Alaska Travel News, Airfare deals and expert advice from the Alaska TravelGram

VIDEO: Pre-PFD travel warm-up act!

9th September

2010

written by scott

Check the KTVA video on Alaska Airlines deals to PDX, MSP, DEN, USTravel promos for Hawaii deals, cruise deals– and all that jazz.

Tags: Alaska Airlines, Dimond Center, KTVA, PFD, USTravel

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Airfares, Consumer, Shopping, Videos

PODCAST: Live from Seattle

6th September

2010

written by scott

LIVE from Seattle, plus special in-studio guest!: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Dig the photo: Jason Hoover really captures the spirit of Seattle, huh? Listen to the podcast of our weekly radio show on KUDO 1080 AM in Anchorage (NOTE: DEAD AIR for first 2:45). We interviewed Michael Rogers with Seattle Food Tours about his walking tours through Pike Place Market. Also, in the studio, Jen Aist talks with Erin Kirkland about taking young kids hiking and camping all year long!

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Adventure, Podcast

GCI: Back to school wireless specials

3rd September

2010

written by scott

Back to school: Get any texting phone FREE, plus free unlimited nationwide texting for three months.

You have to sign up for a tw0-year contract with a texting package to qualify–but this is a great deal.

Fan of the smart phone (my phone is m-u-c-h smarter than me). Choose from several travel essentials like Blackberry phones–and the phone is FREE, as long as you get a two-year contract, plus a smartphone package (typically about $30 per month on top of your plan cost).

Other GCI travel essentials on my radar:

a. XTREME Mobility. Cannot say enough about this handy device: it’s essentially a 3G cell phone that slips into your USB slot. That way, you can grab the fast signal right out of the air–without depending on intermittent hot spots when you’re traveling!

b. MI-FI. This is great technology. It essentially makes your laptop into a wi-fi router. You can enable up to five devices–and connect within 32 feet of your Mi-Fi. It’s fast, secure–and it’s available for just $20 per month. The device itself is $100, with a two-year contract.

Tags: Blackberry, GCI, mobile broadband, samsung, smartphone, wireless

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Consumer, Shopping

Rent a ride from Avis–then buy one

3rd September

2010

written by scott

I’m a big fan of Avis here in Alaska. I’ve rented from them in Kodiak, Kenai, Fairbanks, Juneau, Sitka–all over. Except Petersburg. Still haven’t gotten down there.

But this spring, I went ahead and bought one of their cars. A nice, red, 2007 Toyota Camry (above). This fall, they’ve got a good portion of their fleet for sale, including their H-O-T anniversary cars–Camaros, Bugs and Minis. Check ‘em out.

In Anchorage:
2010 VW Beetle: Wow factor, including flower vase on the dash. Low miles. $19, 475.
2010 Mini Cooper: Super-low miles. FUN! $22,685
2010 Camaro: Only 5K miles: $28, 675. Wow!

Special car sales in Fairbanks, Kodiak, Juneau, Sitka..and here in Anchorage.

Here are some of my favorites:

2009 Toyota Corolla (blue): 37,600 mi. $13,690
2009 Toyota Camry (white): 37,000 mi. $15,790
2008 Toyota RAV4 (red): 37,000 mi. $19,390
2008 Toyota Sienna 4WD minivan (white): 34,000 mi. $20,490

Check the website for more details, including a full inventory of available cars: www.avisalaska.com

Tags: anchorage, Avis, car sale, rental, Toyota

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Consumer, Shopping

Nerd’s Eye View on the ground in Alaska!

3rd September

2010

written by scott

That’s right. Pam Mandel, travel blogger extraordinaire, is in Alaska this week taking in the highlights. Kennicott. Kantishna. The Anchorage Museum. The Alaska Railroad. So–where else could I take her aside from Alaska’s culinary peak? That’s right: Moose’s Tooth Pizza and Brewpub. HA! Check out her travel blog, Nerdseyeview.com . A passport. A camera. A ukelele. (Uh-huh…right). And now…a beer! Photos: Above, hoisting the first of several “tasters” in our “beer flight” at Moose’s Tooth. Right: The Anchorage Hilton is a two-bear hotel!