Orbitz Travel Blog

By Thurston Hatcher

Most of the time, it's incredibly easy to take public transportation between Chicago's airports and downtown Chicago hotels, homes and businesses.

But work on the Chicago Transit Authority's Blue Line, connecting O'Hare International Airport to downtown Chicago, is making that commute a little more challenging.

Due to ongoing construction work, the CTA says Blue Line service will be interrupted between at least two stations -- between the Addison and O'Hare stops -- on most weekends and some weeknight throughout the summer.

A free CTA shuttle bus connects the stations when service is disrupted, but getting off the train, on the bus and back on the train can add another 30 minutes each way to the commute (which normally averages about 45 minutes without disruptions).

The good news is that the work -- scheduled for completing next fall -- is designed to get rid of so-called "slow zones" and improve commuting times to and from O'Hare.

Here are a few suggestions for avoiding or coping with the disruptions on your Chicago vacation:

• If you're heading to O'Hare, take the Blue Line part of the way and catch a cab once you arrive at the last stop before you have to get on the shuttle. You'll save time and it won't cost nearly as much as a cab ride all the way from downtown.
• Take a Metra commuter train to or from the Jefferson Park station, which it shares with the Blue Line. It's only four stops from O'Hare.
• Consider flying into or out of Chicago's Midway Airport instead. It's actually closer to downtown, it's connected by the CTA's Orange Line, and as an added bonus, flights are less prone to delays.
• Check out the Transit Authority Web site for updates on service disruptions.
• Book on Orbitz, and we'll send you an e-mail alert to let you know about Blue Line disruptions and other news that might affect your travel plans.
• Just relax, pack light (so you won't have to lug a giant suitcase on and off the shuttle bus), give yourself lots of extra travel time, and try to enjoy the ride.

Related Orbitz resources:

• Chicago hotels

Travelers booking United Airlines flights caught a break Thursday after the airline inadvertently cut airfares on its domestic routes.

According to the Wall Street Journal, prices on airline tickets dropped as much as $130 because United didn't add fuel surcharges. A United spokeswoman attributed the temporary price drop to "human error."

By E.C. Gladstone

You've probably heard that Las Vegas has become a serious shopping destination. But how serious? Put it this way: I have friends who travel from Los Angeles regularly just to shop here!

There are at least five serious shopping destinations on the Strip -- most in Las Vegas hotels. And if you don't see your favorite designers mentioned below, it's probably because they're available in more than one place! Yes, the shopping here really is that good.

Fashion Show Mall, the mothership of Vegas retail, is anchored by Neiman Marcus, and has nearly every known brand, but also unusual ones like Zara, Madewell, Lululemon active wear, Ilori sunglasses, and the only Apple store on the Strip. Across the street, the Venetian's new Palazzo annex is anchored by Barneys New York and features Michael Kors, Chloe, and Piaget, with more coming soon. The Grand Canal Shoppes at the Venetian offers sexy chic Lior, Wolford hosiery & lingerie, and other intriguing window shopping.

Wynn houses Manolo Blahnik and Alexander McQueen among other impressives, as well as the Wynn LVNV store (which retails the resort's fine linens and restaurant tableware) and Penhaligon's ultra-high end bath and beauty products. Planet Hollywood's newly remodeled Miracle Mile shops range from trendy H&M to the one-of-a-kind Bettie Page boutique (sexy '50s-retro dresses and underthings). Mandalay Place, between Mandalay Bay and the Luxor, is smaller, but still worth checking for gems like Fornarina, the Reading Room (the only new bookstore on the Strip), and Lush Puppy, where every pampered pet owner should stop.

Still, the granddaddy of Strip shopping remains the sprawling Forum Shops at Caesars. Amongst its wide options are Dolce Gabbana, Roberto Cavalli, Custo Barcelona, Kate Spade, Emilio Pucci, Mark Jacobs, Kiehl's, and lingerie ranging from elegant La Perla to decadent Agent Provocateur (plus, off the Caesars casino floor, don’t miss Cartier and the must-see Elton John boutique). Shopped out yet? Good, go treat yourself to a gelato!

Insider tip: If you need to see the best of the best in limited time, Via Bellagio is the place, offering Chanel, Tiffany, Armani, Bottega Veneta, Hermes, Gucci, Fendi and Dior in a compact, manageable concourse. Plus, it's carpeted. (You serious shoppers understand)!

Related Orbitz resources:

• Las Vegas hotels

E.C. Gladstone is a former editor for AOLVegas, and continues to interview many top Strip entertainers and behind-the-scenes players for VEGAS Magazine. Like many Las Vegans, he sleeps only when absolutely necessary.

Joe Brancatelli is editor and publisher of JoeSentMe.com, a non-commercial Web site for business travelers.

ROUTE MAP

Start saying goodbye to some old favorites -- and never-weres: As the high price of oil starts to bite, airlines are planning huge cutbacks. Expect the Big Six to cut up to 5 percent of their worldwide networks and as much as 10 percent of their domestic capacity. Alternate carriers are going to cut, too, or at least put the breaks on their expansions.

Want some examples? Here are two: American Airlines is cutting Oakland off its route map in September. Also going: American's nonstop flights from Austin to Raleigh/Durham (RDU), Seattle and John Wayne/Orange County; Los Angeles flights to Fort Lauderdale and San Antonio; and even traditional jet flights on the St. Louis-RDU, New York/LaGuardia-RDU and St. Louis-San Antonio routes. Meanwhile, JetBlue Airways has dumped plans to launch flights from Los Angeles. It had planned to begin flights to Boston and its New York/JFK hub on May 21.

LOBBY LIFE

The new properties -- and the reflagging -- keep on coming: The lodging industry has not yet hit the same slump that is causing havoc with the airlines. Hotels continue to open and reflag at a near-record pace. Here's the latest news: Doubletree has put its flag on the 148-room Fayetteville Hotel and Conference Center in North Carolina after an $8 million renovation. And a 201-room Doubletree Hotel has opened in Springfield, Missouri. It is a $9 million makeover of the old Hawthorn Park Hotel.

Westin has opened a 195-room hotel in Prince George's County, Maryland. The property is part of the National Harbor development. ... The former Radisson in Cambridge, Massachusetts, has reopened as a 203-room Courtyard by Marriott. … In Chicago, a dual-branded Marriott has opened. One part of the hotel is a Residence Inn and the other part is a SpringHill Suites. The two properties have a total of 523 rooms.

The first W Hotel has opened in Europe. The 134-room property is in Istanbul. Elsewhere in Turkey, Swissotel has opened a 402-room property in Izmir. The property includes a conference center that can handle 3,000 people. ... Ritz-Carlton has opened a resort on Hainan Island off the coast of China. The property has 450 rooms, suites and pool villas and has eight dining venues.

Continue reading "On the Road with Joe Brancatelli" »

By Thurston Hatcher

Before the serious summer humidity starts bearing down on Charleston, and locals flee to the beach and the Blue Ridge Mountains, the Spoleto Festival lands in the South Carolina Lowcountry like a second holiday season.

For residents, the electricity's palpable as the international artists and arts enthusiasts descend on the city's historic district for two weeks in May and June.

For visitors, Spoleto offers an enticing mix of everything from classic opera and chamber music to cutting-edge drama, dance, jazz and performance art, with this elegant city as its otherworldly backdrop. And nearly all the 120+ performances are within walking distance from the major Charleston hotels and restaurants.

The lineup for Spoleto 2008 -- May 23 to June 8 -- includes operas "Amistad" and "La Cenerentola" (by Rossini), the Boston Ballet, Laurie Anderson, London-based cabaret company 1927's "Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea," and "Monkey: Journey to the West" by Paris' Theatre du Chatelet -- described as a cross between "The Lion King," Cirque du Soleil and "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon."

If you're aiming for a premium seat at the opera, prepare to pay upwards of $100 or more. But there are plenty of more affordable options across the Spoleto lineup.

Plus, the city of Charleston holds its own Piccolo Spoleto Festival, which simultaneously offers up a complementary a mix of local, regional and touring performances at even more affordable prices.

Even if you're not that into the arts, it's worth planning a Charleston vacation just to catch the Spoleto Finale, where you can relax on the lawn, sip a little wine, listen to the Spoleto Orchestra and catch some fireworks at Middleton Place, an awesome 18th-century plantation on the Ashley River.

For a few unforgettable hours, anyway, you can live like Charleston royalty.

Related Orbitz resources:

• Charleston hotels
• Charleston vacation
• Spoleto Festival USA

Thurston Hatcher is an Orbitz editor who lives in Chicago but spent 10 years in the Lowcountry -- about six decades shy of qualifying as a true Charlestonian.