Is it summer yet? I'm feeling the call of the beach...
1) I could live in the Sherpani website. 2) Imagine. Enough said. CHANEL surf accessories. 3) I want both the pillow and the van—Big Sur Needlepoint Pillow by Jonathan Adler. 4) I heart California by Evivart on Etsy.
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A dress that multi-tasks is the one I'll make sure to pack for vacations. Love the four above from Boden. Perfect for warm days and when the sun sets and it's cooler out, just add a cotton sweater. Summer is a more casual season—especially if you are luck enough to be on vacation—and the above-the-knee length on the dresses makes them perfect for almost any occassion.
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When I was in college I worked in the French Hotel Sofitel bakery as a pastry chef. I will never know why I got the job. I don't know which I exaggerated about more in my job interview—my cooking skills or my French speaking skills. Anyway, I worked physically harder at that job than any other job—lugging around huge metal bowls of 101 combinations of pastry dough, burning my wrists and hands on baking pans, and sweating from 6 am until 3 pm in a kitchen that had a wall of floor-to-ceiling walk-in ovens. I admit eating as many ice cream filled Profiteroles you want was a perk, but it was soooo hot in the bakery that near the end of my tenure working in the hotel, I moved to the much cooler main kitchen in the hotel making Coquilles St. Jacques and Ratatouille.
Check out a more lighthearted look at a French kitchen in the video below. The beautiful cookbook, The Little Paris Kitchen, also has a brand new BBC2 TV series with Rachel Khoo cooking up a storm from her tiny Parisian kitchen. She is a British chef and she admits that the hardest people to cook for are French chefs. I agree with that! But she seems fluent in both her cooking and French speaking. Her skills tower over mine. Maybe I need some more practice. A trip to France would be nice this summer I'm sure...
You can watch the video above on YouTube also.
(Collage images designed by me, Chris Olson, using photos from the short film The Little Paris Kitchen.)
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As fuel prices rise, it is nice to know how you can cut your travel costs when you purchase your vacation flights. According to travel experts—FareCompare.com and others—the cheapest days to fly and best time to buy airline tickets are base on a few simple rules.
Another travel tip is to shop for only ONE passenger's airline ticket at a time to get lowest rates. Why? The airline reservations systems lump your tickets together and highest individual price in your group will determine the cost.
More ways to save:
You can find more ways to save in my post about using airfare alerts. If you use technology to notify you when prices drop and comparison shop, try using travel sites like these:
Image above created by me, Chris Olson with yellow flower image by D Sharon Pruitt.
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My family visits The Broadmoor Hotel during the holidays almost every year. Here are just a few of our favorite holiday things to do: enjoy a cup of hot cocoa by the outdoor fireplace overlooking the lake, check out the Gingerbread Village, and walk around the lake at night to see the light display on dozens and dozens of decked out holiday trees.
The five-star The Broadmoor hotel in Colorado Springs, Colorado, is nestled against the foothills. This lakeside resort has over 3,000 acres of family fun--world class golf courses, luxury spa, indoor and outdoor tennis, horseback riding, rock climbing, amd more. A perennial resort favorite, Forbes Travel Guide announced its list of Five-Star winners for 2012 and honored The Broadmoor for a record 52nd consecutive year-The Broadmoor is the only property ever to achieve this status.
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There's a Starbucks on practically every corner, and even though it's everywhere I still love this chain because the high level of product quality is very reliable. That said, I admit whenever possible I will seek out a coffee cafe with a unique twist. My personal faves have well worn but comfy sofas, or maybe one of the impressive Clover coffee machines, and some support the community by serving java from local roasters. Often I can't pinpoint just what it takes to make it on my coffee A-list, but the factors are worth studying (or at least enjoying!). Back in college I even found an excuse to write a term paper about the charming espresso cafes in North Beach, SF.
Check out the Travel + Leisure list of where you can get the coolest cuppa joe:
(My photo collage above includes Travel + Leisure images.)
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Hello, my name is Chris and I am a hotel snob.
I admit it. My family and close friends know about my little secret: I am very fussy when it comes to selecting a hotel and a room in a hotel.
Hotel rooms are not created equal. Lucky for me and other hotel snobs, TripKick.com makes it easy for picky travelers to find the best rooms based on your preferences. This online service features a room-by-room guide of hotel rooms in 500 hotels in more than 27 cities. Keep checking the site because the number of hotels increases each month.
What makes a hotel room great for you? TripKick groups rooms according to criteria specified by you including room size, view, etc. If you specify your hotel room personality such as formal, romantic getaway, upscale business, elegant, TripKick will suggest hotels. How does it work? Well, if you are looking for a quiet room in the St. Regis New York pictured above, then TripKick recommends even numbered rooms which are quiet, interior facing rooms. If you want an oversized, junior suite at the St. Regis check out room 21. If you want a big bathroom at the St. Regis, you are in luck: most rooms feature oversized baths.
Some obvious deal breakers for hotel snobs are rooms with small bathrooms or rooms near noisy vending machines or near hotel renovation areas. What makes a room more desirable? The size of the room, proximity to elevators, or a great view. Travelers can add their own ratings to the TripKick website.
TripKick has only been around for a little over a year and it was once again named a "Top Website" by Travel + Leisure magazine.
Need daily updates? You can follow tripkick.com on Twitter.
(I originally posted a version of this entry here.)
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Chances are you've probably already heard a few horror stories about the bedbug infestation spreading across the nation. Although the yuck factor of these blood-sucking parasites (Cimex lectularius)is huge, fortunately they do not transmit disease. According to WebMD, bedbugs are "more of a nuisance than a health hazard." The real problem is the extermination a full-blown infestation which can be costly and often requires a professional.
Bedbugs aren't picky. They can turn up anywhere--in stores, theaters and beds. According to The Dr. Oz Show:
After 6 decades of living largely bed bug-free, the US is facing a national infestation. In fact, the incidence of bed bug infestation has risen 500% in the last few years alone, and they're not just in dirty hotels – they’re at the 5-star ones as well and swarming the public places you visit every day.
Tips to keep the bed bugs off your stuff
Bedbugs are tiny hitchhikers that latch on to an object and move around unnoticed. In general, they don't hitch a ride on human skin or hair, but prefer to ride on clothing or other objects. Tips and photo links to help you identify the tiny bugs can be found in a bedbug post I wrote in back August. In general, here are a few suggestions to keep the bugs off your stuff.
Where do bedbugs hide?
Bedbugs like the dark and are known to travel up to 100 feet in one night. They often hide in crevices. That's why you need to check out furniture, beds, suitcases, purses, clothing, etc. Common hiding places are near mattress seams, labels or piping--even in the head board. A major infestation in a home warrants checking all furniture, draperies, storage areas, and even appliances. If you can slip a credit card under an object such as loose wall paper, consider this an easy entry space for the tiny bugs to find a place to hide. Because the young bugs are tiny (1/16" -1/4") and nearly translucent, they are difficult to see.
Check for bedbugs in clothing
When removing clothing you think is infested, stand on bare floor and not on carpet so you can spot them if they fall to the floor. You can even get the floor slightly wet before you remove the clothing because this will make it more difficult for the bugs to escape. High temperature (100 -120 F) washing and drying can be effective in killing bugs on clothing. According to Dr. Oz, to eliminate bedbugs in clothing: "throw your clothes in the dryer for at least 30 minutes as soon as you get home; they cannot survive any temperature above 113 ° F." For detailed instructions on how to get rid of bedbugs in clothing, check out this Univ. of MN link.
Check for bedbugs in luggage
If you suspect your luggage is infested, place luggage in an air tight plastic bag to contain the bugs. Some methods of getting rid of the bugs inside luggage include high temperature washing (100 - 120 F), heating the bags to a very high core temp (120 F), or freezing (-15 F) the bags. Exact directions for these methods can be found at the Traveler Q & A link at the Univ. of MN.
Signs of bedbug infestation
According to the US EPA here are some warning signs:
Best advice I've heard: Be watchful and don't panic
The recent bedbug resurgence requires that all of us be watchful. Although reports of bedbugs turning up practically everywhere is not great for tourism, some reports of bed bugs infestations taking over entire stores or buildings have been greatly exaggerated. According to an AP news story:
The discoveries of pests at high-profile places are often not full-blown infestations, or even in public areas. Bloomingdale's reported finding exactly one bug in the famous department store, the Empire State Building had them in the basement and Lincoln Center's were in a dressing room. But those reports, along with bedbug discoveries in movie theaters, hotels and clothing chain stores, are causing skittish travelers to call off trips planned months ago.
Sightings
Bedbugs inspire a feeling of panic in many and the feelings increase when reports of bedbug sightings appear in blogs, tweets, and on Facebook. Checking websites such as the BedBug Registry--user-submitted reports tracking bedbug infestations in hotels and apartment buildings--only fuel the fear. I think the concept of reporting bedbug infestations is good, but this registry does not guarantee its reports are accurate or up-to-date.
The hardy bedbugs are not leaving any time soon--they can survive for over a year without feeding. I am guessing we will be lifting up the sheets and checking mattresses as well as examining our shopping bags and luggage for a long time. However, bedbugs are not stopping me from traveling. I travelled to NYC in August with my daughter. We followed the necessary precautions on our trip and kept our eyes open for warning signs. I am happy to say we didn't see a single bed bug.
(Portions of this post include updated information from my post in late August, Will bed bugs be visiting your house?)
(Photo: Screen shot from the WebMD blog.)
For more information:
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Shopping around for the best deals online is one way to find discounted holiday flights. Even better, why not put the web to work for you for free! Get the help of a "personal shopper" when you sign up for the fare alerts from the airlines or an airfare alert service. Recently I wrote the post about finding deals on hotels, airfare, rental cars in "Six ways to save big on your next trip." You can use many of the same online services plus some additional options, just check out my list below.
Find cheap flights online:
FareCompare offers an e-mail fare alert service, an iPhone app, and a Twitter feed to notify you of deals.
Airfarewatchdog.com tracks low airfares to hundreds of cities worldwide. Some of my favorite features include the scoop on hidden sales, emailed news alerts for your location, top 50 low fares, and message boards. You can also follow them on Twitter and on Facebook.
Yapta.com offers two ways to save: Track flight prices BEFORE you buy. Yapta email alerts let you know when prices drop and when to buy to save money on airfare. The second way Yapta helps you save is by helping you get airline refunds AFTER you buy. If the price of your flight drops below what you paid, Yapta helps you get a refund for the difference. Follow them on Twitter.
Expedia offers a fare alert application for your computer and an iPhone app. Expedia also lets you book the plane tickets (no booking fees).
Travelocity's FareWatcher Plus service will watch up to 10 destinations and notify you about any deals. You can also book the plane tickets.
Travelzoo.com is a travel search engine that sends you weekly emails to help you find the best deals on airfare. Follow them on Twitter.
KAYAK.com is a travel search engine like Travelzoo.com. It searches online for the best deals on flights. They have a smartphone app. Follow them on Twitter.
Southwest Airlines is known for offering discounted fares. Now with the "iPhone app Plus with DING!" you’ll be notified immediately of discount flights. (With the app you can also make reservations, check in for flights, and access your Rapid Rewards account directly from your iPhone.)
For more information on finding holiday airfare deals, check out
Photo: Kossy@Finedays
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The odds of finding a great deal on your next vacation increases if you use one or all of these travel resources online.
Airfarewatchdog.com tracks low airfares to hundreds of cities worldwide. Favorite features include the scoop on hidden sales, emailed news alerts for your location, top 50 low fares, and message boards. You can also follow them on Twitter at @airfarewatchdog or on Facebook.
Yapta.com offers two ways to save: Track flight prices BEFORE you buy. Yapta email alerts let you know when prices drop and when to buy to save money on airfare. The second way Yapta helps you save is by helping you get airline refunds AFTER you buy. If the price of your flight drops below what you paid, Yapta helps you get a refund for the difference. Follow them on Twitter at @yapta.com
Travelzoo.com is a travel search engine that sends you weekly emails to help you find the best deals on airfare, hotels, vacation packages, and cruises. They search other travel sites and try to find you the best deal Follow them on Twitter at @travelzoo.
KAYAK.com is a travel search engine like Travelzoo.com. It searches online for the best deals on flights, hotels, and vacation deals. They have a smartphone app. Follow them on Twitter at @kayak.com.
Hotwire.com offers cheap travel deals on flights, hotel rooms, rental cars, vacation packages and cruises. I would use this service for rental cars and transportation only because the one feature that makes Hotwire less appealing is the fact they use blind reservation system that only tells you the general location of a property and its rating, but not its name or specific address. Follow them on Twitter at @hotwire.com.
Priceline.com offers a service similar to Hotwire--they do not give you the full details of the flight or other option purchased until the bid is accepted. Note that the uncertainty of reservation dates/times makes this type of service more difficult for business travel. Priceline uses a blind bidding tool. How it works: Priceline asks you what price you’re willing to pay—and then asks airlines (or hotel, car, etc.) if they’ve got a ticket they’re willing to sell you at that price. Priceline does allow you to narrow the search for a hotel location and hotel rating more than allowed on Hotwire. They only have one tweet since 2009, so following them on Twitter is not worth it.
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If you have watched the news this summer, then you probably think bed bugs--also known as Cimex lectularius--are taking over the world, or at least NYC. The bed bug population in the U.S. has grown at an alarming rate in recent months.
A Joint Statement on Bed Bug Control in the United States from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) was issued in August. Although the exact cause of the resurgence is not known, according to the CDC:
"Experts suspect the resurgence is associated with increased resistance of bed bugs to available pesticides, greater international and domestic travel, lack of knowledge regarding control of bed bugs due to their prolonged absence, and the continuing decline or elimination of effective vector/pest control programs at state and local public health agencies."
When bed bugs bite
Bed bugs are a pest. The yuck factor of these blood sucking external parasites (ectoparasites) is huge. Fortunately they do not transmit disease. Some people may get an allergic reaction to the bites. It is also possible to get a secondary infection from the bite. You probably won't even feel their bite because the bugs inject a type of anesthetic and anticoagulant. What you will notice is the small swollen red mark at the bite site that becomes itchy.
Bed bugs and head lice both feed on the human blood, but are not known to transmit disease like other external parasites such as body lice.
How to identify bed bugs
Bed bugs are similar in appearance to a small wood tick. When bed bugs have a meal of blood, their color changes from brown to a purple red and they become more elongated. According to the US EPA:
- Adult bed bugs are 1/4 to 3/8 inch (4-5 mm) long, brown in color, with a flat, oval-shaped body;
- young bed bugs are smaller and lighter in color
Bed bug photos
Helpful photo illustrations of bed bugs and where they hide can be seen at these links:
Where do bed bugs live?
Bed bugs are tiny hitchhikers that latch on to an object and move around unnoticed. In general, they don't hitch a ride on human skin or hair, but prefer to ride on clothing or other objects. That's why you need to check out furniture, beds, suitcases, purses, clothing, etc. Bed bugs like the dark and are known to travel up to 100 feet in one night. They often hide in crevices. Common hiding places are near mattress seams, labels or piping--even in the head board. A major infestation in a home warrants checking all furniture, draperies, storage areas, and even appliances. If you can slip a credit card under an object such as loose wall paper, consider this an easy entry space for the tiny bugs to find a place to hide. Because the young bugs are tiny (1/16" -1/4") and nearly translucent, they are difficult to see. Bed bugs are found in places people sleep, but they can also infest stores and theaters or any place people hang out.
Bed bugs in clothing
When removing clothing you think is infested, stand on bare floor and not on carpet so you can spot them if they fall to the floor. You can even get the floor slightly wet before you remove the clothing because this will make it more difficult for the bugs to escape. High temperature (100 -120 F) washing and drying can be effective in killing bugs on clothing. For detailed instructions check out this Univ. of MN link.
Bed bugs in luggage
If you suspect your luggage is infested, place luggage in an air tight plastic bag to contain the bugs. Some methods of getting rid of the bugs inside luggage include high temperature washing (100 - 120 F), heating the bags to a very high core temp (120 F), or freezing (-15 F) the bags. Exact directions for these methods can be found at the Traveler Q & A link at the Univ. of MN.
Signs of bed bug infestation
According to the US EPA here are some warning signs:
What to do if you find bed bugs
Both the US EPA and the CDC offer detailed instructions for what you can do if you find bed bugs in your home or office or dorm. A few tips to keep bed bugs away include:
If you suspect your dorm room is infested, contact the housing director or your dorm RA immediately. Getting professional help is key to getting rid of them. According to a recent article in The Huffington Post, simply vacuuming and washing your sheets is not a solution to getting rid of the bug hitchhikers in crowded areas such as dorms.
Pesticide safety
If bed bugs take up residence in your house, the National Pesticide Information Center has useful information on how to select and use pesticide products safely.
The recent bed bug resurgence requires that all of us be watchful. New bed bug infestations in public spaces crop up daily. Since bed bugs are very hardy and can survive for over a year without feeding, I am guessing we will be lifting up the sheets and checking our mattresses for a long time. However, bed bugs are not stopping me from traveling. In August I attended BlogHer 10 in NYC with my daughter. We followed the necessary precautions on our trip and kept are eyes open for warning signs. I am happy to say we didn't see a single bed bug.
For more information:
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Where do you want to go for lunch or dinner today? Now you can use your iPhone or iPod touch to check out restaurant menus using the free MenuPages app. You can search for restaurants by type, or location. One of the best features is skimming a list of nearby restaurants to decide where to dine. Once you decide on a restaurant, just tap the icon to bring up the menu as well as restaurant hours and location.
Cities included on MenuPages
MenuPages includes the following cities:
If you don't have an iPhone or iPad you can access MenuPages.com on your laptop.
MenuPages is also on Twitter.
(MenuPages artwork above from MenuPages.com.)
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If you fly often with kids, then chances are even though you hate the hassle of airport security, your kids love it. And why not. Kids love to make a mess dumping out all their stuff in plastic bins as well as wasting lots of time searching through pockets for missing sticks of gum, candy, string, wrappers, markers (without tops), etc.
If you are looking for a way to streamline the process, one easy rule is to teach your kids to load the gray security bins in a specific order.
Here's my mommy travel tip for the day:
Place the things you need to wear in the first gray security bins because when they come through you will have time to put them on while you wait for the rest of your gear.
Bin #1:
Shoes
3 quart baggie with your three 3 oz. liquid bottles inside
Bin #2:
Jackets, sweaters, belts, or any clothing you need to put on after security.
Bin #3:
Tech gadgets: laptop (out of its case), iPods, etc
Bin #4:
Backpack or purse
(Photo: Kossy@FINEDAYS)
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New pet policy for Frontier Airlines allows customers to bring small pets--dogs weighing 20 lbs. or less, small cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, small birds--with them in the airline cabin for $75 each way.
The pets must fit in an airline approved pet carrier that goes under the airplane seat. All pets must also have proper health documentation completed by vet within 10 days of trip.
Southwest Airlines has a similar pet policy that started last year.
(Illustration: Chris Olson Illustration)
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Pia Jane Bijkerk is an internationally acclaimed stylist, photographer and author specializing in interiors, still life & food. Her first book titled Paris: Made by Hand is available now. The photos in her book are so lovely. I want to live in her book! Time to book a flight to visit this city again.
Here is what Pia has to say about her new book on her blog:
"This is a book for lovers of all things handmade, the chic and unique, and of course Paris. In this book I take you off the tourist streets of this incredible city in search of Parisian artisans whose work is truly inspirational, and secreted studio boutiques filled with exquisite Parisian handmade treasures. I’ve been collecting these special addresses in my stylist’s little black book over the past couple of years and now with great delight, share them all with you in Paris: Made by Hand. Expect to see this fine city in a whole new light…"
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Hello, my name is Chris and I am a hotel snob.
I admit it. My family and close friends know about my little secret: I am very fussy when it comes to selecting a hotel and a room in a hotel.
(St. Regis, New York)
Hotel rooms are not created equal. Lucky for me and other hotel snobs, TripKick.com which launched in May 2008, makes it easy for picky travelers to find the best rooms based on your preferences. This online service features a room-by-room guide of hotel rooms in 500 hotels in more than 27 cities. Keep checking the site because the number of hotels increases each month.
What makes a hotel room great for you? TripKick groups rooms according to criteria specified by you including room size, view, etc. If you specify your hotel room personality such as formal, romantic getaway, upscale business, elegant, TripKick will suggest hotels. How does it work? Well, if you are looking for a quiet room in the St. Regis New York pictured above, then TripKick recommends even numbered rooms which are quiet, interior facing rooms. If you want an oversized, junior suite at the St. Regis check out room 21. If you want a big bathroom at the St. Regis, you are in luck: most rooms feature oversized baths.
Some obvious deal breakers for hotel snobs are rooms with small bathrooms or rooms near noisy vending machines or near hotel renovation areas. What makes a room more desirable? The size of the room, proximity to elevators, or a great view. Travelers can add their own ratings to the TripKick website.
TripKick has only been around for a little over a year and it was once again named a "Top Website" by Travel + Leisure magazine.
Need daily updates? You can follow tripkick.com on Twitter.
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Looking for region specific updates? Follow Liftopia.com at its market-specific Twitter handles.
Liftopia New England on Twitter
Liftopia: BC Alberta on Twitter
You can also follow a general feed of information on Liftopia on Twitter.
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I'm planning my next mommy escape
because happiness is too precious to postpone--literally in this case.
(image by Four Seasons Resort)
I have simple tastes.
A beach, some sunshine, and a cabana.
Unfortunately I also have very bad timing...
The resort pictured above just closed.
If only I hadn't postponed my travel plans.
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If you travel by air, then you probably know what it's like to have the neatly organized contents of your checked bags or even your carry-on bags disorganized during security checks. I won't complain about the minor inconvenience due to security checks because I support TSA security efforts at airports.
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My home economist mom taught me how to make mouthwatering midwestern meals with garden-fresh veggies, Norwegian salmon, and Scandinavian cookies. I never knew why people made such a big deal about French cooking until I worked at a French restaurant staffed almost entirely by chefs who never spoke a word of English. Besides improving my French, I discovered a whole new world of spices and sauces.
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If you are feeling a bit of H1N1-related cabin fever, no worries. You can travel virtually from the comfort of your own home with your laptop. Check out T + Ls gorgeous new travel website.I want to go to there.
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Now here's an iPhone app moms will love. You might not like the name, but you'll love how SitOrSquat.com will help you find the cleanest public bathroom anywhere in the world. This free mobile app for iPhones and BlackBerry's is courtesy of Charmin. The app uses GPS to guide you to the nearest clean public bathroom.
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United Airlines has long been a favorite of mine. My reasoning is anecdotal. My neighbor is a United pilot and I respect his skills as a pilot and his choice of an airline to work with. I have had relatively good luck on United flight schedules. Plus they have never left me sitting on the tarmac for hours while they fix the plane. The crew on United flights seem very nice compared to other airlines...like they really care about me.
Now, the intensive cleans are done every 30 days for the smaller United jets that fly within the U.S. and every 15 days for the wide-body aircraft that cross the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, enduring wear and tear during the long flights that can cause planes to become run-down more quickly.
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My family makes frequent winter trips to the mountains into areas without cell phone reception. Seems strange to worry about losing cell coverage until disaster happens. A few years back while on an pre-dawn drive to a ski resort our van had engine trouble. Not a disaster, except for the fact the temp was only hovering around zero and we were miles from "civilization." Fortunately two skiers traveling the same county highway stopped to help us out--gave my kids their handwarmers and granola bars, drove my hubby to a town with cell coverage so he could call a repair truck, and then drove him back to our van.
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Are you in charge of planning the next family reunion? The savvy editors at Travel + Leisure put together a list of 30 great places for a family reunion in the US and the Caribbean. Love this article by T+L because it includes 1) the resort links, 2) a clear description of the resort “setup” so you get the skinny on resort activities and features, 3) a variety of reunion trip tips for each destination--who to bring, reunion themes, etc.
How about celebrating Mother’s Day with spa retreat, gourmet brunch, or getting in touch with nature? Budget Travel--Girlfriend Getaways and MSNBC.com team up to share tips for the perfect getaway trip for you and your daughter. Trips--from $179--include spa retreats in Charleston and Scottsdale, a lavish brunch in New Orleans, and a tour and picnic in Colorado's Mesa Verde National Park.
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