Ron Bernthal, a frequent contributor to both eFlyer and Global Traveler, has written a review of Virgin America’s relatively new transcontinental service for the March 26th edition of eFlyer, and I was trying to think of a way to run the cabin picture in my blog other than just saying, here’s a pic of a flight that Ron took.  And then I realized that I sort of feel like the airline’s grandmother.

The reason I say that is, Virgin Atlantic — Virgin America’s “parent” — was “born” in 1984, when it flew its first transatlantic flights between New York and London. And so was my daughter. Fortunately (since I’m not in any hurry to see my daughter settle down, get married and have kids — she’s just 23) I don’t have any grandchildren yet, but my granddog was born the same year as Virgin America, does that count?

Anyway, it reminds me of the 10th birthday of both the airline and my daughter. I rented a flat in London and took both my daughter and my mother with me, so that I could get some business done and still do some sightseeing with them. We flew Virgin Atlantic. My daughter got the kid’s backpack, full of goodies; I also got a T-shirt (though it might have been a PR thing). The backpack and the kid’s baseball hat were both red, my daughter’s favorite color. And the T-shirt had a big 10 on it, which of course, her being 10, she wanted.

 There is nothing like having to take “presents” away from a kid. You try explaining to a 10-year-old why you don’t want her wearing these cute kid-size things (hat and backpack) both emblazoned with the company logo in white on red: “Virgin.” Somehow I just didn’t think my cute little prepubescent daughter needed to be advertising that.

So then there was the T-shirt. Sure, it had a 10 — as part of a phrase that said, “The only Virgin that’s been going strong for 10 years.” Fortunately it was adult-sized, so — since I was already in the doghouse for somehow “losing” the hat and backpack — I let her wear it as a nightshirt, and made sure I gave her chocolate ice cream with chocolate syrup for a bedtime snack; that ensured that it would be stained enough (10-year-olds are still messy eaters, by and large) that she wouldn’t wear it out of the house.

Nowadays it seems like Virgin Atlantic has caught on; the kids’ goodies seem to say Virgin Atlantic and K-id, and not just Virgin. As Ron says in his article, the airline is more experienced and savvy than the name implies.

Anyway, here’s a picture of the interior of the Virgin America cabin, complete with mood lighting.

–Mary Hunt, editor, eFlyer

Nothing is quite like staying in a 5-star hotel, but sometimes those accommodations really aren’t an option or are not practical. Last week when I went to Syracuse overnight, I knew I would be arriving late and basically just sleeping in the room and getting ready the next day with barely any time spent in the hotel, and I was not looking to spend a ton of money. Since there were four of us traveling, we found that a suite was actually cheaper than multiple rooms. We ended up with a two-bedroom suite that also had a pull-out sleeper sofa. Plus, I must admit the choice of high-end hotels in Syracuse is pretty slim!

However, I would highly recommend the place we stayed, Candlewood Suites, especially for business travelers on a long trip or families on a budget. Part of the InterContinental Hotels Group, Candlewood Suites offer spacious rooms and plenty of amenities. Our room had a tiny kitchen, and a living area with a sofa, recliner, two tables and a TV. Each bedroom had a queen-size (and very comfortable!) bed, two nightstands, a dresser and a TV. Each room had a private bathroom with a large walk-in closet. I even noticed some trickle-down amenities from IHG’s finer brands, like pillow menus! Rooms also include FREE high speed internet. Business travelers on long stays in one place will appreciate the space offered here. They will have plenty of work space and leisure space and can start to feel more at home. Traveling families will appreciate the cost savings with an in-room kitchen, and parents and kids will enjoy privacy, but the family will still be close.

Outside the room, the hotel also offers other amenities including a full-service gym, newspaper delivery and a washer and dryer. The Candlewood cupboard is also chock-full of food, toiletries and beverages. You can choose everything from breakfast sandwiches to frozen dinners to desserts! Interestingly enough, the cupboard works on an honor system. There are no cameras in the room and no clerk. You can either fill out a paper to have charges billed to your room or drop money in a box. This “honor system” is not a feature I have ever seen in a hotel before.

Even though we were not there for very long, I would say Candlewood Suites would be a nice choice for families, business travelers or groups traveling with a budget, especially on long stays (we chose the rooms for the two-bedroom option, but the rooms are tailored for longer visits).You will save money without sacrificing comfort, space, cleanliness or amenities!

-Kimberly Krol, circulation and public relations executive