PaulTheTravelGuy.com

Breckenridge, CO

2012-02-12T00:30:51Z

Just returned from a day at Breckenridge with family. Beautiful day in the mountains - the temp in Breck was 35, while the temp in Denver (4700 feet LOWER than Breck) was 17.

Loads of people, very long lift lines, huge lines for food - and we avoided it all! We went snowshoeing. The Peaks trail, near Peak 7 and the Independence Super Chair, was brilliant today. We practically had the trail to ourselves. We saw three other small groups while we were out there for over 90 minutes. The first group of snowshoers were bragging about just having seen a Moose cow and her calf. They even showed us their photos as proof. We just missed the two Moose by about 10 minutes. Bummer.

A stunner of a day at Breckenridge. And the best part? Ski lift tickets are $93 for the day. Snowshoeing in the quiet, peaceful National Forest is FREE!

Flight time in 2011 - Kind of Depressing

2012-02-03T00:37:27Z

I just did a quick review of all of my flights I took in 2011. All in all, I was in the air for 205 hours. That is equal to 8.5 days spent crammed into an airline seat. Sure, I was lucky enough to get a couple (and I mean very few!) upgrades, but for the most part, this was all in coach class.

Some quick stats:

205 flying hours in total (equal to 8.5 days in the air)
51 flights
Distance in airline miles: a crapload!
# of hours sitting in airports: I don't want to think about it
Longest flight: LAX to Hong Kong (14 1/2 hours)
Shortest flight: Rarotonga to Aitutaki (45 minutes)
'New' airlines I flew on for the first time: 6
'New' countries I visited in 2011: 5 (Belize, Hong Kong, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam)
Of the places I visited in 2011, the one to which I most want to return: Vietnam (& Laos)

Are you a frequent International traveler? Get Global Entry. Today!

2012-02-03T00:15:06Z

Here is one tip that has saved me many hours of sitting in lines.

Global Entry is a service for US citizens that allows you to bypass normal Immigration lines when arriving back into the USA. Here's how it works:

- You apply online and apply through their website (beware: it is a government website, so it is not the easiest site to use and navigate).

- Pay the $100 non-refundable application fee.

- They (not exactly sure who 'they' is) do a background check on you.

- Once your application is approved, you need to schedule an interview at one of the Global Entry Enrollment Centers.

- At the Center, you get interviewed, they take your photo, and collect biometrics from you (fingerprints, and retina scans).

- Once you are approved, you will save LOADS of time.

As a Global Entry member, I can literally fly through the airport. Whenever I arrive from an international flight, I bypass the normal Immigration lines, and head straight towards the Global Entry kiosk. This is what it looks like:

You scan your passport on the machine, and it reads your information. It displays your name and your Arriving Flight details, then asks you to place your fingers on the fingerprint reader. Once confirmed, it will ask you a series of questions (the same questions that are on the little blue USA Customs form that they hand out on the plane). Answer the questions on the touchscreen, confirm, and it prints out a 'receipt'. Hold up the receipt to the nearest Immigration officer as you walk by towards baggage claim. Once you have your bags, get in the Global Entry express lane, hand your receipt to the Customs agent, and you're done.

You don't have to fill out the blue Customs form on the plane. You don't have to wait in line and see an Immigration officer. And, you get to use an express lane to depart through Customs. For me, this was a no-brainer, and it has helped me get through airports fast and easy. If you are a regular International traveler, I can not recommend this more.

Denver - Travel close to home

2012-01-30T16:40:50Z

You don't have to hop on a plane, train, or bus to travel. Sometimes, the best travel is close to home. This weekend, Travel Gal, Travel Boy and I spent some time at Sports Authority Field, home of the Denver Broncos. We enjoyed some time walking around the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame, which is located inside the stadium (for those who are visiting, enter through Gate 1). This is a free museum, and has some information and exhibitions on some of Denver's most famous athletes. There is also a fun hands-on room forkids, where they can put on Shannon Sharpe's jersey and pads, some hockey gear, lacrosse gear, and more.

The tour of Sports Authority field was very cool! We visited some luxury boxes, which cost $80,000 per year to rent - so, for 8 Broncos home games (not counting pre-season), the cost is $10,000 per year for you and 14 of your favorite friends. You can also rent a party suite starting at $8,000. And, this doesn't even include most of your food and drinks. Wow. I will happily take my crappy seat in the 5th level and not complain. . . .

The tour also took us through the Press Box (huge!), a couple of clubs, the visitor's locker room, and then finally on to the field. Travel Boy got his photo in front of the locker where Tom Brady was for the Broncos/Patriots game (Go Pats!), as well as on the field.

Our tour guide was great and very knowledgeable. This tour compares very favorably to the other amazing sports facility tour we have done at the Colorado Rockies stadium, Coors Field. If you are traveling to Denver, are a big sports fan, and have a couple hours to blow, consider visiting these stadiums. Even if you are not a fan of the teams, the facilities are amazing.

San Diego - Gaslamp Neighborhood

2012-01-18T03:17:00Z

Just returned from one quick night in San Diego. I stayed in the very cramped room of an historic hotel, in the wildly popular Gaslamp neighborhood. What a fun place.

The main street is 5th Ave., which is chock full of fun bars and great restaurants. Tough to choose which one, but we ended up at Searsucker. Wow. Great cocktails, and amazing food. There is no shortage of places to get a drink or enjoy dinner, and the next time I visit, I will probably stay close to this very cool street.

Long Beach, CA

2012-01-16T14:48:00Z

I attended a travel show in Long Beach this weekend. Very, very busy. Due to proximity, I stayed at the Hyatt Long Beach, which is attached to the Convention Center.

I must admit Long Beach is not one of my favorite areas, but we had a very good time there. Some good bars and restaurants within walking distance of the Convention Center. Not many places available for breakfast, but good lunch options, and some excellent dining options. The Yard House always delivers with their huge selection of draft beers, and L'Opera was a very nice evening (excellent seafood risotto). A good Irish bar called The Auld Dubliner completed the weekend.

Queen Mary Hotel - Long Beach

2012-01-14T18:42:00Z

Last night, I stayed aboard the Queen Mary Hotel. Unreal.

The Queen Mary was purchased by the city of Long Beach and permanently moored across the harbor from Long Beach. It is now a hotel, convention center, and an amazing historical artifact.

Driving past LongBeach towards the piers, the majestic Queen Mary appears. It was actually dwarfed by a huge Carnival cruise ship moored next to it, and it was very interesting comparing the two enormous ships. One was historic and regal, the other enormous and modern.

Walking aboard the Queen Mary, you are immediately hit with its history. I assume much of what remains on board is original (or amazing reproductions). The cabins are historically accurate, with a touch of modernity. They still have the old hot and cold fresh air vents (they do not work, but look cool), and there are four silver handles in the shower (hot water, cold water, hot salt water, cold salt water). The salt waters are turned off. The porthole

allowed for amazing views over to Long Beach and the city lights.

The major appeal for me is the chance to walk this amazing ship. The hidden corners, long hallways, the amazing decks, and all the historical spots on view (captain's quarters, control decks, etc). I was lucky enough to walk the decks both late at night and very early in the morning (don't miss the chance to see the sunrise from the ship). I practically had it to myself.

I met some friends at the Observation Bar, which was a true throwback to the 1930's. Amazing d

ecorations and a great view of Long Beach. If your travels ever take you to Long Beach, you will find no finer experience than aboard the Queen Mary. Very cool.

Los Angeles

2012-01-14T02:38:00Z

Stopped in Los Angeles (actually landed at LAX) to catch up with some friends before heading down to Long Beach. The airport was absolutely insane - not sure what was going on this weekend, but every rental car shuttle bus was chock-a-block full.

I have to admit, I really like visiting the small downtown area of El Segundo. Cool little shops and restaurants. Had a great lunch there, at FarmStand, on what turned out to be a beautifully warm day. The drive down to Long Beach was agonizing, but that's what I get for traveling on a Friday afternoon. . .

Vancouver

2012-01-10T16:59:56Z

Had to spend the weekend at a show in Vancouver, and it required me to fly to Seattle (landing at midnight), drive to Vancouver (2 1/2 hours), then return to SEA for a 5:30a flight on a Monday morning. Why do I do this to myself?

Vancouver was very nice, as usual. Great city. However, the gray skies and rain so normal during the winter is very depressing. Too bad, since the city is really beautiful. Also, I can't handle the incredibly short days (the sun doesn't show until close to 8a, and makes an early departure just after 4p).

I do enjoy visiting the city, and the people are quite nice. The highlight for me is staying at a hotel on the water, the Westin Bayshore, and watching the activity (scullers on the water, float planes taking off for Victoria, ferries crossing, tour boats, etc). I have never visited Vancouver for anything other than business. Next time, I may take Travel Gal and Travel Boy - but will wait for the summer with its guarantee of sunny, long days.

My only disappointment: not enjoying any Nanaimo Bars. Next time for sure!

Royale Takitumu - as good as it gets

2011-12-13T16:04:00Z

While at a conference in Rarotonga, I spoke with many people about what makes a good holiday. Their answers were surprisingly simple: consistency of delivery and a unique experience.

Royale Takitumu may do this better than any place in the world.

Bill and his amazing family have built Rarotonga's premier Villa property. Of course, it doesn't hurt that Bill was blessed with family land that is directly on the island's best beach. There are really no other properties around Royale Takitumu, so the pristine white sand beach and warm lagoon waters are deserted - just a couple of guests from R.T. It is the closest I have come to a private island experience in the Cook Islands.

I was lucky to stay in a LagoonView Villa - it is huge. Very large sitting area with comfy furniture. Fully stocked kitchen (and a huge breakfast basket delivered when I arrived). A large bedroom with air-conditioning (which I did not even turn on!), and a brand new pillow top bed (Bill told me I was the first to use it - I am honored). The bathroom is large, with a jacuzzi tub.

But it is the lovely folks at Royale Takitumu that make this place so special. Bill is so proud of his property, and his pride can be seen in all that he does - the grounds are impeccable, the pool area and lounge are perfect for relaxing, the lily ponds and flowers create a relaxing ambiance, and the beach - oh, that beach is amazing. Mi'i is a lovely hostess at the resort, and she is such a kind and caring person. She makes some hand-made eis and floral head eis that are the pride of Rarotonga.

Bill and I were talking about the many couples who consistently return to Royale Takitumu year after year after year. They are not guests at Royale Takitumu. They are family members, and they all share in Bill's pride in this amazing place. I am lucky enough to consider myself a family member at Royale Takitumu, and when I leave Raro and R.T., it feels like I am leaving my home. I can't wait to go back home to Royale Takitumu. . .

Rarotonga!!

2011-12-13T15:15:00Z

I just love this island!

Every time I arrive here (I have been lucky to have visited 10+ times), it feels like home. Friendly, smiling faces, a beautiful tropical backdrop, a relaxed and laid-back pace. It is perfect. This is one of the very, very few places in the world where I can actually see myself living. Perhaps one day . . .

Highlights of my stay on Rarotonga:

- Fresh fruit! The fruit stand across from Royale Takitumu in Titikaveka has fresh organic produce that makes me cry.

- Fantastic dinner at Vaima. I can't believe I had never tried this place - it was amazing!

- The custard square and decadent brownie at the coffee shop across from the airport. Worth a stop.

- Fish. Any fish. Living in land-locked Colorado, my fish options here can be limited, but while in the Cooks, I try to have fish at every meal, and it never disappoints.

- Lunch at Sails R estaurant on Muri Beach. Great backdrop and lots of activity in the lagoon.

- Dinner at the Sands (formally the PawPaw Patch) and Bamboo Jacks.

- AMAZING show and dinner at Te Vara Nui. Very well done.

- Surprisingly vibrant nightlife at the Whatever Bar - my first time at a nightclub in Raro, but certainly not my last!

But my favorite part of visiting Rarotonga is seeing old friends, meeting new friends, and simply enjoying the amazing beauty and hospitality of this hidden gem of an island. Might be time to start thinking about moving here . . .

Here's a nice sunset view from Vaima restaurant:

Aitutaki - Cook Islands!

2011-12-13T14:10:00Z

Ahhhhhh. Aitutaki. It is so incredible returning to what I consider to be one of the world's most amazing islands . . .

I am visiting the Cook Islands for a quick business trip and conference. My flight to Rarotonga was fantastic - I had a row of three seats to myself on Air New Zealand, and the flight went by very fast. My flight on Air Rarotonga to Aitutaki was a stunner - I love flying into Aitutaki. The views are amazing.

I stayed at Tamanu Beach in a 1-Bedroom Beachfront Bungalow. My bungalow was absolutely beautiful, and the view towards the lagoon was breathtaking. The bungalow had everything I needed - air-con in the bedroom, a huge king-size bed, a large well-appointed sitting room complete with mini-fridge and a television, and a big bathroom with huge shower. The deck was really large, and it was an amazing spot to enjoy a cup of coffee, taking in the views.

Tamanu Beach had an Island Night while I was there. This was one of the best shows I have ever seen in the Cook Islands. And the food! Wow. Awesome. I normally shy away from buffets at Island Nights, but this one was superior.

A great big thanks to all the folks at Tamanu Beach. Can't wait to return soon!

Las Vegas - if for just a few hours

2011-11-30T03:49:00Z

I had a very short meeting in Las Vegas. There is nothing better than going to the airport with nothing more than an iPhone and usb stick. After my meeting, I had a chance to walk through a couple of the large (massive!) hotels, including the Luxor, Excalibur, and New York New York. As always, it is great people watching, even in the middle of the afternoon. For me, Vegas is always a reminder just how many people still smoke, and I am always amazed at how much cigarette smoke lingers in the town. Gross.

Copyright, Paul the Travel Guy

Ethiopia Town in Los Angeles

2011-11-17T00:56:00Z

A great big thanks to my friend who took me out to dinner in Ethiopia Town in Los Angeles. Great food (my favorite ethnic food!) in a fun neighborhood. The Rahel Vegan Ethiopian restaurant was just what I needed.

After dinner, I drove all the way to San Diego for meetings the next morning. When I visit SD, I try to stay at the fun and funky Pearl Hotel - a small retro hotel that is very well done.

Portland - I actually saw the sun!

2011-11-08T12:54:00Z

A rare sunny day in Portland for this time of the year. However, I think I spent more time on a plane (4-5 hours) than I did on the ground in Portland. These quick one-day business trips are long days, but its always good to return home to sleep in your own bed!

Copyright, Paul the Travel Guy

Seattle/Vancouver

2011-11-04T18:47:00Z

Great to see some old (and new) friends in the Seattle and Vancouver area. Enjoyed a beautiful dinner on the waterfront just north of Seattle. And Vancouver is always a gem.

For those of you that cross the border a lot, I highly recommend purchasing the Nexus card, which allows you to bypass normal Immigration and Customs procedures and speed up through the process. For those that travel a lot internationally, the Global Access program is absolutely brilliant!

"Fiji again?"

2011-09-26T17:39:00Z

Every time I visit Fiji, friends and family ask me, "You're going to Fiji again?!?!?"

I know it is for business, not for pleasure, but it is always a good time heading down to Fiji. I stayed at Crusoe's Retreat for five nights, where we hosted our annual Marketing Meetings. We hosted lots of sit-down meetings at a table next to the beach, and I reminded myself that my work trips really aren't that bad.

We enjoyed a quick getaway at the Sofitel on Denarau Island in Nadi, where we sat, relaxed, and met around the pool, before going out for dinner at Port Denarau.

So, in answer, yes I had to go to Fiji again. Is it as enjoyable as a holiday with family? Of course not! Is it better than 99.9% of normal business travel? Absolutely!

Baseball!

2011-08-22T14:34:00Z

We attended the Pawtucket Red Sox game on Tuesday night. What a fun night out. Travel Gal, Travel Boy, and Travel GrandPa went to the game. It is an inexpensive night out for good quality baseball. We got to see some players who have played for the big leagues (Hideki Okajima pitched, and Ryan Kalish and Josh Reddick both played). A great older park, in a neighborhood, with wonderfully supportive fans.

The next day, we went to the Boston Red Sox/Tampa Rays game at Fenway Park. Nothing better than a day game at Fenway. We had really good seats near the Pesky Pole, and it was a stunner of a day. Couple of beers, couple of brats, and a game.

The Sox lost but it was still a blast. Travel Boy and Travel GrandPa love going to Fenway, and it was an amazing fun day out just for the boys.

Falmouth Road Race 2011

2011-08-18T17:11:00Z

The 39th Annual Falmouth Road Race was held on Sunday 14 August. This was my third time running this 7+ mile race in Falmouth, MA (Cape Cod).

In 2009, I did a fair amount of training, with my longest training run being 5 miles. I finished in a respectable time and was very pleased.

In 2010, I did even more training, and finished the race 3 1/2 minutes faster than the previous year.

This year, I had big plans to train. Until we spent a lot of time traveling. And eating. And relaxing.

OK - I had a new goal. After running a total of 3 times for maybe 2 miles each (that would be 3 times I had run for the entire year!), I was going to go to Falmouth, run this silly race, finish with a very respectable time, and write a book entitled "Training is for Suckers".

The morning of the race was overcast, and the number of runners was dramatically higher than in past years. New Balance was the new major sponsor, and they opened up the run to several more thousand runners than normal.

The race started off fine, as we shuffled/walked/jogged to the Start line. It wasn't until I was about 2 miles in that I discovered I was in trouble. Sore feet. Burning lungs. Breathing like I should have been pulling an oxygen tank. Getting passed by masses of people, including some 80 year olds and their 8 year old grandchildren. Little bastards.

Even with thousands of onlookers cheering on and yelling encouragement, I still struggled and had to stop and walk a lot of the way. When you run, your race number bib has your first name on it, so people see you coming, and yell your name and words of encouragement. At one point, someone said to me "You're almost there - keep up the good work", at which point I wanted to beat them to death with my uncomfortable sneakers, while yelling "You Lie!". Yet, they continued to offer encouraging words and enthusiasm, while all I wanted to do was yell back "You don't know me - shut the hell up and sit back in your lawn chair!".

Around mile five, I was contemplating new titles for my book, debating between "Running Sucks" and "F*cking Running is F*cking Stupid".

There is one final hill, just before the 7 mile mark where they have painted the race logo on the pavement, and have smartly located many photographers taking every runner's photo, where they absolutely look their worst. After the final, brutal hill, it is downhill to the large screaming crowd, under the enormous American flag, to the finish line.

Ah, relief. I made it. My sense of accomplishment was tempered by my embarrassment at having added 20 minutes to last year's time.

Some water, a popsicle, and promise of cold beer and steamer clams improved my mood.

I will foolishly try to run the race again in 2012. However, I will also try to do more than 3 training runs.

After the race, I did feel bad for wishing death for the nice onlookers, and I continue to try to remember them all as being supportive and lovely people. However, next year, if you see me coming, and I start to remove my sneakers, you should run.

Urban Assault Ride - Denver CO

2011-07-27T00:04:00Z

"So Mr. Travel Guy, how exactly did you tear up your shoulder?"

"I fell on a slip-n-slide during an adventure race in Denver."

The Urban Assault Ride was held in Denver on Sunday 25 August and it was both painful and an absolute blast! Thousands of bike riders attacked the city and had to do fun and ridiculous tasks at stops around the city. Overall, it was probably only a 16-18 mile ride, but there were quite a few stops around town, where you had to:

- Complete a foam block puzzle on a snow sled, and raise it over your head (at a bar, of course!)

- Slide down the hill on a slip-n-slide (without hurting your shoulder). I failed on this one.

- Tricycle (one peddling, one sitting on handle bars) flag football

- Big Wheel race

- 3-legged obstacle course race

and my favorite

- Jump into a pool and find three different weighted beer cans at the bottom.

It was a very hot day, so we left the pool activity for last. Good thing, as I wore bike shorts, and the wet shammie would have been really uncomfortable if I had done the pool first.

Travel Gal was awesome and we had a blast. And, nothing finishes a goofy adventure ride like some New Belgium beer.

Counting down the days (and icing my shoulder) until next year's race!