Weekly Photo - No Swimming

I took this photo in a parking lot in Florida with no water in sight...

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Hotel Review - Sheraton Miami Airport

The missus and I are in Florida for ‘Spring Break’. She has a week off between semesters so we flew Newark to Miami direct on the newly merged United/Continental. We spent the night at the Sheraton Miami Airport which is conveniently located right beside the car rental area and a picturesque golf course.  Miami Beach Hotels are notoriously expensive ($300+) so we opted for the airport location 20 minutes away. I redeemed Starwood points for the stay and was able to use only 3,000 points for 1 night instead of a $200 standard rate (a great deal!)

When we checked in we were told because I was a Starwood ‘Plus’ member (simply because I have a Starwood AMEX card) we would get a ‘premium’ room facing the golf course and complimentary late checkout until 4pm (bonus!)  We headed into South Beach, Miami and splurged on one the best restaurants in Miami called ‘OLA’ which serves food with a Latin American theme.  Dinner & drinks total with tip came to a pricey $200 including valet parking ($20) but hey we’re worth it!  We made the most of the valet parking by walking around Collins Ave for a few hours and people watching.


The hotel is ok (not great).  There is a decent swimming pool and bar.  The walls are a little thin and the rooms have those connecting room doors so you hear more of your neighbours than you would like to.  We had major problems with our key cards not working and the morning staff not wanting to honour the late checkout but after a little persuasive complaining by the missus, the hotel waived the $15 parking fee and threw in 1500 points so our 1 night stay only cost us 1500 net points with free parking.  That my friends was a bargain and starts the theme of the next few blog posts called ‘Travel Hacking!’

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Tags: ..Hotel Review - Sheraton Miami Airport..

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How far can you run on an 'EMPTY' tank of gas?

I'm all about deals and bargains these days cos' of the economy don't ya know. I stumbled upon a u$d19 per day car rental rate a while back because to find a cheap rate, it can be difficult to search for car hire USA, so I block booked every weekend from October 2011 to June 2012 with the option to cancel and/or extend the weekend rental for as long as I like. Since we hadn't made concrete plans for Christmas / New Years I decided we would extend the 2 day rental to 16 days and drive from New Jersey to Florida (1,250 miles / 2,000 Kilometres) x 2 for the journey back.

The trip was great and escaping the cold North East Winter for the warmth of Florida beaches was shhhplendid.  Herself doesn't drive (or have a license yet) so we took our time and stopped off plenty on the way there and back. I managed to avoid all pitfalls like breakdowns, flat tires, speeding tickets, getting lost etc.  As we were close to home I noticed the tank was close to empty but I was in the express section of the highway and we were making good time and the warning light hadn't come on so I decided to 'let it ride' so to speak. Soon enough the needle was at the big 'E' for 'EMPTY' but I figured as soon as the fuel warning light came on I would turn off and get 'gas' aka petrol so no probs.

Finally the fuel warning light came on but I was now only about 10 miles from home and I remember seeing that episode from Seinfeld where Kramer pushes the boundaries of how far he can get on 'EMPTY' so I went for the same.  Unfortunately, I didn't fair as well as Kramer and after 5 minutes I heard 'put-put-put' coming from the engine I knew we were doomed'.  Luckily I was able to pull off at an exit and roll down to the toll booth exit where we called Hertz who called the NJ Turnpike Assistance who came and gave us 'emergency gas' for u$d37 so it could have been a lot worse.  It will however remain one of my more unusual Facebook location check-ins.   

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Tags: .How far can you run on an EMPTY tank of petrol / gas?..

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Lunch with Johnathan Ross

So me and the missus have been driving around East Florida for the holidays and today we stopped into an organic cafe called 'The Jungle' for lunch in the middle of a no name town called Melbourne cos' herself is a part time vegan when she's not tossin' a cow on a barbie.  It was hard not to notice the family at the table next to us, what with each of them having hair color a different shade of the rainbow and more body piercings than 'The Sex Pistols'.  The missus says to me in a low whisper - "Do they not know Halloween is over?!"


We paid little attention to them after that and it was only when they were leaving that I caught a glimpse of the head of the group and I thought he looked familiar.  That looks like Jonathan Ross, I said.  - Who? - said the missus. Nah can't be I said. Why would he (a UK celeb) be hanging out with a bunch of pierced neon hair drop outs in Florida? Out of curiosity I decided to google "Jonathan Ross Family" and guess what I found..(taken a few years before the body 'art' I reckon)...

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Tags: ..Lunch with Johnathon Ross family dyed hair pink orange..

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Growing Old

Here's a few snaps from the Xmas / New Years holidays along with a few of home base during the same period. It's back to reality with a 'brrrrrr' now and the snow is still piled high on the footpath (sorry that's sidewalk in Yankee speak) outside.  The warmth of Florida seems like a distant memory and more snow is on its way.  I'm beginning to understand why the 'blue-rinse' crew fly south for the Winter. Could it be true that old people aren't daft after all? ...or am I just getting old myself?

 Meanwhile down South.......

Click on Slideshow Below for more pics....

Tags: ..Holiday Travels..

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White Stuff Everywhere

Everybody is talking about snow and ice and cold and when you turn on the news it's nothing but blah blah blah about white stuff everywhere.  I specifically flew south for Xmas to avoid this crap but what happens?....There's feckin' white stuff everywhere here too..

OK - I guess white stuff on the ground isn't always bad... and now Trivia time for Pensacola Beach:

1.) This beach was completely fu(ked by the BP oil spill earlier this year but thankfully has recovered rather well. 

2.) The Native American Indian Geronimo (now there's a real American Hero)  was sent here (Fort Pickens) after his capture.  Must have been quite a contrast from his homeland of New Mexico.  
   

Tags: ..Pensacola Beach, Florida..

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