Babymooning New Orleans

Two and a Half Travelers was born when I wrote my first entries from the Ritz-Carlton in New Orleans while on a mini escape with the Mr.

It couldn't have been a more perfect place to begin -- temporarily on leave from the day-in, day-out demands of an 18 month old; in a city that took up residence in my heart over a decade ago.

Yes, New Orleans is hot and sticky in the summer. Admittedly, it's probably not the best choice for an outdoorsy Summer getaway but if you are more interested in a quiet fully air-conditioned itinerary of restaurants, antiquing and museums, this is your spot.

Since I'm no stranger to writing about New Orleans, it seems fitting to mark the upcoming one-year anniversary of Two and a Half Travelers by sharing a few special French Quarter summer air and hotel offers*:

• Iberville Suites: fourth night free with breakfast daily -- total for two with air $827.
• W New Orleans French Quarter - total for two with air $1134.
• Royal Sonesta: balcony room with breakfast daily -- total for two with air $1255.

Interested but don't have the time to search for a getaway on your own? We'd be happy to help: info@twoandahalftravelers.com

*All sample package prices represent four night stay from Saturday, August 1 through Wednesday, August 5 with air from New York's Laguardia airport.

Contestant's Row Friday: Ciao Bambino

Okay, I completely admit that we've been observing 'Summer Fridays' hours a little too frequently here at Two and a Half Travelers but no worries because .... Contestant's Row Friday is back!

Ciao Bambino has a fantastic giveaway for a 3-Night stay at the Solage Calistoga in Napa Valley with 2 Mudslide spa treatments for Mom and Dad (or Mom and Mom's BFF).

Check out this cool giveaway on Ciao Bambino!

A Sign of the Times and the Journal

Just noticed a blog entry on WSJ.com about Ikea and other stores that offer child care.

This piece follows the piece Michelle Higgins did on Ikea a few weeks back in The New York Times. (Did we mention that the Times piece mentioned Two and a Half Travelers?)

The WSJ blog took a slightly different angle than The Times. They included a few other establishments that offer free child care and raised the question whether germs are a potential deterrent for dropping your kids at the ball room.

I was at Ikea a few weeks ago and the ball room looked pretty full to me!

One For the Road

Two and a Half Travelers is in serious like with Matchbox's firehouse pop up play set.

Among the veritable sea of portable car choices, we think this is great choice for vacationing because:

• The firehouse has lots of cool moveable doors, ladders and ramps that will keep curious, easily-bored toddlers busy.
• The firetruck comes with the set and you can use regular matchbox cars that you probably already own. No need to go by yet another whole set of cars and trucks.
• It's big enough to make an impact but collapses down to just 6 inches square by 3 inches high collapsed. Perfect for travelers who prefer not to check baggage.

We found our pop-up set at Target, but we have also seen them on amazon.com for less than $20 (before shipping).

Simple Advice for ALL Travelers

Don't you love how Real Simple magazine makes everything seem - you know, simple?

Take a peek at the magazine's recent 10 Things Every Traveler Should Do list.

P.S. wouldn't this red luggage be perfect if it had wheels?

Not so-itsy, bitsy, teeny, weeny bikinis

If you're babymooning or just lounging around the municipal pool drinking virgin daquiris this summer, check out Parenting.com's picks for the year's coolest maternity bathing suits.

This Maternal America Jenni Tankini from tummystyle.com caught my eye immediately but this collection has a style for everyone at a variety of price points.

What's On Your iPhone?

My friends at Apple sent me (and millions of their other BFF's) an e-mail announcing that the new iPhone 3G S is hitting the shelves on Friday. Apparently the new iPhone lets you do more than ever - faster.

My hard-core multi-tasking Mom self cheered this new development but the sentimental Mom part that fell head over heals in love with the iPhone she got last Christmas, is a little bummed that she's no longer so cutting-edge. It's unlikely that I'll run out and buy the new iPhone anytime soon but I'm not ruling out an O/S update.

So in honor of my current iPhone and all the ways it's changed my life I wanted to share a few of the apps that fuel this multi-tasking Mom.

• New York Times Mobile - Just enough information to make it look like you don't get all your news from Twitter.


• Online Banking - Immediate access to bank account balances so you can confirm that without a doubt, kids make you poor.


• Twitter Fon -- Clean, simple and easy to use twitter interface so you can stay up to date with your tweeps from the playground.


• Facebook -- Best way to keep up with my nearly 80-year old grandmother.


• Kayak -- For those times when you must know immediately the price of a round-trip ticket from JFK to Cairo.


• myAnswers -- "Is this the most efficient way to make quick decisions?" It is certain.

So what do you think? Comment on this blog entry or write on your own blog entry about what iPhone apps make your life easier. (Make sure to leave a comment with a link to your blog post!)