Adventures in Travel

Business travelers can spend a majority of their time thousands of feet above the ground, flying hours to get to a meeting or a conference. Laptops and wireless Internet have made it possible for these travelers to get some work done while waiting for their flights, but what about while they are in-flight?

Airlines are now addressing that question by offering, or by planning to offer, in-flight Internet and instant messaging.

JetBlue is one airline that now offers free email and instant messaging services on one of its aircrafts. American Airlines, Virgin, and Alaska Airlines also will be bringing the Internet to the sky in 2008.

What about those traveling without their laptop? For those travelers, Virgin America plans on linking technology to its seat-back entertainment system. This system would offer the ability to send and receive messages during flight, but not make phone calls.

"All of these new capabilities on flights will make business travel easier and much more productive. Within the next 10 years I believe Internet capabilities will be built into most aircraft. Technology is getting more and more advanced and the airlines will not want to be left behind," said Sabrina Whiting, director of sales and marketing at Travel Travel Carlson Wagonlit.

As soon as I arrived I wondered why I had not ever been there before ~ absolute paradise!

It was my first trip there, and I was incredibly amazed by the beauty, hospitality, and culture of the islands.

I spent three nights on Oahu, and four nights on Maui. I stayed at the Hilton Hawaiian Village for the first three nights. There, I had a breathtaking view of the ocean in a deluxe king room. This property has over 3,000 rooms, 90 shops, and 22 restaurants/lounges. It is within walking distance to the International Market Place, and right along the Waikiki Beach Walk. This resort has the widest beach on Waikiki.

They have a beautiful new wedding chapel for destination weddings right onsite. I would recommend this property to anyone, from families to honeymooners.

Another favorite was the JW Marriott on Oahu. Each room is quite unique with exceptional views of either the mountains or the ocean. They have a fabulous brunch that I had the pleasure of enjoying and a little pond with friendly sting rays swimming around. This property would be a great wedding spot or perfect for honeymooners.

One day I went to the North Shore and inspected the Turtle Bay Resort. This property is very spacious and would be perfect for golfers. It is pretty close to the Polynesian Cultural Center, and not too far from the Dole Plantation. Of course there were great views, great food, and a nice wedding chapel.

The Sheraton Maui was another great hotel I toured. It is quite spread out, offering something for everyone. There is a torch-lighting every evening, followed by their signature “Cliff Diver”. When I go back to Maui sometime I want to stay at the Grand Wailea Resort.

It truly is one of the most beautiful places I have ever been. It is close to the Shops of Wailea, beachfront, and has a very nice wedding chapel with great views. This property would also be great for families or couples. I would be more than happy (I would actually be excited) to assist anyone with travel plans to these amazing islands. I have some great recommendations as far as what you can do while you are there, and where to stay.

The trip was amazing. After being greeted at the airport in Montego Bay, we were treated to a two-hour, entertaining and informative, transfer in an air-conditioned bus to our resort in Ocho Rios. Midway to our destination we made a stop where we were able to purchase souvenirs, grab a bite to eat or just enjoy a refreshing Red Stripe.

We had the pleasure of staying at the All-Inclusive, Sunset Jamaica Grande Resort and Spa. Upon arrival at the Sunset Jamaica Grande, a live Jamaican band greeted us. We were escorted to our ocean view room, with a beautiful view of the dock area and the Caribbean Sea.

Our room had two double beds with a sitting area, a small balcony with deck chairs and a table. The room was very clean with a nice sized bathroom and an in-room safe. There are two beach areas with paddleboats, kayaks and water bikes.

There are ample beach loungers to relax and watch the cruise ships disembark in the bay. There are also two hot tubs, five pools, one with a replica of the Dunn’s River Falls that cascades from the lobby. There is also a children’s area at the resort.

The resort has several restaurants. The Grand Palm Buffet that serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. The South Beach Grill and the Lighthouse Grill that offers jerk chicken and sandwiches from 10AM until 1AM. There is also the Jamalicious Café that serves traditional Jamaican fare for lunch and dinner. There are also three reservation only restaurants. La Diva that specialized in Italian food. The Ginger Lily, which serves Asian Cuisine, and the South Beach Grill, an outdoor restaurant specializing in Jamaican/American dishes.

I would recommend making reservations for these specialty restaurants upon arrival.

On Tuesday nights there is an outdoor Jamaican themed beach party with a Jamaican style buffet, live entertainment including a steel drum band and fire dancers. The hotel has eight different bars, including a disco and two swim-up bars

Disney has it right; it is a small world after all. We all get so wrapped up in our daily lives that sometimes we fail to see the grand scheme of things. From Bismarck, North Dakota to South Africa to Antarctica, everyone is connected.

Thousands around the globe affect your daily life. When there is a fire in California, the price for fruit may go up in the Midwest. When problems occur in China, imports could slow down - slowing you down at the local Wal-Mart. When an airport across the country is facing delays and cancellations because of weather, you can bet your flight may not be on time either.

How do you think that you affect others in your daily life? How do you think others affect you?

Dear Friends of Adventures in Travel:

What do you want to learn about traveling? Are there any tips, suggestions, locations, or means of transportation that YOU want to know about? Let me know!

Want to talk about George W. Bush and the pressure he is feeling to do something about airport delays? Lets talk!

Interested in scuba diving but don't know the rules or what you have to do? Just ask!

I'm here so you can stop searching and start getting the answers you have been looking for.

Hope you had a great Thanksgiving,
Sabrina - Adventures in Travel