Value Luxury Travel Experiences - Traveling with MJTraveling with MJ

Visiting China: A New Country

I spent a long weekend in China. That’s an unusually short amount of time to spend in a country, especially one that requires a 12-hour transpacific flight to get to. My overnight flight got me in the evening before I was a speaker at the International Tourism Communication forum in Beijing, sponsored by the Communications University of China. The University offers undergraduate, masters, and Ph.D. programs in a variety to television, journalisms, advertising, and realted programs. The forum was an attempt to create high level discussion on ways to improve communication within the tourism industry, and between the tourism industry and travelers. I did have one day for touring and will have a future post about that. Till then, though, I was able to update my countries visited map. Create your own travel map – TravBuddy

Guest on This Week in Travel

This morning I was a guest on This Week in Travel, a podcast broadcast in both video (on Google Hangouts and then uploaded to YouTube) and audio (subscribe on iTunes), with a few of my favorite travel people: Gary Arndt, Chris Christensen, and Jen Leo. We talked about travel news and current events, where we’ve been and where we’re going, TBEX, and my new podcast. Which, as Gary told me, I’m supposed to remind you to subscribe in iTunes and leave a rating and review. You can listen to the episode here:

Where Else to Go Podcast Features Venice

Venice might not seem like a “where else to go” destination, but if you’ve heard people complain about the city being crowded, smelly, or hot, maybe you’re just not seeing the right side of Venice. In episode #8 of my podcast, Jennifer Dombrowski talks about the island of Venice. Some that she recommends include: Burano: famous for its fisherman and lacemakers. Jennifer wrote a guide to Burano that’s worth checking out. Mazzorbo: connected to Burano by a small wooden footbridge, most visitors never set foot on the sleep island home to the only winery and vineyard in the Venetian Lagoon Murano: famous for its glassblowers Lido: home to the only beach in the Venetian Lagoon and perfect for exploring on a bicycle Poveglia: the haunted and abandoned island Giudecca: once home to grand palaces, its now mostly residential but has great […]

Where Else to Go Podcast: Galapagos (Episode #8)

This week on the Where Else to Go podcast we’re off to Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands with Cheryl and Lisa of What Boundaries Travel Media. The Galapagos Islands recently made the top of their favorite travel destination list after a recent trip to the islands. You might think that getting to the Galapagos Islands is too great of a challenge to get to and to see the islands because of the restrictions. However, it’s an amazing experience to see the animals up close since they have no fear of humans. You will see some amazing land animals like the land iguana or Galapagos Tortoise, land birds like the Blue Footed Booby, and in the water you will swim with seals and an occasional penguin at the Equator! There are many options on how to experience the Galapagos. You can fly into one […]

Where Else to Go Podcast: Heidi Siefkas Talks About Lihue, Kauai

In this episode, Heidi Siefkas talks about why she loves living on Kauai, and recommends things to do on the Lihue side of the island. Some of those recommendations include: Sunday Brunch at Gaylord’s Kauai Beer Company on Rice Street – Food Truck Night on Thursday Rob’s Good Times Grill on Rice Street Sunshine Market at Lihue Vidinha Stadium on Fridays Sunset at Lihue Lighthouse or Poipu Beach House Kayak to Kipu Kai (only one on the secluded beach seen in The Descendants) or Wailua River (kayak and hike to secret falls) Hike Nualolo Trail in Waimea Canyon + Picnic Sunset at Kalalau Lookout Surf lesson at Black Pot in Hanalei Bay and Barracuda for Tapas Rent bike and do Kapa’a bike path Take a listen. If you like what you hear, you can head over to iTunes and subscribe […]

Viva le Tower: The 127th Anniversary of the Eiffel Tower

March 31st is the 127th anniversary of the inauguration of the Eiffel Tower, and boy dho I wish I was there to celebrate! Located beside the River Seine in Paris, France, the Eiffel Tower is the tallest building in the city. Following its completion in 1889, it was the tallest structure in the world, and remained so until the Chrysler Building in New York City displaced it from that top spot. The Eiffel Tower was originally built as the entrance arch for the Paris World’s Fair. That also marked the 100-year commemoration of the French Revolution. When it was first built, many considered it to be an eyesore, part of the reason why originally the tower was to be torn down 20 years after it was erected. Fortunately, some practical uses came of the tower (including the role it played in helping […]

Where Else to Go Podcast: Kay Dougherty Talks About Marco Island Florida

Did you catch the latest episode of my Where Else to Go podcast? In this episode, Kay Dougherty from Blonde Brunette Travel, talks about visiting Marco Island, Florida. Take a listen!

Hotel Review: Motif Seattle

Motif Seattle Address: 1415 Fifth Avenue, Seattle, Washington Value Luxury Rating: (out of 3 hearts) Features: Motif Seattle is located on Seattle’s Fifth Avenue, between Pike and Union Streets, and has themed the hotel around locally-inspired fashion in its 319 guestrooms. Rooms offer views of downtown Seattle, Elliott Bay, and the Olympic Mountain range. and include alarm clocks with iPod docking stations, Keurig coffe and tea maker, refrigerator, wifi, work space with lots of plug ins, pillow top beds, and robes. Bathrooms feature Essential Elements products. Motif Seattle is a pret friendly hotel, and four-legged guests receive special amenities: plush dog bed, food and water bowls, complimentary welcome snacks, and for owners, a copy of CityDog magazine. The pet fee is a bargain priced one-time $20. Parking at the hotel is $32 plus tax, with in and out privileges. A Tesla & […]

Postcard from Okunoin Cemetery

A walk through a cemetery is a history lesson, especially in Japan. Feudal lords are interred next to executives, business moguls next to working class citizens.

Hotel Review: Maritime Inn, Gig Harbor

Maritime Inn Hotel Address: The Maritime Inn is located at 3212 Harborview Drive, Gig Harbor, Washington. Value Luxury Rating: (out of three hearts) Features: The Maritime Inn is located in Gig Harbor, Washington, a small town across the Narrows Bridge from Tacoma. While its history is full of commercial fishing and boat building, Gig Harbor today it has turned it historic waterfront into a community that attracts visitors with its galleries, parks, public and private docks and marinas, shopping, and dining. It is also on of the many small towns that promotes itself as the gateway to Olympic Peninsula. The Maritime Inn pay homage to the town’s shipbuilding history, naming each of its 15 rooms after historic vessels that operated in the local waters. You’ll find a photo of your vessel inside the room. We stayed in The Eagle, with a view […]