Scouting the best airfares, hotels, cruises and vacation packages

Catalina Island: Avalon and Aurora hotels offer midweek getaway deals

November 25, 2009 5:57am

Could you use a midweek time-out from all of the holiday madness? On Catalina Island — closer to us Southlanders than we sometimes realize — two island hotels are making it really easy, on you and your bank account, to indulge in a relaxing mini-vacation.

Deal: The “Holiday Getaway” package features a round-trip ride for two aboard the Catalina Express from Long Beach, a round-trip taxi between the dock and your hotel, and accommodations for two nights.  At the Avalon Hotel, the price tag on the package is $350 total (including tax). At the Aurora Hotel, you’ll pay $270. Additional midweek nights at either hotel are available for $99 per night.

If you don’t book one of these great-value packages, you’re looking at rates starting at $195 per night (pre-tax) at the Avalon Hotel. At the Aurora, nightly rates generally start at $150. Round-trip Catalina Express tickets from Long Beach normally run $66.50 per adult.

When: These offers are valid now through Dec. 30, 2009, for stays Sunday through Wednesday nights, as the boat component of this offer is restricted to travel Sunday through Thursday. Read the rest of this entry »

Permalink | No Comments | E-mail | Add to My Trips

Fare war! Southwest, JetBlue, Virgin America starting $29 OW

November 24, 2009 3:20pm

Be thankful there is no shortage of cheap airfares this week. Southwest announced a 7-day Thanksgiving sale today with the snarky promo “Only turkeys charge for bags.” Fares out of Burbank (BUR) and Los Angeles (LAX) start at $59 each way. But wait, that’s not the only low-cost carrier offering a travel deal. JetBlue has a sale because “there aren’t enough ways to say thank you” this Thanksgiving with seats starting at $29 each way. And of course you don’t want to miss Virgin America’s “Keep Your Wallet Stuffed” sale with fares starting as low as $39 each way. I tested the deals and here’s what I found:

Southwest Airlines: Fares within California start at $59 each way, every day of the week except Fridays and Sundays. Purchase by Nov. 30, 2009, 11:59 pm Pacific Time for travel through Feb. 9, 2010. Blackout dates apply: Dec. 17 - Jan. 4, 2010. To speed up your search, click their “Try Our Low-Fare Calendar”. And don’t forget, there are no fees for first and second checked bags.

Virgin America: These were the cheapest starting deals that were readily available. However they were relatively short-lived. Flights between Southern California (LOS, SNA, SAN) and San Francisco (SFO) started at $39 each way, pre-tax for travel through Dec. 3. Fares went up at least $20 each way for travel between Dec. 4-17. Note that checked bags cost $20 per bag for the first 10 bags.

JetBlue: These deals were cheap in some parts of the country but the hardest to find in our corner of the nation. I couldn’t find any sale flights out of Los Angeles, Long Beach, Burbank or San Diego when I looked Tuesday afternoon. However, I did find flights between San Francisco and Austin for $100 each way. Sale fares were based on a 3-day advance purchase for travel completed by Dec. 16. Note: Each customer may bring one checked bag free of charge.

— Jen Leo, Los Angeles Times Travel & Deal blogger

[File photo credit: Reed Saxon / Associated Press]

Permalink | Comments (1) | E-mail | Add to My Trips

Free inflight Wi-Fi tip: Try before you buy on United, Delta

November 24, 2009 9:53am

In-flight Wi-Fi is not so widespread yet that I expect it on every flight. I might want it on every flight from every carrier, but it is still a nice surprise to me when it’s available. So you can imagine how excited I was last week when not only did I find Gogo Inflight Internet available on my Delta flight from Orange County to Atlanta, but there also was a coupon on the monitor in front of me that said I could try it for free by entering “Deltatrygogo”. That saved me $12.95 — which I happily would have spent, but it was even nicer to experience the Wi-Fi for free the first time I used it.

Delta isn’t the only carrier offering a coupon for free Wi-Fi. United announced Monday that it was offering a “Try Before You Buy” Wi-Fi promotion over the holidays. Passengers on flights between Los Angeles or San Francisco and New York will be able to try Aircell’s Gogo Inflight Internet service for free upon signing up for a new account. Supported devices and more info about United Wi-Fi service is available on United’s website.

Don’t forget about these other free WiFi promotions going on over the holidays:

> Delta passengers get free in-flight Wi-Fi over Thanksgiving too

> Google gives free Wi-Fi to holiday travelers at dozens of U.S. airports

> Free Wi-Fi on Virgin America over the holidays, thanks to Google

I also want to pass on that I had no trouble using it on my 13-inch MacBook Pro laptop from a middle seat. On some occasions, I’ve been reluctant to break out the laptop from the middle seat, but since it worked so well on the last flight, I won’t pass it up again. I was able to check e-mail, Twitter and watch a DVD that I had brought along all at the same time.

– Jen Leo, Los Angeles Times Travel & Deal blogger

[Photo: Gogo Inflight Internet]

Permalink | No Comments | E-mail | Add to My Trips

Italy: Flights plus 5 nights in Venice and Florence for $989

November 24, 2009 5:55am

Enjoy art and architecture in Florence, and, when in Rome, explore everything from Mussolini-era landmarks to a good martini. La Jolla-based Adventure Vacations, which has been in business for around 30 years, is offering a fantastico travel package to these two intriguing, romantic Italian cities.

Deal: The “Treasures of Italy” package starts at $989 per person (based on double occupancy) and includes air transportation from Los Angeles to Venice and then Florence back to L.A.; two nights in Venice; a first-class train trip from Venice to Florence; three nights in Florence; breakfast daily at both hotels; and all hotel and city taxes. Airport taxes, which amount to around $150 per person, are not included in this rate; a single supplement is about $250.

Hotels included are three stars or better and are located in the center of town, according to Mark Anderson of Adventure Vacations. Your room will also be equipped with a private bath. Read the rest of this entry »

Permalink | Comments (1) | E-mail | Add to My Trips

Yalapa, Mexico: Stand-up paddle surf workshop in paradise

November 23, 2009 4:57pm

Stand-up paddle surfing. The first time you saw it at the beach you probably exclaimed, “What is THAT?” Or you rushed right out, rented a board and tried it yourself. Stand-up paddle surfers (or boarders) have been in the Los Angeles Times’ Outposts blog in recent years for coming close to humpback whales in Australia and for stand-up fishing in Baja. Now there’s a chance to build a quick Mexican getaway around the activity. Verana, the award-winning luxe resort in Yelapa (fly into Puerto Vallarta) that you need to get to by boat, has some openings left for their Stand-Up Paddle Surf Workshop Dec. 6-13.

Verana Stand-Up Paddle Surf Workshop: $825 per person based on double occupancy includes three nights’ accommodations at Verana, two days of paddle surfing at the Stand-Up Paddle Surf workshop with breakfast and lunch, optional yoga class, one optional spa treatment per day, full use of spa, steam room, pools and bath, and a three-course evening dinner. Day passes are also available ($160 per person) and include the two-hour class, practice in the ocean and one-hour spa treatment costs.

When I checked with Verana today, the following guest houses were still available. Visitors can book any three nights/two days, if available, from Dec. 6th to Dec. 13th. :

Dec. 6 - 13, 2009: Stone House, Studio, Mayan, Jungle Suite

Dec. 6 - 10, 2009: Palapa

Dec. 7 - 10, 2009: Bungalow, Tea House

December 8 - 13, 2009: Casa Amor

Contact: Verana, (866) 687-9358

— Jen Leo, Los Angeles Times Travel & Deal blogger

[Photo: Verana guests paddling in Banderas Bay, Mexico. Credit: Pacific Paddle Surf ]

Permalink | Comments (1) | E-mail | Add to My Trips

Thanksgiving travel: Black Friday hotel deals in Los Angeles & Orange County

November 23, 2009 11:24am

It’s not too late to book Thanksgiving travel for this weekend. Lucky for us Southern Californians, there are some Black Friday deals to be had right in our own backyard. Priceline’s travel “Ekspert,” Brian Ek, named his best shopping cities based on “the best ‘Name Your Own Price’ hotel deals for Thanksgiving weekend.” In order of the biggest savings, the top four cities/regions where you can save money on hotels this weekend are Orange County, Atlanta, Philadelphia and Los Angeles. Ek said that Orange County showed a 46% median savings for rooms and Atlanta, Philadelphia and L. A. showed 45% median savings. The important thing to note about his top city picks is that it’s not all about price — these destinations have availability.

“As expected, traditional big shopping cities for the Black Friday weekend, like New York, Chicago and San Francisco, offer significant hotel savings, but room availability is going to be tight. The same holds true for getaway cities like Las Vegas and New Orleans. For these cities, I recommend being as flexible as possible in your star-level selection to maximize your chances of getting a room at a bargain price,” said Ek.

While the list is based on availability and median price ranges for deals via Priceline’s  “Name Your Own Price” feature (check-in dates for Friday and Saturday), I looked at rates for hotels near South Coast Plaza on Priceline’s main hotel page. I found the four-star Westin South Coast Plaza for $99 per night, four-star Hyatt Regency Irvine for $99 per night, and the four-star Fairmont Newport Beach for $129 per night. The three-and-a-half-star Hilton Irvine was priced at $78 per night. Rates are on average for a two-night stay Nov. 27-29, pre-tax.

— Jen Leo, Los Angeles Times Travel & Deal blogger

[Image credit: Priceline.com]

Permalink | No Comments | E-mail | Add to My Trips

San Diego: Whale-watching charters for the whole gang

November 23, 2009 6:03am

Just in time for the holidays, the migration of the California gray whales will soon be viewable to us Southern Californians. Whale-watching season, which typically begins in mid-December and continues through February (though sometimes the season stretches to March or April), presents the perfect incentive to get out into the water and see these creatures on their way south to Baja.

If you’re not a fan of cramming onto a big boat with binocular-equipped strangers, why not charter your own vessel? Through Fisherman’s Landing in San Diego, it’s not as expensive as you might think.

Deal: For a group of 10, you can charter a boat through Fisherman’s Landing for up to six hours for as low as $50 per person. Boats — which depart from Shelter Island and range from 60 to 100 feet in size — come with an experienced and knowledgeable captain as well as crew members, and food and beverages are available for purchase on board. But beyond that, it’s just you, your group and hopefully some viewable ocean life not too far off. Read the rest of this entry »

Permalink | No Comments | E-mail | Add to My Trips

Water parks vie to open first U.S. looping water slide

November 22, 2009 10:19am

The race is on to see which water park debuts America’s first looping water slide — a gravity-defying attraction that has awed Europe and Asia.

Noah’s Ark water park in Wisconsin and Jay Peak ski resort in Vermont both plan to unveil the combination water slide-thrill ride on Memorial Day Weekend 2010.

Canadian-based manufacturer WhiteWater confirmed that the two locations would install the first AquaLoop slides in the United States.

Read the rest of this entry »

Permalink | No Comments | E-mail | Add to My Trips

San Luis Obispo: $30 meals at 30 restaurants for Restaurant Month

November 22, 2009 7:04am

Mushroom and sage gnocchi, followed by chipotle shrimp linguini, and, for good measure, a chunk of Meyer lemon buttermilk cheesecake. That’s what $30 (plus tax and tip) would have gotten you at Black Cat Bistro in Cambria in January.

And now San Luis Obispo County’s Restaurant Month — Jan. 2 to 31, 2010 — is getting appetites whetted again.

During this third annual event, 30 restaurants will offer three-course menus for $30. Local wines from the Paso Robles and San Luis Obispo wine countries will also be suggested for your courses, though wine and other beverages come at an additional cost.

Participating restaurants are located all over the county, in Arroyo Grande, Avila Beach, Cambria, Cayucos, Morro Bay, Paso Robles, Pismo Beach, San Luis Obispo and Shell Beach. Read the rest of this entry »

Permalink | No Comments | E-mail | Add to My Trips

Explaining time shares’ star system

November 21, 2009 10:15am

Question: My husband and I own four time shares that we use frequently but have never had this problem until recently. We stayed at an RCI property that was billed as a five-star resort. We had to change the bed linens and bath towels ourselves by taking them to the laundry room to exchange, and we had to empty our trash by lugging it to the dumpster on the other side of the property. Our bed was a Murphy bed. There was no restaurant on site; the closest was five miles. No spa. No shampoo, no lotion, no shower cap. Oh, and they left a tip envelope, yet they offered no services. We are not spoiled brats. We like to tent camp and know how to rough it. It’s just that when I think I’m going to a five-star location, I expect amenities. So how do U.S. time shares earn their star ratings?

– Catherine Martin, Newhall

Answer: Think of a time share like your résumé. You put all your good qualities on it, all of your shining moments, but you don’t mention that you sometimes yell at the dog when you’re in a bad mood or you think “The Three Stooges” are the epitome of hilarity. In other words, you don’t tell everything upfront, but you still present yourself as a five-star human being. It’s only when your potential employer meets you that he or she realizes the truth: You may have rated yourself five stars, but that “Stooges” thing should take you down a couple of ratings points.

Read the rest of this entry »

Permalink | No Comments | E-mail | Add to My Trips