Deciphering the hotel star-rating system.
If you've wandered around European cities, you've probably noticed that the star-rating system doesn't make a lot of sense. You'll see a three-star designation on an absolute dump, while that perfectly charming little auberge down the street has a solitary star.If you've wondered what's up with that, you're not alone. Many of the complaints on tripadvisor are because the reviewer expected a level of service or accommodation from the hotel's star designation that the property didn't deliver.
Here's why.
Read more...
Lunchtime at the Victoria and Albert.
There are plenty of delightful places to have lunch in South Kensington. But one of the most appealing is in an unexpected place -- the Victoria and Albert Museum.The restaurant here was the first museum restaurant in the world, and today, it's better than ever. The food is prepared fresh daily on site by award-winning Benugo Catering with something for every taste. There's poached salmon with dill sauce, roast veggie pie, brie and chicken panini, fresh salads, deli sandwiches, and everything in between. Plus delicious baked goods, and a nice selection of beer and wine.
Read more...
Tips for getting a great hotel room -- Part 1.
An old real estate adage says to buy the cheapest house in a great neighborhood. And while that might be sound advice for house hunters, those looking for the perfect hotel room would do well to ignore it.You want to be in a great neighborhood, that much is true. But getting the cheapest room you can find is probably a mistake.
If you've spent any time reading traveler reviews on sites like tripadvisor, you know that even the best hotels have some unhappy guests. Read between the lines and it's almost always clear that the poor sap who had a bad experience booked the least expensive room.
Read more...
LAX nonstops redirected.
The last several times we’ve flown connecting flights to Europe, it hasn’t been a great experience. Last year, we flew Delta to JFK where we were supposed to connect to another Delta flight to Rome.We arrived 50 minutes late, despite having a tail wind that was supposed to save us an hour. When we arrived, we asked the agent at the gate which flight our connection left from and she said she had no idea because the flight was “closed.” We told her to figure out the gate, call them, and tell them we were on our way.
We sprinted to the gate listed on our boarding pass – which was printed at LAX nine hours before – and made it by the skin of our teeth, though our bags didn’t catch up to us for nearly a week.
Read more...
Great restaurants in Yountville.
The Napa Valley town of Yountville has the distinction of having more Michelin stars per capita than any place in the world. French Laundry leads the pack with three stars - one of only six restaurants in the United States to have earned that distinction. Bistro Jeanty, Bouchon, and Redd each have one.Read more...
