You know what’s not cool? Watching Barbie movies when it’s 80-degrees and sunny outside. But that’s what I’m doing right now. At least Barbie gets to go places—sure, the places she goes are populated with fairies and evil toads, but at least she isn’t sitting in her family room watching a 4-year-old watch TV.

Good times.

But you know what is cool? Friday. Friday is cool. Because it’s time for Friday Favorites! Yes, I know, you can’t wait to hear what I came up with this week.

Back in the day, I used to be quite the world traveler. One summer my husband and I went overseas for a few weeks to visit his parents, who lived in England at the time. We took a weekend jaunt to Krakow, and it was perhaps the most romantic place I’ve ever seen, before or since. And I was there … with my mother-in-law. This post made me long to revisit the medieval city—sans in-laws. – Amateur Traveler

One of the best things about our visit to Poland was the super-sleek, ultra-modern hotel we stayed in. I know, “sleek” and “Poland” aren’t two words you think would go together. But I’ve stayed in my share of gross hotels, and this rant about bait-and-switch hotel-room photos made me laugh. – Travel Rants

I love getting first-run movies on demand when we stay in hotels—it’s one of the great joys in life. Me? I like thrillers. That’s why I’m so intrigued by the idea of being sent on a mission, without knowing how it will turn out. – Budget Travel

Not everyone can afford hotels and in-room movies these days, so this great post about trips that give back is both timely and altruistic. – Intelligent Travel

That’s a pretty good Friday reading list, if I do say so myself. Got stuff you want to share? Send it to us at editor AT travelmuse DOT com.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to go finish watching Barbie defeat an evil warlock.

Photo by GlennFleishman

The list of places in the world where you can safely avoid updating your Facebook profile got smaller last week with Virgin America’s launch of in-flight WiFi on all its 100 daily routes. Unless you were one of the working stiffs on the test flight out of San Francisco (pictured above) access will cost $9.95 on short flights (under three hours), $12.95 for longer hauls, with discounted rates for handheld users and Web junkies taking the red-eye.

So, let the airborne Internet races begin, or rather, speed up: The announcement sucked the wind out of news earlier in the week from AirTran that it will begin offering the service on all its flights in July, and you already may have stumbled onto Wi-Fi-enabled flights from American Airlines, Delta and United, which have partnered with Virgin America’s service provider Gogo; trial runs of JetBlue's free-but-buggy BetaBlue; or Row 44 satellite-enabled flights on Southwest and Alaska Airlines. Internationally, onboard Wi-Fi is also in the works at Air Canada (through Gogo) and Norwegian Air Shuttle (Row 44).

I’m eager to see this capability become universal, as it seems it will, but for now I can’t decide if the possibility of having Wi-Fi would make me choose one carrier over another when booking a flight. Especially since, as the Wall Street Journal pointed out earlier this month, it’s going to be a while before companies with many more planes than Virgin America’s 28 will be able to guarantee in advance which ones will have Wi-Fi capability. Plus, with the baggage fees and the snack charges and so on, will I really want to throw down another chunk of change just so I can blog mid-flight? Is this blog post worth $12.95? Don’t answer that.

After finishing my last class of the school semester, I’m about ready for my summer adventure in Berlin. As part of a journalism internship program, I’ll be spending 11 weeks in Germany’s beautiful capital with my reporter’s notebook in hand as I fulfill my passion for discovering a new destination.

To get to know the area and learn about top attractions before my arrival, I did most of my research online and gained travel insight from friends and family who have visited Berlin or are currently living in or near the city. For example, my grandpa strongly recommends visiting the Berlin Cathedral for its impressive pipe organ built by Wilhelm Sauer in 1905. I’m especially looking forward to all of the yummy Wiener schnitzel (breaded veal or pork) I can eat, visiting various famous museums, such as the Pergamon Museum (known for its collection of ancient monuments including the Pergamon Altar), and learning what it’s like to be reporting in another part of the world.

Photo of the Berlin Cathedral: Travelblog.org

Unlike some of my past three-week family vacations to Europe, this trip entailed more travel prepping—after all, I’ll be living in the country for several weeks as opposed to visiting for a few days. And I thought moving away from home to start college was hard. Planning my trip has been overwhelming at times. For example, I accidentally booked the wrong departure date, but luckily got a full refund after calling a customer service agent for the travel booking Web site immediately after realizing my mistake. I’m also still in the midst of trying to pick and fit all of my favorite outfits into one suitcase—the 44-pound limit for Royal Dutch Airlines (KLM) just doesn’t seem like enough space to fit everything I want to bring. I still can’t decide whether to leave behind my favorite pair of yellow high-heel shoes or pack one less T-shirt.

Prior to accepting the offer to live and study in Berlin, I didn’t think a great deal about the extensive planning that would go into organizing my trip. Here are few recommendations to consider before visiting, or in my case temporarily moving to another country.

1. Check the voltage of the country you’re visiting and make sure to purchase an electric converter if you need one (the cost usually starts at around $20, depending on where you are traveling), as well as any necessary adapters.

2. Open a bank account in your destination or get a credit card from your bank that you can also use in the country. I just found out I can use my debit card in Berlin—sweet! Be careful though, banks often charge extra fees for using your card in a foreign country.

3. Exchange contact information with anyone you may know in the area you’ll be living.

4. Look into public transportation options. In Germany, I’ll be traveling via the Berlin Transportation Company (BVG) means of transportation, including buses, subways and streetcars.

I’ll be writing about my Berlin adventures here on TravelMusings over the coming months. What are your recommendations for things I should see and do during my stay in Berlin?

A little to the right … more … yeah, that’s the spot! With our hectic lives of eating, playing and sleeping, even dogs need a massage every once in a while. So why not pamper us when you bring us along on vacation?

The Cliff House Resort & Spa in Ogunquit, Maine, is helping canine guests by offering two 25-minute dog massage treatments. The Aromatherapy Massage ($60) incorporates essential oils to de-stress pups with yummy smells (I rub my face in fresh rosemary daily), and the Customized Massage ($50) focuses on those muscles that need a little extra attention. Each massage is performed in one of the resort’s eight pet-friendly Ledges Rooms.

Photo: The Cliff House Resort & Spa

After the massage, your best buddy can enjoy his own dog bed, water dish, natural dog treats and ground-floor access to an enclosed exercise area. Of course, he’s sharing the Ledges Room with you, but while you’re on vacation on Maine’s rocky seashore, you can rest assured that your pooch is having fun too. Dogs are even welcome to walk with you (on leash) through the resort’s 70-acre property, including woods, beach and lawn.

The Cliff House Resort & Spa, on the south coast of Maine, is just 75 miles from Boston. Each of its 194 rooms has a balcony with an ocean view, which allows you to get great salty smells of the sea (What? I’m a dog!). Although the resort is popular for spa getaways, guests can also enjoy golf, shopping and wine tasting. But for me, the best thing is that it’s dog-friendly, and I can get pampered with a massage. Really, who cares about all the rest?

The Cliff House Resort & Spa. Open seasonally, mid-April through mid-November. Tel. 207-361-1000, www.cliffhousemaine.com

Remember when you begged and begged your parents to buy you a pony, and when you finally gave up your dream to be a steeplechaser like Elizabeth Taylor in National Velvet and went off to journalism school, they bought one for your little sister? No?

Don’t let your kids grow up bitter travel bloggers, is all I’m saying. Budding equestrians between the ages of 7 and 16 who stay at the Four Seasons Hotel Hampshire in bucolic Hampshire, England can take advantage of the “Own a Pony Day” experience, which gives them charge for 24 hours of one of the hotel’s hoofed residents. Riding is part of the package, but it’s not all carrots and crossrails — ponies don’t shovel their own manure (read: help hotel save on grooms’ fees by putting younger guests to work mucking stalls and cleaning tack).

Photo: Four Seasons Hotel Hampshire

If your inner equestrian is more cowboy than hunt seat, saddle up for the Calgary Stampede, which runs July 3 to 12, 2009. Highlights include annual rodeo events, with top-tier bull riding, steer wrestling, barrel racing and more, along with chuckwagon races, a Grandstand concert schedule that includes performances by Reba McEntire, Kenny Chesney and George Strait, and, perhaps most importantly, all-you-can-eat pancakes. General admission is $12 for adults, $7 for kids 7 to  12, little ones 6 and younger stampede for free. Book the Cattle, Rattle, Saddle & Paddle Package (starts at $305 per person) for a full trip of horseback riding, white water rafting and a cool trip down the luge in Calgary’s Ice House. cs.calgarystampede.com

It’s a good week for fans of tri-corner hats (yes, you!).

To celebrate the opening of Night at the Museum 2: Battle at the Smithsonian, George Washington’s one-time residence in Virginia is hosting special “Night at Mount Vernon” evening programs from 6 to 9 p.m., May 22 to 24 and 29 to 31. The site’s regular admission of $15 for adults and $7 for kids between ages 6 and 11 will apply, but just like in the movie plot, historic characters from the museum’s displays will come alive to give tours, which sounds a little scary, but still more fun than going to see the movie itself.

Although, IMDb tells me this film has the distinction of being the first since Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure to star both Abraham Lincoln and Napoleon, which proves that we can all learn something every day.

(Read about additional summer deals for Mount Vernon and other Virginia attractions in our Virginia is for Lovers anniversary post.)

It’s May. Spring is nearing an end and thoughts of summer vacations are dancing in your head. Or, something like that. Of course, amidst global economic woes, any and all relief is welcome. Thus, I offer to you, dear reader, this triumvirate of deals, so that you might enjoy a fine summer vacation while saving a few dollars.

Photo: Radisson St. Martin

We Love Summer Sale at the Radisson St. Martin. Enjoy the sunshine, sand and turquoise waters of the French West Indies while getting 25 percent off regular rates. Included with the discount is a buffet breakfast, use of snorkeling gear and kayaks, and in-room Internet. Rates range from $193 to $581. Book by Aug. 31, 2009 for travel by Oct. 3, 2009. Call 800-395-7046 or visit www.radisson.com.

Spa & Sail Package at Five Gables Inn & Spa in St. Michaels, Md. Get two nights’ accommodation, two massages, a two-hour sail and a dozen delicious blue crabs at a local restaurant. This bed and breakfast, in a village near Chesapeake Bay, is made up of three 19th-century homes consisting of 20 rooms, an Aveda Concept Spa, indoor pool, sauna and steam room. Rates based on two people for two nights, and range from $570 midweek to $1,100 for weekends. Call 877-466-0100 or visit www.fivegables.com.

Shopping & Spa Sojourn at the Atlantic Hotel in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. This package includes a $100 gift card, personal shopping services to Neiman Marcus, $50 spa credit and an upgrade to a Grande Deluxe Oceanfront room. If you enjoy shopping, going to the spa and looking at the ocean, this seems like a good choice. The Atlantic Hotel overlooks miles of beaches along Florida’s Gold Coast. Rates start at $299 per room, per night, with a two-night minimum for the package. Call 954-567-8020 or visit www.atlantichotelfl.

Who says eating out in New York has to be expensive? This Thursday, May 21, from 7 to 9 p.m., $1 will get you a slice from some of New York’s best pizzerias, and you get to help people in need at the same time.

What’s the deal?

Scott Wiener, of Scotts Pizza Tours, and GAP Adventures have teamed up to raise money for City Harvest, the nonprofit food rescue organization that feeds 260,000 people every week. Noted restaurants—Lombardi’s, John’s of Bleecker Street, Joe’s (on Carmine Street) and NY Pizza Suprema—are donating pies, slices of which will set you back a buck. All proceeds go directly to City Harvest.

But wait! There’s more.

Raffle prizes! You’ll have a chance to win tickets to one of Scott’s notable pizza tours, copies of Ed Levin’s book Pizza: A Slice of Heaven (Universe Publishing, 2005), a framed travel poster from GAP Adventures, t-shirts, movies and more.

Admission is free.

Here’s where you need to be:

GAP Adventures Store

364 Avenue of the Americas

(that’s Sixth Avenue, between West 4th Street and Waverly in the West Village)

Thursday, May 21, 2009

7 to 9 p.m.

GAP Adventures provides travel services to those looking for uncommon trips to exotic locales. Its weekly event series takes place Thursday nights and highlights travel-related activities.

Scott’s Pizza Tours conducts tours of New York’s vast pizza landscape by bus and on foot. The company is celebrating its first anniversary with this fundraiser. I met Scott this morning on another city tour (you’ll read more about it on TravelMusings later this week) and had the pleasure of sharing a couple of slices with him while chatting about his work. This man seriously knows his pizza.

Need more info about this event? Call 908-337-7702 or e-mail scott@scottspizzatours.com.

Buon appetito!

I’ve been on tequila-, beer- and wine-tasting trips, so naturally the opportunity to add Cognac to my libation travel list caught my eye.

On your next trip to France, swing by the House of Rémy Martin and indulge in Les Rendez-Vous Rémy Martin: A selection of gastronomic experiences that allow you to participate in a Cognac-tasting session, meal and tour of the celebrated estate. Dip your toe in by choosing a half-day or evening tour, or jump straight in to a complete day tour. A variety of options for each choice allows you to pick exactly what you’re interested in.

Photo: Louis XIII de Rémy Martin 

Check out these choices:

The four-hour Discover Rémy Martin package includes a tour of the House of Rémy Martin in Cognac and the Merphins Estate for a cognac-tasting session. Appetizers and lunch follow at Club Rémy Martin. €160 (about $216).

The nine-hour Rémy Martin for the Epicurean package starts with a tour of vineyards or the Rémy Martin cooperage, and then moves on to a distillery tour where you can taste recently distilled eaux-de-vie. Lunch in the distillery before a tour of the Merpins Estate and House of Rémy Martin in Cognac. The day ends with dinner in a private dining room. €380 (about $513).

The 10-hour Louis XIII Experience is a customizable package, which highlights the luxury of Louis XIII and the Cognac region. Take a private tour through the family estate and private cellar, taste prized cognac, and enjoy a private lunch and dinner. €850 (about $1,147).

Prices on Les Rendez-Vous Rémy Martin packages include taxes and are guaranteed through Dec. 31, 2009. For more information, visit www.visitesremymartin.com.

If you go, consider taking me!

I made a cake this week using a real, fresh whole coconut. My daughter watched me, pie-eyed, as I pried the hairy brown seed apart and proceeded to scrape the bright white meat away from the shell.

After I ripped my index finger open on one sharp piece, I freed all the flesh and went about making the cake batter.

I’ve been to only two truly tropical locales, and I never once ate a fresh coconut. I had to wait until I lived on the flat prairie of the American Midwest for that. Just that taste, though, made me dream about ditching this tiny town and heading out for parts unknown.

But I can’t do that—too much responsibility, not enough cold, hard cash. So instead, I wander the equator of the Internet, in search of my favorite dream destinations.

Without further ado, I give you my daydreams. Or, as I like to call them, Friday Favorites:

I loved this story of a girl and her dirt bike in the Mojave Desert. She dislocates her shoulder after taking a rough tumble, but that doesn’t stop her from enjoying the view. – Camels and Chocolate

School’s out, and where’s a girl to go on vacation? Seoul, of course. An impromptu trip to this Asian city sounds like the ideal break from the grind of final exams. – Not Another Tourist

What’s $100 when you have the opportunity to explore a destination that is, truly, off the beaten path? That’s what one writer wants to know. – The Art of Non-conformity

I’ve been to the Louvre, but I was 15 years old and terribly bored. I also didn’t have a Nikon D80 SLR to take with me. The images in this post made me want to revisit Paris through a new lens. – Teacher Meets World

Lovely picks this week, if I do say so myself. Now please excuse me while I go eat some of that fresh coconut cake. If you find a story that ignites your wanderlust, send it to us at editor AT travelmuse DOT com.

Happy weekend, friends.

When I think of Miami, I imagine warm weather, crowded beaches and rows of palm trees. While I have yet to go there (one of these days, I will) I wouldn’t mind heading to Miami with a friend for a spontaneous girls’ weekend.

Now through September 7, 2009, save on your beach vacation and enjoy all the sun, sand and entertainment that Miami has to offer, with the Buy Two Nights Get One Free deal at the South Beach Marriott (rates for a standard double start at $299). Note that in order to get this deal, guests may arrive any day except Thursday and stay a minimum of two nights.

Photo: South Beach Marriott

Located close to the bustling nightlife scene and shopping districts of South Beach, the South Beach Marriott features 228 guest rooms and eight suites with private balconies with views of the ocean or the city. Aside from taking a dip in the newly renovated pool, guests can participate in activities such as sailing, snorkeling, scuba diving and surfing.

To book online, visit www.marriott.com and enter the promotional code “B4F” or call 305-536-7700.

Museum fans (and you non-museum fans, too), mark your calendars for May 18 and start planning for a day filled with displays, exhibits and galleries. Take the day off, even. I’ll write your excuse for you.

The International Council on Museums (ICOM) has designated May 18 as International Museum Day, and it’s been celebrated around the world since 1977. This year’s theme, Museums and Tourism, is to highlight “how heritage can bring tourists and local communities together in new, mutually beneficial relationships.”

Wherever you are, across the globe, check into your nearest museum. Find your favorite, or even one you’ve been meaning to visit (but just haven’t gotten there yet). Or choose from the ever-growing list of ICOM global activities scheduled to celebrate the day.

Since this year’s event falls on a Monday, museums have been encouraged to begin their celebrations the weekend before. I’m anxious to check out the Young at Art celebration at San Francisco’s de Young Museum. Even though I can go over the weekend, I’d almost rather play hooky from work and go on May 18. (Shhh, don’t tell my boss!)

Will you celebrate International Museum Day? Which museum are you planning to visit?

The destination features this week on TravelMuse are Honolulu and Oahu. Two of our writers—[Jennifer Hwang|http://www.travelmuse.com/authors/jennifer-hwang] and Dana Young—share below some language tips that may come in handy on your next Hawaiian vacation.

-

“Howzit Brah? Where you like go grind? Ovah deah, get plenny ono grinds fo’da money!”

Confused? Don’t be. Just know that during a vacation to Hawaii, you might end up hearing locals using a language that sounds like English but is more difficult to understand.

Photo: Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA)/Tor Johnson

Here are some key words and phrases that will help you translate local-speak, aka Pidgin English. But keep in mind—there’s nothing that bothers Kama’aina (locals) more than when tourists mispronounce or misuse the local lingo. There are a few words everyone can embrace, and visitors can easily add them to their lexicon. As for the rest, they’re really more for the locals—and in one case, use at your own risk. (For more phrases, check out Peppo’s Pidgin to da Max (Bess Press, 1981) by Douglas Simonson.)

Safe for Visitors to Say

Aloha — Hello, goodbye. It also captures the Hawaiian spirit.

Mahalo — Thank you.

Howzit — Slang for aloha (hello).

Howzit Brah — How are you, friend?

Brah, Bruddah, Sista or Cuz — What you call a peer. For elders, use Aunty or Uncle.

Ono — Good.

Laters — See you later.

More for the Locals

Grinds — Food as in "Brah, you like get some ono grinds.”

Choke — Awesome, as in “Cuz, da waves stay choke!" Also means a large amount.

Brok’ da mout — Broke the mouth. Really tasty (food specific).

Brah, you like beef? — Do you want to fight?

Chicken skin — Goosebumps.

Talk story — Relax and chitchat.

Holoholo — Go out, as in “you like go holoholo tonight?”

Any Hawaiian words and phrases you care to share? Leave them in the comment section below!

Two important coming-of-age ceremonies must occur for any 20-something to officially consider him or herself an adult: buying their first legal alcoholic beverage and, as soon as possible thereafter, taking a trip to Las Vegas.

Old Las Vegas Entertainment and Eats

Although I’d visited Las Vegas a few times with my family as a kid and teen, this girlfriend getaway featured certain notable differences. For one thing, there was 100 percent more Tom Jones. Tom Jones may be approaching 70, and we may have been the youngest members in the audience—perhaps some three decades younger than the median age—but we had a great time and especially loved all his tongue-in-cheek posing that alluded to his former (?) sex-symbol days.

Photo: Folies Bergere, Tropicana Resort

In another nod to old Vegas, we got tickets to the penultimate showing of the long-running classic Folies Bergere at the Tropicana Resort, which happened to be closing for good the weekend of our visit. There are still a couple other similar revues in Vegas, so all is not lost—but a significant chapter in topless history certainly has now ended. I wonder what will happen to all those fabulous headdresses?

And, of course, no trip to Las Vegas is complete without a mega buffet meal, and there’s no place that does it better than the Rio Carnival World Buffet, the largest buffet in the city. I prefer a phase-in approach, first scouting the offerings (no small undertaking at a buffet this size), and then with each return trip focusing on a different theme (first salads, then Asian dishes, then crab legs, etc.) Pace yourself.

New Las Vegas Glitz

As much as we love the kitsch of Old Vegas, it’s the new glamour that probably draws most visitors. We stayed in one of the most iconic-themed hotels, Paris, for a good rate of about $115 a night (thank you, bad economy, for at least helping us to travel more cheaply).

Photo: XS at Encore

And, of course, there are the clubs. Before our trip, I had tried to wrangle some VIP club passes, guest-list entry and the like—but of course hundreds of others had done the same and were waiting in the same line. The highlight of the clubs we visited was XS at Wynn’s new Encore resort. Despite the steep costs—$20 for the women’s general cover (as opposed to waiting an hour in the no-cover “VIP” line) and $18 cocktails—it was a great evening, if only for the sheer spectacle of the elaborate dance floor opening out onto an elegant poolside terrace.

But the best girlfriend getaway activity in Vegas must certainly be Stripper 101 at Planet Hollywood. The class is taught by former strippers and is open to women only, who learn best techniques for pole and lap dancing. Participants begin by taking souvenir photos and enjoying a complementary cocktail (of course) before getting an insider’s perspective on pole tricks and techniques, then getting the chance to practice your moves.

What I learned? This stuff isn’t easy.

Check out our full trip plan.

Still think you can’t afford a visit to London? Now that the British pound is at one of its lowest exchange rates in seven years (£1.49 against the dollar), you might reconsider hopping the pond—especially when you see these slashed rates at two premier London hotels.

Two five-star properties by COMO Hotels and Resorts—the Halkin in Belgravia and Metropolitan in Mayfair—are offering a guaranteed U.S. dollar rate for the first time—a savings of up to $321 per night!

The Metropolitan: Rates start at $199 per night (normally around $520). The hotel overlooks Hyde Park and is minutes from the Piccadilly and Mayfair districts. Tel. +44-0-20-7447-1000 or call direct from the United States at 888-272-3002. www.metropolitan.london.como.bz

The lobby of the Metropolitan. Image courtesy of Alice Marshall Public Relations

The Halkin: Rates start at $299 per night (normally around $540). The hotel is near Harrods and Harvey Nichols. Tel. +44-0-20-7447-1000 or call direct from the United States at 888-HALKINH (425-5464). www.halkin.como.bz

Rates are valid now through Sept. 6, 2009, and exclude VAT (value added taxes). Rooms must be booked for a minimum two-night stay and at least seven days in advance; no cancellations and rates are subject to availability.

At 95 pounds, I’m a little too big to fit under an airplane seat. And my family is uncomfortable with bringing me along in an airplane cargo hold (Hello?!?! I’m a dog, not luggage!). So that’s why we’re all doing a little dance over the possibility of sending me along as a “pawsenger” on an airline dedicated only to pets.

Pet Airways is scheduled to begin flights on July 14 as the “first pet-only airline,” allowing your best friend to chill out in a temperature-controlled airplane cabin, get ample food and water, bathroom breaks before and after the flight, and attention from attendants during the trip. Pet Airways was created by Dan Wiesel and Alysa Binder to provide a safe and comfortable solution for the transportation of pets. Inspiration for the airline came from the difficulties they encountered when shipping Zoe, their Jack Russell Terrier, across the country.

Photo: Pet Airways

Just five cities are on Pet Airways’ service list for now (with weekly service to Chicago; Denver; Los Angeles; New York and Washington, D.C.), however the airline plans to expand nationwide. One-way service starts at $149. My family has already voted for San Francisco to New Orleans service. I want to get to the Crescent City for Marley Gras (Fat Marley)!

While Pet Airways doesn’t take entire families (pets and their people) together on flights, people can track their pet’s flight status by e-mail, phone and the airline’s Web site. And when dropping their buddies off at Pet Airways’ Pet Lounge, families can be assured that their pet will get a comfortable travel experience—far better than being in the belly of a plane.