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Paris…Enjoy, Don’t Hurry

Paris Tips

Paris is a great city to explore. It’s also huge and can be confusing if you’re there for the first time. Check out these tips to help your visit be the best it can be.

There are many free things to do in the City of Light. If you don’t want to go to the top of the Eiffel Tower, at least walk to it to check it out. If you go early in the morning, you can avoid many of the crowds. For a great view of the city, head to Montmartre in the 18th arrondissement and walk up the steps of the Sacre-Coeur. Even if cemeteries don’t rank high on your list, you should visit Cimetiere du Pere Lachaise, Paris’s largest cemetery in the 20th arrondissement. Jim Morrison and Oscar Wilde are buried there. It’s old and parts are crumbling. It’s still impressive.

If you are looking to maximize your time and budget, buy the Paris Pass. It’s worth the money and your time. Not only do you get admission to over 60 attractions and museums…you also get to avoid the long lines to buy tickets and then the long lines to get in. All for a one-time fee. Activate it when you are ready to use it for the first time. It’s good for the length of time you purchased…3 day, 5 day, 7 day.

Understand the difference between the Metro and RER. The Metro has 16 lines with short distances between its stations. The RER has five lines that are faster than the Metro. There are fewer stops as well. RER reaches the suburbs.

Unless you like sparkling water, ask for the carafe of tap water. It’s safe and free. Know that menu prices already include a 10 or 15% gratuity. You are not expected to tip. Many Parisians will round up and leave the extra Euro cents on the table.

With so much to see and do in Paris, you might be tempted to push to see as much as you can. There are museums, landmarks, attractions, and more all over the city. My first suggestion…don’t pack too much into one day. Chances are, you’re not going to see everything anyway on one trip. Do a little advance planning for places that are ‘must see’ on your list. Check a map to see what you can reasonably get to. My next suggestion…save some time to sit a sidewalk café for a morning latte or an early afternoon glass of wine. Watch people, soak up the atmosphere, relax. Paris is meant to be enjoyed…not hurried.

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Family Friendly Resort

I just received this press release. Sounds like fun for the whole family.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact:      Audrey Doherty/Leslie Simoni

                              Chemistry Public Relations

                              (619) 236-8397

                              audrey@chemistrypr.com/leslie@chemistrypr.com

The Sheraton Carlsbad Resort & Spa to Host Complimentary S’mores and Dive-in Movies Every Friday and Saturday Night Throughout the Summer

(Carlsbad, CA) June 11, 2019 – The recently renovated and reimagined Sheraton Carlsbad Resort & Spa has begun offering resort guests complimentary s’mores treats and dive-in movies at the Sheraton pool every Friday and Saturday night during the summer months.

“We’re excited to launch the dive-in movies complete with s’mores by the pool that give our guests an experience that the entire family can enjoy,” said Chris Draper, Managing Director of the resort. “The program is designed to take our resort experience to the next level for families looking to spend quality time together during these warm summer nights.”

Guests can make it a complete night out by reserving a table at 7 Mile Kitchen, adjacent to the pool, for dinner and drinks prior to the movie. After dinner, guests can gather around the fire pits to toast marshmallows and make s’mores from 7-7:30 p.m., with the feature film commencing at 7:30 p.m. The lineup includes a variety of family-friendly films featuring new age classics and recent blockbuster hits such as:

·       Moana (June 22)

·       Ralph Breaks the Internet (July 4)

·       Disney’s Christopher Robin (August 16)

The complimentary dive-in movies and s’mores will be offered every Friday and Saturday night to resort guests, now through Labor Day Weekend.

About Sheraton Carlsbad Resort & Spa


Located in the upscale coastal community of Carlsbad, Calif. the reimagined Sheraton Carlsbad Resort & Spa offers unparalleled panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean and 169 exquisitely appointed guest rooms and suites. The resort sits atop a 50+ acre complex situated at the crossroads of Carlsbad’s thriving tourism and business districts. Conveniently located on the same property and complete with a private entrance into LEGOLAND® California and minutes away from premiere landmarks including the Flower Fields at Carlsbad Ranch and several pristine beaches, the resort offers family and business travelers an unmatched coastal retreat. Additional amenities include 7 Mile Kitchen, pools, a private entrance to Legoland, access to The Crossings at Carlsbad – an 18-hole championship golf course, and self-parking options. Located just one mile from gorgeous beaches and lagoons, nature lovers can also enjoy multiple hiking and biking trails just steps from the resort. Guests also have access to amenities at the resort’s sister property, The Westin Carlsbad Resort & Spa, located within the same campus.

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Update on Travel App

Since I wrote the previous post regarding Google Trips as an app I use, I have been informed this app will no longer work after August 5.

With that in mind, I am trying a new travel app. Tripit is an app I downloaded and am trying out this weekend. There are two versions; a free one and a paid one. First, I am trying the free one.

I’ll report back and let you know how it works.

Stay tuned!

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Travel App

I have a new favorite app for travel.

Google Trips is a travel planner and organizer app I recently discovered, thanks to Angel Castellanos and Angel’s Travel Lounge.

For me, my reservations were automatically gathered from Gmail and put into the correct trips. All were in one place, which was easy to see at a glance.

It suggested some things to do, my saved places, day plans, discounts, food and drink, getting around, and need to know about each separate place. There is a note section, where I had to put some other reservations that didn’t show up in Gmail as actual reservations.

The other piece is the ability to use Google Trips offline. I have access to my info without being online.

I’ve used this several times and love the organization it gives me.

Do you have one you absolutely love?

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Do You Plan?

Here are a few more simple travel tips compiled from frequent travelers, flight attendants, and fellow travel writers. Want to know what they all have in common?

Hint…they plan ahead. 

If you check your bags, pack an outfit in your carry on. This way, you’ll have a spare set of clean clothing ready to go in case your bag is lost. Be sure to ask the airline about their compensation policies. Depending on which route you’ve flown, you may be reimbursed for purchasing toiletries.

Pack some travel size or small packets of laundry detergent. You can use a sink to wash out some underwear or lightweight tops.

Pack a small first aid kit with the basics like bandages, antiseptic wipes, pain meds, and upset tummy meds. You don’t need to bring it all…just some simple basics.

If you can, travel with carry on luggage only.

Keep backups of your travel documents. You can store copies in a cloud-based server. If you’re traveling with a companion, carry a copy of each other’s documents.

Bring noise cancelling headphones, eye mask, ear plugs, entertainment, or whatever makes your long flight more comfortable.

Learn some basic language phrases when traveling to another country. Please and thank you go a long ways. So does asking for the bathroom.

Talk to the locals about the best place for morning coffee or a late-night drink and everything in between.

Remember your chargers. And, remember to pack an adapter if traveling to Europe.

Try to avoid using the airport money exchange counters as they usually charge a higher rate of exchange. Instead, use an ATM when necessary. You can always get some local currency ahead of time.

Prepare for security at the airport. Have your things easily accessible for security check. If you’re not TSA Pre, wear shoes that are easy to remove, take off your belt, and remove your laptop. Don’t hold up the line by not being ready.

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Is Your Plane Delayed?

Excerpts are from an article which appeared in The Points Guy.

The table below provides a proxy for total weather delays, measured in minutes, for the period between October 2017 and October 2018. It includes delays to the National Aviation System that are not strictly weather-related, such as traffic pileups at the major hubs and late-arriving aircraft that may not be due to weather, but it excludes maintenance issues or airline-controlled delays. What we know is that between 50-60% of NAS delays are due to weather — but not extreme weather — and that airline-controlled delays represent less than 5% of the total.

Worst US Airports for Weather Measured in Delay Minutes

AIRPORT NATIONAL AVIATION SYSTEM DELAYS  EXTREME WEATHER DELAYS LATE-ARRIVING AIRCRAFT DELAYS    
Chicago O’Hare  (ORD)  1,707,353  270,189  1,867,386    
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta (ATL)  986,176  263,847  1,514,276    
Newark Liberty (EWR)  1,888,390  114,335  732,926    
Dallas/Fort Worth  (DFW)  815,032  234,693  1,456,957    
San Francisco  (SFO)  1,435,733  101,105  936,938    
LaGuardia (LGA)  1,207,991  169,228  807,517    
Denver  (DEN)  527,483  108,565  1,159,518    
Boston Logan (BOS)  756,415  92,246  923,118    
New York JFK  825,634  98,234  705,328    

Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics, Weather Delays by Airport for the period from October 2017 to October 2018

So…what does this tell you?

You probably already know Chicago O’Hare is to be avoided in the winter. Atlanta is affected by weather as well. In fact, it’s 32% worse for delays due to system delays and thunderstorms.

Dallas/Fort Worth, American’s major hub, is also affected by thunderstorms.

San Francisco has fog. And, they have two parallel runways separated by only 750 feet. In good visibility…not a problem. In poor weather conditions FAA regulations do not permit aircraft to land side by side unless the runways are separated by 4,300 feet. According to SFO, this reduces operations by half during poor weather.

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Sunnylands…a Gem in the Desert

A gem in Rancho Mirage has to be Sunnylands. If you’ve never heard of it or been there, it’s worth finding out more about it.

First…a little background.

Walter and Leonore Annenberg were extraordinary philanthropists, designating more than $3 billion in grants and gifts to major research universities, hospitals, medical centers, public schools, and cultural and civic organizations.

In addition, Mr. Annenberg served as Ambassador to the Court of St. James’s, Great Britain. They continued to play important roles in public service.

For more than 40 years they welcomed political, business, educational, and entertainment leaders to Sunnylands, their 200-acre winter home in Rancho Mirage.

They established The Annenberg Foundation Trust in 2001 to address serious issues facing the nation and the world. This is a place where intimate and solution-driven meetings can take place. Presidents, premiers, experts, scientists, generals, CEOs, leaders can meet here in a neutral location surrounded by beauty.

It’s so much more than just a great venue for leaders to meet. It’s truly a peaceful place, as only the magic of the desert environment can provide.

Over 70 species of native and arid-adapted plants from North and South America, Africa, and the Mediterranean are displayed in the nine acres of gardens.

Plan a visit. Just wander around the grounds, watch the short video of the history, or schedule a visit to their historic estate. If birding is your thing, book a tour with a local birder. Activities change with the seasons.

If You Go: Sunnylands Center and Garden is open with free admission and parking Wednesday through Sunday, 8:30 am to 4:00 pm. Sunnylands is at 37977 Bob Hope Drive, Rancho Mirage, CA 92270.

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Do I Lock It?

Should You Lock Your Suitcase?

According to TSA, airline passengers filed almost 8,000 yearly claims against them for losing items like clothing, jewelry, electronics, and gifts.

Would it have helped to have your bag locked? Maybe not. Putting a lock on your suitcase isn’t a guarantee that your stuff will be safe.

Locks can be cut. Someone could slice through your soft-sided bag. Locks only discourage casual thieves, causing them to move on to easier targets. In reality, locks are only flimsy protection if someone is determined to get into your bag.

That’s why you should always keep any valuables with you in your carry-on bag.

What if your bag is locked and TSA needs to get into it?

The TSA has master keys that allow agents to open all TSA-approved locks, if they determine your bag needs extra screening. If you use a non-TSA lock, they’ll cut it off your bag.

If you are traveling internationally, keep in mind that not all security officers outside the U.S. have the same master keys. Your lock may have to be cut in that case.

You could just use zip ties to lock your bag. They’re cheap. If the TSA needs to cut the zip tie, it’s not a big deal to replace it next time. If the TSA doesn’t access your bag, you will need to have a small scissors or some other way to cut it off once you get to your destination.

Or, you could go to a service that wraps your bags in plastic, which makes them harder to break into, protects their exteriors from dings, and keeps them from getting dirty. Still, the TSA might determine they need to cut open the plastic and inspect your bag.