I’ve covered some of these tips before. Many of them bear repeating…especially if you happen to be a first-time traveler to Europe.
Let’s start with packing… You don’t need to overpack. Huge suitcases are
no fun to drag down a cobblestone street, lug onto a train, or cram into a
small car’s trunk. Heavy ones create more problems than you can imagine. Just
pack the essentials. Plan your clothes around one or two colors. Take items
that can be easily laundered…either by you or at a facility. If you absolutely
need something you didn’t bring…go shopping.
Remember to use public transportation. Subway, Metro, The Tube…are easy
to negotiate and more reasonable than taking a cab everywhere. High speed
trains are an amazing way to travel.
If you are in Europe for the first time, you may think you can cover a lot of ground. After all, it looks smaller on the map. Right? Keep in mind, there is so much to see and do in almost every city, town, and village. In order to have a truly fun vacation, don’t overdo it. Decide what is most important to you. Trust me…you aren’t going to see it all in one visit.
Do your homework on local customs. Learn a few polite phrases.
Understand what is acceptable or what isn’t. Learn how to read a map, street
signs, and your bill at the restaurant.
Experiences in the desert are interesting. Succulents and
cacti, both large and small, look different from dawn to dusk. Desert blooms
offer a whole other look to the sometimes-barren landscape.
Visiting the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix promised to
be interesting since we were going at night. Why at night?
For the light show.
We thought we’d see some great lights. Maybe, we’d see some
spectacular cacti lit up. Oh no. It was so much more than that.
Music greeted us as we entered the garden. Soft lights led
us along one of seven different paths. Rounding the first corner, giant neon
cacti looked like enormous green crystals reaching for the dark, night sky.
The light and sound experience at the Desert Botanical
Garden in Phoenix is like nothing we had seen before. We weren’t even sure we
were still in the desert or the garden.
More than just a show, the entire desert garden was a living canvas. Complete with music.
Down one path, light played on a forest of Organ Pipe cactus.
They appeared to be swaying to the music. They weren’t.
Another path where the entire floor was covered with snakes. Not a snake fan, I had a hard time watching. They weren’t really snakes…just lights on the succulents. But…I wasn’t convinced. Moving on…
Heading over to the light show on the butte in the distance,
we thought we were in the middle of a thunderstorm. Is that rain? Was that
lightning? Nope. Just lights. Amazing lights.
Walking through another area, barrel cactus seemed to dance
to the music right in front of us. Then, they stopped, changed colors, and
danced again. Around every bend, more lights, more music, and performing
plants.
Giant saguaro, many decades old, were washed in light. With
over 4,000 species here, everywhere we turned we caught a glimpse of lights and
plants. Imagine walking through a desert and feeling like you’re in a musical
stage production. That’s kind of what we felt like.
This was truly a one-of-a-kind experience.
Founded in 2003, Klip Collective is an experiential video
shop that uses virtual reality, projection mapping, storytelling and
soundscapes to create this captivating sensory experience. They offer these
around the world.
If You Go: The Desert Botanical Garden is a 140-acre
botanical garden located in Popago at 1201 N. Galvin Parkway, Phoenix.
I recently heard about this company. Has anyone used this one or one like it?
LugLess introduced the first cost-competitive alternative to checking bags at the airport by enabling travelers to ship luggage directly to their destination for as little as $15.
Problem: Carrying, checking, and reclaiming bags at the airport is inconvenient, time consuming, and increasingly expensive. Travelers will pay more than $4.5 billion in checked baggage fees this year in the US alone.
Solution: LugLess leverages existing logistics networks to make shipping luggage easier and cheaper than checking a bag. Our shipping search engine finds and compares the absolute lowest UPS and FedEx rates to generate the cheapest shipping label for any travel itinerary. If that’s all you need from us, there is no other cost to using our platform.
But if you need a little more help with your shipment, we’ve
got you covered. For an additional fee, you can add extra features, like
additional coverage or a doorstep pickup. You can even opt for live support,
which means you’ll have access to a LugLess team member who will answer any
questions you have.
Key features:
➔
Rates: Starting at $15/bag. Rates based on distance, size and speed of
delivery. On average, people pay $28 to ship one bag or $54 to ship two bags.
➔ Model: After getting the
cheapest shipping label, users can add extra features, such as additional coverage
or live support, for a fee and only pay for what they use.
➔ Users: Mass market, budget
conscious travelers including: families with children, golfers, skiers,
students, and people making small moves.
➔ Scale: In the same way that
Amazon leverages UPS and FedEx to bring the shopping experience to your front
door, LugLess leverages these carriers to let travelers avoid the hassles of
checking luggage.
➔ Technology: The LugLess
platform is integrated with multiple carriers to find the lowest rates and
generate shipping labels instantly. The LugLess API allows publishers and
travel booking platforms to fetch rates and create reservations in their own
environment.
➔ Geography: LugLess provides
service to and from every zip code in the United States.
Team
The LugLess leadership team has worked together for fifteen
years. They have launched, acquired, and operated businesses in the logistics
and travel space, including Luggage Forward, which is a premium doorstep to
destination luggage delivery service focused on the global luxury travel
market. The introduction of LugLess’ ultra-low-cost service provides a
no-frills luggage shipping solution to the frustrated traveling masses who are
increasingly dissatisfied with the inconvenience and rising costs of carrying
and checking luggage at the airport. www.lugless.com
When I travel, I see other travelers with dogs. Some are in carriers. Some on leashes. Some are definitely service dogs. Others are pets.
I’ve
often wondered what you do if you have a dog in an airport terminal.
I found several airports with places for your furry pooch. There are probably more. Do you have any favorites?
Phoenix Sky Harbor
International Airport
The
Pet Patch is located east of Terminal 2. The Pet Paw Pad can be found in
Terminal 3, outside on the West End. The Bone Yard can be found on the west
side of Terminal 4, near baggage claim.
Nearby
PHX Sky train stations, pet relief areas are also available. The East Economy
Park & Bark is near the East Economy parking garages and The Park ‘n Play
is on the northwest corner of the 44th Street PHX Sky Train station.
San Diego International Airport
Seven
different pet relief stations are available. You’ll find artificial turf and
waste bags. These pet relief stations can be found throughout the terminals outside
of the airport, as well as indoor at Terminal 2 West.
Philadelphia International
Airport
At
Philadelphia International Airport, there are seven Service Animal Relief
Areas, called Pet Ports. These relief areas have a mulch surface, a bench,
biodegradable pet waste bags, and a garbage can. All stations are available for
both service animals and pets.
Boston Logan International
Airport
In Boston,
the relief areas are no-frills, but plentiful. These rest areas are located on
the arrivals level curb outside every terminal. There is also a pet-relief area
located in Terminal E, after security, and near Gate E7.
Denver International Airport
Denver
International Airport has spots for pets with artificial turf, bags, and a sink
on each concourse as well as right outside Jeppesen Terminal. After security, these
are located in the center cores of A, B and C Gates. A pre-security pet
restroom area is located just outside door 200 on the west side of the Jeppesen
Terminal.
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta
International Airport
Indoor
Service Animal Relief Areas here are available throughout the airport and can
be used by service animals and other traveling pets. They can be found in every
concourse. This airport also has a dog park, located in the Ground
Transportation area on Domestic Terminal South. This fully fenced-in park
offers biodegradable bags along with benches.
Reno-Tahoe International
Airport
This
airport has three dog parks available. Gate K-9 Bark Parks are fenced, ADA
accessible, and have running water, mutt mitts for cleanup, and a canopied area
for when the weather isn’t so great. Indoors, an area is available on the
second floor of the terminal building.
At first glance, Agay, France could be a beach town in any number of countries.
There’s a mostly sandy beach dotted with beach towels, sun worshippers, and kids playing in the sand and water. Bright sun bounces off the clear blue water, creating a backdrop worthy of a postcard. Simple, fishing boats vie with yachts bobbing in the harbor of this sheltered natural bay.
Here’s where you know you’re not just at any beach. Dark red cliffs of the Massif de l’Esterel rise up out of the water, making the sand an interesting shade of red.
Water so clear and blue, this might give you a clue where
you are. They don’t call it Cote d’Azur for no reason. This coastal resort is
between Saint-Raphael and Theoule-sur-Mer. Cannes is not far away. Now, you get
the picture. This is the south of France.
Village shops, cafes, restaurants, and water sports rentals
line the street. This is a much smaller, quieter beach resort than its more
famous neighbors up and down the coast.
Slightly off the beach is a restaurant I would recommend for lunch, dinner, drinks, dessert…or all of the above. Restaurant La Galere is worth looking for. Locals and visitors both love it here. You’ll find plenty of locals eating here. Always a good sign.
Just outside of Agay is a WWII Memorial to US soldiers
involved in the defense of this part of France. Operation Dragoon is part of the
forgotten invasion of Southern France. More about that in another review…
Why come to this small town along the famous coast? For
starters, views here are just as magnificent as anywhere along the coast. Maybe
better… For another reason, there aren’t as many tourists. Photo ops…they’re
everywhere you turn. Seduction…this village will entice you to return.
Agay, France…you just have to experience it. Don’t forget to
indulge at Le Galere. Trust me, it’s worth it.
We’ve all been around those travelers who aren’t the most aware of their surroundings. Some pet peeves I’ve heard from other travelers include:
Complaining
about how the menu isn’t like it is back home doesn’t help. If you’re in
Italy…you’re not in America. Things are different.
Crowding the
baggage claim carousel. Trust me…the bags will be unloaded. Shoving your way in
front of someone doesn’t make yours come out faster.
Taking up the
entire overhead bin on the plane. The flight attendants make the announcement
to store smaller items under the seat in front of you for a reason.
Hurrying in
front of someone to get off the plane. It’s an orderly process and someone
crowding ahead of others isn’t appreciated. If you have a tight connection,
tell a flight attendant and they can assist you.
This one is
always an issue at some point…reclining your seat all the way back. Have you
done that? Has someone done that to you?
How about the
security line? Have you stood and waited while the person in front didn’t know
they had a belt on, their bottle of shampoo was too large, or they don’t know
what to do with their phone? I understand if the person hasn’t flown in many,
many years. Otherwise, get prepared ahead of time. Those in line behind you
will appreciate it.
Do you worry about your upcoming trip? Does sitting in an airplane for longer than an hour bother you? Do you get joy out of exploring a new city, or does it worry you to be someplace unfamiliar?
For many of us, travel is
exciting, an adventure, and something to look forward to. For others, it can
cause anxiety.
What do you do if you
suffer from some anxiety?
First, don’t leave any
planning, packing, checking your itinerary, printing your boarding pass,
charging your phone, or anything else to the last minutes before you head out
the door. Set a goal for yourself to be ready…absolutely ready… to go 24 hours
in advance. Maybe 36 hours would be better for you. This means everything is
done by that time. You might not actually call Uber for the ride to the
airport. But, you know you need to do that. You also know how to do that.
You’re not looking for the app on your phone with only minutes to spare.
I know it’s hard, but
experts tell us to avoid caffeine and alcohol as a way to keep the anxiety
level low. You know how you function, so maybe this isn’t for you.
You might look at
meditating once your bags are packed. Take a few minutes to relax with no
interruptions. I know one person who always gets a massage and a facial two
days before she packs. Might be a good idea.
Another person suggested
they like to do some exercises before they pack and then a few more once they
feel they have everything ready to go.
The owner and chef, Yves Fournier, and his wife, Susie, grew
up in a small village at the base of the French Alps. His love of baking is
evident as you eat his pastries and listen to him talk about what he’s making.
He told us he learned the ins and outs of pastry making from his father, who
learned it from his father and grandfather. No wonder everything tastes so
authentic.
A little background…Chef Yves came to San Diego as a pastry
chef for the Le Meridien Hotel in 1992, worked for several 5-star hotels, and
was the Executive Baking and Pastry Chef instructor for the San Diego Culinary
Institute.
When he started a small pop-up out of his home, neighbors
and friends encouraged him to open a bakery.
We are glad he did.
Everything looks so good. Better than than…it all tastes
better than it looks.
One bite of an almond croissant, with just the right among
of toasted almond slices and powdered sugar, beg to be devoured. Beignets
practically melt in your mouth. Savory quiches are light, yet filling. And, the
lemon tarts just have to be sampled.
Trust us when we say this secret spot needs to be checked
out. You’ll thank us.
If You Go: French Oven is located at 10299 Scripps Ranch
Trail, Suite E, San Diego.
You’re traveling to a foreign country and you have your passport an appropriate visa. Right? It’s probably in your wallet.
You
have insurance. Right? Where’s your proof of medical insurance?
When preparing
your wallet for traveling, did you clean out your insurance card and leave it
at home?
If so…not
a good idea.
Did you
realize more countries are requiring you to show proof of medical insurance
before you enter the country? Right now, Iceland, Ecuador, Turkey, the UAE,
Norway, and Switzerland are ones that want to see your insurance cards.
What
do you do if you don’t have it? You can buy a policy right there. Or, you can
go home.
Neither
is a good option. Carry your insurance cards.
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