Seniors Having Flying Companions Will Travel

(It's been a minute, I know...)

Reflection:

My great-grandmother was my greatest example of a world traveler. Prior to my being born, in her younger days, she had visited countries on all of the continents save Antarctica.

I was her firstborn great-grandchild. While I was forming in my mother’s womb, she took a trip to Denmark, where she learned that great-grandmothers there were called “Besty”. Hence, this is what she decided I would call her, and so it was for me, and all my siblings and cousins who followed.

Besty had collected foreign coins from all her travels. Even becoming a widow did not stop her. In fact, it appeared she traveled all the more as a result. One day she presented her coins as gift to me when I was still but a girl. She told me stories that went along with the coins and the travels, and I was a captive audience. Besty was the most intrepid person I knew, and she’s the main influencer of my wanderlust today.

As she grew older, Besty’s travels slowed to stateside and usually consisted of attending family reunions of her and my great-grandfather’s kinfolk. But her globally cosmopolitan style and attitude remained intact 'til her last days.

I thought of her when I came across the service called Flying Companions. How much more traveling would she have done, had this company been in existence in her day?

Flying Companions LLC is an Atlanta-based company with a brilliant and Baby Boomer-timely concept headed by Doug Iannelli. Flying Companions offers assistance to senior adults who want to maintain their independence and continue to traveling by air, through the provision of an experienced travel companion to accompany them on their flight—and on their entire trip—if desired.

The companion handles all of the logistical details that may prove challenging for a senior navigating the post 9/11 twists and turns of airport processing and flight.

So just who are these individuals that serve as Flying Companions who are entrusted with the care of beloved traveling seniors? They are fully insured former airline professionals and experienced travelers with a heart for seniors who have successfully gone through exhaustive background checks.

The service offered by Flying Companions is quite comprehensive. Their companions can research airfares and make the most optimal travel arrangements and then, come the day of the trip, escort the senior from the moment he/she arrives at the airport until they reach the desired destination. In fact, having the senior get picked up at home by a companion is also an option.

Wheelchair assistance, airport check-in and security navigation, carry-on luggage help, boarding assistance, bathroom trips, connecting flights and luggage retrieval—for this and more the companion is there to lend a hand.

The family members of the traveling senior can rest easy knowing that they will be kept informed of all the journey legs’ developments. The companion keeps in contact with them via phone or email during the course of the trip.

The fees for such attentiveness vary, based upon the level of coordination by Flying Companions for each uniquely individual trip. Understandably, the companion’s roundtrip airfare and any other expenses are the responsibility of the senior or those caring for him/her.

If today’s seniors are anything like my Besty, they wouldn’t mind making the monetary investment in a good time and peace of mind.

Oh My, Dubai

The future largest passenger and cargo airport in the world. Your own private island for a price.

Dripping with gold on everything, Dubai knows a thing or two about how to floss. What don't they have when it comes to luxury travel?

Apparently, boutique hotels. "Small" (less than 100 rooms?!) doesn't translate very well in Dubai, so the boutique hotel concept has yet to catch on.

But here are close resemblances available in the land of glorious excess (thanks, Times):

Al Maha Desert Resort & Spa: starting at $1020 USD per night

XVA gallery hotel offering starting at $150 USD per night

La Maison Dubai (00 971 4289 6227 starting at $110 USD per night

Traveling to New Zealand? B&B'er Beware

Seems like "luxury" is in the eye of the B&B owner in New Zealand. Make sure you get your money's worth, or just go the chain hotel route this time around.

6,000 Reasons to Travel in Style

Family? Foodie? Romantic? Adventurer? Hipster? What's your luxury travel personality?

The Luxury Travel Magazine website features a searchable database that can help you find the experience that suits you perfectly, with special offers from 6,000 luxury and boutique hotels and resorts worldwide.

A subscription to their online magazine is a wise investment for the Flossy.

Does It Really Take Two To Tango?

Ladies,

Check out Teresa Rodriguez Williamson's new book, "Fly Solo: The 50 Best Places on Earth for a Girl to Travel Alone". It will convince you that yes, you can travel the world on your own, and you don't have to wait on a man or your girlfriends to get it together before you do it.

This book from the knowing founder of online mag Tango Diva will direct you on how to safely globetrot and have a grand time.

You go, Girl!

On Track for the Suite Life in China

Interested in experiencing luxury on the rails? How about in China?

Kempinski Hotels and Tangula International have recently announced that Kempinski will manage the new Tangula luxury trains in China.

Unveiling in May 2007, this luxurious rail experience will be introduced to travelers in China, the U.S. and Europe, after which bookings will be taken. Inaugural journeys will depart from Lhasa, Lijiang and Beijing in Spring 2008, so if ever you've wanted to explore this marvel of a country, make your plans accordingly.

Where? When? Here You Go, My Friend

Sometimes when I travel, I'm singularly looking from some R&R, so my room, good food and good mags will suit me fine. On other occasions, I'm looking to go out on the town and see what the local scene has to offer. In those cases, I check the destination's music, sports, theater and entertainment pulse with help from The WhereWhen Project.

The WhereWhen Project is the ambition little website that can--can become your one-stop source for what family, sporting, cultural, business and special interest events are going on across the U.S., through their exhaustive and dynamic calendar database. How exhaustive and dynamic? Well, would you know where and when to catch the Deer & Turkey Expo? Neither would I, but The WhereWhen Project does: this Friday, March 30th, from 2:00 p.m. - 9:00 pm at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison, WI.

"Uh, great..." you're thinking. I know--not very flossy and room servicey-like. So can The WhereWhen Project deliver when it comes to bringing sexy back? Best believe it! I know from doing a search on its site that you can find Justin Timberlake wrapping up his tour this Thursday, March 29, 2007 at 7:30 p.m. at the Continental Arena in East Rutherford, NJ.

You name the type of event, and if it's PC, legal and actually happening in the tangible realm as opposed to virtually, The WhereWhen Project is game on promoting it. Now as far as what hotel Justin will be staying at in Jersey (or possibly nearby NYC?) so you can orchestrate a "chance" meeting... While that would be an event, I think The WhereWhen Project would concede that you're on your own with that one.