Feeling Homesick? Five Remedies

Dorothy was right. There’s no place like home.

If you travel for fun, you might only have a vague appreciation of that. But if you’ve ever been away on business for an extended period of time, you probably see things differently. There are few things worse than being sent across some ocean to tend to business for a long period of time.

Unfortunately, I can’t write a note to excuse you from the project at hand. But I can offer some suggestions for making it a bit more palatable when you are far, far away for an extended period.

Bring a piece of home with you. Nothing eases homesickness (and yes, the high-powered executive gets homesick) than a few mementos of your home and loved ones. Bring small photographs in a folding frame for your nightstand— your kids, wife, girlfriend, or loyal pooch. Do you have any young kids? Bring a recent piece of “art.” Does your wife or girlfriend wear a perfume that you love — bring along a sachet that will remind you of her.

Stay in touch. Keeping in touch keeps home close to you and you close to home. There are ways to work around a time difference, but it is important to be sure to keep in touch with your home base — not your office, your home base. Be sure you know that Jimmy won his soccer game, and that your wife had the day from hell, and that Susie has the sniffles. If you are in Europe, call late at night just before you go to bed, and if you find yourself in Asia, set your alarm for a 15 minute conversation in the middle of the night. Call on their time, not yours.

Use technology. If you have a laptop, keep in touch with “just thinking about you” e-mails, consider an instant messaging program, or even a webcam for the face-to-face conversation. I know that my evening out with some clients will go a lot better when my Elizabeth (my daughter) pops onto my instant messaging to tell me about the “way cool lacrosse game” she just finished. While I do not have a webcam, many of our clients do use them to keep in touch — it is a living photograph and closes the distance gap just a little more.

Blog it. Blogging is all the rage. It’s is a personal piece of cyberspace to voice your opinions, keep your thoughts, photos, and memories. Google has a partnership with Blogger, which allows you to blog for free. Just give your personal address to your friends and family and you all can share and post to keep one another up to date. If you are looking for a great travel-related blog, look no further than Tripso.com—for an outstanding sample of a personal blog, check out Aren’s Adventures (written with a little help from his father, who also happens to edit this Web site) which chronicles his life from birth to present — Aren is 3. If you are not as tech-savvy as you would like, a travel journal is a great alternative. Don’t bore the neighbors, but a journal and some photos to really see what mommy or daddy does when they go away is a fantastic way to keep in touch.

Pick the right place to stay. While bringing a piece of home with you and keeping in touch will go a long way to ease the pain of a road trip, the fact remains that a hotel is still a hotel. Or is it? If you find yourself away from home for an extended period of time — say, 10 days or more, you ought to look into long-term corporate housing. I am not talking about those extended stay places that add a refrigerator, microwave, and coffee pot to the standard fare hotel room. I’m talking about a full-blown home away from home.

While there are several companies in this field, Ashbourne Corporate Housing has stood out for my clients. They own and manage properties worldwide, and for the ones that they don’t own, they have reciprocal agreements. Instead of the usual bathroom on the left, closet on the right, bed straight ahead, they offer a range of homes away from home. Are you traveling alone? How about a wonderful flat in the West End of London. Bringing the family for a three month stint in Northern Virginia? Try one of their furnished four bedroom homes in the beautiful hunt country of Virginia. Amenities vary by property, but all are considerably larger than a hotel room, all will include a furnished kitchen, and can be provisioned if you like. More important, they are designed to save you money. With a serviced apartment or home, you have a place to entertain clients, a place to cook your own meals (no more expensive and fattening dinners) and a place that is a home —not a hotel. And the price is right. That flat in London will run you $2500 based on a month long rental or about $80 per day. You can contact Ashbourne Corporate Housing on their website or by phone at 800-424-8845.

So the next time the word comes down from the corner office to pack up and ship out, take heart. Travel today is a nightmare. From the lines at the airport to the food on the plane, to the cab driver that just wants to scam you — it just is not as fun as it used to be. But it does not need to be that bad, while there truly is no place like home, following these tips will make it a lot more bearable.

Annapolis: More Than The Academy

The Blue Angels have just completed their last flyover. The presidential motorcade is heading back to a waiting Marine One, and all of the Midshipman have picked up their hats. Now that all the hustle and bustle of Commissioning Week — better known to us civilians as graduation — is over, Annapolis, Md., will calm down. The locals will have their town and harbor back for a little while until the summer tourists begin their annual migration.

Whether you come for the history, the education, the water, or the hospitality, there is always something to enjoy in Annapolis. The city has been welcoming visitors for more than 300 years.

While Annapolis may seem synonymous with the United States Naval Academy, this world-famous institution isn’t even the oldest college in town. That distinction belongs to St. John’s College, founded in 1696 as King William’s School. It is the third oldest college in the United States, after Harvard and William and Mary. But our city offers so much more.

The capital of Maryland was the capital of the United States when the Treaty of Paris, ending the Revolutionary War, was signed here. All four Maryland signers of the Declaration of Independence had impressive homes — all still standing — in Annapolis.

Any sailor worth his salt knows Annapolis. Its harbor plays home (temporarily) to boats from all over the world during one of the largest in-water boat shows in the world in October. (That event is a love/hate thing with the locals). And beneath those waters lie the hulls of the Peggy Stewart, burned during a tax revolt, and the great yacht “America” of America’s Cup fame. Annapolis Harbor is the same harbor where Kunte Kinte was sold into slavery and its working-class dock is where PT boats and mine sweepers for two world wars were built.

But if you are not a world-class sailor, what is there to do in Annapolis? That’s an easy answer. The tough one is: how to do it all?

Where to stay — Annapolis (at the moment) has an admitted shortage of hotel rooms so making a reservation as far in advance as possible is strongly recommended. The Loews Annapolis Hotel balances elegance and charm in a location that’s unrivaled. It is the city’s most luxurious hotel, with premier services, amenities, and meeting facilities. Located on West Street, within walking distance of pretty much everything, the Loews puts you in the middle of it all. The hotel has 217 rooms, one fabulous restaurant called Breeze, a great little bar called the Weather Rail, and a Jazz Club called the Power House. Rates at the Loews begin at $189 per night.

If are looking for that waterfront experience, the Annapolis Marriott Waterfront is the only place to go. Renovated in April 2005 (thanks to the 8 feet of water in the lobby from Tropical Storm Isabel), this hotel offers 150 deluxe rooms right on Annapolis Harbor. If you have ever been to Soper’s Hole in Tortola, you know Pusser’s Landing—well. They’ve got one, too. Sip a drink on the deck overlooking “Ego Alley” — where all the boaters come to show off their latest floating toys (and the locals tend to snicker at their pretentiousness), or look out across the harbor to see the mega-yachts with foreign home ports.

During the past year, Eric Clapton, Steve Forbes, and Walter Cronkite, have all moored their yachts in our harbor calling Annapolis home, at least for a while. Rates at the Marriott run $275 and up per night.

If you are looking for something a bit smaller and more colonial, the Historic Inns of Annapolis operates three charming inns in historic downtown — all within walking distance of Annapolis’ attractions. The most modern of the three dates back to 1776. All rooms are furnished in the colonial style and come with a private bath. Two of the inns are on State Circle with wonderful views of Maryland’s State House, and the other is at the top of Main Street with a great view of St. Anne’s Church on Church Circle. Seasonal rates begin at $189.

Where to eat — Annapolis has no shortage of good places to eat. Across the bridge from Annapolis (easy walk) is the Maritime Republic of Eastport — a tongue-in-cheek secession from the city — you will find some of the finest restaurants. For seafood, O’Learys Seafood Restaurant at 310 Third Street is the place to go. They have been a fixture of the Annapolis dining scene since 1984. The restaurant is known for its combination of award winning food, wine and service. Plus, it’s right on the water. O’Learys is only open for dinner and reservations are recommended. Call (410) 263-0884.

If you are looking to meet up with some locals, check out the Boatyard Bar & Grill at 400 Fourth Street. Here you will find the sailors and the waterman that make this town so unique. The dress is casual, and the food is simple but delicious. Order a beer, and try their jerk chicken skewers for an appetizer (order the beer first — you have been warned). Rumor has it that its crab cakes can’t be beat (I don’t do seafood; I know, wrong town). Dress is come-as-you are and it is very kid-friendly. The Boatyard also donates a portion of its profits to the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, so you can’t go wrong there. Drink up and Save the Bay! The number is (410) 216-6206.

For more typical bar food, try the Acme Bar and Grill (410-280-6486)at 163 Main Street. Anything Acme serves will be good but from a landlubber perspective, they have the best wings in town. With (at last count) 25 flavors, you need to try them all. My personal favorites are Island Zing, Chesapeake, Lemon Pepper, Honey Mustard, and Original. While there, take note of their collection of photos on the walls of the Acme-ites traveling all over the world. At night time, the younger crowd comes in and there is usually a live band to liven up the night. No reservations required.

The nightlife — It has been said that Annapolis is a drinking town with a sailing problem. But maybe it is the other way around. Or maybe it’s both. There is no shortage of nightlife in Annapolis — from hard rock, to punk, to soulful jazz, to a piano bar, to a national act. Walk up Main Street, Maryland Avenue, or Dock Street and you will find that most bars will have some sort of live entertainment virtually every night of the week.

The Rams Head Tavern hosts many national acts such as John Hiatt, NRBQ, The Capitol Steps, and Deanna Bogart. Tickets are available at the box office at 33 West Street or on their site. Buy early; this is a small venue and they sell out almost all the time. Call (410) 268-4545 for more information.

If you are looking for a smaller (some may say cramped) place, The Sly Fox Pub in the basement of Reynolds Tavern is a good bet. The pub is in the original tavern kitchen with the original foundation walls exposed and a large open fireplace. Happy Hours feature 20-ounce beers and specialty drinks. You can play darts all night and take in the sounds of local favorite Doug Segree. During the warmer months, the music moves outside to its terrace. Reynolds Tavern is open daily from 4:40 p.m. until midnight. The number is (443) 482-9000

If you are a smooth operator, no doubt jazz may be your thing. Located within the Loews Annapolis complex, the Power House has hosted some of the best live jazz. The jazz programming is done by Joe Byrd, brother of the legendary Charlie Byrd and their monthly Friday-Saturday shows are not to be missed. Housed in a centuries-old building with soaring ceilings and seating for only 110, you can experience jazz the way it was mean to be heard.

Some of the greats who have played here include the Joe Byrd Quintet, Brooks Tegler, and Tommy Newsome. Be sure to ask about the Jazz and Dinner package at the Loews. For upcoming acts, you can call (410) 269-0777 or visit itsr Web site.

And now for the “touristy” stuff — Annapolis needs to be experienced by both land and water. Annapolis Tours offers several walking tours of this scenic town. Your colonial-attired guide is the ideal way to delve into historic Annapolis and the rich tradition of the US Naval Academy, the State House (the oldest state house in the US in continuous use and the largest wooden dome in the country).

Annapolis Tours will take you on a tour of the private home of a signer of the Declaration of Independence and will offer a bird’s eye view of nearly 4,000 midshipmen in formation at the Naval Academy. Other tours include a Candlelight Stroll, Scavenger Hunt, African-American Heritage tour, Military Reunion tours, and a Haunted History tour. These are all appropriate for all ages and are very entertaining. (Even as a local, I have been on several and learn something new each time.) Annapolis Tours can be reached at (410) 268-7601.

Of course, you can’t visit Annapolis without seeing water. Watermark Cruises operates most of the public water transportation in town, including the water taxi service available at the City Dock and other points along Spa and Back Creeks. While they offer shorter excursions from the City Dock, one of the most encompassing voyages is the 2 ½-hour Bay Lighthouses Tour. You will be hosted on the brand new 65-foot motor-yacht, Lady Sarah, which will take you out of the harbor, under the twin spans of the Bay Bridge. Your “lighthouse keeper” (guide) will provide an entertaining history of our three prominent lighthouses — Sandy Point, Thomas Point, and Baltimore Harbor.

If you don’t have that much time, try the Miss Elizabeth, which will take you around the seawall of the Naval Academy and up Spa Creek to view some of the fabulous waterfront homes — she runs from City Dock. Reservations are not required but can’t hurt. Contact Watermark Cruises at their website or at 410-268-7601.

Still need more scoop? Check out the following resources for planning your visit to Annapolis, and if you are planning on coming, drop me an email and I might let you in on some more insider scoop. After all, we locals need to keep some things to ourselves.

Additional resources:

City of Annapolis (www.annapolis.gov)
The Maritime Republic of Eastport (www.themre.org)
Annapolis and Anne Arundel County CVB (www.visitannapolis.org)
Annapolis and Anne Arundel County Chamber of Commerce (www.annapolischamber.com)
United States Naval Academy (http://www.usna.edu/visit.htm)
St. John's College (http://www.stjohnscollege.edu/asp/home.aspx)
Watermark Cruises (www.watermarkcruises.com)
Annapolis Tours (www.annapolis-tours.com)

Single? 2 Must-Try Vacations

If reality TV shows featuring runway models hooking up with hot hunks in exotic locales seems too good to be true, I’ve got good news for you: they aren’t. At least in one respect.

If you’re single it’s possible to ditch that dating Web site, hop on a plane, head to the tropics and meet the love of your life.

(No guarantee they’ll be runway models or hot hunks, though.)

Singles have always had a hard time vacationing. The typical “single vacation” tends to be a group of friends that ultimately turns into a booze fest worthy of a film crew from Girls Gone Wild (complete with incriminating photos). Or it is a solo vacation typically filled with a lot of reading and watching those damned happy loving couples frolic in the sand and surf.

It doesn’t have to be that way.

So, if you find yourself single or unattached, take a leave of absence from match.com for a month. Tell the local barkeep that you won’t be a regular for a few days and try out one of these two new alternatives.

Sail the seven seas, solo. SinglesCruise.com is a cruise-only agency owned by the giant Carlson Wagonlit Travel. As would be expected with that moniker, they only do cruises and it is only for singles. While they do not take over an entire ship, they take close to 20 percent of it.

The prices for the cruise are competitive with other cruises, but it is the extras that really seal the deal. They really look out for the single traveler and offer the following with each of their scheduled cruises:

— Private singles activities including cocktail parties, games, lectures, pool parties, and nightly singles only get-togethers.

— An exclusive section in the dining room. No more hanging with the newlyweds or grandma and her twelve grandchildren.

— Events (as much as possible) with an equal number of men and women

— Private SinglesCruise escorts (no, not that kind, get your mind out of the gutter) to act as your group cruise director.

But the fun is not limited to the ship. Prior to departure, they offer an online message board where guests can meet and chat. The night before sailing, they also host a pre-sail party to get your vacation started on the right foot. And, if the price is a factor, they offer a free roommate matching service (same-sex only).

Once you set sail, you are assured that all of the SinglesCruise events are closed to the rest of the guests. While they do not guarantee a love match — or even a lust match — they do guarantee a lot of fun with a great group of people.

While these cruises can be booked directly at SinglesCruise.com, do something nice for your local economy and ask the cruise expert at your local travel agency to book it for you. The price is the same, and there is no better resource than your local agent. Need to find a good agent? Click here or call (800) 334-4175. If you need to find a good local agent, check out Travelsense.org and search for one in your backyard.

10 ways to land a lover (by land). Not a seafaring single? Not a problem. Try Flirt Vacations. While relatively new to the single travel scene, this tour company offers a more intimate experience and limits the number of guests on each of their trips.

Just imagine ten men, ten women, one exotic beach — in Mexico’s Riviera Maya. For the non sun-worshippers, 12 men, 12 women, one classic American hideaway — on a private plantation on a barrier island in South Carolina. And of course, for the world traveler, 10 men, 10 women, one groovy English Manor.

Flirt Vacations offers unique, fun, no-pressure getaways and events for upscale singles in selected metropolitan areas. They shy away from the mundane and seek a destination where every detail is covered.

The real bonuses to their vacations are the activities. These are not the mundane things like parasailing or hiking through a rain forest. Depending on your destination, you might find yourself:

— Deep-sea fishing from a private yacht.

— Ballooning over the English countryside.

— Learning tribal drumming around a fire pit.

— Pony trekking through the Scottish moors.

— Exploring ancient Mayan ruins.

— Lounging with friends in a “groovy private bar.”

— Enjoying a beachside Tai Chi class or poolside massage.

— Just relaxing with a drink on the beach.

The tagline (which is more than PR) is one of the best descriptions of any vacation I have ever seen, single or not: “Nothing’s Mandatory, Everything’s Possible!”

To check out Flirt Vacations, call (800) 214-0001 or click here to visit their Web site. They only take direct bookings.

So dig into your closet and dust off your light blue ruffled formal shirt — the one with the dark blue edging — and have the time of your life on a singles vacation.

You might get hooked.

A Single Dad's Trip Survival Guide

If the archetypal 20th century vacation was mom, dad and the kids driving to a national park in the station wagon (complete with a Rockwellesque dog, its tongue wagging in the wind), then the 21st century vacation is … well, a little less nuclear.

After all, half of the marriages end in divorce nowadays. So scratch one parent. The dog? Left at home, preferably with the estranged spouse. And the rules? Let’s just say a glimpse at a modern-day getaway wouldn’t inspire Norman Rockwell to paint. Unless he wanted to be Jackson Pollock.

As the divorced dad of three, I know. Taking a vacation means making some adjustments. But being a single parent does not have to make you a jet-set outcast - not if you follow a few rules I’ve developed from my own experiences as both a single father and a travel expert.

Make sure everyone is involved. As a single parent, it is even more important that the kids are involved in the vacation — that means all of them. Just like cruising with the kids, you need to set the expectations and expect the unexpected. Lay down the rules and break them a little. Find out what your kids want to experience and clue them into what you want to do. When you involve everyone, everyone comes home happy.

Pick the right destination. Certain destinations simply beg for traditional families — Disneyworld and Universal Studios come to mind. Not that these places aren’t fabulous, but for a single parent, they may be just a bit daunting with the crowds and masses. Save those destinations when you can travel with grandma and gramps or some other families as a group. Be sure the destination has something for everyone. While some consider Vegas the world’s playground, it is not the playground for kids. Consider the road less traveled. Typically, single parents are on a budget and a vacation is a true luxury. Take advantage of the destinations where the dollar is strong or maybe one where there is an incentive such as an island recovering from a bad storm.

Buck the system. One of the biggest downfalls of being a single parent and traveling is the dreaded single supplement. Most hotels and all cruise lines base their pricing on double occupancy — even though Junior is not costing nearly as much as an adult — especially in the all-inclusive resort or cruise. This is a huge cash cow for the travel supplier. Lately though, enough single parents have been making noise and some resorts and hotels are beginning to listen. Last month one of my agents found a single-parent special at the all-inclusive Hotel Riu Yucatan on Mexico’s Riviera Maya for $1700 through Apple Vacations. This included airfare from Florida and a week’s stay for mom and her two kids. Beaches resorts also have SPF (Single Parent Friendly) months where the single supplement is waived. However, these deals are not around for peak travel times — think hurricane season for the fun in the sun destinations.

Read Up. Your local bookstore or library is a wonderful resource for both parenting books and travel guides. Brenda Elwell has merged the two with the aptly named Single Parent Travel Handbook. Brenda calls on her experiences in the travel industry and as a single mother of two and offers fantastic tips for traveling solo with kids as well as some great suggestions for destinations that may have been off of your radar screen. She even has a list of travel agencies across the country that know the needs of the single parent. Her book is available (probably by special order) at any bookstore or on her site.

Surf around. While you are over at Brenda’s site, check out the bulletin boards. There are some fantastic forums to share your experiences and ideas with people in the same boat. Get the skinny from a mom just back from Mo-bay or maybe find a traveling playmate for your kids and a travel mate for you. The American Society of Travel Agents’ (ASTA) site allows you to research a trip and to find a travel agent in your area who specializes in family travel or single travel.

OMG Dad’s bringing a date! The single dad (or mom) can’t be expected to vacation with the kids all of the time. While a getaway with just the kids is essential, there will come a time when dad might want some adult company,too. I have found that planning that first vacation can rival the stress of a divorce. My advice? Chill out. If your boyfriend or girlfriend also has kids, this is a no brainer — boys in this room, girls in this room, and grownups in that room. When only one set of kids is involved, it becomes a little tricky. It is best to discuss this with your kids before you even begin to plan the trip. But be sure to include everyone — including, of course, your date. The best tip I can offer in this situation is to make sure your date is someone who has been around for a while and is significant in your life and known to your kids. Springing this surprise on your kids at the last minute will ruin your vacation quicker than a bout of Norwalk virus.

Talk to an expert. Single parents need professional advice. The needs of the recent widow and her young daughter are vastly different that the swinging divorcee and her X Box-crazed teen. A good agent will know the needs and match those needs with the trip. Since this is such a niche segment of the travel industry, travel agents tend to have the inside track. Very few mainstream Web sites will know about Single Parent Tours and their annual week long excursion of single parents to Jamaica. A good agent will. Today’s tip: August 21 to 28, 2005 at Beaches Boscobel Resort & Golf Club in Jamaica. $1887 for a parent and child (not including air) and is available by calling (877) 464-6778.

Speaking of the unexpected. With any type of travel, things can go wrong. With kids on the itinerary, the odds skyrocket. Tommy will invariably break a leg at soccer the week before, Mary will have the flu, the twins will come down with some rare malady involving green boogers, and that X Box-crazed teen will have just discovered girls. For traveling with kids, I recommend that not only do you purchase trip insurance, but also the travel supplier’s trip-cancellation waiver. Trip insurance will cover the medical and emergency issues and the cancellation waiver will cover the love-struck teen. Two years ago, I had planned to take my kids JT, Victoria, and Elizabeth to California. After a bout of acute attitude (followed by the prescribed attitude adjustment), I decided I wasn’t going to the 7-11 with them—much less across the country. I cancelled (for any reason) and was able to salvage my investment with vouchers for a future trip.

My travels as a single dad have taken me to Hong Kong, Barcelona, London, Paris, Cancun, Hawaii, Vancouver, Budapest, and most of the Caribbean and the US with my three kids (not the best odds some will say)and we survived them all. I am not sure where we will end up next, but I do know that it will be a memory to treasure…all because I figured out the formula for us all to have fun while trippin’ with dad.