We are now one step closer to my favorite things (Scotland version) – the Highlands, Whiskey and Shortbread Biscuits now that American Airlines launched their new (seasonal) direct flights from Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) to Edinburgh (EDI) this week.  For East Coast travelers that fly out of Philadelphia, this is great news as we don’t have to connect via London Heathrow (LHR) anymore.

What’s nice about this new service is that you can have two holidays (vacations) in one if you book a flight to Edinburgh and home from London on American Airlines (OneWorld partner of British Airways) or vice versa during the seasonal service period. There are frequent East Coast direct trains between Edinburgh and London which take you from city centre to city centre with no need to deal with airport security, baggage check and the stresses of the airport. So maybe consider a plane – train – plane option for your next trip to the United Kingdom.

So what to do in and around Edinburgh?  There’s a checklist of attractions for the first time visitor as well as many tempting private whiskey or golf tours to arrange.  Or you can choose to enjoy the food, drink and shopping. A few highlights from my last trip to Edinburgh.

Where to Stay in Edinburgh and What to Do

When trying to decide where to stay in Edinburgh, I consulted my go to guide at the Telegraph – Travel Section.  I saw that the Sheraton Edinburgh was rated highly and I had point to use so that was an easy decision.  Using my Marriott hotel points, I booked an award stay at the centrally located Sheraton Grand Hotel & Spa Edinburgh.  The Edinburgh castle view room was perfect base for exploring the city by foot.  Lining the main road outside the hotel were restaurants, pubs, a movie theatre and other convenient shops.  Walking ten minutes in one direction took you to the shopping of Princes Street and the pedestrian zone.  Ten minutes in the other direction you arrive at the Royal Mile.  At one end is the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the official residence of the Queen in Scotland (not to be confused with Balmoral, the Queen’s privately owned home in Scotland) and at the other end is Edinburgh Castle where you can explore with a guide or do it yourself.   In between these two castles is a street (the Royal Mile) full of life day and night.  Tourists trying to get the best selfie, lining up for ghost tours or bus tours of the Highlands.  Other visitors are exploring The Real Mary King’s Close (a quirky visit into a hidden street and life of residents in the past), St. Giles cathedral and a plethora of souvenir shops.

Day Trip to the Scottish Highlands

I was tempted to book a whisky tour but since I had done that on a previous trip, I decided to book a day trip to the Scottish Highlands and Stirling Castle with Timberbush Tours. The small tour bus held a maximum of twenty passengers but wasn’t full that day.  Our driver and guide was retired from the government where he held senior level and dignitary roles which made him more than qualified (really overqualified really) to lead us around town and out of the city. When he wasn’t talking, he regaled us with Scottish music that added a lovely bagpipe background to the views going by. Along the highway we passed the Kelpies art sculptures.  We would visit Stirling Castle, which I preferred over Edinburgh Castle, as it was less crowded and had actors reenacting castle residents telling tales of the fashion, architecture and life of a castle resident. It added a bit more color to the self-guided visit.

A leisurely boat ride on Loch Lomond was the perfect entry point to the calm and serenity of the glorious nature and natural beauty that is Scotland. The final stop of the day was to visit Fiona, a Scottish Hairy Coo (Cow).  Like a dog running to see its owner, Fiona only needed to hear her name to come over to see our guide with the carrots for her. You can’t pet her but you can get close enough for a selfie if you dare.

Day Trip to St. Andrew’s and St. Andrew’s Golf Club

You can join an organized tour from the city or take the local train to St. Andrew’s for the day.  The high street is filled with shops and restaurants.  At one end of town the famous cemetery is open to visitors and a twenty minute walk near the center of town is the legendary home of golf at the Old Course at St. Andrew’s Golf Club. You need to reserve your tee times and qualify to play on the Old Course.  If you want to learn more about the origins of the modern golf tournament and learn who was that guy in the cemetery who passed on Christmas Day, then find the 2016 movie “Tommy’s Honour“

In Search of Loch Ness Monster

The legend and the lure of Loch Ness.  Over twenty years ago, I endured the very, very, very, long bus ride (3.5 hours each way give/take) to Loch Ness which is a lake far, far, away from Edinburgh. There, you can ride a boat on the lake in search of Nessie.  Maybe you will have better luck than I did.  For those short on time, Loch Ness can be skipped because a 12+hr tour day with nearly 8+ hours on a bus isn’t the best way to explore Scotland in my opinion.  I’ve endured it (in the time before smartphones, headsets and playlists) so you don’t have too. But if you absolutely must, be prepared for a long day on a bus (or in the car) – bring entertainment and some snacks. Scotland’s beauty is the stunning nature and you will see that at least at Loch Ness.

Train from Edinburgh to London

Once you have had a bit of the city (Edinburgh), the country (Scottish Highlands) and your fill of whiskey, it’s time to stock up on the shortbread biscuits and board the East Coast train to London (or points in between).  The four hour journey has a few stops but otherwise is a lovely way to spend the day watching the world (and sea) go by. From city center to city center, the stress of the airport journey is all gone and you can use Wi-Fi to keep up with the world on social media or escape to a streaming or downloaded movie. When do you ever get four hours to just chill?  Enjoy the train, the scenery and prepare for the vast difference in cities.

Now that Philadelphia to Edinburgh is a possibility, it also opens up the world to your award points and miles.  If the flight to London doesn’t have any award seats, consider a one way to Edinburgh and then search for a flight home from London.  Edinburgh can be a quick getaway (three days in Edinburgh is a good Scotland sample) or longer if you add other Scottish cities in (easily reachable by train) or venture further afield to London for a few days.  Ah the possibilities…..

“If you start early enough, you can do it all in a day” the front desk clerk said at the Courtyard Marriott Page when I was checking in.  Unfortunately, in my research, I had planned it out wrong so back in my room, I went about researching tours and times for the next day and shifting things around. What can you do with one day in Page Arizona (also referred to as Lake Powell or Glen Canyon Dam National park area)? It’s all about the incredible nature – views of Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend plus the engineering marvel of Glen Canyon Dam and the serenity of Lake Powell.  But could you do it all in one day?  I was able to do 2 ½ of the four options during my quick visit. I arrived at dinner time Tuesday night after the drive from Red Mountain Resort in St. George, Utah, I had a good part of Wednesday to visit the highlights before I was off to Zion National Park later in the day.

8 a.m. – Visiting Horseshoe Bend

Located less than ten minutes from the Page Marriott Courtyard hotel, I drove out to Horseshoe Bend and as it was early November (off-season), I was able to easily park in the gravel lot (note – construction is working on a larger parking area so be prepared for parking challenges now) and begin my trek up the sandy hill and down the other side to the edge of Horseshoe Bend (about 1/2 mile) to take in the early morning views of the Colorado River.  Now if you are a photographer you and your tripod would have been here an hour earlier to catch the sunrise.

Much has been discussed about changes affecting Horseshoe Bend due to popularity with visitors and its a tricky one – this picturesque location is estimating close to 2 million visitors in 2018 and the park service is planning to add a few booths for fee collection.  The gravel parking lot I used, is being expanded to accommodate the crowds and avoid the dangerous parking on the side of the road.  Plans for a viewing platform with railings, an accessible trail and other improvements are expected to be completed in 2019.

9:15 a.m. – Glen Canyon Dam

The drive to the Glen Canyon Dam was quick from Horseshoe Bend and again as it was a Wednesday in November, parking came easy in the vast lot which during peak season is packed with cars and tour buses.  I walked into the visitor center to view the exhibit (free) and the expansive view of the dam below.  There is a restroom and gift shop plus guided tours four times a day for $5 with limited number of guests.  The first tour of the day was at 10:30 so I wasn’t able to stay for that as I had a 10:30 a.m. tour at Antelope Canyon. After the exhibits inside, I walked across the empty dam bridge for photos (there are cutouts in the fencing for photos).

10:15 a.m. – Upper Antelope Canyon

The night before at the insistence of the hotel staff, I moved my Lower Antelope Canyon tour until after lunch in order to do the more popular Upper Antelope Slot Canyon tour.  The meeting point was off the main road and had limited parking (so you may need to go earlier or park across the road).  The trucks were filled with 10-12 people and since I had seen these trucks in the Caribbean, I knew they were going to be bumpy and dusty for the off-roading portion of the tour and murder on my back and hips so as a solo I was happily offered the front seat with the driver since he was seating in pairs of two in the back to share seat belts.

Visiting Upper Antelope Canyon is popular and easy to do as it is flat walking inside.  Each group must have a guide (ours was a retired history teacher) and each group is time limited to enter to allow a few rooms just to your group for photos. This tour group had four trucks going out and we joined other tour companies for a total of twelve trucks at the attraction.  You go slowly into the slot canyon with your guide and have time for photos but when you turn around you are instructed to just walk out, no photos, no stopping.

Noon – Lunch in Page Arizona

There aren’t many food outlets in the area so I crossed the road to the strip mall of shops where the local burger (and ice cream) place, Slackers, was recommended for a grilled chicken and bacon sandwich with fries.  They offered local beers, cookies/desserts and a plethora of burger options.  It was busy with locals which is always a good sign.

1:20 p.m. – Lower Antelope Canyon with Ken’s Tours

Visiting Lower Antelope Canyon with Ken’s Tours was the original and only tour I had booked prior to arrival in town but I was easily able to shift the morning visit and delay my drive to Zion National Park in order to experience the adventure of the Lower Antelope Canyon.  This part of the slot canyon is on an Indian Reservation so there is a fee for the tour and a cash fee for reservation access.  Lucky for me the tours leave every twenty minutes and our group was only five people and a guide.  The more adventurous tour involves climbing ladders, stairs and narrow spaces for a different view of the slot canyon.  I was really happy that I did the Upper and now the Lower Antelope Canyon to get a sense of the similarities and differences.

During our visit, there were only three other small groups touring the canyon.  Only two tour companies traverse the Lower Antelope Canyon. Note that in high season (summer), the waits to enter the lower antelope canyon can be hours (yes hours in the sun and heat) due to the limited capacity in the canyon so they have installed a cover to wait under at the entrance.  I’m not sure how happy I would be to wait hours with tons of people.  So I’d suggest going early or late if you and your camera phone just want photos – for photographers, there are different tours for you and your tripod.

Overview  – One Day in Page Arizona

So I did pretty well for my shortened day in Page, Arizona (8 a.m. – 3 p.m.).  I missed the guided tour of the dam which was a shame timing didn’t work out.  I have previously toured the Hoover Dam so will hazard a guess that there are many similarities.  While I would have liked to have sailed on Lake Powell, it wasn’t in the plans given that I needed to drive to Zion National Park later in the day.  Ideally if you are ok to be busy, I would recommend taking the cruise at sunrise in the morning to see how the views change before and after the sunlight hits the rocks and water.

If you are planning a visit to Page, Arizona (Lake Powell & Glen Canyon National Recreation Area), you can ideally do a lot in one day – I know I did but it was off season in November.  You may need two days or more in high season, which as an in between town for the Grand Canyon (Arizona) or Zion National Park (Utah) is a nice layover.

Roadtrip Continues….

Driving from Page Arizona to Zion National Park

3:00 p.m. –  Driving from Page Arizona to Zion National Park

I was keen to get on the road in order to drive during the daylight on the long road back to Utah and into Zion National Park.  My original plan was to leave by noon but adding in the Upper Antelope Canyon was worth the delay because when will I be back in this area anytime soon or ever?  Traveling back on the long two lane road to Kenab was a bit of the familiar but now the other side of the road view.  I stopped quickly at the “Welcome to Utah” sign because why not?  When I reached Kenab, I stopped at Subway for a sandwich and restroom break before continuing to Zion Lodge.  The roads to Zion were not 80 mph roads so while the distance was less the speed limits made the drive longer.

The drive from Kenab, Utah to Zion National Park was just as beautiful as the drives the past two days.  Unlike the vast expanses on the road, the landscapes ahead and around were on smaller roads and when I turned in between the gas station and pub onto the entrance road to the park, it became a small country road all the way to the Zion park sign.

Italy is a country that every traveler should visit (a few times).  I was fortunate to begin my love affair with Italy, at the age of 22, on a memorable ten day bus tour with the local church group of senior citizens, a guide and a tight bus schedule (my version of solo travel in Italy with a safety net).  With so much time on the bus, I looked out the window and dreamt of just renting a villa in Italy for slow travel in Italy in the movie of my life. I wouldn’t recommend a bus tour of Italy anymore as its long days, multiple hotels and the same people day in and day out on a tight schedule.

Italy is meant to be savored through the seaside views, leisurely meals, local wines from each region and getting lost in the city (as much as you can in the age of Google Maps).   Unfortunately, when you are just out of college like I was, your funds are limited, however, now twenty (cough) plus years later, my budget is a bit bigger but my vacation time still American (aka limited 1-2 weeks at a time).  So how should you plan to solo travel in Italy (or family travel or even group travel)?

That’s easy – focus on food, fun and wine from Naples to Milan as you are surrounded by history.  Ok, it’s really not that easy because I’m sure you have a checklist of everything you must see and let me tell you – when that crazy schedule happens to collide with the Italian way of life, you’ll quickly learn the Italian way (and have a daily gelato habit like I did) so make a short list of “must see” and then if you find time, add some “would be nice to see”.

Tip: You’ll never have enough time on your first trip so be prepared to plan a second, third, etc. trip because you’ll need time to explore different regions, cities, towns and villages before you find a right fit to go back and leisurely explore some more. 

For a first visit to Italy, I’d ideally allow at least two weeks (14 days) or more to visit from Naples to Milan to sample the highlights.  If you have only 7-10 days, you can mix and match the below.

Tip: Talk to your travel agent to book your airfare into one city and out of another to maximize your time.

Train Travel in Italy

The train is very easy to use in Italy to get between cities – I used Italio and Trenitalia.  The trains were on time but they were not announced so you had to keep checking the board. Buy tickets online in advance, if possible, for savings. Worth noting when traveling anywhere to be careful in and around train stations at all times because you are subject to pickpockets’. It’s your vacation and often the unfamiliar causes you to be distracted from your bags, luggage, souvenirs – Don’t be that tourist!

Tip: Carry a few coins as the public toilets in Italy as they charge an entrance fee (I call it the “pay to pee fee”. The fee can range from 50 cents to 2 Euros. 

Food in Italy

It’s not all pizza and pasta unless you want it to be.  Each region has specialties – fish, meats, pasta, etc.  I’ve even seen a few gluten free pasta options offered which was surprising but a sign of the times (and tourists). You may want to carry a food allergy card in Italian.

A few things to note:

• Pizzas are generally one size (9-10”) for one person and eaten with a fork and knife.
• If you ask for water, expect to be brought bottled water and charged accordingly.
• Bread is not free (only in America are we carb happy free bread folks).
• Look at the menus outside first (and the prices) before you sit – I just read a horror story of friends who were charged an outrageous amount for lunch in Venice (they could have avoided this)
• Prices will vary at coffee bars/cafes – standing inside at the counter will be cheaper than sitting inside/outside.

The best foods I’ve found have been far from tourist areas – I’ve found slices of pizza in Venice (Dorsoduro) near the university, a multi course Italian feast in Florence and artesian gelato made in small batches in the maze of the cities.

Tip: Buy bottled water in the local supermarkets for less (go to the back of the store, not the easy to find cold water at the front which cost more)

Fun in Italy

While a wine tour is definitely a fun time, I’d save that for its own itinerary.  You can do day trips to winery or stay in the city and refill your glass (or bottle).  There are fun activities throughout the country from exhilarating car rides at Ferrari to flying through the air in Capri. Try something new and off the well-worn tourist path to see a different side of Italy and yourself! Maybe try to Row Venice?

Tip: I like the unique small group tours of Walks of Italy, Context Travel which use local guides and Row Venice which is an all women non-profit 

Solo Travel in Italy Itinerary – 14 Days in Italy

Naples – Capri – Amalfi Coast (4 days)

Naples is a gritty city when compared with the other more touristy cities in Italy.  Cruise ships stop throughout the season (May-October) for one day and the city swells with people on tours.  But you can still find gems that the cruise ship folks haven’t found yet – the oldest Napoli pizza shop, Antica da Michelle, the Naples Underground Tour and a Bike Napoli tour. Note: Naples takes its pizza heritage quite seriously!

For history buffs, Pompeii and the lesser known Herculaneum is a must.  You can take the local train to each or join one of many tour options.  Seeing the ruins from the volcanic eruption is fascinating and having both locations to compare and contrast helps to understand even more.

A ferry ride will transport you to the island of Capri, where the Blue Grotto and Limoncello are waiting for you.  The Blue Grotto experience involves laying down in a boat and going through a small opening (dependent on sea levels) to a magic blue cavern.  The sunlight hits the water and it glows blue, for me, this never gets old.  You can either travel to Anacapri to hire the local boat at the Anacapri landing or do an Blue Grotto tour from the ferry dock (note it takes time to unload all the boat passengers into the little boats so be prepared for that).

For the Amalfi Coast tour, hire a local guide (he’s worth the money) like I did. You’ll stop at scenic viewpoints, dine with amazing views and food and not worry about the narrow roads and tight corners. The Amalfi Coast is one place that I could really enjoy renting a villa for the whole time and relax with views of the sea.

Rome (1-5 days)

Rome, for a first time visitor, is all about history, the Catholic Church and the Pope.  It’s hard not to visit The Sistine Chapel (go at night on a tour to avoid the crowds), Colosseum, Roman Forum, Pantheon, Trevi Fountain and Galleria Borghese.  For the most part you can do the Hop On/Hop Off bus and do drive by of the attractions.  Rome can really be one day or multiple days, it just depends on you and the rest of your “must see” itinerary.

Florence (2 days)

Florence is a city with a mix of history, touches of modern and a whole lot of amazing food, wine and gelato to enjoy.  Come to the city hungry and leave satisfied.  With amazing views at sunset over the Ponte Vecchio Bridge, it’s hard to imagine anything more gorgeous in Italy. I’d suggest doing a Florence food tour before you start your Uffizi Gallery and/or church visits.

Tip: Have fun driving a Vintage Fiat500 (manual) or Vespa around the city and out to the nearby countryside

Venice (3-5 Days)

I won’t lie, Venice is my first love. The Venice of twenty years ago that is still there underneath a city teeming with tourists.  I prefer to visit in May or Fall months (Sept/Oct/Nov) when I can get lost in the maze of the city as if I have the city to myself.  The key to Venice is to do your list first (San Marco Square is always packed it seems) and then find the secret happy hour along the canals and try to fathom how long this city has existed and who has walked the streets before you.

Tip: For your gondola ride (expensive), try to find that lone gondolier on the canal for a more private ride rather than the central ride locations where you are on the assembly line.  

Milan (1-2 days)

Milan is a business centre and it shows.  The historic Italy is mixed in with the modern Italy.  After visiting the Opera House and waiting for the light to change, a Ferrari drives by.  While touring the rooftop of the Duomo, I can look down at the shops inside the Galleria.  Milan mixes it up well throughout the city. Milan in one day can easily be done – the Last Supper with a city and Duomo walking tour and still have time for dinner in the Navilgli entertainment district along the canals.

Tip: The Duomo Rooftop is a must unless you are afraid of heights

Overall – Solo Travel in Italy

You’ll notice I didn’t mention much about visiting all the wine regions of Italy (there are many) and that’s because for a first visit of Italy, especially solo travel in Italy, it’s best to visit the local wine shops for tastings.  In Venice, visit Vino Vino near Fenice Opera for a great wine list, including Barolo (a favorite). In Florence, you can do a day trip to Tuscany for a visit to the vines.

So this is just a start to your trip planning as Italy is a big country with so much to do, see, eat and drink that you can’t do it all in one short trip (please don’t try).  Learn to relax, take in a few sunsets and enjoy your solo travel in Italy –  La Dolce Vita!

Washington, D.C. is a three-hour train ride from Philly and yet I’ve only visited three times over the years –in high school, when a friend lived in the city and last time for my trip to South Africa (the award ticket from IAD-JNB ).  D.C. really is a wonderful city with so many great FREE things to do. So when I read about the travel blogger meet up called #BloggersTakeTheCity, I thought it was time to go back to D.C. and see what’s new.  There’s a lot going on in the arts and culture scene that reminded me that D.C. is so much more than crazy politics we hear every day.

My weekend in D.C. would begin Friday night and end Sunday at lunch and in between that time, I was busy, so busy exploring the city’s art and culture scene, well only scratching the surface.  Just like the Louvre with eight miles of art that you can never really fully see in one visit, let alone five visits, my D.C. art experience was just the appetizer to remind me to come back and visit more.

Special Thanks to our fearless leader, Nicki of EatLiveTravelDrink for deciding we should meet up in real life and have fun exploring her city.  She, along with Kate @washingtondc,  curated a wonderful Art, Food and Fun weekend for our group of twelve travel bloggers from around the U.S. (New Hampshire, Maryland, Virginia, D.C., Philly (me), Chicago, New York and California).

The short version art weekend in D.C. itinerary was created for travel industry professionals (writers, travel agents, meeting planners, etc.) to give them a familiarization (FAM) of the current art attractions in the city. Read more below for summary and a photo from each stop.  Look for posts in the upcoming weeks with more detail and photos.

Friday

• Fairmont D.C. Hotel Gold Welcome
• Silent Disco D.C. at the Embassy Row Hotel Rooftop

Saturday

• Art Exhibits at The Renwick Gallery (Parallax Gap ceiling installation plus temporary exhibits and permanent collection)
• National Gallery Sculpture Garden
• Hirshhorn Museum & Sculpture Garden
  • “Trace” by Ai Wei Wei
  • “Wish Tree for Washington, DC” by Yoko Ono
• Lunch at Hill Country BBQ (a taste of Texas in D.C.)
• National Building Museum (“The Hive”)
• Union Market
• Rum Tasting at Cotton & Reed
• Dinner at Carmine’s NYC in D.C.
• Moonlight Monument Trolley Tour

Sunday

• Artechouse (XYZT exhibit)
• Food Tour of Georgetown with CarpeDC

Now if you are exhausted by the above itinerary (who wouldn’t be) for the Art Weekend in D.C., don’t think I went back to the hotel after the Food Tour – I kept up the busy pace until the last-minute I had to go home on Amtrak on Monday with a visit to the Capitol, Library of Congress and a quick pop into the Supreme Court building (sadly court was not in session).  I finished the amazing D.C. visit with the best burger in D.C. (seriously it was amazing!).  I didn’t have a chance to bring back D.C. Souvenirs but now I have a reason to return!

I hope you find something new to discover on your next trip to Washington, D.C.

Now for the Long Version……of the Art Weekend in D.C.

Itinerary for an Art Weekend in Washington, D.C.

Travel Tip: When you have large group, Uber XL is your friend.  Assign one/two people to order all of the cars and pay, then collect money from everyone to reimburse them at the end of the weekend.

Friday – Art Weekend in D.C. – Luxury Hotel and Rooftop Dancing

5 p.m.  – Fairmont D.C. Hotel Welcome

For a weekend of art, it seemed fitting to be staying at the newly renovated Fairmont D.C. in Georgetown.  As you enter the lobby you are struck by the ceiling art and the mixed material designs plus that table!  The bright and airy lobby space led to a sunken lobby bar and out to the patio space that would host a jazz trio on Sunday night. Art, Music and Luxury all before I’ve seen the rooms!  It was a great start to the weekend.

8 p.m. – Silent Dance Society’s Friday Night Silent Disco at the Embassy Row Hotel

Friday night lights were courtesy of our rooftop Silent Disco visit.  Set on the rooftop of the Embassy Row Hotel, the Silent Dance Society hosts a Friday night Silent Disco with views of the city from above.  A bit skeptical to the event, thinking I was too old, I ended up surprised at how much I loved it.  With all ages dancing and mingling, the disco of my past (screaming to talk, one DJ with good and bad songs, etc.) was upgraded to three DJs, a headset of my own and the ability to dance when and where I wanted.  Bonus points for singing out loud.  The biggest obstacle after my preconceived notion was trying not to fall into the pool whilst dancing.

Saturday – Art Weekend in D.C. – Art, Walk, Eat, Repeat

8 a.m. – Breakfast in the Gold Lounge at the Fairmont, D.C. in Georgetown

Waking up early to make the 8 am breakfast in the lounge was a bit tough because we not only had a late night at the Silent Disco but the King bed was so comfortable I could have stayed in it all day happily living off room service and using the spa.  The lounge breakfast buffet offering is quite varied to satisfy most appetites.  I could have survived on the crispy bacon and fruit alone!

10 a.m. – The Renwick Gallery, a Smithsonian Museum

Our first stop of the day was the Renwick Gallery near the White House.  The highlighted installation, Parallax Gap was on display in the Salon on the 2^nd floor.  We would first need to experience the red carpet up the stairs and the LED installation overhead.  With time to explore the other rooms of the decorative arts gallery, I was of course drawn to the Chihuly as well as other pieces on display.  The gallery entry is free and I would schedule at least an hour if you want to do an art drive by of the rooms.  Two hours if you want to leisurely explore.

Noon – National Gallery Sculpture Garden

Walking past the White House crowds we were on a trek to the Hirshhorn via the National Gallery Sculpture Garden which has a large fountain and is surrounded by sculptures, benches and performance spaces. You can easily spend an hour just strolling the garden taking in the sculptures.

1 p.m. – Hirshhorn Museum & Sculpture Garden

Arriving first at the Hirshhorn Sculpture Garden we all made a wish at Yoko Ono’s Wish Tree for Washington, DC

After wishing for world peace, lottery wins and some candy (a lot of walking, we were hungry), we entered the Hirshhorn and rode the escalator up one floor to begin our journey through “Trace”.  The walls were adorned with a special wallpaper that had symbols of imprisonment when you looked closer.  On the floor over a few areas were portraits of political dissidents around the world created with Legos.  Yes, Legos, over one million Legos to create the 176 portraits.  Up close to the edge you couldn’t see the portraits as well as you did with a step back.  This powerful art lends itself to deep conversations about passion, conviction and politics and how far are you willing to go.  It’s no coincidence that you are looking down at the floor, down at the portraits – it’s meant to be that way as society looks down on prisoners.

2 p.m. – A Bit of Texas in D.C. at Hill Country BBQ

With a thought-provoking visit ending, it was now time to decompress the mornings’ art with a lunch at Hill Country BBQ.  An odd place for me as I’m not a fan of BBQ, however, it’s a great place for groups and families to eat as the prices are reasonable and the portions easily shared. They have happy hour specials, live music and you definitely should make a reservation as it’s a popular place. With my gluten-free diet, I was happy to see they have a GF menu.  I chose chicken, cornbread and lemonade.  It’s on tours like this that I discover places I probably would have overlooked normally.  With my meal ticket of options, I got a taste of Texas in D.C.

3 p.m. – “The Hive” at the National Building Museum

But the art wasn’t over yet!  Our next stop was the National Building Museum (our feet decided it was time to call an Uber) which was hosting “The Hive”, a building block of paper rolls that was more than I could ever think to do.  My art skill ends at stick figures and pyramids of Legos. Walking through the giant structure in the lobby of the museum, the colors were highlighted from the sunlight pouring in above.  A smaller hive inside invited kids of all ages to make music.

4 p.m. – Happy Hour Rum Tastings at Cotton & Reed

Happy Hour featured a highlight of locally made Rum tastings in D.C. We needed Uber to transport us to the Union Market area where we would walk a few steps past the market to Cotton & Reed, a Rum distillery.  The rum shots were lined up waiting for us as we would learn from one of the founders all about their rum, its history and how they are shaking up the D.C. cocktail scene.  After our shots of 90 proof white rum and the others, we did a quick spin in Union Market walking past the stalls of local vendors selling foods, drinks and treats.  Sadly, the donuts were all sold out.

5 p.m. – Back to the Hotel to get ready for our 6 p.m. dinner reservation (Uber called for the twenty-minute ride from Union Market to the Fairmont, D.C.).

6 p.m. – Carmine’s NYC in D.C.

We had a reservation at Carmine’s D.C., a long time NYC Italian restaurant outpost in D.C., a favorite of large groups, family styled Italian dining and for those needing a secret service entrance.

As I’m now 90% gluten and dairy free (I keep hitting a pizza or cupcake wall), I wouldn’t think to go for pasta but was happy to see Carmine’s NYC offered a gluten-free menu (as well as garlic free, dairy free, vegan and vegetarian menus).  I chose a simple gluten-free pasta Pomodoro and they brought a family sharing portion which I hated to waste but seriously it was massive.  The group had a tomato/mozzarella appetizer, a bread basket, Caesar salad, pasta dish and chicken Marsala served family style.

The famous dessert “the Titanic” consisted of a gluten-free chocolate torte (I could eat that), with a plethora of vanilla and chocolate ice cream scoops plus whipped crème.  Finishing touches were the banana on either side of the torte with strawberries, chocolate sauce and cookie straws.  In a word – WOW!

9 p.m. – We Missed the Evening Trolley Tour of the Monuments

As our dinner went long (group of 12 can’t eat in an hour) we missed our 7:30 p.m. Moonlight Monument Tour (3 hours) with Old Town Trolley (I was bummed because I was looking forward to a break from walking and, of course, wore the cute, not walking shoes).  So we did our own DIY (do it yourself) Evening Monuments tour.

I opted to go to the Lincoln Memorial and then walk to the MLK and FDR monuments, while the other group chose the Lincoln Memorial, Reflection Pool and National Monument (see the photos at #BloggersTakeTheCity and #myDCcool).  We had to Uber to the Lincoln Memorial and then could easily to walk to all of those other monuments until we could walk no more (my Uber app was on fire).  In the cab, exhausted, my friend said we walked over 17,000 steps today which probably didn’t negate any of those “Titanic” calories.

10:30 p.m. – Back at the Fairmont D.C.

Falling into bed and sleep was very easy after a long day of art and food with a side of monuments.  Waking up before 7 a.m. to do it all again wasn’t easy.

Sunday – Art Weekend in D.C. – Tech and Food

8 a.m. – Breakfast and Discussions in the Gold Lounge of the luxury hotel in D.C. – The Fairmont Georgetown

10 a.m. – Artechouse

The group would visit an interesting art installation at Artechouse near the Mandarin Oriental hotel (need Uber) for the XYZT installation.  The groups were limited in number and time in the exhibit.  I had no clue what to expect so was surprised by the futuristic interactive exhibits that changed with my movement, my whispers, my snapping fingers and my jumps. Blending art and technology, I was immersed childlike into a new world to discover and experience art differently.

Noon – Candy Jars and Goodbyes to our Art Weekend in D.C.

With the last of the art for the weekend, we headed back to the hotel just as the snacks were being put out in the lounge.  Jars of candy favorites with bags to fill plus cookies were easy to takeaway (yes, we ate breakfast and were on the way to lunch or a food tour but it’s free candy!).

1:00 p.m. – Georgetown Food Tour or Ritz Carlton Brunch

The groups then split into those attending the Ritz Carlton Brunch and those off on a food tour of Georgetown with CarpeDC food tours.  I chose the food tour despite the fact that I knew gluten/dairy free would have no food to eat (advance notice can cater to vegetarians).  The walking tour was a history of Georgetown though it’s churches and homes with five food stops.  My friends at the Ritz Carlton met the chefs and learned about the farm to table approach as they dined on special menu items like steak frites (I should have been at the air-conditioned Ritz Carlton instead of outside in the 90+ degree sunny day).

Final Thoughts – Art Weekend in D.C.

The jam-packed Art & Food weekend in D.C. was thoughtfully crafted and so much fun.  I loved learning about new art, dancing on rooftops, tasting both Texas and NYC in D.C., and sleeping in luxury.  So many things I probably wouldn’t have done if I wasn’t with the group.

Now since it’s meant to be an Art & Food Weekend in D.C. for you, I’d suggest

• Pick and choose from the above two-day itinerary to craft your D.C. experience – you can’t do it all in one trip plus you need time to discover on your own
• Agree a leisurely pace as it’s a vacation (holiday).
• Sleep late and order room service to fully enjoy the luxurious surroundings at the Fairmont D.C.
• Bring good walking shoes for the days and the cute shoes for the nighttime Ubers.
• Definitely find that 90 proof run at Cotton & Reed for a Pina Colada (or two)

As you know, I rarely do press trips or sponsored tours unless I think there is great content for me to discover and share with you.  As I love luxury hotels, art and walking, this was a perfect weekend to participate in.  It was a mix of my money (i.e. – hotel media rate, taxi, Ubers, Amtrak and extras), free admission (Smithsonian museums) and complimentary visits/tours/food. As always, my opinions are uniquely mine.

A Note of Thanks – Art & Food Weekend in D.C.

Thanks to the various sponsors for a fun Art & Food weekend in D.C.– check them out on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

• Washington, D.C. Tourism Board for organizing our weekend @washingtondc
• The Fairmont D.C. to Diana and her fantastic team for a warm welcome cocktail party, fabulous Gold lounge service and for providing a Gold upgrade with our media rates @FairmontDC #Fairmontmoments
• Silent Dance Society (@silentDsociety) and The Embassy Row Hotel (@embassyrowhotel) for Silent Disco on the Rooftop
• Hill Country BBQ for My Meal Ticket to a Taste of Texas (@hillcountrybbq)
• Carmine’s NYC for the Gluten Free Pasta and the Titanic of a dessert (@carminesnyc)
• Artechouse – Art meets Technology – XYZT Exhibit (@artechouse)
• The National Building Museum –“The Hive” Special Exhibit (@buildingmusuem) #HiveDC
• Cotton & Reed – I do like Pina Coladas and at 90 proof I’m sure to be singing in the rain after! (@cottonandreed, #BornToRum)
• Old Town Trolley – Sorry to have missed the Moonlight Monuments Tour – next time? (@oldtowntrolley)
• The Ritz Carlton – I didn’t attend the Brunch but thanks for wowing my friends with the food tastings (@ritzcarlton) Next time?
• CarpeDC Food Tour (@CarpeDCfood) for showing me Georgetown through its churches, homes and food

The following are FREE admission for all guests for your Art Weekend in D.C.:

• Hirshhorn Museum & Sculpture Garden (@hirshhorn) – “Wish Tree for Washington, DC” and “Trace”
• The Renwick Gallery (@americanart) –  “Parallax Gap”, new (to me) artist exhibits and the wonderful permanent collection
• National Gallery Sculpture Garden

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.

For my Memorial Day trip this year, I decided a quick three days in Edinburgh would be a perfect diversion from my normal London visit.  I would still go to London for two nights before flying home to see friend. With such a short visit to Edinburgh, you’d think I would have done advanced prep but didn’t as it felt that I would wing it and be ok. Only a few days before arrival, I sent the concierge team at the Sheraton Edinburgh a note for recommendations.  For me, Edinburgh would be my base as I was keen to explore away from the city.  The concierge team advised a bunch of restaurants, a few tours and local attractions. Looking at my weather app, it proposed sun for two of my three days so I figured best to take advantage of the good weather and go from there.

Day One in Edinburgh – Castle, Closes and Steak Night

Arriving near noon from my overnight flight from Philly with a connection through Heathrow (note for future, to fly direct), it was near noon when I arrived at the hotel.  While I noted in my reservation a request for an early check-in, I was prepared to drop my bags to go explore.  Lucky day for me when told not only was my room ready but I was upgraded the SPG preferred floor with a view of Edinburgh Castle.  I was using my Starwood points for the three night award stay so the upgrade and better view were both bonuses.  After a much needed shower to wash off the travels, I was ready to go explore Edinburgh.

First stop food!  In the Festival Square area, there are many food options mostly U.K. chain restaurants and pubs but that provided me easy comfort as I was familiar with the names from London.  I easily slipped into a booth at Bryon and tucked into a burger and fries (the first of many “there are no calories on vacation” meals).  Healthy?  Not at all!  Tasty?  Absolutely.  Satisfied with my fueling, I walked about ten minutes to Edinburgh Castle (the concierge arranged the ticket for quick entry).

While you can walk the long way around to the bottom of the Royal Mile, I chose to go the slightly more cardio route which was through the streets to the first of many steps up to the castle entry.  Holyrood Palace, the Queen’s Scotland residence was closed during my visit or I would have started there and made my way up the Royal Mile ending at Edinburgh Castle.   Edinburgh Castle is quite steep with cobblestones so wear good shoes and tread carefully lest you twist your ankle or fall. With a good amount to see, I opted for the audio guide over the free guided short tour.

After spending time at Edinburgh Castle, I was intrigued by Mary King’s Close tour of the underground that Edinburgh was built upon.  If you’ve visited Seattle or Naples, the underground tours are somewhat similar and each a fascinating look at the history of the city.  For Edinburgh it’s all about the hills and steps and boy are they steep (working off the chips and the whisky no doubt).

Back up in the sunlight, it was nearly 6 p.m. (the sun would set after 9 p.m.) and still hot (it was a high of 85 degrees during my visit which is unusually hot) so I walked toward Princes Street, home of shopping, outdoor pop ups and acres of parks.  With the amazing sunny day, it seemed that everyone was out of their house and enjoying the open spaces and sun with friends (and a bottle of wine) in the park.  As it had rained for nearly a week, the sun in any form was a highlight. Walking through the park was a nice contrast to the history you can view up on the hill.

As I rounded the street back toward the hotel, my loop of a half day was a good one – Edinburgh Castle, Mary King’s Close and Princes Street & Park.  Now for dinner, my feet basically stopped across the road from the hotel at The Beer Kitchen gastro pub on steak night and I went in to enjoy Scottish beef and would have a lovely conversation with an older couple from Missouri seated next to me.

Day Two in Edinburgh – Out to the Highlands & Stirling Castle

The concierge warned against the day trip to Loch Ness given the time on the bus and I agreed especially as I had visited Loch Ness more than twenty years ago – no monster then and I hazarded a guess no monster now.  I, instead, chose to visit the Scottish Highlands and Stirling Castle with Timberbush Tours (one of two small group tours recommended).  The sixteen passenger bus would have a fantastic day out of Edinburgh with a wonderful guide.  The agenda included the famous Forth Bridge, a boat ride on Loch Lomond, a stop to see a hairy coo named Fiona and Stirling Castle along with bad jokes, traditional music and a drive by of the Kelpies, a modern art structure of horses along the highway. It was still a long day returning to the city by 7 p.m. so I chose to eat at the hotel restaurant and call it an early night.

Day Three in Edinburgh – Out to St. Andrew’s

The sun tried to stay but was overpowered by the clouds, grey and rains.  After having such a great small group tour the day before, I opted for the last seat on the tour to St. Andrews, famous for its university but more important for the origin of golf on the Old Course. The concierge did provide an alternative to take the local train for an hour and then wander the town (next time I’ll do that).  Once we arrived at St. Andrews, I was able to view the famous cathedral ruins and cemetery (the free part, opting not to pay the entrance fee further).  From there, I wandered about the university buildings before finding lunch at a cute café just as the sky opened up to pour out the rains. Arriving back at the pick-up point, across from St. Andrews Old Course, I was able to take a few quick pictures and see the happiest of golfers (mostly men) having finished their dream golf outing.

Back in Edinburgh, I was armed with a few great restaurant recommendations and in search of the oasis to Scottish foods and fun on Rose Street, a paved pedestrian only area of pubs, restaurants and shops.  The first recommendation, Wildfire, had a sign in the window “no bookings left for tonight”, another had a long wait and no bar for one, and the third was blah.  Using my backup list and Google Maps, I walked toward Waverly Train Station and then the Royal Mile area to find a few in the hidden streets and alleys and when I looked at the menus, I was blah about much of the offerings or the crowds waiting to get in.  I was now just hungry, tired and grumpy in that “I’ll just eat chips and wine” kind of way so found just that to feed my cravings.  Rather than go back to the hotel the easy way, I decided to walk that way and of course got lost, even Google Maps was like “Why don’t you listen?” so I hailed a black cab to haul me back to the hotel and say “adieu” to Edinburgh.

The Virgin East Coast Train from Edinburgh to London

Rather than fly back to London, I booked a first class seat on the Virgin East Coast train.  A nice 4.5 hour journey from Edinburgh to London.  Lucky me as the British Airways power outage and flight fiasco was happening at Heathrow so I managed to avoid that mess.  It was quite a pleasant trip with free wifi, movies via the BEAM app, food and drinks (no alcohol on weekends, boo!).

Three Days in Edinburgh – Final Thoughs

So could I have done more?  Yes.  Seen More? Maybe.  Immersed myself in the culture and food scene? Absolutely. But my three days in Edinburgh was perfectly paced for what I wanted to do which was revisit the city after a twenty year hiatus. Castles don’t change, Lochs don’t change but I have changed and now my time is best spent with a mix of sightseeing, relaxation and comfort (note: I would have added whisky tours/tastings but sadly was still on meds related to my bug incident from last month so my drinking was severly curtailed which also affected my mood for nightlife). I feel that I could appreciate the history, the beauty and the culture so much more now than when I was just out of college and seeing things for the first time. You could spend a whole day just shopping in Edinburgh if that’s your thing, a day enjoying the many unique restaurants and chefs that the city celebrates.  My three days in Edinburgh were castles, a hairy coo and lush landscapes and that was a nice treat to remind me to come back later to explore Scotland more in depth. Reminder noted.

Have you visited Edinburgh?  If so, what were your highlights? How would you spend Three Days in Edinburgh?

My “travel hacking” hobby as some call it, has definitely provided me with unbelievable memories from trips around the world.  One of the best parts of this “hobby” is sharing the travels with my family.  Two years ago, my then eleven year old niece, traveled on her first trip to Paris & London (business class) with me.  For Mother’s day, I surprised my Mom with a trip to anywhere in Europe as I had a 2-4-1 ticket** on British Airways to use and enough Avios points to make it interesting. Mom originally said “Ireland and London” but then changed to “Paris & London” after comments from the peanut gallery (i.e. – my teenage niece and her mother, my sister, who said “Mom you won’t drink in the pubs and Ireland is a lot of green landscapes”).  You can read the funny conversation with Mom as she turned out to be my toughest client yet for her first trip to Paris & London.

British Airways Business & First Avios Awards

Finding two award seats on British Airways (or Open Skies, their New York – Paris subsidiary) proved to be a bit daunting.  I needed a flight from Philadelphia (there are only two flights a day) or New York (JFK or Newark where there are close to twenty flights a day to London) to Paris with a return from London to Philadelphia.  The online booking system can’t handle that so I looked up each segment to find two seats in business class before calling the reservation center to book it for me. Lucky for me, Jessica answered and was a star to help me put the trip together.  By the time I was able to confirm that Mom could go in September, many of the flights I found were gone.

I explained the trip purpose, “mom’s first trip to Europe in advance of her 75^th birthday” and Jessica was now invested in helping me (plus I was her last call for the night so she was keen to go home as well).  She was able to book us New York (JFK) to London (LHR) in Club World business class with a connection in Club Europe to Paris (CDG).  Our return would be London (LHR) to Philadelphia (PHL) in First Class since that was the only award open around our dates. I had enough points and do like First Class so I said “that’s fine” and we were booked for 135,000 Avios and $2,400 in taxes.  Business class is normally $5k return with First often near $10k so for me, Mom was worth it.  For comparison, two coach tickets to London would price out at 100-120k plus taxes/fees. We had lie flat beds, lots of champagne, lounge and Concorde Room access, spa treatments and special attention for mom. Jessica gave me her direct email address if I needed further assistance or wanted to book additional parts to the trip (hotel, car, tours, transfers, etc.).

Once the tickets were booked, the fun part began – where to stay and what to do for Mom’s first trip to Paris & London? Compounding the decisions was the fact that Mom forgot (?) to disclose her knee surgery scheduled for July.  Her arthroscopic surgery would definitely affect the fact that she picked two walking cities (more on that in later posts) and tire her out quicker.  She said she wanted to sleep each day to at least 8 a.m. which we did (except for two days) and not get crazy with the itinerary so we did 1-2 things a day and for the most part were back at the hotel/flat by 8 p.m.

So I settled on the following 10 Day Itinerary for Mom’s First Trip to Paris & London, starting in New York City. You will read more about each bullet point in upcoming posts.

New York Weekend Itinerary (2 days)

• Amtrak Acela from Philadelphia 30^th Street State to New York Penn Station
• Refinery Hotel, a boutique hotel near Bryant Park (we had our own rooms)
• Visit the Refinery Rooftop Bar for views of the Empire State Building
• Broadway Show: Beautiful (AMAZING!!!)
• Sunday morning walk on The High Line (free)
• The Whitney Museum (at the end of the High Line)
• Quick peek inside Chelsea Market

First trip to Paris Itinerary (3 ½ days)

• Hotel Therese, a boutique hotel in the 1^st arr equidistant between the Louvre, Tuileries and Paris Opera (separate rooms booked to preserve our mother/daughter relationship)
• Versailles on the unguided ½ day tour. We took a bus and were provided an audio guide
• Guided tour of the Paris Opera (best tour for only $17!)
• Lunch at Galeries Lafayette (my secret lunch spot)
• Eiffel Tower Visit
• Louvre Highlights VIP Evening Tour with Wine Tasting
• A day in Epernay, visiting Moet & Chandon Champagne cellar tour and tasting
• Burgers at American diner – Breakfast in America
• Boat Ride on the Seine
• Notre Dame visit
• Breakfast at the famous Angelina (known for Chocolate & Hot Chocolate)

Eurostar Premier Class – Paris to London

I kept a watch on the Eurostar fares and signed up for their emails so I was alerted to a 30% sale in Premier class which is like Business class.  It included larger seats and food/drink included that was served by trolley and staff.  Mom enjoyed this train experience.

First Trip to London Itinerary (4 ½ days)

• OneFineStay flat rental in Kensington (a 2 bedroom, 2 bath mews house rental with full kitchen)
• Buckingham Palace State Room Visit (open only August – October)
• Dinner at Hawksmoor (one of my favorite steakhouses in London)
• Dinner at The Ivy Brasserie in Kensington
• Quick visit before closing to the Harrods Food Hall
• Shopping at Marks & Spenser and Primark (Mom’s a shopper!)
• River Boat Ride on the Thames
• Day Tour to Stonehenge & Bath
• Tower of London private tour with Context Travel
• GBK Lunch (Mom wanted a milkshake and a burger)
• Sky Garden visit in the Walkie Talkie building (free)
• Flytographer Photo Session in London
• Pub visit with friends

British Airways (Club World and First Class Awards)

• Elemis Spa Treatment (complimentary) in the British Airways JFK Lounge (walk up)
• Club World (business class) flight to London
• Giraffe lunch at LHR T5
• LHR T5 Galleries Lounge
• Club Europe flight from London to Paris
• The Concorde Room at T5
• Elemis Spa Treatment (complimentary) for Mom in the British Airways T5 Lounge (pre-booked)
• British Airways First Class flight from London Heathrow to Philadelphia

So this was our itinerary for Mom’s first trip to Paris & London to see the highlights on our Mother/Daughter trip to Europe.  It’s much different from the ten day itinerary I planned for my niece’s first trip to Paris Itinerary Kids & London Itinerary Kids, but the common thread for both is that all meltdowns can easily be solved by ice cream, especially Magnum Ice Cream bars!

Have you traveled with a parent?  What did you learn about the planning and/or trip that you can share with others?

** A 2-4-1 Travel Together ticket is a bonus for using the Chase British Airways credit card and spending $30k in one year.  Thankfully, the award is valid for two years, since I earned that from my former job because I don’t normally spend that much on my credit card in a year.  You need to then redeem Avios points for one ticket and you get one free, the only technicality for many is the taxes associated with the award are expensive.

Golden Tours is a local London tour company that I’ve used for many attractions.  Check out their offerings. (Note that I may earn affiliate commission if you book something – don’t worry it’s only a few pence).

The Safari Itinerary Planning With a Travel Agent

I printed my draft African safari itinerary on the color printer and carried it back and forth to work each day for over a month to research more about each place and see if the general feel was right for me. I was still a bit back and forth on the tent and the small bush plane flights.  My 27 days trip to Africa would essentially be 5-6 trips – it was a big commitment and despite pricing out much less than a regular tour group would charge for a solo traveler, I was a bit hesitant to book it.  I love the idea of travel,  finding the award space and yet making it real gives me a bit of pause -not sure why really (ok, I have a few theories but let’s not go there now).

With my hotel savings using points, I inquired about upgrading my Kruger safari to the Sabi Sands private game reserve.  It was initially outside of my budget but I thought I could now include it (I don’t ask the price per night because I knew it would be insane as I was a solo travel subject to this, that and the other fees).  I had read in one travel guide that Sabi Sands was a SKIN trip (of course my mind wandered just like yours) but stood for Spend the Kids Inheritance Now for the one time incredible safari experience.  The travel agent was able to add a Sabi Sands property and I was thrilled.

There was only one part of the safari itinerary left that gave me pause – it was at the end when I would join a third party tour operator for the Garden Tour from Capetown to Port Elizabeth – the hotels used were part of a local chain and neither were highly rated – one was rated last and I believe one comment said “I found a flea” so you could understand my concern despite the other good reviews.  The tour was set, did not deviate and there was no other way for me to see the Garden Route with my dates so I decided that I could always change hotels at my expense if needed or sleep in the tour van (ok, not really but in my mind I needed a few options).

So with the safari itinerary set, my adventure was good to go, I emailed the OK to the travel agent and she sent me the invoice to pay.  Since it was less than two months out, the entire amount was due in South African Rand and US dollars so I found my credit card without foreign exchange fees and booked it online.  Funny what you can book online without getting called by your credit card – when I tried to buy something at Wal-Mart my credit card was flagged for fraud and shut down but spending x amount (over my tolerance) and out of the country online was OK- never can figure out the fraud alerts with credit cards.

The Ultimate Safari Itinerary

The final safari itinerary would be twenty seven days mixing luxury with points and cash.

Johannesburg (overnight at the airport) at the Intercontinental (using points & cash rate)

Botswana

• Okavango Delta – 3days/2 nights (4 safari walks)
• Chobe Safari Park – 3 days/2 nights (2 game drives, 1 boat drive)

Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe – 3 days/2 nights

White River (overnight as too late to get to camp) – 1 night

Sabi Sands, Kruger Park – South Africa – 4 days/3 nights (6 game drives) at Inyati 

Capetown, South Africa – 7 days/6 nights – Tours of City & Table Mountain, Robben Island, Cape Peninsula, Hermanus and Whale Route and the Winelands

Garden Route tour – 3 days/2 nights

Port Elizabeth – 2 days/1 night

Johannesburg (overnight at the airport) – city tour day of departure, flight at 8pm

Now that the planning is done, the itinerary set – the fun of preparing for the trip is next. Travel shots, medicines, drab color clothes, duffel bag?

The Safari Experience & Planning

To read about the safari expeience in each country as well as the planning do a search by category or drop down the destinations tab for Africa.  There are still posts from Africa to share – the safari in Sabi Sands, Capetown and surrounding day tours, the Garden Route and one day in Johannesburg.  As always, if you have any bespoke queries, just contact me and I’d be happy to help with questions or to plan your adventure.  This trip inspired me in so many ways – to start the blog, to start my travel planning business and to live my life a bit differently.  What will an African Safari Itinerary do for you?

]]> https://dev.philatravelgirl.com/2016/04/24/africa-safari-itinerary/feed/ 11 https://dev.philatravelgirl.com/2015/07/13/travel_sabbatical/ https://dev.philatravelgirl.com/2015/07/13/travel_sabbatical/#comments Tue, 14 Jul 2015 01:30:38 +0000 http://dev.philatravelgirl.com/2015/07/13/travel_sabbatical/ Escaping Reality and Life: The Three Month Travel Sabbatical in Europe Read More »

When I lost my job of 10+ years, I did what most rational (not really) people would do – I ran away to Europe on my EPIC Adventure (travel sabbatical). See I didn’t quit my job to travel the world, my job quit me so I thought “why not travel”.  Having had a job (or two) since I was 16, this was an opportunity to travel for a good amount of time to clear my head after a career of 23 years (and a good reason to eat gelato, lots of gelato).

Everything was pretty last-minute – the research of the hotels, flights, trains, etc. to put together a preliminary itinerary. What would normally take months to plan, I did in two weeks by staying up to nearly 3 a.m. each night.  I had to set up holds (mail, newspaper and magazine), cancel trash collection, pay/schedule bills in advance, set up cash transfers for ATM withdrawals, find a friend to be my go to person here at home.  Plus a whole lot more.  I shopped for new clothes to bring with me as I attempted to pack in one new suitcase for temperatures that would vary from 50 to 90 degrees taking me from Spring to Summer. In a word, my friends and family (and the voices in my head) all seemed to agree that I was “crazy”.

 

My friend from Washington State who I call “country mouse” was amazing to just drop everything and join me on the first leg of my adventure – the EPIC transatlantic cruise from Miami to Barcelona (which I’m calling Adult summer camp with alcohol).  While I planned out April and May, I left June open in my attempt to be spontaneous.  Packing my laptop for the first time, I planned to blog from the road a few times a week to see if I could handle the nomadic lifestyle (spoiler alert!  I failed miserably as I chose to enjoy my destination instead). When I returned from my EPIC Adventure, I can’t lie – I was sad to be back to reality.  My mom texted me “Welcome Home!  Back to reality, it sucks!”  Gotta love Mom and her words of wisdom!

So while I have been posting when I could – wifi on the road is a bigger deterrent that I thought.  I managed to write a bit as I went along but it was harder than I anticipated as I was lured away from working by the magic of traveling – exploring new worlds and eating/drinking without abandon (there will be hell to pay at the gym).

Now that I’m home, I will focus more to catch up with all the crazy from the road as I search for a job.  Believe me, there was a lot of crazy on this trip and many more “these things happen only to Sue” moments.  I was on Italian television being serenaded and filmed during my Row Venice gondola lesson by a journalist.  I tried Airbnb for the first time and the experiences varied greatly – I fled one dirty property after falling down the steps and spraining my foot which landed me in the local clinic and then a visit to the hospital.  My sprained foot would alter the course of my travels and my life.

There would be a taxi strike in Paris.  There would be striking workers who would decide to set fire to the Eurostar rails stranding me in Paris causing me one of the most stressful travel days I’ve ever experienced and bringing me to the brink of a travel meltdown on my way to London. There would be a London tube/underground strike.   I’d get manicures in three cities not speaking the language (chipped nails and bad polish transcends language so I just held my hands up with a sad face).  I’d camp out at a few hotels writing and surviving on room service and the on site spa.  I’d have three days of waiting time in Milan before meeting a friend in Malta (thank you Starwood points for helping me camp out at the Sheraton Diana Majestic last minute).

I’d get lost a few times in Naples,  take the wrong train to Ercolano for Herculaneum and figure out the crazy that is the Italian train system. I’d meet new friends, catch up with old friends and eat gelato daily pretending I earned it from all of the walking. I’d find the wash/dry locations in Spain and Florence and then learn to hang my wet clothes in the Gozo sun. There would be magical sunsets on the water, over the water and along a wind tunnel of a road.  I’d ship my clothes ahead (a bit of overpacking coming to fruition).  There would be hotel upgrades, disagreements, awesomeness.  I’d drive a manual Land Rover in a 4×4 adventure course outside of Barcelona then explore Florence in the ultra adorable, albeit miniature classic Fiat500.

 

There would be amazing foods (and food tours), wines and fascinating people/conversations along the way.   I would spend over twenty hours walking over two days at the Milan Expo15 before my feet rebelled and would walk no more.  There were spa visits, a shopping spree (thank goodness for Banana Republic and “big American” sizes!), broken sunglasses, a few broken spirits and thankfully no broken bones. More than 7,500 photos on my IPhone and countless more on my camera.  Tours by bike, foot, boat, big bus. 13 Hotels, 7 AirBnb properties and a friend’s house. There would be lots of chocolate and even more wine!

The FINAL ITINERARY looked like this:

Norwegian EPIC TransAtlantic Cruise (11 days)

TBEX Conference in Lloret del Mar, Spain

TBEX Post Conference Press Trip – Barcelona is Much More (so much fun, adventure and Cava!)

Barcelona

Naples, Italy

Island of Capri

Sorrento

Amalfi Coast

Florence

Venice

Milan

Island of Gozo (Malta)

Malta (overnight only to be closer to airport)

Paris

London

So they are just a few of the highlights (albeit some are nightmares/low points) but it was an adventure so stay tuned to see how it all turns out. I traveled by planes, trains, automobiles, cruise ship, electric car, golf cart, chair lift, vaporetto, gondola, a vintage Fiat500, zipline and ferry.  Upcoming posts will be a bit of this, that and the other as I jump around cities as some posts are easier than others. Any questions, just ask either in comments below or use the contact form.

The three months in Europe flew by and every day I was able to explore the world without worry or stress.  I forgot that I had no job, no income and no prospects when I got home.  For those three months, I was a world citizen enjoying the beauty of people, places and food/wine/gelato.  Thankfully, I had an emergency savings, a vacation days payout and lots of points to use to let me do this.  When people asked “what do you do” rather than go through the job loss speech, I replied “I travel” and for three months thats what I did carefree.

Have you ever thought about running away from life to travel?  If you lost your job, would that give you the opportunity and if so, would you take it?

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