By Polly Fitz

Warning: If your New Year's resolution has anything to do with eating less or depriving yourself of gourmet goodies, this article is not for you. For the rest of you -- reason to rejoice. Restaurant weeks, those all-about-eating events where restaurants offer special reduced price menus, are here to offer a ray of sunshine in your otherwise gray winter. Here's a roundup of some of the biggies. (If you plan your travel right, you could hit them all.)

San Diego

Sunny San Diego is a no-brainer when it comes to January vacation destinations. So it hardly seems fair that it adds its Restaurant Week to the list of already enticing attractions. Regardless, book your San Diego hotel soon if you plan to partake. The 5th annual San Diego Restaurant Week runs January 11-16, with more than 150 restaurants offering three-course meals priced at $20, $30, or $40 per person depending on the menu and location.

New York

Perhaps no city in the U.S. has more valid foodie bragging rights than the Big Apple. To see what all the fuss is about, plan your vacation January 18-23 or 25-30 during New York Restaurant Week. Choosing a New York hotel will be easy compared to deciding which of the more than 250 participating restaurants you want to try. The good news is, with three-course lunches for $24.07 and dinners for $35, you can afford to be indecisive.

Los Angeles

The 2nd annual dineLA Restaurant Week lasts for two weeks -- January 25-30 and February 1-6 -- and includes more than 130 restaurants. L.A.'s event has a tiered pricing system: $16 lunches and $26 dinners at "Deluxe" restaurants; $22 lunches and $34 dinners at "Premier" restaurants; and $26 lunches and $44 dinners at "Fine Dining" restaurants. The list of restaurants and their pricing is on the Restaurant Week Web site.

Chicago

The Windy City is known as a food town -- both for its quantity and quality -- where you can dine on everything big steaks and deep-dish pizzas to the unique tastes of Grant Achatz' molecular gastronomy. So whether you like a lot of food or like food a lot, put February 20-27 on your calendar for Chicago Restaurant Week. Diners can choose from $22 three-course lunches or $32 three-course dinners at more than 130 restaurants.

Denver

Add a gourmet twist to your ski vacation by planning around Denver Restaurant Week February 21-27. You can work up an appetite on the slopes at Loveland (less than 60 miles from Denver) during the day and refuel with gourmet dinners at night. A record 198 participating restaurants are offering multi-course dinners for $26.40.

Related Orbitz resources:

• San Diego hotels
• New York hotels
• Los Angeles hotels
• Chicago hotels
• Denver hotels
• Food and wine vacations

Polly Fitz is an editor for Orbitz who likes writing about travel and food but prefers to actually go places and eat.

By E.C. Gladstone

Headlines may tell you that Las Vegas is suffering in the economic downturn, but don't let that give the impression that things are less lavish. Many Las Vegas hotels have gone ahead with planned fixes and remodels -- and the Mirage has even debuted a new $22-million volcano. But no one's making as big a splash as Las Vegas visionary Steve Wynn with his new Encore property.

A slightly scaled down "boutique" sister to the Wynn resort ("only" 2000 rooms!), Encore echoes the Wynn spirit -- and dedication to excellence at every turn -- while presenting a unique personality. Asian inspiration is everywhere in Encore, but don't think you'll be walking into a Chinese restaurant. Instead, a firey red dominates, balanced by sexy whites and technicolor butterflies, making Encore not quite feminine, not quite childlike, definitively neither Eastern nor Western, but certainly far from the clubby casinos of old.

The entire property is built around a 2.2 acre pool deck (half of which is devoted to "European" adult bathing, with dark cabanas and a center bar/gaming area) bringing in natural light during the day and romantic vistas at night. Details border on the obsessive, with handblown Murano glass chandeliers in the casino, lush exotic horticulture, and notable antique pieces studded throughout. And the high-limit casino is on the top floor, with stunning views.

All suites
With elevators placed incredibly close to check in, Encore gets pluses for ergonomics: Standard 750-square-foot suites feel minimalist but comfortable, with a full wall mirrors in the bedrooms, revolving 42" plasma TVs, floor-to-ceiling windows, bedside remote controls for lighting, draperies and even the do-not-disturb light, and, of course, a spare-no-expense bathroom.   

Restaurants
Though nothing here threatens to eclipse the Wynn's greatest hits -- including Alex, Bartolotta, Boulud and Wing Lei -- all of the restaurants are intriguing while more intimate: Chef Marc Poidevin's transformational French-American room Switch; ex-Patina chef Theo Schoenegger's alto-Italiano Sinatra; Chef Mark LoRusso's vibrant, booth-free Botero Steak (yes, those are real Botero sculptures and paintings); and Pan-Asian Wazuzu. Even the casino-side lounges are absolutely elegant.

Retail
Encore Esplanade's 12 stores are mostly unique to the property, such as Ensemble where you can find everything from designer denim to vintage couture. The Esplanade also includes a Chanel concept store, the first-ever Rock & Republic shop, and a Hermes boutique (coming mid-January).

Entertainment
Looking to attract a well-heeled younger crowd, one of the property's centerpieces is a gargantuan indoor-outdoor nightclub appropriately called XS, a 4,000-capacity expanded version of Wynn's Tryst, with several semi-circular tiers of tables overlooking a huge dance floor open to the pool deck. Cinematic would be the only accurate descriptive; hopefully the crowd and DJs will live up to it.

Vegas installation Danny Gans is also bringing a new show to the Encore theater in February -- and property insiders say contracts are being negotiated with other top name acts for special bookings.

Spa
Arguably the strongest element of the property, Encore's expansive Spa floor is a truly breathtaking mid-century fantasy, including a salon (featuring Shu Uemura products), fitness center, juice bar and retail. One of the most posh treatment and wellness spaces I've experienced -- not just on the Strip, but anywhere -- any visit to Encore would be incomplete without experiencing it.

Insider Tip: Check out the Wynn Diamond, a 231-carat pear-shaped stone on a Cartier necklace, at the Wynn & Co. jewelers. That's some rock.

Related Orbitz resources

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• Encore
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Taos Ski Valley

Riders can take advantage of the Out to Launch Terrain Park -- now doubled in size -- with custom rails, boxes and hits in addition to the existing airs and quarter pipe.

Also new this season, a Burton Learn to Ride Center, offering world-class snowboarding instruction for children and adults -- both in private and group lessons.

Taos visitors looking for a new challenge on their ski vacation can try the new expert run. North American is a double black-diamond rated glade with 1,400 feet of vertical. (The resort plans a second new double black-diamond run for the 2009-2010 season.) Novices have their own new space: The Burrough is a 400-foot long beginners area with a moving carpet. Taos Ski Valley plans to expand it to a full hill next season.

Visitors with an eco-tourism mindset may appreciate Taos' environmental efforts. This year 100 percent of the resort's electricity will come from wind power. And Taos Ski Valley is continuing its SkiGreen program, which allows visitors to purchase a $2 tag to offset carbon produced from approximately 150 miles of travel.

Related Orbitz resources:

• Ski Taos
• Taos hotels
• Ski vacations

By Joe Brancatelli

MILEAGE METER

Delta Lining Up SkyMiles and WorldPerks Before the Mileage Merger: Delta Air Lines, which gobbled up Northwest Airlines this year, is moving to absorb Northwest's WorldPerks program into Delta's SkyMiles plan, too. The official mileage merger won't hit until late next year, but a few changes become effective immediately. Most notably, SkyMiles will allow members to qualify for elite status with segments as well as miles. Silver Medallion will require 25,000 miles or 30 segments; the Gold level will require 50,000 miles or 60 segments; and Platinum will need 75,000 miles or 100 segments. Meanwhile, WorldPerks will adopt a three-tier award structure that mimics the SkyMiles award chart. And both SkyMiles and WorldPerks will offer a minimum of 500 miles for each segment flown. … Holders of American Express cards tied to the Hilton HHonors and Delta SkyMiles programs take note: Amex has changed how it awards points and miles for many purchases. The result? Lower earnings for most non-travel categories.

AIRPORT REPORT

More Perks, More Amenities, More Greenies: A pay-per-visit lounge called reLAX has opened in the Bradley International terminal at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). The entry fee ($10-$35, depending on length of stay) covers club access; snacks and beverages; and free Internet. … Heineken has opened its first bar in the United States at Newark Airport. The so-called Heineken Lounge is located in Terminal C. … Starwood Preferred Guest and Clear, the sputtering airport-security "line cut" program, have struck a deal. Platinum level members will receive a free year of membership and other members will receive three free months if they enroll in the $199-a-year Clear plan. … A 169-room Hilton Garden Inn has opened at the airport in Liberia, Costa Rica. Liberia is the closest airport to the increasingly popular Guanacaste Peninsula.

CAR TALK

Car Sharing is the New Car Rental: Everyone's heard of Zipcar, the urban car-sharing service -- and so has Hertz, the world's leading car-rental company. Hertz is beginning its own car-sharing club in New York, London and Paris. The program, Connect By Hertz, has an annual membership fee and hourly rental rates start at about $8.50. … Speaking of Hertz, the car-rental giant has changed its refueling policy. Instead of the old plan -- the market rate for the gasoline plus a flat $6.99 service fee -- Hertz has reverted to a much-disliked policy: charging as much as $7.50 for each gallon it pumps into the vehicle you've just returned. The best way to avoid the high price? Fill up at a nearby station outside the airport before you return your car. … Advantage Rent-A-Car has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and closed almost half of its locations. … The mixed-blessing of "consolidated rental facilities" -- one big building that houses all car rental firms at an airport -- has been gaining ground in recent years. But the trend has run smack into the financial realities of the credit crunch. The first casualty? Seattle/Tacoma has suspended work on its $400 million consolidated rental center. … The Internal Revenue Service has set the 2009 per-mile driving rate at 55 cents. That means you can deduct 55 cents for each mile of business-travel driving you do.

Related Orbitz resources:

• Business travel
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Joe Brancatelli is editor and publisher of JoeSentMe.com, a non-commercial Web site for business travelers. Copyright 2008 by Joe Brancatelli. Licensed by contract for Orbitz use.

But zoom on in, and you'll find that it is, in fact, a mighty big, diverse place with an array of distinct islands, each of which is bound to offer the visitor a remarkably different kind of Hawaiian vacation.

"Each of the islands has a unique physical trait, besides the personality," says Maura Jordan, a Hawaii tourism spokeswoman.

So once you've made that monumental decision to take a Hawaii vacation, you've still got some serious thinking to do. To help you narrow your options, here's an overview of the main Hawaiian islands and what makes each one special.

MOLOKAI

Best known for: Travelers who want to see undeveloped Hawaii may favor rustic Molokai. They'll find no high-rises or fast-food chains on the fifth-largest Hawaiian island, a mere 700 hotel rooms, and only a single traffic light. They will find the highest sea cliffs in the world, along the island's east coast, as well as Hawaii's highest waterfall -- the 1,750-foot Kahiwa Falls.

Top attractions: Maunaloa, an old plantation town; Kalaupapa National Historical Park, site of the former leper colony. Don't miss the popular mule ride.

KAUAI

Best known for: The fourth-largest but geographically oldest of the islands, Kauai is famed for its lush, varied landscape and spectacular scenery, including the 3,567-foot-deep Waimea Canyon and 3,000-foot-high cliffs along the Napali Coast. The island of Kaua'i boasts Hawaii's most miles of beach per coastline, the most hiking trails, the largest coffee plantation, and the only navigable rivers.

Given its diverse terrain and the array of rivers and trails, Kaua'i is considered ideal for adventure travelers into hiking, biking and kayaking.

Top attractions: National Tropical Botanical Gardens, Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge.

LANAI

Best known for: Luxurious, secluded Lanai is home to two five-star resorts and is largely privately owned. As one of Hawaii's own tourism publications puts it: "The Lanai of today is a manicured environment designed for the exclusive use of a privileged few.

Top attractions: Kaunolu Village, an archaeological site and national historic landmark; the Luahiwa Petroglyphs; the rugged, rocky Garden of the Gods; the swimming turtles at Polihua Beach.

HAWAII (Big Island)

Best known for: Along with being twice the combined size of the other islands, the Big Island has the world's most active volcano and the state's longest sheer-drop waterfall. It's also the most ecologically diverse -- including rain forests, desert plains and a snowcapped mountaintop. It's great for diving and fishing, and with 18 golf courses, it's also touted as the "Golf Capital of Hawaii." Because it's so spread out, a rental car will come in handy.

Top attractions: Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Akaka Falls.

MAUI

Best known for: Hawaii's second-largest island is a magnet for golfers, snorkelers, hikers, windsurfers and whale-watchers, who can spot the humpbacks congregating offshore between November and April. The island claims the most miles of swimmable beaches in Hawaii and is home many luxurious hotels. Travelers can visit Haleakala, the world's largest dormant volcano, and delve into Hawaii's past in historic Lahaina Town.

Top attractions: Haleakala Crater; Iao Valey State Park; "Ulalena," a highly praised theatrical production that relates Hawaii's history and culture with dance, music and acrobatics.

OAHU

Best known for: There's a little something for everyone on Oahu, which offers a mix of history, culture, nightlife and outdoor adventure. The island and the state capital -- Honolulu -- are home to many historic landmarks, renowned museums, glitzy hotels, restaurants and shops, more than 130 beaches and an array of golfing, hiking and sightseeing options.

Top attractions: Waimea Bay and Waimea Falls, Iolani Palace, Diamond Head Crater, Pearl Harbor, Polynesian Cultural Center.

Related Orbitz resources:

• Kauai hotels
• Big Island hotels
• Maui hotels
• Oahu hotels
• Hawaii activities

1. Take a road trip. Skip the airfare and explore a city in your own backyard. Or, try a long weekend at an indoor water park resort as a splashy substitute a beach vacation.

2. Vacation rentals are a great cost-saving alternative if you need multiple rooms and want all the comforts of home. You could get a 4-bedroom, 3-bath townhome in Kissimmee, Florida, starting at $61/night in February.

3. Disney vacations: Theme parks in Orlando and Anaheim are offering free admission on your birthday in 2009. Disney cruises also is running a "kids sail free" promotion applicable to the spring break season.

4. Book your flight + hotel together to get access to discounted rates you wouldn’t find booking separately. Plus, many hotels have special offers, like free breakfast, "kids stay free" programs, and discounts.

5. Family cruises. The per-night cost, which includes meals and on-board activities, is often cheaper than traditional resorts. Plus the variety of age-appropriate activities means you’ll never hear "I'm bored."

6. Explore all-inclusive resorts: One payment covers lodging, meals, activities, taxes, tips, entertainment & more.

7. GoCards/CityPasses: Purchase a pass to multiple attractions in one city. Not only is it a bargain and guaranteed admission, but you usually get to skip the line too. (You can find GoCards and CityPasses under the Activities tab on Orbitz.)

8. If you have a membership to a children’s museum or art museum near home, see if there are exchange privileges at a museum in your destination.

9. Try an off-season destination, where there are fewer crowds and lower travel costs. Try a spring ski vacation, for example, to enjoy the peaks without peak prices.

10. Choose a destination where the dollar dominates -- or at least stretches a bit further.

Related Orbitz resources:

• Airfare
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• Cruises
• All-inclusive resorts
• Discount tickets to attractions, tours, shows

By Mark McCullough

The annual week off of school for spring break always prompts the question “Where to this year?” Well for this family vacation, pointing the minivan south to Florida does not have to be the predictable theme park experience! Traveling with our three children, I set a goal to visit the “real” Florida on a budget, learn a thing or two and have some fun. Here are some tips based on our family vacation.

Don’t overlook extended-stay hotels like Staybridge Suites which offers pools, free hot breakfast and full kitchens in each room. These accommodations allow you to save on meal costs plus have the kid-friendly amenities that make for a comfortable and affordable stay.

St. Augustine is America’s oldest city and is a perfect destination for a history lesson. Located just south of Jacksonville, the preserved and restored old Spanish city is old Florida come to life. The area beaches are great for shell hunters, and some even allow cars on the sand for a great tailgating experience.

Not all the water in Florida is on the coasts. Try one of the hundreds of natural springs that dot north central Florida. These hidden gems are perfect for a family dip. The water is a constant 72 degrees year 'round and so clear that you can see the caves that discharge these special waters 50 feet below the surface. Many of these springs are within state parks and offer nature trails, concessions and canoe rentals. Our family favorite for snorkeling is Ichetucknee Springs State Park northwest of the college town of Gainesville.

What is a trip to Florida without seeing some exotic wildlife? Alligators come to mind, but our favorite is the gentle manatee. At Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park on the Gulf Coast north of Tampa, they showcase native Florida wildlife, including manatees, black bears, bobcats, white-tailed deer, American alligators, American crocodiles and river otters. The kids delight in the manatee shows that allow them to feed and touch the gentle giants. A side trip to nearby Tarpon Springs highlights the sponge harvesting industry of the Gulf of Mexico and the Greek immigrants that came to Florida back at the turn of the 20th century. And for dining, we think Tarpon Springs is home to some of the best Greek restaurants this side of Athens.

Related Orbitz resources:

• Tips for a budget-friendly family beach vacation
• Family vacations
• St. Augustine hotels

Mark McCullough, father of 3 children under age 6, often reminisces about his former life as a raft guide and rock-climbing instructor. Now his outings are more subdued, like canoeing along the tidal rivers in Virginia's historic triangle of Jamestown, Yorktown and Colonial Williamsburg.

By Andrew Day

Most travelers probably think of Mexico City as a place to transfer -- en route to beaches or historical towns for their Mexico vacations -- rather than a destination unto itself. In 2005 I spent nearly a week here in the "Distrito Federal," to get a feel for this megalopolis of nearly 20 million people. (I've included photos from my trip below.) Like São Paulo or Mumbai, it attracts people from all over the country, so it’s a great place to get tastes of Mexico's unique cultural spectrum. In that way, it's natural that most people casually refer to the name of the city simply as "Mexico."

Mexico City makes for a fascinating and quite affordable travel destination. You can easily spend a week just visiting major attractions, taking day trips and noshing on great food. The expansive, inexpensive and clean metro (subway) is a great way to see the unique city neighborhoods. The subway doesn't quite reach the airport, but a ride in 2005 cost me the equivalent of 20 cents. Cabs are affordable, and radio taxis are a good idea for travel at night.

As a starting point for exploring Mexico City, visit the Zócalo, or Plaza de la Constitución, the historic center of the city and the second-largest public square in the world. The Metropolitan Cathedral, the largest and oldest cathedral in the hemisphere, anchors this giant square. Like many of the structures built on the ancient lake bed or on ruins of Aztec structures under Mexico City, it is tilting as it slowly settles into the earth. The plaza and cathedral are located near, sometimes on top of, the remnants of the main temple of Tenochtitlan, the Aztecs’ predecessor city. Tenochtitlan was one of the largest cities in the world at its peak in about 1500 AD, and its byways form the basis for a number of today’s city streets. This succession of urban areas fascinates me -- it's interesting to walk the streets and imagine the bustle of Tenochtitlan, in the shadow of a gigantic pyramidal temple. The nearby Museum of the Great Temple (Museo del Templo Mayor) illustrates the temples and artwork of the Aztecs, largely destroyed by the Spanish conquerors.

Chapultapec Park is an expansive stretch of green to the west, crowded with strolling families on the weekends. The National Anthropology Museum, in the park, has a world-renowned collection of indigenous art from the layers of clashing civilizations that form the patrimony of pre-European Mexico. The artifacts are bold, otherworldly and unforgettable, including the massive Stone of the Sun (Piedra del Sol) that's featured on the 10-peso coin. At the edge of the park is Chapultapec Castle (El Castillo), which now serves as the National History Museum. The building is also known for the youth soldiers, the Niños Heroes, who died protecting the building in battle in 1847, during the Mexican-American War.

Neighborhoods a little west of the center have some good hipster amenities. The swank Polanco area is full of cool bars and innovative restaurants. I preferred areas like La Condesa and Colonia Roma, which had quiet leafy streets, dusty Art Deco homes, artists' workshops, and some funky cafes and restaurants. A good break from the city center is Xochimilco, a little Venetian experience south of the city center, where painted boats ply the canals for locals and tourists alike. Other artistic highlights in the city include the Palace of Fine Arts, and The Frieda Kahlo Museum (in a southern suburb).

If you can, travel about an hour outside of Mexico City to see the pyramids at Teotihuacan, a truly awesome symbol of the indigenous civilization that preceded not only the Europeans but the Aztecs as well. Teotihuacan was the Mexico City of the first few centuries AD, the largest city in all of the Americas. Along a stretch of numerous temple structures, the gigantic Pyramid of the Sun, and the slightly shorter Pyramid of the Moon, dominate the area. After a slow, healthy climb to the top, you can better understand the layout of the whole vanished city, and it’s a good place to hang out with other travelers.

For longer vacations, nearby historical towns like Puebla, Taxco and Cuernavaca are easy, well-traveled day trips, and each is renowned for its history, art and cuisine.

Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.

Related Orbitz resources:

• Mexico City hotels
• Mexico vacation
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Andrew Day, Associate Creative Director at Orbitz, lives by the motto "Go places and eat things." He has traveled extensively, most recently on a six-week backpacking trip around India.

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

Lufthansa Buys Austrian Airlines, Too: Lufthansa's board of directors has approved the purchase of Austrian Airlines. Separately, Lufthansa officially launched its new Italian subsidiary, Lufthansa Italia, which will be based at Milan's Malpensa Airport, a facility that Alitalia has all but abandoned in its rush to "save" itself. Speaking of the eternally hobbled Italian flag carrier, plans to sell the profitable parts of Alitalia to a private enterprise continue to be delayed. The deal, which will merge Air One and Alitalia into a "new" Alitalia, was supposed to be completed by December 1. The date was then pushed back until mid-December. Now the Italian government, which owns about half of the current Alitalia, has pushed the plan back to mid-January. Meanwhile, it's worth watching Lufthansa's emerging development (some might say dominance) as a pan-European carrier. Besides the Austrian buy and the new subsidiary in northern Italy, Lufthansa also owns Swiss International and is planning to buy Brussels Airlines, the Belgian carrier, and Bmi, the British airline.

HAWAII HIJINKS

What's in An Name? Plenty If It's 'Aloha Airlines': See if you can keep up with this series of dizzying developments in the inter-island Hawaii market. Arizona-based Mesa Air, the regional carrier, launched go! on Hawaii routes in 2006. It was promptly sued by the incumbent inter-island carriers, Hawaiian and Aloha. They claimed that Mesa misused proprietary information obtained when Mesa considered buying either or both of the Honolulu-based airlines. Mesa paid Hawaiian $52.5 million to settle that suit. Aloha Airlines folded earlier this year, but Aloha's largest shareholder, a California investment firm named Yucaipa, bought Aloha's lawsuit against Mesa from the bankruptcy court. Mesa last month settled that suit by agreeing to pay Yucaipa $2 million in cash and give it 10 percent of Mesa's shares. But there is another fillip: Mesa agreed to license the Aloha name from Yucaipa. And Mesa will pay big for the name: as much as 1 percent of ticket revenues and 30 percent of Mesa's profits on the inter-island routes. However, the re-branding rests on Yucaipa buying the Aloha name from the airline's estate. But Aloha's bankruptcy judge has delayed a decision on the sale of the Aloha name to Yucaipa until February. "It takes the term Aloha and stands it on its head," grumbled Judge Lloyd King. "How about the people whose lives were devastated [by Aloha's bankruptcy]? Don't they count? Is it just money?"

Related Orbitz resources:

• Business travel
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Joe Brancatelli is editor and publisher of JoeSentMe.com, a non-commercial Web site for business travelers. Copyright 2008 by Joe Brancatelli. Licensed by contract for Orbitz use.

The Minneapolis area, with its renowned Mall of America®, is an easy place to cure -- or feed -- retail fever. For travelers who want a pure shopping experience, there are plenty of hotels close to the mall. Or, visitors can choose to stay in one of the downtown Minneapolis hotels and take advantage of the city's restaurants and cultural attractions.

Mall of America® is located in Bloomington, Minnesota -- only 15 minutes from downtown Minneapolis and St. Paul -- and an easy light-rail ride from the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. As one of the most visited tourist destinations in the world, Mall of America® features something for everyone, with approximately 520 stores, 50 restaurants and attractions galore. Here are some highlights.

Nickelodeon Universe: This number-one entertainment spot for kids in the middle of Mall of America® features seven acres of unique attractions and entertainment. This is a great place for children to have fun during the cold winter months.

Indoor Playground: The nation’s largest indoor amusement park features more than 24 remarkable rides and the largest underground aquarium in the country, and it was named “Best Shark Encounter” by the Discovery Channel. Kids of all ages may enjoy building towers or another unique creations at Lego®.

Fashion: The mall is home to the kings of couture, like Armani, Chanel, Prada, Gucci, Fendi, and the Spades -- both Kate and Jack. Well-heeled clientele can stroll over to Manolo Blahnik and Jimmy Choo for fashionable footwear. (Shopaholics will appreciate the extra savings that comes from having no sales tax on shoes or clothing!)

Dining: Visitors will not go hungry with the more than 50 restaurants offering adult and kid-friendly choices. Find food-court favorites as well as sit-down restaurants, like Rainforest Café, Wolfgang Puck Express and Napa Valley Grill.

Hotels near Mall of America®

• Le Bourget Aero Suites a French-inspired, all-suite hotel. It offers free shuttle service to the Mall of America -- just a quick seven-minute ride from this Bloomington hotel.
• For those who want a mid-economy hotel across the street from Mall of America®, Ramada Mall of America-Airport is a good choice. The hotel recently completed a renovation of all of its guestrooms, and guests can enjoy the pool after a day of shopping.
• Sofitel offers luxury and comfort away from home, with large modern European rooms that offer walk-in rain showers, plasma televisions and broadband Internet access.

Downtown Minneapolis hotels
Downtown Minneapolis offers great shopping, dining, accommodations and activities. Visitors can explore the historic State and Orpheum theaters, visit the Guthrie Theater or the Walker Art Center, or catch the latest event at the Target Center or Metrodome.

• Hyatt Regency Minneapolis has great rates for a luxury hotel. The hotel is located on Nicollet Mall, in the heart of downtown and features a heated indoor pool, two whirlpools and sauna.
• Graves 601 is a sleek new hotel in the heart of the theater, financial and warehouse district, in the new Block E complex. The hotel features specially designed beds with etched glass headboards. Cosmos Restaurant and Lounge and Minneapolis' hottest new nightclub, Infinity, are nearby.
• Radisson Plaza Hotel has a central downtown location within walking distance of shopping, dining, sports, theater and nightlife, and (very important during the winter months) it is directly connected to the city's climate controlled skyway system.

Related Orbitz resources:

• Minneapolis hotels
• Airline tickets
  

Amy Carey is a Market Manager at Orbitz and has many fond childhood memories of Mall of America®. She traveled all the way from Chicago to find her prom dress at Mall of America®.