Tuesday 24 May 2016

10 more unique NYC tours

See the Met before it opens in May/June with this tour
In case you missed it, check out our first post in this series: 
10 Unique NYC Tours

Still looking for something different to do on your New York City layover?

If you want to avoid the crowds, or have simply seen the big sights, it's easy to get off the beaten track in the Big Apple.

Here are more unique NYC tour options to consider:
1. Brooklyn Bridge Running Tour
2. Empty Metropolitan Museum of Art VIP Tour - Mondays/Saturdays in May/June
3. Greenwich Village Literary Pub Crawl
4. Private Fabric and Trim Shopping Tour
5. Stories from the Dark-Side of NYC with NYPD Guide
6. Historic Tour of Macy's Herald Square
7. New York Underground Subway Tour with Private Guide
8. Lower East Side Contemporary Art Tour with NYC Professional Art Critic
9. NYC Slavery and Underground Railroad Tour
10. Highlights of Midtown Architectural Tour

Plus 3 more great freebies!
FREE movies in Bryant Park - June/July/August
FREE Grand Central Station tours - Fridays
FREE TV show tapings

Related reources
10 Unique NYC Tours
A New York City Layover: 3 Stories
Layover Ideas and Things to Do in New York City
New York John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) transportation guide
New York LaGuardia Airport (LGA) transportation guide
New York Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) transportation guide

Tuesday 10 May 2016

10 unique NYC tours

Check out NYC subway art on your own, or on this tour!
(110th Street subway mosaics, wikicommons, Mitch Altman)
Looking for something different to do on your New York City layover?

There is no shortage of things to do in the Big Apple, but if you are on a return visit, you might be craving to get off the beaten track.

Here are a few unique NYC tour options to consider:
1. East Village Jewelry Class
2. Private Garment District Tour
3. Macy's Star Shopper at Macy's Herald Square (great value!)
4. New York City Graffiti Lesson
5. Small Group Walking Tour of New York City Architecture
6. The Vikings Exhibition at Discovery Times Square/ - ends September 5, 2016
7. New York City Subway Art Tour/
8. Tour of the Remnants of Penn Station
9. Perfect Picnic Delivery to New York City Parks
10. Helicopter Flight Lesson Above New York

Plus 3 great freebies!
FREE Tai Chi classes in Bryant Park
Best times to FREE travel on the Staten Island Ferry (free Statue of Liberty views!)
High Line hours and map - visit for FREE

Related reources
A New York City Layover: 3 Stories
Layover Ideas and Things to Do in New York City
New York John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) transportation guide
New York LaGuardia Airport (LGA) transportation guide
New York Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) transportation guide

Sunday 8 May 2016

Mamava lactation pods

Mamava lactation pod at Jacksonville Airport (JAX)

Mamava believes that all mamas deserve a safe, clean, and comfortable place to use a breast pump or breastfeed—anywhere, anytime.

Happy Mother's Day to all mothers, and good news for lactating travelling moms who may not have heard the news: Mamava just may be in the next airport you visit, ready to give you a little slice of privacy.

The Mamava modular suite, or pod, offers nursing mothers a clean and beautifully designed space to pump/nurse when they are away from home or at work. And that includes airports.

Mamava founders Christine
Dodson and Sascha Mayer
The brand, Mamava, is a clever one: Mamava is Spanish for mother-on-the-go.

What better describes the need this niche product fills?

Read the story behind the creation of Mamava: the initial idea, the philosophy that drove the concept forward, the design of the pods, and it's current iteration. With a goal of 100 pods by Mother's Day, Mamava is well on its way to becoming a widespread convenience.

In keeping with its purpose, Mamava has installed its innovative lactation pods in 13 North American airports so far, including:
 

It's an interesting concept, and long overdue. We can certainly understand mothers everywhere wishing there were a Mamava pod at their local airport.

In the meantime, you can visit the website to see non-airport Mamava pod locations, such as schools, malls, hospitals, stadiums and so on.

You can even nominate where you want to see a Mamava pod (hashtag  #IWANTMYMAMAVA). Let's grow that list of airport Mamava locations!

Follow @Mamava on Twitter

Related resources
More airport pods for nursing moms - Stuck at the Airport
We need your help: 100 Mamavas by Mother's Day! - Mamava blog
Mamava goes to Washington to talk Breastfeeding - Mamava blog
Travelling mamas rejoice! - Mamava blog
For pumping and nursing mothers, a room of their own - Fast Company
About airport USO lounges
PaxEx: what airports can learn from Frankfurt



Sunday 1 May 2016

Rock Your Layover: Kuala Lumpur


Have a layover coming up in Kuala Lumpur? Lucky you. Are you now wondering what you might be able to do with your time?

Here's a little inspiration. We've gathered the following stories from those who have experienced a layover in Kuala Lumpur (or "KL" for short). Learn what they did, what was/wasn't worth it, and their tips.

Top 10 Tour Picks
Prefer to pre-plan? Here are our top picks.
1. Transit Tour: Kuala Lumpur including Petronas Towers
2. Kuala Lumpur 2-Way Airport Transfer with Petronas Tower Tickets
3. Private Tour: Kuala Lumpur Grand Full-Day Tour with Lunch
4. Full-Day Kuala Lumpur City Tour including Petronas Towers and Batu Caves
5. Eat Like a Local: Kuala Lumpur Hawker Center and Street Food Tour by Night
6. Private Tour: Elephant Orphanage Sanctuary Day Tour from Kuala Lumpur
7. Private Tour: Kuala Lumpur Rainforest and Canopy Walkway Tour
8. Private Half-Day Kuala Lumpur Photographic Tour including Petronas Twin Towers and KL Tower
9. Guided Tour of Royal Selangor Visitor Center including Pewter Crafting Lesson
10. Half-Day School of Hard Knocks and Royal Selangor Pewter Tour

FREE KUALA LUMPUR
A few freebies...
FREE self-guided walking tours - GPS My City
FREE self-guided walking tour - Thrifty Drifters
FREE Chinatown self-guided walking tour - Malaysia Traveller
FREE Dataran Merdeka Heritage Guided Tour - Visit KL
FREE Kuala Lumpur City Gallery - ARCH KL
10 FREE things to do in Kuala Lumpur - Lash World Tour
The best FREE stuff in Kuala Lumpur - Travelfish
23 FREE things to do in Kuala Lumpur - MalaysiaAsia

Getting Out and About in Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL) transportation guide - IHateTaxis
How to Buy Kuala Lumpur Transit Tickets - Traveladept
Go KL free city bus - About.com
Catch the FREE shuttle to the nearby Mitsui Outlet Park KLIA Sepang

At the Airport
Prefer to relax at the airport? There's quite a bit to do...
Kuala Lumpur International Airport Plaza Premium Lounge
Services at Kuala Lumpur Airport - IHateTaxis
10 Things To Do While In Transit - MAHB Airports
How to survive a layover in Kuala Lumpur Airport - Little Grey Box


Related resources
Kuala Lumpur Shopping - Smart Travel Asia
Top Shopping malls in Kuala Lumpur: the place where shopping is a sport - Traveladept
Jaya Grocer: a recommended Kuala Lumpur supermarket - Traveladept
Aloft Kuala Lumpur Sentral review - Everybody Hates a Tourist
Kuala Lumpur Episode: No Reservations With Anthony Bourdain
Malaysia visa requirements - AirAsia
Kuala Lumpur Layover Ideas and Things to Do in Kuala Lumpur