Consumer

USTravel bargains: land, sea and air!

9th March
2010
written by scott
Kelly Jo at USTravel has been busy digging up some springtime bargains. First on deck, in honor of St. Patrick’s Day, is a pub tour of Ireland. Oh, in case there’s any question: Kelly Jo’s last name is McGee. Mine is McMurren. Since I’m Scots-Irish, I’m conflicted (love to drink but hate to pay for it). HA! Check out this eight-night pub tour from Dublin:
-Start your tour at the Guinness Storehouse and learn about the world-famous brew. Then, taste it for your self at the Storehouse’s Gravity Bar.
-Visit St. Patrick’s Cathedral in the heart of Dublin. Your local Irish guide will teach you about the Book of Kells, which you will see at Trinity College. Then, enjoy a Pub Crawl in Dublin.
-Visit Locke’s Irish Whiskey distillery in Kilbeggan (est. 1757). Then taste the goods!
-See Galway Cathedral, the Cliffs of Moher and Killarney.
-Travel the Ring of Kerry.
-Don’t miss the Blarney Stone and Kilkenny. Enjoy visits to local pubs and other attractions!
This eight-day pub tour gives you a great overview of the Emerald Isle, in addition to tasting some great beer! Call Kelly Jo for more details: (907)561-2434.
Choose to cruise with some great bargains!
7-night Mexican Riviera from $549
7-night Caribbean from $599
10-night Mediterranean from $899
10-night Panama Canal from $1,099
12-night South America  from $1,199
Enjoy USTravel’s exclusive shipboard credit (up to $150 per couple), a 50 percent reduced deposit and an Onboard Savings Book valued at $354! Call now: (907)561-2434 in Anchorage. Or, toll-free: (800)544-2217.
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Consumer, Cruises, Lodging

Android n me

1st March
2010
written by scott
OK. It’s me–Mr. Touchscreen. I’m gearing up to hit the road with my new “HTC Hero” from GCI. Oh, it’s got all the hardware goodies: camera/videocam, music player with cool ringtones, all kinds of custom features for your home screen with themes and such.
This trip is part plane ride (with Alaska Airlines) and part road trip. So the GPS/Google Maps interface comes in very handy. This is not the “nearest cell tower” locator. Nope–it’s right down to street view. I’m not sure that will help me, since these streets are not paved (puh-leeze don’t tell Hertz!!). It’s all part of the Android operating system for the phone….which is, after all, developed by Google.
I’m discovering new features on the phone all the time. There’s a stopwatch. There’s a YouTube viewer which works very well with the 3.2-inch screen. There are apps for Facebook and Twitter–even a “voice search” function.
Honestly, I’m just getting used to the entire “app” process. There are jillions of free applications, plus some, like the Police Scanner, that you pay extra for.
Another great feature of the GCI phone for me: unlimited nationwide calling and texting. I hate roaming fees. Now, for $99.99 per month, I can call/text all I want between Alaska, the Lower 49 and Canada. Oh–calls from Canada still are high: 45 cents per minute. The phone itself is $99.99 with a 2-year contact including a 3G smartphone package.
So, we’ll be tweeting and posting on Facebook from the road–from the Android. Follow our progress. And get ready to “Spring Forward” this season with this cool, new technology from GCI.
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Consumer, shopping

ANC-SFO or ANC-DEN: $198 ea way!

27th February
2010
written by scott

We talked about summertime fares–and they’re still out there. But here comes a fresh batch of SPRING fares. Most of the best lo-ball, bottom-feeder fares I’ve listed here (is there any other kind????) require a 21-day advance purchase. Note: You also can book these rates for summertime travel. The key issue is they’re available RIGHT NOW!

Big shout-out to our friends at USTravel here in Anchorage. Their tools and their support make it possible to dig up these fares! Kelly Jo or Melinda in Anchorage (or the staff at the USTravel location nearest you in Seattle, Spokane, Ketchikan, Kodiak, Fairbanks or Dutch Harbor) can save you time and money finding the right fare for you. It’s not always the cheapest–odd as that may seem. Additionally, your agent can help you button up your hotel and car arrangements. Let’s review:

1. Anchorage-San Francisco: $198 one-way, all in on USAir. 21-day adv. pur.
2. Anchorage-Denver: $198 one-way, all-in on USAir. 21-day adv. pur.
3. Anchorage-Chicago: $254 one-way, all-in on USAir. 21-day adv. pur.
4. Anchorage-Philadelphia: 267 one-way, all-in on Alaska Air (via Chicago). 21-day adv. pur.
5. Anchorage-LAX: $270 one-way, all-in on Alaska Airlines. 21-day adv. pur.
6. Anchorage-Bozeman or Billings, MT: $273 one-way, all-in on United. 21-day adv. pur.
7. Anchorage-Santa Barbara: $280 one-way, all in on Alaska Air.
8. Anchorage-Kalispell, MT: $280 one-way, all in on Alaska Air.
9. Anchorage-San Diego: $280 one-way, all in on Alaska Air
10. Anchorage-Orlando: $288 one-way, all in on Alaska Air

Most of these new fares require a 21-day advance purchase. United and USAir started these fare cuts and Alaska Airlines is following along. Remember Scott’s first rule of affordable air fares: “When airlines are mad at each other, the traveler wins”. That’s clearly the case with these springtime fares. You and I can scream all we want to about high air fares–and the airlines are completely deaf. Witnesseth: it’s still $271 each way to Seattle on Alaska Air ($304.50 each way on Continental). O–M–G–!

Check with Kelly Jo or Melinda today or Monday and lock in these springtime air fares! (907)561-2434 or (800)544-2217 toll-free.

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1 Comment
Airfares, Consumer

VIDEO: What happened to Alaska Airlines’ fare sale?

25th February
2010
written by scott

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Airfares, Consumer

Era Alaska’s web specials thru Mar. 1, 2010!

24th February
2010
written by scott
These deals now are available for travel February 25 – March 1, 2010. Photo: Nice day for a flight between Kenai and Anchorage aboard one of Era’s B1900s.
Anchorage-Kodiak      $279 rt
Anchorage-Kenai       $149 rt
Anchorage-Homer       $179 rt
Anchorage-Valdez      $199 rt
Anchorage-Fairbanks   $219 rt
Anchorage-Barrow      $369 rt
Anchorage-Aniak       $299 rt NEW!
Anchorage-Bethel      $339 rt
Anchorage-Cordova     $229 rt
Fairbanks-Barrow      $369 rt
Book these ONLINE only at www.flyera.com
REMEMBER: Double-Points between Anchorage, Kenai and Homer. This is a great program if you want to get out and explore Alaska–beyond the road system. The double-point promo is valid through Feb. 28. You earn 40 points when you fly between Anchorage and Kenai or Homer. When you can fly anywhere the Era Alaska family flies for as little as 200 points, that adds up fast. If you’re not yet a member of Era’s FlyAway Rewards program, you also get 10 extra points just for signing up. Grab this frequent-flyer deal!
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Airfares, Consumer
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