travel

To enjoy air travel, which I still firmly believe is possible, there are a few necessities.

First, it always helps to be elite: traveling in first or business class, second, having some vaunted frequent flier status, lounge access. Second, even with those perks, you need something of a Buddha-like attitude. What will be, will be. Hold your plans lightly. Resolve to be happy wherever you happen to end up.

This last piece of advice is easier when you know about terrific hotels that are close enough to the airport to make them feasible on either an intentional or unintentional layover. These are places that are nice enough that you'll sort of hope to get to stuck there -- places that you might actually plan to come back to for a stay all on their own. Here are my three places that I've spent at least a night at recently while in transit, which I'm adding to my list of my favorite layovers.

1. InterContinental San Juan: You can see the hotel when you're landing at the airport, that's how close it is -- it's less than a ten minute drive from terminal to hotel check-in. The hotel is in the Isla Verde area, and has access to one of the nicest stretches of beach in San Juan, as well as a lively, private pool area available only to hotel guests. Club level rooms have balconies with a view of the pool.
2. Cedarbrook Lodge Seattle: It's really hard to believe this is exactly two minutes from the airport, but you're barely on the free shuttle enjoying your complimentary water before you've arrived at this wooded, quiet property. This hotel used to be a private hotel for Washington Mutual, but those days are long over, and it's now open to the public. It's designed for business travelers in mind, with 24 hour complimentary snacks, complimentary continental breakfast, and a load of other perks.
3. InterContinental Tahiti: Okay, if your work brings you to Tahiti and you get stuck in Papeete, no one is going to have a ton of sympathy for you. A more likely scenario is that you're flying through Tahiti on your way to other islands in French Polynesia, when weather unexpectedly grounds you. Worry not, within five minutes you will be at the InterContinental Tahiti which you really could stay at for an entire vacation. I hope that you're stuck there on one of their Polynesian dancing nights -- their dancers are known for being some of the best in the Society Islands. Bonus points for its brand new fitness center with water views.

People who travel a lot often find that their passport really takes a beating, so whether you want to buy one as a treat for yourself or as a gift for someone special a protective but stylish passport cover can be a solid and worthwhile investment. This one from Smythson is the ultimate in functional but stylish minimalism in solid black with simple silver letters spelling out "Passport" on the front cover. Inside there's a slot for your passport and for a boarding pass, and the whole thing comes packaged in a light blue box for handy gifting and storage between adventures. $120

You go on vacation to let go, but you probably meant to let go of your stress, not your iPod, your camera, your passport...or your false teeth.

British company Airport Parking and Hotels Ltd (APH) joins the group of travel companies that occasionally release a list of the amusing things they've found that their clients have lost, presumably in a hotel, a car, or an airport lounge. Clothing tops the list, accounting for almost half of the items in their lost n' found, and there are a fair number of gadgets as well: 17% of APH's total lost items were mobile phones, games consoles, mp3 players and cameras. APH says that "luckily only" 4% of travelers lost their passport, but honestly, given the hassle of losing a passport, that number seems pretty high to me.

Then there's the unusual items: the aforementioned false teeth, a ski boot that contained a tube of hemorrhoid cream, "odd shoes", which I presume means a single shoe rather than shoes of a strange style. I may have a suspicious nature, but some of the objects they've found simply scream "criminal activity" to me: an electric scale, for instance, what legitimate purpose might that have? And then there's an assortment of crutches, walking sticks and wheelchairs, which totally seems like evidence of insurance fraud. I don't even want to speculate on why someone would leave a pram behind.

Inspired by the 2001 film Amelie, a new travel agency in the Czech Republic called Toy Traveling is offering a unique luxury vacation not for you, but for your toys. You send them your favorite stuffed animal and they'll take it on an escorted luxury trip all around Prague, taking photographs of it at sights like Prague Castle and the Charles Bridge. And if you'd like your fuzzy friend to really have a great time you can even pay extra for a massage, which includes incense and candles, or the 'dearest package' that comes with a cushion and duvet to make the journey home especially comfortable on his padded little behind.

Prices start at about $120 for the basic package and get up over $200 depending on options.

My visit to Pepin Garcia's My Father Cigars factory was an eye-opening experience. I'd had no idea just how much work goes into manufacturing a cigar. My trip wasn't thrust of a media relationship or any other connection: cigar companies want their customers to visit. And these days, it's easier than ever to do so. Cigar trips are becoming increasingly common. Rocky Patel and Camacho, among others, have been hosting groups for a while, and the trend is gaining momentum. I was able to see Pepin's team in action because of a trip arranged by De La Concha and Uptown Cigar. If you're looking to take advantage of a cigar trip, talk to the manager of your local shop.

Why would you want to visit a cigar factory? If you enjoy cigars, your mind is probably flooded with reasons – curiosity alone is sufficient motivation. You'll see the entire process, which is eye-opening, and you'll get a feel for how each step affects your smoking experience.

Here a five reasons to take a cigar tour:

Some travelers' idea of the perfect vacation involves complete and total rest, others find that it only takes them a day or two to recuperate from the daily work routine and they'd really like to expand their horizons while on vacation. For those of you who fall into the latter group but don't have a ton of time to research your options and plan a trip Fairmont Hotel Group has come up with a solution.

The new Apprentice Trips program recently launched by Fairmont Hotels & Resorts are targeted at those who'd like to learn something new or delve deeper into an activity that is already a hobby while getting away from it all. With twenty different packages to choose from there should be a package that suits almost everybody. Here is a sampling:

• French Immersion Package: At the Le Chateau Frontenac in Quebec City guests will spend 3 hours a day in private French lessons, go on escorted tours of the city and chateau conducted in French, receive a souvenir French book as well as complementary buffet breakfast and a fruit basket upon arrival.
• Behind the Brewery Package: This Boston based trip includes a private tour and tasting at the Sam Adams Brewery, a special beer pairing dinner in the hotel's dining room with a beer expert and an in-room Samuel Adams "Bucket of Cheer".
• Heritage Takes Flight: Learn about Falconry and Bedouin beliefs while staying at the Fairmont Bab Al Bahr in the United Arab Emirates.
• Magic of Aromachology Package: based a the Fairmont Monte Carlo a master perfumer will lead guests to Galimard perfumery of Eze for a workshop, receive a 60 minute aromatherapy massage for two and buffet breakfast.

Some of the packages are week long excursions and others only require commitments of a day or two. There are packages that target athletes with hiking, surfing, skiing and golfing given the group's many hotels in more remote locations. There are other companies that offer more in depth learning trips but for those that find themselves heading to one of the Fairmont group hotels these activities might just add needed extra depth to your vacation.

Tips. Gratuities. Service Charges. It's the cost of getting great service, but how much do you tip the waiter, butler and housekeeping personnel each day of your cruise vacation?

When it comes to tipping on a cruise ship, the recommendations and requirements vary only slightly by cruise line. Norwegian cruise lines points out that guests are "not obliged to offer a gratuity for good service", but they do recommend tipping a service provider that's gone above and beyond the call of duty to meet your needs. Celebrity Cruise Lines takes a different approach to the cruise tipping process, automatically adding gratuities to all restaurant and stateroom services and encourages guests to add extra if they feel they received exceptional service.

Most cruise lines encourage passengers to tip for services per person, per day, but tips can be rolled into the service charge or fee you pay as part of your cruise package.

If you need a general idea of how much to tip each individual who serves you, here's a breakdown based on recommendations per person, per day from Celebrity Cruise Lines, Carnival Cruise Lines and Royal Caribbean International:

Suite Attendant: keeps your room clean and orderly, orders supplies and amenities, provides you with towels and fresh linens as needed, works with housekeeping staff and handles laundry and room service deliveries
Recommended tip: $5.75

For years North America has dominated the world aviation market but recent figures show that Asia Pacific is now the world's largest passenger market in aviation. New figures from the International Air Transport Association show that while North America flew 638 million passengers in North America, the Asia Pacific market flew 647 million. As you might suspect much of that growth has come from China which is now the region's largest domestic market flying 1,400 aircraft. It is expected that this trend will continue as more people in the region take to the skies.

In a related story, a recent AFP report showed that more and more Chinese people are using online travel services to book holidays. Revenue from online flight, hotel and package tour bookings are up 27 percent from last year and climbing as China's expanding middle class becomes more interested in travel and are becoming more accustomed to online purchases and using credit cards.

The Japanese National Tourism Organization announced that the number of foreign visitors to Japan are down. Just a year ago in 2008 the number of visitors to Japan was at a record high of 8.35 million and now the number has fallen by 18.7 percent to 6.79 million. It is the biggest drop in the rate of tourism the country has seen in forty years.

The decline is being attributed to the global economic downturn, a strong yen which makes travel to Japan expensive and fears over the swine flu. Interestingly the country's largest tourism markets are South Korea, Taiwan and China. Japan had been enjoying an increase of visitors for decades. In 1989 there were 2.84 million tourists and a decade later in 1999 the number had almost doubled to 4.44 million visitors.

Some of the biggest hassles one encounters when traveling revolve around other tourists. The best news for people who are interested in going abroad to a country whose tourism numbers are down is that they are likely to experience less crowded conditions at major attractions and even promotional deals from hotels with unexpected seasonal vacancies.

Parisian haven at the corner of the Champs Elysées and Avenue George V, Hotel Fouquet's Barrière, has a new VIP package -- but this time, VIP stands for Very Important Planet.

Luxury travel is starting 2010 off on the right foot, with a bevy of eco-friendly options for savvy, conscientious travelers. One of these options is the five-star Hotel Fouquet's Barrière's VIP package, which includes:

• Luxury accommodations
• Special "Fitness Breakfast" for two (includes freshly squeezed fruit or vegetable juice, an egg white omelet, multi-grain bread and a blend of pumpkin, linseed, sunflower and sesame seeds)
• One 50-minute natural oil treatment at the hotel's U Spa, per person
• Organic lunch for two at the hotel's Joy Gallery
• A bottle of eco-friendly Pop Earth Champagne in-room upon arrival
• Carbon offsetting through the non-profit organization "Action Carbone"

Though carbon offsetting has been skewered by critics for functioning as a sort of "indulgences" payment for the wealthy, it's better to offset than not to offset (and the wealthy are going to travel anyway). This package is part of the hotel's "Dignified Luxury" plan, one which implies that environmental responsibility is noble and honorable. The hotel also decorates with fair trade flowers and participates whenever possible in events which benefit environmental organizations, such as Neoplanet and GOODPLANET Association.

Further amenities can include pickup in a hybrid limousine, organic meals at La Diane, electric E-solex bikes for exploring Paris and, of course, room upgrades for an additional cost. The VIP package starts at €990 (approximately US$1,436), based on double occupancy, and is available through December 28, 2010.

We recently came across the handsome handmade canvas and leather luggage made by Tusting, a family firm based in the heart of the English countryside with roots deep in the UK's traditional leather and shoe trade. The fifth generation of the family is now at the helm, following a long line of Tustings who have been tanning, grading and trading the world's finest leathers for over 130 years. The firm makes a wide range of suitcases, carryalls, briefcases and bags, as well as country and sporting kit such as cartridge cases and shotgun slips, and even a range of leather furniture. The Weekender above is finished in sail canvas with the firm's signature Atlantic leather, made from carefully selected Scandinavian hides.

There are base camps, boot camps, band camps, and low-rent gatherings in faraway locations for every sport known. But what if you want to ditch the grind and shack up somewhere idyllic and secluded so you can really focus on... truffles? What kind of options would you have? As fate – and Chef Ken Frank – would have it, there is exactly one: Truffle Camp in Napa Valley.

Chef Frank is the owner and culinary mind behind Napa's La Toque, one of but a dozen restaurants in the world to have a truffle menu. To begin your initiation into the arcane world of gourmet fungi – and distinguishing your Italian tuber magnatum pico from your French tuber uncinatum – you'll fly to Napa and settle into your room in the in the Westin Verasa. The first night you'll relax, to be ready for your first 3-hour truffle-laden cooking lesson under Chef Frank's tutelage the next morning.

Afterward, Chef will take you on a tour of Long Meadow Ranch to sample the local farm's delicacies. The next day begins with another 3-hour truffle extravaganza, followed by a tour of a private winery and barrel tastings with Chef Frank and La Toque's wine director, Scott Tracy. The evening concludes with an "All Truffle Dinner," paired with Tracy's wine selections. And you're not finished there: to properly prepare you for return to native lands, you'll be fed a truffle omelet breakfast and then plied with goodies to take home.

The camp runs from January 17-19, 2010. No, it doesn't have the awkward tenderness of a few weeks spent in a dorm with the tuba section, but you'll probably enjoy reminiscing about it a great deal more.

Whether you're traveling in it or just trying to live your daily life in it, cold winter weather can be miserable and even downright dangerous if you don't dress appropriately. Staying warm is more complicated than simply throwing on a coat and scarf, here are some tips for keeping toasty from your head to your toes.

Layer layer layer!
Not only does layering help prevent drafts and help wick moisture away from the body, but you can remove them one at a time if you start feeling too warm. It's much easier to remove layers than it is to add them. See some good info here about the difference between the wicking layer, warmth layer, and wind layer.

Wear a hat and cover your ears
While not to the degree that some myths claim, body heat is lost through the head so wearing a hat is important. Ears shouldn't be ignored either, cover them as they're especially susceptible to frost bite.

Go waterproof, and bring backups
Waterproof socks, gloves, and even wind or ski pants can make a huge difference in comfort level. Have extra pairs on hand so you can change in case something does get wet.


Get boots that fit
Boots need to be snug enough not to flop around and trip you up but not at all too tight. Make sure when you're buying boots that you wear several pairs of thick socks so you can ensure there's enough room. Tight boots equal cold feet, and cold feet equal no fun.

If you're looking for a reason to not check luggage and go carry-on only, here's one: My friend's holiday flight to France was canceled due to bad weather, but her luggage went to Amsterdam and Nice anyway. She waited a week for it to be returned to her.

Here's another reason: Briggs & Riley Travelware's smart 20-inch upright carry-on. At just 8.7 lbs., and 20 x 14 x 8.5 in. (50.8 x 35.6 x 21.6 cm), it's easy to maneuver and fits in the overhead compartment. Some other facts: The bag is made with Briggs & Riley's exclusive Tuff-lite fabric, offering strength as well as abrasion resistance. The company's "The Outsider" handle system means that the bars are on the outside, ensuring flat packing inside. And if anything goes wrong -- even airline damage -- you're covered with the "Simple as that" lifetime warranty. FoxNews.com even named the bag in its "Top Five Coolest Pieces of Luggage" as the "Best All-Purpose Carry-On."

Available in Desert, Silver, Rainforest, and Sunset (shown). $235.00

President Obama's first vacation in Hawaii as President may be good news for Hawaii's struggling tourism industry but according to Aero-News Network it's a big headache for those operating small planes in the area. A Presidential Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) in place for most of Oahu will restrict most of the general aviation in the area during the Christmas holidays. The TFR does not affect regularly scheduled commercial passenger and all-cargo carriers operating under TSA-approved standard security programs and procedures. Flights that can't take place include training flights, practice instrument approaches, aerobatic flight, glider operations, parachute operations, ultralight, hang gliding, balloon operations, agriculture/crop dusting, animal population control flight operations, banner towing operations, sightseeing operations, model aircraft operations, model rocketry, and unmanned aircraft systems.

Pilots and aircraft operators in the area are said to be outraged by the restrictions. The restrictions are based on the ones used to protect President Bush while at his Crawford, Texas ranch but the area being covered is much different. Many pilots feel that their having their wings clipped because of a Presidential vacation is unfair. In the article a seaplane tour operator said that he was forced to but his business on hold for two weeks because of the TFR. For small businesses taking off these two busy weeks surrounding Christmas can be devastating.