Sassy Flight Safety Videos

Bet you didn't think sassy and flight safety videos went together!  Well, if you're Air New Zealand, they do!  The below videos are laugh-out-loud funny and a welcome departure from boring pre-flight safety announcements.

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An Ode to Air New Zealand Some background: although I've never flown Air New Zealand, I'm obsessed and impressed with their branding. Having started my career in Advertising, my inner marketer is always pleasantly surprised, entertained and convinced by all of their campaigns---and I just might fly with them when I go to Australia this fall/winter.

Back on Task For good reason, there's a lot of seriousness around pre-flight announcements and airline safety.  Incidentally, I pay greater attention and retain more info from these fun videos, than I do the run-of-the-mill airline safety videos---and it's not just because there's body paint and a streaking grandma, although that does help. Even though I've seen these videos many times, as I re-watch them for this post, I have tears in my eyes from laughing so hard.  Enjoy.

The Bare Essentials Body-painted flight attendants and a pilot talk airline safety for the in-flight video.

Crazy About Rugby New Zealand's famous All Blacks Rugby Team (and a streaking grandma) assist Air New Zealand's flight attendants and pilots with their newest safety video.

Trip Styler Tip ~ Spooning There's a new way to ride in Economy! Did you know you could spoon on an Air New Zealand's Skycouch? Their economy seats have an extra fold-out, so two people can lie down over 3 seats. It's true. See the pic below and the viral video they released to introduce the idea, which is of course, funny.

Spooning

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It Never Hurts to Ask

It slightly pains me to write this post because I strongly dislike asking for things, but if I've learned anything in my travels (for my travels) it's that sometimes you need to speak up--gently and cordially of course! After reading a Wall Street Journal article written about a hotel executive on how to get good service in a hotel, something in it struck me and inspired me to write this post---especially as a used-to-be-timid-but-becoming-assertive traveler.

This hotel executive, the global brand leader at St. Regis Hotels and Resorts, said "It never hurts to ask if you have a special need in mind while checking in, whether it's a specific view, a larger sofa, a mini refrigerator (not all hotels provide them), or a room on the executive floor. It's surprising how much a hotel generally can do and can provide for you once you get there."  All this coming from someone in the industry!

Take-Aways Here are some of my best practices for asking from the referenced article, as well as my personal experience at hotels or with Airlines. Hopefully these will help next time you ask for...

1. Hotels {almost} expect you to ask. The article points to hotels often being capable of handling specific requests, so why not try, they have the expertise to help with your request, especially if you're a loyal customer.
2. Do so with grace and class. I firmly believe in the The Power of Nice a book which nicely packages my philosophy on how to interact with people, clients and coworkers. Hotel and airline staff are human too and appreciate it when a question or request is made kindly.  Case in point: last friday at Disneyland, the Blue Bayou restaurant was fully booked, but when I inquired at the right time about getting a table---and was really nice about it---the host conceded. As we waited, I saw her turn away over 10 people who didn't ask as nicely!
3. It doesn't hurt to try. When checking into the Fairmont Chateau Laurier in early July, the front desk agent was going to put us in a standard room, but when I kindly asked him about the hotel's occupancy and suggested an upgrade given our loyalty to Fairmont, he put us in an incredible room overlooking the Parliament Buildings on one side and Rideau river on the other.
4. Make a personal connection. Boomers are really good at making connections with travel industry folk. I've watched it happen right in front of my eyes more times than I can count. Their conversational nature seems to comfort and disarm the hotel or airline staff they are dealing with, making them much more likely to get a yes, to whatever question they ask--even if it's a little over the top.
5. Always give a reason why you're asking. Although too much information (TMI) is overkill, providing a breif explanation for your request sometimes does the math for the person to whom you're making a request.
6. Look the part. This one is almost self-explanatory, but if you want something, dress for success!
7. Properly acknowledge those who helped you. If you've made a few requests to a hotel's concierge, consider leaving them a tip the day-of or upon departure.  In addition to a simple thank you, this will confirm your gratefulness for their assistance.

[photo by citta-vita]

It's a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

[trip style = sightseeing]

One of my favourite things to do when I travel is walk through a city or town's neighborhoods. I love seeing how people live. Whether my walks have taken me into the densely populated city of Tianjin, China; the picturesque and swanky Mira Flores in Lima, Peru; the tower-filled residential Honolulu, Hawaii; or foot-access-only towns in the mountaintops of the Dominican Republic, these localized encounters have enriched my experience with and understanding of a place.

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I've categorized this post under local and sightseeing because walking in local, non-tourist neighborhoods always gives a real sense of a destination's beat, and in my humble opinion, sightseeing is at its best when you see the real sights of the area you're visiting.

If I have any goal with this post, it's to inspire travelers to engage in a few neighbourhood walks on their next trip. It's healthy, educational and worldview broadening all at the same time!

Have you ever neighborhood walked while traveling? Do you have the same experience?

Neighborhood Pics I haven't been very good at documenting my neighborhood walks in my fave destinations, but here are a few recent shots:

{Attempting to power walk in Laguna Beach, CA along a cliffy beach road}

{On the same walk as above, loving the Hawaiian-style home on this corner lot overlooking the Pacific Ocean }

{Walking through the  fabulous maze that is Venice--I don't even know where I am in this pic}

{Walking through Riomaggiore in the Italian Riviera}

{Not walking, but biking around the Habitat 67 neighborhood in Montreal}

{Gelato store we walked to one night when visiting friends just outside downtown Ottawa}

{7.45am, Madrona Neighbourhood, Seattle}

{Same area as above, taken in Spring on an early Saturday morning walk with my husband and dog @nachoking}

Pool Party

[trip style = staycation]

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You know those weekends when you can't seem to peel yourself away from in-town responsibilities, but you still want an escape-like experience? If you've only got a half day, but want some extreme, vacation-like relaxation, check out your favourite local hotel's pool---it may just offer day-rates for use!

The Staycation Pool Experience Taking a cue from destinations like LA and Palm Springs,  there's a growing 'staycation' trend where hotels are offering use of their pools to non-guests for a fee. Understanding that it's easier for people to spare a few hours than an entire weekend, hotels are embracing the 'poolcation'.

Vancouver Hotel Poolcations Last May I heard the Fairmont Pacific Rim might allow day use of their pool to paying non-guests, but alas, it never happened. Shame--it's a gorgeous location with cabanas, views, a bar and more. (Just suggest your out-of-town friends stay there and get pool access through them!)

Fairmont Waterfront Located right across from the cruise ship terminal, the Fairmont Waterfront offers a $15 daily rate for non-hotel guests looking for an outdoor poolcation.

The Westin Grand Vancouver Each Sunday afternoon, the Westin Grand hosts free pool parties for non-hotel guests.  The price is right... The hotel just emailed me and has updated the price to $10/person due to high demand. Pan Pacific & Westin Bayshore (spa required) Although pool-entry for non-hotel guests requires a treatment in each hotel's spa, a massage + day lounging in the sun may be just what the doctor ordered.

ps - If the hotel poolcation isn't up your alley, try one of Vancouver's 5 outdoor pools for a cheaper price.  My hands-down fave is the Second Beach Pool in Stanley Park. Located on the outer western edge of the park, this beachside, gradual entry pool overlooks Burrard Inlet and UBC. Open until Sept 6th, 10am-8.30pm daily. Trip Styler Tip: for a more relaxed pool-time experience, go from 10-noon or 6.30-8.30pm, when there are fewer people and the weather is still warm!

[photo credit: westin bayshore]

Happy BC Day

Today is a holiday in British Columbia, Canada.  To celebrate super, natural BC, here's some awe-inspiring scenes of our landscape. I can't watch this video without getting goosebumps.  Just like the scenery and people, it never gets old.  You gotta be here! ps - For the long weekend, I'm hanging in BC's wine country--the region where Kim Catrall is first appears on camera. Sante!