Travel 2.0

Prior to my recent jet-sets from Cleveland to Hawaii (9 hours) and Beijing (13 hours) I had only travelled relatively short domestic distances by plane. For a flight lasting longer than the average person's workday, I couldn't imagine the lengths passengers would go to avoid muscle pains, trapped-in-an-aircraft-for-a-day-with-a-bunch-of-strangers-aphobia and, perhaps worst of all, boredom. 

Thanks to a new generation of journey-friendly products and services I refer to as Travel 2.0, and a few calisthenics exercises, a long flight in coach can turn out to be a surprisingly positive experience.

In-flight Entertainment

My under the seat carry-on bag contained the usual self-entertainment items -- a book, magazine, iPod, headphones, cards, snacks, etc. -- but I barely read a page.   Thanks to the mini TV screen mounted directly in front of my face, I was thoroughly entertained by movies (I Love You, Man; Marley and Me; Eclipse; Wizard of Oz; 40-Year-Old Virgin; Cars; The Proposal), TV shows (The Office; Curb Your Enthusiasm; Project Runway; History Channel selections), music (a dozen channels of different genres) and games on demand.  Time flew by (no pun intended) just as quickly as if I were sprawled on out my own comfy couch watching TV on a Sunday afternoon ... except, I was sitting upright, surrounded by 100s of strangers in a dimly lit cabin of a Boeing 747.  Just like home!

Bonus: Regular headphones with a standard connector work just fine in the arm rest plug -- no need to purchase the flight-specific set like the old days. 

If you book a flight with touch screen options, you can easily select music, videos and flight info channels; and the trivia games allow you to play against fellow travelers on board.  You're goin down, lady in 28B! 

When you're ready for a snooze, set your screen to the map of your flight route.  It was surreal to wake up and realize that we were directly over the North Pole on our way to the opposite end of the world.  High-fives to Santa and all the penguins!

iPads

I was amazed to see how many iPads were popping out of the overhead bins.  Mostly surprised by the fact they didn't belong to adults -- kids ages 4-12 were the ones with the $499 toy!  Parents smartly loaded them up with kids' games, coloring apps, videos and Dora eposides before making the trip.  I found myself wishing I had one of my own, and also relieved that the kids were being so calm and quiet while we were in the air. 

Muscle Stretches & Seating Tips
On both of my flights there were people who stood up most of the trip.  Parents walked up and down the aisles with their babies, older couples stood together and chatted in small groups and many passengers did ankle lifts and lunges to keep the blood flowing.  When I wasn't sleeping, I made it a point to get up at least once an hour (try to get an end seat if you can, for easy exiting), to stretch my neck, legs and back. 

For extra back support in your seat try using the blanket or pillow provided by the airline for a lumbar roll.  Wear comfortable, breathable shoes, and layer up for better temperature control.  The air tends to get stale, so even if you're getting chilly, you might want to switch on your air vent for some circulation.  Bring your own blanket and neck pillow if you're able, and an eye mask and ear plugs are helpful for a more comfortable sleep.

Food Service vs. No Food Service

My flight to Beijing was 4 hours longer than my flight to Hawaii, but felt much shorter.  How could that be?  Food service makes all the difference.  Try to find a flight that serves a meal and/or snack every few hours.  Eating makes the time go by much faster by breaking up the trip into smaller chunks.  If no food is provided, make sure to bring substantial snacks for yourself and eat every 3-4 hours.  Drink plenty of water and avoid concentrated sugar drinks (like cranberry and tomato juice) toward the middle and end of the flight. 

Many International flights offer complimentary beer and wine, which can help you sleep and calm your nerves. 

What are your long flight travel tips? 

My China Arrival

I've never been a minority, neither living in Cleveland nor anywhere else I've ever gone. I've always been one of many -- White, American, English-speaking and "in style" fashionwise. I've never stood out as someone who looks or speaks differently than everyone else. I've always felt that I belong.

On October 10, 2010, my world was reversed, fast-forwarded 12 hours and completely switched backwards from everything I've ever known. "Don't freak out," was all I kept telling myself as I wandered my way toward the arrivals gate at Beijing Captial International Airport. "Don't look suspicous or scared. Just try to blend in." Armed with my passport and pre-stamped China Visa, I knew I was prepared. I was prepared, right? Wait. What was I getting myself into?

Alone. Nothing familiar. Different.

As I approached the arrivals gate, I took my place behind one of dozen counters that was marked "Foreigner". My flight was the first of many arriving at the same time, so I was lucky enough to be relatively close to the front of line. More travelers were filing in behind me by the hundreds, carry-ons in hand, speaking all different languages. I heard someone speaking English off in the distance. British English. Still foreign to me. People pushed and shoved their way into lines and stood on top of each other to avoid cut-ins.

With swollen ankles from my 13-hour flight, there I was, inching my way to the front, my heart racing with anxiety and fear of the unknown. After about a half hour, finally, it was my turn at the arrivals counter. The man took my passport without a word. I smiled. There was no return smile. He made a slash across my Visa, said "OK," and pointed for me to walk on through. I breathed a quick sigh of relief ... and I was on my way to baggage claim.

Surprisingly, retrieving my two checked bags and clearing customs were the easiest parts of my arrival. Baggage carts were available by the dozen, just like grocery carts, lined up along every wall. I grabbed one and booked it toward carousel #41. My baggage was right there waiting for me, neatly stacked side-by-side, with the green ribbons I'd attached streaming happily as identification. Customs was just a walk-through gate. No one even checked anything, as long as you weren't claiming any goods out of the norm. Phew!

Now, imagine you're a movie star on the Red Carpet with paparazzi lining the walkways holding signs, wearing fan t-shirts and shooting photos. That's what the arrivals gate in Beijing is like, except it's all Chinese faces staring back, and they're all waiting to pick up someone other than you.

Pushing my cart of luggage, I looped around to the far end of the "receiving" line and I heard someone yell my name. A familiar face!  Pushing through the sworm of people, I could see my friend, Anne, there to pick me up.  If it wasn't for her, I would have been doomed to somehow take a taxi cab by myself to a place that I didn't even know how to pronounce in Chinese. Thank goodness for Anne and her Mandarin skills. She was truly a lifesaver who put me at ease in this foreign place.

As if the airport wasn't an adventure in itself, I knew from that point on would be a great struggle to do anything that involved communication. Checking in. Eating. Working. Training colleagues. Getting from place to place.

I was overwhelmed ... but mostly humbled and intrigued. Much more to come!

Pack Light, Be Happy

Having a vacation on the horizon is the perfect excuse to buy a few things whole new summer wardrobe.  I'm not much of a shopper, but when it comes to sundresses, summery sandals, beach bags and shades, you can color me happy! 

I just purchased this little ditty yesterday at American Eagle.  Not a typical AE fan, I was surprised to find such a comfy sundress for cheapish.  It'll be great with a belt and flip flops in Maui!  Speaking of Maui packing, if I learned one lesson from Mexico, it's that you really don't need to pack much other than a couple bikinis, PJs and a sundress for each day.  Add in a couple coverups and one or two adventure (hiking, walking, bike riding) outfits and you're good to go!  I definitely packed too much for our honeymoon.  I didn't even come close to wearing it all, and believe-it-or-not, having a myriad of clothes to choose from made it *more* annoying to get dressed. 

Especially if you're in a tropical place, you just want to throw something on and go ... not stew over the piles of tank tops and bottoms you brought "just incase".  Buy key items you know you'll be excited to wear!  Pack light, be happy.  That's my new travel motto. 

Carry-on packing is key.  Summer clothes are small and light, so should your carry-ons be.  If you're checking a bag, bring only essentials on the plane -- purse items, makeup, bikini, one change of clothes.  The less you have to lug through the airport between connecting flights, the better.  For our Maui trip, our plan is to check one bag between the two of us, and carry a light rolling duffle on the plane stocked with essentials only.  We'll let you know how it goes!

Sidenote:  I just purchased these Ann Marino heels yesterday too.  So far, I'm a fan.  Pairing them with dark skinny jeans today, but they'd be great with a dress too! 

The search is still on for a new bikini.  Nothing's really calling out to me this year.  I've had a standard black bandau for the past couple years, so I'm thinking it's time to brighten it up a bit!  

Quote of the week: 

Stacie:  "We have to get you a Hawaiian shirt to wear."

Adam:  "Do you think they actually wear them there?   I don't want to look like a tourist ... "

haha ... It's Hawaii!  If you can't wear 'em there, where can you??

Sin City, USA

The Lights. Casinos. Porn-slappers. Resorts. Drinks. Shows. Food. Crowds. Shopping.  Add those together and you've got the recipe for stimulation overload.  "Paiiiii GOW!"

As it turns out, four days seems to be the perfect amount of time in fabulous Las Vegas.

After a layover in NYC, we time traveled via Delta Airlines and arrived at The Flamingo Las Vegas around 1pm PT on Monday.  Starving and super excited to start our vacation, we headed straight for Margaritaville, which was conveniently connected to our hotel lobby.  Our fruity frozen Margaritas were precisely what the doctor ordered after 8 hours of flight time.  The island-style Jimmy Buffet themed decor and music were the perfect way to ease ourselves into vacation mode, and the service there was fantastic! 

It was just about dusk as we headed outdoors to the Strip.  We headed north -- hitting up Paris, Bellagio and Caesar's Palace first. 

Paris is a favorite.  Just walking through the doors under the gigantic replica of the Eiffel Tower is enough to set this all-things-French-loving-gal's heart all a flutter.  It's by far the most romantic setting under a starry-lit sky on Las Vegas Boulevard.  If you think it's impressive during the day, you have to see it at night.  Someday, I hope to see the real thing in person.  For now, the replica will have to be enough.

Stepping into the casino was no disappointment either.  The ceiling is decorated and lit to look like you're walking through Paris, France in the evening.  The chandeliers, fountains, statues and music take you back in time and overseas as you walk past the dinging penny slots and poker tables galore.  One thing we noticed -- the ratio of bilingual speakers goes up considerably when you step foot into a foreign-themed casino.

Venturing across the busy street, we headed for the Bellagio.  It's daunting from afar, but even more impressive up close.  The pathways around the famous Bellagio fountains are just high enough above street level to offer a beautiful backdrop view of the Strip.  You must pause for a pic or 2, or 8!

It's truly awe-inspiring how much detail and workmanship goes into creating a hotel such as this.  While we were there, the atrium was filled with a gorgeous botanical exhibit that makes you feel like a kid again.  Giant ants, bees, lady bugs and animals made of flowers hang from the ceilings and crawl up from the ground.  Truly great.

While we were there we just had to stay for the Bellagio fountain show.  This time the choreographed water dance was to Frank Sinatra's Fly Me to the Moon.  It never fails.  I always get teary-eyed.  The next night we stopped to watch again -- standing side-by-side with an Elvis impersonator -- this time the show was to Chicago's All That Jazz.  It's a larger than life experience that sucks you in.  I would stand there all night and watch the fountains pretending to be Brad Pitt in Ocean's Eleven, if there weren't millions of other things to see and do. 

The pool at the Flamingo was a nice getaway during the day.  Just make sure you get there early to claim a good spot!  It was a little windy while we were there in April, but the sun was still plenty hot.  The only complaint we had about the pool was the trees -- too much shade.  We were sunseekers who kept having to pick up and switch chairs multiple times as the palm shadows crept over us.  The pool was a fun atmosphere -- top 40ish music hits were loud enough to cover-up the screams of kids playing in the waterfalls.

Day 2, we decided to try someplace new for dinner.  After scouring the Vegas Restaurant guide, we chose Oyster Bay Seafood & Wine Bar (located in Planet Hollywood).  Prices range between $15-30 per entree, but as long as you stick to the specials, it's a pretty good deal.  The Jambalaya was my favorite of all the pastas -- perfectly spicy and a good portion.  And the smoked salmon was flakey and tender -- lots of flavor!  We called ahead, so there was no waiting, and the service was great.  Definitely recommended. 

After dinner we headed back to the Flamingo to meet our relatives who were also in Vegas for some gambling.  Tonight was the night I was determined to play Pai Gow!  The search for a mostly-open table was on.  Flamingo was full.  Paris was full. Finally, Bill's Gamblin' Hall & Saloon came to the rescue.  We sat at a 1/2 open $10 minimum table and placed our bets.  Immediately, we were served double drinks and the excitement began.  I was up, then down, then even, then down, then even, then down, down, down ... that's just the way Pai Gow usually goes.   I lost my $50, but the rest of us left just about even (with some free drinks and the memories, of course!) 

The next morning, we hit the breakfast buffet at The Flamingo.  Apparently if you go right at the end of breakfast, they start putting out the lunch food as well (crab legs, shrimp cocktail, roast beef!), so you can sit for a little while and have both meals for the price of the cheaper.  Niiice.  Plus, they serve cotton candy and chocolate fondue during all meals ... pie and cheesecake for breakfast?  No complaints here!

After a late night of pai gow, the pool was calling our names again.  It's tough to fall alseep with all the commotion, but we managed to get a few Zs anyway.

We gussied up and set out in the opposite direction on the Strip that evening - hitting up the Venetian, Plazzo, Wynn and Encore.  OK -- So this is the point when we realized a few things:  1) All of things resorts are amazing; 2) They all consist of the most incredible malls you've ever seen, filled with things we cannot afford to buy; 3) If I had to walk through 1 more gigantic mall in my new sandals my feet just might fall off.  

Venice was my favorite of these hotels.  I've never been to the real Venice, Italy, so I'm always overwhelmed by the gondola rides through the inside of the resort.  It's unbelievable!  The drivers (boaters?) serenade the riders as they wind through the twists and turns of the river.  The designer shops, Italian restaurants, music and street performers all play a role in setting the romantic mood of the hotel. 

After a few hours of sight-seeing, we headed back to our hotel to pack up our suitcases and spend the rest of the night gambling!  We took our seats at our favorite penny machines -- Goldfish and Mermaid -- where we sat and played, drank for free and laughed.  Ultimately losing the small amounts of money we were betting, we decided to call it quits. 

Sometimes I swear I can still hear the ringing bells of the penny slots or the ridiculously exciting "bonus" music they play when you get lucky.  They're so entertaining, you never want to stop!  But I digress...

It was time to head back to Ohio.  Thanks for a fun time, Vegas!   We had a blast, but next time I think we'll opt for the beach!

Urgent Flight Update

I received an email today with the subject, "Urgent Flight Change" for our Maui trip in May. Immediately, my heart starts beating a little faster and butterflies takeover my stomach. What if it's cancelled or it's at a time when we can't make it?! I open the message, and they've literally changed our flight arrival time from 4:48 p.m. to 4:49 p.m. Really???

That's a lot of anxiety for a 1 minute change. Thanks for the heads up Expedia, but I hereby give you a 15-minute window in which you are not obligated to inform me that there's an urgent flight change. Thanks!