See this at: luxuryresorttravel.s...| Added on 02/21/08

After an interview with the CEO of Foresee Results about customer satisfaction with travel planning websites, Luxury Travel wondered how much concern the owners of Expedia, Travelocity, and Orbitz really have for their user compatibility. They are... See more

After an interview with the CEO of Foresee Results about customer satisfaction with travel planning websites, Luxury Travel wondered how much concern the owners of Expedia, Travelocity, and Orbitz really have for their user compatibility. They are the Big Three, and that doesn't appear to be changing despite their low scores. Or, is in fact, a change in the future? After all, the highest level of customer satisfaction went to smaller travel deal websites like Kayak, and to individual airline and hotel websites. Another up-and-comer of note is Hotwire.com, which has impressive customer satisfaction (seen in its user feedback). What vacation planners are looking for in a discount travel deals website is easily summed up with a quick look at Hotwire. JD Power and Associates named it a top consumer website, and the Market Metrix Hospitality Index considers it a Best Hotel Website for two years running. Whether scheduling a business trip, planning for family travel or even a luxury... See less

Highlights: Jobs In Your Zip Code Local Jobs Paying $10-26 Per Hour. Apply Within, No Obligation

See this at: luxuryresorttravel.s...| Added on 02/19/08

Luxury vacations have to start somewhere, and for most of us that means researching online for air travel and hotel deals. What, on average, does the general consumer think about his or her experiences with online travel planning websites? The... See more

Luxury vacations have to start somewhere, and for most of us that means researching online for air travel and hotel deals. What, on average, does the general consumer think about his or her experiences with online travel planning websites? The American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) ranks and rates various services. Aspects related to travel planning are, likely, of particular interest to readers of this section. Along with ForeSee Results, the ASCI rated the Big Three travel planning websites, i.e. Expedia, Travelocity, and Orbitz (along with a choice of "other"). The results can predict future use of online travel sites. Company to company comparison is interesting, and can reveal which of the sites will become more, and less, popular over time. Websites live and die by their traffic; what does the future hold for online travel planning sites? * Luxury Travel spoke with Larry Freed, the CEO of ForeSee Results, about these most heavily trafficked online travel planning websites.... See less

See this at: luxuryresorttravel.s...| Added on 11/21/07

Getting arrested while on vacation is probably not on many people's travel itinerary, but it does happen. A Luxury Travel poll asked, "When taking a vacation in a foreign land, what is your favorite way to appreciate and soak up this new-to-you... See more

Getting arrested while on vacation is probably not on many people's travel itinerary, but it does happen. A Luxury Travel poll asked, "When taking a vacation in a foreign land, what is your favorite way to appreciate and soak up this new-to-you place?" Results show that the fifth option, "Finding out what it takes to get arrested in a different country," came in dead last, with zero votes. No surprise, of course, and to be honest this was kind of the jokey option. Option Four, "Drinking the local brew, with the locals," came in fourth place with just under ten percent of the votes (9.68%, to be exact). This is a good thing, because getting drunk may in fact lead to that unwanted arrest in a different country. What is it that luxury travel fans do like to do while on vacation in a new place? It's actually pretty close; first place, "Booking top 10-types of recommended travel tours," only beat out second place, "Seeking out off-the-beaten-track sights" by around three percentage points -... See less

See this at: luxuryresorttravel.s...| Added on 11/19/07

Solo travel may not conjure up images of romantic moonlit walks, or boisterous group dinners, but many singles prefer to take vacations alone. Luxury spa vacations have packages for solo spa travel lovers, of course, and traveling well-worn paths of... See more

Solo travel may not conjure up images of romantic moonlit walks, or boisterous group dinners, but many singles prefer to take vacations alone. Luxury spa vacations have packages for solo spa travel lovers, of course, and traveling well-worn paths of Paris and Florence easily sates the art museum cravings of many single travelers. While there are cruise vacations for singles (most notably SinglesCruise.com), these are predominantly geared towards seeking out romance and potential relationships. What about single men and women seeking solo vacation packages, with the simple goal of experiencing a new, relatively distant spot in the world? These single travel and solo adventure vacations are gaining in popularity. Luxury vacations in exotic places require planning, as does any vacation - but some tips specific to luxury travel for singles should be helpful. Asia Transpacific Journeys offers some useful travel tips for the solo travel planner. * Asia Transpacific Journeys recommends guests... See less

See this at: luxuryresorttravel.s...| Added on 08/10/07

Travel writers and frequent travelers read a lot of guide books; it comes with the territory. Frommer's Travel Guides, Fodor's Travel Guides, Michelin Green Guide - they're all packed with information, time tables, and maps. From destination to... See more

Travel writers and frequent travelers read a lot of guide books; it comes with the territory. Frommer's Travel Guides, Fodor's Travel Guides, Michelin Green Guide - they're all packed with information, time tables, and maps. From destination to destination, all these well-known guide books pretty much relay the same historical facts, recommended restaurants and other travel tidbits. For inveterate travelers, it's hard for a guide book to really stand out. That's what makes Rome with Kids, by JM Pasquesi, so special. Any family travel plans including a Rome tour would greatly benefit from this guide book. Rome with Kids: An Insider's Guide is a family guide book to Rome, Italy. While it does contain the usual maps, itinerary suggestions, and hotel recommendations, this guide book to Rome is written in a light and breezy style, loaded with tips for keeping children of various ages entertained while on a Roman vacation. The author manages to cover 3,000 years of Roman history, art and... See less

See this at: luxuryresorttravel.s...| Added on 05/20/07

One-size-fits-all vacations aren't for everyone. Romantic weekend getaways and luxury family resorts are great, but travel for men is different: Father and son vacations, mancation trips, and Father's Day vacations typically involve more... See more

One-size-fits-all vacations aren't for everyone. Romantic weekend getaways and luxury family resorts are great, but travel for men is different: Father and son vacations, mancation trips, and Father's Day vacations typically involve more traditionally masculine activities. Nothing wrong with a weekend away for the guys, after all. In turn, male bonding through "Iron John" camping doesn't fit every man's view of a relaxing getaway either. Swatting away mosquitos in the deep woods is not everyone's idea of the best vacation with the guys. Fairmont Hotels and Resorts offers several different mancation travel vacations, with varying levels of activity and luxury. A father and son trip, be it for Father's Day or otherwise, provides fun memories to last a lifetime. And a vacation with a bunch of good friends counts among the best ways to take a break from the daily grind. Some Fairmont Hotels & Resorts vacation packages for men: * The Fairmont Chateau Whistler offers a Mountain Adventure... See less

See this at: luxuryresorttravel.s...| Added on 01/12/07

© Jennifer W. Miner Cheap travel may bring to mind motor inns near highways, but even fans of luxury travel appreciate a good deal. That's why I'm happy to share a new luxury hotel deals website with my fellow budget conscious travelers. Perfect... See more

© Jennifer W. Miner Cheap travel may bring to mind motor inns near highways, but even fans of luxury travel appreciate a good deal. That's why I'm happy to share a new luxury hotel deals website with my fellow budget conscious travelers. Perfect Escapes - Great Deals on Luxury Travel is a site worth exploring. Perfect Escapes focuses strictly on luxury hotels. No motor inns here! Randy Antin, the director of interactive media at Perfect Escapes, told me that this website works directly with hotels to arrange exclusive offers. Anyone reading the Perfect Escapes website, will see a code listed with money-saving deals at 4- and 5-star hotels. Simply input the code when booking hotel reservations, and the deal is yours. As I wrote in a blog, "Right now, The Westin St. Francis Hotel in San Francisco has a deal for Perfect Escape readers: Book 2 nights, and get the 3rd night free. San Francisco is not a cheap town to visit, and Westins are generally 4-star, luxury class hotels and resorts."... See less

See this at: luxuryresorttravel.s...| Added on 01/09/07

© Jennifer W. Miner Well, folks, the time has arrived. Any American citizen who plans air travel - practically anywhere - from the US now needs a passport. Proof of US residency via passports is the TSA’s chosen way of identity checks. Travel by... See more

© Jennifer W. Miner Well, folks, the time has arrived. Any American citizen who plans air travel - practically anywhere - from the US now needs a passport. Proof of US residency via passports is the TSA’s chosen way of identity checks. Travel by plane kicks in first, but by 2009, cruise ship passengers and land border crossers will also need to show their passports as proof of identity (and residency). It used to be that the lighthearted among us could decide on Friday to spend a long weekend, or Spring Break, in the Caribbean. They’d grab a cab to the airport, hop a plane to the Bahamas, attend Bible class on the beach (isn’t that what Spring Break is all about? I may be wrong here), and be back in class or at work Monday, tan and happy. I’m not saying that the party – or Bible class – is over; it just takes a bit more preplanning to be a lighthearted traveler these days. As of January 2007, air travel to the Caribbean, Mexico, Canada, and other US neighboring countries require a... See less

Highlights: 24hr/Same Day Passport/Visa Service Apply Online for as little as $59!

See this at: luxuryresorttravel.s...| Added on 01/09/07

© Jennifer W. Miner Like many people, I really like to travel. Seeing the world is more than a luxury, it's an important part of my life experiences. And, as everyone (probably) knows, the ease and luxury of travel is a little more difficult to... See more

© Jennifer W. Miner Like many people, I really like to travel. Seeing the world is more than a luxury, it's an important part of my life experiences. And, as everyone (probably) knows, the ease and luxury of travel is a little more difficult to attain with the new passport regulations. Sometimes I think the TSA is horribly backwards and fear-mongering: Some of their decisions-by-hindsight are truly mind-boggling in their bureaucratic ineptitude. But these new passport regulations seem, initially, to be a pretty good idea. If a passport is needed to get to Italy, why not Mexico? Makes sense, at least on the face of it. And it may be a pain to get a passport if you’ve never had one before, but it’s really not that big a deal. This website can walk you through the process of passport procurement with minimal pain. For any American who likes to travel out of the US, a passport is an unavoidable item in all of our travel bags. That’s why some privacy experts are concerned about the RFID... See less

Highlights: Only $49.00 - 3 Easy Steps Same Day Service Guaranteed

See this at: luxuryresorttravel.s...| Added on 11/17/06

I've gushed about Jet Blue Airways in this column before. In many obvious ways, Jet Blue's friendly service can't be beat. Now, Jet Blue has my heart, but American Airlines has my frequent flyer miles. Amass enough frequent flyer miles on American,... See more

I've gushed about Jet Blue Airways in this column before. In many obvious ways, Jet Blue's friendly service can't be beat. Now, Jet Blue has my heart, but American Airlines has my frequent flyer miles. Amass enough frequent flyer miles on American, and voila! Instant upgrade to business class. What a luxury. Say what you will about Jet Blue, but that egalitarian, no-first-class, "we're all equals" thing they've got going doesn't leave a lot of room for premium upgrades. And now, American Airlines is offering a new menu for its US-Japan flights. Business and first class passengers flying to or from Japan can choose from a selection of Japanese food, or carefully prepared Western fusion cuisine. Click here to read more about American Airlines' new luxury Japanese fare, which assuredly puts the much maligned concept of airplane food into even deeper shame. Miso soup, rice wine-marinated calamari, grilled shishito pepper...All that's missing is an air travel dinner of premium Kobe beef. I... See less

See this at: luxuryresorttravel.s...| Added on 11/17/06

* The Atlantis Resort in the Bahamas is one of the best family vacation places around. The child-friendly waterslides, the wall-to-wall aquariums, and poolside snacks that kids love, all equal a Christmas vacation full of happy children and rested... See more

* The Atlantis Resort in the Bahamas is one of the best family vacation places around. The child-friendly waterslides, the wall-to-wall aquariums, and poolside snacks that kids love, all equal a Christmas vacation full of happy children and rested adults. * But be warned: Atlantis is expensive. Money-saving tips help keep family travel budgets intact. Click here for tips on how to save on your holiday trip to the Atlantis Resort. * The Maui Prince Hotel, in Makena, Hawaii, is a top luxury resort hotel for honeymooners, baby boomers, and other adults traveling without young kids. The Maui Prince is quiet and serene, and its restaurants offer sophisticated, high quality adult fare. Very romantic, but children would likely be bored. * St. John, the smallest of the US Virgin Islands, is the best singles or family vacation in the Caribbean for those who want to immerse themselves in nature. The island's top luxury resorts provide high quality day camps for kids, while adults can relax by... See less

See this at: wists.com| Added on 11/17/06

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See this at: luxuryresorttravel.s...| Added on 11/09/06

* One ski resort town famous for having the best of everything, is Whistler Blackcomb in British Columbia. It's the biggest ski resort on the continent and, with well over 200 trails, Whistler can accommodate skiers of any skill level. There is also... See more

* One ski resort town famous for having the best of everything, is Whistler Blackcomb in British Columbia. It's the biggest ski resort on the continent and, with well over 200 trails, Whistler can accommodate skiers of any skill level. There is also snowmobiling, sleigh rides, snowshoeing, cross country skiing and lots, lots more. Ski buffs across the world are familiar with Whistler; it has the best ski parks and pipes in North America, along with glacier skiing (you read that right) and an extended ski season. For a luxurious getaway, I recommend the Upper Village hotels, condos and chalets. Near the bottom of Blackcomb Mountain, Upper Village offers more a more remote ski vacation, with luxury and quality treatment for guests during their time off the slopes. * Another top North American ski town is Vail, in Colorado. Vail is a luxury resort town, perfect for skiers who also want high quality dining and upscale hotel amenities. Along with skiing and snowboarding, Vail Valley winter... See less

See this at: luxuryresorttravel.s...| Added on 10/23/06

Life sometimes goes by so fast, that it's shocking when we take a step back and realize how much we've changed. One moment we're bar-hopping with our friends, checking out the guys, running interference when a creepy one hits on the hottest one of... See more

Life sometimes goes by so fast, that it's shocking when we take a step back and realize how much we've changed. One moment we're bar-hopping with our friends, checking out the guys, running interference when a creepy one hits on the hottest one of us, laughing about it afterwards. Then we wake up one day to find we're driving a minivan loaded with children, at least two of which are ours. School, violin lessons, soccer practice. Dustbuster to suck up the Fritos crumbs in the back, along with dog hair and caked mud that fell from cleats. How did we ever come to this? And, how can we possibly maintain a vestige of the cool we once had, tooting around in our Sienna, with tracks from High School Musical in perpetual rotation? There are some high-tech gadgets and gizmos that, installed in a family minivan, go a long way in raising its coolness quotient. When the kids are in the back for a long road trip, the ceiling-mounted DVD player is indispensable. A GPS for high-tech directions and... See less

See this at: luxuryresorttravel.s...| Added on 10/12/06

Thanksgiving is North America's busiest travel holiday. Travel, especially with little kids in tow, can be extremely stressful. Plan your Thanksgiving trip well, however, and it can be - dare I say it - a calm and relatively relaxing holiday... See more

Thanksgiving is North America's busiest travel holiday. Travel, especially with little kids in tow, can be extremely stressful. Plan your Thanksgiving trip well, however, and it can be - dare I say it - a calm and relatively relaxing holiday vacation. Luxury travel and holiday travel are not necessarily mutually exclusive! Thanksgiving travel tips Travel by car A Mapquest poll regarding Thanksgiving traffic indicated that most people who travel by car for Thanksgiving, have more than an hour's drive ahead of them - and 25% have road trips that exceed 200 miles. With all those Thanksgiving travel cars on the road, traffic can get pretty messy. The busiest Thanksgiving travel days are Wednesday and Thursday. If your schedule allows, try to leave Tuesday. It feels early, sure, but nothing dampers the fun of a family holiday more than hours stuck in close quarters, as the highway - crowded with cars at a near standstill - stretches out interminably before you. And, since you've started a... See less