Behind the Scenes with a Hotel Concierge

Michael Fazio on the Roof of One Times Square

I don’t usually recommend travel literature for beach reads. Sure a good travel book can get you to the right beach. But once there, folks tend to prefer paperbacks that get their hearts racing: thrillers, romantic novels, the latest New York Times bestsellers.

The exception to that rule may be the surprisingly frank, unashamedly gossipy new memoir by Michael Fazio, “Concierge Confidential”. Starting with Fazio’s days as a talent agent in Hollywood (when he once had to discretely retrieve Charley Sheen’s gun from the diner he’d accidentally dropped it in) and ending in the present day with Fazio as the co-President of a prestigious firm that oversees concierges, the book gives juicy details about what life in the service industry is really like. And yes, concierges are regularly asked by hotel guests to break the law by procuring drugs and prostitutes. They also make the wackiest fantasies come true from filling bathtubs with 80 gallons of Hershey’s syrup to hiring string quartets to play clients off Amtrak trains.

Beyond his adventures, Fazio gives solid advice on how to get what one wants on vacation and in life. Eager to return to the hottest restaurant in town without the hassle of getting reservations months in advance? Ask to meet the chef at the end of your meal, befriend him (aka butter him up) and then call him directly next time you want to get in.  Wondering if you can trust the concierge’s recommendations for meals and entertainment? Linger by his desk before you ask your questions. If he’s giving all respondents the same answer it likely means he a)doesn’t know what he’s doing or b) is getting a kickback from the places he’s recommending.

Pick it up. I think you’ll find it to be a quick, fun read.

A Helpful, Online Compendium of Learning Vacations

Photo by Brendan Lally

You always hear folks in the travel industry touting the experience of travel as one that will create "lasting memories." Yes, they'd better be lasting, as that's all you've usually got at the end of an expensive trip (unless you're a souvenir hound, but that's another ball of wax). But what if you were to come home not just with memories but with a new skill? A good investment, eh? As a Chinese proverb says "Learning is a treasure that will follow its owner everywhere."

I recently stumbled across a British website called GoLearnTo.com which is entirely devoted to different types of learning vacations across the globe. Those interested in dancing, for example, might find themselves studying tango in Buenos Aires, salsa dance in Ecuador, flamenco in Spain, merengue in Costa Rica or belly dancing in Turkey. Cooking classes, wine appreciation, painting seminars, photography workshops, French jewelry making, music lessons, language classes, and instruction in various sports are also featured. The site even covers such unusual topics as gladiator schools and perfume-making.

Singles are particularly targeted by the site, a smart move as learning vacations are an excellent choice for solo travelers. They allow singles to meet others who have similar interests to their own. And because the group learns together, friendships form in a more natural, relaxed fashion.

Perhaps most tempting for those of us on this side of the pond will be the cross cultural exchange. Not only will participants be traveling abroad, but they'll be doing so in the company primarily of Brits, a situation that can be quite fun for us Yanks.

Responsible Charity for Travelers

Two young girls we met at the Guatemalan school

One of the highlights of my last tour to Guatemala had nothing to do with sightseeing. In the guesthouse of the small Mayan village I was staying in, I met a group of Canadian missionaries. They were at Lake Atitlan building a house for a local woman who'd been left by her husband for a younger woman (she was 26!); and to deliver school supplies that the children in the Sunday School of their church had raised money to buy. I helped them lug large sacks of pens, paper, soccer balls and textbooks to the school and then got to share in the joyous reception that followed as the teachers and students opened the care packages.

It was kismet, a case of being in the right place at the right time. I'd have had no way, otherwise, to know about the needs of this small village school.

Until now, that is, thanks to a lovely website called StuffYourRucksack.com. It informs travelers of worthy organizations around the world that need help, in the form of supplies that can be carried to them in, well, a rucksack (better known as a backpack here in North America). In many cases the organizations are in rural areas without regular postal service, so getting supplies via tourists' bags is a huge opportunity. Most of the organizations requesting help are in Asia, Africa and South America but volunteers are doing research to keep the list growing. Besides schools, they include orphanages, social service centers and hospitals.

Do something really good when planning your next trip and check the website out.

Hotels Within Walking Distance

A Dangerous Looking Stroll (Photo by JC Henkes)

Urban sprawl is a buzz kill, especially on vacation. You've booked yourself into what seems like a decent hotel in Dallas or Fort Lauderdale or Billings, and though the hotel itself is fine, you find that to get anywhere--a restaurant, a theater, a drugstore--you have to drive it. So instead of taking a relaxing stroll, you find yourself battling commuters on the interstate just to get a bite to eat.

A relatively new website called WalkScore has the solution. Enter in any address and it will return a numerical ranking of how car dependent you'll be if you choose this property. A rank of 90-100, for example means "walkers paradise--daily activities will not require a car". Choose a property with a score of 0-24 and you can be sure that "all activites will require a car."

I tested WalksScore out with a Marriot that I thought was in the heart of Tampa but returned a dissapointing score of 45, meaning "car dependent". A map showed me my options for restaurants, coffee joints, groceries, shopping, etc and the pickings were slim. Yes there were two restaurants in walking distance, but one would necessitate crossing a highway!

Obviously, the site has uses beyond hotels. For those looking to buy second homes, or spending a day in an unfamiliar area, the perks of this type of info are obvious.

Apparently, AARP has partnered with WalkStop for info on its travel site, though frankly I searched and couldn't find any of the walk scores. For now, go directly to WalkScore.com when you want that type of info.

Freebie Friday: Free Nights at Westin

(Photo by Chris Clark)

I like deals that are straight-forward and easy to redeem. Such is the cases with today's freebie.

Stay three nights or more and get one of those nights for free. Okay, it won't count if you arrive on a Sunday, Monday or Tuesday, but other than that, this is a simple one to snag. And the freebie nights are collectable through the end of the year, at participating Westins around the globe.

For full details, or to book, click here.

Disneyworld's Neighbor Becomes a Destination in its Own Right

Bok Tower Gardens (Ricardo Marta)

It’s not on the beach. And it doesn’t encompass DisneyWorld or Universal Studios.  But the Polk County region has long turned those potential pitfalls into perks, at least for value-conscious travelers.

It’s these folks who choose to do their theme park vacations from here, commuting over the county line just 15-minutes to the Magic Kingdom. Who head to one of the county’s hundred-plus lakes for some serious bass fishing; or to Bok Tower Gardens, with its Olmstead design, for a taste of the gracious Florida of the turn of the last century. Aviation nuts swarm the county for its two flying museums/attractions; sports teams choose the area for their tournaments, due to the wide variety of sporting facilities the area boasts. And very soon (in October), families with elementary school aged children will be coming here in droves to enjoy the new Legoland,  which will be the largest of the chain.

So why am I featuring Polk County today? Because DirectAir starts its service to Lakeland Airport today, which will give residents of a number of smaller gateways  cheaper, direct flights to this emerging Florida hotspot.

A Terrific Website for All Your Rail and Ferry Travel Questions

Sometimes even us "travel experts"get stumped. And I was thoroughly stumped recently by what I thought would be the simple process of booking a sleeper car on a train in Poland.

First move: I went to the website of the Polish State Railways. Alas it was all in Polish (ie Greek to me). I tried soldiering through with an online translation tool, but I kept getting words for trees rather than arrivals and departure info. Next!

RailEurope.com was up, but it couldn't help me online and directed me to call. I did so, and ended up buying a rail pass (since I would be taking several journeys it was the most cost-effective way to proceed). But after many phone calls back and forth, they informed that they couldn't book space in the sleeper for me and that I'd have to wait until I got to Poland. Not a great strategy, since I'd be traveling with an 8-year-old who can do a pretty good, if unintentional, imitation of Linda Blair in the Exorcist when she doesn't get sufficient sleep. Waiting to book was not a risk I was willing to take.

 Then one of those internet miracles happened, and I stumbled upon Seat61.com (Its official name is "The Man in Seat 61"). Dedicated to train and ferry travel, its encyclopedic in its scope and very practical in its advice. Within two minutes of scanning the Poland page of the site, I had the website of an excellent Polish Rail Travel Agency, and 15 minutes after that, with brisk email correspondence (on a Saturday) back and forth with an agent named Tomaz, I'd booked my sleeper car on a direct train (RailEurope had wrongly told me there were only connecting trains between Warsaw and Gdansk).

The site gives advice on buying passes, follows service changes on popular routes ("Paris-Hamburg City Nightline Sleeper Train Reinstated!" is one enthusiastic headline), and offers a nifty widget that allows users to compare the prices and times of different ferry operators for varying European routes.

So thank you Man in Seat 61--I'll be looking for you in Poland!

Broader Hotel Searches More Important Than Ever

Here's another reason why it may be smarter to just go to an aggregator site such as HotelsCombined.com or Hipmunk.com (sites that "aggregate" info rather than selling travel) rather than one of the major online travel agencies. According to a recent article by Danielle Douglas of Capitol Business (an off-shoot of the Washington Post), the major hotel chains are giving such sites as Expedia, Orbitz and Priceline far less inventory than they used to. In fact, the amount of rooms being supplied by Starwood, Hilton, Hyatt, Marriott, Intercontintal and Gaylord sold 14% of their inventory through the agencies listed above. In the first quarter of 2011, sales were down to 9% according to industry research firm Rubicon.



Photo by F. Delvenhall


I know, it all sounds very "inside baseball". But consumers should care about this switch as it may mean fewer deals, especially through their favorite online travel agencies. Which is why I'm recommending using the aggregator sites (Kayak.com is another option ), as they search the inventory not just of the major players and discounters (Hotels.com, TravelWorm.com, etc.) but also of the hotel chains directly.

The hotels chains are also going after those travelers who prefer to bundle together airfares with hotel nights (in an attempt to score savings). Many are now partnering with airlines, rental car agencies, tour operators and more to give the customers who come directly to their sites the same sort of inclusive experience they're used to getting on a Travelocity or an Orbitz.

To read Douglas' complete piece, click here.

Vacation Days Without Hassle: Why You May Want to Change Jobs

My husband works at a hospital and has to plan his vacation days a year in advance. These are planned separately from weekend days (he has to do two of these per month), so its not unusual for an employee to request a week's vacation, only to find that his weekend work date cuts his time away short. The weeks during which we figure out which dates to request may be among the most stressful of the year.

But there are companies that have gotten rid of vacation days entirely. No, they don't chain their workers into their cubicles. Instead, they tell them that if they get their work done, they can take as many vacation days as they wish and (with their manager's consent) when they wish. According to officials of these companies interviewed in a recent Fortune profile, employees don't take advantage of this level of freedom and all parties are pleased with the arrangement.

Among the companies with this liberal policy are:

• Netflix
• Best Buy
• IBM
• Morningstar
• Motley Fool
• BlueWolf
• HubStop

The company quotes a professor of psychology as endorsing the policy noting "it can afford employees a level of control over their own work styles and work pacing."

Hey, this may be something you bring up with your boss before the weekend...

Freebie Friday: Free Shore Excursions from Orbitz

I have mixed feelings about this offer, as I'm not sure if it will always add up to real savings. But here are some of the factors you may want to look at before booking:

• Orbitz is not generally known for getting the best overall prices on cruises by which I mean it seems less likely to offer such valuable extras as free upgrades and on-board ship credits than other cruise-only agencies do.  So be sure you're getting more gimmes than other agencies are offering before you book.
• The shore excursion offered is not one of the official tours sold by the cruise lines. Instead, it's from an outside company partnered with Orbitz. So when you're crunching all the numbers, be sure to factor in the original cost of these shore excursions before booking to make sure the deal's worth it.
• Alas, the freebie only goes to one passenger per cabin. Unless you like to divide up for your days on shore, here's another reason to look at the cost of the Orbitz shore excursions before booking.

If you decide that all is kosher with this promotion, act quickly. Bookings must be made before the end of this month to get the freebie. The freebie applies to cruises to the Bahamas, Bermuda, Caribbean and Mexico on NCL, RCL, Carnival, Celebrity, Holland America and Princess. Click here for more information.

The Hotel Room of the Future

Someday in the not too distant future guests checking into hotels will sleep a lot better. The sheets, shot through with electronic sensors, will read the sleep cycle of the client, and adjust the temperature accordingly to ensure the traveler gets a deeper nights' sleep. The pillow will massage his neck and shoulders as he drifts off. And the ambient noises in the room will be those he hears at home, another soothing touch.

These are just a few of the ways that futurist Ian Pearson thinks hotels will differ in the year 2030. Hired by European hotel chain Travelodge, Pearson spent the last six months working on a report about hotels of the future. Some of his guesses, like those concerning virtual sex, have been making headlines in the UK. Others seem less fantastic, like the idea that guests will be able to post photos of their loved ones around the room with the click of a button, switching on the virtual reality capabilities of the walls and furnishings.

I recently spoke with Pearson for our radio show, and he told me that his full paper was available on his website Futurizon.com. Alas, I can't find it there, but TNooz.com has a good chart with his predictions. It's a fun, and intriguing read.

Packing Light Becoming a Habit for Many

For years, we travel writers have been talking ourselves blue in the face trying to convince travelers to pack lighter. "You won't be a slave of your suitcase," we've shouted. "Meaning you can take public transportation from the airport, saving big bucks on taxis. And if you're unhappy with your hotel, you can more easily move if you've packed light".

Good advice, right?

Very few listened.

Until recently that is.

And we pundits can't take any credit for changing the bad habits of travelers. The airlines are responsible. Just last week, we heard that Delta and United Continental would be upping their baggage fees once again. Delta was getting rid of its $2-$3 discount for checking in bags online and upping the fee for a second bag to Europe to $60 (up to $75 if you don't check it in online) and to $30 for Mexico and Central America (it used to be free on those routes). United/Continental will now be charging $70 for a second checked bag to Europe (previously $50).

These moves are having an effect. According to a recent poll by vacation rental service Home Away, 56% of respondents are so angered by airline fees for checked baggage that they've changed the way they pack. Nearly half of this group (45%) pack lighter and simply resign themselves to doing some laundry along the way. A spendthrift 15% of the group packs less, but then buys what they need as they travel. Relying on the carry on, and cramming as much into it as possible, seems to be the strategy of 36% of the respondents. And the remaining 3% of travelers ship their belongings on ahead.

Interesting how the power of the pocketbook can build healthier travel habits. Now, if we can just figure out a way to get travelers to learn a few phrases in the local language before they hit the road....

A Hub Is Born: Budapest

Photo by Tyler Conk

Surprisingly, there were no direct flights from the US to the brilliant, beautiful and quite popular city of Budapest until several weeks ago. American Airlines has now stepped in to fill the gap, and according to airline executives the route is already carrying more passengers per flight (called the "load factor") than any of its other ten routes to Europe.

That may well be because Budapest is an ideal hub for Europe. With a newly redone airport and a placement that puts it just a two hour flight (or less) from more than a dozen major cities, the new routing should prove quite valuable to Yankee travelers, even those that don't live in the Big Apple. American partners with the national airline Malev in Hungary to transfer passengers to airports across the region.

Its worth it to go just for the goulash. As a Twitter pal of mine recently noted, no two bowls ever taste alike. And that's a great thing.

Head to the American Airlines site for full information and pricing. 

Free SeaWorld Passes for Teachers

Photo by The Jacobin

No offense Pollyanna, but this deal is waaaay better than a bright, shiny apple! For the rest of 2011, teachers who teach grades K-12 in Texas, California and Florida will be given free passes to their own state's SeaWorld.

Only working teacher can apply. How one proves employment varies state to state. In some, teachers must bring in a pay stub, in others a teaching certificate will do. And they have to get their free pass soon (by June 15 in the case of Texas), so click on the links below ASAP.

I must say, I can't think of a more deserving group of people to get this freebie. These underpaid, overworked men and women are among America's greatest heroes. I'm grateful every day for the work that smart, compassionate, imaginative teachers are doing with my daughters. I'm glad to see that the folks at SeaWorld gifting teachers in this fashion.

For full information, click here.

Freebie Friday: Free Trip to British Columbia

A silly picture of me ziplining in Whistler

To finish up my "extended coverage" of British Columbia vacations, I wanted to let you all know about a great contest recently launched by the BC tourist board. They're giving away a $20,000 personalized vacation in Vancouver at the website www.smartcation.com.

You'll also find useful info there on Whistler, Victoria, Vancouver, golfing in the region, food and wine vacations, and outdoor vacations.