Hilton joins Florida hotels in offering “Beach Satisfaction Guarantee”

by Melanie Nayer on

As the oil spill crisis continues to spark concern in the Gulf, travelers are becoming increasingly worried about their vacation plans. However, Florida hotels are working to offer guests ‘guaranteed satisfaction’ deals that help alleviate some of the worry. Just in from Hilton Hotels: Beach Satisfaction Guarantee.

Here’s how it works:

The “Beach Satisfaction Guarantee,” ensures that guests with reservations at any of Hilton Worldwide’s hotels from the Gulf Coast to South Florida that are beachfront or within a 20 minute drive to the beach will not be charged if the stay is in any way affected by the Gulf oil spill.

The guarantee is in effect through July 31, 2010. If you change or cancel a reservation at Hilton hotel because your stay will be negatively impacted by the Gulf oil spill, cancellation fees will be waived and Hilton will help you make new hotel arrangements at the same hotel or at any hotel within the Hilton Worldwide portfolio of brands for another date. These brands include: Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts, Conrad Hotels & Resorts, Hilton Hotels, Doubletree, Embassy Suites Hotels, Hilton Garden Inn, Hampton Hotels, Hilton Grand Vacations and Homewood Suites by Hilton.

For more information on Hilton Worldwide’s “Beach Satisfaction Guarantee” and applicable hotels, you can check out more details at www.beachsatisfaction.com.

Orbitz introduces ‘Open Beach Guarantee’

by Leigh Caldwell on

Orbitz is trying to offer travelers peace of mind this summer through an Open Beach Guarantee. The guarantee offers a full refund on your hotel stay if nearby beaches are closed because of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

To get this deal, you must book a stay at a participating hotel through Orbitz, with travel between now and July 31, 2010. If a government agency closes a beach within 20 miles of the hotel during your reservation, you can get a full refund. But the refund is only good for unused nights of your vacation, so you will have to cancel your stay or leave early to get this deal.

The Open Beach Guarantee does not apply to vacation packages, only to hotels booked as a standalone reservation.

The list of participating hotels includes Florida Gulf Coast destinations such as Panama City Beach, Sarasota and Fort Myers.

[Image credit: Flickr user thecrazyfilmgirl]

GadlingTV’s Travel Talk – Atlantis Launch, Wakeboarding, Seaworld, & Magic Playoffs!

by Stephen Greenwood on

GadlingTV’s Travel Talk, episode 18 – Click above to watch video after the jump

In our last Orlando installment, we showed you the retired side of life in Orlando – and now we’re going full throttle.

Because Orlando is famous for its theme parks, we discuss the biggest, best, and most bizarre theme parks around the world. We’ll tell you where you can pay to wear a gasmask and ‘experience communism’, drive tractors, and who holds the title for the most rollercoasters in one park.

As we explore Orlando’s adventurous side, we head to Titusville for a live Shuttle launch, teach Stephen how to wakeboard, ride roller coasters at Seaworld, and witness our first NBA playoff game. Enjoy!


If you have any questions or comments about Travel Talk, you can email us at talk AT gadling DOT com.

Subscribe via iTunes:
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Links
Actually want to experience survival drama for yourself? Visit Europe’s strangest attraction!
There’s only two more shuttle launches left! Find out all the details on the remaining launches from NASA.
Thinking of picking up wakeboarding? Read these beginner tips first!



Hosts: Stephen Greenwood, Aaron Murphy-Crews, Drew Mylrea
Special Guests: Nathan, our wakeboard expert.

Produced, Edited, and Directed by: Stephen Greenwood, Aaron Murphy-Crews, Drew Mylrea

Music by:
This Holiday Life
“Mission Control to My Heart”
myspace.com/thisholidaylife

Gulf Coast Oil Spill Watch: June 11th

by Leigh Caldwell on

It’s Day 53 of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Here’s a roundup of links to the latest news affecting travelers:

  • The glow of a controlled burn on the oil slick could be seen off Pensacola-area beaches today, the Pensacola News-Journal says. The Coast Guard is considering burning off some of the oil in a new plume discovered late Thursday 12 miles off the Perdido Pass.
  • The Miami Herald reports that Coast Guard skimmers were working Thursday in the Pensacola Pass, as oil makes its way into the Western Panhandle waterway.
  • BP has agreed to give Florida $25 million to support the state’s contigency plan in dealing with the oil spill disaster. The company signed the agreement with Florida Gov. Charlie Crist on Thursday, according to WTVT.
  • Will Florida have to start closing beaches? That’s the question Bloomberg asked a number of state and local officials, who described that move as a last resort.

For now, the contrast of workers and tourists on the beaches makes for an unusual scene. “Why are there people in hazmat suits and we are in our bikinis?” said Pensacola Beach visitor Emily Boswell.

[Image credit: NASA Goddard Space Flight Center]

Gulf Coast Oil Spill Watch: June 10th

by Leigh Caldwell on

It’s Day 52 of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Here’s a look at the latest news about how the spill is affecting travelers:

Tar balls have arrived on the beaches in Perdido Key, Florida. The Pensacola News-Journal reports that a mile-long stretch of the beach was covered with greasy clumps about the size of peas.

Want to help? Alabama’s governor tells WAFF TV that it’s as simple as renting a condo or eating a seafood dinner.

The Tennesean reports that renting that Gulf Coast condo could be a great deal, as last-minute Gulf Coast lodging deals are plentiful.

But those lodging deals don’t extend into Central Florida, according to the Orlando Sentinel. Orlando-area hotels say oil-spill discounts could be viewed as “cashing in” on coastal hotels’ misfortune.

And what of the predictions that oil will spread all the way up the Atlantic Coast this summer, or that it will travel west and reach Texas beaches? The Houston Chronicle says to “take them with a grain of salt water.”

[Image credit: Flickr user lsqcp]