Euro Travel & More

I’ve worked in the hotel industry for the longest time – from the back office to the front desk and have also traveled to the West and to Europe a lot because of work.  Once a General Manager in Asia asked me how different is the service in asia as compared to the west and I cannot begin to describe what I feel about the Western hospitality.

If you have met any of the Westerners in the hotels that I’ve worked in – they are amazed at how well and respected they are treated – so much so – that they get spoiled in Asia.  Many businessmen who comes into the hotels that I’ve worked in – tells me that they don’t want to leave Asia and once upon a time I didn’t understand at all.

But after living in the West for so long and traveled around the West for so long – I can now fully understand the difference.  How different?  very!  while the receptionist in Asia tries their very best to accommodate your needs – in the West – the General Manager in a hotel – would never return your call even though you try to contact them for a reservation because the reservation department don’t answer their phones.

When you check into the hotel – there are no bell hops to help you – and when you ask for a late check out they can’t give you a straight answers.  While Asian hotels will negotiate the room rates – or long staying rates – our Western counterparts – don’t seems to care if the rooms are filled or not?   People in the hospitality industry in the West are less attentive to the needs of their customers it seems. And yes – i missed the Asian hospitality – and one can never explain to the West how they can treat their house guests better – because they don’t really care – so it seems.  What are your experiences?  care to share with me?

Going home to Asia for a vacation with the entire family may not be a real good idea for now – because of the long flight – which is about 28 hrs on the plane – not counting the lay over time and transit time.  In fact, going to the States is cheaper than going to Vancouver for us – so our other alternative are  Branson vacations or a trip to New York city to visit a long time friend or Maine, Portland – which is only a ferry away from Digby.

We have been to Maine before – and New York seems like a very long drive – and we still have to cross over with the boat in Digby – plus a family vacation – you need to take the kids to a place where they have plenty to do.  Ours is no longer young kids – so Disneyland is out – so is SeaWorld.  We want to cater to  our teenagers or bigger kids more than 10 – then family fun like Branson would be the ideal.   Rates are pretty great too – as we can see – lets hope no hidden charges eh.  But soon – we’ll head back to Asia – I promised.

The girlfriend who was visiting her in-laws in Colorado had invited me and some of my friends to go with her one year and we agreed.  The host were very gracious and brought us to the Grand Canyon for a day tour.   It wasn’t too far from where they lived and we took a road trip and arrived way before lunch.  The sight was breath-taking of course and we only managed to take a few photos because  – the in-laws wasn’t feeling too hot.

You can imagine how hot it was – but there are tour buses if you are not living nearby and want to go visit the Grand Canyon – we saw quite a few that day.

Some people do a little hiking – some a little rafting – some just sit around taking a sip of water and enjoying the wonders of the world – but we ?  we ate – hahah!! we brought a picnic lunch.

The Southern Rim of the Grand Canyon seems to be the most popular -  layers and layers of rock here.  And if you are a first time hiker – the Bright Angel Trail apparently will be your best bet.  The Grand Canyon is known as a very spiritual place. People come here to find peace and/or be amazed by the grandness of our planet.  So if you are in Arizona – make sure you make a trip up here – shuttle buses do come up here.

Yes! you guess right – Walt Disney World is where everyone wants to bring their kids to – and we are no difference of course – and when you see a good deal – you take it just like when you see  diet pills that really work you buy it immediately – haha!   I have been to Walt Disney World several times but not with the family  – but when i was working and traveling.

But be prepared – the queues are long for just about every ride and try to choose a day where it is not so sunny but also windy.  The heat really almost killed all of us – hahaah! when we were last there a few years ago.  Plus if you are going with kids – make sure you have some kind of stroller or a push wagon – because the kids are not going to be walking for hours and hours with you.

We had a really good deal with the theme park this year and besides special passes for the entire family for a few days – we also got a great deal to stay in the resort.

We didn’t even cover half the area in the time we were there – the first day that is – so it was great that we were staying in the resort and was able to go back the next day.  More in the next few post.

I love an county fair – they are an awesome place to be in with friends and family.  I haven’t been to a large scale fair like this on in Orange County and when I found a picture of it – i had to share it with you.  If you are around the area – don’t forget to get your corn dogs and corn plus go on the La Grande Wheel – one of the largest ferries wheel in the world.

Yes, like all fairs, it is pretty commercialized but what can you expect – i love the color and love walking around and tasting the different kind of food.  It’s so fun to see kids walking around with cotton candies and huge huggies – i think they are just so thrilled to win something.  A little kid in all of us emerge when we are at the fair don’t you think? which are the best fairs have you been to?

Been to L.A (Los Angeles) lately?  I haven’t – it had been a long time – so when i came across some old pictures that we had taken on one of our many trips to LA – i can’t help but wanna go again this year.  So instead of looking for  prenatal multivitamin for the sister – I decided to look for cheap airfares to visit LA – this summer.   But in the meantime – i thought I would share some pictures we took many moons again.  I don’t know how much LA has changed but no matter how it has changed – I’m sure you would love LA.

The very famous Six Flags Magic Mountain, we never miss going especially when you have some kids with you.

Earl Carroll/Nickelodeon Theater, 6230 Sunset Blvd.  Lavish supper club that opened in 1938.

No explanation needed here right?

The very famous cupcakes

UCLA

Another very famous fast food joint – we always go to – best ever burgers!

Burger!!  see i need to go for a visit really soon – even if it was just for the burgers.

Kennebunkport is a well-known small town because it houses Bush Senior’s summer home and his Backwoods cigars I heard. Kennebunkport is a coastal village and I’d enjoyed the many small shops in the area and if you are in Kennebunkport – don’t forget to drive by the summer home of the former President of United States.   But first take a walk around the town as it is a wonderful seaport – we got lots of souvenirs home during this trip.

We were there during the fall and there weren’t too many tourists around at that time – but we did get to eat our lobsters, visited some historical building and even spotted some known celebs.

Yummy lobsters from Maine.

So for those flying Air Canada from now to end of January, you don’t have to rush home to your apartments just to get onto the internet.   Now you can do all your online work from the flight, well, actually only from Toronto to Los Angeles.  The service will cost $9.95 per flight for customers with a laptop computer and $7.95 for a personal electronic device. Not too expensive in my humble opinion.. because your flight has gotta be more than an hour right..??   So don’t forget to ask for their wireless service on board.. if you are flying Air Canada.

So i hear JetBlue is having a one day flight sale starting from $29 on the 19.  So forget about your home theater systems and go somewhere.. and take advantage of the cheap seats.. and visit the relative or mom of yours.  Or make the wife happy by booking the tickets for her.. and the children.. to visit home this Christmas.

The airline said sale fares are for travel between Dec. 2 and Dec 16 as well as between Jan. 6 to Jan. 28, with some blackout dates. The sale is not valid on tickets for travel on Jan 14, 15, 18 and 19.  Most of the discounted fares originate from JetBlue’s home base at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York. Destinations range from close spots such as Boston to Caribbean locations such as Saint Lucia.

The Louisanna Supreme Court Building near the french quarter hotels of Beaux Arts-style and originally called the “New Courthouse Building” was originally built from 1908-1910. Its purpose was to “clear slums” while replacing the Cabildo and Presbytère as the seat of local justice. For fifty years the Louisiana Supreme Court and a spate of lower courts and offices drew swarms of glad-handed politicians, judges and lawyers, plaintiffs and defendants, juries and commissioners, clerks and secretaries, librarians, and even an occasional historian through its sculpted hallways. But in 1958 the Supreme Court departed for newer quarters and others soon followed. The Louisiana Wild Life and Fisheries Museum moved in, but when they left, the building closed and was allowed to decay. After an extensive renovation in 2004, the Louisiana Supreme Court moved back into the courthouse, and were joined by Court of Appeal-Fourth Circuit, the State Judicial Administrator’s Office, the Law Library of Louisiana, an Attorney General’s Office and, in time, a legal museum. The building is guarded by a statue of former United States Chief Justice, Edward Douglas White.