Winter Vacation - Plan Now!

October 9, 2008 – 10:11 am

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With the holidays fast approaching, now is the time to start planning for a winter vacation.

No matter where you plan to getaway from it all - be it a Caribbean vacation, a ski vacation or a luxury resort vacation - the sooner you start planning, the better.

Travelers that search early for vacation deals are more likely to get them. Booking early gives you the advantage of choosing non-stop flights, the hotel you want to stay at and the best rental cars, should you and your fellow travelers need one.

If you’re planning a winter vacation there’s no reason not to start searching for the perfect getaway now.

Ski Vacations - Time To Start Planning

October 3, 2008 – 1:38 pm

The days are getting shorter and the nights are getting colder - which means it won’t be long before ski resorts open their doors to skiiers and snowboarders.

Now is the time to start planning your next ski vacation!

There are many options for those that love the great outdoors in the wintertime, and not all of them cost a small fortune or require a trip to Aspen, Colorado.

Winter vacationers can choose from a number of different types of accommodations, including hotels, motels, ski resorts and vacation rentals. For those that aren’t looking for an overnight stay, a day pass comes in handy.

Since skiing is a popular sport you can find ski resorts in Ohio, New York State, Michigan, Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin and just about every other state in the US.

Ski offerings differ by location. Most ski resorts offer lift tickets, ski rentals, ski lessons, bunny hills for beginners or specialty hills for snowtubing - the sled, revamped.

Just like amusement parks, some ski resorts offer season passes for frequent guests. Hours and availability depend on weather, as conditions must involve snow (or the ability to manufacture it.)

There’s no time like the present to start planning for your first -or five hundredth- time on the slopes!

Oasis Of The Seas Sets Sail From Ft. Lauderdale In December 2009

August 11, 2008 – 11:16 am

Royal Caribbean Cruise Line just announced their newest cruise liner, the Oasis of the Seas, will have its’ inaugural voyage on December 12, 2009 from Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Anxious cruisers can book their reservations beginning on September 3, 2008.

The Oasis of the Sea has no shortage of things to do while on board. The vessel
features shopping, entertainment and dining. The ship has seven night sailings to the eastern Caribbean with ports of call in Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas; Philipsburg, St. Maarten; and Nassau, Bahamas. Beginning on May 1, 2010, Oasis of the Seas will alternate its Eastern Caribbean itinerary with the Western Caribbean itinerary, which will call at Labadee, Royal Caribbean’s private beach destination in Haiti; the new port of Falmouth, Jamaica; and Cozumel, Mexico.

Modifications have been made to accommodate the massive ship in many ports of call, including dredging and larger welcome centers.

The vessel features 7 different “neighborhoods” including the gardens of Central Park with plenty of “green space” for those that enjoy an afternoon in natural settings. The Aquatheater will offer the largest freshwater pool ever on a cruise ship. Surfers will enjoy the Flo-Rider surf simulator. The Boardwalk is meant for families and romantic couples as it rings with nostalgia.

The Oasis of the Seas is 16 stories high with 2,700 staterooms that can accommodate up to 5,400 guests.

Adam Goldstein, President & CEO, Royal Caribbean International stated,
“Royal Caribbean is proud to introduce a number of industry ‘firsts’ on a level and scale that the world has never seen before Oasis of the Seas is the ultimate expression of the creativity and imagination found on all of our ships, providing guests with a collection of experiences that will offer an incredible cruise vacation.

To find out more, please visit Oasis of The Seas

JetBlue Offers The World’s Cleanest Travel Pillow And Blanket

August 4, 2008 – 3:51 pm

The days of added comfort without extra charges on airplanes is coming to an end in the era of high jet fuel and other rising costs.

JetBlue, a discount carrier that operates in 53 markets, just announced plans to sell travel pillows and blankets on flights that are at least 2 hours long. The airline will offer The World’s Cleanest(tm) travel pillow and blanket kit for $7.00 per kit. The kit includes a $5.00 coupon towards a future purchase at Bed, Bath and Beyond. Unlike the recycled blankets and pillows they used to offer, the World’s Cleanest Travel pillow and blanket will block all micro-toxins larger than one micron in size, such as dust mites, mold spores, pollen and pet dander.

Brett Muney, General Manager of Product Development for JetBlue Airways said, “Replacing our old, recycled pillows and blankets with this state-of-the-art, high-quality take home kit is an eco-conscious, health-conscious and customer-conscious decision. We are constantly seeking ways to enhance the in-flight experience for our customers, and providing them the option to purchase The World’s Cleanest travel pillow and a fleece blanket at an affordable price delivers on that promise.”

JetBlue recently began charging $15.00 for the first article of checked baggage and began offering seats with more legroom at a higher fare.

Travel Gear For The Whole Family

June 22, 2008 – 2:40 pm

Families who are taking a vacation have to bring a lot of equipment with them. Not only that, there’s tons of other things that go wrong. Here’s a video that outlines all of the latest gear that you can buy for traveling with babies and small children.

Mom Inventor Tamara Shay Tannas explains what gear you can get for the whole family. Suit up before your next family vacation.

Things To Do - Punta Cana Dominican Republic

June 2, 2008 – 3:54 pm

Punta Cana, located in the Dominican Republic is best known for the tropical weather and miles of beautiful beaches. Of all the things you can do, relaxing at the beach is probably the one thing you won’t get enough of.

It’s hard to determine where the sky ends and the sea begins.

Famous beaches in Punta Cana include Macao Beach, Ubero Alto, Arena Gordo Beach, Cabeza de Toro, Bavaro Beach and El Cortecito. Along these beaches you will find a number of all inclusive resorts and boutique hotels.

Visitors can swim, enjoy both motorized and non-motorized water sports, scuba dive, snorkel or take part in a game of beach volleyball.

Other things to do in Punta Cana include safari tours, ATV Excursions, the Bavaro Runners Tour which gives guests a glimpse into the countryside of the Dominican Republic. There are also beach markets where you can buy trinkets from local craftsmen and women. For those that enjoy the nightlife, there are nightclubs and dining nearby.

If you spend anytime off resort, you will notice that the Dominican Republic is a bit rough around the edges, the average annual wage of Dominican’s is around $6,000.00 - so tip well if you receive stellar service. Every bit helps!

Chances are, you’ll be enchanted with the DR and you won’t run out of things to do while you stay.

Haiti Travel Port Au Prince

May 21, 2008 – 2:46 pm

I was watching a film memorial of Jean Dominique and it made me wonder about travel to Port Au Prince, Haiti. Of course Haiti is located on Hispaniola, one of the most beautiful islands in the Caribbean, so the country would be a natural for travel, had it not had such a reputation for instability. Before traveling to Port Au Prince in Haiti, one must always heed any travel warnings for the area.

As of April 11th of this year, there has been a high-level security alert warning people against travel to Port Au Prince. The nation is undergoing violent strife, and the city is unsafe for travelers.

The United States State Department issued even a graver warning on April 30th., 2008.

This Travel Warning is being issued to advise American citizens to defer non-essential travel to Haiti until further notice. The civil unrest of early April has subsided, but the political and economic conditions that precipitated these events have not been entirely resolved. Conditions may occasionally limit Embassy operations to emergency services. Americans are also reminded of ongoing security concerns in Haiti, including frequent kidnappings of Americans for ransom. This supersedes the Travel Warning for Haiti issued on April 11, 2008.

In early April 2008, there were violent demonstrations, looting, transportation disruptions, and up to seven reported deaths in Les Cayes and Port-au-Prince. Some American citizens were temporarily stranded in isolated locations and could not safely travel until calm was restored. Because political and economic conditions precipitating the civil unrest have not been resolved, American citizens should defer non-essential travel to Haiti.

So, right now, any non-essential travel to Haiti and Port Au Prince is being warned against.

Cheap Vacation Packages To Cancun

May 8, 2008 – 6:00 am

Cheap vacation packages to Cancun are a popular item. Cancun is one place that way literally built for tourists, and they’ve been going to the beautiful locale for decades. Popular places like Cancun have one major drawback, though, they tend to get expensive. When comparing cheap vacation packages to Cancun, Mexico, you also want to make sure you get the type of amenities you want, not just end up saving money at the expense of having a good time.

Read the rest of this entry »

Frontier Airlines Adds Denver- Durango Non Stop Flights

April 22, 2008 – 1:11 pm

Today Frontier Airlines announced that they’ve added a new non-stop flight service between Denver and Durango.

“We are excited to welcome Frontier Airlines to Durango. Frontier has a finite amount of aircraft available, so we take this as a compliment that they are expanding to our city,” said Durango Area Tourism Office Executive Director John Cohen. “The three inbound and outbound flights will have a
major positive impact on tourism as Durango becomes more accessible. It’s never been easier or more economical to get here from Denver and all over the country.”

Flight service to Durango started today. Here is flight information for this new route:

Visitors that present a Frontier boarding pass at the Durango Area Visitors’ Center will receive free gifts and coupons from local businesses.

To find out more or to book a flight, please visit Frontier Airlines.

Skywest Announces New Flight Routes

April 11, 2008 – 12:36 pm

Skywest is looking to serve yet another market. The company recently announced the addition of two new flight routes from Salt Lake City, Utah.

“This summer, SkyWest Delta Connection is pleased to offer Gillette and Rock Springs passengers access to mountain resorts, national parks and beyond from SkyWest’s largest hub,” said Mike Thompson, SkyWest’s vice president — market development.

“We are very pleased to have SkyWest serving the communities of Gillette and Rock Springs,” said Amber Schlabs, Aviation Business and Marketing Manager for WYDOT Aeronautics. “We have sought to bring a stronger presence of SkyWest in Wyoming for some time and look forward to a
long-term partnership with the airline.”

Skywest will have two round trip flights daily. Here is the planned schedule that begins on July 7, 2008:

To find out more about this or any other flight service that Skywest offers, please visit Delta Airlines.