Tips from place to place

I'm beginning a new travel blog series: Tips from Place to Place which will offer valuable advice you can use now in these tough economic times.  

I'll be starting with my most recent trip abroad, and then hitting each US state (first those I've lived in, then those I frequent) and then its your turn. Feel free to add your own travel tips to these posts, including great places to have a meal (holes in the wall encouraged), or serendipitous tricks you've learned while either on a trip, or in your own back yard. 

Enjoy!

PPPSSTT! Here's the BEST European secret.

I've been seeing more and more buzz about Montenegro. This is near and dear to my heart, friends. You see, yours truly is a full-blooded Montenegrin. Well, I'm all-American, but my ancestry is Montenegrin anyway.

I'm torn about this entry, because part of me wants to spread the word about this beautiful little country, but another part of me simply wants to keep it to myself.

Ah heck- I'll fill you, my good friends, on favorite secret get away, right? OK- here's the word:

Montenegro. The "Jewel of the Adriatic." From swimming in its blue grottoes, to climbing its highest peaks, Montenegro has something for everyone. Known as the Riviera of the Adriatic, this picturesque country was at the epicenter of the Christian Crusades, and to this day has some of the best Byzantine art still intact in church walls. Sipping local spirits on the beach, one can imagine Venetian pirate ships just off shore. Spain, Italy, Ireland, The Middle East the Moors- they all had an influence in this postage sized land.

MONEY MONEY MONEY- Always Sunny

Need to convert cash while on the go? Many international ATMS take Visa or MC (France, Italy, Australia, etc.) so you can get cash no problem. They may charge you for the conversion, but its competitive to bank exchange charges.

Make sure you call your CC co. before you leave to inform them so they don’t put a STOP PAYMENT on your card (may companies do this for your protection).

If your going to try memorizing the local language…make sure you know the words for “help” or police” or “English”.

APPEARANCE: Travel Advice on ABC7 Today (part 1 of 3)

I’ve been asked to appear on the ABC affiliate in Chicago again as the resident Travel Expert for hotels.com. This time I’m bringing along my best ideas for New Years. Here’s a transcript of the segment:

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Tired of staying home and watching the ball drop in Times Square on TV every year? If you’re looking for a change of scenery and a more exciting New Year’s Eve celebration, head out of town for the holiday weekend!
Whether you’re looking for warmer weather and a big party, a big city celebration, a fun road trip or wanting to stay closer to home, Hotels.com Travel Expert Kris Kosach has some great recommendations and a few tricks up her sleeve for how to book your plans and get the room and rate you need. A few of her ideas are just a road trip away!

Miami, FL – Escape the cold and join the parties (and celebrities) going on in South Beach, Miami!!! The days are hot and the nights are even hotter!! New Year’s Eve will be no exception!

• Stay at Doral Golf & Spa Resort – Set on 650 lushly landscaped acres containing five 18-hole championship golf courses, the Doral Golf Resort and Spa is 13 miles west of Miami. The Marriott Resort, Doral Golf Resort and Spa has hosted the PGA championship for 40 years, and some of the world’s most famous golfers play at the resort (i.e. Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus). Guests can grab chairs on the outdoor patio overlooking the greens and watch the action. More than 100 treatments are available in the Spa at Doral, along with fitness counseling, fitness room and a lap pool. The outdoor heated Blue Lagoon Water Park includes four splash pools, children’s pool, spa tub and waterfall. For the kids, Camp Doral provides supervised activities for children ages five to 12.

New York, NY – Don’t watch the ball drop on TV–be there! If you’ve never experienced New Year’s Eve in NYC, now is the time to go! Everyone knows it is THE premier city to ring in 2007.

• Stay at The Muse- Sitting in the middle of the Theater District in New York, N.Y., The Muse, is only one-half block from Broadway theaters and close to Restaurant Row, Times Square, Rockefeller Center and the elegant shops of Fifth Avenue. With its arched limestone and brick façade, this Manhattan hotel features a mahogany-lined lobby with whimsical décor and a 15-foot vaulted ceiling featuring a commissioned Matisse-inspired mural of the nine muses. At this New York City hotel, guestrooms are spacious and feature jewel-toned accents that complement simple wood furnishings and contemporary lighting.

New Years Eve (Part 2 of 3)

More from my ABC 7 appearance.

Indianapolis, IN - Just a road trip away for those who want to leave town for a few days and stay away from those crazy airport lines - experience a newly redesigned hotel just a short distance away and indulge in a bit of luxury while ringing in the New Year!

KRIS PICK:
Stay at the Hyatt Regency - The hotel is proud to have completely redesigned its guest rooms with over $6.5 million in floor to ceiling improvements. Each of the 497 tastefully appointed guest rooms feature exceptional amenities such as luxurious quilted top mattresses, marble bathrooms, flexible workstations with ample lighting, An award winning staff is both friendly and efficient, welcoming you to the most centrally located hotel in Indy - Just 10 minutes away from the local airport, connected to Circle Center Mall and the Indiana Convention Center and within walking distance to downtown, Hyatt is the perfect choice to stay in the center of it all.

Chicago - You want to experience the fun and great nightlife your very own town of Chicago has to offer but you don't want to have to worry about the traffic and getting to and fro NYE weekend... stay in a fabulous hotel right in downtown! Plus you can shop by day and eat at world-renown restaurants by night - Chicago is a perfect NYE
destination!

KRIS PICK:
Stay at Hotel Monaco- Located along the banks of the Chicago River in Chicago's central business area and the theater district, the Hotel Monaco is three blocks from the fashionable shops of the Magnificent Mile. Once a hat factory built in 1912, the Hotel Monaco welcomes guests to its atrium-style lobby sanctuary, complete with French Deco furniture, marbled floors, antique rugs and plush seating in front of an inviting fireplace. At check-in, a Hotel Monaco signature trademark features a bowl of glimmering goldfish, something each guest is encouraged to take to guestrooms for the duration of the visit. The hotel features a hosted evening wine reception with tarot
card and palm readers, handwriting analysis, chair massages and old-fashioned board games. The 192 contemporary guestrooms of the Hotel Monaco are washed in red and gold, and off-set by sunburst-shaped mirrors, meditation window seats and mini-bars. Buddy
Guy's on South Wabash St. (nearby) features some of the best in national blues acts. This live music spot is frequented by members of the Rolling Stones who make surprise stage appearances.