Celebrate St. Patrick's Day In Ireland

Tourism Ireland is working with a variety of travel partners, including Aer Lingus, to make travel to Ireland from New York City, Boston or Chicago extremely affordable this spring. For example, if you travel between April 1st and June 15th, one-way airfare from NYC or Boston is as low as $169.00 per person (excluding taxes and fees).

To view a map of which airlines (including Aer Lingus, US Airways, American Airlines and Delta) travel non-stop from various U.S. destinations to specific Ireland destinations, including Dublin, Belfast and Shannon, click here.

Throughout the summer, complete travel packages, including airfare and resort accommodations, are also available for as little as $799.00 per person. Tourism Ireland is also promoting a 10-day escorted tour for $1,398. Check out the Tourism Ireland website (www.DiscoverIreland.com) for details.

About a year ago, I visited Ireland and stayed at several different Radisson SAS Hotels and Resorts (800-333-3333) in and around Dublin and Cavan and found the accommodations to be top notch, affordable and extremely comfortable. These resorts offered a wide range of on-property services and amenities. 

For example, at the Radisson SAS Farnham Estate Hotel [Phone: +353 (0) 49 4377700] in Cavan, the Farnham Estate Health Spa is one of the nicest, most luxurious and best-equipped spas I've ever experienced. It truly is the perfect place to go to be pampered for a day, weekend or an entire week.

The Radisson SAS Farnham Estate Hotel is located about a two-hour drive from Dublin, in the beautiful countryside of Cavan. The resort offers 158 guest rooms and suites, the spa, golf, pools, and a very luxurious heritage that is captured in the architecture, furnishings, stunning landscaping, and throughout every other aspect of your stay. 

Whether you're Irish and looking to revisit your heritage, or you're just looking for a fun, unique, affordable and memorable vacation destination, consider a trip to Ireland this spring - you won't be disappointed! 

Watch Out For Hidden Airline Fees Before Booking Your Next Ticket

Whether you book your next airline ticket directly with an airline, or use one of the popular travel-related services, like Hotwire.com, Travelocity.com or Kayak.com, before booking that often non-refundable ticket, determine what extra fees you'll be responsible for and calculate them into your travel budget to avoid unwanted surprises.

To determine what's included with your coach, business or first class airline ticket, contact your airline directly, or visit its website.

Some of the most common airline-related fees that many travelers forget to consider include:

* Baggage Check Fees - Most airlines allow one (1) free checked bag and then charge up to $25.00 for each additional bag. Some airlines, however, now charge $15.00 or $25.00 for each bag that's checked (including the first bag). Carry-ons continue to be free.

* Overweight Bag Fees - If your checked suitcase weights more than 50 pounds, you'll be hit with an "overweight" baggage fee of $50.00 or $75.00, depending on the airline. The airlines will actually add this fee if your bag weighs in at 51 or 52 pounds, so pack accordingly.

* Telephone Booking Fees - A fee up to $20.00 per ticket will be charged for calling an airline's toll-free phone number to book your ticket(s).

* Preferred Seating Fee - A few airlines have begin charging for a few inches of extra legroom, as well as window or isle seats in the coach cabin. 

* Pillows, Blankets and Entertainment Charges - Want to take a nap, stay warm or watch a movie during your flight? Some airlines now charge $5.00 or more for each of these added amenities. My recommendation: Load up your Apple iPod, iTouch, iPhone or laptop computer with a handful of TV show episodes or movies you download from iTunes, and then watch what you want during the flight.

* Snacks, Drinks and Meals - What used to be offered free of charge during a flight now comes with a fee. Most airlines still offer free non-alcoholic drinks, but almost all now charge for snacks and meals. If you want edible and affordable food during your flight, your best bet is to bring your own.

* In-Flight Internet Service - A few airlines have begin offering in-flight Internet access via Wi-Fi. If you want to access the Web using your laptop computer or wireless PDA device, it'll cost you up to $15.00 per flight.

* Traveling with Your Small Dog - Some airlines welcome small dogs as travel companions, but they'll need to stay in their carrier and kept under your seat. The fee to travel with your small dog in the airline's cabin will be between $50.00 and $100.00 each way. Separate fees apply if you'll be traveling with a larger dog that needs to be "checked" in the plane's cargo hold (which is NOT something I recommend for the dog's safety and well-being).

Once you add up some or all of these fees, expect to pay an extra $25.00 to $100.00 per person (each way) before and during your next flight. Keep in mind, not all airlines accept credit cards during a flight, so bring cash to purchase in-flight snacks and services.

When choosing which airline to fly with, if there's a chance you'll need to cancel or change your flight(s) once they've been booked and paid for, pay careful attention to the airline's cancellation, change and rebooking fees and policies. The majority of the major airlines charge a $150.00 change fee, plus the fare difference between your old ticket and the cost of the new flight.

These days, there are some incredible airfare bargains to be found, especially if you use the web to book your travel. However, don't forget to calculate in all of the extra fees and charges you may be responsible for.

Hyatt Better Caters to Business Travelers, While Marriott Offers Families A New Hotel Alternative

Business travelers will soon find their stays at Hyatt Hotels and Resorts more comfortable. In fact, when business travelers reserve the new Hyatt Business Plan accommodations at any of more than 190 participating hotels and resorts worldwide, they can expect a variety of new amenities included with their stay, such as:

* A full breakfast for one guest each day
* Free high-speed Internet access for one computer
* Bottle of water (replenished daily)
* Daily newspaper
* One pressed shirt or blouse (per room, per day, during business hours)
* Unlimited local, toll-free and long distance calls to the U.S. and Canada

In addition, between now and April 30, 2009, Hyatt Gold Passport members who stay eight nights will earn 20,000 bonus points redeemable for free nights at Hyatt Hotels and Resorts around the world.

Hyatt Hotels and Resorts have always been a popular choice amongst frequent business travelers, but these new amenities and incentives will help make each stay more comfortable, affordable and productive.

For more information, or to make a reservation, call (800) 233-1234 or visit www.hyattbusinessplan.com.

Hyatt isn't the only hotel and resort chain taking steps to cater to a specific audience. For families traveling with kids and teens, for example, Marriott Vacation Club has begun making its timeshare vacation properties available for nightly or weekly stays to non-owners.

For about the price of a standard (typically small) three-star hotel room at or near any popular vacation destination, guests at any Marriott Vacation Club timeshare property will enjoy very spacious, two or three bedroom accommodations, a full kitchen, living room and multiple bathrooms. Most also offer in-room laundry facilities, plus access to all of the resort's services and amenities - swimming pools, tennis courts, spa, restaurants, golf, gym, etc.

I recently stayed at a Marriott Vacation Club property in Orlando for a week and found it to be extremely comfortable. The two bedroom accommodations were clean, modern, spacious, well-decorated and the location was very convenient to Disney World, Universal Studios, SeaWorld and International Drive. In fact, the property was located about a 1/4 mile from SeaWorld. 

In addition to the accommodations being top-notch, the resort also has a wide range of on-property activities, including a fully supervised activities program for kids and teens. All this is now available to non-owners, typically at very affordable rates (compared to a typical hotel).

Instead of staying in a small hotel room, any family should consider staying at a Marriott Vacation Club timeshare property (even if they're not an owner). In addition to offering affordable nightly or weekly rates, you'll have plenty of extra space and more privacy. For a family, just having two bathrooms and multiple televisions can relieve some stress. Plus, you can save money by utilizing the full kitchen to prepare breakfasts and lunches (instead of dining out). With the in-room laundry facilities, you can also pack less, which means you can travel with less luggage.

For additional information about booking nightly or weekly accommodations at any of the more than 49 Marriott Vacation Club properties, visit http://www.marriott.com or call (800) 845-5279. While you'll probably be invited to participate in a timeshare sales pitch as a nightly or weekly guest, you are not obligated to attend.

Cancer Survivors Can Enjoy A Free Weekend In Stowe, Vermont

Between May 1st and 3rd, 2009, the 9th Annual Stowe Weekend of Hope will take place in Stowe, Vermont. It's being dubbed as a "celebration of life and learning for survivors of all cancers and those who love them." 

Registration to participate begins on February 29, 2009. For first-time attendees to this get-away weekend event, Stowe hotels is donating complimentary guest rooms, plus is offering discounted guest rooms for returning guests.

Throughout the weekend, free workshops and seminars will be offered, which are designed to be both educational and inspirational. The event's keynote speaker this year will be Joanna Bull, founder of Gilda's Club Worldwide.

According to the Stowe Weekend of Hope organization, "This unique event addresses the complex challenges and needs of people with cancer at any stage in their disease. Cancer presents families with many challenges – physical, emotional, spiritual, and financial."

Last year, the event attracted more than 300 cancer survivors and their families. To learn more or to register, visit www.storehope.org

or call (888) 247-8693.

Puntacana Resort & Club's Tortuga Bay in the Dominican Republic Offers The Ultimate Caribbean Getaway

If you're looking for an up-scale, ultra-luxurious, extremely beautiful, modern, well-equipped and easy-to-reach Caribbean resort getaway, check out Puntacana Resort & Club's Tortuga Bay (888-442-2262) in the Dominican Republic.

Designed by Oscar de la Renta, this resort offers a stunning oceanfront setting, plus all of the amenities and activities you could ask for - from multiple golf courses, to horseback riding, water sports, boating, a spa, a well-equipped fitness center, tennis courts, and eight fine-dining restaurants.

Tortuga Bay is an ultra-exclusive resort within the larger Puntacana Resort. It includes only 15 one, two, three or four bedroom villas (just steps from the beach) which offer privacy, security and five-star luxury, plus plenty of modern amenities.

Located in the Dominican Republic, Puntacana Resort & Club's Tortuga Bay is situated on 15,000 acres of private land located less than 10 minutes from the world's only privately-owned international airport.

Direct flights to Punta Cana are offered by several major airlines from a handful of east coast cities. From New York's JFK Airport, for example, the direct flight takes under four hours. (It's as easy as flying from New York to Florida or Puerto Rico, for example.) Guests of Toruga Bay are literally met at their airplane's door upon landing and escorted to their villa in under 20 minutes.

Toruga Bay is a perfect honeymoon destination or a wonderful place for adults to go for a romantic and fun-filled getaway. It's also a great vacation destination for serious golfers, as well as ideal for families traveling with kids and teens. A wide range of family-friendly activities, services and amenities are offered on-property. The secluded white sandy beaches create a beautiful, tropical setting which is nicely combined with immaculate landscaping and surrounded by several pristine (and award-winning) golf courses.

I just returned from a trip to Toruga Bay and can't recommend this resort highly enough. Having toured throughout the entire Caribbean multiple times over the past few years, I can honestly say that this resort offers the most luxurious, modern and comfortable accommodations I have encountered anywhere in the Caribbean. The friendly and efficient service is unparalleled.

While Tortuga Bay offers the ultimate in upscale resort accommodations, the 355-room Puntacana Hotel offers more affordable accommodations located on the same 23-square-mile property.

Yes, the Dominican Republic is a Spanish speaking country with its own currency, but you'll find most everyone at the Puntacana Resort & Club speaks fluent English and the U.S. dollar is widely accepted. High-speed Internet access, satellite television, cell phone reception and traditional phone services are readily available throughout the resort. So, if you must check your email, you can do it wirelessly from your villa, the beach, the swimming pools or the golf courses.

Tortuga Bay offers something for everyone, although your vacation experience won't be cheap. If you're looking for an extremely affordable, over-crowded, no-frills, all-inclusive resort, seek out other accommodation options within the Dominican Republic or elsewhere in the Caribbean. Tortuga Bay is designed to offer only the best-of-the-best to vacationers able and willing to pay for the experience.

The following are photos from my trip...