THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, February 2, 1997 TAG: 9701310053
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E3 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: Travel-Wise
SOURCE: Stephen Harriman
LENGTH: 157 lines
VALENTINE'S DAY, that crassly commercial ``holiday'' that feeds off love, has spawned about as many ``romantic getaway'' plans as there are hotels, motels, B&Bs, whatever. Particularly this year, since Feb. 14 happens to begin a weekend.
Here's one that has even me thinking.
Kingsmill Resort, the luxury layout just east of Williamsburg on the banks of the James River, is offering a ``Fireside Getaway'' for $135 a night, single or double - single? how romantic can that be? - that includes:
A one-bedroom suite featuring a living room with fireplace, bedroom, dining area, kitchen and balcony or patio; complimentary golf on the Bray Links par-3 course; complimentary use of the newly expanded Sports Club with indoor pool, racquetball courts, a fitness studio and an aerobics studio; and complimentary shuttle service to nearby attractions and shopping outlets.
Kingsmill has a four-diamond rating from AAA and a four-star rating from Mobil Travel Guide.
Info and reservations: (800) 832-5665.
Your money's worth
British Airways Holidays has ``London for Less'' packages starting at $399 with three nights in a central hotel, continental breakfast daily - and airfare from New York. The price is per person, double occupancy; the hotel is the Tavistock, which is perfectly OK if all you're looking for is a place to sleep, and its location is very good for the Tube; upgrades are available at an additional cost. The rate is valid for Tuesday/Wednesday departures Feb. 4 through March 19, Thursday departures Feb. 20 through March 13. Additional night, single room and upgrade prices are available. Bookings on these ``Value Plus'' deals are non-refundable. Info: (800) 359-8722.
Also London: Insight International's ``London Spree'' excursion, priced from $570 per person, double, gives you a chance to explore England's capital for a pittance. Available any day of the week through March 22, the cost includes round-trip airfare from New York, three nights' accommodations at a choice of five hotels, daily continental breakfast, London sightseeing tour and Thames cruise, London discount voucher and transfers. Land-only packages are also available, beginning at $250. Info: (800) 582-8380.
If you fancy Paris, try New Frontiers' ``A Taste of Paris.'' The three-night trip is priced from $309 per person, double, and includes accommodations, daily continental breakfast, transfers, two-day city tour, Metro/bus pass, monument/ museum pass, one dinner and a discount shopping card. If you have more time, a five-night trip begins at $399. Available through March 31, the package does NOT include airfare. Info: (800) 366-6387.
Going down. . . under
James Boyd of Air New Zealand told me that their researchers say that people contemplate a trip ``down under'' to Pacifica - Australia, Newe Zealand and the South Pacific islands - for about six years before actually packing up and going.
Hmmm. I've been thinking about it at least since the late '40s after hearing stories told by a family friend stationed in New Zealand during World War II. So I'm LONG overdue. How about you? Are your six years about up? Here are a couple of bargains to get you going.
Air New Zealand is offering a $1,099 Pacifica Explorer round trip fare from Los Angeles that includes up to three Pacific stopovers: passengers can choose from among New Zealand, Australia, Tahiti, Honolulu, Fiji, the Cook Islands, Western Samoa and Tonga. The fare is good for travel between April 1 and Aug. 31, and must be purchased by March 31. From Norfolk, the fare is $360 more. Info: contact a travel agent or call Air New Zealand at (800) 262-1234.
Air New Zealand actually has an even better deal if you're interested in only one destination and can make a decision very quickly. The Take-a-Make round-trip fare from L.A. to Sydney, Australia, is $998 for you, another $499 for your mate. From L.A. to Auckland, N.Z., it's $898 plus $449. Add on from Norfolk is the same as above. This fare is good for travel between March 3 and May 31, requires a seven-day stay and must be purchased by Friday.
Caught in the web
Speaking of that. The Travel Channel's third annual ``Ultimate World Tour'' promotion offers six grand prize winners, each with a guest, a 12-day trip to Australia, New Zealand and Tahiti. Viewers can enter through The Travel Channel Web site at http://www.travel channel.com/ or by sending in a 3-by-5-inch postcard with hand-printed name, address, ZIP code, phone number, age and local cable system. Mail to: The Travel Channel Ultimate World Tour Down Under Sweepstakes, P.O. Box 7990, Melville, N.Y. 11775-7990. All mail-in entries must be postmarked by Feb. 8 and received by Feb. 15.
Club Med's new Web site gives away a seven-night trip for two every week. Contestants enter by completing an online form and short quiz. Check in at http://www.clubmed.com.
The discount hotel service Quikbook now promises travelers quality lodging nationwide at rates that are 40 percent to 65 percent below retail via its new Web site: http://www.Quikbook.com. Or call (800) 789-9887 weekdays from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Book to note
``Wendy Perrin's Secrets Every Smart Traveler Should Know'' (Fodor's Travel Publications, $15) is chock full of advice from the ombudsman for Conde Nast Traveler magazine - most based on actual reader complaints about shoddy treatment. Highly recommended.
Where was that made?
Two new maps show movie sites in popular tourist destinations.
The San Francisco Movie Map pinpoints and describes dozens of sites on both sides of the Golden Gate Bridge for such films as ``A View to a Kill,'' ``The Birds,'' ``Love Bug,'' and ``Star Trek IV.'' It's available for $6.95 by calling Reel Map Co. (415) 824-1819.
The Australian Movie Map locates 75 sites around the country, including `` `Crocodile' Dundee,'' ``My Brilliant Career,'' ``Breaker Morant'' and ``The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert.'' The map is free from the Aussie Help Line (847) 296-4900.
By the way, much of ``Evita'' was shot, not in Buenos Aires, but in Budapest, Hungary. That's not particularly unusual for movies. It's all make-believe anyway. Did you know that? In the '80s, ``Amadeus'' was filmed in Prague because the Czech capital looked more like 18th century Vienna than 20th century Vienna did.
Park passport doubles
The cost of the Golden Eagle Passport - an annual pass that allows entrance to national parks, refuges, recreation areas, historic sites and monuments that charge entrance fees - has doubled in price to $50 under a new program designed to improve financing for federal properties around the country.
The Golden Eagle Passport admits the passport holder and any accompanying passengers in a private vehicle. Old Golden Eagle Passports will remain valid until their expiration date. It's available at most national parks.
Business boom, bust
Business is booming at New York, New York, the Las Vegas resort-casino that opened earlier this month. January is traditionally a slow month in Vegas, but the casino floor has been packed nightly and the resort's roller coaster, which wraps the outside cityscape like a ribbon, has added two new sound effects to the Las Vegas Strip: the roar of its speeding wheels and the screams of riders.
Farther north on Las Vegas Boulevard, meanwhile, the towering Stratosphere, which opened last spring, reportedly planned to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and restructure its debt. It has a roller coaster, too, atop its observation deck more than 100 stories up, although at midmonth the coaster was closed for maintenance.
Leave the driving
Traffic is so bad in Bangkok that the Regent Hotel has laid on, mostly for its time-starved business guests, a ``mobile office'' - a Chevrolet van fitted with a computer, fax, telephone, tape recorder, television, videocassette recorder and writing desk. It takes guests to and from the airport, and to appointments in the Thailand capital, where traffic often resembles a parking lot.
The van, which is also stocked with music, newspapers, magazines and bottled water, can be booked when a room is reserved at the Regent; fees are $77 for a one-way airport transfer and $60 an hour for travel within Bangkok. MEMO: Travel-wise is compiled from wire-service reports, news releases,
trade journals, books, magazines and the deepest recesses of the
writer's mind. Send comments and questions to Travel-wise, The
Virginian-Pilot, Norfolk, Va. 23501-0449; phone (757) 446-2904.