Value Luxury Travel Experiences - Traveling with MJTraveling with MJ

Hotel Review: Loew’s Portofino Bay Hotel, Orlando

Address: Loew’s Portofino Bay Hotel at Universal Orlando is located at 5601 Universal Boulevard, Orlando, Florida. Value Luxury Rating: (out of three hearts) Features: Located on the grounds of Universal Orlando Resort, and a short complimentary water taxi away from CityWalk and the theme parks (and through November first from Halloween Horror Nights), the hotel location is popular with guests wanting the extra benefits that come with staying on property. Those theme park benefits are substantial, adding up to real dollar and cents savings, and include: Express Pass (skip the lines) valued at up to $89/per day, priority seating at many theme park restaurants and first available seating at others, first available seating at CityWalk restaurants, complimentary water taxi to both theme parks (avoid driving and parking), complimentary shuttle to Wet ‘n Wild water park, SeaWorld, and Aquatica, and one hour early […]

Halloween Horror Nights: A Hauntingly Good Time

As daytime segued into evening, the personality of Universal Studios Florida segued from fun and frivolity into apprehension and anxiety. I was in Orlando to attend the 25th anniversary edition of Halloween Horror Night, Was I absolutely crazy for putting myself through an evening of terror? Halloween Horror Night started in 1991 with one haunted house and was called Fright Nights. The following year it was re-named to its current moniker, scaring participants for a whopping three nights. The 2015 incarnation features nine houses, five scare zones, and two show productions over 30 nights. Was I crazy? Perhaps. But I was also ready to tackle the evening! I was privileged to attend a pre-scare media session featuring Mike Aiello (the creative force behind HHN), Jon Timon (Universal), Director John Landis (American Werewolf in London), Producer Greg Nicotero (The Walking Dead co-executive producer […]

Postcard from Universal CityWalk

Located adjacent to the entrance to Universal Orlando Resort, Universal CityWalk is a three block dining, shopping, and entertainment district. It’s easily accessible by water taxi from Universal’s on property hotels and resorts. I ate at Vivo (Italian) and Antijito (Mexican), both delicious, and very different in atmosphere. You can pick up souvenirs at the Universal Studios Store (in photo), and there are several stores to pick up whatever you fogot to pack – for me that was a pair of shoes. (NOTE: My trip was sponsored by Universal.)

Lisbon: Looking Back, Looking Forward

A little over four years ago, we were planning a trip to Portugal. The plan was to stay in the Lisbon area for a week, before continuing on with another week in Tuscany. It was our first trip to Portugal, and in my Type-A way, I researched and found a place to stay in Cascais near the beach, figured out public transportation, and was charting a list of things to see and do. We were traveling with a friend and every few days we shared something new and exciting that we learned. Tickets were purchased, accommodations booked, lists were made. We were ready. BUT – as we were about to be reminded – travel plans don’t always turn out the way we want. Or that we would hope for. Sixteen hours before we were to board our flight for Lisbon, my father-in-law […]

Visiting the Ruins of Pompeii: From Tragedy to Tourism

On August 24th, 79 A.D., Mount Vesuvius erupted in a violent two day display that destroyed the city of Pompeii, Italy, and the surrounding area. It is one of history’s largest recorded volcanic eruptions, and a tragedy any measure. The city was buried under ash and pumice for nearly 1700 years, and was presumed lost until its accidental re-discovery in the mid-1700s. The subsequent excavation of the site provided a peek at what life was like during the height of the Roman Empire. Rising out of the ash and lava over a thousand years later, Pompeii turned a horrible tragedy into a tourism opportunity. Millions of visitors a year now visit this UNESCO World Heritage site located not far from Naples, along with its sister city Herculaneum. The site is stable and safe to visit, but there have been some […]

Four Seasons Luxury on Private Jet Tours

Somewhere over the Pacific Ocean, 52 passengers are embarking on a round-the-world luxury tour the likes of which I can only imagine. The itinerary is an enviable one: eight countries and 24 days, all in Four Seasons luxury whether inflight or on the ground. The tour starts in Seattle, which was how I got a look at the jet parked at Boeing Field, and then heads off to Tokyo, Beijing, Maldives, Serengeti, Istanbul, St. Petersburg, Marrakech, and finally ends in Boston. It’s an enviable way to go around the world, so let’s take a closer look at what life on this private jet is like. The inside of the Boeing 757 is bright and spacious, with a hint of interior mood lighting that must come in handy during the long flight legs. The 52 adjustable flatbed seats offer passengers 78 […]

Let’s Connect on Instagram

It’s been awhile since I shared some of my most appreicated Instagram photos. As I’m closing in on that 2,000 follower mark, I’m asking for you help in giving me the little push I need to get over the mark. Here’s what you can do: If you’re not following me on Instagram (travelingwithmj), please take a look at my photo galleries and if you like what you see, follow me. I mostly share photos from my travels around the world, great food and wine, and intersting architecture art, interspersed with photos of family, friends, and cat (because c’mon, kitties are charming). If you are already following me, I’d appreciate your taking a look at my gallery and “liking” a few of your favorites, or leaving a comment to let me know what strikes your eye as particularly travel worthy. What […]

7 Ways to Enjoy Fall in North Carolina

Fall’s blue skies, crisp temperatures, and vibrant foliage create the urge to head outside, and fresh activities across North Carolina add ways to enjoy the season. With six weeks of prime leaf looking, events that relish the harvest, and festivals energized by fall breezes, travelers find boundless rewards for exploring the state. To help autumn lovers make the most of the splendid season, superintendents from North Carolina’s state parks and other local experts will post photos and reports on fall color and activities at VisitNC.com. The website’s Fall for Fall in North Carolina section adds notes of inspiration for those seeking events with music, seafood, family activities, wine, and beer. Get started here with seven ideas for relishing fall in a new way. 1. Use your feet. Banjo tunes send runners on their way at the Rhythm & Roots Run, and more music awaits along the route. Run, stroll […]

Sixty

Today I am 60. There, I said it. A decade ago I couldn’t choke out the admission that I was turning 50, but this new decade seems a bit more comfortable, a bit easier to accept. Today I realized a few other things. So forgive me this self indulgence as I reflect on what it means to turn 60. I’m beyond middle age. I’m not going to live to 120, and that means that I am now on the downhill side of life. While I’m going kicking and screaming into my twilight years (or should I say traveling and exploring), the harsh reality is that I have more years behind me than I do in front of me. I plan to make the most of them! George Sand was right, “There is only one happiness in this life, to love and […]

Summer Reading 2015

Summer reading, had me a blast. It seems like there’s always so much more to read during the summer. And much more time. Lounging at home on the deck, by a pool, or jetting off somewhere for a long, lazy weekend. All provide time to dig into a great book. For me, summer reading is a combination of best sellers I’ve missed, lighter and fun reading, and meaty tomes that I’ve put off digging into. For my reading, I use a Kindle Paperwhite (a new version recently came out), with books coming from a combination of public library checkouts (King County Library System offers this, yours library may as well), Amazon Prime loans, and Amazon purchases. Here are some recent reads that I’d recommend for your summer (or anytime) reading list: A Year Without “Made in China” Journalist Bongiorni, on […]