Tag Archives: holiday travel

Traveling to Bethlehem for Christmas

If you are traveling to Bethlehem this Advent season expect a lot of company. According to travel experts, the West Bank area has seen (and expects to host) more tourists this year than in any holiday season since Israeli-Palestinian fighting broke out seven years ago. Bethlehem’s mayor speculates that the relative calm between Israelis and Palestinians has helped persuade Christians that it’s safe to visit. The onslaught of new visitors is a stark contrast to years past when heavy fighting and continued violence frightened many away. Government officials are expecting around 65,000 tourists to visit the traditional site of Jesus’ … Continue reading →

Celebrating the Holidays At My Favorite Hotel in Hawaii

It’s a cross between Disneyland and Fantasy Island. A place where you can swim with dolphins in the morning and dine on world-class cuisine at night. A place where you ride to lunch on a gondola, electric tram or boat. And a place where I make a concerted effort to visit each time I travel home to the Big Island of Hawaii. I’m talking about the spectacular and extremely family friendly Hilton Waikoloa Village. I’ve written about the award-winning resort in previous blogs, but I have never covered the magnificent transformation it undergoes during the month of December. Each winter … Continue reading →

Seasons Greetings from Santa Fe

Yesterday I received a Christmas card from a friend bearing that exact greeting. Little did she know that her holiday correspondence would serve as inspiration for a travel blog. As I stared at the card and the photos she included inside it made me wonder how much people know about New Mexico’s state capital. Sure, its popular ski resorts get a lot of press, but what about the other attractions the sunny city has to offer? If you have never visited Santa Fe then you might not know that it averages 300 days of sunshine a year, which means that … Continue reading →

Avoiding Speed Traps on the Way to Grandma’s House—Part 2

In my previous blog I mentioned that the AAA estimates that more than 35 million people will hit the road during the last week in December. And as a holiday gift (of sorts) to drivers who tend to gun it behind the wheel in an effort to make up for lost time the National Motorists Association (NMA) has prepared a list of the worst “speed trap cities” across the country. The NMA describes itself as an advocacy group for the “interests and rights of North American motorists.” As such, they felt it would be helpful for motorists planning to drive … Continue reading →

Avoiding Speed Traps on the Way to Grandma’s House

Tis the season to load up the family minivan and speed off to grandma’s house for another round of turkey and togetherness. The operative word here being “speed.” I’m pretty sure my family is not the only one that finds themselves scrambling around like decapitated chickens in the process of getting out the door and to family functions on time during the holiday season. The AAA is estimating that more than 35 million people will hit the road during the last week in December. And to help lead foots who will be driving to areas they are not familiar with … Continue reading →

Travel Tips: Holiday Tipping

Tis the season for giving… So how do your tipping skills measure up? With the holiday travel season in full swing I’ve noticed the subject of tipping has become a hot topic in several Internet travel forums. Some people headed out of town for the holidays are overwhelmed by the prospect of doling out extra dollars to everyone from taxi drivers to hotel valets, skycaps to concierges. So what is the rule when it comes to tipping? According to experts, the rule is there is no rule. Tipping is voluntary (unless so stated in a company’s policy; for example some … Continue reading →

An Unbelievable Deal for Holiday Travelers

Now here’s something you don’t hear everyday… a popular company giving you an early holiday gift. If you don’t love Maxwell House coffee now you just might after hearing what they are doing to help holiday travelers save a couple bucks on the way to grandma’s house this Thanksgiving. As part of a nationwide campaign aimed as “brewing some good” the coffee company is picking up the tab for all motorists at toll plazas in eight U.S. cities-—Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Miami, and Pittsburgh—-between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m. on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, traditionally known as the busiest … Continue reading →

Seasonal Travel: Spending Thanksgiving in New Mexico

My parents met and married in Albuquerque, New Mexico and subsequently spent a number of Thanksgivings in the land of hot air balloons and roasted chilies. They now live in the land of pineapples and big surf. Hawaii is a popular holiday destination, but you’d be surprised at how many visitors descend on New Mexico during the long Thanksgiving weekend. Many hotels and resorts in the area are offering Thanksgiving packages, which include elaborate turkey spreads, but it is New Mexico, so don’t be surprised if your meal features a Southwestern accent. Common holiday dishes such as green chili and … Continue reading →

The State of Airfares—Good News/Bad News

Let’s start with the good news: Holiday travelers rejoice; some airlines are giving you something else to be thankful for this November. Select carriers are knocking the stuffing out of ticket prices for Thanksgiving travel. The bad news: the rate reductions (some as much as 40% off) only apply to off-peak days. So, once again, being flexible is KEY! More bad news: Last weekend, several airlines increased round-trip fares by $20. Which means there have been seven fare-raising attempts by the biggest full-fare airlines since Labor Day. One travel expert told news reporters: “I’ve never seen fares go up this … Continue reading →

Is There Still a Way to Save on Holiday Travel?

That depends on how and where you plan to spend the holidays. If you are plan to take a plane to grandma’s house for Thanksgiving or Christmas you may be out of luck. According to travel agents, the average person books a flight 85 days in advance, up from 81 last year, and there are only 19 days until Thanksgiving and 51 days until Christmas. And even more bad news, in the past few weeks, several airlines have raised their fares. Travel experts say frugal fliers bought their tickets early for Thanksgiving and Christmas this year. But, don’t despair, there … Continue reading →