traveling seniors

traveling seniors--About Us

traveling seniors is dedicated to providing the latest information about senior travel worldwide. We will cover travel tips for seniors, latest senior travel news, senior travel discounts and the best travel locations for seniors. All types of senior travel will be addressed. This blog will include opinions, travel experiences, travel photography and the latest travel news. Since seniors aren't restricted by work, time and obligations, the senior years provide the best opportunities for travel. If you have any questions, comments or travel experiences, please email them to us. We want to provide you with the latest and best information about senior travel.
___________________________________________________________________
traveling bill

I've been traveling the world and USA for 40 years always guided by my philosophy--meeting and engaging with people in their unique part of the world is the true reason for traveling. Recalling all the castles, cathedrals, museums, beaches, monuments, historical public buildings and famous cafes is an impossibilty for me and most travelers. Photos and guidebooks can refresh most minds. Sharing a drink and small converstation with a Parisian; skiing the Alps with an international group; relating differences and similarities with strangers over a drink or dinner who later become friends are the unexpected travel moments that create lasting memories. The purpose of this blog is to provide current travel information and to share with you my passion for travel. I take travel groups to Europe and am a travel photographer.

Paris In Spring--Outside Activities

  *Eat a baguette from Au Duc de la Chapelle Patisserie in the 18th.

*Visit the sculpture garden of Rodin Museum.

*Sit in the Luxembourg Gardens for idle people watching.

*Stroll down Rue Mouffetard on a Sunday.

*Skate through the streets of Paris with locals and tourists during the Friday night skating tour.

*Dance the night away by the Seine with the locals.

*Celebrate the dead at Paris's famous cemetery--Pere Lachaise.

*Take a long walk through Paris's many neighorhoods.

*See the sights of Paris on a Segway tour.

*Toast the city at sunset on the Pont des Arts.

*View the varieties of flowers at the Jardin des Plantes.

*Get a picnic lunch at the Richard Lenoir street market on Thursdays and Sundays.

*Walk through Marais to view the many manisons and unique shops.

*Get aboard the Batobus to see Paris from the Seine.

*Take a morning walk on the Promenade Plantee.

*See Paris with a local guide.

*Observe a game of boules.

*Enjoy a mint tea in the courtyard of Paris's beautiful mosque--La Mosquee de Paris in the 5th.

*Enjoy a Lebanese lunch at the Le Ziryab on top floor of the Institu du Monde Arabe.

*Enjoy the Paris's cafe culture--people watching.  

Credit for article--Travel News From Fodor's Travel Guides.

Poplar Forest--Thomas Jefferson Retreat--Reopened To Public

When Thomas Jefferson left public office in 1809, he took his first extended stay at Poplar Forest, a planatation retreat near Lynchburg, VA.  The house is the first octagonal house in America.  It's an architectural masterpiece.  It reopened April 1, 2009 and will remain open through November.  It's hours are 10am to 4pm and is closed on Tuesday.  Admission is $10.  For more information, go to www.poplarforest.org.

Obama's Exhibit of Campaign Art

An exhibit called "Officially Unofficial Inspired Art For Obama opened April 1, 2009 in Chicago.  It's sponsored by the city's Department of Cultural Affairs.  The exhibit includes prints, posters, photographs and videos seen during Obama's presidential campaign.  The show runs through May 15, 2009 at the Chicago Tourism Center, 72 E. Randolph Street.  It's free.

An exhibit called "Officially Unofficial Inspired Art For Obama opened April 1, 2009 in Chicago.  It's sponsored by the city's Department of Cultural Affairs.  The exhibit includes prints, posters, photographs and videos seen during Obama's presidential campaign.  The show runs through May 15, 2009 at the Chicago Tourism Center, 72 E. Randolph Street.  It's free.

Stuck In Coach!!! What Can I Do???

Since I fly using frequent-flyer miles, I'm usually flying coach.  I think I've flown first-class or business class only twice in all the years I've been flying.  Usually, the person next to me talks all the time or takes up his space and part of mine.  I'm sure you have experienced the same situation.  What can you do to be more comfortable in coach?  Here are a few suggestions:

FLY AT OFF-PEAK TIMES--MORE EMPTY SEATS.

FLY AIRCRAFT WITH FEWER MIDDLE SEATS.

COMPARE SEAT DIMENSIONS OF DIFFERENT AIRCRAFT--NOT ALL SEATS OR SPACE ARE EQUAL.

COMPARE ENTERTAINMENT OPTIONS--SOME REQUIRE LESS SPACE.

SELECT A SEAT AT BOOKING, THEN KEEP CHECKING FOR BETTER OPTIONS.

ASK THE GATE AGENT TO MOVE YOU TO A BETTER AVAILABLE SEAT.

BECOME A MEMBER OF AN AIRLINE LOUNGE CLUB--CLUB AGENTS CAN OFTEN GET YOU BETTER SEATS.

Six Great Vegas Spas

Las Vegas is famous for 24-hour fun, gambling and and shows.  In addition, tucked away from the casinos and glitzing malls, is cutting-edge treatments and high-tech spas.  Although these spas are located in hotels, they're open to the public at least part of the time.  Some offer affordable day passses.

The spas are:

The Spa--Wynn Las Vegas    The $250 Good Luck Ritual is based on the five elements of feng shui.  A 80-minute full-body massage is also offered.  For additional information, go to www.wynnlasvegas.com.

Bathhouse--THEHotel at Mandalay Bay  This modern-looking facility brings a welcome intimacy to the Vagas spa experience.  Your candlelight bath with a choice of black moor mud and herbs is $65.  A computer selects the perfect scent blend based on your completed questionnaire.  For additional information, go to www.mandalaybay.com.

Red Rock Spa--Red Rock Casnio & Resort   This spa is located in nearby Summerlin.  Pediures change with the seasons for $85.  The best reason to come to this resort is the Adventure Spa which takes guests outdoors to go horseback riding and rafting down the Black Canyon.  For additional information, go to www.redrocklasvegas.com.

Qua Baths & Spa--Caesars Palace    This Roman-themed spa offers the city's best bargain--$45 day pass.  Offerings range from a banana-leaf body wrap-$170 to an energizing Lomi-Lomi massage-$170.  For additional information, go to www.harrahs.com/qua.

Canyon Ranch SpaClub--Venetian and the Palazzo    The highlight of this spa is the Aquavana--a European-style circuit of soaking tubs and relaxation rooms.  In the "experiential rain shower", you push a button marked Tropical Storm for alternating warm and cool drenchings, the sound of birds and the scent of pineapple..  For additional information, go to www.canyonranch.com.

Spa Bellagio--Bellagio   In this spa there are 17 different facials incorporating everything from crushed pearls to French seaweed, a gorgeous Jacuzzi area lit by a crystal chandelier and a steam room issuing thick billows of eucalyptus-scented steam.  For $210 you can get a Watsu massage.  For additional information, go to www.bellagio.com.

Baggage Lost At Sea--Worth $100 to $300

Although airlines will reimburse up to $3300 if they lose your bag on domestic flights, cruise companies limit their liability to $100-$300 a bag.  Most cruise companies are not responsible for  jewelry, electronics or other valuable items.  Even locking them up in an in-room safe or at the purser's desk will not change the $100-$300 ceiling.  To protect your bags, you must take out travel insurance.  Don't bring what you can't afford to lose.  Make your bag stand out with colorful tags or straps.  Put your contact information inside and outside your bag.  Finally, always read the fine print of your sea voyage contract.

Happy 50th Birthday Eurail!!!

   

The Eurail pass celebrates its 50th Birthday this year.  The prepaid multicountry ticket is still the easiest way to see Europe.  Take a look at the numbers.

5,000 passes sold in 1959

500,000 projected passes to be sold in 2009

21 countries included in the Golbal Pass

12 Millon Eurail customers to date

160,00 miles of train track covered by Eurail

There are 4 different kinds of passes:  Global Pass, Select Pass, Regional Pass and One Country Pass.

Prices are based on three catagories:  Youth, Adult and Saver.  The prices in these groups are based on usage--number of days or months.  The Saver catagory can be used when 2 or more people are traveling together.  

For many years, traveling by train in Europe was the cheapest way to travel.  With the introduction of discount airlines, this is not the case today.  The greatest benefit for traveling by train is convenience and speed.  Since there are many fast trains in Europe, you can get to your destination as quickly by train as by airplanes with less hassle.  Most train stations are located in the center of the city which makes it easier to get to your hotel.

I have used the eurail pass often in Europe and find it to be easy to use and often cheaper since there is very little or no charge for baggage. The  pass must be purchased in America and validated at a train station the first time it is used.  It is recognized by most train personnel in all 21 countries.  If you are using it for 1st class or taking a fast train, you must have a reservation.  Unless you must have a specific departure time , you can purchase your reservations in Europe at a much cheaper price than buying them through Eurail.  Remember that the listings on the departure destination board at the train statiaon only lists the last stop which may not be your stop.  If you have questions, go to the information booth--someone will be able to speak English.

Enjoy the countryside and have a meal on the train--this is a great way to see Europe.

For more information, go to www.eurail.com.

2009 European Art Exhibts

 

If you are going to Europe this year, these are some of the attractions you may want to visit.

SWITZERLAND

The Kunstmesuem Basel presents "Vincent Van Gogh--Between Earth and Heaven: The Landscapes between April 26-September 27, 2009.

HUNGARY

Budapest's exciting new venue: The Palace of Arts features an impressive lineup of musicians, orchestras and theatrical performances throughout the year.

ROMANIA

The Romanian Athenaeum in Bucharest will be the main venue for the 19th George Enescu Classical Music Festival from August 30-September 26, 2009.

BELGIUM

The new Rene Magritte Museum is opening in Brussels on June 2, 2009.  It will be the new home for the over 200 paintings by the surrealist painter.

GERMANY

The East Side Gallery celebrates the 20th Anniversary of the Fall of the Berlin Wall in 2009.  A preserved section of the Berlin Wall with 106 paintings and graffiti by local and international artists represents the world's largest open air galley.

SPAIN

The Museo del Prodo in Madrid is showing 100 paintings by Sorolla between May 26-September 6, 2009.

HOLLAND

The New Hermitage Amsterdam opens June 20.  The inaugural exhibt "At the Russian Court Palace and Protocol in the 19th Century" includes 1,800 treasures from the Hermitage St. Petersburg.  This exhibt runs from June 20-January 31, 2010.

For more information  about these exhibts, go to www.artsineurope.com.

FLY NOW!!! CHEAP FLIGHTS WON'T LAST LONG!!!

With the economy bad, airlines are finding it very hard to fill seats.  It is easy to compare prices by using  sites like www.tripadvisor.com, www.fly.com and www.farecompare.com.  Most of the cheap flights require a Saturday night stayover.  Without a doubt it's a  great time for cheap travel.

There are two fundamental shifts in air travel under way.  First, airlines are dropping more routes and parking airplanes in the desert.

Next, they are going to "unbundle" more services that are included in the price of the ticket.  In the future, airlines prices are going to be like a restaurant menu.  They will be efficient, user friendly and full of a la carte choices.  The strategy is based on imposing extra fees on a number of amenities and services--not just checked bags and food items.  The plan is to have a basic ticket price in 3 or 4 categories and then have a bunch of items you can add.  When you purchase the ticket, you can chose the extras in advance.  Some of these items are:  checked luggage, snack, aisle seat, exit row seat, beverage, video games, passenger assistance, early boarding and maybe a wheelchair.  In order to know the total price of the ticket, plus taxes, you will have to add all the chosen extras, taxes and the base ticket price.  This is the future method for increasing the price of flying.

This is the pricing arrangement I experienced when flyng discount airlines in Europe.  You purchased a cheap ticket and paid for everything else.  I doubt that the basic ticket will be cheap. 

A Safe Port For Cruising--GET TRAVEL INSURANCE!!!!

Unfortunately, no one but the owner knows the liquidity of a specific cruise line.  If a cruise line goes bankrupt, you will be left on shore with a worthless certificate.  With these tough economical times, cruise lines are selling less cabins than last year.  To be safe, you should purchase a travel insurance policy that includes the failure of a line as a covered peril.  These policies are bought on a per-trip basis and are priced as a percentage of the total trip cost--usually about 5% to 7%.

You should consider the following items before buying such a policy:

1.  Don't buy the policy directly through the cruise line.  If the cruise line goes under, the policy will not pay off.

2.  Be careful when you pay for the travel insurance policy.  Many policies require that you purchase it before 15 days of making the initial payments on the trip.  If this is not followed, the policy will be worthless.  If you hear the cruise line is in financial trouble after you are making the payments, it will be too late to purchase the policy.

3.  Be sure the policy includes coverage in the case of financial default.  Not all do.  Look under the "trip cancellation benefits" section of the policy's fine print.

Since you are paying a lot of money for your cruise, the small amount of money this policy will cost is nothing compared to the lost of the total amount you have paid.