May 2009 Archives

Sixty-five years ago, an estimated 130,000-150,000 Allied troops landed on the beaches of Normandy in one of the most crucial military operations of all time. This September, travelers can be there to commemorate this historic event through a special seven-day, six-night D-Day Vacation Package offered by American Airlines Vacations (AA Vacations), a division of American Airlines.

AA Vacations is offering, for as little as $1,409 per person*, a total vacation package complete with a full-day D-Day Tour of the Normandy battlefields and landing beaches, together with a World War II Walking Tour, and Hop-On/Hop-Off Tour of Paris. The package includes airfare, six-nights hotel, tours and transfers. For a limited time, customers will receive a 5 percent discount on this special package plus any additional activities when booking at http://www.aavacations.com/dday65.

"The valor of the American troops who landed on the beaches of Normandy in 1944 is alive today in the hearts of all Americans," said Steve Blankenship, Director - Veterans Initiatives for American Airlines, a founding member of the oneworld(R) Alliance. "AA Vacations is delighted to offer this great vacation package to commemorate the 65th anniversary year of this heroic event."

Here is what awaits you on your D-Day tour:

D-Day Tour - Normandy Battlefields and Landing Beaches by Minivan. On this 12-hour D-Day Tour of the Normandy Battlefields and Landing Beaches, you will visit the American Cemetery in Coleville, Arromanches' artificial harbor, and the beaches of Omaha and Juno. Have lunch at the Ferme de la Ranconniere in the village of Crepon and watch the film, "The Price of Freedom," at the cinema Arromanches 360. The film is shown on nine screens in a circular room and combines historic footage taken in June 1944 by war correspondents together with current views of the same places where peace has been restored.

Paris Walking Tour - World War II. This guided two-hour World War II Walk will take you back to Paris' darkest hours. Explore subjects such as the invasion of France, the Resistance, life in Paris during the occupation, the D-Day invasion and, of course, the Liberation itself.

Paris City Hop-On/Hop-Off Tour. Discover Paris at your leisure with a two-day ticket on the Paris City Hop-on/Hop-off Tour. Create your own itinerary as you see the most popular sights of Paris, keeping your own personal timetable. Experience the cobbled streets of the Left Bank and the Napoleonic splendor of the Ecole Militaire. See the Eiffel Tower, Paris' most famous landmark. Stop off at the Arc de Triomphe and walk down the stylish Champs-Elysees. Become acquainted with some of the world's most famous artworks at the Louvre, including the mysterious Mona Lisa.

To book this great D-Day Vacation Package to Paris or for additional details, visit http://www.aavacations.com/dday65.

SOURCE American Airlines

The late-18th-century mansion that overlooks the Atlantic from cliffs on the southeastern coast of Barbados and forms the heart of this development has been operating as a hotel since it was first expanded in 1887, making The Crane the island's oldest resort.

There are only 18 rooms in that historic structure, with antique furnishings and hardwood floors, so in recent years the resort's owners have been adding buildings with condos that can be rented to serve as hotel rooms. Now 116 one- to three-bedroom units have been completed, and more condos are being built; the rooms in the original building are also sold as residences. Buyers choose either whole ownership or deeded residence club membership, offered in weekly, monthly or three-month increments. The villa-style penthouse residences have plunge pools; many condos have pools as well; and there are six communal pools. One of the resort's three restaurants serves Thai and Japanese cuisine. The village, which will have shops, more restaurants, a general store, a movie theater, a gallery and a small spa and fitness center, is expected to be completed by this fall. A larger beachfront spa and fitness center is planned.

Full ownership of residences starts at $425,000. Residence club membership ranges from $11,400 for a week in summer to about $225,000 for three months in the high season.

A new village area began opening in March. The latest phase of 18 residences is expected to be completed late this year.

CONTACT INFO (246) 423-6220 or www.thecrane.com.

Source: The Crane / Millennium Investments Limited.

The Hampton Inn Fort Walton Beach announced today that the property received green lodging designation from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection on May 4, 2009. Florida's Green Lodging Program certifies hotels that adopt green practices to reduce waste and conserve natural resources. The Hampton Inn Fort Walton Beach has implemented a variety of green initiatives including water conservation measures, energy efficiency, the use of green cleansers and high efficiency air filters, recycling, and other waste reduction methods.

"We adopted these eco-friendly practices because we are committed to preserving this beautiful coastal area so guests can enjoy it for years to come," said General Manager Rachel Joyce. "By providing a quality stay, while improving our environment, we can ensure our guests are receiving the very best our property can offer."

The entire staff supports the hotel's green efforts by frequently meeting to exchange tips, helping guests dispose of recyclables properly, and sharing these green initiatives with guests. Some guests have even started recycling back home.

"Our beaches are some of the most magnificent in the world," said Director of Sales Jeniffer Ward. "We want our guests to know how much we want them here, enjoying this beautiful area, while knowing that we are taking steps to protect the environment."

The hotel will continue to work with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to execute additional eco-friendly practices, including a towel reuse initiative, in the months to come.

SOURCE Hampton Inn Fort Walton Beach

Ski.com, North America's largest provider of mountain vacations, today announced the launch of Summer Mountain Travel, a one-stop shop for travelers looking for hassle-free mountain vacations in the spring, summer and fall.

Based in Aspen, Colo., Summer Mountain Travel offers the same value, attention to detail and personalized service for which Ski.com has been known since its inception in 1971. Summer Mountain Travel delivers the most dependable service from top-notch Mountain Vacation Specialists who average 15 years customizing mountain vacations. Each Specialist provides impeccable service and offers unmatched expertise when presenting travelers with the most diverse mountain resort and lodging options in the industry. By visiting one Web site, http://www.summermountaintravel.com, or by making just one phone call, travelers are able to customize a summer vacation package that can include discounted lodging, air, ground transportation, event tickets and activities.

"For the past 38 years our main focus has been to provide unrivaled winter skiing and snowboarding vacations," said Harry Peisach, Ski.com president and CEO. "With the launch of Summer Mountain Travel, we are now able to leverage our long-standing relationships with resorts, properties and airlines to provide the premier service for travelers who wish to experience their favorite ski towns from a different perspective during the warmer months."

The high country of Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, Idaho, California, British Columbia and Alberta provides unrivaled scenery, low humidity and comfortable temperatures perfect for festivals and endless ways for everyone to embrace the outdoors. Visitors enjoy activities like hiking, biking, whitewater rafting, Jeep tours, scenic gondola and chairlift rides, hot springs pools, fishing, alpine slides, mountain biking, golf, music, film and food festivals and so much more.

Because summer is a slower season in many ski towns, it is the perfect time to find a great deal, even on a luxury property. Vacationers are able to enjoy all the world-class amenities offered at the most exclusive properties and spas and luxuriate in total comfort at a fraction of the price - up to 40 percent less than the cost in the winter.

SOURCE Ski.com

Interest in studying, volunteering and teaching abroad soared in 2008 as Americans looked overseas for solutions to economic troubles at home.

GoAbroad.com, the flagship Internet search directory for experiential travel, reports a 35 percent jump in site traffic from last year, with most of the increase coming from people searching for educational, volunteer, or teaching opportunities abroad. In the first 3 months of 2009, 3.3 million people searched GoAbroad.com, compared to 2.4 million during that time span in 2008. About 80 percent of the site's users are North Americans.

User traffic to GoAbroad.com's educational directories saw a 34.5 percent jump and its Volunteer Abroad directory saw a 39.8 percent leap. "During tough economic times, people often look to meaningful travel as a solution," said Troy Peden of St. Johns, FL, who co-founded GoAbroad.com in 1999 with Jason Coppage of Denver, CO.

"Internships abroad are attractive to graduating students who want to strengthen their resumes. Study abroad is often a less expensive alternative to private tuition in the U.S.," Peden noted that volunteer roles are appealing to those looking for a career change, an opportunity to refocus their priorities, or both. "We are seeing tremendous interest from older people and career veterans who want to volunteer overseas."

Interest in teaching positions abroad also spiked. GoAbroad.com experienced a 31.8 jump in users browsing the Teach Abroad and TEFL Certification (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) directories. "College graduates can find lucrative teaching jobs abroad," Peden says. "Teaching abroad is a smart alternative for people who want to work and travel. There is a constant demand for English teachers worldwide.

"Volunteering, interning, and studying abroad make graduates more appealing to international companies and employers who want real-world experience," Peden said. "It gives job seekers a big advantage in a competitive job market."

The premier Internet search directory for experiential travel, GoAbroad.com has 10 sub-directories that cover the range of meaningful opportunities abroad. Its free resources include a Scholarships Directory, Embassies & Consulates Directory, and more. Its partner site, the GoAbroad Network (www.GoAbroad.net), is an online social network for experiential travelers. It hosts travel blogs and albums, forums, Facebook applications, and other functions.

GOABROAD.COM SITE VISITOR COMPARISON : 1st Quarter 2008/ 1st Quarter 2009

                              EDUCATION    VOLUNTEER      TEACH        TOTAL

    Jan 2009                   341,277      150,781     155,663       647,721
    Feb 2009                   308,192      135,173     143,501       586,866
    March 2009                 329,844      151,844     154,904       636,592

    Jan 2008                   252,031      109,038     123,088       484,157
    Feb 2008                   233,367       97,623     108,520       439,510
    March 2008                 242,948      106,545     112,989       462,482

    Jan Visitor Increase        89,246       41,743      32,575       163,564
    Jan % Increase                35.4         38.3        26.5          33.8
    Feb Visitor Increase        74,825       37,550      34,981       147,356
    Feb % Increase                32.1         38.5        32.2          33.5
    March Visitor Increase      86,896       45,299      41,915       174,110
    March % Increase              35.8         42.5        37.1          37.6

    1st Qtr 09 Total           979,313      437,798     454,068     1,871,179
    1st Qtr 08 Total           728,346      313,206     344,597     1,386,149
    08-09 Visitor Increase     250,967      124,592     109,471       485,030
    08-09 % Increase              34.5         39.8        31.8          35.0


    Glossary:
    EDUCATION = Study Abroad, Degree Abroad, Intern Abroad, Language Schools,
                High School Programs
    VOLUNTEER = Volunteer Abroad
    TEACH = Teach Abroad, TEFL Certification

    Source: GoAbroad.com / Urchin Analytics

SOURCE GoAbroad.com

Dozens of vacation villas, apartments and farmhouses in Italy are inviting guests to enjoy a complimentary two nights stay on a seven-night holiday rental. This Free Summer Weekends in Italy promotion offered by www.ParkerVillas.com of Massachusetts translates into nearly a 30% discount across the board. From apartments in Rome, Florence or Venice to villas and country farmhouses in Tuscany, Umbria and the rest of Italy, there is a wide range of choices for both small and large groups.

What allows Parker to offer such uniform promotions in the highly fragmented vacation rental market is that every home Parker represents is under exclusive contract. Parker ensures renters end up with exactly what they see. Mario Scalzi, founder and CEO of Parker explains: "The primary advantage consumers gain by using exclusive agents like Parker Villas, as opposed to the do-it-yourself rental portals, is knowing each rental home is thoroughly inspected and certified." According to Scalzi: "Parker not only sets competitive market prices based on measurable criteria, but as a U.S. company it organizes foreign property owners to act as one in meeting and exceeding customer expectations."

Parker Villas has been in business since 1993 and has been favorably reviewed by dozens of major media outlets throughout its history. Even more reassuring to the consumer, Parker Villas takes pride in exceeding a 99% client satisfaction rating year after year. With the cost of air travel dropping, a stronger dollar overseas and promotions such as this, there seems little reason to forego that much needed Italy vacation this summer.

Source: Parker Villas