29 Forever and a Sad Daughter

Dear 29,

Hey, what’s not to like about Vegas? Lines for buffets the length of the Appalachian Trail; gangs of roving bachelors and bachelorettes likely to vomit at the least provocation; the opportunity to spend all your money without the pesky problem of shopping bags to carry home; and, if you do manage to find something to do outdoors, the weather is either paralyzingly hot or depressingly chilly. But wait, is Celine Dion still in town?

Before I get calls from the Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority, I will say that I’ve had some great times in Vegas (who hasn’t?), but it’s not always the place you want to go.

For that Special Birthday, it’s critical to keep a positive attitude by having your best friends around you and making it memorable. You just have to decide if you’re looking for adventure, relaxation, learning, culture, or a combination.

Adventure
Learning a challenging new sport is empowering at any age, but the more we, uh, mature, the fewer opportunities we seem to have. How about learning to surf? My cousin invited her three best childhood friends to join her for a week at an all-women’s surf camp in Mexico, and I was lucky enough to be one of them. Seven days of surf instruction, sunrise yoga, and accommodations overlooking the Pacific—it was spectacular. We shared a wondrous experience with the other 13 girls—yes, girls—at Las Olas, in Sayulita. Las Olas’ mantra is “we make girls out of women.” Check it out at www.surflasolas.com/ It’s spendy, but worth it; a week of accommodations, surf instruction, breakfast, and more starts at $2400. Watch the website for last-minute deals.

Relaxation
If a more contemplative vaca is your style, the loveliest new secret in the Western Hemisphere is Anamaya, on the Costa Rican coast. You can look forward to locally-sourced organic food, spa treatments, Anusara yoga, and an endless infinity pool. Swim beneath the waterfall or nap in your hammock, it’s completely up to you. A web-only price starts at $995 for the week (www.anamayaresort.com/).

Wine Country
Fly into San Francisco, rent a car, and within an hour, you can be in wine country. Napa’s renovations in the downtown area have made the eponymous village more attractive. A glut of B&B’s has brought the market price down, and you can get a unique room in town or close to wineries starting at just over $100 per night (http://napavalley.com/).  

Sonoma is the more popular area, and renting a house on VRBO (Vacation Rentals by Owner) is the way to go. Rent one of the fabulous local homes without paying the middleman’s fee. You can save hundreds of dollars and get a personal pool or hot tub. For fun browsing, start at www.vrbo.com/vacation-rentals/usa/california/wine-country/sonoma-county.

Wherever you decide to stay, your first stop must be at Gloria Ferrer for a glass of sparkling wine. Line up your wineries, interspersed with spa treatments, hikes in the hills, and dozing by the pool. Go to http://napavalley.com/ and click on “free stuff and discounts” for some nice deals.

New York
Everyone’s favorite US destination has always been tough on the pocketbook. But a spate of new construction/renovations combined with the recent down-market is affording us heretofore unknown opportunities. The New York Times calls them “budget boutiques” in their story on June 14 (www.nytimes.com/2010/06/20/travel/20hotels.html). 

For even more affordable and the most interesting accommodations, try Air BnB.com (www.airbnb.com/). You can find city apartments and homes in nearly every major city in the country (and even the world). You’ll be staying in fabulous places, rented directly from the owner (thereby eschewing the middleman’s fee). Social networking gives comfort to both owners and renters by sharing personal info. There’s a bit of a gamble, but look for reviews from previous renters. Awesome New York City spots include a 1-bedroom in the East Village from $170 and a 3-bedroom on Wall Street from $125. Looking at all the options is at least half the fun.

Not even kidding…Cruises.
No, really. Even if you’re a cruise snob (I know), there are some great deals on 3-night cruises out of Miami (but really, talk about your fun-friend times?). You can be the rock star and impress your friends with balcony cabins for all of them for less than you can stay at the Super 8 in Poughkeepsie. Here are two great sites that I love for cruise bargains, starting at $189 per night:
www.cruisesonly.com/promotion/cruisesonly/specials/cheapcruises.asp?cid=136KAYOT052620090001ALL&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=cruise and  www.travelthemesanddreams.com/

Dear Clever Traveler:

I’ve booked a trip for my parents that they’ll take in several months, but they seem to be going downhill fast these days. I’m not sure how many more “non-refundable” reservations I’m comfortable booking for them.

Worried Daughter

Dear Daughter,

It’s rough when it gets to this stage. Your parents are still independent enough that they travel, but their health may put on the brakes at some point—you just don’t know when. This is when travel insurance is the key. Book the insurance at the time you pay for the trip, and you can choose the variables (at different price points). I like TravelGuard at www.travelguard.com/.  They are a Wisconsin-owned company that does not contract out their customer service. That’s important if your parents are calling with a problem. The phone is answered 24 hours a day by friendly, knowledgeable people in Stevens Point, Wisconsin. Evacuation insurance, local medical care, even concierge advice is available. Plan on an additional cost of about 10–20% of the entire cost of the trip for insurance, and you can relax a little…at least until they call you.