Longing for Elsewhere

Yesterday was the perfect day in the neighborhood. The sidewalks were empty, the streets were quiet. Not a rumble around. It seemed like the entire neighborhood was mine. Today, it's all back to normal.

People are walking aimlessly and paying no attention to the other people on the street. Not walking, slowly strolling. Not paying attention, particularly to the little old lady using a walker to get down the icy streets she's known since she arrived off the boat 80 years ago.

I long for somewhere else.

I miss the sound of the sun setting in Selema, Portugal over the cliff rocks and the slow pour of a Chianti from a sidewalk cafe in Rome. If I close my eyes I can see the bright lights of Paris and the whitewashed buildings of Morocco. It's time to travel again...

Wedding in Sicily... To Go, or Not to Go?

Just got word that friend Tracey is getting married to her beau in Sicily this November. Tracey has lived in Sicily for six years now. Her love story is one for the books...

Tracey and her mother went to Italy to research the family tree. One day, in search of the grandparents birth place, Tracey fell in love... with the guide who was helping them find the birthplace in a remote part of Tuscany. Six years later, they are to be wed and I'm invited to the wedding.

It's a small ceremony. Friends and siblings. And while I'm not a fan of weddings (this comes as no surprise to the brides who have actually asked me to be in their weddings), I am in love with Italy. The thought of spending six days in Sicily in November seems almost euphoric. I'll get a little villa near the wedding site and just... be...

Flights aren't that expensive ($600 round-trip) but it is an expense. Thoughts? Votes?

The World is a Happy Place (Sort of...)

Good news, Earthlings!

LiveScience.com reports a new study has shown that happiness is on the rise around the world. Here's the skinny:

Researchers asked 350,000 people in 52 countries, "Taking all things together, would you say you are very happy, rather happy, not very happy, not at all happy?" And, "All things considered, how satisfied are you with your life as a whole these days?"

(Dear Researches, those are two very broad questions. But, ok...)

The answers were placed on a "Happiness Index" and according to the most recent survey, the happiness meter rose between 1981 and 2007.

So what country is the "happiest"? That's Denmark, where apparently we should all be traveling to this coming year. Denmark has ranked number one on the charts for years and I say, if they are all so damn happy I want to know why. What does Denmark have that I don't? Or, what is Denmark using that I'm not...

The most unhappy place on Earth? Zimbabwe. America ranks number 16 and the same study found that it's the Baby Boomer generation who is bringing us down. Apparently, "Baby Boomers are generally miserable compared to other generations."

Well, that's a pretty bold statement. I don't think my parents are generally miserable. I certainly don't think their friends are miserable. Granted, this is the same generation who practiced what to do in the event Cuba actually fired missiles against the U.S., and then this same generation grew up to fight in Vietnam. I can understand if there is a little residual annoyance left over from their hardships. I think it's fair to give them a curve on this test, but to call them "generally miserable" is a bit much, no?

The new survey also finds that people who live in rich countries are happier than those who live in poor countries. What a fascinating finding... (she said sarcastically while she read the study again to make sure this was actually printed).

So there you have it folks. Out of a possible 52 countries, America ranked a meager 16 in terms of happiness. It's time to ask yourself, "All things considered, how satisfied are you with your life as a whole these days?" If the answer is "not very", maybe it's time you head to Denmark.

In the Jungle

One of my "Bucket List" items is an African Safari. I want to lay in the wild, be one with the animals (without being inside one, of course) and ride around in an open Jeep exploring the wilderness and animal life in Kenya. If I had the money on me, I would jump on this opportunity: A Kenya Safari from $2,999 per person. Here's what you get:

Round-trip airfare, nine nights' accommodations, meals, game drives, and transfers.

I'm salivating at the idea of this...

New Survey: French Tourists Most Unpopular

There are few things I don't love about the French. Give me a baguette and brie, a glass of Bordeaux, something Chanel and a seat at an outdoor cafe and call me happy. I love the French - from their fashion to their food, I find the French to be irresistible. However, it seems that once the French leave their own country they become rather unruly.

In a recent survey conducted by Expedia.com, the French were voted the least liked when traveling abroad. The survey, which was given to 15,000 hoteliers, declared the French "fiscally conservative", especially when it comes to tipping. Some went so far to say they are "mean" when it comes to their hotel room. The Germans came in a close second in the "mean" category.

So which culture did hoteliers deem the nicest traveler? The Japanese won out in that category, followed by the British.

So Many Travel Plans, So Little Cash

I was enjoying a lovely catch-up session with one of my girlfriend's last night when the topic of travel entered the conversation. Like me, my friend loves to travel. She recently returned from one of my favorite places in the world and sharing her stories of rest, relaxation and a lot of good sangria. Soon a list developed:

London - because she hasn't been since high school
Paris - because we went together with another friend eight years ago and it would be fun to go back and just "reunion"
SW, Florida - because we can all veg out at the pool
Washington, DC - because a good friend of ours is moving there
Portugal - because that was so much fun last year
Sicily - because that's where the "writers for peace" conference is next year (more to come on that later)

...and many more destinations that my friend wants to travel to and of course, destinations that I must see and write about. So with this extensive and exciting list came the inevitable question: how do I afford this?

The dollar sucks, the airline industry is in a financial mess and every day, travelers are faced with more fees, charges and excess costs. My friend suggested I take a moment and offer up some savings tip to help save for travel plans. So here we go (Caveat: these are not all healthy or stable ideas, but they will save money. Use them at your own risk):

1. Cereal for breakfast/lunch. Get a two-for-one at your local grocery store and you've just purchased 10 meals that week at a fraction of the cost.
2. Brew your own coffee/tea. You've seen the cost-analysis on this one -- how much money do you spend a week at Starbucks?
3. Take public transportation or use your feet to get around. Gas is expensive. Save the money you would use for gas and put it in a "trip jar."
4. Make use of public parks instead of paying to enjoy a day at the beach.
5. Empty out the change in your bag every night and put it in a "trip jar." You'll be surprised how quickly the bottom-of-the-bag coins add up to dollars.
6. For every frivolous item you purchase, tack on a 1.5% exchange rate and a 3% credit card fee. Now, do you really need that item?
7. Only drink one or two martinis at dinner, instead of three or four. You just saved yourself $30.
8. Unsubscribe to all the emails you get from retailers announcing sales and special offers to online guests. It's a distraction from the goal and let's be honest, you will look, you will buy and you will not save that much on shipping.
9. Buy a book on the destination you most want to visit. I've done this and it works. Reading about the destination in a beautiful novel or time piece makes you want to visit it even more, so you are more diligent with your money (if only for a few days).
10. Buy a plane ticket. Really. What are you going to do once you buy it? It's non-refundable, so you'd better start saving your cash because you're going on vacation.

There you have it - my top 10 list of ways to save for upcoming trips. I can't promise they'll work for everyone, but it's worth a try and at the end of the day you might even save a dollar.

Where to Stay? What to Pay?

A colleague asked me the other day, "How do you find these great hotels when you travel, especially when you've never been to that destination before?" She's referring to the Hotel Homs, where I stayed in Rome and would stay again without so much as looking at another location. The reality is that finding a hotel in a place you've never visited is a game of luck. But here's how I narrow my chances:

Price. Start by determining how much you're willing to pay per night and then use a hotel search engine to find those hotels that offer rooms in your price range. Once you have at least 10 properties to choose from, do another search for hotels offering rooms at $50 more a night than you would pay. What you'll find is a list of hotels that are still in your price range and often a bit of a higher rating. For example, say you'll only pay $120/night for a hotel room. You've ruled out hotels that are $125/night and might have a higher star rating or better amenities.

Location. I'm a walker. I think the best way to see a new place is to walk around, so any hotel I stay at must be centrally located to the city center or a public transportation stop. (The only exception to this rule is if I'm traveling for a spa getaway, then I just stay at the spa and never leave.) Once you've narrowed your hotel search by price, then narrow it down by location to major tourist attractions. Choosing a hotel near a major tourist attraction will almost always ensure it's near restaurants, bars and cafes. This is very helpful in cutting travel costs, as you won't have to pay for taxis or shuttle services.

Photos. Compare hotel pictures from a search engine and on the hotel's Web site. If the images are drastically different, you know something is wrong. Most search engines post photos from users who have stayed at the hotel, so you can be certain the photos aren't doctored. Really examine the photos and then read the user reviews to see what past visitors have said about cleanliness, room quality, etc. Before deciding on the Hotel Homs, I read many user reviews and looked at as many pictures as I could find. The photos on the search engines were very similar to the photos on the hotel's site so I knew what I was getting. When I finally got to the Hotel Homs, I was pleasantly surprised. The bathroom in particular was a selling point! Big shower and plenty of room to move around (which is uncommon for a single room in Europe).

User Reviews. Past traveler reviews are worth a fortune. It can mean the difference between a pleasant night's stay and a vacation from hell. For example, before deciding on the Hotel Homs there was another hotel in the running. The price was right, the photos were accurate (although the interior design was not my taste) and the location was perfect. However, after reading through dozens of reviews, I found that the other hotel in mention was located right next to a XXX theater. Hmmm..... no.

Price, again. Once you've narrowed your hotel choices by price, location, photos and user reviews, look at the price again. Based on your options, can you up your spend by $25 or $50? If so, you might be fortunate enough to find a better hotel for your needs. The extra money you'd spend on the hotel would compensate for the money you'd spend in transportation if you were further from the center of town, and there's something to be said for comfort and cleanliness where you lay your head.

Hope this helps! And if you ever find yourself in Rome, I highly suggest the Hotel Homs. The staff was excellent, the rooms were clean and comfortable and the location was priceless.

Goodbye to a Legend: Tim Russert

Today was a sad day for journalists and readers. The tragic loss of Tim Russert pounded the hearts of many who have followed his career and those of us who viewed him as a mentor and pioneer in the journalism industry.

During my days as a Washington correspondent I envied the work of Russert and aimed to achieve the integrity and professionalism that Russert demanded from the job. While he had his opinions on politics and of those he interviewed, he gained the right to share those thoughts and gain the truth from his guests on the Sunday morning show, "Meet the Press."

I could go on for a while about how he inspired me as a reporter, but for now I'll retreat to my thoughts and prayers for his friends and family around the world. For young journalists just beginning their career I offer only this: learn from this man, for he was legendary in his craft, and strive to be the journalist that Tim Russert was.

Not One of the Chosen People

Got word back from the Excavacations Office at Saint Peter's Tomb. We were not chosen to venture into the Necropolis. Guess we'll have to stay with exploring Rome the typical way... above ground.

Oh good news though! Ron Howard and Tom Hanks are shooting "Angels and Demons" in Rome right now. Maybe I'll be chosen to star (by "star" I mean help write the script) in a movie...

Ode to GiGi the Giraffe

I was at dinner with friends last night -- the three of us have a standing monthly dinner date to catch up -- and after an appetizing plate of eggplant, garlic and tomato something-or-other and a glass of wine, the topic of travel came up.

My friend Kate is heading to Spain this Friday - one of my favorite places in the world. She's touring the Costa del Sol with her family and gets back just in time for me to head to Nantucket, before leaving for Rome. Roger is buying a home with his wife - that's his big travel this summer. As we talked about our world adventures, the topic quickly turned to "what's next?" on the travel spectrum...

My parents introduced me and my sister to animals at a very early age. Dogs were always roaming the house and we were foster parents to zoo animals -- one, in particular, was my favorite: GiGi the Giraffe.

Every weekend we went to the St. Louis Zoo to feed GiGi. We got certificates that applauded our efforts to care for the young giraffe. I had giraffe dolls and hung my foster parent award proudly on the wall in my bedroom. To this day, giraffes remain my favorite animal and when I found Giraffe Manor in Nairobi, I knew I had to go.

The Giraffe Centre was built on the Kenya property so that Kenyan school children could learn conservation/ecology. Visitors touring Nairobi have a chance to visit and pay an entrance to the Giraffe Centre and all profits go to various projects in Kenya. What's more, you can actually spend the week at Giraffe Manor caring for the giraffes.

Kate was intrigued, and if I can convince her to go that might be an awesome 2009 trip (maybe 2010; Kenya ain't cheap). Getting to Kenya, however, is no easy trip. I don't mind tiny planes, canoes or jeeps. But if someone says the word, "camp", we're going to have a little bit of a problem...

So Long, Farewell, Auf Wiedersehen, Adieu...

...to the Van Trapp Family villa. According to reports, the original Van Trapp Family villa will open as a hotel this summer. For Sound of Music fans, this is a dream come true. I can already picture myself clad in lederhosen running up the mountain singing "The hills are alive..."
(Ok, probably not, because I would never wear lederhosen, but it paints a picture of how excited I am about this opening).

According to the story, "The Villa Trapp hotel will give visitors a chance to sleep in the family's former bedrooms or get married in their chapel."

There will no doubt be singing, dancing and frolicking in the hills for Sound of Music fans. You'll stand on the staircase where the kids and Fraulein Maria sang every night before bedtime, you can dance in the gazebo where Liesl and Rolf secretly sang and fell in love. You might even get to climb a tree or mountain. (I suggest you don't take the curtains off the bedroom windows and attempt to make play clothes; hotel management might frown upon that).

Kudos to the owners of the villa, who have agreed to open the Van Trapp doors to travelers.

This might be my next big trip...