Foreign Airlines Increase Fuel Surcharges: U.S. Next?

Several foreign airlines are increasing fuel surcharges on passengers, raising the prospect that U.S. carriers could follow suit. Lufthansa German Airlines, Thai Airways, India's Jet Airways and Kingfisher, and airlines in Taiwan have announced surcharge increases for domestic and international routes in recent weeks, citing higher costs and lackluster revenue because of the low demand for air travel.
The increases — with Lufthansa raising its charge on domestic German and European flights by $4 to $34 a flight leg, but leaving it at $116 for trips to the USA — come as crude oil prices have crept back up 43% this year after dropping from record highs last July. Crude settled at $63.56 a barrel in New York on Friday.
U.S. airlines haven't followed their international competitors in raising surcharges on domestic routes, though they have on most international routes. What U.S. carriers spend on fuel began inching up this spring, according to Department of Transportation figures.

Click here to read full story. Source: Roger Yu, USA Today

All About Me Girlfriends Getaway at Reunion Resort

Alright ladies, it’s time for you to take a quick break from the men and get your relaxation on! So, grab the girls and head over to Reunion Resort in beautiful Orlando, Florida for some time all to yourself. And while you are here, enjoy access to our world-class amenities including 54 holes of Signature golf, boutique spa, tennis, five-acre water park, exquisite dining and so much more!
Package includes:
2 nights of luxury accommodations in one of our two-bedroom villas
A relaxing spa experience including facial & massage
A spa amenity for each of you upon arrival
Breakfast each morning**
*Package inclusions are subject to availability. No substitutions on offerings. **Not valid on arrival day.
So, what are you waiting for? Treat yourself and head over to Reunion Resort today for a Girlfriends Getaway you won't forget.

For more details or to make a reservation, visit http://www.girlsgetawayguide.net/reunionresortorlando.html.

Beauties and the Beach at Kingston Plantation Myrtle Beach, SC

Grab your girlfriends and head for Myrtle Beach to the luxurious Kingston Plantation.
This Beauties and the Beach vacation package includes everything you need for an intense female bonding session from wine and facial scrubs to shopping deals. Enjoy luxury accommodations, breakfast, and a welcome basket. Two nights stay minimum.

For more details or to make a reservation, visit http://www.girlsgetawayguide.net/kingstonplantation.html.

Car Rental Tips for Your Next Getaway

We’re always being warned about buying a lemon. You wouldn’t buy a car without checking it out thoroughly first. And you wouldn’t buy a car without shopping around first either, right? And yet, when it comes to renting a car, we usually blindly stumble on to a website, click ‘ok’ a few times, and before you know it you’ve rented a double-decker bus with five child seats, no air conditioning, and no insurance. And by the time you’ve realized you’ve done that, it’s too late and you’ve probably just parted with the better part of your holiday savings.

Well there are a few tips that can save you a lot of time, money, and downright agony when it comes to renting a car.

How Many Are Travelling?

First and foremost, think about how many people are travelling and how far you’re going. Yes, you may think a hatch will be fine for four people, but if you’ve got three weeks of travel ahead you may need more space for luggage. And to get as far away from each other as possible.

Automatic or Stick-Shift?

Next, always double-check to make sure the car you want to rent has the transmission you’re after. There’s nothing more embarrassing than bunny hopping down the main strip of Vegas, simply because you didn’t realize you weren’t getting an automatic.

Insurance?

Always check out the insurance costs. If you think this vacation might be a good chance to let your 17-year-old son learn to drive, you might want to think again. As with hormones, insurance costs skyrocket when there are teenagers involved. You really want to save that extra cash for bail money after they’ve escaped the hotel and are found drinking in a nearby bar instead.

Baby on Board?

Need a child seat? Always find out how much extra it’s going to be, whether or not they’re up to code, and if there are any cleaning costs involved. Speaking of cleaning, are you going to be liable for cleaning costs at the end of your trip? Better find out just to make sure. Otherwise you’ll be charged an arm and a leg for every McDonald’s wrapper the company has to scrape off the carpet.

Shop Around

And always remember to shop around! There’s a lot of companies out there after your business, but are you really being offered the best deal? Ask about the possibility of an upgrade, you just never know your luck! Just remember to check to see if the car you’re offered covers all the bases.

Okay, so that’s a lot to think about right? But it need not be difficult! If you have a decent, easy-to-use website at your fingertips it can only take a few minutes. Just check out http://www.vroomvroomvroom.com/ for instance. Instead of shopping around all the different car rental companies’ websites, it combines all their prices and deals into one service. That’s right, they do all the hard work for you, searching around for the best deals and finding the one that’s right for you. Not only that, but the good people at Vroom pride themselves on top-notch customer service, so if you need help, they’re just an email or phone call away. So all you need to worry about now is how to survive a holiday with your teenaged children, or screaming toddlers! They’ll take care of the rest.

Airline Customer Satisfaction Survey

Airline customer satisfaction has declined for a third consecutive year to a four-year low in 2009, according to J.D. Power and Associates. The survey, which queried nearly 13,000 travelers, measured airlines in seven categories: cost and fees; flight crew; in-flight services; aircraft; boarding/deplaning/baggage; check-in; and reservation.

For a fourth consecutive year, JetBlue ranked highest in the low-cost carrier segment. J.D. Power says it performed well in two of seven categories measured – aircraft and in-flight services. Southwest Airlines and WestJet followed, in a tie.Alaska Airlines topped in the latest J.D. Power and Associates 2009 North America Airline Satisfaction survey of traditional network carriers.

According to the survey, Alaska performed well in five of the seven categories: flight crew; aircraft; boarding/deplaning/baggage; check-in; and reservation.On a positive note, the customer-reported length of flight delays was down by eight minutes, to an average 72 minutes. And average wait times at the ticketing/baggage check counter dipped from 14 minutes to 12 minutes over the past year.

Source: Eye for Travel

Take a Girls Getaway to the Brandywine Valley

The Fairville Inn Bed & Breakfast offers elegant accommodations in the heart of the Brandywine Valley, just minutes from Longwood Gardens, the Winterthur Estate, and the Brandywine River ("Wyeth") Museum.
Situated on several acres of gardens and meadows, the Fairville Inn offers 13 rooms and 2 suites in the Main House (circa 1837), the Carriage House and the Springhouse. Each room is individually decorated, with private bath, satellite TV, separate heating and airconditioning controls, telephone with voice mail, fresh flowers, and high-speed wireless Internet. Most rooms have a private balcony or deck and a fireplace (in season).
A full breakfast with a changing selection of hot entrees, together with a continental buffet that includes Inn-baked goods, are served daily. Afternoon tea, including a selection of cheeses and Inn-baked goods is also served daily.
The Fairville Inn is the perfect place to stay when touring the Brandywine Valley. The Inn is only minutes from Longwood Gardens, Winterthur, the Brandywine River Museum, as well as local wineries and a wide range of fine restaurants.
The Inn is a member of the Select Registry of Distinguished Inns of North America and is Featured in Karen Brown's Guide, "Exceptional Places to Stay" in the Mid-Atlantic.

For more information or to make a reservation, visit http://www.girlsgetawayguide.net/fairvilleinn.html.

Check out The Islander Resort in Islamorada!

Between the saltwater wilderness of Everglades National Park, North America's only coral barrier reef and the deep blue waters of the Florida Straits, Islander Resort is located on the Atlantic Ocean at mile marker 82.1 in Islamorada, the sports fishing capital of the world.
Nestled among the palms on more than 25 oceanfront acres, pet-friendly Islander offers spacious lanai villas with vintage Florida 1950s flair and renovated cottage-style décor. The “Beach House” features oceanfront accommodations with direct beach access.
Islander’s oceanfront suites and lanai villas feature the following amenities: full kitchens, screened-in lanais with patio furniture, AC, high-speed wired and wireless Internet access, living room, cable TV, dining table with chairs, dinnerware and cookware, coffee maker, telephones with data port, iron and ironing board, hairdryer, in-room safe and alarm clock/radios.
Guests enjoy Islander’s complimentary Continental breakfast daily, coral sand beach, lighted fishing pier, Bluewater Tiki Bar, exercise room, gift shop, ample parking, coin-operated laundry facilities, heated pools (one oasis-style, one saltwater), hot tub, volleyball, basketball and shuffleboard areas, picnic tables and outdoor grills.
At Islander Resort, you can rent bicycles for exploring the island, watercrafts for exploring the sea – and everything you need for a great day on the beach.

For more details or to make a reservations, visit http://www.girlsgetawayguide.net/islanderresort.html.