www.marriott.com Archives - Jim Murty’s TravelTravelTravel

Kennedy’s Hall of Fame.. watch this space

18th March 202518th March 2025 funtime65

As we wait for the stranded astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams to return to Earth we anticipate that one day they too will be inducted in Kennedy’s Hall of Fame… watch this space.

And join the latest deserving NASA astronauts, Bernard Harris and Peggy Whitson, on May 31 getting their moment in the sun

At the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame induction ceremony.

All held against the stunning backdrop of the Space Shuttle Atlantis.

And best of all, we’re invited too with general admission to NASA.

I’m a Spaceman

Guests who attend the two-hour ceremony can pick up a 2025 poster.

Signed by the inductees at the Information building.

The monumental Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex is less than an hour from Orlando.

And guests will be able to get up close to real flight flown artefacts.

And an inter-stellar VR and simulator, and meet a veteran NASA astronaut (tick).

Every day’s a schoolday

Shoulders of giants: At Kennedy Space Center

British travellers planning to visit Florida this May Half-Term can combine the induction event.

With a package with Virgin Atlantic Holidays.

Prices are starting from £3,431 for a family of four.

So two adults and two children will share a standard room for seven nights at Delta Hotels by Marriott Orlando Celebration.

Virgin Atlantic Economy flights direct from London Heathrow to Tampa.

Four two-day passes to Kennedy Space Centre Visitor Complex.

And all applicable taxes and fuel surcharges.

The price is based on a departure on 24 May and overnight return on 31 May (landing into London Heathrow on 1 June).

Space cadet

And having tried to land in JFK airport on the Turkish Airlines simulator in Istanbul.

And having joined a real-life astronaut on tour.

Then I’d not be surprised to be hauled up from the audience to join Kennedy’s Hall of Fame.. watch this space.

America, Countries, Music

Bossin’ it with Boss Ross at the LA Coliseum

6th May 2024 funtime65

She’s Detroit born and bred but she’s also pure Hollywood… and we’ve only been bossin’ it with Boss Ross at the LA Coliseum.

Where the 1932 and 1984 Olympics were held and the 2028 Games will take place.

Diana is not shy (she never was) about telling our convention at the American Travel Fair, IPW, that she is 80.

So we can forgive her for not running around the stage like she once did.

Although she’s still got the moves even in the glitteriest of gowns.

Diana the goddess

Diana truly belongs here as much as any of the heroes who have graced this colossal arena.

The LA Memorial Coliseum, to give it its full name, honours Fallen Americans from the First World War.

Its rich history which has seen anything from big fights Jack Dempsey to big flights Charles Lindbergh grace the hallowed ground will be enhanced.

By the 3rd iteration of an LA Games.

Holding a torch

The torch with the eternal flame is a constant reminder of the City of Angels’ place in the Olympic story.

With the Games in four years’ time seeing LA make history as the first city to host the greatest show on Earth three times.

That other sporting colossus, the Football World Cup will act as a tasty hors d’oeuvre in two years’ time.

Diana on target

Where Diana has history for missing her penalty and bringing the posts down.

She didn’t miss the target though here this week.

When we were bossin’ it with Boss Ross at the LA Coliseum.

I’m staying at the JW Marriott Los Angeles L.A LIVE, having flown Glasgow through Dublin with Aer Lingus to LAX.

MEET YOU AT THE PARTY

Africa, Caribbean, Countries, Deals, Europe

My Valentine’s Day proposal

13th February 202413th February 2024 funtime65

Alas, it’s gone, the restaurant where I got down on one knee for My Valentine’s Day proposal. But the love lives on.

Of course, I had merely gone to tie up my laces when the eager Miss F screamed ‘yes’ and that was it.

And yes, as my old mucker and travel blogger par excellence Tom Sweeney has since advised ‘slip-ons old boy, slip-ons.’

While Malta, the jewel of the Med, was an idyllic location in truth I had my eyes on another gem.

Istanbul, the crossroads of Europe and Asia, had long been my aspiration.

And I have visited since and laid back on a booze boat on the Bosphorus singing Abba.

As I would have 31 years ago… and want to with The Scary One soon.

Now for Istanbul, you can also read Venice and a number of other go-to destinations to consider.

So we’ve put together a triple helping of romantic destinations for you to pop the question.

House of Mara

Masai Mara, Kenya | JW Marriott Masai Mara Lodge

Future is orange: The sunsets in Kenya, ah!

And I get a tingle when I think back on Siobhan Byrne, of Adams & Butler, who found love in Africa with a Masai warrior.

Sprawling 580sq miles, the expansive reserve is home to an abundance of wildlife, with over 100 mammals species.

And travellers can share the thrill of spotting one of the legendary Big Five as we started doing in South Africa.

JW Marriott Masai Mara Lodge is the first luxury safari lodge to sit within the Masai Mara National Reserve.

It offers 20 private tents, each with their own terrace, to soak in the vistas’ spectacular sounds.

Room rates start from £1,278 per night. For more information, visit www.marriott.com

Bermuda short

Bermuda | Rosewood Bermuda

And anywhere that’s good enough for Sean and Micheline Connery should be good enough for the rest of us.

So knowing already that they like Jocks, then myself and by-now Tartanised other half would be made welcome.

On the pink sands at Horseshoe Bay Beach, one of the world’s most Instagrammed beaches or Astwood Cove Beach.

Or if you like an ancient natural cave then the Grotto Bay Beach Resort’s Natura Spa is where you want to go.

Room rates start from £253 per night. For more information, visit www.gotobermuda.com

Anyone for Venice

Venice | The Gritti Palace, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Venice

And si, we’ve stood on the Rialto Bridge a-gazing longingly… at the prices, but what price love Venice for us romantics?

Of course, one way of saving more for your Aperol Spritzes for my Valentine’s Day proposal is to sacrifice a gondola ride for a vaparetto (a water taxi).

Now, if money is no object and romance is always worth it then the The Gritti Palace, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Venice is steeped in Venetian history.

It was commissioned in 1525 as the residence of the Doge of Venice, Andrea Gritti and later used as the official residence of the Vatican’s ambassadors to Venice.

And it has been a favourite with top-tier travellers since the palazzo became a hotel in 1895.

For that oh-so-special moment, we would recommend guests embark on the Riva Yacht Experience, where they can follow Head Concierge Ivan Schultz on an exclusive cruise.

Room rates start from £1,003 per night. For more information, visit www.marriott.com

Of course, you may already have your romantic day set out but it’s just that this is my Valentine’s Day proposal.

America, Caribbean, Food, Food & Wine

Fort Lauderdale and Miami – a tale of two sittings

23rd March 202011th April 2020 funtime65

Early morning deep midwinter and the rest of the rest of the world is huddling under the duvet.

The rest of the world can go whistle! I’m up with the larks.

Because of the jetlag, yes, but also because rate are the chances to see winter in Technicolour.

It’s 32C outside, the sunny Miss America weathergirl on the box cheerfully tells us and the light streaming in through the curtains is beckoning me outside.

5.45am. Time to hit the Fort Lauderdale beach I fall out of bed and onto the Strip. It’s that close.

Nothing is open, obviously, well the 24/7 store, but you’ll not find one of those on Fort Lauderdale’s showpiece front.

Cruising in Fort Lauderdale

What you will find is a stretch of untrodden glistening sand and sea and barely a soul to break the peace.

Out there on the horizon, cruise ships are bound for the Bahamas and the Caribbean (Fort Lauderdale is a cruise hub), and down the road in Miami the party people are just tuning in.

Here in Fort Lauderdale though they are more retiring.

Fort Lauderdale does, it’s true, attract its fair share of senior citizens who choose the Sunshine State for their autumn years.

But it is also a magnet for American families also here to escape the northern chill… snowbirds.

Meanwhile, off the Strip and you’ll find condos and holiday homes, all with swimming pools and community programmes.

A tribute to Old George

The Stars and Stripes flutter in what little wind there is.

George HW Bush has passed on when I visit and flags are at half-mast.

Florida has been kind to the Bushes. It was here that the 2000 Presidential election swung in George W’s favour and here that his brother Jeb was Governor.

Every news bulletin and morning conversation references ‘this man of honour’.

To gauge how Floridians feel about the Bushes, weather, sport, the traffic and any other topic under the sun the best place is the diner.

A proper diner

And the best is the Primanti Brothers Pizza & Grill, just off the Strip.

Bluff it and ask for over easy eggs or sunny side up, spitball with the server who refills your coffee mug…

And let the night owl on the next stool tell you his life story.

This is the America you’ve seen in every road movie.

Only for the wall of heat outside, and the palm trees.

Breakfast in Fort Lauderdale… it must be lunch in Miami then.

Which means Little Havana.

The thing is though that our concept of size is rather different to the Americans.

While navigating all those double-digit street names scramble your brain in the December heat.

Lost in Miami

And so what looks like a brisk walk is in fact never tackled by any American on foot, other than perhaps Forrest Gump.

The Marriott on Biscayne Boulevard to Little Havana, I’m told is 7km though I’m sure I walked just that to get to Downtown.

All this, of course, after giving up on ever getting to South Beach.

I guess the huge causeway between us and the Beautiful People should have been a clue.

The answer is a hop-on, hop-off bus, believe me!

The thing though about being an accidental tourist is that you stumble upon hidden treasures.

Littler Havana

Take, for example, Caja Caliente on 2634 NE 2nd Avenue… see what I mean about the numbers.

I’d rather presumed that this was Little Havana although it looked an awful lot littler than I had imagined… just a stall and a yard and a couple of bars.

Floridians, though, and most Americans I’ve met on my travels, even in the big cities, are very polite to visitors.

And are devoid of our sarky gene.

The signora was very welcoming, the tacos were fabulous, there were all kinds of chilli sauces.

And sombreros and ponchos scattered around, guitars on tables and a makeshift sand pit.

And a Cuban flag.

A holiday and a city isn’t always what you expect. Make of that what you will.

The Caja Caliente is my Little Havana though.

Now. It’s yours too. Heck, I don’t mind sharing.

Areeba, Areeba, Areeba!

TRAVEL FACTS

How to get there: Multiple airlines fly Dublin-Miami return. Aer Lingus flies to Miami from €227.99 each way as part of a return trip.

Where to stay: I stayed in W Fort Lauderdale (www.marriott.com). The Miami Marriott Biscayne Bay (www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/miabb-miami-marriott-biscayne-bay)

Where to eat: Primanti Brothers, Fort Lauderdake Caja Caliente.