Sherman's Travel

Last year when I surveyed the hotel amenities landscape I was wowed by an in-room light switch I discovered in my hotel room that allowed me to toggle on a “Do Not Disturb” light outside my door – rather than dealing with the cumbersome task of opening the door to place a little hanging sign on the knob. I’ve since encountered this nifty switch in other hotels and I’m already at the point where I’m disappointed if my room isn’t equipped with one.

My expectation that even the most basic hotel room will have a “go away” switch – along with bathrobes that won’t tear my skin and above-average bath products – neatly illustrates a historic challenge: When today’s “nice to have” amenity is a “must have” inclusion by tomorrow, how do hotels keep up with and outdo their competition? The answer? Keep plugging away and never stop trying to elicit surprise from your guests, which is what the following crop of amenities tries to do. Read more

Charm City is perhaps most charming just as summer is making its way in. Cool breezes off the harbor help offset the humidity, and all of the locals seem to have a bit of a lighter walk. If you’re fortunate enough to be headed to Baltimore soon, we’re offering up two restaurants, two attractions, and one bar to add to your itinerary. Read more

Seattle may have a reputation of being cloudy and rainy for the majority of the year, but if you’re in town for a week on business, chances are, you’ll get at least one or two days that’ll make you want to relocate. The Pacific Northwest is one of the more beautiful regions of the United States, and there’s no reason to stay cooped up in a hotel. In an effort to get you outside the boardroom and into the Emerald City, we’re offering up two restaurants, two attractions, and one bar that you can hit with just a few extra hours between meetings. Read more

Warm days are meant for lead feet, and if you’re breaking into early summer with a visit to Detroit, I’m here to offer up a few tips for making the most of your time there. In an effort to get you outside and into Motor City, here are two restaurants, two attractions, and one bar that you can hit with just a few extra hours between meetings. Read more

Despite a lengthy winter, Ohio is finally diving headfirst into spring. And with that begins conference season in Columbus. One of America’s most varied and vibrant cities is also one of the most welcoming, which means you shouldn’t spend all of your time tucked within a concourse. In an effort to get you outside the boardroom and into the heart of Cowtown (yes, that is one of it’s nicknames), we’re offering up two restaurants, two attractions, and one bar that you can hit with just a few extra hours between meetings. Read more

Each year, the sporting world turns its eyes to the Indianapolis 500 – widely seen as the world’s most popular race in terms of absolute global interest. But there’s a lot more to Indy than a single race, and if you’re headed there soon for business or pleasure, it’s our goal to help you experience as much as possible of the city. In an effort to get you outside the boardroom and into Indy, here are two restaurants, two attractions, and one bar that you can hit with just a few extra hours between meetings. Read more

If you’re the type who finds San Francisco to be too chilly pretty much every day of the year, you’ll be the type who rejoices at the chance to visit San Jose. While it’s just a few dozen miles south of North California’s most well-known city, San Jose has a vibe all its own – not to mention a temperature that’s routinely warmer. In an effort to get you outside the boardroom and into the heart of Silicon Valley, we’re offering up two restaurants, two attractions, and one bar that you can hit with just a few extra hours between meetings. Read more

For some positive antidotes to that depressing and inaccurate, yet still pervasive, stat about American travelers – that a mere 20 percent of U.S. residents hold passports – consider these figures from the U.S. Travel Association:

• U.S. residents logged 1.6 billion trips for leisure purposes in 2012
• 1 out of every 8 jobs in the U.S. depends on travel and tourism, an industry that generated $200.9 billion in payroll for those directly employed in U.S. travel
• Direct spending by resident and international travelers in the U.S. averaged $2.3 billion a day, $97.7 million an hour, $1.6 million a minute, and $27,125 a second!

The bottom line: Traveling is a powerful force that’s good for everybody, which is the underlying message of National Travel & Tourism Week, starting May 4 and running through May 12. Currently, more than 60 locations across the country, including state and local tourism boards and travel businesses, are hosting some pretty nifty events. Here, a quick rundown of highlights sure to bring out the travel bug in you. Read more

For those who frequently find themselves landing in foreign locales, you’ll probably understand just how tough it can be to stay in touch with loved ones back home. For one, there’s the time difference. But also, mobile providers simply don’t make it easy (nor affordable) to stay connected once you’re on international lands. Thankfully, the advent of the smartphone is making it a little easier to stay in touch regardless of where you are, but it’s not exactly cut and dry. To that end, I’ve collected a list of my three top tips for messaging apps that can save you a bundle on texting fees – both at home and abroad. Read more

Tell a Kansas City resident that they’re located in a flyover state and see what happens. Actually, don’t do that. For those traveling to the heart of America for business or pleasure, you’ll find plenty of extracurricular activities to make the most of your visit. In an effort to get you outside the boardroom and into KC, here are two restaurants, two attractions, and one bar that you can hit with just a few extra hours between meetings.

Read more