Out of the Office – What’s hot in travel + deals and information to make a gals travel life smooth sailing
Based on my facebook newsfeed, the ladies in Seattle are not very happy with the dramatic weather in Seattle. I definitely can agree. According to the national weather service, for March 1st -18th there have been FOUR days with partly cloudy sky conditions and FOURTEEN days with cloudy sky conditions. So lets talk about happy things…sun and blue skies!
Looking for somewhere that you can get a 100% guarantee of sun? Palm Springs is definitely a solid place to start. To be specific, it has an average of 354 days of sunshine a year. It’s known as one of the most reliable and consistent sunny destinations in the USA. Palm Springs also has some interesting history, too. Back in the 1920’s, Hollywood stars chose this retreat as their playground. Its culture really peaked in the 50’s and 60’s with the arrival of the Rat Pack. Now, Palm Springs still retains that cool mid-century feel with a modernized twist.
Out of the Office – Whats hot in travel + deals and information to make a gals travel life smooth sailing
A new year is approaching us, and if you find yourself itching to travel somewhere, here are a few places and events you can look at when thinking about jet setting in 2012. Where do you want to go in 2012? Add your comments and suggestions below!
London – For the sports enthusiast, the Olympics in London will be a major highlight. Games kick off with women’s football on July 25th, two days before the official opening of the Games. More information can be found at http://www.london2012.com/
Hello? Are you there, London? Photograph: Lea Dioy – Cornerstone Studio, Bellevue
Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula – If the Mayan calendar peaks your interest, you can celebrate “the last days” in style on December 21, 2012. The Mexican government is expecting 52 million tourists this year. Some of the top places to visit this year are Cabo San Lucas, Riviera Maya, Ixtapa, Puerto Vallarta and CanCun. My favorite hotels in Mexico are through Karsima. http://www.karismahotels.com/
Abu Dhabi– if you love art and fashion, Abu Dubai’s art scene has grown tremendously in 2011. Throughout the year, their will be many new art exhibitions and sites popping up all over the place. http://www.timeoutabudhabi.com/knowledge/features/29044-abu-dhabi-in-2012
Out of the Office – Whats hot in travel + deals and information to make a gals travel life smooth sailing
At TripIt offices checking out their technology. This screen shows all the trips happening at once. Pretty awesome.
Let’s talk about travel organization apps. I have been traveling consistently for the last few years, and have just now discovered an app that has saved soo much time. If I had known about this earlier, I would have been a very happy camper. TripIt.Haven’t heard of it? It’s a 5 year old company that is revolutionizing how we store our travel information. They were recently awarded “Best Travel Mobile App” by the Webby Awards in 2011 and ranked among TIME Magazine’s “50 Best Websites” in 2009. Remember the ol’ days where we actually printed our itineraries and brought them to the airport? Oh, wait! People still do that! Well now that it’s 2011, this app is making everyone savvy, organized travelers. Prior to the app, I would also keep all my travel information through email. Or print off all my confirmations and put it in my travel folder and bring it with me to the airport. Today, I simply book the trip! The app will actually auto import from Gmail new travel confirmations (you can also forward itineraries to plans@tripit.com).
Out of the Office – Whats hot in travel + deals and information to make a gals travel life smooth sailing
Traveling can be a hectic process. Throw in the month of August with kids, weddings, family reunions and vacations and it’s crazy! Many people who are not usually flying the friendly skies are out and about in full force during the summer months. For this reason, I thought I’d share a few of my own travel etiquette tips. Feel free to add your etiquette tips too!
Hat..check. Neck pillow..check. Etiquette...check!
Middle seats and the armrests. Who really likes to be sandwiched in the middle seat? Nothing can be worse than someone in the aisle and window taking your armrests. If you are sitting on the outside, do your middle seat traveler a favor and give them both armrests. I think you can survive with one armrest that is dedicated just for you.
Slowly recline your chair back. My boyfriend is 6ft 4. Many times he is also working on his laptop. Not only does the reclined seat hit his knees, it’s also has come very close to cracking his laptop. Not a happy camper! Yes, you have the right to recline. However, wouldn’t it be thoughtful to look behind you before you do it? Doesn’t take long and potentially avoids an argument with a 6’4 former football player.
Be kind with your cell phone. Limiting calls to “Hi, I’m on the ground, see you at arrival gate 32” is great. Space is very intimate and yes, we can hear every word about your next investment deal or exactly which nightclub you plan on drinking at that night.
Bring odorless non- messy food on board. The last thing passengers want to do is sit next to someone with a tuna + onion sandwich or shrimp Pad Thai leftovers from last night. Vegetables (except broccoli), cheese, crackers and nuts are all great items to carry on board.
Stand on the right, walk on the left. Frequent travelers are busy and every second counts sometimes. If you are on the moving sidewalk and not moving, stand to the right so others can get by you. For busy travelers, watch your rolling bags so you don’t club people as you whiz by.
Parents who don’t try to control their children. We understand having children on flight is not always easy. Make an effort to make sure your kids are not driving other passengers crazy by playing with the tray table, kicking the seat, running up and down aisles etc.
Don’t be a diva. Things may not always go the way folks want them to go. Weather, mechanical issues on the plane and flight delays can affect everyone. Demanding special attention or mistreating airline personnel is not going to give you what you want or make you any new friends on the airplane. Sometimes you just gotta wait patiently and roll with it!
Out of the Office – whats hot in travel + deals and information to make a gals travel life smooth sailing.
Rappelling down a 90ft waterfall with family and friends in Mexico = unbelievable experience
Recently I heard the phrase “what you own ends up owning you”. I guess I never really thought about the phrase until the other day when I had to make a decision. Should I buy the brand new fall boots that have been on my wish list for 6 months, or save the money towards my next vacation? A few months ago a good friend of mine cut back her expenses in order to enjoy more experiences in her life. When I asked her why she is cutting back she replied, “I see it everyday with my friends and co- workers who can’t afford to travel because they have massive car payments or need to pay off that cute furniture they bought at Crate and Barrel.”
As I was digesting this information I thought back to some of the best experiences of my life and how they have always revolved around a vacation or some sort of fun event I took part in. I never remember looking back and saying “remember all the good times we spent watching DWTS on my ’60 inch TV” or “remember that handbag I bought 3 years ago that I thought would go with everything.” Yah. I can live without the brand new boots or the latest 3D phone and still enjoy the clothes and items I currently have to save for an experience of a lifetime. What I keep reminding myself is the best experience is the planning, anticipation, and traveling altogether that will be priceless.
OK – ladies…. Have you planned your next trip yet?! Are you ready to shut down the laptop, iPad, iPhone, iPod (OK maybe not that) and just relax? In the spirit of Cinco de Mayo month, I couldn’t help but write about a few of my favorite places in Mexico! Given our “fall like spring” I cant get tropical beaches, azul blue water, and white sandy beaches out of my head!! Below are some of my favorite places to visit in Mexico
Yoga is good.....however it's much better beachside at Azul.
When I first visited the Azul Sensatori in the Riviera Maya I was beyond impressed with the resort. They had amazing restaurants, great activities like yoga on the beach and their own boat for snorkeling. If you have kids, this is a family friendly resort. This resort does a great job separating the family section from the adult section. The kids club was well maintained and offered nanny services if you wanted to relax from the kids.
Confused by all of the different offers by different Airlines and travel programs? Looking to score airline points every time you make a purchase? These tips can point you in the right direction and hopefully get you on that Fiji trip you have been dreaming about all year. Our travel team put together a brief overview of what we feel are the best cards.
Travel Tip: Always book airfare 21 days out! You tend to get the best rate at least 21 days before your trip. Happy and Safe Travels! – Kat
Are you planning on hitting the friendly skies soon? If so, preparing for your flight ahead of time and making sure you have the proper attire and carry-on can be crucial! A recent golf trip to Orlando, FL had me waiting in the airport much longer than expected due to mechanical delays and weather. What did I learn from waiting in the airport for over 16 hours? Enough to make sure all the Girl Power Hour readers read on. Take note ladies!
Winter airport travel tips: Unless I am traveling for 7+ days at a time, I have become a carry-on only chic. The fees for checking bags are a waste and it takes forever to check bags (and collect at baggage claim).
Briggs and Riley Luggage
weather and mechanical problems are just a few minor issues that can cause a snarl on the tarmac. There are three brands that are worth a shout out – TravelPro is what the pilots / flight attendants use. It is a quality product and stands up to daily use by the crews. Tumi is very nice stuff and has snob appeal. The bags are durable and well designed, however you are paying top dollar for the brand. My recommendation is Briggs & Riley. It’s priced like Tumi, but it’s more intelligently designed and lets other travelers know that you know your luggage. I suggest the 19” Briggs and Riley Transcend. Briggs also has a lifetime warranty (who wouldn’t want that)?! I would not recommend the 4 wheel spinners, as the wheels tend to break off easily, and is actually annoying to use in many places.
Comfortable lounge chairs at the American Airlines Lounge - Denver Airport
Travel Informed + Travel Well Equipped = Happy and relaxed senorita!
-Kat
View from the Inn at Langley
Hello Ladies!
The wonderful senoritas at GPH have invited me to share travel tips and tricks with you every month. I am honored to do so and am excited to share what I find while I am ”OOF”(for those that don’t know, OOF is code for out of office)
We all know long (much-needed) vacations do not come around as often as we’d like. Bahamas, Hawaii, Mexico all sound delightful to most ladies in Seattle right about now. If you are in a time pinch or are just looking for a great local get-away, why not consider a short weekend trip? Sometimes a quick trip is life’s answer to a hectic week or month!
Valentine’s Day is just around the corner. Instead of dinner and a movie, why not head out for the weekend? If you are thinking about surprising that special someone or looking for a ladies weekend location, now is a great time to consider booking. Here are some popular northwest destinations for a quick trip with your sweetie (or favorite friends).
