Adjustable Beds & BYO Sheets

November 28, 2006
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Radisson is in the middle of a major overhaul of its brand: As part of a five-year, $516 million renovation project, the hotel franchise just installed more than 40,000 Select Comfort Sleep Number beds in its North America and Caribbean locations. Special interior air compartments inflate or deflate to meet individual firmness preferences--and guests can adjust each side of the mattress separately. The privilege to sleep on a Sleep Number rather than a standard bed currently costs about $5-$10 more per night, but as they roll out more of the beds, the price difference will become negligible. By the end of 2007, most Radissons will have Sleep Numbers in more than 50 percent of their rooms. Good news for your back--and your wallet. --Laura MacNeil

When Westin debuted its Heavenly Bed in 1999, the hotel chain was one of the first big-name brands to bring in high-quality bedding. And while some hotels have followed its lead, the best way to assure that your bed is heavenly is to bring your own--sheets, that is.

The Cocoon TravelSheet is lightweight and easily packable, and best of all, it's 100% silk. Unroll it from its soda-can-sized pouch, lay it on your bed, and climb inside (it's like a sleeping bag only much thinner).

The handy coupler system also allows you to zip two single-sized sheets into one double-sized version so it'll fit pretty much any size bed. Let the heavenly slumber begin. 800/254-7258, cocoonusa.com, $80. --David LaHuta

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Trip Coach: November 28, 2006

Pamela Keech: Hello. I am Pamela Keech, author of The Curious Shopper's Guide to New York City. I don't know it all, but I hope I can answer some of your shopping questions today. _______________________ South Windsor, CT: Where is the best places to buy "knock off" pocketbooks? Pamela Keech: The best place is along Canal Street. You can wheel and deal. If you don't like the price walk away and they will always come down. _______________________ Racine, WI: What are some good places for large size women's clothing? Pamela Keech: There is a lovely store called Daphne's. It is on Amsterdam Avenue between 82-83 Streets. _______________________ Boise, ID: I'll be in NYC during the holidays. Is there a list of Christmas bazaars anywhere? Pamela Keech: There are wonderful festive Christmas bazaars at Grand Central Station, South Street Seaport, and Columbus Circle. The bazaar at Bryant Park is especially fun, a one-stop holiday treat with brilliantly lit trees and fountains, an ice skating rink, and stands to get hot chocolate and sandwiches. _______________________ Columbia, CT: I'd like to plan a trip to NY for a group of librarians to visit some independent book stores. Can you recommend some of the best, including a plan to make a day of exploring? Pamela Keech: Sadly, many independent bookstores have closed. The Strand is still alive, also Three Lives & Co on West 10th Street. All the museums have excellent book sections in their gift shops, and it is not necessary to pay admission to visit them. Especially good are MOMA, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The Lower East Side Tenement Museum Visitor Center at 108 Orchard Street has a fine selection of New York related fiction and non-fiction. For a "bookish" day tour don't miss the Morgan Library with its new addition by Renzo Piano, on Madison Avenue at 36th Street. _______________________ Cleveland, OH: Do you have any tips for bargaining at flea markets? What has worked for you? Pamela Keech: When I go to a flea market I am very conscious of the work the dealer has done to buy collect their stock. If I think the asking price is more than fair, I pay it. When bargaining, I never make an offer that will offend the dealer. By being thoughtful and polite I often get terrific prices. _______________________ NYC, NY: Wher all these discount clothing outlets in lower Manhattan I hear about? Pamela Keech: Most of the discount clothing is on Orchard Street between Houston and Delancey. There are some great underwear and lingerie stores on Orchard between Delancey and Grand. A.W. Kaufmann carries European designer lingerie at discount prices. Accessories are along Canal Street. Look for scarves, handbags, watches, and perfume. _______________________ Miami, FL: Where in NYC can I find cute hat stores? Are there any inexpensive stores that sell hand-knitted beanie hats, or do you know of any stores that sell dressier hats? Thanks. Pamela Keech: There are lots of hat stores, but only one is still located in the old millinery district on West 38th Street. Manny's has been in business forever and now sells fabulous church hats and will design custom hats for weddings etc. Bonnie's, on Orchard Street near Delancey has handmade hats with a with a retro look. Also look along Fifth Avenue in the high 20s for hat and glove stores. _______________________ Pamela Keech: Thanks for all your questions, happy shopping and happy holidays. Pamela Keech _______________________

Top Chef Floyd Cardoz Shares His Secrets

Q: Could you share some memories of cooking with your family and how you became interested in cooking? A: Cooking and food have always been a major part of my family and upbringing, and also play a major role in Indian culture. My mom cooked a lot and we also had a cook at home. Hanging out in the kitchen to help the cook would ensure that I always got a tasty morsel before or in between meals. My mom would plan the meals daily with the cook, and would also get more involved with the meals when we were entertaining. I became familiar with cooking at a young age--I'd watch and help, and smell and taste all the flavors. My earliest memories were making my Sunday souffle omelets with roasted tomatoes when I was about 11. I also have fond memories of helping the cook clean shrimp, cut green mango, and saute the onions for the Goan stew sorpatel. I used to be the kid in the neighborhood who organized and cooked the monthly barbecues. When I was around 11 or 12 years old, during summers, all the kids in the neighborhood would each bring a potato and roast it over a wood fire and eat it with sea salt from the Arabian Sea. My love for food and cooking subconsciously were guiding me to my current destination. Q: What role do spices play in Indian culture? A: Besides being flavor enhancers, spices have many health benefits. Certain spices are used in different seasons because of their effect on our bodies--some increase body temperature, other keep us cool. Spices also play an important role in digestion. Growing up, I remember spice infusions that were given for various ailments such as a cold, stomach virus, or flu. Additionally, due to the various seasons and how difficult it used to be to transport fresh ingredients across the country (India), spices played an important role in preserving ingredients in pickles and chutneys for use in leaner times, i.e., in growing seasons when ingredients could not be transported across the country or were not available. Q: What are some easy ways to give Western dishes Indian flair? A: Adding one or two spices in a stew is an easy way to give a western dish an Indian flair. Adding coriander to meat dishes, cumin to vegetable dishes, and a combination of cumin and coriander to fish dishes are easy ways to do this as well. In One Spice, Two Spice, I offer many recipes. It can be really simple and is a great way to add tons of flavor. Q: Which basic Indian spices should be in every kitchen? A: In my new cookbook, One Spice, Two Spice, I outline levels of spices for home cooks. First, I suggest that people have some basics--bay leaf, black pepper, cinnamon, and cloves. For those who want to add great flavor to their home cooking, Level One includes a selection of versatile spices that work well with most ingredients: Coriander seed, cumin, turmeric and mustard. I have three more levels as one gets more experienced with these spices. But really, it can be easy and is great fun to experiment with spices. Q: Which spices go into making a classic Indian curry? A: There are no standard spices in a curry. Depending on the region and season, the combinations change. A classic curry, though, is any sauce with spice, be it one, two, or more spices. Q: What is the best way to store spices? A: Buy them whole, keep them away from heat and light, and store them in an air tight container. In order to maintain freshness, buy spices in one- to two-ounce portions. Q: How should you buy spices? A: Always whole, never ground (except turmeric, cayenne, chat masala, and paprika). Ground spices tend to loose the essential oils which give the spices their flavor and health benefits. It's ideal to buy spices from ethnic markets, as you never know how long they have been on the shelf in big grocery stores. High turnover is a sure sign of freshness. Q: Are there any online resources for buying or learning about spices that you recommend? A: Sinha Trading ships everywhere, but you have to visit or call: 121 Lexington Ave., New York, N.Y. 10016, 212/683-4419. There's also Penzeys, 19300 W. Janacek Ct., Brookfield, Wis., 800/243-7227, penzeys.com; and Kalustyans, 123 Lexington Ave., New York, N.Y. 10016, 212/685-3451, kalustyans.com.

Trip Coach: November 21, 2006

Budget Travel editors: Welcome to this week's Trip Coach. Let's get to your questions! _______________________ Bloomsburg, PA: What can you do if you have something stolen from your checked baggage? Who do you contact and what recourse do you have? Thank you. Budget Travel editors: Although each airline carrier's policy is a little different (many exclude coverage of jewelry, camera equipment, and medications), file a damage report with the airline within 24 hours of arrival, or your claim could be dismissed. If you think the item went missing or was stolen at a TSA passenger screening or baggage checkpoint, you should also file a claim report with the TSA (tsaclaims.org). If you have travel insurance (and you do, right?), file a claim with your insurance company within 24 hours.In the future, if you are traveling with special items that you can't place in carry-on luggage, buy a TSA-approved lock for your checked baggage.Read our recent article, "What to Do in a Travel Emergency." And before you go, download our handy list of airline phone numbers (PDF) _______________________ Richardson, TX: This probably isn't quite what you're looking for, but here goes: My daughter is interested in making college visits the week of March 11th, 2007 to Olympia and Walla Walla, Washington, and to Portland and Salem, Oregon. How we effectively make this trip in 4-5 days on a budget? Budget Travel editors: Here's a suggested itinerary: Fly into Seattle, Wash., which is the largest centrally-located city between the cities you mentioned. Rent a car from one of the many car rental agencies near (but not inside of) the airport -- most offer a free shuttle to and from the airport (find the full list at http://www.portseattle.org/seatac/ground/rentalcars.shtml).Since you won't be spending much time in the city, stay at a hotel south of Seattle or near the airport, since you'll be driving south and southeast of Seattle. If your looking for deals, check out Seattle Super Saver, a discount hotel booking website operated by the Seattle's Convention and Visitors Bureau (search for hotels in the "downtown", "south Seattle" or "airport" locations). For example, rates at the Clarion Hotel Seatac start at $84/night.On your first day, tackle Olympia, Wash., which about a two hour drive from Seattle (traffic permitting!). On your second day, hop on Interstate 90 and drive southeast to Walla Walla, about a five hours from Seattle. You could either stay overnight in Walla Walla or drive back to Seattle, depending on your schedule. On your third (or fourth) day, drive to Portland, Ore., about a five hours' drive from Seattle. Salem is about an hour south of Portland, so after visiting colleges in Portland and Salem, you probably would want to stay overnight in Portland, and return to Seattle the next day. Check out Portland's official tourism website, travelportland.com, for hotel deals.Make sure you bring your umbrella, as Seattle can be cool and chilly in March. Good luck! _______________________ Cary, NC: My college girlfriends and I are thinking about planning a quick four-day weekend getaway to either Nashville or Memphis next year. Which city is best? We are all 42 years old and we live in different states (NC, NJ, FL, CO), so air travel is a consideration. Budget Travel editors: The choice of destination for a long weekend getaway with your girlfriends isn't determined by absolutes, but rather what is most convenient and appeals more to the friends involved. It helps to get a feel for what each city has to offer in terms of activities, restaurants, neighborhoods, and cultural events--and search for the best air fare. Nashville and Memphis have comparable-sized airports; where Southwest Airlines uses Nashville as a hub, Northwest Airlines has its third largest hub in Memphis. Budget Travel's Girlfriend Getaways special issue last May devoted an entire feature highlighting and describing cities that were great for, well, girlfriend getaways. Search BudgetTravelOnline.com's archives to read about those eight cities--in addition to three more cities (including Memphis) that are only available on the website. _______________________ Ann Arbor, MI: My family would like to travel to Vietnam. There are three of us, and my daugter is 4. Are there any family-oriented tours that accept children her age? If possible, we would like a tour style like Intrepid, with local resources being used as much as possible. Budget Travel editors: Djoser, a Dutch independent tour operator with offices in the US, has just launched the Djoser Junior program. All three of the company's Vietnam itineraries, which focus on local culture and resources, can be adjusted to accommodate small children and families. All ages welcome. Check out the tours at djoserusa.com; for more info on Djoser Junior, call 877/356-7376.Founded by two former Peace Corps volunteers and conservationists, Journeys International organizes trips geared toward cultural interaction, nature and wildlife. A 10-day Vietnam Adventure for Families is run every December; individual groups can book and design their own itineraries throughout the year. This tour operator focuses on integrating with local communities. More info online at journeys-intl.com or 800/255-8735; ask for a family specialist.Adventure Center offers a variety of options for thrill-seeking families on the go, with many trips catering to kids ages five and up. Local resources are used as much as possible, aimed at giving children a hands-on, educational experience wherever they may go. This agency is currently rolling out a host of family-friendly itineraries, six of which head to Vietnam (age requirements range from five to six years old). See adventurecenter.com or call 800/228-8747 for details. _______________________ Chicago, IL: Can you help us plan a trip to Italy for April 2007? The group consists of four women. We would like to go for 10 or 11 days and see Rome, Florence, Venice, and Milan. We would like to spend around $1500 to $2000 per person on airfare, hotels and transportation between the cities. Do you think this is possible? This would be our first time to Europe. Budget Travel editors: Of course! First off, you should keep in mind that Easter falls on April 8, 2007, and Rome in particular will be swarming with tourists. We suggest traveling later in the month, if possible. You could take two approaches to planning out the trip: fly round-trip into Rome and then use trains to get around or purchase a multicity ticket which would save you time by eliminating at least one leg of train travel (say, Chicago to Rome and Milan back to Chicago). On sidestep.com, we found a multicity ticket on Continental for $1,005 per person for April 19-30. We did a comparison check and found a round-trip flight to Rome for $786. While prone to delays, trains in Italy are inexpensive, comfortable, and safe. (Note that the Eurostar trains are nicer, faster, and slightly more expensive than the various regional and intercity ones.) Trains also let you enjoy the postcard-perfect countryside.To look up schedules and prices in advance, consult the official website http://trenitalia.it/en/index.html. Here's a quick sampling of how the train travel could work: Rome to Florence is one and a half hours at about $39; Florence to Venice is almost three hours at about $34; Venice to Milan is around three hours at about $27; and Milan to Rome (not necessary if you purchase multicity airfare) is at least four and a half hours at about $60. All prices quoted here are one-way per person based on standard second-class Eurostar tickets and on the current Euro/dollar exchange rate. For tips on what to do and where to stay, read our Rome Snap Guide, Eat Like a Local: Florence & Venice, and Renting an Apartment in Venice. And be sure to check out our special magazine devoted to trips like yours--Girlfriend Getaways! _______________________