Potted Potter on the London Stage

It was going to happen sooner or later, someone would come up with idea of using the Harry Potter books by J.K. Rowling as a basis for a stage production. Though someone has not been crazy enough to bring 'Harry Potter the Musical' to London or Broadway, for now 'Potted Potter' will return to the West End for a strict limited engagement a month after the HP movie is released.

Recommended for muggles from the age of six to Dumbledore (who is very old indeed) and in the tradition of 'The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged)' is 'Potted Potter The Unauthorized Harry Experience.' See creators Dan Clarkson and Jefferson Turner play out the all seven Harry Potter books in seventy minutes. The show was first seen in 2006 and is playing a limited engagement at London's Garrick Theatre during a fifth anniversary tour.

From The Guardian's Lyn Gardner's review of the 2007 version:
Sublimely potty and done with the lightest of touches, this daft two-man parody and a heartfelt homage. In fact, it is all terrific family entertainment, as (Dan and Jeff)"muggle" along with just the right mix of boyish exuberance. Dan, in particular, often seems a trifle confused between his Potter and his Lord of the Rings and Narnia adventures. Then there is his misunderstanding about the difference between Hogwarts and warthogs. And when he plays the Defense of the Dark Arts teacher, Lupin, the werewolf has inexplicably transmuted into an elephant. These mixups weigh heavily on self-appointed Harry Potter expert Jeff, all the more because Dan has used all the money set aside to employ 20 actors on the dragon in Book Four. The dragon, needless to say, turns out to be a severe disappointment. This is the only show in town in which the audience get to participate in a game of quidditch, even though Dan appears to think that a vacuum cleaner can be substituted for a Nimbus 2000.

Dan and Jeff are known for their performances on Blue Peter, the popular and long-running British children's television series. The show began when they created a five-minute performance for a bookshop to coincide with the launch of the sixth book. Visit pottepotter.com for more information.

The last installment in the movie series based on "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" is scheduled for release on July 14, 2011.

Have You Met the SeatGuru?

(images credit: seatguru.com)

There are some who have not yet discovered the detailed seatmap information provided at SeatGuru.com. This website is always recommended when searching for an airfare and unsure of the best seat selection for your comfort. Website visitors can search by airline and then aircraft or from the home page select the airline and enter the flight number. Such preparation can help set up some expectations for a flight.

Some seatmaps on airline websites can be often vague about such things as lavatory location or bulkheads. But SeatGuru offers not only this information but seat measurements, galleys, overhead TVs and exits. Though each passenger may have their own preference, SeatGuru offers its own recommendations classified as good seat, some drawbacks, poor seat, standard seat, blocked seat.

For fun compare some of the different aircrafts flown by the airline or compare aircrafts between airlines. The website is not perfect. For example on the American Airlines 767 used for Hawaii flights to/from Dallas-Ft. Worth, SeatGuru defines seat 11A as a good seat. On the contrary. Though this seat is sold as a preferential seat for a fee by the airline, the seat has very limited legroom and any recline by the passenger seated in 10A will encroach on the personal space of the passenger seated in 11A more severely than in other rows in the cabin.

Below is an example of the seatmap for the American Airlines 777 used for international flights. Above left is the seatmap key.

Travel By Lego: Tower Bridge, Missed the Taj Mahal

Views of the Tower Bridge set by Lego (above images: Lego)

A combination of my passion for travel, London and Lego has come from the toy manufacturer's world buildings collection. After missing out on the Taj Mahal (which sold out due to David Beckham), this Lego exclusive of London's Tower Bridge will keep me busy for several hours or at worst until my next trip to London. Although not the same, the retail product is similar to the Tower Bridge found in the Legoland amusement parks.

From the product description:

• Includes 4 miniature vehicles: a black London taxi, a yellow truck, green automobile and even a traditional red double-decker bus!
• Features the iconic paired towers and a drawbridge that really opens and closes!
• Includes unique printed shield!
• Features hundreds of 1x1 slopes in tan!
• Many useful arches, angular bricks in tan!
• Includes 4 blue base plates and over 80 windows!
• Tower Bridge is ideal for building and display - it can be taken apart in sections for easy transport!
• Add this amazing landmark to your LEGO world buildings collection!
• Completed model measures an impressive 40" (102 cm) long, 17" (45 cm) high and 10" (26 cm) wide.

The set is available at Lego stores, the online Lego shop. The online price is $239.99. Prices in stores varies depending on location. The set is also available on amazon.com. Let's justify this. It's cheaper than visiting the real thing in person.

Tower Bridge at Legoland Windsor (image credit: TravelPod)

Worst Airlines by Complaint

(image credit: KWsideB)

U.S. News & World Report revealed which airlines rank on top of several complaint list. Without delay, these are the airlines that ranked number one in each category for 2010. Do you agree?

Meanest Major Carrier: United
The airline had the second-highest customer complaint rate of all airlines including regional carriers.

Meanest Regional Carrier: American Eagle
Several contributing factors resulted in the airline topping this list of all carriers (see below for two of them).

Most Complained About Airlines: Delta
The airline had the highest consumer complaint rate but only ranked fifth among the meanest major airlines.

(image credit: Airliners Gallery)

Most Documented Incidents: JetBlue
Commercial air travel is as safe as it gets today though this airline had the most safety related incidents.

Most Likely to Bump You: American Eagle.
Another contributing factor to the airline topping the meanest carrier list.

Most Likely to be Late: Comair
The airline had the worst on time performance with only 73.1 percent of flights arriving on time.

Most Likely to Mishandle Your Bags: American Eagle
For every 1,000 passengers, 7.15 bags were mishandled by airline.

(image credit: AV8NLVR)

And the one that likely bothers most travelers:

Most Likely to Overcharge for Bags: Delta / US Airways / Continental
The three airlines share similar fee structures with some variance.

Domestic Baggage Fees

• 1st Bag: $25 ($23 if checked online with Delta or Continental)
• 2nd Bag: $35 ($32 if checked online with Delta or Continental)
• 3rd Bag: $125 for Delta & US Airways;  $100-$200 for Continental

Overweight/Oversized Bags

• 51-70 lbs: $90 for Delta & US Airways; $200 for Continental
• 71-100 lbs: $175 for Delta & US Airways; Continental will not accept luggage heavier than 70 lbs as checked baggage
• Larger than 62 inches: $175 for Delta & US Airways; $100-$200 for Continental

Finding the Best Deals To & From Hawaii

The beach at Waikiki and Diamond Head (image credit: BBQMonster)

Living in Hawaii all my life, I'm always looking for ways to find the best fares to leave for a vacation. But the expensive airfares are the same no matter if you're leaving or coming to Hawaii. So USA Today reported on finding the best deals to Hawaii. By considering this information for visitors to Hawaii, residents of the Aloha State will likely find deals to destinations elsewhere.

When to go? One of the busiest times for flights to Hawaii (thus the most costly) is during the cold weather months on the mainland, so look for discounted fares in the spring and fall. Don't hold your breath for summer deals, especially not this year with oil price trends and folks holding a little extra cash in their travel budget.

How good are the deals? With fuel surcharges plus taxes and fees running as much as $500 (or more on flights to Europe, Hawaii is a relative steal if you look purely at the distance of flights. Plus, in many cases, airfare to the islands is cheaper than prices you'll find to many popular Caribbean destinations.

Pool at the Hilton Hawaiian Village (image credit: BBQMonster)

When should I start shopping? Remember that "buying" airfare is different from "shopping." Shopping means you're kicking the tires and starting early to get an overall feel for the trend in prices. The key is being FLEXIBLE enough to be able to move on a sale and ding that credit card when a deal comes along. This is why I always recommend travelers sign up for real-time price-drop airfare alerts.

There are rarely any last-minute deals to Hawaii; however, you can sometimes pick up award seats at the last minute even if you tried redeeming those miles 11 months ago with no luck. Since award tickets are based on airline capacity, your preferred carrier may release more seats for miles redemption as they get a better handle on how their bookings are going.

When should I buy? The best time to shop for domestic flights is Tuesday 3pm eastern.

Why can I be that specific? We recently conducted a three-year study that showed most airlines file a sale fare on a Monday evening, when then prompts other carriers to scramble to match those sale prices. That process is typically completed as of Tuesday, and all those newly discounted seats then hit the airline reservation systems at 3pm eastern.

In general, you should start shopping about 3 months before your departure. The only exception is when it comes to holiday travel with fares at a premium around Thanksgiving and Christmas, it can really pay to shop year round (fun fact: most airlines tickets can be sold up to eleven months in advance).

Hawaiian Airlines flight map

What else should I know about air travel to Hawaii? It can pay to fly from California: There are about 500,000 airline seats flown to Hawaii each month from the mainland, with nearly half of them originating in two cities -- Los Angeles and San Francisco. There are only 20 cities total (outside of Hawaiian destinations) with nonstop flights to the islands.

Most popular airlines: Chances are you'll fly United or Hawaiian Airlines to Hawaii -- these two carriers account for almost half the seats flown to the islands.

Non-U.S. travel to Hawaii: Two-thirds of Hawaii travel originates in the U.S. The other third has been dominated by Japan, but expect that percentage to change in light of the ongoing post-quake/tsunami turmoil.

Inter-island flights: There are enough seats flown between the islands each day to accommodate every single passenger that lands that day. Some locals (and tourists) have come to think of Hawaiian Airlines as something of the Greyhound Bus-like service, offering 30 minute flights from island to island; their domination of the market was solidified by the bankruptcy of Aloha Airlines.

USA Today report by Fare Compare CEO Rick Seaney is an airline industry insider and top media air travel resource.

(image credit: Hawaiian Airlines)

The ABC's of Using ATM's Abroad

(image credit: garryknight)

There was a time when travelers used cash and travelers checks as their primary source for their spending needs. Travelers checks appears to be headed the way of the dinosaur as credit cards are commonly accepted event to charge small amounts. But when in the need of cash, banks and credit card companies have made it easy to use ATM's (in addition to charge fees) and more travelers are finding it convenient to withdraw cash at their destination especially when traveling abroad.

Magellan's Travel Supplies reports some useful tips about using an ATM internationally:

(image credit: Alex Segre)

• Visa and Mastercard charge a one percent fee for foreign transactions, and most banks tack on an additional two percent to convert the transactions to US dollars. Check with your credit, debit and ATM card providers to determine which of your cards are most travel-friendly, or sign up for a new card with a provider that waives or reduces the fees (for example, Capital One adds no fee, and absorbs the one percent Visa and Mastercard charge, and Wachovia charges just the one percent.) 
  
• Make sure you have ample available credit and/or funds deposited, and check expiration dates on the cards you have chosen. Remember, many foreign ATM's accept four-digit PINs only, and typically don't display letters on the keyboards. If you use a word to remember your PIN, memorize the numeric equivalent before leaving home. 
  
• Unusual foreign transactions may be flagged as fraudulent, so let your credit, debit and ATM card providers know of your travel plans to avoid a freeze on your account. Take more than one card with you to ensure that you have an alternative should your account be frozen.
  
• Make a list of convenient ATM locations in your destination cities before you go. Both Visa and Mastercard have on-line worldwide ATM locators covering more than 210 countries. Make sure that your ATM card displays a Visa, Mastercard, Cirrus or Plus logo for worldwide acceptance.
  
• Prepaid debit cards are a safe, albeit more expensive, alternative to a traditional debit or ATM card. You simply purchase the value needed ahead of time and use in ATM machines while traveling. Since the card is not connected to your checking account, there is no danger of being wiped out should it be stolen or lost, but there are usually extra fees involved.
  
• Make all of your purchases in local currency, and beware of merchants offering to convert your purchases into US dollars. These merchants typically inflate the exchange rates by as much as five percent.
  
• Cash-to-Cash machines are common, especially in Europe. They look like ATM's - the difference being that you feed in currency rather than a card. While they seem very convenient, they are best avoided as they charge inflated exchange rates. The same is true for the currency exchange booths at many international airports. 
  
• Exchange rates and commission fees can be very expensive when converting foreign currency back to US funds, so try to limit your cash withdrawals to just what you need. Use your remaining currency for a last lunch or souvenir, or tuck it away for your next trip. 

Visit magellans.com for more travel planning articles and travel supplies

(image credit: Beatnic)

Closing!!! 'Umbrellas of Cherbourg' in London

Another stage musical based on a feature film posts a closing notice. 'The Umbrellas of Cherbourg' the stage musical is based on one of the most romantic musical films of the 1960s. Released in 1964, the film of the same name is noted for being a French film that is a musical that is all sung. Starring Catherine Deneuve the film was nominated for five Oscars including Best Foreign Language Film. It also received a nominations for writing and for "I Will Wait For You" from the film's soundtrack.

Story is about a twenty-year-old French auto mechanic named Guy Fouchier (Andrew Durand) who has fallen in love with 17-year-old Genevieve Emery (Carly Bawden), an employee in her widowed mother's chic umbrella shop. On the evening before Guy is to leave for a two-year tour of combat in Algeria, he and Genevieve vow to remain lovers. After discovering she is carrying Guy's child she must choose between waiting for his return or accepting an offer of marriage from a wealthy diamond merchant.

In The Guardian, Michael Billington wrote:
Suspiciously thin would be my verdict on this stage version adapted and directed by Emma Rice for Kneehigh. The Michel Legrand score still offers its fitful pleasures, and the bittersweet ending is retained; but it seems an oddly gratuitous translation of a highly successful film into theatrical terms.

What is lost are the very things that made the film so original. One is the way in which the fluid camera movement matched the seamless recitative of the Legrand score: take that away, and you are left with a show that, with the exception of "I Will Wait For You," seems strangely lacking in musical or dramatic highlights. The other missing ingredient is the candy-colored artifice of the film, in which even the wallpaper matched the characters' costumes.

Watching the stage version is like seeing a Technicolor film rendered in black and white: Les Brotherston's set, with its partitioned steel structures, seems determined to evoke the reality of Cherbourg, whereas the point of the story is that it is a romantic fairytale.

A previous stage version was presented in London in a different short-lived production at the Phoenix Theatre in 1979. The song "I Will Wait You" has been recorded by many artists including Frank Sinatra, Bobby Darrin, Tony Bennett and Liza Minnelli.

The producers of the show cite economic reasons for the early closing. The musical opened at London's Gielgud Theatre on March 22, 2011 (after previews from March 5) and will close on May 21, 2011. Show was originally booking to October 1, 2011. More info at umbrellasofcherbourg.com.

Emirates A380: The Fountain, Stairs and More

(image credit: felix388)

(image credit: airliners.net)

My fascination with the Emirates A380 continues. Visit the flickr album by Telstar Logistics about the Emirates A380 at San Francisco International (SFO) and the photos should satisfy the visual curiosity about the luxury jumbo jet. This photos were taken during a 90-minute by-invitation only flight to allow guests to experience the A380 aircraft. Also visit airliners.net for more photos from actual flight experience from Dubai.

According to Emirates the decorative water feature and accompanying mood lighting is supposed to create a serene ambience during flight. The plane has features two stairways to access both decks. At the back of the plane is a curving stairway mainly used as a service access for the flight attendants. The stairway at the front of the cabin is meant to be the main entryway for guests seated on the upper first and business class deck. The water feature greets them as they reach the top of the stairs.

(image credit: airliners.net)

What Will Airlines Charge for Next?

Cartoonist: Jeff Stahler
Source: The Columbus Dispatch

Where Lost Luggage Goes To Die

(image credit: Tony Kelley)

The title of this post is not entirely true. The contents of lost bags may find a new life with a new owner. In Scottboro, Alabama is Unclaimed Baggage, a 40,000 square foot store that Fox News reports to be a bargain hunter's paradise.

A representative from Unclaimed Baggage says airlines by law must spend up to 90 days to return bags with the owners and over 99.9% of the time they are successful. It's the small percentage that is completely lost or unclaimed. The store pays for the bags in bulk sight unseen. With exclusive contracts with each airline, its likely that a lost coat, camera or even scuba gear will end up here.

Like a department store, the floor plan of Unclaimed Baggage has different sections for men's and women's clothing, jewelry, toys, electronics and fine jewelry. Other departments include books/music, artwork, fragrances, rugs, sporting goods, eyewear and (I have to admit this department is logically funny) luggage.

The store reports that buyers come from all 50 states and over one million customers from around the world  each year. It's ironic that Unclaimed Baggage has become a sort of tourist attraction bringing visitors to this rural section of the South. I wonder how many out-of-state shoppers at Unclaimed Baggage lose their bags on the way home.

Visit unclaimedbaggage.com for more information.

(top and bottom image credit: Fox News)

Songs for Japan and Aloha for Japan Shirts Too!

A benefit album starring the world's top recording artists has been released to support Japan as it recovers from the devastating earthquake and tsunami of March 11.

The 38 tracks include some of their biggest htis, featuring an exclusive remix of Lady Gaga's "Born This Way," along with recent hits like Katy Perry's "Firework," Bruno Mars' "Talking to the Moon," Adele's "Make You Feel My Love." Other featured artists include the likes John Lennon, Beyonce, Michael Buble and Elton John. All proceeds go to the Japanese Red Cross. At ten bucks it's one of the best deals in town for a good cause. I got mine, get yours.

Buy from amazon.com
Download from iTunes

Preview on apple.com

Donate to the Japanese Red Cross

(image credit: Fitted Hawaii LLC)

If you like to wear your support pick up an Aloha for Japan t-shirt. The Hawaiian greeting is emblazoned across the chest with the red sun disc from from Japanese flag substituting for the letter "O" in the world Aloha. These shirts are manufactured and sold by FITTED. The $20 shirts were well on their way of being sold out as soon as it was released for retail sale in Hawaii. Visit fittedhawaii.com for a list of retailers and more information. Find it online at Butigroove or Barefoot League. 100% of the proceeds benefit the Hawaii Red Cross to support victims in Japan.

(image credit: Hilo Hattie)

If the FITTED shirts are sold out, check out Hilo Hattie which is also offering a different Aloha for Japan tee. On the back of the shirt are the words of encouragement: Hope, Heal and Help (translated in Hawaiian). The shirts sell for $9.99 with 100% of profits donated to the American Red Cross for Japan relief. Visit one of their retail stores or order online at hilohattie.com.

If you're planning or rescheduling a visit to Japan, then that's even better. Every visitor returning back to Japan will assist in the economic recovery. Go!

Most Expensive Cities To Visit: U.S. & the World

New York City

The latest Hotel Price Index show these 10 U.S. Cities command the highest prices per night last year. Most are expected due to its attraction to business and leisure travelers. But the list is not the most popular cities but the most expensive ones to visit. This probably explains the inclusion of Idaho Falls which is a destination in its region of the country popular for the scenery and culture. It's kind of ironic that I live in the city ranked second and the place to where I travel the most often is ranked first.

The HPI is based on bookings made on hotels.com and prices shown are those actually paid by customers for 2010. Prices are per hotel night averages.

1. New York City, New York  $194.14
2. Honolulu, Hawaii  $158.95
3. Boston, Massachusetts  $154.62
4. Santa Barbara, California  $143.33
5. Washington, D.C.  $140.33
6. Miami, Florida  $139.58
7. Chicago, Illinois  $133.93
8. Idaho Falls, Idaho  $132.53
9. New Orleans, Louisiana  $132.27
10. Monterey, California  $131.93

Bora Bora (image credits: Hotels.com L.P.)

On the flipside, the most expensive cities in the world to visit were strictly for those with deep pockets willing to indulge. Many are resort destinations catering to the wealthy.

1. Bora Bora  $605.95
2. Somerset, England  $531.87
3. Anacapri, Italy  $459.58
4. Hamilton, Bermuda  $404.12
5. Tremezzo, Italy  $366.90
6. Paradise Island, Bahamas  $365.69
7. Wailea (Maui), U.S.  $363.92
8.  Southampton, England  $347.66
9.  Paget, Bermuda  $325.07
10. Manalapan, Florida  $323.10

The HPI is a regular survey of hotel prices in major city destinations across the world.

Western Airlines: The Only Way to Fly

Since the 1970s many domestic airlines have gone belly up or absorbed into the network of today's legacy airlines. But of these lost airlines one stands out particularly because of a memorable advertising campaign. In a television commercial that combined a talking animated bird and a memorable slogan, Wally Bird was always hitching a ride on top of the fuselage of a Western Airlines jet. His distinctive delivery of the slogan "The only way to fly" is forever part of the pop culture of era.

Western Airlines began flying in 1926 and ceased operations in 1987. The year prior, the airline entered into a planned merger with Delta Airlines which eventually discontinued the brand. The airline was headquartered in Los Angeles, California. Western's major hubs were in LAX, Minneapolis/St. Paul and Salt Lake City. At its peak, the airline flew to major cities across the western U.S., Alaska, Hawaii, Mexico and Canada.

Coffee Shops in the Sky

Starbucks on United (image credit: Mark'n Markus)

No more are airlines peddling mystery coffee or using grounds found on the average supermarket shelf. Sorry Maxwell House. Airlines are touting the specialty coffee shop brands for their in-flight service. The benefit to passengers is a finer cup of coffee. For the airlines, they are likely reaping some sort of benefit to display the coffee brand's name and logo in lieu of or in addition to their own.

American Airlines
Java City became the supplier for the airline's official in-flight coffee in November 2010. Served in a larger 10 ounce cup, the coffee is an eco-friendly, hand-roasted blend of 100 percent Arabica Beans and grown on sustainably managed farms. Founded in 1985, Java City is a specialty coffee roaster with eight retail cafes in California and  in partnership operates an additional 500 branded cafes and 30 franchise locations in Korea.

Delta Airlines
Effective March 1, 2010 Delta began featuring Seattle's Best Coffee in flight. The airline began with their customers participating in an in-flight coffee taste test to choose which of the brands blends would be served. The choice is Level 4 based on roast intensity ranked from 1 to 5. Seattle's Best is part of the Starbucks Corporation.

The Hopeful Traveler dares an airline to
offer 100% Kona Coffee in flight.
(image credit: ABCstores)

United Airlines
In 2007, United continued America's habit of enjoying Starbucks Coffee on the ground and extended it to the friendly skies.

Alaska Airlines
Ditto Seattle's Best Coffee.

Continental Airlines
For a legacy carrier they still serve something called Fresh Brew Coffee from a Houston based company. The airline reports it's a blend of the highest-quality Arabica beans specially created for the carrier. With the merger with United in the works, it's unlikely coffee to match its competitors is on the mind of Continental executives.

For the record other brands of coffee have an in-flight audience. Dunkin' Donuts coffee is served on JetBlue and the illy brand of coffee is offered on Virgin America. Now if Hawaiian Airlines would only serve 100% Kona coffee instead of the blend stuff (10% Kona coffee). That would be the best deal among in-flight complimentary coffeedom. Imagine passengers bringing their own cups on board and asking flight attendants to fill it up.

Seattle's Best Coffee on Alaska Airlines (image credit: -Ken-'s)