Posted in California Vacation, Chicago Vacation, Food & Wine, Holidays & Events, New York Vacation, Travel News
By Ari Bendersky
How often do you hear about a fabulous restaurant, but then look at the menu and feel like you can’t afford it? Well fret no more, my friend, because with restaurant week, you’re as good as gold. With numerous cities around the country hosting restaurant weeks, now is a good time to combine travel with good eating. Restaurants are opening their doors, knocking down their prices and inviting everyone in to get a taste of the good life — at least for a few hours.
Many places across the United States, from major markets like New York, Chicago and San Francisco to smaller spots like Cleveland, Charlotte and Palm Springs, have participating events. I’m highlighting some of the bigger cities where dozens of the best restaurants and top-name chefs will create incredibly priced prix-fixe menus for you to indulge. So book your hotel and go. Read the rest of this entry »
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Posted in Business Travel, Family Travel, Gadgets & Gizmos, Top 10 Lists
(Courtesy: Apple)
By Ari Bendersky
When it comes to travel, nothing kills a trip faster than being in the dark about your plans. Fortunately, a number of apps have sprung up for the iPhone and other mobile devices that prove to help keep a happy traveler from becoming a wary one. While there are hundreds of great travel-related apps, I’ve picked ten that I love.
Google Mobile App (free)
With Google Mobile App, you literally have all the information in the world available at your fingertips. Its voice search makes speaking your search a seamless activity (and the voice recognition is usually spot-on). You can look-up facts, addresses, maps, restaurant recommendations and so much more. It’s a great companion to Wikipanion, Wikipedia’s mobile app. Read the rest of this entry »
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Posted in Business Travel, Flights, On the Road, Travel News
By Joe Brancatelli
NEED TO KNOW
On-the-road intelligence to help you travel smarter:
- Continental Airlines has temporarily shut down its fledgling service that offers live TV service on seatback monitors. The system, the same owned by and offered on all JetBlue Airways flights, still has a few installation glitches.
- Air France is now using an Airbus A380 configured with 538 seats on its Paris/CDG-New York/JFK route. The flights are AF 007 (JFK-CDG) and AF 008 (CDG-JFK).
- Business-class passengers on United Airlines p.s. service flights between San Francisco, Los Angeles and New York are now given lounge access as part of the ticket purchase.
- Continental Airlines switched to a cashless cabin this month, meaning all in-flight purchases must now be made with a credit or debit card.
- Air Canada is joining British Airways and the U.S. legacy carriers in charging for a second bag in coach on international service, including U.S. cross-border flights. The price is C$30 for a second bag on flights to the United States and C$50 on flights to Europe and Israel. Full-fare coach and business-class passengers and elite Air Canada frequent flier members are exempt from the fees, which kick in on January 19.
- Cathay Pacific is now selling exit-row seats in coach to all comers. The price on long-haul flights is $100 or 20,000 Marco Polo miles. Previously, only elite Marco Polo club members could book the seats.
Related Orbitz resources:
Joe Brancatelli is editor and publisher of JoeSentMe.com, a non-commercial Web site for business travelers. Copyright 2009 by Joe Brancatelli. Licensed by contract for Orbitz use.
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Posted in Business Travel, Flights, On the Road, Travel News
By Joe Brancatelli
MILES & POINTS
The Continental/United upgrade game: The integration of Continental Airlines into the Star Alliance has gone fairly smoothly considering it is the first-ever on-the-fly (so to speak) switch in the history of alliances. And now one of the last pieces of the puzzle — the order in which flight upgrades will clear — seems to be set.
For travel on Continental Airlines flights, first priority goes to Continental OnePass Platinums, followed by United Mileage Plus super elites (Global Services and 1K), followed by Continental Gold, United Premier Executive, Continental Silver and United Premier.
On United flights, the order is reversed. United’s top elites get first crack at upgrades, followed by Continental Platinum, United Premier Executive, Continental Gold, United Premier and Continental Silver.
The final piece of the puzzle has also been set, too. Continental Airlines is adding a super-duper-elite called Presidential Platinum Elite. That will give Continental OnePass a level to equal United 1K status. To become a Presidential Platinum Elite, you’ll have to be invited. And to be invited, you need to be a Platinum Elite flier (75,000 qualifying miles) and spend $30,000 on Continental. The new level becomes effective next year.
Related Orbitz resources:
Joe Brancatelli is editor and publisher of JoeSentMe.com, a non-commercial Web site for business travelers. Copyright 2009 by Joe Brancatelli. Licensed by contract for Orbitz use.
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Posted in Business Travel, Flights, On the Road, Travel News
By Joe Brancatelli
AIRPORT REPORT
Cincinnati, Delta’s odd hub out: When Delta Air Lines and Northwest merged, travelers looked at the combined carrier’s big hubs in Detroit and Atlanta and then glanced at the airline’s small hubs in Cincinnati and Memphis and realized that something would have to give. And despite Delta’s repeated claims that it had no plans to close any hubs, it is clear that Northwest’s old hub in Memphis is relatively safe and the big loser is Delta’s Cincinnati hub.
Even before the merger, Delta was downsizing in Cincinnati, where it once operated more than 400 daily flights. Now five additional destinations are going atop the previously announced cutbacks planned for February. Read the rest of this entry »
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Posted in Business Travel, Europe Vacation, Flights, Hawaii Vacation, International Vacations, On the Road, Travel News
By Joe Brancatelli
GREAT DESTINATIONS
More flights to Hawaii and Italy next year: Airlines often don’t like flying to Hawaii or Italy. It’s not that those two places are unpopular. Quite the contrary. They are among the favorite spots of vacationers and business travelers using free tickets earned with frequent flier miles. And that is the problem: Neither bargain-hunting holidaymakers nor free tickets actually make the airlines much money. But airlines are looking for any opportunity to generate revenue these days, so they are reexamining all of their assumptions. The result? Lots more service to Hawaii and Italy next year.
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Posted in Family Travel, Ski Resorts, Sports Travel
By Kate Schwartz
Move over Colorado, Summit County isn’t the only amazing spot for a ski vacation. As snow begins to blanket the west, Utah is seeing a good amount of powder and an even better base. Most runs are open at Utah ski resorts, and ski enthusiasts are coming out of the woodwork. Whether you are a local looking to make first tracks before hitting the office, or a visitor taking advantage of some of the best terrain out West, a Utah ski vacation will not disappoint.
There are many stand-out ski resorts in Utah. Here are just a few of the most popular:
Alta: Alta is the one of the last ski-only resorts in the country. Committed to “preserving and protecting the skiing experience,” Alta is a great place for those who don’t want to share the slopes with boarders. Read the rest of this entry »
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Posted in Family Travel, Orbitz Parent Panel, Travel Tips
By Chris Hill
It will happen at one point or another. You book a hotel for your family vacation. It is in a great location, and you got a really good deal . You check in and the hotel looks beautiful. You get to the room and surprise — parking is $20 a day. You get to the room, and it’s smaller than you thought. The kids start yelling about doing something. You turn on the TV, and it is all news; so you look for the pool, only to find it does not exist. You realize that you just booked a business hotel for a family trip. It’s not a great start to a long week.
Okay, so maybe this is a little dramatic, but parts of this scenario have happened to me when I simply looked for the “best deal” while planning a family vacation on a budget. My wife and I have learned to look deeper than just rate, looking at what exactly we get for the money. Here are some of my best tips: Read the rest of this entry »
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Posted in Family Travel, Florida Vacation, Orbitz Parent Panel, Orlando Vacation
Regal Sun Resort
By Mary Flynn
My husband and I took our 9-year-old twins and our 2 1/2-year-old grandson to the Regal Sun Resort in Orlando for a fun weekend getaway. I chose this Orlando hotel because it’s located in the Disney World area, has complimentary transportation to the parks and has great activities for our kids. We wanted a nice resort for us but also wanted our kids to enjoy the family vacation as well. Read the rest of this entry »
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Posted in Business Travel, Flights, On the Road, Travel News
By Joe Brancatelli
ROUTE MAP
US Airways Continues to Shrink It Network: US Airways, the smallest of the nation’s so-called “legacy carriers”– that’s the name for airlines tracing their lineage to the time before the 1978 deregulation of commercial air service — is shrinking again. The airline will drop two more domestic destinations (Colorado Springs and Wichita); shrink its one-time hub in Las Vegas to just 36 daily flights; and end flights from Philadelphia to five European destinations (Birmingham; London/Gatwick; Milan; Stockholm; and Shannon).
Three Midwest cities — Cape Girardeau, Missouri, and Quincy and Marion, Illinois — are back on the route map. Cape Air is using turboprops to reconnect connect the cities to St. Louis.
Horizon Air, Alaska Airlines’ commuter carrier, launched new flights to Mammoth Mountain, California, that will operate between Dec. 17 and April 11. The flights will depart from Reno, Los Angeles, Seattle and San Jose.
Related Orbitz resources:
Joe Brancatelli is editor and publisher of JoeSentMe.com, a non-commercial Web site for business travelers. Copyright 2009 by Joe Brancatelli. Licensed by contract for Orbitz use.
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