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SMART FLYER. NEVER GET BUMPED AGAINAir travel isn't what it used to be. With overcrowded planes and endless delays, flying is a headache we'd rather avoid. Another reason to dread air travel: the chances of getting bumped off your plane are the highest they've ever been.Nearly 53,000 passengers were denied boarding on U.S. airlines from January to September 2007, according to the Office of Airline Information at the Department of Transportation, and numbers for the entire year are expected to exceed those of the past two years: 45,000 passengers were bumped from flights in 2005, and in 2006 the number jumped to almost 56,000. The airline with the worst record for bumping is Atlantic Southeast, the SkyWest subsidiary based in Atlanta. Almost five out of every 10,000 passengers were denied boarding here. The next two worst offenders are Comair, a Delta Air Lines subsidiary, and Delta Airlines. You have the least chance of getting bumped if you fly JetBlue Airways -- .02 of every 10,000 passengers were denied boarding in the first three quarters of 2007. The Montreal-based International Civil Aviation Organization estimates that 1.67 billion people took to the skies in 2000. By 2006 that number ballooned to 2.1 billion people. With more air travelers than ever before, and with airlines increasingly overbooking flights to compensate for "no shows," it's no surprise that there's an increased likelihood of passengers being denied boarding. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to make sure you're not booted off the plane. Having a confirmed seat when you buy your ticket is essential. Since airlines are overbooking flights, not having a seat assignment will increase your chances of getting bumped. We recommends checking in online 24 hours prior to departure. You should always log on at home the day before departure and print out your boarding pass. If you're already checked in, it's unlikely you'll be denied boarding. Additionally, it's wise to avoid flying during peak travel periods like Thanksgiving and Christmas, and it's best to travel early in the day because planes are less crowded. Flying in the late afternoon or evening sometimes means that airlines are dealing with a backlog of delays and rebooked passengers who didn't make earlier flights. Always ask your airline for the passenger bill of rights, which details what you're entitled to. These rules are established by the Department of Transportation and protect passengers from bumped seats and cancellations. Additionally, if you're bumped and get to your destination up to two hours later than originally scheduled, you're entitled to the amount equal to the price of your one-way fare, with a maximum of $200. Get there more than two hours later, and you'll get an amount equal to 200% of your fare, with a maximum of $400. If the airline doesn't get you to your destination within 24 hours, then you're entitled to a full refund of the ticket price plus $400. You should immediately file a complaint with the DOT if your airline isn't following these rules. Because of the negative rap they've received recently, airlines are trying to do everything they can to cultivate customer loyalty, so in addition to these benefits they will offer extra perks like free tickets and meal vouchers. Since these rules aren't set in stone and vary based on the airline, it's difficult to suss out which airline is the most generous. That said, JetBlue and Southwest are reportedly giving fliers the best compensation. The small airlines are usually the most generous with their customers in giving more than what's required by law. In general, though, all airlines are getting increasingly generous in a bid to get customers.
Voluntary bumping In the recent past, rewards for giving up seats could be anything from an upgrade to first-class on the next flight to a coupon for a free meal at the airport. For international routes and longer domestic flights, such as New York to Los Angeles, passengers often received a voucher to use toward a future flight, the amounts totaling anywhere from $250 to $500. Today the airlines are so hungry for customer loyalty they're handing out cold hard cash when people voluntarily give up their seats. The airlines are giving out anywhere between $500 and $1000 in cash, or writing a check on the spot. There is, of course, a catch. Travelers can only expect to make big bucks on international and longer domestic flights. Giving up your seat from New York City to Boston, for example, isn't necessarily going to translate into $500, since there are dozens of daily flights between the two cities.
Parting with your seat on an overbooked plane from LA to London, however, can mean big bank. "It's not fun to miss a long-haul flight, but the bigger your problem, the bigger your pay day."
Kensington
easyHotel. Crammed into a big white town house are 34 tiny rooms, all with a double bed, private bathroom, and little else. Each is brightly decorated in the trademark orange-and-white of the Easy chain. The idea behind the hotel is to provide quality basics (bed, sink, shower, and toilet) for little money. The concept is a huge hit -- easyHotel is fully booked months in advance. Lexham Gardens. www.easyhotel.com. 34 rooms. Rooms range from £20--£40 per night.
Bayswater and Notting Hill
Colonnade. This lovely town house rests in a quiet, residential area known as "Little Venice." From the Freud suite (Sigmund visited regularly in 1938) to the rooms with four-poster beds or balconies, you'll find rich brocades, velvets, and antiques. It's a former home, so each room is different; some are split-level. Warrington Crescent. 15 rooms, 28 suites. Rooms range from £130--£215 per night.
Guesthouse West. The goal of this hip hotel is to offer high-class chic at moderate prices. They almost get it right. The minimalist decor and technology -- cool black-and-white photos and flat-screen TVs -- are very stylish. Rooms, however, are truly tiny, and there's no room service. The restaurant is child-friendly and packed with locals, and the bar is a beautiful homage to the 1930s. The hotel's relationship with a local spa and restaurant provides guests with discounts. 163-165 Westbourne Grove. Rooms range from £150--£182 per night.
Bloomsbury, Holborn, and Islington
Alhambra Hotel. One of the best bargains in Bloomsbury, this family-run hotel has singles as low as £32 and doubles as low as £45. Rooms tend to be small and look dated, but they're definitely good value. Some rooms have a private shower but no toilet (you share one down the hall); others have both. All rooms have a TV, all guests have access to free Wi-Fi, and tea/coffeemakers are available on request. It's not fancy, but it certainly is cheap. 17-19 Argyle St. 52 rooms. Rooms range from £45-- £60 per night.
Tavistock Hotel. This big, sprawling hotel off Russell Square makes for a convenient and affordable base to explore the British Museum and London's West End. The rooms are small and simply furnished, but clean and quiet with tea and coffemakers. The hotel itself has plenty of amenities, including a relaxed bar and restaurant. It's a bit old-fashioned, and won't win any style awards, but it's a solid option when money is an issue. Tavistock Square. 343 rooms. Rooms range from £60--£80 per night.
Mayfair, Marylebone, and St. James's
Bryanston. This family-run hotel, a few blocks north of Hyde Park and Park Lane, is an option for budget travelers who want to stay in this pricey area. The public rooms in its three converted Georgian houses are decorated in traditional English style: open fireplaces, leather armchairs, oil paintings. The bedrooms, on the other hand, are small and bland, with a faded pink color scheme, creaky floors, and tiny, old-fashioned bathrooms. In light of this, the prices could be cheaper. 56-60 Great Cumberland Pl. www.bryanstonhotel.com. 81 rooms, 8 apartments. Rooms start at £120 per night.
Plus, guests can upgrade to a King Deluxe room for only $30 more per night.
Why: Ancient and modern Europe meet in the winding streets of hilly Buda and busy Pest, two very different cities that became one in 1873. With its fantastic architecture, eccentric old coffeehouses, and lively contemporary culture, Budapest is an alluring mix of Old World elegance and New World high energy. Although Hungary hasn't adopted the euro for its own currency yet, many hotels and tourist restaurants are already setting their prices in euros. Still, costs are lower here than in much of Western Europe.
Where to Stay: At the Art'otel Budapest, a quirky, modern hotel on the banks of the Danube. Rooms start at a reasonable $160. The Castle Hill historic center is about a 10-minute walk from the hotel.
Don't Forget To: Stop by tiny baroque café Ruszwurm, which has served superb pastry since 1827. The café is tucked away on Szentháromság utca (Utca = Street) near the Matthias Church. Coffee and a pastry will set you back about $3.50 (cream slices are the specialty of the house).
Sample Air Fares: Fly to Budapest on Delta for $625 RT nonstop from NYC; LA to Budapest is $795 RT on Austrian Airlines; $746 RT Chicago to Budapest on Lufthansa. Travel Discounts offer consolidator airfares.... 40% less than
normal airfares. See "Airfares".
Don't Forget To: Take in the tropical forests of nearby Cabo Blanco Natural Reserve, see the coast by horseback, and dine at Piedra Mar on the beach in Malpaís, where you can feast on lobster for $10-$12.
Where to Stay: Hang your hat at the Milarepa, a tiny luxury hotel. The most expensive room in the house is a beautifully decorated beach-front bungalow for $200 in April and $188 in May and June. Garden-view bungalows can be had for $30 less.
Sample Air Fares: $290 RT from NYC to San Jose on Delta; $313 RT from LA to San Jose on Delta; $328 RT from Chicago to San Jose on Delta.
Check Travel Discounts for the lowest airfares.... see "Airfares".
Dont' Forget To: Explore Waimea Canyon, take a boat tour of the wild Na Pali Coast, and visit Kaua'i's Biggest Little Town, Hanapepe, whose main street is lined with cool little shops and art galleries, all housed in plantation-era wooden storefronts. Eat at the Hanapepe Café (808/335-5011; entrées from $16, fresh fish and many vegetarian dishes -- the garden burgers are outstanding) and have tropical fruit-flavored ice cream for dessert at Lappert's. ($3.50 for one scoop).
Where to Stay: Hang your hat at the Waimea Plantation Cottages, in one of the beautifully restored 1930s-era cottages (each with kitchen, grill, and lanai from $185, 4/14-6/6, ask about the fourth-night-for-free promotion).
Sample Airfares: US Airways will get you from NYC to Kaua'i for $668 RT; LA to Kaua'i is $404 RT on Delta; US Airways from Chicago to Kaua'i is $624 RT. Check Travel Discounts for the lowest fares.... See "Airfares".
Don't Forget To: Check out the Trading Post Café with its kiva fireplace for outstanding Italian food, and leave time to wander through Taos Plaza to see galleries filled with Native American crafts.
Where to Stay: You can hit the hay at the Taos Hampton Inn for $100 a night or spend a bit more ($150 a night) for lodgings at the Historic Taos Inn, with its New Mexican style décor and perfect location smack in the middle of Taos.
Sample Air Fares: Fly RT from NYC to Albuquerque for $279; fly RT to Albuquerque from Los Angeles on Delta for $239; American Airlines has RT flights to Albuquerque from Chicago for $299. Taos is a 135-mile-drive Albuquerque. Avis and Enterprise have base rates of $25 a day for cars.
Check Travel Discounts for the lowest airfares. See "Airfares".
Don't Forget To: Go diving and snorkeling in the island's pristine waters and see if you can spot "The Thing," which the tourism board describes as the "Loch Ness Monster on Vacation." Visit "the world's only drive-in volcano," and take a careful walk around the bubbling sulfur pools.
Where to Stay: The Hummingbird Beach Resort, on Soufrière Harbour, houses guests in small seaside cabins. Most have views of the Pitons, the two peaks that have become St. Lucia's best known landmarks. Rooms are simply furnished and the resort's Hummingbird Restaurant serves great french creole dishes (even dedicated carb counters should sample the homemade bread). During low season (April-Dec 15), rates start at $55, and $100 gets you a cottage with a view of the Pitons and/or the ocean.
Sample Airfares: American Airlines can get you here for $572 RT from NYC; LA to St. Lucia is $529 RT on American; and it's $529 RT to St. Lucia from Chicago on American.
The holidays in the Florida Keys tend to be offbeat twists on standard seasonal traditions.
Do: Have a holiday photo taken with a dolphin at Dolphin Research Center (Grassy Key). A $35 fee for the group plus individual admission prices covers the photo session and a high-resolution digital image provided on a disk. Sessions are available twice daily, morning and afternoon, on a walk-in basis only. Adults $19.50; seniors 55 and over is $16.50; children 4-12 is $13.50. MM 59 on Grassy Key.
If your visit coincides with New Year's Eve, don't miss the annual fireworks show on Blackwater Sound (Key Largo), or the Key West New Year's Eve Celebrations, at Sloppy Joe's Bar (201 Duval St). The latter involves the descent of a pirate wench from the mast of the tall ship Liberty Clipper in the island city's Historic Seaport. Goofy, but fun nonetheless.
Stay: Little Palm Island Resort & Spa is on a private island off Little Torch Key, and accessible only by boat. Guests are picked up from the dock and stay in thatched-roof bungalows, carefully placed in the lush landscaping to provide complete privacy. Beds are draped in netting, the shady verandahs have ocean views, and some rooms have secluded outdoor showers.
Christmas Day dinner at the resort is a gourmand's dream, with "Calabaza" soup en croute with Cilantro cream, seared Filet Mignon, chestnut and truffle emulsion, and sweet-potato mash. Guests staying on til New Year's Eve enjoy a festive five-course dinner. Rooms from $650.
Casa Morada is an all-suites resort on the bay in Islamorada. There are 16 suites, most with private patios and balconies overlooking the water. The hotel is set in a beautiful garden and the pool has a sandy "beach." Rooms are cool, stylish, and comfortable. Rates start at $499 for seaview suites.
Dine: Barracuda Grill (Marathon) works magic with seafood -- think voodoo stew, with scallops, shrimp, and veggies in a spicy tomato-saffron stock. Start with the tipsy olives (marinated in gin) or the super-spicy calamari. The key-lime cheesecake is a perfect finish. About $50 a person.
The menu at Pierre's flawlessly fuses Asian, Indian, and Floridian tastes. Favorites include yellowtail flavored with lotus root and served over a chile-spiced soba-noodle salad and pan-seared sea scallops with cauliflower risotto and roasted garlic foam. Reservations are recommended. About $50 a person.
Do: The semi-temperate climate might not have you in the Yuletide mood, but attend the Christmas Eve candlelight service at Bermuda Cathedral, in Hamilton, and you're sure to feel the spirit. Complete with a beautiful tree, poinsettias, processions, and singing.
From Christmas Eve through New Year's Day you're likely to encounter Gombey troupes, parades of singing and dancing locals who don brilliantly colored costumes and towering peacock-feathered hats. The performances are improvised, and are likely to happen anywhere during the six-day period. Just listen for the sounds of drums and whistles.
St. George's is the place to be on New Year's Eve. In King's Square and Ordnance Island you'll find food stalls, kiddy rides, and live entertainment. A midnight countdown culminates in the much-anticipated dropping of the "Bermuda Onion." Who needs Times Square?
Stay: The Fairmont Hamilton Princess combines the best of old and new. Opened in 1885, the hotel's rooms are decorated in a warm up-to-date style and service is Old World courteous. The hotel's "Gold Christmas" package includes five nights accommodation in Fairmont Gold, the boutique hotel within a hotel. Available December 17 through January 15, 2008, from US$1,665. The hotel serves a fine Christmas buffet in the Harborview ballroom.
Cambridge Beaches offers tranquility, five beaches, and acres of tropical gardens on a lovely peninsula. Guests stay in cottages with views of the bay, or in rooms that open onto the gardens. During the festive season, expect nightly musical entertainment in the hotel's Port O' Call Pub, de-stressing yoga sessions, casino nights, and caroling. A gala dinner (formal attire, please) is planned for New Year's Eve. Rooms from $500.
Dine: Homemade ravioli filled with crabmeat, blackened mahi-mahi, pan-seared lamb chops with risotto -- you can sample it all at Ascots. End with Crépes Garibaldi (filled with strawberries, a chocolate nut sauce and crème chantilly). In the Royal Palms Hotel. About $50 a person. Reservations suggested.
Aqua, in the Ariel Sands Hotel, is right on the beach, making this perfect for a romantic rendez-vous. Pan-fried snapper on soba noodles or fresh tuna with chile mole served over eggplant are top-notch menu items. Reservations essential.
Do: Head over to St. Kitts for the annual Christmas Carnival, running through January 2. It's all about parades, music, dancing around the clock. The opening ceremonies feature the crowning of the King and Queen. The New Year's Day "Las' Lap" parades are special, too. St. Kitts is a 20-minute ferry ride from Nevis.
Like your Christmas music with a little calypso? The Honey Bees play Saturday nights at the Golden Rock Plantation Inn. Enjoy a West Indian Buffet as you listen. Nisbet Plantation Beach Club offers live music in the Great House lounge Sunday-Thursday during the festive season.
Visit Nevis' art galleries in a half-day tour led by Gillian Smith and Ceri Whitfield, owners of Café des Arts Gallery (Main Street, Charlestown, Nevis, 869/469-7098). Or head to the Nevis Craft Cooperative in the Cotton Ginnery (behind the town pier in Charlestown) and watch as crafts people carve wooden toys and sculptures, weave, and create ceramics.
Stay: Nisbet Plantation Beach Club celebrates the "12 days of Christmas" December 20 through "Old Year's Night" (New Year's Eve). On each of the 12 nights, guests receive a different gift from hotel staff with their turn-down service, from handmade local crafts to culinary treats and sweets. Planned activities include crab races, a special Christmas dinner, and holiday movies on the beach. Guests stay in charming cottages at this beachfront plantation inn. Rates start at $595 per night.
The Four Seasons Nevis Resort has 350 prime ocean-front acres along Pinney's Beach, one of the prettiest beaches in the Caribbean. The 200 guest rooms are in 12 two-story wooden cottages, decorated in quiet pastels. During festive season, the resort offers weekly movie nights on the driving range, and on 12/24 Santa Claus arrives at the resort by boat. Rooms start at $475.
Dine: The Montpelier Plantation Inn offers a fixed-price dinner for $54. Start with hors d'oeuvres and cocktails in the Great Room and then move to a candlelight terrace overlooking tropical gardens and the ocean to dine on crab-stuffed chicken breast or seared swordfish in papaya-black bean salsa. Finish with a Dominican Chocolate Tasting, including spiced hot chocolate, cocoa nib candy, or chocolate-rum ice cream with bananas. Reservations essential, 869/469-3462.
Mango at the Four Seasons is right on the beach. Diners in the open air restaurant get a great view of the sunset while feasting on dishes such as Cades Bay pumpkin soup, spiny lobster fritters, gallows bay pot fish Nevisian style, or lime and ginger Wahoo fillet. The signature Mangojito cocktail is delicious. About $50 a person. Reservations suggested. See "Hotels & Resorts".
This sale fare is based on Monday-Thursday departures between April 1 - May 15, and travel must be completed by May 30. Book by April 30.
Singapore Airlines has garnered numerous awards, including World's Best International Airline for 19 of the past 20 years by Conde Nast Traveler magazine, World's Best International Airline for the past 12 years by Travel + Leisure magazine and Best Overall Airline in the World by Business Traveler magazine every year for the past 19 years.
Here are just a few of our favorite fares to/from Chicago (each way):
* Indianapolis ... $25
To get these deals, stay a minimum of 2 nights or over a Saturday night. There are a few blackout dates from certain cities, so be sure to see the Fare Facts if traveling to/from Boston, Burlington, Hartford, Manchester, Portland (ME) or Providence.
Aloha Reduced Rate Special at Oceanfront Kaanapali Resort!
Enjoy a reduced rate on a newly renovated luxury Terrace View room at the beachfront Royal Lahaina Resort from $195/night. Offer valid April 1–June 12, 2008. Book by May 31, 2008.
When you come to Montreal, you can't ask for a better location. You'll stay right around the corner from all the shopping, dining, museums and entertainment on the city's popular Sherbrooke Street.
Blackout Dates: April 29-30
Located along the Lewis & Clark trail just 40 miles outside of Portland, Oregon, Skamania Lodge is home to "the most spectacular vistas of any hotel in the (Columbia River) Gorge" (Frommer’s). It also received Wine Spectator's 2007 Award of Excellence.
Skamania Lodge offers an 18-hole golf course, a full-service spa and fitness center, an indoor heated swimming pool, dry saunas and indoor and outdoor whirlpools, tennis, basketball, volleyball and hiking trails. Its restaurant features regional cuisine and wines along with spectacular vistas of the Cascades.
Blackout Dates: May 16, 24-25, 28; June 3-4, 6, 27-28
Going on a longer road trip? Discounted weekly rates are available for as little as $89.99.
Advantage Rent A Car has locations in these 14 states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah and Washington.
This sale applies at all Advantage locations, but we found the best availability and prices at the following sites:
* Phoenix ... $14.99 daily / $89.99 weekly
As we mentioned previously, most car categories are included in the sale, so larger cars, vans and SUVs are also available at reduced rates. For example, you can rent a minivan for as little as $32.99 per day or $189.99 per week.
This $1399 special from Globotours and the Hong Kong Tourism Board includes international and intra-China flights, hotel, sightseeing and transfers. What a relief -- practically everything is arranged, so you're spared the trouble of the planning details.
This 5-night package includes:
* Roundtrip airfare from Los Angeles to Hong Kong on Cathay Pacific
To get the lower price, depart Monday-Thursday between April 30 and June 14. A $35 each way surcharge applies for travel on Friday-Sunday.
Added Bonus: If you travel between May 15 - June 14, your hotel stay in both cities will be upgraded and guaranteed to a Harborview / Lakeview room (another $250pp in value for FREE).
Call Globotours at 1-800-988-4833
The Serrano Hotel features high-speed Internet access and hosted morning coffee & tea service and an evening wine reception daily in its living room. Challenge the receptionist to a hand of blackjack at check-in for a chance to win a free room upgrade (based on availability) and other prizes. If the hotel wins, all it asks is a $5 donation toward its pet charity. You can feel good about your stay here, too, because all Kimpton Hotels rely on eco-friendly products and services.
Blackout Dates: April 6-8, 23-24; May 4-6, 13-16; June 6-8, 25-26
The special offer applies to Sunday-Wednesday nights May 4 - July 30 and Aug. 17 - Oct. 1. Weekend rates are just $20 more.
You can also get a great deal on upgraded rooms and towers:
* $179 ... Beach Tower (reg. $335), located near the beach
Atlantis was ranked No. 1 Best Resort Casino and No. 1 Best Family Vacation Resort in the 2007 Caribbean Travel & Life Readers’ Choice Awards. It's also recently completed several new attractions: Aquaventure water park, Mandara Spa, Aura nightclub and Dolphin Cay, where you can swim with dolphins.
Blackout Dates: May 23-26; July 2-5
"Reserve Now" to book this special offer online. Note: After entering your travel dates, the rates displayed online include all nights. Or call 800-ATLANTIS (800-285-2684)
The subtropical Northland of New Zealand promises visitors a contrast between the relative sophistication of the east coast and the soulful simplicity of the west coast. Much of its extensive coastline remains unspoiled, and it's an aquatic playground for adventure activities and escapist relaxation.
The Lay of the Land: The Carrington Resort is superbly situated on the magnificent Karikari Peninsula. Private, sumptuous, sophisticated, the resort is set in the middle of the Carrington Farm Estate, a 3000-acre ecologically planned property of secluded virgin beaches and restored natural wetlands in the warmest area of New Zealand closest to the equator. Luxury accommodation is provided in a choice of 10 air-conditioned lodges or 14 villas, with private verandas or porches looking out over the ocean or native bush and vineyard.
Tying the Knot: Marriages can take place anywhere on the resort -- overlooking the vineyards, on the secluded beach (photo, top), or in front of the dining room with its stunning views. The hotel has a wedding coordinator, but couples need to arrange a celebrant who will look after all the legalities. After your specially created post-nuptial dinner in the evening, you can return to the privacy of your room, where you'll find a bottle of local wine to sip under the stars.
After the Wedding: There's plenty to do onsite at Carrington, ranging from golf, horseback riding, tennis, swimming in the heated pool, a gym, wine-tasting tours, boat excursions, canoeing, or picnics to some secluded cove. Alternatively, you can just unwind and appreciate the stunning natural landscapes.
The Lay of the Land: Set amid this natural beauty is Ardanaiseig, a Scottish baronial manor built in 1834. Ardanaiseig is a wonderful place for weddings and honeymoons. The exterior of this heritage property remains unchanged and the hotel retains the atmosphere of a private house. The 100-acre wild woodland gardens are regarded as one of the natural splendors of Argyll and have their own romantic charm.
Tying the Knot: Marriages at Ardanaiseig can take place in the drawing room or out in the open-air lochside amphitheater. For a taste of true Scotland, a traditional piper can be provided at the ceremony. There is a wedding coordinator to help you plan your day, and the ceremony can be conducted either by the registrar or local minister.
After the Wedding: During your stay there are romantic adventures to be had, such as a boat trip to Loch Awe with a picnic basket for two, stopping off on Inishail Island. Or indulge yourself in a private sightseeing tour with the hotel's own chauffeur and car. Loch Ness, Loch Lomond, and the Victorian port of Orban with regular ferries to the beautiful islands of Skye, Mull, and Iona are all within easy reach.
Lay of the Land: This property is made for romantics. There are only 32 rooms and retreat cottages on the site. Rooms and suites abound with Southern charm and offer an escape that many only dream of. The Ballroom Suite is perfect for honeymooners with its large living area, four-poster king-size bed, fireplace, and bathroom with oversize whirlpool tub for two. Renowned for fine food, the hotel's Carriage House Club restaurant is a fabulous dining experience, with magnificent views, antique furnishings, and paintings.
Tying the Knot: Litchfield Plantation has an onsite wedding coordinator and you have a choice of three wedding packages. Ceremonies on the beach or in a shady oak grove are conducted by a religious or civil official. And to give your special day a touch of the splendor of the Old South, weddings can include a horse-drawn carriage ride and a candlelight dinner at the Carriage House Club.
After the Wedding: Take a jeep safari to Myrtle Beach, tour Charleston, take a waterways boat tour, watch a theater performance, or just enjoy the Southern legacy of gracious living at Litchfield Plantations.
The special offer applies to Sunday-Wednesday nights May 4 - July 30 and Aug. 17 - Oct. 1. Weekend rates are just $20 more.
You can also get a great deal on upgraded rooms and towers:
* $179 ... Beach Tower (reg. $335), located near the beach
Atlantis was ranked No. 1 Best Resort Casino and No. 1 Best Family Vacation Resort in the 2007 Caribbean Travel & Life Readers’ Choice Awards. It's also recently completed several new attractions: Aquaventure water park, Mandara Spa, Aura nightclub and Dolphin Cay, where you can swim with dolphins.
Blackout Dates: May 23-26; July 2-5
For reservations and more information: call 800-ATLANTIS (800-285-2684)
You may also stay in a standard room plus get a breakfast buffet for 2 each morning for only $55 per night.
All rooms feature 2 double beds, a microwave and a refrigerator. The property has 3 pools and complimentary scheduled shuttle transportation to Universal, SeaWorld and Islands of Adventure. You also have easy access to Orlando's I-Ride Trolley service.
To call 800-999-8585 .
This might be your last opportunity to get a jump on skyrocketing summer fares, many of which are already $200-$300 higher than these sale prices.
Here are a few sample fares for this sale:
* New York City - London ... $341
With more than 2,000 passengers, today's large cruise ships simply can't offer elegant, restaurant-quality food on such a vast scale. However, most cruise lines do manage to provide good food to their passengers. A few do even better, and you may be surprised to find that they aren't always the most luxurious lines.
Carnival Cruise Lines. Yes, Carnival! The line offers what is possibly the most-improved dining experience at sea. With the added touch of chef George Blanc's Signature Selections (offered since 2006), the food is tastier, more sensibly portioned, and nicely presented.
Celebrity Cruises. Celebrity made its mark with food and service that was decidedly a cut above the average and hasn't wavered over the years. While serving hundreds of diners at a time, the waiters manage the illusion that yours is the most important meal of all.
Regent Seven Seas Cruises. Creative dishes spiced just so and wines chosen to complement all menus are a hallmark of Radisson ships. Service is attentive, but not hovering or intrusive. (photo, top)
SeaDream Yacht Club. A true gourmet meal is hard to come by on land, let alone at sea, but SeaDream chefs accomplish just such a feat. Every meal (for 110 passengers or more) is individually prepared.
Best Specialty Restaurants
Virtually every cruise line now offers reservations-only restaurants, which prepare restaurant-quality meals for a special cover charge. Here are the lines that stand apart.
Cunard Line's Queen Mary 2. Cuisine in Todd English Restaurant is as other-worldly as the exotic Moroccan surroundings in which it is served. The small cover charge for lunch or dinner wouldn't be sufficient for a tip at his Olives restaurants on land, and you won't have to wait months for a reservation at sea. (photo, right)
Carnival Cruise Lines. When Carnival introduced supper clubs, the line took shipboard dining to a new level with a sophisticated ambience and the ingredients for outstanding meals at sea. Anyone familiar with big-city steak houses will recognize the presentation of a tray displaying the evening's entrées.
Celebrity Millennium-class ships. Decorated with authentic ocean-liner artifacts and the actual paneling from the White Star liner Olympic, these restaurants feature table-side food preparation, classical music, and food that is described in hushed, reverent tones.
Crystal Cruises. Asian-themed restaurants on Crystal ships receive rave reviews for the beautifully prepared dishes, including ultrafresh sushi. Presentation is beautiful, and if you aren't adept with chopsticks, no one will raise an eyebrow if you use a fork.
Best Service
When you want to go away on a relaxing cruise vacation, you want to be pampered and waited on. While service in all ships is pretty good these days, it's a given that with more than 2,000 passengers, large ships just can't give the kind of personalized service you'd get on a smaller ship. So it's no surprise that the best service at sea is on cruise lines that operate smaller ships.
Windstar Cruises. Graduates of Holland America's training school in Indonesia, Windstar's Filipino and Indonesian stewards and servers go out of their way to provide gracious service with a sincere smile and genuine warmth.
SeaDream Yacht Club. A Corona with no lime, extra juice in your rum punch: whatever your preference, it will be remembered by all servers on board. They seem to network behind the scenes to ensure perfection.
Silversea Cruises. The mostly European staff don't seem to understand the word "no." Every attempt is made to satisfy even the most unusual request, even if it means buying a bottle of guava juice in the next port of call.
Best Bathrooms Afloat
Let's face it: cruise ship bathrooms aren't usually noted for roominess or luxury. However, there are exceptions. Here's a rundown of our favorite bathrooms on the high seas.
Regent Seven Seas Cruises. Without a doubt, the marble bathrooms with separate shower and full-size tub on Seven Seas Voyager (photo, top) and Seven Seas Navigator are totally pampering.
Seabourn Cruises. Although not the biggest shipboard bathrooms, Seabourn's bath amenities are deluxe.
Silversea Cruises. Double vanities, marble-clad showers, separate tubs, and fluffy, oversize towels are luxurious appointments, even in standard suites. Top suites add whirlpool jets.
Best Beds
A good night's sleep is important to a feeling of well-being, so why would anyone want to sleep on a lumpy mattress outfitted with pancake-thin pillows and scratchy sheets? No one does. Since Westin introduced their "Heavenly Bed" to travelers, hotels have been in the process of offering upgraded beds and bedding for years. Cruise lines have joined the wave and these are our favorites.
Holland America Line. The Mariner's Dream bed is a Sealy 9-inch innerspring mattress with a pillow top layer of fibers and foams and additional plush foam comfort layers. Hypoallergenic poly or goose-down pillows and cuddly down blanket are covered in 300-thread-count sheeting with a one-inch woven stripe pattern and a soft sateen finish. (photo, right)
Carnival Cruise Lines. The Carnival Comfort Bed features an 8-inch spring mattress, a downlike nonallergenic pillow, high-quality sheets and pillowcases, and a 100% hypoallergenic down duvet covered by an ultrafine, ring-spun, satin-striped cotton blend duvet cover.
Oceania Cruises. Inaugurating the "bed wars" with their "Tranquility Bed," Oceania has outfitted all accommodations with high-quality mattresses, 350-thread-count Egyptian cotton linens, silk-cut duvets, and goose-down pillows.
Royal Caribbean Line. A 9-inch spring mattress with 2-inch microfiber pillow sets the stage for 200-thread-count cotton-blend sheets and cushy microfiber pillows. It's all topped with a 23-ounce synthetic blend duvet with a cotton blend cover.
Best Entertainment at Sea
The quality of cruise-ship entertainment is higher these days than it has ever been. You're likely to find a Las Vegas-quality revue or Broadway-quality show on most cruise ships. Still, some lines stand out with their offerings. These are our favorites.
Carnival Cruise Lines. Flash, dazzle, and special effects worthy of Las Vegas are backdrops for the talented teams of entertainers in Carnival production shows.
Ocean Village. Aerial deck shows feature a company of international circus artists, dancers, singers, and stilt walkers. Set on and under unique top-deck aerial structures -- with a grand finale laser-and-light show -- there is nothing else like it at sea.
Royal Caribbean Cruise Line. In addition to lavish production shows and guest entertainers fleetwide, only Royal Caribbean's megasize ships feature world-class ice-skating peformances.
A deluxe oceanfront resort filled with romantic and historical allure at
every turn, The Royal Hawaiian will soon embark on a restoration project
to bring the property into a new era of redefined luxury, from June 1
until late 2008.
Until it closes for the restoration, through May 31 with any stay of
three nights or more, The Royal Hawaiian will provide guests with daily
buffet breakfast, a Royal Hawaiian memento gift, and a certificate good
for one complimentary free night on a return visit any time during 2009.
Travel Discounts' four-night, land-only vacations at The Royal Hawaiian
begin at $670 per person. Rate is based on double occupancy and includes
accommodations, hotel taxes, and more. email us for confirmation....
travel@traveldiscounts.com
Fondly called the "Pink Palace of the Pacific," The Royal Hawaiian has
retained impeccable standards of service, along with the glamour and
refinement that first brought matinee idols and old world princes to
Waikiki Beach over 75 years ago. Every one of The Royal Hawaiian's
richly-furnished guest rooms serves as a private oasis promising the
most sought-after luxuries: peace of mind and service that anticipates
every wish.
This great offer is available over the following nights through June, including many weekends.
* March 30-31
The Omni is located in the midst of D.C.'s sprawling 1750-acre Rock Creek Park and close to popular nightlife and dining in Dupont Circle, Georgetown and Adams-Morgan. A nearby D.C. Metro stop offers quick access to all the treasures along the National Mall and through the city.
Four-night, land-only vacations begin at $528 per person on Oahu.
Depending on accommodations selected, travelers can save as much as $582
per couple. Rates are based on double occupancy and include
accommodations, hotel taxes, and more.
The dining credits are given to guests at each participating property,
valid with a four-night stay on Oahu and Hawaii's Big Island; a
five-night stay on Kauai; and a six-night stay on Maui.
Participating resorts include Oahu's Moana Surfrider, A Westin Resort,
Sheraton Princess Kaiulani, Sheraton Waikiki, The Royal Hawaiian and W
Honolulu Diamond Head; the Sheraton Maui Resort, The Westin Kaanapali
Ocean Resort Villas and The Westin Maui Resort & Spa; Kauai's
Princeville Resort, Westin Princeville Ocean Resort Villas and Sheraton
Kauai Resort; as well as the Sheraton Keauhou Bay Resort & Spa on
Hawaii's Big Island.
For the ideal travel experience, travelers can select a vacation that
includes multiple islands. Travel Discounts can
customize any itinerary to suit your vacation preferences,
including airport transfers or car rental, inter-island air, hotel
accommodations, tours and excursions. For reservations go to
our "Hawaii Link".... and click on Pleasant Hawaiian Holidays.
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