B Samcook Home16 restaurant in Chiang Mai, Thailand is not a name that rolls off the tongue easily, but it is arguably one of the best dining experiences I’ve had in a while. So good in fact, that halfway through the $30 per-person seven course m…
Read MoreAuthor: Heels First Travel
Great Seafood on the Sonoma Coast
I finally made it out to the Sonoma Coast and incidentally discovered the best clam chowder and seafood sandwich I’ve had yet at Spud Point Crab Company in Bodega Bay, CA! On a recent weekend jaunt we decided to jump off Hwy 101 around Muir …
Read MoreVisiting Crater Lake During the Wildfires
Written by Heels First Travel @ BoardingArea
My luck with Crater Lake is rather nonexistent. Or perhaps its my planning abilities? The first time I went to Crater Lake I was not expecting huge snow drifts in the 70 degree weather over Memorial Day. This time I hadn’t anticipated the lake be…
Act Fast! Business Class Tickets to Asia from West Coast for $620+
Written by Heels First Travel @ BoardingArea
Thanks to an email alert from Scott’s Cheap Flights, I’ve spent the morning booking business class tickets to Asia! Hong Kong Airways has business class tickets from San Francisco and Los Angeles to Bali, Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh, Manila,…
Total Power Outage at DCA Airport?
Written by Heels First Travel @ BoardingArea
Heads up to anyone traveling out of Reagan National Airport tonight or scheduled to be on a plane coming from DCA. A friend just texted me from the airport where apparently all the power has gone out. She was flying out of Gate 35x and had just boarded…
WTSO Cheapskate Marathon: Online Wine Deals $8.99 and Up
Written by Heels First Travel @ BoardingArea
Note: I do not receive compensation for linking to WTSO, I’m just a big fan. Today is Wines Til Sold Out’s annual Cheapskate Marathon where you can pick up highly rated bottles of wine from around the world for $8.99-$18.99 from 7:00am R…
Prime Day Deals: Great Deal on My Favorite Travel Toothbrush, $5 Credit When You Buy a $25 Amazon Gift Card & More
Written by Heels First Travel @ BoardingArea
My impression of Amazon’s Prime Day is much like last year’s. There are no deals so amazing that it makes you want to buy something you weren’t already considering. But if you were already in the market, there were a handful of things…
Flying Through Atlanta? Make Sure You Walk Between Terminals A & B
Written by Heels First Travel @ BoardingArea
If you’re bored, angry, anxious or just looking for something to do the next time you’re at Atlanta Airport it is worth jumping off the Plane Train and walking between Terminals A and B. Have time to kill in the #ATL airport? Walk between T…
New 500 Mile Bonus Offer to Earn United Miles for Gassing Up at BP Gas Stations
Written by Heels First Travel @ BoardingArea
Others have already written about this earlier in the year, but sharing in case anyone missed it the first time or, like me, were busy and/or lazy when it was first announced. United Airlines has partnered with BP to offer United miles for purchasing g…
Boise Idaho Hotels: Hyatt Place Boise Downtown Review
Written by Heels First Travel @ BoardingArea
For my Memorial Day trip to Idaho I wound up spending all four nights at the Boise Hyatt Place Downtown. Since there were not any affordable Airbnb rentals out in wine country available by the time I started looking, the hotel’s location wound up…
STIL Boise: Ice Cream Flights with Wine & Beer Pairings
Written by Heels First Travel @ BoardingArea
I just finished a whirlwind Memorial Day vacation in Idaho and managed to fit quite a few highlights into only three days. But one of the experiences that, surprisingly, stood out the most was my trip to a local ice cream shop: The STIL. I’m not …
STIL Boise: Ice Cream Flights with Wine & Beer Pairings
Written by Heels First Travel @ BoardingArea
I just finished a whirlwind Memorial Day vacation in Idaho and managed to fit quite a few highlights into only three days. But one of the experiences that, surprisingly, stood out the most was my trip to a local ice cream shop: The STIL. I’m not …
What Happens If You Don’t Declare Currency When Leaving the US?
Written by Heels First Travel @ BoardingArea
Most travelers know you have to declare large sums of money coming into the United States. But did you know you also have to declare if you’re taking $10,000 or more out of the country? It is perfectly legal to take money in and out of the countr…
Supreme Court Rules Non-Authorized Rental Car Drivers Have 4th Amendment Rights & More
Written by Heels First Travel @ BoardingArea
Headlines and highlights from around the web: A China Sichaun Airlines pilot was “half sucked out of the plane” after the windshield suddenly cracked. Fortunately he only sustained a sprained wrist and facial cuts. This will probably impact…
Beware Booking on Third Party Sites Like JustFly.com
Written by Heels First Travel @ BoardingArea
Booking flights or hotels through a third party site that offers you a slightly bigger discount than the others can be tempting, but you should always be looking for the catch. A few weeks ago an extended family member reached out to me for help findin…
Ridge Vineyards: Visiting the Cupertino Tasting Room
Written by Heels First Travel @ BoardingArea
If you like good wine you’re probably familiar with Ridge Vineyards. What you might not know is that in addition to their Sonoma location in Lytton Springs, Ridge Vineyards also has a great Cupertino tasting room perched on the mountains overlook…
Last Bottle’s Spring Marathon: Great Chance to Get Great Online Wine Deals
Written by Heels First Travel @ BoardingArea
It’s that time again! Last Bottle is running their 2 day Spring Wine Marathon Madness, with hundreds of wines from around the world at 30%-70% off. I get excited about the marathon not just because of the great prices and free shipping with no mi…
Italy Has a Free Public Wine Fountain & More
Written by Heels First Travel @ BoardingArea
Highlights and headlines from around the web: This town in Italy has a free public wine fountain! The Dora Sarchese Vineyard winery started it as a reward for pilgrims completing the “Cammino di San Tommaso” but it is open to…
Italy Has a Free Public Wine Fountain & More
Written by Heels First Travel @ BoardingArea
Highlights and headlines from around the web: This town in Italy has a free public wine fountain! The Dora Sarchese Vineyard winery started it as a reward for pilgrims completing the “Cammino di San Tommaso” but it is open to…
How to Pick the Best Seats on the Plane
Written by Heels First Travel @ BoardingArea
Ever boarded your flight just to discover you picked the row with no window or the seat that won’t recline? With just a minute or two of research you can pick the best seats on the plane and avoid these disappointments in the future. See the Best…