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Philadelphia Freedom!
According to USA Today, Philadelphia International Airport has
started offering free Wi-Fi Internet service.

Keep Your Fingers Crossed!
There's a proposed new rule out there! Airline passengers would be
able to cancel new reservations within 24 hours without penalty and
collect up to $1,300 in compensation for being bumped from an
overbooked flight under rules proposed June 2nd by the Obama
administration. Under the proposal, airlines also could not increase
fare prices after a ticket is purchased and would be required to be
more clear about baggage fees, flight status changes and passenger
bumping rules.

Foil the Oil!
A few Key West waterfront hotels are dealing with the Gulf of Mexico
oil spill with a just announced 'Clean Beach Guarantee'.

Kevin Speidel, manager of the historic, 311-room Casa Marina Resort
and the newer, 150-room Reach Resort in Key West, Fla. said "In the
event something happens, people are looking for some assurances, so
we came up with the clean-beach guarantee to provide some
assurances to guests." According to Speidel, if tar balls or oil require
the closure of beaches, the Casa Marina and Reach hotels will refund
guests their room rate and taxes, though not their bill for food and
beverages. "We're not going to hold people against their will."

The Cost to Fly Just Got Higher!
According to USA Today and FareCompare.com, airlines have quietly
increased what you'll pay for a flight nearly every day this summer by
slapping a surcharge for flying on a "peak travel day". Expect to pay
$10 to $30 more for each one-way domestic flight which is included
in the cost of a ticket. The extra charges could add up to $240 to the
cost of a round trip this summer vacation season for a family of 4.
That adds to already higher ticket prices. Five big airlines — American,
Delta, Continental, United and US Airways— have surcharges on
most flights on 73 of 74 days June 10 through Aug. 22. The only day
without a surcharge is July 4, usually one of the summer's least-busy
travel days. Big airlines' most common surcharge is $20. It's most
frequently charged on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Mondays,
FareCompare.com says. A $10 surcharge is most common Tuesdays
and Wednesdays. The most expensive surcharge — $30 — is usually
in effect on Sundays. Sundays usually are the busiest travel days and
have the highest surcharges, says American spokesman Tim Smith.
Tuesdays and Wednesdays are the least busy.

No More American Miles From Marriott!
It looks as if American Airlines and Marriott Hotels are splitting!
According to USA Today, this is the e-mail message just sent out by
American Airlines to AAdvantage Program members.
AMERICAN: "We would like to provide you with an important update
to the American Airlines AAdvantage program. Effective July 1, 2010,
the Marriott Rewards program will no longer offer AAdvantage miles
for stays at Marriott hotels. All qualifying stays at participating
properties completed by June 30, 2010 will be eligible to earn
AAdvantage miles. It is also important to note the final date to convert
your Marriott Rewards points to AAdvantage miles will be June 30,
2010...For a limited time, visit the AAdvantage ConnectionsSM Web
site for a list of our special hotel offers.

Excuse me...Your ROOM KEY is Ringing!
According to Hotel Check-In, InterContinental Hotels Group next
month will begin testing new technology at two Holiday Inns that
lets guests use their smartphones to unlock their hotel-room door!
IHG says that many guests today already carry smartphones and
some would enjoy the freedom to avoid the front desk.

Be Polite and say 'Thank You'!
Charm Camp! A new and exclusive program The Ritz-Carlton,
South Beach is launching on Saturday, June 19 (with two more
classes on the horizon-TBD) to reach out to families and the
“tween” market to teach the basics of modern-day etiquette,
beauty, fashion, makeup application, healthy eating and more to
“ladies-in-training.” $175 Per Teen and a summer accommodation
rate of $279..at the Ritz? Unheard of!!!! Call: (786) 276-4000

Campy Way to Save Cash!
From May 1st to October 11 (Columbus Day), 2010. Campground
Owners of New York (CONY), an association of privately owned
campgrounds and RV parks, is offering a free night of camping
with two paid nights at several affiliate parks. A listing of
participating locations, as well as booking details and
inclusions/restrictions are available at www.ilovenycamping.com.

Aggressive Rules now Rule!
As of Thursday, April 29, 2010, the DOT's tarmac delay rule
subjects airlines to stiff fines if passengers are stuck on the tarmac
for more than three hours. It was prompted by a string of long
delays dating back to December 2006, which DOT documents
say caused passengers "undue discomfort and inconvenience."
The three-hour tarmac time limit applies only to domestic flights.
And there are more new DOT regulations to make your flying
experience even better. For details, go to www.regulations.gov.

I Want To Be ALONE!!!
According to a recent survey by the Travel Industry, the number
of single travelers is growing. 11% percent of all leisure travelers
in the U.S. travel alone. In March 2010, AAA Western and Central
New York launched the AAA Solo Travelers Club with the goal of
offering solo-friendly travel programs, events, and specials to those
who may be single, widowed, or married with a spouse who does
not travel. To join AAA’s Solo Travelers Club call 1-800-937-1222
or visit www.AAA.com/solo.

This Travel News Will Really 'Bug' You!
According to CNN (London) After a night in a San Francisco motel
three years ago, Maciej Ceglowski awoke covered in bedbug bites.
The experience had such a psychological impact on him that he was
moved to start a Web site to warn others of the bugs lurking in
hotels and apartment blocks across the United States and Canada.
His Web site, The Bedbug Registry, now receives between 10,000
and 15,000 visitors daily and up to 100 reports a day of infestations
in hotels and apartment blocks, mainly in New York, San Francisco,
Toronto and Vancouver.

Airport’s first full body scanner
The first full-body scanner at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport made its debut Monday, March 15, 2010. The imaging technology, which effectively sees through clothes, is one of 150 scanners bought with federal stimulus money and is now being deployed at major airports across the United States. The 150 machines join 40 already in use at 20 other airports nationwide. Hundreds more will be deployed at U.S. airports soon. And if you're 'shy'...passengers may be able to opt out by choosing the more traditional pat down procedure instead of the full body scan.

Hotels Using latest technology
Ordering hotel room service before you check in has just become possible with just-released On the Spot System's new iPhone apps for Hilton, Embassy Suites and Doubletree. And how about free Wi-Fi on Amtrak? This new Getaway perk launches this spring!

International visitors to pay fee to visit US
President Obama signed the Travel Promotion Act into law March 4th, which aims to reinvigorate the tourism industry but will require many international visitors to pay a fee to enter the U.S. Under the new law, visitors from visa-waiver countries — most European countries, Australia, Brunei, Japan, Korea, Singapore and New Zealand — will be required to pay $10 prior to arriving in the U.S.

Change is Brewing!!!
Forget the fine china for morning coffee at Four Seasons Hotels. The Toronto-based luxury hotel chain is updating its elegant morning coffee service by adding to-go cups in all 83 hotels! Grab your paper cups and sip on your way out the door!

Wizard Wonder Opens June 18th!
The highly-anticipated Wizarding World of Harry Potter attraction opens to the public on June 18 at Universal Orlando's Islands of Adventure. Yes! A magic flight adventure with Harry himself! Shhhh Here's a Getaway Guy Tip: The attraction will actually have an early opening beginning May 28 for park guests who buy a special Harry Potter travel package. (Check ahead. Some of the early dates may already be sold out.) Those packages are still available via Universal's website, http://www.universalorlando.com/harrypotter.

Hemingway home now a Landmark
Great Travel News from one of my favorite Getaway destination this time of year! A very popular site to see when in Key West, Florida is Ernest Hemingway's Home where he lived and wrote for close to a decade. According to CNN, the home was just designated a 'Literary Landmark' ! Add that to its National Historic Landmark fame and you've got a must-see when in the Keys! Tours are available daily!

Continental to sell what once was free
Pack your own lunch! Continental Airlines is ending free hamburgers, barbecue and sandwich rolls for many of its passengers in favor of a food-for-sale program. Other airlines are already doing this.

Heading to Disney anytime soon?
According to a TripAdvisor contributor, there's a great hidden gem at Epcot. They only take 8 people a day Monday through Friday. It's called 'Dolphins in Depth', a 3-hour tour where a selected few can learn about and get close with Disney's dolphins. http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/tours-and-experiences/dolphins-in-depth/ or call (407) 939-868