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Tag: Memorial Day Travel View All Tags

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This Weekend in the World: Fleet Week, Poker and Beaches

May 22, 2009 at 4:03 PM | by JetSetCD | 0 Comments

· Beaches of the United States: From surfing in Huntington Beach, CA to beach volleyball with Marines in Cocoa Beach, FL, we've detailed our favorite 5 beaches in the United States for Memorial Day weekend. If you're not nearby any of them, don't fret; we're sure everyone will be airing our their lake houses this weekend. Why don't you flex friend of a friend connections to wiggle your way into joining them for BBQ and jet skiing?

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Can Memorial Day Kill the Staycation?

May 22, 2009 at 11:11 AM | by BS | 0 Comments

Is this the weekend we finally get over the staycation hump? Forecasters say low gas prices (and restless traveler syndrome?) will reignite the great American road trip this summer, with the AAA predicting a 1.5 percent increase in road travel over last year's Memorial Day weekend.

Of course, just when travel might be getting a much-needed boost, that frequent Memorial Day irritant – rain – is back on the horizon to ruin it all. Florida and most of the Gulf Coast will get dumped on this weekend, as will much of the South, Plains, and West. Which is great news for cyborgs, as Christian Bale's Terminator Salvation tries to bump Angels & Demons and Star Trek from the top of the box office.

So how's it looking out there? Is America done with the staycation? Or will the weather forecast keep you home once again this weekend? If you haven't already taken off for the weekend, let us know what your travel plans are in comments below.

Related Stories:
· More Americans hit the road to kick off summer [Reuters]
· A slow moving weather pattern continues [weather.com]
· Memorial Day travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: Atwater Village]

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Swim The Extra Day Away: Our Top Five Memorial Day Beaches

May 20, 2009 at 10:36 AM | by JetSetCD | 0 Comments

Although the definition of Memorial Day seems to have shifted over the years to the importance of remembering to party on the beach whenever possible, we like to remember that the reason for the day off work is to take a moment to reflect on those who have died in the service of the USA. Once that moment is over, however, you can reach us on the interstate as we make our way to the beach at long last. Because we love the water and the start of beach season, we've rounded up a few of our favorite spots for you to consider:

· Water Taxi Beach, Long Island City, NY: Okay, so you can't swim here because you'd be taking a dip in the East River and that is gross, Nonetheless, this sandy oasis just across the river from Manhattan and easily accessible by water taxi, subway or car (yes, they have a parking lot). Since the beach celebrated its season opening last weekend, this weekend should be hopping with sand volleyball and acres of picnic tables for al fresco beer drinking.

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Will Flu-Free Guarantees Lure Travelers Back to Mexico?

Where: Cancun, Mexico
May 20, 2009 at 8:46 AM | by BS | 1 Comment

We're already well acquainted with good weather vacation guarantees, but now it seems that desperate destinations are jumping aboard the no flu guarantee bandwagon.

Desperate to get travelers to again view Mexico as a safe tourism destination, twenty coastal resorts have launched a "flu-free guarantee." All you need do is book an upcoming trip to any of the resorts, which are mostly in Cancun or the Riviera Maya, and if you do happen to get swine flu (and have the bloodwork to prove it), the consortium will pay for the entirety of your next three vacations.

The CDC lifted their travel ban to Mexico last week, and most countries have now resumed flights to the country, although travelers are still understandably hesitant to return south of the border.

So is Memorial Day weekend the time to return to Mexico? The prices say yes. Unlike just about anywhere else in the world, you can book a plane ticket to Mexico right now and still get a cheap fare for this weekend. Searching on Kayak, we found Friday-to-Monday roundtrip flights to Cancun for $281 from New York, $316 from Chicago, and $363 from LA. Get to clicking, and leave those flu masks at home.

Related Stories:
· Mexico resorts offer 'flu-free' deal [USA Today]
· CDC downgrades Mexico travel warning [USA Today]
· Swine Flu Travel Coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: ramonbaile]

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Barbados Will Be Sunny and Warm, Or Your Money Back

Where: Barbados
May 13, 2009 at 12:30 PM | by JetSetCD | 0 Comments

Are you whacking your desk repeatedly with a pen because of anxiety over Memorial Day travel plans? Good; it's nice to know we're not the only ones. To relieve the stress of finding a great spring getaway for a long weekend, which will also have amazing weather during your visit, Barbados has introduced a "Perfect Weather Guarantee."

Say you book the $549 airfare + hotel + breakfast deal on CheapCaribbean.com, only to arrive to Barbados during an unexpected rainstorm. If that rain accumulates to over a quarter of an inch, and the temperature falls below 78 degrees, you'll be entitled to a $100 per bad weather day rebate.

It's free to enroll on the Perfect Weather Guarantee website, just be sure to do so before June 7 for travel between May 28th and December 18th, 2009. This might not include Memorial Day Weekend, but booking through CheapCaribbean comes with the very same deal valid now, just that they call it "SPF100 Protection." It'll be nice to let someone else worry about the weather for once.

Related Stories:
· Barbados Perfect Weather [Official Site]
· Barbados Issues 'Perfect Weather' Guarantee [Luxist]
· Flysteady Mon: Jetblue Adding Routes to Barbados, Jamaica [Jaunted]
· Baggage Fees Coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: Paranoid Black Jack]

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The Amalfi Coast: A Last-Minute Possibility

Where: Italy
May 20, 2008 at 10:17 AM | by CourtScott | 0 Comments

It's not too late to take a Memorial Day dream trip to Italy's Amalfi Coast. Getting there on Eurofly may not be the dreamy part, but the carrier's last-minute May sale will get you to paradise on the cheap. Right now, non-stop flights from JFK to Naples are $819, fuel surcharges and tax included.

From Naples it's a short ferry, bus or car ride to some of Italy's most gorgeous cliff-top villages including Amalfi, Praiano, Ravello and Positano. If it were summer, we'd think twice about settling in the two most popular coastal gems, Amalfi and Positano, but since May is still considered "low season" the entire coast can and should be your playground.

Since your flight was a steal and many hotels are offering spring discounts, we suggest you upgrade to all 5 stars. Try the Hotel Casa Angelina in the charming fishing village of Praiano where rooms start at $360 a night. The hotel's minimalist white decor and beachy teak accents are a cross between SoBe and The Hamptons, but its jaw-dropping views are purely Italian.

Related Stories:
· Casa Angelina on an Amalfi Coast Cliff [HC]
· Italy Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: Christina Peterson]

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Get Down at Detroit's Movement 08

May 19, 2008 at 9:30 AM | by sedona | 0 Comments

Looking to kick off Memorial Day weekend with some beats? Head to Detroit for Movement 08, an annual electronic music festival set in the city's downtown Hart Plaza.

You'll have your pick of four stages and awesome acts like Moby, Cobblestone Jazz, Rex Sepulveda and Peanut Butter Wolf from May 24-26. Most shows begin around noon and continue till midnight each day. After the music, the after-parties: There are plenty to choose from each night where you can mingle with the 20,000 other electronic music lovers.

A weekend pass is available for purchase online for $40 ahead of time, and if you're inclined to go all out buy the $175 VIP pass and get private check-in, access to an area above and behind the stage, access to a private bar and 15 drink tickets, private bathrooms and a T-shirt.

Related Stories:
· Movement 08 [Myspace]
· Datebook: Detroit [NYT]
· Music Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: harpomarx42]