Travel deals in Maine, Montana and Tuscany

The deal: The New England Inns Resorts Association in Kennebunkport, Maine, is offering “Doggie Birthday Package.”

Cost: Starting at $749, plus tax.

What’s included: Two-night accommodations in a pet-friendly Portside Lodge guest room; breakfast in bed for your pet; breakfast for human guests in the dining room; a specially made doggie birthday cake; a nail and teeth treatment; a facial or massage for one human; amenities for furry friends including dog beds, treats, bowls and toys.

When: Through Oct. 13.

Information: Visit newenglandinnsandresorts.com.

The deal: The Triple Creek Ranch in Darby, Mont., is offering the “100 Klicks for Chicks” program as part of a horseback riding adventure event.

Cost: Starting from $750 per night, per couple.

What’s included: Accommodations in a private cabin with wood-burning fireplace, private or nearby hot tub, king log post bed and more; breakfast, lunch, snacks and gourmet dinners, house wines and house spirits and all on-ranch activities; welcome reception; 3 1/2 days of horseback riding; fireside roast and awards ceremony. While companions are welcome to the activities and luxuries of the ranch, only “cowgirls” will venture into the canyons, mountains, passes and meadows for this special “chicks” experience.

When: Nov. 3 to 7.

Information: Call 800-654-2943 or visit triplecreekranch.com.

The deal: The Argentario Golf Spa Resort in the heart of the Maremma region of Tuscany is offering the “Family Package.”

Cost: Starting at $316 for a superior room.

What’s included: Three nights’ accommodations; second room at half price; full buffet breakfast daily; children’s welcome gift; juice and cookies in guest room on arrival; children’s bath amenities; one-day entrance tickets to the “Giardino dei Tarocchi,” a sculpture garden inspired by tarot cards, including round-trip transfer.

When: Sept. 1 to Dec. 22.

Information: Call 888-334-7609 or visit argentariogolfre sortspa.it.

— Alexis Tarrazi

Article source: http://www.northjersey.com/travel/deals/126473693_Travel_deals_in_Maine__Montana_and_Tuscany.html

American Airlines, Travelport extend agreement

DALLAS

American Airlines and ticket middleman Travelport LP have delayed a showdown similar to ones that resulted in American flights disappearing from popular travel websites.

American and Travelport said Friday that agreements due to expire over the next two months were extended through the end of the year. One of the deals, with Travelport affiliate Worldspan, was scheduled to end Sunday.

The companies declined to comment on details.

Travelport’s so-called global distribution systems, including Worldspan, Galileo and Apollo, provide information about airline flights and fares to travel agencies. American wants to deal more directly with travel agencies to reduce distribution costs and tailor offers to customers.

American had accused Travelport of breaking antitrust laws by raising fees and burying information about its flights so that travel agents would first see flights by other airlines.

The dispute has spawned several lawsuits involving AMR Corp.’s American, Travelport, Sabre Holdings Corp. and online travel agencies including Orbitz Worldwide Inc. For a time, American flights did not appear on Orbitz or Expedia Inc.

AMR shares rose 16 cents, or 3.9 percent, to close at $4.24.

Article source: http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9OPIQ6O1.htm

Five Ways to Save on Airline Tickets

Reuters

As airlines tack on more fees, saving money on airline tickets may appear to be a mere wish. But even with all the added costs of flying, there are still deals to be had; you just need to know where to look and when to travel. Researching before you book your next vacation or plane ticket can save you the added headache — and the added costs — of your next flight.

Travel During the Shoulder Season

Airfares are generally lower during the shoulder season — the period of time between high and low season, says Nicole Hockin, author of TravelSmartBlog.com.

Any season can be a shoulder season, depending on your destination. Europe’s high season lasts from May through September. But head to London in October and you’ll enjoy fewer crowds, comfortable temperatures and cheaper airline ticket prices. The Caribbean and Mexico have great weather in late April and May, but prices for flights drop during these months as they fall after spring break and before summer vacation.

But remember to consider these caveats of traveling during the off-season: Hotels often do their renovating when there are fewer crowds, which could mean staying in a place with a lobby under construction or an obstructed view from your window. Still, the rates will drop accordingly, often between 10 percent and 20 percent. Some hotels will offer a free room upgrade during this time as well. Museums may limit their hours or even close on certain days during the nonpeak season. Make sure to check that the attractions you want to visit will be open and available before booking an airline ticket.

Make the Most of Your Days

Airlines typically release new airfare sales midweek, says Warren Chang, vice president and general manager of Fly.com, an airfare search engine. Tuesdays and Wednesdays in particular tend to be the peak times to find cheap airline tickets.

While the sales often target the coming weekend and the following weekend, they are not limited to these, Chang says. To save yourself some legwork, scour travel websites and sign up for e-newsletters from travel sites that list the best deals for the week.

When booking a flight, arrange your schedule to travel on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays, if possible. These days are generally the cheapest times to travel, Chang says. As an added bonus for Saturday travelers, airports tend to be less crowded on the weekend, which can reduce stress levels for you and your family as you move through security and head to your gate.

Research the Fees

If you’ll need to check one bag (or more) on the flight, find out how much you’ll be charged before purchasing the fare. Most airlines and travel sites offer this information online. To compare rates side by side, visit Airfarewatchdog.com’s baggage chart, which lists baggage rates for different U.S. airlines, including fees for overweight and oversize bags.

Airline policies for checked baggage vary greatly, depending on the flight route and status, Chang says. For domestic flights, average airline fees range between $15 and $50 per checked bag; rates for international flights fluctuate more, depending on the airline and destination. To avoid reading through the fine print, Fly.com offers a baggage icon. When searching a flight, click on the baggage icon to check luggage fees before booking a ticket. The information displayed is relevant to the airline and the flight you’re taking, Chang says. For example, if you search for a fare from New York to India you’ll see fees related to that specific flight.

Plan to bring a pet, ask for extra legroom or eat a meal on the flight? Check out FareCompare.com’s domestic airline fee chart, which lists these fees and others charged by U.S. airlines. However, it’s a good idea to double-check fees on the official airline website as well, in case policies have recently changed.

Stretch Your Travel Times

If your departure and return dates are flexible, use airfare search engines to play around with various dates and land a cheap airline ticket, says Susanna Zaraysky, author of “Travel Happy, Budget Low.” These search engines scour the Internet for airline fares, covering hundreds of travel sites in a matter of seconds and saving you the time of clicking through each airline site on your own. Sites such as Kayak.com will show you the fares for each day of a calendar month to help you spot the lowest price.

While some sites let you book your ticket through them, you may get extra perks by purchasing directly from the airline website, Zaraysky says. You’ll often receive bonus travel miles for booking through an airline site. You’ll also be eligible for refund options and other airline programs.

If you know your departing city, but are flexible as far as final destination, head to Airfarewatchdog.com. The site will send you alerts regarding deals on different destinations, Hockin says. She also recommends following your favorite airlines on Twitter. By tracking their tweets, you could snag a deal on a cheap plane ticket. Some airlines regularly tweet travel deals sales known as “Twares,” which are discounts on airfares offered to the company’s followers on Twitter.

When it comes to booking your ticket, bing.com’s flight search offers a price prediction function that will tell you whether fares are rising, steady or dropping, with a confidence measure. For instance: Fares rising or steady, 80 percent confidence.

Follow Your Flight

Most U.S. airlines have guaranteed airfare policies that enable you to claim a refund for the difference if the price of your flight becomes available for less after you book it, says Jeff Pecor, communications director at Yapta.com, an airfare tracking service. “Not many people know the policy even exists — nor do they bother to check the price of their ticket after purchasing it.”

After booking your ticket through an airline, you can enter your flight information at Yapta. The website will track the airfare and alert you via email if you’re eligible for a refund from the airline. Refunds typically come in the form of a travel voucher, which can be used to purchase more tickets through the same airline within the following 12 months.

According to Pecor, customers who book at least 60 days in advance of their flight become eligible for an airline refund about 11 percent of the time. A family of four can save quite a few dollars by going this route.

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Article source: http://www.foxbusiness.com/travel/2011/07/29/5-ways-to-save-on-airline-tickets/

Twins again! Newborn loris pair on display at Texas center

If you’ve never heard of pygmy slow lorises, here’s all you need to know: they’re adorable. At least that goes for the big-eyed twin babies recently born at Moody Gardens in Galveston, Texas.

The baby lorises were born in mid-June, the second time twins have been born to the same parents at the education center and aquarium. “Mother and babies are in the first exhibit in the rainforest entry,” spokesman Jon Randolph says. Check out photos of the furry twin lorises here.

The tree-loving nocturnal creatures resemble little monkeys but are actually part of a more primitive species known as prosimians. They dwell in forests of Laos, Vietnam and China and have been listed as a vulnerable species by a United Nations conservation group, according to the gardens. 

The babies and their mom, Luyen, are inside the 10-story Rainforests of the World pyramid that reopened in May after an extensive $25-million redesign. The pyramid had been damaged by Hurricane Ike, which hit the Galveston area in 2008.

Article source: http://www.latimes.com/travel/deals/la-trb-pygmy-slow-loris-moody-gardens-20110729,1,1194586.story

Dallas hotels appear in Groupon Getaways

Luxury getaway: Craig Scott, managing director of the Adolphus, said using online hotel discounts creates new customers.

In the first two weeks since the launch of Groupon Getaways, luxury Dallas hotels have taken advantage of the travel deals site looking to fill what they call a “need period.”

“We felt it was a really great opportunity to get our name out there to attract people locally and otherwise, and to bring in business for our need period during the summer,” said Valerie Vela, marketing manager for The Stoneleigh Hotel Spa in Uptown.

The Stoneleigh was featured in the first round of Groupon Getaways, which rolled out July 12. The Chicago-based local deals site joined with Expedia

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Article source: http://www.bizjournals.com/dallas/print-edition/2011/07/29/dallas-hotels-appear-in-groupon.html

American Eagle to start daily LA-Aspen flights this winter

Southern California skiers and Aspen-lovers take note: American Eagle will begin daily nonstop flights  between Los Angeles and the Colorado ski resort town in mid-December. And, in case you’re already planning a ski vacation, tickets go on sale Monday.

The regional carrier for American Airlines will operate one flight each way starting Dec. 15 between Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and Aspen/Pitkin County Airport (ASE), according to an airline news release. The seasonal service will continue through April 2. The airline also will begin flying between Aspen and Dallas/Fort Worth.

The outbound flight will leave L.A. at 9 a.m. and arrive in Aspen at noon. The return flight leaves Aspen at 6:10 p.m. and arrives at 7:35 p.m. (Note: Flight times reflect a one-hour time difference; Aspen operates on MDT.) These flights are set to resume June 14 through Aug. 20, 2012.

United Airlines and its regional United Express service provides connecting and direct flights between LAX and Aspen. Frontier Airlines offers connecting service too.

Article source: http://www.latimes.com/travel/deals/la-trb-american-eagle-aspen-20110729,1,6989405.story

New JetBlue pass: 3 months of unlimited flying from Long Beach

JetBlue has rolled out a new airline pass that allows three months of unlimited flying to selected cities in two markets: Long Beach and Boston. The new BluePass is aimed at business travelers but might appeal to frequent fliers too.

Here’s how it works: Pass-holders pay a flat fee and get a seat (provided one is available) to certain cities in as little as 90 minutes before takeoff. Flight changes or cancellations are free but you get dinged $100 if you’re a no-show twice in seven days. And you have to be a TrueBlue loyalty club member too.

The Long Beach Select pass costs $1,299 and includes flights between Long Beach Airport (LGB) and San Francisco, Oakland, Sacramento, Seattle, Portland, Las Vegas, Salt Lake City, Chicago and Austin, Texas. There also are two passes available for travelers from Boston priced from $1,499 to $1,999. The pass is good for travel from Aug. 22 through Nov. 22 with no blackout dates.

How many flights does it take to break even? Roughly two a month — and that’s calculated using last-minute flexible airfares, not the lowest fares, says Dennis Corrigan, vice president of sales and revenue management. The airline phased out last year’s All You Can Jet Pass that was cheaper and good for a month of travel to all destinations.

Passes will be on sale through Aug. 31, but might sell out before then.

Contact: JetBlue’s BluePass, (800) 538-2583.

Article source: http://www.latimes.com/travel/deals/la-trb-jetblue-pass-20110728,0,779589.story

Groupon Getaways with Expedia Sold Over 15000 Travel Deals in First Three Days …

Back in June Groupon and Expedia announced that they were teaming up to launch a travel deals service called Groupon Getaways. The partnership actually went live the second week in July. Now, as part of its second quarter 2011 financial results, Expedia has reported that customers bought more then 15, 000 travel deals within the first three days of the launch of Groupon Getaways.

According to Tricia Duryee from All Things D:

On the company’s conference call, it added that when the partnership launched, it offered roughly 25 deals, almost all of which sold out.

So far, it said the deals that have performed the best are for big tourist destinations in the U.S., like Las Vegas. The ones that have had a harder time are foreign destinations that require booking an international flight.

Some of the first travel deals offered during the initial launch of Groupon Getaways included One-Night Weekend Stay at The Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas for $144 (a $299 value), One-Night Stay in Premier King Room at The Stoneleigh Hotel Spa in Dallas for $139 (up to $269 value) and Five-Night Stay for Six Guests in Three Bedroom Hangover Suite at The Tower Club at Lebua in Bangkok for $2, 086 (an $11,875 Value).

Source: All Things D

 

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Posted by Kris Ashton, Daily Deal Media
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Article source: http://www.dailydealmedia.com/groupon-getaways-with-expedia-sold-over-15000-travel-deals-in-first-three-days-of-launch336/

Travel Deals: August odysseys

Christine Iyer

Book a luxurious holiday home on the Greek island of Ithaca for a week of boating, swimming, cycling and yoga. Getty Images

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Greece

The Greek island of Ithaca is the base for this luxury holiday accommodation. Sitting on a hillside overlooking the sea, the estate comprises an organic farm and four traditionally styled two-bedroom houses, each with a private terrace, garden and fully equipped kitchen. Outdoor activities around the area include boating, scuba diving, cycling, walking and trekking in the hills, as well as culture-rich expeditions to ancient ruins and mountain villages. There are also Pilates and yoga classes, conducted each morning on pool terraces at the edge of the forest bordering the estate, with views of the bay.

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Or visit the neighbouring island of Kefalonia, known for its underground lake. If you’d rather stay back for rest and relaxation, visit the spa pavilion set in the bordering forest – it offers a range of therapeutic massages and aromatherapy with natural, homeopathic products. The estate also has a summer house and an infinity pool. The estate is a two-minute walk from a couple of natural swimming and fishing coves.

A house costs from €2,500 (Dh15,000) per week for two people (the price varies by season), including airport transfers, seasonal garden produce and car/bicycle rentals. Book through www.responsibletravel.com.

Sri Lanka

Bales Worldwide is organising a “Sri Lankan odyssey” – a two-week cultural trip – next month. The highlights of the tour are visits to ancient cities and the Unesco World Heritage Sites of Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Sigiriya and Dambulla. Visitors will spend a couple of days in Nuwara Eliya, a hill station set in stunning mountain scenery and surrounded by tea plantations, and also enjoy the beaches of Trincomalee on the country’s little- known eastern coast. The itinerary includes some easy treks and nature safaris. The visit is set to coincide with the grand Esala Perahera Buddhist festival in Kandy.

The 13-day trip costs from £2,070 (Dh12,460) per person, including the services of an experienced local guide, local transport, sightseeing, entrance fees, accommodation and most meals. Visit www.balesworldwide.co.uk for details.

India

Wild Frontiers is offering a discount of £200 (Dh1,204) on its “Land of the Maharajahs” trip next month, with an itinerary centred on the “Golden Triangle” – Delhi, Agra and Jaipur. You’ll start off with a day of sightseeing in New Delhi, the busy, chaotic capital, famous for its historic monuments such as the Lal Qila (Red Fort). Next up are Agra and the Taj Mahal, then on to the colourful Rajasthani cities of Jaipur, Udaipur and Bijaipur, and the historic town of Bundi. You’ll also get to stay and dine at the haveli, or mansion, of a maharajah and go leopard-spotting on a night safari.

The 15-day tour costs from £1,490 (Dh8,970) per person, including all accommodation, most meals, all local transport, the services of an experienced guide, entrance fees to sites and parks, and taxes. International airfare is not included. Visit www.wildfrontiers.co.uk or call 00 44 20 7736 3968 for more information.

Indonesia

The recently renovated Angsana Bintan Resort on Indonesia’s Bintan island has a three-day “above the rest” spa and relaxation package for two that includes two nights’ accommodation in a spacious one-bedroom suite, breakfast (a buffet or served privately in the suite), early check-in (9am) and late check-out (until 6pm), return transfers on Bintan island, one three-course, set dinner for two on the beach (depending, of course, on the weather) and one 150-minute spa treatment (choice of “Duet” or “Ayu Reverie”) at the Angsana Spa for two.

The package costs from US$1,072 (Dh3,937) for two nights, including taxes. International flights are not included. For more information, visit www.angsana.com or call 00 62 770 693 111.

travel@thenational.ae

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Article source: http://www.thenational.ae/lifestyle/travel/travel-deals-august-odysseys

New Mid-Wilshire hotel to offer special rate

The latest Miracle Mile boutique hotel started out as a ’50s-era medical building, though you wouldn’t know it from the modern glass facade and rooftop pool. Hotel Wilshire — not to be confused with the Wilshire Grand Hotel in downtown L.A. or the Wilshire Hotel at 3515 Wilshire Blvd. — is to open Sept. 1 with introductory rates starting at $195 a night.

The deal: The seven-story hotel has 74 contemporary rooms and a pool, restaurant and lounge area with views of the hills called the Roof on Wilshire. The hotel is run by Greystone Hotels, which also operates theElan Hotel at 8435 Beverly Blvd. in Los Angeles.

When: The offer, known as the Grand Opening Special rate, is good indefinitely.

Tested: I checked online and found a king guestroom available Sept. 16-18 for $195 a night, a $30 savings off the regular rate on the same dates.

Contact: Hotel Wilshire, 6317 Wilshire Blvd., (323) 852-6000  

 

 

Article source: http://www.latimes.com/travel/deals/la-trb-hotel-wilshire-20110728,1,4955485.story

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