Our flights were smooth and uneventful—long but everyone did well! The long layover in 
We made a quick visit to Fontana di Trevi in the evening before turning in.
Friday, June 26, 2009
We're off to Europe!
Our flights were smooth and uneventful—long but everyone did well! The long layover in We made a quick visit to Fontana di Trevi in the evening before turning in.
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Flying in the same day of your cruise departure
The question of whether to fly in the day before or same day comes up a lot in cruise planning. Like many people, we always fly in a day or two early. However, if you're like my parents who often fly in the same day (because they don't want to pay for the hotel or don't have or want to take the extra day), the following are my recommendation for flying in same-day. Make sure to do all of the following:
1. Book a direct flight--no connections. Fewer flight segments=lower risk.
2. Take the first flight out in the morning and arrive at the port by no later than noon.
3. Make sure your airline has at least a few other direct flights options for later that same day. They should all be scheduled to arrive in the destination city before mid-afternoon the day of the cruise's departure. This way, if your first flight is delayed or cancelled, you have some chance to rebook or go standby on a later flight.
4. The port is a short distance from the destination airport (say, 30 minutes or less).
Generally, all of the above is possible only if you live near a major airport or hub that is less than 1,000 miles from your destination city/port. We're lucky because, in the Washington DC area, there are TONS of regular and direct flights to the major Florida cruise ports.
1. Book a direct flight--no connections. Fewer flight segments=lower risk.
2. Take the first flight out in the morning and arrive at the port by no later than noon.
3. Make sure your airline has at least a few other direct flights options for later that same day. They should all be scheduled to arrive in the destination city before mid-afternoon the day of the cruise's departure. This way, if your first flight is delayed or cancelled, you have some chance to rebook or go standby on a later flight.
4. The port is a short distance from the destination airport (say, 30 minutes or less).
Generally, all of the above is possible only if you live near a major airport or hub that is less than 1,000 miles from your destination city/port. We're lucky because, in the Washington DC area, there are TONS of regular and direct flights to the major Florida cruise ports.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Carry your passport!
There are many suggestions by people on online travel forums suggesting to fellow travelers to leave their passport in the hotel or cruise ship safe to avoid the risk of loss and the hassles of having to replace it. They reason that the likelihood of losing your passport is much greater than the likelihood of needing it. Of course, this rationalization overlooks the most vital and fundamental purpose of a passport--it is your ONLY authoritative, government-issued document that attests to your identification and your citizenship. It is meant to be carried on your person for this purpose while you are outside of your home country.
Now, if you are more concerned about the hassles or inconveniences of losing your passport--that is their prerogative. But I think you have your priorities backwards. When you NEED your passport, however remote or unlikely it may be, it will usually be at a time or place when you least expect it. And the severity of your need will likely be extreme.
999 times out of 1,000, I don't NEED a driver's license with me when I leave the house. But I would not THINK of leaving the house or driving without it because, on the off chance I NEED it (e.g. police officer pulls me over, someone needs my ID), then I have it.
When you are in a foreign country, what will you do if you are seriously injured and end up in the hospital? What if you miss the ship due to a traffic jam or strike? How will you catch a flight to get home or catch up with the ship without your passport? What if you are stopped by local law enforcement and asked for identification? At times like these, you realize that the hassle of possibly losing the passport was much less than the hassle of being stranded in a foreign country without your passport. And a photocopy of the passport will not suffice--do you drive with a copy of your driver's license? Try using a photocopy of your DL the next time a cop pulls you over or a bartender asks you for ID. Won't work with a passport either. Making and carrying a a photocopy of your passport is a good idea but it is only useful for getting your passport replaced at the U.S. consular office or embassy--it is not a substitute for the real thing.
If any of the above misfortunes should befall you, then you will end up spending days and days to get your passport replaced so you can get home or whatever. While your passport relaxes safely in the comforts of your cabin safe, you will be stuck somewhere wishing you had brought it with you. Yes, if you are within the EU, perhaps you can catch a flight or train without your passport. But what if your ship's next stop is outside the EU? Also, a common misunderstanding is that your passport is used for border control purposes only, i.e. when you leave and reenter the country--it's not. It's your sole identification and citizenship document so I don't go anywhere without it.
Many of you believe it's most important to protect the passport so you lock it in the safe. I believe it's more important to have the passport with you so it can do its job, i.e. to protect you.
Now, if you are more concerned about the hassles or inconveniences of losing your passport--that is their prerogative. But I think you have your priorities backwards. When you NEED your passport, however remote or unlikely it may be, it will usually be at a time or place when you least expect it. And the severity of your need will likely be extreme.
999 times out of 1,000, I don't NEED a driver's license with me when I leave the house. But I would not THINK of leaving the house or driving without it because, on the off chance I NEED it (e.g. police officer pulls me over, someone needs my ID), then I have it.
When you are in a foreign country, what will you do if you are seriously injured and end up in the hospital? What if you miss the ship due to a traffic jam or strike? How will you catch a flight to get home or catch up with the ship without your passport? What if you are stopped by local law enforcement and asked for identification? At times like these, you realize that the hassle of possibly losing the passport was much less than the hassle of being stranded in a foreign country without your passport. And a photocopy of the passport will not suffice--do you drive with a copy of your driver's license? Try using a photocopy of your DL the next time a cop pulls you over or a bartender asks you for ID. Won't work with a passport either. Making and carrying a a photocopy of your passport is a good idea but it is only useful for getting your passport replaced at the U.S. consular office or embassy--it is not a substitute for the real thing.
If any of the above misfortunes should befall you, then you will end up spending days and days to get your passport replaced so you can get home or whatever. While your passport relaxes safely in the comforts of your cabin safe, you will be stuck somewhere wishing you had brought it with you. Yes, if you are within the EU, perhaps you can catch a flight or train without your passport. But what if your ship's next stop is outside the EU? Also, a common misunderstanding is that your passport is used for border control purposes only, i.e. when you leave and reenter the country--it's not. It's your sole identification and citizenship document so I don't go anywhere without it.
Many of you believe it's most important to protect the passport so you lock it in the safe. I believe it's more important to have the passport with you so it can do its job, i.e. to protect you.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Maryland men's and women's basketball
Yesterday's disappointing loss by the Maryland women's basketball team in the regional finals only further reinforces the polar opposite approaches used by our Brenda Frese and Gary Williams. I had already previously (jokingly) suggested that Brenda Frese should do all the recruiting, and that Gary Williams should do all the pre-game and in-game coaching, for both teams. While Gary has been criticized for his poor recruiting results, Brenda refuses to teach team defense and clearly lacks the ability to make important in-game tactical adjustments. Next season, when the Lady Terps are in need of points, Brenda will not be able to simply hand the ball to Kristi Tolliver or Marissa Coleman and say "go make a play" to save them from their defensive inadequacies.
Can you imagine Gary and Brenda on the sideline together? Imagine Gary drawing up a momentum-changing play to get the Lady Terps a key bucket, or using a profanity-laced tirade to get the women to actually move their feet and to play harder on defense. Meanwhile, Brenda can prowl the sidelines with passionate clapping and encouraging, confidence-restoring words to the men on the bench after Gary has finished berating them!
Can you imagine Gary and Brenda on the sideline together? Imagine Gary drawing up a momentum-changing play to get the Lady Terps a key bucket, or using a profanity-laced tirade to get the women to actually move their feet and to play harder on defense. Meanwhile, Brenda can prowl the sidelines with passionate clapping and encouraging, confidence-restoring words to the men on the bench after Gary has finished berating them!
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Marissa Coleman and the Lady Terps
Lost amongst all the effusive praise and accolades surrounding Marissa Coleman’s “heirloom game” in yesterday’s NCAA women’s basketball regional semi-final was the fact that Coleman’s very average defensive performance led directly to dozens of quality Vanderbilt opportunities and scores. While playing 40 minutes will certainly take its toll toward the end of a game, this does not explain why the worst of the Coleman’s and the rest of the Terps’ defense play was at the beginning of each half. If Coach Frese, Marissa Coleman and the rest of the Terps don’t take their defense more seriously, they will not win another national championship. Maryland can probably beat less talented teams by relying on their stars to come up with clutch performances to compensate for an inferior defensive effort, but this probably won’t work against Stanford or UConn.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Maryland Basketball and Gary Williams
Although I'm a lifelong Terps fan, I've remained mostly quiet on our mens basketball team's recent struggles and in regards to Gary Williams himself. For whatever it's worth, I think Gary had taken recruiting for granted but I also think he's been working hard most recently to improve in this area. Certainly, the recent turnover on his staff didn't help things on the recruiting front. Coach Williams has done a commendably good job with the hand that he and his staff have dealt him. Considering they play in the tough ACC, they've gotten average to above-average performance from mostly average players over the past 7 years. Of course, that's not good enough for most of us.
The irony with these recent struggles and with the growing criticism of Gary Williams is that, as long-time Maryland fans will recall, Lefty Driesell spent many years with top recruits but was often criticized as a mediocre coach. Lefty's situation (remember the now-famous "I can coach" quote?) stands in direct contrast to Gary William's. I expect Gary any day now to scream "I can recruit!"
The irony with these recent struggles and with the growing criticism of Gary Williams is that, as long-time Maryland fans will recall, Lefty Driesell spent many years with top recruits but was often criticized as a mediocre coach. Lefty's situation (remember the now-famous "I can coach" quote?) stands in direct contrast to Gary William's. I expect Gary any day now to scream "I can recruit!"
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Things Hotels Can Do Better
I've noticed that hotels have been paying attention over the years, but in recent travels, there's still no hotel that gets everything right:
- More suites--the traditional two double bed hotel room is a horrible anachronism-it's no wonder many new hotels are all suites! Even for traditional rooms, I'd prefer a king or queen bed with a separate, small twin sofabed and sitting area.
- Resort Fees--build it into your room rate but don't rip off unsuspecting guests with these ridiculous add-on charges.
- Free Internet Access--hotels don't charge for air conditioning, water or clean sheets, so why charge for a commodity item like internet access? And why do only the expensive, luxury hotels charge for this?
- In-Room Phones with Free Local and 800 Access--if a hotel can't do this, get rid of the phones entirely. Everyone has mobile phones anyhow.
- Complimentary Beverage--why can't more hotels provide a couple free bottles of drinking water or other beverage? Makes your arrival after a long flight that much nicer.
- Minibars--such an obvious rip-off and insult to patrons' intelligence that most hotels have already eliminated them.
- Ice machines--they waste a tremendous amount of energy and I think they're an anachronism. Just give me a good, working refrigerator.
- More horizontal places to put your luggage and bags
- High Definition TVs--I wonder how long it will take to get these?
- Power Outlets--there's never enough of places to plug in or charge all your electronic devices
- More Hooks in Bathroom--with all the available wall space, can someone tell me why there is never any place to hang your toiletry bags, towels or clothes?
- Better Toiletries--instead of, or in addition to, hand lotion or bath gels, how about a toothbrush, toothpaste, comb and/or a first aid kit?
- Alarm Clock--One that automatically resets, or is easy to reset yourself so it doesn't go off early in the morning because the last guest set it and the housekeeper forgot to reset it. And put one on both sides of a double, queen or king bed!
- Complimentary Newspaper--And not just weekdays but every day!
- Normal-sized Waste Baskets--most are so small as to be useless.
- Recycle--where are the in-room recycling tubs for aluminum, glass, plastics and newspapers?
- Free cookies, treats, drinks and coffee/tea in the reception area or lobby.
- Late Checkout--complimentary or paid use of a "late checkout room". A place to store your stuff, shower, change, etc. if you should have a late-day flight.
- More suites--the traditional two double bed hotel room is a horrible anachronism-it's no wonder many new hotels are all suites! Even for traditional rooms, I'd prefer a king or queen bed with a separate, small twin sofabed and sitting area.
- Resort Fees--build it into your room rate but don't rip off unsuspecting guests with these ridiculous add-on charges.
- Free Internet Access--hotels don't charge for air conditioning, water or clean sheets, so why charge for a commodity item like internet access? And why do only the expensive, luxury hotels charge for this?
- In-Room Phones with Free Local and 800 Access--if a hotel can't do this, get rid of the phones entirely. Everyone has mobile phones anyhow.
- Complimentary Beverage--why can't more hotels provide a couple free bottles of drinking water or other beverage? Makes your arrival after a long flight that much nicer.
- Minibars--such an obvious rip-off and insult to patrons' intelligence that most hotels have already eliminated them.
- Ice machines--they waste a tremendous amount of energy and I think they're an anachronism. Just give me a good, working refrigerator.
- More horizontal places to put your luggage and bags
- High Definition TVs--I wonder how long it will take to get these?
- Power Outlets--there's never enough of places to plug in or charge all your electronic devices
- More Hooks in Bathroom--with all the available wall space, can someone tell me why there is never any place to hang your toiletry bags, towels or clothes?
- Better Toiletries--instead of, or in addition to, hand lotion or bath gels, how about a toothbrush, toothpaste, comb and/or a first aid kit?
- Alarm Clock--One that automatically resets, or is easy to reset yourself so it doesn't go off early in the morning because the last guest set it and the housekeeper forgot to reset it. And put one on both sides of a double, queen or king bed!
- Complimentary Newspaper--And not just weekdays but every day!
- Normal-sized Waste Baskets--most are so small as to be useless.
- Recycle--where are the in-room recycling tubs for aluminum, glass, plastics and newspapers?
- Free cookies, treats, drinks and coffee/tea in the reception area or lobby.
- Late Checkout--complimentary or paid use of a "late checkout room". A place to store your stuff, shower, change, etc. if you should have a late-day flight.
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Energy conservation and the environment
China's and India's power plant-related carbon emissions are growing so fast that they will surpass the U.S. by 2010. So isn't it a losing battle to conserve energy or to recycle products, when actions by these developing nations will more than offset our conservation efforts? "Doing our part" will only be meaningful if there is a concerted global effort to save our planet.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
