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First Class, Then and Now

Melissa Burdick Harmon — 2010-11-09T11:09:00+00:00

The year was 1956. The setting: a berth on the old Pan Am Clipper, where Marlene Dietrich was sound asleep. Her sometime, and rather unlikely, lover Yul Brynner happened to be on the same flight. As the plane glided through the sky from New York to Los Angeles, Brynner slipped across the aisle from his berth to hers, and a night of wild love-making ensued.

The next morning, as Dietrich described to her dear friend Noel Coward, "I thought I had dreamt this. I looked through my curtains and saw his foot in the shoes I bought [him] from Italy on the floor of the opposite berth."

In those days, especially on Pan Am -- the only airline to offer berths -- flying was far more comfortable, and in some cases obviously far more sexy, than it often is today.

As jets began to enter airline fleets, officially named First Class service began to appear, with Pan Am again leading the way. Anne Sweeney, who was a Pan Am stewardess from 1964-75, and who now serves as Director of Communications for World Wings International, an association of former Pan Am flight attendants, remembers those days well.

"When I started, the standard of service in First Class was very high. We served a multi-course dinner, ostensibly by Maxim's of Paris, which meant that they planned the menus," Sweeney recalls. In those days, the stewardesses actually cooked the food -- including roasting beef -- creating gourmet fare in a "very small space," according to Sweeney. The Purser boarded armed with a meat thermometer. The stewardesses used to joke that their hair, post-flight, smelled like Eau de Boeing, an aromatic blend of beef, cigarettes and kerosene.

Douglas Miller, Keystone / Getty Images

Pan Am's First Class also included an upstairs lounge, which could be set up like a dining room. Sweeney recalls trying to create good matches for the table seating there. Once she seated Bill Cosby at a table with a rather uptight British businessman who didn't know who Cosby was, and who was rather amazed by the steady stream of comedy that accompanied the Iranian caviar, Turkish vodka, and ice cream served in a silver bowl, among other delicacies.

Later in the flight, some First Class passengers liked to stretch out in quiet of the upstairs lounge. "Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan was Ambassador to India then. I would bring him a bottle of burgundy and a glass and then tuck him in and go back downstairs. He was always very gentlemanly," Sweeney says.

In the '80s, as jet travel became increasingly popular and planes became bigger, British Airways introduced its Club World, which offered actual lie-flat beds. The TWA 747 100 opened an upstairs piano bar for first class passengers. Airlines began to compete hard for the high-end traveler.

So What Happened?

Now, it appears, First Class has begun to experience significant death throes. Qantas, the Australian airline, recently announced that it will eliminate First Class on most of its runs. Continental has already eliminated First Class and United may do the same on its international flights. Delta no longer has an official First Class.

While premium air fares contribute significantly to an airline's bottom line -- as much as 27 percent of passenger revenues, according to Steve Lott, of the International Air Transport Association -- demand appears to be dropping.

Why? According to George Hobica of airfarewatchdog.com, "a lot of corporations are cutting back, and the economy is also causing people to cut back on leisure, luxury travel."

Hobica, however, sees another issue. "There is a business justification for this. The airlines weren't selling enough First Class tickets. Many First Class passengers were there on upgrades, which is great for loyalty, but not so great for the bottom line."

Sure -- there are still die-hard First Class loyalists. Raymond Baron, who frequently flies on buying expeditions for a Texas store, always travels First Class, using his own funds to supplement what the business will reimburse. "The larger seats and greater leg room do make a difference in how rested you are when arriving after flying for a great length of time. It's all about the comfort level and not so much about the food any longer. I would not be happy if First Class disappeared," he says.

Is It Really Disappearing?

To many industry insiders, it looks as though First Class is not so much disappearing as it is experiencing a reshuffling and renaming. Hobica notes that many airlines may be finding that they just have too many classes. In addition to First Class, many now offer Business Class; Premium Economy, which, he says, is like what First Class was in the old-old days; and Economy.

"Now Business Class has become so comfortable, with lie-flat beds, that it has almost become First Class," Hobica notes, adding that there are currently big bargains in Business Class fares.

The luxury is often still there. It just has a different name.

Andrew Yates, AFP / Getty Images

That Old First Class Glamour . . . On Steroids

At the same time, reports of the death of First Class would seem to be highly exaggerated. In fact, airlines that have chosen to keep First Class -- largely because they have a passenger base that can and is willing to pay for it -- continue to up the ante in terms of luxury. The Dubai-based Emirates Airlines, which aspires to make Dubai a central gateway for global travel, has created ultra-luxurious First Class cabins on many of its growing fleet of planes. In fact, it has just dropped a rumored $11.5 billion to acquire 32 more double-decker Airbus A380 super jumbo jets that can easily accommodate top-tier First Class service.

Passengers pay a hefty price, but they enjoy the luxury of a private suite, complete with vanity desk and personal mini bar; a seat that converts into a full-length bed; and a 23-inch, wide-screen LCD screen (offering 600 channels of entertainment). The food and wine, of course, are as over the top as the setting.

The Mumbai, India-based Jet Airways also occupies a place in the fabulous First Class pantheon. Its First Class cabin includes eight private suites featuring nearly seven-foot-long beds, compete with eight-point massage system. Other details: A 23-inch flat-screen monitor, storage closets and a full-length hanging wardrobe, and a work table that can be transformed into a dining table for two. Menu choices include gourmet Indian fare and Western choices created by Michelin two-star chef Yves Mattagne. The wines are fine, and the champagne is either Dom Pérignon or Krug.

First Class now, it would seem, is every bit as luxurious as First Class then . . . even if you won't find Marlene Dietrich and Yul Brynner canoodling in one of the cabins.

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Outrageous Concierge Requests

Melissa Burdick Harmon — 2010-10-15T17:26:00+00:00

Filed under: Hotel, Real Life Stories, Luxury

Douglas Lyle Thompson

Over-the-Top, Bizarre, Super-Extravagant, or Just Plain Forgot-Your-Good-Pants Problems? Ask a Concierge

No, not even the best concierge in the world can arrange for a hotel guest to water ski on the lake in London's Hyde Park or to ride Queen Elizabeth's horse -- both requests made to the concierge desk at Hotel Metropolitan London. But the collective profession's ability to respond to a bevy of bizarre requests is truly breathtaking.

Will you Help me Say I Do?
A concierge at the Mandarin Oriental in New York managed to arrange one of the world's most dramatic marriage proposals ever, disguised as a private helicopter tour of Manhattan. When the helicopter flew over Liberty State Park, home to the Statue of Liberty, a 50-foot banner on the lawn proclaimed "Marry Me," in four-foot-tall letters. As the chopper swung low to bring the banner into view, the husband-to-be popped the question. Photographers recorded the event, both in the aircraft and on the ground. Needless to say, the answer was "yes."

Then there was the wedding that almost wasn't. A blizzard on December 19, 2009 virtually closed down Philadelphia for 36 hours. Eighty wedding guests, most from Australia, were booked into the Ritz-Carlton, Philadelphia. The plan was that they would attend an off-site wedding about a half hour out of town. As the snow flew and blew, however, there was absolutely no way for the guests to get to the wedding. So the wedding came to them. Concierge James Portner and his team flew into action and four hours later, a full-blown wedding ceremony was ready. That included personalized menus, flowers, special lighting, an eight-piece band, and a photographer. The couple's original wedding cake was delivered -- cracked into three pieces -- but was swiftly restored. And everyone had a lovely time watching the couple say "I do" while outside the snow flew.

I Need to Shop Now
When Elton John's assistant announced that he intended to go shopping for English antiques early on a Sunday morning in Dallas, Mary Stamm, Concierge at the posh Mansion on Turtle Creek said "fine." Never mind that antique stores aren't open on Sunday morning in Dallas. Stamm got on her cell phone and sent a driver over to the Design District to get names and emergency phone numbers from store windows so she could request that they open for her guest. She also contacted members of the Dallas Junior League who owned antique stores. ("I had to catch them before they went to church," she says.) The people who opened their stores for this special shopper found that it was well worth their while. "He spent a great deal of money buying antiques on Sunday when the stores were closed," Stamm says.

Can you book Rudolph?
Capella Telluride in Colorado, prides itself on its "Personal Assistants" program, which they refer to as "concierges on steroids." This valiant team has done everything from orchestrating a private white tablecloth, silver-service lunch on the banks of a river, midway in a rafting trip, to arranging a "first run" for an expert skier who wanted to schuss down an untouched trail. When a couple asked if the team could bring a reindeer to remote Telluride for Christmas, since their kids had never seen one, the zealous concierge staff found an available reindeer, willing to travel, and were ready to proceed. The problem: the price to ship Rudolph was just a bit too high.

Can You Track that Humpback?
The humpback whale frolicking in front of the Sydney Opera House with her calf was mighty cute. To the contract wildlife photographer who happened to be staying at the Park Hyatt Sydney, however, it was a potential gold mine. The guest, who was leaving that day, asked the concierge staff to have a tracking device placed on the humpback, so it could be found again. The staff was asked to give documented confirmation that it could be done, or to give a reason that proved it was not possible. After placing many phone calls to state government, to the city council, and to wildlife specialists, they found a way to arrange it.

Can You Help Us Make Up Our Differences?
A guest staying in a suite at New York's Plaza Hotel had a major argument with his daughter and then felt the need to make it up. He asked the concierge to set up a Native American reconciliation ceremony performed by a tribal chief, complete with feather headdress and peace pipe.

Will You Help Me Find Something to Wear?
Forgotten apparel plays a big role in the lives of concierges. When a guest at the Park Hyatt Tokyo arrived from the U.S. sans the pair of slacks he'd meant to pack -- something he discovered after all the Tokyo stores had closed for the day -- the concierge took him shopping in the hotel's Uniforms Department. Despite the guest's tall stature, slacks that fit were found. The guest wore them to his 8 a.m. meeting, and proclaimed them as good as the Armanis he had left behind.

Can My Dog Come Along?
Requests to bring pets to five-star hotels are far from rare. The Little Nell in Aspen, Co., may be America's most pet-friendly hotel. Carol Hooper, Head Concierge, often goes the extra mile (with the help of the staff) to ensure that the "pet" part of families gets special attention. That includes serving four-legged guests the Canine Delights menu, consisting of tenderloin beef, scrambled eggs, and brown rice; providing sitters when long-stay guests want a weekend away; purchasing cribs for special pets; and booking doggie massage appointments. Regular dog walks, of course, are a given. "We get them all, from Chihuahuas to Bernese, and we love them all," Hooper reports.

Hey, You Can Always Ask
A guest at the Fairmont Dubai asked for help in purchasing a great many date palm trees and camels. Oh, and then there was the little matter of shipping a falcon to Kuwait.

Back in the U.S., a concierge at the Fairmont Chicago managed to rustle up 30 pig eyes and a bucket of ice for an ophthalmology conference.

And Sometimes the Answer Is No...
And then there are the times when even the best concierges have to say no, as in, "No, you can't have fake sharks swimming around to 'surprise' your wife and guests while they are snorkeling," a request politely declined by the concierge at Parrot Cay in the Turks & Caicos.

What's the strangest request you've made at a hotel? Tell us in the comments below.

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Grand Canyon at Grave Risk

Melissa Burdick Harmon — 2010-09-17T18:10:00+00:00

Filed under: Adventure Travel, EcoTravel

Trodel, flickr

When Allison Mitkowski got married in 2005, she and her husband, Ethan, went to the Grand Canyon on their honeymoon, and they fell in love ... with the Grand Canyon. It lasted. They went back in 2007 to do a 22-mile North Rim-to-South Rim hike to celebrate a major birthday in the national park.

Finally, two years later, they decided to move to Arizona to be closer to the natural wonder. They still love the Grand Canyon. But they worry.

"It bothers me the way people treat the canyon when they are there," Allison says. "They flick cigarette butts onto the hiking trails, which could cause fire. They leave trash behind. Think of it this way. If every person who starts to hike down the canyon drops one tissue, over time the Grand Canyon would become a huge landfill."

The problem with those tissues is that inadequate funding of the National Parks means fewer people to pick up garbage. Ron Tipton, Senior Vice President for Policy for the National Parks Conservation notes that that is really the heart of the matter. "We've done extensive analysis overall. According to current information, the National Park Service is about $580 million underfunded every year, for operating and managing the park system."

The Grand Canyon has become the poster child in this funding battle, because it is the major national park that gets the most extensive visitation, and it is also the most underfunded. That means fewer rangers, fewer campfire programs, and most important of all, a vast backlog of maintenance issues. According to Tipton, there is a real need to keep the park's buildings, the visitors centers, park lodges, stores, interpretive centers and historic buildings in good condition.

Add to that the need to maintain roads, trails, and shuttle buses. "We're talking a good $300 million in deferred maintenance," Tipton say, noting that the Grand Canyon is the second most visited park in the entire system, trailing only the Great Smoky Mountains. Most of those visitors, however, only go to the South Rim to snap photos, hit the shops, and perhaps treat themselves to lunch at the classic El Tovar hotel.

Visitors to the South Rim; The Javelina, flickr

In fact, only one percent of the visitors to the canyon ever go below the rim. There are a fairly adequate number of rangers in that bustling South Rim area, equipped with everything from salt tablets to water to sound advice for people who, for example, set out to hike down the canyon sporting flip-flops. But the rangers tend to be grossly overworked. There are also rangers on the trails, but not enough.

Then there are the other issues: water pollution, air pollution, noise pollution from the sightseeing helicopters that whir overhead (and, forgivably, from the rescue helicopters when accidents happen in the canyon). But, that said, the Grand Canyon is still able to deliver what many people most want from it: A sense of peace and solitude, in the middle of one of the world's great natural wonders.

"When we did our rim-to-rim hike, we literally walked for seven hours without seeing another person," Mitkowski recalls. "The Grand Canyon has never received the funding that Yosemite and Yellowstone have," Tipton says. His agency's report on the Grand Canyon, and on the resource challenges there, indicates that the park needs $6.2 million a year just to fulfill basic park functions, including hiring full-time and seasonal staff.

Then there are the other things that enhance the park experience : the special tours, the evening programs, the campfire talks and more. Cutbacks are affecting those too. It seems like false economy, when the park brings 4.5 million visitors to Arizona every year, and when those visitors drop some $1 billion while visiting the southwest. Underfunding is not the only major threat, however. Erratic levels in the Colorado River, which flows through the canyon, not only threaten the area's rafting tourism, but also deprives wildlife of much needed water.

View from the south rim; gustaffo89, flickr

New mining claims also threaten the canyon. The Salt Lake City Tribune recently reported that a spike in uranium prices could result in some 1,000 new mining claims in the area of around the Grand Canyon. The jury is still out on what impact that mining might have on the area's vegetation and wildlife.

While there is now a two-year moratorium on new claims, the National Park Conservation Association is pushing for a permanent ban on mineral mining in the area that surrounds the park, citing danger to the drinking water, among other issues. While the news is not good at the Grand Canyon and at other of America's other natural and historic attractions as well, it is obvious that the American people really value the park services.

"We've actually seen a small surge in visitation to the parks. I think the value of our national parks becomes greater with every year," Tipton concludes. "As we move toward the centennial of the National Park system in 2016, we as a society need to recognize what a great national treasure these parks are, and to commit to preserving them." As for the Mitkowskis, they've just bought a house not far from the Grand Canyon. Clearly they are there for the duration.

Ten Endangered National Treasures

While many of America's most beautiful and thrilling national parks are on the endangered list -- the result of everything from global warming to traffic pollution to poaching to underfunding -- plenty of other pieces of our heritage, even including one commuter highway, are also in jeopardy. Here's a summary of 10 troubled treasures, chosen at random:

Everglades; Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau

o. Everglades National Park, Florida - Out-of-control sugar farming and refining pollutes the air and water, and reduces water levels in the park; rock mining also endangers one of the world's largest freshwater marshes.

o. Hinchiffe Stadium, Paterson New Jersey - This glorious 10,000-seat, Art Deco stadium, once home to the Black New York Yankees, is one of three remaining Negro League baseball stadiums. It is now a haven for drug users and gangs.

o. Shenandoah National Park, Virginia - Air pollution sometimes reduces 100-mile views to as little as a mile; acid rain virtually eliminates scenic views at certain times and damages wildlife.

o. Wilderness Battlefield, Virginia - Nearly 186,000 Union and Confederate soldiers, under the leadership of Generals Grant and Lee, fought here in May 1864. At the pivotal battle's end, 28,000 soldiers were dead, wounded or missing. Now, Wal-Mart intends to build a quarter -million-square-foot "big box" store, and bring in other stores too, on private land within the battlefield's boundaries.

o. The Merritt Parkway - Connecticut's Merritt Parkway is one of the prettiest, greenest, most serene roads in the U.S. Its 66 bridges -- -Art Deco, Gothic, French Renaissance, and Art Moderne -- - could be museum pieces. Sadly, increased traffic in Fairfield County has resulted in plans to realign the road, replace the bridges and redesign interchanges.

Yosemite; Yosemite/Mariposa County Tourism Bureau

o. Yosemite National Park - Traffic jams in summer and persistent rumors of crime in the high country can bring a big city sensibility to this most beautiful park. Overcrowding is the hot issue here.

o. Black Mountain, Kentucky - Kentucky's highest mountain peak looms over two historic coal mining towns, Benham and Lynch, which once boasted populations in the thousands. Now the towns' 1,400 residents have created a mining museum, exhibition mine, and other restored buildings, and have successfully built tourism. A planned 500-acre strip mine close to the historic buildings will damage both the tourist industry and the local environment.

o. Lana'i City, Island of Lana'i, Hawaii - Charming little Lana'i City remains the old-fashioned company town that was constructed by Dole Pineapple in the 1920s. However, rumors roil about the possibility of owners Castle & Cooke having plans to destroy historic structures to build a supermarket and other development.

o. Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho - This "Old Faithful" national park is one of the most visited, but is dangerously underfunded. Some species numbers have dropped significantly (but others have risen); ozone levels are high; the battle over snowmobile use has led to positive change. In winter 2010-11, only 318 snowmobiles per day will be allowed.

o. Denali National Park, Alaska - Unregulated snowmobile use in the park pollutes. Large-scale commercial development shatters the peace. The planned construction of a $200 million road on the park's north side could have a negative impact on its caribou and wolves. Climate change is affecting some populations; use of the synthetic pesticide DDT had a negative impact on the American peregrine falcons.

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An Insider's Guide to the Caribbean

Melissa Burdick Harmon — 2010-08-19T17:36:00+00:00

Filed under: Beach

Getty Images

It isn't too early to start planning for your sun-drenched winter vacation in the Caribbean. But which island will offer you the best experience? It all depends on your particular travel dreams. Here's a thumbnail guide to help you decide.

The Best Island . . .

Getty Images

For Celebrity Spotting: St. Barthélemy
Chic, oh-so-French St. Barths (pronounced "Barts") not only boasts celebrities by the score, it is also one of the most gay-friendly Caribbean islands. St. Barths is far from a bargain destination, but it delivers value in every way -- from perfect French food to intimate five-star hotels to 17 glorious beaches and great shopping (skimpy French bikinis are big bargains now, thanks to the weak euro). Choose between renting a villa in the mountains (many have magazine-cover views) or booking into one of the small luxurious hotels on the beach. You will also need to rent a car to get to the best island beaches. The price is high, but if your dream vacation is to share a strand of sand with the likes of Beyoncé, Lindsay Lohan, Derek Jeter, Mariah Carey, Michael J. Fox or Sean Combs, it's worth the splurge.

Language: French; Location: The Leeward Islands; change to a small plane in nearby St. Maarten/St. Martin for a 10-minute flight with a somewhat dramatic landing; or take the ferry over.

Getty Images

For Honeymooners: St. Lucia
Think of St. Lucia, and the Petite and Gros Pitons -- those two steep, lush green mountains overlooking an impossibly blue sea -- immediately come to mind. That romantic setting draws honeymooners from all over the world. Many of them book into Ladera, arguably the island's prettiest resort, which offers close-up views of the pitons from your suite or villa. You will also have a private plunge pool (and maybe a waterfall), and your suite will have no fourth wall. That lets you enjoy the cooling breeze and see the sun set sans glass (no one can see in). If you want a livelier, right-on-the-beach scene, the Sandals Grande St. Lucian Spa & Beach Resort in the north -- tucked between the Atlantic and Rodney Bay -- wins raves. It has beachfront rooms, four huge pools, sports galore, a lively nightclub and lots and lots of young fellow honeymooners (plus shuttles run to the two other St. Lucia Sandals, which offer exchange privileges). Of course, there is a lot to do away from the resorts, but many couples simply stay right where they are.

Languages: English, French Creole; Location: Lesser Antilles, Eastern Caribbean; some nonstop flights available, some require a change in San Juan.

Getty Images

For Nature Lovers: Tobago
Bird watchers (and bargain hunters) flock to the tranquil, easy-going island of Tobago -- next-door neighbor to bustling Trinidad -- in the southern Caribbean. Tobago doesn't have a vast tourist infrastructure, which keeps the numbers low and the pace slow. That said, its coastline is dotted with some of the prettiest, most secluded beaches in the southern Caribbean. Its biggest draw, however, is its large protected rainforest, the oldest, and arguably most pristine, in the western hemisphere. Hire a guide to point out more species of birds than you'll ever see in one day again. The island's marine parks also abound with tropical fish in designer colors. The price is right, too, on Tobago. You can still get all-inclusives for two for under $200 a night. Bigger, more expensive hotels are arriving however, so go now to experience the gentle, old-fashioned Caribbean.

Language: English; Location: Republic of Trinidad and Tobago; Windward Islands (not far from the coast of Venezuela); you may be able to get a nonstop flight to Trinidad, then take a puddle-jumper to Tobago; some flights go directly to Tobago via San Juan.

Getty Images

For Chilling Out: Virgin Gorda
Sometimes you just want to get away from it all, really away from it all. That's when you go to Virgin Gorda. It's not glitzy. It's not about nightlife or seeing and being seen. It is about sheer, utter relaxation. Fly into Tortola's Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport then arrive at Biras Creek Resort, on Virgin Gorda's North Sound, by boat. Check into one of the 31 suites that dot 140 acres of postcard-perfect grounds. Ride your bikes down to the beach for lunch. Know that dinner at this Relais & Châteaux property will be superb. The wine list is endless, and the sommelier makes choosing seem like a delightful game. Spend a day touring Virgin Gorda, one of the most beautiful of the 50-plus British Virgin Islands. Make sure you stop at the Baths, a maze of natural grottos and boulders shaped by the sea. Pick up t-shirts in Spanish Town for the folks back home, and keep an eye out for Morgan Freeman, who docks his boat there.

Language: English; Location: British Virgin Islands, just east of Puerto Rico; change in San Juan for the short flight to Tortola; go to Virgin Gorda by boat.

Mario Tama, Getty Images

For Partying: Aruba
Okay. You are young and energetic and your idea of a vacation to is to play the night away. Book your flight to Aruba now. This small island Dutch island, roughly 20 by six miles, is party central, and the real nightlife doesn't even start until about midnight. If you want to get ahead of the game, however, you can board the Kukoo Kunuku, the psychedelic red party bus (a '57 Chevy) at your hotel as early as 6 p.m. It will take you and all your new friends to the beach for a glass of champagne, to dinner at an Aruban home or restaurant, and then on to three bars. Think of it as a designated driver on a grand scale. If you choose to go on your own, there is good karaoke at Choose-a-Name and equally good trance at the neighboring Tantra-both in the Royal Plaza Mall in Oranjestad. Aruba's casino action goes late, too, with the Crystal Casino at the Renaissance Aruba getting high marks. By day, this near-desert-island is well worth exploring, and there is a good Numismatic Museum. Or, you might just choose to snooze on the beach. That works, too.

Language: Officially Dutch, but English is universally spoken; Location: In the southern Caribbean, close to the Dutch islands of Curaçao and Bonaire, and near the coast of Venezuela; Nonstop flights from many major American cities.

crownpointdesign, flickr

For Shopping: St. Thomas
St. Thomas, in the U.S. Virgin Islands, is still Caribbean bargain central for U.S. residents. The reason: Those returning to the States enjoy a $1,600 duty-free exemption. Look for deals on everything from fine jewelry (good prices on diamonds and emeralds) to linens, china and crystal, which they will ship for you. There are also great prices on liquor, perfume and high-end designer sunglasses. The genuine local products -- the hand-carved calabash bowls and home-crafted dolls -- are charming. You may have better luck haggling in the smaller mom-and-pop shops than in the big stores designed to process legions of cruise ship shoppers quickly. Of course, no one is likely to take a vacation just to shop. St. Thomas is rich in high-quality resorts, from the Ritz-Carlton to the Wyndham Sugar Bay Resort & Spa, but there are good accommodations in every price range. Save some time to tour historic Fort Christian, which dates back to 1680, and the Seven Arches Museum, a handsomely restored 18th-century home. Then go fishing.

Language: English; Location: Leeward Islands, just east of Puerto Rico; Nonstop flights available from some cities; many flights require a change in Puerto Rico.

Getty

For Diving and Snorkeling: Roatán
The good news is that you are probably saying, "Roa . . .where?" This little slip of an island in the Western Caribbean, 40 miles long and just two miles wide at its widest point, has long been off the radar screen for everyone except really dedicated deep sea divers. Now, the word is out. Roatán, one of Honduras' Bay Islands, near the second largest barrier reef in the world, is simply perfection for people who like to see under the sea. Think 500 different types of fish swimming in water so clear you can spot them from the plane as you land. Roatán is also one of the least expensive places to learn to dive. Anthony's Key Resort, a PADI Gold Palm 5-Star Instructor Development Center, has done just that for more than 40 years. One you've mastered the skill, there are great wreck dives, including El Aguila, a 230-foot cargo ship now inhabited by garden eels. Snorkeling along this vast coral reef is another great pleasure. Accommodations are reasonably priced on Roatán. The new Turquoise Bay Resort is a bit more posh than most, has a great restaurant and also has a fully-equipped Dive Center.

Language: Spanish, but English is fairly well known; Location: Western Caribbean, off the coast of Honduras; it is possible to fly nonstop to Roatán from Newark, Houston, Atlanta and Miami.

Getty

For Families: Jamaica
Jamaica is a great family destination, simply because there is such good infrastructure for kids in the hotels and so much to do when the family is out and about. Some resorts, including the ultra-posh Round Hill (Ralph Lauren is one of the owners), the all-inclusive Runaway Bay, and Sunset at the Palms on Negril Beach, offer extensive children's programs. Half Moon, near Montego Bay, has its own private children's village, complete with nannies. Kids' programs typically include everything from nature walks to dress-up parties to reggae classes. Off property, older children love to climb the slippery steps up Dunn's River Falls, to float down the Martha Brae River on a raft made from bamboo or to get their hair braided on the beach. Sampling spicy jerk chicken or pork is a "hot" treat they won't soon forget. Horseback riding along water's edge will delight older kids. Simply meeting the warm and friendly Jamaican people -- including those their own age -- will probably be the activity they enjoy most of all.

Language: English; Location: Greater Antilles, due south of Cuba; great range of nonstop flights from American cities via Air Jamaica and others.

Planning your getaway? Check out our Caribbean Travel Deals.

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Bargains in Paris and London and Berlin - Really?

Melissa Burdick Harmon — 2010-06-17T10:25:00+00:00

Filed under: Budget

E01, flickr

Get out your suitcases and don't forget to pack an empty soft-sided fold-up bag to hold your new-found bargains. It's time to go to Europe - to see the sights, to dine and stay in style, and, of course, to shop - grabbing bargains everywhere you go.

Europe is on sale for Americans this summer, making a trip there an irresistible, as well as a practical, vacation choice.

Why the bargains?

It all has to do with the PIIGS, that handful of heavily indebted European countries - Portugal, Italy, Ireland, Greece, and Spain. Fears that one or more of these countries may default on its debt has caused a fairly steady drop in the euro's value against the greenback. In fact, in early June, the euro fell to a four-year low, trading at about $1.24. That exactly mirrors the rate of exchange on January 4, 1999, the day the new currency made its debut. The pound has followed the euro's decline. Its value is now at an extraordinary low of $1.48.

That was then

To put the numbers into context, just two years ago, one euro was worth $1.54, making the U.S. a bargain basement for Europeans. New Yorkers joked that you never heard customers speaking English in Macy's or Bloomingdale's. In March of 2008, one British pound was worth $2.00. British twenty-somethings with careers on the rise were not above making quick weekend trips to New York, just to wine and dine and see a show.

Now Britain is where the bargains are, according to Simon Bradley, Vice President Americas for VisitBritain.

A built-In 25 percent discount

"In general, the exchange rate is making prices in Britain at least 25 percent cheaper for Americans than was the case 18 months ago," Bradley says. "That lets visitors do some luxury things that they wouldn't have normally done. For example, London has more Michelin-starred restaurants than Paris does, and Americans can pay the bill at a 25 percent discount."

It is also a great time for Americans to shop in England. The new Bicester Village outlet mall just outside London offers fabulous deals. (Take the train from Marylebone Station to Bicester North - just under an hour - then hop on the free shuttle bus to the mall.) When you add the 25 percent rate-of-exchange benefit to the outlet mall's already deep discounts, you can walk away with some breathtaking bargains bearing tags that read Armani . . . Burberry . . . Versace. And don't fail to load up on those lovely British-made Molton Brown toiletries, a great gift for the folks back home.

As to sightseeing, the vast majority of London's museums are always free, a special treat for a special city. Even attractions that charge come at a discount this year, however. The popular London Eye, the gigantic Ferris wheel that lets you see all of London - and on a clear day all the way to Windsor - costs just 18.90 pounds, or a little over $28, for a half-hour "flight." A 17 pound guided tour of the Tower of London, including two special exhibitions, now rounds out at just over $25.

Catch some deals on the continent

The bargains are just as compelling on the continent. In France, the drop in the euro puts everything at a significant discount, but there's an added treat for those who love to eat. The French government has dropped the TVA (the Value Added Tax) on restaurant meals - and that includes on wine and other beverages consumed with the meal - from 19.5 percent to a mere 5.5 percent. In addition, the city of Paris museums, perhaps taking a lesson from London, have now dropped admission charges for some of their permanent exhibitions. That means that tourists can now visit such popular attractions as the Petit Palais, with its fine art collection, and the Musee Carnavalet, devoted to the history of Paris, at no charge.

Of course, even travelers accustomed to the lap of luxury like a good bargain, and they can find it in Paris. For example, the classic Hotel Fouquet's Barrière, located where Avenue Georges V meets the Champs-Elysées, and known for its superb restaurants and posh spa, has also become more affordable.

"We haven't raised our fees, yet for American tourists there is a minimum discount of 25 percent based on the value of the euro," notes Eric Boonstoppel, General Manager of the hotel. "That means Americans can get a room for between $700 and $880 a night this summer," he says. Clearly, the definition of bargain depends on who is doing the defining.

Bargains abound in Berlin

Berlin has always been less expensive than London and Paris, but now euro-related bargains put even luxury-level Berlin within the reach of many travelers. "A double room at the five-star Adlon in Berlin, one of Germany's finest hotels, would be about $306 now, including breakfast. That is almost $80 less than one year ago at the same price in euros," notes Ricarda Lindner, Regional Manager of the Americas for the German National Tourist Office. She adds that the average room rate in Germany, which is less than the European Union average, has dropped from $120 one year ago to about $95 a night today.

Americans are getting the message. In the first two months of 2010, according to Lindner, arrivals were up by four percent over 2009. "It certainly appears that the strengthening of the dollar is an incentive for Americans to book and travel now," she concludes.

Clearly, as London and Paris and Berlin go, so goes the rest of Europe. Bargains are available for Americans this summer in every country that uses either the euro or the pound. It's that built-in discount based on the rate of exchange, and it offers enormous value.

What It Cost Then . . . What It Costs Now

What You Would Have Paid at Today's Prices in London, Based on the Rate of Exchange Then in Effect

London	June 2010	June 2008	June 2006
A cup of Starbucks @ 1.75 pounds	$2.59	$3.42	$3.24
Entrance fee - Tour of Shakespeare's Globe Theater @ 10.50 pounds	$15.54	$20.54	$19.44
A moderate dinner @ 19 pounds	$28.12	$37.17	$35.17
Underground fare - Single fare Zone One @ 4 pounds	$5.92	$7.82	$7.40

What You Would Have Paid at Today's Prices in Paris, Based on the Rate of Exchange Then in Effect

Paris	June 2010	June 2008	June 2006
A cup of Starbucks @ 1.90 euro	$2.34	$2.93	$2.40
Admission to the Louvre @ 9.5 euro	$11.69	$14.66	$12.00
A moderate dinner @ 28 euro	$34.46	$43.20	$35.40
Metro ticket @ 1.30 euro	$1.60	$2.00	$1.64

What You Would Have Paid at Today's Prices in Berlin, Based on the Rate of Exchange Then in Effect

Berlin	June 2010	June 2008	June 2006
A cup of Starbucks @ 1.50 euro	$1.85	$2.31	$1.90
Admission to the Pergamon Museum @ 8 euro	$9.84	$12.34	$10.11
A moderate dinner @ 18 euro	$22.15	$27.77	$22.76
U-Bahn standard ticket @ 2.10 euro	$2.58	$3.24	$2.65

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