. The goal of the site is “to make it as easy as possible for consumers to find the information they need to make their air travel experience as smooth and hassle-free as possible…” ” (via consumerist.com  ) by Chris Walters

Pointswizard.com Spin: Click here to read the rest of – Got a complaint about an airline?

• a wide variety of food in our restaurants and snack bars
• buffet breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks
• taxes and tips
• unlimited domestic and imported brands
• 2 restaurants (one of them offers A la carte service exclusively for dinner)
• 2 snacks & 3 bars
• beautiful beach area
• 2 swimming pools
• gym & spa (additional cost)
• daily activities program for adults and children during the day and some at night
• a wide variety of non motorized water sports are included in your package.

Facilities/Services…

A complete recreational activities and sports program for adults and children are available, including scuba diving demonstrations. A wide variety of non motorized water sports included in your packages are also offered at the marina such as:

• Catamarans
• Sun fish
• Pedal boats for 4,2,& 1 people
• Kayaks (doubles & singles)
• Windsurfing
• Scuba & Snorkel demonstration

and provides services such as…

• 2 swimming pools & 1 for the kids
• Convenience store
• Safety deposit boxes
• Laundry
• Babysitter
• Doctor on call 24 hours
• Car rental
• Travel Agency
• Internet Booth
• Parking Lot
• Beautiful beach area

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• Listen and hear over 150 words and phrases from key categories
• Print out a free PDF of essential vocabulary to take on your trip
• Learn more about the language and culture of your destination” (via fodors.com)




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Among Byrd’s favorite parks is Osceola County Stadium in Kissimmee, Fla., where the Houston Astros train. “I get to the park about an hour and a half early and watch these guys take batting practice,” Byrd says…

“The furthest seat in Kissimmee is 50-100 feet from the field. Often you’ll have opportunities to talk with the players…and get their autographs. You’re watching them so close you can hear every pop of the ball in the glove.”

Pick a hotel that suits your plans.

If you need to jump start your planning, consider booking a spring training travel package through MLB.com. Also look to your favorite hotel chains for specials. For instance, Phillies fans can tap into a deal at the Hyatt Regency Clearwater Beach Resort that includes game tickets and a rental car, and Hilton Garden Inn in Sarasota is bundling a room with Pirates tickets and transportation to and from McKechnie Field. If you’re not getting a car as part of a package, absolutely rent one before you go.

Byrd observes that Florida’s ballparks fall fairly neatly into four clusters: central Florida, the Tampa area, southwest Florida, and the state’s eastern coast. Pick one whose nearby sites also pack appeal for you, as you won’t be watching baseball all the time. While you can ballpark hop and see night games, you probably won’t average more than one game a day, usually from about 1-4 p.m.

Know the deal with tickets.

It’s a good idea to buy at least some of your game tickets through MLB.com before leaving home. Yankees and Red Sox seats can sell out as early as January when tickets go on sale, but given there are 30 teams training – 15 each in Arizona and Florida – you ought to be able to score at least some of the seats you want. Ticket prices can be upwards of $30 but usually hover in the $15-20 range. As with the major stadiums, you’ll find reserved boxes and levels as well as general admission seats. But unlike the majors, you might find standing room only-admission as well as inexpensive lawn seating or, in the case of Hi Corbett Field in Tucson, where the Colorado Rockies train, you can sit on a sand pile for just $4.

Know the secret strategies and spots.

If you’re hoping to get a glimpse of your favorite team’s heavy hitters, bear in mind that they’re usually played in the first five innings, after which they’ll sometimes leave, Posada says. Byrd concurs that by that point in the game “most of the regular players have sat down” but if you stick around after that you’ll be “seeing the future of the team.” Salguero made his Arizona trip late in March, which was nice because that’s when the starting lineups are being worked out and the ‘no name’ players have been cut.” Byrd says that getting access to players in Legends Field can sometimes be difficult, as fans are not often permitted in the lower levels without a ticket.

However, the Yanks play many of their games at Dunedin Stadium, which is “very friendly for access to players,” he says.

Relax your expectations.

Before the Dodgers moved to Arizona for spring training, Byrd recalls seeing then-Dodger Nomar Garciaparra follow a specific routine at spring training games in Vero Beach. After stretching, Garciaparra would walk “straight on to the stands and move either to left or to the right,” signing autographs. “You start learning players’ tendencies. You might not get [an autograph] the first time but you might get it the second time. ” ( via foxnews.com ) by Paul Eisenberg – FOXNews

Pointswizard.com Spin: Click here to read the rest of Baseball Spring Training Trips – Insider Tips

This resort is less than 2 years old and it seems to still be in a shakedown mode…

Here were some of the problems…

-There is a need for more huts on the beach so one can be out of the sun..

-Both wired and wireless Wi-Fi was spotty at times, and wireless was a big problem in villa.

-The pool temperature needs to be hotter (it was chilly with few guests in the pool). Before our arrival we called 2 times and were told the pool was heated ( reviews on tripadvisor.com and tugbbs.com have pointed out the water seems not to be heated much)

-The water leak on to bathroom floor from shower has not been corrected. it is a very dangerous situation.

-The hot water was a problem every day for the shower-/sometimes hot sometimes cold-called front desk they said to run sink hot water at same time-it only worked to make it hot 1/2 of the time

-A number of times the operator took 20-30 rings to answer phone.

-When we entered room dishwasher had dishes and silverware in it.

-The breakfast buffet is a bit overpriced at 280 pesos for the selection of food that is being offered.

-The first 2 days the elevator closest to our room was down- no sign on it to tell you that it’s not working.

We wrote to the hotel to complain and they didn’t please us with their reply which was next time you come -”let us know whenever you have you reservation made so that we can take special care of your room assignment, cleaning and welcome amenity at your arrival”

When you stay at a resort for  8 days/7 nights you expect a better answer than that. Perhaps a refund of monies spent at resort or a complementary stay.

The resort is beautiful but problems like the above take away from the enjoyment of a vacation.

This property is part of Starwood Vacation Ownership (timeshare)but can be booked by anyone thru Westin or if you have a timeshare with Interval International.

added-

comment on this post on timeshareforums.com by GrayFal

“These are the SAME complaints owners have been making since day ONE.

Starwood – put a pool heater in, will ya!

Someone is going to kill themselves falling in the bathroom on those wet floors (at least they will die in a beautful but wet bathroom)

POOL Heater…..it is a no brainer – and you might want to heat the jacuzzi/whirlpool tubs as well.”

Climbing for eight days with a cast of characters that included a recent widower, her best friend, and four Texans, Goldstein grew fond of the Kilimanjaro-trekker’s mantra of pole-pole, Swahili for “slowly.”…

It was, she says, “a wonderful pace of life.” Closing in on the summit, she realized the purpose of her trip: it made her feel like she could do anything…

Goldstein’s tale is hardly unusual—midlife restlessness is so common it seems like a cliché. But psychologists say it’s real: a period of discontent that can produce feelings of boredom, doubt, anger, and unease.

Traveling has always been a remedy, but more people are forgoing cars and tattoos these days in favor of real-world exploration, according to Portland, Maine–based travel agent Pam Hurley. “With travel,” she says, “you forget about the money and remember what you get mentally, physically, or spiritually.”

Of course, treating a crisis of this magnitude requires more than a weekend at the beach. So midlifers seek out trips with at least one special quality, like adventure, danger, learning, physicality, or goodwill. Add a “now-or-never” layer to the trip and you could well be on the path to healing.

Since the ’60s, Big Sur’s Esalen Institute—devoted to the “exploration of human potential”—has satisfied many a wanderer in need of change. A weeklong soak in the center’s natural hot springs, overlooking the Pacific from a Big Sur cliff, can be just as healing. ” (via msnbc.msn.com ) by Alyssa Giacobbe / Travel+Leisure

Pointswizard.com Spin: Click here to read more about Best midlife-crisis trips.

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Before the deregulation of the U.S. airline industry in 1978, every U.S. airline had to follow the same set of rules — including those dealing with “irregularities” such as canceled flights…
In those days, airline fares and routes were regulated by the Civil Aeronautics Board, the predecessor to today’s Federal Aviation Administration.

One of these rules, number 240, specified that if an airline couldn’t get you to your destination on time, it was required to put you on a competitor’s flight if it would get you there faster than your original airline’s net flight. Airlines were even required to put you in first class if that’s all that was available.

They rarely advertised this perk, however, since airlines naturally didn’t want to fork over scarce cash to fly customers on a rival carrier. But seasoned road warriors have always known they could approach the counter and say the magic

words  ”240 me” to be put on the next flight out.

Airlines formed after deregulation — such as JetBlue, Southwest, and Spirit — were never required to follow these rules. Even so, some of these newer airlines may attempt to put you on another airline if there’s no other choice.

“While we don’t have a traditional Rule 240, we will purchase confirmed seats as necessary on another airline to get customers to their final destination in the event of irregularities within our control,” Todd Burke, JetBlue Airways’ vice president for corporate communications, told Airfarewatchdog.com.

In addition, if there’s a “significant delay,” JetBlue’s compensation may include a “partial or full refund,” in addition to accommodation on another airline.

However, in recent years, as “legacy” carriers such as American, United, and Delta have struggled to remain profitable, and some have slashed costs to emerge from bankruptcy, many have quietly weakened their Rule 240s.

United Airlines, for instance, no longer states in its contract of carriage that it will fly you in first class on a competitor, if that’s all that’s available, although it will transport you in coach class on another airline.

Although Delta Air Lines still has a Rule 240 in its contract, it no longer makes any mention of transporting passengers on other airlines in the event of a flight disruption.

Continental Airlines will upgrade a delayed passenger only on its own flights—not on a competitor’s—and only if doing so will get you to your destination earlier than would otherwise be the case.

US Airways has nothing in its terms of transportation concerning Rule 240, though spokesperson Amy Kudwa said the airline still applies the rule on all flights except international flights.

The good news is that Northwest Airlines still has a very traditional contract, little changed from the days of regulation. It will put you on another airline, in first class if necessary, if your original flight is delayed 60 minutes or longer.

It’s important to emphasize that these rules generally apply to situations within the airline’s control, such as mechanical problems. But if the flight irregularity results from a “force majeure event” such as bad weather, a riot, or a work stoppage, then all bets are off. And the legacy carriers may not have agreements with their newer competitors such as JetBlue and Southwest, so that they might not re-route you on those carriers.

Even if you are flying an airline that adheres to Rule 240, its employees may be reluctant to rewrite your ticket on a competitor because of the financial implications of doing so. So it pays to print out and carry a copy of the contract of carriage and present it to the gate agent if necessary.” By George Hobica (via msnbc.msn.com)

Pointswizard.com Spin: Click here to see what your airlines policy is.
Know your rights.

And the best part of it all is that a lot of it is FREE! It’s all out there just waiting to be taken in and enjoyed…

Pick out the free things you’d like to do, then click on the links for more information…

1. Jackson Square

   Take in the sights and sounds ofJackson Square, a good spot to take a rest, too. 

2. Gallery hop in the Arts Districtalong Julia Street on the first Saturday night of each month.
3. Join the parades during Carnival Season and Mardi Gras in New Orleans.
4. Stroll Royal and Chartres streets and window shop the arts, antiques and boutiques.
5. Enjoy French Quarter Festival every April, the South’s largest free music festival.
6. Watch the ships pass on the Mississippi River from Woldenberg Riverfront Park and listen for the Steamboat Natchez’s calliope.
7. Visit the Historic New Orleans Collection and the Williams Research Center.

8. National WWII Museum

   Swing dance every Sunday in the summer at the National World War II Museum.

9. Ride the Canal Street Ferry to Algiers Point and see the New Orleans skyline.
10. Let the kids run around in theSydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden in City Park.
11. Volunteer at one of the many organizations helping to rebuild New Orleans’ residences.
12. Celebrate the life and music of jazz legend Louis Armstrong duringSatchmo SummerFest.
13. Experience a cooking demonstration at the Crescent City Farmers Market.
14. Jam out at the free Wednesday afternoon concerts in Lafayette Squareduring the spring and fall months.
15. Dance down Frenchmen Street at night, many clubs don’t have a cover charge.
16. Watch the fireworks on the Mississippi River every New Year’s Eve andFourth of July.
17. Enjoy free oysters and music by Joe Krown every Friday at Le Bon Temps Roule music club.
18. Attend one of the many festivals that the Jazz and Heritage Foundation hosts throughout the year, like the BBQ and Blues Festival or Congo Square Rhythms.
19. Browse the shops and stalls
    throughout the French Market.
20. Tour Saint Louis Cathedral inJackson Square.
21. Visit the New Orleans Museum of Art free for Louisiana residents.
22. Tour the Louisiana Supreme Court Building on Royal Street.
23. Venture into our “Cities of the Dead” for a self-guided day tour of a unique cemetery, especially St. Louis Cemetery #1, the closest one to theFrench Quarter.
24. Bring your book on the Garden District and take a self-guided walking tour.
25. Find a Saturday Art Market and check out the local art scene.” (via  neworleansonline.com) by

Pointswizard.com Spin: Click here to finish reading - Fifty FREE Things to Do in New Orleans

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