Travel News You Can Use
By Judy Newell January 2, 2009 San Miguel de Allende
Mexico Travel News
Tourism investment grows
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According to the Tourism Ministry, third-quarter
investment in tourism-related projects was 29 percent above the same period last
year. Quintana Roo, the only state on the Mexican Caribbean, received US$1.23
billion, followed by Nayarit with US$903 million, Sonora (Puerto Peñasco or
Rocky Point) with US$496 million, Sinaloa (Mazatlán) with US$350 million and
Guerrero (Acapulco and Ixtapa) with US$347 million. In all, 75 percent of the new investment went into seaside projects. Now 84 hotels are under construction at various points in the country, 21 fewer than last year. |
International News
Travel dollar worth more around the globe
The greenback is making a comeback in many countries, boosting buying power for Americans who have discretionary income and an urge to travel. Currencies around the globe such as the South African rand, Icelandic krona and Korean won have fallen sharply vs. the American dollar in recent weeks. That makes vacations up to 50 percent cheaper than even a few months ago.
Iceland. Teetering on bankruptcy, the North Atlantic island-nation recently began promoting winter air and hotel deals to lure US tourists. The krona lost nearly half its value against the US dollar in only three months. Since the promotional launch, Icelandair's bookings from the US for October to December jumped 72 percent over the 2007 levels for the same period.
In cosmopolitan Reykjavik, you can now buy a 2½-hour treatment at the luxury Laugar Spa for about US$65, almost half of last year’s price. A night at Hotel Borg, a newly renovated art-deco gem in the heart of downtown, runs about US$160, about a third less.
Costa Rica. With the US dollar worth about 10 percent more than a year ago, more travellers—especially families—are booking Costa Rica. Rates at the luxury Tabacón Grand Spa Thermal Resort are about US$185 vs. about $230 last year.
South Africa. With the dollar buying 43 percent more than in August, some travelers who were considering basic safari vacations are now considering upgrading. Example: A two-night stay at the upscale Mateya Safari Lodge now costs about US$330 a night, down from $500 last year. Because prime season for safaris is in the summer (South Africa’s winter), you should book next year’s trip now and lock in the cheap rate in case the currency snaps back.
Advantage Rent A Car files for bankruptcy
Advantage Rent A Car has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. The company also filed other court motions intended to help it continue operating. Many Advantage locations are now open only for accepting returning vehicles and will not rent out additional vehicles. The company struck a deal with Hertz to handle pending reservations.
Psst!...Broadway tickets for cheap!
Going to New York soon? Avoid the mile-long lines at the Times Square TKTS booth by buying discounted Broadway tickets using one of these approaches.
When you’re buying tickets online, the major agencies—Telecharge and Ticketmaster—ask for a promotional code, which can shave between 25 and 50 percent off the face-value price. BroadwayBox.com allows you to check out their codes without coughing up any cash or personal information. You can find one of these codes by visiting Playbill, TheaterMania, BroadwayBox.com, and New York Show Tickets.
These sites list promotional codes for many shows, including blockbuster productions like Hairspray. Playbill and TheaterMania require you to register before viewing their free listings, but New York Show Tickets charges a US$4 fee to access most of their ticket codes for major Broadway shows for 30 days. BroadwayBox.com posts a more limited number of codes, but you won’t have to cough up any personal information.
Insider’s tip: If you buy directly from a theater box office, where you can also use a code for savings, you will avoid the fees that Telecharge and Ticketmaster slap on the tickets they sell online.
Airline News
Security shuts down New York helicopter shuttle
US Helicopter, the only company shuttling travelers from heliports in Manhattan to local airports, was already in dire financial straits, but a decision by city officials has left the air-shuttle operator unable to fly to or from its base of operations near Wall Street. Charter and tourist helicopter flights still use the Downtown Manhattan Heliport, but airport shuttles use an East Side port.
The problem involves FirstFlight, a small aviation company that city officials selected to manage the Downtown Manhattan Heliport. That company, which had no experience operating an urban heliport or airport, took over operations at the downtown heliport on November 1. But it still has not obtained the federal Transportation Security Administration’s approval of its plan for maintaining security there.
Without an approved security plan, FirstFlight cannot serve US Helicopter’s passengers, who had been clearing security at the heliport and bypassing the screening lines at Kennedy International and Newark Liberty International airports.
That setup allowed US Helicopter’s customers, who paid as much as US$159 for an eight-minute ride, to clear security in Manhattan and fly directly to secure areas of the airports.
Until November 1, the company was running flights from two heliports—one near Wall Street and another at the east end of 34th Street—to Kennedy and Newark
Cruise News
Disney offers “Kids Sail Free” on three-night cruises
Take a quick getaway with the kids or grandkids. Disney Cruise Line is offering “Kids Sail Free” on three-night cruises this winter and spring. Guests 12 and under can sail free aboard the Disney Wonder when accompanied by two full-fare paying guests within the same stateroom.
This offer is valid for most sailings from January 22 to May 28, 2009, and covers a variety of stateroom categories, from deluxe family staterooms with verandas to standard inside staterooms. However, only a limited number of staterooms are available for this special offer. Guests will be responsible for government taxes and fees for all stateroom occupants, including those 12 and under.
Sources: Media Kitty, Mexico Tourism News, OSSN, Budget Travel, Travel Pulse Daily
Judy Newell heads the travel company Perfect Journeys that specializes discounted rates for airfare, hotels, tours and cruises worldwide, as well as luxury and adventure travel. Contact her with comments or suggestions at
JudyNewell_03@msn.com or go to her website
www.PerfectJourneys.net.
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