Orbitz Blog

Articles for January, 2008

Wild things: Exotic animals on the Vegas Strip

Thursday, January 31st, 2008

Shark_reef
By Joe Vegas

Along the Strip, Las Vegas hotels are home to some of the most exotic and dangerous animals in the world. And we’re not talking elderly mob figures who still troll the sports books every now and then. We’re talking about sharks, lions and dolphins, just to name a few.

Beginning on the far southern tip of the Strip, Mandalay Bay‘s Shark Reef, a 1.6 million-gallon aquarium that you can walk around, under and through, holds some 15 different species of sharks, along with crocodiles, stingrays, a massive pool of jellyfish, piranhas and other rarities you wouldn’t want to see unless they’re behind very thick Plexiglas.

To the north, a shimmering brass lion not only adorns the MGM‘s front entrance, but live lions greet visitors inside the casino. For the price of nothing, visitors can watch lions behind Plexiglas in a made-to-look-real habitat, as they frolic, stare at you with steaks in their eyes, or simply doze.

A bit farther north is Siegfried and Roy’s Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat. There’s a 2.5 million-gallon pool that is home to a family of Atlantic bottle-nose dolphins that you can watch up closer than in any other conservation or amusement park facility. Our favorite feature is being able to see the nearly extinct white tigers up very close. It’s a bit sad to see them in captivity, but it would be even sadder to think of their fate in the wild.

Then the most exotic, endlessly fascinating and infinitely unique creatures are those that line the Las Vegas Strip 24 hours a day, seven days a week. They are, of course, us. People sit for hours on the Strip just to partake of that very human, and always interesting , sport of people-watching.

Related Orbitz resources:

Joe Vegas currently resides in the Writer’s Protection Program, and
somehow manages to lay low while living the high life in Sin City.

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Party in New Orleans: Top Mardi Gras tips

Wednesday, January 30th, 2008

Mardigrasblog By Christie Crawford

With Mardi Gras coming up on February 5, travelers have one more reason to book a New Orleans vacation. In fact, some of this year’s parades have already begun. So with so much to do, I wanted to get the inside scoop on the best ways to enjoy Mardi Gras. I talked to Renee Saussaye at the New Orleans Convention and Visitors Bureau to get some tips, and this is what she shared with me:

The three most popular parades to watch are the "super krewe" parades that happen the Saturday, Sunday and Monday before Mardi Gras Tuesday. They are put on by the krewes of Endymion, Bacchus and Orpheus and typically feature celebrities. This year, Kevin Costner will be lead Endymion and Harry Connick Jr. and the coach of the New Orleans Saints will lead Orpheus.

"Throws" — the metal coins, cups and necklaces tossed from the floats — turn Mardi Gras parades into audience-participation events. (Please read tip #5 before grabbing some of the swag.)

And here are the CVB’s top tips for people who travel to New Orleans for Mardi Gras:

1.  Bathrooms: Especially if you have children with you, figure out where the nearest facilities are. Port-o-lets are placed in various locations, but lines are usually very long. To use the restrooms in restaurants and bars, you need to purchase something. Don’t expect just to walk in without getting stopped. A local group has written a popular song about this dilemma entitled "No Place to Pee on Mardi Gras Day."

2.  Sunscreen: Bad sunburns can be had in New Orleans even in February, so make sure to bring and use sunscreen.

3.  Folding chairs. Unless you will be viewing parades from a balcony or grandstand, you might want to bring folding chairs/stools with you. Standing all day long can be very exhausting. Of course, if you bring them, you have to carry them. If you are planning on just viewing parades, it’s a great thing to have. If you aren’t planning to go back to your hotel before you walk around the Quarter, you won’t want to lug them with you.

4.  Water. It can get quite warm standing in the sun and watching parades and unless you want to spend a fortune on soft drinks for the kids, bring some bottled water with you.

(more…)

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Cozumel: A predictably perfect Mexico vacation

Tuesday, January 29th, 2008

By Ted Alan Stedman

Embrace uncertainty and avoid the predictable is a tenet of travel I usually abide by. Usually, that is, because each year I willfully veer off-course for Cozumel, where tourmaline-colored waters, paper-white beaches, superlative diving and spicy Mexican culture reliably satiate my Caribbean affliction.

In many ways it’s all about the water in "Coz," and you can take it from an authority. In 1962 Jacques Cousteau declared this Mexico jewel one of the world’s top diving areas because of its nearly unlimited visibility and brilliant coral. Diving’s since become the island’s soul. More than 20 miles of coral reefs, over 40 dive sites, around 500 fish species and bath-like water temperatures lure some 80,000 divers annually.

Impulsive types like me love that diving logistics are no problema in Cozumel. Most resorts have their own dive shop or arrange dives. Since my ’01 diving introduction here, I hang my flippers at the Wyndham Cozumel Resort and Spa. The best dive sites take all of 5 minutes to reach from the resort’s dive shop and pier.

But dive-centric as it is, Cozumel isn’t a one-trick pony. I might carouse the island’s sole town, bustling San Miguel, searching for the best fish tacos and margaritas. Or stroll Chankanaab National Park, the world’s only inland coral reef.

My favorite terra firma adventure? Revving up a rental scooter and cruising the remote windswept eastern beaches, then making the rounds to renew my seasonal acquaintances at the handful of cheery shoreside cantinas where everybody knows my name.

Come to think of it, predictability is not all that bad.

Here are a few of my photos:

Created with Admarket’s flickrSLiDR.

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By ski, bike, kayak, safari vehicle and on foot, Ted Alan Stedman has journeyed in six continents and hopes to soon close in on number seven: Antarctica. The Denver-based writer is a former ski journalist for the Rocky Mountain News, and these days is a regular contributor to Sport Diver, Islands, Sunset, Outside and Outdoor Photographer magazines.

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A hotel for kids: Nickelodeon Family Suites in Orlando

Monday, January 28th, 2008

Nicksuites
By Samantha Chapnick

If I could have designed an Orlando hotel purely for children, this would be it.

My daughter was so excited about staying at the Nick Hotel (a.ka. the Nickelodeon Family Suites by Holiday Inn), it served as leverage for the entire week before we left.

After all that eat-your-vegetables-brush-your-teeth-or-else
coercion, my fingers were tightly crossed it would live up to her
expectations.

It did. And far exceeded mine.

It started on a great note and just got better. The popular Nick
characters popping out against the white backdrop delighted her.

"Mommy look! There’s Jimmy Neutron (on the elevator door)! Wanda (on
the lobby rotunda)! Timmy! What’s Vicki doing there??? (each building’s
lattice work roof had a character)!"

And then when we got to our room, a two-bedroom Kids’ Suite with a
bunk bed and TV already playing Nickelodeon: "MOM!!!!! Spongebob is on
my wall!" Followed by the overwhelming hug and excited thank you that
makes every parent wish it was ethical to keep kids on vacation forever
and never give them baths or vegetables.

Thanks to very creative use of color, character placement, the
overwhelmingly genuine enthusiasm and quality of ALL the staff, the
resort’s zeitgeist was genuine whimsy.

Thought had clearly been put into ensuring parents would never hear
the words "I’m bored" no matter the quantity or age of their kids.

The air and water temperatures were too cold for us, but most
people’s days were spent in one of the two courtyards. Ours, the
"lagoon," was anchored by a giant interactive four-story water tower and
pool.Nicksuiteslagoon The orange and green tower was a well-engineered mix of slides,
flumes, climbing nets, aim-able water jets and a 400-gallon dunk tank.

The pool was divided by a rope into two, a regular pool for swimmers
and an interactive shallow soft-surface play area for non-swimmers (and
non-walkers) generally with parents.

The fully enclosed basketball court with multiple-height baskets and
pool table were very popular with teen-agers. Toddlers had their own
soft-surface area with a small slide.

(more…)

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Scaling Australia’s Sydney Harbour Bridge

Friday, January 25th, 2008

Mike_nelson_bridgeclimb2 By Mike Nelson

A great way to take in the views of Sydney, which is one of the most beautiful cities in the world, is to do the BridgeClimb. This is a climb to the top of the famous Sydney Harbour Bridge, 134 meters (440 feet) above the water. The views of the harbor, city, and Opera House are spectacular.

The climb itself takes about an hour and a half and is not physically demanding. There are about a thousand steps, but only half of them are used on the way up and only a small number of them require a 90-degree vertical climb.

Don’t worry about having the right clothing. Climbing gear is provided, including an outfit. You can wear shorts, or nothing, underneath the provided outfit. It takes about an hour of preparation and instruction before you begin your climb.

The gear and instruction is a bit of overkill in the name of safety. The BridgeClimb operates in all forms of weather, with the exception of lightning … which seems like a good exception. It rained during our climb, but visibility was good and the experience was very enjoyable.

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Mike Nelson is chief operating officer for Orbitz Worldwide.

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A germophobe’s tips for staying healthy on the road

Thursday, January 24th, 2008

Stock_luggage_st
By Samantha Chapnick

Even the heartiest travelers can find it hard to stay healthy on flights
full of coughing, sneezing and nose-blowing passengers. You already know that you’re supposed to
eat right, exercise and get enough sleep. In the first of this two-part series, I share some
other tips that road warriors
say they use to stay healthy.

Disclaimer: While I hope these strategies work for you, everyone
and every situation is different. Use your judgment or call your doctor
before trying anything you find questionable.

  • Wash! Wash! Wash! You may not realize how
    many germ-y things you touch: Luggage that has been handled by 20
    people, bathroom door handles used by hundreds before they wash,
    upholstered seats that are never cleaned. You get the idea. Most
    doctors agree that the single most important thing to do to avoid
    infection is wash your hands often. You’re supposed to wash for at least 25
    seconds (turn the water off for conservation) and make sure to get the front, back and under the
    nails to kill as many bugs as you can.
  • Hands off. If germs were Lamborghinis, our mouths and noses
    would be their autobahn (before there was a speed limit). Half of the
    cold-causing viruses are rhinoviruses, meaning they enter the body
    through the nose and reproduce there faster than rabbits. Most of the
    rest do the same in the mouth. So do whatever you can to keep your
    hands away from your nose and mouth — even if they are recently
    washed. And always wash before eating anything!
  • Ditch the duvet. That 600-thread-count hotel bedspread probably
    has the same number of germs — considering most don’t get washed very
    often. Before you get to the room, ask housekeeping to remove the
    bedspread and provide an extra sheet to put on top of the blankets.
    There’s a good chance the blanket in the closet has been washed more
    recently than the one on the bed, so you might want to switch those out
    too.

(more…)

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New Las Vegas hotel, club add excitement to the Strip

Thursday, January 24th, 2008

If you’re looking for something new on your next Las Vegas vacation, here are two spots you may want to try.

The Palazzo Resort Hotel just opened in mid-January. With more than 3,000 suites, upscale shops and restaurants and a Canyon Ranch SpaClub, the Palazzo is "the new standard for luxury and sophistication in Las Vegas," Palazzo President Rob Goldstein says.

The Shoppes at the Palazzo features a two-story waterfall and shops including Barneys New York, Van Cleef & Arpels and Christian Louboutin. Celebrity chefs including Mario Batali, Charlie Trotter and Wolfgang Puck have restaurants at the hotel. And music mogul Jay-Z is behind the hotel’s 40/40 Club sports bar.

Elsewhere on the Strip, The Bank Nightclub at the Bellagio hotel says it caters to "a discerning audience with higher sensibilities." A glass-encased dance floor and custom-designed lighting aim to create an elegant atmosphere. The club also features European bottle service and VIP booths. The Bank is open Thursday through Sunday, 10 p.m. to 4 a.m.

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Travel tips: Avoiding toddler chaos on a family vacation

Wednesday, January 23rd, 2008

Hoyt_daugher
By Brian Hoyt

No longer can my wife and I hop the subway to the airport with a
backpack and a beach towel. We can fill up an entire station wagon now
… yes, I own a station wagon. We have the car seat, the Pack ‘n Play, my
daughter’s toys and sheets and stuffed animals and her special
crackers, and that book I was intent on bringing that I will never
finish. And then, of course, there are the million other items that are sure to
put our luggage over the weight limit when we check in at the airport.

Enough!

There must be an easier way to take a family vacation, to make this
journey more manageable. I don’t want to cringe at the very thought of
packing and moving from point A to point B. Travel is supposed to be
fun … isn’t it? 

Friends of the family travel battlefield, here are a few tips for making this experience … I won’t say easy, but more palatable:

  • The drop off. If your departure destination is anything like one
    of our friendly Chicago-area airports, know that sometimes a two-step
    process is better for your mental health. Step One: I like to
    drive right to Hourly Parking, drop off my wife, children and baggage
    first. I walk them to a secure place, usually a seat in the baggage
    area near other travelers, where they will sit for a few minutes while
    I park the car. Hourly Parking is usually right within an airport. For
    around 5 to 6 bucks, you can park for 30 minutes and secure a luggage
    cart (a saving grace of the family traveler). Step Two: Drive
    back to the economy parking, park your car and shuttle back to airport
    – a process that usually takes around 20 minutes max. Not having to
    endure the trip back to the terminal on the shuttle with your bags and
    toddler can actually be one of the most meditative parts of your
    travels!
  • To buy or not to buy. Okay, so junior is right around the
    2-year-old-mark and you are debating on-the-lap child vs. the purchase
    of a seat on your next flight. My wife and I have the "2 Hour Rule."
    If a flight is over two hours, we buy (especially if we are dealing
    with a child over 1 year old — the squirmy year). More than two hours
    on a plane means a definite meltdown of Three Mile Island proportions.
    We did a lap child on our recent Miami vacation. Huge mistake, and
    everyone on the plane paid for it. And if you are concerned about
    having to take a car seat on the plane or if you should buy one of
    those car seat/stroller combos, check out the new FAA-approved child
    safety harness systems you can purchase for around $75. The harness
    straps around the seat and seatbelt, making the toddler (who can sit up
    on their own) secure. Note: The FAA-approved child harness differs from
    some of the "belly belts" that I’ve seen online, which attach to the
    parent’s own body. Some airlines do not allow the "belly belts," but in
    my experience, most flights allow use of the FAA-approved, in-seat
    child harness systems.

(more…)

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Las Vegas is a great vacation spot for teens

Tuesday, January 22nd, 2008

Vegasblog
By Liz Robertson

Las Vegas probably isn’t the first destination that comes to mind when it comes to family vacations, but it has evolved in recent years to a place where there is lots for families to do at a reasonable price. My kids have great memories from the four days we spent there over one spring break.

Lots of great travel deals are available for Las Vegas hotels, and the nice thing is you don’t have to stay at the most expensive hotels to enjoy their attractions. For example, the Stratosphere Hotel has amusement park rides at the very top of its building. This ranks high on the "cool" factor for kids who are into rides and can brag that they went on some 900 feet up in the air! The New York New York Hotel also offers a roller coaster, and the Treasure Island hotel has several shows of simulated pirate ship battles. 

Other activities we enjoyed included seeing the living statues on the streets of "Venice" at the Venetian, checking out the lights and fountain show at the Bellagio, and enjoying the many and varied dining options. There are also lots of Vegas shows that are family appropriate. We went to see the Penn & Teller magic show and talked and speculated about how they did their tricks for hours and days afterward.

The spring break time frame also offers a temperate climate in Las Vegas and a chance to just hang out at the hotel pool for some more relaxing time. It’s worth noting that the gambling rules for minors are strictly enforced, so you don’t have to worry about your child inadvertently trying a slot machine. Overall, I would recommend Las Vegas as a great place to travel for a short but exciting family vacation.

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Liz Robertson is a full-time working mother with a 17-year-old son
and 14-year-old daughter. With everyone’s busy schedules, she looks
forward to family vacations as an opportunity to reconnect and
experience new places together.

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A family spring break in Puerto Vallarta

Monday, January 21st, 2008

Randle_family_6
By Monica Randle

We booked our spring break family vacation well in advance, since we
were traveling as an extended family of seven to sunny Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Since the snow can linger in Chicago until baseball’s Opening Day (yes, I’ve been to Wrigley Field at the beginning of April when it was
snowing), we decided to travel
south to enjoy our spring break vacation on the beautiful beaches of Puerto
Vallarta. Grandma, Grandpa (babysitters!), Mom (that’s me), Dad, Uncle
Ryan and little 1-year-old Logan took a direct flight to Puerto Vallarta out of Chicago O’Hare
just before a snowstorm.

We stayed at the Velas Vallarta Suite Resort. It is an all-inclusive,
kid-friendly resort, just a short ride from the airport and about a
10- to 15-minute cab ride from downtown Puerto Vallarta. Despite what I had
read about this pristine resort, I had visions of an all-inclusive
having watered-down drinks, inedible food and an overcrowded romper
room of a kid’s pool. My worries were quickly put to rest.

Our hotel room was a three-bedroom villa with a veranda and gorgeous view of Banderas Bay. The room was set up with the crib and high chair I
had requested, and it had a full kitchen complete with microwave and
dishwasher.

From the hotel grounds, the adult and children’s pools and beach were all
beautiful. There was even a small playground next to the children’s
pool that my son loved. For older children, there’s a kids’ camp.
There were three restaurants on site (all kid-friendly) that did require
reservations, but we had no problem booking. There were also tennis
courts where my poor husband lost to my dad again and again. My
mom and I rose early (ok, not every day) for sunrise yoga on the beach.

(more…)

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