Orbitz Blog

Saturday, September 4, 2010

Gulf Oil Spill update

We’re closely monitoring the impact of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill on destinations along the Gulf Coast. Find daily updates here:

As of September 4, 2010:

Florida- All Florida beaches are open to the public.  All Oil Impact Notices for Florida have been rescinded with the exception of Perdido Key west to the state line in Escambia County.

Alabama – The Alabama Department of Public Health has lifted all swimming advisories in Gulf Shores, Orange Beach and Fort Morgan

Mississippi - A health advisory in Hancock County from Nicholson Blvd in Bay St. Louis west to Oak Blvd in Lakeshore.  A health advisory in Harrison County from Henderson Point in Pass Christian to Azalea Avenue in Biloxi.
A health advisory in Jackson County from Main Street in the Beale Fountain area west to Seashore Avenue.

Louisiana- A health advisory exists for all gulf waters from Martin Beach on the LA/TX state line to Fontainebleau State park near the LA/MS state line.

Gulf Islands National Seashore- Beaches are open, but an Oil Impact Notice is in effect for property in both Perdido Key and Pensacola Beach.

Related resources

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Friday, September 3, 2010

Tweet to win a $50 Restaurant.com gift card!

Follow CheapTickets on TwitterWe’re celebrating great travel with a Twitter giveaway that’ll make any foodie smile. If you love to dine out, you won’t want to miss this Orbitz Twitter Giveaway and the chance to win a $50 Restautant.com gift card!

Here’s all you have to do to enter:

Credit: kelowna09.

1. Follow @Orbitz on Twitter (if you’re not doing so already)
2. Retweet the contest message posted on the @Orbitz Twitter page by Tuesday

We?ll announce the winner on the @Orbitz Twitter page. If it?s you, make sure to send a direct message via Twitter within 48 hours. Remember, all entries must be received by 8:59 a.m. CT on September 7, 2010.  Limit one entry per person/twitter address.

Read on for official rules…

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Thursday, September 2, 2010

Philadelphia Live Arts Festival and Philly Fringe


Philadelphia Live Arts Festival and Philly Fringe

Philadelphia Live Arts Festival and Philly Fringe.

By Richard Hammer

Where else but Philadelphia can you attend two different arts festivals on the same trip? Each year in September the Philadelphia Live Arts Festival and the Philly Fringe are held consecutively.  It’s 16 days of nonstop, wild creativity and daring performances.  This year the festivals are being held from September 3 -18, 2010.

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Thursday, September 2, 2010

Dig deeper: More airlines add more and higher extra fees

Credit Kossy@FINEDAYS

Credit: Kossy@FINEDAYS.

By Joe Brancatelli

Are travelers paying more to fly? Yes and no. While fares themselves are still far below the rates they reached in 2008 during the height of the oil crisis, fees are adding up fast. Several studies released in recent weeks indicate that the total price travelers now play to fly is 50 percent above the basic fare for the ticket. Bag fees and other so-called ancillary charges are driving the increase. And there are two more fee changes to report:

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Wednesday, September 1, 2010

4 must-eat dishes to try on New Orleans vacations

Cafe Du Monde Credit davisseal

Sip cafe au lait and nibble on powdery beignets in the French Quarter's Cafe du Monde. Credit: davisseal.

By Maria Mora

New Orleans is famous for jazz, nightlife and a rich culture. At the heart of all this artistic energy is the unique food that gives the Big Easy its flavor. And great, other worldy food can be found everywhere in N’awlins from the city’s street vendors to some of the best restaurants in famous New Orleans hotels. If a New Orleans vacation is on your list, make sure to add these delectable dishes to your must eats:

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Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Huntington Beach for sandy SoCal vacations

Huntington Beach. Credit RJ Bejil.

Huntington Beach. Credit: RJ Bejil.

By Whit Honea

When people take a Southern California vacation there are usually two big stops on the itinerary: Disneyland and the beach. Huntington Beach is a favorite destination beacuse it combines the best of beach vacations with a convenient locale close to the Disney resort. Surrounded by a host of other popular coastal towns like Seal Beach, Costa Mesa, and Newport Beach, the area is known for its eclectic shops and picturesque beach lifestyle. It also boasts an incredible surf, thanks to an effect caused by the nearby Catalina Island. Huntington Beach is also a quick drive to Knott’s Berry Farm and the assorted treasures of Long Beach: the Aquarium of the Pacific and the Queen Mary. Read the rest of this entry »

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Monday, August 30, 2010

Summer lives on with Honolulu fall festivals, concerts

Book your trip during the Orbitz 48-hour sale and you can get the 3rd night free plus breakfast here at Moana Surfrider in Honololu.

Book your stay now at the Moana Surfrider hotel in Honolulu during the Orbitz 48-hour sale and you'll get your 3rd night free plus breakfast!

By Susan Johnston

While summer sun and heat have given way to cooler fall temperatures across most of the U.S., that carefree summer spirit will live on in Hawaii for months to come. Especially in Honoloulu,  where you can extend your summer well into fall with an array of festivals, concerts, and other activities.

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Friday, August 27, 2010

Bali: The best of Indonesian shopping, dining, delicacies

Jayakarta Hotel and spa. Credit leozaza

Recharge your batteries at Jayakarta Hotel and Spa after a long day at the beach. Credit leozaza.

By Brooke Lenzi

Jam-packed with hotels, restaurants, and dance clubs galore, Seminyak, Bali was the perfect beach vacation destination for two single women. After first visiting bustling Kuta to the south, Seminyak was a nice change for my friend and I on our trip to Bali this spring. Being less congested with tourists, cars, and motorbikes, you don’t get as harassed by vendors, either. Seminyak was the perfect “home base” from which to adventure into the city of Denpasar.

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Thursday, August 26, 2010

Escape the heat with cool Seattle hotels

Seattle.Credit Seattle Municipal Archives

The landmark Space Needle is a staple of any Seattle vacation. Credit: Seattle Municipal Archives.

By Whit Honea

I know a good Seattle vacation when I see one. That’s because I live in Seattle and spend a good portion of my time playing tour guide to friends and family who aren’t lucky enough to be local. I could plan a Seattle vacation in my sleep.

A lot of my guests are happy to stay on my couch, but there are times when Seattle hotels are the better option. If that’s the case, I always suggest the Edgewater. I could go on and on about how it is Seattle’s only waterfront hotel with a breathtaking view of Elliott Bay or its easy access to popular tourist attractions. But the fact is, I like the Edgewater because the Beatles stayed there, they now have a Beatles-themed suite and they host all kinds of cool Beatles events throughout the year. Beatles history trumps posh amenities any day in my book (but luckily the Edgewater has those, too).

But a great hotel is only the start to any vacation. There’s so many things that my guests ask to see on their Seattle vacation. These are the five most popular:

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Thursday, August 26, 2010

Big hotel chains head to secondary Europe markets

Hilton Gdansk

Enjoy a stay at the new Hilton Gdansk in Gdansk, Poland.

By Joe Brancatelli

Big hotel chains looking to expand are increasingly looking around the world for opportunities. Major chains have long been fixtures overseas, of course, but the pace of expansion in recent years has picked up dramatically. And besides the obvious growth markets–China and India–the chains are beginning to penetrate what would normally be seen as secondary markets. For example, Hilton has opened a 150-room property in Gdansk, the chain’s second in Poland. And Marriott has opened its first two hotels in Sweden: a 278-room Courtyard in Stockholm and a 128-room Renaissance in Malmo. Marriott claims it will double its portfolio in Europe in the next five years.

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