• What's elliott?
• About elliott
• Contact us

t o p i c s

• Business
• Commentary
• Destinations
• Help
• Leisure
• Technology
• Vault

Copyright Elliott Publishing. All rights reserved. For more information, call (305) 453-4781 or send e-mail to us.

ELLIOTT'S E-MAIL
http://www.elliott.org

December 5, 2004

>> Inside <<

* Fair Fares
* Hey, Where Did All the Deals Go?
* Travelpro's 12 Days of Christmas Giveaway
* Important Changes to This Newsletter and Site
* This Week in Travel
* An Open Letter to the Airlines
* Soup Of the Day
* A Bogus Bereavement Fare
* Saving Cypress Gardens
* Flashback: Holiday Travel Primer
* Rx For Holiday Travelers
* An Early Holiday Present
* Bermuda's Island Life
* Four 'Secret' Times to Travel

>> First Off <<

** Fair Fares
This week's issue of Elliott's E-Mail is all about fares. John Frenaye has a brilliant essay - actually, it's an open letter to the airline chiefs - about how they ought to be running their businesses. Fares, or more to the point, fair fares, are a big part of that. The Troubleshooter takes a look at bereavement fares, and discovers they aren't worth much. We also have a flashback section that deals with holiday fares, and holiday travel in general. There's more from James Wysong and a special destination report from the new Cypress Gardens.

>> Underwritten By <<

** Journeyware.com
The new destination for exceptional luggage, business/tech cases and travel accessories from leading brands like Travelpro, Lewis N. Clark, RoadWired and more. Great prices, fast, free UPS ground shipping on orders of just $50 or more! All with a level of uncompromising, personal service that you might not be used to getting these days (especially if you are a frequent traveler). Enter coupon code ELLIOTT and click "update" at checkout for an additional 10% off any order.

>> By The Way <<

** Hey, Where Did All the Deals Go?
Are you having a harder time finding the vacation you wanted? It's true, travel prices are rising and availability falling. Here's your chance to share your story. If you've booked a family vacation, a cruise, organized a road trip, booked a resort hotel, villa or luxury timeshare, or a honeymoon - and if you've had some trouble - then we'd like to hear from you. Please e-mail us. As always, please include your full name, city, and what you do for a living.

** Travelpro's 12 Days of Christmas Giveaway
During the last year, we've encouraged you to participate in our Travelpro luggage giveaway by responding to our weekly questions. Now it's payback time. Starting on Wednesday, we're giving away one Travelpro WalkAbout Lite Rollaboard a day. That's no typo - one rollaboard every day! Winners will be announced every morning on the Travel Notes newsletter. If you're not signed up for it, here's the link.

** Important Changes to This Newsletter and Site
Elliott's E-Mail is undergoing big changes next month. We're moving all of the content from Ticked.com, Travelcomment.com and Triprights.com to a brand new site, plus we're throwing in the daily Travel Notes blog for good measure. This newsletter is moving to the new site, too (it will also be renamed). It's going to be an exciting new project, and we'll have more details for you soon.

> Trying to e-mail me? Please read this first.

>> This Week in Travel <<

News, opinion and analysis from Elliott's Travel Notes.

> Serial Thefts Plague Washington Hotels (12/3)

> What a Ride For United Flight 668 (12/2)

> As Dollar Drops, British Invasion Begins (12/1)

> TSA Accused Of Spilling Man's Ashes (11/30)

> Suit Accuses Airlines Of Keeping Fees (11/29)

> See archived blog postings or catch up on today's news.

> NEW! Sign up for Travel Notes by e-mail. Find out more.

>> Also Underwritten By <<

** Dream of Italy
Looking for the perfect gift for the Italophile on your list? Look no further than a gift subscription to Dream of Italy, The Insider's Guide to Undiscovered Italy, recommended by National Geographic Traveler and American Way (American Airlines). Each holiday gift subscription (for that matter - each subscription - even one for yourself!) comes with a 2-DVD set of the Italian cinema classic La Dolce Vita (a $35 value). Published 10 times a year, Dream of Italy covers everything Italian (art, cooking schools, cultural events, destinations, hotels, museums, restaurants, shopping, villa rentals) for luxury travelers. All subscribers receive online access to over two years of back issues! A subscription by mail is $79 per year and a subscription via the Internet costs $69 a year. > Visit Dream of Italy online or call 877-OF-ITALY

>> On Travelcomment.com <<

** An Open Letter to the Airlines
As we approach the holiday season, I want to wish you all a wonderful holiday and extend my most sincere wishes for your survival. I realize that the past several years have stressed you out in the ivory towers and I am afraid that you may have lost sight of the big picture. So as a favor - call this an early Christmas present - I'll help you put the big picture into perspective. You fly planes. You are not in the direct to consumer sales business. > In John Frenaye's column.

** Soup Of the Day
Ever wonder about karma and air travel? Once in a while a nasty passenger comes along that gets what he deserves. There is a line between inconvenienced and downright rude. The following is a perfect example. He boarded the aircraft with a growl and a snicker. "I hope your airline goes under and everybody suffers in the unemployment line. It's just another day with this nickel-and-dime operation." "Welcome aboard," I said with a forced smile and a semi-sarcastic tone. He merely grunted back in disgust, threw his bags on the floor, and plopped himself into his first class seat. > In James Wysong's column.

>> On Triprights.com <<

** A Bogus Bereavement Fare
When Hank Greenberg's sister dies and he must fly to Pittsburgh for the funeral, he's offered an expensive "bereavement" fare through the major airlines. Travelocity's price is half that - or so he thinks. After he tries to buy the ticket, the cost just keeps going up. Is Travelocity to blame for the rising fare? Is he? And what's the deal on airline bereavement discounts, anyway? > In Fix My Trip.

>> On Not2far.com <<

** Saving Cypress Gardens
Florida's oldest theme park - where Elvis Presley learned how to water-ski, Esther Williams filmed "Easy to Love," and Southern Belles sashayed along trails dotted with towering topiaries - had sunken into obscurity during the 1990s. The park, which re-opens December 9th, is now actually two parks - a tribute to the old Cypress Gardens, complete with butterfly gardens, ornate landscaping, the water-ski show and, of course, the Belles. And the new Cypress Gardens, where guests are catapulted through the air on thrill-rides such as the Okeechobee Rampage, the Power Surge, or the appropriately-named Triple Hurricane. How long will it last? > In Not2far.com.

>> Flashback: Holiday Travel Primer <<
Wanna get away during the holidays? Here's a primer for traveling from our archives.

** Rx For Holiday Travelers
Thanksgiving. Labor Day. The Fourth of July. Leisure travelers look forward to these holidays with anticipation - it's a time when Mom, Dad and junior pack up their suitcases and board a plane, minivan or cruise ship for some well-deserved time off. Not so for business travelers. > In Power Trip.

** An Early Holiday Present
The major airlines are offering us early holiday gifts in the form of mileage bonuses or free amenities, hoping we'll reward their generosity with more business. But a closer look at the presents suggests that the sins these airlines are trying to atone for are usually too egregious to be patched up with a few gimmicks. Is your favorite carrier naughty ... or nice? > In Opinion.

** Bermuda's Island Life
If you want an entire tropical island to yourself at this time of year, skip the Caribbean. Try Bermuda instead. Balmy but not oppressively humid, cultured but not pretentious, quaint without being antiquated, Bermuda is practically abandoned between Thanksgiving and Easter and, for all intents and purposes, visitor-free during the two weeks leading up to Christmas. > In Destinations.

** Four 'Secret' Times to Travel
When is the perfect time to travel - when prices are low, there are no crowds and everyone gives you the individual attention you deserve? I'm not talking about the traditional "low" season, like summertime in the tropics, when hotels are shuttered, stores are closed and temperatures soar. Of course, those are excellent times to travel - as long as you don't mind living with Category Four hurricanes and cigar-sized insects. > In Power Trip.

>> Even More Underwriters <<

** ProTravelGear.com
The new SearchAlert re-settable combination padlock from Outside The Box offers unique innovations in luggage security. SearchAlert may be opened with an override device controlled by Transportation Security Administration agents. No SearchAlert lock should be cut off by TSA agents. In fact, we offer a free replacement if it's ever cut off. SearchAlert features a Security Window which changes color from Green to Red when any override device is used. $9.99 each or two for $17.98 Available exclusively online. Enter coupon code: ELLIOTT for a discount. Click here to order.

** FirstClassFlyer.com
Want to fly first class for less than what others pay for coach? Looking for free and purchased upgrades, 2-for-1s, advanced ticketing techniques, and a fast-track to elite status strategies? Look no further ... these hot deals and more are available at First Class Flyer's Web site.

** Cheapflights.com
Flights price comparison site. Compare sales, specials and cheap flights to New York, Las Vegas, Orlando, London, Cancun, San Jose and over 600 more destinations. Cheapflights.com provides a quick and independent picture of the market for cheap flights from airlines (including Southwest and JetBlue), travel agents and specialist discounters. > Find cheap flights now.

>> Who's Reading Elliott's E-Mail? <<

* Demographics
* Elliott's E-Mail newsletter circulation - 33,657
* Travel Notes by E-Mail newsletter circulation - 5,051
* Last month's total unique visitors
Elliott.org - 57,826
Ticked.com - 25,290
Triprights.com - 8,823
Not2far.com - 4,115
Travelcomment.com - 16,107
Total network visitors - 112,161

>> Talk To Us <<

Read something you disagree with? Got a story idea or a gripe? Here's how to reach Elliott.

760 Sybilwood Circle
Winter Springs, FL 32708-3735
(407) 699-9529 or e-mail

(Please note: Unless you specify otherwise, all e-mails, letters and phone conversations are considered "on the record." That means your name could be used in a future article.)

>> Become an Underwriter <<

This site relies on support from travelers like you. If you care about journalism that's uncompromising, cutting-edge and consumer-focused, then you're invited to become a member of elliott.org. Your contribution will help keep us operating.

>> Please Forward Elliott's E-Mail <<

Did you know the average reader forwards Elliott's E-Mail to two other people every week? We don't mind at all, but you could always save yourself the trouble by inviting them to subscribe. It's easy and it's free: just send an e-mail to this address with the word "subscribe" in the message header.

>> Credits and Subscription Information <<

Elliott's E-Mail is published 50 times a year by http://www.elliott.org. (c) 2004 Elliott Publishing.

To unsubscribe, please open your Web browser and click on this address.