Extravigator - Random

Platinum Amex - Worth it?

snapper — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 11:59:36 -0500

Sorry loml95. The news reports that I read about the AMEX Platinum card eliminating all foreign currency conversion fees did NOT mention when they were going to make this change effective. If you're leaving for Italy soon, I suggest that you call their Platinum Concierge service to alert them to the fact that you're going to Italy and to tell them what cities you'll be in. In that way, they won't suspect any large purchases you might make there of being suspicious in any way. At the same time, you might ask the person at the AMEX Platinum Concierge service desk exactly when the currency conversion fee policy change will take effect. Enjoy your trip........

Platinum Amex - Worth it?

loml95 — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 10:06:25 -0500

snapper, that IS good news! leaving soon for Italy. do you know when?

Platinum Amex - Worth it?

snapper — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 22:47:55 -0500

In a move that makes their Platinum cards even more cost-effective, American Express will soon be eliminating currency conversion fees for their Platinum and Centurion (Black Card) holders. The waiving of these fees, which are incurred when travelers enter into credit card transactions in foreign countries, will be welcomed by business people and tourists around the globe. That American Express Platinum card is looking more valuable all the time!

Best cell phone plan while in Italy ?

loml95 — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 12:06:54 -0500

and taking that a step further, data plans for ipad.
i am kind of a dinosaur when it comes to understanding tech but love to use it all...

Luxury Travel Sites or Blogs...

cmaring — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 08:24:31 -0500

Interesting, excited to check these out. Another is Together In Style. http://www.togetherinstyle.com more of a lifestyle website with some amazing pictorials within the travel section in full motion picture.

top hotels in italy

loml95 — Tue, 07 Dec 2010 15:12:41 -0500

thanks, everyone!! fyi, we have settled on the st. regis in rome, (thank you, don pablo) four seasons in florence and the gritti palace in venice. delayed trip until march and can hardly wait!!!
ciao....

top hotels in italy

Trabzon — Tue, 07 Dec 2010 13:59:47 -0500

Without a doubt the Four Seasons Hotel in Firenze is the finest luxury hotel in all of Italy. It combines classic architecture and modern technology in a beautiful grand villa setting situated in a parkland right in the middle of that beautiful city.

Ski fitness in the Italian Dolomites

Pieter — Mon, 29 Nov 2010 05:44:54 -0500

Earlier this year I went on a health and fitness retreat in Morocco with the specialist tour operator in:spa. I was very interested to hear that they might be launching a version of their holidays for skiers. Well, now they've done just that with these ski fitness holidays based at Rosa Alpina, a Relais & Chateaux hotel and spa in the Italian Dolomites. Guided skiing is combined with yoga classes, fitness, stretching, healthy meals and plenty of time in the hotel spa. Count me in!

Perfect hotel room project

Nanoose — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 13:09:59 -0500

I've just completed a trip in the Mid East and Europe. Here is what was sorely missing in each of my rooms: a clock! I never knew what time it was. These days, I don't wear a watch but like so many others, I use my phone as a timepiece. However, I never knew if the phone was satelliting to the right time and sometimes my adapter wouldn't work and the phone batteries would need to be charged and the phone would not work. So I found myself constantly calling down to reception asking the time. So my perfect hotel room now has a clock.

Do You Repeat Your Vacations?

The Rover — Sun, 14 Nov 2010 22:21:25 -0500

One way of traveling to new destinations while at the same time returning to your old favorite haunts is to plan a vacation in which you go to one or two places that you've never been before and, at the end of the trip, return to a city that you've visited a number of times in the past and loved. We've done that a few times lately and we find that finishing our trip in a place that we really like and feel very comfortable with can put the finishing touches on a wonderful vacation.

Platinum Amex - Worth it?

snapper — Sat, 30 Oct 2010 16:45:24 -0400

Yes the many benefits and perks are quite valuable but the annual fee for the AMEX Platinum card is very expensive and if your husband or wife has one also it's even more expensive. In my opinion, whether it's worth it or not is a function of how much you travel each year. If you travel a lot and especially if you travel internationally a lot, then I think it's definitely worth it.

Guidebooks

pinb — Thu, 28 Oct 2010 11:53:33 -0400

While I don't necessarily agree with some of the things that he said, in an article that appeared earlier today entitled "Mobile Travel Guides Can Help, but Trust Books," author Bob Tedeschi presents another perspective on this subject and argues that we're not yet at the point where on-line travel guidebooks can replace their paper counterparts:

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/28/technology/personaltech/28smart.html?_r=1&ref=business

Platinum Amex - Worth it?

dbw — Fri, 15 Oct 2010 13:21:54 -0400

Starting in December, 2010, an additional benefit of having a Platinum American Express card will be receiving up to a $200 airline fee credit annually to cover incidental fees when you fly.

top hotels in italy

Abbott — Mon, 11 Oct 2010 18:55:08 -0400

When in Milan, our favorite hotel there is The Hotel Principe di Savoia.

http://www.hotelprincipedisavoia.com/hotel-milan

Complimentary WiFi

jen — Sun, 03 Oct 2010 22:06:54 -0400

I'll just point out that Verizon limits bandwidth to 250MB for their $40 a month plan. Virgin is offering unlimited bandwidth for the same price and no contract. As David Pogue pointed out, MiFi's have been around for awhile now, but Virgin's new pricing plan is the real game changer here.

Complimentary WiFi

cibo — Sat, 02 Oct 2010 11:05:05 -0400

These new personal Mi-Fi hotspots that you can carry around with you, and which can provide wi-fi not only to your PC or smart phone, but also to other such devices in close proximity, are certainly game changers. They're available from a number of carriers (Virgin, Verizon, etc.) and make life so much easier. Essentially, you're taking your wi-fi access with you wherever you go. So that takes whatever the hotel you're staying in is providing out of the equation.

Tips for Packing Light and Dressing Well

Nanoose — Sun, 05 Sep 2010 14:16:28 -0400

One thing that I do on my trips is bring a variety of older items with me and wear them one last time before I part company with them. I may strategically bring 4 pairs of shoes but only come home with one pair. Or go with 5 scarves but come home with none. While this isn't helpful at the beginning of the trip, each day I'm lighter and lighter as my "last hurrah" with each article of clothing gets left in the hotel before I move on to my next destination. That way, I"m not carrying around much dirty laundry. Don't get me wrong, not everything is getting thrown out but I have beautiful things that have seen better days, as we all do, and who knows, someone may find my discarded silk blouse and think it still has life in it. One mans junk is another mans treasure. Once I even left an old suitcase in a hotel room as my discarded items meant the one good suitcase I had left was enough for the remainder of my things.

Tips for Packing Light and Dressing Well

jen — Sun, 05 Sep 2010 09:40:52 -0400

If a friend of mine returned from a five-star hotel in a wonderful destination, I'd be pretty disappointed if all they gave me was a "gift" of some unused toiletries from their hotel.

Tell your spouse that switching your shampoos is actually healthy for her hair. It helps avoid product buildup of the same compounds and chemicals that might be found in her favorite shampoos.

On a side note... While I wouldn't expect a husband to know this, Quercus isn't a brand. Quercus is an "oak" fragrance — most notably from the world famous Penhaligon's of London ("Quercus" is literally the scientific genus name for 'oak'). It would be like saying "chocolate" is a brand of Baskin Robbins.

Tips for Packing Light and Dressing Well

sohcahtoa — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 17:26:49 -0400

The suggestion I am about to make here is one that I have yet to successfully implement myself. That is: try to minimize the amount of toiletries that you bring with you.

When my wife and I travel, especially internationally, we always stay in five star hotels that provide each of their guests with ample supplies of shampoos, hair conditioners, bath gels, soap, etc. from some of the world's most famous brands: Hermes, Bulgari, Remede, Molton Brown and Quercus, just to name a few. However, she still insists on bringing relatively large quantities of the special shampoos, hair conditioners and soaps that she uses back in the USA, explaining that she is used to using these products and doesn't want to change her habits. (I'm always quite satisfied with what the hotels are providing and never bring such items with me.) I've told my wife countless times that these things are quite heavy and that they're adding considerable weight to our baggage, but she won't listen. (We've had to pay extra fees to the airlines in this regard a number of times.) I thought there was some light at the end of the tunnel when the airport security checks starting limiting the amount of liquids you could put in your carry-ons, but she simply packed these items away in our checked luggage when we flew.

To make matters worse, rather than leave the unused complimentary designer-brand toiletries that the hotels that we stay in provide on a daily basis in our room, for the next guests to use, she will frequently pack them away to bring with us, to use as gifts when we get back home, thereby making our luggage even heavier!

I'm sure I'm not the only husband being confronted with this situation....... Women! You can't live without 'em, but it sure is tempting!

Complimentary WiFi

jen — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 13:57:57 -0400

When traveling within the United States, the best deal around is the new Virgin Mi-Fi.

It's basically a teeny-tiny private, secure, wi-fi spot that fits in your pocket and goes with you wherever you travel. The best part is that it only costs $40/month with no contract and you can connect up to 5 devices whether you're in a car, hotel room or strolling in the park. And there's also a lower-consumption plan (also with no contract) for $10 for 100MB that expires in 10 days — perfect for a short vacation.

Read David Pogue's review of Virgin Mi-Fi in the New York Times.

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.

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?

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?

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...

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.

Platinum Amex - Worth it?

The Rover — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 11:17:54 -0400

If you have an American Express Platinum Card, you can now get free admission into any of US Airways' airport lounges, EVEN IF YOU'RE NOT FLYING ON US AIRWAYS THAT DAY. The AMEX platinum card currently can also get you into any Delta, American or Continental Airlines lounge, but you have to be flying on one of those airlines that day to be admitted.

In one of his most recent columns in the New York Times, Joe Sharkey said that "I use my platinum card for almost all travel spending because airline frequent-flier miles no longer have much appeal to me. Even at $450 a year, the price is worth it to me, just for the access to airport lounges."