Orbitz Blog

Articles for August, 2009

On the Road: Air upgrades and new hotels and baggage fees

Monday, August 31st, 2009

FlightsBy Joe Brancatelli

SEASONAL STRATEGIST

At-the-Gate Air Upgrades Are Back: At-the-gate upgrades all but disappeared when airlines began tying a move to the front of the bus to a traveler’s elite status. Even in traditional down times, there were so many elites vying for so few available upgrades that airlines rarely had any space left for other fliers. But in this startling downturn, which has depressed business travel and premium-class flying much more than back-of-the-bus coach flying, up front seats on many flights are going begging. So airlines have revived the practice of selling comparatively low-priced upgrades “at the gate” just before departure.

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

Busch Gardens scares up age-appropriate Halloween fun

Friday, August 28th, 2009

Family vacation

Howl-O-Scream at Busch Gardens Williamsburg. (Courtesy: Busch Gardens Williamsburg)

By Mark McCullough

Each fall, Busch Gardens Williamsburg and Tampa transform into a great seasonal family vacation destination known as Howl-O-Scream. Despite the name, the folks at Busch are very careful to include venues for all ages so as not to frighten away the little ones. Being locals to Busch Gardens Williamsburg, our family has a season pass, and the Howl-O-Scream event is our children’s favorite visit to the park.

For starters, the crowds thin after the summer vacation season and the weather is markedly cooler. The park is known for its outstanding attention to detail, and  Howl-O-Scream has the park decorated in a spooky theme from head to toe.

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Posted in Family Travel, Holidays & Events, Orbitz Parent Panel | No Comments »

Disney World, Universal offer fun ways to celebrate Halloween

Friday, August 28th, 2009

Family vacation

Rocky Horror Picture Show characters at Universal Orlando's Halloween Horror Nights. (Copyright 2009 Universal Orlando Resort)

By Mary Flynn

I have taken my two oldest kids, ages 19 and 21, to Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights in Orlando for the past five years, and it has now become our family tradition to go each year. The first time we went in the middle of the week, which I preferred since there were less people, the tickets were cheaper, and the lines to the rides and haunted houses were not very long. Universal’s event is designed for adults and kids alike and is considered the largest of its kind in the United States.

We like attending the Rocky Horror Picture Show on stage, where we can laugh and get a bit frightened all at the same time. And the nighttime parade, with its costumes and crazy floats, is so much fun — a lot like a Mardi Gras parade, where they throw beads and little prizes.

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Posted in Disney Vacation, Family Travel, Florida Vacation, Holidays & Events, Orbitz Parent Panel, Orlando Vacation | No Comments »

Advantages of off-peak travel

Thursday, August 27th, 2009

By Mark Verone

“Back to school” is music to the ears of many parents dreaming of getting back into a normal schedule. For us, “back to school” means family vacations with fewer crowds, shorter lines, less people and great travel deals. As parents of a non-school-age toddler, we find that travel is more enjoyable during off-peak periods.

Over the past two years, we have planned several family vacations during off-peak periods, and we’ve had the luxury of having pools, beaches and resorts all to ourselves. We know that in a few years we will be fighting the crowds during school break periods with so many other families, which is why we are taking advantage of our situation now and traveling as much as we can before our son starts going to school.

Traveling off peak has many advantages.

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Posted in Beach Vacation, Caribbean Vacation, Disney Vacation, Family Travel, Orbitz Parent Panel, Travel Tips | No Comments »

New boutique hotels spice up California vacation scene

Wednesday, August 26th, 2009

Los Angeles hotels

Hotel Erwin

By Lena Katz

When choosing a place to hang my traveler’s hat for the night, I’ve always been a fan of the boutique and the unique. Which is yet another reason I love California: So many California hotels are designed to bring a sense of place: the sunny-chic Los Angeles hotels on the beach, the cool blue Tahoe mountain resort, the little city-slicker hideaway in the heart of San Francisco. Encouragingly, California continues to see its independent hotels and small hotel chains expand, with many new openings and revamps to announce this summer.

Joie de Vivre Hotels has always been a favorite in its home city of San Francisco. But recently, the medium-sized chain known for mid-priced boutique hotels has gone luxe and moved into So Cal in a major way. The Hotel Erwin raises the bar for Venice lodgings, but with a wink to Muscle Beach’s tattooed-and-funky urban edge. The guest rooms feature pop-art furniture and rock star photos.
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Posted in Beach Vacation, California Vacation, Romance, Travel News | No Comments »

Ducks, cranes and dogs among this family’s Wisconsin Dells favorites

Tuesday, August 25th, 2009

By Alistair Wearmouth

A water slide at Chula Vista Resort. (Courtesy: Wisconsin Dells Visitor & Convention Bureau)

A water slide at Chula Vista Resort. (Courtesy: Wisconsin Dells Visitor & Convention Bureau)

My creeping cynicism about what lay in store for us in Wisconsin Dells was quickly dispelled by my son’s voice chirping to his younger sister from the backseat: “Oh man, this is going to be so exciting!” His excitement arose from the fact that we were driving into a kid’s fantasyland of swooping roller coasters, colorful waterslides, and surreal re-creations of places like the Colosseum in Rome and the White House… upside down, after some sort of apocalyptic event. Classic Old World architecture and culture it’s not, but this popular summer resort very quickly lives up to its fun-filled promise. Here are a few of our Wisconsin Dells family vacation favorites.

Best Water Parks

With more than 20 indoor and outdoor water parks, Wisconsin Dells bills itself “The Water Park Capital of the World.” And while our weekend trip was too short to dive in to all the offerings, we did get the chance to check out a couple of the best water-soaked playgrounds. Chula Vista Resort in the upper portion of the Dells stands apart from some of the tackier strip-mall development clustered off I-90 and the Wisconsin Dells Parkway. The 620-room property boasts 200,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor water parks that include 27 looping water slides, a lazy river, and a wave pool.

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Posted in Family Travel, Food & Wine, Orbitz Parent Panel | No Comments »

Top 10 Labor Day weekend vacation destinations

Monday, August 24th, 2009

Las Vegas hotelsIf you want to ditch the backyard bbq and have a travel adventure this Labor Day weekend, we have good news. Average hotel rates are lower than last year, so pack your bags and take advantage of the top 10 Labor Day travel deals.

Labor Day in Las Vegas
If you’d rather spend money on the slots than on a place to rest your head, rejoice in knowing that Las Vegas hotels are number one on the 2009 Orbitz Insider Index. The average Las Vegas hotel rate this Labor Day is $108, down $28 from last year.

Labor Day is just another excuse to party in Las Vegas. For the best in the club scene, check out PURE, LAX and Christian Audigier. Labor Day weekend is also jam packed with performances. Check out Zumanity, the “sensual side of Cirque du Soleil,” or Lance Burton, a Las Vegas master of magic.

Labor Day in New York City
With New York hotels an average of $54 cheaper than last year, New York City is a great place to spend Labor Day weekend. The first Labor Day Parade was held in New York City on September 5, 1882, and the parade tradition continues today. This year the parade will held on September 12, 2009, and will feature trade union members, high school bands, politicians, police and fire departments, and more.

Looking for other Labor Day weekend vacation ideas? The Orbitz Insider Index highlights the busiest destinations based on hotel bookings on Orbitz for September 4-7.

Destination Avg. Daily Rate 2009
1. Las Vegas, NV $108
2. New York, NY $191
3. Cancun, Mexico $151
4. Honolulu, HI $111
5. Chicago, IL $127
6. Atlanta, GA $121
7. San Francisco, CA $142
8. Seattle, WA $118
9. San Diego, CA $195
10. Paris, France $164

Related Orbitz resources:

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Posted in Beach Vacation, California Vacation, Chicago Vacation, Europe Vacation, Family Travel, Hawaii Vacation, Holidays & Events, Las Vegas Vacation, Mexico Vacation, New York Vacation, Top 10 Lists | No Comments »

Explore New York by bike with these tips

Friday, August 21st, 2009

New York hotelsBy Samantha Chapnick

Take a New York City vacation in August to see exactly how cyclist friendly the city and New York hotels, streets, and shops have become. Janette Sadik-Khan (the city’s transportation commissioner) is determined to give local and visiting bikers a new, safer way to enjoy the best parts of our city from two non-polluting, non-garage-needing wheels.

Although there have been many steps taken in the past few years to make the city more bike friendly, this August offers the best chances to live the cycling life in NYC. Here are some things to put on your list.

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Posted in Family Travel, New York Vacation | No Comments »

Orbitz gives customers Google Street View

Thursday, August 20th, 2009

If you are the type of person who can’t find their way out of a room that’s furnished with nothing but a door, or simply want to know everything about a hotel before you book, Orbitz has you covered. On August 17, 2009, Orbitz became the only major U.S. online travel company to integrate Google Street View into our hotel search tool. Now, in addition to customer reviews, photographs and innovative search tools, you can check out a 360-degree, street-level view of hotels and neighborhoods including restaurants, shops and local attractions.

To access Google Street View on Orbitz, simply select the “Maps & area info” tab on the hotel property page and click the “Street View” link. Any hotel address available for Street View on Google Maps will be available to view on Orbitz. Get more details.

Related Orbitz resources:

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Posted in Travel News | No Comments »

Hula lessons, cheap eats and other ways to enjoy a Hawaii vacation

Thursday, August 20th, 2009

Hawaii vacation

(Courtesy: Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA) / Tor Johnson)

By Lena Katz

Six months ago a certain guy from Hawaii introduced the “Yes, we can!” mantra to the American public, and now we’re reprising it right in time for the end of summer. After too many months of denying yourself all things fun and sunshiney, the question as August rolls around is, “Can I somehow manage a Hawaii vacation after all, even on a shoestring budget?” And my answer is …YES YOU CAN…

…get a cheap meal in the islands
In Oahu, Haili’s Backyard Luau, the new lunch wagon at Ward Centers, serves the same great Hawaiian plate lunches that were popular at former neighborhood fave Haili’s Hawaiian Foods for more than 50 years.  The Makai Market food court at Ala Moana Center offers everything from Japanese noodles and Korean BBQ to Hawaiian plate lunch and deli sandwiches. Diamond Head Market & Grill is especially well known for bakery items like the signature blueberry cream cheese scones, but later in the day it offers gourmet plate lunches, sandwiches, wraps, and desserts.

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Posted in Beach Vacation, Family Travel, Hawaii Vacation, Romance, Spa Vacation, Travel Tips | No Comments »

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