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Tips on Tipping

The mysterious tipping process. How do you know when, who and how to tip? Different occasions have different tipping ideas. You can use the following information to help you decide how to tip when you're on vacation.

Cruise Ships -- You can now pre-tip per a specified scale before you get on your cruise ship. Some passengers don't like this idea. They want their servers to earn their tips and give more or less dependent upon good or bad service. Tips on cruise ships go to: cleaning and maid service, head steward, table service waiters and waitresses and head waiters, and chefs. You can expect to pay roughly $350-$450 in tips on a weeklong cruise. If elect to tip more then you may pay more. 

Resorts and Lodges -- Tips should go to your bellboy or girl. Recommended tip per piece of luggage is $5 each piece. Now a bellboy who does nothing more than remove a piece of luggage from your trunk, give him or her a $1 per luggage. 

Restaurants -- You can tip your waiter or waitress the standard 15%. If they do an exceptional job, 20% is always a generous tip. In California, an easy trick is to simply double the sales tax to come up with your tip amount. 

Spas -- Recommended tip for spa service is the same as restaurants, 15%. Spa services are generally pricy in the first place, so if you drop it to 10% you are still likely to be giving your service provider a healthy tip. Unlike waiters and waitresses who barely make minimum wage, spa providers make a decent income outside of tips. So a 10% tip still helps and keeps your services to an affordable level. 

Two Winter Weather Tips for Traveling

When it's cold outside and you're traveling, you can either do it comfortably or you can shiver your way from house to car to airport or train station or whatever your mode of transportation. Or perhaps you live in a warm climate and you're traveling to somewhere cold. When traveling somewhere cold, here are two essentials to promise some semblance to warmth and comfort:

Hat, scarf and mitten (all three no matter what): The hat holds the heat in (your head emits the most heat); the mittens promise warm hands and keeps them free for dragging luggage so you don't feel compelled to shove them in your pockets; and the scarf is the secret weapon to ensure you're warm everywhere. In fact, nothing protects and warms the neck better than a wool scarf. Also, the mittens protect your hands when you set them on a particularly frigid steering wheel. 

Layers always the save day: Notice on this blog, we encourage travelers to dress in comfortable layers. The old adage "there is no such thing as bad weather only bad clothes" always applies. Better to be taking off layers than not having anything to put on. Recommend layers in this order (for snow or low temperatures): Down jacket, woolen sweater, long-sleeved T-shirt beneath (or short sleeved for cold climates that warm up by day), and hat, scarf and mittens. If you fly, you can remove the jacket and put it in the overhead bin. Generally speaking, most airplane temperature stay cool and not hot. So, a sweater can be kept on or removed and tucked under the seat. 

P.S. Always bring water and snacks no matter when or where you travel.

Great Roadside Diner -- Taylor in St. Helena and Napa

Sometimes all you want is a great hamburger but not necessarily the fast food variety. When traveling with your family through the Napa Valley, consider a quick stop at Taylor's Refresher on 933 Main Street that runs through St. Helena for those traveling the main road and do not wish to detour. They have two other locations in Napa. Taylors offers gourmet family food with a bent toward good nutrition. Now some might argue a hamburger under any circumstances is not nutritious, but compared to its competitors, Taylors' burgers are a healthy alternative for your family to get a quick bite while on the road. They serve a variety of organic options, but the burgers and sweet potato fries will absolutely satiate your desire for a homemade delight. The sweet potato fries are scrumptious too. They have outdoor seating so when it's warm and dry, this stop makes the perfect place to get out of the car, rest, eat and let your kids stretch their legs.

Scenic Highways in California

In colder weather, sometimes it's nice to pile in the car and take a scenic drive. If it's not raining too hard, you will find especially through Northern California that it becomes greener. The swish of the water under the tires and the gentle rain on the roof of the car can be soothing effects. Here are some suggested scenic routes to consider.

North on Highway 101 or the Redwood Highway -- this route as you drive further north becomes greener and greener until you hit the redwoods. It is brown in late spring and summer. You can start your drive in Marin County and drive north toward Eureka. This route is a busier highway and for the first 100 miles you drive through many bigger towns as you move up through Santa Rosa past Ukiah. Eureka is the ideal end to your journey. Realize you will have a full day's drive but this route will take you through the California giant redwoods and up to the ocean. Camping in wet weather is not preferable and Eureka has many lodging choices to select from.

Highway 29 to Napa Valley -- during Crush and the high season, Highway 29 is congested with tourists. A drive in the cool of winter avoids the traffic patterns. You can start south in the city of Napa and drive north through the sweet town of St. Helena. You will drive through the heart of Napa. Many wine-tasting and shopping opportunities will be available to chose from. You will also find numerous high- and low-end restaurants to grab a bite to eat. A good destination is Calistoga. It will take about two hours to get there. Calistoga is know for its mud baths and hot springs. Plan to stay and stroll the town, shop and eat.

Highway 116 to Jenner -- another peaceful drive starts in Santa Rosa and takes you through a moderately twisting road to Jenner on the beach. The first half of the drive is spent driving quietly through farm land and vineyards. The second half of the drive takes you through the gentle curves through the sumptuous California Redwoods. Take your time and look around. You can stop and hike at some the park areas. Enjoy the drive and plan to stay the night in Jenner. Jenner has one gas station and a handful of inns and lodges right on the cliff that overlooks the Pacific Ocean.

Two Great White Sand Beaches

These island paradises claim to have the best white-sand beaches. So, you might have to decide for yourself. Here are two suggestions to include in your travel plans.

Antigua -- Antigua officials brag that their two best are Dickenson Bay, in the northwest corner of the island, and Half Moon Bay, which stretches for a white sandy mile along the eastern coast. Most major hotels open directly onto a good beach, so chances are good yours will be built on or near a strip of sand. Antigua is nice, little island and definitely worth incorporating into one of your Caribbean Cruises, but you might want to just jump in and jump out. Unless you're a complete beach nut with little or no intention of ever leaving the beach anyway.

Maui, Big Beach -- All the locals and vacationers alike always tell you to go to Big Beach. It is a long, white-sand beach near Wailea, and as everyone suggests it's a great white beach. The shoreline does slope down rapidly to the sea floor and the waves get pretty big. So, it's also a great body surfing beach or a lot of fun just to wave jump. For a little more quiet and more "beige" nearby Makenna Beach is great too. The waves are a little smaller and the beach leveler.

Ojo Caliente Mineral Springs -- New Mexico

After the hectic holiday season, many of you may need a great, quiet escape perhaps to somewhere sacred. Ever thought about taking a vacation to Northern New Mexico and staying at one of the resorts and spas? The famous Ojo Caliente Mineral Springs is known for its sacred mineral water that is suppose to enhance health and healing. This four-star spa and resort is absolutely stunning and classic New Mexico with Pueblo fireplaces. The resort offers several different cliffside and Pueblo suites as well as standard rooms. The clean and chic elegance of the spa is designed for pure relaxation. Families will want to come with older children who will appreciate serenity. What makes this spa famous is its 10 pools, which offer sulfur-free, mineral waters that flow from a subterranean volcanic aquifer. A soak in these pools is said to be healing to the body, and if nothing else will bring peace to the soul.

 

Martha's Vineyard Winter Solace

Want to know the best time of year to visit Martha's Vineyards, according to the locals? No, it's not summer when there is no shortage of tourists and some famous guests and celebrities. It's during the winter when the high season yields to peace and quiet and a soft blanket of snow. The town transforms into a refuge from the hustle and bustle of other busier winter destinations. The best place to find lodging is in Oak Bluffs, which is a resort town and offers numerous bed and breakfasts and lodges that tend to resemble gingerbread-style cottages, as does many of the structures in the town. This kind of escape begs for crisp walks along the beach all bundled up in coats, scarves and gloves, and then strolls through the town streets to find the nearest cafe to sit, chat and enjoy a warm coffee or other hot drink. You can bring a book you've made little time to read and just spend a cozy afternoon at your lodge in front of fire and read your day away. It's a perfect winter retreat from daily stress.

Sonoran Desert to Warm Up

Ready to head somewhere warmer and sunnier? Time to go to Arizona and the Sonoran Desert, which is where Scottsdale is located. An absolutely stunning place to visit is the Cottonwood Resort which offers a peaceful escape from stress in the middle of the desert. Winter is definitely the best time to visit to enjoy the cool breezes and warm temperature without enduring the summer heat. This 25-acre resort is tucked away and secluded just 12 miles from the Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport. The resort is nestled against Carmelback Mountain and only receives rain about 52 days out of the year. It features two swimming pools, fitness center, tennis courts, putting greens, and windy nature trails to take a scenic hike on the grounds. You can stay in a standard room or enjoy the amenities provided in the suites that includes a full kitchen, wood-burning beehive fireplace, and just a beautifully decorated space. It makes the ideal winter escape if you just need a retreat and some time away from the cold.

Cut Your Tree in a National Forest

Yes, you can cut your own tree in one of our national forests in designated areas. Each year, the areas rotate and change, so you should definitely call ahead at the numbers provided below. Make your national forest tree cutting adventure a weekend escape. Depending on where you decide to travel to cut your own, you can find a local campground or a lodge to stay at. Now it's the rainy season so if you camp, do it in an RV. Otherwise you will likely be cold and wet the entire time. Here is the list:

Klamath - (530) 842- 6131 - Supervisor's Office, Yreka
Lassen - (530) 257 - 2151 - Supervisor's Office, Susanville
Mendocino - (530) 934 - 3316 - Supervisor's Office, Willows
Modoc - (530) 233 - 5811 - Supervisor's Office, Alturas
Plumas - (530) 283 - 2050 Supervisor's Office, Quincy
Shasta-Trinity - (530) 244 - 2978 - Supervisor's Office, Redding
Six Rivers - (707) 442 - 1721 Supervisor's Office, Eureka
Humboldt-Toiyabe - (760) 932 - 7070 Bridgeport Ranger District, Bridgeport