planning a cross-country road trip

 

I reported the news in my last post that we are moving from Berkeley, CA to Asheville, NC. Claire and I will be driving cross-country, visiting some places both old and new to us along the way. Here's our tentative itinerary. I'd love to hear your suggestions about places to visit or site inspections to make during our journey — message me on Facebook.

Beverly Hills, California — We begin with a drive down the coast to Los Angeles where we'll spend a couple of days with my daughter who lives there — Virtuoso hotels in LA and Beverly Hills.

Sedona, Arizona — Famous for its red rocks, I think I may previously been near Sedona, but I've never spent any time there. I see this as a great opportunity for some landscape photography — Virtuoso hotels in Sedona.

Santa Fe, New Mexico — I actually spent a month here during the summer of 1991. A very interesting small town with wonderful Native American art and culture and great Mexican cuisine — Virtuoso hotels in Santa Fe.

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma — It will be a long slog across the Texas panhandle into Oklahoma, a state I've never before visited. I'm thinking of staying at the 21c Museum Hotel en route.

Little Rock, Arkansas — Another state I've never visited, we're interesting in seeing the Clinton Library. The Capital, the Virtuoso hotel in Little Rock, is apparently closed for renovations, so we'll stay at the DoubleTree.

Nashville, Tennessee — I've never been to Nashville, the home of the Grand Ole Opry. We may stay at one of the Virtuoso hotels in Nashville or possibly The Joseph, a Luxury Collection property.

Asheville, North Carolina — Our new home in this beautiful city surrounded by mountains, Asheville has been called the Berkeley of the East. 

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copyright (c) 2020 by Ourisman Travel LLC.  All rights reserved. We provide Virtuoso and other Preferred Partner amenities as an affiliate of Brownell, a Virtuoso® Member.

Airbnb | a cautionary tale

the Airbnb apartment described by David Rowell

Airbnb has become quite popular among travelers. Whether seeking economical accommodations for a business trip or family vacation, many travelers have been satisfied with what they've booked. But definitely not all.

Be aware that Airbnb doesn't always work out the way you'd expect. Travel blogger David Rowell recently wrote of a sub-standard experience in his article Should You be Using Airbnb. After renting the (apparently attractive) apartment pictured above, he experienced the following problems.

1. The rate quoted by Airbnb website was $65. By the time "cleaning" and additional fees were added, he ended up paying $85 per night. Plus tax on top of that.

2. 48 hour free cancellation policy? So said the headline on the website, but this language is misleading if you're thinking in terms of hotel cancel policies. Airbnb bookings can only be cancelled for free within 48 hours of making the booking, not up to 48 hours before arrival.

3. Lack of flexibility. Airbnb doesn't offer the flexibility that business travelers require. On a business trip and need to shorten your stay by a day? You'll have to pay for that day. Want to add an extra day at the end of your trip? While usually a non-issue for a hotel, Airbnb isn't set up this way.

4. Reaching "management" can be an issue if a problem arises. The access code to his apartment didn't work. He had to email the owner, then sit on the steps and wait for a reply — no phone number provided, no front desk to help.

Other bad news he didn't learn until his arrival:

5. There was a climb of 25 steps to reach the front door of the apartment, lugging a suitcase.

6. The neighborhood was sketchy, homeless persons sleeping under a nearby bridge.

7. The lack off a desk meant there was no place to accomplish the work he had to do.

8. Inadequate air-conditioning. He even asked. Despite the owner's assurances that the apartment was air-conditioned, it turned out to be a single window unit in the living room. Totally ineffective in mitigating the 90º temperature in the bedroom down the hall, getting a good night's sleep proved impossible.

His verdict:

The apartment has a five-star rating on Airbnb, and something like 300 generally gushingly positive reviews.  I found it a hellish experience full of unexpected gotcha moments.  And at the end of it all, I was expected to do the dishes, load the washing machine with used sheets and towels, and take the trash out to the rubbish bins around the corner of the building – all the things one doesn’t want to do when on vacation, and doesn’t have time to do when traveling on business.

Is there a better way to rent an apartment or home? I recommend our Virtuoso travel partner One Fine Stay. Yes, you'll pay a bit more, but every property has been vetted. You'll be met upon arrival by a professional team who will let you into your apartment and explain how things work. You'll get a midweek and end-of-week cleaning. You'll be provided with an iPhone, data included, with a one-touch button for assistance 24/7. One Fine Stay even provides concierge services. Read a review here!

Virtuoso amenities are offered in London, Paris, Rome, Milan, New York, LA, San Francisco, Boston, and Miami: your choice of a $100 credit on stocking your refrigerator prior to your arrival ... or a $100 credit toward guest experiences arranged with their concierge. You simply have to book through a Virtuoso travel advisor.

copyright (c) 2018 by Ourisman Travel LLC. All rights reserved. We provide Virtuoso and other Preferred Partner amenities as an affiliate of Brownell, a Virtuoso® Member. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.

great luxury hotel deal in LA

breakfast in bed — free every morning with Dorchester Diamond Club

LA Winter Escape lets you stay at one of LA's most renowned properties — your choice of the Beverly Hills Hotel or Hotel Bel Air — and benefit from over $400 of savings and credits, even for a one-night stay before January 31, 2017.

You'll enjoy hundreds of dollars in savings:

regular Diamond Club amenities

• Daily full breakfast for two in any outlet including in-room dining.
• $100 hotel credit applied to your bill — daily $100 credit for Suites.
• Guaranteed upgrade at time of booking, up to the Jr. Suite category.
• Premium WiFi for unlimited number of devices.

plus additional Winter Escape amenities

• additional $100 credit applied to your final bill
• additional $100 F&B credit to be used at the nearby sister hotel
• free transportation between the two hotels

Your choice of hotels is just as exciting as your savings. The Beverly Hills Hotel is an iconic Hollywood institution — walk up the red carpet into the lobby and feel like a star! Hotel Bel-Air is a quiet and beautiful retreat 10 minutes from Beverly Hills, set amidst the mansions of Bel Air.

If Beverly Hills is in your travel plans, this is the way to go!


Terms: While the Winter Escape rate is an extra $50 per night, the additional $200 in credits makes it quite worthwhile. Note that the promotion is subject to availability and black-out dates may apply. To receive the Diamond Club amenities, you must reserve through a Diamond Club agency. Consecutive bookings are excluded. Contact Ourisman Travel for the full details.

copyright (c) 2016 by Ourisman Travel LLC. All rights reserved. We provide Virtuoso and other Preferred Partner amenities as an affiliate of Brownell Travel. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.

do Airbnb and VRBO make you nervous?

They should! Airbnb and VRBO have become a very popular way for travelers to find economical accommodations while traveling. Many travelers have enjoyed their stays, but I've also heard some horror stories (and so have you).

What can go wrong? Here are a few potential problems you'll occasionally experience when renting directly from an owner you don't know:

Pictures posted online may bear no resemblance to the actual rental unit.
Squalid conditions — the home you rent may be filthy and messy.
Flights are delayed — and you can't reach the landlord.
Let me in! You show up, and no one's there to unlock the home.
Problems and more problems with appliances not working and plumbing, electricity, and air conditioning breaking down. Update, 12SEP, 2016 — just heard about someone currently trapped in her AirBnB in New York because the doorknob fell off.
Sometimes it's a scam. On rare occasions, the rental for which you prepaid doesn't actually exist. The "owner" has taken your money and run.

There's a much better way to rent a home in Paris, London, Rome, New York, LA, and more cities soon to come. It's called OneFineStay, and it's a member of Virtuoso, the world's foremost consortium of luxury travel suppliers and travel consultants. Here are the advantages of using your Virtuoso travel consultant to book through OneFineStay.

(1) The Virtuoso amenity is a very nice pair of cashmere slippers for you and your traveling companion(s). You only get these when you book through your Virtuoso travel advisor.

(2) Every home is vetted. I'm told that only 10% of homes are accepted into the rental pool.

(3) Need airport transfers? OneFineStay can get you from the airport to the front door of your home.

(4) Someone is waiting when you arrive. A member of the OneFineStay team will be there show you the home, explain how everything works, provide your keys, and...

(5) You're provided with an iPhone with local calls and data included, preprogrammed with a one touch button to ask for assistance 24/7.

(6) Clean sheets and towels are provided for your stay. OneFineStay uses their own linens, not the owner's. Your home is professionally cleaned before your arrival, you get a mid-week cleaning (for every 7 days rented), and the home is cleaned after your departure.

(7) Some of the homes are absolutely gorgeous! Take a look at the London home in the picture above.


Yes, it will cost more than an Airbnb or VRBO booking, but you do get what you pay for: a beautiful home for much less than a hotel room, great service ... and peace of mind.

copyright (c) 2015 by David Ourisman LLC. All rights reserved. We provide Virtuoso and other Preferred Partner amenities as an affiliate of Brownell Travel. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.