Tag: travel

4 Big-City Hotels with Boutique Charm

Published on by Sydney Aaliyah MichelleLeave a comment

This post was posted by thehipmunk on Hipmunk’s Tailwind Blog on December 22, 2015.Screen-Shot-2015-12-22-at-11.28.14-PMThere are boutique hotels, and then there are larger hotels that manage to feel boutique thanks to attentive service, unique amenities, and/or a trendy reputation. The hotels on this list fall into the latter category—while they may not technically qualify as “boutique,” they offer the same level of charm (and, in many cases, a smaller price tag) as their boutique counterparts. If you’re looking for unique accommodations in America’s big cities, then you can’t go wrong with any of these four hotels.

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1. Aloft Minneapolis, Minneapolis, MN

Aloft is hip, modern, and centrally located in Minneapolis’ trendy Mill District, which is in the thick of the city’s vibrant arts scene. Nearby attractions include the Minneapolis Institute of Arts, Walker Art Center, Weisman Art Museum, and Northeast Minneapolis Arts, in addition to nightlife, entertainment, and stellar food. The hotel has also cultivated its own social scene thanks to its Re:mix Lounge and W XYZ Bar. Rooms are bright, minimalist, and filled with natural light courtesy of oversized windows.

2. Blu Agua Hotel, Chicago, IL

Sleek, modern, and fresh, Chicago’s Blu Agua Hotel offers hip accommodations in an amazing location. Enjoy views of Lakeshore East Park, Millennium Park, Lake Michigan, or panoramic vistas of the Windy City from your hotel room. Hit the sidewalks to find yourself within walking distance of many of downtown Chicago’s main attractions, including the Magnificent Mile, the Bean, lakefront paths, and Navy Pier. Not sure where to start? Just ask one of the hotel’s knowledgeable concierges; the service here is virtually unbeatable. Upgrade to a Business Class room or suite and you’ll enjoy even more perks, including an in-room espresso machine and fresh fruit delivered to your room each day.

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3. JW Marriott Los Angeles L.A. LIVE, Los Angeles, CA

The L.A. LIVE lives up to the vibrancy of its name—the hotel is colorful, dynamic, and hip. Rooms are bright, charming, and filled with natural light. The amenities are equally on-point; think 24-hour room service, in-room bathrobes, a full-service spa, state-of-the-art fitness facilities, on-site shopping, and a rooftop pool. The hotel also boasts a great location in downtown LA. It’s near the L.A. Convention Center and a variety of fine dining options, including Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse and Wine Bar.

4. The Ritz-Carlton, Los Angeles, CA

It’s easy to see why the Ritz-Carlton, Los Angeles often fills up. The rooms are spacious and luxuriously designed. The location is stellar; the hotel is located on West Olympic Boulevard near the Staples Center, Nokia Theatre, Grammy Museum, and a host of bars and restaurants. And the amenities are almost unparalleled—guests can unwind at the rooftop heated pool, Wolfgang Puck’s WP24 restaurant, or the Ritz-Carlton Spa. Spring for access to the Ritz-Carlton Club, and you’ll enjoy an even more personalized experience via private lounge access, complimentary food and beverages, and a dedicated concierge service.

Even without boutique branding, each of these hotels offers a unique experience for travelers to some of the country’s biggest cities. The result of these creative designs and specialized amenities is that guests will feel personally cared for even amidst the hustle and bustle of popular urban environments. It all adds up to an unforgettable stay.

What to do in France in February

Published on by Sydney Aaliyah MichelleLeave a comment

I had the pleasure of knocking Paris off my bucket list about 12 (oh wow) years ago. It was so long ago; I think it’s time to put it back on the list. While the regions of France have so much to offer a traveler, on my next trip, I want to explore more of the communes of Paris, as well as the Parisian Coast.

Boulogne Billancourt, France

I love photographing my world. I take a picture randomly of a tree or a sunset and capture it on my phone to share on Instagram or Twitter. I believe Albert Khan (a French banker and philanthropist who lived in Paris in the early 1900s) would have loved social media. He created the Archives of the Planet, a photographic endeavor where he wished to document buildings and cultures. He would travel around with his chauffeur and photographer and document the world. He even commissioned and sent out photographers to every continent to record images and film of the planet.

Albert-Kahn Musee et Jardin houses these photos and films in Boulogne-Billancourt, France. During a winter month, I can’t think of a better way to fill the day than by looking at images of our world.

Boulogne

Image via Trover.com by Manuel Villanueva

Chessy, France

Chessy, France is in eastern Paris. The city isn’t much these days; oh, except for being the site of the Disneyland Paris Amusement Park. Even the cool temperatures in February shouldn’t stop you from visiting the happiest place on earth … in France.

The park offers many new experiences for the family during this time of year. It’s open for the Half Term in February, but the winter temperatures keep the crowds away. It is an ideal time to visit the Magic Kingdom to avoid the lines and the usual chaos of the amusement park. I’m ready to dress for the occasion, and after the first ride and a photo-op with Mickey, I’m sure I won’t notice the temperature.

chessy

Image via Trover.com by Snappy David

Courbevoie, France

Courbevoie, Frances is the densest populated region of France. It’s situated in the business district and houses tall buildings, great hotels, and is an amazing shopping district. Furthermore, it has my favorite place on earth, the Eiffel Tower. Chances are the top floor observation deck will be closed in February, and if open, it won’t be the best view. However, I’m going to visit anyway. You will avoid long lines during this time of year and the structure itself is impressive enough. Take the stairs instead of the elevator. You will warm right up. Plus the tower has four restaurants, so grab a seat and enjoy a meal in the most iconic landmark in the world.

Courbevoie

Photo via Trover.com by Noe Correia

Avignon, France

Avignon, France is in southern France, but not quite next to the Mediterranean Sea. It is a city steeped in rich history, especially Catholic history. The commune housed the original residency of the Pope back in the 1300s. You could spend days exploring the Palais des Papes (Pope’s Palace). It is the most impressive example of Gothic architecture in Europe. I can imagine spending a day by soaking up the rich — and at times — tumultuous history of Catholicism during this period.

Avignon

Image via Trover.com by Marta Logan

Antibes, France

The art fan in me would love to visit Antibes, France, located further down south on the Mediterranean coast. It is a beautiful coastal town. Many artists and writers used Antibes as a retreat in the late 1800s and early 1900s. It houses a Picasso museum, which holds some of his beautiful, albeit confusing, works of landscapes from the time he called this French commune his home. It also houses the Absinthe museum. This infamous drink has a crazy history, and I would love to explore it and maybe have a taste.

antibes

Image via Trover.com by Michelle DuQuette

Have you been to any of these cities? What’s on your travel bucket list?

What do do in Italy in Winter

Published on by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle1 Comment

My travel bucket list is heading across the Atlantic Ocean once again. I love traveling in the winter, so I did some research on Europe in the wintertime. I found that Italy had many cool and inexpensive options in the off-season, especially near the coast.

Genoa, Italy

Genoa, Italy is the sixth largest city in Italy. Its sprawling landscape reaches from the Mediterranean Sea to the Apennine Mountains. The varying landscape and proximity to water makes it a great place for outdoor activities. However, during the winter months, the temperature, while mild, will drive you indoors. Since that is the case, I have to check out the Genoa Aquarium. It is one of the largest aquariums in Europe. You can learn all about aquatic life in the Mediterranean Sea without getting wet.

Genoa

Image via Trover.com by Diana Meier

Como, Italy

For a quiet retreat, I would book a stay at one of Como, Italy’s famous resorts. In the off-season, the hotels are all but deserted, and while the restaurants and the palazzo are quiet and empty, they still do business. The setting, full of Romanesque cathedrals and Baroque monuments, offers you the opportunity to enjoy the scenery without the tourists distracting you. Located on the southern tip of Lake Como, the town borders Switzerland, which is only a short drive from enjoying winter activities such as skiing and snowboarding.

Sant Agnello, Italy

Located 25 kilometers southeast of Naples, Sant’Agnello, Italy is a coastal town on the Amalfi Coast. The town features several castles, tombs, churches, and abbeys, so even with the winter weather quite balmy, there is no need to stay indoors. If sightseeing old buildings isn’t your things, then book a group tour of the Amalfi coast and sit back to let the change in landscape on the west coast of Italy amaze you.

Moreover, while you’re there, check out the exhibit of the lost city of Pompeii. The movie scared me to death; I’d love to see where it all took place.

Turin, Italy

The beautiful city of Turin, Italy is next on my stop. It is not a coastal town, as it’s in the northwest part of Italy. It’s colder here in the winters, so I would suggest indoor activities. One attraction I can’t wait to check out is the Museo Nazional Del Cinema (National Museum of Cinema). It is an entire museum dedicated to the cinema.

I love movies and enjoy foreign films, including Italian films. I could spend hours enjoying the exhibits about the famous Italian filmmaker, Fellini, and The Godfather. They also have memorabilia from some of America’s famous filmmakers and film franchises, such as a tribute to Woody Allen and masks from the Star Wars films.

For the movie production geek, the museum also offers exhibits about the movie-making process as well.

Turin

Image via Trover.com by Clapis_93

Stresa, Italy

If you are missing the water, a trip to Stresa, Italy on Lago Maggiore is a must. This beautiful lake offers spectacular views from the balcony of your hotel room at the Grand Hotel. Go and pamper yourself at the Grand Hotel Stresa Spas. Full of old world Italian elegance, you can really get away and be pampered. The winter months are the off-season, so the staff focuses only on you. Enjoy the opulent setting with treatments and finish it off by trying an Italian hot chocolate by the fire.

StresaImage via Trover.com by Alice Barale

Have you been to any of these cities in Italy? What’s on your Italian Travel Bucket List?

Battle-Tested Productivity Hacks for Traveling on Business

Published on by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle1 Comment

This post was posted by thehipmunk on Hipmunk’s Tailwind Blog on January 6, 2016Screen-Shot-2016-01-06-at-3.47.14-PMAs travel gets easier and technology more portable, employees across industries are hitting the road for work. And whether it’s because they’re trying to squeeze in work and downtime or because they’re booked with countless meetings, productivity on the road is paramount.

These battle-tested tips can help make sure you’re getting work done while on the move.

1. Prioritize. 

There are lots of travel hacks out there, but there’s no magic bullet to make up for the reality that travel is inherently time-consuming, on top of tiring and stressful on your body. As a result, one key to productivity is simply not to overload yourself. First, outline what must get done while on the trip, break those projects into actionable items, then organize your to-do list by day.

2. Get Better Sleep on the Plane. 

Depending on where you are traveling and at what point in the day your flight is, they key to offsetting some of that exhaustion might be catching some shut-eye on the plane. If the flight is during normal sleep hours as measured by the time zone of your destination city, splurging on some extra legroom in order to get some rest on-board is a worthwhile investment. If that’s not in the budget, be sure to opt for a window seat. Bring a pillow, comfortable clothes, and sound-blocking headphones. Also, be sure to keep your buckle visible — strapped over your blanket perhaps — so you don’t get woken up by flight attendants following safety guidelines.

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3. Stay Connected.  

If the flight is not during normal sleep hours for the destination city, it can be beneficial to avoid falling asleep on the plane and to instead get some work done. In such an instance, narrow your workload down to three specific tasks for the flight and only bring relevant materials in your carry-on to stay focused.

Similarly, make sure you are connected. Virgin America offers hourly, flight-long and monthly Gogo wi-fi on-board, for example, while more frequent travelers can also purchase a multi-airline pass for just under $60 a month. Meanwhile, JetBlue is working to offer complimentary wi-fi on all flights — a feature that’s expected in 2016.

Do your research before you book; most airlines provide information about wi-fi accessibility and pricing on their websites. And if it’s not easy to find, a quick call to customer service will do the trick to ensure you’re not stranding on-board and off-line.

4. Invest in a Portable Wi-Fi Hotspot. 

You’ll likely need to work after your flight as well, though. While confirming wi-fi is offered at the hotel, its conference rooms, and other meeting spaces is smart, a portable wi-fi device may still be worth buying and bringing along. Hotel wi-fi can be spotty, especially at conferences, while a portable device like Karma can also ensure you are ready to work during any unexpected downtime on the trip.

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5. Work from the Cloud. 

The ability to work from anywhere during a trip is further enabled if your documents and key software offerings are in the cloud. Google Docs is a great place to start since you can upload existing files and then access them from any device, anywhere with an Internet connection. And unlike more substantial cloud transitions, the use of Google Docs while on-the-go doesn’t necessarily need to be company-wide or permanent.

6. Schedule Strategically. 

Since business travel often revolves around meetings, be cognizant about spacing out different ones in different parts of the destination city. To prevent added stress, leave a substantial buffer between each meeting, especially since you should be prepared to work from just about anywhere and can make the most of those early minutes. And for some simple streamlining, try to book as many as possible over meals. Everyone has to eat anyway.

By prioritizing what needs to get done on the road, being smart about how it gets done, and getting all the right technology lined up, business trips can be just as productive as weeks in the office. All it takes is a little preparation and strategy.

The Best New Flight Routes in 2016

Published on by Sydney Aaliyah MichelleLeave a comment

This post was posted by theHipmunk on Hipmunk’s Tailwind blog on January 5, 2016. Screen-Shot-2016-01-05-at-5.02.07-PMIt’s not just the internet and smartphones that are bringing the world closer together. Airlines are expanding and adding more non-stop routes to their schedules, making it easier to get from A to B. In the new year, London residents will be able to fly direct to Crete and Biarritz on British Airways, and the United States and Canada will be easier to transverse with new flights from Air Canada. But the real stars of 2016 are the new long haul flights, the best of which are featured below.

Los Angeles (LAX) to Tokyo Haneda (HND) on American Airlines

After a prolonged battle that edged out Delta’s Seattle-Tokyo Haneda service, American Airlines has announced a direct flight from LAX to Tokyo’s Haneda Airport that will begin on February 11. American will partner with Japan Airlines to operate the flights on Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners. American already operates a flight from Los Angeles to Tokyo’s Narita International Airport, but Haneda is an hour closer to the city center and makes it far easier to connect to other regional Asia Pacific flights. Travelers should be aware that due to restrictions at Haneda, the flight arrives in Tokyo at 11pm and departs at 1:30am local time. Despite the odd schedule, the new flight will be add a new and convenient option for travelers trekking east. To take the hassle out of the late arrival, book a room at the Grand Pacific Le Daiba for a luxurious pad close to the airport.

Istanbul (IST) to Atlanta (ATL) on Turkish Airlines

In May 2016, Turkish Airlines will add a flight from Istanbul to Atlanta to its schedule. This is the third flight to the US that Turkish Airlines has launched in a year, and will complement their Istanbul-Miami flight (which started service in October 2015) and their Istanbul-San Francisco flight (April 2015). The flight will operate once a day from Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport to Istanbul Ataturk Airport, pushing in on Delta’s Atlanta hub. Turkish Airlines’ advances into the US market will help to connect American travelers to its huge network of 250 destinations worldwide.

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Los Angeles (LAX) to Sydney (SYD) on American Airlines

American Airlines makes the list again with its newly announced nonstop flight to Sydney, Australia, its first in 24 years. One of the major draws of the flight is the revamped cabin of the Boeing 777-300ER, which features first class beds that lie fully flat as well as an in-flight bar. Even those in economy will have touch screen entertainment systems with USB ports and power outlets. Service will begin December 17, 2015 and will be partnered with Australia-based Qantas Airlines. The flight will compete with with routes offered by Delta, United, Virgin Australia flights, as well as two a day from Qantas.

Doha (DOH) to Boston (BOS), Atlanta (ATL), and Los Angeles (LAX) on Qatar Airways

Qatar Airways has announced a major expansion into the American market. Flights from Doha will head to Los Angeles on January 1, Boston on March 16, and Atlanta on July 1. With these new flights, Qatar now offers service to the largest 10 metropolitan areas in the United States. They will also be adding a second daily flight to New York (which they have served since 2007) starting March 1. The flight from Doha to Los Angeles will be particularly long, clocking in at over 16.5 hours. As you book your next trip on these exciting new long haul flights, check out Hipmunk’s tips to stay happy and healthy on board.

Screen-Shot-2016-01-05-at-5.06.44-PMDubai (DBX) to Yinchuan (INC) and Zhengzhou (CGO) on Emirates

Expanding their service to five points in mainland China, Emirates has announced a new flight route from Dubai to Yinchuan’s Hedong International Airport. Beginning in May 2016, the route will fly four times a week, with a connecting leg continuing to Zhengzhou. If Yinchuan and Zhengzhou seem like smaller cities than Emirates’ other Chinese destinations — Beijing, Guangzhou, and Shanghai — that’s because they are. However, Yinchuan and Zhengzhou are two interior cities ranked among Asia’s fastest-growing metropolitan areas, and the new route will provide business travelers a quicker trip than before — and give Emirates a strategic leg up on Middle Eastern-to-East Asian air travel.