The Savvy Traveler

Special Information for the week of February 21, 1998
 
Mardi Gras Music

Nick Spitzer is host of an upcoming show on Public Radio International called American Routes. By the way one of the best books to help you take in the best of New Orleans is "Arthur Hardy's Mardi Gras Guide." At $3.50 the annual guide is a bargain.

Milford Sound

For information on Maori programs in Rotorua on the North Island, contact "Magic of the Maori" at macignz@wave.co.nz or call (+64) 7-349-3949.

If you're interested in visiting Milford Sound on the South Island, the Milford Sound Underwater Observatory offers daily departures. Contact your travel agency for more information. Helicopter flights in and around Milford Sound are available through Milford Sound Helicopters; contact them at (+64) 3-249-8384.

Deal of the Week

For a couple of years now, airlines have figured out that by offering incredible weekend deals at the last minute -- usually via Internet postings -- they can move seats that might otherwise go unsold. Most offer city pairs at deeply discounted prices for travelers who can take off on short notice. But there's always been one airline missing at the party: United.

No more. United just joined the game. And the airline is welcome -- its route structure is so extensive, it can offer more options than most rivals. Sample round-trip fares this weekend: Atlanta-Chicago, $115. Boston-San Francisco, 269. Miami-Atlanta, 120. Washington-Phoenix, 249. Seattle-New York, 269.

Fares are posted on Wednesday, and you can begin travel on Saturday. All fares are for non-stop flights, and you must return on the following Monday or Tuesday. As you might expect, the biggest selections involve travel to and from United hub cities, such as Chicago and Denver.

Q&A II -- General Caller Questions

Rudy answers listeners' travel questions. He mentions:

Trip Insurance companies:
Access -- 800-284-8300;
Global Care -- 800-821-2488;
Care Free -- 800-323-3149;
Travel Guard -- 800-782-5151.

Pager company:
Skytel -- 800-759-8737.

Qantas Airline Travel Agency -- 800-641-8772.