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Articles for February, 2010
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Friday, February 26th, 2010Florida vacation: St. Pete hosts Honda Grand Prix
Friday, February 26th, 2010
Courtesy www.visitstpeteclearwater.com
Every spring, St. Petersburg, Fla., is temporarily transformed into a speedway as the city plays host to the prestigious Honda Grand Prix.
The chic downtown area overlooking the bay with its laid-back atmosphere, sidewalk cafes and luxury yachts, evokes visions of Monaco as, for just a short time, street racing takes center stage. If you’re looking for an exciting reason to book a Florida vacation, this is it.
This year’s Honda Grand Prix is being billed as the “world’s fastest spring break party,” and when you consider the numbers that are involved, it’s right on the mark. Hundreds of auto racing enthusiasts attend this three-day event, where drivers will race a 1.8-mile course with 14 turns — hitting speeds upwards of 150 miles per hour. Now that’s fast.
Now in its sixth season, this year’s Honda Grand Prix promises to deliver action-packed, high-octane excitement that will draw racing fans from around the U.S. and beyond. In fact, this year’s schedule includes more racing than ever before. (more…)
Best in Stay Awards: Save 10% on top-rated hotels
Thursday, February 25th, 2010
We’ve released the 2010 Orbitz Best In Stay awards today, recognizing more than 50 hotels that scored rave reviews from Orbitz guests.
We collected reviews and scores only from Orbitz customers who booked a stay at the hotel. Each traveler was asked to rate a variety of hotel attributes on a scale of 1 to 5, including amenities, maintenance, hotel staff, room comfort, location and value. The “overall score” is an average of all reviewer scores.
If you’d like to experience one of the winning hotels — and get 10% off your stay – use promotion code HOTELAWARD10 by March 31, 2010. See terms and a full list of winners at www.orbitz.com/bestinstay.
Here are a few of the winners: (more…)
Dealing with the young and the restless at Disney World
Wednesday, February 24th, 2010Editor’s note: This is the third in a six-part Q&A series on “Bringing the kids to Disney World.” Today, Orbitz’s Robin Gallagher presses Jonas Lehmann-Karp, of The Walt Disney World Moms Panel, on what to do with antsy kids.
Find a great playground for little ones near Mickey’s House in Toontown.
Q: Where in the parks can I take my kids to expend some energy in a safe, confined environment? My kids love to run, climb and explore, and it would be nice for me to be able to relax for a few minutes.
A: As a parent to two young boys, I appreciate that each of the Disney World parks has at least one play area for younger guests to enjoy and burn off some of the energy they might store up while waiting in line.
There are several areas in Disney’s Magic Kingdom that are dedicated for little ones to run around. Our favorite is Pooh’s Playful Spot, a 6,300-square-foot play area located in Fantasyland. This area features a kid-sized house, log slide, crawl spaces, and a soft floor. Adults will enjoy the tree bench, where they can sit and relax while keeping an eye on their young ones. (more…)
Tips on eating healthy at Walt Disney World
Wednesday, February 24th, 2010Editor’s note: This is the fourth in a six-part Q&A series on “Bringing the kids to Disney World.” Today, Orbitz’s Robin Gallagher asks Jonas Lehmann-Karp, of The Walt Disney World Moms Panel, about healthy meal options.
Chef Mickey's at Disney's Contemporary Resort earned the 2004 Disney Magazine Reader's Choice Award for Best Overall Walt Disney WorldResort Restaurant for Kids.
Q: What kind of healthy options do you have for kids when looking for meals and refreshments in the parks? We learned the hard way at an amusement park this summer that pizza, popcorn, ice cream and sugar-filled drinks do not mix well with heat and rides.
A: One of the big concerns for my family, any many other families, at generic amusement parks is the lack of healthy food options. Disney, however, has made a huge effort to provide healthy food and snack choices to its guests, and parents planning Disney World vacations now have a lot of control over the food they feed their children.
Eating at a Disney counter-service location doesn’t mean your family has to eat unhealthily. In addition to traditional park fare such as great burgers, chicken fingers, and french fries, we’ve also found that counter-service locations have added more soups, salads and wraps as well as more vegetarian options to their menus. Kids can also order healthy foods such as baby carrots, fresh fruit and applesauce as side items as well as enjoy low-fat milk, juice or water to drink. (more…)
Ready, set, relax at new Las Vegas hotel spas
Tuesday, February 23rd, 2010
The bathhouse at Reliquary Spa (Photo: E.C. Gladstone)
By E.C. Gladstone
Several new Las Vegas hotels have opened since my last spa review (Top 10 spas), so I decided it was time for the difficult task of reviewing the new spas. Each unique in size, decor and treatment options, these luxurious spas all add something to the already impressive array of pampering and relaxation options in Vegas.
Reliquary, HRH at Hard Rock Hotel
Dramatically different, the Reliquary “water sanctuary & spa” takes designer Mark Neff’s gothic motifs to delicious extremes, centering on a coed Roman Bath that wouldn’t look out of place in Sherlock Holmes’ Victorian London. Locker rooms and the all-Cybex fitness area are more modern (check out the cool steam room lighting), with tall multi-option showers, plush fleece robes, thick Corinelli towels and other solid amenities. They even have iPod docks in all of the gorgeous treatment rooms — bring your own music if you want — and Tempurpedic memory foam tables. (more…)
Parents, teens adore Aruba for beach family vacation
Monday, February 22nd, 2010
Aruba Marriott Resort and Stellaris Casino
By Ian Ross
When it comes to vacations, for my family (which includes two teenagers), everything begins with the beach. We’ve gone on many different types of family vacations over the years; however, it always comes back to the beach. We just love sitting, playing, walking and just being together on the beach.
Our Caribbean vacation destination of choice is Aruba. Our beach and home-away-from-home (for five years), is the Aruba Marriott Resort and Stellaris Casino (which was renovated two years ago). We feel that it offers something for all of us, in addition to it being very comfortable and spacious. (more…)
Batter up, last-minute travel to Florida Spring Training
Sunday, February 21st, 2010By Joanna Citarella
Dunedin Stadium, home of the Toronto Blue Jays. (Credit Florida Sports Foundation)
The countdown to Major League Baseball Spring Training 2010 is well underway, and it’s a great excuse for last-minute travel to central Florida.
For about two months, 15 MLB teams will start warming up for their seasons in exhibition games. It all begins in late February/early March in stadiums from Lake Buena Vista to Jupiter, and it’s truly your chance to see some of your favorite teams up close. Don’t forget your glove, camera and autograph book — every game is an opportunity to catch a fly ball or take some great photos.
For the majority of spring training games, practice kicks off at 1 p.m. All of the stadiums can seat about 10,000 fans, and every seat is a good one. You also have the option to take advantage of structured baseball tours, which come in a variety of packages and options. Get more information about the Florida Grapefruit League, including teams’ spring training locations, dates and more. (more…)
Last-minute travel: Spring training in the Cactus League
Saturday, February 20th, 2010
These Cubbies fans trekked from Chicago to Mesa, Ariz., to watch their favorite team during spring training.
By Janet Bazan
Baseball’s Cactus League — spring training in greater Phoenix and Tucson — is about to start, and for sports fans looking for a last-minute travel idea, this is it.
Spring training games let you watch a professional sports team for half the price of regular-season tickets. It’s so affordable, you can bring the entire family. Many of the stadiums have these amazing grassy green lawns, so you can watch the game and have a picnic. Sitting on a blanket and enjoying hot dogs, brats, and a cold one while basking in temperatures of about 75-80 degrees — I don’t think it gets much better than that.
Here are the places your favorite Cactus League teams call home for spring training: (more…)
Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in Savannah
Friday, February 19th, 2010
Forsyth Park Fountain (Photo: Savannah St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committtee)
By Antoinette Bierman
Looking for the best place to spend your St. Patrick’s Day this year? Look no further than the quaint city of Savannah, Ga., which will transform itself into the host of the second largest party in the country for the upcoming 186th St. Patrick’s Day parade and celebration.
Although I’ve stayed in Savannah hotels many times, I’ve never been there during the St. Patrick’s Day parade and festivities, so I’ve scoured the Web and chatted with friends to get the best insights and tips on what not to miss at this year’s celebration.
To get you in the mood:
Although the parade will be on Wednesday, March 17, many activities and events will begin the weekend before. I know I’m excited for the annual Greening of the Forsyth Park Fountain on Friday, March 12 at noon. Apparently, the fountain “goes green” each year to kick off the celebration. Forsyth Park is always a beautiful sight, but adding a gushing, green fountain is a great way to start off the week. (more…)