Couples Retreat may have topped the box office with $35.3m over the opening weekend, but it doesn’t really make the case for vacation therapy.
In fact, this Vince Vaughn starrer goes the other way – and suggests that the best way to save your marriage is to escape from the wacky Couples Retreat staff and the weird yoga techniques (filmed at the St. Regis Resort in Bora Bora). You end up at a singles resort instead, get sloshed, scream and shout at your spouse and then a round of make-up sex solves all your problems. Read More »
How about a free trip for two to Miami? Includes airfare, four nights in a pet-friendly hotel, a spa/ relaxation package for you and your pet (optional), an air boat tour of the Everglades, and $500 spending money. Sound good? Great. Let’s go.
Petfinder.com Febreze Sweepstakes
Before you start packing, though, there’s a small catch – Two, actually. First, you need a pet. Oh, so now you want a pet? And secondly, you need to win the Petfinder.com sweepstakes. The ‘Petfinder Sends You and Your Pet Packing’ Sweepstakes is sponsored by Febreze, a pet odor eliminator which sends pet odor packing.
Tell you what - Why don’t you go out and get yourself a nice German Shepherd Dog puppy? They have these pointy ears and they’re very loyal and strong. And did I mention intelligent and obedient?
If you win the sweepstakes, you+guest+afore-mentioned GDS pup will be enjoying the oceanview and the beaches, barking your way through Lincoln Road, trying to strangle the nutty parrots in Jungle Island, herding baby sea turtles towards the ocean, and enjoying the hedonistic pleasures of Mango’s Tropical Cafe. All for free!
If you don’t win, no worries – Febreze is handing out free bottles of Pet Odor Eliminator to 40 runners-up. If it’s just not your day, and you lose out even on the free bottle, well… Look on the bright side – you have a very smart German Shepherd Dog to help you find the hustler who tricked you into getting a dog that eats more than your entire family put together.
NCAA March Madness Logo (photo courtesy NCAA.com and CBSSports.com)
Zero. That is the collective number of college basketball games I have watched this season. Yet, come next week, I’m sure that I will be counted among the millions of Americans contributing to the estimated $1.7 billion dollar productivity drain (thanks NCAA.com and CBSSports.com) during this springtime basketball tournament frenzy known everywhere as March Madness.
Selection Sunday is March 15 and opening round games are scheduled around the country beginning in Dayton, OH with the “play-in” game March 17. The play-in game pits the 64th and 65th ranked teams against each other. The winner of that game goes on to the regular tournament where in all likelihood they shall be soundly beaten by a far superior team. That’s just how it works.
Here’s the tournament schedule at a glance. Although tickets may be scarce, your best bet for seeing any of the games live would be the first and second rounds or the regionals. Follow the city links below for lodging options in each of the host cities as well as interesting game alternatives while you’re there.
Games will be played at the Greensboro Coliseum. If you’re traveling with the kids, make sure to give them a break and head over to the Greensboro Children’s Museum for a fun filled, hands-on and interactive learning experience.
Games are scheduled at the Sprint Center. Allow some extra time to visit the Kansas City Zoo while you’re there. It was voted one of America’s 60 Best in 2008.
Games will be played at the Wachovia Center of St. Joseph’s University. No trip to Philly would be complete without a trip to Independence National Historical Park to see the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall where our Constitution was drafted.
The Liberty Bell in Independence National Historic Park (photo ushistory.org)
Games will be at the American Airlines Arena of Florida International University. Of course, Miami is a top Spring Break Destination so bring your trunks and floaties. Hit the beach with your downtime. That should go without saying.
Games to be held at the HHH Metrodome of the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities. Two words: Mall of America. (Of doesn’t count.) While there, make sure to see the world’s largest underground aquarium Underwater Adventures.
Regionals: Thursday and Saturday March 26 and 28, 2009
Games will be held at the TD Banknorth Garden, home of the Bruins and Celtics. While in Boston be sure to check out the Freedom Trail a three mile walk through downtown Boston that links 16 historical sites.
The Old North Church Steeple Boston, MA (photo courtesy oldnorth.com)
Games will be at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Az. I hear the South Mountain Park Scenic Drive is a great way to experience some of Arizona’s beautiful scenery and to boot–it’s free.
Regionals: Friday and Sunday March 27 and 29, 2009
Games are scheduled at the new (in 2008) Lucas Oil Stadium. The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis ranks as one of the best in the country. It’s a definite if you go to Indy with the kids.
The Children's Museum of Indianapolis (photo via web public domain)
If your team has made it this far, congratulations. If you’ve made it this far, congratulations again. There’s much to see and do in the Motor City and while the games from here on out promise to be nothing short of spectacular make sure to take a break see some of what Detroit has to offer.
The Road Ends Here Detroit, MI 2009 NCAA Final Four
Oh, and coming off a perfect season (perfect 0 and 16, that is) I’m fairly certain you can get a pretty good deal on Lions Season Tickets while you’re there.
One of my favorite things to do when visiting a new city is walk along the streets with my camera pointed at the sky. My traveling companions will often admonish that I “look like a tourist!”, to which I reply, “I am a tourist!”
Miami Beach’s South Beach offers a unique and distinct skyline rich with history and pop culture folk lore.
The Carlyle in South Beach
Any self guided walking tour through the Art Deco Historic District should include a look at (and several pictures of) these buildings:
The Carlyle Hotel – this art deco building has been featured in many films, including The Birdcage and Scarface and is still a sought after location for photo and movie shoots. In fact, it’s not uncommon to see fashion shoots taking place on the sidewalk in front of the building as you walk by. The Carlyle is now home to private, luxury condos – so you’ll have to take your pictures from the sidewalk.
The National Hotel – located on Collins Avenue, this hotel has hosted glamorous events by MTV and fashion magazines. The palm tree lined infinity pool at the back of the lobby provides a postcard perfect photo opportunity.
The National Hotel in Miami Beach
The Infinity Pool at The National
The Ritz Carlton – right next door to The National, this unique Ritz property blends in perfectly with the art deco towers on either side of it.
Casa Casuarina – the infamous former mansion of Gianni Versace, this luxurious building was all the site of Versace’s highly publicized murder in 1997. Despite it’s gruesome past and break from the classic art deco, it still serves as an excellent testament to the rich architectural history and a must see spot in Miami Beach.
Colony Hotel – a shining example of the impact of neon lights on the South Beach skyline, the Colony Hotel is frequently featured in photographs. The building’s tacky blue glow at night could only appear at home on Ocean Drive.
Room with an Art Deco View
While these are just a few of the highlights and notorious spots to enjoy in South Beach, nearly every building you come across has an architectural story to tell. I’m using that as my excuse for taking about 200 pictures in roughly 2 hours.
For those visitors looking for more than a pretty picture, The Miami Design Preservation League offers a variety of tours and historical information about the buildings you’re gawking at.
Sometimes the best thing about writing about travel is getting ripped off – and knowing you’ll get to tell people about it later. I had to remind myself of this on a recent trip to South Beach.
It was my first exposure to the Miami restaurant experience, and while I will definitely be back to South Beach and eat out on Ocean Drive again, I will keep these tips and lessons learned in mind and hopefully save myself several hundred dollars.
Ocean Drive is the place to eat in South Beach. The sidewalks are lined with rows and rows of umbrellas and tables offering dining al fresco and world class people watching. Navigating Ocean Drive means walking directly in the middle of the open air restaurants – and coming face to face with an aggressive sales pitch.
Hostesses, waiters, bartenders and restaurant managers will shout specials and bargains at you as you walk from one cafe to another. Hostesses will hand you business cards and promise you free drinks and special seating if you come back.
It seems like a dream for a diner looking for a great deal!
Until you get an $800 bill with prices you’ve never seen and items you’ve never heard of.
How can you really save money eating out in South Beach?
1. Read the signs, ignore the waitress.
This is common sense, right? But when you’re being led to a table and a waiter is using words like “half off everything” and you confirm “half off everything?” you assume that means “half off everything”. In reality, “half off everything” usually means “sit down, eat, we’ll worry about the bill later”.
The actual sale, along with the terms and conditions, are printed on large signs on the sidewalk. Usually what you’ll find is that only drinks and select menu items are on sale. Every restaurant is offering something different, so be sure to read the sign at the cafe you finally sit down at.
Yes. I know. This should be common sense.
2. Ask for comps and freebies.
Competition is fierce among Ocean Drive restaurants, especially with a struggling economy and slow tourist seasons. Don’t be afraid to use this to your advantage.
Remind one hostess that their neighbor has offered you a complimentary bottle of wine or round of drinks. But be realistic and remember that their goal is to make money. A free round of drinks or appetizers is a reasonable request – a free steak and lobster dinner is not.
Confirm whatever freebies you’re promised with another staff member to avoid another surprise on your bill later!
3. Avoid off menu items.
Whether it’s an appetizer or a chef’s special, this is where South Beach restaurants capitalize on the tourist’s “sure! whatever! I’m on vacation!” attitude. On my recent visit, the final cost of the “special”, unlisted appetizers was three times the price of similar menu items.
Ask the price of everything. Do not assume that the prices on the menu are a fair indication of the prices of everything being pitched to you.
I paid over $100 for a special entree that normally sold for $42 on the menu. Needless to say, it was not included in the “half off everything” sale.
For all of my complaining about shady marketing and outrageous billing practices, the food on South Beach is phenomenal. The seafood is fresh and everything is perfectly prepared. The service is slow – I suspect because the waiters are doubling as salespeople – but most staff you’ll run into are friendly. The experience would have been just about perfect if I had known what I was getting into ahead of time and been a little less naive.
I guess even in Miami the old adage holds true. If it seems too good to be true, it probably is.
I would never suggest that you visit an airport with your children just for fun. However, if you are stranded at an airport on your way home from holiday travel, let it be known that some of them have incredibly cool features that will help you kill the time and burn off the kids’ energy so they will pass out on the airplane. Just don’t let them visit the ubiquitous airport candy store.
My holiday gift to you is a list, below, of links to the major US airlines and their hub airports. Chances are, if you are traveling across the country, you may have to set foot in one of them, and you may even have to spend many of your precious hours there. To all of our delight, I am sure, the city editors of Being Savvy, a guide for parents of preschoolers, have found interesting ways to kill time with children of all ages at many of these airports.
Do not be intimidated by the links. Find your airline, then find the airport you where you will be sleeping changing planes.
There’s three places you can go to for a spa vacation – Palm Springs and Napa Valley in California and South Beach in Miami, Florida. And the best of the lot are in South Beach. These are more like luxury retreats than simply spa treatment providers. Every oceanfront resort on South Beach has a magnificient spa with oceanview treatment rooms and sun decks.
Best part is that these are not run-of-the-mill resorts, but upscale luxury resorts like the Mandarin Oriental, frequented by A-list stars from the West Coast and celebrities who want to getaway from the limelight and relax in the heat and enjoy ‘other’ kinds of heat. The resort is located on Brickell Key, with a private beach and beach club and views of Biscayne Bay. And you can’t enjoy all this if you’re staying in the hotel, or a paying customer at the spa.
The 15,000 sq ft spa at the Mandarin Oriental in Miami has 17 different treatment rooms, with 6 spa suites and floor to ceiling windows overlooking the bay. Facilities at the spa include separate male and female sauna and steam rooms, fully equipped fitness center, manicure and pedicure facilities, and outdoor massages for both single cutomers and couples, which are offered in private cabanas at the resort’s Oasis Beach Club. The spa employs expert masseuses specially flown in from Thailand.
Oh, and one more thing. The Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau had organized a ‘Miami Spa Month’ for July 2008. Based on popular demand, the spa month has been extended beyond July, and is now valid until the end of August, with good chances of being extended further. During this period, you can get special treatments for $99 at Miami’s premier spas. Here’s the list of participating spas (includes the Spa at the Mandarin Oriental). If you go through the list, you’ll see what I mean when I say that most all major Miami hotels have a great spa in-house.
There’s three places you can go to for a spa vacation – Palm Springs and Napa Valley in California and South Beach in Miami, Florida. And the best of the lot are in South Beach. These are more like luxury retreats than simply spa treatment providers. Every oceanfront resort on South Beach has a magnificient spa with oceanview treatment rooms and sun decks.
