Simply Juicy Travel

Important Update for Travelers Departing From NYC Area Airports

In an effort to improve
customer service at JFK International Airport in NYC,
Delta Airlines now requires baggage be checked a minimum of 45 minutes before departure time on DOMESTIC flights. The change, effective October 15, also applies to customers flying Delta Connections well as code share flights operated by the airline.

Gone are the days when you can arrive at the airport with 15 minutes to spare and still make your flight. Despite the fact that schedule delays have hit an all-time high, your chances of getting bumped have increased. Overbooking is now commonplace and your best protection is to arrive early.

Customers who miss the 45-minute window, will be notified during check-in. Similar policies are already in place at airports in Atlanta, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Orlando and Denver. Delta's International flights still require a minimum 1 hour advance check-in.

It's important to check with your carrier, as policies change frequently. Click here for FAA's site list of U.S. airline websites or contact Simply Juicy Travel for further information.

Best Regards,

Eileen
Simply Juicy Travel, New York

1-888-26JUICY

Tranquility Jazz Festival 2007: A Perfect Excuse For Your Next Caribbean Getaway

Dear Simply Juicy Travelers,

Do you love jazz? How about lounging around the deep, blue Caribbean? Did I mention an award-winning spa or 18-hole Greg Norman Golf Course? Need I continue? 

For a limited time, The CuisinArt Resort and Spa is offering a four-night experience with exclusive Virtuoso amenities, scheduled to coincide with the opening of The Anguilla Tranquility Jazz Festival. Why not take this opportunity to to indulge in that long overdue girlfriend getaway or relaxing romantic retreat?

Discover a world of luxury, while enjoying the splendid tropical gardens, new Wine Cellar and private Chef's Table, PLUS the mellow rhythms of jazz in the serene, yet sophisticated ambiance of Anguilla. Package prices are based on five days/four nights (from November 7-11), double occupancy, starting at $2,545 pp for a Junior Suite (land only).  Also includes the following amenities:

• Anguilla airport or ferry greeting
• Caribbean welcome drink upon arrival
• Daily continental breakfast in restaurant or room service
• Special dinner and concert tickets (featuring Diane Schuur) for two on Thursday, November 8, 2007
• Dinner for two featuring Chef's Tasting Menu at Santorini Restaurant
• Two 50 Minute Spa Treatments
• Additional Virtuoso Amenity: Choice of (1) massage per room per stay, either an Exotic Essence Massage OR a Caribbean Sea Stone Massage OR an Anguillan Coconut Pineapple Scrub
• Non-motorized watersports
• Use of tennis courts, fitness center, yoga pavilion, croquet field, par fitness course, bocce court and children's play area

Contact Simply Juicy Travel for more information.

Best Regards,

From Simply Juicy Travel in New York
Eileen

No More Gilmore Girls...Say It Ain't So!

Say it ain't so...

Can you believe the CW Network actually cancelled my very, very, very favorite television show?  The series Gilmore Girls is ending tonight.  I have already informed my husband and kids that I will probably be crying ALOT at about 8:58pm est tonight. It may sound ridiculous to some but I just love the smart characters, the witty dialog, Stars Hollow (OK, I know it's not a real town)and the focus on positive female role-models.

Good bye to Sookie and Emily, Paris and Lane, Luke (what a cutie) and Paul Anka, and most of all Rory and Lorelai Gilmore, the team who made it fun and fashionable for mothers and daughters to enjoy each other.

Do you think it's too late for a letter writing campaign....

Partners, Pleasure and Passion, A Miraval Retreat with Dr's Lana Holstein and David Taylor

Dear Simply Juicy Traveler,

I sent my dear friends, Christine and Joe Farahat, to the Miraval Resort in Catalina, AZ this past January.  They attended a 4-day couples retreat (called Partners, Pleasure and Passion) led by relationship experts Dr's Lana Holstein and David Taylor, that has transformed their relationship and lives in such a dramatic way that they agreed to share their story with CBS News.

Because the piece is scheduled to air on The CBS Early Show, Wednesday, May 2 (at 8:08 am, to be exact) I decided to post the email I received from Christine shortly after their return. Even before we discussed their experience, I could tell from the expressions on their faces in the photos she sent, that the workshop had been amazing. Below is the original letter I received from Christine this past January.

Is this something you might be interested in? Would you like to find out more about Christine and Joe's experience?  Drop us a line. For further information, check out our Juicy Travel Picks.

___________________________________________________________________

Dear Eileen,

First I want to say thank you for all your help in planning and coordinating our travel arrangements for our trip to Arizona.  Miraval Spa was an absolutely amazing place.

As you know, we specifically went to take the workshop they offer for couples with some need to reconnect.  The workshop was called Partners, Passion and Pleasure.

Let me just say that trying to get my husband to agree to go was very difficult but with much enrolling, he finally agreed. By day two (only a 4 day workshop) he was SOLD! He not only found value in the workshop, but the facility was amazing. Although there were other people there, you felt as if you had the place to yourself. The spa food was artfully cooked and presented. Although it took us two days to get used to it, by day three we felt as though we detoxed ourselves in several ways. First, the workshop enabled my husband to fall in love again in ways the we never experienced with each other. Lastly, the spa treatments that were offered were fantastic. In a short period of time, we felt rested, healthy and in love.

I don't think I could have had a better experience. You made our travel plans effortless and we really appreciate it.  So thank you again for all you did.

Fondly,

Christine Farahat

America's Most Dangerous Airports

As a travel professional, I spend an enormous amount of time tracking industry developments that may impact my clients, especially as they relate to consumer safety and value. Yesterday, I received an email from Forbes.com regarding America's most dangerous airports in the US and decided to pass this information on to you.

The list was compiled by analyzing Federal Aviation Administration data for accidents that occurred  at 452 U.S. airports, since 2001. Taken into consideration was "the size of the facility, the numbers of takeoffs and landings, and the severity of the incidents as categorized by the FAA."

As I scrolled through the pictures that revealed the worst offenders, I kept bracing myself to find the two NYC airports that I use the most, and was shocked to discover LaGuardia and JFK absent from the list. While I expected to find some huge International Airports like Chicago's O'Hare and California's LAX, what surprised me most were the number of smaller airports that made the list, like North Las Vegas in Nevada and Long Beach in California. (In an effort to alleviate congestion at the larger airports, many of the regional sites are taking on more air traffic than the facilities were built for.) 

What frightened me most were the FAA statistics that indicate "hundreds more commercial jet aircraft came within EIGHT seconds of collision between 2001 and 2006."

Now for the good news...with the exception of weather... most of these safety issues can be corrected. The reporters concluded that "most, if not all, of the incidents could have been avoided if airports had the proper monitoring equipment in place." Now It's up to us, the flying public, to keep the pressure on our elected officials to ensure the improvements happen.