Travel

Overlooked by Football Fanatic Husbands, Ladies Devise Their Own Game Plan This Season With 'Football Widows Revenge' Weekend Getaways

ORLANDO, Fla., Sept. 12 /PRNewswire/ -- Tired of blaring TV's and disregarding husbands, ladies team up with a game plan of their own this football season with 'Football Widows Revenge' weekend getaways at Omni Orlando Resort at ChampionsGate, starting at $250* per person/night any weekend now through Feb. 5, 2006. From private poolside cabanas and 'shop till-you drop' spa treatments, girlfriends find sweet revenge this fall.    » read more »

Hong Kong Welcomes a New Era of Family Entertainment with Grand Opening of Hong Kong Disneyland Resort

HONG KONG, Sept. 12 /Xinhua-PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Against the dream-come-true backdrop of Sleeping Beauty Castle and the natural grandeur of the green Lantau Island mountains, Hong Kong Disneyland officially brought the fun and excitement of a Disney theme park to Hong Kong Monday with a spectacular Grand Opening.    » read more »

Haunted Hideaways for Halloween Spook-Seekers

BUFFALO, N.Y., Sept. 7 /PRNewswire/ -- Looking to snuggle up with a specter this Halloween? This October, guests at Delaware North Companies' haunted getaways can test their paranormal senses as they encounter vanishing shadows in mirrors, heavy footsteps in the night and whispers in the hallways.    » read more »

Delta Queen Steamboat Company Full Steam Ahead After Hurricane Katrina

The Delta Queen, American Queen and Mississippi Queen Boats Fully Operational

BUFFALO, N.Y., Aug. 31 /PRNewswire/ -- The Delta Queen Steamboat Company announced today that its three authentic paddlewheel steamboats weathered the hurricane safe and sound in their various up river ports and have continued on their scheduled itineraries. While the company's first priority has been focused on ensuring its land- based associates are accounted for and safe, it also wanted to alert the travel community that the business is still operational.    » read more »

TSA Changes Prohibited Items List to Allow Ostomy Scissors Aboard Aircraft

WASHINGTON, Aug. 30 /PRNewswire/ -- TSA is modifying the interpretive rule to exempt ostomy scissors from the prohibited items list. Ostomy scissors with pointed tips with an overall length of four inches or less are permitted when they are accompanied by an ostomate supply kit containing related supplies, such as collection pouches, wafers, positioning plates, tubing, or adhesives.    » read more »

AAA Chicago Expects Strong Labor Day Weekend Travel, Despite Record Gas Prices

AURORA, Ill., Aug. 30 /PRNewswire/ -- AAA estimates that 34.5 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more from home this Labor Day weekend. That's a 0.9 percent increase from 2004. The price of fuel, at a national average of $2.60 per gallon for regular unleaded, has not deterred motorists from taking a vacation. About 83 percent of travelers, or 28.8 million people, will travel by motor vehicle this Labor Day weekend.    » read more »

Newest Cruise Ship Innovation To Be Unveiled Live On NBC Today on Aug. 31

Royal Caribbean International to Reveal 'What's Next' in Active Cruising

MIAMI, Aug. 29 /PRNewswire/ -- Royal Caribbean International is set to reveal to America one of the best kept secrets in the vacation industry on NBC "Today" on Wednesday, Aug. 31. TODAY and visionary CEO Richard Fain of Royal Caribbean will unveil "what's next" in active cruising. The cruise line that introduced rock-climbing walls, ice-skating rinks and miniature golf courses at sea will share its newest attraction, set to debut on the world's largest and most innovative cruise ship -- Freedom of the Seas.    » read more »

Conde Nast Traveler Announces The Green List: Our 11th Annual Tribute to Ecotourism's Finest

NEW YORK, Aug. 29 /PRNewswire/ -- Conde Nast Traveler's annual search to identify ecotourism's creme de la creme combs every corner of the earth, from the steamy Amazon, to the parched Moroccan desert to frigid Antarctica, tracking down candidates that exemplify earth-friendly travel. To make the cut, resorts, lodges, and tour operators must demonstrate how they preserve natural surroundings, contribute to local cultures, and provide a rich guest experience. This year's 66 applications were rated by a panel of judges drawn from academia, government agencies, and green travel companies. This year's top scorer is the Jean-Michel Cousteau Fiji Islands Resort. The complete list (as seen below) is detailed in the issue.    » read more »

AAA Reports Labor Day Travel Expected Higher Despite Gas Prices

BURNSVILLE, Minn., Aug. 23 /PRNewswire/ -- Despite national record-high gas prices averaging more than $2.61 per gallon, AAA expects no let up in travel for the Labor Day holiday weekend. An estimated 34.5 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more from home this holiday, a 0.9 percent increase from the 34.2 million who traveled last year.    » read more »

Bureau of Transportation Statistics Releases June Passenger Airline Employment Data

June 2005 Employment Down 3.4 Percent from June 2004

Tuesday, August 16, 2005

Washington -- U.S. scheduled passenger airlines employed a total of 452,666 workers in June 2005, 3.4 percent fewer than in June 2004, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) reported today (Table 1). BTS, a part of the Research and Innovative Technology Administration, reported that the seven network carriers employed 303,579 total full-time and part-time workers –6.7 percent fewer workers in June 2005 than a year earlier (Table 2). The low-cost carriers reported 74,659 total employees, 0.8 percent fewer than June 2004 (Table 3); and the regional carriers reported 60,850 total employees, 9.9 percent more than the previous year (Table 4).    » read more »

Cyprus Declares 3 Days Mourning for 121 Victims of Sunday's Plane Crash

14 August 2005
By Sabina Castelfranco

Rome -- Cyprus has declared three days of mourning for the victims of Sunday's crash of a Cypriot passenger jet near Athens. The Cypriot airliner with 121 people on board crashed north of Athens on Sunday. There were no survivors. The causes of the crash are still unclear, but officials suspect a sudden drop in cabin pressure that deprived the crew and passengers of oxygen.    » read more »

DHS Releases Guide to Passport Requirements for Visa Waiver Program Travelers

WASHINGTON, July 18 /PRNewswire/ -- The Department of Homeland Security's US-VISIT Program has released a new document that clarifies the passport requirements for visitors traveling to the United States as part of the Visa Waiver Program (VWP). The "Visa Waiver Program Passport Requirement Timeline" is the definitive guide to the current passport requirements for visa-free travel and also outlines upcoming rules that will affect the admissibility of VWP travelers in the near future.    » read more »

Deadlines for Visa Waiver Travelers to U.S. Fast Approaching

- Most visa waiver travelers already meet June 26, October 26 requirements
- 27 VWP countries are: Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom

21 June 2005
By Greg Jones
Washington File Staff Writer

Washington -- Deadlines for implementation of new requirements for travelers from Visa Waiver Program (VWP) countries are fast approaching, but officials say they expect the vast majority VWP travelers to “be in compliance” and able to continue to enter the United States visa-free. The VWP enables citizens of 27 countries to visit the United States for tourism or business for up to 90 days without obtaining a visa. Fast-approaching are three dates – June 26, October 26 and October 26, 2006 – when new requirements for the VWP travelers are scheduled to take effect.    » read more »

Angry Passengers Get Bumped for Trump by Cruise Line

To Hold Rally & Press Conference in Outcry Over Tragic Plight

NEW YORK, June 10 /PRNewswire/ -- Angry Norwegian cruise line passengers that risked their lives as they were tragically forced back at sea and subjected to 70 foot waves so the boat could be featured on Donald Trump's television show, "The Apprentice," will hold a press conference with their attorneys and hold a rally overlooking the New York waters, Monday, June 13th at 11:00 AM, Pier 17-South St. Seaport, 3rd Floor, Harbour Lights restaurant in Manhattan.    » read more »

Travelers to United States Face Passport Deadline

Requirement for machine-readable passports takes effect June 26

07 June 2005

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is alerting travelers from nations participating in the visa waiver program that they must have a machine-readable passport (MRP) starting June 26 in order to enter the United States without a visa. Starting on that date, air carriers will be fined $3,300 if they transport a traveler who is not carrying the proper document required by U.S. law. The requirement for machine-readable passports initially took effect in October 2004 but an interim procedure has allowed travelers one-time entry into the United States if they lacked the proper documents.    » read more »