The Polite Traveler

My Dearest Polite Traveler, Our coastal journey to the lovely Albion River Inn begins on a warm July morning in Davis, CA.     It was an exceptionally pleasant 80 degrees and was warm for most of the day, not realizing we would end bundling up as if it were late autumn once we reached our destination.   Tip: When visiting north-coastal CA at any time of year, pack warm clothing.   We decided to travel from our home base—100 m east of San Francisco—west through the Napa Valley and then onto a more northerly procession through Sonoma and Mendocino Valleys.   Driving through these world-renowned wine countries, it was tempting to stop for a taste.     But, hey, a girl has got to eat—or indulge in a hot chocolate beverage.   I love Starbucks !   Okay, I’ve said it.   I just absolutely love it, with mochas as my absolute favorite.   Consequently, around lunchtime, and with the long freeway ahead of us, we pulled up the Starb...

  Discounted Four-Star Accommodations and Wine Tastings Equals Heaven in Northern California Dear Polite Traveler, Exciting two-day travel escapes are easy for those of us living in Northern California.   Napa, Sonoma, and San Francisco are one to two hours from home.   So ... where to go?   Our choice was Sonoma County, more specifically the Santa Rosa/Healdsburg area to taste wine, indulge in the beautiful landscape, and to lodge at the Vintners Inn , Santa Rosa.    With a package purchased through Travelzoo we saved 50 percent on four-star accommodations and received coupons and vouchers for reduced price or free wine tastings, breakfast, and more.   Road Trip! Our first stop was the charming town of Santa Rosa to walk the downtown core and to surrender to my mocha addiction at Starbucks inside a local bookstore.   Brimming with unique shops and restaurants surrounding a perfectly maintained park, Santa Rosa seems the perfect place to ...

  Dear Polite Travelers, Lucky us.   With a credit card we use, we receive free nights each year at Hilton Properties, which is fortunate as we are Hilton Diamond Honors Members.   These nights can be used at any Hilton property.   So, as the pandemic waned here in California, we decided to hit the road and travel south to Santa Barbara, also known as the American Riviera.    Once here, we stayed three nights in the Hilton Santa Barbara Beachfront Resort.   ( Review ) Three nights doesn’t offer much time to offer you, my polite travelers, a vast amount of information.   I do, however, have some.   Here’s what I found. The Roundhouse Since we stayed for so few days, we never ate at the main breakfast restaurant , The Roundhouse.   I did, however, check the menu.   Basically, it was what one would find in a typical coffee house, minus the substantial amounts.   Peeking inside, I was surprised to find very few takin...

My Three Favorite Dining Options on Waikiki Dear Polite Traveler, The hunt of excellent eats tends to be nearly as important as any other part of any journey.   I am definitely in that food camp, as is evident in this blog.   On this trip to Waikiki, Oahu, we concentrated our food dollars on three superb venues: Kona Coffee Purveyors, Spitfire  Rotisserie and Flatbread in Dukes Market, and The Hula Grill. Best Pastries Ever! Even though I’m an avid fitness junky, I melt when I see, what I consider, the perfect pastry.   For me, it’s worth the indulgence.   Luckily, Waikiki has the Kona Coffee Purveyors conveniently located at the mouth of the International Market Place.   Their selections of pastries and savory items are downright drool-worthy.    Each item is pricy but worth every penny.   Grocery Store?   Restaurant?   Bar?   Grill? In the heart of Waikiki, you’ll find a grab & go grocery, bakery, ice cream ...

Inexpensive Dining Tips for Universal Orlando Revised 4/2021 Dining while visiting Universal Orlando could get expensive.  However, there are inexpensive and yummy options.  So, follow along for some great tips.  Note : Follow CDC and park guidelines when visiting.  Always wear your face mask when in public. It’s always good to have a plan. As is true with other parks, Universal Orlando offers a Dining Plan that provides a significant discount on meals, snacks and beverages.  The price varies so check with the website near the date of your arrival.  It’s just the two of us and we are not huge eaters, so this program wouldn’t have benefitted us much.  However, with hungry young children, you might want to consider it.   Speaking of children... On the whole, restaurants catering to children/families tend to be the least expensive.  Some of these establishments offer a variety of choices   One of our choices thi...