Saturday, August 29, 2009

JET STAY STOCKHOLM






From the absolutely bizarre, but I am still intrigued department comes...Jumbo Hostel! Located in Stockholm, Sweden, it's an airport hotel in the fact that it's parked at the main airport, but it's different because it literally is a Boeing 747 that has been converted into a hostel!


Now let's be honest, after an 8 hour flight from New York, the last thing I'd want to do is get off one plane to get on another. But for rooms starting at about 350 Swedish Krona (About $50 U.S.D)...it's definitely a steal! It could be fun if you're traveling with kids, or just to crash for a night, especially if you book the suite which is located in the cockpit!!! Ha! :-)


But, if you are a Four Seasons only kind of traveler, maybe you can just visit on your way into or out of the country (remember you have to go to the airport anyway). Jumbo Hostel has a cafe and an outdoor sitting area on the wing of the plane...so you can literally experience what it's like to stand on top of a Jumbo Jet!

Friday, August 28, 2009

FASHION FRIDAY: TOP CITY, TOP SHOPPING

It's a rainy summer day here in New York today- and in fact, it's supposed to be wet most of the weekend. While most people hate the rain, I love it because it reminds me of another great international city...London!

London, England has so much history (Tower of London, Palace of Westminster & Westminster Abbey- to name a just a few), it's completely walkable, has a fantastic metro system to get around called the Underground, and it's so hip and trendy when it comes to fashion.

Now I know some of you may be thinking- to heck with London right now, the U.S. dollar isn't worth anything to the British pound! And in fact you are right so I won't argue with you about that. However, I would say it still may be Smart to Jet Set there now because there are some inexpensive airfares and some good deals on hotel rooms. In fact, I just looked and there are flights for the month of September starting at $180 round trip (not including taxes & fees) on Air Europa.

But, if it's not for you at the moment, you can still shop like you're in London without having to hop on a seven hour flight. TOPSHOP started over in the UK, and now even has a store in New York. It's my new, all-time favorite store because you can get "High Street Fashion" without breaking the bank. The Brittany2 over the knee boots and navy lace blazer are just two of my most desired things from there right now!
{photos: wikipedia}

Thursday, August 27, 2009

LALA LAND FOR THE BIRTHDAY GIRL

Happy Birthday to my sister Natasha! (The one in the middle in pic on right) She has jet setted to L.A. for her celebration...one of my favorite cities!

L.A. has it all in my opinion. It's culturally diverse, it has plenty of beaches and palm trees, great weather, some amazing restaurants and, of course, excellent shopping. Plus, there is so much to do in Los Angeles- from walking the Hollywood strip or Rodeo Drive or Robertson Boulevard, to spending the day at the Santa Monica Pier or in Malibu, to an afternoon at the Original L.A. Farmer's Market...the list can just go on and on. Plus, you are almost always guaranteed to see at least one celebrity while you are there. (See pic of me & Jada Pinkett-Smith below- I just had to! :-)

I would say a good price for a round-trip, non-stop, flight from New York is around $300 and change (Of course, depending on when you book & how long you stay). It's a six hour flight, but with the time difference, you gain more playtime when you go.




I haven't been in two years, and all this LaLa Land talk is making me want to go back!

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

SWEET DREAMS THE JET SET SMART WAY

The more you pack a bag and travel, the more you realize that there are some things you can leave behind the next time, and some things you absolutely cannot!

I actually have to credit this idea to my husband. I had seen the travel pillows for sale at the airport every time I was there, and figured that I didn't need it- why buy it when you can use the one on the plane, right? Well, before our eighteen hour flight to India, my hubby said to get the pillow- and not just any one, but the n-a-p Travel U-Pillow from Brookstone. As much as I hate to say it, he was soooooooooooooo right! I actually did sleep on the flight and woke up ready to go and without that horrible stiff neck that I always used to get when I would fly.Well, once my neck was taken care of, I went ahead and got the n-a-p travel blanket (made out of the softest fleece ever- so good, you'll want to buy sheets out of this material!) Let's face it, those airplane blankets often look worn, and I get so itchy about those sort of things.

The n-a-p eyemask is also part of my travel must-have collection because total darkness always leads to the best sleep. How many of you have finally fallen asleep on a flight, only to be woken up when they turn on those obnoxious flourescent lights? Or have you ever sat next to that annoying person who isn't polite enough to lower his or her shade because they want to look out the window mid-flight, at what, I ask? Clouds? Come on!

The eyemask will cost you $10, the blanket $35, and the pillow $25...a total of $70 (I know, not cheap)...but it's an investment that pays for itself. Like your Amex, you won't leave home to travel without these things!

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

AND THE AWARD GOES TO...

I was in the book store today and look what I found that's out on the magazine stand- Travel & Leisure magazine's World's Best Awards! This is such a great tool to help you plan your next JetSetSmart destination and travel plan details.

It ranks Top Cities Overall, Top Islands Overall, Top Tour Operators & Safari Outfitters, Top International & Domestic Airlines, and Top 100 Hotels! (I'm drooling!)

I won't list them all for you, but here are the Numero Uno's that are Smart to know about:
Top City- Udaipur, India
Top Island- Bali
Top Hotel- Bushmans Kloof (Cedar Mountains, South Africa)

Bali & South Africa are definitely on my list of destinations to jet to in the next year or so. If any of you all have been to either of those places, please share your details.

I can say that I have been to the top city, and it actually was my favorite city that we visited when we were in India for our honeymoon. Udaipur is often called The White City or The City of Lakes because most of the buildings are white or light in color, and it's next to Lake Pichola which is filled with many BEAUTIFUL palaces. I've included some pics of Udaipur & Udaivilas- The Oberoi Hotel where we stayed while we were there. I hope you enjoy! And don't forget to jet to your local bookstore for a copy of the magazine. It's well worth the $4.50...I promise!



ASBURY PERK!

Home to the Stone Pony (the place where Bruce Springsteen performed early on in his career)...and now undergoing a major revitalization...Asbury Park, New Jersey should be renamed Asbury Perk! It still has a way to go until it comes close to other shore towns, but I'm telling you guys...it's perking up and is definitely worth checking out!

Cookman Avenue- the main street from the train station- used to be lined with dilapidated buildings and empty store fronts, but now there are coffee shops, restaurants, retail shops, and even a high-end dog store! (Yes- I have a dog and love that sort of stuff)

And the boardwalk which used to have not much more than a run-down HoJo's (Howard Johnson) is now filled with eateries, boutiques, high-end furniture & home stores, miniature golf , a water park for the kids (open only in the summer), and fancy condominiums.

By car, it'll take about an hour & 20 minutes from Manhattan. New Jersey Transit also runs frequently daily and on weekends http://www.njtransit.com/ and will take about 1&1/2 to 2 hours from Penn Station.

My husband and I went a bunch of times over the winter (on the warmer days, of course) because the beach & boardwalk are dog friendly that time of year. We've also gone a bunch this summer and continue to be amazed at how it keeps on getting better. I definitely say you should check it out for a day trip, maybe as a Labor Day getaway, or in the fall shoulder season (JetSetSmart idea!) when the weather is still nice, the water's warm, and the rates go way down.

Here's some ideas of where to stay: (Plus they are pet friendly!)


Monday, August 24, 2009

MONTREAL ON MY MIND

As you know by now, Jet Setting to foreign destinations is what I love to do most in this world! If I could, I would chose not have a home base, but instead live and travel from one amazing locale to the next.
For now, my husband and I try to travel on average about 4-6 times a year. And we don't always take long vacations. Sometimes, we jet somewhere that isn't so far away, but that is rich in culture! A perfect example...MONTREAL!!! Yes Canada, my fellow jetsetters! It's only an hour and a half flight from New York- which makes it the perfect location to visit for a quick weekend getaway.

A Few Jet Set Smart Things to know about MONTREAL:
1- They use the CAD (Canadian dollar) which isn't worth much more than the USD currently. So while your money won't go as far in Montreal as it will in Buenos Aires at the moment, it's not as expensive as let's say Paris. Today's rate was 1 U.S. dollar = 1.07 Canadian dollar
2- Locals speak French & English
3- No long transatlantic overnight flight! Many daily flights out of JFK, LaGuardia & Newark.
**PLUS: Just found this great deal that runs through October 15, 2009! Book two nights or more, and depending on hotel, get 50% off 2nd night, or 3rd night FREE!!! Hotel rooms with a 4-star rating start at $115/per night.**

Here's a link to the tourism website:
http://www.tourisme-montreal.org/Offers/Summer
{photos: http://montreal.about.com/}

Sunday, August 23, 2009

JET SET SCRUMPTIOUS

The only bad thing about jetsetting is the sad feeling I get when a trip is about to end. Luckily, I have found a great way to keep the excitement of a recent adventure going long after I return home - recreating meals that I've had while I was away! That way, I can bring the city or country I just visited to my own home.

On a recent trip to Italy, my husband and I had an AMAZING steak salad at a restaurant in Rome. It was so delicious and so easy to make, that we've had it many times since. Of course, if you don't eat steak, you can easily substitute grilled chicken or portobello mushrooms.

RECIPE:
- Grill meat (or mushrooms) in skillet with olive oil (salt & pepper to taste)
- Serve on top of fresh arugula, sliced roasted red bell peppers, and parmesan cheese (sliced with a vegetable peeler)
- For the dressing: mix olive oil & balsamic vinegar
- Serve with lemon wedges

Saturday, August 22, 2009

MAYA JET SETS TO ATLANTIS...


My seven year old niece, Maya, is a young jetsetter in training. She just returned from a trip with her mom, dad and brother to Atlantis in Paradise Island, Bahamas. Below is a post from Maya about her trip...
Hi my name is Maya. I loved Atlantis/Paradise Island! We went on water slides, and went swimming, and my dad went on the Leap of Faith which is a straight down water slide that goes through a shark tank. We also went to the beach and I got really tan! My brother went too, but I didn't really want him to come. :-) One day, I went swimming with the dolphins. It was so cool! My dolphin's name was Missy. I fed her, hugged her, and even kissed her on the lips. She was so soft. Then another time I sat on a king's chair that said Atlantis and I felt like a princess. When I go back to school, I can't wait to tell all of my friends that they should go to the Atlantis too. I love my mommy and daddy for taking me there!
If you want to check out the Atlantis, here's a link to their website: http://www.atlantis.com/

JET SET SMART SWEETHEARTS

It's fun to jetset with friends, family, or even by yourself, but there is nothing better than jetsetting with the one you love. And when it comes to those special times in life, like getting engaged, planning a honeymoon, or celebrating anniversaries, there's no better way to do it than with a trip.

I got engaged at Ashford Castle in Ireland, celebrated my honeymoon in India, and went to Paris for my 1-year wedding anniversary. (Check out pic below).

Speaking of special times, some of you reading this may have gotten to JetSetSmart through http://www.vowweddings.wordpress.com/ and if you have, then you already know what a talented and creative Wedding Consultant Laura is. For those of you that didn't get to this website through hers, and are planning a wedding (or know someone who is), then you should definitely check her out. She is an incredible Wedding Planner, who has helped numerous brides and grooms plan their special day. As a testimony to how good she is, she's also been featured in InStyle Weddings for her fantastic ideas. By the way, Laura happens to be one of my best friends and helped me plan my special day!

If you are getting ready to celebrate a special occasion and want some help picking a place to JetSet to, then you know where to find me. Reach out to me through my blog by leaving a comment, or shoot me an email at askus@jetsetsmart.com and I can help you plan! Happy JetSetting Sweethearts!

Friday, August 21, 2009

FASHION FRIDAY: ICE DESTINATION & FIRE FASHION

It's called the land of Fire and Ice...and it's home to some of the largest geysers and ice caps in the world. I'm talking about Iceland my fellow JetSetters! And it's on the top of my list of places to visit right now because it's a cool destination that also has some hot and rare fashion. Plus, how many people do you know who have been to Iceland? Wouldn't it be neat to say you've JetSetted there?

First, a little to know about the Iceland: While our spring and summer is their high season (also the most expensive times to go), Iceland still has plenty to do the rest of the year. As long as you don't mind a lot of hours of night (which I actually think sounds really cool), or bundling up to keep warm...if you travel to Iceland in the shoulder seasons of fall and winter you will get much better rates and will also be able to see the Aurora Borealis- some of the coolest natural light displays in the sky!

Now to the fashion: Lava jewelry! Yes, earrings, necklaces, bracelets and rings made with natural lava from the volcanoes of Iceland..that screams fire fashion to me for sure! Check out some of the designs I found. And with prices starting from $50, it's a smart purchase because it won't break the bank!








{photos:http://www.icelandpictures.com/,http://www.nordicstore.net/,http://www.prettygoodjewelry.com/}

BE SMART & GET SET TO JET

Traveling and jet-setting the world is my passion! But like many, I like to be smart about it. I like to do my research and find out when is the best time to go somewhere (not always the touristy, more expensive times, but the shoulder seasons where you can still get good weather, but don't pay through the nose for it.)

I like to find the best food (not always the five star restaurants listed in the guide books, but the places the locals tell you about when you are there.) I love to find art, jewelry and fashion by local designers, and most importantly, I try to experience all there is to experience about a place when I am there...so that way if I never return I know I've really gotten a good taste for my destination.

My idea about smart jet-setting is this...if you are a smart traveler, you will want to do the following on your next journey:

Save money
Make the most of your trip
Adapt to local culture
Research
Travel

So stay tuned, I am working on putting together my JetSetSmart travel lists for you to have. They will NOT be like the 200-300 page travel guide books out there, but rather short lists of my recommendations on what I like. Remember, they will be totally subjective and in no way absolute guides to travel...but they will cover the smart stuff.

In the meantime, I hope you JetSet your way to my blog and start JetSetting the Smart way!