February 26, 2016 on Fodors.com || The best way to get to know Washington, D.C. is to take a bipartisan approach. At the city’s downtown core are grand tributes to American history and government that create an aura of power and diplomacy. But don’t forget that this is a city where people live, work, and play—and there’s a side of D.C. that thrives beyond the marble columns and museum galleries, so don’t delegate all your time to one aspect of the city. Add these top experiences to your list and you’ll cross the aisle between essential visitor sights and hotspots that locals love.
Author: jmoss5
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Traveling for Work? 7 Hotel Amenities You Didn’t Realize You Need
February 18, 2016 on Creator by WeWork || Travelers who checked into certain Holiday Inn Express, Hilton, and Marriott rooms have been noticing something different recently. The desk in their rooms is missing.
Well, “missing” depends on whom you ask. The furniture choice was intentional, as many hotels have introduced desk-free rooms and more communal working space. The thinking is, millennial travelers don’t want clunky desks.
But sportswriter Dan Wetzel wasn’t pleased by the lack of a traditional desk-and-chair setup when he checked in. He blogged his frustrations, and the post, Who Took the Desk from My Hotel Room, went viral, sparking a passionate outcry in defense of the hotel desk.
Okay, so it wasn’t “The Dress” level Internet drama, but it showed that travelers feel pretty passionate about what hotels are offering. On the flip side, lodging companies are constantly tweaking their amenities to keep up with what they think we want. Minibars are now stocked with locally sourced products, concierges chat with travelers via text message, and some rooms even have a discrete stash of condoms.
Some of these features may seem over the top, but others can really fix the pain points of being away from home. If you’re hitting the road soon, here are seven hotel features you probably never asked for, but could really start to love.
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8 D.C. Food Trucks You Need to Follow
February 8, 2016 on Creator by WeWork || Like other cities with a large population of car-free young professionals, D.C. is riding the food truck wave. Hungry lunchers can find them parked around places like Farragut Square, Metro Center, and Union Station, while other trucks bop around the city and require some sleuthing to track down. A few roving vendors have grown so popular they’ve opened brick-and-mortar outposts in trendy hoods—Shaw, we’re looking at you. You can follow the trucks individually on their websites or Twitter, or on Washingtonian’s food truck blog. Here are some of the city’s best.
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How to Plan a Trip to Machu Picchu Before It’s Too Late
February 3, 2016 on U.S. News Travel || Machu Picchu is the granddaddy of archeological sites. Set in the Andes Mountains, the site was once an estate for the Inca emperor, as well as a place of worship and education. When the Spanish conquered Peru, Machu Picchu was abandoned, and the colonists never learned of its existence. The site remained hidden in the Andes, shrouded by green mountains and clouds of mist, completely unknown to the outside world.
It wasn’t until Hiram Bingham III, a Yale historian and explorer (and the inspiration for the famous character Indiana Jones) uncovered the ancient site in 1911 that the world took notice.
And what notice it was. Machu Picchu’s visitor numbers grew quickly, as did its aura. It soon became Peru’s largest driver of tourism. Movies were made, books were written. Artifacts were taken, then returned. Machu Picchu was even recognized as one of the new seven wonders of the world, an honor that all but solidifies its place on the bucket lists of intrepid travelers around the world.
But all this popularity has taken a toll.
With 2,500 visitors per day wandering around the sacred stones, the temples are starting to topple. Structures that held for more than 500 years through earthquakes and landslides are coming apart. The site is under UNESCO protection, and in 2011 the Peruvian government limited the number of visitors allowed each day. Some have called for stricter rules, such as making areas off limits or requiring all visitors to stay with a guide. The future is unknown but one thing seems inevitable; it may not always be possible to visit the ancient city the way you can today. Here’s what you need to know to before visiting Machu Picchu.
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10 Things NOT to Do in Washington, D.C.
February 3, 2016 on Fodors.com || Washington D.C. is one of the country’s most visitor-friendly cities. It’s easy to get around, the major sights are concentrated in a wonderfully walkable area, and the city has an enviable mix of history and new offerings. But to do the nation’s capital properly, there are a few no-nos that you should avoid. For example, don’t buy one of those 3-for-$10 FBI T-shirts. And don’t try to pick the cherry blossoms. Most important of all, don’t do any of these 10 things. See full slideshow>>
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What the Heck is ‘Bleisure’ Travel, and How Can You Do It?
January 28, 2016 on Creator by WeWork || Bleisure: It’s the Kimye of the business travel world. The marriage of business travel with leisure time is one of travel’s biggest trends these days (and one of its most unfortunate terms).
Put simply, “bleisure” travelers take advantage of a meeting or work event in another destination, and carve out some non-working time to enjoy themselves.
Seems obvious, right? Well, it’s becoming that way. According to a 2014 survey by Skift, more and more business travelers are combining leisure time with their work trips. Six out of ten respondents reported that they have taken a “bleisure” trip. Millennial travelers are leading the charge—94 percent of travelers under the age of 35 expressed interest in taking this type of trip.
Infusing some leisure time into your work trip is pretty straightforward, but there are some key things to consider when making plans.
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D.C.’s Best Bars for Closing Business Deals
January 20, 2016 on Creator by WeWork || Meeting clients for drinks? Your late night Fireball-soaked bar isn’t going to cut it. These D.C. power spots are great places to impress your colleagues—with views, booze, and a history of making deals.
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Traveling Solo? Make Sure You Download These Apps
January 13, 2016 on Creator by WeWork || Most of us will travel alone at some point. Many will do it more often than not. It might be a client meeting in another city. A conference overseas. Or that bucket-list vacation that you’re taking even though none of your friends can get time off.
Whatever your reason, if you’re hitting the road solo, these apps and tricks make great travel companions.
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Here are 10 Travel Ideas to Inspire More Jet-Setting in 2016
December 29, 2015 on Marriott Traveler || Instead of dragging yourself onto the elliptical machine, or vowing to cut down on the booze, make a New Year’s resolution you’ll actually enjoy keeping: a travel plan. There are plenty of trip-tempting events this year, from the U.S. National Park Service centennial celebration to world-class athletic competitions in Brazil. You’ll also find new neighborhoods making a name for themselves in big cities, and places where you can escape from it all.
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How to See Maui in 48 Hours
November 3, 2015 on Fodors.com || The rule of thumb when visiting Hawaii is you need one week per island—so if you have a week to explore Maui, use it—but most travelers don’t have that much time. You might be overnighting on a multi-island cruise, or maybe you’re on a quick side trip from another island, or perhaps you found a great deal from the West Coast and are only there for the weekend.
Whatever your reason for a short visit, you can get a good taste of Maui in just 48 hours. Follow this itinerary, and you’ll check off two of the island’s top activities, see stunning beaches and waterfalls, discover some lesser-known local gems, and still have time to kick back with a Mai Tai. Buckle your seat belt, because this tour covers many (unbelievably scenic) miles of road. Read more>>