Travel Picks: Top 10 scariest runways

SYDNEY (Reuters Life!) - Nervous fliers, stop reading! Travel website Travel + Leisure has come up with a list of the world's scariest runways that can make even the most relaxed travelers grip their armrest.

This list is compiled by Travel + Leisure and not endorsed by Reuters (http://www.travelandleisure.com/slideshows/the-worlds-scariest-

runways/1):

1. Paro Airport, Bhutan

Tucked into a tightly cropped valley and surrounded by 16,000-foot-high Himalayan peaks, Bhutan's only airport is forbidding to fly into. It requires specially trained pilots to maneuver and land through a channel of tree-covered hillsides.

2. Princess Juliana International Airport, St. Maarten

The length of the runway is just 7,152 feet which is fine for small or medium-size jets, but as the second-busiest airport in the Eastern Caribbean, it regularly welcomes wide-body jetliners like Boeing 747s and Airbus A340s which fly in low over Maho Beach and skim just over the perimeter fence.

3. Reagan National Airport, Washington, D.C.

Located smack in the center of two overlapping air-exclusion zones, Reagan National requires pilots flying the so-called River Visual into the airport to follow the Potomac while steering clear of sensitive sites such as the Pentagon and CIA headquarters. On taking off, pilots need to climb quickly and execute a steep left bank to avoid flying over the White House.

4. Gibraltar Airport, Gibraltar

Pinched in by the Mediterranean on its eastern flank and the Bay of Algeciras on its western side, the airport's truncated runway stretches just 6,000 feet and requires pinpoint precision.

5. Matekane Air Strip, Lesotho

The 1,312-foot-long runway is perched at the edge of a couloir at 7,550 feet. You drop down the face of a 2,000-foot cliff until you start flying. Says bush pilot Tom Claytor: "The rule in the mountains is that it is better to take off downwind and downhill than into wind and uphill, because in Lesotho, the hills will usually out-climb you."

6. Barra Airport, Barra, Scotland

The airport on the tiny Outer Hebridean Island of Barra is actually a wide shallow bay onto which scheduled planes land with the roughness of landings determined by how the tide went out.

7. Toncontin Airport, Tegucigalpa, Honduras

Having negotiated the rough-hewn mountainous terrain, pilots must execute a dramatic 45-degree, last-minute bank to the left just minutes prior to touching down in a bowl-shaped valley on a runway just 6,112 feet in length. The airport, at an altitude of 3,294 feet, can accommodate aircraft no larger than Boeing 757's.

8. John F. Kennedy International Airport, New York

Pilots have to avoid interfering with flights into New York's two other close-by airports, LaGuardia and Newark. Set up in 1964 as a noise-abatement measure, this approach forces pilots to have a reported 1,500-foot ceiling and a five-mile visibility before lining up with runway 13L and the waters of Jamaica Bay.

9. Madeira Airport, Funchal, Madeira

Wedged in by mountains and the Atlantic, Madeira Airport requires a clockwise approach for which pilots are specially trained. Despite a unique elevated extension that was completed back in 2000 and now expands the runway length to what should be a comfortable 9,000 feet, the approach to Runway 05 remains hair-raising. Pilots must first point their aircraft at the mountains and, at the last minute, bank right to the runway.

10. Juancho E. Yrausquin Airport, Saba, Netherlands Antilles

Perched on a precipitous gale-battered peninsula on the island's northeastern corner, the airport requires pilots to tackle blustery trade winds, occasional spindrift, and their own uneasy constitutions as they maneuver in for a perfect landing on a runway that's just 1,300 feet long..

(Editing by Miral Fahmy).

http://www.reuters.com/article/lifestyleMolt/idUSTRE50T2LM20090130?sp=true

Air Jamaica needs to explain Miami route cut

We have to believe that the decision by Air Jamaica, the national airline, to drop its Miami route, among others, was based on very strong financial reasons.

We also have to believe that the cost-benefit analysis has made it abundantly clear that no other factor can outweigh the financial, and that the traffic from the Miami route can move, stress free, to the Fort Lauderdale flight.
Otherwise, Air Jamaica might just have sounded its death knell.

For Miami was not a route like any other. Over time, Miami became the heart and soul of Air Jamaica. For convenience, it is hard to beat. Jamaicans needing to do business and shopping in Miami, a little over an hour away, and return home the same day, depended on those flights.

As our lead story in yesterday's edition pointed out, Miami has become for Jamaicans, "Kingston 21", a virtual extension of Kingston and St Andrew, because of the many nationals living in Florida and the heavy traffic between the two gateways.

The importance of Miami was established from as far back as the 1970s when the late former Prime Minister Michael Manley, perhaps in overexhuberance, offered to those who opposed his visit to Communist Cuba "five flights a day" then operated by Air Jamaica. The statement came back to haunt Mr Manley, but it demonstrated how deeply embedded the "Love Bird" was in the psyche of the Jamaican people.

Then in the eighties and early nineties, the airline became the favourite choice of the Informal Commercial Importers (ICIs), that hardy bunch of Jamaicans who traded goods for United States dollars used to purchase US goods for sale here. Their social and commercial impact has been documented and the Pearnel Charles and Constant Spring Arcades remain a testimony to that era.

We do not, of course, wish to see Air Jamaica go under. And we fervently hope that the current divestment effort will succeed, as a precursor to the complete turnaround of the airline.

It is just possible that the national airline can soar again. We believe that, having seen the possibilities when our own chairman, Mr Gordon "Butch' Stewart ran Air Jamaica from 1994 to 2004. Memories are still fresh in our minds about the "on-time no-line airline; "champagne flights"; "the flying chef"; the "Air Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival" and a whole slew of other marketing efforts that spoilt us for other airlines. No other airline would accept the huge boxes that Jamaicans coming home like to take with them on "the little piece of Jamaica that flies".

It would sit much better with Jamaicans if the officials at Air Jamaica would take the time to explain why it is necessary to dispense with the Miami route and how they will compensate for that.

Moreover, the country needs to be told if there is a plan to sell off the route - similar to what we did in the case of the London Heathrow slots - or whether they will be retained for the new owners to have the possibility of reopening the Miami route.

One relatively obscure news release will not cut it.

http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/editorial/html/20090129T000000-0500_145426_OBS_AIR_JAMAICA_NEEDS_TO_EXPLAIN_MIAMI_ROUTE_CUT.asp

Hawaii business travel declines

There were fewer people coming to Hawaii for meetings and conventions in December.

The Hawaii Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism reported that 11,692 visitors traveled to Hawaii on business, down nearly 31 percent from 16,903 in December 2007. Of those, 3,844 were international visitors.

There were only three visitor segments to see gains in December: those on honeymoons, those traveling for government or military purposes and students.

The number of visitors to Hawaii for government or military purposes increased 15 percent in December, compared to 2007.

The department said that 6,767 visitors traveled by air to Hawaii for military or government affairs, up from 5,860 in December 2007. Of those, 2,809 were international visitors, up 333 percent from the 648 visitors in December 2007.

There were 32,063 visitors in Hawaii on their honeymoon, up 2 percent from 31,423 in December 2007. International visitors were up nearly 15 percent from 18,199 in December 2007 to 20,875 in December 2008.

And there were 2,109 visitors in Hawaii to attend school, up nearly 9 percent from 1,939 in December 2007. Of those, 1,565 were international visitors.

http://www.bizjournals.com/pacific/stories/2009/01/26/daily53.html

'The Real World's twenty-second edition to take place in Cancun

By Christopher Rocchio

Just in case being on The Real World hadn't already become enough of a de-facto vacation for the show's roommates, MTV had decided to film the show's next edition in a tropical playground that vacationers visit to escape the real world.

The network has announced that Cancun will serve as the setting for The Real World's twenty-second season.

Production on the next installment of the long-running MTV reality series has already commenced, and it is currently slated to debut later this year.

Similar to the show's currently airing The Real World: Brooklyn -- which premiered earlier this month -- The Real World: Cancun will feature eight strangers instead of seven.

"Cancun is a good one to do after Brooklyn, which was a more gritty environment," The Real World co-creator Jonathan Murray told The Hollywood Reporter.

The Real World: Cancun's participants will reportedly work with spring break resource site StudentCity.com to serve as guides for visiting college students while also enjoying the Mexico vacation destination themselves.

"They're going to help give people a safe and fun vacation," Murray told The Reporter. "They also might have to bail somebody out of a Mexican jail, stuff like that."

While The Real World has never filmed a season in Cancun, it was the setting for 2003's The Real Cancun -- an unscripted R-rated movie produced by The Real World's Bunim-Murray Productions.

http://www.realitytvworld.com/news/the-real-world-twenty-second-edition-take-place-in-cancun-8346.php

Travel Deals

by Cait McVey

Snow, freezing rain, and temperatures well below zero. We've already seen it all this winter and we still have at least another month to go. For those living in the northeast, it's the perfect time of year to get away.

"Between January and April is traditionally our busiest time. That's because people that live around here want to get someplace warm," says Ed Plog, owner of Empress Travel in Schenectady.

This year is a little different. The economy is taking it's toll on the travel industry. Plog tells us business is much slower this year. Not just for him, but for everybody. Airlines, hotels...They're all feeling the squeeze. So, to coax people back into vacation mode, many are offering deals.

"Pricing wise, it's probably the best year we've seen in maybe ten years," says Plog. "I mean literally, they're giving airline seats away."

For example, in years past, if you're looking to fly roundtrip to say Orlando, Florida, you would've paid about five-hundred dollars. But now, using an online search engine, you can find tickets for half that price.

"You can go to California for 250 dollars, you can go to Phoenix for 250 dollars," Plog says.

And there are plenty of other deals. Plog tells us you can go to Disney World, pay for four nights and get three for free. Or, you can go to Cancun for five nights all inclusive for under 1,000 dollars per person.

"That's air, hotel, all your food, all your drinks and activities at your hotel," says Plog. "You couldn't do that last year."

As for how long these deals will be out there? Plog says probably until the economy turns around. So book your getaway now.

http://www.fox23news.com/news/local/story/Travel-Deals/tIkO95llpkesd7chMPRuzA.cspx

Get in the groove with a Jamaican vacation

Whether you come to explore the island’s impressive history, stunning beaches or lush mountainous terrain, you’ll find all you need for a truly relaxing break on a winter getaway to Jamaica. Get into the groove Rastafarian-style with these hot deals for island resorts.

60 percent off FDR Pebbles resort
An award-winning family resort situated just 30 minutes from Montego Bay, the FDR Pebbles resort offers an affordable all-inclusive stay complete with complimentary nanny service, a deluxe pool with a hundred-foot waterslide and free watersports such as sailing, windsurfing and glass-bottom boat tours.

Plus, receive unlimited food and beverages at the resort’s four casual restaurants and free airport-hotel transfers. Starting at just $109/night, you’ll save 60 percent off rack rates on stays through Feb. 11.

Luxury package at the Ritz Carlton Golf & Spa Resort
Located on a secluded stretch of private beach in Jamaica’s exclusive Rose Hall, the Ritz Carlton Golf & Spa Resort offers luxurious island accommodations, an 18-hole championship golf course, full-service spa, as well as a wide range of water sports and dining options.

With the resort’s new Escape to Luxury package, guests can now enjoy an all-inclusive plan covering continental breakfast daily, lunch and dinner, unlimited alcoholic beverages, all taxes, and gratuities. This deal saves you $150-$200 off the usual rates for rooms at the same time last year.

The package starts at $409/night for a garden view room from June through October. If you choose to travel sooner you’ll pay just $589/night from now through April.

4-nights with air at Sandals Grande Ocho Rios
A luxury couples-only resort located on Jamaica’s North coast, Sandals Grande Ocho Rios Beach & Villa Resort offers 529 guestrooms with mahogany four-poster king beds, seven swimming pools, free golf at the nearby Sandals Golf & Country Club and a full-service spa.

This winter, you’ll save up to 40 percent off an air-inclusive package available through Travelocity; book four nights from only $832 per person.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28682349/

Emirates sets new standard for airlines, but will its master plan fly?

By David Grossman

A billboard on an Oakland city bus touts complimentary chauffer-driven limousine service for first- and business-class passengers flying to Dubai and beyond on Emirates Airlines. Although it might seem an unlikely place to plug an airline based 8,000 miles away, this is part of a much larger advertising campaign for a new nonstop flight linking this rapidly growing Middle East city with San Francisco, Emirates' fifth gateway in North America.

Before the ads, few locals had likely heard of Emirates or Dubai. Then a radio blitz, newspaper ads and several well-publicized media events heralded the arrival of this new airline. In San Francisco's financial district, the walls of an entire subway station were plastered with billboards and columns dressed up as palm trees to advertise exotic Emirates destinations. "Everybody in the San Francisco Bay Area knows who Emirates is today", says Terry Brodt of Carlson Wagonlit Travel.

While everyone may now know the Emirates name, the real targets of the ad campaign are the corporate travel managers and travel agents serving the many high-tech, bio-tech and financial services corporations located in San Francisco and nearby Silicon Valley. Who else would pony up $11,000 or more to fly their corporate travelers in Emirates business class, or almost $18,000 for a private first-class suite on the 16-hour nonstop journey to Dubai and beyond?

http://www.usatoday.com/travel/columnist/grossman/2009-01-27-emirates-airlines_N.htm

Next "Real World" Locale Has Been Chosen; Production Started In Cancun

By Stephanie Sims

Cancun, Mexico (CNS) - The location for the 22nd season of MTV's "Real World" was finally chosen. The lucky city that will soon have seven strangers living together running rampant on its streets next season is Cancun, Mexico.

The vacation destination will be home to the housemates. They will also work at StudentCity.com, a popular spring break travel agency/website, as tour guides for visiting college students. "They're going to help give people a safe and fun vacation," co-creator Jonathan Murray told the Hollywood Reporter. "They also might have to bail somebody out of a Mexican jail, stuff like that."Production has already started on the 22nd season, which will air on MTV later this year. The current "Real World" season is set in Brooklyn. "Cancun is a good one to do after Brooklyn, which was a more gritty environment," Murray said.

Since Cancun is a huge party destination and popular spring break getaway spot for young twentysomethings and college kids, it's actually surprising the city wasn't chosen as a locale earlier. It's also a familiar choice because "Real World" producers shot an R-rated unscripted movie there, "The Real Cancun," in 2003, that's unrelated to the series.

http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7013843128

Spring break dangers: Practicing safety on vacation

By Midm Yi

With the unusually warm weather appearing briefly last week, Mother Nature seems to be teasing us with the thoughts of sunshine, flip flops, shorts and skirts. As the snow melts so does the patience of students who desire to reside on a tropical beach with the sun radiating warmth all around them.

For many college students, spring break is a week of full of partying in clubs, swimming on beaches and living in luxurious hotels all located in exotic hot spots. With television programs such as MTV, students see visuals of the palm trees, the clear blue water with young adolescents in swim shorts or bikinis all joining together to have some fun in the sun. To soak up the sun, college students choose the typical warm locations. According to About.com, the past three years students have chosen hot spots such as Cancun, Acapulco, Cabo San Lucas and Barbados to throw down a week of crazy parties.

What draws college students to travel down to these locations? The freedom from the watchful eyes of parents and the easy accessibility to alcohol and drugs instantly attract college students to spend spring break in these specific locations. The drinking age in places like Cancun and Cabo sit at 18 years of age. Students being able to gain easy accessibility to alcohol and drugs without a chaperone are prone to dangerous activities, which at times can potentially be life-threatening. However, as hazardous as this can look, college students overlook the perils lying in front of them while in search for fun and pleasure.

Griffin Ng, a third-year finance major, believes that the dangers of spring breakers generally depend on the person's ability to have self-control.

Ng said, "Students usually want to go there for fun so most of them avoid dangerous activities, but when a person doesn't have a strong self-control things can get a little bit dangerous."

Breet Singh believes that places like Cancun where the drinking age limit is younger compared to the U.S. can create dangerous situations as well.

Singh states, "Although I haven't personally been to these locations, I have been on spring break trips before and my friends have gotten alcohol easily and it led to bad situations."

As spring break seems to be months away, this gives college students enough time to think about the issue, the fact of the matter that lies behind the curtain of the fun. As beautiful Cancun or Cabo may seem, what lies beneath is a beautiful danger.

http://media.www.chicagoflame.com/media/storage/paper519/news/2009/01/26/SpringBreak/Spring.Break.Dangers-3596031.shtml

Mayor Of Las Vegas Wants To Create Red Light District In Sin City

And he wants to create it “for the children.” Which, of course, means he wants to tax the hookers.

[Mayor Oscar] Goodman said, I've met with folks from that industry who make a very compelling argument that it could generate 200 million a year in tax dollars, and that would buy a lot of textbooks, pay for a lot of teachers.

So how do the hookers feel about this? They’re not exactly happy about the idea:

“Since many customers are critically concerned with discretion and prostitutes prefer their ‘freedom,’ I believe the idea may appear much more appealing than the reality of the situation and what is necessary to make it happen.”

In any other industry, the brothel system itself would seem obviously a bad deal for the workers. The brothels charge room and board to the workers for lodging as well as take up to half the money earned by them from customers, technically often including tips. So, you could in theory work a week and lose money after you pay your rent to the brothel. Women have no privacy rights even in their rented rooms which can be searched by the brothel owners for hidden cash or drugs at any time. The sacrifice of “freedom” is real.

Others strongly object to the money. One local high-end illegal escort I reached who opposes legal brothels in Vegas told me: “I would never give a brothel owner half of what I earn, that is a legal word for pimp.”

If you ask me, Mayor Goodman’s scheme here may be more exploitive of the hookers than pimps are. Herding them into one area? Heavily regulating their industry, forcing them to do business in only one manner (the brothel system), and applying what I’m sure will be heavy taxes?

I don’t blame the hookers for being upset.

I actually believe that prostitution should probably be legal. We’re not getting anywhere by having it be illegal. It’s “the world’s oldest profession,” and people will be doing it whether it’s illegal or not. And while I’d be devastated if it were a trade one of my daughters ever took up, from a policy standpoint I have a hard time with laws that ban financial transactions between two consenting adults surrounding a perfectly legal activity. Again, they’re going to do it anyway. And our law enforcement resources could probably be better spent elsewhere.

In fact, while prostitution will probably always be a seedy industry, we’d undoubtedly see less exploitation and abuse were it brought out from the dark margins of society.

Again, I don’t like the concept of prostitution, but it’s not a perfect world. We’re never going to see an end to prostitution. So maybe it’s time for a pragmatic embrace of reality?

http://www.kxmc.com/News/Nation/324102.asp

Jazz Festival Essential to Jamaica's Tourism

Director of Tourism and Chairman of the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB), John Lynch, has said that the annual Jazz and Blues festival "is very essential" to Jamaica's tourism sector, in terms of bringing visitors to the island at a time of the year, when there is usually a slowdown in arrivals.

"January, traditionally, is a very challenging month for the tourist industry and you need events like this to draw people to set you apart from the competition," he stated.

Mr. Lynch, who spoke to JIS News at the opening of the festival at the Aqueduct in Rose Hall last evening (Jan. 22), said that every area of the industry stands to benefit from the staging of the event. He said that the JTB is pleased to be a major sponsor of the festival.

Meanwhile, Dr. Rowan Locke, a Jamaican living in the United States, who is in the island for the festival, said that the event is good for Jamaica's tourism, as it brings together persons from around the world for a great island experience.

Several government officials, including Minister of Tourism, Ed Bartlett, and Director General in the Ministry, Carrole Guntley, were among the thousands of locals and visitors to the island, who witnessed the world class performances on the opening night of the show.

The three-night festival, which ends on Saturday, January 24, features quality local and overseas acts performing a wide mix of musical genres, including jazz, blues, R&B, gospel, Caribbean, world music, Latin, country, and the cornerstone of Jamaican culture, reggae.

In addition to the music, the event offers delicious Jamaican and international cuisine in a cozy and comfortable atmosphere and showcases the work of artisans from all over the island.

http://www.jis.gov.jm/indus_tourism/html/20090124T140000-0500_18149_JIS_JAZZ_FESTIVAL_ESSENTIAL_TO_JAMAICA_S_TOURISM___LYNCH__.asp

Caribbean Resorts Ready to Deal

By Michelle Higgins

THE Caribbean is on sale. Beachfront rooms from $78 a night. All-inclusive vacations at 70 percent off. Five-night cruises for less than $250. These are just some of the deep discounts on offer as the islands attempt to attract penny-pinching travelers with cut rates and islandwide promotions amid the depressing economy.

Normally, as the region enters the height of tourist season, which runs from now through March, sun-deprived travelers flock to the islands for the region’s idyllic weather and alluring beaches, prices soar to peak levels and resorts fill up well in advance. Of course, the economy has changed all that this year.

Three of the biggest online travel agencies —Expedia, Travelocity and Orbitz — are all offering numerous Caribbean packages from 30 to 50 percent off across a broad range of vacations, including cruises, through peak season. Wimco Villas has introduced its Value Villas program, normally offered only during the low seasons of summer and fall, with average nightly rates starting at less than $200 a room. And Liberty Travel, the travel agency chain based in Ramsey, N.J., just rolled out a late winter and early spring sale with discounts starting at 45 percent off at more than 100 Caribbean properties.

“There’s been a reality check,” said Mark Benson, vice president of Caribbean product for Liberty Travel, noting that even just a few months ago resorts were still reluctant to cut rates. Now, he said, hotels are simply focused on putting “heads in beds” and “fighting for market share.”

Entire islands are on sale. The United States Virgin Islands, where visitors dropped 39 percent to 104,969 for the month of October, has an Extended Winter Escape promotion for travel through March that includes $300 in American Express traveler’s checks, $100 in vouchers toward island attractions and restaurants and a fifth night free at various hotels including the Frenchman’s Reef & Morning Star Marriott on St. Thomas and the Westin on St. John. Book by Jan. 31 at usvigetaway.com/winterescape.

Similarly, hotels on St. Kitts and Nevis (www.stkittstourism.kn), including the Royal St. Kitts Hotel & Casino and Mount Nevis Hotel, are offering a fifth night free and $75 resort credits. Bermuda (www.bermudatourism.com/400th_anniversary.aspx) is offering up to $400 credit at various hotels booked by March 27, based on length of stay. And Grand Cayman (www.caymanislands.ky/promotions) is advertising daily resort credits ranging from $25 to $100 a day, depending on the property and length of stay.

Few destinations rely as heavily on tourism as the islands of the Caribbean. Perhaps that’s why some of the latest bargains are so aggressive, if not desperate. Expedia, for example, has five-night western Caribbean cruises as low as $239 a person on Carnival — that’s about $50 a day. A recent search for cheap hotels in Jamaica found room rates as low as $78 in Negril on Travelocity. And Liberty Travel is offering all-inclusive four-night vacations to Aruba from New York with airfare for $699 a person — a savings of 70 percent.

For families, Club Med in Guadeloupe and Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic are offering a Kids Stay Free special for vacations beginning Feb. 14 or 50 percent off the second guest for seven-night trips at those resorts as well as properties in Martinique and Turks and Caicos.

Even well-known luxury hotels, that are normally so hard to get into at this time of year that they don’t need to discount, are throwing in extras. The luxurious Malliouhana Hotel & Spa on Anguilla is offering a four-night getaway for $4,715 per couple that includes daily continental breakfast, two massages per guest, a four-course dinner for two, and snorkeling off the hotel’s 40-foot motorboat.

The exclusive Parrot Cay, on a private island in Turks and Caicos, has been offering four nights for the price of three or seven nights for the price of five. Dinner is included if booked by Jan. 31. Rosewood Little Dix Bay on Virgin Gorda is offering five nights for the price of four when guests book the Escape a Little Longer package. Guests who fly nonstop to St. Thomas and use the hotel’s air taxi also qualify for up to $500 in resort credit. And the deluxe Carl Gustaf Hotel on St. Barts is cutting winter rates on one- and two-bedroom suites by 30 percent.

The hope is such deals will spur bookings by travelers who have largely been hesitant to commit to a vacation. “There is a tremendously shorter booking window now,” said Hugh Riley, interim secretary general of the Caribbean Tourism Organization, which has committed to raising $60 million for a marketing campaign to help promote the region. “Consumers don’t seem convinced yet that whatever price they’re looking at is the lowest it’s going to be,” he said. “They keep looking for a better deal.”

Another challenge is confronting the islands: airlines reduced service to the region by 14.5 percent in December, according to OAG, which tracks airline flight schedules. That helped keep airfares high and made it difficult for some travelers to get to the Caribbean for the holidays. While some of that service has come back, airline seats from the United States to the Caribbean are still down by about 9 percent in March.

Despite the cuts, there are some decent airfare bargains out there right now. Travelocity has been advertising American Airlines’ new nonstop service between Grenada and Miami with four-night vacations to the island from $585 a person. And Liberty Travel has negotiated special rates of 20 percent off with some airlines.

“Last year, if I had suggested that, they’d have slammed the phone down on me,” said Mr. Benson, the Liberty vice president. “But this year, they’re playing.”

http://travel.nytimes.com/2009/01/25/travel/25praccarib.html?ref=travel

Top readers' tips for Mexican travel

By Christine Delsol

Along with kudos, corrections, criticisms and gratuitous rants, reader comments on Mexico Mix topics over the past year on SFGate.com have yielded a trove of useful tips, and we thought it was time to share. This selection is limited to comments that add new information or recommendations to information in the article. Remarks have been edited for space, grammar and clarity.

Places

"Though I haven't been to all of the cities mentioned, I have been to San Cristóbal de las Casas in Chiapas, which is a wonderful place. Besides the lovely architecture and stunning mountain setting, SC is a great place to meet and learn more about indigenous Maya people. I would bet that San Cristóbal might either bump off one of the cities on this list or come in a close 11th." by jgray008 from "Mexico's 10 most beautiful colonial cities" 1/23/08

"I spent two fantastic weeks (in Troncones/Manzanillo Bay, north of Zihuatanejo) on my honeymoon, surfing and eating my heart out. Although an American was killed by a shark there recently, I would return in a heartbeat. Tropical. Cool vibes. Nice locals. The owner of Manzanillo Bay, Michael, has a culinary arts degree and brings "Choice Angus" beef down from the States to complement local seafood and Blue Agave." by mickdog from "Authentic alternatives to Mexico's tourist meccas" 7/9/08
Safety

"If traveling in Mexico City just exercise the same caution you would in any other big city. It's a great place, though be extra vigilant against express kidnapping from 11 p.m. to midnight especially. Only times I've had a bad experience in Mexico was when I was being young and stupid. I've got to say the problems diminished as I got older and smarter. Be respectful and you'll be respected." by homer from "Top 10 destinations for family fun in Mexico" 4/16/08

"The worst I encountered was flying into Loreto and encountering (I suspect) an attempt at being scammed by an immigration guard at the airport by not giving me my tourist card while going through customs. Fortunately a very helpful and bilingual RE/MAX guy helped me out and didn't even try to sell me a timeshare. Without said tourist card it's a $50 fine when leaving the country." by OhMyGoat from "Staying safe south of the border" 1/12/08
Getting around

"Low-cost carriers have been flying Mexican skies for the last two years, making Mexico a cheaper and easier place to flight. LCCs in Mexico are Aladia, Viva Aerobus, Volaris, Interjet, Alma and Avolar. The others mentioned in this article are either an old traditional airline or an airline spun off by a major airline. The six LCCs mentioned above cover most Mexican destinations, including major cities and popular tourist destinations, all with brand new planes and a great service. Remember, LCC's prices are based on leaving out some services, such as complimentary drinks or meals; if you can leave these things behind you will be gratefully surprised by Mexican LCCs. WhichBudget.com is not a student site; it is a budget airlines directory, featuring dozens of airlines from around the world." by wichbudget (David Perez, WhichBudget Latin America) from "How to fly Mexico's budget-friendly skies" 5/7/08 (Note: Since the article was published, Aerocalifornia, Avolar and Alma de Mexico have quit, and routes on some other airlines have changed. Check WhichBudget.com for current routes and schedules.)

"The Metro in Mexico City is good, and it is also the world's cheapest. Only 20 cents and you can go anywhere in the city." by cbg015 from "Authentic alternatives to Mexico's tourist meccas" 7/9/08
Ruins

From "A great Yucatán vacation in ruins" 6/11/08:

"Uxmal makes Tulum look like it's not trying. It gives Chichén a run for its money. Unfortunately, a 170-mile trip to Mérida from Cancun, then a 70-mile trip south is necessary to get there." by slipsticklibby

"Kabah (Yucatán) and Bonampak (Chiapas) are two more to add. I had to charter a Cessna to get to Bonampak. It was maybe the best complete experience I've had visiting southern Mexico ruins." by someoldguy

"I'm surprised the article didn't mention Cobá. It's relatively close to Cancun and in the jungle, much less crowded, very impressive." by snowflake
Mexico City

All from "Smile: You've got 10 great reasons to visit Mexico City" 8/20/08:

"Another museum I recommend in (Mexico City's) Centro Histórico is the Museo del Arte Popular. Amazing collection from all around the country, housed in an old Art Deco firehouse. MAP also has a gift/book shop in the new terminal at the airport, but the prices there are double the prices in the downtown museum." by johndberry

"I recommend the Casa Gonzalez hotel off of Paseo de la Reforma. Only $42 a night for two beds. Simple rooms, good service. It is within walking distance of the Insurgentes Metro station and Chapultepec Park." by cbg015

"Unfortunately, the list of reasons not to go is almost as long as Christine's list. The corrupt police have to be at the top. It's no place for a gringo to drive, but if you do, frustrate the cop by pretending you don't speak a word of Spanish and win the war of patience. He'll eventually let you go." by jdmba

"Recommended trip, try to spend a lot of time there. Try to stay at the Camino Real Hotel, upscale, designed by Mexican architect Legorreta; budget hotel, Mayaland; mid-priced, Hotel del Bosque. All close to transportation. We got ripped off on the subway, keep your money etc, on your person, not in your pocket. Don't get taxis on the street, go to a sitio taxi stand or get one waiting at a hotel. Buy a Guia Roji, the street map book of DF. The street names change neighborhood to neighborhood. Stay out of the Zona Rosa - it's a tourist rip-off." by betonomiteben

"I recommend the Saturday market (Bazar de Sábado) in San Angel. The quality of the goods is quite high, and the square is a wonderful place to spend a lazy morning." by missionpk1
Gay travel

"Puerto Vallarta is crowded for sure, but as far as gay travelers go, it is one of the best locations in the world. It is a very tolerant city in terms of gay people, which is not typical for Mexico. The beach culture during the day at Blue Chairs is amazing, very chatty and easy going. Most of the waiters are straight, but very used to serving gay travelers, and will tell you that they prefer gay patrons because we tip better and aren't like the typical retired American. The restaurants are great, and there is plenty of nightlife if you want it." by babylon1498 from "Authentic alternatives to Mexico's tourist meccas" 7/9/08

"Mexico is one of the best countries my partner and I have ever visited; I'd rather vacation there than almost anywhere I have been, including Europe. We have driven in a rental car all around the Yucatán on la Ruta Maya and to the volcanoes in Toluca and Popocatépetl, went backpacking in the rain forests of Chiapas, hung out in the zócalo with the Zapatistas in San Cristóbal de las Casas, made six visits to the great cosmopolitan Mexico City, and spent time on beautiful remote islands and in small fishing villages and hippie beaches on both coasts. Who needs a Mexican gay ghetto with the same things you have back home?" by uggie from "Mexico's top destinations for gay vacations" 11/26/08
Crafts

"Let's not forget the wood art in Concordia, Sinaloa, 30 minutes from Mazatlán. Amazing what they can do with wood, not using much in the way of tools." by sameasusual

"My favorite is the whimsical hand carved animal figures known as alebrijes. They're decorated in fluorescent colors with tiny dot and line patterns. The Huichol Indians, in their colorful native garb, sell alebrijes in small towns north of Puerto Vallarta." by jdmba

"This article missed a prime spot between the pyramids at Teotihuacán and El Tajin, also near Metepec. The town of San Pablito, an Otomí (or Ñañhu) community where they make the papel amate paper once used in books/codices made by Maya, Zapotecs, Aztecs, Toltecs, etc. that were burned by the Spanish. Still handmade and still part of ceremonies there for good crops and for healing. They've branched out to painting and detailed pictures of suns and plant spirits cut from one sheet and pounded into another. They do amazing embroidery in blouses (beaded or cross-stitch are the most striking) as well as large, animal and plant embroideries called tenangos. " by kering.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/01/23/TR3E154UQ8.DTL

Playa del Carmen has plenty to explore

By Roseanna Schick

PLAYA DEL CARMEN, Mexico - Situated in the tropical tourist region known as Riviera Maya, Playa del Carmen is 65 kilometres south of Cancun and 20 kilometres from the island of Cozumel. This humble hot spot provides all the sun, sand and surf of its trendy cousins, but still sports fewer crowds.

At least for the time being.

Named for Our Lady of Mount Carmel, the patron saint of Cancun, Playa del Carmen was a rest stop and readying point for the earliest travellers making their way from the great Mayan cities to the island of Cozumel. From the same shores that now house modern-day resorts and restaurants, they launched dugout canoes to journey across the open water.

During ensuing centuries of European exploration, Spaniards travelled up and down the Yucatan Peninsula, and pirate ships patrolled the waters. Trade was established in the area, where local commodities like salt and honey were bartered for goods imported from other regions.

Today, bartering still takes place, with the commodity being the Mexican peso or U.S. dollar. You can still venture away from the shoreline, but the vessel will most likely be a kayak, fishing boat or perhaps a parasail. But first, you have to get to the waterfront.

Riviera Maya's coastline extends nearly 145 kilometres along the eastern side of the Yucatan Peninsula, with Playa del Carmen at the heart of it all. Bordered by the Caribbean Sea, the beach looks exactly like those magazine pictures of turquoise water and sparkling white sands. If ever I'd imagined paradise, this was it.

One of my favourite pastimes when travelling, besides wandering alone into wilderness areas, is roaming along a beach. It is here I'll find my most treasured souvenirs - seashells eroded from endlessly spinning in salt water, and rocks smoothed from tumbling about the tides.

Riviera Maya is home to the largest barrier reef system in the Northern Hemisphere. Second only to Australia's famous Great Barrier Reef, the Great Maya Reef was introduced to the world by Jacques Cousteau in 1954. Stretching nearly 1,000 kilometres from the tip of the Yucatan Peninsula southward to the Bay of Honduras, the Great Maya Reef is a chain of crevices, ravines, canyons, and coral gardens.

It has become one of the most popular and spectacular scuba and snorkelling destinations in the world, offering 100 different dive sites and more than 500 species of fish, four species of sea turtles, and some of the biggest sponge formations in existence.

Diving takes place inland, too, where numerous subterranean streams throughout the jungle are connected to submerged caverns, resulting in the world's largest underground river system. Cenotes, or freshwater pools, are formed by water filtering through the limestone, providing a myriad of tunnels, channels and caves to be explored.

Riviera Maya's natural jungle setting is the perfect place for eco-parks, and there are several to choose from. Our group toured Xcaret, a destination teeming with opportunities to learn about regional ecology, culture, traditions and history.

Xcaret means "little inlet" and is one of the most visited places in the Riviera Maya. It hosts an array of indigenous wildlife, including monkeys, bats, zebus and tapirs - whose main predator also lives at Xcaret. Jaguars are kept on an island shaded by lush vegetation. To the Maya, the jaguar was a god called Balam, a symbol of power and sovereign of the underworld. To the admiring tourist, this king of the tropics is majestic. To the tapir, the only good jaguar is one kept on an island.

Marine turtles have lived in the oceans for more than 100 million years, and constitute an important symbolic figure for indigenous communities around the world. During nesting season, Xcaret establishes turtle camps to protect the endangered species from possible predators. When baby turtles hatch after 60 days, the ones that arrive at the park as part of the conservation program are marked for identification when they return to nest 25 years later.

To see other marine life, the Xcaret Sea Trek allows you to walk and breathe underwater using a special helmet. Other unique experiences include snuba diving, which combines the technology of scuba diving with the ease of snorkelling, swimming with dolphins, and swimming with sharks.

With so much to do and see at Xcaret, including performances, ceremonies, cultural sites, sculptures, chapel, Mayan village, wine cellar and more, you could spend an entire week exploring everything it has to offer.

There's an increasingly popular attraction in Riviera Maya that doesn't involve swimsuits, sunscreen or waterfall massages. The Riviera Maya Jazz Festival celebrated its sixth birthday in November, and is becoming more acclaimed with each passing year. The festival features the best of Mexico's jazz culture and a choice selection of international artists.

While there are other jazz music festivals in Mexico, this is the only one on the sandy beach alongside the Caribbean Sea. An estimated 30,000 visitors attended over three evenings, using beach towels, blankets and lawn chairs to stake claim to their piece of sandy real estate.

If you are visiting Playa del Carmen, you must stroll down La Quinta Avenida, or Fifth Avenue, a festive pedestrian walkway running parallel to the ocean. It offers a wide selection of shopping, dining and entertainment, along with Internet cafes, money exchangers and other specialty places. It's also lined with boutiques, stores and kiosks, giving tourists plenty of potential to practise the age-old tradition known as haggling.

There are three rules to remember when shopping in Mexico. First, everything is negotiable. Second, never buy the first one of anything you see, as chances are there will be five more just like it down the street. Third, don't forget rule number one.

You can get great deals in Playa del Carmen, even on a tourist strip like the Quinta. The selection of silver jewelry is exceptional, and somewhat overwhelming. With so many stunning and inexpensive pieces to choose from, the toughest part is making a decision. Take the time to look around first to find the best quality and locate that one special item that truly catches your eye.

Of course all that walking around and haggling will make you hungry, so stop in at one of the many restaurants along the Quinta. With ex-patriots from dozens of countries around the globe calling Playa del Carmen home, the town has a vast selection of food choices, including Italian, Argentinean, Chinese, French and other cuisines.

My preference is authentic Mexican cuisine like ceviche, empanadas, and fresh salsa and guacamole that tastes delicious atop anything. To wash it all down, nopal juice made from the medicinal prickly pear cactus is not only refreshing, but also contains valuable nutrients that support immune, glandular, nervous, circulatory, respiratory and digestive systems.

After a long day's roaming it's always a relief to rest your weary head. Being one of Mexico's fastest-growing destinations, Playa del Carmen has had a boom in the quantity and quality of lodgings. Small hotels possess a captivating Caribbean charm, with some offering spectacular ocean views, while others resemble cosy nests surrounded by tropical jungle. And of course you have the high-end, all-inclusive resorts, which line the waterfront up and down the Yucatan Peninsula. Looking like fenced-in fortresses, some of these places are the size of small villages and have all the amenities.

http://dailygleaner.canadaeast.com/liveit/article/550014

Las Vegas casinos hoping for lucky Chinese New Year

By Deena Beasley

LAS VEGAS (Reuters) - Golden dragons hang from the ceilings and lion dances are poised to start as Las Vegas Strip casinos prepare to ring in the lunar New Year -- one of biggest money-making events for the gambling corridor.

While the global financial crisis has stilled the hand of many gamblers, Las Vegas is doing what it can to keep them coming in the year of the Ox.

The Chinese New Year, which starts this year on Monday, ranks with the western New Year and the National Football League's Super Bowl weekend as the three busiest times for Las Vegas casinos.

"There is great demand for the Chinese New Year period," said Rob Oseland, chief operating officer at Encore, the new casino-hotel from Wynn Resorts Ltd.

Encore and the adjacent Wynn Las Vegas will host a series of galas, starting with a 67th birthday party for owner Steve Wynn and culminating with the Super Bowl next weekend.

"Every year we have a dragon dance processional that runs through the casino and casts good luck," Oseland said.

The atrium at Wynn features a huge, bejeweled dragon, but the seasonal decoration at Encore, which already includes huge red chandeliers and Asian-esque rosettes, is more muted.

"Our Asian customers are very important and they appreciate the touches, but we wanted to show off the (existing) design. Having a huge dragon up there would just be gilding the lily," said Bruce Anderson, Encore's director of horticulture design.

Other resorts, particularly high-end properties like Las Vegas Sands' Venetian and MGM Mirage's Bellagio, are also keen to court Asian clients.

The Venetian and the adjacent Palazzo plan dragon and lion dances, complete with firecrackers and an eye-painting ceremony.

Sands' resorts feature lotus lanterns and decor in the customary color scheme of red and gold, along with traditional tangerine trees and banners heralding "Gong Hei Fatt Choy," a common New Year greeting that translates as "Wishing you great happiness and prosperity."

Chris Harrington, a visitor from New York, described Encore as "lovely, other than the red ... I feel like I'm in China, but I think that's what he (Steve Wynn) was looking for." Las Vegas Travel

http://www.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idUSTRE50M50420090123

As economy hits travel biz, actor Shatner fights back

By Kyle Peterson

CHICAGO, Jan 23 (Reuters Life!) - The job market stinks, home foreclosures are mounting, consumer spending has slowed to a crawl, and actor William Shatner's job just got a lot tougher.

As the pitchman for online travel agency Priceline.com, Shatner, aka the Priceline Negotiator, has to convince people to take vacations. That's a tall order at a time when economic recession has all but squashed discretionary spending in the United States.

But the 77-year-old actor best known for playing Captain James T. Kirk in the Star Trek movies and television series is hopeful that spending begets spending, and that if enough people loosen their purse strings and venture out for leisure travel the economy could rebound.

"We're in danger of retracting so much that everything will fail," Shatner told Reuters. "We're being fed by fear, and fear feeds on itself. And if we can break that cycle, we might come out of this sooner and better than we expect."

Since 1998, Shatner has been the celebrity spokesman for Priceline, which staked out its turf with its name-your-own-price auction.

But in 2006 Shatner stopped promoting the company as himself and stepped into the role of the Negotiator, a comically intense super agent obsessed with helping travelers find deals on travel bookings.

"He's a commercial character, born of necessity and nurtured on fear," Shatner said.

In the TV ads, the Negotiator barges into homes and offices where he intimidates, berates and bullies customers into negotiating cheap bookings on Priceline.

http://uk.reuters.com/article/rbssConsumerGoodsAndRetailNews/idUKN2216424920090123

3 great deals: NYC; Cancun and Loreto, Mexico

Save 50 percent at Le Meridien, Cancun

Orbitz is launching a winter sale that includes a wide variety of destinations, many with specific travel dates. For example, Le Meridien Cancun Resort and Spa is offering rooms for $294 per night, a 50 percent savings, for stays that are booked between Jan. 23-26. Two kids younger than 12 may stay free as part of this offer. The resort, which overlooks the Caribbean Sea, has 213 rooms with marble bath fixtures, soaking tubs, separate shower stalls, bathrobes and designer amenities. The spa features holistic and healing treatments, and the three swimming pools are a fun way to stay cool while enjoying the gorgeous scenery.

Details: www.orbitz.com, click on "winter escape, save up to 50% on hotels," scroll down to "Mexico," click on link to Le Meridien, then enter the dates above to see rates.

Choice rates at Chelsea, NYC, hotel

The Gem Hotel Chelsea in Manhattan is offering travelers the chance to check out the new boutique property with special rates that start at $159 a night. The 81-room, five-story hotel, which opened in November after a yearlong renovation, offers nightly turndown service, high-speed Internet access, iPod docking stations and Gilchrist and Soames bath goodies. The smoke-free rooms also include flat-panel LCD televisions, bottled water and Wolfgang Puck coffee. This deal is valid through Feb. 28.

Details: 212-675-1911, www.thegemhotel.com.

Buy 1, get 1 free in Loreto, Mexico

The Loreto Visitors Bureau, the tourism organization for Loreto, Baja California Sur, Mexico, is featuring a buy-one-get-one-free promotion during January. Every time a visitor purchases one hotel night, one meal or one activity at a participating hotel, restaurant, car-rental agency or tour operator, the bureau will pick up the tab for a second night, meal or activity. In addition, visitors who book their travel online through Alaska Airline Vacations (www.alaskaair.com/vacations) will receive an additional 15 percent discount. Four hotels are participating in this deal: Hacienda Suites, Loreto Bay Resort, La Mision Loreto Hotel and Oasis Hotel. Meals, tours and activities may be booked through each hotel's concierge.

Details: 866... or www.haciendasuites.com; 877-522-9466 or www.discoverloretobay.com; 877-535-2647 or www.lamisionloreto.com; 866-482-0247 or www.hoteloasis.com.

http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2009/01/22/20090122gooddeals0111.html

Hotel Deals In 10 Travel Hot Spots

By Lauren Sherman

When it comes to 2009's hottest travel destinations, think cheap--but not chintzy.

To keep visitors coming, top-shelf destinations no longer have top-shelf price tags. This year, four- and five-star hotels are offering unprecedented deals at in-demand spots like Cape Town,Belfast and Vancouver.

In Depth: Hotel Deals In 10 Travel Hot Spots

According to booking site Hotels.com's quarterly Hotel Price Index, the cost of hotel accommodations decreased by 3% globally in the last three months of 2008. And average daily rates for Jan. 1, 2009, were down significantly in several major U.S. cities, according to another booking site, Travelocity.com. In San Francisco, rates were down 15% from Jan. 1, 2008; in Las Vegas, the rate decrease was 18%.

"For the first time in my career, [high-net-worth travelers] are focused more on the deal than the experience," says Jack Ezon, president of leisure travel for New York-based agency Ovation Vacations. In other words, travelers are looking for the best prices first and considering the destination second.

Just last week, Ezon sold one week in hotspot Riviera Maya, Mexico for $7,000. The suite booked usually runs $3,000 per night, which means this guest received a nearly 67% discount on his or her holiday.

Sure, the tropical forests, view of the Caribbean Sea and seven restaurants at Riviera Maya are nice, but the best part about staying in a Mandarin Oriental hotel is the highly lauded service and amenities, which include private yoga and Pilates sessions as well as culinary classes that teach local food traditions.

Sexy Getaway Ideas in Mexico, Jamaica

This week, we've had two questions from readers looking to spice up their travels:

My fiancee and I want to take an erotic vacation June 09 but we are not interested in swinging but a more personal erotic experience. We were thinking Mexico but any ideas you can forward would be great.

My wife of 30 years and I are planning our first vacation without kids. The idea of clothing optional beaches and pools is something we've never done, but would like to try. PJ parties and fun entertainment is also an interest. Good food a must, casino a plus and to make it even harder we have somewhat of a budget. Where should we go. Any ideas? Thanks so much.


You'll find quite a few properties that fit the bill for a sexy vacation with clothing optional beaches and an adults-only atmosphere.

In the past few years, Mexico has become home to a growing number of such all-inclusive properties including Temptation Resort Spa with locations in Cancun (formerly Blue Bay Resort) and Los Cabos. The resorts have a topless-optional policy at the pools and offer sexy activities such as "Sensual Fitness" classes for women with workouts that include lap dancing, pole dancing, etc. Both have fine dining, on-site spas, and other upscale offerings.

A less-clothed option is Desire Resorts with locations on the Riviera Maya and Los Cabos. These are both clothing-optional, all-inclusive adult resorts with evening activites such as PJ and lingerie night or a strip tease contest.

In Jamaica, Hedonism II (Negril) and Hedonism III (near Runaway Bay) are both popular all-inclusive options. Hedonism II has the highest repeat rate among Caribbean hotels with a nude (not clothing-optional) beach as well as a "prude" beach, nude pool, bar and grill, and sexy evening entertainment. Hedonism III has similar features and more elaborate guest rooms. Hedonism resorts include a game room with slots, electronic poker, etc. (At this time, there are no casinos in Jamaica but that might change soon.) For more on Hedonism resorts, see our special Hedonism section.

As for budget, the time of year you visit will have a lot to do with the amount you pay. Summer and fall are the least expensive seasons (due to hurricane season which runs June 1 - November 30). You'll find the cheapest rooms during the height of hurricane season (August-September) and ask about hurricane guarantees. We know that SuperClubs offers a hurricane guarantee in case your vacation is interrupted by a storm.

http://www.lovetripper.com/mailbox/2009/01/sexy-getaway-ideas-in-mexico-jamaica.html

Winter travel deals heating up for Northwest, cruises, Hawaii

MCCLATCHY-TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE

Ride free on a Washington ferry to the San Juan Islands or the Kitsap Peninsula.

Take an Amtrak train between Seattle and Vancouver, B.C., or Portland and take a friend along for free.

Fly a family of four from Seattle to Hawaii and back for less than what the airlines are quoting for one round-trip ticket to London in July.

Those with time and money will find better-than-ever winter travel deals to favorite destinations as airlines, restaurants, hotels and ski resorts dig deep to lure customers in a faltering economy.

Expect to see some of the best bargains between now and mid-February, before the Presidents Day (Feb. 16) holiday period.

"It's the dead time," says Anne Banas, executive editor of SmarterTravel.com. "A lot of people have already spent their money on holiday gifts. They're tired and they don't want to go anywhere. So ... if you can get away, there are some great places to go and some great prices."

One caveat: Beware of promotional offers laden with hidden taxes and fees or extras you can do without.

"A lot of promotions are packages," says Banas, "so you really want to price everything out a la carte in advance.

"Really decide if those extras are worth it to you. ... A bottle of Champagne might be nice, but what you really want is to get that room rate down."

Here's a selection to get you started planning a last-minute getaway:

All aboard

The deals:

PCC Natural Markets in Seattle have teamed with Amtrak Cascades to give away 10,000 two-for-one coupons good for travel anywhere between Vancouver, B.C., and Eugene, Ore., through May 21. The coupons are at Seattle-area PCC stores through January or until they are gone; no purchase or membership required.

Travel Portland is offering companion fares for travel between Portland and Seattle and other Western Washington cities valid Mondays-Thursdays through May 22. Buy one adult fare and get the second for 50 percent off. Type in promotion code H779 when booking at the Amtrak site, www.amtrakcascades.com.

Keep in mind: The PCC coupon is the better of the two deals. Some travelers have had problems booking the special fare on Amtrak's Web site. If so, call 800-872-7245 to book by phone. Both offers are good only for Amtrak Cascades trains, not the long-distance Coast Starlight or Empire Builder trains. Up to two children ages 2-15 may accompany an adult at half the full adult fare on either offer.

Both the PCC and Travel Portland offers have some blackout dates.

Free ferry rides

The deal: Free rides on Washington State Ferries.

Book a room on the Kitsap Peninsula or in the San Juans and ride the ferry round-trip for free.

The San Juan offer is good through May 21 for two people and a car, a $35-$50 savings, depending on whether you're going to Lopez, Orcas or San Juan Island. See www.VisitSanJuans.com.

The Kitsap offer is good through March on ferry runs to Bremerton, Bainbridge Island, Edmonds/Kingston and Fauntleroy (West Seattle) to Southworth. See www.visitkitsap.com.

Keep in mind: Winter is the offseason in these areas. Some shops and restaurants may be closed or operating at reduced hours, especially early in the week. The offer applies only to participating inns, B&Bs and hotels.

Rooms at the inns

The deal: Portland's "Big Deal" hotel packages.

Hotel rates include free parking, a continental breakfast, a booklet of discount coupons and 15 percent off tickets to the Portland Jazz Festival, which runs Feb. 13-22. See www.travelportland.com.

Keep in mind: If you don't need parking and don't plan to go to the jazz festival, you might get a better room rate by calling the hotel directly.

The "Big Deal" rate we checked on a double room with a city view at the Marriott Portland-Downtown Waterfront on a Saturday in January, for instance, was $201 with taxes, breakfast and parking (normally $28 a day) compared with a quote of $167 by calling the hotel.

The deal: "Dine Out Vancouver" hotel packages in Vancouver, B.C.

Book a hotel room Jan. 14-Feb. 1 when Vancouver chefs offer special three-course menus for Cdn. $18, $28 or $38, and get a three-course meal at a top hotel restaurant included in the rate. See www.tourismvancouver.com.

Keep in mind:The appeal is that after an evening of wining and dining, the farthest you have to go is upstairs to your room, but the value varies according to each hotel's offer.

The Cdn. $208 (about $173 based on an exchange rate of 83 cents to Cdn. $1) rate for two found for a Saturday night stay in January at the Delta Vancouver Suites, including taxes and dinner for two worth $Cdn. 28 ($23) each, was only a few dollars less than booking the lowest-priced room available at Cdn. $162, and paying for the dinners separately.

If you'd rather dine elsewhere and just want a deal on a room, note that Tourism Vancouver has a "stay two nights get a third night free" specials through March 31 at participating hotels. The regular Cdn. $89 ($74) rate at the Inn at False Creek, a boutique hotel near Granville Island, drops to Cdn. $59 ($49) if booked for three nights through Jan. 31.

Other Vancouver, B.C., bargains:

It's sometimes cheaper to fly to Europe or Asia out of Vancouver than Seattle. If you find a good fare, spend the night before your flight at the Vancouver Airport Accent Inn for Cdn. $99 ($82) and get eight days free parking and free shuttle service to the airport. See www.accentinns.com.

BC Ferries "Winter Super Sail," offers 33 percent discounts on all sailings in January. Two passengers and a car going by ferry between Vancouver and Victoria round-trip pay about $100 Cdn. ($82). See www.bcferries.com

Cruise control

The deal: Seven-night cruises to Alaska from Seattle. Book now and sail in May or early June for around $100 or less per person per night.

A check last week showed mid-May openings on Royal Caribbean's seven-night Seattle-to-Alaska Sawyer Glacier Cruise for $1,344 for two or $96 per person, including taxes and fees, for the least expensive inside stateroom. See www.royalcaribbean.com.

Celebrity Cruises showed similar prices for seven-night May and June sailings on the Alaska Hubbard Glacier itinerary. See www.celebritycruises.com.

Keep in mind: The prices could get even better as time goes on, depending on bookings. Remember though, drinks, shore excursions and onboard extras can ratchet up the cost. Know what's included before you book, and be aware that the weather can be cool and unpredictable in spring.

Hitting the slopes

The deal: Whistler's Winter Ski Escape. Book a three-night stay now through Jan. 29 and get the third night free. Three nights lodging and a two-day lift ticket start at Cdn. $106 ($87) per person per night. See www.whistlerblackcomb.com.

Keep in mind: Packages starting at $106 are limited. A check on rooms available for a Thursday, Friday and Saturday stay in January turned up a total price of Cdn. $660 (for two people for three nights) as the lowest available. Taxes and fees added another Cdn. $106 for a total of Cdn. $766 ($636).

Whistler offers a variety of packages through the end of April. Depending on your dates, your preferred location in the village and the type of room you want, it might be better to book lodging and lift tickets separately.

Check out the resort's last-minute deals on unsold rooms if you're planning a spur-of-the-moment trip.

Waikiki anyone?

The deal: Hawaiian Airlines' $300 Seattle-Honolulu round-trip flights for midweek travel in January and early February. Other airlines have fares in the $340 range to Honolulu and to Kona on the Big Island. See www.kayak.comto compare prices.

Keep in mind: Even with discounts, rates at the major hotels in Waikiki may be higher than you want to pay. Shop carefully to find the best rates and take advantage of free-night offers for extended stays, AAA and AARP discounts. Think about staying within walking distance of the beach instead of in a waterfront hotel.

Consider a bid on Priceline.com for a high-end hotel. A colleague reports bidding $132 per night in mid-December, and got a week at Westin Maui Resort and Spa on Kaanapali Beach with an ocean view for that price. The room normally goes for at least triple that rate. Some hotels tack on a resort fee - usually $25 a day - on top of whatever bid price they accept. Cancun Hotels

http://www.bnd.com/542/story/625329.html

Report: Statewide Casino Profits Down 68%

By Brian K. Miller

LAS VEGAS-Casino industry net income tumbled by 68% statewide and 57% on the Las Vegas Strip during the 12-month period ended June 30, 2008, according to a fiscal 2007 report released Friday by the state Gaming Control Board. The report covers all casinos statewide that grossed at least $1 million in gaming revenue, which in this case totaled 266 properties, including 40 on the Las Vegas Strip. The net income figure is computed before federal taxes and extraordinary expenses.

The national economic decline officials began in January 2008, mid-way through fiscal 2007. Control Board senior research analyst Frank Streshley reports that total revenue fell only 1% but general and administrative costs rose 16%, the latter attributable at least in part to increased interest expense related to private equity buyouts and resort expansions as well as increased discounting in the second half of the fiscal year. Streshley was not available Tuesday afternoon for comment.

Statewide, net income fell 68.6% to $721 million. On the Las Vegas Strip, net income fell 57.3% to $709.3 million.

Slot machines accounted for 67.6% of statewide revenue, which totaled approximately $12 billion. Table games plus bingo and keno accounted for more of the remainder, 28.8%.

On the Strip, slot machines accounted for 53.9% of revenue, while food brought in 25.8% of the total and hotel rooms brought in 14.7% of the total. Bar sales accounted for 5.2% of revenue.

Casino net income in Downtown Las Vegas fell 54.2% to $30.8 million. Casino net income in Laughlin fell 51.3% to $49.8 million. Casino net income on the Boulder Strip was negative at $6.1 million. Casino net income for the remainder of Clark County, which is home to 54 casinos including those in Mesquite and North Las Vegas, fell 235.9% to $146.2 million.

Net income data wasn't immediately available for year-to-date fiscal 2008. Gaming win, the amount gamblers lose in casinos, for that period was $4.67 billion statewide, a 12.9% decline from the same 2007 period. On the Strip gaming win fiscal year-to-date was $2.45 billion, down 14.2%. The Boulder Strip and Laughlin markets are off 14.6% and 11.6%, respectively. What to wear in Las Vegas

http://www.globest.com/news/1330_1330/lasvegas/176421-1.html

Meltdown 101: Travel industry vs. the 'staycation'

By Ryan Nakashima

When the economy goes into the tank, people stay at home. But for those still willing to see what's out there, there are stupendous deals to be had.

Hotels, resorts and cruise lines are offering rock-bottom rates and doing everything they can to fill rooms, including teaming up with airlines to offer jaw-dropping package deals. And savvy consumers can reap the benefits.

A case in point: This reporter recently booked a Waldorf Astoria suite in the Palm Springs, Calif., area through Priceline.com for about $130 after taxes — in the middle of a holiday weekend, no less. Although we didn't know where we'd end up, the 900-square-foot "Spa Villa" where we ended up staying is listed next weekend for $679 a night.

The Walt Disney Co. is also offering a seven-night stay at its Walt Disney World resorts, including seven days of park tickets, for the price of four nights and four days of tickets. And it's throwing in a $200 gift card that can be spent on food and merchandise.

According to one travel agency Web site's spokeswoman, travel deals haven't been better since the aftermath of 9/11.

Here are some questions and answers about what kind of deals are out there and how to snag them.

Q: Why are companies offering such cut rates now?

A: Around the world, occupancy and room rates are down as business travel has fallen and vacationers are staying at home because of the recession. According to Smith Travel Research, occupancy in North American hotels was down 10.3 percent in November from a year ago, to 52.3 percent. The average daily rate was down 3.3 percent, to $101.84, while the revenue per available room was down 13.3 percent, to $53.28.

In other words, hotels are about half-full these days. And if you are a paying customer, management is willing to cut you a deal.

Q: Why are a hotel's official, posted rates often so much higher than what you can find through a travel agent or travel Web site?

A: Hotels are averse to cutting their posted rates, because some people are willing to pay that price — and those people help the bottom line.

After the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, hotels slashed rates and suffered for years afterward, according to Smith Travel Research spokesman Jeff Higley. Now they are more likely to throw in freebies to keep customers happy.

"Rather than lowering their rates, they try to put packages together to add value to the rate," Higley said.

So, if you can't score a rate cut, Higley says, look for free valet parking, free Internet access or a free breakfast — hotels may be willing to throw these freebies in.

Q: Back to the bottom line: How do I snag a cheap rate?

A: Some Web sites are offering extreme discounts on hotel rooms. Priceline.com is now offering hotel rooms in New York at 3-star establishments for $99 and in Washington, D.C., for $59. (This reporter can't remember staying anywhere in New York for less than $100, ever.)

The catch is that users have to submit their price and credit card information before knowing which exact hotel they will be staying at.

"Occupancies are under pressure and prices are generally coming down," Priceline.com Inc. Chief Executive Jeffrey Boyd told The Associated Press.

Because hotels and airlines remain anonymous until after the purchase, they can maintain their posted rates, while selling empty inventory at the last minute for big discounts — up to 50 percent off for hotel rooms up to 60 percent off airfare.

Spokeswoman Jeanenne Tornatore of Orbitz Worldwide Inc., which owns Cheaptickets.com and Orbitz.com, said even openly posted hotel rates are falling. In Las Vegas, rates are down in some cases more than 50 percent — and in Hawaii, around 40 percent — since late last year.

"Some of those 4-star Las Vegas hotels that used to go for $200 to $250 are in the $80 to $120 range," she said.

Vegas.com, owned by the Greenspun Family of Companies, said room rates in January have declined 33 percent from a year ago, to $92 from $138 a night on average.

"There are some unbelievable values right now," said Bryan Allison, Vegas.com's vice president of marketing. "There are food and beverage credits, gambling credits. It is definitely stimulating demand."

Cruise lines are also slashing prices. A five-night Caribbean cruise from Carnival Corp., leaving from Mobile, Ala., is on offer at Orbitz for $249 with a $200 onboard coupon booklet — 75 percent off the brochure price.

Q: How can companies offer such deals and survive?

A: In many cases, hotels benefit just by your presence, in case you spend money on something else, like room service, a meal at a restaurant or spa treatments.

Disney Chief Financial Officer Tom Staggs said last month that the seven-for-four deal was "a good trade-off." Presumably, once at the resorts, guests spend all day in the park buying hot dogs, ice cream, bottled water and souvenirs.

The discount amounts to about 25 percent off, Staggs said, and really was no better than a deal the company offered back in 2003. What's more, he said, advance bookings in the six months to this coming March, which at one point had been down 10 percent from a year earlier, were down just 6 percent by early December, thanks in large part to the deal.

Q: Will prices bounce back — and the deals evaporate — much like after 9/11?

A: That's not likely.

Oppenheimer & Co. hotel and casino analyst David Katz points out that the circumstances behind the travel deals are very different this time around.

After Sept. 11, 2001, Katz said, "it was a situation almost solely driven by a fear of flying." This time, consumers have lost trillions of dollars in home equity and stock holdings — not to mention, in many cases, their jobs.

"This is entirely different," he said. "It's an economic matter rather than a fear matter. Post-9/11, people and companies had the money. Now they just don't."

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hkOf1GS5Sdl1sXAVQDAUyUTLNO2gD95RR2780

Romantic getaway in Mexico

By Scott Fisher

If you're going on your honeymoon, you want to be treated like Royal-ty.

And that's exactly how every guest feels at the Real Royal in Playa del Carmen, Mexico.

Newcomers at this adults-only resort are greeted by friendly staff and handed a mimosa within seconds of arriving at the resort.

After a quick check-in, you're free to explore the grounds of the Royal, which are in immaculate condition, thanks to an unparalleled workforce of 665 employees.

Royal general manager Beat Muller takes great pride in the work his employees provide in order to make your vacation one to remember.

"We have more employees than other resorts because we want to make sure our guests are comfortable," Muller says.

"We love God, our families and our guests. That's the main way we look at it.

"We want every person to feel welcome."

Mission accomplished.

Even at the Spice restaurant, which is a magnificent buffet of every food imaginable, the young staff hustles to meet the needs of every diner.

There are numerous restaurants to choose from, featuring the best menus from around the globe.

It's impossible not to find one great meal after another. My wife is a vegetarian. I eat meat almost exclusively. We both found fabulous food at each of the resort's six restaurants.

It's probably impossible, but if you can't find what you're looking for, the chefs will prepare it.

Guests are also encouraged to try the restaurants across the street at The Gran Porto Real, the resort's sister hotel.

The Royal resort in nearby Cancun is also available to vacationers.

The Playa del Carmen resort was expanded from 312 to 459 rooms last year to keep up with increasing demand.

"This is one of the fastest-growing cities in Mexico," Muller says.

All Master and Presidential Suites include free international telephone calls and a free test drive of a Mini Cooper. Oceanview rooms come with a Bose music system and an iPod.

And the resort is located right off of cosmopolitan 5th Ave., a popular shopping destination.

While some resorts have been known to use cheaper brands of alcohol, that isn't the case at the Royal, which proudly displays all of its high-quality liquor at its many bars. Each room also has its own dispenser featuring four different kinds of alcohol, as well as a stocked mini-bar.

The convenient swim-up bar and massive Lobby Bar are two of the most popular hangouts.

Guys, it's probably not advisable to spend your honeymoon watching football. But let's face it. If there's a big game on, we gotta watch it.

Maybe you 'accidentally' stumble into the enormous Lobby Bar -- where there just happens to be three huge screens. You won't be alone here.

Later in the evening, the Lobby Bar plays host to a different entertainment act every night.

If you want to push the envelope even further, there are numerous pro golf courses nearby -- the Playacar Golf Club, Puerto Aventuras, Pok Ta Pok, Cozumel Country Club and the Melia Cancun Golf Club, to name a few.

You may be able to get away with a round or two if you send the wife to the European-inspired SpAzul.

The spa offers a full range of treatments, including facials, massage therapies and body waxing. A separate steam room, sauna and whirlpool are also on site.

Twenty-four hour room service is available.

And if you're taking advantage of the Jacuzzi, which is found in every room, you won't have to worry about scrambling to the door.

The Royal's 'magic box' allows resort staffers to deposit your order in a secure closet that you can access at your convenience.

There's plenty of activities during the day -- both on and off the grounds. There are numerous adventure tours to choose -- from touring the ancient ruins at Tulum to swimming with the dolphins in Cancun.

http://www.canoe.ca/Travel/Activities/SunSand/2009/01/15/8076626-sun.html

Romantic getaway in Mexico

By Scott Fisher

If you're going on your honeymoon, you want to be treated like Royal-ty.

And that's exactly how every guest feels at the Real Royal in Playa del Carmen, Mexico.

Newcomers at this adults-only resort are greeted by friendly staff and handed a mimosa within seconds of arriving at the resort.

After a quick check-in, you're free to explore the grounds of the Royal, which are in immaculate condition, thanks to an unparalleled workforce of 665 employees.

Royal general manager Beat Muller takes great pride in the work his employees provide in order to make your vacation one to remember.

"We have more employees than other resorts because we want to make sure our guests are comfortable," Muller says.

"We love God, our families and our guests. That's the main way we look at it.

"We want every person to feel welcome."

Mission accomplished.

Even at the Spice restaurant, which is a magnificent buffet of every food imaginable, the young staff hustles to meet the needs of every diner.

There are numerous restaurants to choose from, featuring the best menus from around the globe.

It's impossible not to find one great meal after another. My wife is a vegetarian. I eat meat almost exclusively. We both found fabulous food at each of the resort's six restaurants.

It's probably impossible, but if you can't find what you're looking for, the chefs will prepare it.

Guests are also encouraged to try the restaurants across the street at The Gran Porto Real, the resort's sister hotel.

The Royal resort in nearby Cancun is also available to vacationers.

The Playa del Carmen resort was expanded from 312 to 459 rooms last year to keep up with increasing demand.

"This is one of the fastest-growing cities in Mexico," Muller says.

All Master and Presidential Suites include free international telephone calls and a free test drive of a Mini Cooper. Oceanview rooms come with a Bose music system and an iPod.

And the resort is located right off of cosmopolitan 5th Ave., a popular shopping destination.

While some resorts have been known to use cheaper brands of alcohol, that isn't the case at the Royal, which proudly displays all of its high-quality liquor at its many bars. Each room also has its own dispenser featuring four different kinds of alcohol, as well as a stocked mini-bar.

The convenient swim-up bar and massive Lobby Bar are two of the most popular hangouts.

Guys, it's probably not advisable to spend your honeymoon watching football. But let's face it. If there's a big game on, we gotta watch it.

Maybe you 'accidentally' stumble into the enormous Lobby Bar -- where there just happens to be three huge screens. You won't be alone here.

Later in the evening, the Lobby Bar plays host to a different entertainment act every night.

If you want to push the envelope even further, there are numerous pro golf courses nearby -- the Playacar Golf Club, Puerto Aventuras, Pok Ta Pok, Cozumel Country Club and the Melia Cancun Golf Club, to name a few.

You may be able to get away with a round or two if you send the wife to the European-inspired SpAzul.

The spa offers a full range of treatments, including facials, massage therapies and body waxing. A separate steam room, sauna and whirlpool are also on site.

Twenty-four hour room service is available.

And if you're taking advantage of the Jacuzzi, which is found in every room, you won't have to worry about scrambling to the door.

The Royal's 'magic box' allows resort staffers to deposit your order in a secure closet that you can access at your convenience.

There's plenty of activities during the day -- both on and off the grounds. There are numerous adventure tours to choose -- from touring the ancient ruins at Tulum to swimming with the dolphins in Cancun.

http://www.canoe.ca/Travel/Activities/SunSand/2009/01/15/8076626-sun.html

B.C. platform for film

By Lori Holcomb

As a thundering freight train cut through blowing snow on Sunday morning, one could see the scene play out in the mind's elaborate theater.

"This area here would have been the loading dock, where the Battle Creek police would have been waiting for Jack Johnson's train to arrive," said Mike Salerno, pointing to a snow-covered aisle between the train tracks and the Community Action Agency, 175 Main St.

The weather was similar, almost blizzard-like, when the heavyweight boxing champion of the world was arrested at the Grand Trunk Railroad Depot at about 3:45 a.m. Jan. 14, 1913.

This little-known fact was discovered by the former Battle Creek resident while reading a biography about the first black heavyweight boxing champion of the world. An amateur filmmaker since childhood, the reels instantly began turning in Salerno's mind.

"I really like history a lot, especially when it's local history and involves someone famous," he said. "So when I heard that Jack Johnson had been to town ... I was kinda excited to tell other people."

Salerno, who now lives in Kalamazoo where he is a physical therapist, devoted his free time to researching the event. Using microfilms of old newspapers, photographs and century-old maps, phone books from Willard Library's Helen Warner Branch and equipment borrowed from AccessVision, Salerno put together a half-hour film titled "Jack Johnson's Battle Creek Visits."

The documentary begins with Johnson's background. Raised in Texas and known as "The Galveston Giant," he began boxing as a teenager. In 1908, Johnson defeated Tommy Burns to become the first black heavyweight champion of the world.

But Johnson's victories were greeted by fear and social upheaval by white America. Racial riots broke out across the country, eventually leading to a congressional act that banned dispensing films across state lines of Johnson badly beating James Jeffries, a white opponent and former world champion.

Even more threatening to whites, however, was the boxer's romantic relationships with white women, according to the PBS documentary, "Unforgivable Blackness: The Rise and Fall of Jack Johnson."

In 1913, a former white lover and Chicago harlot, Belle Schreiber, conspired with authorities to convict Johnson of violating the Mann Act, which prohibits interstate and foreign travel of women for "immoral purposes." The law was made during a time of social reform to prevent the trafficking of women for prostitution, but many historians, including Salerno, agree the charges against Johnson were largely a sham used to make the boxer pay for his success and lifestyle.

It is believed, Salerno said, that Johnson was on his way to Canada to escape his jail sentence when he was stopped in Battle Creek.

On the morning of Jan. 14, the Battle Creek Police Department was notified that Johnson would be passing through the city from Chicago and officers were ordered to stop the train and arrest him. The officer that took that call happened to be a childhood friend of Johnson's, Officer John W. Patterson.

Johnson and his wife were only in the city for a few hours that day before catching the afternoon trip out of the Central Michigan Railroad Depot (now Clara's on the River) to return to Chicago.

Salerno and his crew, consisting of cousin Christopher Douglas and friend Chris Fucile, when to painstaking efforts to capture scenes and intimate details of Johnson's stay in the Cereal City.

"The big thing you have to have to do this is patience," Fucile said. "We spent an hour just getting the lighting right for one interview and used only about 10 seconds of it."

The film also tells of several other, less eventful visits Johnson made to Battle Creek. It also incorporates numerous pictures of the city's heyday, with pictures of bustling streets, elegant theaters and flourishing downtown businesses.

"I look at that and think, 'What the heck happened to Battle Creek?'" said Douglas, a native of the city.

"Jack Johnson's Battle Creek Visits" will air at 7 p.m. Sundays, Feb. 15 through March 8 on AccessVision, channel 16.

http://www.battlecreekenquirer.com/article/20090120/NEWS01/901200308

Where to Watch Super Bowl in Vegas

By Jimmy Boyd

If you are heading out to Sin City for the big game then a question you might be asking is where to watch the Super Bowl in Las Vegas. This will be one of the busier weekends in the city so make sure you get a plan established early. It doesn’t matter if you are going to be rooting for the Arizona Cardinals or the Pittsburgh Steelers, we will help you find the hot spots so you can make this Super Bowl one that you will never forget.

The first thing that most visitors think of are the sportsbooks on the Strip and why wouldn’t you. Go there on most days and you will see wall to wall televisions with sports tickers and best of all, the betting counter. However, on Super Bowl Sunday these places are going to be packed full of people, and the action is going to be intense at the counters after every quarter as people chase their losses or try to double up their winnings. Some people don’t mind this kind of atmosphere and if you don’t then we recommend you hit up either the Bellagio, Mandalay Bay, or New York New York. New York New York has the ESPN Zone which is always a favorite for when the guys and I head out to Vegas. It’s a great sports bar/restaurant that bombards you with the sports entertainment that I crave on a daily basis. The Mandalay Bay has 17 mega screens, seats over 300 people, and is a favorite of ours as well. If you are of a finer taste then the Bellagio has leather seats, classy cocktail service, and personal screens. Of course, most of these sportsbooks and hotels are going to be throwing VIP parties with free booze and excellent food, but you’ll have to score an invite to get through the ropes.

So you want a little lady action with your football? No problem as there are plenty of gentleman’s clubs that will be showing the game on Sunday. Some of our favorites are Scores, which has 500 international showgirls on two different levels. This place has over 25,000 square feet of sports and chics to get you going. They also offer a big game party package with a free limo from the strip, free food, and an open bar during the game. What a better way to spend the commercial breaks than with a hot blonde on your lap. There is also Sapphire Las Vegas, known as the world’s largest gentlemen’s club. You can get halftime dollar dances and buckets of beer for their special.

As for myself, I’ll end up watching the game with some buddies at my house. We throw a small Super Bowl party every year to celebrate the end of another great year of NFL betting. But if you are heading to Las Vegas then I hope this guide gives you some assistance on where to head.

Want to win with your Super Bowl betting? Then take a look at the Super Bowl picks provided by our experts! Nobody spends more time breaking down the Super Bowl odds than they do, which is why their NFL picks have hit at such a high rate all season long!

http://www.locksmithsportspicks.com/where-to-watch-super-bowl-in-vegas/

In bad times, Vegas casinos know when to hold 'em

By Oskar Garcia

LAS VEGAS—Major gambling companies' ledgers have told the same, sinking story for a year: Fewer people are visiting casinos, their trips are getting shorter and they're not gambling as much.

Casino construction has slowed or halted from one end of the Las Vegas Strip to the other, more than a dozen projects across the U.S. and abroad have been modified or dropped, and more than 40,000 new rooms in Las Vegas planned by some of the industry's biggest players are on hold.

Among other bids to entice customers in the lagging economy, casinos across the country also have slashed room rates. But executives are heralding bigger changes than two-for-one deals on rooms as a decade of rapid revenue growth based on physical expansion and easy credit has stopped short.

Industry leaders are following the widespread layoffs, debt reduction and other cost cutting of recent months with calls for innovation and a back-to-basics approach that focuses on delivering a quality at good prices.

Most casino markets in the United States already are saturated, said Jonathan Halkyard, chief financial officer for Harrah's Entertainment Inc., and operators have to start thinking beyond their next construction project while the economy retrenches, he said.

MGM Mirage Inc. chief executive Jim Murren said he's seeing small signs that travelers are opening up to Las Vegas again, but not enough to predict when a recovery might happen.

"We have a consumer that is not confident, that has been scared, and has every reason to be scared," said Murren, whose company has more casinos on the Las Vegas Strip than any other.

The world's four largest casino operators—MGM Mirage, Harrah's, Las Vegas Sands Corp. and Wynn Resorts Ltd., all based in Las Vegas—are preparing to play the hands they have. There are no new plans afoot for new flourishes like the multimillion-dollar volcanoes or fountains that already grace the Strip or for expensive new clubs or hotels built substantially on credit.

"The executives' optimism is shaking," said David Schwartz, director of the Center for Gaming Research at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

Gambling revenue for commercial casinos across the U.S. dropped $1.1 billion, or 3.6 percent, to $30.2 billion in the first 11 months of 2008 compared with the same period in 2007, according to the American Gaming Association. Many states saw much more dramatic drops, except Pennsylvania, where casino gambling began only in 2007. The figures include only private gambling operations and not, for example, casinos owned by Indian tribes, which also have seen revenue tumble and some of which have cut staff and other costs in response.

In Macau, a Chinese enclave hailed as the next Las Vegas, American casino companies have been cutting table games and slot machines to cope with tightened Chinese visa rules and the recession, said gambling analyst Celeste Mellet Brown of Morgan Stanley Research. Revenue fell 2 percent for the fourth quarter in Macau, Brown said.

Visitor volume in Las Vegas declined 3.8 percent for the first 11 months of 2008 compared with 2007—meaning 1 million fewer people showed up to gamble, shop and dine out—and revenue here dropped 9.3 percent, according to the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority.

Wynn Resorts was the only operator among the four largest that saw growth between the first three quarters of 2007 and the same period in 2008: Its net income rose 92 percent to $369.8 million from $192.7 million.

Las Vegas Sands and Harrah's each lost money during the first nine months of 2008, while MGM Mirage's profit plunged. Sands lost $52.2 million from January through September 2008, after earning $76.8 million for same three quarters in 2007. Harrah's lost $415.1 million in the period in 2008 after earning $667.2 million in 2007.

MGM Mirage earned $292.7 million, down nearly 59 percent from $712.21 in the period in 2007, creating some uncertainty, especially in Las Vegas. Murren said he told 2,700 casino managers during two meetings last week that he didn't know if his company would trim more workers—it has laid off 3,200 since October 2007—or sell other casinos. It recently sold the Treasure Island for $775 million. He also told the managers MGM Mirage may sell noncore assets, including two airplanes and nearly 300 acres of land in Nevada and Atlantic City, N.J., he told The Associated Press.

"If the market doesn't grow, it's going to be a market share discussion," Murren said in an interview.

The company must stay its course by finishing CityCenter, its $8.6 billion project on the Strip, he said. But, instead of borrowing more and spending more, the company is exploring a half-dozen deals around the world in which it will lend out its name and expertise, he said.

"We have vastly under-leveraged brands," Murren said. "Who does not know Bellagio, and yet there's only one Bellagio? And MGM is one of the most recognized brands in the world—a lot of people still think we make movies—and how do you not try to leverage that?"

That sentiment is reverberating through the industry.

"Here's an idea: How about innovation? I mean if you look at the slot machine, it's basically the same as it was 75 years ago," said Halkyard, the CFO at Harrah's, the world's largest gambling company by revenue.

"There has been a shocking lack of innovation around our core product in this industry when compared to virtually any other consumer entertainment product over decades," Halkyard told the AP.

Last week, the privately held company—which owns or manages 50 casinos in six countries, including 20,000 rooms in Las Vegas alone—said it would wait for demand to pick up before it finishes more than 600 new rooms at its flagship Caesars Palace on the Strip. Harrah's has been restructuring its debt and in November withdrew a proposal made with partners to manage a $535 million state-owned casino in Kansas.

Instead, Halkyard said the company is experimenting with ideas like sending guests same-day specials at shows, restaurants and clubs by text message.

"Once people are here, it is fierce competition for their attention," Halkyard said.

Sands' president and chief operating officer, William Weidner, said at a conference this month that his company's strategy is not changing much, however, in the hope that it can take quick advantage when the economy rebounds.

"But again, we are very mindful of the degree of difficulty," Weidner said. "We're very mindful of how difficult '09 is going to be, and we're focused on operating through '09 as we get into '10."

Sands is working to finish developments on time and on budget, he said.

Anthony Marnell III, chairman and CEO of the $1 billion M Resort, Spa and Casino to open in March south of the main resort corridor in Las Vegas, said times may have changed forever.

"Two years ago, you didn't have to differentiate yourself—you could just build a nice, big, brand new building and put a good product out there, and you could charge just about what you wanted for it, and people would pay it and keep coming back for more," Marnell said.

Marnell said fewer consumers will tolerate $15 martinis, $50 filets and $2,000 booths in nightclubs.

"The masses ... they're done with it," Marnell said. "They are going to stay retracted and conscious of their dollars for a long time."

Billionaire Steve Wynn's resorts—including the Wynn Las Vegas, Wynn Macau and Encore in Las Vegas—cater to customers used to expensive drinks. But the Wynn CEO said casino operators run smoothest when they plan prudently.

"There's nothing up our sleeves here—this is just common sense," he told the AP when Wynn opened Encore in December in Las Vegas. He expects to open a $700 million Encore resort in Macau by the end of this year.

"Whether you're talking about the capital structure of the company (or) the way the employees are treated, all that results in the guests being able to trust us to be the same this month and next month," he said. "If we can do a good job opening week, when everything is on trial, then sure as hell we're going to be dandy six months from now."

http://www.mercurynews.com/breakingnews/ci_11504772?nclick_check=1