Alaska Airlines - Travel Deals

A Diamond of a Sale: Alaska Airlines Turns 75

diamond.jpgFor those who are lucky enough to stay married for 75 years and still have their wits about them, there is a great reward. The traditional gift for a 75th wedding anniversary is a diamond. The modern gift is gold. Either way I think that if you are able to love someone for that long you deserve more than just precious jewels. You deserve a medal of honor and a statue in Washington, DC.

As part of their celebration of being in business for 75 years, Alaska Airlines will not be handing out diamonds or gold along with your bag of peanuts. Instead, they are offering up some seriously discounted flights. What better way to celebrate than to fly from Orange County to Oakland for $35? Show them your love by going from Boise to Portland for $45. Let them know that you care by flying from Walla Walla to Seattle for $65.

With prices that cheap I am not sure they will be able to stay in business for another year, let alone long enough to celebrate their 80th anniversary. You are supposed to receive pearls if you make it that long. I suggest you receive sainthood instead.

Take the Sunshine Express to Arizona

heatwave.jpgDo you reckon that people in sunny, warm climates ever feel the urge to visit someplace that is cloudy and gray? As we search for travel deals each and every day we often come across trips to warm weather places, but never have we come across a deal that promotes how cloudy and miserable a destination is. Maybe someone could fill this market by specializing in trips to dreary weather locations.

In the meantime, we are stuck with deals to places like Arizona. This isn’t a bad consolation prize, really. Arizona is lovely in the spring and you’ll find many people who say it is lovely all year round. These are also people who say that 120 degree heat isn’t bad because it is “dry”. Perhaps. But that is still way too hot for my liking.

In my mind Arizona exists for this time of year. It is there to serve as an oasis after a winter of cold and gray. It is the place to go to reintroduce your skin to Vitamin D and to dust off the golf clubs. It is a destination for Spring Break and a place for some self indulgent pampering. It is the opposite of the cloudy, dreary weather tours that do not exist.

Flights to Arizona also happen to be on sale right this very second thanks to Alaska Airlines.

Arizona Spring Training Baseball Vacation Packages

spring-training.jpgThere is no surer sign that spring is on the way than hearing the crack of the bat, the cheers from the crowd and the sight of saliva being expunged from players’ mouths. Baseball is the great American pastime. If you are a baseball purist, or simply someone who appreciates sitting out in the sun eating junk food and drinking overpriced watered down beer, going to spring training will be something you’ll cherish forever.

There are two leagues when it comes to spring training baseball. There is the Grapefruit League in Florida and the Cactus League in Arizona. Both offer ample opportunities to get an up close and personal look at some of the best athletes in the world, while also allowing you to reintroduce yourself to the sun after a long winter of hibernation.

Alaska Airlines has a nice vacation package deal to watch the Seattle Mariners play in Peoria, Arizona. Don’t worry, even if you aren’t a Mariners fan you can take advantage of this offer and go watch another team in the Cactus League or simply go to Arizona and play a few rounds of golf.

For those who prefer the action in the Grapefruit League, you can do a quick search for cheap plane tickets to Florida.

Kids Fly Free to Disneyland on Alaska Airlines

kids-fly-free.jpgHere is a pretty sweet offer for kids both big and small. If you book a Disneyland vacation package with Alaska Airlines, children under the age of 11 can fly free. That sure beats the usual efforts you need to take to get your kids a free flight like stuffing them in your carryon bags and hoping that the TSA doesn’t check your luggage.

If you are a parent, chances are that you have heard of this place called Disneyland. Chances are that at one time or another, your child has expressed in interest in visiting Mickey, Goofy, Pluto and the gang. Chances are that you have noticed that prices on Disney vacations go way up and way down depending on the time of year. Chances are that you are a smart consumer and a smart traveler and that you would rather pay less than more.

This is one time of year when the prices are going down so it would behoove you as a parent to get your reservations made soon and to inform your child that on this trip they actually get to sit in an airplane chair and that they won’t be stowed away in the overhead compartment.

Las Vegas Monte Carlo Resort & Casino Winter Package

montecarlo.jpgLas Vegas might be located in Nevada but it clearly is part of some kind of alternative universe. The place has a Paris hotel, a hotel dedicated to New York, a taste of Venice and a whole lot of cheesiness. That is what makes Las Vegas, Las Vegas. Some people love it, others would rather spend a vacation as a prisoner of war. Very few people are completely indifferent about it.

One of the destination-based hotels that is worth visiting while in Vegas is the Monte Carlo, which is described in the following fashion:

Designed after Monte Carlo’s famous Place du Casino, the Las Vegas Monte Carlo Resort & Casino combines European elegance with true Las Vegas style. Sculptured fountains, crystal chandeliers, and Italian marble greet you as you enter the impressive lobby. You’ll find a vast array of gaming here, and when you’re ready to take a break, float down the lazy stream at the Monte Carlo Beach Club.

Sounds delightful, eh? Well, for a limited time Alaska Airlines is offering a deal on stays at the Monte Carlo. Upon arrival, guests will receive a $25 food and beverage credit, two complimentary Spa admissions, $25 Casino Slot Free Play. Restrictions may apply. Valid for arrivals Sunday-Thursday with a minimum 2 night stay. Book by 12/18/2006 and travel between 12/10/2006 and 12/21/2006.

There’s no East Coast bias with Alaska Airlines’ West Coast Sale

alf-spr4.jpgWhen you live on the left coast of the United States it is pretty easy to feel overlooked. The media, political and business heart of the country is on the East Coast and the people living there sometimes think of the West Coast as being a distant planet full of alfalfa sprouts eating hippies who live in tree forts and survive on compost scrapings. That is a fairly accurate description of me, but the West Coast is as diverse and as interesting as any part of the US of A. You should check it out.

For a limited time, Alaska Airlines is offering up some awesome deals on flights along the West Coast. Book your tickets now or you’ll lose your seat to another alfalfa sprouts eating hippie who hasn’t showered for a month and who thinks patchouli is a breath mint.

Win a Trip to Alaska to see the Iditarod

iditarod_4tn.jpgHere’s a chance for you to see one of the most unique sporting events in the United States and to explore Alaska for free. Alaska Airlines is running a contest where you can win round-trip air, four nights lodging in Anchorage, ground transportation, a whale watching tour, snow sports and an opportunity to see the famous Iditarod dog sled race, the ultimate in adventure travel. It costs absolutely nothing to enter so go ahead and sign up today. If you do win, make sure you send your thank you letter to BootsnAll c/o Bob. Good luck!

The contest ends December 15, 2006.

Say Hola to Mexico for Thanksgiving, Christmas and Winter Vacations

south-of-the-border.jpgIn a lot of parts of the United States, this is the time of year when people start thinking about heading south for the holidays or to escape the long, dark cold days of winter. Resorts in Mexico are a popular place to escape to for a number of reasons. They offer sand, sun and a bit of foreign culture all for prices that won’t break the bank. Plus, for many people, especially those on the west coast, Mexico is an easy flight away.

Alaska Airlines is making it even easier to head South of the Border this year with an increased number of direct flights from Seattle, Portland, San Francisco and Los Angeles to various cities in Mexico. Take advantage of these deals to get away for the holidays or to work in a long weekend of sun worshipping.

For more information of all things Mexico, check out the Mexico travel guide on BootsnAll.com.

Sell that Crack Den you Call a Home and Get 25,000 Miles on Alaska Airlines

house.jpgLet’s face it, dealing with mortgage companies and buying/selling a home can be a royal pain in the arse. After it is all said and done, you’ll want to take a vacation somewhere so you can forget about the next 30 years of debt in your life. That is why it is pretty darn brilliant for Alaska Airlines to team up with Lending Tree to offer gobs of frequent flier miles when you sell your home or take out a loan to purchase one. Here are the details.