Stephanie Serino's Travel Blog

Eight-month old cocker spaniel Snickers was rescued by NCL America's Pride of Aloha from Fanning Island. After spending over three months drifting in the South Pacific on a boat with his former owners, they washed ashore on Fanning Island. Two weeks later, the couple boarded an inter-island supply ship abandoning Snickers, who survived on his own for months. Las Vegas man Jack Joslin heard the tale and organized the rescue with the help of the Hawaiian Humane Society and the cruise ship. The lost dog is saved, and will be flown to Vegas to meet his new owner. Here's a link to the story from Honolulu: http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080417/NEWS01/804170338/1001/LOCALNEWSFRONT

Delta’s proposed takeover of Northwest has the pundits buzzing about what it’ll mean to the airline industry, stock market, and business travelers. Big surprise, but there’s no mention of what it means to us here in Ithaca, N.Y. So for the record, here’s my take on the merger from a Central New York perspective. Pray that Delta lets us keep our two daily flights between Ithaca and Detroit. The city of Ithaca (and Cornell) worked so hard to persuade Northwest to test this market and gave them so many economic incentives for the first couple years that it would be tragic to lose these vital flights now. While the 34-seat Turboprop planes are often full, that doesn’t necessarily mean they are profitable. The fact that the flights are actually operated by Mesaba Aviation for Northwest makes it even more complicated. Who knows if Delta will choose to continue these contracts with regional carriers? On the one hand, Delta wants the expanded market that Northwest’s route network adds. On the ...

The Miami Herald posted a travel horror story today with some good tips about airline policies for travelers. Unfortunately, the article missed the most important lesson to be learned from this couple’s bad experience. Here’s the story: http://www.miamiherald.com/986/story/486308.html Travel agents know the dangers of flying with two tickets for one trip. In the trade, we call this “split ticketing,” and it is not the safest way to fly. As the couple in the story learned, the airline’s responsibility to the passenger ends at the ticket’s final destination regardless of the passenger’s actual final destination. Best practice: Buy one ticket all the way through to your final destination. Then the airline is legally required to get you there and re-accommodate you at no charge if necessary. There are several airlines that fly from L.A. to Rome avoiding a change in airline. This couple also could have purchased a ticket on Alitalia from L.A. to Rome that included the American flight to JFK...

Flying from Central New York is always a gamble, but in winter it’s especially so. With very few non-stop flight options and smaller commuter aircrafts more prone to delays, its no wonder flying can feel like a crapshoot sometimes. Here are a few tips to improve your odds when flying in winter. 1. Book the earliest departure of the day. This is always true regardless of the weather because the plane should be ready and waiting to depart from the night before. Subsequent flights must arrive from other cities and turn around for your departure, increasing the possibility of delays. 2. Avoid booking the last flight of the day whenever possible. Unless you don’t mind spending the night at the airport, only book flights with back-up options. 3. Book sufficient layovers. Give yourself an hour or two to change planes so there’s a cushion to accommodate delays due to de-icing aircraft. Avoid 30-minute connections (regarded as ‘legal’ by the airlines) at all costs. 4. Choose your routing caref...

Believe it or not, there is still some availability for holiday travel. Luxury resorts have been sending me updates almost daily with the room categories and dates they still have available. Cruises also have staterooms available for the holidays with some attractive pricing. Let someone else do all the cooking and cleaning this year so your family can enjoy a stress-free holiday together. Remember, the gift of travel is always welcome. Gift certificates for travel services are a great way for you offer hard-to-buy-for friends and family the flexibility to plan their own getaways. Many travel agencies, hotel chains and cruise lines are offering gift certificates which can be used for future travel. Now that snow has finally arrived to NY, it's time start making your winter travel plans. Air service has expanded to the Caribbean this year, making more islands more accessible than ever before. Many new resorts have opened, and existing resorts have upgraded their facilities. There...

*Sandals Grande Antigua Resort & Spa Antigua is a beach-lovers paradise, and this resort has a lovely stretch of powdery sand. This week marks the Grand Opening of the new Mediterranean Village, an all-suite resort-within-a-resort. The rooms in this section are very attractive, especially the bathrooms (whirlpool tubs for two, separate shower with designer fixtures, marble vanity with his and her sinks). The older Caribbean Grove section of the resort has the original rondovals, as well as garden cottages with newly refurbished Deluxe rooms.

*Sandals Halcyon Beach This charming three-star resort is a great value considering the exchange privileges (Stay at one, play at three). Only 169 rooms and low-rise architecture offer an intimate experience, and the beach is one of the nicest on the island. The landscaping creates an enchanting garden-of-Eden effect with hammocks for two hidden among the flowers. It’s a quiet, laid-back resort good for couples desiring simple island pleasures.