To Upgrade or to Break-up

by Iva Skoch on

I recently witnessed such an interesting airport dilemma that I could add a travel-related chapter to the bestselling self-help book “Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus.”

Two of my friends-a couple-were flying from a vacation in the U.S. back to Europe together. He was a frequent flyer gold card holder and got upgraded to business class for free. They don’t always upgrade, especially on trans-Atlantic flights, so he jumped at the opportunity. She is not a frequent flyer and did not get upgraded. She was mad at him for taking the upgrade and leaving her behind in economy class. He felt slightly guilty, but not guilty enough to sit in coach and completely give up the seat, or to shell out an additional $650 to get her upgraded as well. He offered that she sit in business class instead of him, but she refused.

Her argument was that he didn’t even consult with her and just announced it to her. She never said it bothered her, and just stopped talking to him.

He viewed her reaction as ungrateful. After all, he paid for the whole vacation, including her ticket. Now she wanted a paid upgrade too? Didn’t she want him to be comfortable and use those quickly-disappearing frequent-traveler perks? Plus, when he offered he would switch seats with her, she was not interested.

Any Dr. Phils out there who have an answer to this? Should you give up an upgrade for your girlfriend/boyfriend/spouse so you can suffer with them in economy class?

The Utterly Unique Telluride Film Festival

by Neil Woodburn on

Telluride is one of the best places in the world for skiing and for one weekend of every year, seeing movies.

The Telluride Film Festival, which kicks off tomorrow, is unique among film festivals according to the LA Times. It is not swanky and full of celebrities elbowing each other for the paparazzi, but is instead low key and a little more grassroots. The films tend to be more on the artsy side and few major studios are invited to participate. In addition, there are no VIP passes (celebs and mopes alike have to stand in line) and the festival refuses to announce which films will be playing in advance. Film fanatics show up based simply upon “blind faith” and their love of cinema.

The great news is that if the films really suck, you’re conveniently located in the beautiful mountains of Colorado so you can duck out of the theater and enjoy plenty of hiking and fresh air.

Lonely Planet’s Brooklyn Get Together

by Erik Olsen on

I got stuck at work last night and was pretty much set on just heading back home and collapsing in front of an episode of Lost or something with a bowl of Pad Thai on my lap. But then I remembered I’d been invited to this little shindig over in Brooklyn put on by the folks at Lonely Planet. Some free vittles, Stella on tap, so I figured why not. I boarded the L train and headed over and, as so often happens in New York, a little event that you hadn’t much thought about turned out to be a great time. I met, like, seven or eight Lonely Planet writers, and chatted with them about working for LP and the whole travel-guide-as-career experience (less inspiring than you might think…but, hey, you know you’d still give it a whack).

One of the guys I met is pictured here. His name is Robert Reid and he’s one of the writers on the forthcoming New York City book as well as several books on Latin America. His photo over at the LP makes him look a bit like Che Guevara’s studious little brother, but as you can see in the photo here, he cleans up well.

As a side note, I have to confess that an LP guide on New York seems a bit odd to me. I mean, LP books are always about places you go, where you escape. They’re not about where you live. But of course that’s downright silly. LP’s Frank Ruiz, their media maven (pictured here with colleague Cindy Cohen…and a good dude) suggested he’d send me a copy and I will dutifully review it here. After all, who better to judge if the NYC guide is any good than a New Yorker?

Anyway, the LP event last night was also meant to bring attention to National Passport month, LP’s drive to get more Americans with passports in their hands (a measly 25 percent of us have passports…what is wrong with us! If you don’t have yours, go out TODAY and get it. Yes, I know the lines are long at the passport office, but please, do it, it will be worth it). There was also a big motor home outside the Galapagos Restaurant where some of the crew from the upcoming show Road Trip Nation were hanging out. So I chatted with them for a while, too, and even got a DVD of the show.

An altogether prosperous night, philosophically speaking, wouldn’t you say?

T-Shirt Profiling

by Erik Olsen on

Be careful what you say at the airport…and what you wear. Or so seems to be the case at JFK airport recently. Raed Jarrar walks through security at the airport ,gets the double-check treatment (fine, happens to everyone), but then after he sits down to enjoy a delicious meal of grapes, cheese and orange juice (terrorist food, if ever there was such a thing), he gets the third degree from an airport cop and the Jet Blue lady . His crime? Wearing a t-shirt that read (in both English and Arabic), “we will not be silent”.

Obviously assuming that he is not a member of the Deaf Mute Association of America, he’s questioned rather intensely and asked if he has another shirt he can put on. He refuses and is asked if they can all “end this the nice way”. By that I assume she meant put on another t-shirt and then enjoy some tasty blue chips with your grapes.

Look, I’m as frightened of terrorists on planes as the next guy, but simply wearing a shirt in Arabic smacks of pure profiling silliness. No? Correct me if I’m wrong. You can read his acount here.

Red Corner: Prague’s New Cubist Hotel

by Neil Woodburn on

Most people are familiar with Cubism through such legends as Picasso. The movement often stretched beyond canvas, however. This was especially true in Prague where a number of notable buildings were constructed using this school of design in the early 20th century.

The capital of the Czech Republic has just added another entry into their fine collection. The Marriott Courtyard has embraced the cubist style in their latest hotel which just opened last May. As you can tell by the above photo, the exterior has a little bit more of a modern twist than the more traditional cubist architecture seen around town, but it still makes a heroic effort to respect the country’s artistic past.

The sharp angles so typical of the movement aren’t just limited to the outside of the hotel. The interior, designed by Helena T. Dunn Interior Design incorporates the cubist style from furniture to wall hangings throughout the hotel’s bar, restaurant, lobby, and guestrooms.

Personally, I am quite surprised the normally bland Marriott chain would so whole-heartedly embrace such an avant-garde theme. I have yet to visit the hotel, however, and will have to reserve judgment until I make it back to Prague.

Museum piece or kitsch? If you’ve checked it out, let us know…