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Want a small hotel or a luxury resort? Let Rawhide Travel and Tours customize the perfect spot just for you! We have many choices. Let Us Help You Get Lost.
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From an article on CNN
Resort Fee
It's an unpleasant surprise to learn at check-in that you're required to pay a $20-$30 daily surcharge to cover the cost of amenities (newspaper delivery; fitness center access) that you may not use. Since these fees don't figure into the advertised room rate, they make it hard for a price-sensitive traveler to find the best lodging option. And it's not just travelers who are annoyed; the Federal Trade Commission warned 22 hotel operators that not clearly disclosing resort fees could be violating FTC laws.
Tip: Call and ask the front desk directly if there is a resort fee before you book especially if you're doing so through a third party such as an online travel agent or daily deal site.
Single Supplement
Solo travelers pay a price for their independent streak on the high seas or guided tours. The single supplement can be as high as 100% on certain cruises and tour itineraries and a minimum of 25% on the low end. Lately, however, changing demographics and travel habits have convinced some tour operators and cruise lines that there could be profit in accommodating single travelers with package prices closer to those paid for double occupancy.
Tip: Royal Caribbean's new "Quantum of the Seas" is being designed with solo travelers in mind. It will feature 16 studio staterooms with no dreaded supplement. Luxury outfitter Abercrombie & Kent's "Solo Savings" departures either waive the single supplement or reduce it by as much as 75% on popular itineraries including African safaris. Other companies offer guests the option to be paired with another single traveler to avoid paying the single supplement, such as Cosmos's "guaranteed share" program.
Wi-Fi
As we become ever more dependent on connectivity, hotel Wi-Fi is the fee we're most irritated by and yet perhaps most likely to grudgingly pay. Chains like Holiday Inn and Hampton Inn provide free Wi-Fi, yet paradoxically, many higher-end hotels and resorts continue to charge for in-room Internet, sometimes with two-tier pricing for high and regular-speed connections. A report by HotelChatter.com found that Wi-Fi fees range from $9.95 to $14.95 per day, but can be as high as $19.95.
Tip: Be loyal; Fairmont, Kimpton and Omni hotels give free Wi-Fi as a benefit when you sign up for their free rewards programs. Peninsula and Shangri-La Hotels have free Wi-Fi not only in all hotel rooms and common areas but also in their automobile fleets.
Car Rental Airport Fee
For the traveler who wants to get straight out onto the open road, the airport surcharge is deflating. The amount varies depending on the company and airport, but the difference can be steep. For example, renting a full-size vehicle at Denver International Airport can cost nearly twice the daily rate for the same car picked up from the convention center downtown.
Tip: The sharing economy is shaking up the car rental world. Startup FlightCar offers Bay Area residents the chance to rent out their car while they are away. Travelers arriving at SFO can rent a vehicle for around $30 a day. FlightCar is also available at Boston's Logan International Airport and is expected to arrive soon in Los Angeles.
One-Way Penalty and Airport Surcharge on Car Rentals
A four-day drive up California's Pacific Coast Highway is a lovely way to spend your vacation. What's less enticing is the hefty premium you pay to drop off your vehicle at a different destination from the point of origin. A recent online search found a four-day rental from Los Angeles to San Francisco that cost $379 extra, compared with the rate you'd pay to return the vehicle in L.A.
Tip: Shop around for your rental, using "one-way" as a search term. The major chains occasionally offer discount codes and coupons specifically for one-way rentals. Avis puts one-way rentals out of Arizona and Florida on sale in the spring to attract business from retirees who are headed back north for the summer.
Award Ticket Fees
After you've spent years building up a mileage balance for a free seat to Europe, it can come as a shock to be charged an award-processing fee. Add to that airport taxes, fuel surcharges and security taxes and the final total on a so-called "free flight" can easily reach three figures. Any kind of change also incurs fees in most frequent-flier programs ($75-$150 on major carriers). And canceling your "free" ticket will cost you if you want to get the miles re-deposited into your account ($150 on major carriers).
Tip: Plan ahead when booking award travel to minimize fees (some airlines charge a $75 rush fee on award seats booked fewer than 21 days before departure). The further out you book, the easier it will be to use the airlines' online award booking option, saving you from paying for help from a reservation agent.
Let Rawhide Travel and Tours help you with all your reservation needs. Call us at (602) 843-5100 or visit our website: rawhidetravel.com.
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Rawhide Travel and Tours Inc
6008 West Bell Rd # F105
Glendale, Arizona 85308-3793
(602) 843-5100
rawhidetravel.com
Twenty-six people were once tried and then put to death in Salem for being witches. Today, the town of Salem is one of the 10 best Halloween vacation spots for its celebration of witches on their most important night of the year. Salem hosts events over the entire month of October, including tours of haunted and infamous spots, trial and hanging re-enactments, witches’ circles, fireworks, and a parade.
Visit the Witch House museum on the corner of North and Essex Streets, the only building left in Salem that has direct links to the Salem Witch Trials. The Salem Witch Museum brings you back to 1692 Salem. Experience the drama of history in life-size stage sets, figures, lighting and a stirring narration. Live guides take you through changing interpretations of witches, the truth behind the stereotypes, witchcraft practice today and the frightening phenomenon of witch hunting. As you might imagine, the museum has extended hours in October. The one-time home of Judge Jonathan Corwin, one of the judges in the trials, it now is a museum of seventeenth century architecture, furnishings, and lifestyle.
It’s America’s biggest Halloween party and you’re invited! Throughout the whole month of October the ultimate Halloween experience is in Salem, Massachusetts! The fun and excitement are without equal! So if you get goosebumps just thinking about the eerie month of October, abandon all hope and surrender to the spell of Salem!
Looking for that uniquely different vacation destination. Call Rawhide Travel and Tours today 602-843-5100 or visit our website rawhidetravel.com. We can help!
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6008 West Bell Rd # F105
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| by Kimberly Blozie |
The federal government shut down could put a damper on people's vacation plans. The government shuts down began today Oct. 1 and tourists are not be able to enter the Lincoln Memorial, Independence Hall, the Statue of Liberty and other attractions run by the National Park Service.
Travelers already camping in national parks will have two days to leave.
In Washington, D.C., all 19 museums and galleries run by the Smithsonian Institution as well as the National Zoo will be closed. Not only will the zoo close, but so will the popular live animal cams, the zoo announced on its Twitter feed. That's right, the baby panda cam has gone dark.
"We must close, and federal employees are not permitted to work," says Linda St.Thomas, chief spokeswoman for the Smithsonian Institution.
St. Thomas says it's too risky for schools to hoof it to D.C., and she expects school trips to be canceled this week. She says there is no count of how many school groups flow through the museums and zoo. She says last week all the institutions saw a combined 400,000 visitors.
Air travel will likely not be affected as air-traffic controllers and airport screeners will continue to work.
"At this point, we do not expect airline operations to be impacted," says Jean Medina, a spokeswoman for Airlines for America, which represents the industry.
She says the Federal Aviation Administration, Transportation Security Administration and Customs and Border Protection have told the group "that front-line employees would not be subject to shutdown-related furloughs that would affect the traveling and shipping public."
Airlines, too, say they expect business to continue as usual.
"We do not anticipate any impact to our operations as a result of the shutdown, as it will not affect the Transportation Security Administration, the Federal Aviation Administration and/or the air traffic control system," Southwest Airlines spokeswoman Brandy King says.
Amtrak, which relies on federal subsidies, says it will operate as normal.
"Amtrak will continue normal operation of its national intercity and high-speed passenger rail network during a short-term federal government shutdown," Amtrak said in a statement. "Passengers planning to travel on Amtrak trains in the Northeast Corridor and across the country in the coming days and weeks can be assured that Amtrak will remain open for business."
For those wanting to travel internationally, the U.S. State Department will continue to issue passports and visas because funding for those services comes from fees rather than appropriations, State Department spokeswoman Laura Seal says.
The one caveat is that some passport offices are located in federal buildings that would have to shut down. She advises travelers to call their local passport office before showing up.
U.S. embassies and consulates around the world will remain open, she says. "American citizens overseas will continue to get support," she says.
Tourism officials in various cities point out that there will be plenty for travelers to do while the government is shut down.
Although travelers can't climb up the Statue of Liberty, they can still see it from the water. Statue Cruises will still be operating from 9 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. daily. The Staten Island Ferry will continue to run every 30 minutes and pass by the statue.
In the nation's capital, there are many private museums that will remain open, including the Corcoran Gallery of Art, the Newseum and the International Spy Museum.
Let Rawhide Travel and Tours help you with all your reservation needs. Call us at (602) 843-5100 or visit our website: rawhidetravel.com.
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Rawhide Travel and Tours Inc
6008 West Bell Rd # F105
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Famous as the First State to ratify the Constitution, Delaware was born out of a conflict among three world powers for dominance of the Delaware Valley. From this beginning, the region developed a distinct character that tolerated diversity in religion and national origin and valued independence.
Woodlawn
Woodlawn offers some of the best scenic trails in the Brandywine Valley. Woodlawn owns and maintains roughly 2,000 acres of land in Brandywine Hundred and nearby Pennsylvania. Much of this land is designated as open space used by the public for biking, walking, and horseback riding. Wide grassy borders along roads and fields are mowed and reserved for public use. Planned foot-trails along streams and through forests provide the public with scenic views of natural areas.
Dover Green
Today, the tavern where Delaware’s legislature ratified the Constitution is gone, but the Green remains a vibrant space for public gatherings.
New Castle Court House
Here, Delaware declared independence and later tested the ideals of the Declaration of Independence in trials of abolitionists.
Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail
The Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail, the first national water trail, follows historic routes of Smith's travels based on his map and journals. It encompasses 3,000 miles in parts of present-day Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, and the District of Columbia.
First State National Monument is a new national park unit.
Let Rawhide Travel and Tours help you with all your reservation needs. Call us at (602) 843-5100 or visit our website: rawhidetravel.com.
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Rawhide Travel and Tours Inc
6008 West Bell Rd # F105
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(602) 843-5100
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Rawhide Travel and Tours with combined total of “75 years of travel experience" provides amazing deals for your dream vacation with experienced, friendly travel experts.
Services offered include booking domestic and international air travel, hotel and resort reservations, car rental and cruises for individuals, corporate, group and incentive travel. Also tour packages of every type from a weekend getaway, to San Diego or Disneyland to involved and detailed vacations worldwide.
Plan your next great vacation with Rawhide Travel and Tours. Call today (602) 843-5100 or email us at flythis@rawhidetravel.com.
Presented By:
Rawhide Travel and Tours Inc
6008 West Bell Rd # F105
Glendale, Arizona 85308-3793
(602) 843-5100
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The card that currently allows visitors with disabilities to skip attraction lines at Disneyland and Disney California Adventure will be replaced with the Disability Access Service Card (DAS), in October. Disney has yet to announce the change, but reps have confirmed the rumor.
This change allegedly comes in response to a report that wealthy families were hiring disabled people to skip lines.
"Given the increasing volume of requests we receive for special access to our attractions, we are changing our process to create a more consistent experience for all our guests while providing accommodations for guests with disabilities," Suzi Brown, Director of Media Relations and External Communications at Disneyland said in a statement, the Associated Press reports.
According to MiceAge, a website that reports on Disneyland news, the new DAS card-holders will no longer be able to go straight to the front of the line. Instead, a cardholder will tell Guest Relations which attraction he or she wants to ride, then will be given a "return time" to come back for the ride. Only one reservation can be made at a time. While waiting, families can do other activities that don't have long lines, less-visited rides or shows. (MiceAge explains all the ins and outs of how it will work here.)
The responses to the change in programs have been mixed. On one side, a petition was started by Kim McClain, a mom whose daughter has special needs, asking Disney to keep its current policy in play. It reads, in part:
To the decision makers: It is not a privilege to our challenged families in this Guest Assistance Pass that you presently offer. Rather, it is simply an accommodation to provide access to the park for those who otherwise would not be able to enjoy the park. If you remove this accommodation; you will undoubtedly remove the ability for many to access and enjoy the park, excluding an impaired segment of the population due to the misconduct of others. Which does not at all seem to make sense.
Rebecca Goddard, a mom of two young boys with autism told The Orange County Register why she agrees that this program won't work for her family. "My boys don't have the cognition to understand why it's going to be a long wait," she said.
But some parents are chalking the outrage up to misinterpretation of the facts. Over on Babble (a website that is owned by Disney), Pilar Clark argues that the new program is not designed to make trips more difficult for people with disabilities. Since Disney has been so accommodating to her son who has Asperger’s Syndrome and developmental delays in the past, Clark says parents should give Disney the benefit of the doubt before assuming the change will be a negative one.
Ellen Seidman of Love That Max, who also blogs for HuffPost, agrees that the backlash to this announcement might be unnecessary. She spoke to Brown to address a few of her concerns -- one being that for kids who have sensory issues, like her son Max, leaving a ride then waiting around to return to it could cause a "meltdown."
To that, Brown said, "We get that needs of individuals vary dramatically, and that one size doesn't fit all. Like we've always done, guests who have particular concerns can speak with Guest Relations about their particular needs."
And Seidman believes that that will hold true. "So before we get too riled up, let's see how the system plays out. Parents of kids with special needs sure aren't shy about speaking up when something isn't working. If the realities of the new program prove too hard to handle, the parks will hear about it -- and hopefully make adjustments accordingly," she wrote.
Call Rawhide Travel and Tours and start planning that special vacation or event today. 602-843-5100 or visit our website rawhidetravel.com.
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