September 26, 2018: The dreaded resort fee — paying for things you expect to be part of your daily room charge — are reaching new $$ highs around the US. Miami leads the way with one hotel’s daily resort fee now topping $160 A DAY — in Orlando, daily resort fees can be in excess of $80 — watch out for more of the same in Las Vegas, New York and Honolulu. Protest these fees when you check out — many times you can get them reduced or removed — don’t be bashful!
September 25, 2018: California hotels are now adding Cannabis to their room service and restaurant dining meal options — the somewhat historic and legendary Hollywood Roosevelt is one of the first to add pot to their food service offerings. Seems like a nice way to “light up” an otherwise boring hotel meal!
September 24, 2018: Airport security is in place to protect you — but might also make you sick? Where are the most germs looking for you at the airport — the heavily used and reused plastic trays used to collect laptops, shoes, coats, handbags, what ever as you pass through security check points — WORLDWIDE! These trays are “supposedly” scheduled for steam cleaning several times a year — but who’s keeping track? More than half of the luggage trays checked were found to have some type of virus — more than airport toilet seats.
September 21, 2018: A dozen passengers and 3 flight crew members found out what it was like to be pepper sprayed — a passenger carrying a can accidentally set it off during a recent flight from Oakland to Maui — the can discharged about 3 hours into the flight — the pepper spray somehow got through TSA and made it onto the flight. It’s illegal to bring pepper spray on flights — probably didn’t do much for the inflight meal either?
September 20, 2018: With more people traveling these days — and travelers needing more time at airports — upscale retailers are looking at this captive audience as a new market — a new survey showing travelers airport retail spending up more than 30%! US airports are still a long ways away from what European and Asian airports have done to enhance both the travel and retail-dining airport experience — and are doing more to make more of your travel dollars even before you board the plane!
September 19, 2018: A Starbucks Reserve Roastery (fancy name that offers the opportunity to watch coffee being roasted — and charge more) opened recently in Milan — and quickly became a “must see and experience” for Italians and tourists alike. The 30,000 sq.ft. US coffee emporium has numerous coffee stations — customers are given a physical map to guide them through the shop and more than 115 beverage selections. A simple cup of java will cost you about $6 US — with lines and service taking about an hour. Wonder if they’ll be serving their popular seasonal pumpkin spice latte?
September 18, 2018: Airplanes and hot air balloons dot the skyline these days at Sonoma County’s Charles Schulz Airport!
September 14, 2018: Star Alliance: THE WAY THE EARTH CONNECTS … 28 partner airlines serving over 1000 world wide destinations!
September 13, 2018: Yup — only in the US can you be greeted on the road with the world’s largest prairie dog statue when you motor through Cactus Flat, South Dakota; and don’t miss the world’s largest ketchup bottle as you travel through Collinsville, Il; and thank you Jimmy Carter fans for the 13 foot tall smiling peanut (with Jimmy Carter style teeth smiling at you) as you make your way through Plains, Georgia. Giant chickens, Vulcans and roadside rocket ships — KEEP AMERICA GREAT — with roadside fun!!!
