To Book or Not to Book Shore Excursions

       The Savvyseafarer’s Pros and Cons of Shore Excursions

         (Please checkout www.savvyseafarer.wordpress.com)          

Seeing the world by cruise ships is the most seamless way to go. You can visit dozens of different islands or cities without the hassle of repacking and boarding countless airplanes. And to make it more convenient (and add to corporate profits) cruise line offered a variety of organized shore excursions for an additional fee.  

     But to book a shore excursion or head off on your own, that is the question. The answer banks on our budget, inclinations and tolerance for potentially long lines, crowded busses and sometimes excruciatingly long shopping stops.  

Port tours vary in price depending on cruise line and can run you anywhere from $50 and up a person for a simple snorkel or walking excursion to well over $100 each for such higher-priced options as golf, helicopter rides, seaplane rides and visits to ancient ruins. Some lines even offer overnight excursions to city hotel or private limousine tours that can run $400 a person and up.      

       

The bottom line is shore excursions are worth it if you want to venture to attractions located far from the pier, have easy access to historic monuments, forts, castles and learn more about an area.  However if all you want to do is walk around a city or town, shop or go to a beach it could be much cheaper and less time consuming to get a map and go it on your own. For instance: In most Caribbean ports shops and even some attractions are a stone’s throw from the ship, but good beaches are a cab ride away. (Although it still might be less expensive to hail a taxi to the beach than participate in tour).  In St. Barths, one of the best beaches, Shell Beach, is just a stroll from the pier and the island is pretty maneuverable on foot.

In big cities it makes better sense to pop for a tour. It is also wiser to take a shore excursion in any Third World country or foreign port where language and customs present a barrier.  For example in Brunei you would definitely want to take the guided tour to sites such as the biggest mosque in Asia– Omar Ali Saifuddin Mosque. You’d probably never find it on your own or much less pronounce the name correctly. And without guidance may not be aware that local custom mandates covering your body from head toe in long pants, long skirt, and long sleeves.  More than one cruise passenger has appeared scantily clad at the mosque steps. Fortunately the locals are used to this and have robes available to drape over visitors). 

Of course whether on your own or in an organized group you should dress properly where touring.

Locals operate most port tours and cruise lines are pretty much at their mercy. This can be a good thing or a bad in the case of a recent visit to Costa Rica. We were booked on a rain forest trek. Our giddy young female tour operators kept warning us that since it was late in the morning we may not spot any denizens in the area. “We don’t why they send you so late,” they moaned, “the animals are only around in the early morning.” Well one reason it was late was the ship doesn’t arrive any earlier. Which the cruise line should have thought about before adding this tour to the program. Well not only didn’t we see any creatures of the woods, we pretty much didn’t see anything but millions of ants. A spectacle that seemed to fascinate our guide who made us stop for a seeming eternity to watch them cross our path. Needless to say there were many complaints. Not the least of which was about the non-stop blabbing of our guidettes. Which may have been a good thing had it been interesting. It wasn’t.

Shore excursion comfort factors vary from ship to ship. Princess Cruises’ New Waves snorkel and scuba trips can’t be beat. Crystal Cruises, Silversea Cruises, Seabourn and Radisson Seven Seas also run a tight ship with handpicked tours that usually run smoothly. 

Alas too many tours translate into lengthy bus rides, and too much time in souvenir shops. Following a long, hot, but worthwhile tour of the Acropolis outside of Athens, passengers who thought they were being driven directly back to their ship were squirreled into a tacky little shop belonging to the tour guide’s brother-in-law. 

The best way to decide on a shore excursion is by reading the brochure thoroughly. Keep a look out for red flags such as:  “once there you will have two hours to swim, snorkel, beach comb or just relax.”  Now while that doesn’t sound so bad, we’re talking a 6-hour tour that includes two hours on a catamaran.  And while champagne and drinks may be proffered (usually bad bubbly besides) do you really want to spend four hours on a boat after being on a ship! Maybe you do.  But think about it. The length of the tour is always noted in the brochure deduct time spent getting there to time available once at your destination to decide if this is a good thing or not. For some reason unknown to this seafarer, shore excursions have gotten longer. On a recent cruise it was difficult to find any less than 5 hours long.  A couple of hours in a cat or sailboat may not to be tough duty; the same amount of time in a bus may not be that pleasant.

Shore excursion managers  are eager to please , answer  questions and of course book business.  So  be sure to discuss the excursion in detail  before you plunk down your dough. Some tours involve strenuous treks in hot, humid climes. Cruise lines are quick o point this out to avoid liability or problems. Be sure to pick tours that you can handle physically.

One final caveat:  the bigger the  ship, the faster shore excursions sell out, so if you still want to take an organized tour, don’t delay, book it soon after you embark or on line if the cruise line permits.

It’s also a good idea to get your hands on a few good guidebooks to learn about  the ports of calls  you’ll be visiting or surf the web.

Merry Christmas To All and To All a Prosperous New Year

MERRY CHRISTMAS

AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL MY READERS, THANK YOU FOR YOUR LOYAL FOLLOWING. I HOPE YOU  ENJOYED LAST YEAR’S ENTRIES AND CONTINUE TO COME BACK FOR MORE DIVAONTHEGO REPORTS. LET US ALL PRAY FOR JOY, PEACE AND MORE LOVE IN THE WORLD; THAT  2009  PROVES TO BE A BETTER YEAR FOR EVERYONE AND THAT OUR TROOPS COME HOME SOON, OBAMA BAILS US OUT AND WE  ALL CONTINUE TO LIVE HAPPILY EVER AFTER.

PATTI PIETSCHMANN, THE DIVAONTHEGO

The Diva Does Palm Springs

Your divaonthego heads to the Springs next week to report on two hot properties, Colony Palms and Riviera Resort & Spa. Both boast great spas and restaurants I’m told and I’m tasting the fare and sampling the rubs and will report back. You can also read about Palm Springs and the entire greater Los Angeles metropolitan area in my latest edition of ACCESS Los Angeles, published  by Harper Collins. The nifty guide created by Richard Saul Wurman escorts readers from downtown Los Angeles through the burbs and hoods to Orange County, Catalina and beyond. It’s the 13th edition and your divaonthego is the writer/updater of record as she’s been for several past editions. Get a copy at www.harpercollins.com or www.amazon.com.

The Diva Does the Ruby Princess

Okay I’m back and you can read all about my experiences at www.thesavvyseafarer.wordpress.com. It was great fun, the Ruby Princess is a knockout and well you just have to read about it.Your divaonthego is heading to Fort Lauderdale to have a first look at the spanking new Ruby Princess, please check out my savvyseafarer post on wordpress for more cruise news.  And come back next week for all the details. I’ll be joining fellow journalists and assorted industry folk on a two day cruise to nowhere after a festive christening ceremony. I love these sneak previews and can’t wait to tell you all about it.

And it’s not just another “Love Boat”– 

Princess Cruises chose youngsters  Trista and Ryan Sutter to name the Ruby Princess. The couple who met on ABC’s hit reality series, The Bachelorette, the most romantic franchise on TV since the Love Boat, mark their fifth wedding anniversary this fall. The Ruby’s inaugural theme centers  around “romantic moments and milestones.”

According to Princess Cruises:  Trista and Ryan, one of the best-known romantic duos in recent broadcast history, are the first and only couple from the The Bachelor and Bachelorette franchises who have actually gotten married.  The Sutters also recently celebrated the first birthday of their son, Max.

“Princess Cruises has long stood for romance and reconnection, and so we’re delighted to have Trista and Ryan christen Ruby Princess as they celebrate their fifth wedding anniversary,” said Jan Swartz, senior vice president for Princess Cruises.  “While slightly unconventional, their courtship and marriage was exciting to watch as it unfolded, and we think their fascinating love story epitomizes our inaugural theme of celebrating romantic moments and milestones.”

Trista and Ryan Sutter met in 2002, when she was America’s first Bachelorette.  The Bachelor and The Bachelorette on ABC-TV were the first and are still the most popular reality dating shows in which one man or woman searches for their soul mate out of 25 potential suitors.  Over the course of the show, the bachelorette bestows roses on those bachelors she wishes to continue dating.  Trista presented Ryan with her final rose and he then proposed on the show’s finale in November 2002.  The couple wed on December 6, 2003 in an elaborate television ceremony watched by 26 million viewers, making it one of the most widely viewed episodes in the history of reality TV and one of ABC’s top rated shows of the year.  After their highly visible courtship, Trista and Ryan moved to Vail, CO, where they currently reside with their son, Max.  In addition to frequent TV interviews and promotional appearances, he is a firefighter and she is a stay-at-home mom and designer for her new diaper bag line, Trista Baby.

“We’re incredibly honored to be invited to be the godparents of Ruby Princess,” said Trista Sutter.  “It’s hard to believe that it’s been five years since we got married.  This is a wonderful way to celebrate our wedding anniversary, and also to remind people about the importance of marking not only the key milestones in a relationship, but also making time to incorporate romance into our everyday lives.  We are so excited to be part of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!”

The 3,070-passenger Ruby Princess includes a dramatic piazza-style atrium featuring small-bite eateries and an ever-changing array of performing street entertainers.  Passengers will also enjoy Princess’ other array of dining venues including the signature Sabatini’s Italian trattoria and the Crown Grill steak and seafood restaurant, plus a relaxing oasis just for adults called The Sanctuary.

The new cruise ship will also offer the many other innovations that define the Princess experience, including the popular Movies Under the Stars poolside movie screen, Personal Choice Dining featuring traditional or Anytime seating, multiple entertainment venues, a relaxing Asian-style Lotus Spa with fitness center, an extensive children and teen’s center, a wedding chapel and nearly 900 staterooms with private balconies — perfect for enjoying a scenic Caribbean islands cruise.

During Ruby Princess’ inaugural season she will make seven-day weekly sailings from Fort Lauderdale, FL to the Western Caribbean.  Calls include Ocho Rios, Jamaica; Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands; Cozumel, Mexico and Princess Cays in the Bahamas.  Next spring the ship will move to Europe for 12-day sailings in the Mediterranean and Greek Islands.

 

 Some updates on the Ruby Princess–

New services: pub lunch, exclusive breakfast for suite passengers, enrichment programs from astronomy to mixology, two new stage shows, expanded wireless Internet and cell phone connectivity.

 

ve christening ceremony. I love these sneak previews and can’t wait to tell you all about it.

“The new features aboard Ruby Princess are a perfect example of our commitment to provide passengers with the widest array of intriguing options to customize their cruise vacation,” said Jan Swartz, Princess senior vice president.

Many of the ship’s enhancements are slated to become staples across the Princess fleet following their debut on Princess’ newest ship.  Among the new features being introduced on Ruby Princess:

Wheelhouse Bar Pub Lunch – On sea days, Ruby Princess’ Wheelhouse Bar will be transformed into an authentic English-style pub, serving a selection of traditional fare.  A menu of British favorites, including bangers & mash, fish & chips, ploughman’s lunch and cottage pie, will complement a selection of traditional pub brews such as Stella Artois, Bass Ale or Guinness.  Pub lunch meal service is free of charge and will run from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Sabatini’s Breakfast for Suite Passengers – Suite passengers aboard Ruby Princess will have the opportunity to enjoy an exclusive breakfast in Sabatini’s.  Beginning with a “Good Morning Mimosa,” the menu features a variety of breakfast favorites, plus specialty items such as brioche French toast with apple & cinnamon compote, yogurt and super granola parfait with raspberry swirl, soft-poached egg over potato & vegetables with hollandaise sauce, and freshly made Belgian waffles.  Suite passengers can enjoy this new amenity, along with the restaurant’s dramatic top-of-ship views, from approximately 7:30 to 10:30 a.m.

Artisan Cheeses at Vines – In addition to serving more than 30 wines by the glass and seafood appetizers that have made Vines a passenger favorite, the atrium-area bar on Ruby Princess will now feature a selection of domestic and imported artisan cheeses.  Twelve varieties – including unique choices such as boschetto al tartufo bianchetto, reblochon, and cambozola – will be featured each day for a nominal fee.  Vines will also host a series of lively events where passengers can meet members of the ship’s staff, and will continue to offer wine flights and parings.

New Enrichment Programs – A number of new ScholarShip@Sea enrichment programs debut aboard Ruby Princess to expand passengers’ horizons, whether they aspire to host the perfect party or increase their maritime knowledge.  The Art of Entertaining offers passengers the opportunity to learn party-planning tips from lifestyle expert Susie Coelho via a multimedia presentation hosted by the cruise director.  Navigation@Sea focuses on the history of navigation as well as the complexities of plotting the route of a modern cruise ship, with a presentation by the ship’s navigator.  Mixology@Sea lets passengers channel their inner bartender with a hands-on course taught by the ship’s bar manager.  For star gazers, the new Astronomy@Sea program provides passengers with the opportunity to explore the night sky through a telescope on the top deck, with the expert guidance of a ship’s bridge officer.  Developed in conjunction with Dr. Thomai Serdari, Professor of Art History and Director of Research Collections for New York University, Art History@Sea: Botticelli to Warhol, The Evolution of Art makes 500 years of art come to life with a special hour-long presentation.

Two New Production Shows – Ruby Princess audiences will be able to enjoy two new Princess-produced shows in the ship’s theater.  “Broadway Ballroom” presents the music of the ‘Great White Way’ with a ballroom flair, pairing the songs of hit musicals with dance numbers ranging from foxtrot to rumba.  The show also features the talents of a costume designer and choreographer from the TV hit “Dancing with the Stars.”  Meanwhile, “Once Upon a Dream” uses unique multidimensional cinematic projection to follow a dreamscape unlike anything seen a sea.  The audience will accompany a young woman’s journey as she dreams of everything from a tea party in an English garden to singing camels in the desert, and even a trip through a waterfall and brief nightmare before waking to a new day.

The Audience Gets in the Act – A variety of new audience-participation events will also debut on the ship, giving passengers a number of ways to seek their 15 minutes of fame.  Karaoke fans can go a bit farther with Love Boat Legends, where they are actually transformed into a famous artist of the past.  So You Wanna Be A Rock Star? moves beyond pre-recorded Karaoke tunes to give audience members the opportunity to rock out with a live band on stage.  Oceans of Talent puts passenger talent center stage – whether they play a musical instrument or want to try out their comedic timing.  The Wake Up Show takes Princess’ popular morning show with the cruise director to a new level with an irreverent talk show format, live band, special guests and an opportunity for passengers to join the “studio” audience, as the show is taped in the evening before its broadcast the next morning.

A Few Fine Touches – A number of new service touches will be introduced to delight passengers.  In the Horizon Court buffet, new waffle stations will offer fresh cooked-to-order waffles at breakfast and throughout lunchtime, and the buffet will also begin serving complimentary lemonade as a beverage choice.  In the evening, passengers will find a selection of canapés in several of the ship’s public lounges.  Passengers arriving back from shore will be greeted with chilled face cloths, and by the pool, “misting stewards” will offer a quick refreshing spritz with Evian to cool off.

Kid Stuff – Young passengers can enjoy a new Wizards Academy, an exclusive presentation from the award-winning California Science Center. This enriching new program lets children explore the connection between science and magic in a fun and participative environment.  Kids will also enjoy activities and projects from popular arts and crafts company Klutz, or participate in Yoga for Kids, a healthy and fun course designed specifically for children.

Wireless Internet and Cell Phones – Expanding on Princess’ Internet and phone connectivity, Ruby Princess will offer laptop users additional wireless hotspots around the vessel, including staterooms.  The ship will also be equipped so that passengers can use their personal cellular phones, if they have international roaming plans, while onboard.

Ultimate Ship Tour – A new exclusive opportunity to experience an array of “back of house” areas that are key to a ship’s daily operations, the Ultimate Ship Tour will give passengers the unique opportunity to explore beyond the public areas with visits to the ship’s engine control room, medical center, print shop, laundry, photo lab, funnel, bridge and other spaces.  In addition to getting a rare insider’s view of many areas typically seen only by the ship’s crew, participants will receive a variety of themed mementos at many of the stops along the route.

Ruby Princess also includes a dramatic piazza-style atrium featuring small-bite eateries and an ever-changing array of performing street entertainers, Princess’ signature adults-only oasis called The Sanctuary, Sabatini’s Italian restaurant, Crown Grill seafood and steak house, “Movies Under the Stars” giant outdoor movie screen, and Hearts and Minds wedding chapel.  The ship will feature an inaugural season of Western Caribbean cruises roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale, followed by a program of Mediterranean voyages in summer 2009.

1-800-PRINCESS, www.princess.com.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Diva’s Day at New York’s Galaxy Day Spa’s Will Rhim

The Galaxy Day Spa ranks as New York’s Sexiest Sanctuary at  least for Linda Covello, jet setting, world famous photographer who succumbs to its salubrious allure regularly and can’t get enough of Will Rhim’s masterful massages…..

Nestled in the heart of New York City’s Flatiron District– steps from the intensity of a burgeoning neighborhood– but a galaxy away from the hustle and bustle, Galaxy Day Spa provides a sanctuary of sanity.

While the little charmer offers the gamut of day spa treatments, Linda says she’s hooked on  Will Rhim’s masterful massages.

Photo by Linda Covello, Linda Covello Photography, www.lindacovellophotography.com (check out her awesome web site)

Galaxy’s in-house therapist Rhim’s rubs turn this  fast lane lady whose high pressure photographic career and globe- trotting keep her moving non-stop. Like yours truly, Linda is a slave to massages and has had her share throughout the country and the world—from the Queen Mary2 to Hong Kong, Bora Bora, Paris, London Val D’Isere and beyond. She ranks Rhim right up there among the top. “He’s a lithe, quiet and serious man who performs massage therapy as a sacred art,” she sighs. “He even sets the mood with dim, candle lighting and unobtrusive music, even orchids place in beautiful bowl.

Linda Covello’s Sensuous Galaxy Scenario:

She lays face down inhaling aromatherapy oils :tea tree oil or lavender that clear her and relax her senses. Will’s strong hands grip the soles of her feet and slowing inch up her legs, warming her muscles and relieving all tension. Linda temporarily leaves this earth for nether land.    You feel his concern and mastery in the alternately tender and firm touch of his strong fingers and palms.  He has great strength and he applies pressure as if he is communing with your anatomy and knows precisely how much can be withstood.  His massage never feels too light or too hard.  It is always just right.  He stretches the legs and arms, twists limbs firmly yet gently, rotating the lower spine with so accurate a precision that my poor, wasted L5 disc feels warm and relieved in a way that no chiropractor has yet managed to achieve for me.  I let myself go into his care completely, my limbs totally limp and given over to Will’s ministrations.  For ninety minutes I experience and out of body transcendence and when I finally open my eyes and sit up.  I am flush with warmth of mind and body.  I leave the room a new woman, a warrior relieve of all tension and anxiety. Rambo turned to mush.

Patti’s Prattling:

My east coast readers or anyone planning a trip to NY and want a great massage should plan to book a session with this master masseur. It’s not easy finding a great massage therapist when you travel—take it from me, I know I’ve had the best of rubs and the worst. So it help when someone like Linda makes such a strong recommendation. And for any skeptics out there, she pays for her treatments. Although one would hope Will would toss her a freebie after reading her glowing review

Galaxy Day Spa, www.galaxydayspa.com, 7 West 25th Street, NY 10010, 646-429-9542

Specialty facials using  Biodroga and Essensa;  manicures and pedicures that are rendered with care and expertise.  The Deluxe Spa Pedicure, an intensive treatment which combines far eastern massage with aromatic exfoliation, left my calloused heels soft as velvet, not a simple task on worn out feet that had just walked the streets of Venice for days in flip flops.

www.galaxydayspa.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Your Ultimate Guide to Outside the Box Christmas Gifts

 Check out my posts to find really nifty gifts. Also online at Patti’s Prattles on AOL.

Sunday Brunch at On Sunset

Must tell you about a great find, a delightful Sunday brunch at On Sunset at the Luxe Hotel. Met a friend there today who wanted to go somewhere in that vicinity. I picked the place out of my ACCESS Los Angeles Guide — I’d been there of course for dinner, but had no idea how great the brunch setting would be. We sat outside under a shady awning in big comfy chairs. White table cloths and napkins, nice silverware and china and a truly accommodating wait staff. The pretty patio has a gentle waterfall down one wall and looks out into the hotel’s yard. There was a trio playing soft music and really it couldn’t be nicer, especially the tab, only$29 a person for a choice of  any of 12 items, champagne or Mimosa, fresh oj, breads, rolls, danishes, desserts (had the cheesecake, yummmy). All good, I had an eggwhite omelette with asparagus, mushrooms and mozzarella that was perfectly prepared. Hubby devoured the seared Ahi tuna Nicoise salad, which he said was wonderful. Our friend Glenn opted for the seared Atlantic salmon on a Greek salad, he cleaned his plate. If all that wasn’t enough they even brought a basket of flaky croissants to the table. Other brunch options includeed multigrain Belgain waffles, Mascarpone-leek quiche; lobster cavair hash (tempting but we didn’t do it), smoked salmon, eggs Benedict. Again it’s only $29, $24 for seniors and $12 for kids under 12.  On Sunset at the Luxe Hotel, 11461 Sunset Blvd., LA, 310-476-6571. www.luxehotels.com. Tell them the Dining Diva sent  you.

The Ultimate Guide to Great Gifts

Patti’s  Annual Holiday Guide To Nifty, Outside the Box Gift Ideas

The weather outside may be sizzling, especially if you live in the east, but it’s never too early to start shopping for Christmas and just thinking about Yule time can make you feel cooler. FYI:  most of these products come from ideas pitched to me by savvy public relations people who understand that this guide is about exciting, interesting gifts, outside the usual box type items (with a couple of exceptions). Anyhow, one company told me about a personalized baseball bat. Well being an avid Yankee fan and having hit a few balls in my time, I was very excited about it and ordered a bat. It came and dudes and dudettes, it’s soooooo cool. It’s a numbered 125 Louisville Slugger powerized bat with my full name on it along with a Yankee logo. I mean is this a great gift or what. Any baseball enthusiast on your list will love this, male or female,young or old. I’m going to take a photo of us and post it soon. It’s only $57 to $87 at www.sluggergifts.com. And for other sports fans: FantasyFootballSherpa.com  provides data-driven, customized advice to fantasy football enthusiasts where league participantsget the gift of winning in their leagues, earning bragging rights. $29.95 a www.FantasyFootballSherpa.com

I found the perfect one-stop on line shopping site, www.cafepress.com. Just received a few things I ordered and am very happy. Got a nifty Jr. Hoodie; a cool t-shirt with a man’s shirt and tie on t he front and  a pair of thong undies. There’s lots more on the hip site like mugs, buttons, posters and baby things. Try it you’ll like it and the prices are right, too. For the videophile/camera buff/UTuber–Run out now and get the latest Mino FlipVideo, this skeek little number may sell out fast. Just got mine and it’s vido-sensational. So easy to use, foolproof, quick transfer to PC, Internet,email and so sexy-looking. Retails for about $179 but the results are priceless. Remember I warned you, get yours now for Christmas  gifts or yourself.

Novel Photo Ops–well here’s a novel idea, the 5second slide&store frames designed for folks who love to line their walls with family and friends’ pictures. It’s pretty cool with a special pouch on the back where photos can be stored and then changed at various intervals–like when you break up with you partner LOL–or have a family feud LOL–or actually just want to look a different person or scenery. 5second frames hit the market in October 2008 so look for the product at major retailers or go on line to www.5second.com

 

 

For your gardening pals–fashionista gloves from Ethel that make them look chic while they plant, dig and clean the yard. Perfect for toting the Christmas tree in and out and for working with thorny plants. Believe me, they are really cool and only $18 at www.ethelgloves.com

 

Wine ‘em  and dine ‘em– Napa Valley Kitchen — give a set of select Napa Valley wines alongside two delectable cooking rubs and a HALL Flour Sack Tea Towel. The fruit-driven 2005 NAPA VALLEY CABERNET SAUVIGNON with notesof ripe blackberry and cassis and the 2007 NAPA VALLEY SAUVIGNON BLANC comes packaged in a festive red gift box alongside Tulocay’s “Made in Napa Valley” Asian Accents Herb Rub and Mexican Fiesta Rub. $84

Absinthe makes the heart grow fonder, and Pernod Absinthe is just the gift to give this year. For single malt lovers  The Glenlivet XXV is just the right drink–smooth, rich and delicious and expensive at $350 for a batch numbered botle. www.theglenlivet.com/XXV.

For gym rats

 

– Wordlocks that use actual words  in lieu of numbers and they look cool, too. One size fits all, too, so you can scratch several people off your list at one time by ordering from: Amazon.com, Target, Walgreens, Sears, or Kmart’s, or check out Wordlock’s Web site at www.wordlock.com. Words are easier to see and more fun to program from and

they make cool stocking stuffers and are available in a range of colors.

 

 

Novelties– Okay this is just the thing to bring a smile on Christmas morning, a Johnny-Light that actually lights up  with a green glow the toilet bowl at night when the seat is up and turns off when it’s down. Perfect for the hit or missers on your list or mom’s who are potty training, single woman whose boyfriend  never puts the seat back down . . . or a working gal who shares a unisex bathroom at the office might all appreciate a Johnny Light (the “teaching” night light).    www.johnny-light.com, check out the online video while you’re there. Costs just about $15 with postage, get a bunch for all the guys on your list.

Jet Setters will love mysmartpac personal care carry-on kit that comes with toothpaste, face cleanser,deodorant, razor,  hair gel, body lotion and an approved plastic zip top bag. There’s about a 3-4 day supply and it’s much easier than measuring out each cosmetic to pass the security requirements. www.mysmartpac.com 

They might also like a Full Spectrum Solutions Dawn Simulator that mimics sunrise and sunset  that helps travelers adjust easier in new time zones. It  wakes you quietly without abruptly interrupting sleep and comes with a large backlit LCD display with tthe year, month, date, day and time, MP3 Player; optionalalarm, sound soother and is programmable from 10 to 90 minutes on a 7 day program schedule.

 

For tyke-coons–for those little tykes exhibiting tycoon-like traits, the Money Manger Kit for ages 4-7 is just the thing.  The interactive toy offers a 7-step program to teach youngsters the basics of money and increase financial skills. Talk about a Yuppy gift. Anyhow it comes with three books, calculation, posters,job charts and a 3-part bank showing how to save, spend and share. I think today’s tykes know how to spend. Check it out at www.tessyandtab.com/money

 

 

For the baseball fan–I’m a big time Yankee fan and never miss a televised game so I love the idea of giving a personalized Louisville Slugger baseball bat as a gift.  I just ordered one for myself with my name on it of course. www.sluggergifts.com

 

Techno gadgets–The shelves are alive this holiday season with all sorts of techno gadgets for your tech-savvy friends and relatives. Just got the hot new 

SanDisk Mobile Ultra high-performance card and it’s amazing. The tiny 2 GB flash drive  provides  accelerated transfer rates of digital files to and from  mobile memory cards and computers.  It downloads videos, photos, games in a literal ‘flash and increases storage in mobile phones. Perfect for amatuer videographers, it enables fast file transfers to websites, PCs or where ever they want to send them. It’s a must have for gift-giving or personal use.

 

Tags: Great gift ideas;personalized Louisville slugger baseball bats, cookies, wine, gloves

ppietschma at 3:08:22 PM EDT Permalink | Blog about this entry |  Add to del.icio.us |  digg this

This entry has 0 comments: Add your own

 

 

How I Spent my Summer Staycation

Staycations Rock

Staycations Rock

 

My husband Richard & I did something different this summer. We stayed home and loved it. Yup, we joined the staycation crowd. Never knew there was so much to do in our own backyard, as it were.  As travel writers we are usually in the air, on a ship, on the road or in a hotel–but not this summer. We are home, sweet home.  And the weather in Los Angeles has been more than accommodating. We are use our pool night and day and enjoy an adult beverage of two, like a zesty new drink called Limoncello

which I discovered. Man is it good. Also do some mighty fine tastings. Just had some friends over to open a  Jeroboam of Pine Ridge Chard which we’ve been saving for about 10 years–it was amazing. We also go hiking, biking, to the gym, and host house guests like our friends Bob and Jules Clampett from Seattle–actually they live on an island outside the Emerald City.  We are also using the time in town to sample new restaurants or return to favorites, go to the theater, and movies. We even treated the Clampetts to  Universal Studio on thespecial VIP tour–the only way to do the theme park. Yes, it’s pricey ($199 per person) but you get a personalized tour with just 12 or so other people in a private van and you get front of the line passes, and special entry to areas others are not allowed to go. They even throw in a great lunch, served on a rooftop and catered by Universal chefs, who actually show up for the affair. We did the new Simpson’s ride, it’s a thriller albeit simulated, based on the popular TV show of course. It’s a must do.

That’s the Clampett’s  at Universal.

 

We also go to the Hotel Bel-Air restaurant. regularly for dinner, took Bob & Jules there, too. Going there is almost like heading out of town. It’s like a little tropical sanctuary with a peaceful pond inhabited by white swans, lots of lush foliage, a great staff and delicious food created by chef Bruno, one of our favorites. We book a booth on the Terrace and usually get the same spot. www.hotelbelair.com.

Also tried some new restaurants like STK in West Hollywood, where the steaks are the best in the west–not kidding–served by gracious wait people in a stunning black and white setting. Loved it. Luckyfish, a fun Asian restaurant in Beverly Hills where food circles around on a track and you pick and choose as it passes your table. All good, too.

Returned to Locanda del Lago in Santa Monica after a long absence. It’s on the corner of Arizona and Third St. Promenade. They have a Monday-Friday antipasto buffet for only $12 that’s amazing. Took my niece for her birthday and we both did the spread. The imported (from Italy)dried beef stuffed with goat cheese was divine, as was the chickensalad, tomatoes, mushrooms, pastas etc.

Anyhow staycations are great. Let me know if you’ve done anything like this recently. Sure beats crowded airports and battling traffic.

That’s me, Patti, at the Hotel Bel-Air, Bob Clampett took the photo.

Tags: Hotel Bel-Air Restaurants; Universal VIP Tour; Seattle; Staycations; Limencello; fine wines

Tags:

Hotel Bel-Air offers Prix Fixe Menu for fuel-strapped diners

Okay, probably nobody who dines at the Hotel Bel-Air is strapped, however they are still attempting to help the economy with a $50 per person prix fixe menu Monday through Thursday that includes an appetizer, entree and dessert. Having just returned from a fab lunch on the Terrace (I had an outstanding Asian chicken salad, a couple of Chards, espresso and my favorite plate of cookies) with my good friend Vicky King (she had the Caesar salad with big, juicy shrimp). FYI: even the bread offerings here go outside the box, one can fill up fast however, so watch it, love the flat bread. The Hotel Bel-Air  is one  of my local favorites for special occasion sleep overs like anniversaries and birthdays, but I am also a regular at the restaurant. I love the  tropical, outdoor terrace when weather permits and the classic interior dining room on cool, rainy nights. I can honestly say the food’s sensational, and why not with super chef Bruno at the helm. The big, tall guy stopped by to say hello and I asked him about the new deal on meals. He said it was the right time to do this and I agree. So if you’re in LA or coming soon, be sure to plan a dinner at the Hotel Bel-Air, any night’s good, but if it’s Monday, Wednesday or Thursday you get three courses for nearly half-price.
Can’t beat that. Every night the hotel offers shared plate appetizers that is also a great deal.
Check it out at www.hotelbelair.com,  when you make your reservation be sure to tell them Patti Pietschmann, the Dining Diva, sent you. Bon appetit. Ciao.