Simply Juicy Travel

A Travel Gift to Myself

Dear Simply Juicy Traveler,

I'm busy getting ready for a "girlfriend getaway" of my own.   My good friend Christine, an interior designer from Pelham, NY, was headed out to New Mexico for a few days and asked me to come along.   The student exchange program, for which she volunteers, is holding a conference in Santa Fe this Saturday and we thought it would be a perfect opportunity to have some fun.

A firm believer in the gift of travel, I decided take advantage of my April Birthday and request an advance on my birthday present.  My husband was kind enough to oblige, and offered to cover the home fires while I'm gone.

At this point in my life, there aren't many "things" that I want, but I'll jump at the chance to travel to a new destination.  I've reserved a convertible at the airport, where we'll leave for 2 nights each at wonderful properties in Santa Ana Pueblo and Santa Fe.

Will tell you all about it when I return.

All the Best,

Eileen

Check Out Our New Features

We've added a new feature to our blog.  Browse through some of our current specials and highlighted adventures under Discover Your Adventure! on the left-hand side of this blog. You won't be sorry!

Top "Family Friendly" Airports - International

When traveling out of the country, access to "Family Friendly" facilities become even more important. Because most international destinations require connections and earlier check-in, the likelihood of being stuck at a major hub increases. 

Stress and boredom can be eased at locations that welcome families. A continuation of yesterday's list, here are the top family-friendly international airports as ranked by ASTA members.

1. BAA Heathrow Airport (London)
2. Schiphol Airport (Amsterdam)
3. Frankfurt Airport
4. Gatwick Airport (London)
5. Changi Airport (Singapore)

With a pharmacy, a soft play area for kids 2-6 and educational game consoles, BAA Heathrow Airport came in 1st (24.6%).  Available for a fee is a family lounge with fantastic views of the runway, complimentary refreshments, magazines, as well as interactive toys and games. (Reservations suggested @ www.holideck.co.uk).  After eating at Garfunkel's, the on-site restaurant that carries a full children's menu, you and the kids can stop by the BAA Information desk for a complimentary coloring pack.

Taking 2nd place was Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport (18.4%), with designated play areas featuring slides, wagons, Legos, Nintendo and televisions showing cartoons. Located above one of the departure halls is a family restaurant named Touchdown (get it?) with a children's play area and a view of the runway.

Those with time to kill can enjoy a shower at the Hotel Mercure, for EUR 12.50 (including towels, soap and shampoo), on the first floor of

Lounge 3.

Frankfurt ranked third (8.3%) with its multiple play areas. If you expect to have a lengthy layover, arrange in advance experience their  airport mini-tour.

In 4th place, London's Gatwick Airport offers children several play areas and video arcades throughout the terminals. 

Rounding out the survey is Singapore's Changi Airport in 5th place. Their family zone includes nursing rooms, diaper-changing stations with washing areas, as well as a playpen for toddlers and a corner where parents and children can watch cartoons.

Top "Family Friendly" Airports - Domestic

Smart planners are finally considering their youngest patrons when designing airports.  Thought I'd pass on to you the results of a recent poll conducted by ASTA (the American Society of Travel Agents).  Members were asked to rate the most family friendly airports and here are the results:

Top "Family Friendly" Airports - Domestic

1. Orlando International Airport
2. Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport
3. Denver International Airport
4. Charlotte Douglas International Airport
5. Detroit Metro Airport
6. Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport

With almost half the votes (47%), Orlando International Airport was the domestic favorite.  Although Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport came in at a distant second (4.6%), it gets high marks for offering two play areas, complete with TV's and board games, as well as a dinosaur exhibit and children's art gallery.

Denver International Airport and Tampa International Airport (3.6%) tied for third, both featuring designated play areas.  The latter even offers birthday parties, complete with a scavenger hunt, for children living in the Tampa area. (My son would have loved that!)

Wrapping up the domestic winners are the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (3%) with "multiple, spacious play areas each featuring a mock airplane, an air traffic control tower and luggage-style seating" and the Detroit Metro Airport (3%) "which features four play areas."

With the recent rise in multi-generational travel, incorporating "family friendly" design is just good business. Anyone who has ever traveled with, or near, children knows...if kid's are happy, everyone is happy!  Now if the airlines would only take the hint...

Check in tomorrow to see the Top International "Family Friendly" Airports. 

Enjoy A Private Oudoor Bath on the Bluffs of North Carolina

No, it's not one of those erectile dysfunction ads...but an opportunity to check out an award-winning  property called The Inn at Palmetto Bluff.   Located only 20 minutes from Savannah GA, and situated along the beautiful May River, The Inn at Palmetto Bluff was designed to celebrate the region's rich architectural heritage. 

Each Cottage Suite features pine floors, high vaulted ceilings, cozy fireplace, spacious screened veranda, hi-fidelity home theater system, fine bed linens and upscale personal care amenities.  Offering distinctive cuisine with a regional flair, many of the restaurants feature locally sourced organic ingredients unique to the area. The property also has an award-winning 18-hole golf course designed by Jack Nicklaus and a full-service spa set beside "serene waters, lush gardens and moss laden oak trees."

Due to a recent group cancellation, they've opened up some exclusive, luxurious space at a significant savings. 

Check out Eileen's Juicy Travel Picks to find out more!

America's Most Dangerous Airports

As a travel professional, I spend an enormous amount of time tracking industry developments that may impact my clients, especially as they relate to consumer safety and value. Yesterday, I received an email from Forbes.com regarding America's most dangerous airports in the US and decided to pass this information on to you.

The list was compiled by analyzing Federal Aviation Administration data for accidents that occurred  at 452 U.S. airports, since 2001. Taken into consideration was "the size of the facility, the numbers of takeoffs and landings, and the severity of the incidents as categorized by the FAA."

As I scrolled through the pictures that revealed the worst offenders, I kept bracing myself to find the two NYC airports that I use the most, and was shocked to discover LaGuardia and JFK absent from the list. While I expected to find some huge International Airports like Chicago's O'Hare and California's LAX, what surprised me most were the number of smaller airports that made the list, like North Las Vegas in Nevada and Long Beach in California. (In an effort to alleviate congestion at the larger airports, many of the regional sites are taking on more air traffic than the facilities were built for.) 

What frightened me most were the FAA statistics that indicate "hundreds more commercial jet aircraft came within EIGHT seconds of collision between 2001 and 2006."

Now for the good news...with the exception of weather... most of these safety issues can be corrected. The reporters concluded that "most, if not all, of the incidents could have been avoided if airports had the proper monitoring equipment in place." Now It's up to us, the flying public, to keep the pressure on our elected officials to ensure the improvements happen.

World's 10 Best Taxi Rides

I love top ten lists. I think they help us manage the overwhelming amount of information at our fingertips. But because they are typically subjective, I don't take these lists too seriously.  After all, one person's Best Western is another's Ritz Carlton.

Having said that, I thought I'd pass on this fun list of the World's 10 Best Taxi Rides from Forbes.com. Taxi's can be a great way of taking in a city's sights while getting from point A to point B.  Go ahead and take the tube, I prefer to explore London by black cab.  And barring a horrific traffic jam, I'll choose a NYC taxi over the subway any day.  As varied as the regions they service, taking a taxi can add to the cultural experience. 

Cabs can also be a fantastic way to explore a cruise port.  Last December, while on a Crystal Cruise, a friend and I hired a taxi in Roatan, Honduras for 4 hours at a price of about $40.00. (Remember to negotiate price upfront).  Our wonderful driver, a former employee of Carnival Corp, took us on a fabulous "insider's" tour of his native land.  We learned about Honduran culture while driving through the beautiful countryside, on our own private excursion.  We even spent two hours at the lovely beachside resort recommended by our driver.  (He remained within earshot while we took advantage of some precious beach time.)  It was a truely memorable experience!

World's 10 Best Taxi Rides                                                         

1. Havana: Old City to Hotel Nacional via the Malecon
2. Hong Kong: Airport to the city
3. New York: Fifth Ave. from 86th St. to Washington Square
4. Buenos Aires: Recoleta Cemetery to the Teatro Colón via Avenida Nueve de Julio
5. Beijing: East side to the West side via Dongchang'an Jie
6. London: Marble Arch to the London Eye
7. Iceland: Reykjavik to the Blue Lagoon
8. Istanbul: Taksim Square to the Blue Mosque
9. Paris: The Hôtel de Ville to the Arc de Triomphe via Rue de Rivoli
10. Venice: Anywhere to anywhere