Scouting the best airfares, hotels, cruises and vacation packages

SeaWorld Aquatica’s 2010 expansion to include 4 new water slides

November 20, 2009 11:33am

The recently opened SeaWorld Aquatica water park in Orlando, Fla. will add four first-of-a-kind water slides in 2010, including a pair of inner-tube rides that go uphill with the help of a hydro-magnetic launch.

The twin Tornado Walls are V-shaped slides that start with a magnetic launch that shoots a six-person inflatable raft up the face of a vertical wall. One of the two launch sequences travels through a tunnel. After reaching the top of the water wall, the rafts race down the incline and along an uphill outrun with a small whoop-de-do hill.

Also on tap for Aquatica in 2010:

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Thanksgiving travel predicted to be up this year at LAX, down at ONT

November 20, 2009 9:11am

Here we go. Today begins the 10-day stretch known in some circles as the “Thanksgiving holiday travel period,” so brace yourselves for lines, lines, lines.

At Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), passenger volumes between today and Nov. 29 are predicted to be 1.1% higher than they were in 2008. Airport officials expect to see 1.49 million passengers at this major hub.

By contrast, L.A./Ontario International Airport (ONT) is anticipated to see fewer travelers, with a passenger volume that may be 8.8% less than it was in 2008. That translates to 123,500 travelers expected in the coming 10-day period.

Today is expected to be one of the busiest at both airports, as are Wednesday and Sunday, Nov. 29. Many airlines are forecasting that flights will be 80% to 100% booked, according to Los Angeles World Airports in a statement. Read the rest of this entry »

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Before Winter Olympics, travel to Vancouver via 25%-off Amtrak

November 20, 2009 5:57am

If you’re heading to Vancouver, B.C. for the 2010 Olympic Games, you’ve probably (hopefully) got your travel plans in place. But if you’d prefer a quieter visit, get there well before Feb. 12, which is when the Games begin and crowds descend.

Amtrak’s Cascades service provides an especially enjoyable means for pre-Olympics travelers to reach this “freewheeling and offbeat” destination. Direct services link Portland, Ore., and Seattle — among other places — to Vancouver, but the discounts currently on offer for the route may provide Southern California travelers incentive to craft together a trip too.

Deal: Amtrak is offering 25% off coach fares for Cascades passengers traveling between now and Jan. 31, 2010. You must book by Dec. 31, 2009. Discounted one-way fares from Portland are as low as $34.50 total per person; the trip takes about eight hours. I easily found availability on certain dates at this price. Read the rest of this entry »

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Ride-makers roll out new thrills for 2010 at Las Vegas expo

November 19, 2009 5:34pm

Roller-coaster and thrill-ride manufacturers from around the world descended on Las Vegas this week for the annual amusement park convention, offering a sneak peek at what we can expect to see in 2010 and beyond.

In my conversations with show exhibitors, I came away with one overarching message as I toured the massive International Assn. of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA) show floor: All the latest and greatest rides are heading to Asia and Europe in 2010. By and large, recession-weary American theme parks are sitting on their thin wallets.

Here’s a few of my favorite new rides and attractions on display at the expo:

> Twist N’ Splash from Germany’s Mack Rides combines a spinning teacup concept with a Splash Battle water ride. Riders squirt each other and landlubbers with water cannons. Two European parks will get the new ride, officials said.

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Disney ship. Virtual portholes. Rich possibilities.

November 19, 2009 4:25pm

They’re still more than a year away from sailing their next new ship, but the Disney cruise people want you to know they’ve come up with a cure for the common inside cabin.

Just about every ship has them. They’re the cheapest units on board, those rooms in the middle of the vessel, closest to the droning engine, farthest from those soothing blue horizon views.

But wait! The Disney Dream, due to sail in January 2011, will feature “virtual portholes” in its roughly 150 inside staterooms. Through these round monitors, guests will not only see the sea in real time (thanks to on-board high-def webcams), they’ll occasionally get animated visits from a haunted pirate ship or Disney characters like Peach (the starfish from “Finding Nemo”) or Mickey Mouse.

The underlying idea here isn’t new.

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In Tahoe, learn gingerbread secrets and snow tricks

November 19, 2009 12:01pm

Sorensen’s is one of those little Tahoe resorts that seems right out of a snow globe. The historic cottages, just east of Kirkwood Mountain Resort on Highway 88, are a perfect backdrop for a two-day workshop on gingerbread houses.

The workshop, Dec. 5 and 6, offers step-by-step instructions on how to bake, build and decorate the creations. This is intended for children 12 and older and adults. The cost is $65 for guests and $90 for non-lodging guests. Winter weekend rates start at $140 (ask about an extra free night). The workshop also includes all materials, plus complimentary cocoa, cider and treats. Read the rest of this entry »

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Delayed and canceled flights across the U.S. caused by FAA computer system glitch

November 19, 2009 9:03am

Flying today? Prepare yourself for possible major delays or even cancellations. A computer system malfunction earlier this morning adversely affected flight schedules throughout the U.S.

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is among the major hubs that have been especially affected, and AirTran and Delta Air Lines are among carriers affected. Minor delays have been reported at airports in the New York City area, Boston, Orlando, Fla., and Tampa, Fla.

Though the glitch with the Federal Aviation Administration’s automated system has been resolved, “it was unclear how long flights would continue to be affected,” AP says.

AirTran has posted a travel advisory on its website. It warns passengers that some travel interruptions are “occurring at short notice,” and advises that those who want to adjust their travel plans can make itinerary changes online. Read the rest of this entry »

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Grand Bahama Island: Flight-hotel packages for $900

November 19, 2009 6:05am

For us West Coasters, the Caribbean is not really so close. But given the amazing sale rates we’re seeing to this island region, we just can’t ignore its appeal. Take, for instance, the following package deals now being offered to Grand Bahama Island in the Bahamas.

Deal: For winter travel (holidays included), CheapCarribean.com is offering up to $500 in savings over its typical rates for vacation packages. Stay five nights or longer for the $500 discount. For four-night vacations, you’ll save $400, and for three nights, $300. Some of the Grand Bahama Island hotels included in this deal are Flamingo Bay Hotel, Our Lucaya Reef Village, Pelican Bay at Lucaya, Radisson Our Lucaya Resort and Viva Wyndham Fortuna Beach.

Tested: I tested a four-night getaway at the Viva Wyndham Fortuna Beach in early January. From LAX, I found fly-stay packages for $706 per person (pre-tax, and based on double occupancy). Via CheapCaribbean.com’s online reservations system, that worked out to $892 per person total, after taxes. Read the rest of this entry »

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Newport Beach’s Christmas Boat Parade: Plan ahead to cruise in its midst

November 18, 2009 3:21pm

If you’re not going to be in the popular Christmas Boat Parade in Newport Beach, then one of the next best places to see the lights and action may be aboard a Hornblower yacht.

On five consecutive nights, Dec. 16-20, the Christmas Boat Parade Dinner Cruise, put on by Hornblower Cruises & Events, sails “right through the middle of the entire parade,” said the company’s director of marketing, Sara Copping.

And if you want one of these prime lookout spots, you’d better plan ahead. These cruises sell out every year, usually one or two weeks before sail date, said Copping.

The cruises last from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. and cost $115 per person (pre-tax). You’ll get a glass of champagne upon boarding, a four-course seated meal and live entertainment. Read the rest of this entry »

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NYC Restaurant Week 2010: Three-course dinner for $35

November 18, 2009 12:32pm

Time your New York City vacation right and you may be able to eat your way through the Big Apple without going broke. This week, the dates for the famous NYC Restaurant Week Winter 2010 were announced by NYC & Company, the city’s marketing and tourism organization.

The two-week event, which runs semiannually in summer and winter, is scheduled for Jan. 25 to Feb. 7, 2010.

And maybe we have the recession to thank, but prices for the foodie series are the same as they were in 2006. At participating restaurants, three-course, prix-fixe dinners will run $35. Lunches will cost $24.07 (as in 24 hours a day/7 days a week in the city that doesn’t sleep). These prices do not include beverages, tax and tip. And the special prices are valid every day during the two-week period except Saturdays. Read the rest of this entry »

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