Icelandair Saga upgrade

Dear Travel Industry…A Few Suggestions for Changes I’d Like to See

Dear Travel Industry, Hi, it’s me again!  I’m the one who has been complaining about the single supplement all of these years, you know, the one you keep ignoring!  You really should take me seriously as the number of solo travelers continues to rise.  I’ve been reading study after study […]

PhilaTravelGirl Amsterdam

Solo Travel Tips – 7 Steps to Begin Your Solo Adventures

My friend Amanda, recently traveled to London on her first solo trip.  This wasn’t a business trip or a school trip, this was last-minute due to a ridiculous coach award ticket on USAir direct to London she found for 30k points (normally 50k).  Exploring London is so easy to do as […]

A mural in Philadelphia "with malice toward none...."

Philadelphia in the Spotlight – The Pope, Politicians and My To Do List

Philadelphia has long been the overlooked middle child between New York City and Washington, D.C.  Chances are if you’ve visited the city you did so for one day and saw Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, ran up the “Rocky steps” and ate a cheesesteak or soft pretzel.  In Philly, we […]

Palace of Versailles

My Paris Mistake – Versailles with my Tween Niece

It was a gorgeous Sunday in June and my niece and I were up early to catch the train to Versailles. It was our last day in Paris and I wanted to show her the beauty of Versailles especially the garden fountains. The grand palace and gardens are one of […]

The Smith Restaurant Midtown NYC

Solo Dining NYC: The Smith Restaurant, a Dining Delight in Midtown

Our college intern worked the summer in NYC at Goldman Sachs (she has a great future ahead of her) and told me that one restaurant that she went to many times was The Smith.  The Smith NYC has a few locations (Lincoln Center, Midtown and the East Village).  I would […]

Portland suggestions and map from concierge at Vintage Plaza Portland

Expecting More from the Hotel Pre-Arrival Email

When my “pre-arrival” email showed up yesterday from the hotel, I realized I hadn’t done any research for the weekend trip.  So I clicked the “concierge” button and was taken to the hotel’s standard internet site with attractions listed.  There wasn’t an email link anywhere to contact the hotel other […]

The first stop along The Great Ocean Road in Melbourne

The Travel Do Over – A Tale of Two Interns

I won’t lie – I do enjoy a good “I told you so” when someone admits I was right with advice.  At a recent lunch, however, with our current college intern and former intern, I wasn’t feeling any sense of satisfaction – I was sad.  Sad that our former college […]

Southern Ocean meets Indian Ocean

When Should You Use a Travel Agent?

My friend’s flight was delayed due to weather and this caused her and her family to miss their connection to London.  When she told me that she was flying from Philadelphia to New York to London, I gave her this obviously weird look and said “Why would the travel agent […]

Street Art London Heart Arrow sign

Feeding My Avios Feelings – The British Airways Devaluation

When I went to sleep on Tuesday, I had enough points to redeem for three business class trips to London from Philadelphia, when I awoke on Wednesday, I had enough points for only two tickets.  The points were still in my account but their value magically disappeared overnight due to […]

NYC yellow cabs at night

Review: The Westin New York Grand Central – Comfort & Cupcakes

For my trip to New York for the NY Times Travel Show, I had a reservation elsewhere but when the Starwood email landed in my inbox with the upcoming deals in New York City, I was tempted. The Westin New York Grand Central was $50 cheaper, offered more space and […]