Reno’s Artown Fest: Fun on a Budget
Throughout the month of July, organizers of Reno’s 14th annual Artown festival are promoting this year’s celebration as the perfect vacation destination for families on a budget, with more than 300 free events planned.
The events range from concerts to cultural celebrations, theatrical performances, dance, art exhibits, outdoor movies and children’s workshops — most of them on a downtown park on an island with a band shell in the middle of the Truckee River’s free kayaking and tubing park.
Last year, 350,000 people turned out and even more are expected this year with family friendly events drawing attention, from face painting to kite-making and “ice cream sundaes in an art bowl.”
New Air Routes to Ease Travel
If you have the hours spent traveling on a plane, this may interest you. Many airlines will soon be offering new routes to destinations you may have assumed would be too expensive or too inconvenient to visit in the past.
Major airlines and low-cost-carriers alike have announced new routes to dozens of destinations, including France, Italy, St. Lucia, Dominican Republic, Australia, Barbados, Brazil, Israel, South Africa, and China.
Costa Rica is Hit Hard by the Depression
More than two-thirds of businesses in the Costa Rica tourism industry have been in a steep decline for the past six months. Costa Rica’s principal visitors are Americans who are suffering greatly from the economic crisis and thus are unable to afford traveling.
With the number of visitors down by 13% in the first quarter, many business on this eco friendly island are trying to lure visitors back with big discounts. Some luxury vacation spots are even going so far as to offer “layoff, layback” packages, which give one or two nights free to recently laid-off workers.
But, despite promising news headlines and offers such as these, businesses still fear the worst.
Airlines Add Fees on top of Fees
Before you book a cheap flight, check the airlines disclaimers about baggage and ticket purchase fees, you could end up paying more in the end for fees alone!
Last spring with the increase in jet fuel prices and passenger resistances to higher fares, airlines started looking around the cabin for things they could charge extra for.
Now certain airlines are charging extra baggage fees if bags are checked at the check-in counter, exit row seats can cost $20, and even if carry-on bags stay free, United Airlines is already offering a “Premier Line” check-in for $25 allowing fliers to get through check-in and security faster and board earlier.
Before you fly, beware of the hidden fees and learn tricks to avoid inconveniences you may face.
Pet Only Airline: Pet Airways
Pet owners, fear no more, you can now transport your pets without the anxiety of injuring them on commercial flights. July 14 America’s first pet only airline will open. Pet Airways is an airline which specializes in making sure your pet is safe and comfortable, because there are no people to worry about!
Pets will be flown in individual crates in lighted and pressurized plane cabins, with a human attendant checking them every 15 minutes. They’ll board, just like people, from their own airport lounges and get overnight lodging accommodations on long-haul flights. Their owners can track their whereabouts at all times online. They can even earn “pet points” as frequent fliers.
However, because it is new, Pet Airways won’t solve every owner’s needs initially. It will serve only five U.S. destinations: Baltimore/Washington International Airport, plus non-commercial airports in the New York City area, and in Chicago, Denver and Los Angeles. It’s catering to dogs and cats starting out. And it’ll fly each route once a week.
Pet Airways has its starting price at $149 each way.
Plane Answers
Did you ever wonder why your pilot sometimes turns on the seat-belt sign mid flight when there is no turbulence? If you have wondered this and many other questions about flying, get the answers to your from resident airline pilot, Kent Wien, from Gadling.com.