Travel Savings Alerts Newsletter - April 2005 Issue
tips2travel
P.O. Box 91033
Columbus OH 43209
http://tsalerts.freespaces.com
travel...@wowmail.com
ISSN: 1542-801X, Copyright 2005, All Rights Reserved
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In This Issue:
USA3000 Coming to Orlando, Ft. Lauderdale
Nordique All-Inclusive Russia from $1739
Seabourn 2nd Week Fr.ee from Monte Carlo
Mexico Travel Alert
Buenos Aires From $599
Summer "Salida" Rates at Casa Del Mar
Dunn's River Resort Fresh Look, Special Value
Best Western, Mastercard Offer Fr-ee Night
LTU New York Intro Rates
Avis Fr-ee Weekends
Tokyo Station Offering Fr.ee Concerts
EU Reinforces Air Passengers' Rights
April & May in Paris from $649
American Express Caribbean Wide Savings
Fly Fr*ee, Save $400 American West Steamboat
Product Review - Mobile Edge Computer Case
$99 to Hawaii after Trip To Asia, South Pacific
Grand Hotel Early Opening, Special Rates
Mosey around Mobile, AL by Nicki Chodnoff
30% More Fr.ee Admissions with SF Card
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Heavenly Bracelet -- This bracelet is as beautiful as a heavenly
vision. For some, the bracelet represents each layer in the foundation
of heaven, a meaningful, spiritual reminder. The 7" long bracelet is
made from pearls and crystals that represents sardonyx, beryl and
chalcedony, stones mentioned in the Bible. The 12 genuine multi-colored
crystals beads and freshwater pearls are each separated by pewter
spacer beads. Each crystal bead is faceted to bring out its color and
sparkle. Rarely found in stores or jewelry shops, we sell the Heavenly
bracelet for only $29. AAA Jewelry Outlet http://www.3ajewels.biz
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USA3000 Coming to Orlando, Ft. Lauderdale -- USA3000 Airlines, a
low-fare, full-service airline, offers new services to Orlando and Fort
Lauderdale.
Service to Orlando's McCoy International Airport from
Chicago O'Hare International Airport starts from $59 one-way plus
taxes. Flights are available for booking from May 3, 2005.
Service to Fort Lauderdale from Baltimore/Washington starts
at $59 one-way plus taxes. Flights are available for booking from May
2, 2005.
Every USA3000 flight includes fr.ee meals with entree
choices, special meal requests, nominal fees for headsets for movies or
short selections and multiple audio channels for listening.
USA3000 offers low fares with simple fare rules: No
roundtrip ticket purchase or Saturday stay is needed, a one-year
extensions is offered if you are unable to make the trip as originally
purchased, and name changes are also possible.
USA3000 http://www.usa3000.com or 877/872-3000.
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Nordique All-Inclusive Russia from $1739 -- Nordique Tours offers an
all-inclusive, escorted, eight-day/six-night tour to Russia from $1,739
per person, double occupancy. Departures are scheduled from New York
May 10 through Oct. 10, 2005 and feature visits to Moscow, Tver,
Novgorod and St. Petersburg.
The package includes roundtrip economy airfare to Russia
with tour escort, six nights in first class hotels (Hotel Cosmos in
Moscow, Hotel Beresta in Novgorod and Hotel Pulkovskaya in St.
Petersburg), daily breakfast and dinner, airport transfers and luggage
handling, sightseeing with English-speaking guide and cultural
performances in Moscow and St. Petersburg.
Upgrades to business class are available for an additional
cost. Airfares from most major airports to New York City range from $50
to $200 roundtrip. Single supplement charge is $340.
An optional five-days/three-nights Golden Ring pre-tour
to Vladimire and Suzdal from Moscow is available for $595 and must be
purchased in conjunction with the Essential Russia trip.
Nordique Tours http://www.nordiquetours.com or
800/995-7997.
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Tinsel Chains Below Wholesale -- Sterling Silver 16-inch long,
tinsel-style chains are still on hand. We must liquidate the 1.3mm wide
chains that retail for $49. Buy these chains below wholesale: $9.99 per
chain -- when you purchase 2 or more chains, plus shipping and
handling.
Click here to order. http://www.aaa-jewelry.com/tinsel.shtml
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2nd Week Fr-ee Seabourn Monte Carlo -- Seabourn Cruise Line gives you
luxury for less this summer on its all-inclusive, all-suite ships. You
can sail a second week fr.ee when you cruise roundtrip from Monte Carlo
aboard the 208-guest Seabourn Legend.
The Second Week F.ree offer is available on four Monte
Carlo departures: July 10, Aug. 7, Sep. 4 and Oct. 2, 2005. Fares for
the 14-day voyages are equal to full fare for seven-day cruises between
Monte Carlo and Barcelona and start from $5,996 per person, based on
double occupancy of a 277-square foot ocean-view suite.
The itinerary includes stops at Cannes, Marseille and St.
Tropez, Sanary-Sur-Mer, Port Vendres, Le Lavandou and the island of
Porquerolles. The Spanish visits include a full day in Barcelona,
Mallorca, and Menorca, Valencia and Palamos.
Passenger will receive two fre.e Seabourn shoreside
experiences during the two weeks. At Valencia, you'll experience a
private concert and cocktail reception in the courtyard of the
Monastery of Santa Maria de El Puig. In Port Vendres, you'll enjoy a
tour of the Royal Castle of Collioure, followed by cocktails in this
one-time summer residence of the Kings of Mallorca.
Seabourn Cruise Line http://www.seabourn.com or
800/929-9391.
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Mexico Travel Alert -- Use Extra Caution -- The State Department issued
a warning about travel to Mexico due to the security situation along
the Mexican side of the U.S.-Mexico border in the wake of increased
violence among drug traffickers. A number of U.S. citizens have been
reported kidnapped or missing along the Texas-Mexico border, especially
around Nuevo Laredo. The U.S. consular office issued a warning to be
especially aware of safety and security concerns when visiting the
border region. Exercise common-sense such as visiting only the
legitimate business and tourism areas of border towns during daylight
hours and avoiding red-light districts and neighborhoods where drug
dealing occurs.
Between Aug. and Dec. 2004, 21 U.S. citizens were
kidnapped or listed as missing. Nine people were later released, two
were found dead and 10 are still missing.
Officials are concerned about the alarming rate of
kidnappings across Mexico including "express" abductions for
quick-cash ransoms. FBI officials said some of those returned alive
were held captive for days or months. Abductors demanded ransoms as
high as $100,000.
Officials continue that some of the missing are innocent
victims others are probably involved with drug traffickers. At
crossings on the 2,000-mile border, millions of dollars' worth of
drugs are smuggled north by truck and train among legitimate goods. The
leaders of several major criminal organizations have been arrested,
creating a power vacuum. There is a war among Mexican drug lords vying
for control of the drug trade. Drug gangs sometimes kidnap victims to
raise money after a business setback or a major drug bust.
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Buenos Aires From $599 -- FlySouthVacations offers a six-night
air-inclusive vacation package to Buenos Aires from $599, which you
must purchase by May 19, 2005. The package is good for travel through
June 10, 2005.
The Buenos Aires special includes roundtrip airfare,
roundtrip transfers, six night's hotel accommodations, breakfast
daily, hotel taxes and service charges. Airport taxes and fees are in
addition to the price. Sightseeing options start from $15.
The $599 package leaves from Miami. Packages from other
gateways include $674 from Boston, Newark, Washington-Dulles or JFK;
$749 from Atlanta; $799 from Chicago, Denver, Los Angeles or San
Francisco; $899 from Las Vegas, Phoenix, New Orleans or Houston; $949
from Seattle or Portland.
FlySouthVacations http://www.flysouthvacations.com or
800/234-5245.
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Face-It Luggage Tags -- Your Face on Your Luggage -- There's no
mistaking your luggage with the NEW Face-It Luggage Tag. The durable,
laminated tag displays your face and the phrase "This Face Belongs With
This Luggage."
A Face-It Luggage tag makes it less likely for a stranger
or thief to walk off with your luggage and helps you recognize your
luggage at a glance in hotels or airports. Face-It tags are also
available for briefcases, portfolio books, backpacks, sporting
equipment, musical instruments, bicycles and more.
Click here to order Face-It Luggage Tags
http://www.onthegopublishing.com/face-it.shtml
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Summer "Salida" Rates at Casa Del Mar -- Located in the Cabo San
Lucas hotel corridor, the 56-suite Case del Mar Beach, Golf & Spa
Resort offers a summer 'Salida' package with savings up to 40 percent.
The package includes a fourth night fr.ee on stays of
four nights. Stay for seven nights or more and get the sixth and
seventh nights fr.ee. Every guest receives roundtrip airport transfers;
$25 per stay credit on spa treatments; $25 food credit at the
beachfront grill; fr~ee transportation to Cabo San Lucas and San Jose
del Cabo; 25 percent discount on green fees at Cabo Real Golf Course;
fr^ee use of the tennis facilities with equipment, fitness center,
sauna, steam room and spa Jacuzzi.
Summer rates are valid for travel June 1 to Oct. 31,
2005. Deluxe ocean rooms are $245 per room, per night, based on single
or double occupancy and $295 for a one-bedroom suite. Taxes and
gratuities are additional.
Located at the tip of Mexico's Baja California, the
56-room hacienda-style resort features arches, cobbled courtyards,
tiled fountains, authentic Mexican hacienda architecture combined with
an infinity pool and lush tropical gardens.
All rooms have a ocean view with terraces or balconies,
air conditioning, ceiling fans, sofas, bathrooms with Jacuzzis and
separate showers, television, telephones, mini-bars, safes and other
special amenities. One and two bedroom suites with kitchens are
suitable for couples, families or groups.
Casa del Mar http://www.CasadelMarMexico.com or
888/227-9621.
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Dunn's River Resort Fresh Look, Special Values -- Sandals Dunn's River
Golf Resort & Spa offers special savings after completing a $10 million
renovation project.
Sandals commemorates the moment with a celebration sale,
offering 40 percent off published rates for bookings and travel through
Feb. 9, 2006. Sandals 40% off Celebration Sale can be booked until
further notice. All-inclusive rates begin at $177 per person, per night
with a three-night minimum stay.
Sandals Resorts http://www.sandals.com or 800/726-3257.
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Best Western, Mastercard Offer Fr-ee Night -- Best Western and
MasterCard International have teamed up to put members of the hotel
chain's Gold Crown Club International (GCCI) loyalty program on the
fast track to a fr.ee night's stay.
Through May 15, 2005, GCCI guests who stay three times
at any Best Western hotel worldwide can earn a fr*ee night toward a
future stay. If you pay with a MasterCard when staying at a Best
Western, you can earn a fr!ee night after two separate qualified stays.
To be eligible, GCCI members must be residents of the
U.S., Canada or the Caribbean, and register online or by phone prior to
their first stay.
You will receive a global fr.ee room night voucher at
the end of the promotional period which will be valid for six months
from the date of issue. A maximum of three vouchers per person is
permitted. The fr-ee night award is accepted at more than 1,500 Best
Western hotels around the world any day of the week with no blackout
restrictions.
Best Western http://www.bestwestern.com or
800/WESTERN mention promotion code MCSTAY.
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Kutztown Festival -- July 2 - 10, 2005 -- America's Premier Folklife
Festival features 200 juried craftspeople, 2,000 locally made quilts
for sale or auction, antiques and collectibles, folklife
demonstrations, entertainment on 6 stages, children's entertainment and
scrumptious food
including Pennsylvania Dutch dinners, an ox roast and farmers' market.
Be sure to visit.
Kutztown Festival http://www.kutztownfestival.com or 888/674-6136.
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LTU New York Intro Rates -- Starting May 2, LTU International Airways
offers flights from $348 per person, roundtrip to Duesseldorf, Germany
from JFK Airport in New York. This new nonstop flight will operate from
JFK's Terminal 4 all days except Wednesday.
The $348 mid-week rate to Duesseldorf is good through
June 2. From June 3 to 23, the rate increases to $448 roundtrip and
$528 from June 24 to Sep. 11, 2005. Rates do not include security fees
and taxes. Travel to Duesseldorf on Friday, Saturday and Sunday costs
$25 additional each way. These fares apply only to tickets purchased in
North America.
No minimum stay is required but the maximum stay is
generally one month. Some fares permit a stay of 45 or 90 days. Seats
are capacity controlled and may not be available on all dates. Travel
must be completed by Oct. 28, 2005, due to seasonal nature of the
flight. Tickets are non-refundable and non-transferable.
LTU also provides service from Fort Myers, Orlando,
Miami, Los Angeles, Toronto and Calgary.
LTU http://www.ltu.com
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Avis Fr-ee Weekends -- Through June 25, with the new Avis "Weekender"
promotion you will receive a coupon for a fr.ee weekend rental if you
complete a qualified rental of five days or longer. You can earn up to
three fr.ee certificates valid for travel through Dec. 16, 2005.
To participate in the program, you need a valid Avis
Wizard number. Fr*ee rental certificates will be mailed to you after
completion of one rental. Rentals of five consecutive days or longer,
from the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico or the U.S. Virgin Islands
qualify. Fr*ee rental certificates may be redeemed at all participating
locations in the United States, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin
Islands, but are not redeemable at Newark, LaGuardia and JFK airports
or at any metropolitan NY location.
Avis http://www.avis.com or 800/722-5909.
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Tokyo Station Offering Fr.ee Concerts -- The main entrance of Tokyo
Station on the Marunouchi side (the Imperial Palace side and a major
business district) incorporates a huge dome-like hall that is a
landmark attraction and the main station lobby.
Between 1987 and 2000, nearly 250 fr^ee concerts were
staged in the spectacular hall, attracting large numbers of people. The
concerts were halted to allow for new construction and renovation. The
construction work is complete and the fr^ee performances are back,
making Tokyo Station the only station in the world doubling as a
concert hall.
Announcements of the concerts are carried in local
publications.
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Protect Luggage with Baggage Guard Seals -- The pre-numbered,
one-time-use plastic padlocks are the perfect way to protect your
luggage since they cannot be reinstalled once removed. That feature
lets you instantly know if someone tampered with your luggage. Yet when
TSAs at airports need to inspect your luggage, Baggage Guard Seals can
be easily removed. A package of 10 Baggage Guard Seals is still only
$9.95.
Click Here to Order
http://www.onthegopublishing.com/products.shtml#seals
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EU Reinforces Air Passengers' Rights -- The European Union has
created rights to protect air passengers in the event of denied
boarding, flight cancellation, long delays or lost baggage.
If you are denied boarding or your flight is cancelled,
the airline operating your flight must offer you financial compensation
and assistance.
When there are too many passengers for the seats
available, an airline must first ask for volunteers to give up their
seats in return for agreed benefits. These must include the choice of
a ticket refund with a fr*ee flight back to your initial point of
departure or alternative transport to your final destination.
If you are not a volunteer, the airline must pay you
€250 for flights less than 1,500 km, €400 for flights between 1,500
and 3,500 km and €600 for flights more than 3,500 km. Compensation or
refunds may be in cash, by bank transfer or check or, with your signed
agreement, in travel vouchers, and must be paid within seven days.
If your flight is cancelled, the airline must
compensate you at the same level as for denied boarding, unless it
gives you sufficient advance notice and offers alternative transport
close to the original time.
Compensation may be halved if you are not delayed more
than 2, 3 or 4 hours, respectively. The airline must also give you
meals and refreshments, hotel accommodation when necessary (including
transfers) and communication facilities. When the delay is 5 hours or
more, the airline must offer to refund your ticket (with a fr*ee flight
back to your initial point of departure, when relevant). If you do not
receive these rights, complain immediately to the airline operating the
flight.
You may claim up to 1,000 SDRs (equal to about 1.2
Euros) for the destruction, damage, loss or delay of your baggage on a
flight by an EU airline. For damage to checked-in baggage, you must
make a claim in writing within seven days of its return and 21 days of
its return for delayed baggage.
You may claim damages caused by injury or death
resulting from an accident on a flight by an EU airline, anywhere in
the world. You have the right to an advance payment for immediate
economic needs.
You may claim damages from a tour operator if they fail
to provide the services you booked within the EU, whatever your
destination. These rights apply to failure to provide any flight
included in your package. If the tour operator does not provide a
significant part of the package booked, it is obliged to assist you and
make alternative arrangements, including travel, without extra cost to
you.
The Regulation applies to all flights, including
charters, operated by European airlines from or to a European airport
and to any flight departing from the European Union.
To receive a fr*ee pamphlet describing E.U. passenger
air rights, send an email to: eu-r...@onthegopublishing.com.
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April & May in Paris from $649 -- April and May in Paris has it all:
perfect weather for sightseeing; attractions and nightlife going full
tilt; and the tourist hordes have not yet arrived. TourCrafters makes
Paris affordable with their four-night "Paris Special" for $649
from
Apr. 1 to May 26.
The package includes roundtrip air on Wednesdays and
Thursdays from New York and Boston, four nights at the Hotel Kyriad
Republique (close to trendy, historic Marais District) daily breakfast,
hotel service charges and taxes.
TourCrafters' "Paris in an Apartment" package
starts at $767 from Apr. 1 to May 26, and includes midweek roundtrip
air from New York and Boston plus five nights in an apartment chosen by
TourCrafters. You can pick the neighborhood you prefer: near the
Champs-Élysées and Arc de Triomphe, the Opéra Garnier and great
shopping on the Right Bank, near St-Germain-des-Prés in the Left
Bank's fashionable 6th arrondissement.
The 10 day "French Riviera and Paris Special,"
starts at $999 from New York and Boston. From Apr. 1 to May 21, it
includes roundtrip transatlantic air fare on Mondays, five nights at
the Hotel Comté de Nice in the center of Nice, four days'car rental,
air transportation from Nice to Paris, four nights in Paris at the
Hotel Kyriad Republic, daily breakfast, hotel service charges and
taxes.
All prices are per person, double occupancy, are
subject to availability, and do not include airport taxes. Reservations
must be paid for within 72 hours.
Add-on prices from other gateways includes: $73 from
Washington, $145 from Atlanta, $102 from Miami, $120 from Orlando and
Tampa, $80 from Chicago, $66 from Detroit, $70 from Denver, $74 from
Dallas, $132 from Houston, $102 from Los Angeles and San Francisco, $84
from Seattle.
TourCrafters http://www.tourcrafters.com or
800/482-5995.
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American Express Caribbean Wide Savings -- Statement credits of up to
$150, a Vacation Values Card with savings up to 30 percent on car
rentals, excursions, cell phone rentals, dining, greens fees, shopping
and a preferred exchange rate are featured in American Express' "Beyond
the Beach" Caribbean program. Available at 17 destinations, the program
is offered for travel through Sep. 30, 2005. Bookings must be made by
June 30, 2005.
"Beyond the Beach" is available to travelers who book
qualifying vacation packages with any American Express travel office or
affiliate using their eligible American Express Card. A qualifying
vacation is a purchase valued at $2,000 or more per booking which comes
with a $100 statement credit. Gold, Platinum and Centurion charge card
members who book a package of $2,500 or more receive a $150 statement
credit.
Other exclusive features include buy-one get-one-fr*ee
offers, a year subscription to Travel & Leisure magazine and double
membership reward points.
Participating destinations include Anguilla, Antigua,
Aruba, Bahamas, Barbados, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands,
Curacao, the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, St. Kitts, St.
Lucia, Turks and Caicos, Cancun, Cozumel and Riviera Maya in the
Mexican Caribbean.
American Express Company
http://www.americanexpress.com/gocaribbean.
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Fly Fr,ee, Save $400 on American West Steamboat -- Book now and
American West Steamboat Company offers a savings of up to $400 per
couple and fr,ee air travel to Portland from major gateway cities
aboard the 161-passenger sternwheeler Queen of the West's "Three Great
Rivers" cruise. Cruise dates include: June 18 and 25; July 2, 23, and
30; and August 6, 13, and 20.
The seven-night itinerary takes you on the Columbia, Snake
and Willamette Rivers to the Oregon Trail and Multnomah Falls.
Highlights include the Columbia River Gorge Discovery
Center, Mount St. Helens, the Tamastslikt Cultural Center, an onboard
regional wine tasting and a trip to Lewis & Clark's Fort Clatsop.
Cruise rates start at $3,479 and include daily shore
excursions, fine dining and live entertainment in the price of the
cruise.
American West Steamboat Company
http://www.americanweststeamboat.com or 800/434-1232.
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Cheap Tix Chart -- Buy Tickets at a Discount -- Special ticket outlets
sell discounted day-of- performance tickets to theaters, films, and
sporting events. Discounts can be 50 percent or more. On The Go
Publishing's UPDATED Cheap Tix Chart, still only $14, lists outlets
in the U.S. and eight foreign cities that sell discounted,
day-of-performance tickets.
Click here to order the Cheap Tix Chart
http://www.onthegopublishing.com/products.shtml#tix
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Mobile Edge Computer Carrying Case -- Review by Nicki Chodnoff
When I hit the road, a notebook was part of my travel
gear. But the hassle of added security at the airport with notebooks
put me back in the paper and pen age. When I heard about the Mobile
Edge computer carrying case for women, I thought I'd give it a try.
Mobile Edge's Tote collection makes a computer case
look more like a large pocketbook. I tried the micro-fiber Ultra Tote
(suggested retail $99.99) with a leather band around the top. Features
include a SafetyCell removeable computer section, zippered interior
pocket, detachable cosmetics pouch and an outside pocket.
What makes this tote appealing for travel is that the padded computer
section can slip in and out of the tote after detaching from the Velcro
strips. Their literature states the totes are designed by women for
women. I found it difficult pulling and tugging at the Velcro strips to
release the computer compartment out of the tote. I just don't have
the hand strength it requires. Apart from that difficulty, the computer
compartment is well designed with a cell phone slot and a zippered
cosmetics pouch.
When you pull out the computer section, there is yet
another zipped pouch and cell phone compartment (you can use it for
business cards).
A durable zipper closes the whole tote, which keeps prying
hands out and your things inside when flinging your tote into the
overhead compartment. The outside pocket is deep enough to hold
tickets, notes and anything else you need to access easily.
When on a leisure trip, I switched gears with the Mobile
Edge Ultra Tote. Apart from its large size and ability to hold lots of
stuff, the padded computer compartment is the ideal place for your
camera or camcorder. The Ultra Tote also offers anonymity. It doesn't
look like a camera or camcorder bag, which brands you a tourist and an
easy mark.
Hardware and materials in the tote are tough and
durable. My Ultra Tote has been tossed around, had luggage thrown on it
and been stepped on by clumsy passengers. Though scuffed and dirty at
times, the Ultra Tote is still good-to-go for its next journey.
Style doesn't come cheap, Mobile Edge cases cost from
$60 to $170, compared to about $50 for a higher-end black nylon laptop
carrier. You also get choice. Mobile Edge offers seven colors and
materials including suede, faux crocodile and leather.
If the price is within your budget, and especially if
it can do double-duty as a camera bag, I give it a thumbs-up.
Mobile Edge http://www.mobileedge.com 714/339-1400.
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$99 to Hawaii after Trip To Asia, South Pacific -- Pleasant Holidays
offers a $99 roundtrip airfare to Hawaii after you book a holiday to
Asia or the South Pacific.
The terms of the promotion are as follows: Book any
five-night air and land vacation through Pleasant Holidays to Tahiti,
Fiji, Australia or New Zealand during April, 2005 and receives a
voucher for a roundtrip ticket from Los Angeles or San Francisco to
Hawaii on ATA Airlines for $99, plus tax. One ticket issued per person,
per booking. Travel is valid anytime during 2005 and must start within
12 months of the departure to Asia or the South Pacific.
Sample five-night vacation rates include: Hong Kong from
$799, Tahiti from $1129,
Fiji from $1239, New Zealand from $1299 and Australia from $1379.
Pleasant Holidays http://www.PleasantHolidays.com or
800/448-3333.
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Grand Hotel Early Opening, Special Rates -- The Grand Hotel, the icon
of Mackinac Island, Michigan, opens its Millennium Wing and Masco
Cottage two months earlier than ever in its 119 history.
Rooms during the early opening period will cost $119 per
night through May 5 at the Millennium Wing and Masco Cottage. The rate
includes a fr.ee continental breakfast basket in your room. If you want
to eat on- property, the Jockey Club restaurant on the first tee of the
golf course, across the street from the Millennium Wing, will provide
food and beverages during the early opening period.
The 42-room Millennium Wing was added prior to the 2001
season and Masco Cottage opened prior to the 2003 season.
Throughout the season, on select dates, the hotel also
offers a special package that includes breakfast and five-course dinner
daily, gratuities and baggage handling charges, and discounts on ferry
boat tickets. The special package is priced at $179 per person, per
night, based on double occupancy or $283 for a single occupant per
night.
Grand Hotel http://www.grandhotel.com or 800/33-GRAND.
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Mosey around Mobile, AL -- photos and article by Nicki Chodnoff
Mobile, AL gets far less attention that its younger sister, New
Orleans. Yet Mobile shares many of the same attractions and
attributes. Alabama's oldest city from the period of European
settlement was founded in 1702 by French naval officer Jean Baptiste Le
Moyne, Sieur de Bienville, who went on to discover New Orleans in 1718.
For example, how do you compete against the revelry and
notoriety of Mardi Gras in New Orleans? Mobile doesn't try, yet its
claim is impressive. Mobile is where Mardi Gras started in the United
States, shortly after the city was founded. The oldest "mystic"
societies are here. The balls, parades and parties are here, but in a
more family friendly and less crazy way. Some of the festivities start
in late-January and don't die down until Ash Wednesday.
Mobile likes to think of itself as a gumbo culture, a blend of
ingredients added to the social mix through times when the region was
ruled by the French, English, Spanish, the Confederacy and the U.S.
Though some people still remind visiting "Yankees" about the War
of Northern Aggression, these people are in the minority. Southern
hospitality seems the prevailing attitude.
Since it has such a long and varied past, when it comes to history,
Mobile delivers.
One of the best places to get the big picture on the city's history
is the Museum of Mobile, housed in a National Historic Landmark
building, built in 1857. The building has its own history. Museum
Director George Ewert said the facility originally served the city as
an open-air market where meat was butchered and water tanks held fresh
seafood. While people bought their food downstairs, the country's
oldest continuously operating city hall was functioning upstairs. Now
all museum, permanent exhibits start 300 years ago with the
Paleo-Indian era. Ewert said "you discover Mobile's history through
interactive exhibits and artifacts that tell the stories of Mobile's
disasters, diversity, recreational activities, and local industry."
Children can get their hands on history in their own interactive
gallery devoted to the Southern Market. Take the time to view the items
in the halls and on the walls. Furniture, antique silver and artwork
are among some of the artifacts on display. Not to be missed is the
doll house collection made by a talented local resident. By far, the
most striking item in the museum is the two-story tall statue of
Marianne, the French goddess of liberty. The model for our Statue of
Liberty, she once stood at the court house across from the museum and
now prominently fills a light well where, by climbing the steps you can
get a close-up look of her delicate features.
Across the street from the Museum of Mobile is Fort Conde Historic
Museum, a replica of the historic 18th-century French fort that houses
the city's Visitor and Welcome Center. "The fort protected Mobile
for nearly 100 years, from 1723-1820," explained guide Walter
Calhoen. "It served as a defense against British and Spanish attack
on the strategic location of Mobile and its Bay, the eastern most part
of the Louisiana colony." History seeps from every nook and cranny.
The fort was named Fort Charlotte, in honor of King George III's
wife, when Mobile was an English possession from 1763 to 1780, and
again in 1813 when U.S. troops occupied the fort. Spain ruled Mobile in
the intervening years and the fort was renamed Fort Carlota. In 1820,
Congress authorized the sale of the fort since it was no longer needed
for defense. The current fort is about 1/3 of the original fort
recreated in 4/5-scale. Costumed guides such as Calhoen offer insight
into the historic events of Mobile's early days with artifacts, a
Black heritage display, fire muskets and cannons.
Oakleigh Historic Complex is the city's official Antebellum house
museum with three different museums on site. The beautiful T-shaped
Oakleigh Period House Museum is a Greek Revival villa built in 1833 by
Mobile merchant, James W. Roper. Bricks used in the walls of the ground
floor were made by slaves from clay dug on the property. The main
portion of the house is of wood. Costumed guides create the experience
of 19th century Gulf Coast living in a house filled with antiques,
original furnishings, portraits, silver, china, jewelry, interesting
kitchen implements, and toys. More importantly, they tell the tales
that bring buildings and objects to life. For instance, President James
Garfield had his first mint julep on the porch and local artist
Boudisque charged Mobile's elite to be in his paintings. One
half-completed Boudisque hangs in the first floor foyer. In addition to
the Oakleigh House, the Cox-Deasy Cottage, circa 1850, is a raised
Creole Cottage, typical of the modest middle-class city dwellers along
the Gulf Coast. It is furnished in simple 19th century pieces of good
quality. The third property houses the Mitchell Archives and assists
researchers of Mobile history.
The Bragg-Mitchell Mansion ranks as one of the Gulf Coast's grandest
antebellum mansions, with its 16 white fluted columns. Built in 1855 by
Judge John Bragg, the mansion was a hub of polite society when Mobile
was a thriving cotton port. Restored at a cost of more than $1 million,
this home is lavishly appointed with period furnishings, artwork, and
decor. Highlights of some its 18 rooms are 15-foot high ceilings on the
first floor, lovely double parlors off the front hall, a lavish dining
room, gleaming stenciled moldings, and grounds with Mobile's trademark
live oaks and azaleas.
Located in West Mobile in 720-acre Langan Park, the striking lakefront
location of the Mobile Museum of Art is impressive. Equally impressive
at the largest art museum on the Gulf Coast from Tampa to New Orleans,
is that it is entirely free. Expanded to 95,000 square feet in 2002,
the museum's permanent collection of more than 6,000 objects includes
regional artists, contemporary crafts and American paintings from the
1930s and 1940s. Their permanent Riddick glass gallery is exceptionally
interesting.
Bellingrath Gardens - Soft drinks provided the means to establish this
lovely home and its gardens. In 1918, Walter Bellingrath, owner of
Mobile's Coca-Cola bottling company started a rustic fishing camp 20
miles southwest of the city. Bellingrath's wife got her hands on it,
hired an architect and spent the rest of her life and an enormous sum
of money improving it into a country estate. Her inspiration came from
gardens the couple visited in England and the Continent during their
1927 European tour. Bellingrath once remarked: "Look what a wife could
do to a perfectly good fishing camp." The gardens game first. When the
public came to see the results in 1932 and overwhelming crowds arrived,
the Bellingraths opened their gardens to the public permanently. The
15-room mansion came three years later. Bessie Bellingrath spent more
than 40 years furnishing the home with antique furniture, rare
porcelains, fine china, silver, and crystal. Her collection includes
Meissen, Dresden, and Sevres. Of course, there's a collection of
Coca-Cola bottles and silver Coca-Cola trophies Bellingrath won. In
1967, the garage was refitted to house the Delchamps Gallery of Boehm
porcelain, touted as the world's largest display. In addition to
viewing the home and gardens, you can take a quarter-mile stroll on the
bayou's ecological boardwalk or a 45-minute scenic cruise on the Fowl
River.
The unassuming raised Creole cottage at Magee Farms belies
the important events that occurred under its roof. On the National
Register of Historic Places, and now about 15 minutes from downtown
Mobile in Kushla, Alabama, the farm was the site of the last surrender
for the Confederate Army. "On April 29, 1865, Confederate General
Richard Taylor, who commanded the Army of the South, met with Union
General E.R.S. Canby," said Jim Golden, curator of the house museum.
After a 20 minute meeting, the last army of the South surrendered its
12,000 troops. General Canby, gracious in victory, had his band play
Dixie rather than Hail Columbia. Then both generals adjourned to
dinner. Golden explained that what once was the school house now serves
as the museum with many Civil War era artifacts including General
Taylor's battle flag. The farm keeps the spirit of the South alive
through Civil War re-enactments, held every third Saturday of the
month. The second Saturday of the month is reserved for "Old Farm
Days" when old farm equipment is displayed. The last Saturday of the
month features Gospel music.
Gulf Coast Exploreum Center and IMAX Theater - This is the home of
hands-on science. Children and adults can play and learn with a
plethora of interactive exhibits. You can make music on a electronic
harp, learn about pulleys and leverage while hoisting yourself high in
the air and watch magnets at work as bits of metal filings dance to the
beat of various kinds of music. From time to time, they feature
gang-buster traveling exhibits such as the Dead Sea Scrolls, on display
during my visit. After all the interactive exhibits you can change the
pace by watching an Imax movie at the adjacent theater.
It's my guess that stout and stogie-puffing J. Oliver Wintzell was
entertaining, judging from the amusing sayings decorating his
restaurant on historic Dauphin Street. People come to Wintzell's Oyster
House for the food - it's darn good - and they walk away with an
experience. It's hard to guess how many placards with witticisms
plaster the walls. They are staggered closely floor to the ceiling on
every single available space, even on the menus. It's entertaining
watching patrons reading sign after sign. Some chuckle, others roll
their eyes. Most elbow their dining companion and point out a few
choice sayings.
You gotta eat and it's always good to go where the
locals do. Saucy Q Bar-B-Q, on Government Street, is a good choice for
people who love Bar-B-Q. The tender meat practically falls off the bone
and the sweet, tangy sauce has a hint of spice. Thankfully, tables have
plenty of paper towel or napkins at your disposal. In between bites,
expect owner Elbert Wingfield to ask about your meal. Throughout your
meal, you'll see him grinning and chatting with customers, making
sure meals are up to par.
Mobile Bay Convention & Visitors Bureau
http://www.mobile.org or 800/5-MOBILE
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30% More Fr.ee Admissions with SF Card -- Visitors to San Francisco and
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card.
The all-inclusive smart card attraction pass now includes
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shows and events; and savings of up to 20 percent on dining and
shopping. The card cost will remain $49 for a one-day adult card, with
prices as low as $19 per day on multiple day cards.
The list of new attractions include: the San Francisco
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Visitors can purchase the Go San Francisco Card online or
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Go San Francisco Card http://www.GoSanFranciscoCard.com
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PLEASE NOTE: All links are sent as clickable links. Some email
programs such as AOL, Yahoo, & Hotmail change the links so that they
are not clickable. If you have problems clicking on a link, just copy
and paste the link into your browser.
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CELEBRATE THE STORY OF AMERICAN FOOD at the Smithsonian Folklife
Festival, between the Washington Monument and the U.S. Capitol. See
acclaimed chefs and everyday cooks demonstrate techniques and recipes
in 3 professional kitchens. Students can learn life values at the
Edible Schoolyard by growing and cooking fresh food in a communal
garden. June 23 to 27 and June 30 to July 4, 2005.
Http://www.washington.org
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with more than 60 properties that sleep from 2 to 12 people. Each
rental comes with a neighborhood guide, breakfast provisions for the
first day or two of your stay, a telephone help line, and what to do
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http://www.rentals.chslondon.com
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The Latest "Specials" at Connecticut hotels, charming B&B, historic
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to each property. http://www. 52 Getaways http://www.ctbound.org or
800/282-6863.
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Gambler's General Store -- The world's largest gambling superstore with
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Gambler's General Store http://www.gamblersgeneralstore.com or
800/322-CHIP.
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DINNER AT 35,000 FEET -- What meals will you get on your flight? See
behind the scenes at airline catering. Preview first- and
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http://www.AirlineMeals.net
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Herd ostrich, ride horses or gather eggs at a family farm in
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family farms roll out the red carpet for families and are found in all
corners of the state. Pennsylvania Farm Vacation Association
http://www.pafarmstay.com or 888/856-6622.
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