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If you stay at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge, you have the opportunity to book the Wanyama Safari.  Here is a description of our experience on this tour in the summer of 2009:

We were running a little late getting back from DHS.  We waited for a bus for 35 minutes, our only real bus wait the entire trip.  So, we rushed to shower and change and we got down to the Jiko podium before 4 pm.  There were two other couples waiting in the lounge to join the safari, so we sat with our bottles of water that we were given and waited for our guides.  By 4, Sue and Peggy showed up to escort us thru the AKL savannahs.

We boarded a truck and were driven to Kidani to start our tour, with Peggy driving.  While we were riding over, Sue explained what type of animals are on the savannahs.  Obviously, no predators, so no lions or tigers.  Also, no elephants.  The requirements for my favorite animal could not be met by the hotel.  First, the fencing required to keep in an elephant who does not want to be there is pretty substantial, which would affect the views.  Also, they need a lot of room.  She explained that the Safari at AK creatively keeps the lions from their prey and the elephants secure, without us really seeing how it’s done.  Even so, it is a lot of work to create the animal groupings for the hotel savannahs.  They are unique!

The animals spend 22 hours a day on the savannah.  For 2 hours every day they go back to their barns, so work can be done on their habitats and they can all be checked out for any problems.  Sue has been doing this type of work for 20 years with various places, but now that she’s here at Disney, she hopes to stay.  She is very pleased with their animal handling practices. 

As we drove though the Sunset savannah, Sue showed us a cleaned up ostrich egg that they had collected.  A couple on the tour said their room overlooks this savannah and they saw an egg appear that morning!  Sure enough, we found it and Sue went to collect it.  Because the ostriches are all girls, they are not fertilized.   

She was very interesting, explaining the dynamics of the groups.  The animals have names by the keepers, well except for the ostriches.  One ostrich is called Mary.  The rest are called by the color of the band on their leg, so we saw Green Band & Blue Band…So, if you see an ostrich on Sunset without a band, that’s Mary.

As we drove over to Arusha savannah, we passed a tall fenced area near the corner of the hotel.  Sue said that most people assume they are for the animals.  Actually, they are for the guests in case of a fire!  If the hotel needs to be evacuated, guests using certain fire exits wind up inside these areas and trucks will come and get them.  This is to protect us from the animals.  Pretty funny.

In Arusha I found out that the two giraffes we watched all the time from our balcony are named Jay & Miles.  The reason I would always see them coming from the corner near Sunset is because there are 5 female giraffes on Sunset and Jay likes to check them out.

Uzima savannah houses a Disney celebrity.  One of the giraffes on there is the very first animal Disney purchased for the Animal Kingdom Park.  Sue said he is very important to the team because of that.  She did not know why he was moved from the park to the hotel.

Disney tries to reproduce life in the wild as much as possible, so the animals keep their natural behaviors.  Breeding is closely controlled with other animals all over the country and there is a real care for all the species.  We were very impressed and I commented that these animals could have a worse life.  Talk about a carefree existence!

At the end of the tour, our gift was a lovely print of Jay the giraffe!  The guides were great, we learned so much and really, really enjoyed ourselves.  I hope this answers some questions for people who are considering this safari.  I actually could go on and on and on about this tour, but I’ll wrap it up.

After the tour, we moved to dinner at Jiko.  This was family-style with wine pairings.  We enjoyed dinner at Jiko on our last trip, so we loved this meal.  We got to taste so many different items from the menu.  It really finished off they day in style.  I looked at John at one point and sighed, “This has been a great day!”

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Want a fantastic and inexpensive night out with one of the world’s most-famous orchestras?  The Philadelphia Orchestra’s Summer Season at the Mann Music Center has a great deal.  You can sit on the lawn for only $10 a ticket and listen to first-class music under the summer stars.  Bring a blanket, a picnic basket, a bottle of wine and you have a night to remember.

Classical music lovers I’m sure are aware of the Philadelphia Orchestra’s reputation, but I didn’t appreciate how famous they were until I found out about their association with Bugs Bunny.  Leopold Stokowski, musical director for the orchestra starting in 1912, is the famous conductor imitated by Bugs at the Hollywood Bowl (…whispered exclamations from the crowd “Leopold!” “Leopold!” “Leopold!”).  He is credited with developing their signature “Philadelphia Sound” that is still admired.

We went to the opening night of this, their 75^th season, and heard performances of Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1 and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9.  Now I’m no classical music expert, so if the acoustics in Fairmont Park aren’t perfect, I can’t tell.   I can tell that I really enjoyed listening to the music with a summer breeze blowing and fireflies dancing in the sky.

Now, you don’t have to bring your own dinner, but I would recommend it.  Your only options on-site are expensive feast or snack bar famine.  Stephen Starr Events is providing the catering now and you need to make reservations ahead if you want a table in the restaurant tent.  They also offer a picnic, but I can’t see paying $26 for fried chicken with celery slaw, kettle chips & chocolate chip cookies FOR ONE!  We remember a better selection of food choices in previous years, but we never came to an orchestra performance before and maybe the options are different.  The Philadelphia Orchestra shows are unique in that patrons are allowed to bring their own food and beverages, including alcohol.  Sitting on the lawn, you are surrounded by blankets & lawn chairs filled with people drinking their wine out of wine glasses they’ve brought from home.

For more savings, don’t bother buying your lawn seats on-line ahead of time.  They’ll tack on fees that can add another $19 per couple to the price!  Just buy your tickets at the box office on the night of the performance.  Oh, and bring another $15 for parking. 

Sitting on the grass, with an unbelievable view of the Philadelphia skyline, listening to a great orchestra playing beautiful music is a wonderful thing.  For only 10 bucks and your own picnic, it’s a wonderful deal, too.

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London is one of the most expensive cities in the world, so how can you see it without having to spend your child’s college fund?  Here are 5 suggestions that can save you a lot.

1.       Rent a flat.  There are so many advantages to renting a holiday apartment over a hotel.  You can rent flats with full kitchens, washers & dryers & wifi.  So, you can save on food by at least having breakfast in.  You can save on airline baggage fees when you know you can wash your clothes. You can save on calls back home by using Skype thru your laptop and you don’t have to pay annoying wireless access fees.  Plus, you will have as much room as a suite in a luxury hotel for much, much less.  See my blog entry for tips on finding a vacation apartment.

2.       Get a paper travelcard for zones 1 & 2.  The odds of needing any other zones are REALLY slim, so save the money.  This will allow you to ride the tube & buses much cheaper than paying for each trip.  Many people will advise getting an Oyster card instead of paper, but don’t listen.  Paper travelcards have a big advantage that can save you a lot of money, which I will share in Tip #3.  You can even order them online before you leave home from 58 countries: http://visitorshop.tfl.gov.uk/

3.       Since your travelcard makes you eligible for travel on National Rail services in London, you also qualify for 2for1 offers.  While you can load a travelcard on an Oyster, there is no way for the venue to verify that by looking at it, so you need the paper travelcard in order for them to see the rail symbol which makes you eligible.   This can get you in the Tower of London, on the London Eye, in to certain West End shows…all for 50% less than the regular price.  They even include restaurants.

4.       There are so many free museums, art galleries and attractions in London, you could spend a week without spending a dime.  The VisitLondon website has easy to follow listings of these.  A personal favorite is the Ceremony of the Keys at the Tower of London, it’s so special you can’t believe it’s free.

5.       Sports fan?  Go see a football game at a lower league club.  No need to pay Premier League prices for Chelsea or even Fulham, you can watch Queen’s Park Rangers for much, much less.  And, it’s in Zone 2!

Please add any suggestions for other money-saving tips in the comments.  And if planning the trip is still more work than you have time for, remember we are always here for you.

I think short-term renting is a great alternative to a hotel room.  They usually offer much more space, a kitchen and the local experience.  But, there are some things you should look for when shopping for a place.

·         Book thru an agency or owner with multiple properties.  If there is a problem with the unit you have reserved, there is a better chance that they can provide you with an alternative. (I had this experience with a flat I had booked in London for a NYE trip.  The alternative offered was a better property provided at the same price by London Connection.)

·         Always get trip insurance to cover a cancellation.  You do not have the same options as with a hotel, so make sure you are covered if you cannot use the apartment due to an emergency. (Volcano anybody?)

·         Find independent reviews of the agency and apartment.  Do not just trust the reviews shown on the website.  Some sites let the owners remove any negative reviews.  Check online forums like Trip Advisor or Google the names.

·         Make sure you understand all costs and fees.  Some places charge for cleaning in addition to the rent.  Some may require a security deposit that will be returned, but understand how and when you can expect this deposit back.  There may be an agency fee on top of all the other charges. Some apartments may be listed with multiple places, check for your property with others to see if the fee is cheaper.

·         Finally, follow your gut.  Are you comfortable with the terms and conditions?  Do you feel they are responsive to questions?  Will there be a local contact if necessary?  There is a measure of trust on both sides when you rent, so if you do not feel good about your experiences while setting up the rental, keep looking!

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In my opinion, it’s hard to get a bad meal in New Orleans but not impossible.  Even in the tourist center of the French Quarter, there is great food to be found at a great price.  And I don’t mean the horrific pizza for sale at the back of any Mango Mango on Bourbon Street (which seems like such a good idea at 2 am…).

On our recent trip in March of 2010, we made a point of seeking out good food at the best price within the confines of Vieux Carrè.  I could probably fill the web with all the places you should eat in New Orleans, but we will just confine ourselves to a few in this neighborhood.

I will start off with a not-family friendly bar on Decatur Street, Coop’s Place.  Due to the presence of video poker machines, under-21 are not welcome inside, but they do offer take-out.  But, assuming your party is all of age, do not miss this place.  It’s crowded and you will probably have to wait for a table or seats at the bar, but it’s worth it.  It’s been called some of the best fried chicken in the city and I would not disagree.

We ordered the Coop’s Taste Plate & a 3 piece Cajun Fried Chicken, which gave us a good overview of the menu.  The taste plate includes a cup of Seafood Gumbo, Shrimp Creole, Cajun Fried Chicken (we got a leg), Red Beans & Rice with Sausage, and Rabbit & Sausage Jambalaya for $12.95.  It’s a deal for all the food you get and it is good stuff! We also got the Fried Chicken with Cole Slaw and a side of Rabbit & Sausage Jambalaya for $9.95, which was plenty of food for me.  Washed down with a couple of Abita beers, it was a great lunch to start our trip!  

Next up was a sandwich at Verti Marte Deli on Royal for dinner. There is no dining inside, you will have to take your food back to your place or have it delivered to you in the French Quarter for free 24 hours a day.  The menu is huge, but their specialty sandwiches are where they make their rep.  We shared an All That Jazz original of ham, turkey & shrimp, swiss & american cheese with grilled mushrooms, tomatoes, on grilled french bread with their original “Wow Sauce” for $9.50.  It really tastes as awesome as it sounds!  Add some Zapp’s chips and a beverage and you are good to go.

Now, no trip to New Orleans is complete without a muffuletta.  We stopped by the Central Grocery at opening and placed our order for one to share.  This was a mistake, it was not as big as we’d heard.  We easily could have eaten one each.  While they do have some seating, we chose to take our lunch in Jackson Square. They make their olive salad much chunkier that I do, not that I’m complaining, and the rest of the sandwich is just as good as we expected.  We thought it was yummy and who can complain when it’s only $6.  Again, pair it with some Zapp’s chips and a beverage and you are full.

For dinner, we decided to go a little more formal.  Dining at the bar of Mr. B’s Bistro was wonderful.  We decided to just order some appetizers to share: a combo plate of panko-crusted shrimp, fried oyster & a duck springroll for $12.50 & roasted pork belly for $9.75.  When we go back, we both just want our own orders of the fried oysters!  Topped with their amazing hollandaise, mmm…

After a plantation tour the next day, we were hungry and ready for oysters.  In all of our previous trips, we have walked past the line outside the Acme Oyster House on Iberville but never stopped.  What a mistake.  It really is worth the wait and the line moves faster than you think.  In fact, if you get there when they open at lunch you can usually miss the line.

We started with oysters on the half-shell, of course, for $7.50 per ½ dozen.  We didn’t get a dozen because this was John’s first try and he wasn’t sure he’d like them.  Well, he did.  Then, we each chose a different po-boy which we split with each other.  We chose the sausage ($7.99) & ½ shrimp ½ oyster ($9.99).  Next time, I have to try the chargrilled oysters, too!

While not technically a meal, a stop at Café du Monde is a food to-do while in the Quarter.  Grab a table as soon as you see a party stand up and order café au lait and beignets when your waiter shows up to clear.  Then, sit back and enjoy the show.  People watching in this place is worth even the horrible service we had on our last visit.  Really, our waiter could not have been worse.  Thank God all he had to manage was to bring us our coffee & donuts, which were both delicious as usual.  This stop probably cost us $10? But it really is priceless.  If you’re interested, walk behind the building on the river side and you can watch them making the beignets thru a window.

Finally, we ate at Desire Oyster Bar on Bourbon Street before we left for the airport.  This is at the Royal Sonesta Hotel, which is where we stayed on this trip.  Now, after the Acme Oyster House, we were curious if Desire could measure up.  Yes, it did.  Again, like Mr. B’s, we just chose a selection of appetizers.  Their BBQ fried oysters for $7.95 were really good, but Mr. B’s are still our favorite.  Plus fried popcorn crawfish tails for $7.95 & a dozen oysters on the half-shell  for $11.95.  It was a good send-off from one of my favorite cities!

Please add any other suggestions in the comments.  I’m always looking for good food.

When my husband asked me where I would like to celebrate my birthday this year, I told him it was time to try The Fountain Restaurant in the Four Seasons Philadelphia.  This dining room has a great reputation in the city and we were long overdue to check it out.  Besides, they send these tempting tweets on Twitter “Today on the tasting menu…” that always make my homemade lunch seem just a little pale in comparison.  So John made our reservations for 8 o’clock on a Saturday night and I started counting down the days to a memorable meal!

We arrived early (you can never predict traffic into the city!), but they were able to seat us right away.  We were shown to a nice table for two in a pretty full dining room, I hope this is a sign that the economy is picking up!  We started out with some champagne and the service immediately impressed me.  There was no rush to hand us the menus, we were allowed to sit back and enjoy the drinks and each other.  We leaned back, relaxed, and prepared for an event.

After an appropriate time, our waiter provided the menus for our review.  We were also offered the wine list, but we passed, deciding to order the tasting menu and the suggested wine flight.  Scott Turnbull, the sommelier at The Fountain, is a treasure!  Knowledgeable and with a great tableside manner, he puts you at ease to ask any questions. 

Let me stop for a minute and talk about sommeliers.  For those of you who are familiar with this service, you can skip ahead.  Now we had decided to go with the pairings already selected with our tasting menu, but that can be a lot of wine!  Six courses, six drinks…not everybody is interested in that.  You can order by the glass or a bottle or two for the table, but if you’re like us you don’t know what to get…So many people’s impression of a sommelier is from the movies or tv, where some sophisticate orders the perfect wine and is told “Excellent choice!” so they think “I have to know what to order.” That is so not true.  Any good sommelier is there to help you choose wines that will complement your food at a price you choose.  They put a lot of work into building a cellar that contains good wines in every price range and are proud of every one.  I am never afraid to say that I’m looking for a bottle within a certain price range and I’ve always been pleased with the choices.  They can do the same with wines by the glass, so don’t be shy.  Ask for help and they will be more than willing to work with you.  It’s what they are there for: they have the knowledge so you don’t have to!

Off my soapbox and back to dinner.  Our amuse bouche was beef tenderloin with walnut oil, I think.  Whatever was with the beef, it was yummy.  Then our first course, black bass with tomato compote, arugula pesto & provencal sauce.  Loved it.

Next course, sweet corn soup with lobster fritters, fava beans and chive oil.  The bowls were put down in front of us with just the fritters and fava beans in the center.  Then, the server poured the soup around the fritters into the bowl.  He did it so quick and perfect that John was really impressed.  He even mentioned it again the next day.  I remember that soup, OMG so sweet and with such a corn taste.  We have to try and make it.  And I don’t know how they made those fritters so light and airy.

Next, foie gras prepared two ways, with a little black plum cannolli and bibb lettuce with sherry wine vinegar.  I know some people have an issue with foie gras, but I just think it is one of the best-tasting foods EVER and I can never give it up.  This course was paired with an amontillado sherry, which we were really happy about, for two reasons.  First, because of Edgar Allen Poe and second because we had never tried a good sherry before.  It was a great choice, rich enough to stand up to the foie gras.  And, we found out we like sherry.

Our entrée was antelope, which we had never tasted before, served with haricot vert and potato gratin.  This is good stuff, kind of a mild beef flavor and very tender.  Now it was during this course that I dropped my fork.  As I turned to look at it on the floor, I caught the eye of our waiter, who had seen the whole thing.  By the time I reached down to pick it up, he was there to collect it and hand me a new one.  We both smiled and moved on.  That is great service, just so quietly efficient and pleasant.  And that was how the service was all night from everyone.  We felt so comfortable and that everyone genuinely wanted us to have a good time.

Am I full yet?  No.  On to the cheese course, a cheese croquette with spinach and beet root salad with tarragon mustard dressing.  I can’t eat beets, which John mentioned when we ordered.  No problem, my plate came without the beets.  Delish.

Finally, the dessert course.  White chocolate mango roulade with blackberry compote, served with an ice wine.  Dessert wines are another of those things I consider the good things in life!  If you’ve never tried one, you don’t know what you’re missing.   This was a light & fluffy ending.

As we sat back to relax, the coffee service really hit the spot.  Their french-press coffee is really good!  I don’t even know how late it was by this point, but nobody made us feel rushed.  In fact, they encouraged refills.  The service here reminds me of Europe, where they will never dream of providing the check until asked.  It was a perfect night.

So, would I recommend The Fountain?  Absolutely!  We both enjoyed everything and will be happy to return.

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