Travel Crafts

We can't all spend all of our time traveling. There are other things...like work, bills, and well, those are the only two reasons for me. And a general lack of funds. But when I'm home, between trips, I like to keep my mind in travel with some DIY projects.

The project I most often find myself working on would be scrap-booking. I take a lot of photos when I travel, and for me if I'm going to print them and stick them in an album then I might as well not print them at all. But if I can print them and work on a scrap-book then I have something fun to fill my time, and something cool to show for it. Scrap-books are much more fun to share with family and friends than plain albums.
Tips: Hobby Lobby, AC Moore, and Michael's seem to be the best places to buy supplies. But only Hobby Lobby and AC Moore offer coupons online. On any given day you can print (or pull up on a smart phone) at least a 40% off coupon. Scrap-books also make a handy place to store brochures, tickets, and other little things you picked up on vacation.

I'd say I need to travel the West coast more

My second favorite project to date is my wall map. I got a large map of the united states, attached it to cork board, and framed the entire thing. I have push pins in all of the cities that I've visited. I also have smaller maps of the other countries I've visited with pins.
Tips: I got my map for free at the Cracker Barrel. The cork board works much better if it is first affixed to a board of the same size. My frame is made of ceiling molding. And I had my Daddy's help.

These are pretty much water proof as well

Just the other day I made myself a set of map coasters. These were extremely easy and only took about fifteen minutes. I already had coasters (which were actually coaster-sized tiles). I cut pieces of a map to fit the top of the coaster then coated the coaster top with mod podge and stuck the map piece to it. Then I covered the whole thing with another layer of mod podge.
Tip: I got old maps from a local upcycle store for a quarter each. I like to keep my own maps of places I've visited so I didn't want to use those. You could probably do the same project with a variety of other pieces - vacation photos, brochures, event tickets, etc. Also, I do realize my coasters are a bit bumpy and that's in part to the folds in the map, so maybe use a section that hasn't been folded.

Now I just have to figure out what to do with the buttons

I made buttons for the first time the other day too. Buttons that go on clothing, or a bag. But you could also make pins. I used a map to cover the buttons as well.
Tip: You can buy button or pin making kits at craft stores. They were very easy to make with the kit.






While I was on a roll with my maps, I made a map box to hold my maps. And I covered the box using...yes, maps! An old map and mod podge.
Tips: I don't really have any. It's so simple. Get creative with other things you can use to cover the box.

Another ongoing craft I have constantly going (well, at least after every trip) is my travel journal. Now for me this isn't a diary of how my vacation went, but a journal to keep my notes from my vacation planning. I take extensive notes when I'm about to travel somewhere, and I decided to keep them in a fun little book. The notes are actually kind of funny to look over a couple years after the vacation.
Tips: Get a composition notebook for less than a dollar and then cover it with fabric, wrapping paper, scrap-book paper....or a map!

Notes from my trip to D.C.

Also, check out this awesome puzzle I took a few weeks to put together!

There are thousands of travel related crafts on the internet, especially on Pinterest. Here are some of the other projects I really want to try.

I really like the different types and colors of maps used here.

The hearts are placed where you lived, or a loved one lives, or where you're from.

Look, my favorite...maps!

Airlines and the No Show Policy

Ever heard of a No Show Policy? Neither had I until about an hour ago. But it's important that travelers know what the policy is, and what it means before they learn it the hard way.

Basically, the No Show Policy means that if you do not board the plane for any leg of a trip, the remaining flights in your name will be cancelled. (That means your return flight too!) So here's what you cannot do, and what will happen if you try.

Round Trip Tickets - Imagine you have a ticket from Charlotte, NC to Durango, CO with a five hour lay over in Denver. It takes just as long to drive to Durango as it does to sit in the airport waiting for the next flight. So, renting a car in Denver and driving to Durango and enjoying the scenery seems like a great idea, doesn't it? Wrong! The moment that plane leaves Denver without you on it, your return flight home from Durango to Charlotte is cancelled.

Possible solution 1: Get the car, skip the last leg, let them cancel your return flight and book a new, one-way ticket home. $$$

Possible solution 2: Call the airline and have your tickets switched up. Yes, they will make Denver your final destination and then you can drive to Durango and you'll still have your return flight in order. But you're most likely talking a couple hundred dollars, per traveler, to make these changes. $$$

Possible solution 3: Suck it up, you won't be seeing Denver or the surrounding scenery. Durango will just have to do. Zero $$$.

Yes, this all just happened to me. Yes, I'll be going with solution 3.

So what about one-way tickets. Well, as long as it's the last leg of your trip that you're skipping on, you should be ok. As long as all of your luggage is carry on.

The best thing you can do if you encounter this situation is to contact your airline and see what they can work out for you. It will probably cost you money, but I'm sure in some cases that is worth it. Just remember that if you skip a leg of your outbound flight, you won't be getting home without purchasing brand new tickets.

Check some no show policies for individual airlines below:
Virgin America - "If you fail to check in, Virgin America will cancel that flight reservation and all subsequent segments for continuing or return flights."
United Airlines - "Inventory spoilage caused by the failure to issue tickets and/or cancel ticketed or un‐
ticketed reservations." Whatever that means. Simply, no show = big no, no.
JetBlue - "If a customer does not cancel their flight prior to scheduled departure time resulting in a no-show, the tickets fare is forfeited.

Also visit Jason Clegg's blog for more information about particular airlines' no show policies.

Random/Fun Facts About NYC

Well, I've gotten you prepared to get around New York City, and I've given you some things to see and do, now I'm going to just get random on you.

One thing that's not so random and you might need to know is that NYC is made up of 5 boroughs: Manhattan, The Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, and Staten Island. And following are some fun borough facts:

• Manhattan is the most densely populated and it would be the one with Times Square, Central Park, The Empire State Building, etc (for those just tuning in to my blog). Manhattan is also the only borough without a Main Steet.
• The Bronx is the only borough that is actually part of the US mainland and houses Co-op City, the largest cooperatively owned housing complex in the US as well as Yankee Stadium and The Bronx Zoo
• Brooklyn is the most populated borough (Manhattan has more people in a smaller area though) and is the home of Coney Island.
• Queens is the largest borough and includes Citi Field (where the Mets play) and LaGuardia and JFK airports.
• Staten Island is an island (duh) that connects with Brooklyn and Manhattan. The island is covered in 28 miles of walking parks and contains one of the largest undisturbed forests of NYC.

There are over 20,000 restaurants in NYC - most of them being in Manhattan.

• 100 million chinese food cartons are used annually in the city.
• There are around 4,000 street food vendors. 
• The first American Pizzeria was opened by Gennaro Lombardi in NYC in 1895.

There are 6,374 miles of street in NYC. 

• An average of 4.9 million people ride the subway each day.
• There is 722 miles of subway track, with 468 stations and 6,200 subway cars.
• New York's Yellow Cabs have yellow taxis because founder John Hertz heard yellow was the easiest color for the eye to spot.
• Musicians performing in the subway system have to go through an audition process.

NYC was the nation's capital briefly in the 1780s. 

Wall Street was the city limit when the Dutch ruled the area and there was an actual wall standing there.

There are only four theaters that literally sit on Broadway - The Marquis, The Palace, The Winter Garden, and The Broadway.

• A Broadway Theater must have at least 500 seats, while an off Broadway theater can have less. 
• Most theaters skip the row I, so it doesn't get confused with the number 1. 
• Phantom of the Opera is the longest running show (over 9,100 performances) followed by Cats (1982-2000 with 7,485 performances).

The nickname "The Big Apple" has many origin stories. Two popular stories are that it was either coined by Jazz players who said playing in NYC was like hitting it big (The Big Apple was a night club). Or by horse racers, also referring to the fact that they were hitting it big by racing in NYC and called it The Big Apple in reference to the biggest possible prize a horse racer could earn. Apple...horse...get it?

There you go. You're all set to get out and see one of America's grandest cities!

Tips for New York City - Taking in the Sights

Obviously you could just walk down most streets in Manhattan and you would be sight seeing. But there are some tried and true sight seeing classics in New York - and you can probably guess most of them. Here's some important information about hitting the tourist must-sees. 

The Empire State Building - 350 Fifth Avenue, between 33rd and 34th Streets
The top of the ESB is over a quarter of a mile above the streets, but it's doable even for those afraid of heights. The observation decks have been open to the public since 1931, and around 4 million people visit each year. 

There are two observation decks, one on the 86th floor (1,050 ft) and one on the 102nd floor (1,250 ft). The 86th floor allows visitors out onto an open-air terrace that provides a 360 degree view of the city. If the weather isn't cooperating or you just don't feel like going outside you can stay in on the 86th floor or visit the 102nd floor - which does not allow visitors outside. The 86th floor features a visual and audio tour (with a ticket) and the 80th floor features an exhibit on the ESB's history.

Also: Get ready for lines. You'll have to wait in several lines before you get to the observation decks, especially since two elevators are used. Total wait times are usually around an hour, but can certainly be longer or even shorter. It takes only about a minute to get to the 86th floor, so you might even make it in the small elevator if you're claustrophobic. Take a look too at the lights on top of the ESB, they often change color throughout the year.

Cost: Adult Tickets for the 86th Floor are $25. Adult tickets for the 86th and 102nd floors are $42. Express tickets are also available for around $20 more, and allow the holder to skip the lines to the observation decks (including the lines for the elevators). Tickets can be purchased online or at the ESB.

Hours: The observation decks are open every day from 8 am to 2 am and the last elevator goes up at 1:15.


Ground Zero / Freedom Tower 

The Freedom Tower, now called One World Trade Center or 1 WTC, is currently under construction. The building, when done, will stand 104 stories and will be the tallest building in the western hemisphere and third in the world. It stands surrounded by Vesey St / Fulton St / Washington St / West St. Construction began in April of 2006 and is estimated to be complete in 2013. There will be an observation deck, higher than the Empire State Building's. Tickets will probably range from $20-25, but other details are still being worked out.

On the former grounds of the Twin Towers (ground zero) now sits the National September 11 Memorial and Museum. The Memorial features two reflecting pools on which is carved the name of every person lost during both the 9/11 attack and the 1993 attack. 

The museum includes stories of those who died, artifacts, multimedia displays, and much more. It will be the primary institution for study and examination of the 9/11 events. However, the museum is still not open. In the meantime you can go to the Visitor Center located nearby and admission is free. It's open all year but hours vary. 

Also: If you are looking for a specific name at the memorial, check 911memorial.org or kiosks set up around the memorial. 

Cost: The tickets to see the memorial are free, but must be booked for a specific date and time in advance through their online ticketing system.

Hours: The memorial is open daily from 10 am to 8 pm between March 18th and September 22nd, and 10 am to 6 pm the rest of the year.

The Statue of Liberty - Liberty Island off Battery Park

First of all, Lady Liberty is not on Ellis Island. Ellis Island holds the Immigration Museum. Liberty Island holds the Statue of Liberty. Now that we have that sorted out...

You must have a ferry ticket to get on the islands, and one ferry ticket will get you to both islands. You can get these tickets online or at ferry departure points, which include  Battery Park, NY or Liberty State Park, NJ.

The ferry will dock at either island and you can get off to explore without a fee (including the Immigration Museum). If you want to go to the top of the Statue of Liberty, in her crown, you must purchase an additional ticket and get a reservation. Audio and Ranger tours on both islands are free.

Also: ***Liberty and Ellis Islands are closed indefinitely due to damage sustained during Hurricane Sandy*** If you could visit though, and wanted to go to the crown, remember that it's 354 steps and that is the only way up or down.

Cost: Ferry tickets to the islands are free for those under 4, $9 for ages 4-12, $17 adults, and $14 seniors. Crown tickets are $3, and must be reserved ahead of time. Reservations are not currently being taken since it is unknown when the statue will re-open (as of 1/2/13).

Hours: Well right now there aren't any. Except for the ferrys, which still run their own harbor tours...get information here.


American Museum of Natural History - 79th Street and Central Park West

You could probably spend an entire day in the museum alone... and you still wouldn't see it all. Permanent exhibits include Birds and Reptiles, Earth and Planetary Sciences, Fossils, Human Origins, Mammals, and the Rose Center for Earth and Space. Other exhibits rotate in and out of the museum. There's also an IMAX theater showing different films.

Also: Highlights tours (a tour that hits the museums top exhibits in about three hours) are available if you don't want to wander about aimlessly. 

Cost: General admission is $19 online, but may be cheaper if purchased at the museum itself.  This ticket will give the holder access to all 45 museum halls and the Rose Center for Earth and Space. Additional tickets are needed for certain exhibits, the Hayden Planetarium Space Show, and IMAX shows.

Hours: Open daily from 10 am to 5:45 pm, except Thanksgiving and Christmas.



Other popular locations are Grand Central Terminal (check out the whispering wall), Central Park (a popular filming location), Battery Park (with restaurants, shops, and museums), and the other variety of museums NYC offers.

A good site to read up on more tourist attractions is http://www.nyctourist.com/.

If you plan on visiting a lot of places that require a ticket, look into the NYC City Pass. Buy one pass and cover admission costs to 6 different attractions. If the places you want to go are included on the Pass, you're sure to save money. 

Can't Trust Online Hotel Photos

You know how everyone is up in arms about make-up companies photoshopping their ads? I mean, I get it. They're trying to sell a make up so you can get a look that was achieved by a computer. Photoshopping is rampant in media advertising, and hotels aren't innocent either.

The following photos were taken from hotel websites and then compared with pictures taken at the same location by professional reviewers on Oyster, a hotel review site. You can see through the differences that website photos have been photoshopped, skewed by angles, cropped, and maybe some photos aren't even actually from the alleged hotel. Take a peek.

Mandarin Oriental, Miami Website (not currently on site)

Mandarin Oriental courtesy of Oyster - Talk about working some serious camera angles.

Hotel La Mariposa, Costa Rica Website (currently on site)

La Mariposa courtesy of Oyster - Wow, weird...where did those walls come from??

L'Enfant Plaza Hotel, Washington DC Website (currently on site)

L'Enfant courtesy of Oyster  - Dull with no view of the Washington Monument

Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas Website (currently on site)

Mandalay courtesy of Oyster - Crowded much?! How did they clear out all those people...oh, photoshop.

The London West Hollywood, LA Website (not currently on site)

The London courtesy of Oyster - Looks like someone added some stuff for a photo shoot.

Check here for more pictures from Oyster of hotels that don't live up to the hype.

Tips for New York City - Transportation

Now that I've recounted my New Year's Eve in New York, in a not so modest way...here's my useful blog about tips for New York City. I believe only someone who's lived there can truly explain how the shuffle of the Big Apple works, but I can at least give you a general idea. Then you can either figure out the rest yourself, or find someone who lives there.

Transportation:
Walk. Subway. Bus. Taxi. Done.

Ok, more detail? You can walk NYC til you're dead on your feet. Manhattan is over 22 square miles. Out of the city's 5 boroughs (Manhattan, Queens, The Bronx, Brooklyn, and Staten Island) chances are you'll only visit Manhattan. So, walking is the cheapest option, but if you're covering a lot of ground you'll get tired. Keep in mind for walking (and for your general orientation):

• Avenues usually run north and south, Streets run east and west

• Avenues are usually a bit wider

• Walking along a street you are walking "long blocks", walking along an avenue you are walking "short blocks" (on the map below you can see if you are walking down 56th Street between 5th Avenue and Avenue of the Americas, it's a long block)

• The Avenue numbers do go in order, but not necessarily consecutively (see below)
• The major streets of Manhattan going east to west (increasing as you go west) are (and it wouldn't hurt to memorize the order of these avenues):
• 1st Ave
• 2nd Ave
• 3rd Ave
• Lexington Ave
• Park Ave
• Madison Ave
• 5th Ave
• Avenue of the America's (6th Ave)
• 7th Ave
• 8th Ave
• Streets go in order, increasing as you walk north.

If you wanna catch a taxi, stand on the side of the street and stick your arm up. And: 

• Empty cabs will have the number on the top of the car lit up. An off duty light will be lit if the cabbie is...off duty
• Make sure the cab you're getting into is yellow, those are the only ones allowed to stop on the street for passengers
• Try to catch a taxi already driving in the direction you need to go, that way they don't have to charge you for driving around a block to turn around
• Give the driver an intersection or address, not the name of a place
•  It is customary to tip the taxi driver 15-20%
• You are charged a flat rate as soon as you get in (about $2.50, and then charged per mile while at above 6 mph, or per two minutes when driving below 6mph)
• Taxi drivers drive like a bat out of hell...might wanna close your eyes

If you prefer the subway or bus:

The large green ball means you can
 purchase metrocards here

• Subways and buses don't take cash or coins, you must have a swipable metrocard
• If there's a large green ball outside the subway entrance, you can buy your metrocard there. If there's a large red ball, you must already have your metrocard before entering
• If you're going to be on the subway or bus a lot you can buy a seven day metrocard pass here and it will save you money
• The fare for a single subway or bus ride is $2.50
• Subways are best for long distances
• Don't stand near the edge of the subway platform...have you watched the news lately? There are pushers - also for safety don't be in an empty or nearly empty subway car, stairwell, or platform
• Find a bus or subway map and figure out which route you need to take before you get on the subway or bus - the map should also explain all the colored dots and letters you'll see
• There may be different entrances for different subways, so before you swipe your card to go through the turn-style, make sure you're at the right one

Check back for tips on sightseeing, dining, and more!

My New Year's Eve in NYC

I'd like to say this blog is just going to be about New York City's New Year's Eve tradition...the ball drop and 1.5 million people standing on one another for 7- 10 hours while they jog in place to stay warm, pee into bottles, and have pizza delivered to their standing spot...but it's not. This blog is going to be about the New York City's New Year's Eve tradition that I experienced. I may sound like I'm bragging, and I am. I just can't help it. I was extremely fortunate to know some very generous people who made my night possible, and otherwise would have never been able to afford such extravagance. So remember throughout my bragging, I'm filled with gratitude and fully aware of how lucky I was.

You should know before going to the New Year's Eve celebration in Times Square (or if you're even planning on being in the city that day) that they start closing streets off pretty early. Shortly after noon. And once the barricades are in place, it's very difficult to get through. You must be able to present a very valid reason for going into Times Square. A reservation slip from a restaurant, your hotel key, or a license showing that your last name is Bloomberg. And even then some barricades you just can't get through, and you'll have to go to another street that is allowing people with a reason through. The blockades are not limited to just the center of Times Square. They extend outwards to streets in the 50s (Times Square is off 42nd).

If you are simply going to stand on the street and watch the ball drop, I suppose you have to be in place before the blockades go up. Though I'm actually not sure how you gain entrance to a pen (the areas cordoned off for people on the streets to stand). I think you just have to be there early and stand and never move and the barriers will go up around you.  If for some reason you can't get through, don't be a jerk to the cops. They're doing their job, and you should have been more prepared. Like we weren't. Half our group was in a bar on one side of the blockade and we couldn't get through. Luckily someone was able to bring us a reservation pass and we got through. If you do get through the barrier, you will be searched.

Standing on 42nd

Our hotel was on 42nd Street, so we were able to leave from the bar and stay within the barricaded area and walk across 7th Ave and Broadway and see some of the stuff being set up. Intersections are what one cop called "frozen," so even though cars can't drive through you can't just stand around anywhere. I was however able to stand on the yellow lines running down the middle of 42nd, and that was cool! A lot of businesses on the streets surrounding Times Square also close early, simply because no one can get to them anyway.

So we had reservation to attend a private party being held at the R Lounge in the Renascence Hotel in Times Square. Even though our hotel was about a block from the Lounge, we had to walk a pretty good ways. When we found a blockade letting people through we showed our VIP passes and were escorted by a police officer through the middle of Times Square between all the pens of people, feeling very special and sorta bad for everyone around us. But then there was that part of me that wanted to beauty queen wave to everyone like I was famous. Hey, what difference do they know?!

The R Lounge

The R Lounge is a fairly small room that seats maybe 50 people and has glass walls that look directly out onto Times Square and the New Year's Eve ball. The decor was breathtaking. Glass tables with bottoms that changed colors, chairs that looked like crystal or ice, whispy bouquets of huge white feathers, and candles everywhere. Every chair had a party hat on it, and I'm talking awesome hats that reminded me of the Mad Hatter's tea party hats. The tables had confetti and noise makers and mardi gras beads.

Then there was the food. Short ribs, sushi, shrimp, risotto, and so many hors d'oeuvres. The dance floor was fair sized and the dj was amazing and for more fun there was a free photo booth to play in. We missed out on all the performances and party stuff going on outside, but I doubt anyone cared. Although I only saw one announcement on the jumbo-tron about another country's beginning of 2013, apparently there is a mini celebration every hour as it strikes midnight around the world. That would have been cool to see more of.

So at 12 minutes to midnight the biggest surprise of the night comes...our group, and our group alone, will be watching the ball drop from the roof of the lounge! The only other people up there were employees of the hotel. We got up there just in time to snap a group photo and then watch the countdown. Even though we were on a roof, the building still went up higher, and confetti was thrown down from that rooftop, right on top of us. It was amazing. There were fireworks, of course singing, just one massive celebration. Managed to snag some confetti, which actually isn't all that easy with it flying everywhere.

When we got back to our table we actually had swag bags. Inside was hand sanitizer (which we should have used I guess since almost all of use were sick within the next few days), water, and a Waterford Crystal snow globe with the New Year's Eve ball inside. The actual Times Square ball is made of Waterford Crystal and this year was the last year in a line of commemorative snow globes. On a side note - snow globs cannot go through security in an airport. Might seem obvious now that I point it out, but it never occurred to me that the thing was technically filled with more than 3 ounces of water. I didn't give mine up, but I did have to go check a small bag for $35.

Trash!

After that it was just back to the hotel pretty much. It's amazing how fast Times Square clears out. I'm not saying you'll get where you're going quickly, I'm just saying Times Square empties out fast. The police start herding people out immediately so that clean up can begin. And the amount of trash left on the ground is unbelievable. But it's back to clean by morning time. I almost wanted to stay and watch them clean for a bit.

I really have to thank the Knapp family for their enormous generosity. Watching the ball drop on New Year's Eve was on my Bucket List, and not having to fulfill that dream by standing in the freezing crowds was incredible. I know for certain that I will never forget where I was when 2013 rolled in.