80 Day Travel

Trip to Arizona

2005-10-10T13:15:00.000-05:00

Attempting to plan a 2-3 day weekend trip to Arizona. Figuring on Scottsdale or Phoenix. Starwood seems to have some lovely spa hotels in the area. Also thinking of perhaps checking out the real estate there, I wonder if its enough time though...

The only airlines that fly there direct appear to be America West and Continental. Since I'm (as always) attempting to go there for free using miles, I couldn't book anything short notice. Oh pooh. Perhaps the next time I get a weekend off.....

A tree grew in Hawaii

2005-09-17T16:36:00.000-05:00

This is one of the trees in Kauai that was used in the filming of the first Jurassic Park movie. They're located in a nature preserve full of other amazing stuff.

A sucker for a nice lobby

2005-09-16T18:21:00.000-05:00

For no apparent reason, I'm always smitten by a hotel with a nice lobby. Why, I couldn't tell you--its not like I'm gonna sleep there, or eat there, or even sit there really...but regardless of all of that, when I see a nice lobby, I automatically fall in love with the entire hotel. This picture here is from the Riu on Paradise Island in the Bahamas.

Travel Question

2005-09-15T08:09:00.000-05:00

Would you go to the Middle East? If so, where?

Red Sea Panoramic

2005-09-14T19:45:00.000-05:00

This shot probably doesn't do it justice--it doesn't capture the deep deep blue of the Red Sea (go figure). This view actually captures the border of Israel with Egypt.

Planting Fields

2005-09-13T19:07:00.000-05:00

Travel can be local too:
This is one of the flowers from Planting Fields Arboretum on Long Island (about 30 min away from where I live).

Planning Tahiti

2005-09-02T04:43:00.000-05:00

I'm thinking of going to Tahiti in the end of January. It sounds like its far off in terms of time, though there's a very specific reason why I should probably start looking into it already:

I want to go there using frequent flyer miles. Yup, THAT should be an interesting endeavor. There's a catch too. I want to use the frequent miles from Starwood. Which means I gotta transfer them. Somewhere. In other words, plenty of stuff to figure out.
Any and all suggestions welcome.

Fly to Hong Kong ... $598 roundtrip

2005-09-01T04:55:00.000-05:00

United is having a 4 day sale:

From New York to Hong Kong: $598 roundtrip

The fine print:
Leave onTuesday, Friday, Sunday from September 2-30.

WOW, once again, I wish I had vacation in September....

Bahamas in August

2005-08-24T20:08:00.000-05:00

I'd like to share a piece of advice with the chasm of cyberspace: do not visit the Bahamas in August.

The reason for the above wisdom (gained personally just last week on the lovely island of Nassau) is very simple: ITS TOO HOT!

C'mon, its the Bahamas, you KNEW it would be hot, you might say. Well... true, I suppose I could have thought that maybe, just maybe, the fact that its 80+ degrees in New York might mean that its 100+ there... but I am master at denial and thought it would just be NICER.
And perhaps I should have questioned the sudden advent of a $59 JetBlue fare on a Friday and a $148 per night room rate at Wyndham and its casino.

The above being said, however, I still managed to get sunburned THROUGH a canvas tent. That means I was in the shade. The entire time. Yep, in the shade.

While I peel my sunburn, and book my trip back to the Bahamas for the end of October...the photo above is for your viewing amusement--its a shot from my courtesy upgraded ocean view room on the 10th floor of the Wyndham hotel. Too bad you can't take pictures of air temperature.

Washington Orchid 1

2005-08-22T22:16:00.000-05:00

An orchid from the Washington DC Orchid show in 2004.

Looking for cheap Brazil flight

2005-08-22T16:24:00.000-05:00

If anyone sees/hears anything, post :-)

Question of the Day

2005-08-21T19:51:00.000-05:00

Where is your favorite beach and why?

Bahamas All Inclusive $128 per night

2005-08-21T11:50:00.000-05:00

Just saw this awesome deal for Riu on Paradise Island in the Bahamas- $128 per person/night.

This hotel is right next to the famous Atlantis resort and casino on Paradise Island, and flights to Bahamas from New York are about 3 hours long...

New York-Las Vegas ... $99 on United

2005-08-20T08:23:00.000-05:00

Just saw this awesome deal--hopefully someone will see it within the next 5 days: (wish I could go...)

United has a 5 day fare sale:

New York-Dallas ... $89
New York-Las Vegas ... $99
New York-Oakland ... $99
New York-Phoenix ... $99
New York-San Diego ... $99
New York-Seattle ... $99
New York-Houston ... $104

The lowest fares are for travel on a Tuesday, Wednesday or Saturday through November 16. Just book 7 days in advance.

No Saturday-night stay required.

Welcome!

2005-08-08T20:15:00.000-05:00

Welcome to 80 Day Travel!