Ziplining in the Midwest Reaches New Heights

The Midwest’s largest zipline tour, Ozone Zipline Adventures, reopens for the season on April 1. Much like zipline tours in exotic destinations, Ozone Zipline Adventures is an eco-adventure that combines the thrills of flying through the treetops at heights of 200 feet above the valley floor, with outdoor recreation, environmental education and historical awareness.

“From first time riders to experienced thrill-seekers – Ozone Zipline delivers an exhilarating adventure in the trees,” said Zip Tour Director, Chris Addison. “It’s a new way to getaway as you unplug from the rest of the world and just fly! This tour is full of excitement and fun which makes it the perfect weekend getaway for couples, families, nature lovers and adventurists alike.”

Now in its second year of operation, Ozone Zipline Adventures offers two guided tours seven days a week April through December.

The Extended Tour includes all ten ziplines (totaling over 6,000 feet of cable) and covers nearly two miles of land. Ziplines on the Extended Tour range from 250 feet long to more than 1,100 feet long. Wooden platforms in the trees connect the ziplines and provide breathtaking vistas of the forest, valley and National and State Scenic Little Miami River. Platform heights range from 25 feet to 60 feet high. Nine sky bridges suspended above the forest floor connect various points along the tour and range from 10 feet to 75 feet long and 10 feet to 40 feet high. Riders can reach speeds of up to 30 mph along portions of the tour. The tour last approximately four hours.

A Traditional Tour is available which offers an abbreviated version of the Extended Tour. Riders on this course will fly on the first seven lines of the tour and cross seven sky bridges. The Traditional Tour is approximately three hours long. All tours depart from a 45-foot tall multi-level central zipline tower which acts as the “zip hub” and observation deck.

Additional Tour Details: Riders must be at least ten years old and weigh at least 80 lbs. Children under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult or guardian. Reservations required.
The zipline canopy tour is open seven days a week.

“The broad appeal of this new attraction complements the existing product mix of outdoor adventure, professional sports and family-friendly attractions in Warren County, such as Kings Island, Great Wolf Lodge and The Beach Waterpark” said Phil Smith, President and CEO of the Warren County Convention and Visitors Bureau. “To date Ozone Zipline Adventures has welcomed guests from over 18 states as far away as California and six countries including Canada, England, Germany, India, and Spain.”

Located just minutes north of Cincinnati, Ozone Zipline Adventures is nestled alongside The Little Miami State and National Scenic River in Southwest Ohio, a hub of outdoor activities such as the Little Miami Bike Trail, Morgan’s Canoe Livery and Fort and world renowned historical sites like Fort Ancient.

For more information or to reserve your zipline tour, visit http://www.ozonezips.org/ or call 513-932-3756.

Proceeds of the zipline tour will help to support many of the camp’s school programs whose outdoor education experience has been jeopardized by budget constraints. With the zipline tour, Camp Kern will be able to keep the outdoor education experience affordable to area schools and provide greater assistance to the schools for the residential camp experience.

Your Own Private Island at 5% Off is $450 in Daily Savings

Little Whale Cay set in the heart of the Berry Islands in the Bahamas is gearing up for 5% break for spring….this is a $450 per day savings. Scavenger hunts, bone fishing, sailing, dinners on the beach, are island hopping all part of this all inclusive experience. Families and friends have their own 93 acre playground in the middle of the crystal clear blue Bahamian waters.

Little Whale is owned by a family that is well aware of the importance of the rare and precious time spent together. They have things to do for the children and are used to setting up games like the famous scavenger hunt…and the island's unusual population of flamingos and peacocks is always a treat for everyone. Parents have down time on boat and fishing excursions, taking spa treatments and having meals served poolside. There are no hotel rules or unforeseen extras.

An easy flight from Nassau, Ft. Lauderdale or Miami, Little Whale Cay is a family paradise offering accommodations for up to 12 guests in three luxury villas, superb main beach stretching endlessly, a marina, spa facilities, gym, sea-view infinity edged pool, tennis court, a flotilla of boats for skiing, sailing and fishing or cruising to small neighboring islands, and even a chapel. A dedicated staff including top notch chef on the island, their job being just to watch over guests.

Developed in the 1930's as a private island paradise by Wallace Groves, an early pioneer in the Bahamas, Little Whale Cay hosts its guests in three secluded sea-view houses: Little Whale, Peacock, and Flamingo, with a total of seven bedrooms. The houses are air conditioned, with modern conveniences and the island is wireless offering WIFI broadband satellite internet connection, telephone facilities, satellite television, Bose iPod docking systems and more. All meals are prepared to your personal preference by a private chef; from delicious, fresh, and organic vegetables, fish, and meat with an emphasis on healthy light dishes.

The price is surprisingly more affordable than ever at $9,025 per day for up to 12 with a minimum of 5 nights for April. That is $3760 per person for a five night vacation on a private island INCLUDING accommodations, food, drinks (including spirits and house wines), and the use of all island facilities, boats, telephone calls and WiFi Internet connection in each Guest House. For those who book for Spring there is a 5% savings.

Book by April 1st & Get Nantucket's Lowest Rate!

Don’t miss the last chance for the lowest available rate at Nantucket Island Resorts! Hurry and book by April 1 (we’re not fooling) and guests will have the added bonus of the lowest rate guaranteed at the following properties: Jared Coffin House, The Cottages & Lofts at the Boat Basin, The Wauwinet, White Elephant, and White Elephant Hotel Residences. If the rate goes lower at any time before your stay, the resort will honor the lower rate. Guests will also receive:

Spa Credit: Two $25 spa treatment credits at the White Elephant Spa or The Spa by the Sea at The Wauwinet

Dinner Credit: $25 dinner credit when you spend $100, or $50 dinner credit when you spend $150, at either Brant Point Grill at the White Elephant or TOPPER’S at The Wauwinet

Offer is subject to availability, cannot be combined with any other promotions or offers, and is not applicable to groups. To receive the guarantee, you must book by April 1, 2010. Click here for other restrictions.

To book online, visit the Nantucket Island Resorts property of your choice and enter the booking code GTDLOW, or call 800.ISLANDS (800.475.2637) or 508.325.1000 and mention booking code GTDLOW.

Embrace Warmer Weather with Colonial Williamsburg’s Spring Packages

The start of Daylight Saving Time is the unofficial start of spring, and the time to book Colonial Williamsburg’s Spring Stories Package. The three-day, two-night package starts at $399 per couple and is available March 26-June 17. The Spring Stories Package showcases the breadth of Colonial Williamsburg’s interactive offerings, from golf and fine dining, to the Historic Area’s gardens. The package includes:

· Accommodations at the Williamsburg Lodge
· Daily breakfast at the Lodge Restaurant
· Length-of-stay admission to Colonial Williamsburg’s Historic Area and Art Museums
· Garden Program Tickets
· $100 activities card

Package pricing is based on double occupancy in a superior guest room at the Williamsburg Lodge with Sunday-Wednesday arrival.

For a family getaway corresponding with school vacation, the Spring Getaway Package is best. Available March 26 - April 11, the Spring Getaway Package starts at $499 for a family of four and includes:

· Four days/three nights at the Williamsburg Woodlands Hotel & Suites
· Daily breakfast at the hotel
· Length-of-stay admission to Colonial Williamsburg’s Historic Area and Art Museums
· $100 activities card

The activities card may be applied toward the Golden Horseshoe Golf Club, The Spa of Colonial Williamsburg, dining in Colonial Williamsburg taverns or restaurants, or shopping at an official, on-site Colonial Williamsburg-owned store. When booking a Spring Package, guests have the opportunity to upgrade their Colonial Williamsburg admission ticket to a Flex, Bounce or Historic Triangle Ticket.

From April 19-May 8, guests can experience the limited-run Revolutionary Story “So Far from Scioto,” which portrays three young Shawnee chieftains who find themselves caught in the middle of the conflict between American patriots and British royal authority. Throughout the spring, Colonial Williamsburg’s R. Charlton’s Coffeehouse will provide the stage for a new scene of Revolutionary City®: a violent protest against the Stamp Act. Guests can join in the debate and be part of the story as they contemplate their own beliefs about war, taxation and revolution.

Colonial Williamsburg’s spring offerings, from the Historic Area and golf to dining and the Art Museums, will engage and appeal to a wide range of ages. With two value-loaded packages, there is no better time to be part of the story.

Calling All Kids To the World's Sweetest Camp

Kids can get in touch with their inner sweetness at the 2nd Annual Candy Camp presented by Brasserie 1605 for pint-sized confectioners aged five to 14, the first Saturday of every month from 3 to 4 p.m. on the lobby level of Manhattan’s Crowne Plaza Times Square, starting April 3 thru August 7. Brasserie 1605 Executive Chef Christopher Smith, who conducted last year’s popular cocoa-centric classes, will teach Candy Campers how to create chocolate indulgences, while edu-taining them with his “bean to bag” history of chocolate, including how Milton Hershey made chocolate accessible to the American masses – a nod to the Hershey’s Store Times Square’s role as Candy Camp Counselor.

While the children are occupied creating edible treats - including chocolate lollipops, truffles, fudge, caramels and chocolate-covered strawberries - parents are welcome to participate, or they can spend some quality time at the bar with half-priced chocolate Martinis. Either way, they’ll leave with a gift certificate entitling them to a 25 percent discount toward lunch or dinner at Brasserie 1605. Their progeny will receive Candy Camp Diplomas, which will not only bestow a Junior chocolatier degree, but will entitle them to a personalized “Photo Bar” from the Hershey’s Store just downstairs – a half pound classic Hershey’s milk chocolate bar sporting their picture on the wrapper (a $14.95 value). And to complete the experience, Candy Campers will make their Broadway depute, when their picture appears on the Hershey’s Store’s dynamic new exterior light display.

As the father of two small children, who have already announced their intentions to follow in his culinary footsteps, Chef Smith is particularly well suited – and prepared – to teach kids kitchen skills. He also gets a big kick out of Candy Camp, “I’ve been looking forward to it for months. It’s such a departure from my normal routine and the youngsters’ observations or questions are amazing, some hilarious, plenty very astute, all priceless.”

Limited to just 12 children per session, the cost for children 5 to 14 is $25 each. All Candy Camp sessions will take place at Brasserie 1605 in the Crowne Plaza Times Square, on Broadway between 48th and 49th Streets from 3 to 4 p.m., April 3, May 1, June 5, July 3 and August 7. For reservations, please call Brasserie 1605 at 212-315-6000.

Overlooking Times Square from the lobby level of the Crowne Plaza Times Square, Brasserie 1605 offers the best seats on the Great White Way. A result of the hotel’s recent $85 million renovation, the restaurant blends retro diner chic with New York style to create an engaging, casually comfortable setting for diners seeking reasonably priced and familiar, yet intriguing, soul-gratifying food intended to satisfy a range of appetites.

Receive Up to Two Nights Free -- A $1300 Value! – At Cotton Tree,

Ideal for a family vacation, the Cayman Islands’ first boutique cottage hotel, Cotton Tree, offers guests up to two complimentary nights during 2010 stays from May through October. Whether time is spent biking to Barker’s National Park, bird-watching, taking art or culinary classes, enjoying oceanfront spa treatments, or relaxing poolside, guests receive their sixth and twelfth night free at the luxury hideaway which is located on the northernmost point of Grand Cayman, just ten minutes from the famed Seven Mile Beach. Accommodations are in one of Cotton Tree’s four 1,600 square foot, two-bedroom beachfront cottages that resemble fully-equipped houses and feature “Caribbean chic” décor, classic contemporary furnishings, French doors, plasma TVs, state-of-the-art Kitchen Aid appliances, and more. A media library of books, music and DVDs; breakfast items (a selection of coffees and teas, juices, eggs, cereal and yogurt) pre-stocked in the cottages; WIFI and local calls; fresh fruit; bicycle rentals; Wii and roundtrip airport transfers are also included. The complimentary nights promotion is available May 1st through October 31st. Individual cottages are $650 per night. Taxes are additional. For more information or reservations, please call 345.943.0700 or visit www.caymancottontree.com.

About Cotton Tree:
Cotton Tree beautifully evokes the spirit of the Cayman Islands with its four spacious pastel-hued, plantation-style cottages just steps from the Caribbean Sea amidst lush garden setting of tropical flowers and avocado, guava, mango, lime, banana and cotton trees for which the hotel was named. Owner Heather Lockington, a global traveler who was born in the Cayman Islands, built her dream property in West Bay, creating an authentic haven where guests could embrace Caymanian heritage. Amenities include a freshwater swimming pool, fitness center and yoga and spa pavilions nestled among seagrape trees, perfect for a sunset massage. A personal chef can whip up gourmet meals accompanied by wines chosen by a sommelier, or Cotton Tree is a quick drive or walk to Grand Cayman’s best restaurants. Additionally, hotel services such as a reception/concierge, bellhop, housekeeping and turndown on request are also featured

Family Spring Break at Hawks Cay in the FL Keys

Hawks Cay, the Florida Keys’ most active resort is now offering a family spring break package, the “Hawks Cay Spring Break Getaway” is valid now through April 19, 2010, rooms start at $225 per night, villas start at $365 per night. Each day the family stays at Hawks Cay, two children can enjoy a free half-day program at Camp Hawk. And while the kids are enjoying Camp Hawk, mom and dad can enjoy 15 percent off 80 minute or longer spa treatments at the award winning Calm Waters Spa.

Camp Hawk is regularly regarded as one of the premier resort kids programs; in 2009 it was voted Best Kids Program in Miami Herald's “Best of South Florida” readers' survey. Choose either the morning or afternoon Camp Hawk program (9 a.m. to 1 p.m. or 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.) which includes lunch for the morning session or snack for the afternoon session. Activities are complemented by the tropical setting of the Florida Keys where kids enjoy nature trail hikes, pool games, snorkeling in the lagoon, scavenger hunts, arts and crafts projects, stories and a kid-friendly snack and lunch. Another popular feature is the Pirate Ship Pool and water playground where youngsters escape 300 years back in time to the days when pirate ships roamed the seas.
The Calm Waters Spa was named 2009’s number one spa in all of the U.S. and Canada in Travel + Leisure’s 2009 “World’s Best Awards.” The Calm Waters Spa enhances guests’ level of relaxation with head-to-toe rejuvenation in a gracious unpretentious atmosphere. The spa offers five signature treatments including the popular Key Lime Mojito body treatment. Additionally, the spa includes a fitness room with complete schedule of group exercise classes including the one of a kind Fish-Fighting Fit class which helps anglers improve strength and endurance for catching the “big one.” The spa also offers a relaxation room, candlelit whirlpool, eucalyptus steam room and dry sauna.

Hawks Cay Resort on Duck Key in the Florida Keys is the premier destination in all of the Florida Keys for outdoor fun. Alongside the emerald water of the Atlantic Ocean, guests enjoy world-class fishing, a full-service marina, Dolphin Connection program, Calm Waters Spa, kiteboarding program, kid and teen clubs, diving, five signature restaurants, five swimming pools and more. All 177 guest rooms and 100-plus two-, three- and four bedroom villas were recently renovated during a $35 million resort enhancement. Hawks Cay is the title sponsor for the Saltwater Experience cable fishing show and hosts several amateur and professional fishing tournaments including the Sailfish Open. Hawks Cay Resort is a member of Preferred Hotels & Resorts. For reservations, call 1-888-313-5749 and mention the “Spring Break” promo or visit http://www.hawkscay.com/, and enter “spring” under the corporate/promotion code on the reservations page.

Travel Deal Highlights:
· Free half-day programs at Camp Hawk for two children each day of stay
· 15 percent off 80 minute or longer spa treatments for mom and dad
· Rooms start at $225 per night, villas start at $365 per night, offer expires April 19, 2010
· For reservations, call 1-888-313-5749 and mention the “Spring Break” promo or visit http://www.hawkscay.com/, and enter “spring” under the corporate/promotion code on the reservations page

Book by April 1st, Get 30% Off Hyatt Hotels

Beginning Friday, March 19, Hyatt will offer a 14-day limited time offer where travelers can save up to 30% off the Hyatt Daily Rate for stays at participating Park Hyatt, Andaz, Grand Hyatt and Hyatt Regency properties in the U.S., Canada and the Caribbean.

Beginning Friday and through April 1, the limited time offer is available to reserve with offer code LTO111 for stays between March 19 and June 30, 2010 - a perfect guestroom sale for a spring getaway or an early summer vacation.

Reservations may be made by visiting http://www.blogger.com/www.hyatt.com or calling 1-800-233-1234.
A full, non-refundable prepayment is required at time of booking. Rates, percentage savings, and participation vary by property. Full terms and conditions will be available Friday on the Special

Offers page at http://www.hyatt.com/hyatt/specials/offers.jsp.

Great Babymoon Deals for Expectinig Parents at Jamaica's FDR Resorts

New Mom or a Mom again? Start packing! There is no better way to celebrate the new arrival in your family than by introducing them to Jamaica and FDR Resorts, where your family will hopefully return again and again.

To celebrate your new addition, the all inclusive Franklyn D. Resort & Spa and Pebbles Resort in Jamaica are thrilled to introduce their Babymoon Package* designed just for your family! From April 9th to June 30th, 2010, Mom stays free and all the kids stay free while Dad pays full price on a 7 night stay. In addition, your new baby’s first passport is on us!

Small and intimate resorts, the staff at both FDR properties will embrace your family with true Jamaican warmth and hospitality. They are the Caribbean’s only Resorts where prices include a dedicated Vacation Nanny for each family. She is with your family during the day so Mom gets a chance to rest and relax while the Nanny takes over. Feeding is no longer a big job and the other kids get to bond with their new sibling. Your family will enjoy great memories on this family vacation! With Mom Staying Free and a Vacation Nanny to help out, there is no better way to spend a relaxing family vacation while enjoying your new addition. You will return home feeling well rested and rejuvenated.

Accommodations are in spacious family suites, great cuisine is served daily, bar drinks are unlimited, our children’s, preteens and teens centers are open all day, tennis, sailing, snorkeling and kayaking are included in our price, WiFi is free, kids enjoy a 100’ waterslide, and live nightly entertainment, airport transfers and hotel taxes are included.

Prices start from $310 per night at Franklyn D. Resort & Spa and $230 per night at Pebbles Resort. Call 1-800-654-1337 or visit us at http://www.fdrfamily.com/ for more information or to make your booking.

*Baby must be no more than 3 months old.
*Resort will reimburse Passport fees of $85 on arrival at the Resort.
*Dad must travel with the family.
*This promotion cannot be combined with any other promotion.

Save up to 55% at Dream Resorts & Spas

Plan an early summer vacation and receive savings of up to 55% and a free stay for two children (with the stay of two adults in the same room) at Dreams Resorts & Spas.

Valid for travel May 1 – June 25, 2010, Dreams’ “Kids Stay Free” promotion lets families experience the best of Mexico and the Dominican Republic from the ruins of Tulum, the cobbled streets of Puerto Vallarta, the beaches of Punta Cana, the seaside beauty of Los Cabos and the excitement of Cancun. “Kids Stay Free” alone represents a savings value of $700 per week for a family of four.

Available at each of Dreams Resorts & Spas’ 11 properties, the “Kids Stay Free” promotion not only includes reduced nightly rates, but $200 in resort coupons for every booking. Additionally all guests are privy to Dreams Resorts & Spas’ Unlimited-Luxury program which includes full breakfast, lunch and dinner, unlimited beverages (soft drinks, juices and alcoholic), 24-hour room service, daily activities and classes, and supervised Explorers Club access for kids.

Sample Rate – Get away and explore the ancient Mayan ruins at Dreams Tulum Resort & Spa. Set along Riviera Maya, rates start at $268 per night for a family of four (with children 12 and under). Prices are subject to change and are based on dates and availability. *Dates and restrictions applicable per resort.

For more information about Dreams Resorts & Spas’ Unlimited-Luxury vacations or to make a reservation visit www.dreamsresorts.com.

St. Patrick's Day Celebrations Around the World

Over 70 million people worldwide claim Irish heritage and St. Patrick's Festival is their opportunity to celebrate Ireland and St. Patrick himself. But who was St. Patrick? Thanks to Tourism Ireland, we can share this video about the wayward minister's son, who after being enslaved as a shepherd at age 16, returned to his homeland to "Christianize" the residents of Northern Ireland.



The St. Patrick's Festival in Ireland runs from March 12–17, 2010. It's an amazingly exciting time of year to visit the country, and a week when visiting families will find local families partaking in the merriment, family fun, church-going and, of course, hearty drinking that prevails.

Every community in Ireland participates, in addition to the thousands of other parades and festivals held elsewhere. Highlights in Ireland this year include the explosive Skyfest on Saturday 13 March, which will light up the skies over the city of Limerick, and the St. Patrick's Festival Parade in Dublin.

2010 International Pizza Expo Opens In Las Vegas

There are over 70 thousand pizza restaurants in the US alone. But every March thousands of pizzeria owners and operators from across the world pack the Las Vegas Convention Center for the International Pizza Expo.

The event, which caters to the 38 billion dollar a year industry (of which families are a really big part!) includes numerous culinary competitions, demonstrations, free samples and over-the-top contests like Extreme Pizza Tossing.

Exhibitors and educational sessions also feature the latest ideas in pizza making and personalization. And new gadgets like mobile pizza apps for the iPhone and Android are also on display.

Although pizza is the big cheese at the expo, visitors can also see everything from wings, BBQ, appetizers and more. Here's a fun video about the March 2010 event.




If you didn't Las Vegas would be a fun spring break destination, think again! And let us know which was your favorite sample.

Is Air Traffic Control Child's Play?

As most travelers know by now, the FAA is investigating an incident that took place a few weeks' ago at New York's Kennedy Airport. On the evening of February 16th, in the middle of the President's Day week-long school holiday, an air traffic controller brought his young son to visit in the Air Traffic Control Tower and allowed the boy to talk with pilots and guide them off and back down to the runways.

According to news sources about the ongoing FAA investigation of the incident, the boy cleared a Jet Blue flight for takeoff and spoke with other pilots on the tower's frequency, making at least five transmissions.

On the audiotape, you can hear a man's voice say to the pilots, "This is what you get, guys, when the kids are out of school." One of the pilots is heard to answer, "Wish I could bring my kid to work..."

Listen to the recording yourself: Audio file provided by 1010WINS.com, New York's news radio station.

In more news, The Washington Post has confirmed with the FAA that on the following day, February 17th, another child was brought to the same Air Traffic Control Tower by the same employee, but little else is known about this event.

In response to the incident, FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt said in a statement that, "These kinds of distractions are totally unacceptable. This lapse in judgment not only violated FAA’s own policies, but common-sense standards for professional conduct."

Both the air traffic controller and his supervisor have been placed on administrative leave, and the FAA has suspended unofficial visits to all air traffic control areas. In the past, visits by employee families were allowed with the permission of the respective control tower's supervisor.

According to the trade paper Travel Weekly, the National Air Traffic Controllers Association also criticized the controller and supervisor.

Cheap Airfare (from $369) To Cruise Europe

MSC’s newly released airfare program features reduced airfare for cruises throughout the Mediterranean onboard MSC Magnifica, the latest fleet addition, MSC Splendida, MSC Fantasia, and MSC Musica. Airfare prices start from just $369.

This offer allows guests to experience the vacation of a lifetime with Mediterranean cruise itineraries featuring destinations in Italy, Greece, Turkey, Croatia, and departing from Venice, Barcelona, Genoa, and Rome.

Cruises can be combined with airfare only or airfare and hotel. Airline departures are from Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) in New Jersey. Overnight hotel stay is recommended due to cruise arrival times, and can be booked through MSC or on your own.

Cruise itineraries include:

· MSC Magnifica, “Turkish Treasures and Croatian coasts” Eastern Mediterranean cruise from Venice; calling in Bari, Italy; Katakolon (Olympia), Greece; Izmir, Turkey; Istanbul, Turkey; and Dubrovnik, Croatia. Departures July 3 - November 13, 2010.
o Cruise from $749 [plus $64.71 pp. government fees and taxes (GFT’s)],
Airfare from $369 (plus $393.94 pp. taxes)
Hotel from $196 pp.

· MSC Splendida, “The Splendid Mediterranean” Western Mediterranean cruise from Genoa and Rome, Italy; calling in Marseille, France; Barcelona, Spain; La Goulette (Tunis), Tunisia; Valletta, Malta; Messina (Taormina), Sicily, Italy; and Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy. Departures May 15 – November 6, 2010.
o From Genoa: Cruise from $799 (plus $60.57 pp. GTF’s)
Airfare rates from $369 (plus $391.23 pp.)
Hotel from $129 pp.
o From Rome: Cruise from $899 (plus $51.30 pp. GFT’s)
Airfare rates from $390 (plus $359.31 pp.)
Hotel from $196 pp.

· MSC Musica, “Greek Islands in the Sun” Eastern Mediterranean cruise from Venice; calling in Bari, Italy; Katakolon, Greece; Santorini, Greece; Mykonos, Greece; Piraeus/Athens, Greece; Corfu, Greece; and Dubrovnik, Croatia. Departures May 9 – October 3, 2010.
o Cruise from $1,049 (plus $68.29 pp. GFT’s)
Airfare rates from $480 (plus $393.94 pp. taxes)
Hotel from $196 pp.

· MSC Fantasia “Mediterranean Fantasy” Western Mediterranean cruise from Genoa, Italy, and Barcelona, Spain; calling in Naples (Capri), Italy; Palermo, Italy; La Departures May 9 – November 8, 2010.
o From Genoa: Cruise from $899 (plus $58.81 pp. GFT’s)
Airfare rates from $369 (plus $391.23 pp. taxes)
Hotel from $129 pp.
o From Barcelona: Cruise from $899 (plus $73.06 pp. GFT’s)
Airfare rates from $435 (plus $382.69 pp. taxes)
Hotel from $196 pp.

For more information, visit http://www.msccruisesusa.com/, call 877-665-4655, or contact a local travel professional.

Orlando & Las Vegas Top Summer Travel Plans for Americans

According to a study released March 1, 2010, Orlando and Las Vegas remain the most popular summer destinations booked by American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA) travel consultants holding an honor they've held for the past 8 years. In ASTA's 2010 Hot Spots for Summer survey, Orlando came out on top with a 17.7 percent share of responses, and Las Vegas maintained the second spot with 16.2 percent of the votes. Overseas, the top four international destination cities remained the same for the eighth year in a row as well, with top-ranked London receiving an 8.5-percent share of the vote followed by Rome (8%), Paris (7.6%), Cancun (6.7%) and Punta Cana (2.8%), with its second year in the top five.

"Although the top destinations have remained relatively unchanged for many years, it's interesting to see some fresh destinations, both domestic and international, appear on the scene," said Chris Russo, ASTA president and chair. "Regardless of whether a destination is a perennial favorite or a soon-to-be favorite, working with a professional travel consultant to plan your next vacation ensures you will get a great value and an unforgettable experience."

Rounding out the top 10 after Orlando and Las Vegas were San Francisco (4.9%), Miami (3.7%), Los Angeles (3.3%), New York City (2.8%), San Diego (2.6%), Honolulu (2.0%), Seattle 1.9%) and Washington, DC (1.8%). Several changes occurred this year, most notably Seattle's return to the top 10, displacing Chicago for ninth place. The other major change was New York City moving up three places to sixth compared to 2009 and pushing Honolulu down to eighth place.

Florida again tops the state destinations for the 2010 summer season, accounting for 24.5 percent of all responses with cities such as Orlando, Miami, Ft. Lauderdale and Tampa. Nevada drew the second largest number of responses a 16.3-percent share with almost all the travel for Las Vegas. California (15.6%), New York (12.9%) and Hawaii (8.9%) rounded out the top five state destinations for summer travel.

When it comes to Americans heading abroad, Western Europe again dominated summer travel choices, taking five places. While the five destinations haven't changed since 2009, those rounding out the top 10 have: Hong Kong (.8%) made its first appearance in the top 10 and the Riviera Maya (2%) made an appearance at sixth place.

When examined in broader terms, Mexican destinations represented another major grouping in the international top 10 list. Taking into account both regions and countries, Mexico replaced Italy as the top location with a 15-percent share of the votes, while the United Kingdom again took second place with a 10.5-percent share. France (9.7%), Italy (9.4%) and the Caribbean (8%) completed the top five country/region list. The top five country/region listing has remained unchanged for more than five years.

Survey data was collected through the 2010 ASTA Research Family, a representative sample of ASTA member travel agency owners and managers. The Research Family reflects ASTA members in key agency demographics including sales volume, leisure/business mix, number of part-time and full-time employees and geographic location. This survey has a 95-percent confidence with an error rate +/- 4%.