TravelLeisure

Romance and quality time are on every girl’s wish list for Valentine’s Day and for some couples it’s the ultimate day to make dreams come true. For those who have decided that roses and chocolates just won’t do this year, Hard Rock Hotel San Diego is inviting guests to show their significant others who the true romance rock star is with a Fantasy Dream Date package including suite accommodations, a six-hour couples treatment at the ultra-luxurious Rock Spa and romantic dinner at world-class Japanese restaurant, Nobu.

The Fantasy Dream Date begins upon check-in when guests receive the key to their private suite complete with plush furnishings, 300-thread-count cotton linens and bathrooms with ceiling-mounted rain showers. Next, the couple will embark on a six-hour Love Potion No. 9 treatment at the hotel’s Rock Spa, named one of the best new spas of 2008 by Spa Magazine. Read more

Last year marked a record-setting ski season for American resorts with 60.5 million skier visits, according to the National Ski Areas Association. This year, many ski enthusiasts are faced with tighter budgets and new economic challenges that have them searching for ways to save without giving up their annual trip to the mountains.

When looking to cut vacation costs, it all starts during the booking process.

Top travel experts share the following tips for ski savings: Read more

Many people will be traveling this holiday season to visit family and friends and will bring their expensive laptops along on the trip. Most of these travelers will not have considered that thousands of laptops are stolen from airports every week. Thieves are ready to capitalize on the increase in air travel during the holidays and the chaos of the holiday season.

At airports alone, 12,000 laptops a week are lost according to a survey by the Ponemon Institute. And, that number is sure to increase this season.

While the loss of an expensive laptop can dampen the holiday spirit, the potential for identity theft will hang over the victim's head well into the New Year. Credit card, Social Security and bank account numbers are just some of the pieces of sensitive information that can be lifted from a stolen computer. Read more

Turn the usual ho-hum Christmas stocking stuffer into the most exciting gift of the holidays. For as little as $99, an introductory flight lesson will impress even the most jaded humbug on your gift list.

Sponsored by the nonprofit Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA), Let's Go Flying is a learn-to-fly initiative that works with more than 3,500 flight schools nationwide. For as little as $99, your friend, colleague, or family member will take the controls and actually fly a plane from taxi to takeoff to landing, all under the direction of an FAA-licensed flight instructor. The recipient even can fly over his or her own home!

It's easy to give the gift of flight. Log on to www.LetsGoFlying.com and enter your zip code to find the closest flight school. Then just call the school and request a gift certificate. Many schools also offer introductory flight certificates online. The LetsGoFlying.com website is jam-packed with a wealth of useful information for prospective aviators including a free DVD about getting started.

Source LetsGoFlying.com

7 Steps to Successfully Getting Your Bag Onboard

With the ever-increasing trend towards airlines charging to check even one bag it is tempting to carry onboard any and all bags for your flight. But, the airlines are keenly aware of your desire to avoid the fees and are on the lookout for passengers who want to stuff as much into carry-on baggage. Here are some simple steps you can take to packing a bag for carry-on and still stay within the airline rules.

Step 1 – Pack Light

Trust me, you don’t need to bring as much as you think. Consider how often you are going to be seen by the same people and realize that you don’t need to wear something different every day of your trip. Limit the number of shoes you bring. Remember you’re already wearing one pair on the plane. Read more

Hunting for vampires and werewolves in a misty, green rainforest doesn’t top many vacation itineraries, unless you’re a Twilighter! For fans of Stephenie Meyers’ hit saga, “Twilight,” imagination meets reality in the small town of Forks, Wash., where the romantic adventures of a teenage girl, Bella, and her vampire boyfriend, Edward, take place. Located on the Olympic Peninsula, Forks and Kalaloch Lodge is surrounded by miles of peaceful beaches and beautiful forests that provide the ideal landscape for visitors to do some fantasy sightseeing.

With “Twilight” premiering today and more movies on the way, this cultural phenomenon will not be disappearing any time soon. For the thousands of Twilighters that are making the pilgrimage to the Olympic Peninsula, Kalaloch Lodge is offering a Twilight Package starting at just $349.*

Available now through April 30, 2009, the Twilight Package features a two-night stay, dinner for two with a special Twilight dessert and extra Twilight amenities. Read more