I'm a Skydeck Ambassador!

Sounds so official doesn't it? I was actually selected to be one of Four Fabulous Ambassadors for the Skydeck at the Willis Tower this summer. Woohoo! So that means that I will get to share with you not only some of the great events going on at the Skydeck this summer, but I get to do a few giveaways as well! I have some ideas in mind and am still working out details so just stay tuned and I'll post more on that as soon as I can!

So as I said, I'm one of four fabulous Chicago ladies (with Melisa, Lisa, and Jen) who were selected to represent the Skydeck as Ambassadors this summer. I'm really honored to be among these ladies who are each very successful, talented, well-connected women who love Chicago and know this city inside and out! We'll each be bringing you some great info, probably all slightly different and from different perspectives, so I would certainly recommend checking out all of us for updates!

Now, you may be wondering Why are we doing all this and what's in it for us? Well, it's actually going to be a friendly little contest amongst the 4 of us, so that makes it even more interesting, right?! By encouraging people to visit the Skydeck this summer via social networking means (I'll give the links in a bit), and actual visitor counts, we will be accumulating points that when tallied at the end of August whoever has the most points wins a Par-tay at the Skydeck (and gets to bring a whole bunch of friends too!). Whoa! So I love Chicago, I love the Skydeck, and I love parties, so I thought it would be a super fun way to add a little extra excitement to the summer! And since I'm a travel specialist anyway, I love to encourage as much travel and 'getting away' time as possible, and Chicago is a fantastic destination.

My first visit to the Skydeck was at least 15 years ago because I went shortly after I moved here. I remember the elevator ride to the top and that the view was absolutely amazing, but other than that, nothing else really stood out.  The view was the attraction, you took some pics, and then you went back down. Well, that now has definitely changed. My most recent visit to the Skydeck was just a couple weeks ago and Holy Cow it was really exciting! Going to the Willis Tower Skydeck definitely feels more like an 'experience' now, rather than just a photo op. With the addition of some great new exhibits and features, and not to mention the famous Ledge that will test even the strongest of wills, you've got to keep the Skydeck in your next city plans.

The below picture was taken from my recent visit. After getting over a few nerves I didn't have too much trouble stepping out onto the Ledge. Mostly I have an issue with looking like a chicken, so I had to pretend like I wasn't nervous. But I'm really glad I stepped out there because it was very cool. And I am an 'afraid of heights' person, and it was still really cool! The building directly below my feet that I'm sort of standing on is the building I used to work at! Memories... :) I was at the Skydeck on a cloudy-ish day and the view was still amazing and it was so fun looking at and naming all the buildings and landmarks.

OH! So I almost forgot that I need to post some links. I will try to get a little button thingy to make it easier, but for now I need some Likes on my Ambassador profile on the Skydeck Chicago Facebook page. This is where I really need your help!! Just click on my picture and click the 'Like' button. Even if you don't live in Chicago or don't think you'll be able to go to the Skydeck this summer, that's Ok because it all adds up and counts towards my points to win the Party! And please forward to your friends as well. I really really appreciate it! 

And if you're on Twitter, I'll also be tweeting using #christyskydeck so please include this on any Chicago tweets or retweets.  

If you have any questions about visiting the Skydeck or visiting Chicago in general, please ask here via comment section or contact me by email!

Thanks for reading and have a great day! =D

Norwegian Cruise Lines - Last Minute Cruise Deals!

Just released cruise deals for last minute cruises. Staterooms are moving quickly and ships sail soon, so reserve your spot now!

Hawaii

7-Day from Honolulu

Sail Date PreviousBalcony Rate Just Reduced Rate Savings 7/6/11 $1,999 $1,499 $500 7/9/11 $1,999 $1,499 $500 7/23/11 $2,029 $1,549 $480

Alaska

7-Day from Seattle

Sail Date PreviousBalcony Rate Just Reduced Rate Savings 9/3/11 $1,349 $1,299 $50

Sail Date PreviousOutside Rate Just Reduced Rate Savings 9/4/11 $1,029 $829 $200 9/11/11 $979 $829 $150

Contact me!! Or Book online here!

Blue Man Group - A Must See Show!

Blue Man Group, what can I say, going to see this show is such an experience.  And I was SO excited to get to go here in Chicago this past weekend!  This was actually my 5th time seeing the show -- I saw them twice in 1998 (a pretty long time ago), one time last year on our cruise (NCL Epic; which was an amazing show for being on a cruise ship!), and one other time this past March for a Press Preview Event (but that was a shortened, more condensed show)... so I was really, really looking forward to seeing it again! And this is a *New* show with a few changes and some different elements.  So even though I've been a few times, it's just one of those shows that is always interesting and extremely entertaining!

After a delicious Tapas dinner at Cafe Ba Ba Reba, we headed up to Briar Street Theatre a bit early. We were anticipating some traffic given that the Pride Parade was earlier that day, but in fact there was actually less traffic, so we got to the theatre in no time at all! We were the third car in the parking lot so got rockstar parking right near the exit. And can you believe it only cost $14 to park! Wow... truly, I was amazed. Parking in Chicago @ a Theatre for only $14??? Seriously? I guess street parking could be a possibility in that area, but I'd never risk a potential parking ticket or worse a tow if parking was only $14. That's a great price for Chicago if you ask me.

So when you get inside the theatre, you see all these weird tubes and hoses and funky artwork... it's just really cool. It's a pretty small theatre, but it's only used for the Blue Man show, so they are able to set it up how they like. But I loved the small intimate feel to the entire theatre.  Just FYI, they do sell some alcoholic/ non-alcoholic beverages and a few snacks, mostly candy, and you can bring your drink into the theatre with you, which is cool (I don't think all theatres do). And my daughter loved the 'bathroom song' that they play inside obviously the bathroom. When you see the show, you'll just have to go in there to hear what I'm talking about! ;o

The show is just so amazing; it's really hard to actually explain what the show is, but it's fun, energizing, exciting, hilarious, and the music is just awesome!!! As I said they have added some new elements to the show, and changed some things, but some of the favorite audience participation aspects are still in. It's great that they do so much to get the audience involved and entertained throughout.

You can see this show in several cities (Las Vegas, Orlando, New York, Boston, AND they are currently touring as well) but as I mentioned you can also see it sailing on a cruise ship! Um, Yeah! On Norwegian Cruise Line's newest ship the Epic, they have the Blue Man Group show playing every night for their guests.... And that's of course included with the cruise fare, so if you have a cruise in mind, and want to see some great entertainment, NCL Epic would be a good choice! I sailed on the ship last fall and it was wonderful, saw some great shows, and my family had a wonderful time! ;)

Here's a picture of me with one of those handsome blue guys after the show. It's great they do this because pictures are not allowed during the show so don't even try it. Just wait till after and get a good one with YOU in the pic with a blue man... even better!

I can arrange tickets and hotel packages so if you are considering a visit to the Windy City, what are you waiting for?!  Contact me so I can set you up!

Segway your way around Chicago with this great tour!

My parents visited Chicago last month, so I took it as an opportunity to bring them on a tour that I've been dying to take!  I do know alot about Chicago, but it's funny how when you live somewhere, you rarely do the touristy things that your city offers.  I did alot when I first moved here 16 years ago, but it was time to try something new.  My parents are great guinea pigs because they are generally down to try just about anything and I wanted to find something different they would really enjoy.

I did a guest post for Got Saga last month in which I highlighted some ideas for off beat things to do around Chicago.  One activity I included was City Segway Tours in Chicago.  I've done a Segway tour at Walt Disney World, but that was ages ago, so when I found out there was a company in Chicago that did tours, I really wanted to try them out.  As I learned, there are actually about 8 companies in Chicago that do Segway tours, but because they all operate differently, I wanted to pick the company that I personally view as the 'Best' so that is why I went with City Segway Tours.  Yes, this is strictly my opinion based on what I like, and what I think other people would like and appreciate as well... safety, small group sizes, knowledgable and fun guides, and a great tour route ~ (All important considerations!).

So it was a gorgeous early May morning, and off we went on the train to head downtown for a 10 am, 3 hour tour.  City Segway Tours is located at 400 E Randolph, just a bit past Millenium Park.  Because there are other Segway outfitters around the city, just make sure that you are heading to the correct place.    After meeting our fun and caffeinated guide Kelsey I could already tell we'd be in for a great day!  We had 7 happy and adventurous people in our group, and we were all super excited to set out for our tour!

After a brief introduction and safety demo, Kelsey helped each of us step onto the Segway for the first time so we could begin to get a feel for it.  It was very easy to learn and in less than 15 minutes, we were all off and on our way riding down the sidewalk.  Because this tour does take place right downtown, you do have to navigate around the pedestrians and other city obstacles, but the Segway is extremely easy to maneuver so it was not difficult at all.

We rode by Millenium Park, Buckingham Fountain, Grant Park, and then down to the Museum Campus which consists of Soldier Field, Shedd Aquarium, the Field Museum, and the Adler Planetarium.  We had several photo stops along the way and learned alot from Kelsey about Chicago history and facts about the city.  I got lots of Foursquare check-ins that day as well, and earned my 'photogenic' badge by checking into so many touristy photo spots! =)
And just a tip ~ To get a 10% discount off your Segway tour, just check into City Segway Tours Chicago on Foursquare and mention the Foursquare discount when you get to the office. =)

Another great little highlight of our tour that I was not expecting, was a stop at Kim & Carlo's Chicago Style hot dog stand near the Field Museum.  Wow, what a treat!!  And perfect timing too because I was getting hungry!  If you haven't had a Chicago style hot dog before, you have to try one when you are here.  It actually took me a few years that I lived here before I tried one, but like deep-dish pizza, it's a Chicago staple and local fave!

So all in all, City Segway Tours offered a fabulous tour here in my great city of Chicago and we had a most awesome time.  I was very happy to learn that they have locations in lots of other cities as well - Atlanta, Washington DC, San Francisco, Paris, Berlin, Budapest, and Vienna.  It really is a great way to see the city and enjoy an educational tour that is both fun and adventurous, but not too exhausting either! =)  After the tour, we still had enough energy to spend the afternoon walking around Millenium Park, and then went to Navy Pier.  Since we did this tour in early May, my parents liked it so much they are looking to do ANOTHER tour, perhaps during their visit to San Francisco this week!  So yes it is fun!  And something I definitely recommend, if you are a tourist or a local, everyone likes to learn some city history and one of the best ways is to do it riding a Segway!

If you would like to learn more about tours or accommodation in Chicago, please feel free to contact me.  I would love to set you up!

Japan

Prayers going out to all those in Japan and neighboring countries affected by the devastating earthquake and tsunami.  The pictures and videos are terrifying and I can't even imagine what everyone there is going through.  God bless.

Airfare: Price vs Convenience - how do you choose?

Are you watching the show 'Amazing Race'?  I love this show!  Well, last night the teams had to get from Australia to Tokyo, and had to decide whether to take a non-stop flight or a connecting flight.  The flight with the connection was scheduled to get into Tokyo 15 minutes sooner than the non-stop.  Hmmmm... what to do? 

Many travelers face this question all the time, but usually not in the context of a race, but rather in the context of price.  Though not always, non-stop flights tend to be a bit more expensive than connecting flights so many travelers find themselves trying to decide between price vs convenience.  "I'm trying to stay within a budget, so do I take the less expensive connecting flight? But I'm going to the Caribbean and I really want to hit the beach ASAP so maybe I take the more expensive non-stop which gets me there sooner."

It can be really tough sometimes to think it all through and make a good decision.  Using a Travel Agent or Specialist can certainly help you to weigh the options and make a good decision.  Of course it depends on different scenarios, where you are traveling, time of year, etc. but in general I always think it's best to fly non-stop whenever possible.... even if it's a bit more expensive.  Connecting flights = the unknown.  Even if your first flight gets off on-time, and things seem to be running on schedule, you never know what challenges may be awaiting you at your connecting airport - weather delays, equipment delays, staffing issues, etc... (Remember the snowstorm in Europe that shut down many airports this past winter?  Yes, I had clients affected by that mess!)  Not to mention your bags (if checked) have to make that connection as well.  It can make for a very stressful beginning to a vacation if all those factors don't align correctly, and you don't want to have your trip start off that way, right?

Of course, that's not to say that a non-stop flight is without issues, but again, that's where it's important to weigh your different options.  Some people don't like to be on a flight for longer than 4 hours if at all possible, so they prefer connections so that they can get off the plane, stretch their legs and move around, get some food besides peanuts, email, maybe do some shopping.  For some people, that alone is worth it to have a connecting flight.  And there are alot of really nice airports these days with some pretty amazing services, so it's getting much easier to kill time in the airports.  I was in Atlanta Hartsfield airport recently and it's beautiful!  You can get a massage and visit the spa right in the terminal! Wow! So you can certainly make the most of a connecting flight, but for me I always try to go non-stop whenever possible.  I once took a 17 hour flight from Johannesburg to New York, the longest flight of my life, but it was worth it not having to stop over.  My bag got lost on the way from NY to Chicago, but at least I knew it made it back to the States and wasn't stuck in Europe or Africa somewhere.  I like ease when traveling and I like to minimize things that are beyond my control so for me, I go for non-stop flights whenever possible.

Oh, and the Amazing Race teams that took the connecting flight actually got into Tokyo an hour and a half LATER than the teams with the non-stop flight, and I'm sure the team that ended up in last is wishing they had chosen differently!

Fiesta Americana Grand: $600 in Resort Credit Experiences

Enjoy a majestic experience that will change the way of living your holidays this winter season.

A stay in Fiesta Americana resorts is always grand, but now that they're offering you $600 in special resort extras, a stay in either Fiesta Americana Grand Coral Beach Cancún Resort & Spa or Fiesta Americana Grand Los Cabos Golf & Spa is even more special, more unforgettable and more luxury-packed.

EXPERIENCES SUCH AS:

· RELAXING MASSAGE more info
· EXCLUSIVE WINE TASTING more info
· BEACH CABANA more info
· ROMANTIC CANDLELIGHT SETTING more info
· FITNESS CENTER more info
· WELCOME IN-ROOM AMENITY more info
· OTHER DAILY SPECIAL AMENITIES more info

Cancun Room rates starting from $229** l Los Cabos $205**


Offer valid for new reservations made between now and April 30, 2011, and for stays between now and April 30, 2011. With a minimum stay of three nights, guests will receive US$600 in Resort Credit Experiences. Fiesta Americana Grand Los Cabos Golf & Spa includes a Chardonnay relaxing massage at Somma Wine Spa; Fiesta Americana Grand Coral Beach Cancun Resort & Spa includes a relaxing massage at Gem Spa. Both resorts include wine tasting experience for two, romantic candlelight setting, welcome amenity including wine and hors d'oeuvres, private beach cabana for one day, wireless Internet, daily in-room coffee service and fitness center. Offer does not include incidental charges, transportation, laundry and dry cleaning, outside tours, excursions or gratuities for outstanding service. Resort Credit Experiences cannot be applied toward the following items: beauty salon services, spa products, telephone charges, gift shop purchases. All hotel reservations are subject to availability and must be made in advance. Offer is not valid for groups/conventions, and may not be combined with other promotional offers. Some of these services can be provided on site with additional extra charge. Rate based on double or single occupancy. Subject to availability at time of reservation. Offer not valid for groups or agreement rate. Other restrictions may apply.