Renaissance Hotels let the kids pamper mom with a pancake playdate

by Scott Carmichael on

Renaissance Hotels wins my prize for the most creative Mothers Day promotion this year (and yes – we get emailed a lot of them!). On Sunday May 9th, participating Renaissance properties will open up their kitchens just for kids – and the hotel chef will guide your little ones through the art of making the perfect pancake.

Prices for this pancake brunch start at just $25, and kids can make mom the perfect pancake using their imagination or one of the specialty pancakes on offer around the chain.

In Boston, the Renaissance Boston Waterfront Hotel bakes seasoned bacon fat into the batter to complement the Lobster Benedict.

In Washington D.C. kids can cook up a batch of organic buckwheat short stacks – with local Tuscarora Farm apple compote and McCutcheon’s wildflower honey.

By far the best sounding creation will be served at the Eden Roc Renaissance Miami Beach with Tres Leche pancakes, featuring caramelized bananas.

Of course, the best way to pamper mom is with a stay at a Renaissance, so head on over to their reservation site. Just be sure to check with the property of your choice whether they will be offering the pancake playdate.

Check out our other Mothers Day coverage here.

3 Innovative Reusable Water Bottles

by Amy Chen on

Earth Day may be next week, but being eco-conscious has become a year-round trend.

When it comes to being green, here are three water-bottle designers that are breaking the mold without breaking the bank.

Bobble
This bulbous-looking water bottle comes with a built-in filter that should be changed every few months. Made with recycled plastic, the BPA-free Bobble never spilled in my bag even after sloshing around for a week. The filter also makes filling up at the airport water fountain seem just a little less distasteful.
Price: $9.95; replacement filters cost $6.95 each.
Where to Buy: This brand-new bottle is currently shipping to major retailers (including JCPenney, Whole Foods, and Barnes & Noble) and should start appearing on store shelves in the next month or so. You can also order it now from www.waterbobble.com; add from $3.95 for shipping and handling.

Vapur
This BPA-free Vapur resembles a Capri Sun drink pouch more than a water bottle. The lightweight, collapsible design means you can flatten it, fold it, or roll it up when it’s empty. The so-called “anti-bottle” can also be frozen, tossed in the dishwasher, and generally squashed.
Price: $8.95
Where to Buy: www.vapur.us; add from $4.45 for shipping and handling. Flight 001 also carries the Vapur for $10, but it’s so popular that it’s often out of stock.

Hydro Flask
The Hydro Flask looks like a typical stainless steel water bottle, but the unique insulated double wall means you can pour hot or cold liquids inside. The sweat-proof design also keeps your bag from getting soaked from any condensation.
Price: From $23.99
Where to Buy: Check www.hydroflask.com for a list of stores; for online orders, add from about $9 for UPS Ground shipping.

Al Gore would be so proud.

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Airlines try for more edible food options

by Jeremy Kressmann on

Let’s not even bother with the jokes – we all know airplane food is awful. But these days, with most carriers looking for new sources of revenue, several of the major airlines have been stepping up the quality and taste factor of their on-board food offerings.

The days of free (and terrible) airplane meals are coming to an end. With Continental, the last carrier to offer complimentary in-flight meals, discontinuing its free service this fall, the in-flight meal industry is ramping up to better serve customer demand. Airlines ranging from Air Canada to United and American are shuffling their food offerings, realizing that if customers have to pay for it, it better bear some resemblance to something edible. Air Canada is introducing healthier food options like veggie sandwiches and yogurt, American Airlines is partnering with Boston Market and United Airlines will be letting customers pre-order in-flight meals before the end of 2010.

So will customers find these new in-flight food options more enticing? Not necessarily. Many frequent travelers have given up finding food on board, opting instead for the array of food options in the terminal like Cibo Express, Wolfgang Puck Express and the ever-popular fast food vendors. But for those looking for tasty, quality food to go with their air travel, keep looking. A top-notch meal on the plane or even at the airport remains a fantasy.

Take the Vegas buffet to the next level with the Planet Hollywood buffet of buffets pass

by Scott Carmichael on

Do you really like to feast on a Vegas buffet? I mean really, really love the buffet? How about spending three nights at the Planet Hollywood resort and casino along with a couple of all-access buffet passes for seven different buffets?

The deal is being offered by Harrah’s for guests who book 3 nights at Planet Hollywood. Rates start at just $122/night and the buffet passes offer 24 hours of unlimited access to Caesars Palace, Flamingo, Harrah’s, Imperial Palace, Paris, Planet Hollywood, and Rio.

Just imagine the insane amount of food you could tackle in a 24 hour period – breakfast, brunch, lunch, afternoon snack, tea time, dinner time and midnight snack. 24 hours, 7 buffet locations.

Of course, nobody would force you to visit all seven locations, but if you have the pass, why not turn it into a challenge? This isn’t the first “all day buffet pass” being offered, but it is the first I’ve ever heard of that offers food between all properties within the same chain.

Interested in a couple of days of food and gambling? Check out the deal over at the Planet Hollywood booking site.
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Don’t do mornings? Take a “Crack of noon” tour of Italy or France

by Laurel Miller on

Don’t you just despise fellow vacationers who leap out of bed at dawn’s first light, eager to get a start on the day’s activities? Do you hate trying to comprehend great works of art with a throbbing hangover? If your holidays often end up feeling about as relaxing as a day at the office, Executive Tours International has a solution.

The small, California-based luxury and customized travel company offered its first “Crack of Noon” tour of Italy last fall. It proved so popular, France has been added to the fall 2010 schedule.

This new take on organized tours features activities starting “after the civilized hour of noon” -ideal for those who don’t consider themselves “morning people.” Most days officially begin after 12 p.m., so travelers can choose to sleep in after a bit of late-night revelry, or have entire mornings to explore on their own. Limited to 24 guests each, “Crack of Noon Italy,” and “Crack of Noon France” allow travelers to explore each country, while giving them ample time to relax, recharge, and get some quality alone time.

The tours showcase the food and wine of each country. Italy includes Rome, Tuscany, and Venice, while France highlights Paris, Provence, and the French Riviera. Bookings close June 30th-be sure to set your alarm.