Showing posts tagged travel
I SAY PASS ON PALM SPRINGS FOR YOUR CITY ESCAPE.
My friend Emily, who just came back from a girls’ trip to Palm Springs, said before she left she checked my blog to see if I had a guide to the town. I felt terrible because I hadn’t written my thoughts after my 5 day trip there for New Year’s Eve.
To put it bluntly, I’m not a fan. The town is old, the hotels are needlessly expensive, and there isn’t much to actually do there…I love to lounge, but I also like to be active and do things I can’t in the city. As a retreat from LA where you would have your own house, I could see how Palm Springs delivers, but as a visitor, I wouldn’t go back again.
We stayed at The Parker, a Starwood Resort property that is regarded as one of the best hotels in town. It’s like the Chateau Marmont or Soho House - a great place to eat, party, and be seen amongst the celebs, but not a cozy place to hole up and sleep because it’s simply old. Even though the interiors were renovated 2 years ago by Jonathan Adler, the mod rooms still felt musty and lacked 4-star accommodations. The showers were smaller than mine at home; there was no mini bar to grab a late night snack; the old school tv’s produced a picture that looked like a game of tetris. I don’t usually watch tv on vacation, but when you’re there for 5 days, it’s nice to take a night off and watch a movie, ya know. The vintage books and posters were charming, but not enough for me to suspend my discomfort.
Thankfully, the rest of the property was delightful. The famous Norma’s (from NYC) was creating their standard masterpiece plates for for breakfast and Mr. Parker’s was dark and equally decadent for dinner. The grounds were what you would expect from Palm Springs: lawns lined in palm trees, small sitting and swinging areas to lay out and read, and a big fire pit to keep guests warm at night.
The tiny pool surrounded by greenery took me back to what I believe would be the 70’s. This retro aspect I really enjoyed…as long as I made it there by 8:30 to reserve chairs before my workout. At night, the lounge centered by a fireplace and the tiny 8-seat bar were good places to hang out while we waited for our table, but not sufficient enough to enjoy a meal there.
Other notable hotels would be The Ace Motel, just like the one that hails from NYC, where the hipsters stay and play. There is a Viceroy that appears luxurious and the contemporary Hotel Zozo that didn’t get much lip service but looks interesting. We chose the Parker for its history and charm, big mistake for the price.
Nearby in Palm Desert is the La Quinta Golf Resort which houses tons of private condos, cute casitas and villas populated with visiting couples and families, and common areas where everyone gathers to either chat, relax, or play games. It’s like a little town inside their compound! We played golf, finished the afternoon by the pool with ritas and pulled pork tacos, got a massage at the spa, and then dined at Morgans, a glorified average steakhouse where the older crowd congregates and the young people come to celebrate. Southerners of all ages seemed to be the majority of the visitors at La Quinta so I fit right in.
As for the town, it’s so far past it’s prime. From what I hear and saw with my own eyes, the gay male community is still loving it. I have no idea where the shopping is people rave about. I found a Crazy Shirt store and the ice cream shop where they made the first date shake. That was about it. Woot.
Golf is a big deal in the area. I opted for La Quinta’s PGA West golf course, which was challenging, but not as pretty as others I’ve played. The critical factor for me was the heat. It was almost unbearable!
If you’re looking for fine dining hit up the hotels. As I said, Mr. Parker’s was exactly what I was looking for: dark atmosphere, trendy people, and delicious food. The Ace has a surprisingly healthy diner for breakfast and a fun bar scene where you can shoot tequila and sip on boutique beer with the cool crowd.
I guess these reasons explain why people spend so much time at the spa in Palm Springs. There just isn’t much to do. Or that I saw anyway. I don’t have a list for you, but they all seem pretty nice to me.
Here’s my bottom line for Palm Springs: We had a nice time. For me it wasn’t about the places as much as the company. That being said, I always take my critical eye with me so I can relate my experience to you. Obviously from this breakdown, I wouldn’t send you there. I can recommend at least 5 places to visit over Palm Springs for a relaxing getaway. In fact I did for the Huffington Post, see the slideshow here. To name a few: Santa Ynez Valley, Northern California, The Resort at Pelican Hill in Newport Beach, Austin, Charleston, Greenwich, Sedona or even Phoenix!
Now, if I’m crazy and I missed the charm, feel free to write that in the comments. I couldn’t see everything in one trip, especially when I was trying to relax by the pool :) Your thoughts and suggestions are not only welcome, but also encouraged here!
Traveling so often, I’ve devised a little system to help make the numerous tickets more affordable. These tips assume you have already checked Kayak or Yapta for airlines for lowest prices. Here’s what I do:
- Fly during non-peak hours. If you can fly during the middle of the day, the plane will be unfortunately be smaller and older, but the ticket is cheaper, and you’ll have a better chance for an upgrade.
- Buy your tickets on Wednesday at least 2 weeks before departure. A pilot told me once that Wednesday was the day the fares drop and thus far, that’s been true!
- Make the actual purchase on the airline’s website. This way if you mess up on the date or time, you have 24 hours to change it without a fee.
- Pay with Bill Me Later. This line of credit through your PayPal usually offers you 6 months no interest on individual purchases over $99. That way you can take the time to pay for each ticket because they have their own deadlines.
- Stick with the same airline. Don’t settle for a cheaper ticket and use a random airline. Stick with the same ones and rack up miles. If you’re not a frequent traveler this doesn’t apply.
- Save miles for international travel. Whether you rack them up through travel or credit cards, don’t use miles domestically. Gary Leff, the airline saving expert, taught me that. Read his blog and follow him on twitter @GaryLeff for the best deals before you travel.
Salivating over Eddie V’s crab cake as I write up Austin city guide for MoreThanMary.com - check it out later today! #travel (Taken with instagram)
The Huffington Post just published my slide show, “Awesome Spring Break Recommendations You Don’t Need A Passport For.”
These 4 Southern destinations feature luxurious resorts that are moderately priced and offer TONS of activities. Golf, beach, biking, hiking, tennis, cooking, yoga, and plenty of R&R.
CLICK HERE to see the slideshow and my review of each. In each, you’ll find links to my videos and photos from my experience.
Here’s the best part: you don’t need some crazy expensive airline ticket to get there! Each of them is 2 hours or less outside of a major city (LA, Houston, Atlanta). You might not even need to get on a plane at all.
If you have any questions about any of the properties, please don’t hesitate to email me. I’d love to help get you there, even if it’s just for a weekend getaway!
(Full disclosure: Media rates provided by hotels.)
Because booze, bucks, and boobs, just weren’t enough B’s, now Vegas can add BANG to the list.
Machine Guns Vegas is a new 10,000 square foot shooting range and lounge set to open next month. Pretty genius idea if you think about it. The only range I know of near the strip is outside of town. Thankfully they won’t be serving alcohol or allowing anyone already intoxicated into the establishment.
Funny story: a Yankee friend of mine said, “I don’t think anyone would get all liquored up and then go shoot weapons.” LOL. If you’re from the south you know the opposite to be true. One of the biggest parts of hunting culture is cold beer and lots of it!
As for this place, I don’t have to bet it will be a success, I know it will. I’ll give it a shot next time I’m in Vegas for sure.
My first article for The Huffington Post just went live!
The slideshow shows my pics and comments from The Resort at Pelican Hill. Click through to read my review! Since you’re there, might as well offer your ratings and commentary too :)
Listen to this story:
In December of 2009, US Airways had a promotion that added up to 140 frequent flier miles per dollar spent. Gary sat down with 6 of his friends’ credit cards and bought 6 figures worth of Post-It-type stickers that earned them 16 million miles!
The Gary I mention is Gary Leff, the founder of BookYourAwards.com, that I’ve been writing about for a while now. He told this story and was recently featured in Town&Country magazine (September 2011) with the graphic above.
For over a year now all of the travel publications have featured Gary in one way or another.Why Gary? Because his service is so unique!
It’s just him helping people make the most of their miles and points. Not some big company with a call center. Gary has a real job (a very good one in fact) and wants to keep his service just the way it is. For $250, he will help a couple get to their destination using the least amount of miles possible. He honestly tells people not to use miles or him if you’re not going to the other side of the world. If you’re looking for instant and domestic deals, visit his blog. He collects all of the deals from other travel bloggers too.
If you like to travel, it’s a good idea to follow Gary on Twitter for current deals and news.
LA needed this dose of Red Medicine. Amazing restaurant. Very San Fran. Can’t wait to go back! Read my review here.
Smile Friday (under my hat): SpaWeek Edition!!
SpaWeek is upon us! Oct 10-16 the best spas across the country are offering a variety of treatments for only $50.
Facials- Laser Hair Removal -Massages- Microdermabrasion -Waxing - Wraps
Search your city here for all of the specials.
Let me be clear, that is when you RECEIVE the services, but if you haven’t booked yet, you need to MAKE A RESERVATION now!
My latest recommendations have been The Hotel Zaza in Houston (get my FAVORITE massage from Emin) and Dallas as well as The Aria Las Vegas. For $50 you get the full package spa, gym, and pool scene.
If you live in LA, I absolutely insist taking the day off (Blogger’s orders!) to spend at The Pelican Hill Resort in Newport. That place is heaven on the ocean (my review here).
The Pelican is offering more than just spa specials:
- $30 for lunch at the Coliseum Pool & Grill, overlooking one of the world’s largest circular pools and the Pacific Ocean
- $25 for one-day Coliseum Pool access (a rare opportunity as pool access is usually reserved exclusively for Resort guests)
- $50 for a 50-minute Personal Training Session at The Spa’s Fitness Center (full-price regularly $76)
- $20 for an add-on Bright Eyes Facial upgrade (conducted within any facial treatment) to rehydrate the delicate eye area and soften fine lines and dark circle in the orbital area.
If you refuse to leave LA, go to Simply Porcelein for these $50 treatments:
- 60 Min Deep Cleansing Facial, with Extractions and an Ultra Moisturizing Rubberized Masque
- Microdermabrasion and Oxygen Treatment with a Soothing Lavender Masque
- Signature Pain-Free Full Leg Wax and Perfect Eyebrow Shaping
Simply Porcelain Beverly Hills 310.777.8309
The list goes on for LA and New York. I know you hustlers in NYC could use a little pampering!!!
Bicycles are the quickest and cheapest way to get from A to B, but what happens when you get to B and then want to take a cab home? The new public bicycle systems in major cities have the answer!
On my recent trips to London and Mexico city, I’ve hired/rented a bike to explore and then parked it at a different station when I’m done. This could be annoying, but there are stations EVERYWHERE. You simply pay an access fee and then an hourly rate for how long you use it (parking in a station doesn’t count on your time). At the end of the day, your total is equal to one short cab ride and less than a subway or bus pass. Plus, the bikes allow you to actually see the city.
The bikes in London have private Barclay’s funding obviously, but I don’t remember the bikes in Mexico labeled with branding. I believe this is the city’s effort to make public transport cheaper and eco-friendly.
Pretty cool idea. I don’t think I would survive on a bike in New York, but the system would be great in LA, possibly San Fran, and certainly Miami
Smile Friday: Best Massage IN THE WORLD edition
Meet Emin, my favorite masseuse in the world. He works at the Hotel ZaZa spa in Houston. Yes, after all of my travels to wonderful hotels all over the world, my absolute favorite massage is in Houston, Texas.
This week I reveiwed the ZaSpa favorably for SpaWeek.com. Bottom line: it’s a small and luxurious spot with decent prices and a great pool you can enjoy too!
Both the Houston and Dallas locations are participating in Spa Week Oct 10-16. Their $50 treatments will be:
- 50 Min Big Chill Swedish Massage
- 50 Min Deep Cleansing Facial
- 50 Min On the Rocks Pedicure
ZaSpa at Hotel ZaZa Dallas
2332 Leonard Street
Dallas, TX 75201
214.550.9492
ZaSpa at Hotel ZaZa Houston
5701 Main Street
Houston, TX 77005
713.639.4566
First of all, please excuse the horrendous picture of me at the spa (at the Capella in Cabo). Apparently it’s the only one I have of me in full R&R mode.
Now, let me tell you about SpaWeek.com! I’ve just started contributing spa reviews to their blog, but that’s only a fraction of their value to you. They catalogue most of nation’s best spas, offer major discounts on treatments and packages, and twice a year they put on “SpaWeek.”
During SpaWeek, you can get hundreds of spa treatments for $50!
The best way to keep up with them is by following them on twitter @SPAWEEK
My first article posted yesterday, “Aria Spa Las Vegas: All you could ever want from a spa.” The bottom line being that in the price of your treatment, you have access to not only the spa and all of their facilities (including the infinity pool, fireside lounge, hot stone beds, and salt room), but also the hotel pool and expansive gym. It’s not the best on the strip, but definitely the best bang for your buck. Read my review on their blog SpaWeek Daily here. You’ll find it’s very resourceful!
I’m so sorry to hear about Irene dominating the east coast. Fortunately she’s losing strength, but according to officials, it sounds like the biggest threat of damage will be to the electrical system which lies underground.
Right now in Mexico City, it rains daily, but only for a half hour or so. Afterwards, the sun rips through the clouds again and we are able to get out for another adventure.
An hour northeast of Mexico City are the ruins of the pyramids in Teotihuacan, a civilization that started around 100 BC.
Gribran - our driver, tour guide, and Mason’s new BFF - took us around and told us a little bit of the history.
The remains of the town span 22 kilometers of which we ventured around about a quarter. Built in alignment with the stars, the pyramids were used by the priests to worship and communicate with their gods.
All of the animals on the pyramid used to have obsidian eyes, but the stones were stolen over the years.
Whenever you see those big round circles on structures, those signify a god who is guarding the temple and people around it. (Apologies I forgot his name.)
The entire town was painted/stained red with cactus juice so that when the gods looked down they would be pleased to see “blood,” meaning the people were sacrificing to them. Can you imagine having to do that??!
In those days knowledge was power so the priests who could “predict” rainy seasons, cold weather, etc were at the top of the food chain. They were smart guys and already understood how the sun and moon dictated the seasons, so they just got drunk on their ceremonial wine and spread the same messages as the years passed.
See how the pyramid looks worn at the top? Well, it’s not due to weather. All of the peaks of the pyramids are gone because of the stupidity of a Mexican president who used TNT to expedite the excavation for Mexico’s centennial anniversary party. Unbelievable.
But thankfully that means the climb to the top wasn’t as long!
It doesn’t look that steep, but oh my goodness it is! We learned that at the little platform at the entrance.
On this trip I finally figured out how to dominate steps like these. I’ve done hikes up mountains and steps, and the idea to hunch over like I would on a spin bike never occurred to me.
Lisa and I flew up that thing in minutes while everyone else trying to walk up standing straight were dying from burned out quads.
Such a great day way to spend a beautiful day! When it’s not raining, the weather is a glorious 75 degrees.
Gibran took us to a little local shop nearby so we could learn about the local products instead of just having vendors bombard us with trinkets.
This lady explained the differences in agave, aloe, cactus, and other native plants.
They have learned to fully utilize the manguey. From it the outer layers of the leaves they get natural paper, deeper in they discovered a natural soap, and in the center are natural fibers strong enough to make clothes with. The tip was their first needle.
The juice in the middle is called aguamiel - a sweet honey juice that’s filled with vitamins and can be fermented into pulque, a deliciously smooth drink with a low alcohol content. Apparently it’s an aphrodisiac. Lisa was a huge fan.
(You knew I was going to Instagram it.)
Cactus is a huge source of food and drink for Mexicans. Nopal is an alcohol made from cactus that is like a Mexican limoncello. Obviously you’re aware of the uses of agave. Mescal is a much stronger and smokier tequila. Locals love it. As for Renee and I, not so much.
Of course they eat the cactus. I like it grilled for a veggie fajita. See it hanging out under the meat there?
Before cactus flowers bloom, Mexicans cut them off to eat too. Called atun, the buds are sweet pulpy fruits filled with tough seeds.
Finally, we come to the stones mined in the mountains. The most popular is obsidian, which they use to make idols and masks. Polished these are all really beautiful. The one in the back is gold obsidian.
Ok, well, we’ve learned a lot today! Signing off from Mexico…
Hasta la vista baby.
Lo and behold Michelin has a tumblr! I just saw they reblogged the post I wrote explaining their different guides last week.
I love it when big brands get on board to reach out to tech savvy and trendy people.
Europeans won’t travel without consulting a Michelin guide. Should you?
We all know Michelin as a tire company, but most Americans don’t know they publish travel guides that set the highest standards in rating popular destinations.
The reviews are a curation from local anonymous “inspectors” who live in the area so you get to know the culture of a place on a more intimate level. Each guide provides the best the destination has to offer on every price level.
Use them for international AND domestic travel.
1. Green Guides. All you need to know about a destination: the history, popular tourist attractions, and favorite local hidden gems you can visit. The best hotels at a variety of price ranges are rated on a star system. Day trips and tours are other recommendations you’ll appreciate.
2. Red Guides. Reviews the best restaurants in the area. A Michelin Star is one of the most coveted awards in the industry. You’ll have to pay a pretty penny for a plate, but it’s absolutely worth it. The book also features other notable restaurants in the area that aren’t starred.
3. Bib Gourmand. The restaurants featured on this list allow 2 people to eat entrees and order a glass of wine for under $40. Each place mentioned is a local favorite, so you won’t be disappointed.
4. Road Maps. If you’re planning a road trip, use the website ViaMichelin.com to provide the best route and list gas stations, hotels, and restaurants along the way.
Buy the actual books or the apps for your phone.
ViaMichelin.com is your online resource for all of this information.
You can get great local info daily from the inspectors by following them on twitter:
