Like High Rollers, Only Better

If you are a high stakes gambling lover, stop reading this right now. It will not be of interest to you. If, however, you like simply like sitting at a slot machine, spending some time, getting free drinks and watching the pretty pictures spin around – stay the course and read on.

I went to Las Vegas in December – at the low, low point in the economy (well for that date, at least – I suppose it will get worse). I was there for the Luxury Travel Expo (more about that in another post) and stayed at Mandalay Bay. A very nice place – rooms have been redone, great restaurants, decent shopping and a fine, fine casino. In years past, I might have been bold enough to play the dollar slots, though mostly I stuck to the 25¢ machines.

But this year? With the world economy heading south? It was the 1¢ slots for me. And guess what? I did NOT walk away with tons of money (see photo). But neither did I LOSE lots of money. And I had an excellent time, passed a night away, drank free drinks and generally enjoyed myself. All for a penny or two.

Penny slots. Like the high dollar machines, only better (and cheaper).

If you’d like help planning a great trip to Las Vegas, email me: anne@onthemaptravel.com.

Hotel Club Floors

Hotel Club/Executive Floors

When I was younger I traveled around the world on the cheap – really cheap (80 days around the world for about $5,000.  And that was including airfare.  For TWO people).  At that time in my life, anyplace that did not have hoards of bedbugs or cockroaches was a good place to stay.

Needless to say, my criteria have changed a bit over the years.  I now enjoy a nice hotel – love luxury when I can get it.  But even when my budget doesn’t permit the Four Seasons I can find just that little something extra on the club floor of many hotels.  A hotel room is a hotel room is a hotel room.  And if you have so much disposable income that you feel comfortable snacking on $12 peanuts from the minibar and ordering room service for dinner – well then maybe a regular room’s enough for you.  But a club floor – now we’re talking’.  There is a private, dedicated check in desk – no waiting in line. You have your nice room – even if it’s small  (mostly it’s not) – and then right down the hall is a lovely living room or lounge – usually a bar, often times a breakfast room (private, away from the riffraff of the rest of the hotel).  There are almost always computers/internet to use at no charge, a pleasant concierge of your very own and free food morning, noon and night.  Oh yes.  And free drinks during happy hour.  Of course perks vary from hotel to hotel. Prices, too.  Naturally the club floors cost more, but in many cases only $35 – $50 than a regular room.  Some more than that, but hey – when you’ve slept through as many cockroach marching formations as I have – they are worth it!
My favorite club floors so far:
Swissôtel Quito Executive Floor – An amazing floor to ceiling view of the surrounding mountains, breakfast, lunch, tea time and light dinner are all included.  And open bar from 8:30PM to 10:30PM.  Computers, concierge, valet service, business center and check in/out in exclusive lounge.  Uber comfy and very special feeling – I love this floor!
Fairmont Copley Plaza Gold Floor – This club floor has so many things going for it, not the least of which are the historic quarters with the look and feel of a 1912 mansion house from Boston’s Back Bay area. It’s got a dedicated reception area – and there are only 59 rooms – with a staff devoted exclusively to only those guests. The private lounge has three large rooms – including a library (so cozy).  The lounges are equipped with board games, fireplaces a library and magazines and books. The kitchen area has the look of a butler’s pantry (which I suspect it was at one time) with glass front cupboards holding all types of glassware and fully stocked (and free) hidden refrigerators below.  They serve a hot buffet breakfast, daily snacks and evening hors d’oeuvres. Alcohol is a help-yourself honor bar. When I poured myself a very short vodka – one of the waiters said ”oh don’t bother to write that down.  It’s not enough to make a difference.”  What a sweetheart.

Need to book a room on a hotel club floor?  Email me at anne@onthemaptravel.com. Be glad to help.

Like Borders. . . Longitude Books

I have yet to ask an employee of Borders about a travel book and have them answer in any type of informed manner. Plus, the fact is that while Borders may have plenty of guidebooks, their stock of non-guidebook travel items (literature, culture, history, maps, children’s, etc.) is a like the Atacama Desert – barren.

Enter Longitude Books. Like their website says “We believe that reading is the beginning of a great journey.” So do I. In fact, my favorite part of the pre-departure documents we send clients from my business (On The Map Travel) is the reading list. There is a whole staff of people at Longitude who spend their days selecting and evaluating books solely for their travel value. Apparently, like me, they are travelers. If you visit their website you can tell. But unlike me they seem to have a wonderful knack for finding an amazing plethora of the coolest books and maps. Some of the stuff they sell includes featuring hard-to-find maps, field guides, classic accounts of exploration, travel narratives, books on art and archaeology, memoirs, essays and well-written academic books, children’s books, humorous books about travel. And here’s the great part. They post all these books – organized geographically – on their website. And they have put together suggested reading lists for tons of destinations around the world. Oh lord, I could go on and on. When I’m feeling blue I sometimes just mouse around the Longitude site and get excited and enthused about someplace in the world I just HAVE to go to next. I recommend that you turn to Longitude whenever you travel.
Can you tell I like this place? You can get to the sight directly from my company website – www.onthemaptravel.com – or from the Longitude site – http://www.longitudebooks.com.

Travel books from Longitude – like Borders, only MUCH better.

Agave Sweetener

I had only slightly heard of this when I read the book Ultrametabolism by Mark Hyman. It recommends substituting agave for honey or sugar in your foods since it has a low glycemic index. This means that it absorbs into your bloodstream slowly without creating a sugar shock/insulin rush/put your feet on the soon-to-be-a-diabetic path. And since I have honey in my tea (PG Tips – the only way to wake up) every morning – it seemed like a good trade off. Agave syrup (juice?) is 1.25 times sweeter than sugar and not nearly as nasty from a health standpoint.

I got a bottle of Organic Blue Agave Sweetener at Trader Joe’s. I am sure it’s available, though way more expensive, at Whole Foods. I am a honey lover and honestly, I barely notice the difference in my tea. It says you can cook with it. . . well, maybe. I reserve judgment on that until I try it out. Not sure how well it would brulée, but I am willing to try.

Healthy honey/sugar – that’s how I think of it. Agave syrup is like sugar or honey, but better.

AmEx Platinum Card

I am the owner of a travel company – On the Map Travel. So I fly a lot. On different airlines. Mostly I fly out of St. Louis, land of the non-direct flight, no nonstop flights. So I am forever having a long layover or a delay. And I LOVE airline clubs – you’re out of the fray of everyday travelers, the bathrooms are nice. There are chairs and electrical outlets everywhere. There’s a bar, a place to leave your luggage . . . the list goes on and on. But who can afford to join even one club, let alone 4?

American Express to the rescue. With their Platinum Card you get access to 4 airline clubs for free, as long as you have a ticket on that airline (American Airlines Admirals Club®, Continental Airlines Presidents Club, Delta Crown Room Club®, and Northwest Airlines WorldClubs®). The card costs $450 (a business card is only $395), but it is so, so worth it for this reason alone. Hey – American Airlines Admiral’s club alone costs $400. Of course there are other benefits to the Amex Platinum Card, but this is by far my favorite.

Travel is tough these days; make it easier on yourself. Amex Platinum card is like belonging to an airline club, but better.
Want to know more about On The Map Travel?

Go to www.onthemaptravel.com.

Like Gray Goose

“I’ll have a peach flavored, ginger infused, twist of lemon martini. And make it with Grey Goose – or Stoli or Belvedere or Absolute.”

Give me a break. Do you mean to tell me that with all those fruit juices, herb essences, twists and squeezes that you can tell the difference between what kind of vodka the bartender uses? If you say yes, I say Liar, Liar Pants On Fire.

If you are going to mix vodka into a sweet, tart, savory or otherwise flavored concoction – try using Smirnoff Triple distilled. Either plain or flavored (the orange is best). Heck, I guess you can even enjoy it straight. It won some taste tests including one set up by the New York Times — a blind tasting of 21 vodkas where Smirnoff was favored over newer brands. Read it for yourself – The article is called “A Humble Old Label Ices Its Rivals” – you can find it at http://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/26/dining/26wine.html
I defy anyone to tell the difference when used in a flavored cocktail.

Smirnoff vodka is like the premium brands, only better. (and cheaper)

Like Mink

Man oh man. It just seems like there are so many things that are just like something cool, comfy, great, expensive, tasty, etc., etc. – but better than the original. For any number of reasons. My list goes on and on – gets added to every day. Here’s the first one:
Mink is not something that’s actually on my mind lot, but I liked how it sounded in the title of the blog. I am not mink-wearing wannabe, but I do happen to own a mink stole – it belonged to my mother-in-law. The only time it has been worn was when my 3rd grade son dressed as Homecoming Barbie for Halloween (that is an ENTIRELY different story) and he used the stole. I’ve never been compelled to don the thing. But, a friend of mind (rich and eccentric) sent me a fake (um, excuse me – faux) mink coat by a company – Donna Salyer’s Fabulous Furs. And I have to say it’s fun to wear. Doesn’t make me want to go out and buy the real thing (killing sweet little animals to keep warm is just not part of who I am) – but I like the way it looks, it fits great and it is really warm. So there you have it – like mink, only better.