Holiday Travel Rush Already On

Ready to play chicken with fluctuating airfares? It's already time to start thinking about your holiday plans -- and I don't mean the upcoming weekend. I mean Thanksgiving and the Christmas/Chanukah extravaganza. There's a good chance that the cheap seats that exist right this minute will not exist a few weeks from now. Fall is traditionally the weakest season for the travel industry, and the airlines are worried about sales.

‘’I think that definitely we saw this year an earlier than usual push for fall and winter travel,’’ Travelzoo Senior Editor Gabe Saglie tells the New York Times. ‘’Before we were even talking about winter, airlines were talking about late December travel deals.’’ Overall prices are down about 20 percent from last year, and many airlines launched big sales this week to entice travelers to get in the skies. However, the airlines aren’t completely over a barrel for the holidays. They know that people will still be traveling, and as the season wanes, they’ll have a much better grasp on how many people will be going home for the holidays, and will plan accordingly. This means that all the last-minute Annie’s will be stuck at best with a middle seat, but more likely, with no flight at all. Hello Greyhound! ‘’Waiting until the last minute (to buy a ticket) in the recent past has allowed for greater availability,’’ Saglie said. ‘’The holidays are when things will start to turn around.’’ Basically: start looking now, and if you see a deal, grab it.

By: Bryce Longston - BlackBookMag

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Ritz-Carlton Atlanta Celebrates Its 25th With Redesigned Foyer, Lobby & Lounge

The Ritz-Carlton, Atlanta marked its 25th anniversary with a complete redesign of the entrance foyers, lobby, and lobby bar, now named Lumen, which features exotic, sophisticated edible cocktails, a Lumen signature cocktail, and art-themed cocktails.

The new interiors feature well-known, traditional elements transposed in an updated way, such as a Chippendale Mahogany sideboard refinished in a hand-applied gilded platinum tone; sheer shrouds wrapped around the hotel's crystal chandeliers; and accent chairs graced with damask patterns in oversized formats.

Lumen underwent a great change. The lounge, so named for its many light effects, now greets guests with crystal chandeliers that glow red at night; seven-foot tall custom settees covered in midnight blue mohair, complete with their beaded sconces; a bar cabinet that glows blue in the evening; mirror-polished, handspun metal tables custom-designed by Brad Oldham (brother to designer Todd); beaded corkscrew floor lamps; and a custom-designed, under-lit onyx-topped communal-styled table seating up to eight.

My friend Nancy is scheduled to speak at a meeting being held at this Ritz, and I can't wait to hear what she thinks of the new spaces. See the gallery for before and after shots. by Lisa Palladino - Luxist

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Boracay Island Resort In Philippines

Boracay is a tropical island located approximately 315km (200 miles) south of Manila and 2km off the northwest tip of the island of Panay in the Western Visayas region of the Philippines. It is one of the country's most popular tourist destinations.

Partly because of its wind and weather patterns, tourism in Boracay is at its peak during the Amihan season. During Amihan, the prevailing wind blows from the east. Boracay's main tourism area, White Beach, is on the western side of the island and is sheltered from the wind. Daytime temperatures on Boracay generally range from 77-90°F (25-32°C) from the beginning of the Amihan season into February or March, increase to the 82-100°F(28-38°C) range.

A number of accommodation types are scattered all over the island, ranging from luxurious hotel types to budget, Spartan rooms. Guests can also choose according to location--Station 3 is where most of the cheaper lodgings are located, while Station 2 is meant for those who want to be within close proximity of the bars. Station 1, meanwhile, is where you can find the more isolated accommodations.

Frendz Resort, one of the best beach locations on Boracay, is only a two minute walk from the famous white beach of Boracay, restaurants and entertainment venues. Situated where u want to be, near all the action, yet away from the hustle and bustle of the beachfront.

Frendz Resort is a fun-filled resort offering 15 native style bungalows, all with their own verandahs to relax on.

Another resort that will captivate your senses is the Nami Resort. All rooms at Nami have breathtaking views and a Jacuzzi on the balcony. The interior design is Contemporary Filipino. All rooms are air-conditioned, come with complete bathroom amenities, terry bathrobes, IDD/NDD telephones, DVD players upon request, cable television, minibar and in-suite spa facilities.

So if you are planning to go for a vacation, then I would strongly recommend you to visit Boracay Island! by: Jackson

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/boracay-island-resort-in-philippines-822177.html

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Virgin Galactic and the 40th Anniversary of That Other Moonwalk

by Alison Wellner

The untimely death of Michael Jackson has adults of a certain generation remembering the days of the moonwalk craze. But for those with a few more candles to blow out on the birthday cake, the term "moonwalk" conjures up the name of a different iconic American entirely: Neil Armstrong.

The 40th anniversary of the first moonwalk is swiftly approaching: July 20, 2009. And although it's been long in the making, Virgin Galactic moves ever closer to making a space journey a reality for private citizens willing to spend $200,000. (A bargain, really, considering that arranging private space travel today costs about $20 million.) On May 28, 2009, Virgin Galactic announced the successful completion of the first phase of tests of the rocket motor that will propel space tourists up, up and away.

There are still more tests to go, but at this point, the plan is to start sending passengers into space as soon as late 2010. (Delays are very likely, so no need to go into an oxygen-free environment just yet -- don't hold your breath.) There's no moonwalking in the cards, but there is traveling at 3,000 miles an hour to 70 miles above the earth's surface, experiencing weightlessness and a view of more than 1,000 miles in all directions.

If you want to get to this before the been-there-done-that's set in -- at current tally, there are 300 people from 42 countries waiting for their turn -- it's worth signing up early. You can accomplish this exclusively through luxury travel pros Virtuoso, who are the first "Accredited Space Agents."

In fact, Virtuoso founder Matthew D. Upchurch is a candidate to be among the first to make the trip. Whether he's on the very first flight will be determined by a lottery -- he's got a 1 in 14 chance. But hey, the odds of reaching the moon at all forty years ago had to be longer than that.
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The Maldives - the Jewel of the Indian Ocean

Via: Dan James

The Republic of Maldives has been described as the ultimate haven for divers all over the world who are drawn to over one thousand sandy beaches and coral reefs. There are hundreds of islands that are not touched by humans but serve as places for wildlife and beautiful reefs. Between the tropical waters and all of the marine life that is present in the Maldives, anyone who has a love for diving will surely find what they are looking for half way around the world.

The Maldives were formed when there was a geological breaking of land masses between the countries of India and Africa. When the land masses broke apart, it causes India to move upward and become aligned with Asia. The reaction to these land masses colliding produced a formation of a range of volcanoes that rose out of the Indian Ocean. When the volcanoes collapsed it resulted in a line of small islands that now are the Maldives.

The Maldives became a resting spot from travelers and explorers that were traveling between the trade routes from China and Rome. The Maldives became famous for the money shells that were abundant and used for trade. The fishing in the Maldives led to the discovery of the Maldive fish, which is still a delicacy in India.

The people of the Maldives come from mixed ethnic backgrounds but are primarily Sunni Muslims. The language that is most commonly spoken in the Maldives is Dhivehi and English is also widely used. One of the many jewels of the Maldives is the climate. Because of its location to the equator, the temperatures generally remain between eighty to eighty-five degrees which makes is very comfortable and tropical.

The Maldives lay claim to nearly 187 different forms of coral and almost 1100 different species of wildlife. This draws divers from all around the world to see the beautiful and amazing marine life. There are resorts that are a haven for divers who want to stay and enjoy the beautiful scenery and experience the many wonders of the Maldives. The corals that adorn the reefs are colorful and are home to many forms of life such as moray eels, lobsters and shrimp.

To navigate through the Maldives generally requires a boat called the dhoni. These unique and specially crafted boats come in a range of sizes including large boats that are used to transport fish and smaller boats for little voyages in and around the Islands. Water taxis are also available to carry divers from one location to another. Since the majority of the inhabitants of the Maldives are fisherman, the boats serve the best way to move around from place to place.

With all of the beautiful wildlife and scenery, it is no wonder that the Maldives are truly a paradise lost. Anyone who is an avid diver is sure to find many jewels and treasures of wonder in the colorful reefs, corals and marine fish. The unique and distinct culture of the Maldives makes it a wonderful place to visit and experience the true essence of the Islands.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/the-maldives-the-jewel-of-the-indian-ocean-931893.html

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