JetSetPilot Blog

Key West, Florida – “Quaint” Is the Word of the Day

2011-05-01T20:40:00.008-04:00

Bright and early Easter Monday, stocked with water, soda, coffee and breakfast sandwiches we set our sights on Key West from Ft. Lauderdale. After much debate of whether to take 95 or the Turnpike to Route 1 (the often 2 lane highway that takes you from Miami to the Southernmost Point), we settled on the Turnpike. Either way would have been fine, my suggestion is take a look at the traffic reports and go with whichever one looks clear.

TRAVEL TIP: When vacationing to Key West, or any of the Keys, you have several airport choices. Ft Lauderdale, Miami, or 2 airports within the keys: Key West International or Florida Keys Marathon Airport. Ft Lauderdale will 9 times out of 10 give you the best price from anywhere in the country, but leaves you with the longest drive. Keep in mind most find the drive through the Keys a destination in itself, so if you think you’ll enjoy a scenic 3.5 hr drive…skip the more expensive flights into the keys and rent a car from either Miami or Ft Lauderdale.

There are over 4500 Keys, some of which include Marathon Key, Scout Key, Long Key, Grassy Key and of course Key Largo. The views along the drive are supreme, but most of the 180 miles consists of a 2 lane highway which makes the drive a little more stressful when you’re stuck behind someone driving slower than you’d like. But with Key West as your ultimate destination, we just sat back and relaxed, knowing the beautiful weather, views and drinks that awaited us.

We decided on a Bed and Breakfast on the southern end of Duval street, the main street that goes through town, called Avalon. It was the definition of quaint and a perfect place for us and Brian’s parents.

Definition of Quaint: Charmingly odd, attractively unusual, especially in an old-fashioned way.

Everywhere we went in Key West, we found ourselves using the word “quaint” to describe our surroundings; our bed and breakfast, the restaurants, Duval Street, etc. We also found the description “quaint” on handbags, towels and mugs; so we are not the only ones who felt this way.

We also found that a great deal of European families around town, which was quite surprising considering Key West with all its bars busy nightlife and liberal nature, is not the most family friendly Florida Key. We did our own bar crawl of our favorites, kicking it off with Fogarty’s and the Flying Monkey drinks

Next was the Earnest Hemmingway’s favorite, Sloppy Joes, followed by Hog’s Breath and eventually Pat Croce’s Rum Barrel for dinner, watched the sun set at Mallory Square and hit up an Irish bar for after dinner cocktails and a country musician / comedian for entertainment.

The next morning, Brian’s parents walked across the street from the Avalon to The Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservatory which they raved about! Check for coupons which are everywhere, and you should be able to find at least $2 off an adult ticket. http://www.keywestbutterfly.com/

Meanwhile, Brian and I got the four of us tickets to the World Famous Key West Conch Train Tour http://www.conchtourtrain.com/index.htm. The train leaves every 20 minutes from several locations in Key West, and zig zags through historic Key West. The amount of history, stories and get commentary they pack into the tour is truly amazing. The only time the train drivers were silent was during a few multi-block quiet zones. We hopped on and hopped off a few times, picked up a pair of Kinos http://www.kinosandalfactory.com/, handmade flip flops made for men, women and children and only cost $14 on average! I’ve had my pair for 2+ years and while they are worn in, they are still going strong!

A few more Flying Monkey drinks, shopping excursions and a brief afternoon rest back at the Avalon, we made our way to The Half Shell for our seafood dinner. http://www.halfshellrawbar.com/index.html

Everyone choose a different seafood entrée including fish and chips and crab and shrimp, as well as a few appetizers. My personal favorite was the conche ceviche! Sufficiently stuffed, we walked back to the Avalon were we sat on our front porch recapping the day and all the fun we had…sad to have to leave the next morning for the 7 1/2 hour drive to Tampa.

Florida - Part 1

2011-04-28T17:05:00.007-04:00

Thank you US Airways for the First Class upgrade once again! Check in was one of the shortest waits in our travel history, as was the security line with the ability to go through the priority line. Unfortunately Brian’s luck brought him to be chosen for the random security search and pat down, and due to my floor length sundress I was patted down as well. My thoughts darted off to the show “Locked up Abroad” where women wore the same outfit I was wearing, only difference is they were carrying 10+ pounds of some kind of white powdery drug. Meanwhile my purse was also being run through the x-ray machine 3x plus a manual search. Surprise surprise, nothing turned up, and we walked off to grab some breakfast before boarding the plane.

I love the US Airways magazines that are offered in the airplane seat holders, they are great travel and business reads. With the US Airways hub being in Philadelphia, it’s not surprising to see all the features of the area, this particular magazine featured Brian’s home hometown of Skippack and a few featured restaurants in Philadelphia. It also included a good deal of golf courses around the US…which I’m not particularly interested in but I’m sure a lot are.

While visiting family in Ft Lauderdale, we decided to stay for the second time at the Ramada: Hollywood Beach Resort in Hollywood Beach a bit south of Ft Lauderdale. The resort itself is pretty outdated but the rooms are clean, prices are good and the resort Beach Bar is well worth the return. We did however upgrade our room category from our last stay to a 1 bedroom suite in hopes that the rooms would be a bit more insulated and quiet in the evenings to promote a better night sleep. At check-in it turns out the only suite room available was a 2 floor loft with the 2nd floor on the penthouse level. It couldn’t have been any quieter! The 1st floor consisted of a bathroom, closet, kitchenette and living area. Upstairs another bathroom closet and bedroom, and an ocean view to top it all off!

A large resort pool, many shops and resort bar O’Malley’s it’s all you need for a nice long weekend vacation. The surrounding area of Hollywood isn’t the most glamorous, but with O’Malley’s there’s no reason to stray too far. We haven’t tried any of the restaurants in the area, but we passed plenty of Seafood Restaurants right by the water which I’m sure are worth a try. Parking was $18/valet or $15 self park for 24hrs. $2/hr for short term parking, or street parking if you’re able to find anything.

Weekend in New York City

2011-04-12T20:42:00.008-04:00

Our friend Katja is here visiting from Barcelona and we were very excited to join her in a weekend trip to NYC a few days ago. We chose to stay at the Hilton Garden Inn in Chelsea, just about 4 blocks from Penn Station. We were also half a block from the 6th Ave Street Fair which spanned 23rd – 32nd streets.

The fair was filled with local artists, crafters and amazing food to name a few. We enjoyed some corn on the cob, pastries, and Spanish Rice, pork and empanadas...yum!!! Katja bought several t-shirts from Rock Star Revolution , who creates and sells t-shirts with original designs, hand drawn and hand screened. We also ran into friends Meghan and Kyle Weber at their table for Ivy Haus Designs , where Meghan was showcasing her vintage and handmade jewelry line. Katja grabbed a handmade necklace and pair of earrings, while my outfit was missing some accessories so I went with a vintage piece and wore it that afternoon!

After a short nap, we had a few cocktails at the hotel bar (any house drink $5 happy hour special) then it was out to meet friends Heather and Kim for more drinks. They had just seen the matinee show of Phantom of the Opera so we met at Times Square and decided on the Hard Rock. Sure it may be a touristy, but it was close, convenient and not priced too bad either! Heather and Kim left for the train around 9pm and we headed off to dinner at Mezzaluna, an amazing little Italian pizzeria Meghan and Kyle had recommended to us earlier that day.
They had mentioned it was small, but thank goodness we went when we did because there was only seating for about 8-10 people! The atmosphere was great and super cozy and very friendly staff. Calamari appetizer, prosciutto and buffalo mozzarella, one veal meatball and pasta and 2 gourmet pizzas later...and a few beers and glasses of wine thrown in there...we were sufficiently stuffed and decided to skip the cab and walk the 28 blocks back to the hotel where we rested up for another full day of exploring the city the following morning.

A quick stop for coffee and a small breakfast, we hopped on the metro to the World Trade Center and Wall street. We then walked across Brooklyn bridge, took a few stops for photos and Katja picked up another hand drawn t-shirt.
By the time we made it to Brooklyn, our feet were begging for a break so we took a seat on a park bench and took out our iphone and used the “AroundMe” app to find a nice restaurant for lunch. At random, we chose The Horse Tavern and it turned out to be a great choice! Being Sunday afternoon the Tavern was offering a special Sunday Brunch menu including an assortment of mimosas and bloody mary’s, but Brian and I decided on a locally brewed Pilsner. Everyone’s meal with delicious and again the service was excellent! On our way out we showed our inner tourist as we asked for directions to the closes metro and snapped a picture of the restaurant from across the street.

We picked up our luggage from the hotel and walked the short 4 blocks to Penn Station. Even though our final destination was Philadelphia, we took the train to and from Hamilton NJ train station which was only $15 per person (one way) opposed to around $100 out of Philly. A good option if you’re open to a bit of a car ride in addition to the train.

All in all a great trip to the Big Apple! We can’t wait to go back and try out even more restaurants, bars and hotels in other areas of the city!!

Where did all the Service Go?

2011-03-31T22:19:00.003-04:00

Online Discounted Vacation suppliers can be very appealing and hard to stay away from. Websites like CheapCaribbean.com, Travelzoo.com and even Expedia or Travelocity offer amazing and sometimes too good to be true vacation deals. They lore you in with headlines such as "Jamaica: $299 for 5 days all inclusive plus flight!", but after you add taxes and fees, transfers, flight from the city you actually live in and choose dates that work with your schedule, you're now looking at upwards of $800 per person. Even so, that's still quite a deal! So where's the catch? The resort pictures look nice, the room category is garden view but you're okay with that. So what's missing? One simple word. Service.

Basing your vacation decisions mainly on price is very risky business. I'm not saying any vacation you book through a discounted supplier will turn into an episode of "When Vacations Attack", but the odds are exponentially higher. You can't argue the fact that online searching is the #1 way to get the best deal available, but are you really willing to give up the personal service and peace of mind, just to save a few bucks?

Let's start with the hotel selection:

On Your Own: Have you ever tried looking for an all inclusive resort in Mexico? There are hundreds! And at first glance each one looks just about the same as the next, so you'll probably end up going off of how pretty the pictures look on the website combined with the cheapest price. Or worse yet, you'll get so overwhelmed with all of your choices you'll settle on a resort by playing ini mini mini mo.

Did you know? Resorts know how you booked, and know how much you paid for your room. Believe it or not, the service you receive will often be less than the person one room over if you booked through a discounted supplier and they did not.

With JetSetPilot: By contacting a travel consultant like JetSetPilot we'll be sure to choose a resort that fits your needs, and at the same time we'll keep your budget in mind. We get to know our travelers, what they enjoy and what is important to them in their vacation. This allows us to weigh flight and resort options, and can even lead us to recommending a completely different vacation destination that our clients end up enjoying even more!

Did you know? Resorts want travel agents to continue sending their clients to them, therefore we often have access to those little extras you otherwise wouldn't be offered on other online travel sites, and we pass these offers along to you! In most cases we can get you a room upgrade, concierge service or spa credits all at no cost to you.

How about flight schedules?

On Your Own: You've heard great things about the island of Antigua in the Caribbean and check out a few of the popular online booking engines, Expedia and Orbitz, you find the best price and a decent hotel and book it. But how do you know if you got the best available deal/option? If you don't follow the travel industry news closely, you may not know that American Airlines (AA) only sells their tickets in two places online. AA.com and Priceline.com. You also probably did not know that AA is the 9 times out of 10 the best airline to get you to Antigua, which most likely means you overpaid for your vacation.

Did you know? When traveling internationally your name on the airline ticket must match your passport exactly, including middle names. Most airlines don't let you change the name after you book and it can be a huge pain to try and fix, especially without the support of an agent or consultant.

With JetSetPilot: We have the scoop on all major airlines, how to get the best flight options and unlike the Online Suppliers, we have no problem booking you that AA flight with the resort we previously decided on earlier in our consultation. We're also are up to date on all travel related news including new regulations on passports, carry-on, baggage fees, etc. We save you time, energy and stress by providing you with everything you need to know to make your trip as smooth as possible.

Transfers or Travel Insurance?

On Your Own: Almost every discounted vacation supplier offers some type of transfer service and travel insurance, but how do you know if you can count on them? We heard and read about countless unhappy customers who were stranded at airports when their transfer service didn't arrive and others who were denied refund of their trip when they had purchased "cancel for any reason" insurance.

With JetSetPilot: We only provide our clients with reliable and trusted transfer companies and insurance companies. Our cancel for any reason insurance, truly is cancel for ANY reason. No questions asked. And if there is ever a problem with any of the services we include in your vacation, we're here to make it right. We'll be on the phone immediately to rectify any unlikely issues you have along the way.

Did you know? Want to take a private car or even a helicopter transfer to your hotel? Sure, we can do that! Try researching companies to get you the private transfer of your liking and it could take hours of browsing websites and checking reviews. Or leave it to your travel consultant and we'll take care of it in the same amount of time it would have taken if you went with the standard group van.

Still think saving a few bucks is worth the risk? Booking online is accessible and convenient, but next time you begin planning a vacation think about what you are really getting when you book this way. You may save money, but you certainly aren't saving time or peace of mind. As the old saying goes… you get what you pay for.

First Class All The Way To Mexico!

2011-03-05T20:48:00.011-05:00

Great friends of ours, Russ and Katy, honeymooned at the Excellence Riviera Cancun Resort in Mexico 2 years ago and decided to return for their “babymoon” this winter, as Katy is expecting their first child this coming June. Brian and I were looking for a quick getaway, part vacation and part research, so when Russ and Katy opened the invitation for friends to join them we jumped at the chance!

We were looking forward to our winter getaway for months, and as travel agents we highly recommend Excellence Resorts for honeymoons and adult couple/friends vacations, so we were especially excited to experience firsthand their Riviera Cancun resort.

The week before our vacation was a busy one, both work related and otherwise, so when it was 2 days before our departure it was an unexpected surprise when I received an email from our airline, US Airways. After much jetsetting to Europe this past summer and fall, I became a US Airways Preferred Silver Member. One of the benefits of a preferred member is starting 48 hours before departure if all first class tickets aren’t sold, US Airways will upgrade their preferred members and their travel companions. Lucky for us, my email confirmed we were in fact upgraded! Russ, also a preferred member ,was upgraded as well so on Saturday morning dressed in our best we all enjoyed a first class flight with a breakfast and cocktails, and arrived in Cancun by 10:30am.

Our transfers were provided by American Express, and finding them in the crowd of people and other transfer companies was no trouble at all. There were clear signs, friendly agents, air-conditioned vans that weren’t packed to the brim with people.

Excellence has a total of 4 resorts throughout Mexico and the Caribbean. We stayed at the Excellence Riviera Cancun Resort, and the experience was absolutely amazing! Champagne upon arrival, a smooth check-in, and in Russ and Katy’s case they had chosen a room category which included their Excellence Club so they enjoyed VIP check-in and a virgin Piña Colada for Katy :). By 1pm we were all enjoying the cocktail of the day and sun at the bar by the main pool.

The resort had a total of 6 pools with your choice of quiet and serene or loud and exciting. Either way, there was always a chair or pool floaty available (although some people hoarded the floaties). Daily activities included water aerobics, volleyball, and poker to name a few. Personally, I preferred a nice mojito and a chair that was actually located in the pool.

The food top notch! A lot of all inclusive resorts do not have food to rave about, but each and every meal we had was fantastic including the daily breakfast buffet. Restaurants did not take reservations so often there was a wait, but that’s okay because it gave us an excuse to grab another cocktail! The last night we enjoyed a 5 course meal at the onsite Hibachi restaurant.

We didn’t have to leave the resort until 11:30am the day we left, so we were able to soak in some last rays of sun and enjoy a stroll down the beach. We were upgraded to first class again, this time on a 757 which has the seats that actually recline with the foot rests. The meal wasn’t as great as our breakfast on the way down, but I’m not complaining!

All in all a fantastic vacation, and Excellence is here to stay on our list of recommended all inclusives in the Caribbean or Mexico. The service is amazing for everyone, regardless if you're celebrating a honeymoon, anniversary or just celebrating escaping the winter weather back home!

The Vacation Hat

2010-10-10T18:24:00.008-04:00

I was sitting at the airport last month and saw a girl sitting near me with this hat on her lap.

Look familiar? You've probably seen something similar for sale at any and every semi-tropical destination. It's the infamous vacation hat! Varying in shape, size and color, sooner or later everyone will give in and purchase one.

Oh, you may hold out for a while, even go through several vacations without purchasing one, but eventually everyone ends up giving in and buys their very own vacation hat. It's one of those things you have to have at the time, but it's really a very impractical purchase. You can only wear it while on vacation (and the Jersey shore does not count), you can't pack it in your suitcase or it will loose it's shape so you're forced to carry it with your carryon, and it will disappear into the back of your closet so that it's nowhere to be found when you go to pack it for your next trip. Which inevitably means you'll end up buying another hat once you arrive at your next destination.

I've been to many destinations where this hat has been made popular, and I finally purchased my very own in Greece on our honeymoon this summer. I was almost talked into an "authentic" vacation hat for €65, but held off until I found similar version for only €15.

So if you've ever thought about adding a new hat to your wardrobe, I do recommend a nice vacation hat. You somehow feel a little more relaxed while sitting under a vacation hat sipping on a sugary cocktail, and it will be a perfect accessory to your other vacation wear of sarogns and cross stitched beach bags. But be aware, if you decide to wear this hat in public back home, expect to hear whispers and see smirks (especially if you wear it around me). There's a time and place for everything folks :)

Upgraded Airline Tickets...Are they really worth it?

2010-09-18T07:57:00.005-04:00

This is the second time I unknowingly booked a “Premium” ticket from Paris to Barcelona. Mind you, this “Premium” ticket is not first class and is not business class. It’s the lowest of priority seating you can get, and as far as the actual seats on the plane it just means you’re within the front 15 rows and get a slightly upgraded meal. The seats themselves however are exactly the same as Economy. No word on how much more this “Premium” ticket cost from Economy but I will tell you what perks it offers.

1. You skip the long lines at check-in and security and go right through at a specially marketed section for priority ticket holders. On the perk scale I’ll give this 5 stars.

2. A “Priority” tag on your luggage. Because so many people are considered “Priority” on one level or another, this tag does absolutely nothing and I’m convinced the workers in charge of transporting the bags ignore it completely. Both flights I was close to the last person to retrieve my Priority Tagged Bag. Perk Scale = 0 stars

3. A ticket into the Air France Lounge. Perk Scale = 5 (If you actually use it). During my first trip I couldn’t actually find it to even considering going in, but this time my gate was situated right next to the escalator leading down to the lounge. I thought about it, and call me crazy, but I kind of want to save the experience of the lounge area until I actually deserve it. I’m 26, on a multi-city European business trip experiencing top rate hotels, food, even went to a bbq in the mountains outside of Barcelona at what had to be a 3+ million dollar home. I feel incredibly lucky to be experiencing the things I am, so why not save this one little thing until I actually book and pay for my own first class ticket. A real first class ticket. Similar to my opinion on Louis Vuitton handbags. Sure I can go out and buy one (and a lot of people do), but I want to save this purchase for a time when I can really afford to go drop 1-2k on something and not feel it in the pocket. I’m confident the day will come when I’ll walk into an airline lounge holding my Louis Vuitton…but that day wasn’t today.

Round 3! - Paris & Barcelona

2010-09-17T15:48:00.001-04:00

I’m back for another round of jet-setting to Paris and Barcelona! First it was 3 days in the outskirts of Paris, same hotel as last only this time I’ve found several English speaking employees so that has been comforting. (no problem with the toilet this time…knock on wood!).

I’m really starting to feel comfortable here in the Paris office; I’ve gotten used to the schedule and [some of] the people are really nice! Each morning around 9-930am everyone meets in the break room for a morning chat and cup of café. Lunch between noon and 1pm, with most people taking the 5min walk to a small sandwich and salad shop in the nearby mall. 2pm sharp is the second café break. I’ve realized it is not really common to have more than these two cups (or shot glasses) of café per day. It’s more of a social thing and not a means to get a caffeine high, which is a major disappointment to me.

The cups and spoons used for the café are not disposable so each day I would wash my assigned dishes and found my completely random fact for the day. Coffee in the US stains cups, mugs, teeth…you get the idea. The coffee I’ve had in Paris washes clean with just a little water and doesn’t even need soap! So what exactly is the difference between our coffee and theirs? Does this mean their coffee is more healthy? I’ll have to do some research and get back to you…

One of the ladies at the office brought in some homemade canele de bordeaux. It is traditional French breakfast cake that was very tasty and a perfect companion to the morning café. The consistency probably isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, as it’s very “French” and reminded me of a thicker, baked crème Brule.

I also went out to dinner with a group of the office IT guys, one local French and 3 Spanish who were in town. What an eclectic group we were! The common language was English (lucky for me!) but everyone had heavy accents and were often struggling to find their words. It was a very enjoyable evening as we all got to know one another, discussing our families and cultural background, and most importantly we didn’t talk about work at all! These trips are very work centric, so I night away from colleagues is never a bad thing (sorry guys!).

Tomorrow I fly off to Barcelona, unfortunately the weekend weather doesn’t look promising so I may have to grab an umbrella and spend the days shopping indoors rather than sightseeing. Fine with me!! I actually packed light this time so I would have an excuse to go shopping, and would have room in my bag for the flight back!!

ME Restaurant - Barcelona

2010-09-04T17:32:00.005-04:00

While I’ve had very little time to experience Barcelona as a tourist, just living and experiencing the day to day as a native (living out of a hotel) has been quite an experience. When I have some more time to write toward the back end of the trip I will definitely go into detail on the cultural differences between the US and Spain, France, etc. For now, I’d like to stick to the topic of food!

It’s been work, eat, drink, sleep, repeat for one full week. Every lunch and dinner has been fantastic; I’ve had not one complaint. And the dinner we had last night was no exception!

We walked to a place called ME just about 4 blocks from our hotel. Some of my co-workers had dined here on previous business trips and they had been raving about this chocolate desert for days, so we had to go try and get a table. After about 10 minutes of negotiating with the owner, they finally let us in even without a reservation. The food, atmosphere, and service was top notch and the owner actually sat down with us when we ordered to answer any questions we had about the food, and then again at the end of the evening. He was super personable, even to the table of 6 who showed up without a reservation, so I’m sure the service is spectacular on any day.

I couldn’t decide if I should go for the octopus starter or entrée, so I ordered both. And I wasn’t disappointed! We each had a desert; I had goat cheese cheesecake and stole a bit of someone else’s chocolate desert which more than half the table ordered. We also wiped out the restaurant of Albarino wine…we drank 6 bottles!

This honestly was one of the best restaurant’s I’ve ever been to, and the prices weren’t unreasonable. If you ever get the chance to visit Barcelona, this is an absolute MUST!

For information on ME Restaurant, I found this utube video including a tour of the restaurant and interview with the owners.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JqIxvptawMo

I also found this New York Times Review:
Away from the crowds in the popular L’Eixample area you’ll find this cutting-edge and affordable restaurant, a seven-month-old hybrid of New Orleans, Vietnamese and Catalan cooking created by Thang Pham.

ME Restuarant
Carrer de Paris, 162, Barcelona, 8036
93/4194-933
www.catarsiscuisine.com

ENJOY!

8pm = early bird special

2010-08-31T17:13:00.002-04:00

It’s no joke, dinner doesn’t start in Spain until 9pm. Tapas, yes, you can certainly enjoy a tapas dinner at 7pm or earlier but if you’re looking for a real dinner with starter, entrée and desert, don’t expect those restaurants (authentic Spanish restaurants) to open their doors before 9pm.

Last evening we worked in the office until 8:15pm, dropped off our bags at the hotel and headed out for dinner. We arrived at our destination around 8:45 and were the first patrons to walk through the door. At 9:05pm, the doors flew open and tables were full shortly after. How is this possible? How can people afford to have a full dinner, including desert and coffee (and at least 1 bottle of wine) starting at 9pm or later? Simple! Their day prior to dinner looked like this:

9:00 am – employees arrive in the office
10:30am 11:00am– employees leave premises to break for breakfast
1:30-2:30pm – employees leave premises to break for lunch
5pm sharp – employees leave premises for the day
At least 1-2 times within the day, employees gather for coffee and/or a game of cards.

When I find the time, I’d like to do research on the average life expectancy in Europe and I would put money on the average being at least 5 years higher than that of the United States. Stress levels, not to mention cancer and terminal illness, should also be significantly lower. As a psychology student in school, I would love to do a study on overall happiness of Europeans compared to Americans. Even with working 12+ hours days since I’ve been in Europe, the work-life balance is hard to ignore and the work-hard, play-hard philosophy has certainly been put into practice.

** The restaurant we ate at Monday evening was Market Hotel and was fabulous!! A proper dinner with starter, entrée, desert and wine (2 bottles) for 3 people was a total of 90 Euro (without tip). Be prepared, the entrée doesn’t include much of a side, but the meal itself is wonderful. http://www.markethotel.com.es/
Make reservations if possible, for anytime after 9pm. We called about 6 times throughout the day but nobody ever answered the phone, so we arrived at 8:45pm and they gave us a table anyway.

Topic Train!

2010-08-28T15:47:00.007-04:00

I’ll start off today’s blog by asking a simple question. Has anyone ever had a good experience at the Paris Charles de Gaul airport? I’ve flown domestically and internationally out of the CDG airport and each time the experience is beyond poor. I’ll skip the details because there are far more exciting topics to discuss, but please do share your thoughts on CDG.

I’ve only been in Barcelona for half a day, but already so much to talk about!! Where to start!!

Taxi drivers – while they don’t drive Mercedes as they do in Paris, taxi drivers in Barcelona are a lot friendlier (not to mention cheaper!!). My driver chatted the entire ride into the city, talking of topics from the economy to the fact that Shakiria is now living in Barcelona. He also made sure to tell me there is a great disco across the street from my hotel!

Sidewalks – I don’t know why, but I love that there are sidewalks on the side AND middle of the larger roads.

Dogs – Last time I was in Barcelona we noticed that most dogs in the city were not on a leash, something you’d never see in the States. As we travel more and more we realize this is the norm in Europe. So far today however, I’ve seen about 10 dogs and every one was on a leash.

Dinner – My hotel is about 6 blocks from the hotel Brian and I stayed in two years ago, and I was determined to have dinner at the little restaurant half a block from our hotel. I made my way there (without a map!) and to my disappointment, the once authentic restaurant with the most amazing paella had been replaced with a tourist bar with pictures of the food for a menu. I sat down anyway, and even though they didn’t have paella I did have three of my favorites, Estrella Damm, chorizo boccadillo, and calamares. All for 7.80 euro!!! Can’t beat it!

Wedding Dress Capital – For those who don’t know, Barcelona is where Brian proposed and because of that maybe I noticed more than ever how many wedding dresses are displayed in shop windows. I’ve been to my share of cities and I swear Barcelona has more than the average number of bridal shops. I noticed it again tonight, as I walked to dinner I must have passed at least 5 shops in a matter of 6 blocks.

Paris Hilton (yes, Paris Hilton) - I find it wrong that Paris Hilton’s arrest with cocaine charges is discussed every 5 minutes on CNN and SkyNews, in between news such as the Prime Minister’s new baby daughter and Glenn Beck’s rally. Paris Hilton’s name should never be spoken on any respectable news station and is it me, or do you think she wanted to get caught to compete with Lindsay Lohan’s drama? I am however very pleased they have English speaking channels. Again, something that was rare in my two Paris hotels.

Hotel – my hotel is fantastic, very contemporary, spacious and has all the amenities. Just one problem. As I was sitting on my bed catching up on the evening news I started to hear a buzzing sound coming from outside. I look out and notice a spotlight that is located directly below my window has turned on. Apparently there my room is located directly below, or next to, a very important sign outside that must be lit up at night. I kid you not, I feel like Kramer on that Seinfeld episode where the red light from the Chicken sign shines into his room and drives him crazy. Look at this picture! It is 10pm and no lights on inside my room. Hopefully the light gets turned off around midnight? One can hope…

We’re Not in Paris Anymore

2010-08-27T15:51:00.010-04:00

When I was in Paris last month I stayed in a hotel walking distance to the Eiffel tower. While that was great because it allowed me to explore the city on my one day/night off, my commute to work was about an hour each way. Considering I am only staying two days this trip I decided to stay in a hotel closer to work. The office is in a town called Lisses, and I am staying about 10minutes away at the Best Western Etiolles which is located on a golf course. I’m definitely not in the city of Paris anymore! The hotel is actually a collection of bungalows and the rooms are very spacious and super quiet! In my hotel in Paris the people in the room above me were having a dance party at 2am, but here it's so quiet I could hear a pin drop. There is a lake and golf course view out my bay window, but sadly no room service. As I discovered during my last solo visit, I’m not a fan of eating alone in a restaurant so I’d prefer room service when possible.

The staff that I’ve met do not speak any English, which made my visit to the front desk to tell them my toilet was running, so much so that I couldn’t even flush it, pretty entertaining to anyone watching. The two of us are using hand motions and even walked into the ladies bathroom in the lobby thinking if I could point to an actual toilet she would understand what I was saying. This didn’t really work so she finally agreed to come with me to my room. After 10minutes of fiddling with gadgets, she also gave up and put the lid back on. A few minutes went by while we just stood there looking at each other and back at the toilet, and suddenly we realized the bowl was filling up! Crisis averted, I smile and say “merci!!” (one of 5 words I know in French. Okay, 3 words I know in French), and I’m back to finishing up more work while listening to French Family guy in the background.

Oh, this was my coffee up I used in the office. You can’t really tell from the picture but its about the height of a 3 shot shotglass and a little wider. And it packs as much caffeine as 3 coffees back home! The candy next to it was a Christmas Santa made of marshmallows on a stick that someone was handing out at the office. Not sure why.

Tomorrow it’s off to Barcelona; can't wait for paella and tapas!! And a language I know more of three words of!

A Familiar Face

2010-08-26T14:03:00.003-04:00

The trip has started off great! My mom was nice enough to drop me off at the Philly airport so I wouldn't have to cab it from Conshohocken, and after checking my baggage I actually walked right through the security checkpoint with only one person in front of me! I was so excited I asked the security attendants if I could take a picture of this amazing good luck, but after they looked at me funny I decided just to take off my shoes and walk on through.

As with I every flight I've ever taken to Europe, this one included a group of 40+ high school students on some kind of organized trip. But something was different about this group. While there was the handfull of girls talking over one another while surrounding the cutest boy in the group trying to win his attention, the screeching and typical immature comments common of youth traveling abroad these days was kept to a minimum. Lucky for me, I ended up being completely surrounded by these teenagers on the plane, who I later found out was a group of high school seniors from all over the country headed for a 10 month exchange program all throughout France. Yes, in deed the difference was these kids weren’t just going for a 2-3 week long social vacation, they were actually going to experience the culture, history and learn something! (I’m one to talk…I went to Australia my senior year and returned with 95% pictures of my friends and 5% pictures of the scenery. Not to mention didn’t actually attend any classes.)

The program actually seems pretty cool. It’s an exchange program through Rotary. As I said, it’s a 10 month program, family and friends are discouraged to visit during this time so not to disrupt the emergence into a new culture, and it cost less than $5000! (So said the one girl sitting next to me from Oklahoma.)

So back to the flight. As I was boarding I immediately recognized the flight attendant greeting passengers and guiding us to our seats as the same flight attendant on both of my flights to and from Paris last month. He actually almost snuck me into first class on the return flight if another flight attendant didn’t adamantly stop us by a snappy “excuse me…we don’t do that”. So after breezing through security I’m feeling in a friendly mood believing it had to be a sign that this was going to be a good flight, so I stop at my old friend and tell him I’m beginning to feel like a regular, because I remember him from my previous flights. He must have felt special because he smiled ear to ear and while he tried to start up a conversation, I didn’t want to be that person who holds up the line so I just smiled and kept walking.

My seat on the other hand, is the only negative part of the flight. I’m in seat D on a plane that has seating in 2 4 2 layout, which means I was in the middle of the middle. (With giddy high school girls hitting on the guy in the pink button down in the row behind me).

Dinner and drink service begins, chicken or pasta, and after eating half of my pasta the drink cart finally arrives…guided by a familiar face. I tell my flight attendant friend (name unknown) I’d like a diet coke to which he replies… “And a Jack Daniels?”. I say, “Sure, if you’re handing them out”. Next thing I know I’m being handed a tiny plastic Jack Daniels bottle each time the guy walks by my row! Finally I had to explain that this was a business trip and I had to go to the office immediately upon arriving in Paris. So 4 Jack and Cokes later I finished up watching When in Rome (great movie btw) and pass out with my head on the tray table, which I’ve found is the only way I can sleep on a plane if I don’t have the window seat.

Moral of the story – I bet this will work with a lot of flight attendants if you’re interested in trying to get free booze. And if I ever see this guy again, I’m asking for the first class seat again. My bet is he’ll pull it off next time.

I wont’ bore you with the majority of my day which consisted of not having a phone because either my company or At&t “forgot” to add the international plan, so I had to wait until my office back in the states woke up to sort that out. Left the office at 7:20pm…have you ever been so tired you just wanted to break down and cry for no reason? Yea…that’s how tired I was. And yes, I am still that tired even as I sit here and write this blog, but I figure if I don’t do it now, it’s not going to get done.

Signing off for now! Skipping dinner and headed straight to bed, only to be woken up by my loving husband when he gets off work at 11pm Paris time.
Love you Brian!

Prepping for Europe!

2010-08-24T16:36:00.002-04:00

After weeks of waiting, my company finally confirmed I'll be headed to Paris TOMORROW and Barcelona on Saturday. I'm super excited, but there's a lot to do before jetsetting out in 24hours!

In addition to packing clothes and toiletries, business essentials such as laptop, notebooks, power cords and adaptors, I am also in the process of getting an expedited passport renewal. For those who don't know, some countries require you to have your passport valid for 3-6 months after the planned return to the States. In my case, my passport expires 12/3/10, or more importantly 09/03/10, but my planned return is not until 9/9/10.

I found that there are a lot of 3rd party companies that will expedite your passport for you (some legit, some are not. Check with the BBB before trusting any of these), but if you have a Regional Passport Agency nearby I recommend working directly with them. There is an automated phone system that will schedule you an appointment, provide you with a confirmation number and you're set! In my case, I called on Sunday night and the next available appt was Tuesday at noon.

Thank goodness I don't live too far from the city, nor does my company mind if I work from home and take a few hours off here and there, because my quick trip turned into two round trips, once at noon to provide my application, then returning at 3pm to pick up my new passport. I was also 2 minutes away from being on the Parking Wars TV show because when I returned to my car I had a white envelope with a parking ticket inside...stamped TWO minutes prior to me getting there. If I had walked up while someone was writing me a ticket there is no doubt I would have flipped out at the poor sap who was writing it up. (I had just come from a government office where I saw dozens of people, most of which were in security outfits, telling people to put away their drinks, food and cell phones just because they can. 1. get over the power trip, you have no real authority, and 2. you really get paid for that?) I had enough of uniformed officials for one day :)

Packing for two weeks of a business trip is tough! You don't really want to repeat clothes, and two weeks isn't really long enough to do laundry. But I did manage to keep everything to one suitcase, mainly because dragging two bags around would certainly not be fun.

Jetsetting to Paris!

2010-08-18T21:57:00.006-04:00

Last month I traveled to Paris for my "day job", and although I was only there for less than a week, working 13 hour days, I did manage to get a glimse of the city and the people. Not only was this my first time in Paris, but it was my first time traveling alone! It was a great learning experience traveling alone, sightseeing alone, not to mention eating alone!!

Here are 10 things I learned while in Paris:

1. Motorcycles have their own lanes on Paris highways / streets. They're called the shoulder and the dividing lane lines. They will fly in these lanes going 50 km/hr while cars are stuck in the real lanes going 20. I wonder what the statistics of motarcyle fatalities are? I'm guessing high.

2. If you eat out alone, bring a something to read / do. Or make sure to eat at on an outside terrace, so you can watch the people strolling by instead of awkwardly staring at the people at the tables around you. (dinner in Paris is slow, 1 hr will feel like 3 when you have nobody to talk to)

3. The Eiffel Tower is really freakin' cool, and I could stare at it all day

4. LC's trip to Paris may have been more glamorous than mine, but I got to see the Tour de France and Lance Armstrong (for you guys out there, LC is from MTV's The Hills and she rode on a dreamy guy's (who wore really tight pants) motorcycle around the city at night, as well as attending the Crillon Ball.)

5. You aren't allowed to hail a taxi on the street, and they are never at their marked locations. The only way to get a taxi is to call them, and when you do they start the meter then...not when they pick you up. Every cab I got in (when the exception of the airport) started at 8 euro or more. If i can give one bit of advice to someone vacationing in Paris, this would be it!!

6. I'm pretty bad when it comes to a sense of direction, but wtih the Eiffel tower as my north star I am very proud to say I didn't get lost once! This is pretty amazing considering I didn't look at a map before i arrived.

7. The espresso tastes just has horrible as the worst airline coffee, but can snap you out of the worst jetlag in a second!

8. The sun sets a little over an hour later than it does at home, around 9:45 (in late July).

9. I love cheese = I love french cuisine.

10. Paris is much more fun when shared with someone you love ;)

Euro Down, American Travel Up

2010-05-17T14:46:00.002-04:00

Due to the recent fall of the Euro from it's $1.35 value to $1.22 this morning, more and more Americans are realizing that Europe is starting to become afordable. Read today's article on CNN about how the price differentials could change your next trip:

http://money.cnn.com/2010/05/14/news/economy/euro_zone_vacation/index.htm

Call Brian at JetSetPilot for help with your next trip no matter where it is or browse some of the trips we offer on http://www.jetsetpilot.com/ Remember that these are not all of our trips!

A Tasting Tour of Europe

2010-05-10T09:49:00.003-04:00

Have you ever combined two of your favorite things in the world and made them even better? Well, in this write-up by one of the most interesting travelers in the world (Rick Steves) and his sampling of some of the most tasty foods in the world, we have just that. The two tastes that interest us the most? Tapas and Chocolate. Find yours!

http://www.intltravelnews.com/2010/01/rick-steves-europe-%C2%BB-taking-your-taste-buds-on-a-european-tour/

Make sure to call JetSetPilot at 215-272-3221 when you have travel needs! We give you that online price with the travel agent value-add to give you the best experience possible. Test our prices on your next trip and you won't be let down! Also, make sure to browse some of our trips on www.JetSetPilot.com and becom fans of us on Facebook!

Need a Ride?

2010-05-04T10:52:00.004-04:00

Many websites claim to have the "best" prices and lowest costs but how do they do what can not be done by other companies? Well, mostly, they subtract services like transfers and leave costs out like taxes. Maybe you've been to one of these sites where you're told a trip is one price until the very last second when you're about to purchase it with your credit card when your total skyrockets hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars. Why go through all that hassle?

JetSetPilot continues to offer your trips at great prices that either already include costs or we deliberately make sure to go out of our way to tell you when taxes/fees are not included and what you can expect. So next time you see that INCREDIBLE deal on one of the big websites, make sure to not get your hopes up until you're done paying for the trip completely OR you can call us and we will tell you everything in plain English.

Oh yeah, and about those services they subtract: don't get caught in a foreign country/city/airport without knowing you'll have someone to take you to your hotel. Also, make sure you understand the quality of your hotel once you get there or you could be majorly disappointed.

Call JetSetPilot at 215-272-3221 for all of your travel needs. We will make sure to have in-depth discussions on what you want and the price you're looking for in your next trip. We promise you will get the trip you want for the price you want (for those of you wondering, this does not mean you can stay at the Westin in Paris for $50/night!). Browse our trips at http://www.jetsetpilot.com/, but make sure to call us because our trips are not limited to what you see online!

Also be sure to become a fan of us on Facebook at
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/pages/JetSetPilot/160426724623?ref=ts !

If you are EVER going to travel again in the future, this is a must read!

2010-04-27T10:51:00.003-04:00

Please take some time and read this story from CNN that describes what happens when you don't buy travel insurance with your trip. On average, insurance will cost you anywhere from $30-150 and you most likely won't use it. However, the one time you need it, it could save you thousands!

http://www.cnn.com/2010/TRAVEL/04/26/travel.insurance/index.html

Please browse our our website at http://www.jetsetpilot.com/ for the trip of your dreams and become friends with us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/pages/JetSetPilot/160426724623?ref=ts and remember that if you don;t see the vacation you're looking for, we have it, it's just not online. Call us at 877-577-9876.

Not every airline will charge for carry-ons

2010-04-19T10:09:00.003-04:00

The major airlines must have noticed how Spirit Airlines had finally went over the proverbial "line". The publicity of the most recent addition to the airline fee scheme seems to have thwarted any kind of domino effect in the industry. Check out the story below to find out what airlines will not be charging you for a carry-on anytime soon:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/36628806/ns/travel-news/

Don't forget to find great prices on www.JetSetPilot.com and call us at 215-272-3221 if you are ready to experience the best vacation ever without the high cost!

Airlines are Getting Better (believe it or not)!

2010-04-12T12:05:00.001-04:00

With delays, service and lost baggage down from last year once again, airlines have slowly increased their ratings since 2001, believe it or not. Check out the findings of a recent government study.

http://www.cnn.com/2010/TRAVEL/04/12/airline.quality/index.html

Now, this doesn't excuse some airlines charging passengers for carry-ons, but it's a step in the right direction. Call us at 877-577-9876 for your next vacation quote or browse some of the thousands of trips we have to offer on http://www.jetsetpilot.com/

Most Amazing Jobs

2010-04-06T11:28:00.002-04:00

In CNN's newest highlighted career, we find out about one of the most sensational opportunities of all time. Care to test out honeymoons, anyone? The perks:

1. See New Sights
2. Travel the World
3. Get Paid
4. Be Waited on Hand and Foot
5. Snorkel, ski, cruise, fly..... anything you can think of!
6. Eat like a king

Downside:

1. Having to write about it and sending it to your boss.

Somehow, I think I would accept a position doing this. You thoughts?

http://www.cnn.com/2010/TRAVEL/03/29/honeymoon.tester.ultimate.job/index.html

Go on YOUR OWN honeymon and let us help you plan it. Browse the trips we offer at www.JetSetPilot.com and then call us at 877-577-9876. Don't see what you're looking for? Don't worry, we have thousands of itineraries at our disposal! Talk to you soon!

Short-Time Royal Caribbean Sale Event

2010-03-29T10:41:00.004-04:00

This deal will only be available for a short time. Get cruising and save a lot of money! Follow the link below to see how you can save thousands on your next trip!

http://www.cruisingpower.com/public/promotions/promotionDisplay.html?f=royal/Multi_dest/Special_Offers/rci_sales_event.pdf

Please visit http://www.jetsetpilot.com/ for even more great offers by our many suppliers.

Three Sheets is Finally Back on HD!

2010-03-22T14:13:00.003-04:00

THANK YOU TRAVEL CHANNEL! Our favorite show in the world has finally been added to the lineup on a premier cable channel. That means we can check out Zane in High Def starting April 14th. Check out the link below to hear Zane talk about it.

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=lf#!/video/video.php?v=402364211004&ref=nf

Not familiar with Three Sheets? It's a show that follows comedian Zane Lamprey around the world as he explores each country's culture through their unique drinks, games and food. This is a must-see for any traveler.

Costa Rica, Our First Venture into Central America

2010-03-19T09:11:00.002-04:00

For those of you who have noticed we did not have Costa Rica highlighted on our site, here it is! We finally added it after multiple clients told us they did not think we had these trips in our arsenal. However, we always had, we just didn't highlight them on the site.

That has all changed, take a look at this trip. One of many to Costa Rica we offer highlighting the rainforest, Arenal Volcano and some of the most picturesque beaches in the world!

www.JetSetPilot.com/trips/169/

This is a good example of the fact we can not show all the trips we offer online. I would just up too much time. So if you don't see the cruise, vacation or honeymoon you're looking for on http://www.jetsetpilot.com/, please call us at 215-272-3221 or 877-577-9876!

China Plans on Connecting Directly to London

2010-03-16T09:02:00.003-04:00

How? By train! Their plan is to span the 5000+ mile distance in 10 years once they have started. They are trying to add countries to their stops along the way including India, Russ and many western European countries. Will you take a ride on this train when it starts running? consider the scenery you will take in along the way on the fastest train in the world!

http://www.edmontonjournal.com/travel/high+speed+rail+network+could+trump+travel/2660659/story.html

In the meantime, explore tracks already made in the US, Europe, China and Japan. Many of our packages include train travel and we can make any trip possible at www.JetSetPilot.com

Don't worry if you have one too many in Romania!

2010-03-10T12:54:00.003-05:00

These signs were posted in Romania after multiple people were hit by cars after a long night of drinking. I particularly enjoy the fact the mayor of Pecica states that he HAS to target drivers because the drinkers have no sense of what's going on!

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,588706,00.html?test=latestnews

Call us to book your trip tom Romania at 877-577-9876 or peruse our other trips at www.jetsetpilot.com

Destinations Change, Take for Example..........

2010-03-08T20:43:00.003-05:00

Rome and Venice. These two are not sleepy. In fact, they're very dynamic, changin regularly. Below is an article discussing the changes in sights, transportation and scenery of these two Italian cities. Keep in mind, however, that changes occur in all destinations. So for your next trip, a little homework couldn't hurt!

http://www.cnn.com/2010/TRAVEL/03/08/rome.venice.travel/index.html

For all trips to Europe, check out these trips! Keep in mind, we always have more where that came from. In fact, we have thousands of trips we simply do not have the time to post online.

Central and South America Have Arrived!

2010-03-04T13:29:00.005-05:00

We are finally starting to put some Central and South America Trips on our site. We will start with Costa Rica as it seems to have the most popularity! Let us know if there's anywhere, in particular, you'd like us to highlight. Macchu Picchu? Buenos Aires? If you don't see a trip you like, remember, we can't possibly put all the trips we have on our website as it would take an army to do it so please call us at 215-272-3221 or 877-577-9876 if you have a trip in mind that we are not highlighting! http://www.jetsetpilot.com/

http://www.jetsetpilot.com/trips/169/

World's Strangest Hotels

2010-03-01T11:10:00.003-05:00

And I thought the Budget Inn down the street was strange. Follow the link below to see some pictures and descriptions of some of the world's most unique hotels. My personal favorites include the escape pods and the crashed jet. Tell us your thoughts on your favorites!

Click Here For Article

Also, be sure to check out our trips on JetSetPilot.com! Don't forget, these are not all of our trips. In fact, we have thousands more to choose from! Where can we take you?

We Thought We Had Heard it All Until.....

2010-02-22T12:11:00.004-05:00

Can you believe this? Instead of going to Prague and getting pictures taken, why not just send your favorite stuffed animal? This sounds mad of course, but not to this website that logged 15000 hits in its first week of business. Of course, their major markets are the US and Japan. Who else would pay hundreds of dollars for pictures of their toys? Read the story below on MSNBC.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35519429/ns/travel-luxury/

Ok, now that you've had a laugh, let's get YOU over to Prague, instead! Check out our European Vacaions or just give us a call at 877-577-9876 and we can discuss your next trip anywhere in the world! Remember, our website is just the tip of the iceburg when it comes to the trips we offer.

Don't forget to pay your taxes..............

2010-02-03T14:44:00.004-05:00

............. and then take the returns and go on vacation! I was thinking Italy this year! Then, I was looking around for travel news and found these pictures. Is there any reason why you wouldn't go to this amazing country once in your life? Simply breathtaking! This was a picture we took of St. Peter's Basilica at about 8 AM when no one was around yet! We had the whole square almost to ourselves!

http://www.cnn.com/2010/TRAVEL/01/26/travel.snapshots.italy/index.html

Check out some of our trips to Europe, including Italy and any other amazing destination or view all of our trips to see the world! Remember, these are just a sampling of the trips we offer.

Top 10 Mexican Beaches

2010-01-28T13:20:00.004-05:00

Here's CNN's take on the best beaches in Mexico. Some are single resorts, some are beaches with multiple options. At JetSetPilot, we can get you to these sometimes remote destinations where you can get away from it all! Don't see your favorite beach on here? Don't worry, these were mostly rated on a "seclusion factor" that were biased towards lesser-known areas!

http://www.cnn.com/2010/TRAVEL/01/27/coastal.mexico/index.html

See anything you like? Let us know and we'll have you there in no time! Or, take a look at these Mexican Resorts highlighted on our website featuring cruises as well.

Valentine's Day is Almost Here!

2010-01-21T13:06:00.002-05:00

Make sure your Valentine's Day is a memorable one for the person you love by taking a long weekend somewhere fun! Kristie and I are going to Washington DC to soak in some history and share time together in a great place for long walks! Make sure to plan your trip soon so there are rooms left at the best hotels wherever you might want to stay!

Some ideas for long weekends include Washington, Baltimore, New York, Boston or the Poconos! Please let us help you book the trip so you can get the best hotel for the best price! Our number is 215-272-3221 or 877-577-9876. We'd love to find you a perfect weekend that you will remember forever!

Remembering a Great Man and a Great Cause

2010-01-18T08:43:00.002-05:00

WASHINGTON (WKOW) -- President Barack Obama plans to use Martin Luther King Jr. Day to celebrate the life and legacy of the civil rights leaders as well as pushing Americans to support their communities through volunteerism.

On Monday, Obama will host a chat with a small group of African-American seniors and their grandchildren and in the evening will attend the "Let Freedom Ring" concert at the Kennedy Center with his wife.

Both he and first lady Michelle Obama have spoken in depth about community service. Since being elected have planted trees, helped pack backpacks for the military and passed out Thanksgiving meals at a food pantry.

At a church event near the White House Sunday, Obama said that he, like King, learned to rely on his faith even as he felt the "sting of criticism."

Don't forget about Haiti, everyone, every bit counts. To give $10 to the Red Cross, please text "HAITI" to 90999.

If You Need Spring Break, Book it Today!

2010-01-11T12:28:00.004-05:00

As we get closer and closer to spring break, the best hotels are filling up fast. For the couples and families that might require a quieter resort, this is especially true! Just last week, we noticed prices for trips to the Caribbean in February and March start climbing in price and disappearing all-together as vacationers ramped-up their bookings. Don't forget, cruises are a great way to see multiple places, have fun and keep the costs down as well as all-inclusive resorts. Here are a couple offers we suggest:

Western Caribbean 8 days starting at $449/person

Dream Punta Cana Resort 4-day w/ Air from $899

Browse all of our trips at www.JetSetPilot.com or call us at 877-577-9876, locally at 215-272-3221. We look forward to hearing from you!

Sandals, a Perfect Honeymoon or Romantic Holiday

2010-01-06T09:39:00.005-05:00

Everyone's heard of Sandals. See why! Below is just one of the deals we are offering through JetSetPilot! Please allow us to customize your Honeymoon or any other vacation for that matter!

Sandals Grande Ocho Rios - 12 Days - All-Inclusive & Air-Inclusive - $2229/person

We offer deals and promotions to all Sandals resorts and look forward to fitting you for your perfect vacation, wherever that may be to. We send travelers around the world to work, play and relax!

How Travel Improves Your Life AND Business!

2010-01-04T08:37:00.003-05:00

Happy New Years to everyone! We look forward to working with you in 2010! To start the year, we are highlighting a friend of ours who uses travel in both his personal and business lives. Here's what Tony has to say about how travel affects both of those:

"I'm Tony Hoffer, and I'm a wedding and portrait photographer based out of Downingtown, PA. For the onset of my business, travel has been an essential part to my growth. From conferences and conventions to partnerships and work opportunities, the ability to quickly get around the country has been an enormous benefit.

Early this year, I made several trips to California, where I met and networked with several leading professionals in my field. Through these partnerships, I've not only strengthened my work, but been able to establish relationships that have given me many more travel opportunities as well as chances to host many other photographers in my area.

Perhaps most importantly, I've been able to travel to meet clients whenever it's been needed. I've gone to a number of states to photograph in the past few years and in 2008, I travelled to the Dominican Republic for a wedding. Have a fast and easy service to handle the travel plans was a godsend for me as I was able to concentrate on my work, while knowing that getting to a foreign country was going to be handled for me.

Among these destinations, the Dominican Republic stands out as a fantastic destination for both business and pleasure. We spent 5 total days in Punta Cana on a 'workation' of sorts. The gorgeous and quiet beaches were a welcome escape from the dreary December weather of Pennsylvania. The resorts in the Caribbean really go out of their way to cater to their guests and provide a great combination of weather, beaches and hospitality."

If you're interested in seeing Tony's work, check out his portfolio at http://hofferphotography.com/ or see his newest work at http://hofferphotography.com/blog. We highly recommend Tony and suggest you take a look at his work to understand just how amazing of a photographer he is and why he'd be perfect for your special occasion! Don't forget to check out our deals to the Caribbean when you're done!

Cancun Resorts Offering Amazing Deals!

2009-12-30T10:18:00.005-05:00

Cancun resorts are looking for your business and are willing to slash prices to get it. This is just one of many deals out there:

Riu Caribe, a four-star, all inclusive resort is basically giving their rooms away at $899 for 8 day and 7 nights. Need more? How about transfers to and from your hotel and the airport?

Take advantage of these prices by calling us now at 877-577-9876 or 215-272-3221 so we can book your trip today! Have questions? You can also reach us by email at bmp@jetsetpilot.com.

Oasis of the Seas is Waiting for You!

2009-12-17T09:28:00.004-05:00

Royal Caribbean Cruise Line has done it again! Last time, it was with rock-climbing walls and surfing on top of their Freedom Class of ships including Liberty of the Seas. Now, they have a new class of ships cruising around the world and they're even more spectacular! The Oasis class of ships has only one ship, the Oasis of the Seas, sailing right now and it would be worth it to be one of the first in the world to experience this incredible ship! Here's Royal Caribbean's description of the ship:

"Experience our most innovative and imaginative ship yet, Oasis of the Seas - where, for the first time ever, entertainment areas have become neighborhoods at sea. Find a revolutionary public space combining nature with nautical in our Central Park neighborhood, or old-world charm with a modern twist in the entertaining Boardwalk neighborhood. Visit the Pool and Sports Zone to explore an entire deck of pools, rock-climbing walls, basketball courts and more. And don't forget the Youth Zone - where kids can be kids and parents can be worry-free. With a total of seven distinct on board neighborhoods, everyone can discover a place for unique experiences.

With 28 ultra-modern loft suites and 2,700 spacious staterooms, this 16-deck marvel proves that the impossible, is possible. You have to see it to believe it. Click here for a sneak preview."

The good news is that you can book a trip on this boat by calling us 215-272-3221 or 877-577-9876. We can find you promotions for this ship or any other boat sailing. Check out all of our cruises, including The Oasis of the Seas! Don't forget, if you don't see what you want online, we have thousands more sailings and vacations not listed, so call us!

787 Dreamliner Takes its First Flight

2009-12-16T09:52:00.002-05:00

Yesterday, Boeing finally had its first full runs of its new 787 Dreamliner. Under development for over five years, this plane has a backlog of orders from companies like United, Continental and Northwest to name some domestiv carriers. This new plane is BIG, holding up to 330 passengers and about the size of a 747.

25,000 people sat in Jacksonville to watch the tests of this plane. Why? Because it's revolutionary! The plane is made of a carbon-composite material which helps in many ways including 20% better fuel efficiency (let's see if they remove that fuel surcharge!), a quieter ride and bigger windows for you and me! Otherwise, the plane boasts better air filtration and state of the art technology throughout the plane.

The first planes are set to be delivered to Japan's Nippon Airways in the next two years as long as everything goes well. After its first tests, the plane exceeded expectations as flights, takeoffs etc went without a hitch! Read more at Boeing's Website.

Don't forget to Sign-up for our newsletter that features discounts, news and destination infromation to everywhere you want go!

All-Inclusive & Cruising Deals to the Caribbean

2009-12-15T09:41:00.010-05:00

With the recent weather in the Northeast, I bet warm, sunny beaches have crossed your mind more than once! You're not alone, many have shown interest in our Caribbean packages recently. Here are two of our deals we're highlighting that keep your budget in mind:

Ready for an all-inclusive vacation? Here is one our best deals to Jamaica. Stay at the Shaw Park Beach Hotel for 5 nights, 6 days, air and transfer included along with drinks and meals! Did I mention it only costs you as little as $699 per person?

Want to surf, rock-climb or just relax by the pool on top of one of the most spectacular ships on the seas? Check out this 7 night, 8 day cruise to the Western Caribbean on the Liberty of the Seas for as little as $449 per person.

We have many more deals, so feel free to browse all of trips and don't forget that now is the best time to book these trips as there are big discounts available to you!

We're back! And Bigger Than Ever!

2009-12-10T09:14:00.002-05:00

What took so long, you might ask? Well, there have been numerous changes to our website! Here is what's different with the site and what's different with JetSetPilot:

1. The first thing you may have noticed is that we have an "800" number in the top right corner for the site. You can call that anytime to book a trip with us, ask questions about trips or destinations or just to say hello! (877)-JSP-9876 or (877) 577-9876

2. Our trips have changed completely! We got rid of the old trips and added some fresh new ones. Check them out.

3. We no longer send you to third-party websites to book your trips. That's right, we became a full-service travel agency and now book the trips for you! You can fill out a form after clicking "Book This Trip" on the details page of a trip or just call us to discuss your wants and needs!

4. You'll continue to see small changes to the site going forward, but we're done with the large projects, so feel free to browse the site!

We now can take you or your business anywhere in the world. We are not confined to the trips you see online. These are only a sampling. If you don't see a trip you like, email us or call us (877) JSP-9876 or (877) 577-9876

Thanks for being patient while we changed almost everything!

Changes are Coming to JetSetPilot!

2009-11-30T09:00:00.001-05:00

If you have read our Facebook profile recently, you may have noticed the beginning of a lot of changes for JetSetPilot! So while our website hasn't changed yet, here is an idea of what to expect in the near future:

1. We are now a full-service travel agent, therefore, we can help you with any trip to any destination in the world.

2. You can now book directly through us instead of having to go to a third-party website. Please feel free to call us or email us anytime if you have an interest in planning a vacation.

3. We will continue to highlight European packaged travel while adding U.S., Caribbean and other destinations to our inventory.

We will continue to write in this blog, post to Facebook as well as Twitter and we will still have a monthly E-newsletter as well as quarterly newsletter. We will also continue to give you great service and offer our previous trips. So, actually, there isn't that much change. Just a few additions.

We look forward to helping you travel around the world! Here are our links:

JetSetPilot.com

Our E-Newsletter

JSP on Facebook

Thanksgiving, a Great Time to See the World!

2009-11-25T11:09:00.004-05:00

It's Thanksgiving, which means it's time to travel! Many will travel to see their family, but many are also starting to take advantage of their time off to take that vacation they've always wanted. And why not? It may be even easier to be thankful resting on a Hawaiian beach or sitting on the Spanish Steps! I always take time to reflect on my blessings as I am visiting somewhere new.

In fact, many tour companies offer Thanksgiving-specific tours that are cheaper than what it would normally cost. Take advantage of the 1-3 days off you receive and the ensuing weekend. This is plenty of time to visit Vegas or London or sowehere warm in the Caribbean! Most likely you'll need 1 or 2 days off for a long vacation!

Don't forget big events like the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade that occurs in New York.

Take this idea into consideration next year, or better yet, do something similar for Christmas. those same holiday specials apply for Christmas, New Years and the days in between. We do not currently have any advertised specials for those times of year, but we would love to help you book one. We have great relationships with airlines, hotels and tourguides and can find you a deal worth your attention!

Please call us anytime at 215-272-3221 to book or if you have any questions or comments! My email address is bmp@jetsetpilot.com

The Wine Culture of Vienna & Austria

2009-11-24T10:00:00.004-05:00

Didn't know there was such a thing? Well, we hadn't either until we were recommeded by a book to visit the Grinzing neighborhood of Vienna. It's not just your run-of-the-mill place to have a nice glass of wine, either! There are actually vineyards within the city limits (only a short tram ride north of the city center), coupled with an outstanding village-atmosphere with plenty of places to eat, drink and soak it all in.

Heuriger is the specialty wine of the area. It's a white wine that's relatively sweet but not so much as a dessert wine. They make it within and outside of the city as well, though you'll find most stores within Vienna cornered by one winery which is ok because they're (almost) all as good as the next when you're drinking the real Austrian stuff.

The neighborhood, itself, is worth a visit as it has the attributes of an 18th century village one pictures when reading Snow White or any other fairy tale. Also, the food is as good as anywhere you'll find in the city and for similar prices as the center of town. Remember, you're still in a popular spot that many locals as well as tourists vistit! Don't forget to drop by one of Mozart's houses before you leave. It's on a cobbled back street if I remember.

Also know that it is a hilly part of town and, if you are a walker or you just want to see the wineries themselves, bring you walking shoes (but not your sneakers).

Please join us on Facebook and our newsletter for more information regarding your favorite destinations and other travel news!

Affordable Walking Tours of London

2009-11-23T13:22:00.004-05:00

You want to tour London but all you worry about is the fact that the Pound is worth so much more than the Dollar and that guided tour you were looking at costs 50 Pounds! No worries, here are some walking tours of London that are much more affordable at 6 Pounds per person (children under 12 are free)!

Below are the different tours offered by the City of London for this price:

FLEET STREET AND ITS ALLEYWAYS: Fleet Street is the original home of the newspaper industry. Dr Johnson, Samuel Pepys and Sweeney Todd are among the colourful characters you will find out about on this walk.

SMITHFIELD – PAST AND PRESENT: Site of London’s oldest hospital,the place for public executions,the site of rebellion and home to John Betjeman, Smithfield is now famous for its meat market and a magnificent Norman church.

DISCOVERING WREN CHURCHES: This walk will show you the amazing variety of Wren’s churches with their glorious steeples, beautiful interiors and connections with great historical events and famous people.

EXPLORING THE HEART OF THE CITY: This takes you past the mediaeval Guildhall, the Bank of England, the Royal Exchange and the Lord Mayor’s home, the Mansion House,
before ending up in the City’s historic alleyways, featured in many of Dickens’s novels.

For more information, go here. Learn about London with the Londoners while taking these walking tours!

Italian Festivals: In Depth

2009-11-20T07:45:00.000-05:00

I officially have the "check out the official tourism website of every European country" bug. Today, I'm highlighting a wonderful PDF that the Italian Tourism Board has put together for us. It discusses, in depth, four festivals throughout the country and at different times of the year that are definitely worth looking at: The Stressa Festival, the Festival Puccini, the Rossini Opera Festival and the Ravello Festival.

Keeping in mind this was made for 2009, some of the performances at each will change for the upcoming year, but the festivals are described well and also have links to each in case you want to read more!

See all of our trips to Italy or just visit us at JetSetPilot!

British Airways and Iberia Airlines to Merge

2009-11-19T07:45:00.000-05:00

Many grumblings from the travelling public have been arising lately due to the ongoing merger talks between British Airways and Iberia set to occur in 2010. Why? To sum up an AP article by Jane Wardell, two of the largest air carriers in Europe (in fact, BA is already #3) are going to consolidate, suggesting higher fares for passengers.

Not good, right? Apparently, wrong (I guess). At least that's what Willie Walsh, a chief executive for BA, says. He believes this both good for shareholders and passengers alike. I'm not too sure how passengers will benefit, however. Meanwhile, shareholders have done well as both company's shares soared after the agreement.

This is a wait and see sort of moment for those who love BA. They have incredibly high standards for service, justifying the higher ticket prices to an extent. How will this merger change things, though? My favorite quote from this article, however, is the CEO of RyanAir (Michael O'Leary) who told CNBC about the merger, "I characterize it as two drunks ... holding each other up on the way home," as a reference to the two airlines and their inability to make a profit individually and now merging together.

Don't forget to browse our trips to Europe or just visit us at http://www.jetsetpilot.com/.

Tourism Ireland

2009-11-18T07:45:00.000-05:00

Ireland has been hit quite hard by the recent global recession and has begun to think outside the box on its promotion to possible visitors, both leisure and business. They are using 25% of their current budget for online promotion of the country so I started looking around their website and found this really inspiring, interactive tool.

What the tool allows you to do is follow local natives as they briefly tour you through their favorite parts of their own country. Each tour takes about 5-10 minutes and highlights various cities, towns, villages and the surrounding countryside of one of the most wonderful countries in the world. The reason I love this tool is it allows you to get a feel of who the Irish are and what their culture and heritage means to them as opposed to some snooty TV show host imposing their narrow views (or my own for that matter) on you.

Are you inspired as well? Check out JetSetPilot's Trips to Ireland! Don't forget this blog is interactive as well, so leave your thoughts behind!

The Scottish Highland Games

2009-11-17T07:45:00.001-05:00

Remember that scene in Braveheart where Wallace and his giant, red-haired friend compete in throwing various objects such as large boulders? Those games are from deep within the Scottish culture and are still played (in one form or another) today. In fact, there's a huge festival that is built around them, called the Scottish Highland Games.

These games aren't just about tossing around giant weights (seen below) and telephone pole-like timber around the field. They also have other contests, such as best kilts, best Highland dances and best bagpiping. These games truly have it all when thinking about the heritage of Scotland and the Celts.

This festival is actually named the Cowal Highland Gathering or Cowal Games (thanks Wikipedia) and attracts upwards of twenty thousand spectators and competitors from around the world. While doing some "research" the other night, I saw these games highlighted on HDTV on the Festivals Around the World program, so watch that when it is on again. Many people use this as an excuse to visit Scotland every August, why don't you?

Check out our trips to Scotland or have a gander at trips to the UK!

2010 European Capital of Culture

2009-11-16T07:45:00.000-05:00

In the 80's, the pre-European Union came together and started a program called the European Capital of Culture. This highlighted a city that exemplified its own, its country's and Europe's culture through various means. These are preordained like the Olympics, so we already know who the next few years' winners will be. For 2010, it will Istanbul, Turkey (Check out the website for more).

Turkey is a perfect recipient for the award considering it truly is THE bridge between the Arab and the Western worlds. It highlights what could be if both sides would stand down in their various conflicts. Istanbul, in particular, is very tolerant of all religions and has one of the most amazing religious sights in the world, the Hagia Sophia (pictured below).

Check out our trips to Turkey or just visit us at JetSetPilot.com.

Top 20 Travel Tips - per FLN

2009-11-15T20:00:00.006-05:00

I caught the last 5 minutes of a 30min show on the FLN network called Top 20 Travel Tips. Seeing only the last 5 minutes allowed me to catch the #2 and #1 travel tips.

#2 was a great one, and something I didn't know about! "Invoke the 240 rule". This rule says that if your flight is cancelled, delayed or misconnected and it is clearly the airlines fault, you are intitled to the next available flight even if it is not on the same airline. AND even if the available seats are first class!!

Three things to remember:

1. The delay or cancellation must clearly be the airline's fault (ex: not weather related)
2. Some "newer" airlines don't honor this rule because they weren't around when this rule was set in place and they didn't "sign the agreement".
3. Be polite when negotiating the 240 rule. Even though you are entitled to the 240 rule, the negotiating will go a lot smoother if you keep a smile on your face.

While I agree with #1, it was a little disappointing and anti-climactic. "Avoid getting lost; get GPS". This is a no-brainer these days. A GPS can help make your vacation less stressful when traveling to a city you are unfamiliar with. Even if you have directions to and from your hotel or airport, a GPS is priceless if you run across unexpected road construction. And using a handheld GPS over a paper map can help you look less like a tourist.

Did anyone watch the entire show? Did I miss anything good?

Can You Believe These People?

2009-11-13T09:00:00.000-05:00

And we wonder where all those "extra" bags rotating around the carousels go after everyone leaves. Well, if you're in Phoenix, there was a good chance one of these two picked it up. Thanks to the AP and news.com.au for breaking this story:

After being spotted stealing a bag from an airport carousel in Phoenix, Keith Wilson King was arrested and jailed only to be spotted doing the exact same thing days later. That allowed police to search his home only to reveal luggage everywhere! In fact, the police believe there to have been about 1000 pieces throughout the home. Also arrested was his wife, Stacy Lynne Legg-King

The contents of the bags were removed so there wasn't much that could be attributed to any certain traveller. Neighbors reported seeing a horse-trailer being driven on and off the property at night and regularly saw luggage being sold in garage sales (Now I know how people make money off of eBay!).

Phoenix is now considering checking your ID when you leave with bags in the future so when everyone has to do this, costing you another 15-30 minutes of waiting time leaving the airport, blame these people.

Don't forget to check out our Pilot's Best Rated Trips to Europe or check out all of our trips!

DeltaMakes the First Move to Staggard Seating

2009-11-12T09:00:00.000-05:00

While in the news for a while now, not everyone has become privy to the amazing seating that Delta will be offering starting in 2010. The "Cozy Suite" is a design by Thompson Solutions that staggers the seats diagonally so each person gets a built in head rest to one side and somehow gives each person 2 more inches of leg space while the airline is able to add seats to the plane. This seems magic to me, but we'll have to believe them for now.

You can not recline in the way we are used to in that the seat back is a hard shell behind the cushion, but the cushion itself slides down and forward to give you the same position of leaning back. That means no more moving seat in front of us by the person who adjusts constantly. The one drawback, seemingly, is that you do not get a direct shot (whether that be verbally or visually) to the people next to you). So, if you are travelling with someone, don't expect to have the long conversation time you used to be able to have.

The positives still seem to outweigh the negatives, however. I guess we'll all just have to wait to find out. Delta has ordered these seats for their 767 and 777 and will have exclusive rights in North America. I look forward to testing them out!

You may be able to test these seats out on your way to Europe for your next trip. See if you can't book one of these types of planes on purpose through one of our trips!

Paris on Sale!

2009-11-11T09:00:00.000-05:00

As part of an ongoing effort to stay a world power in the fashion industry, Paris has begun an aggressive compaign to market itself as such. "Soldes of Paris" or Sales of Paris is the French way of saying, "Please come here during the winter when we usually don't have many tourists so we can get out of this recession business and get back to real fashion."

In other words, Paris is on sale during the winter so take advantage by getting over there and finding these opportunities! You're not going to get many chances to find cheap fashion in Paris, so take advantage while you can. Check out http://www.shoppingbyparis.com/ starting November 23rd to get a clearer picture of the program. Currently, there are hundreds of hotels and shopping boutiques participating in the program.

Make sure tobrowse our trips to Paris or if you're interested elsewhere, have a look at all of our trips!

Europe's (and the World's) First Rotating Hotel

2009-11-10T09:00:00.000-05:00

OK, now we've heard of everything. Need a reason to go to Croatia? Well, now you (and the rest of the world) have one. Just south of Split lies the island of Solta, where plans for a rotating hotel have been made. Due in 2012, this three-story building will rest on a rotating turn-table. The hotel will be comprised of 50 suites that will (eventually) have a view of the lake the hotel rests on.

I can picture it now: "My room only had a view of the lake for less than one day! I want my money back!" As if the management of the hotel has already read my mind, they will have the hotel rotate 1.3 times every day, thus allowing visitors to see all views at all times depending on the length of your stay.

Anyways, I thought you might be interested in trips to Croatia so have a look or check out all of our deals!

Go To Cork!

2009-11-09T08:45:00.001-05:00

Wait, you're going to Ireland but only visiting Dublin? There's so much more to Ireland than that wonderful city! In fact, there's Ireland's second largest city and second-best sightseeing launching point, Cork. Think of Cork as another base on the southern tip of Ireland, allowing you to see the lower half of Ireland much easier.

So what's close to Cork? Well, Blarney Castle in Blarney, Ireland with the Blarney Stone! Also, Killarney is nice large town within short driving distance. Also, it's nice just to drive the roads and see the countryside along with the shores of Ireland. Our recommendation, Just Go and look around until you see something worth stopping to take pictures of (it won't take long) and then repeat!

Cork is also a destination within itself. It may seem contradicting, but Cork was the main shove-off point for people emigrating from Ireland during the Great Famine and has many monuments and building commemorating this. Cork was Europe's "Capitol of European Culture" in 2005 and has gained instant fame in tourism because of it. There are many monuments and beautiful buildings, but there's even more beautiful landscape and people.

Browse our great choice of trips to Ireland and all of our Best Pilot Rated Trips!

Hotels in Space? Try it out in 2012!

2009-11-05T12:22:00.004-05:00

No Joke! This is a real company that is already accepting reservations. In fact, they have dozens already. At the great price of $4.5 Million a stay, this is an extreme value compared to space tourists currently paying about $20 Million per trip. I am fine with sticking to Europe, though. For now, listen to the BBC story covering this new opportunity.

Stick to Europe, like us. It's much safer and cheaper! Here are our best deals.

If You Go to Greece in April, Watch Out!

2009-11-05T08:32:00.003-05:00

This has to be one of the most amazing festivals in the world. The only scary thing would be if you had no idea about and you were in town or passing by. I can see it now: "Please, someone let the United Nations know that World War 3 has begun in Greece!" This is something I stumbled upon that I couldn't help but post on here. Watch the movie and check out how to get there below!

Want to go to Greece? Click here for our trips there! Also don't forget to Follow Us directly on our blog or through Facebook!

An In-Depth View of the Pantheon

2009-11-04T08:44:00.003-05:00

Don't understand why the Pantheon is considered one of the most amazing monuments in the world? Looking from the outside, it looks more like a bomb shelter with pillars than anything. However, this is one of those cases where you shouldn't judge a book by its cover. Within this stoic facade lies a church that rivals the beauty of St. Peter's Basilica itself. If you look really close, you might even find something that reminds you of the time this was a place to worship the Roman Gods.

Don't forget, we can get you here. Want to see all of Italy? Maybe you just want to browse all of our trips? We add new trips daily, so come back regularly to see our new trips! Also, don't forget to to add your opinions and your experiences on our blog and Facebook page!

Top 5 sights in Rome!

2009-11-03T08:20:00.001-05:00

Here are OUR top 5 Roman sights! Remember, this is just our opinion so tell us your top sights in Rome after you read!

1. The Colosseum, in the Colosseo district, was the home of the gladiators in ancient times. Prepare to spend about an hour marveling at this ancient wonder where both land and sea battles once took place for the amusement of the Roman Emperors and their subjects. Go to www.pierreci.it to attain your tickets online before you leave. This ticket will also gain you entry to the Palatine Hill (we’ll discuss this later!).

2. St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican, in the San Pietro district, is the Christian capitol of the world. You can imagine how much money and how many artifacts have come through this building and this Catholic church proves just that. Not only is this the largest church in the world, it is the most ornate and most spectacular. Don’t forget to climb the dome! Come early (7 a.m. early) and have the run of the place. You won’t regret it as you watch the lines mount up as you leave.

3. Hand-in-hand with The Basilica are The Vatican Museums. Remember those artifacts we discussed earlier? They are all here and they are breathtaking. Be sure to visit www.vatican.va to book your guided tour before you leave. Also, don’t forget to bring a small mirror in which to stare up at the Sistine Chapel ceiling.

4. The Roman Forum and Palatine Hill, both incomprehensible, lie next to the Colosseum yet are separate ruins of the Roman era. The Forum is free of charge and The Palatine Hill ticket comes with your Colosseum ticket. Take guided tours of each because both can be very confusing. The English tour for the Forum leaves at 10:30 am every morning and tours of the Palatine Hill leave regularly.

5. The Galleria Borghese, within the Villa Borghese, was originally built to house art and still does. This “gallery” hosts amazing murals, but highlights some of the most beautiful sculptures in the world. Go to www.pierreci.it to attain tickets to this sanctuary as they only let a finite amount of people in the building and lines can be horrible.

I hope this conjures up pictures in your head of your last visit to Rome or gives you ideas of what to expect when you go for the first time! Don't forget to leave your comments!

Our Favorite Sights in Rome!

2009-11-02T08:24:00.000-05:00

Below are numbers six through ten on our favorite Roman sights list. They are in order, but understand that everyone will have their own Rome and their own order. Just have fun finding yours!

6. The Pantheon is now a tourist attraction, but was a church and before that was a temple to the gods. In another city, this would be THE number one attraction. However, this is Rome, and it is still in the top 10! The “oculus” is why and how the dome has lasted thousands of years, just hope it doesn’t rain.

7. The fountains, including the Trevi are everywhere. In fact, you can drink from many of them. Don’t be scared to get a cool drink from these on a hot day. You will know if you can drink if you see the Romans do so! Oh, and don’t forget to revisit the fountains at night for a different look at these wonders.

8. Coupled with the many of the fountains are the squares including Piazza Navona and Piazza del Popolo. These are usually good places to grab lunch or coffee and people watch. Many of them also have obelisks. These are beautiful stone statues that were stolen from Egypt after Rome conquered it.

9. One of the aforementioned squares is Piazza di Spagna which lies at the base of the Spanish Steps. Do we even need to describe the most famous staircase in the world? This is another great place to people watch and rest your feet!

10. Villa Borghese, the large park in the Center of Rome, is a secluded spot for those looking for some peace and quiet in a very vibrant town. Rent a bike or just stroll while stopping to take in the gardens and monuments that litter the park.

There’s so much more to Rome. In fact, there’s so much that it will take multiple visits to see everything. Make sure to throw a coin with your right hand over your left shoulder into the Trevi Fountain to ensure your return!

Tomorrow, we will have one through five to round out or list. Don't forget to chime in with your favorites!

Halloween in France?

2009-10-30T10:05:00.004-04:00

Can you believe it? Halloween is celebrated throughout the world, but never was it considered a French holiday. That being said, it has become increasingly popular there, gaining its roots in the UK and US.

First, it is claimed that the Celts who lived in Northern France used to celebrate and Halloween someone how trickled through time to become more popular today. The real reason for its surge in popularity, however, seems to be US corporations shoving the holiday down the throat of the French. Starting as mostly a reason to dress in costume and have a party, the Holiday has evolved to much more like our own. Kids used to have to go from door to door to the businesses of the large cities to go Trick-or-Treating, but the residential neighborhoods have begun to do so as well as surrounding towns in the country.

There has been much backlash, however, as many French despise the fact that US corporations are forcing the Holiday upon the French people. Also, the French have November 1st (All Saints Day or Toussaint Day) which they celebrate as a day to remember the dead by doing things such as cleaning the graves of their loved ones.

We will see if Halloween truly ever does catch on in France. Thank you to Laura Lawless for some of the information today. If you want to learn to speak French, follow her blog!

Click here if you want to go to France, and here if you're looking specifically at Paris!

Because We're Sad Oktoberfest is Over for 2009

2009-10-29T09:23:00.003-04:00

I had to put this movie in for all of us who missed Oktoberfest this year. The bad news, we missed the biggest beer festival in the world. The good news, you can visit Munich all year round and the "tents" are up. This is a nice walkthrough of what Oktoberfest is all about:

Tell us about YOUR Oktoberfest and your experiences there! Is the myth true that there are no hangovers with German beer?

Click here for a trip that will get you to Munich or search all of our trips to find the your next trip to Europe!

Top 5 Sights in Paris

2009-10-28T09:15:00.002-04:00

Below are our favorite Parisian Sights. They are in order, but understand that everyone will have their own Paris and their own order. Just have fun finding yours!

1. Eiffel Tower (Tour Eiffel): Paris’ most famous landmark, it needs no explanation. Take the elevator to find the best views in town and enjoy the beautiful lawns surrounding the tower.

2. The Louvre Museum: Another famous Parisian landmark, this world-renown museum holds many great masterpieces including The Mona Lisa.

3. Notre-Dame: Flying Buttresses make this Cathedral one of the most beautiful in the world. It was a marvel when it was built throughout the 12th, 13th and 14th centuries and still is today.

4. Sacre-Coeur: Another bastion of Christianity, it can be seen in most parts of Paris as it sits on a hill in Montmartre.

5. Arc de Triomphe: Commemorating French victories in battle, this arch holds a museum, a viewing platform and the tomb of the unknown soldier.

Let us know if we missed anything. Unfortunately, we could only list ten over the last two days, but we all know there's so much more to this grand city!

Want to go to Paris? Let us take you there! Just one of our trips to The City of Lights or take a look at all of them!

Paris' Top Sights: Six Through Ten

2009-10-27T10:00:00.000-04:00

Starting with the bottom of the list, here are five of our favorite sights in Paris. Don't forget, we will round out this list tomorrow!

6. Centre Georges Pompidou: This museum features itself. You can see the building’s guts from the outside. It also features works of art from the 18th century forward and is celebrated throughout the world.

7. Hotel des Invalides: The burial place of the great emperor, Napoleon, this is actually not a hotel at all!

8. Orsay Museum: A very interesting museum that was once a railway station and now feature art from the 1800’s to World War I.

9. Rodin and Picasso Museums: Two separate museums featuring their respective artists. If you are a fan of either, these are a must for you!

10. Squares and Parks: There are numerous of both, but make sure you go to the Place de la Concorde and the Tuileries Gardens.

To see these sights for yourself, take a look at the package below or search Paris, France on our page at http://www.jetsetpilot.com/.

This trip will get you here: http://www.jetsetpilot.com/trips/1/

Maybe your favorite will make tomorrow's list. There's only one way to find out! Please leave comments about these or any other sights.

Wow, Paris has a lot of Arrondissements!

2009-10-26T09:10:00.002-04:00

When trying to find out what neighborhood you might want to stay in Paris, you will find the city broken down by Arrondissements (districts by number) and neighborhood names. Below is a list of the attributes of these neighborhoods as well as a couple of attractions within them.

1. First Arrondissement: Also called “Louvre”, this area is mostly taken up by The Louvre Museum and Tuileries Gardens as well as commercial interests. Centrally located, this neighborhood is a tourist hot-spot and hotels tend to be expensive here.
2. Second Arrondissement: Also called “Bourse”, is a mainly commercial area that also has some interesting neighborhoods and old markets. Take strolls on Grands Boulevards and Rue Montorqueil and don’t forget to visit Jean-Sans-Peur, the only other standing tower in Paris. It has a good choice of hotels.
3. Third Arrondissement: Also called “Temple”, contains part of the famous Marais neighborhood. This is the less vibrant part, though, and contains many old residences and museums like the Picasso Museum. This is a safe and quiet place to stay.
4. Fourth Arrondissement: Also “Beaubourg”, contains the trendy shops, bars and restaurants of the Marais and is has the oldest part of Paris. This district is many things including the Gay area of Paris. Also, Beaubourg is the Jewish center of Paris and shares the Place de la Bastille. This is a great place to stay for young people.
5. Fifth Arrondissement: The “Latin Quarter”, mixes young University students with businessmen and women. A great place to people watch and home to many churches as well The Great Mosque of Paris. Great stay for the “café scene”.
6. Sixth Arrondissement: “Saint Germain” and “Luxembourg”, while once bohemian in style, this area is now one of the most chic areas of Paris. It is a great center for shopping and another place to stay for the café scene.
7. Seventh Arrondissement: “Palais-Bourbon” contains the Eiffel Tower and Hotel des Invalides (Napoleon’s place of rest) is another hot-spot for tourists. The district contains high-wealth residences as well as government offices. A nice place for a quiet stay.

8. Eighth Arrondissement: “Elysees” contains Champs Elysees and Arc de Triomphe. Home of the President of France, this district is home to elite shopping and is a main tourist area. This is a great place to stay for anyone but can tend to be expensive.
9. Ninth Arrondissement: “Opera” contains the Paris Opera and is similar to “Bourse” in that it is both commercial and residential and has many good places to stay in.
10. Tenth Arrondissement: “Enclos-Saint Laurent”, is home to two main rail stations, Gare du Nord and Gare de Iest. This is a bohemian district and is a trendy place to stay.
11. Eleventh Arrondissement: “Popincourt”, a mainly residential neighborhood, is home to the Place de Bastille. It has a cozy feel that is a reflection of the boutiques and upscale residences throughout the district. This is a nice neighborhood to stay in for anyone and the restaurants are very good.
12. Twelfth Arrondissement: “Reuilly”, is both residential and is a pleasant place to stay. Though not centrally located, the neighborhood is complimented by the large park, Bois de Vincennes. Also, the Bercy area will give you a village feel.
13. Thirteenth Arrondissement: “Gobelins”, contains Paris’ Chinatown and is mainly residential. Not the best place to stay or visit for strangers.
14. Fourteenth Arrondissement: “Observatoire” contains Montparnasse and its rail station: Gare Montparnasse. It is mostly residential and is a nice stay for anyone.
15. Fifteenth Arrondissement: ”Vaugirard”, has a range of residential makeup from the elite to the more affordable (yet still safe).
16. Sixteenth Arrondissement: “Passy”, is one of Paris’ elite districts. It has many beautiful avenues and is a nice place to stay
17. Seventeenth Arrondissement: “Batignolles-Monceau”, is much like 15 where there is a wide range of areas to stay. It’s a great choice if you do not being outside the city center.
18. Eighteenth Arrondissement: “Butte-Monmartre”, has more of a village feel and is a tourist haven. Sacre Coeur is located here. This has become a less attractive area, though, so there are better places to stay.
19. Nineteenth Arrondissement: “Buttes-Chaumont”, an area with many ethnic restaurants and shops.
20. Twentieth Arrondissement: “Ménilmontant”, is an up and coming residential area that is now leaning towards elite.

We hope this walk through of the neighborhoods help you in choosing where you would like to stay. Don't forget, more detailed descriptions are in the books we recommend in our Pilot's Bookstore.

To view are featured trips to Paris click here!

European Festivals in November

2009-10-24T02:30:00.000-04:00

Throughout Europe, there are many festivals and celebrations of every sort all year 'round. Here are some of the more interesting ones in November:

On November 1st will be the Veteran Car Run in the UK (specifically London to Brighton). All the cars involved were made before 1905! While we could make this trip in minutes with no traffic, these cars take hours to do so. It's a long route, so plan where you can watch the show in advance! Click here for more:
http://www.vccofgb.co.uk/lontobri/

Le Feste de Tartufo is the Italian Festival for Truffles! It is celebrated every weekend in November starting the 14th in San Miniato. Click here for more: http://www.sanminiatotartufo.it/inglese/homeing.htm

The Santa Claus World Championships? Yes, it's true! On November 27-28th, go to Samnuan, Switzerland and watch the best Santas in the world compete in events such as skiing! Click here for more: http://www.clauwau.com/index_en.php

Crossing Borders is a giant tribute to all things artistic. "Crossing Borders is the festival where literature, music, film and the visual arts combine to take central stage. 18 - 21 November 2009, writers, poets, musicians, filmmakers and artists will reign over The Hague's cultural centre." This is one of Europe's giant festivals. Click here for more: http://www.crossingborder.nl/index.php?ID=1&lang=uk

There's so much more to sample so look around for a festival that appeals to you! Also, share with us your stories about festivals throughout Europe, November or not.

I Was Thinking About This All Day While I Worked.....

2009-10-13T20:04:00.003-04:00

What about you?

One of the many tools I am using to grade all the neighborhoods of cities throughout Europe! It didn't hurt I was concentrating on Irish trips today plus it has a great little story towards the end.

Flashback: Samantha Brown Passport to EUROPE!

2009-10-07T20:34:00.006-04:00

Remember Samantha Brown? I mean the good ‘ol Samantha Brown from Passport to Europe? What happened to her? Sure she is still around the Travel Channel with her Passport to great weekends, but is it me or is it just not the same? Maybe I favor Passport to Europe because of my love for Europe, and would rather watch 30min on any European country over a random US city worthy of only a weekend stop.

In the clip I've chosen below Samantha visits Rome, Italy and gives us a tour of her hotel. In this episode I was surprised the show decided to feature such a contemporary hotel. Personally, I’d much rather choose a classic, three star boutique hotel like the one we stayed in during our first visit to Rome.

Sure, Samantha’s room was HUGE compared to what we stayed in, and she even makes note that the ability to move around the room without bumping into furniture was a definite plus compared to most of Europe. But don't forget square footage = big $$$!

Final thought…you’re not in Rome to hang out in the hotel. As long as you have a clean bed to sleep in and a shower with hot water, you’re set.

Enjoy a little blast from the past with a short clip from Samantha Brown: Passport to Rome

Packing Pointers from our Friends at Frommers

2009-10-06T14:48:00.003-04:00

If you plan on going on a city vacation, whether it be Rome or Paris, below are a few items that are sometimes overlooked which you will want to bring:

1. Sandals are great for walking the boardwalk or meandering from beach-house to local eatery, but remember that city trips often require much more walking on hard pavements and cobblestone in Europe. As such, remember your pair of sturdy, comfortable flat-heeled shoes. Loafers wonderfully double as casual and formal shoe wear.

2. Don't forget your local etiquette concerning dress. While in most cities and countries you're fine wearing shorts, etc, don't forget some Churches and cities as a whole are more formal. You may stick out as little or as much as you want, though!

3. LAYER! If you are out all day, you can certainly expect the weather to change at some point. Even if it's beautiful outside all day, some museums, etc can be down-right cold!

4. Don't forget that nice outfit for the opera or high-end dinner. I know this takes up a lot of room in your luggage, but it is a must for those elegant occasions. One outfit will be enough as long as you're not attending these events with the same people!

5. Umbrella, need I say more? Don't expect perfect weather every day!

6. While most crime isn't malicious in Europe, there are pickpockets, etc. Please consider wearing a money belt/pouch under your shirt in the cities and keep fine jewelry to a minimum. Also, keep your money/credit cards divided between you and your travel companions.

We will have many more tips in the future, but these are necessary items that travelers frequently forget. Leave your suggestions as comments for everyone to learn from!

Why Chicago Lost the Olympic Battle

2009-10-02T16:45:00.004-04:00

With today's decision, many in the U.S. are wondering why Chicago was passed up for the 2016 Olympic Games. We sent a full-proof plan to Copenhagen: President and Michelle Obama. How did it not work? Well, let's start with Chicago's problems first.

In the last few weeks, Chicago has been the victim of its own people. There have been multiple murders of children/young adults throughout the neighborhoods of the city by their own peers. This drew bad attention to the city. If they can't handle their own problems, how could Chicago possibly host the Games and the international issues that come along with it like terrorism? Also, a recent poll by The Chicago Tribune found that 45% of the city's inhabitants didn't even want the Olympics held there. Why? For exactly the same reason mentioned previously: these people mostly wanted the money spent on Chicago's own problems, not new stadiums!

But there were three other amazing cities involved in this process and they each had great arguments as to why the Games should be held in their locales. Let's start with the second loser behind Chicago: Tokyo. Both the U.S. and Japan have held games in the last 13 years (In fact, the U.S. has held two). Tokyo, too, had luke-warm feelings about the games and ultimately fell even after putting aside $4 Billion in infrastructure money for the games. Madrid was the final city to fall (its second loss after losing the 2012 bid to London). The problem with Madrid's bid seems to be that the Olympic committee hasn't awarded two consecutive summer games to a single continent so it may have a chance on its third bid for 2020. Not a steadfast rule, but an unspoken guideline.

Finally, there was Rio. Maybe the last of the four cities expected to win. Rio de Janeiro has had its problems (to say the least) with crime which was the major argument against the city. There is another type of crime that the committee doesn't have to worry about when choosing Rio as the host: terrorism. When asked about this, President Silva stated,"We don't have attacks, we don't have bombs." Also, the momentum for "breakthroughs" following the Beijing games was unstoppable. This will be the first Olympic games held in South America.

No matter where the Olympics are held, they will be amazing as they always are. Here's to the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver!

Excursions from London....Other Than Stonehenge

2009-10-02T13:11:00.006-04:00

Many people go to London and think Stonehenge is the only place one needs to visit outside the city lines. If you believe that, you are missing some wonderfully unique British trips that many Americans and other tourists don’t know about. Shhhhhhh! Don’t tell them we told you……

First are the Cotswold Villages. This is a truly wonderful trip that can take days if you let it. If you do it as a single-day excursion, don’t worry, you will see a lot! The Cotswolds are simply this: amazingly picturesque villages and towns dotted along a gorgeous stretch of the English countryside. When you go to visit this place (these places) is take in the landscape as you walk from village to village. Check out the name of some of these towns! There’s Wotton-under-Edge, Stumblewold, Moreslaughter and Burton-on-the-Water. Two good home-bases for trips to the area are Chipping Campden and Stow-on-the-Wold. There are tourist centers with pamphlets suggesting which routes to take and we suggest you use these as guides if you don’t have one already.

For you Roman-lovers, don’t worry. They made it to Britain, too! In fact, a short excursion to Corinium might just be what the doctor ordered for you. Corinium was the second largest Roman city behind Londinium on the island and had everything you could ask for of a Roman city: aqueducts, and amphitheatre, palaces, forts and basilica. Unfortunately, the Dark Ages occurred and most of the city went to ruins. Don’t fret, though! There is a great museum featuring the site’s artifacts and the amphitheatre is still there in Earthly form (a giant grass bowl!). Check out this photo blog concerning the museum’s artifacts: http://photodelusions.wordpress.com/category/archaeology/corinium-museum/

Finally, there’s Stratford-upon-Avon. If you were listening in high school history class, you might remember this to be the home to Shakespeare himself. This is another unique experience that doesn’t cost you an arm and a leg. This town is in similarly picturesque countryside as the Cotswolds and has an extreme amount of culture attributed to it by William S. Here, you can view five different houses that were a part of Shakespeare’s life and even see a theatre production by the Royal Shakespeare Company which are one of the two most prestigious companies in the UK and specialize in William’s plays.

Expand your horizons and check out these wonderful places while in London and don’t forget, we didn’t tell you about the Cotswolds!

The Neighborhoods of London…. So Much to Choose From!

2009-10-01T10:20:00.005-04:00

There are many areas in which to stay in London and most of the following I would recommend to anyone when it comes to safety and the general “niceness” of the area. However, these are very different neighborhoods that would be enjoyed more by different types of people so I’ve broken them down to two major areas of central London divided by many smaller districts.

First, there’s the West End. Most of this area is within walking distance of most sights and easily accessible by the tube. On the West (duh) side of the river, this area has many different personalities that are all entertaining in different ways:

1. Soho, the ever-popular district, has many bars, pubs, nightclubs and includes Chinatown. This area is also gay-friendly.
2. Picadilly Circus, Leicester Square and Charing Cross make up a large area that includes Theatreland (the Broadway of London) and Trafalgar Square. This area is highly-loved and very “touristy”.
3. Mayfair is a very rich and exclusive neighborhood with great shopping and luxurious hotels.
4. Bloomsbury is a district with many colleges and universities and also holds the British Museum right next to……
5. Maryleborne (pronounced Mar-le-bon by locals and a million other ways) is home to Madam Tussaud’s and the great investigator, Sherlock Holmes.
6. St. James and Westminster contain great parks, Westminster Abbey and Parliament and is about as central as you can get.
7. Belgravia, Victoria and Pimlico is a nice area with many embassies and aristocrats.

Next, Central London is a more developed, commercial area but just as convenient as far as distances to all the sights:

1. Knight’s Bridge and Chelsea are fashionable residential and shopping areas. Home to Harrod’s, these neighborhoods are artsy and trendy.
2. Kensington and South Kensington are residential but do have some hotels and restaurants. They also boast Hyde’s Park and multiple museums.
3. Earl’s Court is a great place to stay if you are a traveler on a budget. Also, this area is gay-friendly.
4. Bayswater and Paddington also have some budget hotels but are very commercialized.
5. Southbank has many sights like the London Eye, Globe Theatre and Tower Bridge, but no places to stay.
6. Shoreditch is an up-and-coming trendy zone. An interesting place to stay if you are adventurous.
7. “The City” doesn’t have accommodation either, but does have the Tower of London, the “Wall Street” of Europe and St. Paul’s Cathedral.

I know this sounds like there’s a lot of places to stay. That’s because THERE IS. What’s great about London is you can stay in one of these districts that suits your wants and needs and they’re all within a relatively small area. All are within a couple tube stops of everything else so don’t worry! Have fun in London and remember the Olympics are here in 2012!

We're Back!

2009-09-29T10:45:00.007-04:00

You didn't think we were gone, did you? Well, of course we aren't. We just had to do a little "research" for our second phase of JetSetPilot.com once the first phase is complete and successful. So what did we research? Hawaii! Maui, in fact. We spent the last week taking in all the island could give us in hopes that JetSetPilot will someday include the U.S. The flight there was one of the most interesting parts......

We were supposed to take off last Saturday at 7:30 AM but found out at 4:30 that our connecting flight to San Francisco was "delayed" until about 10 AM. Or was it 9 AM? You see, between the calls from our travel provider and the carrier's website, we saw and heard multiple departure times. It was at this point that we realized that our United Airline flights had been sold to none other than our friends at US Air (the reason for not booking US Air in the first place was to avoid this kind of thing).

Anyway, we decided to go to the airport at the normal time to DEMAND that we be seated on another plane heading west so we could still get to Maui around the original 3 PM arrival time. To our surprise, they were more than accommodating and put us on a plane to Chicago at 8 AM. This meant one extra layover than the original trip, but we didn't mind at the time. We were ultimately supposed to be in Maui at about 5 with another stop in Phoenix.

Everything ran smoothly for the trip through Chicago and into Phoenix. In fact, we got onto the plane in Phoenix and we were ready to go! After taxiing for a little, we noticed the plane being "revved" like a car a lot and that it was a little warm inside the cabin when the pilot turned on the PA system: "Uhhhh, folks, as you might be able to tell, we are headed back to the terminal. One of the two main air conditioners is not responding. While we could run a normal domestic flight with just one AC, we can't for an overseas flight to Maui. We are not sure how long this repair will take."

We were worried that this could take forever but still hopeful it would be a quick fix. Relatively speaking, it ended up not being too big of a deal. After a couple technicians came in and out a handful of times, the problem was fixed and we were already taxiing again after about 45 minutes. No problem, we were going to HAWAII and the captain still said we could make up the time in the air and we'd get there at about 5. Next thing we knew, we were sitting on the runway about to take off when we made a 90 degree turn right towards the gate again......

It turns out that the FAA paperwork that is necessary to fill out on every fix was not filled out correctly. Rumor had it that somebody forget to "check a box". That wouldn't take long, right? WRONG! In fact, it took another hour before they had everything in order again and we backed away from the terminal for the third time. It was a good thing we had some comic relief coming from our flight attendant who made fun of intoxicated passengers and pretended to get sucked out of the plane door at one point.

Long story short, we left Phoenix and arrived in Maui 2 hours late at about 7 PM Hawaii time. That's 1 AM Eastern where we woke up at about 4:30 AM. You do the math! We were, however, in Hawaii and we did not care one bit the second we stepped foot on that amazing island (except for a minute when the baggage belt broke but we'll leave that for another time). We had a most wonderful trip that we'll blog about later in the week!

Don't forget, travelling is worth every little problem you run into on the way. Getting there is half the fun! This trip was no different.

(P.S. - our return trip with United went without a hitch!)

The Neighborhoods of Rome. Which one will you stay in?

2009-09-15T14:47:00.002-04:00

The Neighborhoods: Il Centro is all of the center of Rome and is where most of the attractions lie as well as most of the hotels we will recommend on this site. This is a large area, however, so we have broken down the major areas of Il Centro starting with our favorites:

1. Piazza Navona/Pantheon: Talk about great location. This area is not only the in the center of Rome, it is the center of the center! This is area is the namesake of one of the greatest squares in Rome as well as the ancient monument that lies within it. This is area possesses incredible architecture as well as fountains. We highly recommend staying in this area.

2. Trevi/Piazza di Spagna: We may be repeating ourselves, but centrally located and the namesake of two more amazing sights: The Trevi Fountain and Spanish Steps. We also highly recommend staying in this area, especially if you enjoy shopping!

3. Colloseo: What can we say, we love Rome and ALL its neighborhoods. Colloseo offers the best of ancient Rome, including the Colosseum and Roman Forum. Still centrally located, if you don’t stay here, you will spend much of your time here anyway! Not the most fashionable area, but perfect for history buffs!

4. Via Veneto: This area is perfect for those looking for quiet evenings in a pretty area. While there isn’t much to speak of in this neighborhood beyond nice hotels, become inspired by this laid back part of Rome and enjoy the tranquility.

5. Borghese: If you enjoy luxury, look no further! Overlooking Rome’s grand park (Villa Borghese) are many of the five-star resorts in Rome. Why? Because not only is the park beautiful, but within it lies about the only tranquility one can find in Rome during the day. If you don’t stay here, make sure to visit the park!

6. Trastavere: For younger visitors, try this neighborhood. Along the western bank of the Tiber south of the Vatican lies this quaint, artsy neighborhood that has become a very nice place to stay in the last few decades. Here you can find an area with great food and nightlife.

7. Prati/San Pietro: Surrounding St. Peter’s Square and directly to the North is an area with good shopping and decent nightlife. You can find great deals from the hotels in this area even though it’s a very pleasant place to stay!

8. Piazza del Popolo: With an amazing square and THE place to stroll at dusk, this area does not have a lot of hotel options. However, it does have many fun bars, restaurants and places to shop.

9. Testaccio/Teatro Marcello: Similarly, these two neighborhoods don’t offer too many hotel options. Lying on the east side of the Tiber, these areas do boast beautiful homes, alleys, archeological sights and amazing nightlife. Repubblica: With an amazing square, a fun market
and some other great shopping, this area is a great option for those looking the best deals in Rome. Also, Termini Station (Rome’s main train hub) lies within this neighborhood.

New Gateway to Paris from Philly

2009-09-09T20:04:00.007-04:00

Alright, not to sound like I'm a Delta salesman or anything, but I received an email today about Delta opening up 5 new weekly routes to Paris from Philadelphia starting October 5th. Pretty cool, but one of their "partners", Air France actually already had those routes open. So what does that do for us? Well, considering the average cheap flight to Paris from Philly was about $600+ give or take $50, not too much. On my searches for straight flights between the cities, I regularly found the prices to be almost identical to the old ones: about $625.

Maybe this could work out for travellers in the future, though, as Delta/Air France need to sell more tickets. Who knows? Also, this could mean more deals for online travel agents who are trying to negotiate discount ticket prices with these airlines. I'm sure once we begin highlighting trips to Europe on JetSetPilot.com, we will all find out and we'll be sure to let you know!

Also, check out Delta's Sky Miles Rewards Card offered through American Express. This ended up being the card of choice for JetSetPilot and our travels as it presented the best, most straight forward point systems out there. Read up for yourself at http://www.americanexpress.com/ under "personal cards" or "business cards" if you need one for your company.

How have your experiences with travel reward credit cards been? Tell us about your favorites and why when you have the chance. I am sure we will eventually have a whole blog focused on this topic. For now, just read up and respond!

Budget Travel: Sleeping in airports?

2009-09-07T21:41:00.007-04:00

Have you ever had to sleep in an airport, train or bus station? While this isn't something I'd recommend you do voluntarily, there may come a time when luck has run out and you are left with no choice but to sleep sprawled out across plastic chairs.

Thankfully, the one time our flight was cancelled we were offered a night stay at the closest hotel. But often times in situations such as foul weather you may not be offered this luxury and you'll need to fend for yourself.

Whether it is a voluntary or unplanned overnight stay, you may want to check out http://www.sleepinginairports.net/index.html. In addition to general tips for sleeping in airports, it also features an extensive collection of airport, train and bus station reviews. You can find the best and worst airports around the globe, along with specific pros and cons, as well as airport sleeping tips. (#2 tip - bring a cheap inflatable pool raft)

Sleepinginairports.net was actually created as a tool for the budget traveler who PLAN on sleeping in an airport. From my research, there are plenty of budget travel options out there and in my opinion sleeping in an airport should be your last resort. There are some fantastic all inclusive deals out there to be found for the budget traveler. Check back with us later this month when we launch http://www.jetsetpilot.com/ for all the latest deals to Europe!

Quick references: Time, Weather & more!

2009-09-03T11:49:00.008-04:00

I've put together guide of quick references for Weather, Time, Exchange Rates and Translations.

Some of the links aren't the most glamorous sites, but they give you the information you’re looking for in an easy on the eyes fashion.

Weather -
To see the current temperature and weather in every city in Europe, Click here

Time -
For a quick view of the times around the world, Click here

Exchange rates –
To add an exchange rate widget to your iGoogle, Click here

To find exchange rates online, Click here

Translations
To add an iGoogle widget, Click here

For translations of useful phrases, Click here

To translate your own words or phrases, Click here

The JetSetPilot Experience

2009-09-01T20:38:00.005-04:00

For those of you who routinely follow our blog, we’d like to thank you!!! For those of you casually stopping by, we’d like to tell you a bit about ourselves. The writers of this blog include myself, Kristie, and my fiancé / business partner Brian. In less than one month we will be launching the latest and greatest in European online travel planning, http://www.jetsetpilot.com/.

JetSetPilot strives to provide a unique online travel planning experience. Most travel sites include hundreds, if not thousands, of links that not only clutters the page but also confuses the user, and probably drives them to leave the site. I’ll let you in on a little secret. What you may or may not realize is all those links on the homepage of travel sites…they aren’t there to help you!! They are there to increase the site’s rank in search engines such as Google and Yahoo. They are there to help increase the site exposure to the masses, but ultimately drive the user away! The thought behind JetSetPilot is to start with a clean slate, present a clean homepage, and provide clear direction through our “Pilot Search” tool on how to find the trip you’re looking for. We want to make it simple for you, the jetsetter, to find the exact trip you are looking for without visiting dozens of individual travel sites. How do we do this? We’ve partnered with the top online travel agencies, review each of their trips and feature only the best quality trips. Whether your budget is $500 or $5000, we have the trip you’re looking for. We also rate each trip based on hotel quality, hotel location, time of year, and many other factors.

We’ll also continue to update our blog with the latest travel news (see our recent post on WiFi available on select airlines here), suggestions on where to travel in Europe, and we’ll also regularly post our best rated or last minute trips.

We can’t wait to launch and start helping you make that dream European vacation a reality. What most people don’t realize is you can take a week vacation in Spain for about the same price as a cross country U.S. trip. You just have to find the right deal, at the right time. Subscribe to our blog and newsletter once we launch so you don’t miss out on all the best deals to Europe!

And so we ask, "Where can we take you?"

Broadway in London....seriously!

2009-09-01T03:56:00.006-04:00

For all those theatre lovers in the U.S. who believe Broadway is the outright best place in the world to find musicals and other shows, you might want to learn about The West End or "Theatreland" in London. For instance, you know Les Miserables, the hit that keeps going on and off Broadway for some reason? Well, in London, Les Mis has been playing for 24+ years straight with no interruption! Sorry CATS lovers out there, the other Andrew Lloyd Weber musical is not played here either! Check out some of the shows that are being played currently:

1. Stomp
2. Wicked
3. Chicago
4. Phantom
5. Lion King
6. Grease
7. Mamma Mia!
8. Hairspray
9. Les Miserables
10. The Shawshank Redemption (who knew Morgan Freeman could sing?)

You get my point? This part of London has been battling for the best place to watch a show for years. In fact, the West End has been around since its first theatre was built in the mid 1500's. The longest running show, The Mouse Trap, has been playing since 1952. While you should definitely see a show there when you visit, try not to spend too much money! Considered to be one of the most expensive parts of London (already a very expensive city), The West End is home to great restaurants and pubs that will cost you a pretty "pound".

Have you seen a show in the West End? Tell us about your experiences in maybe the highest level of musical theatre in the world! We look forward to hearing from you.

In-Flight WiFi now available!

2009-08-30T21:54:00.008-04:00

Personally, I am extremely excited about in-flight WiFi capabilites. I'm surprised it took this long to catch on! Especially for those fellow jetsetters out there, a 6 or 8+ hr flight can feel like a complete waste of time. I don't know about you, but not only would surfing the net or getting some work done keep my mind off of the stomach churning turbulence, but it would make the flight go by so much faster! Later this month Brian and I are vacationing in Hawaii (I know, I feel like we're cheating on Europe) and I'm really not looking forward to the 12 hr trip, not including a layover. Even though we will be on vacation, I can't help but think that is extremely valuable work time! We live in a world where time is money, and I'd much rather be making money than reading gossip magazines. That's what the beach is for :).

The service providing the in-flight Wifi is called Gogo. Gogo is available on select AirTran, American Airlines, Delta and Virgin America flights - with more added almost daily. Click here for participating airlines and routes. But don't just expect to walk onto the flight and automatically have access to the web. There is a list of pre-flight to-do's including setting up an account with Gogo. Click here for the pre-flight checklist

Also, one thing to be aware of, while aircrafts are becoming equipped with Gogo WiFi, they are lacking in power outlets. So even if you charge up your battery, if you’re like me, my battery only lasts an hour or so on a good day. It may be worth the investment to purchase a new or backup battery considering you aren’t guaranteed a power outlet.

Something else to keep in mind, pornography and other inappropriate sites as well as Skype and other internet phone based sites will be not be accessible in flight. Virgin says they do not endorce Skype in order to maintain a peaceful quiet cabin. You are able to instant message via Skype and of course you can Twitter Facebook and MySpace all flight long!

The downside…as in-flight WiFi becomes more and more popular, those who travel for business often and enjoy their flights as a relaxing time off, sorry! You can bet your butt your companies will be signing you up for an all inclusive Gogo pass and you’ll be expected to deliver that contract or presentation ASAP!

Gogo pricing is as follows:
$12.95 for daytime flights of over three hours
$9.95 for daytime flights of less than three hours
$5.95 on red-eye flights
$7.95 for handheld devices
$12.95 for a 24 hr pass
$49.95 for a 30-day pass

See gogoinflight.com com for details

How should you pay for things on your trip?

2009-08-28T15:28:00.005-04:00

It's very important to think about how you are going to pay for day to day expenses when you are traveling, especially overseas. There are many different options from travelers checks to credit cards or cash. Below are some helpful tips you should keep in mind when planning your trip.

1. Call your bank (for both debit and credit cards) to let them know you are traveling abroad- this is important for 2 reasons. One, your bank will ask the exact cities and times of your trip so if they see any activity outside of those specifications they can put a hold on your account immediately. And two, not only will they keep a closer eye on your account, but if you don't make your bank aware of your travels and they do see suspicious activity, they may put a hold on your account that you don't want!

2. My preferred method of payment overseas is credit card for anything over $50, and always keeping a good amount of small bills or coins for cab rides, quick snacks and souvenirs.

3. As for travelers checks, I don't see any reason to use them. Enough said.

4. I've gone back and forth when deciding if I should exchange cash for the local currency before my trip or when I arrive, and I've found there's no problem using the airport ATM as soon as I arrive. And it just means one less item on my "to do" list before I leave!

5. Very important!! When taking over $100 out of a debit machine, make sure to ask for an odd denomination like 105 or 115. If you specify an even 100, you will literally get a 100 bill and it will be hard to find someone to break it. I learned this the first trip I ever took to Europe, but seemed to forget the simple rule when arriving in Vienna. When we arrived I went straight to the ATM machine and took out £200, and literally received 2 £100 bills. One of our first stops in Vienna was to see the Schloss Schonbrunn. At the top of the hill sits a fantastic monument with the best views of the city. We climbed to the top of the hill only to be turned down from climbing to the top of the monument because they wouldn't break my £100. (I think the fee was £2 per person). All that work...just to see the second best view in Vienna.

For exchange rates check out this user friendly site: http://www.xe.com/

La Tomatina!

2009-08-26T16:33:00.004-04:00

Does everyone remember when we spoke about La Tomatina in an earlier post? Well it happened today! Wow, did it happen today. Check out this link: http://www.cnn.com/2009/TRAVEL/08/26/tomatina.festival/index.html

I personally like the makeout session that CNN was nice enough to put on their website!

Luggage, Carry-Ons, Purses, Oh My!

2009-08-25T21:23:00.012-04:00

There is a lot to think about when planning a trip to Europe, especially when it comes to packing and toting around your personal items. What kind of luggage should I bring? How much can I fit in my carry-on? What should I use to carry my camera and money once I arrive?

I'm here to help! Below I've highlighted some of the basics to get you started.

Luggage

My favorite brand is Samonite, but depending on your style there are many many great values out there to be found. A set of 5 pieces for $120 may sound too good to be true, but for the casual traveler this quality of luggage is just fine. As for size and number of bags...

Remember, you may find yourself roaming the streets of a city with your luggage, and no airport trolley to be in sight. Even if you plan to take a taxi to or from your hotel, you may find yourself without. A quick story from when Brian and I traveled to Vienna…we road the rail to Vienna from Prague and tired from the trip we decided to take a taxi, as we wanted the fastest way to get to our hotel (although the subway system in Vienna is excellent!!). We informed the driver of the name our hotel and away he went. 15-20 minutes later we arrive at a beautiful hotel, exit the taxi and make our way to check-in, only to find we do not have a reservation. Turns out, there are several hotels in the city with the same name and our driver took us to the wrong one!! Our hotel was about 10 blocks away. The very friendly concierge gave us a map and pointed us to the closest subway. Too tired to be mad, we laughed and walked out of the 4 star hotel. Turns out the subway system is fantastic and we only ended up walking about 3 blocks in total. BUT it would have been horrendously difficult if we hadn't recently purchased two great rolling suitcases. Both of us only had one suitcase and a small tote to carry. Moral of my long-winded story? My recommendation is to go as big as you can with your main piece of luggage and only travel with one bag. You can always pack a duffel if you plan on buying a lot on your travels for use on the trip home. Make sure your luggage is relatively light to start, because with the 50lb weight limit on most airlines you're much more likely to go over with one huge heavy bag.

Backpacks

I've personally never used one, and don't think I could ever fit all of my belongings in one. And if I did fit everything, it would be so heavy there's no way I could carry it on my back! But if you are a light packer and/or backing around Europe, this is your best option.
Checkout REI.com for a great selection of backpacks, and some great customer reviews to help you decide on the right backpack for you. http://www.rei.com/category/4500001_Backpacks?cm_mmc=ps_google_CH-_-Category%20-%20Camp%2fHike-_-Camping%2fHiking_BackPacks_General-_-backpackbackpack&mr:adGroup=343975865&mr:ad=3255043685&mr:keyword=backpack&mr:referralID=NA&gclid=COn3v7-SwJwCFQJD5godHFBVnQ

Carry-On

Most airlines allow 1 carry-on bag and a personal item including briefcase, computer bag, purse or small tote.
Size regulations - each airline specifies a size limit, but I've never seen anyone turned away unless the bag is really above and beyond the norm. If you're really worried about it and want to measure, the standard sizes are around 22" x 14" x 9" (British Airways, Air France, United, Virgin Atlantic)
Prohibited items - To name a few, box cutters, knives, scissors are allowed in checked bags only, not carry on. For a full list see the TSA's website : http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/prohibited/permitted-prohibited-items.shtm
Liquid Carry-On - 3:1:1 rule - 3 ounces or smaller containers of liquids or gels; 1 quart size plastic, zip top bag holding 3 oz or smaller containers; 1 bag per traveler placed in the security bin. For a full details on liquid carry-on rules please see the TSA website here: http://www.tsa.gov/311/index.shtm
More and more people are using larger carry-ons, which is forcing those boarding later in line to check their larger bags due to overhead compartments being full. The last 2 or 3 flights I've flown have been this way, both domestic and overseas. - Just something to be aware of.

Carry-on luggage doesn't need to be as sturdy and durable since it won't be thrown around as much, so I recommend investing in your checkedluggage opposed to the carry-on. You can find great deals at your local Target or Walmart, which are probably better than any online store so you can avoid shipping charges. Of course a lot of retailers are offering Free Shipping so if you can find a great deal, go for it!

Purse / After arriving in Europe

Anything with a zipper opening and not too large for someone to easily grab and keep running. At least one inner pocket with a zipper is ideal as well, to keep money and a copy of your passport out of reach from potential pickpockets.

Money Belt

This is something every traveler can't live without! A money belt! And better yet, a Rick Steves' money belt! (for those of your unfamiliar with Rick Steves look our for future posts, I'm sure we'll get to him eventually). This handy belt is similar to fanny pack but goes under your clothes and is literally undetectable and also comfortable. One problem is when you do need to pay for something, you need to reach under your shirt for your money and it basically blows your cover.

http://www.luggagepros.com/mpb/IID15232.shtml?zmam=6548955&zmas=1&zmac=22&zmap=IID15232

There you have it! I hope this guide is helpful, and let me know if you've come across anything that you can't live without when packing or traveling.

Latvia! We're.. Going .....to........Latvia?

2009-08-25T06:46:00.006-04:00

5th European country you haven't heard of.

Yes, exotic Latvia with its...... ummmm ...... its ...... fertile soil and good ports? After extensive research, I must admit Latvia doesn't seem to have too much going for it. I don't want to offend any natives or people who enjoy visiting (for some reason), but I just can't find too much going on in this country. Let's at least start with a history lesson and some fun facts and see where that takes us!

Latvia lies on the Baltic Sea and is bordered by Estonia, Lithuania and Russia to name a few countries. Its people are most similar to the Estonians and Lithuanians as the share a common Baltic heritage. Also, Lithuania and Latvia are the only two places in the world where the people practice Baltic langauges. After WW2, Latvia became a part of the USSR until its collapse in 90's when the Soviets left Latvia. YAY! This country of 2.3 million people seems to have its location as its only resource, though. As a great land and sea connection between east and west Europe, Latvia has built up some large ports.

Culturally speaking, Latvia had an culture of the arts including folklore music from over a thousand years ago. There has been some resurgence of the arts since the Soviets left town but outside of some cheese, log cabins and some museums I could not find anything else! So, my recommendation is to skip Latvia unless you are a sea captain of some sort carrying goods to Russia.

Maybe you know more about Latvia. Maybe you live there and want to tell me why I am ass for speaking about your country this way! Well tell me, please! We look forward to hearing from you.

Going back to Cyprus...

2009-08-24T20:35:00.004-04:00

So, we were watching TV last night when we saw House Hunters International featuring Cyprus. Being that we just highlighted Cyprus last week, I thought we'd share some of the show with you. First of all, there was an English couple with a $1 million dollar budget. It seems like a lot until you realize each British Pound is worth 2 of our dollars. The couple was looking at three houses situated close to town, close to the ocean and with nice views of pretty much everything! The houses the looked at ranged from 2000-2500 square feet and were all relatively new and were all furnished.

Ultimately, they chose the 2500 sq foot home for over $1 million and came with a big yard, pool and incredible views of the ocean and mountains. What was very interesting was that there were many English speaking natives as well as transplants that live in Cyprus. Even the couple mentioned they did not need to learn to speak Greek once they got there and realized this fact. Anyways, we will add House Hunters International to our guide from now on. As of right now, we know it's on Sunday at 9:30.

Liechtenstein. Yes, That's a Country, not a Curse Word

2009-08-24T07:04:00.010-04:00

European Countries you've never heard of #4 -

Did you ever watch that movie, A Knight's Tale, where Heath Ledger plays a normal guy pretending to be a knight from Leichtenstein? Well that is actually a real place. It is a land-locked country in between Switzerland and Austria that has the Alps running through it. Leichtenstein is pronounced "licked-en-stine" and no one has to say "gesundheit" after you say the country's name.

The country is just over 60 square miles (fourth smallest country in Europe) and only has a population of 35,000 but it continues to prosper due to its winter sports destinations and tax-haven status for businesses. This is one of the few countries in the world with more registered companies than citizens. It is not part of the European Union but its people are German-speaking.

So why and how would anyone get to this country? Well, first, the closest airport is in Zurich Switzerland so you would mosr likely go through there. But once you're there, enjoy a host of activites in this small country! Like its neighbors, Leichtenstein is steeped in the arts, holding all sorts of fairs and concerts devoted to classical and contemporary music. Also, enjoy the historical buildings of the Leichtenstein monarchy that continues to rule in some respect to this day as well as your beautiful churches like many of Europe's hot-spots. Finally, don't forget you're in the Alps. Skiing and other winter sports are a must in this country!

Don't worry folks, there's no need to be scared of war in Leichtenstein. It has no army! It follows a strict nuetrality on every front. Tell us about your stories of Liechtenstein, we would love to hear from you!

This week's Recommended Travel Shows:

2009-08-22T10:36:00.004-04:00

Monday (8/24) -

Confessions of a Travel Writer on Travel Channel @ 9 PM: If you watched and enjoyed this show last week, we're sorry to inform you it has been taken off the air. I'm a little disappointed, as it was a nice appetizer to Zane at 10.

Three Sheets on Fine Living Network (FLN) @ 10 PM (Our Favorite): Zane Lamprey tours the globe and learns about cultures, drinking rituals and native drinks.

No Reservations on Travel Channel @ 10 PM: Culinary show that focuses on culture as well, very well done.

Tuesday (8/25) -

Bizarre Foods w/ Andrew Zimmern on Travel Channel @ 10 PM: Decent show that features the most "bizarre" foods in the world.

Saturday (8/29) -

Weekends w/ Smantha Brown on Travel Channel @ 10 PM: She was an incredible host who got a little cocky. Still a great show to learn about new places!

Rick Steves' shows are on regularly on your local public channel. Times vary depending on your location, but don't miss Rick and his wonderful show!

Cyprus, Our Next Stop in Unknown Europe

2009-08-21T07:47:00.009-04:00

Cyprus, an island nation south of Turkey was once considered the home of Aphrodite (that's right the Goddess of LOVE) and is now a tourist destination for over 2 million people a year. Consider Cyprus a unique, if not distant, Greek Isle.
Don't tell the some of the inhabitants that, though, as Cyprus has strong political viewpoints concerning the sovereignity of other countries. The island was controlled by the English and has subsequently become an independent country (or two). You see, Cyprus is is basically cut in half, with the northern part controlled by the Turkish-controlled government and the south controlled by The Republic of Cyprus government that makes up more than half the island. Both parts are worth seeing for adventurous travellers.

The capital of Cyprus is Nicosia and, just as Berlin was once cut in half, so too is Nicosia. Neither government, though at odds with each other, are tyrannical like you might think when picturing Berlin before the collapse of the wall.

There are many sights to see including museums and churches, but a lot of the fun resides outside the city, where you can get a Greek Isle feel with the countryside and sea-side caves to explore. The rest of the island can be explored out of such cities as Limassol (industrial center of Cyprus) and Pafos (resort area). Inside and outside of these cities, you can find incredible archeological sites from Greek temples to Venician ruins.

So for those of you who appreciate a good political fight, history, culture, beaches and mountains, visit Cyprus! This can be an ideal location for any type of vacation including those of you with children. If you've already been, share your stories with us. We look forward to hearing from you!

And for those Real Housewives of NJ fans, Cyprus is where Dina's daughter vacationed for a couple weeks!

When in Rome...

2009-08-20T20:11:00.012-04:00

Rome was my first European city experience, and to date it remains my favorite. I could blog about Rome everyday for the next year and not run out of things to say. Just thought I'd share with you some of my favorite pictures and favorite memories....enjoy.

First stop in Rome...Colosseum!! Such a great experience and amazing to be there in person. This picture is framed and hanging in my dining room.

It took about 2 hrs and a scary walk through the wrong neighborhood to get to see this view of Rome. Totally worth it!

So we're walking through a narrow street, turn a corner and see the Pantheon!! Only my favorite architectural structure in Rome!

Don't you wish your city streets looked like this?

This is what St. Peter's Basilica looks like at 7am. No lines was worth waking up that early. Not to mention being one of a handful of people in the entire square.

I think I'll make it a point to return at least once every 5 years. Who's with me? Next trip in 2011!!

Malta, a Nation of Islands in Europe

2009-08-20T06:12:00.006-04:00

In the second installment of the "Europe's Least Known Countries", we head south of Sicily in the middle of the Mediterranean to a cluster of islands that have been of extreme historical significance, Malta. This country of 400,000 inhabitants resembles Hawaii in the US. There are three main inhabited islands and numerous others. Malta is generally warm, attributing its relatively stable climate to the Mediterranean that surrounds it.

Being in the middle of this sea has been Malta's blessing and it's curse in that, throughout history, the islands have benfited from being a trading post for Europe yet also a strategic base for many different armies and navies: Phoenicians, Romans, Sicilians, The Knight's of St. John, French and English to name a few. In fact, it wasn't until the early 20th century that the English granted autonomy to Malta. Currently, the official languages are English and Maltes.

So why would any traveller want to go to Malta? Well, like any predominantly Roman Catholic country, Malta provides many beautiful churches for you to see. Also, its cuisine is superb, being your traditional Mediterranean fare (lots of seafood, yummy, yummy seafood) with an Italian approach. Sicily is on a few hundred miles away. Also, Malta boasts the oldest freestanding structures in Europe, the Megalithic Temples. This UNESCO site was made in approximately 3600 BC! Stonehenge, eat your heart out. For all you history buffs. Malta is an offical member of EU, allowing you free access to visit from any other EU country once you've entered.

I have always heard of Malta as an important part of history, but I certainly did not know it was an actual country! If you've been to Malta, share your experiences with us and let us all know how the trip went. We look forward to hearing from you!

10 European countries you've never heard of....#1-Andorra

2009-08-19T06:47:00.010-04:00

Starting with today's blog, we will be focusing on the LEAST known countries in Europe. Our focus today, Andorra!

Andorra is a land-locked country sandwiched in the Pyrenees between France and Spain. One reason Europeans love to visit the sixth smallest country in Europe is the fact that it is a tax-haven. With hardly any arable land, the people of this country (83,000 pop.) are dependent on trade with other countries for food. That seems to be alright with the Andorrans, as they live relatively lavish lifestyles being that 80% of the country's GDP comes from tourism. Speaking of tourism, it happens to be the one reason for the country's recent population boom and their success. Many foreigners (particularly from France and Spain) spend time in Andorra skiing, hiking, and checking out the beautiful scenery in other ways.

If you know Spanish, you'll understand some Catalan which is the primary language of the country. This is the last remaining bastion of Catalan in the world (though the Barcelonans would disagree). But don't worry, many of the populous are foreigners from France and Spain and know those languages and more. In fact, the native Catalans are the minority in this country!

The capital of the Andorra is Andorra La Vella and is accessible directly by road and within miles of the train station. Unfortunately, there are no major airports in the country, but there are heliports that can fly you in from Barcelona and other close cities!

If you have ever been to Andorra, please tell us about it! This country is amazingly beautiful and unique, but we want to hear why from you! We look forward to hearing from you!

Venice is Sinking, visit it while you can!

2009-08-18T04:33:00.010-04:00

We've all heard about Venice sinking into the depths of the sea. But Why? How has a city that has stayed afloat for millenia become threatened? Well the answer lies in the city's wells.

Venice's foundations lie on wood imported from the mainland of Italy hundreds of years ago. Yes, that's right, wood! The wood actually has petrified over the years and isn't the cause of the sinking islands. It actually has become petrified and stone-like in its attributes. It wasn't until the 20th century when artisian wells were dug that the buildings started to sink. The wells caused the underground aquafer to drop quickly followed by all the clay, sand and buildings built on top of it. This is why the water levels have risen remarkably compared to the buildings. Let's not be so quick to blame global warming, though it doesn't help the situation.

After banning the wells in the 1960's the sinking has slowed considerably but has not stopped. Some believe that the projects headed-up by Italy's government may be the answer to Venice's problems. The answers may lie in the projects' floating water gates that will stop the high tides from overtaking the city in the Spring and other periods of flooding. Others believe that pumping water back underground will stop the sinking as well.

Either way, I believe we all shouldn't take the chance. Let's all go visit Venice before the horrific floods take over and the beautiful city is lost. Flooding shouldn't be a reason to go to Venice, it should just prod everyone into going sooner! Thank you, Wikipedia, for the insight on this amazing wonder of the world. Please tell us about your experiences in Venice, flooding or not as we all would like to hear from you.

The World Championship in Berlin

2009-08-17T07:00:00.004-04:00

Yesterday, Usain Bolt once again set a world record in 100m sprint, making him the greatest sprinter of all time. This was amazing race that only one other person had a chance at, the US' own Tyson Gay. This was supposed to be a heated race where Gay was to give Bolt a run for his money. This was not the case, however. Bolt destroyed the field, running a 9.58 world record time. What's even more interesting was the fact that Bolt seemed to pull up slightly at the end, leaving us all wondering if there are many more records for Bolt to surpass. Check out this amazing race!

There were many more great races this year, including many intriguing swimming races with Michael Phelps. He also set world records in the World Championships with what many believe to be inferior swimming suits made by Nike. Apparently, the Arena X-glide suits are far more bouyant than the suits Phelps has been wearing. This is what many believe to be the reason Phelps lost to Paul Biedermann of Germany in the 200m freestyle event. These suits are reported to be going to the wayside, though, as they will be outlawed by the international commission overseeing swimming (FINA), leaving Phelps to possibly retake his title in the race in coming years. Phelps later won a race and showed the world that even at a disadvantage, he is still the world's best wimmer. Take a look.

Whatever the competition, the World Championships allow us to peer at the future of all sports and hint at the next Olympic games. It makes us excited for what might be in store for the world in London, 2012. Don't forget the winter Olympics in 2010. They will be hosted by our neighbor to the north in Vancouver, Canada. We can only hope the Jamaican bobsled team will be there! Here's the great moment in sports history as the Jamaicans inspire us all!

Please share with us your memories of the Olympics and how they inspire you. We look forward to hearing from you!

Great Travel TV Programs (8/16-8/22)

2009-08-15T08:07:00.003-04:00

Hello everyone, we've decided to start posting many of the good travel shows airing throughout the week every Saturday! We are only recommending shows we always watch and enjoy, let mus know if and when we're missing any great shows!

Monday (8/17) -

Confessions of a Travel Writer on Travel Channel @ 9 PM: A new show that follows around a rather pompous travel writer (interesting so far).

Three Sheets on Fine Living Network (FLN) @ 10 PM (Our Favorite): Zane Lamprey tours the globe and learns about cultures, drinking rituals and native drinks.

No Reservations on Travel Channel @ 10 PM: Culinary show that focuses on culture as well, very well done.

Tuesday (8/18) -

Bizarre Foods w/ Andrew Zimmern on Travel Channel @ 10 PM: Decent show that features the most "bizarre" foods in the world.

Saturday (8/22) -

Weekends w/ Smantha Brown on Travel Channel @ 10 PM: She was an incredible host who got a little cocky. Still a great show to learn about new places!

Rick Steves' shows are on regularly on your local public channel. Times vary depending on your location, but don't miss Rick and his wonderful show!

Which Greek Isle is MY Greek Isle?

2009-08-14T07:21:00.008-04:00

That is a great question. The answer is, ALL OF THEM, in some way, shape or form. We are currently planning a trip to Greece in June of 2010 and this is as good a blog for me as for all of you. Here's why all of them might be right for you: they all offer an array of variation. Depending on the time of year, you can expect a great variation of weather from hot and dry to windy and cool. Also, once you get to these islands, there's a lot for travelers to do. You can sunbathe on Greece's infinite beaches, visit other-worldy villages remiscent of another time, find acheological treasures from ancient Greece and Rome, go on swimming, diving or scuba jaunts, or find yourself all alone on a relatively deserted island. There's a wide range of activities to choose from. Which ones are yours?

Leaving from Athens, you can reach an island that has what you are looking for pretty easily. How? Well, plane for the major islands like Crete, Santorini and Mykonos or boat for hundreds more. Greece has a relatively antiquated ferry system that can be daunting for some or be and great adventure for others. Depending on the island or islands you decide on, there are ferries that leave on a definitive schedule or could leave you stranded another 24 hours. That's part of the fun, though!

Let's go back to activities and focus on the three main islands, though. Crete is the largest island (as big as our large states in the U.S.) in Greece and has all the activies I mentioned before. The nightlife is decent and could leave you yearning from Mykonos if you are a partier. Otherwise, it's a great one-stop shop for everything you could dream of in a Greek Island. Speaking of Mykonos, this is a amazingly fun hotspot for Greeks and international travelers alike. While you won't get as much of the old-time feel of the other islands, rest assured, there's no lacking for something to do. Be ready to stay up all night, dancing at the discos. Santorini is similar, though isn't AS aggressive as Mykonos. If you're looking for a good mix of all of the above, this may be island for you.

Please share with us your experiences on the islands and let us know what you thought of these majestic places are. We would love to hear more, even on a personal level for our own trip. We'd love to hear from you!

Now you can enjoy Oktoberfest all year round!

2009-08-13T07:42:00.007-04:00

We celebrated Oktoberfest early this year in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania last weekend at a German Hofbrauhaus Restaurant. Hofbrahaus Restaurants are popping up all over the US: in Pittsburgh, and Las Vegas to name a couple. The significance of the Hofbrauhaus is that this is one of the original beer tents at the real Oktoberfest held every mid-September through mid-October in Munich, Germany.

The Pittsburgh venue is located on the south side with a great view of the river. You have the option to sit in one of three sections of the Hofbrauhaus, outside in the gardens or one of two indoor locations. We recommend the main dining hall where all the singing, dancing and “shot skis” are enjoyed (I’ll get into more of this later).

If you’ve never drank your beer from a liter stein, let me tell you about it. At the Hofbrauhaus specifically, it contains a total of three to four 12oz beers, is filled with 5.2% (on average) genuine German Hofbra beer brewed right on the premises, and may need to be held with both hands. It’s incredibly impressive and amazing to see the waiters and bartenders delivering 5+ liter steins at a time.

The main dining hall contains long tables and benches where you will be sat with other beer-goers, unless you arrive with a large enough group to occupy the entire table which seats about 8. At the front of a hall you’ll find a stage where entertainment and the MC reside, and on the opposite wall a large rectangular bar rounds out the room.

Upon arriving at our table, Brian and I and our two friends quickly ordered a round of 1 liter steins and we begin our drinking festival. Surprisingly, we saw a pretty large number families and children in attendance for dinner, but soon after 9pm the clientele shifts to almost all 21+.

About an hr into our Friday night Oktoberfest a waiter runs up to the stage holding what appears to be a ski (yes, as in skiing down a mountain) high in the air with 4 evenly spaced shot glasses attached. Soon everyone starts chanting “Shot Skis!!”. Two more waiters appear up front with the same contraption and the crowd chants “Triple Shot Skis!!”. Three groups of 4 are now lined up in front of the skis and in unison they down the shots. What the contents of the shots are, I’m not sure. If anyone is familiar with this drinking event, feel free to provide your input. Is there a standard “Shot Ski” shot? Or is it whatever liquor strikes your fancy?

If you plan on visiting the Hofbrauhaus on Friday or Saturday nights, I suggest arriving early (7pm or earlier) if you expect to find a table without a long wait. And do NOT come on a full stomach. You need to save room for the beer!!

Oh, and most importantly…1 liter of beer will run you about $7. The same or less than 1 12oz beer you’ll buy at your local major league baseball game. And for an additional $8, you get to keep your liter stein! Half steins are available as well, but why would you want one of those?

So, have I sufficiently excited you about Oktoberfest??

Vienna, a treasure trove of palaces, arts and other culture

2009-08-12T07:35:00.010-04:00

Ah, Vienna, the City's' name even evokes a Victorian feel of decadence. It's true, Vienna was and is a true paradise for luxury. Home of Wiener Schnitzel and Mozart, the city possesses many colossal palaces, extensive museums, opera houses and concert halls. If you are a classical arts lover, this may be your one-stop shop in Europe. If you enjoy touring homes and gardens bigger than most towns, this might also be your one-stop shop in Europe. Let's take a tour of what you could see in this wonderfully clean capital of Austria.

First, we visit the Schonbrunn Palace, home of the Hapsburg Dynasty and a home that could take you all day to walk through if you let it. This palace's gardens could take you another full day to walk through, including the world's oldest zoo. You can still stay for concerts featuring Mozart's music in the grand halls of this majestic building.

Next, we move towards the city center and find the even larger Hofburg, another Hapsburg palace that now also acts as home to governmental offices, the Sisi Museum and the Vienna Boys' Choir just to name a few. This gargantuan building was made piece by piece until it took up a large part of the inner city. You can still attend exciting beer and wine festivals in the gardens of this jewel (free of charge to enter, a cheap lunch as well).

The Belvedere is a less famous (Hapsburg) palace that is still about twice the size of the White House and has its own wonderful gardens and pools that are very well maintained (don't miss this, even if you become numb to incredible domiciles).

The Museum Quarter is most spectacular array of museums ranging from historical art, modern art and history of all kinds. This section of the city is over 60,000 square meters and holds numerous buildings. Make sure to go to the ones of your liking.

There are innumerable concert halls and opera houses including the Burg Theatre. Please treat yourself to at least one show depending on your appetite for the arts. If you are an art-lover, make sure you see a show every night!

There are many more contemporary masterpieces as far as architecture goes, but too many to name here. Just know that when you go Vienna, you will be very busy seeing all the sites but also remember to slow down and take in all the open spaces! There's a lot to see, but you would need years to see it all.

Please make sure to fill us in on your memorable experiences to Vienna and let us know what we left out (I know there's a lot!). We appreciate your comments and look forward to hearing from you!