My low expectations of Beijing were superseded before I got past immigration.  Friends had told me about the pollution and the traffic so my husband and I planned to to see the sites, get a new stamp in our passports and return back to our reasonably pollution-free countries. 

As we expected, the dun colored haze of China's air pollution greeted us as we landed.  Also in appearance: an expeditor from the Raffles, a youngish woman with a no-nonsense bun and dress suit, appeared to take our bags and usher us to our waiting Audi to take us to the hotel.  The Raffles brand is defined by exceptional customer service but we had expected a 6 by 12 airport sign after we cleared customs.  Likewise, our we found that what we originally imagined to be a check-the-box-on-China trip exceeded our expectations and left us wanting more. 

Read after the break for specific recommendations on doing Beijing in style with three days on the ground.

My husband and I were intrigued by the idea of a capsule hotel that claimed to be more boutique hotel than hostel and provided private sleeping quarters for its guests.  When we only had one night in Singapore, we thought it best to save our money for a less than 24 hour stopover so we went for Wink. But two out of three of Wink’s claims proved decidedly false: the hotel is NOT a capsule hotel—merely bunk beds with walls—and not boutique in any sense. Walking upstairs to a bathroom and paying $2 per towel does not fit into the boutique hotel mold. If you plan on staying at a hostel then you came to the right place. The false advertising left a bitter taste in my mouth and hesitant to recommend to other readers.

If Wink’s website would have plainly stated that it was a hostel we would have said, “Yes, we will take it.” The showers are reasonably clean but make for a long walk up a floor and around the hallway.  Strands of hair cloak the toiletries left for other guests to use. 

My husband and I slept in one of the double beds. Although the hostel claimed to have “sumptuous” high thread count linens and sumptuous duvets, my sheets had frays at the edge and the duvet felt flimsy.

I did, however, appreciate the ultraviolet lighting scheme that recognized our key and lit up for us when we arrived in our room.  The key card system also works well for storing our belongings as we did not have fumble over a lock and key.

Overall, however, I felt decidedly misled with my stay and cannot recommend the hostel to other travelers.

If a boutique hotel could have a younger sibling the Adventure Hostel in Queenstown would earn a place in the family. With its private rooms, service and modern decor, the hostel emulates the service and style of its older sister. Adventure Hostel may not yet be quite at the level of a hotel, but it comes close. And as a hostel, it looks down on other hostels like a parent.

My husband and I sandwiched our trek in New Zealand's Southern Alps with two nights in Queenstown. Read more about it here. We normally pick a boutique hotel or Starwood Points property for our lodging, but none seemed to match up for our requirements of price, value and location. The Dairy, a close second to the hostel, seemed lovely but slightly out of town. Our decision-making matrix had us only two nights in Queensland sandwiching a hiking trek. We wanted to stay close to the city so we could buy supplies and stay close to transportation connections. We wanted to stock up on meals and gear. and could not spend a day enjoying the grounds and amenities of a finer property. We went for value instead.

The Adventure Hostel had high marks on TripAdvisor and offered private rooms, a rarity among the hostels in the area. According to manager Brett Duncan, the hostel maintains 90% occupancy so were were glad we booked early. Brett took the time to give us a tour of the rest of the hostel, which has a proper kitchen, lounge, and lockers. It is always great to see managers who stay passionate about their business and clients.

Our private room on the third floor had access to the sunny wood balcony and a view of the the lake. The bathroom featured modern Italian fixtures and a neutral tile. I could see the mountains from my shower. The room had coffee, tea, a kettle and a TV and DVD player. Hiking gear and happy hours lay two blocks away. With the privacy of our own room, we could not help but feel we were in a hotel. The natty linens, industrial blue carpet and bunk beds parked next our queen bed, however, reminded us we were in a hostel.

With an upgrade to white hotel lines and a carpet upgrade--wood flooring, perhaps--Brett would have hotel rooms on his hands. And I would certainly choose the Adventure Hostel again for a quick stay in Queenstown on my way to the mountains.

I stay on the lookout for travel pants that meet two criteria: formal but comfortable as pajamas for trans-Pacific hauls. I want to be able to get off the plane and walk into the Four Seasons looking like I belong in the lobby. XCVI's Fold-Over Palazzo pants answer the mail. These very wide-leg pants are made of cotton that may wrinkle easily, but you can't tell with their dark color. Perfect for those of us who don't like to iron.
The flexible waistband allows you to adjust the length. Perfect for petite people like me who wear heels and can't usually handle long inseams without tailoring. I also happened to be on the one-wine bottle a day diet on my recent trip to New Zealand. An elastic waistband helps. ;)  Consider this a pro or a con, but they will most likely work if you are in your first or second trimester.

And the price...$69US dollars? A steal...Available at Zappos 

Born to Run may sit on my shelf still unread but I still became a convert to minimalist running shoes when I bought my first pair of Merrells Dash Gloves. They pack smaller than a normal pair of athletic shoes and you don't need to bring along a pair of socks, unless of course your footsies get cold on the plane. The next time I fly I may also bring Christopher McDougall's book, as it is easy to read and makes for good in-flight reading. 


I will sometimes wear my Merrells around the city with capris if I plan to walk a lot. They also are good for wide feet and have more cushioning on arches than the other minimalist models out there.  

You can even wash them, shoelaces and all, in the washer and they will dry quickly and get rid of any odors--well, almost any odors. I wore them in the ocean after hiking Dragon's Back in Hong Kong and they developed a funk no washing would take out. I am now ordering a new pair in the same color.  

Wake up world! The Antipodes know how to get your attention with safety messages on public transportation.
http://dumbwaystodie.com/

See also Air New Zealand safety videos...

Stunning alpine views, an abundance of waterfalls and a relaxing cruise in Milford Sound. My travel buddy and I came away confident that we traveled New Zealand's Fjordland the right way: roughing it for gasp-inducing scenery and splurging for a post-hike overnight cruise in Milford Sound, the most popular of New Zealand’s majestic fjords. We followed the proven formula of roughing it before luxury, or instead of luxury, merely a comfortable, shower-filled, buffet-side existence. We met travelers who were doing the reverse and felt sorry for them. Best to do the trek before rewarding oneself with a relaxing cruise.

The Milford Sound trek may claim fame as one of the world’s greatest walks. We had heard that the Routeburn proves more interesting in its ecological diversity and choice places to stay along the way. More than 13,000 people a year do the twenty-eight kilometer trek, making it one of New Zealand's busiest.  After viewing wildflowers, glacier lakes and quite possibly the forests from Middle Earth, we stand by our original position.

To continue with the theme of Kiwi humor with a post almost better than pictures of Milford Sound. I had the opportunity to see this video when a ship employee played it through a cruise of New Zealand's Fjordland. Seriously funny...and stay tuned for photos of the Sound...

Air New Zealand's safety crew consistently ensures passengers pay attention to safety videos. How? Well, by featuring characters from Middle Earth, streaking old ladies, and painted-on nudes. 

The Hobbit-themed video features the grandsons of J R Tolkien.

Bare essentials of safety from New Zelaand. Very careful to cover any inappropriate bits:

Richard Simmons, leg warmers, and a disco theme work in a recent safety video:

The 2010 video features rugby players from New Zealand's All Black team. A guest player forgot her uniform...