I find these reviews beyond helpful as it is very challenging to understand how others will perceive your blog. For example, I thought the navigation was decent as I tried to keep a clean layout, but this comment was made by various people reviewing Tourfolio. It was exciting to read positive comments to re-affirm what I was specifically aiming for, such as;

• The clean crisp layout
• The use of social media (e.g., the huge “Like Facebook” button)
• The size and quality of the featured photographs

Now, based on the constructive comments provided by a few travel writers and bloggers, I will be working on implementing the following changes over the next few weeks;

• Enhancing the navigation bar
• Expanding the “About Me” section to be a bit more personal
• Better explaining the play on words with “Tour” and “Folio”
• Maximizing the top-right space of the blog (e.g., by describing the above bullet point instead of cluttering it with advertisements
• Enhancing the “Guest Posting” section as it took visitors to many clicks to find the section

Once again, a big thank you goes out to Trisha of Travel Writers Exchange for allowing me the opportunity to be the first travel blogger for her new column. I also wanted to thank the visitors who left comments as all of the feedback was greatly appreciated!

The Good

Speaking for all travelers, I really hope this is an increasing trend for travel-related companies when it comes to exploring the possibilities of social media. The contest appeared to run pretty smoothly as the clues were pretty obvious for any loyal customer of Starwood Hotels. There were only a handful of hotels that travelers could not select for their prize but that didn’t stop some winners from selecting properties such as the W London Leicester Square or the Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort & Spa.

The Bad

A few individuals were complaining during the contest that it wasn’t fair (or equal) that not all customers could really participant as you needed to physically greet the front desk assistant with the phrase “I’m here for my Free Weekends Passport photo!”. Therefore, the contest focused on heavier populated cities instead of hotels in sparsely populated towns.

Also, don’t know if it was fair or not but some cities were given additional clues. It would have been better for Starwood just allow three clues each so that people who knew the answer right away could at least start traveling to it, assuming they lived further away. I felt that the additional clues could have screwed some people over by not being able to make it to the Starwood property in time.

The whining was pretty minimal but the funniest comment was from a platinum member who thought he/she deserved more from Starwood;

What’s the point of playing the contest if you have no chance of winning? This contest is a waste of my valuable time and should be open to every SPG member that takes the time to investigate the clues. Had I known, I surely would not have taken the time or made the effort, only to placate the powers at SPG. An unhappy Platinum Preferred member!

The SPG Free Weekend Contest Clues and Answers

Day 1:
Clue #1 – Which one of our brands just invested $6 billion in 180 new and renovated hotels?
Clue #2 – This country recently hosted the 2010 Winter Olympics.
Clue #3 – This hotel’s city is home to the CN Tower and the Rogers Centre, formerly known as SkyDome.
Final Clue – Right in the “Centre”, this hotel is connected to PATH, a 16-mile underground network of shops and services.
Answer: Sheraton Centre Toronto Hotel!

Day 2:
Clue #1 – Which 1 of our 9 brands is a glittering ensemble of more than 69 of the world’s finest hotels and resorts?
Clue #2 – In this star-studded state, the Governor is also known for acting, thus, is sometimes referred to as “The Governator.” Plus, this location is home to Brenda, Brandon, Steve, Dylan, Kelly, Donna & David who went to high school here in the 90’s hit TV show.
Clue #3 – Designed by famous architect, Philippe Starck, this hotel also touts a magical dining experience at The Bazaar by José Andrés.
Answer: SLS Hotel at Beverly Hills

Day 3:
Clue #1 – Honest and uncomplicated, this brand is all about Simple Pleasures.
Clue #2 – Jay-Z & Alicia Keys were in the right state of mind when they collaborated together for this 2009 hit.
Clue #3 – The trendy address of this hotel just happens to be “South of Houston.”
Answer: Four Points by Sheraton Manhattan SoHo Village

Day 4:
Clue #1 – This brand celebrated the 75th anniversary of the beloved Bloody Mary cocktail in 2009, which has been a part of its history since 1934.
Clue #2 – “Movin’ to the country, gonna eat a lot of peaches…” The capital of this “Peach State” is home to the largest airline in the world.
Clue #3 – This impeccably groomed hotel is just 12 miles from Turner Field. Batter up!
Answer: The St. Regis Atlanta

Day 5:
Clue #1 – Known for its jet-setting style at a steal, this brand is the new destination sensation that’s always abuzz.
Clue #2 – This state is the birthplace of many NASCAR legends, including Dale Earnhardt & Richard Petty.
Clue #3 – She didn’t build this city, but she built a web. Terrific!
Clue #4 – This hotel is at the “EpiCentre” of the bustling Uptown district.
Answer: Aloft Charlotte Uptown at the EpiCentre in North Carolina

Day 6:
Clue #1 – Just to name a few, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones & The Who all hail from this country.
Clue #2 – Oh snap! Fergie sang about this city’s famous bridge on her 2006 album, The Dutchess.
Clue #3 – The city may be English, but the hotel brand’s name is en Français.
Clue #4 – It’s highly unlikely that you will see any elephants or bears at the nearby circus.
Answer: Le Méridien Piccadilly in London

Day 7:
Clue #1 – This contemporary hotel brand gives you access to a world of “Wow”
Clue #2 – Famously lined with cherry blossom trees, the streets of this city are named after various U.S. States.
Clue #3 – By George, you’ll have a Capital Time at this Conde Nast Traveler “Hot List” hotel!
Answer: W Washington D.C

Day 8:
Clue #1 – Strap your spurs on! We’re heading south for a game of hold’em.
Clue #2 – Nope, we don’t believe this city has a “problem”. Can you guess?
Clue #3 – Built green from the ground up, our newest hotel brand welcomes guests to settle in, unwind and stay a while.
Answer: Element Houston Vintage Park in Texas

Day 9:
Clue #1 – The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, only without the wizard.
Clue #2 – This city is home to one of the most iconic buildings of the millennium. Its famous shell-structure makes it instantly recognizable.
Clue #3 – The brand’s signature scent is White Tea, which soothes and elevates the senses. You’ll also feel “heavenly” in this brand’s signature bed.
Answer: Westin Sydney

Day 10:
Clue #1 – Likely the most well-known song from the musical & movie Evita, it features this country’s name in the title.
Clue #2 – The Tango was established before the end of the Nineteenth Century in this city.
Clue #3 – You’ll Rediscover this brand with new ways to work, relax and connect. This hotel is in the heart of the city and a landmark for international travelers.
Answer: Sheraton Buenos Aires Hotel & Convention Center

HotelChatter's Annual WiFi Report for 2010

The following is a high level summary of only top 3 hotels in each of the categories of the report;

Hotels with the Best Wifi Networks

1. Andaz Hotels
2. Standard Hotels
3. Peninsula Hotels

Hotels with the Worst Wifi Networks

1. W Hotels
2. DoubleTree Hotels
3. Four Seasons Hotels

Check out the full results of this interesting report by clicking here.

Flickr.com (galloween)

Holding Your Newspaper Subscription

Call your local newspaper companies and ask for them to put a hold on your subscription(s) for the time you are away on vacation. It’s an easy sign for a thief to figure out no one is home when the last four daily newspapers are sitting on your driveway. By putting a hold on your subscription, the newspaper won’t be left on your driveway which will be one less sign to help ward of would be thieves.

Holding Mail Deliveries from the United States Post Office

Similar to the newspaper, an overflow mailbox is another pretty sure sign that you are not home. Who doesn’t love to check their mail after the postman delivers something to our mailboxes? A thief can use this against you by watching a few days to see if the mail isn’t taken out. You can help protect your house by asking a trusted neighbor to pick up your mail on a daily basis or by calling the United States Post Office to put a hold on your mail being delivered.

Double Check Doors and Windows are Locked

Pretty basic, I know. Before leaving your house, re-check the doors and windows to be sure they are locked. The last thing you need to come home to after a long day of travel is to find your house ransacked.

Keep Lights On a Timer

A very cheap and easy way to help protect your house when on vacation is to purchase a light timer at your local Home Depot or Lowes. These timers allow you to configure a specific time that your lights will turn on to simulate a person inside the house turning the lights on and off throughout the day. A thief will more than likely be deterred when seeing changing lights in the house, thus keeping your house safe.

Disabling Social Media Location Tracking Features

Be wary of applications such as Twitter (if you have the location feature enabled) or Facebook’s Foursquare application that might be announcing your location to the Internet (i.e., public Facebook profiles). You are basically screaming for someone to rob your house while you are on vacation. This can be tough because we want our friends to know that we are having an awesome time as we lay out on the beach but can be risky too. The best way to protect yourself is to either not let Twitter track your location and to increase the privacy settings on your Facebook account so that only friends can see your profile.

Don’t believe me? Check out the website ‘Please Rob Me‘ which attempts to bring light to this issue by aggregating location based information sent from applications such as Foursquare.

Let your Neighbors Use Your Driveway for Overflow Parking

By letting your neighbors use your driveway for overflow parking for their guests, you earn the added safety of having an ever-changing environment in-front of your house and brownie points from your neighbors.

Install Real or Fake Security Cameras

You can either install a full-blown security system or go the cheaper route by installing fake security cameras on the outside of your house. The prices for a fake security camera can range between $5.00 to $30.00 , making it a pretty cheap and viable option to fool burglars that are thinking of pillaging your house when on vacation.

Change Your Voicemail Message

“Hi, You’ve reached the Smith Family! We are currently on a wonderful vacation from April 1st to April 15th! Leave a message at the beep!” Please don’t leave a message like that on your voicemail system. Similar to the social media tracking, it basically tells potential robbers that you aren’t home.

Get Snow Plowed from Driveways & Sidewalks and Keep Your Lawn Cut

You can reach out to a very friendly neighbor who doesn’t mind shoveling snow or cutting lawns to help keep the outside of your well-manicured. It’s a tell-tale sign no one is home when there are no foot prints in the snow or and the grass is overgrown. Can’t find a neighbor who is nice enough to do this for you? Check your local area for snow removal and landscaping companies so they can do the dirty work when you are out of the area.

Keep Blinds Partially Open

By closing all of your blinds, you are telling passerby’s that you either don’t want them looking into your house or that you aren’t around. Keep some window blinds partially opened to make it seem like someone is inside the house. It’s counter-intuitive because you think this allows a person to look inside your house; however, it also makes it seem that the house is occupied.

Install Fake Security System Signs

Use image editing software (i.e., Photoshop) to create a fake-security system sticker and place it in the corner of a few windows or in the front yard. A thief who is thinking of breaking into your house might be scared by the fact that the house has an installed security system

Have other tips and tricks to protect your house when on vacation? If so, share them!

First Impressions

The Ogio Cooper backpack is pretty sturdy for the retail price (approximately $35.00) which is a testament to the quality of the backpacks sold by Ogio. My favorite feature is easily the fleece lined audio compartment at the top of the backpack which is great because it helps prevent cellphone and MP3 player screens from getting all scratched up. The waterproof zipper opening helps prevent Mother-Nature from soaking your electronic goods (or important travel documents). On top of all of that, there is also an outlet for headphones to be snaked through the compartment to keep you listening to your music – until the battery dies.

The lightly padded laptop sleeve is pretty decent to help separate your laptop from other items you might carry (i.e., books and magazines). It’s also deep enough to hold a decent amount of those important travel items such as phrasebooks, souvenirs and mostly any other small-to-medium items necessary for when you travel.

There are also to mesh pockets on each side of the backpack to hold plastic water bottles or if you are environmental thoughtful like Chanelle Sladics, then you should bring your own Sigg Water Bottlewhich will easily fit in the side mesh pockets of the backpack. We might as well keep the environment clean so that other generations of travelers can experience the same sights, tastes and sounds as you, right?

Testing it Out

I brought the indigo Ogio Cooper backpack with me during my recent trip to Costa Rica. Using it as my carry-on, I was easily able to fit three magazines, one paperback book, a cellphone charging cable, a lightweight hoodie, my iPod nano (5th gen.) and my Nikon D50 with the 35-55 and 55-200 Nikkor lenses without a problem. The backpack was easy to carry and didn’t cut into my shoulders with the weight of my gear that I was lugging around.

During my few days at the cove-like beach in Samara, Costa Rica, the Ogio Cooper backpack made my life easy by fitting in my camera gear, suntan lotion, towel and an extra set of clothes. I love that most Ogio backpacks have an easy-to-reach audio compartment (usually fleece-lined) for your MP3 player. My indigo colored backpack had this great feature which is great as it protects my iPod nano from getting scratched up – it’s a pet peeve of mine being a tech junkie. Plus I didn’t really have much sand in the backpack, thanks to zipper openings that have a protective covering which is also waterproof.

Overall Thoughts

While I love all Ogio backpacks, I would personally not recommend the Ogio Cooper Backpack due to the fact that it won’t hold most larger laptops even though most travelers are carrying netbooks. Another minor issue that I have with this backpack, even though I specifically didn’t test it out, is that the laptop sleeve is unpadded. This might seem nit-picky but the last thing you will want is to have a damaged laptop that will cause missed Skype dates or losing the ability to download (and backup) travel photographs that you wanted to send to friends. I would check out the Ogio Fugitiveor the flashier Ogio Fluxbackpacks due the larger padded laptop sleeve, as well as all the other great features of the Ogio Cooper backpack.

Technical Specs

• Yoke style shoulder pads
• Dual side mesh pockets
• Sternum strap
• Simple non-padded laptop sleeve
• Organizer panel
• Fleece-lined top drop-in audio pocket with headphone exit port
• Laptop capacity is 14 inches high x 10 inches wide x 2 inches deep
• Measures 19 inches high x 13 inches wide x 9 inches deep
• Capacity is 1750 cubic inches / 28 liters
• Weighs 1.66 pounds / 0.8 kilograms

Front View

First Impressions

David Kinsey, a Californian-based artist, has definitively splashed his urban street style onto these goggles. I thought the red and black graffiti-like designs were pretty sweet looking on the goggle frame. Upon playing around with the goggles a bit more, the strap kept me mesmerized for a bit due to it’s crazy urban inspired design. I can confidently say that I think the design is a side-shot of some comic villain as I see a white eye. But, I’ll have to let you be the judge of that.

Side View

Testing on the Ski Slopes

The first thing that I loved about these goggles was that I know they can take a good beating considering how much stiffer they are compared to other goggles I’ve owned. Another great feature is the flexible strap connectors that allow the goggles to fit comfortable to either a beanie or a helmet. In an effort to save my skull, I will always be rocking a helmet, so it’s rather important for my goggles to fit over my face without any issues. While I did not run into any issues regarding the goggles or the goggle strap, I still would have liked to see the inside of the strap have a rubber-like material that helps it from sliding off a helmet or a beanie.

I didn’t run into any fogging issues during my all-day testing but just remember not to tuck a gator or bandana underneath. I’ve seen far to many people complain about their goggles fogging up only for them to realize it’s because they are basically exhaling warm air onto the cold goggles.

The inside foam was similar to other goggles and felt pretty comfortable, especially on the bridge of the nose. I also didn’t feel any cold air leaking in as I did a few laps up and down the mountain but that doesn’t mean it will be the same for you. As a disclaimer, I would highly recommend that you try on a pair of goggles prior to purchasing them because not all frames will fit all faces perfectly.

Overall Thoughts

I’ve always been a loyal to Oakley, Spy and Smith for my goggles but I might have to start taking a better look at Gordini with their sweet new designs. To be honest, I’ve always had the subconscious thought in my head that Gordini mostly produces winter gloves – but it appears I’m wrong. I thoroughly enjoy the fact that Gordini has followed other winter companies that have an artist inspired product line that changes each year to keep the designs fresh. These goggles have all the important requirements that powerhouse goggle companies offer but just suffer from a brand that isn’t well known for producing goggles. As an avid skier who has gone through more than enough goggles after the lens being scratched (it’s my personal pet peeve), I highly recommend you to branch out to companies such as Gordini offering some interesting designs.

Technical Specs

• Medium Fit
• Spherical Lens
• Air Flow Design (AFD®)
• Outriggers For Helmet Compatibility

Dorey Gloves by Kombi Sports

First Impressions

First off, the silicone print design is pretty sick and a much better change from the average black gloves that I’ve worn from other winter sport companies. The outer shell is composed on neoprene with some goatskin leather trim that outlines the fingers and wrist. Typical with most winter gloves, a nose wipe is on the thumb to let you easily take care of your dripping nose instead of fumbling around for tissues in your jacket pocket. The palms of the gloves are made of a synthetic suede to make it a bit easier to grip ski poles, a beer bottle, or comfortably hold the hand of some snowbunny (hopefully in that exact order). The velcro strap seemed to be a bit flimsy at first as I thought it wouldn’t stick well but never once did it come undone.

Testing on the Ski Slopes

As always, I’m going to be honest here. I’m pretty sure the only thing that can keep your hands warm on a day when it’s -23 Fahrenheit (with the wind) is holding molten lava in your palms. Surprisingly, the gloves did a decent job at keeping my hands warm even though my finger tips were a bit cold. I was still easily able to wear thin glove lines and put one of those hand warmers in each palm. When I had to warm my hands up – which seemed to be every two runs down the mountain – I had no problem opening my jacket pockets to get out a small retractable ski lock. I was beyond grateful for the gloves being this usable without removing them as most other gloves I’ve owned required me to rip them off my hands just to get anything out of my pockets. The only thing that I personally wished on these gloves was for them to be a just an inch or half inch longer on the wrist to help protect from the wind. This was truly the only thing I didn’t like about them but it was completely mitigated by having a jacket sleeves that wrapped around the wrists.

There are a few other things about these gloves that I didn’t get to test out because of time and the frigid temperatures. The gloves are made with Microban® which is an anti-microbial protection that inhibits the growth of bacteria, mold and mildew. That means less stains and nasty odors! On top of that good stuff, there is also a Waterguard® Flex layer in-between the neoprene outer shell and the lining of the glove. This membrane was designed by Kombi to keep the wearer’s hands from getting wet on those warmer winter or spring days.

Overall Thoughts

The Dorey Gloves did an overall great job in keeping my hands warm and dry. As mentioned before, I loved the fact that I could easily access my jacket pockets because nothing is worse then taking your gloves off on a cold winter day to get a camera, a ski lock or a cell phone. I’d easily recommend these gloves to anyone looking for a pair of stylish gloves but they should be a must have for any of your skiers or shredders on the slopes. If you are looking for other winter gear, check out Kombi’s website (http://www.kombisports.com) for more gloves, hats and base-layers!

Technical Specs

• 100g Thinsulate® (rated for light activity levels or very cold conditions)
• Kombi’s WATERGUARD® Flex Layer
• Microban® Protection
• Accu-Dri® Polyester Lining.

Giveaway Rules

The rules are simple for entering the free giveaway for a brand new pair of Kombi Dorey Gloves (Mens Large);

1. Become a Fan of Tourfolio on Facebook
2. Leave a comment below with the initial of your first name and full last name (example: B. Cassidy)
3. Optional: Share the link with your friends!

Note: I’d love to have this contest open to everyone – however, I can only offer it to those residing in the United States as Kombi will be shipping the prize. The contest ends on 2/11/2010 at 11:59PM EST. This post will be updated on 2/12/2010 to reflect the winner!


Update: The winner is W. VanHatten who was chosen by using Random.org! There will be more giveaways in the future so keep checking in or you can subscribe to our e-mail/RSS feed.

]]> http://www.tourfolio.com/kombi-sports-dorey-gloves-review-giveaway/feed/ 7 http://www.tourfolio.com/loyalty-program-starwood-preferred-guest-marriot-rewards/ http://www.tourfolio.com/loyalty-program-starwood-preferred-guest-marriot-rewards/#comments Wed, 13 Jan 2010 12:39:00 +0000 Bryan Cassidy http://www.tourfolio.com/?p=1240 Starwood Preferred Guest and Marriott Rewards are two of the most popular hotel loyalty programs in the world. If you are a business person or avid traveler, you know that these loyalty programs are beyond important as you can easily rack up some points for personal use. There are some people who swear by only one loyalty program so the real question is, “What hotel loyalty program is better – Starwood or Marriott?”



Starwood vs. Marriott...Let the Battle Begin!

Number of Locations

Starwood Preferred Guest: Starwood owns nine hotel industry heavyweight brands; Le Meridien, Aloft, The Luxury Collection, Westin, Four Points, Element, Sheraton, St. Regis and W Hotels throughout the world. The luxury hotel operator and franchiser has over 950 properties in about 50 countries.
Marriott Rewards: Marriott’s portfolio consists of eleven well known brands; Marriott Hotels & Resorts, JW Marriott Hotels & Resorts, Renaissance Hotels, EDITION Hotels, Autograph Collection, Courtyard, Residence Inn, Fairfield Inn & Suites, TownePlace Suites, SpringHill Suites and Marriott Vacation Club. The company operates and franchises approximately 3,150 properties in over 60 countries.
WINNER: MARRIOTT REWARDS – Marriott clearly has more properties than Starwood, allowing you more choices to use your well deserved reward points.

---

Point Usability

Starwood Preferred Guest: There are no blackout dates for standard rooms at Starwood hotels. Starwood Preferred Guest does not limit the number of standard rooms available for Free Night Awards. The one catch to look out for is the dreaded peak season – as some high end properties will charge a high point redemption rate.
Marriott Rewards: Since January 15, 2009, Marriott has eliminated blackout dates at over 3,000 Marriott hotel properties, making it possible for you to redeem points for rooms (single or double standard rooms) in more places worldwide. Similar to Starwood, the amount of points to redeem free nights can vary based on length of stay, time of the year and category of the hotel.
WINNER: TIE – Starwood and Marriott both offer no black out dates on standard rooms, no clear winner in this category.

Point Value

Starwood Preferred Guest: For every dollar spent, at a base level, you will earn 2 points. The average hotel property category requires about 7,000 Starwood Preferred Guest Points to be traded in to get a free night. Using some quick math, you will have to spend about $3,500 dollars (without promotions).
Marriott Rewards: For every dollar spent, at a base level, you will earn 10 points. The average hotel property category requires about 20,000 Marriott Rewards to be traded in to get a free night. Once again with a bit of simple math, you will have to spend about $2,000 dollars (without promotions).
WINNER: MARRIOTT REWARDS This was very close to being a tie but I gave the victory to Marriott. It’s cheaper to obtain Marriott points when you will be using the points for lodging but Starwood Preferred Guest Flight’s (SPG Flights) transfer ability to airline miles is a huge plus when you can get a bonus of 5,000 points after transferring 20,000 points to miles.

Credit Cards

Starwood Preferred Guest: The American Express Starwood Preferred Guest Credit Card will give members up to 25,000 free points after their first purchase. On top of this, you will be rewarded 1 point for every dollar spent on the card as well 2 points for every dollar spent at Starwood properties. The annual fee for using this credit card to collect Starwood points is $45.00.
Marriott Rewards: The Marriott Rewards Visa Credit Card will give about 22,500 points (or 30,000 if you want the Marriott Rewards Premier Credit Card) but has an annual fee of $65.00. Similar to Starwood Preferred Guests, Marriott Reward members will receive 1 point for every purchase and 3 points for every dollar spent at a Marriott location.
WINNER: STARWOOD PREFERRED GUEST – The bonus points as well as the lower annual fee makes Starwood the winner in this category. On top of that, 3 points for every dollar spent at Marriott isn’t that much when you earn 10 points per dollar spent on the hotel booking.

Bonus Points and Promotions

Starwood Preferred Guest: At some participating properties you can deny maid service for free points or even monetary gifts in an effort to help the environment. Who really needs new towels every night? The hotel chain also does quarterly promotions in which members can register to earn additional Starwood points. Starwood also has a few more creative bonus point offers (e.g., 2x, 3x, 4x reward points based on the length of your stay).
Marriott Rewards: Two words – Marriott MegaBonus. This promotion is usually offered once a year and allows members to earn up to 25,000 Marriott Reward points for consecutive stays at participating properties. The one problem with Marriott is that they usually offer promotions that require you to use a Marriott Rewards Visa Credit Card which can be a problem if you don’t want to sign up for a card.
WINNER: STARWOOD PREFERRED GUEST – The bonus points as well as the lower annual fee makes Starwood the winner in this category. On top of that, 3 points for every dollar spent at Marriott isn’t that much when you earn 10 points per dollar spent on the hotel booking.

Purchasing Points

Starwood Preferred Guest: The exchange rate to purchase Starwood Preferred Guest points is $17.50 (USD) for 500 points, which comes out to about $.035 (USD) per point. A Starwood Preferred Guest member is only allowed to receive or be sent a gift of 20,000 reward points per calendar year.
Marriott Rewards: If a guest does not have enough points to redeem for a free night, there is no need to fret. Marriott Reward points can be purchased for at an exchange rate of $12.50 (USD) for 1,000 points, which is a rate of .0125 points per dollar. A Marriott Rewards member is however only allowed to purchase (or be sent a gift) of up to 50,000 points per calendar year.
WINNER: STARWOOD PREFERRED GUEST – It’s basically a marketing ploy as you would think Marriott is the winner – cheaper to buy a lot of points, right? Let’s imagine that we are trying to purchase 20,000 points…if we stick with Marriott, we need to spend $250 dollars while we need spend $700 for Starwood. The only problem is that it is a bit unfair as 20,000 points can get a much better hotel category if you go with Starwood.

Freddie Awards (2009)

Starwood Preferred Guest: The 21st Annual Freddie Awards gave Starwood top honors in the following categories;

1. Best Elite-Level Program (Japan, Pacific, Asia, Australia)
2. Best Web Site (Europe, Middle East, Africa)
3. Best Member Communications (Japan, Pacific, Asia, Australia)
4. Best Affinity Credit Card (Americas)
5. Best Award (Japan, Pacific, Asia, Australia)
6. Best Award Redemption (Japan, Pacific, Asia, Australia)
7. Program of the Year (Japan, Pacific, Asia, Australia)
8. Program of the Year (Europe, Middle East, Africa)

Marriott Rewards: The host of the Freddie Awards, Randy Petersen, presented 1st place awards for the following categories;

1. Best Elite-Level Program (Europe, Middle East, Africa)
2. Best Elite-Level Program (Americas)
3. Best Web Site (Japan, Pacific, Asia, Australia)
4. Best Web Site (Americas)
5. Best Member Communications (Europe, Middle East, Africa)
6. Best Member Communications (Americas)
7. Best Bonus Promotion (Europe, Middle East, Africa)
8. Best Customer Service (Americas)
9. Program of the Year (Americas)

WINNER: MARRIOTT REWARDS – This is easy…9 Freddie Awards is more than 8 Freddie Awards.

Membership Tiers

Starwood Preferred Guest: It’s a bit easier to obtain higher membership tiers at Starwood as there are only two levels above the basic “Preferred” tier;

• Gold Preferred – 10 stays or 25 nights
• Platinum Preferred – 25 stays or 50 nights

Marriott Rewards: It’s easy to obtain silver, but if you want to move up in the elite ranks in Marriott’s world, you’ll need some serious stays.

• Silver – 10 nights
• Gold – 50 nights
• Platinum – 75 nights

WINNER: STARWOOD PREFERRED GUEST – The benefits offered at the platinum level for both Starwood and Marriott are about equal but it’s a bit easier to obtain the highest membership level at Starwood.

And the Winner is…

The final score between in the battle between Starwood Preferred Guest and Marriott Rewards is…drum roll please…MARRIOTT REWARDS! I personally have signed up for both loyalty programs as I travel a decent amount for work but I usually lean towards Starwood hotels when the opportunity exists. As of writing this post, I have over 100,000 points at both Starwood and Marriott – now I just need to figure ideas on where to use them…

]]> http://www.tourfolio.com/loyalty-program-starwood-preferred-guest-marriot-rewards/feed/ 1 http://www.tourfolio.com/book-review-double-take/ http://www.tourfolio.com/book-review-double-take/#comments Wed, 30 Dec 2009 11:00:26 +0000 Bryan Cassidy http://www.tourfolio.com/?p=1245 A ‘double take’ is defined as a rapid or surprised second look, either literally or figurative, at a person or situation whose significance has not been completely grasped at first. Kevin Connolly is a twenty-three year old man who has seen the world in a way that a large majority of us will never get to see. He was born with no legs but has competed in the Winter X Games (mono-ski), traveled the world on a skateboard (he decided against a wheelchair and prosthetic legs) and took more than 33,000 photographs of people staring at him (The Rolling Exhibition). Kevin Connolly, in 227 pages, brings readers on a inward reflection on how we view ourselves and what it is to truly see another person.


Double Take by Kevin Connolly (Tourfolio.com)

The next book in this series of post is Double Take. I picked this book up on Christmas Eve and was able to finish it in about 3 hours – I was attached to reading it as you can tell.

Who would like this book:

This book is great for travelers who occasionally do ‘double-takes’ on people they pass in cafes, offbeat streets, nightclubs and well known landmarks. Throughout the book, Kevin Connolly does a wonderful job illustrating important moments in life – such as his mom and him playing a necessary situational based game to build his confidence to his love interest Beth. It’s human instinct for us to make first judgments and then assume a strangers history based on our personal experiences and thoughts. I know I’ve been guilty of this when it comes to seeing beggars or the homeless as countless stories and Hollywood movies has basically taught me the stereotypical history. For the beggars, we sometimes automatically assume there must be some sort of criminal syndicate and the homeless person is just going to buy alcohol or drugs. Continuing with this, I honestly would have probably fallen into the same questioning in my mind if I passed by Kevin Connolly – similar to the war veteran asking Kevin if he still wears his dog tags from the Iraqi war after a mortar round blew off his legs.

Who wouldn’t like this book:

My only complaint with this book is that I finished it so quickly! Kevin Connolly’s Double Take only covers small glimpses of his personal life and challenges so you might be a bit disappointed if you were expecting very detailed stories of how he dealt with being born with no legs.

My favorite line:

…But less often do we want to know about people’s country or culture or family that constructs the real narrative behind who they are…so maybe the reason I’ve been frustrated at times by the question “What the hell happened to you?” is because it’s simply the wrong one to pose.

More about the author and how to purchase the book:

Check out Kevin Connolly’s trailer for his memoir – Double Take:


Click here to view the embedded video.


You can also follow him on Twitter or become a fan of his on Facebook or visit his blog.

If this book sounds something that you, family member or friend would enjoy, please click on this link to purchase from Amazon.

]]> http://www.tourfolio.com/book-review-double-take/feed/ 2 http://www.tourfolio.com/how-to-protect-your-face-neck-ski-slopes/ http://www.tourfolio.com/how-to-protect-your-face-neck-ski-slopes/#comments Fri, 25 Dec 2009 13:23:06 +0000 Bryan Cassidy http://www.tourfolio.com/?p=1213 Today was a cold windy New England morning – about negative 15 degrees Fahrenheit – and I was riding up the chairlift pretty warm except the cold biting away at my face. There were a few frostbite warnings when I boarded the chairlift but it didn’t seem to stop a few skiers and snowboarders from either wearing nothing or some hideous fleece gators (sorry I can’t stand them) that the 1980’s wanted back. Here are a few ways to keep your neck and face warm while enjoying the ski slopes.



Flickr.com (AlaskaTeacher)

Scarves

The scarf is probably the most popular way to protect your face and neck – off the ski slopes – during those cold winter days. They do a great job and keeping you warm but can pose a dangerous risk for those who are terrible at paying attention when unloading on a chairlift. Ever see the signs ‘Check For Loose Clothing And Equipment‘ that depicts a stick figure being strangled by what looks like to be a scarf? The winter scarf might be good for beginners to skiing and snowboarding but not that practical for the experts.

Fleece Gators

These became a fashion must in the 1980’s with their very soft fleece touch and are still popular to this very day. The fleece gator does a great job at keeping the cold away from the neck but have one major drawback – the smell. You should feel thankful if you haven’t smelled a combination of bad breathe, moisture and chilli for lunch. It has the uncanny ability to knock you back a few steps upon the smell entering your nostrils – trust me. The advantage to the fleece gator is that they are relatively cheap and easy to find considering every winter apparel company seems to manufacture them.

Neckwarmer

I’ve separated these into a separate category from the fleece gators because they don’t deserve the same ill treatment from hard-core skiers and snowboarders. The neckwarmer has evolved from the aforementioned gator into moisture wicking fabric to keep you warm and dry. A few winter industry heavy weights – Under Armour, Burton and Dakine – have added a bit of fashion to these instead of just offering the average solid colors.

Balaclavas

This headgear will cover your entire face and neck – just leaving your eyes exposed to the harsh winter elements. These were used by British troops in the 1850’s to protect them from the bitter cold and are also pretty popular with on the skiers, snowboarders, hunters and ninjas. Go figure. They do an awesome job at keeping your entire face and neck protected but can get slightly annoying the second you begin to overheat from strenuous activity as there really is no easy way to cool down when wearing them.

Bandanas

The bandana is the ultimate way to remind yourself and the rest of the world you are registered bad-ass. It might not protect your face and neck on those very cold winter days but can provide some warmth if you are hiking back up to a feature you just hit on the terrain park. If you are a snowboarder the bandana usually works well but to those skiers who tuck their jeans into their ski boots – please don’t wear a bandana as you will be heckled.

         




What is your favorite way to protect your face and skin during those cold days on the mountains? Does fashion matter to you when you’re on the slopes? Share your thoughts!

]]> http://www.tourfolio.com/how-to-protect-your-face-neck-ski-slopes/feed/ 0