Can a Princess really be a Go Girl?

16. February 2010 admin

I think the answer is YES and I’m ready to try.  What is it you say?   I’ll let you read for yourself at http://go-girl.com/what-is-gogirl.asp   It’s an amazing way for women, even princesses to be free from one of our major annoyances, especially if you are a boomer on diuretics.  It fits discreetly into your travel backpack purse too.  My only question is how many can I carry with me on my trip to Italy?  An then how much hand sanitizer is needed?  I’m sure it’s on their website.  Seems like they have covered everything.

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£26,000 for a Backpack? OY

10. February 2010 admin

Not only is this $261,000, Louis Vuitton New Age Traveler Backpack ridiculously expensive, it is ridiculously ugly.  I guess you can slap an exclusive luxury name on anything charge a ton and expect to sell.  According to the fashion article below,  “There is an inverse relationship between price and class. It must be a conspiracy, as all the designers have upped their prices this season by £1,000.” Would you expect anything less?

I thought the UGHs fad was nuts.  Then some star wore them and they were hot.  Wish I could get the WisePack™ in the hands of someone famous.  Actually Brook Shields, Leslie Stahl each have one, but they probably forgot they got it as a speakers gift at a conference.  Of course we do have Marilyn Monroe with our bag, but she hasn’t given me a quote to print.

Note her Wisepack™ behind her

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More on Italy Plan

24. January 2010 admin

We continue to do our research in preparation for a decision on our big trip to Italy,  and perhaps the Greek Isles.  The more we study the escorted tours and compare the itinerary the more adventurous we are getting.  It appears that we can get to all the big sites in Venice, Florence, and Rome,  on a tour bus with a local guide.  The prices are similar and there are positive and negative reviews on each company.  When you start talking to people who have been to Italy, they say the rail is easy and we can do it on our own.  My biggest concern is baggage handling.  As a princess, I love having someone else worry about the luggage.  I just want to worry about what I have in my travel backpack purse for the day.  I know I need to travel light but it’s never light enough for me.  We are planning on going in October so the weather should be in the 60’s with  cooler evenings.   The more we study the more fantastic Italy seems to the two of us.  Now we are wondering if we should take our two and half weeks and just do Italy.  I spoke with one tour agent who gave me my assignment.  She said figure out what you want to see and do.  Do you want art, churches, food, wine? How many days?  Figure all of that out and give me a call back and we will put it together for you.  I think that’s a great idea.  In this economy, I can’t believe everyone of these “packaged” tours are available for some flexibility.  I welcome your comments.  Remember I’m a Princess.

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Royal Products To Nurture a Princess’s Skin

20. January 2010 admin

Yesterday my daughter said, “Mom, you have so many different hand creams in your travel backpack purse.”  Can’t you decide on one you like best?”  She is right, I keep trying to find that rich cream that will nourish my hard working, dry, and cracking hands.  This winter I think I’ve found two that work well.

The first product line is L’Occitane en Provence and it contains shea butter which is rich with elements your skin will love.  They have a great little travel set they call their “Travel Treasures.”  Now that is a name princesses will love.  It’s a great assortment of travel sized shea butter products, all in sizes and tubes that  meet TSA requirements.   As a princess on the go, I love to stay fresh and keep my skin moist, with this tucked into my WisePack™ I have it all there.  Sells for $35, which isn’t bad because each individual product is a bit pricey.  Ohhh and they feel so luxurious when they go on.

Another incredible product is made by Origins.  It’s their Rejuvenating hand treatment.  Now here is a rich product that is worthy of the Travel Princess seal of approval.  I love it but it is expensive.  $19.50 for 2.5 ounces.  I use it sparingly and rub it into my nails, cuticles and make sure I don’t need a trip to the bathroom after I put it on.  I don’t want to wash it off.  This is the product I take with me for those times, when you are in the middle of a lunch, or meeting, or waiting for your hair dresser and your hands are screaming “feed me, feed me!”  Then I reach into my backpack and take out this green tube.  I find myself move into a quiet place as I open the tube and carefully squeeze this rich, cream into the bed of my hand preparing to give my hands an amazing treatment. You can almost hear them saying “thank you, thank you.”

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I Love My Flip Camera!

18. January 2010 admin

My newest favorite toy is my little Flip Video camera.  I don’t have a majestic one like the image here.  Mine is just black, but it is a gem of a toy.  It goes with me everywhere.  I never know when a video of my life is needed.  Almost weightless and taking up very little space, it tucks into my travel backpack purse with ease.  The quality of the video is incredible.  I’m old remember.  I’ve had video cameras since they first came out and movie cameras before that.  They went from a big gigantic box that required a bag bigger than a large computer bag, to my last movie camera that was a super 8 and very heavy.  I needed to carry tapes and transfer them, it was a whole megillah.   Now I just flip it on, flip it into my USB port when I want to download, play with Imovie and post it to my gallery.  I’ve got short videos of my grandkids and long ones for special events.  It’s my newest hobby.  Can’t wait to take it to Europe with me.  Princesses out there…this is a great product.

Flip MinoHD
Lighter than a deck of cards and crazy simple to use, this camera by Pure Digital Technologies takes handheld video recording to a new level with high def. Turn that extra day of travel into a digital reel of sights and sounds — it even shoots in cinematic wide screen — before effortlessly sharing your vids by pop-ping open the built-in USB. theflip.com | $230, 4 GB model

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The Planning Begins

17. January 2010 admin

I’m hoping that finally one of my dreams will come true. How can I be a Travel Princess and never have traveled to Europe.   I’ve had several visits to London and the English countryside with a quick three hour whirlwind of Paris thrown in on one of those trips. I’ve never seen Italy, Greece, or beyond.  A princess needs to see real castles. My hope is that in October this dream will become a reality.  My husband and I will celebrate our joint “big” birthday in Europe.  The planning has begun.  All tips are welcome.  We have some criteria to deal with.  Limited funds, two and half weeks max, we are not the great adventurers, but willing to give educated adventures a whirl, and we don’t want stress, which will come if one of us feels the need to control.  Oh and yes, I am a princess remember.  Our first step was a trip to Barnes and Noble for Frodor’s books on Italy and Greece.  We now know that Rome, Florence, Venice, and Cirque d’ Terre are the top destinations.  We haven’t begun the book on Greece yet.  Last night we began to wonder if we could actually do both countries or if we should stick to just Italy.  More discussions are ahead.

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Holiday Travel Alert

16. December 2009 admin

Hey you princesses. I’ve been finding that TSA is really cracking down on the size of Carry-on bags and the weight of check-ins. The airlines have gone to smaller planes when they can and space is a premium. Be sure you check sizes and weights. Then pack lightly. Remember the scarf trick taught to me by Queen Shirley, my majestic, cousin who goes beyond a Travel Princess.   Just pack an assortment of elegant, fun, sparkly, colorful, scarfs that you love to wear.  Then take a basic black and/or brown combo that can be adorned by these beautiful scarfs and you will look like you have a new outfit on everyday and for every event.  You will be regal.  If you don’t know how to tie a scarf so it looks fantastic, check out the images that are in fashion magazines–Shirley didn’t know that she started this fad 40 years ago.  Here is a great link to many popular scarf ties..Click here: web images of how to tie a scarf. Use your travel backpack purse for necessities. Did you know that 1 oz of shampoo is supposed to go for two days? My biggest issue is all the hand creams and body creams I take in the winter. Safe travels and Happy holidays!! May it be a royal time for all.

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Can a Travel Princess Go Green?

28. November 2009 admin

It might seem odd that a Travel Princess would be concerned about the green movement.  After all aren’t we known for making selfish choices that make us feel regal–whatever it takes?  But thanks to a new web site called travelgreen.com I learned there is something for even a Travel Princess to learn.  The site is rich with ideas, resources, and tips that help the traveler keep sustainability and green choices top of mind.  So what is sustainability as it relates to travel?  Here is the definition from www.travelgreen.com Sustainable travel focuses on reducing the environmental impact of travel and preserving cultural heritage. It generates income and employment for travel destinations while protecting local ecosystems and preserving local culture. Sustainable travel encompasses a holistic approach to the business of travel that creates value for the traveler, economic opportunity for local communities and business opportunities for the industry. I like this definition because it encompasses many elements that are not as obvious for travelers and makes it a “win-win”.  It’s more than buying “green.”  To live by this definition requires some thought and research, all included at this web site. It makes it easy, even for a princess.  And the best part it is research based, is connected to esteemed organizations, and presents little known facts that can make a real difference.  Topics range from destinations, lodging, restaurants, golf courses, and more.   Didn’t see any spas, however.  I look forward to using it when I plan my next travel.  One Consumer research project after another has found that most of us believe we are impacting climate changes in the way we live. While growing slowly, the green movement is growing. Yet, many aren’t willing to make what they see as “sacrifices” to change.  I propose that all Travel Princess take the green mantel and travel with it.  We can be even more picky and with good reason.

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If You Must– Carry-on Tips

15. November 2009 admin

Saw this great article on the CNN travel site. It addresses the situation that Travel Princess face trying to take their seats and ignor all the hub bub around as people fight to find  room for their carry-ons. I’ve said from the beginning of this blog that a real princess checks her bags…even if you have to pay. Fooling around with a carry-on is a hassle that can ruin your whole attitude. Pack up your travel backpack purse with what you need and get to your seat as soon as you can. Bury your head in a good book or newspaper and let the circus around you take place without paying any attention. Now if you must bring a carry-on then follow these tips and deal with it because now one else will.  You won’t find any flight attendant acting as your hand maiden,  saying, “Oh let me help you princess with your bag.”

Carry-on tips
Tips compiled from numerous interviews, Web sites and blogs:

• Obey the government’s and airline’s rules on size and number of items; use the sizer at the gate.
• Don’t attempt to bring prohibited items such as sharp objects or bottles of liquids.
• Stow your bag with the wheels in first.
• Don’t put bags in lengthwise.
• Put your larger item up top, smaller item at your feet.
• Use the bin directly over your head. Using a bin up front when you’re sitting farther back is cheating.
• Don’t commandeer another passenger’s under-seat space.
• Make sure your bag is light enough to lift over your head yourself .
• Remove from your bag beforehand any items you may need during the flight rather than sifting through it in the overhead bin.
• Wait until everyone’s bags are stowed, then lay your coat on top.

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The Ritz Knows How To Treat A Princess

1. November 2009 admin

I just returned from an incredible week in Grand Cayman.  I had no idea what to expect and things got so busy I made no mental preparations–just left  the planning to my husband.  We heard that the Ritz Carlton was offering some amazing “deals” through the end of the year and that the beach at the Ritz on Grand Cayman was spectacular.  That’s all I needed to know.  It was time for this princess to relax and enjoy a good book and some sunshine combined with some royal service.  Well, let me say this was the life!  The Ritz is all about service.  They anticipate your every desire and then some.  The spa at the Ritz on Grand Cayman is called Silver Rain and it is all about pampering and luxury.  If you are a guest in the hotel you can use the facility without a charge-that’s sauna, steam room, jacuzzi, showers, amenities, robes, towels, etc.  AND they will assess your skin and provide you with a tray of the yummy products to try while you are there.  Of course the services are pricey, but I had a facial which was rich in all aspects-a princess experience all the way.

My biggest decision each day was whether to sit at the beach or the pool.  We typically decided to split our time.

Not being a swimmer,I found the salt water of the ocean allowed me to float easily.  I “played” in the warm water for hours.  An amazing thing about the Cayman beach is that the sand is not burning hot like other places.  There is some reason for that, but whatever, it makes the beach experience even more fun.  Even when it rains for ten minutes, it’s a nice warm rain.  For the price we paid for this time at the Ritz on Grand Cayman we could have had a Caribbean Cruise that would spend 6-7 hours at several islands, never allowing you to soak in the pleasures that we had.  I can’t imagine feeling rushed away from the fabulous beach or my bloody mary’s.  I never carried my WisePack, travel backpack purse the whole time I was there. I didn’t need anything and cell service was too expensive to worry about calling anyone.   I used my mini tote bag for my book, sun screen, glasses, kleenex of course, room key, and my cover up.  Women always had a pretty wrap or sun dress over their bathing suit as they walked around the property.  Men just threw on a shirt over their swim trunk.  But, as my husband noticed, women wore expensive earrings and designer sunglasses in the pool and ocean. We went sailing on a well appointed catamaran through Red Sail Sport and visited Sting Ray City where you can touch and play with the Sting Rays.  That was the extent of our adventures.  I read a 500 page book and my husband read three.

We were told that at the Ritz you never suffer in silence.  We made sure that we lived up to that motto.  One night we had sushi at a great restaurant on the property.  My husband looked at his chopsticks and complained that they were not a match.  One was a sixteenth of an inch shorter than the other.  He wasn’t going to “suffer in silence” so he called the server over and had her exchange them.  She seemed surprised at this complaint, but being a Ritz employee, was charming in taking care of my “suffering” husband.  I think when you have nothing bigger on your mind you get carried away.  I say, ” carry me away”.

The Ritz even made sure that on our last breakfast a colorful rainbow appeared in the sky overhead.

I can’t wait to return to the Island.  Oh by the way,  I now know that it is located just a bit south of Cuba.  An easy flight to Miami and then an hour to Grand Cayman.  Lots better than the long, long flight to Hawaii, which remains my favorite.

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