With soaring oil prices driving up prices for airline tickets and gas, is it really possible to take a great vacation for less than $500?
Absolutely. All it takes is a little extra planning and a dash of ingenuity.
For some clever ideas, we checked in with travel guru Nancy Dunnan, editor of Travel Smart Newsletter, one of many sources, including package deal aggregators SideStep.com and Travelzoo.com, that offer helpful leads on discount travel.
1. Fly or drive? Compare which is cheaper by using the American Automobile Association’s calculator. At press time, we found, for example, that driving roundtrip from Denver to Memphis costs $193.82 in a 2007 Toyota Corolla, using 57 gallons. American Airlines prices the same roundtrip route for just one person at $199. (Prices quoted here are subject to change.)
2. Relax and retreat. Reduce stress on a retreat. Your local church, synagogue or YMCA may sponsor its own retreat by renting out a summer camp in the off season. Most have hiking trails, nature walks, swimming and sometime tennis. Rooms are basic but clean. One option: Located in the Berkshires western Massachusetts, the nonprofit of Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health offers a mind-boggling array of classes and packages in a rustic setting with trails. Prices start at $152 a night for dormitory berths; courses and meals are included.
3. Exchange your home. Pay no lodging fees by trading your home for someone else’s. For best results, plan well in advance and be cautious.
Green Theme International costs about $50 a year and focuses on sports and activities. Home Exchange offers listings in more than one hundred countries for a fee of $99.95 a year. Save more by using airline miles to get there.
4. Play Farmer John. You can do so all around the country, but Pennsylvania has the most options: twenty-five working farms that invite guests to learn about farming and share in doing chores. Great for kids. All-inclusive costs vary but can be as low as $85 a night for a family of four. (888-856-6622, pafarmstay.com)
5. Go to Vegas, baby! Wyndham Resorts regularly offers ultra-low deals to twenty-seven locations. The trade-off is sitting through a two-hour timeshare pitch, usually on Saturday morning. (Be sure to leave your checkbook and credit cards at home, so you’re not tempted to buy, and blow your budget.)
Jennifer Dempsey, of Salida, Colo., has gone to Las Vegas three times with Wyndham. She finds the cost, as low as $75 for two nights in a hotel, worth it, despite the pitch. “It’s crazy not to do it,” she says. The resort company throws in free show tickets and a couple free buffet meals. Once they even sent Dempsey a $100 gas card.
Once you’re there, Vegas is full of bargains, including show tickets, which Dempsey has picked up free off the street. A non-gambler, Dempsey says she’s spent three nights in Vegas for less than $200 total. (wyndhamtrips.com)
6. Check out Chautauqua Institution. This historic retreat on picturesque Chautauqua Lake is located on 750 acres in southwestern New York. During the summer, it offers nine weeks of programs, including current events, religion, politics, science and literature. Spend $14 to $140 on an open-enrollment class or buy a one-week gate pass for $325. Call 1-716-357-6250 to sign up for a class (ciweb.org).
7. Try a B&B. Not only do bed and breakfasts cost less, they also include breakfast and, often, afternoon tea and cookies or evening wine and cheese. Throughout the summer, some members of BedandBreakfast.com offer free gas (or discounts) via their Tanks A Lot program. For example, through October 18, if you arrive at the historic Pilgrim’s Inn on Deer Island, Maine, in a hybrid vehicle, you’ll receive up to $40 off your bill. The group has seven thousand B&Bs in more than forty states, Canada and the Caribbean.
8. Summer on the slopes. When the snow melts, so do ski resort rates. Most resorts offer great summer programs along with low prices, including book, film and music festivals; summer camps for kids; and outdoor sports.
9. Spend just one day. Local public libraries, museums and historic societies often run day bus trips to interesting places. Dunnan recently took a New York Public Library trip to author Edith Wharton’s home, The Mount, in Massachusetts. The outing included a paper bag breakfast, lunch, a lecture, and sherry and cheese on the ride back. “You felt you’d been on vacation,” Dunnan says. Typical costs range from $40 to $150.
10. Ride the rails. Amtrak offers hotel packages for more than twenty-five U.S. and Canadian cities, as well as Niagara Falls, Glacier National Park and the Grand Canyon (free admission to the park may be included). Amtrak’s “Philadelphia Vacation,” for example, includes two nights at the Comfort Inn Historic District and admission to the Independence Seaport Museum, with roundtrip rail. At press time, prices started at $309 per person from Washington, D.C., $251 from New York City and $235 from Pittsburgh. (800-268-7252, amtrakvacations.com)
11. Play tourist at home. You don’t have to travel to get a vacation. Rates drop when cities empty out on weekends and business travelers head home. Some city hotels offer special packages that may include amenities such as free breakfast, parking or passes to museums and famous sites. Local museums may have a free day, in which no admission is charged. Check your newspaper or with your travel agent.
12. Gather a group. Hotels regularly give discounts when you book five to ten rooms at a time. Plan a reunion with family or friends, and ask the hotel for a free community room with breakfast.
13. Visit a pal. Visit your friend who’s been asking you to forever. With free lodging and home-cooked meals, you’ll have enough left over in your trip budget for a thoughtful thank you gift.
14. Roll on a coaster. Buying theme park tickets online is often cheaper than buying at the gate. And during the summer, many parks stay open late on certain days, lowering rates for evening visits. For example, after 4 p.m. on select days, Knott’s Berry Farm in Buena Park, Calif., charges $24.99 per adult instead of $49.99. Look for other discounts and see if season passes are cheaper.
15. Enjoy the great outdoors. The National Park Service has information on all national parks, as well as details about inexpensive camping or in-park lodging reservations and educational programs, at nps.gov. In July’s second issue of Discover EDGE you can read about how to get a great deal at a national or state park.
16. Save a bundle by booking together. Instead of booking separately, save money by booking a package that includes airfare and hotel, and maybe a rental car, too. Check the vacation division of the major airlines flying to your destination, or ask your travel agent. United Airlines (unitedvacations.com or 1-888-328-6877) regularly has excellent package deals, such as free Universal Theme Park tickets, special rates at the Universal Orlando Resort and other goodies.
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
10 U.S. Places to See Before You Die
10 U.S. Places to See Before You Die
By Andrew Harper
Many people have a list of places they'd like to visit before they move on to the next world; here are a few American suggestions of my own.
For conversation's sake, I have avoided the obvious targets, but a stroll across the Golden Gate Bridge or a trip up the Empire State Building is still definitely worth it.
Though we are lucky to live in a beautiful country, I have mostly focused on smaller, manmade sites, simply because a catalog of pretty American places could stretch on forever.
This list is admittedly subjective, but comes from 30 years of professional wandering. Some places are more well-known than others, but all share a sense of tranquility and wonder.
And since I review small boutique hotels for a living, I have included nearby recommended places to stay. Happy travels!
1. San Francisco de Asis Church, Ranchos de Taos, N.M.
Famously painted by Georgia O'Keefe and described by her as "one of the most beautiful buildings left in the United States by the early Spaniards," this handsome adobe mission a few miles outside of Taos Pueblo yokes together a staggering five centuries of North American history.Harper hotel: Casa de las Chimeneas, Taos.
2. Whaling Museum, Nantucket, Mass.
At its whaling peak during the first half of the 19th century, the small island of Nantucket had 88 ships scattered across the oceans. The Whaling Museum is wonderfully evocative of this era (plenty of scrimshaw and rusty harpoons), and out-of-season Nantucket Town, with its Greek Revival mansions and cobblestone streets, is equally enchanting.Harper hotel: The Wauwinet.
3. Battery District, Charleston, S.C.
The historic Battery District of Charleston, South Carolina, home to dozens of stately antebellum mansions, is one of the prettiest U.S. neighborhoods I've ever explored. Follow the promenade along the shores of the Charleston peninsula; Fort Sumter, where the first shots of the Civil War were fired, sits broodingly across the Cooper River.Harper hotel: Planters Inn.
4. Madison Valley, Montana
Montana's Madison Valley, which runs between the Madison and Gallatin ranges down to West Yellowstone, is magnificent Lewis and Clark territory. This is unspoiled land, vast and uncompromising — everything you hope Big Sky Country will look like.Harper hotel: The Lodge at Sun Ranch.
5. Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Boston
Housed in a charming Venetian-style palazzo, this gem of a gallery displays works by Rembrandt, Michelangelo, Whistler and Sargent. It's small enough to tour in an hour or so, and you can spend the rest of your time enjoying the sunny, flower-filled courtyard. And if your name happens to be Isabella, you get in free.Harper hotel: XV Beacon.
6. The Four Seasons Restaurant, New York City
If you had to choose only one restaurant in New York City to visit, this would be the one. The city's prettiest dining room was designed by architects Mies van der Rohe and Philip Johnson, and astutely hasn't been touched since its introduction in 1959. The Pool Room is a study in muted sophistication, despite some of the outsized egos at the tables.Harper hotel: The Lowell.
7. The Rothko Chapel, Houston
This small, non-denominational chapel located just off the Menil gallery in Houston's Museum District seems unassuming at first, but spend some time surrounded by the 14 mysterious paintings by Mark Rothko, and it may start sinking into your skin.Harper hotel: St. Regis.
8. The Huntington Gardens, San Marino, Calif.
Huntington did quite well in railroads, and he's left us with a wonderful afternoon escape just outside of Los Angeles. After admiring some of the spoils of his industry — a Gutenberg Bible, a Shakespeare folio, Thomas Gainsborough's "The Blue Boy" — venture out into the superb botanical gardens, home to dozens of unique environments: an almost eerily authentic Japanese garden, a lily pond straight out of a Monet painting, and an entrancing collection of cacti.Harper hotel: Hotel Bel-Air.
9. Robie House (Frank Lloyd Wright, Chicago
The Robie House, the world's first modern home, was designed in 1908 by architect Frank Lloyd Wright, and still seems startlingly contemporary 100 years later; with its broad horizontal lines and sleek art-glass windows, it looks like a modernist yacht. Wright himself showed up to protest the planned demolition of the house (it was to be replaced by a seminary dormitory) at the ripe old age of 90. Harper hotel: Four Seasons.
10. The Oregon Coast
Highway 101 along the Oregon Coast swerves through 360 miles of jagged cliffs, rocky outcrops, sweeping dunes and temperate rain forests. The coastline lacks deep harbors, so there are no large cities here — just old logging towns, fishing villages and the occasional artist colony. And the entire coast is public land, which makes for excellent picnic opportunities in rugged and remote spaces.Harper hotel: The Stephanie Inn, Cannon Beach
By Andrew Harper
Many people have a list of places they'd like to visit before they move on to the next world; here are a few American suggestions of my own.
For conversation's sake, I have avoided the obvious targets, but a stroll across the Golden Gate Bridge or a trip up the Empire State Building is still definitely worth it.
Though we are lucky to live in a beautiful country, I have mostly focused on smaller, manmade sites, simply because a catalog of pretty American places could stretch on forever.
This list is admittedly subjective, but comes from 30 years of professional wandering. Some places are more well-known than others, but all share a sense of tranquility and wonder.
And since I review small boutique hotels for a living, I have included nearby recommended places to stay. Happy travels!
1. San Francisco de Asis Church, Ranchos de Taos, N.M.
Famously painted by Georgia O'Keefe and described by her as "one of the most beautiful buildings left in the United States by the early Spaniards," this handsome adobe mission a few miles outside of Taos Pueblo yokes together a staggering five centuries of North American history.Harper hotel: Casa de las Chimeneas, Taos.
2. Whaling Museum, Nantucket, Mass.
At its whaling peak during the first half of the 19th century, the small island of Nantucket had 88 ships scattered across the oceans. The Whaling Museum is wonderfully evocative of this era (plenty of scrimshaw and rusty harpoons), and out-of-season Nantucket Town, with its Greek Revival mansions and cobblestone streets, is equally enchanting.Harper hotel: The Wauwinet.
3. Battery District, Charleston, S.C.
The historic Battery District of Charleston, South Carolina, home to dozens of stately antebellum mansions, is one of the prettiest U.S. neighborhoods I've ever explored. Follow the promenade along the shores of the Charleston peninsula; Fort Sumter, where the first shots of the Civil War were fired, sits broodingly across the Cooper River.Harper hotel: Planters Inn.
4. Madison Valley, Montana
Montana's Madison Valley, which runs between the Madison and Gallatin ranges down to West Yellowstone, is magnificent Lewis and Clark territory. This is unspoiled land, vast and uncompromising — everything you hope Big Sky Country will look like.Harper hotel: The Lodge at Sun Ranch.
5. Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Boston
Housed in a charming Venetian-style palazzo, this gem of a gallery displays works by Rembrandt, Michelangelo, Whistler and Sargent. It's small enough to tour in an hour or so, and you can spend the rest of your time enjoying the sunny, flower-filled courtyard. And if your name happens to be Isabella, you get in free.Harper hotel: XV Beacon.
6. The Four Seasons Restaurant, New York City
If you had to choose only one restaurant in New York City to visit, this would be the one. The city's prettiest dining room was designed by architects Mies van der Rohe and Philip Johnson, and astutely hasn't been touched since its introduction in 1959. The Pool Room is a study in muted sophistication, despite some of the outsized egos at the tables.Harper hotel: The Lowell.
7. The Rothko Chapel, Houston
This small, non-denominational chapel located just off the Menil gallery in Houston's Museum District seems unassuming at first, but spend some time surrounded by the 14 mysterious paintings by Mark Rothko, and it may start sinking into your skin.Harper hotel: St. Regis.
8. The Huntington Gardens, San Marino, Calif.
Huntington did quite well in railroads, and he's left us with a wonderful afternoon escape just outside of Los Angeles. After admiring some of the spoils of his industry — a Gutenberg Bible, a Shakespeare folio, Thomas Gainsborough's "The Blue Boy" — venture out into the superb botanical gardens, home to dozens of unique environments: an almost eerily authentic Japanese garden, a lily pond straight out of a Monet painting, and an entrancing collection of cacti.Harper hotel: Hotel Bel-Air.
9. Robie House (Frank Lloyd Wright, Chicago
The Robie House, the world's first modern home, was designed in 1908 by architect Frank Lloyd Wright, and still seems startlingly contemporary 100 years later; with its broad horizontal lines and sleek art-glass windows, it looks like a modernist yacht. Wright himself showed up to protest the planned demolition of the house (it was to be replaced by a seminary dormitory) at the ripe old age of 90. Harper hotel: Four Seasons.
10. The Oregon Coast
Highway 101 along the Oregon Coast swerves through 360 miles of jagged cliffs, rocky outcrops, sweeping dunes and temperate rain forests. The coastline lacks deep harbors, so there are no large cities here — just old logging towns, fishing villages and the occasional artist colony. And the entire coast is public land, which makes for excellent picnic opportunities in rugged and remote spaces.Harper hotel: The Stephanie Inn, Cannon Beach
Friday, August 15, 2008
How to choose a great tour guide
How to Choose a Great Tour Guide
by Lucy Lazarony
The right tour guide can make any location come to life.
Whether you’re a Civil War buff, a food lover eating your way around New York City or a nature lover eager to explore the natural wonders of a national park, a good tour guide can deepen and enrich the experience.
“It makes all the difference in the world,” says Bob Whitley, president of the United States Tour Operators Association, “because of their knowledge and because of their care in handling you and in making sure everything is right.”
But how can you find a tour guide who will enhance your next vacation or weekend getaway?
The first step is taking some time to really think about your goals for the trip. Ask yourself these questions:
Why are you traveling? Are you mainly looking to relax and maybe see a few sights? Or you do want a more intensive type of trip that will take you deep into a particular culture or location?
Do you want every second of your vacation devoted to the tour? Or just an afternoon or morning?
Are you traveling alone? Depending on whether you’re traveling with friends or family, children, or aging relatives, different tours might appeal to different people. What kind of tour would everyone in your group enjoy?
Will a larger, more general tour do, or would you prefer a smaller, special-interest tour? A custom tour, designed specifically for your family, help you get more for your money.
The second step is research. A little bit of research can ensure that your vacation and tour goes off without a hitch.
“It really pays to do some research in advance, have some plans in advance,” says Jennifer Paull, a senior editor at Fodor’s Travel.
A good place to start is the visitors’ bureau, tourist office or local chamber of commerce for the place you’ll be traveling. They can point you to local tour companies and the tour companies will connect you with a guide.
“You can do it in advance on the Web. It’s so easy,” says Ted Bravos, co-founder of the International Tour Management Institute in San Francisco.
Several major U.S. cities, including New York, Chicago and Washington, D.C., have their own professional tour guide associations. These associations may lead you to just the guide you’re looking for.
You can search for professional tour guide associations in the U.S. and around the world by visiting the online.
Refer to guidebooks such as Fodor’s, Frommer’s and Lonely Planet for recommendations of local tour companies. The travel guide companies also host forums on their Web sites where you can consult other travelers about their travel and tour experiences. You may be able to get some great advice from a fellow traveler just back from the kind of trip that you’re planning.
Another way to find the perfect tour for your upcoming vacation may be to simply search the Web.
As impressive as a tour company’s Web site may be, it’s just a starting point. You’ll need to do some additional research to make sure the company is solid. Is the company endorsed by the local tourist office or a particular guidebook? If the company is based in the U.S., what’s its record with the Better Business Bureau?
“Has it been recommended by a publication that you trust?” Paul asks. “You’re looking for a third-party objective assessment. What you’re trying to do is filter out self-promotion.”
Once you find a tour company that you like, here are some specific questions to ask before signing up for a tour.
How long has the tour company been in business? Find out what are its credentials. If it’s a member of a tour guide association, has the association received any complaints?
What are the credentials of the individual tour guide who will be leading your trip? You may not need someone with a doctorate, but you might want someone who leads dozens of tours each year, and has a reputation for keeping it informative, fast-moving and fun.
What specific sights and activities will be included in the tour? Make sure you find out how much time is spent on each activity. Ask about free time and how everyone will meet up with the tour guide later in the day.
What is the cost of the tour? Ask if the cost is per person or per group. Does the cost include meals and transportation? Does the cost include admission to a park, museum or historical site? Tour guides expect to be tipped, so be sure to ask what is the tipping policy before signing on.
What is the size of the tour group? Will you be traveling with a group of five or six other people or two dozen? Ask what is the minimum number of people required to book a private tour.
What is the refund policy? If you wind up not traveling for any reason, find out how much notice you have to give to get your cash back.
After finding out all these details, it’s up to you to weigh the cost against the experience level of the tour guide and the kind of trip you’re seeking.
by Lucy Lazarony
The right tour guide can make any location come to life.
Whether you’re a Civil War buff, a food lover eating your way around New York City or a nature lover eager to explore the natural wonders of a national park, a good tour guide can deepen and enrich the experience.
“It makes all the difference in the world,” says Bob Whitley, president of the United States Tour Operators Association, “because of their knowledge and because of their care in handling you and in making sure everything is right.”
But how can you find a tour guide who will enhance your next vacation or weekend getaway?
The first step is taking some time to really think about your goals for the trip. Ask yourself these questions:
Why are you traveling? Are you mainly looking to relax and maybe see a few sights? Or you do want a more intensive type of trip that will take you deep into a particular culture or location?
Do you want every second of your vacation devoted to the tour? Or just an afternoon or morning?
Are you traveling alone? Depending on whether you’re traveling with friends or family, children, or aging relatives, different tours might appeal to different people. What kind of tour would everyone in your group enjoy?
Will a larger, more general tour do, or would you prefer a smaller, special-interest tour? A custom tour, designed specifically for your family, help you get more for your money.
The second step is research. A little bit of research can ensure that your vacation and tour goes off without a hitch.
“It really pays to do some research in advance, have some plans in advance,” says Jennifer Paull, a senior editor at Fodor’s Travel.
A good place to start is the visitors’ bureau, tourist office or local chamber of commerce for the place you’ll be traveling. They can point you to local tour companies and the tour companies will connect you with a guide.
“You can do it in advance on the Web. It’s so easy,” says Ted Bravos, co-founder of the International Tour Management Institute in San Francisco.
Several major U.S. cities, including New York, Chicago and Washington, D.C., have their own professional tour guide associations. These associations may lead you to just the guide you’re looking for.
You can search for professional tour guide associations in the U.S. and around the world by visiting the online.
Refer to guidebooks such as Fodor’s, Frommer’s and Lonely Planet for recommendations of local tour companies. The travel guide companies also host forums on their Web sites where you can consult other travelers about their travel and tour experiences. You may be able to get some great advice from a fellow traveler just back from the kind of trip that you’re planning.
Another way to find the perfect tour for your upcoming vacation may be to simply search the Web.
As impressive as a tour company’s Web site may be, it’s just a starting point. You’ll need to do some additional research to make sure the company is solid. Is the company endorsed by the local tourist office or a particular guidebook? If the company is based in the U.S., what’s its record with the Better Business Bureau?
“Has it been recommended by a publication that you trust?” Paul asks. “You’re looking for a third-party objective assessment. What you’re trying to do is filter out self-promotion.”
Once you find a tour company that you like, here are some specific questions to ask before signing up for a tour.
How long has the tour company been in business? Find out what are its credentials. If it’s a member of a tour guide association, has the association received any complaints?
What are the credentials of the individual tour guide who will be leading your trip? You may not need someone with a doctorate, but you might want someone who leads dozens of tours each year, and has a reputation for keeping it informative, fast-moving and fun.
What specific sights and activities will be included in the tour? Make sure you find out how much time is spent on each activity. Ask about free time and how everyone will meet up with the tour guide later in the day.
What is the cost of the tour? Ask if the cost is per person or per group. Does the cost include meals and transportation? Does the cost include admission to a park, museum or historical site? Tour guides expect to be tipped, so be sure to ask what is the tipping policy before signing on.
What is the size of the tour group? Will you be traveling with a group of five or six other people or two dozen? Ask what is the minimum number of people required to book a private tour.
What is the refund policy? If you wind up not traveling for any reason, find out how much notice you have to give to get your cash back.
After finding out all these details, it’s up to you to weigh the cost against the experience level of the tour guide and the kind of trip you’re seeking.
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Ride a Jamaican Bobsled
This sounds like a fun place to visit: Ocho Rios, Jamaica is the home of a major new tourist attraction. Rainforest Bobsled Jamaica at Mystic Mountain celebrated its grand opening last month and is predicted to draw at least 100,000 visitors each year.
The multimillion-dollar, eco-friendly attraction features a ride through the tropical forest in custom-designed bobsleds inspired by the famous Jamaican Olympic bobsled teams of the '80s and '90s. Passengers on the 3,280-foot, gravity-driven ride travel on winding, stainless steel rails through Jamaica's lush rainforest, controlling their descent with individual handbrakes. The bobsled track was designed and laid so as not to disturb the natural landscape.
Other highlights include a state-of-the-art chairlift ride that takes visitors above the treetops to the 700-foot peak of Mystic Mountain, a zip-line canopy tour and the Jamaican Railway Station & Mystic Pavilion. The Jamaican Railway Station is a replica of an early 20th-century Jamaican railway station, and features a lookout tower with spectacular views of Jamaica's north coast, a bar and restaurant, retail outlets, and a photo shop. The Mystic Pavilion is home to an island culture and heritage center.
Rainforest Bobsled at Mystic Mountain promises to be a high-demand shore excursion for travelers visiting Jamaica. Carnival Corp. was a partner in developing the project, and several cruise lines (including Carnival, Princess, Celebrity and Royal Caribbean) have signed contracts to offer excursions here for the 2008/2009 season during their port calls in Ocho Rios, Montego Bay and Port Antonio.
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
US Airways Next to Nix Free Onboard Pillows?
US Airways Next to Nix Free Onboard Pillows?
US Airways appears to be next in line to charge for onboard pillows and blankets, according to Today in the Sky. The airline plans to take complimentary pillows and blankets off its planes, and is simply waiting to select a vendor to provide a for-purchase option.
Following last week's news that JetBlue is eliminating free pillows and blankets and replacing them with an upgraded product for purchase, I expected a great deal of outrage to pour forth from readers. I know JetBlue's move irritated me, for a number of reasons. To my surprise, however, most people were glad to see the end of those reused airplane blankets and pillows, and pledged to purchase JetBlue's $7 set, which is the passenger's to keep.
So if US Airways' scheme is similar, and the new blankets and pillows are an improvement over the old, I imagine people will similarly be receptive to the idea. Does this mean we finally have a fee worth paying?
Posted August 12, 2008 at 10:09 am ET by Carl Unger, SmarterTravel.com Staff
US Airways appears to be next in line to charge for onboard pillows and blankets, according to Today in the Sky. The airline plans to take complimentary pillows and blankets off its planes, and is simply waiting to select a vendor to provide a for-purchase option.
Following last week's news that JetBlue is eliminating free pillows and blankets and replacing them with an upgraded product for purchase, I expected a great deal of outrage to pour forth from readers. I know JetBlue's move irritated me, for a number of reasons. To my surprise, however, most people were glad to see the end of those reused airplane blankets and pillows, and pledged to purchase JetBlue's $7 set, which is the passenger's to keep.
So if US Airways' scheme is similar, and the new blankets and pillows are an improvement over the old, I imagine people will similarly be receptive to the idea. Does this mean we finally have a fee worth paying?
Posted August 12, 2008 at 10:09 am ET by Carl Unger, SmarterTravel.com Staff
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Top 5 Fall Destinations
Top Five Bargain Destinations for Fall
by Christine Sarkis, SmarterTravel.com Staff - August 7, 2008
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Mexico
Iceland
Ohio
Las Vegas
Ft. Lauderdale
After a summer of new airline fees, high fuel costs, and tight budgets, will fall bring better deals for travelers in search of a bargain? Choose your destinations wisely and you'll find that this fall really is a good time to travel, even if you don't have much to spend.
I've monitored trends, industry news, and sale patterns to point you in the direction of places that offer the best bargains for the coming season. Below you'll find examples of deals presently available for fall trips. Like all offers, these are sure to expire; however, a little research on your part can yield similar results when you're ready to book.
Mexico
If you're looking for a vacation that feels far away but is still affordable and easy to get to, consider a fall trip to Mexico. The country is bursting with hotel and vacation sales, and the peso still offers great value to travelers coming from the U.S. and Canada.
For a Mexico deal this fall, first check with vacation providers, many of whom are offering noteworthy discounts on bundled air-and-hotel packages. For instance, Delta Vacations has specials such as free nights at the Omni Cancun Hotel & Villas, and United Vacations is offering up to $150 off fall (or $300 for winter) Mexico air-and-hotel vacation packages.
Abundant low rates and discounts are the norm at hotels this fall as well. All-inclusive rates at Riu Hotels in Mexico start at around $70 per night. And Occidental Hotels & Resorts has fall sales at properties around Mexico, including $71 per-person all-inclusive rates at the Allegro Nuevo Vallarta.
For more tips on travel and to see the latest deals, visit the Mexico Vacation guide.
Iceland
It's been a long time since Iceland was on the radar as a bargain destination. But this year, the small country has seen a precipitous 22 percent drop in the value of its currency against the euro. As a result, Iceland is on the map this fall as a more affordable alternative to mainland Europe.
The nation's national carrier, Icelandair, is advertising fall sale fares with substantial savings compared to fall flights to the Continent. For example, an October flight from Boston to Reykjavik, the capital city, is $562 (even lower than the advertised price), while round-trip flights to Paris on other carriers around the same time top $1,000.
You can also find deals on vacation packages this autumn. Icelandair is offering $120 off per person for September departures of its fall Glaciers, Geysers and Waterfalls package, which includes airfare, accommodations, most meals, and sightseeing from $1,869 before the discount. Its Iceland Airwaves special includes airfare, two nights' accommodations, and passes to the major music festival taking place between October 15 and 19, from $877 per person. Package provider go-today.com has an October three-night Reykjavik getaway from $829.
For more tips on travel and to see the latest deals, visit the Iceland Vacation guide.
Ohio
Innkeepers in New Hampshire and Vermont may swear otherwise, but New England isn't the only place to marvel at impressive fall foliage displays. Even better, leaf peeping in other parts of the country can be far more affordable as well. Ohio, for instance, is dotted with state parks offering vivid autumn colors. And many are within an easy drive of major cities and airports, making the trip even more affordable.
Comparing the cost of a simple weekend getaway puts the savings in perspective. At the Shire Riverview Motel in Woodstock, Vermont, a standard room runs about $180 on weekends, putting the cost of a two-night weekend getaway at $360. Compare that to a two-night weekend package at the Burr Oak State Park Resort, located about an hour-and-a-half drive from Columbus. The Buckeye Package includes two nights' accommodations, daily breakfast, dinner for two, and a $25 gift certificate for $279. Ohio State Parks has a rate comparison chart for lodges around the state.
You can find dozens more discounts and specials on accommodations, dining, and attractions at the Discover Ohio website. When you're ready to book, check for fall airfare sales from Southwest and other airlines serving Columbus, Cleveland, and other Ohio airports.
For more tips on travel and to see the latest deals, visit the Ohio Vacation guide.
Las Vegas
Tourism in Las Vegas is down this year, and the online publication Travel Weekly recently reported that the average daily room rate in Sin City has dropped by 5.5 percent. In a gamble to win back the crowds, travel providers are slashing prices and throwing in discounts and extras.
Southwest is offering $50 off Las Vegas air-and-hotel packages of three nights or longer booked by August 7 for travel through mid-December. JetBlue's current vacation packages include two nights at Circus Circus and airfare from Long Beach for $145 per person.
If you're willing to spend a bit more, now is a great time to splurge in Vegas, since even higher-end properties have deep discounts this fall. US Airways Vacations has package specials at some of The Strip's best hotels, including the Wynn and the Bellagio. Continental Airlines Vacations has a third night free offer at Trump International Hotel & Towers.
For more tips on travel and to see the latest deals, visit the Las Vegas Vacation guide
Ft. Lauderdale
Tighter budgets and hurricane season mean Florida beach destinations have to work extra hard this fall to appeal to visitors. Ft. Lauderdale stands out among the state's many sun-and-sand hot spots with plenty of deals and even new air service. Plus, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel recently reported that the Ft. Lauderdale airport ranked as the fourth-cheapest airport in the country, another sign of the city's strength as a bargain destination.
No one, least of all bargain travelers, wants to be nickel-and-dimed even before landing. Unfortunately, the recent airline trend of adding fees—for everything from checking a first bag to sitting in an aisle seat—does just that.
However, Southwest hasn't jumped on the extra fees bandwagon, which makes its already competitive fares an even better deal. Plus, the airline is celebrating the November launch of new daily nonstops to Ft. Lauderdale with introductory rates of $149 one-way from Las Vegas and $89 each way from Albany, New York, and Kansas City, Missouri. AirTran is also introducing new service and will begin a nonstop route from Milwaukee this fall.
Deals on vacation packages and hotels for fall travel include Continental Vacations' fourth night free at the Sheraton Yankee Clipper, plus a $50 resort credit if you travel by the end of September. And Orbitz is offering 20 to 25 percent off Ft. Lauderdale hotel stays booked by August 31 for travel through November 24 as part of its Great American Sale.
For more tips on travel and to see the latest deals, visit the Ft. Lauderdale Vacation guide.
by Christine Sarkis, SmarterTravel.com Staff - August 7, 2008
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Mexico
Iceland
Ohio
Las Vegas
Ft. Lauderdale
After a summer of new airline fees, high fuel costs, and tight budgets, will fall bring better deals for travelers in search of a bargain? Choose your destinations wisely and you'll find that this fall really is a good time to travel, even if you don't have much to spend.
I've monitored trends, industry news, and sale patterns to point you in the direction of places that offer the best bargains for the coming season. Below you'll find examples of deals presently available for fall trips. Like all offers, these are sure to expire; however, a little research on your part can yield similar results when you're ready to book.
Mexico
If you're looking for a vacation that feels far away but is still affordable and easy to get to, consider a fall trip to Mexico. The country is bursting with hotel and vacation sales, and the peso still offers great value to travelers coming from the U.S. and Canada.
For a Mexico deal this fall, first check with vacation providers, many of whom are offering noteworthy discounts on bundled air-and-hotel packages. For instance, Delta Vacations has specials such as free nights at the Omni Cancun Hotel & Villas, and United Vacations is offering up to $150 off fall (or $300 for winter) Mexico air-and-hotel vacation packages.
Abundant low rates and discounts are the norm at hotels this fall as well. All-inclusive rates at Riu Hotels in Mexico start at around $70 per night. And Occidental Hotels & Resorts has fall sales at properties around Mexico, including $71 per-person all-inclusive rates at the Allegro Nuevo Vallarta.
For more tips on travel and to see the latest deals, visit the Mexico Vacation guide.
Iceland
It's been a long time since Iceland was on the radar as a bargain destination. But this year, the small country has seen a precipitous 22 percent drop in the value of its currency against the euro. As a result, Iceland is on the map this fall as a more affordable alternative to mainland Europe.
The nation's national carrier, Icelandair, is advertising fall sale fares with substantial savings compared to fall flights to the Continent. For example, an October flight from Boston to Reykjavik, the capital city, is $562 (even lower than the advertised price), while round-trip flights to Paris on other carriers around the same time top $1,000.
You can also find deals on vacation packages this autumn. Icelandair is offering $120 off per person for September departures of its fall Glaciers, Geysers and Waterfalls package, which includes airfare, accommodations, most meals, and sightseeing from $1,869 before the discount. Its Iceland Airwaves special includes airfare, two nights' accommodations, and passes to the major music festival taking place between October 15 and 19, from $877 per person. Package provider go-today.com has an October three-night Reykjavik getaway from $829.
For more tips on travel and to see the latest deals, visit the Iceland Vacation guide.
Ohio
Innkeepers in New Hampshire and Vermont may swear otherwise, but New England isn't the only place to marvel at impressive fall foliage displays. Even better, leaf peeping in other parts of the country can be far more affordable as well. Ohio, for instance, is dotted with state parks offering vivid autumn colors. And many are within an easy drive of major cities and airports, making the trip even more affordable.
Comparing the cost of a simple weekend getaway puts the savings in perspective. At the Shire Riverview Motel in Woodstock, Vermont, a standard room runs about $180 on weekends, putting the cost of a two-night weekend getaway at $360. Compare that to a two-night weekend package at the Burr Oak State Park Resort, located about an hour-and-a-half drive from Columbus. The Buckeye Package includes two nights' accommodations, daily breakfast, dinner for two, and a $25 gift certificate for $279. Ohio State Parks has a rate comparison chart for lodges around the state.
You can find dozens more discounts and specials on accommodations, dining, and attractions at the Discover Ohio website. When you're ready to book, check for fall airfare sales from Southwest and other airlines serving Columbus, Cleveland, and other Ohio airports.
For more tips on travel and to see the latest deals, visit the Ohio Vacation guide.
Las Vegas
Tourism in Las Vegas is down this year, and the online publication Travel Weekly recently reported that the average daily room rate in Sin City has dropped by 5.5 percent. In a gamble to win back the crowds, travel providers are slashing prices and throwing in discounts and extras.
Southwest is offering $50 off Las Vegas air-and-hotel packages of three nights or longer booked by August 7 for travel through mid-December. JetBlue's current vacation packages include two nights at Circus Circus and airfare from Long Beach for $145 per person.
If you're willing to spend a bit more, now is a great time to splurge in Vegas, since even higher-end properties have deep discounts this fall. US Airways Vacations has package specials at some of The Strip's best hotels, including the Wynn and the Bellagio. Continental Airlines Vacations has a third night free offer at Trump International Hotel & Towers.
For more tips on travel and to see the latest deals, visit the Las Vegas Vacation guide
Ft. Lauderdale
Tighter budgets and hurricane season mean Florida beach destinations have to work extra hard this fall to appeal to visitors. Ft. Lauderdale stands out among the state's many sun-and-sand hot spots with plenty of deals and even new air service. Plus, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel recently reported that the Ft. Lauderdale airport ranked as the fourth-cheapest airport in the country, another sign of the city's strength as a bargain destination.
No one, least of all bargain travelers, wants to be nickel-and-dimed even before landing. Unfortunately, the recent airline trend of adding fees—for everything from checking a first bag to sitting in an aisle seat—does just that.
However, Southwest hasn't jumped on the extra fees bandwagon, which makes its already competitive fares an even better deal. Plus, the airline is celebrating the November launch of new daily nonstops to Ft. Lauderdale with introductory rates of $149 one-way from Las Vegas and $89 each way from Albany, New York, and Kansas City, Missouri. AirTran is also introducing new service and will begin a nonstop route from Milwaukee this fall.
Deals on vacation packages and hotels for fall travel include Continental Vacations' fourth night free at the Sheraton Yankee Clipper, plus a $50 resort credit if you travel by the end of September. And Orbitz is offering 20 to 25 percent off Ft. Lauderdale hotel stays booked by August 31 for travel through November 24 as part of its Great American Sale.
For more tips on travel and to see the latest deals, visit the Ft. Lauderdale Vacation guide.
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