Spring break airfares decreasing

By Kelly Yamanouchi

As airlines cope with a decline in demand for travel, spring break fares are down about 9 percent overall compared with last year, according to an air fare forecasting Web site.

Farecast’s spring break forecast shows that fares for travel Feb. 28 to April 4 from Atlanta to U.S., Mexico and Caribbean destinations averaged $249 this year, down from $273 a year earlier.

Nationally, spring break fares are down more than 15 percent year-over-year for the spring break period, according to Live Search Farecast, whose Web site makes predictions about air fares. The average spring break fare nationally is $308, down from $368 a year ago.

Delta held a fare sale earlier this year that extended through April that would be reflected in the fares, though the booking period for that sale has ended. Delta currently has a sale on flights to a number of cities in Mexico for travel by March 31. “There have been a number of sales in the marketplace in the winter and into the spring across the country,” said Delta spokesman Kent Landers.

The lower fares come as the number of U.S. airline passengers is projected to fall 6.6 percent in 2009 compared with 2008, according to a forecast by Boyd Group International, an Evergreen, Colo.-based aviation consulting firm.

The fluctuation in fares from Atlanta varies significantly, however. Spring break fares from Atlanta to West Palm Beach are down 21 percent and fares from Atlanta to Cancun are down 20 percent compared with last year. But fares from Atlanta to Nassau in the Bahamas are up 3 percent.

Travelers with flexible travel plans can save more by flying on less-popular days, avoiding peak weeks and choosing less expensive locations in Florida, or cities like Las Vegas, San Juan, Puerto Rico or Cancun, according to Farecast.

http://www.ajc.com/business/content/travel/southeast/fl_stories/2009/02/10/spring_break_airfares.html

Tower Rising in Las Vegas but Now, Not So High

By Steve Friess

LAS VEGAS — Usually in this city of ephemera, they at least finish the buildings before they bring them down.

But because of what it is billing as structural defects, MGM Mirage announced recently it has decided to shorten a hotel-condominium project it is building on the Strip to 28 stories instead of the planned 49.

Architectural experts say they cannot recall such a drastic midconstruction downscaling, especially of a building designed by a marquee architect, in this case Norman Foster. No one from Mr. Foster’s firm, based in London, responded to e-mail and telephone requests for comment.

“This is not the way we had expected things to play out,” said an MGM Mirage spokesman, Gordon Absher. “But we want to build safe buildings whose structural integrity everyone has confidence in.”

County inspectors discovered the defect — improper installation of critical steel reinforcements known as rebar — after 15 stories of the building, the Harmon, had been erected.

The Harmon is one of several structures that make up CityCenter, an $8.6 billion, 67-acre development at the heart of the Strip that includes two other hotel-condominiums, two residential towers, a 4,000-room hotel-casino and a 500,000-square-foot shopping center. Those involved in the effort promote it as the largest privately financed construction project in United States history. Besides Mr. Foster, other prestigious architects working on CityCenter buildings are Cesar Pelli, Daniel Libeskind and Helmut Jahn.

All the buildings were to open by the end of this year, Mr. Absher said, but the oval, aqua-colored Harmon, which was to have a 400-room hotel and 207 condominiums, now will not be ready until late 2010. And there will be no condominiums, he said. Would-be buyers who had put 20 percent down on 88 units will be offered refunds or the chance to buy in other buildings.

Mr. Absher said the company and county officials were investigating who is to blame for the problems but he predicted that that would be up to “a whole lot of attorneys” to sort out.

The Harmon is the CityCenter structure closest to the Strip so the shortening will significantly change the development’s look.

“There’s a lot of new work to be done in finding the new skyline of CityCenter,” Mr. Absher said. “We’re still working with the county to address their concerns, so new renderings have not yet been issued.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/11/us/11vegas.html?ref=us

Expedia Partners With HotelsCombined.com in APAC

HotelsCombined.com announced today their new extended partnership with Expedia, Inc. covering 4 key markets in the Asia Pacific region: Australia, New Zealand, Japan and India.

With the systems integration finalized on HotelsCombined.com, consumers within the APAC region can now search and compare live hotel rates from Expedia's global selection of hotels against other major travel sites to find the optimal hotel deal. Visitors choosing to make a hotel reservation with Expedia® are then redirected to the respective Expedia site (Expedia.com.au, Expedia.co.nz, Expedia.co.jp or Expedia.co.in) where they will be able to complete their hotel booking without additional fees or markups.

Yury Shar, Managing Director of HotelsCombined.com, welcomed the new deal: "We're excited to be working with the region's leading online travel provider Expedia. It is a very positive development for both companies and most importantly our users."

"We, too, are excited about the opportunity to provide a quality travel product to HotelsCombined.com's users. Expedia Affiliate Network's is continually seeking new ways to improve our service, support and added value for our top partners in APAC. This strategic partnership is yet one more example of Expedia's commitment to the APAC region," says Expedia Affiliate Network's new Managing Director, APAC, Jens Parkitny.

About Expedia, Inc.

Expedia, Inc. is the world's leading online travel company, empowering business and leisure travelers with the tools and information they need to easily research, plan, book and experience travel. The Expedia, Inc. portfolio of brands includes: Expedia, hotels.com, Hotwire, Egencia (formerly Expedia Corporate Travel), TripAdvisor, Expedia Local Expert, Classic Vacations and eLong. Expedia, Inc.'s companies operate more than 60 global points of sale in more than 40 countries, with sites in North America, South America, Latin America, Europe, Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific. Expedia, Inc. is a component of the S&P 500 index. For more information, visit http://www.expediainc.com/ (NASDAQ: EXPE).

About HotelsCombined.com

HotelsCombined.com is the leading global hotel price comparison engine searching over 900,000 hotel deals from prominent travel sites in the United States, Europe and Asia Pacific. Visitors to HotelsCombined.com can search and compare major travel sites to find the optimal hotel deal and click to buy direct from the hotel or favorite travel site. For more information, visit http://www.HotelsCombined.com.

http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/marketwire/0473200.htm

Tourists arrivals to Jamaica increased in January

KINGSTON, Jamaica - Jamaica's Minister of Tourism, Edmund Bartlett, has confirmed a 3.4 per cent growth in visitor arrivals for January, compared with the same period last year.

Mr. Bartlett pointed out that the 138, 000 tourists who visited the island during the month would be, "the largest number of visitors to have ever come to Jamaica in the month of January, in any year."

He made the disclosure at a press briefing on Wednesday(February 4) at his ministry, New Kingston.

The Minister credited the growth to intense advertising, marketing and promotion of the island overseas, especially for the start of the winter tourist season, and the staging of the annual Jazz and Blues festival last month.

"We were in a good position in January to benefit from the changing or severe weather conditions that our tourists were experiencing," he said.

"In times such as these, people will travel to realize their passions. They have to be driven by some deeper value. When they have choices to make in terms of how to use their diminishing dollar, your destination must be impelling them to travel to you," the Minister explained.

He also revealed that there was a major spike in tourist arrivals towards the end of the month, while Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival was being held.

"At the first week of January, we were down 6.4 per cent; the second week, we were down 0.3 per cent; the following week, we were up 1.3 per cent, then 1.8 per cent and the three days following that, we were up 51.1 per cent," the Minister outlined.

"The point is that we saw the spike during the two weeks when the festival took place and if it was not for the staging of the festival, the overall growth in arrivals in January would not have happened," he explained.

Mr. Bartlett said that a large portion of the visitors who came to Jamaica during the festival, were Jamaican nationals who came back for the event. He also said that hotels, both large and small, in the Montego Bay area were full to capacity.

Meanwhile, giving an update on the sector's performance last year, the Minister pointed out that, despite the economic downturn in the major markets overseas, Jamaica experienced a four per cent growth with a total of 1,769,271 stop-over arrivals and US$2 billion earned in revenue.

Giving details on individual market performances, he said that the United States continued to dominate the arrivals, with some 1,150,942 visitors, representing an increase of 1.6 per cent over the previous year. Europe followed with 284,700 visitors, an increase of 1.5 per cent.

Special mention was made of Canada, the biggest growth market with arrivals from that country increasing by 23.9 per cent.

The Minister reported that stop-over arrivals from the Caribbean showed a very outstanding growth, increasing by 6.8 per cent, while the Latin American market grew by 32.5 per cent.

On the matter of cruise arrivals, Mr. Bartlett said that the performance has been less than desirable, but it represented a stable position, with the extensive redeployment of vessels out of the Caribbean into the Mediterranean last year. Cruise passenger arrivals totalled 1,088,701 representing a 7.7 per cent decline.

The Tourism Minister said that the focus of the sector is to drive the "strongest and deepest "creative energies, and find new ways to innovate and develop strategies and processes that will identify opportunities that will mitigate the impact of the economic downturn and create growth.

http://www.sflcn.com/story.php?id=5638

Bose opens in Dubai Mall

Bose has recently opened in Dubai Mall, bringing the number of outlets in the UAE to seven. The new store stocks the full range of Bose home entertainment systems and products. The Bose True to Life audio visual presentation has been installed at the outlet for customers to experience the features of Lifestyle Home Entertainment systems.

http://www.ameinfo.com/184179.html

Las vegas deals

BY MIRIAM DI NUNZIO

LAS VEGAS -- What happens in Vegas doesn't have to cost you an arm and a leg.

In a city that boasts $10,000-a-night suites, let's face it, the view is just as grand from a $129-a-night room in the same resort. Even in these tough economic times, there are fabulous finds in town. I've spent years discovering and enjoying these little gems, even in the best of times. With some planning, determination and willingness to occasionally step outside the "comfort zone" of the Strip, there are plenty of money-saving deals to be had when it comes to lodging, dining, entertainment and shopping.

To help you get more for your vacation dollar, here are a few of my fabulous finds. (Prices can change without notice, so call ahead.)

It seems all the top designers in the world have opened boutiques in Sin City. But if Prada is nada in terms of your budget, consider these options:

Macy's at Fashion Show Mall (north end of Las Vegas Boulevard). Wanna know a secret? Stop by the Visitors Services booth (first floor, near the cosmetics) for your 11 percent off Welcome Savings Pass valid for seven days.

The Las Vegas Premium Outlets (875 S. Grand Central Pkwy., 702-474-7500). A quick ride from the Strip (this is where a rental car comes in handy) and a great place for bargains if you're a savvy shopper. Outlets are of the high-end caliber: White House/Black Market, Dolce & Gabbana, Juicy Couture, True Religion, Salvatore Ferragamo, Kate Spade and about 150 more familiar labels.

The Las Vegas Outlet Center (Warm Springs Road and Las Vegas Boulevard, 702-896-5599). Just a few miles south of the resort area, this indoor mall boasts hundreds of outlet stores including Liz Claiborne Shoes, Aeropostale, Greg Norman, Jones New York, Coach and Off 5th. Not nearly as chi-chi as the Premium Outlets, but you will find tons of bargains, and a "restaurant row" has emerged along the road opposite the mall.

If you want souvenirs for everybody you've ever known, head to the Bonanza Gift Shop (Las Vegas Boulevard at Sahara, 702-...). It's purported to be the "World's Largest Gift Shop," and it might very well be. Aisle after aisle of everything from mugs, T-shirts, tote bags and moccasins to magnets and post cards is affordably priced.

For food, Hash House A Go Go (6800 W. Sahara, 702-804-GOGO) is hands-down one of the best places to eat in the city. Its slogan is "twisted farm food," which I translate as "humongous portions of some of the best breakfast, lunch and dinner chow west of the Mississippi." Their 1-pound stuffed burgers served with all the fixin's easily can feed two and will set you back about $10. The hash here ($12.95 on average) is served in a huge cast-iron skillet and is out of this world. Consider the "Pacers Hash" made with roasted pork tenderloin, crispy potatoes, fresh corn, green beans, cherry tomatoes, smoked mozzarella and scrambled eggs. The menu is extensive, the service is outstanding and the prices are very friendly.

Shark Reef at Mandalay Bay (3950 Las Vegas Blvd. South, 702-632-4555). Accredited by the American Zoo and Aquarium Association, this is one of the best-kept secrets on the Strip. More than 1,200 species of tropical and freshwater fish, reptiles, and a mind-boggling assortment of sharks and rare golden alligators surround you in 2 million gallons of water. Travel through a glass-encased "under the sea" environment while creatures swim above, below and all around. Admission is $10.95-$17; kids under 4 are free.

Las Vegas Art Museum (9600 W. Sahara, 702...). Just eight miles west of the Strip, this is a nice way to spend a few hours in quiet respite from all the neon. Modern art rules the roost, and you can't beat the $3-$6 admission. You also can take in some extraordinary museum-quality artwork at the Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art (inside the Bellagio Resort, 3400 Las Vegas Blvd., 702...). Admission, $10-$15. Currently on display is "Classic Contemporary: Lichtenstein, Warhol & Friends."

Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area. Located 15 miles from the Strip, this desert canyon is worth the 30-minute drive. Travel a 13-mile loop through rock/canyon formations for a $5 car entry fee. You also can hike or bike scenic but very challenging trails (check with park officials at the visitors center for details). Wear plenty of sunscreen. Outdoor enthusiasts also can stay the night in the campground for a fee.

The Aquarium at Silverton Casino and Lodge (3333 Blue Diamond Road, 702-263-7777). Nowhere near the scale of Shark Reef at Mandalay Bay, but every bit as fun. More than 4,000 tropical fish, sharks and other creatures traverse a 117,000-gallon artificial reef. Divers feed the lot at various times and visitors can ask questions while they're serving up lunch or dinner to their aquatic pals. In a throwback to the Vegas of the '40s and '50s, "mermaids" swim into the tank every 15 minutes for an underwater show. Free.

Mt. Charleston. A great day trip, the mount is about 40 miles northwest of the Strip. It's the highest point in southern Nevada -- some 12,000 feet at the summit -- climbing up through an alpine tree line and, depending on the time of year, snowcapped peaks. It's all part of the Spring Mountain Range of the Toiyabe National Forest, and the temperature up there can be as much as 40 degrees cooler than at the desert base. There is a restaurant and lodge around 7,000 feet, with 23 log cabins available year-round for a very different Las Vegas stay. Glorious vistas, waterfalls and plenty of crisp mountain air.

Big Dog's Cafe & Casino (6390 W. Sahara, 702-876-3647). This was the first microbrewery in Las Vegas and it still serves up several award-winning beers from its 15-barrel facility. Happy hour features $2 off all their brews. The food's not too shabby, either. When it's crowded, it's loud, rowdy and fun.

Bowling at the Suncoast Hotel/Casino (9090 Alta Drive, 702-636-7111). If you really want a fun outing that won't break the bank, consider bowling at this off-the-Strip locale. This is a nicely appointed, state-of-the-art Brunswick affair with 64 lanes, and it's open 24 hours a day. Saturday nights are Cosmic Bowling nights, when disco music blares and the light show thrills. Adults can bowl for $2.90 a game; kids and seniors, $2. Shoe rental is $2.

Las Vegas Springs Preserve (333 S. Valley View Blvd., 702-...). This is one of the most tranquil places you'll visit in the Las Vegas area. It spans the "birthplace of Las Vegas," a 180-acre site of landscaped botanic gardens and interactive exhibits on the city's history, such as the prehistoric swamps that evolved into desert landscape. The Nevada State Museum is slated to open there later this year. Wolfgang Puck's Cafe serves delicious fare and its outdoor terrace is the perfect place for peace and quiet. Admission is $18.95, adults; $10.95, children.

The deep-fried Twinkie -- only 99 cents -- at Mermaid's Casino, downtown Las Vegas (32 Fremont St., 702...). People line up for this sinfully delicious treat in this claustrophobic, rundown, slots-only casino.

The $25 bling ring at Decorazzi (Wynn Las Vegas Esplanade, 702-770-7000). This Swarovski crystal bauble in different colors will make your ring finger dazzle.

The dueling pianos at the Bar Time Square (New York New York Hotel/Casino, 702-74...). For a $10 cover you can sing along -- or not -- to one of the best lounge shows in town in this swanky spot.

When it comes to accommodations, Strip resorts can be very accommodating, especially in these tough economic times.

Average daily room rates were down 9.2 percent for the first nine months of 2008 compared with the same time period of 2007, according to the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority.

Lodging bargains abound on resorts' Web sites. Here are a couple of examples:

MGM Grand's Maximum Escape Package, featuring a room rate of $80 a night, Feb. 22-25 (other dates are available), includes a $35 activity credit, two line passes to Studio 54, and 25 percent off spa services. The Winter Escape Package is only $72 a night, but for $5 extra you get a $50 activity credit good toward dining, entertainment ("Ka" by Cirque du Soleil, or "Crazy Horse Paris"), spa services or Studio 54; (888) 646-1203, www.mgmgrand.com/special_offers/.

At the Venetian, you can't beat the Suite Life Package. For $149 a night (weekdays, minimum two-night stay), you enjoy a 650-square-foot suite, $40 off front orchestra seating to "Jersey Boys" (the resident production at the adjoining Palazzo), one complimentary passport to the resort's Canyon Ranch Spa and $30 off a variety of services. You also get 20 percent off an entree at Dal Toro Ristorante and a two-for-one gondola ride inside the resort's Grand Canal promenade. Book by Feb. 28; call (86... and mention code EVJHOME, or book online at www.venetian.com.

http://www.suntimes.com/lifestyles/travel/northamerica/1417797,TRA-News-deals08.article

Travel Picks: Top 10 destinations for chocolate lovers

SYDNEY (Reuters Life!) - As Valentine's Day approaches, travel website IgoUgo.com has come with a list of top destinations for people whose main love is chocolate.

This list is compiled by IgoUgo.com editors and is not endorsed by Reuters:

1. Oaxaca, Mexico

In Oaxaca, chocolate is used not only as a food in chocolate corn, chocolate sauce and so on but also as a popular drink. For their fix, locals frequent Chocolate Mayordomo, a shop with two downtown locations. A trip to Oaxaca can be combined with a stop in Mexico City to see Nestle's factory and chocolate museum.

2. Ghana

Ghana wants to spread the word that it grows great cocoa, so its throwing a party -- National Chocolate Day and Cocoa Day with the theme "consume more cocoa for good health."

3. Hershey, Pennsylvania, United States

Hershey's Chocolate World in the self-proclaimed "sweetest place on Earth" with a factory-tour ride in which children especially enjoy Chocolate World's singing cows.

4. Philippines

In the north, Baguio is a foodie's dream destination, famous for its Chocolate de Batirol, named after the clay pot in which chocolate is heated. Down in Bohol, a main attraction is the Chocolate Hills - not technically edible but a must-see. Further south is Davao and its cacao fields, where every meal seems to end with a decadent dessert.

5. Zurich, Switzerland

Nowhere does Swiss chocolate taste better than in the confiseries of Zurich. Lindt, Sprungli, Teuscher, Suchard; the only hard part is deciding where to begin.

6. Bocas del Toro, Panama

Sample cacao flesh straight from the source on the Bocas del Toro archipelago and wash it down with plenty of cocoa. Research suggests that this habit of Panama's Kuna people keeps their hearts healthy. Another bonus effect of local cocoa is the presence of hiking trails on what were once cacao plantations.

7. Cologne, Germany

In the chocolate capital of Germany, the Chocolate Museum is much lauded for its historical exhibits, family fun, Rhine River views, huge chocolate fountain, and, of course, free samples.

8. New York, NY

New Yorkers know chocolate: how to make it, how to sell it, how to show it. Visitors can take a chocolate tour and attend a chocolate show, and, sometimes, sleep in a chocolate hotel room. You can also find some of the world's highest-quality sweets there, including the hot chocolate served at cocoa master Jacques Torres' shops.

9. Bruges, Belgium

A great spot for chocolate lovers which includes the Chocolate Line shop where the liqueur-filled chocolates come highly recommended.

10. Barcelona, Spain

Barcelona has been breeding leading chocolatiers for centuries, making it a natural place for a museum celebrating the substance. The Museu de la Xocolata features chocolate in every form, from ornate sculptures to hot chocolate. Afterwards burn off the treats on a self-guided tour of the city's high-end chocolate boutiques.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29050309/