With so many heightened travel alerts in effect, it seems like a good time to review some basic personal security precautions. It’s very easy to think that once you’re at your hotel that you’re safe. And you generally are. However, it’s still wise to take precautions at your hotel — being proactive decreases the likelihood of becoming a victim. I first wrote these hotel security tips nearly four years ago. They are just as true today as they were then, and I have included a little updated information. Here are some easy, commonsense tips to protect yourself at your hotel: When checking in, make sure that the front desk does not say your room number aloud. If they do, insist on a room change and remind the staff member not to announce the room number. This practice seems to […]
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REVIEW: Riviera Resort & Spa in Palm Springs
If you’re looking for a romantic spot for Valentine’s Day, the newly re-opened Riviera Resort & Spa offers several options that are worthy of your consideration. The Palm Springs resort covers 24 acres, and was once the playground for the famous and infamous. Elvis Pressley and the Rat Pack spent time here, and back in the 60’s this was the largest and most famous of the Palm Springs resorts. Re-opened in 2009, the resort has a vibe reminiscent of its former glamour days. Sleek line, bold graphics, abstract details and vivid colors combine with retro furnishings and mirrored walls to make this a hip place to see and be seen. I love the improvements that have been made, and the efforts to restore the Riviera to its rightful place in hotel lore. You enter the resort through a bright […]
Read MoreFare Thee Well 2009
End of the year time, and that means it’s time for personal reflection, taking stock of myself and life in general, celebrating (mostly) and whining (just a bit). There’s lots to complain about, if I let myself get in that frame of mind, but I’m determined to count my many blessing as I bid farewell to 2009. Here are just a few of my travel experiences, special moments, and thoughts on this last year of the decade. Memorable Travel Experiences: Walking the ramparts surrounding the Old City of Dubrovnik. Passing through Bosnia – Herzegovina Taking a 5 year old to see Lion King in Las Vegas Staying at La Montalla in Tuscany Lots and lots of gelato in Italy Wine tasting in Napa A Few of My Favorite Things Family and friends, including the four-legged kind My business family and […]
Read More2009: My Year of Travel
Despite a sagging economy, increased issues involved in air travel, and juggling a host of responsibilities, I still managed a fair amount of travel this year. Here’s how my travel resolutions stacked up for the year: Visit two new countries – I accomplished this with visits to Switzerland, Croatia, and Bosnia-Herzegovina. Visit two new states – Not so good here. Visited lots of new cities, but no new states. Re-visit five places that I’ve already been, but see and experience them differently – I did pretty well with this one, although didn’t quite make it to 5. Discover new restaurants, hotels, and resorts and share those experiences with you – This one was pretty easy, as I discovered new places in the Seattle area, as well as discovering others on my travels. Here are some of my other travel highlights […]
Read MoreGoodbye, So Long, Ciao, Au Revoir. . . From Flyaway Cafe
On March 17,2006, I started writing about travel here at Flyaway Cafe. I knew a lot about travel, but nothing about blogging, technology, social media, photo editing or building readership. I knew airport codes, not HTML code. And I knew airline route structures, and how to find a good hotel deal. but not a thing about Digg or Twitter. But boy did I learn! Now, after more than 3 1/2 years, and 1,325 posts, Flyaway Cafe is being retired. Today’s post, my 1,326th, will be my last. As I write this, there is an incredible range of emotions rushing through me, the first of which is a huge amount of thanks. I am very thankful for the early days of b5media, and the people who were willing to take a chance on Flight Attendant who loved to travel, and said […]
Read MoreWelcome to Traveling With MJ
Hello fellow travelers and friends, and welcome to my new travel blog – Traveling With MJ! I first started travel blogging back in March 2006 at a travel blog called Flyaway Cafe. It was my first attempt at blogging, and I thoroughly enjoyed sharing the adventure of travel with all of my readers. After over three years blogging at Flyaway Cafe, that blog is being retired at the end of October 2009. So what was I to do but strike out on my own, and so Traveling with MJ is born. I have been a Flight Attendant for over 20 years, and continually find myself being asked about where to go, what to do, and for all sorts of recommendations about destinations, where to stay, and products. That’s what I hope to continue sharing with you here. Let’s find the […]
Read MoreLuang Prabang, UNESCO World Heritage Site
Today I have a guest post from a recent friend, Sue Henly. Sue and I met at a travel event and charmed me with her Australian accent. I think she’ll charm you with her writing as well. — In the soft grey light of early morning, we sit quietly on a bamboo mat, wicker baskets of sticky rice beside us, across from a shuttered colonial mansion heavy with bougainvillea. Birds chatter in the flame trees until a gong sounds, momentarily startling them into silence. Around a corner, dozens of barefoot monks and novices appear in a swish of saffron, golden bowls hanging from orange shoulder straps. Next to us, locals show us how to earn merit. Men adorned with scarves over one shoulder as a mark of respect and kneeling women in traditional shawls put fistfuls of rice into the […]
Read MoreHow To Save Money on Your Vacation Food Budget
Food expenses are a major budget consideration when planning your vacation, and while you can’t eliminate the expense, there are lots of things you can do to keep it as low as possible. Here are some ideas to keep in mind: Book accommodations that have a kitchen. Whether it’s staying at a condo, an extended-stay property, or maybe just a room with a coffee maker and refrigerator, these will all presents ways to help you save on food expenses. With a full kitchen you can stock up on supplies so that you’re not dining out for every meal, while still keeping in mind that no one should have to cook every meal of every day – that’s not much of a vacation for the cook. Even if you don’t have a full kitchen, stocking up on some cereal, milk, juice, […]
Read MoreLAX to the Beach (and Back) for Only $3
Being stuck at an airport is never any fun, whether it’s long ground time between flights, or a flight cancellation and serious delay. Wandering an airport can be fun. . . for the first couple of hours, at least. But when you’ve checked out every last gift shop, book store, restaurant or bar, and what have you, it’s easy to become bored to tears. So what are you going to do? Well, at LAX, if you have enough time to get away, you can leave the hustle and bustle of the airport and head to the beach! The Ocean Express trolley service operates every half hour, roughly between 9 am and 9 pm, with extended hours in the summer. It serves the LAX area hotels and businesses along Century Boulevard with several stops, and provides transportation to the Manhattan Beach […]
Read MoreSeattle Visitors Enjoy the Pacific Science Center
When people visit Seattle and ask me for recommendations about what to see, the Pacific Science Center is always on my list. In addition to its location on the grounds of the Seattle Center, home of the 1962 Seattle World’s Fair, the graceful arches and fountains, make it an architecturally pleasant and appealing place to visit. Everyone seems to enjoy the Science Center. During the World’s Fair, this was home to the US Science Pavilion. Today it is an independent, not for profit science museum, with eight buildings housing hundreds of science exhibits, two IMAX theaters, a large Laser Dome theater, tropical butterfly house, and a planetarium. In addition to the permanent exhibits, the Pacific Science Center hosts a number of traveling exhibits, most recently “Lucy’s Legacy: The Hidden Treasures of Ethiopia.” My favorite of the exhibits, and a welcome […]
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