Head west to see the Sistine Chapel

Story by Aefa Mulholland, photo by Berglind Hafsteinsdottir

Don’t have the time or the budget to get to Rome? Head west instead. This week Seattle Art Museum opens a Michelangelo exhibit, Drawings from the Sistine Chapel -- the only place it’s showing in the U.S.

The nearby Alexis Hotel is offering an Art of Michelangelo package including deluxe accommodations, two VIP tickets to the Michelangelo Exhibit: Public & Private-Drawings for the Sistine Chapel and other Treasures from the Casa Buonarroti, a $10 gift certificate to the Seattle Art Museum Gift Shop, two Painters Delight cocktails at the Bookstore Bar, and Complimentary Valet Parking.

The package is available from October 15, 2009 through February 1, 2010, with rates starting at $219 a night. For a few dollars more guests can request to stay in the Seattle Art Museum suite.

For more information, see www.alexishotel.com and seattleartmuseum.org.

Value Watch: Stonehurst Place, Atlanta

Photos courtesy of Stonehurst Place and Allison Shirreffs
Story by Olga Bas

When looking for a gay-, eco- and/or pet-friendly stay in Atlanta, consider the small but luxurious Stonehurst Place. The bed and breakfast is running a Three Nights for the Price of Two promotion on all stays at least three days through December 22, 2009. Book your stay directly with Stonehurst Place; rates vary based on room choice and period of booking ($139-429). The offer may not be combined with any other offer.

The B&B, located in a mansion originally built in 1896, listed on the National Register of Historic Places and was renovated last year to include many green additions. Without sacrificing style and its period appeal, the hotel has been outfitted with solar panels to heat water and harvests and purifies rainwater for the house.

Besides the eco-friendliness of the hotel, each room guarantees luxury 1000 thread count Egyptian cotton bed linens, natural hygiene products and museum-quality art. Some of the larger suites, such as the Hinman and Gables, also offer marble vanities and floors, spa tubs and heated bathroom floors.

Upon arrival to Stonehurst, expect a welcome beverage as well as complimentary refreshments and gourmet breakfast throughout the length of your stay. In-room massage service is also available to guest with 24-hour notice.

Ed Salvato on Sirius/XM Radio

 

Photo: courtesy Derek and Romaine, Sirius/XM OutQ

Our editor, Ed Salvato (below right), was a guest of Derek and Romaine on their eponymous show on Sirius OutQ (Sirius 109; XM 98).

It was a lively 45 minutes with lots of calls from listeners. They discussed a wide range of travel topics from an assortment of Sirius OutQ listeners: gay men, lesbians, singles and couples  Here are a few topics they touched upon:

• Travel to India and Sri Lanka
• Washington, D.C. hotels
• San Juan, Puerto Rico gay scene
• Gay-friendly Istanbul
• Punta del Este, Uruguay for an older lesbian
• Best getaway for New Year's, where to go for Thanksgiving and much more!

Click here to listen to the show. (It's in four parts)

Download 01 Track 01

Download 02 Track 02

Download 03 Track 03

Download 04 Track 04

Value Watch: May Fair Hotel, London

Story by Olga Bas
Photos courtesy of The May Fair Hotel

The May Fair Hotel located in the heart of London's luxurious West End neighborhood has launched the Pay, Save and Stay promotion: a one-month sale for the holiday season. When you book your room by October 18 for stays between December 14, 2009 and January 10, 2010, you will receive 25% savings off the best available rate with rates starting from $225. The promotion also includes two-for one dining at each of the hotel's restaurants.

The 406-room May Fair -- the official hotel for London Fashion Week -- features a private theater, spa, two restaurants, and bar on the premises. In addition to 12 hotel suites, the May Fair also boasts a rooftop penthouse with a 360 degree view of London. Each room comes equipped with Catalan-designed furniture and a Sicilian marble bathroom complete with power shower, and Bang & Olufsen digital systems. Special Breatheasy rooms are also available for travelers who suffer from allergies; only hypoallergenic bedding and sensitive non-perfumed environmentally friendly cleaning products are used in the rooms, which have been treated to protect against pollutants.

A range of women's and men's spa treatments are available in the comfort of your room as well as several other services, such as professional make-up and hair styling. Fine British dining can be had at the hotel's Amba Bar & Restaurant, after which you may wish to visit Bond Street for some shopping or the hotel's gym facilities for a session with a personal trainer. Both offer some aerobic activity, the latter's just cheaper.

India Videos: Sights and Sounds

Story, videos and photo by Ed Salvato

The image above shows local Rajasthani boys in the Bhangarh complex, a restored 17th-century city in Rajasthan.

Below is a video from the Aman New Delhi showing a local woman singing and stringing together marigolds into a floral necklace.

The following video shows the welcome song at the Amanbagh in Rajasthan, where you are made to feel right at home instantly.

The final video is a very noisy street scene near Jaipur at the cattle market.

New Yorker loves his Delhis, old and new

Story and photos by Ed Salvato, seen here at Humayan Tomb

Only recently arrived in India via the fabulous Jet Airways (more below), I've been instantly confronted with the (in)famous sights, sounds, of smells of the nation's capital city. There are two parts to Delhi: New Delhi is a bustling metropolis with skyscrapers, traffic jams, construction sites everywhere (the Commonwealth Games will be here in 2010; there's an extension being created for the Delhi Metro) and an expanding airport. Old Delhi is a labyrinthine series of alleys, dilapidated-looking storefronts, and a upturned-bowl-of-spaghetti system of electrical wires with an extraordinary hustle and bustle of pedestrians, rickshaws (really pedicabs), stray dogs, goats, taxis and small trucks all competing for a few feet of turf at a time. At the very bottom of this post, I've included a brief video from an exhilarating pedi-cab tour of Old Delhi.

This city of 14 million souls isn't necessarily high up on the tourist to-do lists of most Americans but it should be. Both old and new, there's a lot to keep visitors occupied. The conquest by the Moguls left many impressive monuments to discover. And slowly but surely Delhi's beginning to emerge as an important world city. India, which I will be exploring over the next week, is a fascinating, absorbing, and -- so far anyway -- a demanding destination to experience. Like most things requiring an effort, the rewards will also surely be great.

For those who may have some reluctance to jump into the Indian fray with all its cacophony and movement, my suggestion is to do it in style and comfort. There's nothing quite like a welcome dose of pampering at the end of a day exploring dusty monuments, haggling over purchases and interacting with a few persistent locals.

My method included a trip on Jet Airways, a relatively new (approximately 16 years old in India and operating two years internationally) private Indian airlines. With two classes of service, Jet offers a very modern fleet of aircraft, a young, attractive and attentive staff of flight attendants, a fairly extensive network of flights considering how new it is to the world scene and, in Premiere (business class), private sleeping modules. (That's me in my sleeping pod.)

Prices are incredibly reasonable right now. And with connections in Brussels it's also a good way to get to Europe inexpensively and in style even if India's not on your travel agenda this time. Premiere class travelers also are escorted from the arrival of the flight (from the exit door actually!) to and through customs and immigration. International arrivals just don''t get easier than that.

For a pampering, peaceful (literally, it's in the name: Aman translates as serenity or peace) and secure way to stay, check out the Aman Resorts. Known for their exclusive, small, ultra luxurious resorts, many in remote destinations, Aman opened its first truly urban resort hotel in New Delhi, the Aman New Delhi. It's also the largest of the hotel collection's properties. Just a handful of the many luxe features include huge, airy, modern rooms with private plunge pools, a contemporary Western/Indian restaurant, a tapas restaurant, a 150 foot long lap pool, a state-of-the-art gym open 24 hours, and free wireless throughout the property. Staff is super attentive. The hotel's rates includes pick up and drop off at the airport and a small fleet of hotel cars that can drop you off and pick you up most anywhere in the city. But its key attribute is the calm oasis it affords visitors amidst the seemingly never-ending motion of Delhi.

Today I head out of town to Jaipur. Check back for my next update! First, here's the video of our roller-coaster rickshaw tour of Old Delhi. As a fellow traveler said to me, I experienced more in that 30 minute rickshaw tour as I did in the first 20 years of my life.

South Beach workout SEP 25-27: Fitness from A to Z

Photo courtesy Z Ocean Hotel

Z Ocean Hotel, a chic, intimate, luxury boutique hotel on Ocean Drive in the heart of South Beach is teaming up with Crunch Fitness to offer  Z-Fit: Personal Fitness Weekend -- a unique way to stay fit while on vacation. The Z-Fit Personal Fitness Weekend, led by a Crunch instructor, will take place Sept. 25-27, 2009. Participants will begin each day with Z Ocean’s Spa Breakfast, including fresh fruit, juices, yogurt and more. Following the energizing breakfast on Saturday morning, fitness enthusiasts will engage in an invigorating 90-minute beach workout with a Crunch instructor.

The intense session on Miami Beach will focus on all muscle groups delivering a complete workout.  From stretches and lunges to sit ups and sprints, the beach boot camp-ists will feel the burn, made even more effective because of the pliancy of the sand.  After the boot camp session, guests will partake in a Q&A with the instructor to address their individual fitness concerns before heading back to the hotel for a revitalizing dip Z Ocean’s glass-bottom pool and some poolside refreshments. The Z-Fit Personal Fitness Weekend at Z Ocean Hotel South Beach is available for $478 for the two night stay, excluding taxes and resort fees. Space is limited. To reserve a spot in the boot camp, guests can call toll free 877-688-4232. All participants will be eligible to enter to win a Crunch Annual Membership and a 3-day, 2-night stay at Z Ocean Hotel South Beach.  

Value Watch: Brahma Blue, Belize

Photos courtesy of Brahma Blue
Story by Olga Bas

Located on the island of Ambergris Caye in Belize, the Brahma Blue luxury resort presents an Out Traveler exclusive deal to those looking for an idyllic getaway in the Caribbean. When you book the Suite Life, the Divers Delight, or the Give Thanks packages by November 1st and mention the code OT Belize, you will receive a %15 discount on the package price.

Suite Life ($2,798 for 7 days for a party of four) offers accommodations in a three-bedroom penthouse suite, which can house up to five additional guests. The suite comes with a personal butler/chef, who will prepare breakfast, which is included in the room price, and dinner according to your wishes.

 Divers Delight ($2,198 for 7 days; based on double occupancy) includes daily diving trips to the Blue Hole barrier reef at Turneffe Atoll. The two-bedroom, high-ceilinged condo is equipped with a fully-furnished kitchen and sunset and sunrise views. Continental breakfast sans chef is included.

Give Thanks ($250 per night; based on double occupancy) invites you to enjoy a tropical Thanksgiving in a two-bedroom condo with a fully-furnished granite counter-top kitchen. During your stay you can snorkel the local barrier reef -- which happens to be the second largest in the world, -- dive the world famous Blue Hole, visit the ancient temples of the Mayan civilizations. Continental breakfast is included in the room price.

Daily complimentary yoga class, led by an instructor at the pool or on the beach, takes place every morning. The Brahma Blue grounds include the water-top Blue Lotus Restaurant. Found on the edge of a pier and giving out to a clear view of San Pedro across the water, it serves Caribbean cuisine.

Travel tip: It's hard to pack lightly when you must bring enough changes of clothes to last you your whole trip. Consider packing less clothing and using local Laundromats or even hand washing smaller items in your hotel room to replenish your wardrobe; it'll save on packing space!

Value Watch: INNdulge, Palm Springs

Photos courtesy of INNdulge
Story by Olga Bas

As if a 24-hour, heated, clothing-optional pool wasn't enough, gay resort INNdulge of Palm Springs is running two specials to further entice visitors. The modern resort is offering a 2-for-1 summer deal that gives guests a free night for every paid weeknight through Sept. 30 (valid Sunday through Thursday; rates start at $145). A year-round, holiday-inclusive Seventh Night Free special is also in effect, if you'd like to soak in the sun after the September deadline.

The 24 rooms and suites flank the pool -- a cool 86 degrees for summer to combat the desert highs -- and the 24-hour Jacuzzi fits 12 and affords a grand view of the San Jacinto Mountains. Rooms include a complimentary DVD library and king-size beds, while the suites have their own kitchens. Complimentary continental breakfast is served poolside; Wi-Fi and gym facilities are also available at no charge.

Travel tip: If shopping is your favorite travel pastime, consider mailing particularly large or hefty items home. Not only does it save space in your suitcase, but you also won't have to lug around heavy bags.

Helsinki by Night

When summer inches north in June to Finland, put sleigh-bells, reindeer and naked ice swimming out of your mind. When the Nordic summer sun rises it stays out exhilaratingly late, a formula Finns seem to mimic with their nightlife.

Long hours of daylight notwithstanding, pack a raincoat! And, if you are in Helsinki, make sure it is stylish. The seaside capital, long a cozy alternative to neighboring, jet set Stockholm, is shedding its  famously shy exterior and seeking deserved attention for its top notch design industry, chic hotels and lounges, and unpretentious -- but surprisingly edgy -- art.

 Located in the heart of the city’s Design District, the Klaus K hotel (where I've been staying this past weekend) is a good example of this new Finnish face. Exceedingly hip but pleasantly friendly, this design hotel includes two restaurants -- one Italian (Toscanini) and one more traditionally Finnish (Ilmatar) -- alongside Ahjo, a cool, all-white lounge with a streetside terrace and an intimate, similarly high-design club in back.

Late into Saturday night, well-heeled young Finns in designer suits and dresses poured out of taxis and  into Ahjo's live, pounding house. Thankfully, I couldn't hear a thing from my room when I, too, finally called it a night.

A small city, it still helps to stay near Helsinki's center and -- if you're going to frequent the gay nightlife -- as close to the Design District as possible. Around the corner from three of the city's most popular gay spots, Klaus K is hard to beat for this.

Two blocks south of the hotel is Hugo's Room , Helsinki's newest gay lounge. Impeccably cool -- although somewhat pricey -- Hugo's Room is great for dressing up, claiming a window-side booth and watching the busy street outside.

Crowded by 10pm (especially on weekends), folks tend to drift out of Hugo's Room by midnight, either  going directly across the street to Don't Tell Mama -- DTM for short -- or stopping by Hercules first, a dance club one block north of the Klaus K hotel. None of these venues charge a cover, but entry is supposedly restricted by age -- 20 at DTM, 22 at Hugo's Room and 24 at Hercules. Local Finns, however assure me that no reasonably-aged young man is denied entry.

By 1 am, the crowd really picks up at Hercules, a fun and well laid-out club that spins roaring pop remixes and dance tracks. There's a spacious back lounge where conversations can actually be heard, too. Until recently, when the city closed them all, Hercules maintained an appreciated dark room, but its absence hasn't dampened the club's popularity or the mixed patrons' forwardness!

DTM is Helsinki's most iconic gay place. A friendly café with an outdoor patio by day, a bar by evening, and a busy club later on, DTM is more or less open 24 hours a day. Locals grumble a bit that it's cool factor, multiple dance floors and good music have begun drawing a sizeable straight population, but all agree that it is still the place to be seen, to bring your female friends, to dance all night, or just to have a quiet afternoon coffee.

Nikko will be reporting from his travels in Helsinki, Stockholm, Paris and Berlin this month. If you have a tip on a new place he should visit, e-mail him here.