Justin Does...

Justin Does...A Contest!

noreply@blogger.com (Justin) — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 16:26:00 +0000

I am giving away one free day pass to the American Airlines Admirals Club! Next time you travel, how nice would it be to relax in a quiet club and sip on some free wine or cocktails?

To enter, all you have to do is leave a comment below or via Twitter (one per person) telling me where you will use the Admirals Club pass (click for a list of locations). For example:

Hey @JustinDoesBlog, I would use visit the Admirals Club at DEN!

The one-time use pass is valid until July 31, 2013, so please make sure you can actually use it (or know someone that could use it).

The contest ends at 9 p.m. CDT on Friday, June 21st. One winner will be randomly chosen and asked to provide an email address to send the pass. If I don't receive a valid email address within 48 hours, a new winner will be picked.

Disclaimer: I won this pass from a recent American Airlines promotion with Klout.com. The terms and conditions of the pass say that the passes may not be bartered or sold, but the terms do not exclude giving the pass away through a random drawing. Although the only thing on the pass is a bar code, I cannot guarantee that the pass will be accepted when used by a different name, however, internet discussion boards indicate that this shouldn't be a problem.

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Keep on Truckin' - with Babies?

noreply@blogger.com (Justin) — Thu, 06 Jun 2013 12:24:00 +0000

Disclaimer: I don't have kids (except two hounds), I don't know how to take care of anything but myself (and I struggle with that), and I don't particularly understand why anyone would want to travel with ~~anything~~ any one under the age of 18.

My friend Allye loves to travel and since she has some kiddos, she sometimes has to take them with her. Allye and her husband recently moved across the country and offer some tips for roadtrips with babies (or toddlers, or kids, whatever). Take it away, Allye:

Last August, my best friend (of almost 30 years) and I made a 12-hour roadtrip with my 10-month-old daughter and her 5-month-old son. It was supposed to take 8 hours, so there's your first tip: Add hours to however long you think it will take you.

Maddy take the wheel!

Do we enjoy torture? Why else would two intelligent, young(ish) women choose to be in the car with two infants for 8 (12!) hours? Well, because we have a long history of adventurous, BFF road trips. There was the Moving from Montana to Texas Road Trip of 2003, during which my friend may or may not have have had a tornado-induced panic attack and I may or may not have driven the entire 1700 miles by myself. There was the Texas to Tennessee Hallucinating Cat-Whiny Boyfriend Road Trip of 2003, during which my beloved feline, Liu Wang, tripped balls on tranquilizers that were supposed to relax him, but instead made him howl for 15 hours while my friend's boyfriend complained about everything.

All of this brings us to our 2nd tip: Love the person/people you are going on the road trip with. When you throw two infants into the mix, you best love your driving partner enough not to murder him or her on the way because there will be trials and tribulations.

On this trip, we got about an hour away from our destination when traffic came to a dead stop at the I-40/I-24 split. Seriously Nashville? y'all STILL don't have that fixed?! Who do I need to have a prayer meetin' with to get the dang road repaired? After a bit of a detour, we eventually made it home in one piece. All in all, I am SO happy we did the road trip, for the experience and especially for the fellowship with my best friend and her baby.

The best advice we can give you for traveling on the road with babies is prepare ahead of time and bring lots of stuff.

Here is a checklist of stuff I will use for my next road trip with little ones, all of which you should keep close at hand and easily accessible:

Food - formula, pumped breastmilk, boobs for giving breastmilk, and lots of snacks for adults and babies who might be eating solids. Some foods I recommend are: fruit squeezes for a quick fix, small crackers, pieces of fruit/veggies, and cereal. Oh and Reese's PB Cups, White Cheddar Popcorn, Honeybuns, and Diet Sundrop for the adults, hee hee. What's a roadtrip wiithout crappy road food?

Breastfeeding Pillow, if you use one. Boppy? Brestfriend? Whatever floats your boat. If these words mean nothing to you move on. Nothing to see here.

Diapers - obviously, but it's worth mentioning. Disposables + extra just in case. If you're using cloth diapers, bring a big stack of those and something to put the dirty ones in for washing when you arrive at your destination (this is our favorite diaper wet bag).

Wipes - bring more than you think you need. We were not on the road 5 minutes before my daughter had a giant explosion in her pants. The girl really knows how to have a good time.

Binkies - pacifiers, suckers, dummies. Have extra so you can hand them back at a moment's notice.

Bottled Water - for mixing formula and for drinking.

Paper Towels - who knows why, but bring 'em. For instance, I needed a paper towel to wipe my mouth after puking in a gat station parking lot because of morning sickness. Oh, did I mention I was pregnant with my 2nd child during this trip? Yep. We are hardcore. Whatever you can do, I can do pregnant with two infants in tow.

Extra Outfits - for you and for the babes. See Wipes, above. You don't want to be stuck in the car for 12 hours with poop on your shirt or theirs.

Music - Lord, thank you for Bob Marley, who saved us on this particular road trip. I think we played Three Little Birds for 7 of the 12 hours on the road, and while the song is now burned into our subconscious for life, it got us through. Find some music your kiddos like and stick with it. Even if hearing that music even 8 months later makes you throw up a little in your mouth. It will be worth it when the kids knock out for a few hours and you can haul ass down the road without stopping every 100 yards.

And finally, pat yourself on the back for having the cojones to take a trip like this with infants. Enjoy the time with your buddy and your babies. Think about how amazing it is that you were once 5-year-old little girls together, and now here you are, almost 30 years later, rolling down the road with your own little monsters, laughing and lamenting and singing and such. May the circle be unbroken, forever and ever, Amen. And most importantly, keep on truckin'!

This post was written by Allye Ratledge (www.MadTimeMama.com | www.AllyeRatledge.com) and Kendall Lynch.

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Justin Does...Napa Valley, California!

noreply@blogger.com (Justin) — Mon, 20 May 2013 13:33:00 +0000

I like wine. No. I love wine. I like to travel. No. I love to travel.

So how perfect of a trip is it to travel with the specific purpose to drink (lots of) wine? This screams Justin!

Read about how Justin Does Napa Valley over at FabIsTheNewBlack.com!

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One of My Craziest Travel Weeks!

noreply@blogger.com (Justin) — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 12:29:00 +0000

I recently completed an ~~exciting~~ crazy week of travel. It was so exhausting, I simply couldn't get this post written. I hit about six states, ten airports, was in the air for about 23 hours, and traveled close to 8,000 miles.

The planned (and executed) route.

Why would I do this, other than for the miles? Some personal and work trips were in order. Here's the breakdown:

Part 1: Seattle, Washington

My aunt was getting married so a trek home as in order. I am fortunate enough to have a non-stop link to Seattle, via Alaska Airlines. They have a once-a-day non-stop flight from Austin to Seattle. The times are perfect leaving Austin in the evening around 6:00 p.m. and getting into Seattle around 8:30 p.m. If you haven't been Seattle, check out my picks for what to do in Seattle.

Part 2: Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

I was last in Victoria when I was a kid. It was so memorable - I think they have gardens there. My friend had never been to Victoria, so we thought we would do a day trip from Seattle.

We decided to do the Victoria Sea & Sky Package offered by Kenmore Air and the Victoria Clipper. With this package, we took the Victoria Clipper Ferry from downtown Seattle to Victoria Harbor, Canada. We putzed around Victoria for a day, visiting the Parliament Building and the Empress Hotel. After a long day in Victoria, we boarded a Kenmore Air seaplane from Victoria Harbor and fly back to Lake Union in Seattle.

If you have never flown in a seaplane, I highly recommend it. If you're lucky, you'll be able to sit in the co-pilot seat. Not something you get to do ~~often~~ ever on a commercial airplane!

Part 3: Washington, D.C. and Baltimore, Maryland

Each year, I attend a research ethics conference, and this year it is in Baltimore, Maryland. It was quite pricey to fly from Seattle to Baltimore, so I thought I would make an adventure out of it! I flew from Seattle to Portland, Oregon on Horizon Air. From Portland, I flew a transcontinental flight to Reagan National Airport in Washington, D.C. I was there for a few hours and I met a friend there for dinner. After dinner, I took a cab to Union Station in Washington, D.C., and then boarded an Amtrak train from DC to Baltimore.

Part 4: Vail / Avon, Colorado

After the conference, I flew from Baltimore to JFK Airport in New York. There, I had a quick connection and then flew non-stop to Austin. Fortunately I the upgrAAde fAAiry's were working and I found myself in a first class seat for the long flight. With less than 12 hours in Austin, I got a little bit of sleep and put in a couple hours in the office and back to the airport I went. I flew to the Eagle County Airport, via Dallas/Fort Worth, where I spent a weekend in Vail, Colorado snowboarding. Phew!

What is some of the craziest travel you have done?

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$25 Credit for Uber Airport Rides in Seattle!

noreply@blogger.com (Justin) — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 17:08:00 +0000

One of my first posts when I launched this blog was my love for Uber. Uber is an on-demand, private driver service in select cities. When in a city that has Uber (cities are rapidly being added to the Uber network), you can request to be picked up anytime and anywhere using your iPhone or Android-phone.

I received an email yesterday announcing that until May 31, 2013, Uber is offering a $25 credit for any ride to or from Seattle's airport.

All you have to do is login to your Uber account and enter SEAUBERTRAVEL under the Promotions tab:

All you Seattleites should add this to your account, just in case you happen to take Uber to the airport. I did, and I live in Austin.

Don't have an Uber account? Sign up and receive a $10 credit to your account after your first use! (Full disclosure: I will earn a referral bonus if you use this link)

Don't know what to do in Seattle? Read my picks for what to do when in Seattle, Washington over at fabisthenewblack.com

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Justin Does...Baltimore!

noreply@blogger.com (Justin) — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 12:29:00 +0000

"Baltimore?" you ask.

I asked myself the same thing when I found myself going on several work trips to Baltimore in recent months. Fortunately I have a dear friend living in Baltimore, so I have ben able to see many 'off-the-beaten path' things to do.

Read my finds for the Crab Cake Capital of the World over at fabisthenewblack.com.

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Justin Does...Kansas City, Missouri

noreply@blogger.com (Justin) — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 13:37:00 +0000

Towards the end of 2012, my good friend and founder of fabisthenewblack.com, Maria Orozova, and I kicked off a new travel series, Justin Does... In this series, I give tips and pointers on various cities.

My first segment was Kansas City, Missouri. Each visit to Kansas City is unique. One could easily do a fun-filled weekend trip and still have plenty to do on future visits.

Read about my tips and suggestions for Kansas City over at fabisthenewblack.com!

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Justin Springs into Fashion

noreply@blogger.com (Justin) — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 13:20:00 +0000

When you think of fashion and travel, what comes to mind? For me, it's New York City, London, and Paris. For any fashionista, however, a trip to Milan is a must.

I'm excited to share with you the latest issue of InFluential Magazine, where I provide tips for how to fashionably see Milan, Italy! Turn to page 61 for my insight into Milan:

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Justin Does...Seattle!

noreply@blogger.com (Justin) — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 13:02:00 +0000

I was born in Seattle, so anytime I visit, I feel like I'm going home. One thing I love about visiting is that I get to do some "touristy" things.

Seattle has so many things to offer and there is so much to do in this city that I struggled to come up with just a few things to see, eat, and do.

Read my picks for what to do when in Seattle, Washington over at fabisthenewblack.com.

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Trip Report: AirTran Airways from Austin to Cancún

noreply@blogger.com (Justin) — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 20:36:00 +0000

I'm a self-admitted aviation geek (AvGeek for short). I fell in love traveling when I took my first flight in 1995 (it was a Shuttle by United flight on the West Coast). Although I never experienced the days when flying was more civilized, I've always found traveling by air to be somewhat fun and exciting (the jury is still out Spirit Airlines...)

I enjoy flying new airlines and flying different types of planes. Call me crazy, but I have saved every boarding pass for every flight I have ever taken (maybe a future post on some of my favorites, what do you think)? So when AirTran Airways announced new service in and out of Austin, I was excited (It's okay, you can call me a dork, but I prefer to be called an AvGeek).

Some friends and I decided to head south for a long winter weekend for some sun, fun, and relaxation. This was the perfect opportunity to try out this non-stop service to México (which isn't common from Austin) as well as try out the AirTran product (especially before Southwest, who acquired AirTran in 2010, phases out the airline).

Itinerary

AirTran Airways 84 (FL0084)
Austin, Texas (AUS) to Cancún, México (CUN)
Friday, January 25, 2013
Departure: 10:18 a.m.
Arrival: 12:30 p.m.
Flight Time: 2 hours 12 minutes
Aircraft: Boeing 737-700
Seat: 3C
Class of Service: Business Class

We took the return flight on Monday, January 28, 2013 (AirTran Airways 84). The experience was pretty much the same as the one described here, so I won't discuss the return flight.

Check-in, Take One

For whatever reason, AirTran does not allow you to check-in online for international flights. I don't understand why since many other airlines allow online check-in for international flights (even as far back as 2010).

Anyways, I was picking up a friend from the airport the day before so I thought I'd run into the airport and get my boarding pass. In Austin, AirTran flights are handled by Southwest crews. At the Southwest counter, I asked if I could check-in for my flight the next day. The employee replied that no, they could not check me in until four hours before the flight.

This was puzzling because my friend who was on the same itinerary was able to check-in for the EXACT same flight on the EXACT same reservation earlier in the day in Denver.

The agent rudely said that no, it was US Customs and Immigration rules and she would not be able to help me.

Check-in, Take Two

The next day, I arrived at the airport at about two hours before departure. A friendly Southwest agent was happy to check me in, but she warned that today was her first day working the AirTran reservation software, so it may take a little longer.

Indeed, we hit a snag. We had converted Southwest Rapid Rewards points to AirTran A+ Reward Credits, which could then be used to upgrade our economy fare into confirmed business class. (This is a great deal and I will do this EVERY time I fly AirTran!)

Because we had previously paid for advance seat assignments, the agent could not check me in until the revenue associated with the ticket was moved out of the reservation. Whatever. Unfortunately this gave our friendly Southwest Agent a bit of a problem. She consulted her co-workers, who were also stumped.

After about 5 minutes, I called AirTran's 800-number to see if they could help. A friendly agent there understood exactly what the issue was and quickly transferred the funds from the reservation to my AirTran account.

When that happened, the Southwest agent says, "BINGO," and my boarding pass printed. She wished me a fantastic vacation and sent me to security.

At the Gate

AirTran only operates at the Austin airport a couple days a week. The plane comes from Houston/Hobby airport, then from Austin, flies to Cancún. Once in Cancún, the plane turns around and flies back to Austin and then on to Houston/Hobby. It's quite convenient for us Austinites.

The Southwest crew manages the AirTran flights in Austin. In general, I've found Southwest employees to be really friendly. It's rare that you run into a Southwest employee that doesn't seem to like and enjoy their job and employer.

As a result, the gate experience was what you would expect with Southwest EXCEPT for the Southwest Cattle Call. AirTran, like many other airlines, assign you a group number and they call the different groups to board. Southwest has, in my opinion, the worst boarding process where you are assigned a number at check-in, and you have to line up along a line of poles in numerical order to board the plane.

Prior to calling for boarding, the gate agents made an announcement that because this was an international flight, you had to go up to the desk and show your passport. They then stamped your boarding pass to indicate your documents were okay. I find this very odd because when you check-in at the ticket counter, they swipe your passport and enter your information. Anyways, my documents passed the once-over:

In case you couldn't tell, my docs are okay.

About 45 minutes before departure, boarding was called, starting with business class.

In-flight Experience

One thing that sets AirTran apart from Southwest is that they do offer a premium cabin - business class. Business class on AirTran includes:

Priority Boarding
More legroom
Wider seats
Complimentary cocktails

The business class section includes three rows with two seats per row on each side of the aisle:

Basic business class. Gets the job done.

In my opinion the seats were comfortable and a bit more spacious than what you would have had in coach. The seats do not have power ports at the seats to charge your electronics, but the plane did have wifi (which worked until we left the United States airspace).

The flight attendants were friendly and were very attentive. Along with complimentary cocktails (which is perfect for a flight to Cancún) the crew also offered complimentary snacks include cookies and crackers:

In case you were wondering, there is gin in that cup of tonic.

The Bottom Line

I was impressed with AirTran. I am glad I was able to experience this unique "low-fare" product before it disappears (and to have another unique boarding pass to add to my collection). I thought the fare paid was reasonable and the ability to cash in Southwest Rapid Reward points to pay for business class upgrades was a nice perk.

What I don't understand is why Southwest would want to get rid of the business class cabin. Southwest has grown tremendously in the past several years and they are now considered to be one of the major carriers in the US (along with American, Delta, United, and US Airways). They want to attract business travelers (who pay higher fares) and retaining the business class section with assigned seats seems to be a great way to do that.

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Have I Become A Travel Snob?

noreply@blogger.com (Justin) — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 14:50:00 +0000

I just spent a long weekend in Cancún, México (read about my tips and suggestions in "Justin Does...Cancún, México!"). What was meant to be a quick beach getaway with friends from Dallas turned into a weekend of debate: Have I become a travel snob?

Let me start by saying this - I am quite comfortable on the road. I traveled quite a bit last year and have many trips planned for 2013.

I would like to think that I am quite adaptable to my surrounding situations. I don't need glamorous accommodations when I travel (but I won't lie, first class and fancy hotels sure are nice). All I need is something that is clean, safe, and gets me from Point A to Point B.

So what is this post all about? The destination this past weekend was the Westin Lagunamar Ocean Resort in Cancún. Now, this isn't a typical Westin hotel as it is a part of the Starwood Vacation Ownership properties. What is that? Timeshare.

I've had great experiences with other Starwood timeshare properties, namely the lovely Westin Riverfront Mountain Villas in Avon/Vail, Colorado. Essentially, they treat you like a normal hotel customer and recognize any elite benefits you may have with the Starwood Preferred Guest program.

But our experience this past weekend is making me rethink my involvement with this timeshare program.

Strike 1

We arrived to the Westin Lagunamar around 1:30 p.m. Although the staff were friendly, they were not extraordinarily helpful. We originally wanted to book a two bedroom suite but unfortunately those were not available when we made our reservations. When we inquired at check-in, the two-bedroom suite was available. For a small upcharge. Okay, that's fine. After typing away, the employee came back and said, "Oh, sorry, but since you are not a hotel guest and you are a vacation rental owner, we cannot upgrade you. But you will need to call the Vacation Ownership and they can do it for you."

Meanwhile, we were told that no rooms were currently available as they were being cleaned, but we were welcome to go to the restaurant and bar and they would page us when the room was ready. Fine by me as I was in need of a margarita (or three).

Four o'clock comes and goes and no word from the Westin. Back at the check-in desk, we inquired about our room and again for an upgrade. This time, the employee said that a two-bedroom suite was available and that they would dial the Vacation Ownership group so we could arrange the reservation change/upgrade. After handing over the phone and making the change, the front desk replied, "Your room is not ready." Wha what? Check-in time is 4:00 p.m. (oh, and check-out time is 10:00 a.m.) You do the math and they need six hours to turn a room. Seriously.

As we were walking back to the bar and margaritas, we are flagged down and told that one side of the two-bedroom suite was available and the other would be ready shortly. They would bring the keys to the second room when it was ready. Okay, so we hang out in the suite for a bit and no call or staff to drop off the keys to the other room. After calling the front desk, they sent someone over. Thinking that this gentleman would have the keys, instead, he proceeded to try to break down the door that joined the rooms. When we asked if it would be easier to just open the door, he replied "Sí" (Spanish for yes).

Don't get me wrong, the room and view was superb.
But that's about it at this property.

Meanwhile, it is now 6:15 p.m. and the second room isn't ready. Back at the front desk, the staff issued the keys (with no apology for the delay, by the way). Then they proceeded to inform us that because our stay was for less than four days, we would not be receiving housekeeping services. Um, excuse me?

We even offered to pay for housekeeping services. Ahem, no, "lo siento" that would not be possible. Really? You don't want additional money? Okay fine.

Side note: Apparently word got out that we desired housekeeping services. So what do you know. Housekeeping finally showed up. At 9:00 a.m. On a Sunday morning. After a long night at Coco Bongo. I guess they showed us, huh?

Strike 2

Fast forward to the next morning. After a nice workout in the gym, we all decided to head to the breakfast buffet. Mind you, this is Saturday morning, so we were a bit shocked when we rolled into the restaurant and were turned away at 10:57 a.m. Again, Saturday morning.

Turns out that the buffet runs from 6:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. Okay, that's fine, however, the entire buffet is still set up and staff were still restocking it. Couldn't we just fill a plate and eat? Nope, sorry. After a few minutes of negotiation, the hostess agreed to let us eat, but we must hurry.

So we filled our plates, shoveled down the food, and about 20 minutes later when we were done, did they begin to take down the buffet.

Strike 3

Two of my friends went to the University of Kansas and it turns out that KU was playing the University of Oklahoma. Coincidentally, the Westin Lagunamar had an onsite "sports bar." Quotes are used because it was a bar--marketed as a sports bar (it was in the name)--but the only sports part about it was that the TVs that were turned to soccer.

When we walked in, we were the only people there. "Do you mind if we turn one of the TVs to a basketball game?" The response, "Sure, no problemo." Great! We weren't told no! Well, the only problem was they only got soccer games. Apparently ESPN Deportes (Spanish for sports) only plays soccer.

So we went back to the room to try watching the game via the Slingbox at home. Well, as you might have guessed by now, the internet (which the hotel is proud to advertise is free) was pretty, um, unreliable. When you could connect, you were in this infinite loop of having to re-login in. When we were connected, even gmail couldn't load 100%. I mean, I get that this is México and one should relax on a beach not connect to the rest of the world, right? But, c'mon, don't even offer it if you can't get it to work, right?

Other Options?

At this point, all we wanted was to watch the game and not be told "no" for everything. Across the street from the hotel was a shopping mall. And in that shopping mall was a Hooters. Surely they would have plenty of TVs. Perhaps even WiFi. What the heck.

So there we found ourselves. At Hooters. In México. When we walked in, the first TV we saw was playing the KU/Oklahoma game. Score! Then we asked if we could sit out on the deck that overlooked the lagoon and turn one of the TVs to the KU game. Response? Sure, you go pick whatever seat you want and I'll turn the closest TV. And they gave us the WiFi code (WiFi at Hooter's is lightening fast. Even in México!)

Once situated, our server Mira, greeted the table and took our order. We felt like we were kings.

Even dressed like this, I was welcomed with open arms into Hooters.

Back to the Point

So, back to the whole point of this story. Have I become a travel snob? I argue no, and here's why.

Is it asking too much to want your room cleaned?
Is it asking too much to have your room ready at the check-in time?
Okay, so the buffet closed in a few minutes, but to turn away someone who is going to pay for breakfast and eat food that has already been prepared and is only going to be thrown away?

I really don't think I was asking or expecting too much. What do you think? If you think I might be overracting, just mosey on over to tripadvisor.com and read some of the reviews.

Will I return to Cancún? Absolutely.

Will I return to the Westin Lagunamar Ocean Resort? Absolutely not.

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Justin Does...Cancún, México!

noreply@blogger.com (Justin) — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 13:48:00 +0000

Let's face it - this whole winter thing is getting old. As much as I love cold weather, mountains, and snowboarding, I can only take so much of it at a time.

Some friends and I decided to head south for a long winter weekend for some sun, fun, and relaxation.

Read about my tips and suggestions for Cancún over at fabisthenewblack.com!

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Wine and Dine with Chef David Bull

noreply@blogger.com (Justin) — Mon, 28 Jan 2013 00:14:00 +0000

I recently participated in an AMAZING dining experience in Austin, hosted by the Austin Food and Wine Alliance (AFWA).

This was my first event with the AFWA so I didn't know what to expect. Let's just say the night proved well beyond my expectations!

The event was part of the 2013 Chef Wine & Dine series. This particular evening featured Chef David Bull, a prominent local chef who was honored by Food & Wine Magazine as one of the best new chefs in 2003. Chef Bull is the mastermind behind the successful Congress and Second Bar and Kitchen in Austin.

It took place at The Austonian Club on the 55th floor of the tallest building in Austin: The Austonian. The dramatic 360-degree views of the city created a nice backdrop for the event.

The theme for the evening was A Journey Into Chef David Bull's Culinary Inspiration. Prior to the start of dinner, Chef Bull gave a brief introduction to the inspiration for the menu. He explained that he comes from an Italian family with a history in the food industry. Lucky for us, the menu was inspired by his family's traditional recipes. Chef Bull presented a five-course meal that was both comforting and intriguing.

Wine & Dine with Chef David Bull Menu

The first course was passed hors d'oeuvres and cocktails. I opted for the veal meatballs and the Berlucchi Cuvée 61 Brut NV from Italy. I find that sparkling wine works well with everything.

The second course was a nice arugula salad topped with black olives, peperocini, and crumbled blue cheese, and was paired with a Berlucchi Franciacorta Brut. The bubbles were the perfect pairing for the light and refreshing salad, and both were finished quickly. My friend Erin (a major foodie) enjoyed the champagne pairing as well and excitingly noted, "Everyone always forgets the bubbly!"

The third course was my favorite, along with the favorite of the table. Chef Bull prepared Pepperoni Soup with cheesy garlic bread. At first we were a bit skeptical, but the soup was delicious and the wine pairing (Il Poggione Rosso di Montalcino 2010) was perfect! A nice bonus: Chef Bull's recipe was shared in the to-go swag bags!

Pepperoni Soup. Brilliant!

The fourth course was a roasted veal tenderloin with crisp sweetbread and capellini in a red pepper mornay sauce. YUM! It was paired with a 2008 Montevetrano from Campania, Italy. The table agreed that this was the best wine of the night. I can't wait to have another glass (or two)!

The fifth course was dessert, usually my favorite course of any meal. The dessert this evening was a banana cream pie cannoli with espresso caramel. To. Die. For. The paired dessert wine was a moscato (Maculan Moscato Dindarello 2011) and worked quite well with the espresso caramel!

The only problem with the dessert was they only served you one.

Although the food and wine were amazing, what truly made this meal spectacular was the company. I went with three friends and we were seated with two other couples we didn't know. Those situations are always unpredictable, but in this occasion we couldn't have asked for better company (the wine might have been a bit of an influence). According to one of our new friends, "we just had a grand time."

I look forward to the next Chef Wine & Dine event, and you should too...We got a sneak peek on who the chef is going to be and I simply cannot wait. Stay tuned!

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Friends Don't Let Friends Fly Spirit Airlines

noreply@blogger.com (Justin) — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 14:18:00 +0000

I have not flown Spirit Airlines. I want to - just once - to say I did. Until I do, I've asked my friend, Erin Riley, to report back on her recent experience with this airline.

Erin is an experienced traveler. She travels extensively for pleasure and for work including remote places in Indonesia, China, and Thailand. As a result, I trust Erin's opinions when it comes to traveling. Based on her recent experience with this $h!t-show of an airline, Erin wants to warn you: Regardless how good the price may look, DO NOT fly this airline.

According to Erin, it all started going downhill when she gloated to her colleague, "I'm going to Vegas, baby!" Her colleague asked, "Are you driving or flying?" Erin responded, "Flying, we got a good deal on Spirit Airlines." Her colleague paused and then let out an "Oh."

Erin booked her tickets on orbitz.com and nowhere during the process was she warned that you have to pay for a carryon bag. I mean, what airline charges to carryon your own bag, right? Indeed, once Erin logged into spirit.com to manage her booking (which, by the way, you have to register to do), you will find an entire page dedicated to their fees, which they call their "optional fees":

This is just ONE example of fees. The "Optional Fee" page is ENORMOUS.

When Erin arrived at the airport to checkin, she learned that she could pay $5 to have a person print out her boarding pass and check her bags or she could do it at a kiosk to for free.

At the kiosk, Erin learned that to check her bag it will cost her $45, but if she had done this online from home, it would have only cost her $30. Wha what??

Once Erin and her husband had shelled out enough money, they headed to the gate. Only there they learn that their 9:30 a.m. flight was delayed until 1:00 p.m. There were no explanations. No, "we're sorry for the delay." Nothing. Perhaps they should have driven (they live in southern California).

Once aboard, the entire plane was rumbling with expletives from angry passengers. Tempted to have a drink (they were headed to Vegas after all), Erin joked to her husband, "I bet they charge you for the liquor AND the mixer." BINGO, Erin!

Look how descriptive their "optional fees" are for snacks and drinks!

After a delightful start to her Vegas getaway, Erin had learned her lesson. She visited spirit.com to check her bag in advance for the return trip. After multiple attempts to do so, the website got "stuck" at the "submit" button. Great!

There was no "contact us" button on the website, so Erin had to call the Spirit Airlines Vacations number to get the phone number for customer service. Seriously.

When she finally got someone on the line, Erin told them her confirmation code and that she wants to check a bag. The agent states that her flight is delayed: "The December 14 flight has been delayed until 1:00 p.m." Erin interrupted the agent, "Ma'am, today is the 16th; We already took the flight on the 14th." Again, seriously.

At least the agent was able to process the bag check for Erin--all while letting Erin know that she would like to talk to Erin about a "special offer." Erin had no interest as she just wanted to check her bag and go back to gambling. The agent argued with Erin and that she would really be interested in the offer. Erin broke down and hung up (she isn't one of those people that explodes on customer service agents).

According to Erin, the only good part of the return trip was that the flight was on-time.

To sum it up, Erin says you get what you pay for: a whole lot of hidden fees, long delays, and poor customer service.

Doesn't this add really make you want to fly Spirit?

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Earn 1,000 Free Southwest Rapid Rewards Points with Turbo Tax

noreply@blogger.com (Justin) — Mon, 14 Jan 2013 12:58:00 +0000

It's the start of a new year and time for you to start thinking about your 2012 taxes. If you are like me and complete your own tax return, you can use TurboTax online and earn 1,000 Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards points.

TurboTax is available via many shopping portals (for a primer on shopping portals, read my previous post), however, if you don't pay much (or at all) when filing your taxes, you don't really get much of a return in rewards from your portal.

For example, let's say you have a pretty basic return. You would most likely use the "TurboTax Basic" return, which costs $19.99 (using the TurboTax Online version). If you first clicked through ebates, you would earn 8% cash back per dollar spent, or $1.60. If you went through MyPoints, you would earn 4 points per dollar spent, or 60 points.

What's great about this offer is that regardless of what you pay to file your taxes, you'll get 1,000 Rapid Rewards Points (worth about $16 towards a "Wanna Get Away" fare on Southwest).

Taking advantage of this offer is super easy:

Log in to Rapid Rewards Shopping with your Rapid Rewards account information (if you don't have an account, sign up - it's free!)
In the search field, search for "Turbo Tax"
Click on [Shop Now] and go to the TurboTax site
Complete your federal tax return with TurboTax Online by April 15, 2013.

Have fun filing your taxes and enjoy your points!

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Justin Does...Vail Valley

noreply@blogger.com (Justin) — Thu, 10 Jan 2013 13:14:00 +0000

Winter brings cold weather. And cold weather brings out my itch to snowboard!

Maria and I planned a weekend getaway to Vail Valley, Colorado to ring in the New Year. And for some skiing (Maria) and snowboarding (me).

I asked Maria for her opinion on my picks. As you’ll see, we agree and disagree on what to do in the Vail Valley.

Read about my our picks for what to do when in Vail Valley, Colorado over at fabisthenewblack.com!

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My Top 5 iPhone Apps

noreply@blogger.com (Justin) — Sun, 06 Jan 2013 17:11:00 +0000

The holiday travel season over and I did a fair amount of traveling. What helps me when I'm on the road is my handy-dandy iPhone. These are my must-have apps:

American Airlines. I'm a huge fan of American Airlines. They are my primary airline mostly because being so close to a hub, there are frequent flight options out of Austin. AA's app is fantastic. They recently updated it and it looks great! [Price: Free]

Flight Track Pro. Flight Track Pro tracks all of my flight itineraries (in conjunction with tripit.com). When an airline updates the flight schedule, Flight Track Pro is automatically updated with the new information. If in the air, and you are connected to the internet, you can track your flight's progress with a handy-dandy map. [Price: $9.99]

Google Maps. Yes, I know. The Google Maps app was just recently released. BUT, ever since I got my first iPhone, I used the pre-installed maps app, which was great! Now that Google Maps is back, it's like all is right in the world. Having a reliable map app is mandatory for being on the road. [Price: Free]

Snapseed. Let's face it, taking photos is fun. What's even more fun is photoshopping your photos to a) make them look like a professional took them, and b) do anything to make your photos look more glamorous than they really are. Snapseed gives you many options to touch-up your pics. [Price: Free]

Facebook. Once you've a) flown on American, b) tracked your flight, c) used Google Maps to get to where you were going, and d) took a photo and made it look fabulous with Snapseed, you're going to want to broadcast all this, right? What better way, than with Facebook? Enough said. [Price: Free]

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2012: A Review of My Year in Travel

noreply@blogger.com (Justin) — Tue, 01 Jan 2013 00:06:00 +0000

What a year 2012 was for me, travel-wise! And not to mention the launch of this blog: www.justin-does.com (thank you so much for reading)!

I took 96 domestic flights in 2012. Here's a map:

and a map of the 9 INTERNATIONAL flights I took:

A few statistics:

A total 74,830 butt-in-seat miles were flown - enough miles to circumnavigate the earth 3 times
I spent 9 days or 216 hours in an airplane
I was at 28 airports in 7 countries
My longest flight was 4,745 miles (London to Dallas)
My shortest flight was 148 miles (Houston to Austin)

It was a year of AMAZING trips:

Cabo San Lucas
Boston
European Tour including Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam, Prague, and Nice.
Seattle
Nantucket Island
Grand Cayman Island
West Virginia
New York
Vail / Beaver Creek, Colorado

Some of my favorite photos from my travels in 2012:

Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

Brussels, Belgium

Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Prague, Czech Republic

Seattle

Nantucket Island

Grand Cayman Island

Cayman in the snow

Casey in the snow

Not exactly roughing it.

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New Year's Eve Road Trip With The Hounds

noreply@blogger.com (Justin) — Sat, 29 Dec 2012 15:34:00 +0000

Let's face it, New Year's Eve is a lame "holiday". So we thought it would be great to convince some friends (shout out to Jason, Erin, Scott, and Maria) to get out of Austin and spend the 'holiday' skiing in Colorado. Since we just got a place there, we wanted to bring the dogs, Cayman and Casey.

An "easy" drive from Austin, Texas to Beaver Creek (Avon), Colorado is to go north through Dallas, then Oklahoma, to Salina, Kansas and turn left (west). Although a longer drive in miles, it takes a little less time since it is all interstate. With the exception of Oklahoma, the speed limit for the majority of the drive is 75 MPH (which is really 80 MPH).

Because of bad weather this time around, we ended up going the more 'direct' route via major metropolises of Early, Texas; Winters, Texas; Lubbock, Texas; Amarillo, Texas; Channing, Texas; etc. You get the idea.

17 hours. 10 in Texas alone.

The girls love car rides. In fact all you have to do is say "car ride" and the girls are at the door ready to go. So we weren't worried about a 17 hour car ride with the dogs.

Are we there yet?

We ended up overnighting in Lubbock, Texas at the beautiful La Quinta Inn & Suites in North Lubbock. I am not a hotel snob and can pretty much stay anywhere as long as it is clean and safe. The LQ was fine, especially for a place to crash overnight.

I stay in a lot of hotels. One thing that I don't understand are those nasty 'quilts' on hotel beds. They are gross. And you know they are not cleaned after each guest. One of the first things I do when I get to a hotel is to throw that quilt in the corner of the room.

Picture courtesy of lq.com.

Not 5 seconds after getting into bed and the dogs snuggled next to me, Cayman got off the bed. She explored every last inch of the room. Once she was done exploring I figured she would head back to bed, but no. She went over to that nasty quilt and started pushing and pulling on it to make a nest. I swear, she spent a good 7 minutes building the perfect nest. Once she was done, however, she sniffed the quilt and then walked over to the bed and jumped on. Even the quilt in the perfect nest was too nasty for her. Just sayin'.

The next day, we were up early. Out into 9 degree weather the girls and I went. Luckily, being Texas dogs, they wanted nothing to do with the cold. So we loaded up the truck and were off for day 2.

Casey's on the road again.

Here's a tip for any of you that want to take your dogs on a road trip. The best place to stop for breaks are McDonalds. Why you ask? They ALWAYS have patches of grass that the hounds can use for their business. Plus, you can pickup a soda, coffee, or snack. Perhaps even a McRib if you're feeling up to it.

Someone spied a french fry.

The rest of the drive was pretty uneventful. If you follow me on twitter (@JustinDoesBlog), you kept up to date on some of the amazing sites along the way. [If you are a tweep and you don't yet follow me, please follow me!]

Just truckin' along.

After 17 long hours and some pretty snowy mountain roads, we made it to the condo in the early afternoon. Now we're just waiting on the friends to arrive for a long weekend of skiing, snowboarding, and wine!

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Justin Does...New York City

noreply@blogger.com (Justin) — Mon, 24 Dec 2012 15:01:00 +0000

There is no better weekend getaway than The Big Apple.

Sightseeing, shopping, dining, theater, you name it: The City That Never Sleeps has it all.

Read about some of the places and things I do every time I am in New York City over at fabisthenewblack.com!

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GoGo In-Flight Internet Price Adjustments, Again

noreply@blogger.com (Justin) — Tue, 18 Dec 2012 20:00:00 +0000

Two weeks ago I wrote about a huge price hike for monthly GoGo internet passes. A reader pointed out to me this morning that it appears that GoGo, the WiFi provider for many of the major domestic airlines (including Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and United Airlines, etc.) has yet again adjusted their prices. This time, however, the prices have gone down.

I reached out to @GoGo on twitter to see if I missed the announcement of the price increase. In a brief email exchange, a GoGo representative explained that:

An email about price changes was sent to current monthly subscribers. If you have let your subscription lapse, then you might not have gotten an email. However, monthly unlimited subscribers did receive an email.

For clarification, though, monthly subscribers who were paying $34.95, were increased to $39.95, which should be their current price. If you are a new subscriber, the current rate would be $54.95. In other words, existing subscribers will pay a much lower rate than people who just sign up for the service today.

When I explained that many friends who are and were subscribers never received a notice, GoGo followed up:

In terms of email notifications, a notification was sent to unlimited subscribers. Subscribers to our Traveler Pass (monthly pass that’s airline specific) have not received any notifications because they shouldn’t have received an increase at this point.

For clarification:

- Current Gogo Unlimited subscribers were notified that their pricing went from $34.95 to $39.95
- Current Gogo Traveler Pass subscribers haven’t seen a price increase at this point

If you were a subscriber in the past and let your subscription lapse, you would need to renew at the current monthly subscriber rates of $54.95 for Gogo Unlimited and $44.95 for Gogo’s Traveler pass.

Well, GoGo adjusted their prices yet again:

As of today, December 18, 2012, the GoGo Unlimited pass, which allows unlimited internet access on all GoGo-equiped flights, is now $49.95 per month. Two weeks ago, the GoGo Unlimited pass price was raised to $54.95 (from the previous price of $39.95).

GoGo's other monthly pass, The Traveler Pass, which is unlimited monthly service on one airline, has also decreased in price: currently $39.95/month from two weeks ago price increase to $44.95 (still an increase from the previous rate of $34.95/month).

So in less than a week of corresponding with GoGo on this, they change their prices yet again. Will they make up their minds or what? Or maybe the fluctuations can be chalked up to my investigative journalism...

What are your thoughts about this?

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Austin Wedding Weekend

noreply@blogger.com (Justin) — Mon, 17 Dec 2012 03:19:00 +0000

A great way to end finals week: celebrating the marriage of good friends. And in Austin! Let's face it, a wedding invitation is a bill. You see the calligraphy. You feel the weight of the envelope. You think to yourself: $h!t! There goes at least a grand!

That's a problem with living in a city you didn't grow up in: you rarely have in-town weddings. Fortunately, this wedding bill was for a local wedding, woo-hoo!

I wasn't going to blog about this weekend, but the groom ~~suggested~~ demanded a post. He told me the only rules were the honest truth. For those of you that know me, I was bestowed the nickname "No Mercy" by my friend Taylor W (soon to be Taylor L). Rick said to me, "I want the truth. The No Mercy Truth." Okay, buddy, you got it!

I've known Rick and Allison for a couple years now. We had a fabulous time on a ski trip two years ago. In fact, we still laugh at some of the shenanigans from that trip.

Apparently we're close enough friends that we made the cut for the rehearsal dinner. The rehearsal dinner was at the Steiner Ranch Steakhouse (that's a mouthful, so going forward I'll refer to it as SRS). SRS was great. The service was outstanding and the food was delicious. Would I return? Perhaps. The problem is that Austin has so many great steakhouses, it seems pretty hard to justify the 35 minute drive to SRS. For the rehearsal dinner, however, the SRS was great. Justin Does Approve.

The wedding was on Saturday. You couldn't ask for a more beautiful wedding party. I mean, seriously, both sides were stunning. Allison was gorgeous in her dress, and what man doesn't look slick in a tuxedo?

I was a fan of the wedding, particularly because it was short. Being born and raised Catholic, any non-Catholic wedding seems short (have you ever been to a Catholic wedding?) The ceremony was meaningful, and no one fainted! That says a lot considering there were 8 attendants on each side!

Newly married!

The party, er, I mean, reception, was FANTASTIC. Rick and Allison picked the Westwood Country Club. It was a great venue. Everything was laid out well and the food stations were well spaced.

Speaking of food, you can't have a better menu than what Rick and Allison picked. My favorite was the chicken and waffles. A waffle topped with strawberry butter, southern fried chicken, and maple syrup. Yes, please! The crab cakes were delicious (covered in the rémoulade, of course) as were the beef skewers.

I'm always a little skeptical of live bands, but Rick and Allison's pick, Radiostar, was perfect. When you have an 80s cover band, you really can't go wrong. The band rocked it out the entire night and the dance floor was never empty. I mean, how could they not rock the party when the band wears Adidas track suits?

Rocking the Kasbah.

The couple picked fantastic swag for those attending. To go along with the 80s band, there was a bucket of 80s sunglasses:

I wear sunglasses at night, too.

Once the band had finished, it was time for the Rick and Allison to head off to the honeymoon suite. All in attendance lined up at the door and tossed flower petals at the bride and groom as they got into the car:

So happy!

Rick - you wanted the #NoMercy review of your wedding weekend? Y'all hit it out of the ballpark. Thank you so much for including us. Best wishes and hope y'all are enjoying your honeymoon!

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Justin Does State #48

noreply@blogger.com (Justin) — Fri, 14 Dec 2012 21:24:00 +0000

In case you didn't know where West

Virginia was, here is a map. It is West

of the state of Virginia.

I just visited my 48th state: West Virginia. I went into the trip with low expectations, mostly because I knew nothing about the state other than 1) it was mountainous, 2) they have coal mines, and 3) moonshine.

The real reason for the trip was that the University of Kansas Jayhawks were playing the West Virginia University Mountaineers. Oh, and when else are you going to go to West Virginia. Seriously. (If I've offended you, you might as well stop reading now. If I've offended you, you should probably keep reading, but warning, there is a fair amount of snarkiness ahead).

So by now I've probably convinced you to go to West Virginia, right? Great! Here's some pointers.

We flew the lovely Southwest Airlines to Pittsburgh. That was another first for me! I have been to Philadelphia, but never to Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh used to be a hub airport for US Airways and remnants of Pittsburgh International Airport's once busy times are evident on the empty banks of Arrival and Departure displays:

Either someone got a great deal on TVs
or the airport used to be a little busier.

From Pitt, rent a car and drive. I suggest heading to a town called Morgantown. What was most surprising to me about Morgantown was that it was so frickin' hilly, or I guess they're called mountains there. The roads through town were all windy and convoluted, I got lost at least once (okay, twice. Yea, you got me, four times).

Anyways, after a day of flying and driving, it was time to hit up the town:

Hanging out with the laid back mountain folk!

Moonshinin'

I'm going to go on record right now. Moonshine. Is. Delicious. It's like drinking apple pie, but getting really loaded. It's almost Christmas time. You know what I want? Equipment to make my own moonshine. Seriously. I found some great resources on how to make it, so now all I need is the equipment!

Saturday was game day. The mighty Jayhawks, well, they showed up. So I'll give them credit for that. I, on the other hand, had an excellent time.

I was able to experience true local cuisine - the pepperoni roll. Everywhere we went, after being told, "You ain't from around here," I was asked if I had had a pepperoni roll yet. Sounds exotic, right? Well, imagine some dough with some pepperoni baked in it. It was so delicious I ate it before I could take a picture. Sorry folks.

Some other highlights of the day included tailgating with, you guessed it, moonshine (see picture above). Walking to the game, on the field courtesy of my buddy Danny, I ran into the West Virginia University Mountaineer.

Fortunately he was pretty tame, especially after hearing he had recently killed a black bear with that gun he was carrying. He's a pretty cool guy, but the head on his hat was kind of freaking me out, so I told him to beat it.

All in all, it was a fun weekend. I was able to mark off another state from my list (can you guess the other two I have left?) and got to spend the weekend with some awesome people.

Can you guess who DIDN'T go to KU?

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What is Uber? Answer: The Best Car Service. Ever.

noreply@blogger.com (Justin) — Tue, 11 Dec 2012 16:29:00 +0000

I just got back from a quick weekend trip to my favorite city: New York City. In NYC, I opted out of hailing a yellow cab, and instead, pulled out my iPhone to order an Uber.

Uber is an on-demand, private driver service in select cities. When in a city that has Uber (list below), you can request to be picked up anytime and anywhere using your iPhone or Android-phone.

No cash is needed with Uber as it is tied to your credit card linked to your account AND the tip is built into the cost! But the best part about Uber is the rating system. You rate your driver (1 to 5 starts) and the driver rates you. If you end up with a low rating (like, you have a tendency to get sick in the car...) drivers can decline picking you up.

Don't have Uber? Sign up and receive a $10 credit to your account after your first use! (Full disclosure: I will earn a referral bonus if you use this link)

List of cities where Uber is available (current as of December 11, 2012):

United States

Atlanta
Boston
Chicago
Dallas
Denver
Hamptons
Los Angeles
Minneapolis/St. Paul
Napa
New York City
Orange County
Philadelphia
Phoenix
San Diego
San Francisco
Seattle
Washington, D.C.

International

Amsterdam
London
Paris
Sydney
Toronto
Vancouver

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Earn up to 1,000 United Mileage Plus Miles by Linking Your Social Media Accounts

noreply@blogger.com (Justin) — Thu, 06 Dec 2012 05:44:00 +0000

You can earn up to 1,000 United Airlines Mileage Plus miles by linking your social media accounts (Facebook, Twitter, and Foursquare) with BCKSTGR, yet another social media site.

You will earn 400 miles for registering, and 200 miles each for linking your Facebook, Twitter, and Foursquare accounts. The miles should post instantly to your Mileage Plus account (mine did):

The website seems to be running somewhat slow, but your patience will pay off! Once you link your accounts and the miles post to your Mileage Plus account, you can un-link your accounts on the "My Accounts" page of BCKSTGR.

Even if you don't fly United Airlines very often, you should take advantage of this offer. Free miles are free miles! Plus, earning any miles will prevent any miles you already have from expiring for another eighteen months.

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