Costa’s Interline Rates Drop to the Caribbean

Costa Cruise Lines has lowered their rates for the Caribbean on sailings thru Mar. 8th. These incredible rates can be found online at www.interlinetravel.com.

Costa Cruise Lines operates the Costa Fortuna on 7 night cruises from Ft. Lauderdale to the Eastern and Western Caribbean. The interline rates are available to airline employees, cargo carrier employees, CRS employees, parents and spouses of employees plusretirees of these companies.

To make reservations or get more information contact InterlineTravel.com at 800 766-2911 or in the DFW Area or outside of the USA and Canada call 817 841-8631. You can also go online to www.interlinetravel.com.

Flying to the USA in 2009?

Flying to the United States this year? As of January 12, 2009, all travelers to the U.S. from Visa Waiver countries (that? Andorra, Austria, Australia, Belgium, Brunei, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Monaco, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom [and in the near future, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Greece, Malta, Poland andRomaniatoo]) will be required to submit their travel plans online 72 hours prior to travel. This means no last minute travelling for interliners wanting to go to the USA.

Failure to complete ESTA authorization before travel may result in denial of boarding or entry. Read the details about this change in the post U.S. to Require Online Registration for Visa-FreeTravelers.

Disney Cruise Lines Opens Interline Rates for Dates in May & June

Disney Cruise Lines has opened up interline rates for 3, 4 and 7 Night cruises for May and June 2009. Disney sails from Port Canaveral, just east of Orlando. It is very unusual to see interline rates this far out and we have no idea how long they will be open. Disney interline rates are open to commerical airline employees and anyone sharing their cabin. For rates, information and to book contract InterlineTravel.com at 800 766-2911 or in the DFW Area or outside of the USA call 817 481-8631 or go online to www.interlinetravel.com

Interline Travel Tips for Slovakia

After January 16, 2009, you?e got to use Euros when traveling in Slovakia. They?e the 16th EU country to switch to the currency since its introduction a decade ago. Later this year, expect the Czech Republic to finalize a date for their switch (expected early 2010).

If you are interested in an interline tour to Slovakia contact InterlineTravel.com at 800 766-2911 or in the DFW or outside of the USA call 817 481-8631 or go online to www.interlinetravel.com.

Tourism hurt by closure of Four Seasons in Nevis

The closure of the Four Seasons Resort in Nevis is being seen as a blow to tourism in St Kitts and Nevis.

Four Seasons Resort Nevis is currently closed until April 30, as a result of the impact of Hurricane Omar which hit the island last October.

Federal Minister of State for Tourism, Senator Richard Skerrit said the closure will “hurt the federation in several ways”, including resulting in fewer visitors on the ground spending.

He told BBC Caribbean that the twin-island federation would also be affected because a percentage of the visitors were arriving on international airlift that the government had contracted with airlines like British Airways to supply.

Senator Skerrit said it might now be a little more difficult to fill seats, adding that it “puts the airlift arrangement at a bit more of a risk”.

Four Seasons, seen as a major employer in Nevis, suffered damage from Hurricane during last year’s transatlantic hurricane season.

American Airlines operates a daily flight from Miami and a twice weekly flight from New York into the Robert L Bradshaw International Airport. Delta airlines operates a weekly flight from Atlanta and US Airways weekly flights from Charlotte and Philadelphia. American Eagle operates a daily flight from San Juan, Puerto Rico and the regional carrier, LIAT and L. Bradshaw WINAIR also operate several flights daily to the international airport in St Kitts and the Vance W Amory International Airport on Nevis.

British Airways commences a weekly flight from London-Gatwick from Saturday.

Interline Travel Tips & Gear Recommendations for Gorilla Tracking

Are you aninterliner looking to go see Gorillas? Then you want to head for Rwanada. This country is the center of the universe for Gorilla viewing. Airline employees heading for Rwanda need to pack differently from most other adventure trips.

Even if your trip takes place during the ?ry?season, there may be occasional rains. Due to the dense vegetation and humid conditions, little evaporative drying occurs. You must be prepared for muddy wet conditions. Such items as listed below will make your tracking more comfortable.

It is best to layer. In the morning when you start out it will be in around 50. If it is an overcast day, it might not get much warmer than this. If the sun comes out, the temperature will be in the mid 70?. Thus layering is important.

• Waterproof rain gear such as rain pants or rain suit. This can be carried in your daypack.
• Your feet might get wet thus hiking boots that are waterproof or rubber boots are recommended. Again, in the dry season, hiking boots should be sufficient.
• Long trousers. You will need to tuck these inside your socks to keep the ants from crawling up your legs. Slacks should be thick enough so briars won? penetrate and prick you. Many people wear blue jeans however in the rainy season, they do not dry quickly.
• Sunscreen.
• Lightweight yet thick moisture wicking socks. Thorlo makes good hiking socks.
• Long-sleeved shirt/Short sleeved T-shirt. (for layering)
• Polypropylene or light wool sweater. A fleece top will work since they dry quickly.
• Small frameless waterproof back/day pack. You will need to carry water, high protein candy bars or other snacks, binoculars, and camera equipment. You need a place for your rain gear or any garments you need to shed should it get warm.
• Gloves. Leather or heavy canvas gloves. They can be garden gloves and are needed too push the often-thorny vegetation aside.
• Walking sticks if you have one. Otherwise the guides will make one for you.

Remember that no flash photography is allowed although video cameras are. You should have fast film for your camera; either 400ASA or 800ASA if it is of fine grain. If you are using a digital camera, learn how to set it for higher ASA?.

These tips are from Dr. Tara Stoinski, Director of Research and Education Partnerships for the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International.

If you are wanting to take a trip to Rwanada contact InterlineTravel.com at 800 766-2911 or in the DFW Area or outside of the USA call 817 481-8631.

Interline Travel Guide to the Best Beaches in Vietman

If you have not been to Vietnam you are missing a treasure unlike probably any destination you have visited before. The people are wonderful and land is beautiful. But most folks overlook the incredible beaches that this country offers interliners. While most American? have heard of China Beach, they know little about it or other options. Many fine resorts are being built in the resort locations of Vietnam and now is the time to go visit them.

Here is an overview of your beach options in Vietnam:

Starting in the Far North, bordering China is Tra Co, not a beautiful beach by anyone? standards what with its muddy flats at low tide; but it? a pleasant place to stay if you?e on your way into our out of China, before heading to Halong Bay.

Bai Chay beach is the nearest to Hanoi, so it draws a huge crowd of people on the weekends and in summer. It too doesn? live up to the beauty of the southern beaches, but does serve up some good seafood harvested from nearby Halong Bay. It certainly isn? a place to come in winter as temperatures can drop to the 15 degree C mark.

Halong Bay offers plenty of small beaches, most of them on islands in the middle of the Bay (though the majority of islands are too steep and rocky to have beaches).These are best visited by kayak because large touring boats don? have the shallow depth to approach the rocky shore.

The North Central Coast of Vietnam stretches all the way down to the Hai Van Pass, and is almost a continuous stretch of golden sand pounded by huge waves churned by the frequent typhoons. Its an area rarely visited by travelers, because most either fly or take the train straight between Hue and Hanoi, but if you?e got time they are beautifully deserted and make excellent places to go for long walks. Locals will regard you with great curiosity, and may even follow you to practice their English.

Though the facilities are scarce here, (you won? find restaurants selling to tourists just yet) it is a rewarding break from the long drive on Highway 1. Take note however, that its not a wise idea to walk any of the beaches near the DMZ and Dong Ha, because of mines, unexploded ordinances can still be found in this area.

The Central and South Central Coast of Vietnam offers the countries best beaches: from Hue to Nha Trang, the miles of coast is populated with coconut palms and dotted with fishing villages with lots of facilities and choices to make your vacation comfortable.

My Khe beach to Vietnamese, or China Beach to foreigners, looks out at Monkey Mountain east of Danang Bay. It? by no means deserted, because locals use the beach as a place to play football, do morning exercises and just chat away with friends. It has some of Vietnam? best surf beaches and in November waves can reach two meters.

Its here where 5 star resorts like the Furama and the Lang Co resort (north of the Hai Van Pass) are situated and offer the best services in the country including al fresco dining, water sports and day tours.

The beach is also incorrectly linked with the first landing of American Marines in 1963. In fact, it was Red Beach, around the point in Danang Bay, where this took place. My Khe was the spot where numerous attacks took place in the American war and it was a center of fierce fighting in the late 1960?.

From Danang, the lazy coastline stretches all the way down to Nha Trang. Dozens of beaches, many of them just a few meters from Highway I can be visited as you drive south. Facilities are mushrooming up to meet the demand of the numerous tour buses that now ply these routes. Seafood restaurants, guesthouses and other businesses are making this area easier to visit.

Nha Trang is the epicenter of the beach travel industry in Vietnam, and if you?e looking for a secluded beach, you won? find it here. But if you want to enjoy a day trip out to the islands in Nha Trang Bay, where you can snorkel and swim, then Nha Trang is the place for you. One of the best things in the city is its marvelous seafood, which includes abalone, prawns, scallops and crabs.

Doc Let is 40 kilometers north of Nha Trang, and its here where you?l find solitude and long deserted beaches; the shallow bay in front is perfect for a swim and the place is famous for its boiled crabs.

Even further south is Phan Thiet and Mui Ne, close enough to Saigon to be a popular weekend outing destination for residents there. Its got a laid back feels, and includes 4 star hotels like the Nototel Corallia, so roughing it isn? required here.

Even closer to Saigon is Vung Tau, and serves much the same function as Bai Chay near Hanoi; it? the closest and cheapest destination for Saigonese to escape the crowded city streets. Again, if you””re looking for solitude, this isn? the place, because on Sundays the beaches are packed.

Phu Quoc has the whitest sand beaches in the country, and if you want to watch the sun set (it? the only place in Vietnam where you can do this) this is the place to come. Geologically, it”’’s totally different to the other beaches in Vietnam, because it”’’s in the Gulf of Thailand, and Phu Quoc closely resembles Koh Chang or Koh Samet near Bangkok. Just an hour flight from Saigon and you?l be enjoying the sun, sea and seafood of Vietnam? most southern beach.