The Favorite Hotels of the British Royal Family

In honor of the second child of Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton, we've rounded up up the favorite hotels of the British royal family -- from the spot where Kate spent her wedding eve, to the Queen's go-to Caribbean getaway.

-- Jane Reynolds, Oyster.com

The Goring, London



The Goring is a classic English boutique hotel with ample royal heritage. This is where the Duchess of Cambridge -- a.k.a. Princess Kate -- stayed the night before her wedding, and capacity overflow from private events at Buckingham Palace is regularly accommodated.Opened in 1910, the property has intricate sculpted details and unusually wide hallways -- said to have been designed to allow free passage of ladies' ball gowns. Buckingham Palace tours are available in the summer and nearby underground Tube access allows for travel to other parts of London.

Half Moon, a Rock Resort; Jamaica



Since opening in 1954, Jamaica's Half Moon has played host to many a royal, including HRH Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Phillip, HRH The Prince of Wales, and HRH Princess Margaret. This exclusive resort is built on a perfectly shaped crescent beach (hence its celestial name), and is known for its timeless, understated luxury across every nook and cranny of its 400 acres. Classic design, attentive service and quality cuisine are abound -- even at the swim-up bar. But what truly sets Half Moon apart from other resorts is its endless breadth of activities, from horseback riding to swimming with dolphins.

The Waldorf Astoria, New York City



A New York icon, The Waldorf Astoria features a lovely Art Deco design that extends from the lobby to the event spaces, from the spacious (by NYC standards) rooms to the spa. Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, visited the hotel in 1954 and Queen Elizabeth II stayed there just three years later in 1957. The hotel pays homage to its famous past guests with a photograph of the Queen in the lobby, and Cole Porter's grand piano. (The celebrated Broadway composer called the Waldorf home for many years.)

The Fairmont Royal York, Toronto



Three generations of the royal family have stayed in this hotel's Royal Suite since it opened in 1929. Queen Elizabeth's and Prince Phillip's portraits hang in the lobby -- a grand, two-story space with a hand-painted ceiling, period settees, circular banquets, and crystal chandeliers. Considered Toronto's grand dame, the Fairmont Royal York has many luxury amenities that fit a British bill, including afternoon tea service in the cozy Library Bar, an on-site spa, and elegant, old-world meeting spaces such as the ballroom, concert hall, and Imperial Room.

The Beverly Hills Hotel, Los Angeles



William and Kate stayed at The Beverly Hills Hotel, fittingly dubbed the "Pink Palace," during their post-wedding American tour in 2011. With 12 acres of lush grounds, the historic hotel is a serene, luxurious escape five minutes from Rodeo Drive. Its formal service and aura lend it a stuffier crowd than nearby options like SIXTY Beverly Hills, but it also has some quirky charms, like an old-fashioned soda fountain, plus a great pool and restaurants.

The St. Regis Washington, D.C.



The St. Regis Washington, D.C. has seen every kind of British Royalty pass through its doors, from Her Royal Majesty Queen Elizabeth II to the kings of rock-and-roll, the Rolling Stones. And the iconic hotel has attracted tons of other celebs in its past: Every American president since Coolidge has stayed here, Howard Hughes kept a permanent suite during World War II, and Cher, Audrey Hepburn, and Elizabeth Taylor have also checked in..The spacious and elegant rooms are some of the best in D.C., and butlers are on-call around the clock.

Sandy Lane, Barbados



Another pink property, Sandy Lane is the creme de la creme of Barbados, and quite possibly one of the most luxurious resorts in the world. Unparalleled service, unique details, and rampant amenities make it a favorite for the rich and famous. Access to the super-exclusive Green Monkey golf course alone pulls in guests, who can only purchase the course's insignia apparel after completing all 18 holes. With a Rolls Royce Phantom, top-notch spa, and outstanding restaurants on-site, it's no surprise that Prince Harry and numerous other royals have visited this isle outpost.

Hotel Adlon Kempinski, Berlin



This elegant, classic hotel located near Berlin's Brandenburg Gate exudes luxury and a rich history. Hotel Adlon's predecessor was one of the most popular hotels in Europe through World War II, hosting Charlie Chaplin and Josephine Baker. Though the original building was demolished, this inspired replica was constructed in its old location. Queen Elizabeth II stayed here during her last visit to Berlin, much like her father did years beforehand. Rooms come complete with four poster canopy beds, walk-in closets, and fresh cut roses, as well as marble bathrooms with soaking tubs, separate rain showers, and heated floors.

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Money Saving Tips On Maui

Day passes on the Maui Bus are only a $4 per person.

Sure, traveling to Maui can be expensive--but there are also ways to visit Maui without having to break the bank.

Between the celebrity-laden luxury resorts and pricey oceanfront meals, there are also places where budget travelers can enjoy the island on the cheap. Like any popular destination, it's possible to spend your entire life savings if you splurge and spend at will--or by following these money saving tips on Maui, you can maybe even extend your trip for longer than you'd originally thought.

Visit During The Shoulder Season

First off, understand that Maui is a seasonal destination--even though it's always warm. During Maui's busiest times of year, everyone from airlines to hotels and car rentals are cashing in on the season, and it can sometimes seem like snorkeling past an iceberg would be more plausible than a discount or deal. Traditionally, the busiest times to visit Maui are from June 15-August 31, December 15-January 10, and Feb. 15-April 1. All other times are shoulder seasons, with the months of May, October, and the first two weeks of December being the slowest times of the year. Not only are airfares cheaper in the offseason, but most activity companies and hotels will offer slow-season discounts.

Ride The Bus

When visiting Maui, if you plan on doing lots of activities like driving the Road to Hana, it's probably best that you rent a car for at least part of your stay. If, on the other hand, you mostly plan to stay at the resort or aren't in a rush to get anywhere, the Maui Bus offers an affordable way of moving around the island. At the time of writing, fares for the bus were $2/boarding, or you can also purchase a full-day pass for only $4/day. There are routes connecting Napili with Ka'anapali and then Lahaina and Kahului, and while it requires riding three different buses, you can even get from Kahului Airport to Wailea, Kihei, Kula, or Lahaina. That said, if you do plan on riding the bus, (which is comfortable as well as clean), there isn't room for any luggage that won't fit on your lap.


Stretching your legs on a hike in Maui is a healthy and free activity.

Take A Hike

Not only does hiking work up a sweat, but it's also a way to explore Maui without spending a dime. Take a dip in a freshwater stream and swim beneath a waterfall, or smell the scent of salt in the air on a trail along the coast. Be sure to bring a camera and plenty of water, and while many of Maui's best hikes are free, there is a small admission fee when hiking the trails in Haleakala National Park.

Use Independent Car Rentals

That said, if you do plan on scouring the island and prefer to move at your own pace, visitors can often save bunches of cash by booking with independent operators. Some options include Kihei Rent a Car, Aloha Rent a Car, and Manaloha Rent a Car, who all offer airport pickups and some seriously cheaper deals. Also, another bonus of independent operators is that you won't look like a "tourist car," which can often mean your car won't be targeted for an unfortunate or unscrupulous break-in.

Find The Happy Hours and Food Trucks

Maui restaurants--particularly by the water--can often be expensive. Because the rents in Maui are so high, it's important to remember that the menu price isn't just for your meal, but also a sort of hourlong "rental" for a table with an ocean view. That said, while peak dinner hours can be expensive, many places have affordable happy hours on food as well as drinks. On the west side of the island, check out the Sea House at Napili Kai or Sansei for late night sushi, or Gannon's "Red Bar" down in Wailea or the Five Palms in Kihei. For more info, check out our articles about eating on Maui, eating local on Maui, as well as where to find food trucks.

Enjoy Free Entertainment

Nothing beats a free show, and there are a number of places around the island where you can find free entertainment. There are free hula shows in the Lahaina Cannery Mall on select days of the week, and on the third Thursday of every month, a Hawaiian music series on the Baldwin House along famous Front Street in Lahaina. On Wednesday nights, the Shops at Wailea have free entertainment as part of their "Wailea on Wednesdays," and every Friday night there is a free "town party" at various towns on the island.


Biking tours down Haleakala can be cheaper in the afternoon.

Schedule Activities For The Afternoon

Oftentimes, Maui activities are much cheaper when you book for the afternoon. A lot of this has to do with weather, since mornings are calm and clear, but you can save a lot of money on activities if you don't need perfect conditions. Biking down Haleakala volcano, for example, is most expensive for sunrise, when the exact same tour booked later in the day is often a fraction of the price. The same goes for snorkeling tours out of Ma'alaea Harbor, but beware of boats that advertise an afternoon tour to Molokini; the fine print often states "weather permitting," and since the tradewinds strengthen in the afternoon, most afternoon snorkeling tours stay close to Maui's coast. Finally, if you're hoping to hit the links in Maui, many golf courses can be 50% off when you play in the afternoon. The caveat, again, are the afternoon tradewinds, but if the forecast is calling for "light and variable winds," then the conditions for golfing in the afternoon will be exactly the same as the morning.

Stay In Condos, But Watch The Cleaning Fees

When compared to luxury, oceanfront hotels, condos can be an affordable option--particular for big groups and families. Condos usually include a kitchen and the chance to cook your own meals, and while the rates can often be very enticing, always be sure to check the taxes and any hidden fees.


Baldwin Beach is a beautiful spot for a free day at the beach.

Hang At The Beach

While this should come as little surprise, one of the best ways to save money in Maui is simply to hang at the beach. Though some people might argue the beach is expensive (after parking, cabana, and drinks), the key to making it a cheap trip is to match the beach with your budget. For example, if you visit a beach like Ka'anapali and splurge for all the extras, you could end up spending $100 before the day is through. If, on the other hand, you visit a beach like Makena's Maluaka--where there is free parking and shade--and you pack a lunch and a cooler of drinks along with chairs, a blanket, and books, a day spent relaxing and lounging on the sand shouldn't cost you anything at all.

Bundle Activities

Finally, if you plan on cramming as many activities as possible into your finite time in paradise, look to see if you can bundle activities to save a little cash. Different tours companies can offer deals when you book activities together (such as bundling a helicopter ride with a luau, or a horseback tour with a submarine), and you can save 10% on Maui activities when you book activities in bulk.

- Contributed by Kyle Ellison for Viator
All photos courtesy of Viator

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The 'Valley Of 72 Waterfalls' Is Complete Swiss Perfection

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'One Night Standard' App Is The Trendiest Solution To Finding A Late-Night Hotel Room

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This Drone Video Of Dutch Flower Fields Will Give You The Touch Of Spring You Needed

There's nothing better than a bouquet of spring flowers... unless you live near the tulip fields in Holland.

For a month and a half ever year, millions of brightly colored blooms turn the landscape into a panorama of color. The video above, shot with a DJI Inspire 1 drone, was captured above some epic flower fields in the Netherlands. The fields shown in the video lie near Lisse, home to the world's second-largest flower garden.

The tulips, hyacinths, narcissi and daffodils are a highly trafficked tourist destination in spring months and are in bloom from the end of March until the second week of May. Road trippers can take a 25-mile drive through the countryside and see flower-sellers, public gardens and museums all along the highway, according to National Geographic.

Take a look at the stunning drone footage above, and check out other beautiful images of the flower fields below.

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Redesigned for 2015 meet the new Nissan Murano

There was nowhere better to test out the all new 2015 Nissan Murano than in northern California where the Nissan folks introduced a sexy redesigned model that includes not only a new interior, but an overall sleeker styling and better gas mileage too.
It's a five-passenger crossover as in generations before, but it's also a bit more luxurious than in days gone by with plenty of room since the 2015 is also a bit bigger than in 2014 as well. This new Murano is an easy ride too - compare it to the competition; the Ford Edge, Lexus Rx 350, Jeep Grand Cherokee and the Volkswagen Touareg.
The 2015 Nissan Murano comes in four trim levels: S, SV, SL and Platinum and from there you can choose either the front or all-wheel drive. On the S you get 18-inch alloy wheels, tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, 60/40 split-folding rear seat and cruise control along with techno goodies like Bluetooth phone and audio connect, seven-inch touchscreen, rearview camera and six speakers with a CD player and satellite radio.
For upgrades to the S you can opt for a Navigation package with a larger touchscreen along with a navigation system and more audio input options.
On the SV model you get the Navigation package goodies along with a leather-wrapped steering wheel, roof rails, fog lights, eight-way power-adjustable driver seat and four-way power front passenger seat as well as an add-on package with a panoramic sunroof and nine speakers.
For the SL there is a Bose audio system along with added comforts like heated outside mirrors and front seats, driver memory settings, blind spot warning and rear cross-traffic alerts, a rearview and 360-degree parking camera system as well as leather upholstery and ambient interior lighting.
If you go for the top of the trim level the Murano Platinum comes with everything offered on the three lower trims as well as the additional power tilt-and-telescoping heated steering wheel, 20-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights, heated and air-conditioned front seats and even heated rear seats too.
On the two higher end Murano trims there is also the option to add a panoramic sunroof, adaptive cruise control and safety features like a forward collision warning and crash mitigation system.
Under the hood the 2015 Nissan Murano 3.5-liter V6 engine cranks out 260 horsepower and 240 pound-feet of torque.
Safety is standard with antilock brakes, traction and stability control, hill-start assist, front side, side curtain and driver knee airbags as well as an active front head restraint and the rearview camera. On the higher trims there are additional goodies that help eliminate blind spots and let you know when and where traffic or danger might be lurking. There is also a moving object feature that allows for the driver to be warned when people or objects are too near.
Indeed, the Nissan has upped its game in a lot of ways, which was all too clear when I took the turns and curves on the Pacific Coast Highway in Northern California. A windswept day proved no match for the comfort inside the Murano either and take note of the new "Zero Gravity" seats that fit to the position of the body with a strong support for the lower and middle part of the back and even better, these seats are for all passengers not just the driver.
There is also a Nissan touchscreen interface called Nissan Connect with a navigation system and it works with a variety of apps too.
Plenty of room with 39.6 cubic feet behind the second row or if you lower the seats you get a good 69.9 cubic feet for hauling, which compares squarely with the competition.

It's a luxurious ride starting around $29,000, the turns are clean and smooth with the feel that this one can take the road easy enough with no fuss. Way back in 2003 when the Nissan Murano was introduced this vehicle was the first crossover SUV with room for five passengers, but still offering a sporty ride versus the hardcore ride of a truck, this same rules still applies today.

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How To Move To Paradise With Nothing And Still Thrive

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A Tour of 'Mini-Beantowns' Shows the Sprouts from Boston's Seeds

One of the things about Boston is that there's a bit of it wherever you go. Sox caps crop up in Chicago. Harvard T-shirts glide past on the Grand Canal. And when dessert is served in Georgia or Alabama, a chocolate-topped cream pie is liable to appear.

Because of the Boston Marathon this week, I've been thinking of a time, a few years back, when I found out about villages in various states that had emulated Boston in name. Unfurling a wad of dog-eared road maps, I circled pinpricks named 'Boston' or 'New Boston' in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, even Missouri and Texas.



Wow, I thought. The Hub's geographical reach is way more widespread than I'd thought. Some states had two mini-Bostons, or more. And there were no doubt dozens of others that Rand McNally didn't show.

I began to wonder what life was like in these outposts. Did the towns have any links to New England--maybe a special sense of history, a general store or central green? Could I find New Bostonians with a soft spot for the Celtics, or a taste for scrod?

It would take a road trip to find out.

While loading up my Mazda, I checked in with a few history buffs and got a warning. Since mini-Hubs seemed as common as acorns, I'd have to focus my drive on either 'Bostons' or 'New Bostons' and narrow it to one likely settlement branch. North-by-northwest looked best so I traced a wobbly westward line between New Bostons in New Hampshire, the Berkshires, upstate New York, and Michigan's lower peninsula.

It was only one thread. But it was one I could conceivably reel in during a week of driving. With my erstwhile pal, Jim, along for the adventure, I was off.



New Boston, New Hampshire

Plunked down along Route 13, about 12 miles west of Manchester, our first New Boston (population 5,076) looks like a Currier & Ives print of a 19th century crossroads village. White church? Check. Town green with bandstand? Check. Anti-gravity monument? Check.

Wait a minute, says Jim, popping open the car door. What's that last one about? We read some text that's etched on a granite marker and find out that a man by the name of Roger W. Babson, the founder of Babson College, had set up the Gravity Research Foundation here in town in the late 1940s.

Debbie Smith, a New Boston resident who works at Dodge's Store here, stifles a yawn when I ask her about this. Apparently the Foundation is not a joke, but a deadly serious enterprise that is intended to encourage anti-gravity research. "I feel on the verge of floating right now," I say, thanks to the smell of coffee and fresh popcorn near the entrance of Dodge's.

Smith pours me a cup, and though the general store is busy, owner, Lisa Danzinger, comes over to show off her upright rotary phone, still in occasional use, and a collection of antique Dr. Pepper bottles. Though nowhere near as old as the town itself, which was granted to a handful of Massachusetts families in 1736, Dodge's dates to 1872 and, according to Danzinger, is the meeting point of choice for locals. Especially the porch.

"People from Boston--the big Boston--come through sometimes," says Danzinger. "They're out there on the porch with the old folks from town. It's a pretty good mix. They root for the Sox, we root for the Sox. And if anyone from the city is rude to us, you know what we do? We're extra nice back to them."



New Boston, Mass. (Berkshire County)

Massachusetts is chock full of New Bostons, including towns in Barnstable, Middlesex, and Worcester Counties. But since it's on our westward route, Jim and I have set our sights on a hamlet settled in the early 1700s--part of the township of Sandisfield in the Berkshires about 28 miles southeast of Pittsfield.

It's growing dark by the time we get near and all we can see are trees and more trees. "This is the polar opposite of Boston," decides Jim. Sandisfield as a whole counts a total of 769 residents and when we snake into New Boston, itself, there are lights glowing only at the 1737 New Boston Inn. Signs and flags tell us the inn's on the National Register of Historic Places, that we would be welcome even if we were riding motorcycles, and that we should "Please Come In."

In fact, we check in, despite being advised about a ghost that haunts and sings nightly in Room 4. According to owner, Barbara Colorio, the Sci-Fi Channel and Discovery Channel have done segments about this, and grinning happily, she hands me the #4 key.

No problem, I say. I'm more nervous about missing dinner--restaurants in town close early--and Jim and I are just in time to get a pizza at a rustic pub called Tucker's. Owners Scott and Deb Stone glance at each other when they hear about my New Boston quest.

"This town used to be a stop for the Boston to Albany stagecoach," says Scott. "So, in honor of that I am making us a bean hole for the restaurant. A real one. With an iron beanpot, hot coals, the works." Now it's our turn to exchange glances: Jim and I are impressed.

I hear no singing at all during the night. But I am listening, not sleeping. The New Boston ghost may be a peaceful phantom, but it is effective. I wake up grouchy and ready to move on.



New Boston, New York

Jim and I could have aimed for a northerly New Boston up near Watertown, N.Y. But a more minuscule dot south and east of Syracuse snags my attention. Some maps show the village, others do not. Jim's GPS makes an electronic argument that it does not exist.

"We'll see about that," I say. After spending the night in the nearby college town of Cazenovia, we rattle off on a maze of dirt roads, whizzing past turnoffs, reversing direction, and screeching to a stop in front of a maple that has collapsed into the road. Like Boston, itself, none of the villages we've visited are kind to drivers.

By a stroke of luck we find Dog Hollow Forest, pictured on the map, and get to a grassy hillside where Cuyler Hill Road runs into Randell Hill Road. "This is it!" I yell. "New Boston, N.Y. 13158."

Jim looks deeply skeptical. There's an old schoolhouse that someone is using as a home. A covered bridge has been abandoned and is without its stream. Two goats chew weeds next to a pond. And there's a sort of farm.



I get out in the rain to ring the bell. Dogs bark from inside and out, a chicken examines me from around the corner of a shed, and a man with a white beard appears, slamming a screen door. "Charles Gibbs," he growls. "Who're you?"

When I tell him about my project, Gibbs' eyes narrow. There is recognition. New Boston is real. "We was named for Boston, Massachusetts way, way back," says Gibbs. "This was a busy place once, full of activity." Gibbs is remembering. His eyes are shut now. I can see the first subtle curvature of a smile.

New Boston, Michigan

The drive along Lake Erie on Interstate 90 is bumpy and slow due to construction. I feel like I'm on a wagon train from New England, eager to pitch camp. Once we cross into Michigan, I stop for gas and for directions to New Boston. "You mean New Baltimore?" says the clerk. Not a good sign.

But after our New York outpost, and the hamlets of New Hampshire and Western Mass., Michigan's mini-Boston (population 9,056) comes across as a metropolis. Dating back to about 1820, it's got its very own post office and is smack in the flight path of the Detroit airport.



I don't find a Northeast-style village green, but there's a busy corner with Gibbs Sweet Station (ice cream), McNasty's Saloon (mostly beer), and Mary Ann's Drive-Inn which, according to waitress Dawn Meksula, is famous for its homefries and pies.

"Boston Cream Pie doesn't sell too well around here," she tells me. "This is apple-growing country. New Boston puts on an apple fest every October with a big parade."

At the New Boston Pharmacy, pharmacist Einar Tjolsen confirms this. "This is a town with traditions," he says. "Apples, of course, and some families that have lived here for a lot of years." I can't help noticing a photo of Fenway Park tacked up by the counter, near some baskets overflowing with gum.

"That's my wife and me, last year," says Tjolsen. "I do like Boston. I kind of feel at home there, and there's so much history."

As much as this town? I say.

Tjolsen laughs. "Don't tell anyone I said this," he adds. "But maybe slightly more."

Peter Mandel is the author of the read-aloud bestseller Jackhammer Sam (Macmillan/Roaring Brook) and other books for kids, including Zoo Ah-Choooo (Holiday House) and Bun, Onion, Burger (Simon & Schuster).

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The DBCs of Making a Global Impact in Today's World

"Traveling the world is one of the greatest things you can ever do for yourself. It will shatter all illusions, stereotypes, and notions you have of the world and the people in it. You will unlearn, learn, and relearn things you will never discover through a book, a classroom, or a degree. It will humble you, shake you, wake you up. It will seep into your pores and find its way to your heart, and it will find it fast. The veil over your vision will come off and you will experience things that fringe over magic. And you will never ever be the same again in the best way possible. So do yourself a favor, and just buy that d**n plane ticket." ~ Satori

By the age of 17, I had lived in five different countries and four different continents. Several words even though they sound the same mean two different things and invoke two different emotions. You know them?



Chips...

Football...



My point is I'm a minority everywhere I go even in my passport country but when faced with the option of celebrating my difference or conforming to what was considered the norm, I chose to celebrate my difference and I haven't looked back since.



You see growing up everywhere the way I did, I initially had an identity crisis. You know. Who am I?

Why am I not like them?

Why is my accent different?

But I came to realize that there is true beauty in our world. I also came to realize that even though the world is full of differences, many of us use these differences to drive people apart. With this realization, all of a sudden I had a sense of purpose. I saw my identity crisis as a gift. I saw my difference as an opportunity to show the world that there is beauty in having the mindset of a nomad. Not only in the way it opens our minds but also in the perspectives it gives us.

Many of today's world's problems today are caused because of people's unwillingness to accept change whether it's race, religion or ethnic background. Why can't we use OUR DIFFERENCES to make a DIFFERENCE."

I believe there are 3 ways we can do this. It's what I like to call the DBC. The first way is to



Defeat the Supposed to Syndrome- What is the "supposed to syndrome"? It's the idea that you're supposed to be a certain way because a certain tradition and culture dictates that. Ascribing to this notion doesn't allow you to maximize your potential and impact that you could make because you will be constantly living up to someone's expectation. One thing you have to understand as someone who identifies with several cultures is that you are not supposed to be a certain way. The very design of your background is constant change so embrace that and allow your experiences to take you away. Understand that being different is ok and necessary for you to find your place because after all, isn't it so much easier to be yourself as opposed to trying to be like one the other 7 billion people. That's just exhausting.

Be YOU because you can...

Break down the Berlin Walls that exist in today's world- Much like the Berlin Wall was put up by the then Soviets in 1961 to prevent East Germans from fleeing to West Germany, we have Berlin walls that exist today and they are everywhere. They manifest themselves in concepts like stereotypes.

Stereotyping is the laziest way to understand culture because it makes assumptions on who you are and what you do without actually knowing who you are and what you do.

We need to use our innate curiosity to educate and dispel stereotypes. Let's build bridge cultural gaps, foster empathy and truly show the world how to communicate across boundaries. Let's connect.

Connect in a Digital World- Speaking of connecting. Nothing speaks to how global we have become like the Internet. I built my business by connecting with like-minded people over the Internet. It started with a blog, then using #TCK, #GlobalNomad, and #ThirdCultureKids to start conversations with like-minded people on Twitter before subsequently creating a platform for people to share their stories. My content was able to form some sort of connection with people and two of them ended up becoming business partners of mine. The Internet gives you a voice and power that was not available 15 years ago. It cuts the middleman and allows you to deliver unfiltered stories so go out and start a blog, host a webinar or podcast, launch a course. You never know whom you will connect with.

DBC

Defeat the supposed to syndrome

Break down the Berlin Walls that exist in today's society.

And

Connect In the digital world we live today.

As I close today, i'm reminded of this quote from Robert Frost

"I shall be telling this with a sigh somewhere ages and ages hence: Two roads diverged in a wood, and I - I took the one less travelled by, and that has made all the difference." ~ Robert Frost

Go out and take your place as the next diplomats, educators and leaders. It's time for the us to use our DIFFERENCE to make a DIFFERENCE.

This post was originally posted on Tayo Rockson's media site at UYD Media

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Ten Offbeat Reasons To Make Scranton, PA Your Next Mini-Escape

You'd be forgiven if Scranton PA doesn't spring to mind as a vacation destination. But let's take a second look, ok?

This Anthracite-rich, coal-mining, railroading town was both lauded and ridiculed by Steve Carrell, Rainn Wilson and the rest of the cast of The Office, when they toiled in the Scranton satellite of the fictitious Dunder Mifflin Paper Company. As a travel writer with an eye to the offbeat, I focus on the lauds because they are on the rise in this strangely compelling and uber-friendly town.

There are more attractions in Scranton than in most cities of its size; reasons to spend two or three days here. The following ten are in no way exhaustive. For more on Scranton and other offbeat destinations in the Northeast, check out GetawayMavens.com.



1. The founders of the tiny Houdini Museum, Dorothy Dietrich and Dick Brookz, keep a very low profile, but are "Magician Royalty" in their own right. Dietrich, an "escapologist" coined the "Female Houdini," is so far the only woman who has ever performed the Bullet Catch stunt, and was the model for Isla Fisher's character in the hit movie, Now You See Me. The pixyish Dietrich and Brookz, also a world-known magician, met at an agent's office in New York and bonded over a mutual adoration of Houdini. New this year is the 1919 Harry Houdini silent film, Grim Game, which just resurfaced after being lost for nearly 100 years. Come for a tour, a show, and a bit of old-fashioned amazement.



2. Descend 300 feet beneath the earth into what was a working coal mine for over a hundred years (1862-1966) on the Lackawanna Coal Mine Tour. Your tour guide is a bonafide Mine Foreman (in this photo, Lewis Graver, 5th generation Pennsylvania coal miner), who expounds on work below ground in this dangerous job. You'll be schooled in all the components of mining: digging, blasting, safety, bad air, ventilation, child labor - all the excruciating, lung-diseased work of coal mining through the ages, and will return to the sun with a much greater appreciation of that life.



3. You can scramble on a steam locomotive larger than some New York City apartments. Scranton, home to Steamtown National Historic Site, is the center of the universe for steam train fans, and this museum complex is nirvana for kids and parents who watch Thomas the Tank Engine ad infinitum. Choose from 30 different tours: The Locomotive Shop Tour being the most popular.



4. Silk factory machines, preserved at the excellent Anthracite Heritage Museum, are positively beautiful. Within its 17,000 square feet, this engaging museum tells the story of the Anthracite coal that built this city, the Eastern European immigrants who came to work in the mines, and other industries - like textile mills - built up around mining and railroading.



5. Spike, the Stegosaurus at the Everhart Museum, turns 175 million years old on his birthday this year. The Museum is but one attraction in the trail-laced Nay Aug Park, which also features waterfalls, a pool, a Greenhouse (where you can drop in for Yoga Class and also purchase plants), a moving memorial to area soldiers who perished in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the new David Wenzel designed "Treehouse."



6. Scranton has gone hipster on Adams Street. A friendly, sharing collective, cool shops are popping up within a four block radius and include Loyalty Barber Shop, The Post (soaps, lotions, honey), Letterpress (posters, broadsides for local events)and Coconut Summer Grill (raw juices and New York's finest hot dogs and burgers).



7. You can have your "meat" and be vegan, too, at Eden Vegan Café, where meatballs, burgers and even chicken wings are crafted from soy to look like the real deal. A Happy Cow favorite.



8. Terra Preta owner, Trish Dickert-Nieves, healed herself and now offers healthy "root to leaf" cuisine to an eager clientele. Dickert-Nieves, grand-niece of Peter Luger (yes, that Peter Luger), grew up in the restaurant business - her father owns and operates Carl Von Luger's in Scranton - and Terra Preta's organic, healthy options are filling a crucial niche in this meat and potatoes town.



9. You can dine under a paper mache whale, in a booth with its own private fish tank, surrounded by pirates, posters, and toys of the past at the outrageously festooned Coopers Seafood House. You can't miss it - it's got a red and white lighthouse and a giant squid on the roof. Some patrons come just for the signature Caramel Sea Salt Sweet Potato Fries (deadly good) washed down with a few craft beers chosen from Cooper's 23 page "Beer Bible."



10. Stay in Scranton's version of Grand Central Station at the Radisson Lackawanna Station Hotel. Parts of the arched Tiffany stained-glass skylights were destroyed in the 70's when movers chose to throw desks from the offices of the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad through the glass from higher floors rather than carry them down, but you get a sense of the grandeur from what's left. Within a lobby gleaming with Sienna and Alpine green marble walls and terrazzo-tile floor, you can almost hear ghostly echoes of "All Aboard."

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Rocky Mountain Highs

By Rory Winston

We still keep an eye out for falcons, the kind that drop from the summits of skyscrapers with the cantankerous force of urban legend, those odd shadows endowing our city's rush of gravel with mountain-like austerity. Their swooping forms carry our aspirations. They fly over us ready to drop our hopes onto the concrete pavements before making a meal of them. At other times, theirs are the dark wings tenuously giving birth to our flights of fancy.

No falcons today, that was clear. Still we make due, imbuing our everyday language with the absences we suffer. Our terms reflect the very wilderness we so desperately lack: lone wolf, concrete jungle, bear market - magical devices with which to compensate for our city's lack of nature. We long for the stuff of ballads, the stuff of hackneyed John Denver songs; we long for that Rocky Mountain High.

Despite the appeal of 'communing' or 'being at one' with nature, there is this to be reckoned with: my wife and child - two city girls who care little for braving the elements. Though I am fond of traveling in their company, they were neither particularly fond of Jack London nor are they inspired by hearing the phrase 'roughing it'. Nevertheless, I long to show them those 'cathedral mountains' and 'clear waters' that are capable of transforming existence into something beyond our own lives. I want them to witness serenity, not as a welcome afterthought to an arduous task but as a perpetually undisturbed void in all its breathy jutting form.



Bachelors Gulch, Beaver Creek: no it's not an innuendo but the name of genuine locations in close proximity; still, it does manage to be a most romantic family-oriented destination. The fact that the words romantic and family-oriented do not succumb to an oxymoron, can be attributed to the area's emphasis on coupling impeccable service with a laid-back feel. One local specialty, offered by the centrally located Ritz Carlton, is a loan-a-Lab-for-a-hike program, the innovation being that kids get to walk off into the sunset with a trained Labrador retriever. Unlike the search and rescue St. Bernards of Switzerland, their Colorado counterparts are part of a canine prevention package. As for the Four-star Ritz property, although it is reminiscent in architecture and layout to Valmorel's Club Med resort as well as to a number of other palatial Swiss mountain hotel compounds, the hotel is not nearly as charming as it is pricey. The one part of the establishment that does warrant mention, however, is their restaurant - a culinary adventure of fine local ingredients that will have most consider the merits of the 'go west young man' adage.

Since Beaver Creek's renowned skiing slopes are off-season, the Rockies allow one the opportunity to indulge in a cornucopia of budding forestry. Oddly resplendent flowers angle themselves along our hiking path while bemused raccoons follow till we board a raft headed down a crystal-clear stream. Soon, a parade of butterflies arrives specifically to taunt my daughter with all the various colors she doesn't as of yet possess in her wardrobe. In acknowledgement of their preening, my daughter veers our mutual horse onto one of the most highly rated Golf courses in America. Thankfully, we stop in time and she settles for tennis instead of forcing me to rent a bicycle and driving us off the steep end of a cliff.

Cattle ranchers, failed farmers, an area for scrawny sheep during the Great Depression... this part of the Rockies had seen its share of hardships, things going from bad to worse until one fine day there was simply no one left. Everyone had abandoned the land and allowed it to revert to the beautifully uninhabitable terrain it was always meant to be. Standing amidst the unconquered mountains that mankind had retreated from, I think of home. But the word now feels peculiar and remote. And so, my exhausted wife and child by my side, I sit silently under "the shadow of starlight softer than a lullaby." Not a tune emerges between us, yet something continues to soar directly overhead - something familiar yet godlike, essential yet remote, something like a melody dangling from a perpetually soft wind.

Rory Winston is a published author/poet/playwright/TV comedy writer/columnist who serves as the Feature & Art Editor for the NY Resident Magazine, and blogs for See.place on The Huffington Post.

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Taking a River Cruise...with Disney? You Can in 2016

By Christine Dayao for ShermansTravel



Disney is setting sail once again -- but not on the seas via its own beloved cruise line. Adventures by Disney, the company's family touring arm, is partnering with river cruise company AmaWaterways for four sailings on the Danube River in 2016.

Adventures by Disney operates land-based tours around the world -- from close-to-home destinations like Nashville and San Francisco to far-flung ones like Costa Rica and Cambodia, Vietnam and Laos -- but this partnership with AmaWaterways marks the first time it's offering entirely river-going itineraries. What's more, the river cruising is largely geared towards adults, so the Adventures by Disney sailings open up the market to families.

The sailings won't be a miniature version of Disney Cruise Line cruises, though. While guests will be treated with the same personalized attention and thoughtful service, the voyages are all about the real world adventures, focusing on the culture and history of the ports (as river cruises like AmaWaterways do so well). In fact, you won't find any Disney characters onboard -- instead, local performers who will come aboard to entertain will be the "characters."

The four seven-night trips will be hosted aboard the new AmaViola, sailing from Vilshofen to Budapest on July 14 and 28, then back from Budapest to Vilshofen on July 21 and December 22. Trip highlights include attending an Oktoberfest event in Germany, visiting filming sites featured in The Sound of Music in Austria, taking in the sights at Slovakia's Devin Castle, and learning to make authentic goulash in Hungary. The December sailing, a special holiday-themed one, will also include tickets to a Vienna Boys Choir performance.

To accommodate families with members of all ages, the ship will have features never before seen on a river cruise, including reconfigured cabins that can be connected to fit families with three to five people. And where AmaWaterways' other ships have areas for wine tastings, guests can expect reimagined entertainment spaces with the likes of karaoke, Disney movie nights, and games on AmaViola. Suffice to say, "I'm bored" is something you'd never have to hear or utter on these trips.

Prices at start from $4,539 for adults and $4,319 for children (age minimum is 4-years-old, though the recommendation is 8 or older). The price covers outside stateroom accommodations, all meals, unlimited local beer, wine and soft drinks during lunch and dinner, a cocktail reception, and Captain's dinner onboard. Off the ship, a choice of multiple excursions daily with the services of eight adventure guides, some onshore meals, and bicycle rentals are complimentary. Gratuities are also taken care of, as is Wi-Fi.

photo: Adventures by Disney

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Seriously Long-Haul: 10 Longest Non-Stop Flights from the United States

Since the very beginnings of aviation in America, U.S. flyers have been trying to push the boundaries: Chuck Yeager cracked the sound barrier; Amelia Earhart crisscrossed the Atlantic Ocean, and Buzz Aldrin and Neil Armstrong left footprints on the moon. Today, things are hardly any different, as a wealth of airlines really crank up the milometer counts with some seriously daunting air connections to destinations across the globe.

Hopper takes a look at 10 of the longest flights currently departing from the runways of the United States, boasting distances in excess of 8,500 miles and flight times that are sure to get even the most patient of travelers reaching for their copies of War and Peace.

10. New York to Hong Kong
Airline: Cathay Pacific
Distance: 8072 miles
Time: 16 hours

Kicking off our collection of the 10 longest non-stops on offer from the United States is this tantalizing trip to the happening archipelago of Hong Kong, which offers opportunities for dolphin spotting, sunbathing on the beaches of the South China Sea, and sightseeing between the momentous rises of Tsim Sha Tsui. If that's got you thinking, then these hefty air connections from New York, which cover over 8,000 miles and take 16 hours on acclaimed carrier Cathay Pacific may just be the perfect thing. (Check out the 10 Longest Non-Stop Flights from New York for other super longhauls from JFK.)

9. San Francisco to Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Airline: Emirates
Distance: 8103 miles
Time: 16 hours

The first of our elongated air connections to see American travelers transported to the desert-shrouded megalopolises of the United Arab Emirates is this time-consuming hop from San Francisco to sprawling Dubai. It's operated by award-winning flag carrier Emirates, who provide passengers departing out of the City by the Bay with a whole host of on-board luxuries to pass the time -- from in-built massage functions on business- and first-class seats, to award-winning ICE entertainment systems loaded with the latest blockbusters. Nice.

8. Dallas to Hong Kong
Airline: American
Distance: 8123 miles
Time: 16.5 hours

There's no question that the more intrepid types of Texas will love Hong Kong and its enthralling wonders: the neon-lit skyscrapers of Victoria Harbor and the endless attractions of Ocean Park; the bustling shopping centers and lively foodie strips of Kowloon; and the picturesque, temple-dotted hills of Lantau Island. However, first they'll have to brave the eighth longest air connection currently on offer from the United States overall: a massive 8,123 mile hop from Dallas to Hong Kong!

7. San Francisco to Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Airline: Etihad
Distance: 8158 miles
Time: 16 hours

The first -- but certainly not the last -- pick here from UAE's flag-carrying airline Etihad comes in the form of this protracted hop across the heights of the North Pole, straight down into the baking heat of the Persian deserts. In total, the connection clocks up just shy of 8,160 miles in the air and takes an estimated 16 hours from departure to arrival, all in order to eliminate lengthy stopovers for Americans on the way to bustling, business-minded Abu Dhabi. (Here are 10 more crazy-long non-stop flights from San Francisco.)

6. Houston to Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Airline: Emirates
Distance: 8168 miles
Time: 16.5 hours

Texans may as well be hopping aboard one of the Apollo missions that were so famously controlled from their Houston base when it comes to making the journey across to the largest metropolis in the United Arab Emirates -- such is the whopping 8,168 mile length and 16.5 hour time tag of this colossal air connection between George Bush Intercontinental Airport and Dubai International. That said, it's doubtful that Buzz Aldrin and Neil Armstrong had private first-class suites, ICE entertainment systems, and bespoke on-board catering services to keep them company!

5. Los Angeles to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Airlines: Saudia
Distance: 8332 miles
Time:17 hours

Midway down our list and midway down the sun-kissed coastline of the Persian Gulf is the ancient and wondrous city of Jeddah -- a land of buzzing Arabic bazaars, aromatic food joints and interesting coral houses from centuries gone by. Getting into town from Los Angeles will take travelers on the nonstop route with flag carrier Saudia around 17 hours from departure to arrival, which should leave plenty of time to enjoy those flat-bed seats and amazing Arabic dishes onboard!

4. Los Angeles to Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Airline: Emirates
Distance: 8339 miles
Time: 16.5 hours

Like the mighty rises of the Burj Khalifa at the heart of Dubai itself, these daunting air connections between the Arabic megacity and the West Coast capital of cool soar high into the skies before scooting down between the runways on the edge of the Persian Gulf. They are run by flag carrier Emirates, who complete the trip in 16.5 hours on their gargantuan Airbus A380s that come complete with on-board lounges, first class spa facilities and oodles of other luxuries to boot!

3. Los Angeles to Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Airline: Etihad
Distance: 8390 miles
Time: 16.5 hours

A gleaming patchwork of marble mosques, magnificent avant-garde architecture, beryl Persian shore waters and shimmering, sun-kissed high rises awaits travelers making this whopping transpolar hop to the dusty desert lands of the Middle East. And while the 16.5 hour time tag may seem a little daunting, passengers would do well to remember Etihad's all-new offering of private Residence cabins, with their sofas, three separate rooms and enticing 125 square feet of space. (Click here for all 10 of the longest non-stop flights from Los Angeles.)

2. Atlanta to Johannesburg, South Africa
Airline: Delta
Distance: 8439 miles
Time: 16.5 hours

Atlanta's ticket to the stomping grounds of the so-called Big Five game of Kruger and Sabi Sands as well as the bustling urban adventure that is Johannesburg, these mighty air connections clock up a mind-boggling 8,439 miles in the skies before finally touching down on the dusty runways of O. R. Tambo International Airport. That makes them the second longest currently on offer from the United States overall.

1. Dallas to Sydney, Australia
Airline: Qantas
Distance: 8578 miles
Time: 17 hours

Since May 2011 Australian flag carrier Qantas have held the record for not only the longest nonstop flight out of the United States but also the longest nonstop flight on the planet overall--coming in at 8,578 miles in length and taking passengers 17 hours to complete from departure to arrival! The route is also known as one of the first long haulers to make use of the mighty Airbus A380 aircraft, which holds a whopping 323,000 litres of fuel and offers just shy of 500 seats on-board!

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This article originally appeared on Hopper.com.

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A Père-Lachaise Story With Sexual Innuendo

Jim Morrison.

"Here, here, it's here! I found it, watch me waving my arms!" as I finally walked upon the most visited stone head in the world, after erring for 30 minutes.

We have been looking for the tomb of Jim Morrison (singer of the Doors, who died in Paris in 1971) for a while, along with two other sets of tourists who were wandering for a much longer time than we had. The Père-Lachaise cemetery is a vast park in the 20th arrondissement of Paris, a huge enclosure full of resting places, trees, birds, funeral flowers, and wandering humans.

The maze is almost always haunted (pun intended) by semi-lost tourists looking for that one particular famous person deceased that they have wished to get a glimpse of in their final state of peace. Plenty of those here. The cemetery has several "Divisions" and specific corners and locations for various religions, as all are represented here. This is not a Christian cemetery; this is an all-denominations garden built in 1820.

Even though we knew the tombstone is located in Division 6, Plot 30, from the map posted at the entrance, no other indication was available. We walked from Division to Division, 8, 7, 9, 8 again, without finding it. I knew from experience that it was at the top of the cemetery, towards the back wall, but I also remembered that each time I visited, it was a struggle to find it.

You would think that the official ground keepers would have posted signs and directions by now, in view of the fact that Jim's grave location is always the most requested by all visitors. But no, they want to make it hard to find, it seems, probably because it builds the tension and the joy of finally getting to it.

As soon as they saw my arms, the groups gathered together to ogle the revered tomb. It's quite modest, has no erected header, is low on the ground, hidden behind other graves, and is protected by a complete circling of metal barricades, the same ones used by the police to rein in protesters at rallies. His tomb is also the only one with a permanent surveillance camera focused on it, for in the past, many young people took pieces of the stones, stole chunks of its marble base, and tried to spend the night locked in the cemetery to sleep on it.

It got a little better, as the 1970s idol lost a few fans, of old age no doubt; but it still seems that new generations of adoring followers are coming to see where he lays. Imagine if he had a Twitter account? No doubt that he would have millions of followers.

I was happy to have finally located it first, for all those admirers getting distraught for not finding him. On Jim's headstone, his father requested the following inscription to be engraved: "KATA TON DAIMONA EAYTOY", appropriately meaning "According to his own demons."

The park is uneven at best, on steep slopes of eroded and decaying cobblestones. This place is old, very old. No heels recommended here. The language spoken the day we visited was clearly not French, but a lot of English, some German, and lots of Scandinavian who also master the English words like no other.

Several monuments honor the victims of wars, but also of catastrophes, such as airlines disasters -- four of them are represented here.

Victor Noir.

Other celebrities also have their own problems with their last place of rest on Earth. Take for example the reporter Victor Noir. His verdigris effigy, a full size replica of his body lying down as if sleeping has been somewhat defaced (no, not the right word) by women throughout the years, as his semi-erected penis (of stone) has become a symbol of fertility, and the legend has it that woman rubbing against his tool will get pregnant.

The erotic myth requires placing flowers in the upturned top hat after kissing the stone man on the lips and rubbing his visible penis. This shall bring fertility, or a blissful sex life, or at the very least, a husband within the year.

I don't know what it does for men. The place of "friction" clearly shows up on the statue, as the verdigris color has become of a different shiny color after all these years. Cemetery workers have never bothered to clean or restore it, since the same thing would most likely happen again. Some say it represents the rigor mortis of the organ that takes place after death.

The man was not such a celebrity, no Anderson Cooper here, but the lifelike reality of his model made him the perfect victim for sexual attraction. Fatal? After all, he is dead, he is lying down, and his penis is clearly visible under his pants of stone.

So the ritual will probably continue for decades - no statistics on how many women actually got pregnant after the exercise. The statue is of very good quality as it does not even look that worn down, beside THE spot, for what I could see.

Victor Noir died in 1870 in a duel with Prince Pierre Bonaparte (at the time the favorite way of dying for your beliefs) the great-nephew of Napoleon, after he took offense of the writings of Noir in the newspaper he was working for, La Marseillaise. Noir might have been one of the first journalists to die for his words and his opinions. The life-size sculpture represents him as he fell down after being shot, with his hat a little apart by his side, as it had rolled away when he hit the ground.

Edith Piaf

Balzac, Chopin, Molière, Edith Piaf, La Fontaine, Proust (Where fans often leave a Madeleine), Colette, Oscar Wilde (in a wild grave) are also entered here, among hundreds of other celebrities, and have visitors of their own, albeit rarely as fanatical as these of Jim or Victor. Rumors has it that the ground underneath the cemetery is not doing so well, and many of the bones have been moved elsewhere, a fact impossible for me to verify.

The numerous alleys and sidewalks are wicked and on a descending slope, and the very advanced age of the place might indeed require moving the skeletons or losing them to loose decay.

Siné, a former collaborator of the Charlie Hebdo satirical newspaper you've heard of this past January, bought a large sepulture here - even thought he is not dead yet - big enough to contain 60 people, with a funky headstone in the shape of a cactus and the ironic quote: "Mourir? Plutot crever!" (Which loosely translates in "Dying? I'd rather keel over!)

In any case, nobody gets buried here any more, unless the family owns a perpetual concession. Just about one million people are entered here. No new spots can be dug, no room left. Cats and rats roam the cemetery, but after all, it is a gigantic garden. Visitors bearing sandwiches and rain water aplenty in all those flower pots makes it a paradise for all.

Just like if you were there, this very detailed virtual tour lets you select the tomb you wish to visit by taking you there, listed in alphabetical order.

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7 Castles That Will Help You Live Out Your Game of Thrones Dreams

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U.S. Tightens Screening Of Airport Workers After Gun Arrest

WASHINGTON, April 20 (Reuters) - U.S. airport workers will be subject to extra security screening under new rules prompted by the arrest of a baggage handler in Atlanta on gun smuggling charges, federal authorities said Monday.

Airport and airline employees will now have to be screened before flying by the Transportation Security Administration, Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson said. They also face increased random screening throughout the workday.

Fingerprint-based criminal history checks will be required every two years for airport employees allowed in specially designated security areas until TSA establishes a system for real time criminal history checks, Johnson said in a statement.

Access points to the secure areas will also be reduced.

Johnson asked for a review of airport worker screening in January after a Delta Air Lines baggage handler was charged with helping another man smuggle 18 handguns onto a flight from Atlanta to New York City, in a scheme that prosecutors said ran for years and also involved assault weapons.

"Immediately following the incident in December 2014, TSA increased the random and unpredictable screening of aviation workers at various airport access points to mitigate potential security vulnerabilities," Johnson said.

After the arrest, U.S. Senator Charles Schumer, a New York Democrat, asked the TSA to require that all airline and airport employees be physically screened every day before work.

In January, the Federal Aviation Administration suspended a program that allows its inspectors to skip security checkpoints on the job after one of them was arrested with a firearm in his carry-on bag. (Reporting by Doina Chiacu; Editing by Andrea Ricci)

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Travelers Go Beyond Volontourism

After hundreds of business trips and a vacation or two, Clement Quintyne's Briggs & Riley Rollaboard was ready for the recycler. The wheels were worn and the outside was frayed.

His wife, Debra, figured it was time for new luggage. But what to do with the old bag?

Then she heard about the company's new trade-in program called "A Case for Giving." Quintyne, a manager from Raleigh, N.C., could return his luggage and receive a $100 credit on a new Briggs & Riley bag. The aging spinner would be donated to charity.

It was a deal she couldn't pass up, she said, because there's a deficit of compassion among travelers.

"I don't think travelers are charitable to one another," she said. "People are more concerned with getting on airplanes first so they can stow their luggage before there is no more overhead space. Hopefully, this luggage exchange will spread and will make people stop and think about the many blessings that they have."

The Briggs & Riley program, which just wrapped up, is one of many travel-related charities that are easy to miss in today's frenetic travel world. Perhaps it's good to acknowledge them because they have the potential to make travel better -- and maybe even make us better travelers.

It can start before your trip begins, with your planning. For example, Vacation 4 A Cause, a travel agency based in Flower Mound, Tex., donates a portion of the money you spend on your vacation to a nonprofit partner. The agency's mission: "Making the world a better place, one vacation at a time." A typical resort vacation for a family of four could generate a donation of about $300, said Jennifer Gross, the agency's owner.

Organizations such as Tourism Cares help the travel industry be more philanthropic, giving professionals like Gross an outlet for giving and volunteering. Tourism Cares is well known for its industry volunteer projects at destinations in need. Most recently, it coordinated an effort by 325 volunteers from 29 states to help restore Miami's landmark Marine Stadium.

But lately, it has added philanthropy and corporate social responsibility programs, said Mike Rea, the organization's chief executive, such as philanthropic awards and strategy consulting.

"Travelers are using their pocketbooks in new ways to benefit communities," Rea said. "Often, before they leave, they'll scout out options for giving back and getting involved. Sometimes they plan their whole trip around community involvement."

Voluntourism, as the concept is known, remains one of the most popular ways for travelers to get involved in a charitable cause.

Because many tours are just resort vacations interrupted by an afternoon of feel-good activities, like picking up trash on the beach, tour operators such as REI Adventures are trying to set themselves apart by offering trips that make a "real and significant impact," said REI Adventures General Manager Cynthia Dunbar.

Its Virgin Islands Volunteer Vacation, for instance, focuses on trail work in Virgin Islands National Park that is done alongside National Park Service rangers. You'll clean debris, fix trails and remove vegetation in the park. But it's not all work; you'll have two free days out of the week to hike, snorkel, swim and relax.

Hotels are getting in on the act, too. The Sheraton Kauai Resort offers a program called Table 53 at its signature oceanfront restaurant, RumFire Poipu Beach. A portion of your check goes to charity. So far, the program has raised $90,000.

"It's an easy way for travelers to give back to our small island community," said hotel spokeswoman June Cappiello.

The luxury cruise line Seabourn has a new partnership with UNESCO that allows passengers to help save destinations that may have been damaged by years of irresponsible tourism. It now offers World Heritage Discovery Tours with itineraries developed in cooperation with the agency, site managers and tour experts. Prices for the tours include a donation to benefit UNESCO's World Heritage sites -- designated places of special cultural or physical significance. Seabourn will also make a small donation to UNESCO when customers book its shore excursions online.

The two-week luggage exchange by Briggs & Riley resulted in hundreds of bags being donated through participating retailers. The luggage was refurbished and sent to people in immediate need in local communities, including the Ronald McDonald House charities in New York, Atlanta and Denver. All told, more than 100 charity partners participated in the promotion.

It came about when Briggs & Riley chief executive Richard Krulik, who is active in charities, realized that his products had the potential to meet a very real need, "whether it's helping a child leaving foster care or a family traveling to care for the health of a loved one."

Bottom line: No matter where you're going or what stage of the journey you're at, there are more opportunities than ever to do good.

After you've left a comment here, let's continue the discussion on my consumer advocacy site or on Twitter, Facebook and Google. I also have a newsletter and you'll definitely want to order my new, amazingly helpful and subversive book called How to Be the World's Smartest Traveler (and Save Time, Money, and Hassle). Photo: Shutterstock.

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5 Best Green Hotels in America

Reduce your carbon footprint on your next vacation with a stay at one of the best green hotels in the United States. Built using recycled materials and boasting everything from low-energy lighting to a regenerative drive elevator, these forward-thinking accommodations use cutting-edge technology to ensure that eco-friendly guests get a good night's rest. Whether you're planning a weekend in wine country or business trip in the Big Apple, these smart hotels offer an environmentally conscious option for savvy travelers.

h2hotel

Healdsburg, CA

From its very start, the LEED Silver-certified h2hotel set itself apart from the eco crowds. Before building began on the site of a former gas station, the contaminated soil was removed and the property's creek bed restored. With just 36 guest rooms, this Sonoma Wine Country beauty offers Earth-conscious luxury, including bamboo floors, drought-tolerant plants and a green roof that filters rainwater and serves as a natural cooling system. Lights, fans and air-conditioners feature occupant sensors, and solar panels heat the rooms and pool. We especially love on-site Spoonbar, which spotlights local purveyors, vino from sustainable producers and the use of wine kegs to reduce packaging.

Read a complete review of h2hotel

Element New York Times Square West

New York, NY

Centrally located in Times Square, this stylish budget hotel invites guests to think green while partaking in all the Big Apple has to offer. Element works to incorporate as many sustainable, renewable or reused materials and products as possible. From environmentally-friendly "do not disturb" magnets to wall art mounted on bases made from recycled tires, ecologically-minded attributes abound. Carpets are crafted from recycled materials, low-flow faucets conserve water, paints are Earth-friendly and the open-plan guest rooms feature kitchenettes with full-size Energy Star appliances. For indulgent extras, check out the complimentary evening reception, nourishing grab-and-go gourmet pantry items and rooftop terrace with gorgeous views of the city.

Read a complete review of Element New York Times Square West

Hyatt at Olive 8

Seattle, WA

We love it when the mega-chains do their part to make the world a better place. In this case, we applaud the Hyatt group for creating the Hyatt at Olive 8, the first LEED-certified hotel in the über eco-conscious city of Seattle. Standard practices include a water conservation program and building reuse and recycling efforts. Beneath the green roof that provides an urban habitat for birds, bees and butterflies, you can sleep in one of the stylish guest rooms or suites with a clean conscience. The house spa makes being responsible a pleasure, featuring "market fresh" experiences from ingredients grown in the region. Round out your stay with a meal at Urbane, whose farm-to-table menu also relies on produce and products from farmers and food purveyors around the Pacific Northwest.

Read a complete review of Hyatt at Olive 8

Hotel Felix

Chicago, IL

The word "felix" means "happy" in Latin, and when it comes to making the environment happy, this hotel is more than doing its part. The first accommodations in Chicago to earn Silver LEED certification, Hotel Felix relies heavily on recycled products, right down to the materials used for guest room carpets. It also incorporates sustainability into its pampering, with the use of natural Aveda products at Asha Spa. Throw in low-energy-use lighting, green cleaning supplies and structural preservation during development to avoid landfill, and it's easy to see how the hotel is a top choice for eco-travelers in the Windy City.

Read a complete review of Hotel Felix

Proximity Hotel

Greensboro, NC

As the first LEED Platinum-certified lodging in the United States, Proximity Hotel has much to be proud of when it comes to saving the planet. Building materials and furniture were locally sourced, water is heated by solar rooftop panels and a regenerative drive elevator creates energy on descent, feeding it back into the electrical grid. If that isn't enough to make eco-friendly travelers happy, on-site Print Works Bistro serves up traditional and modern European cuisine using geothermal energy and showcases local ingredients. Proximity Hotel also works hard to make sure guests are comfortable by offering chic loft-style accommodations, original local artwork, a fitness studio, an outdoor swimming pool and a "guest living room" on each floor.

Read a complete review of Proximity Hotel

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