Waikiki Winter Blowout - 3 Nights with Air from $369

When I think of an inexpensive trip to Hawaii, Pleasant Holidays is the first company that comes to mind. It continues to offer affordable flight + hotel packages no matter what season it is. Lucky for us, the time period between Christmas and spring break is a little slower for tourism on the islands. “Waikiki Winter Blowout” is the current special on offer with a round-trip flight (departing Los Angeles or San Francisco) + hotel accommodations for three nights starting at $369 per person, based on double occupancy.


Deal: The price for the package varies by your hotel choice. The bottom price of $369 per person is for a package at the Castle Ocean Resort Hotel Waikiki. Packages with the Hilton Hawaiian Village Beach Resort & Spa start at $499 per person, and if you’d like to stay at the Trump International Hotel Waikiki Beach Walk, the price jumps up to $779 per person.

Tested: I had difficulty finding dates in January at a low rate, so I picked up the phone and called AskAboutHawaii.com . I was glad I did. Courtney, the very nice reservations agent, was able to find me three nights in January (Jan. 23-26) at the Aston Waikiki Beach Hotel (standard view room) for $1,028 total, including tax. This is for two people based on double occupancy and includes airport transfers (which I added). If I had wanted a room with a partial ocean view, the cost would be an additional $171 for three nights, or a final price of $1,199. The flights were on United Airlines. Trip insurance is optional and costs an extra $119 per person.

Note: The Aston Waikiki Beach Hotel gets mixed reviews on TripAdvisor, but I felt like I knew what I was getting into and that I had the option of choosing more expensive hotels.

Bonus: I tested Feb. 12-15 for Valentine’s Day weekend, and it was available. The same hotel package, without airport transfers, was available for $1,159 for two people including tax. An upgrade to the Outrigger Waikiki on the Beach came to $1,326.

When: For travel Jan. 8 - March 10

Contact: AskAboutHawaii.com  (800) 571-4510

Book by December 30th online !

Author: — Jen Leo, Los Angeles Times Travel & Deal blogger

Southwest Airlines Vacations is introducing Friends Fly, Stay and Ski FREE in Colorado, Nevada and Utah.

Skiing is more fun with a friend. Now Southwest Airlines Vacations is introducing Friends Fly, Stay and Ski FREE in Colorado, Nevada and Utah.

When flying Southwest Colorado via Denver, every second person flies free when you book a flight and hotel package. Stay four nights and get one of those nights free. Buy a three-day lift ticket and receive one of those days free.

To Nevada via Reno/Lake Tahoe, every second person flies free when booking a flight and hotel package. Every third night is free. Buy a three-day lift ticket and receive one of those days free.

Sample Tahoe Ski Vacation:
$424.53 per person for 3 nights at the Inn by South Lake Tahoe including 3 day Ski Tickets at Heavenly Valley & airfare from LAX to Reno

To Utah from Salt Lake City, every second person flies free when you book a flight and hotel package. Stay four nights and get one of those nights free. Buy a three-day lift ticket and receive one of those days free.

Travel must be for November 4-February 10, 2010. Hurry last day to book is November 26th

For more details visit: http://www.askabouttravel.com/8710337_3290.htm

or call us at (800) 644-7016

Google Offers Free Wi-Fi in Airports for Holidays

Google Inc. announced today that it is working with airports across the country as well as Boingo Wireless, Advanced Wireless Group, Airport Marketing Income and others to provide free Wi-Fi now through January 15, 2010.

The offer currently applies to airports in 47 cities, including Las Vegas, San Jose, Boston, Baltimore, Burbank, Houston, Indianapolis, Seattle, Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, Orlando, St. Louis and Charlotte. Additionally, as a result of this project, Burbank and Seattle airports will begin offering airport-wide free Wi-Fi indefinitely.

The upcoming Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's holiday is one of the heaviest travel seasons of the year and, according to FAA estimates, over 100 million people will pass through the participating airports between now and January 15, 2010. Due to bad weather and other extenuating circumstances, travelers often have extra time on their hands in the airport after they pass through security - 70 minutes, on average. Not surprisingly, having an Internet connection during this time can make a difference. A recent study conducted by the Wi-Fi Alliance reported that 50 percent of business travelers take red-eye flights in order to be "reachable" during business hours, and an overwhelming 82 percent said that being connected through Wi-Fi would help solve that problem.

As another way to pass on the spirit of the season, once they log on to networks in any of the participating airports, travelers will have the option make a donation to Engineers Without Borders, the One Economy Corporation or the Climate Savers Computing Initiative. Google will match the donations made across all the networks up to $250,000, and the airport network that generates the highest amount per passenger by January 1, 2010 will receive $15,000 to donate to the local nonprofit of their choice.

In total, 47 airports that together handle over 500 million passengers each year—or about 35 percent of the total number of annual passengers in the U.S.—will get the free Wi-Fi. In October, Google and Virgin America announced that, during this same period, all passengers on Virgin America will have free in-flight Wi-Fi. Five of the airports participating in the program are also Virgin America destinations: Boston, Seattle, Las Vegas, San Diego and Virgin America's newest destination launching November 18, Fort Lauderdale.

More information about the networks, including a full list of participating airports, is available at www.freeholidaywifi.com.

Wondering Where to Go with your frequent flier miles?

Top five frequent flier award destinations for September

Wondering where to go with all those frequent flier miles? If you know where to look, the airlines will help you choose flights with seats readily accessible to mileage program members.

In response to the outcry from mileage collectors frustrated by the lack of available award seats, the airlines are attempting to steer program members in the direction of flights which are good prospects for would-be award travelers, both by listing destinations with plenty of empty seats (hot spots) and occasionally discounting award flights to lower-demand destinations.
Some of these flights are running just half-full for good reason: They're dogs. Nassau during hurricane season? Thanks, but no thanks.

But among the throwaways are some real gems. Following are five award destinations the airlines are promoting for the coming month that merit special attention and are well worth your miles.

Note: If you haven't already booked an award trip for September, there's no longer any reason to let the prospect of exorbitant fees deter you, at least if you're a Mileage Plus member. United has eliminated its fees for award tickets booked within 21 days.

The top five picks for September to cash in your miles:

1. Albuquerque
Travelers can approach Albuquerque in either of two ways: as a destination in its own right, or as a base for excursions to other New Mexico destinations like Taos, Santa Fe, Roswell, or Las Cruces.

The city itself reflects the state's deep and diverse cultural influences, ranging from Spanish to Mexican to Native American. The downtown dress code embraces cowboy boots and Stetsons alongside Brooks Brothers suits. Jewelry tends toward silver and turquoise designs tracing their roots back to Zuni and Navajo craftsmen. And whether the restaurant is Italian, Japanese, or Mexican, the locals find sly ways to incorporate chiles into almost every dish. Yes, dessert included. Both American and United feature award seats to Albuquerque during September.

2. Denver
Denver's elevation is exactly 5,280 feet above sea level, so the Mile-High City moniker is both appropriate and technically correct. (The city, incidentally, has at least two other unofficial nicknames: Queen City of the Plains, and Wall Street of the West.)
And fall is a great time to visitnot too hot and not too cold.

Fun fact: Denver's airport, usually referred to as DIA (for Denver International Airport), covers 53 square miles, making it the country's largest airport, area-wise.
Award seats to Denver? Both American and United have them.

3. Canada
Next up: our neighbor to the north, Canada.
For September, United is featuring Calgary, Edmonton, Halifax, Montreal, Ontario, Ottawa, Regina, Saskatoon, Toronto, Vancouver, Victoria, and Winnipeg. With award travel readily available to so many Canadian cities, travelers should be singing "O Canada!"

4. Mexico
Mexico's continuing drug-related violence makes travel to the country a calculated risk in the border cities. But that risk also makes it a terrific potential value for travel to the resort areas. While the airlines have cut back on their Mexico flights to compensate for the decrease in demand, they still have plenty of empty seats. For September, American lists Cancun among its recommended award destinations, and United is featuring Cabo, Cancun, Mexico City, and Puerto Vallarta.

And in yet another sign of the falloff in travel to Mexico, Alaska Airlines is offering a 10,000-mile discount on award flights between three California cities and seven Mexico destinations, through the end of October.

Great rates for hotel rooms are as plentiful as award seats, so there's never been a better time to enjoy Mexico for poquito pesos.

5. London
Underscoring the severity of the travel slump, Londonhistorically among the most popular award destinationsis still featured as an award destination by both American and United, making this a jolly good time for a London pub crawl. Along with award seats, fall showers are in the forecast, so don't forget to pack the mac and the brolly.

this article was taken from The Smarter Travel Blogs
Read previous columns SmarterTravel.com features expert travel advice and unbiased coverage of travel deals.

Sandals Resorts International Purchases Four Seasons In Great Exuma, Bahamas

Sandals Resorts International Purchases Four Seasons In Great Exuma, Bahamas

MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica, Aug. 20 /PRNewswire/ -- Sandals Resorts International (SRI), parent company of Sandals Resorts, Beaches Resorts, The Royal Plantation Collection and Grand Pineapple Beach Resorts, today announced the purchase of the recently shuttered Four Seasons Resort Great Exuma at Emerald Bay for an undisclosed sum. According to Sandals Resorts Founder and Chairman, Gordon "Butch" Stewart, the 500-acre property, which features a championship Greg Norman golf course and world-class marina, is set to become a Sandals Resort and will be called Sandals Emerald Bay, Great Exuma, Bahamas. Following certain enhancements customary to the Sandals Resorts brand, including an expansive new pool complex and additional dining establishments, the resort will open January 22, 2010.

"This is a remarkable moment in the history of Sandals Resorts," Stewart said. "We are acquiring one of the most spectacular pieces of real estate in the Caribbean, which was operated by one of the world's most highly regarded hotel companies. This is a reflection of all that Sandals Resorts has accomplished and a tremendous opportunity to further demonstrate our commitment to providing the very best vacation in the Caribbean. We look forward to bringing our Luxury Included(R) experience to this special property, which has been kept to impeccable standards."

Unfolding like a grand estate, Sandals Emerald Bay is set along a one-mile stretch of white sand beach on Emerald Bay, Great Exuma, Bahamas. According to Stewart, the all-suite resort will offer a selection of 190 "magnificently-appointed" luxury accommodations with styles that range from beachfront villas to charming bay house settings - all oceanfront, all extremely spacious and all serviced by butlers trained by Sandals Resorts through the company's exclusive partnership with the Guild of Professional English Butlers.
Other amenities include a fully-equipped tennis center featuring six Har-tru courts lit for night play with professional stadium seating fit for competition; a full-service Red Lane(R) Spa with 22 indoor treatment areas and six exotic outdoor sanctuaries; plus six gourmet restaurants, including four new concepts introduced by Sandals Resorts, a fine-dining seafood restaurant, an authentic Italian brick-oven pizzeria, a French-style cafe and a traditional British pub complete with a pool and snooker room.

Unique to the Great Exuma property is a stunning 18-hole Greg Norman-designed championship golf course, reputed to be among the best in the Caribbean, as well as a 17-acre, stand-alone Emerald Bay Marina by Sandals, the first-ever marina for any Sandals Resort. This fully-protected, deepwater marina offers 133 slips and is equipped to accommodate and service yachts up to 300 feet in length. Open to the public, the marina also features a welcoming clubhouse with a full-service restaurant including al fresco dining on a spectacular wraparound terrace, pool, a world-class Red Lane(R) Spa and facilities to accommodate families with children.
Continued Investment in the Caribbean

Sandals Emerald Bay is the fourteenth Sandals Resort in the Jamaican-based company's portfolio and the third investment the company has made in The Bahamas, already home to Sandals Royal Bahamian Spa Resort & Offshore Island in Nassau and Royal Plantation Island at Fowl Cay in the Exumas. "We have deep roots in The Bahamas. We know the people and these islands well and it is our distinct pleasure and honor to further our partnership in tourism here," Stewart said.

Rare Original Declaration of Independence Copy to Tour Princess Alaska Ships July 4th Week

Rare Original Declaration of Independence Copy to Tour Princess Alaska Ships July 4th Week

Exclusive Opportunity for Passengers to View Historic Document During Juneau Visits

SANTA CLARITA, Calif. (June 17, 2009) – A rare, original copy of the United States of America’s founding document will make an exclusive appearance aboard Princess Cruises’ Alaska-based ships the July 4th week, giving passengers the unique opportunity to see the only traveling copy of the Declaration of Independence – just as the country celebrates Independence Day. The historic exhibit will be showcased aboard all Princess ships calling in Juneau between July 1-8, 2009.
Hosted in partnership with Declare Yourself, a non-profit organization founded by legendary television producer Norman Lear, this unique opportunity marks the first time a copy of the Declaration has visited Alaska, and the first time a cruise line has shown the famous document.
The Declaration will be on display aboard the vessels for about two hours while each ship is docked in Juneau. The document will be shown aboard Diamond Princess and Star Princess on July 1; Coral Princess on July 2; Island Princess on July 3; Pacific Princess and Golden Princess on July 6, and Sapphire Princess and Sea Princess on July 8.
“This is an amazing opportunity for our passengers to get a first-hand look at history, which is especially poignant at a time of year when our country celebrates its independence,” said Jan Swartz, Princess Cruises executive vice president. “It’s a rare occasion when we can bring such a unique attraction right on board – this document has never been shown on a cruise ship before. It will be a memorable way to mark the week of Independence Day as well as Alaska’s 50th anniversary of statehood.”
The only touring copy of the Declaration of Independence, Declare Yourself’s historic document is one of an estimated 200 original broadside copies (about the size of a sheet of newspaper) printed by John Dunlap in Philadelphia in 1776 after it was drafted by Thomas Jefferson, to distribute across the colonies and to King George in England. This copy’s current journey began in 1989 when a Pennsylvania shopper bought a frame at a flea market for $4.00. Later, while inspecting a tear in the back of the painting, he discovered a piece of paper wedged between the frame and painting. He pulled it out and uncovered what would soon be authenticated as the 25th remaining copy of the Declaration of Independence. The document changed hands several times and was purchased in 2000 by Lyn and Norman Lear for $8.14 million, with the goal of bringing the document directly to the American people.
Declare Yourself is a national nonpartisan, nonprofit campaign that was founded in 2003 to empower and encourage every eligible 18-year-old in America to register to vote. For more information about Declare Yourself, visit http://www.declareyourself.com/.

Additional information about Princess Cruises is available through a professional travel agent, by calling 1-800-PRINCESS, or by visiting the company's website at http://www.princess.com/.

Princess can also be found on:Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Princess-Cruises/19788524059
Twitter: http://twitter.com/PrincessCruises
Flickr: http://content.princess.com/pcan/?TzHzmtFyg.ePyQcbOL3FnpyXs5GptFknT&http://vocuspr.vocus.com/VocusPR30/Url.aspx?515440x690658x-1056358

Homeland Security to educate travelers about upcoming passport changes

The Department of Homeland Security's Custom and Border Protection division is ramping up its advertising campaign to remind travelers and travel arrangers about international-travel laws that will go into effect on June 1, 2009. As part of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, all travelers entering the U.S. by land or sea will need to show one of six different documents to prove both identity and citizenship: passport; U.S. Passport Card; new, RFID-enabled state/province-issued driver's license from U.S. or Canada; or NEXUS, SENTRI or FAST trusted traveler cards. Details about these document requirements are available at getyouhome.gov.

Laluna - Small Intimate 5 start Resort in Grenada

Beach, Italin Style Laluna has a look and vibe that would suit ArmaniI'll be honest: My wife and I were leery when we saw the last stretch of road to Laluna, a quarter-mile-long, impossibly runneled chunk of Caribbean dirt with more ruts than Keith Richard's face. It was enough to make us wonder if conditions had improved in Grenada since "the intervention", as locals call the 1983 American-led invasion that made the island safe again for banana daiquiris and cinch medical degrees. Indeed, as Laluna co-manager Wendy Potter, the wife of proprietor Bernardo Bertucci, puts it, "Even now we get calls from America asking, 'Is the war still going on?'". Happily, Grenada has been at peace for two decades now, and in Laluna it has one of the region's most tempting hideaways, a tiny yet tony gem (maximum guests: 32) that's well worth the chauffeured schlep over a rutted road. Carved into an oleander- and hibiscus-scented hillside above a nearly deserted beach, Laluna is the brainchild of Bertucci, a 39-year-old Italian by way of New York City, where he spent 10 years in the fashion industry as a consultant to Giorgio Armani, La Perla and Prada. It's no coincidence that his 16 cottages - cool concrete dusted in shades of blue, green and cinnamon - are the work of the same designer who did Armani's European vacation villa.On an island that was named by the Spanish, ruled by the French and colonized by the English, it makes perfect sense that Grenada's most stylish hideaway would be run by Italian's, who have brought a distinctly global flavor. "Everything here has a story," Bertucci says. The teak four-poster beds, hand-carved bathroom mirrors and kooky crotch-grabbing fertility symbols? Bertucci handpicked them in Bali. The Medusa-style light fixtures and exotic bath creams? Imported from Italy. Why, Bertucci even thatched the open-air bar and restaurant with 30,000 pounds of elephant grass direct from Vietnam. Guests can embark on excursions to the rain forest, visit the Saturday spice market in nearby St. George's and take spins on a Hobie Cat, kayak or mountain bike. Or they can do what we did: lounge on the beach, enjoy in-room massages and watch the sunset from our private plunge pool overlooking the sea. Nighttime brings a new cast of characters. There's chef Benedetto La Fiura, whose Sicilian specialties (with a Caribbean twist) put the fare at Tony Soprano's favorite restaurant to shame. There's Wilton, the dreadlocked David Blaine of barmen, who can entrance you with an industrial-strength rum punch and a bulging bag of parlor tricks.Two years after its launch Laluna has turned into a hot spot among in-the-know fashionistas, to say nothing of urban hipsters from New York, London and Milan who want to avoid the tourist hordes that overrun the neighboring islands. (Model Jerry Hall and former Eurythmics member Dave Stewart are two recent guests.) Best of all, Laluna is proof positive that you don't need a flamethrowing, drumbanging floor show to have a memorable Caribbean vacation. Good food, a gorgeous setting and a chill vibe: Another U.S. invasion may be coming, only this time it won't be the Marines.

article as seen in Sports Ilustrated Winter 2003

Disney World Buy 4 nights Get 3 Free nights & Park Tickets

Disney World On Sale - Pay for 4 nights & get 3 nights FREE!
Hurry book before January 24th! ! !

7 Nights with Tickets from $429!
To Kick Off 2009 Walt Disney World® Resort is Offering Incredible Deals on Resort Hotel Stay & Theme Park Tickets for Travel 1/4/09-6/27/09!
7 Days and Nights for the Price of 4!
As an added bonus for traveling between 1/4/09 and 3/29/09 you will receive a $200 Disney Gift Card*!
Booking Window: 11/07/08 - 1/24/09

Shop Online-Get Prices with Airfare Click Here

Disney Value Resorts 7 nights
Disney's All-Star Movies Resort $429
Disney's All-Star Music Resort $429
Disney's All-Star Sports Resort $429
Disney's Pop Century Resort $429

View the Value Resorts Overview Video (Adobe Flash)

Disney Moderate Resorts 7 nights
Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort $579
Disney's Coronado Springs Resort $579
Disney's Port Orleans Resort-French Quarter $579
Disney's Port Orleans Resort-Riverside $579

View the Moderate Resorts Overview Video (Adobe Flash)

Disney Deluxe Resorts 7 nights
Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge $779
Disney's Wilderness Lodge $779
Disney's Contemporary Resort $869
Disney's BoardWalk Inn $995
Disney's Beach Club Resort $995
Disney's Yacht Club Resort $995
Disney's Polynesian Resort $1,039
Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa $1,139

View the Deluxe Resorts Overview Video (Adobe Flash)

Disney Deluxe Villa Resorts 7 nights
Disney's Old Key West Resort $909
Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa $909
The Villas at Disney's Wilderness Lodge $969
Disney's Beach Club Villas $995
Disney's BoardWalk Villas $995

Disney Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground
7 nights
Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground
$839

Travel Window: 1/4/09 - 6/27/09

Package Prices are Per Person and Include:
7-Night Disney Resort Hotel Accommodations
Disney's Magical Express Roundtrip Airport/Hotel Transportation Service
7-Day Magic Your Way Base Ticket
$200 Disney Gift Card*
Planet Hollywood $10 Certificate
2-for-1 Wet 'n Wild Admission

Shop Online-Get Prices with Airfare Click Here