Cheap vs Chic

Restaurant week happens January 24th to February 6th in New York City.  Prixe fixe 3-course meals cost just $24.07 for lunch and $35.00 for dinner.  I hear Perry Street, A Voce, Mr. Chow and Spice Market are participating.  I cannot wait!

Sometimes I miss the leaves changing colors and the brisk wind that greets you in the morning as you walk to work.  Let’s get real: I live in sunny Florida now.  Even though we are experiencing a cold snap, it’s not the same as autumn in New York.  But I still enjoy the lower airline fares to London, Paris and New York.  This is the best time to snatch up cheap flights to chilly cities.

I get excited about Miami Spice.  It happens for two months at the end of the summer, where a selection of restaurants offer 3 course menus for a record low price.  This year, lunch costs $23 and dinner will set you back $36.  I have already ventured to Escopazzo to enjoy their organic italian selections.  The Blue Door at the Delano was a little stingy with their portions, but still had wonderful service.  I thought Sushi Samba would offer a better selection.  Their fish stew was amazing, but the shrimp appetizer was distracting with tasteless panko crumbs smothered on the skewers.  Ick.  I am looking forward to eating at The Setai, B.E.D., and The Kobe Club because there is no way I could possibly afford those places at any other time!  I’ll keep you posted.

I enjoy staying in hostels because it is the least expensive option and you can meet plenty of people. I have stayed in some wonderful facilities, but the Jazz Hostels are among the worst. I stayed at the Jazz on the City and the Jazz on Lenox. The common spaces were suitable at both locations, although Lenox had a common kitchen. Jazz on the City’s rooms can hold up to 12 people but some rooms have enclosed bathrooms. With disintegrating carpet, lockers blocking the room’s entrance and windows that bring in the cold winds, I thought the Lenox location would not be as bad. I was wrong. The decrepit stairs and large, cumbersome doors squeaked all the time. The first night, we had heat in the room, the second night, no heat. The “bathrooms” were closets in a previous life, if you could call them bathrooms. Not walk-in closets, but New York City-sized closets, which are very small. I had two options, a tiny room with a toilet and a sink, or a tiny room with just a shower stall. I found one “bathroom” that had a chair to put your clothes and things on. There was one electrical outlet in the room. Both hostels offered free wi-fi, were less than 3 blocks away from the subway, and were close to neighborhood hot spots. Even though the staff was friendly and helpful, the price was unbelievable, and the proximity of public transportation, I would not recommend staying at any of the Jazz Hostels.

I love to shop in Paris. I found some awesome pashminas on the cheap. The ultimate bargain hunter’s dream is the Soldes de Paris. It happens January 9th to 20th, and again in July. Every store has a sale that lasts about 3 weeks. Most stores begin with 25% to 30% markdowns, but towards the end of the sales period, you can find deals with up to 70% off. Check Printemps or the Galeries Lafayette websites for updates. These are two of my favorite French department stores. If any readers have shopping suggestions, please email me or leave a comment.

St. Pancras International is the newest railway hub for London in 100 years. With Queen Elizabeth at the ceremony, the official opening is slated for November 14th, 2007. The station has been in disrepair for almost 40 years and went under a six year, $1.6 billion renovation. A five-star hotel that is attached to the station is still being refurbished and will open in 2009. Located in the King’s Cross section of London, the Eurostar train can whisk you from London to Paris in 2 hours and 15 minutes, London to Lille in 1 hour and 20 minutes, or London to Brussels in 1 hour and 51 minutes. If you are lucky to score tickets to the 2012 Olympics, there will be a separate train service that can shuttle spectators to the stadium in minutes. With excellent amenities such as wi-fi, retail shops, a farmer’s market and Europe’s longest Champagne bar, St. Pancras station is a chic travel pick.

Everyone has pre-conceived notions about hostels. Yes, you do sleep on a twin bed, for a total of 8 – 12 people per room on bunk beds. There is usually one bathroom for every 4 people in the suite. Sometimes they are dorm-style rooms where bathrooms are down the hall. The establishments in the US are not on the same level of quality and comfort as the ones in Europe. On my second vacation in London, I stayed at a wonderful hostel. The Meininger Baden Powell is conveniently located in the posh neighborhood of Kensington. There were several bus stops in front of the building and two tube stops within walking distance. Also, the hostel was in walking distance to the Museum of Natural History, Kensington Gardens and Kensington Palace. The rooms were clean and large, with single, double, and shared rooms available. I chose a shared room and paid just $23 per night. Meininger has hostels in Germany, and just opened a place in Vienna, so check them out.

Last year, my local news did a two minute report on purchasing first-class tickets at a discounted price. Basically, tickets with the Y class or Q class, generally called Y-Ups or Q-Ups, are first-class seats with a coach seat price.  So I am shouting it from the mountain tops, emailing my friends and telling you now: You can fly first-class for cheap. Go to the FareCompare web site for all you need to know. Many airline websites will not allow you to search by booking class, but if you book tickets over the phone, ask them to search for a ticket with Y or Q booking class. Happy travels!

On my flight from England, I was reading a magazine article that had excerpts from a travel guide. The article was funny because a couple, Mr. and Mrs. Smith, went on weekend getaways, romantic jaunts and generally flee from mundane life to fabulous hotels or bed and breakfasts. Their writing was delightful and witty, while giving concise descriptions of what you can get for your money. Check the website for discount cards, books, CDs and hotel offers.