Mobile Edition
Print
Get the Mag
Weekly UpdatesMay 31, 2009
With Memorial Day weekend behind us, the summer vacation season has officially begun. Families across America are looking for ways to enjoy much needed vacation time while making their dollars go further than ever before, which is one of the reasons that offers to buy timeshare resales or rent timeshare are up 56 percent for properties on the Sell My Timeshare NOW annual HOT 100 List. May 28, 2009
Airship Ventures
Airship Ventures' Eureka Returns Home After Receiving the Star Treatment in Los Angeles. Yesterday evening, Airship Ventures' "Eureka" sailed home to Moffett Field after a triumphant visit to Southern California. Last Thursday through Monday, "Eureka" brought her unique flightseeing experience to the entertainment capital of the world and became its newest darling. Within 48 hours of arriving in Southern California, "Eureka" sold out all of her seats. Over the course of her five-day tour, the Zeppelin flew more than 40 flights above the Southern California Coast, treating nearly 500 passengers to an unparalleled view of the world below them. May 28, 2009
Alisal Guest Ranch
Alisal Guest Ranch & Resort, together with the South Australian Tourism Commission and the Great Australian Outback Cattle Drive, are presenting Celebrity Chef Curtis Stone for a lavish wine dinner during the Outback at Alisal Weekend. Stone is the host of TLCOs OTake Home ChefO; has appeared on OOprah,O OThe Today Show,O OMartha Stewart,O OFox Morning Show,O OEllen DegeneresO and OEntertainment Tonight.O He released his fourth cookbook, ORelaxed Cooking with Curtis Stone: Recipes to Put You in My Favorite MoodO in April. Outback at Alisal is a cowboy adventure weekend bringing the Australian Outback to the California Central Coast. Guests will horseback ride, sip Shiraz, dine at an Australian and American BBQ feast, and much more. Guests will also be eligible to win a trip for two to the Great Australian Outback Cattle Drive in August 2010 (valued at USD 8,000). www.alisal.com. May 30, 2009
Amtrak
The Atlantic City Express Service (ACES), the only direct train service between New York City and Atlantic City, is offering specially priced tickets for the month of June as part of its "All Afford!" program to provide customers with a summer of savings and value. All coach-class tickets will be USD 29 from June 1 through July 5, with first-class seats available for an additional USD 25. Travelers can begin booking weekend departures at this special price starting May 26, via www.acestrain.com or www.amtrak.com. May 27, 2009
Amtrak
Amtrak is offering new, lower fares this summer, including 25 percent off the lowest published coach fare on the Northeast Regional service between Washington, D.C., New York and Boston and extending the current lower fares on Acela Express. These fares are available for purchase for travel June 2 through Sept. 3. Reservations are required and must be made 14 days in advance of travel. In addition to travel between Washington, D.C. and Boston, the 25 percent off discount is also available on service south of Washington, D.C. to Newport News, on AmtrakOs Vermonter service between Springfield, Mass., and Washington, D.C., and on the Keystone service between Philadelphia and New York. There are no additional taxes or fees to Amtrak prices. Sample one-way fares for these services include New York to Washington, current fare USD 72, summer fare USD 49; New York to Philadelphia, current fare USD 45, summer fare USD 34; Philadelphia to Washington, current fare USD 44, summer fare USD 33; Boston to New York, current fare USD 62, summer fare USD 49; and Baltimore to New York, current fare USD 64, summer fare USD 48. www.amtrak.com May 26, 2009
Best Western International
Best Western International has opened the Best Western Wylie Inn in Wylie, Texas. Owned by Nash Patel, the hotel offers 51 guestrooms. Hotel amenities include an outdoor swimming pool, a fitness center and complimentary continental breakfast. Each room is equipped with a refrigerator, a microwave oven, a flat screen television and complimentary, high-speed Internet access. For business travelers, the hotel offers a business center and two meeting facilities that accommodate up to 75 people. Nightly room rates start at USD 79.99. For more information, call 800-937-8376 or visit www.bestwestern.com. May 30, 2009
Celebrity Cruises
Celebrity Cruises and Azamara Cruises have announced their June sales promotions. Celebrity is offering select cruises from USD 64 per day. The cruises visit destinations like Alaska, Europe and the Panama Canal. In addition, with CelebrityOs Starring You Promise, if the price of the clientOs selected cruise lowers, the line will honor the lower fare. At Azamara, for a limited time, clients can upgrade to a Veranda Stateroom for the lower Ocean View price. And, with the Azamara Assurance, if the price of the cruise lowers, they match the lower fare. www.celebritycruises.com, www.azamaracruises.com. May 30, 2009
Celebrity Cruises
Celebrity Cruises and Royal Caribbean International are offering a 5 percent discount on Alaska shore excursions booked online from May 27 through June 7. The offer is for cruisers planning to take seven-night Alaska cruises this year on the sister lines beginning June 5. Guests can purchase as many shore excursions as their cruise itinerary allows at the discounted rate on eligible sailings. Both cruise lines offer over 180 shore excursions, including whale-watching excursions, glacier flightseeing, kayaking and salmon bakes. www.cruisingpower.com. www.celebritycruises.com May 28, 2009
Chateau on the Lake Resort
Chateau on the Lake Resort & Spa, in Branson, Mo., is offering the OStay Two Nights, and Get the Third Night FreeO promotion for Sunday night through Thursday night stays through Oct. 1, 2009. In addition to accommodations in a traditional, deluxe or Chateau King room, the special offer includes complimentary use of paddleboats, sea canoes and kayaks at the resortOs Chateau Marina on Table Rock Lake; complimentary use of the resortOs 24-hour fitness center; nightly movies in the resortOs Sassafras Theatre; and children 5 and under eat free off of the Chateau Grille/Atrium Caf kidOs menu or breakfast buffet with a paying adult. Room rates at the resort start at USD 179 per night. The offer is based on space availability, does not apply to packages or discounted rates, and restricted blackout dates may apply. www.ChateauOnTheLake.com. May 30, 2009
Chicago
Chicago hotels are offering special packages with amenities such as complimentary meals and cocktails, free parking, public transportation passes, bicycle tours and admission to neighborhood attractions. The OKids Nature PackageO includes a stay at the Days Inn Chicago, complimentary family admission to the Peggy Notebaert Museum in the Lincoln Park neighborhood and free continental breakfast. Rates begin at USD 90.75 per night. The OSummer Eco-EscapeO package includes a stay at the Hotel Felix and welcome cocktails in the lobby. Guests arriving in a hybrid car receive complimentary valet parking. Rates begin at USD 139 per night. www.explorechicago.org May 29, 2009
Clipper Vacations
Clipper Vacations launched an OI Love Seattle SaleO with rates comparable to off-season, but valid through July 31. Packages start at USD 186 per person double occupancy and include two nightsOaccommodations in a downtown Seattle hotel and transportation via Amtrak or Victoria Clipper. Those coming from Victoria will enjoy travel via Clipper on one of ClipperOs three daily departures, those coming from Vancouver, B.C., or the Portland area can travel via Amtrak Cascades. And if customers live in Eastern Washington, or even closer, the package includes two nights in Seattle and a day trip to Victoria, B.C. www.clippervacations.com. May 28, 2009
Country Inns
Country Inns & Suites By Carlson announced a OSweet DealO promotion for summer that provides 15 percent off each night of a stay of two or more consecutive nights in a standard room and a valuable offer from T.G.I. FridayOs restaurants when staying at locations in the United States. The offer, which requires a three-day advance reservation, is available June 1 through Sept. 13, 2009, at participating hotels. Along with providing the Sweet Deal rate, Country Inns are focused on helping busy moms with the vacation planning process and will be launching special summer travel itineraries and OMomOs ChoiceO destinations. Visit www.countryinns.com/sweetdeal for complete details about the promotion. www.countryinns.com. May 30, 2009
Desires Hotels
Miami-based Desires Hotels, the boutique division of Tecton Hospitality, is launching Desires Hotels International (DHI), and appointing Gary L. Sims as executive vice president/partner of this new division. The launch of DHI emphasizes expansion into Mexico and South America with projects in Cozumel, and Medellin, Columbia. Across the Atlantic, a development on the Algarve in Portugal will be the first European outpost and the Cape Verde Islands will take DHI to the west coast of Africa to a former Portuguese colony. With the recent inclusion of two properties in Bermuda, DHI looks to expand this portfolio to an additional 15 managed properties by 2010. Many of the properties joining Desires Hotels International will join the Desires Hotels portfolio. www.desireshotels.com. May 30, 2009
Disneyland Resort
The Disneyland Resort is offering the 3-Day Summer Fun Pass, available exclusively for residents of Southern California and Northern Baja. With this ticket, local residents can play at the Disneyland Resort for three days within a 45-day period for USD 99. Guests who live in ZIP codes 90000 through 93599 and 21000 through 22999 will be able to enter Disneyland and DisneyOs California Adventure. As an added value, the Summer Fun Pass can be upgraded to an Annual Passport. Guests who are considering a pass that lets them visit the park all year long will be able to apply the USD 99 as a credit toward the purchase of an Annual Passport. This must be done in person, either at the Annual Pass Processing Center or at any ticket booth, and must occur on or before the last day of use of the Summer Fun Pass. Resident ID is required for the 3-Day Summer Fun Pass, which is available at www.disneyland.com, Disney Stores and at the Disneyland Resort box office, as well as at local supermarket and retail chains including Vons, Albertsons, Ralphs, Stater Bros., Food 4 Less, GelsonOs, DeardenOs and Toys ORO Us. For more information, visit www.disneyland.com. May 30, 2009
FEED