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| Volume 5, Issue 27, July 3, 2007 |    |
If Italy is on your agenda, here are three new developments that might help you tailor your itinerary — depending on whether you’re looking for accommodations, entertainment, or combat.
As an alternative to the usual hotel, a new service is offering fully furnished private apartments throughout Italy for rent by the day or longer. Italy-Unique.com lets you search among available one- to four-bedroom apartments, villas and historic homes, with accommodations that cost between $130 and $2,700 a night.
If you’re lacking evening plans in Milan, head for the famous Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II. New free concerts have been established, changing daily, from 7 to 9 p.m., in the central hall.
Last and definitely oddest, what fan of Ben-Hur — or of Russell Crowe — would pass up a chance to be a gladiator? In what is being called “the most intense hotel workout in history,” the Rome Cavalieri Hilton is partnering with the Gruppo Storico Romana, a group of early Roman reenactors, to offer a Gladiator Training Program. Participants — a maximum of eight per group — get to don gladiator costumes and learn to use the traditional weapons (advanced students get full body armor). The two-hour training course, which even the promotional material calls “grueling,” starts with wooden training swords and runs through the whole gamut of those gladiator-movie weapons. The training is held in the hotel’s 15-acre private park and can be followed by a four-handed Gladiator Massage. Sessions are open to all guests of the hotel and cost about $575, massage not included. 
Japan Airlines has begun its planned improvements to its Executive Class meal service on its U.S. routes. One noteworthy element is that the change affects not only the menu, but the actual way it is served. Passengers will be assigned a particular cabin attendant to look after them during the course of a flight, and carts will no longer be used for meal service; flight attendants will hand-deliver each meal. Menu changes start with the Chicago (ORD)-Narita (NRT) route this month, doubling the number of Japanese main dishes. Next month, JAL will introduce shunmisaisai, a seasonal selection of eight appetizers.
In what is being called a first for the airline industry, Northwest Airlines has begun accepting PayPal, the online payment system, as currency for buying tickets online. PayPal members can set up accounts that are either pre-funded or draw directly from a bank account or credit card, and are accessed easily by email address and password.
Last Thursday, Qatar Airways' maiden flight to North America landed at Newark Liberty Airport (EWR), and Global Traveler publisher Francis X. Gallagher was on hand for the ceremonies. The new service from Doha (DOH) operates via Geneva (GVA) on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays in both directions. Qatar Airways Chief Executive Officer Akbar Al Baker pronounced the new service the fulfillment of a long-term dream to serve the United States. The carrier is using Airbus A330 aircraft in a three-class configuration to serve the route. Al Baker also talked with media guests about Qatar's recently opened Premium Terminal at Doha International, which includes a spa and is for the exclusive use of departing first- and business-class passengers.
Flexible fare structures catering to a wider range of passenger booking needs are the latest trend among airlines, and the latest to jump on that particular bandwagon is South African Airways. SAA’s version is a new lower tier of fare prices. Simpler rules allow stays as short as three days to qualify for the lowest prices, which start at $1,100 round-trip New York (JFK)-Johannesburg (JNB). The online booking forms also allow you to see indicate flexibility and see fares for several days before and after your ideal date.
If you encounter a layover or unexpected delay at London’s Gatwick Airport (LGW), now you can find a comfy place to rest without leaving the terminal. Called Yotel, it’s a series of windowless, soundproof “cabins” modeled on British Airways’ first-class sleeping compartments and stacked like Japanese capsule hotels. A standard cabin has a bed, shower (with towels, products and hairdryer), a fold-out desk and stool, a 20-inch flat-screen TV, overhead luggage storage, and a touchscreen menu for ordering food from the “galley,” all in 75 square feet of space. A 109-square-foot premium cabin is similar, but with a double bed that converts to a couch, hanging storage, a larger TV, and free Internet access. Rates start at $50 for four hours or $100 for overnight.
Omni Corpus Christi Hotel Bayfront Tower
900 North Shoreline Blvd.
Corpus Christi, TX 78401
tel 361 887 1600, fax 361 887 6715
www.omnihotels.com
Looking for a place to stay in Corpus Christi, we checked with the locals and opted for what the Corpus Christi Caller Times named its “2007 Best of the Best Hotels,” the Omni Bayfront Tower. This is not to be confused with its twin, the Marina Tower, which is three blocks away and a block further inland.
We checked into the attractive skyscraper hotel on Memorial Day, which was a real test, as the hotel had been packed for the weekend. Our room was ready, and nobody seemed frazzled. Although it had hosted three weddings over the weekend, the hotel was ready for business in every sense of the term. With 24 meeting rooms, a 10,000-square-foot ballroom, three restaurants and sweeping views, it is easy to see why it’s a favorite locale for both social and business gatherings.
Parking in the garage was free, an unexpected perk. Once in our room, it quickly became obvious that some renovations are underway. Our bathroom had that freshly done look-a new granite countertop and gleaming fixtures — which only emphasized the need to replace the stained bedroom carpet. The free Internet access made checking email easy, but the “desk” was a small built-in shelf tucked in the foyer.
The hotel has two workout rooms. Jim used the treadmill and ate a fresh peach from the fruit bowl. Wanting to enjoy the morning breeze and burn a few more calories, he walked down to the front desk and found out where to rent a bicycle. We’d seen people riding along the seawall, and it looked inviting. We weren’t feeling energetic enough for the two racquetball courts.
On our day off, we sat by the pool and watched kids swim. It seemed to be a great place for families; the hotel goes the extra mile, with a bin of aquatic toys containing noodles, water guns, beach balls and a floating ring toss game. (Some umbrellas would be a welcome addition to the poolside amenities.) The staff kept a steady supply of towels available.
All in all, we’d happily come again — and probably rate it more highly once the refurbishment is done.
Score: ••••• Jim & Barbara Twardowski
If you have a lot of business to do in Bangkok, or want to combine business with pleasure, the Pan Pacific Bangkok has established a special program for you. Guests who stay at least seven consecutive nights not only get discounted rates (13 percent off, or 20 percent off for stays of at least 14 nights) but automatic upgrades to a deluxe room on the Atrium floor, daily breakfast, free Internet access, 20 percent off all food and beverage including room service, 20 percent off phone charges, and 30 percent off laundry and dry cleaning.
The Caribbean island of Dominica is hosting an online contest in conjunction with the new TV show “Pirate Master.” Enter the contest by answering questions about the island and the TV program (easily researched online) until Aug. 31. One winner will receive a five-night stay for two at the oceanfront Fort Young Hotel on Dominica, including airfare from the United States or Canada, ground transfers, and free admission to a variety of activities including scuba diving, ATV riding and the aerial rain forest tram.
If you missed your opportunity to “get lucky” by booking a hotel for 7/7/07, a group of hotels in Colorado, California and Wyoming are giving you a second chance. The Destination Hotels & Resorts Mountain Collection properties in Aspen, Vail, Snowmass, Telluride, Lake Tahoe and Jackson, all ski resorts, are offering an off-season program to mid-November that gives almost 15 percent off when you book a room for a week. An extra 7 percent discount is given for any booking made on the 7th of any month. Use discount code “Seven.”
The Hong Kong Shopping Festival is going on now, and in celebration of the event, which began June 30 and runs through Aug. 31, the Hong Kong Tourist board has organized a basketful of deals and discounts. They include a list of 200 restaurants offering a menu of drinks and dishes priced at HK$10 (about $1.25), a guide to special festival shopping bargains, discounts for using a Visa card at select merchants, $20 off the Airport Express air link, and more.
Through Aug. 31, American Airlines will give triple miles for round-trip flights between New York (JFK) and London (LHR) to passengers flying on first or business-class tickets. To qualify, you must be an AAdvantage member, and preregister at www.aa.com/offers. Promotion code is AALHR.
