A few months back I read an article in National Geographic's blog Intelligent Travel about a Swedish hostel owner who has come up with a unique solution for those who have trouble sleeping on planes. He's converted a 747 into a hostel.
But before all you aero-insomniacs rush out to the airport, you ought to know that there is a down side to this -- the plane never leaves the ground.
About two years ago Oscar Diös, a Swedish hostel owner who was looking for a piece of property near Stockholm-Arlanda airport on which to expand his business, became aware of an old 747 jumbo that was headed for the scrapheap. The plane had been owned by a charter company that had gone bankrupt.
"Well," thought Diös, "why go to all the trouble of building a hostel at the airport when the makings of one was already here?" Faster than you could say "Swedish Meatballs" he set a plan in motion.
He purchased the plane, named it "Liv" in honor of his daughter and set about getting the required permits for "Jumbo Hostel". Renovations began with the removal of all the seats, although some of the other original parts of the plane were left intact. 25 rooms have now been built onboard with three bunk-beds in each.
Each room is about 64 square feet, and ten feet in height. Everyone shares several toilets and showers in the hallway, although First Class still has its privileges -- the suites on the upper deck and cockpit have private baths. All rooms also have flat screen TVs and wireless internet, and there's also a small café onboard.
The hostel is about a ten-minute walk from the check-in counters. Rates have been set at about $42 for the dorm rooms, rising to a sky-high hostel rate of $400 for the cockpit suite.
The hostel was to open this month but, as is often the case, the opening has been moved back a bit and bookings are now being taken starting January 15, 2009.
It's a unique idea, that gives new meaning to a "flight to nowhere."
Jim Ferri
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Perhaps it's time to call in the psychiatrists. Okay, maybe that's going a little too far. But, on the other hand, the people that Travel+Leisure (in its December issue) say pamper their pets seem to be going a little too far also.
I mean let's face it -- going to a hotel so your dog can sleep on a 300-thread count sheet on a Simmons Beauty Rest mattress? And be served New York sirloin and scrambled eggs with aged Tillamook cheddar -- on bone china, no less -- and taken to the salon in the hotel's Rolls Royce! Old Yeller must be rolling over in his grave.
Now I love pets. People who read this blog a lot know that we've got a yellow lab named Dusty. But he knows if he's ever going to have sirloin and eggs he's going to have to break into a diner (that's him to the right in his favorite position). And a ride in a Rolls Royce to a salon? It's enough to make even Lassie gag.
For some time now a few five-star hotels have been pulling out all the stops when it comes to pets. Fido, it seems, has become quite a profit center -- well, at least it was right before the economy started to resemble a pooper scooper. All these pet pampering programs are just marketing tools, of course, and you have to give credit to the people who have come up with the ideas.
But hasn't it all become a bit absurd? When you hear of people bringing their dogs to the Loews Coronado Bay Resort, in California, for surfing lessons, or to the Loews Vanderbilt Hotel in Nashville for voice-coaching lessons -- and the opportunity to cut a CD -- it makes me think maybe it isn't just dogs that get rabies.
Now I'm not going to get all righteous here, preaching that what some people spend on their mutts could feed half the population of Biafra. That's up to the pet owner to wonder about. But do you really want to be the remembered only as the one who bought your mutt his personal fire hydrant so he wouldn't have to go near one of those all the others use?
If you really want to make him happy, give him a biscuit and a tennis ball and let him romp about on the hotel's lawn.
Jim Ferri
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I know it's hard for many people to think of a vacation when the economy is in such a mess, but if you can refocus for a moment I've got some good news for you.
That vacation you're not thinking about has just gotten less expensive. And it doesn't have anything to do with declining prices because of the Wall Street mess either.
What has happened is that the dollar has been slowly and quietly been gaining strength against some other currencies during the past few months. That gives you a lot more buying power in some overseas vacation spots.
For example, look at the approximate increase in value of the dollar versus some other currencies since June 1. The dollar now buys you 23.4% more Euros, almost 35% more British Pounds, 47% more Aussie dollars, and 33% more South African Rands, It goes 36% further in Norway, about 15% In Switzerland and a whopping 89% in Iceland.
Not all destinations are offering fire-sale prices on their exchange rate, however. Argentina's peso has only changed about 7% in our favor and China has become more expensive, for example.
The dollar hasn't returned to its glory days, of course, but there's more to the picture. Despite air fares staying relatively high -- although you can snag a few good bargains if you look around -- hotel prices are edging downward due to that better exchange rate. Remember that great exchange rate in Iceland? According to Forbes, you can now stay in a four-star hotel in Iceland for $70.00 per night. Basically, the entire country is on sale.
But the really good news is that you can now find hotels that are waving about some good deals to lure you in. Just log onto places such as TravelZoo, Shermans, Orbitz, etc. or Google some of the better-know chains and see what deals you can unearth. You may be surprised.
Jim Ferri
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