{Travel} Money-saving travel tips from FOFrequent Flyers
4 FOFrequent Flyers share their secrets to trotting the globe without burning holes in their wallets.
[portfolio_slideshow]
4 FOFrequent Flyers share their secrets to trotting the globe without burning holes in their wallets.
[portfolio_slideshow]A photo essay on French style by Geri, who yearns to be French in her next life.
I think everyone in Paris is tres chic, from the bebes in their hand-knit sweaters…
to the octogenarian who tilts her beret just so.
The moment I stepped into Miller et Bertaux, on Rue Ferdinand Duval, I knew I was going to buy something. I am wearing my purchases, a featherweight raincoat in eggplant…
and a gorgeous silk dress and scarf—with an ever-so-slightly different pattern—that designer Francis Miller adjusts perfectly.
Francis’s friend Katherine stops by his shop to say hello, wearing a belted denim skirt with a short leather jacket, that’s definitely on trend.
Saleswomen Yvette does justice to her employer’s clothes.
…nor this one, which teams a leather shirt jacket with a short-sleeved open sweater. “This is a hot trend,” said FOF Frenchwoman Cecile, who I spotted checking into a flight to New York.
So, my views are clear, but what do you think of French style?
FOF Sheryl Kayne was living in Weston, Connecticut, working as a teacher and education writer and raising her children. But deep down, she harbored secret dreams: to drive to Alaska, to become a park ranger, to immerse herself in the culture of a new city, to work with horses…to have adventures.
In 1992, she got divorced, and by 2001 her kids had left home. Sheryl realized, “This is my chance to step out of my life and make great adventures happen.” She wanted to travel but had no desire to take a packaged trip to Cancun and lie on the beach. “I wanted to immerse myself in a location–get to know the people and the culture. I wanted to challenge myself, contribute, grow and learn.” The result is her award-winning guide, Immersion Travel: The Best and Most Meaningful Volunteering, Living, and Learning Excursions. The book chronicles her own “immersion trips”–as a breakfast cook at a lodge in Stehekin, Washington, and as a tour guide in Denali National Park, Alaska–as well as the life-changing trips other men and women have taken to accomplish long-held dreams.
A word of warning: These trips are not pleasure cruises–literally. They can be mentally and physically challenging, but according to Sheryl, that’s all part of the journey. The best part: many “immersion” trips are completely free.
Here, Sheryl shares five fabulous and free(!) opportunities for life-changing travel.
1. Learn Fly Fishing With Friends
Imagine standing in a cool, clear mountain stream, learning to fish with a group of friendly, supportive FOFs. Casting For Recovery provides fly-fishing retreats for women who have or have had breast cancer. It also accepts 1500 volunteers each year to attend and assist the participants. These no-cost retreats are offered at bucolic locations across the country, from Vermont and Alabama to Montana and Colorado. “One of my clients, Sema, attended as a participant and later returned as a volunteer. She credits the trip with giving her a ‘week-long ‘a-ha’ moment, and inspiring her to create her own business helping breast cancer survivors,” says Sheryl.
—————————————————————————————————–
2. Create Art in a Breathtaking American Setting
Spend the summer ensconced in a cozy cabin, sketching, writing or painting as you gaze upon some of the most breathtaking views America has to offer. The National Park Service’s Volunteers-in-Parks program accepts thousands of applicants a year to volunteer in exchange for housing and VIP park access. If you’re a professional or novice painter, poet, photographer, writer or crafter, consider the artist-in-residence programs. Artists are invited to live and work in the park in exchange for offering a workshop to park visitors or donating a piece of art.
“I volunteered as the writer in residence in the Everglades National Park in 2007 and 2008,” says Sheryl. “It’s exciting to visit a national park, but it’s a lifetime experience to live inside one for an extended period of time.”
—————————————————————————————————–
3. Work with Primates in Saugus, CA
Indulge your Jane Goodall fantasies when you volunteer to work at the Gibbon Conservation Center in scenic Saugus, CA. Resident volunteers are required to commit to one month of services–accommodations are humble, but included. You’ll work with the researchers to feed, water and care for the gibbons. Says FOF Fiona of her stay: “For anyone with a love of animals wanting to get ‘up close and personal’ with primates, GCC is a wonderful opportunity. I volunteered at the center for four weeks and thoroughly enjoyed becoming part of the gibbons’ day-to-day life. I learned new skills, made good friends, and took away experiences that very few people can match.”
—————————————————————————————————–
4. Advocate for Wildlife on Hawk Mountain
Experience a wonderful immersion excursion and a sight rarely equaled elsewhere–18,000 hawks, vultures, falcons, and eagles fly directly by Hawk Mountain between August and December.
Hawk Mountain is part of the Blue Mountain Ridge, which has been named a critical corridor by the Pennsylvania Game Commission–State Wildlife Management Agency. Volunteers and interns are needed throughout the summer to help track and protect the hawks. If you’ve got a green thumb, they’re also looking for people who can help give tours of their Native Plant Garden and run their Native Plant Sale.
Long and short-term volunteer opportunities are available in research, monitoring, and environmental education, along with internships.
—————————————————————————————————–
5. Become a Lighthouse Keeper in the Apostle Islands, Wisconsin
If you’ve ever seen Nights in Rodanthe, you’re familiar with the inn-keeper fantasy. A lonely FOF is taking care of her friend’s seaside inn and welcomes a weary traveler…who just happens to Richard Gere. Well, we can’t guarantee Gere, but we can guarantee that you can enjoy gratis accommodations when you volunteer as a lighthouse keeper in the awe-inspiring Apostle Islands of Wisconsin. Spend several weeks to an entire summer at one of five island locations, greeting tourists, performing light trail work, and maintaining the historic residences.
Talk about emotional baggage! Three of the greatest FOF packers we know share what’s stowed in their carry-ons. From moleskin to powdered peanut butter… their packing lists might surprise you.
1. Nancy Friedman is founder and CEO of an award-winning travel and hospitality P.R. agency based in New York. Her clients have included the island of St. Lucia, Sheraton Hotels and Resorts, Westin Hotels and Resorts and more. Nancy travels a few times each month for work and leisure. Her favorite travel destinations are Vermont, Spain, Denmark and the Dominican Republic.
Her luggage:
TUMI suitcases in silver, brown, red and black.
What’s in her bag:
Lightweight sweater — “For when it’s chilly on the plane. Or sometimes I’ll pack a pashmina or light jacket.”
Eye mask — “For sleeping on the plane. My current one is leopard print.”
3 FDA-approved, clear bottles — “I put shampoo in one, conditioner in another, and Woolite or mouthwash in the third. My P.R. agency developed and branded these.”
Soft Surroundings wrinkle-proof pants in black — “They’re easy to wear on the plane, lightweight and super soft.”
Flats — “I rarely wear boots or sneakers at the airport because you have to take your shoes off to go through security.”
Books — “Currently I have one book for light reading, I Think I Love You by Allison Pearson and one that’s a little heavier, Even Silence Has an End by Ingrid Betancourt. I switch back and forth between the two.”
KIND bars — “I never want to be stuck hungry without healthful options.”
Nike bike shorts — “I love biking in different cities.”
Her travel packing tip:
“Pack clothing in one or two color schemes and accessorize.”
Her ideal vacation spot:
“It’s so hard to pick! Spring Creek Ranch in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, has the best views in the Tetons. In Prague, I love the Hotel Aria for its music theme. The Postcard Inn in St. Petersburg, Florda, is a fun and affordable beach destination.”
—————————————————————————————————–
2. Marybeth Bond, “The Gutsy Traveler,” is the author of 11 travel books for women including the bestsellers 50 Best Girlfriend Getaways in North America, A Woman’s World and Gutsy Women. Marybeth has hiked, cycled, climbed, dived and kayaked her way through more than seventy countries, from the depths of the Flores Sea to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro. She’s appeared as a travel expert on Oprah, CBS News, CNN, ABC, NBC, National Public Radio and National Geographic Weekend.
Her luggage:
Samsonite Spinner in black or blue.
What’s in her bag:
Magellan’s hang-up toiletries holder — “It has clear pockets so I can see what I packed at all times.”
Eye shield — “If the person I’m traveling with wants to stay up late reading or I have a chatty neighbor on the plane, it’s great.”
Clothespin or large safety pin — “Before I go to bed, I pin closed the curtains in my hotel room to keep it dark.”
Taupe-colored pashmina— “It goes with everything and it’s so warm. I use it as a night shawl, a throw, or a warming wrap in a chilly restaurant.”
Ann Taylor black open-toe, slingback heels — “They’re dressy, but comfortable.”
Clinique or Olay face cream with SPF — “It’s very important my face cream has sun screen with a minimum of SPF 8. You can get sun damage without knowing it, even when you are driving.”
Moleskin — “I cut a 1-inch-by-1-inch piece and put it in my shoes. It prevents blisters.”
Her travel packing tip:
“Don’t pack a hairdryer. It’s what I call a ‘baggage buster.’ You don’t need it, every place has them.”
Her ideal vacation spot:
“I love Racho La Puerta — I’ve been there 3 times. It’s an all-inclusive spa resort in Mexico. I love their facials and hot river stones massage. They have more than 300 gym classes a week, a cooking school on an organic farm and Pultizer-prize-winning guest speakers. You stay in terra cotta cottages with private patios. The resort sits on 3,000 acres of preserved land. But, my favorite thing about it, is they have 36 hammocks that dot the property.”
—————————————————————————————————–
3. Debbi Kickham has been a travel writer since 1984. She is the former editor of the Robb Report and has written travel article for magazines and newspapers including The New York Times, The Boston Globe, The Los Angeles Times, Glamour and Cigar Aficionado. Her new book, The Globetrotter’s Get Gorgeous Guide, is the world’s first beauty book for traveling women.
Her luggage: Travel Pro Platinum 6 in blue.
What’s in her bag:
A jump rope — “If your hotel or resort doesn’t have a gym, you can still exercise in your room with a jump rope. I’ve done it many times even when I stayed at in an over-water bungalow in Bora Bora.”
Skirt Sports workout wear — “It’s a little skirt with shorts underneath. I love wearing a skirt when I workout. It puts a little pizazz in your step.”
FitNutz Powdered Peanut Butter — “All you do is add water and you have instant peanut butter. It gives Skippy a run for its money. Two tablespoons of Fitnutz is about 45 calories with 1 gram of fat. Two tablespoons of Skippy is about 130 calories and 50 grams of fat. It’s great if you need a little energy.”
En Passant by Frederic Malle — “This fragrance smells like lilacs. I’m crazy about it. On the plane I go fragrance free, but I always pack this to wear once I arrive at my destination.”
“Basket Case” by Orly nail polish— “It’s bright pink, my favorite color. I wear it constantly.”
A satin pillowcase – “Satin is much more forgiving on your face and hair and doesn’t cause wrinkles like a cotton pillowcase does.”
Oscillococcinum— “This is a wonderful homeopathic remedy that you can buy at any pharmacy. Whenever I travel, I’m very susceptible to getting sick. The minute I feel like I’m coming down with something, I take it.”
Landau costume jewelry — “I think it’s a good idea to invest in some nice costume jewelry for traveling. I’m a big fan of Landau jewelry.”
Bass Weejuns tassled loafers with a rubber sole — “I swear by them for the airplane and sightseeing. Tomorrow I have a 3-hour layover in Miami. I’ll walk for exercise in the airport. I’ll wear loafers instead of sneakers so I don’t look like a slob.”
Magazines – “I love reading Allure, InStyle and spa magazines on the plane.”
Her travel packing tip:
“Instead of packing beauty products, check out the local pharmacy at your destination. Often you can find locally-made skincare items that are climate and temperature specific. These products also make great gifts.”
Her ideal vacation spot:
“I go to Hawaii once a year for two weeks. My favorite resort is the Fairmont Kea Lani– they have a fabulous beach, gorgeous swimming pool and all of the rooms are suites.”
Earlier this year, on the premier of the 25th and final season of her eponymous talk show, Oprah Winfrey surprised 300 audience members by announcing she was taking them on an eight-day, all-expenses paid vacation to Australia. But even that epic trip doesn’t hold a candle to some of the more extravagant vacations the FOF daytime queen has taken herself. And Oprah’s not the only FOF star who splurges on over-the-top trips. Read about 4 lavish celeb vacations then decide: Which one would you most want to take?
—————————————————————————————————–
Oprah Winfrey – Necker Island, British Virgin Islands
PRICE: $54,500 – $56,000 per night for up to 28 guests (5 night minimum)
When Oprah wants to live out her Blue Lagoon fantasies she knew exactly where to go: Sir Richard Branson’s 74-acre, completely private island. There, she and her friends had access to every water sport under the sun, plus a private, high-speed submarine, the Necker Nymph. The 2:1 staff-to-guest ratio makes this island truly fit for royalty, and the Queen of Daytime Television is no exception–while visiting the oasis, she and her “court” were waited on hand-and-foot by the island’s 60 staff members.
—————————————————————————————————–
Madonna – Christina O Yacht in the Caribbean
PRICE: $64,000 – $93,000 per day
In the 1960s, Aristotle Onassis and Jackie O used this super-yacht as their own floating mansion while entertaining the likes of Marilyn Monroe, Frank Sinatra and Winston Churchill. In 2009, when Madonna chartered a trip, it had long-since been converted to a private playground for celebs at sea. On board, the Material FOF enjoyed Michelin Star cuisine, massages at Six Senses spa, and the legendary pool with mosaic floor – which rises to form a dance floor at the flick of a switch.
—————————————————————————————————–
Jodie Foster – Hotel Martinez Penthouse Prestige Apartment in Cannes
PRICE: $37,000 per night
For those who like to feel as if they’re living in a 007 movie, consider this palatial penthouse on the French Riviera. When FOF-in-waiting Jodie Foster stays here, she enjoys 24-hour butler service (helpful in case she’s in the master bedroom and too tired to walk all the way to the kitchen for a snack – the suite is, after all, 2,000 square-feet). Should she work up a sweat visiting the linen closet, she can rejuvenate in the in-room Turkish steam bath or enjoy jaw-dropping views of the Mediterranean.
—————————————————————————————————–
Victoria Principal – Virgin Galactic Spaceflight in sub-orbital outer space (in planning)
PRICE: $200,000 per person
If a stay on a private island is still too terrestrial for you (Necker Island does, after all, share a hemisphere with countless Best Westerns and Days Inns) Sir Richard Branson would love nothing more than to shoot you into outer space. FOF Victoria Principal is among the luminaries who have expressed interest in a Virgin Galactic spaceflight, which would comprise a six-passenger, two-pilot spacecraft taking you 70,000 feet above Mother Earth and back into her warm embrace in around 3.5 hours. The trip will most likely include six minutes of weightlessness, a perk no matter how many carbs you’ve been eating.
—————————————————————————————————–
Images via Zimbio: Oprah, Madonna, Jodie Foster, Victoria Principal
Destination images via Travelet, My Christina O, Hotel Martinez, Cube Me
FOF is giving away 5 Molton Brown ‘Travellers.’ To enter, ask a travel question here.
Thank you for entering. This contest is now closed.
Frequent FOFlyers, rejoice! You can look great and get through the gate with this adorable bundle of TSA-size-approved bath, body and hair products. Molton Brown’s ‘Traveller” bundle includes shower gel and lotion in Pink Pepperpod, “hairwash,” “haircondition,” hand cream (from their just-released Body Remedies Collection for 2011) and moisture mist.
Molton Brown salon opened London in 1973 and became an instant hit for it’s “natural,” finger-styled cuts–a reaction to the structured styles of the 1960s. Their plant-based products were hand-mixed in a kitchen upstairs and sold only to those “in the know.” Today, their complete line of luxury products for body, skin, hair, men, home and travel is available in the U.S. and over 70 countries as well as many of the world’s luxury hotels and spas.
–
Ask the FOF gurus a travel question here and you’ll be entered to win a Molton Brown ‘Traveller.’ Five FOFs will win.
(See all our past winners. See official rules. Five winners are chosen at random from all those commenters who answer the question. Contest closes May 18, 2011.)
Here’s an idea, FOFs: Put away that wrapping paper and ribbon and GIVE the gift of experience! We’ve got 8 personal presents that will stay with your loved one long after the fruitcake has been eaten–or regifted.
Plus, win 6 months of all-you-can-watch classes from OneDayUniversity. To enter, answer this question in the comments below: If you could go back to school for anything, what would it be?
Enlightening ideas. Give the gift of learning with a membership to One Day University, a website where Award-winning professors from Harvard, Yale, Brown, Princeton and other top-tier schools come together to offer their most popular courses on everything from World War II and The Founding Fathers to Beethoven and the Big Bang Theory. Just $39 will buy you a month of all-you-can-watch classes. http://www.onedayu.com
—————————————————————————————————–
An organized closet. Visit the National Association of Professional Organizers for a complete listing of organizers in a specific zip code. Each organizer sets her own price, but you can request a “closet package” and most will negotiate fair cost between $200 and $500. http://www.napo.net/
{Image via BagSnob}
—————————————————————————————————–
A professionally styled outfit. Sandra Soich (AKA Your Fashion Therapist) has spent the last 25 years styling everyone from Cindy Crawford to Serena Williams. Now you can ask her personal fashion questions via email, text or Skype, and she’ll answer them for $20 a pop. Not sure which shoes to wear with that dress? Need a pair of pants that elongates your legs? Sandra has the answers… http://www.yourfashiontherapist.com.
—————————————————————————————————–
A tightened and toned bod. Help a friend jumpstart her new year’s resolution with a package of personal training sessions from FOF Margo Kamin. Beloved in her home-city of Austin, Margo offers personalized sessions via Skype to men and women across the country. One LIVE 30-minute class goes for the exceptionally reasonable rate of $35. Plus, Margo will lengthen or shorten a session depending on your budget. http://www.personal-fitness-trainer-austin.com/
—————————————————————————————————–
A redecorated room. Michelle Davidson of Interior Design Service Online provides a complete design blueprint for the room of your choice–all over email. Just fill out her questionnaire on your taste and budget, and attach a photo of the room in question. For $250, Michelle will send you a “Project Binder” containing your ideal furniture layout, paint colors, furniture recommendations within your price range–even ideas for throw rugs and accessories. http://www.interiordesignserviceonline.com/
—————————————————————————————————–
A personalized perfume. There’s nothing sweeter than giving the gift of sweet-smelling custom fragrance. At ScentDesign.net, choose from 50 blending fragrances (like mango, sandalwood or strawberry), and mix and match as you wish. If you need guidance, their expert noses will assist you. http://www.scentdesign.net/, $10-$20.
—————————————————————————————————–
A leading role in a favorite novel. U Star Books–founded by Katie Olver and her mom, FOF Jan Olver–invites you to step into a personalized edition of beloved book, starring you alongside your friends, family members or that special someone. Just pick a title (they have everything from classics such as Alice in Wonderland and Pride and Prejudice to saucy romances with names like Indecent in Italy and Fever in France) and within days you have a novel novel to keep on the shelf forever. You can even write a personal dedication. http://www.ustarnovels.com/, $24.95 – $35.95.
—————————————————————————————————–
A new passion. Unleash your inner artist! FOF Anna Rhodes has studied, taught and created art all over the world. She offers artistic getaways a few times each season at resorts and retreats, nationwide. The multi-day classes focus on drawing and composing, painting and layering mixtures of mediums. http://www.anartistsretreat.com/, Starting at $490.
Is your gift recipient more crafty than artsy? Give a class at Snow Farm Craft Retreat in Williamsburg, Mass. From bead-making to basket-weaving classes, your gift will keep on… giving. http://www.snowfarm.org/, Starting at $500.
{Image via Country Living}
—————————————————————————————————–
Win 6 months of all-you-can-watch classes from OneDayUniversity. To enter, answer this question in the comments below: If you could go back to school for anything, what would it be?
“No journey carries one far unless, as it extends into the world around us, it goes an equal distance into the world within.” -Lillian Smith, author, Strange Fruit
These 3 FOFs embarked on trips abroad and returned forever changed. Read their inspiring tales of life-altering travel.
—
Catherine Del Spina
Visited Morocco in 1996
“I visited Morocco in 2006 with my husband Jerry and my two daughters, Baryl and Lexi. We spent time in Casablanca, Fez and Marrakesh. Everyone was still stirred up by the events of 9/11. People would say to us, ‘Aren’t you afraid to travel there?’
In Fez, we stayed at a resort overlooking the Medina. In the middle of the night we heard the Islamic Call to Prayer. It was just men, singing that it was time to pray. They started to sing, ‘God is good, God is Great.’ It was beautiful. I realized there’s an incredible misunderstanding between people here and people in the Muslim world.
The people there were so nice and engaging. They would literally say things like, “Please don’t hate us.” When we returned, our daughter Lexi decided to make Arabic her major. We learned not to be afraid, but rather to accept a different culture at such a radical time. Everything we did there was a gigantic, ‘WOW!’
‘WOW! We’ve never done this,’ or ‘WOW! Take a look at this.'”
—
Carol Auld
Visited Uganda, Africa for the first time in 2006
“I wanted to do something to give back. A friend who worked for Global Giving told me about a school in Southwest Africa for AIDS orphans that needed help. My first trip there was in 2006 for ten weeks. I’ve seen many Third World countries but never anything like this. The school was two rooms and the students and teachers did all their work on the dirt floor instead of a chalk board. There was nowhere to throw trash, no paved roads, no electricity. They live like our ancestors did. The first year I was there, I taught classes. I’ve been there four times since then and have done everything from growing a garden to helping students that need extra attention, like one little boy named Derek who was struggling with reading. Since my first visit, things have certainly improved. Derek has just blossomed over the years. Now there are seven classrooms and the school has an Internet connection. The experience totally changed my life and has become my passion. It made me realize, the world needs to be tilted a little; we have too much and the rest of the world just doesn’t have enough.”
To learn more about the Nyaka AIDS Orphans Project, and to order the founder’s book, The Price of Stones, click here.
—
Joan Miller Kohlberg
Spent 5 years in Israel
“We had spent summers in Israel, but were essentially tourists. The children never spoke Hebrew fluently and didn’t have friends there. I wanted my kids to be Israeli, to be able to speak to their father in his native tongue and know his family in Israel. By just spending summers there, it wasn’t going to happen. After one summer in Israel, my husband was going back to Boston, and I decided on a whim I was going to stay with the boys. I said, ‘How about the boys and I stay?’ He said, ‘Great idea.’ Within 48 hours, the kids were Israeli citizens and I enrolled one of my older son, Gavi, in elementary school and my younger son, Rafi, in preschool. We ended up staying for five years and had an incredible experience, but the adjustment was intense. There I was, on my own in a little village on the Mediterranean, with two young boys. It was one of the hardest things in my life, but it broadened my children’s and my own horizons. They became bilingual, made amazing friends and got to know their father’s family. The hardest part came when we returned to Cambridge. Gavi told me he was miserable, he missed Israel and his friends there. I began to think, ‘Maybe we should go back. It’s September, they will only have missed a week of school in Israel.’ I asked the children’s godfather, ‘What should I do?’
‘Don’t move back,’ he said. ‘They’ll think whenever times get tough that you can reverse it.’ He was right. By making the tough decision to live in Israel and the even tougher decision to return to home, I gave my children another dimension and the ability to be independent, even at a very young age.”
—