By Michael Peck
Who says the penguin is a flightless bird? Recently spotted at about 30,000 feet: a troop of Chilly Willy’s cousins upstaging the stewardesses and drink cart. First seen on ViralViralVideos.com, the footage was reportedly shot as the birds were being transported back to SeaWorld San Diego after making an appearance in San Francisco.
Sure beats the trips where I was stuck with Kazaam and From Justin to Kelly.
Enjoy skyline vistas and cable car rides from the Fairmont San Francisco.
By Whit Honea
If someone asked me today to pick my go-to destination for California vacations — sorry San Diego and Los Angeles — but San Francisco would win hands down. What can I say? I’m a sucker for sourdough bread, Anchor Steam brew and one more local badge of pride: San Francisco luxury hotels. Like the city itself, the hotels ooze opulence and Old World charm. And how many cities can say that one of its hotels served as the set for a 1980s TV show for multiple seasons? (Stumped? Scroll to pick No. 4.)
The hardest part is deciding which hotel to visit. Whether ambiance, dining and spas are your thing, I’ve narrowed it down here to my top 5 San Francisco luxury hotels.
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By Vince Font
Pride parade, San Francisco. Credit: ingridtaylor.
If you’re planning a California vacation to San Francisco for this summer’s Gay Pride festivities, you’d do well to pack for cool weather and heed Mark Twain’s famous words: “The coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in San Francisco.” But don’t go overboard — celebration events running from noon to the wee hours, including performances, dance parties, and after-hours clubbing will have you working a sweat in no time.
Now, where to unpack that rainbow hoodie and start the celebration? Finding LGBT friendly San Francisco hotels is as easy as finding popcorn in a box of Cracker Jack. You’re guaranteed at least one surprise, too. Depending on where within the city you want to stay, I’ve picked out a few of the swankiest yet affordable digs on offer.
Union Square/Nob Hill
Hotel Nikko‘s four-star accommodations situate you mere steps away from the classy Rrazz Room night club, and a stone’s throw from Union Square in the heart of downtown. Enjoy pampering in the form of Subarashee Yume pillow-top beds, large flat panel televisions (plus TVs positioned within bathroom mirrors), and a 15-meter heated indoor pool. Show your love to one another openly with pride — Hotel Nikko is recommended by Travel Alternatives Group for its LGBT friendliness.
By Joe Brancatelli
ROUTE MAP
A Three-Airline War Erupts in Boston: After months of promising to launch flights to Chicago, Virgin America has bailed, claiming that it couldn't find gate space at O'Hare Airport. Instead of Chicago, Virgin America says it will try Boston. The 18-month-old carrier says it will begin twice-daily flights from Boston to both Los Angeles and San Francisco on February 12. That announcement drew an immediate response from JetBlue Airways, which has emerged as the new power player at Boston's Logan Airport . After abandoning its nonstops from Boston to both San Francisco and nearby San Jose in September, JetBlue says that it will restore a seasonal summer service to San Francisco beginning on May 1. JetBlue has continued flying its Boston-Oakland route and it also flies from Logan to Long Beach near LAX. And American Airlines has its own Boston plans. It will launch a daily nonstop to San Diego on April 7 and resume seasonal flights to Paris/CDG on May 1. American is also adding frequencies on its existing routes to Los Angeles, its Dallas/Fort Worth hub and London/Heathrow.
HOTEL HOT SHEET
Recession Be Damned, The New Hotels Keep Coming: The global hotel industry is melting down — an industry analyst said this week that a record number of new lodging projects are being abandoned — but there are still lots and lots of properties in the pipeline. And not a day passes when a new one doesn't open. The latest crop: The Doubletree Guest Suites Fort Shelby has debuted inside the shell of the long-abandoned Fort Shelby Hotel in downtown Detroit. It's the second high-profile opening in Detroit this fall. Westin recently brought the Book-Cadillac back to life. … Fairmont has a 150-room hotel in the Battery Wharf district of Boston. It's the second luxury hotel opening in Boston this fall. The Mandarin Oriental opened in Back Bay in October. … Marriott has opened a 648-room hotel near Hong Kong's International Airport. The SkyCity Marriott is in the SkyCity development near the AsiaWorld Expo. It's a 25-minute train ride from Central. … The former Atlantic hotel in Nice, France, has been renovated and reopened as the Boscolo Exedra Nice. The 113-room property, which dates to 1913, is operated by the Boscolo chain of Italy.
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Joe Brancatelli is editor and publisher of JoeSentMe.com, a non-commercial Web site for business travelers. Copyright 2008 by Joe Brancatelli. Licensed by contract for Orbitz use.
By Erin Kregor
The holidays are stealthily creeping up on us this year, so get out those credit cards and get cracking on your gift list. Here’s a list of my top 5 places to shop.
1. Michigan Avenue, Chicago: It may be because of the home-court advantage, but you can’t beat the Mag Mile when it comes to holiday shopping. Yes there tends to be more than a few tourists, but it adds to the holiday merriment. Michigan Avenue has something for everyone — from GAP to Gucci you’ll find stores in your price range and presents for the whole family. Add the numerous public transportation options and you’ve got shopping gold, even on a budget.
2. Union Square, San Francisco: From high-end window shopping on Chestnut St. to everyday shopping in Union Square, San Francisco has something for everyone. Head through the Dragon Gates of one of the original Chinatowns for everything from inexpensive souvenirs to higher end wares including jewelry and furs.
3. Sawgrass Mills, Fort Lauderdale: I consider myself somewhat of an expert shopper, having been from outlet to boutique and back again. Sawgrass Mills Outlet is by far the best outlet mall I have ever laid eyes upon. It’s a 30-minute drive from downtown Fort Lauderdale but well worth it. (*Tip: consider renting a car for the day. A cab could run upwards of $70 both ways, so the rental car will pay for itself). You will find every store imaginable, so leave the faint of heart at the hotel, and plan to spend an entire day here.
4. 5th Avenue Manhattan, New York: Definitely a shopping mecca, Manhattan has a rich history with many iconic stores. Visit Tiffany’s flagship store at 5th and 57th or the first Saks 5th Avenue at 5th and 50th. Head across the street to American Girl Place and pick up something for that favorite niece.
5. Nassau/Paradise Island: Label lovers will delight in the many brand name boutiques Nassau has to offer. Jewelry, perfume, handbags and the lot are bountiful… and the best part is it’s all duty free! So hit up Gucci and Fendi on Bay Street and save while shopping (not an oxymoron). Plus you can have fun bargaining for cutesy souvenirs and t-shirts at the Straw market.
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When Erin Kregor is not at Orbitz, she can be found working over the racks at Neiman Marcus.
Big cities and sunny destinations top the list of popular travel destinations for Christmas 2008.
Orbitz travelers booked more rooms in Las Vegas hotels this Christmas season than in any other city, making Sin City the top spot for holiday travel. And while New York hotels and Chicago hotels also are popular this season, our list shows that many travelers prefer warm-weather destinations in California, Florida and Hawaii.
This year’s list of most popular travel destinations is based on hotel reservations and vacation packages booked on Orbitz for stays from December 20-29.
Top 10 destinations for Christmas travel
1. Las Vegas, NV
2. Orlando, FL
3. New York, NY
4. Honolulu, HI
5. Chicago, IL
6. San Francisco, CA
7. San Diego, CA
8. Anaheim, CA
9. Lahaina, HI
10. Miami, FL
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By Joe Brancatelli
Hotshot Indian Carriers Get a Dose of Reality: Jet Airways and Kingfisher Airlines, two hotshot Indian airlines with global ambitions, have been forced to face the harsh realities of the nasty economic times. Kingfisher’s flights between San Francisco and Bangalore, expected to launch this past summer, have been permanently shelved. And no wonder: Kingfisher’s new service between London and Mumbai has averaged only a few dozen passengers per flight. On the other hand, Jet will dump its San Francisco-Shanghai-Mumbai flights in January after just a few months of operation. The two privately owned airlines, which have won raves for their sybaritic service, have now concluded a wide-ranging alliance this week. It includes code-sharing and other cost-saving measures–and all but ends the spare-no-expenses competition between Kingfisher’s flamboyant boss, Vijay Mallya, and Jet chieftain Naresh Goyal. … Emirates has moved its flights to the United States into Terminal 3 at its hub in Dubai. … And there’s always change at London’s Heathrow Airport. British Airways says it will move its Atlanta-London flights away from Gatwick and into Heathrow next March. Meanwhile, Air France and Delta are giving up on their joint service from Los Angeles to Heathrow. The flights were launched in the spring with great fanfare.
CLASS ACTS
Do You Know About Fourth Class? OpenSkies, the boutique airline owned by British Airways, now flies on two routes: New York-Paris and New York-Amsterdam . The most notable advantage: the carrier’s wonderful prem+ cabin, which is the latest and greatest iteration of "premium economy," which offers some of the perks of business class for the cost of full-fare coach. Prem+ on OpenSkies offer seats configured 2×2 with 52 inches of legroom for about $1,500 roundtrip. A business-class seat can cost as much as $8,000. Icelandair is launching a premium economy cabin on transatlantic flights, too. The service began on November 1, although Icelandair’s premium economy class isn’t quite as lavish. Japan Airlines and Qantas have also introduced full-blown premium-economy cabins this year. Virgin Atlantic, All Nippon Airways, EVA, British Airways, Air New Zealand and SAS Scandinavian also sell versions of premium economy.
NEED TO KNOW
On-the-Road Intelligence to Help You Travel Smarter: Clear, the security line-cut program, opened at Terminal A at Boston/Logan Airport. Terminal A is Delta’s new home at Logan. … American Express platinum cardholders are losing a perk: The domestic free companion airfare program ends on November 15. … Bay Area diners take note: the new Michelin guide for San Francisco gives three stars to one restaurant — The French Laundry in Yountville – and awards two stars to six other dining rooms: Aqua, Coi and Michael Mina in San Francisco; Cyrus in Healdsburg; Meadowood in St. Helena; and Manresa in Los Gatos. … Korean Air has changed its free checked-baggage allowance. Effective November 1, coach passengers can check two bags weighing 50 pounds each. Business- and first-class fliers continue to receive a 70-pound-per-bag allowance. … Almost 15 months after it launched, Virgin America is finally allowing redemptions in its Elevate frequent flier program. A quick look at its award chart, which is based on the retail cost of a ticket, not mileage levels, shows that awards require about 45-50 points per fare dollar. A ticket selling for $149, for example, costs 6,930 Elevate points.
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Joe Brancatelli is editor and publisher of JoeSentMe.com, a non-commercial Web site for business travelers. Copyright 2008 by Joe Brancatelli. Licensed by contract for Orbitz use.
If you’ve booked your flights and are planning to travel this Thanksgiving, here’s some information to help you stay in the know and on time when you go.
The Orbitz Insider Index has identified the airports expected to be the busiest this Thanksgiving, based on airline ticket sales for travel between November 22-30. Las Vegas McCarran International Airport has taken the top spot, pushing former number-one Chicago O’Hare down the list. And it looks like more people have booked Thanksgiving flights to Miami and Seattle; this is the first year those cities’ airports are on our busiest list.
Top 10 busiest airports for Thanksgiving 2008
1.Las Vegas, NV — McCarran International Airport (LAS)
2.New York, NY — LaGuardia Airport (LGA)
3.Chicago, IL — Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD)
4.Los Angeles, CA — Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
5.San Francisco, CA — San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
6.Dallas, TX — Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport(DFW)
7.Newark, NJ — New York Newark International Airport (EWR)
8.Miami, FL — Miami International Airport (MIA)
9.Denver, CO — Denver International Airport (DEN)
10.Seattle, WA — Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA)
As for the best days to travel, here’s our list:
Least busy:
Busiest:
No matter when you travel, trust OrbitzTLC to keep you up to date with travel news and flight delays. You can sign up for Orbitz TLC Alerts to have information delivered directly to your phone, computer or PDA. And Orbitz Traveler Update
has parking and transportation tips — even up-to-the-minute
information about security wait times — from fellow travelers to help make your trip easier.
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We love to travel, and we love to talk about it. The Orbitz Blog is another way we can share our expertise, advice and the occasional random thought.
Check back often for fresh insight from Orbitz staff and contributors about cool places to visit, fun things to do and smart ways to save.