Airfares lower in 2015?
Thanks to lower fuel prices and the continued growth of low-cost airlines, 2015 may be a good year for air travelers. Airfares for popular destinations such as Las Vegas, New York, San Diego and Fort Lauderdale, Fla., are expected to drop by up to 11 percent this year, according to a study by Expedia.
Los Angeles Times
Free Wi-Fi at Hyatt
This month, Hyatt Hotels starts offering the perk most travelers really want most: free Wi-Fi, in all their brands, all levels, all floors, all cities in the U.S. and worldwide. This makes Hyatt, shown below in New Mexico, the only large U.S. hotel chain to offer free Wi-Fi across the board.
Detroit Free Press
Travel trend
Cunard celebrates 175 years of sailing
Cunard, the British cruise line, made its inaugural transatlantic voyage in the summer of 1840, ferrying passengers from Liverpool, England, to Boston aboard the Britannia, the first ship the company built for its first fleet, all paddleboat steamers. This summer, in honor of its 175th anniversary, Cunard plans to re-create that original voyage, but this time on the Queen Mary 2, one of its modern ocean liners. The ship will be filled with historians and entertainers to help transport passengers back in time. Parties, dinners, performances and lectures are to take place throughout the voyage and at port in Liverpool; Halifax, Nova Scotia; and Boston, including a historical tribute presented by the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts and a Red, Black and Gold Ball. The trip, which begins July 4, wraps up in New York, a bonus leg not included in the original voyage, with even more celebrating. But festivities officially begin May 25, when all three of Cunard's queens — the Mary 2, the Victoria and the Elizabeth — meet in Liverpool on the Mersey River for a "Royal Rendezvous."
New York Times
Deal of the week
Savings when you stay at Marriott
Marriott is offering savings of up to 20 percent at 29 U.S. properties for stays through March 31. For example, a three-night stay at the JW Marriott Orlando Grande Lakes on March 6 starts at $962, including taxes; regular rate is $1,178. Other properties offering the deal include the Vail Marriott Mountain Resort in Vail, Colo., the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center in Nashville and Hilton Head Marriott Resort & Spa. The More Is Less offer requires minimum-night stays, which vary by property; blackout dates also vary by hotel. Book by March 5. Info: www.sometimesmoreisless.com; 1-800-228-9290. Request code D3Q.
Los Angeles Times
On the web
Boutique lodging from National Geographic
The properties included on www.nationalgeographiclodges.com could make any traveler's bucket list. The site offers a quick resource for boutique accommodations around the world that match the reputation and standards you'd expect of the National Geographic brand. Each property is visited and vetted to ensure that guests receive top-notch service and inspiring experiences in a lodge that stays true to the landscape and cultural heritage, has a commitment to conservation and provides benefits to local communities. If you have to ask about room rates, you probably can't afford them. Still, it would be nice if you could filter the accommodations by price.
Los Angeles Times
