Orbitz Blog

Articles for July, 2009

Disney vacation, cruise, through the eyes of a 6th grader

Friday, July 31st, 2009

Disney vacation

(Copyright: Disney)

By Zeke George

My family and I recently went on a one-week family vacation at Disney World in Florida. The trip was three days at an Orlando hotel, and four days on a Disney cruise.  I will give you some of my impressions in this blog. Just so you know, I’m in 6th grade and this was really my first Disney World vacation.  We went there for a day when I was a toddler, but I really don’t remember too much about that.

Day 1

Today I’m going to write a lot, as this was my first impression of the Disney vacation experience. Once we got off of the plane I learned the meaning of waiting in a line to get in another line. My dad waited in line at the Disney Magical Express to hand a man our documents. Then we got in another line and waited half an hour to actually get on the bus. The bus took us to our resort while we watched a video on how to check into the hotel. The nice thing was we didn’t have to carry our luggage — they just dropped our luggage off after we got there.

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Posted in Cruise, Disney Vacation, Family Travel, Florida Vacation | No Comments »

Luxury Naples hotels have plenty for kids

Thursday, July 30th, 2009

Family vacation

The Ritz-Carlton, Naples

By Alexandra Karlesses (14 years old)

I have been on a few family vacations before, but my trip to Naples, Florida, has been one of my favorites so far.  Cleveland winters do not make you happy, and I felt I had not seen the sun in forever. That is why when we were landing in Fort Myers and I saw the sun shining, I was psyched!  I could not wait to log some serious beach time! My parents said we were lucky because we were able to combine a business and vacation trip and stay at some very nice Naples hotels.

I really don’t notice these things too much being a teenager and all, but even I could not keep my mouth from dropping open when we pulled up to the elegant Ritz-Carlton Naples hotel. My sister and I could not move fast enough to get in our bathing suits and get to the beach!  It was awesome. They had boogie boards and parasailing and everything a kid (teenager) could want!  I was snapping some major pics on my phone for my friends at home! Can you say jealous?

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Posted in Beach Vacation, Family Travel, Florida Vacation | No Comments »

Rides, restaurants, swimming make Chicago vacation fun

Thursday, July 30th, 2009

By Michaela Karlesses (age 10)

(Courtesy: Chicago Office of Tourism)

(Courtesy: Chicago Office of Tourism)

One early sunny morning, I woke up in my beautiful, pink room. I climbed out of bed and raced down the stairs to have some breakfast. I was excited because this was the day I was going on a family vacation to Chicago! We were meeting my Aunt and my cousin for the weekend. I had not seen them in a long time and I could not wait.  We flew from Cleveland to Chicago and it was a very short flight!

When we got to Chicago, we met the rest of our family and drove to the W Chicago Lakeshore hotel. I liked this Chicago hotel because I could see Lake Michigan and a hugeFerris wheel from the hotel window! My mom promised us we could ride on it – yay! Since we got in pretty late, my mom said the only thing we could do was have a late dinner, so we went to a place called Café Luxe for dinner and my cousin and were allowed to order smoothies in tall, fancy glasses.  I got mango surprise and my cousin got strawberry sunshine! Boy, they were great!

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Mexico vacation spot an upscale, family-friendly destination

Wednesday, July 29th, 2009

By Lena Katz

Mexico vacations

RIU Palace Pacifico All Inclusive

Just like the Riviera Maya separated from uber-developed Cancun, the Mexican Pacific coast north of the Nayarit state border is divorcing itself from overbuilt Puerto Vallarta to the south. And what does that mean to travelers? Many more beach hotels — many of them self-contained and/or all-inclusive resorts. More golf courses, more marinas, more spas, all competing for your vacation business. The Riviera Nayarit aims to be a more upscale, more family-friendly alternative to PV. As yet, it’s really just an annex — but still, if you’re looking for a relaxing Mexico vacation, this region’s got all sorts of options.

All-Inclusive for Families
Both the European-based RIU chain and the Mexican-owned Palace Hotels are great for family vacations on a budget. With hundreds of rooms and a half-dozen restaurants per property, these self-contained properties offer the package vacation experience: a week of sun, swimming, buffet dining and group activities for one up-front price. Three RIU properties in Nayarit offer a range of price points and experiences, and since all are located on Playa de Flamingos, guests staying in one property can enjoy certain privileges at the neighboring properties. Guests of the RIU Palace — which is the priciest of the three — can use all three hotel pools, and drink at any of the bars.

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Posted in All Inclusive Resorts, Beach Vacation, Family Travel, International Vacations, Mexico Vacation, Romance | No Comments »

Tips to keep traveling — even with no more vacation days

Tuesday, July 28th, 2009

The writer snowboarding in Vail.

The writer snowboarding in Vail.

By Kate Schwartz

About 34 percent of Americans don’t take all the vacation time they earn each year, a recent survey showed. I am not in that 34 percent — not by a long shot. In fact, I am currently in the negative for vacation days, yet still planning my next adventure.

This year, in anticipation of an eight-month Chicago winter, I planned my sunny escape route well in advance. Before the sub-zero temperatures could get me down, I boarded a plane to the Middle East and spent ten days basking in the desert sun. A few months later, I took a five-day spring skiing excursion to Vail, which is why now, in July, I don’t have a vacation day to my name. So what is a travel-obsessed girl like me to do?

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On the Road: Lufthansa grows, flight changes at San Jose and airport club news

Monday, July 27th, 2009

flights

(Photo by Hady Khandani/courtesy: Lufthansa)

By Joe Brancatelli

INTERNATIONAL ITINERARY

Lufthansa’s Plans to Dominate Europe’s Skies Advance: Lufthansa is quietly taking the next steps in an audacious plan to dominate the European continent. (Or, more accurately, the skies above the continent.)

  • European regulators have approved Lufthansa’s bid to gain controlling interest in Brussels Airlines, the carrier created several years ago by the merger of Virgin Express and SN Brussels.
  • Almost simultaneously, Lufthansa reaffirmed its decision to buy virtually all of bmi (fka British Midland), the second-largest carrier at London’s Heathrow Airport. Lufthansa already owns 30 percent of bmi and will now pay about $360 million for another 50 percent stake.
  • Lufthansa has already agreed to purchase control of Austrian Airlines and several years ago it purchased Swiss International.
  • If you’re keeping score, that gives Lufthansa hubs in Frankfurt, Munich, London/Heathrow, Zurich, Vienna and Brussels. And it recently launched Lufthansa Italia, based at Malpensa Airport in Milan, Italy’s financial and industrial capital.

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Posted in Business Travel, On the Road, Travel News | No Comments »

Bahamas vacation: Best bets for families

Friday, July 24th, 2009

Caribbean vacation

Flamingos (Courtesy: The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism)

By Samantha Chapnick

Say “Bahamas” and most people think of Atlantis, the massive resort on Paradise Island. With a water park, dolphin swim program, casino and gourmet dining from some of the world’s most renowned brands, it’s easy to think that’s all there is to a Caribbean vacation in the Bahamas.

Actually, there are plenty of other attractions — many even serving a wide variety of budgets — that make this a good spot for a family vacation. Here are some of my favorites:

Ardastra Gardens, Zoo & Conservation Centre – Situated only minutes from the heart of Nassau, there’s no place quite like the Ardastra Gardens, Zoo and Conservation Centre. Part jungle, part gardens, it’s home to hundreds of beautiful mammals, birds and reptiles — many of them endangered species of the Caribbean.  The zoo is open seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and is renowned for its famous marching flamingos, the national bird of The Bahamas, which perform daily at 10:30 a.m., 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.

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Posted in Beach Vacation, Caribbean Vacation, Family Travel | No Comments »

Las Vegas has fun for the whole family

Thursday, July 23rd, 2009

Las Vegas hotelsBy E.C. Gladstone

Las Vegas may be “Sin City,” but it’s also “Fun City,” and while our Las Vegas hotels may not promote it, there are so many elements of a great family vacation here, you can take your pick and still not do everything you want to.

But don’t try to find them all by yourself—that’s what I’m here for!

Start with my previous blogs on Top 10 free activities, Family-friendly resorts, and Cheap eats on the Las Vegas Strip. Buffets might seem like a good option, but check their kids pricing first (some allow under-5s free, but others charge full price for everyone) Click here for my Top 10 Las Vegas buffets.

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Posted in All Inclusive Resorts, Family Travel, Food & Wine, Gambling Vacation, Las Vegas Vacation | No Comments »

New on the L.A. scene: wine bars, jazz brunch, more

Wednesday, July 22nd, 2009

By Lena Katz

California vacation

Pourtal

It’s summer in my city, Los Angeles — and don’t all us locals know it. From the weather (90 degrees, cloudless, perfect) to the events (day parties, outdoor concerts) to the restaurant scene (BOOMING), it’s high season for California vacations in the City of Angels. And whether you’re visiting L.A. for a week or you’ve lived here forever, your schedule will be as jam-packed as you can handle.
New to the city in summer 2009…

  • A classic restaurant gets a celeb spin: Top Chef Stefan Richter has taken over the former L.A. Farm in Santa Monica, and is reopening it August 6th as Stefan’s at L.A. Farm. Sleek décor and sophisticated Euro snacks characterize the latest incarnation of this former beach barn, which used to be one of the loudest dining rooms in town.
  • Also new to Santa Monica is enomatic wine bar Pourtal. Enomatic is a dispenser system — kind of like the wine aficionado’s version of “beers on tap.” Pourtal’s draw is not just its by-the-glass variety (40 wines on pour), but its themed tasting flights and special events. Some are one-offs; others, like Rare Wine Wednesdays, are part of the regular calendar.

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Posted in Beach Vacation, California Vacation, Food & Wine | No Comments »

On the Road: New Hawaii flight, more Wi-Fi access

Tuesday, July 21st, 2009

us-airwaysBy Joe Brancatelli

NEED TO KNOW

On-the-Road Intelligence to Help You Travel Smarter:

  • Here’s good news from US Airways: On December 17, the airline will launch a daily nonstop flight to Honolulu from its Charlotte hub. The only other East Coast nonstop to Hawaii is operated by Continental Airlines from its Newark hub.
  • And here’s still more good news from US Airways: Effective immediately, 11 of its US Airways Club airport lounges offer free Wi-Fi. All other US Airways Clubs will will offer the free Internet access by the end of the summer.
  • Southwest Airlines is testing in-flight Wi-Fi Internet on four aircraft and has now introduced a series of test prices, too. Access will range from $2 to $12, depending on flight length and whether you tap into the Wi-Fi with a laptop or a mobile phone.
  • Boeing has delayed the first test flight of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner again. Best estimate is now November or December, which is cutting it close, since Boeing has promised the first deliveries of the aircraft next May. The plane is already two years behind schedule.
  • At New York/Kennedy Airport, a branch of the well-known Manhattan steakhouse, Bobby Van’s, has opened at Terminal 8.

Related Orbitz resources:

Joe Brancatelli is editor and publisher of JoeSentMe.com, a non-commercial Web site for business travelers. Copyright 2009 by Joe Brancatelli. Licensed by contract for Orbitz use.

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Posted in Business Travel, Flights, Hawaii Vacation, On the Road, Travel News | No Comments »

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