Starwood Introducing Alternative To Platinum Suite Night Awards

In 2012 Starwood introduced a suite of new benefits for elite members, which really propelled them to one of my favorite hotel loyalty programs out there.

From my perspective, the two most significant enhancements included:

-- Platinum continental breakfast: Platinum members can choose continental breakfast in lieu of their 500 Starpoint welcome amenity

-- Suite Night Awards: Platinum members earning at least 50 qualifying nights in a calendar year receive 10 Suite Night Awards, each of which can be used to confirm a suite upgrade for a one night stay five days prior to arrival

The post Starwood Introducing Alternative To Platinum Suite Night Awards appeared first on One Mile at a Time.

from One Mile at a Time http://onemileatatime.boardingarea.com/2015/01/27/starwood-introducing-alternative-platinum-suite-night-awards/

Hotels: Now is the time to take advantage of the desktop to mobile shift

The massive shift from desktop to mobile and tablet devices continued its rigorous pace. Last year over 38% of web visitors and ...



from Tnooz http://www.tnooz.com/article/hotels-benefit-desktop-mobile/#utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=can-hoteliers-take-advantage-disruptive-shift-desktop-mobile

Hyatt’s New Lifestyle Brand Revealed

Yesterday I wrote that Hyatt would be launching a new ‘lifestyle brand’. All of the major chains want one, they’re all trying to build one. They’re notoriously difficult – the notion of cool changes, it needs constant updating, and major lodging corporations aren’t always well-suited to capture whatever it is that that is. And when […]

The post Hyatt’s New Lifestyle Brand Revealed appeared first on View from the Wing.

from View from the Wing http://viewfromthewing.boardingarea.com/2015/01/27/hyatts-new-lifestyle-brand-revealed/

National Weather Service Meteorologist Apologizes Over Blizzard Predictions

Out of an abundance of caution, New York City and New Jersey officials shut down roads and regional public transportation ahead of a blizzard.



from Travel Feedly http://www.ibtimes.com/blizzard-snowstorm-pictures-2015-snow-fall-less-expected-nyc-new-jersey-meteorologist-1796084

Craziest outrigger canoe race [pics]

"The Hawaiki Nui Va’a outrigger canoe race is, as the Communications Manager for Tahiti Tourisme puts it, the Superbowl of Tahiti."



from Matador Network » Matador Network http://matadornetwork.com/sports/water-worlds-grueling-outrigger-canoe-race/

Cultured Traveler: Roman Architecture, Beyond the Colosseum

Contemporary structures, from museums to stadiums to churches, in the city’s outskirts.

















from NYT > Travel http://rss.nytimes.com/c/34625/f/642561/s/42c09e05/sc/10/l/0L0Snytimes0N0C20A150C0A20C0A10Ctravel0Croman0Earchitecture0Ebeyond0Ethe0Ecolosseum0Bhtml0Dpartner0Frss0Gemc0Frss/story01.htm

Update: Paris Takes Pains to Reassure Tourists

Less than a month after 17 people were killed in terror attacks on France, the government is assuring travelers that the City of Light is safe.

















from NYT > Travel http://rss.nytimes.com/c/34625/f/642561/s/42c09e09/sc/10/l/0L0Snytimes0N0C20A150C0A20C0A10Ctravel0Cparis0Etakes0Epains0Eto0Ereassure0Etourists0Bhtml0Dpartner0Frss0Gemc0Frss/story01.htm

The Modern Day Swiss Family Robinson : On the Road with Sheralyn Guilleminot

This is a traveler case study. (Read others or nominate yourself.) Sheralyn Guilleminot didn’t want to run the risk of never getting around to traveling the world. She and her husband Paul took to the road as a young family, home-schooling their sons while experiencing life in Southeast Asia. Here’s their story. Tell us about…



from The Art of Non-Conformity http://chrisguillebeau.com/on-the-road-with-sheralyn-guilleminot/

Etihad Is Changing Their Schedule For US Flights As Of March 29, 2015

Airlines publish schedule changes all the time. While it's useful to plan as far in advance as possible, it's always frustrating when you've crafted that perfect trip, only to have a major schedule change ruin it close to departure. The best we can hope for is that airlines give plenty of advance notice.

Anyway, Etihad Airways is actually substantially altering their North America schedule as of March 29, 2015. Previously a majority of their flights to North America left mid-morning, while with the new schedule more flights are leaving in the wee hours of the morning.

The post Etihad Is Changing Their Schedule For US Flights As Of March 29, 2015 appeared first on One Mile at a Time.

from One Mile at a Time http://onemileatatime.boardingarea.com/2015/01/27/etihad-is-changing-their-schedule-for-us-flights-as-of-march-29-2015/

Flight 8501 Recovery Operations Suspended

Indonesia's military called off the recovery operation stating that they believed that there are no more bodies trapped in the fuselage.



from Travel Feedly http://www.ibtimes.com/airasia-flight-8501-recovery-operation-suspended-after-teams-fail-lift-too-fragile-1796002

What is your winter cocktail? [QUIZ]

Trying to survive snowmageddon? Figure out your ideal winter cocktail with our newest quiz!



from Matador Network » Matador Network http://matadornetwork.com/life/winter-cocktail-quiz/

Aurora Ice Museum in Fairbanks, Alaska

Located at the Chena Hot Springs Resort, the Aurora Ice Museum is the world's largest year-round ice environment.

You may be wondering just what this means exactly – it means jousting knights, polar bear bedrooms, a 2-story snowball fight structure, and perfectly chilled cocktails in icy martini glasses for visitors of age.

Champion ice carver Steve Brice has created a winter wonderland of ice sculptures depicting all sorts of crazy shenanigans for the polar region, including entire rooms built out of ice and the awkwardly fascinating "ice outhouse." Igloos, spheres, a giant chess set, and a full-sized pair of knights jousting on horses are just a few of the amazing examples of Brice's work. The entire place is lit up with ice chandeliers that splay the colors of the Aurora Borealis across the glimmering walls, and everything at the bar, from the glasses to the bar itself, are crafted from ice harvested locally and shaped for your delight.

The ambitious beginnings of the museum were to create an ice hotel, but it was decided that being a year-round ice environment was a lofty enough undertaking, and they scaled down to a museum. Several tours are available throughout the day, and parkas are provided.

from Atlas Obscura http://atlasobscura.com.feedsportal.com/c/35387/f/665719/s/42c0474c/sc/10/l/0L0Satlasobscura0N0Cplaces0Caurora0Eice0Emuseum/story01.htm

South Korea pushes for DMZ eco park, North says 'no thanks'

Seoul hopes to recruit outside help to persuade its northern neighbor to open a joint park in the famed demilitarized zone, now home to a thriving natural habitat.

from CNN.com - Travel http://www.cnn.com/2015/01/27/travel/south-korea-dmz-eco-park/index.html

The scariest theme park rides on Earth

Most of us are happy with being flung around in a roller coaster or spun high in a Ferris wheel.

from CNN.com - Travel http://www.cnn.com/2015/01/27/travel/scariest-theme-park-rides/index.html

Amazing Video Of Plane With Parachute Ditching Near Hawaii

While I usually focus mostly on commercial aviation on the blog, there's an incredible US Coast Guard video of a plane running out of fuel and ditching near Hawaii, but not before deploying its parachute.

The Cirrus SR-22 was being ferried from the mainland to Hawaii, and from there it was going to continue to Australia, where it was being delivered to a new owner. The plane was equipped with special fuel tanks to make the long journey between the mainland and Hawaii, though the pilot contacted the coast guard three hours out to say he wouldn't have enough fuel to make it.

The good news is that the Cirrus SR-22 has a parachute, so he could deploy that in hopes of having as safe of a water landing as possible.

The post Amazing Video Of Plane With Parachute Ditching Near Hawaii appeared first on One Mile at a Time.

from One Mile at a Time http://onemileatatime.boardingarea.com/2015/01/27/amazing-video-of-plane-with-parachute-ditching-near-hawaii/