Vibrant Travel Solutions

Sleep Better at Hotels

2011-09-02T09:27:00.000-07:00

There’s a reason why the saying goes, “There’s no place like home.” Although fun and exciting, traveling can also be exhausting, so there’s nothing worse than coming back to your hotel, not being able to fall asleep and just wishing you were back home in your own bed.

Thankfully, the article, “33 Ways to Sleep Better at a Hotel,” from MSNBC.com’s Travel Section, provides some great tips on how to catch some precious zzz’s when you’re away from home sweet home.

Here’s some of our favorite tips, but be sure to check out the comprehensive list here.

2. Book a room midway along a hallway. This is generally the quietest part of the floor, away from the ice and vending machines, guest laundry facilities, exits, etc.

13-16. Pack earplugs, eyeshades and your own sheets (or at least your own pillowcase). The first two items will help block out noise and light to help you fall asleep. Your own sheets will give a homey feel because you’re already used to their feel and scent.

18. Don’t read, eat or work in bed. This way, you’re in a sleep-only mindset that will help you when trying to fall asleep.

23. Find a way to mask outside sounds. Commonly referred to as white noise, sound masking involves adding a non-intrusive artificial sound to your sleep environment in order to drown our other noise. Ask the front desk if they have a sound machine (I pack my own on almost every trip I go on!), download a white noise app onto your smartphone or stream white noise from your laptop (try SimplyNoise.com). If none of these are options, run the ventilation fan in the bathroom.

31. Don’t wait to report noise coming from noisy neighbors.

33. Get out of bed if you can’t sleep! Rather than tossing and turning, get out of bed, turn on a low light and read a mindless magazine.

Motivate. Reward. Recognize. Thank.

2011-09-01T13:19:00.000-07:00

If you’re looking for a way to motivate your employees, reward your outstanding sales rep, recognize your most important client or thank your top customer, look no further.

Royal Caribbean International now offers a new kind of incentive reward: the Individual Incentive Cruise Certificate Program. Unlike group incentive travel, this individual incentive program grants the recipient the power to choose when, where and how he/she would like to vacation. The wide variety of competitively priced certificates allows endless choices for departure ports, ships, itineraries, nights and accommodations. Additionally, these certificates are fully upgradable and transferable, don’t expire and have limited blackout dates. Plus, with its Turn Key Program, Royal handles the fulfillment, redemption and booking process so you don’t have to.

Certificates for two start at only $583 per certificate! To purchase yours, call the Royal Incentive Rewards Sales Desk at 888.305.4549.

For additional information on Royal Caribbean Incentive Rewards, click here.

New Luxury Hotel in Los Angeles

2011-07-26T10:13:00.000-07:00

Luxe Worldwide Hotels is probably one of our most favorite Hotel groups that we work with in the industry. We can't say enough about their selection of hotels, especially the Sunset and Rodeo Drive properties! Even better, we are thrilled with the great email we just received from Luxe Hotel Group about their newest offering in Los Angeles. If its anything like their others we know it will be awesome! Check out what they are saying about this hot great property!

“The World-famous Wilshire Boulevard has a new addition! The Hotel Wilshire, a stylish, LEED certified, 74-room boutique hotel designed by award-winning Killefer Flammang Architects, and KNA Design. The hotel is located just blocks from the city's best shopping on Rodeo Drive, The Grove/Farmers Market, Melrose Avenue, and Robertson Boulevard, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, entertainment venues and Cedars Sinai Medical Center. Our guests will enjoy their stay with an emphasis on comfort, convenience, and attentive service with in-room, and open air dining, concierge services, complimentary high speed internet access and WiFi, an executive boardroom and business center.

All of the thoughtfully designed and well appointed 55 guestrooms and 19 suites feature: flat screen HD LCD TVs, media hubs that support cell phones, laptops and personal devices, Lather™ brand spa bath products, laptop-compatible safes, mini-bars and luxurious beddings. Complementing the chic and contemporary vibe of its host city, The Hotel Wilshire provides plush accommodations highlighted by a private-access, top floor, Penthouse Suite that offers 1,100 square feet of living and entertaining space, custom designed furnishings, state of the art audio and video systems and much more.

Beautifully landscaped and with 360-degree views spanning the L.A. skyline and Hollywood Hills, “The Roof on Wilshire” restaurant will serve creative Californian/French cuisine al fresco by celebrity Chef Eric Greenspan, as well as specialty libations that can be savored in the warmth of the intimate fire pit or under the protective shade of the poolside cabanas.

Whether you are in L.A. for business, or leisure, The Hotel Wilshire is your gateway to Los Angeles, Beverly Hills, and Hollywood.”

Delta Airlines Stepping Up Amidst TSA's Errors

2010-11-24T08:18:00.000-08:00

Its not a hidden mystery to those of you that know me, but Delta Airlines is not one of my favorite carriers to work with in our industry. I'm sure if you searched our twitter page, facebook page or even this blog you could probably find multiple bemoanings of Delta. Its sometimes a bitter pill for me to swallow especially considering they are headquartered and employ hundreds of people in my beloved home state of Georgia. But the fact of the matter is, their customer service level is very rarely, if ever, ranked near the top of the charts.

However, I was intrigued by SmarterTravel.com's article this morning stating that Delta had announced a new policy to provide refunds, albeit on a case-by-case basis, to those travellers who have experienced extenuating circumstances by the new TSA security procedures. Delta failed to define what those may be but I'm assuming that means it will depend on whichever agent you get on the phone when you call their 800 number. So finally Delta, a step in the right direction...kudos to you. Just please keep it up!

Unfortunately, air travel in general isn't fun anymore, but the excitement and allure of visiting new places has definitely warn off in the past few weeks due to TSA's wonderfully implemented new security policies. Obviously that is said with a bit, maybe a lot, of sarcasm as I think everyone in our country would agree that TSA is also lacking in the explanation and customer service department.

The stories coming from travellers have captivated my attention for the last week, and I have to honestly say I agree with the "Don't touch my junk" gentleman who was complaining his fourth amendment rights were being violated. I was even more awe struck by the TSA agent who said you give up a lot to fly as soon as you purchase a ticket because I don't remember the airlines adding any of that verbiage to their contract of carriage. For those flying at the holidays and those business travellers like myself, we wish you good luck and godspeed for your next TSA encounter.

Finally Good News for City Center

2010-11-24T08:12:00.001-08:00

Just last week I was lamenting on the latest issue to go wrong with City Center, but finally MGM was thrown a bone from the hospitality world. Two hotels, The Mandarin Oriental and the Aria Resort & Casino, were bestowed the industry's highest honors: AAA's Five Diamond Award. This accomplishment is an incredible coup for MGM considering both properties have been opened less than a year and the Five Diamond Award accounts for less than .27% of all properties rated worldwide. Cheers and Congratulations for a job well done!

City Center Las Vegas Continues to be Plagued by Problems

2010-11-17T07:44:00.001-08:00

According to MGM Grand's third quarter financial filing report, the Harmon Hotel in City Center will likely never open. The last building to be opened in the massive project, the property was originally designed to be a boutique non gaming facility in the heart of City Center. Unfortunately, in 2008 MGM Grand was ordered by inspectors to reduce the size and scope of the project due to structural and construction problems. MGM Grand went ahead with construction plans to open the hotel as a 400 room property, but after recording a $279 million fine due to the problems it now seems to be a far-fetched idea the hotel will even see a customer before 2012. Discussions have now centered on if the current building can even continue to be utilized or if it will benefit MGM Grand to consider demolishing and starting over....an idea that many believe MGM's financial woes can't handle.

The Resort at Pelican Hill...Better than Palmilla in Cabo?

2010-04-13T21:07:00.001-07:00

While I must admit that the One and Only Palmilla in Cabo is one of my all time favorite resorts, I think I may have found a new property that could give Palmilla a run for its money as the best destination resort in North America. Now I know, some of you, especially my incentive clients are going to balk at the thought of something better but trust me when you build a resort with $1 billion in cash, there is no stone unturned, or crack in the pavement, or a paint chip, or bad service....I can keep going and going.

The Irvine Company truly spared no expense in the design and creation of such a fabulous and unique resort community. Each bungalow begins at an amazing 847 square feet of living area, plus an outdoor patio area that includes 2 chaise loungers and a table for two. There are only a few garden or golf course views, as many of the 144 bungalows offer idyllic Pacific Ocean views. The breezes off the water aren't bad either, and with no humidity or bugs many days I sat with my doors wide open.

The bungalows can be configured into a one or two bedroom option to accommodate multiple family members or multigenerational trippers. And with these options square footage grows to over 2000 square feet. Way bigger than my first apartment. Not to mention, each room has its own fireplace, 52" plasma HD flat screen tv, a bathroom the size of my bedroom with an oversized, incredibly deep soaking tub, granite tiled shower for 2 and a shuttered partition window that can be opened to showcase the beautiful views off the balcony.

There are no resort fees so WiFi in every inch of the property is complimentary, along with bottled water, newspapers,fitness center and spa access. Spread out on the rolling hillside and encompassing over 500 acres including two Tom Fazio designed golf courses, bellman offer rides to every corner of the resort and their service is quicker than you can snap your fingers. Transportation service is even offered down to the beach, where you are given a beach bag full of towels, toys for the kiddos and bottled water. At the Beachcomber restaurant you are met by a beach concierge who sets you up with chairs, umbrellas, blankets and answers every need from drinks to walking options to activity ideas. Shuttles also run to the Fashion Island Mall, which is definitely not a place to miss even if you only want to people watch. Trust me, everything in Orange County is beautiful...the resorts, golf courses, homes, people, cars.....

The Coliseum Pool measures an exact 147 foot circle and each chair boasts a view of the Pacific. Cabanas are available for day rental complete with flat screen tvs, bar service, mini bar, and staff. The Grill at the Coliseum draws locals and guests alike, and provides breakfast, lunch, dinner and drinks throughout the day. The Spa and Fitness center are lavish. No detail was forgotten and the fitness director offers daily beach walks, yoga classes, and a Friday evening Soiree where a local artist is on hand creating an amazing piece of work in which the guests can participate. The Spa...oh how I wish I was back. The relaxation room was truly dreamy with exotic teas, food service, gauzy and flowing curtains partitioning off the room that was filled with cushy and plush sofas, chairs and ottomans. There is a large Roman soaking tub heated to 102 degrees and filled with mineral water, a dry sauna and eucalyptus steam room. Definitely treat yourself to a service at the spa.

Andrea's is the Resort's signature restaurant offering Northern Italian fare and truly one of the best in the OC, if not America. Our waiter was impeccable and most of the staff has been on hand since day one. The Risotto for two is an experience in and of itself in regards to taste and preparation. True Italian chefs were brought over to provide insight and design ideas for the restaurant and the menu.

Stay tuned, more tomorrow on the Villas - who wouldn't want their own private butler, Camp Pelican - every child's dream destination, and Golf!

Meeting Industry Council of Colorado

2010-03-17T12:32:00.000-07:00

Today I'm blogging from the Sheraton in Denver, where MIC is celebrating its 10th anniversary. The week started with supplier receptions and culminated with the event today. Its filled with great workshops for both planners and suppliers as well as a supplier trade show in the afternoon. Everyone in the Denver event planning business is here, and the speakers have been awesome. If you haven't heard of Colleen Stanley, check out her website at www.salesleadershipdevelopment.com. This is the second time I've heard her speak on sales and ideas to grow you business and each time she surpasses my expectations of the past. No matter which industry you are in, she is one to follow. Brian O'Malley was the keynote during the lunch and he is owner of www.adventurespeaking.com and wow is all I can say. His topic at lunch was finding your Everest, your passion, something that keeps you awake at night and conquer it. Thank you MIC for a great 10 years in the business we all love.

More Happy Airline News

2010-03-16T09:48:00.001-07:00

Well, not really...as if the airlines making changes will surprise you. Continental has decided to end the free meal deal on their domestic flights and will begin charging for meals. Joining the ranks of the other mega carriers, Continental will save $35 million per year by eliminating this last free perk. The airline will continue to offer free beverages (coffee, tea, soft drinks, etc) and snacks, but any meals will cost the passenger.

American Airlines was fined this week over $700,000 by the FAA due to maintenance violations. Hmm, can't they find something else to skimp on than maintenance issues? Really, I'm thinking food poisoning might be better than an engine which quits working at 35,000 feet.

And in other airline news, the major airline execs are still heavily protesting the pending new tarmac delay rule which will allow aircraft to return to the gate to let passengers disembark rather than sitting on the tarmac for hours upon end. Airline officials are worried that fines could be as high as $27,000 per passengers. Which in my opinion is totally worth it if you are going to leave me overnight on a 50 seat jet without food or restroom facilities as what happened to a flight last year.

Something Out of the Ordinary

2010-03-16T07:40:00.000-07:00

Whether you are looking for some sun and fun times or wanting to offer an incentive retreat that is beyond normal, check out Windstar Cruises. The ships are more intimate than the larger cruising vessels of today and accommodate only about 300-600passengers vs. the 5000 plus people found on the mega ships. You actually feel the water and when the sails are up, you are literally sailing across open seas. The staff is fantastic and go above and beyond to satisfy every request and activities abound with every port stop. Windstar is also offering a future cruise credit of $250 per person for guests that book by June. What wouldn't be a better way to reward your top sales person or best client with a true Caribbean cruise experience and they leave with a little incentive to come back on another vacation.

Shout out to Disney Cruise Lines

2010-03-07T16:23:00.000-08:00

Our family just returned from a fantastic vacation aboard Disney's Magic and I just have to give them a huge shout out. This was our 4th trip with them and the longest, 7 days. The weather wasn't great and we had to cancel Grand Cayman to visit Nassau instead, but there was always something to do on the Mickey ship as my boys refer to it.

But my shout out is to the way they handled the embarkation and debarkation procedures. Their cruise prices are worth just those two things. We arrived the evening before into the Orland airport and stayed on property at the Hyatt. At check-in there is this LARGE sign that says "Please tell us if you are on a Disney Cruise." We were told to leave our bags in our room the next morning, the bellman would pick them up, take them to the Disney shuttle bus and we wouldn't have to worry about them again until we got to our stateroom. Wow! We actually checked out, had breakfast and headed down to the Disney Departure area, all the while our bags were shuttled around for us.

Now if I had anything to complain about it would be the Disney Departure area in the Orlando Airport. Not all the employees are full trained on what the procedures are and several have power issues. Needless to say, we stood in one line to make sure we had all our forms filled out and signed. Then we proceeded to the next line, to give all of our forms to a lovely lady behind the desk that didn't speak English very well and we were quite sure she had never seen a computer before either. We were checked into the wrong cabin, and give key cards before she realized it and then stood there another 30 minutes while she figured it out. Finally we were handed our embarkation packet with our keys and a little blue card with "Stitch" on the front. Then we headed over to the waiting area, for the bus driver to call our character before loading us on all the coach to the port.

The shuttle to the port was very enjoyable with Disney music, original Disney cartoons and a great video discussing the Disney Cruise we were about to embark. We made it to the Port in less than 45 minutes and were able to immediately board the ship! We headed straight to the dining reservations area to make a Palo's reservation, then over to the Spa and finally stopped for lunch. It was all smooth sailing from that point on.

The debarkation was even easier! The night before the ship docked we were told to tag our bags and leave them outside the door for the steward to take down to the storage for us. Word to the wise, if you are flying out make sure you don't leave anything out that can't be checked through security! The next morning, we had breakfast one last time with our wonderful dining team, then said a sad good bye to the Mickey Ship.

Definitely take advantage of Disney's onboard airline check-in system. When we tagged our bags the night before, they were tagged all the way through to Denver. When we walked off the ship, down to customs, we didn't need to worry about trying to find our luggage, and schlep it through immigrations. The immigration official didn't even ask to see our Passports, so we walked over to the buses and rode back to the airport. We already had our boarding passes, so we stood in line at security and went out to our gate. It was so simple!!!

Thank you Disney!

Great Group and Meeting Incentives

2010-02-03T10:25:00.000-08:00

Fiesta Americana is offering several great group promotions for Mexico. You can receive up to 35% off on Food and Beverage and 25% off rooms & spa services.

Palace Properties has fantastic group promotions based on the number of rooms you block you can received free unlimited promotions.

Curacao Tourist Board just announced its newest property: the Hyatt Regency Golf, Spa and Marina Resort. Groups can save up to 20% on their master bill including meeting facilities, guestrooms and catering/banquet. The group must block at least 10 rooms and events can be held between now and December 20th.

Las Vegas and Spiritual Tourism?

2010-01-27T08:18:00.000-08:00

Like most people, I rarely like to admit my faults but I must confess I am immensely behind in reading my plethora of travel industry publications. Seriously, as much as I love the industry you would think I would devour each one as soon as it arrived on my doorstep. Unfortunately, not so much and I'm blaming the holidays.

So I just finished Travel Weekly dated November 9, 2009 and there was a very interesting article urging Las Vegas to consider the financial impact of catering to the spiritual tourism market. Hmmm, I must say that's an interesting proposition.

Given the economic conditions of 2009, I understand that industries will try anything to make money. But honestly, I can't exactly see my grandmother's church group hitting Sin City. I'm almost positive that her church friends are probably praying for all the sins of those of us that hit that town on a regular basis.

Royal Caribbean's Decision to Continue stops in Haiti

2010-01-26T12:27:00.000-08:00

Kudos to Royal Caribbean for being proactive in trying to assist with the recovery in Haiti. RCCL's CEO has come under fire during the last week for his decision to allow the fleet to continue calling on the port of Labadee, Haiti which is the company's private island. His reasoning is because the ships will assist with economic recovery and relief efforts by bringing much needed supplies to the island. While I applaud the companies efforts to aid Haiti, I'm just not sure how my clients or I would feel about the port call.

The CEO says the company is offering the ability to combine a vacation with relief efforts in the plagued nation. However, I didn't see them adjusting the shore trips to reflect any type of volunteerism or relief work in the area. The countries of Haiti and Dominican Republic are great vacation destinations, as is a Royal Caribbean cruise, and ones that I recommend on a daily basis. I would just be a bit reserved to actually send a vacationing client to a country that is struggling with this enormous natural disaster. Its definitely a hard line to walk to balance the need for aid with the idea that bringing wealthy vacationers to the island in hopes of boosting the economy... Would that be a kick in the face of the Haitian people?

Why not instead, offer the ships for use in the recovery efforts? Every client I know would gladly postpone their vacation knowing that RCCL was donating their ships to get supplies, volunteers and aid workers to Haiti. From a PR standpoint, I can't think of a better way to promote such a immense cultural volunteerism program for the company without any negative criticism that the company still wants its private destination to make money.

Unlimited Private Events with Palace Resorts

2010-01-25T13:46:00.000-08:00

Whether its a family reunion, destination wedding or corporate meeting, Palace Resorts is offering several amazing promotions throughout 2010. There is the Palace Passports Promotion, Kids Free promotion and based on the number of rooms blocked you can get free unlimited private functions.

The Passport Promotion is valid on all bookings whether through a travel agency or a wholesaler and includes great discounts like: 30% off one round of golf with round trip transportation, 25% discount on Spa Treatments, a Buy One Get One Free Jungle Tour and a Buy One Get One Free Swim with the Dolphins. Vallarta Palace is offering unlimited tours per person and Riviera Nayarit is offering $15 off car rentals.

The Kids Free is a summer promotion valid for travel between June 1 - August 31, 2010. It does require a minimum 3 night stay and applies to children under age 12.

And lastly, one of the promos I'm most excited about is the group amenity offering. Book 10 paid rooms for 3 nights and you will receive a complimentary cocktail party. Book 20 paid rooms for 3 nights and you will receive an upgraded event instead of the cocktail party. But if you book 25 rooms with a minimum of 3 nights, you receive unlimited private functions.

The Palace resorts are a terrific all inclusive set of properties throughout the Cancun, Riviera Maya and Puerto Vallarta areas. I would recommend all of the properties!

Loving Southwest

2010-01-20T11:02:00.001-08:00

Before you ask, yes I am touting my new found love interest: Southwest Airlines. I had the pleasure of flying Southwest from Denver to Vegas roundtrip this week for an industry grand opening event at City Center. My entire experience was terrific from curbside checkin to the gate agents, flight attendents and the pilot's continual updates on the Chargers playoff game, I couldn't have asked for more. Not to mention, its free to check your bags and there is no change fee. Granted I do still hate the cattle call lineup prior to boarding as well as the panic attack that strikes because I forgot to check in 24 hours prior to departure...please don't let me be in group C. But honestly, all can be forgiven after yesterday. The standard Southwest plane holds 133 passengers. Yesterday we had 148 passengers trying to get on the flight from Vegas to Denver. I'm guessing everyone did as bad at the tables as I did and were all trying to make a fast dash away from Sin City. But the gate agent handled it with calm and ease, offering a free roundtrip ticket, a $100 voucher and the reimbursement of your oneway ticket to Denver. And he even the mad dash to his counter didn't rattle him.

Airlines, Airlines, Airlines

2010-01-13T08:34:00.001-08:00

Well, I was going to start off with my usual bemoaning of the airlines because we are only 13 days into the New Year and they have already announced increased fees. However, we also got some exciting news to report as well!

Southwest and United Airlines are offering a two for one sale for Colorado Customers. The United deal is this: 1) Tickets must be purchased by Feb 15th for travel by March 5th, 2) Travel must originate and end in Colorado and 3) It must be booked in a certain class of service meaning it may not be the cheapest flight out there. For Southwest you must purchase a Business Select fare in order for the two-fer promotion to be used.

In other good news, JetBlue has been offering a fantastic New Year promotion with $29one way fares. If you want to go somewhere, hurry up because you must book by 11:59pm tonight.

Ok,so now for the not so good news...both Continental and Delta have announced increased baggage fees. If you check in online 24 hours prior to your flight on their websites you can pay for your checked baggage in advance and it will be a discounted fee. And while Frontier did lower their change fee, it was conveniently offset by an increased baggage fee.

Virtuoso and Virgin Galactic Name New ASA's

2009-11-25T09:05:00.000-08:00

In case you were looking for that random, out -of-box holiday gift for the person on your list that has everything, you might want to check out Virgin Galactic's specials with Virtuoso. Virgin Galactic, in partnership with Virtuoso, named 18 new "Accredited Space Agents" (ASAs) that join 56 other Virtuoso travel advisers to become the sole team responsible for selling space travel with Virgin Galactic. The travel agents had to go through a rigorous application process and intensive training process. All the 120 worldwide agents will be invited to Mojave, California, for the unveiling of SpaceShip Two which is the first space vehicle of its kind developed to take private passengers to space. Its sure to be a great program and we are thrilled that our affiliate agency, Andavo Travel, has an agent on the list.

Airline Wrap Up for the Week

2009-11-25T08:47:00.000-08:00

There's good news and bad news, so let's start with the positive. There are expected to be fewer travellers this holiday season, so hopefully that will cut down on the lines at the airports, taxi cabs, hotel check-ins, etc. Even better, the airlines are all offering last minute fares! For example, I just booked a ticket for a client looking to travel this weekend to Denver and returning home to LAX on Tuesday...just $199 where as a week ago the price was closer to $300.

On the plus side, United is giving its image a complete overhaul from planes to customer service areas to Red Carpet lounges. According to the Chicago Tribune, United will be giving each airplane in its fleet a total makeover...this is the first one of this decade. The "tequila sunrise" theme will be thrown out; as well as any reminiscences of the Ted carrier. The previous one-cabin aircraft's will now offer a roomier first class seating and the 80's and 90's style overhead bins, and coach class seating will also be updated. Airline executives hope the image re-haul will help buffer it from poor customer service ratings and bashings receive by The Onion and YouTube.

Now on the bad side, I hope that many of you flying can steer clear of the New York area's three airports and any of its limited air space. For the first nine months of 2009, all three NYC airports respectively placed 1, 2, and 3 in the industry's worst on time arrivals rating scale. This rating compared all 31 major US airport hubs. In 2007, three quarters of all delays were traced back to issues surrounding these 3 airports alone. Modifications have been made from opening up additional airspace, changing the take off time between airplanes; but even on busy days planes waiting to land at La Guardia alone are often in line for a 40 mile stretch. Maybe DOT can add this to its list of current industry issues.

For all those who are flying this Thanksgiving season, I hope the skies will be friendly to you.

United to Introduce New Linebuster Option

2009-11-23T10:49:00.000-08:00

Untied Airlines will be introducing a new technology called "Linebuster" at the Chicago O'Hare International Airport over the Thanksgiving weekend. United agents will be stationed in the post security customer service areas with a handheld device that will tell them if passengers have been rebooked if their current flight has been missed or cancelled. These United agents will be able to assist and answer limited issues, but the aim is to reduce the lines in the customer service desks during the busiest airport holiday of the year. If a passenger has been rebooked, they are directed to utilize the self service kiosks to reprint their boarding passes and head to their new gate.

According to United, about 75-80% of its passengers are rebooked immediately upon a cancellation or missed flight, but only 3 out of 10 customers utilize the kiosks. It will be interesting to see how well this new option will fly since its being introduced over Thanksgiving. Not the holiday I would personally pick to introduce a new device but if it reduces United's lines anywhere I'll take it! Let us know your feedback if you come across it during your travels.

American Express May Pull Frequent Flier Miles

2009-11-19T13:23:00.000-08:00

American Express is notifying its customers of co-branded cards with airlines and hotels, that if you are late on your payment you will forfeit the miles you thought you might have earned during that billing cycle. In order to get your miles back, Amex will charge a $29 reinstatement fee, on top of the normal late payment fee and your interest rate on balances carried will increase to 27%. Apparently the move is to better align Amex's co-branded cards with other cards offered by Amex and other credit card companies. You might wonder if Amex is trying to dodge the new credit card rules that take affect in February.

FAA Glitch Causes Nationwide Delays

2009-11-19T10:15:00.000-08:00

The FAA radar system experienced a "glitch" this morning that affected flights across the nation, with Atlanta Hartsfield being the hardest hit. Its the 2nd issue FAA's had in two months. While I would love to say how shocked and surprised I was to wake up to this delightful news this morning, I'm not. Glitches, shutdowns, whatever you'd like to call it tend to happen when you run a radar tracking system that's based off World War II era technology. Just last week the DOT and Obama administration met with airline and FAA officials. The FAA acknowledged they had been working on the new system, NextGen, for over a decade had spent roughly between $14-20 billion on it thus far. Airline officials made it very clear they would be requesting the government to pay the remaining $16-20 billion to outfit the planes and finish the system. It makes you wonder how friendly the skies really are these days?

Pro Bowl Packages Available

2009-11-16T09:19:00.000-08:00

Since my beloved Georgia Bulldogs have somewhat faltered this year, I decided to turn my attention to the Denver Broncos. The first games were very impressive, if not lucky; and I was able to justify my new love of pro football because Moreno was on the team. Unfortunately, the Donkey's too seemed to have lost a bit of footing during the last few games. But that hasn't kept me from thinking of Pro Bowl and Super Bowl packages that might be available.

The 2010 Pro Bowl will be the first one to be played in the continental US in more than 30 years and the first one to be played before the Super Bowl.

The most recent Pro Bowl offering to hit my inbox starts off at a respectable $1025 per person. Included in the package are 3 nights accommodations, tickets to a VIP open practice on January 30th, tickets to a VIP Land Shark Stadium tour on the 30th, tickets to the NFL Pro Bowl Tailgate Party on the 31st, tickets to the game, and round trip coach transfers to the events and game.

And since it is only 22 degrees in Denver right now, the fact that the game will be played in Miami makes these offers all the more enticing!

Earn AA miles for hosting a meeting

2009-11-16T09:03:00.000-08:00

As I listen to the large chucks of snow and ice falling off my roof, I feel quite certain that Sonesta Bay Hotel in Coconut Grove and American Airlines are on to a great and warm idea for 2010. Both companies have teamed up to offer 10,000 frequent flier miles for hosting a meeting at the property in 2010. In addition, the hotel is offering a complimentary welcome reception for up to 50 people. The offer is only valid if you book 50 rooms per night and the contract must be signed by December 31, 2009. As visions of palm trees dance in my head, I'm all ready for a warmer climate, how about you?

Peter Greenberg & A Week in the Life

2009-11-15T15:54:00.000-08:00

CNBC's special that took Peter Greenberg deep into "A Week in the Life" of American Airlines was airing today and it was very insightful. After being in the travel industry for over 15 years, I thought I had a good handle on one of the most important aspects of our business: the airlines. As I said in an earlier Southwest post "my job would often be easier if I didn't have to deal with the airlines," but this show gave me a slightly better perspective on the airlines and I have to say, I think we as travel agents have the better end of this deal.

Greenberg and his cameras were allowed exclusive access to everything that embodies an airline: the cockpit, the revenue management, the call center, the management center, pilots, maintenance crew, plane inspections, control tower. You name it, they were there. And kudos to Greenberg who even attempted to decipher the often bizarre world of fares and pricing. If you have time and are a travel industry buff like myself, then try to find when it is airing again in your location. In the meantime check out the website: http://www.cnbc.com/id/18576787

Las Vegas and San Fran Report Visitor Increase

2009-11-12T11:12:00.000-08:00

In hopefully what is a good economic sign and a turnaround for the travel industry, the Las Vegas CVA announced for the first time since May 2008 the city saw an increase in the number of visitors for September. San Francisco also announced an increase in hotel occupancy rates although the average cost per room is still lower than normal.

Southwest Debuts "Green" Plane

2009-11-12T08:20:00.000-08:00

Everyone knows of my new found crush on Southwest Airlines, and if you haven't you are more likely to hear me complain of how much I hate the airline industry than profess my love for it. In fact my favorite saying is "I would love my job more if I didn't have to deal with the airlines."

Now I'm even more excited to know that Southwest is focusing on efforts to create a more eco-friendly industry. WN222 was recently taken out of service and completely retrofitted to save the airline an estimated 5lbs per seat. Just a few of the enhancements include: InterfaceFlor carpet which is totally recyclable and the manufacturing process was carbon neutral, completely recyclable seat covers, life vest is lighter and smaller, foam fill by Garnier Purtec offers better comfort while being lighter in weight, wind screen bulkhead, and plastic aisle rub strips. All are lighter weight products which will make the plane more fuel efficient.

WN222 will fly in regular service and will be identified by a green nose cap and an announcement by the flight attendant once on board. It is truly a test aircraft and additional plane retrofits will be determined by this new fleet addition.

Additional eco-programs initiated by the airline include: noise reduction techniques, pursuing LEED certification in all new construction, a member of the Environmental Protection Agency's Green Power Leadership club, implemented a system-wide recycling and water conservation program.

Thank you Southwest!

Off the Beaten Track

2009-10-03T08:12:00.000-07:00

If you are ever in the South Carolina Lowcountry, especially the areas surrounding Charleston, reserve a night to check out Bowen's Island. It's an out of the way joint (and I mean that literally in the nicest way), where the seafood is unbelievable. The property is currently undergoing some renovations but its a true Lowcountry experience right out of one of Pat Conroy's books. They literally steam the oysters the old fashion way in burlap bags and then dump them on your table for you to shuck'em open. There is a hole in the middle of the table to drop the shells into and any fixin' you could possibly desire from saltine crackers to hot sauce is available for your pleasure. Although I must admit, a true Southerner will just slurp out the shell. And don't forget to the order the hush puppies!

Trump Opens New Waikiki Hotel

2009-09-28T10:28:00.000-07:00

The Trump International Hotel Group is now taking reservations for its Waikiki Beach Walk property that is scheduled to open in November 2009. It is similar in the ultra-luxe theme that is seen throughout the Trump properties worldwide. Grand opening rates begin at $255.

Saveur Magazine Names Culinary Travel Advisory Board Members

2009-09-28T07:59:00.001-07:00

Saveur Magazine, in a recent partnership with Virtuoso, announced its new Culinary Travel Advisory Board in the October edition that is on newsstands this week. Congratulations to our sister company, Savory Travel, who was selected with over 50 Virtuoso travel agents! All board members specialize in culinary journeys and will work with the magazine to develop trips, tours and adventures for those that are "foodies" at heart. There is also a large travel section devoted to culinary travel on their website. Check out the latest edition or online www.saveur.com!

Four Seasons Great Exuma Resort Sold

2009-09-28T07:55:00.001-07:00

Sandals Resorts recently announced it had purchased the now-closed Four Seasons Great Exuma Resort at Emerald Bay in the Bahamas. The resort opened in 2003 but closed earlier this year. Sandals is planning a major pool area upgrade as well as adding in more dining venues. The new resort will have its grand opening on January 22, 2010.

Airlines Add Fees for Holiday Travel

2009-09-27T17:51:00.000-07:00

American and United both added a $10 surcharge for flights around Thanksgiving and New Year's Eve. American announced their new policy Wednesday and United matched it on Thursday. The fee is technically a fuel surcharge but obviously its a way to charge more for premium travel. The three days surrounding Thanksgiving and January 2nd and 3rd are the highest most travelled days of the year. Other major carriers may announce higher fees as well in the coming weeks. In better aviation news, Frontier reduced their change fee from $150 to $100 last week. However, the carrier did raise its first checked bag fee.

JW Marriott Meeting Matters Program

2009-09-23T10:08:00.000-07:00

The JW Marriott group is offering up to $100 per stay per room for each attendee for a meeting block. The credit can be used for on-property amenities or as a credit to the master account. Participating resorts include those in Arizona, California, Texas, Nevada and Mexico.

Have you volunteamed yet?

2009-09-22T07:31:00.000-07:00

This past year was definitely a time when companies struggled through the rough economy and drastically reduced budgets which scaled back their meetings, incentives programs and corporate group travel options. During this time, many of these companies turned towards low-cost teambuilding ideas that also give back to their communities. A new term called "volunteaming" has been coined in the meetings industry which combines volunteerism with teambuilding activities. Its a powerful, break out of the box idea that gives the participant an ownership feeling of "look what our team did together" and a "sense of contribution, giving back" will make the meeting one they will remember forever. Activities range from building bikes for needy children, cleaning up a park and painting a playground, to creating teams that are given a budget and go out to find a project to work on in the city and then report back to the group. Programs can be as short as two hours or stretch over the length of the meeting. Used as an incentive, a volunteer option can be built into budget or sales program or even allow the winner to choose how they want to demonstrate their corporate citizenship.

San Francisco's Airport is the first to offer carbon offsets

2009-09-21T19:51:00.000-07:00

San Francisco's airport recently unveiled three new kiosks that sell carbon offsets to travelers that want to reduce their carbon footprint. They are called Climate Passports and offer a simple touchscreens to help determine the amount of carbon dioxide your trip will create and the availability to swipe your credit card to donate to organizations and projects in the SFO area that reduce greenhouse gases. There are several websites that offer carbon offsets as well as many meeting planners, suppliers and travel agencies. Its a just a small step travelers can make to help do their part.

Are you doing your part?

2009-09-21T19:35:00.000-07:00

Have you ever been to an event and wonder what happens to all the untouched leftover banquet food? Normally it just gets thrown away with the rest of the trash from the festivities. Most meeting planners would agree that they hesitate to donate because they don't want the liability if someone was to get sick. But did you know that President Clinton signed a federal law in 1996 that protects food donors and limits their liability. Check out www.feedingamerica.org to find out more information because everyone can make a difference!

Sandals Fall Sale

2009-08-31T10:15:00.000-07:00

I know the commercials seem hokey and the literature you get online or in the mail is full of lovey, dovey couples that can make even the most romantic want to puke. However, as cliche as it sounds, Sandals does have the market on the adult only all inclusive market. This company has been doing it longer and better than all the others and can provide destinations from the Bahamas and Jamaica to St. Lucia that will accommodate any budget or traveler.

Who wouldn't like an escape from kids without hearing the words "Mommmyyyy" from a crying child while you are trying to nap by the pool? It may not be your child, but nonetheless wouldn't you feel better not hearing at all? If you are like me the gnawing guilt begins as soon as I see or hear another child when I'm trying to vacation alone with my husband. Just this week my client pointed that out as she was trying to decide between a trip to Punta Cana and the Sandals St. Lucian Grande.

Sandals has even extended their fall sale, offering 50% off rates, stay several nights and get a few for free and up to a $250 spa credit. The St. Lucian Grande has rates as low as $2854 for a 7 night stay all inclusive for 2 adults and as much as $3854 for six nights for the Penthouse Concierge Suite. These were for trips planned in the Spring of 2010.

Bumped Passenger Compensation

2009-08-03T08:25:00.000-07:00

Have you ever checked in for a flight and not been able to assign yourself a seat? Or realized when printing your boarding pass it was actually a confirmation pass that allowed you through security?

Many times its not a big deal as airlines reserve a portion of seats for airport control only. This is so it can accommodate families with children, passengers with disabilities, children flying alone, etc. Yours truly found out the hard way when travelling with my two sons last month. I made the mistake of grabbing the last two available seat assignments thinking we would get them moved around the airport. Well, we couldn't do it at the ticket counter (you know the airlines hate that face to face interaction with the passenger) and were sent out to the gate. I was the first one in line at the gate and waited patiently as the gate agent signed in. She was actually very nice considering it was summer and we were in Atlanta's airport, which is not really known for its Southern hospitality and charm. But she gave me some insight into the gate agent's job.

She said oh, I wish you hadn't of grabbed those seats because I would have known how many you needed together. Since I was the first in line, it didn't matter as she had plenty of seats to still assign. Apparently, all the passengers without seats are flagged in their system and each agent has their own pseudo priority system for assigning seats.

However, there is always that case where you can't get a seat because the flight is oversold and there are no seats to assign. It is a wonder that the airlines oversell their flights, but its no different than showing up for a hotel reservation and realizing the hotel is overbooked.

Airlines must first ask for volunteers. If that doesn't work and you don't get on your plane, the airline is required to pay you the price of a one way ticket up to a limit of $400. This is if you reach your destination within one to two hours of your original ticketed arrival time. If it takes longer, then the limit can go as high as $800. The airlines will also try to put you on another flight. Make sure you are given a confirmed ticket with seat assignment!

Most importantly know your rights, if you are bumped due to mechanical, crew no show, anything at all related to the airline - it is up to that carrier to make it right. Weather unfortunately, does not count. There is also no requirements that the airlines provide you with food or hotel reservations if you are delayed by more than a day. But if you negotiate, it always better to do so with a polite smile and not make scene. Trust me the gate agent will be much more willing to help you.

You can also always ask for a refund. I sat on the phone for an hour and half last Friday as I was passed between Northwest, Delta, Northwest and back to Delta again trying to negotiate a refund for passenger. His flight was cancelled and Delta had put him on a flight the next day. He was a business traveller and had to be home that night. While I was on the phone with Delta, we purchased him a ticket on Southwest. Delta ultimately agreed to issue a refund but its not always easy to get money back from the airline.

Southwest Announces Bid for Frontier Airlines

2009-08-03T08:14:00.000-07:00

Southwest announced last week they had entered a bid to purchase Frontier Airlines. The bid potentially worth at least $113.6 million would be over the $108 million bid Republic Airlines had offered the suffering carrier. Frontier Airlines, known for years for their beloved animals on the tails of the aircraft, has been in bankruptcy court for the past year. Southwest said if successful, they would keep both names for several years before merging the two companies. The move would also make Southwest the second largest carrier in terms of passenger amounts in Denver. Questions remain if Southwest could keep their point to point flight system and low fares if such a deal is finalized.

Ritz Carlton's New "Meetings Within Reach" Promotion

2009-07-23T10:28:00.000-07:00

Ritz Carlton just announced a new "Meetings Within Reach" promotion available at most of their properties. Ten or more room nights must be blocked and the benefits include daily continental breakfast, a general session meeting room, high speed Internet access in one meeting room, up to a 20% discount on AV and select suite upgrades. To qualify for the promotion, meetings must be booked by September 30th for events scheduled through December 31.

If you have a meeting scheduled at the Ritz, it would be worth a call to see if any of the inclusions could be added to your contract. Never hurts to ask!

Greenbrier to add a Casino

2009-07-23T10:11:00.000-07:00

M&C just reported that the prestigious Greenbrier resort in West Virginia is announcing plans to build a $25 million underground casino on the property that will open in 2010. The property's new 3880 lounge that is opening in September will offer temporary game for the gambling crowds with limited slots and table games.

It will definitely be compelling to follow this new addition at the grande dame of all hotels. I'm both a little surprised and shocked, considering the historical significance of the property combined with a casino. It seems a bit odd to me, but I guess anything goes in a recession. I can't wait to see the feedback from guests, travel agents and meeting planners.

Fountainbleu Las Vegas Cancels Meetings

2009-07-23T10:03:00.000-07:00

The famed Foutainbleu chain seems to be suffering a bit in Las Vegas. They have been in bankruptcy even before opening but professed to many meeting planners during the Incentive Travel Exchange that things would be normal soon. Apparently, not so much. Just yesterday, Travel Weekly posted an article stating that Foutainbleu has ceased construction activities and requested to cancel conventions and meetings that were booked through June 2010. In addition, current employment contracts were also requested to be cancelled. Spokesperson for the property said it fully plans to be opening by 2010 just the timing will depend on renewal of financing options.

It is a beautiful property and a great addition to the resorts along the strip. Hopefully things will work for them as it did for MGM's City Center.

Have you tripped lately?

2009-06-04T15:02:00.001-07:00

The title is a bit misleading, but if you haven't taken a trip - you should. I know the recession is affecting everyone but the deals are pretty amazing. A trip for 2 with airfare and lodging for 3 nights to Las Vegas can be found for as little as $620 total. If you need a little pick me up for a little less cash it can certainly be found!

Dining in the Sky Las Vegas Style

2009-02-24T13:24:00.000-08:00

Dinner in the Sky is a new venue that offers guests the opportunity to literally dine in the sky above Las Vegas. No, its not the newest theme park thrill ride to be introduced in Vegas, but a concept to give small groups or individual guests a very different take on dining out. Each meal consists of a 22 person Sky Table while suspending the guest over 160 feet in the air. Reservations are requested and prices begin at $249 a person that includes a reception, photography, access to the Sky Lounge and packages are available Thursday through Sunday. For transfers between your hotel and Dinner in the Sky add an extra $20.00 per person to the price.

A Grounded 747

2009-02-23T14:42:00.000-08:00

So if sitting on the runway delayed for hours isn't your idea of a good time, now you can actually pay to have a good time sitting on the runway. A jumbo 747 has been permanently cleared for landing as the world's first airplane hostel. The hostel will be conveniently located on the tarmac at Stockholm's Arlanda Airport and it was originally built in 1976. It is now a 25 room boutique hotel er hostel, with major upgrades in the decor and bathroom areas. Most of the coach class area is devoted to three bed shared rooms, an in-plane cafe and even a balcony area over the jetliner wing. If you really want to shell out the big bucks, try booking the cockpit suite that comes with access to the first class lounge and some well deserved privacy. While my backpacking-through-Europe- days are over, it could be that spending the night in a Jumbo 747 hostel could you earn you some bragging rights or at least give way to interesting conversation at your next dinner party.

Vegas Uncork'd

2009-02-23T09:04:00.000-08:00

Vegas Uncork'd is Las Vegas' premiere culinary event sponsored by bon appetit, MGM Grand, Mandalay Bay, Southern Wine and Spirits, Wynn, Bellagio and others. It showcases delightful cooking experiences, wine tastings, grand culinary tastings, dinners, and much more. Famous chefs that will dot the event with exclusive appearances include Chef Michael Mina, Chef Daniel Boulud, Chef Todd English and Chef Bobby Flay. Tickets are on sale now. Check out www.vegasuncorked.com

Four Seasons Aviara

2009-02-23T08:15:00.000-08:00

One of my personal favorites, the Four Seasons Aviara in Northern San Diego is offering a great Spring Break Getaway. You will receive a $100 resort credit and for every 2 nights paid you will receive the third night free! If you stay 6 nights, you get 2 nights free. All reservations must be booked through a travel professional, but with average temps in the 70s year round and airfare from Denver just $179 - why shouldn't you go!

Surf and Yoga Program in Costa Rica

2009-02-23T07:22:00.000-08:00

Pura Vida Adventures offers a great surf and yoga program at Hotel Tropico Latino in Malpais Costa Rica. In addition to the daily yoga and surf classes taught to each attendees ability level, guests will also receive a 1 hour massage at the Spa Natural. The rate is a bit steep for this economy, but its $2095 for a 6 night package including daily surf instruction, yoga classes, beachfront villa or bungalow accommodations, a one hour beachfront massage, a salsa night and other cultural activities. Airfare is additional. Check out www.puravidaadventures.com

Brisas Mexico Package

2009-02-23T07:13:00.001-08:00

Brisas Resorts is offering a great deal with up to 15% off with the purchase of its Mexico Holiday Breeze package. It includes free breakfast, a $100 to $200 Food and Beverage Credit, a room category upgrade, 4th night free and is valid for stays between Jan 4th and April 2nd, 2009.

Culinary Connections Amazing Gourmet Tour

2009-02-23T06:57:00.001-08:00

I had the unique privillege of sitting in on one of Culinary Connectors amazing Gourmet Tour's this weeked. As someone who lives in the suburbs, I constantly complain about how much I love the city but with kids in tow never find the time to go. Denver is a thriving, fun, young town with so many new restuarants and shops even if I could hit the Highlands, or LoDo or 16th Street Mall everyday there is no way to see it all.

Thanks to Culinary Connectors, it gave me a great view of 6 terrific boutique shops that I may have never found on my own. We started at Savory Spice (thank goodness there is one close to me in Littleton) and tasted true Cinnamon, a Chardonnay smoked salt and a white and black peppercorn. Their dried corn is a delicious snack!

Then we moved to the House of Common Tea Shop where owner Jessica delighted the group with four tastings and an in depth knowledge of tea time in England and the tea leaves themselves.

Chef William at Wen Chocolates took eating chocolate to a new culinary level and I highly recommend the Molotov Pineapple truffle - yum!

From there we were chauffeured down 6th to The Truffle Shop where owner and master Chef Rob told us that on any given week he has over 160 cheeses from around the world. Each Wednesday they pick up their newest delivers at DIA and he encourages everyone to try everything in his shop.

Next stop was the Red Trolley in the Highlands area. What a terrific culinary journey! The group learned the intrinsic details of making gelato and chef tricks to making your scones come out of the oven perfectly every time. Mondo Vino was our last stop in the Highlands Square area. The elegant yet hippy chic store encompasses a world of wine. The tasting bar was terrific and each wine was paired with a cheese and olive bread. I highly recommend the 1590 in the back corner because for $9 a bottle you can't beat it in this economy.

Check out http://www.culinaryconnectors.com/ and http://www.savorytravel.com/ for more information on tours in your area or how to join one of these!

Air Jamaica Announces Service Changes

2009-02-23T06:53:00.000-08:00

In a sign of the current economic times, Air Jamaica announced that it will discontinue passenger service in 3 US gateway cities: Atlanta, Miami and Los Angeles. The company announced the changes are in line with its 2009 Business plan and it will keep its cargo service from these airports. Air Jamaica is a great company to work with and I've used them so many times for travel especially between Miami and Atlanta for passenger travel to Jamaica.

Taste, Enjoy and Experience

2009-02-16T14:31:00.000-08:00

Culinary Connectors and Vibrant Travel Solutions have joined forces to create a private culinary experience just for foodies. The events, deftly name Travel Wine and Food, are weekend long and hit such amazing cities like Las Vegas, Scottsdale and South Beach. Each trip begins with a 2 hour private welcome reception with the areas best food and wine experts, luxury accommodations, round trip airfare, breakfast each morning, amazing hotel amenities, a 5 hour chef escorted culinary tour, 24 hour personal travel concierge service pre and post trip, Travel Director and host accompany every trip and all taxes and fees. Check out www.savorytravel.com for amazing prices beginning at $969 for air and land or $599 for land only pricing.

Sea Island Debuts with the Mobil 5 Star Award

2009-01-26T18:36:00.000-08:00

Sea Island's the Cloister Hotel, its Spa and The Georgian Room Restaurant as well as its golf property The Lodge received Mobil's prestigious 5 Star Award this month. In a private letter to members, Bill Jones III announced the recognition by placing gratitude on the impeccable staff that is found throughout his resort. The Cloister Spa is the state's only Mobil Five Star spa and only one of eight recognized in the US and Canada by the organization. The Lodge has received the designation for nine straight years.

The Cloister is offering a special to celebrate the Five Star award by offering room rates beginning at $525 a night and a $500 resort credit for stays of 3 nights or longer between January and March 2009.

Four Seasons Miami

2009-01-26T18:34:00.001-08:00

The Four Seasons Miami is offering an unbelievable deal now through April 30, 2009. If you stay 2 nights you get the 3rd night complimentary to lounge by the pool in a private cabana, walk the shops on Lincoln, relax in the world class Spa or enjoy the numerous dining venues like Wish that are located right outside your door.

New Hotels Opening

2008-12-26T13:14:00.000-08:00

Regardless what side of the states you reside in, there are plenty of new hotels opening across the country in 2009. The Waldorf Astoria collection has added the Waldorf Astoria Orlando resort which will ultimately be part of the Hilton Bonnet Creek development. Recommend Weekly reports this is the first new Waldorf Astoria to be build since the original opened in New York City. The Boca Raton Resort and Club will also join the Waldorf Astoria collection in 2009.

Hawks Cay, also in Florida, recently opened its 100 new redesigned Preferred Villas. This private island in the Florida Keys offers 2, 3, and 4 bedroom villas located throughout the 40 acre resort.

On the West Coast - Setai San Diego and the Fours Seasons Seattle have opened their doors. The Setai in San Diego is located in the financial district offers 184 rooms beginning at $300 a night. The Four Seasons Seattle is a 21 story hotel condominium property that offers 147 guest rooms. The resort includes a restaurant, lounge, spa, a rooftop terrace and an heated 40 ft outdoor infinity swimming pool.

A Denver Staycation

2008-12-22T18:04:00.000-08:00

Have you considered staying in your home town and having a "staycation" instead of a long distance vacation this year? With all economies tight, area hotels and restaurants are offering amazing deals for locals. And if you combine that with a city tour, you may just see parts of your hometown that you never knew existed.

Culinary Connections of Colorado offers such a delectable destination tour! And trust me, it will be hard to come across a better way to see Denver. Becky Creighton, a self ascribed foodie, has launched a entree filled endeavor that will keep you coming back for more! Her tours are between 4 and 5 hours in length and take you behind the kitchen doors of some of the best restaurants Denver has to offer. She provides amazing ambiance and an exclusive setting between you and the chef. The tours are limo chauffeured with an intimate group of only 6-8 people and you are even escorted by a local chef! Check out her site as http://www.culinaryconnectionsofco.com/ is not one to miss!

Combine this with amazing stays at Hotel Monaco, the Ritz or Hotel Teatro and you will feel like you are worlds away without all the hassle of travelling.

As a side note, the Hotel Monaco has rates as low as $109 for a queen bed that includes a bottle of wine, free wifi and a wine reception on the evening of arrival.

Two Great Riu Options in Cabo

2008-12-16T11:51:00.001-08:00

Riu recently opened its second property in the Cabo San Lucas area and they are offering free wedding packages at the property through 2009. The Riu Santa Fe Hotel is an all inclusive and has 902 rooms with 7 bars, 5 restaurants, tennis, spa, pools, water sports and beaches of this lavish hotel. Kids have their own private swimming pool and mini club.

The resort chain opened the Riu Palace Cabo San Lucas Hotel a few years ago and it is still a favorite among travellers. The property has 642 rooms, two heated infinity pools with Jacuzzi, spa, gym, sauna, 2 children's pools and a playground. The view of the Arch from the hotel is amazing and it has great nightly entertainment featuring both variety and themed shows. The hotels boasts an eclectic menu of restaurants including Krystal (fusion gourmet), Misaki (Japanese), Mar de Cortes (Steakhouse) and San Jose (Mexican).

The World's Largest Ice Skating Rink

2008-12-15T14:45:00.000-08:00

Do you know where the world's largest ice skating rink is located? Mexico City. Yep, that's right and it comes complete with 50 meter high Christmas tree, toboggan slide and huge snow area. Its 3200 sq meters and while the Guinness Book of World Records hasn't verified it, I'm pretty sure the 14,000 people are expected to stand in line daily for a skate.

Delta to offer Wi-Fi Services

2008-12-15T11:48:00.000-08:00

Delta Airlines recently announced that it would be offering paid Wi-Fi services on several of its East Coast flights. Fliers can expect to be online roughly 40 minutes and the service is being tested primarily on the New York flights to Boston and Washington, D.C. Other airlines should be making similar announcements in the coming weeks.

Barbados Resort Offers Big Renovations

2008-12-15T11:40:00.000-08:00

Sandy Lane, one of Barbados' premier resorts, recently reopened this fall after a month's closure to provide unbelievable enhancements. Guests are welcomed with new linens, furniture, 52" TVs, new spa amenities, a new sauna, new line of productions and the expansion of the property's Bajun Blue Restaurant. Bajun is now home to a lobster tank, red wine cellar and new lounge area.

Sandy Lane has the distinction of being a "Best of the Best" property as selected by Virtuoso. Virtuoso guests can receive additional amenities including upgrades on arrival, daily breakfast, complimentary full body massage and round trip airport transfers. Barbados is also an easy nonstop flight from most major US airports and offers some of the best golfing in the Caribbean.

Cayman Island Castaway

2008-12-15T11:37:00.000-08:00

Airfare is so cheap starting at just $174 one way to the Cayman Islands. There is nonstop service from major cities like Miami, New York, Chicago and Tampa and just recently Cayman Air announced nonstop service from Washington's Dulles airport. Packages include a $400 resort credit on a minimum four night stay. If the winter blues have you down, why not be a Cayman Island castaway if only for a few days!

Culinary Delights

2008-12-11T12:59:00.000-08:00

Food & Wine Magazine and Grand Lido Negril Resort & Spa announced the 10th annual Epicurean Escape June 24th-29th, 2009. It is 5 incredible days that include interactive cooking classes, demonstrations by local and international celebrity chefs, wine seminars with master sommeliers, nightly themed parties and a spectacular seven course formal dinner. Grand Lido Negril Resort is the only Four Diamond Resort Chain in the world. Mark your calendar for this culinary adventure, this will be one not to miss.

Holiday Ideas

2008-12-11T09:28:00.001-08:00

Are you tired of giving the same old thing for holiday gifts? Or are you tired of being asked what it is that you want for the holidays? I mean how many articles of clothing can you receive or toys and electronics can you give. Its been said that you rarely remember the gift you received 5, 10, or 20 years ago, but that instead you remember and value an experience, especially one that leaves a touching memory on soul. Experiences and memories last a lifetime, long after the watch broke or the TV gave out or the sweater you outgrew.

Many hotels, restaurants, spas, airlines, and travel companies are offering gift cards and certificates this year. If you know your loved one wants to go to a particular destination or hotel, then contact your agent or that property for information on a gift card. Southwest and Frontier offer gift cards online. Spafinder.com has a fantastic offer for a gift certificate. Hotels and restaurants will gladly give you a certificate to pop in the mail or wrap up as a gift. And if you don't have a specific place in mind, call your travel agent and get a certificate through their agency. These are perfect for the individual who has everything, because then they can use it go or do anything.

Travel Management gift certificates are perfect for those top employees or stellar clients you want to reward at the end of the year. A Gift Certificate can be personalized or even destination specific. You could buy a package for a 3 day cruise or trip to Las Vegas and spend less than $500.00. In the days of economic gloom, travel is an option that always excites and leaves a lasting memory from the smell of the salt air, the feeling of sand between your toes and the sun on shoulders. And they will be sure to remember the gift they received from you this year.

Savings in San Juan

2008-12-11T08:51:00.000-08:00

El Conquistador, Las Casitas Village and Condado Plaza are all offering unbelievable discounts to escape to the beautiful isle of Puerto Rico. El Conquistador and Las Casitas Village, along with its famed Golden Door Spa, are perfect venues for a family vacation, a corporate retreat, an award incentive, that all important business meeting or just a romantic retreat.

The El Conquistador and Las Casitas Village share an amazing property, complete with tantalizing restaurants, its own water park and private island, the Golden Door Spa, and one of the largest casino's in Puerto Rico. Both are offering kids 10 receive a free breakfast each morning and the longer you stay the more credits you earn to use during your vacation.

El Con is offering rates as low as $239 and Las Casitas rates are $299. You can earn up to $400 in bonus credits as long as your trip is booked by January 31, 2009.

Condado Plaza Hotel and Casino is a great little boutique property that is also offering up to $400 in bonus credits, kids under 10 receive free breakfasts and the rates are as low as $179 per night.

Disney Cruise Kids Sail Free

2008-12-10T12:17:00.000-08:00

Disney Cruise line just announced a new promotion where kids sail free on 3 day sailings beginning in January 22 through May 29th. This is truly my favorite cruise line and my favorite Disney experience with the kids. There are no lines to wait in, fantastic dining venues that change every night, Broadway productions with Disney themes, characters all over the ship and an entire deck devoted entirely to the little ones. There is an adult only pool, deck area, restaurant and spa as well as an entertainment avenue on board. The best thing is the private island - Castaway Cay - truly a paradise that words cannot describe.

Sensational Scottsdale

2008-12-10T11:21:00.000-08:00

Scottsdale is probably one of my favorite destinations in the US. It is easy (& cheap) to fly into the Phoenix airport from almost any other city in the United States and the resorts in the Scottsdale area are amazing. Virtuoso has over 9 properties listed in their Best of the Best book. Check out this picture I recieved this morning from my rep at the Sanctuary at Camelback:

Who wouldn't want to visit this resort - not to mention their bar Jade and the spa are both internationally renowned in the travel industry. And if you are a star watcher (and I don't mean the kind in the sky, although those are amazing too), there are plenty of chances to grab a sighting or two.

Just today I receive announcements from two of my other fave properties. These are steaks abd deals you won't want to miss. The brand new Intercontinental Montelucia Resort and Spa is offering a rate of just $240 per night for the Tositos Fiesta Bowl that will feature Ohio State vs. Texas. Its a sweet deal to get somewhere warm in the midst of winter, check out great college football and the chance to savor a piece of the Mediterranean at this hotel.

The Four Seasons Scottsdale just introduced a Stay Longer in the Spring promotion. By booking a 2 night stay, you will receive a 3rd night free. The hotel just completed a multi-million enhancement project leaving all 210 casita guest rooms and suites completely renovated. I just visited this property in early April 2007 and thought it was fantastic before the renovation so I can't wait to see it now! As guests of the hotel, you will receive preferred tee times, complimentary Kids Club programs and if you book through a Virtuoso agent you can get an upgrade upon arrival if available, daily breakfast for two, a welcome amenity and a 50% discount on valet parking. Who wouldn't want to spend the spring lounging in this amazing pool:

Celebrate Carneros Style

2008-12-10T09:44:00.000-08:00

The holidays are the perfect time to get away and most people I know would love a brief respite from reality versus your average holiday gift of a tie, slippers, sweatsuit, etc. Carneros Inn in beautiful Napa Valley is briming with holiday cheer and a terrific location! It is by far, one of my favorite, most luxurious resorts in both the Napa and Sonoma valley areas. Venues for your holiday dining are asplentiful as are your options for hotel stays. Carneros goes above your traditional hotel room by capitivating the traveler with a luxury cottage complete with your own private (and heated) outdoor patio, king beds, a lush bathroom experience with soaking tub, shower for two and even an outdoor shower, plus a sitting area with a king bed and the traditional rocking chairs on the front porch to indulge in your relaxation experience. The spa, cuisine and views abound with pampering and sootheness that will wash away even the most harshest of winters. And the property is a Virtuoso resort highlighted in the Best of the Best book so ask about your additional amenities like upgrades, breakfast for two and more.

Frontier to Change Fares

2008-12-10T09:09:00.000-08:00

Frontier Airlines will soon be introducing a new way to purchase travel. Frontier's product is called AirFairs, which is a new fare structure to offer bundled pricing for customers. AirFairs is Frontier’s way of giving customers a choice when purchasing a plane ticket. Customers will be able to pay for they type of travel experience they prefer in 3 different levels: Economy, Classic, or Classic Plus.

Economy offers maximum savings (and personally I think will be on par with Southwest) with the basic amenities, and the ability to pay for any additional services as the passenger flies, with seats available only at check-in. Classic and Classic Plus offer more amenities and flexibility of tickets. Classic, for example, will offer advanced seat assignment, 125% mileage accrual, complimentary Direct TV, $50 ticket change fee, and $75 change flight same day confirmation. Classic Plus will offer all of that and more, including 150% mileage accrual, free paid beverages, food, the ability to refund, and the list goes on.

Virgin Charter

2008-12-10T08:12:00.001-08:00

Richard Branson has done it again with his newest entry into the air market. Virgin Charter has been recognized by CNN Money, USA Today, Forbes, and BusinessWeek just to name a few and it makes booking a charter flight a snap! Not to mention you get to compare quotes, look at specials for empty leg one way flights all online in the comfort and privacy of your own computer. I tested it and it was simple. I've booked and researched hundreds of charter requests for clients, and in the past I research the market, find the best carriers, maybe consult a few online charter databases and start making calls, emails and praying someone will get back to me with a decent proposal. Check out www.virgincharter.com.

MSC Cruise Line's Orchestra

2008-12-10T08:01:00.001-08:00

MSC is launching its newest ship, Orchestra, over New Year's weekend. The inaugural sailing in North America will be special 2-night Caribbean cruise departing from Ft. Lauderdale on Friday, January 2, 2009. Rates for the weekend sailing begin at just $199 plus with their kids under 17 sail free promotions, the entire family can enjoy a warm Caribbean holiday. On board the Orchestra, you will experience 5 full service restaurants (with the only dedicated Chinese restaurant at sea), 10 lounges including a disco and 2 venues set outside, a 21x12 ft LED outdoor movie screen, the Body and Mind spa with over 16,000 sq ft of relaxation space and so much more.

Hyatt's New Business Plan

2008-12-10T07:54:00.001-08:00

I've always been a fan of Hyatt's properties, but now they offer even more incentive for the business traveler with a new Business Plan Package. If you book under that rate, you will receive daily breakfast, Internet access, daily refreshed water (I'm assuming its bottled), daily newspaper and one piece of laundry pressed or washed per room per day. Ahh, maybe business travel will get easier....

Viva Vero Beach

2008-12-03T13:16:00.000-08:00

Everyone knows I love all Kimpton Hotel properties and if you don't know, I mean you can't beat them. To draw on an earlier post, where else can you get a goldfish in room during you stay? Kimpton Hotels are traditionally boutique-y types with gorgeous room furnishes and stellar service you can always count on. Families, groups, romantics all feel at home while staying at Kimpton.

Now they have just announced the new addition: Vero Beach Hotel and Spa and they are offering great introductory rates! A studio suite is $149 a night on stays between Sunday and Thursday and then it goes up to $169 for the weekend plus you get a daily $20 F&B credit. While that may not be enough for a full meal, you could use it to sip a cooling margarita while you sit serenely on the white sandy beaches watching the crystal blue waters of Florida. The offer is good between now and February 12th - definitely check this out!

Las Brisas Steals and Deals

2008-12-03T13:07:00.000-08:00

Las Brisas Resorts in Mexico are offering some amazing deals. At their Ixtapa property, new deals include everything from a free breakfast, F&B credits, room upgrades, and free nights. They have a great wedding package from the casual beach I do's to the more classic formal event in one of their ballrooms. There is also a great "Hold a Rate" promo going on until 2010, where you can hold a rate for the next three years at today's pricing. It doesn't get any better than this!

The Donald Goes to Scotland

2008-11-21T10:53:00.000-08:00

Despite protests and opposition from environmentalists, the Scottish government recently approved a 1.6 billion dollar project designed by Donald Trump to build a luxury resort on the country's east coast just north of Aberdeen. Trump was honored by the decision and felt it would bring a positive impact to the people of Scotland. The project will include a 1400 acre resort with 2 championship golf courses, a five star hotel, golf school, 500 private homes and 1000 holiday type homes with the total site encompassing more than 15000 acres. The resort will create more than 1200 permanent employment positions and almost an additional 6000 jobs in relation the golf course development.

Talbott Hotel Goes Green

2008-11-21T10:42:00.001-08:00

Go Green is all the rage these days in the travel industry and Obama's hometown hotel, The Talbott, is one of the first Green Seal Certified hotels in the United States. The Talbott is a luxury boutique hotel with 149 rooms and was built in 1927 offering the amenities and charm of an era that focused on luxury. The Hotel and staff worked incredibly hard to achieve the award in less than 9 months. The Green certification focuses on waste management, energy efficiency, water conservation, wast water management and green procurement. Only 5 of 25 applicants received the award.

Does your meeting have Karisma?

2008-11-20T16:53:00.000-08:00

Karisma Hotels is offering an exceptional package for meetings, incentives and group opportunities. Groups can save up to $5000 and receive a complimentary reception, welcome dinner, farewell dinner and much more. In addition, groups that book 10 or more suites receive a private check-in area with welcome drinks and appetizers, a gourmet inclusive welcome reception, and gourmet petit fours and fine sparkling wine in each suite upon arrival. If you reserve 10 or more suites, the resorts will offer $150 towards upgrade per suite, 16 or more suites you will also get an additional $50 resort credit and 26+ suites you will get $200 towards an upgrade per suite plus a $100 resort credit. Travel can begin as early as January 2009 through the end of December 2010!

Dreams Delight

2008-11-20T15:50:00.000-08:00

Dreams Resorts and Spas are offering an unlimited luxury steal of deal if you book before the end of November. Rates are as low as $139 per person per night and valid at any of their 5 newest locations including Nuevo Vallarta, Hautulco, Puerto Aventuras, Las Romana and Punta Cana. In addition, you can receive a guaranteed room upgrade upon arrival and up to $100 in resort credit to use towards the spa, speciality wines, or romantic beachfront dining. Dreams Resorts are perfect for the family getaway or romantic retreat.

Kimpton Hotels - Gotta Love 'Em

2008-11-18T08:44:00.000-08:00

You have to love Kimpton Hotels, I mean where else can you request a goldfish to keep in your room during your stay? Not to mention, if you book a stay now through March 1, 2009, at one of their select properties you can add breakfast on for just a $1 more. Ask about it today!

Free Air to Antigua!

2008-11-17T07:50:00.000-08:00

Ok, this is a not-to-miss opportunity to fly free to Antigua this winter. Well as long as you can get to Antigua under $800 it will be free, but its still a great incentive offer by Elite Resorts. Elite Resorts is offering an amazing deal with a $800 airfare credit for travel any time in January plus receive a 7th night free. The offer is good for their Verandah Resort and Spa, St. James Club and Villas and the Galley Bay Resort and Spa. The Verandah is great for families as it has junior suites, kids meals in all restaurants, a beautiful new Kids Center, and fantastic beaches. St. James is a private 100 acre peninsula located on Antigua's southeastern coast. Their are options for every member of your family with 2 white sand beaches, multiple dining venues, Kidz Club, teen activities, and full service spa. The Galley Bay is nestled on almost 40 acres of secluded tropical gardens with a private beach, terrific dining locales and a brand new spa.

Cabo Wine & Food Fest

2008-11-14T08:29:00.000-08:00

Cabo San Lucas is definitely one of my favorite destinations in Mexico. You can't beat the location, the sun, the sand, the water, the off shore fishing, not to mention the plethora of new resorts and all the money dancing around town makes it the hippest spot in all of Mexico. But the best news is there is now a Wine and Food Festival in January - what better way to beat the winter blues than by heading off to warmer climates to imbibe and socialize with North America's best chef's and wine sommeliers.

Pueblo Bonito Resorts and Spas are the hosts of this international culinary delight beginning January 14-19th at their Pueblo Bonito Sunset Beach property. The Resorts just announced Michael Schlow will be the featured guest chef joining their already acclaimed chef Antion de Livier and wine pairings by their National Champion Sommelier Juan Carlos Flores. Pueblo Bonito has a great collection of resorts through the Cabo shoreline and I would recommend just about all of them. I prefer their Holistic Spa and Resort that is located on the pacific side of Cabo, but all the others are within walking distance of town.

Conde Nast Traveler recently named Pueblo Bonito's Sunset Beach Resort to their Gold List in 2008 and it received the Best Hotel in Food in the Americas. Check out some of these photos of Sunset Beach:

Florida Meetings

2008-11-12T09:19:00.000-08:00

Florida has an overabundance in locales for all types of meetings regardless if you are looking for an intimate corporate retreat or a convention center for 2000 guests. Several new venues have just been announced by the Florida Meeting Professionals program.

The new Charlotte Harbor Convention Center will be opening January 2009 and will bring a new waterfront convention center to the Southwest area of Florida.

Looking for a green option, Saddlebrook Resort has many shades of green from its championship golf courses to be rated in the Florida Green Lodging program.

And Key West's Southernmost Hotel Collection is almost ready to debut its new oceanfront rooms with amazing rates of only $119 a night.

If you needs lots of meeting space, don't forget about the Marriott World Center in Orlando. Its an amazing location with the theme park attractions for those that want to bring the loved ones, championship golf courses, luxury spa, close to an international airport, more than 450,000 square feet of meeting space and it offers the nation's largest pillar free resort ballroom.

Spa-tastic Savings

2008-11-12T09:09:00.001-08:00

It doesn't matter where you are in the country, spas everywhere are offering amazing deals that will revive your soul and appease your piggy bank. From Texas to Canada and California to Pennsylvania you can find an offer that will make the most uptight economist unwind.

Check out these getaways and for more information call your travel consultant....

Red Mountain Spa in Utah is located just a short drive from Las Vegas and is an all-inclusive retreat where you can save more than $180 per person per night.

Hyatt Regency Maui is offering a 20% savings on the Balance package plus a spa treatment as well as daily breakfast for two.

The Huntington Hotel and Nob Hill Spa in San Francisco is not only perfectly located perched at top the infamous Nob Hill (personally one of my favorites) but offers an incredible savings of 25% on their Romance and Relaxation package. This property is Virtuoso preferred so your consultant will have additional amenities like breakfast for two, room upgrades and more.

The Lodge at Woodloch in Pennsylvania currently has a 4 night stay with a savings of more than $150 per person per night.

The Fairmont Banff Springs and its renowned Willow Stream Spa have a savings of $180 per person per night when booking the Willow Stream package.

Devon Hiking Spa in Tuscon has a buy one package and get one half off.

The Greenhouse in Arlington Texas offers savings of 30% or more on seven night holiday packages.

Hyatt Regency Monterey Resort

2008-11-10T10:29:00.001-08:00

Monterey, California is a beautiful destination and one of my favorites, you have the Pacific ocean, the touristy but ever so fun Fisherman's Wharf, the amazing aquarium and just the all around beautiful views in every direction. While my heart is always in Carmel, I do have to say the Hyatt Regency Resort and Spa in Monterey is a an amazing property. What makes it even better, is that it recently endured a $60 million renovation that transformed every aspect of the hotel.

All 550 rooms are complete with the plush Hyatt Beds, flat panel TVs, and iHome Stereo. There is a new restaurant and lounge, the championship course at Pebble Beach Company's Del Monte, the all new Regency Club featuring private lounge, concierge services, continental breakfast and evening receptions and the resort will soon be opening its 12000 sq ft spa.

The hotel is offering a "Book Three for Free" special that includes a 1 category room upgrade and full breakfast for 2 daily for stays through December 19th!

Check out the new Fireplace Lounge photo:

Cruise Lines to Drop Surchages

2008-11-10T10:15:00.000-08:00

Three crusie lines announced additional savings to the customer by agreeing to drop their fuel surcharges. Norwegian Cruise Lines said effective November 10, 2008 the existing surchage will be eliminated on all new bookings on 2010 departues. NCL joined both Royal Caribbean and Carnival in rescinding the fuel surcharges for their 2010 departures.

Disney Destination Discounts

2008-11-10T09:24:00.000-08:00

The Walt Disney World Company is certainly rallying around those that want to have unique travel experiences during this somewhat sluggish down turn in our economy. Just recently they announced a 2 for the price of 1 cruise, a complimentary character breakfast at Disneyland and a buy 4 get 3 free at Walt Disney World.

The Disney Cruise line is offering a great special for those who want to purchase either a 4 or 7 night cruise for sailings this winter they will get a 3 night cruise for only $99 to use next fall. In addition, Disney has reduced its deposit requirements by 50% on all new bookings for select categories.

Guests booking a stay at one of the 3 Disneyland Resort hotels will receive a complimentary Disney Character Breakfast they buy a vacation package with tickets for 3 nights or longer. The special is offered on all arrivals through December 16th!

The best news is Walt Disney World is offering an amazing new package to kick off 2009! For all guests that purchase a 4 night 4 day Walt Disney Travel Company magic Your Way package, they will get an additional 3 nights with tickets free. The package is valid for most stays January 4-April 4, 2009 and April 19-June 27, 2009. All packages must be booked by December 20th!

Airline Achievements

2008-11-04T08:24:00.000-08:00

Well the title is a bit of a misnomer, in that it is more like achievements in making air travel a bit easier on the passengers. I know, kind of hard to believe, but its true....Continental has introduced a paperless boarding pass pilot program and word on the travel street is that the ban for carry-on liquids will be lifted some time next year. Hooray for air travel again!

Continental launched its paperless program at La Guardia, in direct competition to a program already instituted by Delta a few months ago. Continental allows passengers to receive electronic boarding passes on their cell phones or PDA's which will then be scanned by bar code readers at the airport. Continental is testing the program in Boston, Cleveland, Newark, Washington DC, Austin, Houston and San Antonio. Northwest has a similar program in Indianapolis and soon in Detroit. Alaska Airlines offers paperless boarding in Seattle. Check with your carrier's website to determine if it is available for your city.

Our country's wonderful TSA department is working hard to lessen the restrictions on carry-on liquids by next fall. It is their hope, that within a year most airports will be using the more advanced AT X-Ray units and software which will enable security agents to determine liquid threats vs. non-threats. Unfortunately, your liquids will still have to be in a separate bin so it may not save all that much time in your security checkpoints. But hopefully by 2010 the restriction will be lifted as well.

And in case you want to know what it costs to fly these days, here is a great website to find out the additional fees once you have purchased that precious airline ticket. Check it out: http://flyingfees.com/

Economy Driven Getaways

2008-11-03T20:28:00.000-08:00

Unbelieveable travel offers are literally busting the seams of my inbox on a daily basis. As the economy sags so do the prices to travel. Not only has gas dropped, but so has airfare, hotel rates and supplier deals. Just because our country is facing few a political and economic issues, doesn't mean your soul has too endure it too. Readjust your attitude with a quick trip away from reality, especially if its easy on the wallet and it involves some fun, sun and relaxation. Check out these properties....

El Conquistador Resort and Golden Door Spa want you to experience all Puerto Rico has to offer with an amazing offer for room rates of $189 per night. The resort recently opened their newest feature the Coqui Water Park, which is completely state of the art when it comes to splasdown fun. The resort offers every activity possible from crystal aquamarine Caribbean waters, its own private Palomino Island, horsback riding, every type of watersport under the sun, a state of the art casino and the world renowned Golden Door Spa. Airfare from Denver is averaging just $450 per person, holidays exculded.

Virtuoso has teamed with Classic Vacations to offer an escape away to Tahiti starting as low as $679 per person. This deal is actually well within reach of many who dread the shorter, colder days that come with the time changes each year. Several of the packages offer amazing extras like complimentary spa services, room upgrades, free roundtrip airport transfers and so much more.

Las Vegas isn't far behind in jumping on the deal of century bandwagon. They are offering everything from room upgrades, $50 in free play, VIP club services and majorly discounted shows for locals. The Venetian is offering luxury suite rooms as low as $119 a night plus a gaming credit, drink voucher and access with a line pass to one of the hottest new nightclubs on the strip - LAVO. The Signature at MGM grand is offering a book 2 get the third night free when booked by November 16th, plus check with your Virtuoso agent on special amenities. Both Mirage and TI (Treasure Island for those of you not in the know) are revealing their revamped, and hip new rooms at incredibly low prices. Airfare from Denver is as low as $157 on most carriers, excluding major holiday weekends.

Boundaries Divide...Travel Unites

2008-10-29T17:44:00.000-07:00

Have you ever wondered why you should use a travel agent or think "what's the point I can do it better myself?" If you have, then you have probably never had the experience of working with a Virtuoso travel consultant. A Virtuoso consultant never just hands you an itinerary, pats you on the back and says have a nice trip; we travel with you every step of the way to ensure you have a fabulous (hassle-free) journey.

Virtuoso is an elite travel consortium that selects only the best of the best in consultants, hoteliers, suppliers and ground operators throughout the world. The ground operators are Virtuoso's On-Sites, friends and partners located in more than 70 different countries and are experts on your particular destination. Our On-Sites hand select translators, guides, drivers and assist us in creating rare experiences that few travellers can ever enjoy. They are in fact an extension of your consultant. Your journey of a lifetime will be peaceful and you can be confident that a trusted friend will provide the utmost care and respect for you and your travel plans.

So no matter if you want to stomp the grapes from a vineyard in the south of France, have a private guided tour of Macchu Picchu in Peru, a destination wedding on a remote Caribbean island or reward your company by cruising the waters of Lake Como or name a wine at harvest season in Austria; a Virtuoso travel consultant can custom create your portal to the world of travel.