as you quiver under the weight of the burden of getting ready for what is supposed to be the most fun you'll have all year. So much to do, to think about, to check and double-check.

Yes. And so you will. Effortlessly.

Because you'll use that timeless and terrific tool that's so simple we tend to forget about it.

It is The List.

Your brow just unfurrowed. Was that the sun sending streaks of saving grace through spring clouds? Do you hear distant singing? No, it's your Lady Gaga ring tone. Bring it back down now. Center.

The message, voyagers, is simple: to save summer from becoming a sweaty mess, as spring springs to life just make a list. A simple, date by critical date rundown of tasks for the weeks and days up to departure and through the trip.

And, nay, I need not sermonize that this simple strategy works for any trip, at any time of year. Even for last-minute getaways, you'll find that a little prep leads to more pep.

Take the headers of each section of this post and use them as a framework.

Use the approach in the "Details" section to guide you through a less-time-than-you'll-believe, more-valuable-than-you-can-imagine inventory of all that needs to happen.

Pick your medium - from app to spreadsheet to quill and parchment - for pulling the list (save a back-up and print a copy) of to-do's together.

Lot's to be done? Divvy up the duties. Debbie does the document check and declares all in order. Uncle Marty makes sure the intrusion alarm is set. Tina's checked all the timers.

Departure day feels more like a well-choreographed royal engagement and less like a fish market at four in the morning.

And sailing into summer you go.

Happy.

DEANStravel.com >
http://www.DEANStravel.com/

Such Beaches! Equally Beautiful, Different Attitudes | Magens Bay & Coki in Stunning St. Thomas

2013-05-16T13:43:00.000-04:00

Get off. Get out. Get into it.

Off of the hallowed precinct of your St.Thomas resort.

Out to be enveloped in tropical splendour.

Into the welcoming Caribbean waters at farther-flung points.

Meaning: go to the beach.

Two great St. Thomas choices for getting wet offer 180-degree-different experiences.

That said, it's all more than good at virtually any coastal stopping off point around the island.

Cuckoo for Coki - and in deep

...which, of course, is the worst sub-title ever. But what can I say, it's who I am.

Coki Beach is embraced by one of those legendary postcard-perfect Caribbean coves, with a stunning spectrum of blues and blue-greens, tree-covered hills, and a vista through the inlet out to sea.

The immediate impression and sensation of Coki: energy.

Arrive early in the morning (as one should), and the music is already pumping. The scents of Caribbean cuisine waft by on the endless breezes. The colorful souvenir shops along the mini-boardwalk are stocked and raring to retail. The water-sports vendors just as amped.

The key to a Coki day out is to head to one of the badge-wearing vendors that patrol the beach, request your umbrella and chairs, pick your place, and plant yourself for the duration.

Throughout the day, your chosen caretaker will bring menus, meals, and the all-important libations you choose from the bar-&-grills clustered along the beautiful beach. Be sure to check accepted payment methods - which won't be an issue with equipment rental - in advance. Settle up at the end of the excursion.

It's beautiful and buzzing on this beach. Let's go below the surface.

Snorkeling is, I find, a superb soft adventure endeavor that can be richly rewarding at all ages, no matter whether it's a first time out or a confident cruise out to deeper waters, flippers flying you along.

The great thing about Coki Beach - widely praised as the place for the best snorkeling in St. Thomas - is that just a few yards out, you're in (just enough) over your head. And I kid you not, the waters are totally teeming with sea life. Fish dart in and out of the coral in astounding numbers.

The video and photo above from first-rate operator Coki Dive Center [see their great gallery here>] - who offer anything and everything you'd need for undersea exploration - convey the essence of the close-to-shore experience. Swim out a bit further - minding the warnings about currents too far out - and the 20- to 30-ft.+ waters offer even more spectacle.

There's as much energy - though of a different kind - below the blue as there is on the beach, due, in part, to the fact that vendors sell dog biscuits (yes) that foment fish feeding frenzies.

Note that on days when cruise ships are in port in Charlotte Amalie, things get more animated late morning as shore excursion groups arrive. All the more reason to stake out your spot early. Though I must say - having first been to Coki as part of a shore excursion - that while it did get fairly busy, there was never a feeling of not being able to find a place on the sand to get away from the crowd.

Know, too, that the Coral World Ocean Park is Coki's neighbor. An undersea observatory, snuba, shark encounters, sting rays and more, all at hand when you've had enough sunning.

Mellowing out at Magens

Magens Bay wins unconditional praise in many quarters as being one of the most beautiful beaches in the Caribbean, and, according to some, surpassing competition anywhere.

If Coki Beach is the party, Magens Bay is the chillout room. Kids invited.

The 3/4-mile stretch of serene waters and sun-soaked sand - highly popular with locals and visitors alike - is for sunning and swimming. Not snorkeling and sightseeing among the coral. Simply drifting on gentle waves, with waist-high water stretching well out from shore and soft sand underfoot.

What Magens offers is that delicious dolce far niente vibe that so many of us seek while on vacation.

A snack bar, changing facilities, a cute little shop, and a heaping helping of beautiful beach. A day out to remember.

So, in re: Magens v. Coki, no jury necessary. The victor depends on what you seek from these (equally exceptional) excursions.

And, if you're fortunate enough to have the luxury of time in St. Thomas, dive into both. And more.

St. Thomas does spoil you for choice.

Virgin Islands Tourism: http://www.visitusvi.com/ >
Coki Dive Center: http://www.cokidive.com/
Magens Bay Authority: http://www.magensbayauthority.com/
DEANStravel.com: http://www.DEANStravel.com >

Serendipity in St. Thomas | A Renovation Sensation at Marriott's Frenchman's Reef & Morning Star Marriott Beach Resort

2013-03-25T12:43:00.000-04:00

I'd seen the Marriott Frenchman's Reef & Morning Star Marriott Beach Resort on arrival into beautiful Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, a couple of years back, as our cruise ship sailed into the stunningly scenic harbor that, like so much of the Caribbean, is home to a rich, fascinating history.

There was no question that the resort's location was absolutely primo. Perched on a promontory that promised postcard-ready views of Charlotte Amalie, boasting a world-beating hospitality brand.

There was also no denying that the mid-to-late-middleish-20th century Brutalist architecture left a bit or more to be desired.

That was then. And the now is...kapow.

The resort is fresh off of a multi-million-dollar renovation that included major construction projects on both indoor and outdoor public spaces, as well as a superlatively successful guest room redo.

Caribbean Elegance was the objective, and the end result is just that.

So, you ask, why so ga-ga over this Caribbean coup?

Without mentioning names, it's relevant to say that not long before my St. Thomas sojourn I'd been on another Caribbean island in a property that also touted the bounty spent on a "renovation". Hotel of the same era. Renovation result in a different class all together. Changing the bedspreads and closet doors does not a renovation make. Particularly when the starting structure is the sterile and stark product of whatever happened in mediocre architects' heads in the 60's and 70's. Brutal is indeed the appropriate term. And the experience doesn't reward.

Here, all that is happily forgotten.

The new Marriott Frenchman's Reef & Morning Star Marriott Beach Resort is stunning at first glance and a delight from the first steps into the breezy, welcoming lobby that recalls the island's architectural heritage - shutters, slate floors, stunning views and more - and stirs anticipation of the rest of the experience.

Hence the "serendipity" in the title of this post. My expectations were low, and I was beyond amazingly, fantastically surprised.

Rather than just slapping coats of paint on, Marriott went all out on this landmark property, gutting parts of the building and blowing out concrete to create a pool deck (infinity edge, yes; swim-up bar, yes; kid's pool, yes; views over the harbor and ocean, yes) that is one of the most spectacular in the Caribbean. And that's merely the beginning of the story of this transporting transformation.

Great: Adventure Centers

And should you tire of the sublime view from your room, head out on one of the memorable excursions put on by the resort's in-house activity organizer Adventure Centers. If you're wondering whether it's worth giving it a go with this tour organizer, know that co-owner Mark - "Adventure Mark" - took over the operation and transformed it into a 21st century, totally tech, pick-your-trip-on-a-tablet experience.

And believe me when I say that you can't go wrong on any of Adventure Center's trips. Great staff, great itineraries, book it all on an iPad at the excursions desk.

"Adventure Mark" came up, with his friend, with the idea of clear fibreglass lighted kayaks that not only create a surreal and ethereal image on the waters off the resort's shore after dark, but are part of an extensive roster of trips that take in the best of this beautiful part of the world.

And, by the way, yes - I did indeed say clear fibreglass lighted kayaks (innovated there), used for daylight paddling and for night-time excursions to take in sea life at its most animated. But more on that in another post.

Right at hand on the property are great dining choices, including the subject of a previous post, Havana Blue. Stay here or no, definitely reserve a table at this stunning ocean-side spot. Or knosh beachfront on bountiful(!) portions at the casual beachside restaurant Coco Joe's. Not sunning? Plenty of choice in the property's other restaurants.

Need provisions that aren't in the mini-bar? Head downstairs to the well-stocked (yes, there's wine) lobby store.

More on the resort and the USVI in posts to follow. For now, a look at the new Marriott Frenchman's Reef and Morning Star Marriott Beach Resort, with photos courtesy of the resort. And, I should add, they don't begin to do this has-it-all (and yes, there's a stunning white sand beach that's a part of the wholly picturesque package) destination resort justice.

In sum: so just go, already. A can't-miss Caribbean experience.

Marriott's Frenchman's Reef & Marriott Morning Star Beach Resort >

DEANStravel.com >