Monday, January 28, 2008

Celebrity Vacation Spots

From FoxNews,By Cassie Carothers

Do you spend your days staring longingly at glossy shots of celebrities lounging poolside?

Well, it's not too hard to join them.

Travel experts say there are a lot of tropical destinations you can go to that aren't very expensive, but let you vacation like a movie star nonetheless.

Florianapolis, an island off the coast of Southern Brazil, is the next "it" destination for celebrities, and it's still affordable for the rest of us, according to Jason Harper, editor at concierge.com, the companion Web site to Conde Nast Traveler.

“It’s the kind of spot where a lot of supermodels end up going,” Harper said, adding that Gisele Bundchen and her current surfer beau Kelly Slater have frequented Floripa, as it’s more commonly called. “It’s a hot surfing spot, so a lot of those people hang at the local bars.”

Harper also said the exchange rate between the U.S. dollar and the Brazilian real makes the area a particularly attractive vacation destination.

“South America is totally affordable,” Harper said. “So where you might have gone to St. Tropez, you can recreate that feeling in South America.”

More and more boldfaced names are also showing up in Miami. So far this winter, Lindsay Lohan, Nicole Richie, Paris Hilton, Matt Damon, Leonard DiCaprio, Mischa Barton, Ricky Martin and Shakira have all hit the Latin-infused hot spot. And the city is noticing, said Teen People editor Shirley Halperin "“I know they’re making an effort, the city of Miami, to draw more celebs around the year,” Halperin said. “There’s a lot of construction going on and I think people will buy condos there. That place is really exploding with development.”

Read the rest of article on Foxnews

Sunday, January 27, 2008

Bora Bora is the most beautiful island in the world.


As seen on Vacationzine

Bora Bora is within the same island chain as Tahiti and Moorea and is easily reached with regular flights.

Bora Bora, with a lagoon resembling an artist's palette of blues and greens, is love at first sight.

Honeymooners and romantics from around the world have laid claim to Bora Bora where the castle-like Mount Otemanu pierces the sky. Lush tropical slopes and valleys blossom with hibiscus, while palm-covered motu circle the lagoon like a delicate necklace. Perfect white-sand beaches give way to emerald waters where impossibly colored fish animate the coral gardens.

Simply said, Bora Bora is the most beautiful island in the world.

Truly, the most romantic island in the world. From the dramatic scenery to the privacy and amenities of the over-water bungalows, everything in Bora Bora equals a 10 on the romance scale.

Resorts have been welcoming couples for over 40 years and their special amenities have been fine tuned to perfection. From sunrise to sunset, each resort has designed their own blend of unique romantic experiences for their guests to choose from.

Friday, January 25, 2008

Valentine's Deals

Vacationzine had a great article from Budget Travel called "Let's Get Lost: Valentine's Deals".

Article ideas include :

  • Lake Las Vegas resort: Private balcony and ice-skating
  • Charleston Inn: Carriage tour and breakfast in bed
  • Aruba resort: Adults-only pool party
  • Montserrat, the West Indies: Volcanoes and dark-sand beaches
  • Paris air/hotel, 4 nights: Love in the Latin Quarter
  • Vienna air/hotel, 3 nights: Cafés and carriages
  • San Francisco boutique hotel: Racy movie and lingerie
  • Olympic National Park Lodge: Fireplace and Rain Forest
  • Marrakech, Morocco: Massages and dinner in a tent

Here is a link to the article from Budget Travel

PREVENTING LOST LUGGAGE

As seen on airlineonestop.com

  • Put your name both outside and inside your bag in case your luggage tags fall off in transit; also, a copy of your itinerary inside will make it easier for an airline employee to find you if it becomes lost
  • Take a picture of your bags before you travel. You'll find having a photo of your lost luggage will be much easier than describing what your bag looks like at the claims desk

  • Pack a day's worth of clothes in your carry on--especially undergarments--so if your bags ever become lost you're not running around an unknown city looking for the essentials

  • Avoid short layovers: If you must connect through a second airport, be sure to leave enough time for you and your bags to make the next flight--a good rule of thumb is to try and leave at least an hour in between legs

  • Some airports are worse than others: Many British and U.S. airports are heavily backed-up in the wake of the foiled terrorist plot and may be more prone to misplace luggage. In general, Paris' Charles de Gaulle airport and Sydney International are among the world's worst as far as losing bags is concerned, so take heed before you fly through those airports

IF YOUR BAG IS LOST

  • If your luggage is lost or even damaged, it's important that you file a report with the airline within 24 hours of your arrival, or else your claim could be dismissed

  • Also, if your bag is lost for good, you'll have to list all the items inside to get reimbursed, so it's important to write down what's in your bag before you fly.

  • Airlines pay a maximum of $2,800 per passenger for lost luggage on domestic flights, although each carrier's policy is different. For example, many exclude coverage of jewelry, camera equipment, and medications.

  • When delays occur, airlines usually advance passengers cash or reimburse you for necessary items like toiletries and a change of clothes, so it's important to save your receipts

  • Also, make sure to carry the address of the hotel or hotels you'll be staying at. Once the airline locates your bags, most will ship them to you free of charge so it's important that you know where they should send them
  • There is hope: In 98 percent of lost luggage situations, bags are eventually recovered, most within the first 24 to 48 hours.

Giants among us – JetBlue lays on 'Big Game Shuttle'

As seen on airlineonestop.com

Not since January 28, 2001, have the New York Giants been to the Super Bowl. Back then, the G-Men lost to the Baltimore Ravens. Now, they’re back.

This time, the opponent is the seemingly invincible 18-0 New England Patriots, and you can bet lots of Giants fans want to get out to Arizona to see if their guys can top off their improbable journey through the playoffs with a win over the Brady Bunch.

To get them there, discount airline JetBlue is laying on a special flight to Phoenix: the “Big Game Shuttle”. It takes off from New York JFK (JetBlue’s home base) at 8:10pm (Eastern Time) on Friday, February 1, and arrives at Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) at 11:55pm (Mountain Standard Time).

Just to show you they have a warm spot in their hearts for Pats fans too (JetBlue is a major player at Boston Logan International) the discount airline will treat aficionados of both the Patriots and the Giants to a free cocktail, glass of wine, or a beer beginning at 6:18pm (Eastern Time) on Sunday, February 3. That, of course, is kick-off time.

Thursday, January 24, 2008

Tropical Island Vacation Ideas

Tropical islands are located within 23 1/2 degrees north or south of the equator. They enjoy warm weather year-round with plenty of sunshine. Depending on where you want to go, there are many tropical island vacation destinations around the world, including Hawaii, the Caribbean, Fiji and Bora Bora.

Hawaii
The state of Hawaii offers several different islands. Oahu is the most popular, home to the famous Waikiki Beach and Honolulu, the state capital. Maui offers several luxury resorts, 16 golf courses and a 10,023-foot dormant volcano. Molokai and Lanai can both be reached by ferry from Maui; or you can fly there from Honolulu.

Hawaii's Big Island is the largest of the islands, featuring Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, beautiful waterfalls and beaches. Kauai is known for its lush tropical vegetation and has been used as the setting for many movies.

The Caribbean Islands
The Caribbean Islands are comprised of many large and small islands, including the Bahamas, Jamaica, Barbados, US Virgin Islands, British Virgin Islands, Anguila and St. Barts, just to name a few.

The islands offer beautiful beaches, clear water and warm tropical weather. Island vacation activities include swimming, diving, snorkeling, sailing and fishing.

Fiji
Fiji is comprised of many tropical islands famous for their azure waters and white-sand beaches. There are many resorts to choose from.

For more vacation choices visit the Fiji Visitors Bureau web site at www.bulafiji.com where you can browse different accommodations by price, size and location.

Bora Bora
Bora Bora is one of the most beautiful islands in Tahiti, located south of the equator, in the same time zone as Hawaii. The beaches on Bora Bora are protected by a coral reef. This tropical island is home to several luxury vacation hotels, including Bora Bora Lagoon Resort and Hotel Bora Bora.