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Vol.
4 | Issue 50 | December 19, 2006 | |
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Ten carefully selected people wore “brain monitoring caps” on flights to and from New Zealand to examine the “vacation gap” — the difference between travelers’ perceptions of the effects of a vacation and the actual physiological and psychological effects. Participants also took a psychomotor vigilance test before, during and after vacation, and in flight, to measure alertness and reaction times. The findings show that vacation is far more beneficial, not only to health but to subsequent performance, than many realize. Performance improved 82 percent on vacation, and remained at a 25 percent higher level after return. Vacationers also slept better, not only on vacation but also after their return, sleeping an average of 20 minutes per night longer after returning home. Not only that, but while before vacation deep sleep — the sleep period that is the most physically and mentally restorative — accounted for only 6 percent of sleep time, after vacation it accounted for almost 20 percent, which is a significant health benefit for healing and the immune system. Vacationers also experienced lowered heart rates, by 4 percent. So for the 43 percent of Americans who don’t
plan to take vacation this year: Take a rest and enjoy the holidays.
It’s good for you! |
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The Holiday Spirit |
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Try A Virtual Vacation |
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Are Airports Getting Less
Secure? Under the program, guests staying at DFW’s
Grand Hyatt Hotel and Detroit Metro’s Westin Hotel are screened
against terrorism watch lists, then given gate passes into areas where — food
and retail outlets that support the program hope — they will
spend money. The TSA, which has also expressed interest in finding
more ways
to let friends and family accompany passengers to gates, says it will
not allow the test programs to continue if they add to congestion at
security screening checkpoints. Air travel analysts remain skeptical,
pending test results. |
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Valet Alternatives in D.C.,
Indy |
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American Upgrades |
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Value
for Money, with a Side of History When I told friends and colleagues that I stayed at a YWCA during a business trip to Boston, they looked at me as if I had lost my mind. That was until I told them that the YWCA building was an historic treasure; that a comfortable 40-room boutique hotel took up three floors of the building; and that my bill for three nights’ lodging was probably less than one night’s accommodations at nearby properties. When my Amtrak train arrived at Back Bay Station, I walked one block to a beautiful, 14-story renovated office building, a 1929 National Register of Historic Places landmark that was originally the YWCA Boston — the first YWCA in the nation. I was not even sure that this was my hotel until I peeked into the marble lobby and saw the small Hotel 140 sign over the front desk. Check-in was fast, and my room key provided access to the special guest elevator, which services the fifth to seventh floors (the other floors are YWCA offices and several small firms). My room, which turned out to be the smallest in the hotel, contained a double bed; a cabinet that contained a closet, a desk and a place for the cable TV; two nightstands; reading lights; and a clock radio. It was far from fancy, but quite clean, and included a cable for using the free high-speed Internet. Other rooms, all bigger, have different layouts and sizes. In the mornings I went to the Terra Cotta Café, off the lobby, for my free continental breakfast. Guests have a choice of various juices, tea or coffee, and a pastry or bagel. Sometimes I ordered from the small breakfast grill, where a friendly young woman offered made-to-order eggs, home fries and sausages, all tray-served quickly and inexpensively. For dinner one night I walked across the street to Bertucci’s, a warm and inviting restaurant/bar, for pizza, minestrone, and salad. The Hard Rock Café is a few steps from there, and the neighborhood is mostly quiet and safe. The Hotel 140 will not appeal to travelers used to high-end hotels with 24-hour room service, but it’s always good to support hotels that contribute to the preservation of historic buildings. This property will continue to be one of Boston’s best-kept secrets, as long as they keep the lobby entrance looking more like a private club than a hotel. Score: ••••• Ron
Bernthal | ||
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Europe Bizclass 20% Off |
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Discounts and Donations in
Canada |
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More Philippine Giveaways |
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| Half-Price St. Lucia The Jalousie Plantation on St. Lucia, an 18th-century sugar mill estate with 112 villas and suites and spectacular views, as well as a spa and four restaurants, normally costs from $430 to $595 a night, but effective Jan. 2 is offering its 4-4-2 Special: Stay for four nights and only pay for two. To qualify, book by Mar. 31 and visit from January through April.  |
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Fly Eos, Get JetBlue Free |
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© 2006 FXExpress Publications Inc. All rights
reserved. Reproduction and/or distribution of eFlyer is strictly
forbidden without the written authorization of the publisher. |
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Produced by Mercury Solutions - www.mercury-solutions.com |
