Carefreetrip.com :: Travel Blog

There must be a typo on my flight itinerary - $60.50 for a flight from Las Vegas to San Francisco. There was no way and the flight was booked on Virgin America. If you ‘re like me, you know little about the airline let alone have never thought about taken a flight with them them. For a $60.50 fare, I was willing to give them a try - best travel decision I have made in a long time!

The first thing you notice is the quality of service. From the ticket agent to the pre-boarding staff to the crew, everyone is friendly and, stay with me, helpful. My check-in was smooth, my questions answered, and they even gave me a free gift on Green Day. Once on the plane, you are introduced to a new look and mood lighting - yes mood lighting. 9 specific settings of light pink and purple lights give the plane a ‘club’ feel. After you sit down you will notice several other features like the leather seats, in coach, the adjustable headrest, which for all of us over six feet tall really appreciate, a 110V power outlet for my electronics, a USB plug, Ethernet plug (for broadband Internet), and Red.

What is Red? Red is the 9-inch touch screen in-flight entertainment system that is available on every seat, on every Virgin America flight. You can watch, listen or talk. Watch satellite television, from Dish Network, music videos, or over 25 pay-per-view movies. Listen to over 3,000 MP3s, you can even create your own play lists, or 20 streaming radio channels. Talk to other travelers by using their in-seat keyboard that allows you to chat with other flyers. You can also use Red to play games, read the latest news, order food (using a cashless ordering system), or shop. By the way, I can’t believe I am going to recommend this, make sure you watch the safety video on Red. It is an animated instructional video that is very clever and this is the first time I actually saw a majority of people paying attention.

This flight was very impressive and very refreshing. Low prices, excellent service, and tons of amenities. The only concern I had was a loud noise during take-off and during our final approach that sounded like a hand-saw cutting wood. I tend to become concerned with odd sounding noises, especially when flying.

Carefreetrip.com gives Virgin America out of 5 suitcases. Thanks for a refreshing change of pace and a great ride!

Remember that bumper sticker “Mean People Suck!”? Well this is even more true for travelers - Mean Travelers Suck! I am sick and tired of sitting next to, standing in line behind, or waiting for travelers who are mean and think they are entitled to something the rest of us aren’t. So listen up! We travelers need an attitude change!

Here is my list of the top offensive travelers and travel situations.

Airport delays. Stop acting like the entire mission of the airlines is to make you late for your business appointment or for the Broadway show you paid $600 a seat for. The airlines want you out of their hair as much as you want to be gone. Stop yelling at someone who usually is trying to do everything they can to help you. Its amazing how much someone is willing to help you if you use kind words like “Hello”, “Please” and even “Thank you”. Irritating the airline workers isn’t going to help you or the rest of us stuck in the same predicament you are. Take a breath, as my wife would say, and get over yourself!

Bluetooth headsets. If you need to use a bluetooth headset, then try to find a quiet place to talk. I don’t want to hear your conversation about how you are the greatest salesperson in the history of mankind, or that your oldest child just got arrested (true story) or that you need to change your travel reservations. For some reason bluetooth headset users like to talk overly loud leaving the rest of us wondering if they are talking to me or if they are just loud and obnoxious. Get away from the rest of us when using these things.

MP3 Players set at 30 dBs. Recently I was on a flight to San Francisco and an older female passenger was assigned the seat next to me. After the captain cleared the passengers to use their electronic devices, my passenger buddy pulled out her iPod and began listening to rap music at 30 dBs. Holy crap lady! Can’t you hear? By the way I have had a long day and rap music is not helping me relax in anyway. People! Control your music. I love loud music as much as the next person, but have a little respect for your fellow travelers.

Airline passengers who do not turn off their electronic devices, put up their tray tables, and/or put your seat back to the upright position. Okay Lenny, this isn’t rocket science. You agreed when you purchased your airline ticket to abide by federal law AND to adhere to the policies of the airlines. I don’t care if your cousins, brothers, friend told you that the plane will not crash if you keep your phone or iPod on. IT’S AIRLINE POLICY! Don’t question it, just do it so we can land without you demonstrating your idiotic behavior. You don’t have to agree with the policy - just DO IT!

Full Gear Backpacks. This one chaps me more than most. Have you ever just got situated with your bags in the overhead bin, already for push back when at the last minute a gent comes on board with a full gear backpack. First, how did the airlines even allow this to pass their “on-board” baggage policy? Second, if you have an extra large baggage be on time! For some reason the back pack owner thinks its okay to shove their “luggage” into an already full overhead bin and then complain that someone else’s bag is to big and bulky. I love the outdoors as much as the next person, but you have to leave your “outside” equipment outside. Try using normal luggage like the rest of us. And a note to airlines, enforce all of your policies not just the one’s you have time or have to.

Bottom line - we can all use my wife’s advice to “take a breath”. Be courteous to others who are in the same, or even worse, situation than you are. Also try to talk like you would to your grandmother not to your ship mate. Much of the current commotion for travelers could be avoided if we all get it through our thick heads that KINDNESS BEGINS WITH ME!

Passport Requirements & How to Apply for a Passport

A passport is an internationally recognized travel document that verifies the identity and nationality of the bearer. Only the U.S. Department of State and U.S. Embassies and Consulates have the authority to grant, issue or verify U.S. passports. For travel overseas and to facilitate reentry into the U.S., a valid U.S. passport is the best documentation available.

A valid passport is required to enter and leave most foreign countries. Some countries may allow you to enter with only a birth certificate, or with a birth certificate and a driver’s license. Note, however, that rules established under the U.S. Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004, require that all persons, including U.S. citizens, traveling by air, must present a valid passport to reenter the United States. (Until September 30, 2007, U.S. citizens who have applied for but not yet received passports can enter and depart the United States by air to Western Hemisphere countries with a government-issued photo identification and official proof of application for a passport. The proof may be obtained at http://travel.state.gov. This accommodation does not affect entry requirements of other countries, and U.S. citizens who are traveling to a country that requires a visitor to have a passport must still obtain one.)

If you are traveling by land or sea, make certain that you can return to the United States with the proof of citizenship that you take with you. U.S. regulations require that you document both your U.S. citizenship and your identity when you reenter the United States. For more information about U.S. passport requirements, see http://www.travel.state.gov/travel/cbpmc/cbpmc_2223.html.

Some countries require that a traveler’s U.S. passport be valid at least six months or longer beyond the dates of the trip. In addition, with the number of international child custody cases on the rise, several countries have instituted passport requirements to help prevent child abductions. (Mexican law, for example, requires a child traveling alone, or with only one parent, or in someone else’s custody, to carry written, notarized consent from the absent parent or parents if the child is not in possession of a U.S. passport.) Contact the embassy of the foreign destination for more information. A listing of foreign embassies and consulates in the U.S. is available on the Department of State’s website at http://www.state.gov/s/cpr/rls/dpl/32122.htm. Foreign embassy and consulate contact information can also be found on the Country Specific Information for each country.

How to Apply for a U.S. Passport

Apply for your passport several months before your planned trip, and, if you will need visas from foreign embassies, allow even more time. Even if you don’t have specific travel plans, but have family living abroad or are waiting to find a bargain trip, it is a good idea to apply as early as possible. Information about applying for a U.S. passport may be found at http://www.travel.state.gov/passport/passport_1738.html.

If You Need to Obtain a New Passport While Abroad

For information on obtaining a new passport if yours is lost or stolen abroad, see “How to Get Your Passport Replaced” below, under “Emergencies: Consular Assistance and Crises Abroad.” Also visit the Department of State website at http://www.travel.state.gov/passport/lost/us/us_848.html. Additional information is available at http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/emergencies/emergencies_1197.html.

Visiting San Francisco, I was looking for a great place to enjoy dinner. I was referred to the Palomino Restaurant by my hotel - I also appreciated that it was withing walking distance. The Palomino is the upbeat city restaurant and bar famous for its rich and stylish ambiance. I very much enjoyed the Palomino’s European-inspired regional American Cuisine. What I also appreciated was that the Palomino offers such a versatile menu in extraordinary surroundings at reasonable prices. I had the New York Steak - it was excellent.

With all this said, what made my dinner so great was Shannon, my server. Shannon was kind and complimentary from the time I sat down until I left. She did the small things that make any dining experience great - Shannon smiled, was appreciative and best of all she was NICE! These few things are a lost art in customer service these days. It was nice to see that the City by the Bay has a shining example of what customer service SHOULD be.

Shannon is our Nice MATTERS inaugural example of great customer service. We at Carefreetrip.com have contacted the Palomino’s corporate office to let them know they have a star employee who understands that Nice Matters! Shannon, thank you for providing me with excellent service and a wonderful dining experience.

The Luxor Hotel and Casino is an amazing modern pyramid that reaches 350 feet into the Las Vegas sky crowned with world’s brightest beam of light. The hotel embodies an ancient Egyptian theme, which includes an entrance guarded by the Great Sphinx of Giza.

The rooms are built on the outer walls of the pyramid that are accessible using their “inclinators” that travel along the inner surface of the pyramid walls. When you first step on to the inclinator, you feel like you are in a normal elevator - until it starts to move. It took me a little time to get use to the side motion, but it provided a comfortable ride to my room. My room was good sized, clean and boasted a large over-sized shower (no bathtub) two queen-sized beds (one king-sized bed rooms are available) and even high speed Internet access. The only complaint I had was the mattresses seemed like 10,000 Egyptians used it before I got there - a little warn and uncomfortable for me.

The Luxor boasts the normal Las Vegas casino, but also has a wonderful variety of other entertainment options. The “Curls Gone Wild” show by Carrot Top is a must see show of wacky prop and original twisted humor. “Fantasy” is a seductive topless adult dance review that features the best showgirls, according to a Las Vegas Review Journal poll, live singers, and comedy. You can even enjoy the “3 Redneck Tenors” as they mix Beethoven, Nascar and lite beer. The Luxor is also home of an amazing IMAX theater that offers amazing picture and sound.

The nightlife at the Luxor is hip, happenin’ and always hoppin’. The LAX Nightclub offers club goers a state of the art VIP experience. Visit the Noir bar while in the LAX to enjoy the latest cocktails and bold concoctions. The Cathouse combines a world-class dining experience with intimate lingerie performers enticing participation from the crowd. Liquidity is at the center of the Luxor and features interactive project screens of water, while you enjoy the energized music mix.

Overall, the Luxor is a great Vegas experience. Nice beds, great atmosphere, and world-class entertainment. The hotel seems to favor the “younger” energy-driven crowd and leaves the “dead-beats” for the others.

Carefreetrip.com gives the Luxor Hotel and Casino out of 5 suitcases.

Ko Olina Golf Course is located on the sunny western side of Oahu in the ocean front Ko Olina Resort, which is a short drive from Honolulu and Waikiki beach. The 18-Hole championship golf course was design by Ted Robinson and provides amazing water features, multi-tiered greens greens, elevated tees and no (I will repeat that), NO parallel fairways. The par-72 course measures a long 6,867 yards from the back tees.

The signature hole is the par-3, 12th hole that has an elevated tee box that sits on a rock garden with a cascading waterfall. If that isn’t enough, the 18th has seven pools that begin on the right side of the fairway and slope down towards the lake. There is a beautiful waterfall on the left side of the elevated green.

Ko Olina has been listed in Golf Digest’s “Top 75 Resort Courses in the U.S.” and was the former host of the Senior PGA and LPGA (Hawaiian Ladies Open, Fields Open in Hawaii). This is a must play course when you visit Oahu that boasts an excellent pro shop. The GPS system with the course map, yardage and pro tips help a lot - especially if you have never played the course before.

Carefreetrip.com gives the Ko Olina Golf Course out of 5 suitcases.

Individual countries have their own standards of accessibility for disabled travelers. Some countries have nondiscrimination laws that help to protect travelers with disabilities, while other countries do not. Preparation before you go can help ensure that your planned destination will be accessible, safe and enjoyable.

Travelers with disabilities should review the Department of Transportation pamphlets New Horizons for the Air Traveler with a Disability and Plane Talk: Facts for Passengers With Disabilities . Both of these publications are available at the Department of Transportation’s website http://www.dot.gov. In addition, travelers with disabilities should review the information contained in the section above entitled Planning Your Trip: Learn About the Places You Will Visit, consider the following tips, and discuss the trip with a physician:

• Research in advance: Learn about planned stops and ask questions about services available. Consider the level of health care available, as well as local transportation needs to and from the airport, luggage assistance, and whether other help will be needed to leave the airport terminal. When making reservations, inform the travel agent or carrier of your disability and the equipment you use, and, if necessary, request a wheelchair be brought to the gate upon arrival and any other assistance needed while flying and at the airport. In all cases, ask that your needs and requests be documented as part of the reservation, and take down the name of the agent. That way, if there is a problem, you may be able to quickly show that you are entitled to the service you requested.
• Seek medical advice: Talk to your physician about the activities you have planned and your general physical condition, any immunizations that might be needed, and medications, whether prescription or over the counter, that you might need for your trip. Carry a letter from your attending physician, describing your medical condition and any prescription medications, including the generic names of prescribed drugs.
• Your medications: If you take prescription medication, make sure you have enough to last the duration of the trip, including extra medicine in case you are delayed. Pack your medication in your carry-on bag, since checked baggage is occasionally lost. Always carry your prescriptions in their labeled containers, not in a pill pack.
• Documentation of immunizations: Take with you proper documentation of immunizations.
• Health and Evacuation Insurance: Make sure you have adequate health insurance coverage while abroad, including coverage of medical evacuation (not covered by most domestic policies). Note that U.S. Medicare and Medicaid programs do not provide payment for medical services outside the United States.
• Service dogs: Some countries have restrictions on service dogs. If you intend to travel with a service dog, be sure to check on possible restrictions with the embassy or consulate of each country you will visit. (This and other country information may be found on each country’s Country Specific Information at http://travel.state.gov). If service dogs are permitted, learn about quarantine or vaccination requirements. Find out what documents are needed, including international health certificates and rabies inoculation certificates, and if the documents need to be translated. Talk with your vet about tips for traveling with a dog, and how travel will affect the animal. You may also want to ensure that hotels will accommodate your service dog, and that there will be an adequate area for the dog to relieve itself.
• Maintenance on equipment: Have a maintenance check done on any equipment you will take with you, to ensure that everything is in working order before you leave. You may want to research the availability of wheelchair and medical equipment providers in the areas you plan to visit.
• Carry written plans: Carry with you your written itinerary and directions of where you wish to go. These can be shown to people who might be able to help you if you are lost. Another useful tool is a point-and-conversation guide.

Mystère at Treasure Island Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas is classic Cirque du Soleil, combining the powerful athleticism, high-energy acrobatics and inspiring imagery that has become the company’s hallmark. The unusual creatures in a magical world keep your senses buzzing from the start as they perform traditional circus acts Cirque du Soleil style. What really sets this show apart is the magical combination of color, humor and audience involvement.

Before the show even begins, the audience is treated to a wonderful interaction with a clown who wonders throughout the audience showing people to their wrong seats and provides a masterful use of prop humor provided by the audience (like popcorn). This is a hint to everyone who goes to the show - do not give the clown your popcorn. This wonderful interaction continues throughout the show.

Mystère invites you into a wonderful world with the beat of a Japanese Taiko Drum. These amazing perfomers show strength, agility, skill and flexability at the highest level. Some of the acts include the Aerial Cube, the Korean Plank, Chinese Poles (amazing strength and power), and a hand-to-hand routine by two brothers that is incredible! There is also a baby (clown), played wonderfully, that keeps the crowd guessing where she will turn up next.

The music, performed by a live band, energizes the show from the start. It provides an exotic tone to an acoustically rich theater. Then there is the color - brilliant is an understatement! The sets, the clothes even the make-up.

Mystère has been honored eight tims as “Best Production Show” by the Las Vegas Review-Journal. The Chicago Tribune called Mystère, “one of the most innovative and exciting shows to be seen anywhere”. We agree! Mystère is a must see when in Las Vegas!

Carefreetrip.com gives Mystère out of 5 suitcases. Go see this show!

The U.S. State Department provides these tips when you travel abroad -

• Register so the State Department can better assist you in an emergency: Register your travel plans with the State Department through a free online service here. This will help us contact you if there is a family emergency in the U.S., or if there is a crisis where you are traveling. In accordance with the Privacy Act, information on your welfare and whereabouts will not be released to others without your express authorization.
• Sign passport, and fill in the emergency information: Make sure you have a signed, valid passport, and a visa, if required, and fill in the emergency information page of your passport.
• Leave copies of itinerary and passport data page: Leave copies of your itinerary, passport data page and visas with family or friends, so you can be contacted in case of an emergency.
• Check your overseas medical insurance coverage: Ask your medical insurance company if your policy applies overseas, and if it covers emergency expenses such as medical evacuation. If it does not, consider supplemental insurance.
• Familiarize yourself with local conditions and laws: While in a foreign country, you are subject to its laws. The State Department web site at http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1765.html has useful safety and other information about the countries you will visit.
• Take precautions to avoid being a target of crime: To avoid being a target of crime, do not wear conspicuous clothing or jewelry and do not carry excessive amounts of money. Also, do not leave unattended luggage in public areas and do not accept packages from strangers.
• Contact us in an emergency: Consular personnel at U.S. Embassies and Consulates abroad and in the U.S. are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to provide emergency assistance to U.S. citizens. Contact information for U.S. Embassies and Consulates appears on the Bureau of Consular Affairs website at http://travel.state.gov. Also note that the Office of Overseas Citizen Services in the State Department’s Bureau of Consular Affairs may be reached for assistance with emergencies at 1-888-407-4747, if calling from the U.S. or Canada, or 202-501-4444, if calling from overseas.

Le Rêve is the highly anticipated signature show at the all Wynn Las Vegas. Created by internationally acclaimed director Franco Dragone (Celine Dion’s A New Day, ‘O’, Mystere), Le Rêve (French for the dream) takes place in the spectacular aquatic in-the-round dome theater conceptualized by Dragone himself.

The story begins with a man and a women who are parting ways for the evening. The women lays down for bed and begins to have a series of dreams. She becomes the main character that ties all of the torrid, imaginative dreams together.

The performers in this show are amazing - to say the least. They drop from several stories in the air into the pool, they perform very difficult twists and flips, and they perform acrobatics that would make you cringe when they were on dry land let alone wet! The stage and set are amazing as well. As you watch the performers the stage is constantly moving making the water change location and flow. There are several times you don’t realize the stage has moved and they dive right in! The choreography keeps you entertained even when the story (dream) is hard to follow. This show has everything you would expect from a Las Vegas show - acrobatics, special effects and artistry.

This is a great show for those who love water and water acrobatics. The artistry is very entertaining and draws you in to the dreams.

Carefreetrip.com gives Le Rêve out of 5 suitcases.