Jackpot: Las Vegas McCarran International Airport has free WiFi (if you can pull yourself away from the slots).
By Mark Chesnut
You’ve got a layover that’s just long enough to check e-mail on something larger than your cell phone, but you have no VIP club membership handy and you don’t feel like paying as much as $20 to access Wi-Fi for just an hour or two. What to do? (more…)
The party before the party: The week leading up to the greatest football matchup lights up Indianapolis. Credit: bnpositive.
By Amy Carey
About 10,000 visitors are expected to flood Indianapolis on Feb. 5, which seems manageable considering the millions who will be tuned to their TVs around the world for – what else? – football (and commercials, of course). It’s not too late to book an Indianapolis hotel or scope out the highlights in the week leading up to the high-demand event. (more…)
The famous International Orange color of the Golden Gate Bridge contrasts well against a bright blue sky. Credit: Blane Bachelor.
By Blane Bachelor
The Golden Gate Bridge is one of the globe’s most iconic landmarks. With its majestic architecture, bold orange-red color and breathtaking backdrop of mountains and sea, the Golden Gate, as the bridge commonly referred to, is also – not surprisingly — the world’s most-photographed bridge. But with just a little insight and planning, it’s possible for even the most novice shutterbugs to take spectacular, and unique, shots of the bridge for some brag-worthy souvenirs. I’m no Ansel Adams, but here are a few tips I’ve uncovered since moving to San Francisco this July on getting some great Golden Gate bridge pics. (more…)
Run for your life (and some cash): The Punta Cana half-marathon is slotted for April 1 at the Punta Cana Resort & Club.
By Jennifer Olvera
Mid-winter where it’s familiar and mid-winter in Punta Cana? That may be mean different things entirely. And while it’s not like anyone needs arm-twisting to plan a Dominican Republic stay this time of year, the upcoming Punta Cana half-marathon and 10K might provide boost you need to make it through the snowy months that follow. Besides, it’s a solid excuse to lounge post-run at Punta Cana hotels. (more…)
History in the making: Circa 1886 restaurant, at the Wentworth Mansion in Charleston.
By Mark Chesnut
The cities of Charleston, South Carolina and Savannah, Georgia are tourism magnets, thanks to their Southern hospitality and beautifully maintained historic attractions. But they can also be great places to hold a business meeting, as many of their most attractive landmarks are also available for private events. And that includes hotels in both cities, where Southern charm and stunning settings combine to create unique venues for a variety of gatherings. (more…)
The Winter Beer Carnival is a beer lover's paradise with more than 100 brews to sample.
By Erin Behan
It’s winter, you’re in Atlanta, and you like beer? You’re in luck. The third annual Winter Beer Carnival proffers up more than 100 different beers and—when you need a break from beer—carnival games. All of this can be sampled for $40 with advance tickets or $50 day-of on Feb. 11 at midtown’s Atlantic Station. (more…)
The price is right: New DOT rules provide more up-front details about airline fees and surcharges.
By Mark Chesnut
Beginning Jan. 26, new rules from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) should make it a bit easier when shopping around for the best airfare. Consumer advocates are hailing a new consumer rule, designed to enhance protections for air travelers, that will require all government taxes and fees to be included in every advertised fare. (more…)
Hit Honolulu's Great Aloha Run to catch local racers and live music on Feb. 20. Credit: Ryan Ozawa.
By Erin Behan
There’s nothing like watching someone else prove athletic prowess while on vacation. And in Hawaii, one of Honolulu’s most beloved road races — the Kaiser Permanente Great Aloha Run on Feb. 20 — gives those on a Hawaii vacation a chance to do just that. (more…)
Enlist now: a former military residence has been recast as the upscale Inn at the Presidio
By Mark Chesnut
The Presidio — San Francisco’s scenic, 235-year-old former military base — will introduce a new option for travelers in April, when the first hotel ever to operate on site opens its doors. The Inn at the Presidio is expected to attract both business travelers and anyone planning a California vacation in the city by the bay, thanks to its upscale ambiance and proximity to noteworthy attractions. (more…)
Magic fans hope Dwight Howard stays, but the hip downtown scene of this metropolis isn't going anywhere. Credit: Fernando Medina.
By Amy Drew Thompson
With the NBA strike over, a basketball-starved nation is relieved, but fans of the Orlando Magic have a new worry: Superstar center Dwight Howard may be leaving to find fortune elsewhere. Many believe Howard has helped fuel Orlando’s downtown renaissance; devotees have even started a campaign to keep him: StayDwight.com. Will he? The question remains. But for now, guests at Orlando hotels can still catch Howard at the brand-spanking-new Amway Arena while enjoying the sophisticated spoils of that aforementioned revitalization.
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