What: Amelia Island Restaurant Week, January 22-29, will feature 23 different island restaurants, ranging from fine dining to flip-flop friendly. Each will offer a special fixed menu - $19 or $29 per person - that includes three courses and a beverage.
Who: Participating Restaurants include
29 South, 90-277-7919, American Cuisine
BarZin Bistro & Wine Bar, 904-310-6620, American Bistro Cuisine
Baxter's, 904-277-4503, Steak & Seafood
Beech Street Grill, 904-277-3662, Fine Dining
Brett’s Waterway Café, 904-261-2660, Casual Seafood & Steak
Café 4750, 904-277-1028, Coastal Cuisine
Café Karibo, 904-277-5269, Eclectic American Cuisine
Crab Trap, 904-261-4749, Seafood
Espana Restaurant & Tapas, 904-261-7700, Spanish & Portuguese
The Golf Club of Amelia Island, 904-277-8015, American Cuisine
Halftime Sports Bar & Grill, 904-321-0303, Sports Bar & Grill
Horizon’s, 904) 321-2430, Continental Cuisine
Joe's 2nd Street Bistro, 904-321-2558, American Cuisine
Kelley's Courtyard Cafe, 904-432-8213, American Cuisine
Le Clos, 904-261-8100, French Cuisine
Lulu’s at the Thompson House, 904-432-8394, Creole-American Cuisine
Marina Restaurant, 904-261-5310, Casual Seafood Dining
Merge, 904-277-8797, Fine Dining
PLAE, 904-277-2132, Fine Dining
Sliders Seaside Grill, 904-277-6652, Seafood & Steak
The Surf Restaurant & Bar, 904-261-5711, Seafood & Steak
Tasty's Fresh Burgers, 9-) 321-0407, American Cuisine
The Verandah, 904-261-6161, Fine Dining
Extras: During Restaurant Week, diners can enter to win a “Year of Dining” that includes one $50 gift certificate for each participating restaurant to be used throughout the next year.
In conjunction with Restaurant Week, several of Amelia Island hostelries are offering a “Free Night, Any Night” deal, which allows visitors to receive a Free Night with a minimum nights stay. For more details, visit
Details: Restaurant Week, www.ameliaisland.com/yummy.
Overnight stays: www.ameliaisland.com/free.
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Monday, December 19, 2011
WellsWorld on the Radio 12/19/2011: Last-minute travel gifts, holiday travel through JAX, Study at Oxford, James Beard dinner
Last Minute Travel Gifts
Off-the-beaten-path adventurer/Senior or Accident Prone: Emergency medical evacuation.
Standard travel insurance rarely covers the cost of emergency evacuation which, depending on the locale and circumstances, easily can run into six figures.
MedJet, www.medjetassist.com; Air-Med, www.airmed.com; and many others offer one-trip or annual memberships.
Annual memberships start as low as $200; a one-trip under $100. Peace of mind, priceless.
Gotta Take it All: Luggage scale, $15-$25.
Checking a bag is no longer automatically free and can cost you $50- to over $200, depending on weight and size. On many international flights even carry on luggage is weighed; max allowed 12-15 pounds.
Lighter luggage. Roll-ons can be found weighing as little as 4 pounds; checked sizes, 7 pounds.
My recommendations: a featherlight tote or small roll-on and a 21-incher for weekend to 10-day trips ; maximum 26-inch expandable for checked bag. Definitely with spinner wheels. Make sure all work stacked or linked together.
Do-it-Yourselfer: They probably already have a backpack, but apps are taking the place of guidebooks. An I-tunes gift certificate, battery rechargers or small power sources will be greatly appreciated. Some are even solar powered.
Adapter sets come in handy for cameras, smart phones, laptops, kindles or pads.
Your traveler is headed next to...: A CityPass if there is one, a novel set there or a good non-fiction book about it; $20-$30 in the appropriate currency.
In general: An alarm clock with night display and that automatically adjusts to time zones is handy.
Compression socks for air travelers.
Every traveler, from back-packer to arm chair wanderer, loves planning routes with a good Atlas.
Coming and Going through JAX
Economy Lot 3 at Jacksonville International Airport (JAX) opens the afternoon of December 22, through January 3, or until the lot fills up, for a flat fee of $20. The fee is payable with cash or credit card upon entry.
This special event lot will operate on a first-come first-serve basis and may close without notice. Free shuttle service is available during the time the lot is open. Vehicles that remain in Economy Lot 3 after January 3, 2012, will be towed at the owner's expense.
Travelers should arrive at least two hours before their flight to allow additional time to locate parking if the first parking choice is not available.
Other parking options include
• Economy Lots 1 and 2 ($4.00 per day)
• Daily Surface Lot ($8.00 per day)
• Daily Garage ($14.00 per day)
• Hourly Garage ($18.00 per day).
All prices include tax.
Meeting and greeting? JAA recommends using the hourly garage ($1.50/20 minutes), if available.
To avoid parking fees, head for the free courtesy waiting lot, located next to the JAA administration building. There's a Jumbotron that lists arriving flights. If your party has a cell phone they can call you as soon as their luggage has arrived and you can zip up for curbside pickup.
Travelers may also join the JAX Passport program; a new frequent parker program at Jacksonville International Airport (JAX) that offers parking rewards and discounts to program participants.
For more information contact the parking office at (904) 741-2277. To sign up for JAX Passport, visit JAX's Parking Information web page.
Learn Something on Your 2012 Summer Vacation
How cool would it be to say, "I'll be studying at Oxford this summer"?"
You don't have to be a Rhodes Scholar to attend the Oxford Experience, a residential program for anyone who would enjoy a one-week course at Oxford from July 1 to August 11, 2012. There are no requirements, no exams and no papers, but participants get to live and study at Christ Church, one of the most prestigious and beautiful of Oxford colleges, which was founded by Cardinal Wolsey almost five centuries ago. (Note: the dorms are newer.)
Participants—who range from 25 to 85--come from Britain, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Europe, and Asia, with a heavy sprinkling of Canadians and Americans. The offered courses cover some 60 subjects: Virginia Woolf and her Circle; Castles in Britain; Anglo-American Relations and the Making of Modern Britain; The Celts in Britain; Tudor London; The Beatles, Popular Music and Sixties Britain; The Georgian Home; Oxfordshire Towns; The Brontës; Wagner’s Ring; A History of the BBC; English Country Houses; From the Blues to a Symphony; Page Fright—And How to Overcome It; and Warfare in the Modern World.
Participants not only have access to the college gardens, chapel, picture gallery and riverside walks in Christ Church Meadow, but they actually stay in student accommodations (some with private bath) and dine in the magnificent Hall made famous by the Harry Potter films. Three meals daily are included in the cost: a full English breakfast, a buffet lunch and a served three-course dinner. Each week starts with lunch on Sunday and finishes with breakfast on the following Saturday.
Most courses include excursions to stately homes, cathedrals, museums and such, and on some afternoons there are tours of Christ Church and Oxford University. In the evening there may be a pub walk, a lecture, a whisky tasting, a quirky performance by traditional Morris dancers, or Evensong in the college chapel, which is also the Oxford Cathedral. On the final night everyone gathers for drinks in the flowering Cathedral Garden and a sumptuous farewell dinner in the Hall.
The price of a one-week course—including tuition, accommodations, all meals (except those on excursions) and evening activities—is approximately $1,775 in U.S. dollars or $1,810 in Canadian. Excursions and private bathrooms are extra. The deadline for summer 2012 registration is May 1, 2012. For more information, visit www.conted.ox.ac.uk/oxfordexperience or write to The Oxford Experience, OUDCE, 1 Wellington Square, Oxford OX1 2JA, U.K.
James Beard Dinner in St. Augustine
Wonder what they serve at the James Beard House in New York City?
Chef Jean-Stephane Poinard, owner of Bistro de Leon in St. Augustine, was invited to present "The French Connection" for the Beard House gourmets Nov. 18.
You can have that same dinner at Bistro de Leon, #12 Cathedral Place, on New Year's Eve for $69 per person, excluding tax and gratuity.
For reservations: 904-810-2100.
Off-the-beaten-path adventurer/Senior or Accident Prone: Emergency medical evacuation.
Standard travel insurance rarely covers the cost of emergency evacuation which, depending on the locale and circumstances, easily can run into six figures.
MedJet, www.medjetassist.com; Air-Med, www.airmed.com; and many others offer one-trip or annual memberships.
Annual memberships start as low as $200; a one-trip under $100. Peace of mind, priceless.
Gotta Take it All: Luggage scale, $15-$25.
Checking a bag is no longer automatically free and can cost you $50- to over $200, depending on weight and size. On many international flights even carry on luggage is weighed; max allowed 12-15 pounds.
Lighter luggage. Roll-ons can be found weighing as little as 4 pounds; checked sizes, 7 pounds.
My recommendations: a featherlight tote or small roll-on and a 21-incher for weekend to 10-day trips ; maximum 26-inch expandable for checked bag. Definitely with spinner wheels. Make sure all work stacked or linked together.
Do-it-Yourselfer: They probably already have a backpack, but apps are taking the place of guidebooks. An I-tunes gift certificate, battery rechargers or small power sources will be greatly appreciated. Some are even solar powered.
Adapter sets come in handy for cameras, smart phones, laptops, kindles or pads.
Your traveler is headed next to...: A CityPass if there is one, a novel set there or a good non-fiction book about it; $20-$30 in the appropriate currency.
In general: An alarm clock with night display and that automatically adjusts to time zones is handy.
Compression socks for air travelers.
Every traveler, from back-packer to arm chair wanderer, loves planning routes with a good Atlas.
Coming and Going through JAX
Economy Lot 3 at Jacksonville International Airport (JAX) opens the afternoon of December 22, through January 3, or until the lot fills up, for a flat fee of $20. The fee is payable with cash or credit card upon entry.
This special event lot will operate on a first-come first-serve basis and may close without notice. Free shuttle service is available during the time the lot is open. Vehicles that remain in Economy Lot 3 after January 3, 2012, will be towed at the owner's expense.
Travelers should arrive at least two hours before their flight to allow additional time to locate parking if the first parking choice is not available.
Other parking options include
• Economy Lots 1 and 2 ($4.00 per day)
• Daily Surface Lot ($8.00 per day)
• Daily Garage ($14.00 per day)
• Hourly Garage ($18.00 per day).
All prices include tax.
Meeting and greeting? JAA recommends using the hourly garage ($1.50/20 minutes), if available.
To avoid parking fees, head for the free courtesy waiting lot, located next to the JAA administration building. There's a Jumbotron that lists arriving flights. If your party has a cell phone they can call you as soon as their luggage has arrived and you can zip up for curbside pickup.
Travelers may also join the JAX Passport program; a new frequent parker program at Jacksonville International Airport (JAX) that offers parking rewards and discounts to program participants.
For more information contact the parking office at (904) 741-2277. To sign up for JAX Passport, visit JAX's Parking Information web page.
Learn Something on Your 2012 Summer Vacation
How cool would it be to say, "I'll be studying at Oxford this summer"?"
You don't have to be a Rhodes Scholar to attend the Oxford Experience, a residential program for anyone who would enjoy a one-week course at Oxford from July 1 to August 11, 2012. There are no requirements, no exams and no papers, but participants get to live and study at Christ Church, one of the most prestigious and beautiful of Oxford colleges, which was founded by Cardinal Wolsey almost five centuries ago. (Note: the dorms are newer.)
Participants—who range from 25 to 85--come from Britain, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Europe, and Asia, with a heavy sprinkling of Canadians and Americans. The offered courses cover some 60 subjects: Virginia Woolf and her Circle; Castles in Britain; Anglo-American Relations and the Making of Modern Britain; The Celts in Britain; Tudor London; The Beatles, Popular Music and Sixties Britain; The Georgian Home; Oxfordshire Towns; The Brontës; Wagner’s Ring; A History of the BBC; English Country Houses; From the Blues to a Symphony; Page Fright—And How to Overcome It; and Warfare in the Modern World.
Participants not only have access to the college gardens, chapel, picture gallery and riverside walks in Christ Church Meadow, but they actually stay in student accommodations (some with private bath) and dine in the magnificent Hall made famous by the Harry Potter films. Three meals daily are included in the cost: a full English breakfast, a buffet lunch and a served three-course dinner. Each week starts with lunch on Sunday and finishes with breakfast on the following Saturday.
Most courses include excursions to stately homes, cathedrals, museums and such, and on some afternoons there are tours of Christ Church and Oxford University. In the evening there may be a pub walk, a lecture, a whisky tasting, a quirky performance by traditional Morris dancers, or Evensong in the college chapel, which is also the Oxford Cathedral. On the final night everyone gathers for drinks in the flowering Cathedral Garden and a sumptuous farewell dinner in the Hall.
The price of a one-week course—including tuition, accommodations, all meals (except those on excursions) and evening activities—is approximately $1,775 in U.S. dollars or $1,810 in Canadian. Excursions and private bathrooms are extra. The deadline for summer 2012 registration is May 1, 2012. For more information, visit www.conted.ox.ac.uk/oxfordexperience or write to The Oxford Experience, OUDCE, 1 Wellington Square, Oxford OX1 2JA, U.K.
 |
| Left to right: Chefs David, Jean-Stephane, Christophe and Florian |
Wonder what they serve at the James Beard House in New York City?
Chef Jean-Stephane Poinard, owner of Bistro de Leon in St. Augustine, was invited to present "The French Connection" for the Beard House gourmets Nov. 18.
You can have that same dinner at Bistro de Leon, #12 Cathedral Place, on New Year's Eve for $69 per person, excluding tax and gratuity.
For reservations: 904-810-2100.
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Tips for accommodations at popular national parks
Planning that summer vacation to a national park? Start now by selecting dates that gives you the best chance of snagging rooms in a popular lodge.
The first lodges to sell out are the historic ones; some are already sold out for the peak season.
At the Grand Canyon and Yellowstone Parks, you are more likely to find a vacancy in May and October. At the Canyon, rooms may be available the first two weeks of June and the last 10 days of August. Check with the park you're most interested in and ask when their slack times are.
If you don't get your first choice, go ahead and book rooms elsewhere; sometimes you can take advantage of a last minute cancellation. If that doesn't work, enjoy the lodge by eating, drinking, shopping or just wandering around.
Don't use third-party web sites that charge a non-refundable fee to make reservations in parks. Book direct.
Book actitivies and meals at historic lodges early. If you'd rather wait, you're more likely to get a table at lunch than at dinner. At some lodges, reservations can be made via email six months in advance for guests, and 30 days in advance for all other visitors.
Check out summer adventure packages being offered at Yellowstone and Grand Canyon Railway specials for the Grand Canyon
Go to www.xanterra.com for general information or to the websites for each park at www.nps.gov.
The first lodges to sell out are the historic ones; some are already sold out for the peak season.
At the Grand Canyon and Yellowstone Parks, you are more likely to find a vacancy in May and October. At the Canyon, rooms may be available the first two weeks of June and the last 10 days of August. Check with the park you're most interested in and ask when their slack times are.
If you don't get your first choice, go ahead and book rooms elsewhere; sometimes you can take advantage of a last minute cancellation. If that doesn't work, enjoy the lodge by eating, drinking, shopping or just wandering around.
Don't use third-party web sites that charge a non-refundable fee to make reservations in parks. Book direct.
Book actitivies and meals at historic lodges early. If you'd rather wait, you're more likely to get a table at lunch than at dinner. At some lodges, reservations can be made via email six months in advance for guests, and 30 days in advance for all other visitors.
Check out summer adventure packages being offered at Yellowstone and Grand Canyon Railway specials for the Grand Canyon
Go to www.xanterra.com for general information or to the websites for each park at www.nps.gov.
Thursday, December 8, 2011
Safari Savings
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| Jongomera Camp, Tanzania |
The Selous Safari Company, which deals in the less tromped upon southern Tanzania, is offering savings of up to $1,967 per person, double occupancy, for a nine-night experience at three camps. Three nights at the remote Jongomero Camp in the Ruaha National Park, three nights at Selous Safari Camp on the shores of Lake Nzerakera in the Selous Game Reserve and three nights at the relaxing and luxurious Ras Kutani with its dunes and Indian Ocean should give you stories for a lifetime.
The price: $6,432 per person covers international flights from various U. S. gateways, internal transfers, full board and activities. Travel is for July onwards but must be booked by March 15, 2012.
Contact: Africa Odyssey, 866-356-4691, www.africaodyssey.com.
Great Safaris is also offering a two for one special on the Great Southern Safari 12-day package to Cape Town, a private Kruger lodge and Victoria Falls. Land arrangements for two, $6,265.
Contact: 800-409-7755 or go to www.greatsafaris.com.
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Cyber Week Sale at The King and Prince
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| The King and Prince, St. Simons Island, GA. |
Reservations are available for November 28, 2011 to January 31, 2012. Book through Saturday December 3.
The 50% off rates are:
$109.50 for Oceanfront Rooms
$94.50 for Partial Ocean View Rooms
$124.50 for Tower Rooms
$159.50 for Governor's Suite
$144.50 for St. Simons Suite
$149 for Wesley Cottage
$164 for Tabby House
$94.50 for Wynn Cottage
$199 for 2 Bedroom Partial Ocean View Villas
$229 for 2 Bedroom Oceanfront Villas
Rates are available to book from Monday November 28 to Saturday December 3. Limited availability on a first come first serve basis.
Black out dates are November 30, December 1, 9-10, 16-17, 30-31, January 7-9, 13-14, 20-21, 24-26.
Rates are not available online. Call 800-342-0212 for Reservations.
Kiwi Savings
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| Napier, North Island, New Zealand |
If you're here, consider yourself a friend.
Must book by Feb. 29, 2012 for travel beginning by March 1 through Nov. 30, 2012.
Promotion code: SATW150.
Just wish I could join you.
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
WellsWorld on the Radio: New Zealand, Alaska cruise deal, holiday travel tips
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| It's picture postcard beautiful wherever you look in New Zealand. |
It's a country of two main islands where they drive on the left but then in the southern hemisphere north is warm and south is cold so it works.
It's Australia's neighbor and every third person you meet came from there. Kiwis are a bit more reserved but their senses of humor are wild. In Milford Sound April Fool's Day is celebrated with the nude tunnel run and the owner of the Bottom Bus - it covers the bottom of the South Island - also started nude rugby.
Rugby reigns and World Cup winners the All Blacks are adored. Air New Zealand uses them in its ads, safety messages and wraps its snacks in - all black, of course.
Sheep far outnumber Kiwis and relocated Aussies. There are more shades of green than Pantone ever identified in its rolling hills and only-there tree and plant life. Truly awesome mountain ranges give the Rockies, Patagonia and the Alps peak for crag. Gentle rivers or raging torrents and blue, blue seas. One look and you start imagining Middle Earth just as Peter Jackson did.
Wellington advertises itself as the coolest little capital in the world and I won't argue.
The experiences I had will keep me writing and blogging for months to come.
Deals
Princess Cruises is having its first-ever After Thanksgiving Alaska Sale.
Running from November 25-29, the sale offers passengers up to $1,000 in savings and up to a $50 onboard credit on one of the cruise line’s popular cruisetour vacations, which combine a Gulf of Alaska cruise with rail travel to Denali and stays at Princess’ exclusive wilderness lodges. For those who opt to see Alaska by sea only, the sale provides a free balcony upgrade and up to $100 onboard credit.
Examples of sale fares available include:
• 10-day Denali Explorer cruisetour starting at $1,213 in May; $1,740 for August departures
• 13-day Off the Beaten Path cruisetour starting at $1,618 in May; $2,373 for August departures
• 7-day Voyage of the Glaciers cruise starting at $699 in May; $999 for August departures
• 7-day Inside Passage cruise starting at $749 in May; $899 for August departures
The After Thanksgiving Alaska Sale begins on “Black Friday” November 25 at 12:00 am PST and runs through 11:59 pm PST on Tuesday, November 29. The sale is available to residents of the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico and Mexico. Reservations made during the sale require a non-refundable deposit.
Additional information about Princess Cruises is available through a professional travel agent, by calling 1-800-PRINCESS (1-800-774-6237), or by visiting the company's website at www.princess.com.
Save on any cruise
Speaking of cruises ....
Wherever you want to go, you might save money and/or get special treatment if
You're a senior - that's age 55 and up.
Are or are bringing a guest who is a member, past or present, of the military.
Are a past guest of the line.
Are taking a child or children.
Are flexible about your dates.
Or can leave on short notice.
Holiday Travel Tips
Last minutes tips for this weekend.
Flying
1. Non-stop flights are always best, but the reality is if you live in Jacksonville you'll probably have to connect thru Atlanta, Charlotte or Miami.
2. If so, and if you have less than 1 1/2 hour or 2-hours to change planes, limit yourself to a carryon.
3. Print out your boarding passes at home.
4. Consider paying extra for those premium up front seats so you'll board first and have room in the overhead for storage.
5. Don't forget: picture I.D., liquids together in one plastic bag and no container larger than 3 oz., wear shoes that are easy to shed and put on jewelry and belts after going through security.
Driving
1. Bring a cooler of drinks and snacks and put it where you can reach it without stopping the car. Games and videos for the kids or better yet, grab pictures of the relatives you'll be seeing and tell family tales about them to one another. Just don't say anything you don't want the young ones to repeat!
2. Set your departure time to avoid rush hours in any large cities you have to go through and remember, today's rush-hour traffic will begin early.
However you go, be patient and bring your sense of humor. You'll need it.
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Fish Are Biting Specials
November is a prime month to fish the Western North Carolina Fly Fishing Trail.
Sections of the trail are stocked with 12,700 trout early in the month, creating an infusion of hungry trout at a time when typical fly fishing activity tails off.
Throw in the fact that much of the trail is located at – or just above – 2,000 feet in elevation, and weather conditions are generally favorable for fishing all month long.
Local innkeepers are offering “November Deals” on trail lodging. These specials are $69.99 and $74.99 per night for an array of hotel rooms, cabins and cottages in close proximity to the trail’s 15 fishing spots.
To take advantage of these specials, go to: http://www.flyfishingtrail.com/ and click on “November Deals,” or call (800) 962-1911 and ask for Fly Fishing Trail November Deals.
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Winter Rates for National Parks
The park you love in summer is entirely new in winter. Give it a try. Here are some rates.
Zion Lodge, Zion National Park
Zion in Winter package, Dec. 1, 2011 through March 15, 2012: Overnight stay and breakfast for two, Sun.-Thurs. $95 standard room, $105 Western cabin, $125 suite. Fri.-Sat. add $10 per night. Dec. 23-30 and Feb. 17-19 - $119, $129, $139. Add $10 for each additional person in room over 16 years of age, breakfast extra. Based on double occupancy, taxes and gratuities not included. Promotion code: "WNTR".
New Year's Eve Celebration package includes deluxe dinner in Red Rock Grill, late night reception and New Year's toast and New Year's Day brunch. Rates $199 standard room, $209 Western cabin, $219 suite plus taxes and gratuities for two; promotion code "NYE".
President's Weekend package Feb. 17 and 18 or Feb. 18 and 19, 2012: Two nights accommodation, 20 percent off gift shop products made in USA, president-themed dinner for two Feb. 18 and breakfast buffet for two each morning. Rates $259 standard room, $279 Western cabin, $299 suite; promotion code "PRES".
Book all packages online at www.zionlodge.com or call 303-297-2757 or toll-free 888-297-2757.
Death Valley Furnace Creek Resort
Stay and Play package: Accommodations, double occupancy, unlimited golf at Furnace Creek Golf Course (lowest course in the world), 18-hole cart rental and club storage; $248 at the Ranch, $412 at the Inn. Prices drop in January and February. Go to www.furnacecreekresort.com, promo code "golf," or call 800-236-7916 in U. S., 303-297-2757 outside the U. S.
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| Zion National Park |
Zion in Winter package, Dec. 1, 2011 through March 15, 2012: Overnight stay and breakfast for two, Sun.-Thurs. $95 standard room, $105 Western cabin, $125 suite. Fri.-Sat. add $10 per night. Dec. 23-30 and Feb. 17-19 - $119, $129, $139. Add $10 for each additional person in room over 16 years of age, breakfast extra. Based on double occupancy, taxes and gratuities not included. Promotion code: "WNTR".
New Year's Eve Celebration package includes deluxe dinner in Red Rock Grill, late night reception and New Year's toast and New Year's Day brunch. Rates $199 standard room, $209 Western cabin, $219 suite plus taxes and gratuities for two; promotion code "NYE".
President's Weekend package Feb. 17 and 18 or Feb. 18 and 19, 2012: Two nights accommodation, 20 percent off gift shop products made in USA, president-themed dinner for two Feb. 18 and breakfast buffet for two each morning. Rates $259 standard room, $279 Western cabin, $299 suite; promotion code "PRES".
Book all packages online at www.zionlodge.com or call 303-297-2757 or toll-free 888-297-2757.
Death Valley Furnace Creek Resort
Stay and Play package: Accommodations, double occupancy, unlimited golf at Furnace Creek Golf Course (lowest course in the world), 18-hole cart rental and club storage; $248 at the Ranch, $412 at the Inn. Prices drop in January and February. Go to www.furnacecreekresort.com, promo code "golf," or call 800-236-7916 in U. S., 303-297-2757 outside the U. S.
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
WellsWorld on First Coast Connect, Oct. 26, 20112
Travel Auction
Like getting deals on travel to great destinations?
Go to the Society of American Travel Writers annual auction, take a look and bid on your favorites. It's open to the public and great bargains can be be found.
A few samples:
A 1-week Italian language and cooking school in Taormina, Sicily, Italy, with accommodations for one, value $1,200; current bid $150.
A 2-night stay at the Fairmont Monte Carlo with a sea view room, buffet breakfast, 60-minute side by side treatment for 2 at Willow Stream Spa. Value $2,000; current bid, $250.
Closer to home, a 3-night getaway for up to 4 in a one-bedroom unit at the Ft. Lauderdale Windjammer Resort and Beach Club in Lauderdale-by-the-Sea. Value $600, current bid $75.
Bidding ends at 1 a.m. Monday, Nov. 21.
Give it a try at www.satw.org
Click on 2011 SATW Auction Live.
Chesapeake Bay Western Shore
For a relaxing, kicked-back holiday, try the lesser known WESTERN shore of Chesapeake Bay. I was recently up there to look around and to meet with representatives of other areas in the Mid-Atlantic states and found it a comforting combination of New England and the South.
The architecture is a blend of New England clapboard and peaked roofs with southern colonial. Trees, mainly deciduous hardwoods, give it a northern feel while water-oriented resorts provide the southern.
The slow cooking, locally sourced, environmentally friendly and sustainable food movements are well entrenched. Oyster farming is bringing back that delicacy but crab is still king, especially the Maryland crab cake. The best I had were at the Rod 'N' Reel in Chesapeake Beach, www. chesapeakebeachresortspa.com/rodnreel, and the Ruddy Duck Brewery & Grill, www.ruddyduckbrewery.com, in Solomons, MD.
In Leonardtown, MD. where I met the oyster farmer, I also met Chef Loic Jaffres, a classically trained French chef whose Cafe des Artistes restaurant, www.cafedesartistes.ws, serves up classic country French cuisine. Not far away in Prince Frederick, you'll find Charleen Obal, a low country-born kitchen wizard, whipping up roux in her Saphron Restaurant, www.saphronrestaurant.com.
Small towns with interesting histories abound, often separated by rolling hills, farms and wide-shouldered lanes to accommodate the horse and buggies of the 300 Amish and 300 Mennonite families who live and farm in the area.
One of my favorite spots is Historic St. Mary's City, a Williamsburg-like living museum of 17th century life that commemorates the fourth permanent English settlement in the New World and Maryland's first capital, www.stmaryscity.org. Sotterley Plantation, www.sotterley.org, is another historic gem worth visiting.
B and Bs are a nice alternative, but the Chesapeake Beach Resort & Spa, www.cbrspa.com, is a great headquarters for the family with good food, comfortable rooms, activities from the town water park to fishing right out the front door and a most unique chandelier.
The whole area is a bedroom community for Baltimore and Washington, DC which means when walking the sidewalks and stairs of our nation's capital has worn you out, take refuge on the western shore for a few days.
Maryland provides super free guides to this area including Southern Maryland Trails, www.somdtrails.com, and So Maryland, So Good Farm Guide, www.somarylandsogood.com.
Deals and Steals
Anniversary special now through Dec. 23: Orlando's Rosen Inns - AAA Three Diamond Hotels: Rosen Inn at Pointe Orlando and Rosen Inn (closest to Universal .
$39.99 a night when booked by Oct. 31. Add a full American breakfast for 2 adults for $10 plus tax a night.
To book: Go to www.roseninns.com/anniversary or call 866-337-6733.
Let them do the cooking for Thanksgiving
Brasstown Valley Resort & Spa, Young Harris, GA - www.brasstownvalley.com or 800-201-3205.
Residence Inn Amelia Island, FL - Book by Nov. 1 and receive a $25 dining credit at local restaurants. Gobble early - arrive Wednesday night and enjoy a complimentary evening holiday feast including beer and wine, a $50 value. Stick around and go shopping on Black Friday in your P.J.s. Book at www.residenceinnameliaisland.com or 866-245-6099.
Like getting deals on travel to great destinations?
Go to the Society of American Travel Writers annual auction, take a look and bid on your favorites. It's open to the public and great bargains can be be found.
A few samples:
A 1-week Italian language and cooking school in Taormina, Sicily, Italy, with accommodations for one, value $1,200; current bid $150.
 |
| Fairmont Monte Carlo |
Closer to home, a 3-night getaway for up to 4 in a one-bedroom unit at the Ft. Lauderdale Windjammer Resort and Beach Club in Lauderdale-by-the-Sea. Value $600, current bid $75.
Bidding ends at 1 a.m. Monday, Nov. 21.
Give it a try at www.satw.org
Click on 2011 SATW Auction Live.
Chesapeake Bay Western Shore
For a relaxing, kicked-back holiday, try the lesser known WESTERN shore of Chesapeake Bay. I was recently up there to look around and to meet with representatives of other areas in the Mid-Atlantic states and found it a comforting combination of New England and the South.
The architecture is a blend of New England clapboard and peaked roofs with southern colonial. Trees, mainly deciduous hardwoods, give it a northern feel while water-oriented resorts provide the southern.
The slow cooking, locally sourced, environmentally friendly and sustainable food movements are well entrenched. Oyster farming is bringing back that delicacy but crab is still king, especially the Maryland crab cake. The best I had were at the Rod 'N' Reel in Chesapeake Beach, www. chesapeakebeachresortspa.com/rodnreel, and the Ruddy Duck Brewery & Grill, www.ruddyduckbrewery.com, in Solomons, MD.
In Leonardtown, MD. where I met the oyster farmer, I also met Chef Loic Jaffres, a classically trained French chef whose Cafe des Artistes restaurant, www.cafedesartistes.ws, serves up classic country French cuisine. Not far away in Prince Frederick, you'll find Charleen Obal, a low country-born kitchen wizard, whipping up roux in her Saphron Restaurant, www.saphronrestaurant.com.
Small towns with interesting histories abound, often separated by rolling hills, farms and wide-shouldered lanes to accommodate the horse and buggies of the 300 Amish and 300 Mennonite families who live and farm in the area.
One of my favorite spots is Historic St. Mary's City, a Williamsburg-like living museum of 17th century life that commemorates the fourth permanent English settlement in the New World and Maryland's first capital, www.stmaryscity.org. Sotterley Plantation, www.sotterley.org, is another historic gem worth visiting.
B and Bs are a nice alternative, but the Chesapeake Beach Resort & Spa, www.cbrspa.com, is a great headquarters for the family with good food, comfortable rooms, activities from the town water park to fishing right out the front door and a most unique chandelier.
The whole area is a bedroom community for Baltimore and Washington, DC which means when walking the sidewalks and stairs of our nation's capital has worn you out, take refuge on the western shore for a few days.
Maryland provides super free guides to this area including Southern Maryland Trails, www.somdtrails.com, and So Maryland, So Good Farm Guide, www.somarylandsogood.com.
Deals and Steals
Anniversary special now through Dec. 23: Orlando's Rosen Inns - AAA Three Diamond Hotels: Rosen Inn at Pointe Orlando and Rosen Inn (closest to Universal .
$39.99 a night when booked by Oct. 31. Add a full American breakfast for 2 adults for $10 plus tax a night.
To book: Go to www.roseninns.com/anniversary or call 866-337-6733.
Let them do the cooking for Thanksgiving
Brasstown Valley Resort & Spa, Young Harris, GA - www.brasstownvalley.com or 800-201-3205.
Residence Inn Amelia Island, FL - Book by Nov. 1 and receive a $25 dining credit at local restaurants. Gobble early - arrive Wednesday night and enjoy a complimentary evening holiday feast including beer and wine, a $50 value. Stick around and go shopping on Black Friday in your P.J.s. Book at www.residenceinnameliaisland.com or 866-245-6099.
Saturday, October 22, 2011
Travel Bargain Hunters Alert
Fairmont Southampton Bermuda
Like getting deals on travel to great destinations?
Blue Harbor Resort & Spa
Give it a try at www.satw.org
Click on 2011 SATW Auction Live.
Terranea Resort Golf Getaway
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Johnnie Walker Scotch Dinner
What: Johnnie Walker Scotch Dinner
When: Thursday, November 3, 2011
Where: King and Prince Beach & Golf Resort, St. Simons Island, GA
Schedule: Reception 6:30PM to 7:00PM | Dinner 7:00PM
Menu
Hors d’oeuvres
Whiskey Punch
First Course
Whiskey River Vidalia Onion Soup
Caramelized Onions, Flamed Whiskey Consommé
Johnnie Walker Red Label
Second Course
Poached Pear Salad
Baby Mesculin Greens, Whiskey Infused White Balsamic Vinaigrette,
Sweet Grass Dairy Gorgonzola Cheese, Roasted Walnuts
Johnnie Walker Green Label
Entrée
Braised Rib Steak, Johnny Walker Black Label Whiskey Au Jus
Sun Dried Tomato and Asiago Cheese Popover, Grilled Asparagus,
Potato Tower
Johnnie Walker Black Label
Dessert
Sweet Georgia Pecan Bread Pudding
Vanilla Bean Ice Cream, Chocolate Whiskey Sauce
Johnnie Walker Gold Label
“The Perfect Serve” Johnnie Walker Blue Label
Organized and prepared by:
“Master of Whiskey” Mr. Kevin Mulcahy, Johnnie Walker Scotch
Chef’s de Cuisine Ms. Paula Murphy and Mr. Dwayne Austell
Cost: $65 per person includes tax and gratuity
To Book: Information and Reservations, 912-268jpazur@mmihg.com
www.kingandprince.com
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Bargain Beijing
What: Six-night trip to Beijing for $799 plus $71 tax.
When: January or February
Details: Offered by China Spree Travel, the trip's U.S. gateway is San Francisco; cost from Los Angeles, $849; from New York $1,129. Based on double occupancy, cash only.
Includes: Round-trip air, airport transfers, accommodations in a centrally located, 4-star hotel, daily American buffet breakfasts, three lunches and three days of guided tours and entrance fees to Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, rickshaw ride through a hutong, Sacred Way of Ming tombs, Great Wall of China, the Temple of Heaven, the “Bird Nest” Olympic stadium exterior, Summer Palace gardens and marble boat.
Why so cheap? Activities are outside, Beijing is cold that time of year and you can't put the trip on a credit card.
To Book: www.chinaspree.com.
When: January or February
Details: Offered by China Spree Travel, the trip's U.S. gateway is San Francisco; cost from Los Angeles, $849; from New York $1,129. Based on double occupancy, cash only.
Includes: Round-trip air, airport transfers, accommodations in a centrally located, 4-star hotel, daily American buffet breakfasts, three lunches and three days of guided tours and entrance fees to Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, rickshaw ride through a hutong, Sacred Way of Ming tombs, Great Wall of China, the Temple of Heaven, the “Bird Nest” Olympic stadium exterior, Summer Palace gardens and marble boat.
Why so cheap? Activities are outside, Beijing is cold that time of year and you can't put the trip on a credit card.
To Book: www.chinaspree.com.
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
WellsWorld on First Coast Connect: Jokester Ghost, Winter Dolphin Deals, Go Luxe for Less, Wine Deals, Parrotheads' Special
Train into the Grand Canyon
Packages start at $390 per couple for the train, 2 nights at the Grand Canyon Railway Hotel in Williams. Add kids for $32. At the top, $772 per couple gets you the train and stays at the GCR Hotel, a night in Grand Canyon National Park, a motorcoach rim tour, 2 breakfasts and two dinners per person; kids come for another $87.
A Room that goes Boo?
The Carolina Inn in Chapel Hill, N. C. - 1 of America's Top 10 haunted hotels - invites us all to spend an evening with its resident ghost, Dr. William Jacocks. He's friendly but a prankster, especially to guests in Room 256, once his permanent home.
The room with a Boo! package starts at $409 a night and includes overnight accommodations, dinner for 2 (set for 3) at Carolina Crossroads Restaurant, a biography of Dr. Jacocks and The History of the Carolina.
Book online at www.carolinainn.com/packages/room-with-a-boo or call 800-962-8519.
Winter Specials
If you were inspired by Winter, the amputee dolphin that lost her tail in a crab trap and star of the movie Dolphin Tale, consider these two packages.
Sandpearl Resort, in Clearwater, FL, official resort partner of the Clearwater Marine Aquarium, will be donating a portion of the proceeds from this package to help with the feeding and care of Winter and the other residents of the Aquarium.
Winter the Dolphin Family Package includes:
· Accommodations in room category of choice
· Breakfast daily for two adults and two children
· Two tickets to the Clearwater Marine Aquarium
· A book copy of Winter's Tail: How One Little Dolphin Learned to Swim Again
· A close encounter with Winter.
The package starts at $219 per night for a family of four and is good for travel through Dec. 31, 2011.
Book at www.sandpearl.com or call 877-726-3111 and ask for the promotional code WINTER.
The TradeWinds Island Resorts – the Island Grand and the Sandpiper Suites – beachfront resorts on the Gulf of Mexico at St. Petersburg Beach also has a Winter package.
It includes
Meeting Winter
Two tickets to the Clearwater Marine Aquarium
A dolphin watch cruise for two
A plush Winter the Dolphin toy
A TradeWinds beach bag
A three-night stay for two beginning at $495 good through Dec. 24, 2011.
Book at www.JustLetGo.com or call toll-free (866) JUST LET GO (587-8538).
Little St. Simons Island Deal
This is a one-of-a-kind island, one of Georgia's golden Isles, where all-inclusive means everything from room, snacks, gourmet meals and beverages - including the adult ones - to guided exploring, bird watching, fishing, canoeing, bicycling, kayaking, beach-combing, even sun screen and insect repellant.
Special rates Oct. 13-20, Nov. 1-17, 27-30 and Dec. 1-14 are $439 per couple per night.
Book at www.littlestsimonsisland.com or 866-855-0718.
Luxury Savings at Sea
Incentives can put the cost for a 2012 luxury cruise on a par with less luxe cruises.
Examples cited by Travel Weekly include
Azmara Club Cruises: 50 % off published fares, 50 % off shore excursions, air credits up to $2,000 per person.
Crystal Cruises: 2-for-1 fares, "Book now" savings up to 42,000 per couple, free air or air credit ($300 to $3,600 depending on destination).
Oceania Cruises: 2-for-1 fares, free air.
Regent Seven Seas Cruises: 2-for-1 fares, free air, excursions and hotel package.
Seabourn: Up to 50 % off Europe cruises.
Silversea Cruises: Up to 60% off select sailings, onboard spending credits up to $2,500, free air.
Windstar Cruises: Free two-night hotel stays in Caribbean and Costa Rica, 15% off bookings made 180 days before departure.
Booking Deadline: for most, Oct. 31, Nov. 30 or Dec. 31.
Travel Weekly reports
Wine on and off the Vine
October is Virginia Wine Month and Southern Virginia wineries are celebrating with a deal for oenophiles.
Wine Trail Package: For $189 per night get accommodations for two and continental breakfast at Berry Hill Resort & Conference Center, South Boston, VA; a pair of SoVA Wine Trail passes for special tours and wine tastings with commemorative glasses at 10 different vineyards. Good through Nov. 20.
Book at www.berryhillonline.com or 434-517-7000.
Parrotheads Special
Flip Flops 'n Pop Tops Parrothead Weekend fills the Shores of Panama, Panama City Beach, FL, with Jimmy Buffet fare Oct. 21-23. Steel drum band and free hors d'oeuvres on Friday, all day music and drink specials followed by Jimmy Buffet Tribute Band, the Caribbean Chillers, and fireworks.
Rooms start at $79 a night plus discounts on spa services and water sports.
Book at 877-808-4323 and mention "Parrothead" or go to http://www.oaseasresorts.com/vacation-specials.html#2.
Friday, September 9, 2011
Thanksgiving and Christmas Deals
According to Travelzoo, airlines, shows, resorts and cruises have cut prices by as much as 75% for those who book holiday getaways early. As in now.
Take a look at the offerings and see if anything appeals to you. Go to http://www.travelzoo.com/newsflash/64967163-1097575/.
Take a look at the offerings and see if anything appeals to you. Go to http://www.travelzoo.com/newsflash/64967163-1097575/.
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
WellsWorld on First Coast Connects: Wild West, Fishy Festivals and Hurricane Havens
Within those 9,000 residents are experts on guns, battles for the West, Native Americans from across the country, geology, jewelry and wild horses. Their knowledge and enthusiasm rivals those of PhDs.
During a stop at the Historical Center I met the great grandson of Sitting Bull,
saw the world's largest and most important collection of arms dating from the 1500s to the present ...
learned about then life, teepees and artistic skills of the Plains Indians as well as the evolution of the landscapes and wildlife of the West....
Enjoyed the Whitney Collectionn of Western Art with its Bierstadts, Morans, Remingtons, Russells, Fritz Scholders, NC Wyeths, Catlans - even the studio of Frederick Remington...
learned how to make delicious Cowboy beans...
saw the camp of Prince Albert I of Monaco, the first crowned head of Europe to visit the American West, including the paw print of the bear shot by the Prince thanks to the guiding of Buffalo Bill Cody....
and learned the fascinating history and accomplishments of that unique visionary who, by the age of 30, had ridden for the Pony Express, scouted for the U. S. Cavalry, hunted buffalo to feed railroad workers, won the Congressional Medal of Honor and starred on the American stage.Then he really got going!
If that isn't enough to tempt you to Cody, it is the perfect starting point for Yellowstone National Park,with access to two stunning routes into the park.
Find out more at
www.bbhc.org
www.codychamber.org
www.codywyomingnet.com
www.yellowstonecountry.org
The town founded by and named for Wild West showman Buffalo Bill Cody, adds events in the fall.
Game on! There are several hunting seasons in the fall – for pronghorn, deer, elk, moose and bighorn sheep. Dates for each season vary, so check online for this year’s at http://gf.state.wy.us/admin/Regs/. You will find all the rules and regulations there, too.
Just Looking? See wildlife with help from the Wyoming Game and Fish Department’s online wildlife watching guide at http://gf.state.wy.us/services/education/wtw/index.asp.
Hit the road. Scenic doesn’t begin to describe the drive between Cody and the east entrance of Yellowstone. This 50-mile Buffalo Bill Cody Scenic Byway through the Wapiti Valley and Shoshone National Forest may result in some of that wildlife-watching. Look for grizzly and black bears, pronghorn, big horn sheep, deer, elk and moose. Keep a camera handy. There also are some amazing rock formations and, if the timing is right, fall colors. For complete information about viewing wildlife in the area visit www.yellowstonecountry.org/things-to-do/wildlife/wildlife-viewing.
Indoor fun. The Cody Wild West Show Concert Series brings a bit of Nashville to the West with such noted artists as “Whispering” Bill Anderson, Mel Tillis, Suzy Boguss and Asleep at the Wheel gracing the stage of the historic and intimate Cody Theater downtown. Three times larger, with 900 seats, is the newer Wynona Thompson Auditorium where some acts also appear. For a current schedule of shows, go online to www.yellowstonecountry.org/cody-wild-west-show/.
Special events. The Rendezvous Royale happens the fourth week of September, and is one of Cody’s biggest and most prestigious events. There’s the nationally rated Buffalo Bill Art Show & Sale, with Western-themed art from every genre: oils, watercolors, pastels, ceramics, sculpture and mixed media. There’s a quick-draw contest (between artists, not gunfighters), an auction, a Western fashion show, seminars, studio tours and a fancy-dress ball to top it all off. For more about the rendezvous, go online to www.rendezvousroyale.org/.
Festivals
Labor Day Catfish Festival, Sept. 3-5, U.S. 17 and Hwy 40, Kingsland, GA. Catfish, parade, catfish, entertainment, catfish, crafts and catfish.
Rock Shrimp Festival & Parade, St. Marys, GA, Saturday, Oct. 1.
7:30 a.m. Pancake breakfast
10 a.m. Parade
11 a.m.-6 p.m. Rock Shrimp dinners
9 a.m.-6 p.m. Arts & Crafts
11:30 a.m. - 6 p.m. Entertainment and demonstrations.
For details, 9122-882-4000.
Hurricane Getaways
What: Rosen Hotels & Resorts offers special rates to Florida hurricane evacuees for the 2011 season. Only $49.99 a day ($10 per day for pets) at Quality Inn International, Rosen Inn, Rosen Inn at Pointe Orlando and Clarion Inn Lake Buena Vista. Another $10 gets you two adult breakfasts (order at time of booking).
To book: 866-337-6737 or www.orlandohotels4less.com/hurricane.
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Raleigh, NC apps
Try the "Greater Raleigh" I-phone app. It's free from the Greater Raleigh CVB. For other smart phone users, there is the visitRaleigh.com mobile site.
The NC Museum of Art in Raleigh has a free virtual tour of its 30 Rodin sculptures on "Rodin," an Iphone app available at the iTunes App Store.
The NC Museum of Art in Raleigh has a free virtual tour of its 30 Rodin sculptures on "Rodin," an Iphone app available at the iTunes App Store.
Monday, August 8, 2011
Visit Hogwarts for Halloween
Ireland's Ashford Castle turns into Hogwarts for Halloween.
Universal Studios' World of Harry Potter is bound to make a big deal about Halloween but wouldn't it be better to spend the night in an 11th century castle that resembles the famed wizardry school, complete with secret rooms, hidden alcoves and mystical surroundings?
A lot better if the castle is Ireland's Ashford Castle on the shores of Lough Corrib and the River Cong, a spectacular facility ranked Best Resort in Ireland by Conde Nast Travelers's 2011 Gold List and a Trip Advisor Top 10 pick for European castle hotels.
Halloween at Ashford is costly but what price a lifetime of magical memories?
Two Hogwarts packages are being offered.
Oct. 28, 30, Nov. 1, 3 or 5:
noon- "Forbidden Forest" treasure hunt for the whole family
3 p.m. - A visit to the hiding place of Dingle, the castle's resident owl (supervised)
4 p.m. - Afternoon "Chamber of Art" painting class (supervised)
5-6:30 p.m. - Kids' dinner in the Ardilaun Suite (supervised)
6:30-9 p.m. - Harry Potter movie evening (supervised)
From 7 p.m. - George V Table d'Hote dinner for Mom and Dad
Oct. 29, 31, Nov. 2,4 or 6:
noon - "Hidden Garden" treasure hunt for the whole family
3 p.m. - "House Elves" cooking class (supervised)
4-5 p.m. - Afternoon "Chamber of Witchcraft and Wizardry" (supervised)
5-6 p.m. - Kids' dinner in the Ardilaun Suite (supervised)
6:30-9 p.m. - Harry Potter movie evening (supervised)
From 7 p.m. - George V Table d'Hote dinner for Mom and Dad
Costs: The one-night package approx. US$709; the 2-night package approx. US$1,361, for two adults and two children under the age of 12 in a Deluxe Family Room; approximately US$122 per night for each additional child.
To book: Go to www.ashford.ie.
Friday, August 5, 2011
A Splashy Geogia Deal
What: Albany, GA, "Wet, Wild and Away" family getaway package.
Deal: One-night stay at any of six participating hotels, breakfast for a family of 4 plus four tickets to Chechaw animal and adventure park, Flint RiverQuarium, Thronateeska Heritage Center, Albany Museum of Art, Albany City Rights Institute and new Radium Springs Gardens starting at $124.
Dates: No expiration set.
To book: Contact a participating hotel.
Merry Acres Inn 229-435-7721 rates from $124
Comfort Suites 229-888-3939 $129
Best Western Albany 229-446-2001 $130
Hilton Garden Inn 229-888-1590 $139
Country Inn & Suites 229-317-7100 $140
Wingate by Wyndham 229-883-9800 $142
Splashy Orlando Deal
What: Rosen Shingle Creek "SeaWorld Package."
Deal: Package includes two-nights in a deluxe double queen room, 2 adult and 2 child tickets for Sea World Orlando with second day free, 25 % off all food and drink at any Rosen Shingle Creek restaurant (alcohol excluded), a SeaWorld-themed amenity and nightly turn-down service and complimentary scheduled transportation to and from SeaWorld (with reservations).
Dates: Any 2 consecutive nights from Aug. 5-9, 13-16, 19-28 or Aug. 31-Sept. 6,
To book: www.rosenshinglecreek.com or call 866-996-6338.
Deal: Package includes two-nights in a deluxe double queen room, 2 adult and 2 child tickets for Sea World Orlando with second day free, 25 % off all food and drink at any Rosen Shingle Creek restaurant (alcohol excluded), a SeaWorld-themed amenity and nightly turn-down service and complimentary scheduled transportation to and from SeaWorld (with reservations).
Dates: Any 2 consecutive nights from Aug. 5-9, 13-16, 19-28 or Aug. 31-Sept. 6,
To book: www.rosenshinglecreek.com or call 866-996-6338.
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Florida Bargain Cities
According to the Global Business Travel Association, Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers and West Palm Beach, Florida, have the three lowest tax rates in the U. S. for visitors.
Makes you itch to take a road trip, doesn't it?
For details on what to do and see and specials at hotels and resorts in these cities, go to www.visitflorida.com.
Makes you itch to take a road trip, doesn't it?
For details on what to do and see and specials at hotels and resorts in these cities, go to www.visitflorida.com.
Friday, July 22, 2011
Hot deal on a Fiji getaway
Inspired by TV's Bachelorette, you can get a nine-day (two traveling) escape to one of Fiji's first-class resorts starting at $3,599.
Thirty-six hundred a person doesn't sound like a bargain, but read a little farther.
The destination is the five-star Namale Island Resort, not an el cheapo tourist spot, where you will spend seven nights in a romantic tropical bure, your own little grass shack, with all the comforts of a 21st century resort.
It's all-inclusive including breakfast, lunch, dinner and beverages (beer, wine, champagnes and liquor).
You'll each get a one-tank dive.
Included are coach fare from Los Angeles to Nadi and the flight from Nadi to Savu Savu plus the transfers from airport to hotel and surcharge fees.
Also the endearing friendliness and hospitality of the people of Fiji.
Catch? Travel dates are Nov. 1-Dec. 14.
Call 888-671-3982.
Tell them Wells World sent you.
To read more about vacationing in Fiji, go to the April and May posts on my other blog, Travel on the Level.
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Bargain Alert: Galapagos Steal of a Deal
Don't miss this.
The Galapagos Islands of Charles Darwin fame are to me the finest multi-generation destination in the world and should be atop anyone's bucket list.
AdventureSmith Explorations, http://www.adventuresmithexplorations.com/ announces a two-for-one special (cruise rate only in shared cabin) for four late summer / early fall departures in the Galapagos on the classic motor yacht Galapagos Evolution.
The Aug. 25-Sept. 4, Sept. 8-18, Sept. 15-25 and Sept. 22-Oct.1 packages which begin and end in colonial Quito, Ecuador, include an 8 day / 7 night Galapagos cruise, pre and post cruise Quito hotel accommodations, airport/hotel transfers, round trip flights from mainland Ecuador to the Galapagos Islands and a half day tour of the Quito's old town, a UNESCO designated World Heritage Site.
Departures (guaranteed when 16 guests have signed up for the program) start at $5,895 for the first traveler with the companion paying only $1,100 for extras (in-country air tickets, transit control card and park entrance fees) exclusive of the cruise rate. See: http://www.adventuresmithexplorations.com/itinerarydetails.php/advid/58
For this same trip, guests may add a complimentary 4 night / 5 day Amazon adventure extension plus free extras valued at $600 per person if they forego the two-for-one offer and pay full price for the cruise. Bookings must be made by July 30.
Offers like this are rare in the Galapagos, especially during the popular months of August and September when temperatures are most pleasant for hiking and wildlife viewing.
Galapagos Evolution is designed to give travelers the sensation of stepping back into the Roaring Twenties aboard a cruise ship dedicated to guest luxury and style. It has 14 cabins and two suites for 32 passengers. A crew of 18 plus two naturalist guides and a cruise director accompany each sailing.
Phone: 800-728-2875 toll-free or 530-583-1775.
The Galapagos Islands of Charles Darwin fame are to me the finest multi-generation destination in the world and should be atop anyone's bucket list.
AdventureSmith Explorations, http://www.adventuresmithexplorations.com/ announces a two-for-one special (cruise rate only in shared cabin) for four late summer / early fall departures in the Galapagos on the classic motor yacht Galapagos Evolution.
The Aug. 25-Sept. 4, Sept. 8-18, Sept. 15-25 and Sept. 22-Oct.1 packages which begin and end in colonial Quito, Ecuador, include an 8 day / 7 night Galapagos cruise, pre and post cruise Quito hotel accommodations, airport/hotel transfers, round trip flights from mainland Ecuador to the Galapagos Islands and a half day tour of the Quito's old town, a UNESCO designated World Heritage Site.
Departures (guaranteed when 16 guests have signed up for the program) start at $5,895 for the first traveler with the companion paying only $1,100 for extras (in-country air tickets, transit control card and park entrance fees) exclusive of the cruise rate. See: http://www.adventuresmithexplorations.com/itinerarydetails.php/advid/58
For this same trip, guests may add a complimentary 4 night / 5 day Amazon adventure extension plus free extras valued at $600 per person if they forego the two-for-one offer and pay full price for the cruise. Bookings must be made by July 30.
Offers like this are rare in the Galapagos, especially during the popular months of August and September when temperatures are most pleasant for hiking and wildlife viewing.
Galapagos Evolution is designed to give travelers the sensation of stepping back into the Roaring Twenties aboard a cruise ship dedicated to guest luxury and style. It has 14 cabins and two suites for 32 passengers. A crew of 18 plus two naturalist guides and a cruise director accompany each sailing.
Phone: 800-728-2875 toll-free or 530-583-1775.
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Wells World on the Radio July 20, 2011
The hotter it gets, the cheaper it gets this summer at the grand King and Prince Beach and Golf Resort on St. Simons Island, GA.
Ocean front rooms drop from $235 a night July 27 and 28 (standard rooms $175) all the way to $209 a night Aug. 7-9.
Call the reservations office, 800-342-0212.
Cooler on Course in North Carolina
The Waynesville Inn in the North Carolina Blue Ridge offers a Stay & Play deal through Aug. 31.
Accommodations for two, a round of golf per person and a full breakfast each morning from $119.
Phone 800-627-6250 or email reservations@thewaynesvilleinn.com.
Opie Fans' Alert
Whistle your way to Mt. Airy, NC, home of the Andy Griffith Show, for the Mayberry Adventure Package.
A night at the Hampton Inn, transportation to Wally's Service Station and a tour of the historic town and Mayberry landmarks in a replica squad car from $139 a night.
Go to www.hamptoninn.com or call 336-789-5999.
Peanuttiest Festival
The S.C. Pelion Peanut Party celebrates its 30th year and the town of Pelion (20 miles SW of Columbia) celebrates its 100th Aug. 12-13.
Events begin with the blessing of the peanut pots at 5 p.m. Friday; up to 100 bushels will be cooked during the two-day family-oriented fest. The Peanut Butter & Jelly Sandwich Eating contest begins at 12:30 p.m. Saturday. Last year's winner downed 5 1/4 sandwiches in 3 minutes.
Go to www.scpeanutparty.com for details.
Cheap Eats in Pittsburgh
For details, see July 18 post.
Atlanta Bargain
For details see July 19 post.
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Atlanta Hotel Bargain
Car and kids (two up to age 18 with a pair of adults) stay free when you take advantage of The Emory Conference Center Summer Hotel Package. Rooms start at only $119 and include use of the Health Club and pools and free access to Emory's Fitness Center.
Added bonus: Not only are you surrounded by the serenity of a 26-acre forest preserve and the liveliness of the campus, you get up to four free tickets to the adjacent Michael C. Carlos Museum, which houses the Southeast's largest collection of ancient Egyptian mummies and other treasures.
Tell me the kids won't love that.
Added bonus: Not only are you surrounded by the serenity of a 26-acre forest preserve and the liveliness of the campus, you get up to four free tickets to the adjacent Michael C. Carlos Museum, which houses the Southeast's largest collection of ancient Egyptian mummies and other treasures.
Tell me the kids won't love that.
Monday, July 18, 2011
Eat well and cheaply in Pittsburgh
Cities can be expensive but rarely have I encountered a city in the USA where you can eat better and cheaper downtown than in Pittsburgh, PA.
Head to "the Strip," a rectangle of international deliciousness along Smallman Street, Mulberry Way and Penn Avenue, between 16th and 23rd Streets,and bring cash. Few of the diners delis and grocery/cafes take plastic.
You won't need much; $10 will slake your thirst and fill your stomach.
Delis, bakeries, farmers' markets and street-side carts provide farm to fork take-away fare. If you want a sit-down meal try these.
Primanti Bros. The all-in-one, two-fisted meal was born here: meat of choice, cheese, tomatoes, coleslaw and french fries are piled between two slabs of Italian bread. It was a miners' and steelworkers' favorite back in the day; "strip" came from a former strip mine along here.
S&D Polish Deli. Snag a table in the back and settle in for delicate pierogis and filling stews and dumplings.
Pamela's P&G Diner. You might not catch the Obamas noshing on the crepe-like pancakes here, although they do whenever in the area, but you will join a host of locals for breakfast or lunch.
De Luca's. Feed the whole family on one of their 11 (!) egg omelets.
Read more: http://travelonthelevel.blogspot.com/#ixzz1SUgrmljt
Head to "the Strip," a rectangle of international deliciousness along Smallman Street, Mulberry Way and Penn Avenue, between 16th and 23rd Streets,and bring cash. Few of the diners delis and grocery/cafes take plastic.
You won't need much; $10 will slake your thirst and fill your stomach.
Delis, bakeries, farmers' markets and street-side carts provide farm to fork take-away fare. If you want a sit-down meal try these.
S&D Polish Deli. Snag a table in the back and settle in for delicate pierogis and filling stews and dumplings.
De Luca's. Feed the whole family on one of their 11 (!) egg omelets.
Read more: http://travelonthelevel.blogspot.com/#ixzz1SUgrmljt
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Innisbrook Summer Specials
The song was wrong: Mad dogs, Englishmen and golfers go out in the midday sun, especially with rates like those at Innisbrook, the Salamander resort in North Palm Harbor Florida.
The classic golf package starts at $109 per night which includes lodgings plus a round of golf for every night you stay.
You don't have to be a swinger to get a good deal. Other summer special resort packages include:
Pass on Your Gas Charges - Turn in your gas or airline receipt for up to a $75 resort credit. You won't be spinning your wheels while at Innisbrook because the package includes complimentary transport throughout the 900-acre facility plus free shuttle service to Caladesi Island, one of America's best beaches, and breakfast for two daily starting at $179 (valid through Sept. 5, 2011).
Call 800-492-6899 or go to www.innisbrookgolfresort.com for details on these and other packages.
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Safari in Namibia
13-Day Great Namibian Journey
from $7,232 per person (Save $1,000!), double occupancy
Through October 31, 2011, Premier Tours is offering $1,000-off the original price for bookings on its ultimate 13-day Namibian excursion ($7,332 per person, reduced from $8,232).
See the world's largest sand dunes in the Sossusvlei section of the Namib-Naukluft Park, home to springbok, gemsbok, ostrich, bat-eared fox, aardwolf, and numerous other species.
Explore the dramatic Skeleton Coast by ground and by air, and visit the picturesque port towns of Walvis Bay and Swakopmund and the seal colonies of Cape Cross.
Witness the majestic black rhino in Damarland and spot African game both big and small on the white saltpans of the Etosha National Park. Days of watching wildlife end with nights of sleeping soundly at some of Namibia's most comfortable lodge accommodations.
The package, which is valid until October 31, 2011, includes:
• Two nights at Kulala Desert Lodge in the heart of the Sossusvlei, Namib Desert
• Two nights at Hansa Hotel in coastal Swakopmund
• One night at Damarland Camp
• Two nights at Desert Rhino Camp in Damarland
• Two nights in tented accommodation in the Ongava Game Reserve just outside the Etosha National Park
• Three nights at Skeleton Coast Research Camp
• All meals
• Ground transportation and light aircraft charters (with optional international airfares add-ons available)
For more information call Premier Tours at 1-800-545-1910 or visit
http://www.premiertours.com/pages/tour_NAMIBIA/namibia.asp#GNJ13DAY
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from $7,232 per person (Save $1,000!), double occupancy
Through October 31, 2011, Premier Tours is offering $1,000-off the original price for bookings on its ultimate 13-day Namibian excursion ($7,332 per person, reduced from $8,232).
See the world's largest sand dunes in the Sossusvlei section of the Namib-Naukluft Park, home to springbok, gemsbok, ostrich, bat-eared fox, aardwolf, and numerous other species.
Explore the dramatic Skeleton Coast by ground and by air, and visit the picturesque port towns of Walvis Bay and Swakopmund and the seal colonies of Cape Cross.
Witness the majestic black rhino in Damarland and spot African game both big and small on the white saltpans of the Etosha National Park. Days of watching wildlife end with nights of sleeping soundly at some of Namibia's most comfortable lodge accommodations.
The package, which is valid until October 31, 2011, includes:
• Two nights at Kulala Desert Lodge in the heart of the Sossusvlei, Namib Desert
• Two nights at Hansa Hotel in coastal Swakopmund
• One night at Damarland Camp
• Two nights at Desert Rhino Camp in Damarland
• Two nights in tented accommodation in the Ongava Game Reserve just outside the Etosha National Park
• Three nights at Skeleton Coast Research Camp
• All meals
• Ground transportation and light aircraft charters (with optional international airfares add-ons available)
For more information call Premier Tours at 1-800-545-1910 or visit
http://www.premiertours.com/pages/tour_NAMIBIA/namibia.asp#GNJ13DAY
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July Wine Dinner, Azure, The Shores Resort & Spa, Daytona Beach Shores
Here's the menu
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Monthly Wine Dinner
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Seating at 6pm
$45 per person
Reservations required, 386.767.7356
Menu
First Course
Belle Chevre Montrachet-Style Goat Cheese
B & W Farms Watercress, Macerated Strawberry
Clifford Bay 2009 Sauvignon Blanc
Second Course
Pan Fried Soft Shell Crab
Smoked Vegetable Remoulade
Starmont 2008 Chardonnay
Entrée Course
Sausage-Fine Herb Stuffed Quail
Minnesota Wild Rice Pilaf, Pinot Cherry Reduction
Wild Rock 2008 Pinot Noir
Dessert Tasting
Rhubarb Tart Tatin, Brut Cocoa Dust
Oakley Five Reds 2008
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Thursday, June 23, 2011
Deals and tips from May First Coast Connect radio show
If Ken Burns' National Park series on PBS turned you on, consider Yellowstone's special offerings.
Yellowstone for Families, designed for families with children between eight and 12, includes four nights at Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel or Grant Village; age-appropriate field activities such as animal tracking, wildlife-watching, painting and hiking; breakfast and box lunches each day, in-park transportation, instruction and optional evening programs.
Programs are offered Monday to Friday and Friday to Tuesday until Aug. 19. Rates for programs at Mammoth are $2,148 for a family of two adults and two children. Rates for programs in Grant Village are $2,548 for a family of two adults and two children.
No kids? Essential Yellowstone, based at the famed Lake Yellowstone Hotel, this four-day, five-night program is offered starting Aug. 26 and Sept. 2 and 16. The program includes expert instruction by an Institute naturalist/guide, five nights of accommodations at Lake Hotel, breakfast and box lunch daily, dinner on the last night, in-park transportation and optional evening programs. Rates per person are $1,119 for double occupancy and $1,667 for single occupancy.
Old Times on the Grand Tour. Staying in three lodges, participants experience a five-day, six-night program offering the chance to see Yellowstone from the perspective of the park’s early visitors. Participants stay two nights each at the Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel, Old Faithful Snow Lodge and the Lake Hotel. During the day they take the famous “Grand Tour” of Yellowstone in the luxury of a refurbished “Historic Yellow Bus.” The tour includes stops at cultural sites from the park’s past, walking tours of historic and thermal areas and stops to view wildlife. The five-day program is offered with start dates of June 5, July 3, 17, 24 and 31, Aug. 14 and 28 and Sept. 4, 11 and 18. Rates are $1,529 per person for double occupancy and $1,973 per person for single occupancy.
www.yellowstonenationalparklodges.com
Little St. Simons Island, a great, all-inclusive (right down to the bug spray!) getaway for all ages, offers $399 or $479 per couple per room including boat service to/from island, accommodations, all meals, snacks, beverages including evening cocktails, all activities on selected dates though August, http://www.littlestsimonsislands.com.
Air miles for cruises. Did you know you can get air miles for taking a cruise? Airlines getting into the cruise booking business. United Air Lines offers up to 25,000 miles for selected cruises on Royal Caribbean, Carnival, Norwegian, Celebrity and Holland America cruise lines with rates as low as $45-47 a night.
www.cruises.united.com
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Yellowstone for Families, designed for families with children between eight and 12, includes four nights at Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel or Grant Village; age-appropriate field activities such as animal tracking, wildlife-watching, painting and hiking; breakfast and box lunches each day, in-park transportation, instruction and optional evening programs.
Programs are offered Monday to Friday and Friday to Tuesday until Aug. 19. Rates for programs at Mammoth are $2,148 for a family of two adults and two children. Rates for programs in Grant Village are $2,548 for a family of two adults and two children.
No kids? Essential Yellowstone, based at the famed Lake Yellowstone Hotel, this four-day, five-night program is offered starting Aug. 26 and Sept. 2 and 16. The program includes expert instruction by an Institute naturalist/guide, five nights of accommodations at Lake Hotel, breakfast and box lunch daily, dinner on the last night, in-park transportation and optional evening programs. Rates per person are $1,119 for double occupancy and $1,667 for single occupancy.
Old Times on the Grand Tour. Staying in three lodges, participants experience a five-day, six-night program offering the chance to see Yellowstone from the perspective of the park’s early visitors. Participants stay two nights each at the Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel, Old Faithful Snow Lodge and the Lake Hotel. During the day they take the famous “Grand Tour” of Yellowstone in the luxury of a refurbished “Historic Yellow Bus.” The tour includes stops at cultural sites from the park’s past, walking tours of historic and thermal areas and stops to view wildlife. The five-day program is offered with start dates of June 5, July 3, 17, 24 and 31, Aug. 14 and 28 and Sept. 4, 11 and 18. Rates are $1,529 per person for double occupancy and $1,973 per person for single occupancy.
www.yellowstonenationalparklodges.com
Little St. Simons Island, a great, all-inclusive (right down to the bug spray!) getaway for all ages, offers $399 or $479 per couple per room including boat service to/from island, accommodations, all meals, snacks, beverages including evening cocktails, all activities on selected dates though August, http://www.littlestsimonsislands.com.
Air miles for cruises. Did you know you can get air miles for taking a cruise? Airlines getting into the cruise booking business. United Air Lines offers up to 25,000 miles for selected cruises on Royal Caribbean, Carnival, Norwegian, Celebrity and Holland America cruise lines with rates as low as $45-47 a night.
www.cruises.united.com
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Travel deals and tips from June First Coast Connect travel segment
Red Coach - luxury bus from Jax to Daytona, Orlando, Tampa
Airport or Avenues Mall round trip to Daytona - $40 ... to Orlando - $50 .... to downtown Tampa - $70 ... to Tampa airport - $70.
www.redcoachusa.com
Hollywood and Wine Festival, Arizona Biltmore, Phoenix, July-Labor Day
Special Room Rates: Classic Rooms from $119. Ocatilla, exclusive “hotel within the hotel, start at $189. Book online at http://www.arizonabiltmore.com 800-950-0086.
Key West whale rescue
Add whale rescuer to your resume and get a deal on a hotel room by volunteering four hours a day to help three convalescing pilot whales at Marine Mammal Conservancy. Voluntourists get $69 (plus tax) rooms Sunday through Thursday at these Key Largo hotels:
Bayside Inn www.baysidekeylargo.com 305-451-4450
Bay Cove Motel www.baycovemotel.com 305-451-1686
Boatel www.keylargohouseboat.com 305-766-0871
Key West Inn www.supertelinns.com 305-451-5081
Marina del Mar www.marinadelmarkeylargo.com 305-451-4107
Contact 305-451-4774 for details.
Low rates and free gas in Orlando
With a two-night stay through August at the Clarion Inn Lake Buena Vista, AAA Three Diamond Disney-area hotel, offers $59.99 nightly rate and $25 for gas.
"Summer Madness" Promotion other money-saving perks include buy one at regular price/get one free breakfast, and buy one at regular price/get one free dinner. Kids age 9 and younger eat from the buffet at no charge with each paying adult. To book online or for more details, visit www.clarionlbv.com/special-packages. Or call 800-999-7300 and ask for the Free Gas Card rate (based on double occupancy and does not include tax).
For deals on Amelia Island properties, go to www.ameliaisland.com.
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Airport or Avenues Mall round trip to Daytona - $40 ... to Orlando - $50 .... to downtown Tampa - $70 ... to Tampa airport - $70.
www.redcoachusa.com
Hollywood and Wine Festival, Arizona Biltmore, Phoenix, July-Labor Day
Special Room Rates: Classic Rooms from $119. Ocatilla, exclusive “hotel within the hotel, start at $189. Book online at http://www.arizonabiltmore.com 800-950-0086.
Key West whale rescue
Add whale rescuer to your resume and get a deal on a hotel room by volunteering four hours a day to help three convalescing pilot whales at Marine Mammal Conservancy. Voluntourists get $69 (plus tax) rooms Sunday through Thursday at these Key Largo hotels:
Bayside Inn www.baysidekeylargo.com 305-451-4450
Bay Cove Motel www.baycovemotel.com 305-451-1686
Boatel www.keylargohouseboat.com 305-766-0871
Key West Inn www.supertelinns.com 305-451-5081
Marina del Mar www.marinadelmarkeylargo.com 305-451-4107
Contact 305-451-4774 for details.
Low rates and free gas in Orlando
With a two-night stay through August at the Clarion Inn Lake Buena Vista, AAA Three Diamond Disney-area hotel, offers $59.99 nightly rate and $25 for gas.
"Summer Madness" Promotion other money-saving perks include buy one at regular price/get one free breakfast, and buy one at regular price/get one free dinner. Kids age 9 and younger eat from the buffet at no charge with each paying adult. To book online or for more details, visit www.clarionlbv.com/special-packages. Or call 800-999-7300 and ask for the Free Gas Card rate (based on double occupancy and does not include tax).
For deals on Amelia Island properties, go to www.ameliaisland.com.
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