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

North Carolina’s Queen City has both a distinct uptown and downtown, and regardless of whether you’re coming in for a financial powwow or one of the many events held at the Charlotte Convention Center, there’s plenty to enjoy.  In an effort to get you outside of the boardroom and into the wilds of Carolina, we’re offering up two restaurants, two attractions, and one bar that you can hit with just a few extra hours between meetings.

Despite being home to the NASCAR Hall of Fame, Charlotte is an undeniably cosmopolitan city. The good news, however, is that you can’t shake the south out of Charlotte, at least when it comes to grub and greetings. For those looking to set up a pricey, albeit unforgettable meal just a few blocks from the convention hall, there’s Mimosa Grill. Yes, half of the bill can be attributed to the view, but the food is pretty endearing. It’s described as “global cuisine with a southern twist,” and it’s that southern twist that really shines. Read more

As part of JetBlue’s ongoing tenth anniversary celebration, the low-cost carrier has released its latest batch of spring fares starting from as little as $29 one-way (before taxes). Fly to domestic locales like New York, Las Vegas, Boston, Orlando, and dozens of other major cities, or take off to international destinations like Nassau, Cancun, Montego Bay, Santo Domingo, and more. Plus, JetBlue allows you to check one bag free of charge (other airlines charge around $20 each way). This sale ends April 21, for travel valid from April 22 through June 16.

Sample Fares (One-Way) Include:
•    Fort Lauderdale?Nassau, Bahamas: $29
•    New York?Pittsburgh: $39
•    Boston?Baltimore: $39
•    Long Beach?Las Vegas: $39
•    Orlando?Nassau, Bahamas: $39
•    San Francisco?Long Beach: $39
•    Washington, D.C. –New York: $44
•    Buffalo?Boston: $49
•    Portland (Maine) –New York: $49
•    Richmond?Boston: $49
•    New York?Rochester: $59
•    Charlotte?Boston: $59
•    Fort Lauderdale?Santo Domingo, DR: $59
•    Salt Lake City?Long Beach: $69
•    New York?Tampa: $79
•    And more!

For more information, visit www.jetblue.com.

AirTran just announced new low prices on one-way flights to destinations nationwide, as well as Mexico, the Bahamas, and the Caribbean. This near system-wide sale includes hot spots like Las Vegas, New Orleans, Nassau, Cancun, and dozens of other cities starting from $44 (excluding taxes). Tickets must be booked by April 2, for travel through November 16.

Sample Fares One-Way Fares (Taxes Not Included):
•    Orlando—Nassau, Bahamas: $44
•    Charlotte—New York: $74
•    Baltimore—New Orleans: $84
•    Washington D.C.—Miami: $84
•    St. Louis—Portland: $86
•    Boston—Las Vegas: $99
•    New York—San Francisco: $99
•    Chicago—San Juan, Puerto Rico: $109
•    Indianapolis—Cancun, Mexico: $109
•    And more!

Visit www.AirTran.com to book your flight.

It’s not uncommon to see rock-bottom rates on flights to Europe from New York and Boston (thanks to their prime Northeastern real estate), but finding a low-cost flight from other U.S. hubs can be challenging. However, our editors have been uncovering incredible off-season rates to Spain, Germany, Italy, and more from cities nationwide. Fly from Houston, Charlotte, Minneapolis, Las Vegas, and many others starting from just $424 round-trip – with taxes included. Travel is valid on select dates through March (rates increase dramatically in the spring). Use our Quicksearch! tool to find these low fares.

Round-Trip Sample Fares (with Taxes) Include:
•    Baltimore–Barcelona: $424
•    Tampa–Madrid: $463
•    Baltimore–Manchester: $463
•    Las Vegas–London: $492
•    Charlotte–Barcelona: $493
•    Philadelphia–Lisbon: $505
•    Minneapolis–Frankfurt: $518
•    Baltimore–Milan: $528
•    Tampa–Glasgow: $531
•    Detroit–Rome: $542
•    Las Vegas–Frankfurt: $555
•    Tampa–Rome: $556
•    New Orleans–Madrid: $558
•    Las Vegas–Lisbon: $582
•    Houston–Berlin: $584
•    And more!

Now through the end of the year, West Coast art buffs can bed down beneath the works of modern masters at the St. Regis San Francisco. In honor of the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art’s 75th anniversary on January 18th, the neighboring St. Regis has launched two limited edition SFMOMA suites featuring select prints from the museum’s own anniversary show.

On the 5th floor, the “Gems of the Museum” suite houses a reproduction of Henri Matisse’s Femme au chapeau (pictured, 1905) – a painting “at the core of the controversy that led to the first modern art movement of the 20th century.” Jackson Pollack’s large-scale Guardians of the Secret (1943), one of the abstract-expressionist’s most famous works, graces an opposing wall. If your art-heart has a hankering for the City by the Bay, check into the 6th floor “Art of California” suite, featuring the works of native San Franciscoans Richard Diebenkorn (b. 1922), Anne Bremer (b. 1868), and Wayne Thiebaud (b. 1920) from hallway to headboard.  Read more

Continental Airlines is under scrutiny after placing two unaccompanied minors on wrong flights on back to back days earlier this week. On June 13, 8-year-old Taylor Williams was supposed to visit her father in Charlotte, N.C. from Houston – instead she landed in Fayetteville, Ark. The next day, Miriam Kamens, 10, wound up in Newark while her parents thought she was on a Boston-to-Cleveland flight to visit her grandparents. Read more