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Andy’s Travel Tid-Bits – March 26, 2010
World’s Most Expensive Hotel Just OpenedLooking for a new World Class resort destination to “tick-off” your bucket list? Consider visiting this brand new resort hotel that just opened up, the rich and famous are starting to flock there. An expansive 1.3 billion resort proudly promoting $20,000-a-night suites. The property is situated on 113-acre resort on an artificial island off the Persian Gulf Coast. The new hotel Atlantis, situated in Dubai is a recreation of it sister property in the Bahamas, an ocean themed family resort. The resort contains a giant open-air tank with 65,000 fish, stingrays and other sea going creatures, a dolphin aquarium with more than two dozen dolphins flown in from the Solomon Islands. The hotels top floor is aimed at the wealthy businessman or family. The three-bathroom suite complete with gold-leaf 18-seat dining table is available for around $20,000 per night.
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For the rest of us, the standard nightly rate is running around $450 per night
plus taxes. The resort is the featured landmark on Palm Jumeirah, the artificial man-made island. The resort features a unique marine habitat, pristine white beaches, world class cuisine, up-scale spa, boutique shopping and complimentary access to the water park. Each of the 1,373 spacious guest rooms and 166 suites is designed with subtle oceanic and Arabic influences and spectacular views available of the Arabian Gulf or Palm Jumeirah island. Palm Jumeirah Island is Dubai’s major tourist attraction, hoping to attract 10 million hotel visitors annually.
The Atlantis alone will increase the city’s hotel capacity by 3 percent and demand seems to be strong. The Middle East had the highest hotel occupancy rates in the world during the first half of 2009, with Dubai leading the region at 85% along with the highest room rates in the region. Projections are the 1,539 room Atlantis will continue to be full regardless of the uncertainty of the economies. The hotels prime clients are the world’s richest travelers from Europe, Russia, Asia and elsewhere in the Middle East. Great Weather Web Site A friend of mine recently sent me this link of a weather web site that is pretty good. For travelers, this weather website can be a valuable tool. If you roll your mouse over any airport, you will get the current weather conditions.
Click on the locations and get even more weather info. www.wrh.noaa.gov/zoa/mwmap3.php?map=usa
Continental Airlines will charge extra fees for exit row seats Continental
Airlines announced that it will charge more for passengers seeking extra leg
room in exit row seats beginning March 17. The fees will vary depending on the route and day of the week. Passengers can purchase the additional leg room exit row seats upon check in or on line. Continentals frequent flyers with miles over 25,000, can assign themselves exit row seats in economy class without charge. Spring Break Top Destinations For 2010, Are You Paying More Than Last Year? If you are wondering if you paid more for your Spring Break get-away than last year, you might be surprised. Airfares into popular beach resorts are up over 9% compared to last year with the average domestic roundtrip airfare around $351, while hotel prices are down approximately 3% or an average of $156 per night. The top 10 Spring Break destinations based on 2010 bookings from traveling Americans across the U.S. are, No. 1 Orlando, followed by other South Florida destinations, Las Vegas, Phoenix, Cancun, New York, Los Angeles, Tampa and Washington.
According to the survey, March 22 is the most expensive time to travel between the end of winter and early April, but Tuesday-to-Tuesday are cheaper than traveling on Fridays or weekends. For travelers heading to Cancun, the survey reported that the average airfare from the U.S. to Cancun is up 23% over last year, and if you are still considering Cancun, you might wait until mid-April and beyond to find some better priced deals. The trick is to find a way to get to these sunny destinations without breaking the bank. For travelers traveling out of the Denver market, we are still finding reasonable rates for travel into Mexico, give us a call. The average Cancun trip including airfare, accommodations for 7 nights for 2 people is up slightly to $2,600, this is an average. For other warm sunny tropical relaxing destination, travelers considering Hawaii will find that the average total trip cost for 7 nights including airfare and lodging for 2 is averaging around $3,500. Travel Industry Overview and Trends Travel & Leisure Magazine reported that travel trends are still tentative based on last year’s downslide, the industry is slowly showing signs of gains.
Total air traffic worldwide was up 5.3% in December and demand for international air travel rose 4.5%. Luxury cruise line companies such as Seabourn and Crystal Cruises are reporting record sales for both companies with the promotion of 2-for-1 sailings and other amenities. Rachel Gelfer Hornaday James TravelPOINTS Agent Profile Rachel began her travel career with James TravelPOINTS in 2003, working in our wholesale Belize & Costa Rica department. Prior to 2003, Rachel spent one month backpacking in Belize and Central America learning about the culture and area. Rachel has had the pleasure of visiting Costa Rica and Belize several times over the years visiting many of the luxury boutique properties and eco-lodges the countries have to offer. She specializes in customized vacations for groups and individuals and handles many requests for travel into Panama and Guatemala. She was selected in 2006, by Travel and Leisure Magazine as one of “Five to Watch” (A List of Agents).
She has also been selected and listed on American Express web site as “Feature Travel Specialist” to contact for travel into Costa Rica, Belize and Central America. If you are considering a trip to Central America, talk to us first. Our wholesale department contracts directly with the airlines, hotels, resorts, dive shops and tour providers in the Central America countries, allowing us to give you a fantastic experience at a fantastic price. Travel Agents from all over the U.S. call and book their clients with our team. So call our experts at 1-800-626-3483, Rachel at x248 or Turner at x 222. Visit our web sites at: www.belizetravelpoints.com or www.costaricatravelpoints.com Travel Deals Check-out our this weeks travel deals. BA Strike Up-date As you are probable aware, the flight attendant union “Unite” decided to go on strike earlier this past week during some of the busiest travel days in March. The airline says it plans to operate at around 55 per cent of short haul flights out of Heathrow and 70 percent of its long haul flights.
If a deal is not reach in the coming days, another 4-day strike will begin this Saturday. So what does that mean to you, if you are traveling on BA this coming week (March 27 – 30, 2010), monitor your options until the day prior to your departure. BA has been operating their non-stop flights from Denver to London without disruption. Other flights may be affected, if you have booked your flights with us, call us and we can give you an update.
Andy James James TRavelPOINTS American Express Rep Office 1750 14th Street Boulder, Co. 80302 PH: 303-442-2340
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Germany, Southwestern
Janice Bond with James TravelPOINTS just recently visited Southwest Germany (Baden-Wurttemberg). Baden-Württemberg is the third largest German Federal state. It stretches from Lake Constance also referred to as the Swabian Sea to the River Rhine in the west and the River Main in the north. Three low mountain ranges give the landscape its typical Face: the Black Forest, The Swabian Alb and the Odenwald. Southwest Germany is also the third largest winegrowing region in Germany and stretches from Lake Constance to the valley of the Tauber.
My journey began in Stuttgart, the capital of Southwest Germany. Stuttgart is the birthplace of the modern automobile as well as the home town of Mercedes Benz and Porsche. The Mercedes Benz museum is not to be missed, embarking on a journey transported back in time to the year 1886- the birth year of legend that surrounds the pioneering invention of Gottlieb Daimler and Karl Benz- the automobile. Stuttgart has the International Trade Fair Ground which is a great location for Meeting and Conventions right next to the airport and has meeting rooms and event space for up to 9,300 people. Stuttgart Christmas Market with its 250 plus superbly decorated stalls is one of the oldest of its kind in Europe.
On our second day we traveled to the city of Bad Friedrichshall and visited the Lehen Palace. Then we traveled to Bad Wimpfen where emperors lived during the era of the Staufener, it is considered a medieval town with its Blue and Red towers and the Staufen Imperial Place Chapel. The narrow, paved stoned street with half timbered houses will bring you back into another period of time.
Then we moved on to Neckarzimmen to spend the night at Castle Hornberg, old tower, the highest part of the castle, was mentioned in documents as early as 1184. In the chaos of war this tower was a refuge for all the village people for whom the lord of the castle was the responsible patron.
We traveled on to Heidelberg where we visited the home of the first German University; it was founded there in 1386. Heidelberg Castle with its largest wine cask, historical main landmark sits about 70m above the river Neckar on the hillside of the Kongisstuhl, the mountain. The ruins of the electoral castle are the most impressive and important Renaissance building north of the Alps.
Then to the City of Baden-Baden, with its Mediterranean charm, renowned across the world as an elegant spa town for its beneficial hot springs. And home to the world’s most beautiful casino. The Caracalla Therme is said to be one of the finest thermal baths in Europe. (900 sq m of thermal water pools).
Gengenback was our next stop, once called “a pearl among the cities of half-timbered houses”. The world’s biggest advents calendar is on classicistic city hall. Also they are well known for the Fastnacht Carnival of Germany.
Freiburg at the foot of the black forest is very special ecclesiastic experience the Freiburg Cathedral with the “most beautiful spire in Christendom”. Freiburg, the capital of the Black Forest, with its valleys and peaks of Germany’s biggest low-mountain range. Traditional Black Forest Gateau, Houses, Costumes and Hats as well as the famous Cuckoo Clock are all worldwide symbols.
Titisee is where we took a carriage ride through what was known as the “Hell’s Valley” (was a wild and romantic valley and very narrow). Horse-drawn carriages could hardly get passed each other, this route became famous when Marie-Antoinett, the daughter of the Empress Maria-Theresia, was on he way from Vienna to Paris to get married to Louis 16th. Also world-famous for cuckoo clocks. The first Black Forest clock was made in the year 1640, not far away from the village of Breitnau.
Off to Lake Constance (Three countries and a lake with maritime charm). The lake is surrounded by 273 K of lakeshore. Germany on the South, Switzerland on the North and Austria on the Western tip. Meersburg is surrounded by vineyards and the lake shore of Constance. Meersburg whose medieval castle-the oldest inhabited castle of Germany – and baroque castle grounds shape the silhouette of the town, the old houses and fortification structures appear to be stacked on top of each other. All around the lake you can find old towns whose historical character has been preserved. The Castle of Meersburg is like an apparition form another world, the magical Castle of Meereburg stands proudly overlooking Lake Constance. According to legend, this massive fortress dates back to the 7th century. Next we traveled to Sigmaringen where we visited Sigmaringen castle belonging to the princes of Hohenzollern and re-live the past in historical authentic surroundings, one of the largest private residences of Germany and admire close to one thousand years of royal art and architecture. First mentioned in 1077, the former medieval fortress perched high upon a cliff overlooking the Danube River. Renowned as the official ancestral seat of the counts and princes of Hohenzollern since 1535, Sigmaringen castle has played a significant role in the chronicles of world history. The Hohenzollerns lineage is numbered among the oldest and most aristocratic in Germany. Next to its splendid art treasures, Sigmaringen castle also houses one of the largest private collections of weapons and firearms in Europe. The armory, an impressive collection of offensive and defensive weaponry is displayed, offering a glimpse into the history of warfare. Almost 3000 exhibits ranging from the 14th to the 20th centuries outline the technical development of weaponry and warfare. Included are suits of mail and armor as well as a wide variety of offensive and defensive armaments.
Our last day we traveled to Tubingen, this historic Old town is scattered with its small steps, narrow alley and pointed gables. The Swabian university city with its 85,000 inhabitants and 20,000 students combines the flair of a lovingly renovated city center dating back to the Middle Ages with the colorful, bustling and vital consciousness of a young and cosmopolitan student city. Tubingen is one of the most famous university towns. Poets and thinkers like Holderlin, Hauff, Morike, Uland, Schiller and Kepler have all studied there. From the Platanenallee (avenue of plane trees), which is one of the most beautiful avenues in the country with its almost two centuries old trees, one has the best view of the famous and picturesque Tubingen “Nickarfront” (front of the Nackar). As early as the Middle Ages, houses were bilt on the town wall where the Neckar flows around. Castle Hohentubiningen. First mentioned as a castle of the counts of Tubingen in 1078. The larger part of the present castle, which houses numerous University institutes and collections, dates grom the 16th C. Its most beautiful ornament is the Renaissance portal of 1606 modelled on a Roman triumphal arch, the centre of which shows the coat of arms of the Duchy of Wurttemberg. Some parts of town still have the remains of the medieval town wall. The market place with Neptune’s fountain is a popular place along the Neckar water front. Here we also visited the Gasthausbrauerei Nickarmuller for a little beer seminar. German Southwest with Castles and Medieval towns are almost heaven.
It was a jammed packed journey with plenty of highlights. Call James TravelPOINTS to plan your European vacation 1-800-274-0436, www.travelpoints.com
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Chicago, a Great Weekend Getaway
If you’ve got a week or just a weekend, I’ve got the place for you…the exciting city of Chicago. I was swept away for a weekend, and what a weekend it was. We arrived Friday night just in time to check out the night scene on Rush Street. This is where the who’s who hang, enjoying great music, martinis and cigars. Headed down to “Hang Upps” (a little more my style), the motif, is any and everything the walls are packed with all kinds of silly paraphernalia. The only prerequisite is you must be prepared to have and good time and a small cover charge. They played 70 and 80’s music the songs we all know and love to sing along to, there where all kinds of people, every make and model.
It was up early the next morning for a quick tour of The Art Institute of Chicago. I had the run through this fabulous museum in two hours. Only enough time to enjoy a quick gaze at the artwork. I would strongly suggest an entire day to browse, but if all you have is a few hours, it works. I grew up playing the game of Masterpiece, and for anyone else that has it’s exciting to realize that the originals are found at the Institute. I had great pleasure enjoying them first hand, along with the Picassos, Monet’s and hundreds other works of art.
I had to hurry back for the main reason I came to Chicago and that was to enjoy the Rockies vs. Cubs game at the famous Wrigley Field. If you haven’t been there it’s a must for any baseball fan, the history is legendary, and the atmosphere is just plain fun. Something about a hot dog at Wrigley Field, it just tastes better.
Saturday evening it was off to feed our soul at the award-winning House of Blues, the music hall offers a bit of everything from Blues (of course), jazz, rock, opera, Country and more. This particular evening “Quantum Leap” a band that played 80’s Rock-n-Roll kept us all jammin. We were taken to the private bar hidden away upstairs, where the members of the band invite their friends to come mingle after the show, what a hip evening for all.
Sunday it was another great day at Wrigley Field, we actually got to see the Rockies win one (which is always a treat). This was the weekend of the big air show so several times during the games the F15’s flew over, the game stopped and everyone watched in wonder. What a great getaway!
It’s time the experts at James TravelPOINTS 1-800-538-7461, www.travelpoints.com, sent you off for a weekend of fabulous food, great baseball, exciting nightlife and museums, museums, museums.
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Cruising a Perfect Family Reunion
By Nancy Kastanek, James TravelPOINTS
My in-laws decided, after their sister suddenly passed away, that they didn’t want any more get-togethers at just funerals. So they called me to put a family and extended family reunion cruise together. With our Cruise Specialist Jan Geiser’s expertise, we did just that.
Most of the “sailors” had never cruised and all but 6 were from California. The youngest of the brother-in-laws chose the Carnival Pride for the vessel and Thanksgiving week for the sailing, as all the children would be out of school.
I used Prime Time Shuttle as the transfer vendor. What a great choice that was! I left my digital camera on the shuttle, called the dispatch immediately from the hotel, and she contacted the driver who found my camera, kept it with him the whole week and drove out to Long Beach (from LAX) to hand it over to me when I arrived back in Long Beach. Yes, he got a GREAT tip!
A total of 36 people signed up for the cruise and absolutely everyone had a wonderful fun-filled sailing! We sailed from Long Beach, CA to Puerto Vallarta, then Mazatlan and our last stop was Cabo San Lucas. It was wonderful for me to have a full week with my 5 brothers and sisters-in law, their children and grandchildren. This sailing had 1,200 adults and 800 children.
I highly recommend a cruise for a family reunion and Carnival was a great choice as the children had so much to do onboard. Parents don’t have to keep an eye out for the teens; they’re usually found in one of the teen lounges or in a hot tub. (We did lose track on one teen. He hadn’t been seen for 4 hours by anyone. Come to find out, he was in the hot tub with some ladies of his own age.)
Some of the excursions chosen were ATVing in the sand dunes, snorkeling, a jungle adventure. These three chose to tour the aquarium.
The family decided unanimously to do another family reunion cruise and invite more cousins. They are looking at sailing Alaska in June of 2009. I haven’t seen Alaska so I am signing up again as well as my husband and son. We know that Jan Geiser at James TravelPOINTS 1-800-538-7461/303-442-2340, will plan another perfect trip and another successful cruise will be had by all.
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