the spirit of exploration

Bombay Sapphire is sponsoring a travel blog contest on the topic The Spirit of Exploration. I was invited to submit an entry. You can read it here ... and be sure to vote for me by clicking on one of the five yellow stars at the beginning of the article. And so you can see who you're voting for, that's a picture of me in Biarritz, France this April.

Xocolate - a great new chocolate store in Berkeley, CA

A cause of celebration for chocoholics? Or another fattening temptation? The Xocolate Bar is a brand new store at 1709 Solano Avenue in Berkeley, CA that opened on June 14, and it is well worth a visit.

The Xocholate Bar (pronounced "sh"ocolate) features homemade truffles made with a blend of several different dark chocolates. With a 70% chocolate content, these bonbons have an intense chocolate flavor without tasting waxy. Co-owner Malena Lopez-Maggi (pictured behind the counter) presides over the incredible display case of chocolate creations and will gladly give free samples all day. The idea of Xocolate was dreamed up on a beach in Thailand where she, with co-owner Clive Brown, came up with the dream of opening a chocolate café.

Just as good as the chocolates is the store's selection of gelato and sorbet. In my first visit to the store on Tuesday evening, I sampled one scoop of chocolate and one scoop of lemon sorbet, a great combination. The chocolate was dark and rich, perhaps a tad too sweet, and the lemon was tart and extremely lemon-y. The combination of the two flavors made for a wonderful dessert.

Is it possible to stop with one visit to Xocolate? I suspect not. Berkeley, California, also the home of Scharffen Berger, is well on the way to becoming the chocolate capital of the world!


copyright (c) 2007 by David J. Ourisman. All rights reserved. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.
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great end-of-year business class fares to Europe

Now is the time to book your end-of-year European vacation. Thanks to a heads-up from travel journalist Joe Brancatelli, Continental Airlines has published some incredible business class fares from Newark. Joe writes,

I'm seeing business-class sale fare in the R class as low as $1,500 roundtrip for flights from Continental's Newark hub to locations such as London, Madrid, Amsterdam, and even Rome.

Seats are limited, and you have have to check the "find lower fares +/-3 days" box, but the bargains are there. I just checked EWR-CDG for flights Dec. 21 - Dec. and see a roundtrip price in Business First for $1,801.50, all inclusive. (There were only two available seats at this price for one of the flight options, so grab these fares while they're available.)

Once you have your flights, get in touch, and I'll help you accessorize them with luxury hotel values in the European city of your choice!


luxury hotel values (search here on Google)

copyright (c) 2007 by David J. Ourisman. All rights reserved. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.
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when is a trip to Paris NOT a trip to Paris?

I received a phone call the other day from Pablo who, with his wife, wanted to plan a last-minute trip to Paris. He had posted an online request, asking travel consultants to make proposals that he and his wife could consider. One travel agency, he told me, had quoted him $7,400 for a package that included four nights at a 5 star hotel and round-trip flights from Tucson. I asked Pablo to tell me more about the package that had been offered him. They would be staying, he said, at the Trianon Palace in Versailles.

Pablo had never been to Paris and did not know much about the destination. I told him that the hotel that was recommended to him, the Trianon Palace, was not even in Paris. I told him that the same package was actually available for under $6,400. I spoke with him about some 5 star luxury hotels in Paris, in the middle of everything he would want to see, in the same price range.

But the final word I left with Pablo — and that I would leave with you — was this: If going to Paris is a dream you've had for a long time, don't plan it last minute. Don't book your tickets the week before you leave when airfares will be exorbitantly expensive; you'll be paying full fare and sitting in coach. If you can, visit in the spring or fall, when the city isn't crowded with tourists and the lines are much shorter. And don't fly off to Paris without first having thought out your trip: creating a day-by-day itinerary that makes sense, learning about your options in getting around (weekly Metro passes), getting Museum passes that will let you skip the lines, and — yes — planning a day trip to see the beautiful palace at Versailles (pictured above at the right).

If you're dreaming about going to Paris, take the time to plan it right!


5 star luxury hotels in Paris (search here on Google)

copyright (c) 2007 by David J. Ourisman. All rights reserved. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.
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where to stay in Whistler, BC?

Whistler, BC is an all-season resort. A world-class ski destination in winter, Whistler will host the alpine events for the 2010 Winter Olympics. In summer, Whistler is an outdoor wonderland that offers even more to do. Whether you enjoy hiking, mountain biking, kayaking, or golf, consider a summer vacation in Whistler. Convenient to Vancouver, BC, there are major improvements underway on the Sea to Sky Highway, and when complete, the hour-and-a-half drive will become even easier.

Where to stay? During a brief visit to Whistler, I made site inspections of the two Virtuoso hotels. The Four Seasons and the Fairmont are adjacent properties in the Upper Village, and each features a short walk to the slopes. The picture above is of the Fairmont and was taken from a balcony from a room at the Four Seasons.

Four Seasons Whistler is a four year old resort. Typical of Four Seasons properties, the hotel features large, comfortable rooms -- starting at 500 square feet -- with large bathrooms with separate tub and shower. Deluxe rooms have a balcony and a spacious sitting area that includes a Queen sofa bed; Premium rooms provide a direct mountain view. In suites, doors between the bedroom and living room create two private sleeping areas. Four Seasons Deluxe Executive Suites have two full bathrooms for the ultimate comfort for a family of four. While in Whistler, I highly recommend having a meal at Fifty Two 80, whether you're a guest at the Four Seasons or staying elsewhere. We had a great dinner there.

Something special for families. Consider a stay in one of Four Seasons' Private Residences. Located in a separate building, these are individually owned residences, available in 2, 3, and 4 bedroom configurations with beautiful gourmet kitchens (Viking ranges and Sub Zero refrigerators). Four Seasons can provide a Chef to prepare meals for your family in your own kitchen, a great idea for a special holiday dinner in Whistler. Rates are comparable to booking the same number of bedrooms in the hotel.

The Ski Concierge service provides the ultimate in convenience for skiers. Upon your arrival at Four Seasons Whistler, all of your ski equipment will be taken by hotel staff directly to the Ski Concierge facility located immediately at the base of the slopes. Just a five minute stroll from the front door of the hotel, you can put on your boots and skis here and step right onto the chair lift; the entrance is immediately to the right of the facility pictured here. At the end of the day, the process is reversed; leave your equipment with the Ski Concierge and walk back to the Four Seasons. Upon check-out, all of your equipment will be delivered to the hotel entrance for your trip back home. Enjoy all the convenience of an ski-in, ski-out experience!

Fairmont Chateau Whistler sits at the foot of the slopes, literally a ski-in, ski-out location. Offering very attractive pricing (with a further discount for Virtuoso guests), the Fairmont provides comfortable 400 square foot guest rooms. Fairmont rooms look south across the village of Whistler to the mountains beyond; Fairmont Deluxe rooms look toward the ski slopes. For a step above, consider the Fairmont Gold floor. With its own concierge and private check-in, rooms on the Gold Floor offer very attractive contemporary interior design, fireplaces, and a large bathroom with separate tub and shower and double vanities. The Lounge has an omelette chef in the morning and offers hors d'oeuvres every afternoon.

How to get free internet at Fairmont. Here's a tip from the sales staff of the Fairmont Chateau Whistler. Join the Fairmont Presidents Club, the chain's frequent guest program (there's no charge!), and enjoy complimentary in-room internet.


For the best values at these properties, or at over 740 hotels and resorts around the world, simply book through a Virtuoso luxury travel consultant. You'll enjoy the benefits of negotiated pricing, complimentary daily breakfasts, a room upgrade when available at check-in, and extra amenities that can include discounts on spa treatments or complimentary cocktails.

Whistler, BC (search here on Google)

copyright (c) 2007 by David J. Ourisman. All rights reserved. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.
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Clayoquot Wilderness Resort

Clayoquot Wilderness Resort, located some 20 miles east of Tofino, BC, offers guests a beautiful and secluded wilderness setting for the ultimate active vacation. Our wilderness adventure began the moment we departed the Seair terminal (adjacent to the Vancouver, BC airport) for a one hour sea plane flight which landed right at Clayoquot's dock where we were greeted by the resort's staff (and a few of their friendly canine staff as well). Our bags were taken straight to our luxury tent while we were brought to the dining hall for hors d'oeuvres (including freshly shucked oysters) and drinks.

Clayoquot is about luxury camping. Clayoquot is not -- and does not pretend to be -- the kind of luxury hotel you'd find in the middle of civilization. It's a camp, and an extremely comfortable camp at that. The tents are large and furnished with rustic antiques. Our queen size bed was extremely comfortable with a custom foam mattress (with three inch "eggshell foam" topper), and we slept very well each of our three nights. Our tent was heated by a thermostatically controlled gas fireplace. It didn't have "indoor plumbing;" each tent has a private outdoor composting toilet. There is a shared bathhouse in which each tent has its own private shower with plenty of hot water generated from Clayoquot's woodburning hot water furnace.

So why come to Clayoquot?

Natural beauty. This is the view from the dining hall where you will enjoy all of your meals. The view changes as the tide ebbs and flows and as the lighting conditions change, but you'll never tire of feasting your eyes on the panoramic views of sea, forest, and mountain.

Wilderness adventures. Everything is included here. Want to go hiking? Fishing? Go by speedboat into the Sound to watch for whales, eagles, and sea lions? Kayaking? Rock climbing? Horseback riding? There's no need to "sign up early" to reserve the activities you want. There are enough private guides on staff so that guests can choose their own individual activities each day. And if you want to do one thing and your kids want to do something else, this kind of flexibility is what Clayoquot is about.

Want to pamper yourself in the spa? One spa treatment per guest is included (we each had a great one-hour massage), and Virtuoso guests get the amenity of a complimentary second spa treatment during their stay.

Great food. Chef Timothy May is an incredible chef, and your meals, prepared from fresh local fish, meat, and produce, are outstanding presentations worthy of the finest restaurants. Fine wines and all beverages are included. You can even sign up for cooking lessons.

Smooth-as-silk service is what makes Clayoquot a five star resort. Managing Director John Caton, pictured at the left, is a gracious host who has assembled the most welcoming staff you'll ever experience. Everyone on staff seems genuinely happy to be there ... and so will you!

Who should visit Clayoquot? I recommend this resort for two types of guests:

• Families looking for a fabulous upscale travel adventure in the Canadian wilderness.
  
• Honeymooners who want a unique, active experience in a beautiful outdoor setting.

Clayoquot Wilderness Resort (search here on Google)


copyright (c) 2007 by David J. Ourisman. All rights reserved. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.
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travel bargains in Europe?

While the sad state of the U.S. dollar makes travel to Europe more expensive than it normally might be, there are bargains out there. Here's a deal that came across my desk the other day.

Spend twelve days on the Mediterranean, including round-trip air from the east coast. Your room, meals onboard, and entertainment are all included at a rate starting at only $2,199 per person. That's in U.S. Dollars. Yes, it's a cruise, but, no, it's not on Carnival or some other "budget" cruise line. This price is for an inside cabin on Holland America (while availability lasts); outside cabins with verandah begin at $2,899. Taxes and port fees are additional, and of course you're on your own when you visit Barcelona, Florence, Rome, Dubrovnik, Venice, and the many other stops on your trip.

Looking for an affordable way to visit Europe this Summer? This Mediterranean cruise might just be your ticket!


copyright (c) 2007 by David J. Ourisman. All rights reserved. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.
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