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Scoop! Blogger Chris Elliot at www.elliott.org Obtains TSA Security Document

For the last 24 hours, those of us who write about travel have been mightily confused by what the TSA has asked airlines to do in the wake of the attempt on Christmas Day to blow up a Delta flight from Amsterdam as it approached a landing in Detroit.

About a half hour ago, my radio show colleague, Christopher Elliott, got a hold of the actual TSA document that clarifies quite a few points. 

First of all, it's only directed at INCOMING international flights.  All passengers are supposed to be patted down before boarding a flight to the US in addition to the usual security screening.

Passengers are not to leave their seats the last hour of the flight.

Passengers are not to have anything in their laps--computers, magazines, blankets, or pillows--for that last hour of a flight.  In short, flight attendants want to be able to see hands, just like cops on TV shows do when they bust into the bad guys' hideouts.

These rules are only in force through Dec. 30th, at the moment.

As Chris said a few minutes ago on my Los Angeles radio show, it's not entirely clear that had these rules had been in effect earlier that they would have thwarted the Christmas Day bomber, though he would have had to visit the lavatory a lot earlier than he did.  But a bomb is a bomb, and if it had exploded over the Atlantic the result would have been just as disastrous as if it had exploded during the approach to Detroit.  Maybe the news headlines would have been bigger in the latter case.

At any rate, check out Chris' blog to see the government's exact wording.

NYC's Casablanca Hotel, Library Hotel, Hotel Giraffe & Hotel Elysee Go On Sale for January and February; Book By Jan. 7th

I think January and February are great times to visit New York City.  It's less crowded, and there's no shortage of things to do no matter what the weather.

And while airfares to and from New York are generally well priced--especially at this time of year--it's the hotel costs that make the city so expensive.  So this deal comes along just in time.

It's from HK Hotels, a family-owned collection of boutique hotels in Manhattan including the Casablanca Hotel, Library Hotel, Hotel Giraffe, and Hotel Elysee.   I've stayed in two of these hotels over the years (the Library and Giraffe), and I can tell you all four are most pleasant hotels that are so cool, you'll know you're in the Big Apple.

So here's the deal: A select number of rooms in all four hotels are going on sale for as low as $201 a night (before taxes) during January and February.  Since rooms are limited, I'd suggest booking as soon as you can.  The deadline for booking these deals is Jan. 7. And plese note, as this sale is "private," you must make reservations by clicking on the link to the appropriate hotel as above.

And there's a nice array of extras, beginning with a bottle of wine and a bar of Belgian chocolate upon arrival.  A breakfast buffet is included in your room charge as well as an evening wine and cheese reception.  Coffee, tea, and cookies are served throughout the day, and--praise the heavens--your Wi-Fi is free as are passes to the New York Sports Club.

Fallout: Is the TSA Banning Electronics And More On Airplane Flights?

In the wake of the passenger yesterday who tried to ignite some kind of powdery substance while a Delta flight from Amsterdam began its descent into Detroit, the TSA has issued some new rules that frequent flyers fear will ban such things as laptops, iPods, and just about anything else for much of a flight.

Because it's a holiday weekend, there aren't any TSA officials around for public comment, but a posting on Air Canada's web site today seemed to suggest the TSA is banning laptops, books, MP3 players and just about anything else other than an airlines' in-flight magazine during the last hour of a flight.  Of course, since passengers can't operate electronic devices the first 15 minutes or so into a flight, that means for any flights less than 75 minutes in duration, you better get used to chatting up your seatmate.

Here's whats on the Air Canda site: "New rules imposed by the U.S. Transportation Security Administration also limit on-board activities by customers and crew in U.S. airspace that may adversely impact on-board service. Among other things, during the final hour of flight customers must remain seated, will not be allowed to access carry-on baggage, or have personal belongings or other items on their laps."

Personal belongings or other items on their laps?  Because they might "adversely impact on-board services"?  Why would typing on my laptop or listening to the Rolling Stones on my iPhone affect the collection of used plastic cups or discarded newspapers?  

This also means there will be no use of in-flight lavatories during the last hour of a flight, so if you'd be advised to check your watch frequently.  And Air Canada and British Airways also announced today a limit of one carry-on item in the wake of the incident.  Consumer travel writer Chris Elliott, writing this morning, says a Northwest flight attendant with whom he spoke, recommended passengers allow THREE hours at the airport before a domestic departure, FOUR for international. 

It's beginning to look more attractive to drive or take the train to more and more distant destinations!

Paul Theroux On Africa: An Ex-Peace Corps Volunteer On Revisiting Africa

One of my favorite travel writers and novelists is Paul Theroux, a friend with whom I've traveled and whom I've interviewed several times in different venues.  Today I came across this terrific Q&A with Theroux posted on a web site dedicated to former Peace Corps volunteers who write.  And with dozens of books to his credit, Theroux, who served in the Peace Corps in Malawi, certainly does write. 

Theroux has stirred up his share of controversy on the subject of Africa, the role of international aid organizations there, and the commitment of Africans themselves to reform.  But his observations in this interview, formed from not only by his past but a solo trip he took through Africa for his book Dark Star Safari, are worth the read.  

In addition to his work as a great chronicler of travel (The Great Railway Bazaar, published in 1975 made him famous), Theroux is an accomplished novelist.  The Mosquito Coast is familiar to moviegoers, but my favorite is My Secret History, published in 21 years ago and still instructive for middle-aged men who are beginning to examine their lives closely. 

US Mint Limits $1 Coin Orders To $5,000 In Wake of Frequent Flyer Frenzy To Accumulate Miles

It started out innocently enough: The US Mint wanted to get more $1 coins in circulation.  Americans have been slow to give up their dollar bills in favor of dollar coins, and it's in the US Treasury's interest to promote coins over dollars because they don't deteriorate and require replacement as often as paper money does.  (A coin can last 30 years while a bill may be unusable in less than two years.)

So the US Mint launched a program to sell $1 coins commemorating Native Americans in bulk to the public, offering them in quantities of $250 that can be sent directly to your doorstep with no shipping or handling charge.  And you can use your credit card to purchase them.

And that's where frequent flyers, always in search of more miles for less cost, saw an opportunity: Purchase thousands of dollars worth of the coins using a credit card that gives you loyalty points or frequent flyer miles for buying stuff.  So an individual with a credit card linked to, say, Delta Air Lines, could charge $10,000 worth of coins and collect 10,000 frequent flyer miles on Delta (presuming the buyer is receiving one mile for every one dollar spent).  Upon receiving the coins, they could be deposited in a bank account in order to pay that credit card bill.

On-line bulletin boards devoted to the accumulation of frequent flyer miles first disseminated the news--one individual writing on FlyerTalk.com said he'd purchased $800,000 worth of the coins, earning enough miles to circle the globe a couple of times in first class.  (The US Mint said it had no record of such a large order, but pointed out the buyer could have made a number of purchases using different credit cards and different addresses.)

But it was a Wall Street Journal article by Scott McCartney earlier this month really brought the general public's attention to the scheme.  And now the US Mint is limiting sales to 5,000 coins at a time unless you write the US Mint and explain why you need a larger shipment.

And while it isn't illegal to order thousands of dollars worth of $1 coins and them simply take them to the bank, the US Mint's ordering page now says, "The immediate bank deposit of $1 coins ordered through this program does not result in their introduction into circulation, and, therefore, does not comply with the intended purpose of the program." 

So the Mint has inaugurated a 20-box limit on each individual order.  Since each box contains 250, $1 coins, that means the maximum order as of this writing is $5,000.  The Mint also says some credit cad companies may consider the purchases as "cash-equivalent transactions" not eligible for the accumulation of frequent-flyer miles, so proceed under those cautions.

The Funniest Holiday Card of 2009? iPhone Apps For Parents With Young Kids!

My Minnesota-born friend, Doug Lansky, lives with his wife, Signe, and three young children in Stockholm, Sweden, where he's a widely-published author and travel journalist--he's the guy behind the "Signspotting" feature you may find in your local paper once a week.  For years, he's been distributing the funniest signs that mangle English that travelers send him from points around the world, and his third edition of the book, Signspotting III, was published this summer.

For Christmas this week, the Lansky family's holiday card (from Doug, his wife and their three children, Belieze, Sienna, and India) is a parody of those ubiquitous iPhone magazine ads, the ones that tout popular apps.  Except Doug and his wife played off the household havoc three kids can create by imagining some useful apps such as iScream: "Never thought you'd turn into a yeller, did you?  Keep calm and let this app amplify everything you say by 100X-, and it comes with safety earphones for user."

Or there's the Who Started It? app: "India did it. No, it was Belize's fault.  Sienna started it.  On one hand, who the f---- cares.  On the other, you need to be fair and make sure you're lecturing the right kid. Finally, a simple lie detector app that can help."

Then there's the Stop Hitting Your Sister app that allows you with the touch of a button to have your iTouch or iPhone repeat that question over and over while you pursue more leisurely and pleasant activities.

I thought his parody was so clever, I asked Doug for permission to reproduce it here.  He agreed, and while I  admit having young children around the house really helps make a holiday a great holiday, there isn't a parent among us who, every once in a while, wouldn't long for some of the handy apps the Lanskys imagined in this, their Christmas plea to Stephen Jobs and his programmers. 

Deals of the Week: Marquis Los Cabos & Sofitels Offer Jan & Feb Specials

I know we’re at the start of Christmas week, but it’s not too early to begin thinking about . . . Valentine's Day. 

You heard me right, Valentine’s Day.  So here’s a suggestion: Mark your calendar for January 7th.  That’s when every Sofitel hotel in North America launches a sale that actually lasts the entire month of February in honor of Valentine’s Day. It’s called the “Air of Romance” deal, and here’s what you get:  Along with a swanky room, a couple receives a daily breakfast, a bottle of Champagne per stay, a complimentary gift of roses or chocolate, late check out of 4 p.m. depending on availability, and priority reservation at the hotels' restaurants. Now, your rate depends on what hotel you choose.  There are Sofitels in Minneapolis, Chicago, San Francisco, Philadelphia, Washington, DC, Los Angeles, and New York.  Room rates for this February package range from a low of $170 in Minneapolis to a high of $334 a night in LA. But Chicago at $185 and San Francisco at $210 are darn reasonable, especially when you factor in the price of a hotel breakfast for two and a bottle of the bubbly.

So, remember, it's called the Air of Romance deal, and you can book beginning January 7th.

My second hotel deal stars the Marquis Los Cabos, a lovely hotel on the beach between the towns of Los Cabos and San Jose del Cabo  at the tip of the Baja California peninsula. From January through May, guests who book rooms receive a third night free.  But here’s where the deal gets interesting.  If you book a junior suite, you’ll also receive a rental car for two days and be upgraded to a 1,420-square-foot Marquis Suite or, even better, one of the resort's 28 ocean-view casitas with a huge bedroom and bathroom, not to mention a living room and private pool.

I ran the numbers, and they came out this way: By the time you add in 13% tax and a $35-a-day resort fee, a junior suite costs about $425 a night.  A Marquis Suite costs about $644 and a casita costs $850 a night.  Throw in the rental car and a third night free and you’ve got a considerable savings—an upgraded suite or casita for $283 a night.

The Marquis Los Cabos is a member of The Leading Hotels of the World, and it’s been named one of National Geographic Traveler magazine’s “Hotels with a Heart” because it donates five per cent of its annual revenue toward the staff’s education and health care.  I stayed at the Marquis three years ago and found the service delightful and the private setting ideal for a beach vacation.

If it sounds good to you, I'd give the hotel a ring at 877-238-9399 because even though the resort has a new web site, I couldn't find this package on the site.

Deals of the Week: Ritz-Carltons, Free Airfare to Jackson Hole & More

One of the advantage of the current economic downturn (how often have I typed that phrase?) is that even luxury hotels are offering deals to get heads in beds.

This week's deal is called "Resort Reconnect," and it comes courtesy of the resorts of Ritz-Carlton that this week announced a series of credits when you check in this winter.  The amount of credit you receive varies by properties and on the class of room you reserve. 

For example, go big time and slide yourself into a double room at the Ritz-Carlton in southern California at Laguna Niguel, a fabulous property overlooking the Pacific Ocean, for two nights and your breakfast is on the house plus you'll receive $75 in resort credit for each night you stay.  The credit may be applied to spa services, food, and drink.  It cannot be applied to the cost of your room, which will cost about $495 a night.

At the Beaver Creek Ritz-Carlton, in the heart of Colorado ski country, get breakfast for two plus $100 in Ritz money for each night you stay to throw around the resort like a drunken millionaire.  The West Palm Beach also offers breakfast for two plus $100 in resort credit.  Same thing at the Ritz in Cancun, Mexico.

For the hotel company's city properties, check for deals called "Reconnect" good until the end of December at individual properties.

For example, at the Ritz-Carlton in downtown Washington, DC, at 22nd and M Streets, NW, room rates begin at $279 a night. Stay two nights during a Thursday, Friday, Saturday, or Sunday and receive $100 in credit to use at the hotel, $200 if you stay three nights. 

Meanwhile, consider this offer at Jackson Hole in January.  If you purchase two airline tickets to visit Jackson Hole, you'll get two more for free.  So this deal is great for two couples or a family.  Or simply four friends.  While this deal is good between Jan. 3 through the end of the month, you MUST book your tickets before Jan. 1.  You must book your travel through Jackson Hole be calling 888-838-6606.  

And if you can't wait until January to ski at Jackson Hole, there's a hotel deal that will give you six room nights for the price of four.  In short, it's raining--or snowing--deals, so go shopping!

Watch Dusk Fall on Hong Kong's Skyline by Dragging Your Cursor Over This Photo

The talent of programmers never ceases to amaze me.

Here's a photo of Hong Kong's incredible skyline.  You can watch as night comes to the city and the lights in the skyscrapers emerge.

Entirely too cool!

Vegas' Two Newest Hotels, Araia & Vdara, Offer Introductory Rates

Well, you knew it was going to happen.  With the opening of the massive new complex called CityCenter in Las Vegas this week, there are suddenly thousands of new hotel rooms along the Strip at a time when room rates are already low because of the decline in visitors to Sin City.

Which is why this week's deal involves two of the hotels in the CityCenter, the 4,000-room Aria and the more boutique-sized (by Vegas standards) Vdara.

Here are the deals: The larger Aria is offering introductory rates beginning at $159 a night plus a $75 resort credit if you stay two consecutive nights through March 4th except during major holidays, which I presume would be Christmas and New Year's.  The resort credit cannot be applied to the cost of your room, but it can be used toward food and drink.

The deal at the Vdara (left) is $149 a night with a two-night stay minimum plus a $50 resort credit.  This deal expires April first and, again, is not availbale during major holidays.  

Keep in mind, the competition has been offering room rates this low for some time now and will likely continue to do so to respond to the opening of CityCenter, so it behooves you to shop around.  Don't be shy about negotiating.