Jaunted

Laid-Off Travel / Priceline / Travel Insurance / Recession Travel / → All Tags

Priceline Will Offer Refunds If You Lose Your Job (But Only If You Buy Trip Protection)

No need to hold a bikini car wash to pay for your vacation with the new Priceline trip protection.

What was very en vogue in the last quarter of 2008 and at the start of 2009 has suddenly become en vogue again. But we won't complain because it's actually a good thing. Priceline.com has announced it will offer a full cancellation and refund for anyone who books a trip on their site and then loses their job. From the press release:

The expanded trip protection is available for priceline.com’s vacation packages, Name Your Own Price® hotel rooms, published-price and Name Your Own Price® airline tickets, and rental cars booked as an add-on to any priceline.com travel reservation.

However, as this is part of Priceline's optional travel insurance you need to select this option in order to get a refund. But um, we hope that won't happen because we want you to keep your job! Trip protection costs as little as $16 for a flight and $5 a night for a hotel reservation.

more ›

Laid-Off Travel / Paula Abdul / Celeb Travel / American Idol / Travel Deals / → All Tags

Three Vacations For Paula Abdul's New Funemployment

The Internets went crazy last night when Paula Abdul tweeted that she was leaving "American Idol" after eight seasons of telling contestants that America loves them. Coming on the heels of an announcement that new judge Kara DioGuardi had re-signed for another season, the scuttlebutt holds that producers were trying to replace Abdul all along; according to the New York Post, the "Opposites Attract" singer had asked for up to a $15 million pay raise to stay on as a judge.

Our advice to Paula: It's time to get out of Los Angeles for a bit! It doesn't matter whether you jumped or were pushed. If you sign up for a new reality-TV project, you're only going to look desperate and hate yourself. Put down your Blackberry and enjoy one of our handpicked getaways:

more ›

Laid-Off Travel / San Juan / San Antonio / Clear Channel / → All Tags

Out of Clear Channel and In the Clear

Let's face it, the reputation of radio and concert giant Clear Channel was not all that great even before they embarked on their second round of layoffs in four months. Better that they focus on bringing bikes to American cities, we figure. But after posting a $5 billion loss for its first quarter this year, its San Antonio-based parent company broke out the pink slips hardcore.

Turn the volume down on all that unemployment noise for a few days with our easy-listening travel guide for those laid off in this wave:

more ›

Laid-Off Travel / Cessna / → All Tags

Let Go From Cessna? There's No Place Like Elsewhere

The private jet ads, they do nothing! Kansas-based manufacturer Cessna announced 2,300 layoffs yesterday as it struggles to adapt to an economy in which both airlines and people are content with last year's planes. Having all but closed their Oregon operations, they're now taking a chunk out of headquarters in Wichita. Fly free of these mortal concerns with our travel suggestions:

Spice -- Drown your sorrows in muchísimas margaritas at Albuquerque's great TexMex restaurants. When you've recovered from your hangover, check out the city's vibrant art scene or go for a warm-weather hike. We found a LastMinute.com package for next weekend for flight and hotel, $272/person.

Vice -- With Allegiant's $58 round-trip fare to Vegas will save you so much scratch, you can afford to re-enact that Katy Perry video when you get there. Suite at The Palms? Don't mind if we do!

Everything Nice -- Montreal's Hot & Dry Weekend, a five-day dance party at LGBT clubs all around the city, begins May 14. With a $420 round-trip fare from United, you'll be ready to party all night and sleep all day.

Related Stories:
· Cessna announces 2,300 layoffs as orders fall [AP via Google]
· Private Jet Companies Attempt To Justify Their Existence [Jaunted]
· Laid Off coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo of Kansas in the rear-view mirror: irishfireside]

Laid-Off Travel / Apache Oil / Layoffs / → All Tags

How An Oil Company's Ex-Employees Can Spend Their 'Vacation' Days

Times must be tough if even oil companies are cutting down their workforce. Houston multinational Apache is "only" laying off 200 employees in response to dropping oil and gas prices, but that's a deep cut for an industry widely considered to be recession-proof.

Of course, the best revenge on the oil company which showed you the door would be to staycate and let their demand fall even further, but that's not as fun as our post-employment suggestions:

Cool It -- It's not even that warm in Texas yet, but you know it's coming, so spend a chill weekend sampling microbrews and watching the Rockies play in Denver; we found a LastMinute.com package for next weekend for $259/person, hotel included.

Craic -- This Gaelic word meaning "fun or light-hearted mischief, often in the context of drinking" is what you'll be having with a $516 round-trip ticket to Dublin on Air Canada this summer.

Crash -- Want to stay close to home but still get away? The NYLO Plano Hotel is offering a buy-one-get-one-half-off weekend special for a getaway you can drive to.

Related Stories:
· Oil independent Apache Corp. is laying off 200 [Houston Chronicle]
· Wall Street Meltdown Good for Airlines [Jaunted]
· Laid-Off Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: guccibear2005]

Volunteer Travel / Laid-Off Travel / Gap Year Travel / → All Tags

Spend Your Gap Year Going Green

Looking for a good excuse to put off college? We have just the thing. Greenforce uses volunteer tourists to create sustainable communities and conduct research for conservation projects. What sets the organization apart, is that they specialize in gap year programs in which students take a year off in between high school and college.

The gap year concept is also becoming popular with people who are looking to take time out of their current career or are looking for a new purpose after losing their job.

Greenforce offers a four-week program collecting data on white sharks in South Africa for $2,000 a person. A new group departs the first of each month. If you don’t find the imminent danger of swimming with sharks appealing, they also offer trips to study pandas in China or rescue animals in the Amazon.

Related Stories:
· 10 Great Summer Volunteer Vacations [Peter Greenberg]
· Greenforce [Official Site]
· Volunteer Travel [Jaunted]

[Photo: Greenforce]

Laid-Off Travel / Travel Deals / → All Tags

Out Of Work Teachers Assigned 'What I Did On My Summer Vacation' Essays

But who will think of the children? The L.A. Unified School District was forced to cut 5,500 jobs this week from its rolls, 3,500 of them teachers, to plug a $570 million budget deficit. Not that anyone asked us, but teachers work damn hard and are so often under-appreciated. Educators of LA, consider this your summer vacation present:

Learn to Hula -- Airfare Watchdog not only mentioned a $242 r/t fare between L.A. and Honolulu this week for travel through June 7, they were actually able to book it.

Learn to Drink Guinness -- We're convinced that, unless you imbibed it in your youth like mother's milk, it's something you have to be taught. LastMinute.com's $474-per-person flight and hotel package to Dublin for next weekend should give you some extra help.

Learn the Right Coast -- See what you've been missing on the other side of the country with $218 fares through American to New York City throughout the summer. Check out Anne Hathaway in Shakespeare in the Park, kayak the Hudson or join the sign-wavers on Wall Street.

Related Stories:
· L.A. Unified moves to cut 5,000 teachers and others [LA Times]
· "Fast & Furious" Returns to Los Angeles [Jaunted]

[Photo: undergroundbastard]

Taxes / Tax Day Tea Parties / Laid-Off Travel / Protest Travel / → All Tags

Where To Party And Protest On Tax Day

We’re not going to get all uppity about what is fair and what is not on Tax Day. We pay our fare share to Uncle Sam, and in return, we just hope that he lets us stay around for another year. However, there’s a lot of people expected to voice their opinion today at a Tax Day Tea Party. There's expected to be over 2,000 events around the country, so if you want to protest, go for it.

If you’ve been laid off this year or are just sick and tired of shelling out the cash to programs you don’t believe in, here’s a couple places you may want to express yourself. Just leave the bullhorn at home—we’ve run out of painkillers and have nothing to relieve a potential migraine.

more ›

Laid-Off Travel / Fox / Reality Shows / Real World / Survivor / Amazing Race / → All Tags

Fox's New Reality Show Can't Wait To Fire You

Dastardly opportunists. The Fox Network announced this week it would be scouting ailing businesses for its next reality show, "Someone's Gotta Go," a layoff-themed TV competition. Employees will go over the books and decide who deserves to lose his or her job, which may be more fair than having one boss decide, but talk about setting up a negative work atmosphere! At least the cameras will make it obvious that they're all being watched and found wanting. We suggest the unluckiest employee get out of town on one of these reality-themed trips:

more ›

Laid-Off Travel / Recession Travel / Jay Leno / Comedy / Detroit Travel Guide / → All Tags

Jay Leno's Stimulus Plan Hits Detroit

Jay Leno’s one man comedy stimulus plan goes into effect tonight when the "Tonight Show" host plays the first of two back-to-back shows in Detroit-for free. Leno will perform his stand-up act at the Palace of Auburn Hills, located just outside of the Motor City, for those who have recently lost their jobs and can't afford a night out.

"I like Detroit. I think it gets a bad rap," Leno said. "Most people don't have money to spend, or waste, on entertainment. So the idea is come out -- everything's free -- and get your mind off your troubles for an hour and a half."

Already, 15,000 tickets have been given away for each show, which includes free parking and refreshments.

For a recession-proof meal to go with Jay's show, check out Evie’s Tamales, 3454 Bagley St, Detroit. They serve fresh, homemade Mexican food at dirt cheap prices. The average dinner, including beans and rice, is about $5- $6.

Related Stories:
· Jay Leno Shows [Detroit Free Press]
· Detroit Travel [Jaunted]

[Photo: ET]

Laid-Off Travel / The Amazing Race / IBM / → All Tags

Ex-IBM Employees Can Rebuild Karma In India

Computing giant IBM is poised to cut about 5,000 jobs in North America according to company memo leaks. But internal sources claim the jobs aren't really being cut -- just shifted to India in a continuing effort to slice costs, although the company won't publicly confirm that strategy. We suggest IBM employees facing a "reduction in force" respond by invading India. Just kidding! Maybe just a visit:

Blue City -- Country Walkers' tour of Rajasthan, the northwestern state where Jaipur is located, features tours of cities like Jodhpur which is in fact known as the Blue City. (Jaipur is the Pink City -- fair's fair!)

Bharatanatyam -- Continental flies to many major cities in India, perhaps even carrying the trainers for IBM"s next brain trust. And where better to get your first taste of Indian classical dance than Chennai, a cultural capital and the home of 2009 Best Song and Best Score winner A.R. Rahman.

Barefooted -- You might have to travel through Britain to get the best deal, but we've always been fascinated by Indians' favorite beach vacation spot on the west coast.

Related Stories:
· IBM Layoffs Include Wide Ranging U.S. Job Cuts [Information Week]
· Great Fares to India [Continental.com]
· Laid-Off Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: Foraggio Fotographic]

What Recession / Laid-Off Travel / Butlers / Cruises / Silversea Cruises / → All Tags

Personal Butlers Still Working For You On the High Seas

Personal Butler. That's almost a dirty phrase nowadays. But SilverSea Cruises is not concerned about that. The cruise line has just announced that it will shortly feature butlers for all types of guests accommodations on all of its ships.

According to Christian Sauleau, executive vice president of fleet operations for Silversea:

Each butler, assisted by a suite attendant, is empowered to troubleshoot problems and provide special service touches, if desired by the guest -- for example unpacking and packing clothing, facilitating a dry cleaning request or preparing a scented Jacuzzi bath -- ultimately creating a suite environment where one can relax and feel totally cared for.

more ›