Orbitz Blog

Articles for September, 2008

New American Girl Place opens in Chicago

Tuesday, September 30th, 2008

Chicagohotels
Chicago no longer enjoys a monopoly on American Girl Place pilgrimages, now that additional outposts have opened up in Dallas, Atlanta, New York and Los Angeles (with new stores in Boston and Minneapolis coming soon).

But the city’s still a major mecca for doll-loving pre-teens and their parents, and it’s bound to remain that way as American Girl Place moves this week to larger digs in the former Lord & Taylor space at Water Tower Place.

The new home, surrounded by top Chicago hotels, restaurants and shops on North Michigan Avenue, is being promoted as an "experiential" store combining new attractions with familiar features from the old Chicago Avenue store.

Among the new offerings is the Celebration Screen, described as a "larger-than-life entertainment experience" where girls can share the spotlight with American Girl characters. Another new addition is an avenue of specialty shops with a variety of American Girl accessories.

American Girl Place will celebrate its grand opening with a variety of free activities throughout the weekend, including a book signing at 5 p.m. Saturday, October 4, with American Girl author Valerie Tripp.

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Hawaii resorts roll out new spa services

Tuesday, September 30th, 2008

Hawaiivacation
By Lena Katz

The whole local/seasonal/organic movement is not just about what’s on your plate. It’s become just as significant in spa culture, inspiring a slew of new products and specialty treatments that range from tempting to bizarre to kinda scary. Hawaii hotels and resorts have really gotten into the new spa spirit, updating their facilities and rolling out new treatments that are island-inspired, experience-driven or of-the-moment. The latest offerings include:

Raw Spa — Villa vacation specialist Pure Maui brings raw food philosophies into the island’s luxury market. Maui’s wealth of fresh foodstuffs and green living things — not to mention its laid-back pace — enables all sorts of raw, organic, veggie and naturalistic practices. However, getting back to nature used to mean going off the grid a bit — whether to the Paia pineapple fields or the Keanae jungle. Now, nature comes to luxury travel, in the form of lavish avocado/apple-banana/yogurt deep-conditioning masks and fresh-ground coconut/coconut milk body baths. Ingredients are fresh and island-grown, and the experience is sensory and pampering as opposed to DIY (buy avocados & yogurt at market, mash together in a bowl, hope you don’t get a rash).

Fruit Salad Spa — Personally I can’t resist a spa treatment that makes me feel and smell like a delectable dessert; hence my fondness for the Lilikoi Fruit Melody, a specialty treatment at the newly opened Heavenly Spa at the Westin Ka’anapali. This body exfoliation/wrap features the delectable passionfruit (lilikoi is its island name). It’s first teamed with sugarcane, then whipped into a nourishing "body butter soufflé." Yum. Fresh fruity beverages, sorbet, soufflé … this treatment’s as good as the dessert station at a champagne brunch. The new 10,000-square-foot space features 13 treatment rooms including three couples’ massage suites. If you’re part of a duo, I recommend the ritual couples’ massage followed by a coconut crème/frangipani milk bath.

The Four Seasons Maui does luxury pampering better than any other resort on the island — and once again, it’s ahead of the curve. During a recent afternoon visit, I noticed a new cabana spa menu, customizable and designed for poolside enjoyment. In many ways this makes more sense than a regular spa treatment, which, let’s be honest can be too much of a commitment, especially on a gorgeous Maui afternoon. These quickie little 20-minute foot rubs and massages allow you to keep your premium poolside spot, hang on to your fruity cocktail, and maintain the chic resort-casual ensemble you thought out so carefully back in the room.

Over in Honolulu, Wyland Waikiki opened a new spa at the end of May. Though it’s relatively small, with only four treatment rooms, its program is surprisingly exotic: Ocean Massage is performed in a saltwater tank, while Ganban Yoku stone table treatments are Japanese in origin, and new to Hawaii. Both of these merit investigation for people interested in holistic medicine and natural wellness. Ocean massage incorporates shiatsu and stretching components; Ganban Yoku is categorized under "detox therapy."

Post-script: Though the Keauhou Beach Resort in Kailua-Kona doesn’t have anything to report on the spa front, it recently completed a $6 million renovation. In addition to newly revamped rooms and complimentary high-speed Internet, this Big Island property is offering some great promotional rates.

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Lena Katz lives on the Left Coast and writes about tropical islands, beach clubs and food, but her heart belongs to NYC.

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Win a pair of Klipsch® Image X10 headphones

Monday, September 29th, 2008

Imagex10headphones
Maybe it was when the baby cried for all but 15 minutes of that never-ending flight. Or when the guy next to you shouted on his cell phone during the entire train ride. Or when that jackhammer started pounding on the street outside your hotel room.

But you tell us.

We want to hear your stories about when you could have really used a top-of-the-line, state-of-the-art set of ear headphones while you were traveling.

Funny or infuriating, driving or flying — doesn’t matter. Just submit your best story — in 700 characters or less — and you could win a set of award-winning Klipsch Image X10 earphones. These tiny earphones are literally music to your ears as they block outside noise and are so comfortable you can enjoy sonic bliss no matter how long your trip.

Just download the entry form
and send it to blog@orbitz.com. We’ll select the best entry and the winner will be announced In early November. We look forward to hearing from you.

Read more about Klipsch Image X10 headphones, the world’s smallest and lightest full-range, in-ear headphones.

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY; void in AK, HI and where prohibited. Open only to legal US residents 18 years or older residing in the 48 contiguous U.S. (includes D.C.) at time of entry. Contest ends at 11:59 p.m. CT on October 26, 2008. Click here for Official Rules and entry.

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Vegas update: New restaurants, shows, hotels and more

Friday, September 26th, 2008

Lasvegascrissangel
By E.C. Gladstone

It’s amazing, but it’s true: while so many parts of the U.S. are experiencing economic challenges — slowing down, tightening belts, watching budgets — Las Vegas continues to explode with so many new offerings (even though some things are on hold even here), it’s hard to keep up! So I just had to step back and take a quick inventory of everything new we’re going to see in Sin City before the end of 2008:

Restaurants

I’ve already detailed all the new nightclubs and lounges, but at Lavo and SushiSamba, the food is as good as the scenes (both Palazzo). Other new restaurants include Tender Steakhouse (crazy selections of beef, game meats, oysters, caviars) and T&T Mexican at Luxor, Kerry Simon’s new must-go at Palms Place, addictive BLT Burger (Mirage ), sexy sushi/sake spot Koi (Planet Hollywood), Yellowtail at Bellagio, Brand Steak at Monte Carlo, and a totally redesigned dining room and menu at Border Grill (Mandalay Bay).

Entertainment

On the entertainment front, the big news is Cirque du Soleil‘s new Criss Angel BeLIEve show at Luxor, and — proving that old is new again — Donny & Marie at Flamingo. Other new shows include Raw Talent Live (a streetwise futuristic Latino dance production, at Sahara), Scarlett-Princess of Magic (about time we had a female magician, at Planet Hollywood ) … and watch for Terry Fator moving to Mirage, Danny Gans bringing a new show to Wynn and Gordie Brown returning to Golden Nugget.

Gaming

Not to forget Vegas’ "raison d’etre," there are a few new things in gaming as well, including the Hard Rock Hotel‘s superswanky poker room, Planet Hollywood‘s cool, tech-loungey sportsbook, the first totally automated poker tables in Nevada at Excalibur, and a dedicated New Slots area at Golden Nugget to try tomorrow’s hot machines today.

Shopping

New retail includes EDIDI New York handbags (Palazzo), Paige Premium Denim (Venetian’s Grand Canal), and Kira Plastinina (Fashion Show).

Hotels and resorts

There are even several new Las Vegas hotels opening up, including Aliante in the Northwest, Summerlin’s Element (an eco-friendly Westin Starwood boutique), Henderson’s 80-acre M Resort, Eastside Cannery on Boulder Highway, and by the end of the year, right in Strip central, Steve Wynn’s sure-to-be-magnificent Encore.

Last but definitely not least, the Mirage will debut a new, very impressive volcano in December, with an event that should not be missed!

Insider tip: It isn’t cheap, but for those with hearts of gold (and wallets to match), Andre Agassi‘s annual Grand Slam for Children charity gala on October 11 at Wynn is going to feature Sheryl Crow, The Killers, David Spade, Rod Stewart and many surprise guests.

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E.C. Gladstone is a former editor for AOLVegas, and interviews top
Strip entertainers, restaurateurs, moguls and behind-the-scenes
players for VEGAS Magazine. Like many Las Vegans, he sleeps only when
absolutely necessary.

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Planning a successful family reunion

Thursday, September 25th, 2008

Harvestfestival
By Donna Mulligan

Each year my (very extended) family gathers for a long weekend reunion in the Adirondacks in upstate New York. We couple our reunion with the dates of an annual Harvest Festival. This allows our extended family of 20 or more to earmark this particular weekend on a yearly basis.

Although the destination for our reunion has always remained the same lake retreat, we have varied our accommodations from year to year to year. From hotel rooms to time-share condominiums, individual family cabins and private home rentals. As our families grew out of strollers and baby proofing, our accommodation needs changed also. The kids find it exciting to explore a new resort and their amenities each year.

The most important element in planning and achieving a successful family reunion is to be flexible. Sometimes our extended cousins and their families can make it, some years they can’t. Sometimes all my siblings fly in for the event, sometimes they just can’t. Every family member knows they are always welcome.

Another tip is to let everyone enjoy what they want to do. We all have different interests, and the weekend should be a pleasant, not dreaded, event. Whether it is fishing, or shopping, hiking or tubing, or simply watching the boats on the lake, we intentionally don’t plan on everyone doing everything together.

Reunions are a special time for grandparents. My mom looks forward to this reunion all year and has an overwhelming sense of pride seeing her children and grandchildren, nieces and nephews all together.

Honestly, I have a very close family. I look forward and enjoy this time with them every year.

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Donna Mulligan is a full-time working mom to 3 hockey players, ages
18, 16 and 12. Her family’s favorite travel destinations include
Killington, Vermont, the Adirondacks, Florida’s Gulf coast, and Quebec
City.

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Family reunions at Montana’s Glacier National Park

Thursday, September 25th, 2008

Stmaryslake
By Kimberly Myles

This past August I tagged along for a family reunion photo shoot at Glacier National Park in Montana. The chance to experience the great outdoors and bond with family is an excellent excuse to visit one of the most beautiful parks in the National Park Service system.

My friend Jenny, an area professional photographer, captured the 20-member reunion using stunning Going-to-the-Sun Road backdrops.

We caravanned around the park, stopping on cue for classic views such as the mountain-framing St. Mary’s Lake, crystal clear Lake McDonald, and the top of the world at the Logan Pass Visitor Center.

Going-to-the-Sun Road tips

To stay connected with separate vehicles and to stick to the shoot schedule, we communicated via walkie-talkie. Since the park does not have cell phone coverage, it’s a good idea to either rent or bring a two-way radio with you to stay in touch. With over 1 million square miles of natural park land, do what you must to stick together.

Going-to-the-Sun Road has some of the best scenery in North America, along with sharp curves and higher altitudes. Always bring plenty of water to stay hydrated and stop to rest if you feel dizzy.

Loganpassvisitorcenter
Try to schedule your family vacation in Glacier National Park for the summer months of July or August. This is the best time to ensure the part of the park you want to visit is open. Watch out for mid-September, since Logan’s Pass may close unexpectedly for an early snow.

Flathead Lake

Going-to-the-Sun Road is gorgeous, but other photogenic spots are well worth the stop, such as the stunning Flathead Lake. Flathead is the largest freshwater lake west of the Mississippi and is framed both with fir forested hills and rugged grasslands.

East Glacier

The more rugged east side of the park also hosts spectacular views. Be sure to stop for a photo next to the statue of John F. Stevens, who braved extreme conditions to found a route through Marias Pass for the railroad. This location also boasts an obelisk monument to President Theodore Roosevelt, who made land conservation a national priority and marks the site of the continental divide, where water falling from one side of the Rockies drains all the way to the Pacific Ocean and on the other drains into the Atlantic.

Group activities

Keep your family entertained with scheduled activities. Some tour companies will take both small and large groups on combination trips that include rafting, horseback and fishing or your can pick and choose the activity you want and schedule it with different companies. With a little planning, your family can join a cattle drive with a local working ranch.

JohnfstevensHuddle together for a sleigh or wagon ride depending on the season. In the winter, most of Glacier Park is closed, but you can schedule a group downhill ski trip to nearby Whitefish or take the family cross-country skiing in certain areas of the park.

Trail rides

Tackle the beauty of Glacier National Park up close with a guided horseback ride. No matter what your family’s skill level, there’s a ride that will fit your group’s needs. We enjoyed a two-hour trip along the Sperry trail with Swan Mountain Outfitters in Apgar. We meandered along the glacier-fed Flathead River and rode deep into the Lodgepole forest.

Dude ranch

For a more in-depth horseback experience, you can schedule a family vacation to an area dude ranch. Join a cattle drive, camp out under the stars for either day trips or overnight adventures.

(more…)

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Delta says ‘C you later’ in Cincinnati

Wednesday, September 24th, 2008

Deltaairlines
By Joe Brancatelli

Delta Air Lines insists that no hubs will be closed if it gets approval to merge with Northwest Airlines. But anyone who looks at a route map and sees the Delta hubs in Cincinnati and Atlanta and the Northwest hubs in Detroit and Memphis knows better. Of course, the way Delta is cutting at Cincinnati, it might all be moot. Besides a nearly 27 percent cut in flight schedules this month, Delta is abandoning Cincinnati’s Concourse C. All flights will now operate from Concourse A and B. Delta will be on the hook for the lease on all 48 gates at Concourse C until 2025. … The Transportation Security Administration has opened its Self-Select lane program at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport. It’s the 36th airport to add the black expert, casual and family lanes this year. … Frontier Airlines has switched to Terminal 6 at Los Angeles. … There are now 520 USB ports and power outlets under terminal seats and tables scattered throughout Boston Logan Airport. … Atlanta fliers take note: The airport is now selling another type of personal parking license. Members who pay $405 for the Silver Reserve program get the right to park in a new members-only lot; a transponder; and 12 days worth of free parking. .. Effective November 1, United is trimming more flights in Los Angeles. Most notable cuts: The end of nonstop flights to Newark and Philadelphia.

MILEAGE METER

Starwood starts a frequent-flier program — sort of: Starwood Preferred Guest, the frequent-guest program that includes Westin, Sheraton, Four Points and W hotels, is rolling out a new program called SPG Flights. In plain English, it allows you to trade Starwood Preferred frequent stay program points for airline seats. Since Starwood will buy the seats from the airlines, there are no capacity controls or restrictions and you can use your points to pay for everything, including taxes and fees. Everything is based on the price of the ticket. The cost chart starts at 10,000 points for airline tickets worth up to $150 in value. A $500 ticket will cost 40,000 points. A ticket worth up to $999 will cost 75,000 points and a $10,000 ticket will cost 775,000 points. The program is clever because travelers hate all the new fees, rules and restrictions slapped on frequent-flier programs. But it’s not necessarily an effective use of your SPG points. Consider: 48,000 points will get you four nights at the Sheraton Waikiki and a fifth night free. Buying that room would cost $199 a night and taxes of about 12 percent. That makes the 48,000 points worth about $1,100 of accommodations. But it would only buy you about $600 worth of airline travel via SPG Flights.

NEED TO KNOW

On-the-road intelligence to help you travel smarter: Continental Airlines has joined the crowd of airlines charging you to check a bag. Effective immediately for travel beginning on October 7, most Continental flyers will pay $15 for a checked bag. (The second bag checked already costs $25 on most carriers.) Only full-fare coach, premium-class flyers and elite One Pass program members are exempt from the charge. … Sun Country Airlines has added a $12 first-bag fee, too. … United Airlines has climbed down from its plan to eliminate meals in coach on trans-Atlantic flights from its Washington/Dulles hub. … GrandLuxe, the rail line that was formerly known as American Orient Express, has folded. … Zoom Airlines, a discount Canadian carrier that specialized in trans-Atlantic service, has folded. … Southwest Airlines has gone to a cashless cabin. Only credit cards will be accepted on board. … United Airlines is now selling double and triple Mileage Plus miles for each flight. The program is called Award Accelerator is the cost is about 3 cents a mile, which is very expensive when you consider frequent-flier awards rarely yield as much as 3 cents a mile of free travel.

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Joe Brancatelli is editor and publisher of JoeSentMe.com, a non-commercial Web site for business travelers.

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Affordable Orange County: A weekend getaway guide

Tuesday, September 23rd, 2008

Orangecountysunset
By Alina Motin

Temperatures are perfect in Orange County nearly all year-round. I recently moved here from the Midwest and I don’t take the beautiful weather for granted. In the beach areas, you are typically surrounded by affluence like sprawling beach homes and exquisite yachts, but it is possible to enjoy the area economically.

One thing to keep in mind is that you will need to have a car. There isn’t a way to get around the area without one.

Among Orange County hotels, Ramada Limited in Costa Mesa/Newport Beach has great rates on weekends in the fall. The hotel is about a mile away from the beach.

While in this area, make a stop at Balboa Bay Island. This is a walkable, laid-back island. You will notice that most residents have private yachts in front of their homes. You must treat yourself to a frozen chocolate-covered banana here, a treat that originated on the Island.

From the island, take a ferry ride to Newport Beach for $1 (for an extra buck your car comes with you on the ferry). Once on the beach, rent a boogie board or a beach cruiser (rentals are available right on the beach). Sharkeez is a great place for lunch, where you can enjoy delicious fish tacos and margaritas.

For evening festivities, drive about 10 miles north to Huntington Beach. Check-out Savannah for its happy hour special. This is a great people-watching place as it sits right on the beach. Stay for the sunset (some of the most beautiful sunsets are here on the West Coast).

The following day should be spent exploring Laguna Beach, located about 15 miles south of Newport. On your drive down, stop in at the Beachcomber Café for breakfast. This area is preserved so it has retained the ambiance of a 1930s beach resort. The restaurant sits right on the beach and you can enjoy breakfast for about $6-$10.

In Laguna, stay at Laguna Beach Inn. The hotel is near the beach and they offer complementary parking, hot breakfast and wine and cheese reception in the evening. Explore the many art exhibits Laguna has to offer.

In the evening, watch the sunset from Casa Del Camino‘s roof-top bar (across from Laguna Beach Inn). There is a great tapas restaurant, K’ya, downstairs at the hotel. Or you can check-out Brussels Bistro for dinner (a 5-minute drive). Here, you get good, reasonably priced food and of course a great selection of beer. If you’re not ready to call it a night, go to the White House. It’s a laid-back bar, maybe a little cheesy, but nevertheless a fun place for some late-night dancing!

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Alina Motin is an Orbitz market manager in Orange County.

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New all-inclusive resorts open in Mexico, Caribbean

Monday, September 22nd, 2008

Eldoradoroyale
By Lena Katz

Every day it seems like newer, different and more luxurious all inclusive resorts are cropping up around the Caribbean and Mexico. The catch phrase now isn’’t "more for your money," it’s everything and then some, all for one price.

Spanish brand Riu is making the biggest splash, no question — and in two different places within the same month. In early September the chain opened Riu Montego Bay, a sprawling low-rise bungalow property surrounded by tropical gardens and situated in the heart of Jamaica’s most dynamic resort district. With four restaurants, four bars, multiple pools and a full-service spa, this property gives a lot of options. Thumbs-up on the 24-hour dining option, the in-room minibars and the spectrum of formal dining options (Asian, Italian or steakhouse) available by pre-reservation.

The latest Riu development, the Riu Palace Pacifico, opens on October 3 in the thriving Riviera Nayarit  resort district. This property ranks within the very highest tier of Riu properties. It offers everything: variety, quantity, quality and novelty … the latter mentioned because even though the Riviera Nayarit is swiftly becoming one of Mexico’s most popular resort destinations, most tourists still haven’t gotten the opportunity to check it out. The Riu Palace’s emphasis on service is markedly different from the overly friendly/intrusive "guest host" service style usually seen in European all-inclusives, and we like the change — hopefully other all-inclusives will follow the lead. And finally, guest suites are spacious but warm and elegantly decorated, without the sterile feeling that can characterize all-inclusive digs. Guests get all the comforts of home and hotel: mini-bars, bathtubs with massage jets, flat-panel television, 24-hour room service and ocean views (in select suites). If boredom sets in, take a jaunt to either of the Rius in neighboring Puerto Vallarta — your Nayarit room key gets you comp passes to Riu Vallarta and Riu Jalisco nightclubs, as well as some of their restaurants.

In spite of a rather suggestive name, the Temptation Resort Spa is not one of the Riviera Maya‘s eyebrow-raising "adult" (i.e. nude or naughty) properties. There is one European-optional pool, but the other two require standard swimwear, while the rest of the property — six restaurants, four bars, seven Jacuzzis, etc. — leans toward the trendy/cosmopolitan vibe rather than the scandalous. This adults-only resort one of the pricier all-inclusives to open in the past year, but it’s been offering some deep discounts lately.

By far my favorite of the new all-inclusive concepts is the "gourmet inclusive" — same one-price concept, only with an emphasis on sophisticated atmosphere, upscale accommodations and, of course, really superior food. El Dorado Royale in the Riviera Maya is one of the first to pioneer the gourmet inclusive concept. It also is adults-only, which is a foolproof way of ensuring that guests can enjoy quiet grownup conversation along with their white tablecloth gourmet dinners.

Meanwhile established resorts like Mango Bay in Barbados keep their offerings up to par with the newcomers — in this case, literally. This boutique Gold Coast property just teamed up with about a half-dozen golf courses around the island, some of which are only open to members normally, to create new custom golf vacation options.

Related Orbitz resources:

Lena Katz lives on the Left Coast and writes about tropical islands, beach
clubs and ski resorts, but her heart belongs to NYC.

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Autumn leaves: Best places to see fall foliage

Friday, September 19th, 2008

Missourifoliage
If you live in New England, the Midwest or parts of the Southeast, getting your annual fix of colorful canopy can be as easy as stepping out your front door.

For others in the Prairie states or the Southwest, planning a weekend trip specifically to “leaf peep” may be the only answer.

For state-specific reports, the U.S. Forest Service offers a toll-free number — (800) 354-4595 — to assist color-craving travelers with local information. The automated line provides recorded, weekly color conditions and highlights the best travel routes for viewing the changing leaves that week. (more…)

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