UP IN THE AIR

Delta Expands Flights to Punta Cana
Delta Air Lines will expand its service to Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic during the high demand season, including flights from Atlanta, Cincinnati, Detroit, Minneapolis/St. Paul and New York-JFK. Flights will be operated using Airbus A320 and Airbus A319 aircraft and will complement existing Delta service to this hot luxury Caribbean destination. Delta this year celebrated its 10th anniversary of uninterrupted service to the Dominican Republic, highlighting the continued growth and development of the company's network between the U.S. and Latin America.  

Punta Cana Resort Hotel and Tortuga Bay

Etihad's new look & new routes
Etihad will soon deliver The Residence and First Apartments (see below) onboard their A380. Truly remarkable experiences in the sky drawn from the culture and traditions of Abu Dhabi can now also be seen on the exterior of their new aircraft. A380: Abu Dhabi to London, starting December 2014. B787: Abu Dhabi to Dusseldorf, starting December 2014.

Ultimate first-class airline offerings

CNN--Sure, first class sounds swank, but when you're paying a premium of several thousand dollars a ticket, it can be hard to justify the added expense. In an effort to really make it "worth it," airlines have started offering passengers everything from on-board apartments (yes, really) to post-boarding limo rentals and private jet access. Here are a few examples:

 

Etihad: Come December, the Abu Dhabi-based airline is taking luxury a step further with the launch of Residence Class on its Airbus A380 and Boeing B787 Dreamliner aircraft. Customers can enjoy three-room apartments while in the air. These suites will feature a private bedroom, a living room and en suite shower. Passengers looking for a slightly scaled down experience can book a First Apartment -- a private suite with a full-length bed, separate reclining ottoman and access to a bathroom with shower. All suites will come with a private minibar. What really sells "The Residence" is the service. Passengers will get their own butler, concierge, a chauffeur to get them to and from the airport and a private chef so you can order off the a la carte menu or request personalized dishes anytime.

 

Air France: Passengers craving an extra level of comfort can book Air France's new La Premiere cabin. These mini-suites -- available on the carrier's long-haul Boeing 777-300 aircraft -- feature lie-flat seats that adapt to each passenger's morphology, a 24-inch HD screen (one of the largest available on board), a private wardrobe and an adjustable privacy curtain. There's also a reclining ottoman, so guests from other parts of the cabin can visit. Come nighttime, cabin crew will outfit the seat with a mattress and linens. Air France has also teamed with an army of Michelin-rated chefs to design its new La Premiere menu. It features gourmet touches from Joël Robuchon, Régis Marcon, Guy Martin, Anne-Sophie Pic and Michel Roth.

 

Lufthansa: Lufthansa's first-class cabins are fairly standard. They come equipped with lie-flat seats and an amenity-filled washroom. One of the main perks, however, is access to the Lufthansa private jet for travelers wishing to hit up a second -- perhaps more remote -- location, the jet offers a seamless means of transport, minus the rigmarole of layovers. Lufthansa also tapped a few Michelin-starred chefs to design its in-flight menus, complete with caviar service. The award-winning wine program (Vinothek Discoveries) offers a rotation of vintages handpicked by sommelier world champion Markus Del Monego.

 

Singapore Airlines: In 2012, Singapore launched suites aboard its new A380 aircraft. Each cabin features sliding doors and window blinds for maximum privacy. Eschewing the lie-back seat, the carrier opted instead for a standalone bed that can accommodate two people. The cabins also come with a 23-inch screen and USB and HDMI ports, enabling travelers to plug in their own devices. Singapore's Book the Cook service lets passengers pre-order one of more than 60 dishes. Singapore also offers an extensive selection of champagne, grand cru red burgundy and second growth Bordeaux.

 

Cathay Pacific: Last year, Cathay Pacific brushed up its first-class cabins and sought the input of frequent fliers. The results include more spacious personal closets, a thicker mattress and an LCD touchscreen controller that makes it easy to adjust the seat and control the lighting. Passengers are also given BOSE headphones to better enjoy the in-flight entertainment. The bedding has also been improved and passengers are given pajamas. The Hong Kong carrier also partnered with the Mandarin Oriental Hotel to bring five-star dining to the air. First-class passengers traveling from Hong Kong to London, for example, will be plied with the likes of foie gras, truffles and chicken and beef accompanied by crab meat and caviar.

Etihad First Class

Managing your travel points  

Take a look at this handy website: The Points Guy 

More pro travel apps

 

WeatherPro: An intuitive app offering weather reports for well over two million geographical locations, feeding in everything from cloud formations and atmospheric pressure to wind speed and humidity. Download WeatherPro

 

JetLag Genie: Input your travel dates, destination and usual sleeping times and it'll come back with personalized alarm clocks to soften the blow when you wake up on Tuesday afternoon convinced it's still Monday morning. Download JetLag

 

XE Currency: Best currency converter, hands down. Slick, easy to use, uses accurate live currency rates, and free. Download XE Currency

 

Sunscreen: Detects the UVI rating of your current location and sets a countdown timer to alert you when you're due your next application of sunblock. All you have to do is input your skin type and the SPF of your lotion, then kick back and soak up some worry-free rays. Download Sunscreen

 

Tipulator: Leave 10% on the table after a meal in Tokyo and your generosity will cause offence; do the same in New York and you'll be called a skinflint. Thankfully, wherever you go, there's this - a nifty tip calculator to help the mathematically challenged split bills and tips while neatly sidestepping social embarrassment. Download Tipulator

 

Word Lens: Instantly translates foreign text via your phone's camera. They are in the process of being incorporated by Google, but check it out. Download WordLens 

 

Trip Journal: A virtual travel scrapbook - as long as you've got your GPS switched on, it'll create maps of your various explorations, geo-tagged with pictures, videos and notes. 21st Century traveloguing at its finest. Download TripJournal

4 Hotel tipping guidelines

The never-ending question of whether to tip, how much to tip, and who to tip at a hotel drives all guests a little crazy. In some parts of the world, it is frowned upon to give a tip and in others it is customary. Here are a few careful thoughts on tipping in the hospitality industry from Aditya Rajaramoffer, HotelChatter's "front desk guy.":

 

1. Know Where You Are Tipping: "How much does one tip here?" It's always best to ask a manager what the country's tipping policy is as well as what is the appropriate tip in the local currency. Currency values can create a huge discrepancy especially for guests who come from countries with higher value currencies.

 

2. Know Why You Are Tipping: Guests sometimes believe that just forking over a $20 or even $100 bill will get them anything they want. While the money is nice, please make sure you know why you are giving it. Tips should always be offered after a specific service has been provided and moreover, if that service was at or above your expectations. It is always best to support the cash tip with a verbal explanation of why you are giving it i.e., "You really helped us with our booking or thank you for looking after my stuff while I was away." This helps hotel staff understand that the right attitude and service is appreciated and should be encouraged.  

 

3. Know How to Tip Different Employees: Front desk agents, concierges, bell persons and housekeepers are the usual recipients of tips--either by directly handing them the tip or leaving it on the counter. Oftentimes, management need not be given cash gratuity. Rather, if you do want to show your appreciation, write a note thanking the team and put in some money if you wish for the team to share.

 

4. Tip Your Housekeeper: There are instances where guests don't realize the time, effort and care that has gone into making their stay as comfortable and carefree as possible. I cannot stress this enough, housekeeping is one of the most fundamental and important departments in the hotel and when they do their job well, guests not only feel comfortable but also feel welcomed and safe.

 

Interacting with the staff can only heighten a hotel experience because the more they know about you, the better they can customize your stay and look after you. Tipping is a small gesture to say "I appreciate that you have looked after me, taken care of my personal belongings when I am not around and created a safe and clean environment for me."  

YOURLIFE

85% of adults prefer to work with a travel agent