Golf Package to Jekyll Island

Jekyll Island has an offer for the public which is too good, for interliners who love to play golf, to pass up. $79pp a night and if you stay 3 nights or more you get a $100 gas card. PLUS you also geta FREE round of golf each day!

Golfer? Heaven Package- Validthru Jan 31, 2009.

Golf at its best is perfectly packaged this winter at the Jekyll Island Club Hotel in the heart of the Historic District on Jekyll Island, Georgia. Bring your clubs for a free round of golf each day on your choice of Jekyll? four superb courses. All complemented by splendid accommodations, great dining options and the island? welcoming weather.From $79.00 per night* PLUS

$100.00 Gas Redemption Voucher
www.securegasredemption.com/

Stay three or more nights at the Jekyll Island Club Hotel and receive a $100.00 gas redemption voucher! Call and reserve or book online. Please mention rate code, GASRED, when calling.
This gas redemption voucher offer is valid through March 13, 2009. It is not valid with group reservations or existing reservations. See the package details here.

Reserve your tee-time here.

*Please note: Per person, per night, double occupancy, Sun.-Thurs. $99 per person, per night double occupancy Fri.-Sat. Valid1/1/09 to 1/31/09. Taxes and resort fee are extra. Package is subject to availability. The offer is not valid with existing reservations. Rates include accommodations and 18 holes of golf on Jekyll Island. Electric cart extra (required 8:00 am to noon). Advanced tee times are recommended.

Norwegian Latest Cruise Line To Add PokerPro Hold’em Tables

CarnivalCruiseLinesinstalled PokerPro on their ship the Carnival Triumph,a few months back, and it has been clear sailing ever since. Now, Norwegian liked what they saw in a trial period and is installing the table game on their Norwegian Pearl.

PokerPro is an electronic Texas Hold’em game that is played without the necessity of a dealer. Players sit around a table, all with their own screens in front of them, and they play Texas Hold’em the same way they do with a live dealer.

The one thing that is different, however, is there is no dealer with PokerPro. There are no live chips either, everything is computerized. The software was developed by PokerTek.

The game is becoming more popular among casinos as they try to scale back their operating costs. The game itself is beneficial to casinos because it can deal more hands per hour than a live dealer.

Although the technology is groundbreaking, it is being met with a little resistance from players. Many players prefer the interaction with a live dealer, and also like to see the cards being dealt in front of their eyes.

Once players get beyond that, however, the response has been strong for PokerPro. Donald Trump has installed tables in his Atlantic City casino, and other casinos around the world are also buying into the idea.

If you are interested in interline rates on the Norwegian Pearl, the Carnival Triumph, or any of the other NCL or Carnival cruise ships, contact InterlineTravel.com at 800 766-2911 or in the DFW Area at metro 817 481-8631 or go online to www.interlinetravel.com!

Costa’s New Ships – Luminosa and Pacifica

The Costa Luminosa and Costa Pacifica ?Costa Cruises?two new ships, which will be christened together at an extraordinary event to be staged in Genoa on June 5, 2009 ?are now online, each with her own totally dedicated website.

The two ships, the 13th and 14th Costa fleet members, both built by Fincantieri for a total investment of about 900 million euros, are currently being fitted out in Marghera (Venice) and Genoa-Sestri Ponente.

But web surfers can already have a sneak preview of the new ships at www.luminosa.costacruise.com and www.pacifica.costacruise.com.

This way, people can savor the atmosphere on these two jewels of the fleet, which combine the very best of the Costa Cruises product: the Costa Luminosa, the ship of light at the cutting edge of the fleet, and the Costa Pacifica, the ship of music.

Thanks to pictures and videos, www.luminosa.costacruise.com will provide visitors online with a preview of the trendsetting design, superior materials (fine marble, timbers, mother of pearl and Murano glass chandeliers), and stunning light and color effects on the Costa Luminosa. Plus the superb works of art, the highlight being the monumental sculpture ?onna Sdraiata 2004?(Reclining woman 2004) by Fernando Botero. The website will feature all the exclusive amenities available on board: 4D cinema, rollerskate track, golf simulator, Playstation World, and the Samsara Spa with the Kinesis room.

Meanwhile, on www.pacifica.costacruise.com you will be able to sample ?he new form of music? constituting an integral part of the cruise experience on board the Costa Pacifica and personalizing the various public spaces on the ship, with the chance to listen to the 29 pieces forming the exclusive compilation specially arranged by composer Mauro Pagani, which will become the ?ound track?to the vacation. ?irtual tour?of all the areas on the ship will be included soon in the website.

On the websites of the Costa Luminosa and Costa Pacifica, people will also be able to leaf through both ships?brochures, which have already been distributed to travel agencies. The promotional items linked to the arrival of the two new vessels include a special gift box, reserved for the Company? main partners, with a reproduction of Fernando Botero? ?onna Sdraiata 2004? a CD containing six tracks from the sound track of the Costa Pacifica and the two brochures.

?he creation of the dedicated websites for the Costa Luminosa and Costa Pacifica, where the message and the means of expression are based on the innovative use of images, video and music, confirms Costa Cruises?pioneering strategy with regard to the Internet and new technologies,?commented Costa Cruises Corporate eBusiness & Direct Sales Director Daniele Mancini. ?his type of language, which is dynamic and progressive, linked above all to the spread of broadband access, is a common feature of all the Company? web-based communication. For example, on the homepage at www.costacrociere.it you can already see the latest commercial, part of the new advertising campaign which will be broadcast on Italy? national TV networks in coming weeks.?r

The two mini-sites for the Costa Luminosa and Costa Pacifica ?constituting the first step in the major campaign of communication ahead of the extraordinary joint christening of the two vessels ?are part of a wide range of initiatives online, whereby Costa Cruises puts the focus on the Customer, enabling them to get ?irtual?experience of the sights and sounds of the cruise vacation before they come on board. The most recent web-based projects include Costa Web TV, blogs, You Tube channels, video FAQs and www.worldofcosta.com, the new virtual piazza where past and future cruisers can share their experiences and dreams; in just over two months this website has clocked up around 30,000 visitors and posted 1000 individual experiences with photos as well as 500 ?ruise dreams?

For interline discounts on Costa Cruise Lines contact InterlineTravel.com at 800 766-2911 or in the DFW Area at metro 817 481-8631 or go online to www.interlinetravel.com.

Cruise Lines Heading for Cuba?

This is an anticipation that the Obama administration willlessentravel restrictions to Cuba. While U.S. cruise lines are not going public with their plans, they are making plans to head there as quickly as they are allowed to do so.Almost everyone in the travel industryagreesthat reopening Cuba to American tourists could give the recession-impacted travel industry a welcome boost. You can bet when that happens airline employees from the US will be non-reving into the island on the first flight they can get a seat on. They will also be on the first cruises setting sail for Cuba.

A survey of cruise lines, for the most part, produced carefullyworded answers about their Cuba plans when government-imposed travel and trade restrictions are lifted. Off of the record, most all already have contingency plans for Cuba including what ports they will call on and what the new itineraries to the Caribbean will look like. You can pretty much say that every single Caribbean cruise itinerary could be changed with the opening of Cuba for ports of call.

I recently asked a cruise executive privately how long it would take to announce the new itineraries once Fidel passed away and he told me within the month, probably two weeks.

A couple cruise lines executives have even spoken publically about this issue.

Frank Del Rio, the 54-year-old CPA who founded Oceania Cruise Line, can’t wait for the cruise lanes to open. He was born in Cuba, and fled the Communist island with his parents when he was 6 years old.

Del Rio, who resides in Miami, is a University of Florida graduate and is also chairman and CEO of Prestige Holdings Inc., the parent company of Oceania and Regent Seven Seas cruise lines. As such, he’s responsible for financial and strategic development of both cruise lines.

“Ten minutes after Castro dies,” he said, “negotiations to open up Cuba will begin. This is a real country with a distinct culture and history. There’s a lot in Cuba that the other islands don’t have. For one thing, it’s by far the biggest island in the Caribbean, and there are a lot of ports that would make very good stops as well as launching pads for other Caribbean destinations.

“It’s forbidden fruit, and that gives it very strong appeal. My dream is that the next Oceania ship will be christened in Havana harbor.”

Although Oceania has two ships under construction in Italy at a cost exceeding $1-billion, it’s unlikely that could happen soon.

“There’s no way the Marina, due to be launched in 2010, would be christened in Havana or anywhere else in Cuba,” Tim Rubacky, Oceania corporate communications director, said. “The ship needs to be christened before she sets sail with her first guests. Based on the construction schedule, it’s just not possible. That’s not to say one of the other new ships wouldn’t be.”

The partner ship of the 1,232-passenger Marina is scheduled for launching in the summer of 2011.

Early in his election campaign, President-elect Obama called for an end to the embargo. However he later modified his position,tosay thathis administration would have a less confrontational policy with the Communist nation, allow greater contacts and more frequent visits by Cuban immigrants but wouldn’t immediately end the embargo.

Cruise lines with a U.S. presence are prohibited by law from operating in or out of Cuba. But, said Lanie Fagan, communications director of the Cruise Lines International Association, “There are operators who do not operate to and from the U.S. who do call on Cuba.”

The nearly 50-year-old embargo prohibits exporting all but a few health and farm essentials to Cuba and bars Americans from traveling and spending money there. Violators can be subject to hefty fines, and in recent years, the Bush administration has stepped up prosecutions.

Even so, thousands of Americans have been going there annually without a State Department license, leaving from places like the Bahamas, Canada, Mexico and Jamaica and requesting Cuban custom officials not to stamp their passports.

When the time comes that Americans don’t have to stay under the radar, Cuba promises to be an intriguing option for cruisers.

“Crystal Cruises would certainly entertain calling on Cuba if it opens up to American tourists,” spokeswoman Mimi Weisband said. “We welcome the opportunity to add new destinations to our Caribbean itineraries and Cuba is ideally located for cruises into and out of South Florida. Like every place we visit, we would have to look closely at the island’s infrastructure for our luxury cruise operations.”

Cruise lines will be able to head to Cuba quickly because they have their own infrastructure and they don? need hotels. All those other Caribbean countries will be scared out of their minds because the market physically, literally about to shift, with everyone wanting to be first on their block to sail into Cuba and that includes airline employees!

When Cuba opens up and the cruise lines announce their new itineraries you can look for it first right here at InterlineTravelNews.com!

Top 10 Golf Courses in Southeast Asia

Lots ofairline employeeslove golf andinterliners love to travel and play golf. For interline golfing fans, Asian courses are paradise. Many of these golf courses have been designed bypopulargolf course designerssuch as the ?hark?and Jack Nicklaus. They are situated in the balmy and breathtaking tropics and are ?byUS standards ?very easy on the pocket, which every airline employee loves!

What isgreat about choosing a golf vacation in Asia is the quality spa options available across the region especially in Southeast Asia where quality and cost are not mutually exclusive concepts. For golfers themselves, spa treatments such as massage can provide that perfect balance to sport with further relaxation. But more importantly, for wives and girlfriends who wish to holiday but don? par?ake in the fairways, spa pampering is a welcome alternative.

To cater for golf and spa holidaymakers, many courses and golfing resorts have been built across Asia. Let? highlighted some of the best courses in the region, along with accommodation options, just to pique your interest!

Here are the suggested top 10 golfing resorts in the SEA region:

1. Laguna Phuket Golf Club, Phuket (Thailand) – Highlighted in numerous publications as one of Asia? premier golf resort destinations, the Laguna Phuket Golf Club is set among the Laguna Resort Complex which features five luxury hotels (Sheraton, Dusit Thani, Banyan Tree, Laguna Beach Resort and Allamande). It boasts an 18?ole, par?1 course designed by Max Wexler and David Abell and caters to players of all levels of expertise. But the course certainly is challenging as 13 of the 18 holes are in close proximity to the actual lagoon. Golfers can enjoy taking the watery gamble with their shots. Afterwards, pampering is essential at the world famous Banyan Tree Spa.

2. Le Meridien Nirwana Golf & Spa Resort, Bali (Indonesia) – The five?tar Le Meridien Golf & Spa Resort is a luxury resort overlooking the Indian Ocean with world?lass golf and spa facilities. The Nirvana Bali Golf Club boasts an 18?ole course designed by the legendary Greg Norman, and has been featured in several publications. The course is made challenging by the elaborate network of streams, ponds and terraces plus its ocean lapping location. After playing, relax at the fusion Nirwana Spa which uses Western products while keeping the Balinese Hindu philosophy in mind.

3. Novotel Ocean Dunes and Golf Resort, Phan Thiet (Vietnam) – Just three hours from Ho Chi Minh City, the four?tar Novotel Ocean Dunes and Golf Resort is located on a private beach and was the first international resort to be built in Vietnam. The Par?2 Ocean Dunes Golf Club located on?ite has been designed by Nick Faldo and been identified it as one of the top 10 resort courses in Asia. The course will appeal to both experienced as well as casual golfers, and the coastal winds will bring challenge to each hole. The on?ite Spa has private saunas and Jacuzzis for customers use after a round of golf. Or you can go in for a massage before you take to the course, helping to relax the muscles and improve that swing.

4. Kirimaya Golf Resort & Spa, Khao Yai (Thailand) – Kirimaya Golf Resort & Spa is a three star resort that provides 60 contemporary living options and is the perfect retreat for those looking for a golf holiday. The 18?ole golf course has been designed by the legendary Jack Nicklaus and is set among the mountains and greenery of Khao Yai. Guests can indulge in a range of massages and wellness rituals at the Maya Spa or in the comfort of them own rooms after a day spent on the course or exploring the surroundings.

5. The Empire Hotel & Country Club, Bandar Seri Begawan (Brunei Darussalam) – The five star Empire Hotel & Country Club and beach resort overlooking the South China Sea boasts of lavish accommodations, eight swimming pools and a championship golf course. Designed by the celebrated Jack Nicklaus, the golf course includes cliffs, ravines, tight fairways, large bunkers, and is floodlit for night?ime games. Also not be missed is the Spa, with its therapies from around the world designed to calm the body and revitalize the skin.

6. Hornbill Golf & Jungle Club, Sarawak (Malaysia) – The five star Hornbill Golf & Jungle Club is nestled amongst the oldest and second largest rainforest in the world, 1,000 meters above sea level. As the name suggests, the main attraction of the hotel is its golf course designed by Neil Crater, while keeping in mind the features of its unique highland location. The course is the ultimate test of golfing skills, and is suited for those who love a fresh physical challenge as well as a mental one. With the number of guests kept to just 60 a day, it provides ample exclusivity and privacy to indulge at a calm pace. The Jungle Club continues to keep up the promise of relaxation and rejuvenation with its pampering sessions of spa, exotic traditional massages and a range of natural treatments.

7. Bintan Lagoon Resort, Bintan Island (Indonesia) – The four?tar Bintan lagoon Resort is set among 300 hectares of beachfront gardens and offers a world of choice. This golfing resort can easily be reached by a short high?peed ferry ride from Singapore. Both the Jack Nicklaus 18?ole Sea View Golf course and Ian Baker?inch 18?ole Woodlands Golf course at the resort are known for their spectacular design and signature holes. The stay is incomplete without a visit to the Bintan Spa, where traditional methods are used in conjunction with organic ingredients for the ultimate relaxation experience. Choose from a range of treatments, scrubs, and spa packages.

8. Springfield Village Golf & Spa, Hua Hin/Cha?m (Thailand) – The 3.5 star Springfield Village Golf & Spa provides luxurious rooms and suites, designed to blend with their surroundings and each providing an open view of the golf course. The golf course (another design by Jack Nicklaus) challenges golf enthusiasts with 27 meticulously manicured holes. The championship course has five sets of tees to play from, and offers varying levels of difficulty. For those looking to improve their game, step there is an excellent Learning Center which offers private lesson. Be sure to head over to the Springfield Spa to pamper and rejuvenate yourself with a wide variety of top notch massages and treatments on offer.

9. Sentosa Resort & Spa, Singapore (Singapore) – The five?tar Sentosa Resort & Spa is perched atop a cliff gazing out across the South China Sea. The resort? 21 rooms and suites are spread across 27 acres of tropical woodlands. For a round of golf, tee?ff one of the 2 resort courses, including the exceptional Sentosa Golf Club, home to the Barclay? Singapore Open and the course of choice for politicians, dignitaries and celebrities alike. The resort also boasts the Spa Botanica, housing mud pools, flotation pools, a meditation labyrinth and Turkish-styled steam baths and a wide choice of indoor treatment rooms or outdoor pavilions.

10. Sofitel Zhongshan Golf Resort, Nanjing (China) – The five?tar colonial-styled, Sofitel Zhongshan Golf Resort Nanjing is located on the slopes of the famous Purple Mountain, and features 140 luxurious accommodations. This resort is the perfect choice for leisure as well as business travelers to Nanjing. It is also the first deluxe, five?tar golf resort in Nanjing, and the exclusive 27?ole golf course was designed by Gary Player. Guests can also enjoy the Spa, with its various massages and treatments, guaranteed to relax and ease the muscles.

Las Vegas Deals for Airline Employees

Airline employees are finding incredible deals in Las Vegas these days. Las Vegas in the grips of its worst economy since the early 1980s and the storm that dumped four inches of snow on the desert metropolis in mid-December felt like piling on. While most of the large gaming resorts do not offer “interline” discounts per se, many have rates during the week ranging in the $29 to $39 per night price range! Look at the Four Queens downtown or the Statosphere, Excalibur or others on the strip.

Gaming revenue in Clark County, which includes downtown Las Vegas and the Strip, is down 8.5% for the year, to $8.3 billion. But the revenue for October, the last month for which figures are available, is off an ominous 24.3% vs. the same month in 2007. Visitor volume is down 3% over last year, though the city”’’s convention business is holding steady. As a result hotel occupancy levels are near record lows unless a large convention is in town and with the current economy there are fewer and fewer of those types of conventions. This means airline employees, if they can find a standby seat on a flight to Las Vegas, can find deals just about any day of the week.

The Strip”’’s restaurants have seen a proportional decrease along with overall visitor traffic. David McIntyre, vice president of food and beverage at MGM Grand ?which counts among its stable of high-end eateries such restaurants as Shibuya, Nobhill and a pair from French maestro Joel Robuchon ?notes that visitors have become more careful with their dollars. “They””re still going out to eat; they””re just not spending as much money,” McIntyre says. “They might not have that second glass of wine.” This means dining options at most upscale restaurants can be secured at the last minute in most cases.

Construction on Boyd Gaming”’’s $4.8 billion Echelon resort was stopped last August just as three of its towers reached the 12th floor (the tallest would have risen to 55 stories). Construction won””t resume until 2010, though the cranes will remain towering above the site (it”’’s cheaper to leave them in place ?and these days no one else in town needs them).

A mile or two down the Strip, MGM Mirage just sold off Treasure Island for $775 million to billionaire casino operator Phil Ruffin. The cash infusion should help the corporation finish construction on its $9.1 billion CityCenter, the largest private construction job in the U.S. Yet even in the best-case scenario, Vegas ?and the rest of the country ?won””t begin to drive out of the ditch until the end of next year, as consumer spending improves, new hiring resumes and the city”’’s battered construction industry gets back on its feet. The worst case? The recession deepens, and the ditch turns into a cliff and interliners continue to find incredible hotel prices in Las Vegas.

Las Vegas, however, is nothing if not optimistic. Its history gives it good reason to be. Boosters point to the coming 2009 debuts of CityCenter, the Fountainebleau and the M Resort, which add up to $20 billion of construction, as proof that the Vegas brand is fundamentally strong.

And then, as if on cue, three days before Christmas, Steve Winn opened the new addition to his swanky Wynn Las Vegas resort, a $2.3 billion, 2,034-room playground called Encore. The new property is easily the most decorative and jubilant in the city. Encore lets in an abundance of natural light while somehow managing to keep the view of a struggling city at bay.

So check the loads and head for Las Vegas for a fantastic deal. InterlineTravel.com has some options for Las Vegas hotels. The Statosphere will soon have a link on InterlineTravel.com offering interliners lower rates than can be find on Stratosphere”’’s own website. InterlineTravel.com will be making that announcement official very soon and other hotels in Las Vegas may be following suit in the coming weeks.

Chocolate Train

The Chocolate Train is a round-trip panoramic excursion from Montreux on the Swiss Riviera to Gruy?s, home of the famous Gruy?s cheese and the Nestl?hocolate factory. Chocolate sampling is included!

Ride in the comfort of first class in a Pullman “Belle Epoque” vintage 1915 carriage or the ultramodern panorama car. See stunning views of the vineyards as you depart Montreux on the Swiss Riviera, ascend to medieval Gruy?s, home of the famous Gruy?s cheese and continue on to Broc, where the chocolate factory is situated between Lake Gruy?s and the Alps.

This is one sweet ride. Take this panoramic journey in either a pullman, Belle Epoque carriage (circa 1915) or in a modern panoramic car. Travel from Montreaux on the Swiss Riviera to Gruy?s, home to tasty cheese and the Nestle chocolate factory where you?l stop for a delicious taste.

• 1st class train travel from Montreux to Gruy?s and Broc Factory, then return to Montreux.
• Seat reservation in either a Pullman Belle Epoque or panoramic car.
• Depart Montreux at 9:36 am with complimentary coffee and croissants on the train.
• Train arrives into Gruy?s at 10:45 am where a bus takes you into the city.
• Admission into cheese factory and into castle in Gruy?s. Free time is available for lunch before the train departure at 2:09 pm.
• Train arrives into Broc at 2:31 pm where a film presentation, factory visit and chocolate sampling at the Cailler-Nestl?hocolate factory await you.
• Train departs from Broc at 3:41 pm and arrives in Montreux at 5:34.

Some benefits of the Chocolate Train are: coffee and croissants are provided on the train. A bus will take you to and from Gruy?s train station. The fare includes admission into the cheese factory and castle in Gruy?s. A film presentation, factory visit and chocolate sampling at the Cailler-Nestl?hocolate factory are also included.

What makes this trip even better, if you‘re traveling as a family,an unlimited number of childrenunder age 16, travel free with an accompanied paid adult. I couldgo on and on about the bonus featuresassociated with allSwiss passes but for all of the information on this you should contact InterlineTravel.com at 800 766-2911 or in the DFW Area call metro 817 481-8631 or go online to www.interlinetravel.com.

Northwest Airlines wants to delay Seattle-Beijing service

Citing adverse market conditions, Northwest Airlines wants to delay its planned service from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport to Beijing, China, from March 2009 to March 2010.

Northwest Airlines, the subsidiary of Delta Air Lines, wants U.S. Department of Transportation approval to delay the route? startup date without losing its rights to the route. Bookings between the U.S. and China have dropped by almost a third in the past year, the airline told the DOT.

Northwest also wants to delay service between Beijing and Detroit by several months as well. The airline? Detroit to Shanghai route will also be suspended between Mar. 28 and June 3, said Anthony Black, Delta spokesman. Northwest had lobbied hard for that route, finally getting approval from regulators about a year ago.

The announcement comes a month after Northwest said it will drop its Seattle-to-London nonstop flight next year, less than six months after inaugurating the service. The nonstop flights will end Jan. 8.