Home Based Travel Agent - June 2008 - (Page 40)

California FOR THE AGENT SAN DIEGO Good food, unique accommodations and consistently warm weather make this city an attractive destination museum.org) opened in the downtown The venerable US Grant Hotel Marina District. The museum bills itself as an interactive arts destination for children and families, offering innovative, hands-on art opportunities, classes and exhibitions designed by emerging and established contemporary artists. The museum will also be downtown San Diego’s first public green project with environmentally friendly architecture and infrastructure practices, including the use of recycled building materials, water-saving devices and natural convection cooling. Hotels: The US Grant (www.starwood hotels.com) in downtown San Diego was out of commission for a while as it experienced a $56 million renovation. Getting There: Visitors fly into Lindbergh International Airport. Expect to pay from $8 to $10 for a taxi from the airport to downtown San Diego. In May, JetBlue Airways (www. jetblue.com) began daily nonstop service from San Diego to Seattle, and added a second daily flight from San Diego to Salt Lake City. Northwest Airlines (www.nwa.com) has added nonstop flights between San Diego and Memphis, TN. The flight will be available through August 18. Virgin America (www.virginamerica. com) is now offering five daily flights between San Diego and San Francisco. Fares start at $39 one-way in the main cabin. Tours: San Diego Insider Tours (www. sandiegoinsidertours.com) is a new guided-tour company specializing in providing high-end, in-depth encounters showcasing unique aspects of San Diego. Aimed primarily at small groups, the company has debuted with three excursions: “Surf Culture Safari” is a dry-land experience introducing participants to San Diego’s four diverse beach communities and its thriving surf culture; “Photographic Treasure Hunt” takes participants on a guided tour to photogenic spots around San Diego; and “Beads, Baubles and Jewelry Junket” takes tourists to the largest retailer of beads and jewelry in the United States. Participants get a 90-minute basic beading lesson, all materials necessary for the class and a DVD recap of the instructional material. Private tours can also be arranged, and gourmet food is a part of every Insider Tours experience. Visit www.sandiego insidertours.com or call 858-488-7512. Attractions: Last May, the New Children’s Museum (www.sdchildrens Fully open and more impressive than ever, the iconic hotel, now a member of Starwood’s Luxury Collection, will be further enhanced later this fall with the addition of an 8,000-square-foot, two-story spa and indoor pool. Presently, guests can book spa services in their rooms or suites, or if they prefer they can schedule an appointment in the hotel’s spa treatment suite. The hotel’s 270 rooms include 47 suites. The two bi-level Presidential Suites have the master bedroom on the upper level, while the downstairs has a spacious living room, separate dining area and terrace. The hotel also has an 11th-floor Presidential Penthouse Suite. The property’s signature restaurant is the Grant Grill, which specializes in marketfresh cookery; the signature dish is jumbo diver scallops. Last January, the hotel added the Celebration Fine Arts Gallery. The 3,000-square-foot art gallery on the hotel’s lobby level showcases works from contemporary artists. Agents with special requests can reach Resources I San Diego Convention & Visitors Bureau 2215 India Street, San Diego, CA 92101; 619-236-1212; sdinfo@ sandiego.org; www.sandiego.org 40 Home-BasedTravelAgent JUNE 2 0 0 8 http://www.sdchildrensmuseum.org http://www.starwoodhotels.com http://www.starwoodhotels.com http://www.sandiegoinsidertours.com http://www.sandiegoinsidertours.com http://www.jetblue.com http://www.jetblue.com http://www.nwa.com http://www.virginamerica.com http://www.virginamerica.com http://www.sandiegoinsidertours.com http://www.sandiegoinsidertours.com http://www.sandiego.org http://www.sdchildrensmuseum.org

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Home Based Travel Agent - June 2008 Contents Editor's Note Publisher's Note Your Lifeline Agent Spotlight New Technology Industry News Hot Deals Indentifying Agents Delivering Documents Culinary Vacations Pacific Northwest Cover Story: Cruising Scandinavia Agent Access New Products

Home Based Travel Agent - June 2008

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