My wife and I were fortunate enough to win a trip to Costa Rica to a resort called Latitude 10. We had a wonderful time hanging out at the resort, relaxing and adventuring into the surrounding area. Latitude 10 describes themselves as follows:

It was designed to be small with beautifully arranged private casitas, so that guests may purchase the whole resort and enjoy with friends or families, and individual guests and couples can come knowing that they will feel like they have their own room on the beach with every amenity they could wish for, close at hand. Set on natural gardens, the whole eco-resort was created around the principles of sustainability so that you can enjoy this level of luxury while knowing the surrounding wildlife and nature is being protected. No trees were cut down to build Latitude 10 and we will be happy to show you our sustainable initiatives that guide our operations.

I would sum it up as “luxury camping.” Your casita is completely open to the elements and hidden from the other casitas. The shower and toilet are outdoors (which is pretty nice once you get used to it). They clean your room twice a day including setting up your mosquito net and lighting candles at night. There is a fridge in the room and a nice couch to relax on.

But… you are definitely outside. At night they close panels to keep the elements out, but you are still very close to nature.

Here are 10 tips for enjoying your stay at the Latitude 10 Resort:

1. Fans – This is the most important tip. As soon as you book your trip, request a fan for the duration of your stay. Our trip was really divided in to two parts – the nights we slept and the nights we didn’t. Costa Rica is hot. It’s also very humid. The fans on the ceilings of the master casita we stayed in did nothing to move the air. Once we got the bed-side fan (they only have a few) it was 100 percent different.
2. Itinerary and the beaches – The folks at Latitude 10 are great about staying on top of your activities during your stay. Lean on them to help you find plenty of things to do. They were always prompt at returning my emails before I went and kept us on schedule while we were there. Also, you can’t really swim on the beaches at the resort (see rocky shore pictures below). At high tide it looks harmless enough, but at low tide you can see why it is so dangerous. Make sure you talk to the Latitude 10 folks about where you can go to safely swim or surf.




3. Internet Access – There is very spotty Internet access at Latitude 10. They told me they are improving it soon, but currently they share access with the resort next door. Bad Internet access is actually a bonus, allowing you to enjoy your vacation by sucking up nature, rather than surfing Facebook. If you do need the Internet, the best access in the area is at a cafe called “The Bakery” in town. Latitude 10 offers safes in the room, and my 17 inch laptop easily fit.



4. Look out for flying fruit and lizards There are really funny red squirrels who hang out in the trees near the “clubhouse.” They like to take the fruit/nuts off the trees and throw them down at the people hanging around the pool. Also, were tons of lizards all over the resort and throughout Costa Rica. I ventured around the resort taking lizard photos and put a few of my favorites below.



5. Order a “Pina” – One of the gentleman who worked the bar/restaurant made awesome pineapple smoothies. I had one or two a day, a great way to relax by the pool (pictured below).



6. Get up early – The best pictures come of the resort and the surrounding area happen during the “golden hour” (an hour after sunrise). As the day goes on, the air becomes very steamy and sight-seeing and photography becomes much harder (not to mention that it gets very hot). If you get up early enough you may see these funny little orange and purple crabs (picture below). During the time we were there it was egg laying season. You can see in the picture all of the eggs this crab was ready to hide in the sand.



7. Bring mosquito sting relief – The resort provides natural/organic bug spray and sunscreen. Unfortunately, the bug spray didn’t work too well for Amanda and she ended up spotted like a Dalmatian. Be sure to bring some sort of lotion to combat the bites you do get.
8. Bring several good books – Amanda and I typically run all over the place when we are on vacation. Now that Parker is around, I’m sure we’ll spend much of our vacation time bouncing between zoos, aquariums and amusement parks (all good by me). This vacation was different. We spent the majority of our time sitting on the beach, swimming in the pool and generally relaxing. There isn’t a ton to do in the area if you don’t like surfing, so take advantage of the quiet time to kick back.



9. Rent an ATV – Amanda and I had a great time driving from the resort to Santa Teresa and then around the horn to Montezuma. This is a scenic route on mostly dirt roads (all of the roads in this area of Costa Rica are dirt and poorly maintained). From Montezuma to Mal Pais you can either go back the way you came or take this very adventurous road with tons of very steep roads and treacherous drop-offs. This route is NOT for the feint of heart, but is fun if you want an adventure.



10. Eat at Koji’s – This was easily the best restaurant we visited in Costa Rica and probably the best sushi I’ve ever had. Order the “Koji Roll.”

The last “tip” would be to get to know the people who work there. They are all very nice, speak clear English and can tell you all about this fascinating section of the world.

Latitude 10 was a great resort to relax – I 100 percent recommend it. Check back later for more posts about our experience in Costa Rica.

When I started traveling frequently for my job, it became difficult for my wife and I to keep all of our activities straight. Between my business travel and the countless events she manages, it wasn’t effective enough for her to keep a calendar in her purse and for me to keep my Outlook calendar.

We tried a printable calendar for each month, but the dates changed too frequently and it was inaccessible if you weren’t standing in front of the fridge.

We tried a large whiteboard style yearly calendar but the dates were too small and it was as inaccessible as the printed calendars. When Parker (our son) came into the mix, it was obvious that we needed a digital solution to keep everyone going in the right direction.

Enter – Google Calendar.

Amanda didn’t have a Google Account (a requirement for entry) but it was easy enough to set one up for her. The benefits of an online, browser-based calendar are innumerable. Here are a few of the benefits we’ve experienced over the past year:

• We can each have our own personal calendar and share them to coordinate schedules (easier than it sounds)
• Each of our accounts is color coordinated to make it obvious who entered what event
• Event entry is simple, click, enter a description, save
• We can plan years in advance, especially for vacationing (which my wife loves)
• It’s easy to block off walls of time for family coming to visit – sort of like a reservation system
• I created a third account, colored it green, and put in when all of the monthly bills come out of the checking account
• Amanda’s work schedule is flexible, so she can see when I am at home, and schedule herself accordingly
• Recurring events make it easy to capture birthdays that will remind you every year, forever
• You never need to miss another sports event – importing college or professional sports calendars is two clicks away

These are just a few of the uses of a shared Google Calendar. I highly suggest it for anyone who travels, has a ever-changing schedule or needs to keep track of one or multiple children, or just needs a reminder from time to time about an upcoming sporting event, movie release, etc.

You can start using the calendar by clicking “calendar” at the top of your Gmail account. Don’t have a Gmail account? Click here to get started. Let me know if you have any questions and leave any tips or tricks in the comments below.

Head on over to Simplifying Las Vegas blog ran by Mike Attisano. Mike interviewed me about my experiences in Las Vegas, whether or not it’s a good idea to rent a car, how a baby changes the vacation, and several other topics.

Mike’s a Vegas expert and the first guy I go to anytime I’m headed out to the City of Sin. Mike helped me find Red Rock Canyon and the Hoover Dam as great places to visit while visiting Vegas. He also talked me into getting a car in Vegas while I was there.

Make sure you buy his book – tell him John sent you for a free luggage tag when you purchase a Kindle copy of his best-selling guide: Simplifying Las Vegas (A Travel Guide for Everyone).

Here are some tips I have after a week of driving around Las Vegas as a tourist for 7 days this Summer:

1. Take your GPS – everyone has one, and they are expensive from the rental service
2. Don’t take the gas option – gas just off the Strip is cheaper than airport gas
3. Get familiar with the following North and South running streets:
   • Paradise Rd gets you from the Hilton to the airport with not too many stop lights
   • The Strip – besides 8p to 2a, this is a fun and exciting way to get around
   • Koval Road – this is the entrance road to most of the casinos on the Eastern side of The Strip
   • S. Valley View Road – a little more “seedy” but still useful for travel on the West side of the strip
4. Get familiar with the casinos on the strip and utilize the roads named after them including: Sahara, Desert Inn, Flamingo, Harmon and Tropicana
5. Be sure to pay close attention to the “self-park” signs for each casino, most are behind the casinos, but a few (like the Wynn and City Center) are right off of the strip
6. Stay in your lane – unlike in most cities, Las Vegas does not use paint to divide lanes, instead using round reflectors – this took me a day or so to get used to
7. Remember that half a mile from the strip, Las Vegas is a normal city. Make use of the restaurants, gas stations, Walmarts, Walgreens, etc.
8. Take your rental car back early. The complex is a bus ride away from the terminal and can take as much as 45 minutes to return your car and get to the airport.

Renting a car is a great way to see all that Las Vegas has to offer. I highly suggest renting one on your next trip.

My wife and I had this conversation several times, all the way up to the minute before we boarded the plane. Now that we are back, I would say you can definitely have a good time with a baby in Las Vegas, but it is a different kind of vacation. Here is what to expect:

When we were trying to decide where to go on family vacation, our criteria was simply – have a good time, spend time together, get out of our current town. We typically try not to go to beaches since we live at one. I have always enjoyed Las Vegas, and have been there now five times. It fit all of our criteria and gave us a chance to do something you don’t typically do when visiting there, actually explore the city. It was also something we thought we could do with our five month old.

When most people think of visiting Las Vegas, I don’t think they consider it a “vacation” but more of a “getaway.” By that I mean most people go to Las Vegas with a mission – get drunk, gamble, find girls/guys, stay up all night. Our approach was different – let’s see what Las Vegas is like during the day. We planned trips to Hoover Dam, Red Rock Canyon and the West Rim of the Grand Canyon (we didn’t make it) as well as side trips to see the World Series of Poker, The Ultimate Fighter Training Center and the Pawn Stars pawn shop.

If you are taking a baby to Las Vegas, I highly suggest you rent an automobile and take your own car seat. The car seats offered by rental car companies, that I saw, are pretty raggedy. With the car, we had the opportunity to explore the outskirts of The Strip, something that would cost you a fortune (or your life) without transportation. Driving through Summerlin, up and down Paradise and Spring Valley Road, as well as making it to Hoover Dam are all things you can enjoy with a car. Paradise and Spring Valley Road are two of the “side roads” that you can use when trying to avoid the traffic on the strip.

There are some other things you can expect to do (or take advantage of) when traveling with a baby in Las Vegas:

1. Taking naps and resting more than usual (this makes Las Vegas much more enjoyable)
2. Carrying around bottles, diaper bags, toys, etc.
3. Searching for the elevators in Casinos (see future post)
4. Saving money by gambling less
5. Getting stopped to have people tell you how cute your baby is
6. Not being hung over every morning
7. Visiting more free attractions/exhibits/museums/parks
8. Saving money on alcohol and night clubs

Most of the above are positive. We really enjoyed the time we had in Vegas with our five month old and I wouldn’t have traded it for a month of babyless Las Vegas – just expect a different kind of Las Vegas.

(Edit on July 23): Chow (dot) com took my comment down linking back to this article. Very nice and community like.

I just read an article about “What not to eat at work” (previously linked) at chow (dot) com. This article explains discusses all the of the pungent and bothersome foods your colleagues heat up and consume in cube farms across the country. This article inspired me to recount two stories about folks and food on my recent travels:

Watch your coffee: I was sitting in the bulk head of an MD88 on the aisle to the right as you’re walking back to your seat. A lady, blabbing with her telephone jammed on her shoulder, was carrying a Starbucks coffee in her left hand (away from me) and dragging her bag with her hand closest to me. Sure enough, as soon as she hit the economy section her bag jammed into my knee causing her hot coffee to spill all over the guy in the row across from me. He was ticked – and the girl apologized, barely, and kept right on yammering on the phone. Had it been me, I’m not sure how I would have reacted, but it probably wouldn’t have been pretty as I’m typically headed to a client meeting.

Raining Sprite: Yesterday morning, on the way to Philadelphia, a woman set her 20oz bottle of Sprite in the overhead bin while she rummaged through her bag for a magazine. As she went to put her overstuffed bag in the bin she must have tipped the bottle (I didn’t see this, I’m assuming). She also must have not cleaned it up because as we began to take off, the gentlemen sitting in the aisle seat a few seats behind where she spilled her bottle received a Sprite shower. This was easily the maddest I’ve ever seen anyone on an airplane that hadn’t been sitting on the tarmac for 3 hours.

Either of the two incidents above could have been avoided had the passengers followed a few of my airplane etiquette rules… or just some common sense.

During our family trip to Las Vegas, we took a side journey to Red Rock Canyon. This park is only about 30 minutes from “the strip” and is well worth the journey there, especially if you have a rental car. You can see the canyon from the strip if you know which direction to look.

From what I could see, there are three main activities to do in Red Rock Canyon for the typical tourist:

1. Drive the 13 mile scenic road – This relatively flat, 13 mile drive is an excellent way to see the entire park with little effort. Along the way there are several stopping points or parking lots, to get out and take pictures. The road is one-way and plenty wide enough to let those folks who are driving a little to fast, or a little too close, to drive around you.

Chasing white-tailed antelope squirrels around the roads and parking lots was my family’s favorite park activity. These chipmunk-looking creatures hang out near the parking lots and the roads, and are very skittish of humans and cars. We had a hard time getting a good photograph of them, even with my zoom lens, because they are so quick to run off the road. With that being said, we saw more than one squished one, probably thanks to the idiots we let pass us driving too fast earlier on the road. As you drive the road, be sure to watch out for these little guys.

The white-tailed antelope squirrels photographed below were the only ones of the hundreds we saw that would sit still long enough for a photo.

The only one that would pose for us

Squirrel running down the road

2. Hike/Bike the trails – The day we toured Red Rock Canyon, it was over 110 degrees in Las Vegas. Despite this, we saw several folks bicycling and hiking the trails. There are over 35 guided hikes a month and miles of bike trails to explore. For the extra adventurous tourists, there are several rock climbing paths as well.

To see the upcoming tours check the Red Rock Canyon Interpretive Association’s website.

For a list of hiking trails see the wiki on Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area web site.

3. Visitor’s Center – The visitor’s center is small and mostly a souvenir shop. When we were there, however, there were two folks sitting at a desk answering questions about the park. They were well informed, seemed mostly bored, and answered all of my questions. They also stamped my son’s State Park Passport book (even though she informed me RRC isn’t really a state park).

View from the Visitor’s Center

It is well worth your time to visit Red Rock Canyon while in Las Vegas. Admission is only $7 or so per car and you can visit the town of Summerlin while you’re there.

Lizard at Red Rock Canyon

A broken “Shaq-tus”

To see additional photos from Red Rock Canyon, see my set on Flickr.

We made a quick day trip out of going to Hoover Dam. The drive is only about 45 minutes (tops) and you get to see a lot of Las Vegas off “the Strip” including a great view of Henderson from Highway 515.

We went very early in the morning and were literally the first car in the parking lot. NOTE: We drove directly into the parking lot from the road that takes you into Hoover Dam, however, as we were leaving that afternoon there was a very long line, 200 or more cars deep, waiting to get in. I highly recommend you get up early so you don’t have to wait. If you go early in the week of your trip, you may still be on EST. Be careful on the drive in as their are several sharp turns, poor visibility and no guard rails.

We walked across the top of Hoover Dam first, since the museum/tour didn’t open until 9a. On the walk across you will see the memorial to the 112 people that died during the construction of the dam (one was a visitor). You will also see the divide between Nevada time and Arizona time, as well as a great view of both sides of the dam. the It’s a relatively short walk, and if you go far enough you can walk into Arizona. I thought the state line was actually on the bridge, but the sign made it seem as if it was actually a good 200 yards on the other side of the river.

The $11 tour of the dam was not the most informative tour I’ve ever been on, but worth taking since you’re already there. It explained some of the history of the bridge through a short movie then walked you through the caves to the power plant. You literally walk through carved-out caves to get to each part of the tour, so if you are at all claustrophobic, you should probably take a pass on this tour. One lady in our tour turned around because so many people were crammed into the elevators, and because the caves are a tight fit (the pathways are probably 10×10.

The Hoover Dam is incredibly difficult to take competent pictures of because it is so big and you can only get so far from it. Be sure to go to the top of the Visitor’s Center to have your best chance of a good photograph.

The last piece of the tour worth noting is the near completion of the Mike O’Callaghan – Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge. When that bridge is complete, you will no longer be able to drive across the Hoover Dam. This project has been in action for years, but was accelerated by the events of September 11. On the top floor of the Visitor’s Center there is an entire section devoted to the bridge.

Parker waiting in the “caves” for the next part of the tour

On your way back to Las Vegas, be sure to stop and take a look at Lake Mead on the left just a quarter-mile past the guard post.

Below are a few pictures from the visit. You can see the remainder of the set on my Hoover Dam picture set on Flickr.

The Hoover Dam

The Hoover Dam Bypass near completion.

We stopped at Tony’s Pizza in Boulder on the way back to Las Vegas.

On our first full day in Las Vegas, Parker, Amanda and I spent a good deal of the day at the pool at the Las Vegas HIlton. We rented a cabana to avoid some of the heat (it was 106 degrees). Here are some benefits of renting at cabana at the Las Vegas Hilton:

1. Avoid the direct sun light (especially if you’re as pale as me). There are other cabana like structures, but none with the sun blocking ability of the cabanas.
2. Flat-screen tv in the cabana for watching sports, catching up on the news or to provide noise to nap to.
3. Twenty free non-alcoholic drinks are including with choices of Coke, Diet Coke, Cranberry and Apple Juice, Sprite, Diet Sprite and water. It was hot, and we still ended up bringing some back
4. Soft couches to sit on including a few lounge chairs to drag out into the sun
5. Privacy to pull shut the cabana door if you need to change
6. A ceiling fan to blow around all that hot air
7. Plugs for your computer or cell phone
8. A lockable safe to protect your stuff

All of this for $125. For a few bucks extra you can rent a cabana that overlooks the strip with more of mesh walls to let the breeze flow through.

After spending the day in the pool, the three of us ventured down to the MGM Grand Casino to eat a the Rainforest Cafe. We figured Parker would love it – unfortunately, he slept through the whole thing.

Below are some more pictures from Day 1. You can see the whole set by visiting my flickr page here.

Pool at the Hilton Las Vegas

Parker going for a swim

Parker sleeping with the fishes

Sunset at MGM Grand Casino

Sunset on Day 1

This post (for the most part) is being written at about 18,900 ft on a flight to Atlanta. We’re flying through a storm and this is keeping my mind off of the turbulence. Typically, I use my Jedi mind tricks to keep the flight smooth, but the Claritin is blocking the pathways.

There has been a lot of talk lately about the air traveler’s bill of rights (protecting passengers from airlines), and new legislation surrounding wait times on the tarmac. Below is my manifesto on airplane etiquette (protecting passengers from each other). If everyone would follow these simple ten rules, no one would mind a little extra wait on the ground.

1. Know how to go through security – This is the fastest way because it lets you put everything back together (from the ground up):
   • Shoes on the belt first
   • Then carry on
   • Then liquids in a bag, in a “hat bin”
   • Then your computer bag
   • Then your computer in a bin
   • Then your jacket, sweater, etc.
2. Security applies to you, too – Yes, you have to take your shoes off, no we don’t care that you have to completely unpack to remove your liquids. Have you been living under a rock for the last nine years? Just do it.
3. Carry-ons – A few simple rules here:
1. if you can’t lift it over your head, and you’re less than 70 years old, leave it at home.
2. It’s called carry on because you need to carry it on to the plane. Your roller board will not roll down the aisle, and you will hit me with it.
3. Put your computer bag under the seat in front of you. I don’t care if it is your only bag, no one wants to have to put their luggage behind them or have to check it.
4. Personal Music – I appreciate that you purchased headphones that are loud enough for me to enjoy, but I’d appreciate it if you wouldn’t. Simply remove your headphones and if you can still hear the music, it’s probably too loud.
5. Head Phones as a Signal – If I’m wearing headphones, I don’t want to talk to you unless I have to. I’ve probably had a long day, I’ve probably been on multiple flights, and I’m probably trying to avoid listening to your music. Don’t bother trying to talk to me, I’m ignoring you.
6. Please don’t touch my seat – Use the arm rests to stand up and the overhead bins to balance yourself in the aisle. And, for the love of God, please tell your kid to stop kicking me.
7. Stay in your seat – If you don’t fit in your seat, buy two or sit in first class. You can also call the airline and ask which flights are partially full and then you can typically sit by yourself (I call this “Poor Man’s first class”. If you do fit, stay off of my side.
8. Get out of your seat – Be ready to deplane as soon as possible when it is your turn. Have your under-the-seat-bag ready and have a light enough carry on to be able to pull it out on the move. We all have connections to get to.
9. We all have connections – Don’t bother asking to get in front of me in the aisle as we deboard. One – you don’t fit. Two – it will save you about 12 seconds. Three – I have a connection, too. Four – the guy in front me of is going to ignore you.
10. Have a nice day – All the above rules aside, just be nice to your fellow passengers, and treat them the way you expect to be treated, and we’ll all get there with our sanity. (Also, don’t take your shoes off and pick your toe jam – the guy beside me is doing that RIGHT NOW.)

 

Like my rules above? Think I’m ridiculous? Put your own stories or additions to the rules in the comments below.

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