HOLIDAY GIFTS FOR THE TRAVELER Shopping for someone who's on the go isn't easy. Travelers, especially frequent travelers, can be particular about their likes and dislikes. Lighten your load A Balanzza digital luggage scale, which is incredibly easy to use, and thanks to its almost fluorescent green color, impossible to lose. With airlines now incredibly strict on overweight luggage, you need one of these. The Burton Sleeper Hoodie is a hooded sweatshirt that not only allows you to pack some of your personal belongings into one of its many pockets, but is also designed for your in-flight comfort. It comes with an inflatable neck pillow, a light shield and a custom sound pocket with a cable port. It's also comfortable to wear. But if you want to cram a whole carry-on bag's worth of luggage into something wearable, nothing quite matches the Scottevest line of travel apparel. Not your dad's luggage The Travelpro ExecutiveFirst "Check Point Friendly" Computer Briefcase is an overnight carry-on bag, and you do not have to remove your laptop at the TSA checkpoint. Everything is in the right place. There are two organizers worth recommending: The Built Cargo Travel Organizer is a neoprene case for your charger, mouse and cables. If you're looking for something that's already stocked with accessories, try the Sharper Image Laptop Essential Travel Kit, which contains everything from a mini-light to a USB adapter with four ports. If you're concerned about security, consider one of Kena Kai's new line of wallets, including its Passport Wallet, which uses an exclusive radio-frequency-blocking lining to protect the personal data stored on credit cards, passports and driver's licenses. Now hear this The ultimate in-flight accessory is the noise-canceling headset Bose QuietComfort 3, which has a long battery life and performs flawlessly in loud environments like the interior of a cabin or a noisy airport terminal. If you prefer an in-ear headphone, try the Klipsch Image S4, which shuts out a lot of the noise. If the bulkier over-the-ear headphones are a bother, you should give the Klipsch model a try. You hardly feel it in your ear and the sound quality is superb. Good night The Moshi Voice Control Alarm Clock, is a handy way to wake up and a cinch to set. The bigger version also comes as a travel alarm clock, the Mini VC, which weighs almost nothing and slips into a small pocket. If you want to get rid of jet lag try the NightWave sleep assistant, a small device that projects an oscillating image into your darkened bedroom. GENERATE MILES SHOPPING FOR THE HOLIDAYS Right now, if you visit Continental Airline's shopping site, for example, you can get 4 OnePass miles for each dollar spent at Apple.com (and, of course, an extra mile if you make the purchase with a frequent flyer credit card). So if you shop smart, your $3,000 iMac also comes with 15,000 miles, the equivalent of half a free round-trip domestic flight. A $5,000 purchase would get you enough miles for a free flight. Is there a catch? No. The price you pay for a new iMac via Apple's Web site is exactly the same as the price via the airlines' sites. Literally hundreds of online merchants participate in these mileage offers. Here are some current deals from various merchants and airlines, all of which are subject to change: Delta Airlines • 2 miles/$1 at Crate and Barrel • 2 miles/$1 at the Container Store • 3 miles/$1 at Starbucksstore.com • 2 miles/$1 at iTunes.com • 7 miles/$1 at Drugstore.com • 4 miles/$1 at Overstock.com • 100 miles for a Costco membership United Airlines • 9 miles/$2 at Nordstrom • 7 miles/$2 at Sephora • 3 miles/$2 at Apple • 4 miles/$1 at Avon • 3 miles/$1 at Circuit City • 9 miles/$2 at Brookstone American Airlines • 4 miles/$1 at Old Navy • 2 miles/$1 at Walmart • 10 miles/$1 at 800Flowers.com or 11 at FTD • 5 miles/$1 at Drugstore.com Continental Airlines • 4 miles/$1 at Apple.com • 8 miles/$1 at Target • 20 miles/$1 at Godiva • 6 miles/$1 at Gap • 30 miles/$1 at Magazines.com Have a great time shopping this holiday season, and please be sure to gift yourself a gift, too, in the form of extra frequent flyer miles. AIRLINES CHARGING MORE FOR SOUGHT AFTER SEATS As airlines continue to reduce the number of seats they offer on domestic routes, flights are getting fuller. And just as surely, industry experts say, airlines are finding new ways to charge for the privilege of escaping a dreaded middle seat in the back of a crowded economy cabin. There are rows with more legroom near the front, roomier exit rows in the middle, and aisle seats. All have a price, it seems, but what you pay can vary widely by airline and by your status on a particular carrier. "It can be a Darwinian process" to pounce on a good seat before it is taken, says Joe Brancatelli, who runs the joesentme.com Web site for business travelers. "Each airline is doing its own thing, and the rules keep on changing." The general concept is not new. United's Economy Plus program offers rows with as much as four inches of additional legroom in the front of the plane. Fees depend on the length of flight. United, for example, charges from $9 to $109, with the top fee for a long run like Los Angeles to Tokyo. Still, when Delta Air Lines tried to introduce a similar program after it acquired Northwest, which had its own choice seats plan, it was inundated by complaints from its elite "medallion" fliers, who were accustomed to getting a chance at those spots well in advance of departure for no charge. Delta later backed off and does not charge for premium spots in coach. Foreign airlines are experimenting with seat fees as well. British Airways said recently that it would begin allowing fliers to reserve specific seats well in advance of flight time, beginning at $16 a flight, and up to $90 for business-class customers (only first class and full-fare fliers are exempt). Customers still can get an assigned seat at no charge, one day before departure.
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Orchestrated by famed interior designer David Collins, the London NYC is a completely stylish, wholly uncomplicated environment that caters to guests' personal idea of luxury. Collins subtly and successfully weaves luxury into every aspect of the hotel - from the lobby, reminiscent of a Grand London residence, to architectural details wrapped in British racing green leather, to the custom-designed swiveling tables, ready-made to hold Gordon Ramsey's in-room dining. Each nuanced detail amplifies the user-friendly, handcrafted signature feel of the London NYC. The Ovation Preferred Hotel Partners Program rate at the London NYC is $422 (compared to a corporate rate of $469).*
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An Award-Winning Luxury Boutique Hotel Near the Capitol Mall Sophisticated, stylish, warm and inviting describe the newly renovated downtown luxury Hotel Monaco Washington DC, a Kimpton Hotel located within walking distance of the National Mall. Set in an historic all-marble building that is a Registered National Landmark, this completely restored luxury boutique hotel has emerged as the discerning traveler's choice among downtown Washington DC hotels. Surrounded by the goings-on of our nation's capital outside and a vibrant setting inside, the luxury Hotel Monaco Washington DC caters to the savviest of travelers accustomed to world-class service. With services expected of a perennial AAA four diamond luxury hotel found only in the best Washington DC hotels, the Hotel Monaco features 183 luxuriously appointed guest rooms set in the classic ambiance of an historic landmark. Every room indulges the senses, featuring the original vaulted ceilings or segmented arched ceilings and beautiful fabrics and furnishings that are a mix of traditional designs and modern colors. The exceptional amenities set the standard for graciousness among Washington DC hotels. Guests are invited to indulge in the fitness center or stroll through the historic carriageway portal to the courtyard to dine at the adjacent Poste – Moderne Brasserie. From complimentary in-room wireless high-speed Internet access for Kimpton InTouch members to plush terry cloth robes, from personalized wake-up calls to the hosted evening wine reception, the offerings of Hotel Monaco Washington DC pamper guests with exemplary comfort and unparalleled service. Hotel Monaco—among the best Washington DC boutique hotels—is located in the original US General Post Office Building in Penn Quarter by the Verizon Center and Washington Convention Center in the heart of downtown. The Ovation Preferred Hotel Partners Program rate at the Monaco Washington DC is $259 (compared to a corporate rate of $486).*
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Four hundred customized suites and rooms, all featuring unrivaled elegance with the latest technology and amenities. A precedent-setting fusion of art and luxury to indulge all senses. They've taken 4-Diamond dining to new heights. Iridescence at MotorCity Casino Hotel transcends expectations high atop the hotel tower. And only the most spectacular restaurant in Detroit will offer travelers the artistry of the 2007 Pastry Chef of the Year - Paticia Nash. Dessert will be the perfect finale to an evening of breathtaking views at this AAA Four Diamond Award-winning restaurant. The Ovation Preferred Hotel Partners Program rate at the MotorCity Casino Hotel is $135 (compared to a corporate rate of $169).*
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The hotel's 191 rooms range from 350 to 625 sq. ft., with a living area and bath. Each has a large closet with an automatic light, vanity with cosmetic lights, full–length mirror, individually controlled air–conditioning, flat–screen television, desk and down–feather love seat. The 29 one– and two–story suites range from 770 to 3,035 sq. ft., and some offer private kitchens. A variety of additional luxuries such as spiral staircases, hardwood floors, dining rooms, flat–screen televisions, original works of art, antique porcelains and HiFi sound systems are found in individual suites. With its signature transformative ambience and innovative menu, Nobu, the most innovative new style Japanese restaurant in America serves dinner and the Nobu Lounge is open daily for cocktails. The Ovation Preferred Hotel Partners Program rate at Rosewood Crescent is $215 (compared to a corporate rate of $275).* * All rates are subject to availability. Ovation Corporate Travel |
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