Naladhu Maldives Resort Opens Again

The Madives just got a little more luxurious (and you thought that wasn’t possible). The 19-bungalow Naladhu Resort sits on its own atoll surrounded by a coral reef in the Indian Ocean. The bungalows, which the resort refers to as houses, have private plunge pools set under pavilion-like roofs. And of course, inside you’ll find amenities like private steam rooms, wi-fi, Bose stereo systems and feather mattresses.

Through August 31, 2007 the resort is offering a 5-day Culinary Journey package which includes five nights in an ocean front “house,” transfers to and from Male airport, daily breakfast, a cooking class with the resort’s chef and nightly dinner – each in a different setting (e.g. one is during a sunset sail, another is in the resort’s coconut grove). Cost for two: $11,000.

Tax bites on travelers go deeper

One of the most thorough studies of hotel taxes found that taxes added 12 percent to an average hotel bill in 2003, compared with 9 percent in 1997. These “bed taxes” include local sales taxes as well as any taxes charged specifically on hotel rooms.

For all the complaints travelers have been voicing about delayed flights, declining service, crowded planes and invasive security procedures, there has been comparatively little outcry about another trend: escalating taxes on flights, car rentals and hotel stays.

But travel companies and trade associations are beginning to reach for the megaphone on their customers’ behalf, protesting the growing cost of taxes, many of them financing initiatives that have nothing to do with travel.

One of the most thorough studies of hotel taxes, conducted by the American Economics Group, a consulting firm, found that these taxes added 12 percent to an average hotel bill in 2003, compared with 9 percent in 1997. These “bed taxes” include local sales taxes as well as any taxes charged specifically on hotel rooms.

The total tax rate on hotel rooms is now roughly 14 percent in New York City. It typically falls in the 14 to 17 percent range in many other large cities.

Source: The New York Times

Mandalay Bay’s Beach Makeover

The Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, NV has spent a pretty penny upgrading its Gold Class rooms (they now have plasma Tvs, wi-fi, bathroom tvs and MP3 docks) and revamping its outdoor pool area and beach. If you’ve stayed at the Mandalay Bay before, now’s a good time to give it another try. Along with fresh decor and amenities in the rooms, guests will find swanky poolside daybeds for up to six, 10 new beach bungalows, climate-controlled poolside gaming tables, over 1,000 new beach chairs and loungers and a new sit-down beach side grill.

Most of the construction will be done on the beach area by April 15, but the restaurant won’t open until June. If you’re planning a trip, you can check out the Mandalay Bay beach construction schedule for more information.

Travel to Europe by Americans remains strong

Sure, air travel is a hassle. And no, the U.S. dollar doesn’t go very far in Paris or London. But none of that is keeping Americans away from Europe.

Nearly 13 million Americans visited Europe in 2006, a 4% increase from the previous year, according to preliminary data from the U.S. Commerce Department’s Office of Travel & Tourism Industries. The European Travel Commission expects those numbers will increase another 2 or 3% this year.

Here are some of the trends, events and destinations shaping those trips.

Short trips and byways

Now that you need a passport just to visit the Caribbean, some Americans — especially those already on the East Coast — are opting to spend a few more hours in the air to take a long weekend in Western Europe, according to Conrad Van Tiggelen, chairman of the European Travel Commission, www.visiteurope.com. “Traditional destinations like Paris and London are really going through the roof for short breaks,” he said.

Another trend is “combining the known and the unknown” by visiting landmarks in a major city, then heading off to the countryside, said Van Tiggelen.

“Seeing the Eiffel Tower is still a great thrill, as is going to the Vatican. But there is a subset of more sophisticated travelers yearning to see a more authentic side of Europe,” said Pauline Frommer, the travel writer and editor.

In Italy, a program called agriturismo allows travelers to “stay in a farmhouse set up for tourism and take part in the daily life and the making of particular products like cheese and wine,” according to Cosmo Frasca, spokesman for the Italian Government Tourist Board in New York. In Amsterdam, take a ferry across the Amstel River, rent a bike and “after 10 minutes, you’re in 17th- and 18th-century villages,” said Van Tiggelen, who is also the Netherland tourism director.

Americans are also increasingly taking “experiential vacations,” said Peter Frank, editor of Concierge.com. “They want to engage in an activity — windsurfing in Croatia, hiking the pilgrim’s trail to Santiago de Compostela (in Spain) or taking a cookery class in Italy.”

For city visits, here’s a money-saving tip: Stay in an apartment instead of a hotel. The new “Pauline Frommer’s London” guidebook lists agencies that can set “you up in a room in someone’s apartment for 20 pounds a night,” with a private bathroom, said Frommer. “It makes Europe affordable again.”

Hawaiian, JetBlue top latest airline quality rankings

You probably don’t need an objective study to tell you that the quality of airline service is getting worse. But, for those in search of hard evidence, USA TODAY writes that “the overall performance of U.S. airlines worsened in 2006, its third consecutive year of decline, according to the 17th annual Airline Quality Ratings (AQR) released … Monday. Its performance fell in three of the four categories measured by the study: on-time arrival, involuntary bumping and mishandled luggage. The customer complaint rate was flat.”

The report also looked at individual airlines. Who was the top-rated carrier? That would be Hawaiian Airlines, which knocked JetBlue out of the top spot for the first time in four years. The study included 18 airlines, though this is the first time it considered Hawaiian big enough to be included. However, AQR co-author Brent Bowen of the University of Nebraska-Omaha tells USA TODAY that Hawaiian has “distinct advantages” over larger competitors. He notes Hawaiian operates a relatively small number of flights to mostly fair weather destinations. “It is somewhat of an anomaly to compare it to other carriers,” he tells the paper.

So, who rounded out the rest of the airline’s rankings? JetBlue finished second, followed by AirTran, Frontier and Northwest. Southwest and Continental –- two airlines that routinely win awards for being the best airlines of their types -– finished sixth and seventh, respectively. At the other end of the spectrum, the five worst-rated airlines were Delta-affiliate Atlantic Southeast (No. 18), American affiliate American Eagle (No. 17), Delta affiliate Comair (No. 16), regional giant Mesa (No. 15) and regional carrier SkyWest (No. 14).

USA TODAY notes that “of the 18 rated airlines, only Northwest and US Airways improved from 2005. Northwest spent much of 2006 restructuring its operations to emerge from bankruptcy and the efforts may have paid off, [co-author Dean Headley of Wichita State University] says. It was the only airline that had improved in all four categories.” But, Headley adds: “They’ve been trying to get their act together. Maybe they did. The question is ‘will it continue next year?”

As for US Airways, USA TODAY writes that its “improvement may have been influenced by its merger with America West, which has been one of the top performers in the past, Bowen says. But US Airways, which has been consistently ranked among the worst network carriers in the past years, also moved up partly because it couldn’t fall much further, he says. Ranked 13th, it was still the worst performing network carrier in 2006.” One interesting finding in the study: Independence Air was the only of last year’s top airlines to fall out of the rankings. Rated No. 3 in the 2006 AQR ratings, Independence Air ceased operations early last year after running out of money.

For the year 2006, the here are the Top Ten U.S. airlines ranked for overall quality:

1. Hawaiian Airlines

2. Jet Blue

3. AirTran

4. Frontier

5. Northwest

6. Southwest

7. Continental

8. United

9. Alaska

10. American

Marmara Manhattan $269 Suite Deal

Yes, it’s pushing $300, but the Marmara Manhattan Hotel’s special Spring rates are a good deal for travelers who want upscale, boutique surroundings and amenities like free high-speed Internet access. Suites are outfitted with kitchens, separate dining areas and desks. One-bedroom suites have sleeper sofas in the living area. The hotel slaps on an extra $25 for each person beyond two guests, but you could pay the extra $50 and easily fit four in the room. And the rooms aren’t bad to look at, either. Very crisp and modern.

Spring Online Specials at Yosemite’s Tenaya Lodge

California’s Tenaya Lodge at Yosemite is offering special rates through June. Rates go up each month until peak season hits. In April, for example, you can score overnight accommodations for $139. In May, the rates start at $159, and by June, you’re looking at $225/night. You know what they say about the early bird.

When you’re not out exploring Yosemite’s many trails and to-die-for vistas, you’ll be ensconced in resort surroundings that are decidedly not granola crunch. We’re talking a spa, two heated pools, a fitness area, etc. Great for those I love being in the outdoors as long as it doesn’t involve dirt and sweating types.

Learn How To Dicker In Foreign Countries

I am a firm believer, that where ever you go the dickering is every where in any market. All we have to do is get smart and get the deal in our favor.

What I have experienced is a good technique is to take a notebook and pen, ask the shop keeper for their “best price” and let them know that you’re shopping around. Write it down along with their name (in case they’re not there when you come back). Normally, you’ll get a VERY good price this way.

We should always try to make them think that:
-You don’t really want it that badly.
-You have seen it everywhere.
-You hardly have any money with you.
-It isn’t as nice as other ones you have seen.

Don’t be afraid to start walking away, either. Chances are, they will follow you and give you a better price or throw something else in.

Please submit your own solution here – as a comment..

The World’s Party

It’s Party Time! – The Rough Guide World Party is a detailed guide to the world’s best events and festivals. If you’ve ever thought of partying in Rio, throwing tomatoes in Spain or riding a camel in Pushkar, this guide is for you.

Full-color throughout with detailed accounts of each major festival and insider tips on how best to enjoy each one. The useful ‘festival keys’ will help you to find the perfect world festival, from the best music, food and arts festivals to long-established religious celebrations to less ancient raves and fruit-throwing events. The guide comes complete with a festival map and calendar with background details and timings for each event.

If you love a party The Rough Guide World Party is for you.

Top 20 Festivals
These are the top 20 festivals around the world, as voted for by users of the Rough Guides website.

1. Rio Carnival, Brazil
2. Fantasy Fest, Florida
3. Fiesta de San Fermin, Spain
4. Glastonbury Festival, England
5. Oktoberfest, Munich
6. Love Parade, Berlin
7. Mardi Gras, New Orleans
8. Trinidad Carnival, Trinidad and Tobago
9. Queen’s Day, The Netherlands
10. Burning Man, Nevada
11. Notting Hill Carnival, England
12. Crop Over, Barbados
13. Ati-Atihan, The Philippines
14. Westmann Islands Festival, Iceland
15. Reggae Sumfest, Jamaica
16. Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, Australia
17. Las Fallas, Spain
18. St Patrick’s Day, Ireland
19. Rustler’s Valley Festivals, South Africa
20. Il Palio, Italy

EU Approves Open Skies Agreement

European Union ministers approved the Open Skies agreement yesterday in Brussels. As a result, airlines flying between Europe and the U.S. have fewer restrictions about where they must depart and land. For example, only certain U.S. airlines are allowed to land at London Heathrow International Airport at present. The new agreement would open gates up to airlines that have traditionally lacked access to this busy airport. And European airlines will be allowed to fly to U.S. cities from locations outside their home nations. The way things stand right now, European airlines, say Air France for example, can only fly to the U.S. from an airport in their own country – in Air France’s case, from France.

What does this mean for travelers? A greater variety of flight options between the U.S. and Europe, as well as lower fares on popular routes. But don’t expect to see any changes right away. Originally slated to take effect in October, the date has been pushed back to March 30, 2008.