Extravigator

Do You Repeat Your Vacations?

Rick OShea — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 21:13:54 -0400

We have been averaging two extended vacations a year lately. We try to arrange one of these vacations at a destination that we haven't been to before and, as for the other, we like to go back to somewhere we've been to a number of times. In the latter case, we always try to return to a hotel that we liked, where we know the staff, and we always like to go back to our favorite restaurants. So, in our travels, we're always trying to balance the old with the new.

Your Favorite Inexpensive Wine

TomatoMaven — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 14:25:44 -0400

If you like a Muscadet, you'll love the Andre-Michel Brégeon, Muscadet de Sèvre et Maine 2008. It's only $14 a bottle!

Is Flying Becoming Too Much of an Ordeal?

Dex — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 16:30:55 -0400

The results of a survey released yesterday by Travel And Leisure Magazine indicated that New York had absolutely the worst airports in the USA. The rankings were based on on-time performance, food, entertainment, and staff efficiency. Kennedy, LaGuardia, and Newark Airports came in dead last in the survey of 30 domestic airports, while Houston came in first.

http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2010/08/30/survey-says-nyc-has-worst-airports-in-u-s/

Destination wedding / grooms gifts

sohcahtoa — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 09:45:59 -0400

Sometimes it's nice to have gifts for groomsmen and bridesmaids that have a connection to where the wedding is taking place when a destination wedding is being planned. Where is the location of the destination wedding?

Destination wedding / grooms gifts

williamsme — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 19:39:36 -0400

I know this is isn't neccessarily travel oriented; however, I respect most of the opinions from my pals on here.

Does anyone have any good ideas for groomsmen gifts for a destination wedding? Had trouble thinking of good ideas. A few ideas, custom cufflinks or engraved hermes tie.

Any other ideas?

Luxury Hotels in Mexico

Abbott — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 12:01:32 -0400

Things have changed dramatically in Mexico over the past few years and in particular over the past few months. With the marked increase in killings and kidnappings of all types of people - including wealthy foreign tourists - that are being fueled largely by the Mexican drug cartels and smugglers, I wouldn't be caught dead (pun intended) taking a vacation in Mexico anywhere near the US - Mexican border under such conditions.

The Hotels with the Best Toiletries

Poco797 — Sun, 29 Aug 2010 18:38:23 -0400

Our stay was great, and they have a large pool and outdoor grounds (pretty rare for Rome). Great, but unremarkable, and ask the concierge where to eat, as the house food is awful.

Sonoma County

travelista — Sun, 29 Aug 2010 10:49:19 -0400

One of the recent topics of discussion on this website has focused on what to do while in the Napa Valley in California. There's also a lot to do in neighboring Sonoma County. Some of the interesting things to do there are talked about in the following article from the Sunday Travel section of the New York Times that just came out today:

http://travel.nytimes.com/2010/08/29/travel/29hours.html?scp=2&sq=36+Hours&st=nyt

Vienna's Fine Restaurants

Nanoose — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 12:48:32 -0400

HI DP! Your comment about Torte Reform was clever. :) Since you already experienced the wonderful dessert and service at Hotel Sacher, you can imagine how magnificent dinner will be--as expected, they had a very nice Austrian wine list too. I did catch a disease while in Austria called "Demel-itis". The only antidote was to start my day there! The Vienna location was busy, older, very old Europe. I also visited the Demel in Salzburg, around the corner from Mozart's home, and that location is sleek, airy, more windows, more "new Europe"--but both were wonderful and decadent with their menu's! Thanks for sending the link though, I didn't know I didn't have to cross the pond to continue Demel-ing!

Napa Valley, California

TomatoMaven — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 11:18:43 -0400

When we were in the Napa Valley, we went hot air ballooning and it was fantastic! Here are just two of the many outfits that offer hot air ballooning there -

http://www.napavalleyballoons.com/

http://www.napavalleydrifters.com/

Usually in close proximity to the hot air balloons, you can also find companies that offer glider rides, complete with very experienced pilots. We did that also and we really enjoyed the experience.

Vienna's Fine Restaurants

DonPablo — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 19:11:31 -0400

Hi, Nanoose! I've been quite busy lately, so I only just recently noticed your post on your having dinner at the Hotel Sacher Wien. Well, when we were in Vienna this past May, we did, indeed, visit the Hotel Sacher Wien to have some sacher tortes and hot chocolates. Unlike you, we didn't stay for dinner, but we found the sacher tortes to be wonderful and the service to be delightful. Having the sacher tortes there inspired me to compare them with the Imperial tortes that are served at the Imperial Hotel. (See my comments above, in this regard, in this same discussion thread.) We plan to be in Vienna again next spring and, based on your suggestion, this time, we'll stay for dinner at the Hotel Sacher Wien!

I should also add that, a few days after visiting the Hotel Sacher Wien, we stopped in for a late afternoon snack at the Viennese branch of Demel:

http://www.demel.com/en/frames/index_wien.htm

and had some of their tortes, once again with hot chocolates. I'd say that the tortes were extremely good there but, in my opinion, nothing can compare with sacher tortes and Imperial tortes.

The Huntley Hotel in Santa Monica

BrittaM — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 10:02:06 -0400

A friend of mine stayed there last year and she loved it. I've only seen the pictures but it looks really beautiful.

Napa Valley, California

BrittaM — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 09:59:50 -0400

Oh a trip to Napa is definitely on my list of "things to see when I travel to the US the next time"...
Filled out an application for a travel visa at the
US embassy last Friday, hope I'll get the approval soon.

Who's Been Tasting My Wine?

fibonacci — Sun, 22 Aug 2010 22:46:50 -0400

If that ever happened to me and I hadn't given them permission to sample it in advance, I wouldn't even taste the wine. I'd just refuse to accept it. So what if that left them with an already opened bottle. They'd probably take it in the back room and try that same procedure later with another unsuspecting customer.

Great Golf Vacations

Trabzon — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 22:28:16 -0400

During the past few weeks there have been a number of comments posted on this website that talk about the Greenbrier resort in West Virginia. What they didn't mention was that the Greenbrier resort is considered by many to be one of the top golf destinations in the USA. It's got four great championship courses and a PGA event was recently held there. It's a bit out of the way but well worth going to if you really want to test your golf game.

top hotels in italy

DonPablo — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 12:50:33 -0400

Hello once again, loml95. We've been staying in room 438 in the St. Regis Grand in Rome for so long that I haven't the slightest idea about what "category" the room can be found in. However, I can tell you that it is a large room, on a high floor, and that it has lots of drawers and more than ample closet room, since we travel for extended periods of time and take a good deal of clothes with us. It also has a wonderful view of the main square on the side of the hotel, so that it doesn't face the street in the front, where there is continuing, Rome traffic. The fourth floor provides butler service, which we always take advantage of, but which normally adds to the price of the room. It's got a king-size bed and some very nice furniture - easy chairs, ottomans, couches, coffee table, night tables, etc. The bathroom is quite luxurious, and there are two sinks, a bathtub, a separate shower, a toilet and a bidet. In short, it's a great room and, if you're going to be there in November, which is definitely off-season, you should be able to get a great rate, including the delightful full-breakfast in their charming and elegant breakfast area.

Do You Repeat Your Vacations?

BrittaM — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 05:33:37 -0400

While I'm all for discovering new places I certainly do repeat some of my vacations if I really like the place...maybe not every year but I think there's always something different to discover or some places to re-visit you really enjoyed the last time you were there...
My personal "example": visiting Phoenix several times. I've made friends there and consider moving there once I receive my Green Card...just like the city, so why not travel there every once in a while?

Las Vegas - City Center

BrittaM — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 05:25:21 -0400

Just as long as there are new hotels being built, everything seems to be alright in Las Vegas. I saw a documentary on German television last night about people living in the flood channels. Two of them were previously employed in a hotel - I bet they'd be trained well enough to work anywhere...

Is Flying Becoming Too Much of an Ordeal?

BrittaM — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 05:08:50 -0400

Well, i don't think it's becoming "too much" of an ordeal, better to be safe, right? Of course one is annoyed occasionally but I'd rather accept that than the opposite option.
I don't travel by plane THAT much but it certainly makes things easier sometimes - and can be less expensive than travelling by train etc. (if that is even an option, regarding the destination)...

top hotels in italy

loml95 — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 19:21:15 -0400

thank you, again. yes, it was on your suggestion that we booked the gritti palace. and the four seasons was always my first choice in florence. can i ask what room category 438 falls under?
i do get a lot of recommendations for the st. regis, i just have never been a huge starwood fan. but i would love to know more about your "favorite" room!

top hotels in italy

DonPablo — Sun, 15 Aug 2010 19:58:30 -0400

Hello again, loml95. I'm flattered that you took my suggestion for a hotel in Venice. We've never stayed at the Hotel de Russie in Rome and don't know very much about it. However, as I've said before, we just love the St. Regis Grand in the "eternal city" and I'm sure that you could stay in our favorite room there, room 438, for much less than the room you've booked at the Four Seasons in Florence.

Good luck with whatever you decide and have a great trip!

top hotels in italy

loml95 — Sun, 15 Aug 2010 19:33:08 -0400

thank you, don pablo. i am being so indecisive when it comes to rome. booked the four seasons in florence and gritti palace in venice. don't want to be disappointed that i didn't go for it with the hotel de russie but the room category that i really is a little out of reach! so i keep waffling. the majestic looks nice and i have been looking at the lord byron and the raphael...

Vienna's Fine Restaurants

Nanoose — Sun, 15 Aug 2010 14:19:31 -0400

We were in Vienna for ball season and nothing says Vienna quite like Hotel Sacher Wien. We stayed elsewhere, but had a wonderful, Very Viennese, dinner at the hotel. http://www.sacher.com/en-restaurants-vienna.htm

The Greenbrier

hotelier — Sun, 15 Aug 2010 12:02:41 -0400

All of a sudden, the Greenbrier is becoming a very hot topic in the area of luxury places to stay in the United States. The featured article in this week's edition of The New York Times' travel section was all about the Greenbrier:

http://travel.nytimes.com/2010/08/15/travel/15Greenbrier.html?scp=1&sq=Greenbrier&st=nyt

top hotels in italy

DonPablo — Sat, 14 Aug 2010 12:43:32 -0400

loml95 - I see from your post yesterday, on another subject, that you still haven't decided on where to stay in Rome. In that regard, you might want to look at possibly staying at The Lord Byron, a charming little boutique hotel that is the sister hotel of The Hotel Regency in Florence, which I talked about previously in this discussion.

The Hotels with the Best Toiletries

loml95 — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 12:41:10 -0400

how does that rome hotel compare to the hotel de russie?
and how was it overall?
still haven't decided where to stay...
thanks

The Hotels with the Best Toiletries

Poco797 — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 21:24:14 -0400

The Parco dei Principi Grand Hotel in Rome had custom made ETRO toiletries. I'm surprised they could get a high fashion house like Etro to make a custom scent and lineup for them. The Montebello Splendid in Florence had wonderful local products from Tuscany, and Claridges in London has toiletries from luxury goods maker Asprey, (which has a Royal warrant from HRH Prince of Wales.

What's the best place to stay in Florence?

cocotravels — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 04:15:41 -0400

I came across this great blog for some beautiful accommodations:
http://blog.katerinafiore.com/2010/07/14/grand-villa-hotels-in-florence-italy.aspx which then led me to a great selection of luxury & boutique hotels in florence at a site called Escapio (the reference to "escape"...) http://en.escapio.com/florence-hotels for anyone looking for something special, they will be impressed here i think.

What's the best place to stay in Florence?

sohcahtoa — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 23:19:05 -0400

We took a tour of the Four Seasons Hotel in Florence while we were there last year and it appeared to us that from a luxury standpoint, there's no hotel in the city that can match its opulence, charm and service. However, it's probably also the most expensive hotel to stay in by far. So, in answering the question what's the best place to stay in Florence, many factors have to be taken into account. If cost is no object, then it's the Four Seasons. But, if you're looking for value or proximity to the heart of the city, there are other choices, some of which are listed above in this discussion.

Is Flying Becoming Too Much of an Ordeal?

Abbott — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 21:37:38 -0400

Even though the planes are as crowded as ever, my recent flying experiences have been more enjoyable than they were in past years. Perhaps it's because many of the airlines are profitable again and they aren't cutting as many corners. Those extra fees they continue to impose are still bothersome though.