Travel Like its 1999 in 2010

You've gotta love the instant convenience of the web. And I can't say enough about the iPhone app revolution. I can't imagine a life without these conveniences-turned 'necessities.'  Unless I'm camping or adventuring in the wild (both of which only happen about once a year), when traveling I always look for accommodation with wireless. Wifi makes me happy. It's in my comfort zone. I'm not anti-social, but sometimes I'd rather consult my urban spoon app than a hotel concierge for dinner suggestions. There's a flaw in this thinking though. I'm aware. The web's seemingly infinite info, can and sometimes does transform us into social hermits. But isn't travel about experiencing and connecting?

Maybe learning how to reconnect involves looking to the past? In the name of bringing some of the mystery and allure of the unknown back into the travel realm, here are a few ways to escape like its 1999 in 2010:

1. Gain local insight. Talk to your cab driver, server or bartender to get more insight into the place you're visiting, the culture and lay of the land. Sure, you can read World Fact Book before you go, but getting a local's insight is always more interesting, tip-worthy and dare I say: personal!
2. Ask for directions vs only consulting a map.  Sure, load google maps and get directions, but maybe there's value in asking someone at your hotel or a person for directions too.  Sometimes a local will know a faster or more interesting route to your destination taking you off the beaten path.
3. Talk...to people at your hotel or resort about what they've done or where they've eaten.  A) you might get to know someone cool and B) you might learn what to do or not to do while there!
4. Bye Bye comfort zone. Do something that takes you out of your comfort zone.  These days, we rarely venture into new territory because there's always reviews or write-ups to tell us what to expect, but sometimes this ruins the experience.  Go old-school and let your gut decide what to do and where to go!
5. Disconnect.  This is more 1999'ish' than 2010'ish', but disconnecting from cell phones and all things web-related, might encourage you to focus more on your destination vs the happenings of home life.  Case in point: every time I'm sitting at a hotel pool there's undoubtedly a loud-talking moron who a)likes to share their convo with the rest of the pool and b)won't get off their phone...don't be one of these people!  And if you do need to get on the phone, do so in your room or an inconspicuous corner of your hotel.  Enjoy your surroundings and embrace your destination!

Spotlight :: Springtime in the Emerald City

[trip style = urban + weekend getaway + sightseeing]

Good weather; check. Great hotel; check. Weekend with no plans; check. Seeing old friends; check. Meeting new friends; check.

Although I've been to Seattle many times, this time was different. This time I wanted to be a tourist, yet avoid tourist traps. So I did my own kind of sightseeing. The kind that allows you to see a city for what it really is (with hands-on experiences), and who it really is (sharing it with locals).

Stay Stay at The Fairmont Olympic, the Pacific Northwest's only AAA, 5-Diamond Hotel. Although the Seattle area has other great hotels like The W or Ace, staying at the Olympic immerses you in Seattle's past. Open since 1924, the hotel icon's old-world charm is a stark contrast to the city's West Coast architecture and laid-back vibe. Don't miss having a drink in the hotel's lobby bar Friday or Saturday night. The pianist's sweet sounds make you wish you were crooning in a karaoke bar. [see my fairmont olympic + other hotel reviews here]

Do/Eat Coffee/Neighborhood Walk/Breakfast Not sure if it was the coffee culture or the crisp, spring morning, but I was raring to go at 7am. Talk about making the most of the day. First up, I grabbed a coffee at Verite and walked around Madrona, an adorable, yet sophisticated neighborhood 10 mins outside of the city. Enjoying the peace of the morning, the sunrise sparkling over the water, the scent of blooming flowers and the mix of modern and tudor-style homes made my morning picture-perfect, no joke, see pics below. Apres my jolt of caffeinedecaff, I made my way to my fave brunch spot, Hi-Spot Cafe. *Make sure you order something that can be paired with their amazing raspberry jam. It's so good that once I'd eaten my jam-infested english muffin, I hid myself from other restaurant patrons and savored the rest of the jam avec spoon.

Pier/Pike/Starbucks We all know Seattle is the birthplace of Starbucks, the little coffee shop turned worldwide, caffeinated sensation. But, did you know that the first-ever Starbucks is located near Pike Place Market? But first, the pier. Walking along the pier is not only a quintessential Seattle experience, but doing so, you'll also pass shops, restaurants, the Seattle Aquarium and the SAM Olympic Statue park.  Once you've had your fill of wind-in-your-hair, ocean-front walking, head up the hill to Pike Place Market.  The eclectic and thriving mix of vendors may wow you as much as the famed fish-tossing. Once you've watched the 'fish throwers' launch dead fish like Seattle Seahawks quarterbacks, head to the original Starbucks [1912 Pike Pl, Seattle, WA 98101] to grab a java. [fish tossing starts 17 secs in]

Lunching and Shopping One great way to see the downtown core is to lunch and shop. There are multiple restaurants in the shopping district, so stop into any of them to fuel-up. To get your shopping fill, visit the flagship Nordstrom or gaze at the Chihuli [instigator of Pacific Northwest glass movement] installation in Barney's.

Evening Dinner and Drinks Don't miss Black Bottle, a corner eatery and watering hole where the industrial design and downtown vibe makes the flatbread taste better than it already is. After dinner a dear friend of mine made a reservation for a few people (tourists and locals) at Zig Zag Cafe. When I told the Fairmont driver where I was going, he said "oh, Zig Zag has the best bartender in the city." Perfect! This out-of-the-way resto-lounge has grown by word of mouth and loyal clientele. At 8.30pm it's dead, by 11pm it's so busy I can't hear myself speak. Given my late lunch and early dinner, I didn't order much, but the appetizers and pastas are well known. Either way, I'm more than satisfied with our server's drink suggestion: the French 76---now in my cocktail hall of fame book---which I should really start.

Healthy on the Road :: Break Routine, Not Activity

Keeping active while travelling will bring you home feeling refreshed and ready to get back into your regular routine!

Don't Let Travel Sabotage your Exercise Efforts Whatever your reason for travel may be–-business or pleasure--it is safe to say that routine is tossed out the window, and more often than not, exercise goes with it. Whether you regularly exercise, or intend to start, travel can sabotage your efforts…but it doesn’t have to be that way! Unfortunately, when we toss exercise, we are also saying farewell to great energy, reduced stress level, clear thinking, good circulation, good mood, refreshing sleep…you catch my drift.

Inactivity Does Not Lead to Refreshment Routine is important and definitely has a place in our lives, but the reality is, we all get bored if we keep doing the same thing; however, inactivity does not lead to refreshment…in fact, if you don’t engage in some physical activity, you will likely return home tired and daunted by the idea of starting up your exercise routine again.

Transportable Exercise So …how about not stopping? How about embracing a style of exercise that is different, doable, fun, and transportable? How about having an array of options rather than a rigid routine that requires your regular gym, or trainer, or specific pieces of equipment? It doesn’t need to be a battle. It can be fun and invigorating. It could involve doing your regular, favourite activities in a different environment, or it could involve trying something completely new.

So, staying true to the importance of foresight (highlighted in last month’s post), here’s an idea for you: before setting off on your next trip, make a list of activities you could do at your destination, to engage in at least 30 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity (get a mild sweat going) or 60 minutes of light activity (e.g. strolling), each day you are away. Here are some ideas to get you started:

• Walk whenever you can. You will need more than flip flops…pack your sneakers.
• Purchase a pedometer before you go and simply be conscious of gathering the recommended number of daily steps (10,000) over the course of your day (no need to do anything more).
• Choose excursions which involve physical activity.
• PLAY – tennis, body surf, volleyball, dance…have fun!
• Swim…don’t forget to throw a cap, goggles and appropriate swimwear into your bag.

In the months to come, our Healthy on the Road series will take a closer look at some of these ideas. In the meantime, make that list, choose what appeals to you, or speak with a personal trainer about designing a program for you to take on the road.

[Stay tuned for more Healthy on the Road posts on the first Thursday of every month, written by our resident expert, Leah Munday, owner of OTfit.ca.]

Obsession with Airline Seats

Airline seat assignments have always been something we get picky about. Why wouldn't we? When we're traveling like sardines, the little things start to count: aisle vs window or visa versa, near or far from a toilet, front of the plane vs the back, sitting in an exit row, etc...

Ever since booking travel became something everyone could do, seat assignments have become even more top of mind. Sometimes it seems like it's the only thing left that's customizable--yet some discount airlines now charge for assigned seats, while Continental has started a naughty trend of charging for exit row seats. Wow.

Either way, based on our obsession with choosing the right airline seat, sites like seatguru.com, seatexpert.com and airlinequality.com have sprung-up to help consumers pinpoint the best seats for their plane type. These sites are so granular that they'll even tell you about misaligned windows, exact leg-room measurements and seats that only partially recline.

Example Seat 25J on a Hawaiian Airlines 767-300 v2 Class: coach Seat Type: recliner & exit row Power: no Video: no Seat 25 J has a bit of extra legroom, but does not recline due to the exit behind. The tray table is in the armrest, making the armrest immovable and reducing the seat width. There is no floor storage during takeoff and landing. The close proximity of the lavatories can be bothersome.

Become an Airline Seat Expert Seat Guru I love the user-friendliness of this website. The example above is taken from this site--it's level of detail is astonishing.

SeatExpert Offering a similar service to Seat Guru, Seat Expert goes about providing seat information in a different, 3-step way. 1) enter airline, flight number and date of departure (don't worry if you forget all those details, the form even auto-completes). 2) multiple segments? no prob, you will be taken to a page where each leg is listed. Select the leg on which you are flying. 3) review the seat maps to see which are the best and worst seats on the plane. *If you know your flight number and departure date, this site is great for initial research, but make sure you also visit Seat Guru because in some cases, the information can be more detailed.

Airline Quality Like Trip Advisor, this website is completely user-generated with the world's largest selection of independent airline, airport, lounge and seat reviews for over 620 airlines and 645 airports.  Because the website is still growing some airline lounge reviews only consist of one or two contributions, but it's still helpful to browse.

Travel iPhone Apps :: Skype

I would be remiss if I did a travel iPhone app series and didn't mention skype, the ultimate way to connect with your contacts worldwide.  Skype is one of the most important apps I use during travel for a few reasons: 1) call your skype contacts for free 2) call or text your skype contacts and specify your caller ID 3) conduct business as usual (if you want), even on the road

Skype App Details

• free
• Free Skype-to-Skype calls from any WiFi zone.
• Call and text (SMS) phones and mobiles at great Skype rates.
• See who’s online and send and receive instant messages on the move.
• Receive incoming calls if you are signed-in.
• Works with the iPod touch if you are in a wi-fi zone and have a headset with speaker
• Create voice mail

Other Travel iPhone Apps we've Reviewed

• World Fact Book
• AAA/CAA Savings
• Royal Caribbean
• Tourism British Columbia :: Near Me BC
• Postman Postcard
• 2010 Guide
• Nat'l Geo World Atlas
• hostelworld.com
• kayak first class
• flight control (game)