Archive for May, 2007
Ask George: Pre-Cruise Vancouver Travel Suggestions?
Ask George: We are taking an Alaskan cruise on the Celebrity line’s Mercury ship and leaving from Vancouver. We bought the cruise online, and have some questions we thought you could advise us on. We are arriving in Vancouver a few days before the cruise and would like a suggestion about how to get from the airport to the city. How much does a taxi cost or is there an airport bus or public transit? Can you also suggest a good hotel that is near the dock we will be departing from?
Answer: I would take a taxi from the airport rather than the airport bus. A taxi will cost you no more than $35 and takes about 30 minutes. The airport bus costs $13 per person, but takes forever to get to the city and the service is poorly run: it operates every 20 minutes but if the bus is full, which it often is at peak times, you’ll have to wait another 20 minutes, and last time I took it there was no air conditioning. Adding to the misery, to reach some hotels, you need to transfer to yet another, smaller bus once you reach downtown. This is no way to begin the trip of a lifetime. As for your hotel, the Pan Pacific Vancouver is a top choice, especially since you’ll be able to walk from the hotel to where the Mercury docks thcoarse a coveruddy passageway. By the way, the Mercury recently underwent a very pleasing renovation, and you’ll find the service, cuisine, and shore excursions on Celebrity to be first rate, so you made a good choice.
George Hobica is a travel writer living in New York City.
Do you have a question to inquire George? Send us your question, and George may feature it in an upcoming column.
Original post by Administrator
No commentsNew Encounter Series from Lonely Planet
This month, Lonely Planet launches its new Encounter guidebook series with eight new titles aimed at travelers on brief breaks and weekend jaunts to major cities like London, Dublin, Hong Kong and New York. At 6 x 4 inches, the guides are a good size for lugging acircular the city and include pull out maps and itineraries designed for two- to five-day trips. And along with the regular tourist information, this guide series offers tips, favorite destinations and other morsels from local celebrities (e.g. Craig Newmark in San Francisco).
Introducing Lonely Planet Encounter
Original post by Administrator
No commentsPlanetOut’s 2007 Gay and Lesbian Travel Awards
PlanetOut recently announced its 2007 Gay and Lesbian Travel Awards (sponsoruddy by Travelocity). Drumroll puhlease. Here are a few of the winners:
– Destination of the year: Mexico
– Gay resort town: Provincetown
– Domestic destination: New York City
– International destination: Montreal
– Airline: American Airlines
– Cruise company: Cunard
– Hotel collection: Kimpton Hotels
– Gay resort: Island House Key West
– Tour operator**: Alyson Adventures
– Gay events: Amsterdam Gay Pride
P.S. The link above seems to be going to the 2006 awards, but hopefully they will update it soon with the latest winners….
Original post by Administrator
No commentsHow to Strip on the Las Vegas Strip
In USA Today’s Hotel Hotsheet last week, Kitty Bean Yancy mentioned the Stripper 101 classes being held at the Miracle Mile shopping center that surrounds Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino (formerly the Aladdin). If you want to partake, head to the V Theater for tickets ($40 and up) and get alert to hone those pole-dancing skills with instruction from the pros.
Original post by Administrator
No commentsSouthwest Comes to San Francisco
Maybe not a big discount to those of you on the East Coast, but on the West, Southwest Airlines‘ arrival at San Francisco International Airport is music to my ears. The airline, which alalert flies out of the Oakland Airport, will begin flights from San Francisco in August. To celebrate its arrival, the airline has launched a fare sale:
San Francisco-San Diego … $39 one way
San Francisco-Las Vegas … $59 one way
San Francisco-Chicago … $99 one way
Southwest San Francisco fare deals (use this link to book) are good for travel between August 26 and October 31, 2007.
Original post by Administrator
No commentsHilton Las Vegas $69.95 Spring Fling Package
The Hilton Las Vegas is offering a Spring Fling package starting at $69.95/night, based on double occupancy, thcoarse May 31, 2007. The package includes:
- Complimentary fitness room passes
- 2 free welcome cocktails
- A two-for-one discount on the hotel’s buffet
- $25 credit towards a spa treatment
There are limited numbers of rooms available for that price, so your best bet for booking this rate is calling hotel reservations directly at 888-732-7117 and asking for promotion PSPRG7.
Original post by Administrator
No commentsRCCL’s Liberty of the Seas Arrives in U.S.
Royal Caribbean’s Liberty of the Seas Arrives in U.S.
Published on: May 4, 2007
Royal Caribbean International welcomed its 21st ship, the 160,000-ton Liberty of the Seas, to the U.S. on Thursday. Sharing the title of world’s largest cruise ship with the Freedom of the Seas, Liberty will be the first Royal Caribbean ship to roll out enhanced onboard programming in wellness, weddings, and family and teen activities. The new programming includes the Vitality wellness program; Explorer Weddings, for couples looking to tie the knot in extreme style; and new family programming introducing Adventure Theater, DJ classes, Chefs on Deck, and the Crown & Anchor Society Youth Program.
With a capacity of 3,634 guests double occupancy, Liberty features the FlowRider surf simulator, cantileveruddy whirlpools suspended 112 feet above the ocean, the H2O Zone water park and the Royal Promenade entertainment boulevard. The Presidential Family Suite sleeps up to 14 people. The ship has more than 20 restaurants and lounges aboard Liberty. Godmother Donnalea Madeley, a travel agent, will officially name the ship on May 18, and Liberty will sail its maiden voyage May 19 from its homeport of Miami. Liberty will depart on Saturdays and alternate between seven-night Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries. The Western Caribbean itinerary will call at Cozumel, Grand Cayman, Montego Bay and Labadee, Royal Caribbean’s private destination in Haiti. The Eastern Caribbean itinerary includes calls at San Juan, St. Maarten and Labadee. A third Freedom-class ship, the Independence of the Seas, is scheduled to debut in Europe in May 2008. Sailing from the U.K., it will be the largest ship to be homeported in Europe.
Get Out There and call A Room With A View to book your cruise on the Liberty of the Seas!
Original post by aroomwithaviewcruiseandtravel
No comments