The latest travel information plus insider event and sightseeing tips for New York City, Boston, Hawaii, Philadelphia, San Francisco and Bermuda.
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
Pros and Cons of an Airline Passenger Bill of Rights
The U.S. Congress will be discussing proposed legislation this spring that would force airlines to improve their treatment of passengers. One bill would give passengers the option to leave a plane if it has been waiting on the runway for more than three hours (unless being cleared for takeoff is imminent or ground conditions are unsafe). Another bill would require airlines to disclose which of their flights are chronically delayed and improve their efforts to return all checked bags within 24 hours.
The notion of an airline passenger "Bill of Rights" is hardly a new one. Congress considered similar bills in 1999 but elected instead to let airlines police themselves via a set of agreed upon service standards. It will come as no surprise to anyone who has flown lately (or heard the latest news stories about the recent JetBlue debacle) that compliance has been lax.
So are these proposed laws the right way to go? Predictably, the airline industry complains about the proposed legislation, predicting that if enacted, these rules will lead to more cancelled flights, as airlines seek a way to avoid penalties for long delays. Others, like the American Society of Travel Agents, think that the list of rights should be more extensive, to address a wider variety of problems, including truthful information about fares, schedules, seating availability; more comfortable accommodations; and a return to court resolution of disputes (from which airlines are now mostly exempt).
Even if the proposed legislation is enacted, we urge that the laws be written carefully. According to the Wall Street Journal, the European Commission has implemented rules that require airlines to compensate passengers for unreasonable delays or flight cancellations. But since exemptions are made for delays resulting from security, weather, or mechanical problems, the airlines routinely use these claims as a way out.
What do you think? Let us know via email or by posting a comment below.
Like many folks, we get lots of invitations to parties that support good causes. Unfortunately, we have neither the time nor the pocketbook to attend every benefit event that comes our way. But we found a recent invitation particularly intriguing. Center 44, the NYC-based home furnishings and design mecca, has teamed up with the Partnership for the Homeless and New York Spaces magazine for a one-of-a-kind shopping event on March 15th. For just $25 you get cocktails and hors d'oeuvres at the Center44 showroom plus 10% off all merchandise. If you make donation to Furnish a Future, a "furniture bank" run by the Partnership for the Homeless for formerly homeless families, you get an additional 10% (even more for specially tagged items). Can't make up your mind about that special antique vase or mid-century sofa? That's ok, the discount runs through April 15th for all ticket-holders.
Members of our family have been coming to Hawley, PA since the 1970s. In the 30-odd years that have since past, the area has seen tremendous changes. First, vacation communities like Fawn Lake Forest, Masthope, and Tink Wig brought hoards of weekenders, mostly from middle class areas of Long Island and New Jersey to this largely rural region. As the years passed, some of these families turned their vacation homes into retirement homes, while others decided to live in and about Hawley full-time, attracted by the good schools (funded by the tax dollars of the vacationers) and the relatively low cost of living. With an increasingly robust economy and ever-more sophisticated residents, Hawley developed a burgeoning antiques business, and gourmet restaurants like the Settlers Inn and Torte Knox appeared. The owners of Woodloch Pines, a family vacation resort, opened Woodloch Springs, a golf course designed by Rocky Roquemore with a real country-club feel.
Now, sensing that the Hawley area is becoming even more upscale, Woodloch has expanded again, spending $37 million to open The Lodge at Woodloch. Billed as "a destination spa," The Lodge cultivates an air of exclusivity by refusing admittance past the driveway gate to anyone who hasn't made prior reservations. Look before you buy? Not here!
But once inside, either staying in one of the 58 rooms at the Lodge or just stopping in for a day of spa treatments, you'll appreciate the privacy. Nestled in 75 acres of woodlands by the side of a 15-acre private lake, this 40,000 square foot spa retreat offers the ultimate in quiet relaxation. Even the names given to the various areas of the spa sound tranquil: after a treatment, women and men can choose to hang out in Whisper Lounge; the spectacular pool area is called the Aqua Garden; and the spa restaurant (which, not surprisingly, features local organic produce and "naturally-raised meats and fish) is named "Tree."
We enjoyed the hydro-massaging waterfalls that pour into the hot-tubs aside the swimming pool, finding them more effective at easing our tired muscles than the masseuse who attended to us later in the day. We also enjoyed our session of walking meditation -- a new concept for us, but one that we'll return to again. But most of all, we enjoyed relaxing in the nature-inspired surroundings and allowing the staff to pamper us -- and we think you will, too!
As we've mentioned before in these pages, we're big fans of family skiing. We don't need a fancy lodge for apres ski and we don't need a big ski store that stocks the latest in high-end gear. We're not concerned with glimpsing famous faces or gorging on gourmet delicacies between runs. Instead, we look for ski resorts that welcome the novices in our party, as well as the experts, with a variety of trails for every level. Places that emphasize the sport, not the scene. Elk Mountain, with a sprawling 27 trails, is such a place.
We like that they price their lift tickets so that the days we only have time to squeeze in an afternoon of skiing, we don't pay the same price as the days we can devote a full day to being out on the slopes. We like that families with kids get a price break, especially those with kids 5 and under (since most of those kids won't ski more than a few hours at a time anyway). We like that they offer instruction to everyone at all ages and all levels. We like that they don't ban boards. And we like the kindness and courtesy of the staff. Best of all, Elk Mountain is just over an hour's ride from NYC, and just over 2 hours from Philadelphia.
We love the fact that the bleak month of February is also the time of year when orchids burst on the scene in a variety of shows around the country. Less a harbinger of spring than the annual flower shows that follow in March, these events showcase the ever-growing popularity of orchids.
An online article from the New York Timeshighlighted two of our favorites: the Pacific Orchid Exposition in San Francisco and The Orchid Show at the New York Botanical Garden. As the article notes, "Contrary to what most people think... orchids aren’t limited to tropical climates but are native to every continent except Antarctica, with 30,000 species and 200,000 hybrids.... There are more orchids than any other type of flowering plant... They grow in deserts, jungles, aquatically. They are considered to be among the most highly evolved plant groups.”
... To surprise your sweetie with a lovely Valentine's Day gift. Don't end up in the dog house this year -- instead, give your loved one a day (or more!) of ultimate pampering with a Spa Finder Gift Certificate. With Spa Finder's great eCards, she'll never know that you waited until the last minute!
You can also get same day delivery at 1-800-FLOWERS.com which means that the special floral bouquet (think lots of red roses!) you order now will definitely make it to your honey's doorstep in time for you. So don't disappoint Cupid; order now!
Can't afford a romantic getaway to the tropics with your sweetie this Valentine's Day? There are still plenty of ways you can celebrate with style that don't break the bank.
For example, head to the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, which offers a beautiful place for you and your loved one to warm up and think of spring. Enjoy exploring the wonderful interior garden and the fabulous art collection together. If you can, time your visit to coincide with one of the Museum's weekend concerts.
New York International Children's Film Festival 2007
Founded to promote intelligent and compelling cinematic works for kids, the New York International Children's Film Festival has grown since its inception a decade ago to become the largest festival for children and teens in North America. The upcoming festival will take place March 2-18 and is being heavily promoted in New York City schools. The three week film extravaganza will include 100 new films in competition (selected from over 2,000 submissions) plus gala premieres, retrospectives, filmmaker Q&As, workshops, receptions, and the NYICFF Awards Ceremony.
Now that temperatures have finally plummeted to wintry levels in NYC, it is time to get out and enjoy the season as it is supposed to be! So dress warmly this coming Saturday (February 10th) and head over to the Central Park Winter Jam. Snow or no snow, the NYC Department of Parks and Recreation and the Olympic Regional Development Authority will be holding this event from noon to 5 pm at the Naumberg Bandshell (located mid-park; enter the Park at East or West 72nd Street).
Event highlights include:
A plethora of winter fun: cross country skiing, snowshoeing, ice sculptures, and igloo-building demonstrations
2nd Annual Rail Jam Open for amateur snowboarders (click here for registration)
... of the The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere. We were fortunate to see a recent TheatreworksUSA production that tells, with music, drama, and great humor (we especially liked crazy King George), the story of how Paul Revere became involved with the Sons of Liberty and ultimately played a key role in the American Revolution. If you're in the Boston area, a good follow-up to the show (which is intended for school-age children) would be a walk along the Freedom Trail, paying special attention to the Revere House and to the Boston Massacre site (since Paul Revere's famous depiction of this conflict is featured in the show). If you have the time, you might also visit Minute Man National Historic Park to learn more about the morning battle that followed Revere's famous midnight ride.
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