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San Francisco: Valentine's Day discount on tandem bike rentals

San Francisco: Valentine's Day discount on tandem bike rentals

Air France advises passengers to postpone flying until after four-day strike

Air France advises passengers to postpone flying until after four-day strike

Offbeat Traveler: Unromantic places around the world

Offbeat Traveler: Unromantic places around the world

Charles Dickens is turning 200, and you're headed ... where?

Charles Dickens is turning 200, and you're headed ... where?

Tuesday Travel Ticker: Foreign visits up

Tuesday Travel Ticker: Foreign visits up

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Reader photos: London

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Romantic getaways

Romantic getaways

A vibrant street life, stunning visuals, food and drink that sweeten your lips. The world's most romantic places seem to share these traits. But there is something more: a sense of style and spirit, a pace that's almost musical. Here's a list of ethereal places -- some expected, some not -- that can easily capture your heart.

Hollywood finds romance in travel

Hollywood finds romance in travel
By Susan King, Los Angeles Times

On a train 'North by Northwest' and others, on a bus in 'It Happened One Night,' in Italy in 'Roman Holiday,' in Bali in 'Eat, Pray, Love' — love is all around.

Tweets from the Los Angeles Times Travel staff.

Biking down Haleakala volcano

Intrepid Times staff writer Chris Reynolds goes on a 27-mile bike ride down Hale...

Intrepid Times staff writer Chris Reynolds goes on a 27-mile bike ride down Haleakala volcano in Maui.

Spotlights from the Los Angeles Times

Viola Davis up close

Viola Davis up close

Get to know more about her life, on and off the camera.

50% off wine tasting

50% off wine tasting

$37.50 for a 2-hr. wine tasting & VIP vineyard tour (reg. $75).

See De Niro in LA

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First Fridays on Abbot Kinney
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Travel letters to the editor: An awesome, thrifty driving vacation in Utah

Plus, airline fees and fare games.

February 5, 2012

The article "Before You Take Off" by Catharine Hamm [Jan. 29], reminded me of a trip I took last year. It's an example of a driving vacation that the 80% to 90% of Californians she mentioned as car trippers might appreciate: It was five days long, leaving from Whittier and going to Bryce Canyon in Utah. I stayed at Zion the first night. The ranger said the campground was full, but I found an empty site. After breakfast the next morning outside the park, I drove through fantastic scenery toward Bryce.

I toured Bryce, went back down the road to Red Canyon and took a site at a state campground ($12 a night) that had hot showers and was very well laid out with views. I used this as a base to explore southern Utah for the next three days. I went back home through Cedar City, Utah.

Total cost for the trip: less than $90 (not including gasoline). The scenery, solitude and great interactions with travelers from all walks of life and many different countries were awesome.

Steve Thomsen

Whittier

::

Fees and fare games

Regarding "Seating Roulette" by Catharine Hamm [On the Spot, Jan. 29]: There isn't a day that goes by that consumers aren't assaulted in some way by big corporations that want more of my money. Airlines nickel and dime everyone, and no one says a word. Baggage fees, seat fees and if you call and make a reservation, you're charged a fee. It seems as if they charge for everything. Then they claim they aren't making money, and several months later you find that they made millions in fees. Then I turn to Page 11 of the Travel section, and there it is again: A Paris airfares special is offered for $829, but there's a $20-$30 weekend surcharge each way. The hotels also are getting in on the action. This is nothing but consumer terrorism, and we are quietly letting it happen.

Charles Martin

Los Angeles

I enjoyed Hamm's On the Spot column in today's Times. I thought it might have added a little more context to have mentioned that, in large part, the current reality of a la carte pricing in air travel (where we are charged extra for booking with an agent, checking bags, choosing a seat, etc.) is a result of our fondness for basing ticketing on the least expensive option. Combine this with online booking sites that sort by fare, and it's easy to see why airlines have resorted to these games. They have been taught again and again that they must offer extremely low fares, but add-ons are not included.

Randall Gellens

San Diego

 

 

 
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Southern California Close-Ups

SoCal Close-ups: Your guide to downtown Los Angeles

Part 1: Downtown Los Angeles
SoCal Close-ups: Your guide to inland Orange County

Part 2: Inland Orange County
Southern California Close-ups: Los Angeles' park neighborhoods

Part 3: Los Angeles' park neighborhoods
Guide: San Fernando Valley

Part 4: San Fernando Valley
Travel guide: Coastal Orange County

Part 5: Coastal Orange County
Part 6: Long Beach, San Pedro and Catalina Island

Part 6: Long Beach, San Pedro and Catalina Island
Travel guide: Santa Monica, Malibu and Venice

Part 7: Santa Monica, Malibu and Venice
Travel guide: The real South Bay

Part 8: The South Bay
Travel guide: Westside of Los Angeles

Part 9: Westside of Los Angeles
Travel guide: Wilshire to West Hollywood

Part 10: Wilshire to West Hollywood
Pasadena

Part 11: Pasadena
Travel guide: Hollywood

Part 12: Hollywood

Highlights

Towering sculptures at the Harbin Ice and Snow Festival

Towering sculptures at the Harbin Ice and Snow Festival

100 photos and videos of Hawaii

100 photos and videos of Hawaii

Offbeat destinations around the world

Offbeat destinations around the world

Photos

Offbeat Traveler: Unromantic places around the world

Offbeat Traveler: Unromantic places around the world
Hollywood romance in travel

Hollywood romance in travel
European cold snap

European cold snap

California

Visiting out West? Here's a SoCal traveler's cheat sheet

Visiting out West? Here's a SoCal traveler's cheat sheet

Palm Springs revival has deals for a song (or close to it)

Palm Springs revival has deals for a song (or close to it)

A peaceful interlude at the Mojave National Preserve

A peaceful interlude at the Mojave National Preserve

The West

Cooking up gourmet adventures across the West

Cooking up gourmet adventures across the West

At this Fort Worth 'factory,' they're in the money

At this Fort Worth 'factory,' they're in the money

Ski reports and forecasts for Southern California and the West

Ski reports and forecasts for Southern California and the West

Shop: Travel Offers & Deals

Travelzoo: 6-night vacation in Thailand including tours and air for $1398

Travelzoo: 6-night vacation in Thailand including tours and air for $1398
Travelzoo: All-inclusive Antigua trip including airfare starting at $899

Travelzoo: All-inclusive Antigua trip including airfare starting at $899
Travelzoo: $549 for a 10-night Mediterranean cruise

Travelzoo: $549 for a 10-night Mediterranean cruise
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Custom Publishing: Travel Guides

A Very Vegas Christmas

A Very Vegas Christmas
Sustainable and Scrumptious

Sustainable and Scrumptious
Beyond the Luau

Beyond the Luau
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More Travel

Romantic getaways

Romantic getaways

Berlin: Put Berlin next to Paris and you have both sides of the coin: romance, which occasionally appeals, and eros,...

Hollywood finds romance in travel

Hollywood finds romance in travel

By Susan King, Los Angeles Times

Love is always lovelier some place other than home. Well, at least in the celluloid universe.

Travel experts share bargain-hunting tips

Travel experts share bargain-hunting tips

By Catharine Hamm, Los Angeles Times

If you don't know where you're going on vacation this year, you may not be indecisive. You might just be a bargain hunter.

Indy tips for Super Bowl visitors

Indy tips for Super Bowl visitors

By Chris Erskine

OK, you somehow scored Super Bowl tix. Congrats. Shouldn’t everyone’s uncle be a regional...

12 places to visit in 2012

12 places to visit in 2012

By Christopher Reynolds, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer

New Mexico: This year, New Mexicans mark 100 years of statehood. But much of the state's appeal stems from its human...

Travel updates for 2012

Travel updates for 2012

By Catharine Hamm, Los Angeles Times staff writer

Think of what follows as a travel tapas buffet — tidbits that just might whet your appetite for more. Here are a dozen pieces of...

Cruises: Drinking in the ambience aboard Rotterdam VI

Cruises: Drinking in the ambience aboard Rotterdam VI

By Karl Zimmermann, Special to the Los Angeles Times

Rarely has a city been as in love with a shipping company as Rotterdam, Netherlands, is with the Holland America line.

Smaller legs of world cruises can be a deal

Smaller legs of world cruises can be a deal

By Millie Ball, Special to the Los Angeles Times

The British couple — she in a long black dress, he in a traditional tux — leaned against the elevator's polished wood paneling...

A big question mark hovers over the cruise industry

A big question mark hovers over the cruise industry

By Mary Forgione, Special to the Los Angeles Times

The first quarter of 2012 was supposed to be a sweet spot for passenger cruise lines. Wave season, as it's known, marks a time when cruise...

Costa Concordia capsizing spotlights cruise ship safety

Costa Concordia capsizing spotlights cruise ship safety

By Beverly Beyette, Special to the Los Angeles Times

It's a cruise vacation, promising lots of fine dining and drinking, new adventures and relaxation. What could go wrong?

Racing aboard the Great Lakes schooner Denis Sullivan

Racing aboard the Great Lakes schooner Denis Sullivan

By Karin Winegar, Special to the Los Angeles Times

At dawn on the dock, a few sailors kiss spouses and dogs goodbye. Then we muster on the quarterdeck: 17 crew (nine volunteers and eight...

China: A domestic wine industry starts to take root

China: A domestic wine industry starts to take root

By Mike Ives, Special to the Los Angeles Times

A few months before the 2008 Beijing Olympics, I read a blog post by an Atlantic Monthly correspondent about Chinese wine.

The skiing and snowboarding are great in western Canada

The skiing and snowboarding are great in western Canada

By Brian E. Clark, Special to the Los Angeles Times

Ski resorts — and their patrons — from the Sierra to the Rockies are cursing La Niña. Up in western Canada, however,...

Titanic anniversary: Ice-carving contests among museums' plans

Titanic anniversary: Ice-carving contests among museums' plans

By Mary Forgione

In Indonesia, watching the sun rise with 504 Buddhas

In Indonesia, watching the sun rise with 504 Buddhas

By Susan Spano, Special to the Los Angeles Times

Four a.m. is a terrible time of day, too late for night owls, too early for early risers. The exception is 4 a.m. at Borobudur, waiting...

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Travel Briefs

Travel films and talks, Feb. 6-12, 2012

AFRICA

Travel letters: Cruising and safety

Cruising and safety

Travel films and programs

TRAVEL SHOW

'Stressing out' the loyal airline customer

A traveler who uses frequent flier miles and used American Airilnes and Japan Airlines on a round-the-world trip asks: What is the point of the airlines "stressing out" the loyal customer?

Letters: Hunting in the Mojave National Preserve

I just read Mark Vanhoenacker’s article “A Rest for Restless Spirits” [Jan. 8] about the Mojave National Preserve and must object to the characterization that allowing hunting is “inferior.”