Only The Best Travel
More than 30 countries have closed their borders to some nations and others have imposed stricter measures to curb the spread of the Omicron variant. The newly detected coronavirus variant has prompted countries to tighten their borders just as many were beginning to reopen to …
anouchka / Getty Images Hawaii is one of the ultimate vacation destinations. It seems like at any given time, someone you know is saving up to go. Though Hawaii isn’t exactly cheap, there are ways to travel to the islands that lets you see the …
PHOENIX (3TV/CBS 5) — After many travelers took to the sky this Thanksgiving holiday week, a local travel agent said this weekend gave many travelers good insight on what to expect for Christmas.
“It was packed. Planes were full,” Penelope Abad said.
The busy Thanksgiving weekend holiday travel is coming to a close.
“We left a little bit earlier. Parking was full in economy, so we had to do covered parking, which was fine, but it was busier,” Abad said.
More than 2.2 million travelers passed through airports yesterday alone and more than 10 million since Friday.
“I was really shocked. It was really normal,” traveler Jordan Hicks said. “We got to the Seattle airport three hours early, and it only took us 10 minutes to get through, so we expected the worst.”
For some, it was easier than others. “I was really shocked. It was really normal,” traveler Jordan Hicks said. “We got to the Seattle airport three hours early, and it only took us 10 minutes to get through, so we expected the worst.”
On Wednesday, the day before Thanksgiving, more than 2.3 million people traveled by plane, making it the busiest travel day since February of last year.
With Christmas now less than one month away, people are looking ahead to those travel plans.
Phoenix travel counselor Nancy Melton said travelers should expect busy airports this year during the Christmas week. “It’s going to be crowded. The planes are going to be full,” Melton said. “The least travel days are the holidays themselves.”
Melton recommends traveling on the holiday if you want to avoid larger crowds. “Typically, Christmas Day itself is less crowded than a day or two before or a day or two after,” Melton said.
“Our passenger numbers have been steadily going up since the start of the pandemic,” Sky Harbor public information officer Greg Roybal said.
Melton said if you haven’t purchased your plane tickets for Christmas yet, you may face some consequences. “At this late rate, a lot of lower fares will already be gone,” Melton said. “You just need to be prepared to maybe not take the ideal flight time and probably will be paying more.”
While some travelers feel more comfortable flying this year, Melton said to pack your patience and plan ahead. “I would do it again in a heartbeat,” Abad said.
“Arrive early,” Melton said. “Get there extra early, maybe get there an hour and a half early instead of an hour.”
A concern heading into the holiday weekend was whether or not there would be enough TSA employees working security checkpoints. Employees were required to get vaccinated by Monday or be out of a job. TSA said no employee at Sky Harbor had been fired due to this mandate.
HMS Host concession workers at Sky Harbor officially on strike
Traditional Offline Travel Management Companies Offer New Technologies(“TMCs Unveil Tech Enhancements at GBTA,” November 17, 2021 via Business Travel News)(CWT Plans $100 Million Technology Investment,” November 16, 2021 via Phocus Wire)Last week, two stories detailed investments being made by some the largest traditional offline travel …
Just when it seemed safe to travel overseas again, along comes Omicron. Why it matters: The emergence of the new coronavirus variant couldn’t come at a worse time, just weeks before millions of people are expected to travel for the holidays to reunite with loved …
The new Azul Beach Resort Cap Cana, situated on the sands of the Dominican Republic’s world-renowned Playa Juanillo, opened its doors to guests for the first time earlier this month. Celebrated for its powdery, sugar-white sands and brilliant turquoise Caribbean waters, the beach is also ideally located, just 15 minutes’ drive from the Punta Cana airport.
The resort features 251 tastefully designed guest rooms and suites, available in a wide array of categories, including luxurious ocean-view, beachfront and swim-up suites. But, all accommodations come with their own private, furnished outdoor balcony or terrace, and an opulent bath area, complete with his-and-hers sinks.
ADVERTISING
Trending Now
“The Azul Beach Resorts brand is known for its luxury, all-inclusive and family-friendly offerings set on some of the most beautiful beaches in the world, and expanding the brand to the exclusive community of Cap Cana is an honor,” said Mario Mathieu, SVP of Business Development, Design and Construction at management company Karisma Hotels & Resorts. “It has been a goal of ours to expand our footprint in the Dominican Republic, and we look forward to welcoming guests to experience the wealth of pleasures this amazing resort provides.”
Guests at Azul Beach Resort Punta Cana also enjoy certain exchange privileges with the adjacent Margaritaville Island Reserve Cap Cana, which itself opened only at the start of November and is likewise managed by Karisma Hotels & Resorts.
That means that, in addition to the resort’s own four food and beverage locations, guests staying at Azul can access the neighboring Margaritaville resort’s Entertainment Village, where they’ll find additional dining venues, bars and lounges. Immersive culinary options here range from Italian Trattoria to Pan Asian-inspired, smokehouse barbeque, classic steakhouse and West Indian cuisine.
Families traveling with kids between the ages of four and 12 will also appreciate the Azulitos Playhouse, which offers a wide assortment of stimulating and entertaining activities daily with full supervision. Parents might take advantage of the hours kids spend at the Playhouse to book a service at the 11,000-square-foot St. Somewhere Spa, where they’ll enjoy world-class amenities and rejuvenating treatments, including facials and massages. The spa area also features a full-service beauty salon and state-of-the-art fitness center.
Azul Beach Resort Punta Cana is running an amazing opening rate promotion: guests who book now through December 6, 2021, will save a whopping 51 percent on room rates, good for travel through December 2023.
For more information, visit karismahotels.com/azul-beach-resorts/azul-cap-cana.