Kids Free on Early Season Disney cruises

View of Alaska from the water (by Steve Anderson)

What's Disney famous for today? Princesses, making NFL stars' dreams come tream ("I'm going to Disneyworld!"), keeping Walt on ice, and last, but not least: never EVER discounting. (And I'm talking about true discounts, not the price drops the company rolls out each winter to keep their on-site motels filled at prices that are still a good $30 a night above their equivalent competitors).

Well, Goofy bites Tarzan! It looks like Disney is whistling a different (happy) tune this year. To innaugurate its cruises to Alaska, Disney will be allowing kids to cruise for free if they're accompanied by two parents, and can play hooky by vacationing between May 3 and May 24.

Alas, only deluxe staterooms are covered by the freebie offer, meaning that even with the freebie for kids, you won't be spending less than you would on other ships at this time of year. I just found $600 Alaskan cruises on Royal Caribbean for May, meaning one could get four into a cabin for a hair less than the price of two in a deluxe stateroom on Disney (which starts at $1250 from most sellers). Still, if you want to have the "Disney experience" for your family at a reasonable rate, this sale is as good as it gets.

Another New Hotel Fee, Perhaps the Most Insidious of All

Christopher Elliott reported on his blog yesterday that Las Vegas' MGM Grand Resort will now be charging guests a $20 a night fee for guaranteeing a non-smoking room.


Photo by Bruce



I guess you gotta give 'em props for creativity. But its enough reason for me to avoid the MGM Grand. With that fee, and the property's outrageous $20 resort fee, I'd be paying a whopping $40 a night extra just for the privilege of being a sucker. No thanks.

 Its a shame as the MGM is a darn nice property, with an impressive portfolio of restaurants, one of the best pool areas on the Strip (complete with lazy river and water slides) and rooms that are decorated in a plush, neo-Art Deco style that's quite attractive.

But I'm not a smoker. And I'm concerned by recent studies on the effects of so-called "third-hand smoke", the carcinogenic compounds  left behind on a room's furniture and walls long after the original smoke has dissipated. They're the reason that hotel rooms smell of cigarettes days after the smoker has checked out. And they're the reason I choose non-smoking rooms and move if I'm put into one that reeks of cigarettes.

With this disgaceful new fee MGM isnot only hurting its customers pocketbooks, but potentially their health.

Just $393 Round-Trip To Europe? No Joke

A Krakow vacation this spring? (Photo by Robin Bazylek)

It sounds like a Polish joke (and I can say that since I'm of Polish ancestry), but those who book today can snag airfare all the way to Europe for as little as $393 round-trip INCLUDING all taxes (and since taxes usually add a good $150 or more on Transatlantic flights, that's quite a steal). Lowest rates seem to be from the New York City area (both Newark and JFK) to Warsaw, though there are also bargains from Toronto  and Chicago. Flights must be booked today for travel between Feb 16 and April 15. See the site for more fine print. And note that discounts may also be available for kids up to age 11 (25% off) and infants (90% off). Click here for full details.

Lufthansa is also holding a sale with a longer booking window (through Feb 15; lowest rate is NYC to Dublin for $198 each way plus tax) as is Aer Lingus ($219 each way is the lead price for flights in early April with bookings by March 3).

"Car Sharing" In Lieu of Renting?

Its an ingenious idea: instead of allowing the family car to sit empty and unused when not being driven, owners in the Bay Area of California, in London and in Boston are joining "car sharing" services which match them with short-term renters.


(Photo by Busy Brain)

Both parties come out ahead. The owners make a bit of extra cash from the rental of their vehicle; and the renters pay less than they would with Hertz, Avis or one of the other major rental car brands. Apparently, the swap organizations are working on cellphone apps that would allow for keyless car opening. For now, owners share electronic keys with their renters.

To read a bit more about these services, click on this recent blog penned by Sean O'Neill for the New York Times.  

A Few More Details On The Obama Administration's New Regulations for Cuban Travel

As I posted in mid-January, the Obama Administration has announced it plans to liberalize travel to Cuba. No, the embargo hasn't been lifted. But it will be significantly easier for Americans who don't have relatives on the island to visit.

Havana Cathedral (photo by Rahi Madatia)

Last Thursday, I spoke to John McAulliff, the coordinator for the Travel Industry Association on Cuba, to learn more details. McAulliff was in Havana at the time, working with ground organizations there to prepare for what most think will be a large influx of American tourists.

According to McAulliff, the Obama Administration has actually gone farther than the Clinton Administration did, with regards to two groups of travelers: students and those traveling for religious purposes.

Any student who can prove that he is getting college credit for his study in Cuba will be allowed to go without having to apply for a special license from the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). This is an unprecedented move, a policy that's much less restrictive than what was allowed under Clinton.

This same exemption will apply to those traveling with religious organizations. And when I was talking to him, McCaullif seemed to slyly suggest that getting a group together and then affiliating it with a local synagogue, church, mosque or temple, might be the best way to go. "The government cannot define what religious activity is as that would be unconsitutional," he told me. "As long as you're affiliated with some religious organization--and 80% of Americans are--your group can go under the auspices of that organization without the hassle of applying for an OFAC license."

Under Clinton, the most common group travel to Cuba was for "cultural purposes". Tour operators are waiting to see how liberal the government is going to be in awarding OFAC licenses to these types of groups. The requirements for obtaining the license haven't changed in a good 18 years, but how the law is enforced can greatly affect the number of licenses given out each year. Under Clinton, thousands of licenses were issued; under Bush, almost none.

The takeaway: If you want to go to Cuba, try praying.

You can hear much of the interview (it was quite long, so we had to edit it down) by clicking on this link which will take you to a podcast of my radio show.

Freebie Friday: Facebook for Free in the Air This February

American Airlines, AirTran, Alaska Airlines, Delta, United Airlines, US Airways and Virgin America have teamed with GoGo Inflight to give away free access to Facebook on most February flights. The promo is being sponsored by the Ford Motor Company.

Alas, its not as generous an offer as the one Delta, Air Tran and Virgin with partner GoogleChrome gave during the holiday season (Nov 20, 2010 through Jan 2, 2011): free access to all internet sites. Internet will be available in February but at the usual prices: $4.95 up to $13 for very long flights.

Still, we can thank Ford for its largess: Facebook access is better than nothing. Though your Facebook friends may wonder why you're updating your status every two minutes.

Getting a Refund on Your Egyptian Trip

This weekend my father and I fielded a call, on the radio show we host, from a listener who had booked a trip to Eygpt and was now trying to get her deposit back. The trip was scheduled for September. She'd picked a reputable company and put down a $200 deposit. When she'd called the tour operator on Thursday requesting the $200 back, they'd refused, saying the deposit was non-refundable.

(Luxor, Egypt; photo by John Thomas)

Our advice on Sunday was, and remains, call back in a few days. With the situation escalating so rapidly in Egypt, many of the travel companies who do business there are scrambling to catch up and policies are changing from day to day.

Plus, it is possible that by September Egypt will be calm enough to visit once more. I, for one, sincerely hope it is. Tourism is one of the top industries in Egypt and without the revenue it generates, many Egyptians will go hungry. We can onlypray that this situation resolves itself soon and without further bloodshed. (I strongly urge you to read NBC's Richard Engle's tweets and reports on the situation. His reporting is not only heroic, but tremendously insightful).

In the meantime, Carol Pucci, of the Seattle Times, has written an excellent piece detailing how a number of major tour operators, cruise lines and insurance companies are reacting to the crisis. Most of the tour operators she cites are giving full refunds or credits toward future trips to those booked to vacation in Egypt in February, and in a few cases through March. Cruiselines are cancelling their stops in Egypt without offerring compensation to passengers for the change in itinerary. And those who purchased travel insurance are likely to be woefully disappointed. With the exception of those who booked with American Express, or booked pricey "cancel for any reason" policies, most travelers are finding that their insurance does not cover trip cancellation in cases of civil unrest.

For complete details, click on the link above.

Another Fee to Factor In: Fuel Surcharges

They're baaaack!

Last week, JetBlue announced that it would be adding fuel surcharges to the Caribbean. This week, the Associated Press is reporting that a number of other airlines will be adding them as well, the first time these types of fees have been charged since 2008. So be careful when you book American, Delta, Continental and United as these fees may not appear until well down on the booking pages.

Those flying internationally should be aware that Air France is now adding fuel surcharges; and Singapore Airlines and its subsidiary SilkAir recently increased theirs.

This all follows a spike in oil prices which most experts are predicting will go even higher. And with oil so go airfares, so if you're on the fence about buying a ticket for travel in the next three months, now may be the time to plunk down your cash. I, for one, am worried that airfares will just go higher, along with those surcharges.

TSA Goes to Vegas to Test More Modest Screening Machines

There's some irony in that, ain't there? In a town where pasties are a regular part of some resident's attire, the TSA is testing machines that will help cover folks up. The question becomes: is it crucial to  blur out "sensitive areas" (in this era of underwear bombers) to preserve the dignity of travelers.... or are we putting our modesty before our lives?

Photo by Inha Leex Hale

The back-story: today, at Ronald Reagan Airport in Washington, DC, new screening software was unveiled by TSA spokesman Dwayne Baird.  According to MSNBC.com the images will be sufficiently generic to protect the privacy of those being screened. In fact, the images will be so unoffensive that other passengers passing the screening area will be able to see them. Apparently, these new machines will be similar to those being used in Europe that were originally deemed not effective enough by TSA officials. Today, Baird said that the agency has been working with manufacturers to improve the technology. The machines are being tested at McCarran Airport in Las Vegas now and will soon be in Atlanta.

Obviously, the testing of even more new machines is a result of the brouhaha that erupted last November over the pictures taken by the old machines; and the "invasiveness" of the new pat downs.

But in the months since, only 132 people---out of the millions who have flown in the US in that time-- have filed complaints about the new security procedures with the TSA, according to the DOT.

Do we want to have those 132 people (and the pundits who saw an opportunity to increase their time in the public eye last November) to decide what we do about security or how we spend our ever-dwindling federal budget? And will flying into Vegas be even more of a gamble now than ever?

Vital Safety Tips for Travelers

Some 15 million people visit Egypt year. So its my guess that close to 1 million are now wishing that they had better emergency plans in place before they left home.
This is not to say they should have known they were going to a place that would become dangerous. Egypt hadn't had these types of violent protests in three decades. Statistically, the country has been as good as other major destinations at keeping its visitors safe.

But the lesson here is: no destination is always safe. As boyscouts know, its better to be prepared:





Photo by Al Jazeera English


• Consider registering your whereabouts with your country's State Department when you go abroad. That way they can reach out to help you should a political or natural disaster occur as they'll know how to find you.
• Always keep your cellphone charged. If its not working, you can't use it in an emergency.
• When calls aren't getting through, try texting. And keep trying. I just heard on the news about a young American woman who's studying in Cairo and had been trying to call her family for three days to let them know she was okay. She was finally able to get a text through, which takes less bandwidth.
• Be aware of your surroundings. You want to know, roughly, where you are on a map at all times if possible. If you know that, you'll be able to formulate a better plan of escape should an earthquake alter the landscape; or the arrival of large crowds make it more difficult to tell where you are.

• Carry some small pieces of food and water with you at all times. This one works for mom's like me, too. There's always a kid "emergency" that can be solved by helping up the little darlings blood sugar.

• Make sure you have important documents copied and kept in a place online that's secure and easily accessible. You could be separated from your passport of plane tickets. Having access to them in a digital form could be a huge time-saver.

My thoughts are with the Egyptian people today. I have two not-so-simple hopes: that Mubarak steps aside peacefully, and that Egyptians get the right to elect their government when this is all over.

Freebie Friday: Carpooling to Ski Resorts & Free Kids' Flights to DisneyWorld

Calling all ski bums and bunnies: you might have to schuss alone, but you don't need to drive alone. Just surf to either GoI70.com or SkiCarpool.com to arrange shares; the sites work particularly well for Colorado, but I've heard of folks who went to the second one and managed to get a lift to resorts in other western states.

The savings go beyond the cost of transportation. Resort areas such as Copper, Breckenridge, Keystone and Arapahoe Basin want to reward those who help keep the highways leading to their resorts traffic free by offering deals to carpoolers, from premium parking or discounted lift tickets. (You'll find a full list of these offers at the GoI70 website).

American Airline Vacation's Own Form of Fairy Dust
Remember in Peter Pan when the guy in tights sprinkles magic dust on the children allowing them to fly? Well American Airlines Vacations is pulling the same trick, offering free flights to children when their parents book air and hotel packages to DisneyWorld. Once in Orlando, the entire family gets whisked from the airport to DisneyWorld on a free shuttle.

The small print on the offer is a bit more earth-bound, but not too bad:

• Vacations must be for a minimum of 3 nights
• Stays are at Disney Resorts only, but they included the lower-priced options 
• The offer is valid for "most days" between Feb 17-Apr 16, Apr 28-June 14, Aug 14-Oct 1
• Bookings no later than Feb 13

For more information, be sure to click here.

Goodbye Color-Coded Travel Alerts!

We've been "orange" for a good 10 years now, haven't we?

I'm talking about the panic-provoking, color-coded security alerts that, thankfully, are now being phased out by Homeland Security.

The Associated Press yesterday leaked an announcement that Janet Napolitano is expected to make today  about the replacement of the old system by the so-called "National Terrorism Advisory System". The NTAS will be a more targeted system, alerting only those who can respond officially in potential terrorist situations. When there's an alert that the public needs to be aware of, Homeland Security will make a specific announcement and then rely on the press and social media sites to get the word out.

Its a step in the right direction, wouldn't you say? Instead of needlessly alarming the public about situations over which they have no control, alerts will be put in place for those folks who can actually make a difference.

The new system is expected to be in place by the end of April. 

An update (2:41 pm): Napolitano just made the planned announcement. Here's what she had to say about the new threat system during a speech as George Washington University, as reported by CNN.com:

"When we have information about a specific, credible threat, we will issue a formal alert providing as much information as we can." That information will include a summary of the threat, steps authorities are taking to guard the public and what the public can do, she said.

"The alerts will be specific to the threat. They may recommend certain actions or suggest looking for specific suspicious behavior. And they will have a specified end date." 

Thank you Janet! Sounds good to me.

 

Cruising Singles Thrown a Bone! Plus Marriot Rewards Spring Guests

(photo by Bryan Ochala)

Its no secret that I wasn't delighted with Norwegian Cruise Line's new ship, the Epic (if you scroll down through this blog you'll find the review I posted). But it did have one feature that was revolutionary: a section of the ship created just for single travelers.  Not only did it feature reasonably-priced solo rooms (no singles supplement) but they had a groovy decor, with mood lighting in dance-club hues. An even smarter touch: the rooms were grouped together on two floors, with lounges on each so that the solo travelers could mingle and meet.

The single option has been a big hit for NCL, so it should come as no surprise that a copycat has come along. Yesterday, Royal Caribbean announced in USA Today that it, too, would be adding single rooms.

Three of them.

On one boat (that carries 2000-plus passengers).

Um, really RCL? That's the best you can do?

While many in the travel industry are hailing yesterday's announcement as a step forward for single travelers, I have to agree with Carolyn Spencer Brown of CruiseCritic.com that this is just a publicity ploy.

Guess I took the bait, as I'm writing about it here. But I'm hoping that the attention this announcement is getting will convince RCL and other cruise lines to go a bit further, and create more viable options for solo travelers. Really, they're long overdue.

Why You May Want to Stay at Marriott This February and March

Those loyal folks who include Marriott in all their travel plans in the hope of racking up free nights have even more incentive to do so this February and March. I recently saw an article by Tom Parsons noting that members of the Marriott rewards program can "earn one free night with every second paid stay" in February or March. See the Marriott site, or Parson's article for full details.

But even if you don't belong to Marriott's loyalty program or want to stay at the same chain over and over, you may be able to get a deal at one of their properties. For Thursday through Monday stays between Feb 4 and Mar 27, the chain will be slicing as much as 45% off nightly rates at hotels in the USA, with many starting at just $89 a night. The gotchas? Guests must book a Friday or Saturday night stay as part of their nights at the hotel; and must book by Feb. 2. For full info, click here.

Airfares and Hotel Rates Expected to Increase

Will you have to share your hotel room to keep costs low? (photo by Jason D'Great)

Travel now or forever lose your chance!

That seems to be the message behind two depressing articles today about the expected rise in travel pricing for 2011. According to experts interviewed by the AP, airfares are already up an average of 14% just in the past year. With the cost of oil increasing, and the airlines' newly careful strategy of limiting capacity, most expect prices to climb even higher in the coming months.

Hotel stays, too, are expected to get costlier. In an article gloomily titled "The End of Hotel Deals", NY Times reporter Martha White cites the rise in business travel (while admitting leisure travel remains comparatively sluggish) for a 6% increase in hotel rates last year.

I find this news less alarming, as hotel rates had dropped sharply (often by as much as 40%) at the start of the recession. As well, as the article points out, the rebound has been unevenly distributed. White notes that hotels in cities on the coasts of the United States are doing far better than those in the interior. I'd hazard a guess that there's also a difference in occupancy between the hotels that cater to the growing number of business travelers and those that serve leisure travelers.

Bottom line: Its more important than ever to search smartly. Using such mega search engines as HotelsCombined.com, DoHop.com and Momondo.com will not only turn up more results, but also those stray bargains we travelers live to find. Its all in the search nowadays.

UK To Ditch Star Ratings for Hotels (Probably)

Ever wonder why so many British hotels feature, as lobby decor, a shelf of dusty liquor bottles and glasses? Its to earn the hotel an extra star in the official government ratings system. To go from a one-star to a two-star property hotels need to have a lobby bar. So the liquor was set out, though no-one was ever there to mix or sell the stuff.

Well, those bottles are likely going to get drunk in February....but by staff not guests. TNooz is reporting that the government will publish a policy paper next month proposing the elimination of official star ratings.

Its a long overdue move. The official criterion that determine star ratings (in many places, not just the UK) are so entirely divorced from the actual guest experience as to be laughable. Inspectors judge properties on such trivial matters as whether or not there are side tables next to beds. The quality of the welcome, or the handsomeness of the decor is usually deemed too subjective to be judged and incorporated in the ratings.

In making this move the UK government is acknowledging the mighty power of the internet. With detailed, opinionated reviews so widely and freely available (through both guidebook sites and user-generated sites), the need for star ratings has disappeared.

So adios stars, and here's to reading and assessing for ourselves.