Alaska Airlines Responds to Pet Fees

By colormejosh on 8/19/10 11:10pm
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In the off chance you missed my post about the $100 per way pet fee Alaska Airlines charges you can take a gander here. Wasn't that a pleasant, thought out letter to asking for a meaningful address my issue? Did my letter look like I used a "form letter" or a "bulk response"? It is a shame that a "bulk response" is what I got back! They must have missed my other post about How to Make it in Customer Service. I can tell they did because of the use of a "bulk response" - and if your going to use a "bulk response", Alaska - it should not take 12 days to copy and paste it. Just sayin'

For your enjoyment, my response from Alaska Airlines Customer Service:

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All-You-Can-Fly is Still Available at Sun Country

By colormejosh on 8/19/10 6:18pm
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Sadly, Jet Blue's All-You-Can-Fly deal is sold out but the airline does have an unrelated rival that is still offering up the Fall Free For All for the same great LOW price of $499 (excluding taxes and fees) for as much travel as you can handle between September 7th, 2010 to October 13th, 2010.

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What is a Wine Tasting?

By colormejosh on 8/11/10 8:23pm
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While it may seem easy enough to understand - a wine tasting can actually be quite a misunderstood experience depending on where you go, who you go with, who is there, and what you are trying. It can be quite simple like tasting a few wines with friends to something that is much more elaborate and professional.

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Downtown Napa

By colormejosh on 8/11/10 8:04pm
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What stop in the Napa Valley would be complete without checking out downtown?

With scores of stores, art, restaurants, hotels, and wine tasting rooms (18 or so are concentrated here) - this is the place to go to experience it all. You can try food and drinks that are made entirely out of fresh local ingredients in one of the most recognized wine regions in the world.

Downtown is where all of the great things about the Napa Valley collide - the people, wine, and the culture. Don't know where to go? Try a walking tour with:

Napa Valley Adventure Tours

610 1ST STREET  NAPA, CA 94559

877-548-6877 or 707-259-1833

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Monticello Vineyards

By colormejosh on 8/11/10 7:49pm
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The Monticello Vineyards are a must see (and taste) in Napa. It includes the Home Ranch Vineyard (Oak Knoll District, planted to Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Merlot and Cabernet Franc), Knollwood Vineyard (Oak Knoll District, planted to Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Syrah), State Lane Vineyard (Yountville, planted to Cabernet Sauvignon), 'Tietjen Vineyard' - Niebaum Lane Vineyard (Rutherford, planted to Cabernet Sauvignon), and 'Yewell Vineyard' - Elhers Lane Vineyard (St Helena, planted to Cabernet Sauvignon).

The Chardonnay plantings are on our Home Ranch Vineyard in the Oak Knoll District of Napa Valley. This vineyard is planted to four different clones of Chardonnay: our Heirloom Clones and Dijon clones #76, #95, and #96.

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Goosecross Cellars

By colormejosh on 8/11/10 7:31pm
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Goosecross Cellars is a quiet, cozy, and family-run winery in Napa Valley. It has a felling of home - perhaps because there is family home right on the property! The tasting area is very intimate, there is a large counter where you can see the offerings and on the opposite side there are the actual barrells of wine being created - which is pretty neat!

The service is fantastic and everyone there is really nice. I tried a large selection of what they had to offer and my favorite was the '05 Howell Mountain Cabernet. It was heavy on the deep smokey and dark fruit flavors and was just really was out of this world.

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Franciscan Estates

By colormejosh on 8/11/10 7:12pm
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Located deep in the Napa Valley (Highway 29 at Galleron Road) the Franciscan Winery is arguably one of the most recognized wineries in the region. The entire estate almost screams Napa Valley - and luxury. My tasting here was wonderful and the service was a true delight. It is - by far - the best experience I had - as well as some of the best tasting Whites I have ever tried (and I am not a big fan of the White). Two of my favorites:

Cuvee Sauvage Chardonnay '05 - creamy and rich with pear and vanilla tones. We had it with apricots and goat cheese - it is a wine that is best served with a light snack and not a meal - at least in my opinion.

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Cosentino Winery

By colormejosh on 8/11/10 6:42pm
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If your going to Napa there are a couple of places you will want to check out - and the Consentino Winery is definitely one of them.

Cosentino Winery produces approximately 12,000 cases of wine per year, handcrafted from the wineries’ Yountville and Pope Valley Estates as well as from many of the same “Estate” grape sources that Mitch has maintained throughout the Napa Valley for nearly 20 years. Cosentino Winery’s stellar vineyard sources and relationships are a major factor in sustaining its quality and consistency.

If you get a chance to do a tasting - definitely have a blend of or the full Merlot. A little bit about it from the makers:

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Blackbird Vineyards

By colormejosh on 8/11/10 6:27pm
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Blackbird Vineyards—Oak Knoll, Napa Valley (1330 Oak Knoll Avenue, Napa, CA 94558)

About the beautiful location in the photo: Similar to the Pomerol region of Bordeaux, the Oak Knoll District is akin in its soil composition, microclimate, and rural qualities. The Oak Knoll District is one of the coolest regions in the valley—second only to Carneros—and like Pomerol, is home to gravelly, clay loam soils, which create an ideal growing region for Merlot. Due to the region’s cool nights, the vineyard retains good acidity and natural balance. The Haire-type soil holds moisture deep in the ground, allowing Blackbird to be virtually dry-farmed.

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Airline Miles - Use 'em or Lose 'em

By colormejosh on 8/8/10 7:15pm
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Have you found that some of your "orphan" air miles are expiring and you have no ability (or want) to use them up on travel? Maybe you have numerous accounts at different airlines because you have a fear of commitment and theres like 3000 miles at each of them? Perhaps you have found a new favorite airline to fly with and you have no need for the other loyalty programs? Think your SOL? Think again!

For some time now airlines have been offering us the ability to use our unwanted miles torwards other things - like magazine subscriptions, movie tickets, discounts on other services... the list is pretty endless. I know you have been thinking about what to do with these miles for some time now - and now is the time to check out those offers and take advantage.

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