Hawaii Island In 48 Hours
Like all the other islands, 48 hours will give you a brief opportunity to explore Hawaii Island, but if you only have 48 hours, here’s what you should do: The Big Island, as it’s called, is larger than all the…
Articles by Stacey
Time To Move Forward
A while back I announced that VeryGoodPoints, the blog I started in 2011, would become Explorations.Guru. Well, the time has come for me to make that move. Why? VeryGoodPoints was a name that didn’t really fit my posts. The name…
How Do You Pronounce Suvarnabhumi Airport Name
If you’re not familiar with Thai, you might have trouble sounding out the name of their international airport, Suvarnabhumi also known by the BKK airport code. How do you pronounce Suvarnabhumi airport’s name? Phonetically in english you’d say su-wan-na-poon. Some fun facts…
Quiz: What Is Your Packing Personality
Packing a suitcase can cause stress for some travelers while others have it down to a routine. What type of packing personality are you? Everything But The Kitchen Sink – You can’t decide what to pack, you toss…
Have Pet Earn Points
Ever wondered if you can earn points for your pets when they travel with you? The answer is yes, if you fly JetBlue or Virgin Australia. Here are two unique and creative points earning programs for your furry friends. On…
Is It Okay To Buy A Buddha Statue In Thailand?
If there’s one thing I love to do in Thailand it’s shop. On my last trip I noticed signs at the airport international arrivals area that warned tourists that exporting Buddha heads is illegal and there are restrictions on what…
Green Hotels Forget About One Thing
More and more hotels are going “green” and publicizing their commitment to the environment and saving the planet (one towel at a time.) Many hotels are doing very good things and have changed their practices. It seems to me,…
Summer Cruising In Alaska
It’s summer time, so that means it’s a great time to cruise to Alaska. Alaska is one of my favorite vacation destinations and I’ve been there in both summer and winter. I went on the Celebrity Millennium cruise to Alaska….
Hotel Palomar Beverly Hills What A Thrill
There’s just something about Beverly Hills that makes me smile. Maybe it’s the pretty people, maybe it’s the amazing food, and maybe it’s just the weather. In any case, after visiting the Hotel Palomar you’ll have even more reason to…
Top 5 Travel Must Haves
A few weeks ago I was on a trip with a friend and he was writing a post about travel must haves. Here’s what I always have in my suitcase Beauty Items: If you’ve ever worn nail polish you know it…
The Phoenician Scottsdale Then & Now
The Phoenician Scottsdale is part of Starwood’s Luxury Collection of hotels. The Phoenician is tucked into the Sonoran Desert at the base of Camelback Mountain. From the moment you arrive at the Phoenician you notice the lush grounds and traditional…
Should I Ride That Elephant or Pet That Tiger?
As the world focuses on Cecil the Lion and the American dentist who hunted him down for his own entertainment, there are far too many animals being used and abused. I’m not talking about hunting here, I’m talking about entertainment. The…
J&G Steakhouse at The Phoenician Scottsdale
Back in June of 2011 I had the most amazing meal at the Phoenician Scottsdale at celebrity Chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten’s J&G Steakhouse. So when I went back to the hotel this past week for a frequent traveler event, I was…
Top 5 Travel Hacks Everyone Can Use
Have you ever been on a trip and realized you’ve forgotten something? It’s never a good feeling. Last week on a trip I forgot some prescription medicine, but luckily there was a CVS down the street. Unfortunately, there’s not always…
What Is Pad Thai?
To understand the history of Pad Thai, you need to understand the words. Pad means fried and refers to the fried noodles. Thai – that’s obvious. The main ingredient in Pad Thai is rice noodles which are stir-fried. So if you were…
Top 5 Things To Do In Phuket
So you’re planning a trip to one of the most popular vacation destinations in the world, Phuket, Thailand. What are the top 5 things to do in Phuket, you ask? In my opinion, the #1 thing to do is, GET…