10 Ways to Give the Gift of Travel

by Annie Scott on

Does all the rushing around of the holiday season make you want to get away? You’re not the only one. In fact, it might just behoove you to give someone the gift of travel this year. There are more ways to do so than you think — and ways in all price ranges. Here are ten ideas:

10 Ways to Give the Gift of Travel

1. Airline miles. Airline gift cards are tricky; you sort of feel like a jerk for giving anything less than $100. However, if you have some spare miles floating around from those last few business trips, you can get them transferred to somebody else — and that’s a great gift. Check with whatever airline you fly most for their procedure. Alternatively, you can donate your airline miles to charity in someone’s name. Johnny Jet explains how here. ‘Tis the season.

2. Hotel gift cards. Almost all hotels, from the budget set to luxury boutique hotels and bed and breakfasts, offer gift cards. Some will allow you to purchase a number of nights and spa treatments, etc., and some just go by dollar amount. The easiest way to give this gift is of course to get it for free. Luxist is giving away Four Seasons gift cards through December 10 here.

3. Zipcar membership. Zipcar offers “an alternative to car rental and car ownership.” If your recipient is 21 years old or older, they have a valid driver’s license, and meet a few other criteria here, you can gift them with membership or a dollar amount, and totally claim you gave them a car. Zipcar has also set up a Get Zipcar site so that you can send a message to your parents that says “I’d like to come home for the holidays” or a silly message like “Happy BMW to me!” and encourage them to get you a car.
4. Food. It may not be as good as the real thing, but food is part of the essence of travel. If you know your friend is just dying to go to Paris, why not take them to the best local French restaurant to let them enjoy the Parisian cuisine? Alternatively, you could buy them a cookbook or, even more generously, make them a gift card good for one meal from the country of their choice cooked by you.

5. A guide to the city where they live. Sometimes, you don’t have to leave home to travel. Staycation! Most of us don’t go to our local tourist haunts very often (and for good reason), but guides to your own city can alert you to cool features you didn’t even know your town had. Series like City Walks can help you explore your local area in a whole new way.

6. City Pass. Know someone who’s already planning their next trip? Get them a City Pass. The price varies by city, but the pass will get them discounts as high as 50 percent on major attractions and enable them to skip ticket lines.

7. Boat trip. Almost every city has a body of water with boats on it, and you probably almost never ride them (unless you live in Staten Island). Museums are great, but nothing takes you away from your usual routine (literally) like getting out on the water. You may just be traveling up the river and back, but simply changing terrain can feel like a mini-vacation and give you a whole new perspective on a place.

8. Give something they have to travel to use. Examples: a tent, skis, fabulous swimwear, an enormous backpacker backpack. This is a good idea for someone who deserves a vacation but needs a little push.

9. Give language-learning software/books. Another way to inspire someone to travel is to get them excited about another language. You have to know someone pretty well to know that they’d like to learn a language (and which languages interest them), but a question like “If you could learn any language in the world, what would it be?” should get you all the information you need. If they seem excited, get them a simple book or go whole hog and get them Rosetta Stone’s TOTALe package. Once they start to learn the words, it won’t be long before they skip town.

10. Invite someone to your home. If you have out-of-town friends or family, one way to give them a travel gift that costs you nothing is to invite them, officially, to come visit your city and stay in your home. Even if you’ve known them for years, people can feel awkward about asking to stay with you instead of forking out the cash for a hotel. Make a pretty invitation good for a four-night stay (it’s a good idea to specify the length, so they don’t feel like they’re asking for too many nights or, conversely, overstay their welcome), and the likelihood of them coming to visit will greatly increase.

Happy shopping to you all, and happy holidays!

Berlin’s best way to shop for the holidays

by Tom Johansmeyer on

Need a change of pace for your holiday shopping? Try Berlin! A new deal from the Hotel Concorde will make this year’s hunt for the perfect Christmas present more exciting than ever. The “Shop in the City” package starts with luxurious accommodations and includes plenty of discounts and other shopping perks to help you get the most from your trip.

The Hotel Concorde is right on Berlin’s Kurfürstendamm shopping boulevard, so you won’t have to go far to kick off the spending. In addition to staying in this part of town for two nights, the “Shop in the City” deal includes a buffet breakfast for two every day, dinner at Brasserie Le Faubourg and special gifts from Barbour and Lacoste. You’ll also get to enjoy a champagne reception and gift at the Bally boutique, a 10 percent discount at KaDeWe Berlin and 20 percent off at Galeries Lafayette — with a personal shopping appointment that you can wash down with a glass of champagne. Top it off with a 35 euro voucher at Montblanc.

Rates start at $275 a night. If you can’t make it in the next month and a half, don’t sweat it. Berlin’s Hotel Concorde is running it through the end of March.

South by Southeast: In Bangkok? Head to the mall!

by Jeremy Kressmann on

Bangkok means many things to travelers. The backpacker ghetto of Khao San Road. The sublime temples of Wat Pho and Wat Phra Kaew. The seedy go-go bars of Patpong. But after visiting this crazy Southeast Asian capital for the first time, I’d like to suggest a new highlight in Bangkok: the malls.

You’re probably going to tell me I’m a spoiled Westerner, too acclimated to the comforts of home to get my hands dirty with some authentic Thai culture. But, perhaps it’s time we all take a closer look at what Bangkok is really like these days. The famed “anything goes” destination of old is still there, hiding down back alleyways and puttering along on Bangkok’s diesel spewing tuk tuks. But there’s also an entirely new Bangkok under construction. An emerging city of modern mass transportation and shiny new temples of capitalism.

So what is it about Bangkok’s malls that makes them so special? Like many malls back home, they’ve got all the usual amenities – the department stores, the food courts and the electronics boutiques. But there’s also plenty that makes Bangkok malls entirely unique: outstanding and inexpensive food courts filled with authentic Thai cuisine, special events and top-notch cultural institutions. Sound interesting? Here’s three reasons why you should head to the mall during your next visit to Bangkok. Click below.

The food courts are amazing
When I think of a mall food court back in the U.S., my stomach starts to churn. Greasy Sbarro pizza, unappetizing McDonald’s and gluttonous portions of Cold Stone Creamery. Bangkok food courts are a completely different animal. In fact, one of the best places to experience affordable, delicious Thai cuisine is at the mall.

Whether you want egg noodles with pork and dried shrimp, a big glass of Lemongrass juice or some Thai sticky rice dessert, the food court is where it’s at. Average price for your meal? About $3 U.S. per person. In addition to all the Thai favorites you’ll find plenty of great Japanese, Korean and Vegetarian cuisine, along with a few good old American favorites.

Air conditioning is your friend
Spend more than five minutes outside in Bangkok, and you will be attacked. Your fresh clothes will be drenched in sweat. Motor scooters, tuk-tuks and huge buses belch smoke from all directions. Monsoon rains deluge down from the heavens. Angry and persistent mosquitoes buzz and itch in your ear. It’s enough to make even the most hardened travelers beg for mercy. Bangkok malls will become your oasis from this chaos. The cool chilled air feels like a gift from above. Even if you have no intention of buying anything at the store, Bangkok’s malls offer an easy, cheap way to chill out.

Surprising attractions
Bangkok malls aren’t just for shopping. They boast top-notch culture, special events and surprising creativity. A great example is the Thailand Creative & Design Center (TCDC), located in The Emporium Shopping Complex in Bangkok’s Sukhumvit area. The center boasts rotating modern art exhibits from Thai artists, typography exhibits, film screenings and a huge library of design books and magazines. On a recent Sunday, I found myself hanging out in TCDC’s slick coffeeshop, enjoying the stellar Bangkok city views while a live jazz band jammed out onstage. Cheesy mall this is not.

The next time you find yourself in Bangkok, take a closer look at what this amazing city has to offer. In addition to awe-inspiring temples and cheap backpacker street food, you’re likely to find a city that has “come of age” on the world stage.

Gadling writer Jeremy Kressmann is spending the next few months in Southeast Asia. You can read other posts on his adventures “South by Southeast” HERE.

Vintage clothes shopping across America – Don’t go without these tips

by Annie Scott on

Some people think the best shopping in America is in New York City. It’s true, we have all the Diors and Guccis you could want, but our vintage shopping can be just as expensive as designer shopping, which, if you ask me, just ain’t right. Sure, we have used-clothing shops like Beacon’s Closet in Brooklyn, and Cheap Jack’s (which has truly fabulous vintage clothing, but is not all that cheap), but what most savvy New Yorkers know is that vintage clothes can be bought much more inexpensively in other states, or at least upstate. In New York City, the demand for vintage clothes is high, and sellers know when they have a great item — and they price it accordingly.

In my travels across America I’ve always found the very best vintage clothing, shoes and even jewelry in small towns, where the cost of living (and demand) is low. A size 2 vintage dress priced at $150 might sell in a day in New York City, but in the middle of say, southwest Michigan, it might never leave the mannequin in the window. Jewelry enthusiasts might have an eye for a setting that a used-clothing store owner in the middle of Kentucky might not notice; and in some rare cases, designer labels are all but ignored, and you’ll find Prada on the same rack as Express. There is no Antiques Roadshow for clothing, but if there were, contestants would flock to tiny shops two hours from nowhere.

Salvation Army and Goodwill are also not to be ignored once you’re out in small towns, as in some cases, these are the only places for miles around where people can bring their used stuff.

With that info covered, here are five tips for great vintage shopping — specifically for those out-of-the-way towns you pass on your way to Grandma’s for Thanksgiving.
1. Talk to the owner. No need to go bragging that you’re from some big city; if the town is small enough, the owner will know you’re not from there. He or she will also probably appreciate your interest in their wares, and you’ll often hear a great story about whose Aunt Mildred wore what to which wedding, find out which the newest items are (not picked over by other shoppers) and sometimes even get a discount.

2. Turn it inside-out. Try things on, of course — especially as, over the years, we’ve all grown a bit taller and carry our fat in different ways — but when you’re looking at yourself in the mirror, you often don’t see the garment for what it is. Turn it inside out and check the seams, check the lining for stains, definitely check the underarms (no matter how pretty it is, those stains will never come out) and look for holes. If you find something small, ask for a discount — but only if you know you can fix it or live with it.

3. Look for the rocks. If you’re jewelry shopping, keep an eye out for real stones. Often, there will be a honking gem on display in a hideous setting — so buy it at a great discount and spend a little money having it reset once you get home. Your local jeweler will love you; everyone loves a project.

4. Load up on un-used cheapies. I know, when you’re at some vintage store in the middle of nowhere, it doesn’t seem that exciting to pony up for Donna Karan tights, but if they’re selling them in-the-box for $5? Load up, or you’ll be kicking yourself when you get home. Unused items like tights, underwear, socks, gloves and more often somehow make their way into used-clothing stores. Sometimes, they’re even vintage items themselves.

5. Check labels, then ignore them. Obviously, you want to know if you’re getting a Chanel for the price of a coffee, but if you don’t like it, don’t buy it. Trying to resell your brilliant but non-wearable finds is a full time job. Get the coffee instead, or something someone made by hand that looks fantastic on you.

So, on your next road trip, when you see a tiny store on the side of the road boasting “vintage,” “antiques” or “used clothing,” pull over. You could snag a million dollar look for the price of a New York City lunch.

Dim Sum Dialogues in Thailand: Bangkok

by Stephen Greenwood on

The city of Bangkok is a dichotomy between peaceful Buddhist temples & sordid red light districts. Beautiful national monuments & shoddy patches of low-income housing. Large, upscale shopping malls & equally large, rickety floating markets. Bright pink taxis or loud tuk tuks that jam the streets & a convenient but limited elevated metro line. Gleaming skyscrapers & lowly guest houses. The list goes on.

For the Americans out there, imagine a metropolitan area with a spread just about double that of Los Angeles, containing one million less people but three times the spice.
The area developed as a small trading post at the mouth of the Chao Phraya River and became the capital city of the kingdom of the Siam Empire in 1768. Around that time, it was given the ceremonial name of (take a deep breath) Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahinthara Yuthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom Udomratchaniwet Mahasathan Amon Phiman Awatan Sathit Sakkathattiya Witsanukam Prasit. That became shortened to Krung Thep Maha Nakhon, which is still the official name in Thai – but the name Bangkok stuck with foreigners and became the official English name for the entire city.

Brightly lit and ornately decorated gold signs stand tall on the corners of the streets, proudly displaying pictures of Thailand’s King and Royal Family. The King’s face is a familiar sight due to it’s prominence on everything in Thailand. Money, pictures, posters, signs. I’m told that Thai people really love their King, yet it seems that most people are reluctant to discuss thoughts on the Royal Family with foreigners.

There are a few stops that are mandatory in Bangkok. The first is the Grand Palace, which was the official residence of Thai Kings from the 18th century until present, when the current King chose to live in a different palace. The detail and architecture of the entire complex is mesmerizing. On the grounds is The Temple of the Emerald Buddha, which was built as the Monarch’s personal place of worship. It’s a breathtaking collection of holy buildings, statues, and pagodas – and regarded as the most sacred temple in Thailand. I find the visit to the temple alone was worth the 350 baht entrance fee for the Grand Palace.

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Wat Pho is also worth the short 10-minute walk from the Grand Palace, where for 50 Baht you can see Asia’s largest reclining buddha (46m long) and gaze at the remarkable mother of pearl inlaid into the buddha’s giant feet.

From there, it’s easy to jump on a river taxi (don’t fall for the overpriced tourist boats) for 15-20 baht or so and take in a different perspective on the city (or avoid the notoriously bad traffic jams). The Skytrain is also another option for avoiding street transportation, although it doesn’t cover the areas near the Grand Palace & Wat Pho. On the elevated train there are two lines to choose from, and you’ll need coins to pay for tickets which should cost anywhere from 15 to 40 baht depending on the destination.

The Skytrain provides access to Bangkok’s most popular mall – MBK, which is near the National Stadium stop on the Silom line. Shoppers can find virtually anything at MBK, and can even attempt to barter with independent shop stalls – but it will help to have a Thai friend with you.

The Bang Ramat Floating Market is also a major attraction in Bangkok, although only open on Sundays it’s easily accessible from the adjacent Taling Chan Floating Market, which is open on weekends. Whichever floating market you visit in Bangkok, make sure to plan an early morning visit when the markets are most active and transportation is readily available.

There are plenty of great local & foreign restaurants around the city, and a variety of upscale bars and nightclubs at the city’s fancy hotels around the downtown area.

One word of warning: when you’re looking for transport, watch out for tuk tuk drivers that offer ridiculous multi-stop city tours for ridiculously low prices (10 baht per person), or that tell you that your destination (a temple) is closed until 3pm, so they can take you somewhere else instead. These usually end up being a series of spontaneous stops at tailors or travel bureaus, where they’ll receive commission for your possible patronage. Stick to metered pink taxis if you’re not looking for the thrill of the tuk tuks.

Whatever adventure you’re looking for in Bangkok, it’s likely you’ll find it – no matter the time of day or night.