The Hyatt French Quarter is one of the most recently renovated hotels in New Orleans.
By Mark Chesnut
With its rich history, tasty cuisine and traditional hospitality, New Orleans is a perennial favorite with vacationers. And thanks to the city’s well-equipped hotels and convention space, it’s also a big seller when it comes to business travelers too. With a bunch of renovated hotels and historic venues coming back online, there are more reasons than ever to plan another visit to the Big Easy. (more…)
No one looks forward to a long nonstop flight. But sitting in the front of the cabin can make a big difference when it comes to comfort and amenities. Here are a few examples of the advantages of flying first class on long-haul flights. (more…)
Gild Hall Hotel in New York has its own restaurant, but the Food Truck Concierge offers even more options.
By Mark Chesnut
Gourmet cuisine has always been a big draw at luxury hotels that cater to business travelers and upscale vacationers. But in recent years, hotels have gotten even more imaginative in how they connect travelers with great food. (more…)
Premium economy airline seats are a big trend in the air. Pictured: Virgin America’s Main Cabin Select.
By Mark Chesnut
In recent years, nearly every major U.S. airline has introduced some form of “premium economy” seating—that hybrid class of service that’s in the front of the economy cabin. You’ll often get more leg room and priority boarding when traveling in these seats. But not all premium economy service is equal—and not every airline even offers it on every plane. Here’s a comparison of who offers what. (more…)
What do people do after ingesting a massive holiday dinner with assorted friends and relatives, many of whom have traveled thousands of miles through crowded highways and airports to spend a few hours communing with their loved ones?
As many Americans will do Thursday when they celebrate Thanksgiving, they’ll kick back and watch a movie (before or after the various Major Sporting Events of the day). And there’s a good chance the movie will boast a holiday theme, since it’s one thing everyone can relate to. For all the hearty folks heading from here to there during the next few weeks, here’s our Top 5 movies for holiday travelers.
Planes, Trains and Automobiles
Everything that can go wrong will go wrong in this classic John Hughes comedy. An ode to roadbound misadventure, it stars Steve Martin at his flappable best as an uptight advertising executive. Absurdly cheerful goofus John Candy is his catastrophic companion, a shower-curtain-ring salesman who derails him on a zig-zagging journey home from New York to Chicago by way of…Wichita? While taking every mode of transport at hand, each man discovers that the other isn’t exactly who they seem to be. When wheels fail them, an unexpected friendship prevails.
The One UN New York Hotel offers free Wi-Fi in its luxurious West Tower. Photo: LatinFlyer.com
By Mark Chesnut
It’s one of the biggest gripes of frequent travelers: Why is an all-important service like Wi-Fi free when you stay at the cheapest budget hotels, but an annoying, nickel-and-diming extra fee when you stay at a luxury property that’s already charging an arm and a leg for the room?
It doesn’t have to be this way. With a bit of strategizing, you might find yourself logging on for free a bit more often. (more…)
‘Ohana restaurant in Disney’s Polynesian Resort offers a Character Dining breakfast and a Polynesian-inspired dinner menu. Photo: Courtesy of Walt Disney World
By Jill E. Cooper
The vacation countdown has ended, your boarding passes have been printed and you’ve checked in online at your resort. The much-anticipated day has arrived: You’re going to Walt Disney World! You’ve got plans to spend a full day at each of the four main Disney theme parks in Orlando (Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Disney’s Animal Kingdom) and have set aside time to shop at Downtown Disney and swim at Disney’s fun water parks (Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon) during your stay. But how will you spend your day of arrival at the most magical place on earth? You may not want to burn a day of admission on your theme park tickets since you won’t have a full day to spend in the parks. So what should you do? Here’s a plan for a magical first day at Disney. (more…)
Airport oasis: XpresSpa is one of the largest operators of airport spas. Pictured: Dallas/Fort Worth.
By Mark Chesnut
Whether it’s delayed and overcrowded flights, a high-pressure business meeting or just an overlong trip, there are countless reasons why travelers get stressed out while traveling. Luckily, there are plenty of opportunities to relieve that stress, thanks to the array of independent spas and kiosks, airport-adjacent hotels and luxurious airline-operated lounges that offer services designed to soothe and rejuvenate. Here are a few ways to work those knots out. (more…)
With fall settled in and the winter holidays around the corner, there’s no better time than now for couples to escape on a Mexico vacation. Not just any ordinary Mexico vacation—I’m talking about an all-out luxury vacation at the stunning new Viceroy Riviera Maya.
Forget all inclusive hotels, giant resorts, mediocre food and sub-par service—this 41-villa seaside refuge will knock your socks off in the most unexpected ways. Located just outside of Playa del Carmen on the Caribbean Sea’s Maya coast, Viceroy Riviera Maya delivers the beach, ocean and tropical breezes, and so much more—everything from a deep respect for Mayan culture and an abundance of friendly service to outrageous spa treatments and one of the most remarkable food and beverage programs I’ve experienced this year.
So what’s the big deal about going now? Let me explain. (more...)
Chicago's O'Hare Airport (here, on a quieter day) tops our list of busiest Thanksgiving airports. Photo: Flickr
Brace yourselves, holiday travelers: Orbitz has released a list of the top 10 busiest airports this Thanksgiving. Chicago's O'Hare ranks as the No. 1 most traveled airport during the weekend with LAX, San Francisco, New York LaGuardia and Boston Logan rounding out the Top 5. (See the full list below.) If you're planning on heading to or from any of these cities, make sure you are prepared for long waits at check-in and security. (more...)
