3 Useful Tips for Travel Tipping

May 3, 2008 at 6:52 am | In Travel Tips, tips, travel | Leave a Comment
Tags: , , ,

Remember that diner scene in Reservoir Dogs? The gang was having an argument on whether to tip or not to tip Incidentally, when you’re traveling, you will come across a bevy of service people who are there to make your lives so much more easier. I think I’ve mentioned tipping several times in this blog already, and there’s good reason. It works.

You ask yourself, wait, isn’t it part of their job to make my life easier? Why do I have to pay extra?

As a traveler, life is not easy. At the very worst, you’ll be doing everything by yourself, planning, getting tickets, getting on a flight and whatnot … and then you’ll still have to do it on the way back. Doormen, the concierge, busboys, waiters, room service, stylists, massage therapists, cabbies, etc, are there to help you through each part of your trip. From getting to where you ought to be, to carrying your luggage, these people work for a modest salary, and your tip motivates them to work harder for you.

There are only a couple of rules to follow when tipping:

Why tip? If you get really good service with a smile, like, say, a waiter who was there at your every beck and call, leave a good 15% tip. Lousy service? Still leave a tip, about 10% and then never take service from that person again. (Stylist, cab driver)

Budget budget. Some establishment already have service charge. While you’re not required to leave a tip, if you’re genuinely pleased with something that someone does for you, leave a tip — just don’t go overboard. Upon computation, if you add up all the people you have to tip on a trip, it’ll cost a fortune! For small favors, you don’t have to leave 15%, hand the guy a buck or two, and you’re good!

Customs, customs. In some countries, tipping is actually not customary. Grab a country guide when you’re in so-and-so country, to find out if a tip is needed or not.

Top 3 Spots for That May-June Honeymoon

April 22, 2008 at 4:04 pm | In Travel Tips, tips, travel | 1 Comment
Tags: , , , , , ,

The May-June period is a special time of the year. Not much rain, spring-time tomfoolery, and, well, it’s also wedding season! When creating that romantic getaway, do your research, as sometimes, couples expecting the perfect honeymoon trip might stay in a hotel that would ultimately turn out to be kid-friendly getaway runaway place; and the romance will be ultimately ruined. (And no, I’m not getting married … yet!)

Here are a couple of useful, always true tips:

Hawaii is just awesome. A summer vacation from January ‘til December.

July-August is hurricane season in the Caribbean. Peak is August, so better get married early in the year! As great as a Caribbean getaway might be all-year round, the CTO (that’s Caribbean Tourism Organization to you) says that August is just rainy season for most of the islands. If you simply MUST get that Caribbean getaway, islands to consider are the Turks, Caicos, Aruba, Bonaire, and Curacao. (The last three being the ABC islands.)

Kids will be everywhere, so as romantic as your honey winning over some gigantic plush octopus via a feat of strength at the fair might be, it WILL be infested with children. Choose spots that are adult/couple-friendly to avoid this quandary.

According to About.com, the top 3 honeymoon spots are: Hawaii, Italy and Tahiti. Here are a couple of suggestions for places to stay.

Hawaii

Ritz-Carlton Capalua – For the golfer in your honey, it is surrounded by three championship golf courses and a real, operating pineapple plantation. Whether its the exclusive party you could throw in the private Club Suite floor, learning to play golf in the Kapalua Golf Academy, or learning to dive at the scuba clinic, the Ritz-Carlton has it covered. (It’s a bit pricey in Hawaii, but this is, the best of the best honeymoon spot of all)

Italy

Gallery Hotel Art – This special place has been ranked pretty high over at TripAdvisor — and who am I to argue? Fifty honeymooners who had a memorable experience can’t be wrong — this Ferragamo-owned hotel is just a house of style. I mean, if you aren’t happy enough to be in Italy, the location of the hotel’s just right for you — it’s just a couple of blocks away from the culture (food!) situated near Ponte Vecchio. Cozy rooms oozing with elegance and simplicity is the order of the day. The included breakfast will get you your procuitto, panchetta and focaccia on, just before going to the delightful concierge to tell you about spots to go to in the city. All in all, a big, gigantic “A”!

Tahiti

Te Tiare Beach Resort – For that “away-from-everyone” romantic getaway. Being accessible only by boat (gift or curse?) — 10 minutes of getting to see the waters doesn’t seem too bad, once you think about it. Having only 41 rooms, (you wouldn’t really mind spending your honeymoon with 40 different couples, right?) Te Tiare provides a unique personal touch to people who decide to stay. Everything that encapsulates life in Tahiti is just minutes away, while civilization is just a boat-ride away. Best of seclusion and modern life, I should say.

What You Waiting For?

April 11, 2008 at 1:13 am | In Uncategorized | Leave a Comment
Tags: , , ,

Auto-bidding??? How hot is that???!

You may remember a previous post of mine about joining the Win a Trip thing, and gosh, things just got a whole lot more exciting — imagine, say, if you were into ForEx (Foreign Exchange) there’s this thing called “risk factor,” and, as you know, when it’s YOUR money on the line, there’s no such thing as a gamble — a broker will cut off from putting your money on the line when it hits a certain amount.

Imagine having a “travel broker” play out until a specific amount, (the amount of money you’re willing to spend) increasing increments at a minimum, and yet topping the last bids, assuring that you’re in the lead.

This is done to eliminate the need to constantly check your bid if you need to hit it higher or not. (As to why they’re doing this? I’ve no idea — are they really giving away flights? OMG!)

Imagine going home one day, after a hard day at work, only to find out that you’ve won yourself and a loved one that dream vacation? Isn’t that something? It may not seem like a big deal to other people, but for truly busy people who want to keep travel planning as hassle-free as possible, this is pure gold. (Or they may not know the joys of traveling? Hahaha!) As a talented songwriter named Ms. Stefani once said, “What you waiting for?”

The Essential Gifts for the Men in Your Life

March 9, 2008 at 5:47 pm | In tips | 4 Comments
Tags: , , , ,

As a girl, there are exactly five important men in your life: your dad, your little brother, your big brother, your best guy bud and your guy. (You may have any combination of the five, and all of them hold a very special place in your special-person-meter.)

All your life, they’ve been there — your first ballet recital, (l’il bro was there to tease, but you knew there was support) your first date, (either as the approver or chaperone) your first break-up, your first drink, the prom, and your first day at work — name it, either one or all of them have been there to lend a hand, or wave their imaginary pompoms to cheer you on. Now that you’re earning on your own, isn’t it about time to do something nice for ‘em?

The thing about men is … no matter how mature/older they are, deep down, they’ll always be little boys. No matter how elaborate, or how simple a gift you give, you will please ‘em.

For Li’l Bro:

An easy bet would be a toy. Get him a videogame! Or — if you’re not too sure what sort of game he’s into, get him one of those neat little Halo 3 Action Figures. (Every boy loves their Halo, I do admit a little understanding on that one :p )

For Big bro:

Get him a mean pair of sneaks! A cool pair of kicks that would go with anything is bound to be “the gift you will still see him wear a couple of years from now.”

You could also get him a blazer! The trend’s still going strong, and besides, it’ll teach him the importance of layering. A nice, neutral black one with some style and detail will spice up his shirt + jeans combo. (Remember, as far as size is concerned, as long as the sleeve cuts off just as it hits his collar bone means you are gold. Ninja-style measuring-his-arm-length would be in order.)

For Your Guy Bud:

Yes, platonic relationships DO exist, as far as the philosopher’s concerned. In every girl’s life, there will come a time when something will happen that she cannot tell her best gal pals — that’s what the boy bud’s for! Hanging out with one is one of the most fun and educational things you could do — think, different gender perspective.

If you’re bound to hang out with him — treat him to a day at the salon! (Or better yet, hunt down for a boy-salon that wouldn’t intimidate him.) Get him to trade his cheap hairgel for some higher quality hair wax.

If you know his perfume, it’s also a nice treat to give him that — or — get him one that you think will suit him. (And help him attract the ladies!)

For Your Guy:

He knows what you’re thinking! Give him a treat by making him surprise breakfast! (Some of the best things in life are still free, ya know.) Get him a nice, brightly-colored shirt that’ll boost his confidence. (And help him trudge through job interviews.)

To appeal to his inner child, (and surprise him too) get him one of those RC helicopters. There’s just something about men … and complicated systems they just have to master.

For Your Dad:

He will be the one man in your life that every other men will have to compare to, so his gift has to be the best one. Though, being a daughter, I’ve found that, however simple, or extravagant a gift is, Dad’s bound to enjoy it. It could be as simple as a nice shirt he could wear on casual Fridays, or as elaborate as you saving up for a trip for him (and mom! Of course!) to a spa.

However you look at it, life seems impossible without these men around. So here’s to being taken care of, and showing appreciation in return.

(note: This post was written to appease to all the guys giving me crap about the last post, and to show that I DO love the men in my life — this isn’t a cop-out! :p )

5 Things I Hate About Flying

February 28, 2008 at 2:27 am | In tips, travel | 8 Comments
Tags: , , ,

“You know the best thing about aeroplanes? Apart from the peanuts in the little silver bags, I mean. It’s looking out of the windows at the clouds, and thinking, maybe I could go walking in there. Maybe it’s a special place where everything’s okay. Sometimes I do go walking in the clouds. But it’s just cold and wet and empty, but when you look out of a plane it’s a special world…,” Delirium said, in the Brief Lives volume of The Sandman. And I could relate! What’s so great about flying anyway? I’m into traveling and what-not, but I’m not really the in-between-destinations type. A view’s a view, but clouds are really just soaked-up cotton balls waiting to be rain. Gosh.

I mean, I may be just jaded. Flying used to be a big deal, say … when I was 10? 12? I could just sit there and take it, but yeah, angst isn’t cool after 20. I just get angry. It may seem mean, but to get what you want, you have to just say it. Here’s a list of things I just dislike on flights, from smallest issue to big-deal-you-don’t-like-me-when-I’m-angry-offense.

Expensive airline food. Travel agencies can give you the best bang for your buck in terms of flight — just in case, you know, you don’t want to nourish yourself during the flight and whatnot. (Plus, what about turbulence while eating? Messy-messy.)

Shared lavatories. Blegh. I really don’t get why you wouldn’t leave “business” behind before going on a flight. The lavatories in planes may as well be chemical hazards on their own during flights.

Annoying seatmates / co-passengers. You know the type, the ones who joke about flight/safety precautions, making bomb jokes, reclines the chair in front of you too much, hogs the armrest all the time, and tries to fit in their crap in the overhead compartment. I mean, sure we hear them over and over again on flights, but they’re there for a reason. Like people using cellphones in gasoline stations, sure, an explosion might take place 1% of the time, but so do plane crashes. There’s no need for people joking ‘bout them.

Annoying flight crew. The funny thing is, I know for a fact that applicants have to be tested before airlines hire their staff — so why is it, that, for every four nice attendant I’ve come across with, there’s always a psycho? Maybe a little jaded too, from being hit on, being on a plane for too long? Cabin fever?

Delayed flights. Now this is just the worst. THE WORST. I’ve been on more than three flights where, there wasn’t even the slightest hint of rain, or winds or anything — the flight just got pushed back. Of course this means that in the next two hours, you’ll be making some long-distance phone calls to shift your hotel, car rental, business meetings, tours, and welcoming party schedules. Shucks.

So there you have it — from worse to worst. Any of these (or, heaven forbid, dahlin’, a COMBINATION!) is enough to make you see Delirium … walking in the clouds. (Ask for some sleeping pills if you can!)

Live Happily Ever After: Celeb Jinxed Honeymoon Spots to Avoid

February 20, 2008 at 1:14 am | In Travel Tips, travel | 2 Comments
Tags: , , , ,

Okay, so you and your honey managed to survive the bloody Valentine, it’s either a.) you had a fun date/adventure/proposal or b.)ended up pretending it was “just another day.” But what if you were already engaged? Would you follow “b” so as not to jinx that special day, or would you choose “a,” which, in essence is displaying loads of affection in public, knowing that a day for uniting two people will arrive, all the while not knowing how long it’d last?

At first glance, it would seem like the people who chose “a” are the affectionate ones, “two-against-the-world-love-is-all-we-need” types, while those who chose “b” are the paranoid ones, the ones in denial. Know what though? People are often paranoid because they’re careful. They take their sweet time on making a decision, and they evade the things that would only hinder them from their goal.

When it comes to making important decisions after weddings, the location for the honeymoon is right up there in the top three. If people only knew that the location for the honeymoon would be such a determinant in the future of their relationships, then the following places must be checked, double-checked and re-evaluated. Some celebs have gone to them, and, well, they’re not together anymore. Here’s a list of ex-celeb couples, and their honeymoon destinations.

Solange Knowles and Daniel Smith – Word about Beyonce’s little sister being pregnant way back in 2004 was followed with news that she was to marry then-boyfriend Daniel Smith. They had their 2004 wedding at Old Bahama Bay resort in the Bahamas, for that tropical honeymoon. Guess what? A couple of months later, they were filing for divorce.

J.Lo and Cris Judd – We wanted to be happy for them. Really. Really, really, really. (But deep in our dark hearts, we knew it wouldn’t last anyway. The short-lived couple spent their honeymoon at Lake Como (Italy) and Milan. After 8 short months, the couple split.

Little Church of the westAngelina Jolie and Billy Bob Thornton – It was one of those … May-December affairs. She was 25, he was 55. She’s Lara Croft, and, later on, he would be Bad Santa. Lots of naughty bits there — but wait, there’s more! The couple was noted for their extreme displays of affection and eccentric behavior. (There were rumors that they carried each others’ blood in vials around their necks.) Along with the usual, out-of-the-blue adoption thing. Being congruent with their eccentricities, they went and got “hitched” in the world-famous Little Church of the West in Vegas. Well, if Ms. Croft and Bad Santa can’t make a Vegas-wedding work, who can? (added: here are other Vegas couples, who aren’t, well, together anymore: Noel Gallagher & Meg Matthews, David Cassidy & Kay Lenz and Judy Garland & Mark Herron, all were “hitched” in the same chapel.

Paul McCartney and Heather Mills – Beatles, or Wings, it doesn’t exclude Paul McCartney from suffering the same fate. After their wedding in Ireland, the couple went to a private island getaway in the Fregate Islands. News about settlement and what-not still rage on in the tv screens.

There you have it. Celebrity or not, maybe honeymoon locations play a more vital role than any of us has ever imagined? Who knows, maybe to keep your honey, you have to steer clear of the following.

Extreme Old-Worldly Romantic Gestures

February 15, 2008 at 9:26 am | In tips, travel | Leave a Comment
Tags: , , , ,

Any bloke can give make a romantic gesture. What’s even more romantic is taking it to the extremes — adding mystery, suspense and adventure to that unique gesture of appreciation for someone. Here are a couple of my ideas for mixing excitement with pleasure, adding that now-slightly-missing old-world charm.

Skydiving – What could be more fun than hurling yourself and a loved one off a 30,000 altitude fall at 120 mph? You could add a twist by proposing on your way down, or leave out giant letters for her to read from that height. (Look for places to skydive, instructions and whatnot here.)

Horse-Carriage Ride – Whenever you’re visiting a new place, or town, try asking if they have horse-carriage rentals. It’s a nice way to get to know a new place, plus, how many of you have actually been able to ride a carriage???

Cruise – In the old days, only the privileged were able to take leisurely cruises. For the most part, if you were in the lower class, you’d be unfortunate enough to be bunking with several other traveling parties in small spaces. Today, cruises are not only a lot more affordable, traveling conditions have also vastly improved, with the onboard entertainment, and various safety precautions that would ensure a worry-free ride.

Parkour – So your girl’s a sexy-saboteur-type.  You might like this activity.  The art of parkour is getting from place to place really fast, using just the body.  Becoming Traceurs (that’s what parkour practitioners call themselves) together might help you in practicing pulling off an imaginary heist.

Forgetful-Me-No-More: Pack Me Notepads

January 21, 2008 at 12:00 pm | In Travel Products | Leave a Comment
Tags: , , ,

If you’re like me – packing at the last hour (or even worse the last minute! que horror!) – a trip to whatever luxury destination is always full oflobotoME notepads “I cannot believe I forgot my tweezers again!” or “oh no, who’s feeding my goldfish tomorrow!?” just when you’re about to board the plane.

Now, during one of my sessions skipping from one online store to another, I found these precious little notepads that will make sure you won’t forget anything anymore!

Presenting… Pack Me Notepads! (from those brilliant people at Lobotome.com)

Objective: A checklist to get you on your way, on time, with your bags and without going to the loony bin! (just perfect! sometimes packing can really take a toll on your sanity).

From making reservations, checking your house before you leave, to bringing the proper clothing – the Pack Me Notepads never fails to impress me with their very organized, very detailed, and carefully thought of list! I was trying for 30 minutes to think of something not included in the list (Tweezers actually, but then again, I think I’m the only one left in my lovely city plucking away at my bushy eyebrows). A portion is dedicated to the mothers, aptly titled “the lil people not in charge”, so no more excuses for not bringing that pacifier!!!

Best of all, these notepads are printed on recycled paper (hurray for the environment), and measure 5.5 x 8.5 (50 sheets). Priced at roughly $10, these notepads are a steal!

They also have other notepads which you can check out here.

It’s so fun surfing the internet, I haven’t had this much fun checking out new sites since Sex and The City ended. Hurray for my new addiction! :)

 

Blog at WordPress.com. | Theme: Pool by Borja Fernandez.
Entries and comments feeds.