Not your boring, black suitcase

How many times have you stared at the sea of black rolling out at baggage claim and wondered: which bag is mine?

Sure you could add a bright ribbon or a neon luggage tag to distinguish yours from all the rest, but why not dare to be different with new hardside, pop-art luggage from Bed Bath & Beyond.

Britto Collection by Heys

Features include premium zippers, a satin nickel finished TPR grip handle system, four smart spinner wheels designed for greater control, and a built-in three-digit TSA lock. 7-year warranty.

If that's a little too over the top, here's what I use and love:

Samsonite X'ion

Destination: Venice, Italy

WHY VISIT?

Ahhhhhh Venice. Is there any place on Earth more romantic?

To be honest, this is one of the few destinations I recommend you throwing out that guidebook (read this first though, of course!) and just enjoy the city in all of it's glory.

Ride in a Venetian gondola and savor the unique, slow-paced atmosphere or stroll the 117 tiny islands that make up this northeastern Italian city.

Tourism is its lifeblood: 50,000 tourists visit the city every day so plan in advance and then just wing it once you get there!


THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO:

If you are arriving by airplane there are two ways to get to Venice: 1) public transportation using a ACTV bus and then trasferring to an ATVO boat (a.k.a. vaporetto) for 6.50 Euro or 2) a private water taxi for 90 Euro.

My vote is use the practical and money-saving route. Save the 90 Euro for a much more enjoyable gondola ride later.

So here's how you do it:

After grabbing your bags at the airport, bypass the ATM-looking machines and head to the human teller (to your left before you leave the aiport). Ask him for either a one-way or roundtrip ride into the city center. Outside the aiport there are several buses. Look for this sign for "Venezia Express":


The buses run every 30 minutes or so. The ride is 30 minutes to Piazzale Roma, and costs 3 Euro.

From Piazzale Roma, hop on a vaporetto or water bus. If you are staying in Venice for a few days, save money and buy a week-long or multi-day pass.


A multi-day pass also makes it easy to jump on and off the vaporetto as often as you would like. Just don't forget to validate your ticket each time on one of these machines below.



Vaporetto are very easy to ride. On the side of the boat you will see the stops and look at the arrows to see which direction it is traveling (see below). I suggest sticking with Route #1. It stops at all the major attractions as it zig zags from bank to bank as it follows the Grand Canal.


There are six neighborhoods/districts: San Marco, Cannaregio, Castello, San Polo, Santa Croce & Dorsoduro.

Consider avoiding Venice's high-season summer crowds (and from what I hear foul smells from the Canal) and visit during the shoulder seasons. However, do know January-March can be cold.

Public bathrooms are rare, and forget restaurants or stores letting you use theirs. That won't happen. Instead, look for "WC" signs and stickers on sidewalks, and be ready to pay. Public bathrooms cost 1.50 Euro/each. If you are lost, just ask a local: "Dove (dough-vay) toliet?" They'll get the picture.

Eat gelato, but look for the good stuff. "Artigianale" is Italian for the old-fashioned way. Anything else is just imitation.

Banks are typically open 8:30 AM – 1:30 PM, Monday -Friday. Plan in advance.

1KM = appx. ½ mile

Make late night, dinner reservations. Dinner in Venice can run anywhere from 8-11 PM. Sometimes kitchens are not even open earlier than that. Popular places fill up early so plan ahead.

TOP 10 TO SEE & DO:

1. St. Mark's Basilica
   Free to enter and "ooo and ah", but make sure to pay the money to see the main alterpiece Pala d'Oro up close and personal. Also climb the steep steps up to the museum for a look at the original Greek horses dating from about 1254.

2. Gondola ride & the Grand Canal
   Does it get any more Venetian? Sure it's expensive, but it's worth it! Plan on paying 80 Euro for a day ride and 100-150 Euro for an evening trip. Feel free to haggle, but make sure to specify a trip up the Grand Canal to pose with the Rialto Bridge.
   If a gondola ride isn't in the budget, cross the Grand Canal on a traghetto - a stripped down gondola visitors take across the width of the Grand Canal for 0.50 Euro. Know it is customary to stand for traghetto rides.

3. Rialto Bridge & market area
   Here is where you'll find local fisherman in action and all the souvenirs you can handle. Grab a glass of vino on the Grand Canal and soak it all in.

4. Explore
   Put away your travel guide and map and just mosey. It's the best way to see the "real" Venice. And don't worry, Venice is completely surrounded by a lagoon so it's impossible to leave the city on foot. If you are a planner like me, just ask your hotel for a business card or map before you head out to ensure you'll find your way home.

5. San Polo/Rialto bridge area at night
   Venice is not known for its nightlife. In fact, it can feel downright deserted once the sun goes down and businesses close up for the day. Try dinner at Naranzaria at San Polo 130 and then walk a block west for wine in the square at Al Merca.

6. La Boutique del Gelato
   My favorite gelato in all of Italy...and that's saying something! Look for it north of the Rialto bridge next to Hotel Bruno, #5727 (Daily 10:00-8:30, Closed Dec–Jan) Stracciatella (chocolate chip) is my favorite!

7. Bellinis at Harry's bar
   The peach juice and Prosecco drink was invented here and was a favorite of Ernest Hemingway. Make it a pre-dinner drink because 17 Euros for a Bellini can make for an expensive evening.

8. Basilica of Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari
   Known to locals as the "Frari". The must-see here is Titian's huge oil painting, "Assumption of the Virgin".

9. Piazza San Marco
   St. Mark's Square is really more of a trapezoid than a square, but nevertheless serves as the city center. Feed the piegons and enjoy the beautiful views of St. Marks Basilica, the campanile (bell tower) and Doge's Palace.

10. Palazzo Ducale & the Bridge of Sighs
    The palazzo (or palace), home to Venice's Doges (dukes) for more than 1,000 years, stands between St. Mark's and the mouth of the Grand Canal.
    The "secret itineraries" tour comes highly recommended. Those tours run at 10:30am Thursday through Tuesday (by reservation only) and cost 16€ ($21) for adults. Phone: 041-271-5911
    The Bridge of Sighs was the last view Venice convicts saw before prison so it is said they would sigh at the beautiful sight of Venice before taken down to their prison cell.

DON'T WASTE YOUR TIME:

• The museums - the city itself is the artwork. Stick with the more famous galleries in Florence & Rome.
• Spending a day on the islands - Murano (known for its famous glass) and Burano (known for lace) should only be done if there is extra time
• Beware of fake Murano glass in stores
• Limoncello - was created in Naples - NOT Venice
• Buying an expensive bottle of wine. The house stuff is really quite good.

USEFUL LINKS:
The best reasonably-priced hotel
ACTV vaporetto map
Dinner on the Grand Canal by the Rialto Bridge

First bag flies free with Delta credit card

Perhaps finally some good news for airline passengers! The Associated Press reporting Delta will waive the first checked bag fee for those using its American Express credit card.

Starting June 1, Delta said it will waive the $25 each-way fee for up to nine people on the same reservation.

Delta collected $215 million from baggage fees alone in the first quarter. American Express spokeswoman Mona Hamouly declined to say whether the company is paying Delta to give up the first-bag fee for people who carry its card.

Michael P. Taiano, a credit card industry analyst at Sandler O'Neill & Partners, said a credit card company would probably have to pay for something like waiving the first-bag fee. "Clearly it's potentially a win for AmEx — you get more volume, and high-end volume at that," he said. And for Delta customers, the change would save $200 in bag fees for a family of four traveling round trip."A $200 swing is enough to get somebody to book their flight on Delta versus another carrier," Taiano said.

So would the savings be worth it to you to get a Delta credit card? And will other airlines feel the pressure to follow suit?

Destination: Cairo, Egypt

WHY VISIT?

Cairo is anything but your typical travel destination. But if you are lucky enough to get the chance to visit, I will warn you it's not for the faint of heart. There are a lot of words I could use to describe the city, but "overwhelming" is the first that comes to mind...overwhelming crowds, overwhelming traffic, overwhelming pollution, but also overwhelming history and overwhelming beauty. Travel smart and safe and you will have a memorable time unearthing Egypt's past.

THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO:

Don't try to do Cairo alone. It may be feasible, but trust me, it's not worth the effort, time or money.

Skip the big tour bus company. Instead find an experienced guide and/or driver to pick you up at the airport, show you the city, and return you to the airport. We had great success with Ahmed Hamed Yousif and our driver Mustafa. If you're interested, email me at TheSavvySuitcase@gmail.com for Ahmed's contact info.

Traffic is an absolute nightmare. Throw out that timetable and just sit back and soak up the city. You'll get there when you get there.

Cairo is generally safe. Take the typical travel precautions and stick with your guide.

You need a visa to travel to Cairo. You can either wait and get one when you arrive or get one in advance. The best bet is to get one in advance so you are able to zip right through the customs/immigration lines.

Don't drink the water. Period. Not even in the 4- or 5-star hotels. This also means don't eat anything that hasn't been cooked. So no raw veggies, fruits, etc. Stick to bread, meat, and rice which is fairly easy to do there.

Plan on 3 days to see Cairo. Unless you are a wannabe Egyptologist, I also do not recommend taking a cruise down the Nile. After 3 days or so, you'll be ready to move on to your next destination or head for home.

Stay in central Cairo. Try the Four Seasons Hotel Cairo or the Cario Marriott & Omar Khayyam Casino. Mena House Oberoi earns positive reviews, but it's location in Giza is too far off the beaten path to see sites other than the Pyramids.

Exchanging U.S. dollars for Egyptian pounds is easy and most major hotels will help you. Check out the currency converter link below. Your dollar will go far in Egypt.

Street salesman are aggressive and persistent. Just give them a firm "no", keep walking, and you'll be fine.

You need several vaccinations before traveling to the area. Check with your doctor.

TOP 10 TO SEE & DO:

1. The Pyramids of Giza
   Step back and take in all 2,300,000 blocks averaging 2.5 tons each stacked 450 feet high and 756 feet wide. The Great Pyramid (or Khufu) is the oldest and largest of the three and the only surviving member of the Seven Ancient Wonders of the World.

2. The Sphinx
   The mythological being with the body of a lion and the head of a human is right next to the Pyramids.

3. A camel ride at the Giza Pyramids
   Know the price your want to pay (typically $25/each) and be firm. Also be clear on where you will go on the ride and get assurance you will be returned to your starting point. I promise you it will be a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

4. A local meal (outside of your hotel)
   Try Abou El Sid on Zamalek (the island on the Nile).
5. Felucca ride on the Nile
   Sailing the Egyptian way. Try a quick, sunset ride on these ancient wooden boats. Plan on paying 20 - 30 LE for a 30 minute ride or 50 LE for an hour no matter how many people are onboard.
6. The Egyptian Museum
   Arrive by 9:30 AM and head straight to the 2nd floor and King Tut's treasures.
   

7. Khan el Khalil
   Feel the heartbeat of the city shopping amongst locals and tourists in the city's colorful, open-air bazaar.

8. Sakkara Step Pyramid
   The country's first pyramid - 4,700 years old - is about a 30 min -1 hr (depending on traffic, of course) drive outside of Cairo, but it's a great opportunity to see the beginnings of such impressive work.

9. The Citadel
   The Citadel is a massive fortress begun in 1176 by Salah ad-Din. Completely walled, the complex was the home of Egypt's rulers for 700 years. Make sure to take off your shoes and carry them with you inside the Mohammed Ali Mosque.

10. Coptic Cairo
    Cairo's oldest neighborhood and the ancient heart of Christianity. Home to five original churches, the first mosque built in Egypt and the oldest synagogue, all representing three of the major world religions.

DON'T WASTE YOUR TIME:

• Going inside the Pyramids - It's not worth paying extra money to hunker down through narrow passageways to look at an empty room
• Papyrus museum
• Lotus perfume factory

USEFUL PHRASES:

Hello = Asalaamu aeleekum (response: Wa aeleekum issalaam)

Please = min faddl-ak (-ik when addressing a woman, -uku when addressing more than one person)

Thank you = shokrun (pronounced: shock-run)

How much? (price) = bikaam

USEFUL LINKS:

The Department of State on Cairo

Yahoo Currency Converter