Part of the charm of London is its old buildings and townhomes which often get converted into unique hotel rooms.  Not so charming are the small hotel rooms which limit to two people (maybe three) in a room.  It gets tricky (and expensive) when traveling with your family of four or more, in groups or with friends who just want their own bed. In the U.S. we are spoiled with standard rooms that have two double beds (double double) that sleeps four quite easily or a king room as standard. Rarely do you see a single twin room for one in the U.S.  Finding lodging in London for four can get expensive if you need to split into two rooms, rent a furnished apartment or go luxe with OneFineStay London until now. Now with the conversion of the Cumberland Hotel, one of the largest hotels in London with over 600+ rooms, the new Hard Rock Hotel London has many room configurations, including a double double room (2 Queen beds) that sleeps four in a Family Room.

Bonus is that they also have single rooms which is a nice option for solo travelers, business travelers and families that are bringing grandmom with them (my mom loves her own room).

The Hard Rock Hotel London opened earlier this year and I was able to stay and tour the property a few weeks after it had its soft open (a soft open is the time to get kinks out with staff training and learning of the new property before grand opening).   The Hard Rock brand is all about rock and roll and yet the hotels while showcasing the memorabilia are also keen on room design and comfort that isn’t cookie cutter.

Hyde Park Location off of Oxford Street

The hotel is located across from Marble Arch and Hyde Park, next to the Marble Arch tube station and Pret café at the end of Oxford Street (classic shopping)., the Hard Rock Hotel London has a good location to base yourself at and explore the city.  The property plays host to many groups, including the tour buses outside, as well as meeting & events.  There are a line of black cab taxis outside at the ready for your adventure.  Starbucks, pubs, eclectic cafes and restaurants are all around the property as you walk away from Oxford Street.

One of my favorite shops is Selfridges’ Food Hall, a short walk away on Oxford Street. I buy my shortbread biscuits (cookies) there as well as all my favorite chocolates (Melt is a new favorite made in London chocolate) and Blondie’s Kitchen cookies and brownies. If you walk away from Oxford Street and the hotel into the streets of Marylebone, you have great pubs, restaurants like The Grazing Goat for Sunday roast dinner and the amazing art at The Wallace Collection (free entry).  Marylebone High Street has lots of boutique shopping, restaurants and pubs.

Tip: First Time to London?  Read my London Travel Tips

Hard Rock Hotel London Lobby of Rock and Roll

The Hard Rock Hotel London lobby is filled with the rock memorabilia you are used to seeing at the Hard Rock Cafes and other Hard Rock Hotels around the world. What is unique about this property is that the circular lobby bar faces the café and the stage where live music is presented nightly for free. You can get the chance to discover new music and musicians while enjoying a drink at the bar or eating in the café with the classic Hard Rock café menu.

There are also couches and seating areas between the entrance doors and the front desk which seemed to be filled with people all day and night long.

The lobby also has a Hard Rock Hotel London shop with pins, t-shirts and uniquely London items. For Hard Rock pin collectors, there are exclusive hotel pins.

The concierge/bellman desk is in the middle of the space along the wall and the VIP Check In /Concierge Lounge is behind the standard check in area.

The art and memorabilia are quite special with clothing, handwritten notes and other unique objects. The highlight is a handwritten note on Cumberland Hotel letterhead by Jimi Hendrix

Check In Snafus

The staff were lovely at check in as I arrived a bit before standard check in.  I expected to drop my bags and wander over to Selfridge’s Food Hall a short walk away, but they had a room ready for me.  Or at least they thought they did. The staff were still learning the room configurations and the computer system at the time so long story short there was a problem with my room assignment.

A few problems actually as I booked a Deluxe Queen room and was given a double room at first (full bed) on the 8th floor.  I returned to the front desk and was assigned a new room which they thought was a Queen – it was a Superior Single room on the 7th floor.  On the third try (third time’s the charm), the longtime bellman of the Cumberland Hotel was consulted and I was upgraded to a Deluxe King Room on the 5th floor.  He confirmed that room # x was a king (where was he with the other room assignments?).  The front desk staff were obviously mortified by the errors and issues and I did speak with management on site and after my stay.   I chalk this off to soft opening and learning curve. I was offered a few amenities to choose from as an apology – I accepted two free drinks vouchers.

Room Tip: Always be mindful of what room you booked and if you have any questions about the room assigned, speak to a staff member, front desk manager or other manager when onsite so they have the opportunity to correct it immediately.  Please don’t wait to bash anyone on TripAdvisor or other travel site after the fact.  Staff are keen to make it right when informed.

Elevators, Design and Musician Photos

The elevators are nicely managed with key card assignment.  You tap your key card and are sent to the assigned numbered elevator bank.  This controlled the usage quite nicely.  During my stay, the elevators were quick and most times I was the only person using the elevator.

The hallways are long corridors of black, grey and photos of rock stars on the walls.  My landmarks on the floor were turn right at Oasis and right at Sia.

Tip: The hotel is massive and all floors are the same color so find your rock star landmarks to make the trek to your room easier.

The Deluxe King Room Hard Rock London

As I exited the elevator bank, I made note of the Oasis band member on the wall to ensure I went the right way.  When I opened the door, the room was obviously much larger than a normal London room.  Not only did it have a large King bed, it also had a desk, entertainment area and room to move.  In the US we call this a normal sized room, in London it is massive and not the norm. The full length mirror had markings of the height of famous rock stars.  Of course, Prince was short which we knew but other details were surprising.  I was taller at 5’9” than most. Cute rock and roll history in the decor.

The bedding was decorated with musical notes and the theme carried throughout the room in subtle details.  There was a closet with two robes, two pair of slippers, and a coffee/tea maker, and safe, hair dryer and iron/ironing board to use. The minibar was stocked with options and the refrigerator included two bottles of water complimentary.  For those coffee readers, there was a Nespresso machine which I heard is a good thing.

The Hard Rock Hotel London Bathroom

The bathroom had a window that opened out which is always nice to have fresh air.  The newly renovated area had marble flooring and a sink vanity with a good amount of Rock Spa toiletries. I had to step up into the shower and of course couldn’t figure out dials and switches (it has multiple settings and options) and was soaked with my first time use. The other room categories may have a tub/shower combo or just a shower option like I had.

Tip: If you need a specific bathroom configuration make sure to put in reservation, confirm before arrival and then make sure you confirm at check in.  My mom in her late 70’s prefers a walk in shower with no steps.

Entertainment Options

The television had a plethora of options and information on it.  Did you know you can order up a guitar to play in room? Or stream a custom playlist?  Or even have a turntable and vinyl records delivered for an in room experience?  Music is front and center. Sport was not.

The television options at the time did not include sport stations which was quite surprising to me in the land of football.   It was a Sunday when Formula One (F1) was on as well as a few major football (soccer) games and yet none were available on the in room television.  Thankfully I went to the pub around the corner.  You can use hotel wifi to connect your phone to the TV for streaming options (didn’t work for me during my stay as I was going to stream live F1 from my cable tv app).

Tip: Talk to the Concierge if you need help with the television as he was quite nice to offer a few folks to help me.

Hard Rock Hotel Breakfast

The lobby restaurant uses the circular stage shelf to feature a buffet breakfast (was included in my rate).  You won’t go hungry with the many options available in hot and cold plates. I did ask for special order eggs over easy as I’m lactose free and many items in buffet were not (i.e. scrambled eggs). The staff were very attentive and accommodating.

Hard Rock Hotel Lunch

For lunch on the day of check-in, I ate in the lobby as it’s been years since I’ve eaten at a Hard Rock Café.  I ordered the classic cheeseburger and fries (chips) which were fine as standard fare.  The staff were still finding their rhythm with the new hotel and restaurant but were attentive nonetheless. I had a lovely conversation with my server about F1, sport and America.

Other Room Types at Hard Rock Hotel London

Given the mix up at check in, I was able to take photos/video of the other rooms configurations and then had a tour with the Sales Manager. The décor and design is pretty standard across the room options which was nice to see. The Suite option was quite large and for those on a longer visit this is a nice option.

Superior Single (Twin Room)

Finding a single room in London isn’t that easy so I was pleasantly surprised to see that the Hard Rock Hotel London in converting the Cumberland Hotel added single rooms.  While we all don’t love a twin bed, this option was not that bad.  If you want to upgrade your lodging this is a great place to do so.  The pricing of the room is reasonable and the website offers promotions, packages and special add ons.

Double/Full Room

This was the first room that I was sent to.  It had the bathroom upon entry and then you entered the bedroom. Small room, sleeps two.  The room configuration may vary as the historic hotel has so many shapes and sizes. Despite the small size for two, everything you need is within arm’s reach and very comfortable for a few nights.

Deluxe Queen – the original room I booked.

Standard Queen room with all the room features of the other rooms. Funny that I never got to see the room that I booked.  During the room assignment mix up and the sales tour, the queen room was not on the agenda.

Deluxe King (see my room info above)

Good amount of space for two people for a comfortable stay of more than one night.

Double/Double (2 Queen Room) – great for families of 4

Popular option so will sell out quickly in my opinion. Two double beds that sleep four comfortably. Kids will like the burger/fries in the lobby, parents will like the breakfast buffet and the modern design as well as the comfort of location.   Given that so many London hotels limit the room to three guests, the extra space will matter for a family of four.  We did not tour this room type.

Rock Royalty Junior Suite London

The Suite had a wonderful walk in closet which you can easily unpack two suitcases and still have room leftover for shopping!  The bathroom has both a shower and a separate tub.  The king size bed sits on one side of the room which the living space with couch, desk, chair and bar are on the opposite. It’s a good configuration especially is you are staying longer than a few nights or need entertaining space.

Final Thoughts – Hard Rock Hotel London

The Hard Rock Hotel London is shiny and new.  It was quite lovely and my stay was good.  I chalk off the check in snafu to being a new hotel still training staff and learning the system.  It is a familiar brand of hotel for American families who may have stayed at properties in Orlando and elsewhere. There’s no culture shock here, you can deal with that later trying to figure out what “bubble and squeak” is on breakfast menus and looking left at crosswalks.

As the hotel is massive and they need to put heads in beds, there is a good chance to find great rates in comparison to other hotel options in the city. I keep going back to the word “comfort” and the Hard Rock Hotel London is a comfortable hotel escape in London.  Knowing that you can easily explore London by day, enjoy rock music in the lobby at night and retire to your luxury room for the evening no cab required is a nice option.  Just remember which rock star is your beacon to finding your room (am assuming you had a few pints as it is London).

When my family booked their Disney cruise for Mom’s birthday and dragged me along (didn’t I already treat Mom to a lavish birthday trip to Paris/London?), I decided that they needed to do the Disney Cruise the right way.  They had previously sailed twice before and were not aware of the Disney fish extenders, fish exchanges or cabin door magnets so I had to fix that immediately (disclosure: I’m a big Disney fan/geek).  This leads me to the 5 Disney Cruise Tips for a new family sailing on Disney or the return cruise guest that was clueless the first time.

Do note that while most cruise groups meet on Cruise Critic, the Disney cruisers utilize Facebook Groups for the particular sailing so join the FB group in advance to join fish extender (FE) exchange groups and meet others sailing on the ship with you.

So for me, the key need to know Disney Cruise sailing tips to make that first Disney cruise memorable.   Here are two unique to Disney Cruise Lines videos from my cruise on the Disney Magic. The Disney Magic Cruise Ship cabin and the Disney Cruise Fireworks at Sea

Disney Cruise Tips – Decorated Door Magnets

If you want to see Disney creativity (and many Etsy creations), the doors are the way to go.  It also helps you find your cabin easily (we are past Stitch and before The Little Mermaid).  The Disney cruise doors can be decorated with a variety of magnets and themes.  We had fun one day walking all the deck hallways to look for the most creative doors – Star Wars, Stitch, Princesses and because we were on an Easter sailing, many Easter Bunny themes.   I ordered our door magnets on Etsy – one for Mom’s birthday, one for the main group and one for my friend country mouse’s first Disney cruise.  My order arrived in 3 days and I was excited to surprise the family (somehow I forgot to take the photos of our doors?!).  So here are a few fun doors we found on the ship.

Disney Cruise Tips –  Fish Extenders & Fish Exchange

Outside your cabin door there is a fish to collect your mail and daily notices.  I’m not sure when or how the practice started but cruise guests began to decorate the Fish with Fish Extenders, a variety of crafted Disney themed banners with pockets.  The intent is to join a Fish Exchange group within your Disney Cruise facebook group.  Each group commits to x number of families/children and each family buys small gifts (Disney related usually but can also be local to your hometown or the destination – something fun for the kids) to deliver to each member of the group so the children have a surprise for each day of the cruise.   It’s a fun idea for small souvenirs.  Do note the additional cost to your family as well as packing space needed for the small gifts you are giving (and receiving).

Order your fish extenders on Etsy a few months before your cruise as they are individually made and take time. Or if you are crafty, make your own.  (Warning: Pinterest and Etsy are rabbit holes of Fish Extender creativity).

Disney Cruise Tips –  Spa Appointments

If you even have an inkling that you want to relax in the spa with a spa treatment, book your appointment as far in advance as possible.  While I usually go onboard and book appointments based on my mood and needs at the time, Disney sells out spa appointments well in advance.  I took the Disney spa tour upon boarding but despite all the “specials” on offer, there were no appointments for the more popular massage and facials. Nail appointments and hair salon had a bit more flexibility but not much.

Disney Cruise Tips – Birthday Decorations in the Cabin

As the family was celebrating Mom’s birthday (again, for the third time! before in Paris/London, on her actual birthday and after on the cruise, she really did celebrate being 75!), I pre-ordered a cabin decoration – the prices and amenities do vary but they did a lovely job in surprising mom when she entered her cabin.  I’m thinking everyone should arrive to a decorated room with gifts!

Visit the Disney site to pre-order Disney Gifts and Amenities for birthday and special occasion events.

Disney Cruise Tip – Bonus

The in room toiletries are actually really nice.  They sell larger versions in the on-board shop but you can ask your cabin steward for more (I would encourage a tip with this ask) as they are pretty fabulous.

So hopefully, you are now ready to enjoy your first Disney cruise armed with your Fish Extender, Fish Exchange gifts and Door Magnets to surprise your family and friends.  And for you?  That Spa appointment sounds like a lovely reward to erase all the stress you’ve accumulated from travel planning, flights and overall logistics.  Don’t forget to tip the room steward for extra Disney Cruise Line Spa Toiletries so you can enjoy that relaxing feeling at home!

Happy Sailing!

Well, this was new to me on my quest for birthday treats in Las Vegas. I had left The Wynn Hotel and was walking down the Las Vegas Strip to see what was new and exciting on a Saturday afternoon.  I turned into the pedestrian walkway of The LINQ Promenade from the Las Vegas Strip and was met with a plethora of food, drink and fun options.  If you have one of “those” friends (i.e. me) who can never decide what they want to eat, drink or do in Las Vegas, this is the place to bring them to because they will find something.  If they don’t, disown them now because they will never be happy! The LINQ Promenade is a wonderful new addition to the Las Vegas Strip as it allows folks to be outside rather than stuck inside the various casinos and shopping malls.   The curation of food, fun, shopping is actually so good it will be hard to pick only one place to eat, drink, enjoy.

Food Options at the LINQ Promenade in Las Vegas

• Gordon Ramsey Fish & Chips – Fancy a bit of Britain?  The red telephone booth and cheeky designs will draw you to the Fish & Chips
• Honolulu Cookie Company (I was already a fan after discovering them on my In Search of A Cookie Las Vegas Edition) – Premium Shortbread cookies shaped like the famous Hawaiian pineapple.  The store has a display with all you can eat samples.  Given their many flavors, trying each one once will be quite filling.  The cookies are sold individually wrapped and in a variety of packaged options.
• Ghirardelli Ice Cream & Chocolate Shop – Chocolate & Ice Cream?  Enough Said!
• Canter’s Deli – a kosher deli serving pastrami, corned beef and matzah ball soup. Sandwiches piled high is the classic deli way.
• Virgil’s Real BBQ – southern cooking in Las Vegas
• Guy Fieri’s Vegas Kitchen & Bar – the Food Channel celebrity chef has an outpost of his kitchen & bar serving American comfort foods.
• Haute Doggery – the number of toppings might actually eclipse the hot dog base but for posh hot dogs this is your place.
• Amorino Gelato – European gelato in the flower shaped designed cones.  If you’ve been to Europe then you probably know this gelato chain.  I definitely enjoyed it in Milan and London.
• Tilted Kilt – think Hooters girls in Kilts at this chain pub serving beer, wings and all things sports bar related.

The Food Celebrities at LINQ Promenade

In N Out Burger Las Vegas Strip

For years, I’ve heard of the lure of the Los Angeles In & Out Burger visit to/from the airport.  For locals, it was a must have when returning to the city.  I missed out on my Los Angeles visit oh so many years ago so on my trip out West, I finally had the opportunity to see what all the noise was about.  Was this really the best burger in the U.S.?  Better than the New York Shake Shack allegiance?  You be the judge!  The menu is limited, the pricing quite low and the service quick.

Sprinkles Cupcakes Las Vegas Strip

Another Los Angeles favorite.  How many stories had I read about the 24/7 cupcake ATM machine by Sprinkles so you can buy a bit of sugar after the bakery had closed?  The red velvet cupcake is only one of many flavors of cupcakes.  Sold in regular size and mini, the options are overwhelming to just pick one so on my first visit – I went mini cupcake so I could try three flavors and see how they stacked up against my many East Coast cupcake bakeries.

The Las Vegas LINQ Main Attraction – The High Roller

The High Roller Observation Wheel in Las Vegas

If you’ve visited London and the London Eye then you have an idea of what the ride on The High Roller Observation Wheel in Las Vegas will be like. Higher than both London and Singapore’s observation wheels but otherwise similar.  A slow moving capsule which holds up to 40 guests in each of the 28 capsules, revolves once around in 30 minutes and provides you a birds-eye view of the surrounding area (weather dependent).  In Las Vegas’ case, the ride can be tricked out with private hire capsules, catered food and drink and even yoga classes as the capsule goes up, around and down.  The prices vary by time of day and event. There is an open bar happy hour option, a weekly chocolate tasting experience and many other events to choose from.  It’s definitely something that everyone can enjoy (except those afraid of heights!).  Book online to ensure your preferred time and avoid the lines.

LINQ Promenade Fun Things to Do in Las Vegas

Brooklyn Bowl Las Vegas Strip

Fancy a night of bowling with friends with live music in the background and food/drink service at one of the 32 lanes?  Brooklyn Bowl is the place to go.  Not a bowler?  Enjoy the live music and six bars in the venue.  Great for groups of friends who want to have fun.

Virtual Reality (VR) Experiences in Las Vegas

Keen to step into a virtual reality (as if Las Vegas and the Las Vegas Strip wasn’t already an alternative universe), then get ready at VR Experiences.  With four scenarios to choose from, you can easily live out a fantasy. Screaming Skydive or Human Flight Simulator for the adventurous.  House of Horrors for those who enjoy scary things and Soaring Superhero for those who want to fly over Las Vegas (cape not included).

Coming Soon to The LINQ Promenade

FlyLINQ Zip lines, the ten side by side zip lines – are you dare devil enough to race a friend or two (or nine?).  These should be similiar to the ziplines at the Freemont Experience in downtown Las Vegas.

LINQ Promenade – Pubs and Drinks Galore

Love beer?  Love beer in cans?  Try one of many beers in cans at ameriCAN Beer & Cocktail Bar.  This is sure to create conversation as you discover a plethora of beer from all 50 U.S. States.  Get your camera ready for these Instagram photos of your beer can as you travel the states through the local beers. Don’t worry if not a beer fan, there is a cocktail list.

O’Shea’s Pub – A bit of Ireland in Las Vegas – who doesn’t love an Irish Pub?

Yard House – classic American favorites served with over 160 beers on tap.  Yes, 160 beers which will require even the most dedicated beer drinker a few return visits to sample them all.

Celebrations at the LINQ Promenade

This is LAS VEGAS so of course there is something to celebrate every day at the LINQ Promenade – from Mardi Gras, to Chinese New Year, Easter and Christmas to name a few.  When the sun goes down the entertainment heats up in the courtyard and in the various venues plus the neon signs are all shining bright!

Overall – The LINQ Promenade Las Vegas Attraction

I was really impressed with this new food and entertainment area on the Las Vegas Strip that Caesar’s has created along with the hip(?) young vibe of the LINQ Hotel.  If you stay at the hotel, everything is right outside your door.  For those not staying so central, it is easy to walk to the LINQ Promenade and taxis/Ubers will drop you off in the back of the venue near the High Roller entrance.  The only downside is that you have one stomach and can’t realistically try everything during your stay so divide and conquer with friends so you can taste a bit of everything.  Go forth and enjoy this new attraction in Las Vegas!

I’m exhausted!  Now that I have a job and vacation time again, I’ve been putting it to good use this year.  That said, I’m tired and woefully behind on posts as I’ve been chosing the couch over my laptop after work to decompress from my horrible commute. But there so much to share with you and I hope to start catching up soon as I’m Philly bound for a while. I still have two weeks of vacation time to plan and use by year end so trying to spin the globe and see where it takes me (thinking a hibernation sounds perfect).  For now, here’s what I’ve been up to so far this year and the stories you’ll see in upcoming posts.

Disney Magic Cruise to the Southern Caribbean

In April, my family celebrated Mom’s actual 75^th birthday on the Disney Magic cruise ship to the Southern Caribbean leaving from Puerto Rico.  We would visit Antiqua, Barbados, St. Kitts, St. Lucia and Martinique. Yes, despite treating Mom to a whirlwind, luxury trip of 10 days in Paris & London last September as advance birthday celebration, I was summoned to attend the family cruise on Disney Cruise lines.  Disney Cruise lines are expensive when compared with other cruise lines so I phoned a friend to join me since I was already paying the 200% single supplement for the inside room.  My country mouse who joined my EPIC escape to Europe two years ago, flew on three planes and slept at the airport to join me and the family on the cruise.  Country Mouse had only sailed on Celebrity Cruise lines with her mom prior to joining me on the NCL Epic and now on the Disney Magic.  Her refrain would continue to be “this ain’t Celebrity”.  My family has only sailed on Disney, while I’ve sampled the other cruise lines to compare.  I had a different perspective to it all – here’s my sneek peek at the Disney Magic oceanview room and the Disney Cruise Lines fireworks at sea.

W Vieques Island, Puerto Rico

Prior to joining my family on the cruise, I took two days to redeem my Starwood SPG points and experience the W Vieques Island.  That involved a twenty minute flight from the San Juan airport to/from on Cape Air (see the video of my flight landing at SJU Airport).   I spent time on the beach reading, fell asleep to the sounds of the waves outside and had a fantastic spa treatment.  It was a relaxing stay until the bug bites, which are another story.  This is what relaxation on the beach looks and sounds like:

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KKdLdybNp_g[/embedyt]

Once home in April, I was dealing with my reaction to the bug bites and the sun before packing again for my quick trip to Scotland and London in May.

Weekend in Scotland & London

The long weekend over the Memorial Day holiday was perfect getaway to Scotland & London …in business class….using points….visiting friends….eating cookies…traveling on the Virgin East Coast train from Edinburgh to London and staying at The Dorset Square Hotel in Marylebone.   I would, however, be banned from picking restaurants in the future in London as my friend ended up at McDonald’s after each meal on his way home (note: my meals were fine and we won’t talk about his pension for McD’s).

Here’s a bit of Scottish bagpipe music to get you in the mood:

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qAFggs2B8W0[/embedyt]

Exhausted at home, I was catching up on life, laundry, bills and blog posts.  Work was busy, life was busy and my next trip was quickly approaching.

Alaska Cruise with Holland America, Oprah & O Magazine

I was set to sail from Seattle to Alaska on Holland America Eurodam with Oprah and the O Magazine team as part of the launch of the “Live Your Adventure” cruise. Twenty years ago, my first cruise to Alaska was marred when the ship broke down and was leaking oil into the water.  We were forced to skip Glacier Bay on the Glacier cruise so this was me hitting “do-over” on that cruise.  The new partnership with O Magazine is quite interesting and I’ll be posting more about that soon.

Sneak Peek at my Verandah Cabin on the Eurodam

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=47mNQdvjIdQ[/embedyt]

Yes, I met Oprah and have a photo with her during the private charity dinner benefitting the National Parks.  Who knew Oprah loved tequila as much as she does (only 1 point on Weight Watchers), well, I quickly learned as she shared the famous George Clooney tequila with us (yowza!).  The excitement of Oprah’s two days on the ship, the special programming with the O Magazine team and their authors and writers plus a private concert by India.Arie and comedian Rita Rudner and the splendor that is Alaska made for an interesting journey.  The flight to Seattle was torturous but I was rewarded with champagne at check in at the Four Seasons Seattle and a indulgent meal at Palace Kitchen.

Pre/Post Cruise Day in Seattle

My return to Seattle where I have a childhood friend was bittersweet as the kids continue to grow and make me feel old.  I’ve been traveling to Seattle every couple of years to visit the past twenty years and have seen so many great attractions (Chihuly Glass, Pike Place Market, Wine, Waterfalls and Chocolate, the San Juan Islands) and this time I would have just one day with them – one jam packed day of brunch at The Four Seasons, Infinity Mirrors exhibition at the Seattle Art Museum, a visit to the new Starbucks Roastery and then dinner before falling into my brand new (can still smell the paint almost) renovated king room at Hotel 1000.

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AAOPecWPQKw[/embedyt]

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n6SEKv6Oivw[/embedyt]

Once home, I would keep busy and meet new friends for live music at the Foundry music venue inside Philadelphia’s new music hall – The Fillmore.

Weekend in Washington, D.C.

I would jump on Amtrak to Washington D.C. for an arts/food/monuments tour of the city with other luxury travel bloggers in the #BloggersTakeTheCity event in August.  With a silent disco, art installations, lots of food and even more art, I got to see a side of D.C. I didn’t realized I missed on prior trips.  I’m still processing all the food and fun plus new friends from that getaway.   Here’s a sneak peek at the Fairmont D.C. Gold Lounge:

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5KdPg7vaFA[/embedyt]

After saying goodbye to the group, I met up with a twitter friend IRL to tour the sweet treats and tapas side of the city.  My final day in the city involved a whirlwind visit of The Capitol, Library of Congress and Supreme Court before ending at The Four Seasons Georgetown for one of DC’s best burgers (spoiler alert – the burger won!) and takeaway cookies.

Home in Philly

So I’m home now for a bit to regroup, reacquaint myself with the couch to learn to Netflix and chill and detox the gluten and dairy that did somehow slip past my lips (damn bread basket and cookies!).  Where to go next is the question.  But for now, I have a plethora of stories, photos and secrets to share with you in the upcoming months from the trips above and still a few left from my travels with Mom.   Hopefully they will inspire you to travel to one or more of the destinations (with or without your mom and/or family) and experience something new, exciting and tasty along the way.

If you can’t wait for the posts and have questions about any of the above destinations, vendors and partners, just contact me or comment below.

When my father passed suddenly a few years ago, his service was the day after Memorial Day.  What was a lovely holiday to start the summer, a holiday to remember those who served in the U.S. Armed forces, was now a holiday full of sadness, deep sadness that I wasn’t able to shake off with the normal holiday celebrations.  This was (and is) my new normal – a holiday marred with sadness.  I joined a club I never wanted membership to. So I did what I could to be my normal and my normal is best when traveling.  And my best is me in London in the middle of the familiar wrapped in comfort of landmark buildings, surrounded by travel friends who only know my happy side and with enough walking time to reflect.  So for the past few years, I’ve been planning the Memorial Day Trip to Europe as a way to remember my dad who loved my sense of adventure (and the treats I would bring back from faraway lands).  He was afraid to fly and marveled at my fearlessness to travel the world solo.  I was fiercely independent (to his chagrin as he felt this kept me single) which I chalk up to him because he taught me how to manage on my own and how to love sports.

This year, I’m revisiting Edinburgh, Scotland, a city I first visited with my friend, Christine, after our trip to Ireland more than twenty years ago after we graduated from college.  Christine also passed too young (at 36) and her memories make me laugh about our times traveling to the UK and Ireland.  Her childlike wonder and enjoyment of the world is something I’m always checking myself on to avoid being too serious and missing out the good parts.  I will then, of course, pop into London for a sweet treat (or ten) and bring Mom back some treats she discovered on her trip.

So while I’m walking down memory lane this holiday, you can see where I’ve been the past few holidays.  A bit of travel memory lane for you to see how I’ve coped with my sadness and tried my best to have fun.  Sadness is fine, it’s part of life, wallowing is not.  Getting out to experience the world, for me, is the best way to honor my friends and family by feeding my soul with life through food, wine, boutique hotels and time on the plane up in the clouds reflecting on what’s important to me.

Memories of Dad at the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto

The Travel Sabbatical – Three Months in Europe

Weekend in London at The Hoxton Hotel

Keeping My Elite Status

So while I’m flying home today, I hope you are enjoying the local parades, enjoying the hot dogs, baseball and family games of catch.  Enjoying the quiet moments, the family moments, enjoying life.

Happy Memorial Day!

You think you know your friends and family well?  Try traveling with them to learn more than you ever needed to know (I really should have them complete the travel roommate questions).  Who would have guessed my country mouse friend was a cruise ship liquor smuggler?  I found out when I said “I didn’t know you wore contacts” seeing the large bottle of saline solution.  She replied “I don’t, that’s Vodka!”  She then proceeded to pull out bottles of various sizes from her luggage each filled with a new liquor.  I, at least, went to Whole Foods to carry on my bottled water in an effort to save money on the cruise. And then she showed me a very small bottle.  “Do I dare ask what’s in the tiny bottle?” she started laughing “these are the poo drops for the bathroom” (oh boy!)  This was my first foray into sharing my cabin (later a hotel room where she would steal rolls of toilet paper from the housekeeping cart to hoard them in the room –long story) with a friend I’ve never traveled with.

So now that I’m planning my trip with my Mom, I’m contemplating separate rooms which means the trip will be much more expensive.  Why would I do this?  To preserve my sanity and get some sleep.  While I snore a bit, it’s not enough to keep others awake at night or change rooms.  In Mom’s case, she refuses to accept that she probably has sleep apnea.  My then three year old niece warned me when I shared a room with Mom in Disney World (and didn’t sleep for three days) – “Aunt Sue, Mom-mom snores, I wouldn’t stay with her”.

So I have a list of crazy things I’ve learned about my friends (and family) over the years traveling (don’t worry they probably have a list of things I do too) and generally do a very covert checklist before agreeing to travel with them. Here’s ten travel roommate questions that are at the top of the list for me –

1. Do You Snore to the point that I want to commit Travel Snoricide? Or need my own room?

   

2. Do You Eat Breakfast? (Most prefer to sleep in, so I often go to breakfast alone)
3. What time do you want to get up? (I’m always up first and get the shower)
4. Do You Want to See it All? Or only a checklist?
5. Is a Hotel just a place to rest your head? Or should it to be an experience in itself?
6. Are you a TV watcher? (I rarely put the tv on when traveling, others need it on to shower, sleep, etc.).
7. Do you have a budget? What does that include?  Fast food takeaway? Sit down restaurants? Tours? Taxis? Buses? We need to realistically agree on costs to avoid disappointment
8. Do you have any food issues? Not only intolerances like me but are you a picky eater who searches out the familiar American brands like Burger King, McDonalds, Subway, etc. ? (Warning: You will eat alone as I will go elsewhere)
9. What is your feeling on germs? How OCD are you? (Warning: I never touch the tv remote and bring my own flip flops so I don’t walk on the hotel carpet in bare feet – I’m always amazed by friends who don’t care)
10. Will you make a decision on what you like or don’t like? Or have you abdicated all decisions to me?
11. (Bonus) Will you share your dessert? (this is a trick question as you know if you’ve been reading for awhile)

So just a few questions that I feel we should get out of the way before agreeing to travel together.  As for me?  Here is my list of quirks you should know about:

1. I will be on time or fifteen minutes early

   

2. I will have a Plan B, C, D…… in case of travel disruptions (see: nightmare travel day)
3. I will get up early, go to bed late and squeeze every minute I can from my travel day
4. I will schedule a day off (spa day) where I sleep in and have no agenda other than to relax, recharge and indulge
5. I’m OCD about the hotel room germs on the TV remote and floor. I will also need to read the hotel guide book (if in room) and check out the fire escape route on the back of the door (just let me do this and all will be fine)
6. I will try to save money where I can but my time (and sanity) is worth more so while I have traveled the hour on the Piccadilly line from Heathrow to the city of London with my Oyster card, I’d much rather the 15 minute Heathrow Express ride and 30 minute cab ride (often a lovely conversation with the cabbie) above ground.  Its costs much more but I often feel better without the stess of twenty+ stops (without air conditioning) on the train with my bag(s).
7. I prefer to walk everywhere – I can walk for hours and enjoy it. You need to tell me when you need a break (and I have no sympathy if you only brought the “cute shoes”)

   

8. My bag is full of snacks and water so I won’t go hungry or thirsty during the above walk, on the plane or during our trip so if you need to eat let me know ahead of time
9. I reserve the right to leave you at some point (I’ve been a solo traveler for too long) – it’s usually breakfast while you are sleeping in or when you want to stay and watch TV, I may wander because I need to find a bakery or other fun shop nearby.
10. I will choose experiences over budget – who knows when I’ll be back here again, if I have a change to experiences something new – food, wine, tour, etc., I’ll spend the money over and above budget if necessary because I don’t want to have a “shoulda, coulda, woulda” moment
11. (Bonus) There will be A LOT of photos taken because I’m looking to see the world in different lights, angles, lens and cultures. There will be no selfies because my arms aren’t long enough to erase the wrinkles.

So do you have a checklist that a prospective travel partner needs to complete?  Do you come with your own instructions/warnings?  Did I miss anything above?  Share your thoughts below about crazy things you learned about your friends/family while traveling or let me know what I missed above.

Last year I planned to surprise my mom for her birthday in February with a trip to Europe using my BA Travel Together Award Ticket (a benefit of the BA Chase VISA card where I get a 2 for 1 deal with my points + taxes) but then my world changed in February and had to scrap that plan.  Fast forward to this year and Mother’s Day when I wrote “Pick a Destination (or two) we are going to Europe (once I get my vacation days at the new job) inside her card.  So I asked her “where do you want to go”? and then the fun began.

Mom: “I don’t know, I’ll do what you tell me” (oh boy!).

My sister: “You don’t drink and Ireland is all landscapes” (um, not really but let’s see where this goes)

Mom: “I don’t drink so I guess I shouldn’t go there”? 

Me: “If you want to go to Ireland, we’ll go there”

My (now) teenage niece who I took to Paris & London: “Mom, mom, you should go to Paris & London”

Mom: “Ok, I’ll pick Paris & London”

Me: “Take your time and decide, we’ll go in the fall”

Fast forward a month during which I received texts like this from Mom:

Mom: “What do I need to buy for Europe”?

Mom: “What do I need to pack”?

Mom: “What’s the weather like”?

Me: “Where did you decide to go?  What do you want to do?

Mom: “No one ever asked me, I just get on the bus and the guide tells me – you’re my guide”

Me: “What do you want to see?”

Mom: “You tell me, you’re the travel advisor and guide, what do you do for your clients?”

Me:  “I interview them Mom, find out their interests, their passions, what they most want to do and see. I would ask if they like wine tours in France”

Mom: “I don’t drink wine”

Me: “Yes, I know Mom, I would ask if they like museums, fashion or art tours”

Mom: “I’m not a fan of museums”

Me: “Yes, I know Mom, so I would ask about cooking or food tours…”

Mom: “I don’t want to go on vacation to cook”

Me (opening a bottle of wine): “I know that, I’m giving you examples of questions I ask clients to understand them and find a great hotel, guide, destination that fits their dream trip.  What they absolutely need, how busy they want to be”. 

Mom: “Well, I need coffee as soon as I wake up.  I don’t want to be as busy as you are, I usually sleep until 10 a.m. each day (flashbacks to my niece and our noon breakfasts in London). Ok, so I guess we go to Paris and London then”

Me: “We can take a river cruise Mom, or a cruise, go to Venice and ride a gondola or whatever you always wished you could see. You know your granddaughter was eleven years old and did research on the internet and gave me her list”

Mom: “Ok, I will google it”

A few days pass and we meet for a family dinner

Mom: “I looked online at itineraries and they all say the same – Louvre, Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame and Seine boat.  A few said go outside of Paris to Mont St. Michael. And my friend Dolly said she had the best time on a 5 day cruise where they met a lot of people and saw different countries (me thinking: 5 days?).  She didn’t remember where it started but it docked in Paris and they only had time for the louvre and a bus that took them to other sites.  They did go to Normandy.  There is a river cruise in Paris on the Seine River for lunch or dinner”

Me: “Ok, that helps, do you want to do a river cruise then”

Mom: “If you think that’s best, I should be ok to walk by then”

Me: “You are walking ok now, what are you talking about?”

Mom: “I’m scheduled for knee surgery next month, then use a walker for a few weeks when I can’t drive but should be fine by our trip”

Me: “I’d like a glass of wine please!”

So this is just a snapshot of our conversation as the rest of dinner involved my sister and her husband chiming in on our trip and a few glasses of wine, thankfully there was wine.  You’d think we didn’t see each other or talk as much as we do that she sprung this “knee surgery” on me.

I shouldn’t be surprised by all of this as my family rarely traveled growing up.  My parents were good to stay local as my dad was afraid to fly (he did take one for the team to Disney World) and my mom was afraid of water (my dad or uncle would take us to the beach or swimming pool).  We never did a family road trip because my dad drove tractor trailers and was home for dinner every night.  After 12 hours on the road, a driving vacation was off the table so we had a small yard with an above ground pool.  This was summer and this was our vacation for the most part.  Back then you could put your children unaccompanied on a Greyhound bus from (then) sketchy Philadelphia to Atlantic City where my uncle Bill would pick us up for boardwalk memories. So when folks from Philly tell me they don’t like to or want to travel, I get it, I really do.  Life is good just where they are and they aren’t sad they didn’t experience a gondola in Venice, climb a glacier in New Zealand, visit Buckingham Palace in London or see the Sydney Opera House.  They are content with the trips to the South Jersey shore house, the Pocono Mountains or Disney World (everyone needs to go to Disney at some point whether you like to travel or not).

For Mom & Dad, their vacations changed to the local bus tours once they retired – they got to see the Arch in St. Louis, the Grand Ole Opry and enjoyed many day trips to the casino (they always came out ahead and mom has bingo luck like no other!).  That made them happy, they never dreamed of Europe, never had the wanderlust that I grew up with, that I feed as often as I can…..

Mom: “I hit the jackpot at Bingo last night so I can pay for the trip”

Me: “No worries, I have points and miles for the trip (mulling over how to add Bingo to my life as it seems to pay better than my job”

Mom: “We’ll fight about this later”

Me: (looking for chocolate…..) 

When my Dad suddenly got sick & passed a few months after their 50^th anniversary, I told Mom to take a trip with her friend, to get away (oh the horror in the senior community that it was a few months later) and to look forward to.  It was the first time since she was a teenager that she was on her own, alone. Her friend was going home to Germany in the fall.  I took Mom shopping for her trip and she started yelling at me in Nordstrom’s that the cashmere scarf I travel with was too much money (about $80) and she didn’t need it (yes, she apologized when she returned telling me how awesome and useful the scarf was throughout the trip).  When I said I would review her packing, I walked into a nightmare – one side of luggage was food (as if Germany doesn’t sell food) and the other side clothes and full size shampoo bottles.  I laughed and said “get me Ziploc bags, plastic bags and rubber bands so I can work”.  I managed to sort it all so that all the clothes she couldn’t fit had a place with extra room for her to buy souvenirs for the granddaughters. She said “wow, you are pretty good at packing” (um, hope so after 20+ years of traveling).

Me: “So I was thinking we could bring your sister with us since we are getting an apartment”

Mom: “That would be nice, I can ask her.  Why an apartment and not a hotel?”

Me: “You snore”

Mom: “So do you” (she has willfully ignored her sleep apnea in our opinion for years – we all escape the noise)

Me: “Mom, your four year old granddaughter warned me “Mom Mom snores so I go sleep in another room” when we went to Disney and I didn’t sleep, you slept fine – I didn’t keep you up at night”

Mom: “It wasn’t me”

Me: (searching two bedroom flats with One Fine Stay in Paris)

So Mom is of the generation that is just happy to see something new, never having the expectation that she would fly away from Philadelphia.  She’s come a long way since her Germany flight (sorry, Lufthansa, I told her that the blankets weren’t souvenirs but she said “all the old folks were taking theirs, so I took mine”) even taking her first Disney cruise with my sister and the girls last year (another funny travel story for another time).

So now I’m planning our trip to Paris and London and trying to find a good mix of stuff to do that is a compromise of her “don’t we get on a bus” and my “modern luxury sans busses” with a side of “not too much walking”.  My last trip to Paris I had a fractured foot so can understand having a slight mobility challenge with all the walking in the cities.

Mom:  “I don’t need to go up in the Eiffel Tower if I only get a view of the top of buildings – it looks like a long wait”. 

Me: “Mom we can avoid the crowds and the wait, if you wake up earlier”.

(crickets)

So this is the beginning of the trip planning to London and Paris with Mom, I’m open to suggestions (and advice) if you’ve traveled with your parent(s) to Paris and/or London and what they liked, didn’t like, etc.   No doubt this will be an interesting trip so stay tuned……thankfully there is wine, pain au chocolat and more wine….