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| Volume 5, Issue 26, June 26, 2007 |    |
When a business trip involves socializing, it usually involves drinking too. A new survey of international alcohol consumption gives some insight into where you can expect drinking to fall on the social scale. For example, the United States, where drinking at a business lunch has fallen out of favor, ranks only 40th on the list of “drinking countries” (rated according to annual individual alcohol consumption by the World Health Organization). A recent study of the stats by The Economist, including a chart, gives some interesting insights into where people drink most — and least.
For example, the Irish reputation for drinking is no myth: Ireland is the world’s No. 2 consumer of alcohol on the individual level, followed by Hungary, Moldova and the Czech Republic. Who tops the list? Little old Luxembourg. Others in the Top 10 are Germany (8) and Great Britain (10).
Who’s at the bottom? Mexico.
This is useful information for business travelers. In addition to watching your night driving and pedestrian activities in the high-drinking countries, it’s good to be aware of drinking customs. Find out if it’s considered rude not to drink with someone, when you’re expected to buy — and learn some toasts! 
Coming soon to New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK): valet parking. The service, already available at Newark Liberty (EWR), will operate out of the long-term parking lot off Lefferts Blvd., near the AirTrain station; the Port Authority, which runs the airport, promises the new service later this year. The service, including parking fees, will cost $36 for the first 24 hours and $18 for each additional 12 hours.
Two more airlines have added fare types to reward passengers with flexible schedules and better accommodate those with set itineraries. Last week, Icelandair established four economy fare levels: Saga, Economy Flex, Economy and Best Price. Saga, or premium economy, is unrestricted, can be purchased one-way or round-trip, earns extra frequent-flyer points, has the highest baggage allowance, and includes priority check-in and seat selection. Economy Flex passengers get most of the Saga benefits, without the extra baggage allowance or quite as many points, and with some restrictions possible. Economy allows one-way or round-trip restricted travel, with small charges for changes and cancellations. Best Price fares get the lowest amount of frequent-flyer points, may be nonrefundable, and carry the most restrictions. … CSA Czech Airlines has also introduced a new fare structure for all its classes: Business Premium, Business, Economy Premium, Economy, and Value Special. Economy Premium, for example, allows free rebooking or cancellation and priority check-in.
If you’re a wine aficionado, a new Web site, Winerybound.com can help you turn your free time on any trip into a wine excursion. Enter your hotel or meeting location and the site will direct you to nearby wineries and restaurants with extensive wine lists. Maps help you plot your location and your itinerary.
Avis Rent-A-Car is partnering with WeDriveU to offer a chauffeur-driven option, initially in Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Detroit, Los Angeles, New York, Phoenix, San Francisco and Washington D.C. The program is available to members of Avis’s loyalty program (except basic-level members). You can arrange a chauffeur for the entire time you have the rental, or in three-hour increments off and on throughout your trip. The chauffeur can even pick up and drop off your car at airport locations before and after your arrival or departure. The cost of the program is $30 an hour, with a three-hour minimum, plus standard rental car rates and fees. To reserve a chauffeur, call 800 272 5839 at least 24 hours before your rental pickup time.
There’s a brand new option for travelers to New York City seeking an alternative to luxury hotels. Oakwood Rockefeller, the first new building to be built at Rockefeller Center since the 1930s, is a 34-story tower with 152 luxury apartments at 18 E. 48th St. Oakwood apartments are furnished, serviced, and available on a short-term basis. Through July 14, introductory rates are available; for prices, call 877 969 5142.
Woodfin Suites Hotel
5800 Shellmound St.
Emeryville, CA 94608
tel 510 601 5880; fax 510 601 5833
www.woodfinsuitehotels.com
Emeryville, Calif. has come a long ways from its days as an industrial eyesore en route to Oakland. Today it’s home to Silicon Valley firms, and with its close proximity to Oakland International Airport (OAK) and public transportation, is a definite alternative to staying in San Francisco or Oakland.
I chose the Woodfin Suites property because of its close proximity to both San Francisco and Berkeley, and its all-suites accommodations. My room, located on the Bay side, provided a nice view of San Francisco and the nearby Bay Bridge approach roads (I could monitor the notorious bridge traffic at any time). I had a one-bedroom suite with a comfortable couch and armchair, king-sized bed, a large desk, and nicely designed wood furniture. Amenities included two TVs, a DVD player (with free movies from a lobby library), and a fully-equipped kitchen. The in-room high-speed Internet charge was $6 per day; there is free access from the hotel’s business center, and in the executive-level rooms.
In the private-key Executive Level, a surcharge gets you plush bedding, complimentary Internet access, a private business center, bathrobes, and a cordless phone. Two-bedroom suites are also available throughout the hotel.
Despite the cool weather during my visit, I had a pleasant swim in the outdoor heated pool, and used the adjacent fitness center. The only negative was that the cement floor of the fitness room remained wet after several bathing-suit-clad hotel guests, dripping water from their swims, walked in to retrieve towels. The lobby Emery Grille is a quiet and casual mid-priced restaurant, with dinner menu items such as sushi and sashimi appetizers, baked prawns, and grilled Kobe fillet.
Parking is free, and plentiful, an amenity not to be taken lightly in the traffic-congested Bay area. Guests without cars can reach the property easily from Oakland Airport (15 minutes by taxi), or from San Francisco on Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART). The Amtrak station is a short walk from the hotel. Runners will also appreciate the hotel’s proximity to Eastshore State Park, a spit of land jutting into San Francisco Bay, where a jogging and biking path offer great water views and breathtaking sunsets.
Score: ••••• Ron Bernthal
The Hilton Sorrento Palace has finished its refurbishment just in time for Milan’s famous July sales. Throughout the month the hotel, with its wonderful views of Mt. Vesuvius and the Bay of Naples, is offering a Shopping Fever package priced at $310 a night. That includes breakfast, the first night’s dinner, and a free upgrade to the executive floor based on availability.
Just a 20-minute ride from Cape Town International Airport (CPT) is the Spier resort, 10 minutes south of the Stellenbosch wineries. Not only has the seven-year-old hotel just renovated all its public spaces and filled them with contemporary South African art, but it is also offering a weekday package during its winter season — which is from now into September. The Hibernate With Us package costs $442 for two nights, and includes breakfast, dinner at a different restaurant each night, an informal winetasting, and your choice of either a one-hour massage per person or a case of local wine per couple.
Through Aug. 30, Amtrak Guest rewards members will earn 1,000 bonus points for every round trip on the Acela Express. New or existing members must preregister, or call 800 307 500 and mention code 61107.
American Airlines is sponsoring a one-month sweepstakes to a surprise destination, ending July 20. The grand prize is a trip for two to the premiere of a 20th Century Fox movie. The actual movie, and destination, will depend upon the timing of the winner’s availability to travel. Entry is free, one per person; you can get additional entries by forwarding the registration link to others. The grand prize will take the form of two $5,000 gift cards: one from American and one a MasterCard. Daily prizes of $500 American Airlines gift cards are also being awarded.
Buy tickets by July 17 to qualify for Air Canada's fare sales to London (LHR) and Manchester (MAN) from any of 37 U.S. cities. Fares range from $499 to $599 round trip, and are also available as one-way tickets for $359-$459. Advance purchase is required. Fares are good for travel through Sept. 9.
