http://www.latimes.com/travel/deals/?track=rss Headlines from latimes.com en ©2012, latimes.com Wed, 22 Feb 2012 06:00:00 -0800 By Terry Gardner http://www.latimes.com/travel/deals/la-trb-element-hotel-stay-free-20120221,0,7109012.story?track=rss This post has been corrected. See the note at the bottom for details. Wed, 22 Feb 2012 06:00:00 PST By Catharine M. Hamm http://www.latimes.com/travel/deals/la-trb-ethics-of-disaster-tourism-20120221,0,2950405.story?track=rss Removal of fuel from the Costa Concordia, which ran aground last month off Tuscany, began last week and officials say that after it’s gone, it may take seven to 10 months to refloat the ship. Wed, 22 Feb 2012 05:30:00 PST http://www.latimes.com/travel/deals/la-offbeat-traveler-79th-annual-lemon-festival-in-menton-france-20120220,0,2651463.storylink?track=rss If life gives you lemons, turn them into parade floats. Works for the city of Menton in southeastern France. This past Saturday, it kicked of its 79th annual Lemon Festival featuring floats and displays decorated with citrus fruits. The celebration is one of the French Riveria's most popular events and attracts about a quarter million visitors each year. Here's a look at some of the lemon-laced displays showcased in Bioves Garden at this year's festival. Tue, 21 Feb 2012 05:30:00 PST By Jane Engle http://www.latimes.com/travel/deals/la-trb-yosemite-road-to-close-20120220,0,3243531.story?track=rss Here’s a traffic alert for California’s Yosemite National Park : A section of a major route there will be shut down for more than a month to repair damage caused by a Jan. 22 rockslide. Tue, 21 Feb 2012 05:45:00 PST By Jane Engle http://www.latimes.com/travel/deals/la-trb-santa-fe-nm-chocolate-20120220,0,715187.story?track=rss Chocolate fanciers visiting Santa Fe can savor a lodging package tailored to their passion at the Inn on the Alameda , a small, well-regarded hotel in New Mexico’s colorful capital. Tue, 21 Feb 2012 06:00:00 PST By Terry Gardner http://www.latimes.com/travel/deals/la-trb-washington-exhibit-reagan-library-20120217,0,6857140.story?track=rss George Washington had only one natural tooth left when he was sworn in as the first president of the United States in 1789.  He was 57. Mon, 20 Feb 2012 05:00:00 PST By Judi Dash http://www.latimes.com/travel/deals/la-backpack-stroller-is-basic-but-portable-enough-to-carry-on-a-plane-20120217,0,2160062.story?track=rss Anything that makes flying with children easier is worth a look, although this one is pricey. Sat, 18 Feb 2012 21:47:00 PST By Catharine M. Hamm http://www.latimes.com/travel/deals/la-trb-presidents-day-quiz-20120217,0,962441.story?track=rss Happy Presidents' Day. This holiday, which dates to 1971, originally was meant to celebrate the birthdays of George Washington (Feb. 22) and Abraham Lincoln (Feb. 12) but it's also meant to honor all presidents. In the spirit, we offer you this quiz. How well do you know our chief executives? You'll learn lots from visiting the 13 presidential libraries. Forty-four presidents have been installed in office, but there are only 43 people who have been president. Why? Take the quiz below and find out: Mon, 20 Feb 2012 05:30:00 PST By Mary Forgione http://www.latimes.com/travel/deals/la-trb-lonely-planet-presidents-day-50-20120220,0,6593732.story?track=rss Presidents Day is a good time to mull what presidential places in America are worth a look-see. Lonely Planet gathered 50 -- one from each state -- that provide good vacation ideas, whether for the long weekend or summer vacation. Mon, 20 Feb 2012 05:45:00 PST By Chris Erskine http://www.latimes.com/travel/deals/la-trb-tuesday-travel-ticker-yosemite-road-closing-20120217,0,5969238.story?track=rss Yosemite National Park's Big Oak Flat Road (Highway 120) within the park will close for six weeks beginning Feb. 29, to repair damage caused by a large rockslide. The road will be closed between the Foresta Road Junction on the Big Oak Flat Road (Highway 120) and the El Portal Road (Highway 140) junction.Yosemite Valley remains accessible via El Portal Road (Highway 140) coming from Merced/ Mariposa and via Wawona Road (Highway 41) coming from Fresno/ Oakhurst . . . . The National Steinbeck Center presents the 32nd Annual Steinbeck Festival, in collaboration with The Woody Guthrie Centennial, May 3-6. The event will take place at the National Steinbeck Center in Salinas, For more info, go to www.steinbeck.org . . . . The Live Oak Music Festival takes place in the hills above Santa Barbara on Father's Day weekend, June 15 17. For info, go to www.liveoakfest.org . . . . Don Rickles returns to Las Vegas March 24-25, at the Orleans Showroom. Tickets start at $74.95, plus tax and convenience fees. Call (702) 365-7075, or visit www.orleanscasino.com . . . . . Today is Mardi Gras, and though tomorrow is the beginning of Lent, it also marks the beginnings of New Orleans' busy spring tourist season. For instance, walking tours of Tennessee Williams' New Orleans residences, including the St. Peter Street address where he penned "A Streecar Named Desire," will be held during the literary festival in his honor, March 21-25. For tickets, click here . . . . More than 200 passengers of an Air Australia flight found out at the airport gate last week that they would need to find another way out of Honolulu. The Brisbane-based international and domestic airline, formerly known as Strategic Airlines, said all flights had been canceled and the airline would not be accepting new bookings because it could no longer pay its bills. The passengers retrieved their baggage and then scrambled to make arrangements with other carriers . . . . Travel quote of the day: "Two of the greatest gifts we can give our children are roots and wings." (Hodding Carter) Tue, 21 Feb 2012 05:00:00 PST