News

Vintage Luxury Across India

Grand train journeys are back. Travelers are again embracing the “getting there is half the fun” philosophy, especially when getting there involves riding, dining and sleeping in a world of supreme vintage luxury. Right out of the Raj, the Maharajas’ Express immerses travelers in the dramatic Indian landscape on a week-long, round-trip journey starting in Delhi and visiting Agra, Gwalior, Orchha, Khajuraho, Bandhavgarh National Park, Varanasi and the imperial city of Lucknow.

The first Pan-India luxury train offers excursions and experiences that include visits to sacred sites and private museums, spa treatments in palace hotels and wildlife encounters. In Agra guests can admire the Taj Mahal at dusk while taking high tea with Champagne at the Taj Khema and can dine in the 120-year-old Usha Kiran Palace before visiting Man Mandir Palace, a masterpiece of Rajput architecture. They can spot or even track tigers in Bandhavgarh National Park and cruise on the scenic Ganges River during a journey across India. Visit www.rirtl.com.

Maharajas’ Express joins the ranks of luxury train rides that are gaining renewed interest around the world, including the fabled Orient-Express, the Royal Scotsman and the Blue Train across South Africa.

ParkSleepFly

All frequent travelers have been there at least once: on the way to the airport in the pre-dawn hours for an early flight, having left a little later than usual, figuring there’d be no traffic at that time of night. But an accident on the interstate has traffic creeping like snails as the minutes tick past, getting closer and closer to flight time. There’s an easier way, and it just got even easier. Many airport hotels offer seven to 11 days’ free parking with one night’s stay, plus free shuttles right to the departure terminal.

ParkSleepFly.com finds park-and-stay deals in over 120 airports in the United States, Canada and Europe, so travelers can quickly compare the costs, number of days’ free parking and other hotel services, including details like shuttle operating hours. Travelers whose return flights land late can choose to make the one-night stay on the return instead of driving home tired after a long day. Either way, passengers often find the cost of the hotel room with free airport parking about the same as airport parking alone. Visit www.parksleepfly.com.

New Dutch Treat

KLM has turned to leading Dutch designer Marcel Wanders to create its new tableware for World Business Class passengers. The porcelain, glassware, cutlery, linen and even the tray, designed exclusively for KLM, will debut on flights March 27. The new tableware is part of a completely renewed presentation of onboard meals and drinks designed to match the quality standards of top restaurants. In the process, KLM also reduces environmental impact by reducing the weight of its tableware.

Lounging Around

American Airlines and British Airways have opened a joint Admirals Club lounge at Denver International Airport (DEN), their first since entering into the business agreement on routes between North America and Europe. Along with featuring state-of-the-art amenities, the lounge simplifies connections by relocating the Denver Admirals Club from Terminal C to Terminal A, used by both AA and BA. The 5,115-square-foot space seats 124 guests and includes a cell phone-free quiet zone; a Cyber Café with HP TouchSmart PCs; a conference room; and business center work stations with new HP Compaq dc7900 PCs as well as fax, copier and printing. Visit  http://www.aa.com or www.ba.com.

British Airways is now working alongside oneworld partners in Tokyo’s Narita Airport (NRT) Terminal 2, providing easier transfers and access to Japan Airlines lounges, as well as discounts at the Duty Free Shop for Executive Club members. Delta Air Lines has opened its first Delta Sky Club at Indianapolis International Airport (IND), the second of four planned airport lounge openings. Visit www.delta.com.

The Train in Spain

The Alta Velocidad Española, the AVE high-speed train, has begun service from Madrid to Valencia, with stops in Requena and Cuenca. Traveling at speeds of up to 205 mph, the train makes the trip in only 90 minutes instead of the previous time of three hours and 45 minutes. Eventually up to 20 trains a day will travel the route, with two-class service in 12 coaches. Four will be Club Class coaches, seating 71 passengers.

S7 Joins Oneworld

Russia’s leading domestic carrier, S7 Airlines, is now part of oneworld, tripling the airline alliance’s network in the Commonwealth of Independent States. S7 subsidiary Globus joined at the same time, as an affiliate member of oneworld. This adds 55 destinations in Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States, bringing CIS and Eastern Europe to a total of 84 oneworld destinations in 26 countries.

Two-Wheel Deal

InterContinental London Park Lane guests can cycle through London’s Royal Parks — Green Park, St. James’s Park and Hyde Park — on a “Boris Bike” from Barclays Bicycle Hire. The three parks that surround the hotel inspired the purchase of Barclays memberships for its guests, giving them free use of the bicycles and cycle helmets. Three docking stations are within a two-minute walk of the InterContinental London Park Lane, and the hotel’s Insider Concierge team shares their local knowledge of good cycling routes. Visit

http://www.london.intercontinental.com.

New EVA Codeshare

EVA Air and its subsidiary UNI have teamed with Air China and Shenzhen Air for codeshare service between Taiwan and China, giving North American travelers more flexibility and more convenient connections to eight Chinese cities. It also makes trips to China with a stop in Taipei an attractive option. Expect the two airlines to share frequent-flyer programs in the future. In other news from EVA, flights have begun on its new route linking Taipei’s and Tokyo’s city centers by non-stop service between the close-in airports in both cities. Taipei’s Songshan International Airport (TSA) and Tokyo’s Haneda Airport (HND) are within 20 minutes of the respective cities’ downtowns, significantly reducing travel times. Visit http://www.evaair.com.

Two for Thailand

Thailand’s first Four Points by Sheraton has opened in a prime downtown location in Sukhumvit, Bangkok’s entertainment and commercial district. The 268-room property includes eight junior suites and 11 executive suites, along with three dining venues, a rooftop bar and BeerVault. Visit www.starwoodhotels.com. Meanwhile, W Hotels has opened its first property in Southeast Asia, the W Retreat Koh Samui, an all-villa beachfront resort on the north shore of Thailand’s Samui Island. The 75 beachfront villas sit on their own peninsula, each overlooking either a sunrise or sunset view across the Gulf of Thailand. Visit www.whotels.com.

Two New Stars

Star Alliance has approved both Avianca-TACA and Copa Airlines as future members, significantly increasing the Star Alliance footprint in the growing economies of Latin America. Avianca-TACA and Copa Airlines will bring 46 new destinations to the Star Alliance network and add significantly to the direct connections between Latin America and Europe. Visit www.staralliance.com. 

Rewards

A TrueBlue AAdvantage

American Airlines and JetBlue Airways have launched a reciprocal frequent-flyer agreement, allowing American Airlines AAdvantage and JetBlue’s TrueBlue loyalty program members to earn TrueBlue points or AAdvantage miles, respectively, in select markets. TrueBlue members can now earn points on American flights from New York (JFK) and Boston (BOS) to 17 of American’s international destinations, including Barcelona (BCN), Rio de Janeiro (GIG), London Heathrow (LHR), Paris (CDG), Madrid (MAD), Milan (MXP) and Tokyo (HND and NRT). AAdvantage members can earn miles flying JetBlue to 35 domestic cities, and in each case points are awarded whether the flights are used alone or in conjunction with any other connecting flights. Visit www.aa.com/jetblue.

More Miles in India

American Airlines and India’s Kingfisher Airlines begin a frequent-flyer relationship this year, allowing AAdvantage members to earn miles on codeshare Kingfisher flights from London Heathrow (LHR) to both Delhi (DEL) and Mumbai (BOM) and on their domestic network beyond Delhi. King Club members will earn miles on American flights between Delhi and Chicago (ORD) and on selected American flights between the United States and London Heathrow. The two airlines are exploring a further agreement that may include the ability to earn and redeem miles across each carrier’s network. Visit www.aa.com.

Fjord Reward

Hurtigruten, the operator of expedition cruises that sail year-round along Norway’s coast and to remote destinations including Antarctica and Greenland, has announced the launch of the “1893 Ambassador” customer loyalty program to reward repeat guests. Members will enjoy 10 percent off their next Norwegian Coastal Voyage, 5 percent off a future Explorer Voyage and a 5 percent discount on selected excursions, as well as bicycle rental and in-cabin fruit baskets. Rewards can be combined with early-booking fares and other selected discount programs. Past guests can join by visiting www.hurtigruten.us/1893; new travelers can join on board or after returning home.

Deals

Preferred Check-in

Following a successful test at Aloft Lexington in Massachusetts, Starwood is expanding a tech-driven welcome service. Customers who carried Starwood Preferred Guest cards received a text with their room number before arrival, allowing them to bypass the front desk and head straight to their room, which they accessed by tapping their Preferred Guest card on the door lock. That pilot program is being expanded to Alofts in Harlem, Brooklyn, Jacksonville and Brussels. Visit http://www.starwoodhotels.com.

Green Mountains Getaways

It’s rare to find deals during Vermont’s winter high season, when its ski mountains and legendary country inns are prime getaways from Northeast cities. But three landmark properties are offering unbeatable deals for skiing or just enjoying the idyllic winter landscapes. Rabbit Hill Inn, consistently named among New England’s best (and most romantic) country inns, offers 20 percent off regular rates on “hot dates” through May 26. Hot Date specials also include afternoon tea, full breakfast and all gratuities, and are valid Sunday through Thursday nights of most weeks. Stowe Mountain Lodge, the only ski-in/ski-out resort at Vermont’s highest peak, offers a Four Diamond Package for two, with discounted luxury accommodations, dinner, ski lift passes and a bottle of Champagne, valid until April 10. The Spa at The Woodstock Inn & Resort invites guests through April 28 to a Pampered & Great Spa Escape, including two nights’ lodgings and $888 in spa credit, all for $888.

Sleep, Jeep, Discover the Deep

For the first time in its history, deluxe White Bay Villas overlooking the idyllic white Jost Van Dyke beach in the British Virgin Islands is offering a money-saving package. Sleep, Jeep, Discover the Deep includes a seven-night stay for two in a fully equipped private villa, use of a 4-wheel-drive vehicle throughout the stay, snorkel gear for exploring the villa’s own secluded beach and coral reef, and $150 dinner credit at a popular beachfront restaurant, for $3,000 per couple per week, through April 30. Visit www.jostvandyke.com.

Fiji Freebies

Through March 31, the 5-star Vatulele Island Resort on Fiji entices guests with a Free Nights Free Flights special. Stay five nights in a deluxe beach bure or deluxe beach bure with a pool and receive the fifth night free, along with two complimentary round-trip flights from Nadi to Vatulele. The combination adds up to a savings of more than $2,000 per couple for a five-night stay.

Deals to Israel

EL AL Israel Airlines and JetBlue Airways are celebrating their new partnership with special promotional round-trip fares for travel through March 31. Single ticketing and seamless connections between JetBlue flights from 32 cities across the United States and EL AL flights to Israel are priced as low as $985, including fuel surcharge and two free checked bags on all flights. Visit www.elal.com.

Stay and Play in California

In California’s Central Sierra region, the Saddle Creek Resort Stay-and-Play Package features unlimited golf on its 18-hole, championship-level layout, starting at $149 per person ($199 on weekends) through March 31. Along with golf, the special includes accommodations in luxurious course-side bungalows, breakfast, practice facility access, golf cart and cart fees, along with access to the resort’s Sports Club and its lap pool, workout equipment and classes, tennis and bocce courts. Visit www.saddlecreek.com.