Archive for November 8th, 2009

Watch for Alaska travel updates all over, including these outlets:

a. Alaska Dispatch. This is the hot, new online news site where all of my fellow Anchorage Daily News alumni are posting: Heather Lende, Craig Medred, Peter Dunlap-Shohl, Seth Kantner–among others. Typically, I post travel news on Tuesday mornings. www.alaskadispatch.com

b. Coast Magazine. This is a free publication you’ll find at coffee shops and grocery stores around town. I started writing for them a few months ago. A new issue comes out each month. My editor, John Woodbury, tells me the November issue should be out today.

c. KTVA-TV. Channel 11 here in Anchorage. Each Wednesday, Big Dave Stroh and Andrea Gusty at CBS News invite me to chatter about travel during the 5:00pm newscast. Tune in. We always have a great time.

d. Twitter. When there’s a hot deal, you’ll see it here first. It’s easy to type out a headline and a link while we’re working on the full story. Follow me on Twitter: www.twitter.com/alaskatravelgrm .

I talked with Bob Hajdukovich over at Frontier Alaska the other day about how his company marshals the growth of three distinct air carriers: Era Aviation, Frontier Flying Service and Hageland Aviation.

Bob used the term “three sisters” and I liked it. Frontier Flying Service, based in Fairbanks, has provided service to the North Slope and to northwestern Alaska for decades. Destinations like Kaktovik, Galena and Ft. Yukon are part of their everyday itineraries.

Era Aviation, based in Anchorage, has just a handful of destinations served by 37-passenger Dash-8s or 19-passenger Beechcraft 1900s.

Hageland Aviation is an air taxi operator on steroids. It serves a multitude of small villages in western Alaska, with hubs in St. Marys, Aniak, Unalakleet, among others.

Today, these three airlines form a network that serves more than 100 destinations in Alaska. For travelers, it means there are more deals to places like Barrow and Bethel. It also means it’s easier to travel beyond Alaska because of technological improvements to ease ticketing and baggage transfers. And for frequent flyers, it means that you’ll be able to earn and redeem Alaska Airlines miles more easily.

Stay tuned for more specials as Thanksgiving approaches!

Whoa! Sign up now for a great Murder Mystery Weekend, Nov. 13-15.

Check out Endofthespit.com for special lodging packages–and activities around the Kenai Peninsula!

Keith and Margo’s Murder Mystery Weekend special plots starting Friday evening  at the Friday reception. Meet the scheming, manipulative, deceitful and murderous people that you will be spending the next day and a half with!

The mystery begins on Friday evening and develops at lunch on Saturday. Dreadful events occur, and you may stumble over a dead body or two. By dinner on Saturday night, you should have all the information you need to solve the murder but just when you think you’ve got it sussed, watch out for the final twist!

Sunday breakfast at Land’s End Resort is when it all comes to an end! You’ll be asked to write down our best hunch about who did what to whom, and why.

Remember: There are great “Getaway” packages available even if you can’t make this “killer” event. HA!

GETAWAY PACKAGE:  Overnight accommodations, dinner for two in the Chart Room Restaurant, glass of wine or non-alcoholic substitute with your meal, unlimited use of pool, hot tub (beachfront! ), sauna and fitness center, plus continental breakfast. The cost? As low as $138 per couple for one night. Stay two nights for as little as $218 per couple. Wow.

Check the website for full details.

It’s November–and Alaska’s Marine Highway has dropped its prices by 30 percent for “mirror image roundtrip itineraries”.

If you have not yet sailed on the ferry, stop what you’re doing and make plans to do so right now! Click here to see a map. Here in south-central Alaska, you can sail from Whittier or Valdez over to Cordova. Or, sail from Whittier or Homer over to Kodiak. I like Kodiak!

You have more year-round options for ferry travel down in southeast Alaska. Take the leisurely 787-mile drive from Anchorage to Haines, then sail the last 60 miles to Juneau. HEY! I’ve done it. It’s a great ride! Or, if you’re in Juneau, you can take the fast ferry over to Petersburg. Stay at the Tides Inn. Rent a car from Avis. Say “Hi” to Gloria for me (she owns the place) and tell her I saw her daughter Becky who made me PROMISE to come and visit!! Not kidding!! From Juneau, it’s also easy to access Sitka–one of my favorite ports.

Ketchikan, Prince Rupert, Bellingham–the whole system is on sale between now and March, 2010! THIRTY percent off!

The sale applies to adults, children and vehicles. Roundtrip only. No discounts on cabins, tho’. Plus: if you’re bringing a vehicle on board, the driver goes FREE.

Make your plans today. Call (800)642-0066 or check online for more details.

Kelly Jo and I sat down the other day at USTravel and started drilling down on some of the good deals now available for travelers. There’s a little bit of hunt-n-peck going on, since prices are high. Deals still are available–but you have to dig for them. That’s what Kelly Jo and the professionals at USTravel throughout the state are are trained for–take advantage of their expertise.

First–a cruise moment. I really like this sailing on the Carnival Splendor from L.A. down the coast of Mexico. Why? Silly–it’s sailing on my BIRTHDAY: Jan. 24, 2010. This seven-night sailing features port calls in Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan and Cabo San Lucas. Inside staterooms are as low as $379 per person, double. Upgrade to an oceanview outside stateroom for just $110 more per person ($489 per person). Taxes are additional. When you call Kelly Jo (907-561-2434), mention this number: CID67345 .

Okay: air fares. As you know, they are not all created equal. Not even close. The prices I quote are “all-in” including taxes and fees. Your ticketing fee from USTravel is additional (currently $38 for a domestic ticket).  The following fares require an advance purchase–typically 14 days (sometimes 21 days).

Anchorage-Washington, DC: $534rt on Continental, or $820rt on Alaska Air.

Anchorage-New York/JFK: $498rt on USAir or $632rt on Alaska (EWR).

Anchorage-Hartford, CT: $474rt on Alaska to Chicago, then American Eagle, or $713rt to Boston on Alaska

Anchorage-Chicago: $508rt on Continental or $853rt on Alaska (nonstop)

Anchorage-Seattle: $433rt on Alaska through Dec. 18 (nonstop).

NO ADVANCE PURCHASE for these specials:

Anchorage-Colorado Springs: $529rt on Delta

Anchorage-Honolulu: $218 each way on Alaska Air (nonstop)

Anchorage-Taipei: $1,002rt on China Airlines (nonstop)

Stay tuned for more specials. Or, call Kelly Jo in Anchorage: (907 561 2434), Penny Lampl in Kodiak (907 486 3232) or Linda Hilliard in Fairbanks (907 452-8992). Visit USTravel’s website for more information on other offices around the state.