| 8 wallet-friendly business travel tips
For the typical road warrior, who spends about $1,045 on airfare, hotel accommodations and car rental per trip, the cost of business travel is a necessary expense. After all, a global economy requires traveling far to pitch clients and deliver presentations. But the cost of representing a company off-site is expected to increase. The average domestic trip this year will cost 6 percent more than in 2007, or $1,110, while the average international trip will rise 7 percent to $3,171, according to the American Express 2008 business travel forecast. What's more, as the American economy weakens, companies are beginning to scrutinize travel expenses, and business travelers will be enlisted to help control spending. .
Local Gas Station Charging Over $4 Per Gallon Near OIA
ORLANDO, Fla. -- There was a break for the holidays, but gas prices are ready to rise again. One local gas station, though, is already charging customers much more than others. RAW INTERVIEW: Manager Defends $4.49 Per Gallon Customers at the independent gas station near the Orlando International Airport are paying $4.49 a gallon. Some of the customers don't know the price they're paying until it's too late. There are no large signs showing the prices at the station. Most customers are tourists returning rental cars before catching flights at Orlando International Airport. Not all believe it's an honorable way to conduct business. "It's not fair. It's definitely price gouging during the holiday season," said tourist Les Lazarus. Even at $4.49 a gallon for regular, most of the pumps were busy at Suncoast Energys on Friday morning.
A beginner's guide to Universal Orlando
Rental cars: $178-$306 including taxes for a week in mid-May, depending on which company you rent from.
Airport shuttles will deliver you to hotels along International Drive for $15/person one-way or $25/person round-trip. Taxis from the airport to International Drive range $33-$39 one-way. The I-Ride Trolley can take you from any of the International Drive hotels to Universal: $1 for single-ride tickets; $9 for a seven-day pass. Kids 12 and younger ride free when accompanied by an adult. Or, you can stay at one of the hotels on Universal property and ride the free boat to the parks.
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Special Samoa Deals for Boxing Fans and Supporters
Overseas interest in the upcoming Samoa International Pro-Am Boxing event in Apia on Saturday 2nd February 2008 will see up to 200 boxing fans and supporters arriving in Samoa next week. Many more are expected to book a ticket to Samoa with the announcement over the week end of special accommodation and rental car deals for boxing fans and supporters. Hotel Kitano Samoa is offering an accommodation special $200 SAT per room per day for up to three people with ELAVA at Vaitele is offering $120 SAT per room per day up to two people with continental breakfast included. Apia Rental is offering a 15% discount to all their vehicles with DAT Car Rentals is offering a special $165 per day for their Hyundai Tucson fleet. This was confirmed by Mr. Teleiai Su’atapulolo’o Edwin Puni, Managing Director of Event Polynesia, “For the next two weeks, Hotel Kitano Samoa and ELAVA Resort will be the home of international boxing with Apia Rental and DAT Car Rentals as the preferred rental car service.” The inaugural Samoa International Pro-Am Boxing is an initiative of Event Polynesia Boxing in association with SPBI and SABA to provide our Samoan boxers both amateur and professional a pathway to boxing world titles by setting up the needed top international competitions right here in Samoa.
D.M. airport plans good show amid post-caucus surge
Des Moines International Airport officials plan no circus acts Friday, but a roving magician will entertain journalists and political organizers as they leave Iowa and its 2008 caucuses in a vapor trail.
Airport and Transportation Security Administration officials say it will be all hands on deck on Friday and Saturday to handle a probably 50 percent surge in passengers leaving the state's largest airport. They're keen to put on a good show because 2004's departures were marred by long lines at the security-screening area, frayed nerves all around and rental cars that went missing for days. .
OIA receives go-ahead to charge new rental-car tax
It's about to get more expensive to rent a car at Orlando International Airport.
Board members of the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority, the agency that runs OIA, voted Wednesday to adopt a $2.50-a-day tax on car rentals. The "customer facility charge," which would be capped at five days, could add as much as $12.50 to a customer's bill.
Backers said the tax will raise money for $102.6 million worth of rental-car upgrades planned at the airport during the next few years, including additional parking spaces, fueling stations and car-wash bays.
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'Waiting lot' opens at Lihue Airport
A free "waiting lot" opened Friday at Lihue Airport on Kauai for motorists to park and wait for passengers on arriving flights. The lot, which is located along Hoolimalima Place next to the car rental facilities, will be open from 5 a.m. to close of business day. Airport officials believe the waiting lot will make it convenient for those picking up arriving passengers and reduce traffic congestion near the baggage claim area. Modeled after similar waiting lots at Honolulu International Airport and Mainland airports, motorists can use the lot to wait until they're called on their cell phones by the passengers they're picking up, no longer having to drive in circles around the airport. Users can wait up to an hour on the lot. Commercial vehicles are not allowed.
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