Author Archives: Shelli

About Shelli

Shelli Stein is a health and fitness entrepreneur who travels the world in search of culture, food, and fun! Besides contributing to Travel with Grant, you can find her at Joy in Movement.

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A Pleasant Surprise at the Priority Pass Lounge in Rome (FCO) [Lounge Closed]

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Updated September 4, 2019: The Priority Pass lounge, I Mosaici, has been closed. The current best Priority Pass lounge at FCO, Rome, is the Plaza Premium Lounge.

Sometimes airport lounges are an especially nice surprise. And sometimes they even exceed your expectations. I know that doesn’t happen often enough, but when it does, it makes for a story worth sharing! And how I even got to the lounge I’m writing about – well, that’s a good story as well.

Since it had been a while since I’d transited in Rome at Fiumicino airport (FCO), I did a bit of research on my lounge options. Seemed there were two to consider and both got awful reviews. My expectations were low, so I figured at the very least, I’d take a look at the better of the two, have a cappuccino, and then shake my head in disappointment and head out of the lounge.

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Dealing with the European Electronics Ban & How to Pack a Laptop in Checked Luggage

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Traveling can be stressful, and sometimes super stressful. I may be stating the obvious but recently, as someone who doesn’t stress easily, I found myself in quite a stressed out mode.

I was in Europe when the proposed electronics ban was announced. And yes, I had all my electronics with me. The thought of putting my laptop in my suitcase and checking it, well, it made me feel anxious and panicked. I had just started my trip in Europe and knew that I couldn’t let myself be consumed by worry for the weeks until I would return to the States. So I got myself into action mode and researched and decided how I would handle having to check my laptop on my flight home. Then, no matter how the ban worked out going forward, I’d at least feel prepared.

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See, Eat & Drink: The Perfect Long Weekend in Vancouver, Canada

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Heading to Vancouver, Canada, anytime soon? Don’t leave home without this list of what to see and what to do. What makes me an expert? Well, not only do I love Vancouver, but I’ve been going there for years! And what a bargain the US Dollar gets right now ($1.00 USD = $1.35 CAD, as of 5/28). I’m going to make some assumptions: that you haven’t been before or at least in a long while, and that you’re staying downtown, as that’s where most of the hotels are. If you drink coffee, I’ll throw in some great cafes to try too. I’m also assuming you’re not renting a car, since it’s not really necessary.

  1. They don’t have Uber, and taxi from the airport is set by zone, so I always use a taxi into downtown. They do have public transportation, but we still take a taxi from the airport. For two people and given the exchange rate, it makes sense. It’s ~$37 CAD (~$27 USD) from Vancouver International Airport (YVR) and takes about 20-30 minutes depending on traffic.
  2. I stay downtown at the Hyatt Regency Vancouver. Just in case that’s your hotel chain of choice as well, it’s a terrific property. If I’m paying cash for a hotel stay, I always use Pruvo to monitor for price drops! I feel pretty strongly about this hotel, its location, and its lounge.
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Image source: https://www.lai.org/images/home/vancouver-skyline

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“Please Leave the Foam Pillows as you Exit the Plane” & My Recent Experience Flying United

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Earlier this morning, Gary at View from the Wing wrote: LEAKED: United Bringing Ice Cream Sundaes Back to International Business Class (in Paper Bowls).  This post came at the perfect time since I just had a first hand experience with this. Here’s what happened.

On my United flight from Rome (FCO) to San Francisco (SFO), I flew United first class. My cousin was experiencing this level of service for the first time, and I got her all excited about United’s ice cream sundaes. In fact, we skipped the cheese offerings, to have room for our sundaes. The flight attendant came around with the dessert cart, but I knew something was missing.

I saw some very unappetizing macaroons and a dixie cup of ice cream. What, no sundaes?? Or course I asked her about this, and she gave me some strange answer about the bowls not working well. What the heck does a “bowl not working well” even mean? Can’t they find bowls that know how to work??

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Reader Help: Please Share Your Best Disneyland Tip

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Hello Disney fans and aficionados!

I need your help! My niece, her husband, and their two kids ages 5 and 3 are coming to visit me in Southern California. And what’s top on their list of experiences? Well Disneyland, of course :)

So they asked me, their favorite Aunt and travel expert, for tips about saving money at Disneyland. Yikes, I haven’t a clue. I love Disneyland, but haven’t been in years, so I’m not at all in the know. But I am hoping the TWG posse has some great ideas.

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Image source: https://disneyland.disney.go.com/destinations/disneyland/

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