Recently Renovated is a Relative Term…

I now truly understand that you can take a theme too far. It is not reserved for Mother’s at their children’s birthday parties or for wedding planners that just must have everything covered in pink for an upcoming nuptial. The Luxor has also joined their ranks in letting their decorator loose with every imaginable item related to Egypt, pyramids, pharaoh, or the Nile.

We chose the Tower rooms because they were “recently renovated” and offered additional square footage. This we figured would be important to Escape Together readers who travel in groups and would want newer rooms with a lot of space. As we traveled through the maze of the large casino hotel to our rooms we couldn’t help but notice the random pictures of Cleopatra or Egyptian kings framed on the walls. If they had been nice pictures it might have been a nice addition to the theme but they were tacky dollar store photos that were thrown into even tackier frames. This should have been our first warning of what was to come… Read more

The Relaxing Side of Vegas

When you think of Las Vegas you often think of slot machines, clubs and huge casino resorts. But Vegas is also home to world renowned spas, shows and restaurants. For a girls getaways we decided to avoid the typical Vegas of gambling and bright lights and like SEARS see the softer side.

We started at the spa at the Luxor hotel, Nuture. With any treatment you can use the spa facilities all day which includes the steam room, sauna, hot tub, and whirlpools. You also receive complimentary juices, water, teas and fruit. You can leave and return any time the spa is open during the day which allows you to enjoy other parts of the resort such as the restaurants or larger pool and then return to the spa for more relaxation. We each had massages and facials which were amazingly relaxing after long flights from the East Coast on our first full day in Vegas. The Luxor Hotel seems grossly over decorated (see our review Recently Renovated is a Relative Term) but the spa is understated and creates a wonderfully relaxing environment. I would even stay at the the Luxor again just to take advantage of Nuture.

The Palms Resort has the reputation of being a party resort for young people and celebrities. With the Fantasy Tower with the Playboy emblem on the side and the many celebrity parties that reputation has been well earned. But the resort has an amazing spa with great deals especially during the week.  The massage was the best we received during our entire time in Vegas. Like Nuture at the Luxor, once you receive a treatment service you can use the other spa amenities for the remainder of the day including the sun deck, saunas, and soaking pool.

Not wanting to deal with the Fraternity party atmosphere of the Palms then head over to their new boutique hotel, Palms Place, across a very easy and quick skybridge. Their new spa, Drift, offers more spa services than the spa in the main Palms property and the only Hammam in the area. The pricing is more expensive than the Palms spa but the spa is larger.

Not looking for a spa treatment but prefer to relax all day by the pool? Consider a cabana rental. Most resorts offer cabana rentals to their guests for a fee that includes complimentary non-alcoholic beverages and service. At the Luxor we rented a Cabana for the day and it was perfect. For about $300 weekends and $250 weekdays you have a reserved space which includes overhead wet misters to keep you cool in the desert sun. You receive regular cabana service to order food and drinks. They periodically bring you other free items such as chilled fruit in the morning and popsicles in the afternoon and chilled towels throughout the day. Split between a group this is a great way to bring the cost down and to spend the time together.  You can swim, lay out in the sun, drink, catch-up, laugh, and have fun all in your own little cabana by the pool.

If you are just looking for late night manicures and pedicures why not head to the 24 hour nail salon, Get Nailed 24/7 in one of the strip malls across from the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino. After dinner at Origin India and frozen yogurt from Red Mango we wandered into this late night nail salon for some late night pedicures. If you happen to need a midnight nail repair or just want a pedicure between a game of blackjack, The ladies at Get Nailed are friendly, funny and do an excellent set of nails.  We relaxed getting our pedicures at midnight, laughing with the nail technicians about men, diets and friendship for an affordable and fun girls night. Perfect for something off the craziness of the strip.

So no matter what you are looking for from massages, poolside drinks, to midnight acrylic tips there is another side to the Vegas experience.

Luxor Nuture Spa
1-800-258-9308 http://www.luxor.com/amenities/amenities_the_spa.aspx

Palms Hotel Spa
702. 942.6937 http://www.palms.com/pool_spa_2.php

Palms Place - Drift Spa
702.944.3219 http://www.palmsplace.com/spa/

 Get Nailed 24/7
4480 S Paradise Rd
Las Vegas, NV 89169
(702) 221-8000

All Aboard - Tips for Cruising the High Seas

Janelle Poe, travel writer for TheBlackTraveler.com and children’s book writer, shares tips and suggestions on how to cruise with your friends after a girls getaway on Carnival Cruise Lines!

My girlfriends and I love to travel but as much as we love to delve into the deep, we often find ourselves stuck in the shallow end of the pool, and our purses.  Never the types to be discouraged, we have found a wonderful way around our monetary hindrances…cruising!  What better way to see a variety of cultures and landscapes, make sure you get plenty of sun, sand, breathtaking views of the ocean, and all the food and beverages (non-alcoholic/non-carbonated) you can handle at one reasonable price?  If you’re ok with sharing a room with friends (up to 4 in a cabin), are willing to be understanding of the culinary attempts to feed thousands of people practically 24 hours a day on limited refrigeration and freezing systems, don’t mind being around lots of couples and families, and want to get a little taste of a few places, then cruising is for you and yours my friend.

My first cruise was a 4-day, 3 nights cruise from Miami to the Bahamas last year in early November.  This year’s was my 2^nd cruise, a 7-day voyage from Tampa to Grand Cayman, Cozumel, Belize, and Isla Roatan in Early September.  Both have been to celebrate 30^th birthdays but the concept is well on its way to being an annual fixture in the calendar for my crew, Las Tres Reinas.  Of course, we hope to include others in our yearly seascape, lovers, friends and family in the future.  There are so many great things about cruising and one of the best parts is that there’s something for everyone to enjoy; it just depends on your willingness to discover it and how long you can make that joy last!

Here’s a quick list of Dos and Don’ts to make your next cruise more enjoyable.

DO:

• Pick a cruise that is in your budget and will stay there even with the added expenses of airfare, refreshments on board, souvenirs, excursions, and transportation to and from your point of embarkation.
• Pick a cruise that is a reasonable length of time for you to be away and on a boat. Try starting with a 3 or 4 day one if you’re not sure how strong your sea legs are.  Bring some Dramamine and Tylenol/Aleve just in case.
• Take a look at the ship’s layout before purchasing your package. What level do you want to be on?  Will there be a window, balcony?  While you don’t spend too much time in your room, you want to be as comfortable as possible and it can be a little weird having a room without a window.
• Think about the weather. Hurricane season in the Caribbean is late August thru Mid-October.  This might affect your ship’s travel plans.
• Find out what the ship’s itinerary is ahead of time. Know how long you will have in each port of call and what those ports will be.
• Research your ports of call. Find out about the local history, the main attractions, and the things that make this place special.  Can you walk around when you get there or will you need a taxi/bus tour, etc…Plan your itinerary accordingly.
• Fill out the ship’s paperwork ahead of time and make sure your passport is in order well ahead of your travel date.
• Make a copy of your passport to bring with you and carry it with you when you leave the ship.
• Check out the pre-arranged excursions for each port & pick a few possible options based on your time, interest & budget. Try to find one thing each family member would like to do.  If there’s a really special one, go ahead and book it before you leave so there’s no chance of it being sold-out once you get there.  You can also do this on-board the ship, but make sure to do so at least 1 day prior to arriving at that destination.
• Purchase insurance if you’re traveling with someone with health issues. You never know what could happen and if emergency services are required, they will be super expensive out at sea.
• Check your ship’s rules for bringing food and alcohol on board. You can save money by bringing snacks and your own alcohol, but there are limits.
• Lay out your clothes and plan for your days and nights. How will you be spending most of your time?  Walking in sunny weather, dancing the night away, or being fancy?  Most cruises have at least one Captain’s Dinner, which requests passengers to wear Formal Attire.  Your ship may also have laundry facilities but don’t count on them because they may not always be operating properly.
• Bring lots of sunscreen, bug spray, batteries, a book, a deck of cards or travel-sized game, comfortable shoes, waterproof shoes, and a water bottle.
• Pack a fold-up poncho and/or umbrella and take it with you when you leave the ship. You never know what the weather will be like when you’re off the ship.
• Bring at least an extra $100 in cash when you leave the ship and keep it somewhere safe. You never know what could happen and you might not always have access to an ATM nor does every vendor accept credit cards.
• Find out what time the ship’s Back Aboard time is and plan on getting there 30 minutes before then. You never know what could happen and it’s no fun running for your life to catch the boat.  They will leave you.
• Make sure you know how to get back to the port if you walk out of visual distance from the ship.  Pick up a local map from the ship before debarking or from one of the excursion companies or information desk at the port.
• Read the Daily Guide provided by the ship to know what’s going on and make sure to try a few activities you wouldn’t normally do otherwise.
• Eat and drink plenty of fluids (especially water) to keep yourself hydrated and full of energy during your busy schedule.

DON’T

• Schedule a flight that will not give you enough time to get on or off the ship. Allow at least 3 hours in between your time of departure.
• Do anything stupid. On ship, it could get you thrown off.  At a port, it could get you in trouble with foreign authorities.  Or you could get physically hurt.  It’s just not worth it.
• Drink the water in ports of call, unless you’re absolutely sure it’s purified. This includes ice and slushy drinks.  Bring a water bottle and fill it up on the ship.
• Rent mopeds unless you already have plenty of practice driving one or don’t care about spending extra money in case of an accident. I highly suggest buying the liability insurance, but that won’t cover you if you fall over and damage the bike.
• Wear uncomfortable shoes when leaving the ship. Chances are, you’ll be doing a lot of walking and you won’t be returning to the ship.
• Run around on board. The boat is tilting, there could be water or spilt drinks, and the decks are never completely dry.  Avoid embarrassment and pain by taking it easy and watching where you’re going.
• Offend the nation. Remember that you are a guest in someone else’s home.  You can always leave a place looking better than it did when you got there.  Recycle and be kind, even if others are rude to you.  Tourism has many unseen and unintentional impacts on a community.
• Waste your time on the ship when you’re docked at a port. Even if you’ve been there before, there’s something new for you to discover.  Eat a good breakfast and get out there!
• Leave the ship without making sure you have a time piece and your time matches the ship’s time. The ship time might be several hours different from whatever local time it is on that port.
• Wait until the last minute to head back to the ship. Give yourself plenty of time.
• Forget any liquor you purchase on board or off-shore will be held until the last night of your cruise.
• Forget to tip your table waiter on the last night and your cabin steward in the morning before you debark. They work very hard to take care of you and make little money, so return the favor.
• Forget you have to go through customs before your trip is over. The earlier you get up, the quicker you’ll be finished.  Keep in mind they will not accept plants, food (unless packaged), or animals and it can be a lengthy process.
• Forget it’s a vacation! You’re there to have fun so try not to let anything stress you out and have a great time with your lucky companion(s)!

Remember that you get what you pay for so be discriminatory about deals, unless you really don’t mind.  Cruises are hotels on the water, and there are differences in the quality between a stay at the Sheraton, Marriot, and W hotels in their accomodations, service, food quality and general atmosphere.  Pick somewhere you’d be comfortable and find out about their options, especially in terms of dining options.  I can only speak for my experience with Carnival, I think they’re pretty good overall and I would compare them to a Marriot, not too fancy, but not too shabby either.  From what I hear, Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises are a step above.

Each day, and night on a cruise is a brand new one.  So the music on deck might get a little old, go check out a show or a live band; or better yet, plug in some of your own music and check out the ocean views.  Maybe it’s freezing in the dining room; go upstairs to the buffet and take your food outside.  Perhaps the casino has taken too much of your money; go lay down and read a book, or watch a movie in your room.  There are so many opportunities for fun, excitement and adventure on a cruise, but the rest is up to you.  Enjoy!

Janelle Poe is is NYC born, but not bred, although she acknowledges the city has always been her home. Raised on the East and West coasts, and having spent a few years living abroad in Europe, traveling has always been a big part of her life, from the time she was a young child and hopefully until the very end. While her income doesn’t always match her desires, she tries to travel as much as she can, and outside of the United States at least once a year. She is a writer currently working on children’s books and hopes to be published in 2009. Till then, she will continue to discover and enjoy new places, food, music, and of course the unique people this incredible world has to offer. Then she’ll go home and write about it, hopefully inspiring others to do the same.

Interested in having your story featured on Escape Together? Contact us at info@escapetogether.com for more information.

The City Between Cities

Learn more about Wilmington, DE and a girls weekend idea for travelers looking for a budget city girls getaway.

For years I have passed it on countless trips up the Northeast corridor. It is the city that is home to some of the countries largest banks and a tax free shoppers dream. But I have never gotten off the train here. Never made plans to visit. Never specifically had a reason to stay. A half hour from Philly, Wilmington is like many children born too close to a shining star. You are outshined and forgotten.

But on this trip my friend and I wanted to pick a different place for a city weekend getaway. I live outside New York and she is in the MD/DC/VA area so we didn’t want to go to either of our hometowns and wanted to meet in the middle. Philly is typically the obvious choice but for a budget conscious shoppers weekend we decided to try Wilmington instead. Since Delaware is tax free, we could shop to our hearts desire.

Another benefit to Wilmington was the ability to see FlagBoy, a coming of age story told through a one - man performance that premiered at the Midtown International Festival this past summer and recently was nominated for Best Performance in a Solo Show. This comical, but at times very emotional tale, of personal acceptance through life’s biggest challenges is intricately woven between the autobiographical interactions of the star’s characters from childhood through his early 20’s. Unfortunately, I missed all the New York performances of the show this summer but it was going to be in Wilmington for one night only in September. I thought why not see the show in Wilmington and then continue our girls weekend in Philly. Until we thought more about what we really wanted to do. Shop. Talk. Save. Wilmington was actually the better choice since given the tax-free status, the lack of tons of nightlife and the fact that it is a cheaper city overall we should just stay put for the weekend and enjoy the sights of Wilmington right?

(For more information about FlagBoy which will be returning to New York in December go to www.Corneliusjonesjr.com)

So Wilmington, The city between cities. It is perfect for the group that has friends in the MD/DC/VA areas and friends in the Philadelphia/NYC/NJ/CT areas who want to come together in the middle but want to still have a city experience. Wilmington hotel prices are considerably lower than all of the other major cities along the Northeast corridor making it perfect for the budget conscious traveler. We stayed at the Sheraton Suites on Delaware Ave and the room is perfect for a girls weekend. With two double beds and a sleeper sofa the room could easily sleep six if you don’t mind sharing beds but with tons of floor space, extra mirrors and two tvs you never would feel cramped or that you are on top of each other. This is the perfect hotel and city for those weekends when you need to see your girls and spend the night laughing, gossiping, storytelling and catching up. Wilmington is not going to have the nightlife of the other major cities so if you just want to spend time connecting with each other than this is the perfect destination.

  

 

There are restaurants near the hotel though we didn’t try them. Instead we headed to the Riverfront and ate at the Iron Hill Brewery. We started with the seafood bisque which was excellent. The Buttermilk Fried Rhode Island Calamari was also very good and served with a red pepper cilantro aioli and lime zest. Another great choice was the Hickory BBQ Bacon Cheeseburger. This large burger was served with a honey barbeque sauce, sauteed mushrooms and fries. 

   

Unfortunately the signature dishes seem to not be great choices and to leave something to be desired. The Salmon Spring Rolls for example feature spinach, red onion, pickled ginger and wasabi and sesame soy dipping sauces. The combination was overall pretty tasteless and not even very interesting. As a Salmon lover, I thought it would be a great take on my favorite fish but I was thoroughly disappointed. Our Suggestion: Stick with the tried and true items on the menu because they all were great and avoid the items marked as signature dishes.

 

But what about the shopping. From outlets to malls Wilmington has it all within 20 minutes. It is the perfect way to get the Coach bag you have been dying for or the shoes you can’t live without. Rent a car from the Amtrak station when you arrive if you take the train and you can easily get to most places you would like to in the city and the surrounding area.

We had a great time in Wilmington. The show was fabulous. The service at the hotel was great and it was the perfect opportunity to catch each other up on the things that had been going on in our lives, and I got a pair of shoes I have been looking for at a great price! All in all, who could ask for a better getaway.

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