Tag: travel coach

London A to Z

On By Travels with MelindaIn adventure, London, Travel, travel apps, travel essentials, travel hacks, travel tips, travelling, UK2 Comments

I love London! We’ve been several times for both business and pleasure and plan to go back in 2024 for a 40-night pet sit. It’s a city filled with history, great food and shopping and everything else you could want in a European city. When a friend told me that they had recently gotten a trip to London for their birthday (lucky La Shanda!), I thought I would put together a comprehensive A to Z list for her and anyone else visiting London soon including us. Enjoy the journey!

GETTING TO/FROM AIRPORT

London’s major airport is Heathrow (LHR) but close by is also Gatwick (LGW). Both airports have public transportation options to get from the airport to the city. Get all the info here: Trains To & From London Heathrow Airport – Maps, Tickets | Rail Europe

I’ve used a car service as well, which is the nice and more expensive option vs. public transportation but necessary if you have lots of luggage or have accessibility issues. We’ve used this service-book online: https://www.blacklane.com/en/car-service-london/

GETTING AROUND WITHIN LONDON CITY TRANSPORTATION

London, like any big city, has terrible traffic almost all the time. If you have booked tickets and need to be somewhere at a specific time, plan ahead and leave LOTS of extra time to get there. Using the travel apps like Rome2Rio or Citymapper, compare your options and add one hour to your travel time.

It’s always best to walk, which will be faster than almost any ground transportation due to the traffic. Next best options are buses (double-decker ones are fun!) and the Underground aka the Tube (subway). For both, you should have Apple Pay or Google Pay on your phone/smart watch to tap at the turnstiles to pay. Otherwise, you are fumbling for a credit card to tap, and you probably don’t want to have that out and about with other people nearby who could snatch it (yes, it happens so be smart). You don’t buy paper tickets anymore-it’s all tap to pay here.

Consider staying in Zone 1 or 2 if you will be using the Tube daily. Remember, “mind the gap” to get on/off the subway and “look left” when crossing the street. Review this before you go: How to use the London Underground: Tips & tricks – Tripadvisor

If you really have to get a car ride, then go with Uber first and, as a last resort, a taxi. Why? Well, with Uber you have a fixed price when you input the pickup and drop off locations. It is in the best interest of the driver to get you there quickly with Uber. With the taxi, you are on a meter and the driver may or may not take a direct route. We tried both and always the Uber would have been cheaper by 20% or so. When using Uber, find a landmark like a hotel or restaurant and get the address to enter into the Uber app and make it easy for the driver to find you. Our average wait time for an Uber in London was 5-10 minutes.

Uber boats go up and down the Thames-in good weather, a fun way to get around London and avoid the terrible street traffic. Just tap on and off. Thames River Cruises & London Boat Trips – Uber Boat by Thames Clippers

TRAVEL APPS

Google maps works well in London.

Citymapper App-best transport app of London. Makes public transportation easy. Shows you prices too.

Use the GETT app to get taxi’s. Especially for short distances, they are convenient. Taxi’s can use the bus lanes and Uber can’t so taxi’s can get you there quicker.

TfL Go app for Tube travel. Shows map of various lines and tells about cancellations. Tap on a Tube station on the map to see facilities like lifts and bathrooms.

WhatsApp to call and do video chats with those back home. Free! Also some restaurants use to make reservations.

WHERE TO STAY:

Hotels:

St. Ermin’s is elegant, historic and has the best service I’ve experienced at a hotel. Great location with easy walk to Big Ben and other landmarks. Historic Luxury 4-star Hotel in Central London | St. Ermin’s Hotel (marriott.com)

The Tower Hotel (get a room with a view of the Tower Bridge) https://thetowerhotellondon.com/

Sarova-Rembrandt Hotel: https://www.sarova-rembrandthotel.com/

Serviced luxury apartments https://theharrington.com/stay

GREAT VIEWS:

Book tickets to the Sky Garden. It’s free and we have great memories there. You need to book in advance but it’s worth the effort. https://skygarden.london

The Shard-London’s tallest building The Shard: Inspiring change (the-shard.com)

London Eye The lastminute.com London Eye: The Official Tickets Website

Parliament Hill for best view of city Parliament Hill, London – Wikipedia

SITES/TOURS:

Parliament Tour Tours – UK Parliament

Tower of London Tower of London | Historic Royal Palaces (hrp.org.uk)

Westminster Abbey A royal church | Westminster Abbey (westminster-abbey.org)

Happy Potter Tour Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter (wbstudiotour.co.uk)

Buckingham Palace https://www.rct.uk/visit

St. Paul’s Cathedral St Paul’s Cathedral | St Paul’s Cathedral (stpauls.co.uk)

Hampton Court Palace https://www.hrp.org.uk/hampton-court-palace/#gs.msyc38

Alexandra Palace Amazing Things To Do at Alexandra Palace

London Walks Contact Us – London Walks Harry Potter walk; ghost tour; historical walk

MUSEUMS:

All national museums in the UK are free but check online in case you need to reserve tickets because they restrict the # of people at any given time. Special exhibits may cost. Donations encouraged. Use Smartify App to scan paintings and learn more about the art.

PARKS: (locals hang out in the parks on nice day-rent bikes and ride around to see more!)

  • Hyde Park
  • St. James Park
  • Hampstead Heath/Parliament Hill-view of skyline
  • Holland Park-Kyoto garden
  • Diana Memorial
  • Kew Botanical Garden there is entrance fee https://www.kew.org/

RESTAURANTS/BARS:

Pret-A-Manger is fast food and delicious. For coffee and pastries, takeaway (this is how they ask for “to-go”) cold sandwiches which are fresh and tasty or hot soups and sandwiches. Very affordable $5 euros for wrap that is plenty big. Great veggie options.

PUBS:

MARKETS:

AFTERNOON TEA: (a “must do” while in London!)

SHOPPING:

We aren’t big shoppers but I had always wanted to see the inside of Harrod’s so off we went after a look at the Microsoft Experience Center on Regent Street (my former employer). All I can say is that the retail sector looks strong in London. The streets were packed with shoppers going here and there like back before the pandemic. Harrod’s is fancy and the shoppers there were dropping thousands of dollars on designer bags, jewelry and perfume. Taking the main center escalators, you will see beautiful displays throughout the store. The food market has great takeaway food (no tables to eat there!) including yummy jams, candies and crackers to take back home. In the basement is the Herrod Gift Shop where the affordable items area including a Christmas area, lots of Harrod’s branded items and such. If you have room in your luggage, go for it and buy, buy, buy!

Typical London Shopping Hours but check with each store before you go:

Mon – Wed: 9:30am – 7pm, Thu: 9:30am – 8pm, Fri: 9:30am – 7pm, Sat: 10am – 7pm, Sun: 12pm – 6pm

ACTIVITIES/DAY TRIP:

SPORTS EVENTS:

THEATER:

When we lived in NYC, we tried to go to a Broadway show almost every week. London has a lively theater scene so we booked tickets to see Book of Mormon at the Prince of Wales theater. This theater was compact with maybe 25 rows on the main floor and then several balconies over it. So small but tall and probably no bad seats in the house. Upon entering, you can grab a drink and relax in the lobby where they had tables/seats which you would not find at a Broadway theater. I love to collect bar cups branded for each Broadway show we attend but here just regular plastic cups for my wine but way cheaper than Broadway ($6 vs. $20 I’m used to in NYC).

You can take drinks into the theater to enjoy while you watch the show. Book of Mormon was hilarious with talented singers/dancers/actors. In NYC we are used to going to the TKTS booth in Times Square the day of the show and getting good deals but here I’ve been using the TodayTix app for good pricing you can get in advance of the day you go-usually 20-40% off depending on the seats you want.

Get your tickets online at and never pay full price:

Bernina Express-Swiss Alps by Train

On By Travels with MelindaIn adventure, Bernina Express, Switzerland, train travel, Travel, travel tips, travelling, Uncategorized, vacation, Zurich2 Comments

When we decided to splurge and go to the Bruce Springsteen concert in Zurich, I knew I wanted to schedule time to check out the rest of Switzerland while we were there, one of the countries I had always wanted to go to. Growing up in flat Indiana, mountains have always fascinated me. After spending a fantastic evening with Bruce in Zurich in June, we set out on the train for a quick one-hour ride to Chur, Switzerland to spend the night and then pick up the Bernina Express the next day. We were off to cross the Alps!

Setting off in the early afternoon from Chur, we were fortunate to have a clear day for our journey. The highest railway across the Alps, the train climbs higher and higher with spectacular views on both sides. There are large panoramic windows for unobstructed viewing and picture taking. In our car, people were jumping up and running from side to side to take pictures and everyone was very friendly. We met lovely folks from Australia and Canada. I always enjoy hearing about other people’s travels all over the world! Every time I thought I couldn’t possibly take another picture, there was something else so impressive I had to whip out my phone. Along the way, the train goes through 55 tunnels, over 196 bridges and takes inclines of up to 70 per mile with ease. I’ll let my pictures take you on this journey so you can also experience the beauty of the Alps.

Not surprisingly, this amazing railway line has UNESCO World Heritage status so it will be preserved and cherished. As we passed by the many glaciers, one does wonder what impact climate change will have on this area of the world. It is a continuous journey, but passengers were able to hop off the train for all of two minutes to take pictures at one stunning stop where there was a restaurant. Our first-class tickets were $250 USD each and well worth it. Of course, when I booked our tickets online, I thought I was getting a real deal because they were only $26 euros each. Turns out, in the fine print was a vaguely worded statement that this charge was for “reserving” the seats and that I should have then gone on to pay (somewhere?) an additional $110 euros for the actual train tickets. Luckily, they didn’t throw us off the train on a mountainside and we were able to straighten this out on the train with the attendant who swung through to scan everyone’s tickets and she just took our credit card there and charged us. Next time, I will make sure to dig deeper and read all the details. No other train travel had a separate charge to reserve seats so live and learn!

We had waiter service to order snacks and beverages. They also passed out lovely souvenir Bernina Express chocolate tins. My grandkids will love them! I would recommend going online and securing your tickets as soon as you know your travel dates. Our train was sold out. In talking to fellow travelers, they had all dreamed of this trip and had planned their vacations around taking it.

Eventually, the train came down from the Alps and ended in Tirano, Italy. There we picked up another train immediately to take us to Milan where we would be flying home the following day. This train segment was very scenic as it wound around the many lakes in Northern Italy. What an adventure! I really feel like I saw the best of Switzerland after our stays in Basel, Zurich, Chur and our final scenic Alps trip on the Bernina Express. Enjoy the journey!

Review of Homes & Villas by Marriott

On By Travels with MelindaIn Airbnb, Homes & Villas by Marriott, marriott, Travel, travel tips, Uncategorized24 Comments

As a loyal and longtime Marriott Bonvoy traveler, I have always used Marriott hotels for my shorter (week or less) stays around the world. For longer trips, I stay at Airbnb’s for more space and a kitchen, washer/dryer, etc. When I found out that Marriott had started renting apartments/homes, I was so excited to switch from Airbnb to Marriott. What could go wrong? The ability to earn Marriott Bonvoy points on long stays-sign me up! How could it not be a better experience than Airbnb when Marriott was willing to put their global brand on the program? I do expect high standards with the Marriott brand and have rarely been let down on my global hotel stays. Unfortunately, my first experience with Homes & Villas by Marriott in Paris was disappointing at best. Marriott-do better. Please.

When we arrived after a very long day/night of travel and the house cleaner was still working away at cleaning the Paris apartment, we rented for our Girls Trip 2023 (finishing the clean after the official check-in time) and I quickly spied a huge spider that I had to kill with my shoe, I cringed. Yikes-this might not be the upscale experience I expected.

Launched in 2019 to appeal to their Bonvoy customers who want a travel brand that they trust but the space and amenities of an apartment/home, Marriott needs to improve in order to keep customers like me coming back. With that in mind, here is my feedback on my stay for Marriott:

  • Show customer ratings and reviews like Airbnb. Customers tell it like it is, both good and bad. I would not have rented this expensive apartment had there been customer reviews which described the neighborhood. Our block included a boisterous group that met every night on the corner under our windows (which had to be open-no a/c). It was crazy loud until the wee hours every single night.
  • Ensure that every apartment comes with a manual (similar to Airbnb) so that you don’t have to watch a YouTube video to learn how to use the combo washer/dryer, which we had to do. I had to take a picture and send to the property management company to translate the front panel.
  • Conduct Marriott property visits to ensure that appropriate ongoing maintenance is being done by local property management companies. Our apartment had duct tape holding cabinets together due to broken door hinges, peeling paint on the bedroom wall and kitchen appliances (oven and dishwasher) that didn’t work. These issues do not create a “premium and luxury” experience for the traveler.
  • Under promise, over deliver. If you are going to promise High-Speed Wi-Fi, television and kitchen essentials, then you better make sure these are indeed included. Our apartment had slow Wi-Fi that negatively impacted our ability to work remotely and enjoy entertainment since the television only had local channels all in French, the bedroom televisions hadn’t even been set up, and the Wi-Fi wasn’t strong enough to use our technology to stream shows via Google Chromecast.

Below is Marriott’s program statement detailing the travel experience they offer with Homes & Villas. I was looking forward to enjoying this premium experience in Paris. I did not get it:

Marriott’s published program statement: Homes & Villas by Marriott Bonvoy offers a curated and growing collection of premium and luxury whole home rentals located in prime destinations throughout the world. Leveraging Marriott International’s deep knowledge in delivering exceptional hospitality experiences, each home is professionally managed and meets the company’s design, cleanliness, safety and amenity standards. Homes & Villas by Marriott Bonvoy is part of the Marriott Bonvoy travel program, providing numerous benefits to both property management companies and travelers. Members of Marriott Bonvoy can earn and redeem points at all homes, providing more choice for a range of travel needs as a complement to Marriott International’s core hotel business.

Three Days in Zurich

On By Travels with MelindaIn adventure, swiss, Switzerland, Travel, Uncategorized, ZurichLeave a comment

Swans everywhere! That was my first impression as we walked the Zurich waterfront in June. With sunny weather, everyone was enjoying the cafes and strolling the clean Zurich streets. We were primarily in Zurich to see a Bruce Springsteen concert but wanted to soak up as much Zurich as possible in our three-night stay. We walked the waterfront, explored the old town curvy cobblestone streets and thoroughly enjoyed beautiful Zurich!

First on our list after taking the train from Basel to Zurich, was to check into our hotel and find Lake Zurich by walking along the Linth River. The Swiss public transportation system is topnotch. It didn’t take us long to find the tram stop by our hotel which was fairly far out of the central district but very close to the stadium where the concert would be held. Just tap to pay at any tram stop for a 24-hour pass (9 francs) and off you go! It was about 20-minute ride to the waterfront. We checked out the gorgeous views of the water and the alps peeking through the haze. Then it was off to walk Old Town. The cobblestone streets winded up and down with beautiful architecture everywhere you look. It was a Sunday, so all the shops and most of the cafes were closed and thus we window shopped.

Back at the hotel, there was an outdoor food truck park with bars, entertainment and every kind of food you could think of to choose from. Set in the middle of an industrial park area, it was surprising to see how many people had gathered to enjoy this colorful installation. I love finding hidden gems like this as we wander a new place.

While we spent most of our first full day hunting for luggage to buy after my carry-on busted a wheel (heavy use!), we also checked out the stadium, which we could walk to and enjoyed seeing the local neighborhoods. I will warn travelers to Zurich to bring along a large expense budget because the prices are very high. I would estimate that prices are at least 30% higher here than in most major cities in the US for food and clothes, luggage, etc. We finally found some affordable luggage at a Coop City which is a like a super Walmart that carries food and other items.

During our stroll around Zurich, we ended up on THE shopping street Bahnhofstrasse where all the designer shops are located as well as the mass merchants like Zara. Even if you budget doesn’t allow for shopping, the window displays are well done and it’s quite the place to be. Off the beaten track later, I stumbled upon the cutest linen shop where the lady showed me all her handmade items, and I bought a beautiful pillow cover for my collection. She was so proud of her work, and I felt wonderful buying one of her items to take home.

On the day of the concert, we took a long walk along the lakefront and stumbled upon not only beautiful lake views but a Chinese garden. Free to enter, the structures, ponds and landscape reminded us of our time living in China and was a beautiful way to enjoy the sunny day.

I give props to Switzerland for having not only fantastic public transportation (plentiful, cheap, clean) but also their well-maintained public parks and facilities. The landscaping is immaculate for everyone to enjoy being outside. The WC (water closets aka bathrooms) are spotless and placed around town. Keep $1 euro coins handy to enter and use the facilities.

Zurich is a major hub for train travel across Europe so if you find yourself going through this city in your travels, I would encourage you to take time to walk the water and enjoy the journey!

Down on the farm pet sit!

On By Travels with MelindaIn adventure, Boise, Dog, Idaho, pet sitting, Travel, travel apps, travel hacks, travel tips, travelling, Trusted Housesitter, Uncategorized1 Comment

After our successful pet sit in Seattle, we embarked on a totally different type of pet sit-down on the farm! Literally. As I shared previously, we have started a new adventure as pet sitters using the TrustedHousesitters app. We had a quick turnaround of almost two days home from the Seattle pet sit before we did our walkthrough with the home and pet owner in Idaho, about an hour away from our home in Boise. One of the first pieces of advice the owner shared: “If you see a cow in the yard, stay in the house and call neighbor XXX. They’ll come get it.” Good to know. Cows happen and you need to be ready!

Instead of walking a dog around an urban neighborhood and swinging by the coffee shop on the way home for an Americano, for this pet sit we checked in on the chickens, geese and horses while watching the four older dogs take their outdoor break wandering around the yard. The littlest pup could easily be a hawk snack, so we watched them closely and carefully while they were outside. No bird kidnapping on our watch!

The pups were all older (8-13 years old) and had an unparalleled capacity to sleep, preferably in a cushy pet bed or on the couch on top of fluffy blankets. What a life! Now, we have been dog owners forever so sitting a dog is in our wheelhouse. Chickens were a whole new experience for us! We collected the eggs every day and had a fresh farm to table (5-minute trip) breakfast every day. We learned that it is a thing to put golf balls into the laying bins to teach the chickens where to lay eggs. Who knew??? Well, now we all do. We just had to make sure they had feed and water and they existed quite well with the horses and geese who share their fenced-in pasture. The very loud geese let loose on us whenever we got close by vs. the horses who just grazed and chilled out. Another piece of advice the pet owner had-don’t get near the fence because the geese can stick their long necks through and nip you. Okay!

We enjoyed the beautiful views of the rolling hills and fields as well as spectacular sunsets and stars. The mosquitos that are almost big enough to carry the small pup away? Not so much but the owners left us several spray cans of repellent. While we love the urban lifestyle, it is refreshing to live in a way you would normally never get a chance to do. I think that is why pet sitting will be just wonderful for us. We get to see new places, love and care for new animals and explore different lifestyles. Next up, our London gig where we will be back walking only one dog (a breeze after caring for four dogs!) around an urban neighborhood. Hopefully, there will be a nice coffee shop close by and I’m sure there will be plenty of pubs. Enjoy the journey!

How does pet sitting through Trusted Housesitters work and how much does it cost? Well, first you have to be a paid member of Trusted Housesitters (join here and get 25% off-annual pricing membership varies from $189+). Membership includes a free background check. Post personal references, pictures and details about why you want to pet sit. When we were picking our pet sitters, we reviewed all the applicants and looked for people who had favorable recommendations from their previous pet sits. We would then narrow it down by connecting with the two best applicants by virtual chat (Zoom) or by phone to get to know them better before making a final decision. We would typically get multiple applicants depending on the location-we got a lot more interest from applicants when we lived in a beautiful apartment in Seattle than in our house in Boise. Both being the pet sitter and having a pet sitter come in to take care of your animals are free other than the annual membership fee. What a deal!

Travel Essential!

On By Travels with MelindaIn adventure, Shopping, Travel, travel essentials, travel hacks, travel tips, travelling, UncategorizedLeave a comment

Don’t leave home without this travel essential-the best blanket for travel! It’s red (comes in other colors too), soft, lightweight and oh so easy to pack into its zip cover that serves as a pillow. Perfect travel companion for those cold planes!

Prior to the annual Girls’ Trip 2023 to Paris, I field tested some travel essentials on my short trip to Seattle. There are so many things to consider when deciding what are “must haves” to travel with, especially given that I like to travel light with only a backpack and carry-on no matter how long the trip is going to be.

I enjoyed the “travel blanket pillow 2 in 1 combo” every single day on my trip including coming and going! Our plane ride was short, but it was so cold in that cabin. Everyone was eyeing my cozy red blanket that I pulled out of its cover that serves to make it also into a pillow. My fellow passengers were wishing they had this too! I love the luggage backpack strip that goes over the carry-on handle making it easy to transport my blanket.

Once we got settled into our Trusted Housesitters pet sit (see separate post on this great gig!), I used my travel blanket as my couch blanket. I’m used to having several blankets at our house to cuddle with so having this blanket made me feel more at home. One night in Seattle we went to an outdoor concert at Chateau St. Michelle and those PNW nights can get chilly. So, once again, the travel blanket easily went into my backpack and came out almost immediately to keep us both warm. It is big enough to cover two people-bonus! I’ve already washed it twice and it came out looking good. Want one for yourself? You can buy it here.

So, when you are considering how to stay comfortable on your next trip coming, going, and while you are there, take this cozy travel blanket with you! Enjoy the journey!

Check out the list of all my travel essentials here. My absolute “must have” is the crossbody bag you see above-I won’t leave home without it! Perfect size to carry everything you need for the day but not too heavy to hurt your back. If you click on the links and purchase products I recommend (all available through Amazon), you’ll get some really good stuff to enjoy on your journey, and I may earn an affiliate commission, but you won’t pay any more than the usual price Amazon charges. Cheers!

Lucerne and Mt. Pilatus

On By Travels with MelindaIn adventure, Basel, Lake Lucerne, Lucerne, swiss, Switzerland, Travel, travel tips, travelling, UncategorizedLeave a comment

Basel was the perfect home base to explore Switzerland! We stayed in Basel for a week, so one day we decided we need to get up close and personal with the mountains. The biggest mountain nearby was in Lucerne. So off to Mt. Pilatus we went! We didn’t plan too far in advance because we wanted to check the weather to ensure that we would probably have clear views from the mountain, and it wouldn’t be socked in with clouds or rain. We left in the late morning and spent about two hours on top of the mountain and then came down to enjoy a walk around Lucerne and a lake cruise. The perfect day blending water and mountains in Switzerland!

First stop was the lovely information store in Basel’s Old Town. There, you can pick up all kinds of printed information on Switzerland attractions, buy cool souvenirs like a WickelFisch bag to float the river, postcards (and stamps), Swiss rubber duck (for our duck collection for the grandkids) and more. They will also help you plan your side trips and sell you the appropriate tickets. We got our gondola tickets so that once we got there, we would not be delayed or disappointed by long lines or sold-out tickets. The tickets for the gondolas and the bus were about $78 francs each. You can also take a longer route around Mt. Pilatus that includes the cog railway train and a boat segment on the lake to get to one side and then you take the gondolas back down. This journey would cost more and take the whole day. For more information on your options go here: PILATUS – Mountain adventures near the city | | Pilatus Bahnen Lucerne Switzerland

GETTING THERE

We took the tram by our hotel to get to the Basel train station to jump on a one-hour train ride to Lucerne. From there, we took the #1 bus for a short ride to the neighborhood where the gondola started. After walking uphill to the gondola, we quickly scanned our tickets and walked right on to a small (max 4 person) gondola. As we glided up the mountain, we passed by a Swiss chalet with roaming cows underneath us. With the windows on the gondola open, we could not only hear the cow bells but smell the cows. A truly immersive Swiss experience! We stayed on at the first stop along the way because our end goal was to go right to the top. You are required to get off at the second stop, however, because you change gondolas from the small one to a larger one that holds up to 50 people, where most of this trip is standing with very few seats available.

Many people got off the gondolas at the second stop because this is where there is a large playground, zipline, adventure park with climbing obstacles and the luge attraction. We had considered doing the luge but chose instead to spend our time exploring the mountain top. Another time!

ONCE YOU ARE AT THE TOP OF MT. PILATUS

Reaching the top, you enter a large visitor center with facilities, snacks, shops and information booths. We walked out and grabbed some deck chairs to soak up the views and the sun. We watched one courageous visitor lay out his equipment right below the observation deck we were on and take off hang gliding over the mountains. Up, up and away he soared which would seem terrifying, but he looked like he was having fun. Hope he made it down okay!

Speaking of adventures, another tourist had hauled up a huge alphorn and was entertaining the other tourists. He stopped my husband to take his picture playing on the narrow trail with views of the alps. I wonder if he was fulfilling a lifelong dream of playing his alphorn there. It reminded of when we were in Venice and a tourist taking a gondola was playing his sax as they toured the canals. Treasured memories of people living their best lives is one of the most awesome parts of travelling!

We took the “dragon trail” walk that starts from the visitor’s center. If you have children, make sure you share the story of the dragons with them before the visit-more info here: https://www.pilatus.ch/en/discover/dragon-trail/ Even if you don’t have children, this is an enjoyable walk in the tunnel with different views of the mountain through large holes in the mountain (the better for the dragons to enter into their lairs).

STAYING ON TOP OF MT. PILATUS

We were surprised to see that there is a hotel on the top of the mountain:  Pilatus Kulm Hotels – The overnight experience at 2132 m. above sea level | | Pilatus Bahnen Lucerne Switzerland Built in 1890 and completely renovated in 2010, it would be a dream to stay here on a clear night and see all the stars. Next trip! There is also a nice restaurant/bar with a patio so those who want to have a leisurely lunch with more variety than the food huts that are primarily sausage/hot dog sandwiches.

LUCERNE

After coming down the gondola, we hopped back on the local bus to take us to downtown Lucerne. The bus/train station is right in the heart of downtown and the lake. We checked out the historic wooden Chapel Bridge first, walking across to admire the interior art. Then we wandered the cobblestone streets to check out the architecture. Drawn to the water, Thom nixed the paddle boats so we took a leisurely one-hour lake cruise where we could sit inside the boat and not in the hot sun. To see Lake Lucerne, a boat ride is a must-it was very reasonably priced at $20 Francs a piece and there were refreshments to purchase on board. With commentary as we cruised, we saw several castles towering over the lake and heard some history. All very informative and making for a lovely day outing. Enjoy the journey!

Travel the World as a Pet Sitter!

On By Travels with MelindaIn adventure, pet sitting, Seattle, Seattle Neighborhoods, Travel, travel apps, travel hacks, travel tips, travelling, Trusted Housesitter, Uncategorized2 Comments

We have started a new adventure as pet sitters! We have used the TrustedHousesitters app for many years to find pet sitters for our dogs when we travelled. Now we are at a new stage in our lives where we have an inhouse pet sitter (family member) and we can travel to sit for animals all over the world. This week we are in Seattle, specifically Upper Fremont, caring for Pepper, a cattle dog that picked me as her human the minute we met. What a face!

Cattle dogs are protective and like to herd so Pepper is always close at hand and has been my office buddy while I worked remote laying under or beside my desk. We take frequent breaks to walk around the lovely neighborhood and smell all the good stuff out there. Squirrel sightings provide lots of excitement and require a firm hand on the leash to prevent engagement. While I miss our dog, Thor, I am enjoying being a fur mom to a new dog if just for a week. I will miss Pepper when we leave and I’m sure she will miss the constant attention we lavish upon her.

Next week, we have our second pet sit lined up taking care of four small dogs and a flock of chickens about an hour away from our house in Idaho. Never have I ever taken care of chickens so this should be a fun learning experience. Typically, we plan to look after dogs but who knows-we may become expert chicken sitters!

Sound like a good gig? IT IS! How does it work and how much does it cost? Well, first you have to be a paid member of Trusted Housesitters (join here and get 25% off-annual pricing membership varies from $189+). Membership includes a free background check and, depending on the membership level you choose, it includes insurance coverage for both the homeowner and the pet sitter. Post personal references, pictures and details about why you want to pet sit. When we were picking our pet sitters, we reviewed all the applicants and looked for people who had favorable recommendations from their previous pet sits. We would then narrow it down by connecting with the two best applicants by virtual chat (Zoom) or by phone to get to know them better before making a final decision. We would typically get multiple applicants depending on the location-we got a lot more interest from applicants when we lived in a beautiful apartment in Seattle than in our house in Boise.

Both being the pet sitter and having a pet sitter come in to take care of your animals are free other than the annual Trusted Housesitter membership fee. What a deal! A hotel in Seattle for a week would have cost us $3,000 and our stay in a lovely home pet sitting for Pepper was free!

As a pet sitter looking for new gigs, you can put in a search alert for particular locations and dates. That’s how we got our latest gig in London. We were looking for a month+ visit in Europe in 2024 and had set up a search with those parameters. I was able to see the posting the day it went up online and jump in to apply. After a lovely Zoom call with the pet owners, we got picked to take care of Maisie the dog. We will love being in London again and getting to really soak up the culture by being there for an extended period of time. Walking a dog around the neighborhood is an excellent way to get to know locals and really take in the daily life in a different country. Pet sitting is the perfect way for us to travel the world. Enjoy the journey! (while pet sitting)

48 hours in NYC

On By Travels with MelindaIn adventure, art, New York City, Travel, travelling, UncategorizedLeave a comment

Whenever we go to Europe, we try to book end the trip by spending a few days in NYC. Coming from the West Coast, it takes a whole day just to get to the East Coast and then we can pause and enjoy some time in New York before taking an overnight flight to get to wherever we are going. On this trip in June, we were flying into Milan, Italy before taking trains throughout Switzerland. What an adventure! Our ultimate goal of the trip was to see a Bruce Springsteen concert in Zurich but, before The Boss, there was lots to see and do in NYC even though we only had 48 hours. I’ve been to NYC countless times for business and vacation, so I’ll share some NYC travel tips with you below so you too can enjoy the journey!

ADMIRE ART:

Temporary art exhibits can usually be found in NYC-research events in advance at Time Out New York | New York Events and Things To Do All Year. You never know what might be happening! We saw two temporary art exhibits while we were there:

Warhol Art Exhibit at the Brant Foundation featured art that Peter Brant had been collecting since the 1960s. He became a friend of Andy Warhol and kept collecting his work. The exhibit we saw showcased more than 100 works of art spanning Warhol’s entire career. Set in the beautiful Brand Foundation gallery, there were familiar pieces and ones I had never seen before. It was very cool to see Warhol’s interpretation of the Last Supper and then go to Milan next and see the actual Last Supper.

Banksy Art Exhibit featured the artist’s works from a private collection of authenticated original pieces. Spanning years, Banksy was active in NYC going from an unknown disruptive street artist to a highly visible icon of the art world. We didn’t have time to track down the last Banksy art on the street in NYC. Next time!

We’ve been lucky enough to check out almost all the museums in NYC at one time or another. Here is a list to choose from the next time you visit:

Metropolitan Museum of Art aka The Met The Metropolitan Museum of Art (metmuseum.org) My favorite places there are the Temple of Dendur and the multiple galleries filled with Monet and other impressionists.

Morgan Library The Morgan Library & Museum, New York, founded by Pierpont Morgan Libraries are my happy place and this mansion filled with books is a shrine to the written word from the Gutenberg Bible to Mozart’s scores to fabulous art.

Museum of Modern Art (MOMA) MoMA for lovers of all things modern and cool.

American Museum of Natural History American Museum of Natural History | New York City (amnh.org) for kids of all ages and history buffs. Night at the Museum movie fans-this is your place!

EXPERIENCE NATURE IN THE CITY:

Whether walking the paths or biking the lanes, you can cover miles all within the urban oasis that is Central Park. I can’t go to NYC without spending at least a few hours (or days) here. Between the natural beauty and the people watching, you will enjoy a respite here very much. Grab a picnic at the Whole Foods at Columbus Circle, wander the paths, use the park audio guide to explore, and enjoy seeing New Yorkers enjoying the great outdoors. Join a tai chi class if you are so inclined.

After taking in Central Park, wander downtown to Union Square and take in a Saturday farmer’s market. From fresh baked pastries, produce and artisan crafts, there is something for everyone to enjoy. Sip a latte on a park bench and do some more people watching!

TAKE IN A CONCERT:

Enjoy some music while you are in NYC. We were only there for 48 hours and managed to fit in two concerts:

Jazz at Lincoln Center has been on my “must do” list for awhile so I booked the tickets and we got to enjoy not only a fabulous jazz concert but we attended the preconcert lecture to learn more about jazz history. After going to Lincoln Center, it is the perfect time to swing by another NYC icon, the Russian Tea Room. Yes, it’s spendy and probably a one-time and done experience but live large and give it a try!

The Cutting Room: The Cutting Room – New York City (thecuttingroomnyc.com) has been around as a music institution in NYC with everyone from Lady Gaga to Billy Joel singing here. In it’s new location on 32nd Street, this club that is co-owned by Chris Noth (aka Mr. Big on Sex and the City), has a great vibe and serves great food, so you can eat and drink while you enjoy a show. One of our favorite artists, Griffin House, just happened to be playing a Sunday matinee when we were there, so we got to enjoy a concert before we ran off to the airport to catch our flight to Milan.

City Winery: https://citywinery.com/NewYork/Online/default.asp I’ve been to City Winery many times to see shows. Sip some good wine, eat and be merry while seeing great artists perform.

Carnegie Hall: https://www.carnegiehall.org/events Always something going on here and what a beautiful facility!

WHERE TO STAY:

I’ve stayed at many Marriott properties in NYC but this time I tried a new place: Manhattan Broadway Hotel – Residence Inn Manhattan/Central Park (marriott.com) at Broadway and 54th Street. Because I’m Premium Elite status, I used my status upgrades to get us a suite on the 63rd floor with views of the Hudson River AND the East River plus Central Park. Our corner room with floor to ceiling windows had a microwave, toaster, hot pot, coffee maker, dishwasher and refrigerator. With lots of room to spread out, we enjoyed our two nights there. Staying up that high isn’t for everyone but if you aren’t scared of heights, it did offer a stunning view. I usually like staying at Marriott properties that have member lounges and this one didn’t, but it did have a great breakfast buffet, which was free for us.

GETTING AROUND:

Flying into NYC? We arrived at JFK in the late evening so we opted to arrange in advance for a car service to be waiting to pick us up and whisk us into the city. I’ve used this service several times and found them to be dependable and reasonable https://www.dial7.com/airports.html (we paid $100 for JFK to Manhattan). You can also go to the taxi line and get a taxi for about the same price. Want to save money? You can take the AirTran from JFK to Jamaica Queens and from there take the Long Island Railroad to Grand Central Madison station. The cost of a one-way ticket total will be less than $20 depending on the time of day.

To fly to Milan from NYC, we had to get to Newark airport. So, we took a taxi from our Manhattan hotel to Penn Station and told our driver to take us to the entrance where we could pick up the Newark Airport railway train. Now, Penn Station is not for everyone. You have to stand in a hall with thousands of people waiting to see which track # your train will be going out of (posted about 15 minutes before departure time) and then, when it is posted on the big screen, everyone makes a mad dash for that track. As there aren’t assigned seats, everyone has a stampede mentality, so you have to watch out and move fast. There are not always escalators which means you are dragging your suitcases up and down the stairs. It is not a situation for the weak or physically challenged. After you get on the train, it is only about 30 minutes to get to the station where you walk to the tram to go to the airport to your terminal. So, we spent about $31 for two tickets for the train/tram vs. $150 for a taxi/car service. If you have a tight budget and you are strong enough to withstand the journey, the train is the way to go. I plan to take a car service next time. If I can’t afford it, I won’t travel. We are getting older, and I just don’t want to relive that experience ever again. Thom and I couldn’t get seats together on the train and my seatmate stranger was eating sushi and drinking vegetable soup next to me. Never. Again.

In the city, we primarily walk and take subways to get around. The only full day we had on this trip, we walked over seven miles and that’s with taking a subway sometimes. Primarily we walked around the Greenwich Village area. Enjoy the journey!

Travel Tips | Money Abroad

On By Travels with MelindaIn adventure, Travel, travel apps, travel hacks, travel tips, Travel tips-money, travelling, Uncategorized, vacation1 Comment

I’ve travelled all over the world and one important travel topic everyone always asks me about is how I handle money when I am abroad. I hope the tips I share below help you. Enjoy the journey!

Here are the most frequent questions I get and my answers:

Should I take cash? If so, how much and where do I get local currency before I travel?

  • Yes, you need a little local currency, but I mostly use credit cards.
  • Banks in other countries aren’t necessarily plentiful and aren’t open extended hours. In Italy, we had a hard time finding any open at all given they open late, take a long lunch and close early. They work to live not live to work!
  • Only use an ATM that is inside and part of a bank. Lots of fraud out there at those ATMs in convenience stores and out on the street. Plus, the opportunity for thieves to approach you are higher on the street than if you are in the locked bank ATM booth.
  • I have a local bank in the US that carries most currencies (and can order what they don’t have). I usually like to bring at least $100 in local currency to mostly use at local shops/farmer’s markets. In Italy, you can’t add a tip onto your bill so you need cash to tip. You also need cash to tip any tour guides. You will probably need local coins to use the public bathrooms. If you end up needing more cash while you are traveling, go to the bank ATM.
    • Customers with Bank of America checking and savings accounts can order foreign currency through Online Banking or the Mobile Banking App. Customers with credit cards only can order currency at a financial center. Exchange and Order Foreign Currency from Bank of America
    • I opened up a checking account with a debit card at a different bank (the one that has local currency) to avoid fees when I get US cash exchanged for other currencies and also because that way if the debit card is compromised while travelling, it doesn’t link to my main checking/savings account which is at another bank. Yes, I’m cautious! I keep a minimum balance in this account-just enough to get $100-200 more out when travelling and then I deposit more for the next trip.

What credit card(s) do you use?

  • I take two different credit cards.
  • I carry a VISA and an American Express. Both earn me points for more travel! Some places do not take AMEX, so you need to have another option. Make sure any credit card you travel with doesn’t charge you foreign transaction fees. Those fees can really add up.
  • My preferred way to pay is to use “tap to pay” with my smart watch that is set up with GooglePay with a VISA as the payment option. This works beautifully in most countries for use with public transportation (UK uses tap to pay for subways and buses) and cafes/shops. This way you are not pulling out a credit card that could possibly get left behind-it happens to all of us!
  • When travelling with my husband, he takes one VISA and one AMEX, and I take a different VISA and AMEX. That way if one of us gets our wallet stolen, we cancel the credit cards that the one person was travelling with and we still have the other person’s cards that are different accounts. Be prepared for the worst situation so it doesn’t spoil your vacation.

Do I need to call my credit card company before I travel?

  • Probably not but policies vary by company.
  • Often banks will tell you that they don’t need to be notified but my travel companions and I have all had issues with using credit cards being declined due to security concerns the first time we use them abroad. One of my credit card has the following notification on their site (search “travel notification” on your credit card site):
    • You no longer need to let us know when you travel. We monitor your accounts and will send automatic alerts if we detect suspicious activity. Should you need us while traveling, call the number on the back of your card anytime.
    • I would recommend you go to each of the credit card sites that you plan to use and just check what they say about “travel notifications”.

Now, you are ready to go have a great adventure and not worry about the logistics of spending money abroad. Cheers!