Travel

Contact lens solution and carry on luggage

Wed, 02 Jul 2008 04:29:22 -0600

Do you wear contact lenses?

Do you try to always carry on your luggage when you fly?

Are you sick of getting ripped off when you buy those 2 ounce and 4 ounce bottles of contact lens solution so you can meet the liquid requirements for carry on luggage?

Me too!

And I just found out that I DON'T HAVE TO WASTE MY MONEY ON THOSE LITTLE BOTTLES.

Single parents, sail away

Wed, 25 Jun 2008 04:39:55 -0600

Single parents and their kids can learn how to sail during Offshore Sailing School's "Single Parents Week" July 13-18 in Ft. Myers, Fla. It's the first time the school has designated a week just for solo parents and their children.

The five-day course includes morning classroom instruction and half-day on-water instruction each day except Friday, when you have a practice sail without the instructor.

"Sex and the City": Win the book

Wed, 25 Jun 2008 04:37:28 -0600

OK, all you "SATC" fans: What's the name of the Brooklyn restaurant where Carrie and her posse enjoy a post-wedding brunch?

Here's a hint: It's famous for its cheesecake.

Be the first to respond here with the right answer, and I'll send you a copy of the hardcover "Sex and the City" companion guide to the movie.

Delta Air Lines ticket holders: it pays to speak up

Tue, 24 Jun 2008 10:46:34 -0600

This just in from the U.S. Dept. of Transportation:

Delta Air Lines will refund payments for a second checked bag to passengers who bought tickets before the carrier adopted its new checked-baggage fees and who complain about the charge, according to an agreement between the carrier and the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Aviation Enforcement Office.

Paso Robles wineries: where to go

Wed, 18 Jun 2008 04:13:34 -0600

California's Paso Robles has seen explosive growth in its number of wineries over the past decade. The region now has nearly 200 licensed, bonded winemakers. If you have a weekend or so to visit, there's no way you're hitting them all (and living to tell about it).

So here's my pick for a few places worth seeking out:

Anglim Winery — Husband and wife (Northwestern graduate and former Chicagoan) team run this high quality, boutique winery where you can enjoy a free tasting (or pay a few bucks to taste their reserve wines).

Illinois getaways that won't guzzle too much gas

Wed, 04 Jun 2008 04:06:51 -0600

Looking for something to do this weekend that doesn't entail getting anywhere close to an airport?

Here are a few ideas:

Palestine, Ill., hosts the 2nd annual Betsey Reed Festival. Who's Betsey Reed? Apparently she was the only woman put to death by hanging in the state of Illinois. Now, she has a festival named after her. There's a wine tasting, dinner, art show, carnival, ghost hunters, mock fortune telling and, of course, casket races. Let the good times roll June 6-7 and find out more at www.betseyreed.com.

Giddy up, Houston: This is some rodeo

Wed, 28 May 2008 04:58:26 -0600

For three weeks in March, Houston gets overtaken with what has to be the world's largest rodeo and livestock show.

I had the pleasure of attending this past March, just a day before Barack Obama dropped by to sit on a tractor and have a photo op. I missed Barack stump, but I did get to see Tim McGraw sing. Bor-ing.

Thankfully, the rest of the rodeo didn't disappoint. Tons of 4H-type exhibits are part of the show, and it was pretty cool watching baby chicks pluck their way out of their eggs and talking to breeders about the market value of prized cattles' sperm, which you can buy at the rodeo if you're so inclined. I was not.

This really is a great family event to build a vacation around. You can take the kids to the rodeo's petting zoo and they'll be entertained for hours walking past rows of tractors and farm equipment and animals ready to give birth on the spot. (They do, too. That's part of the show.)

Porting in St. Petersburg: go with the ship or go solo?

Wed, 21 May 2008 04:29:54 -0600

I'm taking a Baltic cruise this summer, and I recently found out that exploring St. Petersburg won't be nearly as easy -- or inexpensive -- as I'd thought.

I figured it was just like any of the other ports we're stopping at. I'd get off the boat, poke around the Hermitage, walk the streets, do a shot or two of vodka and that's that.

Oh boy, was I wrong.

Travel quiz: Countries that start with A

Sat, 17 May 2008 05:07:28 -0600

If you picked up Sunday's Travel section, you might have seen the question asking for the two countries in the world that start with the letter A but end in a letter other than A.

Be the first to reply here with the correct answer and you'll win a copy of Fodor's European Ports of Call book.

Kanye West: discount travel agent

Wed, 14 May 2008 04:22:26 -0600

Remember a time when musical artists weren't so quick to sell out?

Ah, the good old days.

What's up with this infinitely mediocre discount travel Web site by rapper and producer Kanye West? I know the site has gotten better over the past few weeks, but it's still not good.

Mother's Day getaway ideas

Wed, 07 May 2008 04:30:22 -0600

Want to put on the Ritz for mom this Mother's Day? The Ritz-Carlton at Amelia Island, Fla., is offering an array of champagne-infused spa treatments priced from $85 to $175 for the month of May.

There's also a lavish Mother's Day brunch this Sunday that costs $65 a person, as well as a Mother's Day getaway that includes two nights' accommodations in an ocean view room, champagne and chocolate dipped strawberries on arrival, breakfast for two each morning, overnight valet parking and late checkout. The package starts at $1,139. Call (800) 241-3333 or go to the Ritz web site.

For a few options closer to home...

Smart travel tips

Wed, 30 Apr 2008 04:26:39 -0600

Fodor's "1,001 Smart Travel Tips" is full of useful advice aimed at making travel easier, like what's the best credit card to use abroad?

The answer: Capital One. Unlike most other forms of plastic that have tacked on fees and percentages that boost your bill, Capital One cards have zero conversion fees (the fees used to switch foreign currency into U.S. dollars) and they've absorbed the 1 percent fee Visa and MasterCard charge to process purchases. American Express charges a flat 2 percent fee and doesn't allow merchants to tack on extra fees at the point of sale, according to the book.

New flights between Dallas and Chicago

Mon, 28 Apr 2008 15:44:55 -0600

This just in from the folks at American Airlines: American Eagle is starting nonstop service between Dallas Love Field and O'Hare on July 2.

Eagle will operate up to six daily flights using 50-seat jets and will be the only airline offering nonstop service from Love Field to Chicago.

Six must have Web sites for savvy travelers

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 04:03:26 -0600

Want to find the best seat on the plane? Or what vaccines you need for that Botswana safari? How about last-minute deals?

The May issue of Consumer Reports' ShopSmart lists the six best Web sites for all of the above. Here's the run down:

For last-minute deals: travelzoo.com

For timing your trip: farecast.com

For the best airline seats: seatguru.com

Rock and royalty in Hollywood

Wed, 16 Apr 2008 04:25:30 -0600

If you're like me, you don't have an extra $5,000 laying around for a weekend getaway. But just in case your pockets run deep, you might want to know about a new package from Hard Rock Hotel Hollywood.

The "Royalty Rocks" package includes VIP tickets to Sir Eric Clapton's May 5 concert at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel Hollywood.

During the same time, Princess Diana's most famous dresses will be on display at the hotel.