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February 16, 2009

Studying Abroad

One of my best friends is studying in Barcelona this semester (her sister went there last semester) and she has been keeping me updated on everything through email and Skype. They have classes they have to take and then the other days are spent going out and exploring and there is also a lot of traveling that they do in their free time since classes are only Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.
She was telling me the other day how she is booking a few of her upcoming trips so she can try to find cheap hotels and airfare. A lot of them are going to Amsterdam for five days and she was telling me all about it and trying to decide if she wanted to go or not. She said as long as she could find a cheap hotel in Amsterdam or a hostel of some kind she would go (how can you study abroad and not go there ha).
It is really fun to hear about all of my friends traveling and studying abroad. My family went to Ireland last summer and I got to go, but I don't really have time to go during the school year because my major is so demanding and already so time consuming (seven total years at least) and also a lot of my courses are specific like anatomy and biology and they don't offer them through the study abroad programs. My friends who are business majors or communications or Spanish or a language of some sort are able to find programs that are based on their major or specific area and they are able to get credit for their whole trip which is nice.
My other friend Mike is in London (I am soooo jealous about that one) for the semester and he might plan on staying even into the summer and having his family come meet him and travel. I was looking at pictures though the other day that he posted in his blog of some of the hotels in London that they have stayed at or just taken tours of and they are so magnificent. I am seriously so jealous. It reminds me of the Lizzie McGuire movie (I know lame right?) where she gets to travel with her friends and go on adventures and falls in love. I know it is corny, but one day I am going to travel and that will happen to me too!

Posted by juliusp at 07:17 AM | Comments (0)

July 25, 2008

Hotel Berlin

Hotel Fontane Berlin is a great place is you are looking into a place to hold an International business meeting. It is located in a great place and right near an airport. They also have a conference room that holds up to 1000 people, which is great for a bigger sized meeting and 13 conference rooms that are equipped with up to date technology. Hotel Berlin is also a great way to motivate your employees to get in shape. I heard recently that a lot of companies are supplying their employees with free or discounted passes or memberships to local gyms, or even having workout facilities installed in their buildings. I think this is so great, especially having somewhere to work out so close to their job. A lot of people are too tired to drive to a gym after a full day of work and then spend time exercising. Having a conference (especially if it is a longer one) at a hotel with such a great facility invites employees to get fit and also socialize while exercising, strengthening their bonds with coworkers (and their muscles!).
There are also a lot of other great things I found out about this hotel compared to other hotels in Berlin. First of all, the website has twenty six pictures of the hotel and property on it. This is a great visual aid. It also has several accommodations specifically for business meetings or conferences such as wireless internet (also good for other guests), shuttles for groups from the airport nearby and also they have BBQ facilities so maybe a company picnic while you are there.
All in all this is a wonderful place to have a business meeting if appropriate. If you are not in a business situation and are traveling for pleasure you have so many wonderful activities that you can participate in like tennis, bowling, horseback riding as well as working out at the fitness center. It is also located near several forms of transportation and you can easily find your way to attractions and sites off of the hotel property.
I'm not sure though about one thing, maybe it is because it is a different country, but the website says that this hotel is gay friendly. This is not something you would normally see on a website, at least not here, it would just be assumed, but it does tell you that this facility is a diverse one so you are bound to meet some new and exciting people!

Posted by juliusp at 12:28 PM | Comments (0)

May 29, 2008

Umbria villas

I just got off the phone with my mother and she really ran me in circles this time. She was going on and on about a trip that she is planning for my father’s 50th birthday for the whole family to Umbria. She went on to tell me about how beautiful it was there and that the suggestion actually came from my grandmother as a place that my father had discussed wanting to take her to years earlier. She told me about the incredible luxury villas Umbria and went on to say that she was trying to find the best accommodations for all of us, which are 10 in all. She said that she looked into Umbria apartments and villas in Umbria but that only the luxury villas could truly accommodate all of us comfortably. She went on to tell about the luxury Umbria apartments that she was looking into, but that they seemed way too small for the price. Finally, I just had to interject “Mom, where is Umbria?�. She was so wrapped in her excitement that she had forgotten to explain to me that Umbria was in central Italy and that my father had always wanted to go there since he was younger as he had some distant cousins living there. He had seen pictures of this region and found it to be very beautiful.

I assured her that I had never heard about these cousins, and was she sure that Grandma was telling true facts and not off on a tangent again. She assured me that a few years ago; my father had made a brief mention of this region and about his cousins who were there. She said that he dropped the topic and they just never seemed to get back to it. She had completely forgotten about the whole Umbria thing until Grandma mentioned it when she was looking into this trip.

Well, I did look it up on the internet and found that it looks quite amazing. There are lots of things to see and do, and the food and wine seem to be one of the biggest attractions in this area, and my father does love to eat. I think it will be interesting to make this trip with our family, probably a very interesting way to see a foreign country but I must go for my father’s birthday. After all, what kind of son would I be if I said no?

Posted by juliusp at 11:17 AM | Comments (0)

May 06, 2008

resorthoppa

Well, I have done very little traveling in Europe, but when I did visit Italy a couple years ago, I wish I could have known about Resorthoppa. Dragging your bags from point A to point B can be such a pain in the rear end - especially on to trains and buses. They are not exactly service oriented at the train stations and bus stations and I am too old to be lifting and toting my heavy bags. I think it would have been a fabulous thing to have Resorthoppa waiting with a limousine or taxi or something to help me get to my next accommodations. My biggest fear was not being able to pull my bags up in the train or in the bus before they slammed the doors in my face or started moving along without me. Wouldn't it be a nice bon voyage gift to be able to make those arrangements for friends or family that might be traveling with the same limitations that I have. I think when my brother heads for Ireland next year and has to get off of a plane in London to get to another airport in London to catch yet another plane to Ireland, I might just arrange for him to have that service provided and save him some time and trouble moving around in an area he is totally unfamiliar with. Or better yet, maybe a helicopter to whisk him off with plenty of time to spare and not have to race around and figure it out on his own. I wonder if this service is available in Hawaii? Would be nice to be picked up by a helicopter in Honolulu and flown over to Maui then have a limousine ready to drive me to my beachfront rental house and then the same thing on the way back home. I suppose the cost is something to consider but I need to consider staying home if I can't afford to pay for personal attention in the way of getting from one place to another. I am not exactly a 'resort hopper' but I know I could get used to being treated like I am special -- what am I talking about? I am special! I will just have to budget the appropriate service in to my travel plans from now on. How much does it cost to travel first class?

Posted by juliusp at 10:58 AM | Comments (0)

April 10, 2008

Finally Vacation Time Florida here we come

We recently decided to take a vacation to visit our friends who are now living in St. Petersburg, FL. They invited us last January and we accepted, but had not finalized the dates. We wanted to see when vacation time was available at work and when we could get reasonably priced flights for the trip.

Available dates were established at work and we began our investigation into airline costs and availability. We prefer to fly direct and checked some of the airlines who would accommodate our wishes. We eventually chose Jet Blue as they have a regular flight from our local airport directly to Tampa/St Petersburg. We have taken this flight before and been very happy with Jet Blue’s service. This trip, however, was not as pleasant as some of our earlier flights.

We had scheduled an early morning flight which dictated that we rise at 4 am and leave the house by 4:45 in order to allow sufficient time for our arrival at the airport and our check-in. Since airport security has increased so much over the last few years, it is necessary to plan extra time for this new ritual.

We arrived at the airport by 5:30am as planned and proceeded to check-in. This is when our plans fell apart. At check-in we were informed that our flight has been postponed. No reason was given but, having been here with other airlines in the past, I was quite certain that they did this because they did not have a full plane. I’ve had this happen numerous times before and it always irritates me. If they have not booked the majority of seats on a plane, they hold the passengers over for the next flight. The airline then only has to fly one plane and can cover the passengers booked for two separate flights. This is cost effective for them and irritating for the customers. This, however, is never the official reason for delay. They generally tell you that there were mechanical difficulties that need to be addressed before the flight took off.

The first delay was expected to be a one-hour delay. Sometime later there was an announcement that the delay may be for an additional hour. We decided to go have a relaxing breakfast at the airport while we waited for our plane. As were all the passengers scheduled for this flight, we were becoming frustrated and exhausted. After all, we had to get up in the middle of the night for this flight and now we are just sitting around at the airport.

We did have a nice breakfast and were pleasantly surprised when we returned to the terminal area to discover that our plane was at the gate and preparing for boarding. We were very anxious to board as a nice nap was what we now had planned for the trip. It was a good trip, we were able to sleep some, and finally arrived at our destination. Our friends had been notified of our delay but were now here to greet us upon our arrival.

Our time in St. Petersburg was very enjoyable. Our friends have a lovely condominium on the water and we enjoyed the facilities during our visit. They have beautiful walkways along the properties and docks. Fishing is available for the men while the ladies enjoy visiting poolside and lunching at the fine restaurant located on their property.
It was an exceptionally relaxing visit and just what we wanted for our time away from the office. Our friends showed us many of the local sights and every night we experienced a new restaurant for dinner. We were having a wonderful time and sad to see our short vacation coming to an end.

It was soon time for our return and we said goodbye to our hosts. They had done a great job of entertaining us and we promised to reciprocate when they visited us this summer. Since Florida is not very pleasant in the heat of summer, they will be spending some time with us in Virginia at our waterfront home. We always enjoy our summer company and get to show them the beautiful area we live in and some of the fine restaurants located nearby. I only hope our friends will have as good a time at our home as we had at theirs.

Our flight home was uneventful and we were feeling rejuvenated when we returned to our everyday lives. A break such as this is good for everyone and gives us a fresh perspective on things. Everyone needs to take a vacation and should take a few short ones each year. It helps if you have friends to visit and can hold the costs to a minimum.

Posted by juliusp at 10:54 AM | Comments (0)

March 21, 2008

Exotic Places- Fun but Pricey

Traveling can be a real hassle. It is great to take vacations to different and exotic places, but flying these days can be a bit of a pain. I hate the fact that I can’t carry a water bottle with me through the airport or that I have to turn over my lighter at the security check point and then purchase one on the other side. I do realize that these things are for my safety and the safety of others, but what is this world coming to.

Now whenever I fly I am sizing up people to see if they are terrorists, but the truth is you can’t tell ANYONE could be a terrorist. They don’t have to be a certain race or nationality, there are sickos of every race, creed, color, sex and religion. I always just look for anyone acting suspicious.

Most of my vacation travel has been uneventful. I always make sure to carry travelers checks with me and keep some in one bag, some in the other bag and some in my pocket. I keep all my credit cards and cash on my person, so to avoid them being taken. I figure that if I am carrying a purse that will probably be the first thing someone looking for my valuables is going to take. I always do leave some money and travelers checks in it, just in case. I figure I really don’t want to piss off someone who is robbing me, by not having something in there of value for them to take. I am not sure if this makes me smart or paranoid.

I am always to sure and confirm all of my reservations the night before my flight. I like to make sure that everything is in place for my arrival on a set day. If there are any problems, I feel it is best to find out in advance.

I don’t like to travel on trains if it can be avoided. I get a little claustrophobic on them and it is too long for me to be trapped in there. I do like renting cars. I feel a rental car gives me the freedom I need to stop and go as I please. I don’t mind driving as opposed to flying, I actually usually find driving to be a bit more interesting. Seeing different states and areas really interests me and in a plane you skip all that and get right to your destination. If it is a really cool destination, then it is probably better just to get there fast and start your vacation.

I love a good vacation rental, but sometimes it is hard to tell before you get there if it is going to be a good one or not. I absolutely can’t stand if I get there and the room doesn’t seem clean. I especially, can’t stand if the bathroom appears anything less than spotless. I don’t want to see a ring around my tub, or really anything dirty in here. I will actually ask for a new room, if it does not seem clean to me. This can really be a hassle, but in fact if I wanted to stay in a cheesy room then I would be at a cheap motel instead of a 4 star resort. Mostly, this doesn’t happen, but if it happens to you don’t be afraid to tell them you want a different room. There is nothing more important than feeling comfortable in your hotel room. That is essential to a good vacation.
It can also be really annoying if a hotel offers amenities and then they are closed when you arrive. For instance, I stayed at a hotel once in NY and they advertised that they had an indoor pool. Well, I was looking forward to getting in a little swimming (after all it was winter time) but when I arrived, I found out that the pool was closed for repairs for my entire stay. Bummer! If your hotel says they offer something, and then when you arrive you don’t get use of it, say something. Usually, if you do, the hotel will offer you something to make up for it. Sometimes, you will get a free night, a discount on your room, or a free meal. Usually, they will do something to make it up to you, so make a little fuss, it is worth it if a hotel doesn’t live up to your standards.

Same with the airlines. If a flight is delayed or cancelled, don’t put up with it, make a fuss. Usually, they too will offer you something for the inconvenience. If you were inconvenienced, then you deserve something. I mean airfare is not cheap, and if you are a minute late boarding your flight, they won’t let you on. So if they don’t live up to their end of the bargain, then let them know you are dissatisfied. If someone in the airport can’t make it right for you, then be sure to keep the names of the people you spoke to and especially if they were rude, be sure to contact the airline after your trip. Write letters and be proactive. Be sure to stand up for your rights. You have spent your hard earned money to have the vacation of a lifetime, don’t let anyone mess with it.

Travel and vacationing can be a very rewarding and enjoyable experience. If there are any problems, then address them, and you may just find that you get a freebie out of it. Have a great trip!

Posted by juliusp at 10:49 AM | Comments (0)

Travel in Europe- Take a Vacation

Traveling can be a very rewarding experience. I would love to be a jetsetter, flying off to this country and that tropical island on a whim. I wish I had the money to pursue that dream, but first I must get my degree and a good paying job. I am actually taking business and finance in school, with the hopes of pursuing a career with a big company and lots of travel. I think it would be awesome to get to experience life in the fast lane for a little while.

I would love to travel to Europe and to Asia. No place specific, although I know I would love to visit Japan and China and Italy for sure. Spain also seems very beautiful. There is a lot to see in Europe and it is very different from the US. I already know Spanish and English and am fluent in both. I would love to learn Japanese and I am taking a course in Italian right now. I am trying to learn many different languages as to make traveling internationally for business a lot more enjoyable.

I think perhaps I will try vacationing in Europe to get a feel for the difference in culture and become a little more familiar with the European ways and customs. I am realizing that international travel can be a bit challenging at first, especially not knowing the languages. The best way to see if you really can communicate in a foreign language is to travel to that country and try to speak with people who speak that language every day. If you can pull this off, then you are truly fluent in a language.

If I do vacation in Europe, I will not use travelers checks, they seem just a bit too touristy. I am sure I can find a government office where I can exchange my American dollars for Euros. I could even open a bank account there and keep my money in a European bank until my return. I would love to see how their banking system works. I am so excited about the opportunity to travel to new and exciting places.

I think that I will start planning my European excursion right away. I will vacation in Italy, Spain, and maybe even England. I will contact some travel agents and go online so I can get the best prices on airfare, hotel stays, and rental cars. I will spend my summer in Europe, or maybe just part of my summer, then I can spend the rest of it in Asia. Now that sounds like a plan. I will have to work a lot over the next few months to save up, but I think it will definitely be worth the effort.

I should never have written this blog, now instead of dreaming about traveling to Europe and Asia, I am just going to do it. Well, maybe that is better anyway, since there is no time like the present, and you never know what tomorrow will bring and all that stuff. I just asked my friend Alexis and she said she would love to come with. You know she is the type whose family has lots of money, so she can get her parents to foot the bill and so she definitely will be allowed to go, since parents never say no. Well, for me it is a little different, my parents died when I was twelve and I was raised by grandma after that, so now that I am over 18, pretty much I am on my own. Oh, don’t get me wrong, I love my grandma dearly, but she is getting old and really doesn’t try to parent much since I went away to school. I guess she figures I don’t need her to direct my life. I mean I get good grades and got a full scholarship to college. I have always tried to make her proud and not give her too hard a time. I mean after all, she was nice enough to take me in when my mom and dad passed. My brother on the other hand has always given her grief but there is not much more to say about him than that. I know he took it really hard when my parents “left us� as he calls it. He never says they died, he just says they “left�. I don’t think he has ever come to terms with it. He was so close to my dad and he was only 9 when they died, so I guess it was harder for him, I don’t know. I think people just handle things their own way.

Anyway, back to the topic, I will travel to Europe this summer, after final exams. I will have to get some new clothes, after all, I will want to have a new wardrobe to look more sophisticated when I arrive. Anyway, after that I will go to Asia. I promise not to try and dress Japanese or anything wild like that, I mean after all I am still an American. Maybe, I will take a loan out to go on this trip. This way I don’t have to take too much time away from my studies to finance my adventure. Well, I’ll work out all the details later!

Posted by juliusp at 10:43 AM | Comments (0)

Planning Simplifies Travel

Traveling can be a very rewarding experience, however, for the novice it can be a very harrowing time. Knowing the ins and outs of travel can really help make your first adventure much more enjoyable.

The first thing you must do, is decide on a destination. If you are traveling for business, then this has probably been decided for you. However, if you are traveling for pleasure, you will need to choose a destination that suit you and your desires. If you are not sure some travel sites offer opportunities to answer questions about your likes and dislikes and then they process out what type of vacation suits you best. Do you want a high paced vacation, are you the type of person who likes to go, go, go? Or are you the type who lives a very high paced life and would like a vacation with not a lot of people around? This will help you determine whether you would prefer a trip to Vegas or a week on a secluded tropical island.

Once you have determined the location that you will be visiting, go online and google the destination to see web sites about the area you will be visiting. Be careful to look and see what websites you are on, and just browse, making notes for yourself on a separate paper about areas of interest, hotel names in the area, any sites or restaurants you will be interested in going to while in the area. Feel free to click links and look around, but just make notes, don’t book a flight or hotel room.

What you will find is that most of the sites that you will bring up will be these travel.com sites that will be glad to handle your whole vacation for a fee. What I personally have found is that first off their rates are no better than say that on a hotel or airlines website. Not to mention the fact that if you get there and they don’t have a seat on the plane for you or a room at the hotel, well sorry, but they have you sign a waiver in advance saying that you can’t hold them responsible. Look I don’t know about you, but for me a vacation would be totally ruined if I got to the hotel and found that I didn’t have a reservation. I am kind of the old fashioned type who likes to go directly to the hotels themselves and get prices and info. Take your information about the area and look up the hotels that interest you and you can get to their direct websites. Just be careful sometimes while doing this you continue to pull up travel.com websites that pretend to be the actual hotel website so again be sure to look at the url and see where you are at.

Also, it is usually better to contact the airlines directly and then if you are not stuck on a date you can play with the dates online and see the cheapest times and days of the week to fly. You can also check online if there are any deals that the airlines are offering for certain time frames. Always try to book a flight on a Tuesday or Wednesday. Research shows that these are the days the airlines offer the best deals, why, no one really knows for sure.

After you have booked a hotel and made your flight arrangements there are still a few things to settle. Be sure to check out transportation for after you leave the airport, some hotels offer shuttles and buses, especially the all inclusive hotels. There is always the option to rent a car, usually from the airport. If you decide that you need or want to rent a car, then be sure to check out Enterprise and Budget. These are usually the ones with the best rates (I have found), but check out a few so that you know you are getting the best deal.

Also, be sure to check out what there is to see and do in the area you will be vacationing in, and of course the restaurants. You will need to kind of scout out some things you will be interested in doing while you are there, unless your main activity will be hanging out on the beach, and happy hour at the hotel. In that case, don’t worry about what else there is to do.

Lastly, before your trip be sure to purchase traveler’s checks and always store them in several different places. Let’s say a bag gets lost by the airlines, you don’t want all your important stuff in one place. Also, always have some cash, a credit or debit card, and always bring a little more than you anticipate needing, just in case. The day before your trip confirm all reservations via phone to be sure that everything is in place for your getaway. Nothing is worse than a problem with your hotel stay or flight. That will definitely put a damper on things.

Have a great trip and remember, the most important part of your trip is the good planning beforehand!

Posted by juliusp at 10:40 AM | Comments (0)