Rosewood Hotels & Resorts opens in Abu Dhabi

As a huge fan of the Rosewood Hotel Georgia in Vancouver, BC, I was fascinated to learn that the upscale Rosewood Hotels & Resorts® chain has just opened its first property in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Viking Cruises launches ocean cruise line

Viking Cruises, long a purveyor of cruises along inland rivers in Europe, Russia, Egypt and Asia, has announced its expansion into the arena of ocean cruises. The launch of Viking Ocean Cruises, announced May 17 marks the introduction of the travel industry’s first new cruise line in nearly a decade.

VANCOUVER, BC: Westin Bayshore

I’ve been visiting the Westin Bayshore ever since I moved to the Seattle area in 1983 and subsequently discovered the wonderland that is Vancouver, British Columbia. My wife and I returned to Vancouver and the Westin during a lovely April weekend.

ANA to return Dreamliner fleet to service

Following the successful completion of a series of battery system modifications, safety checks and test flights, Japan’s All Nippon Airways (ANA) will place its Boeing 787 Dreamliner fleet back into service effective June 1, 2013.

PHOENIX: Embassy Suites Biltmore

I’ve stayed at many Embassy Suites during my business and leisure travels and found that, while generally predictable, they are usually predictable in a good way. The Embassy Suites Biltmore in Phoenix is an exception in that it is unpredictable in many good ways.

SEATTLE: Cascina Spinasse

Hungry for something different one recent weekday evening, we took the recommendation of a friend and headed to Cascina Spinasse on Seattle’s Capitol Hill. It was outstanding!

HONOLULU, HI: Embassy Suites-Waikiki Beach Walk offers Historic Pearl Harbor package

Embassy Suites-Waikiki Beach Walk recently unveiled its new “Historic Pearl Harbor” package intended to provide visitors to Oahu an enhanced opportunity to delve into an iconic part of the island’s history.

PUYALLUP, WA: Crockett's Public House

Crockett’s Public House in Puyallup, Wash., about 35 miles south of downtown Seattle, was recently featured on Food Network’s Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives but enjoyed a loyal following long before its television debut, and for good reason. On a recent sunny Sunday (yes, there are sunny days in Seattle), my wife and I headed south to try this place out.

VANCOUVER, BC: Salam Bombay

My wife, a/k/a The Timid Traveler, enjoys Indian food but is very particular about where she orders it. Cities including London, Toronto and Vancouver meet her criteria of being cities with a large enough Indian population that the chances of getting really good Indian food are fairly high. So it was with great delight that we spotted Salam Bombay on the corner of Burrard and Alberni in downtown Vancouver.

Emirates to begin non-stop service from JFK to Milan, Italy

Emirates, the world’s largest international air carrier, will inaugurate non-stop service Oct. 1 between New York’s JFK airport and Milan, Italy (MXP), introducing the airline’s only non-stop service from the U.S. to Europe.

Family thrown off United Airlines flight for complaining about movie

When I read this, I was incredulous: United Airlines flight 638 en route from Denver (DEN) to Baltimore-Washington Airport (BWI) on February 2 diverted to Chicago’s O’Hare (ORD) and a family was thrown off ... because the parents complained about the graphic nature of the in-flight movie!

Commentary: The authority of flight crews

As often as I fly, I was surprised to hear a subtle difference in the pre-flight announcement during my most recent trip. As it turns out, the small difference I heard could be pretty important.

DES MOINES, WA: Prima Margherita Pizza Cucina & Bar

A brand new restaurant in Des Moines, Washington is bringing authentic Neapolitan pizza to the area and adding to its growing local restaurant scene.

Business Class on American Airlines’ new 777-300ER

Sometimes, you’re just in the right place at the right time.

TULSA, OK: Juniper Restaurant

A delightful find during a recent trip to Tulsa was Juniper Restaurant and Martini Lounge, a relatively new fine-dining restaurant in the city’s Blue Dome District.

TULSA, OK: Courtyard Downtown

I recently spent three nights at the Courtyard by Marriott in Downtown Tulsa and found the property to be fine in many ways, though it did have a few notable shortcomings.

Exchanging foreign currency economically

If you travel internationally, even if that is just between Canada, the U.S., and Mexico, you’ll likely be exchanging currencies at some time. How to do it most economically?

Comparing airline photo policies

After a travel blogger was unceremoniously thrown off a trans-Atlantic United Airlines flight in February for taking a picture, I decided to conduct a poll to compare various airline policies regarding in-flight photography.

Hawaiian Airlines launches non-stops to New Zealand

Hawaiian Airlines has launched non-stop service from Honolulu, Hawaii, to Auckland, New Zealand, making it the first U.S. carrier flying into Auckland.

Blogger thrown off United Airlines flight ... for taking a picture

A travel blogger was unceremoniously thrown off a trans-Atlantic United Airlines flight in February for the heinous offense of (wait for it...) taking a picture!

Airline Clubs pre- and post-merger

The pending merger of American and US Airways will do more than combine the two carriers’ in-flight operations; it will also change the dynamics of the airlines' clubs in ways that will affect members of other airline clubs as well.

TACOMA, WA: Bruno’s European Café

My wife and I always enjoy trying restaurants that offer the cuisines of our German and Polish heritage, so we were very pleased to “discover” Bruno’s European Café.

VANCOUVER, BC: Rosewood Hotel Georgia Ranked #1

The Rosewood Hotel Georgia in Vancouver, BC has just ascended to the Number 1-ranked hotel in the city according to TripAdvisor.

SEATTLE: Purple Café and Wine Bar

My wife and I popped into Purple Café and Wine Bar one evening recently and left absolutely enchanted.

OLYMPIA, WA: Fish Tale Brewpub

After seeing the Fish Tale Brewpub on Food Network’s Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, my wife and I thought it looked like it would be worth the 45-minute drive from our home south of Seattle to Olympia. We were right.

Staying healthy while traveling

Most travelers, frequent or occasional, have seen them: those medications designed to protect your health while traveling. Recently, I was given the opportunity to try out two of them.

VANCOUVER, B.C.: Rosewood Hotel Georgia Revisited

After my first stay at the Rosewood Hotel Georgia in Vancouver, B.C., I wrote “one night was not enough.” Now that my wife and I have enjoyed a two-night stay, we agree: it’s still not enough.

American, US Airways merger an opportunity to reregulate the industry

In an announcement appropriate for Valentine's Day, beleaguered American Airlines and US Airways announced that they have agreed to merge.

DC Metro needs to update systems

I travel to Washington, D.C. often enough that I keep a farecard for the Metro handy so I can get off the plane at Reagan National, walk to the Metro, and be whisked to my destination. On my most recent trip, a minor malfunction revealed gaps in Metro’s systems as well as in its customer service.

American's Longest Flying F/A Steps Down

An interesting article in the Dallas Morning News about American Airlines' oldest active flight attendant stepping down after 54 years in the air.

WASHINGTON, D.C.: Renaissance Downtown

I’ve stayed at the Renaissance Washington, D.C. Downtown hotel several times over the years and have found there is much to recommend it, including its location. Now, I can add newly refurbished guest rooms to that list.

Sometimes a great notion...

A fellow blogger gets caught up in the Dreamliner grounding.

American Airlines unveils new look

The airline isn't sitting on its hands while it works to emerge from bankruptcy protection.

787 Dreamliners grounded

Airlines regulators in the U.S., Japan, India and Europe have grounded the Boeing 787 Dreamliners after a recent spate of problems, including one that required an emergency landing and evacuation in Japan.

United, American Airlines accused in fuel scam

United Airlines is being sued by the Illinois Regional Transit Authority (RTA), which charges the carrier with running a sham office in a rural county to avoid paying millions of dollars in sales tax on the jet fuel it purchases.

Viking River Cruises adds Myanmar to 2014 itinerary

Starting in 2014, Viking River Cruises will be offering adventuresome travelers the opportunity to cruise the majestic Irrawaddy River in Myanmar and Thailand.

EDMONDS, WA: Great Mexican food at Las Brisas

I grew up in Arizona and spent a good portion of my adult life in California, so I like to think I know good Mexican food when I taste it. Add that I’m a foodie, and you can imagine how happy I was to discover a Mexican restaurant in Washington state that appeals to my love of good Mexican food.

SACRAMENTO: Gatsby's Diner

As a fan of Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives, I have long wanted to visit Gatsby’s Diner in Sacramento. This Christmas visit, I played the “Dad” card and insisted the family gather there for dinner. No one was disappointed.

SAN FRANCISCO: Omni Hotel

While not exactly a frequent guest at Omni Hotels, my few experiences have been outstanding, which is why I chose the Omni San Francisco for a Christmas night getaway after my wife and I spent several days with family in Sacramento.

Reflections of a Virgin virgin - my first experiences flying Virgin America

I flew a Virgin airline for the first time this Christmas season and found that Virgin America is, as its marketing “positioning statement” says, “A breath of fresh airline.”

Best of the Road -- Christmas Update

By their nature, "best of" lists are always limited and subjective. That said, I present my personal evaluations of the "best of" my recent hotel experiences, as updated at Christmastime 2012.

Viking Cruises expands with additional longship order

Viking River Cruises in early December placed an order for 10 additional Viking Longships, bringing the total number of new ships launching in 2013 to 10 and the number launching in 2014 to eight. 

WASHINGTON, DC: Sheraton Pentagon City

I spent four nights here while presenting at a conference and found the hotel to be quite nice, if somewhat less conveniently located than others at which I’ve stayed in the Washington, DC area. I also uncovered an important caveat for coffee drinkers. 

SAN DIEGO: Hotel del Coronado

After visiting the Hotel del Coronado many times over the years, my wife and I decided to spend two nights at the historic property to celebrate our 20^th anniversary just after U.S. Thanksgiving. There is a lot to recommend about the Hotel Del but there are also some caveats, including prices that I found very expensive - even by resort standards.

American Airlines launches Main Cabin Extra seating

As promised earlier this year, American Airlines is unveiling a new product that provides extra legroom for those seated in the main cabin.

DALLAS, TX: Westin Stonebriar Resort

When I arrived at the Westin Stonebriar Resort in Frisco, just north of Dallas, Texas, my initial impression was that this hotel had grown a bit long in the tooth and hadn’t quite kept up with the times. After three nights, it had won me over, though there are some shortcomings that ought to be corrected.

Hey, American Airlines: JUST DO IT!

The e-mail from American Airlines to its AAdvantage® members started on a promising note. The "Subject" line said, "Double miles, with our thanks."

COCKTAIL CULTURE: Sunday Sippable

Now that the state of Washington’s liquor sales are no longer the exclusive purview of the state and we’re able to get a far better variety of spirits and liqueurs, I was able to buy a miniature (50 ml) of St. Germain liqueur the other day and tonight revisited a cocktail my wife and I discovered during a visit to Chicago.

THAILAND: Outrigger opens new luxury property on Phi Phi Island

Outrigger Hotels and Resorts will officially open the Outrigger Phi Phi Island Resort and Spa, a stunning 156-key 70-acre property formerly known as the Phi Phi Island Village Beach Resort and Spa, on Nov. 3.

Viiking River Cruises offer holiday cruises through Christmas

Viking River Cruises is offering holiday cruises from late October through December, offering guests a chance to enjoy the picturesque holiday markets and atmosphere of Europe as well as the comforts of the new Viking Longships.