TravelswithCharie

Sand Harbor beach overlooking snow capped mountains It's been  ages since I've been up to Lake Tahoe. I'm glad the entire brood went and surprise, not much has changed! The lake is still clean and clear and, according to Guest Magazine, the water in the lake is 99.7% pure or about as pure as distilled water. Lake Tahoe is an alpine lake, sitting at over 6,000 feet above sea level.  It's 22 miles long and 12 miles wide. The drive around the lake is simply breathtaking, as cliché as that may sound. The photo above illustrates the purity of the lake which magnifies the gradations of colors. Carefully traipsing over rocks and boulders on a peaceful Saturday afternoon in early June.  The beach,coves and trails are for the lucky few who want to enjoy nature at its very best. In the summer months, Sand Harbor presents the Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival. For more info call 1800-747-4697.  Sand Harbor is on Highway 28. *  *  * Images by Charie

I saw this stunning chandelier at the Hotel Sofitel in Redwood City. I verified with the front desk attendant that this is indeed by Dale Chihuly. If you would like to see more of Chihuly's works, check the following links: http://travelswithcharie.blogspot.com/2009/06/dale-chihulys-glass-flowers.html http://travelswithcharie.blogspot.com/2010/04/post-trio-san-francisco.html * * * Image by Charie

Is the magnetic strip credit/debit card becoming a thing of the past? Roger Yu reports in USA Today on this worrying travel issue. Many European countries have now adopted the chip-and-PIN credit card and more countries are going in that direction. So why can't the U.S. follow suit and save millions of American travelers from nervous moments when their credit card is unacceptable at some merchant outlets? Because it would cost an impressive $8.6 billion for the U.S. credit card industry to switch to the more secure chip-and-PIN smart card. What's a European bound American traveler to do? Charlie Leocha from Consumer Traveler has some answers: 7 credit card rules in Europe: U.S. magnetic strip vs. smart chip — both should work . * * *

Roy's at Ko Olina Golf Course This is the third Roy's restaurant I've dined at and as in previous occasions, I had a delightful experience.  ( See Roy's Las Vegas Hawaiian Aloha Hour ) For starters, I ordered Roy's haupia and fresh fruit float, a nice cool welcome after a hectic morning packing, getting a rental car, and driving to Ko Olina. Roy's is located at the Ko Olina Golf Course in Kapolei. The entrée I selected was the macademia nut crusted island fish (which was shitome) with lobster sauce. The fish was fresh and prepared as I had requested. It was my first time to eat a shitome fish and it was a pleasant revelation. The combination of lobster essence and butter sauce further enhanced the flavor. After all that, I decided to eat dessert which was poor judgement on my part as I was pretty full. I tried the macademia tart with a scoop of vanilla ice cream - rich and supersweet! I should have shared it with someone as I was served quite a generous portion

From baggage fees to bank surcharges for foreign credit card transactions to car rental CDW/LDW insurance and hotel wi-fi charges, here's smart advice on how to avoid these fees that can add up to a "big shock" when we return home from vacay.  May I add that bringing your own headphones take little space and will save you a few $ should you decide to watch a movie or listen to in-flight music. The 10 Worst Travel Rip-Offs ... and How to Avoid Them - SmarterTravel.com

Lagoon 1  (open to the public) There are four inviting lagoons in Ko Olina, on the western shores of Oahu, about 30 minutes from Honolulu International Airport.  If you prefer to be far away from the madding crowd, the Ko Olina resorts are an option. Each resort has its own private lagoon, which, even on the weekends is uncrowded.  While first time visitors flock to Waikiki and locals congregate at Ala Moana Beach, Ko Olina remains off the radar screen except to those who belong to the Marriott Vacation Club. The Marriott Ihilani Ko Olina Resort and Spa and the Ko Olina Beach Club are open to non members. Lagoon 3 As of this writing, there is construction going on for more units which will surely impact the peace and quiet of this area. For now it is a great place for lazy days on the water, for energizing walks through all four lagoons, for rejuvenating mind and body, for watching the sunset, and for being grateful for yet another beautiful day in paradise. Secret Lagoon Among ot

Waikiki  Beach . While many visitors to Hawaii complain that Waikiki is way too crowded, there are many others who love to be in the thick of things. Waikiki is the place to walk on the beach, people watch, have a sunset drink, try surfboarding for the first time and shop, shop, shop. ABC Stores . Speaking of shopping, you'll find most of the things you need and more at the ubiquitous ABC Stores.  Aloha shirts . The most trendy aloha shirts are sold by Tori Richards and Reyn's. Reyn's made the faded look chic with its reverse printed shirts. You can also buy aloha shirts for a good deal less at the Flea Market at the Stadium. It's open on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays. The Hula . The hula tells a story so the dancer must be a good storyteller. This song tells it all, "Lovely hula hands, graceful as the bird in motion".  Ukelele . The hula is only complete when the dancers are accompanied by a trio of singers, one of whom plays the ukelele.  Duk