Friday Link Love

In honor of the week coming to an end, I’ve pulled together some of this week’s stories from other great websites I think you should give a read.

Check them out and let me know if I’ve missed anything!

Friday Link Love:

• USA Today: Delta-US Airways slot swap could have a big impact on small cities
• The Christian Science Monitor: The Eat, Pray, Love effect: How families finance adventure travel
• USA Today: Tips for avoiding hidden travel fees this summer
• Jaunted: Hangin’ with The Hipmunk: What’s Next for the Internet’s Hot New Travel Booking Site?
• New York Times: Groupon and Expedia to Offer Travel Deals
• CNN: Five can’t-miss summer festivals

Have a great weekend!

Newsflash: Groupon and Expedia to Launch New Travel Flashsale Website

As you may have already heard, there’s another travel flash sale website about to hit the market, this time from flash sale experts Groupon and travel booker Expedia.com called Groupon Getaways, to be launched in late June.

 

Similar to competitors like SniqueAway.com, LivingSocial, Jetsetter, etc., Groupon Getaways will offer discounts for hotel rooms for a limited amount of time, giving you the option to stay at high-end luxury hotels, not typically in consideration for your vacation.

 

The website is currently taking subscribers, so be sure to visit Groupon Getaways, and we’ll report back with what we think once the site launches later this month!

 

 

Read more here: New York Times

 

 

2011’s Best Beaches!

I am a total beach girl. In my opinion, no vacation is complete without some time spent on the beach, even if it means one day.

 

Each  year, Stephen Leatherman aka “Dr. Beach,” director of Florida International University’s Laboratory for Coastal Research in Miami, puts out his annual U.S. Best Beaches list. This year is the 21st year of Dr. Beach’s annual beach report. Check out the top 10 beaches below and let me know if any are in your local area. If so, send some photos!

 

St. George Island State Park (Getty Images)

 

Here are the Top 10 Beaches for 2011 from Dr. Beach:

1. Siesta Beach, Sarasota, Fla.
2. Coronado Beach, San Diego, Calif.
3. Kahanamoku Beach, Waikiki, Hawaii
4. Main Beach, East Hampton, N.Y.
5. Cape Hatteras, Outer Banks, N.C.
6. St. George Island State Park, Fla.
7. Beachwalker Park, Kiawah Island, S.C.
8. Coast Guard Beach, Cape Cod, Mass.
9. Waimanalo Bay State Park, Oahu, Hawaii
10. Cape Florida State Park, Key Biscayne, Fla.

 

Oddly enough, last year’s top beach, Cooper’s Beach in Southampton, N.Y., didn’t even get a spot in the top 10 this year.

 
I am dying to go to Kahanamoku Beach in Waikiki and St. George Island State Park. Are any on the top of your “must visit beaches” lists?

 

Check out photos of the top beaches here: See Photos of the Top Beaches

 

Happy beach daydreaming!

 

 

Friday Link Love

In honor of the week coming to an end, I’ve pulled together some of this week’s stories from other great websites I think you should give a read.

Check them out and let me know if I’ve missed anything!

Friday Link Love:

• CNN: Why you should go to Mexico
• Lonely Planet: Top 8 places to (safely) visit in Mexico
• Jaunted: You Bring the iPad and American Airlines Will Bring the Movies and In-Flight WiFi
• Gadling: Five hot travel sites
• New York Times: How to save on group travel
• LA Times: Mother’s Day travel getaways
• USA Today: Some hotels don’t live up to online hype, disappointed guests say

TripAdvisor’s 2011 Travelers’ Choice Awards

I am a huge fan of TripAdvisor and other forums like it. It think it provides a great opportunity for travelers and vacation planners to connect and get real-time advice. In fact, I never plan a trip without checking in with the folks on the local forums at lease 5-10 times!

Yesterday, TripAdvisor announced its 2011 Travelers’ Choice Destinations winners, which honors travelers’ favorite places to visit around the world. If you’re looking to take a trip this summer, check out the list to get some inspiration!

The winning destinations include 337 vacation hot spots from around the world, including lists in the United States, Europe, the Caribbean & Mexico, Central & South America, Asia, India, South Pacific, Canada, Africa, United Kingdom, France, Italy, Germany and Spain. The list is pulled together by millions of real, unbiased opinions from TripAdvisor users.

Some highlights from the list include:

2011 Travelers’ Choice World Destinations:
1. Cape Town, South Africa
2. Sydney, Australia
3. Machu Picchu, Peru

2011 Travelers’ Choice U.S. Destinations:

1. New York City, New York

2. Honolulu, Hawaii

3. San Francisco, California

Check out the full list of winners here and be sure to let me know if this list was helpful in choosing your next vacation destination.

Happy Planning!

Newsflash: New Travel Flash Sale Website

I’m still a little torn on the whole travel flash sale website craze. I am a huge fan of a deal, especially when it gets me into a luxury hotel for 1/3 the price, but seeing the weekly sales often sparks a severe case of wanderlust, resulting in resentment that I can’t take advantage of the awesome deals available!

Okay, so maybe I’m just a little bitter that I can’t travel nearly as much as I want to. Maybe travel flash sale sites are okay after all…

Which brings me to a bit of news. I received some intel about a new site called TrippoDeals.com launching soon and thought I’d spread the word!

TrippoDeals specializes in weekend package getaways. So, want to getaway for a ski weekend but don’t have time to price out the cost of the lift tickets, ski rentals, etc? That’s where TrippoDeals comes in. They would offer a 1-2 night stay at a ski resort, with the rental and lift tickets included for 50% off the published rate. A website that does the itinerary research AND bargaining for you? Sounds pretty great to me! Like most flash sale website, all deals are available for 7 days only.

If you have a second, check it out! Here is a bit of news about the website as well: http://www.tnooz.com/2011/03/09/tlabs/tlabs-showcase-trippo/

Happy Planning!

News Flash: Travel Alert Issued for All Americans World-Wide

The U.S. State Department has issued a Travel Alert to all Americans traveling around the world.

Here is an excerpt from that advisory:

“The U.S. Department of State alerts U.S. citizens traveling and residing abroad to the enhanced potential for anti-American violence given recent counter-terrorism activity in Pakistan. Given the uncertainty and volatility of the current situation, U.S. citizens in areas where recent events could cause anti-American violence are strongly urged to limit their travel outside of their homes and hotels and avoid mass gatherings and demonstrations. U.S. citizens should stay current with media coverage of local events and be aware of their surroundings at all times. This Travel Alert expires August 1, 2011.”

Read the full alert here:

http://www.travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/pa/pa_worldwide.html

Travel safe, wherever you are…

Newsflash: $9 Fares from NY/NJ to Boston

Looking for a fun weekend getaway from NY or NJ this spring? Consider Boston.

JetBlue just released $9 one-way fares from Newark, totaling to $39 r/t after taxes!! This insanely-tempting deal is good for travel only on Tuesdays, Wednesdays or Thursday from May 4th-June 15th.

Boston, Quincy Market (Getty)

Diggin’ this deal? Book your ticket on JetBlue.com before 11:59pm ET TONIGHT (April 28th) and be sure to let me know if you take advantage. Hurry!!

Friday Link Love

In honor of the week coming to an end, I’ve pulled together some of this week’s stories from other great websites I think you should give a read.

Check them out and let me know if I’ve missed anything!

Friday Link Love:

• MSNBC: High gas prices put the brakes on road trips
• New York Times: A new incentive to travel solo
• Frommers: The world’s 10 most divine cities
• Jaunted: Delta puts their checked bag fees to good use with new luggage live-tracking
• AOL: Summer Travel 2011: the great big summer travel poll recap
• Gadling: National Geographic Traveler announces 2011 Tours of a Lifetime
• CNN: Five retreats fit for a royal couple
• USA Today: Are frequent-flier programs losing their luster?

Friday Link Love

In honor of the week coming to an end, I’ve pulled together some of this week’s stories from other great websites I think you should give a read.

Check them out and let me know if I’ve missed anything!

Friday Link Love:

Los Angeles Times: Travel discounts on airlines, hotels, theme parks and more at new Daily Getaways website

USA Today: Couple plans to walk 2,500 miles to Las Vegas for their wedding

Jaunted: 10 Eco-Friendly Developing Countries to Visit Now

The Points Guy: How to Use British Airways Miles

 MSNBC: Where do unclaimed bags end up? Alabama

Gadling: You’re going to book travel online this year

501 Place: Airport security: when did they forget we’re human?

Adventurous Kate: Adventurous Kate Gets Shipwrecked in Indonesia