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Southwest Begins SFO Service Aug. 26 With Three Cities and a Sale

For years, Southwest Airlines was content to serve the San Francisco area with flights into and out of Oakland airport.  And why not?  That airport is smaller than San Francisco's main airport, and it's less likely to suffer from schedule-crippling fog.

But with the summer start up of Virgin America at SFO, Southwest apparently felt it needed to defend its stake in San Francisco, so beginning late August, the airline will fly 18 daily flights--non-stop service to Chicago's Midway airport (three daily flights), Las Vegas (seven daily flights), and San Diego (eight daily flights).  And to get passengers used to the new service, Southwest is offering deeply discounted tickets if you book 21 days before you travel.  You may begin buying sale tickets now for travel between the start of SFO service, Aug. 26, and Oct. 31.  Obviously, with the 21-day advance purchase requirement, the sale ends Oct. 10.

Sale fares are as low as $39 one way to San Diego, $59 one way to Vegas, and $99 to Chicago Midway.  By the way, those fares are also valid from the other two San Francisco airports served by Southwest, Oakland and San Jose.   For a schedule of all Southwest flights from the San Francisco area, including ongoing flights to Boston, DC, and Orlando, visit the airline's web site.  For rules and details on the sale, click here.  As always, sale seats are limited, so the special offer fits your travel needs, book sooner rather than later.

Attention Amex Cardholders In the US & UK: Prices Drop Every 20 Minutes on Luxury Vacation Packages; You Bid When Price Is Right

OK, here's the deal American Express is offering its cardholders in the US and UK every weekday from April 17-April 27: Each day at 11 a.m. Eastern time, Amex will post on line a five-star travel package to destinations such as Florence, South Africa, and Antarctica.  Every 20 minutes, the price of those packages will decline by an unspecified amount--Amex is keeping that a secret.  When you think the price is right, you can buy the package with a few clicks on your computer keyboard. 

Unlike some sites that sell or auction last-minute travel packages, this offer has a nice twist: You have at least six months, or in some cases, up to 12 months, to choose the time you want to travel.  You must use an American Express card to make your purchase should you win a package.

This is not the first time Amex has held a "declining price" auction, and previous ones have sold out before a package is removed from sale at 7 p.m. Eastern time each day. The good news is, there is more than one of each package trip available, so there can be several winners of each package.  Amex estimates winning bidders at last year's "Going Once" auction realized an average savings of 37% compared to retail prices.   

Beginning next week, on April 2, Amex will also post for viewing a limited supply of fixed-price travel packages at cardmember-only prices, all priced below $3,000. You can begin purchasing them on April 17, and they'll remain available until they're sold out or April 30, whichever comes first.  Details also available on the "Going Once" website.

Except for the interesting package vacation involving a luxurious recreational vehicle, all the packages in the declining-price auction are for two people traveling together and include airfare from the US or UK. Here are a few examples of what will be available:

• For adventure: A 12-night voyage around Antarctica with expert guides and lecturers.  The winner of this package will be flown from New York (other departure cities are available) to Santiago, where you'll spend a day and a night.  Then on to Ushuaia where you'll board your ship--you'll have an upper deck, outside cabin.  Starting price: $13,198.
• For R&R: A seven-night trip for two to the West Indies island of Canouan.  Included: Round-trip airfare from Miami or Gatwick and seven nights at Raffles Resort in a junior suite with an ocean view.  Starting price for US travelers: $7,740.
• For a safari: Airfare to Capetown, South Africa, from London's Heathrow or New York's JFK airport on South African Airways.  Spend four nights at the Table Bay Hotel right on Capetown's waterfront.  Take a tour of the nearby gorgeous wine country and tarry over lunch at a wine estate.  Then spend three nights tracking game in a Range Rover at the Idube Private Game Reserve in Kruger park. Return via Johannesburg.  Starting price is $7,985 for US-based travelers; retail price is $12,400.
• See the USA: The most unusual package is the use of an ultra-luxurious recreational vehicle fit for a rock star with four bedrooms and flat-screen TVs.  You'll receive $500 in gas money and a $250 credit for groceries.  Then the two of you and six of your best friends will have nine nights to travel anywhere around the US your heart desires.  Oh, and you can pick up and drop off the RV almost wherever you want when your trip is over--you don't have to return it to your starting point.  Beginning price: $14,257.
• Other packages include trips to Orlando, the Greek islands, Florence, Hong Kong, and the Riviera Maya.   

 

Where Can You Park For a Penny a Day In Chicago?

Answer: The Sheraton Chicago Hotel & Towers between March 29th and April 7th.  The deal is to celebrate the hotel's 15th birthday.  That's a savings of $39 a day, by the way.

I have complicated feelings about this hotel.  First of all, it's got a great location and great views from many of the rooms.  And I've scored some great deals there, especially in January, when the entire world isn't necessarily beating a path to Chicago to experience the city's winter weather.

But this is also the hotel that once sold my confirmed-and-paid-for-because-I-was-arriving-early-in-the-morning room when I didn't show up 'til 5 a.m. 

Several years ago, I had a luncheon speech to deliver at the hotel to a convention of owners of bed and breakfasts from around the country.  I had to take a red-eye flight  from Los Angeles to make the date, and I knew I'd want a few hours sleep after landing at O'Hare very, very early in the morning.  So I bought a room for that night before my speech and reserved it with the notation I might not be in until dawn.  Even called from Los Angeles before takeoff to make sure my room was there and that the front desk knew I wouldn't be landing 'til early morning.

When I showed up at the desk after 5 a.m., I found the hotel had sold my room to someone else.  Now there's nice work if you can get it: Sell a hotel room twice in the same night.  To management's credit, staff moved a cot into a ballroom that wasn't being used and set up an alarm clock on the floor next to me.  Now, sleeping in a cavernous ballroom is a bit weird, but I was so tired, I didn't care. 

Bit I digress: The point of this posting is that parking overnight at a big-city hotel can be very expensive.  If the upcoming dates coincide with a planned visit to Chicago, well, if you're driving a car, keep that $38.99 in your pocket by choosing the Sheraton Chicago Hotel & Towers.  As I learned, they can always find a room for you there.

Oh, and there's more: According to the "special deals" part of the hotel's website, there are a limited number of rooms on offer for $129 the first week of April.  Most excellent.   

Lost Your Luggage? You May Be Able To Find It In . . . Alabama

Every wonder where the stuff airlines lose winds up?  I'm not talking about the bags that go astray and are eventually reunited with their owners, as most missing bags are.  I'm talking about the bags that disappear into the great luggage carousel in the sky.

Well, a lot of the stuff in those bags winds up in Scottsboro, Alabama, at the Unclaimed Baggage Center, where airlines send bags (and their contents) they can't match with owners.  There, at a retail store on West Willow Street, you can rummage through the belongings of other people and buy stuff at prices way off retail.  If you don't happen to live in Alabama, you can go on line and buy, too.  Want a five-megapixel, Panasonic Lumix digital camera?  As I write, there's one on offer on line for $120.  In fact, the Unclaimed Baggage Center (which is NOT owned by the airlines) has everything from expensive jewelry and watches to cheap shoes.  There are designer jeans and jackets from Vera Wang and other recognizable names.  There are golf clubs and fishing rods.  In fact, if it's something folks check as luggage, you're likely to find it here.

On March 17th, the Unclaimed Baggage Center is holding what it calls a "spring fling," promising "a large slection of newly stocked inventory."  The store recommends showing up early (in person or on line) to get the best selection.  Hey--maybe you'll even find something you once lost. 

How I Saved $74 On a Rental Car: Priceline Still Delivers Deals

Several years ago, third-party travel providers such as Expedia, Travelocity, Orbitz and Priceline were doing a gangbuster business.  That's because the travel industry was in the doldrums, and hotels, airlines, and rental car companies were grateful for any additional channels through which they could sell their product.

But in the last 18 months, travel has roared back to life.  Airlines are flying full planes.  Rental car companies are raising their prices.  And hotels are working to gain control over more of their room inventory and making "lowest-price" promises to drive business to their websites. 

Third-party websites have begun concentrating on packages to make money.  By bundling a hotel room, airline ticket and rental car, sites such as Expedia can offer deals that are attractive to travelers who know buying two or three elements of a trip together can be cheaper than buying each separately.  So where does that leave Priceline, whose clever ads starring actor William Shatner remind us you can still bid for travel on the web site? 

I've never bid on an airline ticket on Priceline because I could never afford not to know ahead of time when during a day I'd be departing my destination.  (While you can buy specific flights on Priceline, if you bid, you can only specify the days you want to fly--not the times.)  But since Priceline began, I've regularly used the site to rent hotel rooms and reserve cars. 

Now, there are entire web sites and blogs devoted to ways to figure out how much to bid on Priceline.  But I will tell you this: Check the retail price of a rental car or hotel room, then bid at least 30 per cent less on Priceline.  I did just that to get a car for five days in Los Angeles last week.  I found most rental car sites quoted me between $230 and $300 for a standard car with unlimited mileage and an airport (LAX) pick up.  I bid $140 on Priceline ($28/day before taxes and fees) and got a car at Budget.  With taxes and fees, the total cost was $166.65. 

Just to see how much I would have paid retail, I went to Budget's own web site, replicated my request and was quoted a total cost of $240.  Savings: $74.  Not too bad.  Bottom line: I'm still a Priceline fan.    

Travel Secrets: Scoring Super Bowl Tickets & Hotel For NEXT Year

You don't necessarily have to know someone to score Super Bowl tickets for next year in Arizona.  But you do have to be willing to spend a few thousand dollars to buy a package that includes a hotel room, game tickets, preferred parking, parties and other perks.

A few years ago, the NFL began offering packages aimed at corporate buyers that wrap all those goodies up into one deal.  This past Super Bowl, there were six different offers ranging in price from $4,299 to $9,949.  While the packages are generally aimed at corporate big-spenders (the web site CareerBuilder.com bought more than 100 of the most expensive packages, for example), there's nothing preventing an individual from buying, as well.  As of this writing, the NFL web site has not posted details on pacakges for '08.  However, you may call the offices of NFL On Location at 212-655-5665 for information.

Footnote: There are other premium-event sport packages, as well, on offer from companies that specialize in putting together sports getaway packages.  Two companies worth checking out are RazorGater Experiences and Premier Sports Travel.

JetBlue Moves Into the Turf of Major Competitors In San Francisco

Discount carrier JetBlue has been flying to San Francisco via nearby Oakland's airport, traditional home to Southwest Airlines, for years now.  The weather is better in Oakland--less chance of fog delays--and landing fees are a lot less than at San Francisco's main airport, SFO. 

But on May 3rd, JetBlue begins serving SFO with once-daily flights to New York's JFK airport and Boston's Logan.  If you book travel by January 22 for flights between May 3 and June 13, JetBlue is selling a limited number of $99 one-way fares.  Act fast.  Your best bet for finding that discount fare is to plan your travel during midweek. 

JetBlue says it plans to continue its successful service to Oakland, but it's also keeing a wary eye on Virgin America, the cut-rate airline that hopes to begin flying soon from SFO.  (Last month the Transportation Department refused Virgin Atlantic permission to start flying because it didn't think the airline was sufficiently controlled by US citizens, and the airline is appealling that decision.)   Apparently JetBlue thinks its preemptive move might blunt the success of Virgin America.  And SFO is the airport of choice for hundreds of thousands of San Francisco residents and those who live on the Peninsula in towns such as Palo Alto.

JetBlue expects that generally, it's coast-to-coast fares will be between $150 and $399 each way.  In planting its flag at SFO, JetBlue challenges both United and American that have traditionally dominated the trans-continental routes out of that airport.  Don't be surprised if their fares drop as if by magic beginning May 3.

 

A New Discount Airline Grows Quietly Near Chicago; Is There a Gary In Your Future? If You Want to Fly Somewhere Warm, There May Be

When it started up last year, SkyValue USA, a new airline based in Gary, Indiana, planned to only fly during winter months, offering discounted flights to warm spots such as Florida, Arizona and Nevada.  But apparently business has been good enough to justify a year-round schedule, according to Darrell Richardson, CEO of SkyValue. 

The airline currently serves Mesa, an alternative airport to Phoenix, as well as Las Vegas, Orlando, and St. Petersburg, FL.  Its founders hope low fares along with Gary's smaller, less busy airport will lure travelers from the Chicago area weary of fighting crowds at O'Hare and Midway. 

Fligths to Ft. Lauderdale were canceled due to lack of interest, but the airline is considering adding a flight to the Los Angeles area. 

Interestingly, SkyValue flies chartered Boeing 747-800 jets.  Fares begin at $79 each way and rise in cost as seats are sold.

Rudy's Favorite Travel Links

CellularAbroad: Cell Phones & Chips For Overseas - One of the most frequent questions I get asked is: Should I buy a cell phone to use overseas? Rent one? Rent a chip for my US phone? The answer depends on how much you need a cell phone while on the road. Do you go abroad for only a week or two a year? Or do you travel overseas more often? Do you expect to receive a lot of incoming calls when you're out of the US or do you just need to make a few calls a week? No matter your answer, the folks at Cellular Abroad can outfit you with the right phone or chip depending on your needs. know, because my public television crew and I use the company for all our cellular needsin Europe and Asia. Whether you need a country-specific chip (which makes all incoming calls free) or one of the new (as of the summer of '05) "Talk Abroad" chips that work all over Europe and other countries, talk to Cellular Abroad and get the right equipment for your needs at an attractive price. Use the code "MAXA" if you make a purchase at www.cellularabroad.com or tell them Rudy Maxa sent you if you order by phone at 800-287-3020 and receive $10 off a tri-band phone or a "Talk Abroad" chip.

MedjetAssist - Many travelers think a perk of "premium" credit cards is medical evacuation in the event of a serious injury or illness while traveling. They're right--up to a point. You're usually covered for evacuation to the nearest hospital. But what if you don't want to stay in the nearest hospital? Consider paying $195 for an annual membership (or $295 to cover a family) with MedjetAssist. The company will provide a medically equipped private jet to take you to the hospital of your choice if you require hospitalization while traveling more than 150 miles from home. If you only travel once or twice a year, the MedjetAssist also offers short-term memberships for seven, 14 or 21 days beginning at $69 for an individual. I always carry a MedjetAssist card when I travel, and I insist that the crew that travels with me when we're filming "Smart Travels: Europe with Rudy Maxa" do the same.

Dream of Italy, The Travel Newsletter - Kathy McCabe, a former USA Today travel writer, loves Italy. If you do, as well, consider subscribing to her 10-times-a-year, very personal newsletter, Dream of Italy--the Insider's Guide to Undiscovered Italy. For luxury travelers, the newsletter covers all things Italian. That means art, cooking schools, cultural events, destinations, hotels, museums, restaurants, shopping, and villa rentals. National Geographic Traveler and American Airines' magazine, American Way, both recommend the publication. And all subscribers receive on-line access to more than two years of back issues--a great resource for planning a trip. A mail subscription is $79 per year, while an e-mail subscription is $69 annually. Visit www.dreamofitaly.com or call 877-OF-ITALY to subscribe.

Europe By Car - When we shoot our Europe series for public television each summer, we often obtain our cars from europebycar.com. The reason is simple: great cars at a great price. Of particular use for anyone traveling in Europe 17 days or longer is the lease option that allows you to avoid paying the high Value Added Tax that normally applies to rental cars. Not only that, but when you opt for the lease option, you'll be driving brand new Peugeot and Renault cars that can be picked up and dropped off at hundreds of sites in Western Europe. Europe By Car calls the longer-term rentals the "purchase/re-purchase" or "buy-back" option, but it's no more complicated than a standard rental. The company also has very competitive prices for standard, short-term rentals. Details: wwww.europebycar.com or 800-223-1516.

French Culinary Adventures - Les Liaisons Délicieuses is a culinary tour company that offers extraordinary, in-depth, one-of-a-kind gastronomic adventures in France, Morocco, and Quebec Province. In addition to dining at Michelin-starred restaurants with deluxe accommodations, guests enjoy cooking alongside master chefs, accompanying the chefs to local markets and wineries, and meals arranged by the chefs in private homes. Intimate groups of eight to ten like-minded travelers experience the history, art, and culture in a way that is unavailable to the typical tourist. All levels of cooking ability are welcome, and custom trips are available.

www.gayot.com - When was the last time you read a guidebook that you really trusted, especially when it comes to the highly personal subject of restaurants?  Check out the Gayot guides for restaurant advice in Atlanta, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco and Washington, DC.  Or for general travel advice, as well, the company's "Best Of" series includes more cities, including London and Paris.  Andre Gayot is the paterfamilias of the series, as well as the inventor, along with his foodie friends Henri Gault and Christian Millau, of the term "nouvelle cuisine" in the 1970s.  Check this website for reviews and information on ordering books.

joesentme.com - For years, Joe Brancatelli has been one of the country's smartest travel columnists and observers. If you fly commercially or stay in hotels frequently, visit this site every week to learn the nuts and bolts of the travel business. In addition, Joe has several colleagues whose columns are worth a peek, as well. You'll find those on his home page. Tell him Rudy sent you.

asta.org - If you receive an offer for a travel deal that seems just too good to be true, check out the web site of the American Society of Travel Agents at asta.org. There you'll find information on how to reach ASTA -- you can then ask if the travel company soliciting you is a member.

johnnyjet.com - Want a link to just about every newspaper, magazine (and any other kind of) travel web site in North America? Click on our friend Johnny Jet's eclectic home page.

smartravels.tv - For information and to order tapes of Rudy's PBS-TV series, "Smart Travels in Europe with Rudy Maxa," this is the place to go. This series, rich in history, culture, and stunning photography, is 13, half-hour episodes: Paris, Provence, Tuscany & Umbria, London, Outside London, Rome, Venice, Amsterdam, Copenhagen & Denmark, Naples & the Amalfi Coast, Genoa & the Italian Riviera, Florence, Brussels.

transitionsabroad.com - If you're looking for something beyond mass tourism this is the place to find it. You can read past articles from their bimonthly Transitions Abroad magazine, order a copy of Work Abroad, The Complete Guide to Finding a Job Overseas, or follow links to a whole world of information on working, living and learning overseas.

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British Airways Slashes Biz Class Fares From All Its US Gateways

Want to take your summer vacation in Europe and fly busines class at a great rate?  Then book your trip now and take advantage of this extraordinary sale on business class seats from British Airways.

In what must be a response to competition from eos and Maxjet, British Airways is offering round-trip, business class fares between New York (JFK and Newark) to London for as low as $2,112 good for travel between July 1 and Sept. 2.  You must purchase your tickets by midnight (Eastern Standard Time), Feb. 1, 2007. 

The fine print: You must book 21 days in advance.  Travel on a weekend (Thursday through Sunday), and there's a $30 surcharge each way.  A Saturday night stay is required; maximum stay is 11 months.  Taxes and fees of about $150 are additional. 

No matter how much fine print, however, this sale is at least a nod toward the competition faced by British Airways, which offers totally flat beds in its business class cabin.  Biz fares have been as much as $8,000 between the East Coast and London, but the rise of all-business-class airlines such as eos and Maxjet is putting pressure on carriers such as BA, American, and United.  Look for BA's competiton to match these prices.

And BA's deal extends beyond New York.  All 19 US gateway cities served by BA are included, with prices ranging from $2,225 between Atlanta and London to a high of $3,641 (all before taxes and fees) between Seattle and London.  Need a hotel in London?  If you fly business class, the airline has deals on stays at such nice addresses as The Ritz, Grosvenor House, Kensington House and Copthorne Tara. 

Delta Launches NY-London With $199 RT

Here's the headline: Beginning Nov. 15th, Delta Air Lines launches a new flight linking New York's JFK airport with London 's Gatwick Airport by offering a limited number of $199 round-trip tickets in coach and $999 business class tickets.  Purchase tickets NOW, as the offer closes Sept. 7th.  The usual steep menu of additional fees and taxes apply.  You must stay over a Saturday night but no longer than 30 days.  This rock-bottom fare is good for travel beginning Nov. 15th through April 20,  2007, with the following black-out dates: Dec. 15th through Jan. 7, 2007.

Tickets must be purchased through Delta's web site or via a travel agent. 

The new flight is part of Delta's international expansion, which will include the world's first non-stop flight between Mumbai, India, and JFK beginning Nov. 1st.  On Dec. 11th, Delta inaugurates service between New York and Africa with four-times-a-week service to Accra, Ghana.

Prices Fall with Autumn Leaves on MAXjet

The battle between the East Coast’s two discount, all-business-class airlines, MAXjet and EOS, heats up as MAXjet announces a round-trip fare between London’s Stansted airport and either New York or Washington, DC, of $1,199 for travel between Sep. 12 and Nov. 10.  That price includes all taxes and fees. 

The catch?  You must buy your round-trip ticket by July 14.  Tickets are non-transferable and non-refundable but may be reissued for a $100 change fee plus any applicable difference in fare, provided that the change is made prior to the departure date. Use promo code FALL06 when booking at the airline's web site. 

It's Hot In Arizona, So Biltmore Prices Plummet--But There ARE Eight Pools!

Through Sept. 10, 2006, room rates at the swanky Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa begin at $129 a day (not including taxes and a $20-per-day resort fee) weekdays, Sunday through Thursday.  Weekend rates start at $150 a day.  That's 36% off weekday rack rates, 25% off weekend regular, full rates. 

Given the desert heat in Arizona in the summer, it's a good thing there are eight pools, including a big one that hosts nightly "dive-in" movies--adults and kids float in the water while watching movies at night.  The resort, with more than 700 rooms, sprawls stylishly over 39 acres at the foot of the Phoenix Mountain Preserve.  With lots of planned activities for kids, seven tennis courts, and two, 18-hole PGA golf courses adjacent to the resort, there's no shortage of things to do.  But in the hottest part of the afternoon, my suggestion is: Check out the spa.

Fairmont Hotels Offers Early Summer Booking Bonus With American Express Card

For the last couple of years now, I've considered the Fairmont Hotels & Resorts company one of the most up-and-coming hotel chains in the world.  Slowly, without a lot of fanfare, the hotel company has upgraded and added properties.  Some of the hotels and rooms on club floors rival Ritz-Carlton and Four Seasons in design, comfort and amenities.  I'll be most interested in watching the 2007 re-opening of The Plaza in New York City under the Fairmont flag, as it's always taken a tremendous effort to keep that Manhattan jewel looking spiffy inside. 

Right now, though, through Sept. 5, 2006, you can try out any of more than 40 Fairmont hotels and resorts in the US, Canada and overseas at very attractive prices.  Pay with an American Express card, stay at least two consecutive nights, and you'll receive a $50 food and beverage credit per room, per night at rates as low as $140 a night at the Toronto Fairmont or $179 (excluding taxes) at the place I often stay, the Fairmont in Washington, DC.  Fairmont calls this its One and Only Summer sale, and you can book on line or call 800-830-1411. 

Great Baseball/Hotel Package in DC

Through the end of October, the very, very nice Fairmont Washington offers two packages for baseball fans visiting the nation's capital.  The bargain-priced deal, the "Take Me Out To the Ballgame" offer, provides an overnight stay, two Metro (subway) tickets to and from the stadium, a team poster, baseball cap and complimentary hotel parking for $269 per night before taxes. 

For high rollers, the "Grand Slam Exclusive Package" delivers an upgrade to the hotel's swanky Club Floor for two nights (with free breakfast and evening hors d'ouevres), sedan service transport to and from RFK Stadium, two premium-seat tickets and Sunday brunch--Tattinger Champagne included--at the hotel.  Available on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights, this two-night minimum package requires a 14-day advance purchase and costs $999 per night not including taxes.

Details: 800-441-1414 or at the hotel chain's web site. 

Paris & a BMW From Hilton: $438

Through the end of July, the Hotel Arc de Triumphe Paris and the Hilton Paris (as opposed to Paris Hilton), offer a room and car package that gets you a double room, breakfast and a one-day BMW rental for rates beginning at $438. 

Which means you can head out of Paris in style for a day trip to Disneyworld, the Champagne region, Normandy, Versailles or the Loire Valley.  Details: www.hilton.com (look for Sleep & Drive special offer) or 800-HILTONS.

On Switzerland's Lake Lucerne, Birthday Extras At a Luxury Hotel

Choose from a menu of extras if you stay at the luxurious Palace Luzern hotel on the shores of Switzerland's Lake Lucerne any time in 2006.

To celebrate the hotel's 100th anniversary, a $1,350 Centennial Package includes two nights in a double room with a view of the lake, daily breakfast buffet, a dinner for two fashioned after the hotel's original menu, and a tour of the lake aboard a paddle-wheel steam boat.

For fun, for 100 Swiss francs (or about US$80), you can add a host of extras such as an upgrade to a suite, a one-hour massage at the hotel's new spa, or a four-course dinner at the hotel's Jasper restaurant.  Other options for $80: A one-hour private tennis lesson at the Lido Tennis Club or a one-hour golf lesson at the Kussnacht golf course; nine holes of golf during the week; a gourmet picnic lunch (including transportation) in the Swiss Alps; a privately escorted tour of the Rosengart Art Museum; or a personal shopping excursion with the hotel's "leisure designer" to Lucerene's  boutiques and shops.

One more perk: If the combined age of you and your significant other totals 100, the hotel will knock $80 off your nightly rate.

Details: www.palace-luzern.ch or phone (+41) 41-416-1616.  You may also book with Leading Hotels of the World at 800-223-6800.

Rockefeller Plaza Gets Its First Hotel

In May, mid-town Manhattan's Rockefeller Plaza gets its first hotel, the Rockefeller Center Hotel, located on the first six floors of a new, 25-story building at 25 W. 51st St.  Here's the best news: Until the end ofd May, guests can take advantage of a $199 introductory, nightly rate.  And then, through the end of July 5, the introductory rate is extended but at a slightly higher price point: $225 per night for a double. By New York City standards, still a great bargain.

Among the perks: A discounted day pass to The Sports Club/LA across the street and temporary membership (for a nominal fee) in a private club on the seven floor (the Terrace Club) with a terrace overlooking the plaza's ice skating rink and St. Patrick's Cathedral.  Oh, and the Wi-Fi is complimentary.

Obviously, guests are steps away from Radio City Music Hall, the shops that line Fifth Avenue, the Museum of Modern Art, and the restaurants of Rockefeller Plaza.  The theater district as well as Central Park are within easy walking distance.  And you can catch a glimpse of the "Today Show" folks doing their morning thing, as well. 

Obviously, as the 80-room hotel isn't yet open, I can't give you a first-hand report.  But at $199-$225 a night for what I expect will rank as a four- or five-star hotel, checking in this spring isn't a big risk.  Phone: 212-262-3200.

NYC Hotel For $125/Night? Yes!

Actually, two of them. 

HotelconXions, a discount hotel web site, offers a $125/night rate for single or double occupancy at two New York City, boutique-style hotels, Ameritania (W. 54th & Broadway, near Times Square and the theater district) and Bentley (E. 62nd & York, near Bloomingdales on the East Side).  That room rate does not include taxes, which would bring the rate up another $20 or so a night.

HotelconXions.com says this rate represents a 25% savings off regular prices.  The price is good on stays from June 1 to Aug. 31, 2006, but reservations must be made by the end of June.

I have not visited or stayed at either of these hotels, so I can't personally vouch for them.  But in New York City, these days, anything under $200/night counts as a bargain.  I checked TripAdviser for reviews of the Ameritania, and guest comments range from "simply crummy" to "just perfect" and "as good as we hoped."  (By the way, a press release from HotelconXions touts Ameritania's "spacious rooms," marble bathrooms, CD players, "luxurious linens and towels" and Wi-Fi for a "minimal" fee.)

The Bentley received slightly better guest reviews on Tripadvisor, though a thoughtful write-up  from a person who described herself as a travel agent who stayed there eight nights was very mixed.  Good points: Good bed, clean room  Bad: Well, read it yourself here. (The HotelconXions press release promises a rooftop restaurant, on-site parking, marble bathrooms, Belgian linens, and reasonably priced Wi-Fi connections.)

My take: If you only need to sleep in a room for a good price, consider both hotels (which are managed by the Amsterdam Hospitality Group).  If you're looking for a romantic or magical experience, these might not be place to camp out. 

Cathay's Sweetheart Specials to Asia

Every month, the Hong Kong-based carrier Cathay Pacific posts a travel deal, but this one--good for all of February and March--is an especially sweet one.   In fact, in honor of Valentine's Day, the airline calls these "sweetheart fares."

You can fly from New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco to Hong Kong, Ho Chi Minh City, Bali, Manila, Bangkok, Mumbai, Penang or Taipei for as little as $674 round trip (before taxes and fees) and still earn miles.  The deals are available for outbound flights through March 1, and travel should be completed by April 30.

But here's the important part: You must purchase your tickets by the last day of February at www.cathaypacific.com/us.

United v. Delta in Brazil Blowout!

I don't use exclamation points often in headlines, but this sale deserves a couple!  Delta launched a modest sale on its flights to Sao Paulo, Brazil, knocking about $100 off tickets from cities it serves for flights between June 18-28, 2006.  Cheapest seats are for Monday through Thursday travel.

United, apparently feeling feisty after spending more than three years in bankruptcy court, countered with a one-two punch.  First, it targeted Delta's hub cities, offering an astounding $355, round-trip fare between Atlanta, Cincinnati or Salt Lake city and Sao Paulo.  Then it announced it would offer the sale seats all the way to Jan. 2, 2007 every day of the week. 

Rather be in Rio?  Fly to Sao Paulo and buy a round-trip ticket to and from Rio for less than $200.

Central America: Deals That Are Steals

American Airlines and US Airways are having an unpublicized staredown, vying for your business to Belize, Guatemala, and two cities in Costa Rica, San Jose and Liberia.  Both airlines have slashed fares by about half during a sale good for travel through June 15.

You'll find the cheapest fares on flights Monday through Thursday, and get this: There's no advance-purchase requirement.  American decided to meet and beat US Airways' fares from Charlotte, Phoenix, Philadelphia, and Pittsburgh.  Round trip fares (before taxes and fees) between those cities are as follows for these destinations:

--Liberia, Costa Rica, $315

--San Jose, Costa Rica, $309

--Guatemala City, $303

--Belize City, $292.  (Or, if you can't travel before mid-June, check out Northwest Airline's matching fare of $293 good through Jan. 2, 2007.)

All-Biz, DC-London Flights Launch with Sale

MAXjet, the discount, all-business carrier that links New York with London, announces service between Washington Dulles and London's Stansted beginning with March 15th flights from DC.  (Service from Standsted begins Mar. 17.)  An introductory fare for a limited number of seats (all of which recline 160 degrees) begins at $999 (including taxes and fees).  Flights are on Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Friday.  Details: www.maxjet.com.

A Fire Sale--Literally--On Lake Placid

Six weeks ago, a fire destroyed part of a great resort, the Lake Placid Lodge, in upstate New York.  However, many of the luxury cabins were not damaged, and management is offering 60% off original rates for all of 2006.  Which means a cabin with a view of the lake that normally costs $700 is now $325 a night.  There are 12 guest cabins, including a two-bedroom suite that was formerly $1,100 a night and is now $550.

If you've always wanted to visit the gorgeous Adirondacks and the Lake Placid region, this is the place to stay.  The special deal includes a full American breakfast and free use of sporting equipment for winter (cross-country skis, snow shoes, and sleigh rides) and summer (bikes, kayaks, canoes, and guide boats for nightly cruises on the lake).  And all details are five-star, from the lavish breakfasts to the apple cider pound cake during turndown in the winter.

One cabin has been converted to a dining area serving breakfast and light lunches.  Dinner will be served there beginning in the summer.  Another cabin is a mini-theater with nightly movies complete with a popcorn machine and open bar.  Both the theater cabin and the dining cabin offer an open bar.  A third cabin is a game room and library. 

In addition to the loss of the main lodge building (with its dining rooms and 17 guest rooms), the lodge lost a wine collection it estimates to have been worth $250,000.  Management is in the process of rebuilding its cellar.

For details and reservations, call 518-523-2700. 

Now, THIS Is the Way to Learn French!

I murder the French language for two reasons: I've never taken a real French course (six weeks at Berlitz doesn't count) and my first foreign language was German. 

But a new Relais & Chateaux property in the south of France offers a most delightful way to begin learning French while enjoying a vacation, too.   

Here's the deal: Le Mas Candille, in the charming town of Mougins located above Cannes on the French Riviera, will put you up for six nights, feed you three meals a day (the hotel's restaurant has one star from Michelin), provide a 30-minute spa treatment  as well as transportation to and from the Nice airport and 3.5 hours of French instruction each day for $1.685 per person based on double occupancy.  That works out to about $481 a day per couple for lodging, all meals and French lessons.

Not bad.

Your instructor will be Christine Gloppe, a Sorbonne grad with 22 years of experience teaching conversational French to English speakers.  The course is aimed at begining and intermediate French speakers.  Classes will be in the hotel, once an 18th century farmhouse, or mas, if you'd like to begin your French lesson here and now. And, of course, in your free time, you can explore the coastline, from Monte Carlo to St. Tropez while practicing your French. 

Check out the hotel on line and, if you'd like to discuss a stay, e-mail the reservation manager, Maximilien Ritter, at reservations@lemascandille.com.  Oh, Monsieur Ritter speaks English fluently.

If your not up for the trip but still want to learn french, try Rosetta Stone Language Learning Software.

Biz Class Gets Competitive on NYC-London Routes

Sure enough, the arrival of all-business-class Eos and MAXjet in the competitive NYC-London route has caused airfares to drop and perks to go up in the category of business fares.  British Airways announced a 20% fare cut for travelers in business class who can book seven days in advance.  And until the end of the year, members of BA's frequent flyer program will earn a bonus of 40,500 miles for every round-trip, business or first class ticket purchased.  That means 50,000 miles earned per trip.

Meanwhile, MAXjet, which will begin flying the route next Tuesday, has dropped its intial round trip fare from $1,708 (announced in September) to $1,493.  The airline will fly Boeing 767s with an all-business configuration of 102 seats. 

And Eos, whose "suite configuration" means each airplane has only 48 seats, is offering business class seats through Jan. 3 for $5,000 instead of $6,000.  And the first 48 passengers who book tickets beginning at 8 a.m. today, Oct. 25th, will be invited to a private concert and dinner starring Sting in NYC on Nov. 3.

Trans-Atlantic Biz Class Discounts

In the ‘70s, Freddie Laker started Skytrain, a discount airline offering rock-bottom fares between London and New York, the most traveled international route in the world. But the airline closed down in 1982 after expanding too quickly during a worldwide recession. Then came People Express, charging $149 each way between Newark and London's Gatwick airport.  But, like Skytrain, the airline took on too much debt to expand, competitors cut fares to compete, and it closed down in 1986.

Now, at least two airlines think that it’s the business traveler who will love low fares.  Eos Airlines recently began offerings business class-only seating (with 21 square feet of personal space and a fully flat seat for sleeping) aboard B-757s between New York’s JFK and London’s Stansted for about $3,250 each way—about $1,000 less than larger competitors’ full-fare business class.  Service is set to begin Oct. 18.

And on Nov. 1, MAXjet begins all-business-class service, also between JFK and Stansted. Fares, according to the airline’s web site, will begin at $799 each way. The airline will fly B-767s with 60-inch pitch seats, much less generous than Eos' offering. But, then again, the fare is much less.

This new competition has caused fares for business class seats on trans-Atlantic flights to drop among the legacy carriers. British Airways, for example, offers lower fares on many days depending on demand. For example, fly on Nov. 17^th, and pick up a ticket for $2,477 each way. As always, shop around because there’s never been a better time to find low business class fares to Europe.

Third Night Free at Lovely Nevis Resort

Take a free night for every three nights you stay at the Mount Nevis Hotel, a lovely, family-operated resort perched on a hill above the gorgeous beaches of the small Caribbean island of Nevis. The offer is good until Dec. 15, though Thanksgiving weekend--Nov. 23-27--is excluded. A deluxe king room costs $250 a night plus 10% for service and a 9% tax. The small resort is on the grounds of a former lime plantation and includes a 60-foot, freshwater swimming pool, tennis courts, and a gym. A free shuttle will transport you to a nearby beach club, and golf courses are close by.  This is an excellent getaway for a low-key vacation for a couple or a family. 

Gasspotters' Web Reports Can Save You Cash

Two web sites may help you find the cheapest gas in your neighborhood.   Prices per gallon may vary by as much as 30 cents in the same city--which means you may save $5 or more if you choose the right place to fill 'er up.  Check out gasbuddy.com, where more than 350,000 prices are updated weekly by volunteers.  Gaspricewatch.com provides a similar service and is working to deliver up-to-the-minute information to your cell phone soon. 

The price of a gallon of regular gas has gone up nearly 70 cents in the last year in the US.  Strategies for keeping costs down include paying with a credit card that offers a rebate on gas purchases, such as the Citi Dividend Platinium Select MasterCard and the Discover Platinum Gas Card that both give you a 5% rebate when you buy gas.   Or check out prices at discount retailers such as Costco--you don't have to be a Costco member to buy gas, by the way.  More and more grocery stores, including Kroger, are beginning to sell gas and offer additional discounts if you buy certain, advertised grocery products. 

Feeling lucky?  You can bet on the future price of fuel without having to deal with a commodities broker.  The web site pinnaclesports.com will let you speculate on the average price of a gallon of gas at some future date in Los Angeles or New York City.  Think that price will hit $3.00 a gallon by the first of the year?  Make a bet; if you lose, you'll pay "juice." Of course, keep in mind, gambling on such things may be illegal in some states. 

Travelocity + Mastercard=Free Zagat On-Line Sub

Book a two-night or longer hotel and airfare trip on Travelocity through the end of August, and you'll get a free subscription to zagat.com, the on-line arm of the restaurant (and more) review service.   An annual subscription to zagat.com costs about $20.  Zagat guides became famous for their pithy, consumer-written reviews of eateries in major cities.  Today, the guides also cover hotels, golf courses, even Broadway plays.  To claim your free subscription, enter the promotional code ZAGATMC1 when you reach the "checkout" part of your transaction on Travelocity.com.  

Far Pavilions London Theatre Package at 51 Buckingham Gate

This is not a bad deal if you like London, luxury hotels, and theater.  Or theatre, as it's spelled it in the UK.  51 Buckingham Gate is a luxe hotel operated by the Taj hotel folks in the delightful London neighborhood of Westminster.  And until the end of March 2006, you can get a double or twin junior suite for three nights, top-price tickets for two to The Far Pavilions at Shaftesbury Theatre, a two-course pre or post-theatre dinner at either of two classy Indian restaurants, and breakfast daily for 450 pounds Sterling per person.  Based on two people traveling together, the package also includes access to the St. James Court health club and Value Added Tax. At current exchange rates, that's about $1,700.  Considering you can easily pay $500 a night for a nice London hotel room and more than $100 for a good seat in the West End, this is a nice offer.  Reservations and details: 877-528-2503 (a toll-free number in the US), reservations@51-buckinghamgate.co.ukTo check out the hotel, visit www.51-buckinhamgate.com. 

Going NYC Shopping?

How about a 10 per cent discount at Bloomingdale's or Macy's?  Plus a well-priced hotel room and free breakfast?  That's