California Travel News

Gays Travel More Than Non-Gays

2008-12-07T08:26:00.000+02:00

According to recent research, gay travelers travel more frequently than non-gays. 98% have taken at least one overnight trip in the last 12 months compared with 72% for non-gays. Gay travelers stay longer, an average of 15 nights in a hotel last year compared with an average of about three nights for all U.S. travelers. Gay men spent twice on average per trip compared to non-gay travelers and are more likely to be passport holders. In total, Gay men spend thousands off dollars on travel every year and in total spend Billions of dollars a year on travel. Gay men tend to travel throughout the entire year unlike non-gays. Gay men tends to travel on a whim and not just during peak seasons.

So with that in mind cities all across the country are now courting the gay travelers. Could it be that most of these cities went to a National Convention & Visitor's Bureau meeting and heard a lecture saying just that? Almost sounds too good to be true. We have been flooded with phone calls, emails and letters from different cities all across the country wanting us to write a travel column on their city.

Laguna Beach is an "attractive artists' community"

2008-11-11T11:56:00.000+02:00

Californias Laguna Beach Has Something For Everyone A diverse range of events takes place at Laguna Beach in California all year round, it is reported.

Surf competitions, guided walks and arts festivals are among the treats on offer, states Alf Alderson, writing for the Daily Telegraph.

There are 30 beaches and coves in the area, he adds, so there is something to suit just about everyone.

"Enjoy an early morning swim in the sparkling Pacific surf followed by superb breakfasts at the Montage Hotel's Loft Restaurant, which has superb sea views," the travel writer advises.

Catering to gay travelers

2008-10-19T01:16:00.000+02:00

It's been escalating over the past 10 years and could be fueled even more by legalized marriage for gay men and lesbians. Now that Connecticut has joined California and Massachusetts in legalizing same-sex marriage, more honeymoon trips are expected all around the world.

"The opportunity for tourism is pretty staggering," said David Paisley of San Francisco-based Community Marketing, which has been researching gay and lesbian consumer preferences since 1992. "There are a huge number of people out there waiting."

Travel experts expect business to pick up, despite the economy, if Proposition 8 on the November ballot fails to approve a change in California's constitution to eliminate the right of gay men and lesbians to legally marry. Since the Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage earlier this year, about 11,000 gay and lesbian couples statewide have taken the plunge.

California adds travel office in Korea

2008-09-10T14:05:00.000+03:00

The California Travel and Tourism Commission will open an office in Seoul on Monday to generate marketing and promotional campaigns to bring South Korea travelers to California.

The commission hired AVIAREPS Marketing Garden to represent the California tourism industry in South Korea.

South Korea is California’s fourth-largest overseas market, with 331,000 visitors, Caroline Beteta, CTTC chief executive officer, said in a news release. “We expect that number to increase dramatically with the easing of visa restrictions and expected expansion in airlift.”

Fewer expected to travel this Labor Day weekend

2008-09-02T10:44:00.000+03:00

The Automobile Club of Southern California predicted a 1.4 percent dip in the number of people traveling this weekend, compared with the same period last year. About 2.7 million Southern California residents are expected to travel.

Nearly 200,000 people will fly in and out of Lindbergh Field this weekend, roughly the same number as last year, said a San Diego airport spokeswoman.

California residents are apt to be home for the holiday

2008-08-28T14:43:00.000+03:00

Despite the declining costs, fewer Southern Californians will be hitting the roads this Labor Day weekend, opting instead to lounge in their inflatable backyard pools or flip burgers on the grill.

This weekend, holiday travel - which includes driving and flying - is expected to be 1.4percent lower than last year, when the number of Labor Day vacationers rose 1 percent, according to the Automobile Club of Southern California.

That's partly because even though gas prices have dropped for more than six consecutive weeks - to $3.92 a gallon for regular unleaded in the Los Angeles area - that's still $1.15 a gallon higher than a year ago. "It's been a tough year for gas prices. They're coming down fast. It's great," said Marie Montgomery, spokeswoman for the Auto Club. "But you still see those $4 prices out there."

And those prices, coupled with a sluggish economy and California's 7.3 percent unemployment rate - a 12-year high - have caused many families to think twice about packing up the car and cruising up the coast.

Southern California -- this just in

2008-08-13T13:03:00.001+03:00

hough much of the space dust in the cloud is 1,000 years old, a newer stream, generated by the comet in the 1860s, accounts for most of the meteors we now see. The annual event, named for the point in space where it seems to originate -- the constellation Perseus -- is one of the year's most spectacular. Find a flat spot in a really dark place and, weather and moonlight willing, you can see up to 60 meteors per hour at the shower's peak.

So how do you find a dark spot in this flood-lighted city? So glad you asked. Hugo Martin has put together a little list of great SoCal viewing spots in our travel blog. (And yes, that's an actual photo shot during the Perseids in Joshua Tree in 2005.)

Sleep Under the Starry Skies on a California Camping Trip

2008-07-10T23:44:00.000+03:00

Camping is more popular than ever, especially with families. With summer right around the corner, there is no better time to explore the outdoors than on a California camping vacation. With hundreds of beach, mountain, desert and lake campgrounds to choose from, visitors of all ages can easily find their perfect campsite in the Golden State.

According to the Adventure Travel Report (as referenced by the Travel Industry Association), camping is the number one outdoor vacation activity in America, with one-third of U.S. adults having gone on at least one camping vacation in the past five years. And, it's not a solo experience. According to the report, most of these camping travelers are married with children who are also taking part in the adventure.

"Campers in California can literally pitch their tent in a completely new site every night because the state offers an extensive variety of natural settings not found anywhere else," said Caroline Beteta, president and chief executive officer of the California Travel and Tourism Commission (CTTC). "But there is one constant, and that's the connection to nature. Whether it's hiking through a wooded forest, enjoying a lakeside swim or toasting up s'mores around the campfire, campers now have the perfect opportunity to immerse themselves in California's pristine environment at area campsites."

Eco-travel options are abundant

2008-07-03T00:33:00.000+03:00

Santa Barbara's air pollution district has a little challenge for you: Leave the car at home.

The district, in cooperation with the city's tourism office, is trying to make it easier to travel green. Hop on an Amtrak train and you could qualify for cheap hotel rates. And, once you're in town, there are ferries, a 25-cent electric shuttle and bike rentals.

"On a vacation, if you drive somewhere, you're not just going to be driving there, you're going to be driving all around when you get there," said Mary Byrd, manager of the program. "You can get here without a car and you'll be fine."

Wherever you're going, taking mass transit, such as a bus or a train, is the best transportation choice if you want to minimize harm to the environment (and it's almost always cheaper than driving or flying).

Cali’s wedding season

2008-06-22T10:54:00.000+03:00

The California Travel and Tourism Commission is rolling out the red carpet for same-sex couples after legalization of same-sex marriage, with suggestions of spots for ceremonies and honeymoons. A few of them: the gay-owned and -operated bed and breakfast Chateau de Vie in Napa Valley’s Calistoga; Viceroy Palm Springs, with an "I Do for Two" package that includes a wedding, commitment or vow renewal starting at $449 midweek; Casitas Laquita in Palm Springs, a lesbian-friendly, private resort that has offered commitment ceremonies for years. Details and more listings all over the state:

The California Travel and Tourism Commission posted a special gay wedding page

2008-06-11T10:44:00.001+03:00

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The flowers have been selected, the Veterans' Memorial Center has been booked, and the three-piece band has been chosen. The e-invitations have gone out and relatives are flying in. The brides — and there will be two of them — might not have time to buy something new to wear, but that's OK.

Shelly Bailes and Ellen Pontac, who have been together for 34 years, do not want to wait a day longer than necessary to tie the knot now that California's Supreme Court has legalized gay marriage. They had five weeks to plan a June 21 reception for 250 people.

The American Riviera by train

2008-05-20T22:56:00.000+03:00

The Pacific Surfliner skims the Southern California coast. Tip: If you're traveling north, sit on the left side for a view.

I look out from the Pacific Surfliner at Pacific surf riders: longboarders and shortboarders, paddle surfers and surf kayakers. There are dolphins too, glowing in sunlit waves.

I imagined that the train would race by unnoticed, but the surfers turn toward the tracks. One straddling his board raises his arms, both hands splayed in an enthusiastic shaka salute.

It's official: Salmon fishing season is a bust

2008-05-11T00:24:00.001+03:00

MONTEREY - Wildlife regulators on Friday canceled most of the salmon fishing season in the Central Valley, a potential $20 million hit for the state's already struggling economy.

The unprecedented restrictions make it illegal to fish for salmon with one exception: a stretch of the Sacramento River from north of Woodland to Red Bluff, and only in November and December.

Even then, limits will be strict: just one fish per person per day. A normal season would see up to six months of fishing with two fish per day.

Ski, hike and surf: It's all in a California day

2008-05-03T11:09:00.001+03:00

The slopes above looked treacherous with a thin layer of icy snow worn brown in patches. The sun was rising from behind the peaks, the temperature was in the low 50s and it would only get hotter. I decided to ski in a T-shirt. I got on my first lift about 9 a.m., 30 minutes after the resort's opening. Climbing higher on the lift, I felt the wind bite into me and regretted my cockiness

Headwall, an ultra-tough black diamond run, was not too icy, and it was empty. It was mine for the rest of the morning. A brief detour to Silver Springs, however, proved a bad idea. It was rocky, dirty, and precipitously icy.

Solana Beach - California Man Dies in Great White Shark Attack

2008-04-29T10:44:00.001+03:00

A 66-year old Solana Beach, California man, Dr. David Martin, was attacked by a shark while swimming with a group of 9 others Friday morning at 7:21 AM. The AP reports that the man was bitten across both thighs as the group swam north from Solana Beach.

It is reported that some of the other swimmers realized what was happening and looked back to see the man under attack come up out of the water after initially being pulled under.

Natural beauty and cultural richness of Central California

2008-04-25T02:31:00.000+03:00

There are many good general guidebooks to California travel including: "The Unofficial Guide to California with Kids and Fun With the Family in Northern California." There is even a book called "Weird California" that will let you in on some of our states strangest destinations and best kept secrets.

We are lucky to have access to many city, county, state and national parks in our area. Day hikes and camping can help you get in shape and experience the unparalleled natural beauty around us. The Foghorn Outdoors series of books include: "California Camping," with listings of 1,500 tent and RV campgrounds, "California Waterfalls," with maps and descriptions of more than 200 waterfalls, and "250 Great Hikes in California's National Parks." The library has trail guides to local parks like Henry Coe too. If you do decide to go hiking, check out field guides to help you identify the birds, trees and wildlife you might see.

Will Rogers State Historic Park

2008-04-20T17:14:00.001+03:00

Who doesn’t love California’s parklands? For many of us, it’s why we live in the Golden State.

So when the California Travel & Tourism Commission sent me a news release Tuesday titled “Experience California’s Beauty at State and National Parks,” I eagerly read on.

“California State Parks alone owns or manages 1.52% of the total area of California,” Caroline Beteta, president and chief executive officer of the commission, said in the release. “That is a considerable amount of land that has been put aside for residents and visitors to enjoy…”

Free California Travel Guide

2008-04-15T18:37:00.000+03:00

USATravelPal.com is slowly becoming a player in the online traveling world because of their free state traveling guides. At the point of this article, the website owner has confirmed the completion of 15 state guides; including California. Laid out much like any other traveling guide, the state of California guide is split up into distinctive geographic regions: Northern California, Wine Country, San Francisco, Greater San Francisco, Gold Country, High Sierras, Deserts, Central Coast, Los Angeles, Greater Los Angeles, Disneyland, and San Diego.

Within each of the geographic regions are the specific details of the destinations of interest to travelers. Some destinations have just an overview page but others, by virtue of being more popular, are more thorough. For example in the Greater San Francisco article, Berkeley, Oakland, and San Jose have more thorough traveling guides while Angel Island, Bay Bridge, and Sausalito have just one article.

California hotels up to 30% off

2008-04-09T02:20:00.001+03:00

CheapTickets turned me on to an assortment of California hotel deals going on this spring. Choose from four- and five-star hotels in San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Jose, Anaheim and San Diego.

Deals: A few hotel discount examples include $60 off per night at Sofitel Los Angeles or 30% off three nights at the Westin St. Francis, W Hotel or Palace Hotel in San Francisco. There are also 15%-25%-off stays for three nights or longer and I found two fourth-night-free deals in San Jose.

When: Deal dates differ at each hotel. You can find the dates near the bottom of each page when you click on the link for the individual hotel.

Sonoma County's tourism business is getting a boost

2008-04-01T23:44:00.000+03:00

Most of the new visitors are from Europe, she said. "They're all staying at very high-end properties," Buffo said.

Visitors from other countries are finding their money is buying more U.S. goods and services than it did a year ago.

After slipping for months, the dollar fell to record lows against six major currencies this month, reflecting the nation's weak economy.

The county's hotel tax receipts for the third quarter of 2007 were 9 percent above 2006. The exchange rate might not be the entire reason, but it's a factor, said Michelle Heston, who handles public relations for Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa.

California hotel deals for hybrid drivers

2008-03-26T12:38:00.000+02:00

Bedandbreakfast.com is running a free gas promotion, in which B&Bs and hotels all over the country are offering fuel-related discounts. A handful of these venues is giving special deals to visitors who drive hybrid vehicles.

Here are two such deals in California:

The Colonial Terrace: Arrive in a hybrid, and you’ll get $25 off your total bill at this hotel a block away from the beach in Carmel-by-the-Sea. Rooms regularly cost $139 (pretax) and up.

Travel authors from California

2008-03-24T02:56:00.000+02:00

Hi, its Tam Tree here, hope you like the California travel news blog.

I need travel authors from California to help me coverage the areas of Sonoma, Mendocino and Yosemite .

Please send email if you like to participated in this effort. Thanks !

tamtree@gmail.com

Motel 6 Is Opens In Marysville, CA

2008-03-22T18:21:00.000+02:00

Accor North America, one of the nation’s largest owner/operators of economy lodging, announced the opening of a new Motel 6 property in Marysville, California. The property is located at 803 “E” Street in Yuba County along US Highway 70, and was converted from a Red Roof Inn. The franchised property is owned and operated by Norcal Hospitality, Inc., and Andy Patel has been named the new General Manager overseeing the property.

Motel 6 offers a low price and great value without sacrificing comfort at more than 880 locations in the United States and Canada. Standard amenities include free local phone calls, no long distance access charges, free morning coffee, data ports, Wi-Fi Internet access and a channel line-up including HBO, ESPN/ESPN2, and CNN. All Motel 6 properties welcome pets, and most locations offer swimming pools and guest laundry facilities. Guests can save even more with Click 6 Internet bargains, available only at motel6.com. For reservations or information, visit www.motel6.com or call 800-4-MOTEL6.

California Adventure Experiences

2008-03-18T22:00:00.001+02:00

Adventure travelers are everywhere, including the Golden State, which naturally provides a perfect venue for exciting activities.

And the statistics back up this travel trend. According to the Travel Industry Association of America, one-half of U.S. adults, or 98 million people, have taken an adventure trip in the past five years. This includes 31 million adults who engaged in more rigorous adventure activities, such as whitewater rafting, scuba diving and mountain biking.

“As travelers continue to push the envelope, what was once considered extreme is now packaged under adventure travel,” said President and Chief Executive Officer Caroline Beteta of the California Travel and Tourism Commission.

The Lodge at Sonoma, a Renaissance Resort and Spa

2008-03-15T20:06:00.000+02:00

Most recently Perez spent time at Arden Hills Resort Club & Spa, a premier property in Sacramento, CA. Under his direction, the resort hosted in excess of 400 weddings a year among many other on-site events. Like Scheller, Perez has excelled in the Marriot Corporation, having held the Director of Food & Beverage position at both the Oakland Marriott Convention Center and at the Renaissance Parc 55 Hotel in San Francisco, overseeing all convention services.