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World's Worst Travel Diseases (And How To Avoid Them)

Nina Africano — 2011-01-06T16:09:00+00:00

Filed under: Tips & Tricks, Real Life Stories

Smallpox? Polio? Plague? Just reading the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Travel page, with its list of some 60-odd diseases from African Sleeping Sickness to Yellow Fever may be enough to make you consider staying home.

Each year, Americans take more than 300 million trips abroad, and travel to developing countries is on the rise. According to the CDC, an estimated 30-60 percent of travelers visiting developing nations -- over 10 million people every year -- become ill as a result of their trips.

Here, we've outlined seven of the world's worst travel diseases. And while our list is by no means inclusive, it highlights some of the deadliest diseases alongside those that are less dangerous but far more common -- each with an emphasis on what you can do to stay healthy while traveling.

dr_relling, flickr
Malaria
Who's at risk: Transmitted by the bite of the female mosquito, malaria is widespread in many countries of the world, especially in rural or jungle areas: Africa, Asia, (including South Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East), large areas of central and South Americas, parts of the Caribbean, Eastern Europe, and the South Pacific.
What it is: Malaria may conjure up images of mosquito netting and 1940s safari movies, but this deadly disease is certainly not a thing of the past; every year there are 350-500 million cases of malaria worldwide, with around 1 million fatalities. Warning signs include fever and flu-like symptoms, including fatigue, muscle pain, headache, chills. Severe cases can result in seizures, mental confusion, kidney failure, acute respiratory disease syndrome, coma, and death.
Preventive Measures: "Mosquito avoidance" in medical parlance is all-important: wearing long pants, using insect repellent containing 30-50 percent DEET, using bed-netting or better yet, choosing an air-conditioned hotel room, and avoiding exposure at night when mosquitoes are most active.

There are also several preventive drug treatments (chemoprophylaxis) that are available. Your doctor will decide which might be appropriate according to your destination, as some strains of malaria are resistant to certain drug therapies -- the CDC's malaria map details areas of drug-resistance.

Dr. Salvatore stresses the importance of taking malaria prophylaxis. "Some people have the misconception that all 'malaria pills' make you crazy because they have heard of the side effects of larium (mefloquine). However, malarone is well-tolerated and does not have any psychiatric side effects."

Cholera
Who's at risk: After an epidemic strain of cholera was confirmed in Haiti, the CDC and the United States State Department issued travel warnings for this country, advising U.S. citizens to avoid all non-essential travel to Haiti. A large number of the reported cases of cholera are in a rural area about 50 miles north of Port-au-Prince. While most travelers are not, strictly speaking, at high risk for getting cholera, the size of this outbreak makes all sorts of ordinary activities risky: eating undercooked food (especially seafood), or dining in a restaurant, brushing teeth or drinking beverages (including ice) that may be contaminated.
What it is: Cholera is a potentially fatal bacterial infection that causes severe diarrhea and dehydration that is usually spread by eating or drinking contaminated food or water.
Preventive Measures: When traveling in an area with dubious sanitary conditions, drink only unopened bottled water or canned beverages. Tap water must be boiled or treated with household bleach or chlorine tablets to be considered safe enough to wash food, kitchenware, and food prep areas. Avoid raw foods in general, and eat only fruit and vegetables that you peel yourself. Essential for anyone going to Haiti: water purification tablets, oral rehydration salts and a prescription antibiotic to take for travelers' diarrhea.

William Brawley, flickr
Influenza
Who's at risk: Anyone and everyone, but especially those traveling with others in closed quarters, like on a bus or airplane. Who hasn't been trapped on an airplane with someone hacking away in the next row, or worse, in the next seat?
What it is: Cough, sore throat, fatigue, fever, chills, headache and muscle ache are all symptoms of the flu. It can be difficult to distinguish influenza from other respiratory ailments, and most people recover within a week or two regardless. But the flu can be very serious for young children, with very high fever, pneumonia, diarrhea, and seizures. Older people or those with other serious health problems are also at greater risk.
Preventive Measures: You can take all the vitamin C, zinc, elderberry, and other herbal remedies recommended by your acupuncturist, but the best defense against influenza is getting the flu shot, either from your doctor, a clinic, or from one of the thousands of drugstores across the country that are offering it. Other tips for keeping the flu at arm's length include frequent hand-washing, and always carrying hand-sanitizing wipes or gel. And stay away from shared items like airplane blankets, even if they're available -- it may or may not have been washed.

Pneumococcal Disease
Who's at risk: While you can develop pneumococcal pneumonia at home, rates are higher in developing countries, and travel may increase your chances of exposure to infected people, (long flights, boat trips, crowded waiting areas, handrails, etc.). In addition to being tiring and stressful, long airplane flights can dry out nasal passages, leaving you more open to infection.
What it is: The most common cause of pneumonia is a respiratory infection caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae bacteria, which can also cause meningitis and bacteremia (an infection of the blood stream) as well as sinus and ear infections. While sinus and ear infections are hardly life-threatening, they can become extremely painful with the pressure changes of airplane travel.
Preventive Measures: The good news is that there is a safe and effective vaccine for pneumonia. "It's really a good idea," advises Dr. Angelo Scotti, an infectious disease specialist formerly with the CDC and now in private practice, "because it protects you against the drug-resistant strains of pneumonia that are out there." For extra protection, avoid alcohol, drink water and try coating the inside of your nose with a nasal moistening gel like Simply Saline or Nose Better to help prevent infection.

Dengue Fever
Who's at risk: Dengue is widespread in most tropical countries of Asia, the South Pacific, Africa, Central and South America, and the Caribbean. Unlike malaria, though, dengue infections are common in urban areas, as the Aëdes mosquito that carries dengue lives indoors in bathrooms and in cool, dark places behind curtains, under beds or in closets.
What it is: Mosquito avoidance is crucial even if you take anti-malaria drugs, as there are many other mosquito-borne diseases travelers should be aware of, including dengue fever. Though people may be infected with dengue and not become ill, symptoms including fever, headache, back pain, and severe muscle ache may develop in four to seven days.
Preventive Measures: There are no specific drug treatments for dengue, but travelers should avoid mosquito bites by wearing long pants and long sleeves. The afflicted should get bed rest, plenty of fluids, and acetaminophen to control the fever. Aspirin, ibuprofen, and other NSAIDs should be avoided because of their anti-coagulant properties, as about one percent of patients with dengue fever develop dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) three to seven days after the fever subsides.

woodleywonderworks, flickr
Travelers' Diarrhea/Dysentery
Who's at risk: Every year, the CDC reports that between 30 percent and 70 percent of international travelers develop diarrhea, depending on the destination. Young adults, people taking antacids or acid blockers, and patients with diabetes or inflammatory bowel disease may be at higher risk.
What it is: Diarrhea is just a symptom -- the cause may be any of several fairly common bacteria: E. coli, Campylobacter, Shigella, or Salmonella. TD can also be caused by a virus, such as a norovirus or rotavirus; it can also be caused by a protozoan such as Giardia or Cryptospoidium.
Preventive Measures: If you want to see something of your destination (other than the bathroom at the Sheraton), "Don't drink the water -- anywhere," advises Dr. Scotti. Since contaminated food or water is usually the culprit in "Montezuma's Revenge," drink only sealed, bottled water, and use it to brush your teeth. Avoid raw and undercooked foods. Eat only fruit and vegetables that you can peel yourself. Avoid salads and buffets where food sits out. Opt for meals that are freshly cooked and served piping hot -- even if means skipping that quaint-but-questionable little joint. "Let your guard down once and you have a chance of being infected," says Dr. Scotti.

Even if you take precautions, there are many things beyond your control, such as sanitary conditions in a restaurant kitchen. Some travelers rely on Immodium (Loperamide) but do not take it if you also have a fever and bloody stool. Dr. Scotti prefers Pepto-Bismol (bismuth subsalicylate), "The liquid works better, but the tablets are easier to carry. Don't take Paregoric or anything with codeine in it. Anything that slows down the motility of the gut, may allow the organism to penetrate into the bloodstream."

Your doctor may give you an antibiotic for self-treatment in case of diarrhea. Be sure to avoid dehydration by drinking plenty of liquids -- bouillon and water. After a litany of warnings, Dr. Scotti has one piece of advice most travelers can embrace: "Drink wine. It actually decreases your risk of getting infected."

Norwalk/ Norovirus
Who's at risk: Anywhere where there are lots of people in closed quarters, like on a cruise ship.
What it is: While the overall incidence of norovirus infection is relatively small, this gastrointestinal virus spreads easily and causes vomiting and diarrhea which can last two to three very unpleasant days.
Preventive Measures: There is no vaccine to prevent norovirus infection and there is no drug to treat affected people, so travelers must rely on preventive measures -- hand-washing and avoiding contact with infected people or contaminated surfaces.
Norovirus, however is not easily killed by routine cleaning, and requires a thorough sanitizing with a bleach-based cleaner. After several frightening outbreaks on cruise ships, the cruise industry on the whole has responded with improved cleaning procedures and quarantine of infected patients. Check on your cruise ships sanitation inspection record.

USACE Europe District, flickr

Before you go

Get vaccinated four to eight weeks before you leave.
Plan the trip of a lifetime -- China, India, a cruise down the Amazon or an African safari -- now how many people are prepared? Not many, according to Dr. Mirella Salvatore, Interim Medical Director of the Infectious Disease Associates of NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center in New York City. "The biggest mistake people make is not planning ahead. People come into the clinic and say, 'I'm leaving tomorrow. What should I do?' Many travelers that could have benefited from vaccinations have to go unprotected, because there is not enough time. Some antibodies take weeks to develop."

Choose your destinations wisely.
For older people or anyone with other health issues, check with a physician before you even book a trip to a high-risk destination. "A patient may decide to go to a place where yellow fever is endemic," reports Dr. Salvatore, "But yellow fever is a live vaccine, with a higher risk of side effects for older people with health problems. People who are immuno-compromised could have chosen a less challenging destination."

It's all in the details.
When you see your doctor, bring a record of previous vaccinations and a detailed itinerary. As an example, for one traveler to Brazil, headed for Carnaval in Rio de Janeiro, the biggest health risk may be STDs; for a backpacker intent on visiting Iguaçu Falls, yellow fever, hepatitis, malaria, typhoid, and even rabies may be dangers. Depending on your destination, some other vaccines to discuss with your doctor include: typhoid, meningitis, Japanese encephalitis. Keep a record of all vaccines and keep it with your passport.

Don't be stingy.
Dr. Ronald Primas, the Medical Director of NY Hotel Urgent Medical Services, has seen travelers before they leave on a trip -- and after things go wrong. "The people that I treat who get into the most trouble are the most frugal" -- in other words, those who may not want to spend money on the recommended drugs or vaccinations. Dr. Primas also cautions, "The #1 reason people cancel a trip or return home early is a dental emergency. See the dentist before you leave, and pack a dental emergency kit."

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World's Strangest Holiday Traditions

Nina Africano — 2010-11-11T14:15:00+00:00

Filed under: Weird, Arts & Culture, Seasonal

Nina Africano

Winter is hard upon us, and with it comes a season full of holiday traditions. While our own customs may not seem strange to us -- what's so weird about feasting on a giant bird while watching football games? Or parades of enormous balloons shaped like cartoon characters? -- others might beg to differ. We've scanned the globe to find ten unusual celebrations, both here and abroad. From spring cleaning festivals to ward off the devil to celebrations where giant effigies of celebrities and politicians are burned, here are some of the weird and wonderful holiday celebrations held around the world.

Santa Run -- Newtown, Wales, UK (Nov. 28, 2010)

While we think of Santa Claus as a jolly, rotund sort, folks in Newtown, Wales have been giving Santa a fit, new image as thousands of men, women, and children gather every year for the annual Newtown Santa Run. The event started in 2001 with 500 runners as a fundraiser for Dial-a-Ride, a local charity, and has since raised thousands of pounds for worthy causes in the UK and around the world. The number of hoofing Santas has also grown into the thousands, even setting a Guinness World Record in 2004 for a gathering of 3,445 Santas, a record long since obliterated by a red-suited crowd some 12,965 strong in Derry City, Northern Ireland on September 9, 2007.

Feast of St. Nicholas -- Czech Republic (Dec. 6, 2010 -- celebrated eve of Dec 5)

On the evening of December 5, children in the Czech Republic celebrate the Feast of Mikuláš (Saint Nicholas Day -- Dec. 6) with festivities that offer the fun of Halloween while remembering St. Nicholas, the patron saint of children in the Catholic Church. Known for his generosity as well as for his long, white beard and bright red robes, St. Nicholas was the Bishop of Myra in the 4th century, and celebrants today wear a sort of bishop's miter and carry a staff and a book in which names of children who have been naughty or nice are written.

St. Nicholas is followed by an Angel who rewards good boys and girls with toys and treats as well as a Devil who menaces misbehavers with a sack of coal or potatoes -- or even being carried off to Hell. In Prague, the drama plays out in Old Town Square, while in small villages, the characters visit the homes of children.

Needless to say, children promise to behave better and even prepare poems, prayers songs, or drawings for St. Nicholas. Of course, our Santa Claus derives from this tradition, and is likely a corruption of the German words "San Nikolaus."

Another feast day observed in the Czech Republic, "Barborky," is the Feast of St. Barbora (Dec. 4). Young women hoping to get married cut a branch from a cherry tree and keep it in a vase. If the cherry blossoms open by Christmas Eve, the girl's hopes will be fulfilled, and she will be married in the year to come.

Surizar, flickr

Quema del Diablo (Burning of the Devil) -- Guatemala (Dec. 7)

One tradition that certainly puts our spring cleaning to shame is Quema del Diablo, or the Burning of the Devil, which takes place every December in Guatemala. Guatemalans have long believed that the Devil lurks in the dark and dusty corners of the house and in garbage, so every year before the Feast of the Immaculate Conception (Dec. 8), people sweep him out of their houses and chase him off by burning their household refuse in bonfires topped by effigies of the Devil.

Marimba bands and fireworks add to the festivities. Some of the biggest celebrations are in Antigua and Guatemala City.

In Ciudad Vieja, a Devil three stories high is set alight in the city square at the stroke of six. Quema del Diablo is just one of the 192 unusual happenings described in the Lonely Planet guide, "A Year of Festivals."

Christmas Day -- Belgium (Dec. 6 and 25)

In a country with two distinct languages and cultures, Christmas in Belgium is also a tale of two Santas. In the Dutch-speaking tradition, St. Niklaas may visit children twice, on December 6 and again on December 25 -- for kids who have gotten a taste of American-style Christmas celebrations through TV and movies.

In the French tradition, Père Noël (Father Christmas) visits children accompanied by Père Fouettard (French for Whipping Father), who may carry a stick, a whip, or a bunch of sticks or switches. Père Noël offers chocolates and treats to the good children, while Père Fouettard doles out sticks, lumps of coal, or spankings to naughty little boys and girls.

Janeiras -- Portugal (Dec. 25 - Jan. 6)

In the Algarve and throughout Portugal, there is a joyous tradition of New Year's caroling called Janeiras. Groups of friends or neighbors go from house to house singing, sometimes with instruments. The rewards for the Janeiras might be chestnuts, apples, nuts -- or even a small glass of brandy. The tradition of the Janeiras is believed to date all the way back to Roman times, to honor and appease the two-headed Roman god Janus, who guarded the entryway into heaven, and for whom the first month of the year is named.

DeusXFlorida, flickr

Junkanoo -- Bahamas and elsewhere (Dec. 26)

Many Americans who have never traveled to the Bahamas know about the Junkanoo street parade from the James Bond movie Thunderball. Of course, that costume extravaganza was staged just for the film, as the traditional date for Junkanoo is Boxing Day on December 26. But the music, the costumes, the dancing, the energy are all true to Junkanoo, which derives from the West African masquerade tradition. The biggest parade is in Nassau, but there are celebrations throughout the Bahamas as well as in Jamaica, Bermuda, Belize, Brazil, Turks and Caicos and even in Miami and Key West, though at different times of the year.

The origin of the word Junkanoo is open for debate; some say it refers to a slave trader by the name of John Canoe, but author and historian Irene Smalls links it to the Johnkankus celebrations which were common in the American South up until 1865 and named in honor of the 17th century African chief John Conny.

Johnkankus celebrations probably died out due to the association with slavery (though whites had certainly participated), but it was probably not coincidental that Maulana Karenga chose this date for the start of Kwanzaa in 1966. From a Swahili phrase for "fruits of the harvest," Kwanzaa began as alternative to Christmas, but now many people celebrate both.

Nina Africano

Hogmanay -- Edinburgh, Scotland (Dec. 30, 2010 - Jan. 2, 2011)

Named for a wood and animal hide torch which is lit to smoke out evil spirits, Hogmanay is a celebration with pagan roots, a great display of bonfires and parading around by torchlight. In some towns throughout the Highlands and the Outer Hebrides, the old customs endure, in which bands of young boys don sheepskins and roam the village reciting Gaelic rhymes.

But today, by far the biggest Hogmanay happens in Edinburgh, where more than 250,000 people take part in four days and nights of festivities. There are more than 20 organized events including the Torchlight Procession, the Night Afore celebrations, the Seven Hills fireworks, the Royal Bank Street Party (the world's largest New Year's street party) and the New Year's Day Loony Dook, in which costumed revelers plunge into the icy waters of the River Forth. Needless to say, some events involve a goodish amount of whiskey.

New Year's Eve -- Ecuador (Dec. 31, 2010)

In China and other countries in the Far East, people burn paper copies of what they wish for in the coming year (money, cell phones, etc.) both on the traditional Lunar New Year, and on the solar calendar New Year. (This coming year Feb. 3, 2011 ushers in the Year of the Rabbit in the Chinese Zodiac.)

In Ecuador, people also burn giant effigies, but with an entirely different motivation -- to say goodbye and good riddance. Combustible scarecrows are made from old clothes stuffed with newspaper, sticks, and even firecrackers, then topped with papier mâché heads made to look like troublesome celebrities and politicians. At midnight, these stand-ins are beaten and then set on fire for all the trouble they have caused in the previous year. Hmm -- maybe there's a reason you don't see Charlie Sheen or Lindsay Lohan jetting down to Ecuador for New Year's Eve.

amelungc, flickr

New Year's Eve - U.S. (Dec. 31, 2010)

Here in the U.S., the best-known New Year's Eve countdown is surely the Ball Drop in New York City's Times Square. Thousands of people cram the city streets every year despite the discomforts involved (crowds, cold, noise, etc.), while millions more watch the event on television.

But some smaller cities have taken the countdown to the New Year and made it their own, and Pennsylvanians are among those taken pride of place rather literally: Dillsburg has the Pickle Drop, Beavertown has the Beaver Drop, and Lebanon has the Bologna Drop.

Though fishermen rarely like to let one get away, in Eastport, Maine, the New Year is rung in with the Sardine Drop, and in Port Clinton, Ohio (self-named the "Walleye Capital of the World"), a 20-foot, 600-pound fiberglass Walleye drops to signal the New Year.

Epiphany -- Italy and elsewhere (Jan. 6)

In Spain, Latin America, and many other countries, Christmas Day is a relatively quiet celebration when families get together to eat and go to church; children must wait until Epiphany or Three Kings Day (January 6) for presents.

In Italy, the distributor of presents is said to be a kindly old witch known as La Befana. During the night, La Befana rides through the night, sliding down chimneys to fill the stockings of good little boys and girls with toys and candy and leaving lumps of coal for the bad ones.

According to folklore, the Three Wise Men stopped at the shack of La Befana to ask directions and told her of the birth of baby Jesus. They asked her to come along but she refused. Later that night, La Befana saw the star in the night sky and tried to follow the Three Kings, but she never found the manger. Ever since then, she has flown around on the eleventh night of Christmas leaving presents for little children in hopes that the Christ child will receive them.

In Russia, there is a similar myth, but it is Babushka (Russian for Grandmother) who distributes the gifts.

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Haunted Halloween Getaways

Nina Africano — 2010-10-04T12:50:00+00:00

Filed under: Hotel, Weird

Jekyll Island Club Hotel

Go somewhere spooky for Halloween

As Halloween approaches, it seems young and old alike get into the spirit of ghosts and spooky, supernatural happenings. At a number of historic hotels and resorts throughout the country, guests can enjoy not only a chance to get away from the daily grind, but possibly a brush with the unknown.

Built in 1913 out of granite boulders hewn from the surrounding countryside, the historic Grove Park Inn enjoys a panorama that takes in Asheville, N.C., the Blue Ridge and Smoky Mountains. During her recent visit to this AAA four-diamond resort and spa, television news producer Amy Burkholder experienced something quite out of the ordinary. "I was staying in the historic section in a room with a beautiful view of the mountains. I didn't know anything about the ghost at the time. On the last day of my stay, it was about 7 a.m. and I was lying in bed talking on the phone. I had the 'Today Show' on the TV and the channels started to change. The remote control wasn't stuck or anything like that. Then, the volume went way up, and the channels started to change again. I turned the TV off and went into the shower -- and the TV came back on again." Shaken, but not frightened, Burkholder said later, "There was no sense of negative energy, it was just very persistent."

Photo by Sharon Pearce, a guest at Grove Park Inn

Her story hardly surprised Susan Philips, Director of Marketing at Grove Park Inn, who receives numerous reports of strange happenings from guests and staff, and even photos of a hovering pink orb. They call this resident spirit the Pink Lady, and most of the odd occurrences center on room 545 in the historic Main Inn -- footsteps, doors opening and closing, TV and water going on and off. There are several stories of children walking along the fifth floor hallway talking to someone unseen by their parents. When questioned, several have explained that they were talking to "the nice lady in the pretty pink dress." Records at the Grove Park Inn indicate that many years ago, a young woman in a flowing pink dress fell to her death from the fifth floor balcony; whether she may have jumped or been pushed is also cause for speculation.

If you'd like to meet the nice lady in the pink dress, perhaps she will oblige; the Fall Splendor package at Grove Park Inn starts at $298 a night.

A glowing figure is seen in the upper right hand of the balcony; Hotel Andaluz

The Hotel Andaluz in downtown Albuquerque, N.M. also has a resident ghost in a pink dress, an elderly woman who haunts the fourth floor. The Hotel Andaluz has collected a number of resident spirits since it was built by Conrad Hilton in 1939, and they have lingered on throughout the hotel's recent $30 million renovation. They mostly wander the fourth and seventh floors, but occasionally stop by the main ballroom on the second floor. The ghost most frequently encountered is a young woman dressed in 1940s party clothes, wandering in search of her room on the hotel's seventh floor. Overnight rates at the Hotel Andaluz start at $249.

Dramatization; Hotel Monteleone

New Orleans may be America's most haunted city, with numerous stories of violent death and betrayal -- and other spirits who just had such a fine time here that they never want to leave. The Hotel Monteleone, the largest and most luxurious hotel in the French Quarter, has welcomed an impressive list of famous authors from William Faulkner to Truman Capote -- as well as its share of unregistered guests.

Phyllis Paulsen, a financial planner from California, described a surprise visitor to her suite on the 14th floor (which is actually the 13th floor). "I was just relaxing in bed one morning when I looked up to see a young boy about three years old walk by the foot of my bed," she recalled. "Since he had come from the sitting room, I immediately got up to see if the door was open and to check if a parent may have followed him into the room. My husband had just left for a meeting, and I thought he may not have closed the door all the way."

The door was securely closed. "It didn't take me long to realize that I had seen a ghost," she continued. "He was a friendly little fellow wearing a striped shirt. One moment he was there and the next he was gone."

For Paulsen, the experience was not at all unpleasant; in fact, she requests the same room whenever she returns to New Orleans. "I've been back twice since I first saw the child and he hasn't reappeared, but I am always thinking that maybe he will next time."

The story of the young boy has been repeated many times by other guests, and legend has it that he was the son of Josephine and Jacques Begere who stayed at the Monteleone in the late 19th century. The boy, Maurice, was left with his nanny while the couple went to the famous French Opera House on Bourbon Street. On the way back from the opera, Jacques was killed when he was thrown from a horse-drawn buggy. Josephine died within a year of a broken heart, and the ghost of young Maurice sometimes roams the halls searching for his parents -- who were staying on the 14th floor. Fall rates the Hotel Monteleone start at just $159 a night.

Courtesy of Jekyll Island Club Hotel

Originally built in 1886 as a hunting retreat for the Rockefellers, Astors, Goulds and the like, the Jekyll Island Club Hotel enjoys a unique setting on a barrier island off the coast of Georgia. The Southern Hospitality here is so memorable that a number of the hotel's elite clientele don't seem to want to leave. Samuel Spencer was a railroad magnate who died mysteriously in 1906 -- in a train crash. Spencer is said to haunt his favorite suite on the second floor of the hotel's Annex, the "airiest and brightest of all." Appearing in the early morning hours, Spencer enjoys sipping coffee and reading the news of the day.

Staff, too, seem to linger on at Jekyll Island; a bellman in a 1920s cap and suit is especially diligent about delivering freshly pressed suits to new bridegrooms on the second floor of the Club building. He has been seen by present-day bellmen and has baffled guests who had not requested this service.

With this sort of dedication to service, it's no wonder that a member like JP Morgan would be reluctant to give up his splendid apartment on the third floor of the Sans Souci building. A rabid cigar smoker, Morgan would rise every morning at 5:00 a.m. to savor a large, black cigar on his porch overlooking the Jekyll River, leaving a cloud of smoke in his wake. A number of early-rising guests who occupy this third floor accommodation have detected the odor of a cigar -- when no one else is awake.

Fall Getaway packages start at $169 per night, but a special Halloween Package called A Spirited Weekend at Your Favorite Haunt, Oct. 29-31 is $795 per couple and includes readings from a Dominican clairvoyant named Veronica, and a Tarot reader and karmic counselor named Jean, both of Psychic Solutions.

With a history that dates back to 1607, Colonial Williamsburg has had its share of strange sightings, some dating back hundreds of years. Employees have seen people dressed in colonial attire, and assumed they were fellow workers -- until they vanished into thin air.

Wythe House; Courtesy of Colonial Williamsburg

Among the original structures in this restored 18th century town is the George Wythe House, named for its first inhabitant, a signer of the Declaration of Independence who taught law to Thomas Jefferson. This two-story brick home dates to the 1750s and served as George Washington's headquarters just before the British siege of Yorktown. Legend has it that the house is visited by a frequent houseguest of the Wythes, Lady Ann Skipwith. Lady Ann died mysteriously -- some say she was murdered by her sister -- who then married her husband Sir Peyton.

The George Wythe House is an important stop on one of the evening walking tours of Colonial Williamsburg called Ghosts Among Us. Considered unsuitable for young children, this tour takes visitors into the haunted buildings to meet ghostly inhabitants and those who have lived to tell of their supernatural experiences. More appropriate for children is the Tavern Ghost Walk, in which guests learn of the ghosts that still haunt the taverns and historic buildings of Colonial Williamsburg -- from the outside.

One of the stops on the Tavern Ghost Walk is the Peyton Randolph House, a large wooden home that dates back to 1715, and once welcomed the Marquis de Lafayette. One of the specters spotted here is the Lady in the Pink Gown, who was seen on Valentine's Day of 2008. Dressed in a pink, 18th-century gown, the lady believed to be Elizabeth Harrison, niece of Elizabeth Randolph, was seen reading in one of the upstairs bedrooms.

With or without ghosts, the Spirit of the American Revolution certainly lives on at Colonial Williamsburg, offering an educational experience for parents and children alike.

For $449 per couple, the 3-day/2-night Autumn Stories package includes accommodations at the Williamsburg Lodge, breakfast, Historic Area passes, $100 activities card, and Tavern Ghost Walk tickets.

Lizzie Borden Bed and Breakfast; dbking, flickr

Strictly for those with a taste for the macabre is the Lizzie Borden House Bed and Breakfast in Fall River, Massachusetts. The stately 14-room Victorian home entered into infamy on August 4, 1892 with the axe murders of Andrew Borden and his second wife Abby. So common was the belief that Andrew's youngest daughter Lizzie had committed the gruesome murders that soon little children were chanting, "Lizzie Borden took an axe, gave her mother 40 whacks..." Lizzie was however tried and acquitted.

It doesn't take much imagination to believe that an evil spirit lingers in this house, though no one has yet reported seeing a vision of an axe-wielding Lizzie. One paranormal investigator has reported encounters with Andrew Borden, and others claim two young children said to have drowned on the Borden property some years ago still haunt the place.

Unexplained noises, voices, shadows, a rocking chair that rocks on its own, and assorted things that go bump in the night are enough to give thrill-seekers what they came for. Plan ahead if you want to stay in the very guest room where Abby Borden was butchered -- it tends to be booked up to a year in advance. Nightly rates are $150-$250.

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Don't Make These Foreign Currency Mistakes

Nina Africano — 2010-09-21T17:03:00+00:00

Filed under: Tips & Tricks, Budget

bradipo, flickr

Many travelers don't think about foreign currency exchange until they arrive overseas and have to take a taxi to their hotel. A little planning can help you avoid getting overcharged -- although it's getting more and more difficult, as banks and credit card companies are upping their transaction fees for foreign currency purchases. Here are our best money-saving tips to avoid getting ripped off on your vacation.

1. Don't forget to call your credit card companies and tell them about your travel plans. Fraud has become such a worldwide problem that credit card companies are on the alert for unusual activity, such as cash advances and purchases in foreign currency. Some companies, like Capital One, will even reject out-of-state charges if you don't alert them in advance. Also, ask what fees apply to foreign purchases ; most companies have recently begun charging up to 3 percent for international charges. Capital One and Schwab Bank do not charge a fee, and many credit unions charge either a low fee (1 percent) or no fee at all. Some debit cards have even begun charging a fee.

2. Don't forget to check foreign currency exchange rates online before you travel. If you know what the best exchange rate is, you'll know what to expect when you do a currency exchange. Get current information at sites like www.xe.com or www.exchangerate.com, which even has photos of foreign notes to help you become familiar with them. Some sites, like www.gocurrency.com, support a link with a retail currency exchange service, like Travelex, which operates exchange bureaus in over 100 airports in 25 countries. On a day when the exchange rate was $127 to=€100, Travelex was charging $137.

3. Don't change money at an airport kiosk. These currency exchange desks make a lot of money either by giving you a poor exchange rate or charging a fee, which can be a flat fee or a percentage of the dollar amount exchanged. If you must exchange currency here, get the minimum you need to get you to your hotel (unless it's a flat fee). The better option, though, is to withdraw money from an ATM---which may not be easy for arriving passengers to find, as they are often outside of the area where passengers clear customs, or in the Departures section of the terminal. Ask a local (perhaps someone in the Duty Free shop) or a seasoned traveler (like a flight attendant). Also, if you can get to your hotel by train or in a taxi that accepts credit cards, you may not even need foreign currency until you get into the city center, where you'll find a more favorable exchange rate at a bank (if you are traveling with cash).)

4. Don't use a credit card to get a cash advance without checking in advance what the surcharge will be. It may be more advantageous to use a debit card, but again, do check if any fees will be charged. (At one time, many debit cards did not charge a fee for this service, but some companies now impose fees.) If you make a cash withdrawal with a card, use an ATM run by a major overseas bank. Avoid freestanding ATMs at convenience stores---as is the case at home, these are more likely to charge a fee , and are more vulnerable to tampering. Credit cards will charge a fee for a cash advance, usually 3 percent (or more) of the amount withdrawn (typically with a minimum fee of say, $5), and you may get hit with an ATM fee as well. Also, the company's highest APR applies to cash advances (up to 20 percent), which kicks in from the date you withdraw the money (no grace period) until you pay off your entire balance.

5. Don't buy traveler's checks. So last century! Nowadays, they're more of a nuisance than a help. If you don't have a debit card, buy a prepaid Visa or MasterCard which is good at all shops, restaurants, and ATMs displaying the logo. This is also a great precaution if you're leery about using a debit card linked to your main bank account (and all your assets).

6. Don't assume you will have to exchange currency at all. If you are traveling to Panama, Ecuador, El Salvador, the British Virgin Islands, or Turks and Caicos, the U.S. Dollar dollar is the official currency. The almighty buck is also welcome in Lebanon, Zimbabwe, Iraq, Jamaica and other tourist-oriented islands.

Savvy travelers plan for future trips

7. Don't spend all your foreign currency if you (or a friend) might take another trip. Keep enough foreign currency to get you through your next arrival. Euros do make it easy for travelers, as they are official currency of Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Spain. The Euro is also officially accepted in Andorra, Monaco, Montenegro, San Marino, Kosovo, Saint Barthélemy, and Saint Martin and widely accepted in Switzerland, Sweden, Turkey, Morocco---and anyplace else where goods are sold at a bazaar.

8. Don't plan on changing foreign currency back into dollars. You'll lose even more on a second exchange, so if you're not planning another trip (and don't know someone who is), plan your cash expenses for the last few days. Remember especiallly to count taxi, tips, breakfast and airports snacks. If you end up with extra cash, you can spend it on duty free shopping on the ground or in the air. If you don't have a little coin collector at home, you can donate any leftover foreign currency to charitable causes with collection jars at the Duty Free shops, currency exchange desks, or even onboard your flight. British Airways is one of several airlines that collect for charity; over 16 years, BA's Change for Good collected over £27 million for Unicef. Their new program, Flying Start, aims to raise £8 million by 2013 for impoverished children in the UK and worldwide.

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Costume Character Confessions: Elmo Speaks

Nina Africano — 2010-09-13T14:06:00+00:00

Filed under: Family, Real Life Stories

Nina Africano

In true tabloid fashion, AOL Travel went behind the scenes at Sesame Place in Langhorne, Pa. to ask: Who is this Elmo character? What's behind the furry red face that rules the hearts and minds of so many kids?

Surprise -- it's a girl! Danielle Shinder, a young singer and dancer from Holland, Pa. has been playing the Elmo character at the Pa. theme park on and off since she was 15 years old. And contrary to the slightly provocative headline of this article, Elmo doesn't actually speak at Sesame Place -- all the costume characters' voices are recorded; people have the only speaking roles.

In case you're childless or have been living in a cave for the past 20 years or so, Elmo is the furry red costume character who is the acknowledged king of Sesame Street. Once puppeteer Kevin Clash defined Elmo's personality and gave Elmo his signature giggle, his popularity quickly surpassed that of all the Sesame Street regulars -- Big Bird, Cookie Monster, and Ernie & Bert. Elmo was in demand everywhere, appearing on Martha Stewart Living, The Rosie O'Donnell Show, The View and The West Wing. He even went Hollywood, with two feature films: Elmo in Grouchland and Elmo Saves Christmas.

The woman behind the mask, Danielle Shinder

Elmo is also the only non-human ever to testify before Congress, appearing before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health, and Human Services and Education in April 2002 to plead for more funding for music education.

"Elmo's World" now takes up 15 minutes of Sesame Street's one-hour program, and has been visited by celebrities like Natalie Portman, Jamie Foxx and Ellen Degeneres.

So how did Danielle, a youngster who had worked in a day camp, land the gig? She auditioned at the open casting call Sesame Place holds every January for dancers, hosts, and live characters (i.e. people). "We were taught dance combinations because they want to see how you move. These weren't easy dance routines because the shows are very physical -- they're full-scale musicals."

Though dancing and physical expression are important qualifications for all costume characters, the specific roles of the costume characters are not assigned by prestige, experience, or even gender -- it's all according to height. Petite Danielle plays not only the Elmo character, but also Zoe and Abby Cadabby, a fairy-in-training; taller actors might get to play Big Bird or Super Grover. And Danielle is not the only Elmo on the block at Sesame Place; at least half a dozen enthusiastic young people don the signature costume every day.

But Danielle's Elmo may be one of the longest-running; she's been doing it since 2004, and it's not much of a stretch to say that the Elmo character helped put Danielle through college at West Chester University of Pennsylvania, where she was a theater major. The secret of Elmo's appeal, says Danielle, is that "he's young and kids can relate to him. He's the same age as the kids who watch Sesame Street and come to Sesame Place. He's kind of learning about the world the way they are. One day he's learning about fish. The next day it's something else. He's very relatable to a young child. They're learning about some of the same things he's learning about.

"Kids love Elmo" she says, "but parents really, really love Elmo. Doing a show or posing for pictures, parents get even more excited, while kids can be a little shy."

Elmo performs with other Sesame Place characters

Danielle and the other Elmo characters work hard to maintain the illusion that there's one and only one Elmo -- although the furry little monster appears in the daily "Rock Around the Block Parade," four times a day in "Elmo Rocks!" and eight times a day in "Elmo's World Live!" In addition to those performances, there are Elmo photo ops at 1-2-3 Smile With Me! and Dine With Me! Yet kids will never see two Elmos at once. Disney World may have secret tunnels for characters to get around the park, but Sesame Place has a low-tech secret: every venue has a dressing room backstage where extra costumes are kept. So Danielle can casually stroll across Sesame Place in her street clothes, and emerge 10 minutes later as Elmo -- or Zoe or Abby Cadabby.

Being Elmo certainly has its challenges -- tears and temper tantrums are all part of a day's work at Sesame Place. And scorching summer heat doesn't make the fuzzy suit any lighter. But like a budding young trouper, Danielle takes it all in stride. "You get used to it," she says. "When you're dancing and performing, you don't think about the heat when there are 900 people here clapping and singing." And there is certainly a payoff to playing Elmo -- hugs. "Hugs are definitely the best."

Danielle is at her Elmo-est when the crew from Sesame Place visits the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia four to six times a year. "It's probably one of my favorite things to do because we're able to go there and see how excited the kids get. We visit a number of different units at the hospital."

But she really has to draw on her inner resources when the Make-A-Wish Foundation brings kids with life-threatening illness to Sesame Place. "That is one of the hardest things to see, but also the most fulfilling. Their [the kids'] wish is to meet these characters, and it warms your heart because you know you're doing something so good."

Playing the Elmo character, Danielle may have gotten a taste of fame, but she has ambitions of her own that do not include googly eyes. This fall, in addition to playing Jamie, a live character in the Count's Halloween Spooktacular, she will be touring regionally with "It's Not Mean to be Green," an eco-musical for kids. But her sights are set on Broadway. "That's the dream," she confides, "or to be on 'Glee'."

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McDonald's International: Top Ten Most Unusual Around the World

Nina Africano — 2010-09-03T15:10:00+00:00

Filed under: Food + Drink

jurvetson, flickr

Seasoned travelers know that a Big Mac attack can hit at the strangest times, but with McDonald's welcoming Golden Arches in 117 countries around the world, you can satisfy the craving almost everywhere you travel. But McDonald's international restaurants can be very different from those in the U.S. -- and the McDonald's menus around the world features a number of unusual items that you can't get at home.You'll find Quiche de Queijo (cheese quiche) in Brazil, Red Bean Pie in Hong Kong (where red beans are commonly used in desserts) and a McLaks (grilled salmon sandwich with dill sauce) in Norway, a country that loves its fish. Some restaurants even deliver, and some serve beer.

McDonald's spokeswoman Lizzie Roscoe explains: "When you walk into a McDonald's -- no matter where you are in the world -- the restaurant should connect to the local culture. We are a global company, and at the same time, we are a neighborhood business. So when you look at our menus in the 117 countries in which we do business, you'll find food that reflects local taste preferences."

However, instead of simply duplicating local favorites, the company takes what's familiar and puts a McDonald's twist on it, often working with local suppliers to produce these specialty items. McDonald's Corporation opened its first restaurant in Des Plaines, Ill. in 1955 and began to expand internationally in 1967, with restaurants in Canada (try a McLobster roll here) and Puerto Rico (where flan has appeared on the menu).

Today, McDonald's international restaurants can be found on every continent except Antarctica; their popularity is due to menu variations that recognize cultural differences, as well as to such international favorites as French fries (nine million pounds are served every day).

McDonald's

Hungary

McDonald's first opened in Hungary 22 years ago, when a Big Mac cost a mere 43 forint (27 cents). Travelers are thankful for a quick burger at Budapest's Western Railway, where the Golden Arches have set up shop under the marble arches of the former Royal Waiting Hall. The restored 19th century structure was originally designed by Eiffel & Cie of Paris to welcome dignitaries arriving by rail, including the beloved Princess Elisabeth, or "Sissi," as people remember her.

If you're catching an early train and looking for a hearty breakfast, ask for the "Wrap Omelettel," a tortilla stuffed with an omelet and chicken and "McBuri" (hash browns).

Hoang Dinh Nam, AFP/Getty Images

Philippines

When the first McDonald's opened in Manila in 1981, it had to contend with the popularity of a local chain called Jollibee, whose American-style fast food restaurants serve Filipino-influenced dishes. While bringing American standards of quality and cleanliness to the Philippines, McDonald's menu has integrated dishes that locals seem to love -- like McSpaghetti, a combo of noodles and hot dogs topped with a sweet tomato sauce and grated cheese. The Chicken McDo combines chicken with the spaghetti. McDonald's breakfast menu also features Longganisa (Philippine chorizo) served with rice.

McDonald's

Japan

If there is a country that embraces pop culture more that the U.S., it must be Japan, where Pokemon and Nintendo are prominent McDonald's tie-ins. McDonald's debuted in Japan in 1971 in the Mitsukoshi department store in Tokyo's Ginza district.

Thousands of restaurants followed, making the country one of McDonald's top markets, thanks in no small part to a menu that catered to Japanese taste preferences. The Ume Nuggets (Chicken McNuggets with sour plum sauce), and the French Fries with barbecue, seaweed, or Italian basil seasoning are hugely popular.

The Koroke Burger, served in the winter, is a sandwich made of mashed potato, cabbage and katsu sauce. Another seasonal item is the Tsukimi Burger (literally moon-viewing burger), with a beef patty topped with bacon, a poached egg, and mayonnaise-ketchup sauce; it is served before and during tsukimi or autumn moon season. (The egg represents the moon.)

The McDonald's drinks menu includes tea, soft drinks (Fanta is popular here), Qoo (a non-carbonated juice drink produced by Coca-Cola especially for the Japanese market) and green tea-flavored milkshakes.

Fun Fact: The world's smallest McDonald's measures only 496 square feet and is located in the Haneda Airport.

Michael Yeung, flickr

China

In 1990, the first McDonald's restaurant opened in the Special Economic Zone of Shenzhen, Guangdong province. In 1992, the world's biggest McDonald's (over 700 seats) opened in Beijing, but was later demolished along with adjacent buildings to make way for new construction.

In China, where chicken is the favored fast food, McDonald's has had to play catch-up with the already-established and very popular KFC. But the company plans to increase its presence from about 1,100 outlets to 2,000 by the end of 2013.

Reflecting the growing interest in all things western, McDonald's menu does feature beef burgers along with the more widely accepted chicken burgers -- which use thigh meat, rather than the breast meat used in the West. Chicken McNuggets come with a chili garlic sauce, as well as with the traditional BBQ, Sweet 'n' Sour, and honey mustard sauces. In a bow to tradition, the Chinese New Year meal features a Grilled Chicken Burger, curly fries, a horoscope of the 12 zodiac animals of Chinese astrology and traditional red packets, or gift bags, for monetary gift-giving as good luck.

McDonald's

United Kingdom

If you go to Windsor Castle to visit the Queen and she doesn't invite you in to tea, there's always Mickey D's right across the street.

McDonald's landed in the U.K. in 1974, in Woolwich, southeast London, and since then, the country has become one of the company's best-performing markets.

Of all the McDonald's international restaurants, those in the U.K. may seem the most familiar, with a menu that includes the Big Mac along with various chicken sandwiches. For vegetarians, there's a Spicy Vegi Deli, a spicy patty made from chickpeas with coriander and cumin, served with lettuce and a squirt of sweet chili (sic) and ranch sauces on a toasted deli roll.

The Brits love bacon, so for breakfast, there is the Bacon Roll, a bacon sandwich served either with ketchup or brown sauce -- as well as another favorite you won't find in the U.S. -- porridge Oatso Simple(R) Porridge Oats served with jam or syrup.

The restaurants in Oxford, near the seat of higher learning for the English-speaking world, are popular with the university's 20,000 students. Pubs may close at 11:00 p.m., but the students don't have to face an all-nighter without refueling at McDonald's -- the one at 57 Cornmarket Street is open until 3:00 a.m.

McDonald's

France

Dining in Paris on escargots, champagne and foie gras is fine when you have unlimited time and plenty of euros. But for people on a budget or on the go, McDonald's has been a welcome spot for a quick meal since the first restaurant opened in 1972. And despite some high-profile protests organized by anti-GM activist José Bové, McDonald's is thriving in France, merci beaucoup.

With over 1,100 outlets, many of which are in Paris, France is one of McDonald's most profitable markets, serving 1.7 million customers daily -- and it's not just tourists. McDonald's menu, featuring such French-inspired dishes as Croque McDo (a toasted ham and Swiss sandwich akin to the classic Croque Monsieur), has become popular with young people for whom Chez McDo has become a relaxed and inexpensive date option.

McDonald's most recent affront to the Gallic sensibility is the chain's invasion of the hallowed Louvre Museum, the former royal palace that holds many of the world's greatest art treasures including the Mona Lisa and the Venus de Milo. McDonald's opened last year in the underground approach to the museum, the Carrousel du Louvre, sending defenders of haute cuisine and fine art into a frenzy.

Vittorio Zunino Celotto, Getty Images

Italy

So great is the red tape involved in doing business in Italy that even mighty McDonald's resisted for many years before opening in Rome's historic Piazza di Spagna in 1986. The restaurant is one of the world's fanciest McDonald's, with a marble interior that seats 800 people and a tasteful gold McDonald's sign on the exterior -- and no visible Golden Arches.

Still, the opening set off a food fight extraordinaire, with some critics proclaiming "the death of Italian cuisine." This McDonald's restaurant, close to the famous Spanish Steps, inspired a Turin gourmet named Carlo Petrini to launch a protest that became the international Slow Food movement, which favors local, organic cooking over processed products.

The controversy reignited earlier this year when the Italian Minister of Agriculture put the government's seal of approval on McDonald's new McItaly burger, which uses all Italian beef, Asiago cheese and artichoke spread.

McDonald's has also tried to assimilate with a menu that includes salads not seen at home like a Caprese (tomato and fresh mozzarella) and a Shrimp and Salmon salad. In a country that thrives on debate, a Catholic country where a porn star can get elected to Parliament, McDonald's was simply the controversy of the day.

Rene Volfik, AP

Czech Republic

After the fall of communism, the new Czech Republic was hungry for everything the west had to offer -- literally. Czechs have been fans from the day McDonald's opened in Prague in 1992.

McDonald's has even opened its eminently capitalist doors directly below Prague's Museum of Communism, so that after learning about totalitarian regime that controlled Czechoslovakia from 1948 until 1989, visitors can enjoy a taste of freedom, American-style.

A regular McDonald's menu item is the McCountry, a pork sausage patty served with lettuce, tomato, onion and mayonnaise on a plain bun. So is Smažený Sýr, a slice of cheese coated in flour, egg, and breadcrumbs, and then fried -- a caloric marvel that Americans hadn't even thought of.

Daniel Berehulak, Getty Images

India

"Where's the beef?" another hamburger chain once famously asked; well, you won't find beef or pork on McDonald's menu in India. Here, in a nation that is predominantly Hindu and reveres the cow, is an excellent example of how McDonald's adapts its menu to conform to local culture. The solution: the McVeggie, a "burger" that isn't a burger at all, but rather a sandwich made with peas, carrots, green beans, red bell pepper, potatoes, onions, rice, and a special Indian seasoning topped with lettuce and vegan mayonnaise -- all on a sesame seed bun.

The Filet-O-Fish is the only sandwich that is prepared exactly the way it is in the U.S. The best bet for the hungry road crew: the Chicken Maharaja Mac sandwich, made with two grilled chicken patties and topped with onions, tomatoes, cheese, and a spicy mayonnaise. When Chicken McNuggets were introduced in May 2009, they sold so well that some stores ran out.

David Silverman, Getty Images

Israel

At McDonald's in Israel, you can get a hamburger -- but you may not be able to get a cheeseburger, as a number of restaurants are strictly kosher. The first McDonald's opened in 1993 and the first kosher McDonald's opened in Mevasseret Zion in October 1995.

At the kosher restaurants, the familiar yellow and red signs have been replaced with the McDonald's name in blue and white in Hebrew and the word "kosher." All McDonald's restaurants here use kosher beef, chicken and other products -- and the beef used is leaner than elsewhere, with only 9% fat (versus 20-24% in the U.S.). The burgers are not cooked on a griddle, but charcoal-grilled, catering to Israelis' preference for healthier foods. They've even created their own version of a Middle Eastern favorite with the McShawarma -- turkey, tahini and pickles wrapped in lafa bread.

McDonald's has come a long way since the first international restaurants were opened. Today, the over 32,000 outlets in 117 countries serve more than 60 million people each day. But whether the menu features Big Rosti (Germany) or Barbacoa Tejana (Latin America), the food is portable and affordable. In other words: It's McDonald's.

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Luxury Hotels for Pets (and Their People)

Nina Africano — 2010-08-26T16:13:00+00:00

Filed under: Hotel, Luxury, Spa & Wellness

Mandarin Oriental Hotel, Miami

Americans love their pets, and when they go on vacation, they want their dogs and cats to have a holiday, too -- often at five-star pet hotels. Last year, Americans spent more than $45 billion on their pets -- not just on necessities like food and vet care -- but also on luxuries like jeweled collars and designer dog beds.

So is it any wonder that we now have a new breed of pet boarding facilities that bear no resemblance to plain, old-fashioned kennels?

The Family Pet Resort in Newtown Square, PA promises "all the services you would expect from a five-star resort including room service, maid service, soothing music and clean & comfortable climate-controlled suites."

During the day, there are group play sessions and private play sessions with balls, Frisbees, tunnels, and agility equipment, as well as homemade peanut butter treats. At night, there is a tuck-In session with a belly rub and a bedtime story to soothe the dog, and email updates to calm the overprotective owner.

When Boarding Your Pet:

o. Make sure your pet is current with vaccinations such as rabies, distemper, and bordatella (kennel cough); many facilities require documentation, so make sure you plan ahead.

o. Aggressive dogs may not be welcome, and some places might deny any pets that haven't been neutered.

o. Help your pet to feel at home by packing their favorite toy or blanket.

o. If your pet has digestive issues, think ahead and send along any special food they eat.

o. If your pet is on any medication, include detailed instructions on how to administer it. For example, if Fluffy will only take his pills when they're wrapped in cheese, be sure to mention it.

Cats are catered to as well, with "peaceful and private luxury condos [that] have calming music piped in to create a soothing, spa-like environment." Luxury Suites for dogs are just $29 a night, Kitty Condos are $34 a night, and also available are "Ultra Luxury Vacation Villas that include TVs and...Oversized Family Suites for families with multiple pets."

People drive for miles and miles to leave their animal companions at the Olde Towne Pet Resort in Springfield, VA. The 27,000 square-foot facility boasts 183 canine suites sized from 20 to 60 square feet and is equipped with windows and skylights, floor drains, automatic drinking water fountains, and plush dog beds. The eight-foot by seven-foot Luxury Suites have TVs, DVD players and cyber cams so you can check on Fido from wherever you are.

Grooming options range from fanciful to practical, with aromatherapy, honeysuckle-jasmine shampoo and conditioner, and hot oil treatments, as well as de-skunking and tar removal. While three walks a day are included in boarding costs ($60-$110 a night for dogs, $30-$50 for cats, depending on accommodation), there is also an a la carte menu of exercise and play options, including Cardio Jog, Pilates for Pooches, Water Workout and Lap Swim, and Iron Dog Training. For a few dollars more, your pampered pet can also have a vacation photo and ride home in a limousine.

On the scenic north shore of Lake Tahoe, DogGoneCrazy is like summer camp for dogs (and cats too). Most dogs quickly fall in with the routine of scheduled play times, nap times and optional nature hikes -- in fact, they thrive on structure. They also thrive on the fresh, healthy dog cookies made daily in the bakery. In-house baker Evelyne Sanchez can even make treats to order for dogs with special diets or food allergies. You can see how happily tired they are with pictures that are posted daily on the DogGoneCrazy website.

At Far Fetched Acres, dog trainer Colleen Safford gives pavement-weary New York City dogs a vacation in the country. She started out with a dog walking and training service in town, and after buying a country house in the beautiful Hudson Valley, it wasn't long before her clients began to tag along. Now, a newly constructed 2,000-square-foot carriage house serves as an indoor play and nap area.

Boarding at Far Fetched Acres is $65 a night with a $10 surcharge on holidays; they do offer free pick-up and delivery to Manhattan on Mondays and Thursdays. With an average of about 10 guests at a time (up to about 20 during the holiday season), each dog gets plenty of personal attention -- with no surcharge for cuddling.

Las Ventanas

Talking about some of the pampering services offered for dogs, Safford chuckles. "Some things really cater more to humans -- skip the blueberry facial. Luxury from a dog's point of view is having enough space to run around and lots of things to sniff."

The long list of regulars at Far Fetched Acres means that dogs get to know each other,so when they arrive they're immediately among old friends -- the best way to spend a vacation.

For some pet owners, the perfect vacation is one where they can bring their best friends along. According to the Travel Industry Association (TIA), over 29 million U.S. adults have traveled with a pet in the last three years. Paris Hilton and her pals may have opened the door for tote-bag-sized dogs, but now a growing number of top resorts are welcoming pets of all sizes.

You might even run into a celebutante or two at Las Ventanas al Paraiso in Los Cabos, at the tip of Mexico's Baja Peninsula, where the Sea of Cortez meets the Pacific Ocean. While this Five-Diamond retreat is eminently drive-able from Southern California, many Hollywood-types like their dogs to travel in the comfort of their private jets, which can land at San Jose del Cabo International Airport, only 20 minutes away.

Some of Las Ventanas' 71 suites offer private pools, rooftop terraces, and even Spa Suites with private treatment rooms; all feature butler service, spacious living areas, wood-burning fireplaces and splendid views of the sea, golf course, or sand and desert gardens. To accommodate its four-legged visitors, Las Ventanas has designed a portable Pet Cabana, which can be set in the suite or brought to the pool or beach for shade.

Las Ventanas is known for its excellent seafood, cooked over a wood fire at the Sea Grill, but there's hardly any need for a doggy bag, as the "Canine Delights" menu offers everything from the Rin Tin Tin (braised beef short ribs with farro risotto and gravy) to a"Ruff" con Pollo (chicken breast with rice and tomato). On the "Feline Delights" menu: the Claw Cleaner (albacore tuna, chopped egg and sour cream), Kitty Captain's Plate (scrambled eggs and poached salmon), and Tomcat's Favorite (a selection of seafood).

For animals on special diets or who simply crave a particular food, the chef will prepare made-to-order dishes. All pet entrees are regally served in metal bowls encrusted with faux gemstones, with bone-shaped placemats for dogs and kitty-design placemats for cats.

Perhaps the greatest luxury: You can sleep as late as you want, as resort staff will walk your pet at any time, either along the fine sand beach or in the flowering desert countryside. Summer rates of $500 a night apply through September, and there is a $50 flat fee for each pet (not per night).

Topnotch Resort and Spa in Stowe, Vermont has equal appeal for people and pooches. Set on 120 verdant acres, Topnotch rates four diamonds from AAA and has won awards for its skiing, tennis and spa. Topnotch has 68 guest rooms and suites as well as 40 luxurious one- to three- bedroom homes. As is the case at most pet-friendly properties, pets are welcome in select guest rooms and suites. Topnotch makes puppies feel at home with Pet Welcome Baskets stuffed with organic doggie treats from Robbie Dawg, bottled water and a special keepsake water bowl. Your pet will also have his own special "Aero Paws" inflatable dog bed by AeroBeds, wrapped in a soft fleece cover. Hiking in Vermont's Green Mountains is an activity best enjoyed with your faithful companion, but afterward a visit to the 35,000 square-foot Spa at Topnotch might appeal. Your little friend can also unwind with an in-room Rover Reiki massage treatment ($60 for 25 minutes). A Deluxe Double room starts at $195 a night (up to $395 in October leaf season).

Nemacolin Wooflands, Nemacolin Woodlands Resort

Set on 2,000 acres in Southwestern Pennsylvania, Nemacolin Woodlands Resort offers an array of vacation possibilities for you and your pet. Six lodging options for people include the AAA Five-Diamond Falling Rock and the Maggie Valley RV Park, as well as townhouses and luxury homes. Pets under 30 pounds can stay in your room ($150 per stay), and larger animals can be boarded at Nemacolin Wooflands, the full-service grooming, training and amusement center right on the property.

This unique arrangement allows everyone to fully enjoy everything a vacation at Nemacolin has to offer: golf, spa, fishing, horseback riding, as well as a full slate of winter sports -- including dog sledding. Meanwhile, dogs and cats can opt for the a la carte services offered at Nemacolin Wooflands including swimming, nature hikes, ball play, movie night (with popcorn) or the ice cream social.

Overnight rates start at $309 for people, $15 for cats (with discounts for multiple cats), and $27 for dogs up to 30 pounds. Luxury Suites are available for dogs at $50 a night, and for people at $699 a night.

For the pet-friendliest destination in the country, Miami rivals Los Angeles, with a wealth of four- and five-star hotels that welcome furry guests, including Sofitel Miami, the Fontainebleau Resort, Loews Miami Beach, The Tides Hotel, Four Seasons Miami, Ritz-Carlton South Beach, the Mandarin Oriental Miami and the EPIC Hotel.

Like many pet-friendly hotels, Mandarin Oriental Miami welcomes animals under 25 pounds. To help keep your pet petite, the hotel chef prepares meals that are fortified with the protein, vitamins and minerals that pets need and do not contain any added sugar, artificial flavors or color. Tail-Waggin' Turkey ($9.99) blends tender ground turkey, brown rice, creamy yogurt, carrots, peas, beans, crushed tomatoes, organic flax seed, olive oil and sea salt.

The little nippers need exercise to stay svelte, so the Mandarin Oriental offers a Doggie Boot Camp with a certified dog trainer -- either a simple Play Date ($70 for every 45 minutes) or a more intense Training Date ($90 an hour). Rates at the Mandarin Oriental start at $249 a night and go up (way up) from there.

The 54-story, elliptical-shaped high-rise EPIC Hotel, like all Kimpton Hotels, accepts any number of pets (including birds) without size or weight restrictions for no extra charge. Many Kimpton Hotels even have a resident Director of Pet Relations (canine variety) for pet-less travelers to socialize with. When you see bowls of food and water placed in the lobby, you know that pets truly are welcome.

The HosPETality Program offers cozy beds, bowls, leashes, plastic bags and VIP (Very Important Pet) amenities to all registered pets. Pet-sitting, walking, grooming, and massage can be arranged through the concierge. Rates start at $229 a night.

A dog's life at any of these places is pretty dog-gone good.

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America's Almost-Famous National Parks

Nina Africano — 2010-07-22T16:05:00+00:00

Filed under: Adventure Travel, Family, Budget, EcoTravel

Last year, 285 million people visited America's National Parks, with the headliners like Yellowstone, Grand Canyon and Sequoia grabbing much of the attention. But for folks on the East Coast, visiting these natural wonders of the American West may be more of a road trip than time and energy allow -- picture a Griswold-style ordeal in the Family Truckster.

But with 58 National Parks (among a total of 392 protected areas) to explore, there is a family adventure waiting to happen wherever you live. Invaluable for any foray into the parks is the National Parks Service website, where you can plan activities, make necessary reservations and learn about the area's history and attractions.

Acadia National Park, Maine

Like Yellowstone -- the first National Park, established in 1872 -- many parks were founded to preserve America's natural wonders. Acadia National Park in Bar Harbor, Maine, is where rugged granite cliffs meet the Atlantic Ocean. Cadillac Mountain, the highest peak within 25 miles of the coast, offers stunning vistas of Frenchman's Bay and the outlying islands, which can be visited by boat.

Long home to a great variety of birds and sea creatures, including the occasional humpback whale, Acadia has also attracted the civilized human traveler for almost a hundred years. Visitors can enjoy a ride in a horse-drawn carriage, afternoon tea at the Jordan Pond House, and the panoramic views from the wrought-iron bridges financed by John D. Rockefeller in the early 1900s.

Arches National Park, Utah

In Moab, Utah, an entirely different sort of landscape waits to be discovered at Arches National Park. Millions of years of geological sculpting have formed over 2,000 arches and other unique rock formations, which give this high desert terrain an almost otherworldly appearance when twilight intensifies its colors. Arches has many geologic wonders to view, such as Delicate Arch, Balanced Rock, Devil's Garden and Double Arch. The three-hour guided hike of the Fiery Furnace is popular, so be sure to reserve ahead online. Fiery Furnace is hardly an exaggeration, as summer temperatures can exceed 100° F, yet usually drop about 30° at night.

North Rim, Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona

If you're in southern Utah, consider taking the much-less-traveled road to the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park, which receives only 10% of the park's five million visitors a year. Highway 67 from Jacob Lake to the North Rim is usually closed from mid-November to mid-May due to heavy snowfall, and the Utah side, as it is called (though the entire park is in Arizona), is a good five-hour drive from the South Rim. The North Rim is often left to the most intrepid of rim-to-rim canyon hikers, who brave the roughly one mile descent, trek 21 miles taking the narrow footbridge along the South Kaibab Trail across the Colorado River, and then tackle the one mile vertical climb, which usually means camping overnight in the canyon.

Saguaro National Park, Arizona

Among Arizona's 25 other national parks, Saguaro National Park, outside of Tucson, is not so famous for its landscape, but for the forest of long-lived cacti that grow naturally only in the Sonoran Desert. The uplifted arms of the giant saguaro silhouetted against the sky have become as much a part of the West's legend as John Wayne himself.

Saguaro National Park is divided into two separate districts, the Tucson Mountain District on the west side of the city, and the Rincon Mountain District to the east. The park was established in 1933 to protect the famous stand of giant saguaros at the base of the Rincons, which seemed to be dying out. The average life span of a saguaro is about 150 years, though some may live 200 years or more. While many older specimens have been lost over the years, beginning in the 1970s, more new plants began sprouting up under "nurse trees." The park even conducts a saguaro census, counting the cacti and assessing their status every ten years, the latest count revealing a dynamic population of 1.6 million.

Home to over 1,100 species of plants, Saguaro National Park encompasses a variety of plant and animal habitats, including six types of rattlesnakes -- so watch your step.

Dry Tortugas National Park, Florida

While our National Parks preserve so much native flora and fauna, threats remain. Dry Tortugas National Park is an island preserve at the very end of the Florida Keys, 68 miles west of Key West. It is one of ten national parks in or around the Gulf of Mexico that is now bracing for the impact of the oil spill on its fragile ecosystems.

Dry Tortugas is comprised of a cluster of seven islands made up of sand and coral reefs that provide a nesting ground for a number of species of birds and marine animals. Loggerhead, green, hawksbill and leatherback sea turtles can still be found here, perhaps thanks to its inaccessibility -- the park can only be reached by boats or seaplanes leaving from Key West.

Discovered in 1513 by Ponce de León, the low-lying islands of Dry Tortugas have seen their share of shipping and shipwrecks, dating back to the Spanish galleon Nuestra Señora de Atocha, which went down in a hurricane in 1622. After acquiring the islands from Spain in 1821, the United States built two lighthouses here, one on Garden Key and one on Loggerhead Key, as well as the never-quite-completed Fort Jefferson.

Vicksburg National Military Park, Mississippi

In addition to preserving the natural world, quite a few of the Parks Service's protected areas are battlefields and other historic sites. While Gettysburg may be more famous, Civil War buffs understand the importance of the capture of Vicksburg, which split the Confederacy and gave the Union Army control over the Mississippi River. A visit to Vicksburg National Military Park, one of nine National Military Parks, will make clear why it took Union General Ulysses S. Grant 41 days to take this city -- located high on a bluff overlooking the river -- on July 4, 1863.

There is much to see along the 16-mile tour road at Vicksburg, including the battle lines that were accurately marked by Civil War veterans, over 1,340 monuments to the soldiers and their heroics, Vicksburg National Cemetery, and the restored USS Cairo, a Union gunboat sunk in 1862 and raised 102 years later.

Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve, Louisiana

With six separate sites in and around New Orleans, Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve honors the privateer who helped Andrew Jackson defeat the British at the Battle of New Orleans, the decisive victory in the War of 1812.
Park Headquarters is located at 419 Decatur Street in New Orleans, upstairs from the French Quarter Visitor Center, and Chalmette Battlefield and National Cemetery is downriver in Chalmette.

The four other sites celebrate the spicy gumbo that is south Louisiana -- the Acadian Cultural Center in Lafayette, the Wetlands Acadian Cultural Center in Thibodaux, the Prairie Acadian Cultural Center in Eunice, and the Barataria Preserve outside Marrero. Barataria's 20,000 acres of forest trails, swamp and bayou are alive with armadillos and otters, lurking gators and the calls of 300 species of birds. It's easy to see how Jean Lafitte kept his vast smuggling operation hidden from the law in these murky waters.

Hot Springs National Park, Arkansas

If history and hiking are not your thing, there's always Hot Springs National Park at the north end of the Arkansas town named for this natural phenomenon. The underground springs reach an average temperature of 143°F, and can be experienced at the traditional Buckstaff Bath House or with all the trappings of a modern spa at Quapaw Baths & Spa.

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Hawaii

Looking for more adventure? How about volcano-gazing in Hawaii or even Alaska? Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island encompasses Mauna Loa and Kilauea, two of the world's most active volcanoes. Numerous sections of the park are, in fact, closed now due to Kilauea's ongoing eruptions, but visitors may still be able to view lava flows. Check the website for updates, and of course, at the Kilauea Visitor Center upon arrival.

With seven distinct ecological life zones ranging from the seacoast to rain forest to the top of Mauna Loa at 13,677 feet, Hawai'i Volcanoes provides a sanctuary for scores of indigenous plants and animals found only in the Hawaiian Islands, including the nene, happy-face spiders and carnivorous caterpillars.

Katmai National Park & Preserve, Alaska

Black bear and salmon abound at Alaska's Katmai National Park & Preserve, across from Kodiak Island. Park Headquarters is in King Salmon, a 287-mile flight from Anchorage. Katmai was originally declared a national monument in 1918 to preserve the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes, a forty square mile crater up to 700 feet deep left by the 1912 eruption of Novarupta Volcano. Katmai's four other active volcanoes are Katmai, Mageik, Trident and Martin.

From the mountains to the prairies to the oceans white with foam, our National Parks preserve the beauty of this country for future generations; they truly are America's best idea.

All Photos Courtesy of National Park Service

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