Travel Savings Alerts Newsletter - February 2006 Issue
tips2travel
P.O. Box 91033
Columbus OH 43209
http://tsalerts.fre.espaces.com
travel...@wowmail.com
ISSN: 1542-801X, Copyright 2006, All Rights Reserved
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In This Issue:
Fr-ee Tours in Jerusalem
Swiss Trains Become Smoke-Fr-ee
Perillo Off-Season ItalyTour
Swissmade Tours from $189
Ireland Castle Package
Tots in Tow Package
D.C. Airport Cell Waiting Area
D.C. Neighborhoods Open Doors
Affordable B&B Winter Getaways
New Low-cost Hong Kong Carrier
Paris in Spring from $499
3 Dividend Miles Per Dollar
Security Lacking at Bali Airport
Ritz Tours Early Bird Asia Special
Fr.ee Day of Travel on Eurail Selectpass
Off-Season on the Outer Banks
Spirit Business Class Fares
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The Leather Connection -- Bring out your hidden fashionista with this
spectacular two-strand, 15-inch black leather necklace. Hand-crafted
in Mexico, the bold sterling toggle clasp is accented with quartz,
turquoise and jade micro-beads. A cherry quartz drop is the perfect
complement to this beautiful and extraordinary necklace.
Unbelievably priced at $49. Order at http://www.3ajewels.biz
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Fr-ee Tours in Jerusalem -- The Tourism Authority of the Jerusalem
Municipality wants travelers to know that there are fr-ee tours and
things to do in Jerusalem. Here's the lineup:
Fr-ee Israeli Parliament guided tours of the Knesset
Building are given every Sunday and Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30
p.m. A passport is required to take part in the tour. Tel. 02-6753333.
http://www.knesset.gov.il
Guided tours of the new Safra Square City Hall Plaza.
Tours for individuals, given in Hebrew and English, leave every Monday
& Thursday at 10 a.m. For tours in Russian or for groups, call
02-6295981/0 in advance. Tours meet at the palms at the entrance to the
plaza.
Fr-ee guided tours of the Supreme Court are given in
English and Hebrew. The court is open to the public Sunday through
Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Public tours for individuals or a
group of less than 10 people start at 11 a.m. in Hebrew and noon in
English. Groups of more than 10 people are given by appointment only.
The department of public affairs can add or cancel tours without prior
notice. Tel: 02-6759612/3
Fr-ee guided tours of Yad Vashem, the Holocaust Museum,
are given in English. The tour includes the historical museum, the Hall
of Remembrance and the Children`s Memorial. Tours are scheduled Sunday
at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.; Wednesday, Thursday and Friday at 10 a.m.
02-6443400 http://www.yad-vashem.org.il
Jerusalem Municipality http://www.jerusalem.muni.il
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Swiss Trains Become Smoke-Fr-ee -- Switzerland became the latest
European country to implement a smoking ban on its national rail
network, joining Italy, Belgium, Netherlands, Norway and Sweden.
"In addition to protecting non-smoking passengers and
staff from passive smoke, the ban will also fr-ee up more seats, as
smoking compartments -- typically underutilized -- are currently being
converted into non-smoking ones," notes Fabrice Morel, president and
CEO of the Rail Europe Group. Within six months, all ashtrays will be
removed from SBB trains. Smoking is prohibited in Swiss rail stations
except in designated areas and on the outdoor platforms.
Other countries are approaching a complete smoking ban:
French TGVs became smoke-fr-ee in 2004 and in 2006 all French trains
will follow suit. Finland and Spain only allow smoking on long-distance
trains, and the UK's Great North Eastern Railway (up the east coast of
England and Scotland) banned smoking in August 2005. Germany and
Austria have made local and regional trains smoke-fr-ee and are
reducing the number of smoking seats on long-distance trains.
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Give a Jaguar -- An Amber Jaguar
The remarkable face of a jaguar is hand-carved onto a lovely piece of
cherry amber that's 33mm x 20 mm in size. The dramatic pendent hangs on
an ultra-chic 18" natural-colored leather necklace cord with a sterling
silver clasp. Boy will this turn heads.
High-style boutiques and jewelers charge $500 or more for this glam
piece. It's yours for only $125 plus shipping & insurance. Order at:
http://www.3ajewels.biz, click on the amber category.
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Perillo Off-Season Italy Tour - Perillo Tours offers its 10 day
escorted Vesuvius tour from $2449. The tour combines big cities and
small towns, covering the highlights of Italy with visits to Venice,
Rome, Naples, Pompeii and Capri.
Available through Mar. 2006, the tour includes roundtrip airfare from
New York, Newark, Boston, Miami, Atlanta and Chicago. Airfare add-ons
are offered from other select cities plus as a land-only option.
Other features include accommodations at first class hotels with
private bath; American breakfast daily; dinner daily with wine,
mineral water and coffee; transfers; baggage handling, hotel taxes,
hotel service charges; all gratuities for hotel and restaurant
personnel.
This Perillo tour includes sightseeing and excursions with a visit to
the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel, inter-city motorcoaches with
lavatory aboard, a tour director and licensed local guides.
Perillo Tours http://www.perillotours.com/
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Swissmade Tours from $189 -- SwissMade Tours independent tours to
Switzerland in 2006 begin at $189. The 2006 rates are reduced, some as
much as 30 percent, from 2005 because of the company's buying power
and the more favorable exchange rate.
For $189 per person, based on double occupancy, you can
travel three days/two nights from a selection of 13 Swiss cities. The
package, with stays at three star hotels, includes daily breakfast,
service and all taxes. Upgrades to four or five stars are available in
all cities except Locarno. SwissMade Tours guarantees the best
international airfare available at the time of booking. Car rentals can
also be arranged.
Three to seven night packages for independent travelers
throughout Switzerland include four days/three nights in Graubunden,
from $349 per person with three nights in Pontresina and visits to
Davos and Diavolezza for mountain climbing and glacier viewing.
The Scenic Wonder Route 1, from $599 per person, double
occupancy, is a seven day/six night tour to Lucerne, Lugano, Saas Fee,
Zermatt, Montreux, and Interlaken. All SwissMade Tours packages can be
combined to create an individualized, custom vacation.
With many of the packages, you need to purchase a Swiss
Pass good on railway, bus and lake steamers throughout Switzerland that
must be purchased in the US prior to departure. The Swiss Pass, good
for four consecutive days of travel within one month starts at $236 in
first class and $158 in second class. The Swiss Flexipass offers up to
eight days of travel in one month from $224 in first class and $150 in
second class. Rates are for two or more people traveling together,
single rates are slightly higher.
SwissMade Tours http://www.swissmadetours.com or
800/995-7997.
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Ireland Castle Package - Tour Ireland in style with Brian Moore
International's Castle package. When you arrive at Shannon, Ireland,
pick up your rental car and you're on your way. The first night is
pre-reserved in a hotel in the Shannon area. For the next four nights,
you can choose from more than 2,800 bed and breakfast inns. Your last
night is pre-reserved at a five-star Irish castle and you can choose
from four different locations.
Prices start from $459 to $489 through Mar. 31, 2006. The castle
package includes a seven-day Hertz car rental with unlimited miles, six
nights' accommodations with breakfast daily, all hotel and service
charges, and all local taxes.
Space is limited so have second and third choice travel dates and
accommodation options in mind when contacting the tour operators.
Brian Moore International http://www.bmit.com or 800/982 -2299.
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Fr-ee Fun San Diego -- This savings-packed FR.EE brochure features
almost 40 Fun, Fr-ee Things to do in San Diego. When heading to
Southern California, attend concerts or visit a State Historic Park and
keep that cash in your pocket by knowing what you can see and do for
fr-ee.
To order Fr-ee Fun San Diego for a $1 handling fee, send
an email to in...@onthegopublishing.com with Order Fr-ee Fun San Diego
in the subject line.
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Tots in Tow Package -- Flatotel, in New York City, offers a Tots in
Tow package for professional on-the-go parents who want to spend more
time with their family. Tots in Tow includes 50 percent off family
flat accommodations (better known as a suite), with fully equipped
kitchenettes. Children must share a room with adults and be 12 years or
younger. Through Aug. 31, 2006, rates start from $245 per night, based
on quad occupancy, for Saturday and/or Sunday night stays. The rate is
50 percent off the seasonal rate. Rates do not include taxes and are
subject to availability.
The package also offers 10 percent discounts at Macy's and
Bloomingdale's, fr.ee breakfast for four and 10 percent off dinner at
Flatotel's Italian restaurant.
Located in midtown Manhattan at 135 West 52nd Street, the
hotel's 218 rooms range from 350 to 375-square feet. The Flatotel's
70 suites range from 1,100 to 1,800-square feet and the five penthouse
tower suites range from 1,800 to 2,400-square feet, with one, two or
three bedrooms. All accommodations feature goose-down duvets and
Egyptian cotton sheets, dual-line telephones with voice mail and data
ports, 27" flat screen cable TV, CD player, high-speed Internet access,
microwave, compact refrigerator, coffee/tea makers, iron and ironing
board, in-room laptop compatible safes and ergonomically designed
chairs.
Flatotel is steps from Radio City, the Empire State
building, Central Park, and Rockefeller Center.
Flatotel http://www.flatotel.com or 800/FLATOTEL.
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D.C. Airport Cell Waiting Area -- You no longer need to drive in
circles while waiting to pick up a person at Washington Dulles
International Airport (IAD. Officials want to keep traffic moving so
the airport opened a fr.ee "cell-phone waiting area."
In the waiting area, you can park until your traveler arrives and
calls for a pickup. This waiting area is about one and a half miles
from the main terminal and about three minutes away. It's only open
to non-commercial vehicles, which must be attended at all times. "The
benefits of this new area - in addition to convenience - also include
saving gas and making our roadways safer," said James Bennett,
president and CEO of the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority.
Washington Dulles joins a handful of other U.S. airports that have
cell-phone lots, including Los Angeles (LAX), Philadelphia (PHL) and
Palm Beach, FL (PBI).
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D.C. Neighborhoods Open Doors - If you ever wanted to see how others
live, this is your chance in Washington D.C. Cultural Tourism DC brings
back its popular and fr.ee weekend neighborhood walking tours Apr. 21
to 22, 2006.
To showcase the city's network of neighborhoods, the
tours are open to residents and visitors alike. It's an unparalleled
chance to explore the charms of some of the city's most fascinating,
off-the-beaten path neighborhoods on foot and on bikes. Dozens of f.ree
tours will be offered during the two-day event. More specific
information will be available online closer in to the event, in Spring
2006.
Cultural Tourism DC http://www.culturaltourismdc.org
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Face-It Luggage Tags -- Your Face on Your Luggage -- There's no
mistaking your luggage with the 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, bicycles, musical instruments and more.
Click here to order Face-It Luggage Tags
http://www.onthegopublishing.com/face-it.shtml
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Affordable B&B Winter Getaways - Bed and breakfast members are adding
value to a stay at their inns across North America. Offers are about
$100 per night for lodging. Each inn includes breakfast for two each
morning. Below are special winter getaways. Unless otherwise specified,
rates do not include applicable sales taxes and gratuities.
Holden House, Colorado Springs, CO: The Winter Wonderful package is
offered during non-holiday and non-event times through May 1, 2006.
Stay two nights and get the third night fr.ee, making the room rate
under $100 nightly. Mention the "Winter Wonderland Fall Back" special
when booking. 888/565-3980, www.holdenhouse.com.
Rico Hotel, Rico, CO: Stay in the heart of Colorado's San Juan
Mountains for under $48 per person, per night, and lift tickets to
Telluride Ski Resort for 45 percent off. There's a fr.ee shuttle
service to and from the mountain on request. 800/365-1971,
www.ricohotel.com.
Casa Coquina B&B, Titusville, FL: Escape the cold in central Florida
with rates from $79 per night in this former Al Capone hideaway. All
suites have sitting rooms, bedrooms and private baths. Fr.ee beer,
wine, soda and tea during stay. 877/684-8341, www.casacoquina.com.
Tyron Farm Guest House, Michigan City, IN: All rooms are $65 per
night, representing a 50 percent discount through Mar.15, 2006. Rural
farm setting with sledding, cross-country skiing and fr.ee hot
chocolate beside the bonfire. 219/879-3618, www.tryonfarmguesthouse.com
Greenville Inn at Moosehead Lake, Greenville, ME: The Winter
Wonderland package offers three nights for the price of two. Three
consecutive night packages start at $280 per couple. 888/695-6000,
http://www.greenvilleinn.com.
River Run B&B, Fleischmanns, NY: Stay and kids ski f.ree at nearby
Belleayre. Rooms start at $85 per night and include fr.ee après-ski
hot chocolate and sweets. 845/254-4884, www.RiverRunBedAndBreakfast.com
Colonel Taylor Inn B&B, Cambridge, OH: Sunday through Thursday through
Mar. 2006, the "Snuggle Up" special makes all rooms $99 per night,
a 25 percent savings. Includes a five-course candlelit breakfast and
afternoon tea. 740/432-7802, www.coltaylorinnbb.com .
Historic Orth House B&B, Jacksonville, OR: All rooms are $90 per night
through Mar. 2006. Fr.ee cocoa throughout the day. Children welcome.
541/899-8665, www.orthbnb.com.
Lampstand B&B, Fort Mill, SC: The innkeepers are docents who cook
using 18th century skills. Rooms are $90 per night in the Treehouse
Studio, including tax. Children of all ages are welcome for an
additional $10 fee. 803-547-3100,
www.bedandbreakfast.com/south-carolina/the-lampstand-bed-and-breakfast.html
White Lace Inn, Sturgeon Bay, WI: Get in on the Winter Romance
package offered through Mar. 31, 2006. You'll get a two night stay, a
$50 gift card towards White Lace Inn in-store items, a $50 coupon
towards dinner at Sage or Inn at Cedar Crossing, plus a 20 percent off
coupon for Dancing Bear Shop, from $190 per couple. 877/948-5223,
www.WhiteLaceInn.com.
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New Low-Cost Hong Kong Carrier - - A Hong Kong budget, startup airline
aims to start exclusively long-haul routes.
Property investor Raymond Lee, with his wife Priscilla, launched
Oasis Hong Kong Airlines. The maiden flight from Hong Kong to London's
Gatwick Airport is scheduled for June. This will be Hong Kong's first
low-fare carrier of any type.
Oasis won approval from Hong Kong's Air Transport Licensing
Authority to operate scheduled flights to London, Milan, Cologne,
Berlin, Oakland and Chicago. The carrier hopes to win an air operator's
certificate (AOC) from the Civil Aviation Department in the next few
months.
Oasis aims to price roundtrip tickets for its maiden voyage from Hong
Kong to London's Gatwick Airport from HK$1,000, or about $128 US.
Customers looking for bargains will have to book months in advance,
according to Oasis Chief Executive Officer Stephan Miller. Oasis
expects its fares to average 40 to 50 percent below those of full
service counterparts. It aims to attract a new market of passengers
flying long-haul for the first time. Plans also call for a budget
business class service and broadening its income base by flying
freight.
The airline will initially operate with a fleet of leased Boeing
747-400 aircraft and has a five-year plan to expand to 25 aircrafts
serving 12 to 15 destinations.
Oasis Hong Kong Airlines http://www.oasis-air.com
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Paris in Spring from $499 - Gate 1 Travel lets you enjoy all that
Paris offers in springtime with a a four-night package including
airfare from $499. Packages are offered in April and May.
The package includes New York to Paris roundtrip airfare with all fuel
surcharges; four nights in a two-star tourist-class hotel, breakfast
daily and hotel taxes.
The $499 price reflects a cash payment discount. The package does not
include airport taxes, fees and the Sep. 11th security fee that can add
$50 to $130, along with optional tours. Final payments made by credit
card do not receive this discount and are subject to a three percent
fee.
A non-refundable $100 deposit is due at the time of booking and final
payment is due 45 days prior to departure.
Gate1 Travel http://www.gate1travel.com or 800/682-3333.
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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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3 Dividend Miles for Every Dollar -- US Airways and Barclays launched a
new co-branded US Airways Dividend Miles World MasterCard which gives
new card members an opportunity to earn a roundtrip ticket on US
Airways immediately. The card awards 15,000 bonus miles upon activation
and up to 10,000 bonus miles for balance transfers.
The card features a 0 percent interest rate for the first six months
on balance transfers and no annual fee for the first two years.
Cardholders earn 50 percent more miles during their first year -- three
miles for every dollar spent on US Airways purchases and 1.5 miles for
all other purchases.
Customers who previously used America West credit cards no longer earn
FlightFund miles with those cards. To continue earning FlightFund
miles, America West customers must
apply for the US Airways World MasterCard. America West customers may
also earn Dividend Miles by applying for any of the other US Airways
credit cards.
In Spring 2006, FlightFund and Dividend Miles will be combined into
one program and miles earned in either program will be combined into a
single US Airways Dividend Miles account.
Sign up at http://www.usairways.com or http://www.lotsmoremiles.com.
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Security Lacking at Bali Airport - The Transportation Security
Administration (TSA) announced that the Bandara Ngurah Rai
International Airport in Bali, Indonesia, does not meet international
security standards and wants to warn travelers of this security
deficiency. Based on an assessment by a team of TSA security experts,
the Department of Homeland Security determined that the airport does
not maintain security measures consistent with the standards
established by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
The DHS directed air carriers issuing tickets for travel between the
U.S. and Indonesia to notify ticket purchasers about the determination
for the Bali Airport. Homeland Security also directed that the
designation for the Bali Airport be displayed at all U.S. airports and
published in the Federal Register.
TSA representatives have been in Indonesia to help airport authorities
bring Bandara Ngurah Rai International Airport up to international
standards. TSA representatives will continue to work with Indonesia and
assist local authorities with correcting security deficiencies at the
airport as quickly as possible.
U.S. and foreign air carriers that fly between the U.S. and Indonesia
are temporarily providing additional security to counter airport
deficiencies. If proper precautions are observed by the air carriers
and the airport, Homeland Security believes it is possible to safely
conduct air service to and from the Bali Airport.
Under Title 49 of the U.S. Code, Section 44907, Homeland Security
assesses security at foreign airports with direct service to the U.S.
The Secretary of Homeland Security determined security at the Bali
Airport is not effective and notified the Indonesian government of the
findings 90 days ago. Despite efforts to comply with ICAO standards,
not all of the recommended corrective actions were taken after the
90-day period. When all of the actions are taken, TSA will reassess
security measures at the airport.
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Ritz Tours Early Bird Asia Special - Ritz Tours extends its Early
Bird discount through Feb. 28, 2006, for advance bookings of all China,
Yangtze River and Hong Kong travel itineraries. Advance bookings on
2006 vacations can get savings up to $200 off per couple ($100 per
person).
The Early Bird Discount is available on bookings made by Feb. 28,
2006, at least 45 days in advance of the departure date. Deposits ($200
per person) must be received within seven days of the booking (and by
Feb. 28, 2006) in order for the discount to apply.
The Early Bird discount is valid on select programs and departures
March through December 2006. Prices for sample tours listed below are
per person, based on double occupancy. Individual tour discounts are in
parentheses.
China Discovery (10 days) from $1,499 ($50 off per person).
Yangtze Essence (12 days) from $1,999 ($50 off per person).
China Scenic (14 days) from $2,199 ($50 off per person).
Silk Road & Yangtze Cruise (17 days) from $2,999 ($100 off per
person).
China Panorama (15 days) from $2,999 ($100 off per person).
Majestic Yangtze River from $3,499 ($100 off per person).
Ritz Tours provides Travel Protection Insurance at no additional cost
to travelers who confirm reservations and make final payment at least
45 days prior to departure. This benefit saves approximately $150 per
person.
Ritz Tours http:// www.ritztours.com or 800/900-2446.
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Cheap Tix Chart -- Buy Tickets at a Discount -- Special ticket outlets
sell discounted day-of-performance tickets to theater productions,
films, and sporting events. Discounts can be 50 percent or more. On The
Go Publishing's 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
http://www.onthegopublishing.com/products.shtml#tix
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United Winter Savings for Sweethearts - HURRY! BOOK BY FEB. 3 -
Couples can save on air-inclusive getaways with United Vacations to
Hawaii, Mexico, the Caribbean, Europe, and popular ski spots. This
offer is valid for travel through May 31, 2006, excluding travel Apr.
12 to 22, 2006. The promotional code JANSAVE must be used when booking
to receive the savings which are only available when booked online or
through a travel agent.
Savings are $200 on vacations priced$3,500 or more; $150 on vacations
priced $2,500 to $3,499; $100 on vacations priced $1,800 to $2,499; $50
on vacations priced $1,000 to $1,799.
Sample vacations include roundtrip airfare on United Airlines, hotel
accommodations, and 24-hour traveler assistance. Vacations to Europe
include daily breakfast. Vacations to Hawaii, Mexico and the Caribbean
also include roundtrip airport/hotel transfers.
Orlando: Five nights at Buena Vista Suites from $504 from Washington
DC, New York City and Newark; $539 from Chicago; $639 from Los Angeles,
San Francisco and Denver; and $719 from Seattle. Valid for Wednesday or
Thursday departures Feb. 15 to Apr. 6, 2006 and Apr. 26 to May 26,
2006.
Hawaii: Oahu with five-nights at OHANA Maile Sky Court from $514 from
Los Angeles and San Francisco; $699 from Denver; $834 from Chicago; and
$884 from Washington, D.C. Valid for Wednesday or Thursday departures
Apr. 26 through June 1, 2006.
Cancun: Three-nights at Club Verano Beat Cancun from $489 from
Washington, D.C. and Denver; $599 from San Francisco. Valid for Sunday
to Thursday departures Feb. 6 to Mar. 9, 2006.
London : Four-nights with full breakfast at Craven Gardens from $484
from New York; $549 from Washington, D.C.; $594 from Chicago; $699 from
Denver; and $679 from San Francisco. Valid for Wednesday and Thursday
departures through Mar. 23, 2006. Prices include a fourth night fr.ee.
Jamaica: Three-nights with Continental breakfast at Rooms on the
Beach, Ocho Rios from $559 from Washington, D.C.; $599 from Chicago.
Prices from D.C. are for Monday or Tuesday departures Feb. 6 to Mar. 7,
2006. Prices from Chicago are for Sunday and Wednesday departures Feb.
8 to Mar. 12, 2006.
United Vacations http://www.unitedvacations.com or 888/328-6877.
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Fr.ee Day of Travel on Eurail Selectpass - RailPass offers an extra
day of fr.ee travel when you purchase a Eurail Selectpass by Mar. 31,
2006. The extra day is valid on six-, eight-, or 10-day Adult, Youth
and "Saver" Eurail Selectpasses. It can be used for unlimited train
travel on non-consecutive days within a two-month period. The first day
of travel must start within six months after purchase.
The Eurail Selectpass allows you to select three, four or five
adjoining European countries. The selected countries must be connected
by rail or ferry. Passes are available for adults ages 26 and older.
Additional discounts are available for youths, ages 25 and under, and
on "Saver" passes where two or more people are traveling together at
all times.
Railpass also offers the choice of fr.ee guide books, discount
coupons, accommodations or shipping for all online orders over $200 US.
Railpass http://www.railpass.com or 877/RAILPASS.
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Off-Season on the Outer Banks - article and photos by Nicki Chodnoff
I watch the surf lap the shore as the early morning sun glistens on
the water. The only other witnesses are beach birds scurrying from the
waves. My vantage point is the back deck of a beachfront house in Nags
Head, N.C. As I sit and watch, I think about what so many vacationers
look for, but nearly never find on a vacation, peace and tranquility.
Maybe peace and tranquility elude travelers because of timing. A few
months earlier, Nags Head, one town on the thin band of barrier islands
known as North Carolina's Outer Banks, bulged under the burden of
summer vacationers. Seven million visitors augment the area's
50,000-plus residents. Take away those summer crowds and the Outer
Banks, during spring, autumn and winter, can be down-right idyllic.
It's easy to see what draws travelers to the Outer Banks in the
off-season. Along the Atlantic, wide, clean beaches, protected as
national seashores or wildlife refuges, fill the horizon. The dunes and
ocean are the perfect place for a lazy day of shelling, swimming, bird
watching, fishing or just watching the waves. But even the mundane
improves during off-season. Accommodation prices drop from lofty summer
highs, restaurant wait-time drops from an hour or more to immediate
seating and shoulder-to-shoulder crowds are non-existent.
North Carolinians are proud that the nation's first national seashore,
Cape Hatteras, is in their state, but the Outer Banks offer far more
than beaches. They are a treasure trove of history, which includes
Roanoke Island, where the country's first English settlers landed more
than 400 years ago.
Culture, commerce and history intertwine on Roanoke Island. Protected
by a shallow sound and sheltered by the barrier islands, Sir Walter
Raleigh sent a ship of colonists, led by John White, to set up a colony
on Roanoke Island. White's daughter, Eleanor Dare, gave birth to little
Virginia on August 18, 1587, the first English child born in the New
World. When White returned with supplies from England three years
later, he found Fort Raleigh abandoned and the colony gone without a
trace. The only clue was the word "Croatoan" (the local Indian tribe)
carved on a tree. The fate of the 116 men, women, and children,
including little Virginia, remains a mystery to this day.
The story is re-enacted every summer for nearly 75 years as the play,
"The Lost Colony," performed at the Waterside Theater, located in Fort
Raleigh National Historic Site. "With Roanoke Sound as a backdrop and
the performance staged near the site of the ill-fated settlement,
it's no wonder the play has lasted so long," said Carl Curnutti,
executive director of Waterside Theater. Curnutti notes the "Lost
Colony" is the only outdoor drama attended by a sitting president,
Franklin Roosevelt.
Nearby are the Elizabethan Gardens, a 16th century-style English
garden set on 10 acres with thousands of blooming flowers and shrubs.
The gardens, with their shady paths, are a memorial to Roanoke's
original English colonists at the site of their original settlement. A
highlight is the fragrant Queen's Rose Garden. The ancient live oak is
thought to have been living when those first colonists arrived.
Downtown Manteo, of town of about 1,000 people on Roanoke Island,, is
a pleasant mix of early 20th century architecture that blends shops,
cafes, bed-and-breakfast inns, and a scenic waterfront. A footbridge
across Dough's Creek leads to Roanoke Island Festival Park. The
27-acre island lives history as costumed "natives" tell you about
the art, nature and history that surround you. On the Elizabeth II, a
replica of the 16th-century ship that brought the first colonists, kids
and adults can meet sailors in period clothes who speak an Elizabethan
dialect. They tell tales of the treacherous voyage. In the Settlement
Site, villagers demonstrate weapons such as swords and pole arms or a
matchlock shoulder arm. Or you can try on armor, discover shoemaking or
carpentry and other crafts needed to make life tolerable. Festival Park
also includes an interactive "hands-on" museum and a outdoor
pavilion with free concerts and plays.
Close encounters with fishes, otters, snakes and sharks are available
at the North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island. You get the closest
at the touch tank where you can gently stroke a stingray, star fish,
sea cucumber or a hermit crab. Perhaps the most mezmerizing is the
35-foot long viewing window of the 285,000-gallon "Graveyard of the
Atlantic" tank. Here, you can watch fish, sharks and sea turtles
cruise by only inches away. Equally fascinating is getting face to face
with an electric eel, giant tarantula, black widow spider, venomous
snakes and lionfish in the "Bite, Shock, Sting" exhibit.
Strong winds and soft landings is why the Wright Brothers came to
Kitty Hawk. Many believe their accomplishment is the most monumental
event in Outer Banks history. On December 17, 1903, a manned, machine
left the ground under its own power for 12 seconds at Kill Devil Hill.
The flyer, which traveled less than the length of an airliner, moved
forward under control without losing speed. To commemorate this
world-altering event, the National Park Service built the Wright
Brothers National Memorial on Kill Devil Hill. A granite boulder marks
the spot where the first airplane left the ground and numbered stone
markers indicate the distance of each of the four flights. The site
includes the field, museum and a replica of the Wright Flyer.
Close by at Jockey's Ridge State Park, the aerodynamic principles
developed by the Wright Brothers are tested by hang-gliders on the
park's dunes. The sandy slopes, with the East Coast's tallest sand
dune, climb to 149 feet.
Lighthouses warned sailors of the treacherous shoals and sandbars
along the Outer Banks. Some of the lighthouses still stand. One of the
best known is the 208 foot Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, the tallest brick
lighthouse in the United States. It was relocated in 1999 as it was
threatened by beach erosion. Hydraulic jacks pushed the structure along
a track system in five-foot increments the required 2,900 feet. It now
rests on a new concrete pad about 1,600 feet from the shoreline.
About 35 miles north in Nags Head sits the Bodie (pronounced body)
Island Lighthouse, completed in 1872. The 170 feet tall lighthouse was
designed by same architect who built the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse.
The restored Chicamacomico Life Saving Station in Rodanthe, south of
the Bodie Lighthouse, recounts the history of the U.S. Life Saving
Service, the predecessor to the Coast Guard. "This is the only life
saving site in the U.S. with its original out buildings, including the
French Renaissance Gothic station built in 1874," said Interpreter
James Charlet dressed in his keeper's attire. "Brave volunteers
saved many shipwreck victims here until 1915, when then the Coast Guard
was formed." In the summer, volunteers at the restored station
reenact the drills and techniques that saved so many lives. In 1918,
six Life Saving Station volunteers saved the lives of 42 men of the
British frigate, the Mirlo, when it hit a World War I German mine. Only
11American Grand Crosses of Honor have ever been awarded in this
country. The men of Chicamacomico hold six of them.
Where the Atlantic Ocean washes against North Carolina's barrier
islands, an area known as the "Graveyard of the Atlantic," more than
2,000 ships have been lost since Europeans began sailing these waters
in the 1500s. In historic Hatteras Village, next to the
Hatteras-Ocracoke Ferry, the Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum seems
more interested in the history and wrecks below the water's surface
than above it. It resembles an 18th-century beached ship resting on its
side, with exposed wooden timbers surrounding the outside to represent
the frame of the ship. According to Museum Executive Director Joe
Schwarzer, " authenticity is the main goal, with a focus on the
history of shipwrecks along the treacherous Hatteras coast."
A portion of the museum is open and admission is free until the entire
museum is completed . Donations are gladly accepted. Among the exhibits
is a model of the original 1803 Cape Hatteras light and the first lens
installed in the lighthouse, in 1853. Ironically, the main exhibit is
about an aviator, not a sailor: Gen. Billy Mitchell, who proved that
airplanes could sink battleships, an idea mocked by military leaders of
the time. In 1923, at Hatteras, Mitchell's bombers sank the obsolete
USS New Jersey and USS Virginia from the air. In 1924, Mitchell
predicted the Japanese would launch an air and sea attack on Pearl
Harbor and an aerial attack on the Philippines. His predication came
true 17 years later. Displayed artifacts include photos from Mitchell's
1923 bombing tests and the radio shack he used for them.
Outer Banks Visitors Bureau http://www.outerbanks.org or 877/29-4386
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Silky Travel Jewelry Roll -- A must have for travelers. Our silky
travel jewelry roll comes in a random assortment of single-color
jacquards, solid colors and two-color brocades.
This handy travel jewelry roll measures 8 1/2 x 11 inches when
open and closes to a compact 8 1/2 x 4 inches. Our exclusive design
offers a place for everything with one deep pocket, a ring bar and
three zippered compartments.
Price $40. Order at
http://www.onthegopublishing.com/products.shtml
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Spirit Business Class Fares - HURRY! BOOK BY FEB. 15 - Spirit
Airlines offers Spirit Plus, its business class product from
Dallas-Fort Worth. Business class fares start from $96 to Fort
Lauderdale for a Tuesday or Wednesday departure. Fares are one-way
based on roundtrip purchase, and roundtrip travel is required. Fares do
not include fees and taxes.
Spirit Plus business class offers six more inches of leg-room than
coach; more than six extra inches in seat -width than coach; 2x2 large
leather seats; free cocktails and snacks; and priority boarding
Book fares by Feb. 15, 2006 for travel through Mar. 8, 2006. Fares are
available online or are $6 more through Spirit's call center or other
channels. These new fares have a six-day advance purchase requirement.
Fares do not include taxes and fees. International fares do
not include government taxes and fees up to $125 per round trip.
Sample one-way fares are for Tuesday or Wednesday travel from
Dallas/Fort Worth. Rates for other days of the week are more, with
travel on Friday, Saturday or Sunday the most expensive.
Fort Lauderdale $96; Nassau, Bahamas $116;, Kingston or Montego Bay,
Jamaica $136; Cancun, Mexico or Punta Cana, Dominican Republic $136;
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic $146; St. Thomas, USVI, Turks &
Caicos Islands, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands or San Juan, Puerto Rico
$186.
Service to the Turks & Caicos starts Feb. 16, 2006 and service to
Grand Cayman starts Feb. 9, 2006.
Fares are subject to availability and may not be available on all
flights on all days. Previously purchased tickets may not be exchanged
for these new sale fares.
Spirit Airlines http://www.spiritair.com or 800/772-7117.
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Had a good experience on a plane recently? Stumbled across the perfect
place to stay or eat or drink? If you'd like to tell us about it, email
us at: travelne...@aim.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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CURE & CLEAN NATURALLY -- Throw out your harmful toxic disinfectants,
cleaners, bleaches and insecticides! Cure and clean with the world's
safest all-natural sanitizer, Hydrogen Peroxide. You don't need to
spend a fortune on fancy store-bought preparations with their "secret
ingredient" that turns out to be Hydrogen Peroxide. Get more than 30
powerful recipes using Hydrogen Peroxide as a foot soak, cold and flu
killer, plant protector, and pet purgative for only $2. To order, send
an email to: cpven...@hotpop.com with Order Hydrogen Peroxide Cure in
subject line.
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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://tsalerts.freespaces.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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NATURE'S MIRACLE PRODUCT -- in today's computerized world, we're
still using a product discovered by chance more than 10,000 years ago
-- VINEGAR!! Throw out toxic cleaners and insecticides that pollute!
Save money and save the environment by using vinegar, one of the
world's safest, all-natural products. Get more than 150 powerful
recipes using vinegar for cooking, health care, gardening, pet care and
household uses for only $4. To order, send an email to:
cpven...@hotpop.com with Order Vinegar Care in subject line.
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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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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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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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