I’m often asked why I like small ship cruising. Smaller luxury ships certainly lack some of the features of their larger counterparts. They have no rock climbing walls or Broadway musicals. But they also have several unique benefits due their small size. 1. Convivial passenger mix Fewer entertainment options means that socializing is the main entertainment. Smaller…
Taking taxis in foreign countries can sometimes be an adventure. Throw jet lag in the mix and it can be comical too. I’ve taken taxis frequently on previous business and pleasure trips to Singapore, but decided to try UberTAXI as well this time with mixed results. Here are six things I learned from our five…
As I shared last week, I came across two unopened Cathay Pacific amenity kit bags still in their original packaging. These are from my favorite era of their women’s kits – the Ipa-Nema bags. These bags were one of my favorites – they have beautiful embroidered designs and would easily double as a cocktail bag or cosmetic…
In the spirit of my own “first time on Cathay” retro 2002 trip report I reposted last week, I thought it might be nice to hear a fresh perspective on Cathay Pacific. I’m traveling these next two weeks with Rachel, another long-time frequent flyer (and former blogger/editor at The Princess Diaries, also known to some as prncess674 on FlyerTalk.com)…
Happy Monday! For those in the US, it’s an especially happy one because it is a three-day work week for many. Me? I’m not working at all. In fact, while you are reading this, I’m enjoying a sea day on Seabourn Odyssey as I begin day two of my Singapore to Bali cruise. I left…
I subscribe to a personal shopping subscription service called Stitch Fix. It’s an online personal shopping service where users can create their own custom profile to receive regular hand-selected wardrobe additions based on their personal preferences (including lifestyle, body type, and wardrobe needs). Here’s how it works: Users complete a detailed profile online. A stylist for the company reviews this data (which includes…
I have mentioned a few times that I stay in airport hotels far too often for my own liking. I’m not a fan in general – the fact that the majority of the passengers are transient can lead even the most established of brands to deliver less than their usual service. Arrival I arrived at…
I’m headed out on vacation tonight, with my first major leg on Cathay Pacific first class from San Francisco to Hong Kong. I’ve taken this route many times and one of my favorite things is the range of amenities that Cathay offers her customers. An all-time favorite of mine has been the Ipa-Nema kits that…
In honor of my vacation starting tonight, I thought it would be fun to post a really retro trip report from Cathay First Class from April 2002 – it was my first US-HKG longhaul in first class (I had previously flown both business and coach on the transpacific routes). The original… This was originally posted…
Thrillist recently published a list of the best US airports for food and beverage ranked from from 72nd to 1st. Dallas-Fort Worth took top honors, a feat that I doubt would have been possible five years ago and one that slightly surprises me still. What doesn’t surprise me, however, is that a restaurant from Fort…
One of the benefits of my Hyatt Diamond status is my Hyatt Concierge. She is the bombdiggity. I feel that I owe this entire stay at the Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego to her so it’s worth mentioning that upfront. I was headed to a conference and the hotel was sold out so reservations could only be…
Brrrr…. That one utterance could sum up this past week. I am decidedly NOT ready for winter. I left for a quick trip to South Carolina last Monday to see a client. When I landed in Columbia, I was sweating. But when I took off from Charleston the next morning, I knew that it was the last…