A while back I wrote about HotelPal, the great iPhone app that lets you find last minute accommodations based on your current location and budget. Now a similar iPhone app, Superbreak, is available for Europe.

The application allows users to search for a hotel by date, location, or specific hotel name, and searches can also be conducted using geo-code technology, allowing customers to find hotels near their current location. All 7,000 of Superbreak’s UK and European hotels can be booked through the app and it can handle the whole booking process from start to finish.

Search settings on the iPhone app

Property Information

Although I have not personally tested the app (I haven’t been in Europe recently), the screen shots of the app are so similar to those in HotelPal that I have little doubt it functions in quite the same manner, Read the rest of this entry »

A few months ago I was honored to be invited to become a member of Travel Insights 100, a panel of 100 travel experts that included activists, traditional media, independent travelers, and airline and hotel experts who have banded together to monitor travel insights and trends and share that information across the travel industry. Participants, who were hand selected by the folks at UpTake.com (the travel search engine that helps travelers decide where to go, where to stay, or what to do) were recently surveyed about their predictions for travel during the upcoming year.

Responses covered a wide range of issues, but several trends were evident. The following were the most oft repeated predictions; it will be interesting to track the insights to see if they come to pass in 2010:

Travel Insights

1. Travel will begin to recover  in 2010, driven in part by a pent-up demand from those who have put off traveling due to economic concerns, but travelers will continue to focus on discounts and promotional pricing. Most believe that discount airlines, hostels, and budget hotel chains will be the big beneficiary of this trend.
2. Several panel members believe that travelers will drive rather than fly whenever possible, as the airlines increase security measures and add-on fees. Many predict that airlines will continue to introduce new add-on fees in an attempt to squeeze the last penny out of the traveler, and one respondent predicts this will result in the government stepping in to regulate the practice.
3. Social media (Twitter in particular) will continue to reshape how destinations are promoted and companies will increase their participation in and creative use of social media.
4. With the world becoming an ever smaller place, there are no longer any “undiscovered” destinations, yet travelers increasingly desire authentic travel experiences. Most panel members believe this will result in an increase in cultural based tourism, home stays, eco-tourism, and volunteer travel.

An in a more humorous vein, participants gave us their dumbest moments in travel during the past year: Read the rest of this entry »

This song, by award-winning inspirational artists Wayne Burton and Jenny Jordan Frogley, so beautifully expresses what I wish for everyone in the coming year and beyond. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

It all began with “CowParade,” a public art display of giant fiberglass cows hosted by the City of Zurich, Switzerland in 1998. Decorated by local artists and then displayed all over the city, the sculptures were ultimately auctioned off to benefit charity. The event was so successful and well-received that it became the impetus for iconic public art displays all over the world.

Lone remainder of Chicago's CowParade, this bronze casting sits outside the Chicago Cultural Center

Sarasota clown sculpture

Chicago was the first to mimic the concept; in a nod to its history as a meat packing center, fiberglass cows were scattered throughout the Loop in 1999. Since then, scores of copy-cat events around the world have featured sculptures of whatever animal or item best represents the sponsoring city.

Sarasota, Florida, also known as Circus Capital of the World, chose clowns. The Outer Banks of North Carolina, during the centennial celebration of Wilbur and Orville Wright’s first motorized flight, attached metal wings to mustangs, merging “First Flight” with its reputation as home to one of the largest herds of Spanish mustangs still remaining in the wild. And in Miami’s South Beach, five-foot tall flamingos still peek from gardens and line the broad boulevards. The list goes on: Los Angeles sponsored angels; Hendersonville, North Carolina exhibited giant apples; and Norfolk, Virginia had mermaids. Read the rest of this entry »

With the festive season upon us, our Blogging Boomers Carnival this week focuses on all things holiday. Learn the history of the Winter Solstice and how its traditions still influence our yuletide, read about the new trends in Christmas cocktail dresses, hear what our boomers have to say about new movies released for the holiday season, and compare your New Year’s resolutions to Blogging Boomers Carnival members. Check out this list of holiday cheer at So Baby Boomer, our host for this week’s carnival.

San Juan Marriott Resort in Puerto Rico is saying Merry Christmas with a Twitter scavenger hunt that will provide a free three-day stay at the resort for five lucky winners.

Condado Beach, home to the San Juan Marriott

Beginning tomorrow morning and continuing for each of the five days leading up to Christmas, the hotel will tweet a holiday item at 10:00 a.m. EST.  The first Twitter follower who replies to @SanJuanMarriott each day with a picture of the item (via TwitPic, Tweetphoto or otherwise) will receive a complimentary three-day, two-night stay.

Additionally, anyone who tweets all five pictures of the requested scavenger hunt items (one per day) will Read the rest of this entry »

My friend Anil Polat, who also happens to author the fabulous travel blog foXnoMad.com, occasionally puts together fun travel contests for his readers. His latest is the “Cheesiest Travel Photo Contest,” which offers readers the opportunity to vote for their favorite cheesy photo among those sent in by readers. The owner of the photo voted the “cheesiest” will win a nice prize package. I passed on the opportunity to enter the contest the first time around, but when Anil decided to do it all over again I just couldn’t resist.

Despite the fact that I’m now 20 pounds thinner, I no longer have underarm wings , and I’ve let my hair grow out to its natural silver color, I sent him a photo of me (ugh!) at Angkor Wat in Cambodia, taken in 2007. You can check out all the photos right now and vote beginning on December 21st.; I’d sure appreciate your vote if you think my photo is the cheesiest!

What sets one resort apart from its competitors? A great location is always preferable. The physical condition of a property is also a factor. But for me, the most important quality is customer service and the proper training of staff. I am pleased to report that Marriott’s Curacao Beach Resort and Emerald Casino, which is hosting me for four days as part of their BlogParadise event, has all three: great location, exquisite facilities, and one of the best-trained staffs I have ever encountered.

Gigantic oceanfront pool at Marriott's Curacao Beach Resort

From the moment I arrived, it was obvious how service oriented the resort’s employees are, but at dinner last night I learned this is more than just training. I asked the resort’s Sales Manager, Yvette Schotting, to tell me what makes this resort so special. She turned to our waitress, another Yvette, for an answer.

“I have been here nine years and this is my family. Every year, many of the same people visit us and they are always so happy that I remember them from previous visits. I love my job.”

Family is fundamental to the Marriott story. Most management personnel started in entry-level jobs: the corporation’s President of International Lodging began his Marriott career as a night watchman and the Read the rest of this entry »

As you are reading this, I am winging my way to Curacao in the southern Caribbean, for a four day stay courtesy of Marriott Resorts. The press trip, appropriately named “Blog Paradise,” is sending nine bloggers to nine different resorts included in Marriott Resorts’ Paradise by Marriott Caribbean and Mexico collection to promote special limited-time offers at each of the properties.

Entrance to Marriott Curacao Resort and Emerald Casino

The promotion is different for each of the resorts; for example, at Marriott’s Curacao Resort and Emerald Casino, guests get the fourth night free and a free breakfast. Check out the other offers at the “Shake Up Paradise” website – just choose the preferred resort, click to shake up the giant snow globe, and watch as the offer is revealed.

I’ll be blogging about the trip, but for real-time impressions, events, and updates follow me on Twitter. All nine bloggers will be tweeting throughout the trip using the hashtag #BlogParadise. If you’d like to check out where the other eight bloggers are headed, follow the links to their blogs shown below:

Nancy D. Brown will be at J.W. Marriott Cancun Resort in Mexico Blog: Nancydbrown.com Twitter: @nancydbrown

Lisa Overman is headed for Aruba Renaissance Resort Blog: Wanderlustandlipstick.com Twitter: @islandstyle29

Aaron Hotfelder will be at Aruba Marriott Resort Blog: Gadling.com Twitter: @aaronhotfelder

Pam Mandel is winging to Casa Magna Cancun Resort in Mexico Blog: Nerdseyeview.com Twitter: @nerdseyeview

Chris Gray is off to St. Kitts Marriott Blog: caroundtheworld.com Twitter: @caroundtheworld

Robin Locker will stay at Grand Cayman Marriott Resort Blog: mymelange.net Twitter: @mymelange

Julie Schwietert will be visiting Frenchman’s Reef & Morning Star Marriott Beach Resort in St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands Blog: matadornetwork.com Twitter: @collazoprojects

Charyn Pfeuffer is headed for CasaMagna Marriott Puerto Vallarta Resort and Spa in Mexico Blog: hotelchatter.com Twitter: @global_gourmet

For now, I’m brushing up on the local lingo, so I’ll close by saying Ayo – Papiamento for goodbye.

Disclaimer: Although Marriott Resorts is providing this trip free of charge, including accommodations and airfare, my commitment, as always, is to write honestly about my experience.