FILE THIS
New or Improved: Looking Ahead in the Travel World
TOOLBOX   Resize Text
 Save/Share +
COMMENT
 Discussion Policy
 CLOSE
Comments that include profanity or personal attacks or other inappropriate comments or material will be removed from the site. Additionally, entries that are unsigned or contain "signatures" by someone other than the actual author will be removed. Finally, we will take steps to block users who violate any of our posting standards, terms of use or privacy policies or any other policies governing this site. Please review the full rules governing commentaries and discussions. You are fully responsible for the content that you post.
|
With 2007 winding down, it's time to look ahead. Forget the interminable tarmac delays and high-priced gas and instead focus on what's new in the travel world. We vetted some of the biggest and coolest developments to hit the industry in the latter half of 2007 and through 2008. Auld lang syne, indeed.
-- Andrea Sachs
Airlines and Airports
* Virgin America continues its nationwide expansion, offering new routes from Dulles to the West Coast. On Feb. 12, the carrier will start flying to San Diego, and on March 18, it will launch service to Seattle. Fare to San Diego starts at $258 round trip; a seat to Seattle starts at $278. Info: 877-359-8474, http:/
* Qatar Airways recently kicked off service from Dulles to Doha, Qatar. Dulles is only the second U.S. city to be served by the Middle Eastern airline, after Newark. Round-trip flights start at $1,366. Info: http:/
* At Dulles, forgetting where you parked your car is so early 2007. The airport's new Parking Locator Cards include info about the parking facilities as well as sections where you can note your row and/or shuttle bus stop number. The cards are stored in the yellow boxes at all economy lot shuttle stops and elevator lobbies in the daily garages.
As for other developments: This month, Dulles and Reagan National introduced wireless service in all public areas, including parking garages. The service is free for customers of the participating network providers, including Sprint, T-Mobile and AT&T. For WiFi info: http:/
Hotels and Resorts
* W Hotels are spreading their high thread counts to all corners of the world. For example, next summer a W Hotel is scheduled to open in Foshay Tower, the 1920s art deco skyscraper in Minneapolis. The biggest news, however, isn't the arrival of the first W in the Middle East (Doha, Qatar, in late spring), but rather the first one in New Jersey -- and the first hotel in all of Hoboken. The W Hoboken opens sometime in the fall. Check back in spring for rates. Info: http:/
* Every day, tourists visit the famous South African township of Soweto to walk Vilakazi Street, where Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu lived. Last month, the suburban Johannesburg area welcomed its first international hotel, the Holiday Inn Soweto Freedom Square. The 48-room property is decorated with African art and newspaper clippings highlighting events from Soweto's storied past, and local musicians perform in the hotel lounge. Rates from $173 a night. Info: 888-465-4329, http:/
* The Las Vegas Strip welcomes the newest kid to its block, the Palazzo Resort Hotel Casino. The 50-floor luxury tower, adjacent to the Venetian, will feature 3,066 all-suite rooms, the 40/40 Club by Jay-Z, celebrity-chef restaurants (Charlie Trotter, Mario Batali, etc.), an ultra-luxe mall (Barneys, Christian Louboutin, etc.), a Lamborghini showroom and a theater that will stage Broadway shows (coming in spring: "Jersey Boys"). Official opening is Jan. 17; rooms from $199. Info: 866-263-3001, http:/
Cruise Ships
* Cunard adds more royalty to the high seas with the unveiling of the Queen Victoria. The 965-foot-long behemoth has 1,007 staterooms (two-thirds of which have private balconies), an 830-seat theater with private boxes and a ballroom/tearoom modeled after the queen's opulent Osborne House.
On Jan. 6, it embarks on its first transatlantic crossing to New York, arriving Jan. 13. On that day, the three Cunard Queens will be together in New York for the first time. Rates for the first leg of Queen Victoria's maiden World Cruise -- New York to Los Angeles, Jan. 13-30 -- start at $3,334 per person double. Info: 800-728-6273, http:/
* Carnival introduces new designs and amenities with Carnival Splendor, the latest addition to its Fun Ship line. The 3,006-passenger ship -- the largest Carnival has constructed -- will offer such first-time features as a pool covered with a two-deck-high retractable dome. The vessel also boasts the largest spa and fitness facility in its fleet (21,000 square feet, with a thalassotherapy pool and cabins with direct spa access) and the largest children's play area (5,500 square feet).
The Splendor's inaugural cruise departs Genoa, Italy, on July 2 and ends eight days later in Dover, England. Rates from $999 per person double. Info: 888-CARNIVAL, http:/
* Celebrity Cruises are expanding their line with the new Solstice-class fleet, four ships that will debut between 2008 and 2011. Highlights on the first vessel, Celebrity Solstice, include 1,425 staterooms, of which 85 percent have verandas and 90 percent have ocean views; the new AquaClass category, which offers guests such spa perks as unlimited access to the AquaSpa and exclusive seating in the Blu restaurant; a live glass-blowing show; and WiFi access shipwide.
The maiden voyage departs Dec. 14 for a seven-night eastern Caribbean cruise traveling round trip from Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Rates are from $1,169 per person double. Info: 877-202-4345, http:/
