The Latest BrenCase Adventures

One of the perks of being a Certified Sandals Specialist is visiting the Sandals resorts.  I am presently at Beaches Negril and want to give you information and reviews at least two or three times during my stay.

Beaches Negril is about an hour and a half ride from Montego Bay airport.  It is a very windy road, but a good one, generally following the northwest coast line.  The shuttle bus carried us through quite a few little towns, even stopping about two thirds of the way to Negril for a refreshment and restroom break.  This is a good place to get your first taste of jerk chicken and A Red Stripe beer in Jamaica.

Beaches Negril is on Seven Mile Beach just a few miles north of Negril.  Also on this beach only a mile or so from Beaches Negril are Beaches Sandy Bay and Sandals Negril.  I will post a few pictures of those resorts if I have the opportunity to visit them.  I will also be writing some resort reviews in the coming days - check back daily!

Go to the Sandals/Beaches web page for unedited pictures that will be updated each day of the trip.  I will try to edit and label tham after my return.  These pictures and others at the web page give a genuine look at the resorts from the eye of my camera, not a flashy internet picture that sometimes looks better than the real thing (and usually is!).

I have said for a long time I want to let you know about what we have in western North Carolina.  I promised to write about travel in our state and review restaurants and all the activities of these beautiful mountains.  Well, it is never too late to start!

One of the area's favorite restaurants has opened a new store in Hendersonville at 1508 Asheville Hwy (less than one mile from BrenCase Adventures).  Iannucci's has been a Hendersonville Road fixture in South Asheville for many years.

I am not going to give you all of my reasons for loving this place; but I will give you a couple of hints:

• Don't miss the bread sticks.
• Don't think there has been a mistake on your check - best prices in the area for absolutely superb Italian food.

Check out a menu HERE; both locations offer essentially the same choices.  Tell them Phillip sent you!






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When a major snowstorm hit the eastern U.S. just before Christmas, paralyzing air travel from New York's JFK airport on December 20, two couples connecting from Europe to Miami for a Crystal cruise leaving the next day realized their flight was canceled.  They got together and did what savvy travelers do in New York: They hailed a taxi and took it all the way to Miami.

The tab for the almost 24 hour ride?  A cool $10,000.

Both couples agreed it was money well spent.  They enjoyed the cruise and have stayed in touch with the cab driver.



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Not a one of us should need an incentive to give generously to the Haiti relief efforts; but we all know sometimes an extra nudge might influence us.  Spirit Airlines will give 5,000 free frequent flyer miles to any persons donating at least $5 to the Red Cross, UNICEF, or Yele Haiti to help with Haiti’s recovery efforts. (That amount of miles will qualify for a free flight, and the airline says it’s planning to give away up to one billion miles as part of this promotion.)

Go to Free Spirit to enroll in the airline's frequent flyer program.  Then go to Haiti Relief to choose the agency you want to donate to (I would recommend Yele Haiti).  Complete the form on that page for the 5000 miles to be credited to your Free Spirit account.

If you are not interested in going through all the above procedure, just find an agency of your choice and GIVE!



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Did you know that pizza is one of the safest foods to eat while away from home?

While many tourists can become sick from eating contaminated foods in foreign places, pizza has been found less likely to spoil than other foods. One reason for this is that pizzas are cooked at very high temperatures before arriving at your table.

Just thought you might like to know!

Find more tips for the road at KidsHealth.org.

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Family Travel Forum urges families flying to the U.S. to prepare fornew security regulations in place at international airports around theworld.


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Sometimes the best way to travel is to look for last minute deals in your own area, and plan a one or two night getaway.  Glenda and I found one of those last weekend and used it to visit friends in Charlotte on Christmas Day.

The Westin Charlotte has the following special deal:
    * Rates from $79 per night
    * Complimentary parking
    * Valid for Thursday - Sunday arrivals through March 2, 2010

Also, I discovered a downtown restaurant that is worth a visit.  The Mez Restaurant is a little hard to find, but well worth it.  The food quality is well above average and the servings are more than anyone needs at one meal.  A evening meal entree will be from $18 to $30 per person.

Email me at phillip@brencase.com to make reservations at both places.  Go ahead - get away for a night or two!



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The Transportation Department is ordering airlines to let passengers stuck in stranded airplanes exit after three hours.

Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood on Monday announced the three-hour limit and other new passenger protections long sought by consumer advocates. From January to June this year, 613 planes were delayed on tarmacs for more than three hours.

Read more at the New York Times online.

Experience Savannah's carriage rides, antique shops and ghost tours while staying at the AAA 4-Diamond Westin Savannah Harbor Golf Resort & Spa for $99 per night through Feb. 11.

Thisoffer applies to the resort's recently renovated Traditional rooms,which include a flat-screen LCD TV and the signature Westin Heavenlybed. A discounted upgrade to a River View room is available for $10 more per night.

The offer also includes 20% off all spa services at the new Heavenly Spa by Westin and two-for-one golf at the resort's golf course.

The Westin Savannah Resort features:

• An 18-hole PGA championship golf course, designed by Robert Cupp and Sam Snead
• The award-winning Aqua Star restaurant
• A heated outdoor pool with cabanas
• Tennis courts
• A convenient water ferry service to/from the Historic Downtown District

There are some blackout dates - contact phillip@brencase.com for more information and/or to reserve your room.


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