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Articles for ‘New York Vacation’ Category

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:

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 »

Times Square’s best attractions, eats and hotels

Thursday, July 16th, 2009

Times Square (Courtesy: Kathleen Fox/nycgo)

Times Square (Courtesy: Kathleen Fox/nycgo)

By Samantha Chapnick

Chances are you’ll visit Times Square on at least one New York vacation. Most of the New York hotels are there, Mamma Mia, Billy Elliott and other spectacular Broadway shows live there, and it has more lights than most small cities. Slowly, it’s finally starting to get a few establishments that focus on quality as well as quantity. Here are some of this local’s top picks:

ATTRACTIONS

  • Sunscreen Anyone? I’ve spent more time in Times Square in the past month than I have in almost the whole time I’ve lived here. Thanks to Transportation Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan, Broadway (the avenue) is closed to cars from 47th Street to 42nd Street. In the place of SUVs are chaise lounges and funky design furniture. Grab some bagels from Ess-A-Bagel or Pick-a-Bagel, pick up some coffee from one of the nearby shops or Starbucks and have an affordable delicious brunch in the heart of it all. Wave hi when you see me (usually on 47th wearing a Kiawah t-shirt).

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Posted in Family Travel, Food & Wine, New York Vacation, Nightlife, Travel Tips | No Comments »

On the Road: New hotels open in Chicago, New York, more

Tuesday, July 14th, 2009

hotel

A suite at The Wit in Chicago.

By Joe Brancatelli

HOTEL HOT SHEET

New Hotel Options Debut Around the World:

  • A newly built Doubletree hotel, called The Wit, opened in Chicago just a half-block from the Chicago River. It has a rooftop bar that is already winning raves.
  • After a $100 million renovation, The Pierre Hotel on Central Park has reopened in New York. The 189-room icon is now operated by Taj Hotels of India. Meanwhile, Desires Hotel has opened a 72-room boutique hotel in Manhattan. The Mave is located at Madison Avenue and East 27th Street.

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Posted in Business Travel, Chicago Vacation, Europe Vacation, International Vacations, New York Vacation, On the Road, Travel News | No Comments »

Top 10 Fourth of July vacation destinations

Tuesday, June 23rd, 2009

travel Parades, cookouts, fireworks — however you like to celebrate, the Fourth of July is the holiday of summer, and with the 4th falling on a Saturday this year, it's a great opportunity for a short summer vacation. Before you book your flights and hotels, check out these top picks based on Orbitz bookings for travel July 3-6:

Top 10 Fourth of July Vacation Destinations for 2009

1. Las Vegas: Las Vegas hotels — with their glitzy shows and gourmet restaurants — are popular year 'round, and it's no surprise that Vegas celebrates the Fourth in a big way. Check out a virtual fireworks show on the Viva Vision canopy at the Fremont Street Experience, or see the real thing — times nine — as nine different Stations Casinos properties display fireworks simultaneously.

2. Chicago: The Fourth of July is a great time to plan a summer vacation in Chicago. Taste of Chicago is in full swing, and you can take full advantage of the lakefront beaches. Chicago's official Fourth of July fireworks take place on July 3 over the lake by Grant Park.

3. New York: Book your New York hotel now and plan to enjoy the Big Apple's Fourth of July fireworks display over the Hudson River. Here are the recommended spots for best views of the fireworks.

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Posted in California Vacation, Caribbean Vacation, Chicago Vacation, Europe Vacation, Family Travel, Holidays & Events, International Vacations, Mexico Vacation, New York Vacation, Top 10 Lists, Travel News | No Comments »

A view from the top: New York hotel rooftop lounges

Thursday, June 18th, 2009

New York hotels By Samantha Chapnick

Start your cool vacation in the Big Apple by staying at these New York hotels with rooftop lounges and pools. Then when forced to leave, book in at the city’s hottest rooftop clubs and restaurants. In a place where space is a premium, these are the hot ticket to cool.

HOTELS

  • The Rooftop Terrace at the Hotel Metro has the undisputed best view of the Empire State Building you’ll find from an alfresco spot. Its location on 35th between 5th and 6th makes it particularly popular with the after work crowd — perfect for meeting locals. 45 West 35th St.
  • Library Hotel: An intimate space with views of midtown. 299 Madison Ave.

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Posted in Food & Wine, New York Vacation, Nightlife, Romance, Travel Tips | 1 Comment »

Restaurants, gay bars to try on a New York vacation

Thursday, June 4th, 2009

New york hotel By Anthony Grant

In New York it’s hard to keep up with the restaurant scene because in even in a recession there are plenty of new openings. In a city with some 18,500 restaurants, there’s no excuse for not expanding your dining horizons. But I think the real secret to a memorable experience is to follow the buzz instead of the herd.

One of my favorites is Braeburn in the West Village, where a contemporary American bistro aesthetic prevails: Stained light walnut wood covers the floor, and the windows of the entrance and dining room are adorned with alder wood branches. If it’s chicken pot pie night you’re in for a treat, and on any night, the apple cider doughnut holes are not to be missed.

Though always buzzing with a hip international crowd, there always seems to be a table ready at Delicatessen, which of course is not really a delicatessen. It is, rather, a sleek downtown cafeteria for the 21st century. Expect the likes of Cheeseburger Spring Rolls (bechamel sauce is involved), grilled mahi mahi tacos, Prince Edward Island mussels and Grandma’s Meatloaf.

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Posted in Food & Wine, Gay Travel, New York Vacation, Nightlife | No Comments »

Luxury Atlanta hotel opens

Thursday, May 28th, 2009

Business_travel By Joe Brancatelli

HOTEL HOT SHEET

The New Hotels Keep on Coming: With hotel occupancy plummeting and room rates falling precipitously, logic would lead you to believe that the hotel industry would stop opening hotels. But that's not how it works in lodging, when projects put into the pipeline years ago keep gushing out. So get out your scorecard and make note of this week's new openings. … There are four new Hilton Garden Inn properties: a 224-room Hilton Garden Inn at Toronto/Pearson Airport; a 140-room hotel in Ridgefield Park, New Jersey; a 105-room outlet in Tifton, Georgia; and a 115-room hotel in Fontana, California. … There are two new Courtyard by Marriott properties: a 218-room hotel adjacent to the New York Avenue Metro Station in Washington and a 92-room hotel in Denton, Texas. … Meanwhile, InterContinental has opened a 100-room Candlewood Suites in Manassas, Virginia, and a 100-room Hotel Indigo in San Jose, Costa Rica. …. The 125-room boutique Moonrise Hotel has opened in St. Louis. The hotel has a rooftop terrace; introductory rates start at $159 a night. … Just what we needed: another luxury hotel. This one is the 151-room St. Regis Atlanta in Atlanta's Buckhead neighborhood. … And not even Brighton, the famed if faded British seaside resort, can resist the lure of the chain hotels. Two of the city's best known properties now sport brand flags. The Royal York is a Radisson and the Lansdowne Place is now a Park Inn.

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

New York hotels to match your personality, pursuits

Friday, May 15th, 2009

Library_room By Samantha Chapnick

Staying at a New York hotel tailored to your taste makes your journey far easier and more enjoyable. It offers the chance to meet like-minded visitors and locals, and find insider information not available at other spots. Here are my favorites:

Bibliophile

Library Hotel
• Adjacent to the main branch of the New York Public Library (the one with those gorgeous lions Patience & Fortitude outside) and Bryant Park (where many literary events take place all summer). 
• Rooms organized by the Dewey decimal system by interest. 
• Each room has 25-50 books relevant to that room’s theme.


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Posted in New York Vacation | No Comments »

Air France launches premium economy service

Tuesday, May 12th, 2009

Flights By Joe Brancatelli

BIG-CITY BEAT

Southwest Airlines Decides It Can Make It in New York: It's the reverse of that song New York, New York: Having already made it anywhere, Southwest Airlines is hoping to make it "there," meaning New York. The 800-pound gorilla of discounters and the nation's only consistently profitable airline, Southwest adds New York's LaGuardia Airport to its route map on June 28. The initial schedule includes five nonstops a day to Chicago's Midway Airport and three nonstops to Baltimore/Washington. Although Southwest is trimming its total capacity this year, the LaGuardia launch is part of the carrier's push into big cities that it once shunned. In March, Southwest began flying from Minneapolis-St. Paul; it began with flights to Midway and adds three MSP-Denver flights on May 26. The carrier also launches flights at Boston's Logan Airport in the fall. About the only major metropolitan area still off the Southwest route map now is Atlanta's Hartsfield Airport.

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Posted in Business Travel, Europe Vacation, Flights, International Vacations, New York Vacation, On the Road, Travel News | No Comments »

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