Euro Travel & More

In my many years in the hotel industry ..  the late check outs had been requested often enough and it is at the discretion of the front desk clerk to approve or not approve the late check out.  Truth be told, the only reason why the hotel demand that you check out at 11am is because of housekeeping purposes and the turn over of rooms.  In case of high occupancy.. you need to have the rooms prepared for the next check-in.

One can definitely understand from a hotelier’s stand point but what about you as a guest in the hotel who has a flight at 11.55pm…?? what are you gonna do from 11am – 11.55pm..???  afterall, you can only do the city tour for a certain hours.. and you would wanna go shower.. and refresh yourself before going on the plane right..??  i completely  understand you .. and if you don’t want to fork out half the room rate for another few hours… this is what you do.

If you are a business traveler, try to use the same hotel everytime you stay in that city because as a long time guest of the hotel, you do get special priviledges.  And if you are not a business traveler, try to be nice to the front desk ppl or better yet, drop your business card to make sure the hotel manager knows that you will recommend other clients and your co-workers or employees .. to this hotel.. even though you are currently not on business.  The free late check outs.. are entirely at the discretion of the front desk clerks.. so do be nice to them.  They don’t really have to give an explanation for giving out free late check outs.. especially if it is not peak periods.

When I used to live in Asia.. short getaways on long weekends.. were very common.  In fact, the Asians love just about any excuse just to go outta the country.. and get their free airport tax items if you ask me.  And they love going on a plane and airport.  A lot of Asians are very adventurous to try destinations nearby.

Unfortunately, here in the West.. it is the driving from one destination to another destination is what the spouse love best.   We are still in the same country .. just different county or another province.  While doing a nuphedra review with another friend of mine, we came across short getaways not only in Canada. .but also in the States.  Now if only we were living in B.C instead of Atlantic Canada.  The choices are great.. one can be in Washington D.C or even Seattle or New York and many more places.  Time to move to B.C soon . .muahahaha!!

9 pilots are actually white collar crooks who scammed Continental Airlines into paying their ex-spouse with fake divorces.  The ex-spouses then collect their retirement benefits while they kept flying.  It is said that the pilots didn’t tell family and friends about the divorces.. and after collecting all the money they remarried their spouses.  Up to $11 million were lost in these scams.  I wonder if they are the same pilots flying out to the Outer Banks.  And don’t pilots already make a lot of money already..?? why are they cheating…?? oh my ..!! it takes all kinds eh.

I missed Taipei and the last time I was there, i had my fill on Taipei night market.  For those who loves food, you will know exactly what i mean.  But Taipei is not all about food of course, there are the observatory building that you have to visit and many more.

Look at these sausages..!!! humongous..!!!

Intestines.. duck tongues and pig brains and noodles.  Adventurous enough?

The Shilin Market which in  my humble opinion is bigger and longer than the ladies street in Hong Kong. You can find just about everything here.. and even cheaper.. and less rude ppl.. than those in Hong Kong.

Taipei 101 is the landmark building in Taipei.  It is located in the Xinyi District and you need to go up there and take a look because it is the world’s 2nd tallest building.

Just outside the entrance of Taipei 101

Business class hotels with no frills didn’t just happen overnite.  In fact, i know so .. because i used to work for an important group of hotels back in Asia some 15 – 20 yrs ago.  When i moved from a 5 star hotel.. and worked for this new brand of hotel.. everyone thought i was crazy .. but little did they know that the no frills hotels are the way to the future not only for the hoteliers & share-holders of the hotels.. but also for the tourist and the frequent traveler as well as businessmen.

Yes, unlike the Orlando vacations that we take now that we are living in the West,  one definitely can fall in love with these Business Class Hotels with no frills.  Why..?? not only are they cheaper.. but they are actually a branch from a bigger hotel – meaning a sister hotel to a chain hotel.  Definitely value for money.. especially if you join their club floors.. where breakfast and cocktails in the evenings are free.  Free use of the club floor room for your business meetings and etc.  So if you hear hotel with no frills, donch get the wrong idea.. that the hotel isn’t good.. they are just as good. except .. to expect an empty mini-bar.. but you can always request for them to fill it up.. if you are on company’s account.

Planning to go see the Winter Games in Vancouver .. in 2010??   Well.. what can i say .. about Vancouver.. that you already do not know.  I love Vancouver..!!!!  in fact, i like Vancouver more than Toronto, they do have just about everything.. and the crime rate.. i hear is also pretty high.. rumor has it.

The Winter Game Packages are being offered here like hotcakes, so if you are planning to go with a buddy or the entire family .. here is your chance. Check out some awesome deals i found.

• Tickets to Two Level 1 Events (Seating Category as selected)
• Tickets to One Level 2 Event (Seating Category as selected)
• Accommodations in Vancouver (Hotel Category as selected)
• Breakfast Daily
• Professionally Guided Group Vancouver City Tour including Stanley Park, Gastown, and Granville Island
• Winter Games Commemorative Gift Package
• Daily Group Shuttle To Whistler Town Center (departs from Vancouver once daily in early morning, returns from Whistler Town Center once daily late afternoon)
• Vancouver Welcome Kit
• Roadtrips On-Site Host Team
• Access to the Roadtrips Vancouver Daily On-Site Hospitality Center including Complimentary Beverages, Snacks, and Event Viewing Lounge (open between 8am and 7pm daily)
• Access to the Roadtrips Whistler Daily Hospitality Center at the Four Seasons Resort Whistler with Beverages, Snacks, and Event Viewing Lounge (open between 9am and 5pm daily)
• Expert Travel & Concierge Services of the R

But donch forget to check out the B&Bs or condo renting during sold out time.. if you didn’t plan ahead.  No worries.. about accommodation.. if you are ok.. with the not so traditional kind.

I had to laugh out loud when i saw the hoteliers in Mexico trying this tagline .. well not in those exact words.. to lure tourists to Mexico after the swine flu scare.

Hotels on Mexico’s Caribbean coast on Tuesday offered free vacations for three years to any tourist catching swine flu while on holiday there, in a bid to counter swine flu’s blow to the industry.

I wouldn’t go to Mexico even if they offer me .. a lifetime free stay .. at this moment.. until .. i can be sure .. that there is no more epidemic in Mexico.. or anywheres around the world.   But desperate situation requires desperate measures.. and I do applaud the Hoteliers in Mexico for coming up with something so innovative .. and you can’t really blame them for trying right.

Shopping in Milan is a must .. if you are there but going to Milan during the Glam Shoes Milan Fashion Show Week .. that is to die for.  All kinds of  women’s shoes were shown and exhibited during that week and i had the pleasure of seeing the Spring edition for 2009/2010.   The shoes were fabulous.. i wished i could post all the pictures up here to share with you all.  The catwalk was breath-taking .. and so was all the fashion display.  the designers were humble.. and came over to make small talks with us.. during cocktail.  i call Milan the shoe capital of Europe… hahaha!! I have a few favorite brands – from Ugg to Christian Louboutin, what is yours..?

American Airlines flight and its passengers and crews were grounded and detained in Japan for several hours .. for fear of swine flu.  And there was caused for the fear.. because it had a ill passenger on board.   They were all taken to a quarantine facility and released after tested that it was nothing related to the swine flu.  AA told the news that the ill passenger was a Japanese woman.  Well, it’s a good thing it was a Jap woman.. else the Americans would probably be upset and sue someone .. knowing the Americans.  Guess they don’t need the best acne treatment this time in Japan.

I read recently how some airlines would still charge you for full price if you miss your flight .. with reasonable doubt.  Many years ago, I never had this trouble.. but i was usually flying business class, maybe that made a difference..??   Would the airline management refuse to speak to the passenger when he wants to explain his situation..??  i agree if you deliberately miss your flight, that’s another thing altogether.. but if you genuinely was in an accident.. or in line at the airport but the counter was slow.. would you still be at fault.

I hear the American Airlines would not even barge and charge you for another flight ticket.. but what about those times.. when you and I had to sit in the airport due to a fault on the airplane or weather..??  or what they called it .. act of God..??  Double standards..??  for sure !!  but you will be glad to  know.. that not airlines behave this way.. especially Cathay Pacific or Singapore Airlines.   I vouch for these 2 airlines.. because once upon a time, when i was traveling to USA a lot for work, one agent at Cathay Pacific had given me a price over the phone for the trip.. and upon arrival.. they wanted to charge me $200 difference.  When i explained to them.. about the situation.. they promptly waived the difference.  I always fly Cathay Pacific because of that.