RSSNov|23|2007
First Class Lounges: Thai Airways
Posted by Camica as Air Travel, Around The World, Awards, Destinations, Luxurious, News, Reviews, Transport
In one of my last posts, I wrote about the new trend in luxury travel today: airport first class lounges. I said that I would write more about the different first class lounges and the amenities they offer. As promised, here’s the first of the series.
For my first post about first class lounges, I’m going to start with the one that was voted the best first class lounge for 2007 by Skytrax: the Thai Airways Royal First Lounge at Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok, Thailand. This ultimate status symbol of prestige and exclusivity caters primarily to first class passengers of Thai Airways flights or members of the international Star Alliance. It’s located at the Concourse D in Level 3 of the airport, with 1,400 square meters allocated to accommodate 174 first class passengers at one time.
For travelers on business, the …
Nov|22|2007
Thanksgiving In Plymouth
Posted by Camica as Americas, Around The World, Destinations, Events, Historical
Thanksgiving is one of America’s favorite holidays, and the official start of the holiday season. Thanksgiving is also a long weekend, something which overworked folks in need of rest always look forward to. This Thanksgiving, instead of stressing out about the turkey and the guests, why not revisit the place where it all began?
The place where it all began is in the town of Plymouth, Massachusetts. This is where the Pilgrims established a colony after arriving in the Mayflower. This is also where “The First Thanksgiving” started, after the first harvest in 1621.
Visiting Plymouth is a great way to experience history first hand. You can visit Plimoth Plantation, the living history museum that re-creates and keeps the records of the lives of the Pilgrims. There’s also a 1627 Pilgrim Village and a Native American Homesite. Or, visit the Mayflower II, …
Nov|21|2007
Traveling With Kids, Part 2
Posted by Camica as Around The World, Destinations, Family, Getaways, People, Tips
Here’s the rest of the tips about enjoying your vacation while traveling with kids:
• Double-check your reservation- to err is human, and sometimes reservation agents can make mistakes with your reservation. To avoid unnecessary inconvenience, make sure you call your hotel or resort 24 hours before you leave to double-check your reservation. Also, if you’re unfamiliar with the hotel, and you know someone in the area, have them check it out for you beforehand. Issues about cleanliness and security, which you might normally let pass if you were traveling alone, can suddenly become a big deal if you have kids along. If you have any special requests, such as non-smoking rooms or an extra bed or crib, it’s always better to let the hotel know beforehand, so they can be sure to reserve it for you.
• Make a list of things you need to pack, and bring it …
Nov|20|2007
Traveling With Kids, Part 1
Posted by Camica as Around The World, Destinations, Family, Getaways, People, Tips
The coming of the holidays usually means an increase in family travel as well. Some families may be traveling to visit grandparents or relatives, some may simply want to take advantage of the season to have a holiday vacation. Whatever the reason, traveling with kids also means more baggage, more preparation time, more expenses and oftentimes more stress! It doesn’t have to be that way, of course. You can still travel with your kids and end up having fun, not feeling like a Scrooge. Here’s some tips on traveling with kids:
• Pick a family-friendly destination or experience – choose a destination that will appeal to all ages: kids, teens and adults. Although you might find it intellectually stimulating to visit museums, your kids might be (very) vocally opposed to it. Also skip places that might be potentially dangerous, such as overcrowded tourist spots, places …
Nov|16|2007
Online Booking Tips: Hotels
Posted by Camica as Around The World, Destinations, Food and Drink, Hotels, Resorts, Tips
Nowadays, a lot of travelers are choosing to book their hotel online. Not only is it usually cheaper than booking with a travel agency, computer savvy travelers also get to surf the net for their choice of hotels and packages. Since most of these reservations are prepaid, and canceling a reservation will usually leave a customer with a cancellation charge, it’s a good idea to research the hotel you plan to book extensively. If you’re not familiar with hotel lingo, you might get stuck paying for something you don’t need or want.
When you’re searching for hotels, aside from the room types, you might also come upon different meal plans. Although most hotels will indicate if breakfast is included in the price, some hotels (especially resorts), may also say the room rate includes a European plan or is all-inclusive. It can get pretty confusing, …
Nov|15|2007
First Class Lounges
Posted by Camica as Air Travel, Around The World, Awards, Cities, Destinations, Luxurious, News, Transport
The world is getting smaller, and more and more people are choosing to travel by flying. In this coming holiday season alone, the Air Transport Association is projecting that roughly 27 million passengers will be flown by domestic carriers worldwide over 12 days, beginning Nov. 16. Planes are expected to be about 90 percent full. With that many passengers waiting for their flight, airport lounges are bound to be one of the busiest and most crowded places around. Airport lounges used to be simple waiting areas, where passengers can get drinks, snacks or newspapers while waiting for their plane to arrive. But as airlines continue to strive to provide a better experience for their customers, airport lounges are beginning to evolve into travel experiences themselves. Some first class lounges have even started to offer the ultimate in luxurious living.
The survey organization, …
Nov|14|2007
Baby (Born) On Board!
Posted by Camica as Air Travel, Around The World, Family, Health, News, People, Tips, Transport
There’s an urban legend floating around in the airline industry, that babies born on board a flight get a lifetime free ride with the airline. It certainly tickles the imagination, the idea of being able to go places anytime you want, all for free! Unfortunately, it’s a legend that has no basis in fact; airline agents I’ve spoken to deny that the airline has any such policy. In fact, airlines strongly discourage pregnant women to fly during their third trimester.
In general, airlines require a pregnant woman traveling during her ninth month to present a doctor’s “permission-to-travel” letter signed within 72 hours of travel. This is enforced based on an “honor policy”, however. It’s the passenger’s decision to inform airline agents that she’s expecting and how far along she is. So if the passenger misleads the airlines about her due date, or …
Nov|09|2007
Babywearing: Baby Slings, Part 2
Posted by Camica as Backpacking & Budget, Family, People, Tips
Among all the baby slings in the market, I found the ring sling to be the best fit for me. There were several reasons, which I would like to share with you, to help you decide if a ring sling is ideal for you too.
• First, I liked the fact that the ring sling can be used from birth through toddlerhood. Most carriers in the market are not suitable for newborns, while some are not big enough or can’t handle a toddler’s weight. A ring sling can support a newborn’s head and neck, and can be adjusted to fit your baby’s size.
• Ring slings are very good for breastfeeding moms. The sling can be easily adjusted to position the baby for easy access to the breast, and the tail can be used to cover the baby and the breast. For bottle-feeding moms, the ring sling is also …
Nov|08|2007
Babywearing: Baby Slings, Part 1
Posted by Camica as Backpacking & Budget, Family, People, Tips
Last post, I started sharing about the benefits of babywearing. I only discovered the magic of baby slings after my second child was born. Although I already had the full arsenal of baby gear from my firstborn, I decided I had to buy a baby sling as well. It’s an investment I’ve never regretted.
Although there are several different kinds of slings and baby carriers in the market, I decided to choose a ring sling. Ring slings are baby carriers that are composed of a length of cloth and two rings made of metal or tough plastic. One end of the cloth is sewn to two rings. Starting from the shoulder, you wrap the cloth around the wearer’s body like a sash, with the end threaded through the rings like a buckle to form a loop. The baby sits or lies in …
Nov|07|2007
Wearing Your Baby, Part 2
Posted by Camica as Around The World, Backpacking & Budget, Family, People, Tips, Transport
Babywearing, or the art of carrying your baby in a sling or a carrier you wear around your body, has been around for generations. In fact, it’s the most natural and convenient way of lugging your baby around. Unfortunately, most “civilized” countries haven’t been using this method, preferring to place the baby in a stroller or a baby carriage, or relegating baby to a nanny. As parents became more hands-on, and started bringing their babies anywhere, however, the practice of carrying baby close to the parent has become a growing trend. In fact, studies show that carrying baby is beneficial, not only for the parents, but most specially for the baby.
It’s best for baby
Baby slings encourage kangaroo care for newborns and premature infants. Babies who are carried more tend to cry less, sleep more, grow faster and get less sick than babies who are carried …
