Travel Savings Alerts Newsletter - March 2005 Issue
tips2travel
P.O. Box 91033
Columbus OH 43209
http://www.free-webspace.biz/tsa
travel...@wowmail.com
ISSN: 1542-801X, Copyright 2005, All Rights Reserved
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In This Issue:
American Intro Fares to Chihuahua, Mexico
Sunshine on Sale at Hyatt
Sanibel's New Looks, Special Rates
Homeland Security Biometric Exit Pilot
Snooze Before You Cruise
Midwest Airlines Has Tails Wagging
Auto Europe Early Booking Savings
Divi Tiara Beach Resort Family Packages
Hostel Takeover
Value Vacations to Rio
Airline Water Quality Poor
Fre.e Fuel for Houseboaters
DooleyVacations European Savings
Suite Deal, The Sands at Grace Bay
Mexico Spring Break from $389
Wimco 60% Savings on Caribbean Villa
Southwest Fares From Pittsburgh
The Quiet Side of the Tetons by Kay Douglas
Alamo Family Vacation Sweepstakes
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Shake-Up Your Style with Beads -- Iolite Beaded Necklace -- Beaded
chains are the hottest fashion look that's jumped right off the
catwalk. This 16-inch-long chic necklace with scores of Iolite beads
dangling half-way around a chunky, sterling silver chain is a must.
These exceptional hand-made necklaces, imported from Mexico, have
matching earrings and bracelets available.
Remarkable Iolite stones have dichroic properties, which means it
shows two or more colors, depending on how light strikes its surface.
Our translucent Iolite beads shimmer and change from shades of violet
to blue to gray, making this is a must-have accessory for cool-colored
clothes. Since each bead will diffuse the light differently, the colors
will vary from necklace to necklace, making each necklace truly unique.
This fashion statement is bound to become a classic. Expect to pay at
least $600 for the necklace at designer boutiques. Snap up the beaded
chain necklace for $165, matching 7 1/2-inch bracelet for $99 and
matching post earrings for $49. Click here to order.
http://www.3ajewels.biz
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American Intro Fares to Chihuahua, Mexico -- HURRY, BOOK BY MARCH 4,
2005 -- American Eagle launches new nonstop service between Dallas/Fort
Worth and Chihuahua, Mexico on May 1, 2005, and offers special
introductory fares to Chihuahua from select U.S. cities.
To take advantage of the introductory fares, you must travel
between May 1 and June 17, 2005, stay over a Saturday night and
purchase tickets no later than Mar. 4, 2005. A 30-day maximum stay is
allowed. Tickets must be purchased at least three days prior to
departure or
within 24 hours of making reservations.
Intro fares are only available at AA.com. Bookings made on
online earn up to 1,000 bonus frequent flyer miles and there are no
online booking fees.
Sample roundtrip intro fares to Chihuahua, Mexico. Fares do
not include government- imposed taxes and fees.
From Dallas/Fort Worth $246
From Atlanta, Chicago, Denver, Las Vegas, Los Angeles,
Miami, Omaha, Orlando, Phoenix, Salt Lake City and Tampa $299
From New York (JFK & LGA), Charlotte, Cleveland, Detroit,
Minneapolis/St. Paul, Newark, Philadelphia, Oakland, Raleigh/Durham,
San Francisco, San Jose CA, Seattle, and Washington, D.C. $353
Calling the reservations number for your travel
arrangements incurs a fee of $5 per ticket, while making travel
arrangements through American Airlines Travel Center or the airport
ticket office costs additional $10 per ticket.
American Airlines/American Eagle http://www.aa.com or
800/433-7300.
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Sunshine on Sale at Hyatt -- This spring, look for Sunshine on Sale at
the Hyatt Resorts Caribbean in Dorado, Puerto Rico, Aruba and Key West,
Florida.
Starting Mar. 28, Hyatt's Sunshine on Sale offers
guests a fr.ee fourth or fifth night. For example, book a six-day
vacation at Hyatt Dorado Beach Resort and the fifth night is fr.ee. The
Sunshine on Sale offer is cumulative, meaning if you books 10 nights,
two fr.ee nights apply. Room rates begin at $265 per night.
At the Hyatt Dorado Beach Resort & Country Club in
Puerto Rico, the fifth night is fr.ee from Mar. 28 to May 31. The offer
is valid on all room types except Casita Dorada. Room rates begin from
$285 per night. The resort recently completed renovations on all of its
guest rooms.
At the Hyatt Regency Grand Cayman Beach Suites you
receive a fifth night f.ree through May 31. The offer is valid on one
bedroom oceanview suites, which begin at $575 per night.
At the Hyatt Regency Aruba Resort & Casino, the fifth
night is fr.ee from Mar. 28 to May 31 and valid for gardenview,
ocean/islandview and ocean/poolview rooms. Rates begin from $265 per
night.
At the Hyatt Key West Resort & Marina, the fifth night
is fr.ee Mar. 28 to Apr. 15. Rates start from $360 per night. From Apr.
16 to May 31, book four nights and the fourth night is fr.ee. Rates
start from $280 per night. Both Sunshine on Sale offers are valid on
cityview, courtyard, partial Gulfview and king salon rooms.
Sunshine on Sale requires advance reservations and is
subject to availability. Blackout dates may apply. Packages do not
apply to groups of 10 or more rooms. Sunshine on Sale is combinable
with package options and is not combinable with any other promotions.
Hyatt Hotels http://www.hyatt.com or 800/233-1234.
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Tinsel Chains Below Wholesale -- We still have 16-inch long, sterling
silver tinsel-style chains.
We must liquidate the 1.3mm wide chains that retail around $49. Now you
can 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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Sanibel New Looks, Special Rates -- Sanibel's Signature Collection
properties -- Sundial Beach & Golf Resort, Sanibel Inn, Song of the Sea
and Sanibel's Seaside Inn -- re-open with new looks and special
"Welcome Back" rates following extensive renovations.
Welcome Back rates are valid Mar. 8 through Apr. 30 and
start from $315 per night at the Sanibel Inn, $329 per night at the
Song of the Sea and $299 per night at the Seaside Inn.
Partially re-opened, Sundial Beach & Golf Resort
offers a 25 percent savings on condominium accommodations while the
main resort building undergoes renovations. The complete re-opening of
the resort is slated for May 1, 2005.
Sanibel Island offers 14 miles of shell-laden beaches,
tranquil Gulf tides and 23 miles of hiking and biking trails. Sanibel
Island is 19 miles from the new Southwest Florida International Airport
in Fort Myers.
Sanibel's Signature Collection
http://www.sanibelcollection.com or 888/4-SANIBEL.
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Homeland Security Biometric Exit Pilot -- The U.S. Department of
Homeland Security established check out procedures for foreign visitors
departing from Newark Liberty International Airport. Before departing
on their flight, visitors are asked to provide their two index finger
scans and be photographed as a part of a pilot program to test and
evaluate an automatic biometric exit process.
US-VISIT procedures apply to all visitors (with limited
exemptions) entering the United States, regardless of country of origin
or whether they are traveling on a visa. Most visitors experience
US-VISIT's biometric procedures -- a digital, inkless fingerscan and
digital photograph -- upon entry to the United States. Now, if they
leave from an airport or seaport that has an exit capability such as
Newark, they must also check out.
The exit procedures at Newark require foreign visitors to go
though one of the following three processes. Visitors departing the
U.S. will check out of the country at exit stations located within the
airport. As with the process the visitors encounter upon entry at
airports, their travel documents are read, their two index fingers will
be scanned, their digital picture will be taken, and they will receive
a printed receipt that verifies that they have checked out.
The second alternative still uses the exit station but
includes an additional step, verifying at the departure gate. Visitors
will present the receipt at their departure gate to confirm that they
checked out at the exit station. The workstation attendant will scan
the receipt and then ask the visitor to place an index finger on the
scanning device. Once the person's identity is matched to the receipt,
the visitor will receive his or her receipt back and board the
airplane.
Another alternative is a biometric check-out process with
a hand-held device used by a US-VISIT workstation attendant at the
departure gate. In this process, visitors' travel documents are read,
their two index fingers are scanned, digital pictures taken, and
visitors receive a printed receipt that verifies that they checked
out.
To help the process run smoothly, foreign visitors will
receive a printed card explaining the exit process from a Customs and
Border Protection Officer when they arrive in the U.S. at one of the
airports participating in the pilot. Also, directional signs are
strategically located throughout the airport directing the visitors to
the exit stations.
The exit pilot program has been operating in
Baltimore-Washington International Airport, Chicago O'Hare
International Airport, Denver International Airport, Dallas/Fort Worth
International Airport, Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport, San
Francisco International Airport, Luis Munoz Marin International Airport
in San Juan, and the Miami International Cruise Line Terminal.
US-VISIT entry procedures are currently in place at 115
airports, 15 seaports and in the secondary inspection areas of the 50
busiest land ports of entry. By Dec. 31, 2005, US VISIT entry
procedures will be implemented in the secondary inspection areas of all
remaining land ports of entry.
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
http://www.dhs.gov/us-visit
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Snooze Before You Cruise -- Vancouver International Airport is the
first airport in the world to offer specially designed sleeping pods,
allowing travelers to catch a few minutes shut-eye before their flight
departs.
Located in the international departures lounge, the pods
consist of an ergonomic recliner capped with a sound-proof cocoon
providing privacy. Nappers can drift off while listening to tranquil,
relaxation-inducing music. A gentle vibration wakes the napper, who is
then provided with a mint and fresh towelette.
A 20-minute power nap in a pod costs $15 CAD (about $12
US)
Vancouver International Airport http://www.yvr.ca or
604/207-7077.
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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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Midwest Airlines Has Tails Wagging -- Midwest Airlines rewards pets
that travel with their owners. The Midwest Airlines Premier Pet
Program, the first of its kind in the United States, awards pets one
fr'ee roundtrip flight after flying with their owners on three paid
roundtrip flights or six paid one-way flights. Pet owners have 36
months to accumulate the three paid roundtrips or six paid one-way
trips needed to earn a fr'ee roundtrip for their pet, a $150 value.
Any person or pet living at the same address can
combine their trips. Pets are accepted only on Midwest Airlines Boeing
717 and MD-80 aircraft, and Midwest Connect Beech 1900 airplanes. The
Premier Pet Program applies only to owners and pets that travel
together on the same flight; it does not apply to pets shipped as cargo
or service animals.
Additionally, "human" members of the airline's frequent
flyer program, Midwest Miles, may earn a fr'ee trip for their pets by
redeeming 15,000 miles.
Midwest Airlines http://www.midwestairlines.com/ .
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Early Booking Savings From Auto Europe -- Auto Europe, a leader in
European car rental services, offers savings on early bookings for
reservations made through Mar. 31, 2005 for travel through Dec. 31,
2005.
The offers include a guaranteed fr'ee one-car class
upgrade, from compact to intermediate, in select European countries. In
Germany, reserve an economy class, Opel Corsa, normally $237 per week
and receive a guaranteed fr'ee upgrade to a compact class, manual
transmission Opel Astra, normally $279 per week. Upgrades are also
available in Belgium, Britain, Denmark, France, Greece, Holland,
Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Spain, and Switzerland.
In addition, travelers will receive up to 20 percent off
any Mercedes Benz or sports car rental in Europe and up to 15 percent
off any European car rental service at any of the 4,000 locations they
service. Savings have never been greater for Ireland with car rentals
beginning at $13.99 per day.
Rates are subject to change without notice. All discount
offers apply to time and mileage only. Offers cannot be combined with
any other promotion or discount and are subject to change without
notice.
Autoeurope http://www.autoeurope.com or 888/223-5555.
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Divi Tiara Beach Resort Family Packages -- Divi Tiara Beach Resort in
Cayman Brac makes family vacationing affordable this summer with their
Family Week Packages. In celebration of Cayman Brac Family Week, July
10 to 17, 2005, Divi Tiara Beach Resort offers special packages
starting at $399. From Apr. 1 to Dec. 21, 2005, including Family Week,
kids 12 and under stay and eat fr.ee. The kid stay and eat fr.ee
special is valid for up to two children ages 12 and under staying at
least seven nights in the same room with their parents and eating with
at least one paying adult.
Seven-night Family Week packages, including accommodations,
breakfast daily, round-trip airport transfers and all taxes and service
charges, start at $399 per adult, based on double occupancy. If family
members scuba dive, Divi Tiara offers Family Week dive packages priced
from $679 per adult and $309 per child. These packages include all of
the above mentioned features plus daily two-tank dives. Per child
pricing for dive package based on children ages 10 to 15.
Cayman Brac Family Week passes, which include activities
such as family snorkeling and cruises around the Brac, are $120 per
adult and $99 per child. They are not included in Divi Tiara packages
and must be reserved in advance when booking a Family Week package and
purchased upon arrival.
Divi Tiara Beach Resort http://www.diviresorts.com or
800/367-3484.
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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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Hostel Takeover -- If you want to increase your knowledge and learn a
skill, yet have a tight budget, hostels may be your answer.
Hostelworld, which lists more than 9,000 hostel properties in 155
countries around the world, offers its list of the top 10 hostels where
you can learn something new on your travels.
Some hostels have dormitory-style rooms that you share
with others. If you don't want to sleep with strangers, check for
hostels that offer separate rooms for couples or families. Rates are
quoted in US dollars.
Learn how to Salsa dance for fr.ee at the Hostel-Inn
Tango City, Buenos Aires, Argentina. Two bed mixed dorms are from $14
per person, per night. Six to eight-bed mixed dorms are from $9 pppn.
The hostel is in San Telmo, Buenos Aires' historical quarter. Fr.ee
salsa dancing classes are every Wednesday.
Learn Thai cooking at Seven Suns, Chiang Mai, Thailand.
Cooking classes at the "Smart Cook Thai Cooking School" cost $18 per
person. A twin-bed private suite starts from $12.15 per person, while a
double-bed private suite starts from $20.80 per person. During the
one-day Thai cooking course, you learn how to make authentic Thai-style
fried noodles, chicken in coconut milk and more local delights.
Learn how to horseback ride at the Galopp Horse Riding
Holiday Village, Siofok, Hungary for $12 per half hour. Their four to
five-bed private suite, which can accommodate a family, costs from $12
pppn. A twin-bed private suite starts from $17 pppn. Siofok is one of
Hungary's most popular tourist. At the Galopp Horse Riding Holiday
Village horseback riding lessons are given daily. When you learn the
ropes, you can ride out on daylong tours.
Learn how to scuba dive at the Waidroka Bay Surf & Dive
Resort, Coral Coast, Fiji. Dive courses start from $227per person.
Double-bed private suites start from $27.90 pppn.
Waidroka Bay, meaning fresh spring water, on Fiji's largest island of
Viti Levu, gets its name from the spring creek which flows through the
surrounding rain forest. Not far from the resort is Sunset Reef for
snorkeling and diving. The hostel/dive school on the bay offers fully
certified PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors)
courses.
Learn to speak Spanish in Spain at the Home Youth
Hostel in Valencia. Their two-week package, which includes
accommodations and an intensive language course through their affiliate
Hispania, cost $390. If you want to extend your stay, four-bed mixed
dorms are from $19.65 pppn; three-bed or twin privates are from $21.92
pppn; and single privates are from $31.74 pppn.
Learn to ski at the Rocky Mountain Inn and Hostel in
Fraser, Colorado. The $49 per day beginner package covers a ski pass,
ski gear rental and lesson at Winter Park Ski and Snowboard School. The
rate is $69 to $79 for intermediate skiers. The five-bed male/female
dorms start from $22 pppn. The Winter Park Ski Resort is 20 minutes
away on a fr.ee shuttle bus.
Learn to kayak and rock climb at the Killary Centre,
Leenane, Connemara, Galway, Ireland. It's $48 for a three-hour
session or $88 for the full day. Double-bed private suites start from
$40.80 pppn. At the center, you can also learn archery (if you're over
18), try clay pigeon shooting and other activities.
Learn to speak Spanish in Ecuador at the Secret Garden
in Quito. The 20-hour course, which includes a three-course meal, is
$120 and $240 for a 40-hour course that includes two three-course meals
plus a fr.ee guided tour of Ecuador's monuments. Six-bed mixed dorms
are from $6 pppn. Double-bed or twin privates from $8 pppn; double bed
private suite from $10 pppn. Spanish lessons are conducted by qualified
teachers who teach in classrooms and bring students into the city
center, educating them about the city's history in Spanish.
Learn to make didgeridoos, play drums and twirl fire at
the Arts Factory Lodge in Byron Bay, Australia. Double-bed privates
start from $37 pppn while six-bed mixed dorms start from $25 pppn. The
Lodge runs workshops where for $120 you can make a didgeridoo, a long
wooden flute. $10 drumming classes teach African and Caribbean flavored
rhythms, Fire twirling courses are fr.ee, massage courses are by
donation and yoga courses are $7.75 per class.
Learn to surf at Surfcamp Chale Gel & Susanne, in Guarda
do Embau, Brazil. Stay less than 200 meters from the beach and learn to
surf for $20 per day. Rates are $17 per night for four-bed private
rooms.
HostelWorld http://www.hostelworld.com
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Value Vacations to Rio -- FlySouthVacations offers a five-night Rio de
Janeiro special that starts from $599 from Miami and includes roundtrip
airfare. The package must be purchased by May 26, 2005 with travel
valid Mar. 1 through June 9, 2005. Prices are per person based on
double occupancy and advance purchase.
The Rio de Janeiro special includes roundtrip airfare,
roundtrip transfers, five nights' hotel accommodations, breakfast
daily, hotel taxes and service charges.
Prices from other gateways include $649 from New York or
Newark, $674 from Boston or Washington-Dulles, $699 from Atlanta or
Chicago, $849 from Houston, Phoenix, Las Vegas or San Diego and $899
from Seattle or Portland. Airport taxes and fees are in addition to the
listed price. Additional gateways are available.
FlySouthVacations http://www.flysouthvacations.com or
800/234-5245.
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Airline Water Quality Poor -- You may want to rethink ordering coffee
or tea on your next flight. The U.S. government found, for the second
time in recent months, that water from a sampling of commercial
aircraft galleys and bathrooms was not safe for use.
Tests last November and December by the Environmental
Protection Agency on a fraction of the thousands of planes in the
domestic and international commercial fleet found samples failed to
meet U.S. government drinking water standards.
The EPA said the results of the latest testing showed the
scope of the problem and reinforced the agency's decision to forge
agreements with airlines to more closely monitor water systems and
tighten sanitary measures. The agreements, which include testing
protocols, are not fully in place yet. They will govern drinking water
safety until new regulations are devised.
The EPA warned that passengers with compromised immune
systems or others who are concerned about water quality to request
canned or bottled beverages and refrain from coffee or tea unless made
with bottled water.
Tests last summer found that 12 percent of 158 randomly
selected aircraft operated by domestic and international carriers
tested positive for coliform bacteria, which by itself may not pose a
health risk. But coliform bacteria in drinking water indicates that
other disease-causing organisms, or pathogens, may be present. Water on
two planes tested last summer contained E. coli, a potentially deadly
bacteria commonly associated with food poisoning.
Tests last autumn found that water on 17 percent of 169
randomly selected planes was positive for coliform. E. coli was not
found in any samples this time. The airlines were not identified.
The fall tests evaluated samples from galleys and
bathrooms of each plane. The summer analysis was not similarly
controlled. Most of the positive samples from the second test came from
aircraft bathrooms, the EPA said.
The biggest domestic airlines again questioned the
government's sampling results and countered that their water is safe.
An airline industry group, the Air Transport Association, pointed out
the new results produced no positive results for E. coli and called the
agency's testing methods outdated.
The trade group also said that airline drinking water
comes from municipal supplies and that no government agency has
reported any illness from water aboard commercial planes.
Most domestic airlines serve bottled water on their
flights.
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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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Fr'ee Fuel for Houseboaters -- Deposit by Mar. 31, 2005 -- Warmer
weather brings out recreational houseboaters and Seven Crown Resorts is
warming up the season with an offer of fr'ee fuel in April, May and
June.
Houseboat vacations booked for this period come with a
fr'ee tank of gas -- for the houseboat -- which holds up to 200
gallons depending on the model, representing a savings of up to $500.
The offer is good for all houseboat reservations made
with a deposit by Mar. 31, 2005. Trips must be completed by June 30,
2005. To receive the fee gas, reservations must be made through Seven
Crown's toll-fr'ee number, 800/752-9669.
Seven Crown Resorts, one of the nation's largest
houseboat vacation rental companies, has a fleet of 250 vessels at
popular destinations such as Lake Mead, Lake Mohave, Lake Shasta and
the California Delta.
Seven Crown Resorts http://www.sevencrown.com or
800/752-9669.
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DooleyVacations European Savings -- DooleyVacations.com, the newest
online European vacation provider, offers air-inclusive European
packages from $599 to France, Ireland, Italy and the United Kingdom.
Sample jaunts are valid for travel through Mar. 31, 2005.
Prices are per person, based on
double occupancy and include roundtrip airfare from the U.S.,
accommodations for four nights (except Ireland, six nights) and a car
with unlimited mileage.
France -- Escape to Lyon at the Hotel Axotel Perrache or
Nice at Apogia Hotel from $599, including breakfast daily. Paris
getaways are available from $799.
Italy -- Be merry in Bologna at the Fiera Hotel,
including breakfast daily from $649. The Caprice Hotel in Rome and the
Olimpia Hotel in Venice are available from $699. Milan's King Hotel
starts at $749.
Ireland -- For $599 spend six-nights in the five-star
Adare Manor, a true Irish castle in County Limerick. You can stay in
Shannon or Dublin for the first night, in a four-star hotel. The four
nights in between hotel and castle will be spent at your choice of more
than 500 farmhouse bed & breakfasts across Ireland. For $100 more per
person, you can upgrade to private-bath B&Bs and an automatic car.
UK-- Stay at the following cities in the UK: Jury's
Inn, Chelsea, London from $599; Jury's Inn Manchester from $599;
Jury's Inn in Bristol or Edinburgh, Scotland from $649;
Jury's Inn in Glasgow, Scotland or Britania Adelphia in Liverpool
from $699.
DooleyVacations.com
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Suite Deal, The Sands at Grace Bay -- The Sands at Grace Bay, a
four-star resort in the Turks & Caicos Islands, offers two "suite"
deals from Apr. 12 to Dec. 17. Book a one week stay with the "suite"
deal promotion get the seventh night fr'ee. The deal gets sweeter
June 1 to Oct. 31, when you get the sixth and seventh night fr'ee.
Among six landscaped acres along a 12-mile beach, the
Caribbean Plantation-style resort houses 116 suites. Features include
spa services, an on-site dive shop and three fr'ee-form swimming
pools. Two marinas and the 18-hole Provo Golf Course are a short ride
away. The Sands at Grace Bay offers studios, one, two and three-bedroom
suites. The studios and the suites have a kitchenette or fully equipped
kitchen, air-conditioning, ceiling fans, cable television, in-room
electronic safe and internet access.
The offer is valid on all room types. Rates start at $165
per night. Room rates include fr'ee use of the fitness center,
bicycles, tennis and non-motorized watersports such as kayaks, wind
surfing equipment, snorkel gear and Hobie Cats. The promotion also
includes roundtrip airport transfers, welcome cocktail, weekly
Manager's Rum Party, chaise lounges and towels.
Rates do not include a 10 percent government tax and a 10
percent service charge. The "suite" deal is not available with any
other offers or promotions. Fr'ee nights are not transferable nor are
they redeemable for cash.
The Sands at Grace Bay http://www.thesandstc.com or
877/777-2637.
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Mexico Spring Break from $389 -- Go-today offers vacation packages to
Cancun and Puerto Vallarta from $389, in time for Spring Break.
There's a choice of a five-day all-inclusive vacation or a
three-night getaway.
The five-night all-inclusive packages include roundtrip
airfare, roundtrip airport to hotel transfers in Cancun only, all
meals, maid and portage fees in Cancun only, hotel taxes including VAT
and service charges. From Miami, the five-night package is $719 to
Cancun and $829 to Puerto Vallarta. Travel to Cancun is valid Apr. 3 to
May 30, with a purchase deadline of May 24, 2005. Travel to Puerto
Vallarta is valid Apr. 1 to June 1, 2005 with a purchase deadline of
Mar. 24, 2005 or Aug. 16 to Dec. 8, 2005, with a purchase deadline of
Aug. 24, 2005.
The three-night getaway packages includes roundtrip
airfare, hotel taxes including VAT and service charges. From Miami, the
three-night package is $449 to Cancun and $619 to Puerto Vallarta.
Travel to Cancun is valid May 1 to 28, 2005 with a purchase deadline of
May 24, 2005. Travel to Puerto Vallarta is valid Apr. 1 to June 17,
2005 with a purchase deadline of Mar. 24, 2005 or Aug. 16 to Dec. 8,
2005 with a purchase deadline of Aug. 24, 2005.
Prices from other gateways are also available for the
all-inclusive and three-night getaways. Air taxes, fees and surcharges
are not included in package prices.
Go-today.com http://www.go-today.com or 800/227-3235.
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Cheap Tix Chart -- Buy Tickets at a Discount -- Special ticket outlets
sell discounted day-of- performance tickets to theatrical productions,
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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Wimco 60% Savings on Caribbean Villa -- Fustic House in St. Lucy,
Barbados, has new owners and the rate on this old-world villa has been
lowered from $35,000 to $21,000 a week, a 60 percent reduction on the
high-season rate (Dec. 15-Apr. 15). For those who can't get there by
Apr. 15, additional savings will be available until Dec. 15, with the
weekly rate lowered to $12,600.
Fustic House provides ultimate privacy for a larger
group (family or friends) with five bedrooms and a single room for an
au pair in a Caribbean plantation-style villa and cottages on a 10-acre
site surrounded by rolling pastures and fields of sugar cane. It offers
distant ocean views from manicured gardens and is a short drive to
several beaches. With ample grounds and rooms, Fustic House can be used
for a special event or corporate retreat.
Services can be added to the rental price which include
a butler, caretaker/house manager, chef, twice daily maid service,
security guard and more.
Wimco offers 180 villas on Barbados and 1,000 throughout
the Caribbean. Most of these offer savings of 25 to 40 percent over
high season from mid-April to mid-December.
Throughout the Caribbean, Wimco prices include
accommodations and daily maid service. Wimco can tailor a property to
suit your needs with private chefs, yoga instructors, yacht charters or
simply a restaurant reservation.
Wimco http://www.wimco.com or 800/932-3222.
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Southwest Fares From Pittsburgh -- Southwest Airlines unveiled its
fares to and from Pittsburgh.
The airlines will begin its Pittsburgh service May 4, 2005, with
flights to Chicago Midway, Las Vegas, Orlando and Philadelphia. They
will offer direct or connecting service to 37 other destinations
including codeshares with ATA to Denver and San Francisco.
Southwest offers its biggest discounts with its advance
purchase tickets. From Pittsburgh to Philadelphia or Chicago Midway is
$29 one-way (only available for purchase through May 26, 2005) with
Southwest's 14-day advance purchase fare. The advance purchase airfare
to Orlando is $79 one-way.
Unrestricted, everyday walk-up fares from Pittsburgh to
Philadelphia and Chicago Midway start at a $79 one-way. Southwest's
fares top out at $299 one-way for cross-country flights to Phoenix, Las
Vegas, and destinations on the West Coast. No advance purchase or
overnight stay is required on unrestricted fares.
Southwest Airlines http://www.southwest.com or
800/435-9792.
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The Quiet Side of the Tetons -- Article and photos by Kay Douglas
Picture this: The majestic Teton Mountains forming a
backdrop to a pristine valley. A river brimming with rainbow trout
winding its way through wildflower-bedecked meadows. Lush grasslands
and pine forests echoing with the bugling call of elks. To the north,
Yellowstone National Park, with its geothermal wonders and cascading
waterfalls. To the south, several vast National Forests.
Sounds like Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming,
doesn't it? But the description also fits the western flank of the
Teton Range on "the quiet side of the Tetons" in Eastern Idaho, an area
boasting much of the same breathtaking beauty with one key difference:
the crowds are all on the other side of the mountains.
After landing at Jackson Hole Airport in Wyoming, we're
engulfed in a scrum of adventure-seeking travelers waiting impatiently
for baggage in the cramped terminal. Later, driving through Jackson,
we cut short a planned visit to the town as milling throngs of visitors
and commercial bustle are not what we'd come out West to see.
Unfortunately, this once laid-back town has become something of a
tourist mecca, especially during high season. Had we known better, we
could have flown into Idaho Falls for $50-$200 less (depending on day
of week and season), bypassing much of the tourist frenzy.
We waste no time driving to the barebones one-room cabin
we've rented near Colter Bay in Grand Teton National Park ($109 per day
plus taxes). We'd been lucky to snag a cabin in August, even with
several months advance booking, since budget accommodations are as rare
as hen's teeth in this area. The three days we spend based at Grand
Teton are enjoyable, but prominent memories include elbowing our way
with scores of other hikers along a trail to Inspiration Point,
creeping through Yellowstone in a long procession of cars, and joining
a throng of fellow tourists gawking at a lone moose in a meadow.
In marked contrast, once we drive over the Teton Pass into
Idaho, it seems we've got the entire glorious Teton Valley to
ourselves. Just 45 minutes' drive from bustling downtown Jackson, the
quiet, unpretentious community of Driggs serves as our Eastern Idaho
base. Here we've rented a luxurious three-bedroom "Teton Flyer's "
cabin through Grand Valley Lodging for $180 per night. It seems like a
splurge after our Spartan accommodations at Colter Bay - but isn't,
considering what we get for our money. The cabin sleeps eight and
includes a spacious living/dining room area with big, overstuffed
couches, a long polished wood dining table, cable TV, DVD player,
stereo, a fully equipped modern kitchen, a washer and dryer, two
well-appointed bathrooms, and sweeping views of the mountains from the
high-ceilinged living room. A cabin of this quality would no doubt cost
much more on the "other side" of the Tetons. Along with virtually no
crowds, expect significantly lower prices on the western side of the
Tetons. In fact, many service workers employed in Jackson, priced out
of the local real estate market, commute from Eastern Idaho towns such
as Victor, Tetonia, and Driggs.
Driggs' claim to fame is as an outdoors adventure center,
and it lives up to its reputation. Outfitters in Driggs can set you up
for a wide range of adventures, be it horse packing along the historic
mountain trails of the Jedediah Smith Wilderness Area or fly fishing in
the renowned trout streams of Eastern Idaho. Hikers have a wide
choice of trails throughout the valley as well as in three National
Forests and the two nearby national parks, Yellowstone and Grand Teton.
Mountain biking, hot-air ballooning, whitewater rafting, snowmobiling,
cross-country skiing, show-shoe trekking, and driving along scenic
byways are other popular ways of touring this idyllic area.
We begin our five-day exploration of Eastern Idaho at
nearby Grand Targhee Ski and Summer Resort. While famed for its winter
downhill skiing, the resort offers multi-seasonal diversions, with
extensive hiking trails, horseback riding, tennis, swimming, spa
treatments, and adventure activities such as a ropes course and
climbing wall. We take the Dreamcatcher chairlift ($8 for adults, $5
for kids 5-14, under 5 fr.ee), ascending 2,000 vertical feet to the
summit of Fred's Mountain at 10,000 feet. This high vantage affords a
panoramic view of four famous Teton peaks clustered together, but we
practically have the view to ourselves. A small group of fit
Elderhostel trekkers are the only people we meet hiking along the
mountaintop ridge. We make our way back down to the resort, gingerly
descending a track of treacherously loose rock debris on the slope,
which takes its toll as my husband and son both take tumbles onto the
sliding gravel.
On another outing at Grand Targhee, we opt to stroll the
cross-country ski paths through gently rolling mountain meadows
blooming with countless wildflowers. This less challenging alpine hike
provides lovely views out over the peaceful Teton Valley below.
Eastern Idaho has a number of state parks that are low in
profile but high in WOW factor, such as Harriman State Park, about an
hour-and-a-half northwest of Driggs. There's a modest $4 daily use fee
for motorized vehicles entering Idaho State Parks, regardless of the
number of visitors per vehicle. Harriman State Park is located in
Island Park, an impressive 23-mile diameter crater formed when a
volcano collapsed in ancient times. Harriman State Park, 4,330 acres
of high-country meadows and unsullied forests, sits in the center of
Island Park, which has been designated a wildlife refuge. It's a haven
for trumpeter swans and sandhill cranes, as well as home to deer, elk,
moose, and many other wild creatures. Once a private game reserve and
working cattle ranch owned by the wealthy Harriman and Guggenheim
families, the Harriman Ranch was later deeded over to the State of
Idaho. Today the legacy of careful stewardship in private hands makes
it one of the best places to view wildlife.
Silver Lake Trail, part of the extensive trail system at
Harriman State Park, skirts a placid lake frequented by ospreys and
eagles. There's a good chance you'll spot a moose, as we did, feeding
in stands of tall pines near the shore or hear the bugling of bull
moose at sunset. We walk past the historic ranch buildings and along a
section of Henry's Fork River, famed among anglers for its superb fly
fishing. Sure enough, as we cross a wooden plank bridge over a narrow
section of the stream, we spot an immense trout lurking in the shadows
below.
We're so impressed by Harriman State Park that we make
reservations the following afternoon with Harriman Ranch Trail Rides, a
friendly outfit run by Tom Angell and family. For the two-hour trail
ride, which cost a very reasonable $26.50, each person is matched with
a suitable horse. A seasoned rider, I'm given a horse that needs "a
little handling," but in truth all the soft-mouthed gelding needs is a
light touch with the reins. My husband, son, and niece, all novice
riders, are given gentle mounts with tolerant dispositions and none of
the usual rental stable vices.
Tom's knowledge of the local history and fauna is
impressive; he's descended from original homesteaders to the area and
knows every inch of the terrain. He leads our group of mostly
greenhorn riders along wooded trails and through high meadows, all the
while regaling us with 'old timer' tales of the heyday of the ranch,
back when presidents, movie stars, and other famous folk were frequent
guests. We spot more moose, as well as elk, on this two-hour ride,
which is tailored to the wishes of the group, finishing with a 'walking
race' across an expansive meadow. The goal is to walk fast yet not
break into a disqualifying trot. I'm well out front, matched stride
for stride with a teenager on a lanky Palomino, when his horse picks up
a trot near the finish line and I win.
Moments later, still chuffed with my victory, I find
myself dangling helplessly from the side of my horse, having
accidentally caught the strap of my fanny pack on the saddle horn while
dismounting. Tom laughs as he comes to my rescue - some 'experienced'
rider! Just plain forgot about that pesky saddle horn, I tell him;
that never happens to me back East. Tom's amused look takes this
"English" rider down a peg.
Another thing that never happens to me back East is being
able to motor blissfully along for mile after mile with virtually no
traffic. Driving the scenic byways in Eastern Idaho proves to be one
of the highlights of the trip. Teton Scenic Byway begins in lovely
Swan Valley and heads east on Idaho Rt. 31 through the town of Victor
before turning north on Idaho Rt. 33 running along the western flank of
the Teton Range. The mountain views contrast with the rolling
farmland, with banks of scudding storm clouds heightening the effect as
they cast shadows on the fields of ripening wheat and send flashes of
lightening over the dark pines of the Targhee National Forest.
At Ashton, we take Mesa Falls Scenic Byway to Upper and
Lower Mesa Falls, the last two undisturbed falls of consequence in
Idaho. At Upper Falls, the Snake River becomes a raging torrent as it
plunges 110 feet, sending plumes of mist high into the air. The Upper
Falls are easily viewed from paths and platforms not far from the road,
while the Lower Falls, which drop an almost equally impressive 85 feet,
can be seen from the Grandview Campground and Overlook.
We take advantage of the fact that we're not far from
Yellowstone's "back door," traveling approximately 12 miles along Cave
Falls Road from Ashton, where we reach the park's western boundary.
This part of Yellowstone contains an astonishing number of waterfalls,
not to mention plentiful trails and campsites, yet it's so sparsely
visited that we find a 'honor system' in effect for collection of the
park entrance fee when we pull into the parking area near Cave Falls,
the starting point for our short hike to Bechler Falls.
Each evening, after a day of exploring, we return to our
lovely cabin in Driggs for a quiet supper. We don't particularly miss
the fancy restaurants or nightlife found over in Jackson, but one
evening we do take in the local Driggs scene at the Spud Drive-In,
where we watch a memorably cheesy movie under the stars. An immense
concrete Idaho potato perched on the bed of a flatbed truck is the
Spud's trademark, along with its summer independent film festival and
its Gladysburgers, delicious hamburgers prepared just as Gladys Davis,
the original owner of the Spud, used to make them.
On the last full day of our trip, we're torn between
renting bikes to pedal through Teton Valley or whitewater rafting on
the Snake River, but the kids lobby enthusiastically for getting wet
and the river wins. The best whitewater action is south of Jackson, so
we book a trip with Jackson Hole Whitewater. After driving back over
the Teton Pass into Wyoming, it's somewhat perplexing to be back among
the crowd assembld at the rafting company's headquarters, where we're
herded into large vans that shuttle us to the putting-in point on the
river. All sense of being cramped disappears, however, once we're out
on the Snake, racing through churning rapids bearing names such as "The
Big Kahuna," "Lunch Counter," and "Rope." It's an adrenaline-packed
adventure.
At the end of the trip we all agree that it was a wise
move to spend the bulk of our time in Eastern Idaho, which shares the
same spectacular scenery as neighboring Grand Teton and Yellowstone
National Parks but attracts only a fraction of the number of visitors.
With these parks and several pristine national forests on its very
doorstep, the Teton Valley makes an ideal base for travelers who want
to experience all the adventure but few of the hassles this region has
to offer.
For more information contact the Teton Valley Chamber of Commerce
http://www.tetonvalleychamber.com
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Alamo Family Vacation Sweepstakes -- Alamo Rent A Car launched the
"Alamo.com Family Vacation Sweepstakes," promoting its best rate
guarantee for reservations made online. You can enter to win one of 300
trips to Walt Disney World Resort or Disneyland Resort and earn four
additional entries with each qualified rental with Alamo through Apr.
30, 2005.
Each of the 300 trips is for four people and includes
airfare, Disney theme park passes, an Alamo rental car and hotel
accommodations at a Walt Disney World Resort hotel or Disneyland Resort
hotel for five days and four nights. Trips will be given away at the
rate of 100 per month, which gives you the chance to win again the
following month, if you didn't win before. Those who entered are
automatically re-entered in to the next month's drawing. Everyone can
improve their chances of winning by continuing to earn additional
entries with each qualified rental.
Alamo.com Family Vacation Sweepstakes http://www.alamo.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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EASY IMMIGRATION TO NEW ZEALAND -- Thinking about making New Zealand
your part-time or permanent second home? It is fast and easy! Read the
'New Zealand Immigration & Relocation Report' and transform your future
today. Wake up to a new life. http://www.nzpassport.com
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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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READING THIS AD? THEN WHY NOT PUT YOUR AD HERE! Reach more than 180,000
travelers who want to learn about your services or products. Get the
scoop and reserve your spot today at http://tsanews.fateback.com
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Live Among the Locals -- Forget about staying in a boring hotel. Live
among the locals in a house or flat. Coach House London Vacation
Rentals offers short term central London rentals
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
and see. Coach House London Vacation Rentals
http://www.rentals.chslondon.com
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The Latest "Specials" at Connecticut hotels, charming B&B, historic
inns and other attractions. A click of the mouse gets the hottest deals
around the Constitution State, plus package dates and some direct links
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
slots, video poker, dice, craps, roulette, books, software and more.
Gambler's General Store http://www.gamblersgeneralstore.com or
800/322-CHIP.
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Go Boston Card -- fre.e admission to 25 top attractions, 2-day hop-on,
hop-off trolley pass, $700 in discounts at shops and restaurants, fre.e
gifts, and a 132 page full-color pocket guidebook. Go Boston Card
http://www.GoBostonCard.com
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FR!EE PEARL Necklace & Bracelet -- Direct from a famous jewelry
workshop. Limit 4 necklaces and 4 bracelets per person. ACT RIGHT NOW.
Click here to order http://www.a-bargain.9cy.com/
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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
business-class menus and pictures of actual airline meals, photographed
and contributed by passengers. More than 330 airlines represented.
http://www.AirlineMeals.net
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RVShark, the online recreational vehicle publication features raw
reviews of RV parks based on real RVers' experiences. RVShark includes
RV for sale listings and an RV parks for sale section. RVShark is
fr.ee. http://www.rvshark.com
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Herd ostrich, ride horses or gather eggs at a family farm in
Pennsylvania, the relaxing alternative to a camping vacation. The 25
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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