Orbitz Blog

Articles for February, 2009

See which New York hotels make ‘most romantic’ list

Friday, February 27th, 2009

New-york-hotel By Samantha Chapnick

New York City is arguably one of the most romantic cities any time of year. These are my top New York hotel picks for a weekend built for two:

1) Literary Lovers
Library Hotel — The hotel is next to the iconic Main branch of the New York Public Library. Each room is dedicated to one of the major Dewey Decimal System categories, there is a reading room, a poetry garden with terrace, and a Writer's Den with fireplace and an enclosed garden terrace. Sleeping in the main library itself is the only way you can get more literary in NYC.

Algonquin — If the 20th Century American literary scene wasn't actually born in this New York hotel, it surely served as midwife. Bring a good book, or better yet literary magazine, have a drink at the famous Algonquin Round Table and listen closely for the ghosts of the famous, including New York Times drama critic, Alexander Wollcott; Harold Ross of the New Yorker; Dorothy Parker and Edna Ferber.

2) Culture Vultures
Budget: Hotel Wales — Sitting on Madison Avenue, one block from Museum Mile, this New York hotel exudes the romance of being a house guest in Grace Kelly's apartment. If smoking were still cool, you'd do it here. This New York hotel is less expensive than its more famous brethren The Carlyle and Stanhope and a much better value.The rooms are typical NYC — small but very stylish — and it's literally one block from Museum Mile's best: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Guggenheim, Cooper-Hewitt and more.

The-Muse-New-York The Muse New York — Thespians can have both the chaos of Times Square and the serenity of a quiet gallery by staying at The Muse. Only one avenue from the lights, and footlights, of Broadway and Times Square, the hotel itself is an oasis of noise-canceling soft surfaces, muted calm colors, and attentive service. Perfect for a romantic night in after a long day out.

3) Celeb Spotting & Shopping
The Peninsula — This is the surest place to spot celebrities cuddling. Normally astronomically priced, the recession has taken a bite out of this elegant New York hotel's usual four-figure rates. With packages below $400 (almost unheard of!), you'll have plenty left over to splurge at the nearby 5th Avenue boutiques, the Jewlery District, or upscale department stores (Henri Bendel and Bergdorf). Or just window shop and return in time to see the rich and famous getting into the ever-present limos outside the hotel.

4) Affordable Affection
W The Court — Even locals are completely unfamiliar with this hotel hidden on a side street in Manhattan's Murray Hill neighborhood. With a teeny lobby, only a few rooms per floor, and relatively spacious rooms overlooking the trees and narrow street below (ask for one facing the street), you'll easily fool yourself into believing you own a townhouse in one of the city's toniest neighborhoods.

5) Foodies

New-york-hotels Le Parker Meridien — Stay at one of this New York hotel's north facing rooms and you'll be at a romantic winner on two fronts: food and view. This is the city's best deal by far. For about $250 a night, you'll have a dramatic views of Central Park, a pool with 360-degree views of the river, Central Park and the city skyline, and two of the city's most beloved restaurants. A Norma's breakfast is the only meal you'll need to eat that day. Valhrona chocolate french toast, Lemon Ricotta pancakes, Eggs Benedict made with asparagus, bacon and pancakes. As if that were not enough, peel back the secret curtain in the lobby and you'll find the Burger Joint, a hidden favorite for burgers and milk shakes with lines of midtown diners at lunch.

Mandarin Oriental — Even if the hotel wasn't a zillion-star property with a gym to kill for and a view that makes you feel like Gordon Gekko before his self-esteem crisis, this would be the elite foodies' preferred property. An elevator ride to Thomas Keller's Per Se, Bouchon and Whole Foods, and a block away from Jean Georges, staying here means never having to call room service.

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Samantha Chapnick is a New York writer who scours international destinations looking for what hasn't been found.

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Family vacation: Pack picks Great Wolf indoor water park

Thursday, February 26th, 2009

Wolf_slide By Kathy Karlesses

Indoor water parks are becoming more and more popular, and no one understands that better than folks who live in Northeast Ohio — or any other area where when the weather is bad, it’s really bad. That’s why, at about the February/March timeframe, my entire brood is longing for a family vacation.

There were some must-haves on our list:

  • under a two-hour drive;
  • a place that would appeal to a 13-year old, a 10-year old, and mom and dad;
  • and would not cost an absolute fortune.

After some searching, we decided on Great Wolf Lodge in Sandusky, Ohio. We chose Sandusky because it was a short drive, and there are other attractions in the area as well. We arrived on a Saturday in January and decided to let the kids hit the water park, as the rooms were not ready. I found it easy to keep track of the kids and because the water park is only open to guests of the hotel. It seemed less crowded than some of the others that we have been to in the area. This water park also has a special area for real little ones with a zero-depth entry pool.

Great_Wolf_Den We paid a bit more to stay in a Wolf Den suite that had a separate area carved out in the room for the kids. It had bunk beds that looked like a mini-cabin with their own TV. That left the king size bed and another TV for parents. The kids thought that was pretty cool.

 

For parents, there’s a fitness center as well as an adult-only Jacuzzi. And for non-water park activity, there’s an arcade and other organized activities (more for the 10-year old, but the 13-year old was entertained as well). The restaurants were fine, not too pricey.

Everyone had a nice, short getaway and it was just what was needed to brave the rest of the winter.

 

Kathy Karlesses is a Director of Account Development at Orbitz. She and her husband enjoy traveling to new (and not-so-new) places and watching the experience through the eyes of their two girls.

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Indoor water park adds splash to Chicago family vacation

Wednesday, February 25th, 2009

Travel By Dannelle Sibley

There are lots of indoor water parks in the Wisconsin Dells, just 3 to 4 hours from Chicago. But we decided to stick closer to home for our family vacation and visit CoCo Key Water Resort, which bills itself as Illinois’ largest indoor water park.

The water park is attached to the Sheraton Chicago Northwest in Arlington Heights, less than 30 miles from downtown Chicago. By staying overnight, we were able to request early check-in, and overnighters are allowed to visit the water park starting with the time you check in until the water park closes. Then the next day, you get to visit again from open to close (at no extra charge), so we got two days of water park fun.

With in-and-out privileges, we were able to take an afternoon break to let the kids eat lunch and take a nap. After nap time we played in the arcade and then hit the water park again. On the first day of our family vacation we went to the water park three times. The kids wanted to visit Parrot’s Perch — an interactive area with slides and a huge bucket that dumps hundreds of gallons of water every few minutes — one more time before bed. This was great because we didn’t have to worry about whining, fussy kids protesting to leave to go home — we just went upstairs to our room.

The next day at the crack of dawn, the kids were up and ready for breakfast. The hotel offers breakfast, and booths are equipped with TVs. After breakfast we hit the water park. Since we arrived at 2 p.m. the day before, going in at 10 a.m. was an added bonus. We were the first to arrive. I must say that comparing the 2 p.m. arrival to the 10 a.m. arrival was about the same in terms of cleanliness and maintenance. Everything was clean and shiny, and the staff was great. I wasn’t worried about the safety of the kids in the water. I fell into the water while trying to get into my inner tube, and I was immediately surrounded by four lifeguards. (The kids thought that was extra funny.) 

Familyvacations At the CoCo, CoCo Cabana

Also, by arriving at 10 a.m., we were able to get a cabana. It had room for up to six people and included tables, chairs, a TV, phone, wireless Internet and a safe — ours for the entire day at the water resort. This is a great perk to have on the day that you check out. It's the perfect place to relax when the kids get a little tired or take a break for a quick meal. Prices for the cabana range from $50 to $200, depending on the day of the visit.

After sliding down tubes — and being soaked by the huge bucket of water — you can grab a bite right there in the water resort: Hot dogs, fries, pizza, root beer floats, ice cream, tropical beverages, and snacks all are available.

The best part is that we didn’t have to wait for summer to feel warm weather. The temperature inside CoCo Key is never below 80 degrees.

If you can take more excitement on your family vacation, the new LegoLand Discovery Center is just a short drive away in Schaumburg, so you can make your close-to-home getaway a splash and build a staycation that the kids will love.

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Dannelle Sibley, a member of the Orbitz Parent Panel, is a full-time working mother and wife. With an 8-year-old daughter and 6-year-old son, she likes to plan travel vacations that are fun and educational.

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Top 5 close-to-home family vacation ideas near DC

Wednesday, February 25th, 2009

Washington-dc By Alistair Wearmouth

In case you haven’t yet been bombarded with the term, “staycations” are the travel world’s buzzword for budget-friendly family vacations that lie within driving distance — usually no more than several hundred miles — of your front door. “Staycationing” first entered the lexicon with last summer’s high gas prices, but it has taken on new resonance with the current economic meltdown.

Here in the Washington, D.C, region, we’re spoiled for choice when it comes to places to visit without needing to step foot in an airport. In fact, our local museums, monuments, and parks provide for the ultimate in staycationing ease. Why venture out when it’s all here on our doorstep?

However, in this roundup of my five best spring staycation picks, I'm going to steer clear of the region’s usual suspects — Philly, Baltimore, Virginia Beach, for example — and instead hone in on a handful of alternatives that you may consider for your next close-to-home family vacation.

1. Berkeley Springs, West Virginia
Why It’s Great: Usually billed as the ideal romantic getaway for time-starved D.C. power couples, the mountain town of Berkeley Springs actually makes for a surprisingly good family vacation. (After all, it was good enough for George Washington and his family in 1776.) Leave the spa lounging to the grown-ups and let the kids net crayfish and minnows out of the streams and pools in Berkeley Springs State Park, the town centerpiece. Pay a visit to the Museum of the Berkeley Springs, located above the main bathing area in the Roman Bath House (open to kids ages 6-12 when bathing with a same-sex parent), where you’ll learn about the town’s history as well as the geological underpinnings for its bubbling spring-fed waters.
Road Miles: 109 miles
Good for ages: 6-12, 13-17
An Alternative to: The Greenbrier Resort, West Virginia
Where to Stay: The Best Western Berkeley Springs Inn is a moderately priced in-town option that offers family-friendly amenities like a pool and free breakfasts.

Family vacation 2. Charlottesville, Virginia
Why It’s Great: It’s hard to avoid the footprint of history in the D.C. region, and the town of Charlottesville is no exception. Home to the 20,000-student University of Virginia, the college here was first established in 1819 by Thomas Jefferson on land owned by James Monroe. How’s that for historic bonafides? Charlottesville’s other main attraction is Monticello, Jefferson’s hilltop home where tours offer an interesting glimpse of his life, writings, and inventions. Located in the foothills of the scenic Blue Ridge Mountains, the Charlottesville area offers easy access to outdoor attractions including hiking, canoeing, and skiing at nearby Massanutten and Wintergreen ski resorts; Massanutten also features an indoor waterpark. Charlottesville’s large student body assures an eclectic mix of eateries and entertainment to suit all tastes.
Road Miles: 116 miles
Good for ages: 6-12, 13-17
An Alternative to: Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia
Where to Stay: Lots of good options here, particular as many properties cater to families with kids prospecting the university. The Omni Charlottesville Hotel, which caters to younger guests with its Omni Sensational Kids program.

3. Lewes, Delaware
Why It’s Great: Historic Lewes is just a few miles north of the twin towns of Rehoboth Beach and Dewey Beach, both popular summer havens for the inside-the-Beltway crowd. But before weekend traffic out to D.C.’s closest beaches gets too jammed, head to Lewes for a fun family vacation that combines both history and nature. First settled by the Dutch in 1631, the small and walkable historic core features a number of buildings dating back to the 18th and 19th centuries, not to mention some decent shops, galleries, and eateries. Of course, it’s not all about boring history, with family-sized fun in the form of bike rides through nearby Cape Henlopen State Park, offshore sportfishing excursions, and a kite-flying festival on the beach each April (bring your kite regardless, as conditions here are ideal). Mom and Dad might also appreciate a quick tour of the Dogfish Head brewery in nearby Milton, too!
Road Miles: 122 miles
Good for ages: 6-12, 13-17
An Alternative to: Virginia Beach, Virginia
Where to Stay: If you’ve got older kids (ten and up), try the Lazy L at Willow Creek, a rustic B&B that offers a good mix of amenities as well as a communal kitchen area where you can prepare your own meals (http://lazyl.net/index.html). Try the Sleep Inn & Suites in nearby Rehoboth, which will be opening two-room family suites and an outdoor splash pool in spring 2009 following extensive renovations.

Family vacations 4. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Why It’s Great: The Pittsburgh Steelers, this year’s Super Bowl champs, are just one more reason to head to the Steel City for your Mid-Atlantic family staycation. While its Keystone State sister city Philadelphia tends to get all the column inches for its well-regarded historic and family-friendly attractions, Pittsburgh boasts its own excellent mix of culture, art, history, and flat-out fun. Highlights include dinos at the world-renowned Carnegie Museum of Natural History, 2,000-plus animals at the Pittsburgh Zoo, and the seven themed zones of wet-and-wild fun at Idlewild theme park, located just outside of Pittsburgh. The adjacent Laurel Highlands — featuring skiing, whitewater rafting, bike trails, and Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater — offer lots of added incentives for calling in sick and extending your road trip.
Road Miles: 245 miles
Good for ages: 6-12, 13-17
An Alternative to: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Where to Stay: The riverfront Sheraton Station Square is conveniently located to the downtown attractions and Station Square shops and eateries, or try the SpringHill Suites Pittsburgh in the family-friendly North Shore ‘hood, close to the Carnegie Science Center, the Children's Museum of Pittsburgh, and the Warhol Museum (the hotel also offers a free shuttle to other area attractions within three miles of the hotel).

5. Southwestern Virginia
Why It’s Great: Tiny Damascus (population: 1,072) in the far-southwestern corner of Virginia calls itself “Trail Town USA” because of the lattice of national and regional trails, including the Appalachian Trail, that skirt the town. In particular, kids will love cruising the 35-mile Virginia Creeper Trail, a multi-use rail-trail that offers a fun ride from Abingdon to near Whitetop on the Virginia-North Carolina state line (Damascus sits roughly in the middle). A number of Damascus-based bike shops can help with rentals and shuttles to and from the trailhead, meaning you don’t have to sweat the return leg of this mostly flat, scenic trail. Other options for the outdoors-inclined include hiking to Virginia’s highest point, 5,729-foot Mount Rogers, or horseback rides through Grayson Highlands State Park and on the Virginia Creeper Trail. If you can’t find somewhere suitable to stay in pinprick Damascus, gateway towns for this region include Marion and Abingdon, both of which lie off the I-81 corridor.
Road Miles: 368 miles
Good for ages: 13-17
An Alternative to: Shenandoah National Park, Virginia
Where to Stay: Try the elegant General Francis Marion Hotel in Marion.

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Alistair Wearmouth is an editor at Away.com. With two young children now in tow, his travel perspective has shifted seismically from digging out the best backpacker hostel in Kathmandu to coping strategies for toddlers on a trans-Atlantic flight. His world travels have taken him through Europe, India, Nepal, Japan, Southeast Asia, the Canadian Rockies and beyond.

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New hotels open from Key West to Waikiki

Monday, February 23rd, 2009

Key-west-hotels By Joe Brancatelli

HOTEL HOT SHEET

A New Definition of Shangri-La: Free Hotel Internet — Shangri-La, the luxury chain that operates 60 hotels and resorts, most of them in Asia, now offers free Internet access to all guests. The free wired and Wi-Fi access includes guestrooms, public areas, restaurants and function rooms. … Lots of action from Starwood Hotels. The Royal Hawaiian hotel in Waikiki has reopened after a multi-million-dollar renovation. The beachfront property is part of Starwood's Luxury Collection. Meanwhile, a 429-room Westin has opened in Jersey City, just a few minutes by ferry from midtown Manhattan. A 291-room W Hotel has debuted on the Atlanta hotel scene in Buckhead. … Meanwhile, there are many reflaggings, too. The latest changes: Hotel Indigo has opened a branch near Paddington Station in London. … Crowne Plaza is now the flag on the Executive West, a 588-room hotel near the convention center in Louisville, Kentucky. … Hilton is now the name on the door of the 277-room former Radisson in San Antonio. And Hilton's Waldorf-Astoria Collection has picked up two properties in Key West. The Casa Marina and The Reach resorts underwent more than $80 million of renovations last year.

INTERNATIONAL AGENDA

Air Canada Adds, Air Jamaica Subtracts. Air Canada and its Jazz commuter carrier are bulking up its transborder service from Alberta. Effective May 15, it will launch daily Calgary-San Diego service. Nonstop service to Portland, Oregon, begins on June 15. … Air Jamaica, which is always financially stressed and forever growing and shrinking its network of flights, is shrinking again. The carrier will drop its flights to Jamaica from Atlanta, Los Angeles and Miami. It will also drop two intra-Caribbean routes to Barbados and Grenada. … Speaking of Jamaica, JetBlue Airways will fly there for the first time. Beginning May 21, it will launch service from its New York/Kennedy hub to Montego Bay. … Turkish Airlines says it plans to add ten routes from its Istanbul hub this year, including nonstops to Washington/Dulles and Toronto. And the airline's existing Chicago-Istanbul route will go daily effective in April. … Etihad Airways, the flag carrier of Abu Dhabi, says it will launch three weekly nonstop flights to Chicago on September 2. The service, using three-class Airbus A340-500s, goes daily on October 1.

NEED TO KNOW

On-the-Road Intelligence to Help You Travel Smarter: American Airlines has opened a new Admirals Club at Washington/Dulles airport. It's in Terminal B, where American flights have been operating since June. … Meanwhile, United Airlines is raising prices for membership in its Red Carpet Club. Effective February 28, fees rise $25-$100 annually depending on your status in the Mileage Plus frequent flier program. … Effective February 16, US Airways will charge coach passengers $7 for pillows and blankets. The so-called Power-Nap Sack is a take-home kit that includes a $10 gift certificate for SkyMall purchases. … Skype has released a new version (4.0) of its software that includes a much simpler, integrated interface and more powerful video-calling service. … A branch of Gladstone's, the Malibu Beach fish joint, has opened at Los Angeles International Airport. … A medical clinic has opened in the Concourse A/B Link at Philadelphia International. … The 255-room Westin Tampa Bay Airport has opened about three miles from Tampa International.

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Joe Brancatelli is editor and publisher of JoeSentMe.com, a non-commercial Web site for business travelers. Copyright 2008 by Joe Brancatelli. Licensed by contract for Orbitz use.

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Bohemian bistro, big-name sushi among new LA restaurants

Friday, February 20th, 2009

By Lena Katz

Los-angeles-hotel There are so many restaurant openings in Los Angeles lately, it leaves me breathless — and would leave you cross-eyed if you tried to count them all on your California vacation. So, here are as many as I can call out in one breath. The best of the bunch (I think), though they’re as different as can be.

Over in Santa Monica, new Fig Restaurant in the Fairmont does an upscale and adventurous take on bistro fare. In addition to standards like steak frites and oysters on the half shell, Fig does sweetbreads, tongue and a delicious venison entrée. Fave salad: anything with “blistered” (i.e. flash-grilled) Romaine. Cheese flights are a fabulous way to try the 75 different hand-selected fromages.

Not everyone realizes that Asian fusion newcomer RockSugar Pan Asian Kitchen is the brainchild of the Cheesecake Factory founder…nor should they. The menu is completely different — an interesting combination of Thai, Malaysian, Singaporean and other regional Eastern cuisines. The décor is a glossy and exotic LA version of Ali Baba’s cave, and the music could give Buddha Bar a run for the money. Speaking of money, that’s the only indicator that this place might be a Cheesecake cousin. It’s blindingly obvious that somebody invested some serious money in this business, and did it well. The ambiance is flawlessly executed.

'The ultimate date restaurant'

In Hollywood, nightlife impresario Ivan Kane moves smoothly into the restaurant business with Café Wa S, a sultry Bohemian bistro that evokes 1920s Paris, when every nice lady was having an affair with a young artist or a dissolute European count…Or maybe that was just in the books I read? Anyway. This is the ultimate date restaurant — the only caveat being, the atmosphere (and absinthe drinks) might fool you into feeling much more amorous than you would in a normal environment.

California-vacation After years of playing second fork to Nobu (at least in terms of number of restaurants), sushi chef extraordinaire Katsuya Uechi is expanding at a lightning-fast rate. Katsuya  found his dream partner in club-owner-turned-hotelier Sam Nazarian. Together with architect Philippe Starck, Katsu and Nazarian (or should we say Nazarian’s checkbook) are opening restaurants everywhere from LA Live to Beverly Hills to Studio City, so it's easy to find a location to try during your California vacation.

Not to be outdone, Wolfgang Puck — the original ubiquitous LA celeb chef — is launching new restaurants at LA Live, in San Diego (Asian fusion gourmet room Jai, in the La Jolla theater district), and…well, actually Wolfie’s not exactly focusing on LA these days. He’s too busy opening Five-Sixty at the top of a skyscraper in Dallas.

And finally we go downtown, where — surprise! — yet another nouveau Mexican place joins the fray: Provecho, helmed by former Republic and BOA exec chef Gabriel Morales. Aside from the ceviche bar and adjacent martini bar (! So long Margarita; you were fun when I knew ye), this restaurant is distinguished by its oh-so-upmarket versions of family Mexican recipes. Lobster chili rellenos. Kobe beef tortas. Que rico! 

For American casual fare, the reinvented Cole’s is better than I expected. Neal Fraser was a consulting chef — and Fraser is one of LA’s leading gourmet lights, so anything he touches, even a French dip sandwich, gets a significant quality boost.

Praising the bar

Bars and clubs in Los Angeles have the life span of butterflies (seriously, most are only ‘hot’ for between 6 months and a year), and here are the newcomers I think are most likely to still be around by the end of 2009:

  • First (just because the name is so wicked cool) is Barbarella Bar, a Silverlake joint that planned to be themed after the movie Barbarella, but wound up being merely to-die-for stylish with a promising dancefloor setup.
  • Next, El Bar, the latest excellently seedy hipster haunt by Craig Trager of The Well. It is matador themed — how could you not love it?
  • On the flip side of the spectrum, there are two glossy see-and-be seen clubs to check out: Kress, a gorgeous new venue with a huge rooftop bar decorated in beautiful Crayola rainbow-colored tones that Lewis Carroll would have flipped for; and MYHOUSE, the David Judaken/Dodd Mitchell venture that strives to be fabulously homey — hospitable yet VIP.
  • If you want to stick with fabulously fabulous, try Mitchell’s other nightlife venue of note: The rooftop bar at the Thompson Hotel. Beverly Hills views, gourmet nibbles and a swimming pool…it doesn’t get more LA than that.

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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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New York, L.A. extend restaurant week events

Thursday, February 19th, 2009

Earlier this year, we offered a roundup of restaurant week events, for people who like to eat well while they travel, or for people who like good food so much they're willing to travel to get it.

Regardless, two of those events have now been extended for your eating pleasure.

NYC Restaurant Week now is effective through February 27. Three-course dinners are $35, lunches $24.07, at participating restaurants.

One the West Coast, more than 100 participating restaurants are continuing their dineLA Restaurant Week menus and pricing through the end of February. Dinners run $26 – $44; lunches $16 – 28.

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When does daylight saving time start?

Thursday, February 19th, 2009

Clock Daylight saving time starts Sunday, March 8.

People in most areas across the U.S. will set their clocks ahead one hour, so 1 a.m. becomes 2 a.m. Note that Hawaii and most of Arizona don't observe daylight saving time, so times there won't change.

Travelers who have flights March 8 are advised to pay special attention to their flight times. And people checking out of hotels will have less time to sleep in.

The payoff for this "lost" hour of sleep? More daylight into the spring and summer evenings.

Daylight saving time will end November 1.

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Guide to celebrity-spotting at Las Vegas hotels, restaurants

Wednesday, February 18th, 2009

By E.C. Gladstone

N9ne Hollywood may always be the capital of celebrity, but the fact is, if you really want to run into a star, you have better odds in a Las Vegas hotel. Because, when the famous want to get out and party hearty, they do it here.

That may be no surprise to those who have heard about celebs regularly hosting events at the top Vegas nightclubs — including TAO (Venetian), LAX (Luxor), JET (Mirage), Body English (Hard Rock Hotel), the Bank (Bellagio), and Pure (including the Pussycat Dolls lounge, at Caesars Palace).

But those in the fame game are just as likely to get down at the Hard Rock’s Wasted Space (ZZ Top’s Billy Gibbons, Jason Giambi, Katy Perry); Moon at Palms (George Clooney, Rianna, Olympian party boy Michael Phelps); both Blush and Tryst at Wynn; the new XS at Encore; VIP-only Noir bar (Luxor — ask your concierge), Prive (Planet Hollywood), Cherry (Red Rock Resort); and Lavo at Palazzo (Joaquin Phoenix, Hilary Duff — heck, I’ve partied there myself with Kelly Carlson and Emanuelle Chriqui).

Not that I want you to go crazy running all over town (leave that to the professional paparazzi!). Certain properties do attract stars more than others… and not just in their clubs.

Las-vegas-hotel At the Hard Rock, restaurants AGO (Benicio Del Toro to Bon Jovi) and hot date spot Nobu (Faith Hill & Tim McCraw, David & Victoria Beckham) are where you’ll see the fame game played most…though Kiss’ Gene Simmons and LeAnn Rimes prefer Pink Taco. If you want to see a real NFL All Star Game, hit up Rehab at the pool or the poker room. The Joint has closed, but when the New Joint opens, you can expect it to draw as many faces (from Lindsay Lohan to Adam Sandler) as the original. And if you can afford to stay in the Penthouse Suite, you’ll sleep in the same bed(s) that Axl Rose and Carmen Electra have (no, not together…I think).

At Palms, N9ne Steakhouse seems to attract them like honey does flies (Eva Longoria? Check. Leo DiCaprio? Check. Ben Roethlisberger? Check!), while Simon at Palms Place has hosted the likes of Toby Keith and T.I. (and I even hung with The Hills’ Whitney Port there myself). Don’t be surprised to see who’s dropping drawers at Drift spa (I doubt Robin Leach is a regular just for the healing hands)…and I’d be surprised if there’s ever a weekend someone famous isn’t partying in at least one of their fabulous Fantasy suites.

In the Palazzo, CUT has roped in Luke Wilson, Michael Kors, Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt; SushiSamba has drawn Usher, Amanda Bynes, David Spade and Nicolette Sheridan; Barneys New York and Christian Louboutin in the Shoppes see a steady stream, as does the renowned Canyon Ranch Spa, while the Paiza level suites have seen Adrien Brody, Angie Harmon and Molly Sims lay their heads down.

Las-vegas-hotels As for the Mirage, Cirque Du Soleil’s The Beatles LOVE show has seen a parade that would put any red carpet to shame, from Shaq to Slash, Hef to Demi Moore and of course the surviving Beatles (more than once); Britney Spears loves to take her kids to Siegfried & Roy’s Magic Garden every chance she gets, while Bare pool and Stack restaurant have probably stopped counting (and who wouldn’t want to stay in their incomparable Villa suites?)…

Want more names? Well, certain celebs never get enough of Vegas, it seems: Take… Paris & Nicky Hilton (everywhere from Joe’s Stone Crab to Color by Michael Boychuck, and  even Circus Circus’ Adventuredome!); the Kardashians (LAX, JET, SushiSamba); The Hills girls (Hard Rock, Palms, Palazzo); Jamie Foxx (Venetian/Palazzo, Hard Rock); Kid Rock (Palms, Hard Rock, Mirage, repeat); Kobe Bryant (Wynn, Palms, Mirage); Tommy Lee (Planet Hollywood and Palms); Lindsay Lohan and Samantha Ronson (PH, Hard Rock, Palms); Mariah Carey (Wynn, Venetian, Bellagio)… the list goes on.

Resident tennis stars Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf love off-Strip Marche Bacchus; Criss Angel takes his girl Holly Madison to Giorgio Ristorante in Mandalay Place; Siegfried & Roy like celeb-magnetic Spago; My good friend Robin Leach adds Postrio (Venetian) and Nove (Palms) to his own list of loves. Bette Midler and Rita Rudner are both out and about often. Oh, and Carrot Top? That guy’s everywhere. Seriously.

The list is long already, but I would be remiss not to mention just a few more semi-hidden hot spots: Joe’s Stone Crab in the Forum Shops (Eddie Murphy, Keira Knightley, Mary J. Blige); the Country Club at Wynn (George Lucas, Steven Spielberg, Denzel Washington); Koi (Avril Lavigne to John Cleese), Strip House (Simon Cowell to Kat Von D) and the sexy Pleasure Pit gambling tables (Denise Richards to David Hasselhoff) at Planet Hollywood. And have you been to Cathouse at Luxor? Well, Jermaine Dupri, Joe Pesci and Jamie King have!

Who did you see on the Strip? Leave a comment with your celeb spottings!

Insider Tip: Tickets just went on sale for Paul McCartney opening up the New Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel (bigger than the old Joint, but still tiny by Macca standards) on April 19. They start at $195, but it’s sure to be pretty historical.

Related resources:

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

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10 tips for booking your next cruise

Tuesday, February 17th, 2009

By Diane Robbins, travelsnippetsandmore.com

Are you thinking about taking a cruise? Whether it is your first cruise or your 30th cruise, decisions have to be made. While it is common to choose a cruise by price, in my opinion, that is not the best criteria. Actually, I put it last on my list of ten. A cheap cruise, without considering the other nine items on my list, can be a miserable experience. Thinking about items 1-9 first, and perhaps paying a few dollars more, can result in an experience that will have you cruising again and again.

Cruises 1) Where: Do you want to cruise the sunny Caribbean? Or the exotic Far East? How about the islands of the South Pacific? The old, classic cities of Europe? Or the lively, vibrant cities of South America?

2) When: Start by checking the typical weather in the area you’ll be visiting. For instance, hurricanes can be a problem, officially from June 1 to November 30, in the Caribbean. If you live in the Northern Hemisphere and are thinking about visiting South America, remember that the seasons are reversed.

3) How Long: If you are new at cruising and want to grab a 3- or 4-nighter for a first cruise, that’s fine (although cost could be the same as a 7-night cruise). But I’ve learned to appreciate longer cruises and typically won’t sail on anything less than 14 nights. With anything shorter I feel like I barely have a chance to unpack before I have to pack again.

4) Ship Size: Do you want a smaller ship where you might run into the same people again and again, or a larger ship, which offers more options? Crossing the Tasman Sea from New Zealand to Australia, with several days at sea, I appreciated the larger Star Princess. On the other hand, sailing the Caribbean with my parents, I appreciated the coziness of the Holland America’s Maasdam, which made it easy for us to find each other.

5) Cabin Location:The first decision that needs to be made is inside or outside. If outside, and you really want a view, skip the promenade deck (where people can walk by and look in, and you’ll probably end up keeping the curtains closed). Check if the cabin has an obstructed view. Look at the ship’s deck plan to see what is above and near your cabin. Is it under or near the disco? Or under a sun deck, where you might hear the chairs being arranged by the crew at 6 a.m.? Is it near an elevator or staircase where you could be disturbed by other passengers’ conversations? Consider your destination when picking a cabin. One of the most exciting experiences we had on our Alaska cruise was when we looked out the window, straight down to the water, and spotted Dahl porpoises zipping back and forth under the ship.

6) Entertainment: What amuses you? Do you like big Las Vegas-type shows? A quiet piano bar? A library? An Internet café?

Cruise 7) Onboard Activities: Do you like to be kept moving all day and into the wee hours of the morning? Do you like poolside games, or do you prefer movies and lectures?

8) Dining Options: Every ship will have a formal dining room and a casual buffet. The question is how many dining rooms? Are the dining rooms reserved seating, or can you walk in any time? Are there specialty dining rooms on board, and is there an additional charge to dine there? What are the dining options on formal nights if you don’t want to dress up? The larger the ship, the more options. On the larger Star Princess there were two main dining rooms. One was reserved seating and the other was walk-in. The Maasdam, a smaller ship, had one main dining room with reserved seating but also the option for their specialty restaurant, The Pinnacle Grill (additional charge).

9) Passenger Demographics: While all major cruise lines accept all ages, some lines cater better to certain age groups better than others. Look at cruise line advertisements. Do you see yourself in the picture? If you are traveling with children, Disney cruises and Carnival cruises are good options. Carnival also works for young singles and couples. Celebrity cruises are great for couples traveling by themselves. You’ll meet a lot of retired folks on Holland America cruises. Take a look at Regency for a lovely, luxury cruise for two.

And finally,

10) Price: I calculate the cost per day. What could seem like a big difference between two 14-night cruises, on a daily basis, might not be all that much. To save some money, consider sailing during the shoulder or off-season. For Alaska, that is sailing in May or September. For the Caribbean, that means sailing in the summer. Prices also typically run cheaper between Thanksgiving and Christmas and right after the New Year.

Related Orbitz resources:

Diane’s travel blog, www.travelsnippetsandmore.com, an Orbitz affiliate, is loaded with tips and reviews. She’s taken more than 25 cruises, having sailed to the Caribbean, Alaska, New Zealand/Australia, Mexico, Europe and Antarctica.

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