Ravens fans and Elvis fans unite! If you're headed down to Tennessee for the big game this weekend, you'll be just in time to celebrate the birthday of the King of Rock n' Roll. Every year a huge celebration takes place over several days at Graceland, starting with the singing of "Happy Birthday" at the front gates tomorrow, which would have been Elvis' 74th birthday.

After watching the Ravens annihilate the Titans (requisite trash talk), head on over to Memphis on Sunday for the Elvis Birthday Breakfast , a tour of Graceland and a visit to the Meditation Garden. Memphis is about a 3-hour drive from Nashville, so it's probably for hardcore Elvis fans only. And if the unthinkable happens, you could always book a stay at the Heartbreak Hotel.

If you're still undecided about your weekend plans, when last I checked moments ago, Southwest still had a few seats available on flights to Nashville on Friday and early Saturday. It's $400 roundtrip, but what's the cost of tender memories? Priceless, methinks.

Photo: An Elvis impersonator who, judging from his purple threads, must also be a Ravens fan (or at least like the color purple) performs in Memphis.

Posted by Michelle Deal-Zimmerman at 1:57 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

Suffering from holiday hangover? I know the feeling. And it's mostly sluggish. But since we're wiping the slate clean with 2009, I won't spend too much time on the travel stuff you missed while you were on vaycay. So here's the holiday roundup:

Woman overboard.

Man overboard.

Baby born on board.

Muslims not on board.

Obamas get room and board.

Bored yet? If not, read on here.

Posted by Michelle Deal-Zimmerman at 7:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

Wow, the year flew faster than a jetliner at 40,000 feet. For travelers, 2008 has been a year where it was best to keep your seat belt buckled for most of the ride. Still, like any year it's had highs and lows. Here's my take on the top travel stories of the year. And Happy New Year to everyone.

1. Fees, please. Air passengers got a rude awakening about midway through the year when airlines, feeling the financial pinch, decided to charge travelers for stuff we used to think was free. Like checking our luggage. Or getting a pillow or blanket. Or a can of Coke. Suddenly, there was this "a la carte" pricing where the only thing included in your ticket price was the seat.

2. Gas prices. Seems silly to mention now that I've filled up for $1.31 in South Carolina over the holiday, but a few months ago gas prices were approaching the stratosphere. $5 a gallon didn't seem too far-fetched. Gas prices were a killjoy for summer vacations, leading many Americans to just stay home. Cruise ships and airlines tacked on or jacked up their fuel surcharges. But that was then. This is now: most cruise lines and airlines have reduced or eliminated many fuel fees. Of course, they reserve the right to bring them back - and probably will.

3. The "staycation." I hope we give this term a vacation in 2009. If you stay at home to clean the garage or organize the basement, you're simply taking time off. Sorry.

4. MegaBus.com begins service in Baltimore. For as little as a buck, travelers can hop aboard and take a smooth ride to New York City. Cheaper than the Chinatown bus lines and, from what I hear, more reliable. Only drawback: the pickup spot is in White Marsh.

5. New visitor centers. From Gettysburg to Washington to Virginia, visitor centers popped up everywhere. In Gettysburg, the newly restored cyclorama re-opened, adding a three-dimensional touch to the new visitor center.

Continue reading "Top 10 travel stories of the year" »

Posted by Michelle Deal-Zimmerman at 2:07 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

People travel for different reasons, but most travelers I meet seem to genuinely care about the places they visit. Some fall in love with the people or the land or even the sound or smell. In many ways, the places we visit become a part of us.

One way to honor our travels, is to contribute to organizations that conserve land or serve people across the globe. A few ideas: Heifer International fights hunger and poverty through living gifts of livestock, bees or trees; The Nature Conservancy protects ecologically sensitive land around the world; Seva Foundation promotes wellness programs; and Brad Pitt's Make It Right Foundation is rebuilding homes in one of America's landmark cities, New Orleans, still suffering the effects of Hurricane Katrina.

Posted by Michelle Deal-Zimmerman at 11:01 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

People on the go often have their gadgets in tow. I know I do. Cell phone. iPod. GPS. Laptop. You name it. And all of the requisite battery chargers. Excvept when I forget one. Wouldn't it be nice to just pack a single charging device? And wouldn't it be even better if that device not only plugged into an outlet, but also could plug into the sun and store enough energy to charge your iPod right on the beach?

The Solio hybrid charger is just such a gem. It's compact, portable and reliable. Wherever you go under the sun, you will have the power. An internal battery stores up energy for future use. When fully charged (it takes about 8-10 hours of direct sunlight), Solio will rev up a cell phone or iPod Nano twice. A variety of adapter tips are included and additional tip styles are available. Colors include black, white and silver. Price: $99.95

Posted by Michelle Deal-Zimmerman at 8:20 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

For the game traveler who wants to know facts and tidbits about airplanes, hotels, trains, cruise ships and everything in-between. Travia: The Ultimate Book of Travel Trivia provides enough pop facts to satisfy.

For example: At 1,723 square miles, what is the longest island in the United States? While New York City is the largest city population-wise, what is the city with the largest area? Did you know that the longest street in the world goes on and on and on for 1,178 miles? Which airline was the first to show movies on jets?

I'm not telling. You'll have to pursue your own trivial answers. Price: $15.95

(OK, here's a hint: Sarah Palin is a frequent visitor to the city that has the largest area in square miles.)

Posted by Michelle Deal-Zimmerman at 12:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

Iit's the perfect travel companion: beautiful, nearly weightless and oh-so entertaining.

The iPod Nano is on-the-go gold. Load it with tunes, hop on a jet, plug in and just float. It's even functional: more cities, museums and other attractions are offering tours that you can download to your iPod and take with.

And many hotels now have iPod docking stations bedside so you can turn your bland room into your own personal oasis. Price: $149

Photo: Associated Press 

Posted by Michelle Deal-Zimmerman at 10:09 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

New on the scene this year are the "checkpoint-friendly" laptop bags and they are a must have for business travelers and frequent fliers.

Over the summer, TSA got together with a bunch of manufacturers and came up with a couple different bag designs that allow laptops to go through airport security without being removed from the case. Over the past few months, luggage makers have been rolling these out left and right.

There are many to chose from, mostly your plain, black bag (also backpacks) but I recently came across these "ScanFast" designs from Mobile Edge. I guess you can tell from the pink that they're aimed at women who want to speed through security with style. Price: $99.99 at MobileEdge.com.

Posted by Michelle Deal-Zimmerman at 7:46 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

Two different but equally interesting and helpful maps arrived this year - both would make great gifts. One is  Urban Mapping's Panamap and the other is Mappetite.

The Panamap offers three distinct views in a single map. Travelers can see a street grid, subway map or neighborhood boundaries depending on the angle at which you view the map. Turn it this way and it morphs into a neighborhood guide, the other way and it'll help you find the right subway line. The map is really good with the subways because it shows all the multiple entrances and exits. The only problem with this map is that it's limited to two cities for now: New York and Chicago. Price: $18.95-19.95

Mappetite is perfect for the foodie on your list. The map is different because it cross-references neighborhoods with great places to eat. It has one-line reviews and a pricing guide. It also points out other stuff too, including the usual landmarks, but it's mostly a restaurant guide for travelers on the go. Available for London, New York and San Francisco. Price: $14

Posted by Michelle Deal-Zimmerman at 8:59 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

Since being green is the new black, the style-conscious and culturally aware traveler on your list might appreciate a set of eco-friendly bags from Heys USA.

The lightweight bags are made from 100% recycled plastic - think soda bottles and milk jugs. The company says they're the only hardside case on the market made from recycled plastic - I can't confirm that. But I can confirm that Heys is an excellent brand of luggage with rave reviews for a variety of their bags.

The recycled EcoCase Spinners are new to the market this winter and come in a variety of colors, including red, turquoise, pink, bronze and black. Price: $450 for a set of three.

Posted by Michelle Deal-Zimmerman at 6:07 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

This year, baggage fees became a weighty issue for many fliers. Should I carry on or check in? Either way, you want to make sure your bag's not going to fail on the scale resulting in an excess baggage fee. Most airlines limit carry-ons to less than 40 pounds and checked bags to less than 50 pounds. So it's best to know where you stand.

This luggage scale from Balanzza is the perfect gift for those pack rats on your list. The digital scale is stylish and compact, weighing just 10 oz, so you can tuck it in your purse.

It's also easy to use. All you do is attach the strap to your luggage, lift the luggage, wait for the beep, then put it down and then read the weight. It can weigh bags up to 100 lbs. And at about $25 retail, it's less than half the cost of an excess baggage fee for one bag. This little green gadget can save you some green. (Also available at Target.com)

Posted by Michelle Deal-Zimmerman at 4:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

I like to sit at the back of the plane, but unfortunately that means somewhere behind the wings and it's usually pretty noisy. Which makes it difficult to block out everything and groove to my iPod.

But on a recent trip, I plugged in Comply noise-reducing earphones to my iPod and I could almost forget I was on a plane. No engine noise, no crying babies, no seatbelt beeps, no nothing - just the totally sweet sound of Adele chasing pavement.

The foam around the earphones gives a pretty snug fit, but once you're over that, it's all good. The earphones work with iPod, Zune, portable DVD players, laptops and video game players like Sony Playstation. Price: $59.95-$79.95 retail. (Lower prices at Amazon.com)

Posted by Michelle Deal-Zimmerman at 3:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

I'm almost done with my holiday shopping (don't mean to brag, don't mean to boast) so that means I can turn my attention to helping you do yours.

Over the next week or so, I'll be posting some gift ideas for people on the go. Some of these I have personally tried myself - some I have not, but would like to if anyone is feeling generous.

This gift idea, I already own. It's called "The Shoul" and it's a shoulder wrap that actually stays put. It's so lightweight that you would think it's not warm enough, but it's perfect for the plane that's a little too frosty.

And it's versatile - you can wear it around your waist and it comes in four colors. Most important, though, it folds up really small and the acrylic knit fabric doesn't wrinkle. Price: $39.

Posted by Michelle Deal-Zimmerman at 12:50 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

If you want to get away from the madness at the malls, how about stepping back in time to ye olde fashioned Christmas at Colonial Willliamsburg? The historic area gets the season underway Sunday with the Grand Illumination, including Fifes and Drums, candles galore, costumed performers, fireworks and holiday decorations so beautiful that even Martha Stewart weeps with envy. Seriously. It's gorgeous. In addition, Colonial Williamsburg has special 18th century holiday feasts, too, including "The Groaning Board" and cookie decorating for kids. Sweet.

To top it all off, the Holiday Bed&Breakfast package starts at $63 per person, per night at the Governors Inn (two-night minimum). It also includes passes to the historic area, a $44 value for two days. For just a few more bucks, I prefer the Holiday Decorations package which includes passes plus a tavern lunch, holiday walking tour and a copy of the book Christmas Decorations from Williamsburg. This package starts at $81 per person, per night. It's a good deal.

Posted by Michelle Deal-Zimmerman at 8:09 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
                    

According to Orbitz.com ticket sales, here are the 10 airports expected to be the busiest terminals during the Thanksgiving week (11/22-11/30). The airport's rank last year is in parentheses. If you're headed to any of these places, expect a crowd. But less so than last year since industry experts project a 10% drop-off in airline passengers.

1. Las Vegas MacCarran International (10)
2. New York's LaGuardia Airport (4)
3. Chicago O'Hare (1)
   
4. Los Angeles International Airport (2)
   
5. San Francisco International Airport (7)
   
6. Dallas/Fort Worth International (9)
   
7. New York Newark International Airport (8)
   
8. Miami International Airport (-)
   
9. Denver International Airport (3)
   
10. Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (-)

Posted by Michelle Deal-Zimmerman at 12:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

The Smithsonian National Museum of American History re-opens today after a two-year, $85 million renovation. The centerpiece of the museum is the lovingly restored original Star Spangled Banner that inspired Francis Scott Key to pen the national anthem. Through January, you can view the White House copy of Lincoln's Gettysburg Address. The ruby slippers from the Wizard of Oz have returned as well. (You can read more details of the museum here. Or go behind the scenes at the museum's blog here.)

The ribbon cutting ceremony was held this morning and the festivities continue throughout the weekend with live music, including jazz, bluegrass and fife and drums; living history exhibits; and free souvenirs and giveaways.

Photo: Associated Press

Posted by Michelle Deal-Zimmerman at 1:47 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

Dreading the upcoming holiday trip to Grandma's house? So am I. For some reason, I've always found Thanksgiving travel to be the absolute craziest. Maybe it's because the holiday is so short it makes people more frenzied. And it's usually a lot of money and hassle for a 3-day vacay. I'd say it's probably worse on the ground than in the air, depending on how far you have to go. It may be even better in the air this year since the government has opened more flight lanes for air travel across the country. I've done it both ways and lived to regret it all.

But Priceline.com says there's no reason for regrets when it has analyzed the data and come up with the best days to fly for the holidays. Their list is based on the best fares and since lower fares usually mean the planes aren't quite full, maybe you can count on some breathing space at the airport. I doubt it. But here's what Priceline.com came up with:

Thanksgiving - For the lowest fares, try to travel on Nov. 23, 24 and 27 (Thanksgiving morning). For average-priced fares, travel on Nov. 22 and 25. Travelers can expect to pay the highest fares if they travel Nov. 21 and 26

Christmas/Hanukkah - For the lowest fares, try to travel on Dec. 22, 23 and 24. For average-priced fares, travel on Dec. 17, 18, 21, 26 and 30. Also, Jan. 1-2. You'll pay the highest fares if you travel Dec. 19, 20 and 28, and Jan. 3-4.

Posted by Michelle Deal-Zimmerman at 12:19 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

TripAdvisor.com, a favorite travel site of mine, is giving away $1 million to be split among five worthy organizations. To decide who gets how much, TripAdvisor.com is asking travelers to vote for their favorite cause. The choices are Conservation International, Doctors Without Borders, National Geographic Society, The Nature Conservancy and Save The Children.

Each user gets just one vote. I hadn't really even planned on voting, but I got a call today from a nice young man in New York named Scott. He represents Doctors Without Borders and he asked very kindly if I would consider voting for his group. No one else has called to solicit my vote, so of course I voted for the doctors. But all of the groups are notable and noble, so your vote can't go wrong. Vote here by Nov. 9.

Posted by Michelle Deal-Zimmerman at 4:13 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

Remember that old trailer, aka the TKTS booth, that sat in the middle of Times Square where you could go buy a Broadway theater ticket for half-price on the day of the show - often only after waiting in line for hours? Well, the trailer is no more. In its place is something a little more showbiz.

After a year of construction, the new TKTS opens today in an all-fiberglass structure that sits beneath a glowing red glass staircase. So Dorothy, but I like it. The booth sits at the intersection of Broadway and 7th Avenue on the island known as Duffy Square.

It's still run by the Theatre Development Fund and you can still get your half-price, same-day tickets. But there are more windows, plus they now take credit cards - how 21st century - so you can leave the fat wallet at home. And there's a place to sit so you don't have to stand for hours just to see Jersey Boys. (Though that show is definitely worth the wait.)

Photo courtesy The Theatre Development Fund

Posted by Michelle Deal-Zimmerman at 2:48 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

Hello, travelers. I've been out of pocket this past week, bawling over my 401K statements, but I'll do my best to catch you up on what's been going on in travel circles. Here are a few gems:

1. American Airlines is thinking about "a la carte" pricing of its flights. That would mean instead of paying a single fare, passengers would have the option of chosing a base fare plan and then adding on the services they require: baggage, blanket, oxygen mask. Whatever makes you comfortable. The term is called "unbundling" and it's the next trend for airlines.

2. A travel writer, of sorts, is the winner of the 2008 Nobel Prize for Literature. French author Jean-Marie Gustave Le Clezio, 68, has lived all over the world and his life's work reflects the impact of many journeys to different cultures. The Nobel committee described him as a "traveler, a citizen of the world, a nomad." Something to aspire to.

3. Um, airporn? I don't want to think about it. And neither do the flight attendants. That's why American Airlines is doing something to block, ahem, certain viewing from their in-flight internet channels.

4. A couple of rockslides at Yosemite National Park damaged nearly a third of the 500 or so cabins in the  Curry Village area. Three people in rental cabins were injured and a hsot of others had to be evacuated when 1,800-cubic-yard chunk of rock tumbled from Glacier Point.

5. And in the you don't say arena: Economic problems are hitting the travel industry pretty hard with the number of airline passengers dropping quite a bit in September and corporate clients at luxury hotels drying up. You know what that means: it's deal time.

Posted by Michelle Deal-Zimmerman at 8:39 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)