Friday, December 18

Death of a Friend

I said goodbye to a dear friend last month. My Dell Inspiron laptop lost a long and courageous battle to a mysterious virus. I've quickly worked through all my stages of grief however, and I have fallen in love with a new computer named Mac. Mac is an early Christmas gift to myself and I can tell this will be a long and passionate affair. I've missed you all and I am so glad to be back in blogging action!

Tuesday, October 27

$25 Southwest Fares Ain't No Joke

I usually don't get this excited about an airfare sale, but Southwest's "4th Quarter" sale is phenomonal. Here's the scoop: you must book by October 29 11:59 pm PCT; valid travel dates are 12/2/09-12/16/09 and 1/5/10-2/10/10; and travel is valid everyday except Sunday.

Check out these amazing prices (one-way) from Dallas Love:
Austin: $25
Boston: $100
Chicago: $75
Denver: $75
Houston: $25
Las Vegas: $100
Little Rock: $25
Nashville: $75
New Orleans: $50
Orange County: $100
Phoenix: $75
San Antonio: $25
San Diego: $100
San Francisco: $100
Tucson: $75
Washington: $100

At these prices, I'm starting 2010 with a weekend getaway! Sun or snow? Hmmm....

Wednesday, October 21

Thanksgiving in Paris

Let's take a poll, shall we? Perhaps you guys can help me solve a holiday dilemma. Which option sounds better: spend Thanksgiving week in Paris enjoying some of the best food, wine, art, and architecture in the world; or spend Thanksgiving with my family listening to my Uncle Frank cough up a lung and my Grandmother's tales of bowel irregularity. It's a no-brainer, right?
My friends at Tiki Trips have an amazing opportunity to see Paris over Thanksgiving week for just $1199 per person. This includes NON-STOP round-trip airfare from Dallas, 6 nights at the modern Hotel Champlain, and daily breakfast. Travel dates are Tuesday 11/24- Monday 11/30 and the booking deadline is 10/22 at 5 pm- yes, that's tomorrow but you should be more spontaneous. You can book later but airfare rates will increase the total cost by $160 per person. Call Dena at 214-999-1009 for more details or to reserve your spot.
Do you have any tips for things to see and do in Paris?

Tuesday, October 13

Rain, Rain, Go Away!



USA Today recently described Riviera Nayarit as Mexico's "next great place". The mild temperatures and limited rainfall during November through January make Mexico's Pacific Coast a popular winter getaway for Americans needing an escape from the winter chill- or constant rain as it seems. I found a steal this fall to Puerto Vallarta which includes; roundtrip airfare, SIX nights resort stay at the Allegro Nuevo Vallarta, all drinks, meals, and tips for only $549 pp from Dallas. The upscale Allegro Nuevo Vallarta is located on the Bahia de Banderas, one of the best and most beautiful stretches of beach in Nuevo Vallarta. The Allegro includes a variety of land and water sports, tempting buffets and รก la carte restaurants, and a nightly entertainment program sure to add to the splendor of your vacation. The hotel is located 15 minutes from the airport and 25 minutes from downtown. (Upgrade to the La Jolla De Mismaloya For Only $99 per person)
Departures are good now through December 17. Contact Jenny Phillips at 1-800-603-3178 for booking info.
 
 

Thursday, October 8

Nothing says Love like Maui


I keep telling my husband that if he really loved me, we would spend Valentine's Day in Maui. Lucky for me (or him), Dallas-based travel agency, Tiki Trips is booking a fabulous trip to Maui next February. I've personally used this travel agency before and they do an amazing job handling every detail for you. The trip is February 11-17, 2010 and includes the following:
round-trip non-stop airfare from DFW to Maui
6 nights at Westin Maui
Daily Breakfast
Private Cruise for the Tiki Trips group
Private Luau for the Tiki Trips group
Airport Transfers

The total cost is $1899 per person with a $300 deposit due by October 23 and the balance due December 11. If this sounds expensive to you, then I suggest you check out direct airfare and hotel prices separately- you won't find it this low.

This agency frequently books group travel from Dallas to destinations all over the world. It's a great way to take advantage of the great deals travel agencies can offer when they sell in large volume. Don't be freaked out by the word "group"- it's usually 50-100 people with plenty of folks doing their own thing. Your only obligation is to show up at the airport.

For more info, swing by the Tiki Trips office Uptown on McKinney Ave; call 214-999-1009; or check out http://www.tikitrips.com

Ask for Dena and tell her the TripGirl blog sent you!

Wednesday, October 7

Cruise into Winter

Royal Caribbean launched a two-day
sale yesterday morning on peak-season Caribbean cruises from Galveston. Seven-night sailings are now $448 per person,
including $150 in onboard credit.

This new price is $200 off already reduced rates. The sale ends tonight, Oct. 7 at 11:59PM, but availability at this low price is only for a limited number of cabins per sailing. 

This offer includes:
- Seven-night cruises on the RCCL Voyager of the Seas
- Sailings on Jan. 10, 24; March 7, 21
- Stops in Roatan, Honduras; Costa Maya and Cozumel, Mexico
- $150 onboard credit per cabin

This is part of a larger sale from Royal Caribbean and Travelocity. Other sailing dates and itineraries from Galveston have also been reduced. 

To book with Travelocity, click the link below:
http://www.travelzoo.com/Newsflash.ashx?665483-25670965


Thursday, September 17

Good Americans Travel

I feel it is my patriotic duty to stimulate the economy. What is more American than using an American Express to do just that? Ritz Carlton hotels has teamed up with Amex to offer some pretty sweet deals when you book and pay with your Amex card.
The "City Escapes" package is available at the Ritz- Carlton's metropolitan locales, such as NYC, San Francisco, New Orleans, and Denver among others. It includes a room upgrade, daily breakfast for two, valet, and internet. If you stay 5 nights, you only pay for 3; and if you stay 7 nights, only pay for 4.
The "Resort Vacation" package is available at the Ritz-Carlton's resort properties such as Bachelor Gulch (Vail, CO), Laguna Niguel, Maui, St. Thomas, and Key Biscayne just to name a few. This package is the same as City Escapes, but with the additional opportunity to stay 3 nights and pay for only 2; and includes "Ritz Kids" activities.
This offer is valid through 12/31/09 and may just be the perfect way to spend a winter weekend in luxury!

Friday, September 11

Say No to Spray Tans!

Everyone seems to be so worried about the state of the economy and healthcare reform. I have more important things on my mind this fall, like how I will maintain my tan. After hours of research, I think I may have found the solution- Mexico!
Occidental Grand Xcaret is an all-inclusive Mediterranean style resort located along the Riviera Maya coast and is adjacent to the pristine eco-archaelogical Xcaret Park. The property is kid-friendly and offers 11 restaurants, a fitness center, and beach butlers.
The price from Dallas is $449 per person and includes: round-trip airfare, 6 nights at the resort, all meals, drinks, and non-motorized watersports. This deal is good for departures through December 20 and is available until it sells out. Contact Jenny Phillips at www.travelbyjen.com or call 1-800-603-3178 for further details and booking instructions.

AirTran's Fare Wars

AirTran Airways is competing with Southwest with fare reductions from DFW to cities nationwide. The sale ends September 17 and is good for travel through January 27, 2010. Try to book travel on Tuesday, Wednesday, or Saturday for best available fares and remember that a 10-day advanced purchase is required. Oh, and let's not forget those tricky black-out dates- if you are needing to travel on 11/25, 11/28-30, or 12/18-1/4, then you are outta luck with this sale.

Check out these (each way) fares I found from DFW:

Hotlanta (that's Atlanta for you "oldies"): $89
Boston: $84
Atlantic City: $94
Branson: $99
Cancun: $79
Chicago (Midway): $107
Ft. Lauderdale: $99
Miami: $109
NYC (LaGuardia): $109
Orlando: $69
Philly: $94
Sarasota: $99
Tampa: $99
West Palm Beach: $79

If you are comparing fares between AirTran and Southwest, keep in mind a few differences between the two airlines. AirTran allows you to reserve a specific seat for $5 per person, or free 24-hours before the flight. This can be a useful option if you are flying on a full plane and don't want to be separated from your party. We all know that Southwest doesn't have an assigned seating option, but you can travel with a pet, avoid checked baggage fees, and the chaos of DFW International. AirTran currently has no checked baggage fees, but will implement the $15 first bag fee for bookings after November 12.(Boo!)
I've flown with both airlines without complaint, but flying out of Love Field is so quick and easy that I might pay a little extra for it.

Thursday, September 10

Get Your Ski On Through March 2010

I don't like cold weather, but I may have to hit the slopes with these great fares from Frontier Airlines! You must book by September 15, but the prices are good for travel through March 10, 2010! Check out off-peak days for the best prices, which means avoid flying on Friday and Sunday if you can.

Don't these prices from DFW just make you wanna get out your cute ski clothes??

Albuquerque: $94 (easy drive to Angel Fire or Taos)
Aspen: $94
Colorado Springs: $94
Denver: $94
Durango: $94
Fargo: $94
Rapid City, SD: $94
Billings: $99
Boise: $99
Bozeman: $99

Tuesday, September 8

I Heart Southwest

Today is the start of Southwest Airlines "Click and Save Sale". Here's the need to know information:
1. You must purchase by 11:59 pm PST on September 10 (so the Dallas procrastinators have lucked out with a couple hours to spare!)
2. Travel is valid EVERY DAY of the week from September 22- December 17
3. Black out dates November 24- December 1 (of course no deals for Thanksgiving!)

With that boring stuff out of the way, take a look at some of these great deals from Dallas Love Field:

  • To Albuquerque for as low as $104 one-way
  • To Amarillo for as low as $49 one-way
  • To Austin for as low as $49 one-way
  • To Baltimore for as low as $99 one-way
  • To Birmingham for as low as $84 one-way
  • To Boston for as low as $114 one-way
  • To Burbank for as low as $147 one-way
  • To Chicago for as low as $114 one-way
  • To Cleveland for as low as $147 one-way
  • To Columbus for as low as $109 one-way
  • To Corpus Christi for as low as $79 one-way
  • To Denver for as low as $101 one-way
  • To Detroit for as low as $139 one-way
  • To El Paso for as low as $92 one-way
  • To Ft. Lauderdale for as low as $129 one-way
  • To Harlingen for as low as $96 one-way
  • To Houston for as low as $49 one-way
  • To Indianapolis for as low as $109 one-way
  • To Jackson for as low as $81 one-way
  • To Jacksonville for as low as $119 one-way
  • To Kansas City for as low as $49 one-way
  • To Little Rock for as low as $49 one-way
  • To Los Angeles for as low as $124 one-way
  • To Louisville for as low as $133 one-way
  • To Lubbock for as low as $49 one-way
  • To Manchester for as low as $122 one-way
  • To Midland/Odessa for as low as $49 one-way
  • To Milwaukee for as low as $111 one-way
  • To Minneapolis/St. Paul for as low as $69 one-way
  • To Nashville for as low as $121 one-way
  • To New York for as low as $124 one-way
  • To Norfolk for as low as $139 one-way
  • To Oakland for as low as $124 one-way
  • To Oklahoma City for as low as $49 one-way
  • To Omaha for as low as $79 one-way
  • To Ontario for as low as $147 one-way
  • To Orange County for as low as $99 one-way
  • To Philadelphia for as low as $124 one-way
  • To Phoenix for as low as $122 one-way
  • To Raleigh/Durham for as low as $124 one-way
  • To Salt Lake City for as low as $134 one-way
  • To San Antonio for as low as $49 one-way
  • To San Diego for as low as $124 one-way
  • To San Francisco for as low as $124 one-way
  • To San Jose for as low as $139 one-way
  • To Seattle/Tacoma for as low as $109 one-way
  • To St. Louis for as low as $49 one-way
  • To Tampa Bay for as low as $89 one-way
  • To Tucson for as low as $139 one-way
  • To Tulsa for as low as $49 one-way
  • To Washington for as low as $124 one-way
  • To West Palm Beach for as low as $84 one-way

Share AA Miles and Share a Bonus!

Now through September 30th, share 6,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® miles or more and you and your friend or family member will each earn a 15% bonus based on the number of miles shared.

Plus, during the month of September 2009, the limit of receiving 15,000 miles per AAdvantage account per calendar year has been temporarily raised to
25,000 miles
.

Hotels.com Sale

Hotels.com has a sale of up to 50% off for travel now through October 19. Here are a sampling of some of the great deals:

Las Vegas Hilton $50
Ambiance Villas Cancun $53
Ambassador Hotel, New Orleans $55
Scottsdale Villa Mirage $76
Washington Court Hotel D.C. $99
Villas de Santa Fe $110
Hotel Adagio, San Francisco $123
Grand Hyatt San Antonio $ 164
On the Ave Hotel, NYC $219

Check out over 2,000 properties featured in this sale in over 100 destinations. Reservations must be made directly through hotels.com by October 12.


Monday, September 7

Weekend Road Trip- Salado, Texas






If you are looking for a weekend escape from the city, Salado may be the place for you. Considered the "best art town in Texas", Salado is a two-hour drive south from Dallas down I-35. Quaint B&B's, cafes, and art galleries combined with the native landscape of Texas provides a tranquil respite for a romantic getaway or fun weekend with the girls. This unique Texas town provided the perfect backdrop for Jenna Bush's rehearsal dinner and bridal luncheon for her 2008 wedding to Henry Hager. If shopping is a must, a walking tour of Main Street reveals over 60 shops offering unusual gifts, books, antiques, home decor, and handcrafted jewelry shops.

Salado boasts many well- appointed bed and breakfast inns such as The Gazebo, The Inn at Salado, and Stonecreek Settlement. Many of these B&B's offer multi-room suites and cottages ideal for a girls getaway. The 27-hole, Robert Trent Jones Jr. designed, Mill Creek Golf Course will keep the guys busy while a trip to Serenity Spa will provide the perfect ending to a day of shopping.

Add one of these local activities to your fall calendar for a change of pace this season:

Tour de Florence Bike Ride- Sept. 12
Chocolate and Art Festival- Sept. 25-27
Jammin' on the Lawn- Oct. 3
Christmas in October- Oct. 9-10
Pizza and Wine Al Fresco- Oct. 10
Day of Cheese and Wine- Nov. 14
Christmas Stroll- Dec. 4-6; 11-13


Sunday, September 6

Weekend Getaway at The Ritz Miami!

The Ritz- Carlton, Coconut Grove Miami is offering up to $400 hotel credit when you book a weekend "Reconnect Package".
  • Stay in deluxe accommodations for two nights and receive a $100 credit, extend to three nights and receive a $200 credit.
  • Elevate your stay to a suite for two nights and receive a $200 credit, extend to three nights and receive a $400 credit.
This offer is valid for Thursday through Sunday night stays until December 30, 2009. If you book 21-days in advance, rates begin at $149 per night!

Best Fare Alert from Kayak.com

Check out these great airfare deals from DFW found since Friday, September 4th:

Best FareDFW toTravel Dates
$267+Las Vegas, NV (LAS)Oct 28 - 28
$189+New York, NY (NYC)Sep 12 - 15
$221+Los Angeles, CA (LAX)Oct 15 - 17
$206+New York, NY (LGA)Sep 12 - Dec 12
$184+Boston, MA (BOS)Sep 12 - 15
$185+Chicago, IL (ORD)Sep 12 - 14
$201+Miami, FL (MIA)Nov 9 - 13
$163+Atlanta, GA (ATL)Sep 5 - 8
$239+San Francisco, CA (SFO)Sep 19 - 26
$337+Newark, NJ (EWR)Oct 17 - 24
$199+Washington, DC (DCA)Oct 3 - 10
$199+Orlando, FL (MCO)Sep 21 - 25
$221+Fort Lauderdale, FL (FLL)Oct 5 - 10
$222+Philadelphia, PA (PHL)Sep 11 - 11
$233+Santa Ana, CA (SNA)Oct 10 - 17
$262+Phoenix, AZ (PHX)Sep 20 - 20
$185+Chicago, IL (CHI)Sep 12 - 14
$159+Denver, CO (DEN)Sep 12 - 14
$219+Baltimore, MD (BWI)Sep 4 - 5
$239+Seattle, WA (SEA)Sep 19 - 26
$265+San Diego, CA (SAN)Oct 3 - 5
$231+Detroit, MI (DTW)Sep 12 - 15
$532+Honolulu, HI (HNL)Dec 3 - 14
$172+Tampa, FL (TPA)Oct 17 - 24
$359+Columbus, OH (CMH)Dec 29 - Jan 2

Search various destinations and travel dates at Kayak.com

Saturday, September 5

United Airlines Sale Ends Sept 7th!

United Airlines "Autumn Adventure Sale" began earlier this week and includes great flight deals from Dallas to cities throughout the U.S. and Canada into December. Act fast because this sale ends September 7th!

Sample each way fares from DFW: (based on r/t purchase)

Buffalo: $70
San Francisco $109
Denver $82
Los Angeles $109